March 16, 2010 New
Getting married? Have we got some good news for you! You could win a “Wedding in the Village.” The “village” is Town & Country Village, Sacramento’s beautiful outdoor shopping center located at Fulton and Marconi avenues in the Arden Arcade area. The nuptials will take place under a big tent, accented with baby white lights, on the evening of June 26, 2010.
What’s included if you win? A bevy of prizes, including a reception for up to 100 family members and friends, wedding bands from Adam’s Jewelers, bridal gown from Bella Donna Bridal Salon, wedding cake from the Village Cake Shoppe, invitations from Paper Garden as well as gifts from other Town & Country merchants, including William Glen, Sisters’ Boutique and Capital Confections.
Have we sold you on it yet?
Couples must be 21 or older to enter and can do so by logging onto ourweddingmag.com. Tell us in 500 words why we should choose you and include a color photo. The deadline is April 5 at 11:59 p.m. A judging panel will select three finalists who will then have their friends and family vote for them via ourweddingmag.com.
The real estate market and the economy may still be down, but we suspect the number of engagements to be on the rise in the Sacramento area within the next few weeks.
|
March 15, 2010
Infuse your wedding with a little bit of history by holding it at the Governor’s Mansion or Sutter’s Fort.
The Gov’s Mansion and grounds—which, incidentally, have not housed a sitting governor since Gov. Ronald Reagan and family vacated it in 1967—can accommodate up to 250 guests for a cocktail reception; 150 for a seated affair. Want to stay inside and enjoy the mansion’s Victorian-era rooms? Up to 75 guests can attend a cocktail reception inside the mansion, which is located on the corner of 16th and H streets.
Sutter’s Fort—located on L Street, between 26th and 28th streets—can accommodate up to 300 guests within its courtyard. Move the nuptials out to the surrounding park, and the number is upped to 500 (standing). Many a Sacramento-educated child may recall taking a field trip to Sutter’s Fort, the remaining fixture of John Sutter’s New Helvetia. Founded by Sutter in 1839, New Helvetia was one of Sacramento’s earliest establishments and a haven for immigrants before being overrun by gold seekers before its 10-year anniversary.
For more information about renting the Governor’s Mansion or Sutter’s Fort for your wedding or reception, call (916) 445-2560.
|
February 18, 2010
Our Wedding showed up in style on Sunday to AfWPi's Downtown Drive Around Bridal Expo. It was a great turnout, where Tara and I talked to at least 100 brides. As you may recall, we were giving away an awesome gift basket with wine, $100 to the Firehouse restaurant, a gift certificate for a free dozen cupcakes, a beautiful necklace, and more from our sponsors. (Thanks to Jazzy Jewels, Scribner Bend, Cupcake Craving, Total Beauty Experience, Botanica Floral Design, and The Firehouse.) All the brides we met were so deserving, but thanks to random chance, Bernice Jimenez was our winner! She came and picked up her gift basket on Tuesday and she was so appreciative. She loves the necklace and earrings. She and her fiance will be married this August. We wish you luck, Bernice! You deserve the day of your dreams.
|
February 16, 2010
You've heard of Postsecret, right? It's a blog this man Frank Warren began as a community art project where people anonymously mail their secrets on postcards to him, and he posts them on his blog. It's exploded and is insanely popular; he's published two books, etc. This is a blog I look at every week. (New secrets are posted every Sunday.) I'm writing about postsecret today because I read the most strangely endearing, heartfelt secret and I wanted to share it. For everyone getting married, I hope you're jumping in for the right reasons, but here's a message from someone who married for, arguably, the wrong reasons, and has still managed to have a life she loves. Her secret says: "Almost fifty years ago, I didn't marry the man I loved because he didn't ask me. I married a man I didn't love because he did ask me. At age 22, I was afraid that was my best option. How crazy was that? The surprise is that I had a very good life."
|
February 8, 2010
Please join us this weekend at the Downtown Drive Around Bridal Expo!
