No 86: Paulette's Macarons

Paulette's Macarons, featuring outposts in Beverly Hills and our own Hayes Valley, makes to-die-for confections in the traditional French style. With flavors like Sicilian pistachio, caramel, coconut and sweet wedding almond (shown above), it's impossible to pick just one.

No 85: Kara's Cupcakes

The incredible Mrs. Heather Mathews brought a box of Kara's Cupcakes to rehearsal today and I can testify to their magnificence. Not a single flavor disappointed, and they were lovely to boot. I'll be featuring lots of sweets this week, particularly in the cupcake varietal. Prepare that sugar tooth, ladies!

No 84: the Morning After

I booked my flight to Baltimore for John's recital! And while I know this picture isn't exactly bridal, it sure as hell better be what the day after bridal looks like.

No 83: Real Wedding: Theresa and Jon

This wedding, found on Martha Stewart Weddings, is heavenly! Theresa and Jon celebrated their nuptials in Saratoga Springs, New York. I love all the horse racing details they included, like the floral arrangements in cups and the adorable printed juice classes. Plus, the dessert display looks absolutely amazing.

No 82: the First Dance

I've spent many, many hours in the last few weeks dancing. The spring opera, Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld is full of Tina Turners, paddle turns, the Bug, the Roach, Grapevines and, of course, the can can. While we've had a lot of fun, 10 hours of dance rehearsal a day have reminded me that dance lessons might be required, if only to avoid looking like fools.

We've all seen the YouTube videos of first dances to "Baby Got Back" and classical Michael Jackson tunes (and if you haven't, click away), but would you go for it at your wedding? Or will you be sticking with something a little more traditional?

No 81: the Conservatory of Flowers

In celebration of our one day of Spring Break, Becky and I are going to take advantage of this beautiful day and spend some time at the Conservatory of Flowers. Not only is it a lovely place to wile away the hours, it would make a gorgeous wedding venue. Built in 1878, it is the oldest surviving conservatory in the Western hemisphere (wonder if it would bring long-lasting luck to your marriage, too?) and recently underwent a $25 million restoration. While renting the space is a little pricey, if you can swing it, I bet it would be a truly phenomenal location.

No 80: the Shoes

Grace Footwear is the most delightful bridal shoe company in the world, as far as I'm concerned. The peep toes in the photograph are the "Chelsea" style, seen larger below. I am literally drooling for a pair, dyed pale blue, to wear underneath my wedding dress.

No 79: the Mug Shots

Not the bride you ever want to be. Arrests for DUIs and public intoxication. Watch the ABC News story!

No 78: the Weirdest Thing

I'm watching Food Network's Wedding Cake challenge, and to honor this magical television programming, I found this truly bizarre cake website.
Cake Rental.com is a website where you can rent a styrofoam cake covered in fondant with a small piece of real cake hidden inside for the ceremonial cake cutting. You then serve your guests cheap sheet cake from the kitchen. While I understand the desire to cut costs, and many couples use a small cake to cut rather than purchasing a decorated wedding cake large enough to feed all their guests, something about a styrofoam cake really creeps me out. Ick!

No 77: Oh my God. Oh my God.

Oh my god. This china is amazing. Photos by Jennifer Dery c/o The Bride's Cafe. The rest of Laura and Chris' wedding is lovely (her dress is a sure winner) but my mouth actually dropped at the sight on this vintage china and those beautiful arrangements. I love mint juleps cups-for booze, for flowers, hell, I keep toothbrushes in one. If I owned that dinnerware, I would eat everything off it.

No 76: Real Wedding: Ashley and Eric

Another weekend, another beautiful wedding photographed by W. Scott Chester (and first spotted on Southern Weddings). Ashley and Eric were married in Athens, GA at the Founders Memorial Garden last May, and their wedding is just lovely. I particularly like the shot of Eric fussing with his cuff links-reminds me of my sweetheart. But honestly, what doesn't?

No 75: the Meal

I have been a terribly negligent blogger, but I have a visitor who requires my undivided and constant attention. Yes, my sweetheart has come to visit, and nothing could be more wonderful. There have been many early nights (John's firmly mired in East Coast time) and wonderful meals. I've recalled the joy of late afternoon naps and kissing in the hallways at school. And the best part? We're planning a wonderful romantic supper for Friday night.
John wants fish. He claims that since we're blocks from the ocean, it's only appropriate to eat something from the sea (although he rarely made that argument when we were walking past the Harbor in Baltimore). I, on the other hand, am always happy to indulge in meat. Red, white-it doesn't matter to me, as long as it's land-loving. This is partly because I don't love fish as I do meat, and partly because I'm at a loss as to how to cook it.

We're at an impasse on our Friday night dinner, but we don't need to choose for our wedding. The first thing John and I discussed (well before we admitted how strongly we considered each other candidates for this day) about weddings was music, followed by food. The rather detailed sketch of our menu was finished more than a year ago.

We'd like to serve plum glazed duck breast with whipped potatoes and haricot verts, to fulfill my love of all things land-bound. I am such a fanatic that the summer we spent in France, I think I ate duck nearly every day.

And for John, grilled sea bass with a sweet potato mousilline and a white truffle miso reduction.

Of course, this menu is not set in stone, but it sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Maybe we'll have duck tomorrow night...

No 74: Real Wedding: Elizabeth and Chris

This gorgeous wedding, shot by Michael Norwood, is fantastic because of how elegant and fun it all looks. I hate to see those beautiful weddings that seem stuffy and uncomfortable, but there's no pretension here. The bride actually did her own letterpress for her stationery suite, which makes her a total badass, and the fact that she dressed her bridesmaids in white only further illustrates her coolness.

Plus, besides the fantastic tribute to Southern Americana with that Gone with the Wind photograph, the RC Cola and Moon Pie favors are so wonderfully tongue-in-cheek. I love the low white flowers and the simple tablescapes. A fabulous Nashville affair, to be sure.

Although what's with all the Tennesse I've been featuring lately?

No 73: the Honeymoon: Blackberry Farms

With my sweetheart on his way, I've been thinking about vacations. Fantastic, perfect, sexy vacations in beautiful little hotels in lovely places. And while this might surprise you, dear reader, I've been thinking a lot about a farm in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
Blackberry Farm is a luxury estate featuring a passel of livestock, a mind-blowing wine cellar (and Scotch selection, for John), organic fresh vegetables, an orchard, artisanal cheeses, preserves and honey made on the grounds, and some of the most beautiful accommodations I've ever seen. Sporting clays, horseback riding, cycling, a spa and yoga facilities and world-class chefs (Zagat named it their Number 1 Small Hotel) provide all the additional entertainment you could ask for on your honeymoon, at least for me and my beau. I cannot stop daydreaming about this place. Take a peek at the website-you'll suddenly feel the urge to go to, of all places, Tennessee.

No 72: the Etiquette of Chocolate

The Etiquette of Chocolate is a dreamy bakery based out of Jacksonville, FL, a place I was sure contributed nothing of merit until now. Peruse the website, and be prepared to drool. Not only do these cakes look incredible, the flavor profiles will absolutely blow your mind.