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Black, White, and Pink Washington Wedding

December 8, 2014 Leave a Comment

Excuse me while I swoon over all the pretty details of this romantic wedding. Oh my goodness! I can not handle the sweetness of this wedding. I love the wedding colors. Pink can sometimes be too girly, but in this case, the color pink is classy and romantic as it compliments the black and white stripes so perfectly. Today, pink=romance. Fully in love with all the details, from the gorgeous greenery surrounding the ceremony to the pink roses at the reception. IJ Photo was on hand to capture all the sweet moments. And you thought your Monday was going to be boring and dull. Enjoy!!

From IJ Photo…

April and Ben live in Portland but chose to have their wedding in Washington. Together with April’s two boys, Sam and Simon, this lovely couple promised to love one other on a beautiful afternoon at the Inglewood Golf Club. The wedding day was filled with beautiful emotions right from the start. Luckily April’s sister and maid of honor did a great job keeping tissues close at hand. The couple have a charming manner with each other that is not only relaxed, but inspiring to watch. It was also obvious that Ben not only loves April, but her boys as well. During their ceremony he shared special vows just for Sam and Simon. At the reception Ben’s family carried out a Nelson family tradition with the performance of a skit based on the story of how they met in Vegas. The skit included a choreographed dance and some hilarious cross dressing by Ben’s groomsmen. The details of their wedding were expertly crafted and stylish. Using black and white stripes with pink roses, hydrangeas, elegant candelabras , and even pink up-lights to flood the room with beautiful soft light.

Vendors:

Photographer: IJ Photo

Event Venue: Inglewood Golf Club

Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Men’s Warehouse

Floral Designer: Flowers by Tiffany

Event Planner: LoveBug Weddings and Events

Cake Designer: The Cakewalk Shop

Hair Stylist: Urbanista stylist

Filed Under: General, Real Weddings Tagged With: black and white, bride, golf resort wedding, IJ Photo, Inglewood Golf club, pink, real wedding, Washington state, wedding, wedding colors

Top Seven Best Holiday Bridesmaid Bonding Activities

December 4, 2014 Leave a Comment

It’s getting chilly outside but that can’t stop you from getting out with your girls! If you want your bridesmaids to bond this winter leading up to the big day, we’ve got seven awesome ways for you all to bond. You can turn any of these into one of your bachelorette party, or even a pre-bachelorette party. Get out, have fun, and stay warm!

Secret Santa

A cute, sweet way for you to bond with your bridesmaids is to get everyone together and have a secret santa party. Arrange secret santas a week or two before your party, and get everyone together. You can theme it to add to the mystery, like as a masquerade party where secret santas are super secret! You’ll all have to get to know each other while you’re shopping for each other, and it’s a great excuse to hang out and bond with a low level of bridal talk.

Volunteer Together

‘Tis the season for giving- both for loved ones and for those who need it. Get together as a group and do some serious good. If you’re all crafty or Pinterest fanatics, have a baking or cooking party and donate food to a local shelter or pass food out to those who need it. If you’re more hands on, volunteer at a soup kitchen. If you’re all mallrats, go out and pick up blankets, jackets, winter gear, anything at all and donate them to those who need it. It’s such a great way to give back and get close together. Plus, you can brag on how your bridal party gave back during your big day!

Santa Crawl

Every big city nowadays has a santa crawl around the holidays, and it’s so amazing! A ton of people dress up as Santas, elves, and all sorts of fun holiday characters and go place to place. It’s totally fun and a great way to experience fun new places with your girls. You can all dress up as a themed group and have a great time! Team bridesmaids is always the best team to be on- especially if they’re sporting some holiday cheer.

Gingerbread Bake-Off

Want to stay in for the night? Have a little competition with a fun holiday classic. There are gingerbread house kits that can be as low as around $5 for a whole box, or you can bake everything fresh yourself (but that’s more of an advanced move). Get your girls together, put out some icing and candy, and see who can build the best gingerbread house. Trader Joe’s has a great gingerbread house kit that’s under $10 and actually is super yummy. You can hashtag your whole night and see which of your bridesmaids is the most creative.

