But when we find gorgeous flowers, combined with some bling, it’s like we’ve hit the jackpot.

We recently Audrey from Botanica Floral Designs to offer up some advice on how to add a little something extra to your wedding flowers.  Here’s what she had to say:

“What better way to finish off your bouquet than to add a little embellishment that won’t go unnoticed?  Think about adding one of these elements to the stems of your bouquet:

• your grandmother’s brooch
• a locket with a photo of a passed loved one
• a loved one’s rosary
• material from a loved one’s wedding dress or veil
• a favored necklace or bracelet of a loved one

Flowers by Botanica Floral Designs.

Flowers by Botanica Floral Designs. Photo by Gino Creglia Photography.

In addition to adding a special piece to your bouquet stems, you can also add embellishments into the flowers.

Consider decorative wiring, beading or even beautiful buttons to accent and complement your gown.

These little details will pick up just a bit of shimmer as you walk down the aisle and capture photos.”

Flowers by Botanica Floral Designs.

Flowers by Botanica Floral Designs. Photo by True Love Photo, copyright Real Weddings Magazine.

Thanks Audrey!

Be sure to check Real Weddings Magazines’ Style Files for even more fabulous flowers!

For more information on Audrey and her team at Botanica Floral Designs, visit their Web site or call them at 916-673-8650.

Blog Post by Editor/Publisher Wendy Sipple.

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Celebrity Make-up artist Laura Geller recently returned to QVC for her signature Laura Geller Makeup Studio launching two new products for the channel, including the Soft Touch Bronzer with Brush and Lash Spackle. We recently caught up with her to get a few make-up tips and ideas for the summer season:

DE:  How can we get a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow without spending hours in the damaging sun?

LG:  Body and face bronzers that are available are my preference over self tanners. Laura Geller Studio has a few great options including Baked Body Frosting Moisturizing Powder. This could be applied dry for a slight bronzed hue, or applied wet, it transforms into a much more golden color to the body and creates a satiny look. I wanted it to be portable so it can provide instant results wherever you are, so it’s not a liquid, it’s easy to apply, it won’t appear orange and it doesn’t streak. Also, brand new and currently exclusive to QVC is my Soft Touch Air Whipped Bronzer. This is the quickest way to transform milky white skin naturally, as it warms with the heat of your body. It also has no shimmer or sparkle, so it provides more of a matte finish to the bronzed look.

DE:  What are some of the make-up trends we’ll see this summer for both daytime and evening looks?

LG: You’re going to see a lot of peach and coral colors and bronzing is back stronger than ever. There was a time when milky white skin was in, but this year, bronze is really strong so you’re going to see colors that exemplify the summer look – peach, coral, bronze. LASHES are being played up as well, but in a very soft and natural way. The look is not the heavily made-up look, it’s the easy, natural summer beauty look.

Want more? Tune in to QVC to get more great tips and see great products!

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.

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Just when we thought Michael Anderson, Wedding Entertainment Director™ at Creative Memories Entertainment had shared all his valuable tricks of the trade, he’s come at a third time with another great tip. This time, he grabs the microphone and discusses..drumroll please…reception introductions!

“You both said ‘I DO,’ the photos are done, now it’s time for the party to begin! We have all been to countless weddings where the wedding party gets introduced with nothing more than their first names and a song in the background, if they’re lucky.

The truth is that this celebration is more like a family reunion for the first time. Although everyone in the room will know who the two of you are, not everyone will know who the wedding party is and why they are so important as to be picked to be in the wedding party.

One way to ensure a great start to your reception and create a lot a fun is to incorporate a custom introduction with the help of your emcee.

A personalized biographical introduction is a great way for your guests to get a glimpse into the memories you have had with the members of your wedding party. You can include information about your relationship to each (relative, friend, how long), where they live, their occupation and /or educational status (i.e. college student, high school student), their relationship status (single/engaged/married), etc. Also feel free to include such information like, what they would be most famous for or most likely voted likely to do in life. The size of your wedding party should determine how much detail you will go into. You don’t want it taking too long or it will lose its appeal. Inside jokes will never come off well as it will leave most of your guests in the dark about the true story behind the story.

