Whimsical Marriage Proposal

Thanks to Christine at BridalTweet for sharing this today!  This should be posted on a Whimsical Wednesday but I just can't wait to share it with you!



This proposal couldn't be any sweeter and creatively personalized ... LOVE IT!!!  Sid Ceaser arranged for his video to be played as a movie preview trailer at the Red River Theater on Dec. 12, 2010 when Sid took his sweatheart Sara to the movies.  If you would like to read their whole story, check out Sid's blog at Ceaser Photography  (it's well worth the read!)

Clearly Sid's a pro and put together a steller video for Sara. I love how personalized and detailed he made this.    I wonder how they'll incorporate their Whatnot's into their wedding? 

If you would like to create a Muppet of yourself, check out the Whatnot Workshop at FAO Schwarz    Here's how I Muppet Whatnot-ed myself:



So what do you think? She needs a little more flip in her hair but not bad for a first shot.  I may have to consider one of these!

Ho Ho Ho!!

May the peace & joy of the season be with you!

Merry Christmas!

Counter Intelligence Against Guestzilla

(Part 4)
Feature Article



By Tracey Baxter




Today we conclude with what were listed as the first three guest complaints listed by TheKnot. I featured these tips in my eZine last week which gave me inspiration to create this series for the remaining guestzilla complailnts. You can subscribe to the Aisle Do eZine too! If you missed the other posts in this series, check out Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday


Guest’s Complaint: Terrible Timing! A ceremony at noon with a reception that starts at 7pm was the timing disaster example. A 6 hour gap between the ceremony and the reception is a tad beyond the call of duty for your guests, but it’s possible that the church will only have weddings at specific times so you have little control over that.


So here’s the thing! If you give your guests something to do between times, they will think that you are the snazziest bride this century.


Even a budget bride can provide an itinerary of events that your guests can enjoy while waiting for the reception. So let your guests become true tourists! The chamber of commerce will have a wealth of information about what is happening around town on your wedding day. Take a look at those brochures you popped in the “OOT Bags” and create a list of affordable activities that will suit the break between wedding events.


Here is a free idea for your guests to be sure to include on your list:

1. Walking tours work well in cities with interesting architecture, art structures, parks, and interesting shops or galleries to check out but can be done anywhere that tries to promote tourism. The chamber of commerce will be happy to provide you with maps and if they don’t already have a walking tour created for your city, for free or a small fee a staff member may be able to help you determine an interesting path for your guests to see the sights. Provide your guests with a heads up that they should keep some comfy shoes in the car in your pocket/invitation inserts.
2. Driving tours through historic districts and other scenic areas are also fun and in inclement weather would be preferred to the walking tour.
3. Provide your guests with an envelope as they leave the ceremony containing both a walking and driving tour options and a map will let them choose what level of touring they are up to.
4. Rather than just ‘map’ the quickest route from ceremony to reception, intentionally take them on a journey through town that highlights what makes it special to you and your fiancé.

Guest’s Complaint: The Wrong Day! Holiday weekends and random weekdays are the guest's issue. This can be legitimate complaint because, cutting right to the chase, in spite of favorable pricing for you, there are logistical issues to consider for your guests. AND don't discount the logistics for yourself in planning an “off day” wedding. First, let's look at the guest POV: Long distance visitors may have airfare to purchase, taking off work days may be difficult and they may have other holiday traditions to consider.


Have you considered how the 'off day' wedding can affect other wedding related events. Particularly for Sunday weddings, the venue is probably not closed to events the Saturday before your wedding. In fact, it’s most likely booked. Scheduling your ceremony rehearsal at a time that it doesn’t interfere with the other client’s event will be the priority of the site coordinator, regardless of what this means for your convenience. So your rehearsal could be at 10:00am. If the groom’s family would like to plan a rehearsal dinner in the evening, there will be quite a gap between the rehearsal and dinner. If you get caught in this scenario, perhaps your bridesmaids’ luncheon and an afternoon of golf for the groomsmen can fill in the odd time between the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.


The main thing to consider when planning the wedding on a holiday weekend or weekday is that the number of guests able to attend may be less than if the wedding was on any other Saturday. So think about whom you most want to share your wedding day! And be prepared to send ‘save the date’ cards or reach out by phone or email well in advance to let them know of your plans so they can get the best airfare or plan vacation time accordingly. Similarly to having a long stretch between ceremony and reception, providing your guests a good list of what is happening around town for the holiday is going to be invaluable to them.
Examples for holiday fun ideas and itineraries should include:


Independence Day Weekend:

• Times for fireworks and the best places to scope them out
• Historically significant locations around town, particularly if they will have any living history exhibits include those times
• Best place for a back-yard style burger and beer

Easter Weekend:

• Local churches and service times
• Restaurants offering brunch
• Easter Egg Hunts

Weekday Weddings:

• The out of town guests will have to take time off to attend. Make the most of their visit and spend some extra time with them. Breakfast with the newlyweds is always appreciated, even if it’s a “Dutch Treat” or “continental”.
• If they don’t have to head out too early head to a park or other lovely place with them for some extra quality time.

Remember - Guests always have the option to decline your invitation and if it’s a hardship or burden for them to attend your wedding, they should could decline. It is your celebration and you thought enough of them to invite them. It's impossible to please everyone!


