There were a plethora of could be wedding gowns on the carpet last night! here are three very different options, which one would you wear down the aisle?
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Wedding Movies, Take 1? Take 2? Take as many as you can before Valentine’s Day
December 8, 2012 By 1 Comment
It’s the season when Hollywood breaks out the movies to bring on that itch to get married. Coincidence that most engagements take place between Christmas and Valentine’s Day, and that there’s usually a matching break-out bunch of rom-coms featuring diamond sparklers and lacy veils around the same time? Maybe, but I don’t think so. Here are a few of the Wedding themed films/TV entertainment coming out this December:
The Big Wedding – this one looks like it might be a Big Hit!
- Cheerful Weather For The Wedding – a “will she or won’t she?” set in 1930s England
- The “Royal Pains” Wedding Episode – a 2 hour extended episode of your fave handsome MD in The Hamptons’ adventures
- The Big Wedding – a star studded (we’re talking Robert DeNiro, Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon and a slate of young guns too) remake of a French wedding comedy about a not-so-happy couple keeping up appearances at their son’s wedding.
There are certainly more. Keep your eyes peeled for dresses, bouquets and other ideas that spin your wheels. Hollywood wedding inspiration, take 1!
Be well, and love well.
Dinah
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The 4th of July Non-Weekend. Bad for Brides? Good for Guests? You decide.
July 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Ah the calendar. Tomorrow, the 4th of July falls on a WEDNESDAY for the first time in many years. For those with office jobs whose vacation days are comparable to certain rare truffles in the food world, this is a big deal. There are calculations by which you can take only a few days off, and yet stretch your vacation and/or wedding weekend to five days, all with the aid of a well placed Monday or Friday out of the office. Thanksgiving is the ultimate centerpiece to the art of stretching PTO: you can take a full seven days and only “spend” three.
OAK HARBOR, Wash. (July 4, 2011) Members of the color guard assigned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island march down Bayshore Drive during the Fourth of July Parade.(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
But this year (darned Gregorians) Fourth of July isn’t participating. And some are breathing a sigh of relief. Hint: it’s not the brides. People who might have attended weddings this holiday, are attending barbeques. And parades. And celebrating Independence Day well, independently. There are many people who don’t want to have their summer plans set for them by receiving a “save the date” in February and being expected to clear their calendars.
As a bride, it’s hard to see outside the bubble where your wedding is the Most Important Thing In The World, but sometimes people have fun things scheduled at the same time or want to have that option. And that’s OK. (Well your sister really ought to keep her schedule open, but let the rest of your list plan their own vacations, and lead their own lives. It’s not anybody’s fault, and there shouldn’t be any lasting drama or upset about who had something else going on that day ).
All thoughts running through my head on a summer’s day… enjoy your barbeques tomorrow. And the weddings that are happening this weekend! Remember, you can always have sparklers no matter what time of year it is* And no matter who comes, or what the season, your wedding will light up with joy and memories for everyone.
Live well, and love well.
Dinah
* please check the fire regulations in your area and at your venue!
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Why I love “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding.” Hey TLC, We Want To Plan One! Call Us!
June 25, 2012 By 1 Comment
By now most people have heard about the raucous, Swarovski crystal-covered Gypsy wedding extravaganzas shown on TLC not just on their appointed night, but pretty much any time you turn on the TV. Some people can’t take it, they have to turn it off. Others are fascinated, like they are watching a bad traffic accident and they can’t look away. As for us, well, we want an invitation. 
Weddings are full of joy in any community. Who’s to say they should be prim and proper? We lecture over and over again that brides should have the wedding they want, not what they see in the magazines or what’s “fashionable” just for the sake of it. Those magazines also say “be yourself!” and “It’s your day – make it what you want!” These families are realizing their vision, and it’s no one’s place to judge what they think is meaningful or beautiful. We love these weddings (and the dresses, and the cakes, and all of what the conventional thinkers would call “over the top” details) for the energy and the feeling behind it. Here’s a community that’s marching to the beat of its own drum. And what a parade!
So TLC, we know you’re casting brides. How ’bout letting some vendors in on the action? We’ll hang a banner- My Little Gypsy Flower Shop. Have Swarovski, will travel.
