Ecomodish also recommends Dream Green Weddings for all of your wedding favors such as these heart shaped bird seed favors, plantable seeded favors embedded with organic herbs, and tree branch place card and holders.
If you're searching for the perfect gift for your much appreciated bridesmaids think about these earth conscious bags from the Ecomodish Handbag Collection.
photos by Jess Epstein
image from Leo DJ Photography 
I found these on Funky Fabric Flowers. I am digging the ribbons and frays and of course the adorable buttons.
These inspiring bright, lacy button creations I found at Kreated by Kelly.
If you're the DIY type and want to give a go at creating your own fabulous fabric flowers visit I Do Take U where you can find the entire tutorial for this beauty below.
Another DIY tutorial from Green Upgrader will inspire you with these colorful fabrics and lacy details. 
One of my favorite wedding essentials at Wedding Paper Divas is their selection of ideas for what to do with your big day photos. You can create wall art, a gallery wrapped canvas, mounted prints, and custom photo gifts like these photo albums. Love it!
Another feature to be sure not to miss is their free custom wedding website service. You can match your website design with your save the date cards and invites, add music, an online RSVP, photos and a blog. Now, of all special moments in your life-it's time to be a Diva!
Also from intimate weddings are these DIY candy bar wrappers. Buy your favorite candy bars and wrap them in comic book paper, wrapping paper, or your favorite designed paper and there you have a beautiful favor that everyone loves. Mmmmmm, chocolate!
Adding a little fruit to your day can add lovely color and tastiness! These boxes of deep red cherries are just beautiful! Especially if red is in your color scheme, what a better way to add some vibrant brightness. And to add some gooey sweetness, try making caramel apples. Keep it simple with mini apples or use larger and add marshmallows and nuts for an even more decadent treat. 
cherry photo by intimate weddings, plain apples by bridesknowbest, fancy apples by wedsmack
Enjoy your baking and sharing the love! And be sure to share with me some of your favorite edible goodies for your wedding day. 
Dessy + Perfect Palette=Love! The Perfect Palette has teamed up with Dessy to offer you the 'Most Loved' Wedding Inspiration Board Contest. What's even more exciting than the fun of creating your own board and sharing it in the new style board gallery, are the prizes! For the next 5 weeks Perfect Palette will be choosing one lucky winner who'll receive $200 in Dessy essentials.
Winners will receive:
How to enter you ask? Simply go to the Dessy website and create your own inspiration style board using a minimum of 5 PANTONE colors, and one Dessy product. Once you're finished visit Perfect Palette and leave a comment including the link to your board, your email, and a brief explanation of the colors you chose, and the vision behind your inspiration board.
Winners will need to be in the 'most loved' category in the Dessy Gallery so we encourage you to use the share on Facebook feature to show your board some love :) For more details go to The Perfect Palette. A winner will be chosen every Friday for 5 weeks beginning February 5. Go and create, I can't wait to see your inspiring styles!
Be inspired and inspire others by publishing your style boards in the new Dessy inspiration board gallery today! In addition to having unlimited access to the huge array of Pantone colors, professional wedding photographs, and the ability to upload your own personal photos to create your unique style board, now you can publish to the gallery too.
You can also browse the gallery and let everyone know how much you adore a displayed board by clicking on 'love'-show us your favorites! Have a look, see the beauty, and get great ideas from fellow brides-to-be and then get busy creating your own.
And it's even easier to share your style boards with your friends and family. You can email, embed in your blog, and add your board to your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Go to Dessy to begin creating and inspiring-all at the same time-perfect!
Candy Buffets are one of my favorite wedding trends. Who does NOT smile when they see a huge table full of colorful yummy candy?! No matter your age the word candy brings happiness I say. Jars full of M&M's, banana runts, sticky gooey taffy, and as many chocolate variations as you can find-now that's a party! In addition to candy buffets being just plain fun, they are also a great decoration.
Make your candy table unique by finding and decorating your own jars of different colors and sizes, decorate your table with petals, flowers, candles and even add childhood and current pictures of you and your loved one. Choose colored candy that matches your wedding theme and colors. Don't forget to add some of your favorite childhood candy like ring pops, candy bracelets and necklaces, lollipops, and even pop rocks.
One of my favorite displays is from Wedding Bee. I just want to dive head first into this table of goodness. I like how cupcakes and amazing little decorated cakes from Bakerella are added to the buffet. Let the inspiration begin.
photography by Scott and Temp
Project Wedding shared some of these gorgeous candy arrangements. I love the simplicity of the all-white theme. Marshmallows, yes please!
photography by Cary Pennington
photography by Garden Party To Go
I think maybe my favorite sweets growing up, and by that I mean I'm still growing up, is cotton candy. Bridal Bar recently featured this purple cotton candy martini that I had to share with you. Love!
photography by Scott Campbell
To stock up on all of your wedding candy needs check out A Candy Store where you can select by color AND flavor. They have all of the old favorites like pez, rock candy, jawbrakers and more. You can also find many of your favorites at the Candy Warehouse and they include a video on how to create your own buffet. Have fun creating and save some goodies for me!
Spring is in the air. Ok..well, maybe not quite yet, but it's on my mind! Even if we can't actually smell the daisies quite yet, it's the perfect time to be planning your warmer weather wedding. I am not a big fan of winter, I much prefer the green grass between my toes with the big bright sun on my face. And, so, I've been dreaming of lovely outdoor wedding scenes like the ones below.
Firstly, hay. Now, I'm a Midwestern girl at heart and even I scoffed at the thought until I saw images like these from The Green Bride Guide. I love the originality and rustic look and feel. And on top of that they are inexpensive and a great eco-chic choice!
photography by W. Scott Chester Photography
photography by Sean Watson Photography
This next outdoor inspiration is from Stephmodo. Simple yet elegant. Mostly handmade decor, fresh bright strawberries and that warm and cozy in the woods feel.
images from Stephmodo
Lastly, I couldn't let you go without some lovely flowers. Every girl loves flowers. Fields of lavender, and pink, green and white bouquets come together perfectly in this real wedding story from Project Wedding.
images from Project Wedding
Here's to all the warm weather weddings to come! For a helpful tool to help create beauties such as these, check out the Dessy-Pantone inspiration style board application which will help you create the bid day that is uniquely yours!
Flowing curls, up-do, half up, half down, veil or no veil-deciding on the one hairstyle that is perfect to showcase on your big day is one tough decision! I've done some research for you that will help.
Brides.com offers a complete guide to wedding hairstyles that is sure to inspire your decision. The guide includes a checklist, glossary, loads of example pictures and even a q & a section.
Model Bride has a great gallery of beautiful wedding day styles, look at these elegant options!
Another good resource to help you decide is weddinghair.com . Not only do they display great pictures showing many different styles, but they also have printable pdf files giving step-by-step instructions for each! This means you can easily bring the 'how to' to your hairdresser or even do it yourself.
Try many different options, pick your favorite, have fun of course and get ready for all eyes to be on you and your gorgeous locks!
One Wed, one of our favorite sources for wedding planning, is celebrating the biggest wedding planning day of the year. Matrimony Monday is today! How to celebrate the busiest engagement season of the year? An amazing wedding giveaway of course!
Running through the month of January, future brides have the opportunity to win approximately $15,000 worth of wedding essentials like dresses from The Dessy Group (that's us!), a honeymoon from Sandals Resorts, wedding bands from Whiteflash.com and more.
You can automatically enter by creating your own Wedding Pre-Party using One Wed's social wedding planning tools. This social wedding planning platform helps to connect you to your wedding party, wedding guests and vendors. It is a MUST see and use!
When it comes to outfitting the littlest members of your wedding party, the cuteness is in the details! I wanted to share this adorable boys clip bow tie and this little man bella satin zip neck tie from Dessy. So sweet!
Your cute little man also has a very important job. When he presents your sparkle why not do it uniquely? I found this great DIY ring bearer pillow made from fluffy green mums at mydiywedding.com.
Another unique presentation from MyJeanM.com is this silver rose ring box. Love it!
And these custom made pillows from The You*Nique Boutique are hand sewn using your selections of satin fabrics, ribbons, flowers and details.
Don't forget to thank your little helper after the big day. Some great gift ideas can be found at goweddinggifts.com. They have everything from personalized baseball bats to harmonicas and piggy banks. Have fun thanking and decking out your little man!
From bouquets to corsages, arrangements and flower girl petals, no one can argue the influence of radiant flowers on your wedding day. Beauty is in the details. So, what to consider when finding the perfect flowers for you and your big day?
To find answers to all of these details and more, I found a fantastic resource to everything wedding flowers: Brides.com. They offer a free complete essential guide to flowers and decorations. There's even a checklist, glossary and Q&A section in case you can't find what you're looking for. Priceless!
