wedding

Gay Marriage Could Buoy Faltering Wedding Industry

Filed under: Events

Forbes' recent in-depth look at the impact of potential profits from legalized gay marriage on the struggling nuptial-driven industry sounds like a specialized stimulus package to me! Imagine if even half of the 781,267 same-sex couples already living together were to tie the knot. That alone would possibly boost the wedding industry by almost $10 billion! Currently the wedding market pulls in a whopping $160 billion with an average nuptial event costing over $20,000. But the industry has seen a steady 1.9 percent decline every year since 1999 and with the recent recession more couples are watching their pennies when planning the big day.

When it comes to gay marriage it seems most same-sex couples choose to spend about 34 percent of the amount straight couples shell out. But assuming their friends and family still spend the average $113 per wedding gift and the couple still receives the average 75 gifts, this category of the industry alone would rake in $3.4 million with just half the same-sex couples who already live together taking their vows. Add on catering and reception costs, honeymoon expenses, photography and jewelry and you're looking at roughly $9.5 billion of potential revenue just waiting to be scooped up.

With California's serious economic troubles I'm surprised they didn't use Proposition 8 as a way to jump-start their economy through the wedding industry? Isn't that a better alternative to legalizing marijuana?

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Tags: gay marriage, gay marriage profit, GayMarriage, GayMarriageProfit, wedding, wedding industry, WeddingIndustry

Win A Real Star Trek Wedding

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events

Here's one for all the Star Trek fans. One couple can win the chance to get married on the bridge of Star Trek's U.S.S. Enterprise. The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is offering the ultimate Star Trek Wedding inside the Exhibition. The Franklin Institute seeks couples whose dream would be to get married or renew vows on the bridge of the Enterprise inside STAR TREK: THE EXHIBITION. The winning couple, which will be determined by online public vote , will plan a ceremony aboard the bridge in the Exhibition and a reception inside The Franklin Institute.

To enter a couple have to submit a photo and a short paragraph explaining why they want to win. The deadline is June 24. Local judges will choose finalists and then the public will vote from July 6 - July 20. The package includes exclusive use of the Exhibition for one hour for the ceremony and private use of reserved space inside The Franklin Institute for a four hour reception for up to 100 guests, as well as two nights' accommodations for the couple at a nearby hotel. The Franklin Institute will supply the wedding cake and exhibition and reception space only the couple has to take care of the rest of the details. The interactive exhibit will be at the Franklin Institute until September 20,2009.

[via ArtDaily]

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Tags: franklin institute, FranklinInstitute, star trek, StarTrek, trekkies, wedding

Bride and Groom Mojuba Kits to the Rescue

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags, Services, Men's Style

Wedding season has arrived, and for the bride and groom, that means the fear of any little thing going wrong on the special day is imminent. And by little (that could turn into big), I mean a headache, or the need for a pen and paper or a bandage or a pair of scissors or lip balm, or a sudden need for deodorant or toothpaste, or the panicked realization that you never did get that shoe shine ... and so on.

Finally, someone has thought of putting a collection of moment-savings items for the bride or the groom into a take-along kit in an attractive bag. Mojuba's Bride Wedding Emergency Kit and Groom Wedding Emergency Kit each cost $165 and come in two styles each.

See the gallery for the style choices and a look at what's inside. Or, see the content lists here: bride and groom.

I think these would make thoughtful shower gifts. BTW, according to the site, in some African cultures, "Mojuba" refers to a bag of magical items that bring joy and happiness, and a prayer of praise and tribute.

Gallery: Bride and Groom Mojuba Kits

Tags: bride, emergency, gift, gifts, groom, kits, Mojuba, rescue, wedding

Salma Hayek's Venice Wedding

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Los Angeles may have had the wedding of Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag this weekend but the real wedding action was in Venice, Italy where Salma Hayek and her husband French luxury goods tycoon Francois-Henri Pinault renewed the vows they first made in a civil ceremony on Valentine's Day. The couple's ceremony took place at Venice's La Fenice opera house, one of the most spectacular settings in a city full of beauty and romance.

The bride wore a Balenciaga wedding gown with a long veil and her daughter Valentina, along with Francois-Henri's son and daughter from his first marriage in attendance. The affair attracted a rather impressive guest list. Among the stars in attendance were Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton, Woody Harrelson, Olivier Martinez, Ashley Judd, Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend, Bono, Gael García Bernal, Enrique Murciano, David Blaine, Ziyi Zhang and even Anna Wintour and former French President Jacques Chirac. The weekend-long event includes a masked ball at the Venice's Punta Della Dogana on Friday night. The AP has a wedding dress picture here.

