Engagement Party!

One of our interns Christine is getting married and she is having a Super Chic Black and White Engagement Party.

Isn't her inspiration board beautimous!

We are calling Amanda and Greg our Wine and Rose, Chic couple. Their wedding will be amazing - lots of fun with a flair for the romantic. Isn't this board fantastic!

Tux is Ready!

Tux was so excited to be reminded that we leave for Ireland in 2 days, he ran to the closet and grabbed his scarf - ya know in preparation for the cold weather. Doesn't he look handsome!

Hiring your Photographer

I had a really nice conversation with an amazing photographer this weekend at our Bridal Show (we're in Florida, our shows are later...) but anyway -

We had a really interesting conversation on how brides are hiring their photographer. A lot of brides are basing their photography decision on the photographers web site and blogs alone.

This trend worries me a bit, photography has a lot to do with personality of the photographer, and the final album. Your wedding should tell a story and if you are hiring a photographer based on their blogs (which you can tell a fair amount of someones personality from their blog) but that one on one time is important as well. This person or people will be in your face your entire wedding day, don't you want to make sure your personalities melt well together?

And the final album is vital, it tells your love story. Don't you want it to be amazing, perfect and totally utterly reflect you and your story?

When looking at photographer options consider all of the options-

1. Take a look at their website and see if you like their work
2. Set up a meeting to meet them in person
3. While looking at the photographers albums see if you really get to know their clients from looking at the book
4. Make sure you like the person you are talking to

These are very important aspects of wedding photography, don't hire someone just because they have a cool video on their site or a way neat-o blog.... this is YOUR once in a lifetime most cherished celebration, make sure it's perfect!

Pretty Things!

I've been introducing our new interns to the world of inspiration boards, and Kristin did this one. It's one of my favorites so far - although the Brown and Burgundy one is another close one, I'll share that next week.

This board is for Sam and Joey, they want a pink and green fun and classy event. Don't you think she totally nailed it!

Let them Eat Cake and....

Wedding cake is beautiful and everyone loves to look at what a beautiful work of art it is - but what if you wanted to serve cake and _________ (you fill in the blank). Wouldn't it be nice to shake things up a bit. At one event we had tableside Cherries Jubilee, the guests loved it! It was such a treat.

But if you didn't want to go that far, how are some of these suggestions. They are a fun play on common foods served in small portions are look AMAZING! Something your guests will be sure to remember. Another great way to personalize your wedding!

The top image is from Oh Joy! And the lower from Kim Vallee.

In Memoriam

Bill Johnson, age 43, unexpectedly passed away in Shands Hospital at University of Florida on Sunday, February 17th. Bill was a devoted father and husband, loving brother, son and friend. He taught others to love simply and unconditionally. He was the Materials Manager with Select Specialty Hospital, and he had tremendous integrity and a very strong work ethic. Born in Melbourne, Florida, he moved to Gainesville in 1998 from Orlando, Florida. He was an avid sports fan - he loved fishing, snorkeling, and photography. He was a gifted cook and loved to barbeque.

He will surely be missed!! For more information please see his wife's blog.

Trash the Cake!

We know Trash the Dress, and we talked about Trash the Tux, but now Trash the Cake.

You only get one shot at this, but how fun can it be right! I think I wanna do it! Just cuz!

What else is there to trash? The reception hall? Any ideas?

Initials are Beautiful!

What a better way to personalize your wedding than to use your intials! You can do so many things with a letter - and it makes such a statement. Don't you think?

It's an inexpensive way to express your personal'ness in one of lives most cherished celebrations. I had downloaded a picture a few weeks ago to blog about and then it's all over the blog-world, I didn't want to saturate you, but I just think it's such a pretty statement! Thank you Darci for letting me steal your images.

Most of these are easy DIY projects too, slather on some paint and ribbons, and you are good to go!

Or lots of glue and fresh flowers - or you could even use some pretty silk flowers and keep them forever!I love the idea of using moss! It's just so beautiful and green!

Pick a Dress - any Dress!

Jenna Bush has been given a choice of dresses from 12 major designers for her Texas wedding. They were asked to sketch a dress for Jenna. Check out her choices below.

I think I love #4, Liene at Blue Orchid likes #1, which do you love?


(Click the image for a much larger picture)

The Perfect Margarita!

