Inviting Ways: Your Chance to Win

We all know that the perfect wedding begins with the perfect invitation. Well, here’s your chance to win 100 5x7, one-color letterpress cards and 110 blank envelopes for your upcoming big day—over a $500 value—from Invitations by Ajalon. The company is well-known for their artisan designers who work with the individual couple in customizing the best quality work at the right price.

To enter the contest, all you have to do is describe how he proposed! Was it at a ballgame? Or perhaps you went to Vegas for a long weekend. Complete details of how to enter the contest can be found at Invitations by Ajalon So hurry! Contest ends November 1, 2012. The winner will be selected randomly and notified. All entries will qualify for a free sample pack—a $15 value.

Don't Rain on My Parade! Patricia Canole

After fourteen months of planning a dream wedding on the island of Bermuda, Ashleigh Goldberg and her fiancé, Shane Dorsett, received some devastating news: Tropical Storm Leslie would be an uninvited guest! Their dreams of being married on the beach at sunset were crushed. And what about their guests who were also looking forward to a three-day celebration? To the rescue: The Water Club at Borgota Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, NJ. 

Once it became evident that the Bermuda nuptials would not be a possibility, Ashleigh and Shane decided to take a site tour of The Water Club at Borgata on Wednesday, September 5th and immediately knew that this was the place to say their “I do’s”.

Obviously planning a new wedding in 72 hours is a daunting task. Ashleigh and Shane could not believe this would ever materialize in three days. But thanks to the quick planning and flawless execution by The Water Club wedding team and food and beverage staff, the young couple and their guests were still able to enjoy their beach wedding on Saturday, September 8^th, with the ceremony set on the ocean at Brigantine Beach. “Our staff at Borgata and The Water Club takes great pride in being able provide comprehensive wedding planning and execution, offering everything from hair and make-up, ceremony, world-class food and beverage, and spectacular event space,” said Robert Murphy, Director of Catering and Convention Services for Borgata. “It is especially fulfilling when we can deliver these services in such a short turnaround time and make a young couple’s dream wedding a reality.”

Once back at The Water Club for the reception, guests dined by the pool on a menu created by The Water Club’s esteemed culinary staff who operate under the direction of the hotel’s Culinary Lifestyle Consultant, “Iron Chef” Geoffrey Zakarian. A signature wedding cake was created for the couple by former White House Executive Pastry Chef, Thaddeus DuBois, Borgata’s Executive Pastry Chef.

With not a raindrop in sight, it was an absolutely perfect day for a wedding on the beach. “The Water Club and Borgata took the stress out of a very challenging situation and helped to create a incredibly memorable day for us and our guests,” said a very happy—and grateful—bridegroom. 

Fall Weddings Go VintageBy Patricia Canole

With vintage wedding themes so popular this fall, we invited wedding expert Cara Davis, author of “Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot” to give us some practical advice on planning an affair to remember on a budget. Before diving into the world of antiques and lace, start by planning your expenses so you're not left with a bill you're still paying when the wedding itself turns vintage. Here are several ways to incorporate a romantic look to your wedding.

COLOR YOUR WORLD A solid vintage wedding theme begins with a color scheme. Thankfully there are some fabulous, easy-to-use online tools you can use to create a color story with your wedding. Start with a site like ColourLovers.com and search for “vintage.” Once you've found your inspiration, head over to Sherwin-Williams’ color tool called Chip It! to translate any picture into matching Sherwin Williams paint colors.

ATTIRE Lace, pearls and feminine necklines are go-to components for vintage-inspired wedding dresses. In addition to bridal boutiques, search women's department stores for affordable options. Register for gift cards through CardAvenue.com to allow your guests to help you offset the cost of your dream gown

GREAT GATSBY The classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald set in the Roaring ‘20s, stars Leonardo DiCaprio and is set for release in 2013. Vintage-loving brides can pull plenty of wedding inspiration from the look and feel of this film, and already we're seeing ‘20s styled dresses and accessories.

MASON JARS Throw a twist on mason jars at a wedding by painting them for a dated look. Use vaseline on the embossed parts (like the name of the jar), then wipe off that area to create a vintage, distressed look. Insert a bunch of baby's breath and you've got an instant vintage centerpiece. Flank with votive candles wrapped with a paper doilies.

CHALKBOARDS Chalkboards are everywhere, and they add a fun element to wedding day signage. Pull it into the vintage theme by painting an aged-looking frame the color of your wedding, then paint over the glass with chalkboard paint. Use big ones for directional signs, or small ones for place cards or menus.

