Are you planning your honeymoon, while planning your wedding? There are so many choices for honeymoon destinations. We’ve found that the groom is usually in charge of this task. Grooms, Liberty Travel is here to make your life easy.

The experts at Liberty Travel are America’s Vacation Experts. With 59 years of experience, 800 vacation experts, 169 stores and growing, you’re sure to find the perfect destination and package of your dreams.

Choose from Hawaii, Europe and The Bahamas. Liberty Travel can even arrange a Sandal’s Resort Honeymoon for you. Your possibilities are endless. Their website highlights the widest range of destinations and travel industry news. You can even find your own local travel expert. With 169 locations, they are sure to have an agent near you. Why not browse their Honeymoon Brochure to learn more? Better yet, sign up for their Honeymoon Brochure for tips and news.

Why navigate the web and try to book your flights, hotels and excursions on your own? With Liberty Travel, you can do it all in one place. Grooms…..visit Liberty Travel today, and impress your bride with the most memorable honeymoon vacation. She’ll be very impressed.
*Sponsored Endorsement

One of my favorite Southern California Bridal Salons is having an amazing sale. Winnie Couture is offering a limited sale. Run to the Beverly Hills store. It’s so gorgeous there. White and pink, with chandeliers everywhere. You’ll feel like a princess, receive the best in customer service and save on your dream gown.

David’s Bridal is at it again. I already knew they offered invitations, and that they were affordable. But, now they have turned affordable into stylish! David’s Bridal Invitations are now available by color, style, theme and price. Their website is attractive and easy to navigate. You’ll be pleasantly surprised when you discover the vast choices available to brides today. 

Their exclusive new line is called DB Exclusive. Wait until you see these contemporary invitations. The envelopes are lined, many have embellishments and the colors are vibrant and lively. They offer complete sets that include invitations, response cards, thank you cards and escort cards.

 If you are in the market for affordable solution to creating a comprehensive look to your wedding stationery, look no further. Imagine how impressed your guests will be when they receive your stunning wedding invitation. When they arrive at your wedding, they’ll smile when they realize their escort card matches the invitation. After the wedding, a coordinated thank you card will arrive in their mailbox.

Everyone will think you spent a fortune. Only you’ll know that it’s smart to think affordable.
*Sponsored Endorsement

 
Bridget & Alex - Mexican Tradition

Southern California is a melting pot of beautiful people. We are a collective group of various races, cultures and religions. It’s one of the things I love about my job. With every new couple I meet, I learn some new tradition they want to incorporate into their wedding. I’m consistently challenged with blending cultures together, while respecting the traditions of each family. It got me thinking about how many beautiful rituals we’ve seen along the way. I decided I would share them with you. From time to time, we will feature a tradition from one of our real weddings. You’ll learn what that tradition means. Perhaps, you’ll be inspired to come up with a new tradition of your own. After all…..every tradition had a beginning. We hope you embrace the beautiful cultures we’ve had the honor to experience. If you have a tradition you want to share, please comment or email me. We’d love to share it with our readers.

In honor of my Latin culture, I would like to begin with THE LASSO, which is celebrated by both Mexican and Philipino cultures.

As part of the ceremony to symbolize unity, a large loop of rosary beads or a cord is placed in a figure eight shape around the necks of the couple after they have exchanged their vows.  

A special person/couple (usually called Sponsors or Padrinos), places the lasso around the shoulders of the bride and groom, groom’s shoulder’s first. The couple wears the lasso throughout the remainder of the service. (The loop is symbolic of their love which should bind the couple together everyday as they equally share the responsibility of marriage for the rest of their lives.)

At the end of the ceremony, the lasso is removed by either the couple which placed the lasso on the couple, or the priest. The lasso is given to the Bride as a memento of her becoming the mistress of the groom’s heart and home.
Courtesy of http://www.weddingdetails.com/lore/mexican.cfm

We recommend purchasing your Lasso at Para Ti Novia.

As we usher in the new year, many of us are thinking about our resolutions. Many brides have resolved to lose weight before their wedding. I came across in interesting article, titled “The Incredible Shrinking Bride”.  Read More. You bet it caught my eye. It’s all about the lengths brides will go to look “perfect” on their wedding day. Unrealistic diets, botox injections, teeth whitening and even artificial tanning.

