Winter 2012
Bridal Week 2013
What’s in store for Plus Size Brides next season
Get ready for Valentine’s Day Gift ideas, outfits and lingerie.
Peplum and the Top Bun A Match made in Heaven
Etsy Finds
Find the perfect Etsy ideas to compliment your Winter Wedding
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www.prettypearbride.com
Pretty Pear Bride Magazine 3
Content
Bridal Week 2013 08
The Peplum and the Top Bun 40
14 All Dressed Up
42 What’s in the Jewelry Box?
18 Now Your Engaged
44 Bridesmaid and Groomsmen Gifts
22 Your Wedding Day
46 Real Weddings
24 Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget
58 Who Wants Cocktails and Desserts?
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He Ask, She Said “YES”
62 Styled Shoots
Etsy Finds 68
Valentine’s Day 96
72 International Love
88 Styled Shoot
74 Style Your Wedding
92 Naughty or Nice Fashions
76 African Wedding Invitations by Bibi
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Stay Connected with Us
prettypearbride
www.prettypearbride.com
Email hello@prettypearbride.com Phone 866-398-9041 Real Wedding Features: Couples/ Photographers interested in submitting their real weddings should submit their information on our website. Regretfully due to the volume of submissions, we are unable to respond to all requests. Editorial Submissions: Please do not send original material to Pretty Pear Bride Magazine. We are not responsible for damage or loss to unsolicited material. Editorial material can be sent to submissions@prettypearbride.com Advertising: To advertise in Pretty Pear Bride Magazine please contact advertising@prettypearbride. com. Advertising requests for prettypearbride.com should also contact advertising@prettypearbride.com. A media kit will be made available upon receipt of a request.
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Editor: Shafonne Myers Creative Director: Lisa Smith Contributors: Lisa Smith, Lanette Kincaid, Karen Smith, Rebecca Lee, LaTanya Ward-Showers, Peter Crump, Jessica Park, Sheena Lewis, Sonsi, Magnet Street Weddings, Advertising Sales Boardman, OH 189 Terrace Drive 866-398-9041 advertising@prettypearbride
From the Editor
Shafonne Myers Shafonne Myers/Owner
Welcome to V4 of Pretty Pear Bride Magazine, the Winter Issue. This issue has truly been a labor of love! We made huge strides to make this issue the best yet. We updated the layout to make it cleaner and more slick, making it easier for readers to enjoy the content. We also went one step further to included more articles. We got a great response from readers on our survey asking for more articles, so we listened. This issue is chock full of tons of real weddings, which everyone loves to see but we also included more stylized shoots, you can never have too much inspiration. And with the more robust articles plus size bries can actually pick up the magazine, read it, lookg at the images and feel like they have they have learned something. There is also a feature on on my experience at bridal week; the good, the bad and the ugly. I had so much fun meeting tons of celebrities and being immersed in all that is Bridal Week NYC. Fun times had by all! {If you couldn’t tell some from of the pictures} I must say this issue’s inspiration was all things winter and getting you in the mood for Valentine’s Day. Are you going to be naughty or nice? We also introduced a few new contributors and hope their articles will be entertaining to you.
As always, I have to thank YOU, the readers for your continued support for what I had a vision to do. With this being the last issue of the year. I can really reflect on how much fun and hard work this has been. There have literally been days that I would just sit and wonder if this is what “I” should be doing. But the minute I started wondering, something would happen; whether it be an email from a bride saying she just found us and was so thankful or a vendor congratulating us on a job well done. All I wanted to do was find bridal imagery that looked like me and since there wasn’t any, I set out to create it. As always, behind a great idea and vision are amazing people that pushed and pulled the idea out. I continuously thank all of my contributors for their extraordinary effort to create amazing content to share with you all. And of course I have to thank my husband and kids. They put up with my constant tapping away on the computer and love of all things wedding! The new year has big things in store for PPB Magazine, watch out world here we come! “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Feature
Bridal Week 2013
Bridal week is like the Mecca of all things bridal. All the top bridal designers come to one place to début and show their upcoming season fashions. And for anyone who has bridal and fashion at the forefront of their minds, it’s a MUST attend event. This was my first year and I can definitely tell you that it will not be my last. I had the pleasure to meet so many industry greats. Like my girl Dianne Valentine, who I’ve meet on several occasions and she never disappoints with her fashions, personality and enthusiasm. I swear, I am always inspired by her knowledge and creativity. It just oozes from her pores. And she always has her super cute hairstylist with her. {Anyone who has seen Leo knows what I’m saying and they will 8 Pretty Pear Bride Magazine
also know why I’m always so heartbroken when I see him} I also had the pleasure to meet Sylvia Weinstock at the ISSE NYC event. She is absolutely a GEM. She was shaking and moving in ways that would put me to shame and loved every minute of it. It was great. I can only hope that I will be doing the same at her age. Oh and the swag that I brought back was jaw dropping. I know people talk about going to events and getting swag bags that are full of great finds but this was crazy. I got so many magazines, which were great for the 3 hour wait that I had on my way home {Super Shuttle, oh how we have a love hate relationship} I’m still using some the notepads and pens.
SYED Photography
Pictures in clockwise order ~ Me and Dianne Valentine at ISSE NYC, swag bag stuff, Me and Sylvia Weinstock at ISSE NYC, all the magazines that I got..
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Feature
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ince, Pretty Pear Bride is a magazine and site, I was granted a press pass allowing me to get fabulous seats for all the designer’s shows. It was amazing to sit and rub elbows with some of the big wigs in the industry. Amidst all of the fun I had it was a great experience to see the new trends and fashions for the upcoming wedding season. This upcoming season is full of lace, lace and more lace oh and don’t forget to throw in some tulle and embellishments as we go. From the entire collection of designers there was a huge influence from an old world, elegant, type of style, a definite nod to the simple, chic and elegant feel of yesterdays.
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As for my plus size brides, don’t fear because I learned there are tons of designers that will cater to women of all sizes. Now, as we all know they don’t advertise it like they should, we are definitely working on that. But they are moving in the direction of offering, so that’s a plus. I spoke to tons of designers and I mean big name bridal designers that do and will work with woman of any size. And they really want to, but just didn’t know how to get the word out. Hopefully next year I’ll be able to report back that more have embraced brides of all sizes and are willing to accommodate us all.
SYED Photography SYED Photography
Judith Leiber ~ Luxury Handbags and Clutches www.judithleiber.com Pretty Pear Bride Magazine 11
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Photo Gallery 1-3 ~ CB Couture ~ up to Size 24 www. cbcouturebridal.com This collection has tons of lace and ebellishments. It’s great! 4-5 ~ Allure Bridal ~ up to size 30 www.allurebridals.com. Tulle and ball gowns grace this collection from top to bottom.
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6-8 ~ Martina Liana ~ up to size 28 www.essensedesigns.com/martina-liana This collection is from two designers in Australia and they are coming to the states with a vengence, offering the glitz and glamour of other designers in sizes up to 28. Love the lace with grey sash. Take my breath away! 9 ~ Callista ~ up to size 30 www.callistabride.com/ Callista is the the most beautiful gowns for the most beautiful women. Callista’s gowns are made for brides with curves. 10-12 ~ Sophia Tolli ~ up to size 28 www.sophiatolli.com This line should make any bride happy, with all the lace and tulle that your heart would every desire. It’s so elegant and chic. 13-14 ~ Winnie Couture ~ up to size 28 www.winniecouture.com Love all the mermaid designs with the fabulous embellisments, it’s crazy bananas!
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Styled Shoot Being a plus size bride and woman myself, I know first hand how hard it to feel pretty in a world that makes you think that you aren’t. Well, I encourage everyone to take time out to get dressed up every now and then; put on a pretty dress, get your hair and makeup done and strut your stuff. This is exactly what we did in this photo shoot. The model was so excited just to “play dress up” as she called it. We had a blast and it was great to see her face light up when she saw how amazing she looked. So make sure and take a little time for yourself and get all dolled up! And throw in a couple of your bridesmaids and you’ll have a great bridal shower or bachelorette party.
All Dressed Up! Pretty Pear Bride Magazine 15
Cover Shoot
Photography ~ Sarah Ford Photography | Styling ~ Shafonne Myers | Venue ~ Ohev Tzedek | Hair and Makeup ~ Natalie Smith | Dress ~ Pretty Pear Bride by Shafonne
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Planning
Now You’re Engaged, How Do You Choose A Men’s Wedding Ring? By Peter Crump
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o, you’;ve just got engaged.
