Today, the couple will celebrate their love on the grass lawn, overlooking the downtown San Diego skyline with a Catholic ceremony followed by a reception filled with Filipino traditions – including traditional dancers, special cuisine and of course – the money dance!  Guests will also experience some fun surprises (we’ll tell you about them when we post their wedding recap).

Thank you to Nate Goins Photography for sharing their engagement photos.  Congratulations MaryAnn and Steve!!!

The couple LOVES lacrosse and has subtly included it into their reception, which will take place today at Prado Balboa Park.

A special thank you to the amazing Bryan N Miller Photography for sharing their engagement photos. We can’t wait to celebrate with you two!!!

Today, Alex will marry her sweetheart Kris in an outdoor waterfront ceremony followed by an amazingly fun reception – complete with a high-end tequila tasting bar, late-night churro station and perhaps my personal favorite… instead of a guest book, they are asking everyone to sign 5 different bottles of wine, which they will open up every anniversary over the next 5 years. (I LOVE this!)

Many, many congratulations to this fabulous couple.  We wish you a lifetime of beautiful memories together!

Thank you to Alexandra Oat Photography for sharing their engagement photos!

The couple is so perfect for each other and we can’t wait to celebrate with them.  Their ceremony site is going to be absolutely phenomenal.  They are having Concepts Event Design drape the pond area of the Bahia Resort on Mission Bay, which will be a magical, lit locations for their post-sundown Jewish ceremony.

Congratulations Sarah and Scott!  Thank you to Darryn St John Photography for sharing these great engagement photos.

If you are coming, stop by and say hello.  First Comes Love will be at BOOTH 404.

Bridal shows offer a great opportunity for you to interact with vendors.  Here is the First Comes Love recommended approach for the best (and most productive) bridal show experience:

MAKE A LIST - Before you attend a bridal show, make a list of the vendors you still need.  While it can be fun to check out all of the vendors, you’ll want to focus on those that you still need to book for your wedding.

PRINT BUSINESS CARDS OR LABELS – Most wedding vendors will aim to collect your information when you visit their booth.  It can be very time-consuming (and redundant) to fill out their forms.  I recommend creating your own slips that include: Bride’s name, Groom’s name, wedding date, wedding location (if chosen), email, phone number and a notes section.  But remember, any information that you provide, the wedding vendor will use.  So if you only want to get emails, don’t put your phone number on it.  Also, the more information you provide, the easier it will be for the wedding vendor to provide you with information relevant to your wedding.  And only give your information to vendors who you actually want to hear from.

MY BIGGEST, BEST TIP – Do not, I repeat, DO NOT collect information from vendors that you are not interested in.  The worst thing a bride and groom can do is collect a bunch of fliers about wedding vendors.  I know it is tempting to pick up fliers from the vendors who are extending their arms toward you, but remember, whatever you put in that great big bag you were given when you walked in the door, you then have to go through.  Andafter a while, it will be hard to distinguish who you had a really good conversation with verses who had someone aggressively pushing their materials on you.

SPEND TIME WITH THE VENDORS – Here’s the deal.  On your wedding day, the people you hire are navigating the most important day of your life.  You want to make sure that your personalities mesh well with the vendors who will be on-site.  This is especially true with DJs, photographers and videographers.  This is your chance to see if you get a good vibe from these people.  Ask questions, talk about pricing and make sure that this is someone you want to spend your big day with.

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS – Sometimes it is hard to know what to ask vendors.  I have a great list, so if you want mine, feel free to EMAIL ME or you can find lists of questions online.

ENJOY YOURSELVES – Planning your wedding is supposed to be fun.  If you have a full-service planner, navigate the show with them.  This can be a great way to do mini-consults with several vendors at once.  Your consultant can help you bypass the vendors who are not relevant to you and introduce you to their favorite vendors.  If you are flying solo, walk the show once without talking to any vendors and mark the ones you want to talk to.  Then go back a second time and actually talk to the vendors you like.

TAKE NOTES – Whether on paper or your BlackBerry, make notes on what you like about specific vendors.  Are they offering a set discount for the show?  Did they say something that really hit home?  The more notes you have, the easier the follow-up process will be.

Hopefully these tips will help as you plan your big day!

Sometimes, love just happens.  Nancy and Greg met while working for the same company.  It was Nancy’s birthday so a group of her co-workers took her to Dave and Buster’s for a fun outing. Greg was there.  The two hit it off, traveled the world together and today, we celebrate their love for each other and the two coming together in marriage.  We couldn’t be happier for the couple.  Their love is so inspiring and you can tell how much they love each other.

Each of our couples is different and we love them for it.  I have become close with Nancy and Greg over the past year, planning their wedding.  Through planning meetings, emails and calls, we have gotten to know each other really well (she even came to Zumba with me).  So when the skies were not cooperating with us this morning, I was truly sad.  It’s never fun to have to move a ceremony inside when an outdoor ceremony is planned, but when I went into Nancy’s room at La Valencia to discuss our options with her, she got what her wedding is all about.  She was okay with moving the ceremony inside because she was still getting to marry Greg.  So… we cancelled the generator, set up inside and planned for an intimate ceremony in front of the fireplace at Cuvier Club.

BUT… at 2:30pm, the sun came out.  I got a call from our groom and he knew how important a waterfront ceremony was to his bride.  Greg asked what we could do to make the outdoor ceremony.  Incredibly, between the hard work and dedication of the DJ (who ran power from his car for the ceremony), Cuvier Club in lending out their chiavari chairs for the ceremony and my staff (Leslie – you rock!) we made it happen.

CONGRATULATIONS Mr and Mrs Hauser.  We wish you a lifetime of happiness and lots of three kiss moments!

A special thank you to Photo by Chana and Don for sharing their super cute engagement photos!

We eat, breath and sleep weddings ’round the clock! So with each new year, we look forward to meeting all the new nearlyweds that join the ranks, and of course… the hot new wedding trends that emerge! Our 2011 predictions were pretty spot on (not to toot our horn or anything!) and the time has come to count down what we think will be the top 12 trends for 2012 weddings:

#12—Food trucks  If you’ve ever come face to face with a food truck filled with yummy, greasy grub after a long day (or night) of drinking, you already know that it’s bliss on wheels! 2012 couples are taking note, inviting fun food trucks to their wedding receptions and after parties. From ice cream to burgers to pizza, pretzels, hot dogs, and fried Twinkies (yes, I said it), 2012 wedding guests will be leaving receptions with full & satisfied tummies!

#11—Unique head chic  When it comes to topping off the perfect wedding hairstyle, 2012 brides have endless possibilities! Haute couture headpieces, mini wedding hats, fascinators and headbands have joined the likes of traditional bridal veils and tiaras, which makes shopping for bridal hair accessories a whole lot more fun! Some of our favorite head chic designers? Sara Gabriel, Twigs & Honey, Portobelloand White by Vera Wang.

#10—Royal wedding inspiration  Millions watched, tweeted and buzzed as Kate Middleton exchanged vows with Prince William on April 29th, 2011. So it should come as no surprise that 2012 brides will incorporate style and decor details inspired by the royal wedding. Brides are trending towards smaller, simpler bridal bouquets of ivory blooms with touches of green, natural, glowy makeup, looser wedding hairstyles, and dainty bridal bling. Wedding dresses with sheer lace sleeves are more popular than ever, cap sleeves and cowl necks are all the rage, and ivory bridesmaids’ dresses are suddenly chic (and totally acceptable). We predict Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dressing more celebrity brides in 2012!

#9—Letterpress with a modern twist  When I think Letterpress, three words always come to mind; classic, luxurious, pricey. But thanks to innovative stationery designers like Bella Figura, classic, traditional brides won’t be the only ones choosing letterpress in 2012! Bold, modern fonts, bright neon hues, geometric patterns, and unexpected color pairings atop classic ivory letterpress will make even the mostoffbeat bride swoon!

#8—Bijou weddings  2012 nearlyweds have cracked the code! The best way to get exactly the type of wedding you want without breaking the budget? One fell swoop to the wedding guest list! When the guest list is small, the wedding can be elegant, complete with gorgeous details that are worth the splurge.

#7—Two wedding dresses  Kate Middleton wore two, Kim Kardashian wore three. And for many brides tying the knot in 2012, one wedding dress just won’t cut it. They want the dress of their dreams to walk down the aisle in, plus comfort, sass, and the ability to cut a rug at their wedding reception. Is that too much to ask? Not for 2012 brides! We expect to see lots more LWDs (little white dresses) sparkling on the dance floor at 2012 wedding receptions.

#6—Scaled back centerpieces  Sky high floral topiaries are sure to make a statement, but you’ll definitely pay for every inch of drama! So budget-conscious couples saying I Do in 2012 are getting creative, adding WOW to their wedding reception tabletops in a different way. One-of-a-kind details will trump identical perfection, clusters of smaller, shorter centerpieces (in varying heights) will adorn each reception table, and unexpected items (like pearls and crystals, antique books and photos, wine corks, mason jars, paper blooms, eco-friendly succulents, etc.) will take the place of expensive fresh blooms. Ready to make magic?

#5—Touches of sheer  If you’re a regular reader of OneWed’s blog, you’ve probably seen a post or two about illusion necklines and transparent touches. After all, bridal designer Reem Acra did say that, for 2012 weddings, “There is no mistaking that transparency is the new white.” Bella’s Breaking Dawn wedding dress featured a sheer, lace back, and almost every designer, from Monique Lhuillier to Rosa Clara, sent at least one gorgeous gown with an alluring illusion neckline down the 2012 bridal catwalk.

#4—Sparkle  Last year was all about metallics and bold color palettes, and in 2012…metallics reign supreme! Gilded gold and sparkly silver will play a major role in 2012 weddings, adding a touch of luxe to white aisles everywhere, from the shoes and dress details to the reception centerpieces, signs and decor.

#3—Mix and match mania  Mix and match bridesmaids‘ styles have been trending for awhile. But 2012 marks the year of the truly comfortable, unique and beautiful bridesmaid. Brides are giving their ‘maids the freedom to choose their own neckline, silhouette, length or hue, plus a lot more leeweigh when it comes to hair & makeup, shoes & accessories. But b-maids aren’t the only ones getting the mix and match treatment! Thanks to BHLDN bridal separates, brides are mixing and matching to create two unique wedding looks with just a few key pieces.

#2—Ditching Tradition  There is a God! Because 2012 brides are finally ready to say goodbye to dated wedding traditions like the bridal bouquet toss and icky garter toss. New & personalized wedding traditions and cultural ceremonies from around the world will replace the antiquated practices that nearlyweds choose to ditch,  and we can’t wait to see what new wedding traditions emerge as a result!

#1—NOT your mom’s white wedding dress  One word to describe 2012 brides? Daring! Brides tying the knot in 2012 will splash the white aisles with color or print in non-traditional wedding dresses. Blush is the new ivory, and wedding dresses in shades of ice blue, nude, gold and silver are gaining speed. Following BHLDN’s lead, designers like Badgley Mischka and Claire Pettibone included printed bridal gowns in their Spring 2012 collections. Vera Wang’s dark 2012 bridal collection, completely devoid of wedding white, turned heads but was well-received, proving that 2012 brides are ready to infuse their unique personality and style into their white aisle look.

http://www.thebridesmaidboutique.com/

Professional Inspection: Have a jeweler inspect your fine jewelry annually to look for loose settings, faulty links, or worn prongs, all of which could lead to loss.
Simple Home Cleaning: Clean gemstone jewelry in a bowl of warm, sudsy water. Use a soft brush to gently clean away dirt buildup. Rinse, and polish with a soft cloth.

Avoid Scratches and Chips: Store jewelry pieces in separate, soft compartments and avoid hard knocks – even diamonds can chip if struck at the right angle!

Limit Chemicals: Hair care products, fragrances and cosmetics can build up and even damage fine jewelry and gems. Put jewelry on last when getting dressed, and remove it first at the end of the day.

Insure Your Jewelry: The right replacement policy coverage can ensure peace of mind if your fine jewelry is lost, stolen, or damaged. Visit InsureYourJewelry.com for a free quote and to apply for the most comprehensive coverage available.