Ice Skating

Remember all those birthdays in the fourth grade you got invited to at ice rinks? Yeah, it’s still fun to go ice skating! Some places even have discount nights during the week when it’s a little slower, and if you go on a school night it can be less crowded. If you have a more athletic group of bridesmaids, this could be a really fun way to bond and get into the holiday spirit. There’s a whole bunch of outdoor ice rinks popping up this season in major malls and shopping areas and they’re way more fun than they look.

Tree Decorating Party

Get together at someone’s house and everyone needs to bring different ornaments to decorate a bridesmaids-only tree. You can sit around in footy pajamas, sew popcorn together, throw tinsel up in the air, and hang your ornaments with care. If you’re able to keep it to just bridesmaids so it can be your ‘family’ tree. Fake trees are actually fairly inexpensive (under $50 for some serious tree height!) and are a great addition to any house to make everything look more festive.

Hot Cocoa Night

Stay home and make a whole ton of hot cocoa and have fun stuff to go along with it. You can add things like raspberry, pirouettes, gingerbread cookies, all sorts of fun stuff to your hot cocoa. Have everyone make a different flavor and have fun with it! Take pictures, compare recipes, and see who can make the best original hot cocoa. If you find a recipe you all really love, write it down and maybe save it for your next winter party! Or if it’s really good- your wedding!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bachelorette, bonding, bridal party, bride, bridesmaids, party, wedding

Top Five Bridal Beauty Tips for Cold Weather

December 2, 2014 Leave a Comment

It’s finally December and the weather is seriously cooling down. Time to upgrade the Fall sweaters to winter coats (it’s okay- still totally cute). If you’re getting married soon, or have wedding activities on the horizon, you’re going to need to look your best even if you’re shivering and shaking. Whether you have photos, a shower, a party, or even the main event scheduled soon, we’ve got five awesome tips for this holiday season to keep you looking your best through the new year.

Lip Holidays

Loose lips may sink ships, but chapped lips ruin pictures. Since it’s been getting colder outside, your lips are going to be in much need of extra moisture. Every other day, go ahead and skip the lipstick in favor of a thick lip hydrating lip balm. We love the Jack Black lip balms- they have SPF and leave our lips so smooth. Wearing a lip color can be drying (although it looks SO good), so take breaks for yourself in between. If you have to wear lip color every day, at the very least go to sleep with a layer of lip balm on. Your lips will absorb while you’re sleeping and you’ll wake up with soft beautiful lips that are perfect for your first marital kiss.

Prime Time

If you’re going out and wearing those beautiful sparkly shades on your eyelids you’re going to need some serious primer. Holiday going into New Year’s Eve is the best time of the year to wear some chunky fun glitter. We love the MAC glitter to pile on for special occasions. The one downfall of fun glitter? It can get everywhere. Use a heavy duty primer before you pack it on. We love the Urban Decay Primer Potions and the Too Faced Glitter Glue (it’s specifically made for glitter! LOVE.). Keep that glitter where it needs to be- off of your ironic holiday sweaters and on your beautiful face for all the bachelorette parties you’ll get invited to this year.

Oil Up

You can’t miss out on moisturizing at all this year- seriously, everywhere. Now may be the time to pick up some cuticle oil for your nails in between manicures. Your manicurist will seriously thank you by the time you get your nails done for the big day. You can also mix some cuticle oil in your regular lotion to boost the moisture getting locked into your skin. If you want something on the go (i.e., not messy), Sally Hansen makes a cuticle oil pen for easy application right onto your nails.

