Weddings

All about weddings, brides and grooms

Do the Hustle!

October 28, 2008 – 3:40 pm

Okay, when someone says, “The Hustle,” what comes to mind?

You probably imagine a line dance. People stepping forward and back, spinning, twirling, and pointing in the air to the beat of Van McCoy’s song, The Hustle, right?

Well, there’s another kind of hustle dance that’s gaining momentum. It’s the fast and furious, all-drama, Latin-swing ballroom kind done by couples dancing with all the passion and lust that would make ice burst into flames.

Hustle dancing is hot and so are hustle-dancing clubs and championships. Hustle dance is for the young and old (and probably anyone who loves the show Dancing with the Stars). It’s fun and can be done in night clubs, salsa clubs, and yes, even at weddings.

Today, the Hustle has various names. You have the three-count hustle, hustle ballroom style, hustle Latin dance, hustle night club style, and of course, everyone’s classic favorite, hustle disco.

Inspired? Want to take a whirl? Search the terms (i.e, on Google) “Hustle dance,” “Hustle club,” or even “Hustle lessons” to find venues in your area. For a look-see at hustle dancing, search “hustle dance” on You Tube or check out the fun hustle dance web site of the International Hustle Dance Association.

For now, enjoy the feverish, sultry moves in the Hustle videos below, not to mention a bonus video demonstration of the original Hustle line dance. After all, if you want to flash back to the 70s with the original Hustle line dance, then be my guest. And if you really want to do the rolling grapevine, followed by the eggbeater, then the Travolta, and lastly, the chicken, then who am I stop you? Silver platform shoes optional.

DivaKimbling
The Quest for the Holy Veil

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By DivaKimberly | Also posted in Fun & Fame, Travel, Well-being & Fitness | Comments (2)

A Wedding of Titanic Proportions

August 18, 2008 – 2:45 pm

Fall is around the corner and so bridal season continues!

Ever since the movie, The Titanic, came out in 1997, brides have been having Titanic themed weddings. Various places throughout the country will cater to the desires of the bride wishing to have such a wedding.

The Experience

If you live in or near Florida or are planning a destination wedding in Florida and wish to have a Titanic themed wedding, check out “Titanic: The Experience.”  This exhibition, now located at the Science Center, serves as a wonderful backdrop for your special day.

Or if you live a little more inland, (more specifically, somewhere in the vicinity of Missouri) get married on the grand staircase at the Titanic Museum (Branson) and have the wedding of your dreams.  

Okay, so maybe you don’t have an actual replica of a Titanic in your area, well, don’t let that stop you from having a Titanic themed wedding anyway. Check out the site, Favor Ideas to help your create the ambience of the Titanic for your wedding.

Many brides ask their wedding photographer to shoot a “Titanic-I’m-Flying” photo of the bride and groom. All you need is a balcony (or something that looks like one). And then just spread your arms. Water is optional.

A popular pose for wedding couples today

Then again, a getting married aboard an actual ship is always romantic, isn’t it?

And what about the Titanic fashions for your wedding?

Bridal shops like Raspberry Beret or costume shops will help you find the perfect Titanic-inspired gowns.

Of course, you can find a seamstress to make gowns for you and your bridesmaids. Find one who’s experienced in making period clothing like, The Very Merry Seamstress.

But be sure the dressmaker is reputable. You certainly don’t want your bridesmaid gown to end up looking like the one below. This dress was supposed to look like a blue version of Rose’s red dinner gown. This poor rendition would make any girl “jump,” if you know what I mean.

Rose\'s Dinner in Blue (vs. Red)

Check out Ebay and search for Titanic, Victorian, or Edwardian gowns to see your options. Many online stores on Ebay, like Romantic Threads might have what you are looking for.

Either way, it’s your day. It’s your groom’s day. Make it magical. Make it fun. Make it your own. And most of all…have fun!

–DivaKimbling

 

 

 

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Green Wedding Part Deux

June 28, 2008 – 10:18 am

Option One: Why not make your white wedding gown green?

Here are some socially conscious options to packing away your wedding gown…

After your “green” wedding, you can do even more by recycling your gown. Yes, many a bride preserves her gown, perhaps to pass down to a future daughter. However, will the gown be fashionable (or usable for that matter after so many decades), by the time the daughter is old enough to get married? And will she even want it? (Tips for preserving the gown are listed below.)

Why not turn your gown into a cocktail dress or recycle part(s) of it as a shirt and/or skirt if the style lends itself to that? Or dye it if you want? You can make fluffy lacy white pillows and enjoy them all the time. How about turning it into a christening gown or two for your future children? Or give the christening gown as a gift to a newborn of a friend or family. For other ideas on recycling your gown, check out Dr. Dave and Dee.

You can donate your gown to Wedding Gowns for Angels, an organization that provides burial garments for infants who have passed away. Several garments and mementos can be made from one gown and then donated to the family, sparing them of one less emotional task when saying good-bye to their little angel.

You can consign your gown, as long as it is cleaned and in pristine condition. Then another bride can have an affordable gown and you can get back some cash on your investment, which might come in handy in starting your new life with your new partner.

Lastly, you can always donate your gown to help another bride have a beautiful, memorable day, just like you.

