Mmmm, food

We are getting really close! We broke the three week mark this weekend, and I'm starting to have increased heart palpitations. Of the things I'm definitely looking forward to? The food! Duh

We decided to spend our $$$ on the meal, thinking it's the number 1 thing people remember from a wedding. Our reception will be at Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, which is located in the old Philadelphia bank building at 17th and Sansom. The restaurant owns the penthouse on the 12th? 16th? floor, complete with a very Philadelphia ballroom (gorgeous wooden floors, two huge fireplaces) nook and cranny rooms for cocktails, and a balcony overlooking the city to the East. The sun will just be setting as we make our way upstairs for cocktails, and it should truly be breathtaking

Our cocktail reception? Mmmmm, Philly Cheesesteak Springrolls with spicy ketchup, mint lobster salad on a homemade wonton crisp (salty!), grilled Mediterranean veggies on endive and the most delicious crab stuffed mushroom you've ever had!

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Uhm... YUMM

How GOOD do these look!?

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL DREAM CUPS
If your on a quest for an ultimate chocolate experience, make these rich and decadent cookie cups filled with homemade pudding and topped with caramel and warm chocolate ganache.

For the cookie cups:

• 1-1/4 cups finely crushed chocolate wafer cookies
• 1/4 cup sugar3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  To make the crust, in a medium bowl, lightly toss the cookie crumbs, sugar, and butter until combined. Press the mixture with a medium spoon into six 8 oz. paper dixie cups (fill the cups halfway).
  When using a refrigerated or frozen pie filling, chill or freeze crust for 5 to 10 minutes before using.

For chocolate pudding:

• 3 squares unsweetened chocolate (3 ounces)
• 3 cups milk
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• ½ cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
  In a medium saucepan, cook 2 2/3 cups of the milk with chocolate, stirring until chocolate is melted and milk is scalded. Mix cornstarch, sugar and salt; stir in remaining 1/3 cup milk. Add to scalded milk and chocolate mixture and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and smooth.
  Continue cooking for about 5 minutes to thoroughly cook cornstarch. Cool slightly; stir in vanilla and pour into serving dishes. Pour pudding into prepared cups and cool for 10 minutes. Place in the refrigerator for several hours. Remove pudding cups from the refrigerator and top each with a dollop of caramel and a dollop of chocolate ganache. The caramel is a variety that we first discovered on a trip to Montreal. But were able to find a jar recently in the pantry section of Williams-Sonoma.

Chocolate ganache:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 pound semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  Place chopped chocolate in a medium-sized, heat proof bowl. Pour cream into a medium saucepan under medium heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and pour over chocolate. Shake pan and allow to stand for about 2 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth. Add room temperature butter, corn syrup and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Serve warm over cups.

Matthew Mead

THIS is what I want to do! Matthew's Web site is fantastic, with loads of inspiration photographs.

I love the idea of having a take away package for the bride and groom on their wedding night. MW and I will surely venture over to the Irish pub Fado with the rest of our revellers, but I imagine eventually we'll make it back to the Sofitel, and a midnight snack with champagne sounds delightful! I'm going to start to think about providing this for my brides and grooms as a wrap up gift!

This gift includes:

• A split of Moet champagne

• Goat cheese

• Olives• Bread sticks

• Ripe apricots

• Olive pate

• Chocolate bar

• Anna's Orange Thins (cookies)

• An antique silver butter knife

• Two champagne glasses (Isaac Mizrahi for Target)

Surprise!

My co-workers suprised me today with a little luncheon and shower. I work in an uber-stressful-serious environment, so I was delightfully surprised. I would think they'd be sick to death of me by now since I go on and on about the drama!

Our treats? KNIVES! Wonderfully, sharp, expensive knives! Not so much looking forward to lugging this home on the train...

Photographic inspirations

I've recently discovered Lisa Lefkowitz's Web site and blog. While I should be working, I'm distracting myself and am mesmerized by her images. Not only does she capture picture moments, the weddings that she's photographing are awe-inspiring! Be sure to visit her sites for inspiration!

I've got it coming...

She'll probably kill me for posting this, but I've been seeing all these pictures of brides in their mother's dresses, and I just couldn't help it! I'm 5'10" and my little mom is just over 5', so it never would have worked to begin with, but then there's this:

And, while I should probably be wearing red, he he, I definitely don't think purple is my color!

Punch bowl...

New fabulous Web site of the week: MyPunchbowl.com!

Before you send out those invited, pick a date and present guests with several options. It's evite revamped. Send out an e-mail suggesting dates, designate several VIPS and the site priorities based on their schedules, then the best date is calculated for you! This could definitely come in handy with my girlfriends, since all of our schedules are usually packed solid.

And the best part: it's free!

Favor idea?

So, I've mentioned two friends who recently became engaged. They are considering a wedding in the Adirondacks; and while I know they wanted to distribute mini-trees or plants as their favors (very green, they are), I've come up with an alternate suggestion! I love the vintage postcards from CardCow. What about getting a vintage image of the location where you get married and reproducing old-fashioned postcards on recycled cardstock for your guests? Let's say, packages of 10?

Black-eyed Susans

A picture of the house that simply makes me smile:

Adults Only...

MW and I have decided to have an adults-only wedding, due in part to our location and also because of our desire to keep it intimate and sophisticated. Imagine my delight when I read the following in today's Daily News:

DEAR ABBY: Your response to "Furious in Vancouver, Wash." about adults-only weddings was right on.
My brother is being married in two weeks. We were informed, via e-mail, that children were not invited. The note said that baby-sitting was being arranged, but that each couple would be responsible for the baby-sitting fee.

My wife and I are upset about it, because we have an adopted 16-year-old and an 8-year-old who will be in the wedding party as the ring-bearer. We also have a newborn, but because baby sitters are being arranged we didn't have a problem leaving him with them.

As you suggested, I called my brother to ask about it. They relented, and now the plan is for no children under 7. This will result in excluding only two children from the guest list.
In the end, it was better for me to talk to my brother first than to go off half-cocked and create a potentially ugly situation for what should be one of the happiest events in my brother's life.
- Mike in Indiana

DEAR MIKE: Readers from both sides of the aisle wrote to agree that the writer was being unreasonable and that she should attend her brother's wedding - with or without her husband. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: The letter from "Furious" made me furious. She implied that her brother should not allow his son at the wedding because "if no kids are allowed, then there should be no exceptions." She must be joking! Not to allow his own son at his wedding is much different from not allowing a couple of nephews. There are many reasons why her brother and soon-to-be wife might have reached their decision. She should grant her brother's wish and stop complaining that her young children - who would be bored anyway - can't attend. She should make it a date night out with her hubby and enjoy herself!
- Furious in California

DEAR ABBY: The woman whose children were not invited to her brother's small wedding needs to check an etiquette book. It is the privilege of the host/hostess to determine the guest list, and not for the guests to question. It is also rude for guests to ask to invite extra guests, or to bring them anyway, especially to a small wedding.
- Etiquette Maven, Fort Worth, Texas

DEAR ABBY: As a wedding singer and tour guide for a historic home that hosts weddings, I'm appalled at the behavior of children at weddings. I am even more disgusted at the lack of parental control I have seen exercised. By the way, I have four children of my own whom I love, but I don't take them to weddings.
- Big Brown Singing Tour Guide in the South

DEAR ABBY: Sorry, I must disagree with you on this one. It's the brother who has done something he'll regret. The sister is reacting to his disrespect for her family.
My wife and children are my world, and other family members are simply satellites around that world. If they refuse to recognize my world, then to me, they're just insignificant comets flying through my universe.
- Doug in Blanchard, Okla.

DEAR ABBY: Not every occasion is designed to give parents the opportunity to parade their kids around like show dogs. Sure, your kids are sweet and adorable in their parents' eyes, but not everyone shares that opinion. Deal with it! The wedding couple has the final say on who is invited to their wedding. Either hire a baby sitter or stay home. The choice is yours.
- Child-Free in Tennessee

Sorry I've been MIA folks...I've been wicked sick. Four weeks before the wedding and isn't it fitting that I come down with a REALLY bizarre and extremely painful (and gruesome) illness? I have very interesting "luck".

I've had plenty of time to catch up on my mag reading, enjoying the latest Bon Appetite, Better Homes and Gardens, Domain, Martha. That has been one nice thing.

And I've also had a ton of time to look at the files on my computer ... har har... and I realized I never posted pics of my hair trial for the wedding - hair and make-up that is ... so enjoy!

$$$$

I just found this site which allows you to search for the average cost of a wedding in your zip code. Brilliant!

Pottery Barn ramblings

I have bad luck, and a REALLY bad immune system. So, I'm home sick today, trying to lie still and not perserverate over everything that still needs to be accomplished. While I indulge in Martha Stewart, I'm also enjoying the new Pottery Barn catalogue that came in the mail this week (rarely do I discover moments of freedom anymore to enjoy catalogues...)

So, I love the new all natural section, and am finding some inspiration for future weddings:

These would make for fabulous favors!


I think dried fruit in hurricanes is an awesome centerpiece idea.

And how about a rustic, wooden bowl to hold wooden fans or programs?

...Now maybe she's gone too far...

Seriously? COOKIE BAGS!!!!???
Ingredients
Makes nine 2 1/4-by-2 3/4-by-4-inch boxes
1 cup (2 sticks) plus 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 1/4 cups bread flour

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy. With mixer running, add corn syrup. Turn speed to low; add flour. Blend until incorporated. Line an 11-by-17-inch baking pan with a Silpat mat (a French nonstick baking mat). Pour 1 cup batter onto the Silpat; use an offset spatula to spread the batter evenly over mat. Bake until golden brown and lacy, about 12 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Transfer to a heat-proof surface to cool, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a scalloped pastry wheel, cut the cookie into pieces about 1 1/2 inches longer than height of bag; place mold on cookie. Using an offset spatula, wrap cookie around mold, and press seams together. To make the bottom of bag, fold overhanging edges as you would wrap the bottom of a present. Let cookie harden on mold 1 1/2 minutes. Remove mold, and repeat with remaining cookie. If cookie becomes too hard to bend, return to oven 1 minute. Repeat the baking-and-folding process with remaining batter. Store in an airtight container up to one week.

I don't even know what to say...