I found some truly fabulous arrangements to get you inspired. Gilly Flowers created these amazingly creative and vibrant combinations used for decorations and bouquets. Flowers bursting out of cages, doors and drawers? They make it work!
photography by Jose Villa c/o Jessica Claire
A little more traditional but no less beautiful, these bouquets blossomed from Aarai Garden, based in Chicago. I have a soft spot for this shop as it is family owned and run. The owner has a true passion for what she does and flowers ordered on their website are packed and shipped by dear dad while some of the stitched products in the store are made from mom.
Can't stand the thought of your memorable flowers lasting only one day? Consider paper flowers. From bouquets, corsages to hairpieces, Handmadepaperflowers.com creates arrangements that definitely compete with real flowers. Check these out!
For a little blog inspiration keep an eye on My Wedding Flowers Blog for weekly wedding flower tips. Now that you have the knowledge on finding the flowers for you, start having fun arranging, choosing colors and decorating for your big day!
That's right, another chance for you to create your personally stylized Dessy-Pantone inspiration board and win $500 in Dessy accessories! Our friends at One Wed created this winter wonderland style board to inspire you because they are giving you another chance to win! You can create as many boards as you like. The more you submit the better your chances of winning. The deadline for this contest is December 31, 2009. So go to One Wed now and get creating!
Join Dessy Group on Facebook!
The Dessy Group has a new fan page and we want you! Become a fan and enter to receive a free DESSY PANTONE WEDDING color eco-tote. Due to popular demand we have just extended our offer to include the first 1000 fans. Click here for the tote offer.
As a fan be prepared for new contests in the new year!
Also, check out the new Pantone Wedding 2010 Color Guide, the essential wedding color planning tool, now available for pre-order at $35 (includes a free color promotional tote while supplies last.)
Need more inspiration for your wedding? Visit PANTONE WEDDING where you can make your own free digital inspiration board, and share your designs with friends & family.
Looking for the perfect bridesmaid dresses? Look no further! The Wedding Library is now the Exclusive Lela Rose retailer for New York City. The Wedding Library is an innovative research boutique created especially for the bride-to-be. At the Library, not only can brides find dresses for their wedding, they can also hire a wedding planner, purchase products and research vendors with their mothers, bridesmaids, fiances and friends.
I recently spoke with Claudia Hanlin of The Wedding Library and she gave me some insight on this exciting development. "'I met Lela Rose when she was a guest speaker at our annual bridal event, The Wedding Party. Since then I've been hoping to work with her -- I am delighted that we are now representing her eponymous bridesmaid dress line."
To contact The Wedding Library for your perfect dresses go to The Dessy Group for all the details. Also, to keep up to date on all at The Wedding Library be sure to check out their blog at www.weddinglibrarybuzz.blogspot.com.
If you're lucky enough to have a Christmas wedding coming up or are planning one for next year, well, I'm jealous! There is so much you can do to make a winter holiday wedding absolutely gorgeous, and the best part is you may already have some of the decorations in your holiday storage closet!
For your wedding and reception venue pull out your festive wreaths and decorate with twinkling white lights and soft fluffy red bows.
photo by Maurice Photo
Decorate your tables with tiny Christmas ornaments along with wrapping your wedding favors in tiny adorable gift boxes. And for your wedding bouquet? Vibrant poinsettias of course!
I found these absolutely amazing Christmas and winter themed wedding cakes at Colettes Cakes. Almost too good to eat!
For wedding and bridesmaid dresses that will bring out the season try a faux fur shrug over these After Six, Dessy, and Sandals Destinations dresses from Dessy. You can mix and match the colors to get the perfect mix of red and green or any combination that says 'My Christmas Wedding!' to you.
Need more ideas? Instead of clinking glasses, your guests could hold up mistletoe; put flickering candles surrounded by sprigs of holly on your tables; use favorite Christmas carols for your wedding music; give candy canes wrapped in ribbons with your names on them.
Bottom line with a Christmas wedding? Have fun, be creative and don't be shy with bright colors and traditional decorations-everyone loves them!
If you're having a holiday wedding leave a comment with your decorating ideas!
Christmas wedding reception photos by Nonantum Resort
Congratulations Cassie, you are the chosen winner of The Dessy Group's inspiration style board contest! Check out Weddingchicks for the details. I am posting your winning board here to inspire other brides-to-be to use Dessy and PANTONE's personalized style boards to help plan their perfectly color coordinated wedding. What a beautiful and creative board, thanks Cassie! And thank you Weddingchicks!
Today is the last day to enter the Dessy Group $500 giveaway! All you have to do is create your own wedding inspiration style board with the help of Dessy and Pantone. Get those creative juices flowing and be sure to use at least one Dessy product. See the last winning inspiration board above to get some great ideas. How do you enter you ask? Quickly go to weddingchicks.com for all the details and links to enter your fine board. Hurry!
I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday! I wanted to start off this festive holiday season with one of the most important items to prepare for your wedding. It's pretty well known that we girls LOVE our accessories. We have the talent to take that neutral color dress and mix it up a bit with some gorgeous, personalized accessories to make it beautifully ours. From admired pearls to quirky and unique hairpieces, and ballet flats to the must have handbag, they each bring your own elegance to your wedding day.
There's something so simply beautiful about pearls. They have become a tradition for a reason after all! I found these perfectly pair-able Pearl Deco Drop Earrings and 16 inch Freshwater Pearl Necklace at Dessy.
Also at Dessy are these glam Wedding Ballet Flats and the necessary Iridescent Taffeta Quilted Clutch Handbag. Both come in as many colors as you can dream up! These are great to add to your Dessy and Pantone personalized Inspiration Board.
These flower creations from Etsy make me forget the looming winter and remember the warmth of spring. The hair accessories and pins are perfect for your wedding any time of year. Loving the colors!
I hope these ideas help to inspire you to find the right creative touches for you and your wedding party. It's all in the details girls, now start accessorizing!
I hope that everyone had a great weekend and that you are preparing for one of the best food holidays of the year. YUMMO! Pumpkin pie, cornbread stuffing, cranberry dessert-my grandma's recipe with graham crackers and whipped cream is to.die.for. And as you take this week to be thankful for that loved one in your life I thought I would suggest a few new ideas for your upcoming wedding venue.
Especially if you're the kinda girl who likes to do things a bit different, mix it up, and make life memorable, I've got some thoughts for you on how to do a ceremony at a wedding location that no one will forget. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Tying the Knot Under Water: If you and your partner love diving, then think about taking the plunge in the crystal clear waters of the Cayman Islands. Divetech offers a private charted boat, chilled champagne, and slates to write your vows so that you can understand each other through the bubbles and happy tears. If you whole wedding party is as adventurous as you, check out Jul in Key Largo, Florida. You and your guests scuba dive to their underwater hotel where you have your ceremony and celebrate!
photo by Impulse Photography
Wedding Whitewater Rafting: Head to Montana and enjoy the most amazing natural beauty as you get married on a rafting trip with your friends and family. Montana River Guides specialize in customized wedding parties.
Hot Air Balloon Wedding: Soaring high in the sky with champagne and a view to remember forever. There are many hot air balloon companies across the globe that can give you this unique experience. Check out Balloon Tours to get an idea of what could be in store for you and your partner.
So many options to add adventure to your special day! If you have any unique wedding ceremony ideas, or have had a memorable one yourself, leave us a comment here and tell us about it!
The perfect day: charming, sweet, full of love and friends and family. The long awaited wedding day bliss.
But, to get to this day, we've got some work to do! How do you feel about a helping hand of $500? Interested? Read on!
It's easy to get a bit overwhelmed at the thought of organizing it all. Wedding shoes, wedding jewelry, that perfect wedding dress, choosing the wedding color palettes, accessories, menswear, wedding shoes-flip flops or should it be flats or a heal? So many choices can be so confusing.
Well, it's Dessy and Pantone to the rescue!
As I'm sure you've heard, Dessy has partnered with Pantone to help you create your personalized and oh-so-perfect inspiration board. Click here to see what all of the fuss is about. These unique boards help to show off your favorite colors, styles and photos. After making the perfect match to your personality, you can share them with your wedding party and vendors via email, or even post them on your own wedding website or blog. Also, coordinate your colors with Pantone Color Swatches that you can leave with your bridesmaids, florist, wedding planner & more. How great is that?!
Aren't convinced of the power of the inspiration board? Have a look at the Dessy and Pantone Wedding Inspiration Board contest winner, Alexis', beautiful board:
So, about that $500? The exciting news is there is another contest underway. The next inspirational board contest winner will receive $500 credit towards any wedding accessories you can dream up. You can enter through weddingchics and oncewed. The deadline is November 27th, 2009 so get those creative juices flowing and enter as many times as you would like.
