Tonight event - sorry for the last second info....

Guys..and Girls…I know totally last minute but I couldn’t resist.

I just heard from folks at Trump…yes as in “the Donald’s place” that his location at 725 5th Avenue (Trump Tower) will be hosting am NCAA event tonight… YOU MUST GO!! You can watch the final game of the season

Why go??
Sliders - $1.00
Wings - .25Cents
Pizza - $5.00
Beer - $5.00

How can you beat that after a day of shopping for your loved one?? If you want to gather the strength to propose…or just want to see the outcome of the UNC vs Michigan State game…all the fun starts at @8:00pm TONIGHT – April 6, 2009.

I’ll be there for a while, so stop by and say hello!!

Always looking for fun for you my lovely couples…
Your fairy bridal Godmother…

For more info: See you at Trump Plaza - 725 5th Avenue. You can enter at 5th ave between 56-57th Street or the side enterance on 56th Street. www.trumpgrill.com

Earth friendly wedding ideas

While you may not be able to use each and everyone of these ideas, you may be able to tie them in. If every bride just made one change it could make a big difference to the environment. I'm here just offer suggestions and an opportunity for each of you to save the planet.

• Go for an organic theme flowing with layers of textures, herbal and earth tones. This will create a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere.
• Table linens can be made from softened burlap or natural cotton. I'm looking for a company now that can offer this service to you. If you know of one, please send it to me so I can share it.
• Flowers in season (wildflowers, sunflowers, roses) will save not only the planet, but your pocketbook. Remember if they aren't in season, you have to pay to have them flown in just for your day. You could also use green topiaries, live plants, or river stones as decoration on your tables.
• Use pumpkin and gourds in the fall to decorate from local farms or the farmers market. Fruit not only make a great centerpiece, but can also be dessert.
• Save energy by using reduced electricity, energy efficient lights, LED’s or rely on candlelight and lanterns. This will create a warm romantic glow.
• Where possible use natural light and air. If you have a morning or afternoon celebration try to choose a space that has a lot of it’s own light (windows where lots of sun can come through). If you have your event out doors you will eliminate the use of air conditioning.
• After your wedding, plant a tree to honor your new life together. The Nature Conservancy says that for $1,600 the organization "Trees Instead" will plant a lifetime of trees (approx 1,000) to offset the average couple's lifetime carbon footprint. You can also purchase an engagement tree, planted in celebration of the promise of love. No matter which you choose, a tree will be planted in your selected US State, Israel or Africa. You will receive an elegant Tree Certificate, with your Name and the tree number so you can find the tree location on-line. “As the love grow, so will the tree”.
• Donate any left over food to a local food kitchen. You have to call and check their regulations and requirements first.

I know that you all are doing what you can to save the environment and I think it's great! For more information on "Green Wedding Favors by Trees Instead" go to: www.treesinstead.com/Green_Wedding_Favors_gif.html

Until next time…

The grooms’ cast

I want to thank so many of you my GREAT GROOMS for reading this, and for passing the column along to your future wife. I'm working on something for you that is sooo special...well, hopefully I'll have more information for you next week. Thanks for reading and keep sending me your questions.

I know you thought the hard part was over right? Proposing will seem like a walk in the park, when it comes to choosing your best man and all the other members of your supporting cast.

You’re thinking…’no big deal’ right – WRONG! Trust me when I say that the men that stand up with you on that day, how they act, their toast and how seriously they take this honor, will have a long lasting impact on your future relationship. Believe me, your fiancée won’t want the guy who told crude jokes to come around often and if you have to pick between them, I would hope you would choose her.

Unlike your bride to be, your best man probably won’t be your best friend. It's more likely your brother, a cousin, perhaps even your father. Who ever you choose, this person should be someone you consider very close to you, because they are there to help you with all duties that are wedding related.

Next to you, the best man is a high-profile person in the wedding. He traditionally makes the toast, but also is there to keep you calm in what may be in some scary moments before you say, “I Do”. So this should be someone you can rely on to offer support or even a joke or two to help you relax. With that said, there is a caveat…if your best friend happens to be a woman (check with your significant other but) she can be included as a grooms-person. Ok, so that's not the official title, but you get the idea. She will probably wear a dress (but can do a tux if she chooses), and will stand up with you and uphold the same responsibilities. There is no formal way to ask a person, so choose your own style. If it’s over a few beers, or if you take them out to dinner, make sure your cast know that this is as important to your fiancée as it is to you.

The rest of your supporting cast – the groomsmen:

There is no hard and fast rule that there has to be the same number of groomsmen to bridesmaids. As a matter of fact, I don’t know many men that wouldn’t like to have a beautiful woman on each arm.

You can avoid hurting someone’s feelings by assigning another honorary task. They can do a reading at the ceremony, or serve as an usher.

Above all, make sure that the person that stands up for you is someone that you are confident it, will be there for you both, that day and throughout your marriage. Next week, is lookin' good, and so are you.

