Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Fairy-Tale Wedding Goes Wrong: Tampa Nuptials End With Grandma In Choke Hold


Forget that the recent wedding reception of Tampa, Fla., couple Tasha Johnson and Markeith Brown was held at a restaurant called the Rusty Pelican -- it was apparently a classy, fairy tale-themed event, complete with a horse and carriage, romantic vows exchanged at an oceanside gazebo and a ballroom reception.

The affair remained classy until around 9 p.m., when Tampa police say Brown began throwing money on the dance floor for children to pick up, which angered one of his guests. When the groom and his brother asked the guest to leave, a fight broke out that escalated and spilled into the parking lot. Cops came -- but it doesn't end there. After guests left, the fight started up again in a hotel parking lot, where the groom's 74-year-old grandmother was put in a choke hold after trying to break up the brawl.

At least one person has been arrested and one was treated in the emergency room as a result of this wedding brawl, but you might be happy to learn that Tasha and Markeith, "the money thrower," are enjoying their honeymoon in the Bahamas right now. They might not be any worse for the wear after their wedding gone wrong, but if you want to avoid making some major mistakes -- as either a bride, a groom or a wedding guest -- pay attention to the following five things you should never do at a wedding.

1) THROWING MONEY AT YOUR GUESTS: It can be a cultural tradition for the bride and groom to do a "money" or "dollar" dance at a wedding, but sprinkling dollar bills on a crowd of people, aka "making it rain," is a totally different story and is never a good idea. Also, as generous as it might be, it's pretty gross to give money to your guests in the same manner that you gave out money to the dancers at your bachelor party.

2) GET BOOZY & BELLIGERENT: If treated responsibly, open bars are nice accents to a fun wedding. If treated irresponsibly, well, see above. There's really no better way to ruin what is supposed to be the best day of two peoples' lives than to get drunk and start throwing blows. On days like these, family ties come undone. The bride will call the police on you.

3) SCREW UP THE TOAST: Write notes. Don't have too many drinks beforehand. Remove all thoughts of his or her exes from your mind. Be discreet. Because if you call the bride by the groom's ex-girlfriend's name or let it slip that she's in her first trimester, she'll never let you come to the house again. Ever.

4) HIT ON SOMEONE INAPPROPRIATE: It should go without saying that the groom's grandmother is off limits, right? It's hard to be single at a wedding, but there's no rule that says you have to find someone to hook up with at every wedding celebration you attend. Relax.

5) BE TACKY: Of course, tacky people don't necessarily know they're tacky. But if you don't do any of the things that this family in the UK did for their 16-year old daughter's wedding last year, then you at least know you won't have the tackiest wedding the world has ever seen.

Read original article

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Jilted Bride Donates Reception to Seniors

(Nov. 2) - Hundreds of senior citizens outside Chicago got an unexpected Halloween treat Saturday -- a free party sponsored by a jilted bride.

Six days before Teanne Harris was to walk down the aisle, her fiance called off the nuptials.
And when Harris and her mother went to the catering hall to cancel the reception, they were told their deposit was nonrefundable. That's when Harris noticed the Asbury Court Retirement Community across the street.

So instead of letting a Halloween-themed wedding reception go to waste, Harris, 34, decided to move the party to the retirement home.

"I don't think she knew anybody here, and we don't get offers like that. So we were thrilled and so were our residents. It came out of the blue," Mary Eichenfeld, the resident services director of the facility in Des Plaines, Ill., told the New York Daily News.

More than 300 residents of the retirement home attended the party. Video from WBBM, the local CBS-TV station, showed seniors -- some in masks, some in full costumes, including a cowboy and Raggedy Ann -- dancing and enjoying swing music played by a DJ. Flowers and jars of candy decorated the tables.

Harris put on a brave face and attended what should have been her wedding reception but declined to speak to reporters. "She came to the party and while I saw her smiling, I'm sure she was feeling pretty bad," said Eichenfeld.

Harris had her bridal bouquet placed in the retirement home's chapel.
"She's an angel," Eichenfeld told WBBM.

Ana Rojas, a resident of Asbury Court, praised Harris' generous donation.
"This world looks miserable, but there's good people in it," Rojas told WBBM.
Harris' mom, Bari, said she was happy with the heartbreaking situation's outcome.

"Yes, there's mixed emotion," she told WBBM. "It could have been a lot worse, just sitting at home, knowing that nothing was used."

Harris was believed to be headed to Hawaii on Monday and could not be reached. Her former fiance, who is identified on an online wedding registry as Matt Harker, did not return a call from the Daily News for comment.

"That was supposed to be her honeymoon, but she's going alone," Eichenfeld told the Daily News. "I say good for her. I hope she finds a nice guy who deserves her."

2009 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Sweet & Subtle: Ivanka's Too-Beautiful-for-Words Wedding Gown!!!


While Ivanka Trump looked no further than her own jewelry collection for her something sparkling for her wedding to Jared Kushner this weekend, the heiress sought out famed wedding gown designer Vera Wang for her “something new.” Ivanka and Vera Wang worked closely to create the perfect couture wedding gown inspired by the gown Princess Grace Kelly wore to wed Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956. The result — a hand made lace gown fit for a princess. To complement her majestic gown, Ivanka paid long time hair stylist Suelyn Farel a visit 10 days prior to the wedding for a trim and “Park Avenue Blonde” highlights. And though Wang was still putting the finishing touches on Ivanka’s wedding gown just days before the ceremony, the heiress was “really calm” according to Farel, who cut about an inch and half off of Ivanka’s blonde tresses. “She really just wanted to make sure she had a fabulous trim so her hair would be able to style well the day of the wedding,” Farel tells PEOPLE. Watch as Vera Wang describes the work and inspiration behind Ivanka’s couture wedding gown. Tell us: What do you think of Ivanka Trump’s wedding gown?reporting by Isley Kasica

Read the original article and others here!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Upcoming DFW Bridal Trunk Shows

Warren BarrĂ³n

53 Highland Park Village

Dallas, Texas 75205

(214) 526-8400

Monique Lhuillier: October 29th-31st

Elizabeth Fillmore: November 19th-21st

Lela Rose: December 3rd-5th


Stanley Korshak Bridal Salon

500 Court Street

Suite 100

Dallas, Texas 75201

(214) 871-3611

Romona Keveza: October 30th-31st


Patsy's, A Bridal Boutique

The Shops of Highland Park

4244 Oak Lawn Avenue

Dallas, Texas 75219

(214) 528-1227

Judd Waddell Couture: October 30th-31st


Neiman Marcus Downtown Bridal Salon

Second Floor

1618 Main Street

Dallas, Texas 75201

(214) 573-2663

Anne Barge: October 23rd-24th

Kenneth Pool: November 13th-14th

Anna Maier~Ulla-Maija: November 20th-21st

Christos: November 27th-28th

Oscar de la Renta: December 4th-5th


Mockingbird Bridal Boutique

5606 East Mockingbird Lane

Dallas, Texas 75206

(214) 823-6873

Saison Blanche: October 22nd-24th

Simone Carvalli: October 29th-31st

Paul Varsalona: November 27th-29th


LuLu's Bridal Boutique

2728 Routh Street

Dallas, Texas 75201

(214) 871-9610

Casa Blanca: December 4th-6th


Stardust Celebrations

6464 West Plano Parkway

Plano, Texas 75093

(972) 781-1619

Eve of Milady Bridals: November 6th-8th

Lazaro: November 27th-29th


Blush Couture

2422 Allen Street

Dallas, Texas 75204

(214) 303-0077

Blue by Enzoani: October 28th-29th

Augusta Jones: October 31st-November 2nd


Terry Costa

12817 Preston Road

Dallas, Texas 75230

(972) 385-6100

Emerald Bridal: October 23rd-25th

Allure Bridals: October 30th-November 1st

Maggie Sottero: December 4th-6th


Priscilla of Boston

4000 Villanova Street

Dallas, Texas

(214) 691-0669

Melissa Sweet & Reverie: October 22nd-26th


Bliss Bridal Salon

833 Foch Street

Ft. Worth, Texas 76107

(817) 332-4696

Sara Gabriel Veiling & Headpieces: November 21st-22nd

Watters Wtoo: December 18th-20th

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Dirty Dancing Video


Blackburn Wedding Highlight

I just received the highlight video for The Blackburn's wedding this past June! This was such a fun family to work with and they had so much fun dancing at the reception.

