Britney's Spears engagement ring - Did she design her ring?

Would getting a ring like Britney Spears stunner break your bank if you were designing it?

Two styles in the current SylvieCollection by Sylvie Levine showcase brilliant cut center stones surrounded by diamonds on the band in 18K gold for less than $8,000 retail with center stones—or just $1600 without the center stone.

WIN Your Dream ring Let Sylvie design your own semi-mount ring setting

Hey do you think most brides want to design their own engagement ring OR would the bride want their fiance to design their engagement ring?

MEDIEVAL Wedding Celebration from Jon C. Haverstick Studios AWESOME

Ana's & Brian's MEDIEVAL Wedding Celebration,
Awesome photography and VIDEO by Jon C. Haverstick Studios Check it out. Jon has added the Perfect processional music, SEE More in Orange County Bride magazine's JAN 2012 issue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=36dwhEIKl0U

Could you be this romantic and creative for your wedding? What is your idea of the most unique OR Romantic Weddings? 
TELL the staff at Orange County Bride mag your ideas and thuoghts. 
Great photography and video by Jon C. Haverstick Studios
Jon thank you for sharing this with all of us!!! You are the BEST

Ben Bridge's $100,000 Dream WEDDING of the Century Sweepstakes & much MORE

Ben Bridge Jewelerhttp://www.benbridge.com/ is celebrating its 100th anniversary by announcing the $100,000 Wedding of the Century Sweepstakes 
Which offers engaged couples a chance to win a $100,000 dream wedding package complete with dazzling jewelry and an exotic honeymoon trip. For 100 years, Ben Bridge has helped countless couples select the perfect symbol of their unions – their engagement ring and wedding bands – and now Ben Bridge will give one lucky couple the Wedding of the Century.

ALL told, 100 lucky couples will walk down the aisle with fabulous wedding-themed jewelry prizes from Ben Bridge

 One lucky couple gets to celebrate their LOVE with the $100,000 Dream Wedding Sweepstakes from Ben Bridge

Once-in-a-century Event kicks off the Ben Bridge Jeweler's 100th Anniversary Celebration 
See our facebook for ALL the details

Along with the $30,000 in glittering engagement and wedding jewelry, plus a HUGE Cash prize for a dream wedding as well as an EXOTIC Honeymoon trip to South Africa sponsored by Forevermark. 

ALL told, 100 lucky couples will walk down the aisle with fabulous wedding-themed jewelry prizes from Ben Bridge

Willl YOU be the LUCKY Bride? OR one of 100 LUCKY COUPLES who walk down the aisle? http://www.facebook.com/ocbridemagazine?ref=ts

 Thousands of hopeful brides and grooms-to-be will enter to win the Ben Bridge $100,000 Wedding of the Century www.facebook.com/benbridgejeweler

 sweepstakes on Facebook®. 

After uploading a photo, entrants can invite their friends to vote for their photo and increase their chances of winning. And if entrants are not planning on getting married, they may still be eligible to win one of 3,000 $25 Ben Bridge gift cards. 

Sweepstakes closes on 

Valentines Day, 2012

First Wedding book from Southern Living Magazine Available JAN 2012

New York, NY — Introducing the first wedding book from Southern Living magazine: Southern Living Wedding Planner and Keepsake. The go-to guide for creating a dream Southern wedding, Southern Living Wedding Planner & Keepsake covers everything from tying in signature details like monograms or grandma’s heirloom wedding lace to finding that perfect Southern honeymoon spot. Whether planning a laid-back, Lowcountry affair or a soiree at a Louisiana estate, splurging or working within a tight budget, Southern Living offers expert advice so that brides-to-be can relax and savor each moment. Southern Living Wedding Planner & Keepsake ($29.95) is available nationwide on January 4, 2012,

Ask your maid of honor to order for you now from Amazon
More details in the January 2012 issue of Orange County Bride magazine

another great  book for ideas is Colin Cowie WEDDINGH CHIC 1001 Ideas

Let us now if you go to a local book store OR order at Amazon? We love to hear from our brides. lynn@ocbridemag.com

