Whirly Pop Centerpieces!

Kids Love Candy!

What a "fresh idea". Whirly Pop Centerpieces on a table that is specifically designated for kids. Select your color theme and wow! This is a simple little detail that makes a lasting impression on your event. Combine it with a custom candy bar and your wedding reception will surely make a lasting impression on all of your guests. If you have a great centerpiece idea we would love to see them. Send your comments and photos to news@firstclassweddings.com, we will feature our favorite in the months to come.

Sand Ceremonies

Modern Sand Ceremony

What is a sand ceremony anyway? Well, it basically is a new and modern approach that takes the place of a Unity Candle Ceremony. You see, outdoor weddings can't necessarily keep a flame lit so... a sand ceremony has pretty much taken it's place.

How does this happen? During the wedding ceremony the minister provides time for the bride and groom to symbolically join their two lives into one by combining two vases, jars or viles of sand (in any color you choose) and pouring it into one main keepsake container.

Normally, the groom begins first, setting the foundation while the bride follows with loving support and then the combination of the two together create equality. Now, what you have to remember is that not all the sand is poured into the third container. A little bit of sand is always kept to represent that each person still remains as the beautiful individual they are. Then the keepsake container of combined sand is kept forever as a reminder of this symbolic blessing.

Wedding Toasts!

Special Toasts:

From sentimental to "roasting the host", today the best man is first up to say a few words that will forever remain in the hearts of everyone that listen to him. Some helpful tips include "keep your toast no more than 3 minutes long" and make sure you tell everyone "what your relationship is" to the happy couple. Try to include good-luck sentiments and whatever you do, never, ever try to subtly express any reservations you may have about the couples success as husband and wife. To give you inspiration, here is one of our favorite toasts.

"Rare is true love and I am honored to see it in each of you. May you from this day forward laugh and be happy together in this lifetime and beyond. And when times get rough, may the road rise to meet each of you, bringing patience and understanding, shining warmth upon each of your faces and may your wedding vows be your shinning light and show you the way through any times when you are lost. From this day forward I will be here for you, to love and support you on your journey together as husband and wife. With all my love I solute"!

-Tammy Ash Perkins

Something borrowed, something blue

Blue Cornflower

The something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue rhyme is believe it or not, still being followed today. This seems to be a timeless tradition that wants to be carried on. Maybe it's the fun way it rolls of your tongue when you say it? Or, maybe it brings joy to your heart in trying to fulfill the age old saying. Whatever it is, we are here to provide you some fresh ideas regarding your "blue".

Originally, a blue garter or ribbon stood for constancy yet today modern brides are eager to reach beyond the traditional garter and ribbons. Consider these fresh options.

10 BLUE'S

Blue Hair Jewels

Blue Heart Pins attached to one of your undergarments 

Blue toenail polish

Blue g-strings

Blue sapphires 

Blue Flowers 

Blue Shoes

Blue Toe Rings

Blue Body Paint

Blue Contact Lenses

Whatever you decide, there are many blue embellishments that are adorning brides of today. These are known as a modern kind of "blue." What's yours?

Cute Lauhala Favor Boxes

Wedding Favor Idea!

This little favor box is a great idea! You can fill them with individually wrapped candy, chocolates, votive candles, jewelry, sand globes, soap, cookie cutters, key chains, paper weights etc. Tie the outside with a chiffon ribbon that matches your wedding color theme and make it extra special by adding a wine glass charm and thank you note. The greatest thing about this little favor box is that it's different, you can customize them, they come in two colors and sizes (light and dark), they only cost $1 to $2 each and the boxes don't harm our environment.

Shoe Fetish!

As far as we are concerned, a woman can never have too many pairs of shoes. I know that our boys may not agree with us yet having the perfect pair of shoes to complete an outfit is extremely important! It's the difference of "looking average or looking great"!

Now let's talk styles! There are Boots, Booties, Flats, Lace-up, Loafers, Mules, Pumps, Sandals, Slides, Heels, Stilettos, Slingbacks, Slippers, and Sport Shoes. Who ever thought up all of those names anyway?

