Memorial Day Barbeque

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

There is nothing like waking up on Memorial Day knowing you don’t have to head into the office. For some of you, maybe most of you, your heading back from an extended weekend outside of the hot Valley of the Sun.

I’m just getting back from a week stay in Turks and Caicos, and a few days visiting relatives in Florida. I certainly can’t complain about the nice weather we enjoyed.

And if you’re a race fan, you had plenty of options to enjoy your Sunday as well, from the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Turkey, the Indy 500, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte.

So what makes Memorial Day so great? It’s the opportunity to roll out the grill, light it up, and grill some good American food like hotdogs, hamburgers or barbeque chicken.

This might be a perfect day to get your family and your future in laws over, if they are local, and enjoy some of the games that are likely to be on TV, or lounge by the pool, a cook a nice, simple meal.

Whatever your plans are, have a great Memorial Day and we’ll see you next week.

A Turks and Caicos Honeymoon

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

There is nothing better than sand between your toes, crystal clear blue water, a nice cold beverage, and a sunny day.

This is why I chose to vacation this past week with my wife in the Caribbean, particularly the Turks and Caicos Islands.

This is also a great place to honeymoon with many different resorts to choose from, including three here on the Turks and Caicos Islands: Grace Bay Club, Parrot Cay Resort and Spa, and Beaches.

Grace Bay Club is an adult only hotel with nearby family villas. Every single room of the adult only hotel features a view of the ocean. The hotel’s newest bar, known as the Infiniti Bar, stretches 90 feet to the shores of Grace Bay Beach.

Parrot Cay Resort and Spa is located 575 miles southeast of Miami. This celebrity visited 5-star resort can only be accessed by small boat. An ocean facing room is a great way to spend a week at your private island destination.

At Beaches you might not be as secluded away from children traveling with their parents as you are at the other two resorts. The upside to Beaches however is the all-inclusive package. For one price, you can book your airfare and hotel, and have all your food and beverage included. Plus, any water activities.

If you want the adult only vacation, and Turks and Caicos is your place to honeymoon, definitely check out the Grace Bay Club or the Parrot Cay Resort and Spa.

If the Caribbean sounds like the place for you to honeymoon, check out the Travel Channel’s 21 Hottest Caribbean Escapes or their Top 10 Caribbean Resorts. No matter which one you choose, you’re sure to get your wedding off to a great start with a honeymoon in the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos or not.

{Summer Selections} Rocking Out!

Music is synonymous with a rocking reception. There’s nothing better than watching your guests get out on the dance floor enjoying the music the DJ has readily prepared. Planning for a DJ is a definite must and will make the biggest impact on your wedding day. Plan to spend about 10% of your wedding budget on this must-have and my right-hand person. The experienced DJ also works with your planner to keep the flow of your reception throughout the evening.

iPod or bust?

For many couples, the thought of scraping together the budget for a DJ seems like a second thought and most would like to plug in an iPod. However, the iPod only plays music, no experience, no song suggestions, and no personality, says Eric Cheroske, owner of Got You Covered. There is no way of recovering a crowd vying for different jams than preselected on your iPod. Here’s a link that Eric found on why not to use an iPod: http://www.i-newswire.com/the-ipod-wedding-disaster/32343

Get The Party Started

Plan to meet with your DJ for a wrap-up meeting at least two weeks before your wedding. This will help you review some of final song choices and review the flow of your reception. Prepare your DJ with the genre you want and don’t want played at your wedding. Expert DJ’s have the skills to match the music to your preferences and also pick other crowd pleasers you’d be happy to hear. Eric shared that he once saw the grandfather of the groom who was celebrating his 90th birthday on the same day of the wedding. The grandfather managed to “moonwalk” across the floor in front of all the guests right after he had received a birthday surprise. Stories like this should help remind you how important it is to have music to bring out the fun in your party. Every couple wants to have the wedding of the year or century! It takes a great DJ to make those memories happen.

{Summer Selections} Capture Sights and Sounds

Capture your wedding day for many years to come with video. Not everyone thinks they can afford it but many couples wish they did it after the wedding is over. Good quality is not inexpensive but it is affordable if Videography is a priority says Taryn Bills, owner of Serendipity Videography. The nice part about Serendipity besides their catchy name is their sister company, Simply Cinema for the budget minded brides.


