Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend

                So you have the perfect man; the man you want to spend the rest of your life with, and you know the question is going to pop up soon!  The question is, have you thought about or hinted to what ring you would like to wear for the rest of your life?  We are counting down the Top 10 2014 popular engagement ring trends to help spark an idea on what fits perfectly to who you are!

1.       The Cushion-Cut

The Cushion cut is a beautiful soft rounded-edge cut diamond that seems to be grabbing the attention of women everywhere!  This beautiful yet simple ring is absolutely romantic, and we think it is brilliant for any bride-to-be!

2.       The Halo

The charming and stunning Halo Cut will be trending for years to come!  Not only does the center diamond appear larger thanks to the smaller diamonds surrounding it, but it adds sparkle that no one will be able to look away from!  It is absolutely breathtaking and is something for everyone to awe over!

3.       Yellow/Rose Gold

While platinum/silver has seemed to be the most popular choice by women in recent years, the yellow and rose gold bands seem to be making a comeback.  With gold jewelry on the rise, brides want their ring to match this trend as well!  It is very original and you can be the trend-setter for choosing the yellow or rose gold band! 

4.       The Emerald Cut

For you Vintage brides, the Emerald Cut could be the perfect style of ring for you!  With the rectangular shape, you can go in basically any direction with the style of band.  The Emerald Cut is completely versatile and captures a timeless beauty. 

5.       The East-West Cut

Do you want something different than all the rest?  Well the East-West cut could be the perfect fit for you!  This style not only creates a unique engagement ring, but it makes it appear to be a larger stone!  We are in love with this trend and think it is absolutely gorgeous!

6.       Art Deco

Another style that is unique yet gaining popularity, it the Art Deco Cut.  Celebrities like Ashlee Simpson and Scarlett Johansson are really bringing this trend to life!  It is absolutely breathtaking and no ring looks exactly the same depending on how your fiancé styles it!  This would be another ring perfect for you Vintage Brides! 

7.       Adding Color

This has been around for quite some time, but we believe it will continue and grow in 2014! This is a beautiful and unique way to customize your ring to really show your personality!  Yellows, pinks, blues and greens seem to be the trending colors right now, and we could not be more excited about it!

8.       Multiple Metals

Brides are not just set-in-stone on just choosing one type of metal on their engagement rings- many are choosing two and even more!  The most popular combination this year is white gold and rose gold.  This ring creates a unique effect that makes it far more versatile, so you’ll have an easier time matching it to your other jewelry!

9.       Personalize By Engraving

With your one-of-a-kind relationship, don’t you want to capture this by making your ring one-of-a-kind as well?  Well by personalizing your ring by engraving it, it can be completely yours.  Whether it’s “I Love You”, the date of your marriage, or an inside joke, it truly makes it special and something of your very own that you can appreciate forever!

10.   Round Diamond With Cushion Shaped Halo

Last but not least, we are combining three of the trends into one ring!  This beautiful look is becoming more and more popular and seems to be the ring-of-choice with most brides this year!  At our recent Bridal Expo, we looked at every Bride-to-be’s ring and saw this most often.  We think it is absolutely magnificent and will capture anyone’s attention!

BBFN,

Olivia

Wedding To Do Lists

Let’s face it, no matter how hard you try to stretch them, there are only 24 hours in a day. Take out the time you need for your work, sleeping, socializing, working out, and errand time – that leaves you with not much time to plan your wedding, unless you delegate.

The first thing a bride and groom should do is figure out how much time they can, and should, devote to planning their wedding. Every day, one day a week, or plan for a full straight month and get it over with?

Also, couples need to analyze their lifestyle and personalities at the current time. For example, is she busy at work? Is he working on his master’s degree? Is she super organized, or not? Is she a control freak? Is it the couple’s preference to spend time with their family and friends, etc. Life, or time, does not stop when you’re planning a wedding.  

Finally, a bride and groom are usually afraid to give up control of their wedding fearing they will lose that vision they have in mind. Who can blame them, it’s their day. So, what are they willing to let go of?

What should you delegate and to whom?

