This past weekend I spent time cleaning out my office and getting it ready for 2015. Since I'm planning to create more art this year for weddings {and you}, I need to clear some space and I want to offer all my past issues of Martha Stewart Weddings up for grabs. I have issues from 2002 to present available. You will see it organized by year below for purchase. Simply order one, or more and shipping is already included {for a few issues I have more than one on hand}. PS: I'll even include some cute and fun paper goodies that I've handmade with each order. ORDER NOW
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What I love about Real Simple Weddings is that the guide is filled with a wealth of information and photos for planning a wedding. As the publication is put together in collaboration with Crate & Barrel, advertising is kept very minimal as the only ads shown are for Crate & Barrel (typically before the next chapter). But, this year's guide is basically last years with several new sections being added (see below) and all new featured Real Weddings. The bulk of the publication is identical, and the photos within the chapters are the same.
This years additions with new photos include:
• Dresses by Season
• Bridesmaids Attire (dressing with either same style/complementary colors or different styles/same color)
• Flowers - Pick Your Color Palette
• Flowers at a Glance (32 popular flowers and their "in" season
• Bouquets by Season
• Cakes by Season
If you are a new bride-to-be and don't have last year's Real Simple Weddings, then I highly suggest you head to your local Crate & Barrel to pick up a copy. It is filled with a tremendous amount of wedding tips and worksheets that I know you will love. But, if you already have the 2008 edition, I want to use the one you already have. Unless of course, you want to see the newest Real Weddings that have been published in the 2009 edition. You can also purchase a copy of the Real Simple Wedding Guide online at Crate & Barrel.
And, one last little note, more of an FYI: while there is a web site index, the actual resource links/credits associated with the images are not noted. Therefore, you will not be able to know the exact gown designer for the dress shown, cake baker, etc.
While looking thru the latest issue of Bride's magazine (May/June 2008), I saw an advertisement for rentalHQ.com that caught my attention (probably due to the heavier weight paper that was used). While looking at the ad, I saw they listed "10 Recommended Wedding Sites" . . . and bestweddingsites.com is one of them!!! I'm so excited and honored about the recognition. Thank you rentalHQ.com
The advertisement promotes the chance to register and win $5,000 towards your perfect wedding. RentalHQ.com is your free comprehensive rental resource provided to you by the American Rental Association - where you can rent just about everything to make your wedding perfect. The contest expires on June 30, 2008.
In the current issue of Better Homes and Gardens - there is an article about a lighthearted wedding shower that puts a fresh twist on sharing words of wisdom. The article contains ideas, tips, photos, and a suggested menu with items like "Confucius Says" Noodle Salad and Sage (Advice) Biscuits with Chicken Salad. Dessert included cupcakes topped with advice flags that were printed on the computer and attached to toothpicks.
When sending the invitation, the hostess included a blank card and asked the guest to write down a bit of wisdom/advice to go with their gift. Reading the card aloud before opening the gift makes the event fun and interactive. The hostess then collected the cards and presented them in a pretty album to the bride after the shower.
A couple of the advice/gift ideas from the article includes:
Gift: champagne flutes or a beautiful cake plate
Advice: "Celebrate every day"
Gift: cookbook with kitchen tools
Advice: "Take turns cooking for each other"
One of my favorite presentation ideas was the stylish salad bar that showcased colorful veggies in square glass vases for guests to make their own salads. Another clever idea is the bread sticks being wrapped in print-outs of old newspaper advice columns pages. The party hostess found them online at newspaperarchives.com.
Small vases filled with bouquets of single flower types scattered throughout the party room help to add a simple but elegant feel to the shower, along with establishing the color scheme.
Guests left the "Good Advice" wedding shower with a sweet treat - 2 chocolate-dipped fortune cookies featuring customized messages that were wrapped in a cellophane bag and sealed with a ribbon and a vintage wedding announcement newspaper clipping.
The easy elegance tips offered by the party's hostess would easily work for other bridal shower themes as well. For more ideas on giving a "Good Advice" bridal shower, you can find the current issue of Better Homes and Garden on newsstands until April 15th. Additional recipes and photos from the wedding shower article can be found at BHG.com/weddingshower.
The fall issue of Martha Stewart Weddings will be on newsstands Monday October 1st. This issue is filled with many beautiful ideas as always. I particularly enjoyed the new section called 'Expert Advice'. The first edition of this new section is a question and answer with legendary cake designer Syliva Weinstock. I'll always remember having the opportunity to meet Sylvia in person at last year's Wedding Salon event in NYC - there's no other word I can think of except that she is a sweetheart. Her article in the magazine is great and full of wonderful advice, tips and opinions for those getting ready to start searching for their dream wedding cake.
Other topics in this issue include:
- 50 tips for the perfect reception
- setting the table
- calligraphy and cakes
- top tips for the healthy bride
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