Sorrento Wedding in Style english

How to celebrate Valentine's day?

2012-01-30T14:40:00.000+01:00

Want to celebrate Valentine's Day in a different way? We've collected a bunch of unique ideas - special ways to show how much you care about your love...

Heart-Felt Valentine's Meal

Make up a batch of heart-shaped pancakes for a yummy Valentine's breakfast or brunch. Just pour the batter in the frying pan in a free-form heart shape and serve with strawberries and whipped cream.

Balloon Goodies

Insert candy surprises into balloons before inflating them - add a folded-up Valentine's message then inflate each balloon. Tie with a red ribbon and attach to your loved one's chair for them
to find Valentine's morning.

The Gift of Time

Give a hand-made coupon for some work you can do to free-up some time for your spouse or parent. For example, a coupon good for cleaning Dad's garage or for a full-house vacuuming for your wife. How about a coupon for your best friend - you can walk her dog or baby sit one evening.

Coupon Day

Each of you can create individual notes, say 4 or 6 each, to describe a special surprise - a back rub, a bubble bath, kisses from head to toe, a special meal - fold up the notes and toss them into a jar. You can take turns having fun plucking a coupon from the jar and doing what it says.

Scavenger Hunt

You can prepare this one for your spouse or for your children to enjoy. Write up little notes about how you feel and what they mean to you and place them around the house along with a candy
heart or other treat. Add a riddle at the end of each note about where to find the next note. At the last note, have something special waiting there. For example, you can be waiting for your
hubby in a candle-lit bubble bath with two glasses of wine. For your children, then can find a teddy bear or other toy or treat.

Less Fortunate

Visit a hospital or chronic care home to pass out small Valentine surprises to the residents. They will enjoy the care and attention from something so unexpected.

Alone?

No one special to share Valentine's Day with? Sure you have! You! Why not pamper yourself with a candlelit bubble bath, then prepare your favorite gourmet meal and rent the latest comedy
video. Or treat yourself to a day at the spa, or a day at the gym with a step or aerobics class. Plan for Valentine's Day at least a week in advance - you'll find yourself looking forward to your special treats and your quality time with yourself, by choice.

Picnic Fun

Place a blanket on the floor near the lit fireplace with candles on the mantle and have your Valentine's meal as a candle-lit picnic with a bottle of your favorite bubbly.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU...

2011-12-16T11:11:00.000+01:00

Xmas wedding

2011-12-01T17:48:00.001+01:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year, your family is gathered around you, and the church is already decorated. Why not have a Christmas wedding? Here are ideas and tips to have a fantastic Christmas wedding with all the trimmings.

WEDDING COLOURS: - Silver & white

- silver and light blue

-burgundy, forest green, and gold (as long as the existing decorations aren't too primary)

-gold and cream

Since flowers can be more expensive at this time of year, think creatively. A mirrored platter with pillar candles and sprigs of holly is both elegant and romantic. Buy ornaments in bulk on-line, and create centerpieces of bowls or vases of ornaments. For a simple but elegant look, put pots of poinsettia with a ribbon trim in the center of each table. Fake snow used to be tacky, but there are now very good products available. Set candles or small flower arrangements in the middle of snow. And for my favorite touch, use fake snow instead of an aisle runner. Or, you can always hire a snow-making machine to really make your Christmas wedding a winter wonderland.

BUTTERFLY WEDDING THEME

2011-10-31T16:33:00.000+01:00

Planning your wedding is a wonderful and exciting time. Choosing a theme is important, because it ties all the elements of your wedding together.

Using a butterfly wedding theme idea is a great choice. It is beautiful and elegant, but at the same time it is whimsical and fun. There are also a lot of things you can do with a butterfly wedding theme idea. You can incorporate the butterfly theme into your attire several different ways.

We love the BUTTERFLY THEME!!!

Wedding promotional summer 2011 package!!! Hurry up!!

2011-06-03T11:14:00.001+02:00

For the couples who want to get married by summer 2011, we have a very advantageous package which provides discounts up to 30% on the entire event by Sorrento Wedding in Style!! For info, please contact us...and you won't regret it!!

Sorrento Wedding in Style snc
Viale Filangieri 21
80061 - Massa Lubrense (NA)
Tel : 0039 081/0093690
Fax : 0039 081/0093550
WebSite : www.sorrentoweddinginstyle.com
Mob: 3381218737 (Raffaella)
Mob : 3392147893 (Emilia)
P.I.06254461210

Plan Your Summer Wedding Flowers

2011-05-19T12:09:00.000+02:00

Having a summer wedding? Then there is a great choice of summer wedding flowers for you. In fact it is the time of year when there is a natural explosion of colourful blooms available. These include everything from tall flowering plants that are ideal for venue arrangements to delicate flowering annuals.
Traditional Summer Flowers
Planning a wedding around traditional summer flowers is easy. Stock has pretty white and pink varieties, and a strong sweet scent.
It is generally available around late spring and summer. Some people think of stock as a bit old-fashioned since the arrival of exotic tropical flowers, but they do have an appeal and beauty all of their own.
The wonderful tall blue delphiniums are available at this time and these work well in ceremony arrangements, as do gladioli.
Other flowers that can be combined into traditional summer arrangements includecolumbine (aquilegia), snapdragons (Antirrhinums), and irises.

Wedding Flower Favourites
The popular wedding flower favourites are all available at this time of year and make excellent summer wedding flowers. Roses are out in abundance in our gardens during summer, and are a popular choice for many brides. Nowadays there is no problem in getting roses year round from florists.
Lilies and calla lilies will be seen at many summer weddings. Calla lilies can make the most perfect white wedding flowers. They can be mixed with other flowers, as in the bouquet above left.
Lilies such as 'stargazer' can be used in venue arrangements. Their large blooms and scent make them popular choices. Just make sure you do not get lily pollen on your white dress. It is nearly impossible to remove on the day.
Gerberas are another well-liked alternative. These perfectly round flowers are great for bridal bouquets (above right), as well as for adding fun and interest to reception arrangements.
Unusual Summer Wedding Flowers
Less usual flowers that can be used at a summer wedding includecockscomb (Celosia). This plant gets its name from the crinkled, velvety flower head that resembles a rooster's comb. It's a great flower to add texture, and bright colour to a bouquet and other arrangements. It is available in a variety of colours including red, yellow and pink (see below).
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella) is not commonly used in wedding bouquets. However it can be successfully combined with other flowers such as roses to create a really different type of bouquet. The plant gets its name from the feathery foliage that surrounds the flower heads. This can add an interesting extra dimension to your bouquet. http://www.wedding-flowers-guide.com/

25 Golden Rules for a Perfect Wedding

2011-04-13T13:43:00.000+02:00

There are just so many things to cover, from choosing the right reception site and finding reliable vendors to sticking to a budget, not to mention taking care of creative details like the food, flowers, décor and so on. It takes a lot of work to get it all done, and you're probably getting nervous just reading this.

Relax! We guarantee this comprehensive guide to your most important wedding planning moves will help make your celebration—and your first stint as a party-throwing diva—a resounding success.

1. Discuss your "vision." Sit down with your fiancé and talk about your idea of a"dream" wedding. Cover as many details as you can: Will it be big or small? Formal or casual? At home or away? Will the reception have a theme—say, all winter white, with glittering crystal everywhere?

Don't leave anything out, no matter how extravagant (you've always envisioned arriving at the church in a horse-drawn carriage). Doing this will identify what's important to both of you and also help you decide what's feasible.

2. Find your style. Before you book a single appointment or make a wedding-related purchase, start browsing through magazines (not just bridal books, but home décor, travel and fashion magazines, too) to generate ideas about the general look of your affair.

3. Establish a budget. Unless you just won the mega-million-dollar jackpot, there's no getting around drawing up a budget when you're planning a wedding.

4. Dare to be different. Want to make your celebration stand out from all those cookie-cutter weddings you've been to? Think personalization—that's the term industry professionals use. It can mean incorporating ethnic traditions into your ceremony, having your bridesmaids choose their own dresses so they don't all look alike, inviting your beloved dog to the reception, asking your caterer to prepare a special family recipe for dinner or even having your cake decorated with your new married monogram. You're only limited by your imagination.