Tags: francois-henri-pinault, la fenice, LaFenice, salma hayek, SalmaHayek, venice, wedding

Agent Provocateur's New Bridal Collection

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Luxe British lingerie line Agent Provocateur continues its sexy take on mythological themes with its latest collection of bridal lingerie for spring / summer. Titled "The Brides of Ulysses," the campaign features the brand's usual racy vignettes, showcasing a collection of "sumptuous white and cream designs in luxurious lace, alluring sheer tulle and sexy silk." Pictured above is the Kate corset in a "gorgeous wedding white detailed with intricate floral embroidery on the front and a traditional lace-up back." The Brides campaign also features a cameo by British model Karen Elson, wife of rock star Jack White of the White Stripes.

Tags: ad campaign, AdCampaign, agent provocateur, AgentProvocateur, bridal, British fashion, BritishFashion, Jack White, JackWhite, Karen Elson, KarenElson, lingerie, supermodel, wedding, White Stripes, WhiteStripes

InStyle Weddings Diamond Giveaways Sweepstakes

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

More than $30,000 in diamond jewelry will be given away during the InStyle Weddings Diamond Giveaways Sweepstakes. You can win a diamond jewelry set comprising a pair of 1/3 carat diamond solitaire earrings and a 3/8 carat princess cut diamond solitaire pendant in 14K white gold. There will be two prizes weekly (16 winners total), valued at almost $4,000. You can enter daily until 11:59 p.m. (ET) on April 30, 2009.

Tags: diamond, diamonds, earrings, free, InStyle, jewelry, pendant, sweepstakes, wedding, weddings, white gold, WhiteGold

Formal China Out For Brides?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The time-honored pre-wedding tradition of picking out the china pattern may be changing. The Washington Post reports that many young couples are opting out of the tradition of choosing fine, formal china. According to the article while just ten years ago most couples would register for formal china, crystal and flatware, now less than half choose fine china.

Why the switch? Some feel that fine china is too formal and fussy and opt for more casual dinnerware. Others have already inherited a more formal set. Brides are tending to opt for something that can be used everyday and popped into the microwave or dishwasher. Companies like Lenox and Waterford are trying a variety of strategies to prove that china is still important and they offer a wider range of styles and colors. Still, the best-selling formal china pattern at Lenox is the traditional Opal Innocence shown at right which costs $172 per place setting and a quiet white and platinum pattern is also a top seller at Waterford.

Do Brides Need Fine China?
Yes, it's traditional.	33 (50.0%)
No, it's out of step with today's couples.	33 (50.0%)

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Tags: brides, china, wedding

Luxe Wedding Registry - Christofle

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Certainly if you're planning the big event you're also looking for those timeless pieces that will adorn your table in the years to come. Classic serving and cocktail pieces don't have to be dull especially when your guests are willing to spend a little extra cash. A registry built around Christofle's line is sure to speak volumes about your premium taste in tabletop items. Established in 1830, Christofle created silverware for French royalty, including King Louis-Phillipe and Emperor Napoleon III. Royal standards meet modern design and successfully suit the most discerning of customers. (The gallery below may help convince any indecisive fiances -- prices range from $210 to $1,680).

Gallery: Christofle

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Tags: bergdorf goodman, BergdorfGoodman, christofle, christofle registry, christofle tabletop, ChristofleRegistry, ChristofleTabletop, wedding, wedding registry, WeddingRegistry

Get Married in Space for Just $2.2 Million

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services

I'm all for getting creative and doing your own thing when it comes to weddings (I did the 'run off and get married on the beach' thing myself), but if you feel like it's all been done before and you're looking for something that's truly different have you considered getting married in space? The Japanese company Rocketplane Kistler Japan has paired up with wedding planner First Advantage to offer a marriage ceremony 62 miles up in space. For just $2.2 million you and your sweetie can exchange vows while orbiting the Earth.

Do you think they make space suits with veils and white lace?

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Tags: marriage, space, space wedding, SpaceWedding, wedding

Mark Schneider Secret Heart Rings

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Jewelry designer Mark Schneider's designs are a step away from the traditional. Schneider creates both diamond bridal jewelry and unique dramatic pieces that incorporate colorful gemstones. Schneider believes in letting the stones "talk to him" before he creates a design.

The engagement rings from Mark Schneider Designs have a unique feature. Each design in the collection features a Secret Heart, small yellow or white gold heart at the base of the ring set with a tiny diamond inscribed with a message that says "Love you Forever." The styles range from traditional to more contemporary and each features smaller diamonds set along the sides of the ring. All of the rings can be made in either platinum or gold and set with center stones in a variety of sizes. The gallery below features a few of Schneider's bridal designs as well as some of his award-winning gemstone creations.