Guest Complaint: The Food! TheKnot's article states that guests would rather have a great meal over a pretty centerpiece and their gift should ensure a great meal or at least a guarantee that they won’t go hungry. The taste of the food is a subjective issue – one person’s yummy is another person’s yucky.




If you have not tasted the food that will be served at your reception, you might be surprised to find the food isn’t as tasty as they claimed. The wise bride will either request a tasting or will request a referral list. But qualify the list you request to include at least the last 5 event hosts, if not more. You will get a clearer idea of what people liked and what they didn’t. Not only will this be a recent group of clients, it will be non-seeded clients. Just asking for a referral list, you will get a list full of clients who will have had the best experiences with your caterer or venue. If you are sure that the food is something you enjoy, then you can be worry free about the guests enjoying it.




Now that you’ve got the taste of the food as much under control as possible, be sure your menu suits the style of your event and the time of day. Nobody will expect more than cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at and early afternoon reception but if your ceremony will be between 3pm and 5pm, standard heavy hors d'oeuvres may not be enough to satisfy your guests as a meal. However, adding one or two food stations in addition to the passed hors d’oeuvres or changing hors d’oeuvres selections every 30 to 45 minutes will satisfy guests more than a static menu throughout the reception. Change up the signature cocktail a few time throughout the evening too!




Congratulations! With all of the tips in this series, you can successfully avoid inviting the same guestzilla that TheKnot interviewed! As I always say - a properly prioritized budget will avoid a comedy of errors down the road.  Have what is important to you at your wedding invest your money there!

Counter Intelligence Against Guestzilla ...Part 3

Welcome first time visitors - the first two installments of my Guestzilla series posted on Monday and Tuesday - check them out!  Welcome Back to the regulars!  Today we're going to take on two more of the Guestzilla complaints and see what solutions can avoid these kinds of complaints from guests.  
So let's get started!

Guest Complaint: You Didn’t Say Thank You
These guests are not just full of hot air. It’s truly important to spend a few minutes with guests and thank them for their support at your wedding and make them feel welcome. And it’s not more or less important for local vs. guests coming from a distance. With a plan in place ahead of time, you can avoid this sort of complaint and earn the title of excellent host!



For buffet meals, your caterer or wedding coordinator can plate your meal and serve you as the DJ is announcing that the buffet is open. This saves you some time in the buffet line and the inevitable conversation that will make getting through the line more challenging. If this is not possible, you really should go through the line first with the wedding party, both sets of parents and grandparents following. This allows you and your new husband to get to sit and eat! You don’t have to rush, but by design, you'll be the first finished eating and then you can begin visiting tables of guests and spend a few minutes at each table, speaking to everyone there.

It will take most of the dinner hour to get to each table, perhaps slightly longer depending on the guest count, but this efficient strategy will make your guests feel valued.  An added benefit is you'll have successfully visited with most of your guests before the celebration really gets underway.

Keep in mind that thanking them for sharing the celebration with you at the wedding does not eliminate the need to send thank you cards to anyone who brought a gift. 

Guest Complaint:  Working at the Wedding
Doing what they view as insignificant (such as the guest book attendant) or being asked last minute to "help" was the frustration.  

The guest book may or may not need an attendant depending on the ceremony location and your personal preference.  If the vestibule is small, putting the book on a highboy near the entrance or adding a decorative sign to draw guest attention to the book will eliminate the need for someone to physically be near the guestbook the entire time.  You may still need to assign someone the responsibility of taking the guestbook from the ceremony to the reception site. 

While it's free to ask someone in the wedding party to watch the flower girl, it's worth the expense to hire a babysitter so that everyone can enjoy the evening.  The venue manager or your wedding coordinator may have recommendations for inexpensive local babysitters. There may be a small room adjacent to the reception room, that can be used for babysitting. 

It's super important to communicate with all of your attendants what duties they will be responsible to perform. Springing last minute work on a guest when it's not an emergency is really inconsiderate. Unfortunately, there are brides that think this is OK. But don't be one of them! Plan in advance for all the tasks that will need to be accomplished. Make a detailed list and as soon as possible, but ideally at least 3 weeks before your wedding, ask your attendants and other honored guest if they can lend a hand in a specific area.

See you Thursday for the final three complaints by guests!

Counter Intelligence Against Guestzilla ...Part 2

Good Morning and Welcome to our second installment in our Guestzilla series! 

If you missed yesterday's post, check it out now to catch up!

Guest Complaint: A Cash Bar 
Cash bars are not the most graceful etiquette, in fact, if you are unable to pay for the bar, the best etiquette says not to have one at all.  If you decide to have a bar, collaborate with your caterer or bartender to keep costs down by:

• Offering a few specific drinks for a period of time rather than a full bar menu all night long
• Ask if you can pay for part of the bar and it partly be a cash bar. For example, if the bar tab is $13 per person, request to pay $7.50 and ask the bartenders only charge half price to the guests.
• The current trend is to offer a signature cocktail and perhaps beer and wine or champaign.

