Celebrity Wedding News

LAUREN BUSH & DAVID LAUREN'S WEEKEND WEDDING

Article By: Phillip Brunelle - National Wedding News - www.TyingTheKnott.com

Lauren Bush has officially become a member of Ralph Lauren's family. The niece of former President George W. Bush tied the knot with the fashion designer's son, David Lauren on Sunday, September 4 at Ralph's 17,000-acre Double RL Ranch in the Rocky Mountains, and details of their lavish wedding have been disclosed.

The Bride, Lauren Bush, a 27-year-old model, wore an intricately embroidered Victorian-style wedding dress designed by her new father-in-law, Ralph Lauren, while her 39-year-old groom, David Lauren, sported a vintage Lincoln era-inspired tuxedo. Since the wedding had a black-tie-meets-Western theme, guests attending the Bush-Lauren wedding were dressed in cowboy boots, denim and turquoise jewelry.

Lauren Bush arrived on a horse-drawn carriage, and walked down the aisle with her divorced parents Sharon and Neil. The ceremony itself was conducted by Cantor Angela Buchdahl of Manhattan's Central Synagogue. A reception was held afterward at a nearby barn on a meadow with country singer Michael Martin Murphy providing the entertainment.

Among the 200 guests in attendance were former president George W. Bush, wife Laura and daughters Jenna and Barbara. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as well as Ralph Lauren's family, including David's sister Dylan were also present. Missing out the big day, however, were Lauren's grandparents, George H.W. and Barbara Bush. The elder Bush's said because of the elevated climate of the wedding venue that it would be detrimental to their health had they attended, however they did send a video message.

With Lauren's groom having the same last name as her first name, there has been scrutiny over whether or not the bride would change her last name. "I think it will be Lauren Bush-Lauren," she said. "That's not final, but I think it's nice to have the same name as your husband. I am sort of old-fashioned in that way."




Gene Simmons & Shannon Tweed Announce Wedding Date

GENE SIMMONS & SHANNON TWEED ANNOUNCE WEDDING

Article By: Phillip Brunelle - National Wedding News - www.TyingTheKnott.com



Nearly three decades in the making, Gene Simmons, from the popular rock band KISS, and his fiancé Shannon Tweed are taking their relationship to the next level after finally setting a wedding date, and the couple will soon be Tying The Knott in Beverly Hills, California. Simmons and Tweed will now be amongst the growing list of 2011 High Profile Celebrity Weddings.


Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed are quickly planning the details of their wedding, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 1st, 2011 at The Beverly Hills Hotel, an iconic upscale hotel located on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. How do we know? Well... Tying The Knott has an invitation to the Simmons & Tweed wedding, and of course we're going to share it with you.

The wedding invitation is complete with a sarcastic wedding announcement from their kids, which says: "After 28 years of loose strings, our parents have finally decided to tie the knot. Our mother will share our horrendous hyphenate of a last name and our father's life... well, it doesn't change that much."


The heartfelt wedding announcement from their kids continues on saying: "But we will be united as a family in spirit and in title forever. There will no longer be a Team Tweed or a Team Simmons, but instead a Team Tweed-Simmons, and as annoyingly long as that is, we hope you're on it."

And yes... we have the wedding announcement to share with you too... But don't try printing out the complete wedding invitation and showing up to the Gene Simmons & Shannon Tweed wedding, there will be tight security during the couples wedding. Here's the kids announcement below...

The couple, who live in Beverly Hills, both had several high-profile relationships before they met almost 30 years ago. Gene Simmons had long-term relationships with both Cher and also Diana Ross. Shannon Tweed had a brief relationship with Hugh Hefner during the time she was Playmate Of The Year in 1982. Prior to this, Tweed was in a relationship with Canadian Football League player Ron Foxx who played linebacker for the Ottawa Rough Riders.

Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed have two adult children together, a son, Nick, 22, and a 19-year-old daughter, Sophie. The 62-year-old rock star and the 54-year-old former Playboy Playmate met in 1984 and began living together the following year.

The Tweed - Simmons family stars in the A&E reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels. The season finale of the last season ended with a proposal and the new season will begin with the lead up and preparations for the October 1 nuptials. The season premier will air on October 4 on A&E.

From a Rough Rider.. To Hefner's Playmate Playdate.. To the Rock Star lifestyle of the Rich & Famous.. Shannon Tweed is Tying The Knott and leaving the past behind to begin a journey in life together as the soon-to-be wife of Gene Simmons. We wish you the best - Phillip Brunelle ~ www.TyingTheKnott.com


Tara Reid marries Zack Kehayov in Greece

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Nathalie

On Saturday, August 13, Tara Reid tied the knot with her boyfriend Zack Kehayov on the beautiful and sunny Greek island of Santorini in an impromptu ceremony, just a few hours after she got engaged.

The American Pie actress and her beau wore relaxed and very casual matching all-white outfits. The first pictures of the newlyweds showed a happy bride wearing a belly-baring shirt under a white cardigan and a long flowing skirt holding on her right hand a bouquet of all white flowers. The groom also kept it simple with a classic summer look and a white rose boutonniere. Pictures of the wedding also revealed the gorgeous diamond wedding ring of the 35-year-old starlet.

Reid met her husband- a financial services worker in the Washington, D.C., metro area, in the Deloitte Consulting franchise – back in November in St Tropez. While they were vacationing in Greece, they decided to wed in this romantic location. The blonde actress who will star in American Reunion and the fourth American Pie movie scheduled for next year was previously engaged to talk-show host Carson Daly and to Internet entrepreneur Michael Axtmann.

The low key wedding took place on the roof of the luxury Mystique Resort, in front of the ocean. A celebration in the States will soon follow with Reid and Kehayov’s friends and family.

According to the United States Embassy, the new couple will have to register their Greek wedding to make it official in the US.



Donald Faison and CaCee Cobb Engaged!

We knew and loved him as Carla's goofy hubby Turk on Scrubs, but now Donald Faison is getting hitched in real life. On Friday, he popped the question to CaCee Cobb -- Jessica Simpson's former personal assistant and good friend, reports NYDailyNews.com.

The two have been together for five years, so we're guessing Cobb had a hunch the proposal was coming -- especially because Faison may have ruined the surprise by tweeting this suspicious message that day: "If you like it, then you better put a ring on it." Later, Cobb responded with this sweet tweet: "If she likes it, then she better say YES!

Jessica Simpson and Zach Braff (Faison's co-star on Scrubs) both wished the the couple well via Twitter. "Congratulations to Donald and CaCee on their engagement," Braff wrote. "Just wish I was there to run around you both with sparklers." Well said.

Image via NYDailyNews.com.

How To Pack A Wedding Gown For Flight

Lately young couples are less interested in large, traditional weddings and opt for destination weddings. These are less formal and more relaxed and will allow them to feel comfortable and enjoy themselves without worrying about the wedding etiquette and old fashioned traditions. Plus, destination weddings are more fun and require less preparation. Hence, if you decided to exchange vows on your favorite part of the world then you should pack you things and hit the road. However, remember to pack your wedding dress carefully and without ruining it. A proper packing will protect the shape, color and details of the dress.


Still, if you want to make sure your wedding dress will be easy to transport pay attention when purchasing it. It is recommended to choose a light weight and soft fabric because it would be easy to handle and transport. Also, make sure the fabric won’t wrinkle easily. Chiffon, organza and georgette are the most common and well received fabrics for a destination wedding gown.

