Wedding Cakes: The 'new' girl's best friend?

Let the delicious details of your favorite piece of jewelry — whether it’s your mom’s prized pearl choker or that sparkling rock on your finger — inspire your cake design.

The results are sure to be delectable, decadent, and drop-dead gorgeous.

If you’re a bride who waxes nostalgic for the precise, flirty glamour of the ’50s and ’60s — when baubles born of oysters embellished the necklines of many a chic lady — this elegant cake, swathed in strands of edible pearls, is for you. As for the Cartier diamond perched on top? We’re certain that somewhere Audrey and Marilyn are gasping with delight. (Be sure to go faux for the real topper.)

Came across these pics of celebs with ‘red carpet’ makeup vs a more natural look and I have to say, nine times out of ten, I think they look better with less makeup. What do you think?

Take Our Poll

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From Glamour.com, Photos 1, 2 & 3: Getty Images. Photo 4: John Aquino for Brides.com. Photo 5: Robert Mitra for Brides.com, by Kim Fusaro; for complete article, click here.

These 3 Actresses Didn’t Make Our Golden Globes Best-Dressed List, But Their Dresses Are Totally Wedding-Worthy! Whose Would You Wear as Your Wedding Dress?

We love this idea covered by the super smarties at Seattle Met’s Bride & Groom — had to share!
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While you’re easing out of holiday party mode and heading into full-on wedding planning mode, please meet Sara Ewalt, a Seattle-based maker of piñatas. Only she calls them pinyadas. Why pinyadas? “I was emailing about the idea with a friend, and our email chain was called ‘Pinyada-yada-yada.’ I love puns,” she admits.

Okay but why piñatas, and why at your wedding?

WWW: How did you discover your piñata talents?
Ewalt: I have a background in installation design (I used to work as a display coordinator at Anthropologie) and am currently part of an artist collective called Hens & Chicks Collective here in Seattle. Needless to say, I’m constantly making things. Pinyadayada started with a trip to the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall. I saw an Airstream all dressed up as a piñata and (surprise) they sold piñatas inside. The designs there were pretty generic—you know, Sponge Bob, a donkey… I said to my friend, ‘I could make awesome custom piñatas. The more i thought about it, what occasion wouldn’t be better with a piñata?

What materials are used in your piñatas? How long do they take to construct?
They’re either made out of paper mâché forms or cardboard. I’m able to make the base out of recycled materials, then I cover them with either tissue or crepe paper, but I’m interested in using other more unexpected materials, too. I’d say they range from four to fifteen hours depending on size.

Could your clients fill them with candy and treats specially selected for their colors and themes of their wedding? Or do they come already filled?
So far I’ve been filling them, because I’ve made them for people I know, but I want to sell them both ways.

He’s cute. She’s gorg. The pictures; come off it!

Wanna see more?

1. Start your event late. Hosting your ceremony around 7 and the reception at 8:00 PM is a good rule of thumb. Typically a venue allows 5 hours, so this way it will last from 8 PM until 1 AM. You want your guests to stay at least until the stroke of midnight.
2. Make a coffee station a highlight.This is useful for guests who are not used to staying up late. Consider having an espresso or cappuccino machine set up as well. Include candy sticks to stir the coffee, whip cream and chocolate shavings. Having a dedicated barista is a nice touch for a New Year’s Eve wedding. 
    
3. Take advantage of the festive night and serve hot appetizers rather than a sit down dinner.  This calls for a cocktail party dress code rather than black tie. Sit down meals are expected at a black tie event.  Serve items such as hot wings, scallops and bacon, mini sandwiches and lots of desserts. A chocolate fountain adds a special touch to a late night.
4. Set up a party supply table. Pile on noise blowers, party hats, confetti, streamers and even feather boas and funky glasses to use by the guests. The reception hall can be decorated with these colorful party items as well, or can be kept to a classic black and silver theme. As the night wears on the hall will become more and more festive as guests take it upon themselves to play with the party supplies. 
   
5. Set the stage for a midnight surprise. Have balloons and confetti placed in netting over the dance floor to drop at midnight. Set up a large clock or your fashion your own ball drop to mimic the events playing on a wide screen TV. Mute the TV and allow the DJ to count the seconds with your guests to keep it more personal.

(article details: By: Sylvie Branch, Break Studios Contributing Writer; picture details.)

Loving this unique guest book idea — a metal, picture frame that your guests engrave on-site. It’s so modern, so keepsake-able — I loved it when I saw it at a beautiful wedding last month.

What’s your favorite modern guest book idea? Send your ideas!

Everlasting bouquet

It’s always cool to see a fresh take on an old idea.

And in this case, the freshness has no expiration date.

Check out this super cool, wish-I-had-though-of-that wedding bouquet. Lord knows MY grandma had enough costume jewelry to outfit an entire herd of Cher look-a-likes; why didn’t I MAKE my own bouquet? It’s blingy, you can keep it forever — and p.s. how great does it look in the pictures?

To see more pics from this clever bride’s wedding — including some kick ‘A’ blue heels — click here.

Talk about a wedding fit for a rock star! “It was a giant jam session,” Shannon Tweed-Simmons tells PEOPLE about her Oct. 1 wedding to KISS bassist Gene Simmons. The couple, who have been together for 28 years, celebrated with 400 guests. Among them were daughter Sophie, 19, who served as maid of honor and even crooned the song for the first dance, Etta James’s “At Last,” and son Nick, 22, a groomsmen who also took the stage to perform.

Even the family dog, Snippy, joined in the celebration – serving as the ring bearer.

The splashy event at the Beverly Hills Hotel meant all the more to the bride and groom after what has been a difficult year, as documented on their A&E reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels. (Its new season premieres Oct. 4.)

One major sticking point was Simmons’s hesitations about marriage.

Clearly, though, all that is in the past. “It was a great evening of music and fun,” Simmons told PEOPLE about last Saturday’s ceremony. “I look at my wedding band and think, ‘What was I afraid of all this time?’ ”