Happy Halloween

Check out this delicious (& really easy) caramel-dipped apple recipe from Kraft Foods. Try this recipe out for your Halloween parties this weekend, or even use these as guest favors for your wedding this Fall.

{This recipe makes 5 caramel-dipped apples}

Ingredients

5 medium apples, washed, well dried
1 bag (14 oz.) KRAFT Caramels (about 50)
2 Tbsp. water

Directions

INSERT wooden pop sticks (from bag of caramels) into stem end of each apple. Cover large plate with waxed paper; grease paper with butter. Set aside.

PLACE caramels in large saucepan. Add water; cook on medium-low heat until caramels are completely melted, stirring constantly.

DIP apples into melted caramel until evenly coated, spooning caramel over apples if necessary. Allow excess caramel to drip off. Scrape bottoms of apples, then place on prepared plate. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. Remove from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature 15 min. before serving. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

Extra Tips

Prepare as directed, rolling bottom of each freshly dipped apple into one of the following: 10 coarsely chopped OREO Cookies; 1-1/2 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows mixed with 1/4 cup sprinkles; or 1/2 cup PLANTERS COCKTAIL Peanuts, chopped. Or, drizzle dipped apples with 2 melted squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate.

Happy Halloween from Simply Perfect Weddings!!

Photo courtesy of Kraft Foods.

Rag & Bone Bindery

I recently received an email introducing me to this stationary company and immediately fell in love with their products. Rag & Bone Bindery is a producer of high quality, hand-made photo books, albums, journals, wedding guestbooks, and other stationary items. All of their hand-made books can be personalized with one of their 30+ cover options, and custom calligraphy is also available for photo albums and guestbooks. So, whether you're looking for gift ideas for your bridesmaids or want a personalized photo album to display your wedding snapshots, I guarantee you'll find something that fits your needs! Check out their official website, here!

Photo courtesy of Rag & Bone Bindery.

Satin Hangers

With all the craziness in the days leading up to your wedding, the last thing you'll probably think about is what type of hanger you'll use for your gown. However, believe it or not this is actually an important detail you don't want to miss. Most likely your photographer will want to take several pictures of just your gown...usually hanging from a door or in front of a window; therefore, you'll probably want to use something other than the typical wire or plastic hanger. So, invest in a set of satin hangers like the ones pictured above and when your photos come back, you'll be glad you did!

Hangers pictured above from Bed Bath & Beyond [Set of 10 bone colored satin hangers - $12.99]

Anniversary Dance

This past weekend we had the privilege of coordinating Carol & Cameron's wedding and was particularly touched by Carol's Uncle Joe, who we came to find out has been married to his wife for over 50 years. Carol & Cameron incorporated the anniversary wedding dance into their reception and I wanted to share how this dance works with our readers.

The anniversary dance begins with all married couples out on the dance floor...one by one couples are called off the dance floor based upon how long they've been married, starting with couples who have been married less than 1 day (aka the bride & groom). The MC continues calling out couples who have been married 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 25 years, etc... until the couple that has been married the longest remains on the dance floor. The couples danced to "At Last" by Etta James, which I think, is the perfect song for this great tradition!

Trend Watch: Tea Length Wedding Gowns

Tea length wedding gowns have been popping up around the country for some time now, but have yet to make a big impact here in Pittsburgh. However, I feel that's all going to change in 2009. Tea length gowns are quite versatile and don't necessarily have to be worn only for outdoor weddings. Maybe you don't envision the typical 'princess bride' gown and want to opt for something a little more modern or maybe you're having a Spring/Summer wedding and don't want to wear a traditional gown in the heat. Whatever your reason, I say go for it! Being a bride is about being unique and having a wedding that fits your personality, regardless of what anyone says!

Gown pictured above from Anne Barge - La Fleur Collection. Photo courtesy of NY City Weddings.

Wedding Planning Stress Busters

Feeling stressed and overwhelmed about your upcoming wedding? Check out our top 5 stress busters to get you back feeling like your fabulous self:

Tip # 1: Exercise - Exercising releases endorphins, which naturally help to improve your mood and fight stress. Even if you're just hitting the treadmill, make it a point to find time to work out at least 2-3 times per week. Beating stress and losing those last 5lbs before the wedding is a great motivator!

Tip # 2: Maintain your "me" time - Take an hour every night to focus on YOU. Whether it's taking a relaxing bubble bath, reading a good book, or watching your favorite episode of "Sex and the City", it's important to maintain your alone time. Everyone needs a little time to themselves each day...especially in the months leading up to your big day!

Tip # 3: Schedule a spa day - Gather your bridesmaids and MOH and head to a spa for the day. Indulge on massages, pedicures, and manicures...after all, nothing is more relaxing than being pampered, right?!

Tip #4: Get a hobby - Now I know it's hard to set aside time for a hobby when you feel like you have 1,001 things to do for the wedding, but it's important to do something you love when you're feeling stressed. Take a few hours out of your week to do something that you enjoy...maybe it's taking a yoga class, scrapbooking, or even brushing up on your cooking skills for your husband-to-be!

Tip # 5: Take a vacation - As Fall is settling in on Western Pennsylvania, head south with your fiance for a few days of R&R. If you can't get the time off from work, then take a weekend road trip for just the two of you...even if you only travel a few hours away, it will be refreshing to get away and focus on each other, rather than the wedding.

Fall Inspired Bridal Bouquet

Whew! It's been a crazy last few weeks for us as we are preparing for our final '08 weddings. I just wanted to take a few minutes to let you know that we're still alive (& well) and to share this fall inspired bouquet with all of you. We are using this color palette as inspiration for one of my Oct '09 brides and I must say that I absolutely love this color combination! Something about this bouquet just reminds me of a great cup of coffee (or hot chocolate in my case) on a crisp fall day.

On another note, this weekend we're off to Duquesne Chapel to see Carol & Cameron get married! We'll be back with our regular blog posts next week!

Photo courtesy of Brides.com