Getting Married in the Lehigh Valley

Always be sure to check out the Lehigh Valley events calendar when planning your big day. While generally not a problem, if you are having guest from out of town you want to make sure there will be a place for them to stay.

Here are some key events to look out for.

Musikfest
Mayfair
The Great Allentown Fair

All Natural Menu Cards

Menu cards are always a nice touch, but are certainly not a necessity. Below is an example of a really simple menu card that is also an easy DIY project.

The MOST Perfect Country Wedding - Ever!

Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert's Wedding was a picture of perfection for a country wedding. Every detail was thought out and tied into the Texas Ranch were they got married. The decor was amazing, her bouquet was stunning, and she even wore her Mother's wedding dress.

You can view their 8 minute wedding video here to see all the details.

Also, here is the link to their engagement party photos from their photographer's blog. They are really great!

Nick + Vanessa

TLC released its first preview of Nick Lachey & Vanessa Minilo's wedding special today. It looks amazing! Watch July 30th to see how they planned a truely Exceptional Event for close members of their family and friends.

Always Leave Room....

I received this email from Martha Stewart today (I'm on a mailing list, and only WISH I knew her personally) and thought they were great tips to share for accessorizing your dress.

For a Bateau Neckline

Necklaces with a little length prime this retro style for a modern-day comeback. "Consider strands of translucent crystals or quartz that drape over the neckline and allow skin and fabric to peek through," says Khan. "Don't be afraid to layer several pieces." As for your earrings, choose a slight drop in a similar stone.

Andrea Fohrman "Georgia" rock-crystal earrings (saksfifthavenue.com); Allia "Fancy Chain" quartz necklace, doubled up, and "Fancy Stone" quartz necklace (brokenenglishjewelry.com); and Fancy New York "Madeleine" gown (dressmefancy.com).

For a Sweetheart Neckline

This shimmery collar beautifully mirrors the curves on a sweetheart bodice. A pair of crystal button earrings adds glitz.

Dannijo "Garbo" earrings with Swarovski crystals (dannijo.com), Amrita Singh "Victoria" necklace with Austrian crystals (amritasingh.com), and Reem Acra gown (212-308-8760).

For a One-Shoulder Neckline

The diagonal sweep of this fashion-forward shape is a statement all its own -- and requires little embellishment. Forgo a necklace and slip on a pair of light-catching earrings and an oversize cuff. "Choose earrings that are beautiful from the back, too," says jewelry designer Ranjana Khan. "People will see a lot of you from this angle as you walk down the aisle." And for a balanced look, "wear your bracelet on the arm that's bare," says Acra.

Siman Tu "Three Leaf" crystal earrings (simantu.com) and Rivini "Sasha" gown (rivini.com).

 

For a Strapless Neckline

Bold multistrand necklaces, bejeweled bibs, and even classic pearls sync up exquisitely with this dress shape -- think of it as the ultimate blank canvas. Then follow the "less is more" mantra for earrings: Studs or small drops hit all the right notes. "A strapless neckline shows off your clavicle and shoulders," says bridal designer Reem Acra. "To accentuate these areas even more, choose jewelry that hits right at your collarbone."

Dana Rebecca Designs "Anna Beth" earrings with citrine (danarebeccadesigns.com), Iradj Moini necklace with freshwater pearls and detachable quartz and citrine brooch (212-925-5666), and Thread "Clara" dress (threaddesign.com).

For a V-Neckline
This universally flattering cut draws attention toward your face and neck -- especially when it's teamed up with the right accessories. "Long earrings and delicate pendant necklaces really complement this design," says Acra. As a pretty twist, layer a few color-coordinating baubles together.

Alex Sepkus "Sticks and Stones" earrings with opals and diamonds (alexsepkus.com); Becky Kelso necklaces in blue topaz, calcite, and green amethyst (all beckykelso.com); and Lela Rose "The Glacier" gown (lelarose.com).

DIY Paper-Bag Party Lights

These lights make the perfect addition to any summer BBQ or outdoor event. Plus, they are super easy to make!

Tools and Materials

• Utility knife
• Outdoor string lights
• Gusseted flat-bottom bags, 5 by 9 3/4 inches, hyglossproducts.com
• 1 1/2-inch-wide single-face satin ribbon, the Creative Touch, ribbonlady.com
• Masking or paper tape

Paper-Bag Party Lights How-To

1. Use a utility knife to make a slit through both sides of a bag, 2 inches from the top. 
2. Open the bag; cut an X in the bottom center. Slip a 2-foot length of ribbon (we used wide satin) through the slits, and knot it. 
3. Push a bulb through the X, so the socket is fully inside. Use masking or paper tape to seal in the wire and socket. Continue until all bulbs are covered. Don't leave the lights on unattended, or for longer than 8 hours.

Eco-Friendly Escort...Cards?

