J Hud Sets A Wedding Date

Jennifer Hudson announced last week on the Ryan Seacrest show that she is moving forward with her wedding plans. Jennifer is engaged to David Otunga. (we don't care what anyone says, David is a cutie!)
Congratulations Jennifer! You are going to make one beautiful Chocolate Bride! Ummmm....can we come to the wedding? Nah....just joking...but not really though.

A Theme With Such Regality!

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Just when we thought that we had explored every color combination for a wedding, we found this dazzling Peacock Theme.  Having a Peacock colored theme can give a bride a unique opportunity to incorporate an irridescent shimmer to her color scheme. The possibilities are endless...from turquoise, different shades of green and blues adding a touch of silver or gray. This theme definitely has earned 2 CB snaps and a finger roll.

Notable Quotable

"I definitely respect and understand people's curiosity, but people, they have to trust me when I speak on my truth...If I say to you, 'I don't have an open marriage,' 'No, we're not gay,' and you don't trust that, well then there's nothing that I really have to say to anybody about anything, because at the end of the day, I'm living my life, and I'm happy."

-- Jada Pinkett Smith addressing rumors about her marriage to actor Will Smith.

New Stuff on Chocolate Brides Radio

((DRUMROLL PLEASE))

Chocolate Brides is PLEASE to announce a new feature on Chocolate Brides Radio! Not only are we excited about this 'new feature', we're extra excited about it's host!

Be sure to tune in Thursdays at 9PM for THE HONEYMOON SUITE hosted by Mike SMOOTH. Everything mellow, romantic & smooth will be played in the Honeymoon Suite! Be sure to check him out!

The CB Unique Idea Of The Week

Aren't these portraits adorable??  The good folks at Picture Yourself can take your childhood photographs and create these beautifully unique portraits.  You can personalize your wedding day and incorporate it into anything! They even have cake toppers!  Kudos to Picture Yourself!

Black Marriage Day

On my way to church this morning, I turned on the radio while Bob Slade of 98.7 KISS FM was talking about Chocolate Brides! After I nearly fainted, I continued to listen to an interview with Nisa I. Muhammad as she explained a concept called, Black Marriage Day which is March 22, 2009.

Naturally, we're a little frustrated...as we definitely could have put together a HUGE event in honor of Black Marriage Day. We're just learning about BMD. Maybe next year?

In the meantime, be sure to check out their website at www.BlackMarriageDay.Com

MochaWifey's Random thoughts "Get your head in the game!"

When I hear of a newly engaged bride, I usually offer my congratulations, some starting points on the wedding planning process, and OF COURSE hand them a copy of the CB Mag and a link to the messageboard {wink}. There is so much excitement in those first few weeks of engagement. The elation of being engaged generally propels new brides into a dead-on planning mode that is just full of smiles and relaxed joy. However, often by the time the bride has reached the first disappointment of the planning cycle; trying on a dress that doesn't fit her the way she imagined, or finding out that the church is booked on the date she's always dreamed of, there is some disturbance in the way she once looked at planning. Many brides will reach, "the wall", and just shut down. I can understand. However, as my mother would say, "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show!" Get up, dust yourself off, and get your head in the game! Don't let the disappointments that come with planning discourage you or knock you off track! Get motivated, remember why you're doing all this in the first place, remember it is okay to take a break once in a while, and then jump back in the game. Oh, and if you you need some more motivation, I know this great messageboard where supportive women will just take you right i-....oh, you already know that don't you? {wink}

Kudos To Gray Photography!

gray photography

It been nearly 6 years since our wedding and I STILL regret hiring a mediocre wedding photographer. He was a sweet guy (bless his little heart) - but he didn't do a good job at capturing our wedding day. (and he wasn't cheap either!) Ladies....let this be a lesson to you. Research, research and research your wedding photographer prior to paying that deposit.

In actuality, this isn't what this blog entry was about. I actually intended to give major props to Gray Photography in Nashville, TN for doing such a spectacular job at capturing all of the special moments of the following wedding. THIS is a great example of a photographer who really knows his stuff! Great job!

