Perhaps you find Andrew Cohen's letter romantic.  Read it below and judge for yourself.  The truth is that Andrew Cohen had his chances and he made his choices.  Let this be a lesson to all of us for what not to do.  You simply do not ruin a bride's wedding day with grand pronouncements of lost love. 

If you disagree, please feel free to leave a comment at the end of the article.  The following is what Andrew Cohen wrote in his column to his ex on her wedding day.... 

The great love of my life marries today and I am not the groom. I had my chance, a few years ago, but did not realize until too late how fleeting my moment with her was meant to be. Whether it was my fault or hers, and, let's face it, it was probably mine, I will wonder always about the life I might have had with the most loving and loveable woman I have ever known. Sometimes, I finally now understand, love, even crazy love, is not enough. Sometimes, as the romance novelists know, timing is everything. But today is not a day for remorse. It is not a day for lost causes. Today is a day for celebration. The woman I once promised to keep happy is happy. She tells me she is marrying a wonderful man, with a good heart, whom she believes I would have liked had we met in different circumstances. She lives where she wants to live. She has selected her life's path. All that is left for me to do is to wish her well and to hope that she has made the right choice; that she continues to find in him what she did not find in me. And I am sure he considers himself today the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.

 The present I humbly send her today is this column; this public note, this irrevocable display of affection and support and gratitude; this worldly absolution from any guilt or sadness she felt between the time she said no to me and the time she said yes to him. No one ought to have to carry that with them into a marriage. I showered her with as much love as I could muster when we were together. I still love her and always will. So I am only too happy to offer my toast to her now, one more time, before she takes her vows.

I want to thank her, mostly, for rescuing me from hopelessness. When we met, back in the spring of 2005, I was nearly 40 and had been dating off and on for two years following an unexpected divorce. I had lost faith in relationships. I had given up on love. She arrived, unexpectedly, and showed me what was possible. She raised me up from the emotional dead. She drew out of me the poison of divorce and betrayal. Eleven years younger but already more mature than me, she was dazzling, brilliant, funny, and sweet; she both gave and taught me patience and devotion and sacrifice. No woman before or since ever made me feel as desired, needed, beloved, appreciated as she did. No one has yet made me want her more. Some men live their whole lives without this kind of love. At least I had it for one brief, shining moment.

The truth is that planning a wedding can be absolutely overwhelming and it is easy to overlook some important areas that could make a huge difference in your wedding experience.  The following are 10 key areas to consider when planning your dream wedding....  

#1) The Engagement Ring

When you first get engaged, everyone is going to want to see the ring.  So don't go boring.  There are a lot of dazzling modern styles that can set your engagement ring apart from all the others, or if you want to do something truly unique you might want to wear an antique engagement ring.

#2) The Engagement Announcement

Most couples really overlook this area.  In fact, many couples end up announcing their engagement to their families and friends in the most boring and unceremonious of ways.  You don't want to announced your engagement on Facebook.  Choosing just the right moment to announce your engagement can really make a huge difference and can really set the tone for your engagement period. 

#3) The Location For The Ceremony

Do you really want to get married at city hall or in some local church that you don't even attend?  Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and so you will want to choose a location for the wedding that is unforgettable.

# 4) The Timing Of The Ceremony

Holding the wedding on a holiday or on a day that holds special significance for you or for your family can give a wedding ceremony a really festive feel.

#5) The Wedding Dress

Do you really want to wear a dress that you purchased at a department store during your ceremony?  This is a once in a lifetime event.  Don't be afraid to invest in a designer wedding dress for your wedding.  This is one day that you will never get back again, and you will always remember the dress that you wore on that day. 

#6) The Wedding Jewelry

An increasing number of brides are wearing a wedding tiara during their ceremonies.  Choosing a jewelry piece such as a tiara can really help you achieve a formal, elegant look on your wedding day. 

#7) The Wedding Vows 

Do you really want to repeat the same words that every other couple has uttered?  Look for ways to inject your own personality into the vows that you will exchange with your partner.

#8) The Wedding Songs

The music played during a wedding ceremony and during a wedding reception sets the whole tone for the day.  They are songs that will stay with your forever.  So it is absolutely imperative that you put a lot of thought into picking out just the right music for your special day.

#9) The Reception

The reception is often referred to as the "fun" part of the wedding.  In reality, it is an opportunity to throw a party that nobody will ever forget.  But there are a million things that can go wrong with a reception.  In fact, if you can afford it, a wedding professional can be extremely helpful with planning a reception.  A perfectly planned and executed reception is something that you and your guests will remember for a lifetime.

