On the weekend I was enjoying the beach as the sun was going down and I noticed 2 teenagers molding wet rope into shapes on the sand. I sat and watched them for a while wondering what they were doing!

A professional photographer started walking up the sand towards them and whispered to all of us spectators that there was going to be a proposal happening. The teenagers were brothers of the soon to be groom and they were spelling out “Will you marry me?” in rope that was saturated in lighter fluid!

Of course we had to stay there and watch the performance so we all sat on a log near by!

Finally the car showed up and the two brothers ran down the beach to hide behind a statue. The beach was all set up and all the "proposer" had to do was lead his lady to the rope on the sand and light the rope on fire!

It was so cute! We all clapped when she hugged him and said yes!

Do you have any original proposal stories to share??

Warmest Wishes,

Kris

How many weddings have you attended where you actually received a favor that you kept and enjoyed?

Favors are a tricky thing for the bride and groom because they want the favors to match their personalities and the theme for the wedding. A lot of the times the guests don’t even take their favors home and that just turns out to be a waste!

In our family it is tradition on New Years day dinner that each of us receive a lottery ticket! This is a wonderful gift to leave for your guests! A – Its cheap and B – They could win Millions!

I don’t know about you, but when I receive or purchase a lottery ticket I feel amazing! I picture everything I will do with the money when I win and how I can help others close to me. You are on a high for days until the big draw happens.

Giving a gift like this will keep the guests dreaming big and having a great time out!

Here are some ideas to incorporate lottery tickets as favors:

1. Message (or money) in a Bottle!
Roll the tickets up and tie a ribbon around them. Place the ticket into a small glass bottle.

2. Candy Rolls
Roll the ticket around a roll of personalized candies.

3. Fortune Cookie
Place a Fortune Cookie and the ticket in a small “take out” box.

4. Place Card Poem
Along with the Place Cards for each guest, type up a poem about sharing the bride and groom’s special day and place the lottery ticket with it.

5. Flower Power
Place a small potted plant for each guest and have the ticket stuck into the soil.

Using the lottery tickets as your favors will relieve so much stress! You don’t need to spend a lot and you can wait until the last minute to purchase them!

Good Luck!

Warmest Wishes,

Kris

Images courtesy of www.beau-coup.com

Weddings are my thing and I can talk for days on color schemes, locations and themes, and honestly I can admit I have never been big on the fairy tale weddings. But I am always in love with new fun locations and destination venues!

Today we are taking a trip to the Oheka Castle in New York. I am totally in awe of how beautiful and how seriously “fairy tale” this location is! Some of you might be thinking that this location is a little out of your price range or budget…..but I am here to show you what this facility has to offer. I hope all of you who need that fairy tale dream fulfilled will gain from this article.

Oheka Castle is located in Huntington, NY which is just 1 short hour out of Manhattan (perfect for your guest to do some sight seeing when they come for the wedding!). This castle was built between 1914 and 1919 and is filled with wonderful history! It was built as a family home for the Otto Kahn family and it was inspired by chateaus in France so the vibe is totally European! Imagine all the wonderful gatherings and parties thrown here back in the 20’s! If the walls could talk!

This is a picture of Otto Kahn’s daughter getting married at the Castle.
What a dress!

There is only one wedding held per day at the castle so you are guaranteed your day is set and perfect from the moment it starts! The staff is outrageously friendly and helpful and you will be amazed by the smallest details that they take care of for you. The Bridal Suite is HUGE and you are able to be relaxed and comfortable there all day.

All of the reviews and people I have spoken to rave about the award winning cuisine provided. Cocktail hour can be held outside where the staff will arrange their beautiful cushioned lawn furniture and keep the champagne flowing while your guests are lounging!

Of course the price is going to depend on how many guests you have attending. The castle does accommodate for 400 guests with tables of 12. You also have the choice (for an additional cost) to have a jazz band play in the library after the wedding! How much fun is that!? It will be a late night so the family and friend will most likely enjoy a stay at the castle. There are 32 guests rooms and suites available for rent. The bride and grooms suite is included with the package as well as your beautiful cake!

For the guests that do decide to spend the night on site will get to enjoy a morning after brunch with the bride and groom.

Now the pricing….when I contacted the Oheka Castle they explained to me that the pricing varies depending on what the couple has in mind. From what I have found from my research is the cost is roughly $200 - $500 per person plus the site fee. Really though when you think of all that you get included in the pricing it isn’t as bad as you may think. Living like a princess doesn’t come cheap!

ta – ta!

Kris

images courtesy of Oheka Castle