Whether you are a man or a woman you have an important decision to make (amongst the myriad of other decisions) about men’s wedding rings. It’s this. Will the man in your relationship wear one? Maybe that’s you, maybe not. But you both need to think about it. You see it’s only since the second world war that modern men have started to publicly display their marital status by the wearing of a man wedding ring. Prior to that it was rare for a man to wear a ring when he married. Men were able to hide their marital status behind the tradition that required a woman to wear a wedding ring, but not a man. However during the war many US soldiers chose to wear men’s wedding rings as a public symbol of their marital status whilst away 18 Pretty Pear Bride Magazine
at war and that has started a tradition for the modern man. Now it’s very common for a man to wear a men’s wedding ring, perhaps the norm. So, what decisions need to be made? Well the first is this. Will he wear one? That’s probably the hardest decision in the process. For a woman there’s no decision. She’s engaged, she wants the ring. For her she needs an engagement ring as well as a wedding ring, and an expensive engagement ring at that. But for a man it’s not so straight forward.
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o a very important part of the process is for both of you to talk about it. Do you both have strong feelings about the man wearing a man wedding ring? Does the woman feel that if she is to publicly display her marital status then it’s only fair that he do the same? Does he have any
reservations about wearing a ring and if so what are they? You both need to talk over your feelings about the wearing of a man wedding ring. Establish the groundwork. Once you have made a decision that he will wear a ring then that’s just the start. It’s perfectly possible to buy a matching wedding ring set. These are rings designed as matching sets for you both so that both your wedding rings go well together. So are you going to look for matching rings, or just buy him a ring and focus on hers separately? Next you have to decide what type of ring. There’s a whole world of designs for men’s wedding rings out there. An enormous range of styles and materials. A man makes a statement about himself in selecting the ring he will wear for his wife, and she is a part of that statement if she is actively involved in the decision.
Sassy Mouth Photography
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hink about his personality. Is he outgoing or shy? Is he outrageous or conservative? Is he flamboyant? Understated? When he buys clothes what does he select? Does he buy colorful flamboyant ties or ties which fit in with the style of the suit? Would he wear clothes which make him stand out from the crowd or does he prefer to meld in? His men’s wedding ring needs to fit his personality. All these characteristics, as well as many others, bear on your choice of ring. A man with a strong flamboyant personality would be much more likely to prefer a ring which stands out. Which sets him apart from the crowd, which says “look at me”. On the other hand a man with a more conservative type of personality would probably prefer to say “I’m married but I’m not going to shout it from the rooftop” with his ring. Similarly, think about his stature. Is he short or tall? Is he large or small? Does he have long slender fingers or short stubby fingers? These characteristics also bear on the style of ring selected. So size up the man before making a decision on
the style of ring for him.
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ne of the most common forms of men’s wedding ring is the simple band style. Often in gold or white gold, it is plain and unadorned. A simple statement of marital status and nothing else. But even amongst simple bands there are decisions to make. How wide? What color? What type of material? New materials such as Titanium or Platinum have broadened the choices hugely. Men’s black Titanium rings really catch the eye. Or amongst the more traditional materials sterling silver men’s wedding rings look stunning. Or brushed men’s white gold wedding rings. The range of choices now is enormous. And it’s not necessary to decide on a single material. Men’s two-toned gold wedding rings, utilizing white and yellow gold, are popular. Perhaps match the ring material with gemstones such as rubies or sapphires or even diamonds to create a stunning effect.
Internet offers a big range of choices and also offers rings and other jewelry dramatically cheaper than your traditional bricks and mortar stores. Several online jewelers offer a design your own men’s wedding ring service so that you can design a ring that’s unique to you. And if you want something really different why not consider Celtic men’s wedding bands? The range of choices is endless; enough to satisfy even the most discriminating couple. And remember that for a man this ring may be the only jewelry he will ever wear. The choice of man ring that you both make is a big one. So, now you’re engaged, spend a little time thinking about what you are going to do about a men’s wedding ring. Start talking about it with your partner. The more time you spend on it the happier you will be with your final choice.
It’s perfectly possible to get custom made rings or even design them yourself. The Pretty Pear Bride Magazine 19
Putting Your Wedding Style on a Pedestal While love and romance is filling the air, your guests are also being filled with anticipation for your big day! Meet their excitement with a stationery suite that puts your love story and style on a pedestal. Start with a Save the Date design that’s easily personalized to show off your quirky side or a design that’s the perfect prelude to your wedding theme. Personal touches are key in creating something truly unique and memorable. Use color and expressive fonts to transform the design into the style you want. Further enhance the mood with wording that captures your love and steals their hearts.
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MagnetStreet Weddings is an online, full-service store that empowers couples to personalize wedding stationery that captures their creativity and vision. Known for their Save the Date Magnets, they offer a comprehensive line of Wedding Stationery in coordinating designs, including: Wedding Invitations, Programs, Reception items, Thank You Cards, Embellishments and more.
How to Keep Your Suite Distinct Translate the Trends
Keep your stationery current by incorporating the trends that you love. Hot for summer: mix & match patterns, bold colors, floral prints, rustic charm and creative typography.
Suite Details
Beauty is found in the details. Add dimension and visual appeal to your suite by layering your Invitations with: Vellum Bands, decorative Seals, and colorful Envelope Liners.
Stationery Timelines & Tips Do … • Stay organized by using a wedding stationery timeline. • Send Save the Dates 6-12 months ahead of your date and only to those you plan on inviting to the wedding. • Start researching your invitations at least 6 months prior to your date. • Order invitations 2-4 months prior. Mail 6-8 weeks prior. • Send RSVP Postcards to save on postage costs.
Don’t … • Sacrifice quality over price. • Fail to order 25 extra invitations (for keepsakes, last-minute invites, etc.) • Overlook the importance of proofing: spellings, locations, names, dates, etc. • Forget to include an RSVP date with your invitation (2-3 weeks before your wedding). • Neglect taking one fully-assembled invite to the post office for weighing & accurate postage costs.
Perfectly Polished
From your Save the Dates and Invites, to your Programs and Thank Yous, complement and carry your look across your entire suite, for a theme that’s polished and complete.
Connect With Us MagnetStreet.com/weddings MagnetStreetWeddings @MagnetStreetWed MagnetStreetWeddings TrulyEngaging our wedding blog
Pretty Pear Bride Magazine 21
Planning
Your Wedding Day... Traditional, Unique, Or A Little of Both
By LaTanya Ward Showers, LWDesires
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ow many guests should I invite? What kind of food should I have served? How many bridesmaids should I have? A momentous wedding day requires a lot of planning and in that planning we develop a timeline for how we want our special day to flow. We also decide on several different traditions we may want to incorporate in our ceremony and reception. Some traditions are common and shared across different cultures such as the wedding toast and throwing of the bouquet while others such as jumping of the broom are distinct. Some brides stick to common traditions, some choose alternatives, and others focus on being unique and incorporate their own personal style. When it comes to a lot of these traditions most of us probably do not know the significance, we just know they are long held traditions and we have seen them at just about every wedding. Some meanings are a little more obvious such as the wedding toast, mostly everyone knows this tradition is performed to express well wishes to the bride and groom. But did you know toasting to beverages 22 Pretty Pear Bride Magazine
such as coffee, tea, and water is actually considered bad luck?
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he throwing of the bouquet is also very common and has been with us for many years. In fact, most brides have two bouquets-one they carry down the aisle and keep for themselves and the other they toss for the single ladies. What may come as a surprise to you is how the bouquet toss actually came about. It began as an alternative to a tradition that went on centuries ago when guest tried to take a piece of the brides clothing as a symbol of good fortune and fertility. As you can imagine this probably did not go over too well as wedding gowns have become more and more expensive over the years. Others choose to introduce aspects of their culture on their wedding day and it’s a nice way of celebrating your ancestry and heritage. For example, even though the origin is up for debate the jumping of the broom is a distinct tradition amongst African Americans. Most agree the tradition originated during the slave transitions and represents the joining of two families. During this time, African slaves were prohibited to marry in American so in an effort to declare their bond and love they jumped over a broom to the beat of drums.
