Wedding Decor 101

Hey Loveliees!

I'd love to see you at this event taking place on Sunday June 27th, call your local Pottery Barn store to RSVP and for details!

Cheers!

A'Marie Weddings

A' Marie is Engaged!

Hey Lovilees!

I finally know what it feels like to be in your shoes! The love of my life, James Nobles proposed to me on Friday, May 28th totally unexpectedly (meaning that he actually suprised me!). Getting down on one knee, he asked me to marry him with this amazingly georgeous bling bling ring, and of course I said YES!!

Happy Planning Brides, to you and me :)

Love A' Marie

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Gotta Bee Loved

Hola Chicas!

I want to give a shout out to a very special person and an awesome invitation designer, and my friend, Joann Sosa of Bee Loved Paper Designs. As some of you may know the love of my life has his own clothing line and for his birthday, I asked Joann to create a card that captured his style and personality and she nailed it! It was so awesome and he was totally shocked. Sorry my bb pictures don’t do it justice, but please believe this card was haute!

If you are looking for unparalleled custom invitations for your bridal shower, bridal luncheon, baby shower, birthday cards / invites etc., you have got to Bee Loved!

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Passion for the Palate

Hello lovliees!

I am so excites to introduce 2 ladies, who really need no introduction at all! Kimberly Van Kline & Jamie Poole have just launched their new website for their fabulous catering company, Passion for the Palate. Way before they teamed up together in 2008 to start the company, these ladies were serving up tasty dishes and continue to do so for some serious VIP’s (who shall remain nameless lol).

I LOVE these ladies, they catered my 27 dresses themed birthday party below (which I need to blog about lol) and my guest are still talking about the food! See for yourself (that’s me on the left lol).


Shout out to Sobit Art Photography, who took these wonderful pix’s (awesome!!)

Any who, I want yall to sign up for their Private Passion for the Palate Cooking Lessons! The next one is Sat. June 5th (Details below)

10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Collard Greens w/ Smoked Turkey, Baked Macaroni & Cheese Please arrive to class 15 min prior for our meet & greet, All lessons are hands on instruction. Recipe handout and a complimentary Passion for the Palate Apron will be given to all students as a gift. Class will be approximately 3 hours.

This is a great way to learn a lil extra sumthin sumthin from the ladies who do it oh so well! And trust, your fiancee’s and hubbies will love it. Also, don’t forget Father’s Day :) ! Click on the Passion for the Palate image above and hurry; Spaces are filling up fast!!

Love you Ladies! Ciao!

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Container Store to the Rescue!

So!

I'm preparing for my May 15th wedding, and while I was checking off my to do list, I realized I still needed candy scoopers for the couples candy bar... Originally, I was supposed to pick them up from Michael's Arts & Craft's Store, but of course when I got there ... nobody knew what I was talking about :/

Naturally, I turn to Google and begin furiously typing and searching for a local retailer ... I did find that Oriental Trading had them the cheapest online but at this point I refused to pay $20.00 in shipping fees for something that was $3.99 :/ For crying out loud, I'm in NEW YORK CITY, somebody has to friggin sell these things! LOL

So after calling Dylan's Candy Bar, the M&M Store, NY Baking Distributors and about 6 other NYC baking/candy shops, all they had to offer me was ice cream scoopers ... I was about to have an I Scream moment lol. Finally, when I called the Hershey Store in Times Square, the gentlemen was nice enough to inform me that it was something that he thought I could get at the Container Store! That young man is a Genius!

So looked online and lo, & behold ... there they were!

Shop Happy Brides :) See what us planners go through for you LOL

Love, A' Marie Weddings

BEAU-tiful Sale!

Hey Lovliees!

Dust off the picnic blanket and dig up your favorite sandals! Today is the last day to enjoy free ground shipping when you spend $99 or more (use code PICNIC). Get free ground shipping plus $15 OFF when you spend $150 or more (use code PICNIC15) or get free ground shipping plus $30 OFF when you spend $250 or more (use code PICNIC30). Sale ends tonight, 5/5 at midnight, EST.

