Centerpieces

Wedding Table Centerpieces

 

7 Great Ideas For DIY Wedding Centerpieces

A floral centerpiece from a local florist can cost as much as $200. This means that if you have 10 tables, you’ll end up spending a whopping $2,000. Even if money is no object, there’s no need to spend this much on the table centerpieces especially if you are a creative and resourceful bride. DIY centerpieces will not only save you money but would also impress your guests, as they are unique and personalized. Here are seven great ideas on DIY wedding centerpieces that will not break your back or your pockets.

  1. Fruit Fiesta – Incorporate edible items into the table centerpiece has been one of the biggest trends over the past few years. And they’re still here to stay. Fruit centerpieces are not only easy to create, they are also overflowing with colors, charm and personality. To make them, get a tall clear vase or a wide hurricane vase and fill this up with fruits of varied colors—apples, peaches, apricots, grapes and oranges are just few examples. Another idea is to stick slices of lemons, limes and oranges onto wooden skewers and stick each of these into a big pineapple.
  2. Holiday Themed Centerpiece – Be inspired by the holiday happening at the same time as your wedding. For example, if you’re tying the knot on December, decorate the tables with wreaths or miniature Christmas trees. If the event is happening on the same week as Easter Sunday, have a basket filled with colorful Easter eggs to grace the table.
  3. Mini Photo Exhibit – While other table centerpieces are meant only to prettify the table setting, this particular one does more than that. It actually tells people about your love story. There are two ways to create a mini photo exhibit centerpiece. One is to get three pieces of crystal cube photo frame. Each cube can accommodate three photographs, so that’s a total of nine pictures for you to display. Place the two cubes side by side and on the center top, stack the third cube. Another way is to make use of the “our story” personalized wedding keepsake photo frame and fill this up with lovely pictures.
  4. Potted Herbs on a Tiered Stand – This one is also very easy to create. Just buy a couple of potted herbs from the local nursery. Buy online a multi-tiered cupcake stand. Instead of placing cupcakes here, put the potted herbs.
  5. Sand and Surf Décor – A centerpiece that’s perfect for a beach wedding is the sand and surf décor. To make this, you’ll need a square or rectangular clear glass tray. Fill this up with sand. Throw in some shells, starfish and other beach treasures. On one end of the tray, sink in a miniature surfboard that contains your initials.
  6. Mason Jars and Lollipops – If you don’t want overly formal and stuffy décor for the table, go for this idea that lets out the inner child in you. Round up some colorful mason jars and fill each one with different sizes and types of lollipops. Put a label on the mason jar to tell the guests that the lollipops are theirs for the taking after the reception.
  7. Aquarium Bowl – It’s always lucky to incorporate water into any decoration. For the table centerpiece, you can make use of an aquarium bowl and fill it with real fish. Add some colorful decors for more visual appeal.

Most Popular

Most Popular

 

Most Popular Wedding Favors For This Wedding Season

When you were first planning your wedding, you thought that all that mattered were the big things like the wedding theme, décor, ceremony and reception venues, catering and photography. But slowly, you’ve begun to realize that even the small things play a big role in contributing to the success of the event. Wedding favors, for example, may be small in size but they’re huge in meaning. They’re tokens of appreciation that show the guests how grateful you are that they partook in this affair. Below is a list of the most popular wedding favors for this season that you might want to give away on your big day.

Popular Disposable Wedding Camera Favor

This particular wedding favor serves more than one purpose. Apart from being a great way to thank the guests for their attendance and gifts, this can also be used as decoration for the tables of the guests, since they are packaged so nicely. Not only that, they can also be used by the guests to capture memorable scenes and special moments that are not caught by the photographers that you hired for that day.

Classic Metallic Gold Playing Cards in Plastic Case

This is especially great for a Las Vegas themed wedding. But even if you’re not having that, your guests will still be delighted to receive a playing cards wedding favor. The cards are designed to the theme of love, make it fitting for the event.

Golden Lac Box with Beads and Mirror Wedding Favor Box and Place Cardholder

If you want to give away something distinct or exotic, this one is the best choice for you. The golden lac box exudes in an exotic appeal that even the most discriminating guests will adore. It is made more elegant with the bead and mirror decorations and the shimmer gold with lacquer finish.

Light Hearted Wedding Tissue Handkerchiefs

You have probably guessed that there won’t be a dry eye in your wedding celebration especially with all the touching moments that you’re bound to have all throughout that day. Because of this, you might want to give away light hearted wedding tissue handkerchiefs as wedding favors.

