Bride-O-Rama

Signature Cocktails: Rhubarb-Strawberry Champagne Cocktail

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST

Rhubarb-Strawberry Champagne Cocktail

Serves 8

4 oz. Rhubarb mix

4 oz. Cointreau Champagne to top

(1 bottle 750ml) Rhubarb Mix:

2 stalks rhubarb

1/2 pint strawberries, washed with tops removed

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. sugar

Juice of fresh lime

Puree all ingredients except lime. Reduce liquid to 1/2 over heat. Add lime juice. Mix can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Can also be frozen. In a glass, pour a bit of the rhubarb mix, a splash of cointreau, and top with champagne. Garnish with strawberry.

Weddings and the surrounding celebrations simply call out for champagne. And this recipe certainly brings a modern colorful twist to a signature cocktail. The rhubarb-strawberry mix is easy to whip up in batches making it ideal for a big gathering. And with the vanilla and sugar balancing the tartness, it’s like a fruit salad before dinner or the perfect dessert complement. For flawless service, have the glasses ready with the mix in the bottom, and top with the champagne before serving.

The Questions Never End ...

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST

The annoying questions that other people ask you throughout your adult life are, well... annoying. Once you reach, say, the age of 23 or so (or younger if you don't attend college) people start with the annoying questions about your life plans. The questions usually run in stages; according to the different stages of your life. We have all heard them, and I think women get them a lot more than men do. But men, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

QUESTION #1: So, when are you getting married?

Ummm, I don't know. Why don't you let me find a boyfriend that I actually LIKE first and who wants to marry me. More importantly, let me actually be involved in a relationship for awhile with a guy who ISN'T totally freaked out by the idea of getting married. Overbearing aunts, grandmothers, or office-coworkers constant nagging on the topic doesn't exactly help my cause. Why are other people so concerned with when YOU will get married anyway? It is as if they want and need for everyone else to do what THEY did; and if you don't, there is clearly something wrong with you. I got married "late," at age 35, so I got a LOT of this question. How do you tell people that you simply haven't met your future husband yet? THAT is when I will get married, and that is when I DID get married. When I found someone worthy of the title.

QUESTION #2: So, when is the wedding???

Okay, so when you finally DO get engaged; after endless years of people bugging you about doing so; these same people don't give you even five seconds with the ring on your finger before they start in with the wedding date. When is the wedding? Where will it be? I hope I'm invited! That is my favorite one of all: "I hope I am invited." What in the hell am I supposed to say to THAT? Because nine times out of ten, the person who says this is clearly NOT invited. I wish I had the ka-hunas to say, "Actually; person I barely know and only say Hi to because we work in the same office space, you are not invited. You were not even a thought on the Guest List; which, by the way, hasn't been created yet, because I have been engaged for 3 seconds. But if it WERE created, you wouldn't be on it. Ever. Never ever ever. Go away." But I am much too wimpy to say that. And I might even be so wimpy that I would invite them just to avoid the conflict. I suck.

QUESTION #3: Sooo, are you getting nervous? Are you excited?

This is a two parter. One usually follows the other. You nervous, you excited? This question starts popping up about two months before the wedding. People will sometimes preface it by saying something obvious like, "So, only two months before the wedding, huh?" Ummm, yup. And then they hit you with it. "You nervous? You excited?" I know it is a very innocent, "they mean well" type of question. But believe me, after you hear it literally over 50 times in a one week period, you start to become violent. I mean, how are you supposed to respond to this? Yes, I guess I'm nervous. I mean, I wasn't before, but NOW I am. And am I excited? Yes! Of course I am excited. Do you really think I am going to say, "Actually, no. I am not in the least bit excited about marrying the man I'm going to spend my life with. I could care less. But thanks for asking. You're a real trooper!"

QUESTION #4: Soooo, when are you gonna have kids?

Okay, this is quite possibly the most annoying of all the annoying questions. First of all; again, these people don't give you much time at all to get used to the idea of being married. In fact, some of them even start in with this line of questioning AT THE WEDDING. Or before the wedding. Or a week after the wedding. I don't mind it so much when it is family asking; because at least they know me. What I hate is when it is some co-worker, who I barely know or talk to, wants to know when I am having children and how many and why? And why do people assume that everyone on earth is planning on having kids anyway? What if I don't want them, or what if I'm unable to have children? I just think this line of questioning is a bit too personal for someone I am only acquaintences with. If I were to have kids, do you really think YOU would be the first person I would tell? Ummm, no. If you and I are close, then you will know. You won't have to ask. The end.

Now, if a few years go by, and you don't end up having kids; then Question #4 will continue until the end of time. If however, you DO have a child; then you would think the questions would stop, right? NO! They don't. They never stop. Then people start in with, "Soooo, will you be having more kids? How many? When? A little sister for baby Jimmy to play with? Awwww."

After the kids thing dies down, there really isn't much more to ask. Unfortunately, most people don't really care about all the other accomplishments in your life. I am starting my own business; I landed an agent ... but most people won't ask me about that stuff. They just want to be the first to know the minute I get pregnant. There is a woman at the office I work at who looks to be about in her seventies. She is always asking me when I am planning on having children. All the time. At least once a week. One of these days when she says, "Sooo, when will you be having kids?", I am going to come back with, "I don't know. When will you be dying? What are you, 70, 80? You're not looking so good. Maybe you should think about throwing in the towel. It's really time."

But that would be cruel. And I don't have the ka-hunas to go through with it. So instead, I hide behind my computer, typing out my frustrations in blog form.

What life questions annoy you? Comment here and let me know.

Email Kelley at Kelley@brideorama.com

Top 11 Things I Love About my Husband ...

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST

Today; October 27th, is my first Wedding Anniversary.

Well, by the time this blog is published, it will no longer be my Anniversary. But right now, as I write this, it is. Today at this same time, we were cutting into our wedding cake while a Harry Connick Jr. song played in the background and our friends and family looked on. The first year of my marriage has gone by super fast. It feels like a few months, rather than a whole year. So on this day; I want to dedicate my blog to my wonderful husband; and tell him some of the many reasons that I love him. And although there are hundreds and hundreds of reasons; this list goes to eleven.

The TOP 11 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY HUSBAND:

1. His shoulders and chest make for a great, cheap pillow.

2. He is one of the only heterosexual men that I know who genuinely enjoys attending a Broadway Show. (We have gone to many since he moved to the NY area.)

3. He walks over to my side of the car; holds the door open for me; waits until I am safely inside, and then closes it. That is great!

4. He truly loves to see me succeed in life; and is unbelievably happy when I do.

5. He took ballroom dancing lessons for our Wedding/First dance; even though he hated every single second of it.

6. He goes to see romantic comedies with me; and sometimes, he even likes them. (Yes, he likes the movie "Sleepless In Seattle," and no, I swear; he's not gay.)

7. He makes me breakfast in bed. (Okay, fine ..it was just ONE time. But that one time was very unexpected and extremely appreciated.)

8. He transformed himself from someone who said that baseball was "boring;" to someone who not only watches the entire baseball game; but also the pre-game show, post-game show, and spring training. (GO YANKEES!)

9. How passionate he gets when he A. plays guitar, or B. plays tennis.

10. The way he gives me kisses on my forehead; or holds my hand while lying in bed.

11. He packed up his entire Florida life; put it into a moving truck; and moved himself to New Jersey. He took a huge risk on our love, and made the ultimate sacrifice. And he never, ever mentions it or reminds me of it. Ever.

I love you honey! HAPPY FIRST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!!

Ladies; what do you love most about your fiance/husband? Comment here.

Email Kelley at kelley@brideorama.com

The Perfect Proposal #7: Back From Iraq

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST

If you thought getting back from Iraq safe and sound is a blessing on its own, throw in a ring and a wedding proposal. Here's how one woman handled it!

