Make Your Question Pop!

How did he pop the question!?!  That is the number one question people will ask when you tell them you got engaged, so the pressure is on guys!  There are three important factors to every proposal.  First, what you say needs to be memorable and meaningful while keeping it short and sweet.  Second, the place! Take her to the place you first saw her, a favorite restaurant, or the place you went on your first date (although this may be too big of a giveaway if you are going for a surprise).  Or, if you choose not to share this special moment with the rest of the world, pop the question at home! Try to jazz the scenery up a little with candles, music, flowers & champagne to create a romantic feel.  And third, make sure you get down on one knee!  It’s traditional and she will remember if you neglect this vital part of the proposal! 

Are you still not sure what to say and how to say it? Take a hint from both of your personalities.  Do you want to make it a big show in front of a lot of people? Or will that embarrass her? Or is a low key and private setting more your cup of tea?  If you have a more creative side, use it!  “Will you marry me” is a life changing question that every girl waits to hear. If you need advice, go to her best friend (if she can keep a secret) and don’t forget to ask for the parent’s permission, it seems old school, but it is a tradition for a reason!  Whether you choose to be creative or go for a more cookie cutter proposal, always make it from the heart because that is what matters the most!

Also, If you can capture the moment on film, then thats a bonus. She may be in such shock that she may forget what you said to her. So if you can document it, you'll be able to replay this special moment for her and share it with family and friends!

If you need some guidance, contact us! Or, if you have a good proposal story, we would LOVE to hear it… comment below!

(This post was a dedication to my (soon to be ) brother-in-law, Matt. Congrats to you and Laura… love you both and let the planning begin!!)

Big Thank You...

Just wanted to give a big thank you to our "Bella Girls"...you should always give credit where credit is due and each of you deserve it!  Our staff is incredible and we would not be where we are today without them!  We were missing a few at our holiday party, but here are a few highlights of our xmas happy hour! Another big announcement is....one of our very own is getting married!  Congrats to the "soon to be" Laura Fitzpatrick, you and Matt are a fantastic couple!  Another big wedding to plan, its gonna be a busy year!  Can't wait for 2010!

Tribute to Moms

Every bride searches for the perfect dress, but what if the perfect dress is sitting in your mother’s closet?  Certain looks always have a way of resurfacing, and this may be the perfect time to re-invent your mother’s style.  You can always have it altered to fit as well as allowing your inner stylist to come out and make a few changes (with your mother’s permission of course).  Make this something special you share with your Mom and make it a new family tradition!  A wedding dress is worn for one day, yet it means so much to you, why not share it with past and future generations? 

If you don’t want to use the entire dress, yet you want to keep a piece with you on your wedding day, take some lace or some beading from your mom’s dress and add it as an accent piece to your new dress, or to your shoes.  You could even ask for a less expensive hand me down, like the veil your mother used or a special brooch she wore on her wedding day.

A New Spin on Something Blue...

We have heard the rhyme countless times, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.”  But, as usual, My Bellissima wants to get past that traditional baby blue and dig a little deeper into the other side of the blue spectrum!  A Deep Navy Blue gives a richer, warmer feel to your winter wedding!  You can even take this shade of blue to a new level because it can be matched with so many other winter shades!  Make Navy Blue work for you in your theme colors.  Take for example the color combination of navy blue, deep winter red and charcoal, or what about navy blue and champagne with a hint of olive green for an accent color?  You can combine light and dark to make one color really pop, or mix two deep colors that make perfect harmony when united (very symbolic).

NBC Broadcast!

Exciting News!  My Bellissima was featured on NBC!  We have posted the broadcast on You Tube so check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPTa13bZy78

Special Thank you to one of our lovely brides to be, Susan Cox! She was meant to be in front of a camera!

Popular Wedding Themes

Sure we've discussed color combinations and what type of bride you might be in order to help you find your personal bridal "style" so that you could dress your event accordingly. To assist you even further though, we are now going to clue you into the top bridal themes so that you have the option of using them yourself! Of course at My Bellissima we are perpetual advocates for the classic, timelessly elegant event. Usually this involves a classy color pairing and carrying the these two or three shades throughout - from invitations, to bridesmaid dresses, to favors and flowers! If you consider yourself more of a "pattern" person though, below are a few choices for you to consider:



Theme #1: Flourishes - A fleur-de-lis motif is a regal, elegant option as the symbol is usually associated with the French monarchy. By either detailing it in metallic colors or using it with more subtle hues you can dress it up or down! Using an accent like this is a great way to tie various aspects of the reception together. Incorporating it into invitations and onto floral ribbon wraps are some of our favorite ideas.


