StyleSchool

Calling all brides: Celebrity wedding planner extraordinaire Mindy Weiss just announced she's hosting The Most Ridiculous Event Ever! next month in L.A.  Not only is this your chance to meet industry experts like Amy Atlas, Ellen Black, Elizabeth Messina, and Weiss herself, it's also your chance to find out exactly what goes in to planning an unforgettable event.

“I was tired of going to bridal fairs where everyone was disappointed with what they found there. So, I thought why not do a bridal classroom where everyone will find out what really goes into planning a ridiculously great wedding or event!” says Weiss.

If you've ever seen a Mindy Weiss wedding—and you have, Fergie, Ellen DeGeneres, Gwen Stefani, the list goes on—you know this event is not to be missed. She's pulling out all the stops to make this affair bigger and better than those run-of-the-mill bridal expos.

The event will take place on October 11 and is open to brides, vendors and anyone else who wants to attend. Tickets are available on mindyweiss.com for $250. Get yours today!

—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor

Whether you're looking to save some cash or just aren't a flower person, Harvard Sweet Boutique (harvardsweetboutique.com) offers a stylish centerpiece alternative. The Massachusetts-based gourmet goods company specializes in quirky table decor that doubles as take-home treats. 

Their whimsical boxes come in a variety of color combos, from beach-themed blue and brown to elegant gold and white. The containers can be piled creatively to make an architectural statement or simply line them down the center of a long table to add the perfect pop of color. 

Best of all, you can fill the boxes with tasty sweet treats of your choice, from miniature cookies to truffles to brownies. Harvard Sweet Boutique always makes their all-natural treats from scratch and to order. 

Founder Sue George takes pride in her company's attention to detail—they "masterfully personalize each order" and ship nationwide. Visit harvardsweetboutique.com to get started creating your centerpiece now!

—Chrissy Mahlmeister

Once the wedding is over, the sad fact is that some of the gorgeous wedding books you just could not plan without become, well, useless. And good luck trying to convince your new spouse those typically huge tomes are worth keeping. Fortunately, we have good news for brides looking for a wedding book they'll be able to use long after their "I Dos." Karen Bartolomei's Paperie for Inspired Living is available tomorrow and it offers practical tips for creating eye-catching wedding stationery, that works just as well for dinner and birthday parties.

Karen Bartolomei knows a thing or two about stunning stationery. She's the founder and designer of Grapevine Paperie and has created wedding papers for stars like Numb3rs star David Krumholtz and actor Sam Huntington. In her new book, Bartolomei makes it easy for any bride to create incredible wedding stationery with materials readily available at a craft store. Even better for brides, Bartolomei shares her expert tips on invitation wording and etiquette. The best part of all, though, is that Paperie for Inspired Living doesn't just cover wedding stationery. Whether you're hosting your first newlywed dinner party or even a barbecue, the book has creative, easy-to-execute ideas for making menus, drink signs and more!

Get your copy today on amazon.com!

—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor

In anticipation of TNT's new series, Wedding Day, we sat down with the show's creator, Mark Burnett, to get the inside scoop.

What was your inspiration for the show? 

The initial concept came from TNT and Dreamworks. They were kicking around ideas of what could be the first ever, unscripted programming from a network known for drama. We began with the idea of finding people who spent their time serving others. Once I saw the casting I thought, "How can these people do so much for everyone around them?" They give so much and when it comes to themselves, they don’t have enough money for a great wedding. 

I'll admit it: I am 100% obsessed with reality television. But these days, who isn’t? The good news for brides who are equally obsessed is that there are a bunch of great new shows all about the big day. TLC is debuting Masters of Reception this fall, which features New Jersey-based caterers Robert and Jerry Frungillo who've worked with Frank Sinatra and the Pope. They started out working in a deli, but their business took off and they now do event planning at four different reception sites in New Jersey. Master of Reception will focus on over-the-top requests the duo receives and what it takes for the Frungillos to pull it off. We're talking hot air balloons, dogs in the bridal party, and gigantic ice luges. Talk about my kind of TV!

The show doesn’t officially air until the fall, but catch a preview this Friday June 12th at 10 p.m. EST.

Click here for more info on the show.

—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor

Weddings are about people coming together to form new bonds—and we’re not just talking about the bride and groom. His family meets her family, friends meet friends, and so on.

If you're worried, though, about guests sitting at their tables staring at each other in silence, ensure the conversation gets flowing with Table Topics ($9; tabletopics.com). These cute cards are filled with queries that begin “Would you rather...” or “If you had...” to help break the ice. Even better, they come in cute colorful boxes that won't look out of place on your beautifully designed reception tables. 

Table Topics are available in different themes, including the new bridal trio, which have questions centered on the wedding shower, bachelorette party and honeymoon. For more info or to buy your set, visit tabletopics.com.

—Jessica Derschowitz

Looking for the perfect outdoor wedding destination? Church Estate Vineyards (church-estate.com) in Malibu, CA is a gorgeous French chateau surrounded by 9 acres of stunning gardens and vineyards and boasts breathtaking views of the California countryside. It's the perfect option for brides who love the landscape of the French and Italian countryside, but want a wedding a little closer to home.

The owner, Robert Church Haggstrom, has taken special care to make sure every detail—from the multi-level stone patios to the waterfalls—harmonizes with the natural contours of the land. "I realize how important it is to surround oneself with beauty," Haggstrom says of this sanctuary. "Sharing the beauty of this place is important to me."

As one last selling point, Fergie and Natasha Bedingfield both recently exchanged vows here. 

For more info and to see some of the gorgeous ceremony, cocktail hour and reception options, visit church-estate.com.

—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor

As you may have noticed, cupcakes have been having a bit of a culinary revival. Who would have ever thought the childhood staple would be transformed into a decadent treat beloved by adults?

In keeping with the cupcake phenomena, the Ritz-Carlton Central Park is hosting a Cupcake Tea from April 1st through May 17th in celebration of the beginning of spring. Could there be a of a better way to spend an afternoon with your bridesmaids? The Tea will be held at the Ritz’s legendary Star Lounge, and each guest can choose from a selection of petite gourmet cupcakes in such flavors as Lemon Chiffon and Valrhona chocolate to pair with their tea selection. Space is limited and the Cupcake Tea will only be served on Saturdays and Sundays between 11:00 am and 2:30 pm, so don’t wait to reserve your space. It’s $25 a person, and while the calorie count might be significantly more than that, don’t fret—Central Park is just across the street and sunny strolls through the park are the provenance of spring.

To make a reservation or to learn more about the Ritz-Carlton Central Park’s Cupcake Tea, call 212-521-6125.

—Laura Wasson

Whether traditional or self-written, vows are one of the most important parts of your wedding. And if you’re considering reciting those special words at a Ritz-Carlton hotel or resort, you can add one more vow to your special day—a promise to help those in need.

If you have your wedding at any Ritz-Carlton hotel, five percent of the total cost of food for your event will be donated to those who are less fortunate as part of the “A Vow To Help Others” program. The donation will be split equally between an organization of your choice and the Community Footprints Fund, which benefits hunger and poverty relief, environmental conservation and disadvantaged children.

Could there be a nicer way to start off your new life as husband and wife?

In order to qualify for the program, you must book your wedding by December 2009 and the event must take place before December 31, 2010. For more information, visit ritz-carlton.com.

—Jessica Derschowitz

Pictured here: The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas

Attention, attention all brides-to-be. If you've spent any extended period of time planning your wedding, you know how hard finding vendors for all your big-day services can be. Is that photographer reputable? Does my stationer understand my vision? Will my cake taste incredible? These are no doubt just a few of the thoughts that haunt brides booking wedding vendors. But that's all about to change.

WeddingBook.com weddingbook.com is this incredible new site that makes finding the perfect vendors virtually painless. How does it work? Head to the site, enter your wedding location and choose which vendor you need to book. You'll be given a list of all the vendors in your area, which you can then narrow down based on your budget, wedding size, style and more! All the vendors on the site have comprehensive profile pages that include how much they typically charge and samples of their work. Once you find a vendor that interests you, simply add them to your "Get Proposals" cart, then send them an email to request more information. Within days, you'll get a response and be well on you're way to having all your wedding vendors secured.

There are over 65,000 wedding vendors in one place, all at your fingertips. Pretty amazing, right? We think so, too!

—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor