Is Frankie at your wedding?

My husband and I love to dance. In fact, that was how we first met but I’ll save that kooky story for another blog (grin). What I don’t love is those awful crowd-participation songs at weddings. ( Note: If you love these types of songs, perhaps it’s better that you read next month’s blog because the rest of what I’m gonna write is probably going to be offensive! lol)

I’m sorry…but can the DJ please allow me (or not!) to do the Macarena, The Dollar Wine, The Cotton Eye Joe, The Chicken Dance, the YMCA, Hokey Pokey, Jump and Wave from soca songs past, or any other inane thing on my own time?

And what is doubly bad is all those people who just can’t get enough of those crowd-participation dances. You know what I mean - like the guy who nearly poked your eye out trying to be John Travolta-esque to “Stayin Alive”, or how about the time you were railroaded by a herd of wilderbeast-like wedding guests blindly moving from “the left to the right?” Or better yet, remember when some weirdo with sweaty palms grabbed your waist for the conga line? Eeww…

And lastly, what about those lip-sync-ers? The folks who know the lyrics to every song at weddings and then proceed to sing it to the tippy-top of their voices. Enough already.

I mean…watching these people are like watching a train wreck – so bad, you just have to watch or…do what I do - take a bathroom break.

Some songs are simply bad choices. Think about it, do you honestly think you can stomach your grandparents dancing to Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” Hmmm..I didn’t think so.

There are some songs that just plain irritate me at weddings, they’re so overdone and so predictable in their timing. Here’s what I would avoid:

Celebration Time by Kool and the Gang
I mean how long did they take to write that song, 2 minutes? There’s just no substance to it. I swear every time I hear the refrain “Ce –la-bray-shion – time- c-mon. It’s a cela-bray-shion!” I feel like hurling.

My heart will go on – Celine Dion.
Tell me, does this lyric make sense? “Love was when I loved you, one true time I hold to, in my life we’ll always go on.” Er…nope. This song needs to hit an iceberg and make like the Titanic.

Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden.
Apart from the fact that the male lead singer sounds like a girl and the lyrics are cheesy, they’re also tragic, remember these? “I want to stand with you on a mountain, I want to bathe with you in the sea, I want to lay like this forever, until the sky falls down on me.” Now, who wishes that the sky would fall down on them? Hmmm..

A Whole New World from Disney’s Aladdin soundtrack.
Somebody give me that flying carpet …now!

Love Shack by the B52s – songs that are featured in Flintstones movies should stay in the Flintstones movies. That’s all I have to say.

Most of the angst-ridden songs by Alanis Morrisette ( Alanis – I love her just not at weddings)

But there are, however, some songs that are flat-out my favourites, no matter how over-played they are:

Trini to the Bone – by David Rudder. If this song doesn’t get your party started, I don’t know what will.

Frankie – Sister Sledge. A fun song that seems to be appreciated by all generations. Remember: "Frankie, do you remember me? " and you won't be able to get it out of your head!

I Need You – LeAnn Rimes ( I had a vocalist sing this song for my husband at our wedding…awww)

December ’63 (Oh what a night!) - the Four Seasons.

Anything by Shurwayne Winchester ( can't help it, I'm a big fan)

The Way you look Tonight – Frank Sinatra ( a nostalgic melody with lovely lyrics)

Conga – Miami Sound Machine

Anything by Abba ( who can resist “Dancing Queen?” cmon)

Twist & Shout – The Beatles

Anything by Fleetwood Mac ( my all-time favourite group)

Mambo # 5 – Lou Bega

Can’t Help Falling In Love With You - Elvis Presley ( classics don't go out of style)

Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton

Anything by the Gypsy Kings

Fade Into You - Mazzy Star ( a dreamy, modern ballad)

Of course, you can come up with your own list or even better yet, devise a DNP ( do not play) list for your DJ. This way, you’ll be sure to rock your reception!
Return to: http://www.trinidadweddings.com

The Ex-Factor

I’m going to have to re-work Forrest Gump’s line and say that “Ex-es are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get”

Most of you have had at least one ex, so you know what I’m talking about.

And in your closet full of skeletons, you're sure to have one or more of the following:

• The total *bleep* but you dated him anyway
• The ugly guy with the great personality ( this is what you told your friends)
• The hot guy who everyone wanted ( and who wanted everybody else too...hmmm)
• The dalliance with a foreigner who returned over yonder
• The guy who had a girlfriend that you thought he would leave ( but he never did)
• The long-distance relationship
• The cheater you forgave more than once
• The office romance
• The married man ( this one I’m not endorsing, by the way)
• The Sugar-daddy
• The Bad Boy
• The Player complete with his trailer of baby-mommies.
• The spoilt, rich guy
• The commitment-phobic guy, who is happy to be engaged to you for 5 years plus.
• The best friend with benefits
  
  

Right, have I covered all the bases? I hope so. And so, in the hodge-podge of exes, there are those we have fond memories of, those who are harmless and sadly, those we will never speak to again and those we hope we never see again.

That last one is a bit difficult because by now you also realise that T&T’s so small, you’re sure to “bump” into your ex on your next Friday after-work lime or in some band launch. And drat if it happens when we're not looking so great. This can only be counteracted if the girl he's with when you see him looks worse than you! hahah ( but I digress...)

Anyway…to add insult to injury, then comes along the phenomenon of Facebook, where the apparent Graveyard of Exes are suddenly dug up via little “friend requests.” Please…unless the relationship ended very platonically, I’m not entirely convinced that two exes can be “friends.” (You are free to differ!)

And what about the Ex-Factor at your wedding? How do you feel about inviting him and what exactly is the protocol on this issue?

Well, there’s no set one.

Ideally, this is a decision a couple should make together. Some brides or grooms may make an exception and would invite an “ex” if they have children together. The other school of thought ( of which Peggy Post is a major proponent) is that this may be confusing for the children and it may be much wiser to leave “the ex” out of the wedding equation altogether.

If you can’t decide whether to invite your ex or not, here are some issues to consider:

Examine the real motive you have for inviting your “ex.” Ensure it’s not some deep-rooted desire to prove to him/her that you’ve found someone else or someone better; or worse - a plot to make your spouse-to-be jealous.

Practice “The Golden Rule of Guest List Planning” – think about how you would feel if your fiance(e) invited his/her ex?


Avoid the torch holders - You may want to avoid inviting an ex who you suspect may still have lingering feelings for you. You will know him by his excessive emails, texts, voice messages, accidental drive-bys at your home or workplace, constant griping about your current boyfriend - you catch my drift!

Platonic place – Some brides or grooms see no problem with inviting an ex, especially if they have maintained a friendship or if they dated a long time ago and it ended on amicable terms

Compromise - If your fiancé(e) genuinely does not mind, by all means invite your ex. If however, this decision makes either of you uncomfortable, it is best to stay away from inviting the “ex-es” and avoid potentially awkward moments on your special day!

Reciprocate - If you were invited to your former flame’s wedding and both you and your current partner attended, you can return the favour.

Some rules of thumb if you do decide to invite your “ex”:

1. Invite your ex with a guest. This may make things more comfortable for everyone.
   
2. Accept it if your ex politely declines your wedding invitation. Even if you’re comfortable with the idea having him/her attend your wedding, he or she may not be!
   
3. Please, do not slow dance or suggestively dance with your ex at your wedding or engage in a long conversation. Greet your ex just as you would any other guest and thank him/her for coming.
   

The day you married your Mother in Law

Say the word “mother-in-law” to most women and for sure, you’ll get an array of facial expressions! In my short 6-year experience of having one (and of hearing my friends’ stories about theirs), I sure have learnt a lot about human nature! Like for instance, isn’t it funny that most guys seem to get along famously with their MILs but somehow women seem to have a harder time? Is it us or them? Or both? Hmmm…They should add that to the mysteries of the earth. In the early years of my marriage, I told my husband about this. His response?

He bought me a book.

I can’t even remember the title correctly but it was something like” How to deal with the Mother in law/Daughter in law relationship” Yeah…sort of like “MILs For Dummies.”

Anyway, as with any relationship, I too have my good days and bad days with my MIL. However, time has taught me patience and understanding that I never thought I was capable of and I’ve come to the conclusion that I can now categorise MILs according to type. Here goes:

The Laid-Back MIL –This MIL doesn’t interfere. She gives her opinion only when asked. She actually believes you’re the best thing to happen to her son and that before you, he was merely a mis-guided, ambition-less offspring who couldn’t settle down. However, the down side is that she appears never to take a side, which can be unnerving, especially when you need some “back up support!”

The Matriarch – She means well but hasn’t quite learnt yet that her role has changed in the family scheme of things (doesn’t she know you’re in charge now? grin). In fact, the “family” and family outings are her main priorities in life and darn it if you won’t tow the line! Chances are she tells everyone what to do, simply because she’s accustomed to doing that and no one has ever really told her to stop. She doesn’t tolerate opposition to her plans (and believe me, she has plans for you!), in fact, if you do oppose she may very well turn into the Manipulator (refer below)

The Never-Ending Mommy-er – This MIL apparently doesn’t think her son has grown out of his little boy sneakers. She babies him to no end, will happily cook anything he wants (or mentions in casual conversation), calls him more than once a day and will gladly be his errand-person if need be. She’s always “popping” over, just because she loves being around her son (she might even consider surgically attaching herself to him). The good thing about this type of MIL though is that she will gladly bend over to help you too, well, either that or she will irritate you to no end, simply because you can’t “mommy” him as good as she can!


The Diva MIL - She’s just too cool for school. She’s on top of the latest fashion trends, she watches all the entertainment shows on TV and she probably does as much partying/feting as you do. Chances are this MIL is so busy with her own social calendar that she doesn’t have the least inclination to interfere in your lives. This is a good thing. The bad? Well, if you’re not quite up to par on her priorities in life, you’ll just be labelled as “lame and boring” Oh…and by the way, this is clearly not the type of MIL that will help you with babysitting (don’t even ask).

The Home-Maker – This MIL is a traditionalist and chances are she’s very into her religion. She believes you have to prepare 3 square meals a day and do the laundry like a good wife. The Home-maker is really and truly harmless, but be warned that she simply doesn’t understand career-minded girls who want to make it to the top of the corporate ladder.

The Snob – This MIL thinks from the get-go that you’re not worthy to marry her son; and stupidly it may just be because your religion, class, bank account, race or some other criteria is different. It’s pathetic but she just won’t seem to give you a chance. She drops snide comments and lifts that eyebrow far too much. There is no winning with The Snob, ignoring her or working around her, is the only thing that seems to work. You can try direct confrontation as well, so that you can just get The Snob off your chest.

The Manipulator – is a total control freak. Her words are like honey but she means business and usually this means getting you to do what she wants, when she wants it. If she acts as though she’s not bothered by what you’ll decide, this is just a farce. She’ll drop hints, act like the victim or even have tears flow on command, in order to coerce you.

The Hybrid – This is what most of us have. The MIL who can take on more than one of the roles above, at the drop of a hat. Well, now at least you know what you’re dealing with, right...?

My dad’s words

It’s the day before Father’s Day 2008 and of course, it makes me miss my dad.

My dad passed away suddenly, two years and four months ago, when I was five months pregnant. The day before he died I remember phoning him up and telling him that the next day I had a doctor’s appointment and then for sure, I would call him straight after to let him know whether he’d be getting a grand-daughter or a grand-son!

He never got to see my daughter, his would-be first grandchild. And I have purposely not written about it until today. I’m not sure why. Perhaps I wasn’t ready, perhaps I tried to forget about, perhaps it still hurts but whatever the reason, here I am, two years and four months later… letting go of this self-imposed writer’s block.

Apart from the kudos of being an excellent father and I could go on and on, what really impacted on me in my adult years was the fact that my dad believed in me “down to the wire.”

He had no doubts about what I would become (even when I did). When I made the leap from corporate life into internet entrepreneurship, there was my dad, (a man who knew nothing about computers, who could not navigate a mouse properly and who hadn’t the foggiest clue about how the internet worked) ready to cheer me on and tell everyone he knew about wwww.trindadweddings.com. He avidly read everything I wrote (he was my biggest critic too!); he attended every event that was important in my life and important for the business. He was an all-out TrinidadWeddings.com trouper.

But above all, in the midst of all the nay-sayers who didn’t think the idea of a local wedding website could fly, he said to me “If this doesn’t work out, you’re qualified, you can go back to the corporate world and make it. In the meantime, go brave!” I’ll never forget that someone had that much confidence in me; and it spurred me on, to do business with a difference.

It’s hard to accept when people close to you die. No matter how ‘prepared” you think you are, you will never really be ready to face the reality of death, especially of a parent. It’s as though a tiny part of you shuts down and never re-opens.

For those of you who are planning your wedding and have lost a parent or parents or any close member of your extended family, let me assure you that they will be there with you in spirit. When good things happen to you on that day, perhaps it’s because they were there as your guardian angels. Now, I don’t have this on authority from God but it’s something that’s a gut feeling of mine and whether it’s true or not, it gives me some comfort and I hope it will give you that too.