If you do choose this style of introduction, it is extremely important that your entertainment vendor fully understands how to do this properly so it won’t be presented poorly. Ask to see video footage of them doing this style of introduction to see what the guests reaction is and how well they present the beginning of your wedding celebration.”

Thanks Mike for the great advice!

Stay tuned to Real Weddings Magazine for more guest bloggers with expert tips!

For more information on Creative Memories Entertainment, visit them at www.creativememoriesdj.com or call 916-344-7000.

Also be sure to check out Mike’s profile on Real Weddings Magazine and check out his blog!

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.

Photo courtesy of Mike Anderson, Creative Memories Entertainment.

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There is nothing like having your own personal hair and make-up team (just ask our cover model finalists!), and for your wedding day, we think it’s one of the essentials so that you can picture perfect.

We recently asked hair and make-up pro Raquel Siders from Image Provocateur and VIP-Cat Make-up Academy (she was on the hair and make-up team for this issue’s Real Weddings Magazine cover model winner Kimmi — pictures featured here),to offer up some advice on finding the right make-up artist for your big day! Here’s her advice:

“If you are planning on hiring a professional make-up artist on your wedding day, find an artist you are comfortable with, one who listens to your needs and one who offers constructive advice. Look at portfolios if available and do a trial run so you can see how you will look on your wedding day.

At the time of the trial run try and have your hair done in the way you’ll be wearing it on your wedding day as different hairstyles influence the way your make-up should be done.

When you decide on the lipstick, lip pencil and perhaps gloss and powder you will be wearing the day of your wedding, ask the make-up artist if it is possible to purchase those particular products for the day of your wedding as touch ups in those particular areas will be required.

If you have a particular color you want to wear on your lips, bring it to the trial run and see if it works with the overall look.

Some make-up artists will ask the bride and the bridal party to bring their own mascara. This is for sanitary reasons only! It is always a good idea to take this precaution.

Make sure when doing your trial run to view make-up in different lights if that is possible because on your wedding day, you’ll be having photos taken in multiple areas. It is ideal to apply make-up in a room with natural light.

And finally, if you feel comfortable with your make-up at the end of your trial run, you should try to book the artist immediately because if you are marrying during a busy season your make-up artist probably won’t be able to hold the date without a commitment.”

Thanks Raquel!

Stay tuned to Real Weddings Magazine for more guest bloggers with expert tips!

For more information on Raquel and her team at Image Provocateur and VIP-Cat Make-up Academy, visit their Blog, Web site or call them at 916-474-5578.

Real Weddings Magazine Winter/Spring 2010 Cover Model Finalist photo shoot photography by Jodi Yorston Photography. For additional credits on dresses and flowers, please see page 60.

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.

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We’ve got some more great advice from Michael Anderson, Wedding Entertainment Director™ at Creative Memories Entertainment.

We think Mike’s got some pretty fantastic answers on wedding entertainment…so, Mike, how does a couple find the perfect DJ?

“This is a common question, and I would guess that 90% of brides think to themselves ‘Ok, what am I supposed to ask? I know, how much do you charge?’ Although this is an important question, it may be more important to ask, ‘Are you available for my wedding date?’ Let’s face it, regardless of how cheap or expensive a service is, you are not going to want to book them unless they are going to provide you with the experience and service you want for one of the most important days of your lives.

Below are some great questions to ask to get the ball rolling and find out if the service is right for you.

1. How many years of experience do you have in weddings, and how many weddings do you perform at each year?

2. What will you do to ensure I will have a good time at my wedding?

3. What are some of the unique things you have done in the past for your clients to make their day extra special?

4. Will I get to meet my DJ before I sign a contract and will his name be listed on the contract?

5. Do you have any references of past clients and other wedding professionals who have worked with you?

6. When can we meet to find out more about what you can do for my wedding?

Please keep in mind that you can only learn so much on the phone about a particular company or DJ. It is so important to take the time to meet the DJ in person to make sure their personality, service, and creativity will be a perfect accent to your wedding celebration.”

Thanks Mike!

Stay tuned to Real Weddings Magazine for more guest bloggers with expert tips!

For more information on Creative Memories Entertainment, visit them at www.creativememoriesdj.com or call 916-344-7000.

Also be sure to check out Mike’s profile on Real Weddings Magazine and check out his blog!

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.

Photo courtesy of Mike Anderson, Creative Memories Entertainment.

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This week, she addresses the topic of guestbooks. Take it away Kate! 

“Recessionista Bride Stevie wanted something special for her guests to sign as they arrived to her wedding extravaganza – and a simple guestbook wasn’t going to cut it!

We poured over concepts until we came to the conclusion – the Guestbook Quilt was the ONLY way to go for Stevie!

When guests arrived, they were greeted with a guestbook attendant that explained the rules:

• Take a pre-cut pinking-sheared square,

• Use a fabric safe pen,

• Remember to write your sentiment in the center, and

• Pin it to the clothesline!

We set the table with a custom-designed Guestbook Quilt sign, filled a golden vase with gilded clothes pins and set a tray full of quilt squares topped with fabric pens.

The clothesline kept its shape, weighed-down by interspersed photos of the bride and groom. This kept the squares on display so that guests could view the couple’s photos while reading sentiments left by others throughout the evening.

Stevie’s aunt would collect the squares after the wedding, as her gift, and create a custom heirloom wedding quilt that could be enjoyed for years to come!

If you are inspired to do a Guestbook Quilt and plan to sew the quilt yourself, the true price of the guestbook can be considered a deferred cost – you can budget for the remainder of the quilt after the expense of the wedding has passed.

A quick tip:  keep the signing squares in a neutral color so that sentiments are easy to read and they can be paired with fabrics that match your home, not just your wedding palette.

Inspired to do a non-traditional guestbook? Here are a few ideas to get your brainstorming started:

For the Wine Lovers: Purchase a giant bottle of your favorite vino or champagne and have your guests sign directly onto the bottle using a glass pen in a pretty metallic color. Bonus: pop the cork on your anniversary to celebrate!

For the Music Lovers: Have your guests sign a guitar (acoustic or electric) using a Sharpie in your favored colors. The instrument can be mounted on the wall in your home to be enjoyed where you play or listen to music together.

For the Food Lovers: For a guestbook that can be displayed in the room where you spend the most time, your kitchen, purchase a large ceramic platter. Make sure to use a permanent ceramic paint pen, so the loving words aren’t washed away. Post-wedding, place your platter on an easel to proudly display it a la countertop.

For the Art Lovers: Turn your guestbook into a custom work of art by allowing guests to color in portions of a custom canvas. Create a faint grid using a pencil and surround the canvas with your choice of medium: markers, crayons, colored pencils. Make sure that the art won’t make a mess, as your guests will most likely be dressed in their best!

The options are endless!  Can you think of a non-traditional guestbook that reflects the hobbies of you and your fiancée’s unique hobbies?”

Tune back in to the Real Weddings Magazine blog on February 27th for the next installment in the Recessionista Bride Blog Series: One Room Wonders

About Kate Miller Events (in their own words):

Kate Miller Events offers full-scale event and wedding planning of extraordinary detail for the bride and groom looking for that extra-special touch. We will keep you organized, on or under budget, and stress-free while designing the wedding of your dreams. We are committed to making sure your day goes off without a hitch — except for the hitching part of course!

Kate Miller Events offers new technology to keep all avenues of communication open and organized. Our excellent online client planning tools include customized checklists, payment calendars with email notifications, appointment tracking, online idea boards, and contract filing with easy access for all members of your wedding party. Our top-notch organization enables us to be your liaison to all of your vendors – we worry about the details so that you don’t have to.

All of our packages are unique and completely customized to fit your budget so that you only pay for the services that you need. We offer a wide range of planning services from Day of Coordination to Full Coordination/Design and everything in-between.

Be sure to check out Kate Miller Event’s Web site and Kate’s blog or call her at 888-808-KATE.

Photos above of Stevie’s Guestbook Quilt, one of our featured real weddings in the current issue of Real Weddings Magazine,  by Sarah Maren Photography. Kate Miller from Kate Miller Events worked with Stevie & Blake to achieve their perfect day. To read more about Stevie & Blake’s wedding and to view more photos from their wedding, pick up a copy of the current issue or click here.

Visit Real Weddings Magazine * Visit Style Media Group * Contact Real Weddings Sacramento Magazine

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Hello beautiful Real Weddings Magazine brides!

In our never-ending quest to provide you with inspiration and useful tips, we have enlisted the help of local wedding professionals to be guest bloggers on our site.

We’re so excited to present “The Recessionista Bride” blog series from uber-fabulous wedding planner Kate Miller of Kate Miller Events. Hit it Kate…

“What is a Recessionista? A recessionista is someone who seeks out fashionable items which are also low-cost.

With that said, our country has been through a challenging economic turmoil over the past couple of years and in return, the average wedding budget has been under the same monetary crunch.

Brides are looking to maximize every dollar in their wedding planning budget, while still having the wedding of the dreams – and, believe me when I say, it is possible!

One of my favorite weddings that we planned last year was Stevie and Blake (a featured real wedding in the current issue of Real Weddings Magazine).

This couple was on a very tight budget, but we were able to help the bride to think outside of the box and garner the help of her friends and family to create a truly amazing experience for her wedding guests. Stevie and Blake were to be first-time home buyers and their budget was suddenly considerably less than we had initially discussed. We were able to create a fashionable fete for 100 guests at a boutique hotel for half of their initial budget.

We always love a challenge, but this required out-of-the-box thinking from Stevie as well – after all, the traditional Reem Acra gown and Chivari chairs were certainly no longer in the picture. After investing in her wedding planner, she was willing to get creative in all aspects of her wedding planning and enlist her friends and family to help her with a multitude of DIY projects. So we made a budget and a plan to follow that budget.

The Recessionista Bride Series will cover the secrets to how we scrimped and saved to keep the costs low while spending our energy creatively to create a wedding of extraordinary detail for Stevie and Blake!”

Are you a Recessionista Bride? If so, what unique ways have you kept your wedding budget low?

Tune back in to the Real Weddings Magazine blog on February 2nd for the next installment: Recessionista Bride Series: Alter an Unexpected Dress

About Kate Miller Events (in their own words):

Kate Miller Events offers full-scale event and wedding planning of extraordinary detail for the bride and groom looking for that extra-special touch. We will keep you organized, on or under budget, and stress-free while designing the wedding of your dreams. We are committed to making sure your day goes off without a hitch — except for the hitching part of course!

Kate Miller Events offers new technology to keep all avenues of communication open and organized. Our excellent online client planning tools include customized checklists, payment calendars with email notifications, appointment tracking, online idea boards, and contract filing with easy access for all members of your wedding party. Our top-notch organization enables us to be your liaison to all of your vendors – we worry about the details so that you don’t have to.

All of our packages are unique and completely customized to fit your budget so that you only pay for the services that you need. We offer a wide range of planning services from Day of Coordination to Full Coordination/Design and everything in-between.

Be sure to check out Kate Miller Event’s Web site and Kate’s blog or call her at 888-808-KATE.

Photo above of Stevie (by Sarah Maren Photography), one of our featured real weddings in the current issue of Real Weddings Magazine. Kate Miller from Kate Miller Events worked with Stevie & Blake to achieve their perfect day. To read more about Stevie & Blake’s wedding and to view more photos from their wedding, pick up a copy of the current issue or click here.

