Bridal Bargain-Hunting Tip #2: Shop Duty Free

Whilst I wholeheartedly believe that shopping for various wedding items is generally worth the splurge of going retail and/or upscale, there are bridal bargains to be found out there. Don't be afraid to look!

Our second installment of bridal bargain-hunting tips comes as the hubby and I depart for a little weekend jaunt to London, so I will soon be practicing what I preach and plundering the airport duty free shops in search of holiday gifts.

Duty free works for weddings, too! If you're a bride who happens to be traveling internationally between now and your wedding, keep your eyes peeled for some great stuff: top of the line makeup and fragrances (hello, Jo Malone at Heathrow!) at bargain basement prices; and fashionable splurges like designer shoes, jewelry and handbags that won't break your wedding budget (but, granted, might still ding it a bit).

Heathrow's Terminal 3 alone is home to Bally, Bulgari, Burberry, Cartier, Chanel, Gucci, Harrod's, Hermes, Jo Malone, M.A.C., Mulberry, Tiffany, Tod's, Versace... it's rather dangerous actually.

I had two teenagers as bridesmaids way back when I got married in 2009, and I knew the girls were lusting after Longchamp Le Pliage totes.

As their bridesmaid gifts I decided to fill the totes above with other goodies (Sara Lenart jewelry and Philosophy products, to be exact!). I found an amazing deal at Heathrow: Le Pliage totes for GBP46 (about $72) - which retail for $125 in the US!

Brides beware: shopping duty free can be like braving the outlets - you never know exactly what you will find. So leave yourself plenty of time for shopping, manage your expectations, and keep an open mind.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to get back to making my list of William and Kate paraphernalia I'll be purchasing in London.

Cheerio,

All the Goss on NYC Wedding Connection's Holiday Happy Hour

A diverse and fun group of NYC wedding vendors descended upon the House of Brews on 51st Street last night for NYC Wedding Connection's second event, a holiday happy hour.

Attendees included pastry chefs (and all French Culinary Institute grads!) Victoria from Numily Creations, Jen from Sweet Element, and Roxanne from Cake in a Cup NY...

From left to right: Numily Creations, Sweet Element (photo: Archlight Images), and Cake in a Cup NY

... invitation designers Maria from Lela New York and Kisha from Royale Amethyst Invitations...

Left: Lela New York; Right: Royale Amethyst Invitations

... photographers Stephen Devries and Fay Chang...

Left: Stephen Devries; Right: Fay Chang of Lucky Sights Photography

... and planners (and event organizers!) Mary Hines from Chandelier Productions and yours truly.

We gabbed about a variety of topics, from day jobs and entrepreneurship to leveraging social media to connect with fellow professionals and - importantly! - attract new clients. Tips and business cards were exchanged, and we toasted to another successful NYC Wedding Connection!

As you can see from the photos above, there was a MAYJAH amount of talent in the room last night. If you are a wedding vendor in NYC and would like to join us at our next event on January 4th, please contact Mary Hines of Chandelier Productions.

Many thanks to all who attended, and happy holidays!

Cheers,

Top 5 Reasons to Attend NYC Wedding Connection

If you are a wedding vendor or bridal blogger in NYC, your calendar should be marked for our second NYC Wedding Connection event, taking place TOMORROW! Woohoo!

Here are the details:

NYC Wedding Connection Holiday Happy Hour

Tuesday, December 7

 5:00pm and on into the blustery winter evening

House of Brews

302 W. 51st Street at 8th Avenue, NYC

 

 

And now, as promised, here are the top five reasons to schmooze with us:

1. Because schmoozing is FUN. And important for building your business!

2. Because schmoozing while boozing is even better!

3. Cold feet? Literally and figuratively? No worries. There are no membership fees to join NYC Wedding Connection - we are a casual, fun group eager to meet and network with our fellow wedding professionals.

4. A nice glass of wine or cocktail is the perfect way to warm up in this frigid weather.

5. Did we mention we have FUN? We do!

See you tomorrow!

Cheers,

The By No Means Comprehensive But Nonetheless Quite Useful AnyWay Weddings Step-by-Step Name Change Guide

A note before we begin: when I was changing my name, the hubby and I were living in London so I had to change my work visa in addition to my passport. Therefore this guide applies to both US-based and expat brides. I've tried to make it clear which info applies to whom - please get in touch if you have any questions!

First and foremost: make sure you have several certified copies of your marriage license as you will need a lot of them! And pay close attention - for some name changes you can just send a photocopy, others you need to send a certified copy.

It is also useful to have your birth certificate available, so pick up a few certified copies of this as well (which you should already have in order to get your marriage license).