If you intend to flight to your dream destination there are a few things you should know before packing you dress. First of all, remember not to let your wedding dresses in checked luggage. You risk having it damaged or even lost. Therefore it is important to reduce its length and take it with you on the plane. It is recommended to ask the airlines what are their restrictions regarding wedding gowns and what are your alternatives. Most US airline stated that wedding dresses should be transported in garment bags of 54’’’long

Begin by preparing the wedding gown. Lay it down on a flat and clean surface and wrap it in white tissue paper. This will allow the dress to keep its shape. You can find special and acid free tissue paper that will allow the fabric to breathe and prevent humidity. Fold the dress so that one side will overlap the other. Pay a significant attention to the train and fold it towards the middle of the wedding dress. Put the gown into a breathable garment bag. This is easy to fold and carry and it will also keep the dress in good shape.

If you are traveling first class you might be able to hang your garment bag into the closet. Each plane has a special part for wedding gowns. In this case it is highly important to write your contact details such as complete name and phone number on the bag.


How To Pack A Wedding Gown For Flight (Source: beachbridetobe.com)
(Source: hpoole.files.wordpress.com),

9/10/11 wedding date: So popular, conjugal, consecutive

By Lini S. Kadaba

For The Inquirer


Wedding date mania is about to hit.

When lovebirds pick the day to seal the deal, they might consider when their eyes first met, or numerals divined as lucky, or a time of year with flawless weather for those outdoor pictures.

But on occasion, a perfect date jumps off the calendar page purely for its novelty. When that unusual sequence of numbers also falls on a Saturday, it's more sought after than a taffeta gown half off at Filene's.

This year, that must-have date is 9/10/11.

Wedding bells will chime aplenty on Saturday, and that means venues are packed, videographers are jammed, bakers are squeezed. Even relatives of the brides are overscheduled, having to choose which wedding to attend on this oh-so-coveted date.

"According to our numbers, it's the most popular date of the year," said Anja Winikka, site editor of TheKnot.com, a wedding planning website that has more than 37,000 members set to take the plunge on 9/10/11. (Meanwhile, 11/11/11 - another number doozy, but on a Friday - came in at nearly 24,000 registered nuptials.)

"Couples want to find meaning within all of the wedding-day details," Winikka said. "9/10/11 makes it feel special and a little more meaningful. It's aesthetically pleasing. It falls on a Saturday, the most popular day for weddings."

Bride-to-be Hilary Kissinger needs no convincing. "I know at least five other couples who have the same wedding date," said the Philadelphia resident.

Kissinger and fiance Tom Connors, however, have come to regret the neat number choice. "We have family members who can't come because they're going to another wedding," she said. "Some are doing our ceremony and someone else's reception. They're making it a wedding marathon."

Dave Williams wishes the couple had chosen another date as well. He co-owns CinemaCake Filmmakers, a Philadelphia-based wedding and event videography business where Connors works as an editor and cinematographer (when he's not getting married, that is).

"It's crazy," Williams said. He has three weddings booked and would have taken a fourth but for Connors, who took along two other employees as his groomsmen.

"That's a whole team," he said, adding that he had to turn away business. "I couldn't convince him to change his wedding date."

Liz Deeny's 9/10/11 wedding was fated, she's sure. Her beau, Jared Trout, proposed on 11/10/09, knowing her "thing with dates ever since I was a little kid," she said.

At first, the Bloomfield, N.J., couple considered a June wedding for this year, but once Deeny saw the 9/10/11 option - yes, a reversal of the proposal date - she had to have it, as she blogged at PartySpace.com, and was willing to wait the extra months. Now, she said the number "is one of the highlights of my wedding," which will take place at the Glen Foerd Mansion in Northeast Philadelphia. It will appear "everywhere. It's on the invitation, the program, the seating chart . . . I'm excited."

Historically, a wedding date often was chosen for its auspiciousness. Ancient Greeks are said to have foretold the fortunate date from pig entrails. Some Asian cultures still consult astrologers to select an ideal date and time for marital rites.

But for many, it comes down to the numbers. Last year, 10/10/10 was a big bridal hit. A few years ago, many betrothed with Chinese roots wed on 8/8/8, a number believed to bring good fortune. And 7/7/7 was an obvious choice.

This year's Big Day falls right before another unforgettable day - 9/11, which marks its 10th anniversary on Sunday. The fact that knot tie-ers have not avoided the weekend perhaps suggests that the country has healed, at least in part.

Mother-of-the-bride Cate Heck of Malvern allowed that some guests have refused to fly back home on 9/11 after her daughter's Saturday hitching in New York.

But Nicole Heck and her fiance Nick Jedinak, who both lived in New York City when the twin towers fell, picked the date after much deliberation. A decade later, they hope their wedding will serve as a small way to reclaim "a weekend that had so much tragedy," Heck said. "It's a nice way to celebrate happy days and happy thoughts."

In the years following 9/11, many wedding vendors offered discounts around the date to attract bookings, said wedding photographer Rebecca Barger, whose namesake business is based in Jenkintown. No more. "I think people don't find a stigma with 9/11," said Barger, who has a gig Saturday and turned down more than a dozen other requests.

Logistics is the challenge for Nancy Bauman. "We're insanely busy on 9/10/11," said the tristate-area sales rep for Gala Cloths, a Maryland-based company that provides table and chair covers and linens. "That one day, we need to be in 15 different locations setting up."

One client alone has a guest list of 340, she said. "That's 340 chair covers in an hour and a half," said Bauman, sounding harried last week.

At Classic Cake in Cherry Hill and Washington Township, bakers will be up to their elbows in frosting as they ready a record 17 wedding and groom's cakes.

One of those orders is for Sarah Carter and Richard Sambenedetto, who live in Gloucester Township. Carter said the couple booked the date a year ago, and even though she will share it with innumerable others, it will still stay special for her and her groom.

"It's memorable," she said. "My fiance would never have an excuse to forget our anniversary."


Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20110907_9_10_11_wedding_date__So_popular__conjugal__consecutive.html#ixzz1XHSUX2B8
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Romantic Evening Ideas

Everybody loves chocolates and flowers but you would need to add an element of interest when you are out dating your partner. Read on to know some interesting and romantic evening ideas that can keep the flame of love burning brightly.


Love is in the air with Valentine’s Day around the corner. With couples planning incessantly to have their best date possible, romance is definitely being expressed through flowers, teddy bears, jewelry and cards! The art of romance needs to be planned at times, if you really wish to impress your date. This does not always mean that every move needs to be planned to perfection but it would certainly help to have an idea of a romantic evening ahead which can even show the level you go to, in showing your appreciation. There are some who prefer to have a usual romantic evening and there are others who would rather have a romantic rendezvous on a deserted island. Romantic evening ideas are aplenty and all you need to do is apply your creativity to have some fun! Try a new approach towards your romantic evenings and watch the glow on his/her face!

Romantic Evening Ideas:
A candlelit dinner is always on the list of many. This time you can plan a romantic evening at home itself. Surprise your partner with some lavish dinner cooked at home. Decorate your room with some rose petals and candles. Play some soft music and pull out the wine glasses. You can have a limo to pick her up. She would be rather dazzled with all the romantic settings you have done at home. Make sure you have some luxurious bath oils and the both of you can have a fun time giving each other a much-needed massage. Cuddle up and watch your favorite movie together.

If you have access to the beach, you can plan a beach outing to one of the not-so-frequented places. Pack a sumptuous picnic dinner. Take along some rugs and sheets. Make a bonfire and cuddle up while watching the sunset together. Take a dip in the azure waters or explore the beautiful surroundings. You can even go for a romantic walk in the water counting the stars! The feel of the sand beneath your feet and the fresh salty air are bound to make this one of the most romantic evenings for you!

If you are plain bored of having a dinner at home or evening dining outside, why not book a room for 2 at a luxurious hotel! This is bound to leave your partner surprised. This hotel can be in your neighborhood as well, and all you need to do is pack some clothes and head out to this place to be pampered in true style. Look for hotels that have spa treatments, which your partner would surely appreciate after a hard days work. Once the both of you have refreshed yourself, why not go shopping at the boutiques within the hotel! Get a super sexy outfit and order for room service. Use this quality time to converse with each other. Leave love notes in some places in the room and get yourself showered with more love and affection once your partner discovers these!

Pick up your date from her workplace and surprise her with a long drive for the evening. Plan for an overnight stay at any weekend getaway places that have plenty of things in store to have fun. You can surprise her further with a bagful of clothing, which she may need for the overnight stay. Play romantic songs, which can be enjoyed by both, and go for a quiet dinner at the resort beneath a star lit sky. Follow this up with an exotic bubble bath in the night and open a bottle of champagne at the end!

Check out the availability of the boat rides and book a snazzy boat and head out for a boat ride into the sunset. Pack your lunch box and enjoy the beautiful environs. Have a romantic chat together and anchor at a beautiful spot. This would let you have a romantic evening in the outdoor, which is spent in connecting with nature and with each other as well.

Planning romantic evening ideas does not mean you need to keep being worried about how things will go. Remember to have fun, as that is the key element to any successful date you could ever have!

By Kashmira Lad

Dilemma: Should I Propose in Front of Her Family & Friends?

Your friends over at marriage.com have recently launched an awesome new version of their site where brides and grooms can ask wedding questions and receive advice from a community of experts. today we’re sampling one of their hot topics pertaining to casual weddings. today, we’re sampling a user question on whether or not the groom should pop the question in front of friends and family.

Boy meets girl. Boy dates girl. Boy falls in love with girl… and wants to spend the rest of his life with her. So he saves up, does research, and buys the perfect engagement ring. Things are going great, (he’s pretty sure she’ll say yes), but there’s just one VERY important detail that needs to be planned—the proposal, of course! Even if you know what you’re going to say, don’t underestimate there where/when/how—any girl will tell you that proposals are a big deal (asking someone to marry you and be your wife is no small feat)! Just take a look at all of the “proposal fail” videos on YouTube—asking in the wrong environment (or at the wrong time) can be downright deadly, embarrassing, or just plain awkward for your future bride.

Here’s one common dilemma prospective grooms often face: Is it appropriate to propose in front of her family/friends? Better yet, is it a good idea? We got that very question from one concerned groom-to-be. Marty W. asked, “Should I propose in front of her family/friends? And should I let them know I’m planning on asking? (I’m pretty sure she’s going to say yes, btw, so no worries!) I was thinking it would be nice if they all came out afterwards and we could go out and have a celebratory dinner. Advice?”

Good question, Marty. We headed to our Marriage.com community to see how engaged couples, expert wedding professionals and married couples were responding—with lots of helpful proposal tips:

Right off the bat, one former groom (now a married man) Dan L . recommended making the proposal mostly private—no family or friends—since it’s a lot of added pressure. Except for maybe a photographer “covertly hidden taking a photo or video of when you get down on one knee”, you really shouldn’t need anyone else there but you or her. And the photo/videos are just a mere suggestion to please her oh-so-curious and excited family (trust us, when she calls them, they’ll want details of absolutely everything—the proposal, the ring, what she said, if she cried, what you said, etc). Just make sure your bride-to-be is the type who loves documenting all of her important life events—you definitely won’t want to use this idea if she’ll find it creepy!

Looking for the perfect balance of a personal proposal (but still want to keep her family in the loop?), take a smart tip from one of our Marriage.com experts, Julie Pryor, who had the perfect solution to this question-popping conundrum. When it comes to proposals, Julie suggested a personal proposal (with “just the two of you”) and then a “celebration with her family for later in the evening or the next day”—a great way to have her family to feel like they were part of their daughter AND future-son-in-law’s intimate moment, without actually having them there! Great idea, Julie.

If you feel like her family would still like to be involved, consider having them hide and wait somewhere (a restaurant, another location, etc) – then when you and your newly engaged fiancée come in, all of you can celebrate together!

In the end, though, we agreed with Roxanna, a user who stressed that it really depends on the girl. She brought up some great points: “Think about it carefully– does she like to celebrate her birthday with all of her family? Is she really close to them– are they the first to hear about all of the big news in her life? Even if those things are true though, she might not want the proposal to be in front of family and friends.” She also mentioned that ideally, the couple should be very close to both families if he’s planning on proposing in front of so many people.

Bottom line? “That’s a lot of pressure, and no matter how sure you are that she’ll say yes, she might want to keep the moment private and special with just you. Think carefully in terms of your relationship and if she would like that type of thing– if you have any doubts, I would shy away from it,” said one smart user. We agree! Thanks to all of the wedding experts and engaged couples at the Marriage.com forum for your ideas and advice! Want to see what people are saying about this topic? Check out the conversation here.

Re-Post From The Man Registry
Sunday, August 7th, 2011

The Monster-In-Laws

Planning a wedding and finding the right vendors are difficult enough; imagine over-controlling in-laws who are out for blood! You're already struggling to reach a plateau of understanding with your partner over the nuptial details, you don't need to battle it out with an over-zealous mother-in-law. This is your wedding. However, you can't disregard the fact that your partner's parents are also going to be yours for the rest of your life. You don't have the luxury to pick and choose; which inevitably means that being considerate to their needs and opinions is imperative for any future peace you hope to acquire. If you ignore them and reject their help (even if it is obnoxiously demanding), you will reap the consequences for years after your wedding day.

Learning how to accept their help without giving them the reigns to run the show, is crucial for putting together a successful event.

Having a prosperous wedding does not equal a visually stunning affair. Making everyone content, not just you and your partner, is what makes a wedding good or bad. If you choose to go through with something that upsets your family without presenting the issue with them beforehand, you're asking for drama. The religious aspects of the wedding are vitally significant; if you choose to go against your parent's beliefs, you need to sit down with them and discuss your reasons for doing so. Nobody is expecting you to be obedient, but they do want you to be respectful. You can't expect to make everyone happy in every situation, and the best way to anticipate these qualms is through courteous confrontation.

The most problematic situation is one where parent's contribute money to the wedding and then expect to have complete access to every decision; from flowers to reception site to the bridal attire. A donation to the matrimonies shouldn't necessitate ownership over this event in any way – it's your wedding and you need to make them aware of this. Letting them make some suggestions for color arrangements or bands you should use is acceptable, and even if you don't like their ideas you need to still “welcome” and include them in the plans. This doesn't always mean that you need to use their propositions, but be polite. The minute the mother-in-law pulls out a clipboard and starts saying things like, “this is how we should do this,” that's the moment to replace civility with firm resoluteness. But as a daughter or son-in-law, this isn't your place. You don't want to get into a fist-fight with your partner's parents months before the big day.

It is now your partner's responsibility to sit his/her parents down and let them know that although their help is greatly appreciated, it's not their wedding. Acknowledge the fact that they want to participate in the plans; this shows that they care and that they're excited. However, you need to make them understand that it's hard enough to compromise between two people, let alone four or six. Offer to give them a small portion of the wedding that they can coordinate on their own. This will make them feel part of the nuptials and keep them out of the way of the more important things.

Mother-in-laws tend to be the hardest obstacle that couples have to face. It is even more problematic if the mother of the groom doesn't have a daughter – she can tend to stifle the bride and try to stand in where the bride's mother should. It's common for the groom's mother to even become jealous and obstinate towards the relationship between mother and daughter. You need to try to include the groom's mother in certain parts of the wedding plans wherever possible, but it's not your place to deal with an in-law who's out of control. The mother of the bride has natural rights to the wedding and this should be regarded. The sooner the groom's mother realizes this, the smoother procession of the wedding plans.

Dealing with partner's parents isn't always an enjoyable experience, but it's necessary. After the wedding his/her family will be yours, and vice versa. Every other holiday you'll be celebrating at their house and when you have a baby, they'll be there in excitement and love. Remember that when you plan the ceremony. They've been waiting for this day just as long as you have. Give them some attention and respect and start the wedding planning! .

Grooms Checklist

The wedding day is a special day for a couple; this is a day that they will remember for the rest of their lives. It is therefore important for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to look sharp and alert. The bridal party is chosen because they are trusted by the bride and groom therefore, they occupy a place of honor; they should do their best to make sure the big day is as flawless as possible.

For groomsmen, duties they have to undertake include organizing the bachelor party, ushering guests on the wedding day and taking care of any small details that may arise. Because they are responsible for most of their expenses that are incurred during the wedding, it is important for each groomsman to plan and budget well in advance so that they are not caught off guard.

The first step is to gather as much detail about the wedding as possible; the date, the location, the time so that you know if you will need to arrange accommodation, tuxedo specifications and any other special instructions. When you have all these details down then try to find the best deals around by for example browsing tux magazines and shops and then find a tux that fits the groom’s specifications and that is within your price range. If you intend to get in shape in time for the wedding, then you enroll into a program as soon as possible.

Between four and five months to the wedding, you should be making last deposits and measurements on your tux, finding reservations for hotels if the ceremony will be held out of town, getting together airfare and putting in a request for time off at your job.

Three months before the wedding should find you arranging for a caretaker for your apartment and pets while you’re gone, making final hotel reservations and air tickets. You should also find out the rates of car rentals in the city that you are traveling to.

You should actively be looking for a gift wedding a couple of months to the wedding. If you find an ideal wedding then buy it then because it might not be available a few days to the wedding. Better safe than sorry. The wedding gift should be adequate enough to show your gratitude for being appointed a groomsman as well as to send good wishes to the couple throughout their marriage. If you are using the airport to travel, the gift should not spark off metal detectors. This is the time to really give a lot of thought on the gift that you are going to give the couple.

All travel arrangements should be final when the wedding is a month away. Check in with the groom to find out if there are any last minute changes. When the wedding is a week away everything should be in place; all your clothes as well as a suit to wear to the rehearsal dinner and your tux.

On the day of arrival, perform all your duties as delegated. After the wedding, return the tux and write thank you notes to the bride and groom.

By Jason Hennessey
Wedding Source

Seven Pointless and Painful Wedding Traditions

African-American couples jump over the broom, Jewish couples dance the Hora, and my own parents’ wedding involved my mother wearing a special hat while old ladies sang a Polish folk song around her. Not to mention the traditional Polish vodka-drinking competition.

Wedding ceremonies are ruled by traditions, most stemming from the couple’s ethnic heritage, their religious affiliation, or where they live. Many wedding traditions reflect deep ties to our culture and community, but like anything else, weddings evolve as the times change. Some old-fashioned traditions have become meaningless actions that don’t have much relevance to our modern lives. As summer approaches, many of us will be sweating through a wedding or two, and we definitely wouldn’t complain if some of these outdated rituals fell by the wayside.

1. Throwing the Garter
This tradition supposedly originated in a belief that it was lucky to grab a swatch of the bride’s clothes. Somehow, it metamorphosed into the groom removing the bride’s lingerie and throwing it at all the single men, bestowing nuptial luck on the catcher of the garter. It’s archaic at best, just plain uncomfortable at worst. Who wants to watch a woman hoist her skirts above her head on what is supposedly the happiest and most dignified day of her life? And what single man actually wants to catch the thing, anyway?

2. Smashing Cake in Each Other’s Face
It’s your wedding day, you’re all dressed up, and you’re being watched by all of your nearest and dearest … now is not the time for a food fight. The lore surrounding cake-smashing describes it as stemming from an ancient Roman ritual where cake was thrown at the bride to ensure fertility. While it’s nice that the tradition has become a little less violent, covering each other in pastry is pretty silly and juvenile. Married couples have the rest of their lives to throw things at each other, and if you’re paying top dollar for photography, you don’t want all your pictures to show a face full of frosting.


3. Catching the Bouquet
What is it with weddings and projectile accessories? The tossing of the bridal bouquet, another remnant of distributing the bride’s “lucky” clothes to the anxious single ladies of the audience stopped being compulsory when women stopped rushing to the altar. I have been to several weddings as a single woman and not once has the dance floor been full of women anxious to catch the darned thing. And for those who are looking to get hitched, nobody wants to pop the question to a girl who’s writhing and scrapping for flowers on the floor.

4. Ginormous Wedding Parties
Having a best friend or two stand with you at your wedding is powerful and meaningful, but does anyone really need an entire army of attendants? It’s doubtful that any marauding hordes are going to try to bust up the wedding. Most friends are delighted to help with the shower or bachelorette party if they can, but are perfectly happy enjoying the ceremony from the sidelines. Plus it saves them from spending $250 on a dress or renting a tuxedo.

5. The Bride’s Parents Footing the Bill
This relic of a time when girls were used as bartering chips just doesn’t fit in with modern families. The bride’s family doesn’t have to show their appreciation to the groom for taking their daughter off their hands. Few modern weddings are paid for solely by the bride’s parents; most are financed by the couple themselves, in conjunction with their parents. If everyone is able to contribute to the affair, they should.

6. The “Dollar Dance”
It’s nice to want to drum up a little cash for the bride and groom as they start their new life together, but charging guests $1 to dance with them for sixty seconds just feels chintzy. At the end of the night, what difference does $47 really make? Wedding guests already bring gifts and well-wishes and don’t want to feel like they have to make extra donations.

7. Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamonds may be “forever,” but they haven’t been that way for very long. The De Beers company created the engagement ring rush in the early twentieth century as a way to boost sales. Their PR machine placed diamonds in Hollywood films and advertised diamonds as the ultimate expression of love and fidelity. Americans bought it hook, line, and sinker, becoming the world’s largest market for diamonds. Actually, diamonds aren’t even all that rare, but diamond miners control the supply to artificially inflate prices. Especially since people have become more aware of diamonds’ origins in conflict-ravaged Africa, some people are opting to avoid diamonds in their engagement jewelry.


What was once fashionable and expected doesn’t have to rule how couples celebrate their marriage nowadays. Many couples now write their own vows or choose exciting locations for their ceremony, rather than follow the usual traditions. Having cupcakes instead of cake or wearing dresses in colors other than white are other ways that people create the wedding they want.

Ultimately, it’s up to the couple to decide which traditions they want to include in their celebrations and which traditions to leave out. It’s no more necessary to put a sixpence in the bride’s shoe than it is to save a piece of wedding cake until the first anniversary. And any tradition that’s special and meaningful to the bride and groom will seem special and meaningful to their guests, no matter how many bridesmaids there are, how cheesy the first dance is, or how many undergarments get tossed into the crowd.

By: Allison Ford
Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22360/76067-seven-pointless-painful-wedding-traditions

- Honeymoon Giveaway - Top Destination Weddings: Italy

Destination Weddings - Comprehensive Honeymoons - Vacation Planning

1-866-726-9090

Italy has so much to offer – the food, the wine, the historic cities and rustic country, and the friendly people. Be prepared for lots of hugs from strangers when you announce you’re getting married while in Italy. One way to host a destination wedding here is to rent out a large private home for you and your guests – there are many to choose from throughout the country. Or, book a Bed&Breakfast to enjoy local home-cooking and local expertise on what to see and where to eat. You really can’t go wrong.

A happy medium may be Aranjaya, a luxury villa on a family-run three-hundred acre citrus estate in Sicily. Your guests can sip chianti by the large infinity pool under swaying palm and blood-orange trees, play tennis on the grounds, or drive five miles to the nearest village. It’s perfect for a destination wedding party to take over the entire place. Sicily is also home to La Plage resort, a waterfront luxury hotel that opened only a few years ago, with sixty guestrooms and five private villa suites, ideal for destination wedding groups.

For brides who dream of having a wedding in Tuscany, the spa town of Monsummano is gorgeous. If you can’t master the basics of Italian in time for your trip, book your wedding party at the Villa Lucia Bed and Breakfast – the owner is a former restaurant owner from California. Weddings at the Villa Lucia take place in an olive grove with a view of the Tuscan countryside. Wherever you want to travel, Elite agents will pair you with professionals who will be able to help you – in English – to put on your perfect wedding.

Let Elite Travel help you plan your perfect destination wedding. It will be the most relaxing wedding you’ve ever been to!

Top Destination Weddings Guide

View the other destination wedding locations on our list.


Mexico

Jamaica

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Grand Bahama

Dominican Republic

St. Lucia

Yucatan Peninsula & Cancun, Mexico

Tahiti

South Africa

Fowl Cay


Sponsored by Elite Travel
www.honeymoongiveaway.com
www.elitetravelgroup.net

We are EXPERTS IN customized HONEYMOONS AND "FREE" DESTINATION WEDDING packages. We bring together an exciting range of products and special offers to suit your honeymoon needs with your budget in mind.

HONEYMOON GIVEAWAY- Top Destination Weddings: Mexico

Destination Weddings, Comprehensive Honeymoons, Vacation Planning

1-866-726-9090

Mexico is our top destination for weddings, honeymoons, and vacations because Mexican properties offer great value for your dollar. To the East, you have Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula sporting everything from world class resorts, to wild nightclubs, to ancient Mayan ruins. There really is something for every type of traveler, which makes Mexico one of my first recommendations for destination wedding parties. The other reason we love Mexico is that you'll spend less time traveling - it's close - and more time enjoying your destination.

While a Mexican honeymoon is hotter than the queso on your nachos, getting married in Mexico presents some challenges. The easiest way to have a beautiful destination wedding south of the border is to wed legally in the U.S. and have a symbolic or religious ceremony at the location. Otherwise you have to worry about translating documents, blood tests, chest x-rays - and every Mexican state has slightly different requirements. You don't need to add that to your already lengthy wedding to-do list.

Mexico has some of the most beautiful, and least expensive, all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, and many offer great deals that your travel agent will be able to access for you. Azul Sensatori on the Riviera Maya is a stunning property with an authentic feel and wonderful service - you'll be greeted with champagne on arrival. We regularly receive enthusiastic feedback from brides and honeymooners we send to the Dreams Resorts in Cancun, Tulum, and Puerto Aventuras. Dreams Resorts schedule only two weddings per day and make extra effort to personalize each one. Whether you're looking for spectacular beaches, a range of activities to please family, friends, or yourself, want to experience Mexico's history and culture, or just want to sip fruity cocktails by the sea to recover from your wedding - Mexico has it all.

Top Destination Weddings Guide

View the other top destination wedding locations on our list.


Jamaica

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Grand Bahama

Dominican Republic

St. Lucia

Yucatan Peninsula & Cancun, Mexico

Tahiti

Italy

South Africa

Fowl Cay


Sponsored by Elite Travel
www.honeymoongiveaway.com
www.elitetravelgroup.net

We are EXPERTS IN customized HONEYMOONS AND "FREE" DESTINATION WEDDING packages. We bring together an exciting range of products and special offers to suit your honeymoon needs with your budget in mind.

It’s Your Wedding, Too: What are You Riding Off In?

One of the main things that most people overlook is the wedding car. For the bride, generating a fantastic entrance is important; from the moment that she arrives in the church towards the moment that she faces the groom in the end of the aisle, all eyes are on her. However, right after the vows have already been swapped and the company have cheered, the happy couple’s exit really should be just as impressive as the entrance, and what better means to accomplish that than in a limo, classic car, or antique car?

Renting a car for your wedding is very popular and common these days. There are many companies that offer a lot packages either by the hour or four hour mininum.

Not all limousines or rental services are the exact same. There is a wide range in the quality of the vehicles along with the level of professionalism and reliability offered from business to firm. You ought to call a number of various businesses just before you decide which to pick, and have an notion of what you’re trying to find in a limo. These factors will allow you to make your choice:

Spending budget This can be a really essential factor to think about, as your spending budget is a limiting factor for both the size of the limo as well as the time period of the rental. Most limousine businesses rent out their cars for a minimum of three hours and cost more for their products and services during the night than they do in the day.

Size The size of your limousine depends upon how you intend to make use of it. If you want to transport the entire bridal party from the ceremony to the wedding reception, you’ll want a huge, spacious vehicle, proportionate towards the size of the party. However, if the automobile will only be used to carry off the wedding couple at the end of the night, an inferior vehicle will suffice if the couple is on a budget.

Style There’s much more to think about than just seating capacity when picking a limo for your wedding. As an example, even though black limousines are one of the most common, you might prefer white for your wedding. Not all limo companies carry white vehicles, so you could need to call around. If a limo isn’t your style, ask the company what other luxury vehicles they provide.

Finally, make you sure you call two days before your wedding to confirm that you car will be there the day of the wedding. This way you will avoid in any complications. However, professional these companies are always make sure that everything is good as you expected. In addition, before choosing a wedding car make sure to get in contact with previous clients who used the services before or check their Web sites and go through customer feedback.

Confessions of a Bitter Bridesmaid : What Not to Do to Your Friends

Sitting at the kitchen table with my flip-flopped feet stuck to the floor (due to the previous evening’s margarita party), I joined my roommate for our usual Sunday morning hangover breakfast. As the conversation swayed between a discussion of men’s general deficiencies and the deliciousness of the bacon, we suddenly realized that the following weekend would not be filled with our familiar cycle of binge drinking and shame. Why? Because my roommate had to attend the most insidious of late summer rituals: a wedding.

I don’t really hate weddings as a rule. Sure, I may be a cynical, spinster-in-training who often scoffs at the idea of romantic love, but I’m always up for a good party. The problem is that weddings frequently become nightmares. The potential for fun exists, but it depends on so many variables and things often go terribly wrong. First and foremost, the only way to have fun at a wedding is to have the least amount of responsibility possible. That means that you are not in the wedding party.

My friends are all getting to be of a “certain age” and seem to be making a panicky rush for the altar. Last summer I was invited to three weddings, one of which required me to be a bridesmaid. This was to be my third stint as a bridesmaid and I have to admit that the idea of wearing a matching dress with two other women did not thrill me. But I agreed to be an adoring bridesmaid yet again, because the fact is, one can simply not refuse the bridesmaid invitation. Those are the rules.

