The Wedding Yentas™ | A Guide for the Jewish Bride!™

Thursday Thrills: Panty Party!

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Alison in Thursday Thrills

Raise your hand (the one that’s not using the mouse) if you love a) the planet, b) soft, pretty things, and b) your tushie!

We are so excited to announce today’s giveaway with Chickippie, the brand behind organic and comfy underwear that’s adorable to boot…y. Okay, so we made a bad joke, but don’t get your panties in a twist because one lucky winner will have the opportunity to have her very own pair of Chickippie underwear.

It’s obvious why we partnered with Chickippie to gush about the panties. Chickippie is all about smiles, nature, laughter, sexiness, comfort, and enjoying life. So are we! And we bet you are, too! Chickippie‘s mission is to help women look and feel sweet and sexy by providing stylish and fun underwear with a conscience. The pieces are made out of organic and eco-friendly fabrics so you know you are wearing environmentally safe and quality threads.

These pieces are comfy enough to wear under your wedding dress and sexy enough for… after you’re done wearing your wedding dress. Blush!

They also make great gifts. Bridal shower hostesses, bachelorette party entourage, your mother-in-law…??? Okay, maybe not the MIL, but these panties are so versatile that anyone can like them. Any woman would be happy to wear underwear that’s playfully sexy without looking like a you-know-what Bunny.

Take a bunch with you on your honeymoon. You’ll be vacationing in comfort while knowing you’ve got something cute underneath your sundress. And since Chickippie underwear come in thong style, you’ll be avoiding those, um, really attractive wedgies, too. Nothing says blushing bride like invisible panty lines.

So how do you get your tushie in a pair of Chickippies? The winner will choose the color combination of fabric and lace as well as the ribbon and elastic colors (oh yes! Did we mention that you can get customizable undies?! Swoon!). But you can only win if you enter!

Your entry in this sweepstakes is to visit the etsy shop to see which color you like best, leave a comment below, and submit by Sunday, April 10th at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced Monday. You do not have to be Jewish or a current planning bride in order to enter or win. Good luck!

Pick Pockets for the Bridesmaids Dresses

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Planning

Sorry, Alanis. We’re changing your lyrics to say, “I got one hand in my pocket and the other one is holding a bouquet!”

Pockets are all the rage, and why shouldn’t they be? They are super cute, provide fashion detail, and have a practical purpose! Picking out bridesmaids dresses with pockets is becoming a new trend and we’re on board this pocket train!

Designers have finally come up with gorgeous dresses that can have pockets and still be formal or wedding-appropriate. Pockets are not just for jeans or hobos anymore and certainly can have a place in your wedding day.

Your bridesmaids will thank you, too! With the wedding olympics and the crazy events that happen throughout the day, it’s hard to manage and keep track of a purse and no bridesmaid should be walking down the aisle with her bag. Pockets are perfect for tucking in a lipgloss and with the itty-bitty sizes of cameras and phones these days, a girl can get by with keeping her essentials right in her dress!

Now presenting photographic fashion show of perfect bridesmaids dresses with pleasing pockets!

Dresses by Siri, Inc and Watters

Dresses by Ann Taylor and J. Crew

So tuck this idea into your pocket and start shopping for your bridesmaids dresses! Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. You can find fabulous dresses with pockets at bridal salons and ready-to-wear stores alike. Whether you have streamlined or pouffy dresses in mind, your ladies will give you a hand for your style sense and consideration… and then tuck that hand into her pocket for some sassy and stylish photos!

Real Weddings | Marina del Rey, CA

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

A mutual friend at The University of Arizona brought Heather and Josh together and in no time, they bonded not only as a couple, but as friends. Three years after dating and knowing they’d be together forever, Josh proposed in a creative way that he knew would catch Heather by surprise. Two nights before she was about to leave on a mother/daughter trip to New York to see “Legally Blonde” on Broadway, Josh and Heather were laying in bed watching her favorite movie, which also happens to be “Legally Blonde.” During the scene when — SPOILER ALERT! — Elle is under the impression Warner is going to propose, the movie cut to an edit with a slideshow of photos and Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be,” which is Josh and Heather’s song. At the end of the cut, the words “Will you marry me?” appeared on screen. Heather turned to the side and saw Josh looking at her and holding a ring. Girl squeal!

The wedding planning madness began and Heather and her mom planned the whole event to take place in Marina del Rey, California because Heather loves the beach. She chose to live in Arizona with Josh, but wanted the wedding to reflect her Southern California roots. She wanted to include buckets of pink flowers and details, and honored the Jewish traditions that she and Josh thought were important to them.

And the most important thing to them now? Their 9-month-old daughter, Riley. Sounds like Heather is currently living an Elle Woods-style life!

Mazel tov, Heather and Josh!

Venue- Marina del Rey Marriott
Photographer- David Michael Photography
Wedding Coordinator- Peggy Shevlin Event Specialist
Florist- All About Flowers
Caterer- Balebosta Catering Company
Videography- Envision Productions
Officiant- Chayim Frenkel, Keshillat Israel Congregation
Bakery- Viktor Benes Bakery
Bridal Salon- Azteca Wedding Plaza
Veil- Meghan Lawlor Collection
Bridesmaids Dresses- Azteca Wedding Plaza
Hair Stylist- Serendipity Salon, Westlake Village, CA
Tuxedos- Men’s Wearhouse
Rehearsal Dinner- Shanghai Red’s

real-weddings-marina-del-rey

Wedding Weekend Weather: Las Vegas!

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Alison in Wedding Weekend Weather

Whether it’s a bachelorette party, a wedding, or a weekend away with friends, we hope your poker chips are as lucky as your weather!

It’s shaping up to be a nice weekend in Sin City and you should be able to pack easily for casual and formal wear. An evening wrap or sweater might come in handy, but during the day, your wardrobe shouldn’t be too compromised. And if you’re going to be mostly inside during the evening, then any chill you might feel will be warmed right up with some (most likely) good dancing.

The desert usually offers perfect weather this time of year, so you are definitely headed to the right place! And just think, if you lucked out in the weather department, why not test Lady Luck on the slot machine when you pass by? You never know! You might just win a million bucks while looking like a million bucks!

Friday
Sunny. Highs around 84 on the west side of the valley… around 91 on the east side. Generally light wind.

Friday Night
Mostly clear. Lows around 59 on the west side of the valley…around 64 on the east side. South wind under 10 mph.

Saturday
Mostly sunny. Highs 80 to 86.

Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy and windy. Lows 56 to 61.

Sunday
Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain. Highs 63 to 69.

Have a fabulous weekend in Las Vegas and viva la sunshine!

To Kid or Not to Kid

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Alison in Planning

It can be a touchy subject: do you or do you not choose to have kids at your wedding?

Some brides and grooms feel they have to in order to satisfy their guests’ needs. Other couples say “absolutely not.” And then there are those who are open to hosting children and welcome them whole heartedly. There’s no right or wrong answer. It just depends on your venue, your guests, and your personal vision for your wedding.

But still, the subject may come up and you might find yourself in an awkward situation, asking your best friend to get a sitter for her wee ones. Many couples believe that weddings are too formal and should be kept an adults-only occasion. If a guest asks to bring her children, you can simply state that you don’t believe it’s appropriate for them to be there. You don’t have to defend yourself or keep yourself up at night worrying about pleasing people against what’s best for you on your wedding day. Hopefully, your adult guests will understand and respect your wishes. Some guests may indicate that either the kids come, too, or the whole family doesn’t come at all. Well, that’s unfortunate, but everyone has their priorities. So, this would be one of those cases you agree to disagree and continue to enjoy your bridal experience.

To avoid these conversations, you can cover your bases by indicating that your wedding day is an adults-only event on your wedding web site or save the date. You can spread the word via your friends and family, too. Being proactive will help limit these kinds of discussions with guests. It’s always important to let them know that it’s nothing personal; you love their children and you’re not intending to exclude only them. There really shouldn’t be any arguing, but if there is, just apologize and be as graceful as possible.

If you are completely happy to have kids at your wedding then you might want to consider keeping them occupied. Some parents who know their kids might get too wired or conk out early will (hopefully) (usually) leave the kids at home anyway. However, for those who still bring them per their invitation, it might be helpful to spend a few extra bucks at the dollar store to supply a “safe” kids area. Coloring books and crayons, some picture books, and maybe even disposable cameras will help to keep the children happy and occupied while their parents enjoy a nice night out at your wedding. This also helps the kids stay busy with appropriate activities. As much as you may not mind them dancing their tushies off on the dance floor, you don’t want to discover that they’ve made mummies of themselves with toilet paper in the restroom or that they’ve experimented with cocktail napkins inside lit votive candles.

You may also consider providing a kids menu for their meals. This should be at a lower cost than your regular adult dinners, and satisfy the kids’ bellies. Win-win! No kid would say no to pasta or chicken fingers. Actually, there are probably some adults who would enjoy that meal, too!

It’s your wedding day and it’s up to you to make these decisions. Never feel obligated to change your rules because of resistance from guests. Those who love you and respect you will understand and attend your wedding with smiles plastered on their faces like kids in a candy store.