Win $1,500 in Free Jewelry on 1/23

The Engagement (After) Party is tomorrow night at Mestad's. The event will take place from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. (after the store closes!)

You'll have a chance to win $1,500 worth of jewelry from J.F. Kruse for just showing up!

You'll also be able to informally chat with some of the top wedding experts in the area, as you plan your big day.

Here are the details:

The Engagement (After) Party

Saturday, January 23rd
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Mestads Bridal and Formal Wear
2716 Division Street
St. Cloud, MN 56301

Mestads is opening their doors after-hours for this special event. Please RSVP before the event by calling 320-252-9634.

The Engagement Party at Mestads

We know wedding fairs are not for everyone. It can be overwhelming walking into a room full of vendors and not knowing where to start...and standing in long lines while trying to elbow your way through a convention hall.

We also know it can be very convenient to have a bunch of vendors all in one spot, so you are able to get a lot of planning done in a short amount of time.

We thought there has to be a way to bring vendors to one place and have a really laid-back atmosphere that is not overwhelming to walk into. So we started talking to fellow vendors in the St. Cloud area and came up with a new concept. We're calling it "The Engagement (After) Party."

Picture a place with a handful of Central Minnesota's top wedding professionals, looking to give you some tips and advice for planning your wedding. In a casual atmosphere, you'll sip on your favorite beverage while talking to wedding pros about your big day. No high pressure sales...no booths to visit...no long lines to stand in...and free parking.

And what if you were able to win $1,500 worth of jewelry from J.F. Kruse for just showing up? Sound good?

Here are the details:

The Engagement (After) Party

Saturday, January 23rd
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Mestads Bridal and Formal Wear
2716 Division Street
St. Cloud, MN 56301

Mestads is opening their doors after-hours for this special event. Please RSVP before January 21 by calling 320-252-9634.

So stay home this weekend and watch the Vikings game...We'll have all the resources you need next weekend at "The Engagement (After) Party".

2010 Vendor Awards

The Central Minnesota Wedding Association announced its 2010 Vendor Awards at their meeting on January 14, 2010.

Winners for the awards were nominated in December by recently married couples and industry professionals in the area. The nominations were then sent to a panel of wedding industry experts for review. They were judged on the quality of services they provided and their commitment to their industry and the community.

Congratulations to the 2010 CMWA Vendors of the Year!

Accomodations:
The Pillar Inn

Cakes:
Anna's Wedding Cakes

Catering:
Reichel's Catering

Décor and Rentals:
We've Got It Covered

Music/Entertainment:
Pianist for Parties

Florists:
Blooming Creations

Invitations:
Rengel Printing

Jewelers:
J.F. Kruse

Photo Booth:
Snap Shot Parties

Photography:
Yapuncich Photography

Reception Venue:
The Crown Room

Transportation:
Pearl Limousine

Travel:
Bursch Travel

Tuxedos and Dresses:
Mestads Bridal and Formal Wear

Videography:
Capture Video

Really Bad Engagement Photos

Engagement photos are part of the process in the months before your wedding. There's, love, romance and sometimes that awkward moment or two. Like when you realize it's not just your boyfriend, but Spider Man that you are marrying.

Some of these engagement photos are pretty funny. Check 'em out! Be sure to click on "newer entries" on the bottom of the page- as there are a few different pages to view. I'm pretty sure none of the photographers in the CMWA could be found guilty of taking any of these.

Enjoy!
Jake

You're Engaged...Now What?

This is one of the most popular times of the year to get engaged- and now that the holidays are officially over, you or one of your friends may be wondering, "What do I do now that I'm engaged?"

Shortly after I proposed to my wife, we organized a dinner with our parents. I think this is an important step to see how much or how little they want to contribute with their time and money. It also helped us get a better feeling for our guest list, as our parents gave us a good idea of the number of their friends they wanted to invite to the wedding.

It's important to have an idea for your wedding budget before you get too into the planning process. One of your first decisions should be where your reception will take place. This is going to be your biggest expense of your wedding day.

Choosing your ceremony and reception location(s) should be top on your list. The rest of your vendors will want to know what your date is- so they can make sure they have availability.

Choosing the rest of the vendors is up to you. However, I would suggest finding a few areas of the wedding that are most important to you- and what you and your fiancee want to make a priority. Find the best company for these areas and don't skimp! If having the best flowers is what you value most, don't settle! Find a vendor that will deliver exactly what you want- even if they are not the "cheapest".

Here's a list of wedding vendors to help you get started.

• Cakes/Desserts
• Catering
• Dress/Tuxedo
• Groom's Dinner Venue
• Decor/Rentals
• Music/Entertainment
• Florist
• Hotel
• Invitations
• Jewelry
• Photographer
• Reception Venue
• Transportation
• Travel Agent
• Videography
• Other fun things, like a Photo Booth

Check out our website, http://www.idoido.org to get the contact information for wedding vendors along the I-94 corridor in Central Minnesota...from Rogers to Monticello to St. Cloud to Alexandria and beyond!

**Photo Courtesy of Yapunich Photography

Make a Nomination Today!

There are just a few more days for you to nominate your favorite Central Minnesota wedding vendor!

We are looking to recognize wedding vendors in the area that provide great service to their clients and also give back to their industry and community.

The nomination process is really simple- and should take only a couple minutes.

Visit http://www.idoido.org/vote to make a nomination today! The nomination deadline is December 31, 2009. Vendors will be recognized at the next meeting of the Central Minnesota Wedding Association on January 14, 2010.

Wedding Dancers Update

The Minnesota couple that made dancing down the aisle cool recently updated Meredith Viera on the Today Show about what they have been up to since their video hit it big on YouTube.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The whole thing seems to have cooled off, at least for now. We'll see what the summer of 2010 brings...What do you think will be the next wedding "sensation"?