Delegate is a great word, when used wisely. We all delegate in some way. We look to experts to do our taxes, car repair, and even clean our car, because we either do not have the time or we’re just not good at it. A wedding, big or small, cannot happen unless a bride and groom share the celebration and tasks with other people.

If at all possible, leave it to the professionals. If you don’t know how to make centerpieces, hire a florist. If you don’t know how to sew, buy your dress. If you have a friend or relative who loves designing invitations, there you go! Hiring a wedding coordinator is ideal, because a coordinator can guide you thru almost everything. Even wedding planners hire other planners to help them, because they want to make sure your day goes off without a hitch. But the reality is, in today’s economy, and with our hectic schedules, we cannot afford to hire everybody we would like to help us.

So here’s what you do:

•   Find a few people in your life that you trust and are dependable.
• Give them a few small tasks at a time.
• Be specific: Don’t ask sweet Aunt Joan to “Call restaurants” for your rehearsal dinner, give her a detailed list to call and with a specific list of questions for each.
• Giving volunteers reasonable tasks will make them feel like they’re helping with your celebration, not serving as your personal assistant.
• Take the hardest task that is on your list and break it down into small tasks, and ask your bridesmaids to help you. You know which task that is – finding everybody’s address, the seating chart, the RSVPs, etc.
• Give your fiancé a task like buying the groomsmen gifts. You laugh? Give them a task, but remember break down that task. For example, determine your budget, then figure out your groomsmen’s style and personality, find a theme, and validate his ideas. You can give him ideas, but you should have him make the decision on what kind of gifts.
• Use a real checklist and check off what you accomplish.
• Don’t make the list too complicated, but do add who is assigned to each task.
• If you don’t have a list, you can’t see what you’ve done so far, or not.
• Only use one to-do list at a time.
• Do hire professionals for certain tasks.
• Don’t over delegate, even (especially!) to yourself.
• Don’t under delegate, unless your helper is your 5-year old flower girl.
• Be grateful and show appreciation to your helpers. Saying thank you and giving them a hug is often enough.
• After you read this, start your checklist.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now), 

Olivia 

Building Your Wedding Bar

No matter your wedding vision, you will at some point need to make decisions on the beverages you will serve your guests, otherwise known as the bar. In the past five years there has been a boom in brides and grooms customizing their bars, and looking at different options than just the standard packages included at many traditional wedding venues (hotels, banquet halls, etc.). Give some thought to your drink selections, and make your bar a reflection of you as a couple.

If you are looking to keep costs to a minimum, here are some options:

• Keep it a dry bar, only offer sodas, waters, iced tea and lemonade
• Serve only beer and/or wine
• Add just one signature cocktail
• Eliminate the champagne toast (many people don’t actually drink it anyway)
• Ask to bring in your own alcohol and pay a corkage fee

Looking to spice up a non-alcoholic bar, here are a few of our favorite specialty stations:

• Bring in flavored Italian sodas, it may even be able to be mixed onsite
• Upgrade your coffee bar to include various flavors, chocolate shavings, whipped cream and more
• Getting married in a warm month? Look into a fruit smoothie or milkshake station

If you are going to utilize an included bar package our advice would be:

• Talk to the venue about which types of alcohol you know your guests will consume the most of, so they can stock their supply appropriately
• Ask about having your favorite spirits/brands available, you may be able to substitute an item
• Avoid the urge to pay on consumption, if guests think it is an “open bar” you will be paying for a lot of half-finished and forgotten drinks

Building your bar isn't just about people getting rowdy. You will be providing your guests drinks, so give some thought to your guest list, and budget, and bring on the fun!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),

Olivia

Blending Cultures

So what is this fixation upon Bollywood-style and other exotic weddings?  First and foremost it is the opportunity to do something different and daring.  The rituals, Indian music, vibrant shades of orange and red, beautiful saris and the tradition of henna-painted hands, etc. add an element of spice to a well-worn formula, a bit like ethnic food and music would to our daily lives.  Chicago has always been ahead of the times when it comes to a cultural twist on events.  Take a stroll down Devon St. and see all the beautiful
Indian & Pakistani Influences.

Here are some style tips if you would like to add a cultural Indian influence to your wedding event:

Style Tip 1       
Using Metallics in your invitation adds unexpected sparkle, and sets the tone for your magical day.