For those of you who do have your parents around, please, spend time with them, let them get to know your fiancé(e), try not to bicker about petty stuff related to your wedding planning and try to include them as much as possible in your wedding. It will be worth it in the long-term, stored away in your memory box.

And so as this writer’s block ends, I just want to say – “Dad, I want you to know that I’ve been going brave for four years now with www.trinidadweddings.com and…I don’t intend to stop.”

Go back to http://www.trinidadweddings.com/

A cloud hovers

On Sunday night I received a shocker – a very dear friend of mine is filing for divorce as we speak. This is someone I’ve known and respected for a long time. She has a successful career and is a beauty with a hot bod and a bubbly personality. Really…I’m not exaggerating.

At first, I was saddened, “How could this happen to my friend? Why did her husband cheat?”

Then, I was perplexed: “How long did she suspect?Did she see any warning signs even at the beginning of the relationship that she probably chose to ignore?”

But most of all I was mad: “What more did her husband want?”

Being in the business of weddings, you would think that I’m a bit immune to these clouds and that I only focus on the silver lining. But, none of us are truly immune, especially when it hits home at someone you know well.

And as if to add insult to injury, I was chatting with another old friend of mine recently and he revealed that all the married couples he knows that are our age (thirty-somethings) are currently cheating on their spouse. This is disturbing …to say the least (and could probably explain why he has chosen to remain single!)

What is happening to the institution of marriage? And are the couples who enter into it, really ready for what is to come? Here are some of the things I’ve learnt from my own experience as well as from those who are dear to me:

Marriage is not the same as dating – many people at tender ages rush into engagements without thinking it through sufficiently. This is because of the common misperception that “marriage is the same as dating”. Dating can be a heady mixture of excitement and turbulence. When you’re dating, you go out constantly or when you get angry you’re perfectly capable of not speaking for days or if you feel like it, you can just walk out on the relationship. Sounds pretty easy right?

Marriage on the other hand, involves work – working through disagreements and just about every unexpected thing life throws your way, for example, the death of family members, changing living conditions, career changes, taking care of sick parents etc. These are all realties and coupled with that, are your everyday “couple” activities such as socialising with each other, taking care of kids and managing your household affairs. It’s not always smooth sailing but it is what you make it.

People ask me all the time what my definition of marriage is; the simplest way I can describe it is building a life with someone and creating memories. Ingredients for that are love, companionship, shared values, respect, compromise and compatibility. If you have these things and you’re dating, you’re on the right track. Even if one is missing, it may be time to re-evaluate. Remember, that marriage may not be for everyone - it’s better to know your limitations rather than dive headfirst into a miserable union.

Looks don’t last – Most women’s bodies change after pregnancy, men get “love handles” and pot bellies or even lose their hair. Yes, folks that’s the “honest truth!” I hear about people looking for those “trophy wives or husbands” and I am appalled. If you’re in a relationship for the superficial reason of “he or she looks handsome or beautiful,” there’s no guarantee this will last. If you’re in it for the long haul, fall in love with the sprit and personality of the person, after you get over that initial attraction!

Be true to yourself – There’s no reason to lose your independence and your self-worth in your marriage. You have to present a “whole you” to your partner. You must come to the relationship with your own tastes, personality, style and opinions. If you become a clone of your partner, there’ll certainly be some boring days ahead.

You can change habits not people- I’ve heard engaged persons complain that their fiancé(e) is controlling, may have an alcohol addiction, is abnormally possessive or insecure. What I can say for sure is that these problems, if left unaddressed only get worse with time. It is better to deal with these issues sooner rather than later, since habits and tendencies tend to worsen as the person you’re with, gets more and more comfortable living with you.

Self-involvement is a no-no – I am not advocating ignoring yourself and neglecting your needs, what I mean by this is that, quite frankly, some people have too selfish an outlook to get married. There’s no room for being selfish in marriage, simply because as I mentioned before, it’s a partnership!

And so, I can sum up by saying that marriage can either be as fragile as an egg or as strong as one. Try squeezing an egg with your fist, it won’t break because of the pressure being spread across the curved shell. (But you science buffs already knew that). What I truly believe, though, is that marriage is what you make it.

But I still hurt for my friend.

Go back to: www.trinidadweddings.com

Men, where are they from again?