If you love shoes as much as we do it might be helpful to start learning your brands (if you don't know already). There are Marc Jacobs, Betsy Johnson, Steve Madden, Givenchy, Valentino, Kate Spade, Oscar de la Renta and at least a hundred more shoe designers that have some amazing shoes out there. Another benefit of knowing your brands is that you also start learning what costs what in the shoe world. This is valuable information if you are shoe shopping for a particular occasion, like a wedding.

Whatever your style or your brand, First Class Weddings will be bringing you the latest information on great shoes! Check firstclassweddings.com and sign up for our newsletter. We will be offering "Wedding Perks'' on fab shoes as well as other cool products and services. Don't miss your opportunity! Become an exclusive member today.

Honeymoon Sweet Spot

How Sweet it is to be Loved by you!

 Take me somewhere that we don't ever have leave our room, a scenic drive, a walk on the beach or dress up for a romantic dinner and completely loose ourselves in each others arms. That's where I want to go for my honeymoon!

If you're looking for a honeymoon sweet spot we highly recommend Hawaii. There are seven amazing islands to choose from and we can guarantee that once you visit any of them, a part of your heart will remain there forever.

The top three islands we recommend to consider for your Hawaiian island getaway are Kauai, Maui and Lanai. In the near future we will be offering valuable wedding perks to make visiting Hawaii much easier on your pocketbook. Of course, you will have to become an exclusive member of our wedding network in order to receive them so visit firstclassweddings.com and sign up today!

Who's Dream is this Anyway?

 With money comes a price!

Believe it or not, Mom's, Dad's and Mother-in-laws (M.I.L) are unconsciously smashing their child's wedding dreams into tiny little pieces. Why you ask? Our experience has revealed that the number one reason is because the parents (of brides, grooms or both) are contributing financially to the wedding and therefore feel as if they have significant say in the decision making process.

On one specific occasion I remember sitting down in a meeting with the bride and her mother-in-law only to have the M.I.L storm out and hastily drive away (leaving the bride stranded at my office) all because we were taking the brides wishes seriously vs. the M.I.L. eagerness to literally take charge of the event. After the M.I.L. hastily left, the bride burst out into tears saying that she was torn between telling us what she really wanted, vs. the out spoken, authoritative decisions her M.I.L. was making on her behalf.

For example, the bride had always dreamed of having a custom made tent for her reception, provided pictures and we spent months getting custom quotes and getting someone to build her masterpiece. Yet in the end, her future M.I.L would only approve a basic white vinyl tent. You can't imagine how it made the bride feel!

The tent wasn't the only thing that this bride had to forgo on her wedding day, she also had to forget any dreams about having cinematography, fabric draping, custom plate-ware, specialty lighting, having her favorite centerpieces, choice of cake design, floating candles and more. At the end of the day, this event literally oozed M.I.L. and barely reflected the personality of the couple at all.

Now I can tell you, having planned thousands of weddings in Hawaii for nearly two decades one of the most important things that sets us apart from any other company is being able to completely fulfill a brides dream. Not my dream, my employees dream, or the dream of the brides best friend, mom, dad or M.I.L.. One of the reasons why we are so successful at it is because we communicate directly with the couples that are capable making all the decisions.

In a nutshell, if the bride and groom can't effectively communicate and make decisions, directly with their wedding consultant or vendors because of someone else wanting to speak and make their decisions for them then there is literally, no way to supremely orchestrate any brides dream. And that's the honest truth!

With that said we want everyone to know that we are not trying to tell parents to completely "butt out". We really do understand both the bride, groom and the parents heart felt intentions in the planning process. However, it is our job to shed some light on this unspoken topic so that couples and parents have a better understanding of the real issues they may be presented with.

Here are some simple suggestions to help families work together in order to achieve a "fairytale ending".

• Trust your children as responsible adults.
• Set the ground rules ahead of time and write them down. 
• Try and discuss who has control of what decision and whom will be the main contact person for the planner or vendors.
• Parents, set a budget for your children and allow them to manage the funds themselves as a husband and wife would do. 
• Be accountable for keeping a financial log to show your parents.
• Parents, please don't take charge of the wedding.
• Designate other important tasks to the parents. i.e. rehearsal dinner, bridal luncheon etc.

For more information, photos, and helpful advice become an exclusive part of our network by signing up at firstclassweddings.com

A Sacred Promise...