Live well, and love well.
-Dinah
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Healthy Eating Advice For Wedding Guests: Weight Watchers Weighs In
June 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
So did you think Weight Watchers only had an article with ideas for the bride? Oh no. They’ve got guests’ backs too. Here’s the skinny on staying skinny AND enjoying yourself at all those summer weddings. And remember – the Chicken Dance burns LOTS of calories, especially when danced with your Uncle Lou.
reposted from Weight Watchers.com
Article By: Vicki Salemi
It’s that time of year again. Brides and grooms are in full bloom — and so are the buffets, Viennese tables and wedding cake pieces with a PointsPlus® value of 10. But weddings are also ripe with opportunities for socializing, dancing the night away, and having a fabulous time.
When it comes to the cocktail hour, Weight Watchers member Lauri Carbone, North Wales, PA, has it down to a science. She should know — as a wedding photographer, she is surrounded by reception food temptations every weekend.
“I always keep a healthy snack in my camera bag like carrots so I can munch during down time and try to fill up as much as possible before the crab cakes and mashed potatoes come out,” she says. “I also try to keep my hands busy with my camera around the food, so instead of grabbing for some cheese, I take a photo of it. And then I look at it later, longingly, but proud that I didn’t succumb to the deliciousness that is cheese.”
Another strategy, according to Weight Watchers member Janice Litvin of Walnut Creek, CA, is not so much what she does at the wedding, but rather what she does beforehand.
“I don’t go to an event hungry,” she says. “I always eat a snack like a big piece of fruit before I go and make sure to save PointsPlus values from that day by eating a lighter lunch so I can consume extra PointsPlus values at the wedding.”
Size up the skewers
For Lifetime Member Ellen Pulda from Needham, MA, her survival toolkit is all about scoping out the situation. “Don’t go for the first stuffed mushroom you see,” she advises. “Watch the hors d’ouevres parade pass by, then make your decision. Stick to the sushi, skewered chicken and avoid the wrapped (i.e., egg rolls, pigs in a blanket) items.”
When it’s time for the sit-down meal, Pulda relies on her husband to help her through the meal. She suggests, “Sit next to a dinner companion who’s happy to take half your meal. My husband typically gets my starches and half my entrée. Pass up the bread basket. At functions — unless it’s a fancy French restaurant — it’s usually not worth it.”
Dinner, drinks and dancing, oh my!
“Seltzer is your friend,” says Rita Smircich (Westport, CT), Lifetime Member, wedding planner, and author of To Do Before “I Do” (Lulu, 2007). “Although this might sound drab, it’s amazing what you can do with seltzer! Even if a bit of liquor was added, it won’t make for many calories. A variety of juices, such as cranberry or pineapple, can be added for a refreshing drink.”
Judith Lederman from Scarsdale, NY, editor of Westchester Weddings Magazine and author of Joining the Thin Club: Tips for Toning Your Mind AFTER You’ve Trimmed Your Body (Three Rivers Press, 2007), reminds us that weddings are not about the food. “Remember, you can get food anywhere, anytime, but the opportunity to mix and mingle and see people you haven’t seen in ages — that only comes about on rare occasions!”
She adds, “Dancing burns calories — stay on the dance floor and get aerobic. I danced at my son’s wedding last night and didn’t even stop to eat the wedding food. I had a protein shake tucked away in the bridal room and drank it between dances.”
DIY desserts
Some guests prefer the do-it-yourself treat. Ranae Whitmore lost weight over the past two years by making healthy food choices, implementing moderate exercise and changing her thought processes. The Des Moines, IA native explains, “Rather than being tempted by the lovely wedding cake, I bring my own 100-calorie pack of Hostess cupcakes or a frozen Weight Watchers dessert and ask the servers if they will kindly plate it for me on the same fancy plates the wedding cake is being served on. It makes me feel special to be ‘good to me’ and at the same time feel like everyone else being served on fine china!”
Linda Lockett Brown, RD, from Orange Park, FL, says it’s important to be kind to yourself if you indulge. “Don’t become riddled with guilt because you chose to eat a piece of cake,” she says.