Pricing Wedding Photographers

Lazaro.com found at MonAmie.com

Pricing Southern California Wedding Photography

by Jaimee Hubert of Capturing Moments

Your Wedding Photographer is arguably one of the most important vendors you will hire for your wedding day. Getting an experienced wedding photographer is not only about assuring yourself amazing magazine style images, it is also the responsibility of the photographer to be in charge of your entire wedding day timeline. Wedding photographers are not just clicking images, they moving groups, keeping on time, giving direction, and making sure your wedding day runs smoother and better. Afterward, they are editing thousands of images and many times creating priceless portraits and a wedding album. It is a very "niche" industry, where consistency in coverage and longevity in the business is everything! Personality is also definitely key when you are looking for the perfect person to stand in front of you all day. So what should you expect and look out for with your budget in mind and wedding photography pricing in Southern California?

Tight Budget- If your wedding photography budget is under $2,500 you are going to have a hard time finding an "experienced" wedding photographer, or a photographer with magazine quality images.  To help with this, consider having your wedding on any other day but Saturday, as large discounts can be given from most vendors and venues. Try not to worry about getting a large package and spend your budget on a good and capable photographer. Instead,  pay for their time and expertise and get your prints and albums after the wedding. Make sure they have an extensive portfolio, a great website, and many references or reviews from previous clients to insure their experience. Seeing multiple weddings from beginning to end with web hosting, where all wedding images are put online, gives you the ability to view recent weddings to see your potential photographers style and consistency overall.

The Going Rate-The starting rate for an experienced wedding photographer in Southern California ranges from $3,000-5,000 depending on style, experience, and your wants/needs for your package. If your budget is on the lower end of this, then as I said above hire for time and expertise, and worry about your album and extras later. If you are on the top end of this budget, you are going to find a great photographer, and you get to pick for personality and style as well as get an album and second photographer. Even still at this rate, be careful to hire a photographer with longevity. They should have an extensive portfolio and website, great albums, published work, reviews and/or endorsements and a name built for themselves in the wedding industry.

High-End Budget- If you have a budget over $5,000 then you are in luck! You can pick from the best, and this is where you want to be to get a great wedding photographer with all day coverage, a second shooter, a wedding album, engagement shoot, etc.  Experience should not be an issue at this rate, so you really are hiring for personality and style. Wedding Photographers with a very established name and recognition within the industry can start upwards of $9,000-$25,000.

 

LET US KNOW IF YOU FOUND THIS ARTICLE HELPFUL?  If you'd like to know more on this subject - email us lynn@ocbridemag.com or pick up the latest copy of Orange County Bride Magazine at newsstands - Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Crate & Barrel, Bed Bath & Beyond OR one of our top photographers

Party favorites at Victoria Secret's FASHION SHOW

NEW YORK -

VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW, Alessandra Ambrósio wore Alexandre Birman python pumps while backstage. Please find attached images of Alessandra Ambrósio last night.

Alessandra was wearing Resort/SS12 python pumps in the bright LARANJA color, paired with a sexy silk, Bright Pink Victoria's Secret robe. The hand-made python pumps will be available for purchase for $750 on Net-a-Porter.com starting this holiday season, and will be available in a variety of colors at various specialty boutiques across the country.

 

Great pumps to wear to your Rehearsal Dinner OR would you wear these at your Wedding?

 

Purple OR Gold OR Red ?
\

 

 

 

Behind the Scenes Bridal Fashion Shoot at Mission Inn Resort

Behind the Scenes with photographer

 Kendra Duerst's fashion shoot

at Mission Inn  Resort

Thanks to Godfather Films

Orange County Bride Magazine chose the Historic Mission Inn Resort and Spa for their Magazine Fashion Shoot featuring models Raina Hein of America’s Next Top Model along with April Foeldi Mickle, Elsa Martinez, Kristof Schaper, Dominique Jane Sharpe and Dominic Tartaro.

