Monday, August 19, 2013
Draft, Braids and the Game of Life
Hello Bloggers, Here is my weekend recap.
Friday Night I came home after a long week and participated in a Fantasy Football Draft. Now anyone that knows me well knows I have a great love for Football so it was exciting for me to do. I am the only girl in the league and the guys are so surprised that I have a knowledge of football.
Saturday I got up early and got the day of Hair started. Jacelyn got her hair done in preparation for High School (I am a parent of a High School student! ) and my hair re twisted for Las Vegas for the wedding!!
After hair appointments, I went over to my favorite dress shop to pick up my bridesmaids dress and it fit perfectly.
After a little Mother Daughter time, I went home and did laundry and watched Cooking shows... Life of a married mother.
Sunday I finished up laundry and we all headed over to Auntie Bunnie's house for Snacks and Game Night. It is always nice to spend time with family and even better when they love you like she loves us.
Here is what is on tap for this week:
1. First day of High School.. No tears from me.
2. Errands
3. VIVA LAS VEGAS!!!
Friday, August 16, 2013
Friday Letters
Dear Week...
Yeah you tried to take me down but as always, I rise above!
Dear Vegas....
Get Ready, The Cameron's will be there Thursday!
Dear Body....
Lets just be friends. I promise that I will do my best to accept and love you just the way you are.
Dear Hair, Nails, Toes and Eyebrows...
Know that I still love you and all the neglect will be over this weekend.
Dear Scott....
With you, I can forget all my problems.
With you, time stands still.
With you, there's no one else.
With you, time stands still.
With you, there's no one else.
7 Reasons Your Honeymoon May Not Be As Romantic As You'd Think
Meredith Bodgas
Original article appeared on MeritalBliss.com
Don't get me wrong; I loved my honeymoon. There was plenty of romance to be had as we did nothing but lay on the beach, eat so much that my cute honeymoon clothes were snug by day three, sleep 10 or 11 hours a night, and repeatedly engage in that other thing all honeymooners do as if they won't be sharing a bed when they resume living in reality. Still, we and some of our friends have encountered some less-than-romantic surprises for which it's worth mentally preparing.
1. Outdoor showers are a logistical nightmare.
So your honeymoon resort boasts luxurious showers that make you one with nature. What could go wrong? Well, when I bathed in our outdoor stall, the curtains around it blew wide open with every minuscule gust of wind. This wouldn't be a problem if we were completely secluded, but the next bungalow over had a full view of naked me if they bothered to look. Also, outdoor showers are like magnets for the creepiest, crawliest bugs known to man.
2. Deserted islands aren't known for food safety.
Our resort was fairly top-notch. In fact, it was so pricey, we stayed only six nights because it was all we could afford at age 25! Despite that, the fresh tree melon juice at breakfast or the still-squirming catch of the day at dinner just may make you sick. I had a 24-hour case of food poisoning that left me stationed for hours beside the posh porcelain bowl. And no matter how much you love each other, there is nothing romantic about the runs or vomiting.
3. You're at the mercy of the airplane gods.
Unless you're driving or training to your destination (which have their own share of issues), you'll have to fly to and from your honeymoon. This means you're subject to flight delays, claustrophobia-inducing seats, terror-inducing bathrooms, and, if you're as lucky as Paul and I were on our five-year anniversary trip to Costa Rica, lost baggage. And if you don't book far enough in advance, you may not get to sit next to each other. Fun!
4. You may want to try separate activities.
One spouse's idea of heaven, say, a samurai museum during your Japanese honeymoon, might be the other's hell. To get the most out of your trip, especially if you're in a country you're not likely to visit again, you'll want to check out these regional offerings, even if it means parting ways with your partner for a day. Of course, your eventual reunion would be xoxo-filled, and learning the history of samurais, if that's your thing, would be wonderful, but romantic? Nah.
5. You may get sunburned.
Put pale people in sunny destinations, and no amount of SPF can stop skin from turning red. And you know what's painfully unromantic? Sleeping in a bizarre position so that the bed doesn't irritate your sunburned back or arm or leg. Been there. Burned that.
6. You WILL check social media to see your friends' wedding pictures.
And you WILL get an IM from your mom wanting to know about the flight, the food, and pretty much everything else to ensure her that you're safe and happy. No matter how much you love your mother, nothing kills the mood faster than speaking to a blood relative.
7. Jetlag sucks.
If you're flying out of your timezone, you may experience that uncomfortable, almost inhuman too-tired-to-function-but-don't-want-to-waste-a-minute-of-the-trip feeling. Getting ready to go out for the evening when you're usually sleeping. Steak when you'd normally eat breakfast. It makes you feel so off-kilter that sex and snuggling aren't on your mind. With any luck, you'll feel jetlagged only on the way back...when you have to return to work where sex and snuggling aren't options anyway.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
16 Ridiculous, Annoying Things People Say When You Get Married
The Stir
Written by Maressa Brown on CafeMom's blog, The Stir.After being married almost a year to Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively recently confessed to Lucky magazine that being a newlywed certainly has its bizarro moments. The former "Gossip Girl" actress said, "I was recently asked how my style has changed since I got married, as if I was living under some sort of dictatorship." Haa, wow, soo crazy! But the sad thing is, I totally know what she's talking about!
For some baffling, annoying reason, crossing the threshold from single to married seems to open a Pandora's box of weird, random and downright ridiculous remarks and questions. Here, 16 of some of the most common, annoying and/or completely crazy ...
- "So... when are you having kids????" (And any variation on this, like, "When are you going to start trying?" or "Are you pulling the goalie?")
- "You're not hyphenating and/or taking his horrible last name, right?"
- "Are you still allowed to go out without him?"
- "Hey, you know statistics show you have less than a 50 percent chance of this working out, right?"
- "He'll make a great first husband!"
- "How's the old ball and chain?"
- "Congrats! Your sex life is over!"
- "I always thought you'd end up with (fill-in-the-blank person or type of person other than the new husband)."
- "Is that true what they say about marriage killing your sex life?"
- "You probably already miss the single life, huh?"
- "Does your husband let you wear THAT?"
- "Why bother exercising/eating right? Now that the wedding's over, you can get fat!"
- "Here's the card of a divorce lawyer I know in case it doesn't work out."
- "Welcome to the club! Now we can be miserable together."
- "Why are you doing your hair/makeup? You've already got 'im!"
- "Are you still going to work?" (Uh, what year is this again?!)
What's the craziest thing anyone has said to you since being married?
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
9 Creative Mad Libs Wedding Ideas
The Knot
Don't tell me you didn't love these as a kid. Give your guests Mad Libs and hilarity will most definitely ensue. You've got choices when it comes to the presentation -- hit them before the wedding even starts with an interactive Mad Libs wedding invitation, or wait until the reception and give them a fun Mad Libs guest book to sign. Here are a few of our favorites!By Bridget Clegg for TheKnot.com
The Graphic Mad Libs RSVP Card
Photo: Jenna Walker Photographers/The Knot
Want your guests to return their RSVP cards? Make it a game and you're guaranteed a higher return rate.
The Painterly Postcard RSVP
Photo: Ladyfingers Letterpress/The Knot
The Mad Libs RSVP card can match any style invitation suite. These letterpressed postcards are tres chic.
The Mad Libs Response Card and Garland Treatment
Photo: Focus Photography/The Knot
Once your fill-in-the-blank RSVPs are returned, string responses as a garland near the guest book. Personalized and LOL-worthy responses are meant to be shared!
The DIY Mad Libs Time-Killer Place Setting Cards
Photo: Something Turquoise/The Knot
Treat your reception guests to a table game. You can order custom Mad Libs place cards from stationery sites and Etsy.
The Mad Libs Story Game For Guests
Photo: Love vs. Design/The Knot
Have your friends and family fill out your proposal story or offer some marriage advice while they're waiting for their meals, then collect their answers to read through with your new spouse after the festivities.
