Sneek Peek At Wonder Valley Ranch In Sanger, California

This is an informal video blog to give you a sneak peak of what Wonder Valley Ranch looks like. Learn more about Wonder Valley Ranch at, http://www.fresnoweddings.net/garden_wedding_location.html

Wedding Planning on a Budget

(ARA) – As a bride, once your Prince Charming has popped the question and placed the perfect princess cut on your left hand, the last thing you're thinking about is a budget. You've fantasized about your perfect day since childhood and money was never an object. But how are you going to afford that?

While you don't want to sacrifice your dream wedding, you also don't want to demolish your savings. Fortunately, you can still have your cake and eat it too … without paying full price.
Here are some expert tips to stay budget-friendly for your big day.

Propose a budget:
Discussing finances is never easy, but it's an essential conversation before planning your wedding. Traditionally, the bride's family provides a significant financial contribution, so find out what type of funding you might be receiving from this source. However, more and more couples are going it alone these days, so work with your fiance to establish a budget and decide how much each of you can afford to contribute. Decide together what's worth splurging on and where you can save. If a designer dress is a must, consider hiring a D.J. or loading up an iPod instead of a 10-piece band. Don't forget that communication is key -- stay open, honest and committed to your budget.

Commit to research:
Since you're planning your wedding on a budget, you might find that a wedding planner is an expense you can't afford. Instead of hiring outside help, make a list or find a wedding checklist of everything you need to purchase and arrange before your big day. Once you have established exactly what you want, research, research, research. Never buy an item or hire a vendor without doing your homework. Make sure to check out user reviews and read vendor profiles online. A great resource for researching vendors is OneWed.com where you can browse thousands of vendor ratings and reviews from brides across the country. The site has the largest local vendor database available so you can find the all of the services you need in your "I do" destination.

Be a Cyber-bride:
It's a little known fact that everything found in brick and mortar stores can be bought online, often for less. Lucky for the budgeting bride, online couponing sites are available to provide coupon codes for a number of online merchants. Just go to Google and type in a retailer name and coupon code for a list of resources. Deals range from deep discounts to free shipping -- saving you major cash. Think bridesmaids gifts, rehearsal dinner dress, thank-you notes, party favors, table decorations and much more.

Spread the love:
Once you've said "I do," cut the cake and tossed the bouquet, it's off to the honeymoon. And since everyone loves newlyweds, take advantage of your newly married status for vacation perks and fun freebies. Start by calling your hotel in advance and letting them know you'll be coming for your honeymoon -- they might be motivated to upgrade your room or throw in a romantic surprise. Don't forget to share your good news at airline counters, restaurants and any other trip destinations. More often than not, you'll receive special treatment in the spirit of celebration … and after planning a wedding, you deserve it!

For more information about wedding budget planning, visit OneWed.com.

Planning For Your Spring Or Summer Wedding

I know I'm rushing it, but I'm already thinking about Spring and Summer weddings.



Whether you're planning for an indoor wedding and reception, or an outdoor wedding and reception, the exciting options are limited only by one's own imagination.



Spring conjures warm thoughts, and smiley faces when flowers and trees are in bloom, bees are buzzing, birds chirping - Ehem, you get the idea.



The best way to make your Spring or Summer wedding dreamy and unforgettable for your friends, family and yourself is to add what I refer to as "happy colors".



This doesn't mean that you have to go outside of your comfort zone. I realize that not everyone likes bright colors, but color is definitely the best way to make a statement!



Check out these gorgeous colors used for the wedding below.

How do these colors make you feel? Most likely you'll feel an instant mood boost.

Keep that in mind when choosing your own wedding colors!

Black And Green Wedding Theme

Black and white weddings have been somewhat popular for a while now, and although I really do like black and white, I'm always left wanting something more.



I plan to do a short wedding idea video (for brides on a budget) to show how I feel that you can use more powerful colors such as black and white, but add a bit of life and color without messing it all up.



I'm particularly drawn to black and white combined with light greens, and pale pinks. These colors just make me feel happy.



I think it will be fun, and I hope you check back here often to see when I've added this video to this particular post.



Why do I like these colors so much you say?



Well according to the meaning of colors (may differ by culture):



Black can mean: Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, depth, and style.



Green can mean: Nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, vigor, spring, generosity, and fertility.



White can mean: Reverence, purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good, and, marriage.



And of course let's not forget about the accent color (pink).



Pink can mean: Love, and beauty.



I think this bouquet could accent all the colors in the wedding:





Call me crazy, and yeah, somebody might lose an eye, but this funky wedding ceremony decor actually appeals to me, and note: the white, and greens. A black ribbon would finish this off nicely I think.

Amazing Wedding Cakes On WeTV

I am so excited about all the new TV shows about weddings and wedding planning.

I must be honest, I'm not too crazy about the show called "BrideZillas". It's quite embarrassing to watch to be honest with you. I feel that that particular show encourages bad behavior that is quite simply childish and cheap. Just my personal opinion however. Needless to say, I would not want to be one of the brides featured on that show. It's highly doubtful that my marriage would last long if I behaved so badly - but you know what they say - There's something for everyone.

Now, there are a few shows I really love to watch every week on WeTV. One of these shows is called "Amazing Wedding Cakes."

The show - Amazing Wedding Cakes has really opened my eyes as to just how amazing some wedding cake bakers are. In fact, I dare not call such talents wedding cake bakers any longer, , , but wedding cake artists.

