Halloween Weddings

I mentioned to a group of friends that my mom's best friend got married on Halloween and it made me think about all the fun and creative things I could do with such an occasion.

While this is not what I have in mind, it's your wedding so do what you like.

Photo by Michael Sjulstad, St. Olaf College

I'm thinking something more creative and less creepy, but with some bewitching elements.

Have a safe and FABULOUS Halloween!

It's a Rainy Saturday...

... and I am thankful that I do not have to worry about getting a bride to her wedding in this mess.

Since I'm inside, I decided do some mindless Internet browsing. Here are a few interesting items I found.

Jailers Allowed Same-Sex Inmate Nuptials Florida corrections officers were suspended because they allowed 2 female inmates to have a small jailhouse wedding. The wedding bands were made from drealocks and dental floss. The decorations were made from prison uniforms.

Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book of Vendors to be launched November 1. The book will list the top three vendors in each major wedding category in Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, DC, San Francisco, Seattle, Nashville, Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia and Boston.

Side note: Style Me Pretty is one of the blogs I love to read.

First Spanish Language Bridal Magazine Debuts January 2008 Bodas USA La Revista will hit the newsstands and retail stores on January 2008 throughout California with a cover price of $4.99 and via subscriptions on its website http://www.bodasusa.com/.

Surprise First Dances

Thanks to Tabitha for this one.

Friday Funny

I guess the groom's mother doesn't approve of his chosen bride.

Happy Anniversary Rudy & Randi

We have been together since we were kids (well I was 18 and he was 20).
Our courtship was a long one. We didn't get married until 11 years after our first date.

Our wedding ceremony was outdoors at an arboretum in front of 100 friends and family members. The reception was indoors, on the same property, in the former ballroom of an historic mansion. One day I will tell you all the details.

Our life together has been wonderful and I wouldn't trade him for anything. He's my best friend and my biggest supporter. He's also my chef, which is why I'll never fit in that dress again. I am the apple of his eye and the light of his life.

Here's to us!

Islamic Wedding Traditions (Part 2)

Wedding Attire

This varies throughout the various geographical areas of the Muslim world.

In South Asia, covering the head during a wedding is a mark of respect. The bride wears a ghunghat, which is equivalent to the veil of the Christian bride. It may vary in length, covering not only the head but the shoulders, back and almost down to the waistline.

The draping may be done is several ways. The chunri (scarf or wrap), worn with a ghagra choli (long skirt & blouse), is tucked in at the waist on one end, pleated beautifully around the body and draped delicately over one shoulder. An odhni (long scarf) is usually made of silk with a tie dye pattern. The center of the veil is used as a head covering the ends taken carefully under the arms and tucked inside the neck of the abho or chorio (the upper garment).

The groom may sport a safa with its flowing tail-end. Others may wear a nattily wound pagdi (turban), or a topi (helmet). White flowers can be tied in suspended strings over the forehead, called sehra.

In northern, central and western India, a golden kalgi (jeweled ornament) studded with precious stones is tied over the right side of the groom's safa. Sandalwood is applied in the center of the forehead and further decorated with gold, red and white dots. This decoration may also be done over the eyebrows.

The groom may wear a white silk brocade suit, sword and turban as his wedding outfit.

Source (for both articles) www.revertmuslims.com

Islamic Wedding Traditions (Part 1)

Always Fabulous Events serves a diverse community. I have previously posted about Hispanic traditions. Today, I want to discuss Islamic wedding traditions.

There are many ceremonies involved in the marriage process.

The Mangni (Engagement ceremony)
~The bride's attire is provided by the groom's family.
~The bride and groom exchange rings.

The Manjah Ceremony
~1 or 2 days before the wedding, the bride is anointed with a turmeric paste which is provided by the groom's family. Only unmarried women apply this to the bride.
~Henna is applied to her hands and feet.
~After this ceremony, she may not leave her house until it is time for her wedding.
~On the day of her wedding, the groom's family will provide her clothing.

The Groom's Procession
~On the wedding day, the groom is accompanied by friends and family from his home to the wedding venue.
~A shamiana (large decorated tent) is erected if there is no concrete-paved area is available.

Arrival of the Groom & Guests
~The groom is greeted by the sound of drums and musical instruments.
~The groom and the bride's brother exchange a glass of sharbet (a sweetened drink) and money.
~The bride's sisters welcome the guests by playfully hitting them with a flower-wrapped stick.

