Blog - Page 70 of 93 - The Wedding Guys

TrendSpot: STARS

May 14, 2010

Checkout the Summer 2010 issue of Get Married Magazine, The Wedding Guys are quoted on page 74! In the translating the trends section of the magazine we talk about the latest craze of incorporating a star motif into your wedding. This strong graphic element is so classic, yet uber chic. At the Spring tour of the Unveiled Wedding event we translated this trend into an exciting experience for brides attending the show. From a cascading sculpture of falling stars that made up the altar to the simple detail of including stars on the reception menus, we tied the starry night concept throughout the décor. Check out more fun pictures on flikr. If you have any good ideas, share them with us! We’d love to hear what you’re theme is!

Say Cheese……Boards!

May 12, 2010

While in LasVegas recently at the Venetian Resort and Casino for an event, we had the great honor to have appetizers and wine with some of our friends at WeddingWire. Actually it was Antipasti, which gave us a great idea for a wedding.

Antipasto means “before the meal” and is the traditional first course of a formal Italian meal. Traditional antipasto includes cured meats, olives, roasted garlic, pepperoni, mushrooms, anchovies, artichoke hearts, various cheeses (such as provolone or mozzarella and peperone (marinated small green bell peppers not to be confused with pepperoni). The antipasto is usually topped off with olive oil.

Many compare antipasto to hors d’oeuvre, but antipasto is served at the table and signifies the official beginning of the Italian meal. It may be referred to as a starter, or an entrée outside the United States and English Canada.

All said, it was a great way to share time with friends over a glass of wine and great conversation. For brides looking for a great way to incorporate this into their wedding, you may want to consider this as either the butler course at your cocktail reception using a fun cheese board concept with your monogram or invitation signature element printed on the parchment paper, or as the starter of your formal dinner as guests are seated.

Unveiled appears on WE TV’s Girl Meets Gown

May 10, 2010

Unveiled’s TrendSpot Fashion Show appears on WE TV’s all-new original series, Girl Meets Gown.

Sure to be a runaway hit, Girl Meets Gown takes a behind-the-scenes look at the Dallas metroplex premiere bridal salon, Stardust Celebrations. Be sure to tune in and see your favorite gowns every Sunday at 9:00 PM CST. The show features the real life stories of the quest to find the perfect gown. This emotional rollercoaster is narrated by salon owners Marsha Ballard French and Jenny Cline who we have had the pleasure of working with in creation of the Unveiled Wedding Event in Dallas, TX. Stardust Celebrations is a show sponsor and has been featured in the TrendSpot Fashion Shows at the Unveiled Wedding Event. The camera crew was onsite at our October 2009 show and footage of the Unveiled Fashion Show was featured on last weeks episode. Take a look here at the gorgeous dresses from the fashion runway featured on Girl Meets Gown.

Monique Lhuillier Fall 2010 Couture Bridal Market

May 10, 2010

With each season at Couture Bridal Market in New York we always look forward to receiving our personal invitation from Monique Lhuillier to preview her latest designs in her Platinum Collection. What an opportunity to see the dresses up-close and personal in the stunning London Hotel. This season an extra special treat…to visit with Monique herself. With her crazy schedule and now two little ones, we don’t always get a chance to catch up. We truly love Monique and her husband Tom, not to mention Dawn Bromander, Monique’s Retail Director, one whom we love to laugh with.

For the first time, we are giving you a behind the scenes look at a private preview. We pulled together a few photos and a little video to give you a feel for our experience when we sit down for a private showing.

So here is what we thought of the new collection:

This season we were amazed to see her chic style in a romantic crossover to red carpet glam in some of her silhouettes. Monique’s gravitation towards sleeves was well received. In a very dreamy look with the use of organza and rouching, she completed a very delicate sleeve. The off the shoulder design was a very bold demure look, stylish and radiant.

The beautiful hand detailing and astonishing use of fabrics by Monique is clearly evident – creating the signature of a truly one-of-a-kind couture designer. I have to say all of her line represents a “True Bride” in every sense. Each silhouette is a unique statement of stunning refined grace with a hint of individualism true to every bride.