The Best-Of Mad Libs Response Sheet
Photo: Alternate Angles/The Knot
If you sent out Mad Libs RSVP cards, highlight the best answers and condense into a funny (and telling!) program for the reception.
A Mad Libs Reception Game
Photo: Our Labor of Love/The Knot
Treat the reception Mad Libs as a way for guests to get to know you better as a couple. Add personal notes like a "Favorites" list where you can quiz everyone on fun facts about you and your fiancé.
Mad Libs Exit Cards
Photo: Lark Photography/The Knot
Pair the exit props with Mad Libs and a golf pencil so guests can jot down responses and drop in a jar on their way out for your big send-off.
The Mad Libs Thank You Card
Photo: All You Need Is Love Events/The Knot
Disrupt the traditional -- and dare we say dreaded -- task of writing thank you notes by creating a confetti-filled package for each guest. Include a Mad Libs thank you card and a photo strip from the reception. Who wouldn't want to open that note?
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Wedding Budget Anxiety: 5 Emotions You'll Feel, And How To Cope
By Kellee Khalil for Lover.ly
When planning your wedding, figuring out your budget can be an emotional experience. Balancing your own desires with your family's and your future in-laws' expectations can definitely bring about denial, anger, bargaining, and depression. Here is our guide to getting through each of the stages of wedding budget grief and making it all the way to the final phase: acceptance.
Photo by: Jessica Fajardo on The Brides Cafe via Lover.ly
Phase 1: "A wedding costs how much?"
Despite years of attending weddings and seeing weddings on blogs or in tabloids, you may have lost all sense of what a not-lavish-but-still-including-most-of-the-"traditional"-trappings wedding actually costs. As you start to do your research, there will be some sticker shock. "There must be some mistake," you'll think. "There is no way that they mean to charge us $5,000 for the venue before we've even paid for the food." Right? Wrong.
Get through it by...doing research to get a sense of the going rate for a wedding in the city where you want to be married, as well as a few other cities. You'll start to get an idea of what your dream wedding costs in different areas and will quickly get a sense of what venues are outrageously priced and which are pretty average.
Photo by: Britt Chudleigh on Snippet and Ink via Lover.ly
Phase 2: "F*ck the wedding industry...and f*ck you for even wanting a wedding!"
Once you've moved past denial, you head into phase two: anger. Anger at the wedding industry for charging so much money to feed 75 people, anger at your sister for insisting you need the letterpressed invitations, and, worst of all, anger at your fiance for wanting anything for the wedding that costs any sort of money. Suddenly, his or her desire for that $2.50-per-slice wedding cake seems like the end of the world. "Why am I even marrying this person, anyway?" you'll ask yourself as you stare at your spreadsheet trying to figure out how on earth you'll afford the live band your fiance can't live without.
Get through it by...remembering that you and your fiance are on the same side. Once you start thinking of it as the two of you against the $20,000 food and beverage minimum at your dream venue, wedding planning will get much easier. You and your beloved can stop fighting each other and instead work together to come up with creative ways to save money.
From Etsy Shops via Lover.ly
Phase 3: "Do you offer any sort of discounts? Maybe we could just get a friend to do the pictures..."
During the bargaining phase, you may start attempting to haggle with wedding vendors or trying to find someone who is less experienced to do your wedding on the cheap. This is the point at which you start thinking, "OK, I could totally bake the cake myself and make my own dress...even though I don't even own a sewing machine!"
Get through it by...consideringthat wedding professionals are often small business owners and they charge what they do for a reason. It's OK to ask if, say, you could save money by having your wedding on a weekday, but it's not cool to accuse them of trying to rip you off or pushing them to work for less than they're worth. And while we love a DIY weddings, they certainly aren't for every couple. If you don't have any sort of aptitude for arts and crafts, it might be better to scale back your wedding expectations instead of planning to do everything yourself.
Photo by: Christina Diane on Snippet and Ink via Lover.ly
Phase 4: "I don't even want a wedding anymore...let's just elope."
There will come a point when you'll think you've moved on to acceptance, but then something will happen -- a fight with your mom about the favors, the realization that you forgot to budget for postage for the invites -- and you'll hit the depression phase. Wedding planning? It's for rich people, which you certainly are not. "I don't even care," you'll tell your fiance as you stare out the window despondently. "Let's just go to Vegas."
Get through it by...figuring out what you really want. If you never wanted a big wedding to begin with and you feel like the stress of wedding planning is hurting your relationship, go ahead and elope! But if you're just frustrated by the planning process, don't give up. Talk to the people closest to you and let them know that you've reached a breaking point. If you need your mom to stop obsessing about the favors, tell her that. If you need your fiance to scale back on spending so you aren't so stressed about money, say so. You don't have to go through this alone.
Photo by: Wedding Documentary on Maharani Weddings via Lover.ly
Phase 5: "Even though our budget isn't huge, this wedding is going to be amazing."
Eventually, you'll realize that, like it or not, you're stuck with the budget you have and you're going to have to make the best of it. You'll start focusing on the things that really matter (you're marrying the love of your life!) and think less about the things you can't afford (no one is going to remember that you didn't serve steak).
Get through it by...putting on your fancy clothes, having a glass of champagne, and remembering that if you end the day married, your wedding will have been a success.
When planning your wedding, figuring out your budget can be an emotional experience. Balancing your own desires with your family's and your future in-laws' expectations can definitely bring about denial, anger, bargaining, and depression. Here is our guide to getting through each of the stages of wedding budget grief and making it all the way to the final phase: acceptance.
Photo by: Jessica Fajardo on The Brides Cafe via Lover.ly
Phase 1: "A wedding costs how much?"
Despite years of attending weddings and seeing weddings on blogs or in tabloids, you may have lost all sense of what a not-lavish-but-still-including-most-of-the-"traditional"-trappings wedding actually costs. As you start to do your research, there will be some sticker shock. "There must be some mistake," you'll think. "There is no way that they mean to charge us $5,000 for the venue before we've even paid for the food." Right? Wrong.
Get through it by...doing research to get a sense of the going rate for a wedding in the city where you want to be married, as well as a few other cities. You'll start to get an idea of what your dream wedding costs in different areas and will quickly get a sense of what venues are outrageously priced and which are pretty average.
Photo by: Britt Chudleigh on Snippet and Ink via Lover.ly
Phase 2: "F*ck the wedding industry...and f*ck you for even wanting a wedding!"
Once you've moved past denial, you head into phase two: anger. Anger at the wedding industry for charging so much money to feed 75 people, anger at your sister for insisting you need the letterpressed invitations, and, worst of all, anger at your fiance for wanting anything for the wedding that costs any sort of money. Suddenly, his or her desire for that $2.50-per-slice wedding cake seems like the end of the world. "Why am I even marrying this person, anyway?" you'll ask yourself as you stare at your spreadsheet trying to figure out how on earth you'll afford the live band your fiance can't live without.
Get through it by...remembering that you and your fiance are on the same side. Once you start thinking of it as the two of you against the $20,000 food and beverage minimum at your dream venue, wedding planning will get much easier. You and your beloved can stop fighting each other and instead work together to come up with creative ways to save money.
From Etsy Shops via Lover.ly
Phase 3: "Do you offer any sort of discounts? Maybe we could just get a friend to do the pictures..."
During the bargaining phase, you may start attempting to haggle with wedding vendors or trying to find someone who is less experienced to do your wedding on the cheap. This is the point at which you start thinking, "OK, I could totally bake the cake myself and make my own dress...even though I don't even own a sewing machine!"
Get through it by...consideringthat wedding professionals are often small business owners and they charge what they do for a reason. It's OK to ask if, say, you could save money by having your wedding on a weekday, but it's not cool to accuse them of trying to rip you off or pushing them to work for less than they're worth. And while we love a DIY weddings, they certainly aren't for every couple. If you don't have any sort of aptitude for arts and crafts, it might be better to scale back your wedding expectations instead of planning to do everything yourself.