So for those of you that don't know, my maiden name is Margarita, yup Melissa Margarita. I didn't realize how much fun being a "Margarita" was until college, when I was forced, kicking and screaming, of course, to create The Perfect Margarita. I aptly call it The Melissa Margarita Margarita.

And today being Valentines Day, I thought I'd share with you one of my favorite things, consider this my gift to you. My personal recipe for The Perfect Margarita, it can be made Frozen or on the rocks - and if you aren't a Margarita Mix kinda person, feel free to use lime juice and simple syrup.

Melissa Margarita Margarita

1 1/2 oz Your Favorite Gold Tequilla
1/2 oz premium Peach Schnapps
Rose's Green Demon Margarita Mix (fill the rest of the glass)

Rum the rim of a cocktail glass with lime juice, and dip in salt. Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into the glass, and serve.

To be made in a standard Margarita Glass for the quantities to work. (I prefer no salt, but some loooove it... so make it how you like... but enjoy!)

Afraid of a Wedding Consultant?

Monica at The White Box started a conversation with a question, Why are Brides Scared of Wedding Planners? Then A Bride in the Making answered her question. I’d like to dive in too, if you don’t mind.

I actually never thought about it this way. I never thought that a bride was “afraid” of a wedding planner. Seriously, what is there to be afraid of. We (as wedding consultants) are there to help you, the bride. Maybe it’s just that hiring a wedding consultant used to be so expensive and only Mulit-Gazillionaires could afford them. And times have definitely changed – consultants are much more affordable (and sometimes work into your budget without you raising it at all). Keep in mind a great consultant is there to make sure you find the items you want, tell you if you are being ridiculous, tell your mom if her idea is cheesey or ridiculous (if you hate it), and we make sure your saving money and at the same time, well just make sure it’s YOUR wedding.

I know that the books all say, “Hey you can do this yourself, no problem – just follow these 5 easy steps and you’ll be fine” but honestly, how often do you plan a party of 100 or 200 or more of your closest friends and family. Okay, let’s do this. I’ve often compared myself with a midwife. She’s there with you while you’re pregnant to make sure you have your questions answered, every cramp or pain or strange thing that happens to you, you ask, she answers and you feel relief. Then when you have the baby she’s there with you to make sure your requests are handled, your healthy. And then after the baby’s born you love that child with every ounce of your being, and very rarely think of the person that stood with you every step of the way. Because everything was how you wanted it to be. (and as a side note, if you deliver the baby naturally and without an epidural do they hang a sign on your door and put it in neon lights that you delivered naturally - I don't think so) So why try to do it on your own?

Our jobs as wedding consultants is not to charge you a ton of money and ensure you go over budget, but save you time and money by making sure you don’t do unnecessary work or homework. It’s like having a super fantastic yellow pages at your beckon call (or is that beck and call?).

Plus, wedding consultants work with these vendors week in and week out, so you could even get a discount off of what the “street” rate is because that vendor appreciated the work that we do. And quite frankly knows that at YOUR wedding they’ll only have to do what they are good at and not coordinate the day too. I always tell my clients that having a wedding consultant shouldn’t add to your budget, it should be apart of it, and not add any more funds to it. Not just in time, but in actual savings too.Just remember, we know that this is your once in a life time most cherished celebration, and we want your day to be exactly what you want it to be.

Not one of our events are the same. Because not one of our clients are the same. Wedding consultants work with you, to make sure your day is just that, your wedding day. Relax, and let us handle your requests.

New Favorite Thing!

I found this blog yesterday and I love it!!! She has such great ideas! Orignally when I saw these little cupcakes I thought what a great idea for a bridal shower favor, or dessert bar, don't you think!

And then while pouring over her blog, I just had had to make the Oreo Truffles (at 11PM when I finally got home) for all of my friends and girls in the office - cuz I am just a great boss!

Enjoy Bakerella - here's the recipe she had posted for the Oreo Truffles - ask my husband, they totally rock!

Oreo Truffles

1 package oreo cookies (divided… use cookie including the cream center)

1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)white chocolate bark

1. Finely crush 7 cookies in a food processor or place them in a ziploc bag and crush into a fine consistency. Reserve for later.

2. Crush remaining cookies and stir in softened cream cheese. Use the back of a large spoon to help mash the two together.

