Bella Figura is at the tippy top of our favorites list when it comes to all things paper. And for good reason – they have perfected the combination of unique + gorgeous paper goods. It doesn’t get any better than that. If you’re in the market for stylish save the dates or wedding invitations, Bella [...]

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We are going to take a little moment on this lovely Saturday to cozy up and talk about one of our favorite things in the whole wide world … shoes, shoes, and more shoes. Great topic, right? And what is a gorgeous wedding dress without an equally gorgeous pair of kicks? That is where Milk & Honey comes into play. They are the one stop shop for designing your own custom shoes for your wedding day. You pick the material, color, heel height and embellishments and poof… your dream shoes are created.

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Sourced from: Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog

Are you getting married in Tuscany? You do not have to but you can spend your fantastic honeymoon in a splendid village. You will save money and enjoy it all the more just being in the company of each other. And what is more romantic than spending your first days as newly weds in splendid Tuscany apartments located in a castle? Here is a selection of four of the most beautiful castles in Tuscany that provide apartments for holiday rentals.  Remember to ask the management if they have honeymoon specials when booking.  Some provide nice treats and special welcomes.

The Vicchiomaggio Castle This is a wonderful fifteen century stone castle perched on the top of a hill in the Greve valley, nearby the fabulous Florence and the extra romantic Siena. Leonardo da Vinci sojourned here some hundred years ago, and you too can enjoy the fully restored apartments and the splendid Italian garden with panoramic swimming pool. It is a fairy tale location, ideal for all honeymooners. The nearby towns and natural settings offer splendid nature activities as horseback strolls, woodland hikes and vineyard visits. The property swimming pool is for guest use.

Castello del Poggiarello di Stigliano A full-fledged medieval castle where the defense tower and the three houses, that used to be the servants’,  accommodate splendidly restored Tuscany apartments. The garden of the property is very private and includes a swimming pool for exclusive guest use. Do not expect medieval comforts, as here the ancient and the modern come together for a great mix of sensuality and relax. Just what newly married couples need. Everything is furnished with antiques and traditional Tuscan pieces. The owners live on the estate and are discretely helpful to their guests. The surroundings are absolutely gorgeous including hectares of woodlands for all kind of relaxing activities. The view from the castle spaces over the Chianti hills with Siena and its tower in the foreground. Ancient ruins and wildlife species populate the surroundings, making this destination a romantic retreat in Tuscany.

Castello di Grotti An organic farm close to Siena that develops around the gorgeous castle. Just like the ancient medieval feud. There are many vacation rentals on the property. You can choose between private villas, smaller country houses or comfortable Tuscany apartments. All stays were recently restored and reside in the estate of the castle. Although all units feature modern comforts, each one maintains its Tuscan charm intact, so you are sure to feel that romantic warmth as soon entering your nest. The property features private gardens and swimming pool. The farm breeds sheep and produces cheese and olive oil, make sure you taste these prized delicacies.

Calcione Castle An estate, a manor, lakes, woods, romantic white roads, and wildlife in your backyard. This is the Calcione castle in a few words. You onl have to choose among splendid residences such as villas for medium to large parties and more intimate Tuscany apartments. Like Casa dei Gelsi, to name one, a totally independent and self sufficient apartment for two people. The bedroom in the house tower, to wake up each morning with a splendid Tuscan landscape in front of you. Does i get any better than that? Privacy, comfort and romance for your honeymoon are assured. Four castles, four unique honeymoon destinations in Tuscany. Whether you decide to pick a larger villa or one of their intimate Tuscany apartments, at these properties you will surely find the perfect match to kick start your marriage with the right fireworks and an unforgettable trip.

Every year, brides-to-be search for the ultimate jewelry accessories for their wedding – from tiaras to pendants, bracelets, and wedding bands…pulling it all together will be easier when you know what’s hot and what’s not…and what works for you. Glamour always begins with your engagement ring and wedding band…but these special pieces need to play a role long after the splendor of your ceremony and reception. Today’s brides are looking for standout pieces with unique details…while traditional solitaire engagement rings will never go out of style, the settings and engravings found on today’s rings should offer a little something extra… Brides-to-be are looking back to their own heritage when they shop for the perfect wedding rings. For example, brides of Irish, Scottish or Welsh heritage often choose Celtic engagement rings adorned with Trinity Knots (symbols of the Holy Trinity) or Celtic warrior shield symbols (denoting strength and loyalty). Some brides and grooms opt for matching “his and hers” wedding bands – grooms often enjoy the intricacy and boldness of warrior shield wedding rings.

By choosing jewelry that references their own heritage, brides-to-be take a little piece of the past with them as they walk down the aisle… Other countries will also have their own symbols and motifs…for individual style, be it Roman, Indian, etc., look for wedding rings that feature engraved or embossed designs that represent the art and history of your ancestral nation. If you need help tracing your own heritage, ask an older relative to help you put together a family tree. This can be a great conversation piece if you display alongside the guest book at your wedding. Sparkle and crystals are hot trends for hair accessories and headpieces this year. Delicate tiaras work well on their own or with gauzy veils.