Photo by: Christina Diane on Snippet and Ink via Lover.ly
Phase 4: "I don't even want a wedding anymore...let's just elope."
There will come a point when you'll think you've moved on to acceptance, but then something will happen -- a fight with your mom about the favors, the realization that you forgot to budget for postage for the invites -- and you'll hit the depression phase. Wedding planning? It's for rich people, which you certainly are not. "I don't even care," you'll tell your fiance as you stare out the window despondently. "Let's just go to Vegas."
Get through it by...figuring out what you really want. If you never wanted a big wedding to begin with and you feel like the stress of wedding planning is hurting your relationship, go ahead and elope! But if you're just frustrated by the planning process, don't give up. Talk to the people closest to you and let them know that you've reached a breaking point. If you need your mom to stop obsessing about the favors, tell her that. If you need your fiance to scale back on spending so you aren't so stressed about money, say so. You don't have to go through this alone.
Photo by: Wedding Documentary on Maharani Weddings via Lover.ly
Phase 5: "Even though our budget isn't huge, this wedding is going to be amazing."
Eventually, you'll realize that, like it or not, you're stuck with the budget you have and you're going to have to make the best of it. You'll start focusing on the things that really matter (you're marrying the love of your life!) and think less about the things you can't afford (no one is going to remember that you didn't serve steak).
Get through it by...putting on your fancy clothes, having a glass of champagne, and remembering that if you end the day married, your wedding will have been a success.
Bride had 80 bridesmaids
A bride in the United Kingdom had a staggering 80 bridesmaids at her wedding. Meanwhile, I’m not even sure I have 80 friends.
Yes, 26-year-old Katie Dalby walked down the aisle with her niece, her cousin, her three sisters-in-law, her best friend and 74 of her students. Essentially, this is what happens when you don’t want to hurt people’s feelings.
“I didn't want to exclude anyone,” the bride told Mirror News.
Dalby is a dance teacher, and her 74 student-bridesmaids ranged in age from two to 17 years old. The ladies wore matching pink dresses with black sashes and posed for a photo arranging themselves in a heart shape around the bride and groom.
We can only imagine the stampede for the bouquet.
Yes, 26-year-old Katie Dalby walked down the aisle with her niece, her cousin, her three sisters-in-law, her best friend and 74 of her students. Essentially, this is what happens when you don’t want to hurt people’s feelings.
“I didn't want to exclude anyone,” the bride told Mirror News.
Dalby is a dance teacher, and her 74 student-bridesmaids ranged in age from two to 17 years old. The ladies wore matching pink dresses with black sashes and posed for a photo arranging themselves in a heart shape around the bride and groom.
We can only imagine the stampede for the bouquet.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Engagement Photo Advice: Ideas to Embrace and Avoid for Totally Unique Photos
Stephanie Herbst
If you've just gotten engaged, then congratulations! It's time to start planning, announcing, and getting things prepared for your wedding journey. One of the most fun steps of getting engaged is choosing a photographer and getting your engagement photos taken. However, there are so many possibilities with what to do or props to add for your engagement photos, that it's oftentimes hard to decide on a single direction. That's especially true when you factor in the sheer number of engagement photography ideas showcased on bridal blogs and Pinterest.
It's easy to get caught up in all the kitschy ideas for engagement photo venues and props, but I would caution couples to avoid the more cliche ideas out there, and truly personalize their engagement photos. Here's my run down of what couples should embrace and avoid in their engagement photography.
First things first: you should absolutely embrace anything that actually showcases your personalities and relationship! Think of it this way: trendy engagement photos are probably going to look dated in 20 years. When you look back at your engagement photos, they should be a snapshot of your relationship at the time, rather than a posed session with a ton of items that didn't really have any meaning to either person. My favorite engagement photos have been sessions of the couple at their favorite coffee shop with their regular orders, a photographed reading date with their favorite books, or just pictures of the couple being themselves.
Think of it this way -- what you would do together on a Saturday afternoon together? Take that Saturday afternoon, jazz it up a bit, and then bring in the photographer. That's the personality of your relationship at the moment, and in the end, that's the most meaningful thing to capture.
Now here's what to avoid:
1. Balloons: When have you ever walked down the sidewalk together holding hands and bunches of balloons? Probably never. While the photos are cute, they're definitely very unrealistic.
2. Scrabble tiles: Unless you're board game fanatics, skip the scrabble tiles -- they've been used to death.
3. Movie-themed engagement sessions: Are you going to want to share your Twilight-themed engagement photos with your friends and family when you're older? If the answer is no, then skip a movie (or book) themed engagement shoot and opt for something more timeless.
4. Signs that say "I said yes!" Or "I stole her heart, so she's stealing my last name": Again, another cute engagement idea that's been used and re-used to the point of cliche. Also, if your friends are getting your engagement photos, chances are they know you've already said yes. No need to reiterate, right?
5. Umbrellas (unless it's raining): This happens more than you would think. Why would you take a picture with an umbrella when it's not raining?
What do you think? How did you decide where to be or what props to use for your engagement photos? Ultimately, it's the couple's personal choice what to include or exclude from their engagement photos; as long as your own relationship is the focus of your photos, that's all that matters in the end!
Follow Stephanie Herbst on Twitter: www.twitter.com/wedding
If you've just gotten engaged, then congratulations! It's time to start planning, announcing, and getting things prepared for your wedding journey. One of the most fun steps of getting engaged is choosing a photographer and getting your engagement photos taken. However, there are so many possibilities with what to do or props to add for your engagement photos, that it's oftentimes hard to decide on a single direction. That's especially true when you factor in the sheer number of engagement photography ideas showcased on bridal blogs and Pinterest.
It's easy to get caught up in all the kitschy ideas for engagement photo venues and props, but I would caution couples to avoid the more cliche ideas out there, and truly personalize their engagement photos. Here's my run down of what couples should embrace and avoid in their engagement photography.
First things first: you should absolutely embrace anything that actually showcases your personalities and relationship! Think of it this way: trendy engagement photos are probably going to look dated in 20 years. When you look back at your engagement photos, they should be a snapshot of your relationship at the time, rather than a posed session with a ton of items that didn't really have any meaning to either person. My favorite engagement photos have been sessions of the couple at their favorite coffee shop with their regular orders, a photographed reading date with their favorite books, or just pictures of the couple being themselves.
Think of it this way -- what you would do together on a Saturday afternoon together? Take that Saturday afternoon, jazz it up a bit, and then bring in the photographer. That's the personality of your relationship at the moment, and in the end, that's the most meaningful thing to capture.
Now here's what to avoid:
1. Balloons: When have you ever walked down the sidewalk together holding hands and bunches of balloons? Probably never. While the photos are cute, they're definitely very unrealistic.
2. Scrabble tiles: Unless you're board game fanatics, skip the scrabble tiles -- they've been used to death.
3. Movie-themed engagement sessions: Are you going to want to share your Twilight-themed engagement photos with your friends and family when you're older? If the answer is no, then skip a movie (or book) themed engagement shoot and opt for something more timeless.
4. Signs that say "I said yes!" Or "I stole her heart, so she's stealing my last name": Again, another cute engagement idea that's been used and re-used to the point of cliche. Also, if your friends are getting your engagement photos, chances are they know you've already said yes. No need to reiterate, right?
5. Umbrellas (unless it's raining): This happens more than you would think. Why would you take a picture with an umbrella when it's not raining?
What do you think? How did you decide where to be or what props to use for your engagement photos? Ultimately, it's the couple's personal choice what to include or exclude from their engagement photos; as long as your own relationship is the focus of your photos, that's all that matters in the end!
Follow Stephanie Herbst on Twitter: www.twitter.com/wedding
Date Night, Designer Duds and Dad's Birthday
Hello Blogger Family... Here is my weekend recap:
Friday Night Scott and I went out to our favorite place, Smitty's, for dinner. Of course he had the Pot Pie and we had our Trinitas wine:
And after dinner... We went to Pop and Champagne and had Dessert and Champagne:
Saturday we got up and got our outfits together for Scott's Mom wedding. I went to check on my dress and it is almost ready. Scott went and got a suit for the event.
