Think Outside the Box~ Paper Flowers!

This crafty idea has been around for years, but as more brides get hands-on with their wedding decor we are starting to see paper flowers become very popular.   Create beautiful paper flowers for all kinds of events, or for your own home. You can put your own personal touch into your project by adding different colors & textures, plus you will be saving money on your decor by using paper flowers instead of the real thing! Give your guests something to talk about, and use paper flowers as a favor, write your names & wedding date or your monogram on either the petals or on a leaf.  This memento will last much longer than a live flower and it is unique! We have compiled some photos of various floral designs and have included instructions for creating your own paper flowers!

Inspired Yet?

Check out the master Martha Stewarts paper flower bouquet instructions...

Double Leaf To make three double leaves, stack tissue in three hues of green. Cut 2-by-3-inch rectangles through all layers; fold in half. Trim tips into points; unfold. Twist each sheet at center. Fold 18-inch floral wire in half, slip over center of leaf, and twist. Fold tips toward each other, and curl.

Long Leaf Stack tissue in two hues of green. Cut 2-by-3-inch rectangles through both layers. Apply glue along the upper third of a 9-inch piece of floral wire; sandwich between tissue layers. Let dry. Cut a leaf shape. Separate layers of tissue.

Folded Petal Cut several 1 3/4-by-2 3/4-inch and 1 1/4-by-2-inch rectangles from tissue paper; fold each in half lengthwise; cut one end to be rounded, and twist other end to shape. For the center, roll white tissue paper into a tiny ball; cut out a square from white tissue paper, and wrap it around the ball, twisting tissue at its base. Attach the twisted end of the ball to a piece of floral wire by wrapping with green floral tape; add petals one at a time (start with small petals and end with large ones), taping twisted ends onto floral wire. Trim floral tape; spread out petals.

Bubble Petal Each bloom requires 12 (or six pairs) stamens attached to floral wire with floral tape and five 4-by-2 1/4-inch pieces of tissue paper. For each petal, wrap tissue halfway around 1 1/2-inch Styrofoam ball, forming a half-sphere; twist ends, and remove ball. Attach one end of a petal to the base of stamen with floral tape. Add the other petals one at a time. Trim pointy ends. Gently pull petals away from center.

Rolled Petal Cut a 16-by-3 1/2-inch strip of tissue paper; make 2-inch accordion folds. Trim and notch one end of tissue through all layers, as shown; unfold. Insert floral wire into a 1-inch Styrofoam ball; place ball near bottom of tissue strip. Roll tissue around ball; twist bottom. Remove the ball with tweezers. Wrap floral tape around the twisted tissue and wire. Trim the floral tape.

Curly Petal Cut a 16-by-3 1/2-inch strip of tissue paper; make 2-inch-wide accordion folds. Make 3-inch-deep snips in tissue to create fringe. Wrap unfringed end around floral wire. Secure with floral tape. Run scissors blade along pieces of fringe to curl; fluff.

Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Crafted Bouquet

 

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

That's right girls just want to have fun, and wear pretty dresses of course! So what is better than one beautiful dress on your big day? Two Dresses! Lady Gaga is not the only one allowed to make wardrobe changes, so we say go for it! Wedding dresses are beautiful bottom line.  However, they are not very comfortable for the most part, so opting for a cocktail dress may save you some unnecessary agony.  Choosing a cocktail dress to change into, shows a little more personality, adds more photo op's, and you will most likely be able to move a little more freely on the dance floor.

Cocktail dresses can be any style you want, and any color you want!  If cocktail dresses aren't for you, consider looking at these next dresses as options for your bridesmaids.  It is great for bridesmaids when they get to wear a dress for your wedding that they can wear again!

 

Check Out The Brand New Salon in Paradise! Welcome "All Dolled Up!"

If you are looking for a great new place to get all of your beauty needs taken care of, you have to check out the Grand Opening for All Dolled Up in Paradise!  These ladies can do it all, and they want to welcome you to their new shop by inviting you to the Grand Opening on Saturday May 21, 2011.  The event is from 4 to 7pm, and everyone that attends will receive a gift and be entered to win a huge gift basket !!! In addition to all of their great beauty services, they also offer sunglasses, purses, jewelry and other gotta-have items! To show their appreciation to their guests, All Dolled Up, will also be providing free treats, wine & champagne. We hope to see you there, as we support the ladies of All Dolled Up!

All Dolled Up Grand Opening Party

Where: 6190 Skyway Paradise CA When: May 21, 2011 from 4-7 pm.

 

Bridal Party Fashion

As a bride you get to choose a few of your closest friends or family members to join your bridal party, and share a special part of your day with you. Part of the fun for both the bride and the bridesmaids, is choosing the bridesmaid dresses.  How can you not have a blast while trying on dresses 3 sizes to small for you in some very unflattering colors! Traditionally all of the bridesmaids will wear the same dress in the same color, and wear matching accessories.  More and More, we are seeing brides choose an alternate route.  Brides are opting for the bridesmaids to either wear varying styles of dresses in the same color, or have them wear any style of dress in a range of similar hues.  These options not only allow each bridesmaid to choose a style that best suits her body style, but it also shows a lot of personality and spunk.  Throw some flashy and colorful heels into the mix for some extra flare. It is never too early to start thinking details such as your bridal party's attire. In most cases it takes up to 3 months if not longer, to get your dresses after they have been ordered.  If your wedding falls in the prime wedding months such as April through June, or September through November, there may even be a bit of a delay because the manufacturers may get backed up. Think of colors, and styles that will compliment you and your dress, as well as your overall theme.

Chic One Shoulder dresses are in style right now, as well as gray, metallic, and purple tones.

Brides, if you are racking your brain on what to get your bridesmaids consider picking out matching necklaces or accessories for them to wear.  If you do decide to buy jewelry for your bridesmaids, consider buying jewelry that will stand out from far away and in pictures.

Here are some of the popular designers for Bridesmaid dresses that you should be able to find in your local Wedding Dress Shops.

Alfred Angelo Davids Bridal The Dessy Group (After Six, Alfred Sung, Lela Rose, & Cynthia Rowley) Jessica McClintock Mori Lee

For help finding local dress shops, check out our Directory!

 

Diamonds 101

An exciting part of getting married, is sharing your proposal story and wedding plans with all of your closest friends and family.  As soon as the word is out that you are engaged, people are going to want to see that ring of yours!! Guys, if you have met your match and are planning on popping the question please take a few minutes to learn the basics about diamonds.  This is going to help you be a more educated customer when you are in a jewelry store, and it may help ensure that you do not make a bad investment. Tons of couples plan their weddings together every step of the way, starting with the engagement ring!  Every couple is different, and you may choose leave everything as a surprise, discuss styles & brands but keep the ring itself a surprise, go ring shopping together but the groom makes the final decision, or you may purchase the ring together.  Whatever the case, it is still a good idea to understand what it is that you are paying for when it comes to color and clarity of the stone(s).

First of all, lets look over some of the various styles/cuts of diamonds because they are each very different. We will also show different ring settings, to show each cut of diamond with accents and enhancer bands.  Some people are drawn to certain diamond shapes more than others, and some would prefer a solitaire setting vs. a three stone setting.

If you see the shape that you like, lets move on to the color and clarity charts.  These charts serve as a  grading system for diamonds, which helps the consumer be more confident that they are buying quality merchandise.

The first chart is a Color Grading Chart which shows the range of colors of natural diamonds.  Diamonds that are in the D-F range are colorless stones, G-J are near colorless and so on.  You may not be able to see the difference of color until you start looking at stones from K - R, and stones in the range of S - Z will have a more noticeably yellow tint.    The Clarity Chart grades a diamond by the amount of imperfections in the stone, both visible by an eye-glass or the naked eye.  Diamonds that are in the FL-IF range are going to be more expensive because they have little to no visible imperfections in the stone. On the opposite end of the spectrum are stones that fall into the I1-I3 range which will have imperfections visible to the naked eye.

There are a lot of online resources for diamonds, each claiming to have the best price on diamonds.  Beware, because many of the photos they use online are not actual pictures of the diamond that you are interested in purchasing.  So make sure no matter where you are planning on shopping for your diamond jewelry, that you ask for the certificate for the stone.  If you are buying it private party (online, classified ads, or a pawn shop) ask to have the diamond appraised.

If you have found the diamond that you know she will love, the next step is to choose which setting you like.  Solitaires are very popular engagement rings, but there are a lot of other beautiful settings to take your time.  Below are examples of round diamonds, in various settings.  First we have a round diamond solitaire, second is a round cut diamond with smaller pave-set diamonds on the side, third is a three-stone round cut diamond ring, and last is an enhancer band, that can be added to a solitaire to create a three-stone look.  Remember the options are endless!

