Is your wedding between August and September of this year? Will it be in the Los Angeles or New York area? Do you and your intended spouse have dazzling personalities? If so, VH-1 needs you. The network wants to follow the journey of five outgoing couples and give them $10,000 as part of a new romantic documentary series.
If you're interested, email mbfweddingcasting@gmail.com with photographs of you and your sweetie, along with some details about yourselves. And tell them African-AmericanBrides.com sent you!
VH-1 is Looking for Brides!
Planet Wedding Giveaway!
We come across a lot of wedding-related books, but not all of them have information that is helpful to everyday brides-to-be. But the book "Planet Wedding: A Nuptialpedia" by Sandra Choron and Henry Choron has been a welcome surprise. Not only is it modern and fresh, but it has tips influenced by the way couples actually get married these days.
Among the tidbits are 9 Reasons to Have a Small Wedding, Pros and Cons of Destination Weddings, 23 Important Tips for Planning an Outdoor Wedding, 11 Guest Book Alternatives, 13 Ways To Save Money on Transportation. The authors also take into account that we're not all cut from the same cloth with advice on "How to Add Ethnic Accents to Your Wedding" and "15 Wacky Ways to Web", for those who really want to make a statement with their nuptials.
Now here's the juicy part: We are giving away a copy of Planet Wedding to one of our lucky readers. Just leave a comment here for a chance to win. It's that easy!
The AAB Weekly Reader
Here are the stories we want to make sure you don't miss in your e-travels this weekend!
Are you a stepparent or a stepparent-to-be? Check out The Blended Family series over on BlackAndMarriedWithKids.com
If you love vintage style, be sure to take a look at some gorgeous vintage hairstyles on B.Vikki Vintage.
Also, let Diasporique introduce you to the best movie about black love that you've never seen.
Yvonne & Yvette want to make sure you don't give your guests the wedding bell blues with a half baked invitation.
At About.com, this oldie-but-goodie explains why you might not want to skip the seating chart.
"Success is nothing without someone to share it with." It's not telling your age if you remember that line - Mahogany is a classic film! Old Fashion Love Story takes a look back at the stylish images from Mahogany and star Diana Ross.
Sick of all the negative media chatter about black women and marriage? I Do Black Love has uplifting talk about black love.
photo courtesy of Hairstylesdesign.com
Wordless Wednesday: Love in the Afternoon
Asia & Kevin
Courtesy of Chris Joriann Fine Art Photography
Dress: LéGend Couture
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Bejeweled Soles: Swarovski
Jewelry: Nadri
Journey to the Altar: Feather Bouts
- by Brittiny
wedding planner turned bride-to-be
Of course since I will have feathers nearly everywhere at my wedding I have decided to go with feather boutonnieres to save time and money. I am actually doing them for a client at a June wedding and she and I adored the idea. Here are two examples of what currently has my heart aflutter: 
Since I love orchids this is also a great alternative if all feathers are too "out there":
Winner of Our China Glaze Giveaway
As we said earlier this month, the folks at China Glaze have given us four bride-tastic nail polishes to give away: "Diva Bride", "Cheek to Cheek", "White on White", and "Garter Belt" to one lucky bride-to-be. The winner... chosen by random generator... is the commenter "Giselle"! (Giselle, send us an email so we can get your mailing info.) Congratulations to her! If you didn't win this time, stick around. We have a lot more giveaways coming up in the next few weeks.
Purple Passion & Inspiration
If you're a person who follows color trends, this post is for you! This Spring, event planner Preston Bailey declared purple the "in" color for wedding decor this year. Here are some inspirational images: 
Courtesy of Essence.com
Gina D's
Courtesy of Alexandra Malloy
Courtesy of Fola Adewole
Fola Adewole
Courtesy of Coast Concierge
Courtesy of Minoo Hersini
Tell Your Story!
Our friends over at AisleDash are looking for engaged couples getting married in the last two weeks of May and in June. They want to hear your "how we met" story - whether romantic, quirky or funny. If you fit the bill, contact Julie Rosenberg at juliezrosenberg@aol.com.
Photograph courtesy of the dazzling Blue World Studios.
R.I.P: Lena Horne (1917 – 2010)
The legendary singer, actress, and activist known to the world as Lena Horne has passed away at the age of 92. After a lifetime spent breaking barriers, Horne died Sunday in New York City. She will always be remembered for her grace, style and beauty.
Surviving Wedding Season as a Single Girl?