#10) Wedding Dances

Dance has always been an important part of wedding ceremonies and wedding receptions, but in this decade couples have been taking creativity when it comes to wedding dances to entirely new heights.  Don't be afraid to inject your creative spirit into your wedding dances.

Pros

*It is often easier for the couple and other family members to get time off around the holidays.

*Often family members who live some distance away are already planning to come into town for the holidays.

*The lights and decorations of the holiday season can be easily incorporated into a holiday-themed wedding.

*If there is snow on the ground that can provide a gorgeous background for wedding pictures.

*People are in the mood to celebrate during the holiday season, and thus a holiday wedding may be more likely to have a festive atmosphere.

Cons

*You and your future spouse will be busy during the holidays.  Do you want to add a wedding on top of that?

*Your families will be extremely busy during the holidays.  Are they going to be willing to help with wedding preparations?

*Will your guests be available during the holidays?  Many people make plans for the holidays a long, long time in advance and do not like to change them.

*Often wedding locations and wedding vendors are booked with holiday events.

*A holiday wedding during the winter can often mean bad weather.  Will your guests be able to get to the wedding if bad weather does break out?

These are some things to definitely think about.  As fun as the idea of a holiday wedding may seem, the truth is that you have to consider the holiday plans of your guests and relatives.  Will all of the people that you want to be there be able to attend a holiday wedding?  Is it simply a time that is too busy and too chaotic for everyone?  Would one bad snow storm have the potential to ruin your wedding?

Each situation is different.  Many couples have had amazing holiday weddings.  Others wish that they would have avoided the hassle.  Whatever you decide, work at it with all of your heart and make your wedding day as special as it can be!

The trend is for weddings to not be the formal, stuffy events that they used to be. We are starting to see a lot more creative things such as we see in the video of Jill and Kevin's wedding entrance dance below. It is no wonder that when the writers of the Office were trying to find something really creative for Jim and Pam's wedding episode that they turned to this Internet phenomenon.

So what do you think about the video below? Do you think it is proper for a wedding party and the bride and groom to dance down the aisle like at Jill and Kevin's wedding? Do you think it was smart and creative for the Office to play off of this video for Jim and Pam's wedding? Do you think that this kind of things represents a good trend in weddings or a bad one? Watch the video of Jill and Kevin's entrance dance for yourself and let us know what you think.....

That means that the wedding industry is adjusting to a new reality: belt-tightening.

"People are absolutely cutting back," Shane McMurray, the founder and CEO of the Wedding Report recently admitted. "But brides are also rethinking what's important. There's more focus now on family. People will still get married. But we won't see them spend the way they used to."

The reality is that many in the wedding industry do not view this as a temporary downturn - they are beginning to see this as a fundamental shift in the industry.

Lazaro Wedding Gown

Elizabeth Oakes recently wrote this in the Examiner: "The wedding industry isn’t just having a bad week, it’s reeling from precipitous declines in wedding spending, pretty much across the board."

Ouch.  According to Oakes, this is causing a lot of consternation in the industry.  The truth is that a lot of vendors and service providers are really hurting, but Oakes did not pull any punches in her column when she openly rebuked the wedding industry and told them that they need to adjust to this new reality:

Hey Wedding Industry! How about some compassion for the brides and grooms who don’t have any, like, freaking funds for health insurance or child care or a mortgage (or rent), and all those who have lost jobs and all their savings (if they had any in the first place?) With all this going on, you think people are supposed to feel guilty for using their own iPods to play music? Have you seen foreclosure rates lately, have you heard about Chrysler and all those bank failures? Get a grip...it's not all about you.

And yes, Wedding Industry, you need to face up to your responsibility in all this: with relentless decades-long fantasy-based marketing campaigns that caused couples to grievously overspend for so many years, with ruthless manipulative advertising and price-gouging designed to deprive families of their dollars for decades, can you really complain because brides are just as ruthlessly slashing your needless commercial fantasies from their budgets?  Wedding Industry, you bought and paid for your image as a purveyor of “luxury” and “elegance," and insisted that overspending was the only way to achieve your golden standard; now that luxury is out and simplicity/frugality are in, you should stop complaining, suck it up, and start reinventing yourself, quick.

Ouch!

So is this the end of the wedding industry gravy train?

Are the good times permanently over?

Nobody knows for certain, but things look really bleak right now.

But in the middle of all of the bad news for the wedding industry, there is a silver lining.  Business is actually increasing for discount bridal outfitters.

David's Bridal, now referred to as the "Wal-Mart of Weddings" by some in the industry, is actually doing quite well.  As brides have sought to cut back expenses, more of them are heading to places like David's Bridal.

The truth is that more than 2.2 million women will get married in the United States this year, and approximately one-third of them will be outfitted by David's Bridal.

Other budget-conscious brides are doing their shopping online at sites like Ebay.  Brides have become more comfortable shopping online in recent years, and now the prospect of saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars is making Ebay an even more attractive option.  Our hope is that this website can help budget-conscious brides take advantage of many of these great deals.

 White Bridal Blusher Birdcage Veil

Ivory Bridal Blusher Birdcage Veil

Vera Wang has been honored with a number of awards for her achievements, including the 1993 Chinese American Planning Council’s Honoree of the Year Award and the 1994 Girl Scout Council’s Woman of Distinction Award. Later that year, she was elected as a member of the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). In 2005, the CFDA selected Wang as the Womenswear Designer of the Year amongst many other achievements.

Jessica Simpson Wore a strapless lace gown with sweetheart neckline designed by Vera Wang.  The dress was a classic A-line fit through the waist and circular skirt with pleats. The dress was ALL LACE which is very rare for a Vera Wang ball gown.

Vera Wang On Weddings

Buy New! from DesignerChoice VERA WANG 1.7 Oz Eau De Parfum For Women by VERA WANG

 (Picture in the introduction - Antique Reproduction 21.56ct Diamond & Emerald Tiara, Ebay Seller SK Exports)

Buy the reproduction -Princess Diana Wedding Tiara: Deluxe Swarovski Spencer Tiara

An employee of Christie's action house displays a rare antique diamond tiara by Faberge, circa 1890, with a series of graduated old-cut diamond arches with knife edge collet spacers and central pear-shaped diamonds during a preview in Geneva. 

Princess Di Cambridge Love Knot Pearl Tiara Replica

Bourbon Parma Replica Rhodium Tiara

Tiaras - A History of Splendour

I found ALL these Tiaras on EBAY!

Antique Reproduction 59.27ct Diamond & Emerald Tiara, Ebay Seller Ebay Seller SK Exports Two Prices, Antique Reproduction !!!! 4.82ct Diamond & Pearl Tiara Store: SK Jewels , Victorian Reproduction 21.56ct Diamond & Emerald Tiara, Ebay Seller Victorian Jewelery US 

 Tiaras: Past and Present

 Fire Red Heirloom Headband

Tiara

 Melissa Jill Photography 

Sofia Negron Photography

Wedding Speeches and Jokes, The Wedding M.C. Joke Book, Jokes, Toasts and One-Liners for Wedding Speeches (Confetti), A Bouquet Of Wedding Jokes (Joke Book)

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#1) Have a rehearsal picnic outdoors.

#2) If your family is a little more informal, a rehearsal "barbecue" can be very memorable.

#3) If you want to try something really different, a Hawaiian luau instead of a rehearsal dinner is something your guests will not soon forget.

#4) Holding a "rehearsal buffet" in someone's home can be an inexpensive option and a more intimate alternative all at the same time.

#5) A "pot luck" where all of the guests bring a dish can save money and can be a lot of fun.

#6) A very creative idea if you live near the beach is to have an old-fashioned clam bake.

#7) A dinner based on your heritage is a particularly meaningful idea if your families put a lot of emphasis on those things.  It can be a subtle way to communicate to your families that you are not forgetting the past as you look forward to the future.

What if I can tell you your scrap book will be instantly done before your dinner is served at your wedding?  With a traditional Guest book, usually the comments are short, and couples sign as one. 

Instead of having your guest sign in at an obvious-expected guest book table, you could have a colorful index card under each of the plate chargers.  This can allow a personal message from everyone, than just a signature.

- You could PRE-Print your Index cards to have a picture at the top that would fit in with your photo album, or your wedding theme.   It is just a matter of getting the old fashioned picture corners that hold the card in place. 

- You could print out directions on the back of the index cards such as, Please sign your name and ANSWER one of the 4 questions.

"What is the secret ingredient to keeping a strong marriage?"
"What moment stands out to you when thinking about Brad and Jennifer?"
"What characteristics do you see in them that will keep their marriage strong?

