Boy, oh boy, did we have so much fun the weekends of September 18th and October 9th! Why, you ask? Because we got to see couples get competitive, take to the streets of Bloomington and Peoria, and Race for the Rock...a $12,000 Tacori rock from Bremer Jewelry!!!

 BEB was so thrilled to sign on with Bremer Jewelry and Scvngr, a wonderful company who provides all sorts of mobile/app based games. This was about as high tech and as exciting as it gets!

 At both races – the participants got text message clues with various places they had to go find and text back an answer to the question, then they got points and got the next clue. There were up to 65 different locations – so these participants were running (and biking and rollerblading) around like CRAZY for those two hours! The top finishers DEFINITELY earned their prizes – this was no joke!

When they got to the BEB challenge location – they had to flip through the magazine and find a picture of “rings with fruit on top.” It was a SUPER small picture on page 50 of our Summer/Fall 2010 edition – of course we didn’t tell them what page it was on!

You should have seen them scrambling to find the adorable cherry picture from Shelby Studios! We just giggled as they kept flipping, getting more and more frustrated as the day went on!

 A huge thanks to Bremer Jewelry for sponsoring such an amazing promotion. Other sponsors included Nelson’s Catering, So Chic Events, Jessica Peterson Photography, Greg Linder Photography and so many other fabulous vendors! We’re already counting the days until next year! Watch the BEB blog to find out the dates for 2011!

-BEB

Photos by Jessica Peterson Photography

While the ceremony is the most important part of the day (though sometimes people tend to forget that’s the reason the day is even happening) – about 85% of your wedding budget will be focused on the reception. The food, the alcohol, the linens, the centerpieces, the lighting – they take up a lot of your time, attention, and budget through the wedding planning process but, honestly, how much time have you put into thinking about the entertainment? If you’re like most brides – you’re so consumed with the look of the reception, you don’t spend as much time hiring the person (or people) who will be responsible for the celebration itself! We asked some of our trusted vendors some burning questions in regards to planning your reception.

Here’s what they came up with:

Dollar Dance – Gotta have or gotta skip?
Currently, we do dollar dances for about 50% of our clients, so it’s right down the middle. Most clients don’t want it because it takes too long. I love to show them how they can still do it and make it shorter... or not involve money at all.

-Premier Productions

Couples ask us this question all the time. Really...It’s completely up to the bride and groom. It’s traditional to have some type of a dollar dance, but not 100% necessary. We have some unique ideas to make this work without dragging it out longer than necessary.

-DJ4U

#1 Piece of advice to couples looking for their reception entertainment:
When you’re booking the entertainment for your reception, it’s important to find a DJ or band who will fit your style, while still being able to appropriately interact with your guests and vendors. Your entertainer should be able to organize and execute every detail of your reception based on what you’ve planned in advance. After your dinner is over and your traditional dances are out of the way, the entertainment company can make or break your party. Make sure you ask your potential candidates what makes them different from others and why you should choose them to be a part of the biggest night of your life!

-DJ4U

How do you keep ALL of the guests entertained? (especially with the varying tastes in music)
Variety is key! It’s very important to work with each bride & groom to ensure their favorite songs are played throughout the night, while still mixing in music that will appeal to their guests. Plus, when you break it down, your grandparents and older guests will leave sooner, with the younger guests and members of your wedding party staying all night. It makes sense to start the dancing off with some older music and then move it younger as the night goes on. Your guests will leave knowing that we played music that they liked.

-DJ4U

Make sure they’re part of the celebration from the moment they walk in the door. With our company, the "entertainment" doesn’t start at 9:30 with a dance. Guests are encouraged to be part of the celebration throughout the evening... which means that even if someone doesn’t enjoy dancing, they’ll still have fun!

-Premier Productions

Any recommendations for the "Do Not Play" list:
The only thing I tell brides and grooms to put on their “do not play list” are songs from old boyfriends and girlfriends! Otherwise you should completely trust your DJ to read the crowd and create the reception of your dreams. (after speaking with them and telling them what TYPE of atmostphere you’re looking for)

-Premier Productions

Have you been thinking of all of the pictures you want to capture on your wedding day? The both of you with his family. Then your family. One with the entire bridal party. One with just the girls. One with just the guys. You with the flower girl. The flower girl kissing your cheek. You with your grandparents. You flashing your bling. Okay, you get the idea. Brides tend to put a lot of thought into the photos they want to capture on their big day. Heck, some brides even make long lists to make sure they keep their photographer on task. So, you’ve put all of this thought into your wedding pictures but have you even thought about your engagement pictures? Or was that just one of those "extras" that came in your photographer’s package? We’re here to tell you – it’s so much more than that!

If you don’t give those engagement pictures the time and attention they deserve, you’ll be disappointed when you look back at them. This is your opportunity to showcase your style and personality. Think about your hobbies and interests and how they can be captured.

Show who you are in these pictures and they’ll make an incredible keepsake. Plus, don’t you want that high school boyfriend to be jealous when he sees your fabulous engagement announcement in the local paper?

That’s what we thought.

-BEB

A LOOK INTO SMILEWORKS MOBILE TEETH WHITENING

What is SmileWorks Mobile?

SmileWorks Mobile was founded in 2008 after extensive research for a market approved product that would allow my clients to achieve dental office whitening results without breaking the bank. Our goal was to provide a professional procedure with only FDA approved products, clinically tested and safe for our clients in the comfort of their location. I use a whitening system called the ShineWhite Rocket that allows the client to cosmetically enhance the whiteness of their teeth within a matter of minutes. My clients will enjoy this simple, self-managed procedure without having to pay the high costs associated with current dental procedures. As the market has changed, the FDA has changed its classification of the whitening procedures and as long as they are "self –managed" procedures they can be performed outside a dental office.

Isn’t this super expensive?

Not at all…without the high overhead of a dental office I can offer amazing results at a price that can work into anyone’s budget. It is $129.00 for a forty minute session. There are group rates available.

How long does it take? How long does it last?

For a single session it is broken up into four 10 minute treatment back to back. That allows you to get up, rinse out and stretch between each session. So, all together, it takes about an hour a client. The effects of our whitening process typically last at least one year on average. The length of your newly achieved whiteness is also directly impacted by your personal habits.

How long before the wedding should we do this?

It really depends on you. With results lasting up to a year you can do it whenever you can fit it in to your busy schedule. I usually recommend doing it before your engagement pictures. And, I do carry touch up kits and handy whitening pens to keep your smile at its lightest. We can also schedule a 20 minute touch up session right before the big day!

What should I know before doing this?

I always recommend scheduling an appointment with your dentist prior to having you teeth whitening to have a cleaning and make sure there are no ongoing dental infections. Teeth that have restorations, crowns or veneers, or have been bonded with white fillings, cannot be whitened with hydrogen or carbamide peroxide. These materials do not whiten past the color they were originally made. If the surrounding teeth are whitened, the restorations will stand out and look artificial. Replacing old or discolored restorations will allow you to change their appearance. Teeth that have internal staining, discoloration from developmental conditions or have been treated with a root canal may not be affected by the typical whitening process. Internal tooth whitening or permanent restorations may be an option to consider. Natural tooth colors that are brown or gray in hue may not produce desired results. Typically, teeth with a yellow hue will produce the best results. I really look forward to being a part of your big day.

If you have any questions
call: 309.360.8856
email: sarah@smileworksmobile.com
www.smileworksmobile.com