Probably the biggest issue with the cash bar is guests will need to bring money but not knowing that are embarrassed when they get to the bar.  The key to remedy this is communication.  If you are going to include a cash bar for part of or the entire evening, use your wedding website to update your guests on wedding plans, including note on the itinerary that cash bar service begins at a X time during the night – be that at 5:00pm when the reception starts or at 9:30pm after the 4 hour open bar.  For non-internet connected guests, be sure to reach out to them in other ways.  Preparing your guests with as much information as possible helps them to plan to have a great time at your wedding!






Guest Complaint: The “and Guest” was missing.
The best etiquette is to allow your wedding attendants a plus one, but there is no obligation to include "and guest" for every single guest you invite.  The guest list does not need to double just so you can offer all singles a ‘plus one’. So don’t feel stressed about keeping the guest list small to save money! 

 It’s the best etiquette for the guest to respect your invitation. This is why it is critical to properly address the invitations. The outer envelope is addressed for mailing address. The inner envelope will list specifically who from that household is invited. If you wish to have children, then their names would be listed below their parents. If you didn’t want to extend the invitation to the children, then leave their names off of the inner envelope.


If you are not using a double envelope system for your invitation set, do include all guests on the mailing address envelop or send each invited guest in the household a separate personal invitation.  This will reduce questions about who is or is not included.


By letting your band or DJ know if there will be a significant number of single guests attending, they can encourage mingling and help them to partner up for dancing.




See you Wednesday for part 3!

Counter Intelligence Against Guestzilla .... Part 1

How much fun your guests have at your wedding depends on plenty of variables, some of which you can’t even begin to plan for. Recently, an article “What Your Guests Are Really Thinking”, was posted at http://www.theknot.com/ and focused on what people really don't want or enjoy as wedding guests. How can you avoid a guestzilla that talks about your wedding the same way these guests did in that article? Check out these solutions to some common guest complaints! And check back here all week because we'll address a few more complaints from the list plus offer solutions for them each day.



Guest Complaint: This is boring!
The toasts are too long, the band isn’t engaging, the food takes too long to be served and the list goes on. A boring wedding is hard to imagine because the safeguards for this issue are really doable!




Take the toasts! Some toasts can be taken care of at the rehearsal dinner. With only a few toasts at the reception it's more tolerable for everyone! And by giving the list of toasters to your DJ, you'll avoid being the bad guy. To keep it moving, keep David Tutera’s rule of thumb in mind and switch up the activity every 30 minutes - including the toasts! Communicate to anyone making a toast and ask they please limit to 5 or 6 minutes so you can safely have 4 to 5 toasts and still keep the guests attention. Alternately, you can allow fewer to toast and they each may speak just slightly longer.


The DJ or band – do your homework. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to truly see the DJ in action unless you found them at a freind's wedding. Any promo video will be purely their best work so real life recommendations are the key to successfully hiring entertainment! Specifically request to contact some of their most recent clients. And then don’t be afraid to use that list! Of primo importance is to ask the couples if they have any video of their wedding that included the band or DJ and if they would share with you. You’ll get to see first hand how entertaining the group or DJ is vs. seeing only their self-compiled best work cd.


Some keys to a fun reception:

• Offering some fun for the younger crowd – crayons and other no-mess art supplies, games or puzzles - at a special kids table or individually in a backpack or bucket, will keep the little ones from monopolizing the dance floor and allows the adults to feel freer to enjoy dancing!

• Get some inexpensive props and a few prizes so the band or DJ can MC a dance-off, a limbo contest, hula hooping contests or line dances to get the crowd energized and interacting!

Food service woes - Service issues may not be readily fixable on event day. Guests being served cold food will mostly reflect on the venue or caterer, but it’s your responsibility to make sure they plan to be fully staffed. Generally, for each 10 guests, one server should be provided to adequately serve a plated meal. This ensures tables are served simultaneously or as quickly as meals can be plated and put on the tray! If your caterer puts servers on your itemized estimate, don’t dream of making due with one or two fewer than they suggest!


Guest Complaint: Seating sabotage!
A well thought out seating plan will always combat seating frustrations. Being mindful of speakers, heating, cooling and having casual places to sit and chat will go a long way in making your guests happy. And be mindful of if Aunt Suzy hasn't seen Aunt Jane in a few year because they may want to sit close to each other (or avoid each other!)


The Layout -Check with the band or DJ to find out the dimension of their equipment so you can arrange for tables to be placed far enough away from them that guests are not overwhelmed or crowded. The site coordinator may have a room diagram you can use or can provide the room measurements so you can sketch out a layout using graph paper yourself.


Temperature control -While adding heat or air-conditioning to a tent or open air venue makes the budget tick a little higher, you will be so glad you did this and so will your guests. Everyone is going to be a little warm in their formal wear but fall or early spring outdoor weddings may require heating after the sun goes down. Remember to place generators as far away from the event as possible so their noise will not disturb your or guests!


Seating comforts - Creating seating areas with couches and additional flower arrangements are lovely, but if this is not in your budget priorities, park benches or extra folding chairs and small side table will work just as well. Pillows atop low walls are also an interesting seating option for outdoor venues. Guests do need a place to sit or at least set their drinks down for a short time. But the intention of the cocktail hour is for mingling so don’t overdo it with seating options by recreating the reception room in the cocktail hour.


....See you back here Tuesday when we'll chat about the bar and the single guests!