5. Get it in writing. Repeat after us: Contracts are a bride's best friend. Study the fine print on anything a vendor asks you to sign, and be sure that you understand what you've agreed to. For example, your band or DJ may be willing to stay past the established stop time—for an overtime fee. If so, the terms should be stipulated in the contract so that you don't end up with a several-hundred-dollar surprise at the end of the night.

6. Pay with plastic. Use a credit card rather than cash or a check when you put down deposits at the time you sign the contracts. Should anything go wrong, such as a vendor who reneges or goes out of business, your credit cardcompany won't hold you responsible for costs incurred. Bonus: If you have (or apply for) a credit card with frequent-flier mile rewards, you can use those points toward purchasing your honeymoon flights.

7. Organize like a master. Keep meticulous records of all your wedding details on a Palm Pilot or computer, in a Filofax or giant folder, or even in a paper bag from the grocery store. There's simply too much going on right now to keep it all in your head, and this way you'll be able to access information easily when the need arises.

8. Choose your pros carefully. Buying a vendor's service is similar to purchasing a car. You want the most for your money, and you don't want to be stuck with a lemon. So, ask recently married friends and family for recommendations and meet the prospective pros in person (you'll be spending a lot of time together, so you want to click).

9. Consider getting help. As any recent bride will tell you, throwing a wedding, while exciting, is no walk in the park. That's why it may be smart to bring in an expert. A wedding coordinator will do everything from finding you an excellent photographer based on your needs and budget to confirming the bouquet delivery time and arranging your train on the day of the wedding.

Want to wow your guests with a themed event? Your pro can tell you what's in—and out. She can even save you money, Successful planners get discounts from preferred vendors by giving them a lot of repeat business—breaks that, in turn, get passed on to you. So, you could end up earning back all or most of the planner's fee, not to mention saving time and sparing yourself the hassles of orchestrating a big event.

10. Go surfing. The Internet has just about revolutionized wedding planning. You can listen to a band's music, peruse a photographer's or florist's work, take virtual tours of reception sites and compare costs. Practically the only thing you can't do online is taste cakes. Just don't book someone based on the beauty of the site alone. While a professional-looking site is a good sign, it's no guarantee the service will match. Again, visit pros in person and always check references.

11. Plan your destination wedding wisely. Whether you choose to wed in your favorite vacation spot or on the other side of the world, it's crucial to pick the site carefully. First, work with a hotel or resort that really wants your business. A property that offers package deals (with discounts) and employs an on-site wedding coordinator is a good bet.

12. Beware of hidden charges. When you're comparing prices among caterers, for instance, don't just look at per-person rates. Your final bill will likely include all sorts of additional charges, from coat-room attendant costs to cake-cutting and corkage fees, that will push that number up significantly. To avoid surprises, ask to see a sample final bill from a recent event so you can get a more accurate estimate.

13. Negotiate. Wondering if you can get a better rate from a vendor? For heaven's sake, ask. The worst that can happen is the person says no. Remember that wedding professionals don't want to turn you away and then have to meet with 10 other brides-to-be in order to line up a job. They want to seal the deal. So they may very well be willing to work with you for a little less than the quoted rate.

14. Hook up with other brides.

15. Face the music.

16. Pay attention to timing.

17.Be a grateful bride. Sure, you'll give gifts to your bridesmaids and send thank-you cards to your guests, but how will you show appreciation during the wedding? Think how many weddings you've attended where the bride and groom seem to consider it a privilege that they've invited you, when in reality it's a privilege for them that you've come to help kick off their life together.

18. Be a beauty maven. Don't wait until the week of your wedding to think about your big-day hairstyle.

19. Think about your guests' comfort.

20. Get the word out early. As soon as you set your wedding date, send out "save the date" cards, in which you provide information about themes, dress codes, area hotels, activities and so on. This is especially true if you're having a destination wedding, or if you will have a lot of guests coming to your town from afar, since people will have to arrange time off from work and book flights.

21. Get Oscar-worthy film coverage. Remember, photographs and/or videotape will be the only tangible, lasting mementos of your wedding, so resist the temptation to skimp on these services in order to save money.

22. Make a great first impression. Your invitations are not just a means of giving guests date and time information; they are the guests' first glimpse of your wedding's tone and style. So, get creative! Having a formal affair? Select a thick-stock paper with elegant black engraving.

23. Know the #1 rule for keeping costs down. Since nearly every major wedding expense is based on how many guests you have, cutting the guest list is a way to save money without sacrificing quality. (What'll it be, rubber chicken for 200 people, or filet mignon for 100?) Yes, trimming is hard, and your family may balk, but remember that you don't have to invite everyone you know, such as all your work colleagues or all your parents' country club buddies.

24. Take care of yourself. Smart brides take time to pamper themselves throughout the planning process, getting regular massages, manicures and other feel-good treatments. But many let these things slide in the final hectic weeks when they're making last-minute arrangements, getting confirmations and troubleshooting.

Even if you can't take weekly pedicure breaks, try as best you can to keep up other healthful habits—like eating and sleeping well, and getting regular exercise—so you don't feel run-down on your wedding day. If at all possible, take a few days off work right before the wedding. Read, nap, watch TV, play with your pet and go to places that make you feel serene, like a park or museum.

25. Be present at your own party. You and your groom set the tone for your own wedding. If you're fully "engaged" in the festivities—socializing with guests, enjoying the meal, rocking out on the dance floor—your guests will follow suit, and everyone will have a fabulous time. But if you're constantly outside getting your photograph taken, or huddled in the corner consulting with the caterer or DJ, the celebration may lose its momentum.

Trust the professionals you've hired to do their jobs, and appoint either a reliable friend or relative, or a wedding coordinator, to be the point person for that day, just in case something goes awry. This way, you can set your sights on fully enjoying each and every delicious moment.

World’s Weirdest Wedding Customs

2011-03-10T15:58:00.000+01:00

All over the world, people practice numerous wedding customs that have been passed on through many generations. Although each has a long history of meaning and significance, many just seem strange and out of place in today’s culture. Are they just opportunities to playfully scam the bride and groom?

Check out some of the historical wedding customs that are still practiced today, much to the intrigue and wonderment of its audience.

In the Scottish pre-wedding tradition of “Blackening the Bride,” The bride is taken by surprise and covered with foul substances, such as eggs, various sauces, feathers, and well you name it…

The bride to be, officially blackened, is the then paraded around town, and of course a few pubs, for all to see.

Filmed in Fraserburgh and Rosehearty, in the north east of Scotland in 2007. A bride to be is subjected to a traditional ‘blackening’, one of the strangest of all pre-wedding traditions.

In many small villages throughout Germany, friends of the bride and groom will kidnap the bride and hide her somewhere.The groom then has to search to find her.

Of course the search always begins in the local pub, for obvious reasons, where the groom will invite everyone to join him in the search, after buying them all a drink.

This ritual has been known to end badly. . .

Indian weddings, which are traditionally multi-day affairs, involve many intricate ceremonies, such as “medhndi”, the practice of painting intricate patterns on the bride’s hands and feet.

The idea is to make the bride feel like a princess as she is about to start a new life.

An old, adorable Swedish custom is for the bride to carry coins in her shoes.

A silver coin from her father is placed in the left shoe, while a gold coin from her mother in the right shoe, ensuring she will never go without.

Guest Kissers

At Swedish wedding receptions, guests may get an opportunity to kiss the bride or groom.
If the bride goes to the restroom, all of the women at the reception line up to kiss the groom.

If the groom exits the room and is out of sight, the men line up to kiss the bride.

The French have an interesting after-wedding tradition known as Chiverie.

During this traditional prank, friends and family of the newly married couple gather in the evening and clang pots and pans, ring bells, and blow horns intended to startle and interrupt the couple.

Upon hearing the noise, the newlyweds are to come out, still wearing their wedding attire, and provide their tormenters various refreshments.

African Americans embrace the “Jumping the broom” ritual. Its origin is a little vague, but its meaning is agreed as the beginning of the newlyweds creating their happy home.
The “Jumping the Broom” is a ceremony in which the bride and groom, either at the ceremony or at the reception, signify their entrance into a new life and their creation of a new family by symbolically “sweeping away” their former single lives, former problems and concerns, and jumping over the broom to enter upon a new adventure as wife and husband.

This “leap” into a new life (marriage as wife and husband is performed in the presence of families and friends. You can be as creative as you want when planning for this special ceremony.

In Italy it was customary for the groom to carry a talisman, piece of iron, in his pocket on the day of his wedding. The talisman was believed to ward off misfortune, while the bride’s veil covered and protected her from evil spirits.

When the wedding day came to an end, the newly married couple would shatter a vase or glass into many pieces. The number of pieces represented the expected number of years they would be happily married.

In Mexico, during the wedding the Groom bestows his bride a gift of 13 coins, or arras, representing Jesus and his 12 apostles. The coins are to be blessed by the priest and bear the groom’s promise to care for and provide for his wife.

In the old days of Ireland, couples dined on salt and oatmeal at the beginning of their reception: both the bride and groom would take three mouthfuls as a protection against the power of the evil eye.

During the reception, when the couple is dancing, the brides feet must remain on the floor. It is said that Fairies love beautiful things and their favorite beautiful thing is a bride. If the bride was to have even one foot off the ground, then she could be swept away by the Fairies.

It is bad luck for a bride, as well as anyone attending the wedding, to wear green at an Irish wedding. It’s also bad luck for a bride or the groom to sing at their own wedding. Of course that last one might have just resulted from a few too many weddings with bad singers…

Love is sweet: wedding candy bar buffet theme inspiration

2011-01-31T14:22:00.001+01:00

Wedding candy bars are all the rage with brides incorporating sweetie buffet tables as a fun and novel way to treat their guests. From candy buffets that match your wedding colour scheme to jars stacked with retro sweets - the candy bar at a wedding is a must for brides who want to spoil guests. Think of old fashioned sweetie jars to love heart shaped lollipops, cola cubes and sherbet lemons - the wedding candy bar is a great alternative to the chocolate fountain. Use scoops and glass jars to create that old fashioned sweet shop look and add party bags for your wedding guests to create their own pick n mix - a great alternative to traditional wedding favours. To inspire your wedding candy bar we’ve put together this fab selection of wedding candy buffet photos to get you started.

Avoid Weight Gain After the Wedding

2011-01-19T19:37:00.000+01:00

If you’re getting married, you’re probably imagining a future full of romantic images - long walks on the beach while holding hands and gazing at one another lovingly through the trials of life. What you don’t imagine is the two of you sprawled on a couch 10 years later, 30 pounds overweight. While we’d much rather imagine a more svelte future, the reality is a little different. Weight gain is common as we get older, but married people may gain 6 to 9 pounds more than single people, a fact that may make you want to lace up your running shoes and sprint down the aisle just to burn a few more calories.
Putting On the Marriage Pounds

There are a number of theories for why we gain weight after we get married, but it’s always the husband’s fault, or so my female clients tell me. One study published in Obesity found that a shared environment may "increase the likelihood of becoming obese, influence partner concordance and may be an important target for obesity intervention." Other reasons may include:

Less incentive to stay thin once we’ve found a partner
Post-pregnancy pounds stick around and may multiply for both parents
Eating out more or cooking larger meals
Couching it. Married couples tend to watch more TV than single people
Busy schedules leave less time for physical activity and cooking healthy meals
Another problem is that the weight gain often creeps up and you may not even realize you're watching more TV or that you’ve skipped your Sunday morning run for several weeks. Before you take on your partner's habits, take some time to plan a future that's healthier for both of you.

Avoid Post-Wedding Weight Gain

1. Establish Good Habits Early On

As many married couples can tell you, what you do together often becomes a habit and one favorite habit involves a couch, a television and your behind. If you watch TV every night, chances are good you’ll be doing that many years from now as well. Some ideas for avoiding this:

Stick to your workouts –It’s easy to get off track with your workouts after the wedding. Make exercise priority as soon as you get settled in. Letting too much time pass makes it harder to get back on track.
Do things together – It’s easy to collapse on the couch every night, but it’s just as easy to establish more active habits. Decide you'll take a walk after dinner, playing active Wii games or taking the dog for a romp in the park.
Make exercise part of your marriage - If you both like to exercise, you’re lucky. Many couples battle with one another because one likes to exercise and the other doesn’t. If that’s the case, dig around to find something you both enjoy–-bike rides, hiking or a tennis match on a sunny weekend. You may have to learn a new sport, but who says hitting a tiny white ball with a club a million times on a sweltering day is boring or frustrating? Not you!
Set ground rules – Make it a rule that you can only watch TV certain nights of the week or for a certain period of time. If video games are a factor, decide together what’s a reasonable amount of time to play without driving the other person crazy. Finding ways to enjoy downtime without letting it take over is the very essence of balance.
2. Deal With Your Eating Styles

You may be tempted to abandon your healthy eating habits after the wedding or to force the other person into abandoning his or her eating habits in favor of yours. Adapting isn’t always easy, especially if you have different dietary approaches. If she used to keep a freezer full of corn dogs and Snickers, she won’t be too happy to open the door to your frozen tofu-tree-bark-lemon-wedge surprise. On the other hand, you may have a hard time resisting temptation if you constantly see that Snickers every time you look in the freezer.

I’ve worked with a variety of clients with this issue and they've found different ways of negotiating the meal minefield:

Every man for himself - One couple I worked with had a fend-for-yourself approach to meals, where each person made his own meal. In this scenario, you each get what you want but, if you’re eating at different times, your meals may be a little lonely. One option is to make dinner together, even if you make separate meals.
The chef is the decider - Another couple I worked with followed the rule that whoever cooks the meals decides what to make. This works well if a healthy cook is in charge and the person who’s eating is willing to eat anything. As the husband told me, "She tells me what to do and I do it. There. You’ve just learned the secret to a happy marriage."
Separate meals - One client I worked with made two meals every night, a healthy one for her and a less healthy version for her husband. This is extra work on the chef but, for some couples, it works.
Make meals together - Nothing bonds a couple together more than poring over a cookbook and wondering, "What does ‘blanch’ the green beans mean?" Making meals together gives you a chance to influence what’s cooking and make it healthier. Now you can say, "Maybe we could just use a teaspoon of olive oil to sauté the green beans instead of a whole stick of butter. Just a suggestion."
Avoid too much eating out - If neither one of you is a great cook, you may end up making the other mistake married couples make: Eating out all the time. One couple I worked with solved this problem by taking a cooking class together and making new recipes each week.
However you work things out, talk about how you can make it easier on each other. If he’s a junk food addict and you can’t be around it, give him his own secret cabinet and agree that he’ll only eat it when you’re not around. If she’s forcing her tofu-tree-bark-lemon-wedge surprise on you at every meal, make a rule that you’ll try it once and, if you don't like it, she’ll have to try a tree-barkless recipe.

We often abandon our old lives when we get married and, in some ways, it’s good to create new routines to bring you closer together. Making sure those routines are healthy can be tough, but well worth the effort if it helps you avoid those post-wedding pounds.

Sorrento events 2011

2011-01-14T12:25:00.000+01:00

Events and Activities in and near Sorrento
There are numerous events and activities taking place in Sorrento and other towns on the Amalfi Coast throughout the year. These include music concerts of all kinds, exhibitions, traditional festivals and many more local activities. This Calendar provides an indication of events taking place throughout the four seasons.

However, for a those booking an excursion, transfer or holiday through Friends of Sorrento, a personalised itinerary showing a more detailed list of events taking place during their holiday week is provided free of charge.

Sorrento Carnival 2011
Three day programme of events in Sorrento.
Feburary. Dates to be confirmed.Local Festivals
White Hood procession on Holy Thursday in Sorrento.
Black Hood procession on Holy Friday in Sorrento.

Sorrento Spring Programme of Events
April -December. Awaiting details.

Ravello Music Festival
2009 Programme starts in the first week of March with weekly concerts in the Villa Rufolo.

