Reem Acra Dress Giveaway

On one of my trips down blog lane I came across a great giveaway. The Recycled Bride blog and Your Dream Dress are teaming up to bring you a chance to win a fabulous gown. Please visit Recycle Bride for a chance to win this fabulous gown.

Reem Acra is one of the most sought-after couture bridal designers in the world, to win this dress would be a dream come true for any bride.

Dress Details:

Retails for over $4,800
Silk satin
Sweep train
Strapless ballgown silhouette
Reem Acra label inside
Brand New
Ivory with gold detailing
Bridal size 10 / Daywear size 8 (can be altered to fit a size 8 or smaller)
Bust: 36″
Waist: 29″
Hips: N/A
Hollow to Hem: 60″
Enter to Win:

You must be a Recycled Bride member to win, so sign up if you haven’t already (It’s free and takes just a minute).
Go to the Your Dream Dress Giveaway Page and leave a comment telling why you want to win this Reem Acra designer wedding dress.
One comment/entry per person
A panel of wedding experts from RecycledBride.com and Your Dream Dress will choose one lucky winner on April 2nd, 2010.
Winner will be chosen based on the comment that most inspires our panel

Be inspired by a dream giveaway!!!!!!!

Wedding Insurance

Two weeks ago the Northeast was hit with a major storm. I am still not sure what to qualify this storm as, however with all of the overturned oak trees that I saw I would call it a tornado. Did I mention that one of these oak trees (well one half of an oak) ended up on my house? Thankfully, the damage did not leave us exposed to the elements and I have the time to wait for my adjuster who will not be able to get to me until April.

In all of this I could only imagining having my wedding day side tracked by a natural catastrophe; so I thought a post on wedding insurance was appropriate. So much has gone into planning your special day, your time, your heart and your money. Your wedding day should be perfect but when the unforeseen occurs, how do you recover all that you have invested? Wedding Insurance covers anything from sudden cancellation to stolen gifts to a damaged gown. The minimal investment in purchasing wedding insurance cannot be compared with priceless peace of mind.

The sooner that you invest in wedding insurance the better, unforeseen events can happen at anytime during your wedding process. A basic coverage under a wedding insurance policy will cover loss of photos, videos, attire, presents, rings, and deposits. The cost will be based on the amount of coverage that you want. I will usually not exceed $600 and can start as low as $150 General liability insurance, which covers up to $1,000,000 for accidents, costs around $185.

To avoid duplicating coverage, check with each of your vendors to see what type of coverage they have and what it will cover. Ask your vendors for a copy of their policy, and then figure out where you aren't fully covered.


I found some companies that offer wedding insurance.

Wedsafe.com

WedSafe® offers two wedding insurance products that can be purchased individually or as a package to help provide security and protect the wedding of your dreams.

Wedding Event Cancellation / Postponement PlusInsurance – protects your financial investment in your wedding; covers cancellation / postponement, lost deposits, and more.

This policy covers your wedding against extreme situations that might cause postponement (severe weather, accident, sudden illness) and against financial loss if the event goes on but you have a glitch along the way – no-show vendors, lost photographs, damage to the wedding gown, and more.


Wedding Liability Insurance – protects you against financial liability arising from your wedding; required by many venues.

Wedsafe's wedding liability coverage protects you on your wedding day – if you're held responsible for alcohol-related accidents, property damage, or bodily injury at your wedding or arising from it. This type of insurance is now required by many venues.

Protectmywedding.com also offers coverage for as little as $160. They offer this through Traveller's insurance coverage.

The coverage provided by this company is similar to Wedsafe.com including Call of duty insurance geared towards military couples.

Research and decide if wedding insurance is right for you.

Etsy Wedding Treasure Chest -pt 1

Borrowing a concept from Etsy, I decided to do a wedding treasury. My treasury is made from some very interesting shops I found on my Etsy adventure.



Stunning crystal pave pops against beautiful Swarovski pearls! These would be perfect as part of your wedding day jewelry ensemble. I love dangling earrings, if you have an oval, heart, or round shaped face these earrings would be perfect. Check out CarolineMariet's shop for more beautiful jewelry.



There is something about cuff bracelets that I like; there substantial and make quite a statement. This cuff bracelet is approximately 1 inch in width and measures 7 inches (18 cm) in length. It comprises of 274 Swarovski crystals!! Wow Color of the crystal is "Crystal Silver Shade".

If you are after a different color from the one shown here or a different clasp (such as gold instead of silver) or ribbon etc, let the designer and she will be happy to customize your jewelry. Allow up to 5 working days for item to be made. Check out SeDuCe on Etsy. Check out this shop for its large selection of unique jewelry.


