Water

Water is the element of flow. When people use the cliché, “go with the flow” they are, in essence, talking about the element of water.  At many points in your wedding planning and during your wedding, you will need to invoke the water element. Yes, what I am saying is that you will need to learn to just go with the flow. There will be unexpected and sometimes unwanted happenings even with the best laid plans. When things happen that are out of your control, remember to be like the element of water and find your way gracefully and smoothly over any metaphoric rocks that you may find in your path. Water is often used to depict tranquility and calm. Try to create a peaceful place inside of you (perhaps by reciting an affirmation or a mini-prayer or a biblical verse). Then when challenges do arise, you can go to this place of peace.

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Gabrielle Gujjari is a newlywed who successfully survived planning her wedding. She is also a certified professional life coach who specializes in relationships and women’s issues. You can visit her blog here.

Fire

Fire is the element of action and transformation. It is my favorite element as it is used to get one going and to “burn out the old.” As with the other elements, using it in moderation and keeping it in balance is the key to a happy and sane wedding.  Air helped you brainstorm and dream, earth helped you make practical plans. The element fire helps you to get moving. Think of it as your anti-procrastinator element at your service and use it well. Make a to-do list and start getting the things you know you need to do completed ahead of time. If there are some things that you wanted in your initial brainstorming session that don’t fit into your wedding budget, burn them out (figuratively of course). If there is something you’d love to have but can’t figure out how to do, use the fire element to enlist the help of supportive friends and family.  Let the element of fire help you burn up your assumptions about how things “should” be so that you can enjoy your special day.  When you come across frustrating situations and obstacles, let the fire element help you continue to blaze your path ahead and move forward.

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Gabrielle Gujjari is a newlywed who successfully survived planning her wedding. She is also a certified professional life coach who specializes in relationships and women’s issues. You can visit her blog here.

Earth

Earth is the densest of all the elements-it is the element used for “grounding.” When I think of the element earth, I think of practicality and stability. After you spend some time with the air element, you’ll need to spend some time with the earth element. The earth element keeps us grounded. This element will help you to be realistic about your wedding. Maybe releasing doves at the end of your ceremony into the air seemed like a good idea, but once you conduct the research, and understand the costs, time and risks involved, it doesn’t seem so great after all.  Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of getting married at the top of a mountain, but once you see how impossible it will be for your beloved 90-year old grandma to make a trek to the top, you change your mind. The air element was all about brainstorming and getting your ideas out. The earth element helps put those ideas though the litmus test of practicality.

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Gabrielle Gujjari is a newlywed who successfully survived planning her wedding. She is also a certified professional life coach who specializes in relationships and women’s issues. You can visit her blog here.

Introduction

Many cultural traditions have used the concept of balancing the four elements (air, earth, fire and water) in order to explain how one can lead a physically, spiritually and psychologically healthy life. The concept of each of these elements is interesting, especially when one thinks about one’s wedding.  In order to truly enjoy your wedding (and the planning and preparations of it) you may want to do what sages have advised over thousands of years-Find a way to incorporate and balance all four of the elements.

Air

Air is the lightest of the four elements. It represents the dreamier aspects of life. After your engagement, when you are ready to think about planning your wedding, you’ll want to incorporate the air element because it’s so much fun to do. You’ll want to spend some time just thinking and dreaming about what you’d like your wedding to look, feel and be like.  At this point in your planning, you just need to focus on your wedding vision. You may want to look through magazines and cut out pictures of dresses and flowers. You may want to spend some time daydreaming about how you’ll do your hair and your makeup. Using the element air means that you’re in the clouds-and you’ll want to be here first. Dreaming and envisioning helps inspire the hard work and dedicated planning that will soon follow.

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Gabrielle Gujjari is a newlywed who successfully survived planning her wedding. She is also a certified professional life coach who specializes in relationships and women’s issues. You can visit her blog here.

We are THRILLED to announce that our “Scarlett” vine was chosen to be in the very fashionable Inside Weddings Magazine!! We can’t stop grinning and we can’t stop flipping through this beautiful magazine! You can find our fiery red Scarlett on page 40 along with other beauties to adorn your tresses.