The show features three cakerys as follows:

1. The Cake Atelier (in New York) (as seen in the video featured above), and of which I tend to favor not so much for their cakes, but for their personalities. The two owners are Lauri Ditunno, and Ruth Drennan. I lean more toward liking Lauri as her personality is a bit more colorful, wild, etc. and this runs over into her personal cake design style. Ruth is likable, but seems to be more of a stick in the mud. Both ladies however are very talented. I have just noticed that the two have both gone their separate ways in business and each has started out on their own in the cake industry. Lauri now owns the Cake Alchemy, and Ruth owns "Ruth Drennan Cakes". - Note the creative differences in their separate business names? You can tell a lot about a person's level of creativity by the business name(s) they choose in my opinion.

2. The Cake Divas (in Los Angeles CA) as seen in the video below. What can I say about the Cake Divas? I love their cakes, style, and obvious devotion to their art. Personality wise, I like Joan more than Lee, however, I find the two owners a bit fake, and over the top, but - I can forgive them due to their talent. The Cake Divas are quite popular, however I'm not completely blown away by their work in comparison to many other cake artists I have seen in the area. In my opinion, their sudden fame is not due to them providing something that nobody else does, , , nearly as much as this being a case of knowing the right people. That's Hollywood for you!

3. The Cakegirls (in Chicago) Are two sisters who are very talented as well, but again, there are many artists that are just as good as they are. Their personalities are a bit dry, but they are more likable to me than the Cake Divas. Meet the Cakegirls in the video below.

See a beautiful wedding bouquet be created

Jens Jacobsen at Moyses Flowers tells us why it's important to listen to both the bride and the groom when creating the perfect bridal bouquet, and which flowers are a must every season.

Packing Right for Your Winter Honeymoon

Packing Right for Your Winter Honeymoon

(ARA) - You made it through the wedding, so now comes the relaxing part -- your romantic honeymoon in a faraway destination. But what do you pack and how much do you need? Gone are the days of multiple suitcases stacked at the doorway to accompany you on your flight. With airlines charging fees for checked luggage, today’s friendly skies will only allow you just so much, so you’d better make the most of your checked bag and your carry-on.

There are three basic honeymoon destination types: A beach honeymoon, the mountains honeymoon and the city honeymoon. Each one requires careful pre-planning on your part to make sure you have enough, but not so much that you wind up forking over extra cash at your airline’s check-in counter.

If the beach is your destination -- a great choice for all the northerners who spend most of the winter digging their driveways out from under mounds of snow -- there’s a chance that you may have to carry on all your items if you or your spouse want to bring along the golf clubs. But have no fear, it can be done.

“Chances are you’re just going to be at the pool most of the day, so two swimsuits, a wrap or two and flip-flops will take care of most of your daytime needs,” says Anne Hankey, a fashion marketing & management instructor at The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago.

Hankey also suggests neutral T-shirts, sexy dresses that can be dressed up or down, shorts, a couple of skirts and a pair of casual and dressy sandals. Don’t forget your sunglasses, a small, unique “statement bag” and a big bag you can use as a carry-on, on the plane and as your beach bag once you get to your destination. If you have room, Hankey also suggests a big collapsible hat, but you can always buy one when you land.

And what do you wear on the plane when you’re taking off in sub-zero weather and landing in a heat wave? “My favorite trick is to wear black exercise clothes,” says Stephanie Schuller, fashion marketing and management instructor at The Illinois Institute of Art -- Chicago. “They’ll insulate you so in cold weather they’ll keep you warm and they can keep you from sweating in warm weather because they are designed to regulate your body temperature when you work out.”

If you decide to head to a winter ski resort on your honeymoon, you can still keep your bulkier winter wear to a minimum. Hankey suggests you pack your ski boots with your skis in your checked luggage. “Wear your ski parka on the plane with a nice pair of jeans, a sweater and casual boots.

Bring two pairs of leggings and a few thermal T-shirts to layer under your parka when you hit the slopes and don’t forget your socks, gloves and ski goggles. “Pack a few sparkly tops or tank tops that you can pair with the jeans you wore on the plane and don’t forget your swimsuit for the hot tub,” says Hankey.

Schuller also suggests a matte jersey dress that can be rolled up and won’t wrinkle for one special night out. Just throw in a pair of dressy heels to wear with the dress and jeans and a pair of flip-flops for the hot tub and you’re ready to go.

If you decide to jet off to a destination like Paris or New York for your honeymoon, Schuller stresses you should not forget to bring along a pair of comfortable and stylish shoes on your journey.

“You can pack a little more, because you won’t have golf clubs or skis in tow,” says Hankey. She suggests you wear jeans and flats on the plane, along with a simple sweater and dressy jacket or coat. Bring a pashmina in a fashionable bag as your carry-on.

Your suitcase should contain a couple of simple dresses. “Wrap dresses work very well because you can roll them up,” says Hankey. Don’t forget your basic black slacks and a variety of thin tops and sweaters that can be dressed up or down. “Jewelry and a Hermes scarf can really transform an outfit,” she points out.

No matter the destination, Hankey stresses that you should always take along travel size toiletries -- they’re usually under the three-ounce carry-on limit and take up little room in your checked bags.

Schuller adds, “Don’t forget to allow room for souvenirs, because if you over-pack, you can’t bring anything new home.”

Both Hankey and Schuller have one last piece of advice: don’t forget the lingerie. As Schuller points out “it’s not like it takes up a lot of room.”

To learn more about The Art Institutes, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.

Courtesy of ARAcontent