Salt and Pepper Puzzle Pieces

There are many things to love about this wedding favor. One of these is that you can use them to “spice up” the wedding table setting. This favor is packaged in a beautiful blue paper ribbon wrap that you can personalize to match the color scheme of the event.

Eco – Wooden Ornate Handles for Hand Fans

Whether you’re having an eco-friendly wedding or not, you can give away these wooden handles to the guests. Don’t forget to add the hand fans so that they can use these to cool themselves up especially if what you’re having is an affair by the sea or in the garden.

Diamond Bling Fridge Magnets Wedding Favor

Add more sparkle to your wedding day by giving away these diamond bling ref magnet favors. They’re packaged inside this cute retro style fridge gift box. For a funnier effect, add a miniature note sticker with your personal message.

Romantic Favors

Romantic Candle Wedding Favors

 

Romantic Wedding Favors For A Cheap Wedding

The first time your beau asked for your hand in marriage, your heart banged in your chest like it was trying to get out because of the excitement that you were feeling. And now here you are, just a few months or weeks into your big day. You have almost everything set up and in order, except for that one little detail, which are the wedding favors. Don’t make the mistake of neglecting these items as they are the tokens of appreciation for the guests. You want to thank them the right way for attending your wedding and being a part of the joyous celebration. Even if you’re a little tight on the budget, you can still give them stylish and romantic wedding favors that they’ll surely love.

Antique Style Key Bottle Opener in Gift Packaging

Any vintage or classic wedding would benefit from this sophisticated piece of wedding favor. An antique style key bottle opener that’s packaged in an elegant box is a valuable keepsake that your guests will treasure for a long time. Don’t forget to add a personalize message thanking them how their attendance was a “key” to the success of your wedding.

Unique Love Bird Salt and Pepper Shaker Wedding Favors

These are finely crafted love bird salt and pepper shakers in white porcelain that speak of contemporary style and romantic flair. They certainly make lovable wedding favors. Not to mention, the exquisite pullout box packaging makes it even more interesting. You’ll also be delighted with the die cut opening in the box that gives you a peek into the interior. Add more charm to this gift by using the Love Bird Paper Band.

Bride and Groom Wedding Favor Candy Bags

Whimsical and funny—these bride dress and groom tux favors are sure to elicit smiles from the guests. You and your groom won’t be able to keep yourself from laughing while you fill these favor bags with luscious treats. You can also try putting a photo or caricature of you and your groom on top of the favor bag to make it even more hilarious. Since these favor bags come in black and white, expect that they can complement any color motif or theme.

Miniature Clear Blown Glass Heart Wedding Centerpiece Vase

These are clear glass vases in heart shapes that will blow your guests’ minds. They can also serve as classy decorations for the tables. Be sure to tell your guests that these are for them to take home as souvenirs of the happy celebration of love they shared with you and your spouse.

Unique Miniature Beveled Mirror Box with Lid Wedding Favor

It’s modern and classic style infused into one wedding favor. This miniature beveled mirror box is a sparkly way to thank your guests for coming to this significant event in your life. You can personalize it with the matching sticker that comes with it.

Practical Mini Magnet Back Aluminum Heart Photo Frame Wedding Favors

What you’d love about this mini magnet heart photo frame favors is that it can double as place card holders. Once they’ve done the task of guiding your guests to their tables, they can be taken home as wedding favors.

Stylish Favors

Stylish Wedding Favors

 

Stylish Wedding Favors For Your Wedding In Style

Wedding favors are largely varied today with wedding couples no longer confined to just fruitcakes in cute packages. These souvenirs have also gotten more beautiful and stylish with each wedding that comes on and wedding planners have also been more adventurous and creative in getting perfect wedding favors. Wedding favors that are elegant in style and design commonly feature classy fixtures like carriages, crowns or stars and are normally decorated with or made of precious stones, crystals or glass and colored silver, gold and glitter.

One of the most stylish wedding favors which are highly unique is the Cinderella glass slipper series. Usually made of crystals, one glass slipper is normally packaged in a transparent plastic box which only helps to accentuate its fragility and elegance. The slippers also come in a set of two and may or may not be further adorned with colored glass, bows or precious stones. Other possibilities in the Cinderella line are place card holders or paperweights. As the names suggest, these are place card holders and weights that are shaped as carriages, butterflies, slippers, crowns and even fairy godmothers. Made of sterling silver, these exquisite gifts will be elegant wedding favors at any wedding.

If tea lights are your kind of gifts, you are in luck. Tea light holders with or without the candles can make stylish wedding favors, particularly when they are designed in the same of a crown and decorated with colored stones or faux pearls. The holder in the shape of a crown can be made of silver or white-colored steel.

