Trip Advisor vs. Travel Post

vs.

In my most recent edition of Budget Travel there is a blink and you’ll miss it comparison chart between Trip Advisor and a new contender for travel reviews, Travel Post. I use Trip Advisor almost exclusively when planning a new vacation or business trip so I was happy to find a new review source that though not yet at the level of Trip Advisor lets you source reviews by the age, gender and budget of the author. This makes it easier to find reviews from like minded travelers. I especially find this useful when helping brides source nontraditional locations for their honeymoon. Haven’t you ever wondered who is behind the glowing or downright mean reviews? Though you can’t take all reviews literally, I think it really helps to know some demographic information about the person behind the writing.

Icy Drink

At an event the other day I passed an interesting booth called Icy Drink. Though by the name it sounds pretty obvious, I was surprised to see that it was an ice cone filled to the brim with a your choice of delicious cocktail. I thought it was pretty cool and I as I walked around my drink stayed lovingly refreshing. I love the fact that they come to your event, set up, serve and clean up with minimal fuss. I think its a pretty different option for your guests.

From their Sales Brochure:

Icy Drink® is a creation of necessity to provide a guest with a drink experience they would not soon forget by serving their cocktails in ice-glasses.

Experiencing a drink with Icy Drink® is the best part! Your lips make direct contact with the chilling ice glass. The cool and sensational feeling when you drink from the ice-glass is impossible to describe.

Icy Drink® will not dilute your drink, unlike adding ice cubes! How else could you enjoy your favorite drink in the rocks?

Icy Drink® is exclusively serve in Rome, London, Paris and Barcelona bars and clubs and continues to be a huge success.

We offer a “first of a kind” unique cocktail experience to your guests. Our packages depend on your event location, how long is the event, how many guests are attending the event. We are flexible and can travel to any location in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.

Pop up Wedding Series

Catch up on the weddings going on at the Pop Up Wedding Chapel.

Vane from Brooklyn Bride is guest blogging over at the Brides Guide by Martha Stewart on the fun details of the lucky brides. 

Be sure to check it out !

(Picture property of Brooklyn Bride )

(Picture property of Martha Stewart Blog)

Real Wedding: Florence and Iggy !

Sneak peek: Will share more when the professional pics come in.

DIY Contest @ Brides Cafe

For all of you crafty geniuses out there Brides Cafe is holding a DIY contest thru June 30th. Amazing prizes for the winner so check it out !

40% of Wedding Cakes !

The lovely staff at Cara Linn’s sent me some amazing pictures of their yummy cakes !  And they are currently having a 40% discount bonanza until June 25th !  Check out her blog here ! or website !

WEDDING CAKES
40% off
if you book before June 25!
(Must feed a minimum of 30 people)

 

Wedding Stamps

 

 

What do you think about these King and Queen stamps?  I think Kiss the Groom was right, they do look too lovely to split up…

 

 

 

Not a big fan of these, I guess they get the point across, just not what I would pick. 

 

 

 

Love these Red Heart Stamps but alas they are the old price so you would have to combine with one of the 2 or 1 cent stamps.

 

 

 

 

This is a pretty one but only if your invitations are heavy enough to warrant the increased price or if you truly don’t mind paying more than you have to for stamps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really like the Celebrate stamp as an option too.

Wedding Day Survival Kit

Fun way to deal with emergencies on the big day!

No not a game, an emergency kit !

Ms. & Mrs.. has the cutest selections of emergency kits for not only your wedding day, but for your working day, your delivery day ( for the pitter patter of little feet) and for just about any other emergency.  I am a big fan of the cases because not only are they sturdy but you can always refill with every day stuff from your local pharmacy.  And they make great gifts for Bridal and Baby Showers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Dental Floss, Mints, Drinking Straw, Pain Reliever, Antacid, Hand Lotion, Emery Board, Clear Nail Polish, Nail Polish Remover, Facial Tissues, Deodorant, Tampons, Adhesive Bandages, Hair Brush, Hair Spray, Bobby Pins, Interior Mirror, Lint Remover, Mending Kit, Scissors, Safety Pins, Stain Remover, Static Remover, Super Glue, Double-Sided Hem Tape, Earring Backs, Corsage Pins, and Extra Wedding Bands

Sparkling Sake

Sushi fans beware !

Sparkling Sake has hit the streets just in time for summer.  Yummy !

Wouldn’t you love a sip of Japanese Sparkling Sake at a hot summer wedding while noshing at the sushi bar?  I know I would !

Check out BevMo for locations !

Paperless Post

Today’s Style section of the NY Times featured an article on a new way to invite friends and family to your wedding or social function.

Email !

Ok, not really new with the increased use of Facebook for invite management and of course Evite. But paperless post lets you custom design your invitation and not only send via email but also track your RSVP’s and allow you to buy or sell tickets to an event.

Here is a quote from the article,

“the way the hyper real envelope with the invitee’s name appears on the computer, how it reverses to the sender’s on the back, and then the pièce de résistance invitation pops out, so detailed you can see the paper’s grain. How intuitive it was to click on the RSVP and fill out the reply card. Zac Posen had used it for a benefit, as had some Diane Von Furstenberg folks, and the Young Friends of the Elie Wiesel Foundation were about to try it.”

Check it out and tell me what you think!

Are paper invitations still your favorite method of receiving invitations? Or would you appreciate the convenience of online rsvp? And its 100% GREEN!

Technorati Tags: Stationary,PaperlessPost,Invitations

Liene said it best...

So I just caught up on my blog reading for the day and found Blue Orchid Design's most recent post to important to pass up. Happy reading !

Behind the Cost of Weddings Revisited

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Two years ago I wrote a post called Behind the Cost of Weddings which explained some of the reasons weddings are expensive and what goes into the pricing of the vendors you hire. You can read that post here.

A recent conversation I had with a bride brought up a common misconception in regards to hiring wedding vendors and I wanted to expand a bit on that here since it wasn't covered in that first post. While we were discussing options for which band the couple was going to hire, the bride remarked that the price split evenly between the band members was a great salary for them to walk away with.

Please know that the price you are paying your wedding vendors is NOT their salary. The fee they are charging doesn't go directly into their pockets - it includes overhead (rent, utilities, business licenses, equipment, postage, etc), taxes, employee salaries and benefits as well as other costs of running a business. So, for example, if your photographer is charging $7000 to document your wedding, that total amount is not going into their personal account. Their full fee is not their full paycheck - not even close.

Rock of Ages

So many beautiful things to see at this weeks Pop Up Wedding Chapel ! One of my favorites so far were the icons of faith votive. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the Pink Patent leather Bible cover which was equally awesome but I did find a picture of the votive. Unfortunately Rock of Ages doesn't have a site up that you can purchase from but it is coming soon ! (I hope) Oh and I love the purple packaging !

Tipping Guide: The Short Version

Who gets a tip?, When do they get a tip?, Who doesn't get a tip ? The list of answers can be long and varied. Here is the short version on who you should and should not tip on the big day.


Yes !

Caterers: Though most venues/caterers include a 18% - 22% service charge thus excluding you from additional tipping, if your guest seem really happy with the service an extra tip for each table is not unheard of.

Bartenders: 10% ( of total bar cost, and should be shared if more than one bartender)

Coat/Bathroom/Valet Attendants: $1 to $2 per guests

Transportation: Only if it is not included on the bill, 15%

DJ/Musicians : 15% for DJ's, $25 to $45 per musician

Hair/Makeup Stylist: Same as you would any other time you have your hair or makeup done, 15% to 20%

Maybe ?

Photographers: They should not expect it, but if your really happy with their service, I suggest sending it after you review your images.

Rental Company: Not mandatory but a nice gesture if you want them to work extra hard to load/unload as quickly as possible.

Seamstress/Fitter: Only if you really feel they have gone above and beyond

Wedding Planners: 10% is customary, but not expected or required.

No !

Florist
Cake Designer/Baker
Officiant

When !

Before or after is fine. Checks or Cash are best. And designate someone to take this task on for you ! If not your planner someone you trust, label all envelopes and provide extra cash just in case you forgot someone.

Pretty Bows

Everyone knows that I love a pretty bow like no ones business, so I was extra excited when I saw Handle & Spout profiled on Brooklyn Chapel. Their selection is small but if your looking for a fun accent for your bridesmaids or a fun accent for yourself check out their selection.

Another fave is of course the ever classic JCrew. For a little twist I used the Belt as a head band ! For Spring and Summer weddings its a definite must !

Pop-Up Brooklyn Wedding Chapel

Coming up this weekend !

The Brooklyn Pop-Up Wedding Series

It's officially starting ! Below is the schedule I copied from the POP-UP site.

So many fun events!

All events will be held at 303 Grand St., Brooklyn, New York 11211

Click Here for more information !

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
WEEK 1

June 4th-7th, 1pm-8pm Daily: Stationery & Bridal Gifts Shop - featuring products & stationery from The Wedding Library plus local & DIY vendors hand-selected by Brooklyn Bride & 303GRAND
Special events for week 1 -
Thursday, June 4th, 4pm-6pm – Press Event
Friday, June 5th, 6pm-8pm – global DIY art project - The Crane Chandelier Project by The Wedding Co.
Saturday, June 6th, 6pm-10pm – Public event with complimentary champagne cocktails
Sunday, June 7th, 1pm-3pm - Stationery event with Ice Cream Social
Sunday, June 7th, 3pm - Calligraphy demonstration
given by Anna Beckman. Anna is a Brooklyn based calligrapher,
illustrator and prop stylist. She was an editor in the craft
department at Martha Stewart Living creating and styling projects
for the Kids and Weddings magazines.

WEEK 2

June 11th-14th, 1pm-8pm Daily: Wedding Photography Exhibit curated by The Wedding Library
Special events for week 2 -
June 11th, 6pm-9pm - Opening Exhibit party with photographers/videographers
June 13th, 6pm-10pm - A night with Brooklyn Bride featuring Flashdance

WEEK 3

June 18th-21st, 1pm-8pm Daily: The Look: A showcase & retail shop featuring bridal & bridesmaid dresses, handmade accessories, lingerie, hair & makeup trials, and free manicures
Special events for week 3 -
June 21st, 1pm-4pm - Free Manicures by Dashing Diva! Hair & Make-up Trials

WEEK 4

June 25th-28th, Weddings Only: The Martha Stewart Weddings Pop-Up Chapel. See 303GRAND transformed into a beautiful wedding chapel where we will marry up to 10 couples from June 25th-28th. On June 25th, one lucky couple will win a free wedding and honeymoon from Sandals valued up to $40,000!

Alex Z Photography

Vendor Spotlight:

Love, Love, Love her portfolio ! I recently ran into Alex Z's work at last weeks Wedding Cafe event and got a hands on look at some of her photojournalistic style albums. Needless to say I had to look at her online portfolio as well and loved what I saw! Check her out HERE

Tastes : from meatpacking district through chelsea

This past weekend was the Tastes event presented by the NYC LAB School at Gansevoort Plaza. The event is a fundraiser for the school and included some of the cities finest restaurants.

The list included:

5 Ninth, Amy's Bread, Barocco Café, Billy's Bakery, Bombay Talkie, Buddakan, Cookshop, The Green Table, Il Bordello, Klee Brasserie, Knickerbocker Bar & Grill, La Bottega, Le Gamin Mobi, Macelleria, Matsuri, Ono in Hotel Gansevoort, Pastis, The Red Cat, Rocking Horse Cafe, Smorgas Chef, Son Cubano, Spice Market, Tia Pol,Trestle on Tenth and Zamp

The sun was shining, the menu was varied and the music was amazing! Some of the dishes I sampled were the Mini Maine Lobster Rolls by Klee Brasserie, The Barbecued Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Homemade Pickles by The Red Cat ( which were delicious !) and the Tandoori Shrimp with Dates and Papdi Chaat by the Bombay Talkie. But my ultimate favorite was the Ropa Vieja with White Rice and Sweet Plantains by Son Cubano.

Check out some of the snapshots above, even one of me and the little one dancing a little jig :)