Vera Wang Trunk Show

You're invited to celebrate the simplicity and sophistication of Vera Wang

July 11 & 12
VERA WANG
BRIDAL TRUNK SHOW

VERA WANG CHICAGO
34 East Oak Street
2nd Floor

View the current collection featuring romantic, sensual, and luxurious styles. Receive special savings on your special order gown, and $100 off a veil and headpiece.

By appointment only | 312.787.4696

L, M, N, O, P. . .Queue

The letter Q. We like it. It's the 17th letter of the alphabet. It looks good capitalized and written in cursive. It's quirky, quaint and quixotic all at the same same. The letter Q. . .

The word Queue. . .not so much. And we definitely don't like queues at your wedding celebration. Neither will your guests. You can keep both of us happy by minimizing the chance of queues forming at your party. Try some of the following:

Don't put the guest book right in front of the main entrance. This will definitely cause a human traffic jam. Place the guest book somewhere IN the room and place food and drinks (butler-passed hors d'oeuvres and cocktails) in between the guest book and the entrance. If your guests have something in their hands and mouths, they won't line up all at once to write your well wishes.

Hire more than one bartender. Who wants to wait forever in line just to get a whiskey sour? The general rule of thumb is that you should have one bar with two bartenders for every 100 guests. If you can swing it, have two bars. Position one of the bars far away from the entrance and be sure not to have any bars in the passage-ways of the guests and waitstaff.

Ditch the receiving line. No explanation needed.

If you are having a buffet style dinner, guests should be able to pass on both sides of the buffet if they are serving themselves. Have the waitstaff call a few tables up at a time. Another thing you can do to avoid a queue is to have a server at each dish. The dinner service will certainly go faster and an added bonus is to your budget because the portion sizes are controlled.

Can you think of some other ways to avoid long lines at your wedding?
Photo Credit: PicasaWeb

Why Don't You. . .Propose with The James

The James Hotel, that is.

The James Hotel is a luxury, boutique hotel in downtown Chicago renowned for its exceptional service, modern aesthetic and style. And for a starting price of $60, 000, The James will help you make it official with your beloved. What all do you get for a mere $60, 000?One night's stay in the 1400 sq. ft. Penthouse Loft

A stunning Van Cleef & Arpels engagement ring<----I wonder what the size is???

A private dinner for two including your own personal Primehouse Chef, romantic private dining room experience and Chicago Symphony Orchestra string quartet

Spa Experience for two from THE SPA

One year anniversary gift from The James, which is a weekend stay in The James Penthouse LoftThis offer is only good until December 31, 2008. A 72 hour advance reservation is required. And you can't just phone the hotel and ask for the Proposal Package--it must be specially arranged through Jennifer Hampson at 312.337.1000 or jhampson{at}jameshotels.com. Who knew proposing could be this easy?

Any takers?

Raise Your Glass

Serving champagne usually signals a celebration. And that's exactly what every wedding should be--a celebration (maybe later I can clue you in on what types of weddings are not celebrations. . .hehehe)! Champagne toasts have long been a part of wedding receptions, but you must know that all champagnes are not created equal. In fact, there is really only one true champagne. It is but one variety of sparkling wines. And it has to be made in the Champagne region of France to be considered a true champagne. Keep reading to find out more about the sparkling wines that you can incorporate into your wedding feast.

Champagne: sparkling wine made of chardonnay, pinot meunier and pinot noir grapes in France's Champagne region; can be very dry (extra brut) to very sweet (doux)

Vintage Champagne: made from grapes harvested in a single year; vintage champagne is of the highest quality and price

Nonvintage Champagne: this is a blend of grapes from different years; also known as "classic" champagne

Blanc de Blancs: best used as an aperitif, this wine is made with all chardonnay grapes

Blanc de Noirs: made with pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes; this sparkling wine is very rare and tres expensive

Rose: a dry (brut), pink champagne

Cava: made from native Spanish grapes in northeastern Spain, this wine is meant to drunk young (meaning that it should be less than five years old)

Sparkling Reds: these are made primarily in Shiraz (Australia), but some may come from the Burgundy region of France

Italian Sparkling Wines: Asti and Moscato d'Asti is sweet and fruity, with the Moscato being a bit drier; both are made from muscat grapes; Spumanti and Prosecco is made from champagne and other grapes and prosecco grapes, respectively; both make great aperitifs

I prefer a sweet sparkling wine like a Moscato or an Asti, but I am never too good to pass up a fine champagne like a Clicquot or Perignon. I mean, that's just the type of girl I am. What's more, sparkling wines go great with almost any type of food, so you don't have to worry as much about wine and food pairing.