These next rings are from some of the top bridal jewelers, 1. Tacori Emerald Cut Engagement Ring, 2. Ritani Asscher Cut Engagement ring with pave cut diamonds, 3. Verragio Venetian Collection brilliant round cut diamond ring with halo, and pave split-shank band.

Blue Nile has a great website with a design tool, which allows you to build your own ring!  Choose the cut, color & clarity of the diamond in your desired price range, and then choose from different settings to complete your ring.  This is a great tool, because it allows you to narrow down what you like, without having to walk into a jewelry store with the pressure to buy.  Check out Blue Nile's website here.

We would like to also point out that you don't have to stick with traditional diamond engagement rings, there are gorgeous canary diamonds, pink diamonds,  sapphires and other natural gems.  Celebrities like Heidi Klum, Paris Hilton and Jennifer Lopez have been spotted wearing canary diamond rings, Mariah Carey, Tara Reid and many other celebrities have flashed some of their pink diamond engagement rings. Kate Middleton's engagement ring is an 18 carat blue sapphire and diamond ring, which was the same ring that Prince Williams Father gave to the late Princess Diana.

We hope this is a helpful tool for you to use when preparing to purchase an engagement ring, or any piece of jewelry in the future. For local jewelers, click here to be directed to our directory.  If you still have questions, just Ask The 530 Bride!

Creating Your Wedding Playlist

Have you hired a DJ, live band, string quartet, or orchestra for your wedding? Or maybe are you going to take charge of your own music for your event by using CD's or your Ipod.  Either way, you should still try to get a play-list together to make sure you have songs picked out for some of the highlights of your wedding.  What kind of music have you always dreamed of hearing as you walk down the aisle? Are you looking for a DJ who will also serve as an MC for your wedding? This person will essentially be the voice of your wedding, as he or she will be keeping the event flowing and announcing your entrance, first dance, cake cutting etc. A good DJ has finesse, and can get all of your guests onto the dance floor, and keep the party going.  Take the opportunity to meet potential DJ companies to ensure that you feel comfortable with their level of professionalism. Don't be shy about what your expectations are, and determine what equipment is included such as a cordless microphone, lighting effects etc.  Last, make sure your wedding venue has accessible power outlets for the DJ to set up their equipment.

Next, take the opportunity to define your personalities, and set a tone for your event  by choosing great music.  First, make sure you know the basics of wedding ceremony music. TheKnot.com has a great article about wedding music, so we have provided an excerpt here for you. "The most basic wedding ceremony music setup involves a minimum of three types of songs: preludes, processionals, and recessionals. Prelude music is light, ambient music that sets the mood while guests are being seated and waiting for the ceremony to begin. It usually begins when the doors open, or as early as 45 minutes prior to but no later than 20 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony.

Next is the processional, which accompanies the entry of the extended wedding party-- family, bridal party, and bride. The same song can be used for each, but we love the idea of changing to another song when the bride enters to add drama and highlight her entrance. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the recessional plays. As the name implies, this music accompanies you as you recess (that is, make your exit) and is traditionally bright and lively -- a reflection of your joy. " (TheKnot.com)

There are tons of resources for lists of traditional, contemporary and modern wedding music, and these are a few we found to be really helpful. www.TheKnot.com www.WeddingWire.com www.Weddingvendors.com www.Projectwedding.com www.Ourweddingsongs.com

If you plan on using some of the more traditional wedding processional songs such as (Wedding Day at Troldhaugen by Edvard Grieg, or one of the many versions of "The Wedding March,") a piece of advice is to listen to the song using YouTube, so that you can hear the song first.

A handful of great classical/traditional songs:

Romance ( Op. 44, No. 1) Anton Rubenstein Vocalise - Sergei Rachmaninoff The Maestro -  Composed by Hans Zimmer Bridal Procession - Edvard Grieg All I Ask Of You - Phantom of the Opera, (Piano) Canon in D - J Pachelbel Ave Maria - (There are several beautiful instrumental versions)

Here is a list of some recommended songs, from many different genres.

