Twirl Boutique is celebrating the Grand Opening of their new store in Chandler and you're invited to join in on the festivities!  Twirl is the original bridesmaid boutique and even has a blog especially for the bridal party. They have some other great announcements in store that they'll be unveiling later this Fall, so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out!

Here is the invite. I'll be out of town for this event, unfortunately, so be sure to give Keri and Jenni big hugs from me:

Here are some sneak peek pics of their new shop:

The window display:

The fitting rooms:

The entrance:

Congrats ladies!

We were recently contacted by Cristina, a doctoral student at the University of Virginia, who is doing a study on marriage.  If you are an engaged couple, she needs your assistance! Here is the info:

Engaged volunteers needed!

I am looking for volunteers for a study of attitudes towards marriage and parenthood among engaged couples. The study consists of a 25-30 minute online survey. To qualify for the study, you must be 20-35 years old, live in the U.S., and plan to marry or have a commitment ceremony within the next 365 days. You and your romantic partner must not have children, and this must be the first marriage for both of you.

You can:
-Help a doctoral candidate;
-Increase the pool of scientific knowledge;
-Support research on marriage and families; and
-Spend some time thinking about your relationship!

I am working with Dr. Charlotte J. Patterson, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. This study has been approved by the University of Virginia Institutional Review Board #2009025800.

If you and/or your romantic partner are interested in participating or want further information, please email me at survey.couples{at}gmail.com. I will send you a link that you can use to access the study.

PinkFact: Four out of five women who are diagnosed with breast cancer do NOT have a family history of it.


Today is the first day of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and if you are in the wedding industry, I would like to encourage you to become involved with Pink Initiative.

Founded by wedding photographer Emilie Sommer, Pink Initiative is a collection of wedding industry professionals and private donors dedicated to funding awareness, outreach, education and research for breast cancer.  After a nine month wait, Pink Initiative received it's official 501(c)(3) non-profit status in August (the effective date was made retroactive to October 2008, so all donations prior to August are still tax deductible).

If you or your company would like to be involved, please check out Pink Initiative's latest newsletter on how to do so, including some grassroots ideas from other professionals.  You can sign up for the newsletter or make a donation to Pink Initiative on the website (a new website is in the works) and see who else is involved so far. You can also follow Pink Initiative on Twitter, which features daily WedFacts, PinkFacts or PinkQuotes.

A prevention for polio was discovered in our parents' lifetime, which up until then was a feat considered hopeless. Let's press on together so that we can say the same about breast cancer in ours.



Disclosure: I am on the board of directors for Pink Initiative.
Pink Initiative tag designed by Kelly Ashworth Design; photo by Darby Elizabeth Photography; photo shoot for Bride and Bloom Magazine.