HOMEMADE A vintage wedding naturally lends itself to homemade touches, and nothing says “homemade” like dessert. Pies continue to be a big trend in weddings this year, and local vendors are making it easier to find baked goods with that down-home taste.

MUSIC Don't just decorate; set the right mood with a vintage record player and vinyl records. Whether it's oldies, Rat Pack or classical, your choice of music will complete your theme and put a smile on your guests' faces. 

For more information from Cara Davis, visit CheapWaysTo.com . 

Best Wedding Proposals Caught on Video

It's Friday so we at For The Bride thought we would have a little fun and share our favorite proposals that have been caught on video. These guys put the ultimate in thoughtfulness when it came to their proposals and it looks like it worked (SPOILER ALERT: the girls all say yes!). Take a look at the videos below and let us know which one is your favorite.

1. Disney Flashmob Proposal
This soon-to-be groom found a local dance company and put together an elaborate choreography which was performed in the middle of Downtown Disney. His unsuspecting girlfriend thought it was just one of the park's performance groups. Little did she know her boyfriend was about to get in on the action.

2. Movie Theater Proposal

It wasn't just another day at the movies for this bride-to-be. As she sat in a theater with her brother they began to watch a preview trailer. Quickly recognizing the voices on the screen as those of her boyfriend and father she then realizes she's watching a trailer of her proposal. The groom's mad dash into the theater is priceless as is the sweet ending. 

3. Love on a London Train

It must have been pretty exciting for this woman to be on the same train as a chorus belting out 'Lovely Day' but the real excitement was when the music paused and her boyfriend asked her to marry him. Watch as this bride-to-be gets caught off guard not once but twice. A lovely day indeed.

Tell us which proposal is your favorite? 1, 2, 3 or maybe you have your own to share? We have to be honest, they all brought tears to our eyes so it's a three-way tie for us. Happy Friday everyone!

Great New Gifts for Your Guy

Everyone knows there are two reasons to give your guy a gift during the wedding planning process:
1. to thank him for helping you plan or 2. to occupy him so he let's you do your thing. Whatever your reason may be, we have some great new gift ideas straight from the NY International Gift Fair that he is sure to love and spend hours enjoying.

For Sports Fans 
With football season upon us and baseball playoffs approaching, if your groom is a sports fan he is likely to be spending serious quality time in front of the television for the next couple of months. The Salsabol is a new twist on the traditional chip bowl and has a lip that curves up and back over the bowl so your salsa stays in place on your chip. This awesome creation was made by two college guys who were tired of having their salsa get wasted by falling over the edge. Get your fiancé this gift and not only will you 
be the savor of his salsa but your coffee table
will stay clean. Everyone is happy.
http://www.salsabol.com

For The Outdoors Man 
Your fiancé prefers to embark outside of the house for his downtime and you couldn't appreciate that more (you are trying to type up that guest list after all) so why not send him on his way with a new fishing pole? The Telescopic Fishing Set by Protocol has everything he will need for a full day of fishing, including a rod, reel, accessories, 14 function tool kit and case. He'll be so thankful maybe he will even bring back a catch for dinner. http://www.protocolny.com/

For The Techie 
If your husband-to-be is the type of guy who prefers to read books and watch videos rather than go outside or cheer on his favorite team then gift him with something that he can appreciate. iLoveHandles is a company which has toys and bags for iPhones, iPads and other gear. They have the Barnacle which has a suction cup at the base so it can hang from your desk, mirror or pretty much anything you can stick it to. Attach your iPhone, start a video and prepare him to be entertained for hours. http://ilovehandles.net



For more gift ideas for your groom order a copy of For The Bride.

@NYIGF, @iLvHndls, @TheSalsabol, @Protocol_NY, @forthebridemag

Finding Your Wedding Day Hairstyle

Lately the beauty and gossip blogs have been buzzing about Miley Cyrus's new, short (and partially shaved) hair style. The newly engaged star is getting some heat that her style is not wedding-friendly despite telling her Twitter followers that she "Never felt more me in my whole life". We at For The Bride say "Go Miley!". It's important for brides-to-be to not only feel comfortable with their look but also to trust themselves and not follow the 'norm' when it comes to their bridal style. If you are looking to change it up like Miley Cyrus then we have some tips for finding the right fit for you.

