Water in 2010 read this and worry

The world faces a massive crisis. About one out of six of our fellow human beings on Earth does not have daily, immediate access to the most basic of necessities: safe drinking water. Think about this for a moment.

Imagine if, instead of just going to a tap in your kitchen, or to a water cooler, anytime you were thirsty, you had to hoist a heavy vessel onto your head and walk, up to two hours, to a well, where, after filling your vessel—now really heavy—you had to carry it up to two more hours back home. After your trek, how much more time and energy would you hope to have to farm, cook, take care of your family, especially the sick ones; clean, work to make money outside the home or go to school to get ahead?

This is the dilemma facing hundreds of millions of women and children in Africa, Afghanistan, India and other parts of Asia, Central and South America each day. They live in communities where water is scarce or contaminated or both, and, 9 times out of 10, it is their responsibility to find a safe source, whatever the distance or terrain. They are among the 6,000 who die every 24 hours, because the need for safe drinking water outweighs adequate supply. But, with your help, they will see a way out of their cycle of poverty, disease and death.

Want more info, here you go http://blueplanetrun.org/water

Let me know what you think and turn the tap off NOW !!!
Peter Bruce Photo & Video

Fun joke

This is only meant if fun...
Cheers Peter Bruce Photo & Video

I had a bunch of Canadian dollars I needed to exchange, so I went
to the currency exchange window at the local bank

Short line. Just one guy in front of me...an Asian guy who was trying
to exchange yen for dollars and he was a little irritated.

He asked the teller, "Why it change?? Yestoday, I get two hunat dolla
for yen. Today I get hunat eighty?? Why it change?"

The teller shrugged his shoulders and said, "Fluctuations" .

The Asian guy says, "Fluc you white people too!"

A message from the Big guy

What happened ???

I took this shot.Can anyone give me a clue to what happened. PS no photo shop here
Cheers Peter Bruce Photo & Video
PS pass it on

Samasource Gala Night by Peter Bruce Photo

It was a fun night that raised $87,000 for Samasource,check the whole story out at

peterbruceweddingphotography.com/blog

Cheers Peter Bruce Photo & Video

Fun wedding photos

Life is to short to not have fun so we decided to pull out some funny photos,let us know what you think...

He's Falling For Her... HARD

What a great photo.Because there's no way she can catch him! This leap of faith is a sure show of love, and with any luck she'll remember her vows to be there for him in his sickness and poor health, because that's the condition that he'll be in after he hits the dirt!

Do You Have Change For A ...

You get the impression that this guy isn't the groom, but the real groom obviously isn't wearing the pants in the family if the bride is already digging around in someone else's! Here's a big tip... Save wedding photo ideas such as this one for the people you aren't too fond of, because the ones who used to like you won't after finding this one in the wedding album! PS tell us know how high you think he is ?

This Guy Is a Morning Person?

Anytime a guy is willing to do this crazy stunt, it's a can't-miss photo op. Hopefully the groom calms down before the honeymoon, or there's the potential for quite a few funny wedding photos that the photographer won't be privy to! Take a tip from this picture for a few wedding photo ideas of your own – the use of color in this shot is phenomenal!

We hope you enjoyed these photos

Cheers Peter Bruce Photo & Video

Beach weddings...

Beach Wedding Locations in California

Why California? Why not, it's the best

California has 840 miles of coastline (second to Alaska),Peter Bruce Photo & Video has shot at alot of them,so we thought we would give you some tips. There are hundreds of unique beaches for couples to choose from when planning their wedding. While the most popular image of a beach wedding that many couples have may be white sand, turquoise water, and towering palm trees, they assume those locations are only available in Hawaii, the Carribean

or other tropical locations, never realizing that there are many beach wedding locations in California that offer the same idyllic backdrop. At the same time, the wide variety of shore types along California’s Pacific Coast gives couples many options for more unique locations.

In addition to a wide range of locations, California is a more affordable, more convenient location for many couples whose wedding budgets may not stretch to distant islands or foreign countries, and it is a more affordable destination for guests as well. There is less paperwork required for a California wedding (no passports or extensive travel papers for U.S. citizens), and the state’s liberal nature makes it a perfect choice for couples who have unique plans for their celebration.

