bridal bliss: the menu for the perfect marriage

last weekend, sis and i were able to cater our first big event together. granted it was one of her best friends and she's in the bridal party, but catering is catering. when sis and i were coming up with the menu, we knew we wanted pretty food to go along with the pretty bride. seriously boys - she puts brooke burke to shame.

here's what we came up:

1. a "bruschetta bar" with three different toppings: steak and gorgonzola cheese, tomato and basil & white bean prosciutto
2. chicken salad bites in phyllo cups
3. slow cooked bbq sandwiches with horseradish coleslaw
4. salmon dill orzo salad
5. watermelon, cucumber and mint salad with goat cheese
6. spinach, ham and cheese quiche
7. chocolate covered strawberries
   

unfortunately, i wasn't able to take pictures of all the food, but the ones i did take with sis' camera were stunning.

salmon dill orzo salad

spinach, ham and cheese quiche

steak and gorgonzola bruschetta

white bean and prosciutto bruschetta

a mexican marriage

days like today i very much want to have my very own mexican fiesta someday.  nothing says happy marriage like donkeys, pinatas, little men playing little guitars, and silver metal lanterns. ole!

(photo credits - stylemepretty.com and margaret singer)

looking into the future

my happiest-go-luckiest friend, jess, is getting married in about a month and...

i

cannot

wait.

jess is the friend who always has a smile on her face and just thinking about her upcoming big day makes the edges of mouth turn up with glee.  i think about what her day will be like and here's what i'm dreaming of. 

even if i'm not exactly predicting the future quite right, i can tell you it will be so cheerful, so lovely, just so her.  can't wait to share in just a few weeks.

(photo credits - marthastewartweddings.com, ritzybee.typepad.com, snippetandink.blogspot.com)

for the newly engaged

any newly engaged couples on your horizon?  it's the best kind of news and deserves a sweet little token of congratulations.  here are a few of my go-to suggestions.

a tote bag with their new monogram.  particuarly loving this one

an elephant for good luck and for the rings

and some cozy, fuzzy socks to keep their footsies warm on the way to the aisle

(photo credits - exposureonline.com, jcrew.com, redenvelope.com)

cake love

oh brides, catch these little guys.  no one ever tops their cakes with MINI MEs anymore. we think you should get the tradition going again. 

the best part - you can have them custom made to look like you and your beau. darling!

(photo credits - etsy.com)

a toast to our brides

the same exciting thing happend to us sisses this week. 
our two favorite brides asked us to be a part of their weddings.

when sis told me that one of her oldest friends, kim, asked her, she couldn't have been more elated. she was over-the-moon-excited for the fun parties leading up to the wedding, dresses, pictures, bachelorette weekend, makeup, hair, flowers, all that lovely bridesmaid stuff.  and i couldn't agree with her more - all those moments are so awesome.  but i have to tell you, sis, and i shared this with my darling bride, ashley, last night - nothing compares to the moments you share with the bride leading up to the wedding itself. 

watching them barely eat breakfast because deep down they're nervous nellies and won't admit it. seeing them step into their perfect dress. asking you a 100 times, "do i look ok?" when they couldn't look more angelic, more lovely, or more perfect.  riding in the limo or down the elevator together to the ceremony.  holding each other's hands while 1000 photographs are snapped away. watching them kiss their mom before walking down the aisle. there really is nothing like these precious moments so soak it up.

kim and ash - thank you again...we can't wait for your big days.

flossy mossy

it's official, marti moss tied one on and we can finally share it all with you! i have never in my life seen a bride with a bigger smile on her face. i think all thanks for that glow can be chalked up to you, jer man. you two outdid yourself on wedding day.  no doubt that smile is still going strong five months in.

and you, miss kate headley. you're silly talented. and couldn't have been any sweeter while snapping away.  check out more shots of wedding day.

oh and one other thing...marti moss is soooo to die for, that glow and smile of hers are clearly cover-worthy.

we clean up nice, eh?

(photo credits - kateheadley.typepad.com/photography)

'say yes to the dress??'

every morning, i visit j.crew.  for those who know me very well, know i'm not joking around. 

e v e r y   m o r n i n g.

but i really never get too far past the sale section.  however, with a few new engagements popping up lately, i thought i'd check out the wedding section. this morning, j.crew's 2010 spring wedding lookbook was waiting for me. i flipped through and to cut to the chase - j.crew does it again with the bridesmaid dresses but the actual wedding dresses get a big, fat 'wahhh wahhh.' no dice, bridies.

all i see is princess leia in this one

now here is an assymetrical dress i can get down with.  oh and the girly lace!

i'm sure this bride imagined wearing a parachute down the aisle

mi amor the haphazard bowtie detail

in 2000, i think a few friends wore this gal to our senior prom

the pleats pull you in...in all the right places. necklace is a must too

yeah, no, not doing it for me either.

the classic bridesmaid dress.  and the neutral color palette that this dress comes in...i die.

ok, so i loved one.  it's the pearls. gets me everytime.

on a sidebar...

miss ashley clark -
can't wait to say 'yes to the dress' tomorrow. i'll bring my own box of tissues to kleinfeld's.

miss kerri escobedo -
living my dream. engaged one night and off to paris the next day. ohhh, to be you!

(photo credits - j.crew.com)

don't tell the groom

and by groom, i mean that boy out there who has no idea i'm marrying him someday. uh huh, him.

i figured this post would compliment sis's entry last week about her dream dress. so yeah, shhh....don't tell unnamed groom yet. or show him but someday, my dream dress will feature all the following details. i suppose carolina or vera or monique will have no problem whipping it up.

precious polka dots

or maybe swiss dots...

perhaps a saucy dip in the front

romantic layers of bright white

and lastly, i'm thinking baby bows instead of baby buttons.

perfection, right?

(photo credits - i can't remember where i found them all but i know the first two are carolina herrera, the saucy front dip one is reem acra, and the others i'm blanking. if i ever come across these dresses again, i will be sure to update! some images from moniquelhuillier.com, partypop.com, ritzybee.typepad.com)