New York: Done

We booked our first hotel for the honeymoon last night!  Yay!

We felt a degree of urgency around booking our hotel in New York as we'll be staying over Thanks Giving.  We're aware it's a busy time and really didn't fancy the struggle of finding a decent hotel because we'd left it too late.

So we picked the Wyndham Garden Hotel Times Square South.

The hotel is situated close to Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, and a few blocks from the Empire State Building.  I believe some rooms in the hotel provide wonderful views of the Empire State Building.

The rooms look comfortable and the beds look huge!

We always thought we would stay at the Casablanca Hotel for our honeymoon and as nice as that hotel is, we felt that our money was going to go a little further at the Wyndham Gardens.  We obviously want to stay in nice hotels on our honeymoon but we also recognise that whilst in New York we really won't be spending much time there.  We'd much rather save our money and splurge a little in Hawaii.

Having been to New York a few times before we have already done most of the famous sites.  But there are still a few favourites we have to do, including Rockefeller Center.  I love the views from up there.  In my opinion it's the best way to see the city.  You have an amazing view of the Empire State, Central Park and on a clear day the Statue of Liberty.

We also - without a shadow of a doubt - have to visit Virgil's.  When any body asks me my recommendations on things to do in New York I always say "Visit Virgil's"  We've eaten there every time we've been, at least twice on every trip.  It's nearly always busy but it's definitely worth waiting for.

It's a laid back restaurant and bar that delivers the most mouth watering food I have ever tasted.  Their macaroni cheese is to die for!  We always end up ordering far too much and come away with bellies double the size than when we walked in, but it's worth it.

Every time we go to New York we always take in a game of some sort.  Usually the Knicks (basketball).  We're planning this time to get tickets to see the New York Giants (American Football).  Tickets will be realised soon so we'll hopefully get our hands on a pair.

If we're not watching a game, our evenings are usually spent on Broadway.  We've seen some amazing shows, such as Spamalot, Beauty and the Beast, The Phantom of the Opera, Evil Dead the Musical and Young Frankenstein. 

This time we reeeeally want to see Rock of Ages, Green Day's American Idiot (problem being at the moment these two are only running until September - they need to do well for them to continue longer) and Spiderman.

There are a couple of other things I'd like to do whilst in New York that we haven't done before.  I want a cupcake from Magnolia Bakery.   This is non negotiable!  I need one!  I'd also really like to walk the Brooklyn Bridge.  I'm not sure how likely this is seeing as New York is our last stop and we'll probably be exhausted but I've heard the views from the Brooklyn side of Manhattan are amazing (plus there is a really nice ice cream stand just off the bridge) I suppose we could always take the train across but I should imagine there is something quite satisfying in saying you've walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.

We'll also have the opportunity to see the Macy's Day Parade.  This is something I have always wanted to see.  It will mean we have to get up relatively early to get a good spot but I don't mind as long as we see it!  I believe a lot of attractions are closed on Thanks Giving, so we'll have to plan our day so we have plenty to see and do.  We'll also have to book a table quite a way in advance I've heard Opentable.com is quite a good resource.

The Friday after Thanks Giving is also known as Black Friday a date hard core shoppers will know well!  It marks the first day of Christmas shopping, retailers often open early and reduce goods heavily.  I'm sure we'll get involved and hopefully pick up a few bargains!

Our honeymoon all seems to be coming together quite nicely now.  We're pretty certain on our Honolulu hotel and have found options for our other stops. We're both getting pretty excited now and can't help but talk about things we want to see and do whilst we're away.

Has has worked so hard on planning of our honeymoon, making it the best he possibly can.  It's going to be awesome! I can't wait - our first holiday as husband and wife!

Magnolia Bakery

Made famous by Sex and the City, Magnolia Bakery has opened up a new stand in Grand Central Station.  When ever we've been to New York we always say we'll go to one of the stores but as of yet we still have not tried one of these famous little cupcakes!

from here, here and here

Seeing as we're usually based around Grand Central Station and tend to hop on and hop off the subway stop there we shall have no excuse not to drop in for a few cupcakes on our honeymoon!

New York Wedding

How amazing does this wedding look!?

The reception was held at the Millennium Hotel's Hudson Theater in New York City

I'd love wedding photos like these!

Photos taken by Jayd Gardina Photography you can read more about Julie and Matt's wedding here

Hugs, Kisses and Milk Duds

A girl at work has just come back from a trip to New York and as is customary in our office she brought back some treats for us all to enjoy.

Even though I should be dieting I couldn't help going to see what she had brought back.

Miniature Hershey Chocolates!!

Seriously, how amazingly cute and perfect are these!  There was (yes I ate them!) about 6 or 7 Milk Duds in this box and would be ideal for our candy table.

I love these too, from The Knot.  Personalised Hershey's Hugs & Kisses!

But I don't live in America and they don't ship internationally... plus I'm not sure they would travel so well!  $19.99 for a box of melted mush!?

There's only one thing for it, I'm just going to have to go to New York myself and source my American chocolates! ;)

Stop and smell the flowers

I’ve never been a flower person, I like to receive them and I like to give them.  I love tulips and sunflowers and that’s about the extent of my flower knowledge.  I have no clue what blooms when or what flowers “work” together.

So when it came to picking my wedding flowers I just though I’ll go with what I like, Tulips.  Simple!  Err no!  See choosing to get married in November means we’re restricted with the types of flowers we can have.  Tulips bloom in the spring which means if you want them in November you add a few pounds to the price!

Has’ sister in law Amanda loves flowers, so when she offered her help I practically bit her hand off!

In keeping with the New York theme she suggested Martini Vases, something I’d never seen before but when she showed me a picture of a display she’d seen at her hairdressers I thought it looked amazing! 

