simple, sexy hairstyles

Loose & Down
A soft ponytail showcases an elaborate neckline without looking like an afterthought if there's some fullness and texture. It's ideal for those with hair affected by humidity since the body created by any dampness in the air adds volume. For staying power back-comb the crown and set with hairspray.


Loose & Up
Make an elegant, Victorian style dress more modern by pairing it with a subtly deconstructed chignon like this one. The key to updating a classic wedding hairdo, stylist David Cruz says, is to break down the style so the hair appears less "perfect."



Smooth & Up
If you opt for a more classic wedding do, keep it simple. "The fussier the style, the more dated it can look," says Cruz. The sleekness of this bun makes it ideal for evening affair — not to mention windy venues like the beach — and the right backdrop for an ornate hair accessory such as the jeweled headpiece shown here.


Smooth & Down
There's no rule that says a bride must wear an updo – simply dress up a wavy look like this one with a hair accessory. Cruz suggests shampooing and conditioning a day or two before the wedding. "'Dirty' hair holds a style longer," he says.

www.instyleweddings.com

winter wedding ideas

There is something magical and sophisticated about winter weddings: the sparkle of falling snow, the enchantment of the holiday lights and the cozy atmosphere that the cold winter months bring.

Winter Wedding Color Palette
Frosted colors like icy blue make a big impact in the winter season, as do metallics in shades of silver and gold and anything holiday-inspired, especially reds. Think Christmas and Hanukkah colors. Also consider winter whites, which have a slight tint of yellow that give them a creamier color, as opposed to the brighter, crisper color of summer white. Navy, eggplant and deep browns are also good choices.

Winter Wedding Flower Options
When you think of winter wedding flowers there are some immediate varieties that come to mind: roses in rich shades (also white roses can add an unexpected touch to your wedding flowers), calla lilies and sweet peas. Another seasonally appropriate choice is the stephanotis, which bares a resemblance to the snowflake. Think about interspersing crystal adornments into your bouquet for an added element of shimmer.

Winter Wedding Favors
Winter wedding favors can be unique, from mini bottles of champagne to personalized wedding ornaments engraved with the couple's names and date or personalized packets of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
Winter brides should fully embrace the season. Make the most of the surrounding holidays and the joyful spirit; play up the glitter of the snow, the lush evergreens and the warmth of celebrating your special day with family and friends.

http://weddingstyle.suite101.com

sooner vs. later: is there an ideal age for first marriage?

... many young adults today... waited to marry until they felt the time was right. Others are also holding off while maintaining a single-but-together status that can last years. That may be one reason the age at first marriage has been climbing steadily for all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. The median age is now the oldest since the U.S. Census started keeping track in the 1890s: almost 26 for women and almost 28 for men.

And as young people wait longer to marry, there is growing debate over whether waiting is a good idea, and if so, how long is best. Those who advocate marriage in the early to mid-20s say that's the age when the pool of possible mates is larger, it's when couples can "grow up" together and it's prime for childbearing. But others favor the late 20s or early 30s, saying maturity makes for happier unions and greater economic security — both of which make divorce less likely.

As a result, researchers, sociologists and family experts are taking a closer look at the attitudes behind the trend to see if there really is an optimum age to marry that maximizes the benefits of matrimony and minimizes possible problems.

"It's better not to get married as a teenager," says sociologist Andrew Cherlin of Johns Hopkins University. "Beyond that, I don't think there's an ideal age."

But people do have opinions about it, and those beliefs are clearly changing. In a 1946 Gallup Poll, most found the ideal age to be 25 for men and 21 for women. Sixty years later, in a Gallup telephone poll of about 500 adults, the ideal age had increased to 25 for women and 27 for men.

www.usatoday.com

bridal shows

two teacups will be participating at several bridal shows in 2009!

