What a great New Jersey wedding Ceremony!

Stilettos and sod just don’t mix, but if you’re having a garden wedding, your hi-heeled  walk down the aisle may include a trot on the turf…..not only for you, but for your bridesmaids as well. And maybe your groomsmen…who am I to judge.  These great little thingies can solve that problem! 

Solemates are tiny plastic sleeves that slip discreetly over your heels and keep you grounded on all terrain. They would make wonderful gifts for your bridal party, and they’re cheap to boot!    

Your walk down the aisle doesn’t have to be a walk, really……when you’re choosing the music for the processional, recessional, and any music during the ceremony itself, make it music that is as individual as you are!  This video says it all!  I just hope their ceremony was as cool as their processional!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

In your bag of wedding of wedding day tricks;  White Out! For scuffs on your stilettos, dots on your dress, lipstick on his shirt and a hundred other little spotty things that can come between you and pristine whiteness.

Chris and Joe, my cool cool couple from last year, asked everyone to dress in white for their reception, and it was marvelous. When I entered the reception space, I saw 200 guests, all in white, drinking Rose Champagne!  It was visually stunning, and as stylish as the couple themselves. (I, of course, was in black….).  On each table was a little basket of White-out, Stain Sticks, and Clorox pens!  In addition to being very thoughtful, it was a huge conversation starter! 

This being said, if you drop Merlot down your bodice, you’re on your own. How ’bout a nice pinot grigio?

I know. You have a million things on that “to do” list, and they never seem to go away, no matter how hard to try.  It can get overwhelming and guess what…….it doesn’t go away! The “Wedding To Do list” will morph into the “After the Wedding To Do List” and then, it becomes the plain old “To Do list”, enhanced by the milestones of your life; buying a house, changing jobs, having children, and just the happy everyday experience of being married.

But don’t get overwhelmed….write down EVERYTHING…you have to do. (or you can use Ta Da list, an online listmaker which is so simple and so cool!)Break the big giant tasks into pieces; 4 “tasks” of addressing 25 invites instead of 100 (or instead, you could make that task, “Call Therese at Bella Scrittura to hand calligraph our invitations”).  Take really complicated jobs and disect them by part; (’pick 4 New Jersey Wedding Officiants”, then, “interview 4 New Jersey Wedding Officiants”, then, “call Celia to book”……), so you have manageable chunks that can be accomplished. Make some chunks bigger than others; a single phone call can be a task!

Then, every day, commit to crossing three things off the list. You’ll feel so, so good!  And in no time, you’ll have room on the list….for NEW things!

Tradition would have it that you would save and freeze the top layer of your cake to share on your first anniversary. EWWWWWWWWW FROZEN YEAR OLD CAKE!!!!!!!!  Who would do that and why?

Well, this practice can be traced to a couple of traditions. The most popular is that the top layer can be shared on the first anniversary, so the couple can relive their wedding celebration.  And as cakes become bigger and taller, the top layer is often not needed to serve the guests.

It’s time to  reinvent that tradition. Pick a wonderful, quirky flavor for the top layer; something you both love, but possibly 150 of your nearest and dearest might not. Enjoy the top layer of your cake together (maybe as your honeymoon breakfast?) and then order a brandy new replica for your anniversary. Tasting it again will be a pleasure, not a chore!

One of my more resourceful brides actually ordered a chocolate swirl pound cake for the top layer, and then her and her new husband made French toast out of it for their first home made breakfast!  What a great idea! Wedding Cake French Toast!  I LOVE it! 

When you think about your wedding reception, it can seem completely overwhelming. There are a multitude of choices to make, but right on the top of the list is what kind of format you’re  considering for the celebration. (This may make one reception venue more appropriate than another, in terms of budget, guest count, formaility, or timeframe.)  There are so many ways to host your guests beyond simply a  sit down style dinner or buffet stations. Of course, there is the option of having an extended cocktail hour, a brunch, or a fabulous dessert party, but you might want to consider  going “family style”.  You can choose to serve one course this way, or make it the theme for your party, just for fun.  This  will give your guests a chance to break the ice and get to know each other. Sharing a meal together is part of the fun of the party; I actually have a couple who  met as they fought over a meatball…..love that passion!

You might choose a  beautiful salad or pasta  with luscious toppings; maybe a feast of dishes that just keeps coming. (A “tapas” menu is perfect for this!)  Make sure that the platters are easy to be passed around from guest to guest, and don’t pick choices that are too drippy or sloppy to serve; linquini marinara is probably not a good idea.  Your caterer or banquet manager can guide you as you choose a varied menu, and your guests will have a ball!

We never like to see a “tip cup” on the bar at a hosted event like a wedding, but this might be an exception that warms everyone’s hearts and does some good in the world.
Advise your bartenders that soliciting tips is not what you had in mind,and take care of them ahead of time. Then station a big brandy snifter (or dog bowl!) at the bar, and a photo or two from either this wonderful charity that does beagle rescue , Puppies Behind Pars, Unicef, or any other cause that is dear to you. At the end of the celebration, you’ll have a great donation,and you can thank your guests for their generosity in your thank you notes.

Now that I have your attention, I want to recommend a totally great way to spend an evening….with Carson Kressely, and his wonderful show, “How to Look Good Naked”.  You can access the the past episodes through the link, and once you watch one episode, you’ll want to watch all of them.

Maybe nothing is more nerve wracking than the search for your wedding gown. There are a million choices, they are all expensive, and it is a once in a lifetime cameo for which you want to look your best. Add to this the flourescent lighting, three way mirrors, and the saddistic system of sizing (you know; you walk into the bridal salon a size 10, and you’re trying on size 20 wedding dresses…..) and what should be a total pleasure turns into a frustrating assault on your self esteem.

So watch this show; watch all of the episodes, over and over again. Kressely takes normal women, undresses them, teaches them how to love their bodies (all shapes and sizes) and yes, look good naked! It is a complete hoot, and I guarantee you’ll look at your body with new love and respect. And then you’ll go shopping!

 It is! And your guests have traveled to be with you for this important day. What a nice touch to welcome them to the church, temple, field or backyard with a nice cold glass of something. At a recent wedding, there was an antique wooden wagon stocked with jars of iced tea, lemonade and water.  My friend Dawn, at Main Street Catering  sets up a beautiful table with giant glass jars of lemonade and iced tea, decorated with flowers and lemon leaves. (You might want to add a light sangria or punch. )  You could also ask your catering staff to pass a signature drink , maybe in your wedding color, as  your guests arrive.  You don’t want to get too involved with opening the bar or complicated refreshements, because it will be hard to get  your guests’ attention back for the real main event!  Your wedding ceremony!  (Now, I couldn’t let that one go, could I!)  Your thoughtfulness will be so appreciated!  (The beautiful lemonade bar photo is from a great planning site called Project Wedding, a site with a million great photos and ideas, and coincidentally, 15 recent reviews of yours truly