2007 was definitely an interesting year for celebrity weddings but I suppose that’s true most years. So - here are our picks from 2007.

Most Overplayed Wedding of 2007

This was an easy pick - without a doubt the most overplayed wedding this year was the summer wedding of Eva Longoria and Tony Parker. The Paris wedding received a ton of media attention and was quickly dubbed the “wedding of the year” but following the wedding, many bloggers felt their expectations had not been meet. The media attention both before and after the wedding seemed to kill some of the romance of the occasion when it was all send and done. It was a beautiful wedding, but it would have been much sweeter without all the “noise.”

Most Underplayed Wedding of 2007

While Eva choose a lavish ceremony, her Desperate Housewives co-star, Rick Chavira did the exact opposite. In what we believe is the most underplayed wedding of the year, Rick married Marcea Dietzel at home, wearing their pajamas. After the ceremony, the couple celebrated by attending their sons soccer game.

Most Confusing Wedding of 2007

That would be Usher, hands down. Are they? Aren’t they? Canceled. Re-scheduled. Is it mom’s fault? Is it pregnancy complications? Of wait, they did it already? This one really took us for a loop but in the end, Usher and Tameka were married in a small private ceremony followed by a wedding with friends and family later on. We’re just glad it’s finally done:)

Most Ridiculous Wedding of 2007

One guess…. yep - Pamela Anderson’s quickie Las Vegas wedding to Rick Salomon is definitely the most ridiculous wedding of the year. First, you take two stars both known for their parts in celebrity porn movies, who meet when Pam “paid off a poker debt with sexual favors” and throw in a 2 hour wedding between magic shows, a denim wedding gown and a fake plastic cake. Hey - two months later and it’s over. Is anyone really surprised?

Sweetest Weddings of 2007

In my opinion, this award goes to all the brides out there who kept it real. Many celebrity couples choose to keep their special day private and we applaud you for it. Our personal favorite was Rebecca Romijn’s private country wedding when she wed Jerry O’Connell.

Celebrity Weddings | No Comments »

Here are the best comments we have received from you, our readers, in 2007!

Twistie on Alcohol and your wedding budget

One of the ways I handled a tight budget was to limit alcohol. We offered a choice of champagne or beer. We also offered a variety of sodas, bottled water, and a couple flavors of fruit juice.

There was more than enough for anyone who wanted to have a couple drinks, but plenty of options for children and non-drinkers.

I know there are areas where a cash bar is more or less expected, but I have to say I have a strong dislike for them. When you invite someone to your party, they should not be expected to pay for anything once they get in the door. I’d much rather attend a dry reception than have to pay for a drink.

Miss Artichoke on Hot Tips for Creating A Wedding Budget Worksheet

I strongly recommend looking at all possible sites. I’m using a county park and it costs so much less than any other traditional location (like a hotel etc).

Shelly on Bridesmaid Gowns for the Bride

I’m so happy, I bought this bill levkoff dress (style 550) to use as my bridal dress. I was feeling a bit like I may have made the wrong choice, about using a bridesmaids dress for my wedding dress, but now I see I did the right thing saving money on a dress that looks great, and using the money I did save on for the open bar really want. thank you

Meagan on Saving On Wedding Attire

I got married this month and the budget was a huge deal. I ended up getting a high end dress and veil at a local consignment shop for less than $400. I borrowed all my wedding day jewelery and bought some super cute bridal shoes on sale for $30. I had my talented sister do my hair, I did my own makeup, and sprung for a $12 manicure. I was so pleased with it all. People were astonished I got my entire look for under $500. My tip: Shop early and shop often… I was able to find everything at good prices because I had a whole year to plan and scope out all the good deals! Good luck!!!!!

Tatiana on Carnations Follow Up

I stumbled upon your site through the blogathon website and I must say I agree carnations need to appear at more weddings. I actually carried white carnation and red roses at my wedding. My maternal grandmother carried roses when she got married and my paternal grandmother carried carnations so I decided I wanted to carry both.

Dennise S on Use Table Markers to Enhance Your Theme

I am taking the table naming to a more personal level. I have picked out important events my husband-to-be and I share throughtout our relationship.

