National Massage Week October 23-October 29,2011

Do you know starting this Sunday is National Massage Week? I’m sure throughout the planning of your big day; your body is feeling tense. Why not treat yourself to a massage? Massage and bodywork can release the tension and fatigue that your body is experiencing.

JB Miller, LMT from Massage Rite is offering great massage specials that you need to take advantage of! She is fantastic and passionate in her services!

Starting rate $85 for a 1 hour session!
www.massagerite.com

Please contact JB Miller, LMT awaken@massagerite.com 646-226-7879.

Mention MBB blog to receive discounted rates during this promotion from October 23- October 29, 2011

Coffee bean fall centerpiece

Are you inspired by rustic fall colors for your fall wedding- oranges, browns, and golds? Do you want a coffee aroma to spread through your venue? How about Coffee bean centerpieces?

An easy DIY project that you can do! Coffee beans come in many different shades of brown and black. Layer the shades in a large tall glass vase for a dramatic centerpiece. Another option, you can place white roses in floral tubes, also called water picks, to keep them hydrated. Fill a fish bowl vase with coffee beans and stick the roses into the beans until the top of the vase is covered in the roses. Use tall, square vases filled with coffee beans to display bolder colors like fuchsia, orange and purple. Wrap a wide brown or ivory ribbon around each vase.

Build your centerpieces around coffee beans for table decorations- your guests will not forget!

Body Shaping Treatments For Your Big Day

I’ve been meaning to blog about this since the summer! Regardless that we are in the fall season, ladies we all need a little body shaping treatment to pamper ourselves and to get ready for the big day and your honeymoon!

Have you heard of Endermologie? It is a cellulite reduction and body shaping treatment. It reduces fatty tissues in our thighs, buttocks, back, abdomen, and arms, which are called our dear enemy cellulite!

I found a hidden gem that provides this endermologie service called Skintique. This spa office is such a chic and intimate ambiance spa office conveniently located in Astoria, Queens. A few affordable treatments that I’ve purchased-I immediately felt the difference and I began to see the areas in my body approve. It is FDA approved, non-invasive, reduces cellulite, tightens loose skin, loses inches and improves circulation.

Please check out Natalie & Jen at Skintique. www.skintique-ny.com Call Skintique for a free trial treatment!
646-812-7514
917-294-5343

In addition to the treatments, always drink h20, eat healthy veggies and fruits, and exercise! You will look and feel like a superstar!!

Mention “My Bridal Budget Shaping Treatment Blog” and receive a 25% off your treatment!

FAQs and Tips to get the best hotel rate

You may have out of town guests attending your wedding during a weekend, or you may have your wedding further from your hometown, some guests may want to stay the night instead of driving back. It’s important you research, compare group discounted rates, and select your hotel prior to sending out your invitations, so that way you can include hotel enclosure cards of the rates, information and deadlines in your invitations. Here are some helpful tips and questions to ask to the Hotel Sales Dept.

1) What is the minimum amount of rooms to block the weekend? (You need to figure out how many guests would reserve rooms, an approximate number. For example, if you have 12 to 15 guests that you do know they will be staying at a hotel then 8 to 10 rooms would be sufficient)

2) What is the discounted group rate? (You can inquire your reception venue. Usually reception venues have relationships with the hotels nearby, the hotel can grant you a free bridal suite or offer group discounted room rates because you are having a wedding at the referred venue.)

3) What is the policy for rooms that are not reserved within the blocked room contract? (You want to make sure that you are not penalized for rooms that are not reserved, so for example you have 10 rooms blocked on your contract and 2 rooms have been reserved by your guests and 8 are not booked- you want to make sure you that you are not responsible for that cost. Some hotels do charge unbooked room nights and most do not charge, instead, they release the rooms to the general public)

4) When is the deadline for guest to reserve their rooms in order to get the group discount? (Some hotels give 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding date for guests to book their rooms)

5) Do you offer complimentary shuttles? (Such as airport transportation- hotel to airport, airport to hotel, local shuttles hotel to venue, venue to hotel)

6) Do you offer a complimentary room or suite when the blocked rooms have been reserved? (Most hotels give free room or group-discounted rate when the contract has been fulfilled- so they can honor you a bridal suite or free room)

7) Is there a cancellation fee? (Lets say for example if you decide to cancel, are you responsible for cost of the rooms? or can they just release the rooms to the general public)

