I watched her grow as an artist and win it all on American Idol.  She’s made the country music world her oyster, and deservedly so. Carrie got married over the weekend, and I discovered she walked the aisle, had her first dance with husband Mike Fisher and gave out her bridesmaid gifts just down the road from my Atlanta, GA home!

Carrie Underwood’s Wedding Venue

I figure you’ll hear plenty about the wedding soon enough, so I thought you might like to find out more about the place they got married—the Ritz Carlton/ Reynolds Plantation on beautiful Lake Oconee in Greensboro, GA, which is just  a little more than an hour’s drive east of Atlanta.

Mother Nature got the memo about Carrie’s Reynolds Plantation wedding. As it often is during Georgia summers, the weather was sunny and hot. I don’t think she, her new husband and guests were subjected to any isolated showers, which is nice!

The Ritz Carlton hotel chain is know for its super-luxe accommodations, and the resort at Reynolds Plantation is spectacular! Here’s what they say on their Web site:

At The Ritz-Carlton, Reynolds Plantation in Georgia, you’ll be greeted by a shimmering lake and quiet tranquility. Whether your visit at the lodge includes golfing on championship courses, a relaxing day of fishing, wandering through antebellum towns or just relaxing at the spa, this Georgia luxury hotel offers an engaging backdrop in the heart of nature.

I thought you might like to see a few photos of the homes in those antebellum towns. It’s a stunning step into the past—shadows of Gone With The Wind—and I hope you come visit the area soon and enjoy some of our famous southern hospitality! Y’all just might decide to get married here, too!

Walmart isn’t the only one who’s doing rollbacks!  You can get one at the Waldorf-Astoria–that is, if you happen to be Edith and Robert Scalise.  Married 60 years ago, the Long Island lovebirds celebrated their first night as husband and wife in this 5-star hotel.  So, it was high time they did it again.

Love at first sight–almost!

To see how this love story began, you’ll have to go back even further to 1936.  Meeting for the first time in Brooklyn’s Public School 157, when Robert first laid eyes on Edith at 12 years old, HE knew she was the one.  SHE needed a little convincing, being a bit intimidated by his big Italian family.  Passionate and persistent, the dashing 22-year-old Robert finally won her over when he returned home from serving in the military.  Two short years later, the couple wed on May 20, 1950 with a grand reception of 400 guests (and some fabulous Italian wedding favors, I’m sure!)

Back then, it only cost them $23.10 for the room, and the good folks at the Waldorf thought it would be a grand idea for them to celebrate their 60th anniversary 1950’s style by honoring the same price they paid back then.  Yep, for a little more than $25 bucks, they were able to enjoy a fabulous room, dinner for two (which cost $3.47) and a celebratory phone call (.15 cents).

Wedding-Day Deja vu

Relishing their hotel receipt for $26.62 as a memento from their stay, it had long been a dream to stay at the Waldorf-Astoria again, but according to Edith, “we couldn’t afford to stay in this hotel again after that night.”  With the suites now costing between $600-800 per night, neither could I !!

But stay there once more, they did.  Following a fairy-tale day, the Scalises renewed their wedding vows at the majestic St. Patrick’s Cathedral and danced cheek to cheek like they did on their wedding night so many years ago.

Recreating this moment was a special treat for the couple and their family, as Edith was escorted down the aisle by her three daughters, while grandchildren and friends looked on.  But, I don’t think they saw much of anything except for each other.  Standing there at the altar renewing their vows with 60 years of memories swirling with delight in their heads, Robert said, “It’s been an amazing journey.  I married my childhood sweetheart.  I always knew I loved her.  I always knew I wanted her. “  Seeing something wonderful in her even as a child, Edith said, “I’m so blessed to be married to you.”  He added, “So am I.”

Wedding Trend Alert: Bridesmaids are Doin’ It For Themselves!

Mismatched bridesmaids dresses are nothing new. Wedding pundits have been touting this trend for several years. The bride selects the dress designer and the fabric, and she lets her bridesmaids choose the style that works best for their bodies.

The 2010 twist? Brides are choosing the color and simply handing it over to their bridesmaids, who then have the freedom to find an off-the-rack dress from any designer, in whatever style makes them look fabulous.