Champagne toasts definitely add an air of luxury to any wedding, but don't feel you have to break the bank to give every guest a round of Moet & Chandon. Toast with whatever is in your hand at the moment and reserve a few bottles at the bar for any guest who wants a taste of the bubbly. Trust me, no one will even notice. . .

except me. . .

but I'm supposed to.

I want to hear from you! What different ways can you think of to serve the bubbly at your wedding? Leave your answer in the comments section.
Photo Credit: About.com, Map-of-France

New York Fall 2008

New York Fall Fashion 2008 is here. And look at this gorgeous eye-candy! I can see you lounging at an ultra-chic, late summer wedding reception with one of the fabulous frocks on!






All of these pretty numbers can be had by visiting Neiman Marcus. And for a limited time, get free shipping at any price! The redemption code is: SHOPNM
Photo Credit: Neiman Marcus

She's Baacckkk!

Sorry that I haven't posted since June 19th, but I have been on a wonderful respite. I relaxed, got some sun and ate good (fried catfish!!). YUM. I always love visiting Atlanta. . .

So, I'm back and I will return back to my blogging schedule. But before I do, I want to let everyone know that K Sherrie+Company is listed on the A-List for Wedding Planners for Indianapolis! Really, I think it's a popularity contest, but who doesn't like to see how popular they are? If you want me to feel like I'm uber-cool and fabulous, then visit the site and vote for me! I would love to see how this turns out.




Click here to vote for us! Thanks!

The Wedding Workroom

I am so excited!!! After being convinced of the wonderful merits of blogging by fellow iWed members, The Wedding Workroom has finally achieved 1000+ unique visitors!! I started blogging on one bright afternoon on Januray 24, 2008 and I haven't been able to stop! Everyday that I create a new post, I'd like to think that I am polishing up my "blogging mojo." I can't imagine NOT blogging. . .

Thank you to everyone who reads the blog and and I really love all the feedback I have received. It is truly a work from the heart and I love being to able to share a bit of me to the wedding cyberworld. Please subscribe to get your daily wedding addiction sent directly to your inbox. You'll find the SUBSCRIBE widget in the right hand column or at the end of this post. I think you'll be so glad you did!

Photo Credit: Caberet Entertainment

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OMG! Chalkboard Coasters!!

Table numbers.
Escort cards.
Place cards.
Coasters.

These can be used for any of the above. And much, much more! And they perfectly match the chalkboard fabric that we blogged about earlier. Check out the details of the chalkboard fabric HERE. To purchase these hot little numbers from Purpose Design on Etsy, click HERE.

Swoon. I think I'm in love. . .
Photo Credit: Purpose Design

Be Our Guest

Everyone knows that wedding marketing and advertising drills into every bride-to-be that this is "your special day" and it should be "all about you." I do agree that your wedding day is monumental milestone in your life and that it really is about you and the person you are going to get old and grey with.

However. . .

Consider this: what would your life (and your wedded future) be like without the support and presence of your loved ones? And since these same loved ones are most likely going to be the honored guests at your wedding celebration, you should treat them like the royalty that they are for the few hours that you are hosting them. Make sure your nuptials don't fall on the list of painful wedding experiences by avoiding the following guest gaffes:
1) Make sure the time between the ceremony and reception is short and sweet. Yes, we know you must get the gorge shots of you and your honey on the Canal, but long pauses between the ceremony and reception are generally a bummer. If you cannot book the ballroom immediately following the ceremony, arrange for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at a nearby space.

2) Don't make the guests pay for their own spirits. This means no cash bar! A cash bar is never an acceptable penny-pinching strategy. Would you ever ask guests to pay for a cocktail in your own home? Your wedding should be the same.

