For the Guys : The Tuxedo and Suit Collection from G. Alexander

G. Alexander was formed on the foundation that quality and style do matter. Their tuxedos are manufactured in the USA which allows them to work side by side with the designers, production personnel and their clients to create looks that stand out from the crowd. As Michael from G. Alexander Tuxedo Collection writes, "From the beautiful superfine fabrics, the classic styling and the amazing fit, the first time you try on a G. Alexander tuxedo you know you are wearing something special".

Click to read more ...

An elegant black and yellow Orlando, FL wedding with sunflowers + killer heels

Today's gorgeous wedding of Fern and Derrick from Pilster Photography showcases how amazing black and yellow look together. Just look at those sunflowers and those stunning high heels on the ladies. And, the Maggie Sottero gown looks stunning on Fern, the bride.

After the reception had been going on for a while, Chad decided it was time to take some portraits of Fern and Derrick. As they walked to the cake shop across the street there was a door open to a venue {which is currently kind of in flux} that is now called Cheyenne Salon and Opera House. As Chad writes . . . "This is the type of place that you think only exists in a western movie. There is a staircase in the middle of the building that goes up three stories. The bars are all wood with spinning stools in front of them. I hope that they reopen this place, it has some amazing potential!"

And, now we head back to the reception . . .

Wedding Vendors:
Photography - Pilster Photography with Chad and James
Florist - Vintage Vines
Venue/Caterer - Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant
Cake Artist - Catering Parties
Officiant - Pastor Silas Pinto of First Baptist Orlando
Musician/DJ - Bryan Taylor of Tagas Productions
Bridal Gown - A Maggie Sottero from Lily's Bridal
Brides Shoes - Nina Shoes
Grooms outfit - Calvin Klein
Photo Booth - Gary with Oh Snap Orlando Photo booth
Piano and Violin during the ceremony - Allegro Learning

Embrace Fall with Delicious Comfort Food from the Middle East

Lebanese chef Joumana Accad blends traditions and
seasonal ingredients to create bountiful fall recipes

With shorter days approaching, hours spent by the barbecue are coming to a close. Summer vacation may be over, but the comfort food of fall is just around the corner. Beat the end-of-summer blues with the warmth of simmering spices and comforting flavors. To celebrate fall Chef Joumana Accad joins us with a recipe for Apple Dumpling with Fig Jam . . .

8 servings

from Joumana Accads . . . An apple covered in pie dough is not a Middle Eastern tradition; it is something I discovered in the South. I stuffed the apple with a Lebanese/Levantine fig jam [made from dried figs, anise, sesame seeds, and walnuts], which can be bought at stores specializing in Middle-Eastern or ethnic foods, or made at home quite easily (see following recipe). The apple peels can be recycled into apple-flavored syrup which can be used over several days and stored in the refrigerator.

For the crust:
2 1/2 cups of flour
1 cup of softened butter
1 egg yolk (from a large egg)
1 or 2 Tablespoons of cream
3/4 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla or rose water or orange blossom water

For the apples:
8 small apples of similar size
8 tablespoons of fig jam
8 pats of unsalted butter

For the fig jam:
The fig jam can easily be made instead of being store-bought and will last several months. To sum it up, here is what you will do: You will cook cut-up figs in a simple anise-scented  sugar syrup along with some walnuts, until the figs are totally imbibed with the syrup; you will “finish” it off with a swirl of toasted sesame seeds and a dash of mastic (optional).

Click to read more ...

Shopping by Color : Wedding Jewelry in Black and Grey with Yellow

It's Tuesday once again, so that means we're back with another round-up for the Shopping by Color feature. Today we're focusing on wedding jewelry in black and grey with pops of yellow. And, like each shopping feature, I'm calling all other designers to please leave us a link to your wedding jewelry in black, grey and/or yellow for all to see - simply leave a comment with the url to your item. And, don't forget - even though we're featuring a specific color combo here, each shop features many more styles and colors to choose from so please be sure to click on over to their site to see all the goodies they offer.

Lemon Yellow Poppy Flowers Earrings | Sora Designs | $26.50 | Ships Worldwide

Striking Yellow Rose on Black Cameo - Large Filigree Ring | Eternal Autumn | $14 | Ships Worldwide

Click to read more ...

Hot Trends for Fall Weddings

Article Courtesy of Susanna from K.i.s.s. Wedding Ideas

Fabulous fall is upon us, and it's time to fall in love… with all the great new styles, shades and decorations we’re seeing at fall weddings! This season, forget the typical tired old fall fashions – it’s all about hot colors and even hotter ideas. The weather might be cooling off, but the mercury on our trend-ometer is going through the roof!

Fall Wedding Colors
Cool turquoise and sunny yellow might have been the hot choices for summer, but I’m guessing we’re going to see a move towards a much richer palette of jewel tones this season. Think luscious emerald, glittering garnet and rich, romantic ruby. Think dark and delicious and hot, hot, hot!

Fall Themes
Vintage is the catchphrase this season… I’m imagining the Mad Men era, with its elegance and classic charm. Can’t you just picture it? Cigars, whisky bars and sultry tunes – what could be classier? I’d give the bridal party a real 50s look, have some gorgeous pics taken in a classic car, and use real vintage pieces sourced from antique shops or flea markets to create centerpieces and favors. Click here for more fabulous wedding reception decoration ideas.

