Preparing for your big day can be confusing and stressful, and nobody knows that more than newlywed Vanessa Minnillo. Thankfully, she’s posted her top 10 tips for those brides-to-be  to make the wedding both memorable, and stress-free! When you’re done, make sure to check out what Branches NJ Catering Hall can do do help make the wedding of your dreams a reality, either at our hall, or somewhere beautiful off-site.

Source: She Knows

Vanessa Minnillo has married the man of her dreams. In the process of getting hitched to Nick Lachey, the 30-year-old learned a thing or two about being a bride and the wedding planning process. Here are Vanessa Minnillo’s top 10 tips for other brides!

Vanessa Minnillo, whose big day was featured on TLC’s Nick & Vanessa’s Dream Wedding, writes on her Twitter page:

Tip 1: Try on different styles of dresses. Even if u know what u want, it may surprise u. Go for it all & be girly! Most importantly, HAVE FUN

Tip 2: I Love a “little” splash of color! I had a beautiful bouquet of gloriosa’s, BUT I didn’t put my matron of honor in a fuchsia dress

Tip 3: Listen to your groom & have elements of what “he” wants in the Wedding. After all, it’s both of your day. Nick had great suggestions.

Tip 4: A welcome bag w/”personalized” goodies is always nice! We did beach towels w/their names embroidered, & all the beach essentials.

Tip 5: Make sure to take time before the wedding & spend it with ur fiancee. A night with a glass of wine, or a weekend away. #QualityTime

Tip 6: To save money: use venue’s place settings & glassware, but we brought in our personalized linens and chargers for a more custom feel.

Tip 7:If you can, have multi-photographers. We loved Yitzhak Dalal, & he brought 2 others w/him. There’s always more than one angle u want!

Tip 8: Consider weather when planning an outdoor ceremony. The ONE thing I regret is we didn’t have fans or a.c. at the ceremony. #sweating

Tip 9: Do something special for ur fiancee b4 the ceremony, a gift, &/or a hand written card. Let them know how u feel & that u Love them!

Tip 10: HAVE FUN! Once it’s the day of, try ur hardest not to let ANYTHING get in the way. You’ll regret it if u obsess about small stuff!

*Tip 11: Secure a wedding sponsor or three and air your nuptials on television to help off-set the cost of your dream day.

*We kid, we kid!

Congratulations to Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo on their gorgeous wedding!

For the full article: click here

The Asbury Park Press is running their annual Readers Choice Contest. Branches Catering has received an award for the past 6 years in a row! Keep the tradition going and vote for Branches as Best Banquet Facility AND Best Caterer (off-site catering) for 2011!

It only takes a minute to vote. All you have to do is click here by July 31st and fill out the form. Remember to vote two times for Branches Catering under the categories Banquet/Reception Facilities and Caterer.

Thank you in advance for your support and we look forward to serving you in the future!

Branches Catering
123 Monmouth Road (Rt. 71N)
West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Toll Free (877) 316-1753
www.BranchesCatering.com

As the summer continues to heat up it can be tough to keep your cool when thinking about summer wedding ideas. Summer is a beautiful time of year to tie the knot and with simple wedding tips this Jersey Shore catering hall can help prepare you for your big day. Check out this blog post from Volumeone.org which details five simple tips to help make your New Jersey wedding memorable.

by Alyssa Schulte

It’s that time again. Summer means weddings, and if you’re in the midst of planning one, we’ve got some helpful hints for you. And they’re (relatively) inexpensive, too!

Tip #1: Go outside, man. Summer days are long, warm, and inviting. Weddings in gardens, parks, or even beaches—if you don’t mind a little sand—are ideal places for couples to say, “I do.”  (The days can also be hot, humid, and rainy, but you just have to take your chances.)

Outdoor tree aisle?

Tip #2: Choose a lighter meal. Fish can be great for the main course, plenty of fresh fruit and/or veggies, or even a barbecue if you’re celebrating outdoors. Don’t forget plenty of ice and cold beverages. And the cake! Lighter frostings and fruit fillings are perfect for summer.

Tip #3: Dress for the weather. If you’re a blushing bride and you want to remain that way (i.e. not a sweating bridezilla), sleeveless dresses are ideal, preferably in a lighter fabric. If you’re the hunky groom, keep it light and classic. And stay away from the heavy black blazer.

Tip #4: Treat your guests with wedding favors they can use. For example, on a hot summer day, lovely fans or paper parasols are unique and appreciated.

Tip #5: Be creative and make your wedding uniquely you. (A tip for all seasons, I suppose.)

For the full article: click here

Branches is no stranger to a summer wedding and we wanted to share with you some tips on how to prepare for a perfect summer wedding day. Whether you’re ceremony and reception is held at our waterfall garden, or you’re planning a Jersey Shore wedding, preparation is key!

By: Lise Rina

Having a summer wedding is a dream of many brides, though this type of event is not without its own challenges. You want a day where nothing goes wrong, the sun shines and everything is perfect. Luckily by following a few simple guidelines this should be easy to achieve.

Marrying in the open air is a lovely idea. However when it comes to saying your vows you want to make sure you are either in the shade or the sun is behind you. Being blinded by the sun shining straight into your eyes is not a good look for your wedding day.

Your guests will also appreciate some shade. However if the plan is that they are in the open air, and high temperatures are forecast, you want to make sure that they are not going to pass out in the heat. A good way to avoid this is to provide little fans and bottled water on the seats. Holding a wedding either early in the day or in the evening will also make the temperature a little cooler.

One of the big advantages of summer weddings, apart from the weather, is the choice of flowers available. However this can also bring challenges. Any guests that suffer from hay fever or pollen allergies are not going to enjoy being surrounded by a sea of blooms. If you know anyone who suffers from allergies let them know they types of flower you are using and then they can take precautions.

Insects are another consideration for weddings held in the summer, and they will happily turn up without an invitation. The most challenging time tends to be as the photographs are being taken as people are milling around with sugary drinks in their hands. As you can’t ban insects the next best thing is to make sure there is a handy first aid kit available should anyone get stung.

Think carefully about where you are going to place your cake. You may think that your beautiful tiered creation covered in butter cream roses would look perfect with the sun shining on it, but it’s more likely it would start to melt. Keep your cake out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources such as spot lights.

Having a summer wedding is a very special thing. You want to do everything you can to make the day as perfect as possible. In many cases it is taking care of the small details that will turn your wedding from a good one to one that will be talked about for years.

By: Lise Rina

Finding the perfect wedding dress can be overwhelming for any bride. We found these tips and tricks to be very helpful while on the search. Once you’re not worried about the dress more time can be focused on finding the perfect wedding venue!

Source: weddings.about.com

One of the biggest decisions you will face as the big day approaches is choosing the perfect wedding dress. The process of shopping for a wedding dress can be a fabulous adventure, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming–particularly because a bride-to-be often starts shopping for her gown before many other details are determined.

You might have had a clear mental picture of the perfect wedding dress ever since you were five years old. On the other hand, you may have no idea what you are going to wear or feel strange about the idea of wearing white. The important thing is to relax, and remember that there are as many different kinds of dresses out there as there are different kinds of brides.

When to Start Shopping for Your Wedding Dress

Give yourself ample time to plan- generally the rule of thumb is that you need to order your gown at least six months before your wedding. So you should ideally start shopping for your gown nine months or more before your wedding. (If you don’t have this much time, it’s okay, just budget for some rush charges).

Plan Ahead

Take a few minutes to think about what you want. It will be helpful when you enter the maze of wedding dresses out there to know what your budget is, any details that are essential (i.e. I must have a full skirt, or my arms must be covered), and an idea of how traditional you want your dress to be. After all, if really a teal pantsuit would work best for you, it’s probably not worth your time to sort through racks of flouncy white gowns.

Be Comfortable!

On your wedding day, you’ll want to look great, but you’ll also want to be comfortable- it will be hard to dance and laugh (not to mention posing for all those pictures) if you’re tugging your dress up or have boning jutting into your ribs.

First- consider which wedding dress is most appropriate to your day – for example, consider a shorter tea-length or cocktail length dress for a beach wedding. If you’re the type who likes to dance with her hands in the air, and anticipates doing the limbo, perhaps a strapless dress is not the one for you. Look for wedding dresses with removable sleeves or straps to give you the widest range of options.

A Dress that Fits Your Body Well

Think about your body type and what kinds of dresses generally look good on you. Take a look at what you regularly wear that makes you feel confident and beautiful, and then look for a wedding dress with similar lines. If a friend is making your wedding dress, ensure that you have agreed on a fitting schedule and chances to make adjustments. If you’re looking for a bargain at a sample sale, or discount outlet, you should budget money for taking the dress to a good tailor. Many designers will ask for three fittings, and will closely tailor your wedding dress to fit you.

Saving Money on Your Wedding Dress

If money is an issue, remember that the most expensive kind of dress is not necessarily the best kind. Many brides find a bridesmaids dress in white or off-white that works perfectly, and is hundreds of dollars cheaper. There are thousands of dresses to be had at sample sales, thrift stores, and ebay. Consider taking pictures from magazines to a friend who sews or seamstress and getting a price quote. If you choose to make your own dress, don’t delay. The sooner you finish it, the sooner you’ll be able to attend to the many other details of your wedding.

Most of all, remember this is your wedding day. Wear whatever makes you comfortable and feels like you. And have fun shopping for your wedding dress. It should be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Source: weddings.about.com