FREE Bridal & Event Magazines

Planning your wedding and realizing how much bridal magazines cost? It can really add up. I would know. For those I don't subscribe to I purchase at the book stores and grocery stores. Wowzers! When you own as many bridal and event magazines as I do you know how much they can cost. Luckily I get few of them for free. I am happy to share them with you so you can save that money for other areas of the wedding planning.

Please feel free to contact me at info@cristinamariaevents.com or 301.938.8383 for a FREE copy of

Brides & Weddings of Northern Virginia planning guide and

Washington Life Magazine.

Also check out these links for a FREE copy of:

Exclusively Weddings catalog - great resource for ideas on decor, favors, gifts, and SO much more!

Washingtonian Bride & Groom - after you register they will send you a free issue

CRISTINA MARIA SPECIAL EVENTS

Making events uniquely YOU!

Wedding Discount Codes

Want extra savings for your wedding? Make sure to apply these discounts codes...

Wedding Tracker: Promo Code AFF25 to save 25%

Exclusively Weddings: Promo Code YZ110 (expires 6/30/10) to save 15% on purchases of $125 or more. This site is great! Your one stop shop for wedding invitations, favors, bridal party gifts, accessories, gifts for the newlywed couple, and SO much more!

DC-area wedding vendors: Click here (page 1) and here (page 2) for exclusive discounts offered by a variety of vendors on The Wedding Dance Specialists website. You are not going to want to miss check this out!

The Wedding Outlet: Promo Code 10DAYS to save $10 on orders over $75 between January 15-25.

Magnet Street Weddings: Save 15% off here on their top 10 Save-the-Date magnets between January 13-24.

Refer back to this page because more discounts will be added!

Shine in your moment!

Fabulous Signature Drinks & Beverage Event Planning Tips

I'm so glad everyone had as much fun as I did at the Diamonds & Chocolate Soiree. That's what it was all about! Thank you to everyone for your emails and messages.

The signature drinks created for the Diamonds & Chocolate Soiree were a big hit! They were cleverly intertwined into the "diamonds & chocolate" theme with their special names, Diamond Chocolate martini, Ruby Red Peach martini, and the Emerald Apple martini. They were sparkling with color sugar rims to match the drink of choice. We think of everything!

Photo by Jason Weil Photography

Now let me share the recipes and event planning tips involving the signature cocktail. You will be excited to find out how you can actually save on your planning budget when it comes to your beverages.

There are several fun and creative signature drinks and specialty bars you can plan for a special event. You could have one or more of the following specialty bars: margarita bar, daiquiri bar, or wine bar. For non-alcoholic options you could have a coffee bar, hot chocolate bar, smoothie bar, or milkshake bar. There are signature drinks that are non-alcoholic too so that those guests who choose not to drink can be included in the fun such as flavored waters each in a different hue. for a special twist provide sparkling water as an option for the flavored waters. You can also provide carafes of specialty juices.

Of course, for our special event we went for the elegant option of a martini bar.

Oh delish those signature drinks were!

Invitation Designed by Altronics Communications, Inc.

Check out the yummy ingredients of our 3 signature martinis below. Have fun making them at your own special event. I highly recommend Professional Bartenders & Servers if you are interested in excellent and experienced bartending service at your event.

Photo by Jason Weil Photography

Bar Service provided by Professional Bartenders & Servers

Diamond Chocolate Martini
• White Crème de Cacao
• Vodka
• Optional: White sugar rimmed glass

Ruby Red Peach Martini
• Peach Schnapps
• Grenadine
• Sour Mix
• Vodka
• Optional: Red sugar rimmed glass

Emerald Apple Martini
• Sour Apple Pucker
• Sour Mix
• Vodka
• Optional: Green sugar rimmed glass

To tie into our blue color theme I selected this sleek blue lit glass bar from MK Catering Inc. It was the perfect size for this area of the Mervis Diamond Importers store. You always have to be thinking about the floor plan when designing an event. We selected a spot in the back of the store that was optimal for the flow of traffic of the guests.

Photo by Jason Weil Photography

Bar provide by MK Catering Inc.

It is so simple, easy, and inexpensive to dress up your own cocktail party by adding those little details that make it so special and impressive. Signature drinks are just one way to do that no matter what type of special event you are hosting or the number of guests who are attending. Creating a couture cocktail is one way to add to your event's theme and ambience, make a statement about your style, and to share something about yourself (or in the case of a wedding, about your love story). You can be creative in designing your drink with the bartending service or catering manager by infusing your color theme, a location (either of where the event is taking place or of where the hosts originate from), or adapt your favorite drink of choice.

At one of the weddings I planned I worked with the bride and groom to incorporate this element into their cocktail hour. Because it was a destination wedding that took place in Puerto Rico, we planned for carafes of red and white sangria as well as a mojito bar using the Puerto Rican rum Bacardi. At the mojito bar guests could get in the festive mood by selecting which flavored mojito they would like to enjoy. We also incorporated that into the party favors in several ways but that is a story for another post.

