Budgeting and The Elusive "Average"

As wedding coordinators we meet with couples who may be planning a very intimate wedding of 40 people or under, or on the other hand couples who are trying to keep the guest list under 300.  After the engagement is official and the couple begins making selections for their venue and vendors, it becomes a question of where to start.  There are many tools and checklists that are helpful, and we offer our assistance for every step of the way during the planning process even if a couple books us for Day of Coordination vs. Full Service.    The biggest question that I hear brides ask is "what is the average cost of _________?" The reason this question isn't always easy to answer is because there are many variables to cost, therefore the photographer or venue for one wedding may not be comparable to another event due to some of these reasons: ♥ Location ♥ Time of Year ♥ No. of Expected Guests ♥ Specific Package Selections ♥ Demand for Service/Product ♥ Level of Experience of Vendor

Watching the Wedding Programs on TV or flipping through a magazine may have skewed your grasp of what a realistic budget is in your area.  While it is important to understand what is realistic, it is even more important to establish your budget based on what you feel comfortable with.  Even if a $2k floral budget is average in some areas, it may not be a number that you can or want to spend for your event.

When clients contact us, we ask them to complete a questionnaire and rate what the most important areas of their budget is.

We ask questions such as:

From 1 -5 in importance (1 being most important) rate the following:

• Abundance of Fresh Flowers
• Extensive Photography and/or Videographer Package (over 6-8 hours of photography and printed images in album)
• Luxury Linens, Centerpieces & Decor
• Venue
• Food & Beverage

If budget was no option we would splurge on: a. Gourmet Food & Premium Drinks for our guests b. Chandeliers, Draping & Up lighting c. Modern Furniture & Lounge areas d. Gift Baskets /Custom Favors e. An over the top Wedding Cake f. Custom Stationary (Invitations, Save The Dates, etc) g. Other(s) ______________________

These types of questions give us insight on helping you establish your budget, and pair you with vendors that can not only provide the products and services you are looking for but also stay on budget.  We can assist clients prioritize the expenses so that all of the major areas are covered and we can identify some of the "extras" to have on standby if budget permits.

We support the DIY Couples in their projects and creativity, and can even help you budget for your DIY projects to estimate your savings and cost effectiveness for each project.  Our goal for the DIY couple is to help you organize all of the projects and elements that you have worked on creating, and put them together into a smooth timeline with tasks and detailed information to keep everyone on the same page.  If you would like information on our packages, or our upcoming DIY Workshop please shoot us an email at info@The530Bride.com

We will be seeing our Northern California Brides at the upcoming Bridal Shows!

Yuba Sutter, January 27th at the Yuba City Fairgrounds Chico Bridal Show, February 24th at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico

Want tickets? Shoot us your information from our contact us page to get on the list for fast pass tickets!

Chico Wedding Weekend 2013 ~ Grand Prizes

If you attended the January Chico Wedding Weekend Show, you have good odds at winning prizes from not only the individual vendor booths but also at the Venue Tours.  Every Venue that you visit on the tour will have entry slips for the Grand Prize Drawing and they will each have their own raffles and giveaways.  Here are the grand prizes from the Expo!

Hotel Diamond - Complimentary stay  and dinner at Johnnies ($600 Value)

Events Inc. -Wedding Stationary custom design ($1,000 Value)

Hotel Monaco -2 night stay in San Francisco and dinner for two ($800 Value)

Bailey Creek at Lake Almanor -Golf and lunch for four at Bailey Creek Bar and Grill ($400 Value)

If you aren't a bride or groom but part of the family or wedding party that attended with the couple you can still enter into the drawing to win the following:

$500 Marriot Credit - Courtyard & Residence Inn

$100 Johnnies Restaurant Credit

Oxford Suites and Moniks Lounge & Bistro - Romance Package for 2 and International Wine Flight Tasting at Monks ($400 Value)

The White House Inn Bed & Breakfast in Nevada - Win a 2 night Stay, minutes away from Tahoe ($400 Value)

Blue Sugar Cupcakes -Gift certificate for One Market Restaurant in San Francisco

If you missed the show, or you were on the fence about attending you missed some great deals and chances to win! The good news is there are more shows to come! For more information on the Chico Wedding Weekend you can visit their website at www.ChicoWeddingWeekend.com

Does it pay to be a DIY bride?