Embellished headbands are another modern option for sleek style. Many companies manufacture hair accessories and headpieces encrusted with Svarovski crystals – these will always offer good quality for the money. Think about your overall body type and head size when choosing the right accessories – if you’re tall and in proportion, bolder pieces will suit you. If you’re small and delicate, balance your body type with feminine, understated pieces that don’t have a lot of “bling”. For a larger head, a sleek hairstyle and simple headband (with little embellishment) might work best. For a smaller head, a fuller hairstyle, veil, and tiara can add fullness and balance your proportions on the big day. It’s all about what works with your own particular type of beauty… Bold pops of color are another hot trend for 2010 – sapphires, in pink or blue, can add visual impact to an engagement ring, wedding pendant, or drop earrings. Pearl bracelets with interspersed silver beads can also be a great way to accent a perfect manicure and beautiful engagement ring. In fact, pearls are a timeless choice for earrings and pendants as well.

Colored pearls, such as dove-grey cultured pearls, can be a great way to add some individuality to your ensemble. Semi-precious gemstones will offer the most value for your money – if sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are out of your reach (budget wise), get creative and look for pendants that feature lower-priced gems, including rose quartz or topaz, or even jade…look at your eye, hair and skin color to determine what will suit you the best. Women with cooler coloring will look better in magenta, every shade of blue, and bright jewel tones. Women with golden or warm coloring will radiate when they wear accessories featuring amber, topaz, or citrine (to name just a few)… Pendants and bracelets that feature silky ribbon “clasps” can also be fashionable on your wedding day – however, avoid anything too trendy. In general, classic pieces with a little twist will be the most flattering. Remember, you will want to enjoy your wedding photos decades from now, so keep it timeless. Look for accessories that accent your natural beauty, without overpowering your body type. When you consider all the elements, you can find a way to bring a little sparkle and color into your bridal jewelry.

Written by Leigh Maher Leigh Maher writes for Irish Celtic Jewels: an online Celtic jewelry store. He writes about all things Irish and Celtic on his blog, including wedding traditions and Celtic wedding rings.

This Festival has taken place in Lucca since 1998 and normally starts the first week end of July and lasts until the third week end of July.

This is the 2010 programme and this are the artists confirmed so far:

4th July – Fiorello
9th July – Paco de Lucia
10th July – Mark Knopfler
13th July – ZZ Top + Jeff Beck
17th July – Seal
18th July – Crosby Stills & Nash
20th July – Paolo Nutini
23th July – Simply Red
25th July – Karima
27th July – Placebo

All concerts take place in the beautiful landscape of Piazza Napoleone in Lucca, Italy.

Here is the direct link at the Lucca Summer Festival web site.

View the source website http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allthingstuscany/aroundtuscany/lucca-summer-festival-2010/

provided by

Lars Leetaru

After Valentine’s day, and planning consider couples frequently breaks because of money… so here are some inputs for a conversation BEFORE the “I do” Whether the issues are big or small, money will prove a powerful force impacting your marriage — sometimes overtly in the form of routine arguments; sometimes quietly as animosities seethe beneath the surface for years, only to explode into a potentially marriage-ending supernova.

What couples don’t always grasp is that money is rarely the real culprit. It’s the lack of communication, often stemming from a lack of knowledge about each other’s personal financial quirks and beliefs. So, some time between “Yes, I will marry you,” and “I do,” you and your partner need to have The Money Talk — the key questions all couples should ask of one another. Here are four of the more important questions to ask each other, since they provide insight and information on how money will flow through your marriage.

1. What Are Your Assets and Liabilities?
2. What Is Your Money History?
3. How Should We Divide Financial Duties?
4. Do We Combine Accounts or Operate Individually?

Read the answers and the full article here

Ultimately, all of these questions are about one thing: communication. Learn to talk about money early and often, and you can mitigate the financial tensions that are normal in all marriages. Write to Jeff D. Opdyke at jeff.opdyke@wsj.com

Wedding in Italy with a special offer.

Today youmight be starting looking at a special wedding solution, a wedding in Italy. Efffetti decided to offer to the newly engaged a fantastic offer. Just for today!

On February 14th or 15th ONLY, in fact inquiries we will receive for a Full Package Wedding in Italy, which will be then confirmed by March 15th will benefit of a 10% discount on our wedding planning services.

To inquire and get to know more, do not even think about it, just visit the wedding offer page and just start making your dream come true.

**You can help the earthquake victims with a donation to Save the Children’s Haiti Emergency Fund. PayPal is waiving the payment processing fees for donations to Save the Children for the next 30 days. Links to make donations to Save the Children (which accepts PayPal for donation payments) will be featured on various PayPal onsite placements, including the PayPal home page.

Wedding rings are very personal magical objects.

Bride and groom will always wear them from the wedding day, so the wedding ring will have to be comfortable and reflect personal liking. This is why wedding rings have to be chosen by the couple together.

Consider though some fundamental aspects before choosing [remember Four Weddings and a Funeral?]

1. traditions say it is the fiance that will purchase them, but sometimes one of the bestmen (or a close relative or even the best friend) would like to offer them. Once purchased they have to be kept in a safe place by a very accurate and reliable beloved [recall the movie]
2. they are usually stored by the bestman, but be sure that he/she is very very precise and punctual. The emotions of the day, hurry,  and unexpected events this is the safest way of having wedding rings there in the right place at the right time to be exchanged.
3. consider creating a small rings holder. usually a small squared or hart-shaped white pillow. It will have two ribbons to hold the rings and avoid them to fall down. An good option is to ask the atelier that made your wedding gown to create a ring holder which coordinates with your dress.
4. finally rings can be delivered to the couple by a child or stored by the bestman that will pass them in the right moment .