Terrica and her husband up for Munaluchi Bridal Magazine’s Hot Couple Contest with this shot from their Mr. and Mrs. Smith Inspired Shoot with Brooke Roberts.  Here are a few iconic shots from the session:

If their photo wins, they win a trip to Nevis and Brooke receives a full feature in the magazine!  Think the pic is swoon worthy? Please take a second to vote– you can vote every day until May 20th!

How to Vote:

1. Click this link 
2. Like the Munaluchi Bridal Page
3. Click VOTE for the “New Mr. and Mrs. Smith” entry
4.) SMILE  and have a martini

Good luck, Terrica and Brooke– and thanks for your support!

I love the soft, yet sultry colors in the Metro Chic palette. While bordering on the antediluvian on their own, there can be a classic, modern, vintage and romantic touch to the palette depending upon the way you take it or choose to express yourself:

stately black candelabras
decadent croquembouche
lush pink peonies
sparkling champagne
vintage chest
romantic handwritten love letter
platinum tufted chair
Parisian fashion 

How are you inspired?

These delicious gowns are sure to make an impact and have every one in awe of your wedding day look!  Find out more about Val Stefani, including where to buy, their bridesmaids collection as well as see real brides in the gown collection by visiting their website.

…I said to myself.

Here’s a little background:  I have ceramic tile floors throughout my entire house.  With three kids, a dog and a cat, the floor cleaning is an every day job.  Cue my ecstatic elation over purchasing a Mint Floor Cleaner.  This is similar to the Roomba, only instead of vacuuming floors, it sweeps and mops on its own.  It has replaced the broom and Swiffer for me (unless I want to double team the house and have the Mint do one room and I do another at the same time).  What makes the Mint awesome is that in addition to using the microfiber cloths that come with the cleaner, you can also use the Swiffer disposable dry and wet cloth refills…

…which brings us to our real wedding advice lesson for the day.

I bought a generic, cheaper brand of disposable refills for my Mint.  BIG mistake. These things did a better job of moving and repelling the dust rather than capturing it in the cloth to clean the floor.  I remembered that I had a box of the actual Swiffer brand of cloths and went to replace the travesty I was using previously. The difference was startling and immediately noticeable in the texture, quality, and performance.

So what does this have to do with your wedding?

Do not make your final decision solely on price.  You cannot assume because two people are in the same service category that you are comparing apples to apples.  You really need to look at why Wedding Coordinator A’s fees are $1800 and Wedding Coordinator B’s are $400.  The same thing goes for photographers, caterers, DJs and other wedding vendors.   While you may think a DJ is a DJ or a caterer is a caterer,  the differences and qualities of their services could shock you.  Make the best decision on service first, then price.  There’s no need in going for something cheaper, if you have to go behind a professional and do the job all over again or fill-in gaps.  You not only pay with your wallet, but also your time, which is far more precious.  For example, I’ve seen some brides who will go with a rental company because they offer less expensive rentals, but opt not to get the setup.   What is the purpose of getting a deal on the rentals if you are stuck setting everything up yourself on your wedding day and breaking everything down afterwards?

Just remember the great words of Sasha Souza:

“While you can find something cheaper, it won’t be the wedding you want, it will only be the price you like.”

It’s your wedding. Plan responsibly, my friends.

If you love watching the Red Carpet Shows to get your dose of glamour, fashion and face beatings (translation: gorgeous makeup), you will be overjoyed to know that the E! Network has teamed with Anavel Caparros to create the E! Live From the Red Carpet Shoe Collection.  The stylish line of high heels is now available at Macy’s, Lord + Taylor, LordandTaylor.com, and will debut at Von Maur on May 8th.

After the stunning success of Adrianna Papell E! Live from the Red Carpet  evening gown collection, as well as the Stila E! Live from the Red Carpet cosmetics line, the shoe industry is now taking everyone by storm and no prisoners.  This new addition to the E! Live from the Red Carpet brand will provide fashionistas the perfect accessory to complete their own red carpet looks.

To view more from this delicious collection, visit the Red Carpet section of E!’s website.

Each year, it seems Coachella gets better and better (cue another mention of the amazing Tupac performance).  All of the artists, performers and brands really bring it for this weekend.  There were some great ideas that could translate nicely for your next event.  Take a look:

Several people enjoyed the Armani Exchange and TMobile Carnival Party.  We’ve posted before about getting your Coney Island on with your event— be it with food and drink or decor and details.  The most important thing with having a theme is to remain authentic  to the details and your personality.  Basically, “skip the cheese, go for the meat“.  Don’t go for the ultra cheesy details, but be authentic as possible.

Lighting is ridiculously awesome.  It can transform any space into something dramatic and exciting.  The key to incorporating good lighting is your base– look at your area’s walls, floors, etc.   Make sure your lighting has something to reflect off of to create striking pillars or soft washes of colors.

If you’ve got a pool at your next party, don’t neglect it! Incorporate it in your party.  The open air atmosphere can add so much to your event.  Create custom cabanas by having personalized pillows with your pictures, monograms, colors or wedding logo. This gives your guests a great place to find respite or catch up on conversation.  Your pool can be a well designed focal point as we shared with The Braxton Premiere Party.

What would you inspires you from Coachella?

Adoring, adoring, adoring the naturally beautiful jewels in the Rumi collection from Elyria Jewels!   Created to inspire beauty and love in all, the Rumi collection is perfect for the modern bride. The line features a sophisticated choker of Chinese freshwater pearls and a center topaz crystal, and dazzling earrings made of raw sliced diamonds, blue moonstones and dramatic faceted quartz.