Types of California Beaches

With such a lengthy coast, there are many types of beaches couples can choose from to celebrate their wedding on the sand in California. Depending on where in the state they plan to wed, options may include:

• State parks with picnic facilities
• Small local beaches
• Beachfront resorts Hotels with private beaches, gardens, or golf courses overlooking the beach
• Nostalgic piers
• Dramatic coastal cliffs
• Rented beach houses
• Sandy beaches
• Rocky shores with dramatic formations
• Isolated, private coves
• Chartered cruises or yachts
• Grassy parks just steps from the water
• City parks with bridges, mansions, and skylines in the background
• Stunning west coast sunsets
• Luxury beach clubs

  

Choosing the Best Beach for you

With such a wide range of beach styles to choose from, couples may feel overwhelmed when deciding on a specific beach. To narrow down the selection, there are several questions to ask to find the best beach for each unique celebration.

1. What beaches are near a convenient city for traveling guests?
2. Is the beach crowded or isolated?
3. What fees are required to perform a beach wedding or to use beach facilities?
4. Are facilities – parking, restrooms, etc. – adequate for the wedding?
5. What condition is the beach in regarding cleanliness, wildlife, etc.?
6. Are there local place to stay
   
   , attractions, and other amenities available for guests?
7. What views are available from the beach that may be reflected in photographs?
8. Is the beach easy to access, both in terms of driving as well as walking along it?

By considering each of these questions carefully, couples can narrow down their choices of beaches to find the perfect spot for their wedding.

Popular Beach Wedding Locations in California

With many of the state’s largest cities sprawled along the coast, there are a number of highly popular beaches that frequently host weddings. Some of California’s most popular beaches for weddings include...

Say I do on the sand.

• Santa Barbara Beach
• Crystal Cove State Beach near Newport Beach
• Bolsa Chica State Beach near Huntington Beach
• Paradise Cove in Malibu
• Marina Del Rey
• Pismo Beach
• Santa Monica
• Sunset Beach in northern Cal
• San Francisco Bay beaches
• Monterey
• Laguna Beach

The exact places vary widely based on the type of beach wedding a couple envisions; beaches just a few miles apart may have vastly different physical characteristics. Before choosing a beach simply because it is near a popular destination, couples should try to visit the site or arrange to see photographs of the location, preferably of recent weddings there. This can help couples decide if that luxury Malibu Beach wedding is right for them, or if they’d rather have a more isolated, casual celebration in Pismo Beach.

Arranging a California Beach Wedding

Couples who live in California may have no difficulty arranging a beach wedding, but as the state becomes more popular for get a way weddings, different wedding planners have begun to offer package services to help arrange beach weddings. Packages typically include all the basic services for a small, non-denominational service: an officiant, flowers for the happy couple, music, a limited number of pictures cakes, and other details can all be arranged. Most packages can be customized for a couple’s unique wishes, and many wedding planners are also willing to help coordinate larger celebrations. When contacting a planner, couples should ask about their experience with beach festivities and what geographic range they can provide services for within the state.

Hope this helps with beach wedding planning

Peter Bruce Photo & Video

Are you crazy...money does buy happiness,let me know what you think by Peter Bruce

1... Money – Yes it's true,show me the money Peter Bruce Photo & Video says. While it may seem impersonal or uncreative,screw it, money is my number one recommended wedding gift. Most young couples are saving for something big – a house, a car, a piece of furniture, or are still paying back their student loans. Money may also help them have an extra-special honeymoon or let them order that extra photo for their album. While it's rude for a couple to ask for money, it is never rude to give cash. If you still want to give a personal wedding gift, combine the two: attach a check to a beautiful picture frame, a kitchen gadget, or a long letter detailing your wishes and advice for their marriage. The people that say money does not buy happiness are DUM.

2... An expensive item off of their registry – Often the more-expensive items on a couple's registry are dream wedding gifts that they don't think they're actually going to get. Whether you're wealthy enough to buy such a wedding gift on your own, or you organize other guests to all chip in, you'll be making dreams come true.

3... A luxurious hotel room for their first night as a married couple – Start their marriage off right by giving them a night to remember before they take off for their honeymoon. Check with the bride's mother or the maid-of-honor to ensure reservations have not already been made, and give your gift early so that they'll be able to include it in their plans.

4... A wedding gift to stand the test of time – Whether it's a bottle of scotch or fine wine with instructions to open on their tenth anniversary, a gorgeous vase, or piece of art, give a gift on which the couple will be able to look fondly and say "Our friend John gave us that for our wedding." Other ideas include the couple's wedding invitation in a beautiful frame, a handmade quilt or tablecloth, or an antique piece of furniture.

