Join us for a discussion about the latest wedding trends — from bridal wear to reception decor and everything inbetween — with wedding planner Stacey Price of Marry Me Productions and Jasmine Craig, owner of the upscale bridal salon The Wedding Dress.
Liani Widjaja
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(CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that’s happening with country music artists behind the scenes and
out of the spotlight.)
Remember how Danny Gokey’s first wife,
Sophia, died right before he auditioned for American Idol? Who could ever forget that? It was one of the saddest, sweetest
back stories the reality show ever had. But, now well into his post-Idol career as a country singer, Gokey has found
love again. He married Cuban-Peruvian model Leyicet Peralta
on Sunday (Jan. 29) in Florida with about 100 friends and family there to celebrate during the intimate ceremony. “We
are so thankful to have found each other and now be able to spend the rest of our lives together. We pray our gratitude grows
more every day because there is so much for us to do now,” the newlyweds told People magazine. Guests were encouraged
to give donations (instead of wedding gifts) to Sophia’s Heart, Gokey’s children’s charity that he named after his late wife.
He also reportedly said the theme of the wedding was romance and love, which is the best theme of all. His new wife’s tweets
are protected, but you can tell a lot just by reading her Twitter bio: “Beauty
is of the flesh will eventually fade but a good heart can shine forever keep you beautiful always. Trust, Follow
Delight in the Lord. Be Nice 2day!:)”
Whether gushing over a holiday engagement or anticipating a flower-laden fall reception, Oz Bakirdan said that now is the time to plan the perfect wedding.
Bakirdan, the owner of Bridal Palace and Dejure Formal Wear, said January and February are always the busiest months of the year for making wedding arrangements.
“Finding the right dress, flowers and photographer are all big decisions, so we try to take the stress out of wedding shopping,” said Bakirdan, whose business hosts central Illinois’ largest bridal show, Wedding of a Lifetime, each January at the Civic Center. “When planning a wedding, you can never be too early, but you can be too late.”
Sara O’Shea, owner of So Chic Events and Bridal in Morton, said the main wedding booking season is January through March because of the prevalence of bridal shows and end of the year engagements.
“Sixty-five percent of engagements happen between Thanksgiving and Christmas, because people are around family and loved ones and are motivated to share the great news,” said O’Shea, who has enjoyed meeting hundreds of couples looking for assistance.
“For most people, this is their first and only wedding, so I love being able to help articulate their vision because each one is totally different,” she added.
Dave Cramer, co-owner of Floral Expressions, agreed that all things wedding-related are busier this time of year because “lots of women are receiving rings,” but also that fall has become really big for weddings.
“Lot’s of people are planning outdoor weddings, because brides use a lot more colors instead of just white, and fall has some beautiful colors,” said Cramer, who sets up mock bouquets, play dates to preview the flowers and as many appointments as nervous brides need to be satisfied.
“We want to portray to clients that we are the wedding experts and they can trust us.”
Princeville resident Jessica Kunkel will wed Nick Bliss on Sept. 15 at St. Anthony’s Church in Bartonville, and found the perfect dress at David’s Bridal just last weekend.
“I had all my bridesmaids, many from out of town and out of state, and my mom get together with me and play dress-up, so it was really fun,” said Kunkel. “All the planning went really smoothly.”
She’s looking forward to her honeymoon, because she had to get a passport even though she doesn’t know where her first days as Mrs. Bliss will be spent, but that’s not what she has enjoyed most about the experience.
“All this planning revolves around the person you’ve finally found, and having the privilege of spending the rest of your life with them,” she said.
Eric Engel can be reached at 686-3194 or eengel@pjstar.com.
12:48pm Tuesday 31st January 2012 in
THE spring season of I Will Wedding Shows got off to a flying start on Sunday when around 250 brides and grooms plus families and friends attended Stourport Manor.
It was a new venue for the I Will bridal series and visitors took the opportunity to browse wedding ideas from jewellery and cars to ice cream and fireworks, displayed by more than 40 exhibitors.
Two professional catwalk shows also took place, showcasing a large selection of wedding wear and accessories from local boutiques – A-Z Wedding Services of Stourport, Bridal Boutique of Worcester,
Georgina Scott of Lye, Worn Once With Love of Hagley, Pandora’s of Merry Hill, and menswear from Dancers of Halesowen.
Patrick Jones, Stourport manor general manager, said: “I was surprised and delighted by the number of people who attended, and it was great to meet so many exhibitors as well as visitors.
“It was a really good wedding show, which bodes well for the future for both Stourport Manor and I Will.”
The next two I Will shows take place this Sunday (February 5), at The Abbey Hotel in Malvern and The Lygon Arms in Broadway. The historic venues will play host to around 25 and 30 exhibitors
respectively.
The Abbey show runs between 11am and 3.30pm, and the Lygon from 12.30pm to 4.30pm.
The I Will wedding shows – run by the people behind local newspapers such as The Shuttle and its sister papers in Bromsgrove, Redditch, Stourbridge, Halesowen and Dudley – bring together an array
of services under one roof.
This means couples and their families and friends can spend a relaxed and enjoyable day collecting ideas and contacts to help create the perfect wedding.
For more information about the shows, call Linda Bynion on 01384 358106 or visit www.iwillweddings.co.uk, where the latest edition of I Will magazine is now online.
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7:40am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in
MARRIED couples can relive the romance and magic of their big day at five events to raise cash for charity .
Brides can dust off their wedding dresses and wear them once again at the Bridal Ball nights in aid of Help for Heroes.
They can even bring along their parents, best men and bridesmaids to bring back memories of their top table moments.
The first event kicks off at the Stone Manor Hotel, in stone, on February 24, where people can tuck into a three course meal and enjoy live entertainment.
Before being seated to join the rest of their party, the brides and grooms will be introduced into the room as they would have been on their wedding day before their first dance track is played for
a solo spot on the dancefloor.
There will also be a games including Mr and Mrs and heads and tails as well as auctions and raffles.
The other events will be held at the Gainsborough House Hotel, on March 9, the Granary, on March 16, Stourport Manor, on March 30 and Mercure,
in Bewdley, on April 27.
A finale event will be held at Kidderminster town hall in May in the theme of Motown and 80’s.
People can find out more information about the Bridal Ball events by contacting 07936 403 924 or 01562 752 545.
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SHANGHAI, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
China Wedding Expo, the largest and most professional wedding photography accessories and equipment exhibition in China and the world, celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2012 as it becomes the authoritative trendsetter for China’s wedding photography industry and the platform for information exchange, trade and procurement.
The 21st China Wedding Expo formally moves to its new venue at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center (formerly the Shanghai World Expo Theme Pavilion) and will be held from the 15th to the 18th of February, 2012. All exhibitors will now be located together under one roof, in an area covering 80,000 square meters, providing one-stop purchase and negotiation services to more than 150,000 professional buyers and visitors and eliminating the hassle and inconvenience of having to transit between three disparate exhibition buildings under the prior set up.
The exhibition organizer has located the exhibitors across the center’s five exhibition halls based on each exhibitor’s specialization and area of expertise, making it convenient and easy for visitors to find and interact with the exhibits that interest them. Hall 1 will be the locale for exhibitors of photo albums and frames, photographic equipment, post output devices and consumables, along with displays of photos taken professionals in the field. Hall 2 is for the display of wedding dresses and other outfits for special occasions. Hall 3 is allocated to display of photo ensembles shot by professional photographers and the availability of franchising opportunities, backgrounds and props, furniture and stage sets, shop window design, marketing training and e-marketing. Hall 4 will be where one can find equipment for children’s photography, wedding goods, accessories and cosmetics. Hall 5 will contain displays of wedding dresses and outfits for special occasions, equipment for children’s photography as well as photo albums and frames.
Number of photo album and frame exhibitors sets a new record
China’s top photo album and frame makers will be in Hall 1 on the first floor of the centre. The hall is the largest one in the center and also the largest indoor astylar exhibition hall in Asia. After a relatively quiet period, the wedding industry’s photo albums and frames sector is set to take off. Covering an exhibition area of 20,000 square meters, the 200 enthusiastic exhibitors showing their wares represents a new milestone for the exhibition. The popular photo album category includes European, modern, romantic and cartoon styles. Made from green materials, photo albums nowadays are fashionable and stylish.
The world’s top bridal dress makers eye the Chinese market
Hall 2 on the first floor at the center is reserved for the showcasing of wedding dresses. The cutting-edge and advanced hardware and software facilities in the center has lifted the application of technology at the exhibition to a new level and attracted many renowned wedding photography equipment makers from both within and outside of China, with several top-flight international brands in attendance. A combination of passion and creativity, French brand Pronuptia’s elegant and hand-tailored wedding dresses are sure to attract wide attention among visitors and establish a strong reputation in the Chinese market. FAMORY, one of the top 10 bridal and evening dress brands in the world and the only in its field to receive recognition as one of “China’s Top Brands” as well as a “China Famous Export Brand”, is exhibiting for the first time. FAMORY’s founder Cai Minqiang has been praised as the “father of modern bridal and evening dress design” by the international bridal and evening dress community. The company’s design team is the largest in the world and the firm’s designs are considered as the template for the sector, with its mainstream styles setting the trends that are followed by the international brands. With the sector focusing on China for the next phase of its development and the increasing interest in the Chinese market by brands from all over the world, the company is expected to drive the development of the sector across the country.
An impressive array of cosmetics on display
The exhibition area for cosmetics, accessories and wedding products will be located in the southern part of the lower level in Hall 4. ZFC, a leading cosmetics brand, will showcase its most compelling lines of cosmetics and hold a press conference on February 16th themed “The riddle of colors around the world — health, color and the future” in the Conference Room No. 1 on the lower level of the center. The press conference is part of a series of fun and interesting events, including a talk entitled “Business study tour in Japan”, covering both fashion and beauty topics. The event will also look at predictions for the future of the cosmetics industry in China.
Children’s photography enters new phase of development
The children’s photography exhibits will be located in the northern part of the lower level of Hall 4. With more and more young parents hoping to record their children’s every milestone in image form, the children’s portrait market has grown extensively and the industry chain for children’s photography is reaching a state of maturity. With strong demand for exhibition space and the participation of numerous famous brands, the number of exhibitors has jumped 17 per cent from last year’s. Yoyobaby, a leading children’s photography brand with a worldwide footprint, has exhibited every year since the advent of the annual exhibition. The brand, owned by Szforever Inc., one of China’s top ten outstanding wedding photography studios, has been called out the only one of China’s top ten children’s photography studios in Shenzhen. Combining its excellent management experience with both original and popular photo shooting techniques, the brand has become a benchmark for the child photography sector worldwide and is seen as the firm to lead the sector into its next stage of development.
Technology and innovation drive the wedding photography sector
The theme photography exhibition area on the second floor of Hall 3 will continue its focus on traditional wedding photography, while showcasing new technologies that allow the instant production of photo samples in a move to make it substantially easier to close the sale during the first encounter with the potential client. An entire array of breakthrough developments in technology for wedding and portrait photography sectors that is sure to dislodge the competition, especially in the newly developing field of onsite shoots at destination weddings, will be on display. Other exhibits will showcase several large live scenery and high profit outdoor location products satisfying growing market demand that can no longer be met by existing products. This year’s exhibition has attracted international wedding photography brands as well as many of China’s recently established photography studios, taking the quality of exhibits to a higher level, while attaching more importance to the quality of services and cost management. These new participants to the exhibition will go a long way in advancing the scale, dynamics and personalization of theme photography complemented by technical assistance services, so as to boost the solid development of the industry.
Many events with a common theme giving added meaning to the exhibition
Many other informative and interesting events will be concurrently held. The 7th China’s Top Ten Portrait Photography Works Exhibition will be on exhibit on the second level at the southern end of the centre. These unique and colorful works represent the best in portrait photography. In addition, exhibitors plan to hold technology communication meetings and courses covering new product releases, how to use Weibo micro-blogs as a marketing tool and sideline businesses to add to the bottom line of a photography studio, as ways to cater to every aspect of the development trends across the sector.