Now then, let's get started with The Three Biggies (four if you are an expat). Here is the order I recommend:

1. US Passport

• Click here and here for info
• Of course there are a couple different forms depending on your situation (they can't make it that easy!) but I used form DS-82 
• You also need to provide two passport photos (if you are not in the US make sure you get the US size - who knew passport photos come in different sizes depending on the country?!) and a certified copy of your marriage certificate (don't count on getting it back, as I don't think I did)
• Depending on your whereabouts and travel plans, it might be worth paying for an expedited service - otherwise these things can take a long time. Check with your local US Embassy for more information.

1a. Visa - for expats only!

• Look up your local US Embassy online for info. This step has to happen after you change your passport since your embassy will likely require your new passport - but check on the web to make sure!

2. Social security card

• Click here for info - you will need to provide proof of your name change (i.e. marriage certificate), citizenship (i.e. birth certificate or new passport), and identity (i.e. new passport or drivers license)
• All of these must be either certified copies or originals!
• Fill out Form SS-5 and follow the additional instructions

3. Drivers License

• If you are in the US: Go to your state's DMV website and follow the instructions
• If you are an expat: Do a web search for the authority who has granted you your license and follow the instructions

So those are The Three/Four Biggies in that they take the most time and require immediate and focused attention. While you're working on those, other items you can check off your list are below. For each of these (except those which only required a phone call) I included a cover letter with my old name and old signature, new name and new signature, and also any associated account number(s).

Bank accounts

• You can change your name by going to your bank in person with your marriage certificate. Relatively painless.
• If you are an expat with US accounts, you can call your bank and have them send you a form - but I would recommend waiting until your next trip to the US and following the instruction above. Much easier and less room for error.

Insurance

• Call your insurance company. For me, all it took was a simple phone call and the company changed my name in their records and sent me a new card. Totally painless. (Thank you Cigna!)
• Once you have your new insurance card, the next time you see your doctor make sure to change your name in their office records as well

Credit cards

• This varies widely. Call each of your credit card companies. Some you can do over the phone, others you have to send a letter and/or marriage certificate.

Cell phone

• Call your provider. Mine needed a marriage certificate sent to them, which I attached with the cover letter I describe above.

Frequent flyer programs

• Note: this must be done after you get your new passport!
• As I mentioned yesterday, this was surprisingly annoying. Call each program to see what they need. Some require a photocopy of your new passport and a marriage certificate, others just require the marriage certificate. While both of my programs got the name change WRONG, they did correct it over the phone (so I did not have to resend the forms). I wish you better luck than I had!

And don't forget...

• Any other financial accounts (savings, retirement, etc.)
• Student or other loans
• Gym membership
• Professional affiliations
• Business cards
• Email addresses
• Utilities, mortgages, and all that grown up stuff

PHEW! If you've read this far down the post, I hope you are not hyperventilating. As I've said, this is a process that can be fraught with complexities and annoyances big and small - but it is well worth going through!

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I am here to help!

Cheers,

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changin' Your Name: It's Worth the Pain!

I had a big moment yesterday, courtesy of Facebook. I changed my personal profile name from Jennifer Beckmann Butler to... drum roll please... Jennifer Butler (Beckmann). Yes indeedy. My maiden name has been subjugated to parentheses and my married name has taken center stage.

Call me old fashioned, but I love that I changed my name as soon as I got married. I love sharing my husband's name. It makes us feel like an invincible little family unit of two, and that makes me rather insanely happy.

How I became a Butler

The name change process, however, was rather fraught with loads of paperwork and surprising levels of incompetence. The biggest pain for me was not my passport or UK visa (we were living in London at the time) or social security or anything that you might think would be bad - but my two frequent flier programs!

I completed all the required paperwork, submitted all the info they needed... and yet both Virgin and Delta got it wrong. Instead of Jennifer Beckmann Butler, Virgin decided I was changing my name to - wait for it - Jennifer Beckmannbutler. Delta preferred verbosity over preposterosity: Jennifer Beckmann Beckmann Butler. Uy yuy yuy. SO not hot.

Of course you don't have to slog your way through it alone, as I did. There are services out there that can automate much of the process for you. Chief among these is MissNowMrs.com, one of the best known (and cutest-named) web services out there. For only $29.95, they alert everyone from the passport office to the post office, submitting all the necessary forms for you. They will also draw up a number of letters you can send to various other folks such as your insurance and utility companies. See below or click here for their full list of services.

Ok, yeah, so this looks a little neater than my list...

