Inspirations for a Fall Wedding:

Fall is a wonderful time of the year when the weather starts to get cool and the leaves change from vibrant hues of greens to various shades of red and orange. It is also a great time to incorporate these wonderful colors into your fall wedding. If you live in an area where the climate is still a bit warmer during the fall then you may be able to take advantage of the beautiful natural fall outdoor scenery as a ceremony backdrop.

Photo Credits: www.kamat.com ; blog.pinkcakebox.com www.superweddings.com www.indianweddings.wordpress.com

Real Weddings: Cherry and Marko

(The lovely bride smiling just before she goes down the aisle with her brother.)

(Bridesmaid and groomsman ready to walk down the aisle.)

(Bride getting last minute directions from me before walking down the aisle.)

(Ensuring everyone is lined up in the correct order for the processional.)

On Saturday September 26, we had the pleasure of being apart of Cherry and Marko's wedding day at the Embassy Suites in Old Town Alexandria, VA. The bride looked absolutely gorgeous in her ivory retro wedding gown , birdcage veil, and long gloves. Her bouquet was stunning with accents of peacock feathers and diamonds.

The wedding party wore lapis (eggplant), black, and ivory. The reception room was decorated using eggplant as the primary color with accents of teal.

Honeymoon Gift Registry

A honeymoon registry is a great alternative to the traditional wedding gift registry for those soon-to-marry couples. Most of the clients I work with already have the household necessities one might acquire through a traditional wedding gift registry, but still want to offer a way for their guests to provide them a gift. A honeymoon registry generally works by allowing a couple to select elements of their honeymoon that friends and family may buy as wedding gifts.

At http://www.marriottregistry.com/ engaged couples can register for a number of honeymoon items – hotel accommodations, spa services, romantic dinners and more. Gift values are accrued to one gift card, which the couple can then redeem at approximately 3,000 Marriott's either during the honeymoon or for future vacations. Additionally, Marriott will throw in a complimentary $100 when registry contributions reach $1,000 as well as rewarding guests with $50 Marriott Bonus Bucks for every $150 they give towards the registry.

To our valued readers we would like to hear about your dream honeymoon destination. We will select 2 winners who will receive $50.00 Bonus Bucks from the Marriott Hotel!! In the comments section simply state where you would like to go on your dream honeymoon and why. We will select 2 winners with the most unique honeymoon destination. Please be sure to leave your email address so we may contact you if you are chosen as the winner. Contest ends September 30, 2009.

Miss Teen Northern Virginia Pageant 2009

We are so excited to announce that Elegant Events by Tiffany received a personal invitation to be a part of the judging panel for the Miss Teen Northern Virginia Pageant 2009 (http://www.nationalsincorporated.com/). This will be our first time judging a pageant and we consider it an honor. All of the other judges are just like us, members of the community, from the social service sector, business and professionals, and individuals representing the beauty or entertainment industry in one capacity or another. The pageant will take place on Saturday September 26 and Sunday September 27 in Herndon and Woodbridge, Virginia. In addition to the grand prizes the winners will receive, we would like to offer to the winners and runners up a small prize as well.

To our readers please help us decide on a prize to offer:
A.) Simon Mall Gift Card;
B.) 1- year subscription to Teen Vogue Magazine;
C.) 1- year subscription to Seventeen Magazine;
D.) Spa service gift certificate

A Cancelled Wedding

Elegant Events was working with a couple for over a year meticulously planning their Labor Day weekend wedding. To our dismay, the wedding was cancelled 5 days before the big event! I know a cancelled wedding would be a nightmare situation for all brides, but sometimes things happen that are not within our control. Other times a cancelled wedding may be a blessing in disguise.
One of the biggest issues with a cancelled wedding is the forfeiture of deposits. Some vendors and venues will require you to pay the entire contracted amount even in the event of a cancellation so it is imperative that you read your contracts carefully and feel comfortable with cancellation policies. Most couples don’t think they would ever need to cancel the wedding when they start the planning process, but anything can happen and you want to be sure the cancellation policy is fair and equitable.
So how do you break the news to your guests? First, you should make every effort to inform your guest as soon as possible. In this particular situation, the wedding was 5 days away; each guest should be notified of the cancellation by phone. Many guest may ask you why you are canceling, you are not obligated to explain. If pressed for a reason, you could say, "We made the mutual decision to not get married right now."