There was one gown that clearly astonished me when it passed by, it was the dainty silk organza butterflies detailed in the bodice and covering the fit and flare shirt. As the model moved, it was as if white dainty butterflies were carrying the bride down the aisle. I have to say it was as if I was in a dream.

Fireworks- Not just for the 4th of July!

May 7, 2010

The excitement of fireworks for any celebration is sure to get the Oohs and Ahhs. And for a wedding this display of fireworks is sure to not only thrill your guests but also surprise them. Fireworks for a wedding can take on many different forms such as sparklers when the couple leave the reception, fountain cones to announce an afterglow party outdoors or the large displays we love as kids and wish would never end, or as adults you wished the finale was done all the time for 10-15 minutes.

There are a few things you need to consider when having fireworks at your wedding, don’t assume you can have fireworks anywhere:

Indoor or Outdoor Pyrotechnics

Clearing radius around the take off of the fireworks.

City, Town or County Permit

Fire Marshall Approval

When is sunset?

Time limit when they need to be completed

Noise restrictions (booms) after a certain time in the evening.

How do you introduce fireworks:

Most displays are done at the end of the reception when the bride and groom leave or when the reception comes to an end. Here is something we did for a wedding and the guests really enjoyed it and once again gave them a surprise after the fireworks ended.

At the end of the dinner, the guests were ushered outside for an after dinner glass of champagne and toast from the bride and groom to their guests thanking them for spending their glorious day with them to celebrate their marriage. As the guests raised their glass to say cheers, the first fireworks shot into the sky. Following the finale, guests returned to their dinner to find the table stripped of dirty dishes and freshly re-set with a piece of wedding cake, chocolate truffle and a cordial.

What a finale!

Going Clubbing for a Reception- It’s about the vibe!

May 7, 2010

Over the last couple of years we have worked increasingly with alternative reception venues as our couples are gravitating away from the more traditional ballrooms and requesting more trendy clubs for their weddings, where they have enjoyed fun times with their friends.

Night clubs, jazz clubs, cabaret clubs and, yes, even dance clubs are happy
to assist a couple in buying out a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night for just the right price. Of course, a buyout is based on the average nights profit they would normally receive if they were open so be prepared it may be less or more than you expect.

The fun thing about a club is the layout, atmosphere and if you enjoy the house band, you may be able to secure them at a great rate.

Room layout can be fun and difficult, all at the same time. You just need to be patient and work with the space utilizing booths, 6 tops, 4 tops and even 2 tops. High tops and low cabaret tables also fit right in. The club will generally have great décor and lounge style furniture. If you ask, chances are they will allow you to rearrange the furniture as long as you are careful and it’s up to fire code.

Atmosphere is usually the greatest when it comes to a club. Because you already identify with the club’s environment chances are you already like the interior design and décor of the space. Because of this, your décor budget will allow you to focus on up-lighting walls for dramatic affect and creating small centerpieces that don’t decorate the space but enhance the beauty of the room. Because the band and dance floor area usually take a prominent place in the room, this allows for great flow and great access on and off the dance floor. The band can be set up on the stage and speeches and toasts can be given from the stage as well.

If you want to have a little fun with a club reception, hire a few people
with flash cameras and as your guests arrive have them take photos of the
guests arriving as though they are stars being photographed by the paparazzi and hire others to pretend their fans and ask for their autographs which can echo their sentiments’ for you the couple. Team this up with a club re-mix CD of both of your favorite songs and you have a perfect favor for your guests!

Unveiled Receives 3 Star Awards!!

May 3, 2010

Unveiled was recognized with three 2010 BSPi Star Awards at the recognition dinner held at The Paris Hotel in Las Vegas on May 1st. Each year Bridal Show Producers International presents awards in several categories recognizing excellence in achievements. Submissions are accepted and judged by industry experts and announced at the annual conference each year. This year The Wedding Guys were honored with Best of Show for Show Program, Exhibitor Focused Marketing and Paid Marketing – TV. To date the work of The Wedding Guys has been honored with a total of 8 BSPi Star Awards.