I am now the owner of 8 giant martini vases… and only a little closer to figuring out what flowers will sit in them!

I’ve seen 3 florists over the last few months and if I’m honest have not been blown away by any of them.  Not one of them seemed very bothered and the quotes differ by £200!

The last florist I saw was marginally the best and also the most expensive.  At first she lacked interest and enthusiasm and made me feel like I was being awkward, but once she warmed up and suggested a collection of flowers including Avalanche Roses, Blue Moon Roses, Purple Lisianthus, Purple Freesias, White Cala Lillies and green foliage.

I’m quite happy with this selection, and have been thinking about adding a few different shades of purple and maybe also a light sage green. 

I’ve discovered these flowers recently and think they are lovely.

Purple dinner plate Dahlia (comes in a darker purple too)

Amnesia Roses

 Purple Hydrangea (I love how "fluffy" it looks) 

Even though I might not know a lot about flowers I do know what I don’t like and I don’t like top table flower arrangements.  Yes some can look gorgeous but to me they remind me of funeral wreaths!  I am open to suggestions but have been thinking of about four lower lying arrangements to side at the top of the table.  I’m going to see a few more florists over the next few weeks so I can ask for suggestions

Sweets for my sweet!

We are supplying, as most couples do, an evening buffet. As this only includes savoury foods we thought we’d like to treat our guests to a little something sweet! We’ve decided to add a candy table!

We want to include some American favourites such as Hershey’s Kisses and Milk Duds as well as purple chocolates like miniature Dairy Milks. The plan is to display them in large and varied shaped bowls, dishes and vases. These are some of my favourite candy tables.




I wanted a quirky way for people to hold their treats, I’ve seen allsorts of bags and boxes and didn’t really like any of them, I told Suzie this and she said “What about Starbucks cups?” me: “What a bloody brilliant idea!!” We searched online for anywhere we could get our hands on 200 Starbucks cups, of course this was impossible! So I gave up hope, until… i was copied into this email

“Hello Starbucks!

I am writing to you with a plea!

Next year my best friend is getting married, I have the privilege of being her bridesmaid and am helping her in what way i can to make her day the most perfect it can be.

I’m sure you’re very busy but think a little background info may help with my plea so please bear with me.

Laura (my best friend) met her now fiancé Hassan in Starbucks in Solihull town centre, it’s there that they became friends and also there that on the 8th November 2001 Hassan asked Laura out. Eight years passed and on 24th September 2009 Hassan asked Laura to be his wife. They are having a New York themed wedding on the 5th November 2010, tying in all there favourite things. I would like to help Laura tie Starbucks in to her day by using small Starbucks branded cups to go on the Candy Buffet table for the guests to put their sweets in.

As you will know these are near on impossible to buy online, so here comes my plea (thanks for your patience so far, i’m almost finished - i promise) I was wandering if it would be possible to send me some cups? I think there will be near enough 200 guests so as many cups as you could spare near to that number would be great.

I understand that its a lot to ask by as the saying goes:
Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to Love - Virgil, Eclogues
Please help, very much looking forward to your response

Many thanks

Suzie”

I tried not to get my hopes up as Starbucks could very well turn around and say no, but honestly I knew I would be so upset if I couldn’t have Starbucks cups on my candy table.
Fast forward about 2 weeks to today and I get a call from Suzie, the very generous people at Starbucks are sending us 200 3 oz cups for our guests to put their sweets in!!

I’m so excited and so thankful that I have a wonderful, wonderful bridesmaid! Thank you Suzie, I love you loads!!

P.S I had a Starbucks at lunch to say thank you!! x

Let's get quizzical!

I absolutely love this from Pretty Wild, it's a table quiz card.


It would be super easy to make, we could do ours to include questions about New York, films and music... all things Has and I love!

i.e, Name the film Bill Murray shouts "Nobody steps on a church in my town!" at a giant Marshmallow Man?

Answers on a postcard...!

Painting the city purple!

I have to confess to thinking about colours and themes before I was even engaged, I’d changed my mind about a hundred times but just before we went to Las Vegas I came across a US blog called Snippet and Ink. The writer regularly publishes inspiration boards, which focuses on one or more colours. She sources wedding related photos and creates a mosaic of ideas. I saw one called “Purple and Vine” and instantly fell in love with the colours.



The day after Has proposed we sat down by the pool, admiring the sparkles my ring was giving off in the sun, texting my friends and discussing wedding plans. I remembered the inspiration board I had seen a few months earlier and asked Has how he felt about purples. We both agreed the colours would suit the time of year we had decided to get married and the main thing was it wasn’t a “girly” colour! Secretly I think Has was worried I would suggest pink as our wedding colour!

Has and I love New York, we first went when I surprised Has with a weekend away for his 21st Birthday ever since we’ve been besotted with the place. We’ve visited a number of times over the last few years, we seem to be addicted! It is because of our love (and obsession) with New York that we have decided to place suitable links to the Big Apple in and around our wedding day.

A number of ways we hope to do this are

• Have each table named after a New York landmark, with a black and white photograph of Has and I when we visited.
  
• I ♥ NY chocolate wrappers around small Green and Blacks Squares as the favours.
• The ladies will have their chocolates presented in a handbag shaped favour box, a la Sex and the City
  
• Our centrepieces will be large martini vases filled with flowers.
  
• And of course we plan to visit New York on our Honeymoon!

As the planning has evolved we’ve picked up a few other things to be included in our theme. Not giving too much away about my dress, but that is why pearls have be introduced. We’ve also added a light sage green to lift the purple and stop it looking so flat. This will only be very subtle but enough to compliment the other colours. I have done my very own inspiration board to try and display the mood and feel of our wedding day.

I think it will be fun to do another one of these using photographs of things that will actually feature in our wedding!