PARADISE VALLEY - Pro golfer Billy Mayfair and his bride, former ASU golfer Tami Proctor, weren’t the only couple getting guests’ attention at their weekend wedding.

While the 300 guests were scrambling Saturday to snap pictures of the newlyweds, they also couldn’t get enough of “Homer Simpson” and his $50,000 date.

Guests were awed by Mayfair and Proctor’s elaborately produced dramatic tango performance in sparkling custom outfits, the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa’s five-course meal with a tableside choice of gourmet entrees and that other pair in attendance, wedding cakes.

One was a white, ornately British, 10-tier cake with white royal icing decor. It took two months to “bake.” The culinary creation was elegantly decorated with imported crystal globes custom made to match the chandeliers hanging in the Montelucia ballroom.

The other, was a 100-pound chocolate delight of more than 40 layers in the likeness of Homer Simpson, one of Mayfair’s favorite characters. Not even Homer, or wedding planner Karen Doan of Karen Doan Events is saying how much the second cake, or the entire wedding cost.

Tami, like many brides, wanted her cake to reflect the joy of their union. And for Mayfair, the fancy affair was symbolic of sorts also to celebrate his surviving testicular cancer after his surgery at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea in 2006.

“This guy saved my life,” he shouted as he embraced Dr. Gil Brito just before the much anticipated cutting of the cake.

After the bride and groom carefully cut the ceremonial first piece, a pastry chef team, using a 12-foot ladder, dismantled the sweet piece of art.

Julia Baker of Julia Baker Confections is still nursing the blisters on her hand from cutting the cake.

“We didn’t begin with a budget of $50,000 for the cake,” the confectionary artist said. “It just grew after we sketched several designs and redesigned the Styrofoam models.”

Baker says much of the cost is because of the labor and the hours she and a crew of five spent on the smallest of details.

Edible sugar flowers with more than a thousand leaves and petals were painstakingly hand-crafted. Several specialists, including electricians, were hired to light up the crystal globes on the cake with LED lights.

Baker also designed the 55-by-55-inch wooden baseboard with experts from Home Depot. A huge hole in the middle accommodated electrical cords running to the cake lights. Steel legs withstood the cake’s weight, which was never exactly determined. The cake magnetlike drew guests with cameras all night. And golfing well-knowns such as John Solheim and family (chairman and CEO of Ping) agreed the entire wedding was more than up to par.

White wedding cake

8 feet: Height

10: Tiers

182 pounds: Fondant, or sugar dough, covering frosted cakes that make up each of the 10 tiers.

1,327: Sugar flowers

55-by-55 inches: Baseboard

$50,000: Cost

Baker: Julia Baker Confections, 877-4JULIAB.

Homer Simpson cake

100 pounds: Estimated weight

40: Layers

source: azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2008/11/24/20081124sr-shocket1125.html

Can we all say excessive? Wow that is a mighty cake I have seen some splendid and expensive cakes in my time but this was a bit over the top there is so much more you can do with $50,000 in your wedding that could show more class and more use than on a cake, the cake was a puzzling sight but as they say to each his/her own. The sad part is most of the cake will be a waste and there is no good way to keep that much cake and keep it fresh. My suggestion would have been to spend at least half of that money on more favors for the guests or keepsakes, your guests will never forget those and the memory of your wedding will last so much longer than frozen cake or the huge 8ft towering cake. Lesson for me and others I guess would be there are many ways to throw away $50,000 and this will definitely be one of them, sorry newlyweds but you won’t get a gold star from me on this one!

Happy Planning!!

Natasha

Tags: , $50000, arizona, Billy Mayfair and Tami Proctor, CEO, Chairman, exclusive, golf, Home Depot, money, Ping, pro golfer, wedding cake
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Khris Cochran splurged for her wedding seven years ago. The ceremony was in a rose garden overlooking San Francisco Bay. The cake was made by a star baker featured on the Food Network. The honeymoon was in French Polynesia.

Then came the debt. She was $5,000 in the hole before she lost her Silicon Valley job in the dot-com bust.

“It took years to get out of that debt,” she says. “By being so tied to the wedding dream, I ended up in a financial nightmare.”

Weddings are said to be recession-proof, but the same can’t be said for couples’ budgets. As the economy takes a hit, many nearly-weds are looking for ways to scale back on a lavish wedding without sacrificing a special day.

What’s worth the splurge, and what’s a smart save? Here are some ideas for richer and for poorer:

Save: Guest list

You can always elope. Barring that, if you want to save money, trim the guest list.

“You really don’t need to invite everyone you know or have a party of 20 bridesmaids,” says Maria McBride, an editor at Brides magazine and author of “Party Basics for New Nesters.”

If you really want a big crowd, consider a smaller wedding with a separate cocktail reception. It beats a 300-person sit-down dinner in both cost and atmosphere, says wedding planner Marcy Blum. “There’s no way to go about making it affordable and really fabulous, unless you’re a rock star or someone you know is Kuwaiti.”

If your parents really want all their friends to attend, or your colleagues at work expect invitations, remember it’s your day. A good rule of thumb: Have you had dinner with this person in the last year? If not, and you live in the same city, consider a cut.

Looking back, Cochran wishes she and her husband had invited only the people closest to them. “It’s not only an instant budget saver but a way to make the whole event more intimate,” she says.

Splurge: Setting

David Tutera, who planned Star Jones’ wedding, advises couples to focus their spending on the venue and decor, including flowers.

“People walk away remembering the unique experience you create and not the food that you served,” he says.

For Eda Kalkay, design and location were the most important decisions for her October 2007 wedding. The 150 guests to her city-meets-country wedding at an estate in New Hope, Pa., were treated to a white fantasy in the woods, with globes of white hydrangea, white candelabra and a surprise performance by a gospel choir.

“It was so beautiful it felt surreal,” says Kalkay.

If you want a luxe setting at a discount, ask for a deal on a Friday or Sunday wedding, or cut costs with a daytime affair. And consider alternatives to expensive floral displays, like smaller “tablescapes” of candles and fruit, or centerpieces using a single type of flower, bought wholesale.

Save: Invitations

Cochran, who now runs the Web site DIYBride.com, says invitations are an easy way to cut costs.

“Paper is cheap, and most people have a computer, word processing software and a decent printer already at home, which makes invitations an easy way to save some cash and be creative,” she says.

Invitations set the tone for an event, but Tutera, author of “The Party Planner,” thinks guests are more likely to remember the last moments of a wedding.

Etiquette experts still frown on electronic invitations, so prepare for raised eyebrows if you cut that corner.

Instead, Blum suggests cutting down on invitation inserts and heavy stock that waste paper and increase postage.

Splurge: Photos

A wedding is only one day, but the photos last forever. Even on a budget, brides rarely lament the amount spent on a quality photographer.

“We really love our wedding photos and still get compliments on them to this day. She was worth the extra cash we spent,” Cochran says.

If you’re cutting corners, however, you may be able to find a skilled student photographer who’s eager to earn extra cash and build a portfolio. And you can forgo a videographer.

“It’s very passé compared to photography,” says Tutera.

Save: Favors

“Nobody needs another place card frame, or a bottle of crummy wine with your name on it,” Blum says.

It may seem like a small expense, but even cheap trinkets add up when you have a lot of guests. Odds are, there will be no complaints if you skip the favor entirely. (Cochran also points to money-wasting extras like toasting flutes as a bad idea.)

If you really want to give your guests favors, Blum suggests something edible.

“You’d be much better off to have all your bridesmaids or ushers bake cookies and enclose a great recipe,” she says.

Another nice touch: offering a coffee cake or brioche on the way out for the next morning’s breakfast.

source: timesargus.com/article/20081123/FEATURES07/811230343/1016/FEATURES07

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Ten Ways to Recession Proof your Wedding

First of all, don’t go overboard. We imagine this will be your only wedding - so why not make it special? Specialing an event takes money. Don’t be stingy. Save in other places, if you can, thereby creating energy and resources for the big day. People “back in the day” often used the piggy bank approach to distinguish very special occasions from less special occasions. A coffee a week in the bank, instead of the mouth, won’t make that much difference but it will ritualize your intention to have a very special time on your special day. Think “Lay away,” again an old fashioned concept but a simultaneous material and spiritual preparation for your wedding. Lay away one purchase a week, like clothes or honeymoon, and you will find it more fun to buy and enjoy, in a slow and steady way.

