You've made it to a new year in one piece, even after planning the most significant event of your life. Stressed? Yes. Tired? Absolutely. In need of a little R&R? You betcha! But with all that is left to do to plan your upcoming nuptials, who has time to relax?

Everyone realizes this is a very stressful time for you, but a new year also brings new possibilities and a chance to "start fresh". So that is exactly what we are suggesting. Here are a few "New Year's Resolutions" for the bride to be that will help you seize the moment and start the year off on the right foot. List courtesy of Wedding Planning Suite 101.

1. Don't be a Bridezilla. It's easy to get caught up in all the planning and the fantasy of an ideal wedding, and sometimes a bride can forget for a second that she's not a princess. Be kind to everyone who helps you with your wedding and try not to lose your temper if things go wrong.. This relates to the second resolution on this list, which is:
2. Accept that everything won't be perfect. Perfection is impossible, as something always goes wrong when you're planning a big event like this. The image in the magazines of a bride's flawless wedding day is a myth. Accept this, and you'll feel much less stressed and enjoy your wonderful, although not perfect, wedding. This goes for your body image too! If you're heavier than you want to be or your skin is blotchy, so what?
3. Resolve not to do all the wedding planning. Brides seem to get stuck with all the phone calls and trips to the flower shop and all of those other tasks. You don't have time for that, girl! Make sure your fiance understands that this is both of your responsibility. And don't' be afraid to delegate. Asking your friends and family to help you with tasks isn't being a Bridezilla-- it's smart planning (as long as you ask nicely, of course).
4. Stick to a reasonable budget. The bridal industry is a money pit, and you're going to be dealing with an awful lot of people who want to sucker you into buying stuff you really don't need. Resolve to think twice about added expenses.
5. Create a wedding planning schedule (if schedules don't make you crazy). If you're the kind of person who works better with detailed to-do lists, then make yourself one, complete with deadlines, and resolve to stick to your schedule. However, if to-do lists make your feel more stressed out instead of less, this might not be the best strategy.
6. Resolve to send your thank-you notes in a timely manner. Wedding etiquette isn't nearly as strict as it used to be, but this is one rule you have to follow or you'll have hurt feelings. Simplify this process with a system. As you start to receive gifts, make a master list of who sent what. You can also create a stack of pre-addressed and stamped envelopes before the wedding.
7. Be nice to your partner. It's almost inevitable that you two are going to bicker a little bit about all this stressful planning, but resolve to keep this to a minimum. Spend as much time as you can together doing something other than wedding planning.
8. Be patient with your family, including your new in-laws. Your mother might be a little obsessive compulsive about the seating chart, and your sister might be uncooperative because she's jealous. Let them be. As for your in-laws, recognize that this is probably the first major events where you'll be relating to them as family, so you may discover some of their more annoying traits. Forgive them. Understand that wedding planning can be stressful for everyone.
9. Resolve to concentrate on your new marriage, not just on the wedding. This commitment you're making is much more serious than your choice of party favors. Spend some quality time talking to your fiance about your relationship and about this big change you're about to experience together.
10. Remember to enjoy yourself. This is supposed to be a joyful occasion. Don't forget that!

Labels: How-Tos, Real Weddings, Social Awareness

With equality for all . . why not? This seems to be an extremely positive option in the ever present attempt to satisfy most of the individual needs and wants of the bridesmaids. Just as unique as every shape and size of each bridesmaid, this dress requires no alterations, adjusts to just about any style of your choice and is offered in an array of colors from floor length ball gown to the short Rosette Collection length. Made of a combination of fabrics with spandex, it can be hand washed and the second greatest part, worn again and again - each time uniquely personally styled by - you! Made in New York, by Two Birds, this dress deserves an A+.

