Spice Up Your Wedding Decor

November 30th, 2008

If you are a bride who is looking to throw a wedding that no one will ever forget, you will find that one way to think about making your wedding stand out is to take a look at the wedding décor. When people think about your wedding, of course they are going to think about you marching down the aisle in your dress, but what are they going to think about the place where you got married? The decorations of the wedding are just as important an aspect of the event as anything else, so think about some fun things that you can do to really make things pop!

When you are looking at your wedding décor, think about all the things that are traditionally white, like tablecloths or tent covers, if you are getting married outside. While white is a great and bright color, you will find that it stains easily and that it is a bit standard, after all. Think about ordering decorations that are a little bit different from what you expect.

For instance, if you are looking at an autumnal wedding, why not design one that is a mix of shades of brown, gold, orange and red? If you are getting married at Christmas time, you may want something that is a wonderful dark green. Find a color scheme that really suits you, and don’t worry about what is traditional!

Putting your own personal stamp on your wedding is a great way to add some spice to it. Make it a day that no one will ever forget!

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Wedding Advice for Younger Brides

November 29th, 2008

If you are a younger bride, no matter where you are during your wedding preparations, you will find that you are being a little bit overwhelmed. For instance, you may find that you have older female relatives who are more than happy to handle everything for you, and who have decided opinions on what you should wear and what you should think about when you are getting married, and the truth is that this can wear you down quite quickly! Younger brides have it a bit tough when it comes to really establishing themselves at their wedding, so make sure that you think about what you need to do to make sure that your wedding stays your own.

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Another thing that you will find that you might be confronted with is the idea of needing to consider what sort of jewelry that you are going to wear. Not only is jewelry style something that you are going to have to consider, you should also think about what your relatives might be expecting when it comes to wearing heirloom pieces.

At the end of the day, you will find that the wedding jewelry that you are going to wear should be a very individual choice and that the choice should be yours. If you want to honor a relative by wearing their jewelry, by all means go ahead, but keep in mind the fact that you are also going to need to think about what your own personal tastes are.

It is certainly possible to find a wedding style that pleases both the bride and her mother. It is just that for younger brides, sometimes you have to work a bit harder to hold your ground and make sure that your wedding feels like your own.

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Metallic Accents for the Bridal Party

November 28th, 2008

If you are a bride who is searching for a bridal party that is absolutely not like anyone else’s, you will find that one great way to get this effect is to consider what sort of metallic accents might match your style. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you are going to be walking down the aisle in armor, but you will find that when you are looking for a great way to a get a little bit of shine on your wedding day, you will find doing it with some metallic accents can give you a terrifically unique look.

When you are in a place where you are thinking about where to start with metallic accents, why not start with the groomsmen? The groomsmen tend to be a little bit plain at a normal wedding party, but there is no reason for this to be so. Think about how handsome they will look with a lovely customized tie pin, or some silver or gold cuff links. Don’t be shy when it comes to getting them to shine, you will find that it is quite possible to get a great look going.

Then of course you come to the bridesmaids, and this is a terrific time to get that sparkle going! You might find that you like the idea of gold, and this is where you can find some lovely gold handbags or even a little bit of gold trim for the shoes. Remember that when it comes to metallic accents that a little can go a long way. Remember that you should always start small and build up, and that if you are looking to add more that you should do it slowly.

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Special Bridal Headbands

November 27th, 2008

So with the big day coming up a lot faster than you thought it would, you have already thought about what is going on your body and what is going on your feet, but have you thought about what you are going to be wearing when it comes to your head?

There are many different options out there when you are thinking about bridal headbands, but you will find that with just a little bit of time and thought that you can choose the one that is perfect for you. Keep some of the following points in mind when you are thinking about the special bridal headbands and consider what your own should be.

When you are looking at the special bridal headbands out there, you will find that you should first think about how you are going to be wearing your own hair. For instance, do you want your hair up? If your hair is going to be up, you will find that your headband will largely be more of a tiara affair, something that will fix itself firmly in your hair and not let go.

If you are going to be wearing your hair down, you will find that a good headband will be worth the money that you pay for it; you will still have lovely flowing locks, but you don’t have to worry about them falling down into your face or otherwise getting in your way.

Make sure that your headband is as beautiful as the rest of your bridal ensemble. Look for very special bridal hair jewelry that is handcrafted with Swarovksi crystals or freshwater pearls so that it will be that perfect finishing touch that you have been looking for.

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Entertaining Out of Town Guests

November 26th, 2008

Your cousin and your Great Aunt Nellie come in from out of town for the wedding. They arrived early, so they wouldn’t miss a single thing. They’ve never been to your town before this and want to take a full tour. The few days before the wedding are hassles and it seems as though you won’t have time to help them enjoy all the festivities and see the city too. Wait, there’s hope for you yet. With a little pre-planning, you can entertain those wedding guests and still manage to finish everything that you need to do.

If your out-of-town guests stay at your home, prepare meals and snacks ahead. Keep the refrigerator full of quick foods that you can pop into the microwave for a meal. Let the guests know where the food is and tell them to feel comfortable making a snack if you aren’t home. It will take only a few minutes to make meals if you plan it properly and have everything done ahead of time. Don’t forget to give them an extra key to the house so they can come and go as they please.

Assign a few tasks to the guests. Most people feel more comfortable if they stay at someone’s house, if they can be useful. Show them how to make the coffee, give them small tasks to do for the wedding and free a little time up so all of you can spend time sightseeing. This isn’t an imposition for most, but an honor to help in time of need. You know your guests and can plan the list of duties ahead so you have the perfect job for each. Don’t make their entire trip work; just ask for a little help.

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The Best Honeymoon Values

November 25th, 2008

Don’t start your life as man and wife with a huge debt from the honeymoon. The honeymoon, after all, is mostly about the two of you, not the place you visit. Try saving a little money on the honeymoon by following some common sense tips. Every dollar you save is one less that you have to pay off, or one more in savings toward a home or even another trip the following year.

Don’t scrimp on things you think are important. You don’t have to give up a pool at the hotel if that’s what you want. Just find a great hotel that doesn’t charge an arm and a leg. Smart shopping is the best way to secure your accommodations. Visit several sites and find the average prices. If you just have to have a specific resort or hotel, there are many different rates on the Internet for the same rooms. Call the hotel directly and see if they have anything that would be more inexpensive.

Take advantage of specials. Maybe you’d love to stay in a specific town but the flight is far too expensive. Look for specials on car rental and airfare in nearby towns. Sometimes flying into a nearby location is a lot cheaper and so is the car rental. Towns that have a lot of airport business often have the most competitive rates for both car rental and fight reservations. Be a little flexible on the airport and you might find that cut your costs in half. While you might have to drive an extra half hour, save the money and use it for other adventures on your honeymoon.

Get a little offbeat. Fly at night. You don’t have to follow a strict schedule on your honeymoon and the red eye offers a great savings for airfare. You also might find that it fits right in with the end of the celebration. You can have a guest whisk you off to the airport for a graceful exit from the last of the reception.

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Trends in Wedding Food for 2009

November 24th, 2008

Today’s weddings come in all different sizes, design and levels of formality. There are new trends in wedding food that follow the changes in weddings. Summer weddings have different food than winter ones do; outdoor weddings follow an entirely different menu than formal weddings held in the evening.

The themed wedding is one of the biggest changes to wedding fare in years. The food at themed wedding follow the theme, so if you have a beach wedding whose theme is the Polynesian Islands, the food might include a roast hog, pineapple crusted Polynesian chicken, ambrosia and kabobs of vegetables and pineapple.

A theme from Medieval Times should have mutton, venison or turkey, on wooden plates if possible. Get as much finger food as possible for this one, since no one used utensils during that period. Some of the authentic food is a bit bizarre for today’s taste; eel pasties would never be popular with most of the guests, so adjust it a bit. Serve an abundance of cheese; you might even purchase a huge round and slice it throughout the evening. Fresh vegetables and fruit are important elements of the wedding fare, as is custard and fresh bread. Give the guests each their own personal loaf and allow them to tear off a bit, add a slice of cheese and eat it with mulled wine.

Wedding food of simple hors d’oeuvres and canapés are more popular than ever because many brides want a simpler wedding reception and opt away from the sit down dinner. When you plan a cocktail hour wedding, remember it isn’t necessarily more inexpensive than a sit down dinner. You can create a splash with a champagne punch fountain and specialty cheeses like pecan-crowned baked Brie with fruit slices to scoop and sautéed Camembert served with specialty bread to accent the traditional wedding fare. The trend is to use one or two types of signature hors d’oeuvres or specialty dishes to make the food memorable.

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Choosing Honeymoon Souvenirs

November 23rd, 2008

Ah, marriage… A beautiful thing, indeed. You have spent an immense amount of time planning your wedding, as well as your honeymoon. Tensions will be running high, but once you have made it down the aisle you can take a deep breath and relax, for the next step is what many would consider to be the best part of getting married: the honeymoon.

Your honeymoon is the first outing you and your spouse will participate in as a married couple, therefore, it’s extremely important that you make the most of your honeymoon. Your honeymoon is a special vacation where you and your new spouse celebrate the beginning of your new lives together. It should be one of the most precious moments of your life, something that you will want to remember well into the future. Because your honeymoon is such an important event in your life, you want to be sure that you have meaningful and worthwhile souvenirs to bring back home from your honeymoon.

The rare moments when you leave the bedroom during your honeymoon will most likely be spent shopping for precious items that you can bring home with you to preserve your amazing honeymoon memories. However, endorphins will be running high, considering that you are on your honeymoon, so it may be easy for your mind to be boggled and for you to pick up some useless items that will neither prove meaningful to you and your spouse, nor prove to be very useful. For example, is that random stuffed animal really going to remind you of how special your honeymoon was? Didn’t think so. It is better to choose something that you and your new spouse will enjoy together over the years.

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Ethnic Wedding Favors

November 22nd, 2008

If you’re planning a wedding with an ethnic flair, be aware that many cultures offer wedding favors. A wedding favor is an opportunity for the bride and the groom to say thank you to their guests for taking the time to share the beautiful day with them. These favors can be as inexpensive or costly as you choose. Each nationality has its’ own traditions. Some just want to offer a small gift that is representative of their culture; others stick with the historical gifts that come from years of tradition.

If you’re considering using African traditions, the cowrie shell is a wedding favor that the West Africans use for decoration and wedding favors. The cowrie shell represents both prosperity and fertility. The most popular favor is the miniature broom. These represent the broom used in the ceremony when the bride and groom “jump the broom”. Many couples incorporate the two favors and decorate the miniature brooms with cowrie shells.

Italian weddings traditionally offer favors of little baskets or boxes that are decorative and come in a variety of shapes and colors. Most of the time, they contain sugarcoated almonds, but they also might contain confetti to throw at the bride and groom instead of rice. The Italian name for the containers is bomboniere. These may contain three almonds if the bride and groom wish for fertility or five if they want wealth. The number of almonds will always be an odd number. These are traditionally lucky numbers.

Irish wedding favors can capitalize on the symbol of Ireland, the shamrock, the symbol of the claddagh or use the Celtic cross. Chocolates in decorative bags placed at each guest plate in these designs, soaps, small tins decorated with the symbols or candles make ideal wedding favors for the Irish wedding. Including these special touches is a great way to personalize your wedding.

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Budgeting for Bridesmaid Gifts

November 21st, 2008

We all know that weddings are expensive. There are flowers to pay for, the venue to take care of, the dress to purchase and the caterers to pay, but through it all, be sure that you don’t forget about your bridesmaids. When it comes to getting through the wedding, plenty of brides don’t know what they would do without their bridesmaids, and it is quite important to take the time to make sure that they feel thanked. When you are looking to make sure that you are going to have the cash that you need to get them something nice, use some of the tips below.

First, remember that the bridesmaids gifts are part of your budget; in their own way just as important as getting the flowers or the venue. Think about how much you want to spend on each bridesmaid early on in the process and remember that you need to plan for things like sales. For instance, if you are planning on getting jewelry for them, take a look at the sales that are available, and if possible, spend the money right away. This will make sure that the money doesn’t inadvertently go into something else, and that you have everything on hand right away.

Also keep in mind that your money will be better spent on one nice gift than several small ones. A beautiful set of crystal bridesmaid jewelry will make a much more special keepsake than a gift basket of beauty products. In addition, you will often find that buying a number of small items can add up to more than picking out one more special piece. This is a great way to help yourself set a budget for your bridesmaid gifts.

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