Bachelorette Drinks For The Party

INGREDIENTS
Assorted sorbets (pictured above lemon, coconut, peach and hibiscus)

Chilled champagne or sparkling wine








PREPARATION
1. Place 6 martini or wine glasses in freezer for 30 minutes or until very cold.

2. Fill chilled glasses with 5 or 6 mini-scoops of assorted sorbets, then top each with champagne.







Fuzzy Navel

1 1/2 oz. peach schnapps

fill with orange juice,

stir in highball glass.




Orgasm #1 (Screaming)

2 oz. vodka (screamer)

2 oz. amaretto

2 oz. kahlua

2 oz. light cream

Shake, strain into lowball glass.

Remove vodka for regular.






Orgasm #2

2 oz. Grand Marnier

2 oz. Kahlua

2 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream

Shake, strain into highball glass.

Orgasm #3

2 oz. Drambuie

2 oz. Brandy

2 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream

Shake, strain into highball glass.

Tasty Orgasm

1 1/2 oz. peppermint schnapps

1 1/2 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream

Serve in shot glass.

Flaming Orgasm

12 oz. lager in beer mug

1 1/2 oz. 151 rum

Flame the 151 rum,

Drop it in the beer,

And chug it down.




Birth Control

1 1/2 oz. rye whiskey

1 1/2 oz. gin

serve in lowball glass





That is one mean drink. I suspect it doesn't work very well as birth control. I'd drink a few of those and I'd be flat on my back.



Between The Sheets

1 oz. brandy

1 oz. triple sec

1 oz. light rum






Shake and strain into cocktail glass.



Here is how to make a blow job. This is probably the most popular bachelorette party drink in the universe.

Blow Job

1 oz. Kahlua

1/2 oz. Peppermint Schnapps

Top with whipped cream

Serve in shot glass





With no hands, grab the shotglass with your mouth, tilt your head back and swallow. Be careful the glass shatters easily. (it has happened, really)



Here is my famous banana daiquiri recipe. These were popular back in the 80's when women were far too shy to order a screaming orgasm at the bar.

Banana Daiquiri

4 parts light rum

1 part white creme de cacao

1 part banana liqueur

1 sliced banana




Pour all of the ingredients except for the banana into the blender. Start to blend. With everyone looking say something like "Take that" to the banana and throw him into the blender. Ha! Serve in exotic glass with goofy umbrellas.




Sex On The Beach #1

1 oz. vodka

3/4 oz. peach schnapps

1/2 full cranberry juice

1/2 full pineapple juice

stir in highball glass.



Sex On the Beach #2

1 part cream de cassis

1 part melon liqueur

1 part pineapple juice

1 part vodka

stir in highball glass.








Sex Machine

1 1/2 oz. Kahlua

1 1/2 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream

milk

serve in lowball glass.



Sex

1 1/2 oz. Kahlua

1 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier

serve in lowball glass.


This drink has always been a favorite when you want to get butt wasted. Here are a couple of version. Neither is what any sane person would consider a "light" beverage.

Long Island Iced Tea #1

1/2 oz. vodka

1/2 oz. triple sec

1/2 oz. light rum

1/2 oz. gin

1/2 oz. tequila

1 oz. sour mix

splash of orange juice

splash of coke

shake, strain into soda glass

lemon wedge










Long Island Ice Tea #2

1 1/2 oz. vodka

1 1/2 oz. light rum

1 1/2 oz. triple sec

3/4 oz. gin

1/2 oz. melon liqueur

1/2 oz. sour mix

mix in a highball glass over ice


Most of these drinks taste fairly awful. Their names are similarly vulgar. They might be just perfect for a bachelorette party though.



Flying F_ _ _ k

1 1/2 oz. Sambuca

1 1/2 oz. Jack Daniels

serve in lowball glass



Creamy Bush

1 1/2 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream

1 1/2 oz. irish whiskey

serve in shot glass



Get Laid

1 oz. vodka

3/4 oz. raspberry schnapps

fill with pineapple juice

splash of cranberry juice

stir in highball glass








Hairy Virgin

2 parts light rum

1 part triple sec

2 parts pineapple juice

blend, serve in exotic glass with a (what else) cherry



Hot Irish Nut

1 part Bailey's Irish Cream

1 part Frangelico

(1 part amaretto optional)

coffee

serve in coffee mug



Pop The Cherry

2 oz. cherry brandy, which is hard to find.

fill with orange juice

stir in highball glass

cherry and orange slice



Sit On My Face

1 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream

1 oz. Frangelico

1 oz. Kahlua

serve in shot glass



Tight Snatch

1 1/2 oz. light rum

1 oz. peach schnapps

fill with pineapple juice

stir in highball glass



Virgin

1 1/2 oz. gin

1/2 oz. white creme de menthe

1 oz. forbidden fruit

shake, strain into highball glass

One More Lucky Couple For MYBDD

Well Charlotte we have discovered that there was one more lucky couple that we wanted to give an opportunity to be apart of Marry Your Baby Daddy Day on September
24, 2009.