Have your bridesmaids pick up the cue cards before the meal begins, so you will be guaranteed that no potatoes and gravy make their way into your scrapbook.  People often feel rushed getting into weddings that they do not take the time to write something meaningful at a guest book signing.  The time that your guests are waiting is usually at the table, so why not utilize that time to your benefit, ...........and give your guests something to do if small talk dries out quickly.

Well, back around the middle of the last century, the typical guest list formula was to divide the guest slots among his parents, her parents, and the young couple in a 40:40:20 ratio.  But times have changed.  Today the couple being married typically has more control.  But most parents still want to have at least some input.  The following are some tips that should help you as you go through this process.....

#1) Decide how big you want the wedding to be.  Not everyone has enough money to be able to invite 500 people to their wedding.  Decide what your upper limit is and stick to it. 

#2) Gather input from both sets of parents.  If you ask both sets of parents who they want invited and you put those names with the names of the people that the couple wants to invite, then that will help make sure that everyone has their voice heard and no important guests get left out.

#3) Whoever pays for the wedding should have input into the guest list.  If one or both sets of parents are paying for the wedding, then they rightly should have input into the guest list.  If the couple is paying for the wedding themselves, then the parents should not expect to have much input.

Generally there are three classes of people you will be inviting to your wedding.....

#1) Relatives - This includes your grandparents and your extended family.  Even though you may not see your aunts, uncles and cousins often, it is still important to invite them.

#2) Friends - His friends, her friends and even the close friends of both sets of parents should be invited.  This is one of the most important days of your lives, so you will want your close friends there.

#3) Co-workers, Business Contacts and Other Obligations - In certain situations you will want to, or even be expected, to invite co-workers and business contacts.  These people are often less "important" than family and friends, but in certain social circles these kinds of people will be expecting an invite. 

In order to make sure that nobody gets offended, it is important to keep this process as open and inclusive as possible.  In particular, mothers tend to really want to be involved in developing the guest list.  If you let them participate it will likely make things go more smoothly in the long run.

Tip 1

The placement of utensils is guided by the menu. The idea is you use utensils in an “outside in” order.

Tip 2

Knife blades are always placed with the cutting edge toward the plate

Tip 3
Knives are always to the right, and forks are always to the left.

Tip 4
Dessert spoons and forks are brought in on the dessert plate just before dessert is served. If you are serving a buffet, consider using a charger plate at your tables.
Tip 5

Be sure to give people enough room when deciding on seating arrangements. People do need their own personal space, as well as have enough space for their elbows to move. Being crowded can make your guests feel very uncomfortable while attending your wedding.

Tip 6

Tips for your Buffet- Flatware and napkins should be the final items to be picked up. Napkins rolled around flatware simplify things. Consider setting up beverages at a separate table. Meats should be pre-sliced. Guests have one hand to work while going through the buffet. When you are offering salads to your guests, place the salad dressing with a ladle, for easy pouring. Pedestal plates are a great way to give the buffet table height and dimension. You can feature beautiful desserts, or pre-cut meat.

How to Set a Table

Rules of Etiquette : How to Set a Formal Table

Wedding Table Ideas

The New Style in Crystal Wedding Trees

Wedding Tables

Best Wedding Reception Table Decorations

Highlights from The Wedding Show

Show Me How to create own Wedding Decorations

Beach Weddings NEED Cristalier Crystal Wedding Tree

Centerpiece

Glamorous Wedding Flowers can be inexpensive!

One of the best things a couple can consider when creating a reception that is elegant and inviting is to turn the lights down, and add candlelight details.  Turning on classical or jazz music also creates an atmosphere of elegance and glamour they don't otherwise get at home.  We once went to a wedding where we arrived at the reception, waiting at a table for a good 40 minutes until the bride and groom arrived.   The lights were blaring bright and there was no music which made the small talk even more awkward, and unorganized.   By the time the bride and groom arrived, they were put on the spot light and looked at the entertainment of the night because the guests were so bored.  The dinner was served, and the music was turned on half way through the dinner.  Little details do make the difference in putting people at ease, and setting the mood for a nice evening out, instead of another boring function people have to attend. 

Spectacular Wedding Ideas !

Thank you to Blue Orchid Blog~ WHAT a outstanding wedding!  I wish I was invited!  Notice the Ikea lighting......