Treat yourself well
As you’re enjoying the celebration, it’s important to remember it’s just one night, one meal and one piece of rich cake. Author Smircich adds, “When people are going to a wedding, they know that there is going to be good food and plenty of it. If they want to eat buttercream wedding cake, then they may need to save their PointsPlusvalues during the week. [Then] at the wedding, eat the salad without dressing, avoid the heavy cream sauce, [don't] eat the bread on the table and [don't] ask for a second piece of cake.”
Above all, Litvin notes, “If you want to eat something, eat it. If you say no to yourself for too long, you are more likely to [break down]. So try that piece of cake or piece of candy — just remember to write it down. As my Leader always says, ‘Just get right up the next morning, wipe off the crumbs, and begin your day anew.’”
About the Writer
Vicki Salemi is a freelance writer based in New York.
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Some advice for Brides from the Wise Folks at Weight Watchers (Seriously – Jennifer Hudson still looks phenomenal).
June 4, 2012 By 1 Comment
I’ve written before about how Weight Watchers is the greatest thing since sliced bread. So imagine how awesome it is when sliced bread writes an article about Brides surviving the to-be-wed parties without needing last minute dress alterations for the big day! Super awesome, right? Of course I have to share. Oh – and Jessica Simpson just signed on as a new spokesgal. Bye bye baby weight, hello gorgeous bride! She didn’t do it in the traditional order, bless her heart. Do we care? Nah. You go Jess.
Rules of Engagement
(reposted from WeightWatchers.com)
Want to enjoy all the you-centric parties leading up to your wedding while also sticking to your weight-loss goals? We’ll show you how.
Article By: Hillary Quinn
It’s a cruel irony: The months leading up to your wedding are filled with food- and beverage-centric celebrations, just as you are trying to get in your best bridal shape for the big day. The moment that rock hits your finger, the food fest begins… champagne toasts, engagement parties, bridal showers, food and cake tastings, brunches, bachelorette bashes, rehearsal dinners and even the honeymoon. These pre-wedding rituals that escort you right down the aisle don’t often marry well with weight-loss goals.
But this buffet of festivities doesn’t have to be your undoing. With the help of Weight Watchers fitness pro Jennifer Cohen, who is also the trainer on TV’s Shedding for the Wedding, we’ve come up with some stay-on-Plan strategies for every celebratory pit stop on your way to happily ever after.
The Engagement Party
- Go easy on the bubbly. When it’s time for the champagne toast, smile, clink, sip…and then place your flute on the table and reach for a glass of sparkling water.
- Make yourself a (small) plate. As the trays of appetizers float by, avoid mindlessly grabbing and gobbling every offer from the tray; instead, make a conscious choice to choose the nibbles that most appeal to you. Take it a step further: Assemble your chosen nibbles on a plate before you eat them, so you can really visualize how much you’re eating.
- Work the room. Focus on friends and family, and make sure you greet each and every guest. With all of your favorite people in one place, you won’t have time to over-indulge!
- Make some music. Whether you hire a DJ or just hook up your IPod to a portable sound system, dial up the fitness quotient of even a small-ish bash by playing music that gets everyone moving.
The Bridal Shower
- Open your gifts yourself. Ever go to a shower where the bridesmaids form a well-meaning assembly line to unwrap your gifts before they hit your lap? Skip it! The task of unwrapping keeps both hands busy with a (fun) non-edible activity. Plus it’s just more fun!
- Mingle during courses, not between. If your shower is in a restaurant, eat what you want, then leave your seat and visit friends at each and every table. And if you come back to a cleared plate, so much the better!
Food and Cake Tastings
- Make it a meal. Schedule a tasting at lunch or dinnertime so that you don’t end up eating twice.
- Think like a restaurant critic. Professional food tasters take a small bite of each dish, rather than finishing what’s in front of them. As you sample multiple appetizers, entrees, side dishes, and cake fillings, remember that just one bite will give you all the information you need to make your decision. If the sample is bad, you won’t want to keep eating it; if it’s good, you’ll know you’ve settled on the right choice and can move on.
- Stay hydrated. Ask the staff to bring a pitcher of water to the table, and drink plenty during your tasting—it will help fill you up, as well as cleanse your palate for the next course.