Best Features

Taryn loves the couples who will do interviews, encourage guest well wishes during the reception, and allow them to capture every element of the day. Your wedding day is the story untold and Serendipity adds a splash of Videography and music to the final video to make a movie all about you. With great lighting, the romance and essence of your day flows perfectly into a classic storybook wedding.

Final Cut

The emotional and funny parts of your wedding day add character to your wedding movie. Taryn says truly the best stories are told through the view finder of the camera by focusing on the emotion of the couple’s wedding day not by editing effects. One of the effects they use to create emotion that I love is the time lapse watching your ceremony location go from empty to full of guests before the procession begins. Prior to your wedding, Taryn and her team ask who are the important people in your life, special moments you love, and those family members you can’t wait to interview.

Best Video

All couples you talk to know they made the right choice with having video after they see the finished product. You can’t have too many memories of your wedding day. Think of your wedding day as a fast forward button stuck and you race through your day. I love watching my own wedding video and catch special moments that guests had during my wedding that I missed. If you’re leaning on no for video, consider how much you’ll remember when playing back your vows or best man toast. It’s surreal to watch those you love talk about your happiest day of your life.


A taste of video elegance partnered with Blueprint Affairs:

Jason & Daris at Sassi from Serendipity Videography on Vimeo.

Sydney, Australia: A Great Place to Honeymoon

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

One thing to look forward to immediately following your wedding is that perfect honeymoon. There are plenty of places you could go, but one that may come to mind is Sydney, Australia.

Sydney is a great place to go. It all starts with a 13 to 14 hour flight over the Pacific Ocean. That is a long flight, but a great way to pass that amount of time in the plane is to take the night flight. That way, you can sleep as you fly over the ocean, and when you wake up, chances are you’ll be landing not too much later.

There a great beaches and great tourist attractions to make the most of your Sydney honeymoon.

Take for instance the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Did you know that you can do a hiking experience up to the top of the bridge? This hiking tour lasts a little over an hour, and rain, wind or shine, it will go on. But don’t worry as you will be secure to the bridge via a rope and chain.

If you want to take most of your time enjoying the beaches, check out Bondi Beach and Manly Beach, the two most popular in Sydney. If you head to Bondi Beach, be sure to stop at Nikos Restaurant Bar for great tasting fish and chips and a cold Blue Tongue Langer. Nikos is located right on the main road and you can have a nice outdoor patio seat overlooking the beach.

To get to Manly Beach, you’ll need to take a quick 30 minute ferry ride out of the Circular Quay district. Once to Manly Beach, you can exit the ferry and take a nice outdoor walk by many shops and restaurants before getting to the beach. If you like to surf, this is a great beach to do it at.

Want to get close up with a Koala? You can at the Taronga Zoo. This zoo is located a short ferry ride from Circular Quay as well and is a great place to see alot of different animals.

After a long day enjoying Sydney and its surroundings, how about a nice glass of wine? Gazebo Wine Garden in Elizabeth Bay is a great place to try different cheeses and enjoy wines you might not get anywhere else. I suggest you try the Chandon NV Rose Sparkling wine, a combination on pinot and chardonnay.

A great place to find lots of eats, and home to the Sydney Aquarium, one of the world’s largest, is Darling Harbour. You can try a great Rocket Sandwich for breakfast at Nick’s Café, or enjoy a nice appetizer of potato wedges with sweet chili dipping sauce at the Waterfront Grill. And of course, you’ll need a little dessert at the Lindt Chocolate Café.

So whatever you decide, pick up a travel book for Sydney and do your research, as this is one place to visit that might just make for an unforgettable honeymoon.

{Summer Selections} Wedding Culinary Menus

All social gatherings are better with food. They are the central focal point of the gathering and the reasons why people will linger or leave early says Noelle Salinas, Owner of Fresh from the Kitchen, LLC. Everyone has been to a wedding that hosted a gourmet style menu and one that lacked any flavor. It’s your job as the couple to give your guests and you a menu fancied with beautiful flavors and creative touches. You may be finding yourself lacking the funds for a huge fete but it’s ok to discover a new trend such as appetizer parties. Noelle says that dinner food favorites like Macaroni and Cheese are being passed as hors d’euvres. She loves to jazz it up by serving it with goat cheese and pecorino romano sauce served in a tiny martini glass with a gratin topping. Kids and adults are raving about this fun addition.


