Nothing like seeing an ad in print :-)

I am so blessed to know and work with such talented professionals like photographer extraordinaire Kristen Weaver! I know she is reading this with a little smile on her face (and a huge bucket of humility the size of her new WATCH!!!) Yes, Kristen- I THINK YOU ROCK! I can honestly say that photoshoots are hard, long and a little bit overwhelming BUT, the challenge of the creative is what drives me! I think the hardest part is waiting to see the final results......... (yes, I ask EVERY time "Did we get it?")  Here are a few sneak peeks of Behind The Scenes of our most recent Miami trip.

Kristen wrote an eye opening and informative blog post today about When to book your Photographer! A Must Read! Talent is scarce and if you really want the best, you should ensure that you plan early (you know that other brides are doing it too.) What are you waiting for anyway?

Then I read the post that Lauren from Every Last Detail posted today! I have posted the first two paragraphs, but this is an informative article that you should read for yourself. 

 

I am a HUGE fan of simplicity and finding people who can totally make my free time more available.  As a bride (or hostess of a party) you know that there are just SO many moving parts to keep track of.........  THIS service is fantastic, and I had the chance to speak with Heather Cummins at length (she is so sweet and really a joy to work with!)

Invitations Sent Simply is a service giving your invitations the "White Glove" treatment they deserve.They make make sending invitations simple. Mail them the guest list, invitations, and anything else you want mailed with your invitations; They do the rest. Once they receive all the invitation items, we will address, assemble, stamp, and send your invitations.

The font styles are totally comprehensive and can be tailored to fit your theme!  Not sure about invitations?  They have a HUGE  selection to choose from, so this really is a treat for every occasion.

THE EASY AND EFFICIENT WAY TO LET THE WORLD KNOW!

Give Heather a call 407-614-7052 or check them out online! 
http://www.invitationssentsimply.com/default.htm

This was the nicest family I could imagine working with. Casey is a sweet girl with an incredible attention to details. I knew from the minute I met her that she was on top of things and we were going to get along just fine. It wasnt until the wedding day that I met Chris, as they live in Ft Lauderdale and opted to have the wedding near family. Now I can honestly say that this couple was so precious!!!! You could tell that they were not only in love, but were best friends :-)

The venue was the lovely Lake Ashton in Winter Haven, where they could not have been more professional and fun.  They went above and beyond to make the evening smooth sailing. The Master of Ceremonies was Kelly Suit of "A Premier Entertainment" who kept the party going all night long! There was not a guest sitting on the sidelines all night long.
Lovely flowers of hot pink roses, filled the room and topped off a cake that was a total hit!  Thank you to KC Photography for the stunning images!

When I say that i have the most interesting and fun job, I can honestly say that I never know about destination wedding couples until they arrive in Orlando. This family gathered from all over the country, by way of Alabama for an intimate gathering of generations.  I was blessed to dance with little girls dressed in spring dresses and Grandmothers with spring in their step!

Tab McCausland featured us tonight on her blog.  Thanks for you and your talent. Be sure to check it out!


I was honored to work with some amazingly talented people who made this evening unforgettable.
Venue:  Shades of Green
Officiant: Rev. Kevin Knox
Cake: Anna Cakes
DJ; Jay Edwards

A more casual wedding outdoors requires a little imagination. Looking for a sweet favor to give your guests? Use clear boxes to wrap up all the necessities for homemade S’mores and  add a bit of matching ribbon to finish it off. The two bottom boxes measure 3″x3″x2″ and the top one is 2″ square. These would make a sweet guest room gift at a wedding or a nice treat for house guests over the coming holidays. This treat is a great gift for any occasion! YUMMY!

One of the best parts of my job is that ability to work with experts who have some AMAZING products!  This week, I got a "goodie box" of sweetness (both tangible and in the kind words that went along with the treats!

Let me introduce you to Sweet Lydias! 
Sweet Lydia’s specializes in that childhood summer favorite: marshmallow! All marshmallows are made from scratch in small batches with delicious ingredients like freshly pureed raspberries and pure Madagascar bourbon vanilla extract.  This airy confection gets wrapped around salty pretzel rods and sandwiched between graham crackers or sugar cookies before being completely coated in chocolate.
Now you know that I am a fan of anything sweet, but i have NEVER tasted a fresh marshmallow like THIS!!!!
My next treat, the Peanut Butter S'more!  I think I found Nirvana in that little treat <3 The perfect blend of marshmallow and a punch of peanut butter (just like she describes!!!! YUM)
Because I am watching my girlish figure, lol.  I sample a bite (and hiding the rest so the "snackers" don't steal my stash) of the most delicious covered pretzles.
They are just too pretty to eat, but the recipients of this treat will be delighted.

 Pretzel Rods covered in Marshmallow and then covered in milk chocolate or white chocolate.  For an extra kick, try the Peanut Butter Pretzel Delight: a Pretzel rod slathered in peanut butter, then marshmallow and covered in milk chocolate!

Perfect for wedding favors, you can customize the wrapper and create a special flavor JUST for you! You must check out her site and order some for yourself.  You would be denying yourself if you dont :-)
Need some creative gifts for teachers at the end of the school year? How about a basket of s'mores?
I am now a RAVING fan of Lydia's and congratulate her on her delights. From the bottom of my happy tummy, Thank you Lydia!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look for her on Facebook and Twitter
or order from her directly at
http://www.sweetlydias.com/

I first introduced this cake stand last year and now my friends at Weddings Unveiled have done the same (and kind of one upped me, lol.) Gorgeous cake stands from Clara French in the Weddings Unveiled  can make a gorgeous cake SPECTACULAR! Clara French has offered one lucky reader a set of dessert plates in the color of your choice from those offered on their website. The pretty handcrafted ceramic plates are fun and functional and feature gorgeous scroll designs. They come in variety of lush glazes to mix, match and artfully blend into a festive dessert setting. (did you know you can rent these too?????)