As a woman, I believe we should always want to look our best. It’s understandable that you want to get in shape and be as beautiful as possible for your wedding day. But at what cost? Is it healthy mentally or physically to try to loose 20 pounds in a month? Should you risk damage to your skin by ariticial tanning beds? How much money will you spend to change the appearance of your teeth? Ask yourself why? Why would you go to these lengths for your wedding day? Then ask yourself are you preparing yourself for a wedding or a marriage?

Remember the day your fiance proposed? You were deliriously happy. To him, you were the most beautiful woman in the world, and he chose you exactly as you are. He loves YOU and wants to spend the rest of his life with the woman you see in the mirror today.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t strive to be healthier and look your very best. You should. We all should. Make realistic goals and don’t overshadow the time leading up to your wedding by being ill from starving yourself. Most importantly remember you’re planning for a future, not just a day.

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CONFIDENT BRIDE? Join us for an intimate gathering of the best professionals in the industry, giving YOU the advice you need to plan your wedding with confidence.

Wedding Jeannie is proud to announce our first offical CONFIDENT BRIDE WORKSHOP. Visit the official blog to learn more about this One-Of-A-Kind FREE event.

Once a month our workshop will move to different cities, in order to give all BRIDES an opportunity to take part in this intimate and free workshop. This is not a Bridal Show. It’s a small and intimate workshop where YOU will interact with the best wedding professionals in Southern California. Each month three premiere vendors will share their knowledge with you, in an open forum where you ask the questions. Only 50 brides are allowed to attend each workshop. That means the workshops fill up fast. RSVP TODAY AT rsvp@weddingjeannie.com to reserve your seat.

Our first workshop takes place at Bella Collina in San Clemente, on January 12, 2010. Bella Collina is the newest and hottest venue in Orange County. This workshop brings together the experience and expertise of Wedding Jeannie, Jay’s Catering, Photojenic Photography and Music On The Move. 

Enjoy learning from qualified wedding vendors, meet other brides and share your experiences, receive a wedding planning packet and a generous goodie bag. We can’t wait to meet you and help you to be a CONFIDENT BRIDE.

Your wedding invitations set the tone for your wedding. When your invitation arrives in the mailbox it should say something about you. Long gone are the days of a simple white invitation. That was your mother’s invitation. Today’s bride chooses to personalize every aspect of her wedding, starting with her invitations. Consider it the FIRST IMPRESSION of your wedding.  Not only will it tell your guests when and where your nuptuals will take place, it’s a visual introduction into your wedding. The type of paper, graphic and color will say alot about you. If you have a theme, this is where you want to incorporate it. The wedding invitation should reflect your personal style, announce your colors, and clearly define the formality of the occasion.

David’s Bridal offers stylish and affordable invitations the will fit your budget and set the stage for your wedding. They make it simple for you to choose your perfect invitation. They offer tips, advice and inspiration, as well as a large selection of invitations to choose from. Today’s hottest colors and graphics are available. Be inspired, stylish and smart. Visit David’s Bridal today and set the tone for your wedding day.
*Sponsored Endorsement

October’s Couture Bride Workshop was a wild success. We had a full house of Brides to Be, and even one Groom! There was magic in the air, as Wedding Jeannie, Alina Pizzano and Mary Lallande of Jay’s Catering shared an interactive and open forum with our attendees. Featured Guest Mary Lallande, Venue Concierge of Jay’s Catering provided valuable information, sample proposals and her joy and love for all things food. In typical Jay’s Catering style, Mary created a visual feast of scrumptious treats, including Jay’s own Designer Candy Apples, a gourmet fruit and cheese tray, and yummy Coconut Vanilla cupcakes with Bavarian Cream Filling, accompanied with a refreshing lemonade.

 Jay’s Catering is consistently voted Orange County’s #1 caterer. Mary is a pivotal reason for that. Her blog titled “Food For Thought” is read by  wedding industry professionals nationwide. She was recently recognized by LA Style Unveiled as a Social Media Maven you should follow on twitter. I’m a dedicated follower of her tweets.

(I love this shot of Veronica and I polishing off our presentation)

Our October Brides learned the “insider” secrets to “simplified” wedding planning, the value in a custom wedding gown, and experienced the joy of creating a menu that reflects their personality as a couple.

Thank you to the wonderful brides who attended. We do this for YOU! We hope our advice is helpful to you in your wedding planning adventure. Of course, thanks goes to Alina Pizzano for sharing her beautiful salon with all of us. And finally, Mary Lallande….thank you for all of your generosity, talent and expertise. You are simply the best.