Buffet or Plated?

Buffets require less work by the catering company that equates to less cost by you. Choose the menu style that fits your wedding style. A more formal wedding is suited for a plated dinner versus a less formal wedding would be great with a buffet line. Your guests will love having the options in a buffet but be careful of the hearty eaters. In some cases, the buffet can actually cost more if the menu is too elaborate for the style wedding you have in mind.

Info to Know

Good catering isn’t cheap. The best part of your family and friend get togethers is the food. Everyone ‘breaks bread’ together and it should be important to pay close attention to quality. Caterers like Fresh from the Kitchen know how to work with all budgets. Be honest with your caterer and they will think of creative ways to indulge your culinary palette while staying in your budget. Reserve your caterer at least six months in advance. Last minute planning can be stressful. Make your wedding day easier.

A Mom's Role for the Groom

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

Mother’s Day is a chance to thank your mom for all she has done in your life. Growing up, my mom would often make my lunch before she would shuffle each of my brothers and sisters off to school.

She was always that support factor no matter what trouble I was getting into as well.

But did you know that your mom can play an important role in your own wedding? It’s true.

When you hit the dance floor after your wedding, one of the optional dances is the mother-son dance. This is a chance for your mom to dance with you in the spotlight.

But before that, she is escorted down the aisle at the beginning of your ceremony, most likely just before you make your way to the front. And during the ceremony, your mom, along with the mom of your bride, could get involved by helping to light the candles that you and your bride will use to light the unity candle.

But let’s rewind to way before the wedding day.

You’ve just got engaged. Your mom will cheerfully spread the news with all her family and friends. She should also reach out to the bride’s mom to express her happiness.

When it comes time to put together your invite list, your mom can be there to help you narrow down your choices on your side of the family, you’re A and B list for example. She will most likely have all the addresses you need to ensure the invites get to where they need to go.

When it’s time for the bridal shower, your mom should attend and bring a gift as well.

Once you and your bride are registered, your mom will most likely spread the word to your side of the family so that you get what you asked for.

The two moms will typically consult with one another on their wedding day outfits as well.

Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is the groom’s responsibility. So your mom will most likely be there to make sure the restaurant of choice delivers on their promise so that you have a great party the night before your wedding.

You can see that your mom can play an important part in your wedding, much like she has all your life. Hopefully, you let her know how much she meant to you, yesterday, on Mother’s Day! But if not, make sure you do so now.

See you next Monday!

{Summer Selections} Guest Blog - Rose Ceremony

Discovering unique touches for your wedding should always been top priority. Take this time to reflect on the nice touches to your ceremony that will make it memorable for you and your guests. Read below some great tips by Officiant Larry James on how you could incorporate the Rose Ceremony into your big day.

Guest Blogger: Larry James, Officiant

There are lots of brief add-on ceremonies that you can add to your wedding ceremony. They add a touch of class, makes your ceremony different and keep your guests interested.


The “Rose” ceremony is one of my favorites.

In the rose ceremony, the Bride and Groom give each other a single red rose bud. Two red rose buds are all that is necessary. If you have children involved in the ceremony, you may have a rose for each of them too. The Rose Ceremony is placed near the end of the ceremony just “after” being pronounced wife and husband.

This ceremony is what I call an “add-on” ceremony. It is intended to be added into the wedding or renewal of vows ceremony.

In the old language of flowers, a single red rose has always meant “I love you”. The Rose ceremony gives recognition to the new and most honorable title of “Wife and Husband”.

This ceremony originates in a classic rose ceremony from a lost and elegant age. It was rewritten by the Hon. Mark Ovard and rewritten again by Larry James explaining the true meaning of the ceremony – and in ways that can endure through your married life together – this is a unique and meaningful addition to any marriage ceremony. It will also inspire your guests.

This is also a nice way of involving the mothers in the ceremony.

New twist to this idea
Couples will often stop as they exit and “surprise” the mothers of the bride and groom by handing them each an “I Love You” rose bud. The husband gives his rose to his new mother-in-law and the wife gives her rose to her new mother-in-law, whispering “I love you,” or something nice before proceeding with their exit, knowing that love is not love until you give it away!

You could also say something like, “I’m happy to be a part of the family, etc.” Be sure to tell your photographer that you are giving your “I love you” roses to the mothers so they can get that photo.