We also came home and made burgers that we saw on a Bobby Flay show.
Ours didn't look exactly like Bobby's but they were good. Sorry I forgot to take a picture.
We also watched "The Karate Kid"
I have to admit that I like Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan together... Very cute duo.
Sunday was Dad's birthday so I went over to his house with the family yo watch football and fry fish... He is very simple like me so it was easy to please him for his birthday:
All in all it was a great weekend.
Hope everyone has a great week.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Upbeat Songs to Calm Your Pre-Wedding Jitters
Whether you prep for your big day at home or at your venue, a proper soundtrack (along with bobby pins, hair spray, and double-stick tape) is an essential part of the getting-ready process. So here are our favorite songs to put you and your bridal party in a happy mood before you walk the aisle. Extra points if you use a hairbrush as a microphone.
1. "Chapel of Love" -- The Dixie Cups
It could be the most no-duh getting ready song ever, thanks to lyrics like "Gee, I really love you, and we're gonna get married." For a faster-paced doo-wop update, download Bette Midler's version.
2. "Countdown" -- Beyonce
Queen Bey has written her fair share of breakup anthems, but this syncopated jam is all about being gleefully in love. And she samples Boyz II Men! Nothing not to like here.
3. "Marry You" -- Bruno Mars
Consider it the guy version of "Chapel of Love": a joyous pre-aisle-walking song expertly sung by the slick Hawaiian crooner.
Plus: The New Wedding Rules
4. "I Love You Always Forever" -- Donna Lewis
This sugar-coated throwback-is it okay to call a song from 1996 a throwback?! -- is totally irresistible, because, well, come on, you still know every single word.
5. "Say A Little Prayer for You" -- Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul sang my favorite recording of this Burt Bacharach and Hal David Tune (originally penned for Dionne Warwick), but if you really want to go crazy, try the My Best Friends' Wedding version led by Rupert Everett.
6. "Vogue" - Madonna
It's practically impossible to get ready for any event without at least one of Madge's classics playing in the background, are we right? This ode to glamour definitely fits the bill.
7. "Oh Boy" -- Miss Li
This zany little ditty starts off with a simple piano beat, then crescendos into brass, drums and Miss Li's awesome vocal riffs. It's just plain adorable.
8. "The Shoop Shoop Song" -- Betty Everett
Though many have covered this song since it's 1964 version, the original by Everett captures the cheery melody best. Added bonus: Your musically-inclined bridesmaids can sing along as you lead the call-and-response verses.
9. "Pretty Girl Rock" -- Keri Hilson
It's tough to find an cheeky empowerment anthem more appropriate for a beauty session with your girlfriends than one that boats, "Don't hate me 'cause I'm beautiful."
1. "Chapel of Love" -- The Dixie Cups It could be the most no-duh getting ready song ever, thanks to lyrics like "Gee, I really love you, and we're gonna get married." For a faster-paced doo-wop update, download Bette Midler's version.
2. "Countdown" -- Beyonce
Queen Bey has written her fair share of breakup anthems, but this syncopated jam is all about being gleefully in love. And she samples Boyz II Men! Nothing not to like here.
3. "Marry You" -- Bruno Mars
Consider it the guy version of "Chapel of Love": a joyous pre-aisle-walking song expertly sung by the slick Hawaiian crooner.
Plus: The New Wedding Rules
4. "I Love You Always Forever" -- Donna Lewis
This sugar-coated throwback-is it okay to call a song from 1996 a throwback?! -- is totally irresistible, because, well, come on, you still know every single word.
5. "Say A Little Prayer for You" -- Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul sang my favorite recording of this Burt Bacharach and Hal David Tune (originally penned for Dionne Warwick), but if you really want to go crazy, try the My Best Friends' Wedding version led by Rupert Everett.
6. "Vogue" - Madonna
It's practically impossible to get ready for any event without at least one of Madge's classics playing in the background, are we right? This ode to glamour definitely fits the bill.
7. "Oh Boy" -- Miss Li
This zany little ditty starts off with a simple piano beat, then crescendos into brass, drums and Miss Li's awesome vocal riffs. It's just plain adorable.
8. "The Shoop Shoop Song" -- Betty Everett
Though many have covered this song since it's 1964 version, the original by Everett captures the cheery melody best. Added bonus: Your musically-inclined bridesmaids can sing along as you lead the call-and-response verses.
9. "Pretty Girl Rock" -- Keri Hilson
It's tough to find an cheeky empowerment anthem more appropriate for a beauty session with your girlfriends than one that boats, "Don't hate me 'cause I'm beautiful."
Friday Letters
+
Dear Weekend...
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Life...
Slow down just a little bit, I'm trying to enjoy the view.
Dear Coffee...
Thank You for being a friend.
Dear Vegas...
2 weeks away and I AM READY!
Dear Scott...
Thanks for making this week a little easier for me. It was a busy one with work and life in general but you made it easier for me by being the great husband I know you are. Love You!
The 7 Things Every Bride Remembers Most From Her Wedding Day
Okay, now before you go lecturing us about how you’ve spent the last year making sure your entire wedding day will be memorable, we know. It’s gonna be amazing. But the truth is, there will absolutely be moments you remember more than others. Cutting the cake? Chances are you’ll have had too much champs at that point to be retaining much of anything. Stepping into your wedding dress? You’ll remember it for years to come.
So as you’re finalizing the last details of your nuptials, we suggest you put some extra thought and planning into these 7 wedding day milestones. And when the time comes for to you say “I do,” be sure to slow things down and savor these moments. You’ll probably never forget them.
Stepping into your wedding dress. Yes, you’ve tried it on already (maybe more than a few times), but there’s something different about putting on your wedding dress when it really counts. The women closest to you (your mom and bridesmaids) help you get it on, which makes it extra special. When you first look in the mirror, you’ll see yourself as a true bride for the first time–with hair, makeup and that special glow to match.
The moment before you walk down the aisle with your dad. Between your nerves and your dad’s, the seconds before you walk down the aisle are emotion-filled. Trust us, seeing your father’s overwhelming love for you is something you’ll always remember.
When your groom sees you for the first time. That look on your groom’s face when he sees you, his bride, for the first time–well, it’s something that will likely stick in your mind for a long time. You’ve already had your own reaction to seeing yourself in the mirror–now just add to that the amplified emotion of the man who loves you most in the world. Yep, it’s something to remember.
Reciting your vows. Whether you write your own vows or keep it simple with classic statements, the moment you publicly profess your love and commitment to one another will stick in your mind forever. Maybe it’s the way his voice wavers when he says “I take thee…” or maybe it’s the lump in your throat when you say his name, but there’s always a memorable moment.
The recessional. That walk back down the aisle, your first moments together as a wedded couple, often feels like a walk through the clouds. You and your husband (yes, you can now call him that!), arm-in-arm, aren’t just walking down an aisle–you’re walking into a brand new life together. That’s gotta trigger a tear or two.
The first dance. Dancing to the song that you picked out with all your family and friends watching is a special few minutes. But for many brides, the most memorable part of the first dance is actually the conversation with your new husband–and it’s often not what you’d expect! We’ll let you figure out what that means on your own wedding day.
The last dance. While the first dance is all about you and your groom, the last one is all about friends and family. Prepare to be overwhelmed with emotion as you all dance together–and don’t try to fight it! This is the culmination of the day you’ve been looking forward to for years and the beginning of a brand new chapter of your life. Enjoy it.
So as you’re finalizing the last details of your nuptials, we suggest you put some extra thought and planning into these 7 wedding day milestones. And when the time comes for to you say “I do,” be sure to slow things down and savor these moments. You’ll probably never forget them.
Stepping into your wedding dress. Yes, you’ve tried it on already (maybe more than a few times), but there’s something different about putting on your wedding dress when it really counts. The women closest to you (your mom and bridesmaids) help you get it on, which makes it extra special. When you first look in the mirror, you’ll see yourself as a true bride for the first time–with hair, makeup and that special glow to match.