3) Mind your bridal party and don’t create a painful experience for your attendants’ dates. If most of the bridal party have significant others, forgo the head table unless you plan to seat the dates together. In addition, speed up the marathon post-ceremony photo shoots so the dates don't have to spend so much time alone at the reception.

4) Make sure the guests can get from Point A to Point B if the ceremony and reception locations are far apart or if they are far from the hotel accommodations. You should provide guest transportation. Besides the obvious safety concerns of drinking and driving, your guests should remember what an awesome time they had at your wedding – not how they got lost trying to get there.

Unfortunately for me, I have experienced ALL of these things as a wedding guest. Have you? Or do you have any other guest gripes that I didn't include? Please post a comment and share it with us!
Photo Credit: InStyle Weddings

Our Fax Number Has Changed

At the end of April, I announced that we were moving to a new toll-free number. Well, half of our conversion is now completed and our old fax number is no longer in service. If you need to contact us, you have a multitude of way to reach us.

By telephone: 800-409-KSCo (5276)
By facsimile: 800-409-KSCo (5276)
By email: info@ksherrieandcompany.com
By snail mail: email for the mailing address =)

Here's to staying in touch!

Ready, Set, Go!!! Part II

Yesterday, I posted about the annual "Running of the Brides" that will take place at Filene's Basement Chicago on July 25, 2008. And as promised, today, I will share some tips on finding your wedding dress at this unique bridal sale. If you choose to "rush the racks" to find your dream gown, follow these helpful tips and tricks provided by Filene's:

The Week Before the Sale:

Pick a team -- people whose taste you trust and are willing to get in there and do shopping battle for you

Hold a pre-sale meeting with your team

· come up with a team uniform- matching hats, t-shirts, headbands, carry whistles-anything that would make it easier to find each other in the crowd

· assign jobs to team members—someone to gather, someone to trade, someone to help you in and out of the dresses, someone to guard your inventory from prowlers

· tear out pages from bridal magazines, or print styles from on-line wedding gown sites to show your team what you’re looking for

· pick place to rendezvous in the store

The Morning of the Sale:

Dress code-- wear a sports bra and shorts or a bathing suit so you can try on dresses anywhere in the store; DO NOT WEAR FLIP FLOPS if you plan to participate in the “rush to the racks.”

Leave your handbag at home—you’ll need both hands for this.

Please, NO MAKE-UP. You wouldn’t want to see the dress of your dreams only to find it smeared with lipstick. CLEAN HANDS are appreciated.

No food or drinks inside the store; get rid of trash before the doors open in the receptacles provided.

Best Time to Arrive

The doors open at 8am. Brides-to-be and their teams who have been in line the longest will get to the racks first. In fact, it’s possible that the racks will be bare by the time you get into the store. DON’T DESPAIR! The dresses are not all gone. You’ll see brides trading or putting dresses back on the racks almost immediately. Use the first hour to look for brides who are trying on dresses you like. Then, be there to grab or trade for her “rejects.”

INSIDER TIP: If you’re not up to the chaos of store opening, arrive late morning or anytime up to store closing (9:30pm). Dresses will be back on the racks and the atmosphere will be much calmer. REMEMBER, this sale looks a lot more competitive than it really is—most of the hundreds of people you see in the rush to the racks are helpers, not buyers. Each team ends up with just one dress. (Alright, sometimes two, but that’s rare). There are still plenty of dresses to choose from. In fact, last year over 90% of the brides-to-be who came to this sale found their dream dress.

At the Event

Be nice—with all the excitement, shoppers have been known to get a little territorial and competitive. As our security manager once said to a TV reporter, “you don’t want to be walking down the aisle knowing you had to punch somebody out to get the dress.”

Be considerate—have your helpers put dresses you don’t want on the hangers and back on the racks. Think of how disappointed you’d be if you found your perfect wedding dress, only to see that it had been trampled on and damaged.

Be fair–keep only the dresses you are seriously considering, and set the others free as soon as possible.

Remember, wedding gowns don’t always run true to size—look not only for your regular dress size, but try a size or two bigger as well. Even if a dress isn’t the perfect fit, at this price it may be worth the cost of alterations. Experts on gown cleaning and alterations will be on hand to advise you.