Labels: Fashion, inspired

2010-11 look to be fashion forward trend years in gown styling for brides to be. Among the most popular are lace lace and MORE lace. It is being used everywhere from the veil, to the waist accent, bodice, sleeves, necklines, and of course the skirts. Flowing in sync with this ultra-female trend are the accents of sashes and ribbons on the waist lines in contrasting colors. Speaking of waist lines - as our top right couture design by Christian Lacroix features, the empire waist is fashionistas first love for 2010-11. It flatters just about every figure and enhances the femininity of the bodice curves. Think Josephine as the Empress of France as your inspiration. Shoes are stepping brides up a level as well, with the platform edge adorned by jewels and beading to complete your look.

Labels: Trends

pièce de ré⋅sis⋅tance: Eng.piˈɛs də rɪ n. the most noteworthy or prized feature, aspect, event, article, etc., of a series or group; special item or attraction.
With her new fall collection Jennifer Behr reaches exactly that level and continues her tradition of detailed handwork and construction techniques. She has created a glamorous collection of headpieces for the season, inspired by Victorian jet jewelry, with trace elements of elegant punk. Autumn/winter 2009 is composed of dark jet crystals, gray pearls, sleek cording, silk satins, robust patents and slinky chains. Bow silhouettes add a touch of youthful lightness, from dark and moody to seriously feminine. While not inexpensive, each piece is capable of providing exactly the desired affect for the elegance of the celebration no less just the right frame for the face of the bride and or attendant Many of the pieces eclipse Swarovski crystals in the jeweled bands and hair clips (not shown). Prices for full bands range from $150 up to $875. Hair clips start at around $60.

Labels: Fashion

If ever there was a list of the area's best power couples, Jenn and Stephen would certainly be at the top. Jenn is a leading marketing director at Microsoft and Stephen is a successful entrepreneur. But as impressive as these two are apart, friends of this couple would say the two of them together are nothing short of magic.

Planning a Seattle wedding for February 2010, Jenn and Stephen are busy finalizing the details of their lavish, yet down-home celebration. One thing is for certain, their wedding is sure to be the event of the year.

Wedding Details:
Ceremony Location: University Presbyterian Church
Reception Location: Sunset Club, Seattle
Wedding Dress: The Bridal Garden
Bridesmaid Dresses: Moms, Maids, & More
Colors: Eggplant
Wedding Photographer: John & Joseph (photos above courtesy of)
Menswear: The Tux Shop
Flowers: Kim Mehrer Floral Design
Hair/Make Up: Tiara On Location
Music: Emerald City Productions

Labels: Local Events, Real Weddings

These great vellum shades are a great cost savings idea. It's all about how to take a wine glass and make it into a mini lamp candle holder. It’s absolutely adorable and can be used for many different events. With the holidays right around the corner, this might be a wonderful time to try your hand at them.

Save-on-Crafts has ready made sets sold 4/$9.99. (This does not include the wine glass or candles.) Made out of fragile parchment, each set contains different shades with cute and whimsical designs that are printed in a faint white. All you need to do is take them out of the package roll them up, drop a candle into a wine glass and add the lampshade. That’s it. Instantly the white pattern is transformed to a darker shade (as if it were a shadow) and a wine glass is turned into a sweet miniature lamp.

If you would like to create something unique and save money, here are instructions on how to make your very own Wine Glass Candle Lamps

Materials
8-1/2″ x 11″ (21.8cm x 28cm) sheets of vellum (one per lamp) (buy at a paper supply store)
Scissors
Scissors with decorative blades
Decorative paper punch in desired shape
Glue pen
Wineglass (keep the stems taller if possible for good lighting effects)
Votive candle or a LED Battery Operated Tea Light
Candle putty (floral clay)

1.Lampshade Pattern: (available at the bottom of this post)
2. Trace the lampshade pattern onto the sheet of vellum. Cut the straight ends and the inner curve using plain scissors with decorative blades.
2. Punch designs about 1″ (2.5 cm) from the lower edge, spacing the designs evenly.
3. Apply a thin line of glue (a glue pen works well for this) to one straight end. Lap the other end over the glued end, forming the shade.
4. Secure the votive candle and set the lampshade atop a wine glass
To view this file, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader
pattern.pdf

Labels: holidays, How-Tos

It seems women have come a long way in terms of fashion footwear for wet and or cold weather. The days of the high heel boot might be a little distant now, following in the footsteps of this season's hottest boots - all of which are exceptionally worthy for actual weather! Add to that style points that have not been visible for awhile, and you have incredible looks. The UGG in lace-up pink edge out just about every boot. Sorel is a name synonomus with true water proofing, and their first entry we are showing is the Sorellington, in black and white with a band of red. These are available in 6 color options. Pajar Womens Sled Boots in red sell out everywhere, as do Juicy's Igloo Logo shown in black. In black with built-in cuff is another Pajar classic. Knit Collar Aquatalia in Gunmetal is the Italian entry. Sorel Hoonah in orange tan black base, offer a mid-calf at a great price. Possibly Sorel has hit gold with their next boot, shown in dark tan - Helen of Tundra with bands of lamb in creme. Again we are showing the ever popular UGG, which comes in more styles than you can imagine, as in the lower calf brown Classic, and slightly higher Classic Tall in sage. Sorel's Joan of Arc with full fur trim and full lace up front is as hot as they get. The final entry is another UGG product - their new Smithson fashion boot with full lace-up back, shown in brown.

Labels: Fashion

Here is one of the handiest little web tools around. It comes to you from DeGraeve.com. Steve DeGraeve's company has been around 10 years now and has some useful and fun items. This is so simple - you will love it. We are using a couple of our previous posts to demonstrate the results. You only need a good url address with a "jpg" photo as part of it. Now copy and paste that url to the link on the DeGraeve.com site and it will provide you with the color family in the photo you linked. This is great for all of the accessorizing you will be doing, as well as your full color pallet. You will see all of the associated colors in the photo. Print it or download it to your phone - and have your favorites with you all the time. Be sure and look throughout our entire blog (archives) and all - for several color options you might like. Also go to Banquet Event Resource's Wedding website to gather more information and photo options. Have fun!

Labels: Color, How-Tos

Monthly Open Houses at Clise Mansion & Robinswood House
When: Tuesday, December 15, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Tuesday, January 5, 5:30 to 7:30 PM
Where: Robinswood House, 2430 148th Ave SE, Bellevue
Clise Mansion, 6046 W Lake Sammamish Parkway, near Redmond WA
What: The venues will be open for tours and information gathering. In December both facilities are decorated for the holiday season.

COMING IN FEBRUARY:
Wedding Showcase at the Clise Mansion & Robinswood House
15th Annual Wedding Open House Featuring Select Caterers

Tour King County's historic Clise Mansion* and the City of Bellevue's Robinswood House, the city's oldest pioneer building in its original location, and savor a rich assortment of samples prepared specially for this event by our Select Caterers. You will be entertained by the music of one of the areas many talented musicians, see photographic displays, floral arrangements, and have an opportunity to gather a plethora of ideas from local vendors to help you plan your wedding. Our informed staff will be on hand to answer questions and share experiences.
No reservation needed.

When: Tuesday, February 6th, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Time: Robinswood House-10:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Clise Mansion-11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Where: The Clise Mansion at Marymoor Park,
6046 West Lake Sammamish Pkwy, Redmond, WA 98052

The Robinswood House [in Robinswood Park]
2430 148th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA 98007

What: Annual Wedding Showcase featuring our select caterers.
Cost: Free, no reservation necessary and parking is plentiful.

*The Clise Mansion is a two-story shingle-style structure with half-timbered Tudor Revival details. It was built in 1904 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. The Clise still retains its original character.







**The Robinswood House is an 1895 homestead of hand hewed log set in a lush garden landscape. It has furnished interiors.


For more information please visit our website at www.seattlebride.com or call us at
425-865-0795.

Labels: Food and Beverage, Local Events