For example, the first time we ever spoke to one another was at a coffee stand. So, one of the tables will be named “Cafe o’ Le” followed by a very brief description on why it is named that.

I just feel personal is the way to go at weddings. Think about it, everyone is there to share this wonderful step in a couples life!

Enjoy!

We also had TONS of people asking about to particular posts this year:

The first was the post
The Myth’s Behind The Designer Wedding Gown which featured this picture and everyone wanted to know where they could get that coat! It took us a while, but we finally found it - you can get details here: AWESOME NEWS

Another post that received a lot of attention was our post on masquerade weddings:
Masquerade Ball Wedding Centerpiece with readers wanting to know where they could get those centerpieces. You can find a link to the company that we got the photos from in the comments on that post, but if they aren’t in your area, you might also want to read a follow-up post: Ostrich Feathers and Eiffel Tower Vases

Wedding Planning | 1 Comment »

If you are a fan of DIY projects - you are going to want to check out Style Me Pretty. They are hosting a DIY Project Competition and in the process, they are sharing photos of DIY projects submitted by real brides. The projects submitted to date have been astounding!

Some of MY personal favorites so far ( and this was a VERY hard choice! I pity the judges, lol)

DIY Weddings, In The News | No Comments »

Okay - here’s an interesting find. These were featured on Manolo and I am having trouble deciding how I feel about them. I love the idea, but I’m not sure I love the outcome. I think in other color combinations I would like it  lot more. Anyway, I love the idea and I thought it was worth sharing. If you are really craft, this could make an interesting DIY project. It’s also a great alternative for bride’s who aren’t fans of fresh flowers. The biggest bonus - they are automatically preserved and make a great keepsake!

What do you think? You can see them at Handmade By Allison.

DIY Weddings, Flowers | 1 Comment »

Buffets seem to be the thing to do in weddings right now - and I don’t mean for dinner. There are some great buffet ideas hitting the top weddings and I thought I would compile a run down of my favorites and why I think they are worth considering.

1. Candy Buffet - How didn’t LOVE walking into a candy bar as kids? A candy buffet is a fun way to relive that memory at your wedding. A candy buffet replaces traditional wedding favors and gives your guests a chance to pick the candy THEY want. Surveys continually show that guests prefer edible favors - the a candy buffet has been a HUGE hit over and over again. A candy buffet is not always a cheap option, but check out our Candy Buffet section in the side menu for ideas on how to make more affordable.

2. Popcorn Buffet - This is a new one I read about last week and it sounds like a great alternative or addition to the candy buffet. Basically, you set this up like a candy buffet but with different flavored popcorns, regular popcorn with seasonings, etc. You can also look into renting a popcorn maker an offering theatre style fresh popcorn at your reception. There are plenty of types of caramel and flavored popcorns that you could make yourself and this could be a very very affordable alternative to candy and a affordable wedding favor.

3. Coffee Buffet - This is something I haven’t seen often but read about recently and loved. It’s like having a coffee bar at your wedding. If you have decided not to offer alcohol but want something more exciting then punch this might be just the ticket. A coffee buffet would include basic coffee, espresso, etc. You should also have things like teas and hot chocolate for those who don’t drink coffee. Your coffee buffet can also include dessert items like coffee cake, biscuits and other desserts that you might find at a local Starbucks or other coffee shop. A coffee buffet can be a very chic and affordable alternative to alcohol and it makes a wonderful addition especially for a winter wedding.

4. Dessert Buffet - Basically, the idea with a dessert buffet is to offer a selection of desserts rather then a wedding cake. If you want a wedding cake, you can have a smaller cake and then offer the buffet rather then cake for dessert. A dessert buffet has a great number of benefits. In many cases, a dessert buffet will be cheaper then a cake but that will depend on your caterer and the desserts you choose. If you aren’t having a caterer, you can get desserts at the local grocery store or bakery - or even bake them yourself. If you do them yourself, aim for desserts that can be made a week or two earlier and frozen so that you aren’t baking the night before. Another benefit of a dessert buffet is the selection. Not everyone likes cake and no matter what type of wedding cake you pick, some guests won’t like it. A dessert buffet offers more selection, and most guests will find something that will suite their tastes.

