Instead of saying “Does that mean you want to use that cardboard –like paper?” in a horrified voice, you suck in your breath and say “Why what a wonderful way to let everyone know you are thinking about the environment.  We can look together to find a beautiful alternative to what I’d always envisioned your invitation to be.”.

You might want to suggest to your daughter that the two of you go look at invitation books at the local fine paper store where they offer a service of  creating your invitations with custom letterpress.  Once you get the ‘feel’ of what is out there, you can cruise around online.

A benefit of letterpress invitations, stationery or announcements is the fact that most letterpress machines require a heavy, cotton-based (read: tree-free) paper to produce their lovely indentations. In addition,  it takes a lot of ‘human power’ to create the die cuts for personalized orders. Thus, letterpress products are usually “green” and offer less of a carbon footprint than other printing alternatives.

Here’s a pretty design from traditional fine paper company: William Arthur www.williamarthur.com

Letterpress Dogwood Branch Wedding Invitation

A lovely branch of leaves and dogwood blooms drapes around the wording area on this ecru invitation.  The branch is letterpress printed in Fern green ink and you can coordinate or contrast your text ink color.  Letterpress printing creates a soft timeless look, which just might be perfect for your wedding. Each personalized invitation comes with a matching ecru envelope. Double envelopes can be selected during the envelope personalization process.  Reception cards and Reply notes can be ordered as well.

You’ve come to terms with not doing the ‘traditional’ invite, so why not do something really different and fun? I found this wonderful design by Staccato on etsy.com

Kristy

Beautiful cocoa colored monogram adorns the top of a pale blue double thickness cotton paper. The invitation is further embellished by a thick chocolate satin ribbon and a shining crystal brooch. To make sure the invitation arrives beautiful condition, it is mailed in a sturdy chocolate box.  Set will include:
Letterpressed and embellished pale blue invitation
Letterpressed pale blue respond card & envelope
Mailing box in chocolate brown
Shimmery ivory wrap-around label
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Box, ribbon, ink, and paper colors can all be changed.  Invitation prices start at $15 but can vary based on your quantity, options, and inserts.

You can encourage your daughter to go as upscale as she would like if your budget allows.  If you really think about it…it would be a good thing to use more paper with your invitation ‘bundle’ if you are using tree free and post-consumer recycled papers.  It’s actually better to go for a lush effect. Then, just maybe, more people will be inspired to use these papers.

AH HA!  – Perhaps you (and your husband) will become a bit more green in your thinking as well. 

Just maybe more trees will be saved which would = Beauty and Responsibility. Win -

Win. YAY!

MoB Claudia Van Veen

]]> http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/wedding-planning/what-do-you-mean-the-invitations-are-going-to-be-green%e2%80%a6does-that-mean-you-are-using-that-cardboard-like-paper/feed/ 1 http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/wedding-planning/mother-of-the-bride-planning-tips/ http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/wedding-planning/mother-of-the-bride-planning-tips/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:26:20 +0000 Claudia Van Veen http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/?p=2420 Where will the wedding be held?

Scenario #1: You are only paying for a few items of the wedding. Your daughter and her fiancé are paying for the venue and the dinner and they are trying to keep within their budget.  Everywhere they’ve looked that they like is waaay over their budget, so they sheepishly show up for Sunday dinner and suggest your house since you do have a wonderful area for entertaining inside and a large backyard with some big trees and neighbors that don’t have ‘tacky’ yards.  On 1^st thought, this sounds like a really nice way for everyone to save some money! YAY!

Whoa, though!  You and your husband need to really take a good look around the inside of the house where guests might wander and the outside – not only the yard itself but the exterior of the house – need new shutters?  Shingles looking faded? Never did get that patio finished?  Haven’t opened the pool for the last two years?  Inside: floors – need new carpet or does the hardwood need refinishing?  Have you been putting off getting the kitchen redone since the stock market played havoc with your finances (the reason you aren’t paying for everything)? Bathrooms – major stains in sinks or on the ceramic tile?  Did the bath upstairs leak through the ceiling in the guest bath on the 1^st floor?  Would you need to go ahead and buy a new sofa or get the dining room table refinished, paint the downstairs (which would lead to more décor changes), chimney swept, new window treatment and have the backyard professionally landscaped?  Hire a tent person, rent chairs and tables, hire someone to make an altar are for the service itself?  By the time you add everything up, you might be spending much more than renting one of the ‘best’ places available.  If a venue rents for $6000.00 against that $20,000-$45,000 to ‘fix’ the house in order to be ready for the wedding…then perhaps you might want to steer the couple somewhere else.  Don’t forget…this wedding will have its stressors but a lot more might be piled on if it were to be held at your home.