Option Two: If You’d Like to Keep Your Gown

Find a specialty eco-friendly cleaner that meticulously cleans gowns like Forever Treasured in San Diego.

If the gown is a historical piece, requires extra care, or cannot by cleaned properly by a specialty dry cleaner, then you may want to consider a textile conservator.

For more information on cleaning, preserving, and storing a wedding gown, check out these helpful hints from the Minnesota Historical Society.

Either way, a wedding gown can bring joy long after the wedding day.  Enjoy!

–DivaKimbling (aka the Wedding Writer)

By DivaKimberly | Also posted in Career & Fashion, Heart & Soul | Comments (1)

Make Your White Wedding Green — Part One

June 8, 2008 – 8:51 am

Everyone is going green so why not make your wedding eco-friendly too? Using organic food, working with vendors who do their part for the environment, and using fair trade foods/items are just some of the ways a bride can have the day of her dreams and be environmentally conscious at the same time.

Having a sustainable, ethical wedding  sounds expensive and time consuming, doesn’t it? Not necessarily. And no bride can go completely green for her wedding IMHO, however, she can pick and choose what works for her. Every little bit helps. Websites like Ethical Weddings , My Ethical Wedding  and Great Green Weddings are some places that help the bride looking to be socially conscious.

For now, here are just a few ideas:

Find a caterer/supplier who is environmentally friendly. Do a search online for local vendors/suppliers.

For wedding-related events/parties, etc., use foods that are local and abundant during your celebrations. 

Used recycled paper for invitations.

Something old, something new, something borrowed…Yes, borrow what you can. This will give special meaning to your wedding as it lets others participate indirectly by loaning you those antique pearls, earrings, cuff links, etc. It also creates more memories for these lovely pieces. This not only cuts down on cost, you are reusing items, which puts less stress on the environment.  Get your family and friends involved. From wedding décor to formal wares (like a chafing dish or coffee urn for the bridal shower) let them know what you are looking for and perhaps they have that item and can loan it to you. (Keep an inventory of who loaned what!)

Purchase a recycled gown. Or rent a gown from places like Rent A Bridal Gown or a similar boutique near you. Do a website search for Bridal Gown Rentals. Or you can find them locally at boutiques providing such a service. It’s a great way to purchase that dream designer wedding gown at a more reasonable price. Also visit consignment shops for top notch dresses. The environment and your wallet will thank you.

Reuse/remount existing family jewelry or heirlooms or melt down existing gold items just sitting in your jewelry box to turn them into wedding bands. This adds history and meaning to the items.

Support World Fair Trade Day. This is celebrated around the second Saturday of May. (How convenient! At the start of wedding season!) Many states in the U.S. host festivals and events on this day (not to mention events worldwide, of course!). Contact them on how you can incorporate this endeavor into your wedding plans. It could be as simple as using only fair-trade coffee at your functions or giving out unusual gifts to your wedding party that are unique and specially made by artisans who are supported by fair trade groups.

For an example of an ethical wedding, check out the bridal couple Brian and Caitlin, who serve as an example of how one bride and groom went green and had a terrific wedding day doing so.

My next wedding-related posting will offer tips on what to do with the wedding gown after the big day, so be on the lookout!

So, what about you? Do you have a wedding or wedding-related event coming up and wish to share some ideas on how you made it green? Or intend to make your upcoming bridal event green? Share it in the comments section now.

Buh-bye! –Diva Kimbling

 

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Should Bridal Showers be a Thing of the Past?

November 3, 2007 – 11:17 pm

My daughter’s first–notice the “first”–bridal shower was today. It was truly lovely. Her aunt-in-law to be , if there is such a thing, hosted it and had wonderful food, amazing roses everywhere and was disappointed my daughter didn’t want any “games.” She did want recipes and all the attendees marriage advice. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to get to know her ‘new’ other side of the family. (And hear their gossip and analyze what her ‘his side of the family’ adventures are going to be.)

There are two more showers scheduled and on the way home, I was wondering if maybe showers should be a thing of the past. Way back, a daughter moved directly from her parents’ home into the home she was starting with her husband. (That applied to most men, too.) Since neither of them had had a household of their own, there was a huge need to help them set up a household. (The daughter may have been collecting things for their future home in their Hope Chest for many years, but let’s face it, a hope chest could only hold so much.) So bridal showers made lots of sense. Now, you rarely find a couple getting married who haven’t been in their own home for several years. So when the happy couple begin their life together–often before the marriage–they have two of everything they need. (It isn’t even unusual for at least one of the two to be on their second marriage, so it isn’t surprising if they also bring things from previous showers or weddings.)

So why are we still using an out grown tradition when so many other traditions–some that make a lot more sense–have gone by the way? I’m guessing part of it has to do with the retail world nabbing on to the wedding itself and making it a spending occasion right up there with Christmas, given all the bridal and gift registries.

Creative and clever divas–such as ourselves–should be able to come up with new and more fitting traditions? Don’t you think? What new wedding tradition would you come up with the reflect the needs and values–other than gimme gifts–to emotionally nourish the brides of today?

And while we’re at it, what are your favorite gifts to give (if you ignore the registries) at a bridal shower? My usual ones are The Betty Crocker Cookbook (all the basics any cook could ever want) or an electronic photo frame. I still have two showers to go. I need all the help I can get.

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