After "YES," Before "I DO" and Everything In Between

During the month of July Saks Fifth Avenue at the Mall at Short Hills (Short Hills, New Jersey) is holding multiple facial clinics, by appointment only. Remember, it is not recommended to have beauty treatments, especially facials, too close to your wedding day, so plan accordingly ... and enjoy! La Prairie Facial Clinic Wednesday, July 9 For an appointment, please call 973.315.1365 SKII Facial Clinic Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13 For an appointment, please call 973.315.1373 CHANEL Facial Clinic Wednesday, July 16 and Thursday, July 24 For an appointment, please call 973.315.1366 Personal Makeup Lessons from Tarek Abbas (Lancôme National Makeup Artist) Thursday, July 17 from 11 to 5 For more information and to make an appointment, please call 973.315.1363 Estée Lauder Facial Clinic Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19 For an appointment, please call 973.315.1362 Clarins Facial Clinic Tuesday, July 22 and Wednesday, July 23 For an appointment, please call 973.315.1256 Sisley

ATTENTION BRIDES-TO-BE! We always strive to make the journey to your wedding day a fun, easy, stress-free one. It's also always our goal to save you money. So, The Bridal Party LLC is offering its next new client(s) a couple of really special offers. #1: $500 Towards a Bridal Gown & Accessories from Kleinfeld Bridal Kleinfeld carries the largest selection of couture wedding dresses, designer exclusives, evening wear, headpieces and so much more. Without a doubt, this bridal salon is one-of-a-kind. You're guaranteed to fall in love with the perfect gown for you. Plus, trunk shows for Henry Roth (7/8-7/10), Anne Barge (7/11-7/13), Amsale 7/29-8/3) are fast approaching! #2: $300 Towards any Band and/0r $150 Towards any DJ from Jason-Craig Orchestras & Entertainment Jason Craig is one of the tri-state areas premiere entertainment groups. They make it easy for you to to personalize the mood and the melodies for your special day. Plus, the bands and DJs can accommodate e

Tonight I attended The Wedding Salon's luxury wedding showcase at The Palace in Somerset, New Jersey. There was a chic, quaint Vera Wang fashion show as well as many wonderful musicians, decor designers, photographers and more featured. It's always a lovely show. I also had the pleasure of meeting several brides-to-be bursting with excitement. Congratulations again, Ladies! Here are a few snapshots from the event:

... and Happy Wedding Day to those of you tying the knot today! Cheers! Rashana

Lots of brides and grooms are interested in having assorted flavors for their wedding cake. Usually, couples will opt to alternate flavors/fillings among tiers ... which can mean a larger cake. But, why not try multiple cakes? Guests will be treated to a variety of flavors as well as different culinary designs! Check out these combinations for a few popular color palettes : Chocolate / Deep Yellow Burnt Orange / Red Celadon / Pink Lime/Mango Cake Credits (left to right): Top Photo: Confetti Cakes Chocolate / Deep Yellow: Cake Girls (left), Blanchard's Bakery (right) Burnt Orange / Red: Polly's Cakes (left), Montclair Baking (right) Celadon / Pink: photo courtesy of The Bride's Cafe (middle), Cheryl Kleinman Cakes (right) Lime/Mango: Cakes Unique (left), Gail Watson Custom Cakes (middle), Elegant Cheese Cakes (right)

So, The Bridal Party's Fairy Tale Flutter Bride was finally "hitched-without-a-hitch" last night at The Madison Hotel . The bride, groom and myself worked together for 9 months planning this romantic Sunday-afternoon wedding which featured a garden/butterflies theme along with a latte/sky-blue palette and everything was beautiful ! Rashana w/ Fairy Tale Flutter Bride , bridal shower) All involved did a phenomenal job. Special thanks to Jocelyn and Chavonne for assisting. Stay tuned for photos!

While browsing my filed accessory websites, I stumbled across one of my favorite jewelry design houses, Tigerlilly ! This phenomenal company was started by Mandy Greenan , whose "idea" has grown into an established leader in the bridal accessory market just 8 years later. Here are a few spectacular pieces I love: 1. Sage Hairpins ( Swarovski crystal flowers on handmade sterling silver pins) 2. Trixie Birdcage Veil (Birdcage style veil with Russian netting, feathers, and Swarovski crystal accent) 3. Neve Tiara (Band of Swarovski crystals with a Swarovski chandelier octagon at center) ***This one's my favorite! 4. Fiona Headband (Diamond cut Swarovski crystals, can also be worn as a tiara, bun wrap , or converts easily to a necklace) & Satine Earrings ( Swarovski crystal chandelier drops)

One of the most common requests photographers receive from brides-to-be is "photojournalism." And what exactly is photojournalism? The American Heritage Dictionary sites the following definition: Journalism in which a news story is presented primarily through photographs with supplementary written copy. Of course a wedding isn't necessarily a "news story," but the idea behind hiring a professional who is apt to photograph your event in a candid, documentary style usually results in priceless photos that speak a thousand words . With that said, brides-to-be should be careful in trusting every photographer who claims to specialize in photojournalism or papparazi-style. Don't just take his/her word for it ... always ask for their thoughts on using a telephoto lens or long zoom ... ask about techniques for maximizing shoot lots ... inquire about their approach to taking photos without obviously raising the camera. And finally, take a look at their most recent w