Lovetripper Interview: Katrina Marie Designs
Reaching back to the past for inspiration, Katrina Marie Designs offers timeless bridal attire. Each creation a vision of velvet and lace, the design house fashions frocks for a complete "I do" experience, from bridesmaids and wedding dresses to honeymoon lingerie. In the following exclusive
Lovetripper interview, designer Katrina Jacobs gives advice to brides who dream of a theme wedding.
Photo courtesy Katrina Marie DesignsLabels: Wedding dresses
posted by Grace Sydney @ 1:12 PM
Lovetripper Interview: The Riviera Hotel's Royal Wedding Chapel
Having appeared over the years in such cinematic fare as
Ocean's Eleven,
3000 Miles To Graceland and
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, The Riviera Hotel and Casino is a celebrity in its own right. However, couples are the stars of the show as the bride walks down the red carpet which leads to her leading man at the
Royal Wedding Chapel. In the following exclusive interview with The Riviera Hotel's Client Relations Manager, find out how this vintage Vegas venue can play a role in your wedding day.
Photo courtesy The Riviera HotelLabels: US and Canada Weddings
posted by Grace Sydney @ 11:36 AM
80512: The Pampered Chef and Celebrity Planner Help Plan Celebrity Events for Real Couples
You've followed the celebrity weddings--whether the summer ceremony of Tony Parker and Eva Longoria or the winter nuptials of Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelly--and wondered if your wedding could ever match the weddings of the stars.
According to The Pampered Chef and wedding expert Debi Lilly, founder of A Perfect Event and party planner for Oprah Winfrey, you can have a celebrity style wedding without a Hollywood budget.
"You don't have to be a celebrity bride to have a wedding worthy of making headlines," says Lilly, who has worked with many red carpet clients including Brooke Shields, Debra Messing, Cartier and others. "It's easy to take popular Hollywood trends and incorporate them into your wedding. That is why I'm working with The Pampered Chef, to take great pieces that go beyond the kitchen to help make your wedding -- the ultimate entertaining occasion -- everything you want it to be."
According to Debi Lilly, there are three concerns for every bride. "Ceremonies are usually very similar, so I tell brides that the 'three Rs' of any wedding - registry, rehearsal and reception - really provide the opportunities to set your wedding apart," said Lilly. "Those three pieces of your celebration are essential. Your registry is something that's going to help you start your life together and the rehearsal and reception are key ways to personalize your day and make it special," the planner says, pointing out that The Pampered Chef has a wedding registry and couples can work with their own personal consultant or chose to register on the spot. Either way couples can notify friends and family with complimentary registry announcement cards and e-mails.
In terms of rehearsals, one celebrity rehearsal trend that can be recreated on any budget is a backyard party or barbecue--it keeps the reception casual and saves the more formal event for the wedding day. "I tell my couples who are hosting a barbecue for their rehearsal to purchase nice serving pieces and stands, like those from The Pampered Chef's Simple Additions collection, to pull the event together," says Lilly. "It makes sense to invest in items that you can keep for years. Just think of all of the future parties that you will be able to host without any worries!"
And for receptions, the celebrity planner says, "Receptions vary widely from couple to couple, and that is what makes them exciting to guests. And they're a great way to infuse celebrity inspired elements such as themes, centerpieces and favors. Brides can go online to find information and inspiration for celebrity wedding ideas that will fit into their day."
Lilly's favorite celebrity wedding reception elements include:
The Lounge Reception: Hollywood is all about being seen at trendy night spots, which is one reason that lounge receptions are popular with couples who prefer a modern edge and an overlay of glamour for their weddings. These receptions forgo a formal sit-down dinner in favor of passed hors d'oeuvres and interactive food stations such as a taco bar, candy bar or mini-hamburger stand. In keeping with the trendy theme, lounge receptions typically start later and are more interactive, with guests mingling throughout the night.
Do-It Yourself Floral: Instead of engaging a costly florist with a high profile client roster, consider making your own arrangements. Look for photos of celebrity reception centerpieces in wedding and entertainment magazines for inspiration. Arrangements can be made by purchasing flowers and decorative items and then utilizing a piece like The Pampered Chef's Trifle Bowl which has a removable stand, letting the bowl sit either low or high to create different visual effects. At the end of the reception, these centerpieces also make a nice gift for those who helped you with the wedding.
Favor Fun: Wedding favors are a memorable way to say thank you to guests for being part of a couple's special day. Celebrities have been giving favors that tie back into the overall theme of their wedding. For example, if the wedding is outdoors, like Jerry O'Connell and Rebecca Romjin's, they will give guests flip-flops or fans to keep them comfortable, or if it is at a vineyard, they will give wine openers and stoppers.
For more information:• visit
http://www.pamperedchef.com
Labels: Gifts and Registries
posted by Lovetripper.com @ 2:45 PM
80511: Is the Economy Impacting Weddings?
The slowing US economy is impacting many businesses but how about the wedding industry? A recent survey done by the National Association of Catering Executives says business is going strong. About 88 percent of those surveyed say they're not seeing an increase in cancellations of weddings due to the economy.