Ischia. La Mortella Garden.
April - July. Music recitals on Saturday and Sundays.
June - August. Concerts in the Teatro Greco.
orrento Jazz
A week of Jazz concerts at the Cloister of St Francis.
Aug - Sept

Ravello Music Festival
Full programme of weekly concerts throughout the Summer.
March - June

Chamber Music Festival
International Weeks of Chamber music at St. Rose Convent in Conca dei Marini Town.
July - September

The Cloister of St Francis. Sorrento
Various art exhibitions throughout the Summer.

Ischia. La Mortella Garden.
April - July. Music recitals on Saturday and Sundays.
June - August. Concerts in the Teatro Greco.

Sorrento. Villa Fiorentino
Various exhibitions thoughout the Summer.

Local Festivals
The 'Festabiente' festival celebrating nature.
'Patron Feast of Saint Peter and Paul' at Monticchio, in Massa Lubrenze.
Sea Festival at Marina Grande, Sorrento
Sea Festival at Sant' Agnello.
'St. Salvatore's Day Feast', in Schiazzano, Massa Lubrenze, celebrating local produce.
'Festival of the Melon' at Piano di Sorrento.
'Marina della Lobra Regatta' at Massa Lubrenze.
Celebration to the blessed Mary in the village of Casarlano.
'Saint Rocco Meatball Fair' in the village of Maiano.
'Lemon Fair' in Massa Lubrenze Square.
'San Lorenzo.
'Ferragosto'.Ravello Music Festival
Regular Classical music concerts at Villa Rufolo, Ravello.
Sept - November.

Sorrento Classical Music Festival
A series of concerts held in Sorrento and Sant'Agnello during September.

Chamber Music Festival
International Weeks of Chamber music at St. Rose Convent in
Conca dei Marini Town.
July - September.

Ischia Jazz Festival
Week of jazz concerts. Beginning of Sept

Local Festivals
Olive Oil harvest and production.
Festival of Grapes in nearby Priora.
Chestnut Festival in Faito.
'Colli di Fontanella' festival in Sant'Agnello celebrating end of summer and start of autumn. .
The 'Alimuri Fair' in Meta di Sorrento re-enacts the arrival of the Saracens in the Sorrentine peninsula.
Celebrations to the Holy Blessed Mary of Lauro.

Diet after Christmas!!

2011-01-12T19:43:00.000+01:00

Let's face it, people want to know how to lose weight after Christmas the easy way. Because with New Year's coming up and having stuffed yourself with all those holidays treats, the thought of starting a new diet is just too frustrating. But if your New Year's resolution is to lose weight weight quickly but at the same time naturally, then there is a way to do that.

There exists a special dieting technique that is more than likely going to help you lose weight after Christmas very quickly. What makes it unique is that this dieting technique is rather easy to accomplish and requires no exercise, no extreme dieting and deprivation. This technique is called calorie shifting with which you can lose up to 10 or more pounds in less than 2 weeks.

Calorie shifting has been around for awhile now but has been kept quiet due to it's unusual style of dieting. It is designed to naturally cause your fat burning system and metabolism to skyrocket and stay that way as long as you keep on continuing the technique. But is it done?

Now this may sound crazy but it works. Calorie shifting is done by eating 4 or more meals a day with every meal being in different calorie values and mixing up the order in which you eat them day after day. This style of eating has been proven to cause your body to raise it's metabolism and fat burning system in order to process this new eating method.

And because this happens, you can begin to experience weight loss very quickly, even during the first day. In addition calorie shifting is very flexible. You can continue eating most of your favorite foods and not deprive yourself like most other dieting methods would.

This is a perfect way to lose weight after Christmas and a great way to fullfill a New Year's resolution to lose weight fast. In addition calorie shifting can be accomplish by anyone. It doesn't matter how much you weight or if you have bad genes. Calorie shifting does not descriminate and naturally causes weight loss that very few diets can even come close to.

It is a perfect way to lose weight if you're tired of looking of performing dieting regimes and need a fast and safe way to lose weight. But if you're still skeptical about calorie shifting and wonder if it's worth trying, then I recommend you take a look at this page and pick up a free 20 page weight loss guide explaining why calorie shifting works so fast and 4 other diets that all help you lose weight in a healthy and safe way.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

2010-12-22T11:50:00.000+01:00

SORRENTO WEDDING IN STYLE whishes to all of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Anna Saccone: Fashion Stylist and Bride to be with SORRENTO WEDDING IN STYLE!

2010-12-20T13:21:00.000+01:00

Confetti meets Anna Saccone: Fashion Stylist and Bride to be

We have a treat for all our Confetti.ie readers. Fashion stylist and certified make-up artist Anna Saccone talks to Confetti.ie about her forthcoming wedding and shares her top bridal fashion tips with us.

Anna and her fiancé, Jonathan Joly, have set their wedding date for September 1st...

Will you be hiring a wedding planner or organising your wedding yourself?
Because I'm getting married in Italy, it will be too difficult to organise the whole thing myself, so I did hire two wedding planners. Emilia & Raffaella from Sorrento Wedding in Style. www.weddinginstyle.it

Read the article
http://confetti.ie/view.aspx?p=1622

Christmas in Italy!!!

2010-12-14T20:10:00.001+01:00

Christmas season in Italy is traditionally celebrated December 24-January 6, or Christmas Eve through Epiphany. This follows the pagan season of celebrations that started with Saturnalia, a winter solstice festival, and ended with the Roman New Year, the Calends. However there are lots of Christmas things to see during December prior to Christmas, many starting on December 8, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception.
Italian Christmas TraditionsAlthough Babbo Natale (Father Christmas) and giving presents on Christmas are becoming more common, the main day for gift giving is Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas when the three Wise Men gave Baby Jesus their gifts. In Italy, presents are brought by La Befana, who arrives in the night to fill children's stockings. More about Epiphany and La Befana.
Christmas decorations and trees are becoming more popular in Italy. Lights and decorations are often seen starting around December 8, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, or even the end of November. The main focus of decorations continues to be the presepe, Nativity scene or creche. Almost every church has a presepe and they are often found outdoors in a piazza or public area, too.
More about Presepi - Italian Nativity Scenes and where to see them.

Traditionally, a meatless dinner is eaten on Christmas eve with the family, followed by a living nativity scene and midnight mass. In parts of southern Italy a seven fishes dinner is traditionally served on Christmas Eve. Traditional bonfires are often held on Christmas Eve in the main square of town, especially in mountain areas. Dinner on Christmas day is usually meat based.

Christmas trees, lights, Nativity Cribs, and Christmas celebrations in Italy:
Although you'll find Christmas celebrations all over Italy, these are some of the most unusual or most popular Christmas celebrations, events, and decorations.
Naples is one of the best cities to visit for Nativity cribs. Naples and southern Italy have other Christmas traditions, including the Christmas Eve dinner of the seven fish dishes, although it doesn't really have to be seven fishes and not everyone serves it. Naples Nativity Pictures
Bagpipe and flute players, zampognari and pifferai, are a part of Christmas celebrations in Rome, Naples, and southern Italy. They often wear traditional colorful costumes with sheepskin vests, long white stockings, and dark cloaks. Many of them travel from the mountains of the Abruzzo region to play outside churches and in popular city squares.

Christmas wishes!!!

2010-12-10T13:40:00.000+01:00

Wishes can be given to anyone, whether you know a person or not. It is the way to share your feelings and happiness with all those whom you come across on this sacred occasion. You never know; you might make a lonely person smile because of your Christmas wish. The idea of Christmas wishes can go a long way in maintaining relationships and creating a bond that can only become stronger with time. Christmas wishes come in many different forms but have one single essence - To spread peace and happiness on this sacred occasion.

Wishes For Christmas

Wish you a Merry Christmas and may this festival bring abundant joy and happiness in your life!
May this Christmas be so special that you never ever feel lonely again and be surrounded by loved ones throughout!
You are special, you are unique; may your Christmas be also as special and unique as you are! Merry Christmas!
Here's wishing you all the joys of the season. Wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!
May joy and happiness snow on you, may the bells jingle for you and may Santa be extra good to you! Merry Christmas!
May this Christmas be bright and cheerful and may the New Year begin on a prosperous note!
Love, Peace and Joy came down on earth on Christmas day to make you happy and cheerful. May Christmas spread cheer in your lives!

