Everyone knows someone...

Everyone knows someone whos life has been touched by cancer, especially breast cancer. It could be a mom, a relative, a friend, a friend of a friend...I've never met someone who could not say they don't know someone who has been affected by breast cancer.
That being said, this Sunday is the Rays of Hope Breast Cancer walk and it's not to late to donate to this GREAT cause! Every dollar counts, be part of the cure!!!

https://foundation.baystatehealth.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=282

Founded in 1994 with 500 walkers, the Rays of Hope walk has grown to attract over 15,000 participants. These participants include more than 460 teams, hundreds of individual walkers and over 300 committee volunteers who work to help Rays of Hope raise funds to improve the breast health of the people in our communities with quality and compassion in partnership with Baystate Regional Cancer Program's Comprehensive Breast Center. Last year through the Baystate Health Foundation, Rays of Hope raised over $812,000 to benefit people throughout Western Massachusetts and surrounding communities.

So...help out. It's not too late to participate! If you can't walk, then sponsor a team. If you can't sponsor a team, just donate. Every dollar helps!

Bridal Buzzzz...It's in the Bag!

Recently these amazing little goodie bags were handed out to brides who attended the Day of Elegance Bridal Show at Look Park. Full of unique items...here's a little tidbit of what was found!

Custom Couture Invitations and Graphic Design Services, Carla David Design included a cute little sample of thank you cards with envelopes. A simple, but beautiful design, easy to use for shower or wedding thank yous. From beginning to end, Carla David Design can custom design a whole range of details for your wedding. Save-the-Dates, shower invitations, wedding invitations, favor tags and labels and so much more. You can view the website at www.carladaviddesign.com. Thank you Carla David Design for the addition to the goodie bag!

Next, Hailey's Dragonfly Garden Botanicals included a great little 15% OFF coupon for their amazing Organic and All Natural Skin Care products. Certified organic and all natural, this is a company where you can come to nourish and nurture your Mind, Body and Spirit. Face and body scrubs, bath salts, shower gels, amazing specialty soaps, plus gift baskets can all be found at Hailey's! Visit www.haileysdragonflygarden.com.

Planning a wedding...go to a bridal show!

How does a bride plan her wedding? Well, you start by gathering information. You buy a bunch of magazines and pick up every free local wedding publication. Then you scour the Internet looking for ideas all while making a big list of those things you just love. Then you get really searching and you attend a bridal show. Bridal shows allow you to view a number of different products and services at one location. It saves the time of driving around from place to place, allowing easy comparison shopping. Most bridal shows have a fashion segment allowing you to view the latest styles in bridal gowns and wedding attire. For the bride watching their budget, many exhibitors offer show specials and discounts for reserving them from the show. They also tend to give away some great prizes too.

So mark your calendar and plan to attend the Day of Elegance Bridal Show at the Garden House at Look Park on Sunday, September 20, 2009 from 11-4pm. A beautiful fashion show by Pearl Bridal Boutique will take place in the Garden House Tent with jewelry featured by Roxy's Jewelry Boutique. Magical Escapes will be focusing on wonderful affordable honeymoon locations as well as giving away a Honeymoon to Las Vegas! Taste food samples from the area's finest caterers and bakeries and relax in this stress-free location. For more information visit the website at www.cjcevents.com. The Garden House at Look Park is located at 300 N. Main Street, Florence, MA.

Bridal Buzz...Advance Notice Sale!

I know searching for just the right wedding gown can be a challenge, but here's the heads up on a terrific opportunity!! Bridal Heirlooms will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary...and you get the party with their End of Summer Clearance Sale! One Day Only, Saturday, August 22nd, Bridal Gowns starting at just $199. Bridesmaids Dresses starting at $25, Mothers Dresses starting at $75, plus more accessories and goodies too numerous to mention!! So take advantage of this sale...stop in at Bridal Heirlooms, 17 College Street, in the Village Commons, South Hadley, MA. 413-532-4848. www.bridalheirlooms.net

Pictured: Christine and Shirley of Bridal Heirlooms

Pure Soy

Equus Candles brings the ever popular Non Toxic & Biodegradable Soy Candles for wedding party favors. You can choose your color to coordinate with your wedding colors or theme and pick a custom fragrance. To finish up, you'll have a custom label that you can even add your own artwork to. You can visit their website at www.equuscandle.com for more information and favor pricing.

Soy candles burn longer and cleaner. By using natural soy, Equus Candles supports American Farmers and Green Weddings as soy is a renewable resource!

A Frosty Wedding

Looking to get married, but want something totally unique? Better yet...want it for FREE?
You need to register to win the Hannoush Jewelers Wedding on Ice! The Wedding on Ice takes place on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at the Springfield Falcons' hockey game. The couple who wins the Wedding on Ice will receive:
•A ceremony on the ice before the Falcons game.
•Wedding reception for 50 guests in the Executive Perch
•His and her wedding bands from Hannoush Jewelers
•A bridal gown from Pearl Bridal Boutique
•Tuxedos from Formal Affair Tuxedos
•Photography package from Wcislo Photography
•Transportation from Deluxe Limousine
•Bride's bouquet and ice arrangements from McClelland's Florist

Register at any Hannoush Jewelers location; Formal Affair Tuxedo, 581 Westfield St. West Springfield, MA; Pearl Bridal Boutique, One Open Square Way, Holyoke, MA; or by emailing Bill Bullock (wbullock@falconsahl.com) at the Falcons; or by registering online through media sponsor The Wedding Day Sourcebook.

Happy July!

Well, it's been a while since the last entry. It's been very busy around here...not just weddings, but events and local happenings that have just kept everyone here jumping. Extreme Makeover Home Edition came to Suffield, CT recently and many of our family, friends and business clients jumped in to lend a hand. Our contribution was small, but it was an amazing experience just to witness and I must say congratulations to the Hill Family and a huge thank you to Robert Charles Photography who captured amazing images of the family and especially all the volunteers at work building this new home for this family. They truly tell the story and I invite everyone to visit the Extreme Pecoy website for day by day slideshows of this amazing undertaking.

Now that the dust...and dirt have settled from this latest project, expect more posts about all things wedding from I Do and Beyond.

Breakfast, Diamonds and Rays of Hope

The Log Cabin & Delaney House are among a group of Holyoke-based businesses helping to raise money for breast cancer research and showcasing their abilities at a monthly breakfast session.

Breakfast At Sutter’s, held the last Sunday of every month at Sutter’s Jewelry, gives newly engaged couples a chance to learn about Sutter’s, Pearl Bridal Boutique and the Log Cabin & Delaney House while helping to support the Rays of Hope Walk to Cure Breast Cancer.

The breakfasts, which take place at 10 a.m. offer couples a chance to meet one-on-one with store owner and jewelry designer James Sutter and to view a 4-carat diamond from the Diavik mine in British Columbia, Canada. Couples can also get to know bridal gown experts from Pearl Boutique, including owner Ryan Bergeron. And they enjoy a breakfast prepared by chefs from the region’s best wedding reception sites, the Log Cabin & Delaney House, with owner Peter Rosskothen personally attending.

The cost to attend the breakfast sessions is $20. All proceeds from the monthly program benefit Rays of Hope. The next breakfast is Sunday, May 31, 2009. Call Sutter's at 413-534-1111 or email jags@suttersjewelry.com.

Let the Comments Begin...

The "webisodes" are rolling on www.413wedding.com, the area's first reality wedding that follows a couple, Jessica and Gainer, as they plan their wedding. You can comment on the episodes and even join the forum and post your own questions about your own wedding. Get wedding planning tips from the area's experts and you could even win some prizes.

Check out www.413wedding.com. They want to hear from you!

Helping Hand

Everyone once and a while wonderful events come our way that we just feel we have to tell everyone about. As many of you know and experience first hand, the economy is tough out there for many people. We just wanted to take a moment to promote an awesome event that helps many many area families.
Have some fun and support a terrific agency!
Dance Party
April 25, 2009
6:00 PM - Midnight
Easthampton American Legion
190 Pleasant St., Easthampton, MA

Community Resources has served western MA families since 1989. They are the ONLY Autism Support Center for all 4 counties of Western MA. We currently serve more than 990 families with new referrals coming to our agency every month. Due to the state budget crisis they are in danger of losing funding used to directly support families.

You can help them get closer to their goal of raising $25,000--all of which will go directly to support families. Registration is just $20 for this event. www.communityresourcesforautism.org. Please contact Jamie Oltmans or Lynn Ford at 413-529-2428 for more information and to register for the Dance Party. Come party or just make a donation...remember...what comes around, goes around...it's all good!

Belle of the Ball

Calling all previous bridesmaids...and anyone else who has a prom or bridesmaids gown just sitting in their closet, doing nothing. Here's your opportunity to move it out of your closet, recycle it and give it new life! Springfield Women's Committee has re-opened the Belle of the Ball Boutique for prom-goers in the area. They are collecting gently worn gowns to redistribute throughout the greater Springfield area, so that no girl gets left behind and unable to attend their prom because they cannot afford a dress. Dresses in all sizes, length and styles are needed and can be dropped off at Naomi's Inn, 20 Springfield St. in Springfield, MA or at NUVO Bank during bank hours or at Mall Services at Eastfield Mall, Boston Rd. in Springfield, during mall hours. For more information check http://www.naomisinn.net/belle.html or call 413-433-6019

Reality Wedding In Western MA

A different type of reality wedding is happening in our area and we wanted to give you an advance look at this new on-line reality series!

It’s called 413 Wedding and it’s going to follow a local couple through the process of planning their wedding. Episodes will start showing up on the show’s Web site April 15. There’s a trailer for the series up right now. You can check it out here: www.413wedding.com

You can also get involved in talking about the show or even discuss your own wedding plans with other couples. We're very excited about this series and hope you stop back often!

What's Your Sexy?

A Different Kind of “Girl’s Night Out”

Bella Donna “What’s Your Sexy?”

A fun and unique boudoir-style portrait experience to celebrate the beauty of every woman. This is an opportunity to express your inner beauty and unique personality, from elegant to wild, by yourself or in an enjoyable boudoir-style portrait gathering.


The party hostess invites up to 10 of her closest female friends to our studio for a private “girl’s night out” event. While enjoying wine and hors d’oeuvres, each woman has an opportunity to express her personal definition of sexy with exquisite portraiture. The experience starts with professional make-up application by Lynn Tassinari Wegiel, followed by your private portrait session. Bring your favorite lingerie, furs, wraps, jeans, and other outfits. This is guaranteed to be an absolute blast for everyone! This amazing session can be had by calling Denise Smith Photography, 85 Maple Road, Longmeadow, MA 413-567-3339
www.denisesmithphotography.com

ABC's of Weddings...E is for Eco-Friendly

One of the popular buzz words associated with weddings lately is Eco-Friendly, Eco-Chic...or "Green" Weddings. You don't necessarily have to have a totally complete "Green" wedding, but you can reduce your carbon footprint, save a few trees, support a charity and support local farmers by considering adding a few "Green, eco-friendly" elements to your wedding. Here's a few suggestions:
• In lieu of a favor, give a donation to a local charity
• Cut down on fuel, have your ceremony and reception at the same location.
• Donate the leftover uneaten food from your reception to Rachael's Table.
• Use locally grown organic fruit in and on your wedding cake.
• Hire a totally digital photographer
• Give tree saplings for wedding favors
• Use recycled paper for your wedding invitations
• For your reception meal, use local organic vegetables
• Support a non-profit organization through one's choice of a wedding venue, such as a museum, cultural center, "green-friendly" venue or landmark building.
• For traditional chocolate favors, use organic chocolate or Fair-Trade candies.
• Reception food/Catering; consider using a caterer that uses only local sources for their ingredients or sustainable resources for chicken or fish.

ABC's of Weddings...D is for Diamonds (and more!)

One of the first purchases for a couple who have decided to get married is an engagement ring. The first thing that comes to mind is a diamond ring, but engagement rings don't have to be that perfect diamond. We've seen so much more, like ruby and emeralds, alone or with diamonds. Vintage and antique settings. But it all comes down to personal style.

This One's for Groom's To Be...

Is a Proposal in Your Future?

Guys...how long have you been with your girlfriend in a serious relationship? Six months? A year...two years or more? Did you know that Valentine's Day is the second most popular day to pop "the question?" So...what are you waiting for...?

Are you nervous about that engagement ring? Here's some information to help guide your way.

No. 1: When Buying an Engagement Ring, Don't Automatically Think You Can't Afford Quality

Platinum is the metal of choice. An engagement ring is an investment in beauty with a meaning of long lasting love, but it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Even De Beers, a popular name associated with diamonds, carries Platinum rings costing as little as $2,650.

No. 2: You Can't Go Wrong With A Classic Style

A solitaire diamond ring has been a classic design for decades. There is true elegance in showcasing a unique, single diamond in a solitaire ring setting, but is is also important to get a sense from your fiancé about her preferences.

No. 3: The Necessary Question:

What is Her Ring Size? If you have no idea and don't want to ask, try one of these methods. A jeweler can calculate her ring size from any of them.

Trace the inside of one of her rings onto paper.
Borrow one of her rings, something she wears often.
Put one of her rings on your finger and mark where it rests with a pen, then get yourself to the jeweler!

No. 4: Choose Wisely
Buy a ring that symbolize your love, and that she'll want to wear for the rest of her life .

Jewelry should mirror a relationship--beautiful, unique and lasting.