Secondly, take two years from the engagement till the actual marriage. That could double your time to save and prepare.

Third, consider a double up. Do you know anybody else who is getting married? Many banquet halls have multiple rooms. You could share the rent with someone; you could even have a “double” wedding if your friends and their friends enjoy each other. Likewise many officiants would be glad to “group” the pre marital counseling with convivial people. They would also be glad to do one service at 4 and the other at 5, reducing the preparation of the space and the hiring of musicians and custodians and the like.

Fourth, have a reception at the largest apartment or house a friend has, country or city, or both. Saving your guests travel money by having two receptions could help. Saving gas and travel is a gift to guests and the planet. We often give our apartment in NYC away to people who need a large space. Don’t call or write: I am over booked with friends and congregants. But you probably know someone who is house or yard rich. Ask them for a wedding present. Or ask if they could use a little extra cash in exchange for use. Caterers are very good at catering in and are often much less expensive than hotel or restaurants.

Fifth, you could also ask an under employed friend to cater for you. You’d be surprised at how many good cooks there are “out” there. You might even cater the food yourself. I catered my own wedding and would recommend it highly. I even have recipes for 125 in a small bound book! Maybe you have not one friend who could manage the “whole” thing - so ask five. One does the appetizers, the other the main, etc. Just about any good cook knows how to make appetizers for 125 and enjoy it.

Sixth, consider having the sacred ceremony outside or in a church or synagogue or mosque where you attend. Most congregations will give a break to members. And if you don’t belong anywhere, find a friend who does. You might let that friend know that you are willing to barter your gift for their space. Do you design web sites? Or a country place some staff member of the congregation could use? Bartering is an under estimated form of economic exchange. Clergy are often quite interested in unusual economic arrangements. Don’t be afraid to ask.

While outside services can be tricky, because of that funny way weather has of being itself, they can also be very beautiful and inexpensive. If you keep the group for the actual ceremony small enough, many public parks are ideal and don’t even need reservations. Those who do need reservations are booked way in advance. Consider Western Mass Electric’s site on the Connecticut River, with Pavilion. $100.00 will get it for you but you need lots of lead-time. Or Washington Square Park in New York. $25.00 under the arch. If you don’t want to book or can’t book, just show up and say what you have to say to each other. And leave before the cops come.

Small ceremonies have an intimacy that is quite lovely all on its own. And you can still have a larger reception.

Seventh, evaluate all the parts of the wedding and see what you can do yourself. Can you hand write invitations? Can you find a friend with a garden for the flowers? Do you know someone who sings? Plays piano? Bakes a mean cake?

Eighth, consider used clothing. Go on line. Many people have already indulged themselves with one of a kind and never to be worn again clothing for the wedding. Whole “bridal” parties are sometimes available. Size of course is an issue, as is style. But tailors are magicians when it comes to redoing something beautiful into something beautiful that fits you. Recycling clothing is a mitzvah - which means good deed. Imagine the loneliness of a once worn outfit, stuffed away in a plastic bag in a corner of a closet or thrift store. Don’t put dry cleaners out of business: they live to freshen the under used items of our wardrobes.

Do you know someone who sews or tailors? Maybe they will do what my sister did for me, for my first wedding, and make you an outfit.

For my son’s wedding, I ordered two outfits from Beijing. You don’t want to know what they didn’t cost me.

Ninth, consider a potluck wedding. Most public halls (but not hotels) will allow you to bring in food. Have an elegant potluck requiring everyone to bring their very best dish in their very best container. You’ll be surprised at just how good the food is and how it will make the rubber chicken of yore soon forgotten as the “norm” for wedding fare.

