The Race To The Alter with Kim Tumey April 28, 2012

Let Kim Tumey tell it she is a southern girl. ” I am very particular.  Very hands on so a wedding planner, I don’t think so.”

This is going to be by far not a typical southern wedding.  Nothing about this wedding is going to be traditional.  From the engagement party, which will be hosted by a celebrity, to the FaceBook fans who are bidding to be guests at this wedding.

But did we expect anything less from Kim.  If anyone has ever attended any of Kim’s events they have been nothing short of entertaining.  So the wedding is going to be something to see.

In between juggling her celebrity clients, negotiating a deal, Kim insists on planning her own wedding.  The search for the dress has begun.  Securing the location, head count, which in my opinion is probably going to be the cost of feeding a small country.

So we asked Kim, any drama from the groom about the wedding plans?  Her response, “Nope, he agrees with everything like the typical groom! Great right!”  Wow as all I can say.

Have you secured your venue yet?  Kim’s response, ” yes, but I don’t know if I want to announce it yet.  I’m not already.  That sounds like she isn’t to sure and she has more then one location in mind.  Or it isn’t big enough for the stadium size audience that wants to attend.

We asked about the dress and how dress shopping is going? Kim, ” I was going to go shopping but someone offered to design me a wedding dress.”  Unbelievable.

Now for a typical every day person that may be your mother, your aunt, your grandmother or a cousin.  But we are talking about Kim Tumey here, so that could be any recognizable brand designer, it may be coming from Italy, France, who knows?  All I know is we had some offers here in NY for her already so here begins the problem.  Or is it a problem?

If that is the extent of her problem, getting to many offers for her dress then I think we haven’t seen nothing yet.  It may turn out to be a runway show.  She may have to change several times before the evening is over.

Well ladies and gentlemen stay tuned for the next episode of “The Race To The Alter-starring Kim Tumey.”

Committed to Love April 1, 2012

Kim Tumey, Publist, Celebrity Broker, are some of her titles, some of her responsibilities are casting, management, event planning and negotiates deals on behalf of celebrities for movie roles, commercials, plays and endorsement deals.

Some of her past and present clients that you may recognize are actress Vivica A. Fox, actor Omar Benson Miller (CSI:Miami), actor Brian White (Men of a Certain Age, 12 Rounds, The Game Plan), Sean Blakemore (General Hospital, Star Trek Sequal, Motives), Boris Kodjoe, Morris Chestnut, Darrin Dewitt Henson (Soul Food, The Express, Tekken), Neo Soul artist Dwele ,actress Elise Neal, NLBM, Churchill Downs and the famous Kennedy- Shriver & Hearst families just to name a few.  No one to major, you don’t say… Hahaha.

If some of those names aren’t big enough for her she is now adding one more client to her roster of brilliant people, Robert Davis, former actor of Nash Bridges (1996-2001) who presently has no connection to the entertainment industry other then his soon to be bride. Don’t be surprised if he gets back into the game. This green eyed, brown skin, charmer, is a blue collar worker in the oil business in the Gulf.  His starring role “HUSBAND TO BE”.  She is also adding one more title to her already extensive resume, “BRIDE TO BE”.  Yes Tumey is tying the knot.

This is all being done as she cares for the needs of her celebrity clientele.  Wow.  The only thing we can say is “This must be Love”.

It is with great pleasure that the staff or World Bride Magazine follow her on her journey as she plans her nuptials. My concerns are:  Is this going to be a wedding or the Oscars?  What will the guest list look like?  Where will the papparazi be hiding?  This is definitely the making of a serious reality show.

This may be the royal wedding of Atlanta!  Already she is getting messages from greats like Vivica A. Fox. Message of love, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwe-gvNEflc&feature=youtu.be.

