THE BRIDE WORE BLOOMERS

The other weird wedding event is the couple who held their ceremony in zero gravity, which I actually think is pretty cool. It's also pretty expensive, which is why I don't think it will be a hot wedding trend anytime soon. It's $60,000 for the bride and groom and 12 guests. This doesn't include the gown, the reception or anything else, but if this sounds like blast to you, go to ZeroGravityWeddings.com. The bride wore special bloomers under her wedding gown so she wouldn't be the floor show when her gown flew up.

A specially modified Boeing 727 aircraft left from Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, and the 90-minute flight gave the wedding party plenty of dips and rolls, providing plenty of weightless moments for the happy couple.
Check out a photo of their kiss at the end of the ceremony.

A BEDDER USE OF ZERO GRAVITY

Personally, I would have gotten married on the ground and saved the zero-gravity experience for the wedding night. How about you?

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TO MAKE 'EM SMILE, GO FAMILY-STYLE!

The photo above is from Mrs. Wilkes' Boarding House restaurant, one of the most popular places to dine in my beloved Savannah, GA (I got married in Savannah!) They serve the most amazing food you'll ever put in your mouth, and it's served family-style. Guests sit at large tables where most of the other people at the table are complete strangers--until the end of the meal, during which you've met everyone at your table, talked about where you're from, what you do, how you like Savannah. When you leave, you've got several new friends! It's probably because you have to spend a fair amount of time passing food to one another, and that's hard to do without a smile and some pleasant conversation. Honestly, don't you love this idea?

WHAT ELSE IS "IN" IN LA?

Fruit cobblers and pies are replacing pricey wedding cakes, cheaper cuts of meat like marinated flank steak are replacing filet mignon and swordfish, French fries have ousted asparagus, picnic tables with burlap covering are preferred over crystal chandeliers and white tablecloths and posh hotel settings are out in favor of homes or rented home venues.

THE BOTTOM LINE

It's not hard to see that extravagant weddings are now considered improper and tasteless, even in LA. This is great news for all you budget-conscious brides-to-be out there (and there are more than you can imagine!) who still want to incorporate the hottest wedding trends in your wedding planning. Believe me, your guests will love whatever you plan, because they love YOU! So "lavish" is OUT and "laid back" is IN! WhooHoo!

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This little tidbit is from the International Business Times--and Japan, to be exact. In Japan, it's important for a formal event to be attended by as many family members, friends and co-workers as possible. If your wedding guest list is skimpy--your family lives too far away, no one likes you, or you're out of a job--no prob! You can rent fake family, friends and co-workers to fill up the room and impress--uh, whomever you're out to impress, I guess.

A company, Office Agents in Tokyo, has staff who will attend the wedding as a friend. The people they send will give speeches, stage performances and act as your family greeting other guests. Saving face has a price, though. Each guest costs 20,000 yen ($200.) For an additional $50, that person will sing and dance, and for another $100, that person will make an amazing speech that will do you proud.

Then you've got the additional cost for food, Asian wedding favors and all the other additional funds needed for a big wedding. You have to admit, it's a great business idea--not just for weddings, but baby showers, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, birthday parties, retirement parties, and even funerals! Someone may even be interested in renting a fake bride or groom if they're jilted the day before the wedding. Please let me know if any of you decide to become entrepreneurial and start this business! You can call it "Guests Who!" or "Got Friends?" Just be careful in your advertising--you don't want it to sound like an escort service!

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Okay. Maybe I got you to read my blog under somewhat sneaky pretenses, but as long as you're here, let's talk about Italian weddings, olive oil and Italian wedding favors.

First, let me say that I truly believe I'm Italian in another existence. (I'm 100% American in this one.) But there's something that's drawn me to Italy since I was in high school. I've been a huge (emphasis on the huge) fan of their food ever since I can remember.) In college, I took two quarters of Italian just for the atmosphere. I spent my honeymoon touring Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples, Assis, Milan and Capri--and I felt I belonged there. The spectacular scenery, the romance, the food, the wine--I was tiddly all over Italy! And as you know, you don't have to be Italian to want to get married in Italy.