Enjoy! Love A'Marie Weddings

Its Groovy Baby!

Hello Loveliees!

I’m preparing for one of my spring weddings and I came across this awesome site called Groovy Candy! Groovy Candy sells probably every manufactured candy known to man! Their team has a combined 68 years of candy experience and their knowledge of the industry is unmatched. From retail sales to wholesale to packaging our team has the answers to your candy questions!

I just placed an order for one of my couples and I promise that they have the best pricing and shipping prices anywhere!! For example, I ordered 13 different candies (almost 5lbs of each) and the shipping only came u to $13 bucks! Wouldn’t you rather pay $13 to have all your favorite candy treats shipped to you than run around the city like a crazy person!

Their modern retail, warehouse, and distribution facilities encompass 13,000 square feet of space stacked 12' in the air. All of the locations are temperature controlled to insure fresh products. Their pallet racks are loaded with over 2,500 items and our normal inventory levels are in excess of 225,000 pounds of product. Now that’s what I call fresh direct!


If you are thinking about having a candy bar for wedding look no further, this is the where the party is @!

Visit Below:

Love ya! A’ Marie Weddings

Polish Your Wedding with Style!

Hello lovliees!!!

Just in time for your wedding, Essie has just launched its new additions to their signature collection of wedding colors. The collection includes 6 perfect shades for an awesome french manicure! With fun color names like "Tie the Knot" and "Blushing Bride", they are sure to be a hit at any wedding or bridal luncheon! My fav is "No Pre-Nup" ... Luv it!

Plus Tard mes nouvelles mariees. Aimez-vous!

(Pardon my French, must be all the talk about French Manicures lol!)

Love, A' Marie

I've been gone for a minute but now I'm back!!

Hi lovliees,

I've missed you guys! Yes I have been MIA from the blog scene, but now I'm back!!
I figured I'd kick today off with the 2009 Best Wedding Knot Winners (boy, lol that could be a tounge twister!)

Check them out!

Cheers!

Love, A' Marie!

The word Videographer doesnt even come close!

Hi Loveliees!

This Monday, I attended the Wedding Salon's Bridal Event at the Rosevelt Hotel with my dear friend LaVerne Berry of Berry Unique Dezigns.... (Fabulous by the way! Must check her out!)

There must have been 4,000 Brides there and some of the most beautiful table-scapes I've ever seen. There was Bridal Reflections fashion show featuring the exciting launch of Faviana by David Tutera, Cakes by Sylvia Weinstock, Bridal Makeovers from Bobbi Brown & style tips from YSL Beauté, Cake Tastings & Signature Cocktails, Honeymoon Destinations Vendors, Florists DJ Photographers and of course Videographers.... however ... There was one videography company that stood far above all the rest!

The tagline of SwitzerFilm is that every frame paints a masterpiece ... and that it does! I was so excited when I saw this companies work, they truly take wedding videography to the next level.

Now ... Before you go falling all in love with them like I did, jsut know that photo/video packages can begin at around $7,500! Yes, Yes, I know, I know ... I was thinking the same thing, and thenk I was like I can I squeeze that in the budget! LOL

Happy Planning Brides! Luv ya, A' Marie!

Not your average MOB story!