5... Make their honeymoon extra sweet - If you've ever been to the place where the couple is honeymooning, use that knowledge to get them a gift certificate for your favorite restaurant or resort activity. You could also upgrade their plane tickets to first class, give them a camera to help them take great pictures, or give them some spending money tucked inside a guidebook of the area.

We hope this helps, not that you did not know money does buy happness

Good luck Peter Bruce Photo & Video

10 things to NOT do

Don't rely upon oral agreements with vendors. Get everything in writing!

Don't try and do everything yourself. Planning a wedding can be a full time job in itself. So, don't try and take on such an enormous project alone, delegate as much as you can! When it comes to weddings, everyone loves to help, so let them!

Don't insist on having it your way all the time! Come to an agreement on the things that are less important.

Don't skimp on your photography. Your wedding day goes by so fast, and after it's over, all you'll have left is your memories and your pictures.

Don't get crazy over every detail. It can really take the pleasure out of the wedding planning process. I mean, will it really matter that the ribbons for the favors are baby blue instead of ice blue?

Don't start your wedding planning without a budget. One of the most stressful elements to wedding planning usually is money. Make sure you decide up front how much your total wedding budget is going to be and who will be contributing and how much.

Don't spend more than your budget or what you can afford. Your wedding day is an important day, but it is only one day. You don't want to start your new life together by going into "serious" debt from your wedding expenses and being strapped with that debt for the next five years

Don't forget to thank everyone involved in your wedding and those that gave you gifts. Also, don't let those thank you notes pile up. Send them out promptly after you receive a gift.

Don't overload yourself the day before your wedding. This is not the time to put together 200 favors. Try to do only one or two small tasks and leave the rest of the day to relax and pamper yourself.

Don't expect perfection for your wedding day. Expect a "terrific" day and set reasonable expectations. Never forget, the main goal is to get married and have fun.

I hope this helps please let me know

Best Peter Bruce Photo & Video

Here's what you need to know to make the marriage legal in California by Peter Bruce

Getting Married in California
The License

Here's what you need to know to make the marriage legal in California.

So many people forget the small stuff and we at Peter Bruce Photo & Video get asked all the time what do I do about the licence,so here are the facts.In order to get married, you need to apply and receive a marriage license. The rules for acquiring your marriage license varies from state to state, so you should check with your city's marriage bureau at your clerk of court's office to find out what your local rules are.

You'll typically need to apply for your marriage license at least one month before your wedding ceremony. You'll traditionally need to send in your birth certificates, tax information, and other official documents. You don't, however, want to apply for your marriage license too early. In some states, the licenses do expire, if you don't get married within a few months.

When you apply for your license, you'll not only need a proof of identification and age, will need to provide any information about previous marriages, and will need to pay a nominal fee. The bride will need to know what her married name will be before she signs the marriage certificate. You'll have to write that name on the application.

And, believe it or not, just because you have your marriage license sent to you in the mail does not mean you are officially married. You need to have a justice of the peace or a religious clergyman sign the document. On your wedding day you'll give your chaplain your marriage license, then after the ceremony, he'll sign it and send it to the proper government agency for validation.

Appointment Suggested... It is recommended that you call the County or City Clerk's office to see if they suggest setting an appointment. You could find yourselves in a long line with as much as a 2 hour wait without an appointment in some locales.

ID Requirement: Picture id such as Drivers License or other valid identification. Some counties recommend bringing certified copies of your birth certificates. Know your parents names,moms' maiden name and places of their birth.

Application Requirement... Both the bride and groom must appear in person at the time of applying.

Residency Requirement... Do not have to be a resident of California.

Waiting Period... No waiting period.

Previous Marriages... You must show proof of divorce, death or annulment. You need to bring a copy of your final divorce decree if you have divorced within the 90 days through past year (varies by county.)

Fees... $80.00. Some counties will only accept cash and this may vary

Other Tests: No tests. NO BLOOD TEST IS REQUIRED.

Under 18... If either the bride or groom is under 18, at least one of the minor's parents, or legal guardian, must appear with the couple. Certified copies of birth certificates are required. The couple must also schedule an appointment with a counselor and then appear before a superior court judge.

Proxy Marriage... No.

Cousin Marriages... Yes.

Common Law Marriages... No.