3. Roll the mixture into 1" balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet.

4. Melt chocolate as directed on the package and then dip balls into chocolate, tap off extra and set aside on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry. You can sprinkle the tops with the 7 crushed cookies for decoration. (I usually eat mine before they make it to this stage.)

5. Once dry, refrigerate and enjoy!Makes about 36 truffles.Notes: I used a small cookie cutter to push the mixture through for the heart shaped truffles. Also, it helps to freeze the uncoated balls for a few minutes to keep the mixture from starting to fall apart in the melted chocolate. If this becomes a problem, dip them in the chocolate, let dry and then dip again. They are also good dipped in regular milk chocolate bark. And for an extra twist, use the mint oreo sandwich cookies.

Recipe amended from Kraft Food & Family Fall 2006.

Engaged the Series

One of my favorite Wedding Bee's Miss Peppermint just posted this great webisode series called Engaged and it's totally cute and very funny! Take a look!

Chopsticks Do's and Don'ts

I had gotten a bunch of email questions about using chopsticks at a meal after I posted about Etiquette for a place setting.

• Do decide which piece of food you want before you start in on an appitizer platter with your chopsticks. Poking the food as you decide what you want is a no-no, and once your chopsticks have touched a piece of food, you must take it.
• Do bite in half any dumplings and other small items that are a little too large to eat.
• Do raise your rice bowl to a point just under your chin when eating rice (unless you happen to be dining in Korea, where all dishes remain on the table).
• Do rest your used chopsticks on your plate or chopstick rest, no directly on the table.
• Don't pour any sauce over the food, instead use your chopsticks to dip a piece of food in teh sauce before raising it to your mouth
• Don't tap the chopsticks on a dish to attract the attention of your server. (that's just wrong when it comes to forks, knives or any utensil)

**Thanks to Emily Post's Etiquette (17th Edition) for help with some of the questions.

Etiquette 101

So call me OCD, call me what you will. But when I am invited to someone's house for a dinner party, I attack the dining room table in a very indiscreet way - slowly and methodically placing the sliverware where it is supposed to be. And moving the glasses and bread plates to their proper position. I know it's wrong, I know I shouldn't do it, but I just want things done properly.

My husband thinks it's ridiculous. But I just have a thing for the proper placement of flatware and china.

I personally feel people just don't know, they were never educated in what breadplate to use or let alone where it was supposed to be. In Blueprint magazine recently they had a layout as to where things go.

And please for the love of all that is holy - don't put the napkin in a glass, it might look pretty. But it leaves lint behind, and the last thing you want in your wine is lint.

Just Blurb it Out

I think I am in love! Seriously! This is fantastic - so many of my brides lately want to create a journal book of their planning and their DIY ideas. And yesterday I ran across this website Blurb you can create a hard cover or soft cover book with text and beautiful images!

You can create a book of whatever you want, including your blog! The layouts are endless!!! I am thinking Tux might want to create a book of his Irish Adventures later this month - and if you wanted to, you could create your own coffee table book of your weddding, or for us wedding consultants, the weddings we've planned - it'd be such a professional way to show off your work if you are a florist.

Or a cook book if you love to cook - or maybe a book of your pets, or children, or events or parties, or your favorite hobbies, really the possiblities are endless!

Thank you Blurb for being so affordable, and making the process so super easy!!! How fun!!! You must check this out!

Be a Groovy Groom!

Guys are so tough - very few of them even know where to help when it comes to wedding planning. Here's a web site that "talks their language" Check out Groom Groove and watch some video's that give guys a heads up about talking to their fiancee about the wedding, choosing a best man (they call him the Wing Man - I love that!) and it even has a section that talks about financial responsibility.

The video's are great, and totally down to earth. It's about time there's a guys guy website out there for our men!

It's all about The Cake!

Win Your Dream Wedding cake from BRIDES!

As part of BRIDES magazine first-ever spread devoted to America's 50 Most Beautiful Wedding Cakes, BRIDES is giving readers the chance to win their favorite wedding cake! All you have to do is vote www.brides.com/cakes to win your dream confection!

Also BRIDES is hosting events in the following locations!

