A Wedding Flower Blog For Kansas City Metro Area Brides

Village Gardens Awarded WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Award

Dana Nigro — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:43:00 GMT

Kansas City, MO - 02/02/2010- WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Village Gardens has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™for Wedding Flowers and Decor!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Village Gardens is among the top five percent of all vendors in the Wedding Wire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories,from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that Village Gardens is among the very best Florists within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings.We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010Bride’s Choice Awards.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://bit.ly/VG-Weddingwire

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire is the only online wedding planningresource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding vendors.WeddingWire enables engaged couples to search, compare and book over 100,000reviewed wedding vendors nationwide, from wedding photographersto wedding cakes.WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edgeplanning tools, including wedding websitesand weddingchecklists, all at no charge. For wedding vendors, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. In addition, WeddingWire has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.(NYSE: MSO) to provide its network of local vendors and online wedding-planning tools in the Weddingssection of www.MarthaStewartWeddings.com.For additional information, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Unique Wedding Ideas

Dana Nigro — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:12:00 GMT

Capture Romantic Fantasies With Unique Wedding Ideas

You've dreamed of this day ever since you were a little girl, your wedding day. You've imagined wearing a magnificent gown and being the glowing bride carrying a beautiful flower bouquet. You've dreamed of the music, the lighting, the bridesmaids dresses, and of course, walking down the aisle toward the groom, the man of your dreams. Your wedding day is a day of dreams coming true and celebrating your love for each other. It should be a dream day wedding that you remember forever. Why not make it truly memorable by going above and beyond with one of these unique wedding ideas inspired by nature?

White Dove Releases

Every wedding ceremony deserves a special and delightfully unique gesture that expresses the couple's adoration in a way that words cannot. Releasing white doves at the end of your wedding ceremony or as you leave for the honeymoon is a beautiful way to symbolize the purity of your love, adoration, and commitment to each other. It can be a surprise ending to the ceremony, a special moment of celebration during the reception, or a sweet way to commemorate your new beginning with each other as you leave for your honeymoon. Imagine the childlike excitement of your guests as they ooh and aah while watching the alluring creatures in flight. White dove releases are especially appropriate for outdoor or garden weddings. Just make sure you get the proper instructions from the vendor on how to best care for these elegant birds so your day will go off without a hitch, except you getting hitched, of course!

Click here for "White Dove Release" resources in Kansas City.

Horse Drawn Carriage Rides

What could be more princess-like than arriving at your ceremony in a horse drawn carriage? Its the stuff little girls dreams are made of. We all remember watching Lady Diana arrive in a regal carriage as she arrived at Buckingham Palace to marry Prince Charles and become the beloved Princess Diana. Every bride wants to feel like a princess on her big day. By using a horse drawn carriage for you and your wedding party to arrive in or to carry you and your prince away to your honeymoon, you will only add to the romance of the day. So, if you are planning a Cinderella wedding with a beautiful, billowy ball gown, glowing candlelight and flower petals strewn everywhere, you will feel like royalty as you wave to your family and friends in your horse drawn carriage.

Click here for "Horse Drawn Carriage Ride" resources in Kansas City.

Hot Air Balloon Rides

Looking for an uplifting way to arrive at or depart from your wedding? A hot air balloon ride is the way to go for an exhilarating beginning or ending to your wedding. Or, if youre planning a small wedding, why not exchange vows and the wedding kiss in the hot air balloon? This idea is not for the faint of heart, but certainly for the young at heart. You can celebrate the most special day of your lives by having your ceremony where your heart ison cloud nine.

Click here for "Hot Air Balloon Ride" resources in Kansas City.

