Pantone's Color of the Year 2012 - Tangerine Tango in the Spring

Today's inspiration board features Pantone's color of the year Tangerine Tango for a Spring wedding.  Tangerine flowers with green and white accents will give your wedding a beautiful spring time feel.  

Photo Credits: 1), 3), 4), 5) & 6) The Knot; 2) Martha Stewart's Wedding

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Another Reason To Hire A Wedding Planner

I recently heard a wedding planning story that made me very sad and I had to share it so this doesn't happen to other brides.  A friend of friend got married this past September and something went wrong the day before her wedding.  Since her mother was practically her wedding planner, only they knew the intricate details of the wedding.  The day before the wedding, the chair sashes were stuck upstate because of flooding and couldn’t be delivered.  The only solution was for mother and daughter to drive an hour and half to go get them the day before her wedding.  Now I think you know where I’m going with this story.  HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER BRIDES!

Her mother enjoyed the wedding planning process and I completely understand not hiring a full service wedding planner in that case.  However, planning a wedding for over 200 people is a lot work.  The last 8 weeks are the busiest and a helping hand can be a life saver.  If she had a planner, they could have a) picked up the sashes for them, b) found another vendor with the same or similar sashes or c) found a way for them to be delivered. 

Wedding planning packages come in all shapes and sizes.  If you choose not to have a full service wedding planner, you should consider partial planning or what I like to call the final touch package.  A partial wedding planning package will give you guidance and support through out the planning process but it will allow you to be hands on.  A final detail package will give you support and guidance during those last weeks of planning.  Both options will give you a planner to manage your wedding day and save your sanity. 

Now of course I would love to help you plan your wedding so if you would like to see how I can help you with your wedding plans, please feel free to contact me for a free consultation.  If you choose another planner, I'm slightly hurt but what's important to me is your happiness so please look into hiring a planner!! 

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Guest Blogger - Alison Friedman of The Wedding Yentas

Today we have a special guest blogger Alison Friedman from The Wedding Yentas.  I came across The Wedding Yentas in my search for finding information on multicultural weddings.  Since the blog is all about Celebrating Your Culture whatever it maybe, I thought the best way to give my Jewish Brides some advice is to find the best of the best!!

The Wedding Yentas posts fresh, daily blogs covering everything from Real Jewish Weddings, explanations of traditions, DIY ideas, the latest wedding trends, and giveaways! You can also find a growing Vendor Directory filled with elite wedding professionals who can help make your day absolutely perfect! Alison Friedman owns and operates The Wedding Yentas and is a wannabe Carrie Bradshaw of all things wedding! Alison began planning her wedding at the age of 5 with the help of her Barbie and Ken dolls. 

Now, if you’re planning a Jewish wedding, you’re likely trying to fill your special day with family, tradition, and love. It’s no secret. These elements are the foundation of every Jewish wedding and it’s up to you to find ways to personalize the ceremony and reception. Modern, mainstream weddings can include many Jewish traditions and secular ideas to create one beautiful event.  The Wedding Yentas is here to whisper ideas in your head and you can go on and take the credit later! 

Before the wedding day, you will select and purchase a ketubah, the Jewish marriage contract. While its text has been on the ketubahs of married couples for generations and generations, the artwork surrounding the written promise can be a reflection of you as a unique couple. From modern borders with simple artwork to watercolor pieces with colors to match your home décor, there are so many options to help you express yourself as a couple.

Have time alone. In Hebrew, this alone time is called yichud, and back in the day, this would be when the just-married couple would, well, make the marriage official. If you know what I mean. Bow chicka bow bow. This does not mean you need to schlep your lingerie to your wedding venue and get it on. Instead, use this time alone to reflect on all that’s just happened like, you know, you just got married – !!!! – and have some privacy as you get to know your partner as your new husband or wife. Also, make sure there’s something to nosh on wherever you choose to enjoy your yichud and consider it your first meal together as a married couple. You will probably not have a chance to eat much later on anyway, so it’s good for the soul and the tummy.

At your reception, display a photo collection of important weddings in your family. This is a great way to tip your hat to the loved ones who hold a special place in your heart, especially if they are models of love and marriage for you and your partner. Plus, it’s neat to see vintage weddings of grandparents and the styles of  your parents’ 1970s weddings are just downright cool. This photo gallery doesn’t have to be a centerpiece at your reception, but can have its own special place to glow and attract visitors. Just think, one day your photo can join those cherished ones at the wedding of your children. Goosebumps, right?

Everyone knows that a Jewish wedding reception is festive and fun. The horah dance also involves the newlyweds being lifted up in chairs as the wedding guests surround them and cheer. It’s a fun moment for everyone, and you can ask your favorite strong men to do the honor of lifting you both as everyone celebrates your new marriage from down on the floor. If you’re looking for more ways to honor people outside of your bridal party, you may also consider asking a loved one to say the Ha-Motzi, the prayer over the challah. Also, you’ll need two witnesses to sign your ketubah. The signers can be anyone who’s Jewish and not a blood relative of the bride and groom. These are all jobs that don’t feel like work and are special ways to let certain people know you care about them.

Thanks Alison for some great tips on planning a modern day Jewish wedding.  For more ideas to make your wedding a reflection of you two, swing by The Wedding Yentas for fresh material, real Jewish weddings, photo spreads, posts by real brides, and fun giveaways! Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter because it’s always a good time dishing with a Yenta!

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

2012 Wedding Trends - Celebrity Weddings Influences the Masses

2011 was the year for big celebrity weddings that we all got to witness. Sherri Sheperd's sweet nuptials, Niecy Nash's dream wedding, Kim K's television extravaganza and of course The Royal Wedding.  I predict this will influence weddings for the 2012 and 2013 wedding seasons.  Brides will bring lots of opulence, luxury and over the top aspects to their weddings.  

Dresses & Dress Codes 

All of these brides have one thing in common; multiple dresses.  For their ceremony, they had beautiful, more traditional gowns and then they changed into a sexy and sassy dresse to enjoy their reception. Kim had 3 dress to be exact!!  Most brides wont go that far but many b will purchase a second dress for their reception. 
Tip: Give your second dress the same grand entrance as your ceremony dress.  Have your entrance announced, have a first or second dance with your husband and this will be the signal to your guests that the party has started!


Something that's sexy, fun and made for partying.  The bridesmaids dresses will be turned up a notch as well.  Kim's and Kate's all white bridal party was a hit.  Niecy's purple bridesmaids dresses were stunning and each bridesmaid had a different version.  Letting your bridesmaids' personal style shine will be a hit.  I also see having the guests participate with their wedding day attire will be a trend that catches some tractions.  Kim's black and white wedding was beautiful for the photo ops! 

Decor 

Celebrity's have a bigger wedding budget than most of us so we got to see flowers in abundance, spectacular lighting and special touches.  These over the top weddings will be a source of inspiration for many brides.  Large scale centerpieces never go out of style and they will be bigger with lots of sparkle.  More attentition to the ceremony decor will be paid.  We can also expect small details that go a long way.  
Tip: Don't let the celebrity price tag scare you away from having the over the top decor for your wedding.  Show your inspiration to your wedding planner, designer and/or florist. It is our job to take the look and make yours.  This includes making it happen at a budget that works for you. I get these request all the time and I always make it work! 

Large Weddings 

Kim had 400 guests and the world got to witness the royal wedding.  200 plus guests lists will be happening this year.  The rule will be the more the merrier!!! A wedding with a big party is always fun so why no celebrate with as many people as your check book allows you too!! 
Tip: Remember the more people you invite, the more you will spend on everything!! This is one more plate with the caterer, another favor, another program and it may mean additional centerpieces.  So feel free to invite as many as you want but keep your budget in the back of your mind.

Bouquets

I stand corrected, there are two things these brides have in common.  They all carried white bouquets.  Different flowers but the traditional white bouquet will be requested by many brides this coming season.
Tip: I love a white bouquet and this is just my opinion on this, the bigger the better!! Love white flowers in abundance!! 

Whatever influences you, just remember to make it your own!! It's nice to have inspiration but it even better when your wedding reflects who you are as a couple. 

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

James & Tonya - Caribbean Royalty Wedding

This summer I had the pleasure of planning a spectacular wedding for a really great couple.  James & Tonya are smart, funny and a little bit of everything you would want in friends.  Both are doctors and they were taking their boards while planning their wedding, talk about stressful but they were able to pull through it and have a wedding that no one will ever forget.

As you will see, it rained like crazy the day of their wedding which was really disappointing because the grounds at Oheka are so beautiful but even with the rain the grounds looked amazing. It started with a breathtaking venue, Oheka Castle and a wedding day concept that fit their personality perfectly, Caribbean Royalty.  Both the bride's and groom's family are from Jamaica and they wanted to celebrate that. There were also many personal touches that they incorporated to keep their wedding personal and grand at the same time.  The dance group that the bride is apart of did a spectacular performance to introduce the bride and groom.  It set the high energy for the evening and got the guests involved.  The performance was so good, the bride couldn't help but join in herself.  Another personal touch were the pink ribbons and wrist bands in honor of the groom's mother.  All the guests received one and they all wore them.  We also left an empty seat in front of the aisle of the ceremony where the groom placed a bouquet for her.  It was a great way to remember her without making it a sad occasion.  

