This week we're all about the sweets. Chocolate, Cakes, and a prize drawing for the Best Mints! Enjoy and thank you for using IowaBride.com for your wedding planning.
Be sure to tell your Vendors you saw them on IowaBride.com!
IowaBride.com Dream Series: Wedding
Our Wedding Shows are a Dream
We've got several wonderful Bridal Shows lined up for 2006.
Our Bridal Shows are a unique experience. We have the Dream Series shows at one of our vendors facilities so you are able to see what they offer. We feature 25 to 30 vendors in a casual, elegant atmosphere.
We also have our shows for 2 to 3 hours after 5:00 at night. They are designed so you and a friend can take your time to visit with the vendors in a relaxed atmosphere. You can actually take some time to learn what the vendor offers.
Join us at our next Dream Series show. You'll see the difference.
Come preview some of the season’s best wedding ideas as well as visiting with area premier wedding vendors. The Cedar Falls Woman’s Club House, 304 Clay Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Free Admission, Door Prizes, Tasty treats and Cash Bar. Bring a friend and enjoy a great afternoon planning your wedding!
Spring is coming. Connie will make your Heart Blossom!
You owe it to yourself to see her wonderful creations!
The question has been asked, the ring has been bought and the announcement has been made. Now it's time for the planning! Gardens of the Heart offers such a wide variety of services that you should plan on spending some time visiting to see what they can do to make your day more special!
Hi Connie. Thanks so much for taking time to visit with us today!
How long have you been in the industry? I have been in the wedding industry 15 years and freeze dry for 6 years. I have done wedding planning for family and friends for the last 10 years.
Who are the principals of the company? It is just myself!
What is your background? I have floral design background. I have event planning background. And I am current President of the IFDFA. (International Freeze Dried Floral Association)
What is the favorite part of your job? Working with people and helping to plan the happiest day of their lives.
What is your companies specialty? We specialize in Freeze Dried flowers and decorating for the weddings.
Do you have any special offers you would make available to our subscribers? If we do a full service wedding planning, we will freeze dry the bouquet for free. That's a $150.00 value.
That is fantastic! Thanks Connie.
What sets you apart from your competition? We have designs our competition does not have. Unique and personal.
What Expert advice do you have for a couple planning their wedding? Planning your wedding can be fun, but actually coordinating everything on that day can be VERY stressful. Let us take the stress away from you and your families.
Any other thoughts about your company we didn't ask or should know? We work with any budget to help you have a beautiful, affordable wedding.
Thanks so much! We've seen your work at our Dream Series wedding events and you do spectacular things!
Brides: Be sure to take advantage of the subscriber special. Call or e-mail connie today!
Looking for a unique angle for your wedding photography?
Meet Doug McBride. His company will truly customize your wedding photography package!
Doug McBride is a true photography renaissance man. His varied background runs from motion picture work in Hollywood to photography of rock stars! He has displayed his photography in Art Galleries and can be found around the state wherever something interesting is in need of being captured on film! Doug can showcase his multi-faceted talents by capturing your wedding in the exact way that you will want to remember it.
How long have you been in the industry? I've been in the photography industry since 1980.
Any background or personal info you want to share with our audience about you and the principals? We have 3 photographers with a combined professional photography experience of over 50 years. Doug McBride has a Degree from The University of Iowa in Fine Art Photography & Motion Picture Film.
What is the favorite part of your job? Working with the bridal couple and their families on such a special day. I have always felt so good about a bride choosing us to capture and share her once in a life time special occasion with us; it means alot to us to know we are the ones they chose to share their special day.
What is your companies specialty?Wedding Photography that captures the "emotion" of the day. We are also extremely versed at being able to photograph an event and then have someone who was not even there at the event, share the same feelings with those who were, by viewing our photographs.
What is the best "hidden secret" people would be surprised your company offers? We are surprisingly effficient at what we do. People get a lot more photos and a better variety of photos than they ever realized were being taken until they see the results from their wedding.
What sets you apart from your competition? We sign all copyright releases over to the bridal couple so they own EVERYTHING; negatives, digital images, prints, everything.
What Expert advice do you have for a couple planning their wedding? Don't be stingy when comes to wedding photography. There is always someone who will do the job cheaper, but brides should hire a photographer whose work they have seen a lot of and love their style.
Any other thoughts about your company we didn't ask or should know? By allowing you to custom design your own wedding package and then own all rights to the finished product, we will save you thousands of dollars in the long run, and you will get some of the best professional wedding photography available.
Thanks Doug! You've been one of the photographers who have been with us from the beginning! That means a lot to Brides looking for quality. We never hesitate to say we've seen your work and it is outstanding! Your professionalism is excellent and your customer service shines!
Get Cool Stuff ONLY YOU will have like... This hip "Taken*" T-shirt
The IowaBride.com Fun Shop features quality apparel and fun items that make great gifts for your wedding party or just a neat way to say "Hey I'm the Bride"
Check out our exclusive "Bride" line.
These quality shirts and gifts are a fun way to let the world know that "Hey I'm the Bride! Cut me some slack I'm planning here!