Date: Thurs., March 6

Time: 6-8pm

Location: Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago

Baker: Mark Seaman*, markedfordessert.com

Date: Sat., March 8
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Chevy Chase Mall, 5400 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD
Baker: Steve Klc, pastryarts.com

Date: Sat., March 15
Time: 1-3pm
Location: Fashion Valley Mall, 7057 Friars Road, San Diego
Baker: Reva Alexander, mercibeaucoupweddings.com

Date: Thurs., March 27
Time: 6-8pmLocation: King of Prussia Mall, 660 West DeKalb Pike, Philadelphia
Baker: Nina Asadoordian, truliconfectionaryarts.com

What an opportunity to win and eat free cake!!!

Meet Tux!

Tux meet the Blogosphere, Blogosphere– meet Tux! Tux is going on an Adventure to Ireland later this month, and he invites you to check out his travels on MasterPiece Weddings’ blog.

It will be a fun filled adventure, full of intrigue and conspiracy’s, well not really conspiracy’s, but you know – fun stuff! Tux wants to share with you all that he see’s and does, and will be posting pictures here, from there.

Please follow the Fun Filled Adventures of Tux in Ireland, starting in just 3 weeks! Set your DVR, er, favorites right here to see where the world brings him!

Something old....Something New...

If I had a six pence for everytime I was asked what these thngs signify I'd be rich (how much is a six pence worth anyway?) So here is just one example of what each of the "somethings" is meant to mean. I think it will satisfy any of your queries.

And why something blue, anyway?

Something Old... Signifies a sense of continuity and tradition. It represents the link to the bride's old life and her family. Many brides would wear their mother's wedding gown or family jewelry.

Something New... Signifies hope for the future. The bridal gown can be used here, if it's purchased new - or any other new item purchased as part of the bridal attire.

Something Borrowed... You're supposed to borrow something for a friend who is happily married. Their happiness will wear off on you and bring you happiness too! Brides can borrow jewelry or a special handkerchief from a family member or close friend.

Something Blue...Signifies fidelity, purity, and love. This is why you see so many garters with blue ribbon or detailing!

A Silver Sixpence in your Shoe... Signifies wealth, both financially and a wealth of happiness and joy.

Now you know!

Bill Johnson Update!

Thank you all so much for your kind words, prayers, and emails, just knowing your thinking about Bill and Caroline means the world to them! I just wanted to let you know how things are going. Bill is now in the ICU the surgery was about 7 hours longer than anyone anticipated (for a total of about 17 hours of surgeries). He is breathing on his own, which is great! His left side is responsive, but his right side is unresponsive. This could mean his is temporarily paralyzed or maybe the worse - but of course we are all thinking positive, and it's just a temporary lack of response. He should be moved out of ICU today or tomorrow. Thank you so much for praying for a man you don't know - it means that there is still hope for this crazy world we live in!

Getting Married Fast!

All of a sudden MasterPiece Weddings is being contracted to consult and help plan weddings that are in the the next 2 weeks or 2 months. This is a strange phenomenon, because in the past 14 years, I've only done 1 wedding that we were asked to do in 2 weeks, and now I am doing 4!

What do you do when you have less than a month to plan a wedding? Well first thing is to know: how much you have budgeted for your event - then determine your date, and where your priorities lay, for instance, I want lots of flowers, or amazing food. Also know that you'll need to work fast. Be prepared to make decisions pretty quickly. Because invitations need to go out, people need to be called, and you need to be prepared to sign contracts and pay initial deposits to contract for florists, photographers, and catering.

You'll still need to get married, you'll still need to feed your guests something.... just know that normally it takes 12 months to plan a wedding, and needing to do everything in less than a month. It's time to multi-task and work fast.

We Interupt our Regularly Scheduled Blogging.

I know you all were expecting the 90s wedding today. But I have to ask you a favor. A dear friend of mine, who is an incredible photographer - Caroline Johnson. Found out on Saturday that her husband Bill has a brain tumor. And he's in surgery today (for over 13 hours). Please if you can, pray for him to get through this - pray for the surgeons hands to be fluid and move as they need to. And for the strength of the family to do what they need to do to get through this as well.

He is an incredible man, and their family is just the kind of family you want to be around. Bill was in great spirits yesterday and this morning. And that makes a world of difference for everyone - but it's a very delicate operation - the tumor is on the stem of his brain and could affect some function if not performed perfectly.

If you aren't a person to pray, just keep them in your positive thoughts. Here's a picture of Bill with their daughter Riley.