Valentine Tablescape

This week I worked on a table design for a Valentine's day celebration. This is the first look, tell me what you think. Linen and dinner ware from Awesome Events Party Rentals, The 5th Wick provides a new spin on napkin rings.

Just Engaged?

There are probably more engagement rings given during Christmas and New Years than any other time of the year. The Knot.com reports 19,480 and counting members listed as engaged since December 24, 2010. Getting engaged can be o ne of the most memorable moments in your life. Most brides go directly into wedding planning mode after receiving the ring. I suggest that you take a little time to adjust to being engaged, examine the commitment that you have agreed to and all its ramifications. This is a new and exciting phase of your life. ENJOY it!

Here are two excellent books to read:

Preparing for Marriage David Boehi , Brent Nelson , Jeff Schulte , and Lloyd Shadrach

Lloyd Shadrach (Author)

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A Handbook for Engaged Couples Alice Fryling and Robert A. Fryling

Happy New Year!

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Things every bride needs to know before shopping for a wedding cake.

by Earlene Moore

White by Vera Wang Exclusively at David's Bridal February 2011!!

Vera Wang is launching a new wedding dress line with David's Bridal, White by Vera Wang.
The collection features wedding and bridesmaids dresses, veils and headpieces. The items will range between $600 and $1,400. The collection is project to be in David's Bridal stores in February 2011. Here is a sneak peek of ten designs from the White by Vera Wang Spring 2011 collection.

Essential Wedding Tasks For The Newly Engaged

With the holidays only a few weeks away, we are rapidly moving into engagement season. You know that magical time of year when you take that special someone home to your family. When all your loved one are near and he just can't resist popping the question while everyone is assembled.

Organization is the key to entering this new phase of your life. Start your wedding planning with these easy-to-use wedding checklist that will keep you on top of things! I suggest you develop a planning notebook, a 2-3" three ring binder, print out the checklists and put them in your binder for easy reference.

Your Wedding Checklist: Tasks Month by Month

10 to 12 months before your wedding

____Read The First Ten Steps for a Newly Engaged Couple

____Tell your parents, important family members, and close friends the good news! How to Announce Your Engagement

____You might also want to announce your engagement in the newspaper, on a wedding website with an email sent out to all your friends, or in the most traditional way, with mailed engagement announcements

____Have an engagement party, if you'd like

____Envision the tone of your wedding: Formal or casual? Day or evening? Religious or secular?

____Consider having a wedding theme, which will help pull together the style, look, and feel of your wedding

____Choose your wedding colors, which will add visual unity.

____Set your budget, read Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

____Decide who will pay for the wedding. Will your parents cover it all? Can you contribute? How will expenses be split?

____Start your guest list

____Select date and time. Have backup dates in mind, in case a key element is unavailable.

____Select and reserve your ceremony and reception sites

____Hire a wedding consultant, if you're using one

____Choose and book your wedding officiant

____Choose bridesmaids, groomsmen and ushers

____Meet with florists, caterers, and musicians.

____Arrange for a tasting with your caterer

8 to 10 months before your wedding

____Shop for and order your wedding dress and accessories, including veil, gloves and shoes


____Sign a contract with your wedding caterer

____Book wedding florist and choose arrangements

____Book your musicians and/or DJ for both ceremony and reception

____Select and confirm your wedding photographer (and your videographer, if you're using one.)

____Look into wedding insurance and decide if it's a good option for you

____Plan your honeymoon

____Shop for and order your bridesmaid dresses

____If you're making your own wedding favors, start non food items now.

____Meet with wedding cake designers or bakers and arrange for a tasting.

4 to 6 months before your wedding

____Send save-the-date announcements or call out of town guests to let them know the final date, time, and location of the wedding.