Style Tip 2
Get creative with your centerpieces.  Cultural weddings are amazingly colorful events.  A floral elephant is a work of art that people will be talking about for months.

Style Tip 3
Use crystal and jeweled accents in your décor to instantly add glam to any room and transport your guests to a faraway place.

Style Tip 4
Pick a colorful sari if you are comfortable wearing one, the colors are limitless.  If not embellishments such as a colored sash, or ruffles and flowers on your traditional wedding dress count can really add an exciting element to your event.

Style Tip 5
Snake jewelry is not only a must-have fashion trend, but also worn for good luck and good health. 
Perhaps, there is an underlying myth that these culturally rich marriages are more stable because non-western cultures have superior family values.  In any case Bollywood inspired weddings have enormous crossover appeal into our western society, and it is easy to add an element of rich culture to your wedding if you desire.  

The most important element to remember; a Bollywood theme has one aim and objective, and that is fun! Find some great entertainment and go out there and have fun with your culturally infused ideas.  

Bridal Bliss For Now (BBFN),
Olivia

Choosing the Right Transportation

How you arrive and leave your wedding can really say a lot about you and your fiancé and the tone you would like to set for your big day.  In 2013, we are seeing a variety of different ways to arrive and leave in style.  When choosing your transportation, matching your theme and who you are as a couple is very important.  If you are aiming towards a traditional and romantic vibe, then maybe choosing a limousine or a vintage car would be the best choice.  Or if your wedding is more about having a great time and is towards a modern theme, then choosing an exotic car could be the way to go.  In the year 2013, there are no boundaries.  Just make sure that the transportation you choose matches the theme and tone you are trying to set from the moment you arrive, to the moment you and your new spouse drive away to a Happily Ever After. 

The Limousine

                Traditional, romantic and convenient are all reasons to pick a limousine as your transportation to and from your wedding venue.  Even though the black and white options are still available, today they are not just the stretch limousines we have grown accustomed to.  Limousines can come in any shape, size and color you can ever imagine.  Limousines now come in the structure of just about any vehicle, including a Semi!  And not only can you choose the structure of your limo, but you can choose the color.  Have you and all of your bridesmaids pull up to your wedding in a stretch pink limousine, and have your fiancé choose his and his groomsmen’s transportation as well… maybe a black Hummer limo, or even a silver Semi.  Not only do limousines have a plethora or different exterior choices, but they have many interior choices as well.  Limousines can come with anything from having televisions, Champaign/mini bar services, and it is always nice to have your own personal Chauffeur to help with your belongings and to open and close the door for you.  When choosing a limousine, be creative, have fun with this decision, and to always remember the theme of your wedding day.

Vintage Cars

                Vintage weddings have been a major trend in 2012, and continue to be in the year 2013.  Nothing says romance and elegance more than a vintage-themed wedding.  When choosing transportation for this theme, be creative and choose a vintage car.  These gorgeous cars are an attention grabber and will be a car that everyone will want to ride in.  A perfect vintage car would be from either the 1920s or the 1930s.  Or if you are leaning towards an Old Hollywood Glamour theme, then choose a car from the 1940s.  Not only will this get you to and from your wedding venue, this car would make a magnificent prop and would capture breathtaking photographs.

Exotic Cars

                If fun, excitement and uniqueness sound like the vibe you would like to set for your big day, than an exotic car could be the perfect choice for you.  These big, bold and modern vehicles may be a fantasy vehicle for you and your fiancé, but it could become a reality to be able to drive one for your special day.  From a Bentley and a Rolls Royce, to a Lamborghini and a Mercedes Benz, these choices are the definition of luxury.  Not only will this set the mood for your wedding day, but we are sure your husband to be will be very satisfied with this decision. 

5 Advice Tips When Choosing Your Transportation

1.       Make sure to research, research and research some more.  You want a trustworthy company who will provide exactly what you ask for the day and time you ask for it.  So ask your family members, co-workers and friends if they have any advice or referrals.  Go on websites, look at newspaper ads, and read reviews and wedding blogs for any tips or references to a place near you that you can check out.