Every weekend the same thing happens as my husband drives past the new "mega" over-pass being constructed on the Highway. He slows almost to a grinding halt ( I swear one day some road hog is going to let us have a piece of his mind!) his eyes are peeled and he just oohs and aaahs over the cranes, the piles, the hydraulics, the dumpsters etc. Every time we pass there, he says " Wow, jus look at this, jus look...amazing what they doin!" To which, I always do one of two things - roll my eyes (but make sure he doesn't see - LOL) or try to feign interest in what to me constitutes some boring construction stuff. Sigh...

Both our reactions remind me of the reading frenzy surrounding the book "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus," that happened some years ago. I have to admit, I was one of the millions who read it. And, although I can't recall that much about it, I often wonder about the differences between how men and women perceive the world.

Sometimes I think that a newly-married man should be declared a genus or specie unto himself. It may seem to some newly-married women that their husbands can't quite seem to grasp the adjustments they’ve had to make. After all, now comes the responsibilities of home, in-laws, babies or step-kids, with a dollop of what ( or who!) we have to deal with at work, on top! Hmmm...quite enormous changes from single-dom!

I've had friends tell me that the worst years of marriage were the first two! When I dug deeper to find out why, I let loose a Pandora's Box of woes. Surprisingly, they weren't of the nuclear-physics-type complexity, but rather, they were quite mundane. For example, my friend V. fought day in and day out with her new husband because he never squeezed the toothpaste tube neatly from the bottom-up. This aggravated her to no end. Another friend of mine tried for months (with no success) to get her hubby to put the toilet lid down. And countless female friends tell me how the TV remote is the third-party in their marriage!

To be honest, I probably spent my first few years of marriage griping about similar things…but one day, something happened to change that. It was about two years ago, I was very pregnant, perhaps about seven months along and ravenous all the time. The fridge and I, at that point, became really good friends! Anyway, one day I greedily spied my husband having a boiled egg for breakfast. I zoomed in like a homing pigeon and asked him for some. He took his knife and fork and cut me a huge chunk of…egg-white. I was really hurt. How could he give me egg-white?

Didn’t he know that I love yolk?

I ruminated on this for a bit and then asked him pointedly why he’d given me that paltry bit of egg? His response, with his most earnest expression was: "Sorry babe, I gave you the white ‘cos that's my favourite part!"Ok, so then I had to eat my egg-white with a HUGE slice of humble pie...

It just goes to show that even though we might think they're from Mars…all that matters in the end is that they love us!

Here are a few of my tips on coping with the first years:

Keep the spark alive- Most newlywed couples tend to be in the career-building stages of their lives, and often find themselves in a routine of long hours or overseas travel. However, ensuring you have time for intimacy and friendship is crucial to your growth as a married couple. Supporting your spouse's ambitions, hobbies, or interests are key to making your partner feel validated and loved. Scheduling ‘date nights’ either quietly at home to watch a movie or painting the town red with friends can work wonders to rejuvenate you after a hard work-week.

Divvy up the chores- Newly-married women often tell me how tired they are after working all day and then running the household on evenings. These new responsibilities bring on the stress of trying to get everything done on time and within budget. Try to simplify your household chores as much as possible, and if that doesn't work, divide the chores between you and your hubby or hire some help.

Sweet surprises!- Just because you're married doesn’t mean you have to be boring! Ladies: try a new haircut, have your toes painted a bold color, or buy something new to wear on ‘date night.’ Guys: most ladies love surprises—and they don't have to be elaborate. Why not leave a sticky-note on the bathroom mirror for her? Drop off her favorite dessert at work, rent her favourite DVD, or take her to a surprise lunch or breakfast.

Money Matters- Your financial life is no longer your own. Having a joint bank account, though, doesn’t have to be the ultimate solution. I know many couples who maintain separate bank accounts and split the household bills, as well as those who open a joint household account for bills but still maintain separate accounts for personal spending. Either of these options can work quite well, depending on your needs as a couple.

Fight fair- Your first few fights as a married couple are definitely going to be eye-openers! And believe me, in retrospect, they usually start because of the silliest things! You stand there wondering "What have I done? I must’ve been crazy to marry this person!" Don't worry. This should only be a transient feeling! There's nothing wrong with disagreements; all healthy couples have them (in moderation) because they help to clarify issues. However, the key is learning to solve problems better and picking your battles—not every issue is worth a yelling match.

