By Peter Bruce posted on Sunday, July 25, 2010 @ 9:51 AM - (General)
The Garden Pavilion in beautiful Sonoma is a perfect private historic setting - a large pavilion, square lawn edged with magnificent gardens, a pool, and a charming pool house.An I was luck enough to to a wedding there fun and fun and cool couple Christina and Zach.
They pulled off a great wedding,lots of good family and friends,funny toasts and perfect food. If all weddings were this easy wow... life would be good. Hope you enjoy some of the photos. All the photos will be up in a week or so,just check back here soon
Please let me know what you think.Your feed back is important
By Peter Bruce posted on Friday, July 23, 2010 @ 8:11 AM - (General)
Even though most of the people who come to my site are looking at there photos,there are a lot of brides to be following us and from time to time I like to put my two cents in and help out,so here are some tips.Let's not beat around the bush: planning a wedding is work. With all those decisions and responsibilities, it's easy to see how some brides and grooms get completely consumed in the minutiae. So how do stressed-out, site-seeing, menu-sampling couples get their eyes back on the ball? By taking a breather from the planning process. Get ready to clear your schedules and forget about picking the favors-the following list of eight stress-breaking activities will help you remove yourselves from nuptial hassles and restore your sanity.
"DON'T GO CRAZY"
1. Have a wedding-free weekend.
For a full 48-hour period, pretend you're the two people you were before you got engaged (and, in the meantime, remind yourselves of why you wanted to get married to each other in the first place). No wedding planning or fighting allowed! No talk of hors d'oeuvres, seating charts, or first dance songs. Hang out, laugh, have fun, and flirt with each other for a change.
2. Have a night out with the girls (or boys).
With all the "togetherness" of being a future bride and groom, remind yourselves you're individuals too. Book a night out with your respective same-sex posse (again, no wedding talk). Hit the town like a swinging single and stay out past midnight. Take advantage of the fact that your future spouse isn't around to do something with your friends he or she doesn't like to do -- we're talking chick flick, batting cages, steak dinner, manicures. Then entertain each other the next day with tales of your exploits.
3. Go on a fancy date together.
Chances are, for the past few months you've been scrimping and saving every extra nickel to supplement The Budget. If you've done well, reward yourselves for your miserly skills by spending a little of that cold hard cash. Book a table at the fanciest restaurant in town and go for the full monty: fine wine, appetizer, entree, dessert, and after-dinner drinks. Afterward, stop in a local jazz club and catch a torch singer belting out inspiring tunes de l'amour.
4. Pull out the maps take a drive or a ride .
Reserve a weekend afternoon and head for the open highway. Check out that little place a couple of towns over that you always mean to visit. Test each other's map-reading skills. Play road games like, Who Can Spot the Most Out-of-State License Plates? Sing along to cheesy songs on the radio. Buy a souvenir at a highway truck stop. Stumble upon a romantic restaurant for lunch or dinner before heading home.
5. Mastermind a movie marathon.
There's nothing like a good movie to transport you from reality to fantasy. Take the phone off the hook, rent a whole slew of films, and spend an evening in, snacking on popcorn and Sno-Caps. The trick here is to stay away from wedding-theme fare -- sorry, this includes Father of the Bride -- while keeping the romance theme going with a steamy story like The Lover. Or opt for the comic relief of a Jim Carrey or Eddie Murphy flick -- laughter, after all, is still the best stress reliever and forget things.
6. Get in some game play.
Sometimes a little healthy competition serves to make you closer, right? Challenge your mate to a night of games: Pictionary, Scrabble, backgammon, even good old cards. If you own a Sony PlayStation 19, take the high-tech road to fun. Rather venture out? Head for the nearest bowling alley -- or look into go-carts, ice-skating, and tennis tournaments for other fun and sporty activities to enjoy a deux.
7.Go back to childhood.
There's nothing like a good amusement park to get you feeling like a kid again. Wake up extra early to avoid long lines, then get your fill of roller coasters, log flumes, and Ferris wheels. Challenge your future mate to a bumper car race. Fill up on cotton candy, funnel cake, and waffle cones. Take an old-fashioned photo. Then spend an hour or so trying to win a supersize stuffed animal to take home as a memento of the day.