The video was shot by the lovely and talented Adrianne Porcelli of Turquoise Video Productions.

Liz & Brent Blackburn wedding highlight from Turquoise Video on Vimeo.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Wiley Valentine

I am totally loving the invitations and stationery from Wiley Valentine! Featured in the latest issue of In Style Wedding - totally love them!






Friday, October 9, 2009

Amsale Craziness!

I just went to Clotheshorse Anonymous yesterday and there was a size 10 Amsale bridal gown on sale for a crazy $131!!!! It's a strapless ball gown with a corset bust - ivory satin - no lace or beading - very simple. She salesperson told me that it was one of three debutante gowns for one of her client's daughters. It's been worn only once and the damage on the hem is minimal - nothing a good dry cleaner couldn't take care of. This is such a great bargain - I almost bought it myself just to have as back up for my brides :) If you are in the market, it's definitely worth checking out. And it probably won't for long so get there now!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Wai ching




For the bride looking for more than just a white wedding dress, presenting ... Wai Ching. The exotic, edgy gowns are "wild, yet wearable." Chrissy Wai Ching, the designer, is no doubt inspired by her Chinese-Puerto Rican-English heritage.




If you like certain elements from several different dresses or want a design in a different color or fabric she is willing to work with you to customize your dream dress. Best of all? Most of these dresses are under $1000!

Spring 2010 Trend Spotting: Frothy Skirts










Monday, September 28, 2009

REAL LIFE WEDDING: Claire & Charlie

I followed up with Claire Folger Brown to ask her some questions about her March 21st wedding and here's what she had to say:


1. How did you and Charlie meet? Tell me your love story!
My college roommate's boyfriend had just moved to Houston and I was out and about on the town with my friend, Jenn. I called Brian to see what was going on and he invited me to join him and his friends at a birthday party at a place called Johnny’s. I met Charlie at Johnny’s and we immediately hit it off. After that night, he asked my old roommate, Katie, for my number. The rest is history.

2. Describe the proposal
We went to my favorite place, Ocean Isle Beach, for the week. My entire family and beach group was there. We went out to dinner at the Giggling Mackeral and he proposed over looking the inter-coastal waterway while we were waiting for a table.

3. What was your favorite part of your wedding?
My favorite part was the party and the dancing with everyone we love. My band was the greatest!

4. What was the design inspiration for your wedding?
I really wanted a vintage look. I wanted something different from other weddings. I felt my photographer really captured the look I was going for. Lots of lace and red lipstick!

5. What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome when planning your wedding?
The hardest thing to overcome was finding a dress. Having to try on the sample size made it very hard to see what a dress would actually look like. The dress I bought ended up not being what I wanted at all. I had to make my own changes, putting my own twist on it. It turned out to be exactly what I wanted but it was quite the fiasco.

6. What advice would you give to someone who's planning their wedding?
Let your mother help. If your Mom is willing to help it can be a great thing. At first I resisted the help but in the end she really came through and made my planning experience almost stress free.

7. What's next for you and Charlie as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future?
Charlie and I plan to live in our new house and take pleasure in being young. We want to enjoy living in the city and experiencing our new life together.

Claire & Charlie's Vendors:
Wedding Coordinator: Jaime Lee Event Planning
Photographer: The Honey and The Moon (Andra Lilly)
Ceremony and Reception Site: Rockefeller Hall
Flowers: Central Market, Houston
Cake: Central Market, Houston
Band: The Klocks
Catering: Rockefeller Hall

Thanks for sharing Claire!!!