Some of our most popular pages are related to Manzanita Branches, Wishing Trees and DIY Decor.  If you are considering going the DIY route, make sure to consider the pros and cons of purchasing vs renting and make sure you are making budget friendly decisions.  Some items can easily be resold after your event such as mason jars, tea lights, manzanita branches and linens etc.  Purchasing your own linens and spending the time to hem and sew all of them may be biting off more than you can chew so-to-speak. We recommend meeting with a wedding coordinator and discussing your budget.  Focus on the areas that you feel are most important for you to personalize with a DIY project, for instance if you can't stand the idea of using store-bought escort cards then you should have that on your list of DIY must haves.  Other projects such as cocktail menus or table numbers might not be as much of a priority to you personally, so decide if it would be best to purchase or rent those.  Your coordinator may have some items that he or she includes with their service so it doesn't hurt to ask ahead of time!

A DIY Bride can find items and make things from scratch, or find easy projects to purchase the items and assemble them herself (or hopefully with the help of a small army!) Choose projects that are worthwhile and that will have the most impact on your event.  Making personalized programs, welcome baskets or favors is always a nice touch or focus your efforts on making an awesome DIY photobooth or wishing tree.  The options are endless!

If you want to price things out, Koyal Wholesale is a great place to get started:

Table Settings 10.25" Bulk Dinner Plates - Black from: Koyal Wholesale

PLASTIC CUTLERY - Assorted Fork/Spoon/Knife (288 Pieces) Shimmering Silver from: Koyal Wholesale Comes in other fun colors like magenta, school bus yellow, tropical teal, apple red & more!

Cupcake Stands Laila Large Round Cupcake Tower (Holds 100 Cupcakes!) BEST SELLER! - $29.99 from: Koyal Wholesale

Branches REAL Manzanita Branches (Natural Brown) - 5 Sizes - $13.96 Retail Price: $23.96 You Save: $10.00 from: Koyal Wholesale

Curly Willow Burnt Oak 3-5ft BULK (144 branches) BEST SELLER! - $99.99 Retail Price: $109.99 You Save: $10.00 from: Koyal Wholesale

Centerpieces & Decor 12" Clear Cylinder Pillar Centerpiece Vase (Case of 12 = $13.22/Vase) BEST SELLER! from: Koyal Wholesale

32" Tall Venus Square Crystal Chandelier Tree Centerpiece from: Koyal Wholesale

Regal Table Decoration Personalized Vase Centerpiece from: Koyal Wholesale

Peacock Feather Bouquet/Centerpiece Picks (4/Pkg) - $2.68 from: Koyal Wholesale

Moss Moss, Reindeer Moss Spring Green BULK (BEST SELLER!) - $69.98 Retail Price: $79.98 You Save: $10.00 from: Koyal Wholesale

Votives Hanging Votive Candle Holder w/Wire BULK (72 Holders) BEST SELLER! from: Koyal Wholesale

12 Hour Burn White UNSCENTED Votive Candles (30 Pack) BULK - $11.98 from: Koyal Wholesale

Hanging Crystals Hanging Diamond Crystal Teardrops - 1.5" (BULK 35 Pieces) BEST SELLER! - $19.98 Retail Price: $29.98 You Save: $10.00

Table Runner Damask Flocking Table Runner 12" x 108" Long - Red Damask - $9.98 from: Koyal Wholesale

Aisle Runner Personalized Aisle Runners - Regal Wedding Aisle Runner - $95.00 Retail Price: $105.00 You Save: $10.00 from: Koyal Wholesale

Other popular items: rose petals, paper lanterns, Vintage Burlap Ribbon, washi tape diy bride

These are only a few of the fabulous items that you can find at Koyal, you can get a great deal on bulk items. If price matching is your game, then print out what you find online and ask a vendor if they can price match. You may find that it is cheaper to rent, and less of a hassle because you won't have an abundance of wedding items left over to have to either resell or give away.