I think it's great that a well-priced service like this exists. And yet I will freely admit that I was WAY too Type-A to let anyone else do this for me. I liked knowing that it was all in my hands. Either way, it's important to know that any automated service is not going to cover ALL of your name change needs. And just when you think you've thought of every place your maiden name was lurking, you will remember something else ("Ah! My gym membership! Eureka!").

Just keep in mind that this is a process. It's not foolproof, and it won't be painless (Beckmannbutler?! REALLY???). But try not to get bogged down in the paper. After all, if you choose to change your name, then from the moment you say "I do" you are a Mrs. Woohoo!

At least Facebook makes it easy.

AnyWay Weddings Step-by-Step Name Change Guide is comin' atcha tomorrow! Keep your eyes peeled!

Cheers,

Friday Fashionspiration #6: Best Disney Wedding Dresses

A quick note from Jen: The hubs and I are off to Disney World today for a week of work for him and guilt-free pool-lounging for me. I am also going to cut myself off from the blogosphere/Twittersphere - which I think everyone should do once in awhile. So the AWW blog will be quiet next week but back in full force on November 15!

In honor of our Disney adventure, this week's Friday Fashionspiration comprises a few of my fave Disney Fairy Tale Wedding dresses. Yes, the label is cheesy. And the names of the dresses are also cheesy. And yes, there is probably a premium price attached because of the Disney association, which is lame. But putting those things aside, I think these dresses are actually quite lovely.

Sleeping Beauty is anything but a snoozer! Love the cap sleeves and detail on the full skirt.

Via Big Day Plunge

 Jasmine is hotter than hot in a lot of good ways. I love the simplicity and the color. Fab for a destination wedding.

Via Kleinfeld

Snow White is no-nonsense, understated and elegant. Happy, not dopey.

Via Weddingo

And finally, a gown fit for a princess: Cinderella. Off the shoulder with sheer cap sleeves? Love.

Via Big Day Plunge

Indeed, it's almost as good as the real thing:

~                         ~                        ~                        ~

Kirstie Kelly designed the dresses above, but bridal king Alfred Angelo is at the helm of Disney's newest bridal collection - the Fairy Tale Princess Collection (IT JUST GETS CHEESIER!). The gowns were unveiled at Spring 2011 NYC Bridal Market last month and will be available for purchase in February 2011. Aisle Dash has the full slide show. (Their Bridal Market coverage rocks by the way, so be sure to click around when you follow that link!)

See y'all soon. I'm going to Disney World!

Cheers,

Chili Today, Hot Tamale (and Bridal Body!)

The weather in NYC today is craptastic. Chilly and rainy. I want nothing more than to get back in my pj's, curl up on the couch, put on a DVRed episode of ReHo and warm up with a piping hot bowl of chili.

It's that time of year again, when it is all to easy to hide behind layers of warm clothing and turn to comfort food. But whether you are a bootcamp enthusiast bride-to-be or attempting to get back into shape after somewhat embarrassingly yet predictably gaining weight after your wedding because after a year of being so diligent with your diet in anticipation of getting hitched it's all too easy to eat an entire jar of Nutella in one sitting (ahem, ME) - it is important to remember that comfort food CAN be healthy! Hallelujah!

Exhibit A: chili. One of my favorite foods, and one of the only meals I can cook rather brilliantly, if I do say so myself, from scratch.

Photo via Epicurious.com

Ladies, protein is our friend. And none of us eat enough of it. Protein is absolutely essential to build and maintain gorgeous, toned muscles. Protein keeps you fuller for longer, and a steady stream of protein throughout the day will help you skip right over a mid-afternoon crasheroo. Seriously! If there is one food group you should focus on, especially during bridal bootcamp, it is protein. Lean, mean protein.

Chili is an excellent source of protein, fiber, and lots of other vitamins and minerals depending on how much good stuff you throw in there. And that is the best thing about chili - you can basically throw in whatever veg is in your fridge and as long as you spice it well and cook it long enough, it is guaranteed to taste YUM.

My new favorite chili recipe comes from a fabulous book called The Healthiest Meals on Earth:

 

Flip to page 284 (or just click here) and you will find a recipe for Turkey Chili with Cashews and Kale. Then cook it. You won't be sorry.

Epicurious.com also has some great chili recipes. Check 'em out:

Chicken and White Bean Chili

Beef and Bean Chili

Vegetarian Black Bean Chili

Yum!

Cheers,

Saying "I Do" at Disney

First of all, apologies for the irregular blogging this week. Four consecutive weekends of travel have taken their toll here at AWW... But! We'll be here all week! Try the veal.

This weekend, I am off to Disney World with the hubby. He will be doing a consulting project while I practice being a trophy wife - hitting the gym, sitting by the pool, reading chick lit on my Kindle. I haven't been to Disney World since I was six (and was too shy to talk to Minnie Mouse) so I am pretty excited to see how the place has changed. And to ride the rollercoasters.

I also hope to catch a glimpse of some weddings while we're there, as I must admit I'm fascinated by the whole "Disney Fairy Tale Weddings" culture.

I mean, this? Is undeniably cheesy:

Photo via About.com

But all of this? I could get into:

Photo via Luxury Launches

As it turns out, you don't have to invite Mickey and Minnie and arrive in Cinderella's carriage if you get hitched in Disney World (unless you want to, that is). Au contraire, Disney can put on a heckofa classy party too - thanks to this guy:

Photo via Disney Weddings

All hail David Tutera, lord of the classy wedding! David and Disney have joined forces to create Disney's Couture Collection - one of three different wedding collections from which a Disney bride can choose. This is the most flexible of the three collections, with an emphasis on personalization. After choosing one of the four themes depicted above, you can customize your wedding menu, decor, and more.

Being a Disney princess come cheap though. Disney Couture weddings start at $65,000 (Eek!). The other collections are less pricey but also less customizable. Quite.

I remain of a mixed opinion about weddings chez Disney. Perhaps our little vacay will sway me one way or the other.

Would you ever have a Disney wedding? 

Cheers,

Friday Fashionspiration #5: The Be All End All Bouquet Bag

A mayjah shout-out to Brides magazine's Tweeters for calling our attention to Judith Leiber's new bridal bag collection - the perfect way to end this week's alternative flower kick!

Behold the BLING:

Photo via Bazaar Blog

This collection, which also includes fabric bags and a fabulous bedazzled wedding cake miniaudiere (is it wrong to describe Leiber's bags as bedazzled? Probably.), will be available in February 2011. So brides, start pinching those pennies! Based on Leiber's other creations, I suspect these babies will go for between $5,000-$6,000 a pop.

Rather the ultimate bridal accessory, no?

Happy Weekend!

Cheers,

The Clutchquet: A Fun and Fashionable Bouquet Alternative!

Thanks to yesterday's post on the fabulous sugar flowers created by Victoria of Numily Creations, I am on a flower alternative kick and finally have an inkling to post one of my all-time favorite wedding ideas: the bridesmaid clutch-bouquet... clutchquet? I think yes.

The clutchquet is a triple threat:

1. Bridesmaid gift

2. Bridesmaid bouquet

3. Handy and fashionable storage for your bridesmaids' valuables (like lipstick) - and something they might really seriously use again! After they dye their bridesmaid dress a color they will also wear again. Bonus!

This here's my absolute favorite:

Photo: Bella Destinee via Offbeat Bride

As floral bills continue to skyrocket and brides become more inclined to make their weddings "green", the clutchquet seems to be a trend that is catching on.

I found these and many other beauties on Etsy.

First, peacock delight! The brooch actually looks like a little bouquet itself, adding to the character of this cutie patootie:

Angee W on Etsy

And you know I wouldn't have let this post pass me by without showing some orange goodness:

Bella Fiore on Etsy

So fun!

Which is your favorite? Would you ever choose a clutchquet for your bridesmaids?

Cheers,

Bridal Bouquet Alternative: Sugar Flowers!

We are on a bouquet kick here at AWW...

Yesterday we posted about a great way to immortalize your bridal bouquet. Today, we are very excited to share an alternative to the traditional flower bouquet: sugar flowers!

Chef Victoria Cen of Numily Creations was one of the talented wedding vendors who attended NYC Wedding Connection on October 14 (get the deets on our next event here!). Victoria makes gobsmacking cakes like this one, inspired by Klimt's "The Kiss":

Photos courtesy of Victoria Cen at Numily Creations

She has also come up with a fun and innovative alternative to a traditional floral bouquet - the sugar flower bouquet:

Now, this gal is so talented that she can basically make any flower out of sugar, matched to any wedding color palette. Her bouquets can be carried by the bride and bridesmaids, and her sugar flowers can also be used as boutonnieres.

Check out these same sugar flowers in action as cake decor:

Lovely.

Sugar flowers are a great alternative to regular flowers. Here's why:

*They are better for the environment.

*They are long-lasting (both during your wedding day and as a keepsake afterwards).

*They can be matched to even the most fantastical wedding color palettes.

*Plus, sugar flowers are a great way to have your favorite flowers at your wedding, regardless of the season!

*And you can eat them. If you really want to.

What's not to love?

Click here to contact Victoria and see more of her creations.

