Premier Bride Magazine - Ceremony Tips

Your ceremony is a reflection of who you are. Incorporating your tastes and style in to it will make it more personalized. Here are some tips that can help you save money with your ceremony.

Tip 1 - Have your ceremony at the same facility as your reception. That way you don't have to pay two site fees.

Tip 2 - See if there is another wedding the same day and talk to that bride about sharing flowers.

Tip 3 - If you are having an outdoor wedding, only have chairs for those that need them. (make sure it isn't too hot that day though)

Tip 4 - Hire an experienced wedding consultant. Their service will be invaluable with saving you money along the way.

Looking for a good coordinator to help? Check out our site for those we recommend.

In Maryland

In DC/Virginia

Tips for Planning a Successful Rehearsal Dinner

These are some great tips from our friends at McCormick & Schmick's.

It’s OK; it really is all about You!
The best place to start is with what you want. Of course, we cover all the basics but customization is king at McCormick and Schmick’s when it comes to YOUR rehearsal dinner. We’ve seen wedding parties have a blast with something as simple yet as personalized as a Bride and Groom’s featured cocktails that celebrate their distinct personalities. And we are just as creative on more complex requests that may include special dishes, staff uniforms, and in-house décor that align with a desired dinner theme. Sure we can bring an East Coast Fish Fry to life in Kansas City and if you really want a Great Gatsby type evening with a Bonnie & Clyde feel, we will do it – we’ve done it before.

Complement but don’t overshadow the Big Day
We love working with mothers-in-law, we really do. In fact, some of the most memorable dinners we’ve planned have been with mothers of the grooms. That said, a bride that’s not on the front lines of rehearsal dinner planning should never be totally out of the loop. A rehearsal dinner should be different from the formal wedding day reception. If a seated dinner with steak on the menu and an open bar is planned for the wedding reception than an informal seafood buffet with wine, beer and soft drinks and an emphasis on moving and mingling about in our private dining room may be the perfect complement. The reception dinner can range from casual to elegant and should always be fun but we recommend saving the “wow” for the following day.


Don’t go overboard with the guest list
It will be great to see your second cousin and the neighbors from three moves ago at the wedding but we recommend limiting the rehearsal dinner to the wedding party and immediate and out of town family. This is a night for the two families to connect and for you to focus on those closest to you and the memories you’ve celebrated over the years. We work with you to create a warm and inviting ambiance that provides a stress-free atmosphere and encourages social interaction. And don’t forget to leave plenty of time for all the toasts.


We can keep a secret and the peace
So your family’s not perfect – welcome to the club. Tell us your concerns up front and we can help you address. Perhaps a designated seating chart is in order for your dinner to keep bickering relatives at a safe distance or perhaps we add a do-it-yourself desert bar to the room that encourages a group of folks meeting for the first time to get up and interact with one another. Every group comes with a unique set of circumstances but our goal is always to create a stress-free, fun and memorable evening. And we can keep a secret, just ask the couple who said don’t tell our parents we’re already married.


The early bird gets the best rehearsal dinner
Ideally, you can get a good jump start on planning. We recommend you start scouting and eventually securing a venue several months in advance especially during the busiest wedding seasons. At McCormick & Schmick’s, we’ll be flattered if you check us out and it’s important to know that each of our locations has a distinct style representative of the specific city. Many guests say they chose us for their rehearsal dinner because our space helps show off the host city to out of town guests. And when it comes to planning, please don’t be shy about sharing your budget parameters because we can accommodate a wide range with customizable options that can be as affordable or as lavish as you choose.

For more information our area wedding vendors, check out our site at www.pbwashingtondc.com.

Celebrate spring and Earth Day with the newest eco-chic products

(ARA) - With warmer weather finally here, you are itching to get outdoors and enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer.

As you lay out on the beach soaking in some sunshine, or relax in the green grass in your backyard, you're reminded just how important it is to protect the environment. There are small steps you can take to create big change and it can be as simple as the beauty products you buy.