Sending the warmest Christmas wishes to you and your family. May God shower his choicest blessings on you and your family this Christmas!
May all your days be merry and bright and may your Christmas be white! Merry Christmas!
It is that time of the year again, when you are thankful for everything merry and bright. May this Christmas be a delight! Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
May Christ bless you with all the happiness and success you deserve! Merry Xmas!
I am dreaming of white Christmas, with every Christmas card I write, May your days be merry and bright, and May all your Christmases be white. Merry Christmas.
May your world be filled with warmth and good cheer this Holy season, and throughout the year! Wish your Christmas be filled with peace and love. Merry Xmas.
May the good times and treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow. Wish you lots of love, joy and happiness. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Chritmas ka yeh pyara tyohaar jeevan mein laye khushiyan apaar, santa clause aaye aapke dwar, subhkamna hamari kare sweekar. Merry Christmas.

Christmas ideas!!!

2010-12-06T13:50:00.000+01:00

Candles add warmth and ambiance anywhere they're used, and decorating with candles is a great way to bring a festive mood to any space during the holiday season. Here are a few ways to decorate with candles.

Decorating with Candles
A single candle looks good, but a grouping of candles looks great. When placing several candles together in one grouping try to use the same color candles. It looks cohesive and makes a stronger impact.

Centerpieces

Gather together some fat pillar candles and place them together on your favorite serving plate. Use candles of different heights. To add a little holiday flair add some Christmas greenery around the bottom. Embellish it with pinecones and berries if you wish.

Place a bunch of candles atop candlesticks and group them together. The candlesticks don't need to be exactly the same, but it's best to use the same material. For example, use mercury glass or clear glass candlesticks of varying heights and shapes.

Put a bunch of fat pillar candles (matching ones) on top of a cakestand. Birch bark candles are festive and will lend a rustic look to your table.

Mantels

Mantels practically call out for candles. Place a bunch of fat pillars on your mantel and then weave some garlands around them.
Just as with centerpieces, you can use candlesticks of the same material, but not necessarily matching, to display candles. Place several along the mantel and intersperse them with votive holders of the same material. It will look cohesive, yet the different sizes will give it visual interest.

Stairs
If you have enough space on your stairs candles can be a great decorative accent, however, don't use them if you have pets or children – it's simply too dangerous. That said, you can use battery operated flameless candles to get the same look. They're safe and can look just as good.

Place candles in clear glass hurricane vases and place one on each step (or every other step).

Fill clear glass vases about one third of the way up with cranberries or tiny pinecones and then nestle a pillar candle inside. Place one on each or every other step.

Candles look great just about anywhere. Just be sure to use common sense. Never leave them unattended and don't place them anywhere they can be knocked or blown over. Also, be sure not to put them too close to anything that can catch fire such as curtains or drapes. Be careful, be sensible, and be safe.

Christmas traditions around the world ...

2010-12-03T12:33:00.001+01:00

AustraliaOf course, in Australia, Christmas is in the middle of their summer! So, Christmas is often celebrated like the 4th of July in the United States: at the beach or with a back yard barbecue. Many Australians decorate Christmas Bushes, native plants with little red-flowered leaves.

BrazilAgain, in the Southern hemisphere, Christmas falls during the summer! Pine trees are decorated with little pieces of cotton to represent falling snow.

BritainTrees: Since Henry VII deforested the land, the Norway Spruce which was replanted is the most common tree in homes in Britain.
Lights: Colored lights and wreaths are common in the High Streets and outside some homes. Gifts are left under the tree to be opened on Christmas morning. A large number of packages, even of quite small items, is preferred!
Mistletoe is still hung in doorways, usually during parties and New Years eve. This goes back to Celtic beliefs that mistletoe had the ability to heal wounds and increase fertility, as it remained green and had white berries in the dead of winter. Kissing someone under the mistletoe became popular!
Foods: The main meal on Christmas day is a turkey, ham or roast beef. Goose is quite rare. Turkey is a relatively recent addition, as turkeys are native to America and don’t do well in the English climate. Christmas pudding, Figgy pudding and plum pudding are English fruitcakes, saturated in brandy, that date back to the Middle Ages. Suet, flour, sugar, raisins, nuts, and spices are tied loosely in cloth and boiled until the ingredients are "plum," meaning they have enlarged enough to fill the cloth. Brandy is poured over it daily for weeks until it is well pickled! It is then unwrapped, sliced, and topped with cream or custard. You can feel your arteries hardening just looking at it; but it still tastes better than a fruitcake.
Caroling also started in medieval England. Wandering musicians would travel from town to town visiting castles and homes of the rich. In return for their performance, the musicians would (if they were good) receive a hot meal or money.
In both the United States and England, children hang stockings on their by a fireplace on Christmas Eve, hoping that Saint Nicholas (aka Santa Claus, St. Nick or most commonly in the UK, father Christmas) will fill it with small gifts while they sleep.

CanadaTrees: Thanks to the German settlers to Canada in the 1700’s, Canadians today still have Christmas trees!
Foods: Advent calendars, gingerbread houses, Christmas cookies are also popular. Of course, Canada has several major cultures, notably the French and English speaking groups, each of which has their own variations to Christmas traditions. Gifts are left under the tree on Christmas morning.

China
Of the small percentage of Chinese who do celebrate Christmas, most erect artificial trees decorated with spangles and paper chains, flowers and lanterns. Christmas trees are called "trees of light."

Finland Trees: In the year 1829, a Helsinki nobleman, Barön Klinckowstrom, decorated his house (inside) with 8 Christmas trees; one of the earliest know uses of the trees. The first known outdoor Christmas tree decorated with electric lights was in the market square in the town of Pietarsaari in 1905. The city of Helsinki has had a Christmas tree in the Senate Square since 1930 and since 1954, Helsinki has donated a Christmas tree to Brussels, Belgian.
Other traditions: Finns love the sauna and many families visit the sauna on Christmas Eve. Families gather to listen to the national "Peace of Christmas" radio broadcast. More information about Christmas in Finland
France
Trees: The French also like Christmas trees, but now quite to the extent of the Germans or English. The "yule Log" tradition stems from an ancient tradition in southern France, where some people burn a log in their homes from Christmas Eve until New Year's Day.

GermanyGermany is the source of many of the world’s Christmas traditions. Martin Luther is attributed with bringing fir trees into the home, but it is much more likely that it is a tradition assimilated from the pagan’s winter solstice tradition in the early sixteenth century, combining the Paradise tree (a fir tree decorated with apples) that represented the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. Small candles were attached to the trees to represent the stars and the apples were replaced with red glass balls.

GreeceIn Greece, many people believe in kallikantzeri, goblins that appear to cause mischief during the 12 days of Christmas. Gifts are usually exchanged on January 1, St. Basil's Day.

GreenlandChristmas trees are decorated with candles and ornaments here. Again, gifts are left under the tree to be opened on Christmas morning.

GuatemalaAs in Mexico, the Nativity scene is the center of Christmas decorations, and thanks to the large German community, a Christmas tree has been added as an ornament. As in other countries, gifts are left under the tree on Christmas morning for the children, however, parents and adults do not exchange gifts until New Year’s Day.

IrelandChristmas trees are brought in anytime in December and decorated with colored lights, tinsel, and other ornaments. As in America, the most popular tree toppers are the angel or the star. The house is decorated with evergreen garlands, candles, holly and ivy. Wreaths and mistletoe are hung on the door.

Italy
In Italy, as iun many Latin speaking countries, the nativity scene (presepio) is the center of decoration for Christmas. Guests kneel before it and musicians sing before it . The presepio figures are usually hand-carved and very detailed in features and dress. The scene is often set out in the shape of a triangle. It provides the base of a pyramid-like structure called the ceppo. This is a wooden frame arranged to make a pyramid several feet high. Several tiers of thin shelves are supported by this frame. It is entirely decorated with colored paper, gilt pine cones and miniature colored pennants. Small candles are fastened to the tapering sides. A star or small doll is hung at the apex of the triangular sides. The shelves above the manger scene have small gifts of fruit, candy and presents. The ceppo is in the old Tree of Light tradition which became the Christmas tree in other countries. Some houses even have a ceppo for each child in the family. Italians say Buono Natale! or "Happy Birthday" for Christmas.
Foods: a traditional Christmas bread, called Panettone, which is light in texture and has nuts and fruit in it is very popular.

