Traditional Cake Toppers Are Back

Cake toppers have undergone so many transformations in the last few years. Why just a short time ago many brides were trying to figure out whether they needed cake toppers at all. But the traditional always returns and now we are seeing more and more of those miniature brides-and-grooms sitting atop wedding cakes. We'd love to know what you think of the traditional cake toppers below. Which of them would appeal to you? And would any of you choose a racy cake topper like the last one?



"Ebony Enchantment" Cake Topper at MyWeddingFavors.com





Lenox Opal Innocence Porcelain African-American Bride and Groom




Apple Tree Cake Topper



iOffer.com



"Sweet Embrace" at MyWeddingFavors.com



Bella-Tiara


Funny Sexy Topper from C&R Unique

Blue Monday: Part III

We begin the week with a few more ideas to help you find your "Something Blue". Share your own ideas with us by clicking on "comments".



Shrug by Countessa



I Do for Shoes


Silver Crystal Heart Necklace by AzureTreasures


"Mrs." Panties



Dainty Light Sapphire Swarovski Earrings by BeadWire

Alfred Angelo: For the Wedding Recessionistas

Are you a bride-to-be whose wedding planning is being squeezed by these tough economic times? Or are you a bride-to-be who has money- and sense with it? Well, it seems lots of gown designers want to be part of your stimulus package. Several popular lines are preparing to release less-pricey wedding dress collections. Take a look at our favorites from the hot-off-the-rack "Recessionista Collection" by Alfred Angelo and tell us which is your favorite. These dresses start at $298.







The folks at Alfred Angelo say this collection offers the same craftmanship of its other lines, but with the most affordable price tag. The dresses are going into stores and boutiques this month. All of these gowns go up to size 30W.

Choosing the Right Photographer

-by Lisa

Besides choosing your spouse of choice, your photographer will be one of the most important parts of your day. In many instances, the planning stage is a year or more, and the day seems just like a moment. When all the food is gone, the flowers are long dead, and the dress preserved - your pictures will serve as the memories you remember, have forgotten or never experienced. I cannot express how important it is to choose the photographer that fits you style and personality, because it’s through this medium that you will remember your special day.
One point that I cannot stress enough is that photography is an art. Each photographer has his/her individual style – a style that no other photographer can duplicate. When you find a photographer that you like, you should commission that photographer. If your preferred style is formal/posed, than you should commission a photographer that excels with this type of portraiture. If you like a fine art approach, then you should commission a photographer who excels at a fine art approach. To ask one photographer to duplicate the style of another is pointless because you will not be happy with the final result or with the photographer.
Since I live in the real world, I know that budgets come into play. There are great photographers in all budget categories. You just have to do your research. Does your style not match the style in most “traditional” wedding photographers? Are you budget challenged? You may have to go outside your comfort zone and seek out freelance photographers who would fit your budget and/or style preferences.
Let’s review the 4 most common styles of wedding photographers.


1. Traditional – These photographers are proficient at capturing posed shots so that they do not look posed.

2. Documentary – These photographers tell a story from beginning to end. They will often take a picture of a shoe, or an earring. They will capture the entire story from beginning to end.

3. Photojournalist – A true photojournalist excels at capturing emotion on film. It’s a newspaper style. They are able to get emotion out of the moment. The style is very hands off.

4. Fine art – These photographers often have the option of taking some or all of your wedding on film. These photographers often have their own dark room, and can offer options; such as, hand painting and custom printing.

Along with the style, the personality of the photographer is extremely important. You and your fiancé(e) will be spending the entire day with him/her. Liking and feeling comfortable with your photographer is of utmost importance, not only for great pictures but also for a good experience.

Whole Lot of Networking Going On

There's a lot going on behind the scenes at African-AmericanBrides.com and this is one busy blog. We try to give our friends various ways to keep up based on where they spend time online. So, today we joined Networked Blogs on Facebook, which provides a great way to see many of our updates in one place. We'll be adding new features over there to coincide with all the happenings here on the blog. Check out our blog's Facebook page by clicking the icon below.

Wedding Gown of the Day

Bara Luxe
"Paola"



So why do we like this gown? You can imagine how many wedding dresses we see in a week. This one came across as being a little different from the rest. We like that it incorporates a major amount of lace in a way that isn't frilly and we love seeing a gown that still looks like a wedding dress even though it isn't white. It's also very cool that this look was created for a plus-size line in a way that doesn't leave the bride swamped in miles of extra fabric. But that's just one opinion. Tell us what YOU think.


See more Bara Luxe dresses at eDressMe.com