Same Sex Marriages... No. However, Domestic Partnership Certificates are available in San Francisco and Marin Counties. One partner must live or work in that county and both must have photo ID.

Officiants... Any priest, minister, or rabbi of any religious denomination, of the age of 18 years or over may perform marriages. Ministers must complete the marriage license and return it to the county clerk within 4 days after the marriage.

Valid: License is valid for 90 days. The license can only be used within the State of California.

Confidential License... A regular marriage license is a public record. A license and certificate of confidential marriage is only accessible by the husband, wife, or by decree signed by a superior court judge. At least one witness is required to observe the solemnization for a regular, public ceremony. No witnesses are required to observe a confidential marriage ceremony. A regular license may be used throughout the state. However, the confidential license may only be used in the county of issue. The confidential license costs $80.00 same as the regular license.

Solemnization Authority... Marriage may be solemnized by any of the following who is of the age of 18 years or older:

1. A Priest, minister, or rabbi of any religious denomination.
2. A judge or retired judge, commissioner of civil marriages or retired commissioner of civil marriages, commissioner or retired commissioner, or assistant commissioner of a court of record in this state.
3. A judge or magistrate who has resigned from office.
4. Any of the following judges or magistrates of the United States:
   1. A justice or retired justice of the United States Supreme Court.
   2. A judge or retired judge of a court of appeals, a district court, or a court created by an act of Congress the Judges of which are entitled to hold office during good behavior.
   3. A judge or retired judge of a bankruptcy court or a tax court.
   4. A United States magistrate or retired magistrate.
   5. A legislator or constitutional officer of this state or a member of Congress who represents a district within this state, while that person holds office.

Each county offers civil ceremonies performed by a judge or commissioner. The cost is approximately $40.00. For additional information call your County Clerk's office.

Here are the California County Clerk's Office...

Alameda County Recorder Oakland, CA 510.272.6363	Alpine County Recorder Markleeville, CA 530.694.2281	Amador County Recorder Jackson, CA 209.223.6469
Butte County Recorder Oroville, CA 530.538.7691	Calaveras County Recorder San Andreas, CA 209.754.6375	Colusa County Recorder Colusa, CA 530.458.0500
Contra Costa Recorder Martinez, CA 925.646.2360	County Of Orange Recorder Santa Ana, CA 714.834.2500	Del Norte County Recorder Crescent City, CA 707.464.7216
El Dorado County Recorder Placerville, CA 530.621.5490	Fresno County Recorder Fresno, CA 559.488.2609	Glenn County Clerk Willows, CA 530.934.6407
Humboldt County Recorder Eureka, CA 707.445.7593	Imperial County Recorder El Centro, CA 760.339.4427	Inyo County Records Independence, CA 760.878.0410
Kern County Clerk Bakersfield, CA 805.868.3588	Kings County Clerk Hanford, CA 559.582.3211	Lake County Clerk Lakeport, CA 707.263.2293
Lassen County Recorder Susanville, CA 530.251.8217	Los Angeles County Clerk Norwalk, CA 562.462.2137	Madera County Clerk Madera, CA 209.675.7724
Marin County Recorder San Rafael, CA 415.499.6092	Mariposa County Recorder Mariposa, CA 209.966.2007	Mendocino County Clerk Ukiah, CA 707.463.4370
Merced County Recorder Merced, CA 209.385.7501	Modoc County Clerk Alturas, CA 530.233.2512	Mono County Recorder Bridgeport, CA 760.932.5241
Monterey County Salinas, CA 831.647.7906	Napa County Clerk Napa, CA 707.253.4246	Nevada County Clerk Nevada City, CA 530.265.1221
Placer County Clerk Auborn, CA 530.889.7948	Plumas County Recorder Quincy, CA 530.283.6305	Riverside County Clerk Riverside, CA 909.486.7000
Sacramento County Clerk Sacramento, CA 916.874.5522	San Benito County Clerk Hollister, CA 831.636.4029	San Bernardino Recorder San Bernardino, CA 909.387.8314
San Diego County San Diego, CA 619.237.0502	San Francisco County San Francisco, CA 415.554.4176	Orleans Town Clerk Albion, NY 716.589.5100
San Joaquin Clerk Stockton, CA 209.468.2362	County San Luis Obispo, CA 805.781.5088	San Mateo County Clerk Redwood City, CA 650.363.4711
Santa Barbara County Clerk Santa Barbara, CA 805.568.2250	Santa Clara County Recorder San Jose, CA 408.299.2481	Santa Cruz County Recorder Santa Cruz, CA 831.454.2800
Shasta County Clerk Redding, CA 530.225.5378	Sierra County Recorder Downieville, CA 530.289.3295	Siskiyou County Clerk 510 North Main Street, Yreka, CA 96097 (530) 842-8084
Solano County Recorder Fairfield, CA 707.421.6319	Sonoma County Clerk Santa Rosa, CA 707.527.3800	Stanislaus County Clerk Modesto, CA 209.525.5265
Sutter County Recorder Yuba City, CA 530.822.7120	Tehama County Recorder Red Bluff, CA 916.527.3350	Trinity County Recorder Weaverville, CA 916.623.1222
Tulare County Clerk Visalia, CA 559.733.6518	Tuolumne County Clerk Sonora, CA 209.533.5570	Ventura County Recorder Ventura, CA 805.654.2263
Yolo County Clerk Woodland, CA 530.666.8130	Yuba County Clerk Marysville, CA 530.741.6341

