OK, Now What Bride

Something Sweet for your Sweetie: Updated Gifts In Lieu of the Heart-Shaped Box

I love chocolate. Sometimes I sit and think about how much I need a piece of smooth, rich chocolate. And then I go to the kitchen and eat half a bar. It's that bad. Yeah.

There are so many choices for sweets but none compare to a bite of the good stuff. And because there's only three days left, I'm sharing some of my favorites that don't come in the heart-shaped box. I included the cities and links so that you can overnight them in time for Valentine's. You can thank me later. I have more chocolate to attend to.

1. Say what you really mean. In dark chocolatey goodness. Customized dark chocolate, 15 letters, $23.49

2. I'm from Ann Arbor and Zingerman's is an institution not the be messed with. They use the top ingredients for - well, everything! Ann Arbor and Whole Foods Zzang Handmade Candy Bars, $6

3. Package it up in something sweet. Hearts and Roses clear box, $9.95 for 6

4. It's bacon. It's chocolate. How can you go wrong? Chicago and most Whole Foods locations Vosges Mo's Chocolate bar, $7.50

5. I discovered these gummy concoctions years ago and still dream about them. They're so hard to find! New York City Chocolate covered gummy bears, Dylan's Candy Bar, $15

 

 

Your Wedding: All Rituals or Could You Just Throw a Big Party?

For the last six months or so, I had been planning a surprise birthday party for my husband. To say the least, he was very surprised when we walked in the door and family and friends (especially those from out of town), had come to spend his day with him and New Year's eve with us. It was pretty darn special. There's definitely an art to throwing a successful bash and we like to think we're pros at it by now.

After our wedding, a few people told us that it was the best wedding they'd ever been too (!!) just simply because we threw a great party -- and happened to get married during it. That made us glow with joy and it made me think...why not just throw a huge party instead of all the formalities? I mean, that's what we want, right? A really loving, memorable par-tay! 

If you had to narrow it down to the elements that would make for a fabulous wedding bash right now, what colors would you use? What would your playlist be? Could you get away from the typical wedding rituals, like father-daughter dance, tossing the bouquet, and just celebrate? 

1. Pinatas aren't just for kids. Just watch your champagne intake. Meteorite Pinata Cantaloupe, Confetti Sytem, $150

2. Print these goodies out as many times as you want. Printable party hats, Mr. Printable

3. In white, purple or pink, color things happy with confetti. Pair with (#6) for ultimate festive overload. Heart shaped confetti, Bridal Elements, $5.95

4. Follow the theme of whimsy and gift your lady guests a feather charm to toss on a keychain, on a bracelet or on a bag. Collector's charm feather, Anthropologie, $15

5. Contemporary flutes are sophisticated for a grown-up party. Cylinder toasting flutes, $17.95 for the pair (!)

6. So many people have been looking for these. Perfectly round balloons - here they are! 36" round balloons, Brilliant Bash, $21.95

7. Dress up the table with these carved candles. Carved Damask pillar candle, Ivy Lane Design, $48.99 

Real Wedding: Luis and Rebeca

This Houston wedding is full of so many intimate and gorgeous details, I'm going to let the photos speak for themselves. Thank you, Barett Henry of Civic Photos for allowing me to share these photos just taken earlier this month.  

The gorgeous bride getting ready. 

Lovely!

Love the abstract quality of that photo. Such a great moment captured, you can still see the happiness on the couple's faces!

Aren't they just adorable?! The details of the harp and the violin are timeless along with the aged quality of the photos. I'm loving the bold bridesmaid dresses and the fact that she had three of them, no groomsmen needed! Have you considered going odd numbers on your wedding party?

The festive back drop of the season is just the right touch of color too. Congratulations, Luis and Rebeca! Cheers to your first holiday season together and lots of love and happiness in the New Year!

PHOTOS: CIVIC PHOTOS | PREPARATION: HOTEL ZAZA | RECEPTION: BRENNER'S ON THE BAYOU RESTAURANT

 

Maids A' (Chocolate) Milking : My New Favorite Wedding Favor Idea!

Luckily, I'm not taking the 12 Days of Christmas inspiration literally cause I'm not on schedule and not quite sure how cows or milking goats fit into the whole wedding theme...