Marry Me - Train Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole This Year's Love - David Gray I Do - Colbie Caillat Rhythm of Love - Plain White T's All You Need Is Love - The Beatles Your Guardian Angel - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Time of My Life - David Cook Lucky - Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat I'm Yours - Jason Mraz Better Together - Jack Johnson She's Everything - Brad Paisley Why Wait - Rascal Flatts Are you Gonna Kiss Me or Not - Thompson Square Mama's Song - Carrie Underwood Only You Can Love Me This Way - Keith Urban Wishn and Hopin - Dusty Springfield Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra I loved Her First - Heartland (Great Father Daughter Dance Song) The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra Spend My Life With You - Eric Benet I Do - Boys II Men L-O-V-E - Nat Cole King I Cant Help Falling In Love – Elvis That’s what makes it a love song – Miranda Lambert Better Half – Keith Urban Oh Love - Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood Our Love is Here To Stay - Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald Versions I Could Not Ask For More - Edward McCain Sail Away - David Gray The Only Exception - Paramore Forever - Chris Brown Wedding Bells - Coldplay (This song is not yet released, but has an anticipated release date of late 2011)

Don't forget to check out our Vendor Directory, to find great DJ's and other Entertainment.

Style Trend: The Birdcage Veil

As the vintage theme gets more popular, we have started to see more ways to mix the old with the new.  One great vintage piece in particular has caught our eye; the birdcage veil.  Compatible with many different wedding gowns and hairstyles, the bird cage veil is a great accessory for your big day.  Brides, keep in mind that this look also works really well for bridesmaids as well and can be made in any color.

For all of the DIY Brides out there, check out a DIY tutorial for making your own Bird Cage Veil.  Complete with step-by-step directions and photos, you are sure to have no problems creating your perfect Bird Cage Veil.  Click here to read the article on www.weddingchicks.com.

DIY Wedding Favors

Cherry FavorsSure you can pick up just about any wedding catalog and choose from thousands of pre-made wedding favors, but we at The 530 Bride think that the best wedding favors are made by hand and with love! What better way to capture your personality, wedding theme, and the memory of your day than to create a wedding favor that tells a story.These boxes of fresh cherries, fit perfectly into an outdoor event in the spring or summer time.  They not only have a simple charm, but they feel more personal and thoughtful than something you could order from a catalog. (Photo: IntimateWeddings.com)

There are so many different interpretations of this idea, so checkout which fruits are in season during your wedding month! Create personal touches like adding your names and wedding date on each box, or a short message to thank your guests.

Mark Your Calendars

The Palms Pavilion in Chico will be having an open house at their beautiful venue, on May 10th, 2011.  The admission is free, and as if that wasn't exciting enough, each couple will each receive a free engagement photo!  If you have never visited The Palms, check out all of these great amenities included in their wedding package. AMENITIES: •   Luxuriously furnished, private bride and groom dressing rooms •   Fully equipped catering kitchen • Air-conditioned and fully lighted pavilion space, accommodating up to 300 guests •   Built-in beverage service bar •   Portable stage with overhead lighting •   Parking spaces for 250 automobiles •   Multiple ceremony spaces throughout the landscaped gardens •   Tiki torches light up evening celebrations •   Koi ponds and fountains provide water features.

Enjoy h'orderves and champagne, while you take in the scenery and  mingle with other engaged couples.  WeDo Designs is the on-site wedding designer, and Rabina Khan along with her team are sure to wow you with their elegant designs and modern innovations to wedding decor.   Many brides watch shows like Platinum Weddings, or My Fair Wedding with David Tutera and feel like those weddings are just a fairytale. Let us assure you that with the right vendors, you can have the Platinum Wedding you have dreamed of without breaking the bank! Check out WeDo Designs, for picture galleries, pricing and available services.

So mark you calendars, and make sure to attend this great Open House at The Palms Pavilion.  May 10th, 2011 from 4 to 7pm.

The Palms Pavilion is located at 2947 Nord Avenue, Chico CA 95973

For more information contact:

Rabina Khan, WeDo Designs (530) 566 - 7603 2947 Nord Ave Chico, CA 95973

Attention: Freebies Ahead!

We are willing to bet you like getting a good deal, and better yet something for free.  That is why we think you should check out some of these websites for freebies, and giveaway sweepstakes. For instance, a fellow wedding blog called Wedding Chicks has a great stationery tool for you to use and download the images for free.  You will be able to choose text colors, and wording within their formats.  Choose from various stationery types such as Monograms, Invitations, Save-the-Dates, Table Numbers, Custom Candy Bar Wrappers & other signs like the "Bride" sign below.

The blog also features free DIY projects like Wedding Flowers, Wine Bottle Labels, Lotus Flower Cake Topper, wedding favor ideas and more.

Create a Free Wedding Website with sites like The Knot.com, My Wedding.com, E Wedding.com.