Wear a Mask

Face masks are such a must for nights in, but are you also taking care of your hair? Hair masks are perfect for this time of year- especially if your hair reacts to the cold weather. If you get extra frizzy when it’s cold or rainy out (guilty!), a hair mask can do some serious damage to the factors doing damage to your hair. There are a TON of DIY hair masks you can find on pinterest that uses items from your fridge, or you can get to a salon or beauty store for a tub of hair mask. If you want to spend money, we love the It’s a 10! hair masks. They make your hair smooth, silky, and even smell that much better. Frizzy hair can make a beautiful bride look like an electrocution victim. Keep it smooth and you’ll look back on your glorious hair with fond memories.

Red-Balancers

One rough part of the cold- it makes your skin that much more sensitive. One big thing that happens to your skin in the cold is that it can get red really quickly. If your skin is a little too red, you can look sick or your blush can get really overwhelming. One of the best ways to combat this is to switch to a red-balance primer. Clinique makes a great one that is sensitive enough to never break you out, but powerful enough to keep you looking fantastic til you honeymoon in the Spring.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beauty, bridal, bride, cold, cosmetics, health, makeup, winter

Skirball Cultural Center Wedding

December 1, 2014 Leave a Comment

Coming back from a long holiday weekend can be pretty tough, especially when there is turkey and all the fixings, major shopping, or relaxing involved. However, we have a wedding that will surely add a little kick to your Monday morning blues. This gorgeous wedding has everything that we love in a modern wedding. The incredible venue, the elegant tables, the beautiful color theme, and of course the stunning couple who knows how to impress. All so romantically planned and executed by Mele Amore Events, and captured by Melvin Gilbert Photography. The images? You better grab your morning cup of joe now, and get ready to immerse yourself into a dose of romance. Monday morning is not so bad when there is a wedding like this one to brighten your day.

From Melvin Gilbert Photography…

Oh how wonderful they looked! Wearing a flowing gorgeous Vera Wang white dress and a suit that was sleek and accented with cuffs, shining new shoes, as well as a bowtie – there was no denying that these two were incredibly stunning and excited for their day! Having an outdoor ceremony and reception at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, it was the perfect setting for this grand occasion!

Everything was decorated beautifully. From the ceremony to the reception, there were many twinkling lights accenting everything. Adding an element of romance, it went perfectly with the petals and flowers that adorned the tables. Smiling all the while and always finding time to share some sort of affection, Ann & Chris definitely captured the essence of love. Everyone could see the beautiful connection that they shared and it was great to be able to spend the day celebrating it! Mingling with guests and having a great time, I couldn’t have been happier for these two!

Vendors:

Photographer: Melvin Gilbert Photography

Reception Venue: Skirball Cultural Center

Rentals: Baker Party Rentals

Linens and Coverings: Fusion Linens & Wildflower Linen

Event Planner: Mele Amore Events

Cake Designer: Vanilla Bake Shop

Bridal Gown: White by Vera Wang

Filed Under: General, Real Weddings Tagged With: Baker Party Rentals, bride, Melvin Gilbert Photography, modern wedding, real wedding, Skirball Cultural Center, vera wang bridal gown, wedding, Wildflower Linen

Top Five Black Friday Tips for Brides

November 28, 2014 Leave a Comment

Happy Black Friday! Once you’re officially out of your food coma from Thanksgiving, you can take advantage of the best shopping day of the year. This is a great time for you to swoop up some fun stuff for your personal stash, but also for you to get great wedding items and gifts for your bridal party. If you’re waking up at the crack of dawn (or maybe even waiting until Cyber Monday), make sure you’ve got our tips for a great shopping day.

Do Your Homework

Before you head out to the mall, have a game plan. If you have a favorite store, go online and check out their deals. Some stores have deals that only last through certain hours and end at specific times, while some go all day. Figure out what stores you absolutely have to go to by a certain time, and which ones you can swing by later in the day. It can also help to park centrally between all your stores- it may be easy to park in front of one store, but if you need to run out to drop off bags, it’ll be smarter to make trips that are easy to get to from anywhere rather than park on one side of a mall and have to lug your bags through a department store crowd every time you need to drop stuff off.