____If you're purchasing wedding favors, do so now

____Start planning your rehearsal dinner. Give the host(s) your guest list

____Examine your beauty regimen. Read Five months to perfect wedding day beauty

____If your caterer isn't doing it for you, reserve any rental equipment you'll need, including dishes, tables, chairs, linens, tents

____Register for gifts

____Select your wedding cake designer, and order your wedding cake

____Arrange wedding transportation

____Order stationery

____Select a calligrapher, if you're using one

____Select the groom's tuxedo or other attire, what the groomsmen will wear, and arrange to purchase or rent

____Purchase your wedding rings

____Book wedding night accommodations and accommodations for out-of-town guests

____Buy gifts for your wedding party, parents, and each other .

2 to 3 months before your wedding

____Give a list of "Must Take" photographs to your wedding photographer

____Discuss your wedding menu with your caterer

____Meet with your officiant to discuss the wedding ceremony

____Write your wedding vows

____Attend any bridal showers

____Mail your wedding invitations

____Think about your wedding hair and makeup - If you're doing your own, try out hairstyles, purchase any extra makeup, think about having a "makeover party" with your girlfriends.

____Book your hairstylist and/or makeup artist, if you're using them. Meet with each of them to experiment with styles and colors.

____Schedule your wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

____If your state requires you to make an appointment to get your marriage license, so now.

____If you're going to change your name, complete those documents.

____Send wedding announcements to local newspapers.

____Develop your wedding program, get correct spelling of all names and work up a 1st draft.

The month of your wedding

It's finally here! There's just a few more things to do to make sure everything's perfect

____Apply for your marriage license.

____Have your final gown fitting. It's helpful to have a bridesmaid with you to learn how to bustle your train and fasten any tricky buttons (and help you go to the bathroom, if you've got a big wedding dress!)

____Check with your bridesmaids and groomsmen to make sure they've gotten their attire, confirm arrival times, and answer any last minute questions

____Contact your vendors (caterer, officiant, cake baker, photographer, videographer, florist, musicians, transportation, hotels) to confirm arrival and delivery times.

____Finalize and print wedding programs.


____Create welcome baskets or bags for out-of-town guests

____Send change-of-address information to post office

___Write thank you cards as you receive wedding gifts

____Ask your mother or maid of honor to contact any guests who have not RSVP'd

One to Two Weeks Ahead

____Arrange seating plan, and write place cards

____Give your final head count to your caterer, and confirm any last minute details

____Write toasts for the rehearsal dinner and reception

____Try on your wedding shoes, and wear them on carpeted surfaces around the house

____Arrange for a plant waterer/pet sitter/babysitter while you are on your honeymoon

____Pick up your wedding dress

____Attend your bachelor party or bachelorette party, if you're having them

____Send your travel plans and contact information to a family member and your house sitter (in case of emergency)

____Finalize seating chart

Your Wedding Checklist: The Day Before Your Wedding

____Do something to relax and enjoy the company of your out-of-town friends

____Assign responsibilities to your wedding party (handing out corsages and boutonnieres, greeting and seating guests, checking on vendors)

____Confirm wedding day transportation

____Have a manicure and pedicure or other pre-wedding spa pampering.


____Give your wedding party gifts

____Rehearse ceremony

____Hold the rehearsal dinner

Your Wedding Checklist: Day of the Wedding

____Give thank you gifts to your parents

____Enjoy your wedding!

Check list courtesy of

The Perfect Table Plan

The most important thing when planning any event is to be organized; so, if you're planning a seated meal for a large number of people, your guests will appreciate it if they are able to find their seats easily. They will also enjoy dining with compatible and stimulating people.

I was so pleased when I came across The Perfect Table Plan, it takes the guess work out of completing a seating chart and made it super easy. I took advantage of the FREE 14 day trial before purchasing. They offer several step-by-step tutorial to help you get a full understanding of how to use the software.

The Perfect Table Plan can print and export a number of different representations of your table plan. Manage your guest list, track RSVPs and print address labels, seating chart, place cards and much more. It also allows you to choose your own fonts and color schemes.