Something Old, Something New...

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EDT

We all know the saying: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue. Each item in this poem represents a good luck token for the bride if she carries them on her weddng day. The Something Old represents the continuance of the bride's past, the Something New means hope for the bride's future, the Something Borrowed is an item from a happily married friend/family member whose good luck in marriage is carried over to the bride, and the Something Blue symbolizes love and fidelity.

Here are some ideas you can use for your wedding:

Something Old:

a handkerchief tied to your garter

gloves

purse

brooch

your gown

Something New:

lingerie

lipstick

tussy mussy (for your bouquet)

stockings

tiara

Something Borrowed:

shawl

choker

high heels

hair clips

nail polish

Something Blue:

garter

hydrangea in your bouquet

underwear

ribbon around your bouquet

sapphire necklace

I Have a Proposal for You ...

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EDT

The Proposal. It seems like such a formal word for something that is so personal, doesn't it? A Proposal sounds like some sort of business transaction between two corporatations, rather than the beginning of a lifelong commitment to a new life together.

There are so many "stereotypical" proposals that we always hear about. The classic baseball game proposal where the question is posted on the giant screen for all the crowd to see. To me; if I were a guy, that would be way too stressful. How can you enjoy the game? You have to constantly look at that screen, waiting for the 2 second message to appear. And you have to make damn sure that SHE sees the message too. What if she goes to the ladies room for the 10th time? What if she just isn't looking? Too much pressure. Or how about the "putting the ring inside the food at a restaurant" proposal? This one just scares me. A ring inside my mashed potatoes? I don't know about you, but when I eat potatoes, I'm not taking each bite with precaution just in case there is an engagement ring stuffed in there! What if I choke and swallow the ring? Again, too much could go wrong here. It's like a potential comedy of errors.

And ladies, let's admit it; we look forward to the proposal. Some of us dream about it; even picturing or hoping for specific scenarios to take place on that momentous day. We also love hearing about other proposals too, right? Whenever one of your friend's gets engaged, what is the first thing you say? "Oh congratulations! How did he propose?" Thats the first thing YOU say. The first thing your male significant other says is something sarcastic like, "So you're finally walking the plank, huh?" or "Giving her the rights to your balls, eh?" or the overdramatic and badly acted, "Don't do it, man!! Don't do it!!!!" Yes, men. We see right through you.

Why? Because we know that secretly; somewhere deep down inside your manly self, you like the proposal. You like coming up with something extra-special for the love of your life; something you know she will love. I have seen some normally unromantic men come up with some amazing proposals in my time. My own husband is someone I would classify as not terribly romantic; and his Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree proposal was one of the most romantic and beautiful nights of my entire life. Of course, it was also one of the LAST romantic nights of my life; but that's a blog for another time ....

So what makes the perfect marriage proposal? I think that depends on who you are as a couple. The key to knowing how to propose marriage is truly knowing your girl and your relationship. What kind of people are you? Is she shy or outgoing? Would she love or be embarassed by a grand gesture in front of lots of people? What are your hobbies together? Some of the greatest proposals come from simply utilizing the things you like to do. For example, someone who runs marathons might propose with a large sign at the Finish line of a big race. If you both love movies, you might create a mini film for your fiance about your story as a couple, and at the end, you propose into the camera. A good friend of mine is also a fellow comedian; and he proposed to his fiance (now wife) on the stage at Gotham Comedy Club, during his standup comedy routine. It is all about who you are, and what you think your partner would appreciate. A lot of people like to make it private, while others prefer to propose in front of their entire family, maybe at a gathering like New Year's Eve or Thanksgiving.

Like rings, proposals come in all shapes and sizes. Another friend of mine has a husband who is very laid back and mellow in personality. His proposal was very lowkey and down to earth. They were sitting in their car coming back from dinner, and he simply told her he had something for her in the trunk. Then he pulled out the engagement ring out of a paper bag and said something like, "Here. So will you?" My friend made the point that although some women would have been disappointed by this non-event, she thought it was sweet because it was "just like him" to do something like that. It was pure to who he is. And that is what speaks to someone. Who you are.

So really, there is no perfect proposal. There are endless ways for a man to propose to his fiance. I think if you can capture the truth in that moment of who you are; then you have given a proposal that she will remember forever.

Men, this is your big moment! Trust me, if you do it right; her entire family and friends will love you forever. Everywhere you go, you will be the big hero for giving such a great proposal. That is exactly what happened to my husband. He was like a celebrity. "So, tell us the story of how you proposed..... Oh, how romantic! .... Oh Kelley is sooo lucky!"

And I am. But more importantly, so was he. Why? Because the proposal is it for you men. That is all you are responsible for when it comes to the wedding. Give a nice proposal and then show up in the tux ready to get married. That is it. So after you give your amazing proposal; you can then feel free to sit back, relax, and observe as your future wife plans the entire wedding. Alone. We will see you in about a year at the alter.

P.S. If you show up looking as hot as the guy in this picture, let's be honest, it doesn't really matter HOW you propose, we will say "Yes!"

Tell us your proposal story. How did he ask you and what did you think? Email Kelley at kelley@brideorama.com

What If?

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT

So weddings are all fun, fabulous, and momentous occasions we want to remember fondly for a lifetime. No one ever wants to talk about the “what if.” Shhh…don’t tell anyone, but I actually want to talk (or whisper) about the “what if.” In an attempt to learn something from tragedy, let’s pause from the fun (if only for a second) and prepare for the unknown.

Much of California burns today and many landmarks have been, and threaten to be, destroyed. From the Castle in Malibu to Southern California churches and homes, many no longer exist. What if your wedding was set for this weekend? What if? Of course we hope this never happens to you; and hope that no events are affected by these fires (or any other for that matter), but take a moment and think about the possibility. What would you do? Well, you would really want a Plan B.

Wedding insurance is a growing trend and a good option if you ever have to enact a Plan B. Companies like WedSafe (and even many homeowners’ policies) offer low premiums to protect against not only bad weather and unforeseen disasters, but also lesser evils like damage your guests cause to your venue after a night of too much fun and celebration. Something to not only discuss with your spouse-to-be, but something to budget into your bottom line!

While I was a skeptic at first, singing the mantra that “this could never happen to me;” I am now a convert, and a firm believer of expecting the best but preparing for the worst on such an important day. Why would you spend a year of planning and oodles of money and not spend a moment and a few extra dollars to protect yourselves? It’s likely that you’ll never have to enact that coverage, possibly even forgetting you have it; but at the same time, isn’t it nice to know, in the back of your mind, that it exists? You have insurance for your cars, your homes, your health, and oftentimes your job, but not for the single most important day of your life? Put it that way, and of course you want it! What better gift could you give yourself or your fiancé on your wedding day, but total piece of mind?

Whether your big day is affected by these fires or not, let’s take this day and this opportunity to remember what really matters about your wedding – the love you share for one another and the times you will cherish with your friends and families…this is what makes a wedding - not the budget, the flowers, or even the band.

Our thoughts are with those in California!!

Confession of the Day

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:46:15 EDT

"My son threw up all over the carpet the other night. I left it there hoping the dog would eat it."

Victoria and Earl's Wedding Blog - "My Bachelorette Night!"

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:21:40 EDT

My Bachelorette Night

Although I had two bachelorette parties, one with the Bears - my fave group of guys of which I'm one *teehee* - and one with my true blue girls, I'll blog about the bachelorette night with my girls.

