A glowing review for '1001 Ways to Save Money and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding'

1001 Ways To Save Money . . . and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding by Sharon Naylor

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You HAVE to get "Signature Sasha"

It's new. It's amazing. It's my dear friend and colleague Sasha Souza's phenomenal book Signature Sasha, filled with breathtaking images of her wedding designs.

Sasha is known for her amazing color artistry, and you're going to find so much inspiration in here for your own big day. It's packed. And gorgeous.

And here's another awesome perk: if you order through Sasha's site, you can get an autographed copy. So, Moms and Dads, bridesmaids and friends, this could be a great gift for the newly-engaged couple. Brides and grooms, how great would it be to get personal congrats from one of Modern Bride's Top Trendsetters and our newest addition to the circle of celebrity wedding book authors?

Check Sasha out, follow her @sparkliatti, and follow her blog. She's a different kind of celeb wedding coordinator: almost sinfully talented, yet still the cool sister or best friend you'd like to hang out with and throw back some martinis. I'm thrilled to know her, and thrilled to point you to her site so that you can get to know her, too!

Budget-Saver: Use Locally-Grown Foods in Your Menu....But What Are They?

You see the advice everywhere in articles and books on how to save money on your wedding: use locally-grown, in-season foods in your wedding menu. Importing costs extra money, after all. But how do you find out what these foods are?

As I'm researching my newest book, I came across these fabulous resources for you! Check out the following to find lists of the local foods in your region, searchable by season:

LocalHarvest.org
and
NRDC.org, which is organized so beautifully! You just enter your state and the season, broken down by 'early October' and 'late October' and such, to really zero in on what's in-season...as well as what's in-season in states near you. A great resource that's going to help you work so much better with your caterers!

Bring in your European heritage through flowers

I'm all about personalizing weddings, and bringing in the official flowers of your heritage is a great way to do so!

Here are the official flowers of some European countries, so that you can combine your His and Hers heritage in every floral detail:

Albania: Red and black poppy
Austria: Alpine gentian
Bulgaria: Rose
Cyprus: Cyprus cyclamen
Denmark: Red clover
Estonia: Cornflower
Finland: Lily of the valley, and the white rose
France: Fleur de lis
Germany: Cornflower
Greece: Laurel branch, and the violet
Iceland: White dryas
Ireland: Shamrock
Italy: Cyclamen
Macedonia: Poppy
Netherlands: Tulip
Norway: Heather
Portugal: Blue-white hydrangea, among others
Romania: Romanian peony
Serbia: Plum
Slovakia: Tilia cordata
Slovenia: Carnation
Spain: Carnation
Sweden: no national flower, but each province has its own flower
Switzerland: Edelweiss
Turkey: Tulip
United Kingdom: Tudor rose, and each county has its own signature flower

Perfect flowers for Asian-themed wedding events

If your wedding -- or your cocktail party, rehearsal dinner, or bridal shower -- will have an Asian theme, bring the tone and feel of an authentic Asian wedding into your celebration beautifully by using the Official Flower of your chosen Asian region:

Bangladesh: Shapla
Bhutan: Blue poppy
Cambodia: Romdual
People's Republic of China: Peony (also the plum blossom or the chrysanthemum)
Hong Kong: Bauhinia blakeana
Macau: Lotus
Indonesia: Melati (a type of jasmine) or moth orchid
Japan: Cherry blossom or chrysanthemum
North Korea: Magnolia
South Korea: Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon)
Malaysia: Chinese hibiscus or Phalaenopsis orchid
Singapore: orchid (Vanda Miss Joaquim variety)
Taiwan: Plum blossom
Thailand: Dok Khuen
Vietnam: Red lotus

Use one, or use a combination, to pay homage to your culture, or just to your chosen style for your big wedding events.

Barbie's big wedding season

This is Barbie in a Reem Acra. Yes, that's right. Reem. Acra.

Wedding world is Barbie's world -- with the 50th anniversary of our favorite doll offering all kinds of amazing special editions, including a Barbie and Ken wedding set that I just have to have. Looking on eBay, I found a vintage Korean Barbie and Ken wedding doll set that just might kick off my new collection of all things Bridal Barbie.

I'd love for you to check out this site for links to what's new in Barbie's world, plus special Barbie editions of bridal-party perfect goodies from Dylan's Candy Bar and other hot places. I'm thinking the Barbie bridal shower --no matter what age the bride -- is quickly going to take over the bridal shower theme, since we all had such fun with our Barbie collections, the Barbie Dream House. I had the cabana, a convertible, a Winnebago, even an airplane. So we all have that Barbie DNA, making this an incredibly fun and special theme for showers and bridesmaid luncheons. The fact that it's the 50th anniversary special edition of these dolls -- a collector's item gift for the bride, too -- just makes it all the more fun.

Oh, and at that site, you can learn the new Barbie dance, performed to the 'Barbie Girl' song. Maybe after a few cocktails, the girls can give it a go...