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Brides are discovering that this DIY bridesmaid thing takes a bit of the pressure off them. Meanwhile, bridesmaids are delighted to know they’ll not only look good the day of, but if they choose wisely, they’ll be able to wear the dress again. It’s a win-win! If you like this idea, go for it! A word to the wise–tell your bridesmaids how formal the dress should be to avoid one bridesmaid in a floor-length, beaded evening gown and another in a casual, short sundress.

Take No Chances!

Don’t wait until your wedding day to let your bridesmaids surprise you with their choices. Ask  your girls to let you have a look when they’ve found a dress (or two or three) that they like, so you can make sure each dress complements your color scheme and coordinates well with all the other dresses. They’re your friends, and they won’t disappoint you. In fact, they’ll be grateful for your confidence in them as well as the liberty to choose their perfect bridesmaid dress. At the same time, you’ll probably be so thrilled with their choices that you’ll kick your bridesmaids gifts up a notch!

Just for Fun!

I thought it would be fun to show you what you might wind up with if you let your bridesmaids surprise you with their frocks on the day of your wedding. Let’s say you want your attendants in bright red…

First, let me wish you all a terrifically Happy Valentine’s Day! If you’re planning a wedding, you’re already having a fabulous Valentine’s Day. WhooHooo!

As a blogger, I’m always interested in what’s happening on other blogs. I checked out the Luxury Weddings blog for the affluent bride, because they just came out with their top wedding trends and forecast for this year’s luxury weddings. While top-of-the-line wedding planning might be beyond your budget, there are certainly some elements you can easily incorporate into your plans without turning your pockets inside out. All it takes is some research and creativity.

Meanwhile, here are some 2010 wedding trends for couples whose cup runneth over with cash…

Gowns

There’s a return to “timeless romanticism” by top couture wedding gown designers this year, with collections that feature intricate lace, metallic fabrics, elaborate flower appliques, billowing ruffled tiers and all-over beaded embellishments. Also hot this year is the “daring” asymmetrical, one-shoulder necklines instead of strapless gowns.

Invitations

Sea and nature-inspired custom wedding invitations and hand-illustrated wedding invitations are big for couples planning a destination wedding. Also popular are couture wedding invitations that use luxury design elements and printing techniques like letterpress, foil stamping, embossing, Swarovski crystals, luxury embellishments, silk boxes, engraving, offset, digital and thermography (heating traditional wet ink with a powder compound to create printing that rises off the paper to simulate the refined look of engraving.)

Color Palettes

Wedding guests will see varying shades of violet, rose, blues and greens to mirror the more popular palette for wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses.

Custom Wedding Cakes

Custom wedding cakes will tower to new heights. Fondant masterpieces like the one on the right will make  triple-layered cakes a thing of the past.

Eco-Friendly Weddings

A popular way to go these days regardless of budget, the upscale eco-friendly wedding eliminates elaborate table arrangements in favor of miniature fruit or ornamental trees, live topiaries and herb baskets ready for easy transplant into a garden after the wedding.

Focus on Favors

Edible favors continue to gain in popularity—personalized and delectable dark chocolates, candies and exotic fruits thank guests with something tasty and often too beautiful to eat, like “The Perfect Pear” Gourmet Brownie Pops edible wedding favor on the right.

Concern for Humanity

Here’s a trend couples in every tax bracket can incorporate into their wedding plans. It’s simply “giving back on your wedding day and paying forward to those who are desperately in need.” Donate leftover food and delicacies from your wedding reception to homeless shelters and give your floral arrangements to area hospices, nursing homes and hospitals after your celebration so they can continue to bring joy, happiness and a smile into someone’s life.

Live Event Painting

Okay. This is pretty cool. Affluent brides are commissioning artists to create a live painting on canvas of their luxury wedding event as it unfolds, providing unique entertainment for their wedding guests. Most live event artists will gladly travel to your wedding destination anywhere in the world. Prices range from $1000 to $2,500 and up, depending on timing, location and duration, plus travel expenses. Pricey, yes, but what a unique keepsake!

Ahh, wedded bliss!

It’s the day young girls dream of.  But, in this case, older ones, too.  I just read a story about this cute little couple in New Hampshire, and I just had to share it with you.  With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it might put you in the mood for a wedding.