Our Couple are very special because they have gone through some serious trials and tribulations...They celebrate 25 years of being together. They were once married and had separate because of all types of issues.

This couple did raise their two children throughout all the problems and separate issues that tried to stop them from being a happy family well no more they will be married again on September 24, 2009..

They are blessed with two children ages 20 (daughter) and 19 (son) plus a wonderful granddaughter (17Th months old)...

We like to welcome Patrice Bynum & John Bynum, Sr. (congratulations to the both of you)...









Now the countdown begins we have 54 days to get the couples wedding attire, invitations, favors, honeymoon night, etc and then aisle so they can start their family as husbands and wives in holy matrimony with their beautiful children as a whole family on Thursday, September 24, 2009. "Oh one catch the couples will not know the location of the wedding, reception or the honeymoon until the day"...

Honeymoon Cruise Ideas - 3 Top Tips - Strictly For the Guys

This is for the guys so excuse me if it is not strictly PC. Political correctness has no part in checking honeymoon cruise ideas and it has to be kept secret. OK? So lady readers look away now.

Guys, you love your bride-to-be and you want the best but you are a little short of money maybe?. Never mind. With a little careful planning and tightening of the belt you will be able to WOW your girl with one of the many honeymoon packages available online. But come on...this is YOUR honeymoon and you love your girl and you want the best of course. So here are my 3 honeymoon cruise ideas for you.

Avoid cheap honeymoon packages! They are full of other honeymooners and you want to be alone in that significant world of your own. This is YOUR experience; do not share it with others! Choose from one of the luxury cruise travel packages even if it is for a shorter period. Luxury beats cheap any day.

Avoid late booking. Book well in advance and get the peace of mind knowing that all is well planned. Guess what? You will go around with a silly smile on your face for weeks, secure in the knowledge that everything is sorted out and you have a secret. Make sure you keep it a secret !

Avoid tacky! Knock her off her feet, wine, dine and romance her on one of those luxury cruise travel packages, anywhere in the world. Do the best you can afford for that wonderful woman and treasure the moments for ever.

There you have it guys, my honeymoon cruise ideas. And to you ladies reading this (yes, I know you are there) please do not under any circumstances steal your man's thunder. He loves you and wants the best for you so do not tell him you read this OK? It will be our little secret ;-)


By Jamie Seymour

Men Looking Good

Men like looking good and like looking fashionable too and men fashion is very interesting.
But in the rush for trends they can absolutely forget about things men should never do.

Guys, remember, even one only fashion mistake can ruin your entire look! Here are the most common fashion mistakes men make when dressing.

1. Too many colors
You can attract lots of attention wearing a multicolored outfit but this is hardly the attention you are looking for. Restrict the number of colors in your clothes up to three hues and try to choose simple garments. Contrast colors look great together (for example, blue and orange) but do not use too much of them.
As for the tints which are close in the palette (red, pink), they are rarely combinable effectively.


2. Too many patterns
The most radical choice should be limited to three patterns. But to look really good and appropriate opt for one printed garment and a few solid ones.

3. Too many fabrics
Each fabric belongs to a special ‘type’. So, silk is more official than denim and flax is more democratic material. Leather looks more masculine than tweed.
That is why it is significant to combine fabrics basing not only on their texture and color, but also on the ‘type’.
Besides, one should differentiate between summer and winter wardrobe. It might seem strange but men often wear clothes made of heavy thick material in warm weather.


4. Stains
Before putting the garment into the washing machine one should make sure there are no stains on it. If there are ones they might not wash off. Nothing can be more horrible than a perfectly washed suit with stains.

5. Unseasonable clothing
I know it sounds funny but sometimes one can put on a summer garment during winter or vice versa. To avoid that, separate your clothes seasonally and hang them in different closets.

6. Too long/short pants
Try on pants and jeans before you buy them. If the length is wrong even the trendiest pair will look bad.
Remember that khaki pants and suit pants should not go lower than the upper part of your heel.

Jeans can be a bit longer and cover the heel, but avoid choosing a too long model. Shorter pants will create the illusion of shorter legs.
Ensure that your socks aren’t seen when you walk. And just an inch or two of your socks can be seen when you sit down.

7. Too high waist
If nature granted you with a short torso and long legs you need to wear low-waisted pants with front pockets. However, this model will look perfectly on those men who have an ideal tummy.