Wedding on the Beach

What wedding ceremony couldnt be improved by an ocean sunset? Many couples are using this wedding theme for that romantic yet casual approach to matrimony. If you live near a beach, take advantage of the natural décor; if not, check out the wedding packages many beaches and islands are offering these days. There's nothing more romantic than declaring your love for each other as a brilliant orange sun sets into a deep blue ocean, hearing the waves lapping on the shore. If your wedding party or family is small, this is a great way to incorporate a vacation into your wedding. As a consideration, youll want to assess the cost-effectiveness of this type of wedding especially for your family and friends. You want your loved ones to enjoy your special day without being distracted by expenses and travel arrangements. If you don't live near a beach, a great alternative is to opt for a lakefront wedding. This can be much less expensive and just as romantic.

Click here for "Weddings On the Beach" resources.

Butterfly Releases

Planning a wedding, whether it involves 50 or 500 people, can be a stressful time. You want your guests to remember your wedding as a day filled with happiness and enchantment. One unique effect can be achieved through a live butterfly release. As a beautiful and environmentally sound alternative to blowing bubbles, throwing rice or birdseed, or releasing balloons, a butterfly release will make your day memorable! Can you imagine the magnificence of dozens of colorful butterflies winging their way skyward as a grand finale to your wedding ceremony? The release of nature's prettiest creatures is a symbolic way to celebrate any number of occasions, including weddings, proms, parties, and quinceaneras. Butterflies have always been thought of as bringing good luck to people and everyone loves butterflies.

One way to involve your guests is to have a "butterfly attendant" hand out the envelopes in which the butterflies are temporarily kept. When the signal is given, each person opens their envelopes and the butterflies fly out to create a magnificent display. Some butterflies, especially monarchs, may alight on your guests. When released, they have a slow and graceful flight. They are actually "social butterflies"!

On a smaller scale, butterflies can be used as table centerpieces, enclosed in elegant see-through "cages" where they flutter about until time for their release. Guests are always enchanted by this distinctive and unusual display of beauty.

Butterflies are carefully raised by farmers who then package them in small Styrofoam coolers before shipping them overnight to your door. Since they are cold-blooded, they are resting and dormant while in the cooler. Exposure to warm temperatures will make them active and ready to fly. They must be released outdoors during daylight and during months where the temperatures are high enough for them to fly ~ above 60 degrees. Care of the butterflies is minimal; you just keep the container cool for a night by refreezing and replacing the cold pack that comes with each shipment. Very few butterflies expire before their release and usually one or more "extras" are included in your order. Most butterfly farmers hold permits to ship several species across state lines. The butterflies you release will be indigenous to your state and will probably live for a few weeks, finding each other after they are released, mating and helping to repopulate the species. A butterfly farmer will help you choose the butterflies that are right for your state, your budget, and your special occasion.

Click here for "Butterfly Release" resources in Kansas City

Unique Ideas Make Weddings And Other Events Special

These are just a few unique wedding ideas and themes. However, these ideas are also appropriate for other special occasions such as wedding anniversaries, significant birthdays, a childs first birthday, groundbreaking ceremonies, and funerals. They can add that special touch to make these and other life celebrations ones to remember forever.

Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime memory in the making. Make a unique and lasting impression by using the beauty of naturebutterflies, doves, horses, the skies, and the oceanto achieve the wedding above and beyond your sweetest dreams.

Contributor: Jill Evans

Special Contributor: Linda Marchman, owner of Social Butterflies, has raised butterflies for six years. She is a member of the Association for Butterflies, the International Butterfly Breeders Association, the Butterfly Society of Virginia and is a Virginia Master Gardener. She has a M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision and has taught students of all ages about the wonder of butterflies.

Mom Prom?

Dana Nigro — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 15:13:00 GMT

I was asked to Prom this weekend! By my oldest son...

My son Tommy attends Rockhurst High School, an all boys Jesuit school in Kansas City.
Seniors have a Mother/Son dance they call "Mom Prom".

The boy's get decked out in a tux and the Mom's get all gussied-up and relive
that teenage right of passage (sans the drinking and other teenage shenanigans).

After the dinner and dance at the Overland Park Convention Center everyone
convened at a nearby Bowling Center for some bowling into the "wee hours",
a Rockhust tradition.

It was a blast and another memory I will cherish. Of course I have 2 more sons so
it is a memory I look forward to reliving.

Wedding Stress Relief

Dana Nigro — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:35:00 GMT

Good For The Mind, Body and Soul

It’s no secret that planning a wedding can be stressful. Decisions and deadlines make it easy to feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Relieving pre-wedding stress is not only important for the bride, but for others in the wedding party as well.

SPAS
Take a break from stress. Why not check out wedding spa treatments? Whether for the bride, or for the entire wedding party, spa treatments can relax and rejuvenate and are a welcomed retreat from the stresses of daily life. According to the International Spa Association "Spas are entities devoted to enhancing overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourages the renewal of the mind, body and spirit."

Look into the many types of bridal spa packages. Consider massages, aromatherapy, reflexology, facials, wedding hair and make-up consultations, manicures and pedicures. These salon and spa treatments can be arranged for the bride or both the bride and groom. Pre-wedding spa parties often include members of the wedding party; such as the bridesmaids and other attendants. Discuss your specific needs with the spa staff to ensure the right services and results.

Taking time to be pampered is easy with the selection of day spas, resort spas, and salons. Taking an hour, scheduling a day, or even choosing a pre-wedding get away at a resort spa can help calm frazzled nerves.

Don’t have time to go to the spa? Many spa services will come to you. These types of spa services bring the professionals and the equipment to the requested address. The bride may enquire about salons and spas that will travel to a home or hotel.

TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE
It’s easy to become buried in stress. Before you know it, you’ve put aside your normal routine and turned your life upside down. Take back your life by using some simple strategies that can relieve stress and help you reconnect with others.

A GET TOGETHER
Get together with a friend or a few close friends and do something completely unrelated to the wedding. Seeing a movie, going out to eat, or visiting a new gallery or museum gives your mind time to relax. Taking a break does wonders for your outlook on life. And don’t forget your family. Making time to get together with family members without having to work on numerous wedding projects may be just the way to unwind.

REMEMBER YOUR FIANCÉ
With all the planning and all the lists, it’s easy to forget about why you decided to get married in the first place - your fiancé. Leave all the lists at home. Take time to see each other. Don’t talk about the wedding, but focus on each other. That’s the way it used to be, remember? Dressing up for a romantic night on the town, or escaping to a rustic cabin for some quiet time can do wonders for both of you. Being together without constantly discussing the wedding can help relieve stress and put things into perspective.

EXERCISE
It’s true! Taking a walk, going for a run, attending a dance class, practicing yoga, or working out at the gym is a major way to relieve pre-wedding stress. The endorphins that are released after exercising helps to create a feeling of well-being. And of course as an added bonus, exercising helps you stay in shape.

TURN A BRIDEZILLA INTO A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE
Pre-wedding stress can turn a beautiful bride into a dreaded bridezilla. How to change her back? It may not be as easy as "Presto Change-o," but following the suggestions from the experts can help. Explore some of these stress relievers.

TO PROMOTE RELAXATION - Try deep breathing exercises. Inhale and exhale slowly from the abdomen. These exercises can be done anytime and anywhere.

TO RELAX MUSCLES - Try stretching exercises. Start with the feet and slowly move upwards stretching the legs, hips, stomach, chest, hands, arms shoulders, neck and face.

TO RELEASE TENSION - Try tensing and then relaxing specific muscle groups. Attempt to tense then release the muscle groups in the face, then move to the neck, next the shoulders, then the abdomen, followed by the legs and ending with the feet.

TO INCREASE CALMNESS - Use visual imagery to envision a comfortable or tranquil setting. Listen to music that is soothing or evokes pleasant memories. Practice meditation.

RELIEVING WEDDING STRESS WITH MOOD FOOD
Help manage pre-wedding stress by finding the right food for the mood.

FOR STRESS RELIEF - Try high fiber foods such as vegetables, whole grain pastas, butter free pop corn, potatoes, and fruit.

WHEN FEELING UPSET - Try low fat carbohydrates.

FOR ENERGY - Try protein such as low fat yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, beans and tuna.