Did you know that Nicole from Nik Nak Designs has created some of the coolest designs exclusively for our brides? It's true and you should snap up a couple of goodies today!
This college tour guide made his bride hunt for his love!
Hi Bride and Groom to Be!Where are you from? Tiffany is from Norwalk, Adam is from Johnston.
I understand you have a very interesting story of how you met? We met in college my freshman year. Adam was a peer leader giving tours and I was so lucky to get into his group. We ended up hanging out at most of the back to school week events and the rest is history!
How did he propose? Adam set up a scavenger hunt all over downtown Des Moines. Letters from the answers to the different clues spelled out Capitol 6 pm where I was to meet him with the final envelope. I figured he had a letter or something in it. He was there waiting for me when I arrived, he took the envelope from me, and pulled out the engagement ring. He got down on one knee and proposed!
Wow! He sounds creative! Are you planning on going on a honeymoon Adam actually signed up for one of those "Win a free vacation" things at the Taste of Des Moines festival the night we got engaged. Needless to say, he won! We have 4 days/4 nights in Orlanda with 2 day passes to Universal Studios, a 2 day/2 night cruise to the Bahamas and finally another 2 nights in Southern Florida.
Wow! Creative and Lucky! When is the wedding? August 12, 2006.
What has been the toughest part of planning your wedding? For me, it's the fact that I have no family here helping me. My brother and his wife live in Arkansas and my Mom recently moved to Arizona. I am planning everything myself, outside of emailing back and forth with everyone on ideas. It gets pretty stressful at times.
Do you have any secret wedding tips to pass along to other gals planning their wedding? The sooner you start planning the better! We allowed ourselves over a year to plan to take off some of the pressure. Plus that way, we got all the vendors, dates, and times we wanted because it was far enough in advance.
Any Vendors you’ve been working with that have provided exceptional service so far? We're having the ceremony and reception at the Botanical Center, they've been very helpful in answering all of our questions. Our DJ is through Des Moines Karaoke, they're great.
Where do you each work or attend school? Adam is in his final semester at Grand View College in Des Moines and will graduate in April with his bachelors in fine arts and graphic design. He also interns at the Meredith Corporation. I currently work at ING Financial Partners downtown Des Moines. I also will start school again this July!
When you started your wedding did you have a budget in mind? We definitely had a limit on what we wanted to spend. So far so good! We have all the major things paid for and we still have over half our budget left!
Tell us about your wedding! We are a very fun, outgoing couple and we wanted that to show at our wedding. A typical ceremony with a few special things thrown in due to Tiffany's father no longer with us. We are having karaoke along with a DJ at the reception so that should be a ton of fun!
Our main wedding cake will be tiers of cupcakes (Tiffanys favorite!). Should be lots of fun!
Who is going to walk you down the aisle? Because my Dad is no longer here, I am having both my Uncle and my Brother walk me down the aisle as both of them have somewhat taken on the role of a father figure in my life.
Anything else special you care to add in....Have fun with it! Your wedding isn't about making both of your families 100% happy, it's impossible. It is your day so do whatever you want! Don't be afraid to stand up to your family when they try and convince you to do things they want. Your wedding is about nothing more than celebrating the love between you and your fiance.
You two sound like a great and fun couple! We're excited to be able to help you plan your special day! Thank you and best of luck with the rest of your planning! Save us a cupcake!
Brides: If you would like to have your story featured, send an e-mail to Dan@IowaBride.com. We will pop a note back with the questions and other info!
IowaBride.com - Ask the Expert
Colors? Time of Year? Weird Cousin Eddie? We've got the answers
Got a pressing dilemma? We'll pass it along to one of our IowaBride.com experts and send you an e-mail. We'll also publish the question in a future newsletter! Just go to our ask an expert page on IowaBride.com with your dilemma or question!
Dear IowaBride.com I'm am extremely nervous about my wedding day! More so than anyone can even imagine. It is not so much that things are not planned right but just everything involved with the entire day. I'm about 3 months away and already having trouble sleeping. I'm not good at being the center of attention yet my family is huge and my fiance's is even larger. Any thoughts? Sleepless in Cedar Rapids.
Hi Sleepless! I guess my first thought would be to perhaps meditate a little each day and try to focus on what actually is bothering you.
Then I will offer up what EVERY bride we've ever talked with has always remarked! That being how fast the day goes by. It is there, over and done before you can even blink an eye much less worry about things.
Just remember, you're the one who planned it and only you will know if something is not quite what you expected.
Finally remember that you have invited family and friends that love you very much. They are there to share in your incredible happiness. They are there to witness your wedding not to study you as the center of attention.
If you've got a dilemma just send a note to dan@IowaBride.com
We've got the best subscribers and we thank you so much for your input! It's a great way to help other couples planning their weddings!
Feeling guilty about that Valentines Day chocolate? Don't!
Tom Carmichael helps couples indulge and he says he's never met a chocolate he didn't like!
Chocolate—You gotta love it! If you are like most Americans, you love chocolate. As a matter of fact Americans eat almost 12 pounds per person each year! In the US chocolate is big business ringing up sales of 12 to 13 Billion dollars annually. But were not the only ones. Actually Americans aren’t even in the top 5 of countries that consume chocolate.