In just a few easy inspirational board steps you can put your mind at ease knowing that all is well in your personal wedding planning land. Now, if they'd just figure out how to stop uncle Joe from dancing on the reception tables....
Wedding Mapper offers wedding inspiration, advice and tools to help you plan your dream wedding. Share wedding ideas, ask wedding advice, and browse photos with help from their global community of thousands of brides and grooms who have shared their wedding day experiences. Create a custom interactive wedding map with markers for your rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, reception and other wedding events; as well as recommendations for hotels, dining and entertainment to help your guests with their plans while in town for your wedding. Ask questions about or view descriptions, photos, ratings, and reviews for local wedding vendors and venues; browse real weddings near you and view upcoming events by wedding location. Visit Wedding Mapper for free wedding planning tools and advice.
Poster photo from Pop Art Iconix available for purchase here. 
Photos taken from OnceWed.
The NotWedding - Atlanta, GA 4/5 and 5/31
In the last blog post about spring weddings, I mentioned a few ways to incorporate this beautiful season into your wedding. Here are some more tips for having a perfect spring wedding.
However, the best way to welcome
spring into your wedding is through you and your bridal parties attire.
Recently seen in the Martha Stewart wedding blog, The Bride's Guide, as pictured above, are the beautiful bridesmaid and flower girl dresses from Vivian Diamond for the Dessy Group. These dresses are invocative of spring with their bright pink color and clean, simple lines. Find more bridesmaid dresses here.
One important member of your wedding party that is often overlooked is the flower girl. Maybe it's the thought that spring is almost here, but lets look at what you can do to make your flower girl an essential part of your bouquet.
Most brides end up with (literally) thousands of photos from their wedding. Besides the photos from your photographer, other people at your wedding are probably snapping shots of things you may never think to photograph. Assign someone who will be at your wedding, maybe a member of the bridal party or a relative, to set up a photo sharing account that allows users to upload their own photos. Have that person give the web address to everyone they see at the wedding with a camera, so that there will be a central location for all of the photos. After all of the photos are uploaded, pick out some of your favorites. Instead of pulling out a bulky wedding album to show your friends and family, show a few select photos that capture moments that are important to you and your guests. If you select a photo that a guest has taken, consider framing it and giving it to them as a gift as a thank you. Knowing that they made your special day a little brighter will make them feel even more special.
The third installment of Here comes the groom! focuses on etiquette. Weddings are a time when lots of rules of etiquette come into play. There are so many rules for the bride to focus on, that sometimes the responsibilities of the groom get shoved aside. It's just as easy for the groom to learn some simple rules of etiquette as it is for the bride. 
For part two of Here comes the groom! we are talking about grooming your groom. You might have everything picked out for the groom, thinking that he looks spectacular, and forget all about making him look good. Brides spend so much time worrying about their own hair and makeup that they don't think too much about the groom. Well before the wedding, give him the task of making a checklist of everything that he needs to do before the wedding and what he needs to bring to the wedding (hair products, deodorant, etc.) Make sure you take a glance at the checklist, just to make sure all of the bases are covered!
For the first installment of the web series, Here comes the groom! we are going to look at fashion. Traditionally, the bride will do most of the wedding planning, simply because its not what men are in to. But I'm sure most brides would love to get a helping hand from their groom (a guided helping hand, that is!) The key to getting your man involved is putting things in terms he understands. Most men are not going to be interested in things like which flowers go with which or what type of china to serve the wedding cake on, but most men these days know something about fashion. If you have your dress picked out, and your wedding location, get him involved in picking out what he and his groomsmen are going to wear. There are so many options beyond a traditional tux! Think about your wedding location and your own attire and choose styles that are appropriate. Work within those parameters to help your groom pick what he likes. 
These days everyone has an iPod or an iPhone. But besides listening to music and making phone calls, you can upload clips of your wedding to quickly and easily show your friends and family. If you have a videographer, ask them to create some short clips formatted for iTunes, and upload it like any other video or song. If you don't have a videographer, have (the most qualified) friend or family member record some of the memorable moments. It can be before, during the wedding, or even fun moments on your honeymoon that you or your spouse record. There is cheap and easy software available for PCs and Macs that allow you to edit clips together, add titles, music, and anything else. Software developers know that people want videos for their iPods and iPhones, so there are a lot to choose from. Just edit, upload and go!
We all know the current economic status is pretty poor. With the U.S. recession being the worst in decades, surprisingly this can mean good things if you are getting married. 
The average cost of a wedding is $22,000, which might be out of the price range for many couples. So how can you turn the money in your pocket into the wedding of your dreams? Jean Chatzky, author and financial planner featured on Oprah and Oprah & Friends XM radio, has a few tips to help manage your wedding money. 
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on their Wedding Day
Taking photographs is an essential (and obvious) element to every wedding. But not all photographs have to be traditional. 
There are many ways to make a wedding eco-friendly, but using nature as your main inspiration adds a very unique element of beauty. If you are having an outdoor wedding, use elements in your environment to enhance what you already are using. Here's an example: if you are going to use name plates to designate seating, and you are having a beach wedding, try using seashells to hold the name plates in place. You can even enlist your family and friends (especially children) to pick out the seashells, which can be a lot of fun and helpful for you. Look around and see what you can use that is both inexpensive and charming. 
Having a clear idea of where you want your money to go, saves time and effort in the long run. For example: if you want to splurge on your wedding dress, think about where you can cut back in other areas.
The bed is a big part of a marriage. Although rarely discussed, making sure you and your hubby sleep soundly together is an important part of keeping tension out of your marriage. If you haven't been placing much importance on sleep, it may be time that you changed things up. Here are some tips for ensuring you rest well.
1. Try to stick to a routine. Your body's circadian rhythms will run much more smoothly if you aren't always switching up your schedule.  Sure, staying out late is acceptable once in a while, but if you make a habit of it, you might always feel groggy.
2. Avoid distractions. If your pets keep you awake, don't allow them into the bed. If cars or other outside noise is what keeps you awake, you may want to invest in heavy blinds and a noise machine. If your partner keeps you awake, it may be time to invest some money in a larger bed.
3. Write in a journal. One of the leading causes of insomnia is stress and writing down what you're feeling can unload a lot of that anxious stress. Â
4. Sleep when you're ready. If you can't fall asleep after 30 minutes of trying, get out of bed and do something until you're sleepy.
5. Take sleeping pills as a last resort. If you or your partner truly have sleeping problems that can't be resolved by any natural measures, it may be time to talk to your doctor. Â
When planning a wedding, things would be a whole lot easier if you could just trust everyone involved in the wedding planning for their word. Unfortunately, I think we all know that trusting people can't always be this simple. When you're making contracts with your wedding vendor for your cake, it is essential that you make sure your contracts are put together well enough to save you trouble in the future. Â
Your cake vendor contract you make should include the following:
1. Deposit amount and due date.
2. Date, time, and location of your reception.
3. Your names and the name of the baker.
4. Payment balance amount and due date.
5. Compensation for no-show or cancellation by baker.
6. Requirements for cancellation by bride and groom.
7. Style of cake and number of tiers.
8. Flavors of cake layers, fillings, and icing.
9. Cake design and colors to be used.
10. Whether the cake will be delivered or picked up at the bakery.
11. Any special decorations.
12. If delivered, compensation for damage to cake during transport.
13. If picked up, a description of how the cake will be packaged. Â
If getting married is your goal, you're going to need to be proposed to, right? Wrong. Who says you can't be the one doing the proposing? As untraditional as it seems, I have a more than one lady-friend who has proposed to her boyfriend. And you know what? Each time, the boyfriend has said, 'yes'. Sometimes a guy is just too nervous to pop the question. Not proposing isn't always an indicator of a disinterest in marriage. If you're trying to figure out how to propose to your boyfriend, here are some tips:
1. Make sure you have conversations about marriage and commitment. You need to know that you two are on the same page on the subject matter. Â
2. If you're unsure of whether or not he'd be comfortable being proposed to, figure it out! Tell him a story of a woman who proposed to her husband and see how he reacts.
3. Ask his mom for his hand in marriage if you really are in the market for reversing tradition.
4. Pick a symbolic gift to propose to him with. Think of something that will be as meaningful to him as a ring would be to you.
5. Figure out the perfect way to propose! Scour the web for proposal ideas and make it happen!
If you're preparing vows for your wedding, you're probably wondering how you can make them sound natural. It's no accident that many wedding vows end up sounding generic. Sounding genuine during such an important speech in front of so many people is tough. Here are some tips for making your vows sound more natural:
1. Make it poetic, but not cheesy.
Finding inspiration in poetry is important and most certainly helpful when writing vows, but you want to maintain sincerity throughout anything poetic you say. Â
2. Make sure your words are binding.
All romanticism aside, the purpose of the vows is to verbally bind you to your partner. Make sure that you remember to mention that you're taking your partner as your spouse and you are committing to staying with your partner during your vows.
3. Don't make your vows too long.
Setting yourself up for a long speech is bad in a lot of ways. Not only will you be anxious about remembering all of the words, but you'll likely begin to bore those listening. The more you say, the less genuine each word becomes in many cases. Short and meaningful is always better in my opinion. Â
Wedding favors are an interesting component to the wedding. Traditionally, they are a part of the reception and paid for by the bride's family. However, these rules don't always apply. It's not unheard of for both parents to split the cost of the wedding 50/50, and the includes the cost of any wedding favors given out. Â
Regardless of who is paying for the favors, budgeting is important. Favors should be considered as part of the entire wedding budget, not something separate. Â
Think you don't have enough money to budget out wedding favors? Then don't. Wedding favors are absolutely optional and I have been to a handful of weddings that didn't include them-and it didn't even occur to me. Â
If you're on a tight budget, consider handmade items as favors if you're dead-set on having them. Items that can be cheaply made by hand can be more charming than most other wedding favors. Handmade soaps, potpourri, and candles can all suffice as wedding favors and work especially well if wrapped in a sheer cloth that matches the theme color of the wedding.
The most important thing to consider: Money should not be blown on wedding favors unless there is a surplus of money. The bride and groom as well as the guests will appreciate the wedding experience much more so if the money is spent on a good DJ or delicious food, for instance. Â
When you're planning your wedding, you think long and hard about who you want invited to that wedding. Most people understand that the wedding invitation is not necessarily extended to their loved ones. What a lot of people seem to have a hard time understanding is that their kids aren't always included in the invitation. While it would be nice if everyone could afford an on-site daycare for children present, the fact of the matter is that that is not a reality and children often times disrupt weddings. So how do you make it clear to your guests that their children are not invited to the wedding?
Traditionally, wedding invitations specifically request attendance by name. It's seen as rude to write something like 'No Children' on the invitations. A better idea is probably to spread the word among friends and family that the wedding will be one without children. Don't make exceptions for anyone. Offending guests who would have liked to have brought children isn't worth it. Â
If a guest brings uninvited children anyway, don't turn them away. Try your hardest to make the wedding a happy occasion and accommodate the children however you can.
Every woman dreams of having beautiful flowers at her wedding. Whether she hopes to have them ornamenting the entire wedding venue or simply in her hands, it's safe to say that flowers are a pretty essential part of a wedding. But flowers can most certainly add up money wise. If you're having trouble knowing which kinds of flowers you should pick to work with at your wedding, this list below of the the top 10 least expensive flowers might interest you. Basing your decorations upon these flowers instead of other standard wedding flowers will save you money in the long run. Â
1. Alstroemeria Lily
2. Baby's breath
3. Carnation
4. Chrysanthemum
5. Daisy
6. Freesia
7. Gladiolus
8. Queen Anne's Lace
9. Sunflower
10. Sweet William
Once you pick the flowers you'd like to use, make sure you use them wisely. Â Keep them placed in highly visible areas and don't overdo it if you don't need to. Â
It's not like I have to tell you how important a wedding dress is to a bride. The wedding dress is the single most thought about dress in most married women's lives. Not only is it expensive in many cases and elegant, but it also carries sentimental weight that most dresses can't even touch. Yet, for whatever reason, most brides store their dresses away poorly after their weddings and leave them susceptible to dust and unnecessary damage. If you care about your dress, you should be concerned with preserving it. Â
Tips for preserving your wedding dress:
1. Have the dress treated professionally. Â
There are cleaning services that can and will prepare your dress for storage so that it can retain its color and condition. Make sure that you find an establishment that is reputable...after all, you don't want to leave your dress with just anyone, right?
2. Store it correctly.
Once your dress has been cleaned for storage, it's just as important that it is stored properly. It should be wrapped in acid-free tissue paper to minimize creasing. Avoid using cardboard. Carefully fold the gown and pack it away. Many places offer the above steps as part of their storage-preparation process, so if this sounds like a task you don't want to take on, try to find a cleaner who will also manage the actual storing of the dress.
3. Store it in the right kind of place.
The storage box should ideally be placed somewhere cool and well-ventilated. A dry closet or under the bed are safe bets. You want to make sure it is out of the way of heat, light, and humidity. Â
It may also be in your best interest to refold the gown every year or two as to avoid any permanent creasing. Â
If you're going to put so much thought into which wedding dress to buy and wear, you should make it last, right?
Affording a honeymoon while on a budget can be stressful. Not every couple gets a honeymoon as a gift , unfortunately. The good new is that there are romantic options for honeymoons that won't break your bank. Here are some tips for making it happen:
Set aside money.
Set aside money for your honeymoon when you're making all of your wedding budget calculations. This way you'll have a base to work with for budgeting the trip.
Stay in your country.
Leaving your country will make for tremendous additional expenses in most cases. Find a beautiful destination spot in your own country and I can nearly guarantee that you'll be saving money.
Road trip it!
Flying is expensive. If you choose a destination that you can drive to, you'll save money (as long as gas prices stay down). Plus, a road trip can be a great way to bond with your partner.
Think about parks.
There are beautiful parks everywhere in this world, especially in the U.S.A. Many of them offer dirt-cheap camping and if you and your fiance are nature lovers, this could be a great way to vacation for next to nothing.
Honeymooning doesn't have to put you in debt. In fact, I would say it's not worth it if it does. How can you truly relax if you're spending money you don't have? Do the research and make sure you plan a honeymoon that you can afford. Â
Trying to think of the perfect date for you and your hubby before the big day? Of course you are-or should be! Finding time to bond with your groom-to-be once all of the kinks of wedding planning are out of the way is important. It's a time to relax and support each other in the big decision that you're about to make. Â
So what kind of date is appropriate for the pre-wedding date?
I suggest an intimate one.
Think of something cozy that can't be interrupted by others. The last thing you need on the last date before becoming husband and wife is a terrible experience out on the town because of factors you can't control. Try to think of something that will primarily only involve you two. Something as simple as dinner and a movie at home can really suffice for relaxation and understanding during this confusion pre-wedding period. A long walk through a park, town, or even a trek back to your favorite hiking trail would also be perfect. Â
This date should be a calm night for you both; a chance to celebrate the choice you're making and remind yourselves of how in love you are and why you've decided to marry each other. Â
If you're ready to find the perfect diamond, you probably already know that you're going to have to spend a lot of time researching. While this may not be a mystery at all, how to go about doing this research can certainly be mind-boggling.
Not sure where to start? Here are some tips. Â
Know Your Budget
Sure, we all wish we could have P-Diddy's budget for diamonds, but the fact of the matter is that most of us don't (and god bless your heart if you do). What you need to do instead is find a way to pinpoint the finest diamond that your budget can afford. The price of a diamond is going to depend on the combination it has of the four Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat. The good news? Diamonds don't depreciate, so your investment will be lasting.
Know The Facts
Most couples tend to spend around $2,000 on a diamond engagement ring. However, few of them are educated in the four Cs. Make sure that you know all about these diamond characteristics before you make your purchase. Â
Know Your Style
The style of a diamond should certainly express your personality. After all, there are so many different styles of diamonds to choose from, you should be able to find something that you truly connect with. Make sure the ring is tried on before purchase.
Note to grooms to be: You may not want to be quick to buy a ring. Consider proposing without a ring, all romance aside. Lets face it, most women can pick items like jewelry out for themselves much better than you can. You don't want to spend loads of time trying to find the perfect ring and then be wrong, do you?
Also:
*Buy from only reputable jewelers!Â
*Get the ring appraised to verify all facts on your bill of sale. Â
Getting a wedding dress to fit you perfectly is crucial, but that doesn't make it easy, per se. Some women struggle with finding their perfect dress for the big day and a lot of that struggle comes down to not know what to look for. Â
Questions to keep in mind:
1. What kind of body shape do you have? Â
2. What kind of fabrics work best for you?
3. What kind of colors work best for you?
4. What are your favorite current styles?
5. Do you have a trustworthy friend who you can bring shopping with you?
Knowing the answers to the questions above will help to steer you in the right direction when searching for the perfect dress. Once you start narrowing down your choices, there are still important things to keep in mind and rules to follow.
1. Wear the shoes and undergarments you plan on wearing on the big day
2. Take a picture of you in the dress-this always helps!
3. Bring the jewelry you plan on wearing.
You're going to want to schedule several fittings. Most brides-to-be have at least three fittings. The first fitting is when you figure out what needs to be adjusted with the dress. The second fitting is all about making sure that the adjustments have been made correctly. The third fitting should be when you clear up all kinks with the dress and bring your mother or maid of honor with you (or whoever will be helping you get dressed on the wedding day) so that she can make sure she understands the dress fully.
The most important thing you can do in a fitting:Â Speak up.
If something seems uncomfortable or wrong in any way, say something! You'll regret it later if you don't. Â
Want to make sure only crowd favorites are played at your wedding reception? Of course you do. Who wants songs playing that no one wants to hear?! The celebration of your wedding is important and since music plays a huge role in any party, you should be concerned with making sure your reception plays all of the hits. Â
This list below, by no means, includes all of the best wedding reception songs, but it certainly will help to get you started. Â
1. YMCA-Village People
2. Shout- Otis Day & The Nights
3. Love Shack- B-52's
4. Billy Jean- Michael Jackson
5. Macarena- Los Del Rio
6. Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison
7. Electric Slide- Marcia Griffiths
8. Ice, Ice Baby- Vanilla Ice
9. Vogue- Madonna
10. Hey Ya!- Outkast
11. Humpty Dance- Digital Underground
12. Push It- Salt 'n Pepa
13. Pump Up The Jam- Technotronic
14. Bust A Move- Young MC
15. You Really Got me- The Kinks
16. Great Balls Of Fire- Jerry Lee Lewis
17. I Can't Help Falling In Love With You- Elvis Presley
18. Twist & Shout- The Beatles
19. White Wedding- Billy Idol
20. Footloose- Kenny Loggins
21. You Shook Me All Night Long- AC/DC
22. Walk This Way- Aerosmith
23. Tainted Love- Soft Cell
24. I Love Rock n' Roll- Joan Jett
25. My Sharona- Knack
26. I Can't Get No- Rolling Stones
27. Ain't No Mountain High Enough- Marvin Gaye
28. Zoot Suit Riot- Brian Setzer Orchestra
29. Someone To Watch Over Me- Ella Fitzgerald
30. At Last- Etta James
Forget fashion catastrophes and in-law awkwardness. One of the biggest wedding-related fears seems to consistently be the toast-for those giving the toast, of course. Speaking under pressure isn't easy for everyone (it very well may not be easy for ANYone), and a speech like a toast requires a bit of forethought. If you're gearing up to give the perfect wedding toast, here are some tips that might do you well to look over before standing up to put in your two cents.
-First thing is first, make sure the glasses are all full before giving the toast.
-Raise your glass with your right hand, straight from the right shoulder. Â (When the tradition of toasting first began, extending the hand straight from the shoulder was important because it verified to guests that you were coming in peace and not concealing weapons.)
-Toasts should never be made with tea, coffee, or water. Â Wine, champagne, or non-alcoholic similar beverages are accepted instead. Â
-The toasting beverage should be served to the bride first, then the groom, then the maid of honor, then the parents, then the best man.
-The toast should end with some sort of indication to the guests of what to say. Example, "Lets toast to the love of Mary and Joseph. Mary and Joseph!"
-If you are the person receiving a toast, do not stand, raise your glass, or sip your drink. You simply smile and nod.
Toasting doesn't have to be a huge production, but skipping over the important traditional aspects of the toast can cause uneasiness for those involved. Base your toast off of these ground rules and you should be fine!
One of the best ways to ensure that your bridesmaids are picture perfect on your wedding day is to choose dresses that best suit their body types. First, you need to look at your bridal party objectively, and evaluate their body shapes honestly so that you can choose dresses that will look great on them and they will feel comfortable wearing.
These are your friends, so please be kind. It is not a good idea to ask anyone to lose weight - It's insulting and never works anyway.
Next, it is important to be realistic in choosing your bridesmaid dresses. You may have envisioned your entire wedding from the time you were five years old, including the dresses your bridesmaids would wear. I know I did. But, fast forward twenty years, and the blue Cinderella ball gown I had wanted for my bridesmaids has lost some of its luster - and I don't think my cousins and my sister-in-law would have appreciated it. (They wore Dessy style 2044 and loved it!)
Your bridesmaids will look a lot less like Cinderella's ugly step sisters and will be eternally grateful to you if you remain open-minded when shopping for bridesmaid dresses.
For instance, if most of your bridesmaids have voluptuous figures, it is probably best to not choose a revealing sheath that shows off every body flaw. You will likely have better luck with something a little more forgiving, like an empire waist or an A-line silhouette.
Shopping for your bridesmaid dresses is pretty much the same as shopping for your wedding dress. There are certain styles, necklines, cuts and silhouettes that are more flattering and forgiving than others.
Dessy.com is a great place to start searching for your bridesmaid dresses. They offer a search function that allows you to browse and search all Dessy bridesmaid dresses, After Six bridesmaid dresses, Alfred Sung bridesmaid dresses and Lela Rose bridesmaid dresses. Â You can search by color, dress length, neckline, silhouette, sleeve length, fabric and designer. You can find the search function at the following link: http://www.dessy.com/bridesmaid-dresses/
Dessy.com makes it so easy to choose the perfect bridesmaid dresses!
I also highly recommend shopping with one helpful, resilient bridesmaid to start. Your maid-of-honor should be perfect for this. Have her try on a multitude of dresses in different silhouettes, fabrics and necklines. This will help you immensely in determining what will work for your bridal party. You may even want to try a few on yourself. It can't hurt to put yourself in your bridesmaids' shoes when shopping for their dresses.
Ultimately, your wedding day is one of the most important and significant days of your life. As a woman who just recently celebrated her wedding, I understand the stress of planning your perfect day. If you follow the above guidelines when you are shopping for bridesmaid dresses, you can, at least, eliminate the stress and headaches of choosing the right dresses and you'll keep your bridesmaids happy too!
My bridesmaids wore Dessy Style 2044 in Mink with matching shawls:
Sue & Gabe:
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Lizzy & Andy:
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Daniela: My MOH with Madi and Jordan
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Lizzy:
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Sue:
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Ben & Me:
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If you're a fan of colors, like I am, you might be sort of lost in a rainbow world when it comes to picking colors for your wedding theme. It's important not to overdo it when it comes to colors of dresses and other fashion items at a wedding. But how do you know which direction to walk in with your coloring when you're in love with colors in general?
It can be tough, but the important thing is to pick a theme and stay focused.
Confused about where to start with color themes?
Here are some items you should consider color coordinating together:
The Clothing: Everything from the men's vests to the flower girl's hair ribbons can be color coordinated. Make sure you think about the small details! They make all the difference.
Flowers & Other Decorations: Luckily for all of us, flowers come in just about every shade. Explore different types of native and exotic flowers to find the ones that match your color theme the best and do the same with all your other decorations, too.
Wedding Cake: Your cake can most certainly be iced in a way that will help it fit your color theme. Regardless of the cake's color, you can make it whatever flavor you want, so don't let a flavor preference stop you from doing this!
(photo from: Getty Images)
If you have a pet, you probably adore your pet. The same thing probably applies to your partner. Dealing with where to put your pet(s) on the big day can certainly be a point of stress. On one hand, it might seem as though bringing your pet to the wedding is absolutely taboo and not acceptable because of the possible damage a pet could cause to a venue, clothing, guests, etc.
But, and this may come to your surprise, pets are being incorporated into weddings more and more these days.
It makes sense though, right? If your dog is part of your life (and family), it makes sense that you would want the dog to be present during the wedding. A common trend lately is to let the ring bearer take care of the dog. The dog usually is dressed up with the pillow tied around his neck and the ring secured into the pillow. Most dogs are totally able to do this - even under pressure!
Some churches and other venues will not be okay with this. Make sure that you check beforehand and if you need to, have an outdoor wedding to include your pet!
The key to any great wedding often seems to be a well executed wedding rehearsal. If you're considering skipping your wedding rehearsal, I would certainly advise against this. Rehearsals help to put everything in tact for the ceremony and loosen a lot of nerves that the participants may be having.
If you're planning your wedding rehearsal, you probably have a few questions. Here are some tips:
1. Only invite your immediate family and the participants to the wedding rehearsal. The wedding ceremony should be kept sacred for everyone else who will be attending.
2. Don't freak out. If something doesn't go the way you want it to during the rehearsal, don't assume that it will be as messy during the actual ceremony.
3. Keep your focus. The whole point of the wedding is to celebrate your love for your partner. Don't let the details distract you too much.
4. Socialize. Your wedding rehearsal is a great way to socialize with your closest family members. You may not have a chance to talk to them all as in depth on the day of the actual ceremony.
5. Don't act too crazy! Don't jeopardize the things you have worked hard on, your appearance, your car, etc. for the sake of having a crazy wedding rehearsal. Keep it calm and collected and go all out after the actual wedding.
If you're stressing out about a wedding cake for an upcoming wedding, you should know that you are not the only person in the history of weddings who has stressed out about this. In fact, there are probably a lot of people worrying about the same thing that you're worrying about: the cake.
Not only is it complicated to try to find an affordable, delicious, and beautiful cake, but trying to imagine how messy things get when the cake cutting begins is another bit of anxiety to throw fuel on the fire. There is, however, a simple solution to the stress that tends to accompany wedding cakes.
The cupcake wedding cake.
Not only are cupcake wedding cakes something that you can make on your own if you're in the business of making your own wedding cake, but they make the cake experience easier on the guests, too.
Cupcake wedding cakes can be just as colorful, unique, and fancy as regular wedding cakes. With a cupcake wedding cake, however, you don't have to cut slices of a cake at the reception. Instead, everyone can just take the individual cupcakes from the cake. This makes it all much easier, right? Above is a picture of a cupcake wedding cake, and if this sparks your interest, I encourage you to do some research on these sorts of cakes. They're brilliant!
Wedding themes are incredibly popular. After all, what better way is there for you to choose a distinct group of colors or type of decoration than to choose a specific theme? A lot of people have come to this same conclusion over time and have decided to have themed weddings.
If you're one of those people helping to plan a wedding, you might be wondering exactly what kind of themes you should be considering. Here are some themes that have proven to be popular that you might want to take some hints from.
1. Beach.
Beach weddings are popular. From having the ceremony on the actual beach to decorating the tables at the reception with things like shells and starfish, beach wedding themes provide lots of room for creativity.
2. Floral.
Some people make their entire wedding themes floral. They pick a few different types of flowers and colors and go from there. Floral weddings can be incredibly beautiful if done correctly.
3. Autumn.
Autumn weddings are also popular. Intertwining autumn colors and objects into a wedding makes it easier to plan. From colored leaves decorating the aisle to pumpkin flavored cake, this theme can definitely be a winner.
4. Gothic/Medieval.
A lot of girls dream of being a princess in a wedding one day and choosing a gothic/medieval wedding theme is a sure way to capture the royal mood.
Of course there are plenty of other themes and some are much more specific than these. The idea, however, is to bring a cohesive idea to the table and run with it. Plus it makes the whole process a lot easier if you only have a few colors to work with.
As a bridesmaid or a maid of honor at a wedding, your ultimate objective in the wedding and the wedding planning should be to help the bride in every way possible. You'd be surprised how many women forget their important role and focus more on themselves during the wedding process than they do the bride. It's an easy trap to fall into, but it's one that you should try to get out of immediately should you find yourself falling into it. In order to help keep your attention on the bride, here are some ways in which you can really help the bride out before the wedding and on the wedding day in order to be a bigger help than even she may have expected you to be.
1. Address and mail all invitations.
2. Handle all of the phone calls involved in the planning.
3. Take her to a beauty salon/spa before the wedding.
4. Make yourself known to the guests so they can ask you the questions that they shouldn't be asking the bride.
5. Help out the family. If the family knows they can depend on you for answers, the bride won't be so stressed out.
6. Find out what kind of music she wants and book it yourself. Have all dealings with the musicians be through you.
7. Arrange for the wedding day transportation. This includes to the airport for the honeymoon.
8. Speaking of honeymoon, consider helping the bride pack for the getaway.
9. Give the groom tips on how to calm down or flatter the bride. Trust me, he doesn't always know.
10. Help to make sure things run on time. If something is running late, you should be the one to go the extra mile and talk to the priest, managers of the venue, DJ, etc.
Certain topics at weddings should be avoided at all costs. There's absolutely nothing that you can do to make sure that your wedding runs as smoothly and flawlessly as you would like to think that it can, but there are certainly things that you can do to help prevent big blowouts. One of those things is to make sure you (and your best friends and family members) steer the conversations on the big day away from topics that can be controversial. A lot of times, it can be perceived as rude to suddenly change the topic of a conversation at hand, but when it comes down to weddings, I beg to differ. It's totally okay to change the topic of conversation at a wedding if the topic is bound to stir an argument. Nothing is more unwanted at a wedding than an argument, so here are some topics to try to avoid at all costs.
1. Religion
2. Politics
3. Sex
4. Money
5. Past Arguments
6. Diet Choices
7. Lifestyle Choices
Avoid these 7 deadly conversation topics, and you should be a lot more clear on your path toward a happy wedding for all.
I think a lot of girls dream of having a huge wedding one day. They swell with ideas of what their dress will look like. They grow ecstatic just thinking of what kind of flowers they'll have ornament the wedding aisle and they start planning the sort of meal they want served at their reception long before it's even remotely appropriate. For a lot of girls, part of this elaborate fantasy is also the idea of a huge crowd of people at the wedding. After all, the more the merrier, right? Well, you could be wrong about this.
Before deciding to invite everyone you have ever known to your wedding, here are some things you should consider about having a gigantic wedding.
More people simply cost more money. This isn't just about the extra food and drinks. This is also about the space. If you have a ton of people, you're going to have to rent out a larger space for your wedding and reception and bigger spaces typically cost more money.
More potential for problems. The more people you invite to your wedding, the more you need to be prepared for uncalled for drama and other unforeseeable issues. Each person comes to a wedding equipped with their own share of potential accidents-keep that in mind.
Less time for your close family and friends. The more people you have to attend to at your wedding, the less chance there is that you'll have the opportunity to spend any quality time with those who you are closest with.
So ask yourself before you start mailing off hundreds of invitations, do you really need a huge wedding?
Getting softer hair is a goal that many ladies have. Soft hair is easy to manage and looks great, too. But how do you get soft hair on your own? A simple answer, of course, could be to use a lot more product. From excess conditioner to certain mousses, products can make your hair a lot softer than you'd probably think. Here are some products that you probably have around your house that you can use in your hair in order to make it softer. The best part? They're totally natural and don't involve loads of chemicals that could damage your hair in the end.
1. Eggs.
Eggs have long been a great source of vitamins for human hair and leaving them in your hair for ten minutes or so will work as a conditioner.
2. Olive Oil.
You don't need much olive oil in your hair in order to see a significant difference. Just a teaspoon or two will soften your hair almost instantly.
3. Avocado/Banana.
There's this conditioner I make for myself that is really simple: 1 avocado mashed with 1 banana. I use a blender and add just a little bit of water. Leaving this in your hair for about ten minutes will not only make it softer, but it will also make it smell great.
Having soft hair on your wedding day is not impossible. However, trying to achieve softness can really be complicated if you use more chemicals than your hair is used to. Try natural ingredients instead!
Getting your hair cut before a wedding can certainly seem like a big event. In fact, I'd go as far to say that it is. You have an array of things to consider when making a move like this and doing one thing the wrong way could truly be a disaster. Here are some tips for cutting your hair before your upcoming wedding.
1. Don't go too bold.
Sure, you want people to notice that you've got a different kind of hairstyle, but if you do something too crazy, you might be sorry. What do I mean by crazy? For instance, if you've had long hair your whole life, don't get a buzz cut before the wedding.
2. Consider your face shape.
A lot of girls see haircuts on celebrities and decide that a certain hairstyle is for them when it is not. You have to look at the shape of a face in determining the appropriate haircut.
3. Make it manageable.
The last thing you want to do before a wedding is get a complicated cut. You want something that is going to look good without effort, right?
There are just some things to consider, keep them in mind!
Sometimes all you really need in order to help straighten out your mind is a checklist. Checklists actually help me in most areas of my life. I plan to help you with checklists for all aspects of your wedding on here. I'll start with this checklist below for your wedding rehearsal. Here are all of the areas you'll probably want to make sure you have covered before you start the wedding rehearsal:
1. Venue
2. Gifts
3. Gifts for each other
4. Dishes
5. Tables/Chairs
6. Decorations
7. Bar
8. Center pieces
9. Flowers
10. Music
11. Coat Check
12. Custodian
13. Teapot
14. Sound System
15. Parking
16. Glasses
17. Menu
18. Food
19. Permit for space
20. Limo
Whether to include an open bar or a cash bar at your wedding can be a tough call. You want to make sure that all of your guests are happy and have a great time at the wedding. However, you don't want to go way beyond your budget just to make people happy. If you're torn between these two types of bar, here are some things that you should consider:
1. Cash bars are going to cost you a lot less money in the end, but sometimes they seem tacky to guests.
2. Open bars are seen as a nice gesture, but they're very expensive because they include everything.
3. Open bars may lead to a little bit more of rowdy behavior at your wedding since they are, after all, free and encourage drinking more alcohol than usual.
4. If you're going to have a cash bar, you should make sure that you mention it on your invitations so that guests can expect to pay for the alcohol.
At the end of the day, do whatever is best for you!
If you're certain that you've found the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with and you're now ready to marry that person, the next step is to let the people who you care about in your life know that you plan on bringing this person into your family and permanently into your social circle. This can be a huge announcement to make and therefore it should be worded carefully and though out thoroughly before hand. Here are some tips for your announcement:
1. Make a list of who needs to know.
2. Order printed announcements.
3. Make sure to include you and your spouse's last names and the date.
4. These cards are a way to let people know your new address and name, if it changed.
5. Be happy! Shout it to the hills. Even if you can't invite everyone to the wedding, tell everyone in your life about the new life you're starting!
A lot of engaged couples look forward to their wedding reception. With all tradition and formality aside, the wedding reception is the place and time where a couple can really mingle with their friends and family and truly celebrate their union freely. However, in the midst of so much excitement, many couple forget to ask the most important questions when they're viewing possible reception locations.
Here are some questions that you should always ask before officially deciding a wedding reception location:
1. Ask about the rental fee.
Does it include everything? Will there be any additional charges at all? For instance, will you be charged overtime fees, tax, or gratuities?
2. Ask for the details to be in writing.
No matter how much you trust a person's word, you should always get things like this in writing. All details about the date, time, prices, and descriptions of the services provided should be clearly stated in writing.
3. How much will the down payment be?
A lot of venues and other sites will require that you pay a deposit of some sort. Make sure that you know exactly how much this deposit is and be sure that you can afford it.
4. Ask about other nights of the week.
Saturdays are always going to be the most expensive when it comes down to renting any place recreationally. If your budget is tight, ask about the prices for a Monday evening or Sunday afternoon just in case.
Don't let your excitement over your big party ruin your party in the end. Cover your bases!
Wanting your hair to be fuller than usual for the big day is not at all an unrealistic desire. After all, thin and flimsy hair requires much more upkeep than hair with volume and thickness. Here are some tricks for getting your hair thicker for your wedding day.
1. Blow dry with a brush. Believe it or not, it always helps.
2. Use those thickening gels and sprays. You'd be amazed at what they can do.
3. Don't use conditioner. Wait until you see the difference this makes.
4. Have your hair cut in layers. Layers have a way with working wonders.
5. Braid the bottom layers of your hair. This will crimp it and force the rest of your hair to sit out farther from your head.
At the end of the day, you can't change your natural hair texture, but you can definitely manipulate it. Try it!
If you're planning a wedding and trying to make sure that every aspect of it is color-coordinated, rest assured in knowing that you're not the first person to take on a task like this. It can be stressful to try to find everything you need for the wedding in a color that will match your scheme, but believe me, it is doable. The first thing you need to do, however, is pick out your colors!
Here are some tips if you're unsure of the colors you'd like to use:
1. Think about the venue. If you're venue has a certain color of walls or carpet that stand out, you should consider this before picking a color scheme that will clash with the actual venue.
2. Know exactly what kind of colors you're working with. Saying 'green' just isn't going to cut it-there are way too many shades of each color! Make sure you know specifically what colors you're working with so that you don't end up purchasing things that are in the wrong color.
3. Think about where you'll be using the color. It's quite popular to use color in the invitations, wedding cake, flowers, and favors. Of course you can think outside the box with this, but plan on using your colors here first and foremost.
Make sure you pick colors you love! Have fun!
If you're a girl about to get hitched to the man you love, you may be worried about this one little thing: The Bachelor Party. Sure, you trust your man and you trust his friends, but you are still a little bit worried. You're worried that he and his friends might do something on the night of the party that contradicts the morals that the two of you hold dear. You're worried that he may do something that will make you question whether or not you even know him at all and whether or not he loves you at all. If you're worried, here are some tips I have:
1. Focus on your Bachelorette Party. If you're worried that your man is going to go overboard during his party, stop focusing on him! Focus on how much fun you and your girlfriends are going to have on your night out. Be bold and courageous with what you do and make sure you're excited about it so you don't have to spend your time thinking about his party.
2. Trust him. Even if your man ends up drinking too much or having dancers at a party, that doesn't mean he doesn't love you and it doesn't undermine his devotion to you. Write off the whole night as a guy's thing and be done with it.
3. You're about to be his wife. Remind yourself of that. No matter how crazy he gets during this one night, he's still marrying you the next day.
When you're putting together a menu for a wedding reception meal, you've got a lot of things to think about. From the main courses to special dietary needs of your guests, your mind is likely weighed down with stress over the subject matter. The key is to break the meal down and think about it piece by piece.
Here are some tips for sides for the meal to get you started. These sides tend to appeal to an array of people and should help you narrow down your choices.
Roasted Potatoes
Asparagus
String Beans
Peppers
Herb Rice
Keep your sides healthy and delicious. Everyone who wants to indulge in something decadent will have a great time with the cake!
You know the story. The bride at the wedding throw the flower bouquet. The girl who catches the bouquet is the next girl who will be married. It's an exciting tradition. But..are there any rules? There don't seem to be any. But I do have some tips if you want to catch the bouquet at an upcoming wedding:
1. Change you shoes. Make sure that you have shoes that are comfortable. This means changing out of heels before the flower throw.
2. Size down your competitors. Notice the girls who aren't wearing marriage or engagement rings.
3. Watch the bride to make sure that you don't miss her call for the bouquet toss.
4. Eye down the bouquet and when you catch it, don't let go!
You should be able to secure the bouquet in your hands in no time if you follow these rules. It also may not hurt to encourage the alcohol consumption of your competitors.
Good luck!
If you want to get married outside of your own country, you are not alone. Lots of people dream about weddings in Italy, on beaches in Hawaii and the Bahamas...the list goes on. Your dream place could easily not be in your own country. However, the idea of getting married outside of your own country might seem like an unthinkable difficulty. How do you even begin to plan something like this?
Well, if you're thinking of getting married outside of your own country, here are some things to consider:
1. Can you afford the expenses? You have to consider accommodations, airfare, etc.
2. Are you really wedding to get married away from home? This could easily mean that some of your closest friends and family can't make the wedding.
3. Do you have the time to plan this? You can count on a wedding abroad taking more time to plan than a wedding in your own town.
4. Do you have the documents you're going to need? This includes passports, birth certificates, divorce papers & death certificates (if you were previously married), immunization records, parental consent letters (depending on how young you and your partner are), background checks, and embassy consent letters.
5. Plan on having a wedding ceremony when you get back home, too. There will, undoubtedly, be people who want to celebrate with you, but couldn't make it abroad.
Hiring a live singer or band for your wedding is probably going to be part of your wedding planning process. After all, who doesn't like some good live music? Live music at weddings has long been part of the wedding tradition. You may know of a band through word of mouth, your social circle, your family, or perhaps a local or online service. No matter how you find out about live music for your wedding, you're probably going to wonder how much you should pay the musician(s).
The answer is that there is no set answer. For instance, if you want to figure out a way to hire a relatively famous singer for your wedding, you can expect to be paying upwards of $20,000 for the night. If you're hiring talented musicians who are not famous, however, the going rate usually starts around $200.
There are some things you should consider when hiring live music:
-How long will the music last?
-When can the musicians take breaks?
-What are the dimensions of the stage?
-What kind of equipment is already at the venue?
-Which songs would you definitely like to hear?
-How would you like the musicians to dress?
-Is there anything you'd like for them to avoid? (ie, drinking, cursing)
-Will the musicians receive dinner with everyone else?
-Can you afford to tip the musicians?
-Can you provide any guarantee in case something happens to their equipment?
These are just a few things to consider. At the end of the day, live music is fun and it shouldn't stress you out. Have fun and be generous with the musicians! It's difficult for musicians to make steady money in a lot of cases...keep that in mind!
If you're planning a wedding, wedding favors might be one of the last things on your mind. After all, you've got a lot of other things to worry about, right? There are the invitations, the venue, the food....there are so many other things that come before considering what kind of wedding favors you would like to leave out for your guests. Eventually, however, things will calm down and you'll want to find the perfect wedding favors for your guests. When that time does come, here are some things to consider:
1. What is your budget? You want to find something that is meaningful but also affordable.
2. Think in bulk. Some things are simply cheaper in bulk. For instance, tea light candles are cheaper in bulk if a candle and holder are part of your gift set.
3. Think about what you represent as a couple. What is your personality as a couple? If the two of you are funny, you might want to consider having a humorous wedding favor.