Pretty Pink Freshwater Pearls

Look at these! Pretty pink freshwater pearls would make the perfect gift from groom to bride if she wants a delicate pop of color to match her wedding bouquet. Who says you have to wear diamonds? Or white pearls?

These babies are so lovely -- maybe too pricy for your bridesmaids' gifts unless you're so not on a budget, but wouldn't they be GORGEOUS gifts for the Moms? If the Moms are wearing any variation of pink, taupe or silver, these would look amazing!

I'm a huge fan of freshwater pearls, and I don't believe in the whole superstition related to pearls on the wedding day [supposedly, not the best luck in the world.] To see the pink freshwater pearls above, check out the Blue Nile page...

Signing up for Martha Stewart University

Martha's done it again! What a fabulous gift idea for the bride! Martha Stewart now offers video classes that you can upload -- most for just $12.95 per course...and some of these have 14 different segments! Check it out here. If you plan to DIY anything for your wedding, invest that $12.95 and get help from Martha and Darcy!

Write it, but don't send it

When someone really tweaks a nerve with you, saying something heinously insulting, or throwing a wrench into your plans, or questioning your taste in wedding plans...or your groom, you're probably going to boil up in anger and want to lash out. They do say it's better to get anger out than suppress it, right?

Well, reacting in anger isn't going to get you anywhere. You just sink to their level and make them very very happy. Because their goal was to pop your happiness bubble and make you miserable like they are.

So for now, write out the best tell-off letter you can -- by hand, so there's no file for anyone to see later -- and then toss it away. Or burn it. I just wrote out one of those babies today, and I feel a lot better. It helps so much to get that vitriol out of your mind, onto paper, and into the trash. For really bad offenders, you might find yourself scribbling out several notes over the course of some time.

Face it, anyone who's an adult is a finished project. You're not going to teach them anything by telling them a better way to handle their misery. You're not going to touch upon any sense of compassion in them, because there probably is none. So don't waste your time trying to teach a bottom feeder to become a benevolent soul. It's not going to happen.

Hang out with your benevolent soul friends, and absorb the good vibes of their input and their company. Leave your misery-soaked acquaintances to their own paths. This time is too short to let them have any effect on your fabulous life.

Following the fall foliage

Fall is almost fully here, and if your wedding takes place this fall, you're probably very interested in the colors of peak fall foliage. What a fabulous background, all of those vibrant reds, oranges, yellows and a gorgeous blue sky behind them all! I love this Weather Channel tool that shows you when and where peak fall foliage is arriving, and don't forget that this is a fabulous site to check if you'd like to plan a fall foliage pre-wedding getaway with your sweetie [think B&B, spiced cider, hayrides and apple picking!] or a fall spa getaway with your girls.

Getting out in nature is a great way to de-stress too, so maybe this map will -- in the coming weeks -- inspire you to hop in the car for a spontaneous road trip together. Just make your hotel reservations before you go, since 'leaf-peeping' is hugely popular and thus many of the more affordable hotels and B&Bs will be booked solid during peak weeks. Call ahead, book, and -- okay, so maybe it's not so spontaneous, but better to call ahead. :]

Create your color scheme with Dessy and Pantone!

In my book What's Your Bridal Style, I talk about where to find inspiration for the perfect color choices for your bridesmaid dresses, table linens, flowers, even the icing on the cake! I'm so thrilled to share with you the newest, fun tool from Dessy and Pantone that will make your color selections fabulous!

Here's the big announcement that JUST landed in my In-Box:

Brides want their big day to perfect, but we we’ve all heard the classic wedding horror stories about missing photographers, toppled cakes and color disasters. Wouldn’t it be nice to strike one potential nightmare from the list?

To help brides plan the color-coordinated wedding of their dreams, The Dessy Group, a leading manufacturer of bridesmaid’s dresses and bridal apparel, together with color authority Pantone have announced PANTONE WEDDING, exclusively from Dessy. PANTONE WEDDING is a collection of color tools that make it easy for brides to create perfectly color-coordinated weddings – from inspiration to “I do.”

PANTONE WEDDING features paper swatch cards that can be used on their own, or in combination with Dessy’s popular fabric swatches, to coordinate wedding colors – from bridesmaid and flower girl dresses, accessories and menswear to flowers, invitations and tabletop designs. The Dessy Web site now includes a special section dedicated to PANTONE WEDDING that features inspirational Style Boards to help brides choose their wedding colors and accompanying bridal apparel. Brides can browse over 200 PANTONE WEDDING Colors, select from all Dessy bridal apparel and accessories or import wedding and inspirational images from the Web, then save or share their styleboards with friends.

Congratulations to the Envirosax contest winner!

Congratulations to Rachel S. of Chicago, the winner of my green weddings contest! Rachel shared some terrific ways that she plans to incorporate eco-friendly elements in her big day, and she has won 8 gorgeous eco-friendly bags from Envirosax. Rachel like the Mikado styles. Which are your favorites?

My novel is a hit on Kindle! Reviewed as 'laugh out loud' and 'fun, fun, fun!'

