My cool wedding

From Top 10 Wedding Anniversary Songs

Wedding anniversary songs are are great way to celebrate love at wedding receptions.  We recommend starting by inviting all married wedding couples to the dance floor.  Ask who the newest couple on the dance floor is by narrowing down by newest date.  Then, remove couples 5 years at a time until you find the longest married couple in the room.  Then, invite the bride and groom, newest married couple and the longest married couple to a special anniversary song dance.

WeddingMuseum.com created a list of our Top 64 Wedding Anniversary Songs.  From that list we selected out Top 10 Wedding Anniversary Songs.

10. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole

9. Still The One – Orleans

8. Just The Two Of Us – Grover Washington Jr. with Bill Withers

7. You Decorated My Life – Kenny Rogers

6. Anniversary – Tony Toni Tone

5. When I’m Sixty-Four – The Beatles

4. 100 Years – Five For Fighting

3. You’re Still The One – Shania Twain

2. Anniversary Waltz – Eddy Howard

1. Happy Anniversary – Kelly Morrison

From Milk and Cookie Bar

From WRAPPING IT UP

It seems like the bulk of bridal designers have never heard of December weddings in places like Minneapolis and Toronto.  If you’re going to be a winter bride, you probably know by now, staying warm and elegant all at once can be a challenge. Thanks to Alex Bridal on Etsy, you’ll find quite a few chic warmers in faux fur. They specialize in keeping you chic during the harshest weather with wedding wraps, capes and muffs.  I’m rating Alex Bridal  perfect for the bride marrying in the cold and snow

From WINTER

There’s nothing quite like a winter romance, especially a Christmas one.  I think every woman should have one at least once in her life time.  The center image says it all, doesn’t it?  For me it means love can survive any snow storm (or ice storm) and survive.  Snow is intriquing because it’s so deadly cold but beautiful, magical . . . We have Amvisco over at SMP Style Circle to thank for this magnificent winter inspiration.

From WINTER WEDDING DREAMS

One of the great things about finding these beautiful and inspiring boards to share with you is that I can also tune you in and turn you on to some great artists and bloggers out there . . .  Today’s featured artist, Jody Olson  has a great blog, The Camilla Collection and Etsy store of the same name.  If you love vintage as well as modern jewelry you really need to visit.  Lots of lovlies and great gifts . . .

From Real Fall Wedding: The Versailles Ballroom at the Ramada of Toms River, New Jersey

Since fall is so closely associated with the many colors that is offers, I thought it would be fitting to put up a post of a recent fall wedding, which featured fall colors, yet took place at another  location, synonymous with New Jersey, The Jersey Shore.

There is a reason, why the New Jersey Shore is featured in one of the most popular reality shows today.

The new Versailles Ballroom at the Ramada of Toms River, offers all the aesthetics couples have come to expect from a New Jersey reception location, in addition to being a stone’s throw away from beautiful, and picturesque ocean views,  wooden boardwalks, aged building which lend their subtle charm to great wedding photos.

Inspiring the in all of us, the boardwalk and the Jersey Shore are among the top locations, couples request for engagement shoots, and wedding photographs.

The Versailles Ballroom at the Ramada of Toms River offers excellent backgrounds for stunning wedding images, such as their glowing fireplace, which is perfect for a fall theme. As with many New Jersey Wedding locations,  as the Versailles Ballroom at the Ramada of Toms River, also offers a beautiful  pond and waterfall, in addition to a large gazebo, for great formal photos.

Adding in white glove service, a caviar bar and a chocolate fountain, and you have all the ingredients for a great wedding and great wedding memories.

We thank our couples for once again, giving us the opportunity to capture your wedding.

Photography: Rennie N. (Abacus Wedding Studios)

Videography: Rob M. (Abacus Wedding Studios)

www.abacuswedding.com

From Wedding Cakes: Indulge Your Sweet Tooth

Here comes the tastiest part of planning your wedding, selecting the cake. Not only will you be able to select a fabulous and delicious cake, you’ll also be able to taste it. Yummy!