Some are seeing brides trim back the spending somewhat. While 52 percent of those surveyed said they are not seeing a decline in wedding spending, 48 percent said they are seeing declines in wedding expenditures. Fifty two percent said they're seeing more clients book weddings on Fridays and Sundays to avoid the premium pricing of a Saturday wedding. Also, 62 percent of the respondents said that wedding clients are purchasing less expensive meals and avoiding luxury items.
posted by Lovetripper.com @ 1:52 PM
80508: Designer Creates Custom Jewelry Creations for Bridal Parties
Long a symbol of everlasting love, cherubic charms hover over a heart-shaped locket on the aptly-christened Cupid necklace, a creation of Brooklyn-based jewelry designer Nicole Anderson.
Making her debut as an exclusive designer for Mademoiselle Jewelry, an online purveyor of fashion accessories, the Brooklyn-based artisan is experienced in the art of concocting custom-crafted creations for bridal parties.
We found a bevy of bridal baubles at Mademoiselle Jewelry for cost conscious couples. A sterling silver charm of a bride and groom clasping hands, dainty wedding bells or celebratory wine glasses, priced between $8 and $12, makes a sentimental souvenir of the special day, while a bangle bracelet suitable for an engraving or blush pink crystal earrings are angelic accessories for a flower girl.
Couples can also find affordable wedding bands as unique as their union, hand-crafted of tungsten carbide, stainless steel and sterling silver, their costs ranging from a budget-friendly $27 to $231 for their most ornate design, made of 14 karat gold and tungsten carbide.
For more information:• visit
www.mademoisellejewelry.comPhoto courtesy Mademoiselle Jewelry and PRWeb.comLabels: Rings and jewelry
posted by Grace Sydney @ 11:21 AM
Colorado Bridal Show Planned for Destination Brides
If you're considering a Rocky Mountain destination wedding, here's the event for you: the Rocky Mountain Wedding Showcase. Held in Winter Park and the Fraser Valley, this two-day bridal show will help you make decisions on everything from florists to photographers to venues.
When: May 31-June 1, 2008.
Saturday Events: The Showcase kicks off with a welcome reception on Saturday, May 31 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Five Mountain Tavern at the Vintage Hotel in Winter Park Resort. Free VIP site tours of local Grand County ceremony and reception venues will also be offered during the welcome reception.
Sunday Events: On Sunday, June 1 from 12 – 5 p.m., events take place at the Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash. Brides will be able to gather information for every wedding day detail from the dress to florists, caterers and photographers to venues for the ceremony and reception. Bridal World will be featuring a bridal gown sale; brides to be can try on, purchase and take a dress home with them the same day. There will be a free food and wine tasting, and every bride who attends will receive a free professional engagement photo session, with a personal sitting and four to six shots to take home on CD, courtesy of www.OurWedd.com. Additional prizes include a drawing for a romantic weekend getaway for two as well as a $1,000 cash prize. (You can enter both days.)
Sponsors: The event is sponsored by the Winter Park & Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce, Winter Park Resort, Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Iron Horse Resort, Party Time Rentals, Pick Me! Wedding Coordination and Floral Design, Wild Horse Inn and the Grand County Tourism Board.
Registration: Registration is free, and can be found at
www.playwinterpark.com/events or by calling 1-800-903-7275.
For more information on Winter Park & The Fraser Valley:• visit
www.playwinterpark.com • call the Winter Park-Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-903-7275
Labels: US and Canada Weddings
posted by Lovetripper.com @ 8:40 AM
80504: Preparing a Best Man's Speech
We've been in this situation before: you've been asked to give a wedding speech. Whether it's you or your guy who has been asked to give the best man speech for a wedding, we know you're in a quandary: you want to do a good job...but you have no idea what to say. Right?!
About the Best Man's SpeechThe role in the best man speech is to express all of the guests' best wishes to the bride and groom at the start of their married life together. You can tell personal stories about your own friendship with the groom but you will also remember that you are standing up there on behalf of everybody present at the wedding. You want your speech to be memorable, and traditionally it should be funny in places--but that doesn't mean telling stories that are so embarrassing that they might disgust the bride's grandparents or make your best friend the groom never want to speak to you again!
Quick and Easy Ways to Prepare the SpeechUnless you're a natural born speaker, you have two options for preparing your speech:
You can go to the public library and look for books on wedding speeches and toasts. Copy everything that seems like it might be useful. At the end of this process you should have a couple pages of notes...take them home and add some funny stories about your friend and some compliments to the bride-to-be (note: don't tell stories about the bride-to-be: leave that for her friends!)
Grab a low cost package of speeches and toasts so all you have to do is pick one out and add the bride and groom's names. You can mix and match sections from different speeches if you want, but you do not need to. You can get complete tried and tested speeches this way. You can get a package online in digital form so you don't have to spend hours copying out of books, and you will be fully prepared and able to enjoy the wedding without worrying about what people will think of your speech.
The most important thing is to get it done ahead of time. Don't wait until the night before the wedding...get busy!
Resources for Downloadable Templates for Best Man's Speeches:1. All Types of Wedding Speeches: This site sells Best Man's speeches (and other wedding speeches); you'll find 20 pre-written speeches, 100 toasts, bonus jokes, and more.
2.Wedding Speeches & Wedding Toasts: This ebook includes Best Man speeches with 20 speeches, 50 classic toasts, and speeches broken down by length (one-minute, two-minute, three- to five-minute).
3. Classic Best Man's Speeches:This package includes 19 pre-written speeches, wedding toasts and tasteful jokes, and a guide to public speaking.
posted by Lovetripper.com @ 8:30 PM
