We have had the pleasure of working alongside Miguel over the past few years on events for the Hispanic National Bar Association as well as the Hispanic Bar Association of NJ. In doing so, it was evident that Miguel has a true passion for the Association and takes such pride in all of his work. Miguel has had many accomplishments in his roles within the HNBA and HBA-NJ. Most recently serving as the Finance Director for the HNBA, he nearly quadrupled fundraising for the mid year conference and has also put forth many efforts to develop and launch three comprehensive nationwide programs, Su Casa, Su Negocio and Su Futura. These programs were built to provide assistance for homeowners, small business owners and students in the Latino community. Miguel has a sincere dedication to the Association and we know that he will most certainly provide excellent leadership and devotion in the role of National President. Check out this great campaign video to learn more about Miguel and be sure to follow his campaign on Facebook.

Who ever thought a bride and groom could combine all their wedding wishes from various merchants into one registry? Well, now it is possible! Wedding registry site NewlyWish.com gives couples the opportunity to select registry items from various merchants on the site.

From items such as Feet Reflexology sessions to cooking lessons to handcrafted home décor, NewlyWish gives couples the opportunity to customize their wedding wish list to reflect their unique styles and personalities. In addition to a personalized registry, NewlyWish also offers a wedding party gift section to help couples select one-of-a-kind gifts for their attendants.

Some of the creative gift items that can be found on NewlyWish~

These chic porcelain dinnerware sets from Ink Dish aren’t your mother’s wedding china. Select from various designs by different artists to find the set that best matches your style. These dishes have a panache all their own, and they are covered with an inglaze decal.  They are both dishwasher and microwave safe. Individual pieces range from $14 to $80.

Gail Monaghan offers cooking lessons on the site which are perfect for the bride and groom, a fun shower idea, or even a great wedding party gift idea. You can learn to cook with Gail in her gourmet Manhattan kitchen. Cooking lesson packages range from $125 to $2,550.

If you choose to go on a an exotic African safari or  an adventurous trip to Asia for your honeymoon, a tour by Immersion Journeys might just be the perfect addition to your wedding wish list. Take a once-in-a-lifetime romantic journey through locations such as South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya or India. Wedding guests have the opportunity to purchase items such as an African Bush Dinner, a hike to Mount Kilimanjaro, or even a Elephant Back Safari for the newlyweds. Gift packages range from around $150 to $1,590.

Be sure to check this great site out to register today!

Create Your Budget. You certainly need to have an idea of the overall budget for your wedding before securing your venue. A good way of generating an estimate of the amount you will spend on the venue is by splitting your budget in half. Having this number will help eliminate the venues that may be out of your price range and will allow you to focus on those that fit your budget accordingly. Working with your planner to find the location of your dreams and stay within budget is always key!

Ask Yourself, Where and When? Have you always dreamed of a wedding on the beach? Exchanging your vows atop of a mountain? Whether inside, outside or somewhere in between, the date and time of your wedding definitely plays a factor. When booking a venue, know that prime wedding season is April through June and September through November. Pricing is generally higher during peak season and these dates tend to book quicker. If you are working with a tighter budget and are flexible with your date, consider asking the venue if they offer any value dates. These may be limited dates they have not booked in the coming months and may be able to offer a discount.

The Travel Factor. If you are planning to have your ceremony other than at your reception venue, be sure to keep in mind that travel will be involved. This may help eliminate venues on your list that are a bit too far for traveling in a large group. If you have a lot of out of town guests, be sure to allow enough time for travel before and after the ceremony.

Do Your Research! Once you finalize your budget and have a general idea of location and time frame, take some time to do your research. Visiting every venue in the state of New Jersey would be overwhelming – and time consuming! Narrow down your options by discussing how you both envision your day and collaborate. Share your vision with your planner and allow them to offer you some recommendations. Working with your planner to find the best location is a plus as they have experience working with many venues and can recommend locations based upon what you want.

Check out more on (201) Bride’s ‘Getting Hitched’ blog on Bergen.com!

Three coordinating enclosure cards on textured matte stock included a directions/accommodations card,  reception card featuring an image of Mallard Island Yacht Club, and response card all printed in color laser. Coordinating outer envelopes in textured cream matte stock were created with the return address printed on the back flap.

We look forward to sharing more details from their amazing wedding day on April 14th – stay tuned!!

Special thanks to Yaskovic Wedding + Portrait for these great photos!