Cheers,

Bridal Tip: Immortalize Your Bouquet

One of the best things about being a bride adviser is sharing lessons learned - both the good and the bad - from my own wedding. From finding a nice hanger for your wedding dress to freezing your wedding cake... these are the little details that can make a big difference.

I learned a TON from bridal blogs and magazines when planning my wedding. But one of my favorite lessons (and its accompanying memento) came courtesy of my mother-in-law. The day after my wedding, my mother-in-law whisked my bridal bouquet away... and I didn't see it for several months. I was a little nervous - after all, I hadn't given her permission to take my bouquet and I had no idea what she had done with it. Was she having it pressed? Frozen? What else can you even do with a bouquet?

Well, something like this:

Photos via Salt Marsh Pottery

How brilliant is this? Salt Marsh Pottery, in Dartmouth, MA, creates these lovely "wedding commemoratives" by pressing the bouquet flowers into the clay, arranging and drying them, and then painting and glazing. The entire process is done by hand. They make a variety of products, from bowls and large plates to more affordable trivets:

Their smallest piece would be well suited to your groom's boutonniere:

The perfect wedding mementos to feather your newlywed nest!

Former brides, what did *you* do with your bouquet?

Cheers,

The Great Short Wedding Dress Debate

Short knockouts from Fall 2010 collections: Monique Lhuillier, Jewel by Priscilla of Boston, and Oscar de la Renta (all photos via NYMag.com)

The bridal tweet-and-blogosphere is abuzz these days with the Great Short Wedding Dress Debate. Short dresses are becoming a bridal runway feature, and everyone is weighing in on the big question:

Would you show a little leg on your wedding day?

Priscilla of Boston opened three of its four Fall 2010 shows (Melissa Sweet, Platinum Bridal, and Priscilla of Boston proper) with short dresses. Classic bridal gown designers like Oscar de la Renta and Monique Lhuillier are starting to feature multiple short dresses in their collections. And at the recent NYC Bridal Market, short dresses were everywhere! (For a great blog post on the best short dresses from NYC, check out one of our fave bridal bloggers, The Knotty Bride.)

Opening (left - rosettes AND pockets?! LOVE) and closing (right) looks at Melissa Sweet for Priscilla of Boston Fall 2010

I have never been a big fan of the short wedding dress. I found it to be too informal and simply not "here comes the bride" enough. But recent events and dazzling runway designs are starting to change my mind.

A wedding should reflect the bride and groom, and a bride's wedding dress should reflect the way she wants to celebrate while complimenting her body.

Coveting a shortie? Listen up, girl:

*Short dresses are ideal for a bride with great gams.

*They are also perfect for petite brides who want the fun of a poufy skirt without drowning in yards and yards of fabric.

*Short dresses are also a great choice for less traditional wedding celebrations (such as cocktail receptions) and sophisticated, cosmopolitan, frou-frou-free weddings.

A friend of mine got married last weekend in a dress that looked just like this:

Oscar de la Renta Fall 2009

And she. Looked. KILLER.

Below the knee, we of course have to have a moment for the impact that Mad Men has had on the fashion world lately. I have a feeling we will be seeing plenty of retro-style, tea length dresses with layers of tulle in 2011. Dresses such as this beauty:

Sarantina by Sarah Jassir Fall 2011 (via Martha Stewart Weddings)

Who knew showing some leg could look so bridal? Consider me convinced.

If you're loving these dresses but still unsure, remember that short dresses also make FAB reception dresses! Ooh. That opens up a whole new can o' worms...

Cheers,

Best Bridal Market Bloggers

You know you want more where this came from... (photo via Project Wedding)

There has been so much great coverage of this season's NYC Bridal Market, it could take weeks to sort through all the posts and dresses. Never fear, we have boiled down the best Bridal Market coverage and, since it's Friday and this was the big birthday week and we are headed to Toronto today for a fabulous wedding (read: we don't have the time to write a real blog post ourselves), we're just going to throw a concise yet fabulous link list atcha. Enjoy!

Best Bridal Market Bloggers

Project Wedding Blog

Weddingbee

Yours in Bridal on Facebook

The Knotty Bride

Have another favorite link? Leave it for all of us in the comments!

Stay tuned... next week we are back to work and blogging, and will be posting some amazing photos from recent runway shows and weddings as well as interviews with inspiring wedding professionals!

Cheers,

The PERFECT Wedding Gown Transformation

Merci, Monique!

For her Fall 2011 Bridal show, Monique Lhuillier transformed a Spring 2011 runway knockout into a to-die-for wedding gown.

Left: Spring 2011 via NYMag.com  |  Right: Bridal Fall 2011 via Project Wedding

Perfection such as this is rather beyond words. So I will stop writing and just continue to drool.

Cheers,