Breakfast or Dinner... which will it be?

Weddings are fun... whether they are done in the morning, mid-day or evening.
Tony & I decided that we wanted to have a breakfast/brunch wedding for many reasons... the main reason is that we both love breakfast. The idea of having bacon, eggs, omelets, pancakes, waffles, quiches, fruits, croissants, coffee, tea & mimosa to top it off was heaven to us. And by the time the celebration had started it would have been a little pass lunch time, so hey, throwing in some chicken wings, wild rice and a few other choice items was a plus.

Another reason, was the fact that breakfast weddings are more affordable than evening weddings... when you think of catering for 172 people, we had to think cost effective... and that we did. Don't forget that you are paying per head for a plate & a plate can start anywhere from $65 & up... now you do the math (yea, think on that)... It's never too late to elope (LOL, just kidding) ☺

And finally, we were having an ALL-WHITE PARTY in the night. We wanted to have the party so we could also get the chance to celebrate with our families & friends that were not able to be at the wedding (some of which are still upset at us... but this too shall pass and we still love ya'll)☺


It was also something else to look forward to. Our wedding started at 9am, ended at 2pm, everybody went home (some of us went to the mall, LOL), rested and at 11pm we all headed out to Tempo Lounge to celebrate some more... can you say POST WEDDING PARTY!


We had such a GRAND TIME! The party was in high gear and everyone was looking quite FAB in their ALL-WHITE attire (granted some wore black as well, LOL). The venue was very art deco, styled with white sheer drapes, chandeliers, hanging beads, white couches, canopy beds & bar stools. We couldn't have asked for a better way to cap off a day filled with celebration of families and friends... from sunrise to sunset.


So when planning your wedding, think of all the elements that's a compilation of you and your boo... time, place, head-count, colors, music, venue etc. In the end, it should be a decision that you both will not regret. Get creative and think outside the box, make the day a memorable one, one that will be the talk on the lips of everyone who attended for years to come. We've been asked to throw an anniversary party every year because of the fun that we all had on our wedding day... hmmm, something to think about don't you think?




Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera ☺

Lace, Cotton or Nude?

As you know right after a wedding comes the honeymoon. Some people may not be able to go away for their honeymoon right after the wedding for many reasons... like work, family obligations, financial set backs, not ready yet or for whatever other reasons might exists. In any case, whether you go away or not the fact of the matter is that there will be some sort of SEXUAL ACTIVITY taking place. Quite expected after the hell you just went through to say "I DO!" Lol.

So ladies, now that you are aware that you will be engaging in some extra-curricular activities (lol), whatever shall you wear?
Well, first thing's first. Find out what your man likes. Some men are not fans of "LINGERIE" at alllll!!! HUH??? Yup! Whatever the reason, now is not the time to psycho analyze your man and try to give him therapy for what you may think is a problem... in fact, some women can't stand them either.

So if your man happens to fall in the above category then figure out the next best option that both you and him will enjoy (no sweat off your back)... they're so many choices out there.

Some men find "LOUNGE WEAR" very sexy... and who can blame them. It's comfort at it's best. Not only are you providing him with the "NAUGHTY-BUT-NICE" look but you get to be comfortable while doing it. Your choices includes, boyshort sets, cami & boyshort sets, sleep shirt, sleep tee w/matching undies and so much more.


And then we have the lovers of the "NAKED BODY!" And that's all he wants to see. If that's the case, then you will have no problem packing for your trip if you're planning on traveling for the honeymoon (lol). In fact all you may need is your hand luggage which should include the essentials: your makeup bag, toothbrush, a sexy heel and your flat iron! ☺

Well my lovelies, here are a few sites that you can visit if you are in need of a few things...

http://www.victoriassecret.com/

http://www.fredericks.com/

http://www.agentprovocateur.com/

http://www.aerie.com

http://shop.azaleasnyc.com/

http://www.herroom.com/

http://www.barenecessities.com/

Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera!

New 2011 Styles are here!

Hello my lovely brides-to-be... how's the planning? Still haven't a clue as to what you want to see your fabulous ladies wearing on your big day?

Well, I just wanted to advise you that the NEW 2011 STYLES are in at http://www.dessy.com/
The selections include designs from LELA ROSE, DESSY COLLECTION, AFTER SIX, ALFRED SUNG & CYNTHIA ROWLY.



Dessy's bridesmaid & flower girls' dresses are frequently featured in major bridal publications such as MARTHA STEWART WEDDINGS, INSIDE WEDDINGS & INSTYLE WEDDINGS.



You'll also get a chance to view the DESSY ACCESSORIES as well as the DESSY INSPIRATION STYLEBOARDS.


Why quit now? Make it a one stop shop (so to speak) and pick up the groomsmen & ring bearer's formal accessories which includes, neck ties, bow ties, pocket squares, cravats, vest etc... available in a variety of colors & fabrics to perfectly match your bridesmaids' dresses.



Also introducing PANTONE WEDDING. The website perfectly describes what PANTONE WEDDING can do for you. Check it out...
"Design inspiration boards that show off your favorite colors, styles, accessories and inspirational photos.
Share your inspiration boards with your wedding party and vendors via email or post them on your wedding website or blog.
Coordinate your colors with Pantone Color Swatches that you can leave with your bridesmaids, florist, wedding planner & more."
(Tony & I found this to be one of the best & most efficient tool for us... with the swatch sample we were able to match everything perfectly).



As stated before http://www.dessy.com/ was the site for me... it was because of them why everyone in my party was looking as FABULOUS as they were. You cannot go wrong with them.. and guess what? THE PRICE IS RIGHT! ☺

Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera.

Which Bride are you?

I was rereading my makeup blog and I came across a post that I thought would be very fitting for this blog.
As we know, Brides come in many shapes, sizes, forms, MOODS & PERSONALITY! ☺
Here are a few that will perhaps make you laugh or stop and go, "oops, that's me" while shaking your head in total embarrassment.
For my brides-to-be... IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE (lol).

"CRAZY" bride... that's the one that makes absolutely no sense in her decision planning.

"CONTROL FREAK" bride... she has to be in charge of everything... hello, they have wedding planners/coordinators for that.

"MISTY EYES" bride... she cries for everything *sigh* (note to makeup artists: always, always use waterproof mascara/eyeliner).

"BRIDEZILLA"... she is much more than the CRAZY bride, she will have you catching a battery charge(lol).


"OK" bride... she agrees with everything everyone tells her... "I think you should wear a red dress with black lipstick on your wedding day."... bride, "OK"! (lol).

"WEAK KNEE" bride... she gets nervous about everything.

"BUT" bride... all her sentences begins and ends with BUT!

"LATE" bride... Makeup Artists & Photographers worst nightmare. (I get really nervous when I have to work with this kind because then I have to worry about missing my next appointment which may also be another bride) YIKES!

"ON TIME" bride... they know, understand & respect the value of time... especially other people's time... love them!

"DRAMA QUEEN" bride... everything is so exaggerated & exasperating... makes you tired from just being there... GEEEEZ!


"SHY" bride... so shy you can barely hear them above a whisper.

"ROWDY" bride... Makes vulgarity look like it's the norm. (makes you just want to do their face and be outta there in a hurry... "it's ok, you can email me pictures for my portfolio." (lol).

"EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING" bride... love them. they make you want to go over and above for them... so calm they keep you calm.

"GLAMA DOLL" bride (the polite way of saying "GHETTO")... she wants to look the same way she does when going to the clubs... uummmmmm???


"MIRROR GODDESS"... she has to have the mirror in front of her at all times.

"I DON'T WEAR MAKEUP" bride... hmmmm, no offense, but you are gonna NEED it!

"I'M A NATURAL GIRL" bride... not sure what that means but I'm a natural girl too ma'am (lol).

"I JUST WANT A NATURAL LOOK" bride... word to wise... NATURAL DOES NOT MEAN BLAND NOR BORING! :-)

"DRUNKEN" bride... she's had one too many to drinks and she hasn't even walked down the isle as yet (time for intervention).


"WHY DID I TAKE THIS JOB" bride... enough said!

"FUNNY" bride... have you laughing from the time you walk in.

"POKER FACE" bride... not quite sure what she's thinking or feeling (lol).

"SAD" bride... makes you want to say (using my best southern voice) "baby, you sure you want to do this? you can still walk away honey, don't do it if you don't want to" *sigh*


"HAPPY" bride... you can't help but share in her joy.


"RUNAWAY" bride... decides the morning of the wedding that she has got to make a beeline for it.


well, I'm sure there's more but you get the point... also, don't forget that you have the "COMBINATION" bride... this is the one that displays anywhere from 2 to as many as 4 of these attributes... sometimes at the same time... more like border line schizophrenic (LOL).

Brides-to-be, so now that you are aware that there is a name out there that's just waiting to attach itself to you... which one will you be?
Think on these things... SELAH (pause) ☺

Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera!

To invite or not to invite... ☺

I'm already laughing from the title of this post. It's amazing to me how when one announces that they are getting married people start coming out the wood works & announcing their attendance... I mean people that we had not spoken to or seen in years.
We were getting messages in our in-boxes, emails, text messages, voice message as well as FB posts from people who decided to invite themselves to our wedding and requested that their invitations be mailed to them... WHAT?
Uuummm, brides-to-be, let me cut to the chase and just warn you that THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN and of course I have come up with PRACTICAL WAYS to assist you in this dilemma.
I'm gonna make this as quick, pain-free & to the point as possible, so here goes...