After the Rain, there is a Rainbow

Hurricane Irene was almost 2 weeks ago, our very own bride and groom Martine & Nicola was in the midst of this havoc. We were all sitting glued to the TV figuring out if this dream wedding will happen. Unfortunately, their NJ wedding had to be cancelled, due to the unexpected storm, but rest assured My Bridal Budget came to the rescue! We planned a Plan B wedding in a hurry within 24 hours, which we celebrated their nuptials on a Monday. It went from a NJ catering venue theme to a unique chic city wedding at the Scarpina Restaurant in Union Square. After their beautiful special day, the couple was featured in “On your side” ABC News to share their story how Hurricane Irene almost interrupted their plans.
Please see their footage-
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=8346302

Please visit The Wedding Central Blog to read all about this experience!
http://www.theweddingcentral.com/featured-wedding-eyewitness-news-martine-and-nicola/

We wish Martine and Nicola a beautiful happily ever after in their new home Chicago!
Thank you to the wonderful vendors that made the effort to make this couple’s wedding special!
Scarpina Restaurant (owner Albana)
Ricardo Cardona (Executive Chef
Party Tyme (DJ) (Louie Vega)
Touch of Elegance (florist) (Lisa)
The Wedding Central (photographer) (Gabriela & Danny)
Myther Ganibe (videographer) (Myther & Marvin)
Reverend Nigel Pierce (Reverend- Grace Church)

Wedding Insurance

Last weekend in the East coast, hurricane Irene welcomed us with unexpected circumstances that had either changed travel arrangements and/or cancelled weddings, which is important that I blog about Wedding Insurance. Weddings are investment, just like a buying a car or a home. It is extremely necessary to purchase wedding insurance for your event because in the event if there are unforeseen circumstances such as weather, death in the family, or a breakup, at least you are protected and you will not lose your money.

In fine print on some vendors and venues contracts it states in their cancellation policy some state they do not issue refunds regardless of any circumstance. Please inquire before you sign the contract in the event of unexpected mishap, if they can reschedule your event so you don’t lose your money and still celebrate your happy moment. This is more of a reason to purchase wedding insurance to not lose money.

I know what you may be thinking, “I have to buy insurance too?” after all the expenses you have made. But think of it like this, you pay for coverage for your automobile, which costs 25k. Yet you could spend 50k or more on your wedding day. Why not protect this investment, too?

Generally there are two types of wedding insurance, which are: Liability and Cancellation/Postponement Insurance.

Liability insurance is used to cover the Bride and Groom from certain types of claims arising from accidents taking place during the wedding, reception, and rehearsal. It offers protection for the wedding couple for damage to the facility caused by a guest or vendor, bodily injury to guests, and alcohol-related accidents they are found liable for.

Cancellation/postponement insurance is designed to safeguard your wedding from unexpected mishaps. It covers cancellation/postponement and losses such as no-show vendors, bankruptcy of vendors, damage to the wedding attire, theft of gifts, and more.

As with all insurance the cost is dependent on the coverage amounts you choose. For example, a quote can be based upon a 75k wedding and the cost was $511.00 for the liability and cancellation/postponement coverage.

Cancellation/postponement insurance will provide coverage if the weather conditions are extreme enough to prevent the Bride/Groom and/or their immediate families from attending the wedding or reception, which renders the event unusable or unsafe.

You can compare quotes with different insurances to get the best affordable rate. A couple of recommendations of wedding insurance are www.protectmywedding.com or www.privateeventinsurance.com

Have a joyous wedding, but be smart and protect your investment with wedding insurance!

How can I save money on the Honeymoon costs?

You and your soon-to-be are planning your wedding and have dished out your own money, but you may not afford your Honeymoon or you may think your Honeymoon is the last priority on your checklist-, which is not! Honeymoons are a necessity especially after 12months planning this event for you and your special loved ones, you need time to unwind and relax with your Mr./Mrs. If you and fiancé live together, instead of having bridal registry that includes toasters, the latest Panini maker that will create dust in your kitchen pantry- how about creating your own honeymoon gift registry?

The best way to save money on the cost of your honeymoon is to try and get others to help you pay for it. Instead of registering at department stores, you can create the items you want for your trip and ask your guests to purchase them on your site. You can finally afford that honeymoon cruise you would like to take based from monetary gifts from family and friends. A couple of additional ways to save costs is to purchase an all inclusive-package that includes air, hotel, food and drinks.

Here are several recommended Honeymoon registry links-
http://www.honeyfund.com/
http://www.honeymoonwishes.com/
http://www.travelersjoy.com/
http://www.registrypalace.com/

Happy Travels!