MAGNOLIAS..........By Edna Ellison

I spent the week before my daughter's June wedding running last-minute trips to the caterer, florist, tuxedo shop, and the church about forty miles away. As happy as I was that Patsy was marrying a good Christian young man, I felt laden with responsibilities as I watched my budget dwindle....
So many details, so many bills, and so little time. My son Jack was away at college, but he said he would be there to walk his younger sister down the aisle, taking the place of his dad who had died a few years before. He teased Patsy, saying he'd wanted to give her away since she was about three years old!
To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green leaves would make beautiful arrangements against the rich dark wood inside the church.
After the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, we banked the podium area and choir loft with magnolias. As we left just before midnight, I felt tired but satisfied this would be the best wedding any bride had ever had! The music, the ceremony, the reception - and especially the flowers - would be remembered for years.
The big day arrived - the busiest day of my life - and while her bridesmaids helped Patsy to dress, her fiancé Tim walked with me to the sanctuary to do a final check. When we opened the door and felt a rush of hot air, I almost fainted; and then I saw them - all the beautiful white flowers were black. Funeral black. An electrical storm during the night had knocked out the air conditioning system, and on that hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died.
I panicked, knowing I didn't have time to drive back to our hometown, gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding.
Tim turned to me. 'Edna, can you get more flowers? I'll throw away these dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements.'
I mumbled, 'Sure,' as he be-bopped down the hall to put on his cuff links.
Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in the arched ceiling. 'Lord,' I prayed, 'please help me. I don't know anyone in this town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers - in a hurry!' I scurried out praying for four things: the blessing of white magnolias, courage to find them in an unfamiliar yard, safety from any dog that may bite my leg, and a nice person who would not get out a shotgun when I asked to cut his tree to shreds.
As I left the church, I saw magnolia trees in the distance. I approached a house....No dog in sight... I knocked on the door and an older man answered... So far so good . .No shotgun. When I stated my plea the man beamed, 'I'd be happy to!'
He climbed a stepladder and cut large boughs and handed them down to me.
Minutes later, as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk, I said, 'Sir, you've made the mother of a bride happy today.'
'No, Ma'am,' he said. 'You don't understand what's happening here.'
'What?' I asked.
'You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday. On Tuesday I received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday . . ....He paused. I saw tears welling up in his eyes. 'On Wednesday I buried her.' He looked away. 'On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went back home, and on Friday - yesterday - my children left.'
I nodded....
'This morning,' he continued, 'I was sitting in my den crying out loud. I miss her so much. For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse, she needed me. But now nobody needs me. This morning I cried, 'Who needs an eighty-six-year-old wore-out man? Nobody!' I began to cry louder. 'Nobody needs me!' About that time, you knocked, and said, 'Sir, I need you.'
I stood with my mouth open.
He asked, 'Are you an angel? The way the light shone around your head into my dark living room....'
I assured him I was no angel.
He smiled. 'Do you know what I was thinking when I handed you those magnolias?'
'No.'
'I decided I'm needed. My flowers are needed. Why, I might have a flower ministry! I could give them to everyone! Some caskets at the funeral home have no flowers. People need flowers at times like that and I have lots of them. They're all over the backyard! I can give them to hospitals, churches - all sorts of places. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to serve the Lord until the day He calls me home!'
I drove back to the church, filled with wonder. On Patsy's wedding day, if anyone had asked me to encourage someone who was hurting, I would have said, 'Forget it! It's my only daughter's wedding, for goodness' sake! There is no way I can minister to anyone today.'
But God found a way. Through dead flowers.
'Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.' If you have missed knowing me, you have missed nothing. If you have missed some of my emails, you may have missed a laugh... But, if you have missed knowing my LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, you have missed everything in the world.

May God's blessings be upon you.

Shout Out to FunCake Rentals ... Have your cake and eat it too!!!

FunCake Rentals is known for their patent pending process of shippable faux cakes and has been featured in many of the world's leading media outlets and utilized by well known organizations.

As cake rentals become increasingly popular, A' Marie Wedding thought it was only fair to shout out the masterminds of the entire operation.

Just how talented is this company?! The website speaks for itself ... but check out an original Ron Ben Isreal below and a replica done by FunCake Rentals.

How much will it cost ya? You'll save tons by going this route. The price of the cake depends on you and how big (or tall) that you want it. If you order a cake from my gallery (3 tier) the cost of rental is $175.00 plus shipping.You can also custom order your cake with your own design. The basic three tiered cake rental is $275.00 plus shipping

What about your cake cutting photos? Ahh haaa! There is a secret compartment where you can store just enough for one slice of cake. You just place the edible portion in during the wedding day and have your fun! You can have your cake and eat it too and still have the pictures to proove it ;-)

How will my guest get a taste if the cake is fake? Simple! Just order a sheet cake and have the kitcken staff slice it as your fake one is rolled into the back ... your guest will be none the wiser!

Great Job FunCake Rentals. Happy Planning Brides!

Love, A' Marie

Cakes!!! Save on Cost ... Not on Class!

Hi Loveliees!

In love with the look of sugar flowers but the cost of them just makes your heart and wallet ache?! Consider purchasing your own sugar flowers! Labor cost alone could be 3x the cost at your baker!

Ready-made roses, orchids, gladiolus, fruit blossoms, poinsettias, and countless other floral designs can be easily purchased in a variety of colors! Each product features either a hole at the base or a stem, enabling them to be connected to the cake with floral wires and straws, toothpicks, etc. to create a cascading effect down the sides and/or to give different elevation - effecting depth and dimension to your design! Also, this is a great solution if you are not in favor of the look of real flowers or worried about harmful pesticides on your cake! Best of all, they have a shelf life of many years so you will have a memento of your special occasion for years to come!

Check out Global Sugar Art for easy online ordering and great prices!

Happy Planning! Love A' Marie

2 Free Tickets to The Great Bridal Expo!

Hello Lovelies!

The Knot is offering 2 Free Tickets to America's #1 Bridal Event being held on
Monday, October 5th @ 5:30 p.m.
New York Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

If you are getting married you must be in attendance! Find everything for your wedding, honeymoon and new home in one convenient place!

1. Meet the best local and national exhibitors offering you everything you need to make your wedding dreams come true!
2. Taste everything from cakes to catering and find the perfect food for your reception.
3. Save money and time when you meet and choose from a wide variety of local and national vendors.
4. See the hottest wedding fashions in two New York-style fashion shows.
5. Win dozens of prizes including a honeymoon, airline tickets, jewelry and more!
   
   Click on the knot logo below and enter promo code KNOT at the check out!
   
   Ciao Brides and happy planning! Love A’ Marie

Beauty in Motion

A' Marie Weddings would like to shout out Longevity Wedding Consultants who recently participated in the the A'Marie Wedding's Tricks of The Bridal Trade Work Shop and Expo.

Join them for an evening of beauty and fun at The River Room of Harlem, where a select group of women will experience an event unlike anything they have ever experienced. Receive a full makeup session with makeup artist from Gorgeous on the Go (Also a Tricks of The Bridal Trade Work Shop and Expo participant). Aferwards, enjoy professional photographs taken by the photographers of Jasmine Photography.


Complimentary beverages will be provided along with some delectable hors d'oeuvres.

Discounted tickets are now available at $52.50 if you desire the makeup makeover only. At this price point you will not have a photography session.


The $75.00 tickets grants you the makeup makeover as well as the photography session. Buy your ticket today.

Limited space is available!

For further details please contact:
Ebony S. Small, Senior Event Planner/Professional Bridal Consultant
Longevity Wedding Consultants, Inc.
Toll Free: 888-652-5104
E-mail: events@longevityweddings.com
Website: http://www.longevityweddings.com/

Happy Planning Brides!

Love, A' Marie Weddings

You Don't Have to Pay ...(much)... To Dance the Night Away!

Shout out to Lauren at TEN 23 Design Studio. She recently gave away a Dance Floor Monogram Decal!

For those that don't want to pay for special lighting to have your monogram on the dance floor, here's a budget friendly option that looks amazing. From Lauren: "The monogram / design will pull right up after the event for easy clean up due to the low-adhesive used on the material. These large monograms are also great for use on walls, windows, & mirror design as they are also perfect for rented venues due to quick & easy removal. Dance floor monogram decals are an affordable option to gobo lighting & other pricey monogram display options."

Feel free to order your custom decal online right away as they come in a variety of colors and with price tags starting at around $20.00 - you can have a custom look for less! Go Lauren and the TEN 23 Design Studio!