Kathy Ireland Weddings by 2be

I counted just 9 of the 35 gowns in this spring 2011 collection that had any kind of material on the shoulders. So if you are looking for a strapless gown, you'll want to check out Kathy Ireland's bridal collection for 2be. You'll also find dresses for bridesmaids, mothers, and flower girls.

And who wouldn't mind getting a gown for free? So go ahead and enter to win a Mon Cheri gown! Woo-hoo!

Here's my favorite from Kathy Ireland's collection:


kathy ireland Weddings by 2be Item View

Planning a Wedding Fit for Royalty, Even on a Commoner’s Budget”

Feature Article
By Tracey Baxter






Your budget is actually irrelevant! A wedding is a time for grace and that’s not a category that can be calculated on the balance sheet. The intrinsic value of proper etiquette at a wedding is immeasurable. So if you want to plan a wedding fit for royalty, the budget is the last thing that will be remembered. Invest some time at your local library or bookstore perusing the wedding etiquette section. Your wedding is a great opportunity to learn (or relearn) how to properly address invitations, how to delicately tell your neighbor that the wedding will be an intimate family affair, and overall how to be a delight to others.


Above all, remember, friends and family mean well! The devil is in the details as they say! What makes your wedding special to you is not necessarily going to speak to your best friend’s tastes and desires. It’s OK to disagree with others on what trend you should be following this season or what menu to offer. This is your wedding and the only thing it should be is a reflection of you and your fiancé’s love for each other. Remember you can agree to disagree without ruffling too many feathers just by saying “You might be right about that!” And then gently change the subject to a different wedding detail or other topic entirely.


Although it might be a given where Prince William and Kate Middleton will be wed, the ceremony location is perhaps the most important place to visit first. Kudos to Kate for her first public wedding planning step she’s taken since the engagement announcement: taking a personal look at Westminster Abbey where her ceremony will very likely be held. Without the ceremony site, there is no wedding. So don’t book too much until the ceremony location is secured.


Guests reign supreme especially when they are royalty and dignitaries from foreign lands. But every bride should take plenty of time considering her guests when planning her wedding. Yes, it’s your day but you want to convey to your guests that you truly desire for them to enjoy your day too. So how can you do that? Plan responsibly! Consider your event day timeline carefully by allowing plenty of time for travel between the ceremony and reception sites. Your guests want to enjoy every part of the event you have planned for them. If it takes more than half hour to travel from the ceremony to the reception site, and your ceremony will end at 4:00pm don’t plan your cocktail hour to start until 5:00pm. Your guests will have time to freshen up and safely arrive without missing a moment of the fun!


Don’t forget the smallest guests! With children in tow, some guests feel it’s challenging to attend a wedding. From individual fun buckets to a table of shared activities, make it easier for guests to relax by providing kid friendly entertainment and fun! This also keeps the kids from controlling the dance floor and thereby allows the guests without children to feel comfortable to enjoy the party too! What should you provide for the kids? Etch-a-Sketch, Rubik’s Cube, Mad Libs, and easy clean crafts in a back pack or bucket are a great start. Lining a kid height table with a stack of butcher paper with a canister of markers, crayons and colored pencils makes a fun table – and it’s sweeter with a centerpiece featuring big yummy lolly-pops for all the kids!


Traditional, trendy, theme-ey or timeless, your wedding above all else should be enjoyable for you and your fiancé. There may be many hurdles to jump but unlike Kate & Prince William you won’t have all the world watching and scrutinizing your every step. Keep your wedding stress perspective! Don’t let yourself get so stressed that you are prone to bride-zilla moments. Take time for yourself to relax and have ‘NWP’ days – Non-Wedding-Planning days that is! Recharge, regroup and relax so you are not overwhelmed. Plan these days into your wedding planning itinerary!



Your Wedding Planning Homework: Plan a spa day, shopping trip or movie night with your bridesmaids, sister, mom or other friends. It's time to relax and recharge your batteries!

Congratulations Prince William & Kate Middleton

"Prince William and Miss Middleton became engaged in October during a private holiday in Kenya," the official statement read. "Prince William has informed The Queen and other close members of his family. Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middleton's father."

 Pardon my delay in congratulating the happy couple. Technical difficulties this week were unrelenting!

I am very excited to see all the wedding details unfold and how the royal wedding plans will inspire the wedding trends in the coming year! 

Enquiring minds want to know...
Will your wedding plans be changed or tweaked based on what you see Prince William and Kate choose for thier wedding?
Post a comment if you may be taking some cues from the royal couple or if you plan to be totally oblivious to what they do!

What If It All Goes Wrong?

Feature Article
by Tracey Baxter

Everyone dreams of a flawless wedding day. This is a universal wedding wish regardless if the wedding is simple or elaborate. Some brides’ wishes include pleasant weather, deliveries arriving on time and orders filled completely and perfectly – or all of the above!


Of course, a wedding planner is going to be your best bet for wedding day solutions. A wedding planner will have an emergency kit and be there to make sure your needs are taken care of! But I know there are many brides who cling to being their own point person.

Here’s a few easy fixes for common wedding day dilemmas and some ideas for your wedding day emergency kit:

 • Short a boutonniere or corsage? Take a bloom and some greens from a bridesmaid’s bouquet, aisle flowers or even the grounds of your ceremony site! Having some floral tape to wrap the stems will make these quick fixes look like the rest of the gang, but in a pinch they will be just fine pinned on au-natural.