I've eaten about half a dozen Toblerones over the last couple months. For those of you that don't know what this heavenly candy is, it's a triangular shaped chocolate bar that has nougat and almonds sprkinkled throughout and you can get it in white, milk or dark chocolate. I seriously considered giving these as favors at my wedding but opted for baked goods. (Fresh chocolate chip cookies tied to little milk cartons, to be exact. Believe me, everyone wanted their favors)! They even had a Cadbury Fruit & Nut variation, which I love by itself but didn't fare well with Toblerone. It's like when two attractive people have a baby and it's not so attractive -- sorry, I digress.

The reason I'm sharing this is because my go-to chocolate might have a worthy opponent. My friend Erica had this amazing concoction of chocolate and I have to share it with you. Mind you, I only saw a photo of it, but that was enough to send me racing to Google it. It's totally customized chocolate bars on this site called Chocomize. Not only did hers have walnuts and gorgeous gilded gold pieces in it, there was bacon in there too. No joke. 

I think they're priced pretty reasonably considering you make the custom choices from fruit and nuts to holiday theme decorations and spices like lavendar and sea salt. Yum. You choose up to five ingredients and you can even customize the outer packaging. And the best part, is that they do wedding packages. Yay!

 

10 Lords a' Leaping: Gifts for the Groomsmen

The best man and the groomsmen do a lot. They're kind of like your lords in waiting while you wade through all the details, tell him what to do and he tells them what needs to be done...

They have to keep the groom (and themselves) in check and make sure there's no Hangover-type catastrophe, keep track of the rings and escort all the guests among lots of other details. Show them some love with thoughtful gifts and keep them looking dapper for the holidays. 

I'll continue the days in counting on Monday. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 

1. GIVE HIM A SWEET BREAK WITH HIS OWN MONOGRAMMED FLASK CUSTOM BLACK LEATHER FLASK, $34.95 | 2. CLASSIC SKINNY TIE VITTORIO J, SKINNY TIE | 3. NEVER ASK WHO'S STEIN IT IS AGAIN | 4. FESTIVE AND HANDSOME BOW TIE FROM SOUTHERN BEAUS, $38

LINK LOVE

Every year lots of couples get engaged during the holiday season, and this year Bride Ideas has found the PERFECT vintage engagement ring for a Hanukkah proposal. This ring is gorgeous and would be so meaningful.

Highs and Lows: The Most Extravagant Wedding Favors Out There, Celeb-style

So far this week I've given you some of the highest and lowest priced engagement rings out there. Yesterday I showed you a crazy, great deal on a favor that would make anyone go "aaaw".

Today I've thrown all caution to the wind and pulled together items from some of the most outrageous and frivolous goodie bags out there, including what I deem, a pretty presumptuous item from Kim Kardashian's recent (and soon to be over) marriage. 

1. KIM KARDASHIAN LOVE COLLECTION, LIMITED Really? Who gives something as personal as a scent for a wedding favor??  | 2. TIFFANY STERLING CLOCK, $375 When Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban wed in 2006, they treated each of their guests to Tiffany clocks like this one, each engraved "A moment in time." | 3. PRIME OSETRA CAVIAR, $330+ Sometimes it's what the guests are treated to while at the ado. Many have been known to serve caviar and champagne and cost can't be a concern when it comes to this delicacy at over $150 per ounce. | 4. JUST MARRIED FLIP FLOPS, $9.95 Imagine you get these awesome "Just married" flip flops. Kinda cute, right? Now imagine they're bedazzled with "Kim loves Kris" on them. Not so great if they file for divorce three months later. Huh. | 5. VINTAGE HANDKERCHIEFS This was actually really sweet! When Jenna Dewan married Channing Tatum, her mom scavenged for vintage hankies to gift for the guests as they entered. I had to include this cause it was kind of a priceless idea :) You can find affordable hankies here. | 6. CUSTOM COOKIES BY THE FLOUR POT Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz had custom cookies made by The Flour Pot for their Alice in Wonderland nuptials. Consider a whimsical themed cookie for your day like the Robert Indiana "LOVE" cookie above.