let them eat cake...

It can be sweet, delicate, colorful, flavorful, and definately unique...it's wedding cake! Brides and grooms have more choices than ever when it comes to designing a wedding cake. Expression of the couples' lives, likes, a theme...it's all open to whatever they decide.

Recently, wedding cake designs were showcased at the Western New England Spring Bridal Show. Some of the area's finest wedding cake designers showed off hot designs, unique styles and designs that any couple could make their own. Voted most popular design and winner of the Brides' Choice Award was Eutopia Events.

Whatever you do...make it your own!

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

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!

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!

Welcome!

Welcome to the I Do & Beyond Blog. This is a place to find information about weddings...and beyond in western New England. We hope to share the many things that make getting married in this area so unique and wonderful. If you're working on the "beyond" part, as in setting up your lives together after the big day, I'm sure you'll find a few tidbits here too. Stop back often!