• It’s raining – it’s pouring! Legend has it that rain on your wedding day is good luck. Even still, nobody enjoys wearing a wet wedding gown for long! Golf umbrellas are big and will easily do the trick but for the more frugal minded, a vinyl shower curtain or table cloth will get the job done quite well too!




• Missing earring backs? Earring backs are available at craft stores where jewelry making supplies are sold. For a quick fix on wedding day though you can tear a corner off a Band-Aid and wrap it around the earring post. It will stay put until your earlobe is ready for you to take them off anyway!






• Cure what ails you! In addition to the basic pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen, a wedding day emergency kit is complete with antacid, gas and indigestion tablets, breath mints, saline eye drops, hand lotion and just in case a guest is diabetic, I always recommend some quick dissolve glucose tablets. Outdoor weddings need sunscreen, aloe and bug bite remedies.






Can you ensure that things won’t go wrong? Not always. Sometimes bigger issues come up and there is just nothing you can do about them at that moment. Your grace and decorum through these bigger wedding day crises will be appreciated by your guests because they will still be able to enjoy the event …and your company! It’s better to have guests comment on how in spite adversity you were gracious and appreciative then have them go home thinking you were a bridezilla beyond belief!



What is the most important thing you should not forget to have in your wedding day kit? Your sense of humor! A smile can change even the most difficult situation for the better. And since you will look back on the momentary madness fondly anyway, resolve to enjoy the day no matter what and smile upon it in the moment.



Your Wedding Planning Homework: Now is the time to start planning your wedding day kit so you have essentials you need and some just in case of emergency items too! Make a list and don't wait until the weekend before your wedding to gather these things together.




Want to use this article in your e-Zine, blog or website? You may as long as you include this complete statement:


Wedding Solutions Specialist Tracey Baxter publishes the "Aisle Do" bi-weekly e-zine. Get your Free Report: "5 Fun and Fabulous Reception Ideas for a Reluctant DIY Bride” at www.aisledoweddings.com 

Bedazzle My Bonbons Part 2

Bedazzle My Bonbons are in the house .... or were!

 I was impressed with Bedazzle My Bonbons before but Wow! Now I'm beyond sold.  Frankly, I thought there was possibly some website magic happening when I first saw them online.  So in addition to taste, I was really on a mission to determine if they really looked that good in 'real life'.   But they twinkle rather nicely don't they?  This is just my own photo taken with my point and shoot digital camera.  These were really delightful!!   They are the perfect amount of yummy chocolatousness!  

As announced recently, Aisle Do will be at the Bridal Showcase in January. If you are an ezine subscriber and stop by our booth (#219) you will get a special gift... perhaps something tasty and chocolatey.... but I wouldn't want to give away the surprise!

Don't have a subscrption?  It's easy!  Sign up for the Aisle Do ezine here!  



Got Mad Tea Party Skills?!

Last Monday, was certainly a manic Monday!  My four year old daughter hosted a princess tea party at my house!  It was the cutest thing ever and so much fun to enjoy the party with my sweet girl! 

With a giant poster teapot and a dozen matching lids, the kids played pin the lid on the teapot.  We also had a cake-walk.  There were tea sandwiches of cucumber, cheese and PB&J too. Plus fruit salad, carrots and sliced cucumber. Punch, lemonade and iced tea was served in personalized tea cups that the guests decorated when they arrived. Lots of cookies and mini-cupcakes made the dessert complete! 

The final fun addition was the fabulous favor bar seen above including gourmet jelly beans, silly bands, candy lollipops and tattoos!  My daughter choose all of the decorations and then it was up to me to figure out how they all would be put together.  It wasn't too difficult because that's actually how I work best and everything she choose was very princess-ish so it blended quite well! Feathers, butterflies, gems -yes very princess-ish indeed!

Here's a close up of the centerpiece with giant diamond rings around the base of the vase.

So that's a glimpse into what happens around my house when it's party time!

Color Your Wedding Wonderful -Part 2

Feature Article
by Tracey Baxter

To complete our series on color combinations we’ll jump around that color wheel a little more to find complimentary colors for your wedding design scheme. If you missed the first part of this article, be sure to check out the Aisle Do Blog post on Thursday October 28, 2010 to catch up!

Choosing Colors

You’ve chosen your favorite color for your wedding and are looking for a great accent color. Complimentary colors come in a few basic regions on the color wheel. This is where I have to stop and say – there is such a thing as working with too many colors.


Unless you are working to specifically create an ubermodern multicolored event or your cultural traditions typically include multiple colors, working with no more than 3 colors, is going to keep your wedding planning and design life simplest! Brides purposefully working with multiple colors will need to focus on balancing each colors intensity.


Balancing Colors
Back in elementary school, you probably played on a see-saw and tried to make it so both you and your partner were suspended evenly. Like this see-saw trick, on the color wheel directly opposite of your primary color choice, you will find its instant balance! Here is a visual:

 This is the simplest form of complimentary color. If you ever wondered why shades of purple and green can go well together, that is why.