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aying “I Do” does not have to involve traditions, your special day can be as unique as you are. Don’t be afraid to try something new and if you would like to add your own twist choose alternatives to the common traditions. Ways you can choose to personalize your ceremony are by incorporating your own personal style or even developing a theme. Lastly, it is easy to get caught up in the craziness that comes with planning so whether it’s traditional, unique, or a little of both focus on what makes the soon to be married couple happy! Your Wedding Day—Traditional, Unique, Or A Little of Both
LaTanya Ward-Showers is a TX native, plus size model, and freelance writer. She has experience in fashion on and off the runway and loves to write. She serves on the staff as a writer for several magazines focusing on topics in health, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. She has always had a passion for fair representation of women with curves in the industry and in 2010 decided to take her passion a little further and create LWDesires. Since creating LWDesires she has helped other women by providing advice and tips on getting into the industry.
Planning
Champagne Taste on A Beer Budget How To Make Your Money Go Further by Karen Smith, Pretty Pear Bride Contributor
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f you’re like me, your taste far exceeds your budget. So what do you do when your dream wedding goes way beyond what you can afford? There are a variety of things you can do to achieve what you want, no matter what your budget may be. Here are some basic ideas to get you started.
Shop Around This one may seem obvious, but I’m not just talking about for the vendors themselve. You need to also consider the itemized items they sell you. Make sure you find out what is included in the vendors price. They may be charging you for something you could buy yourself at a much cheaper price. Of course you don’t want to forget to do that too. Don’t take the first vendor you meet, you may be able to find someone just as good and with a much cheaper price.
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Create a Spreadsheet I find this especially essential when choosing a venue for your wedding. Remember, not all prices are created equal. The prices you are given at various venues do not always include the same things. Some places include any combination of linens, dinnerware, glassware, decor, flowers, wait staff, setup and take down services, wedding coordinators and djs. Remember, if they don’t provide it those will be additional costs you will incur. Find out what each of your options include and make a spreadsheet to help you compare prices. You may be surprised at which place is actually cheaper.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask As one of my elementary school teachers use to say, “The only stupid questions are the ones you never asked”. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask everything you can
think of and then some. Find out what the vendors or venues include in their price. Ask if they offer any type of discount for: limited guest numbers, certain days of the week, certain times of the day, being a member, etc... Ask for referrals from friends. Ask for help. No matter what it is, just ask.
Do It Yourself This one can be a little tricky, as there are several exceptions to the rules with this. First off, make sure that making it yourself is actually cheaper than buying. Have reasonable expectations about your wedding party’s capabilities. Also, remember that it is better to to try making one than to invest in the amount you need for your wedding. You wouldn’t want to waste your money. That being said, there are all sorts of DIY projects out there for even people with no craftiness gene. For instance Vistaprint is a great way to save
money on any of your printed material. As a bonus saving they often have Groupons for Vistaprint that really can make your money go far. And it makes no difference what skill level you have. If you are the arts and craft queen, then you can design your own and upload it onto the site, but if you are lacking in the arts and craft department they have a huge selection of already designed templates.
Barter You may be thinking, “Barter with what?” And granted, this one may not be for everyone, however, don’t sell yourself short. Most people have some sort of barterable skill. Which vendors you choose to barter with should really depend upon what you have to offer. For exaple, I have web design experience, so I have chosen to barter with my photographer for a full day
service from her in exchange for a new web design. But you don’t have to have any special training to barter. Maybe you are really crafty and you make things that a florist would like to sell in their store. Or maybe you make really great pastries that your caterer would like to have for their company. It never hurts to ask if they would be interested. Also when bartering, remember it is always easier to barter with either a small business or a new start up business.
A Wedding Planner A lot of you may be thinking that hiring a wedding planner is counter productive. The thing is if you shop around and really do your research, then they may actually save you money. I managed to find a wedding planner that also has in her stock most of the items we would normally have
to rent or buy for the wedding. As long as you use a certain level of her service, she lets you borrow her stock. We sat down and added everything up, and it would have cost more to rent everything she has than to hire her. Now, you may not find quite that deal with every wedding planner, but they always know the best deals and often you get a discount for using the vendors they work with. These are just the basics of ways to save money on your wedding. Whether you use one or all of these tips, the goal is to get the wedding you really want while staying in your budget. Most of all, don’t forget to have fun while your doing all your planning.
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http://www.projectwedding.com/
Planning
Ask Lisa
By Lisa Smith
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ear Lisa,
I’m writing you because I’m overweight and my older sister is getting married. My sister and I have a great relationship; as a matter of fact my big sister is the best! I have been over weight all my life and my sister has been my biggest cheerleader and supporter. When my sister asked me to be in her wedding I knew she was going to ask me to be her Maid of Honor and I was thrilled however; she chose to pick her best friend from college. You see my sister and I live in two different states and it would be easier to have someone right there with her to do ground work and plan. I must admit, I was a little hurt but it’s ok because I love my sister and it’s her wedding. One day while at work I overheard a conversation between a few of my coworkers. One of my coworkers that I can’t stand because she goes out of her way to let me know about my weigh and how peo-
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ple my size disgust her. She was talking about the wedding she was going to be in and how excited she was to see her best friend. As the conversation went on, she said her best friend asked her to be the maid of honor because she wanted her to stand next to her so her wedding pictures would be pretty. She also went on to say that the bride was concerned because one of her bridesmaids was over weight and everyone else was small and petite but her overweight bridesmaids were cute. So of course I began to worry and wonder if this is how my sister felt but instead of asking her, I have been going with the flow of the planning. And praying that my weight was not an issue.. Last weekend was my sister’s first bridal party meeting and we were all there. I got to meet all of the other bridesmaids and my sister’s maid of honor… My Coworker!
talking about a few weeks ago at work was MY SISTER! She said this is the first wedding she has ever been in and how excited she was to be by my sister’s side!! I’m so hurt and betrayed I don’t know what to do. Should I say nothing and pretend like I don’t know the truth or should I say something. Up until that moment, I thought my sister and I had the best relationship; no secrets. I thought we were truthful with one another and of all the people in the world I would have thought my sister would be the first to tell me if she had a problem with my weight. Please help I don’t know if I should step down from the wedding, confront my sister about her maid of honor and what she said or act like I don’t know anything although I’m feeling like I have been lied too all this time… Dawn
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ear Dawn,
I was horrified!!! Yes, all of the bridesmaids are small, pretty and petite. I’m the biggest one and the bride my coworker was
Let’s be crystal clear as I respond to you!! FRIENDS come a dime a
dozen, SISTERS are a lifetime! No you should not pretend like everything is ok. First off you don’t know if your sister’s best friend has known all along you were her sister! With that being said, people are mean and vindictive; first you should sit down and have a heart to heart with your sister. Tell her about the conversation and see how she responds, if what your sister said was in fact the truth and those are her real feelings or someone putting words in her mouth. If she did not say that, you will go through this entire wedding process wondering, worrying and holding harsh feelings towards your sister. So get the facts straight, first. Then if you find out it is in fact true you need to then make the decision based on how you feel. Because at the end of the day you are human and you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and if your sister lied to you in order to have “pretty pictures” then she disrespected you as her sister by not being truthful with you. With that being said, you then need to move forward to see what you two can do to mend your relationship and continue to move forward as sisters with the love and respect each of you deserve. Whether you decide to be in the wedding or not, after you find out all the facts you must be truthful with your feelings.
Lisa Smith is a Certified Professional Wedding and Event Planner and Certified Professional Wedding and Event Planner Instructor. She is one of 46 Wedding planner and Wedding Designers on the Wedding Industry Experts Panelist. Lisa is the Owner of Gabbi Grace Events located in the Metropolitian Detroit area. Gabbi Grace Events is a dedicated Event Planning company who’s work has been featured on The Preston Bailey Blog and on the cover and in The Best Wedding Sites Magazine and blog.
Creatix Photography
Lisa
He Asked, She Said “YES” Shannon Ireton and William Hamilton Engagement Date:November 28, 2011 Engagement Location: Riviera Mya Mexico Wedding Date: September 6 , 2013 Sassy Mouth Photography Tell us about your first meeting.. Shannon: Billy and I first met at a mutual friends house party. I was just hanging out with my girlfriends when i kept catching this guy glance at me. I thought nothing of it until my friends also noticed. I just thought well if he wanted to talk to me, he’ll talk to me lol. Some time passed and FINALLy he introduced himself we began to hit it off and I soon learned he had just gotten back from Alaska after living there for a year with one of his best friends. It definitely got my attention i’ve always wanted to travel. The night started to come to an end and he asked me for my number to set up an official date. Billy: I had just gotten back from a year away in Alaska and was catching up with old friends at a party. I wasn’t expecting to meet someone there but I guess it was fate. I remember seeing Shannon for the first time and I knew I had to meet her. Anyone who really knows me understands that I’m shy when it comes to women so it was a personal challenge for me to go talk to her, but when I did I knew it was the right thing to do because it felt so right and easy talking to her. So I’m really happy I came back home and went to that party on that night. Tell us about your First Date… Shannon: Our first date was at Ruby Tuesdays. After talking on the phone for hours every night prior to our first date I felt like we just clicked. We talked about everything from his trip to Alaska to what our favorite foods and movies were and how we knew everyone.