Very Quick and Easy Ideas for Appetizers that Will Surely Please

Wedding Unique Hors d'oeuvres

Wedding Unique Hors d'oeuvres Appetizers

Easy Party Planning Tips

Carrot Shows us How to Make Easy Hors D'Oeuvres

Super Simple Tomato and Basil Appetizer

How-to make Tomato Basil Crostini

How-to make Artichoke Dip

Hot Artichoke Dip

How to make Classic Macaroni Salad

How to Make Grilled Fruit Skewers

How to make Guacamole

How to Make Shrimp and Scallop Kabobs

How-to Make Stuffed Mushrooms

Sugar Glazed Pecans Appetizer Recipe

Appetizer recipes: How to make Thai pizza appetizers

How to make Onion Tartlet Appetizers

Two Iraqi Appetizers - Potato Chops & Cigars

Salty sweet tarts, simple apps from Appetizers Galore

Appetizers For Under $1

QVC's Holiday Helpers: Anytime Appetizers

Californos Wedding Buffet

Appetizers

Miraglia Catering

Fresh Fruit Bouquet Company

Indy Anna's Catering

A Collection Of Wedding Bloopers.....

A Cute Wedding Mistake.....

This Has Got To Be One Of The Worst Wedding Moments Ever.....

One Bride Completely Loses it!

A Bride Falls Into The Pool

A Little Too Much To Drink?

 The following pictures and videos below should give you some outstanding ideas.  Not only can you use fruit for your topiaries, but you can also use candy as well..... 

 There are several things that a topiary can accomplish in a decorating scheme.  One is that a topiary can be used to create a sense of height on your tables.  In addition, a dessert topiary can add color and ornate detail to your dinner tables or to your dinner buffet.  

So how do you create a topiary?

 1.Start with an urn or a pot which you think would fit in with your decor.  Securely place your styrofoam or floral foam cone into the pot.  Make sure the foam is firmly placed in the container.

2. If you are using real flowers, inset the flowers into a wet floral cone.  You will want to wet the cone before fitting the cone into the pot or urn. 

The following describes how to make a rose centerpiece floral arrangement.....

The following describes how to make a rose petaltTopiary.....

The following describes how to build a fruit topiary.....

Using your own design, arrange the flowers or fruit into the cone.  You can use toothpicks for fruit, or you can glue your fake flowers on with using a hot glue gun, leaving as little space as possible between each piece. 

3. After totally covering the Styrofoam cone,  insert “fillers” in the gaps between the flowers or nuts. You can use what ever matchs the particular flower or fruit, such as ivy garland, dried or fresh moss, or other materials.

"I was fortunate to know closely the world of Versace" Lucia Zanotti says in describing her start in design. 

What can you expect next year?

Gowns with very light fabrics.  Shades of ivory and lilac and blush colored with hand-embroidery. Importance will be placed on beadings inspired by haute couture jewelry: with sapphires, emeralds and diamonds on the neckline, sleeves and back of the dresses.

Sherri Hill

Reem Acra

Allure Bridal

American Vogue Reese Witherspoon

Allure Bridal

Maggie Sottero

Marchesa

Cate Blanchett, wearing Nina Ricci Photo Annie Leibovitz

Von Lancelot

 Von Lancelot

Red Embrodery - Ebay Seller haoshangfu

Christian Wedding Vow

Groom

 I, _____, take you, ______, to be my wedded wife. With deepest joy I receive you into my life that together we may be one. As is Christ to His body, the church, so I will be to you a loving and faithful husband. Always will I perform my headship over you even as Christ does over me, knowing that His Lordship is one of the holiest desires for my life. I promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, my tenderest care. I promise I will live first unto God rather than others or even you. I promise that I will lead our lives into a life of faith and hope in Christ Jesus. Ever honoring God's guidance by His spirit through the Word, And so throughout life, no matter what may lie ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as a loving and faithful husband.

Bride
I, _____, take you, ______, to be my wedded husband. With deepest joy I come into my new life with you. As you have pledged to me your life and love, so I too happily give you my life, and in confidence submit myself to your headship as to the Lord. As is the church in her relationship to Christ, so I will be to you. _____, I will live first unto our God and then unto you, loving you, obeying you, caring for you and ever seeking to please you. God has prepared me for you and so I will ever strengthen, help, comfort, and encourage you. Therefore, throughout life, no matter what may be ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as an obedient and faithful wife.

