Gown Guidance

Now I know that planning a wedding can be overwhelming at times, and finding that one perfect dress you've imagined yourself in since you were a little girl is one of those times.

Julie Sabatino, owner of The Stylish Bride can help make finding your dream gown an enjoyable and fun experience, which it should be.

Julie covers the bridal fashion and accessory market every season and views the latest designs from every designer including: Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, Elizabeth Fillmore and Amsale. Her relationships with bridal salons, such as Kleinfeld, Mark Ingram's Bridal Atelier as well as independent designer salons allows her to get appointments and work in advance to ensure that the right dresses are available for you to try on.

Once you find your dream gown Julie will help you accessorize it with the perfect veil, headpiece, jewelry and even find the right undergarments too. She can also assist you in finding the best make-up artist and hair stylist to ensure that your wedding day look is complete.

Now just because Julie is based in New York doesn't mean she can't help you too. Through her New York Experience service Julie can arrange appointments with bridal salons for you on a visit to New York City. She will coordinate a schedule and arrange for a Town Car to take you to each appointment.

Click here to learn more about the services offered by The Stylish Bride

Grooms and Their Cakes

Lets face it, the groom only has so much say in the details of the wedding. So why not surprise him with a cake just for him?

The groom's cake is all about the groom. It should resemble his favorite pastime and taste of his favorite flavors. Remember the red velvet armadillo from "Steel Magnolias"? That cake is the perfect example of a groom's cake - his college team mascot combined with his favorite flavor.

Is he a sport fanatic or food lover? Does he have a hobby or special interest? Bring some ideas to your baker and view their sculpted cakes portfolio to learn what his or her strengths are.

And when it comes to taste, the wedding cake is usually a traditional flavor like chocolate or a white cake. So make the groom's cake something complimentary as well as your fiance's favorite. You can make it passion fruit, red velvet, cheesecake or even strawberry shortcake.



The BLT Sandwich with Pickle cake pictured above was created by Duff Goldman at Charm City Cakes in Baltimore. The Yankee Hat cake on the right was sculpted by Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes in New York City.

Guest Room Goodies

If you have guests coming in from out of town it's customary to leave a guest room gift for them at their hotel.

A guest room gift can be a simple or elaborate package depending on how much you want to spend and how many items you want to include. Your guests will appreciate anything you have waiting for them so don't think you need to spend a fortune.

In addition to information on weekend events - the rehearsal dinner, golf outings, post-wedding brunch - you should also include a welcome note from the bride and groom and a small token gift.

When trying to decide what the gift the should be, remember that food is always a favorite. You can choose something you and your fiance enjoy, a local treat or a food or beverage that compliments the wedding location. Here are a few ideas:

Atlanta = Peaches
Arizona = Arizona Ice Tea
Atlantic City = Taffy
New York City = "Big Apple" Cookies
San Francisco = Ghirardelli Chocolates
Ski Resort = Hot Cocoa Mix and Marshmallows

The caramels pictured above are from Route 29 Napa, and at $6 a box they are not only delicious but affordable too.

Sweet as Sugar

Aren't these sugar cubes just fabulous!

Whether or not your bridesmaids are planning a traditional tea for your shower, these monogrammed sugar cubes are the perfect addition to the dessert table.

If your shower, like most brides, is a surprise then casually forward this link, or mention to mom, your sister or best friend how cute you think they are. They'll get the hint. If your nervous they won't, then just tell the hosts you like them and want them at your shower.

If they don't make an appearance, and pink is in your palette, order them in the initial of your married last name and serve them with coffee and tea at the wedding.

These sugar cubes are available in almost every letter, in a box of 18 through Plum Party.

Dancing Machine

Lets face it, a killer band or DJ can make or break your wedding. It's very important to find musicians who can play music that you, your parents and grandparents can enjoy and most importantly, music everyone can dance to.

Here are a few tips on hiring and working with a wedding band or DJ:

1 - What type of music will your guests enjoy? Like most couples, your guest list will be multi-generational so look for a band that can play music from the 40s through the 60s, 70s and today's top hits too. If you are only inviting your friends, you should find a group that specializes in contemporary music, or your favorite genre - swing, country, salsa, etc...

2 - Don't take their word for it. Ask to see them perform. Many bands and DJs perform at showcases where brides and grooms can hear and see a band's music as well as how they interact with an audience.

3 - The Play and Do Not Play Lists. Go over song playlists with family and friends to make sure the one song your mom has to have played is accounted for — and explain that requests will likely not be allowed at the wedding. Don’t take the chance that mom, dad or any of your gusts will request the “Funky Chicken.”

If you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area check out Absolute Entertainment. With a roster of DJs, classical musicians, vocalists and a variety of reception bands including: party, swing, country and latin bands, Absolute Entertainment can provide entertainment from the ceremony to cocktail hour and through the reception.

Setting the Tone

An invitation is much more than just informing guests of the logistics - where, when and how to get to the wedding.

Your wedding invitation is the first detail your guests will see as to what type of wedding you are having - formal or informal, beach or ballroom - so it is important to pick an invitation that will convey the feeling, or tone, you and your fiance want to set.

For example, don't send a beach themed invitation if you're getting married in a ballroom and want everyone in a tuxedo and formal gown.