Scenario #2. What if the newly engaged couple suggests the wedding should be held at his home?  Whew!  That would let you off the hook.  But then, ‘they (his parents)’ might be calling most of the shots, wouldn’t they?   Hmmm.  It is your daughter’s wedding.  But, don’t forget, it is their son’s wedding too.  Of course, the reality is that no matter how well you get along with the new ‘in-laws’, there is the location ownership factor to be considered.  In the end, it just might not matter one whit.  However, all of you should consider that aspect before his parents are approached.

Scenario #3. Different types of locations to consider:

Destination wedding….hope you don’t mind if we leave this one for another blog post!

Guest list 75 people. The wedding could be held at a location such as Woodend which offers a MD country setting that is relaxed yet elegant. With its classic Greek portico, sweeping lawns, and spacious, high-ceilinged rooms, Woodend provides a beautiful setting. They do have a list of caterers they allow on property.

Guest list is 180. Perhaps you’ll consider an historic building in DC such as the very elegant Decatur House Museum? As the first neighboring residence to the White House, dating to 1818, the Decatur House is one of the oldest surviving homes in Washington, DC. It sits right on Lafayette Park which can provide the most wonderful backdrop of the White House for outside photos of the wedding party before the event.  Twenty-foot vaulted ceilings top the spacious ballroom, decorated in neutral tones, and the wall of windows and French doors bring the brick courtyard into view.

(Note: if it is held here, then the bride and groom might want to consider spending their wedding night at the Hay Adams Hotel which is only a block away…they can walk there after the reception. Wedding guests with sparklers to send them on their way could form a double line for the couple to walk through.)

Guest list 450 of your nearest and dearest friends, your ex-husband and his wife’s friends, the couples’ friends and co-workers (he is a Congressman – so security is an issue too), his mother and her husband’s friends, his father and his wife’s friends and although you only have 3 children, his family has a blended brood of 8 siblings and their families…plus the bride wants it to be spectacular and in DC!    OK – there are quite a few places to choose from…we really are lucky to have locations that can handle large crowds (remember the inaugural balls/dinners). There is the National Building Museum or how about the Ronald Reagan Building where you can have a reception in the Woodrow Wilson Plaza and the dinner/dancing inside.

One note of caution:  For a wedding/reception to be held in DC or the wedding in VA or MD and the reception in DC – don’t forget about traffic and where will the guests park?   You might want to consider hiring a valet service that will handle all that for you!

Rather than having to run all over town looking at 10-15 sites and think of all the multitude of items for “THE LIST”…might it be better to choose a really wonderful wedding planner?  And might it also be wonderful to choose one that can ‘green’ your daughter’s wedding?  Try the Washington, DC Green Wedding Consortium!

Happy Planning!
~Claudia Van Veen

Madonna and 1^st Lady Michelle Obama have sent the message that toned, taunt upper arms can be within reach for other 40-somethings and older.  That message has been helped along by other celebrities who have passed their 40th birthday, yet remain virtually flab-free. The list includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Barkin, and Mary Tyler Moore. Mrs. Obama, of course, posed in a sleeveless sheath for her official White House photograph.

Celebrities aside, can a determined 50+ year-old woman pump her way to 30-year-old arms?  Probably not. Why? With age, the skin and the connective tissue start to lose elasticity and you have more sagging. There is likely to be more flab underneath a 50-year-old bicep than a 30-year-old one.  And, as active as a 50+, or 60+ can be, it’s a good bet they’re still not as active as 30-somethings who are often running after children in addition to squeezing in formal workout time.

Ok – then there are those of us who should never, ever show any upper arm (women of substance-especially older ones). But, guess what- there are worse things.

This takes the 80s puffy-sleeved bridesmaid dress way too far.    Don’t go overboard hiding those upper arms!.

And then, what about that other problem area? “Old elbows,” she told me.”A woman’s elbows always give her age away.” — Nora Raleigh Baskin (What Every Girl (Except Me) Knows)

Who woulda thought they’d be such tattletales of our age?  Sagging, aging elbows show rings (like a tree!) and can ruin a wonderful put together look. Check out Posh’s!

And she’s nowhere near being a mother of the bride!   Ladies – our elbows show age 1^st and are much harder to remember to take care of.   And even if you did – there just comes a time when you can’t hide the aging look unless you have elbow cosmetic surgery.  Hmmm, think I’d rather spend my money somewhere else, wouldn’t you?

Here are a few tips to keep the skin there taut and supple:

1. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! A good chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid would do the trick.  Unlike the face, the elbows are not sensitive and can stand higher percentage of acid.  (Try biting someone’s elbow, I swear they won’t feel a thing! And no, I DON’T know anyone who will let me bite their elbow ;>) If you lack the resources to buy glycolic acid– cut a lemon in half, rub on to elbows, and leave the juice and rind on there for 5 minutes, rinse.  I don’t recommend physically scrubbing the elbows too hard as you’ll just pull at the skin.

2. Moisturize! Again, people forget to moisturize the elbows.  Use dermatologist recommended Cetaphil!  Eye cream is good too if you can afford to buy box loads of La Mer eye cream to rub on your elbows like Kimora Lee Simmons does.

3. Sunscreen! Yes, the elbows suffer from sun damage everytime you drive, walk outside or play tennis.  We use sunscreen all over our face and body but most of us neglect to protect our elbows!

Ok – what to do if you don’t have time or the inclination to work really hard on those areas? Cover them up! At the pre-parties, the wedding, and the brunch after!

Moms!  This look is perfect for those two pesky problems. Coppery hand-beaded French lace blouse with a web design, worn over an Italian faille strapless mermaid gown, about $2,700, by Stephen Yearick,  is a very glamorous look.

Or this beautiful Cameron Blake creation is lovely –

No matter what your budget, there are a lot of gorgeous outfits out there that will cover those two areas we just don’t think of often enough.

Happy Planning!

Claudia Van Veen

In the movie ”True Love,” a caterer persuades the beleaguered young couple to serve sky-blue mashed potatoes to match the bridesmaids’ dresses. ”You should feel that anything’s possible,” he says.

But, if you (and your husband – the step-father) love to go out to good restaurants, have attended many events and know something about the caterers in your area, or perhaps the bride or groom worked in a professional kitchen, or attended gourmet cooking classes or have seen Julia and Julia 5 times and own all her cookbooks, then the emphasis changes from gussied up food to fabulous tasting food.  So no matter how the scenario plays, you choose a caterer and then have THE TASTING.

Wedding Dinner meal tastings can be fraught with peril…so before you start, here is the etiquette that goes along with tastings.

1. Get quotes from your various caterers, compare and then choose not more than 3.   Ask if they are conducting any tastings for groups/ do they have linens/table set ups to look at?
2. Is your budget limited or is the “sky’s the limit”? A good caterer can give you great suggestions for either type or one smack dab in the middle.
3. After you’ve made the decision of which caterer, then set up a date to have the tasting.
4. Ask how many people you are allowed to bring, (do not bring more!).
5. Tell them any dislikes prior to the tasting…if you really hate couscous ask them to leave it off…also let them know of any food allergies for people attending the tasting. Will you be having vegetarians attending?  Let your account rep know prior to the tasting so there can be something included for those people at the wedding itself.
6. At the tasting- be clear and specific on what you like and don’t like…you won’t hurt their feelings (just do it tactfully). The sauce has anise? And you detest it? They can change sauces, leave off items you or the bride/groom dislike etc. That’s what tastings with a good caterer are for…it gives you an opportunity to modify the menu.
7. Ask to see photos of their work,  ask about staff attire, staff ratios etc

Obviously, a great wedding planner will help guide you and your daughter through all of this! (www.eleganceandsimplicity.com – of course!)

OK- here’s an overview: You and your husband are paying for the wedding location (venue), the cocktail reception and the dinner.  You have decided on French service (French service refers to having a waiter serve the food onto each guests plate for each course as opposed to bringing out plates with the food already placed on it.) The caterer will let you bring 7 people to the tasting.  So it’s you, your husband – (fella with the buckys), the bride and groom, his parents, and a friend whose judgment both you and your daughter respect.

You will be given a list of the dishes to be served and a pen/pencil to rate which you like the best down to the least favorite.  The appetizers are served by a staff waiter; 2 seafood, 2 beef, etc., everyone raves (or not) over each piece, then you all are seated and in comes the soup (3 different tiny cups) – much discussion ensues over the soup.  Then the salad…one’s a crisp green, one is a blanched pear that is ‘too die for’ – all the women LOVE it – the men – not so much.

And then two beef, two seafood, chicken and pork entrees with wonderful sides…everyone is in heaven!  Stuffed!  (They even serve a lovely lemon sorbet to cleanse the palate between courses.) No cake will be served since your cake will come from another source.  But being the classy caterer they are, they do bring in some divine chocolates for ‘the final’ taste.   They offer reg. coffee and espresso…

Then the discussion and ratings begin of each of the items each person tasted.  Whew…got the appetizers decided, MUCH discussion again about the soup.  The women INSIST on the pear salad…and your husband is burning under the collar about the soup!  He wants what he wants especially if he’s giving in on the darn pear salad!  You whisper to your friend (the respected one) and then, you pipe up “If your step-father is going to pay for this wedding, he gets to choose the soup!” WHOA…everyone looks at you like you are an ogre….BUT no one disagrees.  The rest of the choices come easily. And thus – you’ve made it through the tasting. And he feels like he won a battle…probably the only one he will win. ;>) Ahhh, but such wonderful food…you can’t wait for the wedding, knowing the choice is perfect for your friends and their friends (bride and groom and his parents). YAY!

~Claudia Van Veen

OK – OK – they are not anything like the girdles some of us had to wear way back when. (Yes, it’s true – flight attendants did have fanny checks to make sure they had their girdle on!)  These new ‘helpers’ are really somewhat comfortable.  Many society mavens and regular (you and me) people now swear by Spanx, the moderately priced innovation of Sara Blakely, who has been widely credited with reintroducing girdling to the masses, thanks to comfortable fabrics; cheeky packaging; 100 different styles that reach as far up as the shoulder and as low as the ankle and eliminating the flabby overflow known as “muffin top”; back bulge, pear thighs, flat butt, and on and on.  There are plenty of celebrity endorsements, too! Oprah was an early convert (“Spanx really changed the way I wore clothes. … I’ve given up panties,” she once told her audience) and Gwyneth Paltrow owned up to wearing two pairs at a time after giving birth.  One of the funniest bits of comedy I’ve ever seen was in Wanda Sykes’ HBO special “I’ma be Me” where she discusses her love/hate relationship with Spanx…

Spanx for the Memory!

Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah Winfrey, Jessica Alba all swear by high-tech power panties.  By Drew Friedman (As seen in the New York Observer)

Mom, mothers, and grandmothers – we all want to look our best during all the festivities and these wonderful things can help you do just that. The right fit can take up to 10 lbs off that body of yours and even if you are pretty trim, check your look from the back full length in the mirror…see anything that surprises you…dismays you?  Time for the Spanx!

Other brands?  Annette,  Sassybax (cute name), Miraclesuit (don’t we all need one?), Yummie Tummie…(way too cute), ASSETS by Sara Blakely (for you flat bottomed friends), and plain ole Wacoal.

Do you have back fat?

Try this one: Annette Diva Divined shaping slip

Or belly fat?

Give this type a chance: Miraclesuit.  They offer several styles – one of which is: Extra-Firm Control Strapless Body Briefer  (but straps do come with it  – AND it come in sizes from 34B to 42 DD

There is now even a line of Haute Couture Spanx at Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom’s.

It is suggested that those who find the neo-girdles uncomfortable are probably just wearing too small a size. “You don’t want to smash your butt; you just want to organize things.”

A woman stands up a little straighter when one wears shapewear. For instance, Assets by Sara Blakely could give you Mannequin Rear End. It won’t billow like it’s full of water. It just won’t move.

Forget the scenes from St. Elmo’s Fire and Bridget Jones’s Diary, of plump heroines being seduced and then summarily mocked by men who encounter their BIG Girl panties?  MOBs – you are dressing for the beginning, middle and end of the day/evening…not the ‘afterwards’.  Your spouse/significant other will just be pleased you looked so nice.  Don’t have one of those??  Who cares…you’ll be pleased for yourself, girl!

~Claudia Van Veen

Chances are this is the first time you’ve given a Mother of the Bride wedding speech. If so, then there are certain things you’ll probably want to achieve…

• You want your speech to be sentimental…with a touch of humor but not schmaltzy.
• You don’t want to make a fool of yourself in front of 20, 50…300…or more wedding guests.
• You want your speech to be a special tribute and something your daughter and her groom will remember with fond love – even if they don’t remember all the content. (see note below about this).
• Your speech should be one of the highlights of your daughter’s wedding and one that you’ll want to look back and remember with pride.