By Peter Bruce posted on Saturday, March 6, 2010 @ 8:47 AM - (General)
Really who says bridesmaid gifts have to be generic objects with next to no sex appeal? Charm your buddies with keepsakes that challenge tradition, your maids deserve more than the usual key chain or faux strand of pearls and the boring junk. While shopping, keep each individual maid in mind, choosing imaginative and stylish gifts that come from the heart. From crafty and tasty to just plain indulgent, here are 50 unique ideas to inspire you from PeterBruce Photo
Entertain them...
Set of videos themed around a favorite actor, director, or film
Tickets to a musical or dinner theater out
Magazine subscriptions to Peter Bruce weddings
Computer games
First-edition favorite novel
Gift certificates to a local video store or movie theater
Cute, purse-size camera
Movie-themed gift basket
Tickets to a sporting event
Tiffany playing cards
Lavish Affection & more...
Silk pajamas
Asian-inspired robe
Personalized stationery or pen
Gift certificate to a great boutique
Monogrammed set of bath towels
Designer purse or note cards
Gift certificate to a luxury spa
Designer makeup bag & beauty bag
Beauty gift package
Do It Yourself...
Jewelry
Candles
Whimsical soaps
Holistic beauty treatments such as bath salts and scented astringents
Hand-painted mug or vase, designed at a local ceramics studio and personalized with her favorite colors
Knitted scarf, throw, or other woolen delight
Hand-bound photo album or scrapbook
Assorted jars of homemade jam
Personalized poem or letter,
Play Off their Passion...
She's an antique buff? Check out flea markets, tag sales, and ebay.com for vintage ashtrays, lace bureau scarves, Depression-era glass, and more.
She ice skates? Give a subscription to a skating magazine and fluffy balls for her skates.
She loves to boogie but can't get her groove on? Try a gift certificate for an introductory ballroom, salsa, or flamenco dance class.
She's a fitness nut? workout gear.
She has wanderlust? Try a flight bag bearing her initials or classy travel kit.
She's good with her hands? Treat her to an introductory pottery class or drawing
She's obsessed with wellness? Try a gift certificate for a session with a personal trainer, reflexologist, or nutritionist.
She cooks? Think a hot new cookbook, dessert bowls, or a state-of-the-art pepper mill.
She's a gardening guru? Try new tools, a flowering plant, or decorative pots.
Wine and Dine Her,who does'nt link it...
She's a coffee fiend? A French press is always elegant, especially with a pound of gourmet coffee.
You're a great cook? Host a five-course dinner party in your bridesmaids' honor -- feature the finest wine you can afford and the most sumptuous dishes you can prepare.
She's the expert entertainer? Give her all the props she needs to create the ultimate sushi-themed soiree.
She's a wine lover? Try a fabulous bottle of bubbly, a nice ice bucket, or enroll her in a wine club.
She loves to eat out? Go with a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant.
She sets a mean table? Search for luxe table linens.
She's got a sweet tooth? Maybe she'd love some decadent chocolates.
She has a weakness for fancy food? Treat her to caviar, foie gras, or a gift certificate to a nearby gourmet shop.
She loves the outdoors? Hook her up with a deluxe picnic basket.
She's a kitchen goddess? Dress her in an adorable apron.
By Peter Bruce posted on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 @ 7:39 AM - (General)
Here are some handy tips from Peter Bruce Photo & Video dealing with a common and sticking matter.
One moment you're on Cloud 9, sharing the news of your engagement, savoring every juicy detail of the proposal, then boom -- you look up and your best friend/brother/sister looks positively ashen. Suddenly your feelings of pure elation curdle into muddled guilt. Some women are amazed to find their friends turning into catty competitors, goading their boyfriends into proposing, too, and trying to outdo your every wedding move. What's a flustered fiancee to do?
