Sparkly Champagne Jello

For a wedding shower and over 21 party/reception:

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Ingredients

• 12 cups brut Champagne or sparkling wine (4 bottles)
• 2 cups sugar
• 8 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• Whipped cream, for serving

Directions

1. Bring 6 cups Champagne and the sugar to a boil in a medium pan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat; let cool. Mix remaining 6 cups Champagne and gelatin in large bowl. Let stand until softened. Stir in sugar mixture. Chill until set, at least 6 hours or overnight. Scrape gelatin with a serving spoon, and place in serving bowl; serve with whipped cream.

Pie Pops

On WeddingGawker.com, I saw this to die for idea! Wonderful for outdoorsy, barn, and country wedding....

Pie Pops

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For the recipe: Click Here

Cute Table Numbers!

I was recently touring Jupiter Beach Resort and a wedding was occuring! I got a sneak peak into her reception and she just had the cutest table "numbers"!

Check it out:

They made each table a location from where they went on vacation to!!! So cute!

Wacky Wednesday: Empire State Building

Make like Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle... become husband and wife on the 80th or 102nd floor of the Empire State Building.

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Happy Valentine's Day!

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Happy Valentines Day! 

Have a wonderful day full of love from friends, family, and of course, your sweetie!!

Potted Plants

A great idea to keep costs down is to used potted plants/herbs. You can use them as decorations on the table and then have the guests take the potted plants/herbs as they leave!

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Advice Week: Day four

Last Day of this Month's Advice week.

Now that I work at Alfred Angelo, I know what the bridal stylists are thinking and I will pass on advice to you. Always make an appointment. If you are a walk in, you won't get the personalized service that you deserve. Also please try and limit people who come shopping with you to 5 or less. I know you want to include everyone, but the best idea maybe to limit the party to your mom, sisters, and maid of honor.... You don't want all those differing opinions. Believe me I have seen it way too many times in the short period I have worked at the bridal salon. It's a bad situation. The bride gets angry and frustrated because her attendants can't decide on a dress. For some reason, most people who come with the bride can't seem to remember that it is the bride's decision not their own. That's why it's better to limit the people. I know you know what I'm talking about if you have seen Say Yes to the Dress.

Also, Bring a camera and photograph every dress you try on so you remember!!


We don't want any of this at the bridal salon:

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Advice Week: Day three

These wonderful websites that I discovered can really help you out to check prices and see wedding trends and when to see the best months are to get married in your area. Just click around and see what you find.

Cost of Wedding.com

Wedding Report.com

Example from Cost of Wedding.com:

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Wacky Wednesday: USS Enterprise Wedding

For you die hard Trekies out there, there is one place that you can go to have a Star Trek wedding.

The Star Trek themed Las Vegas wedding available at the Las Vegas Hilton is based on The Next Generation series, which is easily the most popular of all of the Star Trek series. The ceremony is more than just a wedding. It is an interactive experience that is inspired by the voyages of USS Enterprise crew. You can get married on the bridge of the ship as Ferengi and Klingon witnesses look on. Then, top it off with an unforgettable reception at Quark’s Bar and Restaurant.

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Advice Week: Day two

This is SO important. Heed this warning: have a contract for everything for your wedding!!

Get everything in writing. According to Tennessee based attorney Karen Beyke advises, "Be sure your contract has a 'time is of the essence' clause, which states that a wedding provider must deliver the items or services at the proper time on the wedding day. Too many brides have complained that the flowers showed up at the church after the ceremony, or they had to wait an hour for the cake to be delivered. If you have this phrase in your contract, the vendor will know you mean business, and you'll be sure to get timely treatment. f the item is not delivered on time, then they are in breach of contract, and you don't have to pay".

Make sure that you read everything in the vendor contracts, you don't want to be hit with unexpected fees. Once you sign the dotted line, you are held by law to that contract. Even ask to take the contract home and read it, before you sign it! Everything is negotiable. If you don't like something in the contract, talk to the vendor. They want your business!