Try on whatever comes your way--sometimes a gown that isn’t what you pictured yourself wearing turns out to be “the one.”

Be decisive--it’s only a one-day sale and gowns are not returnable.

If you follow the posted strategies, you should be good to go should you decide to brave this ginormous bridal sale. Personally, I don't think I have it in me to participate in the "Running of the Brides." I'm a go-right-in-and-get-what-I-want type of shopper. But I'd love to hear about the experiences of you all that have or will do this. Do tell. . .

Chic Invite Suites

Wedding Paper Divas has been featured today on Style Me Pretty--one of the best wedding blogs out there. We are pleased to remind you that we feature Wedding Paper Divas stationery at K Sherrie Shoppes.
Please click HERE to read the post that introduced K Sherrie Shoppes. If you are looking for chic, stylish and budget-friendly invitations for your wedding, you are sure to find something at Wedding Paper Divas!

Ready, Set, Go!!!

The annual "Running of the Brides" at Filene's Basement Chicago will take place on July 25, 2008. The Chicago store will house 1300-2500 designer wedding gowns that can be had at three price points: $249, $499 and $699. This is such an incredible deal considering they carry some wedding dresses that retail for $9000.The doors for this event open at 8am. But please be advised--most brides camp out overnight for this spectacular sale! Not sure that you have the patience or stamina to "run with the brides?" It may not be at all necessary. See a few of the answers below from the FAQs from Filene's:

What if I don’t want to partake in the actual “Running of the Brides,” or I can’t get there till later in the day, will there still be dresses left? Plenty! When the store opens, the racks get cleared quickly because people take as many as their arms can hold. Not knowing what they’ve grabbed, they quickly relinquish the sizes and styles they don’t want, putting them back on the rack or giving them to empty-handed brides. If a bride gets impatient waiting, we tell her to go have a cup of coffee and come back later—by 10:00AM, most of the dresses are back on the racks and you can shop in relative calm.

If you don’t get out of work till 5:00PM, or you’re just not up to the frenzy of store opening, the odds of finding a dress are still excellent. Only one in three or one in four people in line are shopping for a wedding gown. The others are helpers. For instance in Boston, usually the biggest event, there may be 800 people in line but only 250 of them are brides-to-be and there are up to 2500 gowns for sale.

What happens when the doors open? Customers run full speed to the racks; they grab as many dresses as their arms will hold. It takes less than sixty seconds for the racks to be stripped bare; the record is 36 seconds. The brides-to-be stake out a spot on the selling floor, preferably in front of a mirror and start trying on dresses. Even though we sometimes build a temporary fitting room on the selling floor most brides try on gowns in the aisles. Some women wear sports bras and shorts, others wear the lingerie they plan to wear under the gown.

Should I bring help? Definitely bring help—your mother, bridal party, a style-savvy friend. You need people to help grab gowns off the racks, make trades with other parties, help you in and out of the dresses, and guard the ones in your “maybe” pile from prowlers. It’s a good idea to have a team “uniform”—something that will help you find each other in the crowd, like wearing the same color shirts or big hats. Some teams get very creative. They print their team name on t-shirts, carry whistles or walkie-talkies, and so on. Some teams have strategy meetings before the sale; one woman created a Power-Point presentation for her team all about the dress she wanted.

For a complete list of the FAQs, click HERE.Please be aware that dresses are non-returnable, because Filene's doesn't carry wedding gowns except for the day of the bridal sale. But if you find a gown that you later fall out of love with, I'm positive that it wouldn't be that hard to get rid of. You could list the dress on eBay or Craig's List or take it to a consignment shop.

Filene's Basement Chicago
One N. State Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602
312-553-1055
Cash, checks and credit cards accepted.

Coming soon: Ready, Set, Go!!! Part II. . .Tips to finding your dream dress at the "Running of the Brides."
Photo credit: Filene's Basement

Rules of Engagement: Getting Your Marriage License

The marriage license is an oh-so-important, but seemingly small detail when planning your wedding. I mean, if you don't have a marriage license, your marriage is so not official. . .and who wants to deal with that?