DIY Favors

DIY Wedding Favor Supplies

DIY Wedding Favors On A Shoestring Budget

It’s true that wedding trends come and go. But there are some parts of this event that are here to stay forever like the wedding favors for example. Can you imagine a wedding without a memento for guests to take home? That would really be sad!

Now, don’t let your limited budget stand in the way of thanking your guests in this special way. Bequeath them with fabulous DIY wedding favors that won’t cost you a fortune. Here are some practical ideas for wedding giveaways for those with a bootstrap budget.

Double duty favors

Always a smart thing for a frugal bride to do is to opt for dual-purpose items. For example, you may use the wooden starfish photo frame favors as place card holders. Or give away the mini magnet back aluminum heart photo frame favors as a save the date reminder. The wedding table centerpiece can also be taken home as wedding favors after they’ve done their job of beautifying the wedding venue. There are lots of options on double duty favors that would really save you a lot of money.

Edible sweet treats

Who can resist decadent chocolate bars or sweet candies, right? Bag them up using creative favor containers like the natural miniature woven beach bag or mini linen drawstring pouch with English tea rose decorative trim. You can also showcase the colorful treats using the old time candy cellophane bag insert. Unless you opt for gourmet treats, chocolates and candies won’t hurt your pockets at all. And guests would surely love them. Make sure you package them in such a way that they match the wedding theme and color motif.
Homemade giveaways

You’ll be surprised at how many items you can actually make in the comfort of your own home. Candles, soaps, potpourri, desserts, pastries, paper mache sculptures, paintings, and so many more—these are just some of the items that you can make at home and give away to your guests as a thank you for taking part in your special day. Tap into whatever talent you have and take advantage of that. If you’re a master baker, then go ahead and bake goodies for your guests.

Potted plant presents

Put your green thumb into good use and grow some flower plants a few months before your wedding. By the time your big day arrives, you’ll have mini potted plants that you can give to your guests. Aside from being a healthy pastime, gardening is also an inexpensive activity. You’ll only need to spend a few dollars on flower seeds to grow fabulous wedding favors that your guests will love.

CD memorabilia

Mix tapes are a thing of the past. Most kids today don’t even know what these are. What’s in at present is music compilation in CDs. Since it’s very easy to burn a CD of your favorite love songs and CDs are also very cheap, this is a great giveaway idea for your wedding.

Be sure to include only songs that are special for you and your beau.

Pros And Cons Of Holding An Engagement Ceremony

Engagement CeremonyIt has become a tradition for engaged couples to hold an engagement party. But even though many follow this custom, not everyone agrees that it’s necessary. So what do you think of it? You and your beau are planning to get married. He even had you crying at that romantic and unforgettable marriage proposal he planned so well. Do you plan on throwing an engagement bash as well? If you’re torn between the yes and no answers, here are the pros and cons of an engagement ceremony that may help you decide.

On the positive side

It’s a fun way of announcing you’re getting hitched

Isn’t merry-making with family and friends always fun? Announcing your engagement in a party is definitely more exciting than just dropping the news out of nowhere. It also shows the families of both the future bride and groom how serious they are about the whole thing. If you’re not serious, why make a big fuss about it, right?

It gives you a chance to bond with family and friends

There’s not always a chance to get-together with family and friends anymore, given everyone’s overly busy schedules. But for an engagement ceremony, people can always find time. Nobody wants to miss this, just as much as they won’t like missing the actual wedding. An engagement ceremony gives you plenty of time to catch up with old friends too, which is something that would be hard to do during the wedding as you’ll be all caught up with the wedding hullaballoo.

It provides plenty of ideas for the wedding

Believe it or not, organizing the engagement ceremony would be a big help to the wedding planning. For one, it would shed light on some wonderful ideas that you can do on your special day. Apart from that, it can also serve as a “practice” so at this point, you’d learn from the planning mistakes and you can skip those on your wedding day.

Now for the negative side

It might pressure you a bit about the wedding date

If you have an engagement ceremony, people would be expecting that the wedding bells are going to be heard really soon. But what if you want to take the time and enjoy being an engaged couple for a while? It puts some kind of pressure on the couple to set the wedding date right away.

It would mean more money out of your pockets

An engagement ceremony might not be as lavish as a wedding ceremony. But it can also be very costly. The fact that you’ll need to have food catering, entertainment, invitations and even party favours can add up all to the costs.