Enter The 530 Bride's first giveaway, in honor of our website launch! Enter for your chance to win prizes including a one month tanning package, a teeth whitening session, a one-hour massage and a $50 gift-certificate to Robin & Marie's Shoe Closet in Chico, CA. Enter into our drawing by subscribing to The530bride.wordpress.com, "Like" us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter. (That earns you three entries into the drawing!) Winners Will be announced on May 7th. 2011.

Wedding Channel's Godiva Sweepstakes, Enter for your chance to win Godiva's elegant couture favors inspired by Sylvia Weinstock.  Ten grand prize winners will each receive 300 favors (valued at almost $3000) Find out if you're "favored" to win this fashionable treat - enter today!

Try your luck on winning this sweet giveaway, The Cuisinart Savor the Good Life Sweepstakes.  Click here to enter for a chance to win:

  • Private Cooking Lessons from Cuisinart's executive chef Fabrizio Bottero
  • Copy of Chef Bottero's book, Simple and Enticing Recipes
  • Brushed Stainless Food Processor
  • Grind & Brew Thermal Coffeemaker
  • Metal Classic Toaster
  • Set of MultiClad Pro Cookware
Davids Bridal Giveaway is giving you a chance to win the gown of your dreams or 5 bridesmaid dresses. Enter today to win a gift certicate for 500 Dollars to put towards your wedding-day wear.  Enter now, because contest ends June 30, 2011.
Win $2,000 in prizes for your Husband-To-Be! WeddingWire.com is sponsoring a "Well-Groomed Package" including these great prizes: Travel Size  Poker Set from Groomstars,  Elegant High-polished Tungsten Carbide  Wedding Band accented with a Sterling Silver woven/braided inlay from  DesignBands.com, $400 Gift Certificate to Tours4fun.com, $500 Gift Card to Cubavera, $500 Gift Card to Groomstars,  Flower Boutonnière Poppers from Emersonmade for the groom and groomsmen. Click here to enter, and see contest details (contest ends May 6th.)Last but definitely not last, OneWed.com has an Ultimate Proposal contest for a chance to win a 7-night Caribbean cruise for two on the prestigious Norwegian Cruise Line valued at $1,750, and a platinum-and-diamond wedding ring set from MaeVona  valued at $7,000.  Share your proposal story, and America will vote for the best story! Click here to enter and read contest instructions.
Check back for more freebies, deals & contests!

Hire a Professional Beverage Service/Bartender

Even if you are having a "dry" wedding, your guests will still be thirsty.  Hiring a professional bartender or beverage service helps to make sure that you and your guests can enjoy the evening without having to pour your own drinks! Catering companies often supply water, tea, or lemonade but when it comes to champagne or cocktail drinks you are on your own.  With a professional bartender you can rest assured that your guests will be taken care of. Make a statement, and treat your guests with signature cocktail drinks made special for your wedding. You will need to check with your wedding venue to ensure they allow outside alcohol for your event.  You can create signature drinks that match your theme, or plan around the season of your wedding.  White Russians for winter weddings and blended margarita's or mojitos for the warmer months.

For our DIY brides out there, look for sales and deals on alcohol and drink mixes and stock up on supplies such as straws, cocktail napkins, stiring sticks etc. Stirrings.com offers printable labels for your stirring sticks, which you can personalize with your monogram, intials or wedding date etc. Another way to keep your budget in check, is to only serve alcohol during the cocktail hour (which may also help keep your guests from getting over indulged.) Have a friend or relative that knows a thing or two about making drinks? Don't be afraid to ask them to help out if you aren't planning on hiring a bartender.

For local professional bartenders and beverage services check out our directory. Below are some cocktail drink recipe ideas, and keep in mind there are endless options out there. Use the recipes for bridal showers, bachelorette parties as well.  If you have a smart phone you can also download free cocktail recipe apps!

White Russian   1 1/4 Vodka 1 1/4 Cofee Licquer 1 1/4 Heavy Cream Directions: Stir together in a pitcher, then pour into ice filled glasses.

Cosmopolitan (serves one) 1 oz vodka 1/2 oz Triple Sec 1/2 oz Rose's sweetened lime juice 1/2 oz Cranberry juice Lime Wedge Directions: Shake liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice, Place lime wedge on the rim of  Martini glass. Pour mix into the glass & Enjoy

Lemon Drop (Shots) 1 Shot Absolut Citron 1 Slice Lemon 1 tsp Sugar Directions: Place sugar on lemon, take the shot and then bite down on the lemon!

Mojito                                                                                         2-3 oz of Light rum Juice of 1 lime (1 oz) 2 tsp Sugar 2-4 Mint Sprigs Soda water Directions: Mix the mint and sugar with a splash of soda water in a mixing lass, until sugar is dissolved.  Squeeze the lime into the glass, add the rum and shake with ice. Top off with soda water, garnish with ming sprig and serve.

Style Trend: Peacock Feathers

This year we have seen Peacock Feathers really start to pop up not only in apparel and jewelry but also in the wedding industry. From invitations, centerpieces, and hair accessories to wedding clutch purses & Bridal Bouquets. With all of the beautiful colors in a peacock feather, you have many options for color patterns and accents. Teals, purples, greens and blues you can really make this unique to fit your style. Below are some of the photos that we have seen the Peacock Feather theme work really well (and yes, you can take the peacock theme too far if you aren't careful!) Our advice is to keep a cohesive pattern throughout your decor so that everything flows.

Peacock Wedding Stationary

Peacock Wedding Cakes

< Peacock Hair Accessories

Peacock Bouquets & Decor

The moral of this story is to not be afraid to think outside of the box, use creativity, and really show both of your personalities through your decor.  If your Fiance's favorite color is blue, or green etc and wants to wear a blue vest/dress shirt this is a way to have a fun theme, while coordinating other wedding details like the bridemaid dresses and groomsmen's attire.

Real Northern California Weddings

Veronica & DanielChico, CA 10.10.10

With all of the planning leading up to my wedding day in October, I had begun to get overwhelmed with all of the details. Eventually, I let myself stop stressing and try to enjoy everything that was happening. I knew my vendors had everything under control so it was time for me to just be a Bride!

Initially I had wanted to hire a wedding coordinator, but I had confidence that I could handle organizing the details myself, and although there were a few rough patches I must say everything went rather smooth!  (Believe me when I say I was far from a DIY Bride)

My theme was black and white damask, with an accent of red. (Oh and of course some bling)  When I booked WeDo Designs, I knew that the owner, Rabina Khan really understood my vision and from samples of her work I knew she would be able to exceed my expectations.

The wedding venue was The Card Center in Chico, which offers an outdoor area for the ceremony as well as indoor reception area with a patio for the cocktail hour.   The Card Center staff provided me with a floor plan of the reception area, and we were able to work on the layout and plan out how the tables and chairs would be set up.  We also decided we would use floor to ceiling fabric, and up-lighting to really transform the room. See the before and after photos below.

When I met Lisa Hunter of Lisa’s Flor Décor, I was hooked on her artistic creations with flowers and centerpieces. I had so many different pictures of designs I liked, but she was able to choose designs and flowers that were cohesive with my wedding theme. She made sure that the centerpieces were an appropriate height for the room and really accomplished what I had asked of her. I loved that she was willing to mix things up and play with different heights and centerpiece ideas. When it came to the altar, Lisa brought my vision to life and I couldn’t have been happier with how it turned out.

I really loved our aisle, and Lisa's Flor Decor made a beautiful Monogrammed "E" covered in Roses.

Speaking of flowers, every bride dreams of walking down the aisle holding her beautiful bouquet! I loved the mix of flowers used in the my bouquet, and the Gerbera Daisy’s had a dark center which matched the bridesmaid dresses.

I wore a Casa Blanca wedding gown and the Bridesmaids wore Black Alfred Angelo gowns with Red Accents.

Daniel wore a black Tuxedo with a White Vest, and the Groomsmen wore Black Tuxedos with Red Accents from Mens Wearhouse.

What is a wedding celebration without appetizers and a delicious dinnner? Leslie with Shelly’s Creative Catering really brought her A game to the wedding and not only was the food amazing but she was also great at keeping the festivities on schedule. The cocktail hour consisted of an open bar, fruits, cheese and crackers, and veggies, followed by a tri-tip and chicken buffet dinner.

Christy, with Christy's Creations created a cake that tasted amazing and fit perfectly into our theme. It was a three-tierd white cake with fondant. The photo-booth was a blast, and the photos served as our wedding favors. Chico Photo and Video brought the booth to the reception, provided props and also a cd of the photos for us to be able to see all of the pictures. Having the props really added to the fun, and since there was no limit on how many pictures we could take I think the kids at the wedding probably went in the booth over 20 times! Tracy with Tracy Lynn Photography captured some great shots, and really made us feel comfortable in front of the camera. She knew I wasn't a picture person so she really had a challenge on her hands!

Cheers!

To the Bride to be, from her Bridesmaids...

Dear Bride to be, We your bridesmaids, have a few things to say.

We are your best friends (except for the 2nd cousin  that your Mom insisted on because you were a mercy bridesmaid in her wedding)

We adore you. We love you. We would do anything for you.EXCEPT wear that dress that you pointed out in the magazine last week.

We are so happy that you are getting married, and we love your Fiance (well all of us except you-know-who, but that's a different story all together), but if we have to hear the proposal story ONE MORE TIME we will gag you with that Tiffany's box you carry around in your purse to prove where that rock you wave around came from.

Helping you plan your wedding is our duty and responsibility and we will all pitch in and do all we can. BUT if you call at 3 am AGAIN to tell us about the epiphany you just had about floral arrangements, we will be forced to confiscate and destroy your iPhone with its "Bride to be" glitter cover.

When the big day comes, we will all stand by your side, hold up your dress when you pee, fetch you champagne in between picture sessions, apply your bandaids to the blisters that your gorgeous but one size too small shoes cause on your heels. We will dance with your new husbands weird cousins and put up with your drunk aunt and her stories about how she always knew you would marry so well.... but so help us if your creepy uncle tries to cop a feel, there will be a dance floor smack down.

Remember that being your bridesmaids is our honor BUT not our reason to live...and we will all get through this in one piece.

Love Always,

Your Bridesmaids

On the road to 'I Do' Melissa and Gavin

Melissa is a very special to The 530 Bride team and so we are so very happy for her and so very excited to do this feature! When we asked Melissa to be one of our featured brides she sent me a beautiful reply with the details of their engagement and wedding. Instead of repeating her... I will just share what she had to say.

We are both very dedicated people, not only to one another, but to our aspirations and dreams. I just graduated with my Teaching Credential in December 2010 and Gavin graduated with his Bachelors of Science soon following in March 2011. We are now in a new branch of our lives, anxiously looking forward into the future that's fast approaching.

Everyone describes us as the couple that are meant for one other. We compliment each others differences and laugh at ourselves often.

Gavin proposed to me on 12/11/10. We went up to Grass Valley for his mom and step-dad's house warming party for their new home they purchased only a few months before. We were all wandering around talking to each other. Gavin's mom called everyone to gather around the living room to hear the minister bless their home. He read selections from the book, saying a blessing for different rooms in the house. After he was done and everyone applauded, it seemed everyone was going back to their conversations and that is when Gavin said, "Excuse me, can I have everyone's attention please? I have something I want to say, since we are all gathered around I'll say it now.." He got down on one knee next to me and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him.

Our wedding is going to be in Chico, California at The Palms. The ceremony will be outdoors in the garden surrounded by the Koi ponds and cabanas. The reception will be at the same location, only indoors in their Pavillion building. Our DJ is Dream Lighting and Sound, also the owner of The Palms. Our photographer is from Sacramento, Robinson Portraits. Also from Sacramento, our videographer Reel to Real Productions. We will be using the photo booth vendor that Veronica and Danny Enns used because we loved it so much! For the flowers and decor(centerpieces, linens, place settings, embellishments, etc) my mom and I will be doing it all mostly ourselves. We are having my step dad, Corey cook the food. Last, but not least, liquor is being provided by Finnegin's Jug.

The color theme is turquoise, pink, and chocolate brown. The bridesmaids will be wearing dresses unique and specially hand made by my mom. The groomsmen will be wearing tuxedos from Men's Warehouse that are black with turquoise vests to match the bridesmaid dresses.

The 530 Bridesmaid (and Bride of course) will be attending Melissa and Gavin's wedding so stay tuned for a post on their amazing day!

Melissa and Gavin's Wedding Invitation

Melissa's Bridal Shower was on June 11th, at the 5 Mile Recreation area in Chico.  The Bridal Shower invitations were thoughtful and creative, thanks to her Maid of Honor Kendy. Inside the invitation read:

"Lets fill their house from room to room with needed things like a mop or broom. Or pretty things like a lamp or vase. Lets make their home a pretty place!"