My Solemn Promise

The Christian principle.

"In the Name of God, I Adam take you, Eve to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow". 

It is our sincerest wish that your wedding vows be taken seriously enough that you are willing to walk forever into the valley of death not knowing if you will return alive. Ok, ok. Maybe we are being a little dramatic here (or not).

The solemn promise that you make to each other on your wedding day could very well be your saving grace to a life-long marriage. Reason being is because, if you both are lucky enough to survive a crisis of any kind together then it is highly likely that you will be able to experience an elevated love on a much deeper level than you ever thought humanly possible. A love that surpasses your original vow of marriage and ultimately rises above life itself.

First Class Wedding believes in the solemn promise of your wedding vows. Believes in "for better for worse", and we are here to support and encourage each of you to hold true to your wedding vows no matter what (no exceptions!). We are the generation of extraordinary couples with the power to change statistics! Let your wedding vows be your guide and remember that there are many of us out here that are supporting your ability to stay married for a lifetime!

A Modern Aisleway Solution!

Modern Aisle Runners

Is there such a thing? The traditional aisle runners have been "a thing of the past" until now. The Original Runner company (www.originalrunners.com) has literally recreated the aisle runner. Using modern designs and non-slip backings, these aisle runners are something to talk about. From flower petals to custom monograms if you're curious, we encourage you to take a peek!

Check out www.originalrunners.com for photos and more!

How to have a sexy upper body

Upper Body Workout!

Come on girls! Let's get your upper body looking the best that it can be for your wedding day. Extreme results can be accomplished if you follow the golden rules!

GOLDEN RULES: 

• You must commit to doing this workout one day a week. 
• Perform each set as SLOWLY as you can.
• At the end of the set if you feel like you can do one more, then do it!
• You must do each set until failure. Make your muscles shake!
• Stretch out afterwords!
  

THE MINIMUM WORKOUT:

Push-ups (on knees) - X7 - This move will supremely tone your chest. It will NOT flatten your boobs! Oh, and remember to do these as slow as you can!

Push-downs (plank) - X10 - That's right, just start in a regular push-up position and go down to the ground as SLOW as you can. Roll off to the side and get back up for more!

Biceps (10lbs) - X15 - Sit with your elbow resting on the inside of your knee or stand up and bring your dumbbell up to your shoulder. Remember, as SLOW as you can!

Deltoids (5lbs) - X5 - Start standing with feet shoulder width apart. Hold your 5lb dumbbells in each hand (down by your side) and slowly lift arms straight out in front of you to shoulder height (palms down) and gently roll arms out away from you and back down to starting position. Slow, slow and slower!

Stay in the loop! Look for our next workout routine will teach you how to have sexy abs without going to the gym three days a week.

How to Hold a Bouquet

 Keep them low girls!

One of the most important things A First Class Wedding can teach a bride and her girls before they walk down the isle is "how to hold their bouquet". You may think this is funny but for some reason or another bouquets seem to take the position of a microphone instead of a beautiful hand held arrangement, landing right under the girls chin. Now, it's very possible that the bouquet has a mind of it's own and that this is normal behavior yet the truth of the matter is that holding a bouquet in this position is not flattering to you, your bosoms nor does it look good in any of the wedding photographs.

So, how do you hold a bouquet? Simple! The most flattering way to hold your bouquet is right in front of your belly button. So, relax your arm in a somewhat straight position instead of bending it upwards. Hide your belly with the beautiful flora you're holding, straighten you back and show off your chest.

Oh, and don't forget to smile!

More trade secrets and deals of a lifetime can be found by becoming an exclusive member on firstclassweddings.com

How to get a great deal from your photographer

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

First of all, if you are working with a wedding planner then this article does not apply. Reason being is because most photographers that are hired for you by a wedding planner already give deals, extra time or add-ons that are over and above their normal package prices (because the planner gives them repeat business). These discounts are passed on to you through your reputable wedding planner.

If you're planning your wedding and doing everything completely on your own then the first step towards getting a great deal with your preferred photographer is to "be nice" and "be flexible". Photographers are not interested in servicing you if you are going to tell them how to do their job or if you have a "shot list" that is 2 pages long. You have to allow the artist to create and if you are governing their talents then they want no part of it!