I came across these little escort cards the other day and fell in LOVE! Seriously, they were so cute and the mini clothes pin did it for me. Using herbs or even annuals in your event colors would add a punch of color to your escort table and give your guests something they can plant in their home.

How to select the perfect invitation

Invitations are a critical part of planning an event. How else would guests know about the event?

My personal favorite is ALWAYS a mailed invitation in any form. In an age where internet and email dominate, receiving an invitation via (snail) mail is something special. It shows that someone put the time and effort to plan the event, and you can expect the same thought and detail at the actual event itself.

With that being said, there are many types of mailed invitations, and they are not the only option. Here are some invitation options.

Handwritten

• Used for small intimate gatherings of usually 50 people or less.
• Can be done on nice stationary or note cards 
• They allow you to personalize the invitation to the person invited.

Emailed Invitations or EVITES

• If you are having a surprise party and want to do your best to keep the secret. Sending out an EVITE will prevent the honoree from going to someones house and seeing an invitation to their own party on the fridge.
• This can be prevented with mailed invitations by sending out dummy invitations. This requires a little more planning and creativity, but can easily be done.
• Best used for events in a short time frame
• Allows you to track the invitations sent, know when they've been read so you can ensure your guest received the message.

Wedding Invitations

• Wedding invitations can be bought in a variety of colors, styles and choices to let you show your personality and atmosphere of the event.
• They should come with a reply card and a separate mailing envelope and include information on where and when the wedding and the reception will be held and include a note to RSVP.

Here are some resources for each of the above types of invitations.

Handwritten and Custom Invitations - Steller Art & Design, Reading, PA

EVITES - Evite.com

Wedding Invitations - The American Wedding

Creating an Wedding (or Event) Budget

No matter what type of event you plan to have, the basics of a budget are the same.

Who's Paying?

Talk with your families about who will pay for what: Some brides' families still pick up the entire tab, but more and more groom's families are participating too. How do you bring up the conversation? For many couples, talking to each family separately is the best way to have truly open discussions. When you do talk, here are strategies for determining your initial budget.

• Ask both of your folks to commit to a specific dollar amount, and then add up all the contributions to create your budget.
• Alternatively, it may be easier to ask each set of parents to finance a particular aspect of the wedding (such as the ceremony, honeymoon, or catering) instead of just committing to a dollar amount.
• Decide how much you two can contribute between now and the wedding. (37 % of the couples we polled say they're planning to contribute financially to their wedding.)

How Much Do You Actually Need?

Just like buying shoes, an apartment, or a pair of jeans, when it comes to financing a wedding, you should figure out how much you need to spend to get what you want. Set your expectations accordingly.
Note: The average cost for a 150-person wedding is about $25,000 (higher in urban areas).

• Here is a basic breakdown of what you can expect to pay:
  Reception: 48%-50%
  Ceremony: 2%-3%
  Attire: 8%-10%
  Flowers: 8%-10%
  Entertainment/Music: 8%-10%
  Photography/Videography: 10%-12%
  Stationery: 2%-3%
  Wedding Rings: 2%-3%
  Parking/Transportation: 2%-3%
  Gifts: 2%-3%
  Miscellaneous: 8%

To avoid stress, allot about 5% of your budget for a "just-in-case" fund.
If you're paying for your honeymoon yourselves, remember to budget for that as well.

How Much Can You Save?

As soon as you're engaged, start putting aside as much of your income as you can for the wedding. Saving 20% of your monthly income is a good -- though painful -- goal. The longer your engagement, the more you'll be able to sock away.

• Ways to save: Limit your spending on small stuff (renting movies instead of going out; going to Starbucks once instead of twice a day; downloading just the song you love instead of buying the whole CD). These changes will hardly affect your quality of life, but after a year, the extra cash will cover some wedding essentials.
• Make the most of your money: Instead of stashing your money in a low-interest savings account, consider buying CDs or opening a money-market account. The interest rate can be double that of a savings account. Just check the fine print to avoid penalties.

Portions of the above post were taken from theknot.com

Too Many Dresses...

There are so many different wedding dress styles - how do you pick the right one for you?

Here are the top 3 things to consider when selecting your wedding dress.

1. What kind of ceremony you want to have? An indoor relgious ceremony would lean towards a more fomal gown, while an outdoor ceremony would be more "casual".
2. Where will your reception take place? What type of atmosphere do you want? If it's in a large hotel ballroom, again, more towards the formal side. If it's in unique space (historic home, rustic barn, etc) then lean towards something less formal.
3. What time of year are you getting married? Nothing is worse then wearing a big, heavy, formal gown in the summer heat. Not to say it can't be done, but this is something to consider when selecting the material for your gown. Satin is a heavier fabric, while silk, taffeta and chiffon are light and airy.

Here are some of my favorite wedding gowns right now from Maggie Sottero



Karena Royale



Alicia



Chardonnay

Some other favorites from the new Maggie Sottero line are:
Desia
Maura
Antonia