But, if you are like most Mothers of the Bride, you don’t know where to start or what to say. You don’t know any jokes or quotes that are appropriate for weddings. And you don’t know how to word your feelings and sentiments so they are meaningful to your daughter.  Not only that, you need inspiration to get ideas flowing so you can create a memorable speech. I’ve never had a problem speaking in front of people but I do have friends that are just terrified at the thought.

• Which type are you? Practiced public speaker or neophyte – this occasion is different from every other one you would ever attend…it is your daughter’s wedding and so this speech must be as good as you can make it and that kinda puts all of you on a level playing field since even the ‘natural speaker’ can get nervous about speaking before this crowd.   The old adage that we were all taught still holds true for all of us moms.  Practice makes perfect.  After you write out your speech, practice it out loud in the bathroom or in front of a bedroom mirror until you are comfortable with saying all the words…sometimes just saying it aloud makes you realize a phrase needs to be changed…looks good on paper but doesn’t ‘talk’ well.  (You should get your husband to do this as well, if he is speaking, too.

Hopefully, you will actually get the chance to make your speech in front of all of the guests – but sometimes strange things happen and the mothers just don’t get the chance to make a toast (or just don’t want to do so).  So in that particular instance and just to be safe for your moment to speak, I will repeat…write that speech out – or at least the highlights.

Contents of speech: You can

1. Thank the guests that attend the wedding for their efforts to make it successful and memorable for your child.  Did someone come from a long distance, then smile and point to them and thank them by name for making this wonderful effort to help send the couple on their way.

2. Give the newlyweds advice that they could really use as a part of their foundation for marriage. You have experienced living in a married life and you know the ups and downs.  Share a tip or two…here you can try a little humor… like ‘learn to always look before you sit on the toilet especially in the dark’ or  If you both sometimes use the same razor…be sure to leave a note on the bathroom mirror that the razor is NEW!   Or…try to remember to leave little surprises around for each other.  But also, do offer that sage advice that we’ve all heard and that does bear repeating ‘Never go to sleep without touching the other’s face while you kiss goodnight’…the kiss could be habit but to touch never is.

3. Relate a personal story or habit (that won’t embarrass) that is funny or poignant about her…such as: “I’ll always remember the awe on Katie’s face the Christmas that Santa brought her a real carpenter-built, 4-story-with removable roof and floors, real shutters, hardwood floor, linoleum-in-the-kitchen (with the kitchen built-in) Barbie townhouse – and I can see that same look now as she looks at her wonderful new husband.”

4. Formally welcome the groom as part of your family. Sometimes, things haven’t been all that rosy with the groom-to-be leading up to a wedding.  This is another chance for you to make your daughter proud of you as her mom…a simple “Welcome to the Family” will show that you are trying to or have accepted him.

5. Avoid thinking sad thoughts during speech delivery.  Some moms commit the error of saying that they will be losing their child.  Even if you are really thinking this…do NOT say it aloud at anytime.  It could truly wreck havoc either with your speech or the whole evening. You really don’t want to become a mess of sobbing hiccups up there.   That would be a downer for everyone. And you still have that toast to make.  Or perhaps you’ve recently had a close member of the family die (your father, mother, etc), wait to mention this person to the very last since chances are you will cry and so will the bride.  So just don’t mention that person until after the toast and then just say – “Aunt Bubba would be so proud. “

Sample toasts found at http://www.freeweddingtoasts.net

• May all your ups and downs come only in the bedroom. (might be better for the best man to say this one, but I included it since it is funny and Irish!)
• May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road that goes downhill all the way to your welcoming door.
• There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends.” ~Homer, Odyssey /ninth century B.C.
• Here’s to your mother-in-law’s son; (With glass raised, indicate your daughter), Here’s to your father (mother) -in-law’s daughter, (indicate the groom), Here’s to the vows you’ve just taken, and the life you’ve just begun.

If you can’t create a speech or the toast portion of your speech that sounds like it is really coming from you, then copy several from the internet and change them around to make it your own.   Look at your daughter, your guests in the eye when you speak, find people in the audience that you feel comfortable ‘talking’ to and that will help you give a speech that sounds like a conversation rather than like a ‘canned’ speech and voila…you did ok with it.  Good luck!

