Planning to Pop the Question on New Year's Day?

Planning to pop the question on New Year's Day? http://www.examiner.com/lgbt-weddings-in-washington-dc/new-year-marriage-proposals.
Click link above to get featured online!

Wedding Design

Dessert Tables...YES!

If you've read Gay Wedding, Small Budget you know that I believe that small weddings and small budgets does not mean you have to sacrifice having the wedding of your dreams. Sure, you may have to get creative, sure some items may just be too pricey for your budget.  But this doesn't mean that your wedding will be any less fab.

I think that seeing is believing! Here are some great visuals of small weddings and small budgets that I think is simply divine!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this spiral ceremony set up!
Did I say I LOVE This???????

Love the flowers creating the circle of love...i'm pretty
sure there is a technical name for it, but i don't know what it is!

These are programs...yes, yes, I know! Too cute!

The above images are from http://justchicevents.wordpress.com.

Say I Do! LGBT Wedding Expo Heads to Philly THIS SUNDAY!

Don't forget to join us for a fun and fab time at Say I Do!Philadelphia.
 For information and tickets visit www.sayidoexpo.com

Filene's Basement Running of the Brides Knows No Sexual Orientation!

At Filene's Running of the Brides event, brides have one thing in mind and one thing only...finding the perfect wedding dress!  Gay bride, straight bride, pink bride, blue bride...doesn't matter! Thousands of women will descend upon the DC Filene's Basement store in hopes of finding the gown of their dreams at prices they can afford.


To get the full scoop and find out where you need to be tomorrow at 8am if you're a bride still searching for that perfect dress go here: 


DC area brides! Are you ready for Filene's Basement Running of the Brides Event? Starts tomorrow at 8am! http://www.examiner.com/lgbt-weddings-in-washington-dc/filene-s-basement-running-of-the-brides

Avoiding Bridezilla Syndrome

Weddings are a time of joy and celebration.  But as we've seen on shows such as Bridezilla, sometimes the wedding planning can get the best of the brides or grooms.  But it doesn't have to be that way!  Here are 3 ways to destress while wedding planning and to avoid the Bridezilla syndrome!

Perfection is not mandatory

Of course, you should plan your wedding and yes, the devil is in the details.  But don't for a minute think that your wedding has to be perfect. Yes, it would be great if things could go according to plan but weddings, just like life, don't always work out exactly the way we envisioned it no matter how much you plan and rehearse.  And guess what? That's OK!  Allow room for things that may happen that are beyond your control.  Realize what is critical and what isn’t; try not to sweat the small stuff.  Remember, your wedding is a day of celebration for you and your partner to pledge your love and commitment to each other. It should be fun; excessive worrying will dampen the mood and take away from your beautiful day.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Avoiding Bridezilla Syndrome - Washington DC LGBT Weddings | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/lgbt-weddings-in-washington-dc/avoiding-bridezilla-syndrome#ixzz1aU1eOjlU

Gay Wedding, Small Budget

You don't have to spend a fortune to have the wedding of your dreams!  As a matter of fact, many couples are realizing that the wedding is just one small piece of their life together and saving, investing, purchasing a home and other things are equally important.  This shift in thinking, coupled with our economy has made many couples hesitant to shell out big bucks on their wedding festivities.  My research shows that well over half of same-sex couples are footing the bill for their weddings themselves without help from mom or dad and gay weddings on average tend to be a smaller spend than straight weddings.  But less money doesn't mean any less fabulous!

Here are 3 ways to save cash on your wedding without skimping on the quality:

Continue reading on Examiner.com Gay Wedding, Small Budget - Washington DC LGBT Weddings | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/lgbt-weddings-in-washington-dc/gay-wedding-small-budget#ixzz1aNzqqj4o

Say I Do! LGBT Wedding Expo Heads to Philly!

Don't forget to grab your tickets today at 

www.sayidoexpo.com!

Say I Do! 2010 Recap

LGBT Wedding Expo - Hotel Palomar - Washington DC from PhotographyByAlexander.com on Vimeo.

We're going to Phili! Get the scoop at www.sayidoexpo.com

Gay Marriage Legal in NY!

NY has made history today, passing the same-sex marriage bill with a vote 33-29!

NYC is my home, and I am so happy that they have passed this historic bill into law.  I know lots and lots of couples will finally get the chance to legally wed in the city the love! Congrats to NY!


Who's tying the knot in NYC now that it's legal??

Who's proposing tonight???

Cutest Couple Contest - DC Edition

Our first Cutest Couple Contest Winners!!

Couples! It's that time again...our Cutest Couple Contest is back! But with a twist!

This contest is our Washington, DC edition. Only Washington, DC area couples are allowed to throw their hate into the ring for this contest. PLUS, this 'go round is for engaged couples ONLY!  So, you have to be planning to tie the knot within the next 18 months.

Alright, so throw your hat in the ring and be our cutest couple! Email your picture to hello@pinkdotconcepts.com with your names, ages, location and wedding date.

The winner will receive 2 complementary tickets to Say I Do! Wedding Expo and a feature in 10,000 Couples Online Magazine!

To enter read our brief but necessary, contest rules:

1. Like us on Facebook.  Like both 10,000 couples and Say I Do! LGBT Wedding Expo on facebook.  And you may want to follow us on twitter too, here and here :-)
2. Get your free subscription and all-access pass to 10,000 couples by clicking here.
3. Send us your picture, location, wedding date and ages to hello@pinkdotconcepts.com. Be sure to complete #1 and #2 first
4. Hit the "easy" button and tell your friends and family to get ready to start voting.  Couples who are entered will receive acknowledgment within 24 hours of completing the above steps!

Say I Do! LGBT Wedding Expo - Washington, DC - June 5, 2011

For details visit: www.sayidoexpo.com

 It's here!  After much anticipation...Say I Do! LGBT Wedding Expo is back for year 2.

We are celebrating same-gender love and marriage in a grand way.

Join us at the Hotel Palomar on June 5th for a great event!

And The Winner Is...

And The Winner Is (Drumroll Please...)

Ebone and Angell!!!!

Are the winners of our cutest couples contest!!! With 127 votes!!  Congrats ladies! They are the lucky winners of a special treat from the Lollipop Chef.  6 mouth-watering lollipop brownies will be to their door courtesy of Say I Do! and the Lollipop Chef!  2 tickets to Say I Do! LGBT Wedding Expo and a $50 shopping spree courtesy of 10,000 Couples Magazine!

Thank you and congrats to all our couples and a round of applause for their participation!!!

*Winners will be contacted in 5-7 business days; however, if you are the winner feel free to reach out to us and claim your prize!

Love Portrait: Davone and Tiffany

We are delighted to bring you yet another love portrait. This time we get a glimpse into Davone an Tiffany's story. They are currently in the running to be our Cutest Couple, to vote for them click here to visit the contest page.

A 2008 Love Affair...
Our love affair dates back to 2 years ago in 2008. We met through Dollhouse Enterprises Inc., a social networking company for lesbians and bisexuals in which Davone is CEO and Founder. Tiffany emailed Davone regarding a few events she was interested in attending and they immediately began to date after that. Davone instantly knew Tiffany was something special. Tiffany told Davone she found her to be beautiful, smart, funny, ambitious, and down right sexy. Davone found Tiffany to be extremely attractive, intelligent, and so warm and giving. They had so much in common and conversations between them were never dull. Tiffany was hesitant to tell Davone her age as she knew Davone would have an issue with Tiffany being 27 years old and Davone was 35 at the time. It took Davone for a loop when Tiffany revealed her age, but Davone began to call Tiffany her PYT (pretty young thing)! Sadly 2 months later Davone started to push Tiffany away because of the age factor. Davone and Tiffany eventually went separate ways and they both were saddened, because they knew deep down that they were perfect for each other.

A Second Chance at Love...
Davone: 2 years and a couple of emails, texts, and phone calls passed by, in June 2010, we ran into each other at a Pride event. As soon as we saw each other, the same feelings from 2 years ago came over us. We hugged each other and we instantly didn't want to let go. Tiffany sent me the sweetest text at 5AM when I got home saying that she was happy for me and the growth of my company and that I looked amazing. I immediately called her back and we had an hour long phone conversation at 5AM which was amazing and felt like we never left that moment in 2008. We went to dinner the very next, or I should say the same day and we were inseparable ever since.

We always talked about getting married like it was second nature but on a chilly evening in October Tiffany said lets go get our initials tattooed on our ring fingers to signify our love. We went to a tattoo parlor in Greenwich Village and got engaged. As flashy and over the top as I am, this was the most low key thing She has ever did, but it was the most emotional thing as well. It was as if Tiffany got down on one knee and asked me to be her wife, but we did it OUR WAY! We instantly went into planning mode for our wedding and that's where we are now. We are planning a huge Diamond winter wonderland theme wedding that will be taking place in December of 2011 in Long Island, NY. We will officially be getting married in Connecticut about a month before our huge NY ceremony. We are planning on honeymooning in St. Barts. After about a year of being married, Our plans are to expand our family and have a child.

About us as a couple:
We truly enjoy laughing together, laughing, shopping, traveling (Tiffany took Davone to Aruba for her birthday in September 2010), working on our weekly radio show Dollhouse Life Chat, going to Broadway and off Broadway shows and being pampered at spas. We also attend church weekly as our faith and spirituality is very strong to us and keeps our relationship grounded. We have date night once a week to take time out as a couple because our work schedules can get hectic at times. We both got a second chance at love and we vow to not let it go this time around.

A little bit more about Tiffany Jackson and Davone Madison:

Tiffany Jackson, New York City, is 29 years old and works as a computer engineer, Radio Talk show host and IT expert on the weekly internet talk show Dollhouse Life Chat Radio Show and is starting her own IT Consulting firm in 2011. She loves technology, sports, cars, and helping others in any way she can.

Davone Madison, New York City, is 37 years old and works as a finance supervisor for the federal government. She also CEO and founder of Dollhouse Enterprises Inc., social networking company for lesbians and bisexuals that has entities in NYC, NJ, ATL, TX, Philadelphia, and Canada. She is also owner of Dollhouse Media Group and host of Dollhouse Life Chat Radio Show, a weekly internet talk show. Davone will be appearing on TLC's show Say Yes To The Dress which will showcase her looking for the perfect wedding dress at the prestigious bridal shop Kleinfelds in NYC. She is the first African American lesbian to be featured on the show and the 3rd lesbian to be featured on the show in 6 seasons. The episode will be airing in April 2011.

Love Portrait: Katrina and Toni

The meeting...
I am an author of lesbian fiction and one day I noticed this person named Toni sent me a friend request me and I really didn't think anything of it at first. The same evening, Toni posted a poem on my wall and I was blown away by it! That hardly ever happens because, as a writer being in the publishing field, you can imagine I read tons of poems. But there was something about her poem that gave me goosebumps and a strange sense of deja vu! I knew I just had to find out more about her, although I did so secretly and very quietly. Toni eventually contacted me wanting information on publishing her first book and we spoke very briefly on the phone, but my interest was already piqued at that point.

The Connection...
Things started to take off quickly after that, we had a very intense connection. What's funny I had told myself I was going to give up on finding a great relationship because I'd been met with such disappointment in the past. We met for the first time in person on Valentines day. That weekend we spent together was like something out of a movie; deeply romantic and fun! We went on a cruise through the gulf of Mexico and I remember looking at some of the older couples on board and I turned to her and said "I'd like for that to be us someday." She smiled at me, took my hand and said "I think I could arrange that."

The Future...
Ever since then we have been building towards a beautiful future together. Toni and I complement each other so well it wa like we were designed for each other! We hope to someday settle down in San Francico, buy a beautiful, old Victorian home and move our kids plus maybe a crazy cat and dog or two into it to live happily ever after!

Love Portrait: Nekita and Toni

We are excited to share the love stories of our Cutest Couple Contestants!

Featured Couple: Nekita and Toni of Alabama who married on July 16, 2010 in Springfield, VT.

 

The Meeting...
We meet a local club here in town, I was meeting friends for a "girls nite out" and I was early, I was sitting at a table and noticed her looking at me, but she didn't come over, so I pretended like I was looking for my lighter (I knew where it was, LOL) and she came over, gave me a light and introduced herself." We've been together for 8 years.

The Proposal...
We were having dinner, and Toni just looked up at Nekita and said "marry me." "I playfully replied " I can't marry you.....you don't have any money !" She said " I have enough for you.......and I'll make damn sure that you will never want for anything." Oh man, the tears started, and I was gone after that !

Two Hearts Become One...
We decided to get married because we are in love with each other, didn't want anyone else, wanted to share our lives with each other, wanted to have a life commitment to each other and wanted to share it with our friends and family, and raise a family together.

Opinion Piece: Much ado about weddings, what about the relationship?

We are not without a fair share of wedding shows on television, from Say Yes To the Dress, Platinum Weddings to the over the top Bridezilla's. And while almost all of these shows claim to be "reality tv" (which we know is sometimes scripted and edited to alter how things really transpire...but that's another topic for another blog). 

A wedding is a celebration of love and a public acknowledgment of the commitment of two people to spend the rest of their lives together.  Yes, planning a wedding, even a small wedding takes a lot of work.  I think the advantage in some ways that gay and lesbian couples have over straight couples is that because our unions are not federally recognized and only a handful of states allow gay marriage, we don't take marriage as a given.  Now, this is not to say that straight couples don't value marriage at all, there are plenty of heterosexual couples in long, happy relationships. But with the divorce rates, shows like the Bachelor and 72-hour celebrity weddings, marriage for some is as disposable as a paper cup.

Depending on where you live, if you are gay no matter how much you love your partner, you can not marry them. In my personal opinion these sham marriages is an insult to those of us who truly desire to be married but can't because of our sexual orientation.  But I digress, this post isn't about ridiculous beliefs of others that are upheld as law...smh...this about not letting wedding planning cloud you to what really matters...marriage.

So to all couples planning a wedding, don't forget about each other.  The best advice I've heard is not to treat your partner like you've already "got" him or her, that makes things safe and sometimes boring.  Keep the pursuit alive, the passion.  Yes, a wedding should a wonderful affair. And planning, while intense should be enjoyable but don't get so swept away with table tents, wedding favors and wedding party gifts that you forget the reason why you are doing all this in the first place.

President Obama To Marry Gay Couple?

That's what we are hearing.  President Obama has long maintained that his personal views are that marriage is between one man and one woman; but also says that he will not stand in the way of marriage equality. 

Double talk? I don't know but recently President Obama offered his officiant service to marry his social secretary Jeremy Bernard to his long-time partner Rufus Gifford. The couple are planning a Spring 2012 wedding.  Personally, I would love to see this come to pass, it would be at the least ground breaking and a strong stance for marriage equality.

For the full scoop visit:  http://www.examiner.com/lgbt-weddings-in-washington-dc/president-obama-to-marry-gay-couple

The Nonconforming Bridal Fair

I would be remiss if I didn't mention a very unconventional event for the offbeat bride...The Nonconforming Bridal Fair.

For the brazen bride, the traditional white dress with a tried and true ceremony just wont do!  The nonconforming bride desires a wedding that is as unique as she is!

Whether you are wearing a suit instead of a dress, getting married underwater instead of in a church, or just "non-traditional" by any sense of the word.  Whether you're just looking to add a little whimsy to your wedding or dare to be totally different, you will find help and resources at The Nonconforming Bridal Fair!

For details visit: www.nonconformingbridafair.com 

New Find: La Bella Bride Magazine

Photo from La Bella Bride.com

While in one of my favorite places today, Borders; I came across a magazine I'd never seen or heard of before.  Now, there are a lot of glossy, eye-catching magazines on shelf many of which I consider the same-old stuff, same-old articles and tired themes. 