NOTE: All roses symbolize Love, but their colors have special meaning. Use the list below to choose the shade that best matches the feeling you want to convey.

Red – Love, passion, respect and courage
Yellow – Joy, friendship and freedom
Pink – Happiness, gratitude, appreciation and admiration
Cream – Thoughtfulness, charm and graciousness
Orange – Admiration, fascination, enthusiasm and desire
White – innocence, purity, secrecy, reverence and to honor those who are deceased

Copyright © 2010  Larry James. This idea is adapted from Larry's Wedding Website. Larry James is a non-denominational minister and performs the most "Romantic" wedding ceremony you will find anywhere! Every wedding ceremony is customized to your complete satisfaction. Call to check availability: 480-998-9411 or 800-725-9223. You will find more than 445 pages of Wedding ideas, tips (95 tips and growing), ceremonies, and more at: http://www.celebrateintimateweddings.com/ . Subscribe to Larry's FREE monthly "LoveNotes for Lovers eZINE. Contact: CelebrateIntimateWeddings.com, P.O. Box 12695, Scottsdale, AZ 85267-2695.

{Summer Selections} Out Style Your Bridesmaids

Wishes are made to come true. This is especially true at a local salon in Scottsdale called the Wish Salon. Owner, Taryn Hitchings found her niche in the heart of downtown Scottsdale. Her job is to bring out the luscious curls and accent the highlights that ladies would love to have. One of my recent brides also found herself getting dolled up in Taryn’s chair on her wedding day. As the wedding coordinator, I like to join my brides to make sure their hair and makeup ladies (and some gentlemen) arrive on time. This was easy as the hair stylist and fellow makeup artist, Shayla, were both on hand at the Wish Salon.

Now that we learned what Taryn can do, let’s learn what’s new and hot!

Brides are finding they love loose waves, fun curls, big body, and fabulous textured updo’s says Taryn. She knows exactly how to bring out your style and perfect wedding day look in every wedding setting. The best thing that I love about her work is her ability to bring out the natural beauty in every girl. Every bride wants to stand out and have each guest stand in awe of how gorgeous she looks. Think about how you want to be remembered on your wedding day. Snip out pictures of your favorite hair styles and note how you want to feel on your wedding day. Depending on the weather, think about updo’s versus halves ‘sies (half up and half down style).

Don’t forget that you need to do a trial run for before your wedding day to see how your hair will look. Take pictures and feel comfortable and confident in the style you chose. There is nothing set in stone after the trial run so make sure to tell your stylist the look you want to create. This is your day to shine and having the right stylist team will get you there.

The Rehearsal Dinner

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

One of the traditional responsibilities for the groom is the rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal dinner is that meal that takes place after the bridal party has walked through their ceremony procession, which usually takes place the day before the wedding, or two days prior.

Rehearsal dinners can either be just as elaborate as the wedding day, or much more subtle. It all depends on the type of budget you have for this occasion, but it is usually safe to plan for 25 to 35 people depending on the size of your bridal party and family members.

It’s a good rule of thumb to allow the bridal party to bring a guest of their own. And, if you have close family flying in from out of town, like your grandparents, it’s a great idea to include them as well in this occasion.

So what about the venue?

This could be as simple as a great brewery restaurant like Rock Bottom or BJ’s Brewhouse, a nice Southwestern or Mexican restaurant like Jalapeno Inferno, or a more elaborate setting like Maggiano’s Little Italy or Mastro's Oceans Club.

Let’s look at a few options.

Maggiano’s is a great place to do a family style rehearsal dinner. From a wide selection of entrees on the menu, you get to choose two to three appetizers, two to three salads, two to three entrees, two to three pasta dishes, and two to three deserts. There is plenty of food for all to enjoy and with a price range of $29 to $40 per person, it is definitely worth every penny. Plus, if you liked something more than others, you can order as much as your heart desires and the price still remains the same.

Another great place located in North Scottsdale is Jalapeno Inferno. With great margarita tastes like the Creamy Coconut or the Prickly Pear, and flavorful dishes, like The Chimichanga that Ate Nogales, you’re sure to find something for everyone to enjoy. And being in Arizona, this is a great way to treat those out of town family or bridal party members who don’t get to taste the true authentic flavors of the Southwest.

With so many great restaurants to choose from in the Valley of the Sun, you’re sure to find any restaurant to meet your rehearsal dinner needs.