Pardon our dust, but remodel we must!

Please excuse our dust as we prepare to provide you with the latest and greatest in the Chocolate Bridal world!!
Coming soon:

The Best Summer and Spring Plans!
Guest Articles and interviews featuring REAL ChocolateBrides!
New and Interesting ideas for the DIY CB!

The writers and supporters of ChocolateBrides.com, ChocolateBridesMagazine, and ChocolateBridalBlog thank you for your continued patience and support and can't wait to bring you a new season of elegant, creative and fun topics!


Sincerely,
MochaWifey

The Newest Soon-To-Be Chocolate Bride!

Chocolatebrides.com congratulates Jennifer Hudson!

From the Associated Press:

NEW YORK (AP) — Jennifer Hudson got a big surprise on her 27th birthday: an engagement ring.
Hudson's beau, David Otunga, popped the question while celebrating the actress-singer's big day in Los Angeles on Friday, her publicist, Jessica Kolstad, said Monday.
The couple have not yet set a wedding date, Kolstad said.
Hudson won a best supporting actress Oscar in 2007 for her role in "Dreamgirls." Her film credits also include "Sex and the City" and the upcoming "The Secret Life of Bees." The "American Idol" alum will release her debut solo album Sept. 30.
Otunga appeared as a contestant nicknamed "Punk" on the VH1 reality dating show "I Love New York 2."

Congratulations Jennifer and David! Can't wait to see how beautiful of a CB you're destined to be!

My Best Friend's Wedding, and my other best friend, and my other best friend, and my other best friend....

What do you do when you have too many friends? I posed this question myself when I first joined ChocolateBrides.com, about four years ago. Traditionally, a woman had a maid of honor, a matron of honor, and then the rest were your cousins and other family members who your mother said you had to include. No one really got touchy abuot not getting an honor title because they knew that spot was reserved for your best bud or sister. But nowadays, through all of our different ways to make and maintain friendships, (your work best friends, your online best friends, your church best friends, etc), how do you construct your BP without making someone feel low on your totem pole?

1. Who ever said you HAD to have honor attendants? If you feel bad about not having an honor title for all of your friends, try dropping the whole notion. Having a good, solid crew of bridesmaids is not defined by having a MOH to boss everyone around. Let your girls work the shower, bachelorette party, etc., together!

2. Give them ALL a title. For my wedding, my husband and I gave each member of our bridal party an "Element of Marriage". We used all the things we thought were important ingredients in a strong marriage and allowed each of them to take on taht role. This worked out great because it helped me feel that everyone had a part to play, and no one would feel beneath anyone else. You can also personalize this system to suit your own bp and theme!
Here's my list if you need an example!

Element of Youthfulness
Element of Love
Element of Respect
Element of Friendship
Element of Prayer
Element of Grace
Element of Strength
Element of Humility
Element of Loyalty
Element of Devotion
Element of Faith
Element of Valor
Element of Trust
Element of Character
Element of Humor
Element of Dignity
Element of Hope
Element of Protection
Element of Honor
Element of Romance

3. Get creative. There's more than just maid of honor or matron. These days there are "Men of honor", "Maiden of honors", "Armor Bearers", etc.

4. Take away the titles and let them each contribute during the ceremony to mark their equal place in your life! Try having each bridesmaid enter, light a candle, and sit on the first pew of the church. Note in your programs that each person is responsible for creating the light in your heart. Or anything sweet and sentimental like that will do!

5. Give each of those special groups in your life, something different to be responsible for, and note them all in the programs. Ask your online buddies to honor you with being your hostesses at the reception. Allow your work best friends to coordinate your bachelorette party or girls' night out. Leave your bridal shower to your bff's. Or rearrange any of these to suit your needs!

From Shabby to Chic
Have you ever wondered how you could really make that open space look more elegant than anyone could imagine?

Well one of our very own CB'ers has posted how to dramatically change a room for pennies.

Blank Room:



Decorated Room:






Basically what you're seeing is pipe & drape, swags in the ceiling & golden uplighting for all that soft ambiance. Then the table settings are circular & retangular tables w/ linens + bustled overlay. Chiavari chairs, dark charger, envelope fold linen napkin, custom menu tucked in napkin, crystal, table number in center, scattered votives, some tables have low ivory rose rounds as centerpieces, others seem to have tall rose clusters, other tall birch apparently.

Another option...

Blank Room:



Decorated Room:




So this one's simpler w/ no ceiling swags. They did gathered swags on the wall w/ simple white uplights, 10 seater round tables w/ white linens and white Chiavari chairs. Can't tell but looks like simple white linens on the tablecloth w/ no overlay, all white on the table except pink linen napkins in a upright fan fold.

And another option....

Blank Room:



Decorated Room:






O.k. this one was a doozy! This started with wall and ceiling swags. They also have downlighting above the swags. The added custom silk light fixture covers in the side room (see the 2 bottom pictures)...those covered ugly chandeliers. Slapped down a checkerboard dance floor and small band stage and that was pretty much all for the backbone. Decor wise you're seeing rectangular tables with alternating tall and short centerpiece arrangements. Each table also had long individual candles and a couple table number cards in holders. There were silver chargers @ each place setting, white dishes, crystal stemware, i forget what color napkins :headscrat, custom menus, silvery purple linens w/ a pattern on them, silver Chiavari chairs. This was the most CROWDED table setting i'd ever done but lawd it was beauteous!