Be observant- You’re married to someone who’s not a carbon copy of you, so don't even suppose for one moment that they'll think and react the same as you! As the months pass along, you'll learn about your mate's quirky habits, routines, favorite things, pet peeves, and so much more. Your intuition and awareness of these cues are the best tools for reaching compromises, truly understanding your spouse…and perhaps even learning a thing or two about yourself!

Go back to http://www.trinidadweddings.com/ !

View from the Green Couch

“Could we get somethin’ to driiiiink... we’re thirssssty!” I looked under my champagne flute, only to find a bevy of cherubic little flower girls, looking up at me.

Before I could say anything ( and goodness knows I didn’t have an answer for the little spokesperson for the group and giving her my champagne was clearly NOT an option), someone quipped up ‘There’s stuff for you all inside, come along this way!”.

It’s no wonder they were thirsty; I got to the Heather Jones (HJ) 2008 Wedding Gown Fashion Show early, and for literally a solid hour, the flower girls were “practising their walk” up and down the red carpet catwalk. Well, except for one candidate in ivory, who was clutching mommy for dear life and absolutely refused to sashay!

Anyway, I was ushered into the reception area, where for the next 2 hours, I was the figurative bug on the wall (ok, bug on a green couch) getting a coveted behind-the scenes look at things. The female models - cool as cucumbers, were floating about, chatting and laughing and might I say looking gorgeous in every-day clothes. A grey-haired lady who I gathered was the scheduler and perhaps the chief “dresser” was going over the ramp order and wading through dozens and dozens of gowns on racks, another lady was sorting out accessories for each model, and of course, miscellaneous vendors, male models, photographers, videographers, media folks, the show’s producers, HJ staff and volunteers were constantly milling in and about the area.

Truthfully, I was dying to jump in and help with just about anything (because after we set up the TW table, with our promo cards, we were back to being bugs on the green couch again) But mostly I was eager to help because, as my close friends will tell you, I am a total fashion junkie. I just love the stuff. It’s so pathetic to admit this but starting from when I was about 14, I had a collection of “style files”, well, that sounds mighty grand but all it was were clippings and articles on fashion and clothing and fabric samples in a few, neatly-labelled manila folders. So you could just imagine how over the moon I was that TW was involved in the show!

Anyway, right after the wait staff passed around the yummies ( those puffs, mini accras and bouchees were the bomb) the show started with none other than my little acquaintances ( yes…those flowers girls, now fully hydrated) throwing rose petals down the catwalk, amidst “oohs” and “awws” from the audience.

They were followed by about 10 “grooms” (why did they look so sombre? I wanted to whisper to them. “It’s pretend guys, you’re not really getting married, no need to get the heeby jeebies) and then came what everyone was there to see…the gowns. And believe me, they kept a-coming! There were a lot, perhaps about 40 gowns came down that runway, which I’m sure was far more than most people thought they would have seen.

Most of the dresses were variations on traditional styles but of course there were quite a few unconventional ones as well. I have to give you the dish on my faves though.

There was a white strapless gown, with an encrusted, slightly scalloped bodice and a fabulous rum-pink sash with a brooch that I loved. Also, top local model (and former Ms. T&T) Lisa Marie Guevara wore an elegant white column dress, with a plunging gathered neckline that was breathtaking. If I remember correctly, it got the loudest applause of the evening. Another local model, La Toya Woods (by the way, I think she’s a star and definitely destined for Europe’s catwalks) looked stunning in a retro halter-styled gown in duchess satin.

La Toya also modelled a flowing, hand dyed yellow silk, print dress that may be perfect for a bride having a tropical themed wedding or a bridesmaid at an outdoor wedding. The dress though is not for the faint of heart, the front is extremely low with a tiny cross-strap and the back is pretty much open, with a huge key-hole, so you gotta be fit to wear that one!

The finale was a voluminous, black bridal ballgown, accompanied with red netting, again modelled to pefection by La Toya. This unfortunately was when my camera battery chose to die (drat), so I only got pics of 2 black bridesmaid dresses. Anyway, after the show and after much mingling, it was time to go and head back to the real world, and as I walked into the house, there was my sweet toddler saying “Mamaaaa… Mamaaaa” and doing her own sashay up the corridor in her cute pink onesie and white sandals…A perfect ending to the day.

To see more of the photos we took at the show, check this link from our I LOVE TrinidadWeddings.com Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10046451081