The moment before you walk down the aisle with your dad. Between your nerves and your dad’s, the seconds before you walk down the aisle are emotion-filled. Trust us, seeing your father’s overwhelming love for you is something you’ll always remember.
When your groom sees you for the first time. That look on your groom’s face when he sees you, his bride, for the first time–well, it’s something that will likely stick in your mind for a long time. You’ve already had your own reaction to seeing yourself in the mirror–now just add to that the amplified emotion of the man who loves you most in the world. Yep, it’s something to remember.
Reciting your vows. Whether you write your own vows or keep it simple with classic statements, the moment you publicly profess your love and commitment to one another will stick in your mind forever. Maybe it’s the way his voice wavers when he says “I take thee…” or maybe it’s the lump in your throat when you say his name, but there’s always a memorable moment.
The recessional. That walk back down the aisle, your first moments together as a wedded couple, often feels like a walk through the clouds. You and your husband (yes, you can now call him that!), arm-in-arm, aren’t just walking down an aisle–you’re walking into a brand new life together. That’s gotta trigger a tear or two.
The first dance. Dancing to the song that you picked out with all your family and friends watching is a special few minutes. But for many brides, the most memorable part of the first dance is actually the conversation with your new husband–and it’s often not what you’d expect! We’ll let you figure out what that means on your own wedding day.
The last dance. While the first dance is all about you and your groom, the last one is all about friends and family. Prepare to be overwhelmed with emotion as you all dance together–and don’t try to fight it! This is the culmination of the day you’ve been looking forward to for years and the beginning of a brand new chapter of your life. Enjoy it.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Listen Up: Here's the No. 1 Way to Reduce Stress on Your Wedding Day
by Kim Fusaro
Wedding day stress is pretty much inevitable. You're hosting a party for 100 or so of your nearest and dearest, and at least half of the key players (moms, 'maids, flower girls) expect you to play social coordinator for the first half of the day, directing people to the hair and makeup team, making sure everyone eats—plus, "Hey, have you seen my bridesmaid dress?" "Who moved my shoes?" and "The caterer's on the phone!" Oh, AND you have some major primping and prettifying to do yourself. And all this has to happen before you step into your wedding dress—usually by early afternoon. It's enough to put anyone on edge.
So here's my recommendation: MAJORLY pad the timing of all your morning events. If the hair salon wants your 'maids there for 10 A.M., ask them to arrive by 9:30. When you book your own stylist, request a double appointment so she's not rushing off to coif your mother-in-law, leaving you with a not-quite-right updo. (If you have to pay extra for this—and you might—it will be the best $$$ you ever spent. I promise.) You can lie to the limo company about what time you need to be at church (synagogue, goddess's altar, etc.) so they'll plan on dropping you off 20 minutes earlier. We actually put a 5:15 start time on our wedding invites, even though I didn't plan on walking down the aisle till 5:30. (Some people were STILL late, and those that were early or on time were rewarded with pre-ceremony snacks and cocktails.)
If you're the type to plan your day down to the minute, just build in lots and lots of extra minutes for when the inevitable person-stuck-in-traffic or over-sleeper throws off your whole schedule. The worst that can happen is that you'll wind up with some unexpected downtime.
Were you planning on padding the timing of your wedding morning? Or are you going to attempt to keep people on a tight schedule?
Just kidding with the pill photo. I'm not suggesting you knock back a bunch of Quaaludes on your wedding day!
Wedding day stress is pretty much inevitable. You're hosting a party for 100 or so of your nearest and dearest, and at least half of the key players (moms, 'maids, flower girls) expect you to play social coordinator for the first half of the day, directing people to the hair and makeup team, making sure everyone eats—plus, "Hey, have you seen my bridesmaid dress?" "Who moved my shoes?" and "The caterer's on the phone!" Oh, AND you have some major primping and prettifying to do yourself. And all this has to happen before you step into your wedding dress—usually by early afternoon. It's enough to put anyone on edge.
So here's my recommendation: MAJORLY pad the timing of all your morning events. If the hair salon wants your 'maids there for 10 A.M., ask them to arrive by 9:30. When you book your own stylist, request a double appointment so she's not rushing off to coif your mother-in-law, leaving you with a not-quite-right updo. (If you have to pay extra for this—and you might—it will be the best $$$ you ever spent. I promise.) You can lie to the limo company about what time you need to be at church (synagogue, goddess's altar, etc.) so they'll plan on dropping you off 20 minutes earlier. We actually put a 5:15 start time on our wedding invites, even though I didn't plan on walking down the aisle till 5:30. (Some people were STILL late, and those that were early or on time were rewarded with pre-ceremony snacks and cocktails.)
If you're the type to plan your day down to the minute, just build in lots and lots of extra minutes for when the inevitable person-stuck-in-traffic or over-sleeper throws off your whole schedule. The worst that can happen is that you'll wind up with some unexpected downtime.
Were you planning on padding the timing of your wedding morning? Or are you going to attempt to keep people on a tight schedule?
Millennials Getting Married
Sarah Flanagan
Is it just me, or is my peer group suddenly deciding to throw freedom to the wind and tie the knot way sooner than I imagined?
Is getting married young like... the new "thing"?
True, I've been out of college three whole years. I know people used to get married as early as high school. But I thought our generation had the better part of a decade to travel the world, date lots of people and discover new ways to fix the world's problems, unburdened by the pragmatisms of married life. With longer life expectancy, birth control and fertility technology, I thought we decided to put that the next-generation stuff on hold?
Stupid millennial. What is this hippie nonsense? You should settle down and buy a house. This is no economy for rentals.
My sister is a year older than me. Six of her friends got married last year. I've been to some beautiful weddings lately myself. Two of my college roommates have gotten married and one is engaged. One of my high school friends already has a husband and two kids. I have a co-worker my age who sends me Snapchats from a different wedding almost every other weekend. I'd like to point out here that I'm not even 25 years old.
In addition to the swing towards settling down a couple of years out of college, the ceremonies are taking a turn towards the traditional, if not extravagant. These big nuptials laugh in the face of high divorce-rates.They are not our parent's hippie-dippy, under-a-tree, sun-as-our-witness weddings. Millennials are embracing the traditions our parents rejected in hopes it will legitimize their own experience. The brave, young couples who stand up at the altar despite daunting statistics do so in in formal dress and spend big bucks. I guess throwing money at something is one way to legitimize it. I'm no investor, but I can see how dropping a large amount of dough up front inspires confidence and promises big returns. I have not yet found any statistics that show having a wedding at the Harvard Club makes the marriage last longer, but I also haven't found proof that it doesn't. I won't deny big spending makes the big day fun.
In addition to dressing up and spending big on their own weddings, my peers have been fighting for the right for everyone to embrace the tradition, including gays and lesbians. Ignore all the statistics that focus on today's marriage rate being at an all time low: we kids-these-days are totally into it.
The first ones to drop were the people I knew in the military. In my junior year of college I went to the West Point formal, where cadets received their class rings. Many of the uniformed cuties I met slipped engagement rings on their fiancees soon after. That made sense. Anyone going to war would look for stability. I guess those brave enough to face death as a profession are not afraid of 'Till death do us part.'"
The next ones to go were my hometown friends. That was kind of weird, since I grew up in New York City. I always thought this island was dusted with a thin layer of marriage-repellent.
My sister and I went to a progressive, all-women's high-school on New York's Upper East Side. Back in the '50s our school was described in the book A Beautiful Mind as being "cosmopolitan and cultured," and "where girls being groomed to become wives of Catholic leaders" went to become properly socialized -- I mean, educated. But it's changed since then, I swear! Now we're groomed to be independent women, and leaders ourselves! But yeah, as I said before, six weddings in one year.