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Advice Week!

This week is going to be very useful for you to keep reading. I'm going to be giving you some great advice for your wedding!

My first piece of advice is to skip expensive computer wedding planning programs. I bought a program on a discount and they just have pages to organize vendors and they send reminders for your appointments. However now you can use your phone, ipad, etc. to set reminders for appointments! Additionally, you can't file away papers, contracts, swatches, business cards in computer program.

Just be old school and use file folders and binders. Don't forget to keep important emails filed away in your inbox!!

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Bridesmaids Contracts

I saw this on a website and cracked up! If I ever gave this to one of my bridesmaids, I'm pretty sure that they would laugh at me and say I really don't want to be in your wedding if you are going to be like this. See Below:

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If you are dead set on having a contract, make it fun and light hearted. Just express to them how you want them to look uniform. If these girls are truly your friends, they will respect your wishes:

Sample:

______ I will listen to Lizzie's babbling, and let her know she's only slightly crazy.

______ I will have fun while planning with Lizzie.

______ I will look however I want, because Lizzie doesn't care.

______ I swear to "be there" for the bride just like I always am, because she is my friend.

______ I will NOT let Lizzie's wedding detract from other parts of my life.

______ I will not forget that while I am Lizzie's friend, she is MY friend as well, and is there if I need her

______ I will eat, drink, and be merry whenever possible.

______ I will engage in much laughter and *inappropriate hugging*

______ I will tease Brian whenever possible.

______ I will tease Lizzie whenever possible.

______ I will not feel the need to spend a ton of money on a dress/shoes/jewelry/manicure/WHATEVER.

______ I will have an amazing time!

I do hereby swear that I will adhere to all of the above and other understood bridesmaid duties for the wedding on June 15th, 2013 

X_________________________
(sign, print and date)

Picasso Calla Lillies

At a bridal consultation I attended on Saturday, I learned about these awesome flowers and had to share with you. For any brides who have purples as a wedding color, pay attention to this post. These flowers can be used within a bouquet to accent the color of the bridesmaid dresses or such. These flowers are well matched with white roses and stephanotis.

The star shaped flowers are stephanotis

Beautiful Picasso Callas 

Wacky Wednesday: Pirate Ship

Happy February!!

This week's wacky Wednesday takes us on the high seas, so to speak. Become pirates for a day aboard The Reef Chief, a 65-foot wooden schooner in Stock Island, Florida near Key West. The couple can exchange rings beneath the jolly roger flag while your guests wear eye patches and faux parrots on their shoulders.

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or come to Eagle River, Wisconsin and stay at an awesome resort, Eagle River's Last Resort and go visit Pirate Hideaway. See below:

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DIY Project

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It's simple. Use a hot glue gun to write whatever words you want: love, 'wedding date', 'initials', forever, I do, etc. Then spray paint!!

Edible Centerpieces

My sister sent me this email and I thought it was so creative! Research edible flowers and freeze them in an ice cube tray! It makes such a cute addition to the table. Additionally, try putting herbs in the ice cubes and place them in glass containers that holds water or lemonade (pieces of lemon in ice). It adds a bit of flavor to the drink and adds some class to ice! For best results, fill the ice cube trays half way then place the flower/fruit/herb and fill the rest of the tray.

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Picture Frames

You all will LOVE this! How to incorporate old picture frames into your wedding. This is such a classy yet inexpensive way to decorate your wedding. Look at Goodwill and old thrift stores to find frames like this.

1. Fill Frames with Flowers

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2. Use them as props for photo sessions

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3. Use as placecard holders

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4. Show your love

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5. Table Decor

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6. Communicate with guests

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Congrats to the Newly Weds!

When you are first announced as Mr. and Mrs. (insert new name here!!) by the preacher, every one celebrates, claps, and cheers. A creative idea besides the normal bubbles, rice, bells, etc is shown below!  These would make a great picture with all the different colors and smiling faces!