Let them eat Cake

March 25, 2010

What is it about a wedding cake that is like no other type of cake? One of our dearest friends believes wedding cake should not just be for weddings, it should be eaten anytime of the year. There is something magical about the texture and fillings that, when eaten, just does a happy little dance on your taste buds. Cakes have come a long way over the years to quite the pastry culinary delight.

One thing we always like to do for couples is to challenge the traditional status quo aspects of a wedding. We are always looking to twist the traditional into a contemporary, some times odd, concept. For example we have served a dinner menu backwards starting with cake first continuing on to the main entrée, salad etc. So here is what we did for a cake during an eight-course dinner with wine pairings.

We are sure you have heard of a wine flight where you can sample three or more different types of wines, well for cake, we designed a cake flight. In developing the cake during the tasting, the cake was constructed in three tiers. We wanted the groom and bride, the mother of the bride and mother of the groom to have their favorite flavors represented so we were able to give each of them a tier to add their favorite cake and filling.

In doing this we accomplished two things. Everyone received the flavors they liked for the wedding cake and also, it gave each guest the opportunity to taste all three cake flavors and fillings. Each plate had three petite pieces of cake –

Guests enjoyed three different cake flavors, a star anise cake with pear custard and ginger mousse, a coconut cake with orange custard and coconut buttercream, and orange flower cake with blackberries and ginger mousse. The three pieces of cake were toped with a custom sugar grape leaf, on each was piped the couples names in chocolate. Oh and of course guests were offered champagne or an after-dinner cordial!

Cake anyone?

Processional Music

March 2, 2010

Our picks are not what you think!

A procession is supposed to be a proud uplifting emotional time. The typical processions to Air on a G String and Trumpet Voluntary are so over used and quite honestly show no creativity and attention to detail. Always remember your entrance and the ceremony is the beginning of your wedding not the part you “Have” to do just to get to the party.

When we design the entrance at the ceremony for the wedding party, we usually have a tendency to twist and turn things around to get the maximum flow generated in the creative process, to develop a truly unique start to the wedding. So if you are daring enough to attempt this, think backwards and select the types of music, which are more common with the recessional and consider them for your processional.

Here are just a few to get yours started! Enjoy!

I Was Glad – Hubert Parry
Love Changes Everything – A.L. Webber
Fairy Dance – J.N. Howard
And the People Rejoiced – David Bates
Arise – Shine – John Rutter
Fugue on Wachet aug – Max Reger
Hallelelujah – Beethoven
In Dir ist Freude BWV615 – J.S. Bach
Prelude and Fuge in B – Marcel Dupres
Psalm 100 – Charles Ives
Requiem Grande Messe – Rex Tremendoe
Sing Joyfully – William Byrd
Symphonie 34 Allegro – Louis Vierne
Marche Heroique – Saint-Saens
Imperial March – Edward Elgar
Ave Maria – Bach
Processional in D – David N. Johnson
Toccata Symphony in F Major – Charles Widor
Fanfare in D Major – Joques Lemmens
Horn Pipe – Handel
Rigaudon – de Campera
St. Anthony Coral – Haydn
Fantasy in C Major – J.S. Bach
Rondeau – Mouret

If you are having organ music, make sure the organist is not timid in playing, this is a very proud and bold time and so the music should be as well.

Hakim Sons Films

February 26, 2010

We had the distinct pleasure of working with Shezad Manjee of Hakim Sons Films in Dallas to create a wonderful film on the Unveiled Wedding Event experience. We have been thrilled by the response by brides as they have visited the Unveiled Wedding Event web site for the Dallas show on March 6th at the Dallas Convention Center. What great visuals and style to their filming and editing, brides would be so lucky to have Hakim Sons Films produce a wedding film!

Shezad is a mastermind when it comes to focus and vision for a film. To call it videography seems odd because it’s so much like watching a movie. People truly should see them work – true professionals, non-intrusive and brilliant!

Enjoy the Unveiled Wedding Event experience!