So be sure to stay on the right side of the law and be certain you have a legal marriage license before you actually tie the knot. If you reside Indiana, here are the important details:

The cost for marriage license is $18 for residents and $60 for non-residents and payable in cash only. There is no waiting period and the license expires 60 days after issuance. This means, if your celebration is set for December 4th, please don't go to the courthouse in August to get your marriage license. If you have a wedding planner, he or she will definitely include this formality in your planning guideline.

To get married in Indiana without parental consent, the minimum age is 18. Applicants age 15-16 need a court order to obtain license (although I wouldn't recommend this course of action. Actually, I would recommend NOT getting married at this age, but I digress. . .). A state-issued ID, birth certificate or passport may be required for proof of age/identity. A rental lease or current utility bill can be used to prove residence. Contrary to popular belief, a blood test is not needed for prospective brides. And a final note to divorcees and widows--you need to bring proof by the way of a death certificate or divorce decree if the date of occurrence is less than 2 years.

By way of officiants, these are the people who can legally marry you in Indiana--a member of the clergy (including a minister, priest, bishop, rabbi, and imam), a judge, a magistrate, a clerk of the circuit court or a clerk or clerk-treasurer of a city or town. Please keep this in mind before you decide you want your favorite uncle from childhood to marry you.

If you are in Marion County, Indiana, below is the contact information for the Clerk's office: Marion County Clerk’s Office
200 E. Washington Street, 46204
Suite W-122
317-327-4740
317-327-3893 fax
Hours: M-F, 8-4pm

And here are the contact numbers for other Central Indiana County Clerk offices:
Boone County 765-482-3510
Hamilton County 317-776-9629
Hancock County 317-477-1109
Hendricks County 317-745-9351
Johnson County 317-736-3708
Madison County 765-641-9443
Morgan County 765-342-1025
Shelby County 317-392-6320

For information regarding your marriage license in other states, please visit Marriage License Laws on About.com. Have you, or anyone that you know, had any mishaps regarding your marriage license? Please share your story with us in the comments section.

You Say Tomato. . .

Do you have an upcoming celebration or wedding reception where you planned to serve some of the following hor's doeuvres:

Tomato Bruschetta?
Shrimp Stuffed Tomatoes?
Cherry Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Skewers?
Boursin Stuffed Tomatoes?
Balsalmic Marinated Tomato and Mozzarella Mousse?

If so, you'd better talk to your wedding planner or caterer quick, quick, quick! There is a serious Salmonella outbreak occurring with the consumption of raw tomatoes. Since mid-April, 167 persons infected with an identical strain of Salmonella Saintpaul have been identified in 17 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Because this particular strain is so rare and due to the occurrence of illnesses in all across the US, it seems that the offending tomatoes are distributed throughout much of the country.

The best advice is to chuck all tomato items from your wedding menu. You don't want your guests to get extremely sick at your celebration. This outbreak has proven to be fatal in some instances. However, if you absolutely must eat tomatoes, make sure you follow the FDA's Advice to Consumers:

• Refrigerate within 2 hours or discard cut, peeled or cooked tomatoes.
• Avoid purchasing bruised or damaged tomatoes and discard any that appear spoiled.
• Thoroughly wash all tomatoes under running water.
• Keep tomatoes that will be consumed raw separate from raw meats, raw seafood and raw produce items.
• Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and counter tops with hot water and soap when switching between types of food products.

Click the link for the complete recommendation.
Photo Credit: ThisOldHouse.com

Say a Little Prayer

This blog is dedicated to wedding, parties and everything associated with leading a fun and glamorous life, but we can never forget to acknowledge God's grace on our lives.

While some people are in the midst of planning for a new start with the person that they love the most, many people in the world are trying to piece back together what was their life. I live in Indiana and many families have been devastated by the floods and tornadoes that have plagued my state. For a pictorial review, click HERE.

I personally know someone whose home was destroyed in a mudslide and he lost two of his three dogs. And no flood insurance. It is so sad and humbling. Just when I think I have issues, God shows me someone, somewhere, who would probably rather be standing in my shoes versus where they are. One poor Weddingbee bride posted just today about her losses. Things are always put into perspective for me. . .that's why I must always be thankful for what I have.