We saw our first copy in Manhattan and quickly celebrated the news with some close friends!  There are tons of gorgeous photos and ideas in this issue. And don’t miss the dozens of amazing wedding gowns!

The holidays are always an exciting time and we have exciting news for our brides! We are participating in a holiday giveaway with our friends at Pip Pip and All That. Our prize: the True Blind Faith headpiece of your choice! Please visit here to participate (and be sure to check out their other giveaways as well).

Borrowed is not the typical word used to describe our headpieces but we certainly do “borrow” the timeless design & fashion of vintage jewelry.  We borrow inspiration from the original piece and re-birth it into something unique.  Our findings are previously loved brooches, bracelets, earrings or other adornments that we hand select and then restructure into hairpieces for the modern bride.  Every single item in our collection is a one-of-a-kind treasure. We simply adore this process!

True Blind Faith was created to help brides define their personal style on their wedding day.  We believe that every bride should be adorned with original creations to allow her own unique style and personality shine through.  New designs are consistently born into our collections which include various styles of tiaras, vines, combs and headbands.

photography by Jeff Krieger

“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine

It may surprise some that gin, not vodka, is the traditional alcohol in the martini. Martini connoisseurs are also very particular in how to prepare the libation properly.  According to so-called experts, to create the best martini all liquids should be room temperature. This will allow the ice to melt slightly and the cold water to dilute the alcohol and actually enhance the flavor.  Begin by filling a martini glass with ice. Mix 2 1/2 oz of gin over ice in a cocktail shaker. Now, if you are James Bond you of course will prefer it shaken, but there is actually a debate between shaken vs. stirred. Ultimately what you want is to mix the gin over ice, melting it, adding water and “bruising” the alcohol. So you will want to shake or stir briefly. Remove the ice from the chilled martini glass and add a splash of dry vermouth to the glass, swirling it around for several second then quickly pouring it out. Strain the gin into the glass and garnish with a few olives.

Looking to create your own gin joint? If you like to entertain you will want to be a proper host and be sure to have a properly stocked bar.  With co-ed showers being so popular these days perhaps you’d prefer a “stock the bar party”. Gather all the guys and gals together to help the cause.  This theme is also a great idea for a housewarming party. Start off with these fun invites from Etsy’s The One Stop Design Shop. They are so very clever. You can serve beer, wine and/or  a signature drink along with appetizers, pizza or your favorite food. You can add some extra fun with games-Pictionary, Battle of the Sexes, Beer Pong, “Drunk Jenga”. (If you haven’t heard of Drunk Jenga, contact us and we’ll tell you all about it).  Take a look here for more great ideas from Always a Blogsmaid.

Items that you will need for your home bar may include:

• Gin
• Vodka
• Tequila
• Vermouth (Sweet and Dry)
• Rum
• Whiskey
• Wine
• Cocktail shaker
• Martini olives
• Margarita or Kosher salt
• Red wine glasses
• White wine glasses
• High ball glasses
• Old fashioned/rocks glasses
• Ice bucket
• Tonic water/Seltzer
• Bar towels
• Bottle opener

Don’t forget that we still have something special for your treat bag! Have a look at Friday’s post and enter to win something fabulous. All you have to do is comment or send us an email-tell us what you enjoy about the blog and you can also humor us by telling us about your costume! We hope you had a magical weekend. We certainly did!

Susan as Snowfall-Halloween 2009

photo via Martha Stewart Living

Even though the blog is brand new we have decided it’s time to change it up a bit.  After lots of caffeine and some major brainstorming we are super excited to show off the new ideas!  Our statement remains the same;  “moving forward in life through true blind faith”.  We will continue to included photos and articles for wedding inspiration and those relating to creating a life together and living life to the fullest (recipes, decor, travel).  We just found a more creative way to do it!  It should be interesting as each week will be different and this will definitely keep us on our toes and keep the creativity flowing. So stay tuned as we unveil a new “theme” each week. You never know what will be in store.  We’ll start including a teaser on Saturdays to pique your curiosity.

As for Week One; I see azure, sapphire, cerulean, cyan and aquamarine plus lots of bright white. What will we present to you next week? All I can say is that it will be fun. Opa!

photo via MarthaStewartLiving.com