One of my parents' friends heard about all our friends' silly marriage plans and had one response:
"Why?!" Well, Mr. Boomer, it's simple:
1. We are planning ahead for disaster : We grew up in the shadow of September 11th. There is a lingering sentiment that the only promise America has for our generation is instability. Despite all our SAT-prep and SAT II's and competitive, expensive colleges, we had a hard time finding jobs. Better be even more prepared for life's next hurdle, and get the wife on lock down sooner rather than later. If we mess it up this go around, there's always spouse round 2.
2. Recession: As mentioned above, we are unemployed and underpaid. It's financially smarter to live with someone.
3. Internet dating is making it easier to find a mate.
4. We watched way too many over sexualized, rated R movies at a young age. With open-minded parents and contraception, my generation became so promiscuous we scared ourselves.
Example: One of my most, erm, accomplished friends told me about his latest lady "twerking" in the middle of the street on their last date. He said "is this what my wife is going to be like? Someone who twerks in the middle of St. Marks?" So yeah, we got over the whole free love thing at an earlier age than your generation did -- I think.
I tried to tell Mr. Boomer that we Millennials are really just like the Lost Generation or Greatest Generation. We face war and recession. We even go to speakeasies, just like our grand-folks!
All of a sudden our conversation was interrupted by whispers about a moonlit farm wedding in the rain. It came to light that apparently the progressive member of my parents' generation who was so against young marriage hadn't felt the same way when he was 23, or 19 (depending on which whisper you were listening to.) So even the free-lovers were gung-ho about tying the knot -- when the moonshine and hippie-field were right.
Statistics do not show that my peers are getting married any younger than past generations. In fact, with the average first-marriage age hitting 30 for women and 32 for men in 2009, we might be getting married later than ever. What is shocking is realizing that even though we see ourselves as kids forever, we're actually grown ups -- and marriage confirms it. It's just happening faster than I expected, and faster than our parents expected. Maybe that's what happens to every generation. I think Chuck Berry had it about right in 1964 when he said "'C'est la vie,' said the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell**"
Young weddings seem like more of a "thing" because we post everything to Facebook. Everyday we see someone we met once at a dance in 2009 has gotten engaged. Or maybe it is so not a thing that the few people who settle down early are gawked at like Great White Sharks.
I am far from prepared for kids and a mortgage, so I'm glad to hear I've got at least a few years before the music turns off and the dating game of musical chairs comes to halt.
"*It was a teenage wedding and the old folks wished them well / You could see that Pierre did truly love the Mademoiselle / And now the young Monsieur and Madame have rung the chapel bell / C'est la vie said the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell"
Follow Sarah Flanagan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/saraflanonymous
Is it just me, or is my peer group suddenly deciding to throw freedom to the wind and tie the knot way sooner than I imagined?
Is getting married young like... the new "thing"?
True, I've been out of college three whole years. I know people used to get married as early as high school. But I thought our generation had the better part of a decade to travel the world, date lots of people and discover new ways to fix the world's problems, unburdened by the pragmatisms of married life. With longer life expectancy, birth control and fertility technology, I thought we decided to put that the next-generation stuff on hold?
Stupid millennial. What is this hippie nonsense? You should settle down and buy a house. This is no economy for rentals.
My sister is a year older than me. Six of her friends got married last year. I've been to some beautiful weddings lately myself. Two of my college roommates have gotten married and one is engaged. One of my high school friends already has a husband and two kids. I have a co-worker my age who sends me Snapchats from a different wedding almost every other weekend. I'd like to point out here that I'm not even 25 years old.
In addition to the swing towards settling down a couple of years out of college, the ceremonies are taking a turn towards the traditional, if not extravagant. These big nuptials laugh in the face of high divorce-rates.They are not our parent's hippie-dippy, under-a-tree, sun-as-our-witness weddings. Millennials are embracing the traditions our parents rejected in hopes it will legitimize their own experience. The brave, young couples who stand up at the altar despite daunting statistics do so in in formal dress and spend big bucks. I guess throwing money at something is one way to legitimize it. I'm no investor, but I can see how dropping a large amount of dough up front inspires confidence and promises big returns. I have not yet found any statistics that show having a wedding at the Harvard Club makes the marriage last longer, but I also haven't found proof that it doesn't. I won't deny big spending makes the big day fun.
In addition to dressing up and spending big on their own weddings, my peers have been fighting for the right for everyone to embrace the tradition, including gays and lesbians. Ignore all the statistics that focus on today's marriage rate being at an all time low: we kids-these-days are totally into it.
The first ones to drop were the people I knew in the military. In my junior year of college I went to the West Point formal, where cadets received their class rings. Many of the uniformed cuties I met slipped engagement rings on their fiancees soon after. That made sense. Anyone going to war would look for stability. I guess those brave enough to face death as a profession are not afraid of 'Till death do us part.'"
The next ones to go were my hometown friends. That was kind of weird, since I grew up in New York City. I always thought this island was dusted with a thin layer of marriage-repellent.
My sister and I went to a progressive, all-women's high-school on New York's Upper East Side. Back in the '50s our school was described in the book A Beautiful Mind as being "cosmopolitan and cultured," and "where girls being groomed to become wives of Catholic leaders" went to become properly socialized -- I mean, educated. But it's changed since then, I swear! Now we're groomed to be independent women, and leaders ourselves! But yeah, as I said before, six weddings in one year.
One of my parents' friends heard about all our friends' silly marriage plans and had one response:
"Why?!" Well, Mr. Boomer, it's simple:
1. We are planning ahead for disaster : We grew up in the shadow of September 11th. There is a lingering sentiment that the only promise America has for our generation is instability. Despite all our SAT-prep and SAT II's and competitive, expensive colleges, we had a hard time finding jobs. Better be even more prepared for life's next hurdle, and get the wife on lock down sooner rather than later. If we mess it up this go around, there's always spouse round 2.
2. Recession: As mentioned above, we are unemployed and underpaid. It's financially smarter to live with someone.
3. Internet dating is making it easier to find a mate.
4. We watched way too many over sexualized, rated R movies at a young age. With open-minded parents and contraception, my generation became so promiscuous we scared ourselves.
Example: One of my most, erm, accomplished friends told me about his latest lady "twerking" in the middle of the street on their last date. He said "is this what my wife is going to be like? Someone who twerks in the middle of St. Marks?" So yeah, we got over the whole free love thing at an earlier age than your generation did -- I think.
I tried to tell Mr. Boomer that we Millennials are really just like the Lost Generation or Greatest Generation. We face war and recession. We even go to speakeasies, just like our grand-folks!
All of a sudden our conversation was interrupted by whispers about a moonlit farm wedding in the rain. It came to light that apparently the progressive member of my parents' generation who was so against young marriage hadn't felt the same way when he was 23, or 19 (depending on which whisper you were listening to.) So even the free-lovers were gung-ho about tying the knot -- when the moonshine and hippie-field were right.
Statistics do not show that my peers are getting married any younger than past generations. In fact, with the average first-marriage age hitting 30 for women and 32 for men in 2009, we might be getting married later than ever. What is shocking is realizing that even though we see ourselves as kids forever, we're actually grown ups -- and marriage confirms it. It's just happening faster than I expected, and faster than our parents expected. Maybe that's what happens to every generation. I think Chuck Berry had it about right in 1964 when he said "'C'est la vie,' said the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell**"
Young weddings seem like more of a "thing" because we post everything to Facebook. Everyday we see someone we met once at a dance in 2009 has gotten engaged. Or maybe it is so not a thing that the few people who settle down early are gawked at like Great White Sharks.
I am far from prepared for kids and a mortgage, so I'm glad to hear I've got at least a few years before the music turns off and the dating game of musical chairs comes to halt.
Follow Sarah Flanagan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/saraflanonymous
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
How to Preserve the Top Tier of Your Wedding Cake
As tradition goes, the bride and groom share a slice from the top tier of their wedding cake on their first anniversary.
