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This photo is a shot of one of our handsome grooms right before he and his lovely bride took off for their wedding night.
I love this photo because Ben had a great time at his wedding and reception, and this shot truly captured his wedding day joy.
What more can you ask for on your wedding day?
Love & Soul Always, Kay
P.S. More photos of Benjamin and Alicia's wedding will come later.
(Photo: Christine Morden Photography)
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I tried yoga for the first time a year ago. A close friend recommended it to me because I was in the middle of an extremely stressful situation and she thought it would be good for me.
I wasn't hooked after my first class. I kept thinking, "no self-respecting Jersey girl would find herself in these positions." Well, not in public.
But after a few sessions, I became hooked. The ability to exercise and bring a little serenity into my life was just what the doctor ordered (literally). So, when I found an article titled "Yoga for Planners" in a meeting planner magazine last week, I felt compelled to share.
These little exercises are perfect to try when you feel the combo offce/wedding stress in the middle of a work day.
* The Desk Stretch. Lock your hands behind your head, relaxing elbows back, and feel the tightness melt away.
* E-Mail Meditation. While sorting through the in-box, focus on breathing. Breathe out for twice as long as you breathe in.
* Pre-Wedding Tree Pose. While standing next to a table or chair, remove your shoes and place your left foot against your right thigh (use either hand to hold your left foot in place if it slides). Feel your right hand rooted in the floor and take a deep breath. Repeat this exercise with the opposite leg.
* Frozen Smile Remedy. When you are tired of smiling, pretend to chew a large piece of gum up and down and side to side. Shut your eyes tightly and lift your eyebrows up and down. Massage your cheekbones, forehead, temples and eyebrows.
I have a feeling that these yoga tips will be excellent for any bride or wedding planner that feels as if s/he is at the end of a "rapidly fraying rope." What do you think?
Love & Soul Always, Kay
(Source: Meetings & Conventions Magazine)
(Photo: Ursi's Eso Garden)
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Earlier this week, I recommended holding a rehearsal brunch instead of a rehearsal dinner. If you are in the Annapolis area, Carrol's Creek is a great option for a rehearsal brunch.
Carrol's Creek has been serving fresh local seafood, grilled fish, steaks, chops, and brunch since 1983. One of my brides held her wedding rehearsal brunch at Carrol's Creek last month and everyone thought it was a really nice venue for a group brunch -- great food, great view and friendly staff.
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I do love this dress. Or maybe I just love how much fun the models look like they are having dancing around like wood nymphs.
I managed a wedding at a castle last week, and this dress would have fit in with the look and feel of the castle easily.
I have a thing for long flowing dresses, but I must warn you that the wind could be a bit of your nemesis (check out the photo below) -- If you are not too much of a modest bride, you could simply consider this an excellent opportunity to show off your great legs.
Let me know what you think.
Love & Soul Always, Kay
(Photos: Alicia Mugetti Designs)
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I was reading wedding blogs last night and I ran into a couple of postings about customer service. There must be something in the air, because customer service was already on my mind.
A Howerton+Wooten Events bride got married this past weekend, and her projects were in good shape during the week prior to her wedding. So, she should have spent the last week basking in wedding planning bliss -- Unfortunately, she went through a little craziness. You see, a couple of her wedding vendors forgot what customer service was all about -- They were a little more focused on "winning the fight," and less focused on the customer's concerns. Which blows me away since no one wins in fights like this. I mean really, what's the true value of winning back a couple of hundred bucks if your client leaves the experience with a sour taste in her mouth.
Anyhow, my friend and iWED buddy, Katasha, must have had a similar experience because her latest post peaks into some customer service frustration.
And, if you face customer service challenges related to your wedding gown, check out the advice given on Always a Blogsmaid. I think it is spot on.
Hopefully, this craziness will blow over soon, and we will return to being ladies and gentlemen that serve ladies and gentlemen once again.
(Picture: AnimatedTV.com)
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Thursday or Friday evening traffic can be downright brutal in some Metropolitan areas, and that could put a damper on the mood of your guests at your wedding rehearsal and dinner.
So, consider scheduling your rehearsal for the Sunday morning prior to your wedding day, and entertain your guests immediately afterwards at a rehearsal brunch.
Brunch provides a more relaxed atmosphere, and your guests have a better variety of food to enjoy. And in most cases, the cost of brunch is less expensive than dinner.
