Celeb Wedding :: Nathan Followill & Jessie Baylin

Kings of Leon is one of my favorites, so I had to share one of the wedding photos! Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill and singer Jessie Baylin were married in an outdoor ceremony last weekend. His Kings of Leon bandmates were there to support him, while Jessie’s famous friend from high school, Scarlett Johansson, came to watch her walk down the aisle with her sweetheart.

Diamond Shopping Tips

More shopping tips, this time for the gentlemen (and the ladies who have a say in selecting their ring, since that's more common these days!). Christmas is fast approaching, and that's a very popular time to get engaged! Choosing a diamond and setting can be overwhelming if you don't know what you're looking for. Remember these tips from the experts when you begin your quest for the perfect diamond!



Tips from BlueNile.com:

Blue Nile has an entire section on their website dedicated to education on what to look for when choosing a diamond. The four C's are discussed in detail here, along with shape and certification. Click the link above to visit their site.

Tips from TheManRegistry.com:

It’s very important to have some sort of insurance for the ring up front, but once the wedding day is over, consider looking at other options such as adding it to your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. You may find that going that route can be a better deal. Just remember to keep the appraisal in a safe place so you don’t have to get the ring it appraised again if you switch insurance companies. You’ve spent a lot of time finding her the perfect ring, take 10 minutes and make sure you have a good insurance policy for it in case something happens. This is an incredibly busy time in your life. Do yourself a favor and go with an insurance company that the jewelry vendor recommends. The store may even be able to set it all up right then and there. This way, it’s done and taken care of and you won’t need to worry about it again for at least a year.

Ask for an Appraisal and Certificate. Your diamond should be issued an appraisal of its value. You should also ask your jeweler if the diamond has been treated with any fillers or other laboratory enhancements. If it hasn’t, he should issue you a certificate of authenticity. This paperwork is essential if you choose to have your ring insured.

You also need to inquire about the warranty of your diamond. Some jewelers will continue to warranty the ring if you visit regularly for them to clean and check the setting of the ring. These basic maintenance tasks guarantee that your ring will remain as brilliant on your fiftieth anniversary as it was on your wedding day.

Tips from The Knot:

Throw out that old two-months salary myth; You should buy the best ring you can without going into major debt. If she’s a size queen and your budget isn’t super-sized, go for a ring with a slightly larger table, or surface, area. You won’t get as much sparkle, but a one-carat ring will look much larger if the stone isn’t as deep. Don’t want to sacrifice the look of your stone? Buying just shy of the next carat (1.8 instead of 2) can equal a savings of nearly 20 percent. And when it comes to clarity, buying shy gives you the most wiggle room without affecting sparkle (often defects are not visible to the naked eye).

Buy Loose Stones; Unless you’re buying an estate ring, chances are, you’ll be looking at loose stones as opposed to stones in a setting. (The ones you see in the jeweler’s case are often just samples to give you an idea of the finished product.) The stone accounts for the vast majority of a ring’s cost, so wouldn’t you want to get the most gorgeous one imaginable (or at least in your budget)? Be sure to inspect the stone with a loupe (a handheld magnifier that most jewelers have). A good jeweler (more on that later) will be able to guide you and tell you what to look for.

Consider the Metal; When it comes to the band, you've got a variety of metals to choose from. One popular choice is platinum -- it's extremely durable and especially pure, making it a great hypoallergenic choice for brides and grooms with sensitive skin. There's also gold, which comes in a variety colors, including white, yellow, rose, and even green. Beyond platinum and gold, you might also consider palladium (which has a grayer hue than platinum) or even a recycled metal band, which might include a mixture of platinum and gold. Think of it as a "something old" and "something new" all rolled into one.

Tips for Wedding Dress Shopping

On the biggest shopping day of the year (Black Friday!) I thought it would be appropriate to share some shopping tips! One of the biggest and most important purchases you'll make for your wedding is your wedding dress...."THE" dress. There's a lot of factors to take in and consider when shopping for your dress, so here are some tips from the pros!


J'Aton Couture

Tips from TheKnot:

Research which salons are most appropriate for your budget.
While the average salon carries lines in the under-$1,000 category, there are others in which the dresses start at $3,000. Save yourself -- and the salons -- time by asking before you make an appointment.

Have a general idea of the formality of your wedding before you shop.
Write down six adjectives that best describe how you want to look and feel on your wedding day. Some examples: princess, sexy, sophisticated, over-the-top, classic, boho. This will help your bridal salon attendant pull the most appropriate dresses for you to try on.

