Twigs & Honey Bridal Accesories-NJ/NY Wedding Planner

This wedding season is showing a huge trend in vintage DIY style weddings. These are always really beautiful and brides are opting for simplicity versus extravagant glamour for their wedding gowns. So if you are a vintage bride you need to check out Twigs & Honey. They have beautiful bridal accessories that add that special touch to your look, they are hard to resist. If your a DIY bride check them out also because it's a great place to draw inspiration from to create your own accessories!

Photo credits: Elizabeth Messina & Lisa Warninger

The Limited Wedding Gowns!-NJ/NY Wedding Planner

It looks like lately everyone is releasing a wedding line, but you can never have too many Wedding dress options! The Limited is one of my favorite places to shop, they have nice quality clothes at good prices, so it was exciting to see them finally release their long talked about Wedding line. Their dresses start at $228 and go to $400, how crazy is that talk about budget shopping! Check it out!

This one is sooo cute! I love it!

This would be so cute for a beach wedding!

Can you believe this dress is only $298! They also now have bridesmaids dresses at super great prices!

I have a small obsession lately with one shoulder dresses!

Check out their website, they also have guest wedding dresses and cocktail dresses for your other special pre-wedding events and for your honeymoon! With these prices you can buy a dress for all your parties ;)

New Jersey Wedding Planner - InStyle's 20 Beautiful Bridal Hairstyles

Hey Everyone!!

This came up on my Twitter feed, so I figured you would all love it. I just wanted to share some wedding hairstyles with you, courtesy of InStyle.com. Click on the link below to get inspired by some of the hottest celebrities in Hollywood, including Claire Danes, Jennifer Garner, Kate Beckinsale and a few Gleeks!! ;o)


InStyle's 20 Beautiful Bridal Hairstyles Gallery


Which one is YOUR favorite??


Happy Hairstyling,

Kaitlyn

New Jersey Wedding Planner - Work it Out ..Together!

I was watching television the other day and a commercial came on for a new show called “Shredding for the Wedding” where couples work out, train and diet before their wedding to try and lose as much weight as possible before their big day. At first I rolled my eyes and sarcastically thought, “Great another TV show about weight loss” . Then I actually thought about it and the benefits to working out with a partner.

Why do shows like this and “Biggest Loser: Couples” work so well? I think it’s because of one main reason: you have a workout partner with you. What better way to motivate yourself than to have someone else there with you, shooting for the same goals and reaching them. This not only is a great way to lead a healthier lifestyle, but also a great way to get closer with your partner.





Here are some great benefits, courtesy of GoldsGym.com, on why you should work out with a partner [substitute “friend” for “fiancé”, “partner”, etc.]:

You'll get out of bed. If you know someone is meeting you at the gym in the morning, you going to slap the snooze button and sleep in? Unlikely. "When you schedule workouts with a friend, you're held accountable, so you're less likely to skip out on a workout," says person trainer Mel Joyner.

You'll make it a habit. People are used to moving from appointment to appointment during the workday, so meeting a workout partner at the gym will just feel like another appointment in a busy day. "I believe strongly that you should make a point of going to the gym with a friend during the first few months of your gym membership," says Dr. Belisa Vranich, a clinical psychologist and member of Gold's Gym's Fitness Institute. Why? "Working out should be a habit, and it takes 21 days to form a habit. If you're going it solo, you're likely to slack off during those three important introductory weeks, but if you're regularly meeting a friend, the habit is more likely to set in."

You'll work harder. "When I work out on my own, I'm not likely to force myself to do extra reps or increase my speed on the treadmill," says Joyner. "But if I'm working out with a friend — ideally a friend who is stronger and faster than me — you can bet I'll try to one-up the other person by doing more chin-ups or running faster in a race or lifting more weight on the machine." Adds Vranich: "A friend can read your facial cues and body language, so he'll know when you're slacking off and, as a result, give you that extra nudge or a few needed words of encouragement."


You'll diversify your workout. "There are a variety of workout moves that you can only do with a partner," says Joyner. His favorite? The wheelbarrow push-up, where one person does a push-up while the other (standing) person holds on to the ankles. "The holder has to squat as the person goes down toward the floor, so the exercise works the muscles of both involved."

You'll stay social — without loading up on calories from food and drink. Let's face it: working out alone can take time away from your social life. But working out with a friend allows the two of you to catch up on work, life, and all the rest without doing so over, say, five frosty — and calorie-laden — beers. You're killing two birds (and, quite possibly, two beer guts) with one stone. Joyner learned this important lesson in college. "After my friends and I bonded over one too many boxes of pizza, we decided to center our social activity around the weight room as opposed to the pizza joint," he says.





And there you have it! I really think this is such a great idea… working out with your man or woman! Not only are you going to look great for your wedding, you’ll learn to live a healthier lifestyle that will [hopefully] stick with you throughout life and you’ll reconnect on a deeper level with each other. It doesn’t matter if you have a strict work out plan and diet that you intensely follow or go with the flow and plan daily outdoor activities like running or biking (no excuses – spring is almost here so the weather will be nice!).. get creative! As long as you go out and do some of your own shredding ;o)



Happy Training,


Kaitlyn

New Jersey Wedding Planner - Anthropologie Launch's Bridal Shop!

This has been a long awaited launch by fans of Anthropologie every where! Today on Valentine's Day they launched their official Bridal shop "B H L D N". They are providing brides with all types of budget options starting from jewelry to gowns and everything in between. I love their style it's young, romantic and vintage but done modern (lol i know that sounds crazy). I am thinking of ways that I can get myself back into a wedding dress, perhaps a 2 year vow renewal?! I don't think my husband will go for that but for all you lucky ladies who may be getting engaged tonight or already are engaged take a look at their site! Even if you already have your dress they have accessories, shoes, jewelry and dresses! I am so excited and I am not even getting married! Enjoy everyone!

I will take that first and last hair piece OMG !!!


Shoes... Yes please :)



Perhaps as a 2nd dress or for bridesmaids? OR for a fabulous chic court house ceremony...LOVE IT!!

The middle one is my favorite! So different!

OK ladies I am done drooliong over this new line! Go check it out ASAP! Enjoy ......

New Jersey Wedding Planner - Your Own Awards Show

Its award season and that means one thing: 2011 fashion trends have begun to surface! I’m one of those people who watches award shows just so I can see who’s wearing what on the red carpet – I rarely watch the actual ceremony (I read about the winners later). So far this year, we have had two major celebrity events: the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards. There were so many chic stars and fresh trends, I can’t possibly list them all, but I’ve come up with a list of my favorites. Below are some great ways you can incorporate trends you see on the red carpet into your wedding day:

Jewel tones. Basically any color that you would see in a jewel, including: emerald green, amethyst purple, ruby red, topaz yellow, sapphire blue, and turquoise blue. You can incorporate these colors in your theme colors, flowers, accent pieces, or jewelry. Get creative with it! [Yes, Mila is on here twice because she is one of my favorites and does everything right!]



Nudes. This is one of my favorite trends of the season; I love nude colored dresses, nude shoes, nude lips.. you name it, I’m probably a fan of it. I think it looks great for all occasions. Use it as an accent color, bridesmaids dresses, or in your makeup!



Pink. It doesn’t matter what color pink you decide to use; the red carpet was full of this shade from pale to hot pink. Go bold and use pink as a theme color. Or for a more subtle effect, use pink in your make up; pink lips or cheeks look great on your big day.



Lace. As we all know, lace is super sexy and we’ve been seeing more and more people rock it lately, not just celebrities. Whether you wear it as part of your dress or opt to use it in, say, your bouquet, you will be sure to add a hint of sexiness and style to your day.



Sleeves. This trend has been popping up everywhere. People are starting to wear more gowns and dresses that have sleeves. If you like this style, why not try working it on your wedding? It’s a fabulous way to mix it up and surprise people (and great if you’re thinking of having a winter wedding!)



Hair. Updos are making a comeback! The most popular styles so far are the elegant French twist and the simple, chic ponytail. Both are super elegant and a great way to show off your dress, shoulders/upper body, and your beautiful, smiling face.





Keep in mind that just because the trend isn’t listed above doesn’t mean it isn’t great and won’t work for your wedding. I just picked my top 6 that I’ve seen this year thus far. The red carpet is a great way for ideas, but make sure you keep it original and make your day about YOUR style.

PS— let us know who your best and worst dressed at the awards were!