Tenth, I return to the beginning. If you can save on 9 items, you can splurge on the 10th. Don’t do anything that puts frugality as the primary goal in the wedding. Let feast be the goal - and let frugality serve that goal. If you really don’t have enough money to get married, elope. You can always have the wedding you want later when you can afford it. Think fifth anniversary.

source: huffingtonpost.com/donna-schaper/ten-ways-to-recession-pro_b_145681.html

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Everyone loves a wedding, but if you’ve got an issue with the event, it can be more stressful than joyful. Read on for our solutions to common predicaments you might find yourself in as a wedding guest.

The Issue: You aren’t sure if you’re allowed to bring a guest.

How to Deal: If the invitation is addressed to you and only you, with no indication of a “plus one” or “and guest,” that means you don’t get to bring someone else. That said, if you’re in a committed relationship and don’t live together, double-check with your significant other before you get upset.

Technically, the correct etiquette is for the bride and groom to send a separate invite to both members of couple, rather than to send an invitation to the couple at an address where only one of them lives. But if this is not the case, plan on flying solo. Bringing an uninvited plus-one will cause planning headaches for the bride and groom. If you’ve been invited sans guest, the couple is assuming you’ll know others at the wedding and of course, they’ll seat you with them.

The Issue: You’ve been invited to a destination wedding, but you don’t have the dough (or the vacation days) to go.

How to Deal: In these tough times, it can be hard to justify a splurge like a destination wedding trip if it’s not for a family member or close friend. Since guests are responsible for picking up the tab for most of the destination wedding expenses, the bride and groom should definitely understand if you can’t make it from Akron to watch them exchange vows in Aruba, as much as you might want to.

You don’t need to get into the details of your financial or work situation with them; instead, simply RSVP politely that you can’t attend. You should, however, still send a gift — it’s proper etiquette, and it’ll soften the blow of your “no.”

The Issue: You have no idea how much you’re supposed to spend on a wedding gift.

How to Deal: Forget about the idea that you “pay for your plate” — the wedding gift isn’t meant to be some kind of financial trade-off between you and the couple. Instead, you should figure your spending based on several factors.

Your own finances are key, including what you’re footing in terms of wedding expenses (if you’re already paying for travel and lodging to attend the wedding, don’t feel you need to go all out on the gift). Keep in mind what’s customary in your family or among your friends — you don’t want to look like a cheapskate, but it can be just as bad to seem like you’re showing up everyone else. Last, and perhaps most important, consider your relationship to the couple. It’s likely you’ll want to spend more for close friends than for a work acquaintance.

The Issue: Forget figuring out what to get them — you aren’t even sure where the couple is registered!

How to Deal: First, you’re on the right track. These days, registry shopping isn’t considered impersonal, it’s downright polite — you know you’re getting the couple something they actually need and want.

If you aren’t sure of the registry details, don’t contact the bride and groom. They’ve got enough on their plate, and also (kind of contradictory, we know) it’s still considered poor etiquette for them to spread the word. Instead, if you can ask a member of the wedding party or a family member, they should be able to give you the details.

The Issue: Two of your friends are getting married on the same weekend — and you’re invited to both weddings.

How to Deal: You’re going to have to make some tough decisions. One thing you can’t do is attend the ceremony for one and the reception for another. While it is okay to attend the ceremony only, it’s never proper etiquette to go to just the reception unless that’s all you’re invited to (otherwise, it seems like you’re just there for a free meal).

If you and your significant other are invited to both, but one wedding is more “his” friend and another “hers,” you might consider splitting up and attending the weddings solo. But otherwise, you’ll have to decide to commit to one or the other. (And if you know others in the same predicament, you might consult with them to ensure one wedding doesn’t wind up being sparsely attended.) Whichever you choose, be sure to send gifts to both.

The Issue: You can’t translate the invitation wording — Formal? Semiformal? Dressy-Casual? — into what you should actually wear.

How to Deal: Unless you’re the type who attends lots of upscale events (or just lots of weddings), it can be difficult to decode dress code lingo.

As a general rule of thumb, white tie, black tie, and black tie optional imply evening wear for her and a tux for him; anything with “formal” in the wording means a suit for him and an appropriate dress for her. Even if the dress code says “casual,” unless they specify otherwise, it’s best to read it as “business casual” (no jeans and T-shirts!).

