"Work of AART" Real Wedding: Marisa & Rob

Last week one of my dearest friends married the love of her life and I had the privilage of being apart of the wedding as well as helping design her menu cards and candy buffet. So since I was in the wedding, I actually took off from my normal wedding working duties and enjoyed myself. And that means I don't have all the best pictures to show off. But I hope you enjoy what I do have and look out for professional pictures soon!

Marisa had a very beautiful wedding and gorgeous weather to match! How adorable are the two pumpkins painted with the words "I DO" on them! A great fall touch to this fall themed wedding. And how can anyone forget about the family pet. The family dog in her little white dress was just too cute for words!

Look at that dress! So beautiful and amazing beading and crystals on the bodice, bottom of the skirt and train. And that cathedral length veil....simply stunning!

Here is a look of Marisa's bridal party, one picture with her "sisters" and the other with her newly extended family (doesn't the first girl on the left in the first picture look familiar? LOL). She chose Bill Levkoff dresses in a cranberry color with an ivory sash. Perfect for her fall color scheme.

Marisa's sister in law served as one of her Matron's of Honors. She wore a different dress in a slightly darker hue to accommodate that beautiful baby bump.

Following the ceremony which was held at Our Lady of the Assumption in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, guests went to enjoy cocktail hour at The Valley Regency in Clifton, New Jersey. The exquisite ballroom was set up for her 180 guests and the lighting throughout the room set the romantic room. Following the couple's first dance as husband and wife to the Bon Jovi song "All About Loving You", came the parent dances. The most heart warming dance was the groom's dance with his sister to Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me". I can say there was not a dry eye in the house and I was no exception!

Next it was on to dinner, drinks and dancing and boy did everyone have a great time....especially with a special guest, well actually 2, for the night (their band consisted of the Queen of Freestyle Judy Torres and the brides uncle is famous for his Elvis impersonation!). Topped off with the wedding cake and our candy buffet display and it was the perfect end to a great wedding.

The best part of our jobs is seeing the love and happiness between two people and being allowed to be apart of it. It's even more special when you ahve seen that love grow and grow throughout the years. We are so happy for you Marisa and Rob and we wish you a lifetime of happiness!

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael

Tips on Tuesday: Making Your Event Memorable

After a great response from last week's Tips on Tuesday's blog, I'm feeling the pressure this week lol. I hope I've made you proud!

Let's face it, everyone wants their event to be memorable and unique, especially a wedding, but not everyone knows how to do it without it still feeling like it's "been there done that". To pull this off is really easy, and stems back to last weeks Tips on Tuesday's blog Figuring your Wedding Style.

Last week when I wrote about having your wedding style be representative of you and your fiance, the same would apply here to making your event memorable. Sure having a great band play at your wedding or having a little late night snack handed out to your guests as they leave is a great idea. But when you add those unique touches that are personal and mean something to you and your fiance, that's what get your guests talking about your event for years to come!

Our very own Rachael had kept the petals her husband had given her through the years & bottled & handed them out as favors for their wedding with an adorable saying: "We give to you a part of our past, to thank you for celebrating the beginning of our future"

Photo courtesy of AART Designs

Are you and your fiance a movie buff? A cute idea would be to use a DVD case of your favorite movies as your table number display.

Maybe you are a wine lover, like so many of us are. Making your own wine and handing them out as your favors is a great personal touch to say Thank You!

And what if you are a couple that loves to travel. Design each table of the different places you have been together and add luminaries with pictures of you at these places.

Photo courtesy of AART Designs

Anything can make your event wonderful but the personal touches are what makes your even memorable! Plus, it's touches like this that Wedding magazines love to see and gives you a chance at being published!

Did you do something unique that is still making your event the talk of the town? We'd love to hear about it as well as seeing those pictures!

In the middle of planning your event and have come to a roadblock? Contact us and we'd love to help!

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael

Friday's Featured Business: Ambiance Video

Wow can you believe that it is Friday already! This week just flew by. So we are looking forward to the weekend, a relaxing one, and to tell you about today's featured business Ambiance Video.

I used Ambiance Video for my own wedding 6 years ago and still till this day, I watch my video every year (and I make my husband sit through it at every anniversary lol)! So you can just imagine how excited I was to bring in our bride to see them yesterday.

Mike Nebbia, the owner, has been in the industry for 20 years. Ambiance specializes in weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, sweet 15/16's and corporate events. Mike and his team are true professionals. They do a great job of "capturing the moments" without being obtrusive. Everything is filmed in HD and the turn around time is incredible and Mike even does all of the editing right there in their studio.

They have several packages and really work with you to make sure that you get exactly what you want. They can even do a small recap of the day and have it played for you later during the event! And if you are looking for photo booths, they now have that too! It is no wonder why they are considered one of the most popular studios in North Jersey!

Take a look at one of their same day edit videos below!

We look forward to working with them again.

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael

True Love Story: Couple married 72 years dies holding hands

Ok, so I was supposed to post yesterday for Wedding Wednesday so I'm a little late lol. And yes technically this isn't a story about anything to do with weddings but it is a story about true love.

After a beautiful wedding this past Saturday (look for that post in next week's Wedding Wednesday blog!) we are still basking in happily ever after. And those who know me very well, know that one of my favorite movies is The Notebook and hearing about this couple yesterday, I just couldn't resist doing a little post about them.