But why? Well, saving the top tier of the wedding cake became fairly popular in the 19th-century, when marriage was primarily a means to an end, and that end was to increase the size of your family. Newlyweds back then would typically have their first child within the first year of marriage, and at the child’s christening, the parents would serve the top tier of their wedding cake to cut down on costs. But now that marriages are more for romance than necessity, the tradition has shifted to a way to remember your wedding day and rekindle those newlywed feelings one year later. Now, it’s a way to celebrate your big day all over again!
If you want to take part in this tradition, it’s important that you properly store and preserve your cake. It will still be stale after a year in your freezer, but poor technique can lead to a completely spoiled (and totally inedible) cake.
To preserve the top tier of your wedding cake, you should:
1. Remove all flowers and adornments.
This is primarily a rule for fresh flowers on cakes (as is the trend), but even the sugar or fondant flowers will spoil quickly. Remove them all just to be safe!
2. Chill the cake in the refrigerator.Shortly after the wedding, place the top tier of your cake in your refrigerator to chill. This will only take a few hours, but it will harden the icing and make it easier to prepare the cake for freezing, and prevent the plastic wrap from sticking.
3. Wrap the cake in plastic wrap and place it in your freezer inside an airtight container.After the cake is chilled, it should be simple to wrap it in several layers of plastic wrap without the icing sticking too badly. Then, put the wrapped cake in an airtight container or freezer bag, and set it in your freezer. Make sure you mark the cake with a quick label so you’ll remember what that giant lump in your freezer is!
4. Thaw the cake in the refrigerator for about 24 hours.A day before you plan to eat the top tier of your cake, take the entire parcel from your freezer and place it directly in the refrigerator.
5. Remove the cake from its packaging, and let it sit out for a few hours.Take the top tier out of the container or freezer bag, remove all the plastic wrap, and place it on a plate on your counter for a few hours. This will bring the cake up to room temperature, which is ideal for eating.
6. Enjoy!Remember, the cake will still be stale — it is a year old, after all! — but if you’ve taken the steps to properly preserve it, it won’t taste too bad to share a few bites with your spouse. Note that certain types of cake — like chocolate, almond or carrot — will last longer and taste better than a white, fruit-filled or whipped cream-topped cake.
Not a fan of this tradition? My husband and I weren’t, either, so we decided to share the top tier of our cake right after we returned from our honeymoon! Neither of us had had the time to enjoy a slice of the cake we’d chosen on our actual wedding day, so it was nice to sit down and share a piece while the memory of our big day was still fresh in our minds. There are other alternatives, too, like ordering a small replica of your cake from the bakery who made your original wedding cake, or spicing up a basic anniversary cake with your original wedding cake topper!
But why? Well, saving the top tier of the wedding cake became fairly popular in the 19th-century, when marriage was primarily a means to an end, and that end was to increase the size of your family. Newlyweds back then would typically have their first child within the first year of marriage, and at the child’s christening, the parents would serve the top tier of their wedding cake to cut down on costs. But now that marriages are more for romance than necessity, the tradition has shifted to a way to remember your wedding day and rekindle those newlywed feelings one year later. Now, it’s a way to celebrate your big day all over again!
If you want to take part in this tradition, it’s important that you properly store and preserve your cake. It will still be stale after a year in your freezer, but poor technique can lead to a completely spoiled (and totally inedible) cake.
Photo by Kevin Milz Photography
To preserve the top tier of your wedding cake, you should:
1. Remove all flowers and adornments.
This is primarily a rule for fresh flowers on cakes (as is the trend), but even the sugar or fondant flowers will spoil quickly. Remove them all just to be safe!
2. Chill the cake in the refrigerator.Shortly after the wedding, place the top tier of your cake in your refrigerator to chill. This will only take a few hours, but it will harden the icing and make it easier to prepare the cake for freezing, and prevent the plastic wrap from sticking.
3. Wrap the cake in plastic wrap and place it in your freezer inside an airtight container.After the cake is chilled, it should be simple to wrap it in several layers of plastic wrap without the icing sticking too badly. Then, put the wrapped cake in an airtight container or freezer bag, and set it in your freezer. Make sure you mark the cake with a quick label so you’ll remember what that giant lump in your freezer is!
4. Thaw the cake in the refrigerator for about 24 hours.A day before you plan to eat the top tier of your cake, take the entire parcel from your freezer and place it directly in the refrigerator.
5. Remove the cake from its packaging, and let it sit out for a few hours.Take the top tier out of the container or freezer bag, remove all the plastic wrap, and place it on a plate on your counter for a few hours. This will bring the cake up to room temperature, which is ideal for eating.
6. Enjoy!Remember, the cake will still be stale — it is a year old, after all! — but if you’ve taken the steps to properly preserve it, it won’t taste too bad to share a few bites with your spouse. Note that certain types of cake — like chocolate, almond or carrot — will last longer and taste better than a white, fruit-filled or whipped cream-topped cake.
Not a fan of this tradition? My husband and I weren’t, either, so we decided to share the top tier of our cake right after we returned from our honeymoon! Neither of us had had the time to enjoy a slice of the cake we’d chosen on our actual wedding day, so it was nice to sit down and share a piece while the memory of our big day was still fresh in our minds. There are other alternatives, too, like ordering a small replica of your cake from the bakery who made your original wedding cake, or spicing up a basic anniversary cake with your original wedding cake topper!
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Wedding Countdown: 10 Things to Do Last
Stefania Sainato
I'm getting married in about a month (!) and I keep picturing what those final moments will be like before I become a wife. Will I experience a surge of adrenaline, happiness, trepidation, or all of the above, before the doors of the church swing open and I walk down the aisle clutching my Dad's arm? There's no way to emotionally "prepare" for such a life-altering event, despite all of the hard work, pre-wedding freak-outs and my fiancé's loving support. I won't know until I'm there in the flesh, pinching myself because it's actually happening.
But in the meantime, what I can focus on is taking care of all those last-minute details, like making seating charts and deciding what time everyone needs to arrive at my parents' home. We're working on an upcoming story about the most heartfelt "getting ready" photos — stay tuned — but in the meantime, here's a list of things that need to get done in the final weeks leading up to your wedding.
1. Make it legal!
This was the first of many "final countdown" items I completed. In most cases, your marriage license is only good for a short period of time, but contrary to popular opinion, you don't always have to get it the week prior to the wedding (I got mine way back in July). Call ahead to find out how much it'll cost and which documents you need to bring.
2. Meet with vendors to fine-tune all of the details.
This week alone, I'm meeting with my photographer, officiant and florist; not to mention Skyping with my violinist. One thing I've learned is that it's really helpful to run those mandatory "request lists" (whether it's your top 10 must-play songs or must-have photos) by friends and family members. My mom realized that we forgot to tell the florist to decorate the sweetheart table and my groomsmen voted on songs they like for the reception entrance. Also, my photographer had a great suggestion: give the maid of honor your shot list so that she can help round up all of the relatives you'd like to take pics with on the big day.
One of the most important tasks I'm working on is the wedding-day timeline. Trust me — you definitely don't want to skip it, no matter how reliable or punctual everyone is. I've witnessed firsthand how one little glitch can create utter chaos and throw everything off. If you're like me and you don't have a wedding planner, work with your photographer and beauty prep team to determine timing and logistics. Include some padding in case mishaps do occur.
Photo Credit: Husar Photography
Also, if you never made that budget spreadsheet, now's the time! My fiancé Jason and I went through all of our contracts, recording how much we owed each vendor and when each payment is due by. This is an easy way to alleviate stress and will prevent any late fees. You should also set aside tips (check out our cheat sheet for tipping vendors) and designate a point person to distribute them on the day of the wedding.
3. Do an outfit run-through with all of your VIPs.
Schedule all of your gown fittings and bring the accessories that you plan to wear from head to toe. This will not only give you a better idea of your overall look, but allow your seamstress to make any necessary modifications. I recommend testing out shapewear ahead of time to ensure it's comfortable; the garment I wanted to wear turned out to be torturous on a hot day, so I'm having cups sewn into my dress instead.
When it's time to pick up your dress a few days before the wedding, take the garment bag off when you get home so that it has time to "breathe" and settle. Put the gown in a room that's well-ventilated and avoid cooking or smoking in your home, since odors can seep into it.
Photo Credit: POPography
Resist the urge to show everyone what you'll look like in your dress before the big day. Some of the most touching pre-ceremony photos I've seen are of the bride's dad, grandmother, bridesmaids, or whomever witnessing The Dress in all its glory and getting weepy-eyed or ecstatic in the process. So, I'm planning on doing a "first look" with my Dad and keeping the gown a surprise until the wedding.
Ditto for the bridesmaids — cell phone snapshots from a dressing room don't compare to the day-of look, complete with hair, makeup, accessories and that bridal glow. (If they can't decide whether they want to be kept in suspense or not, show them a detail shot from the back, like I did recently with one of my bridesmaids.)
Photo Credit: Perry Vaile Photography
Your bridal party attendants probably already know that they should schedule fittings in advance, but I'd suggest sending a friendly reminder anyway, just in case. One thing they might not realize is that it's important to try on their outfits one final time after picking them up from the tux shop or seamstress. You don't want your poor ring bearer to cry because his shoes are too tight or have a groomsman panic because the store gave him the wrong size pants (true stories). If your groomsmen are renting tuxes, arrange for the best man or someone else to drop them off at the store on the return date so everyone doesn't have to make multiple trips.
4. Organize accessories, décor and honeymoon items you'll need to transport.
I would suggest storing all of your fashion accessories, ceremony décor and reception items in separate baskets or bins. This has done wonders for my stress levels! Here are some examples of what my pre-ceremony basket contains so far: Dad's cufflinks, a customized ring bowl from Paloma's Nest, a vintage handkerchief for happy tears and three pairs of shoes (heels, wedges, and flats).
Photo Credits (from left to right): Photo by: Rebecca Arthurs Photography on Munaluchi Bridal via Lover.ly; Two One Photography; SATIN PEEPTOE WEDGE PUMP From Oscar De La Renta via Lover.ly
Don't forget to include photo props as well, so that everyone's not scrambling for sunglasses when it's time to take that group shot out on the lawn. Also, it's a good idea to give your venue coordinator a list of items that need to be returned to you at the end of the celebration, like your parents' decades-old cake topper.
Photo Credit: Evermore Photography
Pack a kit with wedding-day emergency items, even if you don't think you'll need them. One great tip I got recently was to include spray deodorant so that anyone can freshen up in the bridal suite without the "ick" factor or worrying about bringing their own. Other must-haves include: glue for false eyelashes, scissors (to remove any tags), hairspray, pins of every kind, individual aspirin packets, a hairbrush, a Tide to Go pen, band-aids, nail polish, a sewing kit, hand lotion, gum and more.
Get a headstart on honeymoon packing, too. Unless you're the pack-the-night-before-at-5-a.m. type or you're not leaving until a few weeks after the wedding, you'll want to make sure you have everything you need for your trip in case of emergency (check out these honeymoon horror stories). I've been tossing new items directly into my suitcase so that when it's time to finalize everything, it'll be quicker. Keep your passport on top so that you don't forget it! (P.S. Leaving for your honeymoon the day after the wedding, like I am? Nominate a gift caretaker while you're gone.)
5. Schedule hair, makeup and any other beauty treatments.
You've probably already attended your hair trial and makeup trial at this point, but you'll also need to decide who's getting ready with you that day, whether it's all of your bridesmaids, just your maid of honor, or in my case, out-of-town relatives.
If you're beautifying with a group of people, choose photo-ready outfits in case your photographer decides to take candid shots of all the prepping. I've included some fun options below that you and your ladies can definitely use again.
Photo Credits: Preppy Wife Preppy Life
Photo Credit: Jennefer Wilson
Photo Credit: Joey Ikemoto Photography
Book your final beauty treatments for teeth whitening or whatever else you have planned. Avoid using any new beauty products or having a facial a few days before the wedding, just to be safe.
6. Decide who will sit where.
I'm dreading finishing this task (with a capital "D") but it's a necessary evil. To make your life easier, consider using a digital seating chart tool like tablerrr.com or allseated.com, which helps you manage everything electronically. I've tried the latter, and it allows you to drag and drop guests' names to different tables and color code your entire guest list into different groups.
Make your RSVP date about three weeks before the wedding date so that you have enough time to determine the final headcount and round up any stragglers. Read our Editor-in-Chief's advice on how to handle a guest who doesn't RSVP, here.
7. Make arrangements for out-of-town guests and prep your hotel or home.
Surprisingly, this has been the most stressful item on this entire list, and I'm not even the one doing the heavy lifting! My parents are tackling home renovations big and small, like redoing the wood floors upstairs and buying new curtains for the bedroom, where the majority of prep photos will take place. (Hosting a destination wedding instead? Assemble all of your welcome baskets and create an itinerary of wedding weekend activities for guests.)
The wedding day can be looong and exhausting, no matter how exciting it is. Fortify yourself for all of the emotional moments that lie ahead with tasty beverages and treats that are easy to eat in formal attire. At past weddings, I've sampled everything from pastries to cut-up sandwiches, but you can also include hot appetizers or a cheese and fruit plate.
Photo Credit: Sarah Kossuch Photography
I love the idea of setting up a mimosa station with different fruit purees or serving mini bottles of champagne.
Photo Credit: Amy Bennett Photo
Photo Credits (from left to right): Laura Murray Photography and Kojodesigns
Can't speak in the morning until you've had a cup of coffee? Include plenty of java and tea in case your parents or bridal party could use a boost, too. Allocate extra food and drink in case neighbors or loved ones stop by unannounced to wish you congratulations before the formal ceremony begins.
Photo Credits (from left to right): Megan Edelman and Blink of an Eye Photography
Setting the stage for a fun environment on the wedding day is important, too. I'm making a playlist of feel-good dance anthems that I can listen to while getting ready. Remember when you used to crank up the radio as loud as your parents could stand while getting ready for formals and other big events in high school and college? Not much has changed — music still has the power to get you in a great mindset.
Photo Credit: Bre Thurson
8. Exchange a special token of affection with your groom.
My fiancé Jason and I wrote wedding-day love letters to each other as part of a Pre-Cana requirement, but curiosity got the better of us and we already read them!
Photo Credits (from left to right): Geneve Hoffman Photography and Nancy Cohn
This time, I'm keeping my deepest feelings under wraps so he'll just have to guess what he's receiving that morning, whether it be "Open When..." letters (for milestones like your first fight or wedding anniversary), a "Can't Wait to Marry You!" gift or a suprise text message from my ladies.
Photo Credit: Simply Kierste Blog
Photo Credit: Jill Tiongco Photography
Photo Credit: Lennon Photo
9. Carve out quality alone time and plan a fun date with your girlfriends.
The month before the wedding is packed with appointments and obligations. Even if your planning has been smooth sailing up until this point, odds are that you could use a break. I recently booked a pro massage and it was the best thing I added to my to-do list, even though I worried that there were oh, about 50 other things I could have been doing for the wedding with that time instead.
Another sanity-saver is to plan a date with your friends — and no, I don't mean an evening spent browsing wedding ideas on Pinterest. I mean a date where you truly enjoy their company without focusing too much on the "W" word. I'm having a "spa-chelorette" party the week before the wedding with my bridal party, including my maid of honor, who's flying all the way here from Italy, and I cannot wait.
10. Repeat after us: Everything will turn out great.
A lot of brides we've interviewed have said that the last month leading up to the wedding is the hardest, and from my personal experience, I've found that to be true. When things get stressful and hectic, I repeat the following positive affirmations and pray that all of the hard work, planning and sacrifices will have been worth it.
Photo Credit: Ashley Mauldin
Photo Credit: Carrie Wildes
Photo by: Ashley Rose on The Brides Cafe via Lover.ly
Photo Credit: Brett Heidebrecht Photography