Candy Buffets, Food and Meals, Wedding Favors | 2 Comments »

Alcohol has a tendancy to be a very touchy topic in wedding planning. Open bar, cash bar, no bar, limited bar, etc - everyone’s opinions very on what is or is not okay. SO, I thought I would take a moment to touch on some of those issues and give you ideas on how you can save money in this area.

1. Responsibility and Etiquette

- Many people argue that not offering alcohol at your reception makes you a bad host and shows bad etiquette. The first thing you need to understand is that THAT is NOT true. Your responsibility as a host is to provide a fun evening, which include food and refreshments suitable to the time of the event. There is no rule or tradition that say that refreshments have to include alcohol. Serving alcohol is an option, not a must. Keep that in mind when making your choice.

2. Know Your Area and Your Guests

-  The truth is, every region and family group is different. I have never ever been to a wedding with a full open bar and I am sure there are many people who would say they exact opposite of their area. If you want alcohol, and you know your guests would expect and except a cash bar - more power to you. But, if you live in an area or are from a group where most people would find a cash bar to be offensive then you need to choose either an open bar or no bar.

3. Saving Money

- So, if you have decided you do want to offer alcohol at your wedding, and a cash bar is just not an option - there are still plenty of ways that you can save money. Here are a few great money savers:

a. Instead of a full bar, serve a signature drink or offer a signature selection of drinks. Some brides have even themed their drink selection to suit their wedding theme, the location or even the time of year.

b.  Offer beer and wine - the majority of guests will drink one or the other and like above, this allows you to limit the amount supplies you need on hand. Plus - no mixes, etc.

c.  Buy wine in bulk, or wholesale. When you purchase wine in cases, you will often save even more and while you have to pay a corkage fee to your caterer it is often still cheaper then offering the wines that your caterer provides. You can also save by buying magnum bottles (double size) which are cheaper and cut your corkage fee in half.

d. Limit the open bar. Offer a signature cocktail or champagne before dinner, bottles of wine during dinner, and then open the bar after the first dance.

Food and Meals | 2 Comments »

A hot trend in the fashion industry right now are small clutches with lots of bling. They are showing up everywhere, from luncheons to red carpets, and weddings are definitely no exception. If you are looking for a stylish, affordable way to carry a few accessories with you - check out these awesome eBay finds. These clutches make a fashion statement that makes them an essential part of your wedding day look.

Black Velvet Clutch - starting at $8.99, Black Satin Clutch - $19.99

Vintage Silver Clutch - starting at $9.99, Silver Clutch with Rhinestone Buckle - $13.99

Bride's Attire, eBargains | No Comments »

Here are a few more coupons for you - from Selah Jewelry. First, a few sample pieces from their collection of wedding and engagement rings:

This coupon gives you 10% off any wedding ring, up to $100 total savings.  If you are ordering something smaller, there is also this coupon that gives you $25 off any order over $100.

Coupons & Sales | No Comments »

So - we do have a Coupon section on the blog - I think I really need to use it more. After all, saving money is what we’re all about right?

I think I will start by sharing some coupon codes from Truly Wedding Favors. Since we were just posting about Vineyard weddings, there are a few wine-themed ideas from Truly shown above. They actually have a few offers available, depending on your shopping needs:

Save $20 on any order over $179 - no expiry date listed

Save $10 on any order over $99 - no expiry date listed

5% off any favor or accessory order - no expiry date listed

LIMITED TIME: 7% off all orders placed before January 5, 2008

Lots more coming in the next few days:)

Coupons & Sales, Vineyard Weddings | No Comments »

We’ve done posts in the past with Winter wedding cake ideas, but we thought it might be time to update with some new ideas:) I hope you enjoy the selection. Images are linked to their source so if you gotta have it, click on the picture to get to the baker:)

Christmas Weddings, Snowflake Weddings, Wedding Cakes, Winter Weddings | No Comments »