October 2013 - Bridal Hot List

Happy Halloween from BHL

October 31, 2013 1 Comment

I love the holidays, but Halloween is by far my favorite holiday of the year! Fun, festive, and totally silly. It is super fun to dress up and be anything your heart desires for one day. Why not right? Besides all the costumes and silliness that goes with it, the desserts are pretty good too. Well, there is just one that comes to mind, and that is pumpkin pie. I can have myself a piece of warm pumpkin pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream anytime and be content. Pumpkin cheesecake? That is simply divine and mouthwatering good. I can go on and on about Halloween treats as you know I am a total dessert lover. We have been having a great time with all the fall details of weddings and all things bridal, and I wanted to take a break from blogging today and share some Halloween fun from the BHL staff. At BHL, the staff is totally into Halloween, and we thought it might be fun to share some Halloween love. If you love Halloween as much as we do, share your costume or favorite Halloween treat on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and tag us @bridalhotlist. We love to see how you celebrate Halloween! Here is a look at some of the BHL staff and their costumes.

Niloufar Gibson, Chief Editor

Niloufar Gibson, Chief Editor: I love weddings as much as I love Disneyland, and pretty much anything Disney. I dressed up as Minnie Mouse and made a visit to Minnie Mouse’s home to take a quick photograph. The whole day little girls were so happy when they saw me and said ” Mommy, look, its Minnie Mouse!”. That just made my day. I knew my costume was perfect for the happiest place on earth!

Andrea Carter, Associate Editor

Andrea Carter, Associate Editor: Andrea also has a love for Disneyland, (well Star Wars, but that is part of Disney now), and she dressed up as R2D2. She also spent her day at Disneyland. Pretty awesome right?

Chelsea Underwood, Contributor

Chelsea Underwood, Contributor: Chelsea is a total nerd for Halloween! She wanted to do something fun this year. Super cute nerd!

Jade Arvizu, Contributor

Jade Arvizu, Contributor: Jade put her DIY skills in full action as she made both of these costumes for herself and her boyfriend. Roger Rabbit and Jessica! This couple is a fun loving couple, and their costumes are perfect!

We hope you have a safe and fun Halloween! From all of us at BHL, we wish you a Happy Halloween!!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: BHL staff, bridal blogger, Bridal Hot List, Halloween, Halloween fun, Happy Halloween, holiday, Wedding blogger

Trash the Dress Underwater Style Session from Silver Gecko Photography

October 30, 2013 Leave a Comment

I simply adore things that are pretty and beautiful in weddings, but I also love when there is a bit of unique and fun details as well. That is why I am a huge fan of this unique trash the dress session. This fabulous couple had a totally out of the ordinary wedding day (wedding date was April Fools Day) with some out-of-the box wedding details. But that is just the type of couple that they are. Super silly and fun. It makes me happy when I see the couple’s personalities compliment their wedding day. That is how it should be! With the wedding over, it doesn’t mean the fun can not continue. With full wedding attire, this fun couple plunged into the pool for a seriously good time. And the images? When Adam Parth from Silver Gecko Photography is on hand, the images are jaw-dropping gorgeous. I mean, how amazing are these photos? You will have to scroll down and take a look for yourself. Enjoy!

From Silver Gecko Photography…

Aaron & Erika are a great couple! Very fun and goofy (and I always mean goofy as a compliment). Since they were married on April Fools Day, they decided to have some fun and hired two little people to be their ushers and walk their dog, the ring bearer, down the aisle. These guys were great and even photographed with us in Christensen Alley in Old Town Pasadena. The wedding ceremony was held at the University Club of Pasadena and the reception at Noor in Pasadena. When we shot their engagement photos Erika asked me about shooting a trash the dress session. When I mentioned the idea of shooting underwater they jumped at the chance. I’ve been wanting to try my hand at underwater photography and this was the perfect opportunity for everyone. Now I’m not a big fan of photos that crop heads off, in fact I really don’t like them, but with underwater photos sometimes you don’t have a choice. And sometimes it just works. This was a very fun session with a couple who was up for anything!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bride, groom, Silver gecko photography, trash the dress, underwater photography, wedding, wedding dress

Strike a Wedding Pose with Dazzle Photobooth

October 29, 2013 2 Comments

As an admitted fan of photo booths, today’s post will come to no surprise when I say ” I love photo booths!”. I always love to do the introductions when it comes to these types of features on BHL. However, today’s Photo Booth vendor is extra special, as this fabulous company made an appearance at BHL’s One Year Anniversary Celebration. So today we are giving them their own spotlight. Dazzle Photobooth is here and I could not be any happier. What makes this photo booth company amazing, is that it is a totally interactive experience. Once you choose your favorite props, grab a few friends, and jump into the booth, something magical happens. Even before the photo is snapped, there is a countdown (not from the screen), but from the attendant of the booth. The countdown is so exciting, and there is even a signal for striking that pose, making the experience of taking a photo a fun time. The attendant gets totally into it, and with excitement of the countdown and the amount of enthusiasm in their voice, you can not but smile and giggle. The photographs? Once they pop out, they are priceless. A perfect photo filled with a whole lot of love and fun. A total memorable piece which can be shared with you and your guests. All weddings deserve a great time!

About Dazzle Photobooth…

Dazzle Photobooth is a photo booth rental company based in Orange County, CA. We are driven with the determination to provide a friendlier and more affordable service that you will never forget! Customer satisfaction goes hand in hand with our devotion to our clientele. We always have a smile on our face and enthusiasm in our voice as we assist you with adding tons of fun to your special event. Our event attendants are nothing less than friendly and are included in every booking as our free courtesy to you for the entire duration of your rental.

What makes us stand out:

We offer an interactive experience, while most booth operators offer 1 attendant during their events, we offer 2 attendants. This is highly effective because our attendants provide an interactive experience – they push the button to take the pictures, allowing for great looking photos. The 2^nd attendant is responsible for keeping the prop table organized and they offer suggestions to guests on what to wear allowing for more of a personal touch plus it keeps the line moving!
We offer social media kiosks with our rentals allowing guests to Facebook, Twitter, and Email their photo’s in real time.
We offer 3 types of booth setups, enclosed, open-air, and Hollywood Red Carpet

Our Facebook Link: www.facebook.com/dazzlephotobooth

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bride, Dazzle Photobooth, fun photographs, groom, orange county, photobooth, photography, wedding, wedding day

Delicious Wedding Desserts from Brown Bear Eats

October 28, 2013 Leave a Comment

Mondays can be a drag, but how about if I told you that it doesn’t have to be? How about if I told you that if you read on, you will be happy and smiling? We are starting the week with some incredibly delicious desserts which has me drooling over them. As an admitted dessert lover, you can imagine how thrilled and over the moon I was when I received some scrumptious and mouth-watering treats. It is all about the delightful, flavorful, and oh-so-good desserts which make my sweet tooth even sweeter. We’ve got Brown Bear Eats here to make your Monday a bit sweeter and lip-smacking good. These tasty little treats may look simple and ordinary from the outside, but the inside? It is all over. My first try at these lovely things was like I was eating something from heaven. Yep, heavenly good! I said it, and I mean it. These desserts are so good, that I had to hide a few of them from myself to keep from skipping lunch and dinner. Yes, they are THAT good. So, kick off your week with these incredible and yummy desserts. Ready to indulge?

Photography by Studio EMP

Zoom Theory Photography

About Brown Bear Eats…

When was the last time you arrived at a wedding, only to be transported back to the elegance and charm of a rustic grand mansion from yesteryear where the devoted kitchen staff had made everything by hand, from scratch with recipes guarded and perfected through generations of artisans?

So it is with Brown Bear Eats. We present our desserts with unrivaled style and bursting with flavors you just can’t get from a mass produced buffet.

We offer classic items like rich and dense cheesecakes, small, flakey pies, thick, buttery and flavorful cookies, intense chocolate shortbread tarts, and refreshing homemade lemon curd filled tarts, just to name a few- all made in small batches by hand with uncompromising dedication to quality, taste and design.

No two of our desserts look the same since they are all hand crafted the old fashioned way. Each item is made with artisanal standards long forgotten and relegated to those who are pegged as the great cooks and bakers of the past. Our whole line is handmade, from scratch in small batches by hands that pride themselves on each pie, cookie, cheesecake, or tart.

Our desserts are rustic yet charming and elegant, unassumingly lavish, but possess the ability to fit right in to a modern setting.

We think weddings are sacred events in a couples’ life. We will design their dessert table to reflect the momentousness of the day. We will make sure their personality is reflected and their love is showcased in their choice of desserts and styling. Every bride and groom will be treated as if they are the ONLY bride and groom being married that day.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bride, Brown Bear Eats, desserts, handmade desserts, orange county, wedding, wedding desserts, wedding sweets, wedding treats

Five Tips for Building Your Wedding Menu

October 27, 2013 Leave a Comment

One of the more fun parts of planning a wedding is getting to test run the menu! The most biggest day of your life should automatically come with the best meal of your life. Here’s a few tips to keep you en route to the dinner you deserve!

Don’t Starve Yourself

You should meet with your caterers with an appetite- but if you’re too hungry it’ll change the way you remember food! At the very least, have breakfast that fills you up but isn’t carb heavy. By giving your body something to run off of, you’ll meet your caterer much more level-headed.

Take Notes

In instances like this, it is completely acceptable to instagram your food! Take notes with each bite, writing down what the dish is, its’ consistency, flavor, and if you liked it or not. It can also help to take pictures so you can imagine how it will look against your linens and color palette. Make sure you write down whether or not your partner likes it too- it may be your big day, but you have to (at least) try to agree on food.

Bring a Friend (or two!)

Your wedding should be all about the couple, but just remember it’s an event for all your friends and family as well! As a couple, it could be a good idea to bring a friend (the best man or maid of honor, for instance) to call tie breakers on the menu or offer insight on appetizers. Just don’t bring too many people, you want to keep how awesome the food is close to heart until the big day!