Did you find a great resource for savings on event supplies? Share with other brides by leaving a comment with your ideas.

Display Your Wedding Keepsakes with A Shadow Box

Wedding Photography captures your big day, but what about physically preserving some of your most sentimental wedding items?  Shadowboxes are a great way to put some of your most cherished items on display.

If you plan to use your bouquet or other fresh flowers in your shadow box, check with your florist to see if they offer preservation services.

A DIY Shadowbox could be a great project to keep your creative juices flowing after the wedding, and help reduce some after wedding blues that some brides experience.  Consider making a set of shadow boxes to include your milestones as a couple, (honeymoon, family vacations, first home, birth of a child etc.) Shadow Boxes don't have to be large, you can mix and match the sizes and styles.

Happy Planning!

Say 'I Do' Unconventionally!

Who says your wedding guests have to know they are going to a wedding?  Recently, we have seen a spike in Surprise Weddings and we think it is trend that could stick around.  It is perfect for the couple who has gone around and around about where they would want to have their wedding, how much they want to spend, and those who aren't particularly fond of the traditional wedding process. How does one plan a surprise wedding?  Well first thing is first, ..Location!  If you happen to have a spacious home or a large backyard, or know someone who would be willing to host in your honor than you are in luck.  Guests probably won't question a backyard event, so you could use some alternative occasions like an Engagement Party, a Summer Lau, Graduation, or Tri-Tip Cook-off to use as the decoy reason for gathering.  Second, decide who you want to let in on the surprise.  You can choose to tell your parents, maid of honor, best man or whom ever you would like as long as they can keep a secret!  Besides, you will need some helpers to pull this off!

If you do not have the space available, contact some of the local venues for information on the amenities and pricing.  You will need to know your approximate guest count, and a potential date.  Consider asking the venue if they offer lower rates for weekdays compared to Saturday and Sunday rates.

We know a surprise wedding is not for everyone. For brides who have dreamed of their wedding day for years, a more traditional wedding with a set date and invitations may be more appropriate! However, if the thought of a big fancy wedding stresses you out, you may feel relieved by knowing that your guests are going to be blown away by the surprise and it will be a fun and memorable wedding for all!  You can still have a lot of the same elements of a traditional wedding like the bouquet toss, and first dance.  The best part is that it is up to you!

Some of the perks of a surprise wedding are a lower overall budget because you won't have a lot of the formalities such as the cost of invitations & postage, venue (if you are having a backyard event), and you may end up with a smaller guest list which will greatly reduce your expenses.  The biggest perk is getting to be creative, and coming up with a plan on how to carry out your scheme and keeping it a secret until the big reveal!

Want to read more about Surprise Weddings?  Here are some related posts: Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla - Surprise Wedding 100 Layer Cake: Marisa + John - Surprise Wedding Surprise..We Got Married! Rebecca & Damien - Suprise Wedding

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Applewhite!

Christine and Nick recently exchanged vows at the Arroyo Room on April 21st, 2012.  Here are some snapshots to enjoy while they are relaxing on their honeymoon in Puerto Rico.  Christine & Nick were featured as an engaged couple, and you can read about their engagement here.

Professional Photos coming soon! ____________________________________________________________ Venue The Arroyo Room Caterer Excaliber Catering Aisle Decor Flowers By Rachelle Manzanita Trees WeDo Designs Linens All Star Rents DJ Runaway DJ Wedding Cake Lovely Layers Cakery Wedding Dress Alterations  Milenas Tailoring Custom Designs Photo Booth Chico Photo & Video Planning Assistance The 530 Bride

What You Should Know Before You Book..