Sunday 1/11/09 - Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel (Rutherford, NJ)

http://www.elegantbridal.com/

Sunday 1/18/09 - DoubleTree Hotel (Fort Lee, NJ)

http://www.btvexpo.com/

Monday 1/19/09 - Marriott Marquis (New York, NY)

http://www.greatbridalexpo.com/

Thursday 1/29/09 - Clinton Inn (Tenafly, NJ )

http://www.elegantbridal.com/

Monday 2/9/09 - Fashion Forty Lounge (New York, NY)

http://www.elegantbridal.com/

Wednesday 2/11/09 - Biagio's Ristorante & Banquet Facility (Paramus, NJ)

http://www.elegantbridal.com/

Friday 5/8/09 - Marriott Marquis (New York, NY)

http://www.greatbridalexpo.com/

Come out see us and win prizes!

i'm still having a hard time with the fact that i'm married. but i have no problem remembering that i had a great wedding. ---All thanks to Lucia & Christina from twoteacups.

where do i begin to thank you two?!

I always love doing weddings for my friends, always dreamed that i can plan a perfect wedding for myself. but the time really came, i was panicing. there are a million things i want, & i was being very indecisive. we didnt have a budget set up, or anything booked. i was stressed w/work, family & the wedding at the same time. As time passing by, i felt helpless & desprate.

that's when i met twoteacups. the gospel to my prayer.

Lucia is very patient, very understanding, & best of all very attentive to details. from the moment we met til the day before the wedding, she made me feel at ease knowing she's always there for me. always there to send me weekly or even daily to do list, always there to listen to my questions & request, always there to comfort. knowing someone is devoted as much as you do for your own wedding was great feeling.

later on i met Christina, who has the most amazing,upbeat personality that she'd go extra miles to make sure i was truely having the best time of my life.

because of them, i was worry free on my wedding day. & because of them, the wedding was amazing, more than i ever expected.... a lot of guests told me it was the best wedding they had ever been to. I agree. therefore, my hubby & i are enterally grateful that we had chose twoteacups.

the best thing is yet to come. not only i had a dreamed wedding w/ the best DOC i can ask for, i also earn two true friends that will last lifetime long.

Lucia & Christina, thank you so much for all the hard work you did for us.

i will definitely refer all my friends to your company in the future.

wish you all the best!!!!!!

how to decorate for a fall wedding

Autumn is a beautiful time to have a wedding. To amplify the season, incorporate the season into your wedding decorations and your guests will be talking about your special day for years to come.

1. For the ceremony, decorate aisles with autumn colored leaves. Most arts and craft stores sell a variety of cloth and polyurethane leaves. They can easily be attached to a chair or a pew with double-sided tape. You can use fresh leaves, as well, though they dry out and become fragile quickly. Instead of decorating with flowers, use fall plants like wheat, Indian corn, grapevine and ferns. Have the ceremony in a location surrounded by fall foliage, whether at a church or lodge.

2. Use fall flowers in bouquets. Mums, heather and goldenrod can be used or interchanged with autumn-colored flowers like dahlias. Roses can be found in many shades of red, orange, yellow and even brown. Confetti roses are very common in fall wedding bouquets.

3. Use pumpkins for place cards. Choose mini pumpkins with their stems still attached. Use a sharp knife to make a semi-deep cut into the stem. Insert a place card and secure with a drop of glue. Gourds and squash can be used instead or with the pumpkins.

4. For the ceremony, continue decorating with leaves, Indian corn, grapevine, mums, and other fall plants. Place large pumpkins, gourds, squash and apples around the room and on serving tables. Also use Granny Smith apples and chestnuts.

5. Place a simple votive candle and some (non-flammable) leaves on each table as centerpieces. Your florist may be able to supply you with a candle holder in which you can display leaves and a candle.

6. Give your guests a fall treat as a favor. Packets of cider and tea can be purchased in bulk and wrapped up with a cinnamon stick. Individually package some homemade pumpkin or apple cinnamon mini-muffins in a plastic bag and tie them with a fall-colored ribbon.

www.ehow.com