Don’t Rush

Even if you’ve got your heart set on one specific caterer, it’s a good idea to ‘shop around’ and see what kind of caterers are out there. It can be easy when you’re stuffed full of crab cakes to want to say yes to the first caterer you see, but waiting can pay off. Make sure you make your most informed decision before putting down a deposit.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

If you hate spicy, speak up! If you’re seeing lots of steak and are more of a seafood gal, let your caterer know. A wedding as a whole should accurately represent the couple it is celebrating. Your partner may have to have their favorite comfort food, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for yours! You and your partner should have say in the food and both be happy with the menu.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bridal, bride, ceremony, food, reception, vendor, wedding, weddings

Five Tips for Having An Organized Wedding

October 26, 2013 Leave a Comment

Your wedding is going to be one of the most amazing experiences of your life- but also one of the most hectic. If you really want everything to go smoothly, you need to be prepared. Here at BHL, our goal is to always keep our brides taken care of and prepared for everything wedding related. We’ve got a few quick tips for all you blushing brides out there looking to avoid stress and be organized for their big day.

Hire A Planner

The best advice we have to give here at BHL? Hire a professional! Professional wedding planners are absolutely the best way to go for putting a wedding together. Not only will they take care of all the heavy lifting for you, they will guide you down the right path for organizing your perfect wedding. Our go-to gal? Niloufar Gibson, the mastermind of Perfectly Made Weddings in Southern California.

Create a Calendar

Grab yourself one of those huge desk calendars that have plenty of space to write in itineraries. This way, you can check to see what’s coming up at a quick glance. It keeps all your dates straight and helps give you and your fiance a sense of a timeline. Bonus points for keeping it color coded.

Keep It Together

Don’t keep stacks of wedding stuff here and there and everywhere! Many brides have binders that hold things like contracts, ideas, photos, everything wedding-related. Binders are easy because they can expand and tabs make it super easy to keep everything organized. You may want to consider getting a “bride bag”, or something similar, as well. That way, if you want to stash whole books, fabric samples, magazines, anything that wouldn’t fit in a binder.

Don’t Be Afraid to Let Go

Feel free to delegate! Yes, it is your day, but you should feel free to let go a little bit. For example, let yourself trust your maid of honor to keep your bridesmaids in check. Let your mom take over checking on family RSVPs. Feel free to trust your loved ones for your most beloved day.

Have a Countdown

Have something to remind yourself of what you’re working towards! Set an online countdown to your wedding date as your homepage up until the big day. Remember you’re working towards a goal date- it’ll keep everything in perspective and keep you looking forward!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bride, ceremony, organization, wedding, weddings

Sneak Peek of TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress” Season 10 Episode 10

October 25, 2013 Leave a Comment

Good morning lovelies! Are you ready to wrap up another fabulous week? I know I am. I am so looking forward to the weekend and the gorgeousness it has to offer. But what I am most excited about is sharing a sneak peek of a new episode of TLC’s SAY YES TO THE DRESS. What is there not to be excited about? As an admitted bridal gown lover, it is no surprise that a show like this makes me smile. If you are a SYTTD newbie and want to know what this show is all about, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Read on and see why I love this show so much. Oh, and of course tune in tonight and watch!

The show all takes place at the gorgeous bridal salon, Kleinfeld Bridal in NYC. The show goes behind-the-scenes and uncovers the various obstacles every staff member faces to make each bride utterly happy and pleased on what may be the most important day of her life. The show features not only bridal experts, but emotional brides, opinionated entourages, and dream bridal dresses. At the end of each appointment, the bridal consultant will ask one very important question, “Are you saying Yes to the Dress?”. The answer to this question? You will have to tune in each week to find out.

On tonight’s episode:

Tonight’s episode features bride-to-be, Brooke is looking for a one of a kind, unique bridal gown for her special day. She is determined to find it and will not settle for anything else. Amanda is a bride who is all about the bling. She wants to add a bit more bling to her bridal gown. Bride-to-be Taylor is stressed when she finds out that the wrong lace is ordered for the jacket to accompany her bridal dress. Will each of these brides walk away with the gown of their dreams? Which bride’s gown will you fall in love with? You will have to tune in tonight to find out!

“Say Yes To The Dress” is on tonight at 9/8c. So set your DVR’s, or watch it live tonight!

Filed Under: General, TV Shows Tagged With: bling, bridal gown, bridal salon, bride, Kleinfeld Bridal, Say yes to the dress, TLC show, wedding day, wedding gown

Five Perfect Fall Wedding Palettes

October 24, 2013 Leave a Comment

Fall has become one of the most sought after season to host a wedding. From the mild and comfortable temperatures to the beautiful foliage arranged in rich and i inviting colors, no wonder Fall is the perfect time to have a rustic wedding. Here are five stunning Fall color palettes that will add vibrancy to your big day. Ranging from light to dark, you can never go wrong with choosing one or the other. Lively, Radiant and Lush!

EMERALD