Cake Tasting

A great way to be prepared for your cake tasting appointment would be to familiarize yourself with some of the terms frequently used by bakers, such as buttercream, fondant, gum paste, ganache, royal icing, piping, etc. Having a basic knowledge of the lingo could be very useful and a big time-saver. We found a wedding cake glossary you can peruse at your leisure. http://bit.ly/hxXVpk

Cake tasting appointments usually last one hour. You will be able to sample different flavor cakes and icings. When you call to make an appointment, let the bakery know which flavors you have in mind, but also ask them to provide their best-selling flavor combinations. You could be pleasantly surprised by an unexpected flavor sample.

When selecting your wedding cake, try to choose a cake that reflects the theme you selected for your special day, or that carries your wedding’s color scheme — in both the decorative aspect and the flavor aspect.

Groom’s Cake

Groom’s cakes are typically a southern wedding tradition where the bride gifts her new husband with a chocolate-flavored cake. A popular trend lately has been for the cake to depict the groom’s favorite sports, interests or hobbies.

Additionally, the cake should be presented to the groom at the reception, and displayed next to the bride’s cake; or it can be given to the groom at the wedding rehearsal. The groom’s cake can also be cut, boxed, and offered as wedding favors to your guests.

Budget-Friendly Options

Remember that the more layers, flowers, and intricate details your cake has the more expensive it will be. To save some money, you could order a smaller size cake for the cake-cutting ceremony, and serve sheet cake slices to the rest of your guests in the same flavor as your wedding cake.

Keep in mind that some venues will charge a fee to cut and serve the cake to your guests. It’s called a cake-cutting fee, and it usually costs $1.50 or more per person. Some venues include the fee in their wedding package when you use their in-house baker, but they will charge you extra if you hire an outside bakery to create your wedding cake.

If cakes are not your thing, you could skip the traditional wedding cake altogether and explore other dessert ideas. For example, you could display cupcakes, petits fours, cannolis or even donuts on a beautiful tiered dessert stand. Other ideas would be to offer a pie buffet or a cookie and milk buffet.

Whatever your choice is; just indulge your sweet tooth and have fun with it!

About the Author: Nadine Elliott, freelance writer for WeddingMuseum.com.

From TARTANESQUE

What could be more romantic than a tartan wedding during the holiday season?  Tartans and plaids are practically synonomous with Christmas both in decor and fashion, not to mention everything from wrapping paper to Christmas cards. It took me a long time to locate an actual Scottish designer of bridal wear who specialized not only in couture but the true essence of how tartan relates to fashion.  Designer Joyce Young works wool tartans into bridal wear with some real edge. For years I’ve been in awe of Scotsmen in kilts and the flair they have at using plaids to go formal. Until Joyce Young, the typical evening garb for a lady accompanying her tartan-clad Scot was a tartan skirt and lace blouse with corresponding tartan shawl or wrap tied over the shoulder. Not a bad look but hardly the grand entrance makers below. Will you get a load of these gowns? Tartan godets. Tartan trains and insets. Joyce is an incredible designer who pairs up these wools with the richness of shantung and taffeta. Her shops are in Glasgow, Gretna Green and London and now she’s online with her own TV spots. ‘Touch of Tartan’ is only one collection she offers as she has a whole range of traditional as well as destination gowns to choose from. In her own words– “A Tartan themed wedding is spectacular. Scots girls worldwide can get married making a real statement with a wedding dress which teams up with the groom’s kilt from the Touch of Tartan Collection. Add in coordinating bridesmaids and mothers and the complete wedding party will be totally and uniquely Scottish. Actually you don’t even have to be Scottish – it’s a great look and most people can find a Scottish connection somewhere in their family tree – or just make one up !!Visit “Touch of Tartan” on www.bystorm.co.uk to see our couture dresses for weddings, evenings,mothers of the bride and all special occasions. Each outfit is individually made-to-measure from a wide choice of tartans. –”

From Chateau Lake Louise: “Is there any Other Place in the World to be Married?

When asked if I would like to go to Lake Louise as our 2010 annual late summer sojourn, my instant reply:” Yes! ever since I was 15.” Now, as a national etiquette expert and WeddingWire Ace, I can see, first hand, if the priceless jewel of the Canadian Rockies, is the ultimate mountaintop wedding destination.

Our 4,000 mile trip the light fantastic began at 2 p.m. in early September in downtown Denver. Our first destination was to check-in at the desk of Jane Henninger, the “Canada and Alaska” specialist at AAA. Four hours later, our road trip was booked and bound into a neat AAA TripKit travel planner. Flawless, and priceless.