- by guest blogger & dating expert
Tristan Coopersmith
Wedding season is right around the corner… you can smell it with the flowers in bloom, hear it with the chirping birds returning home, see it with the bridal bitches hitting the gym extra hard (I saw one wearing a veil-like sweatband in my spin class last week – true story) and of course nuzzled between your bills and promises to win a million dollars are weekly invites to what seem like everyone’s wedding, but yours. The constant in-your-face reminders that you are single with a capital S can turn the season that is supposed to be filled with sweetness and gorgeous hope into one with an unshakeable devil in a red wedding dress on your shoulder. One where you fixate on how much it sucks to be single, how you will never find love, how broke you are going buying gifts, how likely it is that you’ll be seated next to some creepy uncle and so on and so on. But we all know that one big secret to finding love, is to project love. So, to flick that bad-ass red devil off your shoulder, you need to invite its optimistic cousin, the white angel in, and follow her reprogramming prescription to beat the bridal blues:
1. Stock up on date dresses that double as wedding appropriate dresses, as opposed to shopping for dresses that are meant for weddings. This way, you’ll be less resentful about spending gobs of cash on her day because you will really be making an investment in your dating future.
2. Bringing along a token plus one - your neighbor who has been pining after you for years, your ex, your gay BFF or your local barista, makes you look desperate. Alternatively, get head-to-toe gorgeous and go stag. Weddings can be a great place for a like/love connection!
3. Chances are you won’t be the only single girl at any wedding. Scout out the others, preferably at pre-events and band together as wingwomen, not in misery but in delight, deciding to make the most of this day of festivities .
4. Don’t believe the hype that Auntie Mae bestows upon you in her moment of pity citing, “Ya know dear, they only have a 50/50 chance of making it.” Deflect negative energy by hitting the dance floor with a cute bachelor. Cynicism is an ugly accessory and ruins even the most gorgeous dress.
5. Just because the liquor is free flowing, doesn’t mean it comes without cost. Drink too much and you could wind up being that girl who is puking out her brains and her sad single guts to anyone willing to listen.
6. Weddings are research opportunities to help you figure out what you want/don’t want at your own. Just like practice with dating helps you figure out what you need in a relationship, attending weddings guides you to your ultimate dream event, so use the opportunity to take mental notes.
7. The answer to the dreaded question, “How can someone as fabulous as you be single?” is “I’m holding out for someone as equally fabulous.” This leaves you standing gracefully and proudly single, with a nod to the fact you’ve had options, but turned them down. This eliminates opportunity for condolences or additional questioning, just the way you want it.
8. From the cheesy heart shaped napkins to the PDA obsessed newlyweds and the corny love songs, weddings should be used to reinvigorate your belief in love. You can even use them to interview happy couples about their relationships to give you more insight about lasting love.
9. Why should only newlyweds get gifts this summer? Couldn’t you use a new toaster or some lacy lingerie? Make your own wishlist and for every wedding you attend, treat yourself to a gift, or enlist friends invited to the same weddings and surprise each other with gifts celebrating your fabulous single selves!
10. When twangs of icky feelings rush over, counteract them with a glass of champagne and a toast to your singledom. Toast to the fact you haven’t run off with the wrong guy. Toast to the things you love about your single life. Toast to your eventual future with a wonderful partner because deep down you know that great love is coming your way and its worth waiting for.
And finally, don’t forget to enjoy the cake… no dessert is better than wedding cake, so don’t be shy… have two slices… after all, you don’t have to worry about squeezing into a gown anytime soon, now do you, so indulge while you can!
Live and love largely,
Tristan
Tristan Coopersmith is the author of Menu Dating: Taste-Test Your Way to the Main Course
Top left photo courtesy of Coco Myles.
Mimosa: For Mother's Day... & Weddings!
That's right. Mimosas are great for brunches and celebrating Mother's Day, but also for wedding receptions. One reason for the popularity of this light cocktail is that it's stunningly simple to make. What's more, those two ingredients can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
Ingredients
* freshly squeezed orange juice
* champagne or sparkling wine
For each champagne flute, pour three parts champagne. Then, add one part orange juice. Garnish with a raspberry, strawberry, or orange slice. Want to get fancy with it? Colin Cowie suggests replacing the orange juice with blood orange juice. So, what do you think?
Bridal Nail Polish Giveaway!
It's no secret that more and more brides are doing their wedding day nails themselves these days. Our take on this trend? Go for it! Anything is possible when you have the right products and tools. China Glaze is making it possible for one of our lucky readers to win not one but FOUR beautiful bridal shades in this week's giveaway. The colors are "Diva Bride", "Cheek to Cheek", "White on White", and (our favorite below) "Garter Belt". 
Just leave a comment here on our blog this week to be entered. It's that easy. The winner will be determined by random number generator and announced next Monday. So don't miss out!
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