CLICK HERE

Is Kimora The Latest Celebrity Chocolate Bride?

Apparently - - -

Allegedly - -

Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou are married! According to the New York Daily News, a source close to the pair has revealed that, Kimora and her Dijmon were married over the summer on a transcontinental trip to Hounsou’s native Benin, Africa − but they couldn’t make it official in the U.S. because Kimora was still technically married to Russell Simmons at the time; that divorce was finalized on Jan 28, 2009.

“Both Kimora and Djimon wore traditional dashikis,” says the close source. “She went whole hog with the African theme − there were African drums, a traditional ceremony with dancers . . . they even had a hut!”

Well shut my mouf! If it's true, a huge congratulations are in order! If it's not true, well congratulations anyway! (Kimora's preggo!)

So Many Ideas...So Little Time!

I feel like I've been depriving all of you out there.  There are so many beautiful ideas out there for your upcoming wedding and I have a responsibility to bring them all to you....but at times I feel like I'm not working fast enough! Check THIS out:

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This is called, WEDDING GRAFFITI. What a magnificent way to personalize your wedding day!  (I LOVE this idea. Wow.) The lettering comes on very thin pieces of matte vinyl that look printed when you apply it to a smooth surface.  Too, too cool.  Click >>HERE<< to find out more!

How President Obama Is Ruining My Marriage

I found the following blog entry at BlackAndMarriedWithKids.Com. They reposted this from TheYoungMommyLife.Com Definitely show both blogs some love at your earliest convenience! This is some GREAT food for thought!

How President Obama Is Ruining My Marriage

It’s very inspiring to see a couple who love and respect each other as much as President Obama and Michelle Obama do. It’s clear in every interaction that they are each other’s best friend, and closest confidante. Their public displays of affection (including the “terrorist fist jab”) are legendary. They’re always hugging and kissing and gazing lovingly at each other.

But seeing their public love fest every day is making me grumpy.

Take Inauguration Day, for example. My husband and I watched as the new president and first lady made appearances at all 10 official balls. As we watched them dance over and over again, I got a little misty eyed. I looked over at the love of my life as he lay on the couch and I got inspired. I stood up and reached out my hand. “Honey, would you like to dance with me?”

Now, I will say that it was about 11 p.m. at this point. His response? “Nope, I don’t feel like dancing.” And with that, he rolled over on the couch and closed his eyes as if he was going to sleep.

I’m heated. “You know, President Obama would never say no to Michelle,” I huff. He kind of opens one eye, laughs and goes back to sleep.

I turn back to the TV, with a bit of jealousy mixing in with my emotional high. “He just made his wife First Lady, but I can’t get my husband to get off the #@$%^&!% couch,” I mutter to myself. I catch President Obama smile when he looks at his wife, like it’s the first time he’s seen her today, even though she’s been right by his side for the past 24 hours. That’s true love, I think to myself.

But what we don’t see is how they got there.

No one really talks about the years of stress they endured to get to this point. Remember, this isn’t a newlywed couple up there on the national stage. They’ve been together for more than 16 years. They know each other inside and out.

All we see now is the end result of years of hard work. All the airing of hurt feelings, the silent treatments, the shouting matches, the exasperation of trying to communicate when you really just want to be left alone – we missed all that. We’re late to the party.

One of the most inspiring chapters in President Obama’s book, The Audacity of Hope, was the last chapter where we talked about his family life and the struggles in his marriage. How the burden of parenthood often fell on Michelle; how his ambition often took him away from the family for extended periods of time and left Michelle feeling like a single mother; how she could hardly disguise her anger toward him at times and would turn her cheek away when he leaned in for a kiss. It was inspiring because it goes to show that we all can turn a marriage around and make it the envy of a nation.

Whenever I get mad at my husband, who has held that title for all of 21 months, I have to remember that we’re still in the pre-game warm-ups part of marriage (to use a sports analogy). We haven’t even reached game time, let alone being on the same team with two minutes left in the game.

We don’t have our clutch game together yet, like Barack and Michelle do. But we will. It just takes years of practice to make it look so easy.

Tara Pringle Jefferson is a freelance writer from Ohio, where she lives with her husband and two kids. Visit her blog, TheYoungMommyLife.com, for daily musings about the issues young moms face.

How'd They Do That?

I stumbled across this stunningly beautiful centerpiece which includes an arrangement of roses submerged underwater. How in the world did they do that? Beautiful.

Chocolate Brides Makes It To Oprah's Radio Network!

Well...

What can I say.

I was (and still am) in TOTAL & COMPLETE shock.

The phone rang and the caller ID said, "HEARST". Hearst is the company that publishes O Magazine. I am VERY familiar with Hearst because I've only been stalking them for the past 4 years or so trying to get them to buy into Chocolate Brides Magazine.

LONG STORY SHORT....Gayle read the Daily News article and was interested in having me do an interview the following day. I fell out. I rolled around on the floor....I laughed....I cried....I was a mess.

I had JUST taken out some braids that were 3 months old and my hair was LITERALLY a mess. I hadn't planned on perming for a couple of days to give my scalp a rest....but suddenly, I found myself running up the street to get my hair done cause I didn't want to scare the beejeezus out of Gayle.

FAST FORWARD....

Although I am a 'communicator' by trade...and I am no stranger to the 'lights, camera, action' of a broadcast studio....I thought that I would be horribly nervous. But believe it or not, I don't think I've EVER been so calm and relaxed. My heart didn't skip a beat...I didn't sweat...I felt beautiful...I even felt thin like in as a size 6 thin. (don't ask me about that one) I was so unbelievably calm. I had NEVER FELT this type of peace. EVER.

We arrived early. I drank some green tea. I thanked God for the opportunity. When they called me into the studio, I picked up a couple of copies of the CB Magazine to show to Gayle, and skipped down the hallway to meet Oprah's best friend.

We hugged. We smiled. We chatted like 2 old girlfriends. I exhaled...and before I knew it, it was over.

Bottom line....without YOU...there is NO CB. So I want to thank YOU...the CB... for making that interview possible. I have already claimed in the name of JESUS that that opportunity will blossom into something even bigger and better than anything that my imagination visualize. This aint about me OR Eugene.....It's about YOU. The Chocolate Bride. The reader. The supporter. Thanks for riding with me. I promise that wherever CB takes me....I'm taking you with me. Please continue to keep CB in your prayers!

Click HERE to listen to the interview!

Friday/Sunday vs Saturday

My girlfriend called me last week to tell me that she was engaged. In her mind, I must be a wedding expert or something because she had a million questions for me! LOL!

The first question that she had for me was about Friday/Sunday weddings vs. Saturday weddings.

If she decides to have her wedding on a Friday or a Sunday, she will reap several rewards: both financial and otherwise. She will save time, a probably a significant amount of money and she'll find that her guests will appreciate having a Saturday free to spend time with her and other guests they know.

For Friday or Sunday weddings, the majority of banquet facilities, photographers, limo companies, etc are much more willing to negotiate in order to reach a price that suites her budget. Vendors tend to see Friday and Sunday as bonus days. Savings on these services can really add up, making this a fantastic option to save money without having to sacrifice the quality of her wedding.

A Friday evening wedding with a ceremony followed by dinner can possibly avoid the extra cost and hassle of a cocktail party. Having the ceremony and reception back to back may ensure more people at the ceremony. Additionally, a Friday/Sunday wedding can free up at least one day of the weekend which can make your guests more appreciative of the extra time, especially if they are traveling.

We Interrupt The Bridal Talk To Bring You....

FYI - Oprah has never, ever, ever, EVER shared an O cover with anyone. When I can find the words, I'll be back because to say how FLY this is may be an understatement. Whew!