Wedding Advice

I've come across WeddingBee, which is a pretty cool multi-user blog based in the NYC area. I thought this bloggers advice was very well put and I hope you take a minute to check it out.

Men's Wearhouse Coupon

WeddingWire!

If you haven't heard of WeddingWire yet, get ready for some big news! WeddingWire is the DC area's newest and best wedding planning website. It's loaded with features and is super user-friendly. Definitely better than some other wedding planning websites! I wish it was around when I was planning my wedding and hope you're able to take advantage of it!

I will actually be joining the WeddingWire staff in January, so I'm obviously partial! In all seriousness, this is really a great site and will make wedding planning so much easier.

MySpace is addicting too.....

Yeah, I've been bitten. After a pretty bad addiction to Facebook through college, I've realized that MySpace is just about as bad. Needless to say, I want you to be your friend!!

Check out our page!

Here a blog, there a blog, everywhere a blog blog

I've recently been exploring the blogging world, which is unfortunately just as addicting as The Knot message boards! Amongst random entrepreneurial and financial planning ones I've been reading, I've posted a few wedding-related blogs you might find interesting. I've definitely gotten a ton of great ideas! Here goes:

General wedding blogs:
Something Old, Something New (Laura's second favorite)

Oh Joy! Here Comes the Bride (Laura's favorite)

The Bridal Blog

Wedding Bee

Here Comes the Blog

Manolo for the Bride

Bridal Wave

Cupcakes on a Monday

You May Now Kiss the Blog

DC Nearlyweds

Local DC-area vendor blogs:

Regeti's Photography

Event Accomplished

Holland Photo Arts

K&R Photography

Events by Serendipity

Kate Triano Photography

Other random semi-wedding-related blogs:
Jessica Claire Photography

Wedding Photojournalists Association (WPJA)

Free Chocolate!

As you may know, Soiree owns a chocolate fountain and rents it out for parties. We use a fantastic imported Belgian Callebaut chocolate, which is simply to die for. We recently had a request from a long-distance bride who wanted to try the chocolate before booking, so we opened bags of white, milk, and dark fondue chocolate chips and sent her some samples.

MORAL OF THE STORY:
We have free chocolate to give away! Since this chocolate won't stay fresh forever in an open bag, we'd love to share it with our clients, friends, and fans. If you email us your mailing address, we'll send you a sample of chocolate! Make sure you tell us what flavor you'd prefer -- we love the dark but the milk and white are also delicious.

We're hoping to get all 6 pounds cleared out in the next day or two. There's no obligation or sneaky strings attached, so don't be shy!

Ceremony Decor Ideas

We've all seen the archway at the altar with rose petals scattered down the aisle. While it's still a beautiful and classic look, today's trendier brides are looking for something a little more unique. Check out the photos below for some different ceremony decor ideas:

1. Hang lit votives behind and above the ceremony area. Dancing candlelight will create a soft glow as you exchange your vows. This may not be suitable for a church with high ceilings or a beautiful altar, but more appropriate for a drab hotel ballroom or community hall.

2. Combine lighting and floral elements to create an over-the-top archway. This can be scaled-down for smaller rooms, and would even look phenomenal for an outdoor twlight ceremony. This style would be perfect at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Torpedo Factory, the Galleria at Lafayette Square, DAR, or the lawn at River Farm.

3. For a country or vineyard wedding, place some white or colored flat bed sheets over bales of hay! The rustic charm will bring your guests back to their childhood hay ride memories, and is a cheap alternative to renting individual chairs. Use this look at Rose Hill Manor, Veramar Vineyards, Alwyngton Manor, or the Knights of Columbus Barn.

4. Hang brightly colored kissing balls above and behind the altar area. These floral balls create a stunning backdrop and can be reused as funky centerpieces or to decorate the buffet or cake table. Different sizes, colors, and textures add interest. This works particularly well at sites that have character but need a little color. This includes Bristow Manor, The Mount Vernon Inn, Meridian House, Top of the Town, and the Newton White Mansion.

5. For sites with dramatic driveways or any kind of lush greenery, special uplighting will make natural features 'pop.' This helps invite guests into the outdoor spaces of your event and also prevents tripping over branches, rocks, or other hazards. This would work particularly well at Raspberry Plain, the Hendry House, or the Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens.