Panna Cotta

This is one of my all time favorite desserts. While it looks and tastes impressive, the beauty of it is that it is SOOOO easy to make! Easy enough that you (or even better: a few friends) could make it yourself the day before the wedding. The only tricky part can be plating it which you could skip all together if you just serve it in little shot glasses or champagne flutes. Here’s a super simple (and “foolproof”) recipe:

Ingredients:

3 cups cream

1 package (1/4 ounce) unflavored gelatin

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup sugar

Directions:

1. Put 1 cup cream in a medium saucepan and sprinkle gelatin over it; let sit for 5 minutes. Turn heat to low and cook, stirring, until gelatin dissolves completely.

2. Add remaining cream and sugar to gelatin mixture and heat gently, just until sugar dissolves; add vanilla.

3. Pour mixture into 4 large or 6 small custard cups. Chill until set, about 4 hours. Serve in cups, or dip cups in hot water for about 10 seconds, then invert onto plates. Serve within 24 hours.

*By the way, for our topping we used warmed strawberry jam sprinkled with pomegranate seeds….so easy and really delicious!

Choosing Wine For Your Wedding

Things to Consider When Choosing Wine For Your Wedding
Wine has been served at weddings since the beginning of time. Nevertheless, tasting and choosing the wine for your own wedding is an important and challenging job. When planning a wedding or any important event, attending to the details can make all the difference in how memorable your special day is to you and your guests.
 
Choosing the wine is an important detail–not one to be overlooked. You taste and choose the wedding food and cake ahead of time, so why not taste and choose the wine in advance, too? Don’t leave this important detail to chance. In addition to sampling the wine ahead of time, there are many other things to consider when choosing the wine for your wedding reception.

Your GuestsWhat kind of wine do you like? How about your friends and family? Do they prefer red, white, rosé, sparkling, or a dessert wine? Would your guests enjoy one or two really nice glasses of wine to sip as they socialize? Or, is wine not that important to your guests?

Time of DayAre you having a day or evening wedding? People may drink a little less at an afternoon wedding than at an evening affair.

Menu
Are you trying to pair the wine with the food? If you are serving prime rib, why not pair it with an enjoyable Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, or Merlot? Is seafood or chicken on the menu? How about pairing that meal with a Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, or Chardonnay?

Time of YearIs your reception scheduled for the middle of summer or the dead of winter? The season could make a difference in what wine you decide to serve your guests–are you trying to warm them up or cool them off? If you are hosting an outdoor reception and the weather is expected to be warm, plan accordingly and serve a refreshing, lighter wine like a Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc, rather than a heavy Chardonnay. For red wine drinkers, you might offer a Grand Cru Beaujolais or a Pinot Noir. You might even consider a dry rosé.
In the cold winter months, red wines may be more popular than some of the refreshing whites served in the hot summer months. Winter is a good time to consider the Cabs, Merlots, or Shiraz.
 
What’s Your Budget?Since most people don’t have an unlimited budget to spend on wine, you need to consider cost. If you are bringing in your own caterer, you may have more wine choices than with an all inclusive package. However, there may be room to negotiate the wine expense up front in a package deal. Since you are about to spend thousands of dollars on a reception, you may be able to negotiate a deal on the wine if you are looking to bring in a specific wine. It’s worth a try!

Wine Temperature and DecantingMake sure the wine you choose is served at the correct temperature so that the wine will taste its best. In my opinion, most white wines are served too cold and most reds and rosés are served too warm. If a white wine is allowed to warm up a bit, you can often taste more of its flavors. I prefer my rosés a little chilled and my reds at cellar temperature (58-60 degrees Fahrenheit). Reds often could use some time to decant before they are served, allowing the flavor profile and bouquet to come alive.
 
GlassesBelieve it or not, serving wine in a glass made for that specific grape varietal can enhance the flavor as well. Many reception places may not have different wine glasses for different types of wine, but it’s worth asking the question. It can make a big difference in the bouquet and taste of the wine.

What Wine Choices Do You Have?Are you bringing in the wine yourself? If that is the case, then you have a lot of wine choices. Or, do you have to choose from a specific wine list? If you are interested in wine, you may already have a favorite wine or two you would like to serve at the wedding. Your choices can make your special day all the more enchanting and allow you to personalize your wedding by sharing your favorite wines with your guests.
 
Sparkling Wine for the ToastOne of the most memorable moments at the wedding reception is the toast. If you pick a "Very Good" sparkling wine or Champagne for the toast, your guests will remember the toast even more fondly. Wines do not have to break the bank to be "Very Good."

Planning by Color

Your wedding colors are one of the first wedding decor decisions you need to make. Not sure where to start? First, determine your wedding style. Why? The vibe you choose will have a lot to do with the wedding colors you choose. Do you love bold, modern looks?

The Rules Are Yours to Bend

To all my future brides:

Here are just a few of the questions and concerns that I have been getting from soon to be brides...

* I want something simple, but my Mother wants an elaborate wedding.
- There are a few things to consider here. If this will be your Mother's first child to wed, or if you are her only daughter please consider how you would feel if you were in her shoes. Taking this in account, this is still your wedding "your Mother already had her day". Compromise by outling the "must haves" for you and your groom, i.e. small country ceremony, beach wedding, informal ceremony, etc...
Let Mom's input center around your key focus points.

* I have all of these ideas in my head but I don't know where to begin. I don't have the time to pull everything together, I'm totally overwhelmed!
- That's were your wedding planner comes in, making life much more simple for you. She is trained to deal with getting everyone on the same page at the same time, doing the leg work of dealing with vendors and making your visions come to life. The money you spend to secure a seasoned planner will give you the peace of mind that you should have as a bride, as well as savings in the long run.

* I want an adult reception but I'm afraid to offend family members with children.
-
If you are thinking about the option of an Adults Only wedding reception, its critically important that you consider the matter carefully and realize that some may indeed find this to be a tad offensive, ungracious, or downright cold. Weddings are not typically adult only events - in fact, throughout history, children have played an important role in the symbolism associated with weddings - and therefore some might be offended that you are dictating that they must leave their little ones at home.

Ultimately however, your wedding day is YOUR day and the bottom line is that you have a right to be happy and have it your way on this one day out of your entire life. If, after carefully considering this, you decide that this is the way it is going to be, you should follow the following rules for this delicate situation:

• Indicate that the reception is to be adults only by having the words "Adults Only Reception" or "Adult Reception" printed along with the reception location and time on the invitation.
• Do not use phrases such as NO KIDS, NO CHILDREN, etc. The only correct wording is Adult Reception or Adults Only Reception.
• This information should be printed by the printer on all invitations. You must never write ANYTHING by hand onto the invitation itself - whether it pertains to this or any other matter. Doing so is considered socially incorrect (in other words, tacky!) and inappropriate.

Happy Valentine's Day

Spring Weddings

MAY FLOWERS
 
 

Achoo! That’s the sound of allergies kicking in when the world turns to full bloom. If it’s a problem you’ve lived with all your life, you’re probably well stocked with antihistamines and decongestants to get you through “I do.” It goes without saying, of course, that your wedding day isn’t the time to be experimenting with new medication or self-prescribing how much you think you’re going to need; the combination of stress, sunlight, sweets and champagne could throw you for an unexpected loop!
 
 

Many a May bride or bridesmaid has also made the discovery that bees can’t differentiate between bridal bouquets and free-range flowers. An alternative that is gaining in popularity (although understandably not popular with florists) is the use of bouquets made of silk flowers. Not only do they provide a lasting memento of the day but will cut down on the amount of sneezing throughout the ceremony. It’s also been my experience that one of the things that makes a bride most anxious is whether her flowers will be delivered on time or, worse, be delivered too early and start to droop.
 
 

The heat of pre-summer weather brings with it drenching humidity. If your dress is high necked, long sleeved and has a train the size of a boat, do you really want to be standing outdoors in it for a couple of hours? Morning and early evening weddings are a popular choice for brides who are dressed to the nines and want to avoid the possibility of fainting away in the midday heat. These time slots are also much kinder to hors d’oeuvres and cakes, which have a tendency to not stand up well to direct sun. Trying to keep the bugs at bay? Citronella candles and torches will add to evening ambiance and dissuade mosquitoes from inviting themselves in for a bite.

Top Things to Look For In a Wedding Photographer

When your wedding is over, what will you have? Of course, you will have each other and some great memories, but how will you preserve those memories, not only for yourself, but also for future generations? The easy answer is with pictures of your wedding, but the truth is that it's not really that simple. When preserving such a special and unique day, you can't trust just anyone. To make sure that your special day is captured in the best way, make sure to choose a professional wedding photographer that meets a few simple qualifications.

One of the first things to consider is to make sure that you feel at ease with the photographer - If you are not, it will show in the pictures. When you talk to potential wedding photographers make sure that you feel comfortable with them. Is it someone that you can spend all day with? Is the photographer someone that will blend naturally with your guests? Look at the photographer's other photos. If the photographer can't make people feel relaxed it will be obvious in the pictures.

Another very important thing to look for in a quality wedding photographer is how organized and efficient they are. A good wedding photographer will have everything organized from the beginning. If a wedding photographer doesn't provide you with a checklist of desired photos it should send up a red flag. A simple questionnaire about what you want will give the photographer an idea what you are looking for and ensure the best pictures possible.

Before you book your wedding with a photography company, find out who will be taking your pictures. There are many large photography firms that snap out weddings in an assembly line fashion. With these large companies, you don't always know what or who you are getting. You should be able to work directly with the person that will be taking your wedding photos and not with a manager or sales person. If you don't know who is going to be taking your pictures, you won't know if you have the needed rapport with your photographer and it will show in the end.

Every couple is different and that means that every wedding is different. Of course, there are many must have shots that all couples want, but there are often unique requests. With family structures evolving and old divisions breaking down, the wants and needs are changing too. If you have interesting and distinctive wedding photography needs you will need a wedding photographer that is flexible and adaptable. Make sure to talk to potential photographers and see how they respond to odd request. This will help you decide if they have the talent and creativity to get the look your want.

The best wedding photography is going to take some time. Standing and posing for shots isn't always the most enjoyable thing to do when there is food and fun waiting, but if you want the best photos from your wedding you should allow at least 30 minutes for after ceremony pictures and up to an hour for pre-ceremony photos. It takes time to arrange the groups and ensure that everything is in place. Make sure that you and all of your party are on time for the pictures. If people are late it will only rush the photographer and compromise the quality of the final product. After the event, allow the photographer time to print the photos. You don't want rushed prints.

The last and one of the most important things to keep in mind is how the photographer approaches wedding photography. Is he/she just taking pictures? Or creating art? Is your photographer passionate about photography or simply just doing a job? There are literally thousands of wedding photographers that can take your pictures and do a good job. They can output posed pictures as easily as someone in an office creates a spreadsheet. To these generic photographers it is just a job. If you want something special you need to find an artist that loves photography and will combine skill, talent, and heart to capture your special day.

Simple Do's & Don'ts

Plan your day for yourself, not for others

Get the groom to be involved, it’s his wedding too

Pamper yourself! Treat your mom and girls to a spa day before the wedding

Be realistic about weight loss goals when selecting your gown

Remember to involve step parents in some way

Send your invitations out 6-8 weeks before the wedding

Send your thank you notes out no later than 3 months after the wedding

Assign someone to collect and return all rented items from your wedding day

Look at your guests when walking down the aisle with a big smile, you don’t
want to miss your own wedding

Order a small bouquet for the bouquet toss, keep your bouquet as a momento