This Tuesday, September 7 the very cool design collective, Poketo, will launch its first-ever fall collection for Target. What to expect? A variety of eye-catching totes, wallets, reusable bags and camera cases amidst even more limited-edition, art-inspired lifestyle wares that absolutely have a place(card) in wedding season. 

Known worldwide for their commitment to art for the everyday, the LA-based husband and wife founders of Poketo,Ted Vadakan and Anie Myung, have been commissioned to create art products for museums like the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, organizations like Coachella Valley Music Festival, and bands like The Arcade Fire (sidenote: they have an amazing new album out now) and The Shins. And now with this new marriage between Poketo and Target expect not just art for everyday, but art for everyone as the line will be accessible nationwide at highly affordable prices.

So in celebration of art for everyone, everyday why not include art in your wedding season? Poketo for Target offers an array of fabulous designs (check out my favorites below) perfect for bridesmaid thank you gifts, bridal shower gifts and storage for your wedding day emergency kit.   Poketo collaborates with over 200 international artists to design their products (visit www.poketo.com for a complete view of their extensive catalog) and will also be introducing a line for Macy’s this winter.

Poketo Bears Tote Bag with Coin Purse - Green ($12.99) Brides, Why Not Make This Part Of Your Bridesmaid Thank You Gift & Fill It With Fun Thank You Treats!

Poketo Bow Checkbook Wallet - Black ($12.99) A Fab Bridal Shower Gift!

Poketo Swirls Large Pocket Weekender Tote ($29.99) Making Your Own Bridal Emergency Kit? Why Not Store It In This Tote?

Poketo Gems 3-in-1 Pouches ($14.99) Perfect Pouches For Your Wedding Day Emergency Kit.

Related topics:

1. Fashion
2. Bridesmaid Gifts
3. Etiquette
4. Products/Solutions
5. Party Favors
6. Finance 

Have a great wedding survival tip to share with the Survive Wedding Season community? Email your tips to solutions@surviveweddingseason.com.

Your Attendance Is Appreciated! ^™

As a big believer in having your cake and eating it too I am a huge fan of healthy desserts and making a place for them on the table during wedding season. With this in mind, and based on the recommendation of a work friend, I reached out to our newest Survival Expert: LA-based chef, Matt Amsden of RAWvolution. Not only has Matt provided a delicious, healthy dessert recipe for you party planners out there, but he has also extended a limited-time promotional offer to our readers for $10 off RAWvolution’s weekly, prepared food delivery service. 

Why RAWvolution for wedding season? The RAWvolution box is a fantastic way to maintain a healthy diet while keeping a busy schedule and we all know wedding season can certainly keep us on our toes. So without further adieu, let’s make room for dessert. Please check out Matt’s recipe for Chocolate Coconut Haystacks below and enjoy the RAWvolution promo code at the bottom of the post. Cheers and thanks to Matt and RAWvolution!

CHOCOLATE COCONUT HAYSTACKS

Rawvolution Chocolate Coconut Haystacks

Makes about 16 Haystacks

Ingredients:

½ cup cacao powder
3 cups shredded coconut
¾ cup coconut butter (sometimes called coconut oil)
½ cup agave nectar

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the cacao powder and shredded coconut, and mix well. Add the coconut butter/oil and the agave nectar and mix well.

2. Using an ice cream scoop or by hand, roll into approximately sixteen ping-pong-sized balls.

3. Freeze for at least thirty minutes before serving.

Why It Is Good To Go Coconuts: 

Coconut Oil/Butter consists of 90+% raw saturated fat - a rare and important building block of every cell in the human body. Unlike long-chain saturated animal fats (that have been associated with creating poor health), Coconut Oil contains healthy, healing, medium-chain triglycerides (MCT’s). MCT’s support the immune system, the thyroid gland, the nervous system, the skin, and they provide fast energy as well. The MCTs in Coconut Oil help increase metabolism and therefore help with weight loss. Historically, farm animals fed Coconut Oil were never found to be obese. When fed partially hydrogenated soybean oil, and other rancid fats, the animals quickly gained weight. MCT’s are known to have antiviral, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties.

About RAWvolution: 

Each week RAWvolution creates a box of prepared, organic, low-calorie raw foods that includes two savory soups, four gourmet entrées, four side dishes and two delicious desserts. This provides truly healthy meals that you can bring to work or have waiting for you when you return from a long day. The Box can be picked-up in Santa Monica, delivered anywhere in Los Angeles or New York City or shipped via Fed-Ex anywhere in the continental United States as well as Alaska and Hawaii. Order one week at a time with no commitment to continued service or set-up a standing order to be shipped to you each week! Visit http://www.rawvolution.com for more information.

RAWvolution Exclusive SWS Promo Code:

Promotional Code: SWS
Value: $10 off ‘The Box’
Valid: through September 30th, 2010

Related topics:

1. Recipes
2. Etiquette
3. Party Planning
4. Products/Solutions
5. Party Favors
6. Finance 

Have a great wedding survival tip to share with the Survive Wedding Season community? Email your tips to solutions@surviveweddingseason.com.