One Friday after work, my matron of honor, Maxine, one of my wedding coordinators, Isis, and one of my bridesmaids, Robin, bum rushed me at my job and picked me up to begin the festivities on a rainy night in New York City. Before leaving, they bestowed upon me a silver tiara, a black feather boa and a custom made pink tee shirt that proclaimed "Queen Victoria" across the front. After they presented me with my Good Girl / Bad Girl wand, we were off!

Knowing that I've never responded well to strippers or anything of that kind (not that I'm a prude - it just seems a little pointless to me) they planned the perfect night of mental debauchery. They took me to a location called Second on Second where we imbibed the finest liquors, ate the most fattening fried foods and partook in the fun of Karaoke together with some close friends that joined us, despite the fact that sugar melts in the rain. We sang everything from Madonna's Material Girl to the B-52's Love Shack! We let it all hang out and laughed out loud and screamed at the top of our lungs. The going away party that was being held behind us decided to join us in our fun and we sang songs together and acted a fool!

Just when I thought that we couldn't possibly have any more fun I was whisked away into one of the cars and taken to the downstairs lounge of Tribeca Cinemas where the Freedom Party NYC was in full swing. No... not a political rally - but the BEST party in NYC for the 30 something crowd who fancies the music of their youth. They barely play ANY current music - they feature music produced pre 1999 :) We met more of our friends in the VIP area where they had been warming it up in anticipation of my arrival and we roger rabbit-ed, running-manned and wopped the night away with several new friends we met at the Cinema. Hours went by and I danced and laughed until I thought I needed to lay down and catch my breath.

At that point, I was lovingly delivered home with great memories the way I'd always hoped for - one last hurrah with my all my closest friends filled with song, laughter, and dancing in which we could all participate!

Signature Cocktails: Chocolate Martini

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:58:58 EDT

Chocolate Martini

Serves 4

8 oz. Absolut Vanilla

8 oz. Kahlua

4 oz. light creme

Chocolate shavings for garnish

Raw sugar for the rims

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, mix the Absolut, Kahlua, and creme until frothy. To sugar rims of glasses, pour the sugar into a shallow dish, wet the rims and dip into the sugar coating evenly. Strain the Absolut, Kahlua, and creme into glasses and serve.

It’s a wedding after all, so who doesn’t want to indulge in a bit of delectable, rich, chocolate while at the same time having a cocktail? This sweet libation is the perfect way to have your guests indulge in dessert before the meal! Try serving them during cocktails, but also after dinner to replace the costly after-dinner liqueurs and dessert bars. These fancy drinks, along with cake and coffee, should complete the reception in high style. To carry the sweet theme, serve chocolates with the coffee.

The Perfect Proposal #6: A Fairytale Proposal

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT

What do you get when you combine 1 month of planning, 2 weeks of rehearsals, 7 musicians, 3 dancers, 2 aerialists, 4 tumblers, 2 guards, 9 technicians, 4 camera people, and 1 guy and his girlfriend. Wow. Extravagant. Over the top. Amazing. Fabulous. Just watch this one.

Confession of the Day

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:18:13 EDT

"I tell my fiance I have a really low libido thanks to my medications. I'm lying. I have a very high libido, but I always choose to masturbate by myself rather than sleep with him. He just doesn't turn me on, I don't think this engagement is going to last."

Confession of the Day

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EDT

"He tells me everyday how much he loves me, how important I am to him, how much I mean to him. And yet, I am constantly checking up on him by snooping his email and text messages, driving by his work, trying to catch him in lies. What in God’s name is wrong with me? I don’t WANT to find that he’s cheating on me or lying to me, but I am so damn afraid of it and I don’t want it to sneak up and bite me in the ass one day. Why can’t I trust him? I never tell anyone out loud, but I absolutely HATE this aspect of myself, and I have no idea what to do to stop it."

"MY WIFE IS A NAG!" and other stereotypes about Marriage

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT

While I was searching Youtube today for some "funny" wedding related videos to use in my blogs here at Brideorama, I started to get extremely frustrated. And not only me, but my husband; who was watching these videos with me. We would open one, give it a minute or two, listen intently awaiting the big payoff laughter to ensue; and then give up, soon realizing there was NO laughter to be had. Why? Because 9 out of 10 of these videos were about the same old thing; men complaining that their wives NAG them. Two men sitting around talking; one telling the other about his incredibly nagging wife. One sketch comedy show did a bit about a fake product that listened to the nagging and told you what to say as a reply for a small fee. Another scene showed a woman accidentally cutting herself while chopping vegetables. When she begged her husband to please call 911, he lazily picked up the phone saying, " I suppose you want me to clean up this mess while you're laying around in the hospital too, right?" I will not post the video here, because I do not want to put any of my readers through such painfully unfunny "comedy." The fact that the people in the video look like they just graduated from the Conrad Banes School of Acting doesn't exactly help things. But I digress...

Look, I have a sense of humor. I am a comedian, so I have a very good sense of humor actually. So watching these videos does not offend me as a wife or as a woman. They offend me as a comedian! (Much like Seinfeld said on his show when he found out his dentist was becoming Jewish so he could tell Jewish jokes. "So you're offended as a Jew?" Kramer asked. "No," Jerry answered, "I'm offended as a comedian!" - I feel your pain Jerry) I just happen to think that there are a whole slew of stereotypes floating around out there about marriage; most of which are severely untrue. At least from where I stand. I mean c'mon; your wife nags you? Really? That's the best joke you can come up with about marriage? I am sure that some wives do nag; just as some husbands are probably lazy pieces of crap who deserve to be nagged at! But that is certainly not what I see all around me, or in my own marriage. I am not a nag. I do not treat my husband as if I am his mother. He already has one of those, and as far as I know, he doesn't want another one. So unless you have something NEW to say on the topic of nagging wives, let's just put away that annoying word for a long time, shall we?

And while we are on the topic, here are some other stereotypes about marriage that annoy me:

MARRIED WOMEN NEVER WANT TO HAVE SEX

This is another old, boring, tired topic. The whole "I have a headache" thing went out a long time ago, didn't it? I mean honestly, who actually says that anymore? Nobody that I know. Or, "I'm not in the mood." Sure, sometimes women feel this way, but men make it sound as if women are saying this every single day. Personally; if you want to know the truth, I am in the mood MUCH more than my husband most times. Anyone else out there with me? (I really hope he doesn't read this) I think that the whole idea that sex stops when you get married is just crazy. If anything, it should get better with time spent together. I also think that when it comes to sex, it all depends on the couple. Every relationship is different. Couple A might be happy having sex once a week, while couple B is happy having it five times per week. I am not going to say where we fall in that range, but the concept of an "average" amount of times to have sex is ridiculous. There is no such thing as "average." Everyone is different.

WOMEN GAIN WEIGHT AFTER THEY GET MARRIED

This is another one that I hear men joking about all the time; how their wives gained 10 or 20 pounds over time. Usually they are having this conversation as they lounge around on the couch watching football together; their baseball hats covering their balding heads, and their oversized sweatshirts and jeans hiding the huge gut underneath. You know what? People gain weight. It happens. It's called life. So unless you are looking in the mirror and seeing a young strapping Brad Pitt staring back, please don't expect your wives to be some perfect little Barbie doll while you exercise your remote control arm to put on the latest Playstation game. Really, I think any man who criticizes his wife for gaining a few pounds is only hiding the insecurities they feel about their own self. I know; that was really deep. Don't mistake me for Dr. Phil. This is why I have so much respect for couples who work out together, lose weight together, stay healthy together. It says so much about a relationship when you are both making these things an important part of your life. Together.

THE MAN LOSES HIS FREEDOM WHEN HE GETS MARRIED

This one kind of makes me mad. The whole "walking the plank" thing that men joke about with marriage; the whole "whatever you say dear, you're always right dear" thing. Again, if I hadn't heard this same hack joke a thousand times, I might laugh. But it's old now, and not all that funny. I do not think this is true at all. Put it this way: if any man out there feels that he has lost his sense of self by getting married; that you have no say in anything that happens between you and your wife; well that is your fault! You are choosing to be passive and spineless in your relationship, and you are letting your wife walk all over you. If you have something to say, men; say it! If there is something you'd like to do, tell us! Really, we would love to know these things. Usually when my husband is silent about something, (where to go for dinner, what we should do over the weekend, etc) I will just take it upon myself to make a decision and make plans for us. If I didn't, we would never go anywhere, ever!!! I'm serious. We would just sit in a chair, day after day, staring at one another. So, if you don't have anything to offer, then don't accuse us of taking too much control. Get it? Good.

And now I shall leave you with the shortest of the lame "marriage" videos that I scanned through today. It doesn't seem fair that I had to suffer alone by watching all of these; so we will compromise. I am sharing with you the shortest, most painless of the bunch. But it's still pretty bad. This one comes from A DAN AMONGST DANS. Enjoy!

What marriage stereotypes do you hate? Leave me your comments here.

Email Kelley at kelley@brideorama.com

Confession of the Day

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:14:54 EDT

"The banner on my cell phone screen says "Property of the bride." Hey, I'm only going to be engaged once. "

A Wedding Story

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT

So part of what I've been doing here at Brideorama lately is searching for funny, creative wedding related video clips; and then posting them along with a blog or reaction. This job has been quite challenging as of late however; due to the lack of original and funny material out there to share with you all. So when something makes me laugh, I have to pass it along.

This video is from a sketch called "A Wedding Story," and it comes from the hilarious MAD TV. The featured couple here tells their wedding story; which includes why they had to postpone their wedding (you'll never guess), as well as their very strange wedding theme (hint: it has to do with outer space). If you are planning a wedding and know the stress that can be involved with that process, you will probably get a good laugh at the way the bride defends her position to hold the wedding on their original wedding day; even though it is obvious that they should postpone. And the male actor's reactions and delivery cracks me up.

The video also brings to mind something that I love talking about and dissecting: stupid or strange wedding themes. Let me just say I love wedding themes, as long as they have a purpose. I had a wedding theme: Christmas. So I definately have nothing against themes; as long as they make sense. It is when they start getting weird that it makes me laugh. I actually know a person who had a wedding theme of DEATH. Yes, you heard me. Death. Maybe it's just me, but I thought that was called a funeral. Needless to say, I didn't know this person well enough to be invited to the creepfest. I really wish I was there though; because then I could come back and share with you all how bizarre it was. So instead, I will just mock it anyway.

I hope you enjoy this very funny video; and if you have any wild wedding themes to share that you have seen firsthand, please comment about them here. Thanks!

Email Kelley at kelley@brideorama.com

Wedding Centerpiece: All Aglow

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:04:59 EDT

The All Aglow Candlelight is magical and sensuous, and adds the perfect accent for a wedding centerpiece. The soft flickering adds a glow to the table, and the candlelight will put your guests in a most flattering light. This sassy arrangement gives modern flair to classic candles with its combination of a trifle dish, dot stickers, iridescent vase filler, and shimmery pillar candles. All of which were found at a national chain store in one quick shop. The dots were found in the office aisle, but look in the scrap booking aisle for a variety of colors and shapes to go with your particular color scheme. Candles can be expensive, but I lucked out and found these on clearance. I especially like the pearlized finish, but any plain white 4-inch pillar will do. Scented candles, while they smell nice, can prove to be more costly, and in addition the scent can overpower the meal.

The simplicity of this arrangement makes for a fun and approachable table, one that is inexpensive and easy to make but will shine the night away.

To make the All Aglow Centerpiece you'll first need to get the following materials:

1 glass trifle dish

3 3-4" iridescent pillar candles

1 2.75lbs. bag of vase filler

1 package of bright colored dots

The Steps:

1) Once your materials are assembled, first wipe down the trifle dish. Peel and stick the dots on in a pattern as shown, start with the dot at top and work your way from top to bottom so that the second and third dot in the row are at a diagonal. Continue until the entire trifle dish is covered in the pattern.

2) Open the filler and pour in until about 2 inches high. Twist the dish from side to side to even the sand-like filler out.

3) Place the candles in a triangular pattern and twist slightly to secure them in the filler.

4) Pour the remainder of the filler around the candles. Be sure to pour evenly. Again, twist the trifle dish slightly to even out the filler.

5) Light the candles and enjoy!

Putting together an arrangement doesn’t have to be costly or time consuming. All of the supplies were bought in one shop, and the assembling was quick and easy too. The whole arrangement came to just under $20.00. The Trifle Dish was $11.99, 3 Candles ($1.15each) were $ 3.45, Vase Filler was $2.99, and the Dots were $1.47.

Note: I found that the consistency of the vase filler was very fine, so if you need more, sugar would make an ideal substitute. It is also gritty like sand, and does come in the natural color as well, if you want to use a beach inspired theme but don’t live near the shore. Place a smattering of shells in the sand for a true washed ashore effect. On that note, there are many other ideas here; buttons, berries, tiny gems or even small butterflies would make fun added accents.

Using Your Wedding to Help Others (Dear Danille...)

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:18:35 EDT

In this week's GET ADVICE section, Danille had a terrific question. She wondered if there were places other than Ebay where a bride could go to sell or buy used wedding dresses (like a wedding thrift shop). She also asked if there was anything productive she and other brides could do with any reusable items after the wedding is over. As Danille stated, "I really hate all the waste." This is a great point Danille; and I completely agree with you. I hate all the waste too. The good news is that there is something we can do about it. You can make your wedding whatever you want it to be; and if giving to others is important to you, there are several ways to make that happen.

I did some research on the good ole "internets"; as George W. Bush would say, and found a whole buttload of excellent information and websites where giving is the name of the game. As far as wedding thrift shops go, yes; they do exist in some cities and towns. If your city does not have one, wedding dresses can be brought in any thrift or consignment shop that is near you. Since it would take me all week to list every city's local thrift shop here, I will instead give you this helpful website to find the nearest location. www.consignmentshops.com. If you don't feel like walking yourself down to the nearest store, you can use the "internets" right from your home. At www.usedweddingdresses.com, you can search through hundreds of dresses, jewelry, and accessories for your wedding. The best part is that nothing is over $250.

In my research, I also found a number of great organizations where you can sell or buy wedding dresses; or give them to people in need. In addition, you can also find many other ways to use your wedding to help others. Here's how:

At "Making Memories," go to the section called "Brides Against Breast Cancer"; and read about how to donate your wedding dress to a woman with breast cancer getting married. Go to www.makingmemories.com

At "Just Give," you can do several things. You can sign up for their "charity registry" program, where your wedding guests have the option of choosing their favorite charity and making a donation in lue of a wedding gift. Or you yourself can make a donation on behalf of your guests as your wedding "favor." The best part about this is that you and your guests can choose any charity you want, and everything is optional. In addition, you can donate wedding dresses (or bridesmaids, flower girl dresses, etc), flowers; even leftover food to organizations in need. There are many charities to choose from, so you really have the power to do whatever speaks to you with this organization. www.justgive.org

At "Heavenly Angels," you can literally become one by donating your dress to a grieving family who lost an infant baby. The company uses the dress material and fabric to "create beautiful burial garments and other memorial items" for babies who passed away. Garments are given to local hospitals who then present them to the grieving families; who are able to see their babies wrapped in precious garments one last time. The garments are also used in funerals and ceremonies. On the site, you can view pictures and samples of some past wedding gowns that were transformed into "wraps" or small garments for infants. This is a horrible thing to have to think about; but what a wonderful thing to be able to do with your wedding gown. For more information, go to www.heavenlyangelsinneed.com

Another great way to use your wedding for good: GO GREEN! No, not the NY Jets; the environment! There are plenty of ways that you can use your wedding to help keep our environment a safer, better place; and be insured that you are not wasting anything. At the online organization "EcoMall," there are many excellent suggestions on how to make your wedding more green or eco-friendly. And don't worry; none of them include inviting Al Gore. (Can you imagine how boring that toast would be? Zzzzzzzzz ....) www.ecomall.com

If you have any additional suggestions on how to use your wedding to help; or organizations that you would recommend to others, comment here.