Happy Planning,

Kaitlyn ;o)

New Jersey Wedding Planner- Top Wedding Blogs for Ideas

Happy Friday everyone!! Hope you all have fun plans for the weekend and getting lots of planning done for your big day :) ! We wanted to share with you some of the top wedding blogs that brides to be use for inspiration, style and well all things wedding! So go grab a cup of hot coffee and soft blanket and your laptop and take some time to browse through these blogs for inspiration, enjoy!!

• Green Wedding Shoes- If your looking for southern Cali feel and inspiration you have to check out this blog! They have beautiful DIY ideas and real wedding inspiration. I love everything about this blog and if you like modern vintage ideas you will also love it!

• Style Me Pretty- This is the mother of wedding blogs, I think that's all we have to say. Find inspiration from some of the most beautiful weddings in the world and great DIY projects! Their style is Chic, Classy and Stylish and they truly live it up to that!

• Grey Likes Weddings- This is a great blog for simple and beautiful ideas from real weddings, you can search by color and season! I love the feel of this blog....

• The Recycled Bride- This is a great blog to find out DIY and Eco-Friendly ideas and inspiration! If your having a Go Green wedding, you have to check this site out!!

• Offbeat Bride- Maybe your not like the typical bride and you have a little punk rock to you and want to show your fun and playful side, then this is a MUST. They have real wedding inspirations from some of the most creative weddings out there, but they keep it beautiful!

• Groom Advice- OK lets not forget about the men out there, check this site out for everything groom and groomsmen. They also have a great Man Registry!

• Temple of Groom- I love the excerpt of this blog, "written by a straight man that actually cares about wedding planning!" and no he isn't a planner he is an actual groom so follow his journey!

Hope you all have fun checking these out and that it gets the creative wheels rolling for your big day!

New Jersey Wedding Planner - Top Wedding iPhone Apps!

Good morning everyone! So here in NJ we woke up to yet another winter wonderland, it's beautiful to look at if your sitting at home sipping on hot chocolate in a soft and cuddly blanket, but for those of you who have to brave the roads we wish you a safe trip!!

Now on to today's post! So I don't know about you but I love using iPhone Apps and if your as bad as me I am pretty much glued to my phone. Although one of my resolutions for 2011 was to put my phone away when I am home at night ( it has not been easy!) . Anyways, you can find all kinds of apps but we are going to talk about the top 10 Wedding iPhone apps for brides on the go! It's nice to be able to organize all your info for your big day and have it at the palm of your hand when needed, so it's going to be easy to update all your info as your planning progresses. So let's take a look into a few of these apps:

1. iWedding Deluxe- Allows you to manage your guest list, to-do list, budgeting and way more almost like a pro ;) .

2. Wedding Dress Look Book by The Kot- Well first it' free! This is a great on the go wedding dress shopping app. You know how you always show up to the bridal salon with print outs from the Knot site of dresses you like? Well now you can save them with this app and it also helps you find the dress your looking for by salon! Also helps you search for dresses by shape, cut, style and price!

3. Wedding Dash- This is for the bride who can't get enough and wants to just practice for her wedding day :) . It's an action puzzle game with 50 levels and just a fun little game when you have time to relax but still want to think wedding!

4. The Wedding Party Studio- This is an extension of http://www.weddingpartystudio.com/ , list top wedding industry professionals, real wedding inspirations, trends, do's and don't and get this online shopping!

5. Wedding Countdown- Know exactly how far away your big day is down to the second! It's a simple app, but something about a countdown clock makes wedding day exciting!

6. Wedding & Prom Hairstyles- Ok this app is kinda cool! You can upload a photo of yourself and try on different hairstyles for your big day! It has over 50 different styles, side and back views, various head pieces and you can post to facebook to get feedback from friends!

7. Tiffany & Co. Engagement Ring Finder- Ok ladies this is for the ones that are not engaged yet! How about installing this app on your man's iphone LOL, and giving him a little hint along with ideas of what your looking for. I am loving this app, I wish I had this 2 years ago!!

8. 99- Wedding- This is a book that tells you 99 things you wish you knew before planning your wedding. Provides you with tips on all aspects of planning!

9. Wedding Speeches for the Best Man & Groomsmen- Scared about what they may say on wedding day? Or maybe you know they are struggling to find the words, get them this app for inspiration or for them to just pick a speech word for word! I would recommend this for Maids of honor also!