Here are some nature-friendly ways to help keep you and the environment protected:

Skin is in
After a long winter, your skin is in need of some serious nourishment to restore its moisture. You should look for products that have natural or organic ingredients in them to help revitalize skin. Try the Nutriganics natural skin care collection by The Body Shop. The range provides a certified organic alternative to anti-aging products and helps smooth skin in as little as four weeks. Even better, many of the ingredients are sourced through the company's unique Community Trade program which benefits more than 25,000 people in the world's poorest countries.

Fresh scent
Here's a fresh, sensuous scent for spring you can't help but "love." Love, Etc ..." not only is a floral union of jasmine with indulgent notes of vanilla and sandalwood, but it also happens to be organic and fairly traded. Created by one of the world's finest noses - perfumer Dominique Ropion - the fragrance comes in a 100 percent recyclable glass bottle contained in a box created from Forest Stewardship Council material. So spritz away knowing you are helping to protect the planet one fragrance pump at a time.

Eco-chic style
In order to look naturally great all the time, you need a stylish bag to carry your products in. With so many recycled bags and totes to choose from, pick different ones to suite your mood.

Energy saving never looked so good
Want to do even more to honor Earth Day? Check out EarthAid.net, the first Web site that helps you save energy by tracking your electric, gas and water utility usage. Users earn points and rewards based on how much energy and water they save at home. Enjoy rewards from The Body Shop which becomes the first national retailer to offer rewards to consumers who achieve approximately 75 points of saving a month. So what are you waiting for? Sign up now for free at www.earthaid.net to save energy and earn some eye-catching rewards.

With new life emerging this spring, now is the time to not only step back and nourish yourself, but the planet as well.

For more information on area bridal vendors that specialize on green weddings visit www.PremierBride.com.

For information on eco-conscious beauty, visit TheBodyShop-USA.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Featured Wedding

Brian and I met at a friend’s birthday party. When he showed up, I decided it was time to bring out my “A” game. It worked! We dated for a while and one night he told me that he had hooked up my email inbox to the Nintendo Wii. He is a bit of a “tech geek” so I checked the enveloped labeled “Katie” and the message “will you marry me?” popped up. I actually thought it was a cute joke until I saw he was on one knee. Of course I said “YES!”

Neither one of us wanted a long engagement so we jumped right in to the planning. We decided our theme was going to be understated elegance with a black, white and cranberry décor. We chose the Country Club of Fairfax to have the reception and my aunt made hundreds of chocolate truffles by hand for our favors. We also had flip flops to put on when the guests feet would hurt from dancing.

The best part of the day was walking down the aisle towards my future husband on my father’s arm with a room full of 200 people that came out to support us. It was both humbling and unforgettable.

Special Thanks to Pereda Photography, for capturing our wedding so beautifully.

To see more of this amazing Featured Wedding, check out PremierBride.com.

Snowmageddon

What do you do when you’ve chosen the date for your wedding and as the days get closer, you realize that it’s going to be during what the press are calling “Snowmageddon?” That is exactly what Candice and Nick Avdikos had to decide.

Having always been a very spontaneous couple, they decided they couldn’t wait to be married. When Nick proposed on November 1st, they looked at the calendar and decided that December 19th was a good date. With family out of the country, they knew it was going to be a small intimate affair.

As the wedding day got closer, so did the snowstorm. “People thought we were CRAZY for going through with the wedding. We kept getting phone calls from people saying it was too dangerous to be out in the storm and that it would ruin our day” Candice reflects. “But Nick and I weren’t turning back….we chose this date and were sticking with it!” But, moments of doubt entered their minds as the snow starting falling. People couldn’t drive in the heart of the storm including the officiant. So what did they do when that happened? Go pick her up in their Jeep.
Back at their house with the officiant and the photographer everything came together and they had a beautiful intimate ceremony. With the snow coming down harder, the happy couple drove the officiant and photographer back to the safety of their homes. Where did they go for their reception? They went to the only place that was open….McDonalds.