Billy: Our first date was your typical date we went to Ruby Tuesday for dinner and talked for a while getting to know each other better. Although at that point we had been texting and talking on the phone for a while. But I remember feeling good and comfortable with her at dinner so that was something else that let me know this was going in the right direction. The only uncomfortable part of the night was meeting her father and brothers before I took her out, since I am nearly 7 years older than her I think they wanted to interrogate me to make sure I wasn’t a weirdo. Tell us about your First kiss.. Shannon: Our first kiss was the following weekend at a friends bon fire party. We were partying with some friends and listening to music all night. A Brad Paisley song came on and he grabbed my hand to dance to it. It was the perfect moment as if we were the only two people there. A moment I’ll never forget it was perfect! :) Billy: Our first kiss was such a relief for me, I was nervous to kiss her but when I went in for it I could tell she was willing to accept it so that made it a lot easier for me. It was nice, we were dancing in front of a bon fire so it felt like a perfect and special moment. There were many more kisses to follow after breaking the ice of the first one. Tell us about the proposal… Shannon: We went to Mexico with a group of friends for another close friend’s destination wedding. It was an amazing 8 days! At our friends wedding reception I saw that they do dinners on the beach. I then proceeded to tell my friend “aww I wish Billy would do that!”. I thought it was so romantic. I told him about it and he said it was too late in our vacation to do something like that (sad face). I brushed it off and enjoyed the rest of the reception. A couple days later he said he had dinner planned for us. I thought nothing of it just figured he wanted some alone time because we were at such a romantic place and had spent every day and night with our friends so far. Little did i know, he had planned our dinner on the beach. I was so excited I wasn’t expecting anything else to happen. Dinner was coming to an end and when they brought our dessert it was a heart shaped cake I thought “thats kinda weird” but I went along with it. Next thing I knew he got up I was so shocked and confused when he got up I said “ what are you doing?” Lol he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! Turns out the dinner on the beach was part of our friends wedding package and they gave it to him for me! I swear we have the best friends ever! They even paid to have our room decorated and they were all waiting for us to get back and celebrate with champagne. Billy: I had my proposal planned for a long time. It was something that I worked out with my friends who’s wedding we went to in Mexico. For starters, I made sure they didn’t mind if we got engaged there since the reason we were there was to celebrate they’re wedding. They informed me that with they’re wedding package they had a romantic candle lit dinner on the beach but they had too many people there and didn’t want to use it so I thought that would be the perfect place to ask her to marry me. The best part was that she saw one of those candle lit dinners going on and said she really wanted to do it but I told her I couldn’t get a reservation because it was too late. So the monday after our friends got married I told her to dress nice because we were going to dinner just her and I. When I told her we were having dinner on the beach she was so excited, and because I knew what was happening I was so nervous and excited but definitely more nervous. After drinking a lot of champagne and eating dinner I worked up the nerve to ask her when dessert came. It wasn’t that easy though, my heart felt like it was going to fly out of my chest. I was shaking so bad and when I got on one knee I could barely get the words out to ask her to marry me. I did and she said yes and made me so happy and I even cried a little bit, we celebrated with our friends in Mexico that night, it was perfect.
Engagement
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My dear William,
My Dear Shannon,
We have had our ups and downs and been there for each other for every milestone in our relationship. I couldn’t have asked for a better man to share the rest of my life with and cant wait to tie the knot! I love you!
I am so happy that I met you, you have been the most important person in my life for the past 6 years and you will be for the rest of my life. I am so excited to be getting married and to begin our new chapter in life.
Love, Shannon Love, Billy
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Engagement
He Asked, She said “YES”
Ambroja Nave and Tim Watson
Engagement Date:January 1, 2012 Engagement Location: Topeka, KS
Wedding Date: November 24, 2012 YBM Photography
Tell us about your first meeting.. Ambroja- since I’ve been friends with his older brothers for quite some time I don’t remember our first meeting. I remember while he was in high school (he is a few years younger than me) him ‘liking’ his classmate who happened to also be my younger sister and I helped him ‘sneak’ a secret valentine to her. Oh how things ended up working out. Tim- I don’t remember when I first met her, just that it was through our families.
My Dear Tim, Since we’ve been married every day I wake up next to you it’s a reminder of how much God loves me. He could not have sent me a better man, husband, and father for my kids. Our relationship grows each day as husband and wife and I, with anticipation and excitement, look forward to ‘out-loving’ you for the rest of our days! Love you more,
Tell us about your First Date… Ambroja- I don’t remember our first official date. It was probably out to eat somewhere because we both love to eat #true story.
Your Wife My Dear Ambroja,
Tim- I don’t remember where but it was out to eat and a movie. My Dear Ambroja, Tell us about the proposal… Ambroja- he proposed to me on New Years Eve of 2012 (December 31, 2011) and right at the stroke of midnight during our churches “watch night” service in front of 300+ people he found me in one of the aisles- got on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was completely shocked that he did it in front of that many people as he’s more of a private type of person. I am somewhat of a drama queen and he definitely made it a dramatic proposal!
Thank you for loving me for me, and pushing me to be better. Thank you for being a wife, friend, and mother. With God on our side the sky is the limit. I love you and look forward to spending the rest of my days with you. Love, T-Rex
Tim- I was nervous and I felt like she knew and even thought about doing it another time but I decided to go ahead with my plans. 32 Pretty Pear Bride Magazine
Tell us about your First Kiss… Ambroja- we just came from a night of bowling with family and friends. It was completely unexpected and out of nowhere, I was in my living room and he grabbed and kissed me and that was the end of us being in the ‘friend-zone’ and beginning of a true love story. Tim- Depends on who you ask but my side of the story is she stole a kiss from me.
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Mandi McConnell and Noah Hinrichs Engagement Date: April 17, 2012 Engagement Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin Alex + Natalie Nelson Photography
Tell us about the proposal… Mandi- We were at my family’s cottage for Labor Day weekend. Noah had a few buddies come up as well. We had a large storm come through that left us without power. In order to escape the noisy generator, we went to a bar just down the road -- just me and the 4 guys. We had a good time, taking lots of pictures and laughing. When we got back to the cottage, Noah and his buddy tried to get me out on the pier to go swimming...but it was cold and raining...I wasn’t going! Noah suggested a picture on the pier (which I still can’t believe I didn’t think was odd). When we got on the pier, his buddies couldn’t figure out the camera. By this time I thought it was a bit strange everyone was so concerned about taking our picture. I then noticed my family watching from the deck, and knew something was up. Just like that, I turn to Noah who was already down on one knee...in tears, shaking, with a huge smile on his face. Of course I said “yes”!
Engagement
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http://aldersphotography.com/
Feature
Bridal 2013 Trend
The Peplum and The Top Bun: A Match Made in Heaven If you’re up to date in the fashion world chances are you know that peplum has been a major buzzword in women’s fashion this year, but get ready because it is about to take over the bridal fashion world too. We have seen this trendy silhouette everywhere from dresses, tops and skirts so why not in bridal and bridesmaid fashion too? As with any new trend there is always the need for a little experimentation to see how it can work for you. What are people accessorizing their peplum dresses with exactly? Apparently peplum looks best when paired with your hair in a top bun. Need more inspiration? Look no further. More than just a popular overskirt Everyone was excited about the flattering piece of fabric known as the peplum on the runways in 2012, and now brides everywhere can choose to have their bridesmaids wear peplum dresses. The peplum dress is super flattering, and can create a curvy waistline in seconds. Vivid hues Peplum bridesmaid dresses are the perfect way to add a little pizzazz to your wedding day. Black is not the only way to go when wearing a peplum dress, they look amazing in colorful com40 Pretty Pear Bride Magazine
By Rebecca Lee
manding hues as well. Celebrities such as Rihanna, Diane Kruger, & Whitney Port have been spotted on the peplum bandwagon, and who can blame them. Why stop the peplum craze with your bridesmaids dresses? If your bridal party are planning a hen party why not embrace the peplum trend with a peplum skirt or
top paired with a vest or jeans.