My role as bridesmaid ended up being incredibly stressful. For starters, the bridesmaid’s dress, which was sent to me in the mail, was lost by Canada Post. This led to a frantic last-minute scrambling to find a sea-foam green, strapless dress smack in the middle of wedding season. This is my idea of hell. After a thorough investigation into the most obscure bridal shops of southern Ontario, I ended up buying a showroom dress that happened to be the exact dress I needed for the wedding. The only problem was that it had the words “SAMPLE DRESS” stamped in big black letters on the back. My solution? To paint over the letters with fabric paint, in an attempt to camouflage this potentially embarrassing detail. Luckily it worked and the wedding guests didn’t notice anything unusual as I walked down the aisle on the big day. But after the amount of stress and anxiety that resulted from the lost dress, I developed a real distaste for the bridesmaid ritual. I dared to ask the question (although not to the bride): “Who the hell really cares about all of this?”



The thing is, many people care about it. There are entire TV programs dedicated to the subject of weddings and wedding planning. Bridezilla has become a commonly used term in pop culture. Why? Because women often turn into monsters when it’s time for their “special day.” It is clear that men and women experience weddings differently. Most men are pretty relaxed about the whole ordeal, whereas women often plan things down to psychotic detail. My most common perspective of weddings is from the bridesmaid’s position. And I would like to clarify something once and for all: Being a bridesmaid is not an honour. It is mostly a pain in the ass. Even women who do not fall under the category of bridezilla will usually expect too much from their bridesmaids. Here’s a starter list of things that are required of you:

· Buy the expensive dress that you will most likely never wear again.

· Buy shoes of a specific colour to match the dress that will undoubtedly be impossible to find.

· Organize a stagette party that involves all sorts of penis paraphernalia and inevitably includes annoying drunk chicks in feather boas and tiaras who haven’t been out at a bar since their first year in university.

· Go for pedicures/manicures/facials with all the girls prior to the wedding. If you don’t, you are somehow a disgrace and disappointment to bridesmaids everywhere.

· On the day of the wedding, get an up-do that will include over fifty bobby pins being plunged into your scalp.

· Get your make-up done by some recent beauty school grad who is set on making you look like a drag queen.

· Prepare and deliver a speech about the purity and integrity of the couple’s relationship in front of hundreds of people, even if you don’t think the marriage will last more than five years.

Then there is the inevitable point when you are asked to catch the bouquet. This is possibly the most nauseating part of the whole experience. “Will all the single ladies come to the front of the room?” Read: “Will all the lonely women who can’t maintain a relationship for more than three weeks please come to the front of the room?” Besides all of this, you have to dance with sweaty Uncle Dave to Old Time Rock and Roll, which actually ends up being the highlight of the evening. Doesn’t this all sound completely ridiculous? Doesn’t it seem like too much to ask of a person? Then why do so many women insist on the tiresome and antiquated bridesmaid ritual?

I don’t have the answer to that question. It continues to baffle me. Their future husbands certainly aren’t forcing them to do it. It is my understanding than men could really care less about these kinds of things. Do brides secretly want to get revenge on friends for past wrongs? Or maybe it’s a reaction to the masculinization of women and gives the bride-to-be a chance to surround herself with hyper-feminine things and act like princess for a day. Regardless of the reasons, I would like to formally beg women to stop putting their friends through this traumatizing ritual. Every time I open my closet, I am reminded of my past experiences, as my old bridesmaids dresses hang there like abandoned chiffon carcasses that will never see the light of day again. But I am personally taking a stand. I will never do it again, no matter who asks me. I have done my time.


By: Zoe VanGogh
Divine Caroline
Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22052/36223-confessions-bitter-bridesmaid-do/

Ronnie Polaneczky: Store dresses down bride for being a lesbian

THIS IS ONE of those stories that make me want to say "I'm sorry" to gay people for the nonsense they endure from some heterosexuals who give the rest of us straight people a bad name.

So please, Alix Genter, accept my heartfelt apology that you were denied the chance to purchase the wedding gown of your dreams from Here Comes the Bride. The manager of the salon, in Somers Point, N.J., said she didn't want to be associated with your pending "illegal action."

Yep, that's actually how she referred to your wedding, next July, to your longtime partner (whose name you asked me to withhold in this column, as she's publicity-shy). You plan to apply for a civil union in New Jersey, where you live, and to be formally wed in New York, which just legalized gay marriage. But you're also arranging a big, blowout ceremony and reception for 200 at Normandy Farm in Blue Bell, where your family and friends will toast your commitment.

"We are very fortunate in that our families love and support us," you told me yesterday, from your apartment in Highland Park, N.J., near Rutgers University, where you're completing your Ph.D. in history. "They're so excited about our wedding."

And so it came to be that last Saturday, you were at Here Comes the Bride with a cheering section of six well-wishers helping you try on dresses: your mom and dad, your aunt, a cousin and two friends of the family. Yours is the kind of big, engaged clan in which everyone's involved in everyone else's lives, in a good way.

"The fact that even my dad would come to a bridal shop - that should tell you something about how close we all are," you said of your family members, who hail from Huntingdon Valley but spend weekends in Ventnor (hence your bridal shopping at the beach). "I spend almost every weekend with them at the Shore."

Last Saturday's trip to Here Comes the Bride was a typically fun outing. Your mom packed little "gift bags" of muffins and other munchies, and a neighbor contributed a bottle of champagne. Donna, the store manager, asked you not to eat in the salon - "The dresses are white; we don't want stains," she told you - so you saved the party for afterward.

By then, you had reason to pop the cork: You'd found the dress you wanted, but wondered if the manufacturer could use a more-lightweight fabric in the version you'd wear next summer. Donna promised to investigate, and you left the store, delighted.

So how weird it must have been to get a call on Tuesday from Donna (she wouldn't tell you her last name, and she wouldn't tell me, either, when I spoke with her yesterday), and to have a conversation so different from the one you had with her on Saturday.

Apparently, Donna was stunned to learn, after reviewing your customer-information sheet, that you're a lesbian. On the paperwork, you'd crossed out the word "groom" and written "partner" instead, and then inserted your fiancée's name.

By Ronnie Polaneczky, Daily News Columnist
Pilly.com

Simple Ideas for Wedding Table Decorations

Your reception tables will form the main feature of your reception room and as such will dominate your scheme. Choosing wedding table decorations can give you many different options from the simple and inexpensive, to the elaborate and luxurious.


Decorations come in many different forms and the only limit really is your imagination. Choosing unique and personal table decorations can be one of the fun parts of your wedding planning and certainly one of the elements that you will take the most pride from on the day itself.


I always think that when it comes to decorations it is a good idea to think outside of the box and look beyond the norm for inspiration. Interior magazines are a great source for finding decorative ideas and resources, whilst wedding magazines will help you with the look and style of your wedding tables.


Keep your color scheme in mind and your wedding theme if you are having one. The most important consideration (apart from your budget) is the style of your wedding and adding in some personal touches. With this in mind it is a good idea to avoid shopping at bridal boutiques and wedding websites and instead hit the high street for some unique and quirky items.


Gone are the days when every wedding reception was decorated with a plethora of white paper bells and balloons. Today’s bride wants something far more chic, elegant and unique and which her guests will be talking about for years to come. The high street presents many different opportunities to find special items which youcould use for decorating not only your tables but also your room.


If you are using many flowers then look for some unique vessels to put them in. From glass vases to ceramic dishes, metal bird cages to old, hollowed out books, let your creativity flow and come up with something uniquely different for your floral arrangements.


Check out dollar stores for budget candles and tea lights, as well as pretty glass holders which could also be used for your wedding favors. Vintage china and glassware is also a nice idea for a wedding day with an informal feel and looks very pretty when you coordinate other details such as flowers, ribbons and linens. You could also make your own table linens such as over cloths and napkins from inexpensive fabrics sourced from the high street.