Theme #2: Letters - Monograms are another theme that can take on several forms. Depending on how they're used, they can make your wedding either more classic or contemporary. The only decision you really have to make is deciding which letters you'd like to use - your names, initials, or new married monogram.

Theme #3: Stripes - Pinstripes are definitely a more contemporary, "high-style" wedding choice. So as not to overpower your event, keep the lines monochromatic. Using flowers with naturally striped petals, striped fondant for the cake cake, and pinstripes on the invitation, reply card, and reception card are a stylish twist for your big day!

Theme #4: Flowers - A floral motif is great because you get to choose a specific flower that suits you and your partner's overall style that can set the tone for the rest of the day. An easy way to work flowers into your event? Make sure your cake is adorned with either fresh cut or edible ones!

No matter what your individual taste may be, there seems to be a pattern suitable for everyone. So explore your options and see what's out there in terms of these designs (or others we haven't mentioned) - you might be surprised with what you end up with!

Big Thank You!

Well, we have to say, the Stella and Dot Jewelry party was a fantastic success! Thank you to everyone that came out to support us and a special thank you to Leigh who set up all the fabulous jewelry. If you are still interested in shopping, here is the info! (www.stelladot.com/leigh) There is a link on top that says- Can't make it to a trunk show- find your hostess... when you click on find Kara's name and click on it! Next, the food was absolutely DELICIOUS (provided by Food Company, baed out of East Hanover NJ. Thanks Tricia! www.foodcompanycatering.com ) The delightful mix of guests and vendors alike made the night a delight. Jewelry was on displayed throughout the office fully dressed for the holiday season! Laura and Kara even got to play stylists, matching the trendy jewelry with the chic and fabulous dresses brought in and displayed from Bella Bridesmaid, thanks Danielle and Amanda (located in Madison NJ, www.bellabridesmaid.com ). Dresses, jewelry, food, I mean what else would you want? How about invitations! Karin, owner of Kardz in Livingston, who does stunning custom work along with high end invitation books, thank you cards and everything in between (www.kardz.net). They brought over samples and a little something for each of the guests to take home! So, in sum, Stella and Dot Jewelry, chilled champagne, inspiring invitations, fantastic food and dreamy dresses made the night a “Bellissima” success!

Becoming That "Glowing" Bride!

Wearing pure white is not always the most flattering hue when it's wintertime and your skin is more pale than usual. Because of this reality, many brides have opted to "fake and bake" in order to attain that pre-wedding glow so that they don't look washed out on their day. We have all heard tanning horror stories of women becoming orange, splotchy, or having an allergic reaction before a big event - so we have done our research to help you become a simply sun-kissed goddess!

If you don't want to expose yourself to traditional UV tanning (either lay-down or stand-up tanning beds), there are plenty of non-light treatments that you can do in the salon or at home. What we advise is that you test out your preferred method at least a few weeks/months in advance so that you can see how your skin will react to whatever you choose.

Professional airbrushing/spray tans have increased in popularity over the last couple of years and are commonplace among celebrities/those in the public eye. The most professional application is done by a beauty therapist in a spray tanning booth (either at a spa or tanning salon). Usually these last approximately 5 days and will fade over this time period. The price of this is usually more costly than other options but works the best and ensures the most even application, and only takes approximately 15 minutes depending on where you go!

There are also many home tanning solutions available that come in either spray or lotion form. This is a good choice for the bride on a budget. As far as application goes, you may want to ask someone to help you so that your tan is even and not streaky, and so that you make sure to get all those hard to reach areas (back of your legs, etc)! You can buy these at your local pharmacy or from make-up counters (like Clinique) for more professional brands.

Tips to remember:

• Whatever fake tan you decide on, make sure you exfoliate your entire body prior to the tan! This ensures that the color will be distributed evenly. (Pay special attention to knees, ankles and elbows.)

• As a rule, spray tans should be applied two days beforehand.

• The best time to get your spray tan done is in the afternoon/evening, so that you can leave it on overnight and wash it off in the shower the following morning.

• Do not wear any deodorant, moisturizer, or other skin products before getting your spray tan.

• Wear loose clothes to ensure your freshly applied tan is not marked by clothing (and so that your clothes don't get stained)!

• Start applying a home tan a week or so in advance, and then cover up any unsatisfactory areas in the days before your wedding.

• Wear plastic gloves during home tanning application so that your palms do not absorb all of the color.

When in doubt, err on the side of caution and be conservative with the color you choose!