Email Kelley at Kelley@brideorama.com

Mile High Wedding

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT

What better place than Vegas for a wedding? It is the nuptials capital of America after all! From Nicky Hilton, Britney Spears, and most recently Pam Anderson and Rick Solomon, couples continue to flock to sin city to say I Do.

This past week, Sir Richard Branson took the Vegas wedding one step further. A wedding ABOVE Las Vegas! On his Virgin America madden voyage flight from San Francisco to Las Vegas, one happy couple were wed (by Branson himself who had previously been officially ordained). The couple said their I Do’s at 35,000 feet among friends, family, and the invited paparazzi of course. While the bride walked down the aisle of the plane, Branson conducted the ceremony on the flight attendant intercom. Other than some tight spaces, it appeared to be a fairly tame fete. That is until wedding cake was severed in the arrival terminal. With hundreds watching, show girls in toe, the cake landed on the face of the groom (curtsey of Branson). Talk about a Vegas wedding! And you thought there were no more original venues around.

Photos by Robert Evans Studios

Quality Moments on your Wedding Day

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:00:00 EDT

Remember the remake of the film "Father of the Bride?" You know, the Steve Martin version that most of us have seen. I always get sad when I watch the wedding and reception scene of that film. The father has begrudgingly gone out of his way and his budget to not only pay for his daughter's lavish wedding, but also to offer his home and gigantic backyard as a reception venue. When he gets excited to give his daughter the new espresso machine she wanted for her engagement gift, he is cut off at the pass when the in-laws pull up in the brand new CAR they bought the couple unexpectedly. He is pushed aside often by the wedding planner (the hilarious Martin Short); who has moved all the furniture, rearranged the entire house, and left the father utterly confused. And then what happens on the wedding day? The bride gets married, dances the night away, cuts the cake, throws the bridal bouquet, and waves goodbye to her guests before jumping into the get-away limo ... and somehow her daddy just misses every single moment of it. He is running around, trying to get through the huge crowd, and cannot get to his daughter. He never gets to say goodbye, and she ends up calling him from the airport on their way to the honeymoon to tell her father she loves him. That scene always gets to me. One, because I'm a sap .. and two, because I did NOT want that to happen at my own wedding! I mean really. How do you go the entire reception without seeing your own father? Granted this was a huge reception with probabyl 300 or 400 people; whereas mine was only 100 guests. However, even with a smaller crowd, you run the risk of not seeing everyone there. I never wanted my wedding experience to be a huge blur that I couldn't remember because everything was so rushed and happened so fast. I wanted to make CERTAIN that I got to spend quality time with my immediate family, my guests, and most importantly; my new husband. So here are a few things we did to ensure that everyone got a little piece of US on that beautiful, wonderful evening:

A MOMENT ALONE PLEASE ....

Our venue coordinator was a genius. Why? Because she had the foresight to know that my new husband and I would probably like a minute or two alone before all the madness began downstairs. (our ceremony and reception were at the same location.) Seconds after the ceremony ended; as we walked back down the aisle together, a newly married couple; she led us both up the stairs to the Bridal Suite and shut the door behind her. When we got up there, she had set aside a plate of the appetizers that would soon be passed around downstairs during cocktail hour, champagne, strawberries, fresh fruit, and water. Our coordinator pretty much then ordered us to stay up there for 10minutes or so while the cocktail hour began. (we opted to attend our own cocktail hour. I didn't see any reason not to, as I didn't want to miss any of the party.) I remember her saying to us, "I'm going to leave you two up here for about 10 or 15minutes. I want you to relax, take in what just happened, and enjoy it. Because when you go down those stairs, it is going to get crazy. This might be the only time you have to spend alone together the entire evening, so use it wisely." Then she left. It was amazing, one of the best moments of the day. We held each other, talked about how nervous we were before the ceremony, and just relished in our happiness. We could hear the music downstairs, our friends celebrating and eating, and it was just a beautiful few moments of calm before the storm. So however you have to do it, make some time to spend ALONE with your new husband. Even if its only 10 minutes! For some couples, this happens in the limo ride. Since we didn't have limos and everything was in one place, we used the Bridal Suite for our moments alone.

KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY ....

If spending time with your family and friends is important to you on your wedding day, then try to include those people in your wedding as much as possible. If they are not in the wedding party, there are plenty of other ways to make them a part of the event. We had a tiny wedding party; Best Man and Matron of Honor only. But in addition to that, we used our friends and family's special talents to keep them close to us on our day. My mother was our co-officiant, so she was a huge part of our ceremony. My oldest childhood friend was our ceremony musician; so when I walked down the aisle, I got to glance over at her and hear the sounds of her flute with acoustic guitar as I approached my new husband. My dad and I both sing; so we did a duet medley for our guests during the cocktail hour; as well as the father daughter dance. My brother and his new wife were our two ushers; and they both sat people and handed out programs. My husband's sister did a reading during the ceremony. So we found ways to include most of the people who were important to us; and this way it guaranteed that we would have at the very least, a small moment with those people during the day.

TABLE FOR SIXTEEN PLEASE ...

Since we had such a small wedding party, we were able to have a "family table" instead of a head table, something I really didn't want. Our table looked just like everyone else's, except it was much bigger. At our table; we had me and my husband, our siblings and their wives, our parents, and our Best Man, Matron of Honor, and their spouses. This gave us a lot of time while eating to spend with our families; those that were closest to us and those that helped us put this whole day together. It also helped for my husbands family to meet my family, some for the very first time, and brought us all closer together. I am really happy that we did that instead of sitting alone just me and him, or with only our wedding party. I couldn't imagine not sitting with our parents and families on that day. It made the day feel like a big family get together; and I left the reception without any regrets.

Share your ideas for spending quality time with your guests at your wedding. What worked for you that allowed you more moments with friends and family?

Email Kelley at kelley@brideorama.com

Confession of the Day

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:11:39 EDT

"I can't wait to get my wedding photos even though I know I'll be unhappy about how fat I look. I'm much skinnier in my mind than I am in real life."

The Perfect Proposal #5: A Knight In Shining Armor

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT

For some of us, our dream included a knight in shining armor. And for Jane, this actually came true... on her birthday....

Megan and Greg Wedding Blog

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:00:00 EDT

Greg and I went to Hawaii (Kauai and Maui) for our honeymoon and had the most amazing time! It was absolute paradise - I recommend both island to honeymooners! In addition to listening to friends recommendations for places to visit, we talked to the locals - they told us about some amazing beaches and restaurants.

We live in NY and decided to stop in San Francisco on the way home to break up the flight. I had never been and Greg had been once, years ago. Other than buying the ferry tickets to Alcatraz, we had nothing planned - we went with the flow and ended up having great stories to tell! One night we ended up eating dinner at the table next to some of the Yankees (who were in town playing the Giants)!

I kept a journal which I know is a little dorky but I definitely recommend - I recorded what we did each day and also funny memories that I likely would have already forgotten, plus it will be so fun to read on our 50th wedding anniversary!