Double Your Deal

While you’re out- look more for deals that will pay off later, rather than just one that has a flat discount. Keep your eye out for anything that will give you gift cards or some sort of credit for next time you go shopping. Rack up the credit for a future shopping trip will make last minute wedding buys that much easier for you.

Look Out for Your Friends

If you’re at the point in your wedding planning where you’re still looking for wedding party gifts, this is literally the best day of the year to pick fun stuff up. Keep an eye out for electronics deals- they’re great for both genders and are an easy and impressive gift. Fun things like tablets can be really affordable right now and are great for anyone. If you can’t afford to do something like a tablet for everyone in your wedding party, smaller fun things like waffle makers or LED showerheads are quirky fun for everyone you know.

Stock Up on Staples

If you have a vision for your wedding decor, keep an eye out for anything you can stock up on for fun DIYs. Black Friday isn’t just about high price ticket items- those are just usually the ones that get the best press! Find a local crafts store for fun stuff like vases, doilies, ribbon, DIY materials, anything you may need for wedding projects. You can take a DIY project and make it that much more affordable by stocking up now!

Stay Home and Dream Big

Not into the mall? Totally fine! Instead of waking up, putting on shoes, and running to the store do one type of shopping you have to do from home- travel shopping! Black Friday is effective in all realms nowadays, including travel. If you have a game plan for your honeymoon, go ahead and book something right now so you have another fun thing to look forward to! Aim for hotels since those are easier to cancel if anything (like your dates or location) changes. Flights may not even be that much cheaper than usual and are hard to cancel.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: black friday, bride, budget, planning, present, shopping, wedding

Top Five Tokens of Thanks from Brides

November 25, 2014 Leave a Comment

Tis the season of thanks! We’re all in the process of getting ready for Turkey day, but remember- the day isn’t just about eating until you’re bloated and getting pumped for cheap flat screens. If you’ve also got your wedding on your mind, this is the perfect time to say ‘Thank You’ to the people that are helping make it happen (or made it happen, if you’ve already gotten to have the best day of your life!). We’ve got five small cute things that are perfect gestures of gratitude.

Drinks on You!

A staple for a reason- the coffee shop gift card. Why is this on our list? Because with this little thank you token, a little bit goes a long way. A ten dollar gift card is realistically at least two trips- maybe more if they’re tea drinkers. To make this little thank you go a little farther, add in a note on their favorite drink (“A hot cup of coffee for the hottest bridesmaids I know!”). Be sure to really work in why you’re thanking them- they’ll feel much better and more willing to help with any upcoming wedding tasks.

2015 Planners

Beat them to the punch on the organization game! Pick up a 2015 planner/organizer early, and post it the big date ahead of time for them. It’s a sweet, thoughtful gift that they’ll actually use, plus it’ll keep them on point for the coming months. Be sure to post it birthdays and special dates as well!

Personal Cards

If you want to just do something small for a lot of people, say, your soon-to-be in laws or all members of the bridal party, do personalized thank you cards. Get a great group picture and have them printed up on cardstock and write something sweet and meaningful on each one. It’s a cute little memento for a desk, fridge, or vanity station that shows you really care.

Mini Monday-Buster

A ‘Monday-Buster’ or stress-relief pack is a perfect small DIY pack you can do for your friends to say thank you. Get little paper lunch bags or small boxes and stuff them with small versions of things that would make your friend smile. Get tiny bottles of champagne, their favorite candy, a stress ball, a tiny journal, fun things like that. Keep the theme to mini versions of fun stuff and leave a note along the lines of “thank you for all the little things”. It’s cute, thoughtful, and totally practical! This will work for any vendors who have been going the extra mile, your bridal party, and even your fiance!

