Looking Good and Feeling Good!--NJ/NY Wedding Planner

Our advice to you: Don’t ruin your engagement period by stressing out over losing weight for your big day. Your guy proposed to you because he loves you for you who are, and there’s no need to change that. However, we know you want to feel your absolute best in your beautiful dress, and we also know that looking good makes you feel good. So, instead of starving yourself silly, focus on toning up two key dress-wearing areas: your arms and back. Try these exercises we found at Self magazine’s website. They’re easy and definitely effective.


To get your best, jiggle-free arms, forget free weights. All you'll need is a resistance band with handles on each end. Visit spri.com and try their Ultra Toner ($9.95 plus shipping).
(http://www.self.com/fitness/workouts/2007/10/arm-sculpting-slideshow#slide=1)


Toning a sexy back requires different equpiment, but the results will definitely be worth it. You'll need a different type of resistance band: long, with two handles on each end (Try Spri's Original Xertube; $9.95 plus shipping). You'll also need access to a sturdy chair.
(http://www.self.com/fitness/workouts/2009/08/build-a-better-back-slideshow)


Remember: Don't push yourself too hard! You don't want to have trouble carrying your bouquet down the aisle because your arms are too sore! Work slowly and steadily and be confident in the fact that you'll look beautiful no matter what on your big day.

Courtney

Photo Credits: www.self.com

Don't feel guilty about eating anymore.. - NJ/NY Wedding Planner

Eat, drink and be merry — a phrase we all like to live by, no matter what time of year it is. Weddings are an ideal place to do this, and as the hosts, you want to make sure your guests are having as good of a time as you are. I’ve been a guest to many weddings and know first-hand that one of the things people look forward to is the delicious wedding food. Whether it’s the cocktail hour appetizers, buffet style meals, or sit-down dinner portions, there’s just something amazing about it. However, I also know that this area can break the bank for couples; it is one of the priciest aspects of a wedding. I’m going to give you the Top 7 tips I’ve come across of how you, as a wedding couple, can save big money on food without anyone knowing the difference.

1. If you decide on a having a cocktail hour with appetizers, don’t offer a cheese platter. Cheeses are costly and usually the least popular food item at weddings.

2. Try not to repeat items in the main dinner platter that you already served at the cocktail hour. For example, if you’re serving pasta as a dinner dish, don’t have a pasta station for guests beforehand. Not only is this saving you money, but it’s also saving your guests room for different food!

3. There’s always an excess of food at weddings—one reason is because hosts offer so much food before the actual meal and then serve a 5-course dinner. If you have a buffet beforehand, opt for a 2 or 3 course meal. Your budget will notice a difference; your guests won’t.

4. This one is so obvious and easy, but could save you hundreds: ask about pricing! Different meats and seafood are different prices during the year, based on what’s in season and what’s not. Simply ask the chef what the cheapest option will be at the time of your celebration.

5. If you have an open bar, don’t go for the top shelf liquors. Most people usually can’t tell the difference (especially if you’re having a signature drink or an array of mixed drinks), and it will save you big money.

6. Use bite-sized desserts to control portions AND your budget. Most people take a lot just so they can try everything, and end up leaving most of the plate behind. This will allow your guests to sample everything while wasting nothing!


7. My favorite tip for cake-savings, also given by the Cake Boss himself (for those of you who don’t watch TLC, Carlo’s Bake Shop is a family run bakery in Hoboken that has its own reality show). He says instead of going for a 5-tier cake, you can save big by choosing a 3-tier cake and simply having a sheet cake of the same flavor in the back for the chefs to cut up and serve. Your guests will have no clue, but you will when you see how much smaller the bill is.

Hopefully you can use these tips for some big time savings. Now you really CAN eat, drink and be merry.... knowing that you just saved a bundle! =)

-Kaitlyn


Photo sources:
www.stylemepretty.com
www.a-wedding-reception.com

Mix it up with a Signature Drink- NJ/NY Wedding Planner

Whether it's a Wedding, Birthday party, corporate party, house warming party, BBQ, you get the point, a signature drink it a great "accessory" to your event! You have a theme, you have your colors and decor why not incorporate a drink into the mix. These can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, dress them up in a funky glass, come up with a fun name for them and have them setup at your event ready to drink! Need help coming up with a mix that taste good, well check out this website http://www.stirrings.com/ . This site is great,they have all kinds of recipes and products that you can use to coordinate with your event. They can help you match your drink to your color scheme, templates to print labels to make custom stirrers and also templates for custom drink menus! They even have favor ideas for your event.


Here are a couple recipes I found that sound delicious!!- Remember you can ask your venue to have the specific mix available for your event.


The Ruby Slipper

Click your heels together 3 times......then mix together Cosmopolitan Mixer and vodka.
2 parts Stirrings Cosmopolitan Mixer2 wedges ruby red grapefruit1 part chilled vodkaGarnish: Stirrings Cosmopolitan Rimmer
Rim martini glass with Stirrings Cosmopolitan Rimmer. Muddle grapefruit in a shaker, add ice, Cosmopolitan Mixer and vodka. Cover and shake vigorously. Strain into rimmed glass.