In our daily lives we are consumers of everything from the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the phones we use to communicate, the cars we drive and the list goes on.  We have the freedom to choose the products, companies and services that we want to use and there are many different factors that lead us to this decision.  You may purchase products based on only the price, the packaging, brand name recognition, or a referral from a friend.  These same factors apply when you are looking for products and services for your wedding. Even at a time when we have the internet at our fingertips, word of mouth is still the most valuable referral.  Hearing or even reading another customers first-hand experience with a business can give you insight on what you can expect.  If you read several reviews that a business has repeatedly delivered rental items late, or in bad condition you should consider this a red flag and proceed with caution.  To be fair, one bad review can be situational so you shouldn't rule them out based on that.

I recently came across a business online that boasted the cheapest rental rates and fastest service, it seemed too good to be true.  It was when I read at least 20 reviews from customers who all had very similar experiences with this company that I saw the business had repeatedly left customers scrambling to find replacement rental items just days or even hours before their event.  It was sad to think how much time, energy & money these customers could have saved by looking into the companies reputation.

Some vendors will provide a list of recent customers that you can contact to ask about their experience and satisfaction with the service.  This can be helpful if you are considering multiple vendors and are on the fence about which one to choose.  Websites such as Yelp,  WeddingWire, and TheKnot are just a few of the resources you can use to research local vendors.

If you really want to thank your vendors for doing a great job, offer to write a testamonial about your great experience working with them, and refer friends and family to use their products or services as well.    I have had the pleasure of meeting so many reputable and hard-working businesses in our area who strive to give you the service above and beyond your expectations.   Did you find a website helpful for reading reviews? Share the website here to help others who are also in their planning stages.

Happy Planning!

White Hot Deal ~ Essence Photography

Around here we like to share good news & sweet perks with our readers! So tonight we want to get the word out about Essence Photography's special promotion for the month of February.  What better way to celebrate the month of love, than booking a fabulous photography package for your upcoming wedding.  Essence Photography will be including a free engagement session with EVERY wedding booked in the month of February (valued at $250!)  This includes a 1 hour session and 15 Enhanced Digital Negatives for you to use as you wish, such as save the dates, invitations, ceremony programs and more. Are you wanting to have a beautiful wedding album, but you aren't sure if it is in your budget?  Essence Photography is including a Free Custom Designed 10x10, 10 pages/20 side Wedding Album for all packages of $2,000 or more.  Don't forget you will also get your free engagement session!  Tell Essence Photography that you read about her promotion on The 530 Bride and get an instant upgrade to a 16page/32 side album, a value of $400. 

To sweeten the deal, for all packages of $2500 booked in the month of February, you will receive 1/2 off on your photo booth rental in addition to your free engagement session and wedding album! This includes a professionally run 2 hour long photobooth, with props provided for only $250!! (Regular price $500).  Photobooths make for a fun activity and a lasting memory for you and your guests not to mention all of the funny faces and props!

If you haven't already, make sure to check out Essence Photography's photo galleries and you will surely be impressed by all of those lovely images! Betsy Erickson, owner of Essence Photography has a way of adding something new and fresh while still capturing the beauty of the special moments.  Set up a consultation with Essence Photography today for this great promotion before it is too late!

How To Avoid The After-Wedding Blues

When I tell people about what I do, they think of their own wedding and I often hear them say something along the lines of "I wish we would have..." or "If I could go back and change.." Although as a bride I too had some minor regrets about not dedicating more time to spending time with friends and family before and after our wedding, and not taking more family pictures; the point is you cannot go back and change it.  I encourage couples to remind themselves that no part of life is absolutely perfect, and a wedding is no exception.  Weddings bring together family and friends all to one place, and it will most likely be the first and perhaps only time that you ever plan such a large event.  If you have in your mind a play-by-play plan for your wedding, please accept and embrace the notion that somethings might not go exactly as planned. If there is anything that I can do to help couples avoid having these "post-wedding blues" it is to stress the importance of hiring professionals.    Brides that attempt to plan the entire wedding, and handle the day of coordination most often feel overwhelmed, and upset when things do not seem to be on track.  Having professionals on your side to keep your event running smoothly will certainly calm your nerves on your wedding day.

