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Wedding Gift Trends: Custom Clutches

Attention all you lovely brides! On that full check list of wedding ‘to-do’s’, don’t forget to treat your bridesmaids to something special… you know those girls who listen to you debate between which exact shade of ‘plum’ is really ‘you’ or if you should go with the ivory vs. pearl chiavari chair? So, why not show them your appreciation! Treat them with one of our favorite hot new trends: handmade and custom designed clutches by S.Mondo. Bridesmaids (and brides alike) are going gaga for them!

S.Mondo was established in 2008, launching her versatile Everyday clutches. This young designer, Sarah Mondo, entered the bridal world in 2010, when her best friend asked her to create purses for her and her bridesmaids; the rest as they say, just fell into place.

“For wedding purses I ask for all details of the wedding day, to get a feel for the bride’s vision, including: location, time of year, colors, themes, etc. If the purses are customized to each bridesmaid, I make sure to find out their individual styles and the designing begins,” noted owner Sarah.

“Many of the bride’s purses are lined with a fabric that is meaningful to them, such as a fabric from their grandmother’s wedding dress or a favorite shirt of the soon-to-be groom. It’s a great way to incorporate the ‘something old, something new…’ tradition, while recycling.

“The Everyday clutches are made from reclaimed leather items, which are handpicked and purchased from a store where proceeds directly benefit Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital. By purchasing an S.Mondo leather clutch, you’re not only directly involved in the recycling process, but also giving back to the Chicago community.”

So, in the midst of your busy planning, remember those exceptional girlfriends who have been there for you throughout the years. To purchase one of these stylish clutches, please send your request through skmondo.com.

Peter Callahan Shares His Mini Masterpieces in BITE by BITE

We are thrilled to share with all a new cookbook making its debut this month that will make a wonderful shower gift for your favorite bride (or any kind of gift if they love good food!).

Celebrated caterer Peter Callahan (and StrictlyWeddings.com New York partner) is famous for his inventive and delicious miniature food creations. Now, in BITE BY BITE: 100 Stylish Little Plates You Can Make for Any Party (on sale August 30, 2011), you can re-create Peter’s awe-inducing small bites at home.

In this debut cookbook, Callahan welcomes readers to share in the fun and beauty of his creations. According to Peter, being prepared is the key to pulling off a self-catered party like a professional. With that in mind, he has included a Kitchen Tools and Conveniences section, listing the key kitchen equipment that will help you create the delicious masterpieces in this book. In each recipe he also notes what can be made in advance, how best to schedule your time, and any short-cuts that will make life easier on the big day. Along the way, he divulges his secrets and inspiration, including stories of how he dreamed up dishes that he’s catered for his long roster of celebrity clients.

We love a cook who shares his technique as well as tells a good story!

Some featured recipes in Bite by Bite include:

• COMFORT FOODS: Caprese Tea Sandwiches; Mac and Cheese Canapés; Baked Beans in Bacon Cups; Twice-Baked Stuffed Potatoes; and Cheeseburgers and Frites
• SHOTS + BITES: Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese; Caviar Spoons and Vodka; Spicy Chicken “Fortune Cookies” and Cherry Sake; and Fish Tacos and Gazpacho
• LOLLIPOPS, CONES, + MORE: Mango-Shrimp Lollipops; Watermelon-Mint Lollipops; Tuna Tartare Plantain Cones; Crab in Potato Cones; and Chicken Nori Cigarettes
• CLASSICS REINTERPRETED: Stuffed Mushrooms; Lobster-Potato Petit Fours; Pigs in Blankets, Two Ways; and Turkey Canapés with Stuffing and Cranberry Relish
• DESSERT: Chocolate Ice Cream “Burgers;” Limoncello Popsicles; Cotton Candy Lollipops; Strawberry-Rhubarb Pies; Fluffernutters; and Bagel Profiteroles

Peter is the owner of New York City-based Callahan Catering and is widely credited with having created the mega trend of miniaturized savory and dessert hors d’oeuvres. He has been catering for more than twenty-five years and has created food for Martha Stewart, Vera Wang, Kate Spade, JPMorgan, Tory Burch, Valentino, Regis and Joy Philbin, Tony Bennett, and Al Gore, among other clients.

Out of Town Welcome Baskets

In our search for “all things wedding related” we came across Wedding Planner, Kate Parker, with a line of Out of Town Welcome Baskets.

Imagine your guests arriving at their hotel after a long day of travel to discover a custom out-of-town basket in their room. Each basket is filled with locally-made products and information pertaining to your wedding weekend, including a personalized map highlighting your event locations from the rehearsal dinner to the reception site.

This site has a 25 basket minimum, which may be a bit steep from some. But it’s a great idea with lots of possibilities for pulling something off yourself.

Tips for Guests Buying Wedding Gifts

Wanting to make sure your wedding gift will resonate with your friend? Here are a few suggestions before you make your purchase.

• Find out where the bride and groom are spending their honeymoon and give them gift certificates to the hotel’s spa or arrange with the hotel to have your gift waiting for them when they arrive, such as a bottle of champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
• When in doubt, a gift card to their favorite nursery (if they like to garden); a certificate to a romantic restaurant (budgets will be tight when they return from that honeymoon); a season ticket packet or tickets for two to their favorite theatre, opera or symphony (season tickets are a gift that keeps on giving) or maybe they’re big sports fans.
• If a couple has registered for 12, 16 or 32 sets of flatware (maybe they’re planning for a big Utah family?), don’t feel like you have to buy all the pieces for them. Just buy as many of the sets as you would like and other guests will fill in the rest.
• Keep in mind what you do know about the couple’s interests – maybe she loves to collect unique serving bowls (don’t laugh, it’s possible) or they are the cocktail and hor d’oeurve type, so look for fun cocktail glasses and a few unique “cocktail recipes,” as well as unusual serving plates. If they love to grill and sit by the pool develop your gift around that theme.
• Your friends might have everything they want or need or are just very down to earth people, if so, think about honoring them with a gift to their favorite charity.

 
Crystal and china are important, beautiful and wonderful to give, but you know your friends best, so give them something they will use often (and hopefully think of you with appreciation for thinking of you during this special time in their life!).

Last thought, if you’re attending a “destination” wedding, ship your gift to the bride or groom’s home instead of bringing it to the wedding. Bring a card with a description of what your gift is to give to the happy couple so they’ll know.

Whatever the gift, it IS the thought that counts.

StrictlyWeddings.com partners – Spas

Just Follow The Steps and “Say Anything”

Now here is a unique gift to give the bride and groom, “say anything” design lets you choose from platters, frames or vases to customize what YOU want it to say.

Click here to visit their web site.

Popular Wedding Gifts

According to The Wedding Report, high-end kitchen gear and practical cooking items are currently popular wedding gifts for 2008.  Many modern couples prefer practical gifts such as barbecue tools and ice cream bowls as opposed to traditional items like china. Sur La Table offers a wide range of kitchen products including copper cookware, books, linens, bakeware, knives, kitchen electrics, and gadgets. Click here for more information.