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Music is a powerful thing. Whatever songs you choose, you will remember those songs in relation to your wedding. It will have meaning beyond the notes. You’ll tear up years later as you listen to the processional song.

First choose the instrumentation; this will play a large part in the styles of music you can have played. If you want music that you chose but is not in a wedding compilation, a solo piano player is a great choice because the music from all genres can easily be found.

When choosing music, nothing is off limits. Go to your favorite CD, ask friends for their suggestions, surf youtube.com, or ask the musicians you hired. If you do choose a song that is not in the musician’s repertoire, it might cost you a bit more for them to learn the song.

Nothing off limits? One bride’s father made a silly suggestion for her recessional: The Peanuts Theme (Charlie Brown song). She took him up on it.

Your big day is coming up. You want to look elegant, classy, timeless, and modest…yes modest. Whether the modesty concern is your choice or you’re getting married in a church that requires a higher neckline for the ceremony, now you can achieve that with many designer dresses. Strapless with a straight neckline is a great choice, but strapless has two major problems. One, you are either tugging it up constantly to make sure it covers what it needs to cover, or two, you have to make it so tight, breathing becomes optional.

So if you are looking for other options, the good news that is many designers are leaning that way. Vera Wang fall collection has over half of her dresses with some type of shoulder design. Here are three designs, a v-neck, one-shoulder, and a high neckline with short sleeves.

Vera Wang-Emmeline

Vera Wang-Eloise

Vera Wang- Ester

If the sheer organza and lace materiel are not your design preference or if you do not feel it is enough coverage, there is a website that specializes in modest wedding dresses.

beautifullymodest.com

beautifullymodest.com

Truffles are a chocolate lover’s dream to use in a variety of ways throughout the wedding. A Choclatier could make you a wedding cake out of stacked truffles, much like a cream puff tower.

As they now come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, you could match the color scheme of your winter red wedding with a raspberry truffle, or your Easter wedding with a light green truffle, (green truffle is a pistachio flavored), or your black and ivory wedding with ultra dark chocolate and white chocolate truffles.

Truffles can be boxed and given as favors or, why not have a whole wedding of truffles? If the time of your reception will fall between lunch and dinner, why not have a tea party with pastries and truffles?

Miniature wedding cakes are a great alternative to cake squares at bridal showers, as wedding favors, or on a tiered stand as an alternative to cupcakes. They can be as simple or ornate as you wish. And for those of you who are on a budget, these little cakes can be accomplished using more time than cash.

First step is a box cake mix. I chose red velvet. On a side note, this is just a chocolate cake with red dye. It can be iced with buttercream or a cream cheese mixture.

Follow the instructions for baking. If you have a large and a small muffin tin, these are easier to use. When they’re done, all you have to do is cut the mushroom tops off and you have a perfect circle for your base and top tier. As it was, even with my love of baking, a muffin tin is not in my cabinets. Therefore, I used a 9X13 casserole dish and cut circles out for my tiers.

Next step is to ice the layers. If you choose to use fondant, it does not matter if the crumbs show through the icing. If fondant is too time consuming, ice the cake layers once with the crumbs showing through, place in the refrigerator so the icing can stiffen for the next coat.

Fondant can be found in the cake decorating section of your local supermarket. 1lb should make about 15-20 mini cakes.

Pull it like taffy to make it pliable and the right consistency to stick to the cake without cracking. If it becomes too sticky or warm because of your hands, powder your hands with powdered sugar or flour (flour does not help the taste of fondant but I have found it works better. The sugar is too easily absorbed by the fondant)

It should be about 1/8th of an inch thick when rolled. If attaching any decorations, use a dab of water as a glue. The flower was made from six little balls of white pressed flat between my fingers and then pinched at one end. Place the pinched ends together and cover with a ball of fondant or buttercream to make the center.

Fun Tip: Fondant comes in white. If using dye to color a portion of your cake, make sure to complete the white details first.  I began working with the red  and my hands ended up pink. I had to scrub and scrub for it to come off so I could work with the white details without dying them as well.

Traditionally a bride wore a white or ivory dress with a pair of shoes matching the shade of the dress. But today, who has to follow the rules? If you want to add a bit of flair and color, why not wear a dyed pair of heels? Many bridal stores have white flats or heels that can be dyed to match your wedding colors.

myglasssliper.com

Or why buy your shoes at a bridal store at all? Find designer you like and buy a pair that matches your color scheme.  The best part about colored shoes is that you are more likely to wear them again!

Carlos Santana

Christian Louboutin

Kors by Michael Kors

Engagement sessions are a special time for the couple to bond and share their love and personalities with the world. The sessions can be held anywhere–your backyard, the beach, an old train station, or a downtown city. The great thing about the photos from this time is they can be used throughout the wedding. They make great save-the-date cards, photo invitations, or part of your centerpiece.

This feature is from Mark Brooke and I chose this couple to feature because of their unique and fun location. They seem to have such a vibrancy in their life and their love that comes across in this photo shoot.

www.blog.markbrooke.com

Today, brides have salons with every option available. You can choose a dress that is light and silky, elaborate, lacy, beaded, short skirt, long train, strapless etc. Just recently more men are choosing to follow the same path and break tradition. They no longer want to wear the tight-buttoned, stiff tuxedos. So when choosing an outfit for the groom, be creative. He wants to be just as happy and comfortable as you.

Try a lighter colored suit or no jacket at all.

J Crew

Or take that dreaded tie/bow tie away.

Savvi Formalwear

If the wedding is going to be on the beach or in a garden, why bother with a suit at all? Your man can wear khakis and a button down dress shirt. He’ll be much happier wearing the cooler clothing under the hot sun.

Brides.com

The best advice though is this: it’s your man’s big day too. Whatever he feels most comfortable wearing, listen to him and find a compromise with your vision.

These shots are the work of Mark Brooke. They bring out the couple and their great decor decisions. The bride mixed blue and pink in such an usual way. It stands out even more with the accent shades of lighter pink, burgundy, and touches of green. It is an unusual color scheme that worked from every angle.

There are also little choices that show the couple’s personality such as the groomsmen wearing blue striped socks, the bridesmaids all wearing different dresses, and the heart decorations hanging from the trees.

Coordinator: Jamie Renfro of Ever After Events

Flowers & Design:  Deborah Burt aka Superwoman

Ceremony & Reception: The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

Photographer: Mark Brooke Photography

DJ: Victor Cannon of CanDo Productions

Hair: Trisha Sehnert

http://www.blog.markbrooke.com/

When  completing your wedding day look, remember to consider everything from your hairstyle to your shoes. When choosing a hairstyle, consider your venue and the desired atmosphere for the day. Here are a few things to consider.

Weddings on the beach will have that shore breeze. Choose a style that allows your tresses to flow. This way your style cannot be messed up even if it gets a little wind-blown.

Hairstylestalk.com

If you are getting married in a church or inside venue, there is a lot more freedom. You can choose a long hairstyle or an elaborate up-do.

hairstylestalk.com

If your wedding is outside or in a garden, just remember the elements. It could be scorching hot and you might want your hair up to relieve some of the heat. It could be raining and a curly style will frizz or go flat.

Just remember to consider the atmosphere of the wedding as well. Is it Modern Chic or Romantic Getaway? Your hairstyle should compliment the feel of your day.

Summer is the best time to get away with bright, bold colors. During these few months, there certain shades that stand out and accent the hottest season!

Mandarin Orange! This hue of orange works great with a touch of yellow added to your decor.

Jenny Yoo

Kelly Green! This is a fun color that many would not dare to touch, but the beauty is there is no limit to a second, third, or even fourth color! Any combination you like  can be tied in using your floral arrangements and bouquet.

dmagazine.com

Another great color for summer is hot pink. Many have used this color in the past but spice it up by adding an unexpected accent color!

Alfred Angelo

youandyourwedding.co.uk