Christian Wedding Vow Alternative

Groom
I love you, _____, and I know that God has ordained this love. Because of this I desire to be your husband. Together we will be vessels for His service in accordance with His plan, so that in all areas of our life Christ will have the pre-eminence. Through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future, I promise to be faithful to you. I promise to love, guide, and protect you as Christ does His Church, and as long as we both are alive. According to Ephesians 5 and with His enabling power, I promise to endeavor to show to you the same kind of love as Christ showed the Church when He died for her, and to love you as a part of myself because in His sight we shall be one.

Bride
I love you, ____ and I know that you love me. Because of this I desire to be your wife. For _ years I have prayed that God would lead me to His choice and I am confident that His will is being fulfilled tonight. Through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future I promise to be faithful to you. I will love, serve, and obey you as long as we both are alive. Christ told us that the wife must submit herself unto her own husband as unto the Lord. For as Christ is Head of His Church so is the husband head of his wife. _____, I submit myself to you.

Christian Wedding Vow Alternative

I _____, take you ______, to be my wedded wife/husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.

Bride and Groom Repeat the Same Verse.

Christian Vow Alternative 

Groom
_____, we read in Genesis, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife," and in Proverbs "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing." He has ordained that the husband be the head of the wife. He instructs me, as the one who will be your husband, to love you as Christ loves the Church. It is my desire and delight to follow this scriptural teaching. With all my heart, I make this pledge to you.

Bride
______, the Lord instructs me as the one who will be your wife to submit to you as unto Him. Our Father created woman to be man's helper. It is my desire and delight to follow this scriptural teaching. With all my heart I make this pledge to you.

Christian Wedding Vow Alternative

Groom
______, I love you. Today is a very special day. Long ago you were just a dream and a prayer. This day like a dream come true the Lord Himself has answered that prayer. For today, ______, you as my joy become my crown. I thank Jesus for the honor of going through time with you. Thank you for being what you are to me. With our future as bright as the promises of God, I will care for you, honor and protect you. I lay down my life for you, _____, my friend and my love. Today I give to you me.

Bride
______, I love you and I know you love me. I am confident that God has chosen you to be my husband. It is my prayer and desire that you will find in me the helpmeet God designed especially for you, and in confidence I will submit myself unto your headship as unto our Lord. Therefore, _____, I pledge to you my life as an obedient, faithful and loving wife. Whither thou goest I will go, whither thou lodgest I will lodge, Thy people shall be my people, And thy God my God.

Christian Wedding Vow Alternative

Groom

______, I love you and I know that this love is from God. Because of this, I want to be your husband so that we might serve Christ together. Through all of the uncertainties and trials of the present and future, I promise to be faithful to you and love you. I promise to guide and protect you as Christ does his church, as long as we both shall live. God's Word gives us the perfect example of this love in Christ's death for the Church. I shall try always, with God's help, to show you this same kind of love, for I know that in His sight we will both be one.

Bride

______, I love you. I prayed that God would lead me to his choice. I praise Him that tonight His will is being fulfilled. Through the pressures of the present and uncertainties of the future I promise my faithfulness, to follow you through all of life's experiences as you follow God, that together we may grow in the likeness of Christ and our home be a praise to Him.

Christian Wedding Vow Alternative

Groom

______, as we stand before both God and man, making public our commitment to one another, I wish to make it known that I recognize first of all God's authority over my life which is exercised from His loving heart. He has chosen me to be one of his own, and He is now my life. I recognize also that He has blessed me and entrusted to me your life as a free gift that I have not earned. In recognition of these things, ____ I purpose to love you with His love, to provide for your needs through His enablement, and to lead you as He leads me, as long as He give us life together, regardless of the circumstances. As Psalm 34:3 expressed my heart when I asked you to marry me, so it expresses my heart now: "O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together."

Bride

 On this special day, _____, I am reminded of the verse James l:17 which says, "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." With a gift such as you, I know that many new responsibilities face me. In I Corinthians, it explains "It is required of a steward to be found trustworthy." I cannot do this on my own strength, _______, but by God's grace and power working within me I desire to be trustworthy as your wife by following your leading submissively, even as unto Christ, loving and serving you in all circumstances as long as He give me life on this earth.

Unique Song Ending

Her name is Rani Totman, and since 1985, she has designed every gown of the St. Pucchi Signature and Haute Couture, Avine Perucci, and Sposa by St. Pucchi Collection.  Her collections aim to raise bridal fashion to the level of artistry, not seen since the 18th century.  Rani is truly dedicated designer/business woman and a risk-taker. 'I am constantly in pursuit of perfection,' she says.