HEAD FOR THE HILLS!
So I was Googling around this morning, and I found this place in Positano, Italy, on the Amalfi coast--Villa Fiorentino. It's a rental villa with enough room to accommodate you, the groom, 23 of your closest family and friends and a stunning reception in what truly looks like heaven. Yes, it's got a pool, and that's not all! Every apartment has air-conditioning, central heating, satellite TV, radio, safe, CD player, hairdryer, iron, washing machine, dishwasher, toaster, electric coffeemaker, oven, fridge, crockery, bed and bathroom linen and beach towels.

Want to see the terrace that leads to the honeymoon suite? And the honeymoon suite? Look out below!

RECEPTION AL FRESCO!
You'd have your reception on the large patio, and I don't even want to think about the mouthwatering menu! Yet that, of course, brings us to olive oil. which (remember the headline?) marries the ingredients to create all the divine foods Italy is famous for. You have to admit, when you think of Italy, you think of food first!

So how do we get to Italian wedding favors? Well, there you are in Italy, celebrating your wedding with family and friends, and you want something iconic and memorable for a "thank you" gift. Among the primo Italian favors available is this contemporary culinary keepsake--the "Olive You" Olive Oil Dispenser. Give the dispenser along with a small bottle of authentic, Italian extra-virgin olive oil you can purchase in Positano, and you'll send your guests home with a taste of Italy they'll never forget!

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If they get the okay from whomever they need to (FAA? UN? NASA?,) they'll be the first airline to offer the service. I can't think of a reason why they--or any other airline--can't offer the service. Ship captains perform wedding ceremonies all the time. As long as there's a competent co-pilot around to fly the plane, the pilot can spend a short time out of the cockpit to let couples officially tie the knot at 25,000 feet. It's a unique idea whose time has come!

Think about it! It's a different kind of destination wedding you can celebrate with family, friends and a bunch of other passengers all heading for fun in the sun. You'd definitely save on a ceremony venue and decorations, and your wedding attire can be white shorts and a white tank top. Just plan the reception ahead of time at a venue located at your chosen destination. At the reception, you can thank your guests with--what else?--luggage tag wedding favors.

And if you think you can't find great stuff for your In Flight-themed wedding--take a look at these! I've found you the perfect wedding cake topper. Better yet, here's the ultimate--an airplane wedding cake. Granted, the in-flight wedding isn't for every couple--just those who want their marriage to take off, to get off to a flying start, to fly high, to be on a higher plane. Wow! I've just given you several fabulous themes for an in-flight wedding! Fasten your seat belts! You're on a one-way flight to a lifetime of happiness!

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Jennyvi Dizon works with you to create a wedding gown that suits your personality, your style and your inner bride. She says it takes about four months to "build" your dress, from the initial consult and design, to choosing your fabric, creating the dress and two to three fittings. If intricate beading is required, add a bit more time. For Jennyvi, it's all about comfort, body movement and flattering your body. She works with you, your ideas and your cut-out magazine photos to put together that one-of-a-kind dress you always imagined!

AN ARIZONA FIRST FOR BRIDES-TO-BE

If you're a bride and groom-to-be, and you live anywhere near Phoenix (which includes New Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado, as far as I'm concerned,) there's some excitement coming up for you in late September. It's the first-ever Arizona Bridal Week, and you're the guest of honor! Eight days of fashion shows, vendor exhibits and wedding experts waiting to talk with you personally about your special day--and each day's event happens in a different location in the greater Phoenix area. I'm going to get more specific about featured experts and events in early September. Meanwhile, make your plans to be there.

One thing I can assure you--Jennyvi will be there with her collection, and you won't want to miss it, especially if you're a bride who's planning a green wedding, because Jennyvi also creates amazing wedding gowns using organic silk and hemp. Like I said--so today, they're almost tomorrow!

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There's a three-story waterfall that cascades over the granite boulders in front of the Old Lodge, and just to make things interesting for you and your guests, the lodge has a six hundred foot-long tunnel and secret passageways. You can hold your ceremony in the waterfront gazebo, and later, your guests can enjoy your reception on any one of a number of secluded patios. And how about a seated dinner on a lakeside lawn with an area for sunset dancing. Sounds pretty good, right? If my words don't get you to check out the Thunderbird Lodge, perhaps these fantastic photos will get you on the phone to the lodge!