We hope this was helpful.please let me know

Best Peter Bruce Photo & Video

Old st Hilarys by Peter Bruce Photo

Old St. Hilary's, a little history...

What a great couple and a fun wedding.I was was glad to shoot the wedding and of course going to some of the best locations in the bay area,like the Legion of Honor,Marin head lands and og course my favorite church Old St Hilarys.Thanks for making Peter Bruce Photo & Video part of your day.

Wildflowers surround Old St. Hilary's, Tiburon's iconic hillside landmark, which was originally a mission church named for St. Hilaire, Bishop of Poitiers. The heirs of John Reed—who held title to El Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio, the Mexican land grant that included the Tiburon Peninsula—deeded the one-quarter acre site for $2 to the Archdiocese of San Francisco, which built the church as a place of worship for local railroad workers in 1888.

The building is of significant architectural importance because it is one of the few remaining Carpenter Gothic churches to survive in its original setting. It is constructed of redwood, with redwood doors and a Douglas fir ceiling. Amber glass replaced the original stained glass windows after they were broken. The stained glass window above the door has been restored and depicts St. Hilary (fourth century), patron saint of scholars. It was a gift from Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Lyford.

The current electric lights are replicas of coal-oil chandeliers, which were lowered with ropes that brackets on the walls held in place. Heating and water are modern additions. Original furnishings include the white altar rail and two stands for statues on either side of the sanctuary, as well as the restored Stations of the Cross in the nave. A donor salvaged the cross from a church in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Most of the permanent furnishings are donations in honor of local residents. They include the concert piano and custom-made docent desk, chair and table, as well as oak pews that are reproductions of the originals. A group of local volunteers created the needlepoint pew cushions that feature local wildflowers.

The church was deconsecrated to make way for a new, larger one and was headed for destruction until several individuals intent on preserving local history established the Landmarks Society and purchased the site and building in 1959. It has served as a schoolroom and town meeting hall and is now a popular setting for weddings, concerts and other memorable events.

We hope you enjoyed these photos and a little history. Please let us know

Best Peter Bruce Photo & Video

wedding dresses

White has long been accepted as the traditional color of the wedding dress, but wedding gowns were not always white. The marriage of Queen Victoria to her cousin Albert of Saxe- Coburg in 1840 has had more influence on weddings than any other. Queen Victoria put the wheels in motion by marrying in white. Though brides continued to wed in gowns of different colors, white was now set as the color of choice for weddings and has continued ever since. In Godey’s Lady’s Book, 1849, this statement was printed: “ Custom has decided, from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue, whatever may be the material. It is an emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one.”

There is an old poem about how the color of your wedding dress will influence your future: “Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in grey , you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen, Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”

The Industrial Revolution also brought about change. By the 1880’s and the arrival of the department store, almost every woman could realize her dream of being married in a “new” wedding dress. The white dress was gaining popularity and in 1890, Ladies Home Journal wrote: “That from times immemorial the bride’s gown has been white”. Although this statement was not true, it shows how deeply accepted it was that a wedding gown be white. Although white was popular, some brides, especially the frontier brides, wore dresses that were more practical and could be worn after the wedding. As wedding dresses closely resembled the fashions of the time, only a little alteration was needed for the dress to be perfect to wear again.