Food for Thought
Foodies are the new yuppies, I reckon, so you really can’t cut corners on your fall wedding menu. I think there’s going to be an emphasis on seasonal fare and dishes created out of typical fall foods – pumpkin, squash, nuts, apples, and so on. That goes for serving too! I love innovative ways of dishing up each course, and what could be cuter than pumpkin soup in mini hollowed-out pumpkins?

Shabby Chic Centerpieces
Forget perfectly coifed centerpieces – they’re so 2010. Instead, I’m envisioning a move towards a really unique look, a kind of mix-and-match of vases, glass jars and other eclectic finds. The look is funky and unusual and definitely not run-of-the-mill. Best of all? It’s cheaper, and easier. Remember ladies – keep it simple and special. You can’t go wrong.

The great thing about a fall wedding is that you can move away from conventional flowers and really get creative with pumpkins, candles, squashes, sheaves of wheat, nuts and leaves. Looking for inspiration? You’ll find some great fall wedding centerpieces here…

Bridal Looks
Just as vintage style dresses are making a comeback, so too are retro hairstyles and accessories. No more too-tight chignons ladies – the look for fall is long, loose and curly. If you're set on an up-do, make it a simple one… a loose bun with a few curls pulled out is perfect. And who says you need a full-on long veil? I'm anticipating a lot more brides are going to go for chic Art Deco hairpieces, with feathers and pearls and crystals. Classy and contemporary – what’s not to love??

K.i.s.s Wedding Ideas, created by Susanna, is full of inspiration and tips to help you keep it simple and special for perfect weddings on any budget.

The Rise of the Rustic Wedding

Attend nearly any wedding these days and you're bound to see some rustic, country touches. A full 44-percent of brides plan at least some rustic elements in their weddings, according to The Wedding Report. And some go full-bore.

Here are several ways to incorporate the rustic look into your wedding while making it personal and within budget.

1. Barns
Rustic barns are the quintessential location for a rustic wedding. Dress it up with sweeping curtains (sew together fabric drop clothes from a home improvement store) and hanging lights (borrowed white Christmas lights work, too). A farm, open field, country church or plantation home can also provide the perfect backdrop to your themed wedding.

photo courtesy of The Round Barn Farm

2. Painted Wood Signs
Add some personality to the big day with whimsical or romantic painted signs that signal to your guests what's happening where. Look locally for free reclaimed or salvaged wood to add rustic charm and eco-friendliness.

photo courtesy of Pacific Weddings

3. Burlap
Nothing says rustic like burlap and this versatile fabric can be used in a number of ways. Use it as table coverings, then top with smaller borrowed vintage tablecloths. Use it as a background to frame table numbers for your reception. Use it as an aisle runner or atop haystacks for extra casual seating.

4. Mason Jars
Mason jars are perhaps the most-seen wedding accessory these days -- and for good cause. They ooze charm, they're economical, they come in a variety of sizes and they go with just about anything. Throw a handful of wildflowers into a mason jar and you've got an instant centerpiece. You can also use them to hold utensils or candy at the reception. Fill them with something sweet and top with burlap and ribbon for wedding favors.

left: photo by Polly Wreford, found via Santa Barbara Chic | right: Your Home Based Parties

5. Chalkboards
Like painted signs, chalkboards add a fun element to wedding day signage. They make perfect menus, Mr. & Mrs. signs on the back of the couple's chairs, seating charts and directional signs. Paint a vintage frame the color of your wedding, then paint over the glass with chalkboard paint for an instant showpiece.

6. Homemade
A rustic wedding is not complete without something homemade. And there's no better place to feature homemade than the reception. Pies are a big trend in weddings this year, and local vendors are making it easier to find baked goods and more with that down-home taste. Decorate the dessert table with bowls of eggs, flour and honey for that extra home-made feeling. Handwrite favorite family recipes on index cards to use as wedding favors.

photo by Ashley Rose Photography, planning by Sugar Branch Events

7. Registry
Guests can contribute to the rustic theme through gift-giving. Register for gift cards at CardAvenue.com for retailers who specialize in rustic products, like J.Crew, Timberland, Restoration Hardware and Bass Pro Shops.

8. Music
More than decorations, music tells the story of the rustic wedding and instantly sets the mood. Whether it's country, bluegrass, folk or a combination, your choice or musicians, deejay or soundtrack will complete your theme and leave your guests tapping their feet for days to come.

###

About the Author: Weddings expert Cara Davis is the author of Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot and blogs from her home in Orlando, FL, about cheap ways to spend and save at CheapWaysTo.com.

A sweet Montana wedding filled with personal touches + little rays of sunshine

According to family tradition, Shannon, the bride, will have plenty of luck in her marriage to Shafer as she placed a lucky sixpence in her shoe the day of the wedding. Their bright yellow and grey color palette added that extra pop of color to their smiling faces and laughter-filled wedding ceremony. Their wedding was so sweet with the inclusion of 15 children that carried golden balloons down the aisle. I just love seeing all the happy little faces - it's so sweet, especially when the bride and groom are right in the middle with all of them after the ceremony. As the photographer Kristine Paulsen wrote, "Shannon and Shafer are both early childhood special education teachers, so these little rays of sunshine walking down the aisle were especially meaningful to them as a couple." And, Kristine continues to explain . . . "There were many personal touches throughout their ceremony, including a Celtic hand-fastening ritual, which utilized cloth from both Shannon and Shafer’s childhood blankets, plus a new cloth to carry them into the future together. Toasts were hilarious and had everybody howling with laughter and this energy carried over into dancing, which was a mixture of beautiful, wild, wacky and fun!"

Vendors:
Photographer: Kristine Paulsen Photography
Reception Venue: Double Arrow Resort