A brunch rehearsal is also a great option if your venue schedules a wedding or event on the Friday evening prior to your wedding day.
Cheers!
Love & Soul Always, Kay
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One of my favorite brunch beverages is the Blood Orange Champagne Cocktail. I think it is the perfect beverage choice (not too tart and not too sweet) for a bridal brunch. This recipe is definitely one of my favorite versions. And, as life would have it, it comes from one of my favorite food sites, epicurious.com, You may have to do a little searching for the oranges since blood oranges cultivated in the United States are typicially in season from December to March (Texas), and from November to May (California). But, they are well worth the hunt. Ingredients – ¼ cup crème de cassis (black-currant liqueur) 1½ cups strained fresh blood orange juice (from about 6 oranges) One (1) 750-ml bottle chilled brut Champagne or dry sparkling wine Eight (8) blood orange slices (optional) Recipe – Step #1: Spoon 1½ teaspoons of the crème de cassis into each of eight Champagne flutes or other glasses. Step #2: Add three (3) tablespoons juice to each glass. Step #3: Fill each glass with Champagne, and then stir gently. Step #4: Garnish cocktails with slices of blood orange, if desired. Cheers! Love & Soul Always, Kay (Photo: Epicurious.com)
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Kosibah Creations is an exclusive brand specializing in figure-enhancing bridal gowns. Kosibah’s signature use of corsetry and draping creates gowns that flatter and enhance every woman's figure no matter her size or shape. (Now, you know that I LOVE this type of design!!) Yemi Osunkoya, the designer behind the label, has been focusing on the Couture Bridal and Evening wear sector for many years. Yemi established the Kosibah Creations label in London in 1991 and named the company in honor of his mother. The name Cosiba comes from the Republic of Benin and is the day name of a female child born on a Sunday. Do you have a favorite Kosibah Creation? If so, please share! Love & Soul Always, Kay (Photo: Kosibah Creations)
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One of our incredibly sweet grooms, Patrick, is making his bride’s bouquet for her . . . out of paper! It’s an origami wedding bouquet, and I must tell you that I was quite the skeptic in the beginning, but I got a sneak peak at the roses and I was quite impressed.
Here is an example of his very early work. His handiwork has improved since this picture was taken, and he has until March 2009 to kick it up a notch!
For those of you (like me) that aren't familiar with origami, it is a centuries-old art of paper folding that began in China.
If you are interested in origami wedding bouquets, boutonnieres and/or centerpieces for yourself, check out some of the options below.
Origami Lotus Flowers are available at the Folding Queen's site.
The DIY instructions for these Origami Cherry Blossoms are available on the Flirty Guide
Origami Hydrangeas available on Asian Inspiration.
OffBeat Bride's blog features this lovely boutonniere.
This wedding bouquet is made of baby pink origami roses. Check it out on Bloom4Ever.
By the way, I will be sure to share the groom's beautiful gift to his bride next spring! Stay tuned.
Love & Soul Always, Kay
(Origami Rose: Courtesy of Marisa Santiago)
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This has been an incredibly stressful week for me. It doesn't help that mercury is still hovering around the 80 degrees. **When is fall going to get here?** So, I went on the hunt for a light and refreshing cocktail to help the day end on a high note. I think I am going to find it in a jasmine infused cocktail. According to the Food and Wine web site, this vodka cocktail was created by Chef Rachel Klein's friend Julie Weinberg. Jasmine has such a beautiful aroma, so I am sure that the floral flavor is quite calming. ingredients 1½ cups warm water ½ cup sugar Two (2) drops of jasmine essential oil (Please note that essential oils are concentrated, so even one drop can be powerful.) ½ cup fresh lime juice 1½ cups orange vodka 1½ cups Grand Marnier Ice Three (3) cups of Chilled Club Soda Twelve (12) lime twists (optional) directions Step #1: In a small pitcher, combine the water and sugar and stir well to dissolve the sugar. Gently stir in the jasmine essential oil and lime juice. Step #2: In a pitcher, combine the vodka with the Grand Marnier and jasmine syrup. Add the ice and stir briskly until the glass begins to frost, then strain into chilled martini glasses. Top each drink with 1/4 cup of the club soda and garnish with a lime twist. (Photo: Food and Wine and © Keller & Keller)
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