Who: You! Brides-to-be and family and friends
What: A new twist on a bridal show -- Learn about some of the region's most talented and well respected bridal professionals, from florists and bakeries to DJs and caterers at three of Sacramento's hottest venues
When: Sunday, Feb. 14 from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Where: Start at The Citizen Hotel (926 J St.), then be whisked to two more locations--the Sacramento Masonic Temple and the historic Elks Tower--in a limo or by horse-and-carriage
Why: Meet vendors, start planning, get your wedding questions answered
Prizes: Stop by the Our Wedding booth for a chance to win our Luxury Wedding Gift Basket, including a $100 gift certificate for a floral arrangement from Botanica Floral Designs, a gift certificate for 1 dozen cupcakes from Cupcake Craving, $100 to The Firehouse restaurant, $100 worth of beauty products from Total Beauty Experience, and a necklace from Jazzy Jewelz by Nancy!
Cost: $15 online (purchase tickets online here) / $20 at the door. Get a $5 off coupon here!
Hope to see you there, where you can pick up a free copy of Our Wedding magazine and talk with our knowledgeable staff.
|
February 2, 2010
I am crazy for this jewelry site out of L.A. called Azaara. I discovered them when my field of vision was arrested whilst flipping through the most recent issue of Martha Stewart Weddings. They have a fantastic jewelry spread featuring antique-feeling star and celestial-themed pieces. One in particular, a ring from Azaara, made my heart skip a beat. Then I pulled up the website and almost collapsed on my office floor, seizing with jewelry mania. Sorry for the dramatic description, but the rings. The rings. The rings. OK the earrings. The construction is beautiful. Blending old and new. I love that. You have to take a look. The ring pictured here, style number RX501, retails for $170, but they have so many pieces priced lower than that, and so many styles if this isn't your bag. Baby.
|
February 1, 2010
I was greeted this morning with a cheerful and complimentary e-mail from someone at Sarah Houston couture gowns. Her e-mail, subject line: "Feedback," simply stated, "Just wanted to congratulate you on your great web site - we just found the Our Wedding site recently and think it's wonderful. Is always nice to find a refreshing, informative & clean bridal site such as yours." Well! Thank you so much, I think I'm blushing. And I thought: Sarah Houston gowns...who are they? So I went on the site, and they make lovely amazingly gorgeous gowns like a new spring morning after rain -- bright and billowy and modern. One downside: looks like there aren't any proper Sarah Houston stores in the U.S. -- they're a Canadian company. (Their gowns have been pictured in lots of national and international magazines.) But perhaps some local places sell their gowns. Even just for ideas, take a look. So pretty. Plus, when people are nice, it makes you want to be nice back, doesn't it? Thanks Sarah Houston couture!! Props right back at ya.
|
January 28, 2010
I just learned of a new site/local resource I thought I'd pass along: Jesse Ciani, a site for wedding day accessories such as ring bearer pillows, photo albums, crystal napkin rings, bejeweled belts and sashes for brides, and a few other items. The photo quality on the website isn't great, so it's hard to tell about things like fabric quality and texture; whether these items are handmade or imported; that said, I think my favorite section is the belts and sashes -- many of which could also double as hair accessories. She's local, so I'm sure you can request custom items, as well. (Belt pictured: is called "Chic" and sells for $228.)
|
January 25, 2010
Valentine's Day is around the corner, and every girl wants jewelry, right? Tiffany & Co. has some super-cute heart-and-key themed pieces, more unique than some of the things I've seen from them in recent years (if not a bit oeey-gooey, little-girl cute, and perhaps a bit immature for adult women), but me? I'm in love with the Paloma rings! Only a wee bit out of the budget at about $1,000, but hey, what's online shopping for? A girl can dream...
|
January 25, 2010
Bella Donna Bridal Salon is having a Preview Collection event tomorrow night, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The preview collection is an event where Bella Donna staff will show brides and wedding vendors new bridal gowns that have just been released for 2010. Talk about being on the cutting edge! They expect about 40 brides to show up, and therefore recommend making a reservation. I do not know if they plan to show bridesmaids dresses or not. Some local wedding vendors will also be present to dispense useful info, including yours truly, at least to give magazine away. Location: 2663 Town & Country Place, Sacramento, CA 95821. (Bella Donna is located in Town & Country Village on the corner of Fulton and Marconi.) Call (916) 481-5065 for more information.
|