The Issue: In addition to the wedding, you’re invited to two — two! — showers, and you’re not sure if that means you have to buy three gifts.

How to Deal: A shower is actually the only part of the wedding that, as a rule, requires gifts; after all, it’s basically a gift-giving party. So first the bad news: Yes, that probably means three gifts.

That said, you shouldn’t feel you need to go all out on each. Instead, figure out the total amount you want to spend on all gifts for the couple (say, $200). Then spend a portion of that sum on each, using smaller amounts on the shower gifts. So for example, you could spend 20 percent of your total per shower gift (about $40 for each present), then 60 percent on the wedding gift (about $120). Deciding on a gift budget beforehand can help you keep your spending under control — so you can relax and enjoy the parties!

source: koamtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9376206

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Paring the guest list down to size can be as formidable as predicting the weather for an outdoor spring ceremony. To determine who makes the cut, ask yourself these “To Invite or Not Invite” qualifying questions. If you answer mostly yes’s, extend the invite. If nay’s have the majority, save the postage - and the meal cost.

1) Guests from Afar:

Some people (siblings, close friends) will make your “A-list” regardless of where they live, but others (second cousins, old sorority pals) fall into a gray area when they reside far from your wedding locale. These long distance guests may be unable to travel to your nuptials, so is an invite merely a gift request in disguise? Decide on a case by case basis.

* Have you seen or spoken to them within the last six months?

* Have you exchanged invites to other milestone events (their wedding, graduations, hallmark birthdays)?

* Are they close with other invited guests?

Rule of Thumb - If your special day would not feel complete without your college roommate who now resides in New Zealand, go ahead and send an invitation. Let your guests decide for themselves whether or not they want to travel.

2) Pint-Sized Partiers

Not inviting children can make for tough planning for some of your guests, but the opposite can make for some interesting moments you hadn’t included in your wedding day dreams - like crying babies during the vows.

* Are you planning a relaxed daytime event?

* Does your budget and venue size make inviting all children a possibility?

* Can your caterer provide kid-friendly menu choices at a reduced cost?

Rule of Thumb - Have a blanket no-children policy or make a sweeping cut based on age (no one under 13), as picking and choosing may offend some parents. If you anticipate complaints, schedule a black tie evening affair, which is generally understood to be a kid-free zone.

3) “And Guest”

If space or budget won’t allow the extra guests, some single pals may have to come solo.

* Is this person in a committed relationship (living together or engaged)?

* Will s/he be the token bachelor or bachelorette?

* Must s/he travel and plan overnight accommodations?

Rule of Thumb - Sure it’s nice to let your unmarried friends bring a date, but unless that date is a long term love (living together or engaged), you don’t have to include “and Guest” on the wedding invitations. Just be sure to handle seating arrangements with care - your single friend probably won’t appreciate a table of couples sharing stories about how they fell in love.

4) Office Space

Deciding which coworkers to include depends on the size of your office and the nature of your relationships.

* Do you regularly socialize outside of work?

* Is your office or department close-knit and small (fewer than 5 people)?

* Is your work relationship with a few direct supervisors or assistants particularly close?

Rule of Thumb - If you work in a small office, best to follow the all or none policy. In a larger office - you can safely invite your happy hour crew or direct supervisors and assistants without incurring the wrath of the uninvited.

Get even more wedding guest advice, including how to plan the guest list and wedding guest baskets.

source: americanchronicle.com/articles/82099

Realistically if your plan is to have a grand wedding then worrying about your guest list will be the last thing on your mind the more the merrier, but when you are a budget conscious bride you can never go wrong with close family and friends.

Happy Planning!

Natasha

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The wedding dress. Two brides, two love stories, one wedding dress …
Our neighbor of forty years, Angie Dyda came from the Siegel Area, but was our neighbor (in the Pittsville area) for 40 years. After high school, she went to work for a family by the name of Rogers. They lived in Wisconsin Rapids and she worked for them as a maid.

In 194l, after working for them for three or four years, they decided to move out to Beverly Hills, California, where they owned a house and property. They invited Angie to come along and work for them. She decided she would like that.

