Looking back at our wedding from over two years ago, I am still amazed by the amount of wedding planning that cohesively finally came together to amount in our joyous wedding day. Although it sounds like quite the production, so many diverse elements must come together in order to “produce” a wedding. For example, when building a house, elements like architecture, contractor, electricity, and plumbing, are all required for a house to become whole. Likewise, for a wedding to become whole, it is essential for some brides and grooms to have wedding invitations, wedding calligrapher, a specific wedding location, wedding planner/director, wedding jeweler, wedding cake, wedding dj or band, wedding photographer, wedding videographer, wedding transportation, and wedding favors/accessories/gifts. Thus, it is very enriching to have the creative wedding ideas and nuggets of wedding knowledge all come together at one central place. My Wedding Dream provides a collaborative arena of quality information that prepares brides and grooms with wedding “know-how” so that their blissful day is prepared with unequivocal detail. Moreover, by having a library of wedding knowledge by their very own guest bloggers, My Wedding Dream enables brides and grooms to have more confidence and comfort during the planning process.

Elegantly arranged, My Wedding Dream has modernized your online blogging experience by tailoring the information on their site to meet your needs. Furthermore, multiple blogs post everyday to give the viewer information on even the most pertinent details. From gorgeous bridal combs dripping in rhinestones, to wedding dresses delicately adorned with intricate lace detail, My Wedding Dream will offer the viewer the ability to imagine a dream wedding filled with the highest of expectations. By just providing an email, a bride and groom will also receive free information on all their wedding needs. More importantly, a bride or groom can utilize this website as a resource to efficiently organize their wedding plans, and feel like their wedding planning efforts were a success.

Information & Ideas to Help With Your Wedding Planning is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Save now through February 14 @ 11:59pm with the following codes:

Coupon code: VAL5OFF

Details: $5 off orders over $75

Coupon code: VAL10OFF

Details: $10 off orders over $125

Exclusions

• Can not be combined with other offers or discounts.
• Subtotal must exceed minimum order amount.
• Can not be applied to past orders.
• All other Terms and Conditions are applicable.

Valentine’s Day Sale! is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Place an order before midnight tonight of $150 or more and receive $10 off with discount code ’10OFFTHURSDAY’. Hurry up before it’s too late!

*Required minimum purchase amount is based on subtotal price only, and not shipping costs, taxes, and fees.

Alert: $10 Off Your Order – Act Now! is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Hello Readers!

With the beauty of summer right around the corner, weddings are in full bloom! Many summer weddings that I have attended are rich with vibrant shades of color, so the summer of 2010 will probably follow through on this trend. A color that always comes to mind during the summer is that of coral–abundant with bright happiness in varying shades of orange. This amazing color blends well with many summer themes, especially for a wedding down by the ocean, lake or pond! Additionally, what is truly unique about this color is its versatility to not only warm and spice up a wedding’s color palette, but it can also be utilized to highlight a more natural and soft wedding theme. Below are some examples of the color coral taking center stage:

We love what Trendsetting Wedding did with this inspiration board–it looks so fun and sophisticated at the same time!

This Indian-inspired wedding design found at Wedding Nouveau beholds an exquisite charm as the gentle color of coral creates  a divine ambiance.

Lastly, Snippet and Ink certainly does not disappoint with this stunning wedding inspiration board which portrays a southern charm and feminine appeal.

“Fresh and Alive” with Coral: Wedding Inspiration Board is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Hello Readers,

Listening on the radio this morning, I heard that Carrie Underwood’s wedding is well underway and is shaping up to be a grand affair!  However, what really sparked my interest was her decision to forego the traditional wedding cake for the “new darling” of weddings: the cupcake.

The cupcake has grown in popularity over the past few years, as its cute and trendy appeal, along with the individualized portions of sweet happiness truly provide guests a unique alternative.

A search for “cupcake” on Wikipedia.com states that the origination of the cupcake began in the “early 19th century” with the first reference of a cupcake “in Eliza Leslie’s Receipts cookbook from 1828.”    Interestingly, the “first bakery devoted exclusive to cupcakes is Sprinkles,  located in Beverly Hills, CA.”