Edwardian brides took the traditions of their Victorian ancestors to new extremes. Fashions became more extravagant as the decade progressed, but came to a screeching halt with the outbreak of WWI. Styles became simpler, and also reflected the changing role of women in society with hems getting shorter and the disposing of tightly laced corsets. Coco Chanel was a powerful force behind the change in women's’ fashions, and was the one who officially introduced the short wedding dress in the 1930’s. It was a white knee length dress worn with a long train. This cemented white as the universal color of the wedding dress.

When the Depression hit, brides made do with their “best” dress for the wedding. My great grandmother, who was married in 1928 had a new white wedding dress, but after the wedding she dyed it navy, keeping only the collar and cuffs white—a common practice at that time. During world war 2 , women considered it their duty to give up the traditional wedding , although most brides might be engaged only for a few weeks or even days before the wedding took place. This did not leave enough time to find a wedding dress so the best suit had to do. If the bride was set on having a white dress, one could be borrowed or rented for the ceremony. If both the bride and groom were in the military they were married in their respective uniforms.

After the war, prosperity made it possible for the large dream weddings inspired by the Victorian era to become a reality. Grace Kelly’s marriage to Prince Monaco garnered much publicity because of its grand fairy tale wedding. She wore a white silk and lace gown. The focus of wedding dresses has shifted since the 1950”s. The emphasis now is on the individuality of the bride. So whatever color you choose to be married in, you now know a bit more behind the tradition of the white wedding dress.

In biblical days, blue (not white) represented purity, and the bride and groom would wear a blue band around the bottom of their wedding attire (hence “something blue”). The Greeks are often associated with white for the wedding dress. They used white robes to symbolize youth, joy and purity. Despite this, white wedding dresses have not always been the fashion. In the Middle Ages the white wedding dress was once again made popular by Anne of Brittany, in 1499 — they were again supposed to symbolize virginity. Today, white is an ever-popular color but pastel shades, and stronger bolder colors are also worn but white will always be the primary wedding dress color.

We hope you found this interesting, let us know

Cheers Peter Bruce Photo & team bELLE

Brand new blog site for Peter Bruce Photo

Everyone following this site, the millions of you out there. I have a new site with the blog connected to it. Please start to follow it,book mark it. Pass it on to others, twitter it, Digg it and hope you enjoy it.

Here is the link

http://www.peterbruceweddingphotography.com/

Cheers Peter Bruce Photo & team bELLE

wedding tips.

There are lots of things to think about when brides plan their wedding. In the rush they tend to forget about taking care of themselves on the day of their wedding. A number of simple but practical tips to help pave the way to truly enjoying your day.

budget a wedding

A wedding budget is absolutely essential to planning your wedding. In fact I think setting your wedding budget is one of the first things you should do. Peter Bruce Photo & bELLE have put together this handy wedding budget worksheet to plan out what you'll need to pay for, and how much you should plan to spend on each thing.

We recommend you print this wedding budget worksheet and put it in your planning notebook so it will be handy whenever you are out shopping or talking to your vendor. Please let us know.

Your Wedding Budget Worksheet

My Total Budget (hope dad felt good this day) $___________

Expenses	% of total budget	Your estimate	What you actually spent
Ceremony Location fee, officiant fee, marriage license, musician's fees, ring pillows	3%	______	______
Reception Reception Site, Food, Drinks, Rentals, Cake, Favors	48%	______	______
Attire Dress, Headpiece/veil, undergarments and hosiery, shoes, accessories, jewelry, hair and makeup, Groom's Tuxedo or Suit, shoes, bow tie, cuff links, studs, suspenders	10%	______	______
Rings His and her rings, engraving	3%	______	______
Flowers Ceremony, bride's bouquet, maid-of-honor and bridesmaid bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres, centerpieces, flower-girl basket	8%	______	______
Music Ceremony Musicians, Band and/or DJ, cocktail hour musicians, sound system rental	8%	______	______
Photography Photographer and Videographer's fees, albums, additional prints, disposable cameras for candids	12%	______	______
Transportation Transportation for wedding party, guest shuttle and/or parking attendants	2%	______	______
Stationery Invitations, response cards, thank you notes, postage, calligraphy, guest book	3%	______	______
Gifts Bridesmaid and groomsmen, parents, welcome baskets for out-of-town guests.

Toasts at weddings

As you’re planning your wedding you may be caught up in the smallest of details. There are a lot of things to know and to keep up with. Let’s see how much you really know. Today’s Wedding Trivia Question is...

