Happy Tuesday!... Beautiful Engagement Rings and Bands

Hello Brides and Grooms,







We came across a beautiful online jewelry store that specializes in jewelry made with precious stones in the Fall 2011 "Get Married" Magazine. I am a little biased, so I was browsing the stunning "Ruby" engagement rings but feel free to look around and share this website with your friends and family members. They have engagement rings and wedding bands, as well as earrings, necklaces, and more! Enjoy!



http://www.gemvara.com/





~The Lovely Ladies of Rubies & Pearls~

Race to the Altar!

Happy Friday Everyone!!

Come join us tomorrow, Saturday, July 30th, at Colonial Downs race track for the Race to the Altar Wedding! Michelle Dionisio and Bruce Testerman will be wed in the winners circle after the second race and YOU can be a part of it... everyone is invited!

An amazing vocalist from Chesapeake, VA, Sarah Kiah Morton, will be singing the National Anthem before the races so be sure to arrive on time!


We hope to see you there! :)

2011 Race to the Altar Winners!

Congratulations to the 2011 Colonial Downs and Richmond Times Dispatch Race to the Altar Grand Prize Winners Michelle Dionisio and Bruce Testerman!

We enjoyed an exciting evening at Colonial Downs for "Ladies Night Out at the Races"! There were beautiful dresses and sun hats, great music, delicious cupcakes, amazing prizes, and of course the horses!

Amongst all this excitement a Grand Prize Winner was selected for a FREE Dream Wedding to take place in the Winner Circle at Colonial Downs Race Track on July 30, 2011. The wedding will be open to the public and a closed reception for 150 guests will be held in the 4th floor ballroom following the Ceremony!

Thank you to our event sponsors! We couldn't have done it without you!

Interview With Rhonda Potters of Alfred Angelo

A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to give away our first 10th Anniversary package at Alfred Angelo's Boutique in Short Pump. We thought that you may want to know a little more about the shop so we interviewed the Manager, Rhonda Potters, and here is what she had to say about their wonderful store!

R&P: What sets you apart from other bridal stores?

Rhonda: We are a family owned bridal gown company that has been in business for over 77 years. We design and manufacture only Alfred Angelo Dresses that are made especially for you so that they are fresh and perfect!

R&P: What's New at Alfred Angelo?

Rhonda: We have recently partnered with Disney to offer a new line called " Disney Fairytale Weddings by Alfred Angelo".

R&P: What do you have to offer in your stores?

Rhonda: We have a large selection of bridesmaids and social occasion dresses, all in 55 different colors, as well as customizable gowns and accessories. We carry gowns in all sizes that can fit any delivery need or budget.

R&P: What else do you want your customers to know?

Rhonda: Our staff is dedicated to working with only one bride at a time to make sure you are given the utmost attention. Your personal specialist with keep notes on your event, gown choices, and party members creating a personalized relationship with you. We hope to see you in our shop in Short Pump soon!

Alfred Angelo

11341 West Broad Street, Glen Allen, VA

804.360.5780

Spring Inspired Weddings!

Hello to all the beautiful Brides and Grooms!!

Don't let this blistery March weather get you down... be inspired by these beautiful spring inspired weddings, invitations, cakes, and more! Enjoy!

Holiday Weddings...

Hello Brides, Grooms, and Vendors!!...

Hope you are all having a great start to your holiday season!... We have TWO weddings coming up in the next two weeks and will be running like crazy!... Thought we would stop a minute to leave you with some beautiful and inspiring Holiday wedding pictures we found online!... We are also adding some pictures of purple weddings (the main color for FOUR of our upcoming weddings)!

Happy Holidys and we'll have somenew pictures up on facebook, twitter, and our blog in the coming weeks!!

~The Lovely Ladies of R&P~

Happy THANKSgiving!!...

Happy Thanksgiving from our table to yours!!...

~*The Lovely Ladies of R&P*~

Easy Homemade Halloween Costume Ideas!!

Halloween is just around the corner!... do you have your costume together?... if not here are a few simple ideas that you can pull together from your own closet.




1. Tights or Leggings- Start with a pair of your old tights or leggings in your favorite texture or color: Use your hot faux leather tights and a leather jacket and you have an awesome biker chick or vampire outfit. Have green tights?... couple it with a green vest, boots, and a belt and you have Robin Hood. Brown tights and top??.. add some ears and a tail to create an adorable bunny, bear, or dog.



2. Cardboard box- Decorate an empty cardboard box to become your favorite cereal, board game, a computer, rubix cube, or an ice cube!



3. Look-a-like- Have a celebrity that people always say you look like??... pick a well known scene from a movie or tv show and pull items out of your closet or purchase them from a store like Target, Kohl's or Wal-mart. If people think you look like them on a regular day, chances are you will have a great costume.



For some great kids costume ideas go to www.parenting.com/halloween-central!!



More ideas for treats and decorations coming soon!! And look out for our two newest couples in the "I do, I do!!" section of the Richmond Times Dispatch Celebrations!



~*the lovely ladies of R&P*~

Questions to Ask When Booking a Hotel

There are some simple questions that everyone asks when booking a hotel for their wedding or event like... what is your room rate?... and what type of amenities does your hotel have?... but what about the more complicated questions? Here are a few helpful questions that you may not have thought of...

• What is the name and phone number of your contact person?

• How long have you been providing rooms for weddings?

• How many rooms does your hotel have?

• What amenities are included in your regular rooms?

• Do you have any suites? If so, how many?

• What amenities are included in your suites?

• Do you have handicapped accessible rooms? If so, how many?

• What is your check-in time?

• What is your check-out time?

• Do you have a parking deck? If so, how much is parking?

• Does your hotel have a restaurant?

• Is breakfast included with an overnight stay?

• Do you provide the bride and groom with a complimentary bridal suite?

• Do you provide room blocks? How many rooms are required for a block?

• Do you provide a contract for room blocks?

• Do you charge an attrition fee if rooms in a block are not reserved?

• What is your room cancellation policy?

• Do you provide guests with roll away beds? Is there an additional fee?

• Do you provide cribs if guests request them? Is there an additional fee?

• Do you provide babysitting service?

• What are your fees for babysitting service?

• Do you provide welcome notes to your hotel guests?

• Will you deliver welcome gifts for the wedding guests? Is there an additional fee?

• Do you provide free cable?

• Do you provide free Wi-Fi ?

• Do you have a business center?

• Do you have a fitness center?

• Do you have a pool? Is it heated? Indoors? Depth?

• Do you have a beauty salon?

• Do you provide laundry service?

• Does your hotel have any boutiques, gift shops, or salons?

• Do you provide transportation to the local airport?

Hotel Welcome Baskets

Hello Brides and Grooms!

As we mentioned in last week's posting we will be highliting a new vendor each month and September is dedicated to all of the magnificent hotels and hotelliers out there!

A wedding is a time you share with all your closest family members and friends and when they are coming from out of town, state or even the country, you want to make them feel as welcome as possible. So what do you do!? It is both proper etiquette and an opportunity to show off your creative side by leaving a "hotel welcome basket" in each room or for each visiting guest.

Welcome baskets come in many shapes and forms from actual baskets filled with the best treats your locality has to offer, to bags that hang on the door, to adorable folded towels to match your wedding theme, and directions to the closest local attractions. Be creative! The goal is to let your guests get a taste of how amazing your wedding weekend will be from the moment they step foot in the city.

Here are some neat ideas we found on the internet! Enjoy!!... If you find inspiration in something you see, feel free to use it! And oh, "You're Welcome!"

~*The lovely ladies of R&P*~