JapanFew Japanese celebrate Christmas and for those who do, it is generally not a religious holiday. Christmas trees are decorated with small toys, dolls, paper ornaments, gold paper fans and lanterns and wind chimes. Tiny candles are also put among the tree branches. One of the most popular ornaments is the origami swan. Japanese children have exchanged thousands of folded paper "birds of peace" with young people all over the world as a pledge of peace.

MexicoTrees: A Christmas tree is less common and is an artificial one, or a very small tree, just a bare branch cut from a tree or even a shrub gathered from the wild.
Other: A prominently displayed elaborate Nativity scene (el Nacimiento) is the focus of Christmas decorations in Mexico. Outdoor lights, of bright colors and often large bulbs are common. Pinatas (paper mache’ dolls) are filled with candy and coins and hung from the ceiling where children then take turns hitting them until they break, releasing candies to the floor, where the children scramble to gather as much as they can.
As a side note, the name of the Poinsettia flower comes from the American minister, Joel R. Poinsett, who brought the plant from Mexico to America in 1828, where it caught on due to its coloring. After being sold in New York stores in the late 1800’s, by 1900, they caught on nationally.

NorwayTrees: Norwegians often cut their own Christmas tree, as a part of a fairly recent tradition. The Christmas tree was popularized here in the 1950's and later. The Christmas tree is decorated on Christmas eve by the parents, while the children wait in another room. Then follows a Norwegian ritual known as "circling the Christmas tree." Everyone joins hands to form a ring around the tree and they then walk around it singing carols. The gifts are distributed afterwards.
Norway also is claimed to be the birthplace of the Yule log. The ancient (pagan) Norse burned a huge log on Christmas for as long as it would burn (days in some cases) in celebration of the passing of the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice. The word "Yule" comes from the Norse word hweol, which means "wheel". The Norse myths included that the Sunday was a great wheel of fire that rolled towards and then away from the earth.

PhillipinesHandmade trees in an variety of colors and sizes are often used in place of expensive imported pine trees. Star lanterns or parol, appear everywhere in December. They are made from bamboo sticks, covered with brightly colored rice paper or cellophane and usually feature a tassel on each point. There is usually one in every window, each representing the Star of Bethlehem.

Saudi ArabiaChristians in Saudi Arabia must celebrate Christmas privately in their own homes. Christmas lights are generally not tolerated in this Islamic country. Most Christmas families place their Christmas trees somewhere inconspicuous to avoid persecution.

South Africa
Being in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas falls in the summer holiday in South Africa. Christmas trees are rare, but windows are often decorated with sparkling cotton, wool, and tinsel.

SpainColored lights are popular outside decorations, and the Nativity scene is common inside. A popular Christmas tradition is the game Catalonia, in which a tree trunk is filled with goodies and children hit at the trunk trying to knock out the hazel nuts, almonds, toffee and other treats.

SwedenTrees: Christmas trees are put up and taken down with the usual Swedish zeal for precision: they must be up on Christmas and stay up until 12 days AFTER Christmas! The trees are decorated with stars, sunbursts and snowflakes made from straw. Other decorations include colorful wooden animals and straw centerpieces.
The celebration of St. Lucia Day on December 13 is common is Sweden, Denmark and Finland. The holiday is the start of the Christmas season and probably stems from pagan celebrations of the winter solstice, as Lucia is derived from the Latin word for "light". On December 13th, the eldest daughter in each family rises early and dressed in a long, white gown with a red sash, and wearing a crown made of twigs with nine lighted candles, wakes each of her family members . The family then eats breakfast in a room lit with candles. The Christmas dinner often includes rice pudding for dessert, into which one almond is hidden. The finder gets good luck! Bonfires in the evening are also traditional. Men, women, and children carry torches in a parade and everyone throws their torches onto a large pile of straw.
As in much of Scandinavia, children leave their shoes on the hearth of the fireplace or on the doorstep on Christmas Eve, in hopes of finding them filled with money, or gifts the next morning.

UkraineChristmas is the most popular holiday in the Ukraine. Oddly to westerners, it is only celebrated on December 25th by Catholics: Orthodox Christians celebrate it on January 7th. , During the Christmas season, which extends through New Year’s Day, people decorate fir trees and have parties. Ukrainians also prepare a huge traditional meal. By custom, the family's youngest child watches through the window for the evening star to appear, and then the feast can begin.

Christmas wedding!!!

2010-12-01T14:22:00.000+01:00

Weddings occur all the time. There are in fact thousands of weddings each and every year in the UK and many many more across the world. So why do people get married? People get married for different reasons but mainly because they fall in love with someone else and when the time is right, they tie they knot.
Most people are so happy that they are going to get married that they really don't mind when it happens. There are 365 days in the year and for most people, just about any day in the calendar would be suitable. After all, marriage is a time of bringing two people madly in love together. Some people however, prefer to get married at particular times of year. The summer months are a popular choice but there is no better time of year than Christmas time.

Christmas is a great time to get married as it has so many fun memories associated with it. Christmas is a time of giving and what better way to celebrate Christmas time than with two people truly madly deeply in love. Two people that can host a ceremony in a gorgeous location with all their family and friends wrapped up in layers of clothing eagerly anticipating a white Christmas. The chances of there actually being a white Christmas are very slim but occasionally is does happen and when it does it is a blessing. A blessing that should only come around once in a lifetime as the two people becoming wed are soon to be together for eternity.

To get married at Christmas time is also a great time to get married as everyone is in that gift mood. Christmas is after all, a time for giving each other gifts, and with two people becoming tying the knot what better time is there for buying a present. There is so much choice and so many great deals on that finding the right present should be pretty straightforward.
Some people refer to Christmas weddings as 'The Great Christmas Wedding'. The wedding is incomplete however without a ring. Finding the right ring is a challenge but there are some great rings at some of the top retailers in the UK. In fact, choosing the right wedding ring could never be easier, as particular retailers have given consumers as much information as possible to help them make a decision.
There are also ring guides available for consumers. These guides are a great source of information for choosing the right size wedding ring as well as supporting existing information a customer may have. Having a ring guide certainly makes it easy for consumers and it gives them a better overall experience of the buying journey. This can only mean one thing. A happy consumer!
With the perfect ring, a Christmas wedding and two people truly madly deeply in love the future is bright. Eternal happiness must last forever and all the family and friends can bask in the happy occasion.

Italian weddings

2010-11-30T11:44:00.000+01:00

Attach wings to your imagination and fly off to the wonderful and exotic locations of Italy. You have an array of destination ideas to choose from. Did you ever think of getting married in the south of the Italy—i.e. on the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento or the Isle of Capri? No? Well, give it a thought and enjoy the fragrance of oranges and lemon and the warm Mediterranean Sea in your wedding. You can arrange for romantic and sunny ceremony in Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Sorrento, Massa Lubrense and other small pearls of Italy.
Ravello is full of beautiful and sweet villas for your intimate and quite a personal marriage festivity with just the two of you together.