How many servings are in a bottle of Champagne?

a. Isn’t a bottle a serving?
b. Five servings
c. Servings? Pass the bottle and let everyone have a sip!

Answer... A fifth of Champagne will fill five Champagne flutes.

While we’re on the subject, do you know the tradition of clicking wine glasses and where it came from? As with many of our food traditions, the clinking of glasses traces its root to the health and safety of the drinker. In this case, it goes back to the tendency of nobles to kill each other off by poisoning their food!

Wine was very commonly drunk during medieval days because it was one of the only safe liquids available. Water was often polluted, and milk was both useful for other things and thought to be for children only. As the wine was often full of sediment, a poison was easily introduced into it.

To prove that his wine was safe, the host would pour a bit of his guest’s wine into his own glass and drink it first, to prove it was safe. If the guest trusted his host, however, he would merely clink his flagon against that of his host’s when his host offered his cup for the sample. The ‘clink’ (or perhaps ‘clunk’ back then, since wood or metal was more common for drinking vessels) was a sign of trust and honesty. Later, as metal and glass became more common, the chiming noise also brought a festive feel to events, and brought to mind the ’safe’ feeling of church bells

Hope this was good, please let us know

Cheers Peter Bruce Photo & team bELLE

Why Peter Bruce likes Lafayette Park hotel...

Why Peter Bruce likes Lafayette Park hotel

Few hotels are given any kind of special recognition, so the fact that the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa is one of the few in the East Bay to get a Four Diamond Award should tell you something right there. Namely, that they maintain an impeccable standard of comfort, ambiance and service. With its distinctive architecture—dormers, shuttered French windows, and peaked roofline—this local landmark looks like a French chateau. Behind its high walls, European charm abounds in lovely courtyards, a variety of event spaces, and a luxurious full-service health spa.

Just by walking around the hotel, you’re struck by how its design and décor make you feel welcome. In the atrium-like lobby, sunlight streams in through windows 60 feet overhead, illuminating the sweeping oak staircase and white marble floor. On cool days, the couches in front of the oversize fireplace are the obvious place to relax. The warmth of wood is everywhere—even in the intricate inlaid floors in front of the elevators.

Step outside into the sunny Fountain Courtyard, and you quickly realize how idyllic this spot is for a ceremony or champagne reception. Enclosed by the golden walls of the hotel, the space becomes an Old World plaza with a trickling limestone fountain in its center, ringed by potted rose bushes, manicured trees and flowers.

From the Fountain Courtyard, it’s a short walk inside to the Independence Ballroom where larger receptions and parties are held. The coffered ceiling is outfitted with handmade crystal chandeliers and spot lighting, which can be adjusted to create any mood.

Smaller ceremonies take place upstairs in the Wishing Well Courtyard. Named for the rose-entwined stone wishing well in its center, this petite patio is also embraced by the hotel’s walls. As you gaze up at the shuttered windows, wrought-iron balconies and clinging ivy, you once again feel like you’re in the middle of a French countryside inn. That European flavor carries over into the nearby George Washington Room, a more intimate reception space. Here, the Early American/French décor features gilt-framed mirrors, marble-topped consoles and a deep green carpet set off by fleur de lis border designs.


A wonderful Lafayette Park amenity is their European Day Spa,brides can enjoy this the day before the wedding. In addition to providing an appealing selection of face and body treatments, the Spa features a fitness pavilion, a pool and poolside café, an outdoor fireplace and a Jacuzzi. The bride and her attendants will not be able to pass up an opportunity to indulge here before and even after (why not!) the Big Day. Everyone staying overnight will appreciate the nicely appointed rooms, many of which have their own wood-burning fireplaces. The hotel also offers a complimentary premium room for the honeymoon couple, and special rates for wedding guests.

We hope you enjoy the photo from the weddings we have done there, let us know

Best Peter Bruce Photo & team bELLE

Party on...

• Smaller or larger tuxedo

A friend got married and I, being the best man, decided a humorous practical joke was in order. One of the duties of the best man is to make arrangements for the pick up and return of the groom's tuxedo.

After final fitting, rent an extra coat jacket that is either three or four sizes smaller or larger than the groom's. Explain to the tux shop what you're up to. Pick up the groom's fitted coat, switch with the extra rented coat, and deliver to the groom only when it becomes time to actually get dressed.

