'What ever will they think of next!'

Throughout history the bride and groom have been showered with rice as a symbol of prosperity and fertility. Today I received  a link from a friend regarding  'designer wedding rice'. According to my friend the new craze is this heart shaped rice.

'Designer wedding rice'

I can hear my grandmother tutting and saying 'What ever will they think of next!' However when placed  in to individual organza bags the heart shaped rice does looks very pretty. If you are getting married in Italy are really want the designer rice thrown at you as you leave the ceremony, you should bring this with you as according to my friend and my research today, you can not buy it in Italy. You can however buy it on line and have it shipped to Italy...

 Meanwhile back in Italy, traditional wedding rice is easily available and at half the price looks just as pretty, as with everything, you just need to make a little effort with the presentation!

2011 Oscar Jewelry: Afterthoughts and After Parties

Heidi Klum in Lorraine Schwartz jewelry and Julien McDonald gown

Who can't get enough Oscar night jewelry gawking? Need a cure for your haute couture hangover? That's what I thought, you diamond-starved looky-loos!

The day after the Oscar jewelry bling-fest always brings with it the realization that A: I missed a few important jewels in my Oscar Night jewelry roundup and B: the after parties are where the real bauble action is (where goes Joan Collins so goes the carat count).

Elton John in Chopard

So here are a few key jewelry after thoughts from the red carpet proper that I didn't inlcude in my Oscar Top Ten list last night - and a host of great celebrity jewelry looks from the Vanity Fair party and Elton John's Chopard-hosted viewing soiree. 

AFTER THOUGHTS:

Scarlett Johansson Oscar Jewelry

Loved this statement ring on Scarlett Johansson - an haute couture creation by Anna Hu.

Celine Dion Oscar Jewelry

Love it or hate it, this statement piece from Bulgari made jaws drop in horror and/or amazement.

Cate Blanchett Oscar Jewelry

This lavendar and canary yellow Givenchy number had couture queens crowing and others scratching their heads. I (for one) loved it and couldn't believe she could find jewelry to make the look even better (these yellow diamond earrings are from Van Cleef & Arpels). 
 
VANITY FAIR OSCAR PARTY

What almost upstaged the jewelry gawking at the Vanity Fair Party? The coming out ofThe Biebs and Selena Gomez as an official Hollywood couple! Awwww... Aren't they cute?

From Charlize Theron and Anna Paquin to Taylor Swift and Jessica Biel, the A-list came to Graydon Carter's sandbox in stunning, shimmering jewels.

And Rita Wilson? Less is more, sister.

ELTON JOHN OSCAR VIEWING PARTY HOSTED BY CHOPARD:

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How much does a wedding in Italy cost?

  What is the average budget for a wedding in Italy?...  It maybe the unromantic part of getting married but it is the most important element towards your wedding day.

Getting married in Italy does not always mean saving money, you will probably spend the same as you would at home. The difference is the quality you will receive for your money!

What it comes down to is you are just about to spend a chunk of your savings, so lets look at ways to make your money go further!

1. Research

Do as much research as possible on everything that you plan to spend money on and only use reputable firms/individuals for all your wedding needs. The Italian Wedding Planner is the only wedding planner in Italy, (to our knowledge and we have asked a lot of our suppliers to confirm this) who do not work on commission! Wedding planners who do work on commission can cost you up to 20% extra on everything from the florist to the venue! I totally disagree with this and the practice of mark ups and guarantee that we pass all the savings on to you!

2. Bank charges

You’re likely to get charged a foreign transaction fee every time you pay the venue, photographer, caterers and so on. High street banks often charge £25 or more just to transfer your money, and banks can also charge commission and take overseas delivery charges. By setting up an overseas bank account, and transferring your money in one go, you will incur less transfer charges, getting a better exchange rate and can make payments locally.

3. Fix your exchange rate

 Using a foreign exchange specialist can allow you to lock into an exchange rate for up to two years, so you can accurately budget how much things will cost. By doing this you won’t have to worry about rates worsening as you book the different elements of your wedding.

4. Using your credit card

 Be aware that credit cards can incur a transaction fee when paying for/booking venues or if paying for a wedding planner etc. Additionally, they can be even more costly when paying suppliers as they can charge commission and offer a poor exchange rate.

5. Hidden fees

 Watch out for extra costs involved when choosing a destination and/or venue such as document translation fees.

6.Check the small print

Most contracts will be in Italian, ask for them in English or get your planner to go over them with you.

 If you choose to arrange your wedding through a company/wedding planner, it’s also vital that you check the small print carefully. Check exactly what is and what is not included in the price.

7. Don’t forget the budget

 Set a budget limit and try to stick to it. This will help ensure costs don’t spiral out of control and you don’t overspend on the essentials or splash out too much on those luxurious extras.

8.Order your currency

You are getting married in Italy, the quotes you will be given are all in euro, please if you are paying suppliers in cash, do not turn up in Italy with dollars! I know that sounds so silly but trust me I have seen this happen! It is near on impossible to change large sums f money in an Italian bank with out a bank account. Please if you are paying in cash make sure you have ordered your euros at home to pay the suppliers in Italy!

Also remember your guests will probably require currency if they are travelling overseas for your wedding. Make sure they don’t get ripped off with charges and poor exchange rates; ordering currency before the wedding, for home delivery or branch collection, will mean their money goes further.

Oscar fashion 2011

In the early hours of the morning I stayed up and watched the Oscars. The glamorous dresses, beautiful men and the accessories! Love it love it love it!
Lets take a look at some of the beautiful leading ladies fashion at the 2011 Oscars, who knows maybe it will inspire your bridal hairstyle or your rehearsal dinner dress or even your wedding dress!

Hillary Swank

 

 Hailee Steinfeld, Michelle Williams, Mandy Moore and Halle Berry looked so beautiful as they walked the red carpet in elegant gowns.

Marchesa; Natalie Portman; Michelle Williams; Mila Kunis and Gwyneth Paltrow 

Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lawrence, Penelope Cruz and Sandra Bullock were classically glamorous in red!

My favourite dress of the night... If I had to select only one it would have to be  Mila Kunis who looked delicately pretty in lavender Elie Saab lace,  but I would have her a joint winner with so many of the leading ladies last night!

source Getty



The winner for best hairstyle goes to...

It is Oscar time and while the Oscars for Best Picture went to The King's Speech (Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin);  Best Actor in a Leading Role to the lovely Colin Firth (The King's Speech), Best Actress in a Leading Role Went to  Natalie Portman (Black Swan) and Best Directing went to The King's Speech (Tom Hooper) for the best hair style it must go to....
 Anne Hathaway! With 8 outfit changes and each with its own hair style Anne the winner for best hair style at the 2011 Oscars!

 Nicole Kidman, Sharon Stone, Michelle Williams, and Reese Witherspoon all styles their hair in a 60's fashion at the 2011 Oscars

 

The classic up-do was also on show at the 83Annual academy awards and short hair is also 'in' this year.

Photo credit: Getty Images

2011 Oscar Jewelry Roundup: The Trends & Top Ten from Tinseltown

Oscar jewelry fashion at the 2011 Academy Awards was a smattering of surprises paired with the usual classic diamond deluge. Fasten your seatbelts, jewelry hounds. Here's my glittering recap to the red carpet Super Bowl. 

Red-hued frocks with elegant diamond looks were a big trend (Anne Hathaway, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Hudson), along with emerald jewels (Amy Adams, Reese Witherspoon, Annette Bening), knock-out necklaces (Nicole Kidman, Helen Mirren), and colorful earrings in surprising silhouettes (Marisa Tomei, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman).

While there was a very real fear that the 'less is more' trend would dominate the night - (Michelle Williams, Mandy Moore and Jennifer Lawrence all opted for minimal jewels - among many others), Oscar always brings out the best in some of our go-to fashion divas.

Here are my top ten looks of the night, but be sure to visit Jewelry.com on Facebook for my complete album with rants and raves capturing all the Oscar looks. And better yet? Check in with JewelClub Monday morning to get all the hot 2011 Oscar jewels at prices that don't need their own body guard.


1. Anne Hathaway Oscar Jewelry

Some might say Tiffany diamonds and a red dress are safe Oscar bets. I say - that's the kind of red carpet fashion we jewelry hounds are looking for (and dare I say) expect from the A-list. And Annie's jewelry looks just kept on coming throughout the show (I'll be tracking down pics and credits for all - so stay tuned!)

2. Nicole Kidman Oscar Jewelry

How can you make a stunning 150-carat Fred Leighton diamond necklace look even more beautiful? Put it on Nicole Kidman and have it DRAPE DOWN HER BACK! Win!

3. Marisa Tomei Oscar Jewelry

Van Cleef & Arpels is responsible for these sapphire, diamond and emerald statement stunners. And her Charles James dress from 1950 almost made Tim Gunn hyperventilate, bless his heart. She's never looked better.

4. Natalie Portman Oscar Jewelry

The sensational Live Twitter Chat gang (some of the best minds in jewelry and fashion participated - click here for more!) were either in LOVE with these Tiffany ruby tassels or thought them to be, um, pedestrian. I love the pomegranate color - not the silhouette so much. It just wasn't the knock-out moment the belle of the Oscar ball needed to bring (a la Gwyneth in Cathy Waterman and Ralph Lauren when she won back in the day).

5. Gwyneth Paltrow Oscar Jewelry

Speaking of G-Pal - only she could pull off this Calvin Klein silvery sensation of a dress paired with these unique Louis Vuitton gemstone (bird?) earrings from their L’Ame du Voyage collection. A bold choice and a big win!

6. Helen Mirren Oscar Jewelry

Dame Mirren reigned over the red carpet in a pearl, diamond and platinum necklace from 1907 and a diamond bracelet from Cartier’s Archive Museum Collection. This woman always looks lovely - although the length of her necklace is a bit long here for my taste.

7. Reese Witherspoon Oscar Jewelry

This year's Angelina Jolie-emerald-earring copycat award goes to...Reese Witherspoon, who looked lovely in 35-carat emerald drops by Neil Lane (her jewelry totaled $1 million). Annette Bening? You come in second place...

8. Jennifer Hudson Oscar Jewelry

Jaws dropped when this dream girl stepped on the red carpet in a 'tangerine/red' Versace number and Neil Lane diamonds. And I am telling you. You don't have to go anywhere, sister.

9. Mandy Moore Oscar Jewelry

The 'less is more' win of the night for me went to this pretty diamond cluster earring on Mandy Moore. The overall look is the perfect example of how to wear jewelry with a sparkly dress. Just lovely.

10. Amy Adams Oscar Jewelry
 

Such a bold choice to wear navy, no neck line and this Cartier emerald and diamond wrap necklace and a 30.75-carat carved emerald and diamond bracelet-watch worth $1.025 million. Everyone is talking about her jewelry - despite the fact that it belonged with a different ensemble.

Whew! So what do you guys think of my Top Ten Oscar jewels for 2011? Who did I miss? Weigh in - and be sure to double back tomorrow for my 'after party' jewelry gawk-fest. Hoping for an Angelina sighting at the Vanity Fair party. Stay tuned!

(By request, a close-up of Amy Adams' Cartier wrist bling. Wow!)