Cupcakes can be utilized for many wedding events including the rehearsal dinner, bridal showers, engagement parties and bachelorette parties.  In fact, I am hosting a bachelorette party this weekend for a great friend of mine, and  cupcakes will play center stage during dinner!  Below are some charming pictures of cupcakes made at bakeries in North Carolina:

Go to The Cupcake Shoppe in Raleigh, NC for these delightful cupcakes:

Go to Simply Cakes in Apex, NC for these sweet cupcakes:

The “New Darling” of Weddings and Events: CUPCAKES! is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Dear Readers,

Here is yet another post dedicated to spring-inspired wedding inspiration boards.  These warmer days are slowly approaching, so make sure to bask in the warmth of spring.  Enjoy!

Thanks to Snippet and Ink for captivating the essence of spring!

The delightful inspiration board from Betsy White features an outdoor garden setting, sprinkled with the beautiful blooms of springtime.

“Step into Spring”: Wedding Inspiration Board II is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Dear Readers,

Although it seems this winter generated unusually cold weather, it reminds me that soon the snow will melt, and hints of spring will begin to blossom.  These subtle hints include: little green buds forming on the grey, prickly trees of winter, people walking around the neighborhood a little more than usual, birds frolicking outside your window, and sunshine on your face that feels just a touch warmer.

I can appreciate why many bride and grooms choose to plan their wedding date for a spring-time month, as the abundant beauty of nature can really burst with color.  Some couples choose the spring months due to moderate temperatures, and others because of the gorgeous scenery from fresh blooms.  Additionally, some couples symbolize the rebirth of nature to their own rebirth as a married couple.  Regardless, there are a multitude of reasons couples elect for a spring-time wedding to celebrate their union, so the inspiration boards below can help provide ideas filled with fresh decor, and effervescent hues.

Thanks to This Young House for a gorgeous green array of springtime ideas!

The vivacious color of sunshine glows from the blog of Keen to be Seen!

Next week, With This Favor will highlight two additional Spring Wedding Inspiration Boards!

“Step into Spring”: Wedding Inspiration Board is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Dear Readers,

An unknown author once said, “The pearl is the queen of gems and the gem of queens.”   Thus,whether it is continuing the legacy of the refined elegance illustrated by Jackie Onassis, to Michelle Obama’s modern style, these ladies have both donned a timeless treasure—the pearl.

Pearls have been a mainstay for decades now, but their origins date back to almost 206 B.C. per Wikiepedia.  There are two formations of pearls, with the cultured pearl cultivated from human aid, and the natural pearl created (as you would expect) in nature, with no human aid.   Therefore, natural pearls are much higher in cost due to their scarcity.  With most of the pearls available across the market as cultured pearls, women adorn themselves with stunning beads of varying colors such as: white, champagne, pink, black, and more.   If you are looking for a high quality luster of pearls with a very affordable price, enjoy browsing through the online boutique at PearlsofJoy.com.  The company features a superb shipping program, 90-day return policy, safe and private purchasing options, and has been featured on The View, and In Style Magazine.  Moreover, Pearls of Joy showcases a myriad of quality pearls (perfect for wedding day), such as Akoya, Freshwater, South Sea, and Tahitian.

Revolutionizing the jewelry market, pearls make sophisticated statements from delicate earrings, to a gorgeous bracelet, and of course, the quintessential strand of a pearl necklace.  Additionally, the enduring pearl doesn’t discriminate amongst age groups.  Look around and you may see young girls with small and delicate pearl necklaces, to sorority sisters with their polished pearl earrings, and brides with their bridesmaids beaming in many arrays of pearl bridal jewelry, as well as distinguished ladies of on older generation embellished in the everlasting beauty of pearls.

Consequently, the next time you are searching for the perfect piece of jewelry, select a symbol of what Wikipedia describes as “love, knowledge, wisdom, truth and faith” — the pearl.

Pearls Are the New “Girl’s Best Friend” is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Hello Readers!

With digital technology taking the place of many forms of visual art that are tediously done by hand, I am always amazed and pleased to see the whimsical elegance found in calligraphy.  When calligraphy adorns wedding invitations, escort cards, ceremony programs and reception menus, I am always thankful for this personal touch of finesse that a bride and groom add to their wedding.  Recently, I was introduced to Mandi Heilig, owner of Dry Ink Designs, which specializes in design and calligraphy.  She describes her passion as the ”love of working with people to decide a style that works for their use, and then finally seeing their reaction to the finished product.”

