Once Again…Mother of the Bride Dress...

So… I had a plan.  I bought my dream dress, as my "Mother of the Bride" dress, for Maggie and Rob's wedding… and I was going to wear it for KK's wedding.  I presented my thought to my family, but my BRILLIANT plan was shot down.  Not by my daughters, they were all OK with it, but by my husband.

He thought the family wedding pictures would suffer…

One more thing to worry about. The pressure was on!  A couple of weeks ago, I visited Maggie and Rob in Philly.  They were the ultimate tour guides. We enjoyed a horse drawn carriage ride and took in the historical sights, visited Maggie's school, U Penn, Rob's Optometry School, had Philly Cheese Steaks, (I prefer Geno's), saw the Liberty Bell, and traveled the Main Line.  But I didn't mention… we also went to the King of Prussia Mall - the biggest mall in America, measured by the most retail stores. Guess what?!?

I found a dress!

While I can not show you the dress…I CAN share with you a swatch.  Yep, blue again!  It's a loose weave with a matching under slip.  And yes, it's sleeveless once more.  Am I a masochist?!?  But again, I love the dress.  It's simple, but has a little more flair than what I'm wearing in the picture above.  Can't wait!  But of course if it's not KK's vision - it will be changed. It's her day!

You know this means I have to buy another tube of "Fat Girl Skinny Arm Candy" by Bliss, and start using my hand weights again…

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KK and Tyler's Engagement Party!

We had a small gathering at our home last weekend to formally celebrate the engagement of KK and Tyler - just our families.  From our side, KK, Rob and Maggie, (matron of honor), Bob and Debbie, (Rob's mom and dad), Tess, Julia, (bridesmaids), Ken and me.

Tyler's family included Tyler, his dad, David,  mom, Janice, and step-dad, Patrick, brother Conner, sister Amanda, Godfather Jack, his daughter Alyssa, and her boyfriend Neal.  Please see the picture to the right of Tyler and his siblings.

It was a relaxed evening, good food, (Kenny's famous "Irish" meatballs), sauce and pasta, other favorite dishes brought by family and of course... good wine.  We had intended to get together for months, but with Maggie's wedding plans, school starting, it just didn't happen.  But it was worth the wait.  We all just clicked.  Good times ahead…more family to celebrate with and enjoy.

Janice, Tyler's mom, continued the tradition Debbie started.  She gave Tyler and KK a wedding topper to be used for their wedding cake.  It is just gorgeous.  I can't wait to see it on the cake.  KK was thrilled.  More to follow...

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"Must Your Bridesmaids' Shoes Match?"

I have four daughters.  When daughter number two became engaged, she of course asked her three sisters to be bridesmaids.  Lots of drama in the house with a bride and three bridesmaids in residence.  You may think the bridesmaids' dress was the main topic of conversation…well, you'd be wrong.  It was the shoes!  There were four very different ideas, well FIVE if you count mine…  So I ask you, "Must The Bridesmaids Shoes Match?"

In the photo above, from the bridaldetective.com, all the bridesmaids are wearing different shoes, but they are the same shade of red.  I happen to love this.  It flows, but allows for individual tastes, comfort, and age appropriateness. The bridesmaids and shoes can also be a way for the bride to express her color scheme or theme.  The picture below, from theweddingspecialist.net, shows how a bride used her attendants shoes to create a unique color scheme and tone for her wedding.  I like how the bouquets match the maids' shoes.  I'm guessing that this tone was carried throughout the decorating and floral arrangements.  The black of the bridesmaids' dresses, (once a social taboo), provides the perfect backdrop for the vivid shoe and flower color.

The photo above, merle shop.com, takes shoe color in a whole different direction.  It appears the dresses are the same style, but different colors with shoes to match.  The bouquets are the same for each lady.  The theme goes back to my era, where a "rainbow" color scheme was popular, and shoes were purchased in a stock white fabric and dyed to match the dresses.

And what did my daughters finally decide?  Well, a gold tone was the color of choice, so half the girls wore flats, and the other half heels.  Maggie left it to the desecration of her attendants.  In the photo below, you can see that two of my daughters opted for heels, and the oldest, flats.

Please visit my website: http://my.bookbaby.com/book/simply-the-best and check out my new mystery "Simply the Best" by Mary P. Karnes.  It's about a wedding planner in Santa Barbara, California.  It's available on e-book format from amazon, Garners, Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks, and other vendors.

You can also follow me on Twitter @marypkarnes

KK's Wedding Site

www.staugustineglastonbury.com

KK and Tyler have chosen St. Augustine Parish, South Glastonbury, CT for their wedding ceremony.  We have three Catholic Parishes in town, a community of just over 30,000.  The church were we attend is wonderful, St. Dunstan.  Our priest is almost perfect.  But the church building it a victim of the 1970's architecture.  Maybe one wedding a year is held there.  The priests in Glastonbury have a good working relationship, and as long as you are registered parishioners, you may be married in one of the three churches in town.  If you will remember, Maggie and Rob were married at St. Paul's on Main Street.  (see photo below.  Image results: ebay.com)

Where St. Paul's has a more formal air, (like Maggie and Rob's wedding), St. Augustine's has a more relaxed, quaint silhouette.  It's going to be fun to decorate!

Please read below a brief description of St Augustine's form historicbuildingsct.com 

"On April 7, 1878, Bishop Thomas Galberry blessed the cornerstone of a new Catholic chapel on Hopewell Road in South Glastonbury. It was a mission of St. Mary’s Church in East Hartford and was dedicated to St. Augustine on November 17, 1878. St. Augustine became a parish in March 1902."

marabethgildersleeve.point2agent.com

Above is a picture of a boat dock on the Connecticut River in Glastonbury, CT

Save The Date…Magnet, Postcard, Formal Card or Email?

etsy.com

The "Save the Date" card is now de rigor for the wedding ensemble.  And when you think about it, it makes sense.  As busy as everyone's lives are, the more advance notice a bride can give her guests, the better.  Which reminds me…I need to get KK and Tyler's sent out…

So add one more decision to the bucket of "To Do's."  You have to decide on which type of "Save the Date" you want to send.  This sets the tone of your wedding, really.  If you're planning a relaxed affair, your "Save the Date" should reflect that.  If it will be formal, give your guests a heads up so they can plan proper attire.  

Do you want to give your guests a chuckle, or do you want your "Save the Date" to be functional?  

The top photo is from etsy.com.  You can insert your photos into this calendar magnet.  

If you want to take a more economical route, send a postcard like the one below.  It's cute and gets all the info out, while saving on design and postage.

myinspiredwedding.com

weddbook.com

You may choose to be more formal like the "Save the Date" above.  But be warned, cards such as these can be pricey, as well as labor intensive.  Do you REALLY want to address invitations TWICE?

A final option, and a great one, I think, is the "e-Save-the-Date."  paperlesspost.com is a wonderful site for e-invitations of all kind.  You can be as fancy or as simple as you like.  Maggie and Rob used it, and attached a picture taken by the talented Matt Stauble of mattstaublemedia.com

  What I love about e-save the dates is that you know right away if the card made it to your guests via your on-line dashboard.  No more wondering if it was accidentally stuck in a magazine via "snail mail."  You can also request physical addresses at the time you send out your e-card for the wedding invitations.  And don't forget, no postage, no addressing envelopes, and very competitive pricing.  The photo below is from their e-save the date.  mattstaublemedia.com

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Do It Yourself Centerpieces – Shower to Wedding

Let’s face it…weddings are expensive, and they always seem to cost more than we expect, OR budget… One way to save is by making ‘Do it Yourself Centerpieces.’

In the top photo, the mother of the groom made these delightful centerpieces for the Rehearsal Dinner.  She started with mason jars, then created a mercury glass mirror effect to give the jars an antique look and feel. If you’d like to have the recipe/directions,  click on the following link:  http://www.hgtv.com/handmade/easily-make-your-own-mercury-glass-votives/index.html,  They were beautiful, and added a gently refined air to the tables…AND “It was a nice way to repurpose used glass jars, vases and volitives,” to quote Debbie, mother of the groom.  The picture below showcases the finished product in more detail.

Consider using items you already have on hand at home.  For my daughter’s bridal shower, the groom’s mother, the ever creative Debbie, used my collection of teapots as vases for our flower arrangements.  Please note the photos below.

Our Bridal Shower buffet table also boasts some “teapot” arrangements.  If you decide to use teapots, or other some such decorative containers, it’s advisable to use a floral frog to hold the blooms in place.  Remember to keep plenty of water in the pots, and it’s not a bad idea to put a protective coaster on precious wood tables to avoid water stains.

Debbie also created this beautiful table using items we had around our homes. The white tablecloth is only paper, but she jazzed it up by covering it with white tulle.  This made for easy clean up, and no worries if we had a spill.  And of course the beautiful serving dishes and specialty china added an elegant flare.

Photo credits: Debbie Stauble Photos.

Please check out my new cozy mystery, “Simply the Best” by Mary P Karnes, about a wedding planner in sunny Santa Barbara, CA!  Available on:  amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

For other available venders, please visit http://my.bookbaby.com/book/simply-the-best

"Bachelorette in Ojai!"

 SPOILER ALERT:

Maggie did a lovely job on KK's bachelorette invitations.

Not only has she planned a wonderful day, it's also a day filled with Nostalgia.  The girls have been to the spa countess times.  It's usually as a gift from good ol' mom and dad, or to celebrate an event.  "The Spa" holds many memories for all the girls.

It's history is very impressive.  Please enjoy a few factoids from the spa's web site: www.ojairesort.com

1923

Edward D. Libbey's dream for his beloved Ojai Valley began to take shape as his private country club and golf course were built to harmonize with the unspoiled beauty of this rural paradise.

1925

Mr. Libbey died and never saw his hotel built; however, the architectural plans were safely archived.

1934

Architect Austin Pierpont added 22 guest rooms per the original drawings of architect Wallace Neff. These rooms are now known as the Wallace Neff Historical Rooms.

1942

A different kind of glory distinguished the Ojai Valley Country Club when it was transformed into Camp Oak for a military training center for a battalion of 1,000 Army troops.

1944

The Army turned the base over to the United States Navy for a rest and recuperation facility. When the government finally auctioned off the last of the Quonset huts and barracks, the property was returned to private ownership.

1947

Don Burger, along with some influential investors, purchased the Ojai Valley Country Club. The resort was reopened as Ojai Valley Inn and Country Club. This began the Glamour Era of the Inn, and Hollywood's brightest stars sought the tranquil pleasures of the resort.

1952

Starring Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, Pat and Mike is filmed at the Inn.

Mid 80s to Mid 90s

Seven Senior PGA Tournaments were held at the Inn.

1985

The Crown family of Chicago purchased the property and completed a $50 million dollar renovation.

1987

Golf course architect Jay Moorish was commissioned to renovate the golf course.

1997

Benchmark Spa Ojai was completed under the direction of architect Bill Mahan. The resort became known as Ojai Valley Inn & Spa.

2000

The 100th anniversary of the famed Ojai Tennis Tournament is celebrated, with some matches being played at the Inn.

2003

A $90 million dollar property-wide renovation was begun.

2006

Early 2006, with the opening of the Artist Cottage and Apothecary, this major renovation was completed. The legendary Ojai resort debuted 305 guest rooms and suites, a new lobby and entrance, new golf shop, new restaurants, and new ballrooms and meeting spaces, while preserving its original charming architecture and unique sense of place.

The resort was first awarded the coveted Five Diamond Award for excellence in the hospitality industry and has achieved this distinguished accolade annually since 2006.

Today

Throughout the years, hosting many celebrities, musicians, dignitaries and politicians, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa retains its sense of place staying true to the people who first built it. Amid an unsurpassed natural landscape with diverse appeal to families, couples, golf getaways, girlfriend getaways and multi-generational guests, the Inn remains one of the finest resorts in North America.

And yes…Ojai, where I grew up in California, is home to this beautiful resort!

Images 3 and 4: www.ojairesort.com
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