Multiple Color Combinations
If you want to work with 3 different colors, you have a couple options. Split complimentary colors are found on the color wheel on either side of your primary choice’s complimentary color. Waaa? OK, the see-saw analogy was helpful so let’s get a visual of this too. Think of a peace sign. Now think of that peace sign over a color wheel.

So you have your primary color choice, its complimentary color and on each side are its split complimentary colors! That was so easy. Split complimentary colors are great fun to use. They are exciting and unexpected combinations that work well together.


Triads create very bold color schemes. A triad, as the name suggests is created by making a triangle on the color wheel. Finally, an obvious one! But just in case, there is a visual aid for this also.

Your Wedding Planning Homework

 

It's time to get inspired and finalize your color schemes. If you are well into your planning process, you can start using these same color combining techniques when choosing home decor items for your registry or to compliment what you already have.









Want to use this article in your e-Zine, blog or website? You may as long as you include this complete statement:



Wedding Solutions Specialist Tracey Baxter publishes the "Aisle Do" bi-weekly e-zine. Get your Free Report: "5 Fun and Fabulous Reception Ideas for a Reluctant DIY Bride” at www.aisledoweddings.com

Fink's Jewelers and Bride's Magazine Event!

 

Invites You!

View beautiful platinum jewelry by Ritani while

sipping champagne and savoring fine wedding cake.

Bridal and jewelry expert Alison Rowe will be available to

discuss the hottest trends and provide style consultations.

Plus, enter to win a custom cake by Tizzerts

or a Ritani wedding band set.

 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2010

12-5 p.m.

 

Cake tasting 1-3 p.m.

 

SOUTHPARK

4400 SHARON ROAD, SUITE199

CHARLOTTE, NC

RSVP by November 5 to FinksRSVP@condenast.com



Color Your Wedding Wonderful -Part 1

Feature Article
By Tracey Baxter

Your wedding color choices should embody your personality. After all, that is the spirit of the event! Even if you want a light and airy feel to your wedding, if you don’t like yellow, you won’t enjoy the décor. So first think of colors that you love for the dominant color for your flowers and decor. If you love rich colors you can still achieve a breezy feeling by choosing lighter tones of your favorite shades.



Once you have narrowed down the main color, you have to decide how you’re going to accent it. You could search the internet for “orange weddings” and see what design boards come up. But if you want to create something a little more unique than everyone else’s color palette on the web, start with a color wheel. Remember from grade school ROY-G-BIV? Now take that concept and put it in a circle and you’ve got a color wheel. So let’s explore some color combining techniques.



Monochromatic:


If you want a monochromatic style, you’ll be using your main color in darker and lighter shades. On a color wheel, the darker shades are toward the outer edge of the circle and the lighter shades move in toward the center. Not getting that visual? Think about the paint department in your local home improvement store and what easily comes to mind is the array of paint swatch cards on the wall. The cards are typically arranged in monochromatic schemes with a dark shade on one end, a light shade on the other end and 2-4 shades in between. Find your favored color on a paint card and voila instant monochromatic scheme right? This is a fairly straightforward idea but you should still take the time to choose your shades wisely. To be sure to create an authentic monochromatic event, continue to check your color palette swatch against the linens, flowers and other décor you select. It’s easier to veer off the monochromatic path than you think. The danger in monochromatic schemes is they can look monotonous so carefully think of the space where your design will be used.






Analogic:


Analog colors neighbor each other on the color wheel. Because of this, they will have an harmonious feeling when used together. In simplest terms: red, orange and yellow are great autumn tones but technically speaking; they will work together because they are neighbors on the color wheel. Analogic color schemes are quite common.


If you want to try creating monochromatic and analogic color schemes, check out our post on 10/12/10 for links to fun and free tools!

Love Story Parody!

I thought this would be perfect for a whimsical day!



Did you see yourself in the first verse?  Embossed invitations, dad's freaking out about the costs... and the bottom line: a wedding without stress!

 What can you do to make your wedding stress free?  Hire a professional wedding planner!  Wedding day can turn overwhelming in a heartbeat! Your fiance will not be a great point person for the wedding professionals.  (Guys, don't trow tomatoes! You know it's true - you don't want that responsibility, you deserve to relax, after all it's your wedding too right!?)  Your mom, your sister, your bridesmaids- they all want to enjoy your wedding day as much as you do!

Aisle Do can help you at whatever stage of planning you have landed.     

The Bride's Shoes

I love this shoe! I would love it more if it had a platform, but that’s a post for another day! I love it because this is an incredibly versatile shoe.

It’s the Flash 647 and it also comes in a chocolaty brown. The white is great because it’s dyeable. I know, yawn – a white satin dyeable shoe, BTDT in 1987 right? But I look at this and see a graduated shade of your favorite color or maybe in blues to complete your set of somethings. With each fold of the satin, the color gets gradually darker.  Or instead perhaps make the heel, back and front most folds one of your wedding colors and the other folds are the accent color. This is the kind of shoe you can really get creative with. A strappy shoe also makes an easy DIY dye project! There are lots of dyeable shoes out there and there is no reason why you have to dye them a solid color.