I have to agree with the reviewers! My novel It's My Wedding Too *is* laugh out loud and fun, fun, fun! I had such a blast creating these characters -- my uptight, upper-crust romance novelist Delilah and her attempts to take over her daughter's wedding. My Earth-mother Carmela who is having a really hard time accepting that her son has cut the apron strings. And we have a male dancer named The Hawk [pronounced 'Da Hawk in true Bostonian pitch] and a feng shui-obsessed, heartbroken bridesmaid who finds love at the end of the novel...only it's not with a man. Nor a pair of shoes. You're going to LOVE how her love story evolves. Throw in a fake, cheesy bridal shower just to stun Delilah and an unforgettable backstory for Carmela (heart-wrenching!!), and you know you're so going to read this novel now, right?

Check out It's My Wedding Too here on Kindle.

Or get your paperback copy here at Amazon.

Get ready to laugh out loud, and please do leave me a great review on Amazon!

Forget fireworks...plan for Shooting Stars

Who wants the hassle of finding a fireworks company, getting permits, worrying about drought conditions that mean you can't set off those dramatic post-reception fireworks? Get a light show overhead that's FREE from Mother Nature by checking out this terrific site's schedule of expected Meteor Showers.

The night sky could be filled with dozens of meteors per hour -- in some regions, at peak meteor shower times, and with a clear sky, that number could soar to the hundreds! You and all of your guests get to make wishes on each of them.

How fabulous would this nighttime light show be for your wedding plans? And for marriage proposal plans! So guys, if you're looking for the perfect place and time, with a gorgeous scenic view, and want to propose under the stars, there's no better and more romantic way to get your sweetheart to join you for a night of stargazing.

Ann Taylor LOFT Sweepstakes Widget

Massage For the Cure -- Help Fight Breast Cancer on Sept 15th

We can all use a great massage, and I'm thrilled to help Massage Envy partner with the Susan G. Komen group to battle breast cancer with their special event: Massage For the Cure. On September 15th, you can get a $35 massage -- and they are INCREDIBLE! -- with $10 donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

As a grateful beneficiary of the research and early detection of breast cancers -- my pre-cancer was found, cut out and radiated before turning into something horrible -- I encourage you to join in the fight in a very pleasant, calming and relaxing way...with a great massage on September 15th. Find out more here.

Some wedding lore makes me laugh...

While double-checking the symbolism of certain wedding flowers, I stumbled upon this very funny Old-World rhyme about the color of a wedding dress. Way long ago, white wedding dresses were a sign of being fabulously wealthy, and not every woman could get her hands on a white dress. At the Morris Museum, where I recently gave a lecture, their historical wedding gowns on display showed bright emerald green dresses from the 1800s, sapphire blue dresses...and even today's bride might choose a dress with a touch of color to it. Top-name designers are showing pink dresses, sage green dresses for organic weddings, lilac dresses, metallics and brights. With modern fashion trends in mind, how funny is it to see a poem like this one:

Married in white, you have chosen alright.
Married in green, ashamed to be seen.
Married in red, You will wish yourself dead.
Married in blue, you will always be true
Married in yellow, ashamed of your fellow.
Married in black, you will wish yourself back.
Married in pink, of you he'll think.

Of course, we know that cultural weddings often call for gorgeous red wedding dresses, and it would be a bit dramatic to think a bride is wishing herself dead!

It's quite funny to look back on the role that superstition and 'what's proper' played in weddings of olde, and aren't we lucky that we can choose a gown of color if we want to?

Catch me on Bridal Guide's homepage EVERY DAY!

Starting you off with : 153 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding, and encouraging you to check out my daily Recession-Buster tips on the Bridal Guide home page -- we launch a fresh tip every day!

Celebrity-studded bachelorette parties!

It's the new, hot trend in replacing the drunkfest bachelor and bachelorette parties: going to a fanfest convention, such as the hot ticket TwiTour Twilight convention. Yes, it's Twilight, and all of our favorites will be there -- Ashley Greene included. This event has been sold out for months, and imagine the excitement of everyone from your flowergirls to your junior bridesmaids, all the way up to the Moms who love their Twilight when you announce that this is going to be your pre-wedding celebration! Everyone gets to sit in on a Q&A session, you may get to have brunch with the stars, meet the director of the movie, and shop like crazy -- money far better spent on Edward keepsakes than on shots of tequila!

I love these shows, for the creativity of the sets, the excited vibe in the showrooms, the chance to speak to artists and creators who are big in the news, and the thrill of getting to say, "I was there!" The same-old bachelorette party doesn't give you this kind of fun and excitement for your entire group, young and old!

For your local tour dates and the Creation Entertainment lineup of upcoming tour dates, visit their website today and get your tickets now!

I love these tee shirts!

How cute are these?! I admit it...I was looking through CafePress.com for Twilight tee shirts...to give to my Mom....for Christmas, and I stumbled upon these fantastic tees that would be the most adorable bridesmaid gifts or bridal shower favors. And if you're a stressed-out bride, maybe your bridesmaids are going to give one or two of these to you as a gift. As in, Take the Hint.
You can find these, and other designs, right now at CafePress.com.