WHEN FEELING SAD - Try carbohydrates, in moderation, such as pastas, breads and potatoes.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Learning how to handle the pre-wedding stress can help you relax and enjoy "The Big Day". There will be the occasional mix-ups, disappointments, and even near disasters. Remember, your wedding is about the beginning of your new life together. Ultimately, that’s what’s most important.

Testimonials

Dana Nigro — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:08:00 GMT

Tell It Like It Is

The testimonial -
There is no Madison Avenue ad agency that can touch the heartfelt endorsement of a satisfied customer.
I have received many, many genuine testimonials from Brides I have worked with. I will be posting them here.
Please feel free to ad yours.

My Honeymoon

Dana Nigro — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 04:55:00 GMT

Your Honeymoon

Tell us about it. No, not those parts.
Just the parts about where you went. Was it fun? Was it a good value?
You might spark a fun idea that no one else has thought of. Or provide a tip that may save a couple money... or aggravation.

My Favorite Wedding Resources

Dana Nigro — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 04:20:00 GMT

Share Your Favorite Resources

Love your caterer? Adore your hairdresser? Abhor your Photographer?

Pass along your experiences with your Wedding vendors. Your comments can help both the vendors that did a good job for you, and future Brides that will value your guidance.

If You Had It To Do Over...

Dana Nigro — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 03:35:00 GMT

Share Your Wisdom

This article is designed to stimulate conversations that would shed light on the "do's and don'ts" of planning a wedding.

Since insight into "do's and don'ts" usually doesn't develop until after the wedding dust settles we hope that brides that have participated here during the planning of their wedding will check back in to share their hard earned wisdom.

How to Use This Blog

Dana Nigro — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 23:05:00 GMT

Welcome to my blog.

My hope is that this will become a fun and useful resource in your journey to "Happily Ever After".

For those that don't know, a blog (short for "web log") is basically an "interactive website" or "online journal".

A "traditional" website is static, you just read it or look at it. A blog allows you to add you own comments to articles posted by the “Blogger” (in this case me) thereby shaping the blog’s content with your own unique knowledge, experience and perspective.

This blog consists of two basic components:

Articles: Topics of interest to Brides, started by me
Comments: Agreement/disagreement/experiences/anecdotes/stories related to these articles, posted by you.

Look to the left of the screen, you will see a gray area that includes:

A link back to the Main Page from anywhere in the blog.
A Quick Search box where you can enter text to search for in articles. Click the tiny white box to have your search include comments as well.
Links to articles grouped by Category. The number in parenthesis is the number of articles in that category.
Recent Articles with the day and date submitted.
Recent Comments on articles with who commented and the date.
A Calendar. Click the underlined dates to see articles/comments from that date.
Below the calendar are links to other sites. Flower Links, Preffered Vendor Links and other Wedding Blog Links. These links will open sites in a new browser window.
A Subscribe To My Blog box. Enter your e-mail address here and click “Subscribe”. Whenever a new article is posted you will be notified at the e-mail address entered. You can also subscribe to comments if you would like to follow a thread of discussion. You can “Unsubscribe” at any time and rest assured your e-mail address is safe with us. We do not sell e-mail addresses to anyone for any reason.

If you wish, you can remain anonymous when posting comments. I trust you won’t say anything here that you wouldn’t want your name attached to.

Although I will moderate this blog, I will never censure a comment based on any disagreement with me. If, for some reason, a comment strays from conventional decorum I will not post it at all rather than edit it.

If I/we have done something wrong and a customer chooses to call me out on this blog, so be it. I/We make mistakes from time to time although we work very, very hard not to. We will own up to them and make them right. As a general rule I wouldn’t trust anyone who claims to never make a mistake.

That’s it. Hopefully we can learn from each other. By sharing our experiences we can help others get a little closer to having the proverbial “Perfect Wedding”

Sincerely,
Dana Nigro
Wife and Mother Of 3 sons
Owner, The Village Gardens LLC
Wedding Floral Consultant
My “titles” in order of importance