2.       Meet with many companies ahead of time to compare and contrast many different elements.  When going to these companies, ask to see the vehicle you would like to use and make sure this will be the one that you will have on your big day.  It is  very important to see what you are paying for before you sign any contract.

3.       Read over the contract very carefully. When signing a contract look for many different things.  Make sure the price is reasonable and know the time frame that that price covers.  Also see if gratuity is covered in that price or not.  Know what will be included and what will not be included in your price (mini bar for instance).  And most importantly ask if there is a contingency plan just in case something happens to your vehicle the day of your wedding.  Make sure there are back-up vehicles, and ask if there is a discount or refund if this were to happen.  

4.       Have your fiancé decide his form of transportation with his groomsmen.  The vehicle could be a decision he would like to make, so include him in the process.   Men usually know a lot about vehicles and this could be exciting for him to have his dream vehicle for a day. 

5.       Once again, make sure your vehicle correlates with your wedding theme and the tone you would like to set for your wedding.  2013 is a year of themes, and matching your vehicle to your theme is a very important detail.  

       BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),

       Olivia

Vendor Agreements, Do you Need Them?

When entering into an agreement with wedding professionals, as in any business relationship, where there is an exchange of money for products or services, expectations must be clearly defined.  Weddings are a costly business.  Every bride and groom spend thousands of dollars to make their Big Day perfect.  They all rely on surrounding themselves with people that they feel can deliver that to them.  But before entering into a relationship with such person or company, here are some tips on what to expect.

Agreements or contracts must include:

• Full company name, address and phone number of the vendor
• Names of the bride and groom
• Date and time of the wedding and reception (if you don’t have this information at the time of signing, it should be noted that the information will be added at a later date)
• Services or products being provided should be specified, with as much detail listed as possible. (For example, on a floral contract, instead of “ ten centerpieces,” a better idea would be to have “ ten centerpiece arrangements with white miniature Calla lilies, red roses, and seasonal greenery, sized in a pilsner vase with submerged orchids”)

For Services:

• Set- up time, start, finish, and break-down time should be listed
• Name of the person or persons who will be performing the service
• Any electrical or special requirement of the venue
• Additional charges for night pick up or above ground ballrooms.
• Any delivery of products after the wedding (such as photographers or video) should be listed, with a date by which you will receive the product

Regarding prices and payments:

• Amount that is refundable should be listed, with the charges as detailed as possible
• Each item should be priced separately unless it is part of a particular package
• In the case of packages, content should be listed in detail
• If there is the possibility of adding on services at a later date, those prices should be listed so that you have the pricing guaranteed—particularly the pricing for photos and albums.
• Set-up fees should be included in the contract. If they are not listed separately, it should be clear that the price includes set-up and break- down

Taxable products or services:

• All applicable taxes should be listed.
• All rental taxes should be listed.
•  Required gratuities should be listed , and if they are not required but encourage, this information should be included

Special requests:

• Should be noted somewhere in the contract (such as no “Hokey-Pokey” played by the DJ, or         Vegetarian meals provided by the caterer upon request).
• Parking or travel fees
• Overtime fees
• Restriction on lifting and moving of equipment, products, furniture etc must be clear.

Payments:

• Schedule should be listed in detail, including the acceptable forms of payment and applicable penalties (for example, if a personal check is returned.)
• Due date of such payment(s) must be included
• Final payment date and amount must be listed.
• Charges, or penalty for making changes after the final order is placed, must be clearly stated.

Policies:

• Cancellation policies should be included in the contract, with specifics regarding cancellation by either party.
• Deposit requirement and the refund policy must be clear
•  If there are other relevant policies that the vendor follows. They should also be included in the contract.

You should be presented with an original copy of the contract, with two sets of original signatures- yours (or the person responsible for paying) and a legal representative of the vendor. In order to make the contract binding, you will need to present compensation at the time of the signing.

If the contract lacks any of these items, don’t hesitate to request corrections, additions or verification of details. It is in everyone’s best interest to have everything listed in advance. If the vendor hesitates to provide you with a detailed contract, perhaps you should consider a different vendor.

