Should we have the wedding ceremony & reception at the same location?

Do I want my wedding colors to be chocolate & cream or deep purple and gold?

I always thought it would be cool to have 10 bridesmaids, but do I really want to go that route?

My Mom wants us to have a 4-string quartet, because that’s what she wanted to have at her wedding, but my fiancé & I want a DJ!

Here are some other great ideas for beating pre-wedding stress:

1. Let go the Burden of Perfection - The pressure of needing to have a “perfect wedding” puts tremendous pressure on you as a couple. Instead set realistic expectations. Perfection is possible, but only within limited boundaries. It’s important to decide what a perfect wedding means to “you.”

2. Relax & breathe - Sounds simple enough … it is! Try it & see!!!

3. Think about your future with your husband to be - The wedding and reception are just the prelude to the Main Event!…spending the rest of your lives together!

4. Get a massage or take a hot bath- Both of these will help you relax & clear your head. If you opt for the bath, don’t forget scented candles & your favorite soft music!

When I wrote about how to begin planning your wedding, I saw lots of Facebook questions and comments from readers about wedding dresses. More specifically, they were talking about how much they planned to spend on the dress, or inquiring how much one should spend on it.

It's the question on every bride's mind: How much should you spend on a wedding dress?

Short answer…It depends. Allow me to explain.

As I have said before, buying a wedding gown is an extremely emotional purchase, to say nothing of the fact that it may be one of the most expensive garments a woman will purchase in her life.

Many forces come into play when deciding how much to spend on a wedding dress. Sometimes the pocketbook rules, sometimes the heart rules. It's an emotional versus practical decision, or reality versus fantasy. Every woman has a different sense of what is right for her.

I have had conversations where we have mentioned that for a $10,000 wedding it is not unheard of to spend $500 (5 percent) of the total wedding budget on the dress. Now, I bet every bride reading this blog has a different reaction to that equation. What if we said for a $100,000 wedding, the bride should spend $5,000 on her dress? Some brides might think that is totally in line, others might say they could not possibly spend $5,000 on a dress, still others might think $8,000 - $12,000 is more what they had in mind.

The real exercise here is to get in touch with the elements that affect your choice so you can feel more comfortable with the price that works for you.

Are you a visual shopper, a tactile shopper, or both? What’s more important to you: how it looks, how it feels, where it came from, what it is made of, who designed it -- some of the above, all of the above? Every bride views this differently. Figure out what is important to you, and coming up with a range of what you are prepared to spend will be a lot easier.

For me, if I have a set limit on what I can spend on an item, I will seek out the highest quality available for that price. Quality is my priority. But I do admit I tend to s-t-r-e-t-c-h.

Many brides start out with the simple notion of “I want a beautiful dress.” Some have a completely open mind. Perhaps they have an old sketch/photo/ad of a dress that has always been their dream since they were a little girl. I have seen more than one bride take a tear sheet out of her wallet that she had been carrying around for years, with the image of her dream gown on it.

But there are some other elements that come into play:
Fabrication -– silk organza, satin duchese, silk faille -- the style and quality of materials can really affect the cost.
Point of origin- a hand-crafted gown from a European atelier incorporating silk faille from Italy and Alencon lace from France is going to cost more than a mass-marketed item. Beyond the item cost, import and duty fees may also add to the cost of a dress. A $3,000 dress can quickly become a $4,500 dress simply because of its point of origin (if it is shipped in from Europe). Conversely, a container of dresses from the Far East is taxed by the pound , not by the garment, so the impact on cost is much less.

Designer label – a signature gown from a renowned designer will always cost more than a standard brand. In today's world, these previously exclusive designers have created divisions that cater to the mass markets. For some brides, having a dress from a particular designer is the first priority.

So, again, what is most important to you? The name on the label, the design, the fabric, the embellishments, how it feels when it’s on, or how much it costs? Or all of the above?

As I said, it depends.

Every bride will have unique priorities for her wedding dress.

1. A Candy/Trail Mix /Goodie Bar

A quick and easy idea is a candy bar.

Materials Needed:
The candy (you can get the candies in any color palette)
Ornamental jars/containers
Scoops
Bags/boxes to take the candy home in (decorated with your initials and wedding date)
A table and a table cloth

That’s it. Honestly it is that simple. The time it takes to set up depends on the variety and your décor for the table. The best part is that you can make it any kind of “bar” you want, trail mix, nut, etc.

2.Flower Bulbs

Okay, so I LOVE this idea. Who doesn’t like to plant something and watch it grow?

Materials Needed:
Flower bulbs of your choice (you could also do this one with a packet of flower or vegetable seeds, a tree seedling, or a small succulent plant)
A small pot
A growing medium
A box or a bag to put them in (decorated with your initials and wedding date)

My favorite thing about this one is it is only limited by your creativity.

3. Wine Glass Charms

Are you a super chic bride to be, do you like to entertain?
Why not add a bit of your partying personality to your wedding
day by making some super cute wine glass charms for your
guests?

Materials Needed:
Metal memory wire in the metal tone of your choice (1 inch
earring hoops work perfect)
Beads and charms of your choice (you can also make your
own charms with the beads)
Wire cutters
Wire pliers

4. Bird Houses

If you have a bird theme going on or you just like birds and their homes you could paint up these adorable bird houses and pass them out at your wedding. These are also great for a spring or outdoorsy wedding.

5. Baked Goodies

You can put a cupcake in almost anything. But they are super cute in jars. If you make amazing pumpkin bread, bake mini loaves and pass them out. Whatever your favorite treat to make is, choosing the right way to pass them out is the key. Consider small antique styled tins, prettily wrapped boxes, clear bags with a nice label and ribbon attached or something that says you!

Photo Collage It

Enlist the help of a photographer friend to put together a creative photo card, which can fold like an accordion and open up to display your full question.

Craft It

Get your craft on and create paper-doll cutouts for your girls. Goggle for the full DIY project.

Surprise Them With a Keepsake

A handkerchief is a keepsake your future bridesmaids can frame, fold or leave out on their dresser. Buy them these pretty, ready-made ones from BHLDN, or get crafty and sew the words onto a vintage one yourself.

Send a Clever Card

Silhouettes and a handwriting-style font make this card from Mr. Boddington's Studio stand out from other “be my bridesmaid” note cards.

Say It With Food

We’re obsessed with this chocolate-written way to ask your girls. It would look just as cute on a cake or a series of cupcakes.

Show Them Your Green Thumb

A gift that grows, like potted thyme or the herb of your choice, is a thoughtful way to symbolize your friendship. This coffee mug happens to resemble a small terra-cotta pot, but any container will do the trick. Add some burlap and a banner or card to pop the question. See the full DIY project here.

Make Yourself a Movie Poster

Think outside the box and rip off a movie poster! We love the idea of writing a note in the shape of a wedding dress.

Get Personal

Gift your bridesmaids-to-be something monogrammed with their names or initials. Think: a hanger (perfect for their dress the day of the wedding) or a tote bag.

Hit the Sweet Tooth

Here’s a sweet way to ask your best friends -- treats from FlourPotCookies.com come packaged with tiny cards that ask the big question.

Wine and Dine Them

Take your girls out for dinner, drinks or even a cup of coffee, and ask them over a toast. You can ask them all out as a group or meet them out individually.

Make a Photo Strip

Combine a few favorite photos with each friend onto photo strips and include personalized messages on the backs.

Just Do It

If you’re not into making it a big production, there’s nothing wrong with simply asking. Doing it in person is ideal, but a heartfelt phone call will do the trick too.

Take Them on a Day Trip

If you'd prefer to ask everyone at once in grand fashion, plan a special outing (anything from a relaxing spa day to a chill picnic in the park or an adventurous hike) to get them all together. Once everyone's having a good time, let them in on the real reason behind the trip.

Cook Up Some Memories

Here's an idea for the foodie bride: Gift your friends with cookbooks from the different countries or regions that are meaningful to your friendship. Maybe you studied abroad in Italy with one friend, or always head to the same Thai place for lunch with another. Use card stock or wrapping paper to create a faux cover (where you can add the big question) or write a note inside.

Go the Distance

Even if you live hours away from some of your closest friends, you can still get creative. Send flowers with a card to her office or a package full of confetti to her apartment. You can even enlist the help of someone like her roommate or her boyfriend to clip the note to her dog's collar or just hand-deliver it for a sweet surprise.

Your choice of location is the No. 1 variable that impacts décor.

A historical church or home sets an entirely different tone than a white sandy beachfront or tropical garden. Using that as a foundation, let's build from there.

In the modern world we live in, most flowers today are available year-round. If they are not in season where you live, they are more than likely grown in hot houses or shipped in from another country. So if there is a favorite flower that must be part of your day, chances are you can make it happen. They may, however, be more costly.

How many flowers is a personal choice; some couples want a church brimming with sprays of fragrant flowers. Others like a simple bouquet tied at the end of the front pews. A florist (such as my wonderful co-star Kevin Lee of LA Premier) can guide you in which flowers complement the decor you are going for...i.e. roses and peonies say English garden, while infusing citrus fruits among greens is luscious in the springtime, and adding hibiscus, for example, invokes visions of the tropics.