Videographer: Starlight Productions

Band: In-Transit Music and Entertainment 

Gown and Veil: Le Bella Couture Atelier  

Photographer: Bella Pictures

Reception: Hilton Rye Town 

IT'S OVER, NOW WHAT?!

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:00:00 EDT

This hilarious video from recent bride & comedienne Giulia Rozzi, reminds us we can't take ourselves too seriously. Every once in while we gotta look in the mirror, get a grip, and laugh at ourselves. We're women and thus slaves to our emotions. Can we help it? No. Do we want to? No! We're chicks and divas and drama queens no matter who you are. Look in a medical book, it's in our DNA.

There's no denying that wedding days are all about the bride. Wait, what? Lifelong bonds of love? Rejoicing in finding a soulmate? Yeah yeah, it's about that too, but first it's all about the brides. But don't fret when its all over, and don't hang on to it like your going to lose it. If you love something you let it go, right? Besides in a couple of years you can renew your vows! Here is my effort to define PBD:

Post Bridal Depression–unabridged* [pohst brayd-l di-presh-uh n]–noun
1. The act of depression after one's own wedding or time of being a bride.
2. The state of being depressed at having nothing to do and living inside a void in which there is nothing to plan, caterers to consult, colors to match, or honey moons to run off to.
3. A state of dejection when your friends no longer want to talk about your wedding, look at wedding videos, watch slides of honeymoon pictures, or go over comical happenings during the wedding that were unexpected with hilarious results. note* Various acts of eye rolling, huffing, or pouting may ensue from either parties.
4. A feeling of great injustice as the day you've been dreaming of since you were a little girl and planned for months in which it would be the greatest day of your life and you could tell for generations to come has passed and incomprehensible feelings of "I don't know what to do with myself now" have lodged inside your poor restless being.
5. A period of time in which a post wedding brides may try and explore various activities but not limited to– scrap booking, dieting, hair dyeing, cooking foreign cuisine, watching an extensive amount of romantic comedies, game hunting, having babies, or reading and/or commenting on bridal blog posts.
6. A demonic being that possesses post wedding brides to make her sad that she is no longer the "Belle of the Ball" even though she should always know she is the star of her own life and there are always more adventures to come.

Did I miss anything? Let us know by posting a comment below!

Tarina Tarantino Bridal Line...with Hello Kitty!

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT

In need of some cool jewelry and accessories for your wedding day. Check out Tarina Tarantino!

Her new bridal line has so many different looks to suit every bride.

Going for a classic look? Check out her pearl and crystal earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and purses.

Want more of a vintage feel? Check out her Hippie Princess line:

Simple, yet chic? Check out her flower hair clips and matching earrings

For the bride who wants to go just plain crazy, check out her Hello Kitty bridal line!

There is something for everyone. Also, a great site for bridal party gifts. Enjoy!

Confession of the Day

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:58:36 EDT

"I didn't like my hair on my wedding day, either. The funny thing was, I didn't care. It was kind of like "well, whadaya know? I don't like my hair. BUT I'M ABOUT TO MARRY THE MAN OF MY DREAMS!!" It just seemed like such a small, insignificant detail. It sometimes annoys me when I look at the wedding pictures, but then I think "Yeah, but look at the size of the smile on my face!" In reality, I coulda been bald and still looked great - that kind of happy makes everyone gorgeous!"

Do You Take This Bird...

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT

... To be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to place inside a cage? In sickness and in health? To feed it birdseed while you dine on sirloin and grilled veggies? That seems to be the question being asked in this second clip from the classic DEAN MARTIN SHOW. In this video, Dean Martin wants to know from a much thinner, younger version of Dom DeLuise whether or not he can marry his bird. A hilarious, insane discussion then happens about marrying different animals. My personal favorite line from this video:

Dean: How do you marry a giraffe?

Dom: With a 16 foot priest.

This is just classic comedy any way you look at it. And they were so much sillier back then. This is my latest choice from the many wedding related video classics! Enjoy!

Email Kelley at kelley@brideorama.com

Signature Cocktails: Mulled Cider

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:11:37 EDT

Mulled Cider

Serves 10

Large bowl or cooler

10 cups apple cider

2 cups bourbon

5 cinnamon sticks plus more for garnish if desired

40 whole cloves

12 orange slices

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

3 small apples

In a large saucepan, combine the cider, cinnamon sticks, 10 cloves, 6 orange slices, the ginger and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, stud the apples with the remaining cloves. Strain the spiced cider into the bowl or cooler. Add the bourbon, apples, and remaining spices. Serve immediately. Note: for a non-alcoholic cider, omit the bourbon.

There’s nothing like drinking something warm on cool Autumnal days. This cocktail is sure to take the chill out of your guests with its soft spicy tones and aroma. Perfect for serving at an outdoor ceremony, or just after at the reception. If you’re planning a rooftop or park side ceremony, you don’t have to be fancy, you can make a big batch in a cooler and serve it in nice paper cups!

Confession of the Day

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:00:00 EDT

"Sometimes my husband annoys me so much, I want to punch and kick him in his f**king face."

Engagement Party aka Theme Party

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT

Engagement parties are a great platform to show your fun, funky side without the formality of the wedding. Toss etiquette out the window and go with a theme. This could encompass a unique venue (think bowling alley, silent movie theater, or favorite pub), or for those on a tighter budget, get your guests involved in creating the atmosphere and spare on location. When getting your guests involved in your theme, don't make it too difficult, you want them to equally enjoy themselves (or in some cases, mock themselves). The most fun I’ve had at a fete thus far? In full bridesmaid fashion at a “wear your worst bridesmaid dress” themed-bash (and of course make your date match in equally as ugly faire). Trust me, your guests will let go once they have let go of their fashion sense! And it's a great conversation starter for mingling families and new friends.

Earlier this year People Magazine published a real weddings issue and in it we found some inspiration for this daring theme:

At the end of this night, what better way to say la vie then with an impromptu “trash the dress” photo session – maids and all. These could turn out to be some of your most treasured memories and images of the evening.

Photo by Koontz Photography.

Confession of the Day

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:00:00 EDT

"We love each other so much. He can't stop his great studies. I can't stop my starting career. We are in two different countries. We are running out of solutions."

Wedding Themes!

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:07:53 EDT

A great way to customize your wedding is to create a theme that has meaning to both you and your future husband.

For instance, if you met in Paris, why not have a Paris themed wedding with croissants at your cocktail hour and each table named for a different site? Some things to think about:

Where was your first date? If you went to a hookah bar, have a Middle Eastern wedding with cous cous and gold decor

What TV shows, movies, or music do you both like? If you love mob movies, go for a Bonnie and Clyde theme with lots of red, black, and white

Memorable vacations? try a cruise theme with umbrellas in drinks and beach ball displays

Activities you both enjoy? try a football theme with buffalo wing, pigs in a blanket, and small subs for hor dourves

My husband and I both love Alice in Wonderland. We decided this would be the perfect theme for our wedding. We tried to incorporate the theme into all aspects of our wedding.

Flowers-We had playing cards in our centerpiece and had very brightly colored flowers.

Cake-We had a topsy-turvey cake made and decorated it with bright colors and whimsical designs.

Color Scheme-we chose red, purple, lime green, fushia, lemon yellow, and orange to evoke a storybook feel

Ice Sculpture-The White Rabbit

Place Cards-We printed pictures of the various characters and had a caligrapher write their names on the card. Ex. Dinah, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter

The Perfect Proposal #4: Proposal by Plane

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT

Next time you go to the beach, and a plane flies by....make sure you look - because whether or not YOU'RE the one that's getting proposed to, it still makes the perfect proposal for someone!

