She’s on the new Celebrity Apprentice, and here’s her blog.  Should I contact her for a Q&A?

E! Entertainment Television is Casting Brides-To-Be for HOUSE OF BRIDES.  Are you preparing for your wedding but you won’t walk down the aisle until you LOOK perfect??? There’s a solution.  HOUSE OF BRIDES, a new competition reality show for E! Entertainment Television, is casting engaged women who want to go through a total image transformation before the big day.  The winner will not only look great, but also win her dream wedding with the help of Hollywood’s top wedding professionals.  Giving her and her wedding the full celebrity treatment.

If you are a bride-to-be who is willing to compete with other ambitious engaged women for the wedding of your dreams then HOUSE OF BRIDES is the show for you.

Auditions will be held this Friday, March 19th from 6:30 – 8:30 at:  Adrienne’s, 156 Orchard Street, (near Rivington Street), New York City  (F/V train to 2^nd Avenue or JMZ train to Delancey/Essex).

Applicants must be 18 and over.

Q:  Claudia, What does a typical wedding budget look like for a Long Island bride?

A:  A typical Long Island wedding these days costs just over $55,000.   Can you believe it?   That’s a great deal of money to spend on just one day — but, it is the most important day of your life…The most expensive portion of your wedding will be the wedding venue, followed by entertainment (band or DJ), photographer and videographer, flowers/décor, invitations and transportation.  Of course, there’s lots more.   If you are just starting out with your wedding plans, or even if you are in the middle of planning, and have not written down a budget, I really encourage you to do that.   This will be your blueprint for everything that you purchase.   And it will guide you through decisions, as long as you stick to the numbers…!  Thanks for asking this most important question, Kristie!

Date:  September 20, 2009

Ceremony & Reception Site:  Fox Hollow, Woodbury

Photography:  In Focus NYC

Budget surprise: While 44 percent of brides claim that establishing the wedding budget is the most surprising wedding planning stress, 70 percent are either pleasantly surprised with their budget or feel like everything they want will fit into their budget.

Personally invested: The top items that brides are personally purchasing are jewelry (wedding bands), invitations and wedding favors.

Planning resources: Brides are resourceful, and said wedding websites (82 percent) and wedding magazines (58 percent) are the most helpful in wedding planning. Other key planning resources for brides include advice from friends and family (45 percent), wedding television programs (36 percent), real wedding images (36 percent) and advice from wedding professionals (20 percent).

‘Tis the season: More than half of brides surveyed said the season was the most important element when choosing a wedding date, as it sets the tone and backdrop for a wedding.

Bridal style: However a bride defines her personal style, the survey shows that brides continue to opt for a classic and traditional wedding, and most brides described her wedding as elegant and romantic.

Family time: While couples are having longer engagements, the survey reveals that they are spending quality time with each other’s families as if they already married: 70 percent of couples spent the 2009 holidays together with both families.

Grooms: While today’s groom might not be involved in every detail of the wedding planning, they do have strong opinions about the overall feel of the weddings. Grooms have the strongest opinion about the venue, caterer, music and photography.