Last Saturday we had the pleasure of working for Jennifer and Ian. This picture is a teaser of another blog post to come. It’s honestly one of the most incredible images of a bride that I personally have ever seen. And I see alot! Thank you to Cherie Steinberg of CherieFoto for getting this image to me within two days. She was so excited about it that she sent it this morning. If you love it, see Cherie’s work at www.cheriefoto.com

I’m using this photo to showcase my newest bargain. Jennifer was a very smart bride. Her wedding was gorgeous and had so many unique touches. She was able to provide her guests with a photo booth, an interactive scrap booking experience, an art wall where guests could paint on a canvas. The canvas will be a permanent piece of art they will have forever. How was she able to do all this without breaking the bank?

Instead of spending thousands of dollars on her gown, she purchased a very affordable gown at David’s Bridal. She then took the gown to a trusted seamstress who added beading, appliques, pleating and rouching. It was magnificent. The seamstress took the one point, hook and eye bustle, and created a unique 18 point bustle that made the back of her gown look like cotton candy.

In my opinion, Jennifer is a trend setter. She thought outside of the box and found a way to have a custom couture gown without breaking the bank. What did she do with the money she saved? Upgraded her menu….and treated her guests to one amazing meal. Now that’s what I call a smart bride.

Join Inside Weddings Magazine, Bloomingdales, and Wedding Planner Mary Dann for a “Pre-Wedding” Wedding Party. You can choose your registry items, enjoy the latest bridal fashions, enjoy cocktails and yummy hors d’oeuvres, take home a beautiful goodie bag and enter for your chance to win a three day stay in Hawaii. Isn’t it fun to be a bride?

As a bride-to-be, you’ve seen Get Married online, and on Lifetime Television. Now they launch the all new Get Married Magazine. Want a free copy? Of course you do! I do! Simply click on http://www.getmarried.com/registration/ and wait for your copy.

Not only will the mag be gorgeous and glossy, it will be interactive. Yup, there’s an app for that! Why? Because let’s face it, we’re all on the go these days. Using Microsoft Tags, you’ll be able to read featured articles right on your Blackberry or IPhone.

Hosted by celebrity event designer Colin Cowie, Get Married’s TV show is a daily half-hour television series airing at 7:30 am ET/PT on Lifetime Television, the leader in women’s television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. Video segments from the show are available online 24/7 at GetMarried.com, along with articles, image galleries, bridal blogs and shop. For more information, please visit www.GetMarried.com, and to participate in online dialogues, visit www.BloggerBrides.com

Since we’re on the topic, tune into Get Married TV on September 3rd. Wedding Jeannie will be featured on “My Favorite Wedding”. It’s the wedding of Michelle and Jeremy. They had a vintage yet modern wedding at The Ebell of Long Beach almost one year ago. Tune in to find out why it was my favorite.

Your wedding is planned. The vendors are ready to go. Everything is in place. Or…is it? 30 days prior is the all important time to confirm confirm confirm. The service I provide to my clients always includes the final preparations. If you don’t have a coordinator, here is what you need to do.

• Confirm every vendor. Do they know what time to arrive? Do they have directions to your venue(s). Don’t assume they are prepared. We make the calls for our clients to ensure everyone is on the same page.
• Pay your final balances. When you confirm you vendors, ask what is their final balance, when is it due, what form of payment is required, etc. No vendor wants to chase you around on the wedding day asking for money. Our clients receive this at the 30 day mark, so they don’t forget someone.
• Assemble all of your items. Keep them in a plastic rubbermaid box and have them ready for wedding day. I’m talking about cake knife & server, cake topper, guest book & pens, favors, place cards, menu cards, etc. Make sure who is putting them out for you. Confirm it.
• Send bridal party a schedule for wedding day. Where should they be? What time. Ensure they know.
• Make a timeline of your entire day. Our timelines are complete and sent to the venue, photog & dj 2 weeks prior to the wedding.
• Have tips in envelopes ready to go for wedding day. I provide all my clients with a tipping guideline 30 days prior to the wedding.
• Go to city hall and get your marriage license. Bring it with you on wedding day and give to the officiant. Without it, it’s not legal!
• Bring a bridesmaid or your mom to the final gown fitting. One of them should know how to bustle your gown prior to the grand entrance. We attend every fitting with every bride and we know that bustle like the back of our hands. Ask you seamstress to color match the ties if it’s complicated.
  START EARLY, GET IT DONE, AND YOUR WEDDING DAY WILL BE BEAUTIFUL AND STRESS FREE. NOW SIT BACK, RELAX, YOU DID IT!!!