All in all this wedding was a great time.  The guests danced the night away, the speeches were moving, the ceremony was so beautiful, I was brought to tears.  Just take a look and see for yourself!!  Thanks to Kiss the Bride Films for the wonderful highlight video!

Tonya & James from Kiss The Bride Films on Vimeo.

No wedding is complete without a great vendor team! Thank you to all the vendors who helped make this day so special. To see more details from the wedding day, check out the Wedded Luxe Portfolio on the Facebook fan page!

Flowers & Decor - Wedded Luxe
Venue - Oheke Castle
Lighting - C & C Special Event Productions
DJ - DJ Kaos The Main Event
Stationary - Ijorere The Invitation
Save the Dates - LePenn Designs
Photographer - Lilian Hader
Video - Kiss The Bride Films
Rentals - Ruth Fischl High End Rental

Celebrate Your Culture Through......Traditions

Almost everyone can relate to the traditions that are expected at weddings no matter what your background is.  Some couples love to keep the tradition going while others hate them and think they are cheesy or just outdated.  Did you see the movie Jumping The Broom? The happy couple had the same issue. They didn't want to jump the broom or do the electric slide at their wedding.  This left some family members disappointed because they look forward to these traditions.  I completely understand because I have one of my own.  My family's tradition for wedding is what we call black cake.  See my previous post on putting a twist on it.  I don't really care for it and I think putting a small piece a cake in a box isn't the best favor choice.  As much as I may dislike this tradition, there are people in my family and some friends that still love this keepsake. When faced with this dilemma, I suggest you add a modern twist to an old favorite.  This will help you keep the tradition alive and keep you happy at the same time.  So whether your traditions are jumping the broom, the money dance or any kind of dances, try to make it your own.  

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Pantone's Color of the Year 2012

Pantone's 2012 color of the year is Tangerine Tango!! I love tangerine so I'm pretty excited about this choice.  What I love most is, tangerine is a great color to coordinate with many colors.  It can be your main color or an accent color and it can work during any season of choice.  Today's inspiration boards pears Pantone's color of the year for 2010 which was Honeysuckle and 2009's color of the year, turquoise! Enjoy!!  

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Revisiting Wedding Planning Advice

Every January I start the blog off with practical wedding planning advice for the newly engaged.  To continue with this tradition, I wanted to share some past postings for the newly engaged couples of 2012!  I hope you find these post very helpful and if you have a question, feel free to shoot me an email and I'll be happy to answer!! 

Wedding Planning Myth Busting

The First Steps of Wedding Planning

5 Common Wedding Planning Mistakes

How To Keep Your Sanity

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

A Wedding is a Wedding is a Wedding!!

All photos courtesy of The Knot

Congratulations to all the newly engaged couples out there.  This is an exciting time and it’s a lot of fun.  Every season brings new couples, with new ideas and they all want AN UNFORGETTABLE WEDDING. Every time I meet with a new bride, I hear the same thing, “I want my wedding to be different”.  I use to smile and tell them their wedding will be different but for 2012, I’m taking a new approach. 

The truth is a wedding is a wedding is a wedding! If a planner promises you that your wedding will be like no other, please don’t take it literally.  Whatever you are thinking has been done before. Monograms, lighting, candy bars, skydiving, nude, underwater, in a zoo, you name it, it’s been done!! Even these couples that try to be anti wedding can’t help but fall into a category as well. But this doesn’t mean your wedding won’t be different.  What makes your wedding unique and special is that it’s your wedding.  

So how do you plan a wedding that is different, you start with figuring out what you want.  From colors, to food, to music to flowers, take the time to figure out your wedding day style.  Read blogs, buy magazines and get all the inspiration you need.  Whatever you do, just remember to stick to your vision and don’t get caught up in the latest trends unless it's an element that adds to your overall style.  Once you figured out your wedding day vision, stop looking! Too many elements will cloud your vision and before you know it you will have a rustic, elegant, chic, modern, masquerade with a touch of old Hollywood wedding! 


You maybe wondering "what kind of advice is this". Trust me, I'm saving a lot of time and saving your sanity.  It is easy to get caught up in the details, loose focus and stress yourself out trying to have a wedding that is different from the rest.  If you remember to stay true to yourself, this will eliminate the added stress that goes into planning your wedding.



Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713