Confession of the Day

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:00:00 EDT

"The venue could burn, flowers wilt, and no one show up, but if he thinks I look gorgeous, my day is made. MADE, I tell ya. "

Lisa and Dave's Wedding Blog

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:00:00 EDT

My bachelorette party consisted of many of my favorite things in life: friends, food, stories from the past, and a fancy hotel. The dinner component of my bachelorette party was phenomenal: friends told This Would Have been Your Life if Married ____ stories, the food was delicious, the company was spectacular, and I even got to wear a tiara. What more could a bride-to-be want?

However, what took place before the dinner part - well, that was unusual and memorable and I know I will be telling the tales from that part for many years to come. We arrived at The Marriott Marquis in Times Square, settled in a little with champagne, snacks, etc. and relaxed on the comfy couches. Then we heard a knock on the door, and two young women walked in. One was a sex therapist that my bridesmaids had hired for the occasion and the other was a journalist/writer for Heeb Magazine. Why was this journalist/writer at your bachelorette party - you ask. Well, I'll tell you. She was writing an article for Heeb on why Jewish girls don't like to give, um, cough, cough, head. And so my bridesmaids and me (7 of us) are all Jewish, and what better place to discuss such a topic than a bachelorette party in an awesome hotel room? She told us she may be using us for her story, however, I never anticipated how much of "us" she'd be using. She referred to us, not by name, but by characteristic: the nervous bride-to-be, the married red-head, the girl with biggest engagement ring. And then, that story was published in Heeb. I have the copy of the issue on my shelf and plan to share the story with my daughter one day. Maybe when she's twenty-five. Or when she's about to have her bachelorette party.

So that's the story of how my bachelorette party was documented, discussed, and published in a trendy magazine.

Confession of the Day

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:30:00 EDT

"My fiance's parents are divorced, and can't stand each other. He's afraid that they will be at each other's throats during the wedding. Can't they learn to behave like adults for just one day?"

Conde Nast Bridal Media’s DREAM HOUSE

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:45:05 EDT

Hey there!

If you're pre-engaged, engaged or newlywed, you won't want to miss out on this offer!!! Check it out --

NEW YORK, NY (September 12, 2007) – Condé Nast Bridal Media is proud to announce DREAM HOUSE— the first-ever, tour-able show house for pre-engaged, engaged and newlywed couples designed to provide inspiration for their entry into this new lifestage. The house will display the best-in-bridal, beauty, fashion, fitness, registry and home, plus host events with the editors of Brides, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride, Brides.com, and Brides local magazines.

DREAM HOUSE will be open to the public for tours, classes, parties and spa treatments for four full weeks from October 18th – November 15th, 2007. A percentage of proceeds from ticket sales will benefit The I Do Foundation, an organization dedicated to linking engaged couples with charitable giving options for their wedding.

Tours of DREAM HOUSE will feature rooms designed for couples by top designers including Richard Mishaan of Homer, Cathy Hobbs of Apheria and Franck Hodelin, seen on The View. The house will feature the hottest home accessories from JCPenney, Noritake, Bloomingdales, Cuisinart, Pampered Chef, McGuire & Baker and more.

Couples will also have the opportunity to attend special seminars and one-time only events such as cocktail parties with industry insiders and home planning pros including the “Leonardo da Vinci of cakes,” Sylvia Weinstock, top celebrity lifestyle expert David Tutera, NY1’s Valarie D’Elia, celebrity wedding planning Sasha Souza, star hair stylist Mark Garrison and Mark Montano and Cat Wei, designers from the hit WE TV series “She's Moving In”.

Signature Cocktails: Cherry Bomb Weddings

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:49:38 EDT

Cherry Bomb Weddings

Serves 8

Ice cubes

16 oz. gin

4 oz. Lemon juice

4 oz. Grenadine

4 oz. Sugar syrup

Lemon peel for garnish

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker or pitcher filled with ice, mix or shake well until frothy. Strain into Martini glasses and garnish with lemon peel. Serve immediately. To make the sugar syrup, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir constantly until the sugar has dissolved and the liquid is clear, about 5 minutes. Remove form the heat and let cool. The syrup will keep, refrigerated in a sealed jar or container, for up to 1 week. Makes 1 cup.

Cherry Bomb Weddings and the parties that surround them are all about getting together 2 sets of families and friends, to meet, share stories, and most of to celebrate the happy couple. This cocktail is the perfect icebreaker for the job. The color alone calls for a celebration. Great for all the pre-wedding gala events, or to serve as your signature cocktail for you reception. Subtle and smooth, with a light fruit chaser, this cocktail tastes like a cherry vitamin on steroids. Careful not to drink too many of these, because your socks won’t be the only thing that gets knocked off.

Top 11 Ways to Waste Your Money (while planning your wedding)

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT

When you get married; there are some things that you absolutely need for the wedding to take place. An officiant, a location, a fiance. There are other things that we all hope to have at our weddings; food, music, good company. You get the idea. On television, weddings are giant elegant affairs with $5000 cakes and $75,000 budgets. In real life however, some if not most of us are looking for any way we can to cut corners; without our wedding appearing like we cut corners. We all want to have a nice wedding, whatever that means to you individually. What we don't want, however, is to be talked into buying things that we absolutely do not need or want for our wedding. What's even worse is when a wedding planner, venue coordinator, or salesperson tries to tell us that we absolutely "must have this" for our wedding. When you are on a budget, you really need to be careful. The problem is, wedding planning makes us all vulnerable to the power of suggestion. So if someone "suggests" that our wedding will look cheap or not elegant enough if we don't purchase a certain item, we may be inclined to listen to them. Well, I am here to tell you that they are lying. Listen to me instead. It will save you a lot of stress, and a whole bunch of money. And my advice is absolutely FREE! So here goes ...

The Top 11 Ways to Waste Your Money While Planning Your Wedding

(translation: the wedding industry and others will try and convince you to buy the following items. If you want them and can afford it, that is great. Go for it! But otherwise, YOU DON'T NEED THESE THINGS! They are super expensive and not at all necessary for your wedding to go off without a hitch.)

1. Cake Server Set:

This is a completely unnecessary item. Yes, they are beautiful; and hey, if someone decides to buy you a nice set for your Shower or an early wedding gift, more power to you. But to go out and buy a special knife and set just for your wedding cake that you will use for literally about 10 seconds on that day seems ridiculous. And expensive. You can just as easily use ANY nice looking knife set to cut the cake with, and noone will know or care. Trust me.

2. Monogrammed Toasting Flutes:

Again, these make a beautiful Shower gift for the Bride and Groom. But some people will actually try and tell you that you NEED special glasses to make your first toast with. Like, if you don't have these specific glasses, your wedding and marriage are bound to fail. First of all, you are normally sitting at a head table or at least far away enough from the guests that noone will even SEE the glasses you are using to toast with. And secondly, just because something is monogrammed doesn't mean it is nicer. Go with whatever works for you. Lots of times, your venue will supply you with glasses anyway, so it's not even an issue.

3. Save the Dates:

Okay, now this one is a bit tricky. The purpose of a Save the Date is to let out of town guests know ahead of time the date of your wedding, so that they can make travel plans early and hopefully have a better chance of being there on your day. So if you have a lot of out of town guests, then Save the Dates MAY be something you want to do. We did them, but only sent them out to out of town guests; not locals. I made them myself, and in total, spent about $40 to do so. The problems come in when your save the dates start becoming more of a hassle and huge expense than they are worth. Invitations are expensive enough; you should not be having to put a lot of money into a simple message telling people when and where your wedding is. If you do them, make them yourself and keep it simple.

4. Personalized Napkins:

Again with the monogramming. To me, this has to be the best scam going. Think about it. Napkins are used for what? Wiping your mouths after eating, right? Well, now you can wipe your mouth with the new married couples names! Isn't that .... gross??? Yes, and stupid. If you are going to put your names on something, please make it something other than the napkins. Also, consider this: napkins with names etched into them: $3.00 each or more. Regular napkins from party store or other place: probably less than $10 for an entire package.

5. Makeup Artist:

Unless you really do not know how to put on your own makeup, I think this is normally a pretty good way to waste your money on your wedding day. Most of us females put our own makeup on every day, and we know what we are doing for the most part. And makeup artists will charge you a fortune as soon as you say the word WEDDING. A better option? Hold a makeup class for your bridal party with a consultant from Mary Kay. They will come to your house, host a gathering, and teach everyone how to do their own makeup on that day. They will talk about skin care and help each individual find colors that best suit their skin tone. And the best part is that the whole thing is FREE. You can buy the skin care product presented, but there is no obligation to do so at all. (my mom is an Independant Sales Director for Mary Kay, and she helped me and my Matron of Honor with our makeup on my wedding day. It was great.)

6. Elegant Guestbook and Pen Set:

Another stupid scam. I am not saying you shouldn't have a guestbook. Of course you should. But there are many options out there at stores like Target, Party Stores, or even JC Penny's, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc. There is no need for a "leather bound book with gold trim" or some other dumb thing that translates into hundred of dollars. The biggest part of this scam is the pen. These people want you to pay a hundred dollars for a pen. It has gold, or feathers, or maybe it even writes your name for you! You can get a pen with the initials of the couple on it! How about a pen that sings to you as you write your signature? You get the point. Its stupid. Its a pen. Don't spend a lot of money on it.

7. Bridal Hairpieces (tiaras, barrettes, combs, etc):

Again, you want a comb to put in your hair? Fine. You can get one for under $10. But say the word WEDDING and suddenly that $10 turns into $30 or more very quickly. Purchasing any sort of hairpieces or accessories at bridal shops is a very good way to waste your money. Often times you can have the same exact pieces handmade for you for much less money. My seamstress made my veil for $15. Bridal stores sell a similar one for over $200. Go to a store that sells hair things, and make your purchases there. There will be a lot of choices, and the price will be much lower.

8. Groom's Cake:

Some couples want to have a Groom's cake. Some brides like surprising their husbands with a special treat just for him. That is great. Again, if you truly want any of the things on this list, that is wonderful and of course you should have them. Just do not let anyone bully you into spending money on something that is truly unnecessary. They will try to tell you that this is the new trend, and everyone is doing it now. Do not fall for it. It is just another way for them to get you spending twice as much as you anticipated. All of those extras add up in the end. Most times, a Groom's cake is chocolate. So instead of an entire seperate cake, why not just make one layer chocolate and one vanilla? Or have chocolate cake with buttercream frosting? There are many options that are much less expensive than doing up a whole seperate cake.

9. Elaborate Pew or Aisle Decorations:

Unless you are getting married inside of a gray, drab building with no hint of color or personality, most rooms have some sort of built-in decor. It is really nice when the aisles or pews are decorated with something subtle and small; and you can purchase great decorations for cheap prices at places like Michael's Craft Store, Target, Walmart, or the Christmas Tree Shops. The issue here is let's not overdue it. My florist tried to sell me on decorating every inch of space for the wedding ceremony with flowers. In the end, I chose to go with 12 seperate floral arrangements. They were used to line the aisle, and then brought over to the reception room to be used as centerpieces. Also, if you have too much going on in the church or the venue room, there won't be any room to walk down the aisle! Remember to leave room for the humans that will be walking toward the alter. Less is more.

10. Bride and Groom Exchanging Gifts:

This is one of those things that some people will try and make you feel like you NEED to do. I remember people asking me with great concern," aren't you and Don going to exchange wedding gifts?" As if the future of our marriage hinged on the answer to this question. My silent response was usually that our gift was that we are getting married today! That IS the gift. I never expected anything in addition to that from my husband, and frankly; I had never even heard of exchanging gifts on your wedding day until the wedding industry started to make it such a fad thing to do. If anything, a heartfelt note written to me that day would be something that I would always cherish. And again ... FREE! Do you see a theme here?

11. Monogrammed Aisle Runner:

Oh, this one is just stupid. It is basically like a red carpet for you to walk down the aisle on. Personally, I do not see the point of having one of these, unless it is supplied to you by the venue or it is not a lot of additional money. Our venue included it with our "package" so we didn't have to worry. But they did have upgrades available, such as different colors or nicer fabrics, etc. If we wanted to, we could have spent up to $400 to walk on a piece of lovely fabric. And hey ... not only can you spit out your food into the bride and groom's names on your napkin, now you can even walk all over the happy couple with your big pointy shoes. What's next? Monogrammed toilet paper? Eeewwwww. I think I just grossed myself out.

I would like to remind you that reading this blog was absolutely FREE. So in return for my generosity, I would be curious to know: for your wedding, what did you spend money on that you now regret? Did anyone try and sell you something that you felt was unnecessary?

Email Kelley at kelley@brideorama.com

Confession of the Day

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:56:01 EDT

"Why did my mom have to die before she could meet the man I'm going to marry? She would love him, she would love the wedding we are having... planning my wedding without her in my life has been the lonliest thing I've ever done. "

Dear Stressed Out Bride...

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:02:18 EDT

I love your name! And now, to answer your question about the wedding party. Essentially, you have a total of 7 bridesmaids on your side, and your fiance has only 4 groomsmen. You were questioning whether or not this would look "weird" because it is uneven. In a word; No.

Let me expand on that answer. (Can you imagine if I just answered your question with only a one-word response? Just "No," and nothing else? I would be the worst Advice giver on the planet, but it would make me laugh to see if they would actually print it that way. But I digress now. Back to you ...)

The days of matching bridesmaids and even numbers in wedding parties are over. Sure, a lot of people have an even amount of bridesmaids to groomsmen; but even more people don't. In the end, it really is not an issue at all, and it does not look weird or strange. Honestly, wedding parties vary so much these days that most of your guests probably won't even notice something like that. For my wedding, we had a Best Man and a Matron of Honor. That is all. No bridesmaids or groomsmen. Other weddings I have been to had 7 or 8 on each side, while still others had 1 Best Man and 5 bridesmaids. There is also something now called a "King's Court" I believe, where the entire bridal party is made up of only men. No women. I love this idea! So my point is this: keep your seven bridesmaids, they are all important to you and of course you do not want to "cut" any of them simply because the numbers are uneven. In the same respect, I am sure your fiance has no desire to ask weird Uncle Bob or some guy he hasn't seen since the Carter administration to be a groomsmen either. Can you imagine that conversation?

Fiance: "Um yeah .. hi weird Uncle Bob. I know I only see you once every few years at funerals and stuff, but um ... wanna be in my wedding? The numbers are uneven and I need a few more bodies. "

Bob: " Who is this?"

Yeah, that might not go so well.

As far as the bridal party entering and exiting for the ceremony, you can do that one of two ways. Some people have each person walk in individually; as in, all the male members entering first one by one, then the female members, ending with the Best Man and Maid of Honor. This is how I have seen it done most often; but again, today there are so many options and no ONE way to do anything. Another option; if you are having them enter and exit in couple form; is to pair off the first couple of men with one bridesmaid, then have the last couple of men walk in with two ladies, one on each arm. You can do the same thing for the reception entrances. Or you could introduce everyone seperately, then introduce your three sisters together; to seperate and recognize them as family. There are several ways to do it, but in the end; your wedding party will be unique and filled with those that are important to you. And that is much more important than filling some sort of predetermined even number quota.

But if you still feel strange, there is always weird Uncle Bob.

If you have a question about your upcoming wedding, click on the Get Advice tab or email Kelley at kelley@brideorama.com.