Good “Bad” Movies

Time to dig into the guilty pleasures! Go out to the older movie section (i.e., non-new releases) and pick out some silly, funny movies. Lots of stores like Target and Walmart have really affordable movies that you can pick up for $5 (or less!). Search through that section for the silliest movie you can find (Talladega Nights, anyone?) and pass it off to a friend. You can leave a note with something along the lines of “thank you for all you do- you deserve a laugh/night in!”. It may be a little silly, but it’s a great gesture.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bride, bridesmaid, favor, gift, party, thank you, Thanksgiving, wedding

Sneak Peek of TLC’s “Something Borrowed, Something New” Season 3 Episode 6

November 21, 2014 Leave a Comment

A gorgeous week all wrapped up and ready to kick off the weekend. We love weekends, and we love them even more when there is a brand new episode of TLC’s SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING NEW. Yes, we are always excited to see anything that has to do with brides and their wedding day. Oh, and add in some shopping in there, then we have a perfect weekend planned. Will you be watching tonight? Take a look at what tonight’s episode is all about, and you may be hooked!

If you are a SBSN (SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING NEW) newbie, then let us tell you a little bit about this amazing show. This show follows a bride’s journey to find the perfect wedding dress for her big day. However there is a twist! The bride will have to choose a new designer bridal gown, or a fashionably redesigned family heirloom. Who will help the bride find something new and something borrowed for her special day? Each episode is hosted by designer Kelly Nishimoto and stylist Sam Saboura, who will work with the bride to help choose between two dress options. Kelly will turn a special, previously worn gown into a gown which is for the time, venue, and personality of the bride. The bride will also have a chance to work with Sam in shopping at a bridal salon to find a brand new stylish dress. What happens next? The bride will have to make a very important decision and choose between a one-of-a kind dress and a newly fashionable piece. Will the bride choose her mother’s wedding gown, or find something new and unique to her? Which one will the bride choose?

Tonight’s episode features bride-to-be, Paloma who comes from a big traditional Italian family. Her dream wedding is full of glam and back to the 1950s. However her mom’s 1980s bridal gown is not really in the era she is wanting. Will it be Sam or Kelly who succeeds in finding the timeless dress for this sparkling bride? Which gown will the bride walk down the aisle in? Something new, or her mom’s redesigned dress? You will have to tune in tonight and find out!

TLC’s Something Borrowed, Something New is on tonight at 10ET/PT. So set your DVR’s, or watch it live tonight.

Filed Under: General, TV Shows Tagged With: bridal gown, bride, kelly Nishimoto, Sam Saboura, something borrowed something new, TLC, TLC TV show, wedding day, wedding gown

Top Five Tips for a Healthy Bridal Party This Fall

November 20, 2014 Leave a Comment

Fall is one of the best times of the year- the leaves changing, the warm colors, the pumpkin spice lattes… But Fall can also mean some serious sniffles. If your wedding, any photo shoots, bridal party, bachelorette party, or anything are on the horizon, you need to stay healthy this season. We’ve got five fun tips for you and your bridesmaids to put into play so you don’t have to worry about taking any sick days any time soon.

Shots All Around

Go ahead and make a day of it- get your flu shots with your girls! Round ‘em all up, grab brunch, then head to the pharmacy. Flu shots are such a bummer chore to do- might as well have someone to gossip with during it. Bring a bit of an agenda to really maximize your time. Have your girls wear their wedding shoes to break them in or bring in sample pictures of flower arrangements.

Vita-Mocktails

For your next girl’s night in or pre-game before a night out, shake things up with some vitamin based mocktails. Instead of diet cola, grab some fresh squeezed orange juice to mix in with other drinks. Get crafty and come up with fun drinks that involve emergen-c so you get that extra boost of vitamins. It’s fun, a little healthy, a little guilt-free, and a lot yummy.

Hitting the Juice

If you’re really motivated for the vita-mocktails, or if you just want to spend an awesome weekend morning with your bridesmaids, grab a juicer and hit the farmer’s market. If you don’t have a juicer of your own, now you have an excuse to register for one! Hit up a local farmer’s market and go for things like kale, carrot, and oranges (duh). Play around with different mixes and see what random concoctions you like the most.