4. Consider the environment. Being eco-friendly is more popular than ever these days. If you give out something homemade or 2nd hand, discussing with your friends how your wedding favor is eco-friendly will impress them.
5. Speaking of eco-friendly, seeds always make such a wonderful gift. The most beautiful thing you can give another person is life.
Organic food has progressively become more important in societies everywhere. Whether you're in Europe, America, Asia, or anywhere else, it's becoming easier to find organic food than it has been in the last century. Organic weddings, in turn, are becoming a hit. From wearing only fabrics made with organic materials to making sure the wine is organic, people have truly been stepping out to be healthier even in their weddings lately. If you're planning an organic wedding, you're definitely going to be considering the kind of food that you'll serve at your reception. Organic meals can seem difficult to plan, but they don't have to be! (Especially not if you happen to know a farmer!)
Here are some tips to help make your organic menu become reality:
1. Buy local. Local goods of all kinds are typically much more organic than the kinds of goods that you would buy at a large chain. On top of that, you're also being green by supporting local businesses because you're not demanding the shipping of materials from far distances.
2. Remember that eating organic does not mean eating vegetarian. They are two totally different things. Organic food is just grown naturally. For example, free-range beef is organic because the cows that were farmed were not filled with chemicals.
3. Buying an organic wedding cake can be easy if you buy local. You'd be surprised at how many of your local bakeries use ingredients from your local farmers.
If you're planning a wedding, you probably already know all about stress. The idea of somehow connecting all of the dots in your mind and have them draw out a well-executed event can be intimidating. You might feel as though you need the assistance of others (which you very well may). You may feel as though you don't have the funds or the creativity to plan the kind of wedding that you want to have. But you shouldn't worry. If so many other people across the world can handle this every year, you can too! Here are some tips to make your wedding planning go just a bit more smoothly if you're struggling:
-Create an agenda. Whether this is online or in a big notebook doesn't really make a difference, but you need one place to store all of your thoughts on the many aspects of your wedding.
-Know your budget. Plan out exactly how much money you can spare on this wedding and plan on using about 10%-15% less than that just to be safe. This way you'll have extra money in case of an emergency.
-Have a calendar. You'll need a calendar that you can constantly update just for the wedding. This way you can plan out each precise detailed part of the planning and not miss a beat.
-Know your floor plan. You have to know and understand the kind of space you're working with in order to plan the wedding well. How can you order a certain amount of flowers if you're not sure how large or small the space is that you're using?
For some people, myself included, music is a huge part of life. In my case, music provides a soundtrack to virtually all of my daily activities. I work with music on. I fall asleep with music on. I travel with music on. You get the point. Needless to say, music is also a large part of a wedding. Not only does it set a mood more perfectly than any decoration (in my opinion), but music also can act as a very personal self expression tool for you and your mate. So how do you choose music for this event that is so special?
1. Keep yourselves in mind. You do want something that really represents you and your mate. Think back to songs that have played during your most intimate moments. Think about the kind of music that has helped the two of you develop into the people you are today.
2. Remember that music DOES affect mood. This fact has been proven in countless scientific studies. Music absolutely does affect the mood of the listener. With that said, you might want to steer away from songs with sad or angry tones, even if they do remind you and your mate of a good memory.
3. Keep your guests in mind. Music is a very touchy issue for a lot of people. Many people are very particular about the kind of music that they want to hear and trying to appeal to tons of ears at once can be very difficult. You can, however, make a bunch of people happy by choosing music that is soothing and more or less 'beautiful' and eliminating any songs with curse words.
4. Don't forget that there's a difference between the reception and the ceremony. The kind of music that you would play during a ceremony, particularly if it's being held in a church, should be different than the kind of music held at a reception. Ceremony music should be much more elegant and respectful of the union of marriage while reception music is more celebratory and usually played by a DJ.
At the end of the day, it is your wedding. Choose whatever music you want. However, you should always remember that the music you pick will be engraved in the memory of the wedding forever.
It doesn't quite seem fair. Some people are so articulate and so gifted with words while other people struggle just to get one sentimental word out. This is only a slight problem with relationships pre-marriage. It's a problem that shows up on the occasional family speech (announcing your engagement, for example) and it shows up when you're trying to write out cards. More or less, the fact that you might not be able to speak your mind (and heart) as well as you wish you could to your lover is never as highlighted as it is on your wedding day.
On your wedding day, however, you're really put on the spot. Not only do you have to figure out a way to summarize your love and devotion for your partner in your vows, but you also have to read these thoughts and feeling out loud to your family, friends, and a bunch of people that might as well be perfect strangers to you. It can, clearly, be kind of intense.
If you're one of those people who knows how you feel but isn't all that great at putting it into words, your wedding vow process is probably scaring you. Here are some tips to make your wedding vows meaningful and sincere:
1. Ask yourself some things. Why did you fall in love with your partner? What does marriage and devotion mean to you? How did you dream of your wedding day when you were little?
2. Connect your intro and outro. Connecting the themes in your beginning and end phrases will help to give your vows a concise binding and your audience will remember it, too.
3. Say what you mean. Sincerity in writing is more important than everything else. You can write out your vows precisely how you have been told you should write them out as per tradition and they could easily mean nothing because they lack honesty. Even if your voice quivers, even if you tear up...say what you mean and say it with passion.
Your lover is going to appreciate your vows no matter what. Don't let the idea of vows ruin your wedding for you. Just speak from your heart.
I'm sure you've already realized by this time that lighting can profoundly affect the mood and tone of a room. Think about the connections between lighting and mood that we have already been taught:
Dim/Soft lighting = intimacy. Candlelight dinners are supposed to be quiet and romantic.
Colored lighting=cool and sexy. Red, Yellow, Blue, Purple, you name it! Colored lighting has a way of presenting a cool and sexy vibe.
Bright lighting=organized and collected. Bright lights are at offices. Bright lights are at schools and hospitals. Bright lights, in a lot of ways, represent traditional organizations.
These are just a few things to keep in mind.
When you're planning your own wedding, lighting will be an important aspect of it. Think about your lighting carefully and never underestimate the power of the candle! However, if you do plan on using candles, make sure that you are very safe about them. The last thing that you're going to want is for your wedding to go up in smoke!
I'm sure you've already realized by this time that lighting can profoundly affect the mood and tone of a room. Think about the connections between lighting and mood that we have already been taught:
Dim/Soft lighting = intimacy. Candlelight dinners are supposed to be quiet and romantic.
Colored lighting=cool and sexy. Red, Yellow, Blue, Purple, you name it! Colored lighting has a way of presenting a cool and sexy vibe.
Bright lighting=organized and collected. Bright lights are at offices. Bright lights are at schools and hospitals. Bright lights, in a lot of ways, represent traditional organizations.
These are just a few things to keep in mind.
When you're planning your own wedding, lighting will be an important aspect of it. Think about your lighting carefully and never underestimate the power of the candle! However, if you do plan on using candles, make sure that you are very safe about them. The last thing that you're going to want is for your wedding to go up in smoke!
Recently, I discovered somewhat of a lifesaver online. It's a virtual salon. Lots of websites offer them, but many of them make you pay a fee in order to try on hair styles and hair colors. The Clairol website, however, doesn't ask you to do anything other than to register with their site. What you can do from there is absolutely amazing and it could really help you out in the long run when you're trying to decide exactly how you want to change your hair for the big day. You upload a picture of yourself and from there you can try on all sorts of hair styles, from short to long and straight to curly, and you can try them on in every color, too. This little tool on their website is so helpful that it might help you to avoid making a terrible hair decision for your wedding and help you to make a great decision. Check it out!
Lots of women out there love the idea of having a fresh new look by the time they arrive at the wedding on the big day. For many women, including myself, this often times means having a bright new hair color. However, not every woman is equipped with the experience of dying their hair at home. If you're one of these women and you're set on having a new color for the big day, here are some tips you should probably try to follow:
1. USE A SEMI-PERM/TEMPORARY
If you're not sure, try one of these less permanent hair colors. I just dyed my sister's hair yesterday with a semi-perm and she loves it! She was comfortable doing it finally because she knew that it would wash out eventually. It's really hard to mess up a semi-perm hair color as you can wash much of it out with some elbow grease if you don't like it.
2. DO THE TEST!
A lot of home hair dye kits suggest that you test just a swab of your hair first so that you can make sure you like the way that dye interacts with your natural color. They suggest this for a reason! It's important that you can gauge the actual look of the hair before the dye.
3. GO PRO
One way to be more sure of avoiding any mess ups with your hair before a big event would be to go pro. Granted, it cost a lot more money to get your hair dyed professionally than it does to do it yourself at home, but at least you can be sure, right?