On some of the wedding forums that I belong to, brides commonly write a "Wedding Day Recap" post which usually describes their experience (good and bad.) Some brides have this overwhelming feeling now that their wedding is over, because they have put so much energy into planning and now its over.  What they should see though is that a whole new chapter is beginning, which is being a homeowner or living together, being a wife, and someday a mother will bring on a much bigger challenge than being a bride!

Some suggestions to help you enjoy your wedding experience, and avoid the post wedding blues:

Ask For Help Allow your wedding planner to assist you in task such as contacting venues, and setting consultations etc.  For the DIY brides, consider using some of the A La Carte Options offered by propesctive wedding coordinators such as site visits, contract negotiations and hourly services.  Meet with the coordinator as much or as little as you need, but you will be able to check in and make sure that your planning is on track.  If you have friends or family that have offered to help, consider delegating some of the tasks such as folding programs, tying bows etc.

Rehearsal Dinner The rehearsal dinner is pretty standard when it comes to a wedding, yet many couples don't take advantage of this time well.  Use your rehearsal dinner to run through the ceremony, and do not be afraid to ask to read the passages that your officiant plans to use.  You then have the ability to ask for any changes, and it may also help you get some of the jitters out.  Make sure to ask if your photographer is familiar with your venue, if not consider asking them to attend the rehearsal in order for them to get acquainted with the space.

Stay Active Before and After Your Wedding It is easy to get consumed with your planning process, so make time to exercise and get lots of rest in the weeks leading up to the wedding.  Stay involved with your friends lives as much as possible, you don't want to go overboard on wedding stuff, so make sure to be a good friend to others.  After the wedding, plan outings for you and your new husband to enjoy together such as sports games, or BBQ's with your families.

With that being said, I should say that every time I talk with someone about their wedding I notice they are smiling! Couples that have been married for 10, 20 or even 40 years talk about their wedding day like it was just yesterday and they remember what it felt like to walk down the aisle and dance together for the first time as husband and wife. Even when talking about some of their wedding day bloopers, they are still smiling because it was an amazing experience and they got married to the love of their life!  Sometimes the best thing to do is to share your frustrations with others, so feel free to drop us a line and tell us about your wedding planning experience!

Mark Your Calendars ~ 2012 Winter Bridal Shows

It's that time again, so mark your calendars with these important dates! You don't want to miss out on your local bridal shows because this is where you will meet professional & talented vendors who specialize in weddings.  By walking through a bridal show, you will see exhibitor booths for caterers, photographers, wedding planners, DJ's, wedding venues & more.  Taste samples of wedding cake and entrees like tri-tip & chicken. You will have the opportunity to save money with exclusive bridal show offers, and enter contests to win some sweet prizes. Tips: Wear comfortable shoes, bring a bag to hold all of your bridal show goodies & if possible have address labels printed to save you the trouble of handwriting your name and address on all of the contest entry forms!

2012 Winter Bridal Shows

Chico Bridal Showcase Sunday, January 8th, 2012 12:00 AM - 4:00 PM Silver Dollar Fairgrounds Chico, CA http://www.weddingsnorthvalley.com/show.html?show.id=1447

The Bridal Guide Wedding Show Sunday, January 15, 2012 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Simpson University Event Center Redding, CA http://northstatebridalguide.com/bridalshows.html

Yuba Sutter Bridal Show Sunday, January 29th, 2012 Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds Yuba City, CA 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM http://www.ysbridalshow.com/Winter_Bridal_Show.htm

Winter Wonderland Bridal Show Sunday, January 29th, 2012 The Beda Place Meadow Vista, CA 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM http://www.thebedaplace.com/

Wedding Extravaganza Sunday, February 19th, 2012 Holiday Inn Redding, CA 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM http://www.theweddingextravaganza.com/

Whats In Your Wallet?