8. Length of T-shirt
If a T-shirt is too long one will never be able to tuck it in trousers neatly.
Any top should end right at the middle of the fly. If it is shorter than that, your back will expose each time you bend forward.
Try to find a brand that suits you best. This can take long time but the result will be great.

9. Too heavy top
Bright colors, catchy patterns, provocative words and famous logotypes are great but only in certain situations.

In most cases monotone T-shirts will look much more appropriate.

10. Crumpled clothes
One should be always neat and well dressed. This is impossible to achieve if the man doesn’t iron his clothes.

In no way I want to say that men don’t iron their outfits. It’s just that sometimes men don’t pay attention to details. For instance, crumpled fabric between buttons looks terrible.

If you travel much there is always a problem that clothes can get crumpled after a few journeys.

If that happens, wet the crumpled spot and smooth it with your fingers, then dry it off with fan if you have it.

11. Poorly knotted tie
As practice shows the art of knotting a tie is hard but feasible if you train a few times. And don’t forget that a classic tie should go down to the man’s belt, no shorter or longer.


12. Socks plus sandals
Never ever do that! If you buy sandals forget about socks!
Well, I think this advice will help you look better and more attractive

Fabulous Wedding Pictures - 9 Things to Think About While the Photographer's Snapping

Weddings where the bride becomes a celebrity are all the rage right now. Why be who you are when you can be someone else right? And why not make the most important promises you're going to make looking like someone you're not? Eek.

The other day I walked past a photographer's and there was a picture of a bride, hands on hip, big ol' bouquet of red roses in her hand, and a look that said "Don't mess with me." Really. Is that how you want to be remembered at your wedding?

Or how about those glazed smiles. Why not be happy, teary, ecstatic, overwhelmed, intense... all the things that you are at a wedding. Forget the shots that detail your cummerbund or your hair ornaments. Get the ones that capture your joy!

Why not do something that is going to help your marriage last? Why not take photos thinking about the things that make your relationship fabulous? Those expressions, whether viewed tomorrow or 20 years from now, are going to keep calling you back to how you felt when you got married.


Talk about your wedding ceremony: If you haven't had it yet, whisper how much you're looking forward to hearing your community's reaction to the things you have to say to one another. Or if your photographs are happening afterwards, talk about how awed you were to hear your community promise to support you. Your happiness will glow.
Tell your beloved what piece of underwear you just removed. The sudden intensity of your sweetie's gaze will be worthy of a couple shots.
Find a particularly powerful statement from your wedding vows and whisper it into your beloved's ear, started by the comment that: I can't believe that I get to:
Let yourself experience how incredibly happy you are. Say so. Shout it out! And then have your picture taken!
Be amazed at how it feels to have all your friends and family gathered. Think about who isn't there. Let yourself be just the slightest bit teary.
Warn your SweetPea not to get to tired or too drunk because you have a lovely treat for him/her in the room after the reception. Again, watch those eyes spark.
Allow yourself to feel just the tiniest bit smug that you are this happy.
Reminisce about what it felt like to stand at the end of the aisle and realize that you were about to make your wedding vows to one another.
Giggle about what went wrong in the ceremony. (something always does.)

Have your photographer take pictures of you having a wonderful time, anticipating and reliving the wedding ceremony and your marriage. That will create the most amazing pictures. And you will treasure them forever. And every time you look at one, you'll remember, that's when you told me about... that's when we laughed about... and you'll deepen your marriage with every viewing. That's a portrait worth having. Your photographer will be stunned at how fabulous your photos are. You? You'll be happily married with the pictures to prove it!

Bottom Line?: Give your relationship the chance it deserves to succeed wildly, against all odds! After all, you deserve it. Your relationship deserves it! There's a lot more info to help you create the wedding ceremony of your dreams, the wedding vows of your heart and the marriage of a lifetime over on my website: http://annkeelerevans.org And to help you create the wedding vows that will become the blueprint for your incredible, happily and healthily ever-after marriage, I'd like to invite you to sign up to receive 2 free wedding vow templates: http://annkeelerevans.org/weddings/free Go on! I dare you, be happy together!

The Rev. Ann Keeler Evans, The Wedding Priestess - helping you move from "I do" to happily and healthily ever after!

By Ann Keeler Evans

The Ins and Outs of Creating a Bridal Registry

What a Bridal Registry is:

A bridal registry is a way for brides and grooms to let their friends, family and coworkers – the wedding and bridal shower guests – know what their personal style, likes and dislikes are.

Why to Create a Bridal Registry:
Some brides and grooms choose not to create a bridal registry, claiming they would prefer their guests to choose unique and personal gifts. Without a bridal registry, guests are left in a precarious situation where they can either give money, which not everyone is comfortable with, or select a gift that may or may not be enjoyed by the bride and groom.