Lastly, since surely there will be some tears during the wedding; be sure you have tissue or a handkerchief before starting your speech or listening to others talk about your little girl. It is not good to see the MOB with smeared mascara and a red nose!

Happy Planning!

~Claudia Van Veen

]]> http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/wedding-planning/mother-of-the-bride-wednesdays-speeches/feed/ 0 http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/announcements/an-exciting-2010/ http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/announcements/an-exciting-2010/#comments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:42:37 +0000 Katie Martin http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/?p=1924

Every year I love seeing this image flash across TV screens and couples recreating that special moment back from August 14, 1945 on New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Why am I even talking about this on New Year’s Day and on my wedding blog?  The answer is simple – this iconic image is a universal symbol of triumph, things to come, love and hope as it was the day we found out that WWII was over!

2009 was an incredibly difficult year where many felt that they were in a war for their life! We are all looking forward to a happier and healthier 2010 for all of our friends, families and clients!

This past week I met with 4 newly engaged brides and one groom.  The groom told me that they got engaged in 2008 and as they entered 2009, they could not even think about planning a wedding with both sets of parents being unemployed.  I am happy to report, his parents just got jobs and they are on their way to planning one of the cutest little weddings that the DC area will ever see!

Again – why am I mentioning this on my wedding blog?  My mom went through the same thing!  My mom writes the mother of the bride wedding post every Wednesday (with a few missed Wednesdays here and there). After over 18 months of being unemployed – she starts a new job on Monday!  I am so excited for her and she will still be writing for us!

We have so many interesting and fun things going on this year and we can’t wait to celebrate with you!  (I wrote a pretty lengthy post about what we have in store for 2010 a couple of posts ago – you can read that by clicking here.)

I have some really fun and cute blog posts coming up for this week….check back daily!

Happy New Year…cheers!

~Katie Martin

“He’s got horrible teeth! Why hasn’t he gone to the dentist?”

Instead, you might say (in front of them both)  ”Boy, I think I’d better start working on getting these teeth whitened…maybe all of us should…just think of all the photos!…

…Wonder if the antibiotics (tetracycline) I’ve had to take are the reason my teeth have gotten so yellow? (You nor the groom smoke or ‘chew’ and you are wondering why his teeth are so yucky).  Wonder if I should have the dentist fix that gap I’ve been talking about for years!  And your dad’s teeth are horrible, too…

…Why don’t we see if we can go as a group and get a discount!”

Really, ask your dentist if he would do a group discount – some will.

What are your teeth whitening options & costs?

• Implants – we are talking money here! Time, as well –$1,250-$3,000 each, but the total cost can escalate to $15,000-$30,000 DentalResources.com.
• Crowns- (also called caps) cost $500-$3,000 a tooth
• Composite resin and porcelain veneers –  So, do you have bridges?  Then, as you probably are aware, with time your natural teeth change color from the bridge color.  With either of these permanent solutions, all your teeth will be the same color.  Traditional porcelain veneers are about .5 millimeters thick, and cost around $500-$1,100 each; the Lumineers® brand is.2 to .3mm thin (like a contact lens) and runs $700-$1,300
• Opalescence whitening cost: $500 (fronts of all teeth)
• Britesmile whitening cost: At dental offices, prices vary around the country. At BriteSmile centers, $600; $399, if payment is made in advance
• Drugstore – Toothpaste maker’s whitening strips - $23 – $46 (depending on how yellow they are)
• If money is a factor and you want to ‘go green’ about the yellow – then here’s a little tip:   Make your own whitener at home (Click here)l Cost?  $2-$5

Ok – so this takes care of the teeth issue and brides really do need to have beautiful white teeth – they are the star of the party and everyone will be looking at their smile.  But his teeth are important too!

(And wouldn’t it be nice to hear “she gets her smile from her mother”!)

Don’t forget to sign into our blog post about the $250 giveaway in March- let us know why your mom is the best!  Click here!

Happy Holidays,

Claudia Van Veen

Okay – you know the drill already from all of your friends’ children’s weddings…you are going to have to spend or redo or fix up the wardrobe!  Not just for the wedding but for the rehearsal dinner, the engagement party, the showers, etc.  Of COURSE, you are going to lose weight, get your teeth whitened, get a mini face-lift, have a tummy tuck but how about NEW FEET?  If you are under 55 or so, you probably will be fine for a few hours in high heels…but if you are not and you feel like you just have to wear your “big girl”, “going-out-on-the-town” ,“your legs have to look good” shoes…then what are you going to do about your inability to actually wear those type shoes for more than the 10 minutes it takes to walk into the front door and sit down?   How on earth are you going to DANCE in heels? Even if you don’t plan on dancing, your daughter’s new husband will be obligated to ask you to dance at least one time and probably his father as well.