The Wedding Ceremony
~In some Muslim ceremonies, the men and women are seated in separate rooms with a curtain pulled between them.
~The meher (a monetary amount paid by the groom's family to the bride's family) is decided upon by the elders of both families.
~The officiating priest asks the bride if she is happy with the arrangement and if she agrees to marry the groom. Then the groom is asked the same.
~The priest will read a selection from the Koran, witnessed by 2 males and a lawyer.
~The marriage is registered (nikaahnama). It is first signed by the groom and then two witnesses. The bride will sign later.
~The groom is then taken to the women's section where he gives money and gifts to the bride's sisters and receives the blessings of the elder women.
~Dinner is served separately to the men and the women.
~The groom's family eats separately.
~After their first meal, the groom and bride are seated together and a long scarf is used to cover their heads while the priest makes them read prayers. The Holy Koran is kept between them and they are allowed to see each other through reflections in mirrors.
~Dried dates and a sweet dish are served to the guests.
~The groom spends the night in a separate room at the bride's house with a younger brother. In the morning he is given clothes, money and gifts by the bride's parents.
~That afternoon his relatives come to accompany the bridal couple to their home.

The Rukhsat Ceremony
~The farewell is performed by the father of the bride by asking the groom to protect the bride always, as he gives the groom the bride’s hand.
~Four days after the wedding, the husband brings his wife and her family back to a reception hosted by his family. It is then that the two families become one.

I’ll post more about Islamic Wedding Traditions next time.

Girls Gone Shopping

November 11, 1pm - 6pm

The Curtis Center, 6th and Walnut Streets

60 vendors will showcase and sell their unique, one-of-a-kind fashions and accessories.

Relax, unwind, escape and catch up with your gal pals. Indulge in beauty treatments such as hair blowouts, manicures, pedicures, massages, lash extensions, eyebrow waxing and threading and more. Enjoy 5 hours of complimentary cocktails, chocolate-covered treats from our signature fondue stations, and delectable hors d’oeuvres created by Savona, the regions best fine dining destination. A live DJ will be playing light music to really set the mood.

100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to The Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation.

Tickets are $25 with gift bag and general admission $15 (no gift bag) in advance and $35 at the door.
Visit http://www.sandyovarian.org/upcomingevents.html and http://www.addaeonline.com/ for more information and to purchase tickets.

Flowers for Rent

Did you know you can rent flowers for your wedding or special occasion?

FlowersForRent.com allows you to get a bigger bang for your buck.

They are "I can't believe they are not real" silk floral arrangements. They look real even at a very close range. You know... the kind you have to touch to figure out if they are live or artificial. They prepare one-of-a-kind bouquets for every event.

No worries of flowers wilting or turning brown. The color you request is the color you get.

You name the flower, I'm willing to bet you they have it. They even have fruit!

Round trip shipping is paid in advance, and the company will call for a pickup when you are finished with the flowers.

Florist Sued for $400,000

This lawsuit serves as a warning to brides and wedding professionals.

A florist is being sued by a disappointed couple (the bride is a lawyer) because they say their wedding flowers were the wrong color. They are asking for $400,000 because the error caused them "extreme disappointment, distress and embarrassment." They ordered centerpieces in fuschia, rust, and green with a price tag of $30,000. They received cheaper flowers in the palest shade of pink. Other issues, says the lawsuit: “using wilted and/or browned flowers, leaving the event without filling half the centerpiece vases with water, and using dusty and dirty vases.” After the wedding, the couple requested a $4000 refund. Obviously, their request was denied, so they are adding a few more zeros to the end of their request. The lawsuit accused the florist of fraud, breach of contract, and negligent misrepresentation. The florist says his photos prove that he provided what the couple asked for and plans to countersue for damages to his business reputation.

* Note to wedding professionals: Carry insurance which includes errors and omissions.

Some advice to brides to help avoid this type of disappointment on your wedding day:

• Do not order your flowers simply based on photos. Check out the florist's inventory at the time of your consultation.
  
• Are you ordering flowers that naturally grow in the colors of your choice? Or will they have to be dyed?
  
• Ask for referrals and actually call them. Don't just ask if they were happy with the service they received. Ask if there was anything they were not happy with.

In one article, the florist commented that his father once advised him not to deal with lawyers. Is there any substance to this advice? Are lawyers uber-litigious (lawsuit-happy), making them the worst possible clients?

Halloween Party Ideas

Are you looking for a way to celebrate Halloween that is not too over-the-top?

Are you planning an adults-only Halloween party?

Check out some of the following ideas:

Classic Masquerade Ball

Ask guests to come dressed in black. You provide fancy, colorful masks. Make your decorations and menu colorful too. Use mini pumpkins as candleholders. White pumpkins can hold flowers. Serve bruschetta, wine, and cheese. For a memory of Halloweens past, serve sliced apples with caramel dipping sauce and chopped nuts.

Come as your date. Dress like your spouse/significant other for the night. Why not make this a potluck cocktail party? You supply the drinks and have guests bring the hors d'ouevres. This party is for those who just want a reason to hang out and be a little carefree.

photo from bhg.com

If your husband would never ever dress like a woman, then try a Celebrity Gossip/Paparrazzi Night. Roll out the red carpet for your guests as they arrive dressed as their favorite celebrities. Take lots of pictures. Tell them to be prepared to dish some gossip about the celeb. If you are really creative, you can use the photos to create your own tabloid mag and send it to your guests a few days later. Serve beer, cocktails, and finger foods. Play upbeat music to keep the mood festive.

Priscilla of Boston Event 10/18-10/22

Save 10% on designer gowns during this event.

Philadelphia Area:

29 East Wynnewood Road

Wynnewood, PA 19096

610.896.8290

Running of the Brides

Friday, October 19 at Filene's Basement in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

Wedding dresses priced from $249-$699 that might otherwise cost as much as $9,000.

Store hours for the sale are 8:00am to 9:30pm.

Checks, credit cards, and cash are accepted.

This is a one-day sale and gowns are not returnable.

For more information go to www.filenesbasement.com/bridal.jsp.



Want to "Skip the Line" at the Running of the Brides?
Wedding Wire, one of the leading bridal resource centers on the web, has VIP passes to the "Running of the Brides" that will give some lucky brides-to- be a head start on their shopping. Three winners will be let into Filene's Basement in Lawrenceville, NJ at 7:00am for an hour of private shopping before the doors open to the public at 8:00am. DEADLINE 10/16/2007
Look for details at http://filenes.weddingwire.com/.

Maternity Wedding Dresses

The Sarah Houston line of maternity bridal gowns offer classic elegance in wedding attire for the expecting bride. Each maternity wedding dress is available in sizes to accommodate expectant brides at any stage of their pregnancy.

Wedding gown designer Sarah Houston will launch her new collection at the WeddingChannel Couture Show in New York at the Waldorf-Astoria on Oct. 20-22, 2007.

The new collection of maternity wedding dresses is called the "Retours de Romance" line. "This collection signals a style shift toward romantic elegance with flowing lines and soft, luxurious textures," says Houston.

Six gowns have been selected to represent the collection at the Gala Fashion Show taking place on Oct. 21st. The full collection of Sarah Houston gowns will be available for viewing throughout the 3 day event. In addition to the "Retours de Romance" gown collection, Houston will also be showcasing her new maternity bridesmaid dress collection.

http://www.sarah-houston.com/

Brides Against Breast Cancer

Yesterday, I volunteered at the Brides Against Breast Cancer gown sale. There were tons of gowns in all sizes from 2 to 24, all colors, all styles. It was fun to watch the brides-to-be try on the gowns, especially when they found "the one".

The really cool element was the professional photographer who took photos of the girls in their gowns so they could really see themselves as everyone else would see them.

I had a chance to talk to brides... and a groom... about their wedding plans and frustrations. I was also able to tell them why hiring a wedding planner is a smart investment.

One young lady was there with her parents. When she found the perfect dress, there was no denying it. Even I could hear the angels singing. It was perfect! To top it all off, yesterday was her birthday. Does it get any better?

The Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale is a national tour. The proceeds from these events help bring a moment of joy into world of someone for whom a cure is too late. Check their website to see when they will be in your neck of the woods.

Babymoon

If you don't know, a babymoon is a romantic getaway expectant parents take before the baby arrives. What a wonderful idea! Once you get buried in diapers and bottles, there is no telling when you'll get another chance to get away.

Where would I go (if I was smart enough to have done this years ago)?

• Spain (the island of Majorca or Barcelona)
• Paris
• Milan
• Hawaii
• Trinidad & Tobago

Toys R Us Birthday Club

Saturday was my son's 3rd birthday. When he was a baby, I signed him up for the Toys R Us Birthday Club but just used the coupon to buy him a gift. This year, I decided to see what other perks they had for him.

We walked up to the Customer Service counter and told the young lady that it was his birthday. She gave him a big balloon and a choice of 2 paper crowns. Then she made an announcement over the PA system to let everyone in the store know that it was his birthday. As we walked through the store, everyone wished him a happy birthday. He was so excited!

What a great way to make a little guy feel special.

Donate to Join the Tea Party

"Tea that helps our head and heart. Tea medicates most every part. Tea rejuvenates the very old. Tea warms the hands of those who're cold." - J. Jonker, Amsterdam, circa 1670

Make a donation to breastcancer.org and join their virtual tea party on October 26. Closer to the day of the tea party, you will be emailed instructions on how to join the party and a live chat room.

Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women and their loved ones make sense of the complex medical and personal information about breast health and breast cancer, guiding them to the best decisions of their lives.

Pink for October

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I am joining many other bloggers who are turning to the Pink Side. We all hope this unified show of support will make a difference.

I am also volunteering to help out with the Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale event to be held at the Drexelbrook Wedding & Banquet Facility (Drexel Hill, PA) on October 10th & 11th. This unique opportunity allows brides-to-be a chance to find the gown of their dreams at a remarkable price, while helping to make wishes and memory-making events come true.