If expectations change, make sure to record the changes in writing.  This will protect you, and validate accepted changes by the vendor.  After all, it is your one and only day.  Surrounding yourself with an event team that understands your vision, and enhances your wedding experience, that is the right team for you.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now), 

Olivia

2012: A Year In Review Continued

Enjoy the follow photos as a year in review of our in house design studio! Congratulations to all the brides! We are looking forward to working with all the 2013 brides!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),

Olivia

A Year in Review: 2012

Oliveaire would like to take the time to thank all the brides and families that we had the opportunity to work with last year. Working with each bride and groom along with their families is always an achievement when we see the smiles on their faces after a successful event! Thank you for letting us help bring that smile to your faces, we sincerely appreciate all of you and letting us be apart of such a memorable day! Congratulations to you all, and we look forward to working with all of our 2013 brides this year! 

Below are some of many of the pictures from our 2012 events! Take a look at the gorgeous transformations Oliveaire created, and imagine what we can do for you! 

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),
Olivia

Bridal Registries

Bridal Registries are something brides and grooms still have and are doing it more fabulously then ever. At the start of a marriage, most couples have either not lived together and/or cannot afford much. They need all the help they can get, and this has not changed and probably will not change in coming years. It is also exciting for most couples to go to a couple of stores and pick out items that they will share and remember for the rest of their lives. We have created an updated list of tips for you and your fiancé to remember when registering for your possible gifts from your loved ones. 

1. How to Tell Your Guests About Your Registry Tastefully

Telling your guests about where to shop for your wedding presents can be a pretty awkward moment. Timing and how it is told are two important factors you should remember to announce tastefully where you will be registered. In today’s society, most couples create their own wedding website for guests to look at and be updated on the upcoming nuptials. When creating your website, create a link that shows where exactly you are registered. This way you are not directly telling them and they will still find out where and when to go. Pinterest is also a popular way to place your registry items on a website for your guests to search what you are hoping for. This is also a great method, because you can directly link each item to the website where they may purchase it. Your guests will really appreciate this because of the convenience of having it right there in front of them and they can purchase this item without leaving their house. Other ways we suggest is word of mouth and/or showing your registered stores on your bridal shower invitations. We do not recommend however to tell about your wedding registry in your initial wedding invitations. Today, this would be considered improper etiquette and we encourage you to wait a while to tell your guests in a different way. However, if you would like your guests to know right away, you could post your wedding website on your invitations to sneak around this.

2. After the Engagement, When Should You Register?

We recommend that you wait around one month or longer after you announce your engagement to register. This also depends on when you are planning on getting married. If you want a short engagement, we would recommend waiting about one month or so. If a year or more engagement is something you are wanting, than we recommend waiting a couple of months, so it does not feel like you are rushing your guests and you can also ask for more up-to-date items that might not have been in stores earlier that year.

3. Shop Ahead of Time

We recommend that you go to the stores you would like to register at before the appointment to not only save you time but headaches as well. By going before your appointment, make sure you like what they have and browse their items to have an idea on what you would like to register for. Registering can be very time consuming, so by having an idea of what you would want can help save you a lot of time. Also, we already know most men hate shopping (especially for items like glassware and decor), so by cutting the time down registering, will be something he will truly appreciate.



3. Make An Appointment

Believe it or not, registering for your wedding day can be very time consuming and might last more than one day at a single store. Calling ahead of time to make an appointment will ensure you personalized attention and will guarantee that you know everything there is to know about the store and the item you are registering for. Also, when you arrive there will be some paperwork to fill out in order to ensure your guests will know that it is you they are purchasing for.



4. Make Sure to Register With More Than One Store

This is mostly important because you will be saving your guests a lot of possible travel time and stress. We recommend that you register with 3-5 stores. By doing this you can make things easier for your guests because they will be able to at least access one store since they might not live near certain other stores. By registering with one department store as well, you can almost guarantee that your guests will have one that is not too far away from them. Registering at different stores such as boutiques, shops and department stores will also allow you to have a variety of different gifts that other stores might not have in stock. All around, it may be a headache to register at more than one store, but you and your guests will appreciate the variety to choose from.

You and your fiancé are just starting off life together, so having a registry is very important and is still very relevant in today’s society. Your friends and your family want to help you two out in any ways possible, and by having a registry, they can see exactly what the two of you want and need. Having a registry not only takes the stress away from you and your fiancé, but it also takes the stress away from your guests because they know they are spending money on something you truly want and need in order to start your wonderful and happy lives together. 

