One thing that we wanted at our wedding party was a King's Cake, something to really bring out the Mardi Gras festivities that we would soon be heading into. I was really happy that we were able to find someone in the area who could bake and decorate an authentic King's Cake. The cake is really unique, sweet icing, decorated with jewels and coins, and the really special part is that it has a small gold baby put inside of it. The tradition is really old, and whoever gets the baby is suppose to host the party or bring the cake next year. So we hinted that whoever found the baby would be the one hosting their own wedding party in 2009.

The Big Easy is a great restaurant in Raleigh, and it's also a great place to have medium size get-to-gethers. Enrique's family was coming from from Chicago for the holidays, and we made special arrangements to have a dinner party (rehearsal dinner, as we called it) at the big easy. We were able to get the Orange room for our group. We were thirty in total, with family members and friends and co-workers. The food is great, spicy and everything on the menu tastes great. The prices range between $15 and $25 a person, and we went with the Big Easy Gold option just because it included two appetizers (and this was $19 a person). The Gold Package did not include drinks, and we let people pay for their own drinks. They do include a 18% service/tip charge, which is fair because the staff was definitely working while we were all there. And the reason why we choose this restaurant, obviously, was because of the creole menu! It was like bringing a bit of Mardi Gras to our family! This was much more festive, and everyone had a good time!

We booked our tickets through the internet (expedia.com), but I would suggest booking early or looking for package deals because everything gets expensive. Sometimes a package deal that includes the hotel and a tour will be cheaper in the long run.

It was incredible getting a room during this time of the year! I think everyone in the world wants to be there, or at least that's how it felt! We've gone a few times to Mardi Gras and stayed with either friends or in a hotel, and this time we stayed in the room that friends normally book for Mardi Gras. They have been going her for several years now, and know to book way in advance. It was their gift to us! The rooms and hotel are so unique looking, modern amenities mixed in with these really old styles. The hotel is great, amazing feel to the rooms, and we didn't see any ghosts but we were told that there were a few that hung around.

This is a wonderful place to have a reception. They have several rooms that you can book and use, including the main entrance which is perfect for a ceremony. I think what made Artspace a wonderful choice is that it is not a usual location, and this wasn't a usual wedding. It's a art studio, but there was a large room that we were able to use for the reception. It's a practical choice, too, because they do have a kitchen which the caterers were able to use as well AV equipment to rent. They were also able to put us in contact with several caterers that they recommended, as well as amateur photographers who were trying to make a start in the wedding business, and decorators. I felt that they wanted to take care of us and our wedding plans. From the moment you walk in, it's a wonderful feeling. We did become members of the Circle of Friends because we want to show our ongoing support for the Artspace.

In the January of 2007, a year before our set wedding date celebrations, I noted that JC Penny was having a huge Christmas clearance sale and that they were selling these beautiful candles that were encrusted with gold dust for 75% off. Because I knew that our wedding would be in January, I knew that these candles would be perfect as decorations. In a Martha Stewart wedding magazine, I saw a picture of a reception room that was filled with candles for a winter wedding. It would be cold, so I wanted candles to fill the room and give the room a warm, cozy romantic feeling. I also wanted nicer candles than just plain tea lights. I spent $100 on over $400 worth of candles. I chose the candles that were already in gold dusted candle holders, and lots of green and purple dusted candle holders as well. My main color palette was that of Mardi Gras, so it was for the majority gold, and then purple and green. NOTE: before I bought the candles I did contact the manager of the restaurant we had reserved just to make sure that candles were allowed. For my daughters wedding we had bought all these balloons only to find out during the last week that balloons were on the prohibited list. We were lucky and candles were allowed.

Jennifer was a very lovely person, and I think she is a perfect make-up and wedding hair person! Her personality is very charming, she's very professional and skilled, and knows exactly what's she's doing. I thought that it was a bit pricey at first to pay $150 for a consultation with my daughter and best friend, but it made so much more sense. We tried different hair styles, she looked at my make-up and got a better understanding of me and what I wanted to look like, and it took a while. On my wedding day, it was great that she was able to come to our house and take care of the make-up and hair for us. For me it was much more about the hair, and I think I looked perfect.

My daughter told me that her wedding present to me would be new make-up. I have had the same eyeliner since, well, I guess I don't know how long, and I have dozens of dried out mascara tubes. It was hard, but I threw everything out and went to Clinique with her. I think Clinique is great. I love the cream, I think they have the best mascara in the world, and I never have an allergic reaction to their products. My daughter booked us to have the 15 minutes make-up consultations, and I learned all about my color palette again, and what shades and shadows would look good on me and in what lighting. It was great. The make-up artist was extremely knowledgeable, confident, and really engaging. She knew I was starting from scratch but only recommended basic products. I also got a great gift basket, which was fun! I wish I remembered her name because she really was great!

Enrique had proposed to me while we were on vacation in Chicago. This was during the summer when we went to visit his family and, as the story goes, he had been planning to propose for some time. During our last week there he proposed to me with a beautiful ring. It was beautiful, really classic and elegant. I had been wearing my mother's engagement ring for over twenty years now on my ring finger, and the ring he chose looked almost the same, with five small diamonds in a row. He knew how important my mother's ring was to me, and wanted the new ring to look or feel the same (but with new meaning). It was such a beautiful gesture, too, on his part. We went in to the Tiffany store he had bought the ring from for a refitting, and the whole staff told me how much they loved our story! And for the hour I was in the store I felt so giddy and happy!

I love Martha Stewart! It's no secret that I adore her sense of style and taste, and I bought several of her wedding magazines to give me ideas on the planning of decorations and favors for the wedding. I think her DIY invitation kits are excellent. I had seem a few types in her magazine, but I found different ones at Wal-Mart and bought those. They come in packs of 24 or 50, and they included the RSVP cards, envelopes, and practice sheets. It was perfect. We bought two 50 card kits. It took us a while to figure out how to adjust the printer, but once we figured it out, we were good to go. Martha's kits are more expensive, but the cheaper ones do look cheaper. These one were of excellent quality.