The park was beautiful, and the tables were decorated with Pink Table Covers & Hydrangea centerpieces.   a fun celebration, with lots of games and laughter.  Pictured below is the Bride-to-be Melissa adorned with her toilet paper fashion accessories, compliments of her bridal shower guests! Also pictured is her bridal shower favors, which were filled with chocolates and matched her wedding colors perfectly!

**Update! Congratulations to Melissa and Gavin as they are officially married!! We are so happy for the new Mr. & Mrs. Dorenzo! Click here to see their Real Wedding!

Planning your wedding on a Budget? Do it yourself!

Our lovely Featured Bride Melissa gave us some great tips for lowering your wedding costs by Doing some things yourself! DIY Tips: (ways to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars)

  • Buy invitation kits online or at a store like Michael's or Bed Bath and Beyond and print them yourself.
  • Use your photographers pictures from the engagement session to make your own Save the dates. Print them somewhere like Walgreens or Walmart
  • Buy your linens online for cheaper than renting them through a company
  • Find a venue location that is pretty all by itself and save on extra decorating expenses and time you would spend to make your own decor
  • Order your flowers from Raley's or Safeway and put them all together yourself one to two days before the wedding
  • Have a friend or relative cook your meal and save tons on catering costs
  • Make your own centerpieces. Go online and look up wedding centerpieces and find what you like. Then recreate it. Stores like Michaels, Joann's, Ross, TJ Maxx, and Home Goods sell glass vases and products needed to create wonderful centerpieces. (Use their coupons Michael's and Joann's are always having 40 to 50% off one regular priced item or 20% off entire purchase)
  • Meet with many vendors to compare prices to find the best fit for your money

Looking for a Hot Deal?

For those of you who haven't heard, Corwin's Bridal in Chico is offering a store-closing sale at the Cohasset location which was formerly Suzanne's Bridal.  Early last year Corwins Bridal quietly bought out Suzanne's Bridal, after they moved from their downtown location to Suzanne's location on Cohasset.

Corwins is now closing the Cohasset location and moving back to the Downtown Chico location on West Third Street.  Due to less space, they are down-sizing their inventory significantly.  So what does that mean for brides?  "Wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride gowns, flower girl dresses and other inventory purchased off of the rack will be discounted anywhere from 20-50%," according to one of the managers in the store.

For brides who are interested in buying a dress of the rack, that would mean the dress is "as-is" so the store would most likely not offer refunds or returns.  The upside to buying your dream gown off of the rack is that not only will you get a great deal, but you will not have to wait the 3-5 month period to get your dress from the manufacturer.

Choose from a wide selection of wedding gowns made by designers including Maggie Sottero, Allure, Mori Lee, Casa Blanca, Victoria's and many more.  They carry bridesmaid dresses by Forever Yours, Jessica McClintock, Alfred Sung, Dessi and Mori Lee. The manager we spoke with stated that the transition would not interfere with any of the current order times, and should not affect customers in any way.

So stop by Corwins Bridal and Tuxedo on Cohasset at 169 Cohasset Road in Chico, or call (530) 342-6521 for more details.

This One is for the Groom!

Okay guys, we haven't forgot about you and we know you have a pretty big part in all of this wedding stuff.  You have to get fitted for your tux, have an awesome Bachelor Party, and stand at the altar to say "I Do!"  On a more serious note, you guys are the ones who listen to the bride's constant ranting and raving, and have the stress of making sure it is the wedding of her dreams.  That is a lot of pressure!  So we feel you deserve to have the best Bachelor Party a man could ask for. What is better than Black Jack or a game of Craps with a group of your closest friends? Funny, we couldn't think of anything either!  Talk to your groomsmen to clarify what the parameters are for the party, if for instance you have your heart set on Vegas, then you will need to start with hotel arrangements and of course entertainment.

If Vegas or Reno aren't your style, you don't have to travel to have a good time.  Here are a few local casino's to consider:

Casino 99 - Chico Rolling Hills Casino - Corning Win River Casino - Redding Gold Country Casino - Oroville

In addition to local casinos, did you know there are companies in our local area that can bring the Casino to you?

The Casino Party People offer a unique party experience which mimics a a real casino environment without the risk of losing money, so you and your guests can relax and everyone can be a high-roller for the evening!

So make sure you mention to your best man or groomsmen that you would like to have a casino party, and let them know to check out The Casino Party People.

For any Brides reading this, you could always suprise your Hubby-To-Be with a Poker Night, which would be a great way for you to score points with him and his guy friends!

For more information on the Casino Party People, click here to be redirected to our Featured Vendors Page formal ties