Bridal Reflections is a full-service bridal boutique in Manhattan. They have a website called bridalreflectionscares.com that is offering 100 free bridal gowns to those brides-to-be that have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. This offer is also available to those engaged to men who have served in these areas. This offer is available on a first-come, first-serve basis to the first 100 entrants. These gowns are valued from $1,500.00 to $5,000.00, so hurry!

An aisle of rose petals – for outdoor weddings

His and Her chairs adorned with their own garlands and ribbon utilizing the colors in the bride’s
bouquet or in some way featuring the wedding’s motif – This definitely sets the bride and groom
apart from their guests at the reception.

Cold soup appetizers served in champagne flutes at a set table.  Think chilled cucumber dill soup.  And
what a nice surprise for your champagne glasses – for summer weddings

Providing a late night send off to guests, such as milk and cookies or setting up a small self-serve snack
table, equipped with finger sandwiches and an assortment of chips or nuts.

Programs pulling double duty as fans for summer weddings

This custom made ceremony program and fan was the design work of Anne Benjamin, who produces her
own custom invitations, greeting cards and art prints.  Her design line called Mok Duk is an excellent fusion of great composition and color genius.  Her work is really current and I love that you can look at her work and identify it immediately.

Straight from the Courier to the Wedtro blog…

New and used bridal gowns, bridesmaid gowns, flowers bouquets, flower girl dresses and MUCH more!  Tomorrow, June 6th, from 8 until 4p.m.  Location – Newburg Apostolic Church – 4817 Indian Trail – take 264 West, merge onton Newburg Rd/KY-1703 S via Exit 15 B, then turn right onto East Indian Trail.  Check back in to tell us if it was worth the trip.

On Thursday, March 19th The Gillespie Staff, along with GLI and One Southern Indiana will host its official grand opening from 5:00pm until 7:00pm. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:00pm, in front of the main entrance. In addition to the grand opening celebration, there will be a Bridal Open House on Sunday, March 22nd from 11:00am until 4:00pm.

Constructed in 1929, the Gillespie was designed in the Art Deco style of architecture, common to the era. Originally known as the Lincoln Bank and Trust Company, The property later became part of National City Bank until 2005.
The Gillespie is currently accepting reservations for events; It has emerged as a premiere location for the most stylish weddings, social occasions, charitable galas and corporate events for up to 1,500 guests.

Located at 421 West Market Street, in the heart of Downtown Louisville, The Gillespie is a short walk to the Kentucky International Convention Center, Vincenzo’s Italian Restaraunt and Z Fusion ,or just a brief taxi ride to all the downtown hotels, restaurants and entertainment attractions.

At the Gillespie, clients are welcome to work with any event professional of their choosing.

I had a friend named Frazier, whose wedding got coverage in Martha Stewart Weddings.  I was secretly jealous, although she was every bit deserving.  When I married, finding where to submit your information, for possible inclusion in a magazine, was similar to finding an image in Where’s Waldo.

Today, it seems that everywhere you turn, someone is being given an opportunity to participate in a television wedding contest, or being given an option for inclusion in a magazine.

As  I’ve mentioned before, Town and Country Weddings is my magazine of choice.  They’ve posted their requirements for possible inclusion in their wedding pages on their website at townandcountrymag.com.  There are quite a few details to which to attend, but it seems a good trade for the possibility of securing your place in history amidst the pages of a beautiful magazine!

Bob Harper, of The Biggest Loser fame, features 5 minute office workouts on Working out with Bob. I am absolutely addicted to these snippets, since their calling to me is louder than my phone. Since having an office job is sedentary, Bob inspires those with limited time, to take back their will power, and MOVE. His routines are simple and possible, and serve as my daily reminder that busy people have no excuse;)

While researching, I came across an old New York Times article that made the argument that, generally speaking, it was the older, more sophisticated brides, who chose colored stones, as opposed to diamonds for their engagement ring.  The choice, it was decided, was based on making an “individual” statement (Anne Marie Schiro, 4-13-86).

Over 20 years has passed and now the “hot topic” in today’s wedding market is ecology (the relationship between humans and their environment).  Younger women are learning more about “Conflict Diamonds” and how their choice affects the environment.

Consider this, mining is destructive.  It’s not only punitive for the environment, but also for humans, both in the trade and as a result of the trade.  “Conflict Diamonds” out of Africa fuel civil war spawning human rights abuses and even terrorism .  “Diamonds have..been used by terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda to finance their activities and for money-laundering purposes (globalwitness.com).”

Something else to consider,   Vintage rings are hot this year.  They were hot five years ago, when I married (I have one) and their filigree is unmatched, in my opinion.  Going vintage can be your “something old;” it can be an heirloom or just your excuse to lighten the load on your environment.

Jennifer Howze of the Wall Street Journal Free Edition wrote that, “.. 93% of all engagement rings bought annually in the U.S. are diamond-only rings, according to DeBeers, and in the U.K., only 3% of engagement rings don’t contain diamonds” (5-18-07). 

I can not claim to be a proponent for the gemstone engagement ring, but this argument wouldn’t be complete without disclosing that style icons, such as Jacquelyn Bouvier Kennedy and Princess Diana received mixed gemstone engagement rings, that I am certain were lovely – add to that idea, recycled or heirloom diamonds and you’ve made an “individual statement” leaving your eco-conscious footprint.