Other table decoration ideas include battery powered fairy lights in glass vases, scattered flower petals or table crystals and elaborate arrangements of feathers, painted twigs and even confectionary!

By Georgina Clatworthy,
Wedding Source

Celebrity Wedding News

Sherri Shepherd has been giving us all the details on her wedding to Lamar Sally via her gig on The View, but now that the wedding has happened (August 13) - what's next? You can watch her wedding when it airs on the Style network.

Sherri Shepherd married TV writer Lamar Sally in a Chicago-based ceremony on Saturday, August 13.

Sherri Shepherd was walked down the aisle by her six-year-old son Jeffrey in Chicago on Saturday, straight to her love Lamar Sally. The couple's wedding has been a hot topic on The View, with Shepherd sharing details of the big day with curious fans.

Ever the funny gal, Sherri Shepherd hit up her Twitter during the day. "Sitting in the room in my gown waiting for Sal & groomsmen to take their pics ... can't let him see me b4 the wedding ... but I'm bored as heck," she tweeted at one point.

Later on she tweeted, "What happens when you are in your wedding dress and you have to tinkle? Uh-oh!"

You can watch all the details leading up to the wedding and the big day on the Style network September 13. The wedding will be featured in Life and Style on Wednesday.



Eric Benet gets married to Manuela Testolini

On July 31, Eric Benet tied the knot with long time girlfriend of the past 4 years Manuela Testolini at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, Southern California. The R&B singer divorced from actress Halle Berry in 2005 after 4 years of marriage while Manuela Testolini was previously married to music legend Prince from 2001 to 2006.

The two stars announced their engagement back in November 2010. Eric then proposed to Manuela during a romantic dinner with the love song Never Want to Live Without You that he wrote especially for her on his latest album.

The couple exchanged their vows during a very intimate gathering in front of 150 family members and close friends including David Foster, Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson, Matt Boner, newlywed Niecy Nash and Access Hollywood host Shaun Robinson. The reception incorporated elements of Manuela’s Italian and Egyptian heritage but also of Eric’s Southern roots.

The bride, the Founder and President of In A Perfect World (a charity that empowers children to become responsible leaders) and Gamillah, Inc. (a company that makes designer candles and oils), looked gorgeous in an unique mermaid style wedding gown designed by Monique Lhuillier with a two-piece corset and skirt with some crystal embellishment and a veil. The 40 year old groom wore a classic Lanvin tuxedo.

At the end of the evening, the newlyweds surprised their guests when they announced that they are expecting their first child together.



Zara Phills & Mike Tindall

Zara Phillips, eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, wed Mike Tindall, captain of England’s rugby team, on Saturday in a private ceremony in Edinburgh’s Canongate Kirk, Scotland.

Philips, a 30 year old world-class equestrian, met Tindall, 32, in 2003 during England’s Rugby World Cup campaign where Prince Harry introduced them. Philips, who is 13th in line for the throne, does not have a royal title.

The Bridesmaid’s Bill of Rights

On behalf of brides everywhere, I would like to officially apologize to the bridesmaids. I apologize for the taffeta, the butt bows, and the uncomfortable shoes you’ll never wear again. I apologize for choosing to express just how much your friendship means to me by making you wear an ugly dress and dance with my weird, unsociable cousin. I’m really, really sorry.

Well, although I’ll apologize on behalf of other brides, I haven’t technically done any of these things to my own bridesmaids. (Not yet, anyway.) But wedding season is starting, and you can bet that for every sane, reasonable bride out there, there’s a crazy person stomping around on a power trip, having royal freakouts about the wrong color shoes, or forcing her bridesmaids to paint the grass at the ceremony site a prettier shade of green, like on an episode of Bridezillas. Bridesmaids may be obligated to put on a smile and a strapless gown for a day, but nowhere is it written that they have to put up with abuse. Before you perform one more thankless wedding errand (or before you even agree to be a bridesmaid at all), be sure to know a bridesmaid’s unalienable rights.

You have the right to know what you’re getting into.
Being a bridesmaid in a wedding is an honor, but it’s also a commitment, and before you agree, it’s fair to ask the bride about what she expects. Some brides expect their bridesmaids to throw multiple showers and help them with each and every planning decision. Some brides just want their bridesmaids to show up and get the dancing started. No matter what the bride wants, it’s better to find out sooner rather than later. You can’t possibly know whether you’re up for the task of being a bridesmaid until you know exactly what that task is going to entail.

You have the right to have a life—and to have it come first.
Don’t tell the bride, but the only person who considers her wedding to be a big deal … is her. While she’s dreaming about floral schemes or linen rentals, you may be dealing with schoolwork, work stress, or family obligations. Don’t feel bad if you can’t drop everything for each and every vendor meeting, dress fitting, or menu consultation. Your life—whether it’s your kid’s school play, your family vacation, or just your night to relax—can come first.





You have the right to adhere to your budget.
Yes, being a bridesmaid means that you’ll be incurring some expenses, but you’re under no obligation to take out a second mortgage to make sure your friend has her dream wedding. Whether emergency car repairs have left you unable to afford a five-star bachelorette weekend or you just don’t want to spend more than $150 on a dress, you don’t need to explain or justify your decision. If she’s a good friend, the bride should already have some idea of your financial situation and what you can or can’t afford.

You have the right to not wear an ugly dress.
Since you’re buying your own dress, you should have at least some say in what it looks like, whether you want to be able to wear a regular bra or you think tea-length skirts make you look dumpy. Some brides like to make the dress decisions themselves, and in the case of large bridal parties, that’s often the easiest solution, but any bride worth her salt will acknowledge her bridesmaids’ likes and dislikes, as well as their budgets. While it’s impossible to please everyone all the time, you should expect the bride to at least make an effort to take your opinions under advisement and choose something flattering.

You have the right not to be a servant.
Bridesmaids traditionally help with some of the wedding chores, but if the bride expects someone to go running all over town on her behalf, performing a laundry list of errands, then what she really needs is a wedding coordinator. Bridesmaids are not just a free source of unpaid labor.

You have the right to an opinion.
If the bride wants her bridesmaids involved in decisions, then she’d better expect real opinions. No one likes showing up to dress fittings, florist appointments, or other wedding to-dos just to have her each and every idea shot down. Even if the bride doesn’t ultimately take your suggestions, you should feel like your opinion is valid and valued


You have the right not to play therapist.
Sometimes it falls to the bridesmaids to help run interference on a pushy relative or keep an eye on the underage cousin with the fake ID, but asking them to mediate long-standing drama between parents or siblings is too much to ask. When it comes to grudges, feuds, misbehaving, or untrustworthy relations, the couple should handle these problems themselves.

You have the right to have fun.
At the wedding, it’s not the bridesmaids’ job to be at the bride’s beck and call the whole time, so let loose and enjoy yourself! Sure, you’ll hold the bride’s dress if she has to use the restroom, and you’d be happy to help with a few small tasks, but remember this: unless you’re getting paid to be there, you’re there to have a good time.

You have the right to a non-lame gift.
After a year of planning, celebrating, reassuring, and obsessing over someone else’s wedding, it’s okay to be disappointed if you get a lame, impersonal gift that seems hastily picked out of a catalog. Who wouldn’t expect more from a close friend than just a polka-dot beach bag with your initials embroidered on it? Even if the bride blew her budget on imported Peruvian orchids, she should still take the time to find a thoughtful and personalized gift.