If you, like most of the women out there, don’t want to spend over $100 for a pair of shoes that feels a little bit roomy and has some platform cushioning, place a Dr. Scholl’s instep for sandals/open toe heels in them.

However, if you are willing to spend more for your feet, then here are a couple of wonderful shoes.   This Cole Haan shoe has NIKE AIR Technology in the heel and forepart for cushioning and comfort and also happens to be a fully dyeable silk.

Or check out this entire line of shoes created out of necessity by a diabetic woman desperate for fashionable shoes (Dana Davis).

Both brands of shoes are available at Nordstrom’s. Wish I’d known about these shoes when Katie got married– that way I wouldn’t have had to cart a second pair of shoes with me everywhere!  Wanted to tell you about this now since we are getting into shoe sale season. See you next week!  Have questions?  Ask away!

Happy Thanksgiving!

~Claudia Van Veen

I just got the jpeg from my publisher today for my first book cover! The Everything Mother of the Bride Book, 2nd Edition!  I am thrilled to share the cover with my avid blog readers first!  Well, my publicist did tweet about it first – sorry!  She’s my publicist – what can I say?  We are pretty excited over here!

Your emails have been so supportive. I just wanted to to send a big thanks to all of you!

So…I thought I would announce my first blog contest with this book cover announcement!!!!!!

Make a comment here about why your mom is the best mother of the bride.   The best comment (judging based on what my mom and I think) will get the following:

1. A signed copy of my book
2. $250 to go towards to your wedding budget

We have some time before my book gets here – so I am going to leave the contest open until March 15th.  Spread the word and start making comments. Good Luck!

When you leave a comment, I automatically have access to your email address – so be careful to write the right email address when asked so I can contact you if you win.

Stay tuned for Wednesday’s post!  If you haven’t heard or seen:  Every Wednesday my mom (Claudia Van Veen) comes on my blog and has a weekly Mother of the Bride Guest Post!  Super helpful for any mom prepping for a wedding.

Happy Planning!

~Katie Martin

UPDATE:  Thank you for all your comments!  We found our winner!

Your daughter is engaged!  So many things to do!  Where to start?  Start with a master list of all the lists! Then break that down into sub-lists.  Since there will be parties (lots of them), engagement parties, showers, holidays and gifts on the day to the bride and to the groom (don’t forget one for your daughter’s fiance’s parents), one of your lists should be What Gift to Give When.

Here are a few ideas to start with and keep in mind:

Engagement gift: Perhaps something cherished that your mother or grandmother gave you or barring that, perhaps some beautiful toasting flutes:  One lovely set in a moderate range is Vera Wang’s Love Knots Toasting Flutes (shown above) or perhaps flutes from Swarovski  (shown below) for a look at a higher end pair. You can find a wide selection at Crystal Classics.

It is fun to make up a basket of smaller gifts to give at a Bridal shower. Find a large pretty basket with a handle (at any home decor goods store).  Or since we are in the holiday season and there might be a shower, find one of those huge white plush stockings. Then look for unusual things to fill it with. The holiday season brings lots of sales!  Stock up on things that you will need for all the various parties you will need to attend and gift for over the next several months (or weeks).

Well, this is a start to your “gifting” list and it is my very first blog as a guest blogger on my daughter’s blog!  Guess what?  It’s a lot of fun…hope you like my ideas!  Leave a question or a comment in the comment section and I will be sure to follow up!  You can also email us at inquiries {at} eleganceandsimplicity {dot} com.  Check back next week for more mother of the bride tips!

~Claudia Van Veen

]]> http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/wedding-planning/what-to-give-when/feed/ 6 http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/announcements/calling-all-mothers-of-the-bride/ http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/announcements/calling-all-mothers-of-the-bride/#comments Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:00:36 +0000 Katie Martin http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/?p=336 Hi Mothers of the Brides (MOBS) -

I am sending out a request to all of the MOBS out there that would like to tell me what they have learned throughout the wedding planning process!

If you are at the beginning stages:

• What frightens you most?
• Are you wanting more or less control over the bride or grooms choices?
• What are you most excited about?