The friend of mine wore a 42 long, but the one I provided was a 38 short. Talk about some serious fun! Don't reveal that you know anything as long as possible.

• Write on the bottom of shoes

Someone once took a large black ink marker and wrote "Help" on the bottom of the groom's left shoe and "Me" on the bottom of the right shoe. So when he knelt down for his vows, the entire congregation saw it. Of course, this will only work if he must kneel with back to congregation (i.e. Catholic wedding). Make sure you get it so that it is readable with the shoes side by side, left to right, toes toward the floor. Do this far enough in advance so that the paint is dry before the groom wears the shoes to avoid damaging carpets.

Besides "Help Me", other possible message to write on the soles are (with varying degrees of cruelness): Left Shoe (I'm With) Right Shoe (Stupid [pointing arrowhead]); Left Shoe (Quick, Call 911!) Right Shoe (Never Mind, I'm Doomed!)

• Cheap plastic rings

A groom buys the engagement ring at a jewelry store. As the groom enters the room, we "have been talking about" the news that says the jewelry store he just went to is being investigated for selling plastic diamonds to unknowledgeable customers. This didn't work too well but maybe if you have better actors in your group it would.

• I'll just call my lawyer about this

Another on that I have seen pulled is to have someone speak out at the time the minister asks, "If anyone has good reason why these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace."

They had a pregnant lady stand up and say, "Oh, never mind! I'll just call my lawyer!" It rattled the groom's mother so much that she fainted.

• A secret pregnant lover

At the rehearsal dinner for my boss' daughter and son-in-law-to-be, a loud eight-months pregnant teenage girl suddenly appeared at the back of the room screaming ten minutes worth of curses that would befall the groom if he didn't marry the pregnant girl like he promised. It was set up by the boss' wife, and I am told that the groom very nearly burst into tears protesting his innocence.

• One way ticket across the country

A groom's friends decided to throw his bachelor party the day before the wedding, and as often happens on these occasions, by the end of the evening, everyone was completely drunk, and none more so than the guest of honor, who promptly passed out in a corner of the room.

When he woke up, he found himself sitting in an airline seat with no wallet or money or anything on him except a one way ticket to San Francisco. He was worried sick until he finally arrived at San Francisco from New Jersey, where he found a ticket at the courtesy counter back to New Jersey. It seems that one of his prospective in-laws worked for an airline and had some comp airfare to use.

The groom got back to New Jersey barely four hours before the ceremony, and was barely able to stay awake long enough to say "I do".

• Do you already have a child?

During the wedding ceremony, when the minister/preacher/priest comes to the part about, "If anyone has any reason why these two people should not marry, speak up now or forever hold your peace..." have this four-to-six year old boy running up the aisle yelling, "Daddy, daddy." I understand from a friend who played this joke on a relative that it took almost an hour to get the wedding started again.

• Balloons

Obtain access to their getaway car. Fill with balloons. A few extra helium balloons in the trunk with their luggage is a nice touch.

• Add some peanuts

If you can get access to their luggage after they have packed, add styra foam peanuts in whatever nooks and crannies are left.

• Impossible to drive away

Jack up the car, put blocks under the axle, then lower the car onto the blocks. When the newlyweds try to make their getaway, watch them rev...and rev...and rev.

• Brake wired to the horn

The best man at my friends wedding rigged the horn to sound every time the brake was pressed, they drove half way down the road until they realized what was going on and had to return to fix it.

• I deserve to be married

For a small fee, you can get an agency to have a pregnant "ex-girlfriend" appear at the service, in a wedding gown, claiming the groom-to-be the father of her child and demanding *she* should be the one to be married. The one I saw even had a bunch of dead flowers with her!

• Who has the ring?

When the groom asks the best man for the ring, he turns and nervously says he doesn't have it, who then turns to the next groomsman and asks the same question, and so on until the last person turns and grabs a giant box of Cracker Jacks that contained the wedding ring.

The whole church was rolling as the best man and his co-horts had the last laugh. It was truely classic.

• Laughing gas in balloons

At a friend's wedding, the bridal party filled their car with balloons--all filled with laughing gas. They put them everywhere, under seats, in the glove box, etc. They popped the balloons, and everyone was relaxed and laughing. But balloons were popping all during the trip of their honeymoon. They said they enjoyed the trick.

We hope you had fun with this

Cheers Peter Bruce Photo & team bELLE