The beautiful photography was created by Kendra Duerst of KendraWeddings.com along with Peter Leal. Check them out at tinyurl.com/​3nczq6l

Quite a team of experts were responsible for this successful published photo shoot including:

Eddie Tapp International Photographer
Lighting: Greg Franco

Mon Amie Salon MonAmie.com
ClairePettibone.com Vera Wang, Carrie Casper
TheWhiteDress.comFriarTux.com

Stylist
Shawna Flatten Stranger for Mon Amie Bridal Salon

Florist
White Secures

Assistants
Linda Foeldi
MyBridalAssistant.com
Jessie Vance
Justin Allison
Andrew Orr
Dominic Tartaro

Hair & Makeup Stylist
Michelle Talbott
OnceUponATimeHairDesign.com
Berit Digerud of Makeup by Berit
Molly Shriver of Beauty-Full by Molly

Executive Producer
Heather Morgan

Producer
Mercy DaSilva

Venue
MissionInn.com

Highlight Film produced by GodfatherFilms.com

Friday NOV 11 to Sunday NOV 13 Mon Amie Trunk Show for JIM HJELM

MON AMIE BRIDAL SALON

is proud to feature

The Jim Hjelm Bridal Collections

The Jim Hjelm FASHION SHOW on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 9:30AM

Be sure to contact Mon Amie to RSVP 714.546.5700 

 365 Bristol Street - Costa Mesa 92626

Don't Miss the opportunity to meet Designer Francesca at her ONLY Southern California Appearance!!!

Fabulous Wedding Cakes & Fillings

By: Sharon Naylor
Photo http://www.aandmphoto.com/
Top Wedding Photographer in Orange County

As you search for the perfect wedding cake for your big day, you’re probably looking at hundreds of photos of gorgeous, three-tier masterpieces iced to perfection, cascading with fresh flowers – images that say ‘dream wedding cake’ to you. But if the most gorgeous wedding cake in the world doesn’t taste amazing, that can be a nightmare for you and a big disappointment to guests. After all, the cake is the last taste of your wedding celebration. It’s what guests remember.

Your cake filling and frosting choices will depend on your personal style as a bride and groom. If you’re formal and traditional, you might love to have a vanilla cake with lemon filling. That’s a classic, and it’s what you’ve always dreamed of. If you’re non-traditional, you might envision a chocolate-frosted cake filled with espresso mousse, a dark, decadent cake instead of the traditional, white-frosted light and airy cake.
The season of your wedding can also play a part in your wedding filling decisions. For your spring wedding, with all of your pretty pastel flowers and your tangerine and yellow color scheme, cut slices of your cake showing off an orange buttercream or ‘creamsicle’-flavored filling coordinates your colors right down to the last taste, and turns your cake into the perfect springtime fantasy dessert.

For cake flavors, your baker might offer vanilla, chocolate, and lemon as the basic flavors, and you may be asked to pay a little bit more for that red velvet or carrot cake. Investing more in your cake is always a great idea, since this taste is paramount. This is not the place to cut corners.
Sharon Naylor is the author of 35 wedding
WHERE to find the Best Wedding Cakes in Orange County http://www.colettescakegoddess.com/

Make Colette's Cake Goddess your choice for your Wedding Cake

Orange County Bride Magazines

FEATURED VENDOR

Photo Colette's Cake Goddess

Colette's Cake Goddess photo at Muckenthaler Mansion in Fullerton

Colette’s Cake Goddesses

Colette’s Cake Goddesses creates edible works of art. Stunning wedding cakes, lavish celebration cakes, intricate detailing, fine ingredients and
unparalleled service makes Colette’s Cakes the choice of many discerning clientele, fine hotels, country clubs, unique wedding venues and event planners
      
 At Colette's  Orange County cake and event design studio, clients and coordinators are welcomed with individualized attention and the process begins.
From pad and paper emerge designs reflecting your personal style, wedding theme and your unique taste... all while you are sampling a myriad of flavor combinations that ultimately will be served to
all your guests. The delicious results compliment our design philosophy to create a unique,
one-of-a-kind experience.

