One of the questions I love to discuss with brides is what their something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue will be. Yet sometimes, this tradition can cause more stress than necessary, as brides try to find their perfect items. Below is a little bit of background on each, and a few examples to get your creative juices flowing to help you find your perfect items.

Each item represents a good-luck token for the bride and it is believed if she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. Something Old symbolizes continuity of the past and moving into the future. This item can be an antique, an heirloom object, or a sentimental piece that represents the bride’s past. You could use a childhood pillow for the ring bearer’s pillow or wear a childhood treasure (like a ring, bracelet, rosary, or locket), borrow a friend or relative’s handkerchief, or wear heirloom jewelry or a veil that has been handed down. You can also go vintage: carry a vintage purse or compact mirror, wear a vintage headpiece, or wrap vintage ribbon around your bouquet. You could also take some of your mother’s or grandmother’s wedding gown fabric or lace and sew it inside your gown or simply place a sentimental picture in a locket and wrap it around your bouquet (could be of you and your groom as children or your parents or grandparents on their wedding day). What I love about the “Something Old,” is it could also be as simple as wearing your signature perfume scent.

Something New traditionally means optimism and hope for the bride’s new life ahead. This one should be the easiest and can be as simple as your new wedding dress or veil, but you could also carry a new purse, wear new jewelry, the perfect new shoes, or new lingerie. Another idea is to carry a custom-made handkerchief with your new initials embroidered on it.

Something Borrowed has traditionally been an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride and it represents borrowed happiness. It can also be something borrowed from a friend or relative and reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family. A lot of the something old items mentioned can also be translated into something borrowed, but you could borrow a handkerchief, headpiece, jewelry, or veil, or simply borrow a wedding cake cutting set or cake topper. Make sure it’s something you want to return the owner, as traditionally is should be given back.

Something Blue traditionally represents love, good fortune, and fidelity. It can be as simple as a blue garter, blue shoes, or blue lingerie, but also consider incorporating ice-blue into the mix: a simple sash to compliment your gown or paint your toenails ice blue. You can also use blue ribbon to wrap your bouquet or on the groom’s boutonniere or wear sapphire, tanzanite, opals, or aqua marine jewelry.

There are so many other examples and the lists are never ending. I hope that you find whatever fits you perfectly and you can find inspiration in these examples. Wishing you happy planning!

Posted by Jaci Burgess, Director of Sales

Are you looking for a guestbook that is memorable for your guests, but also something that can be a lasting item for you as well? Then look no further for fun and unique guestbook ideas to incorporate into your big day:

Photobooth – Although not a new concept, I love photobooths because they can serve as both a favor and keepsake for your guests, as well assist in creating your guestbook. Most companies include an additional print that evening and with scrapbooking supplies available nearby, guests can write well wishes under their photo. From the traditional photobooth to the unique, photobooths have long provided entertainment and fun for young and old alike.

Fingerprint Tree – I recently had a bride who had three paintings that pieced together to form a tree. Guests were then invited to use stamp ink to stamp their thumbprint on the canvas to create leaves and sign their name underneath it. Now, one of a kind piece of artwork is a lasting display in her home and a unique talking piece. You can order these cute, already made paintings on Etsy or create your own.

Musical Instrument – Do you already have a guitar instrument on display in your home or office? Then why not supply a guitar for guests to sign to put on display right next to the rest of them? This could easily range from any favorite instrument, but if music is something that brought you and your fiancé together or is a favorite pastime, this option could be a perfect fit.

Platter – Another older concept, but you can incorporate your monogram or specialty design onto a specialty platter for guests to sign and display in your home.

Picture Frame – Again, although this is not a new concept, a framed favorite photo of your and fiancé with matting allows guests to write their well wishes and for you to easily display in your home. Once you receive your wedding prints, easily trade it out for a favorite photo of your big day.

Photobook of Engagement Portraits – Most photographers now include or provide a book of your engagement portraits, which is perfect for providing as a guestbook. Not only do your guests to see all of your great engagement photos, but you can lay this out on your coffee table and display it through the years.

Guestbook Puzzle – Etsy is just one site that has adorable puzzles which are provided for guests to write their well wishes on and then you can piece together and either display in your home, or keep in a special box to put together each anniversary and reminisce about your big day.

Posted by Jaci Burgess, Director of Sales for Steven Becker Fine Dining and the Coronado Ballroom

We have all attended events where the speaker or bridal party member is nervous about giving a speech or toast. And through the years I have seen individuals make poor decisions on how to calm those nerves. I can honestly tell you that there is no magical cure for the jitters but there are a few tricks to make you look cool as a cucumber!
But first, let’s talk about what you SHOULD NOT DO…such as drink alcohol. The number one cause for blunders, mishaps, and upset tummys is alcohol. When you are nervous, you perspire which leaves you dehydrated. And when you are nervous, you tend not to eat. Wine or spirits hitting an empty, dehydrated body strike like a ton of bricks. Being tipsy only makes matters worse standing in front of a crowd and very often, guests become ill or make an embarrassing scene.
Caffeine is another culprit at the crime scene of public speaking. Despite the myth that it will make you more alert, it is only going to increase your anxiety and heart rate. Too much coffee is also going to make you feel nausea. A new fad is to drink 5 hour energy drinks and perhaps mix them with alcohol. Imagine putting the two worst substances for your nerves together…and downing them times 10. I recently had a bridesmaid give the bride such an energy drink right before the ceremony. She had no idea what she was drinking (she does not drink coffee) and it caused dry heaves and horrible heart palpatations. YEEK!
These are a few tricks I have learned over time to calm nervous anxiety.
*A small bite of dark chocolate causes a serotonin burst in the human brain and makes you feel quite happy…and there is just enough caffeine to perk you up sensibly.
*Chamomile Tea really does calm you down. Ice it if you don’t drink hot tea although a warm beverage will help your stomach jitters and remarkably, make you feel cool.
*WATER – Water will make your feel stable and cool. Dehydration is bad.
*Eat a bird protein. Chicken or Turkey does make you feel calmer! Think about how sleepy you feel after Thanksgiving dinner!
*Chewing anything with mint or drinking peppermint tea stimulates creative thinking and clarity and calms the stomach.
*Ladies make sure your foundation garments are not to tight or restricting. I may not have smelling salts should you swoon Scarlett!
*BREATHE – Deep, slow breathing will help!

Rob Schaefer
St. Louis Wedding Professional Hall of Fame Inaugural Inductee

For months people have been asking me what trends would we be seeing at the royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William. I know this will come as a shock but honestly…no one knows. There is something so special about the art of the suprise! And we live in a time when suprises and mystery have so little appreciation. Every bride and groom has the right to keep their wedding under wraps and present the “Grand Reveal” on their special day. I applaud the efforts being made to keep everything under wraps and I have to laugh at all these planners going on and on about what they “think” the couple has chosen. Talent lies in taking high end trends and translating them into practical applications that can be appreciated by the masses. So my best advice is to wait and see and then give me call.
I love London and I am a fan of all things British…except maybe dental care. I would love to be a guest tomorrow not to say I WAS THERE but to soak in the grandeur of the moment. One of the greatest moments in my life was visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral and walking the length of it just as Princess Diana did on her wedding day. I stood where she stood and I wondered if she felt as overwhelmed as I did at it’s beauty. It is remarkable. When I went to Westminster Abbey, I stood at the tomb of Elizabeth I and I wept. When I gazed at the Conti tiles where Diana’s coffin sat, I wept. I may weep a bit tomorrow…but they will be happy tears for a couple with amazing possibilities. To honor them, Jaci and I are dressing like wedding guests and we are filling our day with a huge English breakfast, fish and chips, tea and scones and other lovely English customs. We hope all of you will drop by the Coronado and have tea and scones or light refreshment with us.
We are curious how many people will book the Royal Wedding Package this year at the Coronado. It is truly fit for a St. Louis Princess or just someone who wants to feel like one. And as I am so fond of saying…you don’t need a crown to be a queen.
Rob Schaefer
Royal Wedding Fan and St. Louis Wedding Professional Hall of Fame Inaugural Inductee

At the recent St. Louis Wedding Award’s Banquet, the Coronado Ballroom was selected as the Best Wedding Venue in St. Louis. St. Louis Bride Magazine created a magical night in the Grand Hall of St. Louis Union Station with vintage tables designed by some of the top florists in St. Louis. We were so fortunate to sit at a Spring inspired table with garden enhancements created by Rachel McCalla and Amanda Hill of Lucky You Productions. My favorite part of the table was little iron birds scattered on the table and candles floating in mason jars against a backdrop of beautiful silk linen! I love a mixture of elements.
Kathy, Jaci and I decided to wear black with garnet red enhancements and there is a great photo of us holding our award. It was at this same time last year that I was the Inaugural Inductee into the St. Louis Wedding Professional Hall of Fame. What an honor after 25 years! It made me so proud that my dear friend and fellow wedding vendor Robert George was inducted this year. Robert is a national award winning photographer and his work has been seen around the world. He is such a special and talented man. Congratulations Robert! We were also so happy to have our Food and Beverage Director John McGuire with us. In the short time that John has been with us, he has made an incredible contribution to our organization and I feel as if I have known him forever.
So many wonderful things are happening at Steven Becker Fine Dining right now. We are getting ready to open our new wine bar – Vino Nadoz at the Boulevard…across from Crate and Barrel. It is chic, sophisticated and unique for the St. Louis market. Brides will enjoy having their bridal shower in Vino Nadoz and we already have some on the books! Wedding season has kicked off with stellar looks and stellar clients.
So cheers to Spring and to all our (and your) new beginnings!

Rob Schaefer
St. Louis Wedding Professional Hall of Fame Inductee

Although May, June, September and October are the prime times of the year to get married, St. Louis brides realize that remarkable weddings can happen all year long! Winter weddings in St. Louis are some of the most beautiful of the year. There is no time like winter to have an event. The biggest mistake I see is that many brides do not embrace the elements of winter and then plunk a June wedding look into the month of January. Weddings look silly and the menu seems strange when the components are more suited for a warm weather month. If you have a St. Louis winter wedding, embrace it fully and use the weather to enhance your experience.
Candlelight and firelight are natural enhancements and add an incredible amount of character to your reception. Luxurious fabrics such as velvets, heavy damasks, tapestry and fur compliment a winter story and have a beautiful hand (feel) to the touch. Frosty tones or winter drabs look stunning with all white flowers, crystals, frosted branches and artificial snow. Teal, Iris, Black, Steel, Cocoa, Garnet, Eggplant and Vanilla are some of my favorite winter tones. Beaded touches to the tables, the chairs and the wedding accessories give a much needed sparkle due to the lack of natural light. Wedding cakes can have a sugar snow effect, snowflakes, bling and heavy white chocolate curls to make them seasonal appropriate. Remember that if your budget does not allow specialty linens on all the dining tables, splurge and rent something magical and luxurious for the cake table! This will help you solidify your winter look. Winter flowers are much more than just using evergreens. Winter flowers have a heavier look and often have a monochromatic color story. On trick I have learned is to use greenery and flowers that have a matte or velvety finish. These also can be paired with gilded fruit such as pommegranantes, grapes or pears. Crystal strands and picks as well as frosted white, metallic or black branches add so much drama to the arrangement and table. Pair these with chunky pillar candles in pure white or ivory or multiple hanging votives and you create instant magic.
Consider carefully your wedding apparel choices. It is a dead giveaway that you planned your event in June when the bridesmaids are shivering in satin strapless and your wedding dress was in the Summer issue of a bridal magazine. Beautiful wraps, stoles, scarves, sleeves (as in the dress has some) make everything look seasonal appropriate. Even the accessories such as jewelry and shoes can make such an important impact. Maybe you don’t want your bridesmaids in velvet but a velvet shoe or incredible choker or velvet wrap can give a simple dress some seasonal flaire. And since gloves are making a huge come back, a matte finished glove really adds glamour to a winter event.
Flavors of the season are so extensive and fun. I love peppermint martinis, hot buttered rum, mulled cidars and rum punches. Cinnamon, cloves, ginger and hazelnut are wonderful tastes. Wedding cakes can be richer and more decadent with exciting flavors such as gingerbread and rum cake. First course options such as warm soups and pasta courses are unique and interesting. Various glazes and sauces give an instant winter feel to the standard beef tenderloin. Popcorn, cocoa, dessert crepes and grilled cheeses stations are popular seaonal favorites. Be creative!
If you want to be a winter bride, you will find a wealth of dates, locations, vendors and amazing selections available to you. Embrace the season and you will have a fairy-tale St. Louis bride event!
Rob Schaefer
St. Louis Wedding Professional Hall of Fame Inductee

I love Fall weddings and I love fun brides, and I love when a fun bride selects the wedding colors I personally love in the Fall. On October 2nd, 2010, I got all of that when Kristen chose the Coronado Ballroom for her beautiful wedding reception.

Kristen attended Saint Louis University and fell in love with the architecture and history of the campus. St. Xavier Church only made sense to host her and Brad’s wedding ceremony. To add the perfect reception venue, the couple toured and fell in love with the neighboring Coronado Ballroom’s elegance and design.

Kristen chose the beautiful tones of plum and gold and added hints of feathers and sparkles to enhance her look. The gold and plum tones flowed throughout the evening: from the custom-made plum organza linens sprinkled with glitter appliqués made by Jeff Bair at Grimm and Gorly, gold chiavari chairs, the plum signature drink poured and chilled through the custom martini luge provided by Ice Visions, gold tones in the custom wedding cake design by Steven Becker Fine Dining, to the gold rimmed chargers; her signature colors were abundant, but not overdone.

The couple wanted their guests to be pampered all evening and no detail was left unnoticed. Guests were impressed by the large branches which seating assignments dangled from with gold and amber toned crystals, the ink guests used to create a leaf by pressing their thumbprint on a tree painting as a unique alternative to a guestbook, the “Mr. and Mrs.” Sashes tied to the Bride and Groom’s chairs, the vibrant and impressive centerpieces by Grimm and Gorly, and of course the delectable dinner by Steven Becker Fine Dining.

Galaxy Red rocked the house and had all of the guests on the dance floor – that is, when they were not enjoying the late night snack of mini cheeseburgers and French fries, the couple’s favorite. Of course, Chris Croy Photography was there every step of the way, capturing every moment and detail.

Posted by Jaci Burgess, Director of Sales for Steven Becker Fine Dining and the Coronado Ballroom

View pictures on our Facebook page

After 26 years of wedding planning, I have seen quite a few engagement rings. St. Louis Brides have amazing rings and a whole new crop has popped up this year. It always tickles me to see the newly engaged couples walking in the doors of the Coronado Ballroom beaming and flashing the ring. Many St. Louis Brides ask me what my favorite ring style is and I am not sure if I have an answer…I guess that if I had to pick one, I would pick a 2.5 square cut diamond set in platinum with a matching wedding band of channel set square cut white and chocolate brown diamonds. But if I find true love and a big rock isn’t an option, I will be happy to wear my great grandfather’s art deco wedding ring with it’s tiny but brilliant diamond. It is a classic.
Many St. Louis Brides know that I value our historical wedding traditions and find many of our wedding customs sacred…the wedding cake dates to pre-Roman times and has been around for thousands of years. The flowers you choose in your bouquet should have meaning, and the style of china you select should reflect how you plan on entertaining as a couple. Wedding rings are one of the oldest symbols of love and commitment and be it simple or extravagant, to me it tells a story. We derive the term tying the knot from ancient history…it was believed that a man could control the spirit of a woman by tying cords around her made of braided grass. This evolved from the wrists, ankles and waist to around one finger…thus born a ring. It is believed that the vein in the third finger on the left hand, VENA AMORIS, leads directly to the heart. Even the stones in the ring have meaning and it was once an art and a statement to select a ring that spoke of your passion and fine qualities. Diamonds are precious and grant courage. Sapphires represent purity and are the color of the ocean and heaven. Emeralds symbolize faithfulness, immortality and youth and rubies represent the sun. The red fire of rubies insure health and guard the home. The rings of today are vastly different from the braided grass rings of our ancestors but I am sure that the significance could be no more important. Every St. Louis Bride likes to look down at her ring and see the promise of a beautiful wedding…hopefully a beautiful Coronado Ballroom wedding…and a future of possibilities. Whatever the size or style of your ring or wedding, I hope you find meaning in all the choices you make.
“Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now each of you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be warmth for the other.
Now there is no loneliness;
now you are two persons but there is only
one life before you.”
-Apache Marriage Blessing

Rob Schaefer
Inaugural St. Louis Wedding Professional Hall of Fame Inductee

Well…I should have been! I had my outfit picked out and planned on sitting next to Madeleine Albright. It was thrilling to hear that someone was going to finally spend some money on a wedding and not be apologetic about it. And how refreshing to hear that a bride was going to work with a specific color story and not going matchy-matchy or crazy contrast. Working with blue-based colors such as lilac, blue and soft raspberry was pleasing to the eye and gave Chelsea’s wedding a rich look with depth. We notice that when the economy swings upward, we shift towards colors that are more subtle…colors that give events a richer feel. Fabrics become luxurious. When economic times are bad, we see cheaper looks and fabrics. After 25 years of event planning, I believe it is because people don’t want to look like they are spending money…and often they don’t even realize it.
By using tones of one color palette, events have more depth and tells the eye a more restful story. The eye is not darting back and forth from one extreme to another. Although shocking combos such as Orange and Hot Pink will always have their place, we see more of the same color saturation in our events for the next few years. Gray again is the new neutral and will act as the starting point for many brides in 2011. The last time we saw gray so strong was the 80′s…a time of spending and consumption. Remember television shows like Dynasty and Dallas! When you are planning your wedding, want to stretch the budget dollar and give your event a more expensive look, go for related colors and use richer fabrics. Have the best of what you can afford and you will appreciate your choices for years to come. And if you would like to discuss color theory or selection, give me a call!

Rob Schaefer
Inaugural St. Louis Wedding Professional Hall of Fame Inductee

I love weddings, obviously. But what I love more is the relationships I form with my clients that last long after the wedding. With Crystal and Nick, their love and adoration was contagious; you couldn’t help but be in the same room and feel their chemistry and have a constant smile on your face. Not only because they’re hilarious, but because they have the love you think only exists in movies.

Crystal and Nick’s day was so them and they played perfectly into their favorite color of red with splashes in the tuxedos and a signature drink during their cocktail hour. Vibrant low centerpieces with red gerbera daisies alternating with tall centerpieces with branches and ivory orchids by Botanicals Design Studio offset the black and ivory linens. The ivory chair covers with long red sashes provided by Sitting Pretty/Party Arts were used for both the ceremony and reception, and mimicked the red stripes on the wedding cake by Steven Becker Fine Dining. Of course, the wedding party’s secret wardrobe change into red Converse high top sneakers for the reception literally tied it all together.

Downtime Band did an amazing job providing music for Crystal and Nick’s intimate ceremony in the South Ballroom and cocktail hour in the Grand Lobby. Downtime then kicked it up a notch and had all of the guests on the dance floor during the reception in the Coronado’s beautiful North Ballroom; that is, as long as guests weren’t off taking pictures in the traditional photobooth provided by PhotoboothStL. Of course, Lyle Whitworth Photography was there to capture every moment and detail. Congratulations Crystal and Nick, wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness!

To view pictures from Crystal and Nick’s wedding, click here to visit our Facebook page

Jaci Burgess, Catering Sales Manager for Steven Becker Fine Dining and the Coronado Ballroom