For more information, please visit
www.chinaweddingexpo.com.cn
SOURCE Shanghai International Exhibition Co. Ltd.
Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
Join us for a discussion about the latest wedding trends — from bridal wear to reception decor and everything inbetween — with wedding planner Stacey Price of Marry Me Productions and Jasmine Craig, owner of the upscale bridal salon The Wedding Dress.
By Ally Mullord
So you’ve been invited to a wedding. How lovely! Weddings are beautiful celebrations of the deep, eternal love between two people who have dedicated their lives to each other.
They are also expensive, time-consuming, and absolute etiquette minefields. This article is a brief overview of how not to be a terrible wedding guest.
Sadly, a wedding is not your special day. (Your birthday is your special day.) A wedding is the couple’s special day, so go along with whatever they ask. Within reason.
Step One: The Invitation Arrives
After months of arguments over colour scheme (“It is acceptable to match the ink colour of your invitations with the primary colour theme of your wedding”) and font choice, the couple have sent the invitations and yours has arrived!
What do you do with it?
Step Two: Selecting a Present
Step Three: Getting Dressed
Step Four: The Actual Wedding Bit
Step Five: The Reception
One of the 10,000 wedding sites I visited while researching this article says, “Only special people are invited to be wedding guests”.
Be special in a good way.
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Floral Handcrafted Wedding Invitation
We are very proud at this time to also offer handcrafted wedding invitation cards.
(PRWEB) January 31, 2012
Design Crafters, the well-known portal for online greetings cards has launched their new site for wedding invitations.The name of the new site is http://www.BeautifulWeddingInvitations.com. It is aimed to provide couples with an easy option for planning their wedding, and it includes wedding invitation cards which are customized as per their taste. The prices are very competitive and the designs come in all types, ranging from traditional to contemporary.
At BeautifulWeddingInvitations.com the wedding invitations can be previewed at the site before placing the order. The company also sends samples to the customer, if so desired, before placing the final order, to check the quality of the card stock and the thermography style of printing. This is also prior to payment for the order. The design of the cards ensures that not only will they impress the invitees with their elegance and beauty, but also equally impress the future in-laws.
The wedding cards come in various designs of filigree, floral, pearls and many more. They also come in different styles, such as pocketed, layered, handcrafted, embossed, etc. Some cards are even made out of 100% cotton. In the pocketed invitation cards, the wedding invitation card can hold several wedding invitation accessories as well, such as the response card and envelope, the reception card, and so on. The different colored pockets and inserts are interchangeable as well.
Debby Sibert, the owner of BeautfulWeddingInvitations.com states, “We are very proud at this time to also offer handcrafted wedding invitation cards. These are carefully assembled individually by hand and come with ribbons, pearls and other accessories. Some are hand painted with lacquer, some have rings entwined with ribbons, some have pearls woven through all of which can all be customized by the customer.”
Some handcrafted cards have the name of the bride / groom peeking out. The designs of the handcrafted cards are mostly traditional with hearts and floral motifs and they come in colors of silver, gold, purple, blue, soft white and many others. The envelopes are made of luxury weight paper and there are many choices of lining colors to coordinate with the accent colors of the invitations or ink color selected for the text.
It is easy to place an order at the site as a step-by-step guide is provided. The customers can experiment with color and fonts at the preview before finalizing on the order. At any stage of the proofing, the customer can make changes in style, color, font etc. The wedding cards can be proofed online as often and as many times as necessary before placing the final order.
The company does not charge the customer until they are sure that the customer is satisfied with the order. Orders are usually shipped within 2-3 business days.
Design Crafters has been helping customers local to the Washington DC suburbs with wedding invitations since 1996. They went online in 2004 but just recently recreated a more comprehensive website to better serve the online community. A free wedding planning manual is available at http://www.BeautifulWeddingInvitations.com. Just click on the “Free Stuff” link and sign up.
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