In addition to adding personality and style to a special event, signature drinks are a great way to cleverly curb your bar bill. Also not to mention it adds to that wow factor that makes it memorable.

I bet you didn't realize that helpful saving tip. The bar bill is one of the most expensive elements of an event. It is great when you know how to avoid that part of the budget from getting out of hand. I know several more ways to save on your bar bill. Feel free to contact me at info@cristinamariaevents.com for more helpful tips.

For more information check out the blog posts labeled 'Event Planning 101,' 'Event Style Ideas,' 'Real Weddings' (coming soon!), 'Themed Party Ideas,' 'Tips,' 'Ways to Save,' 'Weddings,' and there are so many more to choose from. Also feel free to contact Cristina Maria Special Events at info@cristinamariaevents.com with any questions.

Shine in your moment!

Filene's Basement Designer Wedding Dress Sale TOMORROW

Don't forget about the Running of the Brides sale at Filene's Basement tomorrow in Friendship Heights. For more information see my previous posting.

Have fun!

Shine in your moment!

OneWed Announced the "POP your Platinum Proposal" contest winner!

OneWed's "POP your Platinum Proposal" contest winner was announced this morning! One lucky couple has been awarded his & hers hand-engraved platinum wedding bands designed by Kirk Kara valued at over $4,500. Check out the announcement on One Wed's bridal blog, Savvy Scoop, which includes the winning proposal story and other top contenders.

For those who are not familiar with the contest check out my previous posting "WIN His & Hers Hand-Engraved Platinum Wedding Bands!" announcing the contest.

Stay tuned to my blog for other fun contests, ways to save, and special events.

Shine in your moment!

WIN His & Hers Hand-Engraved Platinum Wedding Bands!

I would love to help you get your platinum wedding bands for FREE so I have to share with you a contest going on courtesy of OneWed.com and Platinum Guild International.

OneWed will be awarding one lucky couple his & hers hand-engraved platinum wedding bands designed by Kirk Kara valued at over $4,500 in their "POP your Platinum Proposal" contest as a nod to the movie “The Proposal” that dropped last weekend. In “The Proposal” Sandra Bullock's character (Margaret Tate) "proposes" (if you have seen the movie or previews you understand why it is in quotes) to Ryan Reynolds' character (Andrew Paxton).

With Margaret's proposal to Andrew in mind, OneWed thought it’d be fun to ask brides how they would have popped (or did pop) the question to their hubbies-to-be (had they been in their fiance’s shoes). If you are anything like me and most ladies out there, you have given some thought to how you would like to be proposed to or how you would have liked to be proposed to. Here's your chance to use those ideas to win wedding bands!!!!!

To enter, you brides-to-be must tell OneWed in 200 in words or less how you did or would "POP your Platinum Proposal" (in other words how you did or will propose to the love of their life). They are accepting platinum proposal stories from both brides and grooms. Just send in your entry (including your OneWed username) to savvyscoop@onewed.com before midnight on July 15th, and you'll be entered to win these Kirk Kara platinum wedding bands!

Don't forget, you must register on OneWed.com first, and provide your OneWed username along with your Platinum Proposal story! For full contest details, rules, and guidelines, click HERE!

For those of you who are interested in looking at various rings to get an idea of styles and settings check out OneWed's wedding and engagement ring gallery. You can also purchase rings from the site.

Winning this contest... what a way to save! Good luck!

Shine in your moment!

Free Events in DC

No need for us to break the bank to have fun especially when money is tight. Whether you are saving for your wedding or feeling the squeeze from the recession, we can all enjoy a free thing or two. Check out this blog on information on FREE events in DC.

http://freeindc.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

Designer Wedding Dress at Discount Prices ONE Day Only

Filene's Basement Running of the Brides Bridal Event COMING TO DC NEXT MONTH

Filene's Basement is known for its bargains on everything from fashions to home goods, but perhaps the store is most famous for its annual Bridal Gown Events when brides-to-be can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars on designer wedding gowns.

When: Jul 31, 2009 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Where: Filene's Basement at Mazza Gallerie (5300 Wisconsin Ave., Washington DC 20015)

Website: Filene's Basement

Frequently Asked Questions:

How many gowns are there?

There will be 1500-3000 gowns!

How much do they cost?

$249, $499 and $699.

What were the original prices?

$900 to $9,000 plus!

Win A Free Wedding Dress:

WeddingWire and Filene's Basement are giving away gift certificates towards a wedding dress of your choice at the DC Running of the Brides event. Check out the website to enter to win.

Shine in your moment!

Wedding Saving Tips By Peter Brown

Check out Wedding Consultant Peter Brown's blog posting on ways to save on your wedding.

Article: Tips and Tricks to Help You Save Money on Your Wedding

Article: How to Have a Wedding on a Budget Budget Wedding Planning and Ideas

Happy planning!

If you have any further questions please do not hestitate to contact Cristina Maria Special Events at info@cristinamariaevents.com. We are happy to help!

Shine in your moment!