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),

Olivia

Pulling a Room Together: Enhance Your Event with Linens!

The feeling of glitz, glamour, luxuriousness and elegance can all be brought to life with the use of linens on your wedding day.   From the wide selection of fabrics, colors, and patterns to choose from, there will be something that matches the tone you are trying to set.  There are many different ways linens can be used to enhance your venue in a whimsical and romantic way.  Here are some helpful tips of advice on what linens would be a perfect match and how to incorporate them on your wedding day. 

Finding Your Perfect Linen
1. Research: When searching for inspiration for your lavish linens, be sure to research everything from colors to the material. Every aspect is important and everything will determine the look and feel of your venue space. Always consider what you have envisioned and get advice from the experts and from your family and friends. Both will help you come up with what would be perfect for the atmosphere you are trying to portray. 

2. Color Considerations:Even though bright colors are trending this year, the use of ivories and whites for table clothes and chair covers are more popular than ever. Here are a few reasons as to why you should consider ivory or white for your linen choices.
· Plain and simple, white and ivory are the easiest to decorate with because it matches just about everything.  It is very good against splashes of colors from your table napkins and your centerpieces.
· White and Ivory also look absolutely breathtaking with up lighting because it will somewhat turn the color of your room without blending into the backdrop. Either of these two colors shimmers against the lighting.
· If you are looking to save money and you are lucky enough to have this, most venues can only provide white or ivory linens when it is a part of their wedding package.

Even though there are many different benefits to having white and ivory linens, the use of colored linens can also look just as magnificent. It may be a little more tough to mix and match and get the lighting right, but we have seen some exquisite venue spaces with colored linens before. Be creative and follow your heart on what you believe fits your personality and your vision.

3. Other Ways to Use Fabric Besides a Table Cover
Chair Covers: The use of fabric to cover a chair can turn a fabulous chair into a spectacular piece of art that flows with the scenery. Sure we have seen couples choose to use the venues chairs without a cover or order specialty chairs that match the décor, but the use of a cover and possibly a wrap around of another color, really pulls the whole room together.
Backdrop: A very unique way of incorporating fabrics into your wedding day is by using a backdrop made of all linen. Although this might be an expensive way to incorporate linens because of all the yards it will require, you could use this backdrop at both the ceremony and the reception. The below picture shows a backdrop that we did in the past that incorporates two different colors and if you look close enough you will see that it has elements of crystal curtains throughout.
Aisle: Flowing fabric aisles definitely gives off a romantic and flowing feel to a ceremony space. Although it may be tough to keep everyone off of it before you walk down the aisle, it will be well worth it. We have seen some beautiful aisles that are made of linen and are topped with flower pedals going all the way down to the alter or the Mandap. Below is a picture from one of the weddings we did the décor for that has a breathtaking fabric aisle with floral elements. 

Mandap and Stage: At Oliveaire we specialize in South Asian weddings. With the above picture, you can see a gorgeous fabric Mandap made out of all linens with a hint of floral elements. The stage is also covered with a beautiful soft white fabric. This luxurious way of decorating a Mandap looks absolutely romantic and the lighting brings out the beautiful pink color.

4. Steps You Should Take
1. Research information and size of tables, chairs and other measurements where you might be incorporating linens. This information includes if your venue space provides linens or areas close to you that can provide you the linens you want.
2. Find out Costs. Call around to many different places and compare costs on the amount of fabric you will need and their services to deliver and possibly set up.
3. Consider the costs and envision the best possible outcomes that stay within your budget.
4. Before ordering, make sure this fabric brings to life the look and feel you have been dreaming about.
5. Once you are sure, make an order with the company and make sure before your big day that they will be ready on time and that they have everything you ordered.

Linen simply adds pure elegance and pulls your dream décor all together.   When choosing your extraordinary linens, make sure to gain as much knowledge as possible, brainstorm and get advice from your close family and friends.  Having all of this information can only help and it will make choosing a lot easier and a lot more fun.  Follow your vision and nothing can go wrong!   

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),

Olivia