I am asking that everyone who reads this to say a little prayer for those who are affected by the natural disasters from the past week. You may not know anyone personally, but we can all benefit from sending a lil' good karma into the atmosphere.
Photo Credit: Weather.gov

A New "You-Centric" Service--Invitations and Favors

K Sherrie+Company would like to introduce a new service to our brides, party-throwers, party-goers and readers. We would like to introduce: K Sherrie Shoppes!

K Sherrie Shoppes is dedicated to bringing you the latest in distinctive and unique wedding favors, bridal gifts and stationery. We know that it's all about the details, details, details! Customize and personalize your wedding celebration from the luxury letterpress invitations that you send your guests signaling the start of your celebration, all the way to the blazing, sparkler send-off after the end of your reception.

We have aligned with a few companies that represent some of the best offerings in wedding favors, bridal gifts and exquisite stationery. You will find that many of the favors and invites have been featured in great wedding publications such as Martha Stewart Weddings, In Style Weddings and The Purple Book: Weddings. We want to be your source for all things weddings and take pride in directing you to some of the best treasures on the web. So be sure to visit our website and click on the SHOP link and proceed to shop to your heart's content. Make certain to tell them that K Sherrie+Company sent you!
Photo Credit: The Knot

OMG! Chalkboard Fabric!

Close your eyes and imagine this scene:

You are walking into into a grand reception hall with floor-to-ceiling windows. It's late in the afternoon and the rose-hued sunshine is filtering through the windowpanes. The black chiavaris are arranged perfectly down the 180-foot banquet table that is covered with a richly-patterned, damask linen and the table is set for 160. The chairs perfectly match the hand-crafted, black table runner that stretches as far as your eyes can see. The crystal stemware is glistening in the sun and the lit candles are reflecting gently off the crystal chandeliers. The exquisitely draped ceiling showcases the fine silk fabric at its best. And oh! the centerpieces! The silver candelabras are bursting with pink ranunculus, peonies, spray roses and green cymbidium orchids. And at the base of each candelabra that lines the center of banquet table is a single piece of white chalk. Right next to the chalk is a scrawled message:

"Sign Me."

What are you supposed to do? Where are you supposed to sign? What would you say? Do you sign the table runner??

YES!! Isn't that an awesome idea?!?! A table runner that your wedding guests can sign. . .

We have stumbled upon something that's great--a matte black oilcloth that can be written on with chalk. And wiped off, if so desired. Your guests will have a blast writing your wedding wishes all throughout dinner and what a charming alternative to the traditional guestbook.

You can order this fabric from Bell'occhio for $15 a yard, so it's not for the penny-pinchers. And you have to have a seamstress on board to sew and fashion the table runner, so that's would be another line item on your wedding budget. But can you put a price on fabulosity?
Photo Credit: Bell'occhio

In the Name. . .

Did anyone watch Bridezillas last night?

I am so embarrassed. . .

City Wide Marriage Event

This blog is dedicated to bring you all kinds of wedding goodness for couples planning their beautiful, intimate, blissful and personality-infused nuptials. However, at K Sherrie+Company, we are also concerned about what happens after the wedding. Once you've walked down the aisle and said the final "I Dos," we truly want you and your love to live your happily ever after. And there is so much more involved in that than picking the perfect shade of periwinkle.

In that vein, we are happy to announce the City Wide Marriage Event hosted by Greater St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church. St. Mark is on a mission to reverse the effects of broken families and wants to encourage stronger unions and marriages. The City Wide Marriage Event is an all day event to be held on Saturday, June 14, 2008--next Saturday! You do not have to be a member of St. Mark to participate. You only need to bring a copy of your valid marriage license and commit to attending two counseling sessions. I think that's a very small investment for your something as important as your future.

I'm a member of Eastern Star Church and we are VERY committed to the "Before You Say I Do." With all the attention and detail you give to the celebration, please be sure not to overlook the actual reason for your ultra-fab party. Even if organized religion is not your thing, I would encourage all engaged couples to seek out some type of pre-marital counseling.

For more information regarding the City Wide Marriage Event, call 317.545.5673.
Photo Credit: Source