It was an honor to be featured in Style Me Pretty.  Pictured above are their favor picks from Estilo Weddings.

First Row:  Luminous Mini Lanterns,  Gardens in a Bag - Lavender,  Gardens in a Bag - Mini Petunias

Second Row:  3-1/2″ Pencil Bundle,  Blue Favor Box

Third Row:  Filigree Favor Box,  Take Out Box

Organic Bouquet is the market leader in organic flowers and is recognized in the trade as having established the natural products industry’s newest category–organic floral. Their flowers are available online at www.organicbouquet.com and in some of your favorite natural food stores, including Whole Foods Markets nationwide.  They have a wide selection of organic flowers which are perfect for wedding bouquets and centerpieces.

In addition, they also have a charitable bouquets section for which 5% of the retail price goes to the corresponding charity associated with the flower of your choice.

Pictured above is their Two Dozen Pink Passion Roses which benefits breastcancer.org, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help women and their loved ones make sense of the complex medical and personal information about breast cancer, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so they can make the best decisions for their lives.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Throughout the month of October, I will be posting about ways on how we can participate to stand up against Breast Cancer.

Pink Envelope Bridal Shower

With your shower invitations, include a special Pink Donation Envelopes asking your guests to make a donation to Making Memories on behalf of your bridal shower.  Take good pictures at your bridal shower as it will be featured in the Pink Envelope Project website to show others the good that you are doing.

Pink Envelope Wedding Reception

Your donation of $100 or more on behalf of your wedding guests, or on behalf of a loved one, will help grant wishes to people who have been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.  You memorable day will create lasting memories for others in a critical time of their lives.

Simply fill out the Registration Form with your donation.  As soon as your donation is received, they will be sending you a Pink Envelope Project packet with favor cards to display on your wedding day, The favors cards will explain the donation you have made and highlight the good that you have done.

For more information, on the Pink Envelope Project, click here.

Give these seed favors to your guests and they will enjoy it long after the wedding is over. 

Seedling favors from Estilo Weddings.

I have always loved Martha Stewart’s “Good Things.”  Here are some of Martha’s Good Things for Fall Weddings.

Great Pumpkins become a vase and smaller pumpkins and votive holders fill out the centerpiece.

Scattering of Leaves - substitute dried leaves for petals in your flower girl’s basket.

Wooden Seating Cards - seating cards made from pliable wood veneers.

Leaf Ring Pillow - embossed velvet leaves dress up a silk ring pillow.

My latest obsession are these clay flower arrangements.  I have a few arragements in my house.  They look just like the real thing!  Perfect as wedding centerpiece or bouquet.  Check them out at Estilo Weddings.

All the flowers were handcrafted petal by petal utilizing CLAYCRAFT by DECO Soft Clay, an amazing air-dry modeling clay that enables the artist to form beautiful lifelike flowers that will last for years to come.

The clay arrangements were also just recently featured in InStyle Magazine.

To kick off the weekend, here’s a sneak peak of a few wedding dress inspiration from the 2009 Mercedes Benz Fashion Weeek.

Dresses from the following collections:  Lela Rose, Cynthia Steffe, and Carolina Herrera.

Images courtesy of Style.com.

I have always been a fan of Martha Stewart.  I wish the Martha Stewart Collection sold at Macy’s was out when I got married a couple of years ago.  I would have registered for her entire collection!

I love how her collection gives off that vintage feel but with a modern twist.  I also love the shade of blue that she used in her collection.  It gives just the right pop of color in your kitchen.  A great “something blue” for your wedding.

Products listed: Enamel on Steel Tea Kettle, Wire Glass Caddy, Food Mill, Rooster Novelty Cutting Board, Wire Round Tray, Recipe Box, Spice Spoons.

Please keep in mind that this is a general cheatsheet.  Every situation is different so you can use this as a guide and adjust as necessary.  Also, please remember to send Thank You notes to your vendors to let them know they did a good job.  They can use this as a testimonial to get more business in the future.

OFFICIANTS - Tip about $100 or more to the organization or house of worship your officiant belongs to in addition to any fee that they charge. For civil weddings by a judge, clerk, or other non-religious officiant, a tip is not necessary, although a thank you card is always appreciated.

CATERING STAFF - If gratuities is not included in the bill, pay about 15-20% of the total bill.  Tip Bartenders 10% of the total liquor bill if it’s not included in the catering bill.

MUSICIANS & DEEJAYS - If they own the business, a tip is not necessary.  If they are employees, tip about $50 per person.

STYLISTS & MAKE-UP ARTISTS - Tip stylists and make-up artists like you would for a regular appointment, about 15-20%.

PHOTOGRAPHERS & VIDEOGRAPHERS - If they own the business, a tip is not necessary.  If they are employees,  give about $50 to the main photographer/videographer to split with the assistants.

FLORISTS - If they own the business, a tip is not necessary.  If they are employees,  tip about $15 per staff member.

WEDDING COORDINATOR - If they own the business, a tip is necessary.  If they are employees, tip about $50-100. 

SITE STAFF - This includes coat checkers, parking valets, powder-room attendants, etc.  You can tip coat checkers and powder-room attendants about $1 per guest and parking valets about $1 per car.

SEAMSTRESSES - Cash tip is not expected but a small gift such as a thank you note with a photo of you in your wedding dress in nice.

DELIVERY PEOPLE - This includes people delivering your cake and flowers.  Tip about $5 for each trip they make.

DRIVERS - If tip is not included in the bill, tip between 10-15% of the cost.

Organize your tips by using this Tip Envelope from Estilo Weddings.

For elegant and whimsical cakes (and cupcakes), check out Pink Cake Box.  They have some of the most beautiful cake creations I have ever seen!  I especially love the cupcake towers that they’ve created. 

Cakes: Classic Volkswagen Bug Car Cake, Cherry Blossom Themed Wedding Cupcakes, Tropical Rainforest Cake, Red Embroidered Wedding Cake, Beach Themed Wedding Cake, Bridal Shower Designer Handbag Cake.