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!

a wedding professionals own wedding...

You're a wedding professional...serving brides and grooms, helping them make their day special and all it can possibly be. So what happens when it comes time to plan your own wedding? What do you pick? Which wedding professionals do you work with? Well, Tommy Plante from Hard at Play DJ Service and his wife, Laura, are featured on the cover and in the Real New England section of the March issue of The Wedding Day Sourcebook. You'll find some wonderful images taken by Seth Kaye Photography that celebrate Tommy and Laura's wedding day.

So...what are you doing for your wedding?

it's bridal show time...

This Sunday marks the 5th year for the Western New England Fall Bridal Show at the MassMutual Center, Springfield, MA, from 11-4pm.

The area's finest wedding professionals will be on hand as well as an amazing New York style runway fashion show with the latest styles in bridal gowns, bridesmaids, special occasion and even fashions for the little ones in your wedding! Taste cake and food samples, sign up for giveaways including a honeymoon from Magical Escapes.

Come early for the $199 bridal gown sample sale. Yes, you heard it...just $199 for a bridal gowns...these gowns were originally priced $800-2000...talk about a savings! Plus if you arrive early you'll also be awarded free wedding bands! Value of $600. Bridal shows are a wonderful way to see everything and find exactly what you want for your wedding...talk about even more savings with free wedding bands!!!

So bring your groom, your attendants, your mom...wear comfy shoes, and just make a day of it! Check the website at www.cjcevents.com.

the really BIG sale

Bridal Heirlooms does it again! Not only do they have an amazing sample bridal gown sale, they give back to the community...with your help! This Saturday, October 23rd, Bridal Heirlooms offers up their annual Sample Sale! A terrific deal for any bride searching for their dream gown...bring in 5 non-perishable food items and receive 50% your sample sale gown! That's HUGE SAVINGS on 100’s of Beautiful Gowns. Great designers such as Maggie Sottero, Pronovias, Casablanca, Watters and many more!
Also...Special Occasion dresses, Mothers dresses and FlowerGirl styles and Accessories
$39 - $79** with your donation. You can't go wrong!!

Plan to be at Bridal Heirlooms, Saturday, October 23rd, 9am-4pm, located at 17 College Street, South Hadley, MA in the Village Commons Shop. 413-532-4848 www.bridalheirlooms.net

don't you just love...cupcakes...?

There are few things in life that are so perfect...a cupcake is one. Just a few bites, this moist tasty mini cake is usually decorated with a complimenting frosting and can fit right in as a delicate dessert, party treat, or even a midnight snack. They are still very popular for weddings, used instead of a wedding cake or to anchor a sweets table. Available in so many flavors, it's simple, portable and can hit the spot when you're looking for a quick personal treat.

I recently read an article about the downfall of the cupcake, the pending end of the cupcake trend. How could that be? With the popularity of new television programs like DC Cupcakes and Cupcake Wars, how could it be coming to an end so soon? I've always loved a good cupcake and when I was a small child, my Mom use to take me over to Liberty Bakery and we always bought cupcakes. The white box so neatly tied with white string and packed with our special treats, sometimes that box never made it home unopened. At the time it was just the two of us and picking up a half dozen cupcakes with my Mom was special.



Now I'm planning adventures with my own daughter. We're having fun with the cupcake craze, reading a cupcake cookbook and trying out a few from scratch recipes. We also enjoy stopping at some of our favorite bakeries when we can, to pick up a few cupcakes to top off our day. We've even gone out of our way to make sure we stopped at Cupcake Charlies in Mashpee when we were at the Cape. Businesses like Cupcake Charlies are booming, so I'm not sure where the writer for that article ever got their information. Obviously, they are not hanging out in the right bakeries!

it's all in the look

Recently I had the opportunity to attend an interesting appointment with bride-to-be, Stephanie Smith, winner of the Western New England Great Wedding Giveaway. If you're not familiar with the Wedding Giveaway, it's a wonderful group of talented wedding professionals joining forces to give away a complete wedding package to one lucky area couple. You can catch up on the activities and all the participating services by visiting the web site at www.westernnewenglandgreatweddinggiveaway.com.

This appointment was for Stephanie's hair. Salon Karma, of East Longmeadow, will be making Stephanie's hair look beautiful on her wedding day! They are experts and really listen to their clients, especially the brides, as it's such a apecial day and so important to have the best look. In these photos you'll see Claire and Jessica, both extremely talented and passionate stylists, working with Stephanie to give her three options for her wedding. All were beautiful and each complimented Stephanie and the hair piece she has from Roxy's Jewelry Boutique.

it's nice to be missed...

Well, this post is more about having support, love and inspiration with the things I do, the people I love and the events of my life. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Bridal Show Producers International conference, held this year in Las Vegas. First, to get there, my husband took care of everything that would allow me to attend and be gone for a few days out of home and office, which included setting up my little netbook for Skype and email to keep in touch. I never said I was technical, so this is greatly appreciated! Next...my kids, whom I've heard, worked hard to get moving in the morning, get homework done in the afternoon, and worked hard to be more helpful while I was gone, I thank them. My dog, who never leaves my side, was well taken care of by the family and especially my in-laws. Although he was confused about my departure and whereabouts, he was spoiled rotten while I was gone.

On to business...the BSPI conference was inspiring and informative. I feel extremely lucky to be able to rub elbows with the best bridal show producers in the country...and even the world, as we've grown this year with a few new international members. The speakers were inspiring and the topics very informative...all things I plan on sharing with others and working into my business plan and day. I must say thank you to this group...their unselfish gift of support and giving means so much! These moments I will never forget and I know they have certainly helped me.

So...what's next? On to work...on to life; to make change and assist brides and grooms looking for information and wedding professionals for their wedding; to assist our wedding professionals to do better, to be at their best and to find the clients they seek...and to generally be better, raising the bar and expectations...to make change for everyone and everything I touch every day. A challenge...but all good!