So let us take a journey back to the origins of calligraphy. Wikipedia states that calligraphy “dates back to 600 B.C.,”and the evolution of this visual art form has truly created beautiful products through many years.  Therefore, the calligraphers that preserve this historic art form are able to personalize and tailor items to really meet a person(s) vision.   Mandi expressed how important the preservation of calligraphy is because the artform portrays a ”beautiful tradition that is slowly becoming a lost art.”  She also comments that calligraphy ”is a first glance into your special event and is something that I can do fairly easily, allowing me to create something people and excited to use.”

I was interested in how many people become interested in calligraphy and Mandi was so kind to share her journey below:

“I remember years ago, I was very young and was at one of our weekly Sunday Night dinners at my Grandma Grace’s house. She had a set of calligraphy pens, she was very artistic and creative. I had never seen pens like this and wondered how they worked. My dad got the pens out and just started “creating” letters in Old English Style. He showed me how to hold the pen and how to create the different lines to write out the letters. At that point I was young, but hooked and through the years kept working at it and eventually picked up my own techniques and styles.”

Therefore, for brides and grooms who are interested in incorporating a calligrapher and/or designer into their wedding stationary, don’t forget to visit www.dryinkdesigns.com!  Ultimately, your wedding stationary is yet another outlet to make a great first impression.

Incorporating The Elegance Of Calligraphy Into Your Wedding is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

In the world we live in today, there are many opportunities to pamper oneself, whether it involves: a cruise to paradise, a pair of new Jimmy Choos, sipping hot cocoa by the fireside, or even partaking in fine cuisine at a lush restaurant.  However, the epitome of “pamper” to me has been indulging in the exquisite experience of a spa treatment.

After professionally working in the spa treatment industry, I found the amazing benefits to a person’s overall well-being that could be obtained through just a routine Swedish massage.  I have personally experienced many spa treatments through the years, including massages, facials, and wraps, etc.  Most importantly, I discovered the relaxing effects and splendor spa treatments can provide.  Whether it is something you do on occasion, or you elect for a routine of treatments, it can be a break from the “rush and fuss” of everyday life—a fantastic way to treat yourself!

Thus, when my husband proposed to me in Disneyworld (near Cinderella’s Castle, at the Wishing Well), I was treated by him with a couple’s massage at the Mandara Spa in the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin.

On a special note:  we have been to the Mandara Spa two times since our engagement!

Nonetheless, on our first visit to the Mandara Spa, we were greeted with the soothing smell of lavender and chamomile, along with the friendly greeting of the spa’s staff.  Now, some spa’s lack dressing/locker rooms with many amenities, but not at the Mandara Spa!  The spa offered upscale facilities, with restrooms, a dressing and locker storage area, showers and a steam room.  Additionally, it offered essentials such as: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, face wash, mouthwash, razor, hair brush, hair dryer, plush robes, comfortable shoes, towels, and the Elemis Product line–enriched with plant oils and marine extracts.  I recommend treating yourself in the dressing rooms with peppermint facial cloths that will instantly cool your face.  Talk about invigorating!

Next, the area deemed the “Tea Garden” is such a divine location to peacefully wait before your spa treatment.  Choose from a vast array of tea selections, while settling down on plush and colorful seating in a cultural setting. As you sip on hot tea and decadent honey, gentle instrumental music will add to the beginning of this revitalizing experience.

With many rooms for spa treatments, the Mandara Spa helps you to feel engulfed in tranquility as you step into your own oasis.   Before your appointment you can request a specified gender for your therapist depending on comfort-level.  Regardless, the therapists are ultra-professional and courteous of your needs, really tailoring this special occasion for you.  The therapists are very receptive to how you are feeling, especially with massages, and can transition from a softer touch to a more intense, deep-tissue style of massage.  Every time my husband and I have visited, we have had massages that have fully eased the stress points within our bodies, and brought an overwhelming sense of comfort to our mind, bodies and souls.

Lastly, after your spa treatment has been completed, staff members welcome you to the Meru Temple, a harmonious area to continue to marinate in serenity.  As you bask in the glow of your own radiance, you can hydrate with real fruit-infused orange and lemon water.  You can sit and read a magazine, or close your eyes and use this time to absorb positive thoughts and reflect.  Additionally, there is a balcony outside the Meru Temple if interested in stepping outside to relax.

We highly recommend the Mandara Spa for all couples, especially for special occasions while at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.  With all the walking you will be doing amongst the theme parks, a spa treatment is an excellent opportunity to take a moment of rest and leisure during your vacation!

A Spa Getaway at the “Happiest Place on Earth” is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.