Happy Planning .... Love A' Marie Weddings

Coco Myles' got Miles of $tyle!

Sweetheart, Strapless, Crisscross, Scoop … Straight, Ball gown, Asymmetrical, Swoop! Endless possibilities are at the click of your mouse for yourself or your bridesmaids. Check out this fantastic site! Coco Myles puts the custom in customize! And not to mention all of the dresses are under $150! With your bridesmaids getting the chance to add some input … They may actually want to wear this dress again!

Happy Planning Brides!

Love A’ Marie

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SPA Make you say Ahhhhhh Week!

Thats right Lovliees! Its Spa make you say ahhhhhh week!! You already know New York living is hard. Most of us could use a little pampering and rejuvenation. During Spa Week, you can get pampered for less at New York City's hottest spas and face the fall with an unmistakable glow. You can also pick up a Spa Week gift certificate and treat that special someone in your life to a bit of beauty indulgence.

From April 13-19, 2009, more than 80 Manhattan spas (as well as spas in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, and Westchester) are offering spa treatments for just $50 each.

Getting married this week?! This is a great chance for you and your bridal party to save big and pamper yourself just as much ; )

If your interested in saving more money for your wedding ... Dont miss our Tricks of the Bridal Trade Expo which is coming up June 6th at the Apollo Theater!!

Happy Planning Brides, Love A' Marie!

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A' Marie .... SALE!

Hello Brides!

Did you catch our advertisement in today's amNY, The Special Bridal Edition?

A' Marie Weddings is giving a 15% Discount on Any Wedding Package
to the first 5 brides that forward their VIP
"Tricks of the Bridal Trade" ticket Confirmations to info@amarieweddings.com!!!

Purchase Tickets Now!!!

Happy Planning from A' Marie

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Where to don't dare DYI!!!

Let's thank The Knot for these classic DYI Don't Clues!

Your Cake: Whether it’s a missed teaspoon of sugar or a tilted tier, a wedding cake disaster is hard to fix. Yes, it would be much less expensive to buy a few boxes of cake mix and do it yourself, but the quality in the end could be lacking. Decorating and transporting a wedding cake is quite difficult and best left to someone with the knowledge of how to handle your confection without damaging it.
Your Photos: Your photographs are one of the few tangible things you’ll have to remember your wedding. All of your loved ones may promise to capture every moment, but what happens if they get distracted or have a camera malfunction? If it’s important for you to have high-quality images and hundreds of great shots, hire a pro. You’ll be glad you did when you see your picture-perfect album.
Coordinating it Yourself: That's what A' Marie Weddings is here for! You’ve organized every minute detail so far, so why shouldn’t you be in charge on the wedding day? Because you won’t be able to relax. Hiring a coordinator for the day can be a lifesaver. While you’re getting pampered, they’ll be setting up and averting any crisis that may occur. When everything isn’t going perfectly, you’ll be none the wiser. Trust us -- peace of mind is worth the extra expense.
Your Centerpieces: A beautiful centerpiece sets the mood of the reception. From sophisticated to fun, you can create a setup that will wow your guests -- with a florist’s help, of course! Flowers can cost upward of $3,000, depending on your taste and the season. Although it’s a larger part of the budget, it’s worth every penny. Your florist will ensure that you get exquisite displays filled with the freshest blooms.
Your Catering: Catering a large-scale party is a huge undertaking, even for a culinary whiz. You’ll be hard-pressed to get enough food together for a hundred people and keep it hot -- even if you make the best dish in town. And, once you get it made, you’ll need a reliable staff to serve it. Caterers are trained to make it happen; they have the support staff to serve you and your guests in a timely manner.
Your Music: It’s tempting to rock out to your favorite tunes, and you might think it’s easy to do so with an iPod. Not quite. You’ll be limited to the music that you love as a couple, not necessarily what everyone else will like, and you’ll be stuck with the premade playlist. Music pros are trained to read the dance floor. They can speed it up or slow it down so that your guests are footloose into the wee hours.

Happy Planning ... :)

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