Villa Russo - Blog

Wedding Decor

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Victoria Cotrina

Weddings can get really expensive, paying full price for decorative supplies that might only be used once for the your big day… so here’s a website that allows you to purchase wedding supplies from brides who already had their weddings at a fraction of the cost.

Recycle Your Wedding 

It’s the ebay for weddings! If you are a bride who has an overstock of vases, charge plates, or favors, using this website to sell your supplies might be a way to save a couple of extra bucks post-wedding.

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The website also has a section to help you find vendors and inspiration when planning your wedding!

Reclyce ur Wedding 1 RECYCLE UR WEDDING

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20 Unique Save The Dates

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Betsy Hernandez

Tired of boring save-the-date magnets? Maybe your best friend used a photo postcard for hers, but you’re looking for something a little more creative. You can have a classic wedding but still have some fun with your save-the-dates. Check out all the latest trends.

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BEACHCARDSfingerprintheartbeach 3d ballooncookiespaintscratch offs seasidePoolTablescrabble Shadows

 

 

 

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What You Should Know About Buying a Home

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Victoria Cotrina

written by: George Russo

A marriage is not only about the big Wedding Day but it’s about starting a life together… in a new home.  Home ownership can provide you with many benefits: secure shelter, a long term investment and tax advantages.  However, a home is also a major commitment.  There are ways to avoid costly mistakes that can strain your budget and your patience.

Some things to consider:

Affordability
A home is the largest single investment of most Americans.  So the first question is: can you afford the home you want to buy?  At the time of you home purchase, when legal title is transferred, you will have to pay the price for the home and closing costs. Usually the bulk of the purchase price is paid with a mortgage loan.  Afterward you will need to budget for insurance premiums, maintenance, monthly load payments, property tax, utility bills and repairs.  To avoid surprises examine the seller’s bills to get an idea of the monthly expenses for the home.  Also check the age and condition of appliances, plumbing, roof, structures and wiring since they might need repair after your purchase.

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Using a Lawyer

The law firm of George Russo and Associates P.C. can help you through the home buying process by preparing the purchase contract, advising you about financing and title insurance, answering your legal and tax questions, and arranging for the documents necessary to complete the purchase.  When you first visit our office you can ask for an estimate of legal and closing costs.  You should consult one of our attorneys before you sign a contract to buy a home.  Although a printed form maybe used for the purchase contract we can make changes to protect you.

Purchase Contract
In some states, you may need to sign a binder and submit it to the Seller to start the home buying process.  A binder can be an agreement to sign a purchase contract or the purchase contract itself.  In New York, the first document you sign is a purchase contract that contains the purchase price, and the legal conditions of the transaction. You should not sign a binder or purchase contract unless it protects your tights. Our office- can prepare or review a printed form agreement that you receive from your real estate agent or the seller’s attorney.

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Conditions
Any conditions that must be, met before you complete a home purchase should be stated in your purchase contract. For example, many buyers make their home purchase contingent upon obtaining a mortgage commitment from a lender before you sign a purchase contract, we can make sure it contains provisions allowing you to cancel the purchase and get your deposit back if your conditions are not met.

To read more about this click here.

 

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Q & A with the Bride!

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Betsy Hernandez
A Q & A with one of my lovely brides Mrs. Plummer!
What was the one thing about your venue that made you know it was the one?
The price for the wedding package and banquet atmosphere.
 
Which three details from your wedding were your favorites?
1. Our Wedding Ceremony
2. Our First Dance
3. Brother/Sister and Brother/Brother Dance
 
If you could offer one piece of advice for other couples planning their wedding, what would it be?
 
Tons of stress management techniques, definitely get a massage and take a moment to breathe and take it all in.
Give us the one moment in your wedding day you can’t stop thinking about.
 
When our wedding ceremony ended and our officiant prayed over us as newly weds.

 

First Dance

First Dance

Balcony

Balcony

First Dance

First Dance

 

Photo Credits: www.angelicacriscuolophotography.com/

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10 Things to Avoid the Week Before Your Wedding

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Betsy Hernandez
1. New Hair Color
Even if your colorist is the absolute best, avoid making changes to your hair within a week of your wedding. You never know how the color will look with your skin tone.” If you want to refresh your do without endangering your look, ask your colorist to put a clear gloss on your strands.  But if you do get mixed up with some bad color before the big day, you wont do too much damage to your hair by getting it re-colored right away—as long as there weren’t high levels of bleach involved in the process.
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2. Alcohol
For something you sip, alcohol carries a ton of extra calories, so you may want to cut back even earlier than the week before your wedding. As for immediate effects, alcohol can make you look and feel puffy. And who wants to say “I do” feeling like a marshmallow? What’s more  important, alcohol dilates your blood vessels, which can lead to wedding picture redness.
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3.  A New Workout
Stick to the routine you’ve been doing because now is not the time for new moves. Pulled muscles can take weeks to heal and you definitely don’t want to be too sore to get down on the dance floor. If your goal is to lose weight, make sure to start a new fitness program well before your dress fittings. And if you’re just looking for an amazing way to relieve pre-wedding stress grab a friend for a quick walk or run in the park.
Things to Avoid the Week Before Your Wedding
4. Spray Tan Booths
Spray tanning in a booth may be a budget-friendly option for a safe, sunless glow, but there’s a good chance the color you get won’t match your skin tone as well as other fake tanning alternatives. It’s best to have a specialist expertly apply the tanning solution so it’s evenly distributed and complements your skin color and don’t forget to lightly exfoliate beforehand. The color will last longer and you’ll literally glow as you walk down the aisle.
Things to Avoid the Week Before Your Wedding
5. Changing your Make up Look
Sometimes Brides panic at the last minute that they will be wearing too much or too little makeup on. That’s why during your makeup trial you have the chance to experiment with what works for your skin tone and what doesn’t. At the end of the day, trust in your makeup artist, who takes your skin type, age, hairstyle, wedding color palette, and the time, location, and style of your day into consideration when designing your look. What can you do to help your blank canvas? Water Water Water & Sleep Sleep Sleep! Trust your makeup artist !
Things to Avoid the Week Before Your Wedding
6. Juice Cleanses 
You need calories to keep you alert and help you get through your crazy, busy weekend. It’s not the time to stop nourishing yourself. Juice cleanses are very low in calories, sapping your energy and making you irritable. And cleanses that include mostly fruit juices are high in sugar. The week before you should be eating well-balanced meals with a focus on fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of water and don’t skip any meals!
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7.Peels & Microdermabrasion 
A peel does promise silky smooth skin in the future but is not to be done the week before the wedding! After receiving a chemical peel or microdermabrasion some people see their skin peel off repeatedly, which leaves dead skin on the surface that can ball up under makeup. Scheduling these appointments 1 month before the wedding to avoid any bruising or peeling.
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8.New-to-you Skincare Products
Don’t change your skincare regimen if you have fewer than two weeks to go before your wedding. You should change it months in advance. Swapping in a new product could lead to allergic reaction, dryness, oiliness, or a bevy of other side effects that take time to correct. “Be sure to see your dermatologist a few months ahead of time.
Things to Avoid the Week Before Your Wedding
9. All Nighters 
Up all night hand typing your ceremony programs? Find a friend to fill in and get some sleep! When we’re sleep-deprived our bodies produce more ghrelin, the hormone that tells us when to eat, and less leptin, the hormone that tells us when to put down the fork. It’s a diet-destroying combo, especially if you’re reaching for junk food. Salty snacks make you bloat, not to mention the fact that eating foods with no nutritional value can leave you feeling sluggish. Sleep deprivation also affects your immune system.
Things to Avoid the Week Before Your Wedding
10. Excess caffeine 
Relying on caffeinated beverages to get you through those long nights (as well as the long, last minute detail-filled days) just adds fuel to the bad-for-you fire. You’re going to have a lot of anxiety and nerves to begin with. You don’t need to add to your stress. And caffeine may even wreak havoc on your bridal beauty. Caffeine is very dehydrating and can contribute to dark circles under your eyes.
Things to Avoid the Week Before Your Wedding
-Betsy Hernandez 
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What to ask when hiring a DJ

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Betsy Hernandez

Sunday Already!?!?

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From  DJs to bands everyone knows how much these vendors can influence the mood of the reception, especially when things go bad. But when these guys are great, they make it look completely effortless. Here are some ways that you can ensure that you will find a terrific music option.

Don’t just take someone’s word for it.  Even if your best friend loved them at her wedding, unless you saw them in person, take the time to meet the band or DJ. The band leader or DJ will be informally in charge of the flow of the reception, so you should enjoy their personality.

Can you see them perform? Some bands and DJs have showcase or expos that you can attend. If you are seriously considering hiring someone, you shouldn’t miss out on this opportunity. Seeing them at an event allows you to see their stage presence (which can be very different than one-on-one) and professionalism.

Yes, come up with a song list.  But, no don’t ask that they stick to it as if their lives depended upon it.  DJ’s can read the room and they have been to HUNDREDS weddings. They might know the perfect song to get the crowd on the floor, and it may not be on your list.

Feed them. Just do it. Hungry vendors are not happy vendors and the last thing you want is a hungry DJ with no energy!.

Here are some of our in house DJ’s

2 Plus 2 Entertainment

Music Flex Entertainment 

Musical Madness Entertainment

Make U Dance Entertainment 

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Trendy Thursdays: Grasswalkers!

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Betsy Hernandez

Trendy Thursdays!!!!