Gordon and Norma Yeager were an elderly Iowa couple that really put the word Love in true love. After an unfortunate car accident, where Gordon pulled in front of an oncoming car, the couple were taken to an Iowa hospital. The nurses had put them together in the same intensive care unit and pulled their beds together.

Gordon died at 3:38 p.m. while holding his wife's hand and family members surrounding them. "It was really strange, they were holding hands, and dad stopped breathing but I couldn't figure out what was going on because the heart monitor was still going," said Dennis Yeager, youngest of the couple's four children. "But we were like, he isn't breathing. How does he still have a heart beat? The nurse checked and said 'that's because they were holding hands and it's going through them.' Her heart was beating through him and picking it up." At 4:38 p.m., exactly an hour after Gordon's death, Norma had passed away.

It was their strong love for each other that the family decided at their funeral on Tuesday to have them in one casket holding hands and then cremated and have their ashes mixed together.

Even though I have no connection to this couple or their family, I can feel the powerful love that Gordon and Norma had for each other. A love and marriage for everyone to aspire to have. Even me....which now means I will be pestering my husband about how much does he love me lol.

Click here to read the full article of Gordon and Norma Yeager.

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael

Tips on Tuesday: Figuring Your Wedding Style

As wedding planners, it is very important for us to know what our couple's style is. This helps immensely when coming up with a design concept for the big day as well as allowing us to know what our couple's likes and dislikes are. And if you have an idea of what your wedding style is, that will help you tackle the big decisions from deciding on a venue to flowers to your wedding dress and more.

Not exactly sure how to figure out your wedding style? Just look at yourselves and your lifestyle.

Do you love old romantic movies and let's face it, all things romance? Than maybe Vintage is your style.

Photo courtesy of MPW Media Group Photo courtesy of Bubbly Bride

Are you and your fiance a lover of the outdoors? Are you always going on hikes, camping or perhaps picnicking in the park? It's probably safe to say that a Rustic style outdoor wedding (maybe by a barn) would be a dream wedding for you.

Inspiration board via Inside Weddings

Were you one of the millions that tuned in to Kim Kardashian's wedding and kept finding yourself saying, "I love that"! Well then it's not hard to see that Glamorous is your style.

(Of course since we mentioned her wedding we had to add a picture of the details!!)

But maybe you are completely opposite and like simplicity? Then I would suggest a Modern look would be perfect for you.

The list could go on and on but the best way to figure out your wedding style is, like we mentioned before, look at your own lifestyle. What do you wear? What are your hobbies? Do you have a favorite season or holiday? Try not to get caught up with what everyone else feels the wedding should be like. Your favorite celebrity couple may have had a beautiful wedding on the beach but if you are not a fan of the ocean, then I would say this is not a wedding for you! Your wedding should reflect you and your fiance. If you remember that, than you can't go wrong. And your wedding will be absolutely fabulous!! Still feel like you need help deciding on exactly what your wedding style is? Then hire us! We'll help you figure it and create a beautiful wedding that reflects you throughout the whole planning process!!

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael

Friday's Featured Business: Creative Custom Card Boxes

Happy Weekend everyone! I can't believe Friday is here already. And if you have been following our Friday blogs, then you know today we feature one of our favorite businesses and today that goes to Creative Custom Card Boxes!

Marni Gold is the owner and designer of Creative Custom Card Boxes. She created her company when she was planning her own wedding in 2008. Frustrated at not being able to find a unique and secure way to store the wedding envelopes at the reception, Marni decided to create her own eco-friendly card box that was simple yet elegant and matched with her wedding decor. She created this with her mother Linda, who has years of decor and entertaining experience. We love that!!

Today, Marni has created many boxes for every theme, and has even increased her product line to now offer Cake Table Decor Letters, Monograms/Logos and Monogram Cake Toppers. Creative Custom Card Boxes has also been featured on many blogs, Get Married, Style Me Pretty, New Jersey Bride Magazine and WE TV's Platinum Weddings! Just to name a few : )

Adding a card box is a great addition to a wedding, birthday, christening or any other event. Here's a peek at some of Marni's past work:

Have a great weekend everyone. We can't wait to see what the weekend inspiration brings us and we'll be sure to share them with you next week!

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael

Northern New Jersey Wedding & Event Professionals Presents A Monster Bash!!

So if you know me, and have been reading our blogs, then you know that I, Aelicia and not to be confused with Rachael lol, loves the color red, fall and Halloween! So a networking event that involves one of my favorite holidays...you know I'm there!

Being held on October 27th at the Northern New Jersey hot spot 46 Lounge, you will definitely have a great time. Costumes are encouraged, and you know you all want to! Plus, it'll be fun to see everyone dressed up too....oh and did I mention there is a prize for best costume?!

Pre registration is only $5 and the first 30 registrants get 1 free drink ticket. Still not sure? How about knowing that there will be great finger food and a "spooktacular" swag bag for those that come early. So drinks, food, friends and you get to leave with a goodie bag.....why wouldn't you want to come!

You can click the link here http://nnjmonsterbash.eventbrite.com/ to register and get any other information you might be looking for. Have any questions, contact us.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael