Pad Style: Raphael Saadiq

Pad Style: Raphael Saadiq

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The Buff Bride's Handbook: Get in Shape for Your Wedding Day

Getting married? These workouts and diet strategies will help you lose weight and tone your arms, abs, butt, and thighs by your wedding day -- all while keeping your inner Bridezilla at bay. (Fitness Magazine) Read article.

Picture-Perfect Bridal Hair

Look no further, a gorgeous style for your big day is right here

You've got the dress, auditioned the band and confirmed the catering. Now it's time to decide on the important things -- like your hair. To help you, we had stylists at the Nelson J Salon in Beverly Hills, Calif., pull together their favorite new looks for wedding hair. Not getting married? You can still sport one of these stunning dos -- just be prepared to steal the spotlight from the bride. See hairstyles

"I'll trade ya!", a bride and groom barter their way to their wedding

By Lynn Lamanivong
CNN

SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- Jennifer Mae Fletke and Chris Watters fell in love after meeting three years ago. But when they got ready to tie the knot, they faced the challenge of an expensive wedding in a shrinking economy. Read article.

Jewel by Priscilla of Boston

Jewel by Priscilla of Boston





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Photos by Edward Colelli

Jennifer Hudson to design her own wedding dress

Jennifer Hudson : Jennifer Hudson to design her own wedding dress



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Marriage License Questions? Bridal Guide has answers...

For a state-by-state listing of marriage license requirements, click here.

Check this out!

New Bridal Shades - OPI

To see all of OPI's new Fairytale Bride colors and other collections, click image.

THE BOOK: UNBRIDALED – THE MARRIAGE OF TRADITION AND AVANT GARDE

click on image to go to www.crystallized.com

Designs of the times collated in a dazzling compendium The appeal of CRYSTALLIZEDTM – Swarovski Elements goes way beyond fashion: the shimmering allure of seasonal innovations never fails to elicit a glint in the eye of designers of couture, jewellery, lingerie, footwear and furniture, not to mention tableware, stationery, bed linen, eyewear and lighting.


After an exclusive launch in Paris in January 2008, a limited edition of the book will be available in select international bookstores, in Swarovski stores, online on www.amazon.com and through selected design partners.

Get Inspired - Monique Lhuillier

Artisan Soap Shoppe - Beautiful Soaps!

We saw the soaps and loved them! All of Sarah's soaps are handmade and appeal to the skin and the senses.

Sarah Bogle is known as the wedding favor creator extraordinaire. Pairing exceptional creativity with customer-focused project administration, she delivers an exclusive artisan design on deadline and on budget. Inspired by each bride and groom – their passions, style, culture, personalities, and wedding theme – the Artisan Soap Shoppe LLC is experienced at the design & manufacturing of truly personalized wedding favors.


Sage Cocoa Swirl
The sage cocoa bars are sold in Texas as my "outlaw" blend. Handmade soap is swirled with green earth pigments and ground cocoa. For those who love an earthy fragrance, this is a bit of sage, sweetgrass, and patchouli.

Blue Sea Salt Soaps
The sea salt soaps are made from a blend of vegetable oils, fine and coarse sea salts, and blue oxide pigments from the earth. Sea salts are known to calm skin, especially for those who have eczema, psoriasis, or other conditions. Absolute heaven from the seas!

Vanilla and Chocolate Swirled Soap
For those who can't decide between chocolate and vanilla, this is the perfect option! Handmade goatmilk soap is swirled with cocoa powder and perfumed with a highly addictive Tahitian vanilla fragrance. Sweet, sweet, and sweet!

Visit Artisan Soap Shoppe.com

About my soaps:
For over a decade, I’ve been creating one of a kind artisan soap bars and favors. With dozens of earth created pigments, unlimited herbs and flowers, and thousands of scents (yes, thousands) – it is impossible to not be creative!

Wedding favors can be either made as hand cut squares or rectangles for the most cost effective product. For brides looking for something even more fabulous, soaps can be molded in wonderful shapes to fit your wedding’s theme. And of course, nontraditional additives such as pearls, shells, and such can be used to adorn the favors for maximum eye appeal.

In addition to wedding favors, I also create wonderful welcome gifts for destination weddings. Why not treat your guests to a great spa experience after a long flight? Unlike other soaps, you shouldn’t expect just a bath! These soaps are luxurious and will pamper you and your guests.

Why not give a gift that everyone will go ga-ga over? That was my thought when I first offered my soaps as wedding favors for my own wedding. It turns out they were a hit from the start! Now I use my business to help other women. A portion of the proceeds of my profit are donated to organizations who empower women and assist families in need. As Billie Jean King says, “True champions lift up others.” If we all did a little something to help our neighbors, just imagine the difference we could make – one woman at a time.

What do you want to see?

We are putting together web videos for your viewing pleasure, and we'd like to know what you would MOST like to see on our blog. Email us bbhblog@bridalbeautyhome.com and let us know.

Wedding Night, In Jail?

We had to link to this! How can you spend your wedding night in the big house instead of your house (or more than likely your hotel suite?) Several brides and grooms had the misfortune of finding out. Read the article.

"P&G most admired company in cosmetics industry"

by Katie Bird, published March 10, 2009

P&G and Henkel are two of the most admired companies in the industry, according to a recent survey by Fortune magazine.

The business publication has compiled a list of the most admired companies over all industries, as well as splitting the results into sectors.

US-based personal care giant Procter and Gamble (P&G) topped the category ‘soap and cosmetics’ followed by Germany-based Henkel. Estee Lauder, L’Oreal and Kimberley Clark made up the top five, while Colgate-Palmolive, Clorox and Avon came in 6th, 7th and 8th respectively. Read article.

For more on P&G and its products.

Can $300 really change a room?

A challenge was issued to interior designers of New York to see if they could change a room in a person's home (who recently lost a job) for about the cost of an week's unemployment check. I thought this was very interesting, so I'm passing it on. Check it out!



The $300 Makeover (At Least That Was The Goal)
published by Julie Scelfo, March 11, 2009, New York Times

& the audio slide show feature...

Read Across America Day

March 2nd is Read Across America Day, and we know how much you like a good read! Here's are few selections we have to jumpstart your planning for 2009-2010 wedding.


Click on the book's image to go to the amazon.com site for ordering.

We found this article while surfing and had to link to it. All we could say is, true, true, true! Enjoy!







Dating 101: Seven Things No One Tells You About Marriage

The surprising, enlightening, and sometimes hard truths married folks all face -- and how they teach us about what love really means.

By Ylonda Gault Caviness for Redbook

Oh Oscar, Oh My...

Designers have found themselves returning back to basics this season. As noted in many of the fashion pages, this is both welcome and highly wanted. There's only so much we can take of the oh-la-la-thingy on a model's head that we would never wear and talk profusely about a woman who actually did, in public. So.....

With that said, I am LOVING Oscar de la Renta's collection. This is where women step up their game and get back to dressing with a purpose and a pleasure. Here's some of the pieces we like for either a luncheon,



a night out with the future husband or gala event...



Or, my favorite, for the bride who wants to make a beautifully elegant statement...







Bridal Collection: Oscar de la Renta Bridal Collection
Fall 2009 Collection: Oscar de la Renta Fall 2009

Warren Buffett has just picked up a little something in a little blue box. Something like $250 million of debt from the luxury retailer. And you thought that toggle bracelet with seven charms was expensive...read Buffett Gets A Bargain At Tiffany...

Here's a few gifts we picked for you to shop that won't break your bank. Click on pics to go to Tiffany&Co site.

Barbie at M-B Fashion Week!

Barbie has shown her newest collection at M-B Fashion Week and it's lovely! We've picked two styles that we love and show the side of a BB&H bride. In addition, we had to give some love to the Monique Lhuiller Bride Barbie Doll (made in 2006 and no longer available by Mattel), but is available on eBay.



According to Barbie's media site, she has never been married and simply modeled the gown for her designer friends. Monique Lhuiller said,

"Barbie doll has been a cherished fashion phenomenon for five decades, so it was exciting to be able to dress her in one of my signature gowns."

...and she and Ken broke up Valentine's Day 2004. Go figure! We guess Bridal, Beauty & Home won't be booked for planning their ceremony and reception. Here's to holding out hope Barbie!








Legal: Barbie is a registered trademark of Mattel, Inc. Monique Lhuiller is a registered trademark of Monique Lhuiller, Inc. Bridal, Beauty & Home makes no claim of ownership of any of these properties. The designs shown above are property of their respective owners.

M-B Fashion Week, Day 1 Continued...

In a one word description, BRILLIANT! This collection infused hope and fun with color and patterns. I loved the use of flowing fabrics which would be great for a bridal lunch or date with the future hubby.

Images courtesy Getty Images

M-B Fashion Week, Day 1

Here's what I'm loving so far...

For more, click here. Enjoy!


















Image courtesy Getty Images.

Yes, people do get married on Friday the 13th!

Milwaukee County Courthouse
has a few weddings scheduled
for today.

Hmmm...would you?

Click here for the story.

Fashion Week in New York begins today previewing great styles from great designers for Fall 2009. Here's a look at what's coming up from designers that contribute to the bridal world through the week. We will be updating photos as the shows are presented.


All times are EST.

Friday, Feb. 13
10am - Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection
6pm - Nicole Miller
7pm - African Fashion Collective 2009

Saturday, Feb. 14
3pm - Barbie Runway Show (I know, but how could we pass this one up?)


Sunday, Feb. 15
4pm - Diane Von Furstenberg


Monday, Feb. 16
10am- Carolina Herrera

Tuesday, Feb. 17
10am - Badgley Mischka

Wednesday, Feb. 18
7pm - Anna Sui

My $20 Wedding Dress

(courtesy iReport @ cnn.com)

Each day I start out by reading world news, financial news and then on my scouring my wedding sites to bring you ideas, new releases and more. On cnn.com, I found an iReport (where readers and bloggers can upload their own reports of news and topics), and on this particular report was a woman who bought a $20. Now her story shows us what really important in a wedding and in a marriage. Remember that during these tough economic times, that your soon-to-be spouse is there for you for better or worse, richer or poorer.


It was 1965. The all lace wedding dress I wanted cost $25. My dad only gave me enough to get the one with the lace bodice for $20. I borrowed a veil, and wore the shoes I had worn to prom two years earlier. Yes, I got married three days after I graduated from high school. My dad did not come to the wedding; all I ever knew was that it was in a Baptist church and he was raised Catholic. No discussion with him, my brother-in-law walked me down the aisle. The ladies in my church set up the reception, my mom had nothing to do with the wedding except be there. The cake was provided by my future father-in-law who ordered it through the bakery he worked for. It came in the back of a bread transport semi, a little mashed on one side, but mostly intact. I never knew about that until after the wedding. We borrowed money from my dad for my ring as my husband was in the Navy and money was very tight.

For the rest of the story; http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-32298. Enjoy!

Flowergirl Gifts

Everyone knows about the gifts that we normally recommend for little princesses who dream of being as beautiful as the bride, coloring books, bridal dolls, etc. I found some great new ideas for the flowergirl who will pave your path with petals. www.emmiekate.com.

South Beach OPI - Now Available

So we are lovers of OPI and all its beautiful colors. We'll even dip into the Nicole for some funky colors before one of our Bridal, Beauty & Home Shows. Here's the South Beach Collection available today. Enjoy. Some of the brights make us cry because it's soooooooo cold, and we know it's never freezing in South Beach! Ugh!

Pottery Barn in WH

Well, add Pottery Barn to the list of companies that will be thanking Michelle Obama endlessly for a boost in sales. According to US Weekly, the First Lady has said she will decorate the White House utilizing affordable brands such as PB alongside their personal collection of artwork. Here's to a happy home. For more pottery barn looks to snazz up your home, www.potterybarn.com. Brand names such as J.Crew, Jason Wu and Narciso Rodriguez can credit Mrs. Obama for a bump in credibility in the 'down to earth' fashion world.

AHHH...Finally! Michelle's Gown

We all took a collective deep breath an awaited for Michelle to turn the corner. Alas, a one-shouldered beauty off white design by 26-year-old New York designer, Jason Wu. She looked elegant, radiant, and had the problem most brides face...why does he keep stepping on my gown?

But she took it all in stride and looked like she gave Mr. President a little ribbing for it. Here's more about the Inaugural gown's designer, and a link to his site. Enjoy.

Jason Wu (born in Taipei, Taiwan) is a Manhattan-based American fashion designer. He began learning how to sew as a 9-year old in Vancouver by designing and sewing for dolls, and went on to study sculpture in Tokyo. He decided he wanted to be a fashion designer while spending his senior year of high school in Paris. He enrolled in Parsons The New School for Design and interned with Narciso Rodriguez. His first full collection debuted in 2006 and won the Fashion Group International's Rising Star award in 2008. First Lady Michelle Obama wore one of Wu's dresses for a segment on Barbara Walters Special right before the election, prompting many in the media to consider Obama his "career-launcher". She also wore a custom-designed one-shoulder, floor-length white chiffon Wu gown at the inaugural balls, the night of President Barack Obama's inauguration.

And let us not forget how fabulous she looked at the swearing in ceremony. Yes, I did run out to J. Crew looking for those gloves...and you should too (available online a jcrew.com)

IT'S HERE! THE INAUGURATION!

Greetings,

We've made it! In just a few hours our new president will be sworn in, Barack Obama. And his beautiful wife, Michelle Obama will become our first African American first lady. She'll set the trends for professional women whether for the next four to eight years. We'll be live blogging throughout the presentation of the inauguration formal events this evening. Can't wait to see what beautiful gowns are adorned tonight! No doubt bridesmaids gowns, some informal bridal and general formalwear will be patterned after the styles she choose. Finally a palette that works for fashion. YEAH MICHELLE!

Green - Could Mean...Paris?

So...what color is love? Well, the folks at Mars hope you're thinking green, as in Ms. Green. I ran across this promotion and thought, what an awesome idea! Here's to hoping you'll spend Valentine's Day in Paris with the one you love. (And of course get engaged there...and attend the Bridal, Beauty & Home Show...)

http://www.mms.com/us/coloroflove

Enjoy. And grab a bag of M&Ms 'cause they're delicious!

New York, New York? The new place to wed?

New York is calling...it wants you to pack up and come and get married, you know, like you'd go to Vegas. It is remaking its offices, even offering an on-site florist to make your day more special. See more here...

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/NYC-marriage-bureau-gets-makeover/ss/events/lf/010709nymarriagebure#photoViewer=/090113/photos_ts/2009_01_13t124848_450x301_us_newyork_marriage

Michelle Obama - The Inaugural Ball

(left to right:
Oscar de la Renta,
Michael Kors
and Diane Von Furstenberg)


Okay...so just for a second, brides across the US have stopped thinking about their gorgeous dresses enough to concentrate on what the first African-American first lady will be wearing on Inauguration Day. I can't even explain how happy I am to see the final version. My prediction on the ball is a beautiful blue hue of a ballgown! I think she will go for a winter white peacoat with a molded neck and one of her fabulous brooches. I can only imagine how adorable those beautiful little ones will be. I think I'm more excited about these gowns than I was at Christmas, but oh I digress! Here's a look at what a few designers have sketched. Images courtesy of Women's Wear Daily.

So, the wedding show season is on...

Greetings all,

So the wedding show season has begun and the "good" news is in.

Brides are looking, albeit looking at a more refined budget, but they are looking. Here's a story from the Journal Sentinel about the January wedding marketplace.



http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/37073594.html

2009 Preview - Alfred Angelo

BB&H's prediction is that the economy WILL have an effect on bridal, and it brides will begin to pare down the glitz and glamour. Simple styling and romance drapery will make a big comeback in 2009. So, to our beautiful brides that are looking for great style without the great price tag...we present 2009 preview-Alfred Angelo. For more information on pricing and availability, www.alfredangelo.com.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, BRIDES & GROOMS!

Greetings to all of our brides and grooms!

We made it into 2009, which is something to smile about regardless of where your 401K ended in 2008. You have love, and that is what has transcended time for generations and conquers all. I hope you will be reminded that no matter what this new year will bring, to hold on to each other. Bridal, Beauty & Home is committed to bringing you great ideas and inspiration from the world of weddings and bridal so that you can make the best of your biggest day. Now go make a resolution to LOVE all year long (because that resolution is easy to keep, unlike shedding those darn 20lbs.), Enjoy!