Lighting sets the mood. Regardless of time of day, your
choices can impact how people feel. Keep in mind that
blues and greens are modern and cooler feeling. Reds
and fuchsias are warm. Use of candles and fireplaces can
also enhance a feeling of intimacy. Some people feel that
the interior decor of a ballroom or restaurant restricts their
choices. My experience has been that once you put your
fingerprint on the event, most walls fade away. The focus
is on you and your bridal party.

Now comes the music. And as with everything else, a huge range of choices are available: orchestra, classical ensemble, band, guitarist, DJ or combo. When choosing music, think about the celebration you have in mind. Is this a formal dinner, a champagne brunch, a beachfront family reunion or an upscale BBQ? Your musical choices need to be in harmony with the rest of the day.

Another thing to keep in mind, the maestro, DJ or bandleader will very likely be the emcee of your event...you and your fiancé need to be clear on how you desire the event to flow and how active a voice they will have in the day. Will you be providing sheets of direction, or will they be making a few important announcements during the day and improvising when necessary? It's your day. Make your wishes known.

The officiant plays an important role in the mood of the day and should be featured appropriately. Is a highly traditional religious ceremony going to be conducted, or is the pastor/rabbi a close family friend who will be making a more casual presentation? Whether he/she will be in full vestments or a suit or dress should help you in creating the setting you had in mind.

According to the stats listed on Divine Caroline, brides spent an average of $12,124 on their wedding venue in 2010. That’s just a little ridiculous for those of us with a budget for the entire wedding that is that price or less.
Nonetheless, a wedding venue dictates the atmosphere and theme for that wedding, so it’s important to choose the right one. Many brides get stuck in the conundrum of choosing between the perfect venue that’s busting their budget or the venue of the right price that isn‘t exactly in their perfect wedding dream, all because they are trying to think inside the box of traditional wedding locations. However, there are a brave few that dare to think outside this expensive or disappointing box and find venues that express their personalities for a fraction of the price of a traditional wedding venue.

Nothing says “East Coast” like a wedding on a ferry and a lobster dinner!

It could be quite romantic getting married at a local historical feature,
like this couple who married at the Grist Mill in Ontario, where the
couple is from.

Things could get little wild at a zoo wedding!

Take your place in history by getting married at a museum.

There’s no need to be quiet at a wedding reception,
even if it’s in a library!

Bookstores could also provide the perfect venue for a bookworm couple.

A ski lodge is a great place to get hitched, both during ski season or during the summer off season.

There’s something a little fishy about a wedding at an aquarium…

You’ll probably be up all night if you have your wedding in a coffee shop! This couple was married at the Starbucks where they originally met and fell in love.

Family Picture Board

This is definitely a very memorable item at a wedding. It can be easily done by displaying wedding photos from each of your grandparents and parents, and then a picture of the two of you, but by displaying it all on a poster board you can include fabric and ribbon in the right colors and have a keepsake to hang on your wall afterward.

I definitely suggest that you obtain copies of these pictures rather than the originals in case anything were to happen to the board. This can easily be assembled with a foam poster board, some fabric scraps, some ribbon, and copies of family wedding pictures. Really nice!

Personalized Table Numbers

I've used these numerous times at weddings across the United States. Simply be creative over your wedding planning period and take pictures of yourselves, pets, favorite locations or shops, etc. with table numbers appropriate for the right number of tables. If you guesstimate for 8 people a table, you'll have an approximate number of tables needed at your wedding.

These can be printed at home for real cheap and backed on your favorite color of printer paper or cardstock. Voila! Gorgeous table numbers!

Escort Card Board

We've talked out creating an escort card board really easily before on our blog. All it takes is a science fair board, some fabric, your favorite ribbon, and some sewing or push pins. You can either print and cut the cards yourself from home or buy some already decorated for cheap from any craft store that you can print on. Be creative!

Escort cards really give your wedding a feeling of elegance and expense even though they are so easy! It provides a fun activity for guests to find their card and then go find their table. Combine this project with several others in this and several of our other blogs and guests may have a scavenger hunt for their seat or a special treat waiting for them when they get there.

Place Card Holders

Here is another item that will really add a great deal to your wedding without adding so much to your pocketbook! Place cards definitely are not necessary and you can simply use these ideas for table decor, but anything you can find in nature will always be less expensive than something you can only find at the store.

Consider pinecones, leaves, small branches and even rocks as natural place card holders on your tables. If you're really creative and want to make the pinecones as ornaments, or the rocks as paper weights with a cute design or inscription, go for it!! This is your chance to make this wedding really tell people about the two of you!

Wedding Invitations

This project make take a little bit more investment on your part, but more an investment of time rather than cash. I just found some gorgeous scrapbooking paper from the craft store that I was going to cut into quarters, print on and then wra with a piece of beautiful ribbon, and Score! There are my invites!

More about following my wedding planning in a future blog! :) Consider using dried flowers or leaves, twine, tissue paper, markers, and other scrapbooking materials. You and a few girlfriends can even get together and make the invitations as a fun activity one afternoon! I love scrapbooking! Make it fun and be creative when it comes to spending money! Wedding planning doesn't have to cost a great deal!

Chalkboard Menu

Very cute addition to your wedding! This chalkboard menu gives your wedding a touch of personality and tons of options for being creative in the writing or decoration of the chalkboard! Have fun!

Rather than making menu cards for every seat, consider simply obtaining a chalkboard from a thift store, garage sale, friend of the family or even craft store to later use in your kitchen or office to keep notes. This is an extremely inexpensive way to add a touch of flair to any event and be able to express yourself in a creative way at the same time!

Napkin Accents

So you obviously need plates, silverware, and napkins for your wedding if your guests are going to eat, right? In order to provide a gorgeous tablescape for your guests, you don't need a professional designer to come in and decorate, or fancy items to decorate your table with.

Just start with simply wrapping your napkins in some twine and herbs. You can use ribbon, rope, or nothing at all to simply wrap the leafves that fall off of your flowers as they are being put together, or a small carnation for each setting. Make this easy on yourself and you'll get a spectacular look for very little money or effort.

Bark Vases

This is a real easy project that can be accomplish by simply purchasing these log pieces online, purchasing logs from merchants during the holidsys, or even collecting them when people trim their trees in early spring. Most of the wooden materials I use for weddings, I gather from a friend, neighbor, family member or our own backyard. Use a drill or chisel to carve some of the insides out, and then place a small vase, or even a candle into the inside for a quick centerpiece idea.

Log Cake Stand

This simple craft is actually a lot easier than it looks. A slice of tree trunk for your wedding cake can be obtained by purchasing it over the internet if you so choose, but its way too easy to simply cut one yourself.

I understand that you may not have a huge tree to cut from in the backyard, but a friend of yours may have a tree trunk in their backyard or know someone that does, you may ask around to find someone with logs, etc. When there's a will, there's a way! With a little effort, time and research you can find just about anything you're looking for!

Snack Buffet

This is a spin off of the candy bar! I haven't heard of anyone else doing this, but around here we love mixing all of our snacks to make a handy mix to eat in front of the TV, on trips, or even for just a hadful when we get hungry. I thought, what a great idea for a cute favor! Not only do guests get a cute set-up and the ability to choose what they want from a mix of Cheerios, nuts, raisins, Chex Mix, and anything else your heart desires, but it makes a cute favor for them to take home after the wedding!

Candles

Candles are definitely not a frer wedding itrem, but I promise you that you can get them for relatively cheap. Find the right website, granted this does take a little bit of research on your part, and you can easily find at least 72 votive candles with their glass holders for arounf $5.00. What a great deal!

These same website will offer you deals when you buy big numbers of pillar candles, taper candles, and any other shape candles that will last you 10 and even 20 hours each. I personally advise against tea lights because they will putter out you within an hour, easy. They are not worth it!

Filler Flowers

If you're really trying to save some money, nix the roses, gerbera daisies, calla lilies and other expensive varieties. Consider filling your bouquet with nothing but baby's breath, wax flowers and greenery, along with other filler flowers. Your bouquet will look just as beautiful, but be unique and inexpensive as well! What more can you ask for?!

Tissue Pomanders

Typical pomanders take dozen of flowers to fill whether they be carnations or roses. Due to the sheer number of flowers used, especially if you make them with silk flowers from the craft store, these suckers can get really expensive really fast.

Get the same look, but use tissue paper around a styrofoam ball instead. There's no reason you can't have what you want on your wedding day. However, sometimes getting the look and the items that you want just take a little or a lot of creativity on your part.

Branch Centerpieces

Height in centerpieces is one of the newest trends in weddings for 2012. If purchasing centerpieces from a professional florist, having branches in your centerpieces can be super expensive. However, for this last wedding that we coordinated, I spent the few months before the wedding gathering all of the tall branches falling off of our huge tree in the backyard and bundling them in preparation for the wedding. By the time the wedding arrived, we had more than enough branches for all of our centerpieces and ended up with some really cool table decorations as well!

All of this for free, well, all it took was time. Want leaves for your wedding ceremony aisle? Gather them on your own and preserve them so they will retain the color for your wedding. You can do the same with brnaches of leaves for you centerpieces, additions to your wedding bouquet, etc. Once again, be creative! The sky's the limit when it comes to decorating for your wedding!

Silk Flower Petals

This beautiful decor item is actually really inexpensive! Vist the internet and do some research for silk flower petals and you'll find that they can be purchsed for like $20 for 6,000 petals, which is plenty to decorate your wedding! These ceremony aisle petal decorations are all the charm this season. They are one great way to make your wedding look like the next "Royal Ball" for next to nothing of an investment. Even better, hand these off to a trusted friend or your professional florist to create a fantastic design for your ceremony aisle for you and you'll have a welcome surprise when it's your turn to walk down the aisle. Side note: Tell your bridal party to pick up their feet when walking down the aisle to preserve the decor until you get there.

Buying Your Dress Online

You know, it's a blast going to bridal shops and having people dote on you as you try on tons of fabulous dresses. There's nothing like standing in front of the mirror wearing incredibly expensive wedding gowns and having your picture taken. Everyone's excited for you, your mom is cooing over you. Definitely don't miss out on the experience!

Once you choose your gown though, take the time to get a picture or two in it, and write down the color, the designer, the make, the model . . . well, you understand. Then go home and check it out online! I guarantee that you can find your exact dream wedding dress for much cheaper online. You may even find someone who will custom make it for you for only a couple hundred dollars! It's worth it! You should never spend a great deal on a wedding dress.

The Right Venue

Traditional wedding venues are gorgeous and they provide a service and atmosphere like no other. However, you will also pay an arm and a leg to get married there. In our next blog, we are discussing some really great, but unique venues that you can use for your wedding that you'd probably never considered before. I surely hope you find something that sparks your imagination when reading it.

For a little preview, consider getting married at an Inn or Bed and Breakfast, a Ski Lodge or Resort, a Restaurant, a Winery, a Brewery, a Museum, a Farm or in a Barn, on a Boat, a Train or Airplane . . . I feel like Dr. Suess. lol The options are really limitless. I hope this gets you excited about our blog next week!

Choices That Define the Dress

1. Sit down together and work out a rough draft of the guest list. Is this about family and a few close friends? Do you both have huge families that must be accommodated, as well as mutual friends that just have to be there? The faster you determine the scope of the guest list, the quicker you determine a working budget.

2. Determine the members of the wedding party. Few couples have exactly the same number of siblings and friends, so you have to figure out how to balance that out.
Be gracious when it comes to including family and dear friends on either side. This is both your wedding and his. While the final number many vary as the big day approaches, having a good idea of the size of the bridal party will also help define what styles of wedding gowns will be most appropriate.

3. Have a heartfelt conversation about your shared vision of the wedding. Season? Morning or evening? Indoor or outdoor? House of worship, beach, garden, ballroom? Agreeing to these critical points will rule out some places by virtue of season, size or logistics.
Remember, no matter where your wedding may be, for many of your guests, it will be considered a destination wedding. Therefore, some guests will be in town for several days since coming to the wedding involves travel. It would be considerate of you to plan some optional activities for these guests. If there are more than a few, consider how you will make the guests feel at home and part of the event in the days leading up to the wedding. Perhaps a number of icebreaker events prior to the formal rehearsal dinner and reception? This is part of the budget consideration.

4. The search begins! Knowing how many people are to be invited, how big the bridal party is going to be, what season, time and location you have in mind, will be a terrific help in focusing on what gown not only expresses your personal style, but also is in sync with the other choices that are important to you. Sharing this information with the salons you visit will be very helpful in relation to the styles of gowns they suggest.

5. With magazines in hand, computer printouts and a tight list of 2 or 3 salons that have been highly recommended and/or carry the styles you are loving, you and your maid-of-honor (who is going take her position to heart) can start making your bridal appointments.

6. If mom cannot accompany you, or is not available, then either shop alone or with a trusted confidant. I know it sounds like fun, but don't bring a large entourage with you when you go shopping for your bridal gown; more times than not, It is utterly confusing, frustrating and highly inconsiderate to the salon.

7. My dear bride, before you step foot into the first salon please, please remember this: The No. 1 factor to consider when choosing your bridal gown is love.
You have to fall in love with your gown. It is a garment you will wear for perhaps 8 or 10 hours total. But it is also the one and only garment you will ever wear that you will remember every detail from purchase, to putting on, to taking off for the rest of your life.
Your fiancé will see you in this special gown for the first time as you walk up the aisle to marry him.

8. Once you have chosen the gown you love...buy it. If you find the perfect gown and then figure you can return in several months to purchase it, you may be disappointed. It could be discontinued. So my best advice is to find it and buy it.

9. Bridal gowns should be ordered at a minimum of 6-7 months prior to the wedding. That sounds like an insanely long amount of time, but wedding gowns are made to order (not to measure -- contrary to common belief), and then there are a series of alteration fittings to make your dress a custom fit. This is a process you do not want to rush.

10. Bridesmaid dresses should complement the wedding gown in style and reflect the bride's favorite colors. Once you know the silhouette, fabric and detailing of your gown, the search for the perfect bridesmaid dresses becomes easier.
But more times than not, it is a simultaneous process. So have a fun discussion of what kind of dress you are leaning toward, and listen to everyone's ideas for bridesmaid dresses. Determine if the expense is something the bride's family is willing to cover, or if each bridesmaid is to cover the cost of the dress. Either arrangement is fine, but it is critical this be decided before the shopping begins.
Some salons carry bridesmaid dresses. Others do not. Find out who does, and decide if you want to combine the wedding gown search with bridesmaid dresses, or make that a separate trip and allow sufficient time for everyone to try on samples.
As with wedding gowns, the more time, the better! I suggest bridesmaid dresses be ordered no less than 5 months prior to the wedding date. Keep in mind that if you have to ship the dresses to bridesmaids at different locations, you might want to build additional time into the schedule. Alterations in every case need to be considered. No bridal party wardrobe is made to measure, except in the most rare of circumstances.

The First Look


This is definitely a trend that is taking a while to really catch on. It began in 2011 with couples simply wanting to minimize the time their guests had to wait for pictures to be taken after the ceremony.
It has now developed into a really sweet moment for brides and their grooms to see eachother for the first time in their bridalwear before they get married, share the excitement of the day and what they are about to do, and have a few private oments together before the festivities of the day begin.
Having done this with numerous brides and grooms, no experience being nearly the same, each and every one of them have stated that they were glad that they did it. They loved seeing eachother and getting that private moment to share the excitement with the only other person that would truly understand, and they said it didn't minimize the excitement of walking down the aisle at all. If anything, all of my couples said that the "first look" only increased their excitement for the ceremony!

Petal Patterns

This was once only a trend for those brides that had tons of extra money to have the kind of wedding that would be a showcase for guests being that real flower petals were so expensive. Traditionally petals were simply dropped by the flower girl(s) or spread lightly down the aisle for the bride.

Now that silk petals are becoming really popular and inexpensive though, brides of all budget sizes are now picking up this once very expensive trend for themselves. These can be done in virtually any color and any pattern your heart desires. Check them out on the internet for more ideas and feel free to be creative!

Mixing Tables

Brides are now even changing the shape of their reception tables, mixing round with square. This trend gives the reception tables a more interesting look and a less "coordinated" feel.
Guests even get a more casual feel at these weddings and feel free to move around a little more easily to visit and enjoy themselves then they typically do at a much more formal affair.

Unique Centerpieces

Brides are choosing centerpieces that are in the same colour tones, but of different sizes. Unique fillers include glass marbles, glass sea shells, acrylic ice, water absorbing crystals, /beads, and fresh fruits such as lemons and limes. Also, flowering vines or individually cut flowers are placed directly onto table linens.
Creativity is the name of the game nowadays. If you can dream it up, you can do it. Consider going with centerpieces that match the theme of your wedding. You can make your reception hall look like a movie theatre or nightclub. You can showcase lamps, trees, branches, or even pictures of yourselves.
The one main charcteristic of centerpieces that is a must however, is height. The taller you can get your centerpieces the better. Therefore, tall skinny lamps, tall branches, or even tall vases with flowers on top are your key.

Ceiling Decor

Tall is the key! The higher you can decorate the better. Fabric draped to the center of the room, Christmas lights hung from above . . . Anything creative you can imagine can be done.
Bolts of tulle are typically combined with white lights and/or floral garlands for draping between banisters, columns and ceilings. Other popular decorating items include chinese lanterns, garlands and balloons. Consider even large paper cut-outs or even posters hung from the ceiling to really create an amazing environment. Even trees or other plants can be hung for an incredible forest-like effect alongside hanging lanterns, ornaments, crystals, or any other decorations. Have fun!

Flowers are an integral part of almost every wedding ceremony. They add visual aesthetics as well as awaken the aromatic senses. Many flowers are timeless classics for weddings. Due to modern technology several species of flowers are available all year-round. Sometimes these technical processes used result in higher costs. Also because of technology many flowers are available in additional colors. This can also add to the cost.

If you are concerned about costs, consider when the flowers you want are naturally available. If a flower is available all year-round but does not naturally bloom all year-round, the quality of the blooms may be inferior during their natural off-blooming season. Make sure to take into consideration the climate in your area as well. Flower symbolism has been around for centuries. The Victorian era was the peak time for flower symbolism. Men and women couldn’t freely express their feelings with words so flowers were used. Flowers are still used today to convey feelings. The most common use of flower symbolism today seems to be associated with roses.

