As you plan your wedding, don't forget to also think about home decor.

While many brides and grooms choose to use a helpful registry guide provided by their selected stores, we’d like to make a few recommendations beyond the basics too.

Today find which style best suits you and your fiancé. Then make sure to add these kitchen items to your personal, original gift registry, wherever you choose to go.

Eclectic

• Wine Decanter: Cultivate the best flavor every time you serve fruit of the vine, whether it’s a date for two or a gathering of close friends.
• Mango Wood Bowl and Serving Tray: While hand-painted china is artistic, these down-to-earth pieces made of renewable resources most reflect your style.
• Mortar and Pestle: Chances are you’re not the usual cooks. Try this tool to grind spices, nuts, and grains to create internationally inspired cuisine.

Cool and Classy

• Espresso Machine: Start your day in the right direction. Wake up with a shot of espresso and homemade java, complete with a sleek travel mug.
• Kitchen-Aid Stand Mixer: Since it’s easy to use and easy to clean, you’ll be able to whip up just about anything. When not in use, it provides a great splash of color to any kitchen countertop.
• Multi-Tier Cupcake Tray: Impress your guests, and create a convenient way to display desserts for scrumptious dinner parties.

Traditional

• Fine China: Just because Mom only used it for holidays doesn’t mean you have to regulate your china too. Enjoy these dishes on every special occasion, including family meals and date nights.
• CrockPot: Whether you’re a dedicated homemaker or working woman, this kitchen staple will provide hundreds of meals with little stress and great flavor.
• Sugar Bowl and Creamer: Treat yourself and your guests with these dainty pieces every time you serve tea or coffee. Now was that one lump or two?

Party Hearty

• Ice Bucket: As the life of the party, you and your groom are bound to host big dinners, Superbowl parties, or barbeques at your home. Be prepared with an ice bucket and tongs that you can set up near the Guinness glasses.
• Roasting Pan: Whether you’re preparing a holiday turkey for the in-laws or getting ready for Monday Night Football, you’ll want a pan to make meaty meals that feed many mouths.
• Ceramic Platters: Serve those hearty meals and nosh-worthy snacks on colorful ceramics to keep the party going.

Minimalist

Just as you'd choose a style for your wedding, select a personal style for your kitchen accessories.

• Stainless Steel Cookware: Bold, sleek, and able to take the heat, stainless steel cookware delivers exactly what you need to make meals without all the frills.
• Electric Fondue Set: With an adjustable thermostat and nonstick interior, you’ll minimize the time needed for prep and cleaning. Plus, you’ll be able to share in a host of small snacks with big impact.
• Glass Pitcher: Keep it simple, clear, and clean with a tall, glass pitcher to serve chilled water whenever guests arrive.

Brides and grooms, want to register for these kitchen items? Then visit Bridal Spectacular’s website, and view our recommended wedding gift registry stores, like Kohl’s; Macy’s; Bed, Bath, and Beyond; and Dillard’s. Pick one or two places, and start your registries as soon as possible. Happy shopping!

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Planning a Las Vegas wedding? Save the date for March 16, 2012, to attend Veils, Tails, & Cocktails, a new boutique bridal show at ARIA Resort and Casino. Buy tickets online through Bridal Spectacular’s website, and receive the early-bird discount with promo code: Ally. Tickets also available for $15.00 at the door.

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Author: Allyson Siwajian © 2012

Photographs: Allyson Siwajian

Platinum Hotel and Spa's ceremonies offer a panoramic view of the Las Vegas Strip.

“We’re close the attractions without the distractions,” Nicole Mehlhaff, Catering Sales Manager at Platinum Hotel and Spa, said in a recent interview with Bridal Spectacular. “We’re a small boutique property, [and] we’re within walking distance to the Strip.”

Through its location, Platinum provides brides, grooms, and guests the opportunity to experience all Vegas has to offer on the famed Strip. But for the wedding day, brides and grooms will be enveloped in a relaxing environment and treated to a custom ceremony and reception.

“It’s a very high-end, intimate wedding experience for them,” Mehlhaff said.

This atmosphere begins with Platinum’s preferred ceremony and reception venues.

“We have the Misora Room and Rooftop Terrace that has floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Strip,” Mehlhaff said. “The ceremony takes place outside on the rooftop, and you come inside for dinner. Then you go back outside on the rooftop for dancing. So you have the outdoor, panoramic views of the Strip.”

In addition to this sky-high rooftop experience, Platinum also offers its poolside premises to brides and grooms.

The Kil@wat pool deck also presents the perfect opportunity for fun, intimate receptions.

“Then we have the Kil@wat venue and pool deck,” Mehlhaff said. “We have ceremonies out on the pool deck, and there’s fire pits out on the pool deck as well.”

But while these creative environments deliver unique weddings, that’s not all Platinum offers to design a custom experience. Brides and grooms also receive the options of an a la carte package, which allows couples to only book location and catering with Platinum, or an all-inclusive package, which includes every vendor for the wedding day for less-stress planning. But even within the all-inclusive package, Platinum’s team gives much-needed flexibility.

“If I have a bride that has a friend who’s a photographer, then [she] can still have the all-inclusive package but take out the photography,” Mehlhaff said. “I just find out exactly what the brides need and customize.”

Through customizations and customer service, Platinum consistently delivers stress-free weddings that reflect each unique couple.

“We handle everything,” Mehlhaff said. “We’ll put out the wedding favors for them. We’ll gather all their stuff at the end of the night and have it delivered to their suite. … If the groom likes a certain liquor, we might use that as an amenity. We try to tailor our amenities to certain things that the bride and groom mentioned throughout the planning process.”

Platinum Hotel and Spa won the Dazzle Award for decor at Bridal Spectacular's bridal show.

From the beginning to the end of the wedding planning process, Platinum covers every detail alongside its brides and grooms to give that Vegas experience within a relaxed atmosphere.

“It’s a luxury wedding,” Mehlhaff said. “It’s all taken care of for you.”

With Platinum’s dedicated wedding coordination team, luxurious venues, no hidden fees, available guest suites, and the allure of the nearby Las Vegas Strip, everyone will love their experience when they choose to party at Platinum for their Las Vegas weddings!

For more information about Platinum Hotel and Spa, please contact Nicole Mehlhaff at 702-636-2430 or visit the Platinum’s website. To learn more about additional Las Vegas wedding venues, please visit the official website of Bridal Spectacular.

Mention the Bridal Spectacular Blog when you book at Platinum Hotel and Spa.

Author: Allyson Siwajian © 2012

Photographs: last image by Allyson Siwajian; first images provided by Nicole Mehlhaff of Platinum Hotel.

Every Friday on TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress, Randy Fenoli makes brides’ fantasies come true. He’s the ultimate FOB (friend-of-the-bride), one of the most trusted names in bridal fashion and every bride-to-be wants to work with him. But what’s a girl to do if her budget doesn’t include a trip to New York?

Never fear. It’s Randy to the Rescue: The Ultimate Bridal Event!

Randy shared with the brides how important it is to make the wedding their own and to feel truly beautiful on their wedding day. Then a select group of brides had appointments to try on wedding dresses from a collection of 200 wedding gowns from top designers. They had an experience that is normally only available to brides who travel to New York for the Kleinfeld experience. TLC is traveling the country on a 7 city tour with a semi-loaded with wedding gowns and all the accroutements needed to recreate the atmosphere they would feel in New York.

“The Wedding Guys” Matthew Trettle and Bruce Vassar bring all the elements together required to make the production a truly amazing one.  Long time friends of this bridal show producer, I was excited to be involved in helping to bring local vendors into the mix to talk with the brides as they waited for their private appointments with Randy Fenoli.

Spectacular Bride was joined with Las Vegas wedding professionals Couture Bride, Naakiti Floral Design, Ron Miller Photography, Shutter Booth, Amelia C & Company, Visionary Pen, and Simple Elegance in Cake Design as we watched brides selecting and saying “Yes  to their dresses”.  Both local brides to be and destination brides were participants in this fun day of shopping for their wedding.

Enjoy the photos from this once is a lifetime opportunity for Las Vegas brides and vendors!  I’m certain this is a day we will long remember!

Planning a Wedding, if you missed this event, don’t worry….Veils, Tails & Cocktails is coming to the ARIA Resort & Casino on March 16.  Enjoy an elegant evening with your groom to be, friends and family planning your wedding.  Signature Cocktails and Hors D’eouvres will be served. Tickets now available on line – early bird savings of $5 with promocode Ally, Tickets at the door $15.

“Boudoir photography is in lingerie,” Sue Altenburg of Altenburg Studio said at Bridal Spectacular’s bridal show. “It’s usually done as a wedding gift or for Valentine’s Day or first anniversary. The pin-up photography is in outfits that look more like 1920s, ‘30s, ‘40s, like the retro look.”

This pin-up bride wears a 1940s vintage wedding dress. (Image by Altenburg Studio)

While a bride can choose either pin-up or boudoir, all the photography takes place within safe studio staffed entirely by women. Through this approach, brides feel more comfortable and confident as they prepare for their portrait sessions.

“We work with Amelia C. Hair and Makeup, and we have the hair and makeup done for them,” Altenburg said of the first step to the bride’s boudoir process. “Having the hair and makeup done gets them a little relaxed. … Then they choose their outfits.”

With Altenburg Studio, each bride may have as many as six outfit changes in a single portrait session.

“We have a lot of outfits,” Altenburg said of her studio, “but most people like to bring in some things of their own to make it more personal.”

Whichever way a bride decides, Altenburg Studio respects her choices, creates an appropriate environment, and ensures that every woman photographed will look her absolute best.

“We make sure everything stays put,” Altenburg said. “We watch always through photo sessions to make sure things are laying well. Then if there is little malfunction, we can always do retouching to fix that.”

Before any retouching is completed, Altenburg Studio checks with a bride to learn what she’d like to see for her photos. If she wants to bare it all, then Altenburg allows her to fully embrace her sensuality. If she’d like to keep certain areas covered within the photographs, then Altenburg will make sure that bride’s wishes are honored too. But while Altenburg can retouch for these elements, her studio can also retouch any photograph to remove any unwanted blemishes.

Image by Altenburg Studio

“It’s whatever the person wants,” Altenburg said. “So we can remove things like cellulite, stretch marks, veins, lines, wrinkles, blemishes. We can also do a little body-shaping. … Or if you get that little bump by your bra strap, we can take that off.”

With professional photo-editing skills and a trained eye, Altenburg and her team have years of experience creating the perfect imagery for every client. Then once a bride has received her completed images, she is able to present them to her groom for a moment to remember.

“A lot of them make really nice wedding gifts, from the bride to the groom,” Altenburg said of brides’ boudoir photographs. “It makes a super gift to have in the honeymoon suite. I’ve [even] had girls who have had it delivered right before they go down the aisle, which is fun.”

Through such intimate images, a bride can give her groom a gift he’ll cherish even beyond the wedding night. Also, to complement this gift, a bride who chooses Altenburg Studio receives the security that this precious gift will be seen by her husband’s eyes only.

“I always tell girls, if you’re going to have something like this done, it’s good to go to a really well-established studio,” Altenburg said. “I do [photograph] a lot of people who are teachers or police officers or things where if the photos were shown, it could affect their jobs. So with our studio, you don’t get used as a sample unless you sign written permission. And you want to make sure that you’re covered with that in any studio that you go to.”

Image by Altenburg Studio

As a family business in Las Vegas since 1972, Altenburg Studio has gained an impeccable reputation to deliver high-quality images to brides, to treat women with the utmost respect, and to always encourage a safe environment.

“We always want to make sure people are safe, that they’re comfortable, and that your privacy is going to be respected in these kind of photos,” Altenburg said.

As their team continues to maintain that standard, Altenburg Studio also offers a relaxing atmosphere where brides can enjoy their opportunities to create these special images.

“People have a really good time,” Altenburg said.

Las Vegas brides, for a fun experience that results in the perfect groom’s gift, select Altenburg Studio for boudoir and pin-up portraiture. Contact Sue Altenburg and her team at 702-252-7557, or visit their website to view their portfolio.

For more information about recommended Las Vegas wedding photographers, please visit the official website of Bridal Spectacular.

Author: Allyson Siwajian © 2012

Photographs: Altenburg Studio  (View the variety of their boudoir images through their website.)

With a bridal show history that dates to 1991, Bridal Spectacular hosts the professional experience and industry connections to provide quality care to every bride. But while we’re well-established, we also pride ourselves on creating experiences that cater to the modern bride. From our bridal shows to our magazines, from our resources to our partnering wedding vendors, from our décor displays to our fashion shows, everything we do revolves around giving you the best experiences!

Attend this Bridal Spectacular experience on March 16.

Las Vegas brides, while you may have heard of our renowned semi-annual bridal shows at Cashman Convention Center, today we’d like to introduce you to our latest endeavor: Veils, Tails, & Cocktails, a boutique Bridal Spectacular experience.

Veils, Tails, & Cocktails: Las Vegas’ New, Elegant Bridal Show

Designed for Valentine’s Day and early spring engagements, Bridal Spectacular’s team created a new bridal show called Veils, Tails, & Cocktails for March 16, 2012. But unlike our bustling bridal shows in January and August each year, this experience is intended to be more intimate.

Hosted in ARIA Resort and Casino’s Pinyon Ballroom in Las Vegas’ CityCenter, this bridal show will be defined by elegance, sophistication, and high fashion. Most of all, this boutique experience will allow for wedding planning progress, like you’ve never seen before in the world’s wedding capital.

Vendor Shopping with Industry Professionals

Amidst an elegant atmosphere, you’ll have the opportunity to accomplish wedding planning in a unique, one-stop-shopping experience. This show will host the Vegas wedding industry’s top professionals from every vital category, including wedding venues, photography, music and entertainment, cinematography, bridal beauty, wedding party attire, floral décor, cakes and catering, and more.

Witness the latest designer fashions at our new bridal show.

Complimentary Cocktails and Hors D’oeuvres

While you meet with wedding vendors and discover which professionals best fit your wedding styles, allow our team to treat you. We’ll supply complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a special, signature cocktail to everyone in attendance.

Designer Fashion Show

While relaxation reigns supreme at this luxury bridal show, we’re allowing you to find even more reasons to attend with our breathtaking fashion show. Through designer bridal gowns and additional attire for the entire wedding party, we’ll display the latest fashions with this focus: modern, original, and couture. For brides with this sense of style, you may find your wedding gown by the end of the evening.

Time and Ticket Information

To attend Veils, Tails, & Cocktails, please save the date for Friday, March 16, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. You can buy tickets for admission at the door, or you can securely purchase online tickets in advance and save. Use Promo Code –   Ally – to save $5.00 on each ticket. To do so, please visit our website: Las Vegas Bridal Shows. Remember parking at Aria is free of charge.

Proceeds Donated to Nonprofit: Wish Upon A Wedding

Lastly as a boutique bridal show, Veils, Tails, & Cocktails has partnered with nonprofit organization Wish Upon A Wedding, which grants wedding wishes to couples who face life-altering circumstances. For every bridal show ticket purchased online, Bridal Spectacular will donate a portion of the proceeds to Wish Upon A Wedding’s Las Vegas chapter.

Congratulations on your upcoming weddings, brides and grooms! We look forward to becoming part of your planning processes through Veils, Tails, & Cocktails.

Author: Allyson Siwajian © 2012

Photographs: Logo by Laura Covington and Bridal Spectacular, Photo by Allyson Siwajian

Order a copy of Spectacular Bride! (Cover Photo: D. Tyler Photography)

With this photo shoot, we wanted to capture the essence of a modern bride in a traditional, romantic setting. But, Las Vegas brides, that wasn’t our only goal. We also crafted this special shoot to give you opportunities to discover vendors for your Las Vegas weddings.

Through our blog posts and our original magazine spread “Fashion Shoot Through the Lens of Ten Photographers,” you’ll see talent-in-action from every vendor who participated. From the photographers’ characteristic styles to the unique work of each beauty professional, you can discover which vendors you would best like for your weddings.

Also, with twenty bridal gowns, you can find dress designs you’d like to try for your own special days. But, brides, you won’t have to travel to New York for the styles displayed in Spectacular Bride. Instead, you can find all of these bridal gowns locally, which allows you the freedom and confidence to select a dress with no complications.

Brides, if you haven’t already viewed our first segment in this series, please read our blog post: “Ravella Fashion Shoot features skilled photographers, breathtaking bridal gowns, and talented beauty professionals.”

Then dive into this next segment to discover even more photographs, including several images exclusive to our blog. As the completion to our Ravella Fashion Shoot series, today we present the final photographs of these spectacular brides!

Orange Soda Photo

Amidst Ravella’s rich architecture and sparkling strings of lights, these individual brides ignite the night.

Image by Orange Soda Photo

• Model (left): Alyssa Mayhew, Hair and Make-Up: Your Beauty Call, Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Couture Bride
• Model (center): Alex Long, Hair and Make-Up: Amelia C. and Co., Dress: Vera Wang from Couture Bride
• Model (right): Rachel Steffensen, Hair and Make-Up: Hair’z Melinda, Dress: Alita Graham for Kleinfeld from Couture Bride

Knight Sounds Photography

With an embroidered, scalloped-edge veil and simple metallic shoes, this bride’s soft accessories accent her natural beauty.

Image by Knight Sounds Photography

• Model: Alyssa Mayhew, Hair and Make-Up: Your Beauty Call, Dress: Vera Wang from David’s Bridal

Dave Lite Photography

For carefree brides who aren’t bound by convention, experiment with a one-shoulder-strap wedding dress or even walk the aisle barefoot.

Image by Dave Lite Photography

• Model: Rachel Steffensen, Hair and Make-Up: Hair’z Melinda, Dress: Galina Signature from David’s Bridal

Alt F

Through rich, warm tones and dramatic lighting, this bridal portrait emphasizes a regal tone and a bride’s sultry side.

Image by AltF

• Model (left): Alyssa Mayhew, Hair and Make-Up: Your Beauty Call, Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Couture Bride
• Model (right): Alex Long, Hair and Make-Up: Amelia C. and Co., Dress: Vera Wang from Couture Bride

Cardin Creative Photography

Elegant and sweet, this bride’s birdcage veil, long curls, and light make-up coordinate perfectly with her lace-laden trumpet gown.

Image by Cardin Creative Photography

• Model: Rachel Steffensen, Hair and Make-Up: Hair’z Melinda, Dress: San Patric from Bridal Elegant

LorenzFoto

Enveloped in Ravella’s luxurious, Mediterranean setting, this fashion-savvy bridal portrait provides a look into the romance of Las Vegas weddings, from the venue’s expansive sophistication to the gown’s ornate features.

Image by LorenzFoto

• Model: Alex Long, Hair and Make-Up: Amelia C. and Co., Dress: Allure from Bowties Bridal

Create your own Experience:

Brides, if you enjoyed these images, then return to where it all began! Order a complimentary copy of this season’s Spectacular Bride Las Vegas wedding planning magazine through Bridal Spectacular’s official website. Once you do, we’ll send you the magazine as soon as possible.

With your own copy of the Ravella shoot, you can bring the magazine with you when you visit featured vendors. Show them your favorite elements, and discuss how they can create a similar experience for you. Soon you’ll have the wedding of your dreams, complete with the professionals who can make your beautiful ideas into a blossoming reality!

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Special offer: Remember to also order tickets for Veils, Tails, and Cocktails, an elegant bridal show at Aria Resort and Casino on March 16, 2012. Buy tickets today with promo code “Valentine” to receive two tickets for the price of one (offer expires 2/15/2012).

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Author: Allyson Siwajian © 2012