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I'm here to help with some super candle wedding favor ideas targeting a variety of wedding themes and color schemes. Candle favors, when beautifully and uniquely gift-packaged, add a radiant touch--even when they're NOT lit--to your reception tables. You might even want to include candles as part of your centerpiece design so your guests will anticipate the delights of the gift they'll be taking home. Here, then, are five popular wedding themes and impressive candle favors to go with them:

Dress up your garden wedding for spring with the exquisite "Cherry Blossom Elegance" Candle (right.) The Japanese word for cherry blossom is sakura, and symbolically, sakura is an omen of good fortune, an emblem of love, affection, and it represents spring. How's that for a meaningful favor to give your family and friends?

Any time of the year is the right time for a fairy-tale wedding, and when I think of a fairy-tale wedding, the first thing that comes to mind is the beautiful coach that brings the beautiful bride to her prince for their walk down the aisle. Perhaps the icon of magical coaches is the one that brought Cinderella to the ball, where she fell in love with the prince. They married, and lived happily ever after, which just happens to be the name of the carriage candle you see on the left. The detail is magnificent--you'll wish you had a coach just like it to whisk you to your ceremony.

Lots of destination weddings take place on a tropical, shell-covered beach with the surf crashing against the shore under a bright, blue sky. I don't think any candle favor captures this image more than the Seashells Gel Candle (right.) Most of us think of a seashell as simply a former sea creatures' home that washes ashore, but they've had their share of uses. Seashells have been used as money, medicine, ornaments, objects of art, and charms for fertility and various rituals.

With green weddings becoming more and more prevalent, you might want to find something other than wildflower seed packets to give your guests. Don't get me wrong! I love the idea of little wildflower gardens cropping up near and far. But sometimes your location--a forest, a mountaintop or some other natural setting--calls for a woodsy, recyclable favor, like the "Earth and Light" Twig Votive Candle (left,) an eco-friendly favor that can be reused again and again.

My fifth suggestion is an Asian candle favor. If you're planning an Asian-themed wedding, or if a rich red is part of your color scheme, just imagine how beautiful the "Chinese Tapestry" Votive Candles (right) in their decorative, silk pouches would look on your tables! The fabric design on the pouches is so beautiful, you can create an entire decorative theme around it. Now that's hot!

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POOR AUNT LIL!

We crossed the line from sexy to slutty early on, and we made sure Dave (her fiance) would have a completely unforgettable honeymoon.

Virtually everything Mel got was either see-through or just exposed parts of her body that usually don't get that much exposure. I have to tell you--it was a hoot! We tried to make her try some of the stuff on, but she flatly refused. We asked Aunt Lil if she wanted to model it for us. Got a no there, too--and a dirty look. It didn't bother us much, because we all felt a little naughty by then, and we were loving every minute of it.

SHOW AND TELL!

We wanted the shower to be as sophisticated as possible, so we were drinking champagne. After everyone had an excess of the bubbly, we got down to the nitty gritty. So much for sophistication. Lisa, a very dear friend who loves the single life and likes to party, gave us a glimpse of the undies she was wearing and told us only the most special men get to see them. They looked very similar to the photo at the right. In fact, all of these photos are close representations of Mel's actual gifts. Like I said, she wouldn't try anything on, and Mel holding the items up just didn't do them justice. We took pictures, but she said she'd kill me if I used them in one of my blogs. So much for that.

MORE SHOWER DISH

Okay. So we served two foods we knew to be aphrodesiacs (in keeping with our theme)--chocolate and oysters. Chocolate would have been at the shower even if our theme had been Linen. Know what I mean? We also had pasta salad, quiche, pork tenderloin, finger sandwiches and a few other female favorites. And we really wanted bridal shower favors that reflected our theme. We found them, and they were perfect. Everyone went wild! Check out this "Bodice" Favor Bag! Incredible, right?

Melinda promised that she would tell us which piece of lingerie got the best reaction from Dave when they come back from their honeymoon. I can't wait.

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BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!
The King of Queens star Leah Remini and actor Angelo Pagan, tennis champs Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, Angelina Jolie (pre-Brad) and Billy Bob Thornton, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford, basketball superstar Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy (who received $168 million in the divorce settlement,) David Cassidy and Kay Lenz all wed in Las Vegas--the list does go on.

