Best Wedding Sites - a top 10 Recommended Wedding Site

While looking thru the latest issue of Bride's magazine (May/June 2008), I saw an advertisement for rentalHQ.com that caught my attention (probably due to the heavier weight paper that was used). While looking at the ad, I saw they listed "10 Recommended Wedding Sites" . . . and bestweddingsites.com is one of them!!! I'm so excited and honored about the recognition. Thank you rentalHQ.com

The advertisement promotes the chance to register and win $5,000 towards your perfect wedding. RentalHQ.com is your free comprehensive rental resource provided to you by the American Rental Association - where you can rent just about everything to make your wedding perfect. The contest expires on June 30, 2008.

"Good Advice" Bridal Shower

In the current issue of Better Homes and Gardens - there is an article about a lighthearted wedding shower that puts a fresh twist on sharing words of wisdom. The article contains ideas, tips, photos, and a suggested menu with items like "Confucius Says" Noodle Salad and Sage (Advice) Biscuits with Chicken Salad. Dessert included cupcakes topped with advice flags that were printed on the computer and attached to toothpicks.

When sending the invitation, the hostess included a blank card and asked the guest to write down a bit of wisdom/advice to go with their gift. Reading the card aloud before opening the gift makes the event fun and interactive. The hostess then collected the cards and presented them in a pretty album to the bride after the shower.

A couple of the advice/gift ideas from the article includes:
Gift: champagne flutes or a beautiful cake plate
Advice: "Celebrate every day"

Gift: cookbook with kitchen tools
Advice: "Take turns cooking for each other"

One of my favorite presentation ideas was the stylish salad bar that showcased colorful veggies in square glass vases for guests to make their own salads. Another clever idea is the bread sticks being wrapped in print-outs of old newspaper advice columns pages. The party hostess found them online at newspaperarchives.com.

Small vases filled with bouquets of single flower types scattered throughout the party room help to add a simple but elegant feel to the shower, along with establishing the color scheme.

Guests left the "Good Advice" wedding shower with a sweet treat - 2 chocolate-dipped fortune cookies featuring customized messages that were wrapped in a cellophane bag and sealed with a ribbon and a vintage wedding announcement newspaper clipping.

The easy elegance tips offered by the party's hostess would easily work for other bridal shower themes as well. For more ideas on giving a "Good Advice" bridal shower, you can find the current issue of Better Homes and Garden on newsstands until April 15th. Additional recipes and photos from the wedding shower article can be found at BHG.com/weddingshower.

Expert Advice with Syliva Weinstock

The fall issue of Martha Stewart Weddings will be on newsstands Monday October 1st. This issue is filled with many beautiful ideas as always. I particularly enjoyed the new section called 'Expert Advice'. The first edition of this new section is a question and answer with legendary cake designer Syliva Weinstock. I'll always remember having the opportunity to meet Sylvia in person at last year's Wedding Salon event in NYC - there's no other word I can think of except that she is a sweetheart. Her article in the magazine is great and full of wonderful advice, tips and opinions for those getting ready to start searching for their dream wedding cake.

Other topics in this issue include:
- 50 tips for the perfect reception
- setting the table
- calligraphy and cakes
- top tips for the healthy bride

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