Furthermore, bridal registries are more of a help than a hindrance for your guest. You must remember that not every guest will intimately know the brides and grooms likes and dislikes. A bridal registry makes it easier for your guests because they can choose a gift, knowing that it is something you will enjoy.

When to Create a Bridal Registry:
Three to four months before your wedding is usually a good time for brides and grooms to register for their bridal registry. This leaves ample time before the bridal shower and wedding to get the word (of mouth) out about your bridal registry. If asked, you can tell others about your bridal registry, but in general leave it up to your immediate family and bridal party to pass the word around about the bridal registry or bridal registries.

If for some reason your bridal shower will be sooner though, register for your bridal registry earlier – a least a month beforehand. You may also choose to do it earlier if you are having an engagement party (again, create your bridal registry about one month before that event).

Where to Create a Bridal Registry:
Choosing one department store for your bridal registry is easy, as you can really create a one stop shopping experience for your guest. However, smaller specialty stores may better suit your likes and dislikes for the bridal registry.

Remember, you don’t have to choose just one store. Brides and grooms can create a bridal registry at several stores but keep it under four bridal registries – otherwise there are too many options for your guests and it can be overwhelming.

Stores including Linens N Things, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Pier One and Macy’s all have bridal registries. In addition, you can create a bridal registry at some discounters like Target and higher end stores like Tiffany’s also have registries.

Choose stores you like to create bridal registries. Don’t choose a store just because it’s where you mom or sister registered – this is your bridal registry and it should reflect your personal style.

What to List on your Bridal Registry:

A bridal registry usually contains a selection of tabletop accessories like plates, china, glasses, crystal and flatware, in addition to bedding, bath accessories (towels, etc), and kitchen gadgets.

Take into account what you already own. If you have a great blender and a fabulous set of dishes, then don’t register for those items. Also consider that your tastes may change over time. Although you might not be the dinner party type right now, that could change in a few years and registering for items that will help you with that later is a great idea.

Also, be sure to include plenty of items on your registry so that they is enough for guests to choose from. You also might want to check the registry a few weeks before the wedding and add additional items, if a lot has been purchased.


Written by Sarah Caron

Wedding Fashion for Men

As the supporting role next to your leading lady, you'll need to make sure your wedding day attire is nothing less than Oscar-worthy. Of course, there are many things to consider before selecting the perfect style. Time of day and season are crucial factors, as are theme and location.

Below are five Men's wedding fashion trends for this upcoming fall, suitable for a formal, casual, or outdoor event.

The White Wedding

Throughout fashion history the white tie tuxedo has been dubbed the extreme elegance in men's formal wear. Although white is not a typical color worn in fall, it does seem fitting for a winter wonderland themed wedding or perfect against the backdrop of thick sheets of snow. For an updated take on this classic look, try a vest instead of a cummerbund, it will look more slimming and look less dated.

Shop Joseph & Feiss's White Two Button Notch Lapel by Men's Wearhouse and Bella Luna Collection Vest & Euro Tie in White.

The Double Breasted Suit

You can thank Tom Ford and Gucci for the reincarnation of the modern, double-breasted suit. The revamped silhouette has gone from an American box-cut to a more sliming look, with broader shoulders and a slim waist. Look for a double-breasted suit with a "Kent" cut, a style named after The Prince George, Duke of Kent. His infamous suit included a longer lapel line that extended into the waist, instantly adding height and a flattering slimmer waist.

Try Emporio Armani's double-breasted jacket in lightweight raffia, emporioarmani.com

The Monochromatic Man

A monochromatic color scheme looks clean and sleek and yet adds just a touch of modern sophistication. For a casual or daytime event a charcoal suit is completely appropriate over a tone-on-tone shirt set, such as a gray oxford and a long platinum tie.

Get the look with a gray pin-striped suit, $525, by Kenneth Cole Reaction, kennethcole.com. Gray shirt, $250; tweed vest, $415; tweed tie, $125, by Band of Outsiders, bandofoutsiders.com. Metallic silver leather loafers, $480, by Cesare Paciotti, cesare-paciotti.com.

The Skinny Tie Affair

Theme Wedding Cake Ideas

Creating a great wedding theme? Make sure that every detail, right down to your cake, matches your theme. Whether your cake becomes the all out centerpiece of your reception or is just an elegant desert with simple decorative touches, adding a little bit of theme flair to your cake will take you a long way.



Nowadays, contemporary weddings don’t necessarily call for a “traditional” white wedding cake. You can feel free to create a fun cake which expresses your love for your fiancée and culminates your interests. Anything is possible, but remember to show class and style and try to match your cake to the theme of your wedding.






Once you have decided on the theme or decorations for you wedding, take a few minutes and consider how you can create a great look for your cake as well. Just remember to have fun, and avoid themes which may be offensive to some of your guests. Here are a few suggestions:






1) Romantic: Tiered with roses, traditional bride and groom topper and white icing. For extra dramatic effect, add a water fountain and trailing vines.