Kim Tumey’s past event guest have included David Curso (CSI Miami), Omar Benson Miller (CSI: Miami), Cindy Crawford (Super Model), Russell Crowe (actor), Star Jones, Tom Arnold (actor), Angela Bassett (actress), MLB’s Curtis Granderson (Detroit Tigers) and Dontrelle Willis (Florida Marlins), singer/ actress Ashanti, singer Ciara, R&B artist Trey Songz, actor Matthew Perry and more.

If her events speak for what she does can you imagine what her guest list would look like at her wedding.  I don’t want front row seats, I want back row so I can see every single person that come to this gala.

Victorian Style, But Jamaican Hospitality December 28, 2009

Through the years, we have suggested some of the most amazing places for brides to host various events while planning their nuptials.   From grand spaces such as the Plaza Hotel, The May Fair Hotel in London, to Bedford Stuyvesant Brooklyn New York ,The Victorian.

We had the honor of sharing a meal with the owner Claudia Moran, and the one and only Marc Baptiste joined us as we toured this amazing space.  It felt just right.  The energy, the home away from home feeling that your grandmother made you feel as you sat down in her kitchen as she cooked your favorite dish. 

It was warm watching the legendary Marc Baptiste converse with this elegant lady of style.  Claudia Moran, shared with the wonderful history of this 120 year old mansion that she took on with love.  This old Victorian decorated  mansion was fully furnished with furniture from her antique boutique that she once owned, filled with treasures of everyone’s great grandmothers soulful spirit.

As we awaited her company a guest rang the bell to book this lovely space to celebrate life, love and great company.  Love is definitely in the air of this amazing space.

Breafast Inn Bed November 29, 2009

Edible Flower Breakfasts
by Vivian Perez
 
        Many bed and breakfast innkeepers/chefs create edible flower breakfast signature dishes by experimentation.These specialty recipes are uniquely made with edible flowers such as cherry blossoms, marigolds, calendula, sunflowers, and chive blossoms. Innkeepers have a desire to create a new recipe that is different than other inn recipes and the ingredients will vary from dish to dish.The AppleBlossom Inn in Ahwahnee, California has a beautiful apple orchard with 90 apple trees. Once the apples fall from the trees, Candy Apple Arthur gathers them and proceeds to make the apple recipes throughout the year. When Candy serves the Apple Blossom Pancakes with bacon bits. Customers say,”Candy, this is the best meal of my entire life.” Candy said “Everyone, especially the children love the flower shaped pancakes.” Apple blossoms have a floral flavor and aroma with a touch of sweetness plus they are rich in antioxidants. 
     When Candice Anne Arthur bought the Apple Blossom Inn, she wanted to set herself apart from the other inns by serving a unique breakfast featuring the inn’s name and theme. It was a natural progression for Candy to experiment with many recipes before creating the best ones. The most popular breakfasts served at the Apple Blossom Inn are the Apple Blossom Pancakes, Candy Apple French Toast, Banana Blossom Waffles, and Candy Apple French Toast Bake. Candy finds the simple pleasures of life when she introduces a new breakfast recipe. As a child, Candy didn’t want an Easy Bake Oven, she wanted real cooking utensils instead. She loved the Betty Crocker books which gave Candy her start in the kitchen. The Apple Blossom Inn guest rooms are called the Blossom Room, Granny Smith Room, and the Red Delicious Room Suite is located in the Carriage House. The Carriage House has two bedrooms, a VCR and television, and full beds and it can accomodate small families.
 
 
       During the spring time, the orange blossoms begin to bloom in the State of Virginia displaying a spectacular beauty.  
 Eating breakfast at the L’Auberge Provencale Bed and Breakfast Country Inn and Restaurant is a delicious experience. Executive Chef Alain Borel prepares a wonderful Orange Blossom Waffles with mangos and nutmeg cream recipe. Guests think it is a true delight to taste the orange blossoms. The Orange Blossom Waffles are made with real orange blossom water. Customers say,”This is an unbelievable breakfast. It is full of flavor!” Celeste Borel is the innkeeper at the L’Auberge Provencale Bed and Breakfast who sees to the guests and the operation of the inn. ”We also grow hyssop at theinn for our hyssop sorbet.”says Celeste Borel. Hyssop is a herb with a minty taste used in culinary purposes and it is known as the holy herb used in ancient times. A few benefits to eating hyssop is it helps regulate blood pressure and it reduces indigestion too. The 11 rooms at the inn have special theme names in French with a English translation. For instance, the La Suite Enchanteuse (The Enchanting Suite) is a charming French Country style room and the La Chambre Accueillante (The Welcoming Suite) is decorated with a bright soothing color displaying the natural hues of spring. 
 