At age 20, she started a retail tailoring business of her own in Bangkok. Gaining experience in gown tailoring and design.  She then had an opportunity participating in Paris prêt-a-porter and Igedo, Dusseldorf, where she got a name for her self. 

In 1990 she was a finalist in the category of Best Bridal Designer in Dallas and then was also nominated three consecutive years as a Style Innovator at the Chicago Apparel Center's Debi awards. After receiving the 1995 Debi Award for Best Bridal Designer, she was nominated again in the same category the following year. 'St. Pucchi offers the bride an alternative to traditional styling,' says Rani. Not following the seasonal trends has always landed her in first place in fashion.

Rani Totman travels the world seeking the most luxurious silks, crystals and lace for her signature gowns.  There are many knock-offs with St Pucchi gowns, but one main difference with St Pucchi and most Bridal Gown Designers, is the silk fabric.  The silk often gives off a two dimensional look that satin does not have.  All the details such as the appliqués and crystals are also higher end, pushing the price for one of these gowns into the thousands.  The higher end materials makes a difference even in the photographs.  Rani spends most of her time in Bangkok but also has a home in Los Angeles. 'Staying on the ground for more than 2 weeks is a luxury I wish I could afford,' she says. Between the numerous trunk shows, appearances, and trade shows she attends, Rani also makes at least 4 to 6 trips to Bangkok annually with sporadic visits to Hong Kong or Japan

Count on the fact her gowns are always changing style from year to year,and remaining the most innovative gowns out there. One fact remains, you can wear one of her gowns from the 80's and still remain the talk of the town on your special day.

Today she not only designs gowns, but has a full line of clothing.  Reem has described her style as: “multi-cultural European mixed with a New York modern approach..very couture”. 

Her Wedding gowns are known for their detail in the embroidery.  She combines very curvy romantic silver and gold and even black embroidery into her gowns. 

Her popularity is world wide, and well so, she has fabulous taste! 

Reem Acra Spring 2009 Runway Show

Get Married on Lifetime, Reem Acra, who has designed red carpet gowns for Halle Berry and Angelina Jolie to name a few, describes her wedding gown collection and gives tips for choosing your dress.

Reem Acra Trunk Show

Come with us as we explore a Reem Acra trunk show at Belle Vie Bridal Couture on Oak Street.

The latest wedding gowns for summer Spring and Fall from Reem Acra 2008

1. Ingredients count for more than you think.  Be sure to pick out a good recipe.  Picking cheap flour or using a cheap tasting frosting can ruin the taste.  Test out a batch first before you bake 200 cupcakes.

(Picture Martha Stewart)

2. When measuring your dry ingredients such as flour, sift it first. Even if you're using a cake mix, sift it from the box into the bowl. Sifting makes the batter looser and easier to mix

3. All the ingredients (except milk) should be at room temperature. This makes it easier to mix together. 

4. When mixing the batter, make sure to mix well. But, don't over-mix. Believe it or not, over-mixing can actually "damage" the batter and make the cupcakes chewy and taste a little flat.

5. To create truly moist, melt in your mouth cupcakes, try adding some pudding to the batter. Or something a little different- (a moist taste with tang), use a little cream cheese.  For any recipe, use about a 1/2 cup for any  recipe.

6. When you are pouring the batter, fill the cupcake to  2/3 of the cup. If you overfill the cupcake, you will burn the top, or they will turn out slightly uncooked in the middle. Filling the cup to 1/2 full could cause the cupcake to burn as well.

(Picture Martha Stewart)

7. Always pre-heat your oven. Not pre-heating your oven to a specific temperature can make the sweets flat, dry, and unevenly cooked.

8. Don't add frosting until the cakes are fully cool. Icing the cake before they cool will just melt the icing. 

9.  Another Unique and Interesting idea is to full the cups half way with batter and then fill it with berries, nuts, chocolate chips, then adding batter on top.

10. You can buy specialty cupcake shapes other than round.

11.  Make sure the Frosting and the cake go together. An  apple spice cake with caramel frosting could be very surprising.

12.  Consider Frosting In the centre.  Combining Chocolate in the middle and Vanilla on top could be a big surprise!

Unique Wedding ideas -- Hors d'oeuvres Reception w/cupcakes

Wedding Cupcakes

Do it Yourself?

630 cupcakes for a wedding