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 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 Monday, December 28, 2009 @ 8:58 AM - (General)
Sadly it happens theft at a wedding we recently did. Here is what happened and some tips from Peter Bruce Photo & Video
How it Happened...
The couple began to retrace the evening and remembered a well-dressed man who everyone assumed was a guest -- after the wedding, they learned that he even chatted up other guests, telling one person he was a friend of the groom's family, and another that he met the bride at an art exhibit. The mystery man had stolen most of the couple's wedding gifts, and despite the fact that he showed up in numerous pictures taken during the evening, police closed the case due to lack of evidence, and the presents were never recovered.
An Unhappy Pattern...
The couple soon discovered that wedding gift theft is far from unheard of -- His cousin and his best man's mother also had presents stolen from their weddings. Though it's unpleasant to think you're vulnerable at your own reception, the reality is that a wedding crasher or staff member can all-too-easily get away with stealing your gifts when everyone else is distracted and having fun.
What You Can Do...
Create an online registry and have the presents sent directly to your house (or another family member's house, like your mom's). The best way to ensure nothing is stolen is to spread the word that you'd prefer presents mailed to your residence rather than brought to the reception.
Place your gift table far from an exit to make it more difficult for anyone who's trying to steal your presents, or...
Forgo having a gift table all together. Instead, visit each table during the reception so that guests have the opportunity to hand you envelopes of cash or checks -- but only if they wish to do so. You should never ask for cash.
If you spot a wedding crasher, don't be polite and ignore them. Ask your day-of coordinator or an attendant to ask the crasher to leave.
Ask a trustworthy friend to act as gift attendant. Ask him to store the gifts in a secure place (like a locked room) rather than displaying them in the open.
If your reception is large (over 300 people) and the site is in a high-traffic area (like in any urban setting), consider hiring security, both to prevent theft and to quash any other rowdiness that might transpire.
Think about buying wedding insurance. Coverage from a company like wedsafe will cover stolen gifts as long as it's reported right away.
What if It Happens to You?
If you're a victim of wedding gift theft, report it to the police as soon as possible. Get in touch with your reception site to see if there are any security cameras that may have caught the crime on tape.
Perhaps the toughest part will be explaining the situation to your guests (after all, you really can't write thank-you notes for gifts you never received). One approach is to send an email to as many guests as you can and give them a rundown of what happened; ask them to spread the word to those whose email addresses you don't have. And then send handwritten notes to every guest expressing your thanks for his or her attendance. If your wedding was on the smaller side, you could call each guest individually, though be prepared for lots of questions about the specifics from concerned friends and relatives.
Well we hope it never does and I hope this was a help