2)
Holiday
theme: For weddings taking place in winter or around Christmas time, add holly, mistletoe, pine trees, bows, snowflakes and ribbon. For Valentine’s Day weddings, heart and red and pink icing with roses and a bride and groom topper will work great! For Halloween themed weddings, a spooky haunted house cake or an elegant cake decorated with spider webs, fall leaves or candy would be fun.

3) Personalized theme: Add the colors of your wedding to your cake and match it to the color of your bridesmaid’s dresses. Also consider decorating with the same flowers as you have in your bouquet on the cake in icing.

4) Beach wedding: Adorn an elegant white tiered cake with seashells, starfish, seahorses and “sandy” airbrushing. Waves, bubbles, fish, ships and seaweed can also be added for a fun look.


"Article provided by Wendy O."

Featured Wedding Designer Adele Wechsler

Adele started out with distinctive designs that combined fine International laces and fabrics with luxurious yarns in silk, angora, mohair and cashmere. Her quality of work attracted women wanting distincive special occasion wear.


Her fabrics looked fabulous in shades of white and ivory. Her knit ensembles became popular for weddings. Adele had studied at the Natal Technikon in Durban, South Africa, which offered the finest design program in the country. After meeting her husband she joined him in Toronto, Canada. In 2002 Adele expanded her business in the US.

In 2007 Adele worked with Zulu artisans who produced the exquisite beading that adorned the HELLO AFRICA collection. Adele also created the ECO COUTURE bridal wear

as well...

We are feauring her HELLO AFRICA collection this week....

How to Choose Your Wedding Cake

Wedding Cakes

Most brides have dreamt of their wedding day, imagining the gorgeously decorated and decadent cake they will have displayed on a table at their reception site. Most likely they have seen hundreds of wedding cakes at other weddings, in photos in magazines and on television and in the movies. Most of the cakes advertised are glorious concoctions that have numerous tiers, are dripping with pearls, flowers and other small details.

The wedding cake is often the center of attention and something everybody is likely to remember. However, when it comes down to it, and you actually are at the place when you are picking your wedding cake out, besides perhaps an idea in your head or a picture from a magazine you have clipped out, you may really have no clue on how to actually choose your wedding cake.

There are a number of important factors to consider when choosing your wedding cake:

Date and location of your wedding:

The first item to consider is the date of your wedding and where it will be. Some factors to consider are the time of year-if the weather is hot such as in summer time and your wedding reception is going to be outdoors, this can limit you in the types of frostings you decide to select. Butter cream frostings are more likely to drip, ruining your otherwise gorgeous cake.



If your wedding reception is at a hotel or restaurant you may also be limited in whether or not you can even bring a cake in from outside their establishment. Some hotels and restaurants or the caterers you are using may also make

wedding cakes, or even dictate where you get your wedding cake from. They may even charge you a fee to bring in a cake from an outside vendor. If you are having your reception at a restaurant, they may not allow you to bring in a cake from anyone but a licensed baker. If you wanted to make your own cake or have a relative bake it for you, this is a question you need to consider when selecting a restaurant, or who will be baking your cake. You can talk to your wedding coordinator at the reception site to see if they have recommendations about nearby bakers. But do remember that you should also talk to friends and relatives who have used bakers they recommend since the reception site may just refer people they know from the business and who exchange perks and referrals. This may not be a reference for the best baker out there.

Also consider how far away the reception site is from the bakers. There is usually a delivery fee. If your wedding reception site is far, your wedding cake costs can be increased considerably. If your baker does not deliver, this could cause a potential problem. You do not want to have to deliver your own cake or rley on someone else to deliver a cake with more than one tier. You have enough stress on your plate than to worry about the cake being destroyed on its way to your reception site. At least if the baker ruins it, they have to replace it with another one!

Another factor to consider with regards to the date of your wedding when choosing your wedding cake is whether or not the baker you desire to make your wedding cake is booked out. Some of the best bakeries can book out 6-8 months or even a year in advance.

Most hotels, restaurants and other wedding reception sites will charge you a fee for each slice of cake cut. You will want to check with them to see how much. You will also want to ask if they have someone on staff who will cut the cake for you and who is trained in cutting wedding cakes as there is a very special way to cut a wedding cake, especially if you have a large reception and just enough cake to go around. Wedding cake slices are typically much smaller than slices of cake you would cut at home or get in a café. The wrong person cutting your cake could mean a disaster made of your cake and not all the guests getting enough.

How many people will be in attendance at your wedding:

Knowing approximately how many people will be at your wedding is an important factor to consider when choosing your wedding cake. A wedding reception with 25 people will require a smaller cake with less tiers (less money) as compared to a wedding reception with 150-200 guests in which you are most likely going to need at least 3 tiers. Remember, the more guests you have, the larger your cake is going to be.