The Bachelorette Bash
- Get moving. Ask your bridesmaids to consider a high-energy party: one that involves taking over a pool or roller rink. Hitting the town or clubbing in Vegas? Do plenty of walking from venue to venue, and make sure you’re the last one to leave the dance floor.
- Show it off! Wear something sequined and snug. It’s your night to show off all your hard work… plus a figure-hugging outfit will remind you of your goals, even as a friend hands you another fruity margarita. (Psst: check out our Cocktail Cheat Sheet for smarter cocktail choices.)
Your Wedding Reception
- Get a morning glow. (No… not that kind!) Setting aside 30-60 minutes of exercise on the morning of your big day can do wonders for your mind and your body. Whether you take a brisk walk with friends, go for a quick solo run, or pop in your favorite yoga DVD, a workout will help ease the inevitable pre-wedding jitters, plus leave you feeling fit and energized.
- Plan ahead. With all the reception hoopla, you’ll probably be starving by the time you get to your hotel suite, so arrange in advance to have a healthy meal or snack delivered to your door. You’ll be less tempted to attack the fattening mini-bar or order midnight onion rings off the room-service menu.
The Honeymoon
- Build exercise into your itinerary. If you’re beach-bound, you’ll likely be languishing on a chaise for most of the day (and losing workout motivation after those irresistible frozen coco-rum drinks). Scheduling a 30-minute morning workout—preferably with your partner—can help balance things out. Some ideas: Visit the hotel gym; take a brisk walk or run on the beach; hit some tennis balls; or make a daily boogie-boarding date.
- Leave the rental car at the hotel. Heading to a big city? Make like a local and walk wherever you can. You’ll see the sights and burn calories in one fell swoop. (Plus, think of the photo opps!)
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New Wedding Show? Get Me Some Popcorn! Especially since my friend is in it!
May 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I wrote Friday about my brilliant hairstylist, Paul Norton. Well, he’s on a new bridal make-over show debuting in a few weeks on TLC! It stars Randy, the colorful manager of Kleinfeld’s from “Say Yes To The Dress, and of course, Paul. Check it out!
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The Real Bollywood McCoy! Nisha and Jiten: A Magical Journey
April 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
This is a to-die-for, drop dead gorgeous, over the top Indian wedding straight off the Bollywood Big Screen. Apparently the British royals have nothing on this glamorous pair! Set in Thailand, complete with genuine Bollywood guest stars this visual feast could rival any big budget blockbuster. Enjoy.
Nisha & Jiten – A Magical Journey – Hua Hin, Thailand from MILI GHOSH (http://in-motionstud on Vimeo.
“Top Chef” judge Gail Simmons shares her sweet (and savoury) engagement story
April 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Gail Simmons, food writer and judge of Bravo’s Top Chef, recently shared her proposal story in the publicity for her new book “Talking With My Mouth Full.” Thanks to Gail, and to Glamour Magazine for the excerpt. Enjoy!
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Tv personality/chef Tom Colicchio and tv personality Gail Simmons arrive at the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on September 18, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
My parents have been married for more than 45 years. So you can imagine how overjoyed they were when Jeremy eventually proposed.
One of Jeremy’s and my favorite neighborhood restaurants in August 2007 was, appropriately enough, called August and was located around the corner from our apartment.
The chef at the time was a young guy named Tony Liu. In the tiny universe that is the culinary world, he’d worked for Daniel Boulud just before I was there, and then for Mario Batali at Babbo.
We ate dinner at August on occasion, but it was their weekend brunch that we especially loved. Jeremy and I would sit in the glassed-in courtyard and linger over coffee on lazy Saturdays, eating whatever creation Tony and his wood-fired oven would dream up for us. There was always some sort of baked eggs with chorizo, or basil and fresh tomato sauce, fluffy German pancakes with black currants, delicate gravlax with soft scrambled eggs and dill. Tony would make golden hash browns the size of hockey pucks that would sit up in the window of the kitchen, and it was all I could do not to grab them as I was walking to our table. Tony’s menu highlighted regional specialties from all over Europe, from house-made Irish corned beef to Spanish calcots (wild spring onions often blackened on an open fire and served with romesco sauce).