By 2 p.m. the next day, the Escalade was packed with the thought, “Don’t leave home without it,” and Breckenridge-Blue River at 10,400 feet became a distant view in the rear view mirror. Why my journey north? the quintessential quest of the most majestic and magical setting for a mountaintop wedding and honeymoon: Chateau Lake Louise.

“Hello, Marjorie!” the charming and ever-attentive gentleman on my cell is, Gregor Resch, manager of The Fairmont Hotel’s Chateau Lake Louise.

Under his touteledge, this world-class hotel experience, highly touted by Conde Nast traveler, not only promises, but deftly delivers: exemplary service, gourmet food and beverage, impressive wedding reception and dining rooms, plus a cater-to-your-every need wedding Platinium Concierge. His international staff: articulate, attractive, and always at-your-serice.

More Chateau Lake Louise four-star amenities? spa, health club, hiking, golf, horseback riding, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, fishing, boat cruises, ATV tours, activities for nature lovers; during the winter, dog sledding, ice-skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides, hiking and snow shoeing, snowmobile tours, snow skiing, crossboard as well as the extreme heli-skiing, the ultimate thrill for the adventurer.

Chateau Lake Louise, nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, is, in my opinion, the most romantic of wedding and honeymoon resorts. It remains an icon; its reputation, legendary.

I wanted to hear what a young couple, arm-in-arm, at the shore of the Lake Louise glacier, had to say. So, I asked, politely, after a friendly, hello-how-are-you, where-are-you-from conversation: “Would you get married here?” She smiled, pulled her boyfriend closer, and replied,”Is there anyplace else in the world to be married?”

I popped the question again and again from Alberta, Canada, New York City to Houston, Texas. Just mention, Lake Louise, and the response is magical. A smile, “Oh, yes, I would say one of the most beautiful places in the world. The first time we were there…”

What myriad of bridal wishes might be in store in this storied Canadian Rockies resort? Perhaps, The Fairmont’s Gold ethereal, corner haute honeymoon suite, yes! Romantic dinner for two with an alpine panorama view of misty mountain peaks, the majestic Victoria Glacier, and its tour de force turquoise blue glacier lake– the view of the top photo is from a Gold Suite.

Whether 11th hour tasks, bed turndown with a goodnight chocolate, or another round of romantic champagne toasts under deep blue moonlit nights of the Canadian Rockies, all bespeak the Chateau Lake Louise experience.

The Baniff-Lake Louise’s storybook setting in the Canadian Rockies and proximity to national parks, lakes, ice fields makes sightseeing an art into itself. Shopping, my yes.

To get to Lake Louise, fly to the Calgary International Airport, followed by a two hour ride to the hotel. Or, follow my lead, and indulge in a luxurious honeymoon road trip to remember.

Travelogue: 4,000 mile roundtrip Colorado-Chateau Lake Louise

We covered ground: 1 continent, North America; 2 countries, Canada and United States; 3 first snowfalls of the year: Grand Teton, Glacier National Park and Beckenridge; 4 states: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Euphoria; 5 drop-dead resorts; 6 national parks: Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Glacier National Park, Baniff, Waterton, and Columbia Glacier; 12 eight thousand foot majestic mountain ranges.

To trip the light fantastic, or, as Procol Harem’s The Whiter Shade of Pale 1967 album lyrics, Skip the light Fandango. Our journey was a indeed a trip–nimble dance somedays, a fandango– lively Spanish dance with castanets, others. John Milton, Shakespeare and the lyricists of the 1894 tune, Sidewalks of New York, also share our fascination with trip. A trip it was!

Marjorie Maxfield, photos.

From JUST LISTED ON ETSY

One word will describe the ‘Yolanda’ dress: Awesome!  Inspired by an old MGM musical, this addition to the 2011 ‘Dioresque’ Collection is layered in yards and layers of tulle and crinoline. The bodice is a close fit and boned inside; outside covered in Chantilly lace appliques with an overlay of shirred tulle. The rosy tint of the tulle is the result of a tea dye. I cinched the waist with a gray satin belt. Separate underslip.  Now available through my Etsy store.