Chances are you don't have a fortune put away, but you still want to throw one heck of a party to celebrate your lives together as husband and wife.  Knowing your budget is crucial not only to make sure that you don't overspend here and there, but so that you don't start your wedding bliss off on the wrong foot.  Make sure to have open communication with eachother about your wedding budget, and to continually check-in with eachother to make sure that you both have a say on the allocation of funds.  If you are anticapating that your parents or other family members will offer to pitch in, plan a time to talk about it so that you can be sure everyone is on the same page. "The average wedding cost dipped in 2011 to $26,501, BRIDES magazine's 2011 American Wedding Study. In 2009, the last time the survey was published, the cost of a wedding was $28,082." (http://abcnews.go.com/Business/brides-tighten-garters-average-wedding-cost-drops-)

While we have seen many different opinions on the average wedding costs, the point is that you do not have to meet the norm or try to blow everyone away.  The bottom line is that you can afford to get married, but you can't afford to not budget wisely.

We will be covering your budget questions in our premier issue of 530 Weddings, a digital bridal publication launching this spring.  Got a burning budget question? Just Ask The 530 Bride!

DIY Resources on the Web

If projects like embossing, or making your own ceremony programs really gets you excited then check out a few of these great resources for all things DIY! Here we will give you the run down of where to find helpful step-by-step instructions. 1. A cozy winter DIY Wedding Favor created by NotMartha.org gives you the instant warm & fuzzy feeling which would be perfect for a winter wedding!

2.  Message in a Bottle Favors  by Beau-Coup - Set the tone of your tropical or beach theme wedding with these mini bottles!

3. Burlap Coffee Bean Favors by RuffledBlog.com - Write a personalized thank you note, and let the aroma of the coffee beans do the rest!

4.This DIY Rustic Cake Stand gives an instant sense of the outdoors found on OnceWed.com

5.  Rice Crispy Heart Favors by MyOwnLabels.Com

6. DIY Moss Letters by PolkaDotBride.com

7. Fabric Flower for Hair Pins, Sashes and Bridal Shower Favors found on ProjectWedding.com 8.  Save the Date Magnets by Project Wedding, Simple and Adorable!

9. DIY Table Numbers in a Bottle by SavvyCityFarmer.com 

10. DIY Hanging Ornaments "Let It Snow" project featured on UnderTheTableAndDreaming.com

To find step-by-step instructions for the projects above follow these links: 1. Ginger Bread Mug Favors (http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2009/12/18/a-gingerbread-house-that-perches-on-the-rim-of-your-mug/) 2. Message In A Bottle Favors (http://www.beau-coup.com/message-in-a-bottle-idea.htm) 3.  Burlap Coffee Bean Favors (http://ruffledblog.com/diy-coffee-bag-favors/) 4.  Rustic Chic Cake Stand (http://www.oncewed.com/514/diy-wedding/decorations/rustic-wedding-cake-stand/) 5.  Rice Crispy Hearts (http://www.myownlabels.com/blog/1-wedding-favors/) 6.  DIY Moss Letter (http://www.polkadotbride.com/2010/02/diy-moss-letters-project/) 7.  Fabric Flower (http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/diy-gorgeous-chiffon-and-tulle-flowers/8) 8. Heart-Felt Save The Dates (http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/save-the-date-magnets) 9. DIY Table Numbers (http://www.savvycityfarmer.com/2010/01/take-number-please.html) 10. DIY Hanging Ornaments (http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2010/11/vintage-glitter-snowball-ornaments-by.html)

Have a project that you want to share? Contact us at features@the530bride.com

Bridal Shower Trends ~ Perfume Design Events

The bridal shower is an opportunity for the Bride to be surrounded by her closest girlfriends and family members, while playing games, opening gifts, and talking a whole lotta' wedding!  The challenge for those who are planning the event, is to not only find the perfect date, time and location but to plan for some entertainment as well.Bridal shower games don't have to be the only source of fun, and a hot new trend is available right here in the "530" area! Perfume Design Events by Studio Parfum, offers a creative and fun element to bridal showers, bachelorette parties, birthday parties and other events.  The Bride and her guests will have the opportunity to create a personalized fragrance just like the stars!  Studio Parfum is a hit in Hollywood, and has recently been featured in the 2011 Enjoy Magazine for Northern California.