 

Joy of Being a Bride at Dex October 28, 2009

Who says your bridal affairs need to be boring.   We got together with two of our newest brides  Joy and Sonia whom are planning their nuptials.   Joy made it clear she wanted it to be fun and trendy for her and her friends.  So we suggested hosting a Bridal Beauty soiree, invite some of your dearest friends and the  the men are welcome to attend, bar would defintely keep them busy.

So there you have it we called in some of our friends to help them celebrate:

Jane wilson Marquis on dress duty

Holly Slayton on headpieces

Nicole Jones on hair

Felicia Benson Walker on makeup with Dex Beauty Team

Dawn Sterling on Manicure Duty with the m2m damorejon Team

The was a hit for all in attendance.  everyone got a chance to enjoy a service, food and great conversation.  This may be the start  of a regular event for all our readers, stay tuned.

Venue Fit for a Queen September 28, 2009

Location, location, location.  When planning your wedding it may not be easy to find the space, let alone the perfect space, that may be even more challenging.

But it doesn’t necessarily have to be if you take some of the following things into consideration:

Personality of both you and your beloved

The amount of guests expected

The theme of the wedding

Then of course budget

Due to the economy one might find it more practical to find a space that can accommodate everything, wedding ceremony and reception.  We went a step further and found a space that not only set the tone for some of the worlds most royal personalities but can be the most amazing quarters for your traveling guests.  The May Fair Hotel, Stratton Street, London, W1J 8LT, United Kingdom.

It was during our visit to the UK to cover Fashion Week, our director of events recommended we host our International launch party to the European market.   We decided to visit this amazing structure of a place, which is not only breath taking from the lobby up, the ambiance is magnificent, the staff charming and the executives “Amazing”.  Hospitality, great customer service is “Priceless”.  Regardless of what direction the economy is going  no one should compromise courtesy, and proper etiquette.

Mayfair is an up-market, yet discreet location, in the heart of London’s West End. Often referred to as ‘London’s luxury quarter’, The May Fair 5 star luxury Hotel is moments from London’s chicest shopping areas, Bond Street, and just a few minutes’ walk from the equally famous Regent Street. Some of London’s most beautiful green spaces are also on your doorstep, with Green Park a two minute walk from the luxury hotel and Hyde Park, no more than a ten minute stroll.

As we shuffled down London’s tube to get to the May Fair Hotel from our modest hotel which was also charming in its own rights.  The lobby was breath taking as we walked into the modernly decorated sleek space.  The guests were just as beautiful as the space itself.   The mixed cultured staff were brilliant.  The decor breathtaking.  The art work fit for a museum. From their Crystal Ball Room, Casino, Spa, and “AMAZING” Bar Restaurant you won’t go wrong. The food, there are no words that can describe how we salivated over the menu, the table service was unbelievable. Drinks monumental -Mojito , mojito ahhhhh.  I guarantee it.

For brides living in the UK area it is imperative that the May Fair Hotel is on the top of your list of venues to consider.  With the various space that the Hotel has you won’t go wrong.

For further information and other May Fair property please visit www.themayfairhotel.co.uk/home.

Your Wedding Location is Now a Destination…. August 31, 2009

 

The number of couples opting for destination weddings for some years now has been on a steady rise. Perhaps its because couples have come to the realization that getting away can actually save you a lot more money than staying put, not to mention there’s that immediate start to your honeymoon. Take a look at a few facts found in the Bridal Trend Repots.

In June 2004, the Conde Nast Bridal Group reported, nearly one in every 10 weddings was a destination wedding-making such a non- traditional nuptial venue the fastest-growing segment of the bridal industry, according to the New York Times in a subsequent article that same month. In 2005 Conde Nast Bridal Group reported that the number rose to 16% of weddings, pushing the number of away-from-home weddings closer to two in ten.

Some of the stellar destination weddings in 2005 were the nuptials of Donald Trump–the New York real-estate mogul-turned-TV star—to Slovenian model Melania Knauss in Palm Beach, Florida; New York Mets star Mike Piazza and stunning Alicia Rictar in Florida’s Fisher Island; superstar Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney in the Virgin Islands; Jennifer Garner and Hollywood hunk Ben Affleck at Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands; and Alicia Silverstone and Christopher Jarecki in Lake Tahoe, California. In keeping with this huge and ever-growing trend, Lisa Light, the foremost authority on destination weddings, published her long-awaited and first book of its kind in 2006, Destination Bride: A Complete Guide to Planning Your Wedding Anywhere in the World (North Light Books; January 2006). Now, for the first time, couples have a comprehensive resource for planning their wedding in a memorable location away from home.

Want more tips on how to save for that special day + get-a-away? Try this!

$$$ Saving Tip:

Contact chosen resorts or the tourism board of the country of your choice and ask them if they have any packages for couples interested in a destination wedding or honeymoon. You’d be surprised what you can save when you just ask! Not to mention hotels are always happy to offer discounts and specials for large groups if you plan on accommodating guests and/or your wedding party.

 

 

 

 

5 Wedding Bargains Every Bride-to-Be Must Know August 25, 2009

We know how important your wedding is to you, we know how important saving is too, every week, will give you 5 great wedding bargains that will help keep you on track.

1. Consider a destination wedding – We know what your thinking, your trying to SAVE right. Well having a small desination, limiting your guestlist to 25 guests or less not only saves you money on catering fess, hotel reservations and more but also obligates fewer of your loved ones to shelling out cash for travel arrangements and taking time off. Many resorts and hotels have ready-made wedding packages that are great for fabulous weddings on a budget. Not to mention, a beach for a backdrop isn’t half bad.  

2. Only YOU need a bouquet – For the bridesmaids, mothers and grandmothers try simple long-stemmed roses or one of your favorite flower. Its important that the bride have an elaborate bouquet not the entire bridal party.

3. Pick up a lower tab – As the Bride-to-be its best for you to pick up the tab at those lunchtime planning meetings with your bridesmaids. Why not spend a little less? Its not a must to meet at a four star restaurant, your favorite coffee shop or lunch-time restaurant will do. You won’t be as distracted by the food not to mention you won’t mind footing the bill for the gals who love you most.

4. Go non-alcoholic – We know this may make you take a pause but skipping out on the liquor saves LOTS of money. Make it fun and create your own signature non-alcoholic cocktail that all of your guests will love. 

5. Inquire about the sale – Jewelry can be expensive, its a good idea to ask quality jewelry stores about their sales schedule. Catching a great deal on an item at the right time can save you BIG time.

 

 

***Tips from 1000 Best Wedding Bargains

Wonderful Day In The Neighborhood August 11, 2009

Artful Giving

Simply Jane work of art

Artist- Tiggy Ticenhurst

THE MET in NYC

Simply Jane Creator- Jane Wilson Marquis

Inspired by Art

As a child I grew up watching Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.  What made this show both entertaining and educational was  how he introduced us to all he wonderful people, workers, professionals that made up the neighborhood.

Today I had the pleasure of going to one of my extended neighborhoods the Upper East Side in Manhattan.  I had a scheduled appointment with one our our favorite designer, Jane Wilson Marquis.  This British icon is truly a woman of many colors and well traveled.   Her colorful personality attracts the most simple personalities to the Royals of the Middle East.  She has designed dresses from the likes of the members of the Perdu Family, the royalties  of the Middle East, movie stars such as Helen Hunt, to one of our favorite actresses Victoria Rowell and Haitian charity givers Melky Jean.

In this economy everyone whether they have money or not want to be wise about spending it.  Jane has come up with one of the most genius idea this economy is calling for,  re-creating your most simple gowns such that you would buy from J. Crew and embellishing it with paint, crushed flowers, beading from India.  What may have cost you over $3,000.00 plus just a year ago will now be a fraction of the cost with this brilliant idea.  After going through some of her most amazing fabrics we walked the neighborhood to visit some of the great shops.   Just across the street from Jane Wilson Marquis quaint, lifestyle boutique, where you can buy your wedding attire, but that of your wedding party.  Bridesmaid, mother-of-the-bride and guests, and ties for the groom and his groomsmen; was the home of the late legendary performer Ertha Kitt, The Carlyle Hotel.  The amazing ambiance is definitely worth its  fine dining experience, entertaining your out of town guests and lodging.

Right around the corner on the famous Madison Avenue, the next block over stood the next Icon Vera Wang, in her window some of the most amazing gowns money can buy with a sign offering 60% off of ready to wear items.  Go figure.

Then we walked over to 5th Avenue to stroll down Central Park, which also is the home for some of the cities most talented street vendors.  We caught up with one and so happened to be a Brit, Tiggy Ticenhurst.  This warm personality not only was vibrant in spirit but his colorful personality can also be seen in his beautiful master pieces.

We walked further down towards the most famous structure by the Park the MET.  This amazing structure is the gateway to the most multi-culture talent ever to walk this earth.  The stepping stone to those tired and the seating for the street performers that showcase their great singing voices.  Once you have finished enjoying the strip with vendors selling items from paintings, photographs,  jewelry, ties, t-shirts and food.  You now can climb the steps to the MET, where art at its finest can either be your shade from the heat and sun for you in the summer or the warmth from the cold in the winter.

As I climbed the steps I could not help but see these two lovely ladies with their great hats, worn both for fashion and to shade the rays of sun from their lovely faces.  I reached the top and the massive structure must have been housing at least over 1,000 guests just in the lobby alone.  It is definitely a breath taking view.  In the first floor lobby alone you have seating and shops that retail books, jewelry (Russian pearls, Indian shawls ) are some of the items that can be purchased in their stores.

After moving through the crowds, I stood up high and looked down to the crowed that I towered over and to my amazement the chariots await me.  Yes ladies and gentlemen, you too can have chariot ride, being pedaled by cyclist.  The rates are based on your destination like the typical taxi ride but just more open.

Simply Jane- A Work of Art

I then took the short walk back to 76 Streets to pick up my automobile but this time I walked down Madison Avenue to see what other neighbors I could visit and there they were my to favorite consignment stores La Boutique Resale and Michael’s.  Designers from Chloe, Chanel, Prada, Fendi and Gucci.  Great place for that designer cocktail dress that probably was someones’ lust  and they wore it once or twice just to clean there closet and make room for next seasons lust.

So there you have it the most neighborhood can be right in your own backyard you just have to go out and explore.  While your supporting the economy you can also be keeping your neighborhood alive.

Recession Prices

Steps of the MET

In the MET

My Fair Ladies

Vera Wang

La Boutique Resale and Michael's Consignment

Our Chariot Awaits

Give Thanks June 19, 2009

Leaving your guests with a lasting impression is easy when the parting gift is memorable.   The favor gurus of Beau Coup offers delicious giftings that tell your story in such a delightful way.  Choose from favors suitable for every occasion, taste and budget.  A few of thier  unique features are the bride and groom pops that come as either apples or brownies.     The Wedding Ring wine toppers are both packaged elegantly and then personalized.  Wedding cake once cut and ready to go placed in a beautiful honey comb colored box. Whatever you decide.. it is sure to be a hit. Shop on-line  www.Beau-Coup.com