Having decided to have their wedding photos done the day after the wedding, once the storm ended, Nick and Candice headed into DC with their photographer. The roads going in to DC were open and once arriving the mood was magical. Instead of the normal hustle and bustle, people were enjoying themselves and the beautiful scenery of everything being snowkissed by the storm. “Our photographer, Amanda Godlove with Lux Photography, was wonderful! She assured us that rain, shine or snow, she would be there. She was lying on the ground, stepping on mounds of snow, trecking in the snow with her heavy equipment and still took amazing photos while making sure Nick and I were having fun.”

When asked what was the best part of their wedding, Candice exclaims, “the snowstorm! Thanks to the snowstorm; every time it snows we will remember our perfectly magical wedding day.”

To see more amazing images from this wedding go to our Featured Weddings.

Going Green: Planning an Eco-Friendly Wedding Part 1

Can you have a joy-filled wedding celebration and show your love for the planet, at the same time? While this may sound like "The Odd Couple," it's not as hard as you think! If you're inspired to say " I care; I do " then read on for some great ways to incorporate eco-friendly touches into your special day.

The locale
Choosing a location that's close to where most of your guests live is an obvious, simple but effective way to limit unnecessary transportation, as is having the ceremony and reception in the same place. You may also wish to seek out sites that have made "going green" a priority, and are pro-active about reducing energy use and waste. Another green idea is to hold your ceremony in a location already dedicated to sustainability, such as parks, protected areas or museums. Finally, having an outdoor ceremony in a beautiful setting will remind you (and your guests) why you make environmentally responsible choices.

The food
Serve local, organic, seasonal cuisine, and include a vegetarian or vegan option. Avoid farmed salmon, which usually contains vaccines, pesticides, antibiotics and synthetic pigment... not good! Before the wedding, research places to donate any leftover food, such as homeless shelters or soup kitchens.

The paper
Save trees by going high-tech: use a website to list directions, maps, accommodations and other details, and use email whenever possible. For the paper you do use, stick with 100% recycled and renewable cotton paper, made from clothing scraps, and vegetable or soy inks, which use less energy to produce than petroleum-based inks.

For vendors that believe in an Eco-Friendly wedding please visit http://www.premierbride.com/

Upcoming Networking Events

You are invited to.....

Premier Bride Networking Social

March 2

Lighthouse Sound Restaurant

Bishopville, MD

6:00-8:00

March 10

Holiday Inn Winchester

Winchester, VA

6:00-8:00

If you are interested in attending please contact us at tulastamas@premierbride.com

Great networking opportunity for any one in the wedding industry including wedding photographers, hotels, florists, wedding consultants, videographers and any one located in the Delaware, Maryland, and Northern Virginia area.

Countdown to Wedding Day Beauty!

Any bride will tell you that looking her best on her big day is one of her biggest priorities. Don't wait till the last moment to start taking care of yourself. We recommend starting six months out. Here is a great plan to look your most beautiful.

6 Months Before:

1. Schedule a facial appointment. She will help you create a six month facial routine and it will allow your skin time to adjust to any new products.

2. Want a different cut or color? Do it now so you have time to get comfortable with the new look or have time to make any corrections.

3. Your hands will appear in photos so start getting regular manicures.

3 Months Before:

1. Make your hair and make-up appointments for the trial and wedding day. Don't forget to schedule for your wedding parties appointments also.

2. If you want to wax parts of your body, you should start now. There is nothing worse than having a reaction right before the wedding.

3. Don't like the length of your hair? Consider putting in hair extensions. You can create any style you want with them.

1 Month Before:

1. Get your hair and make-up trial done.

2. Enjoy a spa day with your friends. The stress will really start now and you will need it!

2 Weeks Before:

1. Do last minute touch ups on color and trims.

2. Get your last facial.

1 Week Before the Wedding:

Get your brows shaped and other parts waxed.