10. Shape Bride- Ok last one! This is a great app to have. We all stress before wedding day about how we will look and we beat ourselves up at the gym and diet till we can no longer all to fit into that fabulous dress and look extra beautiful for our groom! Check out this app, for exercise plans and nutrition information. Remember you have to be healthy and do this the right way and to help it will provide weekly workouts and meal plans!

New Jersey Wedding Planner- Hang Your Dress Up in Style!

So you finally have your perfect wedding dress and you just know it's going to look fabulous in your photos. Well there is a new detail that is a big 2011 trend that is just for your dress. Why not hang your dress up in style and purchase a customized wooden hanger. Sounds crazy right? You have to check it out, I personally love this idea and I think it's a great gift for the bride to be for her wedding day (mmhmmm if your a maid of honor this may be a good idea for you to get ;) ). They come in your basic wood stain and also in colors, I love the blue hangers, they make a great something blue for wedding day. Check them out on Etsy.com, enjoy!!



Check out Dawn's Craft Store on Etsy.com, it's all about the details!!

New Jersey Wedding Planner - Highly considering to move in to The Ashford Estate ;o)

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending an exclusive event to view, what I consider to be THE most breathtaking and incredible venue in NJ - The Ashford Estate. It's difficult to describe the beauty that this brand new venue holds, but I knew I was in for it, considering it's the sister property of the gorgeous Bonnet Island Estate and Mallard Island Yacht Club.

It holds similar characteristics of its sister properties, such as AMAZING on-site suites for the couple and several important guests. Each of the 12 suites has its own unique personality that makes you feel at home and like you're in a 5 star hotel, all in one! Heck, I'm still not over the incredible showers in each suite; each can hold a small (or large) family! The grounds are just flawless and you feel such a sense of serenity being there. It definitely provides an unprecidented destination wedding experience right in NJ.

My advice to those of you getting married (or even thinking of it)?? Take a day and tour this amazing venue because the only way for you to truly understand the natural beauty of The Ashford Estate, is to see it! Once their site is officially up, I'll be sure to post the link so you can check it out. In the interim, take a look at their sister properties - Bonnet Island Estate and Mallard Island Yacht Club.

Thank you to all of the wonderful folks at The Ashford Estate for the special preview and for bringing another unique and gorgeous option to all of the Brides & Grooms to be!

xoxo,
Kisha

P.S. Just found out that The Studio Photographers captured some great images of The Ashford Estate! Check them out here!

New Jersey Wedding Planner - Looking Cool, Feeling Cool

Ah, the summer months are upon us. This calls for celebrations – beach trips, pool parties, BBQ weekends.. and weddings!! As we all know, summer is one of the most popular seasons for weddings. And for good reason: the weather is warm, the sun is shining, flowers have bloomed.. everything is just brighter, you might even say happier. But what happens when the lovely summer atmosphere turns into that gross, humid, sweat-rolling-down-the-back-of-your-neck air? Some people don’t like sitting for 4 hours in the sweltering sun, it can be draining and uncomfortable. However, you don’t want to compromise that perfect spot outside by the lake that you and your partner are destined to be married at. Guess what? You don’t need to. You just need to figure out the best way for you and your guests to stay cool. Here are some ideas:


1. Provide hand fans (or parasols) for everyone. This not only serves as instant air conditioning (or shade), but also as a favor for your guests. You can really get creative with this idea.


2. Set up a cool down area. If a significant amount of your wedding is outside, make sure you provide guests with a shady area to escape the sun and cold beverages to cool off with. You can even consider offering an ice cream station or adding a misting area.


3. Buy or rent fans for indoor areas. Some churches and venues don’t have AC, so you’ll have to make your own. Get a few big (but silent!) fans and spread them around your ceremony to make sure no one suffers from heat exhaustion (this idea could work for outdoor areas as well).


4. Think about the time of day. Obviously, a summer afternoon will be much hotter than a summer night. Maybe you can change your ceremony time from high noon to summer sunset at 8.


These easy, thoughtful ways to keep your guests cool will make the two of you even more of a reason to celebrate. Consideration for other people goes a LONG way, and trust me, your guests will be extremely grateful!



