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Happy New Year from StrictlyWeddings.com!

Happy New Year!

All of us here at StrictlyWeddings.com want to wish all of you a wonderful and safe New Year, that will bring you peace and prosperity and much love!

As we look back on 2009, we wanted to share with you some new things we discovered along the way. We so look forward to bringing you the new trends for 2010 as well as continued advice that is helpful to our bride and groom.

Here are some of our favorite things, that came our way this year!

1. The your reception décor does not have to be the standard table and chairs. Photo courtesty of Prop Rock Concepts & Production.

2. That wedding photographers enjoy showing their creativity (it’s not just pictures of the bride and groom or wedding party anymore). Photos courtesy of (top to bottom): Karlisch Photography, Jordan Payne Events, Rick Aguilar Studios, Peter Thurin Photography.

3. That Cake Balls will certainly give the cup cake a run for it’s popularity.

4. That more and more color is breaking the barrier of pastel as the necessary color. Purples, reds, orange and other jewel colors now make a statement in the wedding details. Photos courtesy, of (top to bottom): Jordan Payne Events, Artisan Events, Inc., Karlisch Photography

5. The unique beauty of Indian Weddings – colors, textures, traditions – courtesy of Kehoe Design, Chicago.

And on a final note our favorite brides that made 2009 their year and were featured in our new section – Featured Weddings – thank you for letting us be a part of your wedding.

Blessings to all of our brides. We hope 2010 is a joyous year and that you’ll continue to let StrictlyWeddings.com be a part of that joy.

To Tuxedo or Not To Tuxedo

It really is easy, the more formal the wedding in time and location, the more formal the attire to be worn.

Today, we tend to bend the rules to suit the comfort level and desires of the bride and groom. The time of your ceremony does not necessarily have to dictate the attire. If you are marrying after 3 pm, pretty much anything can go. More important is to consider the style of the reception. If a ballroom, private club, or mansion are the venues of choice, well formal wear really is indicated.

If you are marrying after 5 pm and you are having a lavish wedding, a tuxedo is a must. A black tuxedo, white shirt, vest (if inclined, we tend to not like them, but it is really up to your personal style) and bow tie are the quintessentially chic groom ensemble for a formal, lavish, nighttime affair. Vests are a more slimming

Source: Pink Goulashes

Photography courtesy of Scott Hagar Photography for the Schaufele-Evens Featured Wedding.

Operation Slim Down for your Wedding Day!

We’ve heard time and again that the secret to weight loss is that you burn what you take in. Basically, eat healthy, control your portions and work out 3-5 times a week. But if you’re wanting to look your best on your wedding day, listed below are a few thoughts to get you started on your path to loose. These are actually good habits to get into and live by.

We’re currently on Jenny Craig, so some of the references are from what we’ve learned there. Also, for Christmas we got the “So Easy” cookbook by Elle Kreiger. Love that it gives you all the calorie details with each recipe and she’s into cooking food that has flavor!

Water, Water and more Water!

Start getting your fill on water (no, coffee or diet sodas don’t count). We’ve been told at least 5-8oz glasses and 8 is better. Find you a fun/colorful water bottle that you don’t mind taking with you everywhere. Keep one in the office, one in your car and one at home. If you don’t like the “flavor” of your water, filter your water, add a few slices of lemon, limes or oranges to flavor it and Crystal Light sells individual serving packets in all sorts of flavors.

Portion Control

Our understanding on what makes a “normal” serving is way out of wack. Here are some visual guidelines:

• 1 tsp = tip of thumb
• 1 tbsp = whole thumb
• 1/4 cup = golf ball, large egg
• 1/2 cup = 1/2 orange, small fist
• 1 cup = baseball, light bulb
• 1 oz meat/cheese = tube of lipstick
• 1 oz snack food = rounded handful
• 2 oz meat/cheese = 3 fingers
• 3 oz meat/cheese = deck of cards, computer mouse (woman’s portion)
• 4 oz meat/cheese = palm of man’s hand (man’s portion)
• 1 low-fat muffin or piece of fruit = tennis ball

Calories In/Calories Out

Modify your portions and strive for 1200 calories per day. (Here’s what it looks like)

• Breakfast – 1 oz lean meat (one small egg, 1 turkey sausage), 2 starches (1 pancake, english muffin, 1 slice bread, low-sugar cereals), 1 fat (1 tsp margarine), 1 milk (1 cup non-fat milk, 1 container fat-free, light yogurt)
• Morning Snack – 90-110 calories (cheese stick, small piece of fruit like a clementine or apple)
• Lunch – 2 oz lean meat, 2 starches, 1 vegetable, 1 fat (soup & salad; lean cuisine will do, too)
• Afternoon Snack – 90-110 calories
• Dinner – 4 oz lean meat, 2 starches, 1 vegetable, 1 fat

Starches = beans, lentils, bread, cereal, pancake, popcorn, rice or pasta, low-fat snack foods, starchy veggies like corn, peas, potatoes, yams), tortilla

Free Foods = sugar-free gum, non-starchy veggies (you’ll find me munching on carrots, pickled okra, cherry tomatoes …also spinach is great fresh or steamed with a little butter and lemon).

Note: When cutting back on calories, it’s important that you take a daily multivitamin.

Cut Back on Drinking

A 5 oz glass of red wine equates to two of your “fat” servings. Alcohol eats up a lot of calories quick! So save it for one glass on the weekend or special occasions. Instead of that glass of wine, try a wine spritzer (it’s half the calories) or look into non-alcoholic beverages.

Exercise

We know, that’s the big “duh!” But your results will be so much greater if you will exercise. You know this. We all know this. It’s doing it that’s the tough part. Start with twenty minutes of exercise a day to start the calorie burning process. Walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Walk to the lunch place instead of driving if you can. Find a buddy to walk and talk with or exercise with. Pay for a personal trainer to get you on a program and if you can afford it, use them once-a-week. Being accountable to someone (other than yourself) is a huge motivator.

Whatever you do, good luck. A word from the wise (and years of fighting weight gain) … a husband who loves you, will love you no matter those few extra pounds. BUT when “us women” feel good about ourselves and how we look, then often, it’s our husbands who benefit from that confidence!

StrictlyWeddings.com Spa Partners:

Treat yourself to a spa treatment at one of our partners with each milestone you make (first 10 pounds, 1/2 way mark, reaching your goal)!

Dallas – Exhale Dallas, The Spa at the Crescent, The Spa at Willow Bend

Chicago – Ruby Room, Exhale Chicago, Peninsula Spa by ESPA

Chicago Wedding Reception Venues – Trump International Hotel

Take your event to a monumental level at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago with an array of spaces that showcase the City of Chicago and the ultimate setting for your big day!

Their Grand Foyer elevates your wedding to breathtaking heights for your reception, followed by dinner and dancing in the magnificent Grand Ballroom. Featuring soaring 24 ft windows, the Trump International Hotel offers your guests spanning views along the Chicago River, toward Lake Michigan and historic Chicago architecture from every angle.

For your ceremony, the Skyline Room provides the perfect atmosphere, where nuptials can be exchanged while the view of the city skyline lights up before your eyes. The 16th floor has the privacy and exclusivity of being the only ceremony & reception on that floor.

Contact the Trump’s wedding team and staff to talk about your special day from start to finish! Trump International Hotel & Tower is one of StrictlyWeddings.com partners found under Chicago Wedding Reception Venues.

My fiance and I each have a child. We would like to include them in the ceremony.

Of course there is the traditional flower girl and ring bearer, but depending on their age, level of responsibility and of course willingness, they can:

• Ask guests to sign pages in a scrapbook
• Walk you down the aisle
• Hand out wedding programs or directions to the reception
• Serve as altar boy or altar girl
• Greet guests
• Turn pages for the musician
• Carry the bride’s train
• Hand out flowers to guests
• Help take care of gifts at the reception
• Junior bridesmaid
• Take candid pictures of the family and bridal party
• Follow the photographer around, pointing out special people to photograph
• Play a musical instrument or solo
• Carry ceremony flowers to reception
• Help guests find their seating arrangements at the reception
• Present wedding favors to guests
• Help serve the wedding cake
• Be in charge of the guest book

Wedding Cake Trends – The Cake Ball …Orgasmic

Okay, so maybe orgasmic is a bit extreme. But according to Kay, our StrictlyWeddings.com head guru, they are.

Ever since she had them a few weeks ago, she’s talked of nothing else. The Cake Ball Company, owned by Robin Ankeny, is a Dallas-based company. Like all great treats, it started out of her kitchen in Dallas and one thing led to another (including Neiman’s discovering them) and “bingo” they’re a great hit. The reason they’ve stayed a hit is all in the product itself. Your first bite is something to savor. Kay’s on a mission that everyone needs to try them (I’m almost afraid to …if she’s gaga, then me and my sweet tooth would be over the top!). They ship them all over the country and you can order online.

One of the flavors she tried – the Wedding Cake – is (she says) the most yummy (but we think she’s just fond of the name).

So instead of cupcakes, try cake balls at your wedding reception or bridal showers. It’s no surprise that they are getting so much attention all over the country.

Kay promises you, CakeBalls are delicious and they have a consistency that you will never forget, and with each bite, you are hoping it will last forever!

Featured Wedding: Shivani Sharma and Aalap Shah

“My husband and I met Tom Kehoe through our wedding planner, Sabrina Hans of Sabrina Hans Events.  I still remember the day we went in to discuss our ideas with Tom.  He showed us a few pictures of prior events he had done and we were instantly sold!  We briefly discussed our personalities and some ideas we had and left the rest up to the team at Kehoe Designs,” glowed bride Shivani Sharma-Shah.

From the brief discussion Shivani and fiance, Aalap, had with Tom, they desired clean and simplistic, with touches of their Indian tradition. The couple chose Marriott Oak Brook Hills Resort for their venue; Tom transformed the room into a sumptuous getaway, using extensive white fabric treatment creating a bright glowing feel throughout the room. The ceremony hosted a towering ceremonial mandap which dramatically showcased hundreds of floating green orchids, all of which surrounded a suspended vintage-inspired chandelier. Bright pink floral balls were a unique twist for their aisle décor, while guests wore brightly colored sari’s, all the pieces tied together for a design that married elegance & tradition with lightness & modernity.

“We gave very few suggestions and basically left all the decisions up to the Kehoe team.  They did such a fabulous job! The team at Kehoe Designs is not only the most professional vendor we dealt with, but they are perfectionists.  Every area of our venue was decorated perfectly.  We were totally in love with the décor at all of our wedding events.  We loved everything about our décor and our guests raved about it for months after our wedding,” said bride Shivani.

Décor & Floral: Kehoe Designs, Event Producer: Tom Kehoe
Venue: Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort
Location: Oak Brook Hills, IL
Photographer: GS Photography
Wedding Coordinator: Sabrina Hans Events

Wedding Trends for 2010

We asked one of our partners, Tami Winn, of Tami Winn Events and le Fleur Couture, to tell us what she sees in wedding trends for 2010.

Her response was the list below on what she’s busy planning.

Vintage:
Birdcage veils
Pearls
Antique broaches
Mismatched bridesmaids dresses
Gloves
Colors: violet, olive green, champagne, and chocolate

Eco-Friendly:
Organic Food
Plantable seeds for favors
Stationary that is ecofriendly
Garden setting

Colors: sage green, beige, and pearl

Rustic:
Unfinished wood
Chic boots
Lanterns and mason jars
Outdoor setting (ranch, field w/tent, barn)
Colors: sunshine yellow, rust, cinnamon, and emerald green

Vintage weddings. Photo courtesy of Lynn Michelle Photography.

Eco-friendly weddings. Photo courtesy of Table4Photography, Jason Huang (the wedding took place at Barr Mansion in Austin Texas.  They are the only event facility in the United States that is certified 100% organic.

Rustic weddings.  Photo courtesy of Stacey Pinkney.

2010 Wedding Trunk Shows

We’ve posted the 2010 trunk shows for Warren Barron Bridal through May in our Bridal Events Calendar. All your favorite bridal designers such as Vera Wang, Elizabeth Fillmore, Oscar de la Renta, Monique Lhuillier, and Angel Sanchez will be showcased.

Check out these recent posts on these designer’s 2010 collections – Vera Wang and Elizabeth Fillmore (image from 2010 collection below).

Wedding Receptions – The Adolphus: Tradition & Luxury

Style. Tradition. Luxury.

Since 1912, the splendid marriage of elegant gatherings, cherished celebrations and fairy tale weddings has been born at The Adolphus in Dallas, Texas.

The choice is uniquely yours. Imagine your special day embraced within a historic European country manor nested in downtown Dallas. The classic environment offers a luxurious backdrop to your most precious event. Then express yourself as our dedicated service professionals guide you through every aspect of your special day, with an eye for detail that allows you to delight in the most cherished memories.