Amalfi Coast wedding offers you unique Italian experience with perfect scenic locales, fun activities, and services to make your day truly special. Positano offers pastel hued Moorish houses for luxurious wedding. Sorrento is a lovely location on the Gulf of Naples for you to tie the knot. Yet another destination can be Capri—oasis of extreme beauty. Make your nuptial bond on the island of Capri inviting bougainvilleas and other romantic flowers and plants to be the witness of your wedding kiss. Rome—as the capital city of Italy can also be the perfect base for your wedding. Adore the beauty of the seas, hills and learn together about the Italian Renaissance! In fact, there are endless attractions for you to explore too like you can visit or plan a honeymoon in the vineyards of Frascati or travel around the lands of Umbria and Tuscany. To make it more romantic, arrange for classical music or group of bands. You can even pen down personal poems, vows and songs for your wedding. What is preventing you from getting married in ‘the eternal city’ of Rome? Plan it right away and fly off.
Produce an enticing marriage album filled with beautiful landscapes, olive groves, and all the enchanting views with Tuscany as the place of your marriage. How about a castle wedding in Tuscany? Situated in the bosom of Chianti—the castle offers a lovely garden and farmhouse for your honeymoon. This wedding is surely going to make your wedding exclusive and impressive. Want to celebrate your wedding in a Gothic style? Then opt to arrange the Gothic palace in Palazzo Pubblico—the focal point of Piazza del Campo in Siena. This civil wedding will give the aesthetic pleasures of the frescoes of the Senese School.

Wedding cakes

2010-11-27T16:39:00.005+01:00

Wedding cake

Wedding cake is the traditional cake served to the guests at a wedding reception (or in parts of England, at a wedding breakfast) after a wedding. In modern Western culture, it is usually a large cake, multi-layered or tiered, and heavily decorated with icing, occasionally over a layer of marzipan or fondant , topped with a small statue representing the couple. Achieving a dense, strong cake that can support the decorations while remaining edible can be considered the epitome of the baker's art and skill.

Symbolism

The wedding cake is a tradition that began back in the Roman Empire. At the time, it was a loaf of bread that the groom broke over the bride's head as a symbol of his dominance in the marriage and over her. The color of the cake is typically white to symbolize purity. The joint task of the bride and groom cutting the cake is meant to symbolize their first joint task in married life. The gesture of feeding cake to one another is a symbol of the commitment the bride and groom are making.
One of the earliest forms of the wedding cake is the French Croquembouche. The legend of this cake says that a pastry chef, visiting medieval England, witnessed their tradition of piling sweet rolls between the bride and groom which they would attempt to kiss over without knocking them all down. The pastry chef then went back to France and piled sweet rolls up into a tower to make the first Croquembouche.

Modern adaptations

A contemporary White wedding cake.

Wedding cake toppers are small models that sit on top of the cake, normally a representation of a bride and groom in formal wedding attire. This custom was dominant in US wedding in the 1950s where it represented the concept of togetherness. Wedding toppers today are often figures that indicate shared hobbies or other passions.
In the United Kingdom, the traditional wedding cake is made from a rich fruitcake, although many modern cakes now consist of either vanilla sponge, chocolate sponge or carrot cake. Most cakes are between three and five tiers in height, and often consist of a bottom tier made from sponge, with a chocolate sponge middle tier and a fruit top tier. Among some more elaborate cakes the United Kingdom see are those prepared for the Royal Weddings. These cakes are actually decorated boxes with the fruit cake cut into portions on the inside, allowing them to be easily served to hundreds of guests.
Another trend is for wedding cupcakes. To imitate the tiers of a wedding cake, the cupcakes are placed on a stand and decorated in the wedding colors.
Wedding cakes can also be decorated with flowers.

Wedding Thriller

2010-11-26T12:48:00.000+01:00

Wedding Songs

2010-11-26T12:47:00.000+01:00

Interior Decorating Ideas: Music Themed Bedroom

2010-11-22T15:45:00.002+01:00

Ideas to Create a Music Themed Bedroom

A music themed bedroom is quick and easy to design, and will turn the music lover’s room into a wonderful haven. Here are some creative ideas you can use to create a music themed bedroom.

  Music themed bedroom decorating idea 1: At about 4 foot from the ground, create the lines of a treble clef staff using tape.
This simply means mask off the space for four horizontal black lines across one wall of the or all the way around the room. The lines should be in two sets 6-8 inches apart with 10-12 inches in between the sets of lines.

Music themed bedroom decorating idea 2: Above and below the lines of the room should be painted in the favorite color of the room’s occupant. In between the lines should be a lighter color like, white, cream, or a pastel of the same color. Paint the lines after you have painted the background of the room.

Music themed bedroom decorating idea 3: Paint music notes on the previously painted lines. You can use a music book for your reference or purchase stencils instead. It would a special treat for if you painted the actual notes to their favorite song.   

Music themed bedroom decorating idea 4: Purchase simple bedding that coordinates with the room, and add a few music themed pillows. If you cannot find any coordinating pillow to purchase, cut out notes in black fabric and sew them onto the pillows or pillowcases.   

Music themed bedroom decorating idea 5: You can paint or decoupage room accessories like lamps, picture frames, and a wooden step stool with pages from an old music book. You can also use paint to transform a dresser drawer front into a treble clef staff. In the frames, you can place pictures of musical instruments from a picture book.

  Music themed bedroom decorating idea 6: For your flooring, you can make a matching shag area rug to match the room. Purchase a shag white rug and a small black rug with the same pile. Cut your music notes of the exact same size out of the rugs. Replace the cut out letters from the white rugs with their black copies and use rug tape or duct tape to hold the notes in place. Fluff the rug with your fingers.
Other decorating ideas for a music themed bedroom: Instead of music notes, you can paint piano keys, or hire an artist to paint musical instruments. You can paint a floor cloth to match the mural instead of making a shag rug.

New wedding traditions

2010-11-16T12:59:00.000+01:00

Say goodbye to the traditional wedding, couples are creating ceremonies that are tailored to fit their taste. With people waiting later in life to get married, more wedding ceremonies are taking on a different look, one that's tailored to the brides' and grooms' tastes. It can be difficult to break bridal traditions. If you do you have to win over skeptical mothers who are convinced they already know the formula for a successful and happy wedding--caterers, florists, and a band. More and more couples are deviating from that and are catering to their own preferences. After all, it is their day and they should be happy. More couples are having weekday weddings and are experimenting with the the meal and bar format. Rather than buying a wedding cake, some choose to treat their guests to cupcakes and a few cocktails rather than having a full bar. Some couples choose to have a dessert buffet, traditionally known as a Viennese table. Popular desserts include chocolate and cheesecake samplings that are rolled out on tables in the reception room. They are also looking to have weddings in non-traditional venues. These options can save the bride and groom money.

Something old, something new, something borrowed....something green? Many couples are planning environment-friendly weddings. Some ideas with this type of wedding include using recycled paper for invitations, placecards, and programs; creating centerpieces from pesticide-free flowers and potted plants, and serving organic and vegetarian menus. A few choose to create a personal website with a URL to the invitation. You can now RSVP online and even have live Webcasts. In choosing to have a nontraditional wedding, couples say they feel less stressed about the event. When having a traditional wedding, they have to make sure that everything is in order--the cake, the menu, even the first dance between bride and groom.
Not everyone is happy with that route. It's important to pick and choose the parts that are really personal to you. Couples are looking for someone to work with their vision which can take more time, effort, and creativity. Some prefer formal black tie settings with a family atmosphere while others aren't formal at all and have more of a party atmosphere.
One huge factor in a wedding is the costs. These days we see fairy tale weddings that costs in the millions of dollars. While most people can't afford lavish ceremonies like that, some traditional ceremonies have been known to costs upwards of $100,000. As couples are getting older, they're realizing that $100,000 can be better spent as a downpayment on a house rather than on a dream wedding. Instead of going into your marriage in debt from a ceremony, many soon to be bride and grooms are planning weddings that will save them money, while still having a beautiful ceremony. Regardless of the type of wedding you choose to have, what's important is that you're happy. One thing you should always do is take lots of pictures and enjoy your special day with those who mean the most to you. The memories you create on this day will last a lifetime. When you look back on this day you will see how your creativity helped to create the wedding of your dreams. When it comes to weddings, tradition isn't what matters. As long as there is love then whatever kind of wedding you choose to have will be beautiful and most likely the one of your dreams.

Wedding traditions: Ideas for Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue

2010-11-16T12:48:00.002+01:00

Traditional brides incorporate something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in their weddings. Many brides are unfamiliar with the origin and meaning behind the old-new-borrowed-blue custom though. This tradition stems from an old English rhyme "Something olde, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in your shoe." Family members and the bride's attendants gave old, new, borrowed, and blue items and a sixpence to the bride as tokens of love on her wedding day for good luck just before her marriage. Today brides are working the old, new, borrowed, and blue objects into their weddings themselves. Here are some ideas for brides to personalize the old-new-borrowed-blue custom for their weddings.