1. Brides-to-be & Grooms-to-be... decide on a number that both you and your budget will be able to accommodate. Weddings are not cheap and bare in mind that you have to pay per head.

2. Once you have come up with a concrete number, split that in half... for example. 160... the bride gets to invite 80 of her people & the groom gets to invite 80 of his (equal rights, lol).

3. Use a spreadsheet to list your guest... it's easy to maneuver through especially because lots of additions & subtractions will take place during the planning period. Also color coordinate... it's fun and the Grooms-to-be won't be confused when looking at the list... easy as 123 (lol) ☺

4. Create 2 lists... A & B. The B list usually consists of people that you really want to invite to your wedding but the reality is the budget does not allow... however, because circumstances will arise, there will be people on the A list that may not be able to attend the wedding thus allowing you the opportunity to pull from the B list.

5. Remember to include yourselves & the bridal party in the count (the caterer counts every head including yours) ☺

6. Invite people that's a part of your lives, plays important roles in your lives & people that are there for you before the wedding, people that will be there after the wedding and during the marriage. This is not a show... everyone that will be at your wedding will be witnesses to your union and you want people there that has your best interest at heart and mean you well.
(A WEDDING is a party in celebration of two lives becoming one... A MARRIAGE is life continued after the celebration of the two becoming one... don't forget that).

7. PARENTS (especially mothers)... please refrain from coming up with your own guest list & then imposing it on your children. It's OK for you to suggest a few names that you may want to celebrate in this joyous occasion but bringing your own list that includes the lady from across the street that used to babysit your child every now and again or inviting your boss or your co-worker that has no affiliation with the couple is downright UNACCEPTABLE!

8. FRIENDS/ASSOCIATES... please do not invite yourselves to other people's wedding! Do not assume that you are a guest until you have received a request for your address from the couple. Do not ask the couple via email, text or voice message whether or not you are invited to their wedding... that is very rude, inappropriate & tacky.

9. FAMILY MEMBERS/FRIENDS/ASSOCIATES/CO-WORKERS... just because you did not get invited to someone's wedding does not give you the right to be mad at them (well, actually, you can be mad if you want, that's all on you, LOL). The point is weddings are expensive and not everyone will be able to attend... it's just unrealistic. I'm sure if you ask Donald Trump (as rich as he is) if he had the same issue he would tell you yes!

10. Brides-to-be & Grooms-to-be... Stop apologizing! EVERYBODY CANNOT ATTEND THE WEDDING... period! When it's their turn they will understand and if they are already married then they should remember...

The truth is if you love the couple and you wish them nothing but the best, this should remain true irrespective of whether of not you receive an invitation. Of course you want to be there to celebrate in the day and yes you thought that without a doubt you would have been invited... but put yourself in the couple's shoes. Creating a guest list is no easy task. Sometimes it even creates tension and friction between the couple.
The most important thing that we want for the couple is for them to be stress free. So don't get mad if you did not receive an invitation and if it was in your heart to bless them with a gift, don't change your mind because you didn't get invited. Wish them all the best for the wedding day as well as throughout their marriage... and mean it. ☺ ☺ ☺



Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera!

CAN THEY HANDLE IT?

Sometimes choosing your flower girls and ring-bearer can be very hard... especially when you have families & friends who think that their kids should be in your wedding... no questions asked... I mean, as if! You should already know this because we go waaaaaay back or we have the same blood running through our veins. NOT!!!!!!!!
Just in case no one bothered to mention this very minuscule but highly important & relevant point... IT'S YOU & YOUR FIANCE'S WEDDING & YOU STILL GET TO DECIDE... not your mama, papa, siblings, bff or in-laws... YOU!!!




Clarity achieved... now let's move on to some pointers:

1. Choose kids that are AGE APPROPRIATE... 5 years and up and in some cases a 4 year old will work (there's a method to my madness... just keep reading).



2. They need to be able to understand and follow directions.



3. They should be assertive, outgoing, friendly & able to smile when prompted.



4. Our more hyper cuties may not be eligible for this event as well... you need a child that will be able to stand or sit without interrupting the ceremony (granted we try to keep the ceremony within reasonable time... I mean geez, even us adults tend to get a bit antsy with those long drawn out stuff too... (something to consider when planning the ceremony program).

5. They should be able to be away from mom and or dad for a few hours without freaking, crying or throwing tantrums (how embarrassing!!!)



