ESCAPING TO PARADISE!!!

This was the view from our balcony on our January, 2008 trip....(Puerto Rico)


I will not be posting for awhile....I am leaving tomorrow for a 12 day Caribbean Cruise. Needless to say I CANNOT WAIT!!

This will be our 13th cruise!! Our first cruise was in 2000 and we became totally addicted!!! Cruises are such EASY vacations, it is all paid before you go, everything is done for you.........the food is great and the entertainment is always Top Notch.

We are leaving from NYC and visiting 5 islands......Dominican Republic, Aruba, Curaco,Belize and Roaton, Honduras. This is a repositioning cruise....we leave from NYC and end up in Miami.

The one thing I am looking forward to the most is our shore excursion in the Dominican Republic......we are going to swim with the Sea Lions!!!!!! You all know how much I love animals...This is going to be the highlight of our trip!

It has been a very busy wedding season, so the rest is very welcomed! :) My husband will not let me take my lap top.....which is probably a good thing!!!!! :)

I will be back on November 9th....I will post pictures and give you all of the glorious details! LOL

PLACE CARDS

Place cards are usually on tented cards and displayed in a row....maybe with some rose petals around them..HOW BORING!!! Ha Ha

I encourage my clients to get creative....the place card table is usually the first thing guests see.

Pictured above are some ideas......below are some things to think about when you are thinking of place card ides.

1. Make sure your place cards are in alphabetical order not in table order...this will make it easier for your guests to find their card.

2. Use an easy to read font when printing your cards...if you are hand writing them, make sure they are legible.

3. display your cards in a manner that will enhance the general "look" of your reception.

4. Be creative....

There are lots of websites that will give you ideas... a site I recommend often is: http://www.beau-coup.com/placecardholders.htm

THE PUMPKIN PATCH

This morning we went to my daughter and
son-in-laws house for breakfast. We walked in to the wonderful aroma of pancakes, sausage and fresh coffee.....however.....there were no babies running to the door excited to see us.......I guess those days are long gone!! My oldest grandson Ryan (17) was at his girlfriend's house for breakfast with her family, the middle one...Joel....(15) was off to a Bills game with a bunch of his friends. He was picked up in hummer limo...no competition for his grandparents!! The youngest one Matt...(13) was home.....but he was very engrossed in video games! :)

After breakfast, I was able to convince Matt to come with me to Powers Farm market to go through the teepees and buy cider and doughnuts....Steve, (my husband) was going to stay at our daughter's to watch football..so....Matt and I also planned to go to a movie!!

On the way to the "Pumpkin Patch" we listened to music and talked. I realized that my babies were all young men now, and I had to enjoy them in a different way!

When the kids were little our "grandma" days were a weekly event......now they don't occur as often ..... but they are even more special!!

OUTDOOR CEREMONIES

More and more the trend is leaning towards outdoor ceremonies . (I had 6 this summer!!)

They are casual, relaxed and there is nothing more beautiful if it is a warm sunny day with a cool breeze!!

WHAT IF IT RAINS ????? WHAT IF IT IS HOT AND STICKY ????? DO YOU HAVE A PLAN B ?????

Below are some tips for you to follow to help make your outdoor ceremony everything you dreamed it would be.

SELECTING THE TIME: You should consider the month of your wedding when selecting the time for your ceremony.

~SPRING OR FALL: Spring or fall: The middle of the afternoon is a good choice when
the sun is the warmest.
~ SUMMER: Late afternoon or early evening works best when the sun is beginning to set
and not blazing on your guests.

PLAN B: Weather can be VERY unpredictable, you never know when a thunderstorm or windstorm may blow in. Make sure there is an inside location available a your site that you can use in case of bad weather. If thee is not, you should rent a tent

What will you do if it rains? The ideal outdoor wedding location has an indoor location waiting just in case.

Many brides and grooms opt to have their ceremony outside and reception inside. In a pinch, the tables can be moved to the back of the room during the ceremony.

A tent is another option, but only for light to moderate rain storms. A heavy rain will soak the ground underneath, leaving guests with soggy and muddy shoes. Make sure any tent you rent is sturdy so it won't flip over, and that it has thick and weighted sides.

MAKE YOUR GUESTS COMFORTABLE: Take a few steps to ensure your guests comfort at an outdoor ceremony:
~ Have large tubs of ice water available as your guests arrive or have your usher hand out bottled water as they seat your guests.
~ Print your programs on fans.
~ Check the weather report the week of the wedding and if the forecast is HOT, rent some fans!
~ If you are not having a tent, have a basket of sunscreen available. Some guests may not realize that they will be out in the sun and not be prepared.

PREPARE FOR THE WIND: Not only do you have to think of the rain and the blazing sun, DON'T FORGET THE WIND!!!

If you are having a unity ceremony, consider a sand ceremony or wine ceremony instead of the traditional Lighting of the Unity Candle. If you must have a candle, make sure you have it in glass, but even then, remember you have to light a match or torch to light the candle and that may be difficult.

Tell your hairstylist that you'll be having an outdoor wedding so she/he can plan a style accordingly..

SOUND SYSTEM: Look into renting a sound system with clip mikes for the bride, groom and officiant. Your DJ or band may be able to easily arrange this for you.

DECORATIONS: One of the bonuses of an outdoor wedding is the natural beauty around you. Work with that, not against it.

If you have an idea in your mind for decorations, make sure you select a site that will support your ideas.

Visit the site a week before your wedding to make sure the grass is mown, the ground raked, and the flowers have bloomed. If your wedding is at a public park, you may want to ask the groomsmen to do this the morning of your ceremony. If it's been an especially cold season, you may need to supplement the flowers with some potted bulbs from a florist. Other decorations you may want to consider include an arch or trellis to focus the ceremony and frame the bride and groom as they say their vows.

MUSICIANS: Strings or a harp are great instruments of an outdoor wedding, but remember, Instruments do not like the hot sun…make sure there is a shady spot under a big tree or arrange for a canopy for the musicians to sit under.

DON’T INVITE PESTS: Ask the management of your ceremony site if they spray for pests. If they don’t, be sure to provide citronella candles or a bug zapper so that your guests won't spend the whole ceremony swatting at the air.

PERMITS: Don't forget to contact your city parks department or other local government to get a permit for an outdoor wedding. Be sure to ask about rules concerning trash removal, candle or torch lighting, and pre-wedding photography.

LINENS

Linens shown here are by Table Toppers Of Rochester, Village Gate




When client's ask me what color linens their reception site offers I always say "stained" white or "stained ivory." :)

Linens in different colors and textures enhance the look of your reception. Get creative by choosing one linen for your guest tables and something a little different for the cake table.....As long as everything blends and complements each other you can even use a third linen for your place card, gift tables and cocktail tables.

They may cost a little more.....but they are well worth the money!

A UNIQUE ADDITION TO YOUR CAKE/PASTRY STATION

Add a unique touch to your cake, pastries and coffee station....chocolate shot glasses filled with Bailey's Irish Creme.

If you are in the Greater Rochester area, the Chocolate Shot Glasses are available at Encore Chocolates in Irondequoit. If you are from another area, try a specialty Chocolate Shop in your area.

The only problem with offering these are that you can't refill the tray fast enough!!!! THEY ARE ALWAYS A HUGE HIT!!!!

Fall Wedding Ideas

(right) Floral Ring Bearer Pillows by Edgerton Floral Co, Park Ave.

(below) Fall inspired cake by Gourmet Goodies,Victor

(below, right) Apple Favors

(below, left): Pumpkin Centerpieces by Edgerton Floral Co,







Today's Wedding of Sue Yi and Chris Hunter was held at Shadow Lake's Tent. Being that it is the middle of October, I was quite concerned about the weather.

We were all very grateful when we woke up to a glorious day...72 degrees and bright sunshine....It was almost HOT during their ceremony on the pier.

Sue and Chris's wedding was full of great fall ideas I wanted to share with future fall brides!

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR HOTEL BLOCK

Once you have set up your room blocks at hotels, make sure you keep track of your blocks by calling periodically and asking how many rooms have been reserved.

Ask the hotel representative to email or fax your guest room list so you will be able to make sure that all of your guests who need a room gets one.

Most hotels will only let you hold 10 rooms at a time. By keeping track, you will be able to add more rooms if they are available.

It is always good to advise your out of town guests to book as early as they possibly can so you will be able to manage the block more effectively.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT

A few weeks ago my daughter told me about A "ritual" on my grandsons football team. (They both play on the varsity team at W. Irondequoit High School)!

The night before each game they have a pasta dinner at the school cafeteria.
All of the parents take turns bringing in food ..... I am still not quite sure how it all happened....but guess who signed up to provide pasta for this week's dinner?

So I woke up this morning and immediately started on my project. (I was really looking forward to this...why..I still am not sure!) I worked at home so I could let my sauce simmer to perfection.

I loaded my car with 5 pounds of pasta, 125 meatballs, sausage, pepperoni, and Italian bread!!! I had no idea what to expect when I arrived!

There were 5 or 6 moms hovering Around buttering bread and mixing
salad....I walked in with all of my food.....and started to help set up.

One by one the boys started filtering in from their practice and sat down at the several tables in the cafeteria....they were surprisingly quiet and patiently waited for their table to be called.

My two grandsons hugged and kissed me, thanked me for being there and told me they loved me in front of their friends...the first shocker....then their friends (whom) I've met several times hugged me....the NEXT SHOCK!!! The biggest surprise was when I realized these kids were all respectful young men....I also realized that my grandsons were 2 of those men.

I HAD SOOOOOO MUCH FUN!!! I have always said I am not a COOKIE BAKING GRANDMA... So I think I shocked myself!!! I left the dinner and stopped in at my youngest grandson's volleyball game....I felt grateful and blessed that I had spent the day making spaghetti!!!


Top: Joel 15, Matt 13, Ryan 17

Middle: Ryan #11 Wide Receiver and Safety

Bottom: Joel #5 Quarterback