Gallery: Mark Schneider Jewelry

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Tags: bridal, diamond, rings, wedding

Ivana Versus Donald: Who Had the Flashier Wedding?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping

The details of Ivana Trump's weekend wedding are pretty amazing but what might be the most interesting is how similar the wedding is to her ex-husband's wedding back in 2005. After all, Donald and Ivana each married a much younger spouse at the very same location, the Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. Ivana wore 450 carats worth of LEVIEV diamonds including a 71.76 carat diamond necklace and 6.39 carat oval-cut diamond earrings on her wedding night. Trump's wife Melania wore a $200,000 satin and rhinestone Dior gown and Fred Leighton jewels for their wedding. Ivana's wedding cake was 12 feet tall and weighed in at 770 pounds. Donald's last wedding included a seven-tier cake that weighed over 200 pounds. Donald Trump's guests were entertained by a 36-piece string orchestra that was local whereas Ivana had a 24-piece orchestra flown in from Paris. Donald had more celebrity guests but the Ivana got serenaded by Neil Sedaka. Let's just call this one a draw and say that though they may be divorced the ex-Trumps certainly have a lot in common.

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Tags: donald trump, DonaldTrump, expire-images2009-4-18, ivana trump, wedding

The Expensive Wedding Dress We'll Never See

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Shopping

Fashion designer Vera Wang is famous for her extravagant wedding dresses but the most expensive dress she ever made is one we never got to see. In an interview on CNBC's "Conversations with Michael Eisner" that will air Monday, Vera Wang said the that the dress she created for Jennifer Lopez's canceled wedding to Ben Affleck was the most expensive she ever made. The dress was made of couture fabric and had 18 tiers. Wang says that it was the most expensive and the most time consuming to sew. I wonder what ever happened to the dress, was it destroyed or is it somewhere in Vera Wang's archives?

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Tags: ben affleck, bennifer, expire-images:2009-3-21, jennifer lopez, JenniferLopez, vera wang, VeraWang, wedding, wedding dress, WeddingDress

James Hotel Proposal Package

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The classic Valentine's Day proposal gets a little easier if you are planning to do it in Chicago. The James hotel is offering a proposal package that includes a Van Cleef & Arpels engagement ring, private dinner for two with personal waitstaff, chef and four-string quartet from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the ultimate couples spa experience at The Spa, two-night stay in the penthouse and a one year anniversary gift from The James. Accommodations in the Penthouse come with a personal assistant, use of an Audi A8L and driver, complimentary personal training session for two, use of personal Apple iBook, fresh flowers daily, and a stocked bar. The package starts at $50,000.

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Tags: proposal, valentine, wedding

A Wedding Dress with 4 Pounds of Jewels

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Wedding dresses come in all shapes and sizes from sleek and stylish to large and marshmallow-like, and from hand-embroidered to mass-produced. And although jewels aren't that uncommon in small doses, what about 4 pounds of jewels? A designer in Hong Kong has created a wedding dress with 9,999 karats of jewels (that's a very deliberate number!) and it's on sale for over $130,000.

It's beautiful but I personally wouldn't want a wedding dress with so many different colors, and I think for that price it might be more worth it to just get something custom-made -- I think I'd still be able to afford plenty of jewels.

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Tags: china, dress, gown, hong kong, HongKong, jewel, jewels, marriage, wedding, wedding dress, WeddingDress

Mandarin Oriental Destination Wedding Package

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Calling all brides, the Mandarin Oriental has created a two-part destination wedding for a couple and a pair of witnesses. The package begins with a two-night stay at the Mandarin Oriental, New York which includes accommodations in the Premier Central Park View Suites, a two-hour Mandarin Oriental Signature Time Ritual at the spa and an evening of customized "guys and girls" activities. Then the foursome is flown to Elbow Beach, Bermuda by private jet. The Bermuda event begins with a sunset cruise and a celebratory dinner. The wedding day dawns with a breakfast and the services of a hair stylist and makeup artist. The bride gets a blue sapphire garter as a gift while the groom will receive vintage hand-stitched silk handkerchiefs. The wedding ceremony takes place on the Bird of Paradise Terrace, overlooking the pink sand and turquoise water, with flowers and a string quartet. As the sun sets, Elbow Beach chefs will prepare a six-course reception dinner for the couple and their guests under a marquee. A seven-tiered wedding cake, dancing and fireworks complete the perfect day. The couple stays in the private Bird of Paradise cottage which is prepared with flowers, candles, a rose petal bath, monogrammed silk pyjamas, chilled champagne and Godiva chocolates. The package also includes photographs and personalized bathrobes. The total package costs $75,000 but maybe you can get your lucky guests to pitch in for the party.

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Tags: bermuda, destination wedding, hotels, mandarin oriental, MandarinOriental, wedding

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