Stay cool. =)

Kaitlyn


Photo Sources:
www.amarieweddings.com
www.serendipstjohn.com
www.culinarycrafts.com
www.herecomestheguide.com

New Jersey Wedding Planner - Man’s Best Friend

No, I’m not talking about the best man or any of the groomsmen. I’m talking about your pet! Pets are like humans to some people (including myself, who loves my dog, Duke, to pieces!!!) and it only seems natural to some people to include them. Couples have been incorporating their furry friends into weddings for a while now, and I want to show you creative ways to get your little (or if you’re like me, big!) munchkin involved. The good news is that it doesn’t matter if you have a dog, cat, rabbit, horse.. there is a place for every animal at your wedding!!

There are several ways you can use your pet(s) during the planning of your big day. If you don’t want to physically use them in the actual ceremony or reception, consider some of the following:





1. Involve your pet in your engagement photos. You can use any type of aniaml here: dog, cat, horse, snake, rabbit, ferret, cow.. you name it! It’s a subtler way of keeping your precious pet involved, and you’ll have the pictures of him/her forever.

2. If you don’t want to have animals in your engagement photos, consider using a picture of you, your partner, and your pet in the Save the Dates.

3. Model your wedding cake, or grooms cake (see last week’s post), after your pet. This is another way of not involving the pet directly, but still paying tribute to how much a part of your life your pet is.

4. If you don’t want to compromise the elegance of your cake, you could add animal cake toppers to the top!

5. You could also name your signature drinks after them and add a photo or two! They're guaranteed to get a lot of attention!






If you do want to use your pet directly in the wedding, here are some suggestions:




1. Ride to your wedding in style on your horse! This is a beautiful, regal way to show up to the reception and a surprise to your guests, as well.

2. Use your pet to be your ring bearer, flower girl, or part of your wedding party (see: Adam Sandler, who named Meatball as his best man in his 2003 wedding). This is great for dogs, cats, or any other animal that is well trained.

3. If you have a pet bird, you can buy an elegant bird cage and utilize it as part of your wedding décor.

4. If you have pet fish, you can use them as part of your sweetheart table display, perhaps as the centerpiece!

5. Use pictures of you and your pet as table names/numbers.




These are just a few suggestions. There are many other ways that you can be creative and get your animals involved on your big day. It’s just another special “person” to be sharing your wedding day with.


Have fun!!


Kaitlyn


Photo Sources:
www.elizabethannedesigns.com
www.adamsandler.com
www.geoffwhite.com
www.ablwedding.com
www.baliwww.com

New Jersey Wedding Planner - Be a Great Wedding Guest

I've been blogging a lot about what brides and couples should do to prepare for their wedding day, but what about the guests? If you're a guest to a wedding, you're going to need a few guidelines, even if you have attended weddings before. Here are some tips on what you absolutely should not do as a guest at a wedding (no one wants ANY type of “zilla” at a wedding!). Some of these may seem obvious, but trust us.. they need to be said and more importantly followed!!



1. Don’t ask to be part of the wedding party if the bride or groom doesn’t ask you. There’s a reason

2. Unless it’s absolutely unavoidable and excusable, don’t skip the ceremony and go straight to the reception. It’s not only rude but disrespectful to the wedding couple.



3. Don’t bring your children or other family members whose names are not explicitly included on the invitation.

4. Don’t wear white, unless it clearly says that’s what the couple wants (ie, some couples ask all guests to wear white, but that only happens occasionally).


5. Don’t, under any circumstances, arrive late to the ceremony. It’s extremely inconsiderate to interrupt the ceremony, so give yourself ample time to get to the venue. Allot time for traffic, lights, stops; anything that might set you back.

6. Don’t cause a scene anywhere. This includes fighting and drinking too much liquor.

7. Don't assume you can invite a date (unless it says +1). Nowadays especially, people are trying to cut their budget costs, and adding an uninvited guest is impolite and more costly for the wedding couple. There’s a reason only your name is on the list.


It's very important to follow these rules, because in doing so you are showing the newlyweds your gratitude, appreciation, and respect for them. No matter how close you may be to the wedding couple, there are no excuses to breaking these rules. Don’t assume you’ll be able to get away with it, because chances are, you won’t. A bride, especially, will remember who let her down on her wedding day.

They aren't too tough to follow, so I know you guys will have no problem being great guests! Remember to have as much fun as possible!! =)


Kaitlyn


Photo Sources:
patrickcox.wordpress.com
swsmag.net
www.faqs.org
canongateoccasions.com