Perfume Design Parties are fun, for all ages, and affordable, and gives each guest something to personalized that they can use long after the bridal shower ends.  How does it work? First, book a party with Studio Parfum, by selecting one of their party packages or have a custom party created for your needs.  Your designer will show you some of the differences between the oils and allow each guest to choose the scents they like from the 20 essential oils offered, and combine scents until they have found the perfect blend!  All of the botanical oils are alcohol and water free, and are skin friendly.

Bridal Shower packages come with party favors, a variety of bottle sizes such as the .3 oz roll-top bottle that comes with a beautiful bag, which is great for keeping in your purse.  You will also get to keep your fragrance "recipe" so that you can easily re-create it in the future.  Interested in booking this fun party favorite? Just contact Carole with Studio Parfum for information and to book your party today. After booking an event with Studio Parfum, post it on our facebook wall for a chance to be entered into our next drawing!

Carole Thomas ~ 530-763-3467 signatureperfumes1@gmail.com Ask Carole about Perfume Workshops by Studio Parfum and upcoming events in Yuba City and the Chico area!

Save time, with the Virtual Salon and Dressing Room with Brides.com

Hoping he will pop the question? If he has already put a ring on it but you are early in your planning stages, Brides.com has the perfect feature for you!  You can use this fun feature to search through wedding dresses and select silhouette, color, hemline, designer and price.  The virtual dressing room also features bridesmaid dresses to make finding the perfect gown easy and convenient.   The Virtual Beauty Salon gives you countless options for eye shadow, lip-sticks and gloss, foundations and hair styles.  No photos available? Simply select a model with a similiar body type, face shape and complexion, invite your bridesmaids over for cocktails and let the dressing room fun begin!

Check out Brides.com to get started, and share your photos with us for a chance to win a mini-makeover!

Mark Your Calendars ~ WeDo Designs Showcase at The Palms on August 19th

We Do Designs is opening their showroom to you, and you won't want to miss out on seeing their beautiful work.  You will see a great mix of colors, textures and centerpieces that can complete your theme for Weddings, Bridal Showers, Corporate Events and more.

But wait, it gets better! Attend the event and you will have a chance to win a full set of linens for your event for up to 100 people.  Who could pass that up?  Contact WeDo Designs with any questions and we hope to see you there!

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Dorenzo!

We first introduced the couple and their engagement story with you in April of this year, and we are excited to congratulate the couple on their marriage and their wedding day on July 3rd 2011.  If you missed our post "On the road to I Do' Melissa & Gavin", Click here to check it out! Melissa is a DIY bride all the way, she arrived at The Palms Pavilion and started decorating at 05:45 a.m on the day of her wedding!

Thinking ahead, Melissa did much of the work before hand such as folding the napkins, creating the programs, and creating personal touches like her picture board featuring many pictures of her and Gavin.

Her table settings included brown table linens with pink runners, which matched her centerpieces that she also created herself. Square Glass Vases filled with glass beads and adorned with different variations of Gerbera Daisy's and Roses.

Melissa made her table number cards and her programs, she was a busy girl!

The lovely head table!

It was a very warm day, but The Palms Pavilion made a beautiful backdrop for Melissa & Gavin's Big Day.

Gavin and his groomsmen had no problem entertaining themselves while his beautiful bride was getting ready!

The Bridesmaids looked lovely in their dresses which were made by the Bride's mother Cathy.

Okay we know you have been waiting to get a glimpse of the bride, and here she is getting ready.

The guests have all arrived and it is time for the ceremony to begin.

It's official everyone, these two have tied the knot!

The Wedding Cake was a beautiful 3 tier cake with paper lanterns hung in the corner, which gave a fun focal point to the room.