The Day Before:

1. Get your hands and feet ready.

2. Relax with a great massage.

For suggestions on great places to go visit www.premierbride.com

Why Learn to Dance?

You’ve made a big investment in many aspects of the wedding day that will only last one day. Learning to dance is a small investment in your relationship creating lifetime memories -- an actual skill useful at future special occasions. Dance lessons are the most fun and romantic time a couple can have during the wedding planning process!

Many couples are realizing the importance of expressing their unity and growing closer through this unique learning experience. They are seizing the opportunity to shine on the dance floor while personalizing their celebration through their own creative expression. For these insightful couples, the First Dance is often the highlight of the reception, and the most vivid wedding memory guests take home with them since actions speak louder than words.

There are lots of aspects of the wedding that can be outsourced - - the bakery, the caterer, the florist, the event planner. There are two vital components that only the couple themselves can execute in order for a wedding to be valid and authentic - - their vows and their First Dance. The public and legally binding vows verbally profess the couple’s intentions to be supportive and loyal to each other. The First Dance is the first marital act that physically proves a couple’s ability to be supportive of one another. By exercising teamwork and patience during private rehearsals and ultimately for public display, the couple “moves as one” on the dance floor and a promise is sealed and delivered.

By Deborah Joy, Founder of The Wedding Dance Specialists – serving MD, DC & VA

Honeymoon Planning for Grooms

Are you doing most of the wedding planning? How about putting your groom in charge of the honeymoon details? Lots of guys like to plan the honeymoon because this is where they get to be adventurous and romantic.

Brides, give him a few “dreamy locations” and a couple of “absolutely-not’s,” and let him surprise you!

Looking for a good travel agent? Check out our site for some suggestions.

4 Current Trends in Wedding Receptions

Mary Ann Kenmotsu, Director of Social Catering at the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare, one of the most popular ballroom destinations in Greater Chicago, has her finger on the pulse of the latest wedding trends. We've invited her to share some of them here, for our Premier Bride readers:

#1 - Lights, camera, action!
The trend I see is for lighting to be sexy and striking, it instantly catches our eyes with color and creates the romantic mood. Weddings are using pinspot lighting to highlight centerpieces, uplighting for a dramatic effect, colored spotlights in chandeliers and lit monograms on dance floors. We've also seen custom chandeliers and chandelier walls.

#2 - Environmentally Friendly Weddings
Going green is one of the most popular trends in life and also in weddings. Eco-friendly bridal choices include selecting organic foods and flowers, sustainable seafood and wine, favors that support earth friendly causes, and recycled paper for invitations. It also includes selecting venues that are green certified meaning that they have approved sustained products.

#3 - Lounge/Club furniture
It's not your typical banquet chairs and cabaret tables anymore! Guests love to try out the new cocktail "lounge" and experience a plush, sophisticated ambiance with oversized ottomans, cushy loveseats and fuzzy furniture. Inviting and unique loveseats are also being used by the Bride & Groom during the wedding dinner.

#4 - Mini Mania
Mini sweets and small plates will always be a hot trend but Brides & Grooms are also adding their favorite comfort foods such as mini sliders, mini fries and individual servings of mac and cheese. Hors d'oeuvres are being served in mini mugs, silver spoons and delicate ramekins. Cocktails are being served as mini martinis. The smaller sizes still highlight the flavors but allow a guest to taste everything!

For a list of Maryland, DC or Northern Virginia reception sites, please visit PremierBride.com.

Featured Wedding Winners

Congratulations to some of our lucky PREMIER brides who won having their wedding Featured in an upcoming issue of Premier Bride Magazine. These lucky brides were at the Delmarva Bridal Show on Sunday.

Interested in having your wedding Featured? If you are getting married in the Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC or Northern Virginia area, please visit our site to register to win.

Thank you to James Seip Photography for capturing the event.