Appropriate for all body types It is always difficult to get all of your bridesmaids to agree on one style dress, however having your bridesmaids in peplum style dresses is a great idea because they will fit and flatter everyone. They are perfect for girls who are body conscious, which let’s be honest, most of us are. They are also appropriate for any age group. The peplum shape skims nicely over your stomach and nip in creating a sexy hour glass figure. The filly hem also hides that area so many of us should be more proud of flaunting, but are sometimes to shy to show off. FYI Donna Morgan and Alfred Angelo featured peplum dresses in their collections. Pair your peplum dress with a top bun The new go-to bridal hairstyle is the super versatile top bun. Say goodbye to other up dos, the french twist is out ladies. The top bun can not only stand on its own, but works great with headpieces and veils. Even better is it can work great for super long or mid length to short styles. If you have your own luscious long locks then you can create top bun from your own tresses but if a shorter style is your look then al you need is a help from clip in
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extensions or a hair bun helper to add shape to thin or shorter hair. Voila a bridal up do with on trend status. How to pull off the top bun You’ll never believe this but using a sock is the way to pull this bun off. According to the beautydepartment.com, “Simply take a sock and snip the end. Roll the sock to create a doughnut like elastic, almost like an old-school scrunch. Put your hair in a high ponytail and place the doughnut elastic at the end of the ponytail and pull your hair over the sides until you reach the base. “ You’ll never have the perfect top bun! Hopefully you now have a better grasp on why peplum dresses are such a popular trend, & why top buns work beautifully when paired with them. These are two trends that I am happy to be on board with! I have a feeling your bridesmaids will thank you too! your bridal party are planning a hen party why not embrace the peplum trend with a peplum skirt or top paired with a vest or jeans. Appropriate for all body types It is always difficult to get all of your bridesmaids to agree on one style dress, however having your bridesmaids in peplum style dresses is a great idea because they will fit and flatter everyone. They are perfect for girls who are body conscious, which let’s be honest, most of us are. They are also appropriate for any age group. The peplum shape skims nicely over your stomach and nip in creating a sexy hour glass figure. The filly hem also hides that area so many of us should be more proud of flaunting, but are sometimes to shy to show off. FYI Donna Morgan and Alfred Angelo featured peplum dresses in their collections.
Pair your peplum dress with a top bun The new go-to bridal hairstyle is the super versatile top bun. Say goodbye to other up dos, the french twist is out ladies. The top bun can not only stand on its own, but works great with headpieces and veils. Even better is it can work great for super long or mid length to short styles. If you have your own luscious long locks then you can create top bun from your own tresses but if a shorter style is your look then al you need is a help from clip in extensions or a hair bun helper to add shape to thin or shorter hair. Voila a bridal up do with on trend status. How to pull off the top bun You’ll never believe this but using a sock is the way to pull this bun off. According to the beautydepartment.com, “Simply take a sock and snip the end. Roll the sock to create a doughnut like elastic, almost like an old-school scrunch. Put your hair in a high ponytail and place the doughnut elastic at the end of the ponytail and pull your hair over the sides until you reach the base. “ You’ll never have the perfect top bun! Hopefully you now have a better grasp on why peplum dresses are such a popular trend, & why top buns work beautifully when paired with them. These are two trends that I am happy to be on board with! I have a feeling your bridesmaids will thank you too!
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Fashion
What’s in the Jewelry Box? By Lanette Kincaid
W
e’re bringing in 2013 with a bang. For our plus-size brides getting married this year we’re providing simple fashion jewelry tips that will help make your big day fabulous. Here’s the tips: • Never wear jewelry that will overpower the look of the dress. Sometimes you have to keep it simple. If you are unsure of the type of jewelry you should wear always consider vintage jewelry or pearls. This will always give you a classic elegant look. • When buying jewelry and accessories don’t forget about the in-laws. Always purchase matching accessories for the mother of the bride and the mother in-law because it will make them feel more a part of the event. Remember that the jewelry and accessories that you give
during the wedding make really cute keepsake items. • Although the bridesmaids have a large part in the wedding, you always want your jewelry and accessories to look a tad bit better than the bridesmaids. It’s just a golden rule. Okay, maybe that’s a little selfish, but do remember that you and the maid of honor should always shine when it comes to jewelry and accessories. So live it up a little, but not too much. • Last but not least if you are wearing an up do hairstyle remember to play up the ears a little with dangle style earrings. Not only is chandelier style earrings the sexiest, but they are also known as attention grabbers. You do want all the attention right?
LaNette Kincaide is currently the owner of Just Pearlz.com, a jewelry, accessory and fashion consultant company. LaNette earned her Associate’s degree from the Tarrant County Community College and a Bachelor’s degree from Texas Wesleyan University Since opening Just Pearlz. LaNette has been featured in Crave Fort Worth, Alive Magazine, and Taste Texas Magazine. In addition to writing for the Examiner, Kincaide offers her fashion insights to Fort Worth Black News and now Pretty Pear Bride. 42 Pretty Pear Bride Magazine
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Bridesmaid and Groomsmen Gifts 01. Blowfish for Hangovers Blowfish is the only hangover product on the market whose formulation is recognized by the FDA as safe and effective. It’s an effervescent tablet that’s taken in the morning, and it works fast so you can get to the altar on time. It’s a thoughtful gift to help your bridesmaids and groomsmen survive the wedding festivities, from bachelor/ette party to goodbye brunch. www.forhangovers.com
02. Pom Deco Tumbler ~ Bluewick For the girl who believes in the chic sophistication of simplicity, the Pom Deco Tumbler from Bluewick’s Mak line will turn her head. The clean design of a beautiful open flower adds a humble pop of color to this jar, while hiding within is a rich fruity fragrance. Try pairing this one with chocolate-dipped strawberries for a decadent evening. www. bluewick.com
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03. Picture the Street Picture Your Street locates and photographs street signs featuring first names. Available for purchase online, the products range in size from Single Photo Framed to Double, Triple and Quad (all under $100). A single photo framed for each of the attendants would make a unique and memorable gift! www.picturethestreet.com 04. Blue Chevron Garment Bag ~ Jendarling The blue Chevron bag is a favorite for brides to carry and keep their wedding dresses. For bridesmaids or groomsmen, the Edie garment bag is 60’s cool made modern in simple black and white stripes, while the Hemp Wave bag makes a statement to planet loving chic. They make trips to the dry cleaners or trips overseas super stylish and keep your cherished suits or dresses safe and happy. For storage, say goodbye to black nylon and welcome organic cotton into your closet! www. jendarlingbags.com
05. Porta Pocket Porta Pockets give you the convenience of a pocket where ever you might need one. You can attach Porta Pockets to an arm, ankle, waist or upper thigh with the simple adjustable strap and velcro system. It can be concealed under a dress or pants or worn over clothing. www. portapocket.com
Real Weddings
Denise McCray & Gary Sutton St. Augustine, Florida Damon Tucci Photography
Event Planner: Weddings Unique Floral Designer: Raining Roses productions Inc. Reception Venue: Casa Monica Hotel 46 Pretty Pear Bride Magazine
Stephanie Wood & Barton Morrison Orlando, Florida Damon Tucci Photography
Event Planner: Weddings Unique Floral Designer: Raining Roses productions Inc. Event Venue: The Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes Pretty Pear Bride Magazine 47
GABBI-GRACE
EVENTS CELEBRATING LOVE, LIFE & FAMILY WEDDING AND SOCIAL EVENTS
DETROIT, MICHIGAN PHONE
1.888-761-9333 WEBSITE
WWW.GABBIGRACE.COM
Lashonne Canty & Rashard Bell Hollywood, Florida Minerva Photography
Cinema and Video: Creations
Concept Lounge
Floral Designer: Linen Connection Invitation Designer: Gorgeous Creations by Marian Dress Store: Alfred Angelo
Makeup Artist: Makeup by Kendra Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Men’s Warehouse Officiant: True Vine Baptist Church Bakery: Eddas Cakes of Pembroke Pines Event Venue: Hillcrest Golf and Country Club Pretty Pear Bride Magazine 49
Real Wedding How did the two of you meet? I am the oldest of 4 sisters and he’s the youngest of 4 brothers, we were one big bunch of friends and eventually our friendship led into a story of true love. Describe your wedding flowers ~ Red roses, White pompoms, and red carnations Describe your wedding cake ~ 3 tiers- top two tiers strawberry cake with lemon curd filling, bottom tier –devils food with Bavarian cream filling Describe your DIY décor: ~ Handmade wooden branch candle holders, golden branches, candle light, mix of red and gold accents. Red rose bouquets’ throughout. Describe your menu and your favorite part: Chicken breast in a lemon caper sauce, pork
tenderloin with a hunter’s sauce, bacon wrapped green bean bundles, potato al a frisee, house salad, and a dinner roll. My favorite was the pork tenderloin with hunter’s sauce- it was WONDERFUL! Describe any unique aspects of the beverages you served ~ Out of respect for our parents and faith we did not have any alcoholic beverages during the dinner part of our reception. However at the dance party reception we did serve a Red Sangria- made with red wine, pink blush wine and apples. Also we had Gold Sangria made with white wine, oranges, and pineapple juice. It was not only tasty it matched the Red and Gold theme colors of the wedding and reception. Your first dance song ~ I gotta be- Jagged Edge The thing that we would have done differently is? Sticking to the tradition of not letting him see me before the ceremony begins is a little overrated. It would have been the same effect of him seeing me for the first time and would have allowed my photographer to capture a beautiful moment had we done an intimate reveal first verses all the guests bridal party etc.. seeing me as I walked down the aisle. It also would have allowed us more time for pictures. I also would have done a ‘sound-check’ the day of as I sang to Tim as I walked down the aisle and couldn’t hear the musician at the beginning of my song. (the song was Today, written and performed by Ambroja Watson, the bride, and composed by Justin Curry) If we could have spend our wedding dollars differently, we would have ~ done nothing I was a bride on a budget and had a beautiful wedding and reception without breaking the bank. It can be and was done successfully.