Your initial approach with a photographer has to be very generous and flattering. Give them the freedom to truly tell your "wedding story", without giving them any serious demands, then when you politely ask them if there is anything they can do by offering a better price, you are most likely going to get a great deal (more than you ever expected to receive).

Remember that on your wedding day it is extremely important for you to relax and trust the professionals that you have hired. Go with the flow, focus on your lover and truly enjoy your wedding day, it really does go by in a blink.

Wedding Budget 411

We're Engaged!

Congratulations! Now that you're engaged, you and your fiancee are about to begin one of the most exciting - and hectic - times of your life. No doubt you've been asking yourself, "Where do I begin" and "How much is this going to cost?"

It's likely that you, your fiancee; hopefully both sets of parents and maybe even sponsors will be contributing money toward the wedding expenses. The first step is to determine how much each person is willing to give you and/or determine how much you yourself can afford to spend upfront. It is also a good idea to start a checking account specifically used for wedding expenses so that you can keep track of everything.

Details to a wedding are endless and from $1,000 to millions it's easy to go over your budget. If you are wondering how much to realistically set aside for your wedding first then I would recommend that you sit down with your fiancee and make a wish list of items that you want to include on your special day. To make this easier you can break this list up into ceremony items and reception items. You are then going to have to do a little bit of research on your own to determine how much those items would cost and google is the perfect place to begin.

Here are some items to consider when creating your own wedding budget.

• Travel: airfare, accommodations, car rental for destination wedding and/or honeymoon
• Attire: rings, dress, tux/suit, bridal party wear, accessories/jewelry
• Beauty: hair and make up for trial run and on day of, new make-up, manicure/pedicure, perfume etc.
• Stationary: save the date cards, invitations, calligraphy, announcements, thank you cards, postage, etc.
• Before Wedding: rehearsal dinner, bridal luncheon, spa/massage etc.
• Day of: Marriage license, wedding site fee, planner, minister, musician, photographer, videographer, flowers, arches, chairs, cake, champagne, transportation, gratuities etc.
• Other: Engagement party, favors, special gifts, spending cash, reception food and beverage, etc

Just remember, a wedding should be truly personalized. It's not just another backyard party, it's the opportunity to showcase your personality and style. Keep it meaningful! Everything from your dress, to the choice of music, to how you come down the aisle should express what you're all about.

Get the FCW scoop at Twitter.com/FCWeddings & Facebook.com/firstclassweddings 

Wedding Cupcakes!

Express Yourself!

The hottest wedding trend in history is going on right now! It's the freedom of expression and couples today are drooling over the opportunity to incorporate it into their special day. A perfect example is that modern brides are purchasing cupcakes, desert displays, fruit and fondue stations, candy buffets, sundae bars and other delectable deserts, instead of the traditional wedding cake. This doesn't mean that brides-to-be don't love wedding cakes, or the traditional act of "cutting the cake." It simply means that traditions are changing. Couples are making their own history, so giving up the age old "cake cutting tradition" and replacing it with something that truly matches a couples charisma makes a much bigger statement. It's also fun, entertaining, and yummy!


Become an elite member of our network at firstclassweddings.com to get the hottest wedding trends and a behind the scenes look into the modern wedding world.

Paint your Wedding!

Make it POP! 

If you are looking for a way to make a lasting impression on your wedding day then we highly suggest that you simply "add color." This is by far the easiest and most effective way to incorporate your personality and style without breaking the bank.

Three Colorful Ideas:

1. Choose Linens, table runners, and/or napkins with color. Don't be afraid, let you personality shine!
2. Incorporate a bright flower into your flower order. Hot Pink, Vibrant Blue, Buttercup Yellow, and Tangerine Orange are a few easy ways you can add splashes of color to make things "pop."
3. Colorful ribbons can be added to anything! Use them as table runners, tie them around your bouquets, add them to your favors, drape them down the isle, hang them in the trees etc.

Remember, typical weddings are a dime a dozen and happiness goes hand in hand with color so what are you waiting for? Be unique, be expressive, be you!

For more helpful tips and tricks become an exclusive member of our network at firstclassweddings.com

How To Plan a Wedding in 7 Days

GETTING MARRIED IN A WEEK!