Per person we are out-eaten by several pounds per year in countries like Switzerland at over 20 pounds per person per year, Austria at over 19 pounds, Germany at over 18 pounds and Norway at over 17 pounds.
Recent research indicates that chocolate, sugar aside, can have a number of health benefits. Not the least of which is a relatively high level of antioxidants, which have been associated with reducing heart disease, and fighting cancer. A 1.5- ounce serving of chocolate has the same amount of total antioxidants as a 5-ounce serving of red wine.
There is also research that seems to have absolved chocolate of some bad press in the past. Chocolate is no longer considered a factor in migraine headaches. And the fat in chocolate is not of the kind that raises blood cholesterol.
So it can be rightly assumed that chocolate, in the proper moderation, can fit into any healthy diet plan. But remember chocolate by itself is very bitter and so in order to make it taste so wonderful there is a lot of sugar added to it. That’s what makes it so delightfully evil. If you want to make chocolate’s good characteristics part of your diet use the dark or bittersweet variety.
As part of a wedding you can be sure that chocolate will be a popular choice among guests. So whether it is chocolates instead of mints or chocolate wedding cake, rest assured that your not only choosing a popular flavor, you might even be helping them improve their diets! Okay that may be stretching it a bit but it’s a fun argument.
This was sent in by Tom Carmichael of Indulgent Moments, Inc. Specialty Cakes! This guy knows chocolate along with a lot of other sweets. Visit his website today or better yet, stop in and visit Tom. We're sure he'll share a treat!
Tom's motto are good words to live by! "Go ahead, Indulge yourself!"
IowaBride.com surveys and ask fun questions to our members all the time. Take a moment to answer some of our polls and fun surveys. If you would like to participate, just send a note to Dan@iowabride.com!
IowaBride.com knows that planning your wedding consumes A LOT of your time, you also have a life outside the planning. This business can help you make the next transition in life!
Now may be the perfect time to purchase a home. Visit Stephanie Reed today to see how much you qualify for!
We know that many couples purchase a home within a year of their wedding. Many couples buy just prior so they have a new place to share from the beginning. Many others make the transition after their first few months and decide that it's time to start building some equity and a strong financial plan!
Stepanie Reed is one of the top Mortgage professionals in Iowa. She has a wide variety of programs available to help you secure financing for your dream home. It is never too early to get pre-approved, whether just to check the credit score or before you start working with your Realtor to find a home.
COMMITMENT! Going above and beyond the call of duty to accomplish your goals and your dreams.
This is what my team stands for each and every day. We give you the Power of Choice. With over 1500 loan products and the skilled and experienced staff to guide you through them, you can find the home mortgage loan that fits your lifestyle: the right monthly payments, the right down payment and ultimately the right home for you.
You decide. You control your finances. You have the power of choice. The best part is - we are not a broker. We are a mortgage banker. This gives you piece of mind. We have our processing, underwriting and closing in one place.
If you would like to work with our team please give me a call or e-mail me today.
Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. And I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. I hope you’ll browse my website, check out the different loan programs I have available, use my decision-making tools and calculators, and apply for a loan using the online application.
Stephanie and her team offer exceptional customer service and the follow through to make your home purchase transaction a smooth one. Call her today! It's a great time to start. 515-224-0204 [office] 515-988-7074 [cell phone] 515-274-8504 [fax] sreed@americanhm.com
American Home Mortgage is an Equal Housing Lender.
Great Prizes and Gifts from our Great Wedding Vendors! This week Old Schoolhouse Candy Factory treats us!
Tell your vendors you saw them on IowaBride.com!
Last weeks IowaBride.com Winner was Angela Stout of Altoona Iowa. Angela won a $50 Gift Certificate from New Impressions Salon 5045 NE 14th Street, Des Moines. A complete full service spa salon for both men & women, including: hair, make-up, massages, facials, body treatments, pedicures, manicures, tanning, and much more. The New Impressions Salon staff is dedicated to making your special day relaxing & memorable. Ask Carol about her wedding day pampering package! You owe it to yourself and your bridesmaids to treat yourself to this!
Angela's BIG day is just about here. She is getting married April 8th! in Perry. Best of Luck Angela. Thank you for using IowaBride.com for your wedding planning.
This week's IowaBride.com prize drawing is good for anywhere in the country! If you're from out of state and have not entered due to being out of state, do so for this one!
We have featured these mints at several of our Dream Series Wedding shows and they are always a Huge Hit!
Take a look at their website, it'll make your mouth water! They truly are the Best Mints! Call Old Schoolhouse Candy Factory and orders yours today! You can check that off your list and tell them to send a batch early!
We'll randomly draw from all the entries received in our e-mail box by Midnight Friday 2.25.06. Then, watch next weeks Bouquet for the winner! There is no purchase necessary. Please only enter once so our mailbox doesn't get overloaded! Good luck!
Send an e-mail to Dan@IowaBride.com please put WEEK 4 PRIZE DRAWING in the subject line