How the fairy tale began

Although married at the time to other people, 94-year-old Allen “Paul” Adams and 83-year-old Eileen Ethier-Adams initially met over 11 years ago.  But, it was only recently that their friendship took a romantic turn.  Courting each other during their stay at the nursing home, the two widows often enjoyed day trips to the beach, foliage trips to upstate New Hampshire, and to a local pond to feed wild ducks.  After all of that, he knew she was the one and popped the question.

She said yes!

They were married at the nursing home where they live surrounded by their family and friends in a beautiful ceremony, complete with wedding cake, flowers, wedding centerpieces and a champagne fountain.  No word on the wedding favors, but I’m sure they probably gave out something classy, elegant and useful, like the antique photo frame favors pictured below.

The bride wore white (something she didn’t do the first time around, wearing a green suit instead), and the day was filled with a lot of special moments for this forever-young couple.  What was her reaction when she saw her groom for the first time?  She said,”He looked so handsome I was afraid someone would steal him from me.”   But Eileen wasn’t the only one dishing out the compliments.  Paul said,”She looked beautiful.  I think some people envy me a little. You should see Eileen when she’s all dolled up.”  (Isn’t he a smooth talker!)

At their age, many might think, “Why bother?”  But, when it comes to love, there’s no limit.  And, when you have a combined age of 177 years, you really can’t put things off.  So, they picked 1-10-10 as their wedding date.  They liked the sound of that.

How did they end the night?

According to the local newspaper, the newlyweds spent their wedding night at Comfort Suites to get a break from the hustle and bustle of their big wedding day.  Eileen adds that “After we got settled in he fell asleep, and I wasn’t far behind.”  They’ll save the big honeymoon for the summer when it’s warmer.  (Alrighty, then!!)

I hope when I’m that age I’ll still have a love for life like these charming love birds.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time for all of us at Favors in the City to let you know how you’ve touched our lives this year, and how very much we appreciate it. Our wedding favors and our baby shower favors give us the opportunity to share some of life’s most heartwarming moments with you—even though we’re not really there. For that, we’re grateful. Here’s a poem written especially for you…

It’s not just at this time of year,

But for the whole year through—

We want to let our readers know

The thanks we owe to you!

We thank you all for stopping by

To read our weekly posts.

We’re motivated by the goal

To make you perfect hosts.

We thank you for your fresh ideas,

And for your comments, too.

They help us do a better job

For every one of you.

But most of all, we thank you for

Your hosting aspirations.

We’re always here to lend a hand

With all your celebrations!

It almost boggles the mind to think of all the things you can get your name on these days!  From cups to cars, if you can name it, there’s probably a way to personalize it.  In weddings a few years back, imprinted napkins and matchbooks were the standard, and bridesmaids typically received their wedding jewelry as a thank-you gift.  But, nowadays, couples are thinking outside of the bridal box and giving gifts with some personality.  I’ve seen personalized toothbrushes for dentists and mouse pads for IT people.  Heck, there’s probably even a toilet seat out there somewhere with someone’s name or message on it.

While you don’t have to get that outrageous, there are still some unique personalized gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts that will knock your socks off!

For Your Favorite Girls

For starters, how about these personalized flip-flops for your favorite girls?  They’re ideal for a beach wedding or for bridesmaids with a playful attitude.  Just snap on the monogram letter and you’re good to go!

Because jewelry is always appropriate, this personalized bracelet makes an excellent gift.  Available in dozens of colors, you can choose the colors of your wedding or select each bridesmaid’s favorite hue.  That will let her know that you took the time to choose a gift as unique as she is.

Gifts For The Groomsmen

For the guys, how about this innovative flask.  I was so impressed with the clever design, I just had to share it with you.  The round design with the leather accent is nice, but what really got me was when I realized that the center medallion is actually a glass that fits inside the “donut hole” of the flask.  It’s a handsome detail the guys won’t be expecting!

Ready at a moment’s notice, this handy pocket knife will help your groomsmen take care of life’s little emergencies.  Just like them, this knife will be a trusted friend in a variety of situations.

When it comes to personalized thank you gifts, if you can name it–we can too!  Just leave it to your Favors In The City party experts.