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Ambroja Nave and Tim Watson Wedding Date: November 24, 2012 Wedding Location: Topeka, KS Wedding Colors: Ruby Red and Gold YBM Photography
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Real Wedding
Three adjectives that describe the day: Surreal, Golden, God-touched The most unique element of the day: I wrote and sang the song I walked down the aisle to, while walking down the aisle to marry my husband.
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Photographer: YBM Photography Videographer: DeAndre Smith Wedding Coordinator- Rosetta West Caterer: Morris James Cake: Confectionary Disasters Cupcakes: Eutoica Lyons Invites & Calligraphy: Eutoica Lyons Jewelry: Charming Charlie’s Where did you get the bridal attire? Dressilyme.com Bridesmaids Attire: Dressilyme.com Groom’s Attire: Mens WarehouseGroomsmen Attire: Mens Warehouse Ceremony Location: El Shaddai Community Church- Topeka, Ks Reception Location: IBEW Local 336 Building Transportation: Bride and Groom Music/Entertainment: Mike Freeland- Independent Officiate/ Minister: Pastor Evan T. Watson III
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The Salt Covenant- preformed by the groom’s mother Doria Watson it was symbolic of myself and my children becoming one with Tim as a family and how once all of our “salts” were blended they could never be separated. Your advice for other plus size brides: Be comfortable and confident, he loves you for you and every last curve, crinkle, and smile. Enjoy the moments and reset when you find yourself feeling anxiety just relax and focus on your soon to be husband and the happiness that is in store for you! Know that there will be things that don’t go as planned and be okay with that because at the end of the day when you’re looking in the eyes of your new husband, no other day could be more perfect. This day is uniquely yours, meant-to-be and the little imperfections that may have happened will just give you a unique story for your loved ones later on or be so insignificant you don’t even remember the next day. What has surprised you most during the first few months of marriage? I knew things would “change” after getting married but not at the overall level that it did once we got married and literally from the moment we kissed and held hands for the first time as husband and wife it just felt different, unexplainable-almost dreamy but just like it was ‘meant’ to feel. It’s not the little things like not having room in the closet for his clothes, or how he sleeps in the middle of the bed and by morning I’m clinging to the edge for my dear lifeyou know cause we are adventurous -but the connection that Tim and I have had since getting married has grown stronger in a way I could have never imagined. During the pre-marital counseling sessions our counsel said that once we get married everything will be enhanced and I am seeing that to be very true as we embrace our roles as “the husband” and “the wife” for what we believe those roles are for one another. I’m finding that our daily spiritual, mental, and physical experiences with one another are not just enhanced but are enriched by the new knowing of what life now is as his wife. Pretty Pear Bride Magazine 53
Real Wedding
Catherine Green and Nolan Sanchez Wedding Date: November 23, 2012 Wedding Location: Farmington Connecticut Wedding Colors: Black, Burgundy and Silver Sassy Mouth Photography
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How did the two of you meet?
The weather on your wedding was ~ STELLAR! No a cloud
We met while at Saint Francis Hospital. I (Cat) was working as a transport aide, Nolan was there on an internship and I was assigned to show him around the hospital. After a full day of bickering… I mean working, we decided to catch a movie. When the movie let out, it was pouring rain outside; I’m talking down pour, so we stood under the overhang of the theater roof waiting for the rain to let up and using the excuse of weather to stay close. As a clap of thunder sounded, I don’t think he know that in the seconds to follow he and I would share our last first kiss- which was perfect in every way.
nes in the center, black magic roses, gardenias , and fiddle fern
Describe your engagement ~
Describe your DIY décor ~ Instead of a guestbook we had a
Shortly after meeting, Nolan made 2 very important decisions, 1, to Join the United states Air Force, and 2, to never live another day without making Cat his wife. So on a chilly February evening, at family dinner, Nolan slipped a star shaped diamond ring on Cat’s napkin before she sat down. Upon finding it, she was speechless as he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
reproduction of Vangohs “Starry Night” and we asked our guest to sign it in our provided silver pens so when we hang it in a well lit area the signatures are slightly hidden, then in low light they all seem to shine. Also we made all the ornaments that where favors, Silver stars with a stamped design and a burgundy ribbon that was attached to hot cocoa .
in the sky, breezy but not super cold, with a bit of that lucky newlywed sprinkles at night.
Describe your wedding flowers ~ stephanotis with rhinesto-
Describe your wedding cake ~ 3 teirs top and bottom covered in frosted roses, middle teir was smooth and had our “topper” placed on it. Vanilla buttercream was used on a funfetti cake with strawberry filling. We also opted for a gelato bar.
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Describe your menu and your favorite part ~ We had fabulous choices, but my favorite part was that it was a sit down menu and the Filet was AMAZING.
Your first dance song ~ Jack Johnson’s Banana Pancakes
beautiful. Let that Confidence SHINE because you have found the love of your life and they love you for all that you are. Think of it as a day you get to wear the best outfit at the party, everyone wants to dance and be around you, and then you get to leave with the hottest person there.
The thing that we would have done differently is? Time Management. Nolan and I had A LOT of time in a 3 year engagement, so it seemed silly to do anything 3 years away, then with moving around in the military- wedding plans get put to the wayside, then you look at a calendar and you have 6 months and everything has caught up to you. Also, have a wedding that you’re planning means even the simple decisions you have to make. As for advice, or what you’re bridal party wants, and take it into consideration, but put your foot down when deadlines are approaching. If they can’t figure it out then you get to choose.
If we could have spend our wedding dollars differently, we would have ~ Probably sprung for a videographer. But I wouldn’t say it’s a regret because if you get to see the pictures of that day, my photographer will knock your socks off with just how much awesome she captured. Our favorite detail of the wedding was ~ our first dance. It was almost as if we were just fooling around dancing inour living room, no crowd no glass clinking, just us in each other’s arms, and that’s something I will remember all my life. The most unique element of the day: Get CAKED! Nolan and I agreed that I didn’t want to do a money dance- it just didn’t seem right. So instead we held a contest. We put 2 bowls on the cake table and each was labeled with either my name or nolans. Who ever got more money by volume in the jars by time the cake was cut, got the cake smooshings.
Three adjectives that describe the day: exhilarating , frenzied, superb
What has surprised you most during the first few months of marriage? I would have to say that even though we LIVED together before, and we’d known each other for years, that there will ALWAYS be surprises. Those things that you never thought they did, (like using your toothbrush and leaving it in the shower, or those sitcom goodies like not replacing the toilet paper or hiding things in the couch cushions ) will take some getting used to.
Vendor Information Photographer: Sassy Mouth Photography Florist: Petal Perfections and Confections Invites & Calligraphy: BNK Photography Jewelry: Lia Sophia Bride’s Attire: Sophia Tolli Where did you get the bridal attire? Stylish Impressions Groom’s Attire: Men’s Warehouse Rented Ceremony Location: The Church of Saint Patrick in Farmington Reception Location: The Riverview in Simsbury Transportation: Lindsey Limousine Music/Entertainment: Atmosphere Productions. Officiate/ Minister: Father Barry
Your advice for other plus size brides: I know there is a level of self consciousness when it comes to sizes and numbers, alterations and color. Just know, you ARE Pretty Pear Bride Magazine 57
Planning
Who wants Cocktails and Desserts? By JPark Events
Living in Atlanta, and still having 70 degree days, as one may imagine, it is difficult to be thinking of the fast approaching holidays. And looking at my calendar now, reaching capacity for holiday bookings I am certainly feeling grateful. I love all of our holiday clients! Many of my clients and friends although still having holiday functions, are seeking lesser expensive, simpler options, that still have an impact. My answer to this, time and time again is to offer your guests cocktails and dessert forgoing the expense of heavy appetizers or a full meal. Our custom dessert tables are a perfect fit for this time of year! Everyone looks forward to all of the seasonal cookies, pastries, and sweets in general during the holiday! If you are planning to entertain, I have put together a few expert tips in ho58 Pretty Pear Bride Magazine
pes they will come in handy as you plan your own events.
and if they are divine your guests will rave about it.
When planning a dessert element, I always plan for each guest having 3 pieces from the dessert table, and giving them a selection of about 6 different sweets. Hopefully you, like me, have a few pretty cake platters. If not, you can also buy cute gift wrap, & wrap empty boxes to stack and use to display your sweets on. Tables that are over stocked can be a bit overwhelming, as well as misleading, letting guests think they can have more than you had planned for, avoid this by replenishing your table as necessary. Keep your design simple, perhaps make a cute bunting banner out of materials you have around the house. Hanging ornaments from spray painted limbs you find in your yard. Remembering that the most important element is the tastiness of the sweets you have selected
We simply adore pairing our dessert tables with specialty beverage options. Offering hot and cold beverages that pair seamlessly with dessert. One of our favorite beverage options is a hot chocolate station with homemade marshmallows. An element that can be recreated quite reasonably in your home for an intimate function. Another option is a champagne bar with fresh juices for mixing. We recommend using a nice Prosecco and having a few additional ingredients available so you can make a number of tasty cocktails. A nice case of Prosecco, 12 bottles, would yield 72 servings and cost about $112.00. Keeping in mind some liquor stores will even buy back the unused bottles. 35 guests could drink a case.
Prosecco Sangria 1 peach 1 nectarine 3 apricots 5 ounces peach brandy 1 bottle chilled Prosecco 1 cup peach nectar Superfine sugar to taste Combine all fruit and brandy, let sit at least one hour before adding all other ingredients
A couple of tried and true drink recipes:
¾ cup champagne
London Special 2 dashes bitter
Blend ingredients in blender, fill glass ¾ full w bellini semifreddo, top with champagne, garnish w peach wedge
Sugar Cube
Blood Orange Mimosa
Top with Champagne
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed blood orange juice
Peaches & Champagne Semifreddo top w champagne 1 cup frozen, peeled, chopped peaches
Red Currant Cocktail ¼ cup peach schnapps 2 tablespoons currant nectar 1 cup ice cubes top w champagne 2 tablespoons super fine sugar
Jessica is a Certified Event Coordinator & Dessert Stylist. Jessica’s near 20 year tenure in the restaurant & service industry has given her the skills to organize peers & charges to get things done in a high volume environment. A demeanor perfectly suited for event planning, proving to be unusually skilled in multitasking & troubleshooting. JPark Events has catered an afternoon tea & dessert for the Dalai Lama, has been featured in Martha’s Circle, and on Style Me Pretty. Her work has also been seen in Occasions Magazine & The Atlantan Brides featuring her custom dessert bars. Recently voted best caterer in Atlanta by Wedding Industry Experts. Images by Randal Granier Photography
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“Real Size Bride exclusively caters to REAL women, size 10-30, by dressing them in the most spectacular wedding gowns, offering sexy mermaid cuts for voluptuous derrieres, plunging sweetheart necklines for buxom beauties, and sexy high slits for legs worth showing off.�
www.realsizebride.com
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Hairpiece Designer: Tessa Kim http://www.tessakim.com/ | Hairstylist: Nichole Stewart Makeup Artist: Harlow Hanna Buschor | Model: Keri Atkins http://www.keriatkins.info/ Photographer: Margaret Hope | Assistant: Cory Evers
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Styled Shoot
Winter Wonderland
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Photography ~ Brannan Blascak Photography | Styling ~ Shafonne Myers | Model ~ Kelly Bolan Chocolate Lollipops ~ Frosted Petticoat | Wedding Gown ~ Alfred Angelo | Venue ~ Historic Mankin Mansion
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Styled Shoot
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Handmade Wedding Love Top picks from
.com
chosen by Sheena from Beautiful Again Bridal
Stunning Stuff to Wear You are an extraordinary bride and deserve to stand out. Buying handmade items for your wedding day ensemble has never been easier – just log onto Etsy.com to find everything for you, your groom, the wedding party, and the parents. Artisans offer everything from eco-friendly hand created wedding gowns and dapper custom boutonnieres and corsages, to sparkling vintage earrings for your something old. Clockwise from the bottom right: Crystal Snowflake Bridal Bouquet from BridalBouquetsbyKy Go to Etsy.com and search for listing # 101973477 Plus-size Eco Friendly Embellished Dress from PureMagnoliaCouture Go to Etsy.com and search for listing # 72143838 Repurposed Vintage Sugar Jewel Earrings from hollyglimmer Go to Etsy.com and search for listing # 85858543 Recycled Holiday Flower Brooch from BeautifulAgainBridal Go to Etsy.com and search for listing # 115450280 Rustic Pinecone Boutonniere from LoveSparklePretty
Go to Etsy.com and search for listing # 113573220
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Amazing Items to Decorate With Couples are clamoring for that special something that they haven’t seen at all the other weddings – and handmade touches are the perfect unique addition for the bride and groom who want to stand out. Whether you are a DIY Bride who has run out of time, or you just want to enchant your guests with a little whimsy – artisans from Etsy.com have you covered. These holiday wedding decorations are perfect for any wedding taking place during the beautiful & crisp months of winter. Starting Clockwise from top left: Vintage Music Note Garland from Dancing Mooney Go to Etsy.com and search for item #111184549 Snowy Deer Cake Topper from AFoxWedding Go to Etsy.com and search for item #116382795 Winter Tree Wedding Invites from RunkPockDesigns Go to Etsy.com and search for item #101939715 Glitter Mason Jars from OHONEFINEDAY Go to Etsy.com and search for item #111493522 White Chenille Branches from janejoss Go to Etsy.com and search for item #105188046 Recycled White Pumpkins from HoneysuckleLane Go to Etsy.com and search for item #115336166
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SnowWhite Fairytale
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Styled Shoot
Photography ~ Cathy Lee Photography | Event Planner ~ JD Designs | Invitation Designer ~ Soiree, Andover | Cake Designer ~ Wild Orchid Baking Company | Linens and Coverings ~ Festejos
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International Love Love from around the world
Camilla Sjoland & Odd Tjetland Wedding Date: September 08, 2012 Wedding Location: Rogaland, Norway Chalmers Photography
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Planning
Style Your Wedding Tribal Princess By LaTanya Ward Showers, LWDesires
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W
ho says your wedding has to be consistent and controlled when it comes to style? As an alternative to the common traditions choose to personalize your special day by incorporating your own personal style or even developing a theme. You could choose something like “Tribal Princess” and get creative with your makeup, accessories, and shoes.
Most tips on choosing wedding jewelry encourage brides to choose something that matches their gown. Many brides tend to go with a sleek look and choose pearls or diamonds for accessories and shades of white or neutral for shoes. Instead of going with the majority consider styles and colors that are meaningful to you. Bringing different colors and styles into your wedding can be as delicate or unsubtle as you wish. For example, consider bold colored accessories that compliment your wedding colors and instead of going with a white or neutral shoe opt to design your own custom pair. Designing a custom shoe offers a way to tie your theme into the wedding with something you can keep and wear. Designers like RocknDeeva offer create your own shoe design services to your exact specifications and have several style categories to choose from. I encourage you to try something new on your special day. Your wedding style can be inspired by so many different things (travel, favorite song, poetry) so don’t limit yourself. Most importantly have fun with your own personal style.
Photography ~ Reggie Harmon | Stylist ~ DeAnna Hodges of HelloDeeva | Make up Artist ~ Bobbie Sue Gaffney | Model ~ LaTanya Showers
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Intenrational Love
African Wedding Invitations by Bibi Invitations
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Bibi Invitations is Canadian based online wedding invitation store that creates customizable African themed wedding Invitations Our wedding invitations have foil stamped, die cut or flat printed patterns that draw inspiration from patterns from African fabrics such as Kente and Aso Oke. We started the company after a fruitless search for “African themed wedding invitation� on Google. Our invitations are for the bride who is seeking an invitation that really rises to her special occasion.
www.bibiinvitation.com
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International Love
How did the two of you meet? Introduced by friends / hung out at a diner together
Describe your engagement ~ He took me to Rockport and after feasting on crayfish and shrimp, proposed on our own private patio next to the waterfront. Itwas perfect. , The weather on your wedding was ~ Cloudy but beutiful
Describe your menu and your favorite part ~ We had saltlick BBQ provided the majority of the food(pork rib was the hit of he night), homage apps and salads by the brides stepmother/ dad. fabulous choices, but my favorite part was that it was a sit down menu and the Filet was AMAZING. Your first dance song ~ The Cradle of human kind, Flogging Molly
Describe your wedding flowers ~ Green and red orchids, pur-
The thing that we would have done differently is? Can’t
ple and white calla Lillie’s,monkey tails along with purple and red tulips.
think of a thing, was as perfect as it could have been:)
Describe your wedding cake ~ We had croque em Bouche, chocolate and lemon tarts, and petit fores. Describe your DIY décor ~ M&Ms with our pic on them were seved in a green/gold dessert bar. Todd chose all of the quotes about love on the tables that reminded him of us.
If we could have spend our wedding dollars differently, we would have ~ Probably we would have:bought less food, but this isn’t exactly a bad thing.. Our favorite detail of the wedding was ~ The kilts n chucks that the groomsmen wore. The most unique element of the day: The Celtic ceremony with hand fasting right.
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Kelley Denham and Brooks Mullen Wedding Date: March 17, 2012 Wedding Location: Dripping Springs, Texas Wedding Colors: Gold, Green, with Red and Purple accents Fiona Lorne Photography
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International Love Your advice for other plus size brides: Be yourselves, the day is about you and the mate you love. Make every decision based on your love for each other / your own beliefs and the day will be a true reflection of you both. Three adjectives that describe the day: Celtic, Texas, Party What has surprised you most during the first few months of marriage? After being together for almost a decade nothing really surprised me. We’re In love and happy n plan on staying that way.
Photographer: Fiona Lorne Photography Florist: Wildbunches Invites & Calligraphy: details Austin Wedding Planner: Memory Lane Events Caterer: DNA Events serving Saltlick BBQ Jewelry: Swarovski / Andrea Baker
Bride’s Attire: Sophia Tolli Yardley Where did you get the bridal attire? Belle Sassion Bridal Bridesmaids Attire: Alfred Angelo Groom’s Attire: Atlantis kilts, Irish national tartan Ceremony and Reception Location: Memory Lane Events Center Music/Entertainment: Memory Lane DJ/ the Austin bagpipper Transportation: Lindsey Limousine Music/Entertainment: Atmosphere Productions. Rentals and Décor: DNA/Memory Lane Officiate/ Minister: Spike Gilispie
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Mallory Jackson and James Dudenake Wedding Date: June 29, 2012 Wedding Location: Hawaii, Kaneohe Wedding Colors: Blue and White Creatrix Photography
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Describe your engagement: On Labor Day, James and I went on a walk to a park. When we got there he told me to close my eyes and when I opened them, he was on one knee, with the ring in his hand.
How did the two of you meet? We met each other through the dating website match. com. I made the first move and sent James a message. My pickup line involved asking about Boise State Universities blue turf (since James is a die-hard fan of the school) and I included my phone number in the message, asking James to call me. James responded to my message and finally got up the courage to call me. After that, the rest is history. Describe your wedding flowers ~ Our wedding flowers were white roses and blue Hydrangeas. My bridesmaids bouquets had hydrangeas and white roses and my bouquet was all white roses. Describe your wedding cake ~ Ko’olau Ballroom is known for their bread pudding, but James and I did not get that, we did get cheesecake, which was very good. As for our cake
it was a white square two tier cake, with butter cream filing and white frosting. The cake was decorated with blue hydrangeas around the edges. Describe your DIY décor: ~ We had two candy pieces in a little white box, and we wrap a sheer blue ribbon around it, and top it off with a sliver sticker with our initials and date on it. Our centerpieces were a glass square vase with blue hydrangeas and white roses. Describe your menu and your favorite part: It was buffet style, and we had chicken, with a Macadamia nut sauce, and a very savory pot roast. I loved the chicken but so nervous that I didn’t eat much. sauceDescribe any unique aspects of the beverages you served ~ It was a cash bar so if anyone wanted alcohol then they would have to pay for it. This kept the cost down for us. Your first dance song ~ Against the World by Robin Thicke The thing that we would have done differently is? Allow for more time in the schedule for the bride and groom to eat each course of the meal, because we had roughly 30 minutes total to eat all of the courses. We both barely tasted the food we worked so hard to pay for. If we could have spend our wedding dollars differently, we would have ~ More guests, a larger wedding cake, a videographer, and we should have booked our photo booth for three hours, rather than two. Pretty Pear Bride Magazine 85
International Love
Photographer: Creatrix Photography Florist : Flowers from Watanabe Floral and NEX flower shop Wedding Planner- Guada Agustin Caterer Ko’olau Ballrooms Cake: Safeway Cupcakes: Eutoica Lyons Invites & Calligraphy: David’s Bridal Jewelry: Kay’s and Mother Bride’s Attire: Vera Wang Where did you get the bridal attire? David’s Bridal Bridesmaids Attire: Long royal blue dresses Groom’s Attire: Black tux with a white vest and white bow tie Groomsmen Attire: Black tux with blue vest and bow tie that match the bride maids dresses Ceremony and Reception Location: Ko’olau Ballroom Transportation: Rental Car Music/Entertainment: 808 DJ’s Photo booth from AP Snapshots Officiate/ Minister: Pastor George Scott
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The green and the scenic views of the Ko’olau Mountain Range was spectacular! Your advice for other plus size brides: Be My advice for plus size brides is to not stress on the small things. No matter what happens everything will turn out great, and remember you are doing this because you fell in love with someone amazing. Three adjectives that describe the day: Unforgettable, Romantic and Emotional. The most unique element of the day: While we were taking pictures, we took a family photo during sunset. The sunset and the mountains provided a beautiful background to the photo. There was even a perfect beam of sunlight that was shining right at us, which added to the beauty of the scene. nset. The sunset and the mountains provided a beautiful background to the photo. There was even a perfect beam of sunlight that was shining right at us, which added to the beauty of the scene.
What has surprised you most during the first few months of marriage? After about a month of being married, James and I were surprised when he was asked to deploy for two months. While James was gone, I was surprised at how difficult it was to do things on my own.
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Styled Shoot
Photography ~ Brannan Blascak Photography | Styling ~ Shafonne Myers | Venue ~ Maggiano’s {Richmond,VA}
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Show your Love
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Fashion
Valentine’s Day Fashions Are you Naughty or Nice?
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Nice....
Open back dress / Eurø Style beige coat / Gold wedge, $98 / Orla Kiely over the shoulder bag / Charlotte Russe sparkle jewelry / Coach chain jewelry / Charlotte Russe sparkle jewelry Pretty Pear Bride Magazine 93
Fashion
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Naughty....
Leopard dress, $105 / Plus size jacket / Promise Shoes red high heels / Giuseppe Zanotti , $1,050 / Wallis yellow gold earrings / Pretty Pear Bride Magazine 95
IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel Margaux Dress $175.00 Available in Black, web # 140558 or Electric Blue, web # 174020 Sizes 12-32 Available at Sonsi.com
As Seen in InStyle Magazine
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IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel Francesca Dress $155-$160 Available in Amethyst, web # 172853 or Black, web # 113084 Sizes 12-32 Available at Sonsi.com
Perfect LBD!
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KiyonnaTM Betsey Ruched Dress $128 Available in additional colors web # 123022 Sizes 0X-5X Available at Sonsi.com
Seasonless & Stunning + Comes in 8 Colors!
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KiyonnaTM Gigi Lace Dress $128 web # 155763 Sizes 0X-5X BESTSELLER Available at Sonsi.com
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KiyonnaTM Retro Glam Lace Dress $168 Available in additional colors web # 70465 Sizes 0X-5X BESTSELLER Available at Sonsi.com
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KiyonnaTM Scalloped Boudoir Lace Dress $158 Available in additional colors web # 70464 Sizes 0X-5X BESTSELLER Available at Sonsi.com
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