You should give your baker an idea of how many people will be at the reception, if there will be other desserts such as a Venetian hour and if you want to send cake home with the guests. You will need as many slices as you serve if you decide to do this.


Article provided by K.B.M.

Marry Your Baby Daddy Day Winning Couples

The Winning Couples for MYBDD in Charlotte, NC

Vincell Staton & Gale McDowell
Vonrique Brown & Kaya Carter

Our winning couples have never been married before.


... Gala Affairs By AtUrBest wants to thank all applicants that applied.



Now the countdown begins we have 64 days to get the couples wedding attire, invitations, favors, honeymoon night, etc and then aisle so they can start their family as husbands and wives in holy matriomony with their beautiful children as a whole family on Thursday, September 24, 2009. "Oh one catch the couples will not know the location of the wedding, reception or the honeymoon until the day"...

We would like to thank Herbert White of the Charlotte Post for bringing the story to the Charlotte area.



A little about our couples -

Our first couple Vincell & Gale they have been together for 22 years with five children together. They have lived in Charlotte, NC all their lives.

Gale Age 40 is a Receptionist
Vincell Age 42 is a Cook






Their children ages are 18, 12, 11, 8, 6 (three daughters and two sons).

Our second couple Vonrique & Kaya they have been together for 14 years with four children together. They have lived in Charlotte, NC all their lives.





Kaya Age 27 is a Lead Care Manager
Vonrique Age 31 is a Cook

Their children ages are 12, 9, 8, 7 (three daughters and one son).


First Gala Affairs would like to thank the vendors that have offered the services of their companies to participate in this wonderful event without a blink of any eye...


We have Heaven Sent Catering, April's Floral, Uptown Limousine Service, Always with Love, Photography By Terendius, Rev. Beatrice Hollins of Mt.Pleasant Holliness Church, Rev. Sydney Charnley of Eternity Wedding Ceremonies, EQ Music-DJ -AJ, Maryann of We Cut Cakes, Joyce St. Cyre, of Diversity Den Cafe, Homewood Suites and the Marriott Resident Inn Unvesity Research Park Charlotte, NC.

We like to thank all the family and friends that have made donations to help bring this vision to reality without you and the vendors this would not been able to take place. If there is some people that we haven forgotten, please forgive us but you will be recognized in The Wedding Journal.


"The Art Of Marriage"

The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude
of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating
gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an
angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a
sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in
which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and
the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and
the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner,
it is being the right partner.

"Author Unknown"


A Marriage
By Michael Blumenthal


You are holding up a ceiling
with both arms. It is very heavy,
but you must hold it up, or else
it will fall down on you. Your arms
are tired, terribly tired,
and, as the day goes on, it feels
as if either your arms or the ceiling
will soon collapse.

But then,
unexpectedly,
something wonderful happens:
Someone,
a man or a woman,
walks into the room
and holds their arms up
to the ceiling beside you.

So you finally get
to take down your arms.
You feel the relief of respite,
the blood flowing back
to your fingers and arms.
And when your partner's arms tire,
you hold up your own
to relieve him again.

And it can go on like this
for many years
without the house falling.

Wedding Thank-you's

When should notes be written?

Contrary to popular myth, the happy couple does not have a year’s grace period. All thank you notes should be written within three months of the receipt of the gift. Ideally, a response should be written on the day you receive a wedding gift. If that’s not possible, set a daily goal. It’s a lot easier to write three or four notes a day than to have to write a hundred notes in a month after the wedding!

What stationery should be used?
First of all, stationery is the operative word here: No fill-in-the-blank cards, no pre-printed cards, no phone calls, no emails and no generic post on your website!

Who needs a note?

•Anyone who gives you an engagement, shower or wedding gift, even if you have thanked them in person. Individual notes should be written to people who contributed to a group gift.

•Anyone who gives a gift of money: cash, checks, contributions to savings accounts and donations to charities. Mentioning the amount is optional, but it does let the person know the correct amount was received. You should mention what you plan to do with the money.

•Your attendants. A warm personal note attached to your gifts to your attendants will let them know how much you appreciate their efforts and support on your behalf.
•Anyone who hosted a party or shower for you. Ideally these notes should be written within two days of the event. Each host or hostess should be thanked individually with a note and a thank you gift.

•People who house or entertain your wedding guests. A note and a small gift should be sent to anyone who houses or entertains out-of-town wedding guests.

•People who do kindnesses for you. The neighbor who accepts delivery of your gifts when you are at work; the cousin who supervises the parking at the reception – anyone who assists you before, during or after your wedding.