Miley's new do' Photo: twitter.com/mileycyrus

First, browse styles and get ideas. You can find bridal hairstyles not only in bridal magazines and websites but also on celebrity sites, fashion magazines and Pinterest. Make an inspiration board by ripping out or printing the styles that you like. When you have all your favorites together it will be easier to find what is common between all the pictures- maybe they all have a side swept bang or layers. Use this to make a list of all the must haves for your new look.

Next, take it to your stylist. If you have someone you trust and frequent often then stick with them for this special occasion. However, if you are trying a drastic new look and think changing up your stylist will help with achieving that goal then ask some friends if they can suggest a stylist who is creative and worthy of the task. Show your stylist the pictures and talk it over with them. Their expertise will allow them to give you more ideas which you may not have considered, i.e your face shape, adding color and so forth. Make a plan together that leads up to your wedding day and includes all the necessary appointments for cuts, colors and other maintenance.

Lastly, trust your instincts. Many friends and hairdressers will suggest growing your hair long, adding highlights or doing a style that is 'tried and true' or trendy. Believe that you know what will look best on you and stick with it knowing that you will feel comfortable and pretty on your wedding day. 

Happy browsing!

Check pinterest.com/forthebridemag for bridal hairstyles

Bridal Buyer's Remorse?

There's one thing we at For The Bride cannot stress enough when it comes to wedding planning-

make a budget and hold on tight to it! A wedding, just like any other major purchase, should have a limit as to how much can be spent. While flexibility is necessary (you will wear those expensive shoes after the wedding right?), it's important to know where to draw the line. So without further lecture here are our top three tips to avoid buyer's remorse when it comes to planning your big day...

1. KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
'MUST HAVE' AND 'I CAN LIVE WITH-OUT'

You've always had your ideal wedding in your mind but have you listed all the elements of that wedding on paper? Jotting down everything you need from food (really) to custom invitations and classifying it as 'must have' and 'I can live with-out' will help you quickly realize your budget's give-and-take. This way you can see that by downgrading to non-custom (yet still beautiful) invitations you can upgrade from buffet to a plated dinner or town car to Rolls Royce.

2. CHECK AND UPDATE YOUR BUDGET
AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE

Create a document that has your total budget, necessary purchases, budget per purchase, and amounts actually spent. Keep this document handy and update it often to track where you need to be strict and where you have wiggle room. Put your 'must haves' at the top of the list so you will focus on making those purchases first. Print the budget out and put it in your purse as a reminder when you are shopping so you won't have to make any guesses when it's decision-making time.

3. GIVE IT A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE COMMITTING

You didn't choose your fiancé in a day so why should you choose your dress in less than 24 hours?Taking time to think through decisions will give you the chance to rationalize about what is the best choice for you. Call your fiancé or a friend to tell them the pros and cons of getting the more expensive flower arrangements, the pricer handbag or the luxury table linens. You might change your mind when your husband-to-be tells you the extra $1000 you would spend on taller centerpieces could be used for a down payment on the new car you've been eyeing. 

Want to start making your budget? Download our budget checklist here: Budget Checklist

This could be the cutest camera ever...

For The Bride knows that all brides have a list of priorities for their wedding and great pictures plus a fun time for your guests are at the very top. Luckily for our brides we have found something that will help you check both those items off your list.

Last night we had the pleasure of being introduced to Lomography's newest camera, the Fisheye Baby 110. It is so tiny that it fits in the palm of your hand, but it is so powerful that it takes some of the most beautiful pictures we've seen. These cameras are great not only as gifts for your bridal party but you can also put them on tables and have your guests take photos (their sleek design will be a nice added decor to your reception too). After the wedding be sure to upload some of your pictures to Lomography's website (lomography.com) they encourage people to share photos and they even decorate their store locations with shared images.

Here is a pic of the new Fisheye Baby 110 and some others we thought you might like. 

The 'Diana' cameras are the most popular design. Check out the wall with photos from Lomography users!

This camera spins so it takes 360° images

°

See this design on page 64 of our Fall 2012 issue
on newsstands June 19th. 

The 'I Love You' camera... very cute for weddings!

Nothing brings a wedding together quite like a theme; and when that theme is superheroes your guests are sure to have a great time. This week's spotlight wedding is that of Miriam and Jay who met in a comic book store and decided their wedding should reflect their love story. From bridesmaids in capes to tables with action packed names (Bam!, POW!) this wedding had super written all over it.

                                           













Photography by: Choco Studio http://www.chocostudio.com/

See more of this wedding at http://www.forthebridemag.com/weddings.asp

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