Don't Be Shy in asking
You have the right to be excited and share your happiness with people important to you. Don't hesitate to share the good news with a good friend. If you don't talk about it, your friend or sibling may feel insulted and it may damage your friendship further.
Don't Play Dumb about things
Acknowledge that your friend is jealous. Not sure? When you talk about your wedding, do you feel guilty or does he or she act rude, dismissive, or bored? Assuming that you're not talking about the big day 24/7, trust your gut reaction. Good friends should be affirmative, not negative.
Edit Yourself,think first before you talk
Speaking of wedding talk, don't overdo it! Remember that even people happy for you don't want to hear about every little detail (yawn). Divert conversation to what's going on in their lives and be a riveted listener.
Confront the Problem right away
If someone makes a nasty crack about your plans, respond to the slight right away by gently asking, "What do you mean by that?" Another tactic is to tell the person how you feel with statements such as, "I'm confused why you said that" or "I'm hurt that you see it that way." Focus on how you feel, not on what they did.
Share the Spotlight together
Sometimes the problem is simply that your parents are perceived to be ignoring the sibling that is jealous and slathering all of their attention and bragging on you. Acknowledge this inequity by saying, "I realize I'm getting a lot the attention and I hope it's not bothering you." If the sibling is married, point out that he or she has had the spotlight; for those that haven't yet made the trip down the aisle, reassure them that their time is coming! Either way, turn to your siblings for advice in dealing with family dilemmas and be sure to spend quality playtime with them sans mom and dad.
Stroke Egos... don't fight
When a person is jealous, she or he craves acknowledgement. Your mission? Play to the person's strengths. Remind them (often!) of all their positive qualities and accomplishments: great job, dynamite figure, whatever. Better yet, ask your friend for advice in his or her areas of expertise. If your workmate has a great fashion sense, tell her you'd love her opinion on your dress. If your brother's a savvy globetrotter, pick his brain about destinations and travel tips.
Show Your Love each other
Make sure your friends get the message loud and clear that their friendship is extremely important to you. Tell them how much happiness you wish for them and, if single, try to assure them that their perfect partner is out there somewhere.
Be Humble,it's hard but worth it
While you're stroking his ego and showering her with love, don't forget to share your own wedding-related woes: arguments with your fiance, etiquette blunders, cold feet, and in-law conflicts. Even if you're ecstatic despite it all, you'll be able to bond over your vulnerability.
Get It Out in the Open... FAST
When push comes to shove, acknowledge the awkwardness between you and your friend. Perhaps open with something like, "I wonder how you feel about my getting married?" or "I feel awkward about this situation because we've always shared our dreams about getting married�I wish this could be happening to us both at the same time." Never say that you know how he or she feels (you don't) but opening the door for a friend to vent can ease a lot of pressure.
Invest in the Future,today
Slot a singles table into your seating chart and ask your friend to help you fill it -- positioning him or her between two sexy singles is obviously the game plan! Why not? Lots of people meet their spouses at weddings. After all, love is in the air.
Hope this helps, let me know what you would like to see on this blog please
Three older ladies were discussing the problems of getting older. One said, 'Sometimes I catch myself with a jar of mayonnaise in my hand, in front of the refrigerator, and can't remember whether I need to put it away, or start making a sandwich' .
The second lady chimed in, 'Yes, sometimes I find myself standing on the stairs and can't remember whether I was on my way up or on my way down.'
The third one responded, 'Well, I am glad I don't have that problem; knock on wood, 'as she rapped her knuckles on the table. She looked up and said, 'That must be the door, I'll get it!'
A Saudi man is in hospital after his divorced parents forced him to marry four times within six months. The battle began when the father insisted the boy should marry a girl from his side of the family. The mother retaliated by ordering him to wed a girl from her side, reports Arab News quoting Al-Watan daily. But the father wasn't happy with the balance of power and insisted on a third wife from his side, to show who was boss.
The mother, not to be outdone, then demanded that her son include another wife from her side of the family. The son has now been admitted to a hospital for psychological treatment. He is refusing to see his parents or his wives.