That's about it... plain, simple & to the point.
Kids are cute & fun to have around, but being a ring-bearer and a flower girl is a huge responsibility... and most times those responsibilities are a bit out of their element & not a part of their daily routine.
So brides, no need to be coy (bashful, shy, evasive) when making your selection. If need be, feel free to politely point out the obvious reasons why a particular child was not selected if the parents ask... and trust, some of them will have the nerve to... oh, an even better one... some of them will be mad at you (LOL). But that's ok, again, it's YOUR wedding!
And let me just throw this out there for those parents that will catch feelings because their child was not selected to participate in a wedding... "SHAME ON YOU!" "this too shall pass and you will get over it." ☺

In the words of Corporate America... "Only the qualified need apply."

Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera.

SHOES, SHOES & MORE SHOES...

When I think of shoes for some reason the words to a well known reggae song by "Ini Kamoze" always seems to pop in my head "HERE COMES THE HOTSTEPPA" (lol). Quite so, I mean in order to be a "hot stepper" you have to be rocking "HOT SHOES"... and your wedding is no exception. With that said, finding the perfect pair of sexy yet comfortable stilettos were at the top of my to do list... and the search was on.

Thankfully my hubby is a shoe addict like myself and he most certainly did not mind me splurging on a pair of heels that would make me glide down the isle into his strong manly arms... oh my, i just had a visual of him *whew* (lol)... sigh break!
Ok, where was I, yes, like I was saying, the quest to find these "must have heels" were on and I had a great team backing me... Kathleen (my sister-in-law ) and my hubby... come what may we were gonna find those "hot stepper heels."

Our first option was of course for me to invest (yes invest) in a pair of Christian Louboutin. Kat & I were on the go... every pair we saw that fit the occasion got better and better, sexier and sexier and pricier & pricier (lol). But the voice of wisdom & also guilt kicked in a couple of times right when I got ready to enter my card number... "no, i just can't! there are far more important things that I need to get & lock down before I splurge on a pair of shoes that was guaranteed to set me back over 600+ dollars.
These were the culprits that almost had be in the hole... aren't they gorgeous?


Back to consciousness I decided to resort to PRACTICAL SEARCHING!
And the search was over... I had found my dream shoes... a beautiful pair of Silver Satin Badgley Mischka Pump... "Badgley Mischka's Randall pump is the epitome of glamour. Crafted from shimmering satin, this design features curvy lines and a layered fabric flower on the vamp which exudes pure femininity..." (words borrowed from their site). I'M IN ♥!!!

So I purchased my new lover and from the day they were delivered I wore them around the house every day for 10 minutes until the day of the wedding (no kidding). LOL!


Some of you may not be like me and you may not be obsessed with shoes (or makeup, lol) like me but like it or not you will still need to purchase the shoes that will make you a "hot stepper" at your wedding (it's only for a day). For most women the key word is "comfort" and for the rest of us it's "HAWT" lol... so whatever your choice, choose wisely!

Below are some pointers in selecting your "HOT STEPPER HEELS":

1. You don't have to break your wedding budget to purchase a pair of heels that's hot & sexy. There are many local stores that carries very current and up-to-date heels and you will leave smiling and satisfied with your purchase. These babies were at BAKER'S SHOE STORE

2. Just like your finding your wedding dress, you need to shop around when looking for the right pair of heels.

3. Don't limit yourself to only stores... online shopping is just as effective and very convenient... i purchased my Badgley Mishka's at http://www.endless.com & they arrived in two days, beautifully boxed with their own special care-bag.


4.Break the mold... why only settle for white, beige or silver heels? Pick a color from your wedding scheme and rock those heels. Colored heels are just as sexy and vivacious for your wedding day.



5. Buy the height that you are most comfortable walking in! Don't try to be like me or your girlfriends who are used to wearing 4-6 inch heels on a regular. DO & BE YOU! Sexy heels comes in different heights so find your match and stick with it!

6. It's ok to bring a change of ballet slippers, sandals, flats or sneakers... whatever the choice make it sexy, fresh or funky. I had planned on changing off in yellow converse for my reception but my heels were so comfortable that I didn't bother purchasing the converse, but you best believed that I brought my Bejeweled Steve Madden flats.



7. Practice walking around the house in your heels like I did in ... especially if it's the first time you will be wearing them. The wedding day will not be the time to see if you can walk in them (lol).

8. Revamp the tradition... A pair of blue heels can be your "something blue" Makes for a great photo opt as well!

Well my lovelies, in the words of Ini Kamoze... ♫♫♪ "I'M STEPPIN IT HOTTER THIS YEAR, "I'M STEPPIN IT HOTTER THIS YEAR, SO DON'T YOU FIGHT IT, DON'T YOU FIGHT IT... HERE COMES THE HOT STEPPA" ♫♫♪


Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera!