Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of having a beach wedding. Warm sun, salt in the air, and the breeze blowing in, with bare feet squishing the sand between my toes while I say “I do”. I have finally found the man that fits in that picture, and have been having a great time finding the right decorations for my beach wedding.

If you are like myself, and want to plan the perfect beach reception, there are a ton of ideas to make your reception amazing. Your beach wedding doesn’t have to stop with your vows, but you can bring the beach elements into your wedding reception. The centerpieces you design will keep the tropical feeling alive for your guests while keeping you in line with your budget.

Some of the great ideas you can use for your beach wedding centerpieces include incorporating the elements from the beach into your centerpiece - sand, shells, and blue water are a good starting point.

For one who wants to use flowers, beach weddings work well with tropical flowers. Fortunately, tropical flowers are in abundance and available to order year round. Think of hibiscus, lilies, or even the delicate orchids.

Whether it’s an island theme or open beach wedding, the flowers will be a striking addition. Flowers can be placed in a hurricane vase with shells or sand in the bottom, to keep the beach theme running. Use them at individual tables, or choose to strategically place them in the corners of the room, leaving the table for other unique centerpieces.

When you’re planning your wedding, you might consider some of the new types of food and appetizers for the reception. There are varieties of ways to make the food at your wedding unique and remembered. No longer do brides want the traditional chicken dish with a side of potatoes, green beans, and a roll. They want their food at the wedding to be as unique as they are. Sometimes this involves not just the food but also how it’s served.

One of the more interesting trends in wedding fare blends with the ever-popular White Castle burger. This unique reception fare is a Gourmet Slider Station, which offers more than just the greasy, tiny burger with fried onions. The burgers may not be beef, but wild salmon, pulled pork, crab cakes, or a curried chicken tender. The traditional tiny white bread bun finds a replacement with more exotic types of bread, including whole wheat. Of course, what would a slider be without fries? Try some sweet potato fries or even the Yukon gold potato fry with lots of gourmet sauces for your guests’ enjoyment.

If you live near Amish country, then a reception with a home cooked Amish family style meal might be just what you want at your reception. More and more people want the food that Grandpa loved and you’ll certainly find that in the home of the Amish. Many of the fruits and vegetables are fresh from their gardens. The family style pass around plate of appetizers helps the guest to break the ice and start a conversation at the table. This warm, hospitable method of service and good home cooking will bring the festivities back to the family celebration it originally was.

Summer black tie weddings are wonderfully delightful, rich, and formally elegant. Black tie weddings should be formal yet light enough in tone for the summer weather. These special occasions generally begin at six o’clock in the evening, or perhaps a bit later, whether it is a small intimate wedding or a very large black tie ceremony.

This type of wedding theme is prone to special and fancy pampering for both the females and males in attendance, whether they are part of the bridal party or a wedding guest. Everything involved from the attire to the party favors should compliment the wedding theme of a summer black tie wedding.

Summer black tie bridal attire means all the men are handsomely dressed up in their dress coats, waistcoats or cummerbunds, as well as a white dress shirts, black bow ties, and socks and shoes to complete the formal look. Men may choose to carry pocket watches, which are very charming and debonair. On the other hand, men may choose to wear a plain, slender, elegant wristwatch. However, when carrying or wearing a timepiece it is essential to remember that checking the time is rude at such an elegant and formal affair. The use of luxurious cuff links and tie bars complement this type of formal attire. Generally, the colors for the men are black as the primary color, however some do choose to wear a dark blue, while white is a secondary color.

Summertime wedding gowns should be of a formal full length for a black tie event. While wearing the elegantly formal length, you may consider wearing your hair in an up-do or in soft romantic curls while wearing stunning jewelry that complements the gown. The color theme of a summer black tie wedding will vary from the preferences of one bride to another. These may range from soft subtle colors and tones to the darker rich hues in colors.

Even when you are in the whirlwind preparations for the wedding, you should take some time and really consider what you want to do for the rehearsal dinner. Not only is it going to be a great way for you to to really have some fun and unwind during what is going to be a very busy set of days, you will also find that you are in a terrific place to really connect with your wedding party and to show them how much they mean to you.

For instance, consider whether you want the event to be casual or formal. Wedding parties are typically made up of friends and family and only you are going to be able to decide on an event that really suits everyone present. What do the people in your wedding party like, and what are their preferences when it comes to food?

If your wedding party is mostly made up of friends from college, why not consider taking them to an eatery that you have fond memories of? On the other hand, a more formal dinner may have you taking your guests to a lovely little out of the way family style Italian place or looking into a place that will show you some of the most exciting, cutting edge food around when it comes to molecular gastronomy.

If you have enough willing hands to pitch in, a backyard or beach barbeque is another type of rehearsal dinner that would be great fun. Speaking from experience, I would recommend using gas grills when trying to time a big meal for a crowd. This way, when everyone arrives from the wedding rehearsal, you will be ready to fire up the grills and get the party started.

There are a lot of horror stories out there about bridesmaid dresses, and as the bride, you may be worried about your friends feeling the same way. However, bridesmaid dresses don’t have to be difficult. There are lots of options out there, and if you take a little time to think about things, you can come up with gowns that suit the occasion and their wearers. Here are a few tips, plus some dos and don’ts for picking the perfect bridesmaid dresses.

First, spend a little time thinking about the wedding itself. Do you have a theme, or even simply wedding colors? Where will your wedding be held, and how formal is the occasion? These things will give you some broad guidelines to work within. If you’re having a very formal ceremony, casual styles are out. For a beach wedding, you’ll want to pick gowns that the bridesmaids can wear comfortably, and without worrying about being covered in sand! Once you have a general concept of the type of dresses that are needed, you can work on the details.

One of the chief causes of those bridesmaid horror stories is the bride not thinking about what flatters her friends. Simply because orange is your favorite color, or you look fantastic in a fitted, strapless sheath doesn’t mean that’ll work well for your bridesmaids. While you can’t please everyone, you can ask your friends for some input, and even take them shopping. While the dress is still your decision, everyone will be a lot happier if they feel comfortable and pretty on the big day.

Avoid overly expensive gowns unless you’re willing to help the bridesmaids pay for their part. After all, a lot of us don’t have big budgets. Even if someone else made you pay a lot for a gown in the past, don’t take it out on your friends. Look for gowns that are pretty and affordable, and if possible, that can be worn again.

There are quite a few people that you’ll have in your wedding party. One of the fun ones to choose is the ring bearer. Whether you choose a nephew, little brother, or friend of the family, your ring bearer is going to have an important part in your wedding.

Of course there are several things you need to think of when it comes to your wedding ring bearer. You’ll want to give some thought to the attire, ring pillows, and the duties of the little dude you have in your wedding. So, here are some tips and ideas for the cutest ring bearers.

First of all, you are going to want to consider the attire you want the ring bearer to wear for the wedding. There are actually several different choices available. One option is to go with a mini tux for the little guy. Any ring bearer is going to be a cutie all dressed up in tails like the groom and groomsmen.

Another option that is a bit more traditional is to go with a velvet or satin suit. Usually they should be in colors that are dark. Marrying a guy in the Navy? Why not dress up the ring bearer in a little sailor suit for an adorable look. Depending on the style and theme of your wedding, there are many great options for the attire of the ring bearer. Just make sure that he’ll be comfortable and ensure that he tries on the ensemble before the big day to ensure that it fits right.

You will also want to give some thought to how the ring bearer will look standing next to the flower girl. Their outfits should be on a similar level of formality. Put the cutest ring bearer with a precious little flower girl, and you will have a wedding party that is “awww” inspiring!

When you are looking for fun bridal shower games, consider going with a theme game for the shower. What kind of a theme are you going with? Many bridal showers today are choosing a room of the home and choosing a theme around that room, with guests bringing items for that specific room, such as the kitchen. Well, you can use this to come up with a good game too. If you have selected the kitchen as the theme, consider playing a game where guests have 3 minutes to name everything they can think of that goes in a kitchen. The person with the most unique items wins the game.

Another great game to play is the personal quiz game. Get to see how well your guests know the bride. Ask the bride some questions before the shower and write down the answers. Use these same questions for the shower game. Ask questions of the guests about the bride. See who can answer the most right to win. People will be amazed at the things they really didn’t know about the bride.

Quizzing the bride can be another fun game to play at the bridal shower. Get with the groom before the shower and ask him 20 questions. Make sure you write the answers down or have him write them down. At the bridal shower, quiz the bride on how well she knows her soon to be groom. See how many she can get right. It’s sure to have everyone laughing.

Great games will are a terrific icebreaker at a bridal shower. They will definitely get all of the guests into the festive spirit. Use one of these classic games, or make up your own for a creative and original bridal shower.

Your wedding bands are a lifelong symbol of your commitment and love for each other. Usually the bride will find it easy to pick the perfect band, but sometimes the grooms find it more of a struggle. Here’s a look at some of the newer trends in wedding bands that you’ll want to keep in mind when you are choosing these important rings for your wedding day.

There are some special trends out there when it comes to wedding bands for men. While men used to go with bands that were plain, there are many new options. Wedding bands for men are becoming bigger and bigger and come in more intricate designs as well. Men are opting for bands that have a strong presence and style to them.

Gone are the days when every groom simply wore a plain gold band. Some of the new trends in mens’ wedding bands include scrollwork, engraved patterns, and even filigree. Men are even choosing to have diamonds in their rings these days as well.

As you can see, there are a variety of new trends in wedding bands available that you may want to consider when choosing wedding bands for your big day. While going with trends is a great idea, just make sure that you choose a ring that you are going to like for the years to come. Remember, some trends fade away. You want to make sure that you choose wedding bands that are going to be timeless.

African-American weddings are rich with traditions and customs. Attire is sometimes included that represent ethnic fabrics, or adornments such as colorful African beads or cowrie shells which incorporate both the culture and heritage. Cowrie, sometimes spelled cowry, shells were used for centuries as currency in Africa, and slaves were often paid for by slavers using the cowrie shells. Today the cowrie shell symbolizes womanhood, birth, and wealth, as well as fertility. The shells have symbolized bride-wealth in the past too, thus are fitting in bridal attire.

Another type of bridal attire that some are choosing to wear for a unique African-American wedding is Kente cloth. It contains the traditional red, gold, and green colors that have come to symbolize the liberation of the African peoples. Green represents the vegetation of Africa, gold stands for the hope of mineral wealth and prosperity, and red is for the blood of the millions of those whose blood was shed during captivity.

Kola nuts often play an important part in African-American weddings because the Kola nut represents healing and each family promises to always heal each other. Thus the Kola nut is shared with the new couple and each of their family. Later the nut will be kept in the newlywed’s home as a reminder to heal each other.

After the ceremony African dancers and musicians playing traditional African music is a common trend lately. Often original African drummers using authentic African drums accompany these dancers and musicians. All of these customs can be combined to create a wedding that is meaningful and memorable.

If you are planning your wedding and looking for a great wedding theme, there are a variety of wonderful themes out there to choose from. However, if you’d like to live a bit on the wild side, a safari theme wedding is an excellent idea. Like the idea of a safari theme wedding, but you have no idea where to begin? Here are some great tips and ideas to consider that can help you pull off the safari wedding of your dreams.

Make Use of the Theme in Your Dress and Jewelry:

Making use of your safari theme in your dress and your bridal  jewelry is a wonderful idea. While you can still have a traditional dress if you want to, consider adding some safari style touches. Perhaps go with a touch of animal print or even play it up in your jewelry with some wild looking jewelry. You can go a bit more radical with your attire though and choose a dress similar to those in “Out of Africa” or even walk down the isle in safari attire if you want to take the theme that far.

Tasty Safari Food:

If you want to keep the food in the theme of the safari, there are a variety of tasty choices to consider adding to your menu. Ostrich French onion soup is an exotic idea that will go with the theme. South African kebabs, salmon pate, beef short ribs, lamb tagine, deep friend bananas and coconut, and Paul Kruger cake are all wonderful menu ideas. Add some tasty wines from South Africa to finish off the meal as well.