READY TO PLACE YOUR BET?
According to this group of 13, the odds are 9 to 3 that the marriage won't last. So if you're a mega-famous celebrity, chances are your Las Vegas marriage won't last. Hell, if you're a mega-famous celebrity, your marriage probably won't last no matter where you wed! That's why you shouldn't let this--or anything else--sway you from your dream of marrying in Las Vegas! Like anything else in life, there are no guarantees your marriage will last, but if you've paid attention to your heart and your head, go for it! Here's a hot tip! According to Brides magazine, the most beautiful wedding chapel in town is the Chapel of the Flowers, which was also voted the "Best Wedding Chapel" in Las Vegas and southern Nevada!

BET ON THESE FAVORS TO WIN THE HEARTS OF YOUR GUESTS!
You simply can't get married in Vegas without making the #1 attraction the theme for your wedding favors! That, of course would be gambling, and MyWeddingFavors.com has some of the safest bets for wowing your guests. Just take a look at these Las Vegas-themed wedding favors...

"The smarter you play, the luckier you'll be." --Mark Pilarski

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WhooHoooo! It's Friday, and it's the first day of Spring! It's also the start of MyWeddingFavors.com Spring Fling--when you can get wedding favors, bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts, wedding centerpieces, flower girl and ring bearer accessories, bridal shoes, guest books, fun stuff for bachelorette parties and so much more at 10% off your order of $75 or more! Just use Coupon Code SPRING9. More great essentials for your wedding--and more money left in your wallet! I'm making this short so you can pop right over to My Wedding Favors and spring into action!

One of my favorite signs of spring is the butterfly--their colors, their graceful movement, their delicate wings! And they always seem to be hanging around flowers, which is another beautiful sign of spring. I live in the South, and our springs are absolutely spectacular. Sometimes I wish our world could look like that year-round, and then I remember how much I love autumn, which is just as magnificent.

But I digress. Let's talk about your spring wedding, which is now just around the corner! You've probably got everything on your checklist except wedding favors. Not a problem. That's usually one of the last things brides-to-be pick out and purchase. I've found a few exceptional butterfly favors that you might want to consider--especially if you're having a garden or outdoor wedding, but they work wonderfully indoors, too.

From the top, you'll see the Butterfly Bookmark with that gorgeous, white-silk tassel, then the "Spring Elegance" Laser-Cut Butterfly Favor Box, and next is the Floating Butterfly Tea Light. And they're all available--ON SALE March 20th through April 30th--at My Wedding Favors. Flit on over Friday and flip through the finest favors you'll ever find!

LAST CALL FAVORS

MyWeddingFavors.com has added Last Call Favors, where you can find terrific favors at three low price points--$.50, $.99 and $1.99. At these prices, you can't afford not to give your guests a thank-you gift filled with memories! You'll find glass coasters, place card holders, practical favors, plantable favors, bottle stoppers, elegant favors, whimsical favors and everything in between! I advise you to act fast, because when these favors are all gone, THEY'RE GONE! Here are a few of the favors you'll find on the Last Call Favors pages:

Save with Spring Fling!

More good news! On the first day of spring, March 20 (just a few days away!) the My Wedding Favors Spring Fling begins and runs through April 30th. During that time, you'll get 10% off your order of $75 or more for anything on the site--amazing favors and wedding accessories like toasting flutes, bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts, bridal shoes, guest books, flower girl and ring bearer accessories, wedding centerpieces, unity candles, wedding decorations and so much more! And if you buy one of their Last Call Favors, you'll get 10% off those, too, with your order of $75 or more. Let's take a look at what's in store for you:

You're obviously a smart woman (because you're reading my blog!) so I know you'll take advantage of this totally awesome opportunity. Forget the economy, and use Coupon Code SPRING9 at MyWeddingFavors.com--for the sale that lets you have it all!

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MONEY MOTTO OF THE DAY

"The mint makes it first. It's up to you to make it last." Evan Esar

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Now that you've picked out your blue bridesmaids' dresses and the blue damask tablecloths for your reception, let's take a look at some blue wedding favor ideas to put the finishing touch on your perfect day.

The "Something Blue" Gift Box Candle is a gift box within a gift box. Very elegant!

The personalized Tiffany Blue and Brown Flower Mini-Candle is a lovely way to decorate your tables.

The "Forever" Photo Coasters in one of Kate Aspen's signature Personality Boxes, which offer several different styles in various shades of blue, so you can easily find one to match your personality and your particular shade of blue. If you go to MyWeddingFavors.com, you'll find these and many more beautiful blue wedding favors. And some time after your wedding, I suspect your favor color will be baby blue--with a 50% chance it will change to pink!

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