Felling the urge to get hitched without going through the hoopla of a long planning process. Keep it simple girls. Be flexible and don't sweat the small stuff. Your local yellow pages and "Google" is your key to success. Here are the basics for a small wedding with a few attendants.

1. Select your date and preferred time.
2. Select a Free Venue location - the key word here is Free. This could be your local church, a mountain top or a back yard etc.
3. Hire a Minister - There are many non-denominational ministers that do just weddings which may work for you. If you want a specific faith then you will need to contact a minister of that faith to find out their fees and availability.
4. Hire a Musician - a simple soloist of your choice will be perfect. Choose from guitar, piano, violin, harp, saxophone etc.
5. Hire a Photographer - This can be tricky unless you know of somebody. I would highly suggest searching on Google and then calling them to see if you connect with them.
6. Hire a Florist - Determine what your favorite colors are and/or flowers are before speaking with your florist. Remember, you MUST know what you want before you place your order. For example: small french bouquet with white roses, single white rose boutonniere and multi-colored flower petals for the isle, white arch flora etc.
7. Hire a Rental Company - Determine how many chairs you will need (if any), arch if you want and any other items that will need to be brought into your wedding location. Rental companies will deliver, and remove the items (and some companies will help you set-up as well).
8. Create and send out an e-vite to all the special people that you would like to attend. Call them to follow-up with them the day after and count how many will come.
9. Create and Print your own announcements/thankyou's - You can do this by purchasing custom software, or simply create them in Microsoft Word, Pages for Mac, etc. and send them to your local Office Max to have them printed and ready for pick-up in less than 24 hours.
10. Get your dress dialed in - I would suggest a simple sun dress (if it's summer), going to a vintage clothing company or looking around at consignment shops. You are bound to score something that will work just perfect.
11. Get your grooms clothes worked out - If your groom doesn't have something to wear already you will need to equally find something perfect for him to wear as well.
12. Decide what you are going to do after the ceremony. A restaurant, a privately catered affair, honemoon etc. Make the calls and/or secure the reservations.
13. Practice doing your own hair and make-up! No time to waste here, you can do it!
14. Think about how your are going to arrive at your location and hire a car if you need.
15. Show up as your beautiful self and remember that the most important thing to remember is that you are uniting together to the person you love from this point forward. Nothing else matters.

The Grand Wailea Resort Maui

GRAND WAILEA RESORT MAUI

This resort is an amazing place to stay while visiting Hawaii. From the moment you arrive you're greeted with a fresh Hawaiian lei and once you check in to your room you can choose to get pampered at it's world-famous spa, get a make-over at it's beauty salon, take a stroll down to it's in-house shopping district or simply grab a bite to eat at one of it's restaurants. If a pool side experience is what your looking for then you have a variety of options. From kids to adults there is a sweet spot for everyone. Located on one of Maui's best beaches, you can jump on a water trampoline, snorkel, or simply take a nap in a hammock. This property is very large and offers innumerable things to do nearby as well. Oh, and the rooms aren't bad either!

There is a quaint Hawaiian stained glass chapel on the property as well as a few other wonderful garden spots to choose from for a wedding location. There are numerous reception venues as well so if you're looking for something grand to either get married at, honeymoon at, or both then the Grand Wailea Resort may be the perfect location for you. First Class Weddings recommends having a large wedding budget if you choose this place, and remember that you can hire an outside wedding planner if you wish. Whatever you choose, do your research and watch our upcoming tips for the "real scoop" on this and other wonderful properties.

For more information visit www.grandwailea.com

How to take a Hawaiian Road Trip

 Hawaiian...

Grab a cooler and start driving! This marks the beginning of what we here in Hawaii like to call a Hawaiian Road Trip. There is no rhyme or reason for a spontaneous trip such as this. Typically it is the call of the ocean that entices the gathering of friends on a lazy Sunday afternoon but mostly it is the chance to see what sort of trouble you can get yourself into. Anything goes so be prepared to get wet, maybe do a little cliff jumping, or hike into a remote waterfall, or you may simply never get out of the vehicle. What ever happens, you most likely will get hooked and start craving your next wild adventure, Hawaiian Road Trip Style.

Get the FCW scoop at Twitter.com/FCWeddings
Contributing Writer: Michael DuPonte