Their house was close to Charlie Chaplin (yes, THE Charlie Chaplin). Chaplin asked if she would like to come and work for him, which she did with the understanding she could come back and work for the Rogers family, should things not work out. She didn’t like working for Chaplin and did go back to the Rogers family and worked for them until she eventually came back to Wisconsin. Andy, (her future husband) was from the Mosinee, Wisc. area and had just gotten out of the service in 1945, and arrived in California.

He and a buddy decided they would like to go to Michigan and work in the Iron Mills, heard there was good money to be made. By 1947 they decided they didn’t want to work in the Iron Mills for the rest of their lives and decided to go back out to Beverly Hills, Calif.

One night they went to a polka dance. Andy saw this lovely lady across the room and walked over and asked her if she would like to dance. She said yes, and they danced the evening away, and found they had much in common. He told his buddy that evening, “I am going to marry that lady.” They began going together and their friendship blossomed into love. By 1949 they decided to get married, and that they didn’t want to live in California for the rest of their lives. Both agreed they wanted to get married in Wisconsin.

Angie decided to purchase her wedding dress in Beverly Hills. She found a stunning satin gown with a long train and lace veil. She very carefully packed up the new wedding dress and all of their belongings and they drove back to Wisconsin. They were married in 1949 in the Holy Rosary Church in Sigel where Angie had always attended church. She was a lovely bride in her satin wedding gown. After the wedding Angie very carefully packed her wedding dress in a box and tucked it away.

They eventually built a small house about four miles from Pittsville (down the road from us.) Angie took the box with her wedding dress and tucked it into an old steamer trunk and stored it in the attic of their garage, where it lay all nestled in the tissue paper — for 50 years — just waitin’ to be rediscovered.

Andy went to work for Wisconsin Valley Concrete, plus they had 40 acres and a hobby farm. They had a few milk cows, beef cattle, ducks, geese, chickens and sheep. They lived there all of their married life, and raised a family, two daughters, Stephana and Angela. Both daughters are married and have children. Over the years Angie and Andy also had numerous foster children and later in life they had several foster adults. Four or five years ago they were both in failing health and moved into King Veteran Home in King Wisconsin. Stephana and husband Paul live just around the corner from the old homestead. They have rented out the farm, but … the steamer trunk and the wedding dress are stored in their house.

Next week the second bride to wear the wedding dress, and the rest of the story.

source: fstribune.com/story/1479001.html

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Economic uncertainty drives popularity of online marketplaces such as Bravobride.com which bring together buyers and sellers of new and gently used designer wedding dresses, jewelry, and other wedding items.

Bravo Bride, a popular online bridal marketplace, announces record growth and site traffic, due in part to budget-conscious consumers worried about the economy. With the average cost of a wedding exceeding $28,000 (Bridal Association of America), many brides are going online to find some financial relief.

Save Money on Your Wedding
BravoBride now attracts 20,000 visitors per month and 50 new items are added daily. This online marketplace lets brides-to-be search for designer wedding gowns, jewelry, shoes, party favors, and ceremony items at discounted prices. Sellers post items due to cancelled nuptials, to generate extra income, or to clear out precious closet space.

Current offerings include a designer Reem Acra gown ($7150 retail offered for $4000), a stylish Vera Wang dress (reduced from $6000 to $1000), and a set of never worn platinum bands. Brides can also find more affordable reception items: from table centerpieces, to wedding cake toppers, to toasting glasses.

Susan Alexander Shapiro, founder of BravoBride explains, “BravoBride is a lot like Craigslist -only it focuses exclusively on helping brides plan their perfect day.” Shapiro founded the company after becoming frustrated planning her own wedding and overpaying for many items.

How it Works
BravoBride makes it easy to buy, sell and search for items.

Sellers:

Pay no listing fees or commissions
Can post inventory in minutes
Can upload eight images free of charge
Can keep listings active for 18 months
Can enhance listings (by featuring or highlighting items) for a nominal fee

Buyers:

Pay no listing fees or commissions
Can use an advanced search feature to search by style, size, designer, or price to find just the right wedding dress, jewelry or shoes
Can save wedding items and vendors to their ‘favorites’

source: prweb.com/releases/wedding/bride/prweb1605924.htm

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Scarlett Johansson reportedly wants her upcoming second wedding to Ryan Reynolds to be “simple and classic”.

Reportedly planning to hold a second wedding, Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds, who initially exchanged wedding vows in a top secret ceremony in September, reportedly will invite 150 guests to the planned festivity. It is not mentioned just yet who will make it to their guest list.

Speculation on Scarlett and Ryan will hold a second wedding first popped up early last month, only days after they got married. It was widely believed that both movie stars will hold a larger wedding celebration.

According to the circulating Internet reports, Scarlett “wants something simple and classic” for her upcoming second wedding to Ryan. The celebration, which is supposed to be held in the coming months, is meant for friends and family members who couldn’t attend the previous nuptials.

Meanwhile, exact date and venue have not yet been disclosed. Scarlett and Ryan also haven’t commented on the report.

Scarlett, 23, and Ryan, 32, have been dating since February last year. They announced their engagement in May 2008. The celebrity couple quietly tied the knot on September 27 in an intimate ceremony outside Vancouver in the groom’s native Canada.

source: aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00019825.html

Is it me or is there a second wedding craze in recent years? I am delighted people finally realize a wedding does not have to be a one time thing and once a couple have said their vows they can renew as many times as they see fit to show their growing love for each other from year to year, decade to decade. You can choose to have a small intimate wedding for family and close friends and then have a mega bash a few months later, less stress and of course more fun :). Kudos to those who celebrate their love and continue to stay in love month after month and year after year I only hope more couples would learn from this.

What are your thoughts on multiple weddings? Do or Don’t?

Happy Planning,

Natasha
natasha@thechoclatier.com

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NEW YORK, Nov 12, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — First comes The Knot, then comes The Nest, and now The Bump (www.thebump.com), the latest lifestage website from The Knot Inc. offering the perfect blend of style, substance, and local advice for each stage of having a baby.
“TheBump.com is like ‘The Knot for new moms,’” explains Carley Roney, cofounder of parent company The Knot Inc. “For the first time, new parents can have access to local pregnancy resources, stylish ideas, expert advice, and a first-time new mommy community all in one place. And as a new mom, I understand how important it is to quickly navigate one site with tailored-to-me tools and advice. We’re thrilled to announce the birth of TheBump.com!”
Features on TheBump.com include:
PREGNANCY TOOLS
Time to try? Calculate ovulation and predict your due date. Ready for baby? Check off your myriad of to-dos with the Pregnancy Checklist. Count down to baby’s birth date with our new personalized tickers. For a peek at all of TheBump.com tools, check out www.thebump.com/tools.
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TheBump.com has assembled the ultimate team of specialists, all of whom happen to be moms too. They’ll tell you exactly how it is on a variety of topics — from breastfeeding to fertility — and provide you with advice from OB/GYNS, pediatricians, even fashion maven Cynthia Rowley, who’ll keep you up to speed on the latest maternity style trends!
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source: The Bump

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London (ANI): Former Spice Girl Melanie Brown and hubby Stephen Belafonte renewed their wedding vows in a “four-day extravaganza”, which featured a swimming pool illuminated by disco lights, glitter confetti and belly dancers. The couple renewed their wedding vows over the weekend at a plush Egyptian resort.

The 33-year-old singer didn’t have bridesmaids, however, children Phoenix, nine, 19-month Angel and Stephen’s daughter Giselle, four, were the flower girls. Mel B wore a white and pink silk taffeta dress, while producer hubby Belafonte wore a black Ralph Lauren suit. Although Scary Spice’s bandmates didn’t attend the wedding, but they indeed sent “messages of love and support”.

“We”re going to have a long beautiful, lovely marriage until we die,” The Sun quoted Mel B as saying in a speech to friends and family. Talking about her producer hubby she told OK! Magazine, “Stephen’s my best friend. He’s hot and he rocks my world.” “But most importantly he’s someone I can talk to and we make every decision together,” she added.

source: entertainment.oneindia.in/music

Perfectly done for a spice girl will keep that idea in mind for when I am renewing my vows

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