Be Pro-Antioxidant

Fall is such a great season for food, especially foods that are great for you! This season, go out to eat to talk over the bridal party makeup looks and look for foods with cranberry, pecans, blackberry, raspberries, and other antioxidant-rich foods. You can do a bridesmaid bake-off using only foods with antioxidants and keep each other healthy and in check. You’ll find awesome new ways to get antioxidants in your system and bond together.

Healthy to a T-ea

One of the healthiest habits you can easily pick up this Fall is switching from coffee to tea. Tea can also be a source of caffeine, so you don’t have to sacrifice your morning boost for health. If you’re not a tea drinker, the best time to start is when it’s cold because your body will react better to it and love you for it. Green tea is one of the best teas that you can drink because it flushes everything out of your body and keeps you running smooth. Take your bridal party to a fancy tea shop (popping up everywhere) and find some fun blends to try. Then get cozy, watch sappy wedding movies on Netflix, and repeat.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bridal, bride, bridesmaids, Fall, health, healthy

Rustic Southern Wedding

November 17, 2014 Leave a Comment

This bride is after our wedding loving hearts with her Southern wedding which she designed all herself. We love when brides handcraft their own style and design into their wedding day. If you love rustic and vintage details as much as we do, then you will fall in love with this beautifully styled wedding. We can not help to notice that the venue location is the perfect match for this gorgeous couple and their rustic wedding. All the lovely details are captured by Jarrett Hucks Photography, who is a new photographer featured on BHL. But for sure will not be the last time, as we are in love with the stunning images and want to share more! For now, start off your Monday with this super romantic wedding and see why we are so obsessed with this stylish bride’s DIY details.

From Jarrett Hucks Photography...

Sydney, a fashion merchandiser and quite the creative person, took it upon herself to design and decorate all things surrounding the atmosphere of her ceremony and reception. Most everything was handcrafted or up-cycled for a very unique wedding experience. One of my favorite things that she had done herself, was an old Globe that she had repainted depicting different things in New York City where they were taking their honeymoon. The train depot itself has a very rustic vibe with plenty of elegance still to be had. Many of the original elements are still in playing at the train depot including the loading doors and ticket station. With hardwood floors and brick walls, it makes for a very dark interior without lighting, but the rafters being covered in twinkle lights helps create a very dreamy atmosphere without the heavily inflated prices of many venues with this type of character.

Photographer: Jarrett Hucks Photography

Venue: Myrtle Beach Train Depot, South Carolina

Filed Under: General, Real Weddings Tagged With: bride, DIY, handcrafted, jarrett Hucks Photography, rustic, South Carolina, southern bride, southern wedding, train depot, wedding

Sneak Peek of TLC’s “Something Borrowed, Something New” Season 3 Episode 5

November 14, 2014 Leave a Comment

Is it Friday already? That gets us excited because that means it time for a brand new episode of TLC’s SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING NEW. We have really enjoyed each episode so far this season. Have you? If you have not checked it out yet, then you must go back and watch them!

Tonight’s episode features bride-to-be, Amber Joi who has worn a few pagent gowns in the past, but never a wedding gown. She is looking for a dress that will compliment her regal venue and easy to dance in all night. Amber is not sure that her mom’s dress (which is handmade by her husband’s grandmother), has all the glam she is looking for. Will Sam find her the perfect dress for her wedding day, or will Kelly wow her with a remake of mom’s bridal dress? What gown will Amber walk down the aisle in? You will have to tune in tonight and find out!

TLC’s Something Borrowed, Something New is on tonight at 10ET/PT. So set your DVR’s, or watch it live tonight.

Here is a clip from tonight’s episode:

Filed Under: General, TV Shows Tagged With: bridal dress, bridal gown, bride, fashion, kelly Nishimoto, Sam Saboura, something borrowed something new, TLC, TV show, wedding