Meet Amanda

The next member of our bridal party that we will feature is a very special young lady. Not only is she a bridesmaid, but she is also the groom's sister – Miss Amanda Smith! However, she won’t have that name for long.

When our wedding takes place in June, Mandy will be Mrs. Ferro! On May 30th, Mandy will marry Norbert Ferro (another groomsman who you’ll learn more about soon).

Some Fun Facts about Amanda
* The youngest of three children, Mandy had to deal with the protective wrath of her two big brothers growing up. As you can imagine, it must have been pretty intimidating for her high school boyfriends to have to impress such intense physical specimens as Brady and Ryan.

* Easily the best looking of the Smith siblings, Amanda's brothers had to constantly put up with ribbing from their friends, who were always quick to remind them how attractive their little sis was.

* Watch out for Mandy on the dance floor - she was an Egg Harbor Township cheerleader from first grade on through high school and competed in dozens of cheer & dance competitions. Brady was thrilled to attend several ballet/dance recitals when he was younger in support of his little sis.

* The Smiths would make frequent trips down to South Florida each year to visit their grandparents and other family members. Amanda had such a good time on those trips that after high school, she decided to head south and attend the Art Institute of Miami, where she was a double-major in Fashion Merchandising and Design. She now works as a buyer for the stores aboard some of Miami’s finest cruise ships!

* Amanda was quite the creative type even before fashion school called - she even designed her own clothing line in high school called "Angel Style." Even her friends proudly rocked her designs! Rumor has it that Brady's personal clothing line - "Brady Stizzzyle" - wasn't as successful.

Q&A with Amanda:

· If you were in a beauty pageant, what category would you excel in and why? Talent-Dance, I grew up dancing and even won a dance contest once.

· If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? To fly -so I could go back and forth from Miami to NJ anytime I wanted.

· If you were in the movie “Back to the Future,” what year would you visit? Sometime in the 1950s. Something about poodle skirts, diners, & drive-in’s sound fun!

· Name three things you always have in your refrigerator. Eggs, Ketchup, & Cheese (editors note: we hope it’s Heinz Ketchup!)

· Name your favorite restaurant. Ra-sushi

· If there was a movie made about your life, which actress would play the lead role? Katherine Heigl, people say I resemble her.

· If you could only shop in one store for the rest of your life, what would it be? Target

· What song do you look forward to hearing at Brandi & Brady’s Wedding? Faith by George Michael/Limp Bizkit so I can see Brady do an encore performance of Mr. EHT.

· If you could be on one reality show, what would it be and why? Dancing with the Stars because you get to dress up in hot costumes, learn every type of dance, and get in shape at the same time.

· Who do you think will fall off the boat? Smitty?

· What was the first concert you attended? Q102, a local radio station hosted a big concert with multiple entertainers.

· How many pairs of shoes do you own? About 25, mostly sandals.

· What’s your favorite beverage? Vanilla Iced Lattes. Alcoholic-Three Olives Cherry Vodka & Cranberry.

I Did It All For The Cookies

When it comes to a Western Pennsylvania wedding, Pittsburghers don’t remember what the centerpiece looked like, what color the bridesmaids wore or even what they ate for dinner. They remember the cookie table.

In the next 120 days, we will begin blogging more regularly to prepare you for the celebrations surrounding our upcoming nuptials. So where else to start but with this thing Pittsburghers love – a wedding cookie table – written by the person who co-writes this blog and loves the Steel City ; )

A cookie table is basically a number of long tables that feature a variety of cookies that the bride’s family bakes in anticipation of the wedding. The cookies are displayed on trays and on dishes of different heights. It’s common to see about 2,000 cookies at a wedding for around 200 people. The tables are typically inside the reception room along a wall. This cookie table to the right is from good friend Pam’s Wedding (we go back to kindergarten) As a bridesmaid, I helped tray (and eat) these cookies the day before the wedding!

According to Wikipedia, the cookie table tradition began in Youngstown, Ohio – not too far from Pittsburgh. Some sources say that during the Depression, women in the bride’s family made cookies because they were cheaper than an elaborate wedding cake.

Just like Pittsburgh dominates football and hockey, this cookie phenomenon is sweeping the nation. The New York Times profiled the Pittsburgh Cookie Tradition in December of 2009. I’ve had some Chicago brides ask me to explain the tradition (Hi Courtney!) and want to incorporate it in their wedding. I told them to rev up their Kitchen Aid and get their family baking now!

You can read the full New York Times Story, “The Wedding? I’m Here for the Cookies” by clicking this link.

Here’s some things the New Jerseyians need to know before you approach the cookie table:

• There will be an enormous selection of cookies. This is your opportunity to pig out. If you want away from the cookie table(s) at our wedding with a plate of cookies, you didn’t do a good job. You need to fill up at least two boxes to take home.

• If you eat a dozen cookies at the wedding, no one will judge you. They will pat you on the back and tell you to eat more.

• If there is a cookie you are obsessed with, we can get you the recipe. Pittsburgh people share.

• There is an art to tray-ing the cookies. When you meet one of the bakers at the wedding, tell her that not only were the cookies unbelievable, but that you adored the display. That will score you some huge bonus points with the Blumling ladies (my mom’s sisters).

• For all those single people house, use the cookie table as a pick up line. It’s much more “sweeter” than saying “Let’s go do a shot.”

• Yes, we will still have a cake. In fact, the hotel has an exclusive contract with a prestigious Pittsburgh bakery. But if you don’t see anyone from Pittsburgh eating the cake, it’s because they are saving room for the cookies.

If you have a special recipe or cookie that you would like to feature, please let us know and we can certainly arrange for your signature cookie to be added to the spread!

Finally, I come from a family of bakers. When I got engaged, they really didn’t care about the proposal story or the ring or where the wedding will be. My mom and her four sisters drafted a list of cookies and assigned flavors. This cookie meeting took place in July 2009 – almost a year before the wedding. The baking began around Christmas and if you are wondering where all the cookies are being stored…my mom received a new freezer as a holiday gift to house her creations. As you will see below, the baking has begun!

(Sources: Wikipedia, New York Times; Photos: Pam’s Cookies from Bella Pictures)