The ocean inspired Cat Street offer a rugged, yet feminine look that can embellish any look– from casual to formal.  All of the pieces are perfect for the modern woman who wants a little edge, but still wants to remain feminine.

Balancing industrial chic with a luxurious, bohemian aesthetic, Browsh incorporates her beloved pearls and a wide variety of precious stones into sophisticated silver and gold jewelry. Her work is inspired by influences as diverse as street art and Cartier haute joaillerie.  These gorgeous pieces have been featured in O Magazine, Luxury, and Bride.

There are a few things I need in life to start my day off right:

Smiles and hugs from kids.

A thankful prayer to the Lord for seeing another day.

A kiss from the love of my life.

And coffee.

Please note, all of these are non-negotiables!

After running the kids to school, I could typically cajole myself in to believing how much I deserved that caramel macchiato or a vanilla latte to start my day with busy details, interviews, meetings, sketches and more.  I’d get that 2:30 feeling that they rave about on the 5 Hour Energy commercials and say, “Go on to Starbucks”.  I’m the mayor of my Starbucks on Foursquare. It’s that serious.

I was then introduced to the CBTL machine, The Coffee Bean + Tea Life machine and my life has been glorious ever since.  Less cost intensive than other one-cup machines with a compact and sleek design, the gorgeous Americano rests sweetly on my counter waiting for me to pop in an one of the delicious flavor espresso or tea cups into its holder and LIFE BEGINS!

This is the perfect item to add to your registry or even give as a gift to your honey.  Simple to use, compact, and a myriad of flavors to suit your tastes of the day.  They find  highest quality coffee and tea from around the world, use a freshness seal on their single serve capsules to lock in exquisite taste and aroma. What I also love are the powder and sauce sachets which give me that coffeehouse decadence in the comfort of my own home.  My kids even love it because it makes hot chocolate! This is a definite must have in your home.

There were some absolutely gorgeous looks at the 2012 Grammy’s last night.  While there were some fashion faux pas, the real winner for me was the hair and makeup that stole the show.  The looks were perfect for a special event or wedding!

I completely fell in love with Rihanna’s red carpet look!  It was very subtle but added a sun-kissed glow with emphasis around those gorgeous eyes.  The softly tousled hair rounded out her look.  FABULOUS!

 The retro looks from Adele, Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry were stunning! Liquid liner in broad strokes with wings made their eyes POP and gave a great showcase for colorful lips.  I was extremely enamored with Adele’s performance makeup.  A definite must for the ultra glam lover.

Carrie Underwood always knocks it out of the park.  The loose ponytail brings so much attention to vivid eyes played up with definition from liner and eyelashes.  The soft hues on her cheeks and lips give showcase her beautiful skin as well.

While Fergie’s dress was a complete train wreck a la Michael Meyer’s Halloween series, her makeup played up well for those ladies who enjoy a more natural look for their faces.  Sans vivid color, you can see more of her  features such as her eye color and stellar bone structure.  Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough to detract from that hideous dress.

Add another for winged liner!  Melanie Fiona looks like a bronze goddess with her defined eyes, deliciously contoured cheekbones and pulled back hair. I adore everything about this look!

I am a complete sucker for the smoky eye look.  The blunt cut of the bangs ( which still seem to be a hit in 2012) add to the edginess of the metallic dress.  Add in the soft grey hues around the eyes and nude lip, it’s the perfect look for a night out.

While I wasn’t a fan of Taraji P. Henson’s dress, I did adore her hair and makeup. The pink shimmery shades played off the iridescent shades in her dress and  really set off her beautiful complexion. The windswept hair is what got me– a completely  effortless look that screamed classic, glam and sexy.  What’s best about it is that it can be done with short or long hair styles.

Who had your favorite look of the night?

We would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the sudden and tragic passing of music legend, Whitney Houston.  Her talented voice and acting ability garnered her many die hard fans who fell in love with everything about her– breaking the mold for many of the ladies we’ve mentioned above. Our prayers go out to her family and friends in this very difficult time. 

Rest in peace, Whitney
1963-2012 

Circular seating offers a new dimension to outdoor weddings that you couldn’t create with an indoor wedding ceremony.  With an ornate canopy,  the seating arrangement lends itself as additional decor to the area.

This is so simple, but very timeless  The mere draping of the long thick fabric upgrades the tree from just a background piece to a beautiful, incorporation of nature.  This is perfect for couples looking for a rustic wedding or a classic natural look.

This is proof that you can have a glamorous outdoor wedding.  I love the natural branch arch that is glommed up with a chandelier in the center.  The large, lush arrangements in the urns add color, while the greenery adds a fullness and garden feel to the ceremony area.

This is is just divine.  Aside from the heavily petaled aisle, the gorgeous canopy is comprised of strung florals.  With a small chandelier in the center with complementary floral design and a table for the unity ceremony, not much else is needed for this gorgeous ceremony centerpiece.

This may be one of my absolute favorites.  It takes an existing structure and builds upon it– changing its look by adding sheer drapery, with florals wrapped around the pillar as opposed to traditional arrangements on a structure or in an urn.  The chandeliers add a beautiful and elegant touch to the ceremony area.

If your wedding is in a destination where it features some great cultural landmarks, use them as the backdrop for your wedding ceremony.  This could be trees, ruins, beaches, buildings, structures, etc.  Don’t feel confined– the possibilities are endless!

This is a great example of two inspiration ideas:  suspended decor and adding a touch of whimsical elements.  The colorful, ruffled pom poms are hung from an overhead structure, while the urn topiaries and arch greenery add a sweet touch of garden femininity.