Calla Lilies

Symbolism: The calla lily represents magnificent beauty. It also is symbolic of marriage and purity because of its white color and its trumpet-like shape, similar to a woman's shape.
Available colors: The common color is white. The white calla lily is available all year-round. Calla lilies are also available in many colors such as yellow, red, burgundy, pink, orange and even a purple/black combination.
Available season: Readily available all year-round but the natural season is late spring to early summer
Other notes: Very resistant to wilting, have a very faint scent

Casablanca Lilies

Symbolism: Casablanca lilies are symbols of celebration
Available colors: white
Available season: Available all year-round but the natural season is late spring or summer.
Other notes: Also known as Oriental lily. Casablanca Lilies are very fragrant. Other lily species have similar features and come in a range of colors: whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, reds and purples. Markings include spots and brush strokes.

Gardenias

Symbolism: Gardenias convey intense emotional meaning; they represent secret love, joy, purity, and refinement
Available colors: white is the most common color, also available in yellow and ivory
Available season: Available all year-round but natural season is mid-spring to mid-summer
Other notes: Very fragrant. Bruise easily. Gardenias are considered to be expensive.

Hydrangeas

Symbolism: Hydrangeas are said to possess grace and beauty. They are also thought to convey vanity and boastfulness because of the abundant number of petals and full round shape. They also express the giver’s gratefulness for the recipient’s understanding
Available colors: in most species usually white but also can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple
Available season: Available all year-round but natural season is mid-spring through late summer or early autumn
Other notes: Very fragrant. The color of the bloom depends on the amount of acid in the soil. They are prone to bruising.

Lilacs

Symbolism: Purple lilacs symbolize emotions of early love, beauty, pride. White lilacs symbolize youthful innocence and youth
Available colors: Common colors are violet or white. Also available in pale yellow, pink or burgundy.
Available season: Mid-spring to early summer
Other notes: Very fragrant. Lilacs are likely to show wilting.

Lily of the Valley

Symbolism: Lilies of the Valley represent sweetness and the return of happiness, also symbolizes humility
Available colors: white
Available season: Spring
Other notes: Birth month flower for May. Lily of the Valley flowers are expensive. They are very fragrant and tend to wilt and discolor when used as corsages and boutonnieres.

Orchids

Symbolism: Orchids are associated with love, beauty, refinement, many children, thoughtfulness and mature charm, elegance and style
Available colors: available in many colors white, light blue, blue, yellow, orange, red, orange, pink, and purple
Available season: typically bloom in spring but available all year-round
Other notes: Second largest family of flowering plant, approximately 22,000 species. Some orchids are very fragrant and some are not. Orchids are also durable.

Roses

Symbolism: Roses generally mean love and beauty. Different color roses have different meanings
White – innocence, purity, secrecy, reverence, worthiness
Red – passion, love, respect, courage, congratulations
Pink – happiness, romance, admiration, sweetness
Yellow – welcome back, friendship, caring, joy
Peach – gratitude, appreciation, sincerity, modesty
Orange/coral – desire, enthusiasm, pride
Lavender – deep adoration, majestic, opulent
Deep rep (sometimes referred to as black roses) – new beginnings, rebirth
Available colors: Available in a wide range of colors.
Available season: all year-round
Other notes: There are over 100 species of roses. Roses are the favorite flower of 85% of Americans.

Stephanotis

Symbolism: Stephanotis flowers represent marital happiness, good luck
Available colors: white
Available season: all year-round
Other notes: Also known as Madagascar Jasmine or Bridal Veil. They are heavily scented and very delicate. They don’t stand up well in bouquets.

Tulips

Symbolism: Tulips in general represent fame and perfect love. Just like roses there are different meanings depending on the color
Red – are a declaration of true love
Multi – colored – convey "you have beautiful eyes"
Yellow – convey "there's sunshine in your smile" and cheerful thoughts
Cream – mean "I will love you forever"
White – heaven, newness and purity
Purple – royalty
Pink – affection and caring
Orange – energy, enthusiasm, desire, and passion
Available colors: Available in a wide range of colors.
Available season: Available all year-round but the blooming season is spring
Other notes: Most varieties are not very fragrant.

A beautiful wedding photograph is priceless and immortalizes you on the most important day of your life.

Have you ever wished you could do something more with these wonderful romantic time capsules that will be treasured by your family born and unborn? Did you know that you can turn your most treasured wedding photo into a priceless handmade painting?

There are talented artists that can do that for you. Artists that can capture the true nature of your personalities, emphasizing the your beauty and the joy and love of the moment captured are truly amazing. The great ones can even add, alter, delete or combine things from other pictures. Maybe you wish your romantic pose was in front of the fountain instead of a building, or you wish your daughter was in the shot, or you wish you looked a little slimmer. Well, with the right person, it can be done!

Many wedding planners look at the whole scene of the ceremony and reception as a work of art. Each piece needs to be in just the right place, and each item needs to be the right shape and color, so the composition as a whole becomes a masterpiece.

Even fewer planners not only create a beautiful event but can also create a handmade one-of-a-kind masterpiece for you in the form of a portrait you can hang on your living room wall to admire for a lifetime.

One recent up and coming trend is to have a painting from the engagement shoot of the bride and groom placed at the escort card table. You can make a print of the painting and put it on the table numbers, invitations, menus and even escort cards. Just think about it! No one else could ever have your same invitations or menus. It serves as an extremely personalized window into the love between the bride and groom and a reminder of what and who the wedding is all about. It also ties the elements together for a romantic cohesive flow. After the wedding it then becomes a family heirloom to hang in your home, and the printed items become treasured keepsakes.

Feel free to contact me, Spring Ball, if you are interested in a wedding planner or having a special portrait created just for you for your wedding. For all of my brides, I create hand-made 16”x20” pastel portraits as a wedding present. Don't worry though. You can also order these portraits without any strings attached. I'd love to share more information about these with you!

Make your wedding a unique, exquisite masterpiece with professional artist. (All original art created and photographed by Spring Ball.)

Eco-Weddings are a fast growing trend as more and more brides are becoming aware of the benefits to having a more ecologically friendly wedding. More businesses in the wedding industry are also taking their cues from this new generation of brides by providing services such as using more organically grown local foods, creating and using more natural, organic fabrics in their bridal fashions that follow the trendy culture of the day for both the wedding couple and those in the bridal party, creating and using more natural and organic materials in their paper products for use in all sorts of wedding stationary, providing recycling and food donation as part of their packages, and all sorts of other ways of using less of the world’s nonrenewable resources. We can take advantage of all that these venues are now offering to proide a beautiful wedding without adding to the waste of our resources.

Eco-Weddings used to be only for those brides that had more money to spend on their weddings, and therefore the luxury of taking the environment into consideration while planning. However, with the popularity of ecologically friendly weddings on the rise, it is steadily becoming even easier to find these services and still have a beautiful wedding on a budget. Everyday brides and vendors alike are becoming more and more creative to maintain that ecologically friendly appeal yet with the elegant beauty that only weddings can provide. Don't leave this perfect day to just anyone. Make sure to hire a professional bridal consultant that can bring together the perfect vendors, your theme and decor ideas and your your imagined atmosphere to create a beautiful, earth-friendly wedding that will blow your mind.

A Piece of Cake Wedding Design does just this for you. We provide an Eco-Wedding Planning Package like none other that offers our brides all of the possibilities they could want or need for their upcoming Green Weddings, at a fraction of the cost of any other. We still guarantee to find you the best quality for the best price, and even strive to save you money in the end. Check out all of our planning packages to find the right one for you.

 Instead of a multi-tiered wedding cake, do a tower of decorated cupcakes. To save even more, you can buy the cupcakes from a grocery store.


 Buy a small wedding cake for the tradition of feeding each other, but order an inexpensive decorated sheet cake. You can get great deals at local grocery store bakeries or Costco. Click link for more ideas.

 Instead of a florist, go to local farmer's markets or wholesale florist the morning of your wedding. Gather a variety of local flowers and make simple arrangements jars (think mason jars) or a variety of vases (for an antique feel). Bridesmaids can hold a collection of wildflowers or even elegant lilies. This is a great item to ask a wedding planner to assist with, that way you are not stuck arranging flowers last minute. Click here for more information.

 Ask a friend who's good with a video camera to bring it and record the ceremony. He/she can pass it around the reception to for friends and families to say well wishes. It may not be professional but it'll be a lot of fun.

 Use an iPod instead of a DJ to save money and ensure you get the songs you want played. You can buy simple speakers, or BORROW SOME, and hook them up to a laptop. It really customizes everything to how YOU want it. And it is super cheap! You can also ask guests to write their favorite songs on the bottom of your response cards, to help you figure out what to play. Here is a great article for helpful tips.

Look at state parks as a venue for your wedding. Rental fees are much cheaper!

 Have a backyard wedding. I went to a wedding that was done in the backyard, and to top it off, it was tie-dye!!! It was actually really cool. The bride altered her dress to include tie-dye underneath and each bride wore a different color. The groomsmen matched of course. The cupcakes were even tie-dye! Here are some things to consider for backyard weddings.

 Keeping with the theme of color, try this unique center piece idea. Buy fishbowls and fill them with gum balls. I hadn't thought of this one, but at the right wedding and with the right surroundings it could end up pretty cool. You could even use flower petals (the silk ones) or stones or marbles.

 Change the day of the week, or even just the time of day of your wedding. An early-afternoon or even brunch reception can cut your catering costs down a lot, and also minimize the alcohol intake.

 Have a "Just Desserts" reception. Just make sure you let your guests know to eat before they head to your celebrate your special day.

 Check with your friends to see if you can borrow things like a cake serving set. I mean, you'll never use it again afterward.

 Consider making red one of your wedding colors, that way you can buy things after Valentine's day or Christmas at a discounted price.

 Do something unique instead of a pricy guestbook. I attended a Napa Valley wine-themed wedding where the bride and groom asked their guests to sign their favorite wine bottle. More thoughtful alternatives to the traditional wedding guest book.

 Instead of favors do a candy bar. You can buy the candy in bulk and the scoops/bags are cheap. I know you can find cheap vintage candy jars online for cheap or at places like T.J. Max, Marshalls, or Ross.

 Rather than floral arrangements, do centerpieces with things like mirrors, or beads, or candles and ribbons. Recently I was involved in the planning of a wedding where birdcages were used. Personally, I think using jars, lanterns, or a variety of candle holders looks beautiful and brings extra light to the reception. And these are all items you can find at dollar stores. Here are more cost saving ideas for centerpieces.

 Design your own invitations and printed materials or find a friend to do them for you. For my own “Save-the-Dates” I had a friend take some simple photos which I was then able to easily put into a simple online card making template.

 Find a friend who wouldn't mind getting certified as a minister to perform the ceremony. It will cost you nothing, compared to the cost of hiring an officiant. My fiancée actually did this with a group of his friends, and they perform each other’s weddings in addition to friends and family as well.

Did you know that . . .

Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice will
-remove chlorine green from your hair instantly

Canada Dry Club Soda will
-clean stains from carpet, even dried set-in stains

Smirnoff Vodka will
-clean stains from carpet, even dried set-in stains
-remove permanent marker from just about any kind of surface

Colgate Toothpaste will
-clean your jewelry to a sparkling shine
-dry up acne pimples overnight

Maybelline Clear Nail Polish will
-seal costume jewelry so that it doesn't fall apart or fix it if it does
-seal or fix loose screws in your glasses
-prevent earrings, rings, and necklaces from irritating your skin or turning it green
-fix loose buttons

Elmer's Glue-All will
-remove blackheads if left to dry on your face and then peeled off

Star Olive Oil will
-condition your cuticles and smooth out your nail area to give you perfectly manicured hands
-condition your hands and feet leaving them soft and touchable for your wedding day and night
-immediately clear up bruises and remove the color

Budweiser will
-set curls upon drying without a beer smell left over

Johnson's Baby Oil will
-condition your lips and leave them smooth and shiny all day and night

Liquid Paper will
-give you a quick French Manicure for your wedding photos

Downy Fabric Softener Sheets will
-freshen and perfume anything (like you, your groom, your car, any clothes with an odor, the bridal suite, etc.)

Lipton Tea will
-give you a smooth all over tan without the orange for a healthy-looking glow for your wedding day (sprayed on or bathed in)
-soothe tired eyes and remove puffiness and bags under your eyes

Heinz Vinegar will
-immediately clear up bruises and remove the color

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly will
-soothe and even prevent chaffing skin inside your thighs

Chapstick will
-relieve dry, cracked cuticles
-soften and remove any corns on your feet and ease pain
Suebee Honey will
-prevent and even cure a hangover from the night before your wedding

Scotch Packaging Tape will
-replace a strapless or backless bra when applied directly

1. Shoes: Try some sweet blue shoes under your dress, a blue bow or even some blue beading on the underside of your shoes. No one will even know it's there! if you want to be noticed, try some blue sparkling shoes or a nice pair with some great ruffles.

2. Ring: As a bride, I would suggest something subtle like a sweet blue flower, or even a nice sapphire. Perhaps as a wedding gift, you can have a sapphire put into a ring with your birthstones as a remembrance for the wedding.

3. Dress: Try hemming inside your dress with the wedding date and a symbolic message. You could even wear a blue slip, purchase a wedding gown with blue embroidery, or have your favorite blue fabric sewn inside your dress.

4. Bouquet: Tuck hydrangeas, cornflowers or even peacock feathers into your posies. Wrap your bouquet with a dazzling blue ribbon or tuck some into the inside of your bouquet.

5. Temporary tattoo: A tiny indigo heart on the inside of your wrist or on the back of your shoulder would be romanctic.

6. Jewelry: A gorgeous blue jewel necklace or a startling blue across the front of your dress will really dazzle. You could grab a beautiful pair of earrings or even a sweet blue bracelet. Consider doing the same for your bridesmaids!

7. Nail Polish: Paint your nail a light turqoise that will be as classy as you are. You could even be creative with a sweet bow on the end of your ring finger.

8. Makeup: Enhance your eyes with a soft blue shade, or even a dazzling cobalt! Use colored mascara and give your lashes a sparkle. What about blue glitter on your cheeks or in your hair?

9. Fascinator: Charm your guests with a gorgeous blue headpiece or add some sweet blue flower charms throughout your hair for a nice touch. You could even use a nice blue feather or luscious blue flower in your bun for a little color.

10. Lingerie: Only you and your honey will know if your azure undies are naughty or nice. Spice it up with a nice pair of blue panties or even a teal lace garter!

11. Clutch: Grab yourself a simple clutch with a blue liner inside or even something more elaborate with blue embroidery all over the outside.

12. Hankerchief: You can use midnight blue thread to embroider your new initials on one corner. Ask to "borrow" a hankerchief from your mother or one of your grandmothers to tuck into your dress for the ceremony.

13. Shrug: Keep warm in a breezy afternoon or on a windy evening with a sea-inspired mohair shrug, or wrap up with a super soft pashmina in your favorite shade of blue.

14. Ceremony: Don't be afraid to get creative and mix in some blue flower petals on your aisle, hang blue lights or crystals behind your officiant, or even have a blue ring pillow for your ring bearer to carry.

15. Tights: Why not rock a pair of aqua fishnet hose under your wedding gown?

The first thing to know about living in mainland Alaska is that weddings can be.... interesting. They challenge you to be creative with your problem solutions. Not only is everything pricey (yes, even more pricey than awedding in the Lower 48!), but if you're not in or near Anchorage planning a wedding is going to be much different than any other wedding you can plan.

Flowers are one of the most expensive things in planning a wedding. When the bride talked to a florist, she got an estimate for her modest flower needs of $800.

"Does that sound reasonable?" she asked me. I answered her with a resounding NO!!! Not for what she wanted and not with her budget! So instead, we found a flower warehouse in Anchorage that let us look around, see what we wanted, and price it out.

For all her flowers (and a bit more than what she asked of the florist), we got all the flowers we could possibly want for under $150. We found some instructions online on how to make your own bouquets, and our little band of faithfuls put together some very beautiful arrangements.

We decorated the aisles with pretty bouquets of baby's breathe tied with rafia, and each bundle held a handmade pinwheel.

Armed with flower tape, corsage pins, and ribbon that we bought at Wal-Mart, we made our own bridal party bouquets (and bouttonieres, but there was no good pictures of those).

Since the bride wanted a whimsical theme, including vintage books, pinwheels, and wildflowers, I designed the programs like mini books from scrapbook paper and ribbon. Pictured below is the cover page. The next page was the order of the wedding, and the last page had a list of wedding participants and thank you's from the bride and groom.

July is the perfect time for wildflowers in Alaska. We sent the guys outside the church to pick as many daisies and Queen Anne's Lace as they could possibly carry for the reception tables.
We put them in Mason jars adorned with raffia and, of course, a navy or silver pinwheel. The bride depleted her book collection and even checked out a few from her local library to set on the tables. We added a couple votives and used squares of navy fabric to make the decoration pop off the table tableclothes.

Finally, since there was no room and no desire for dancing in this intimate wedding group, we printed off some wedding-related games (like the ones you play at bridal showers) and gave every guest a freshly sharpened pencil to finish off the whimsical effect. All around the room, everyone was having a great time trying to figure out the word scrambles. It was especially helpful when wedding formals were beign taken!

Many of us get a bit confused between vegans and vegetarians, especially since the terms also appear to be close to each other. To get your perspective right about these two groups, you have to keep in mind that a vegetarian is someone who has made some choices about the food to be consumed. On the other hand veganism goes beyond the type of food choices one makes; it is a choice of a specific type of lifestyle.
While a vegetarian by choice can decide on the food preference due to health reasons or concern about animal life, a vegan believes in the philosophy of not only giving up foods of animal origin but they also refrain from using any product which could have used an animal by-product during its manufacture or processing like eating honey, wearing fur, wool, silk or leather. (http://www.becomevegetarian.org/)

The difference between a vegan and a vegetarian is that vegans eliminate all animal products from their diet, including dairy and eggs. Those following a vegan lifestyle generally do not wear leather and avoid products made from animals such as wool, silk and down. Vegans' tremendous compassion for animals is an abiding, overriding conviction in their lives.
Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish or poultry but they tend to consume dairy products and eggs. Lacto-vegetarians consume dairy products but not eggs, ovo-vegetarians eat eggs but not dairy products and lacto-ovo-vegetarians eat eggs as well as dairy products. Vegetarians also do not eat products that contain gelatine or other meat-based products.
The vegan point of view is that animals are not here to be exploited by man, and that commercialization of animals necessarily involves a fundamental, inhumane component and lack of respect for basic life. (http://www.diffen.com/)

Vegan vs. vegetarian: why do people choose one over the other? The answer perhaps lay in one’s level of motivation and the sense of values. While all of us hear repeatedly how our eating habits are bringing unprecedented damage to the environment and how our consumption pattern over the centuries have put several animal and bird species on the verge of extinction, not all of us get moved equally by such truths. Some people decide to rise to the cause and take some action in their personal consumption habits in the belief that it takes tiny drops to create the ocean.
(http://www.becomevegetarian.org/)

As you prepare for your wedding, saving a little money here and there can make all the difference in the world. Finding cheap wedding stuff is a reality that millions of couples are discovering, and something that you can boast about to your friends and family, if you're so inclined. Consider some of the places where you can find great hurricane lamps, Christmas lights, vases, dishes, decor items, etc. for a great deal. There's no reason to need to go to Micheal's, Hobby Lobby, or Wal-Mart for some of these items when you can hit wonderful places like garage sales, thift stores and consignments shops instead.

Garage Sales

I don't know about you but who doesn't like a good garage sale, finding those special treasures for dollars or even pennies. This is a really great place to pick up cheap wedding stuff. Veils, tuxes, shoes, and many other items can often be found right around the corner from your house at an estate sale or garage sale. Estate sales sometimes have ridiculously high prices, but if you go the last day of the event, you can often get things at more than half off!

Why not save a ton of money on those items that you find for your special day, old vases, colorful jars, mason jars, votive candles, even bird cages, be creative. With today's economy, creativity is key in keeping you within your wedding budget. Vintage, eclectic weddings are a hot trend today and there are probably vintage stores popping up all over your city. Visit them frequently, because they are constantly restocking new (old) items periodically throughout the month. You might even find that perfect vintage wedding dress or even bridesmaid dresses. Bridesmaid's dresses no longer have to be the same in style and color. Again, be creative! Since most brides have the luxury of planning their wedding 1 or even 2 years in advance, this gives you plenty of time to hit those garage sales and vintage stores.

Thrift Stores






Don't knock the thrift stores and Goodwill centers as places where you can pick up everything from wedding gowns to punch bowls and service wear. These stores have tons of wonderful fashions and supplemental wedding supplies at very cheap prices. Many rich people have given up their wedding gowns and bridesmaid's dresses to thrift stores, allowing those who want to save some money to take advantage of the savings.

Consignment Stores

Like thrift stores, consignment stores sometimes carry wedding clothes and other items at a tremendous discount.These stores have strict policies for cleanliness and usually only carry very nice things.Still, you can find cheap, yet attractive, wedding stuff as such stores. This would be a great way to involve your future husband as well. Check out
www.essortment.com for some unusual places to find great wedding stuff!

The sad truth is that problems in our lives rarely get better by themselves. If you get a sliver in your thumb and ignore it, what happens? I suppose there's a slight chance that the sliver will work it's way out, but more likely the thumb will get infected. It turns red and hurts. In time it swells and throbs. The infection spreads, and if left untreated it even has the potential to kill you. But if you take the time to remove the slinter and perhaps apply an antibiotic, your thumb will probably be well in a day or two.

It's relatively simple to care for an infected thumb, but caring for your worn-out body, mind, and spirit can be trickier. You may know you need to do something but feel too tired or frustrated to do anything at all.

Most worn-out women struggle with expectations. Do you ever feel like an octopus is attacking you, its arms grabbing and pulling? Everyone seems to want more and more. They want you to do things better and bigger and quicker, all the while with a smile on your face. Everywhere you turn, there's another expectation . . . until you're exhausted just thinking about it. It's too much!

What can you do? The only way to stop the octopus from dragging you down is to starve it. If you take away the three foods it thrives on, the octopus will lose its power, and overwhelming expectations will lose their grip. The three foods are comparison, people pleasing, and perfectionism.

Comparison

Comparing yourself to others is dangerous, especially when you are on the verge of being worn out. As your stress increases, you tend to be more self-critical. This saps your energy and kills your morale.

The cure:
The best antidote is a healthy dose of reality. You are unique, with a specific set of God-given attributes and abilities. Spend some time thinking about your positive characteristics. Then resolve to start accepting yourself, respecting yourself, and loving yourself.

People Pleasing

Many people, especially women, have a bad case of what has been popularly called "the disease to please" - and it's an energy-sapping malady. Nothing is inherently wrong with being nice or accomodating, unless it's for the wrong reasons. People pleasing essentially means letting other people's imagined expectations control your actions.

The cure:
It's natural to want people to like you. It's natural to want them to respect and think well of you. But if this desire drives you to be a worn-out woman, it's time to stop. Remember that your physical, emotional, and siritual health is more important than temporarily pleasing someone else.

Perfectionism

Perfection deosn't exist on this planet, but that doesn't stop a lot of us from trying to acheive it! Many women believe they must be perfect, or nearly perfect, in everything they do, and they feel despair when they feel they've failed at anything.

The cure:
Admit that perfectionism is impossible. Give yourself permission to make mistakes. Accept your weaknesses and failures. Set realistic and reachable goals. Aim for excellence, not perfection.

You can start with a favorite color and decide if it fits your theme, if it does then choose a color scheme that will be visually fulfilling. If your favorite color does not fit your theme, you might be interested to see what emotions and associations are evoked by different colors.

Check out the colors and their associations listed below, and if you find that your favorite color (or a theme color that fits your wedding) seems to have a negative connotation to it do not despair. When it really comes down to it, it’s your wedding and your guests will love anything you choose.

Red: is associated with energy, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love.
Light red: represents joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, and love.

Pink: signifies romance, love, and friendship. It denotes feminine qualities and passiveness.

Dark red: is associated with vigor, willpower, rage, anger, leadership, courage, longing, malice, and wrath.

Brown: suggests stability and denotes masculine qualities.

Reddish-brown: is associated with harvest and fall.

Orange: represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.
Dark orange: can mean deceit and distrust.

Red-orange: corresponds to desire, sexual passion, pleasure, domination, aggression, and thirst for action.

Gold: evokes the feeling of prestige. The meaning of gold is illumination, wisdom, and wealth.
Yellow: is the color of sunshine. It's associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy.

Dark yellow: represents caution, decay, sickness, and jealousy.

Light yellow: is associated with intellect, freshness, and joy.

Green: is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility.

Dark green: is associated with ambition, greed, and jealousy.

Yellow-green: can indicate sickness, cowardice, discord, and jealousy.

Olive green: is the traditional color of peace.

Aqua: means emotional healing and protection.

Blue: means depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith and truth.

Light blue: means health, healing, tranquility, and understanding.

Dark blue: means knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness.

Purple: is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic.

Light purple: evokes romantic and nostalgic feelings.

Dark purple: evokes gloom and sad feelings. It can cause frustration.

White: is associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity.
Black: is associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery.

Simply use this as a jumping off point, an inspiration for the kind of wedding you'd like to have! Have fun! There are so many colors and color combination for you to choose from. Enjoy yourself and surround yourself and your guests in beautiful colors!

Having a separate cake for the groom dates back to Victorian times in England. The cake originally was meant to be a gift from the bride to the groom. To share in the romance of the wedding couple, it was intended for single women who attended the reception to take with them. Legend has it that if they take a slice of the groom's cake and place it beneath their pillows at bedtime, they will dream of their future husbands!!

The notion of sleeping with a piece of cake underneath one's pillow dates back as far as the 17th century and quite probably forms the basis for today's tradition of giving cake as a "gift." In the late 18th century this notion led to the curious tradition in which brides would pass tiny crumbs of cake through their rings and then distribute them to guests who could, in turn, place them under their pillows. The custom was curtailed when brides began to get superstitious about taking their rings off after the ceremony. (www.hudsonvalleyweddings.com)
Can you imagine if that was still done today?!!

Once the groom’s cake made it to the U.S., it was mainly a southern tradition for the cake to be served at the reception but on a separate table from the wedding cake. The origin of this tradition is unclear. Some believe it was to be served by the groom, with a glass of wine, to the bridesmaids. Others believe it was to be saved and subsequently shared with friends after the honeymoon. The tradition seems to have survived primarily in the South. (www.hudsonvalleyweddings.com)

In years passed it was mostly chocolate or a dark fruit cake, but now that has changed and you will find it in a variety of flavors, colors or shapes. Since so much of the wedding and reception is focused on the bride and her dream day, current trends have the groom’s cake a symbol of what is really special to him. Some are themed with his favorite professional or college sports teams, or you may see another themed after his hobby like golf or his favorite musical instrument. You may also see it themed after his profession like a Web Designer or Firefighter, and if he’s a grillmaster, a cake related to that would be more appropriate.

Maybe he has a 1970 Ford Mustang he washes every Saturday, even though he never drives it!!! I've seen it all. Now that cake decorating is an art in itself, you will see all types of unique themed groom’s cakes, which really becomes a conversation piece at the rehearsal dinner or reception! Of course the groom will love it because this is something that really represents his interests, everyone will be talking about it and he’ll really appreciate how you thought of him in such a delicious way!

In the past, groom's cakes, which were separate from the bride's cakes, were either cut and wrapped to be eaten after the reception, or they were served from another table for those guests who preferred a darker, richer cake. Today, the groom's cake is still sliced and served separately, usually by a member of the wait staff. Some couples prefer to offer the groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner, a fitting time since the groom's family hosts the occasion. (www.jankishlapetitefleur.com)

When it comes to modern day weddings, brides are all about finding the newest trend and fashion. We are on a constant search to try something new, daring, and different. Weddings are held in venues all over from barns to airplane hangers, vineyards, and botanical gardens to old train stations and your favorite roof top. They include themes from traditional or Boho to the ever so popular Halloween or New Years wedding. Traditions are set aside as new and more inventive ideas are added into the ceremony, vows, progression and reception. So why is it that the typical bride feels bound by the one, maybe two (if they match), accent colors?

Color is a timeless theme that never goes out of style. There is something to be said about a breathtaking pattern paired with a vibrant mix of hues to really express your personal style! Everyone is different, so why are we so stuck to the single color staple?

By opening up our minds we can discover a wide variety of ways to add our own little touch to pieces here and there. Rich chromatic mixtures of a bouquet can transfer smoothly to the rest of the wedding palette in a way that is sure to enlighten the senses. A variety of color does not have to break the bank either. Consider the following ways of adding a spice of color to your wedding with out setting your wallet on fire.

1. Refreshing Florals:
Waves of color can always start in your's and your bridesmaid's bouquets. Try mixing and matching different flowers of a plethora of sizes within the same color palette. Another tactic would be to stick with the weddings primary hues and add a bright yellow, purple, or pink to add some pop! Don’t be afraid to approach bridesmaid's dresses in the same fashion with the addition of textures and accessories.

3. Don’t Forget the Paperwork:
Not all paper work is bad! Invitations, Save the Dates, Programs, and even Menus can all be spiced up by adding an extra hue here or there. Using a dark color to make the names in a bright color stand out. To make a typical invitation seem more intricate by adding a back ground color to show depth. A variety of color can be accomplished with different paper styles, stamps, ribbons, glitter, etc. Colors are endless so the possibility to be creative and make your unique style stand out is also endless.

White: Purification, Truth and Peace
Green: Luck, Fertility and Calmness
Light Blue: Tranquility and Patience
Dark Blue: Growth, Strength and Passion
Purple: Power, Royalty and Strength

Pink: Soothing, Love and Comfort
Red: Strength, Courage and Passion
Orange: Stimulation and Attractiveness
Yellow: Confidence, Independence and Happiness
Brown: Serenity, Bold and Confidence

Have fun playing with different styles, patterns, and textures! Don’t be afraid to test out metallics and bold sequences. You will never know if you don’t try. Try getting some paint chip samples from your local home improvement store, to play with the wide variety of hues.

Remember there is not just one shade of green, blue, yellow and so one so be adventurous. If you are stuck and don’t even know where to begin, try looking around your house, your favorite blanket, or a wall that speaks to you. You have surrounded yourself with things for a reason. Chances are they tell stories about your personality.

As I visited the ocean one hot weekend this summer, I witnessed several brides and grooms "jumping the broom" and doing their nuptials right there on the beach, and why not? What a perfect scene Mother Nature has provided us for joining two lives together for eternity. In a sense, one could liken a beach wedding to birth, the creation of a new life, and with the presence of water, it makes even more sense to use the "birth" analogy. With so much to offer romantically, such as breath taking views, the natural backdrop of the sandy beaches, and for those on the west coast, even a possible sunset, why would a bride ask for anything more?

Truth be told, weddings on the beach aren't always a piece of cake to plan. With weather to factor in, and winds, there are some ideas that work for many other locations that just don't work as well for beachside weddings. However there are also so many positives to consider. For example, why not make the event unique by adding your favorite seafood dishes to the dinner menu?
Perhaps you would like to wear a more beach inspired wardrobe instead of the typical formal wedding attire? Let us not forget the plethora of beach decor ideas that come along with choosing a beachside wedding and theme. Check out this link to get some great ideas for inexpensive beach wedding favor ideas! One thing is certain, no matter how you choose to approach a beach wedding, it is sure to be a hit.

While beach wedding attire can be as formal or as casual as you want, you should try to stick with simple style apparel instead of anything that is overwhelming and overdone. The traditional Cinderella gown with layers of satin and tulle covered with lace will not be as comfortable as the lighter, flowing dress options. Look for a dress that is elegant, but will keep you cool and comfortable. It should go without saying to also avoid dresses with a long train. Anything that is breathable, shorter and makes the wedding participants more comfortable will certainly work well for this special occasion. Beach Comber Bride has a great selection of beach wedding dresses for you to choose from.

Just keep in mind that even though you are going for a more comfortable look, you still can be fashionable and princess-like for this event. While some brides prefer to wear shoes, lots of beach brides choose to forgo shoes completely and simply go barefoot. Others choose the elegance of barefoot sandals. If you do choose to wear shoes, keep in mind that anything with a sharp heel will sink easily into the sand and will trip you up.
As with most weddings, it is much easier to plan the groom's clothing because they can opt to wearing either a traditional tuxedo if the wedding is to be more formal, or if you are going more casual, tan pants and a white shirt. They could even go for the casually tailored suit look.

When you consider all of your beach wedding ideas, make sure to consider your hairstyle. Let's face it, the seaside can play havoc with your hair, and thus finding a suitable beach wedding hairstyle can be a challenge! Whether or not it will be windy on your wedding day, you should prepare yourself in choosing a beach wedding hairdo that will look good after the wind and sea spray has been through it.
This does by no means dictate that you should pin all your tresses as tightly as possible and use up an entire bottle of hairspray to keep it all in place. A seaside wedding lends itself to more casual hairstyles, and conjures up images of cascading curls and half up-do's. If you want to wear your hair up then go for a loose, slightly messy look for a casual feel.

The RULES:

1) You must sign a contract between October 1, 2011 and December 30, 2011 to be entered into the contest.

2) You must be a legal resident of the United States and be able to provide a valid email address and phone number.

3) Your wedding must take place within the United States, but can be scheduled for anytime this year or next year.

4) The winner will be chosen within (7) seven days of the new year, and will be alerted through email at the address given on the consulting contract, as well as the company blog.

5) The client(s) and consultant involved will continue to be held resposponsible for all clauses and limitations written in the consulting contract.

6) Winning constitutes permission to use Winner’s name, images, hometown, likeness, prize won, and photograph (all at Sponsor’s discretion) for future advertising, publicity in any and all media now or hereafter devised throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification or permission.

7) Chosen winner of the contest may choose to withdraw from the contest and all prizes at any time and continue with their regular paid services.

8) Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification from the Contest.

9) Contestant agrees that any and all disputes and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action lawsuit.

10) There must be at least (40) forty entries for the contest to begin.

One of best ways is to send them a Thank You note! Even though it seems like a very small gesture, a handwritten note is a great way to say thank you! You should send a note to each and every person who has given you anything, whetherthey gave of their time or gave you a special gift. In the note mention the gift or the contribution and why you appreciate it so much. By doing this the person know that the card was intended strictly for them.

For the special people that went the extra mile for you, be a little more creative when showing them your appreciation. Did your best friend shop endless with you walking in store after store until you found your dream dress? Treat her to a spa day for a little R&R. Did your aunt give you a beautiful wall clock that you adore? Mount it on your living room wall and take a picture of the happy couple right underneath it! You can also send a plant or bake a sweet treat to show your thanks.

There are so many ways to say “Thank You,” however you say it is your choice but this important gesture should not be overlooked. Also do not procrastinate after your wedding. Send your thank you notes within 3 weeks of receiving your gifts. Also, share this experience with your husband. It’s a sweet way to get in the habit of doing things “together.”

Cut:

This is the shape of the diamond you choose. Some popular choices are round, square, pear and marquise but that all just depends on your taste. A moderately priced diamond can have a mesmerizing effect from the cut of a skilled jeweler. Choose a stone that is rated good, very good, premium or ideal.

Color:

Diamond colors start at extremely rare (flawless) colorless grade D and continue through the alphabet to Z (yellow grade). The more colorless the stone the more expensive it will be. Color is a result of the composition of the diamond, and it never changes over time.
Because a colorless diamond, like a clear window, allows more light to pass through it than a colored diamond, colorless diamonds emit more sparkle and fire. (www.thediamondbuyingguide.com)

Clarity:

When we speak of a diamond's clarity, we are referring to the presence of identifying characteristics on (blemishes) and within (inclusions) the stone.
Inclusions include flaws such as air bubbles, cracks, and non-diamond minerals found in the diamond. Blemishes include scratches, pits, and chips. Some blemishes occur during the cutting processes (most often at the girdle). Diamonds with no or few inclusions and blemishes are more highly valued than those with less clarity because they are rarer.

Carat:

This is the weight of the diamond. The process that forms a diamond happens only in very rare circumstances, and typically the natural materials required are found only in small amounts. That means that larger diamonds are uncovered less often than smaller ones. Thus, large diamonds are rare and have a greater value per carat. For that reason, the price of a diamond rises exponentially to its size. (www.thediamondbuyingguide.com) Also see http://www.ajediam.com/Sizes-of-Diamonds.html for actual carat size comparison by millimeters and centimeters.

Look at the diamond in natural light. Stores tend to have “extra lighting” that can play up the brilliance of a ring. It will look a lot different in the florescent light of a room, daylight, and the toned-down, yellow-tinted light bulbs in your living room.

Ask the jeweler for a diamond certification to ensure you’re not purchasing a “blood diamond,” also called a conflict diamond, converted diamond, hot diamond, or war diamond. These terms refer to a diamond mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, invading army's war efforts, or a warlord's activity, usually in Africa where around two-thirds of the world's diamonds are extracted.

Most grooms traditionally use one to three months of their salary to buy an engagement ring. This is not a firm rule. Make sure you buy what’s comfortable for you.

Not that there's anything wrong with our current logo or advertising, but we are always looking to stay up to date and in front of our audience! We want our brides to see that we understand what they need and are here to help.

We have made it a point in the years we've been in business to reflect a comforting, romantic image in all of our communication. Not only are we here as planners, to make sure that our couples can leave all of their weding details to us and have a stress-free engagment period and wedding day, but we are also here for support, a shoulder to cry on, a mediator for any family concerns that may come up, and the one person that you know will be excited with you, sympathetic to your needs, and concerned with everyone enjoying the wedding day!

Ideally we want to keep that same image in our company while displaying a creative, unique, and personal logo that makes us stand out from our competition. We want something that makes people think of us when they see it. We want positive branding that leaves couples with the peace of mind that everything will be taken care of if they put their dreams in our hands.

If this is your forte, or you are interested in stretching your creative muscles, please participate! You have the opportunity to win a monetary prize of $200 at the end of the week long contest!

Jump in and act now!! To participate visit http://99designs.com/logo-design/contests/help-piece-cake-wedding-design-updated-logo-96394.

The design contest is now up and running on 999designs.com and will be accepting entries until 10:53am PST on Tuesday, September 20th, 2011.

Be a part of the future, of innovation and our future success! I can't wait to see what you come up with! Thanks!

What better day to be alive, and gorgeous and healthy than on your wedding day! What’s more, you’ve got not just one exciting event happening in your life, but you get to share than moment with a little bundle of joy on his or her way! There’s no reason to change the way you plan your wedding short of keeping the due date in mind and keeping your stress levels low. http://www.wikihow.com/Enjoy-Your-Wedding-as-a-Pregnant-Bride has some great advice for enjoying your wedding planning!

Laurie Dent was a 38 year old woman that found out she was pregnant after the proposal and a date was set. She was nervous about what people would think and about how she would find a dress, but by the end of the amazing wedding she had planned, she said that she had “a perfect wedding day.” Yes, she was nearly nine months along, and no, she was not “a skinny bride,” but “by that point I had worked through all my vanity issues, and at the end of the day realized I was getting married to the man I loved, and I was going to have a baby. What could be better than that?”

Particularly when you look curvy and stunning in a fitted strapless white gown — one you bought several sizes too big and had altered at the very last minute. “It hugged me,” she says. “I felt sexy and proud.” (Lisa Belkin, New York Times, March 2011) Check out her story at http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/a-very-pregnant-bride/.

There are so many options for pregnant women available in shops and websites all over the place now for women at every stage of their pregnancy. Websites like http://www.babiesnbellies.com/ and http://www.sheknows.com/ have tons of beautiful dresses, tips and advice for this stage of your life while getting married. They even offer tips and ideas to pregnant bridesmaids.

Not only can you expect advice and bridal wear, but many websites out there for pregnancy also provide a great deal of assistance with finding gorgeous maternity wear for throughout your pregnancy and cute ways to add your little one’s arrival into your wedding. For instance, I’ve had a bride that dyed her cake according to the sex of the baby and so when they cut the cake that night, everyone got to find out what they were having! It was so precious and everyone loved it!

www.maternitybride.com and http://www.lightinthebox.com/
are also a couple of great places to look. Light in the Box
has some gorgeous looks you’ll definitely want to check out!
Maternity wedding dresses are definitely the new fashion for
women shaking things up a bit. No longer do you have to hide
or be ashamed, but you can celebrate not only you marriage
to the love if your life, but your future together with the arrival
of your little one with family and friends! Find the perfect dress
for your wedding day that will show everyone just how
beautiful you really are as you walk down the aisle to your
knight in shining armor. I bet once he sees you coming
towards him, you won’t be the only one glowing at the
wedding!

In the past, tradition has always had us preserve our wedding dress for our children or our grandchildren to wear on their big day. But is that the case now?
With the ever changing styles in wedding gowns, wearing our mother’s dress is quickly become a thing of the past. Many brides want new dresses to fit their personal style and preference. Not to mention, the mother and daughter may not have the same physique, so alterations can become just as costly as purchasing a new dress.

So what are brides doing with their dresses since the appeal of passing it down to the next generation is no longer there? A new tradition of “trashing the dress” is quickly on the rise. In Iowa, a bride wore her dress to the state fair. It was here she had her photographer from her wedding photographed her “trashing her dress”. In another instance the bride and groom used condiment bottles to cover each other in paint. This was a lot of fun to watch!! In Oklahoma, the bride stood there while a truck sprayed mud all over her dress. Need inspiration for your own trash the dress, visit YouTube and you can see these and many other ways to “trash the dress.”

To put a spin on things, not only are the brides trashing their dresses, but they are having it photographed and videoed as part of their wedding! What a great idea! Many brides will never wear their dress again. Nor do they plan to pass it down to their child. So why not add some fun to a day that is the most important day of your life. It surely won’t be something that your family and friends will forget anytime soon!

For those of you reading this and thinking “Oh my goodness! That is a lot of many to spend on a dress, just to trash it!” but don’t see yourself holding onto either, there are other alternatives. You can sell your dress, donate it to a local charity, or have it made into your children’s Christening gowns.
Whatever you decide to do with your dress, have fun with it. That dress is a part of the most important day of your life! Live it up! And once the traditional pictures are out of the way, don’t be afraid to trash it. Oops, I mean destroy it! It is, of course, the latest fad.

Wedding traditions are just like any other traditions. The first time you go to your fiancé’s house for their family thanksgiving celebration, although the traditional turkey is there maybe the gravy is made differently. Maybe they have mashed potatoes rather than baked potatoes. Every family has their own version of traditions that are passed down through the years. Weddings are just like that.

Everyone getting married uses traditions they have seen at the weddings they have been to, weddings they have participated in, or those important to their parents. Seeing as how weddings and the accompanying traditions are as different as the couples getting married, we wanted to share some of the meanings behind each of them. This way you can choose the ones that are right for you!

So it’s time to pick your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Who will be a good fit? Will they be able to be there through every appointment? Can they be available to share your ideas and dreams? Will they be willing to take on such a big role in your special day? Although the bridal party is typically all of your best friends and possibly closest siblings there to have fun with you and help to share the day with you, back in Roman times the meaning was entirely different.

In those times the groomsmen had the responsibility to surround the bride and make sure no other man from another village could come and steal the bride away from her husband. Talk about having your friend’s back! The bridesmaids were to make sure that they dressed up in attire similar to the bride in order to confuse any evil spirits and keep them from putting an evil spell on her. The friends of the bride and groom did this to make sure the bride and groom made it through their wedding day and lived happily ever after.

So why is the wedding ring worn on the fourth finger of the left hand? Traditionally it has always been said that the exchange of a ring is a symbol of everlasting love. Seeing as how every bride and groom exchange rings and place them on the other’s left hand fourth finger, no one ever questions it. Like your Mother in Law’s gravy, no one asks and everyone just eats it. The reasoning behind the specific placement of the wedding ring is very simple. They traditionally believed that the finger was a direct connection to the heart seeing as how the vein in that finger links directly to your heart.

Surprise!!! Bridal showers today are a great way to celebrate before a wedding, by showering the couple with gifts to help them start their new life together. These gifts often include items like a brand-new toaster oven, a coffee maker, gift cards, and even money for their honeymoon.

The tradition of a bridal shower actually originates from Holland. When a bride’s father did not approve of the husband-to-be, he also refused to provide her with the necessary dowry for her to be married. For this reason the bride’s friends would throw her a party showering her with the dowry that the father of the bride would not provide. Seeing as how the dowry was essentially the money and property given with a bride in marriage to protect her in the case of divorce or the death of her husband, those items given to the bride by friends as described above would not have been the traditional bridal shower gifts we see today. The tradition has transformed a great deal over the years.

This is the memorable tradition of the father giving away his lovely daughter on her wedding day. We have all shed a tear while watching a father kiss his daughter for the last time before she becomes a married woman. Giving away the bride now is something very special to the bride on her big day! For a bride to know her father gives his blessing shows her that she has the support of her family as she starts her new journey.

However, in the ancient times the reason for giving away the bride didn’t have the same meaning. At that time girls were actually seen as the property of their fathers until they were given in marriage to another man’s household. When the time came to hand over his lovely daughter it was an actual approved arrangement of ownership. Where is the love?