Group cake samplings and wedding showcase tours are also scheduled semi-monthly and are perfect for those just starting to plan.

Contact Colette’s Cake Goddesses:
888-228-3780
714-447-9190
Orange County Bride's Resources for Weddings
Online bride magazines cover all aspects of a wedding from bridal perspective. No matter what the bride is looking for the best makeup and hairstyle to adopt on her wedding day, or if she is looking for a designer wedding gown. Online bride magazines are there to help them with everything.

Some of the most important aspects where online wedding resources help people are wedding photography, wedding cakes, honeymoon planning, wedding invitation ideas, selection of limousine to escort bride or groom to the wedding venue, or the music to play on wedding day.
So, if someone is planning to get married and looking for the best ideas of wedding planning, then he or she can achieve that though online wedding resources. Online bridal magazines are there to serve all needs from bridal aspects. However, that does not mean that a groom has nothing to do with online wedding magazines. They can also get all the essential information related to wedding planning. In addition there are honeymoon contests available online.
Nowadays, when people are dependent over internet for all kinds of information, they also expect to get all types of wedding related information through internet.
AND MORE Information in the new Winter/Spring January 2012  Issue of Orange County Bride magazine.
WINNER Of the Hawaii Honeymoon will be in the January issue. Announcement will be made in December 2011

HOT latest TLC fave BRIDES OF BEVERLY HILLS OCT> 28 Frid.. whoa

Set your DVRs or pop some corn and settle in!  TLC premiers BRIDES OF BEVERLY HILLS this Friday, Oct. 28! 2 episodes back to back starring Renée Strauss & Kevin Lee!  Enjoy!\\

21 MASS Military Couples get Married at Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa Huntington Beach

http://manaloempire.com/blog/

Thank you Lucy Manalo for sending us your outstanding

VIDEO and

fabulous images along with details on

the Mass Military Weddings

SATURDAY MAY 21!!!

Dear Orange County Bride Magazine,
This past weekend was the Mass Military Wedding hosted by K-Earth 101 at
the Huntington Beach Hyatt Resort and Spa. Thanks so all of the
wonderful vendors that participated and donated their services, 25
couples were able to say their "I do's". I would like to share my
blogpost with you, in hopes that you would consider this to post.
This was a wonderful thing that took place in the O.C. And I know a
lot of people would like to hear about this day and see the images.

http://manaloempire.com/blog/

Dear Lucy,

Orange County Bride magazine is very supportive of our military ( personally I have 2 Naval aviators in the family) and love the beautiful tradition of military weddings, I always need a handkerchief. Thank you for sharing all your poignant and fabulous images. Your choice of music on your video is outstanding!!! You are right a lot of people will want to see your photos. You and the sponsors definitely are angels in our book!!!
We look forward to running a photo spread on the 25 Military newlyweds photos in our July / Fall Issue. 

A quote from Photographer Lucy:

"When I was first approached by Wenda from More Than Just Weddings to volunteer my services for the Mass Military Wedding, I was elated. Without hesitation I said, “YES!” As a veteran of the United States Air Force, I felt compelled to help out my brothers and sisters in arms. I understand the needs and demands of being an active duty service member. I understood the importance and the meaning of what this event would hold. I couldn’t wait for the day to come."