We have an amazing trend for you that will get you ready for all those fun outdoor weddings you will be attending this summer! Grasswalkers! This amazing product was created by Sheryl White to help take away the stress of ruining your favorite heels from walking in the grass during outdoor events.
The transparent strips stick right on the bottom of your shoe, no matter the size or style, without causing any damage to your shoe and creating a very sturdy but almost invisible surface to walk on. Grasswalkers are unlike any other heel protector on the market because they were designed to create a flat surface to walk on, covering the entire bottom of your shoe, rather than just the heel.


I wish I would known about these months ago when I was a bridesmaid and we had to take photos under the Brooklyn Bridge. My shoes sunk into the sand and pebbles LOL. 

Grasswalkers

-Betsy Hernandez

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The NYC Sweet 16 Expo!

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Betsy Hernandez

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Honeymoon Destinations In The US!

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Betsy Hernandez

TGIF on this rainy NYC day! Where is Spring? 

I have something that will brighten up everyone day! The best honeymoon destinations in the US!

In search of an easy to-get-to but super romantic destination? No passport? no problem. I have put together a list of my top 5 picks in the United States. Always remember, you don’t have to fly across the world to have a dream honeymoon!

1. Puerto Rico 

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Puerto Rico is a common wealth of the US, making travel here as easy as crossing a state border. While there, enjoy a trip to the El Yunque rain forest, the Bio-luminescent Bay in Fajardo & Culebra beach.

2. The U.S Virgin Islands

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St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix are all US territories with one of the Caribbeans most beautiful beaches. The Virgin Islands, offers a tranquil tropical destination for all vacationers & honeymooners.

3. Hawaii 

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Hawaii is pure tropical romance! with an Orchid Lei around your neck and a flower behind your ear, your ready to enjoy one of the most exotic destinations in the US. Things to do: Pearl Harbor Memorial Site, Lanikai Beach,Turtle Bay Horse Back Riding.

4. Napa Valley, California 

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Newly Weds will love this California wine country. Napa Valley offers intimate boutique hotels that pamper couples with delicious wine tastings and sunset dinners.

5. Key West, Florida

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Key west is the furthest of the Florida Keys. Does time ever pass in the Florida Keys? Everyone and everything in Key West seems to go at its own pace, right down to the ice melting slooooowly in your margarita glass. Also known for some of the best scuba diving in the US. Things to do: Swimming with the dolphins, Vandenberg Wreck, Bahia Honda State Park & Beach.

When planning any vacation,  I always use Trip Advisor  and Yelp of course. I trust real reviews from real people! For my brides to be: Check out Honeyfund! A cool way to Incorporated your honeymoon expenses into a wedding registry.

- Betsy Hernandez

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Wedding Dieting Tips

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Betsy Hernandez

 

Eat the right foods to beat wedding stress and pump up your energy!!!!

The months leading up to your wedding are no time to run out of steam — make sure you know which foods will give you a natural boost, and invite them into your daily diet. Here, the top three.

Protein

High-Protein-Foods

Why: High-protein foods will keep you from getting hungry and snacking, and also help to maintain energy throughout the day.
Serving Suggestion: Center every meal around protein such as chicken, turkey, fish, light cheese, cottage cheese, or peanut butter. For breakfast, have a toast with peanut butter; for lunch, include cottage cheese with fruit; and for dinner, go with fish or chicken. Get healthy recipe ideas on Pinterest!
Tip: If, two hours after you’ve eaten, you feel hungry and tired, chances are you didn’t get enough protein.

Complex Carbohydrates

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Why: Complex carbs take longer to digest, contain less fat, and supply more energy than simple carbs.
Serving Suggestion: Opt for whole grain pasta, bread, and cereal and complex carbohydrates whenever possible. Instead of white bread, go for 10-grain; in lieu of corn flakes, try raisin bran.
Tip Don’t be afraid of the organic foods section at the grocery store, where you’re likely to find tons of whole-grain pasta, bread, and cereal options.

Water

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Why: Water is the number-one way to flush out toxins, prevent dehydration, and keep your body running in top shape.
Serving Suggestion: Instead of reaching for that can of sugary soda, make an effort to substitute a glass of water. The amount of water you need depends on your weight. A good way to determine how much you need is to take your body weight and divide it by two. The resulting number is the number of ounces you should be drinking every day. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should try to drink 80 ounces of water daily.
Tip: To wean yourself off soda, get flavored bottled water or add a lemon to your glass.

Running a zillion errands? Pack a healthy snack so you can refuel quickly without resorting to fast food.

  •  15 Raw almonds
  •  Hummus with 5 baby carrots 
  •  Apple slices with peanut butter 
  •  Dried fruit & nut mix
  •  1 Banana 

-Betsy Hernandez 

 

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