To win a collection of pretty dessert plates from Clara French, leave a comment on this post telling us what delicious desserts you plan on serving for your wedding day. Red velvet cake? Pecan pie? We'll randomly draw from all the comments and announce the winner next Friday, June 18th at noon. Good Luck!

Two Simple Steps!
1   All you need to do is go to the Weddings Unveiled Blog
2. Mention The D-Tales and leave a comment on this post telling us what delicious desserts you plan on serving for your wedding day.

Many bridal parties have a huge challenge, geography!  The process can be long and labored as brides attempt to find that "right dress" for their bridesmaids.  Ripping pages from a magazine, running to multiple stores, searching online and sending links to specific dresses................. and THEN hoping to get feedback from the from the girls.  Welcome to Shiny Orb Dressing Rooms, a social platform enabling brides and bridal parties to shop together online. 
Shiny Orb has addressed the issue of long distance shopping for bridesmaid dresses by allowing brides and bridesmaids to step into a Shiny Orb Dressing Room. This allows various members of the bridal party to shop together while they may be worlds apart.
The bride or other members of the wedding may browse the extensive collection of bridesmaid dresses and apparel and then add their favorites to the dressing room for others to see. As new additions are placed in the dressing room, each member will receive an email indicating the update.

We love this idea............... Thanks to our friends at Snapknot for sharing this great site!

If you plan to see the sunrise, throw an after-party with whatever you think will keep the party alive. From colored lights to mirrored balls, from an espresso bar to an assortment of specialty cocktails or—one of my favorites—Coffee Shooters presented to guests while they’re on the dance floor. Iced and potent, they are sure to keep the party going, providing the needed rocket fuel without missing a single beat. You’ll look back at your wedding and say, “I could’ve danced all night—and that’s exactly what I did!”

To get started, rim some test tubes or shot glasses with the peel of an orange and then dip the rim of the glass in chocolate shavings and some chili flakes. In a shaker filled with ice, mix the following:

1 ounce Vodka or Tequila (I prefer Tequila)
1/2 ounce Kahlúa Especial
1/2 ounce Tia Maria
1 ounce cold espresso
Shake well, pour and you'll keep going and going and going!!

Thanks for the inspiration Colin XOXO

My old record player! I still have so many of the 45's i listened to as a child and cant imagine throwing them away!!! (they are still at my parent's house of course, lol)

Ask me anything

Hmmmmmmm, that is a hard one! I would have to narrow it down to just one huh......... #Sephora! I could play in there for days!!!!

Ask me anything

Ready to dance with Dad? Get Married shares our top ten picks for your father daughter dance!
Your Dad's probably been thinking about this moment since the day you were born, so make sure it's as memorable for him as it is for you. Our top ten song picks for your Father Daughter dance .

1. "My Girl" (The Temptations)
A sweet crowd-pleaser for the fun-loving bride and her Dad.

2. "Walk With You" (Edwin McCain)
The latest hit from the much-beloved Edwin McCain is perfect for dads and daughters.

3. "Isn't She Lovely" (Stevie Wonder)
A classic hit that expresses the sentiment every dad's feeling on his girl's wedding day.

4. "The Way You Look Tonight" (Frank Sinatra)
The traditionalist's choice-How can you go wrong with Frank Sinatra?!


5. "How Sweet it is to be Loved by You" (James Taylor)
Unexpected, with an added bonus-it's easy to dance to!

6. "I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston)
Bold, dramatic, and sure to be a showstopper!

7. "I Hope You Dance" (Lee Ann Womack)
A little bit country...a whole lot of perfect for a dad-daughter dance.

8. "Forever Young" (Rod Stewart)
A non-traditional choice, but hey, that's never stopped you before!

9. "When You Say Nothing At All" (Alison Krauss)
Listen to the words...a total tear-jerker!

10. "When I'm 64" (The Beatles)
Bring a bit of Beatlemania to the dance floor-a quirky, sweet option.

Naked Eye Soft & Sexy Eye Shadow Collection
What it is:
A gorgeous collection of 9 essential matte neutrals and soft shimmer eyeshadows, complete with 3 Get-The-Look cards and an applicator tool.

What it does:
Looking like you rolled out of bed flawless and fabulous is a celebrity secret, and one that careers have been built on! Now, you too can look like you were "born perfect" with this gorgeous collection of naturally nude shadows that will have you looking super neutral yet drop-dead-gorgeous for any occasion. Shhh! Nobody needs to know you didn't wake up that way.

What else you need to know:
The collection contains everything you need for a range of on-the-go eye looks in one easy-to-pack palette. The pure-pigment shadows provide a range of essential matte neutrals and soft shimmers for the perfect balance and variety. Plus, Jerrod's three easy-to-follow, step-by-step instruction cards show you how to create the perfect naked eye look for any occasion. This is a kit that will work for shadow novices and makeup addicts alike!

Shades include: In The Buff (matte ivory), Pillow Talk (light taupe sheen), Like A Virgin (matte taupe), Birthday Suit (beige shimmer), Satin Sheets (golden champagne shimmer), Unmentionables (steel gray shimmer), Pink Cheeks (pale pink), Lap Dance (silvery taupe shimmer), and Stiletto (matte black).

Check it out : Too Faced  OR Sephora

There is nothing more to say about the expansion of greatness!!!!!

The Mall at Millenia

The Louis Vuitton Experience!