La Bella Bride is a New England publication that features trends, love stories and real weddings mainly in the New England area.  On the cover, was an African-American model which for a publication that is not exclusively for African-Americans is rare to see.  And inside they actually featured a same-sex couple, a lot of information and inspiration. I was instantly drawn to ad by Diane Gaudett which featured a stunning black and pink table design with a damask runner.  LOVE IT!

On their site, they show snippets of the wedding of Alan and Luis who tied the knot at a lake wedding in Connecticut.  I personally love their matching tuxes.  Check it out here: http://labellabridemagazine.com/blog/?p=381.

A Cute New Take On Wedding Cake

A Florida-based company, CakeShooter has put an innovative twist on the traditional wedding cake. A "pop-up" cake that your wedding guests can walk-around with similar to ice cream on a cone and enjoy.

With flavors such as pina colada, yellow raspberry swirl and traditional favors such as chocolate and vanilla. I love these (without even having tasted them!) unique and innovative which is always a good thing.

Learn more at www.cakeshooters.com.

Say I Do! Kicks off Wedding Expo Plans With A Sweet Event

We are so excited to kick of the Say I Do! season of events.  And we figured why not start with something sweet AND raise funds for a worthwhile cause. It's a win-win!

On March 13, 2011 over 350 people will meet with cake bakers and dessert makers of all sorts at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bethesda, MD!  Couples looking for their perfect wedding cake, event planners looking for vendors, socialites looking for sweet treats for their next big shindig will all be coming together for a grand tasting.

We are so excited to not only put together this event but also to raise funds for Youth Pride Alliance, a local non-profit organization dedicated to creating safe events and support for our LGBTQ youth.

To learn more about Let Them Eat Cake! visit www.letthemeatcakedc.yolasite.com.  Tickets are almost sold out as the event is at capacity. So if you're planning to attend, grab your tickets now!

Let Them Eat Cake! March 13, 2011

Need I say more? Get the scoop at www.letthemeatcakedc.yolasite.com

10 Reasons Why Same-Sex Marriage is Wrong…

1) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning. Also apparently those homosexual animals have picked up some unnatural behavior.

2) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

3) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven’t adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

4) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn’t changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can’t marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

5) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britney Spears’ 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

6) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn’t be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren’t full yet, and the world needs more children.

7) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

8 ) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That’s why we have only one religion in America.

9) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That’s why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

 I wish I could take credit for writing this clever number, but I can't. Found this here who found it here and so and so on...

Kiss & Tell Contest

Did you pop the question on Valentine's Day?

Were you surprised with a proposal from your honey on Valentine's Day?

Tell us your story! We are looking for 4 couples who got engaged on Valentine's Day for our kiss and tell contest! Email hello(at)pinkdotconcepts.com to enter!!

So....

Planning a wedding is a lot of work. And I'm not talking about the stuff that a planner can be hired to do. I'm talking about the compilation of ideas and concepts that the couple wants to see come to life on their big day. These are things that you should have some idea of what you want. Experts and professionals can help you execute your dream but they certainly can't give tell you want you want, only you know that.

So, yes all I have to say in this post is planning a wedding or make correctly, thinking about planning a wedding is a lot of work.

Marsha Ambrosius - Far Away

Not only is this song HOT, Marsha's message through her video is powerful and important.  Homosexuality in the black community is still a very touchy subject in the black community.  I love how Marsha uses her persona to shed light on this important issue.  If you've never seen the video, I won't spoil it for you.  Feel free to leave comments I would love to know what you think.

Happy New Year

While I'm a little late with the well wishes, they are heartfelt just the same.  2011 brings a new year and with it new possibilities. I for one am uber excited about the new year.  Say I Do! in June, the Nonconforming Bridal Fair in April and possibly Say I Do! in another city (stay tuned for details)!

So I've been quite busy, busy as a bee and that's a good thing.

I am still looking for couples who attended Say I Do! and have gotten married since the expo.  Email me at hello(at)pinkdotconcepts.com. OR, if you've gotten engaged over the holidays, drop me a line as well!