All this to say, that any room can be transformed into a beautiful arena, all on different budgets. Just as long as you have the right tools and the right company, you can do anything. Have fun!

Throwback Thursday

President and First Lady

Barack & Michelle Obama

October 18, 1992

If these two aren't THE

pivotal Chocolate Bride & Groom,

then I don't know who is.

The absolute pride and adoration shared

between these two is seen as strongly

today as it was in these pictures.

So real, so in love, so inspiring.

Congratulations on the nomination, and we'll see you at the White House!

Wedding Day Emergency Kits

We all know that we dream of the perfect wedding, but sometimes, not so perfect things may happen. Like a run in your stocking, or hair that just won't stay put AFTER your stylist leaves the premises (hint, keep your stylist around until after the formal after-ceremony photos!)

Here's a nifty list of things that you should keep close at hand just in case one of these emergencies arrives. And please, for the love of all things duchess satin and white, leave it with someone who is responsible enough to keep up with it - like say, maybe your planner?

For Clothing
1. Sewing kit with needles, thread, buttons, and safety pins
2. Toupee tape (for keeping clothes in place)
3. Scissors
4. Stick-on instant hemming tape
5. Clear nail polish (for runs)
6. White chalk (for masking stains)

From the Drugstore
1. Breath mints
2. Bandages
3. Blister protection
4. Antacid
5. Pain reliever
6. Preparation H (for undereye puffiness - told to me by a former beauty queen, now planner)

For Touch-Ups
1. Blotting papers
2. Cotton swabs
3. Tweezers
4. Emery board
5. Lip balm
6. Tissues
7. Hand lotion
8. Bobby pins
9. Comb
10. Lipstick
11. Powder
12. Small mirror
13. Nail polish in the shade you're wearing
14. Hairspray


If you all think of anything else, just leave it in the comments section for all those brides to be!

For Those of You In Love With Photography.....

We all know that there are some things that are areas of our weddings that we are not willing to negotiate on. Mine was photography. My photgrapher HAD to be excellent, and he HAD to do photojournalism. When I say that I lucked out finding him, I mean I REALLY lucked out...

The one reason that I loved my photographer so much is because he and I had the same types of ideas in our head when it came to him working with the wedding. I didn't want many formal pictures and really wanted him to catch the essence of what was going on throughout the entire day. If I had high expectations, I can assure you that he performed above and beyond them. I was at ease with his level of participation throughout the day, and when I look at my pictures I am literally thrown back into that day and loving every minute of it.

This brings me to a couple of points that most brides who are photography snobs such as myself should always remember....

Your wedding pictures will define your memories of the big day for the rest of your life, so it's very important to choose the right photographer. To help you make the best choice, we've compiled a list of 16 questions to ask potential photographers.

1. What's the photographer's primary style -- traditional, candid, or posed? (Go for someone whose forte is your favorite style.)

2. What's the photographer's philosophy about shooting weddings? (This question will give you an idea of the shutterbug's expertise and passion for his work.)

3. Does the photographer shoot in color, black and white, or both?

4. How independent is the photographer? Does she prefer that you describe exactly what you want, or would she rather have free rein to capture the festivities on film? (This point determines how you two will work together.)

5. Will the photographer you talk with be the one who actually takes your wedding pictures? (This is crucial! Each photographer's style is unique.)

6. Has the photographer shot many weddings? (Experts say a wedding neophyte is a risk. You want someone who's experienced with wedding mechanics and won't miss key moments.)

7. How many weddings will the photographer shoot on your wedding weekend (or even on your wedding day)?

8. Is the photographer open to a list of must-take photos (pictures you definitely want shot)?

9. How does the photographer determine price? By the number and kind of prints you think you'll want, the hours the photographer spends on your wedding, the developing time, or a combination of the above factors? How many rolls of film will be shot, and how many proofs and final prints will result? Are packages available? Can you get a price list?

10. What kinds of cameras does the photographer use? (This will acquaint you with the photographer's experience and knowledge.)

11. What kind of lighting and other equipment (such as tripods) does the photographer use? Does the photographer bring backup equipment in case of emergency?

12. Does the photographer develop his own film? How long does he keep negatives? Can you buy your negatives from the photographer?

13. Ask yourself: Does this seem like a person you could tolerate throughout your wedding day? You'll want to feel very comfortable around your photographer. Rapport is important with all wedding professionals, but it's crucial here!

14. Carefully examine each photographer's past work (the book). Be sure you're looking at work shot by this particular photographer, not by other professionals who work at the same studio.

15. Notice whether:

photos are framed and centered well

photos are over- or underexposed

lighting is effective

details are visible

people look comfortable and relaxed

16. Call references and ask:

Were you satisfied overall?

Did the photographer get the shots you wanted?

Has the photographer responded promptly to orders?

Once you've found a photographer with the skill set, style, vision, and personality you're looking for, you'll need to agree on a contract.

Some people believe that a good wedding photographer ONLY photographs weddings. I don't particularly believe that frame of thought, but then again, that is just me. I believe that a true photographer can catch moments in time just as they are supposed to be caught, whether you are wearing a wedding dress, or posing with your family.

Have fun when choosing a photographer and make sure that every penny that you spend is worth it!