The Cocktail Hour gave couples a chance to take some fun and silly pictures in the Photobooth, and then the couple made their grand entrance. Mr. & Mrs Dorenzo walked down the stairs as husband and wife and they got a very warm welcome by all of their guests.

The Reception was kicked off with a great slide-show of pictures of the couple, from all of the their adorable baby pictures up to photos of them when they started dating and of course their engagement pictures. This couple has something magical and it shows! After Dinner, the couple made their way around the room and visited with guests. These love birds were just glowing with happiness. The evening continued with a playful cutting of the cake and of course dancing! The Dance

We want to wish these two the best and may they always smile as brightly as they did on this day!

Cocoon ~ A Resale Boutique

If you are looking for a nice addition to your closet like a cute pair of heels, jeans or maybe even some summer dresses, Cocoon is the place to go.

Shopping on a budget doesn't mean you can't splurge!  Set your own trends and find unique jewelry and accessories that can blend perfectly into your wardrobe.  Brides, find gifts for your bridesmaids here and give them something with character, history and charm just like your friendship!

The owner Summer O'Neil is someone who has passion for the community that she lives and works in, and she donates 10 percent of the stores profits to local charities.  On top of donating to charities, Summer also supports local Artists & Non-Profit Organizations, which is part of the appeal of the store. You will see the work of local artists, and other small vendors who each have something unique to bring to the table.

Kodo Fragrances is one of the local names you will find at Cocoon, they offer local, unique, hand-made perfumes.

We aren't the only ones who think Cocoon is doing something right, as they were featured in an article in The Upstate Business Journal, published in June of this year. (Click Here to Read Article)

Summer Dresses, Skirts, Jeans, Vests, Heels & Sandals are fashionable and affordable so you can keep up with the seasons and trends without breaking the bank.

Cocoon is located at 1431 Park Avenue, in Chico and is the place to go to Buy, Sell & Trade your clothes, accessories, furniture, household items, and other goods. Make sure to stop in during these business hours: Tuesday - Thursday 10am - 2pm Friday - 10am - 5pm Saturday - 11am - 6pm

You can find Cocoon on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Cocoon.ResaleBoutique or call (530) 343-5440 to find out more!

Things We Like: Gift Registry 360

Wedding gift registries have evolved significantly over the years, now technology has brought us the capability of having online wedding registries.  Guests can browse your wedding registry on websites such as Bed Bath and Beyond, and once they select the gift they can have it wrapped & shipped to you including a personalized message on the tag. Gift Registry 360 gives you the option of combining wedding registries so that guests can view all of the items the couple has registered for through multiple retailers.  This helps guests because they can see your entire list without having to search your registry at each store, and it helps the couple to keep their registry list straight and make sure they haven't registered for the same item twice by accident. Add items from some of the following retailers:

• Macy's
• Crate&Barrel
• Williams Sonoma
• Target
• Home Depot

If you have a smart phone, you can even get an app to update your registry by scanning the barcode!

The Gift Registry 360 website allows you to create a Style Board online to design themes for your home room by room.

Create a Widget to Share Your Registries

Share your 360 list with friends and family. Send an email or download our widget to add to your wedding website, facebook profile, blog, or other social networking sites to allow guests to easily access your 360 list.

Send out announcements to your guests by selecting one of their many stylish designs...

Unsure of what you should register for? Each couple is different, some are brand new starting out so they will need a lot of the start up items for their new life together in their new home. Others have been living together and may already many of the day-to-day items but could really use a nice pot & pan set, kitchen appliances, serving platters, and other little home goodies.

Refer to some of these great websites for creating your wedding registry, finding registry checklists, frequently asked questions, must-haves & more.

Bed Bath and Beyond - Registry Essentials Club Wedd - Target - Frequently Asked Registry Questions Crate&Barrel - Checklist Macy's - Wedding Registry Checklist Kohls - Create your Wedding Registry JCPenney - Create your Wedding Registry