what happens in vegas

I promised no stories from the Las Vegas bachelorette party last weekend. I'm breaking that promise to tell you one of the most outlandish and fun things we did there. Maybe not the most but whatever.

After getting off of the plane, we were destined to head straight to a pawn shop . Not just any pawn shop but the pawn shop of the now famous History channel series Pawn Stars. God, I love that show.

Rather than going straight there, we thought it would be better to “get ready” for our first night out in Vegas. That can only mean one thing: Bronzer. Actually, it meant a lot of things but bronzer was the reoccurring accessory, if you will. We turned a shower stall into a spray tanning booth and were instantly transformed into west coast. What snow?

(By the way, don’t try this at home. Seriously. Getting the spray on tan off of a tub doesn’t look easy.)

With our instant bronze and party dresses on, we headed off the strip and into a territory filled with cheesy wedding chapels, bail bonds signs, X-rated gift shops and several pawn shops.

There was a line.

A long line filled with elderly and overweight tourists. It wasn’t anything like a line outside of a trendy club although that is exactly the line we looked like we should have been in. Just when we were reconsidering our outfit choices, we were whisked inside not because we were tourists like all of the others but because we were there for official business.

The bachelorette came prepared to kiss her past good bye. She sold all of the gifts of past boyfriends. After a little negotiating with a couple of guys that I've never seen on the show she collected a tidy lump sum.

Then we went to dinner. On the ex’s dime.

And I waved to Big Hoss who was the only one there filming at the time. No Old Man.

The rest of the weekend was a total bore.

The end.

-The perennial bridesmaid

vegas, STDs and babies

I took a bit of a sabbatical from all of the blogging to realize I missed ranting and raving about weddings and how I typically spend my weekends – at showers playing bridal bingo. Therefore, I am back and kicking off my return with a bang! 2011’s first bachelorette party is about to begin. Vegas. This weekend.

Can’t Wait!  (insert Bart Scott/Jets voice - google it if you don't know)

But as they say…what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas so you probably won’t hear much else about that trip.

I will have a big blog announcement coming soon though. Stay tuned my loyal readers…er, mom. Anyone else out there?

In the meantime, I have updated the wedding countdowns and, well, they never seem to end. We’re counting far into 2012 already. You should see my fridge. The save the dates continue to arrive. 

It seems that the 4x6 postcard style save the date has made a major comeback for 2011. Magnet save the dates are apparently so 2000 and late. I’ve got none.

Oh baby!

Baby? Yes they’re due to arrive daily in 2011.  It's evident that everyone is living happily ever after out there.  I’m attending so many showers; I’ve got to start wearing rain gear. Sorry. That was lame. Anyway, more stories to come on that front.  (Get it? Front?  I can't stop myself.)

And for the first time in my history as a bridesmaid, I am going to attempt to wear a bridesmaid dress again!  The challenge is to wear the dress long in March and then cut it and wear it short in May.  Can I pull it off?  I know the suspense is killing you but you'll have to wait and see!

For now, let’s hope my flight to luxurious 60 degree weather is not delayed due to more frigid snow.

-The perennial bridesmaid

vintage vixen

There is a new trend taking storm in professional photography and gift giving. Lots of ladies are channeling their inner glam and posing vintage pinup style. Not trashy pinup but a classier, flirtatious version.

Professional photography studios specialize in creating your vintage look.  Think Vargas girls. You select a theme and outfit and your hair and make up are done to coordinate. If you are not comfortable in a risqué Marilyn pose, perhaps you can mimic Sandra Dee. The options are endless…what about a sexy Rosie the Riveter look? Hmm.

Are you looking for a day-of wedding gift to give to your groom? This is a really unique gift that will definitely impress! Not to mention that you have probably been following a bridal workout so now is the time to capture your slim physique in this style.

You can also give this gift to your husband for your first wedding anniversary. Paper is the traditional first anniversary gift. And these photographs are printed on paper, right?

Bachelorette parties are taking a liking to this day of pampering. Groups can go together and inspire each other’s vintage themes. This isn’t my cup of tea but it sounds like some ladies are having a good time playing dress up.