Your Attendance Is Appreciated! ^™

We discovered something so amazing, delicious, seemingly-decadent and good for you we had to post it during our August Health and Beauty month. It’s called Glamour Food and yes, it is glamorous. In our opinion it is also a fashionable fit for wedding season.

What is Glamour Food?

Glamour Food is a nutritious, sugar free, dairy free, unprocessed, organic, raw, dark chocolate bar made with cacao and superberries like goji, acai, blueberries, cranberries and coconut oil.  

Why We Like It?

Glamour Food is a no-guilt snack - just the right size to kick a sweet craving - full of antioxidants. We like it so much we wish we had a case on hand for everyday just in case treats. Plus we are fans of the sleek packaging.

Ways To Incorporate Glamour Food Into Wedding Season:

• Serve Glamour Food as a healthy dessert at a Bridal Shower or Bachelorette party.
• Tie a bow on the box and create a Bridal Shower - or wedding - party favor.
• Include a palm-sized bar in every wedding Welcome Kit.
• Pack a few in your carry-on luggage to snack on while traveling to a destination wedding. 

Where To Purchase Glamour Food?

Glamour Food can be found exclusively online at The Organic Pharmacy for $5.50 per bar. The Organic Pharmacy calls Glamour Food “food to make you more beautiful.” Since every bar is packed with rich anti-ageing antioxidants it seems The Organic Pharmacy is on to something.

And don’t forget, now thru August 16 we are hosting a Naturally Tasty giveaway. One lucky SWS subscriber will win a gift certificate for a Cooking 101 for Newlyweds class from professional chef Gilda Mulero. Click here for all the details plus a recipe to another tasty treat.

Related topics:

1. Fashion/Beauty
2. Health/Fitness
3. Bridesmaids
4. Party Planning
5. Products/Solutions
6. Party Favors

Have a great wedding survival tip to share with the Survive Wedding Season community? Email your tips to solutions@surviveweddingseason.com.

Your Attendance Is Appreciated! ^™

Have you seen the new TOM women’s wedges? My good friend just bought them in blue and they are adorable, comfortable and reasonably priced. In my opinion the also possess a certain fashionable wedding season utility because with a wedge you will never have reception heel issues.

Be the reception on the beach, at a rocky vineyard or an estate with soft grass, with a wedge you will have zero opportunities to ruin your heels. And while nothing about this shoe screams black-tie, it is a great summer look. Also, they will probably be super comfortable for when you start to boogie (see my top ten wedding reception songs here).

Plus, in case you are not familiar with the TOMS one for one philosophy, for every purchase made TOMS donates one pair of shoes to a child in need. Again, I am a huge supporter of adding social responsibility to your wedding season and what a fashionable way to give back. TOMS also has a wedding collection of flats for the bride, groom and wedding party. Not a bad gift idea for a bridesmaid thank you; especially as it also helps children. Or as a wedding guest, if you are traveling a lot this wedding season, TOMS flats are perfect for packing as they take up very little space and exude comfort.

Related topics:

1. SWS Fashion Friday - It’s In The Bag!
2. SWS Fashion Friday - Be Something New
3. SWS Fashion Friday - Brides Blush, Bridesmaids Glow
4. SWS Fashion Friday - Global Brides Gift & Get Back
5. SWS Fashion Friday - Amelia Rose Initial Charm Pendant
6. SWS Official Maid of Honor Call Me Card

Have a great wedding survival tip to share with the Survive Wedding Season community? Email your tips to solutions@surviveweddingseason.com.

Your Attendance Is Appreciated! ™

Are you a photographer? A floral designer? A chef? A wedding planner? A singer? A jewelry or fashion designer? A make-up artist? A hair stylist? What about a seamstress? A bar tender? An ice sculptor? Maybe you own a small vineyard? A painter or graphic designer?

What if you are any of these occupations above - either professionally or as a hobby - and you cannot afford to both attend a wedding and get a gift? Can you contribute your services instead? The answer is yes.

Maybe you offer your services as a day-of wedding coordinator or you design the bridesmaid jewelry? Maybe you come early and do the bride’s hair or if you are the vineyard owner maybe you contribute the wine to the event? As a designer do you create the wedding invitations?

There are always interesting alternative wedding gifts that can also help contribute to the big and memorable day. I have had several friends that have both given and received gifts of service and it has always been meaningful, well-executed and beyond appreciated.

Maybe the bride cannot afford a photographer or discovers her gown alterations are about to leave her broke. Finding ways to help the couple create a magical day while also making it possible for you to attend their wedding and everyone wins. Think about all the things you can do to say congratulations!

Related topics:

1. Wedding Gift 101
2. Wedding Gift: Engraved Simon Pearce Celebration Bowl
3. The Wedding Gift of Honeymoon
4. Macy’s Really Wants To Sell Wedding Gifts
5. SWS Official Maid of Honor Call Me Card
6. Nice Day For A Wishpot Wedding
7. The Wedding Gift of Speech
8. Best Wishes Bride. Congratulations Groom.

Have a great wedding survival tip to share with the Survive Wedding Season community? Email your tips to solutions@surviveweddingseason.com.

Your Attendance Is Appreciated! ™