My favorite was his Welsh rarebit: hearty dark rye toast slathered with a sauce made from cheddar, strong mustard, and ale, served with a fried egg on top and a side of cornichons. How could it not be? Mustard is my favorite condiment. Eggs are my favorite food. Cheese — obviously. Beer — adds bite. It’s in my personal Food Hall of Fame.
I’d been traveling through California for 10 days — from LA to San Francisco, and for several days to Sonoma for an event with the “Top Chef” Season 2 winner, Ilan Hall — and returned home on a Friday night exhausted. We had dinner … and drank a bottle or two of wine. I was so tired that I collapsed into bed without washing the makeup off my face.
I woke up the next morning and remember feeling so grateful that I had nothing to do for a whole weekend. In my half sleep, I rolled over to nuzzle under Jer’s arm and I hit something. I thought it was the phone or the TV remote, and I batted it away. Then I opened my eyes.
Jeremy was wide awake. His eyes were huge and alert. I looked down and saw that in the bed beside me was a small box. He started talking nervously. Words were falling out of his mouth. I barely even heard what he said. I opened the box and there was a ring. I was in such shock, I blurted, “No!” from surprise.
“No?” he said, startled.
“No! I mean, yes!” I said. “Yes! Yes!” I cried, still disoriented from sleep, and put the ring on my finger. It was so beautiful and feminine and perfect. I looked up at him, happy, and he started to laugh.
“What?”
“You might want to look at yourself.”
I went to the bathroom and saw black streaks of mascara running down my face; my hair was sticking up at all angles.
I cleaned myself up, went back to bed, and he said, “Don’t move. Just stay here.”
We lay in bed, beaming, for a little while and then the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” I insisted, putting on my bathrobe.
When I opened the door, there was a man standing outside with a huge box. I took it from him and it almost knocked me down, it was so heavy. Inside was a full breakfast delivery straight from Tony at August. Since they have a wood-burning stove, they cook everything in cast-iron skillets. They hadn’t transferred anything into to-go containers. Instead, they had just piled the skillets into this box and had it couriered over. There was my beloved Welsh rarebit, and so many other treats, enough food for at least three meals. We made it last the whole day, laid out like a picnic on our living room floor.
Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang again. Two deliverymen arrived bearing vases full of flowers; huge peonies, dahlias, roses, and hydrangeas. They lasted for days.
(blogger’s note- Just goes to show, all good stories end with lots and lots of flowers).
Excerpted from the book Talking With My Mouth Full by Gail Simmons. Copyright (c) 2012 GMS Media Inc. Published by Hyperion. Available wherever books are sold.
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Now That’s What I Call A Wedding Crasher
March 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
You’ll see stories from time to time about a couple who had an unexpected guest show up at their wedding – but not in such a bad way. If your uninvited plus one or two is a celebrity, somehow that turns a nightmare into a crazy, fun wedding memory. There’s a couple who had Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez come strolling down the beach into their tented reception, and then a lovely English couple who found the cast and crew of “The Iron Lady” attending their ceremony. (At least Meryl Streep is well raised – she brought a gift).
But by far, this weekend’s instance of a celeb turning up unexpected (though not uninvited) is one that will be tough to top. This couple invited Queen Elizabeth to their wedding as a bit of a lark, never expecting her to come. Indeed, they received a polite decline. But lo and behold, on wedding day, Her Majesty and Prince Philip dropped by to wish the couple well. Now that’s a crash to end all crashes! And such a cute hat, too.
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Just goes to show, you’ve got to think outside the stationery box. Want The Clintons at your wedding? Cher? Send the invitation. You never know who’s going to take you up on it. But that also goes for people who get the “obligatory invitations” that you might rather not see.
The take-away: don’t send an invitation to people you can’t stand OR that are beyond your social circle thinking “they’ll never come” because they just might surprise you. Good advice all around, if it’s applied to Barry Manilow, or Uncle Eugene. You’re rolling the dice, and you might end up with a floorshow, but you’re also risking a monologue about the war years in Moldavia.
Be well, and love well!
Dinah
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