Manhattan in the Fall

The name says it all
1 part Stirrings Pear Martini Mixer1 1/2 parts Bulleit Bourbon1/2 part sweet vermouthGarnish: pear slice and cherry
Stir all ingredients together in a mixing glass half-filled with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a pear slice and a cherry.
- Nadya

Need a fun idea for the bachelorette party?!- NJ/NY Wedding Planner

Attention Brides to Be, Maid of Honors and all Bridesmaids I have come across a fun idea for your Brides bachelorette party! If you are trying to find a unique, fun idea for her special night out with the gals you have to check this out. You can arrange to host a party with "DJ Chef, The Chef that Rocks!" . What is this you may ask, well it's an event service provided that mixes a cooking class, drinks and your very own DJ. What's the twist? Well the Chef is the DJ, his name is Marc Weiss (celebrity chef & spin master) and he has been recognized for his DJ Chef parties by Food Network and various magazines. The best part is the party comes to you, or any location you have available. So you can go all in with the Bridal Party and rent a hall to host the party or if money is tight have it at a friends house. This is a guaranteed fun time and a change from the usual going out to dinner and drinks. Check out the website to see how much fun these girls are having, and at the same time learning to cook http://www.djchef.com/bridal.html !! Nothing better then food, drinks and music all in one place without the crowds.

Remember ladies Pure Ambiance is available to plan small events as well, so if the Bridal Party wants to hand it over to us, feel free all you need to do is lay back and enjoy the festivities. We can assist with hall rentals, equipment rental, favors, etc. Pure Ambiance also offers this service as part of select packages, so call us for more information!

Nadya

When it Rains It May Pour! - NJ/NY Wedding Planner

So lately the weather has been all over the place and if you are planning an outdoor wedding or just doing pictures outside you need to be prepared. Well that does not mean you need to compromise your style on your wedding day with a plain old umbrella. I found this great company " Signature Bella" that provides stylish umbrella's and parasols for sale or for rent! So maybe the Bride wants a special umbrella for her wedding just in case and then you can rent similar ones for your bridesmaids or even give them as a thank you gift to your bridal party! Another great trend I have seen is using a parasol for the bridal party pictures, they look great! Check out the site http://bellaumbrella.com/ , they have a lot to choose form and you can customize your umbrella . Like they say it's better to be prepared, although we all hope for the best wedding weather sometimes you have to just be ready for rain! -Nadya

Wear your dress one more time- NJ/NY Wedding Planner

So wedding day is over, flew by didn't it? Probably by the end of your wedding night you couldn't wait to get out of that heavy dress and you were just over it from being so tired! Then the next morning you see your beautiful dress laying there and you think "Awwww I want to wear it again!" . Well you could consider doing a photo session afterwards with your dress, something more casual and fun. A lot of brides are starting to do "trash the dress" photography sessions after the wedding. You don't have to literally trash your dress but it's a photo session where you can go out in a much more relaxed environment with your husband and have fun taking pictures with your dress. Whether it be rolling around in the sand at the beach, jumping into a pool or the ocean, some couples choose to get extreme with this session and actually do trash the dress, but you can pretty much go to whatever extreme you feel comfortable in! You can consider taking your dress with you on honeymoon and most resorts will have a photographer on premise and do a photo session at your location! Check out the images below of some "trash the dress" sessions! Enjoy......

Click to Enlarge

After you have "Trashed your dress" contact us! Pure Ambiance is an Authorized Dealer of Wedding Gown Preservation Co. They are the leading establishment for cleaning, preserving and handling your gown. Pure Ambiance can take care of this process for you and that includes your dress and 3 accessories (veil, ring pillow, etc). This is available to all Pure Ambiance brides in their packages or any Bride for just $290! Please visit the Wedding Gown Preservation website for more information http://www.gownpreservation.com/ . We look forward to being a part of preserving one more special memory for you! Call us for more information!

Nadya

Beyond the Cake--NJ/NY Wedding Planner

Wedding cakes have come a long way from the standard multi-tiered white cakes. Now they come in all colors, sizes, flavors and shapes. However, if you’re looking to expand your dessert options beyond just a cake, or if you’re ready to nix the cake altogether, consider some of these options:

Dessert Stations can be as grand or as simple as you want, and offer guests the opportunity to select what they’re really in the mood for. You can create a candy bar full of you and your husband’s favorite childhood candies. Place them in clear apothecary jars and label each treat for a simple but elegant look. Or, you can try a cheesecake bar. Scoop cheesecake into martini glasses and have guests select their own toppings like cherries, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and crushed Oreo cookies. Try incorporating your wedding’s colors with coordinating colored M&Ms.


If you’re not into the big-cake-cut-into-small-slices idea, try serving each guest their own individual cake. Try something as simple as an open-dish shaped angel food cake filled with seasonal berries and topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, or something as elaborate as the ones pictured.

If you still want the feel of a cake, but want to try something a little less traditional, try a cupcake tower. These can be multi-tiered and can include cupcakes of all different flavors and colors. Cupcake towers are beautiful and practical, and are sure to delight your guests (particularly the younger ones!).



Lastly, you can always opt for a fondue station with a variety of dippers. Try marshmallows, graham crackers, bananas, strawberries, or rice-krispie treats. Be careful though, particularly if your reception is being held outside. Melted chocolate can get messy fast, especially if an unexpected gust of wind comes through.

Remember, dessert is inherently fun. Don’t worry so much about how intricate your delicacies are. Your guests will love anything that satisfies their sweet tooth and makes them smile!


Courtney