Until next time…

For more information on the cuff-links above, check out...geoartnyc.com for more information.

Eco-Couture green gowns are white-hot!

Made with exquisite workmanship and replete with subtle details, The Cotton Bride is a couture bridal collection for the lifestyles, interests and priorities of a new age. A luxurious blend of simplicity and sophistication, each gown in the collection is made from natural fabrics and designed to reflect a romantic and youthful spirit of grace, comfort and beauty. The purity, airiness and ease of the fabrics used in the collection are chosen for a modern aesthetic that is cool, light and relaxed.

I had the pleasure to speak with the designer Chris Kole, about his designs and why this type of collection is so important.

Chris, I know you’re swamped so I really appreciate you taking time to speak with me about your collection. Can you tell me when a bride is looking for an environmentally friendly gown, what are they really looking for?

The type of brides that come to us place a large importance on the fabric used in our gowns. Natural fabrics are very important to our brides and most order their gowns in the cotton and linen fabrics we use in the collection. In rare cases, some brides ask us to use silk instead but in these cases, it is usually because the bride has met with some resistance to using a non-traditional fabric from her mother, grandmother or other close family member.

We have also noticed a strong trend towards delicate laces and vintage looks. There is also seen an increase in the number of brides asking for shorter bridal dresses - be it cocktail length or T-length. In these cases, the brides are usually destination brides planning weddings in an outdoor setting.

I know being Eco-friendly is hot right now, are you seeing a spike in your business because of the trend or is it year round?

We have a large spike in the first three months of the year, and that could be because of holiday engagements. Another interesting fact is that we find that Tuesdays are consistently the day we receive the most amount of visitors to our website.

What other ways can a bride be more 'environmentally friendly’?

Nowadays, a bride who is interested in being environmentally friendly has many options available to her at every step of the bridal planning process. From organic paper invitations to eco-friendly honeymoon destinations, all a bride needs to do is to do a search on the internet, or look to your site and countless options and ideas will come up.

If a bride wanted a dress in your collection, how long does it take to create a dress and what are your price ranges?

Typically, we ask for a minimum lead-time of 8 - 12 weeks. However, as all our dresses are hand-sewn right here in our own work studios in New York, we have a great deal of control over production; if a bride needs her gown sooner, we can usually accommodate her request. Prices for our gowns range from about $1500 - $4500 with most falling between $2K - $3K.

Thanks Chris for your great information I’m sure my brides really appreciate it.

If you have any questions about Chris Kole’s designs take a look at his bridal collection. Chris also has a ready-to-wear and custom Evening & Special Occasion dresses. Finally, know that his client list is a veritable who’s who of American Society and includes individuals as diverse as Secretary of State-Hillary Clinton, legendary jazz singer Nancy Wilson, celebrity actress Ali Landry, TV personality Mary Hart, socialite Melania Knauss-Trump and Grammy award winner Jill Scott.

For more info: Crisada Inc.
39-13 23rd Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
T - (718) 729-9730
F - (718) 729-9740
www.chriskole.com
www.thecottonbride.com

Merging customs, traditions and lives

You have your budget completed, location confirmed and now the fun of planning what kind of day you’re going to have truly begins. While I’ll share more customs with you as we move forward, here are a few of my favorites. Remember to bring a bit of your own rich family past to your new family future.

If your family is from the Caribbean…
A rich, black rum cake is in your future. Some call it rum cake others a black cake because of it’s shape, deep color and density. Fruits soaked in rum for weeks before it’s baked with dark brown sugar, butter and most of all…love. The bridal recipe is one that is often passed from generation to generation, but if you want small ones to give as gifts, Tortuga Rum Co., have some of the best cakes around. http://www.tortugarumcakes.com/

If your family is from England…
Traditionally your entire bridal party walks together to the church with your flower girl tossing flowers along your path to ensure a life filled with happiness and laden wth flowers. If you can’t walk to the church, how about having your entire family walking you down the isle. It truly can be a special moment, as well as helping to keep your dad’s ‘stiff upper lip.’

If your family is from Greece…
You both are crowned with stefana, which is a wreath of flowers made of flowers tied together with flowers. The crown of flowers is to resemble those worn by royalty and the sanctity of marriage by the church. To add sweetness to the day, the bride carries a lump of sugar in her glove on the wedding day. While I know some of you may not wear gloves or have sweaty palms…you may want to just use a sugar packet.

If your family is from Morocco…
Moroccan weddings are a musical event from start to finish, with lots of singing and dancing. Men usually wear one of their best suits. Women and female friends of bride have a party where the bride performs a sort of a “milk bath” to "purify" her before her wedding day. They also help her dress in a richly decorated wedding kaftan (usually white), adorn her with heavy jewelry, and beautify and darken her eyes with kohl.

If your family is from Mexico…
There will be a very large rosary, called a lasso, used by the priest to tie the hands of the bride and groom as they recite their vows. The thought is to show the union and protection of their marriage.

So no matter what your custom or culture, there is a rich history from which you can pull traditions into your wedding day.