Candy Girl!

Wedding Candy Buffet

The Candy Buffet has GOT to be one of my favorite wedding trends. They bring out our childish inner-spirits and are a great way to thank guests for attending your wedding.

In addition to candy buffets being a great wedding favor, it is an extremely fun wedding decoration.

Here are a few basic ideas on how to create the PERFECT Candy Buffet:

* The first thing you need to do is find some great candy containers and candy scoops. You can rent containers (check with your wedding planner, florist, or rental shop for ideas and options) or you can purchase them at your local craft store. Oops...let me not forget EBay!

* You should definitely obtain clear containers. They showcase your candy selections and have a charming appeal.

* Be creative. The sky is the limit when it comes to how you want to present your candy buffet.

* In addition to your candy jars and candy selections, you will want to decorate the table. Consider including:

* A table runner in one of your wedding colors
* Flowers & flower petals
* Candles
* Decor that matches your theme
* Childhood pictures of the bride and groom

* One of the easiest ways to bring style to your candy buffet display is to put your candy jars at different levels. Raise the containers to different heights by putting books or other supporting materials under the table cloth. Your wedding caterer or cake designer may also have dessert stands you can rent for the evening to achieve the leveled look.

* When making your candy selections, consider several things – your wedding colors, your theme, and your candy favorites.

* Use your wedding colors to inspire your candy selections. You don’t have to stay true to the colors you selected for the rest of the wedding, but it is a great way to tie it all together.

* The thing to remember with color is that it makes a difference – whatever colors you select. Candy buffets with coordinated colors look much better than random-colored candy selections.

* Incorporating some details from your wedding theme can help make your candy favors even more memorable. Asian theme? Include fortune cookies. Winter wedding? How about white-chocolate covered pretzels?

* What was your favorite childhood candy? Candy bracelets, ring pops, now and laters, Boston Baked Beans? Do a simple Google search for nostalgic candy. You'll be surprised at what you can find!

* Plan by how you want the display to look, not how many guests are coming. Having enough candy is crucial in making your candy buffet look good.

* First, determine how many jars and types of candies you want. I recommend 7-10 (or more, depending on budget) types of candies. Buy 15-20 pounds of each variety.

* The more the merrier holds true in a wedding candy buffet. Something this cool demands a presence and having plenty of candy will ensure your candy buffet display looks great!

* A wedding candy buffet is a great do-it-yourself favor that your guests will not soon forget. Make sure to include favor boxes or bags so they have something to put their candy selections in. Once again, Ebay is a wonderful resource for finding inexpensive bag or box choices.

* Make your guests literally feel like a kid in a candy store when they join in the celebration of your wedding.


A few candy websites:

* www.candywarehouse.com
* www.blaircandy.com
* www.groovycandies.com
* www.sweetnostalgia.com
* www.hometownfavorites.com
* www.oldtimecandy.com

India Arie...New Album...New Man...New Attitude

The very beautiful, talented India Arie is gracing the cover of this week's Jet Magazine.

India talks candidly about how she grew weary competition as well as the need to have her music categorized, and, as she calls it “the politics of the music industry.” “I was planning on what to do with my money, what I would do to make it grow. I really was going to retire,” she told Jet magazine.

“I’ve learned that music is a challenge, not a competition. I released the fear of chart positions and album sales, and reconnected with the love of music and the love of the listener and the love of myself again.”

India has a new man in her life who helped her come to this realization. Congrats India! Love is something else, aint it?

Chocolate Brides Radio Made The Paper!

Wow. We don't have the words! A BIG CB hug and a kiss to David Hinckley for writing an article about Chocolate Brides Radio in today's NY Daily News! We are SO excited! Click HERE to read the article in it's entirety!

Throwback Thursday

Special thanks to PeeJay from ChocolateBrides.Com for sharing this BEAUTIFUL video of her grandparents!

Taraji's Look

We really loved Taraji's look at the Oscars this past weekend! In fact, this would make a GREAT wedding look! New York-based celebrity hair stylist, Dante Blandshaw shares expert tips on how he used Aveda products to achieve Taraji P. Henson’s look for the Oscar Awards:

• “I started with Aveda Brilliant Shampoo and Aveda Brilliant Conditioner to soften Taraji’s textured hair,” said Blandshaw. “I love the Aveda Brilliant line because it provides a smooth shine to textured hair and reduces blow dry time.”

• Prep hair with Aveda Brilliant Damage Control to protect from heat styling.

• Blow dry hair straight using a paddle brush.

• After blow drying, add a dime-sized amount of Aveda Brilliant Universal Styling Creme to add additional shine without weighing hair down.

• Flat-iron hair to create the foundation for a smooth, sleek red carpet look.

• Using 1.5” and 2” barrel curling irons, curl hair throughout to give bend and movement, accenting the layers in the cut.

• Slightly curl the front to create a soft, side-swept bang for added height and fullness.

• Comb hair through with a wide-tooth comb.

• Spray with Aveda Air Control Hair Spray for a light finish. “Aveda Air Control Hair Spray is a perfect complement to this look because its lightweight formula provides lasting hold and shine without weighing hair down,” said Blandshaw.

Disney unveils dolls for The Princess and the Frog

These dolls would make great flowergirl gifts!!!




There was a royal debut for a line of dolls inspired by Disney’s first Black princess.

Disney Consumer Products unveiled the line of dolls inspired by its forthcoming film The Princess and the Frog in New York on Monday.

The film, set in New Orleans, stars Princess Tiana, who is Disney’s first Black princess (voiced by Dreamgirls star Anika Noni Rose). “It really is a dream come true for me in reality,“ Anika said of her role.

Anika (who already looks like a Disney princess) was there for the big reveal at the American International Toy Fair. She seemed almost moved to tears when she was presented with a one-of-a kind Princess Tiana doll created especially for her by Mattel.

There are a few different versions of the Princess Tiana doll, which will no doubt grace catalogs and commercials alike this holiday season. Fortunately, the dolls will be pretty affordable; they’re expected to retail for $10 to $15.Did we mention that Oprah is voicing Tiana's mom in the movie?

Seeing the dolls for The Princess and The Frog almost makes us wish we were still young enough to play with them.

The full line of toys boasts vivid, bayou-inspired tones of blue, green, gold and purple. According to Disney, more items in the line will be released later, including playsets, costumes and colorful accessories.

The Princess and the Frog marks a return to Disney's classic 2-D animation and should be released some time during the holiday season. The film has been generating buzz since the project was announnced back in 2007. Since then, it has undergone some script changes. For example, Tiana used be a chambermaid named Maddie (no...really).

Article by Sonya Eskridge

Hors D'oeuvres Done The Right Way!

When I told friends and family that I intended to serve bite sized macaroni and cheese balls, collard greens served in mini plates and spicy wings butler style at a party that I was hosting a couple of months back, they all gave me strange looks. In actuality, it turned out to be one of the most unique, cost effective ways to serve food at a party.  We were expecting over 300 guests and we really didn't have the budget nor space to do a sit down dinner for all of those people. 

Food & beverage will probably be the one thing that will drain your wedding budget. So why not have your wedding late to mid morning and serve heavy hors d'oeuvres! Get your wedding reception off to the perfect start with the most colorful and flavorful hors d'oeuvres imaginable! You can add a personal and creative touch which will make your appetizers individually yours! Serve your guests with style!