Special Thanks to our sponsors!!!!!
Sponsors K-Earth 101
Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa, Huntington Beach
Purry Communications (for having me come out)
More Than Just Weddings (for asking me to be a part of this event)

Here is a list of all of the AWESOME vendors and people who helped make this day possible:

More than Just Weddings, Diva Bridal Legacy, J & M Entertainment, Studio EMP Inc, Dough A Deer, Godfather Films, Gavin Wade Photographers, Hitching Post Public Relations, Luminaire Images, Happy Photos, Planet Zaya, Memento Video, Friar Tux, Apple Revolution, Flower Fusion, Fusion Linens, Copper Willow Paper Studio, Manalo Empire, Bethany Commemory Fine Art, Simply Sweet Cakery, Natural Charms, Design Visage, Floral Occasions, Gotta Have S’more, Ginger Babies, Simply Charming, Charm Event Design, Fork in the Road Catering, Caring Dental, Wire a Cake, All Made Up Team, USO, Wedding Chicks, and Damien Smith Photography.
MORE photos...
http://manaloempire.smugmug.com/SpecialEvents/MassMilitaryWedding/17201128_25dbPn
http://studioemp.zenfolio.com/p692630736
http://damiensmithphotography.com/blog/?p=381
http://www.luminaireimages.com/blog/mass-military-wedding-with-k-earth-101/
http://www.pictage.com/1053971

Reward yourself through a Macy’s WEDDING Registry. DREAM FUND

When you register with Macy’s and enroll in the Dream FUND program, you will enjoy the following benefits:

Dream Fund from Macy's

The gift card that works like magic

The ultimate wedding present, Macy's Dream Fund lets your friends & family come together to give you one big fabulous gift, up to $9,999 in total value.

To contribute, all your loved ones have to do is stop by their favorite Macy's store and make a deposit. The funds are available immediately for you to use. To check your balance, come into any Macy's store coast-to-coast or call 800-511-2752. Want to see who has added to your Dream Fund? Check your Thank You manager on macys.com/registry


"Friends and family members often go in together to purchase a big ticket item such as a luxury bedding ensemble or complete suite of crystal stemware or even a sofa for their favorite couple's wedding gift", stated Susan Bertelsen, Group Vice President of Macy's Wedding & Gift Registry. "Our new Dream Fund makes it so easy. The couple registers for the Dream Fund noting the gift they're hoping to receive and their gift-givers can contribute any amount toward that purchase. The couple receives an electronic gift card and, as their wedding guests contribute, the value of the card keeps increasing. The gift-giver receives a card they can send to the couple to let them know they have added to their fund -- or the couple can simply check to see the contributors and card value. This is a great way to get the couple their "dream" gift."

 Consider this our “Congratulations” to you on your marriage and our best wishes in joining the Macy’s family, as you create your own.

Scenic views of Saddleback Mountains for your wedding

Renaissance Clubsport
Renaissance ClubSport with scenic views of the Saddleback Mountains offers a unique contemporary design that will enhance any event. The on-site skilled planners will partner with you to ensure your vision is captured from start to finish. Our outstanding catering capabilities will enhance your wedding. Renaissance ClubSport features custom multiple course (3) entrée a la carte dinning experience with an individual printed menu for your guests. The Renaissance Ballroom, our largest room, will seat up to 170 guests, an ideal number for intimate events. Accommodations at Renaissance ClubSport are comfortable and luxurious, each of our spa styled rooms are ideal for out-of-town guests. Additional hotel amenities include on-site restaurant, pool, world-class fitness center, full-service day spa, business center and complimentary wireless internet access. Just call Aloha at 949.643.6700 or email Aloha at aloha.gonzales@renaissanceclubsport.com

http://www.renaissanceclubsport.com/

Submit your Real Wedding to OCBrideMag.com

http://www.ocbridemag.com/real-orange-county-weddings.php
Orange County Real Weddings
How to inquire about getting your real wedding in Orange County Bride magazine & on ocbridemag.com.
Have your wedding photographer email lynn@ocbridemag.com or click here. Our committee will review all the photos for quality and content. We especially enjoy seeing our Orange County Bride wedding professionals on your list of vendors, this will make he process go smoother for our staff. We always enjoy hearing from our brides, your input is very important to the staff at Orange County Bride magazine.

Very Special Real Wedding in the January 2011 issue of Orange County Bride magazine of Michael and Lindsay Funk at the Casa Romantica in San Clemente, their photographer was Mi Bell Inc. Our best wishes to newlyweds Mike and Lindsay