Hair Jewelry

A Veil, Tiara, or Barrette ...Oh My! When selecting your hair accessory you should always consider the style of your dress and the formality of your ceremony. If your dress has detailed lace or beading you may prefer a small crystal hair comb or a pearl tiara comb. If your gown is simple and has very little or no detail, choose an exquisite eye-catching crystal tiara. If you want to go with the more traditional look a lovely veil will always work. When you consult with your hair stylist, you should bring photos of hair styles you like, a photo of your dress, and bring hair accessories you are contemplating wearing. This should help you find the style that best suits you and your dress.

(Photo Credit: http://www.headpieceheaven.com/)

Bridal Gowns & Cocktail Dresses Trunk Shows

Hannelore's of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia has several designer trunk shows scheduled for the month of September. Hannelore's is located at 106 North Lee St. in Alexandria, VA. During these trunk shows brides can learn about the latest bridal fashion trends.

• September 11-13: Designer:Nicole Miller--Bridal Gowns & Cocktail Dresses
• September 11-13: Designer:Rivini-- Bridal Spring & Summer 2010 Collection
• September 18-20: Designer: Anne Barge-- Bridal Spring & Summer 2010 Collection
• September 25-28: Designer: Christina Garcia-- Headpieces, Veils, & Jewelry
• September 25-28: Designer: Badgley Mischka-- Special Occasion Gowns & Cocktail Dresses

(PHOTO CREDITS: http://weddings.about.com/; http://www.allbridesbeautiful.com%20 http://www.weddingbells.ca/http://www.weddingbells.ca/ )

When a Friend Is Getting Married … and You're Not

I read a very interesting article in the lifestyle section of MSN.com about how to cope with being single while your friend is planning her wedding. I can recall several years ago when one of my good friends announced that she was engaged. At the time, I was still single and looking for Mr. Right, and I experienced some of the emotions this article discusses especially jealousy. This is an issue that not a lot of women like to talk about because we really don’t ever want to admit that we are jealous. The article identified five ways on how to cope with the emotions:

1. Accept That Jealousy Is, Yep, Normal
2. Don't Fall into the Bash-Yourself Trap
3. Be Honest About Whether You're Ready for a Ring Right Now
4. Throw Yourself into Wedding

5. Confess Your Feelings

An Elegant Venue: Morrison House Old Town Alexandria, VA

On Friday August 14 my client and I went on two venue visits in Old Town Alexandria, VA. The first venue we went to was La Bergerie. La Bergerie is an excellent choice for those couples who enjoy the unique style of French and Basque cuisine. The venue is absolutely gorgeous and the owner Laurent Janowsky responds to all inquires in a timely manner.

The second venue we visited was the Morrison House, a Kimpton Hotel. The Morrison House is absolutely breathtaking! You and your guests will find yourselves surrounded by the classic warmth, sophistication and style for which this historic Old Town hotel is so well known. The Parlor and Library make a beautiful setting for ceremonies or cocktails for up to 50 guests. The Morrison House can also host elegant dinners for up to 72, or cocktail-style receptions for up to 100 guests that flow throughout the event space. Needless to say, my client decided to have her October 10 wedding ceremony and reception at the Morrison House.

Freebie Friday

Planning a wedding is fun, exciting, and expensive. There are several ways newly engaged couples can help offset the expense of planning their big day. Vendors specializing in weddings often advertise contests and promotions and giveaways. Most of these promotions can be found by visiting their website or simply calling to ask if they are offering any specials or promotions. I took the liberty of compiling a short list of current giveaways and promotions:

1. David's Bridal: Win a free bridal gown or 5 bridal party dresses of your choice.
2. Sabel Studios: Win a Sabel Studios' Essentials Plus Package ($2,000 value), which will detail all the special moments of your day.Included in the package are:
   Certified Photographer for 6 hours;Digital Negatives on DVD;Photo Site for 6 months to view & share; Up to 30 loose prints; Modern Album 9x12
3. Perfect Wedding Guide: $100,000 Fantasy Wedding Giveaway

For rules and additional information please click on the links above and visit the websites.

Just in case the free dress isn't exactly what you dreamed...have a backup plan. :-)