Something Old

The first of the five items or "Something Old" represents continuity of the past moving to the future. The old item can be an antique, an heirloom object, or a sentimental piece that represents the bride's past.
Use a classic car for wedding day transportation.

• Decorate with vintage silk ribbon or use it in the bride's bouquet,
• Place an antique bookmark to mark ceremony readings Use a childhood pillow for the ring bearer's pillow
• Get a relative's monogrammed handkerchief
• Display wedding photographs of parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents at the reception
• Find an antique tussy mussy (a conical hand-held bouquet vase) for the bride's bouquet
• Get a vintage purse to match the bride's gown
• Have the wedding at a historic location
• Have the bride carry a childhood treasure she has saved (like a ring, bracelet, small doll, locket, etc.)
• Bring out the heirloom jewerly to wear like an engagement ring or wedding band, a brooch, earrings, a bracelet, a necklace, or some sparkly hair pins
• Tuck an antique hat pin into the bride's bouquet
• Carry a vintage pill box
• Sew a button from one of the bride's father's old coats on the inside of the bride's gown at the hem or place it in her purse
• Give the bride a vintage compact mirror for her purse
• Get a champagne glass to smash during the ceremony from a relative's wedding or anniversary
• Wear a headpiece, tiara, or veil that has been handed down
• Wear vintage white gloves
• Take some of mother's or grandmother's wedding gown fabric or lace and sew it inside the bride's gown or to her petticoat
• Display the parents' cake toppers or use it as the wedding cake topper
• Tuck a love letter saved by the bride's mother from the bride's father into the bride's purse
• Carry a wedding photo of parents' or grandparents' in the bride's purse (it can be copied to reduce the size if necessary)
• Display a photograph of the bride as a little girl or carry it in the bride's purse

Something New

The second of the five items or "Something New" represents optimism for the future and the new life the bride will share with her groom.

• Buy a new lipstick in a pretty shade (the bride does not have to wear it on her big day)
• Have a custom perfume designed for the bride
• Purchase a new makeup bag or new purse to use on the day of the wedding
• Get a bouquet made of silk flowers, a new tussy mussy to hold a fresh flower bouquet, or a crystal bouquet
• Find a new charm for the bride's charm bracelet
• Select a new jewelry item to wear on the day of the wedding like a bracelet, earrings, a necklace, or an anklet
• Treat the bride to a pair of new luxurious silk stockings
• Give the bride new lingerie to wear under her gown or on her honeymoon
• Get a sun parasol to keep the bride cool in between all of those photographs
• Treat the bride to a new haircut, new highlights, or new hair extensions
• Purchase a special guest book with extra room for guests to include a personal note at the wedding
• Drive a new car for the bride's wedding day transportation
• Pack some mints or a stick of gum
• Experiment with a new henna tattoo kit
• Give the bride a new fancy collar or outfit for her pup or kitty

Something Borrowed 

The third of the five items or "Something Borrowed" represents borrowed happiness. Some brides use a borrowed item from a long-time happily married couple for this item, but it can also be something borrowed from a friend or other relative who is symbolic of happiness. The borrowed item should be returned to the owner following the wedding day. It is helpful if one of the wedding attendants or mother-of-the-bride returns the borrowed item to the loaner to relieve the bride of this duty. A thank you note is always appreciated and appropriate when the borrowed item is returned.

• Let the groom borrow grandfather's pocket watch or have the bride carry it in her purse
• Include flowers from the bride's grandparents' garden in floral arrangements at the wedding or in the bride's bouquet
• Borrow father's silk handkerchief
• Use aunt's prayer book during the ceremony
• Borrow a long-time family friends' timeshare for your honeymoon
• Borrow the song from the bride's (or groom's) parents' wedding to dance to
• Have the wedding at a borrowed location like the bride's parents' backyard or country club
• Borrow a cell phone
• Use a best friend's strapless bra for the day
• Borrow a headpiece or hair baubles
• Use sister's silver knife to cut the cake with at the reception
• Wear borrowed jeweleryfrom a happily married gal pal
• Use the same wording as the bride's (or groom's) parents' ketubah (Jewish wedding contract)
• Borrow a book from the library that has a poem or reading that will be used in the ceremony or borrow a reading that was used at your sister's wedding
• Use a wedding attendant's sunscreen to protect the bride from the sun during all of those photographs
• Borrow a button-down shirt or robe for the bride to wear while getting her hair and makeup done
• Borrow the flower girl or ring bearer from a friend's wedding.

Something Blue 

The fourth of the five items or "Something Blue" represents love, good fortune, and fidelity. There are unlimited ways the color blue can be incorporated into the wedding day. Keep in mind there are many shades of blue and one may work better than another for the bride depending on how the blue item will be used. Some brides will not want blue to be a dominant wedding color and so they will prefer to limit the blue color to less visible areas. The something blue item is also an opportunity for the bride who loves blue to embrace the color blue as one of her wedding colors.

• Paint the broom blue, tie a blue ribbon on the broom, or decorate the broom with blue flowers for the Jumping the Broom custom
• Use blue confetti
• Wear a blue Garter
• Decorate with blue balloons at the reception
• Have the groom wear a blue suit
• Wear an ice-blue wedding gown or a blue sash on the wedding gown
• Use blue ribbon or flowers in the bride's bouquet or on the groom's boutonniere
• Make the huppah (a Jewish ceremonial canopy) with blue material or decorate it with blue flowers
• Paint the bride's toenails or fingernails with blue nail polish
• Have the florist use blueberries in the table centerpieces
• Apply blue eye shadow
• Wear blue-tinted contact lens
• Sprinkle the bride's skin lightly with sparkly blue body glitter
• Wear blue shoes
• Dress in a blue underskirt or petticoat
• Wear sapphire, tanzanite, opals, or aqua marine jewelry
• Use a blue-stone tiara
• Drive a blue car for transportation
• Carry a blue Purse
• Pack blue lingerie for the honeymoon
• Get a pretty new blue scarf or handkerchief
• Tie a blue thread around your finger

The fifth, and last, item traditional brides have with them on their wedding day is a silver sixpence in their shoe. The sixpence represents good fortune and prosperity. The sixpence is traditionally placed in the bride's left shoe, but it can also be carried in the bride's purse or sewn into the hem or lining of her gown. Including the sixpence in your shoe is largely a British custom today. Silver sixpence coins can be purchased from various online stores that sell them specifically for weddings, but many brides have found other ways to interpret this wedding custom by using different items and carrying the item instead of placing it in their shoes.

• Buy a silver sixpence (an English coin) to use for the wedding
• Use an old coin from the country of the bride or groom's ancestry (this could also double as the something old item)
• Get a mint coin for the bride to carry (this could also double as the something new item)
• Pack travelers checks if the newlyweds are honeymooning out of the country
• Carry another valuable object like a different coin, jewelry, or a bill in the denomination of the bride or groom's ancestry

By choosing items of significance to the bride for something old, new, borrowed, blue, and the sixpence; this English tradition of good luck will be a significant way for brides to have with them on their special days.

Sorrento Wedding in Style

2010-11-16T12:23:00.000+01:00

Once upon a time there was a couple who were deeply in love and had a wish to fulfil: they wanted to get married in a magical place. So they decided to make the Sorrentine Peninsula the background for the most beautiful day of their lives. Between the intense blue of the sea and the brilliant green of the lemon trees, the future bride and groom found hospitality in the rich structures, ready to welcome them and guarantee them an unforgettable ceremony and holiday. Terraces with breathtaking views, mediterranean perfumes and tastes, a boat ride around the Faraglion or Punta Campanella or even in the cobalt sea of the Bay of Ieranto, typical sounds and melodies of the Sorrentine tradition... the couple let themselves get carried away by this place of unspoiled beauty, one of the magnetic points of the universe, where one breathes a mythical air, the same sung by so many poets of the antiquity that placed here the home of the enchanting mermaids...
the tale continues with Sorrento Wedding in Style.