How else can you customize your shoes? Add crystals, add ribbon, add glitter, sequins, a broach, paint the toe, paint the heel (yes, you can paint shoes!)… jazz up the soles with paint or if they are new add blue crystals to spell “I DO”, your names or initials, your wedding date or other lovely words. If your shoes are not new, you might want to get them resoled (any shoe repair shop can do this) or if they are in good shape but just dirty, clean them up well.


Don’t be the only one with great shoes – let your bridesmaids have some great shoes too! A cheese and chocolate gathering to work on some shoe crafts would be a fun addition to your bridesmaids itinerary!  

Wedding Fashion Photos

So many beautiful spring wedding gown collections are being unveiled! I love the run way shows! I’ll post some this week for you but because it’s a Monday, this is not all about the fabulous side of bridal fashion. See, I have one major pet peeve with wedding gown advertising, particularly in magazines. The model's posture! I have such a hard time looking at some ads without thinking the models are in pain, they hate the gown or they have scoliosis or maybe even early osteoporosis. Oh so you’ve seen them too? Yes, those!


Let’s look at this for a minute:

And this is not even the most atrocious example out there. Cropping it actually made the whole thing look better.To protect the innocent and/or the guilty, I’m not going to list this gown by name or designer but if you’re interested, I’ll be glad to supply you with the link! It’s actually a lovely gown. It’s a shame that it gets portrayed as difficult to wear. 

Draw your eye to the red arrow highlighting the accentuated curve of her back and angle of her shoulders. Does that look natural? I have yet to see a bride intentionally or accidentally pose like this at her wedding for even a millisecond. So why is this pose so popular in advertising?  What story is being told here? To me these types of photos are screaming “get me the heck out of this gown”.

Do we blame the photographer …the model …the designer? They have a mutual vested interest in the ad photo looking fabulous. I think they are equally guilty of getting caught in a whirlwind and following what others photographers and advertisers are doing to showcase their gowns. That’s unfortunate! But it gives people like me a good laugh at how utterly uncomfortable the model looks. I’m curious about the statistics of how many gowns are sold when featured in a way making the dress look excruciating to wear vs. gowns that were featured on a comfortable and relaxed looking model.

Wait, I almost forgot the blue arrow. Notice the model’s opposite shoulder is symmetrical? But where is her other arm? It’s bad enough we have this poor girl stuck in a dress that hunches her back but her arm has to be chopped out out too? Smooth their skin, make them look more or less shapely – but removing a whole arm is above and beyond the call of editing duty don’t you think? Seriously!




So what do you think? Does this style make you think of true haute couture or a hot mess?

Don't Invite Trouble

Feature Article
by Tracey Baxter



Have you checked out the Internet for inspirational wedding décor? Of course! There are great websites chock full of fun ideas. So who wouldn’t spend hours searching for inspiration and help? Many of the fabulous inspiration sites have an “Ask Us” section where you also can find all the answers for your biggest wedding etiquette questions. But beware – etiquette doesn’t change with the times and trends like the wedding décor ideas that you have found.





Let’s talk invitations! Invitations should be hand addressed for both the outer and inner envelop. So many websites will tell you that it’s OK to print labels or print the invitations. It’s not. It’s really not!! The first impression your guests will have of your wedding is based on the invitation. A printed label screams that you care so little about your guests attending that you can’t spend the time to write their address on the invitation. Ouch! Surely that is not the message you want to send with your jazzy invitation.






Do you have to get a calligrapher? No! Anyone with legible handwriting will do just fine. In fact, my brides often enlist a group of friends for an invitation addressing party. Sometimes its bridesmaids and sometimes other friends who want to help in any way they can. And this wedding planner I know (wink) usually shows up with wine, cheese and other treats! 5 girlfriends + 20 envelopes each = the work is completed fast and fun is had by all. But wait, you say? You’re concerned your half dozen friends all have different handwriting? That’s OK. It doesn’t have to be the same handwriting. It just has to be done with handwriting. Your guests are not going to call each other to compare envelopes. Trust me on this – you want the invitations hand written!






What about the guest? You know the guest - the one you don’t actually know … the one coming with your 3rd cousin twice removed. Oh yeah, that guest. Is it proper to address them ‘and guest’ on the invitation? Let's be honest. It looks awkward because it is. The best thing you can do is call your cousin and ask their guest’s name and address so they can be properly invited. This gesture conveys that not only do you want this cousin to attend; you want their guest to feel truly invited and welcome at your wedding too. The rare times an ‘and guest’ would be necessary, this would not be included on the outer envelope. Rather, you would address the inner envelop Ms. Jane Doe and Guest. If you are not using an inner envelope, including a personal hand written note indicating that they are welcome to bring a guest and request they let you know with the RSVP. Then enclose this note with the invitation.






Etiquette may seem like a lot of extra work. But it’s well worth the effort. The time you take to do these important details will be appreciated by your guests. They will also be freer to enjoy the other special wedding day décor details you have created because they know you didn’t take etiquette short cuts. You only have this one chance to make the best first impression on your guests.




Your Wedding Planning Homework!


Practice your handwriting! Set the date for the invitation addressing party! Invite bridesmaids, friends from the office who want to help or your mom and future mother in law. It's a great way to get make a seemingly big task more manageable and fun!






Want to use this article in your e-Zine, blog or website? You may as long as you include this complete statement:


Wedding Solutions Specialist Tracey Baxter publishes the "Aisle Do" bi-weekly e-zine. Get your Free Report: "5 Fun and Fabulous Reception Ideas for a Reluctant DIY Bride” at www.aisledoweddings.com

Surprise the Bride

Do you love creative engagements and surprise dances or skits at weddings too??!  Me too!! Actually, I just love all kinds of surprises but I pay too much attention to everything so it's pretty impressive if someone surprises me.

This choreographed toast is so much fun!  It continued to be surprising even after it got going.  My husband would have scored major points if he pulled this off at our wedding! 

Visit the Bridal Showcase!

Have you recently got engaged and need to start planning your wedding? 

Planning to get engaged over the holidays?

Do you still have a few vendors to find for you spring wedding?

Aisle Do can help!

Appearing at The Bridal Showcase

Sunday January 23, 2011

12pm-5pm

Charlotte Convention Center

Special promotions will be offered at the show!

Announcements coming soon!

Hope to see you there!

Who's Ready for Some Cake?

Feature Article

by Tracey Baxter




Ahhhh -the wedding cake! Few wedding elements are as anticipated! Even those who won’t eat any will still marvel at it! So of course you’re going to look at photos and pick a super design and taste the finest cakes in town right? But do you need to spend a fortune on a cake? No. Here are some ways to make sure you get the most bang for your frosted sugarlicious buck:



Know who is cutting your cake! Of course I am aware that by the time it’s to be cut, you’ll have already paid for your cake, but you don’t want that money wasted. Cake slices are typically 1 inch wide by 2.5 inches long. Bakers will use that as the guide when planning the tier sizes and number of tiers needed. If the person cutting the cake varies greatly from that standard slice, some of your guests may not receive a slice of cake. In effect you just increased your cost per slice. So proper cake cutting is a must! If you don’t have an event-day coordinator, just be sure your caterer does not pass the cake cutting off to an untrained intern! Unfortunately, I have seen this happen at all wedding price points and have had to offer 'on the job training' and have even taken the reins myself when I was just supposed to be a guest!






Don’t plan for extra slices so guests can have seconds.  Bakeries charge “by the slice” so definitely use an accurate guest count when you tell them how many guests you’ll serve. Few guests want a second piece of cake and fewer will be bold enough to ask. In fact, some don’t eat cake at all; especially if they have been provided a full meal at the reception. Nor should you think about giving a bigger slice for all guests. Properly cut, a standard 1 x 2.5 inch cake slice is a generous portion at 5 inches tall.






No cake will taste good after a year in the freezer. Not even a cake from the best bakery and covered with industrial foil wrapping will taste good after 12 months in a freezer! So instead of saving it for your anniversary, plan to cut and serve that top tier. 6 inch round cakes serve 12 guests. At $4 per slice or more, you’ve just saved at least $48! A larger top tier would be even bigger savings. To celebrate your anniversary with your wedding cake, order a small cake in the same flavors from your baker in a year. If your baker offers a free top tier, ask if you can have a certificate to be redeemed for a fresh anniversary cake instead. Trust me; you’ll want a fresh anniversary cake in a year!




Fondant is smooth and elegant but always additional per slice. Not to mention it's a rare baker that makes fondant yummy. Most bakers offer butter crème frosting with piped butter crème decoration in their base per slice fee. A professional wedding cake decorator actually can create a smooth butter crème frosting that is almost as flawless as fondant. I know this because I can do it and I’m not even a cake pro! So just ask to see photos of their butter crème covered wedding cakes specifically. That way so you can compare their work to the other decorators’ frosting smoothing capabilities. You’ll probably be surprised at how smooth butter crème really is!





Brides often ask, “What about sheet cakes in the kitchen and a dummy cake just for pictures?” Well, I didn’t want to go here but… there is a reason these things are called ‘dummy cakes’! Dummy cakes are not free. “Dummy” cake forms are made of Styrofoam and still must be decorated. Styrofoam forms are not cheap so to the cake form price, add the decoration costs, the decorator’s time plus the real sheet cakes you still have to purchase; added up dummy cake is not a money saving option. Oh yeah… and then what do you do with the dummy cake? Put it on your mantle? Toss it in the trash? Nope, not such a wise investment after all. I guess if you are enterprising, you could rent it to others. Which leads me to – can you rent a dummy cake? Yes. They are usually around $150 to rent. That’s One Hundred Fifty Dollars…. to rent….a cake…. that isn’t real … that you have to return … because it will be rented to others again. ...just like it was rented to others before it was yours. Yuck. Yes, I’ve seen them cheaper. Yes, they look cheaper too.






Your Wedding Planning Homework!


It's time to taste some cake! Cake tastings in most bakeries are free. Take advantage and schedule one ...or two ...today! Bring pictures but until you've tasted their cake, don't show them. They'll always tell you " Yes, of course we can do that lovely design". The question you need to aske yourself is - do you like the taste of their cake enough that you actually want them to?














Want to use this article in your e-Zine, blog or website? You may as long as you include this complete statement:


Wedding Solutions Specialist Tracey Baxter publishes the "Aisle Do" bi-weekly e-zine. Get your Free Report: "5 Fun and Fabulous Reception Ideas for a Reluctant DIY Bride” at www.aisledoweddings.com