When you finally step into that fitting room, keep an open mind.
If the salesperson brings you something she says you must try, try it -- even if you detest the way it looks on the hanger. And while certain styles work best on certain body types, it helps to try on all different kinds of dresses, and then decide what shape and style suits you best.

Kenneth Pool

Tips from FrugalBride.com:

Before shopping in person, look at all the designer websites & bridal magazines. They have excellent photographs of all their current styles. Consider what style gown you would like for your wedding day.....A-line? Princess Tulle cut? Sheath? Do you desire sleeves, strapless, spaghetti straps?

Reem Acra

Tips from Stardust Celebrations Bridal Salon:

Click to see a video of their Top 5 Dress Shopping Tips.


Pnina Tornai

The photos in this post are from TLC's Say Yes to the Dress. If you haven't watched the show, put it on your to-do list! The bridal consultants at Kleinfeld's really give some great advice on buying bridal gowns.


Platinum for Priscilla of Boston

Thanksgiving @ The Nixon's

My husband's birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year, so I combined the two...and it turned out wonderful! I started cooking early in the morning, pies first then on to the dinner.





While the turkey was cooking, we had mimosas (my favorite) and Great Lakes Christmas Ale (his favorite). I also surprised him with a pumpkin pie (another of his favorites) with birthday candles.





Then sometime between the football and Christmas movies, we had our Thanksgiving dinner and desserts.

Adorable Holiday Cupcakes!

I stumbled upon a blog today where I saw the most adorable cupcakes ever! It was the holiday cupcakes that first caught my eye, but as I browsed through the blog I saw so many other creative and amazing designs. I'm in cupcake-love now! ♥

Cupcakes Take The Cake










BONUS! Twilight cupcakes. ♥

DIY Napkin Projects

Here are a few DIY napkin projects to embellish your dinner party table! These aren't limited to dinner parties though...use them for other parties and events where you want to add a little "wow" to the table. The first project from PurlBee.com gives detailed instructions on how to create (sew) your own napkins. If sewing isn't up your alley, try the Preston Bailey DIY project to spruce up plain napkins of any kind.


Molly's Handmade Napkins - PurlBee.com


Preston Bailey's Napkin Decor

Creative Fall Tablescapes

Tonight I was thinking about making our Thanksgiving dinner in a few days. I can't believe it's that time already! For me, it's more than just making the dinner....it's all about the presentation. So, as always, I turned to my favorite blogs for some inspiration! Check out these gorgeous fall tablescapes from some of my favorite bloggers!


Amy Atlas Events


All Things Lovely


100 Layer Cake

GetMarried Magazine

Happy Monday!! Hope everyone had a great weekend! We recently received a big supply of the new GetMarried magazine! We're handing them out to all brides who have a free consult with us, along with a few other goodies. This is the first issue of the the magazine for Fall 2009, and I have to say it's one of my favorites already!



View the online version here.

Featured on BridalTweet.com!

This week one of our weddings is featured on BridalTweet.com! A photo from Katie & Tyson's wedding was chosen as a featured photo of the week.




Photo by Z Media

Trunk Sale! :: This Weekend in Akron/Canton...

WHEN:
Three Days Only!
November 13-15, 2009
11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Vacant Value City across from Chapel Hill Mall
1886 Buchholzer Rd.
Akron, OH 44310


Bridal Cents LLC is hosting an amazing Akron/Canton Bridal Gown Trunk Sale. You will be able to select your dream wedding gown from 100's of dresses including top designers and designer-inspired. Our gowns start at a ridiculous $79. You can buy off-the-rack or order and still save big. Seamstress plus other vendors on-site.

For more information, call Sharon at (440) 315-0607, visit the website or send an email to bridalcents@gmail.com.

Wedding dress shopping? There's an app for that.

Brought to you by BRIDES Magazine, Brides Dressing Room is the first-ever digital shopping concierge for brides on the go.

From your iPhone, you can browse both wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses from all the famous names you have come to trust in wedding attire. When you find something you like, we’ll track it down at a store near you, and make an appointment for you to try on the dress of your dreams.

Features Include:
•Browse the latest fashions by silhouette, brand and price or search by your style parameters
•Expanded descriptions
•Zoom in and out of selected products
•Location awareness to find nearby stores within 50 miles
•Concierge stock check within 10 minutes (during store business hours), and e-mail (or text) confirmation
•Store maps to nearby locations carrying the products

Download the app here. Here are a few screen shots:

Katie & Tyson's Photos :: Z Media