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Wacky Wednesday: Airliner

This seems like a fitting wedding location for me as my dad was an airline pilot for TWA for 34 years and I have been surrounded by airplanes my entire life. According to an internet article by Ryan Kett, "Virgin Airways gained some invaluable publicity in 2007 when Virgin America marketing director Dimitious Papagonas and his partner Coco Jones were wed on the airlines first ever flight to famous wedding city Las Vegas. Not one to shirk an unusual photo opportunity, the wedding was officiated by Billionaire virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson!Guests sat at either side of the 'aisle' and watched as bride Coco walked down it to the song 'Love Is In The Air'. The lucky couple are not the only couple of have been married on a plane, with a number of American couples hiring planes for their weddings since! Perhaps the major benefit of this wedding was the fact that the couple and their guests landing in Las Vegas, saving time before the honeymoon!"

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Time Capsule

This is another FABULOUS idea I got from Pinterest. If you all aren't on that website, you need to be! Just comment on this post with your email address and I will send you an invite to the website. Anyways, here is the idea. Find a box - preferably wood - write love letters to each other and add a bottle of wine - or something that won't spoil - and nail it shut during the wedding ceremony. Keep that box safe and don't open it until your 25th anniversary. Consider having your parents or grandparents write you a letter. Also, if you as a couple are having a really big rough patch, you could open this early and remember how head over heels in love you were and try to rekindle. Overall, I think this is a unique and fun tradition to have at a wedding.

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New Jobs!

Hello Blog Readers -

I just wanted to bring you a quick update in my professional life. In the beginning of this month, I finished up my seasonal position with the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. It was really fast pace. I'd say the biggest thing I learned is how to deal with a lot of different types of people. If you ever get to Orlando, I highly suggest stopping in at the Gaylord to visit their beautiful resort. The atriums are so beautiful - I'd say an attraction in themselves. Also, when you go, eat at Sunset Sams. They have some of the best seafood I have ever had!

Right after that position ended, I volunteered for a bridal crawl in downtown Orlando. Basically, prospective brides went around to different venues around downtown and inside the venues were different vendors. I worked at the Citrus Club, which is on the top floor (18th story) of the BB&T building downtown. The venue was amazing! Windows everywhere, such a beautiful view of the city (and Harry Potter World) lol!  I highly recommend going to Bridal crawls, etc. You get to see a lot of vendor work and each venue has different food and free drinks! You get an afternoon's entertainment and food for around $10.

Now I am back in South Florida where I just interviewed with two wedding vendors today - MB Floral and Alfred Angelo. I got both jobs. So you all should be prepared for a plethora of new information and tips.

Please keep reading!

Love,

Lizzie

Newly Wed's To Do List

The Knot.com came out with a great article on things you have to take care of after the wedding. Most engaged couples are so consumed with wedding planning and bounding off on their honeymoons that they forget legal matters and basic etiquette.

Check out this advice: Click Here

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Frozen Yogurt Bar!

I saw this awesome idea on Pinterest! As I am sure you all have seen, there is a huge trend in frozen yogurt shops where you can put on your own topping. Why not include that in your wedding?!? It's interactive and fun for guests.

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Wacky Wednesday: Aircraft Carrier

I was watching Top Gun the other night and thought how cool it would be to get married on the deck of an aircraft carrier with the fighter planes around (which would be awesome if I didn't get really sea sick). One place that you can do that is in California aboard the USS Hornet.

Take a look:

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Convertible Bridesmaid Dresses

My co-worker and I were talking about what kind of bridesmaid's dresses we wanted for our weddings. I already have mine picked out, but he showed me what he had picked out for his wedding and I thought they were so cool that I just had to share with you.

Your bridesmaids are probably going to be all different sizes and have different tastes. This dress allows them to change the style to whatever looks best on them, while still looking uniform in the bridal party. There are over 15 different styles to wear this dress!

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