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Leave it to the pros to offer up the best advice…take Michael Anderson, Wedding Entertainment Director™ at Creative Memories Entertainment. We asked Mike to offer up some advice of the subject of wedding entertainment, and naturally, he was a wealth of knowledge. Here’s the first of a few tips he sent over, this particular one on the art of the search for the right entertainment vendor:

“Ok, you have started the search for wedding entertainment and you realize, you have no idea where to begin. The first thing to do is accept the fact that you have no idea where to begin. The last time you were involved with booking a DJ was back in high school, and you were in the pep club. (Don’t worry, your secrets safe with me.) The truth is that that it may have been ok to book simply by price for a high school dance, but this may not be a good idea when it comes to a once in a lifetime day such as your wedding.

The first thing to know is that there are professionals out there who specialize in weddings. Think about it, there are a lot of traditions and events, and most likely, at your wedding, your guests age will range from eight to 80. When you start your search for the perfect entertainment for your wedding start by asking vendors whom you have already booked and see who they would recommend. Don’t be afraid to ask them one of the most important questions when getting a referral, ‘why do you recommend their services.’

Interesting statistics: After their wedding, 72% of all brides say they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment. When asked, 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment. These stat were published in 2003 and the sources include Simmons, 2001; USA Today, 2002; National Bridal Service, 2001; The Knot, 2002; and Brides Magazine 2001.

This makes you think a lot about the entertainment for your wedding day. It’s not that the entertainment is the most important part of the wedding, but most would agree that it can have the most impact on your wedding. One of the main reasons for this is a famous quote from the movie The Wedding Singerstaring Adam Sandler. ‘I have a microphone, so you will listen to every word I have to say.’”

Thanks Mike!

Stay tuned to Real Weddings Magazine for more guest bloggers with expert tips! 

For more information on Creative Memories Entertainment, visit them at www.creativememoriesdj.com or call 916-344-7000.

Also be sure to check out Mike’s profile on Real Weddings Magazine and check out his blog!

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.

• Carrot cake…in the shape of a carrot! Get Out Of Town! This is probably the funniest cake I made all year. We were going for realism, but, even before I made it, the idea alone made me giggle!
• Peanut Butter and Jelly…this has taken several forms. The PB&J Sandwich: white cake layered with peanut butter buttercream and strawberry jam. Not your Mom’s PB&J, but it’s pretty dang tasty and your guests are going to laugh when they hear the flavor!
• S’mores…as cake! Chocolate Cake with graham crackers baked in and topped with marshmallow fluff. Yes, I have had clients who don’t like frosting. This is a great option and just before serving the tops of the marshmallow can be burned so you get that fresh from the campfire feeling.
• Chocolate Chip Cookies…nope, not the Toll House variety. This one is made with white cake that has mini chocolate chips baked into it, and then it’s filled and frosted with a brown sugar buttercream. I’m telling you, that buttercream tastes just like cookie dough…totally irresistible.
• Malted Milkshake…who says that malted milk balls have to stay on the candy station? This cake is made up of alternating layers of vanilla cake and chocolate ganache, and then is frosted with malted buttercream and decorated with crushed malt balls. An easy wedding translation would be to bake the malt balls into the cake or to nestle the pieces into the ganache. Either way… YUM!

Ok, love these ideas Carissa!!! How fun!

About Sugar and Spice and…
Sugar and Spice and… creates desserts as unique and special as you and your event. They believe you CAN have you cake and eat it too, but you can also have mousse, pies and tarts, crème brûlée, or éclairs! Special events are just that, SPECIAL and nothing says PARTY like those sweet little bites at the end of the party.

Be sure to check out Sugar and Spice and…’s Web site: http://www.sugarandspice.me/ and Carissa’s blog: http://sugarandspiceand.blogspot.com/

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists, www.memoryjournalists.com.