If you're not sure what type of invitation you want - let's face it choosing the right paper, color and motif can be confusing - turn to the professionals at Dauphine Press. You can choose from their existing letterpress wedding stationery or let their designs inspire you, and work with them, to customize your invitation.

Simple elements such as the ink color, motif, typeface, wraps, envelope liners, ribbon and other embellishments can help you personalize your invitation and make it stand out from the “cookie cutter” invites all your friends are mailing out.

Click here to view wedding invitations by Dauphine Press.

Honeymoon High

I'm assuming you know what the Mile High Club is, and if you're not a member, and thinking of joining, your honeymoon is the perfect opportunity. All you need is a bit of courage and the Mile High Kit.

The Mile High Kit is a sleek and discrete travel case filled with erotic goodies. It is small enough to tag along with you wherever you may wander.

The kit contains two sets of items. The first section includes a set of scented cloths, a tin of hot cinnamon mints, a folding pocket mirror, a blindfold, and a "do not disturb" door hanger. The second set contains bottles of massage oil and personal lubricant, a feather tickler, a mini-personal massager, three condoms, and a pleasure ring. The kit is available in tangerine and silver.

For those of you who think the complete kit is a bit much, you can purchase a mini-kit, the size of a deck of cards, which includes a lipstick mirror, a whisper-quiet mini-massager, two condoms, and a bottle of lubricant.

So whether you'd like to be a member of the club, or planning a hot night on the ground, the Mile High Kit is a great gift to give a bride and groom at their respective bachlorette/bachelor parties, or a great gift to give each other on your wedding night.

You have to buy a gift for you new spouse anyway, make it one you both can enjoy.

Click here to purchase The Mile High Kit.

A Cut Above

As much as there is talk about what the bride should wear and how her make-up and hair should look, there is not enough talk about how the groom should be, well, groomed.

So why not treat your fiance to a haircut and shave by a professional barber for your wedding?

Salons for men are popping up all over the country, with barbers who know what they're doing with a scissor and a straight edge razor. You, and your groom, may be surprised to learn that these barber shops have a wide range of services including, shoe shines, manicures, custom tailoring and amenities such as complimentary beverages and pool tables.

Treat your fiance to a haircut, shave and any other services you think he needs, I mean you think he'd enjoy. He can even make a day out of it and bring his dad, brothers and groomsmen. As with your own hair, you may want to send him for a trial a few weeks or months before the big day to make sure you and he likes what they do.

Here are a few barber shops/salons for men across the country:

The Shave of Beverly Hills
State Street Barbers, Boston
316 Club Barber Spa, Chicago
Belmont Barber Shop, Chicago
The Boardroom Salon, Dallas
John Allan's, New York
Truman's Gentlemen's Groomers, New York
Shaving Grace, Philadelphia
Bay City Barber, San Francisco

Brides Against Breast Cancer

If you're still hunting for your dream gown, and live in the New York area, then you MUST attend the Brides Against Breast Cancer Wedding Gown Sale this week - Thursday, August 17th through Saturday, August 19th.

Brides can shop for discounted designer gowns from Carolina Herrera, Anne Barge, Paula Varsalona, Elizabeth Fillmore and Romona Keveza. Prices start at $250.

The event will be held at the Prince George Ballroom, located at 15 East 27th Street, and will kick-off with a VIP ticket-only preview sale Thursday the 17th.

Tickets for the sale are $20, available at the door, for a bride and 2 guests on Friday from 10am to 8pm and Saturday from 9am to 6pm.

VIP tickets are $150 and will provide early admission for a bride and one guest as well as a luxury goody bag. Here's a short list of what's included: a free make-up trial from Meredith Carre, custom designed notecards from SonicStef Designs and a special gift from Brides.com. VIP night brides will also be entered to win raffle prizes that include: a complimentary engagement photoshoot by Karenscape Photography, a $1,000 wedding cake from Confetti Cakes, complimentary flower girl dresses from Ladybug Collections, personal training sessions and a 5-night honeymoon at Raffles Resort Canouan Island.


VIP Tickets are available through, Making Memories.

And if you don't live in the tri-state area, click here to find out when the Wedding Gown Sale is coming to your town.

Proceeds from the Brides Against Breast Cancer Wedding Sale are donated to the Making Memories Foundation to make wishes come true for women with Breast Cancer.

To learn more about Brides Against Breast Cancer and the Making Memories Foundation, click here.

With This Ring

Once you get engaged, you'll be amazed at how many people will begin planning engagement parties, bridal showers and bachlorette parties in your honor.

You did know that you can have more than one of each type of party right?

Well, whether or not you're involved in planning any parties, check out these rocks.

Diamond napkin rings will add some bling and bridal fun to any table.

They're available in sets of four at Plum Party.

Flavored Favors

Even though favors are not required at a wedding, many brides and grooms like the idea of giving their guests a token gift as they say good-bye.

I find that the best favors are edible favors.

Many times you'll leave a wedding and recieve something that symbolizes love and romance, but don't you really love getting a delicious piece of candy or chocolate or even baked goods and a cup of coffee for the ride home?

Eleni's Cookies has a line of wedding themed cookies that make a delicious wedding favor. You can choose from cookies that read "I DO", wedding rings, ring boxes, hearts, or you can have Eleni create bride and groom cookies that look just like you!

Click here to learn more about cookie favors from Eleni's.