Weddingbee

fallingup - A Chicago wedding with an amazing budget of under $7000.

MrsPresley - A Hawaiian affair.

ATRNY2B - Pink and black themed North Dakota wedding.

alh1475 - A Knot real wedding!

Yesterday was a beautiful day in the city! Some friends and I treated ourselves to the $25 pre-fixe lunch at Jean-Georges in Columbus Circle. (The carrot soup with crisped tofu and chili slices was absolutely amazing. A must try!)

After lunch, we found ourselves wandering around Central Park, where we stumbled upon a mini-amusement park called Victorian Gardens. (Okay, apparently it’s been around for a few years.. but it’s new to me!)

How fun would it be to do a photo session here?! If I had a summer wedding in Manhattan, I’d definitely choose this site for the portraits. I love the bright colors and playful vibe - Mr. Ant and I would have a blast!

Here are some engagement photos taken at a carnival in California.

The wedding I went to this weekend had both a wedding cake and a groom’s cake at the reception. It was surprising how many people hadn’t heard of a groom’s cake. Mostly the people who were confused were men, but a lot of girls hadn’t heard of them either.

I think having a groom’s cake is a very nice tradition. I would probably serve the groom’s cake at the rehearsal dinner, separate from the wedding cake. Though I would have no idea what the shape would be for Mr. Butterfly - he’s not a die hard sports fan.

There have been many blogs written on Weddingbee regarding the topic of slippers or flip flops. It’s become an increasingly popular idea to provide a basket of slippers for your female guests, because we all know how tired our feet can get after hours of dancing in heels. I can attest to this because I danced the night away this past weekend in 4″ heels.

I was drunk enough not to notice the pain until the next day (thank god!) but this weekend has definitely made up my mind about providing slippers for your guests. I am definitely going to do it - even if only my close girlfriends use it, it will be well worth it. In fact, I’m even going to make sure that my MOH and BM have slippers that match their dresses, so that we can feel comfy and stylish.

Otherwise, we will end up like this!!

Everyone’s bare feet, including the bride!!

My parents were visiting this past weekend, so it gave Mr. Bee and I a chance to do the touristy things we normally wouldn’t. They wanted to check out Central Park so I decided to take them to Bethesda Terrace - the heart of Central Park and one of the most popular places to take wedding pictures.

We entered through the 72nd street and Central Park West entrance and passed through Strawberry Fields - named after John Lennon’s song because this was his favorite part of the park.

This “Imagine” mosiac always has flowers on it and tons of visitors standing around it.

I’d never been to Bethesda Terrace myself, and I wanted to scope it out since we’re planning on taking “engagement pictures” this fall in Central Park. The Central Park Boathouse is just across the pond pictured below. Getting married there would give you access to some of the prettiest post-ceremony picture locations.

The archway pictured under the bridge was closed off with a gate that day. Too bad - it’s one of the prettiest places to take pictures.

(image via: centralparknyc)

The walk through Central Park was so nice. It’s an oasis in the middle of the busy city.

Afterwards we walked over to Rockefeller Center. Flags of the world that are usually displayed were replaced with American flags in honor of Memorial Day.

Then up to Top of the Rock for a 360 degree view of the city. The day was pretty hazy, but wedding pictures up here would be spectacular on a clear day. Plus there is no wait to get up here - unlike the Empire State Building (pictured center).

View of Central Park.

There are so many great places to take pictures in New York whether you want a backdrop of nature or the city.

I went to a wedding this weekend in Virginia, near DC. It was a small wedding - between 85 to 95 people I think. The bride chose lavender and green as her colors, and it was perfect for a wedding in May. This weekend’s weather was a little iffy (some rain, then really hot), but all in all, everything went really well.

Here are some pictures!!

Sweetheart table for the couple.

One of the main centerpieces for the room.

Centerpieces for the table - see how the flowers are submerged in water with a candle on top? I loved this idea!!

More pics to come!

Sales

Mika Inatome
What: Up to 90 percent off wedding gowns
Where: 93 Reade St., nr. Church St., second fl.
Phone: 212-966-7777
When: 6/2 - 6/9 (by appt only)

Birnbaum & Bullock
What: Wedding gowns are at least half off
Where: 151 W. 25th St., nr. Sixth Ave., Ste. 2A
Phone: 212-242-2914
When: 6/1 (4-8); 6/2 (noon-7); 6/3 (11-4); by appt only

Christina Arzuaga Couture Bridal Sample Sale
What: On sale for $500-$1500, originally $1500-$5000
Where: Call for address and appt. More information at TopButton.
Phone: 212-780-9647
When: 5/18 - 6/10

Trunk Shows

Elizabeth Fillmore
Where: Bergdorf Goodman’s Bridal Salon, 754 Fifth Ave (nr. 58th St.)
Phone: 212-872-8957
When: 6/1 - 6/3 (by appt only)

Amsale
Where: Kleinfeld, 110 West 20th Street
Phone: 646-633-4300
When: 6/2 - 6/4 (by appt only)

Henry Roth & Michelle Roth
Where: Kleinfeld, 110 West 20th Street
Phone: 646-633-4300
When: 6/6 - 6/8 (by appt only)

Every Tuesday we post listings for upcoming trunk shows and sales in the city. If you know of a trunk show, sample sale, or sale that we’re missing, please send it to us at tips@weddingbee.com. Thanks!

When choosing bridesmaids, most brides usually consider their friends, sisters, close relatives, and sister-in-laws. I have no sisters and virtually no family in the States so my decision was relatively easy - I chose my three closest friends. My maid of honor I’d known since 10th grade, and my two other bridesmaids since the 7th and 11th grades.

I was lucky the decision was so easy because sometimes it can get quite complicated and sticky choosing bridesmaids (and groomsmen).

How did you choose your bridesmaids? Was it an easy decision?

Birthday Express is a children’s party supply resource. They have over 150 party themes — from Dora to Sponge Bob Square Pants to Bob the Builder offering everything from invites to pinatas. No … I haven’t changed my wedding theme to Fairy-tale Unicorns ;).

But I have decided to order ready made kid’s favor boxes ranging from $4.29 to $5.00. Many of the favor boxes include items that I don’t want at the wedding: pull-back style cars (I don’t want cars whizzing around), playdough, bouncy balls, and the gumball machine with tiny candy (choking and tripping hazard), so it limits my options. I thought about ordering a different one for every child at the wedding, but knowing my niece and nephews, that might turn into World War III, so I think I’ll order the “Jets” themed ones for everyone.

Here are some of my faves:

On my recent post about uneven wedding parties, reader MB asked where the bridesmaids dresses from a wedding I attended last year were purchased.

The bride told me they were from Aria Bridesmaids which has locations in Los Angeles, Boston, and Washington D.C. For those unable to go to a showroom, Aria offers a try-on program where dresses can be mailed to you for $18 each. They also send up to 7 fabric samples free of charge.

The bridesmaids pictured above chose three different styles of dresses in a silk shantung fabric. I believe the color was Sunset Gold. It was a gorgeous shade of orange and the color of the dress changed with light and movement.

Some of Aria’s dresses on real bridemaids. Gorgeous color!

Love the two tone action.

You can even match your flowergirls!

Prices vary according to fabric (duchess satin, silk shantung, silk taffeta), but they are quite affordable ($150-$265). I thought the silk shantung looked great in person.