And if you are having a vintage themed wedding, you might just want to invite your guy to the photo shoot. Use the professional pics of you both in theme for your save the dates, invitations other aspects of your wedding.

One of my friends inspired this post. Of course I love all things vintage so when I heard about her photo shoot I thought it sounded so fun! She had a wonderful experience with a local vintage pinup photographer plus professional hair & make up artists. Her pictures turned out fabulous! The rollers and red lipstick really suit her. These studios are surfacing all over the country but the popular, booked up photographer in Philly is Celeste Giuliano. Her work is very cool.


-The Perennial Bridesmaid

now booking

It has been a quiet week on the wedding front but hey, it’s only Wednesday!

It may be quiet this week but it looks like January 2011 is booking up quickly. This includes one long weekend in Las Vegas for a bachelorette party. We’ll be staying at the Flamingo because we just couldn’t think of a better place to base this party. We’re also planning on seeing a cheesy Vegas show. Chippendales anyone? Why not?

Needless to say, I am very excited about the upcoming trip! I’ve already began planning what I'm wearing…

-The perennial bridesmaid

One of these days I might just get a picture with the iconic 'Welcome to Las Vegas' sign.

baseballette

It feels a little bit like January 2nd today. I woke up still sleep deprived, slightly dehydrated and sad that the festivities are over. But it’s Monday so here I am, attempting to work and stop relishing in the fun of what went down this weekend. Clearly I am failing at that attempt so here is the recap.

The long planned and awaited baseball bachelorette party took place on Saturday. Fortunately, we had a warm and sunny August afternoon that called for, what else, but barbecue and beer? We claimed a rare shady, grassy knoll in the concrete jungle that surrounds Citizens Bank Park as our own. We set up what I like to think of as a gourmet tailgate spread complete with a fruit tray, olives, champagne, baked goods, dips, chocolate and veggie burgers.

This obviously wasn’t your boyfriend’s tailgate. It was a bachelorette party.

I do have to admit that the boys make putting a tailgate party together look quite easy. Schlepping cases of beer, keeping things cold, remembering all appropriate cooking utensils and actually grilling on the pavement can be more laborious than I ever imagined. We managed though and the fun was well worth it.

True to baseball form, we had our own 25 man roster. It was the largest bachelorette party that I’ve ever planned or attended but this goes to show the character of the bachelorette. Friends travelled up and down the east coast to make the event and some even flew cross country. In addition, all 25 had a uniform of matching tees with funny baseball puns custom designed by our resident graphic designer and assembled by another great friend of the bride. The bachelorette got to wear a special white Phillies cap donned with the inevitable tulle veil. That was the worst of the bachelorette swag.

Or perhaps the garter was.

The goal of the game was to make an appearance on the jumbotron. (Actually that is my goal at every Phillies game.) Some of our party managed to make an appearance sans the bachelorette. How bitter sweet!

Oh well, the impromptu hoola hoop dance party was fun anyway.

It truly took a team to pull off this event. The Phillies lost but the bride won everyone over!

-The perennial bridesmaid

photo courtesy: nadine friedman

i heart ac

Oh, Atlantic City, oh how I’ve missed you.

The sight of gotti-like hairstyles.
The sound of slot machines providing false hope.
The smell of stale cigarette smoke.
Oh, Atlantic City. The ultimate bachelorette party destination on the east side of the Delaware River.

The afternoon began with beach bar cocktails… and an AC eyeful. There’s such great people watching there, especially outside of the casinos. I love to see the crazies that walk among us (as I hold tightly onto my belongings).

Oh, Atlantic City, how I love thee.

The day progressed down the boardwalk bringing us to the Tropicana for more cocktails in the Quarter. As day turned to night, we realized it was time to get ready for the main event: our reserved Jacuzzi at the pool at Harrah’s. The bachelorette requested a Jersey inspired entourage. (Think: Snooki) Once we over bronzed and over accessorized, we were ready to go. Our private hot tub was waiting for us. We all jumped in and toasted to the bachelorette. In under a week, she will be walking down the aisle.

In what seemed like just a few hours later, the MOH and I awoke in our hotel room recapping the series of events that followed that initial toast…hot tub, pool, wheel chair ride back to the room, does it get any better.

Atlantic City, you never let the ladies down.


-The perennial bridesmaid

girls just wanna have fun

and we did.

Bachelorette party #1 of 2010 went down Saturday evening. It didn’t end ‘til the wee hours of the morning Sunday. We had a girls’ night out in the city including the 3Ds: dinner, drinks & dancing.

Days later and I’m still exhausted.

The bachelorette had a fabulous night amongst her bridesmaids and closest friends.  We did not subject her to tiara veils, bridal sashes or blinking anything. Judging by the series of pictures that are being passed around, everyone enjoyed themselves…except maybe the limo driver.

On nights like this, I wish cameras hadn’t been invented to document the turn of events & rapid decline in judgment. Cameras and the internet for that matter. Before I could say ‘bachelorette’, I was tagged in a variety of unflattering 3D pictures online (see: dinner, drinks & dancing). Through bleary eyes, I reviewed the pictures and untagged the most unflattering shots of myself. Does everyone do this at some point to preserve their cyber image?

Now I remember why these parties take place weeks, if not months, prior to the wedding! My recovery time has drastically increased in the last few years. I just can’t party for 10 hours straight anymore and bounce back. Where has my 22 year old self gone?

As I pushed through the day yesterday, I found myself in on the planning of another bachelorette party, just 2 weeks away. You think that’s comical? I opened my email today to find yet another invitation to a 3rd bachelorette party!

Soon it will be time to do it all over again. Until then, I’m on bed rest.

-The perennial bridesmaid

summer dreams

…make me feel fine.

On these cold February days, planning a sunny summer event brightens my day. This morning I secured 25 tickets to an August Phillies game/bachelorette party where the boys will take on the Mets. It should be a good game considering the long standing rivalry between both teams. Regardless of the rivalry at bat, it is guaranteed to be a good day because a group of friends will be celebrating with the bride in one of her favorite atmospheres.

Tickets went on sale yesterday for the Phillies regular season. Getting a large group in to see the Phillies play the Mets on a Saturday evening in August proved to be quite challenging, even this early in the pre-season. Fortunately I was up for the challenge! Sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see if my request for 25 tickets was approved only psyched me for the event more. Look for us on the jumbotron dancing with the Phanatic this summer!

I can barely wait. I’ve spent the morning daydreaming about pinstripes, Hatfield Dogs, Chickie's & Pete's Crab Fries, cotton candy, the Schmitter, Tony Luke’s cheesesteaks & McFadden’s cover bands. If you don’t know what I am talking about, you’ve probably never been to the Phillies stadium on a warm summer night. Put it on your to-do list.

Bring on tailgating. Bring on baseball. Bring on the summer sun!

-The perennial bridesmaid

baseball isn't just for bachelors

The bachelorette party is the last right of the bride while she’s single.  It is a girls night out (or day out or weekend out) honoring the bride-to-be just weeks before she walks down the aisle.  It is up to her friends to show her a fabulous time.  There are a variety of ways to do that. You can do the mellow party of dinner and drinks with all of the bride’s besties. That’s always a good time but maybe not as memorable as the party where the cop turned stripper arrives at the door. Yes, memorable but also slightly raunchy.  And my favorite is the destination bachelorette party.  But if not everyone can jet off to Vegas for the weekend you can always stay home and do a spa bachelorette party. Who doesn’t like to be pampered?

What’s most important when planning the bachelorette party is the bride, of course.  It had better be a party that honors her personality and interests.  That is why we’re planning a baseballette party honoring one special bride-to-be this summer.  Because she loves the Phillies, we’ll tailgate and attend a game against one of their biggest rivals in August. Since there will be about 20 of her closest friends along for the bash, we need to start planning now so we can get great seats and enough for everyone!

I am sure the MLB bachelor party has been done but it is still an evolving tradition for bachelorettes.  One difference is that we won’t get kicked out of the stadium for being too rowdy like the boys.  We’ve derived the title “bachelorette” from the bachelors so why not take a lead from them on party themes as well?

-The perennial bridesmaid