You have the right to say no.
No one has the obligation to be a bridesmaid. If you suspect that the impending wedding will stretch beyond the limits of what you can tolerate or afford, don’t be afraid to say no. It’s better to decline gracefully from the start than to risk ruining the friendship by harboring resentments along the way.

A bride’s bad behavior usually stirs up only one thing in the minds of her bridesmaids: thoughts of sweet, sweet revenge. So, for ladies who treat their bridesmaids like handmaids, be prepared for your comeuppance. For those ladies about to squeeze themselves into unflattering dresses, we salute you.

By: Allison Ford
Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22052/99463-bridesmaid-s-bill-rights


I'm a staff writer here at Divine Caroline. I lived in New York City for 10 years, where I tended bar, worked as a film and theater critic, did freelance writing, had lots of brunch, and fell in love with NY1's dreamy morning anchor, Pat Kiernan. Although I miss Manhattan, I love San Francisco, along with all of its amazing Mexican food. (Seriously--if I thought I could survive by eating tacos and quesadillas every day, I would definitely try) I also have a serious sweet tooth, and anyone who brings me real English Cadbury chocolate can be my new best friend.

I love cooking and baking, playing my piano, watching House reruns, watching my cats hunt bugs, and scuba diving, and my favorite places in the world are Hawaii and Newport, Rhode Island. But nothing beats the the experience of reading a good book in a quiet room.

If I wasn't a writer, I would apply to be a quality assurance expert at Ben & Jerry's. If you'd like to be privy to my innermost thoughts (or if you'd just like to receive updates of weird news stories and cute animal videos), come follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/allibird.

press release

Aug. 11, 2011, 7:30 a.m. EDT

Zale Partners with Vera Wang to Offer Exclusive Bridal Jewelry
Renowned designer to launch "Vera Wang LOVE" collection of diamond engagement rings, wedding bands and solitaire jewelry available only at Zale.

DALLAS, Aug 11, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Zale Corporation /quotes/zigman/131594/quotes/nls/zlc ZLC +5.77% and Vera Wang today announced a partnership to launch a new, exclusive collection of diamond bridal jewelry.

The new collection will be called "Vera Wang LOVE" and will offer a variety of diamond engagement rings, matching wedding bands and solitaire bridal jewelry to be available exclusively in Zale stores throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico beginning this fall.

The partnership builds on the strengths of both brands, as Vera Wang is one of the most recognized and acclaimed designers in the world, especially known for her exquisite designs of bridal gowns, and Zales, The Diamond Store, is one of the most recognized North American jewelry brands.

Each piece in the Vera Wang LOVE collection will come with a certificate of authenticity, verifying it as an original design by Vera Wang. Each ring will include the Vera Wang LOVE logo engraved on the inside and every engagement ring will include a unique blue sapphire.

"Creating a line of beautiful diamond engagement rings and bridal jewelry is a natural extension of my passion for designing bridal fashion," Ms. Wang said. "I searched for a jewelry retail partner who met my quality and design philosophy and found Zale to be a perfect match."

"There are two iconic names associated with bridal engagements and weddings, Vera Wang and Zale," said Theo Killion, Zale Corporation Chief Executive Officer. "There simply isn't another designer in the world who matches the Vera Wang name for bridal design. The exclusive Vera Wang LOVE collection will allow us to provide our customers with Vera Wang's unmatched sense of design and the high quality our customers have grown to expect from Zale."

The new Vera Wang LOVE bridal collection is scheduled to arrive exclusively in Zales retail stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico in October 2011, just in time for holiday engagements, and in Peoples retail stores in Canada in early 2012.

About Vera Wang Group

Vera Wang Group designs, markets and distributes collections of women's ready-to-wear, cocktail attire and bridal. Vera Wang Licensing LLC, the licensing division of the company, has selectively granted licenses for the manufacture and distribution of fragrance and beauty-related products (Coty Prestige, Inc.), eyewear (Kenmark Group), china, crystal, silver and gifts (WWRD), fine papers (William Arthur), mattresses (Serta), bedding (Revman), Lavender footwear (Brown Shoe), luggage (Hartmann), flowers (FTD), and Barbie (Mattel). In addition, Vera Wang on Weddings was published by Harper Collins in 2001. In 2007, the company partnered with Kohl's to introduce Simply Vera Vera Wang. In Spring 2011, Vera Wang launched her highly anticipated inaugural collection for David's Bridal, White by Vera Wang, which brings the acclaimed Vera Wang aesthetic to a new set of brides. For more information on Vera Wang, please visit the company's website at www.verawang.com .

About Zale Corporation

Zale Corporation is a leading specialty retailer of diamonds and other jewelry products in North America, operating approximately 1,845 retail locations throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as online. Zale Corporation's brands include Zales Jewelers, Zales Outlet, Gordon's Jewelers, Peoples Jewellers, Mappins Jewellers and Piercing Pagoda. Zale also operates online at www.zales.com , www.zalesoutlet.com , www.gordonsjewelers.com , www.peoplesjewellers.com and www.pagoda.com . Additional information on Zale Corporation and its brands is available at www.zalecorp.com .

SOURCE: Zale Corporation




Zale Corporation
Roxane Barry, 972-580-4391
Director of Investor Relations
rbarry@zalecorp.com
or
Vera Wang Group
Priya Shukla, 212-575-6400 x4661
Public Relations Director
pshukla@verawang.com

Source: St. Kitts Tourism Authority- Leticia Young & Raymond Mohan

New York (June 8, 2011) – St. Kitts was the center of attention as The St Kitts Tourism Authority hosted a congratulatory cake-cutting ceremony for the lucky couple officially married as part of the Caribbean Fair held at Grand Central Station in New York City.

Bride and groom Leticia Young and Raymond Mohan were officially married in a public wedding on Wednesday afternoon as part of CTO’s Caribbean week celebrations in Manhattan. The Caribbean-American couple received congratulatory remarks in person from Senator Ricky Skerritt, Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and St. Kitts tourism stakeholders, including Tourism Authority CEO Mrs. Rosecita Jeffers, welcomed the newlywed couple to the St Kitts booth under an elegant lattice canopy draped in gauzy white fabric.

Underneath the canopy, two chairs were set for the couple in front of their two-tier white wedding cake, which was donated by Kantours and Nancy Lowell presented the couple with their honeymoon, a 5-day stay at the historic Ottley’s plantation Inn. Just behind the couple, St. Kitts’ backdrop featuring the new branding and logo was featured prominently as they cut their cake. Also on hand to present complimentary airfares to the couple from American Airlines were Andrew Rowe, Business Development Manager for Associations, Conventions, and Groups, and Johna Johnson, Director of Sales-New York.

“Our feature participation in today’s wedding ceremony reinforces our marketing strategy to highlight St. Kitts as a premier romance, wedding and honeymoon destination”, said CEO Jeffers. “We hope the newlyweds enjoy a wonderful honeymoon experience in St. Kitts, exploring all of the charms of Ottley’s Plantation and our unique island destination.”

Throughout the day, dozens of consumers visited the St. Kitts booth and registered to win a two-night stay at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino plus round trip tickets on American Airlines and a bottle of Brinley Gold Rum. Representatives Patrice Henry and Chantelle Byron from the St. Kitts Tourism Authority’s New York office greeted consumers and potential travelers who stopped by the booth to inquire about the destination, providing them with information and a first-hand experience of warm Kittitian hospitality.

The wedding and subsequent cake-cutting ceremony were part of the Caribbean Wedding Celebration held during the CTO sponsored Caribbean Fair, which is a full-day promotional event for the Caribbean as part of Caribbean Week in New York, held this year from June 6-11, 2011