Even before I saw the description these earrings reminded me of the phenomenon known as the Aurora Borealis. Perfectly named Aura these earrings may not make it to your wedding, but they have made it to my treasury because of their uniqueness..just like its name sake.

These rock crystals are permanently coated with an AB (aurora borealis) finish that makes them absolutely glow!
Two chunky 12mm faceted rock crystal AB briolettes are wire wrapped with non-tarnish silver Artistic wire. Each earring hangs on a sterling silver ear wire.
The Aura earrings measure about 1 1/2 inches long. You could find these on Etsy at beachflowerdesigns

Be Inspired by fabulous jewelry!!!!!!!

How to choose a Photographer

I posted this on my blog last year and thought that I would share it with you again. Expert and very talented photographer Erica Lyn shares her insights on choosing a wedding photographer


As a wedding planner it is important for me to connect with the vendors that I work with. More often than not, when I meet a wedding professional they have an excitement and a passion for their work. As one who is extremely passionate about her work, I love to be surrounded with the energy that other passionate wedding professionals bring.

One such wedding professional is Erica Lyn of Erica Lyn Photography. In her words, she loves, loves, loves what she does! This passion pours through to her photos, enabling her to get those wonderful unscripted photos that her clients love so much! She spent many years before shooting weddings, shooting people as well as shooting many various events and fashion-related assignments, which she still adores shooting. When I spoke to her about writing an photography article for my blog she jumped at the idea. Thank you Erica!!!!

Here is a Erica's insights on choosing your wedding photographer.

"Every young girl at one point or another dreams of their wedding day! The dress, the shoes, the glitz & glamour and well of course, the groom :) But how about the wedding photography part of it all, the wedding photographer? This most special day has to be captured in it's true, elegant glory and in a style that reflects both you and your partner. Sound simple? Not necessarily so.



Choosing a wedding photographer should take some time and research. The first step is talking to your partner and deciding on what style best suits the both of you. There is traditional wedding photography, which focusing more on portraits and more posed shots, along with covering the main details of your wedding and some candids. There is also photojournalistic wedding photography, which documents the day as it unfolds naturally; it is also the most unobtrusive style of photography. More direction is given to the couples with traditional style photography as opposed to the photojournalistic style, since the photographer should be like a fly on the wall, not really interfering with the natural flow of the day.



There are also photographers who fall in between the two shooting style extremes that could work well, I would say their style is Nontraditional. Once you have established what style you are leaning towards, your hunt for a photographer should be easier. Usually, we get our first impressions of a photographer's work by visiting their web-site. I would suggest looking at as many web-sites as you can, browsing through their wedding portfolio's as well as finding out what their prices are and what they offer for that price. I would also suggest asking them again what their main shooting style is and then telling them as well what kind of style and feel you are going for. Once you feel you have an initial connection with a photographer/s, you should set up a time to meet in person to review their work. You should also bring a long a list of questions that you would like answered. It's a good idea to meet more than one photographer in your search. You definitely want to compare work as well as seeing if their work truly fits your style, as well as budget.



My personal opinion and experience in working with hundreds of brides and in meeting many new ones almost every day, is to go with your gut feeling. At the end of the day, it's a very important decision, a personal decision and an expensive one, so you want to make sure it is truly worth it and that it feels right. Don't get snickered in choosing just some random wedding photographer because your parents want you to go with that studio or if a family friend offers to shoot your wedding for free, it may sound tempting, but is it really worth the gamble? You have to do your research. I got married 6 years ago, before I even knew anything about weddings and wedding photography for that matter, and my husband, fiance at the time had a coworker who knew a newspaper photographer that could give us a great deal. Well, since we were paying for the wedding ourselves, we jumped on the idea and hired her without even looking at any other photographers. Well what can I say, my pictures are unfortunately not up to par with what I ever expected and we definitely regret our impulsive decision.



Aside from being a professional wedding photographer I was once a former bride myself that has been there, in your shoes. I can relate and can share my experience and opinions with you, in hopes to give you additional insight in the importance of finding the wedding photography style that fits the both of you perfectly, but most importantly in helping you find the perfect wedding photographer for that one special day that has been long, long awaited. All the best.. Erica Lyn, www.ericalynphotography.com.

All photos compliment of Erica Lyn Photography

How to choose a Wedding Planner

Continuing our week of "How to's" when planning a wedding, Marcy Blum shares insights on how to decide if you a Wedding Planner is right for you. A wedding planner will act as a consultant through the process of planning your dream wedding. Wedding planners will have a list of vendors that they worked with in the past. They will recommend the best vendor to fit into your wedding style and budget. The planner that you choose will work with the wedding professionals that you have chosen; they will ensure that the details are set according to your desires. Don’t consider a wedding planner an extra expense, consider the planning part of your wedding budget.



Also see,

How to Choose a wedding cake

How to choose the right necklace for your neckline

How To Choose A Wedding Cake

Carly Roney, Editor In Chief of The Knot.com shares tips on choosing your wedding cake.

How to choose the Right Necklace for any Neckline

By: Tina Black

Necklaces can make or break your outfit. When worn correctly, they’ll help you achieve a look that is pulled together and memorable. Avoid the common fashion missteps that occur when you pair the wrong necklaces with the right necklines. Take these tips from our experts and get ready to conquer the upcoming fall season with necklaces that will flatter your figure.

V-Neck – This style of neckline already draws the eye to a certain focal point. By adding simple pendant necklaces to tops that have sharp lines, you’ll be balancing the look perfectly.

Boat neck – This cut can be tricky when trying to choose jewelry. You can always go for a pair of great dangly earrings, but long pendant necklaces work well too. Be sure to choose something that is longer than the neckline.

Open collar – With an open neckline, you have a little bit more freedom to do something fun and fashion forward. As this is the season of statement necklaces, take advantage of the trend and grab one to dress up a plain white button down shirt. A bright burst of color can take this basic from good to great. Gold and sterling silver tone necklaces are a good choice for the office. Look for necklaces with longer chains or multiple strands.

Strapless – Necklaces that are close to the collarbone work well with strapless dresses or tops. Wear something with sparkle to grab attention at night, or try a beaded number during the day. Choker or statement necklaces work well.

Turtlenecks – During those fall and winter months, sweaters and turtlenecks reign supreme. Try necklaces that are long and colorful to brighten up outfits that are conservative and classic.

Square – Short or mid length pendant necklaces help you to balance out a square neck. When choosing between necklaces, opt for chains that are significantly shorter or longer than the neckline.

About the Author

Fine me more at my blog Jewelry Style, and if you are a big fan of fabulous necklaces and cubic zirconia jewelry you could land on the blog to find what you want.

(ArticlesBase SC #1161409)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - How to Choose the Right Necklace for any Neckline

Choosing a Wedding Officiant

The values shared in your relationship should be reflected in your wedding. Choosing the right officiant is an important part of planning your wedding. Finding an officiant that will understand your personalities and needs will be important in creating a special ceremony. If you and your fiance are currently active members of a church community, finding an officiant will not be a difficult. You may have grown up in this church or have been a member for a very long time and there is no question that this clergy member will be your officiant.

If this is not the case your shared ideals will help you choose the wedding officiant that is right for you. Remembering that this is the most sacred part of the wedding day, the act of bringing together at the altar cannot be left to just anyone.

Here are the different types of wedding ceremonies that you may have. Deciding what type of ceremony you want to have will help you choose the right Wedding Officiant:

Religious: If you and your partner share a common religious background or want to raise your children in a particular faith, this is probably the best choice for you.

Secular: If you're not particularly religious and you want to incorporate a lot of personal elements into your wedding ceremony, a secular ceremony will work best for you.

Interfaith: If you both come from different religious backgrounds, incorporate both into your ceremony, but make sure that your faith permits it. Options for an interfaith wedding are nondenominational minister who can incorporate elements of both religions into the ceremony, or two officiants who will do the ceremony together.

Check here to see questions to ask on your first phone call:

Wedding Jewelry Treasure Chest

As part of an online sales group I have met alot of talented business women. One such woman is Trudy owner of MommaGoddess, an Etsy shop. I purchased one of her pieces for my daughter's 13th birthday. Her customer service made my shopping experience a great one. As a fan of Etsy and always in search of great finds to share with my readers I searched through her site in search of some unique wedding jewelry. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found to share (and add to my own wishlist).

This first item I actually had a chance to preview before the listing (perks of being in this group). I thought it was a beautiful piece and envisioned it as part of a beautiful bridal hair-do.



Aptly named "Here comes the Bride" this piece brings the traditional look to your wedding look. It's white pearls with crystal dividers. Matching earrings available.




Traditional with a twist, this gorgeous mix of cream freshwater pearls, wine glass pearls, ivory glass pearls, clear crystals, and delicate silver plate chain update the traditional pearl wedding jewelry. Great for mother of the bride, bridesmaids, or even the bride who likes to step out of the box.



This by far is my favorite piece and will probably be my next purchase from Trudy, it speaks to my love of earth tones. This necklace would be a lovely gift for your bridesmaids. Different colors for each one or made to match your wedding colors. Antique Bronze chain, organza ribbon, Swarovski crystals in smoked topaz, and bronze glass pearls.


Stop by Trudy's shop to view all of her beautiful and unique pieces.

Be Inspired by beautiful jewelry!!!!!!