•Suppliers and vendors. You don’t have to write everyone you hire for services, but anyone who exceeds your expectations will appreciate a courteous note of thanks.
•Your parents or whoever is hosting your wedding.

Ten Do’s and Don’ts of Thank You Notes

1.Do personalize your notes and make reference to the person as well as the gift.

2.Do remember that a gift should be acknowledged with the same courtesy and generous spirit in which it was given.

3.Do be enthusiastic, but don’t gush. Avoid saying a gift is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen unless you really mean it.

4.Don’t send form letters or cards with printed messages and just your signature; don’t use email or post a generic thank you on your wedding web site in lieu of a personal note.

5.Do promptly acknowledge the receipt of shipped gifts by sending a note right away or calling and following up with a written note in a day or two.

6.Don’t mention that you plan to return a gift or that you are dissatisfied in any way.

7.Don’t tailor your note to the perceived value of the gift; no one should receive a perfunctory note.

8.Do refer to the way you will use a gift of money. Mentioning the amount is optional.

9.Don’t include wedding photos or use photo cards if it will delay sending the note.

10.Don’t use being late as an excuse not to write. Even if you are still sending notes after your first anniversary, keep writing!

By Peggy Post

Traditional and Unique Reception Decorating Ideas

Fall is a beautiful time of year to have a wedding, I should know, mine is scheduled for October 2010. Depending on where you live, the weather is mild and the color changes are awe inspiring.

I have looked through hundreds of books, tons of websites, and spoken to many friends, as I'm sure any bride-to-be does, in search of ideas for reception themes and colors. Every bride wants her wedding to be unique as well as a reflection of herself and her partner. Personally, I have
been looking into traditional décor with a little flair. I'm a DIY kind of girl, in my own eyes, my wedding won't be personal to me unless I have a hand in it, or I hand craft it myself.

Champagne Theme: If you're looking for a classic style and theme combination, a champagne theme is always fresh and sophisticated. Champagne color1 is a slightly off-white, light golden color, the same as your favorite bottle of bubbly, and it matches perfectly with pure white as a color pair for your reception.

To take it a step further, think tiny bubbles when designing your reception decorations. For your centerpieces, consider white flowers in a vase with glass beads. Glass beads create a strong base to hold up flowers, and you can use an up light to brighten2 up the arrangement and really make it sparkle. If you're going to use candles, remember that gel candles are ideal in keeping with your theme because they form with bubbles. Try to find gel candles contained inside champagne flutes, and if you can't, you can always buy a kit and make them yourself. I'm sure everyone has received the email about the dangers posed by gel candles and I can assure you, they are no more dangerous3 than regular wax candles, and About.com can verify.

Keep your linens within the champagne color family as well. Beside your necessary linens like tablecloths and napkins, you can use tulle to tie bows4 on the backs of chairs and sachets5 for rice or favors.

The versatility of a champagne theme reception is in the matching of utensils and place settings. Silver or gold silverware will compliment your shimmering décor, along with your cake stand, champagne buckets, and cake cutters.

"Article provided by April Barr"

Eco Friendly Wedding

Your wedding announcement or invitation can set the tone for your environmentally friendly wedding. There are many options today for 100% recycled, partially recycled or completely tree free papers from wedding invitation suppliers. If you are interested in making your own invitations, the choices are unlimitied. Consider all these places for paper on your wedding day:

•engagement announcements
•save the date cards
•shower invitations
•shower thank you notes
•wedding invitaitons
•ceremony programs
•place cards
•menu cards
•wedding announcements
•thank you notes

Many brides today are communicating electronically to cut down on paper and waste. You may be interested in creating your own unique personal wedding website at Wedding Window. No need to know HTML!! There are lots of styles to choose from and it is fully cusomizable and reasonably priced. There is a seven day trial, so you can check it out and see if it if for you. It is a great idea to have one place to put all your information. And at the end of your wedding, they have an option to get an archived copy of the site on CD.










Ceating a wedding that isn't wasteful or polluting is appealing to more couples. The number of earth-friendly products and services is growing, giving the bride and groom a range of options. It is often as simple as buying local. For instance, supporting a local artisan is much more earth friendly than having cheap trinkets shipped half way around the world.

One of the more obvious eco-friendly wedding favor ideas for couples is to give something organic. There are many options if you want to give small trees, seeds, bulbs or plants.

Endangered Species has organic milk and dark chocolate bars which make an elegant earth friendly wedding favor. Each bar features an at-risk animal with a range of colors sure to match your event.

The symbolism and beauty of gifting a tree is certain to thrill your guests. The National Arbor Day Foundation makes it easy for eco-friendly brides to give trees for their favors. The trees are delivered in an easy recyclable plastic tube with your choice of customized label. Your recipients can plant their trees right away, store them in a refrigerator, or grow them indoors for months.

The Green World Project provides live evergreen tree seedling favors. Their motto: By giving trees or seeds to your guests, everlasting memories will take root and grow along with your marriage. The tree can be presented in a stylish tube with directions on how to reuse the tube as a birdfeeder. Very clever!








Favors 4 Wedding has a wide variety of unique wedding favors. From flower bulb wedding favors to seed favors in many design and color options.

One of the best ideas comes from The I Do Foundation's Favors for Charity program. This program allows you to make donations to your favorite charity in honor of your guests. Once you sign up with the I Do Foundation, you decide which nonprofit organization to support with your wedding donation. A great way to give to your guests!

Tender Seed Company has mini plantable seed shape favors and lavender organza favor bags.

Oleg Cassini Wedding Dress Designer

If you’ve seen Oleg Cassini dresses, you of course know that they are quality at an affordable price. Oleg cassini wedding dresses offer you everything you need at a affordable price. You’ll get a quality dress and with a designer look at an affordable price – that’s for sure.

There are plenty of different designs of the Oleg cassini wedding dress, which will appeal to most brides. Maybe you have heard this before but most people would not be aware that Oleg Cassini was the couturier who designed for Jackie O, Marilyn Monroe, and so many other American icons.














If you have decided to get married and your looking for a great deal on your wedding dress, you can’t go wrong with an Oleg cassini wedding dress. Any dress made by Oleg Cassini is one that you can count on for your wedding – they are elegant, stylish and affordable at the same time.


Mostly all Oleg Cassini dresses can be found at David's Bridal Shop.

The Guy Guide to Bachelor Parties

The old bachelor party tradition usually includes lots of drinking, toasting, dirty songs and good gags and, of course, the occasional stripper. But modern bachelor parties can also include anything from a weekend paintball bash to a casual get-together with close pals for a night of bowling and beer.

Whether mellow, or wild, responsibility for organizing the bachelor party usually falls to the best man. Meanwhile, the rest of the groomsmen can usually be relied upon to chip in for expenses.

Since there's nothing worse than a groom in need of a monster hangover cure (brides can be very touchy about this - go figure) the traditional "night before" bash is inceasingly being moved to the week before the wedding ceremony.

For more helpful tips on how to throw a memorable bachelor party or stag night, check out related Web guides offering expert advice and suggestions on entertainment, activities, gag gifts,and other ideas for honoring, and good-naturedly poking fun at, the groom-to-be...



Bachelor Party Guide - From Grooms Online, and a top spot for learning more about throwing a first-class bachelor party bash including tips on appropriately-named party drinks and martini recipes, party planning and activities, and The Skinny on Hiring Adult Entertainment,

The Doomed Groom - Bachelor party central - with a mixed bag of great tips for best man speeches and party ideas, advice on bachelor party trip destinations, strip club reviews and ratings, plus party supplies and gifts in the online store.

Bachelor Party Help - Just what it says, featuring a clickable map for finding strippers in all 50 U.S. states, plus reviews on recommended books, Top Ten party planning and limo hiring checklists, first-person stories, related articles, a bachelor party blog and more...

How to Plan a Bachelor Party - Common sense tips on party planning and financing, with related visitor feedback, and links to more how-to's for the best man and groomsmen.

Guide to the Bachelor Party - A short checklist followed by a handful of reader-submitted bachelor party ideas.

Bachelor Party Tips - Including drinking games, bachelor party gags, gifts, tips on where to go and "some guidelines on where to draw the line..."



Bachelor Parties - A New Spin on an Old Tradition - More on modern bachelor party with tips on alternative party ideas, activities and venues.

Adventure Bachelor Party - Here's a place that will help plan a skydiving, fishing, rafting or wrangling adventure for the guys. Fun that you can actually remember afterward, what a concept! If you are palnning a bachelor bash, stop in and get some great ideas.


"Article provided by Chiff.com"

Alfred Angelo Featured Designer

Our designer pick this week and next since it is a short week will be to Alfred Angelo.


Alfred Angelo offers all styles and designs for all size brides. We are featuring one of the plus size gowns for our plus size brides.


Every bridal gown available in sizes 2-20 and 16W-28W with the Alfred Angelo famous fit.

• They don't charge a premium for women's size wedding dresses.
• Choose the length for your wedding dress - short, regular, long
• Extend your train up to 48" on most gowns.







Satin, Crystal Beading & Sequins
Embroidery with Metallic Accents
Optional Beaded Halter Strap
Semi-Cathedral Train


16W to 30








Ivory/Metallic, White/Metallic, Ivory/Gold Leaf, White/Gold Leaf, Ivory/Silver Frost, White/Silver Frost


Enjoy: we also suggest checking out www.gabayourinnercircle.blogspot.com for interesting reading....