It’s not advisable for couples who are planning to get married shortly

You got engaged today and you’re planning to get married in two month’s time. How are you going to squeeze in there an engagement party? Planning the wedding is already stressful and it may add to your stress if you have another party coming up.

Whatever your decision is, make sure that you take plenty of time to weigh the pros and cons carefully.

Exotic Destination Wedding Planning Checklist For A Stress Free Wedding

destination wedding coupleBrides have different reasons (or motives) for choosing a destination wedding. Some want to escape from the hullaballoo of getting married in the local area where they are forced to invite even people they don’t like. Some make it an excuse to finally see their dream vacation place. Others simply just fell in love with the idea. Whatever your reason is, this extensive wedding planning checklist will help ensure that yours will be a stress-free one.

One year to nine months before the big day

  • Buy a big thick notebook. What is this for, you may ask. Well, it’s the best place to keep records, contracts, receipts, notes, ideas and other information pertinent to your big day. Bring it anywhere you go so when inspiration strikes you, you won’t have to wait until you come home to jot it down.
  • Make a guest list. Collect people’s addresses, both email and snail mail. Yes, there are still those who are oblivious to electronic mail so be ready to send save the dates and invites through the post office.
  • Lay out your budget. Figure out how much you can afford to spend. Allocate this budget for every wedding expense. Determine which ones you’d want to cut back on and want to splurge on.
  • Pick a date and decide on a destination. Find out about the marriage requirements there. Research for possible wedding and reception sites along with wedding vendors and suppliers.

Nine to six months before your I Do

  • Send out save the dates to emails and snail mails.
  • Get recommendations on wedding vendors including florists, bands, DJ, photographers, caterers in the area where you’re planning to get married. Be sure to check references from the vendors’ past clients.
  • Choose an officiant.
  • Get to know about the tours and activities available in the destination.
  • Shop for your gown. Don’t forget to consider the ceremony site as well as the climate in your choice of destination.
  • Select the wedding party.
  • Put up a wedding website. See to it that you link it to the tourism board, hotels and airlines so guests can easily book their travel needs.
  • Shop for the wedding party’s attire.
  • Learn about the ethnic customs and cultural traditions in the destination of your choice. Consider incorporating them into your event to make it unique and memorable.
  • Register for gifts. Better yet, create a honeymoon registry.

Six to four months until getting hitched

  • Order the wedding rings.
  • Get the necessary travel documents such as passports, visa and travel insurance. Obtain necessary blood tests or vaccination.
  • Arrange for rental of all equipment needed for the event.
  • Order wedding invitations and other stationery items like menus, maps, itineraries, place cards and many more.
  • Book accommodation and airfare for you, your spouse, your families and wedding party.

Four to two months before you’re officially a Mrs.

  • Arrange for group tours and activities.
  • Create playlist for the musicians to play during your wedding.
  • Order or create wedding favors.
  • Send out formal invitations to your guests.

Just one more month and he’s all yours

  • Have final fitting of the gown.
  • Assign last-minute tasks to family, friends and wedding party.
  • Write your vows.

Only two more weeks to go

  • Review all the travel and wedding details.
  • Create the seating chart for the reception.

When you finally arrive

  • Confirm all wedding vendors and suppliers.
  • Confirm with the wedding officiant.
  • Apply for the marriage license.
  • Visit and inspect the ceremony and reception sites.

On the special day

  • This shouldn’t be included anymore for it’s common sense: have fun and make the most out of your big day!

How To Shop For The Best Beach Wedding Packages

beach weddingSo you’re tying the knot real soon? Congratulations! Not everyone is lucky to find a person that they’d want to spend the rest of their lives with. You’re truly one of those few who are blessed. Obviously, you’d want to make this event very special for you and your beau. It’s only right that you’d want to choose a place that is close to your heart. If you’re both beach lovers, this can be the perfect venue for your exchange of vows. Not to mention, there are lots of great beach wedding packages available in the market today. If you don’t have any idea how to go about this process, here are the steps on how to shop for the best beach wedding package.

Step 1 – Go online

The internet has become the hottest marketplace ever since it was introduced a couple of years ago. Now this is the best place for you to find a great beach wedding package. What you need to do is to go to a search engine and type in your query. Start with “beach wedding packages.” You can also be more specific to narrow down the results and enter “budget beach wedding packages,” “customized beach wedding packages,” or “beach wedding packages California (or any other location where you intend to tie the knot).”

Step 2 – Browse through your options

You’ll probably click open a few of the results that you find on the first page. Get to know each of them and find out more about their package products and services. Inquire about their rates and fees. Study their policies in terms of shipping and cancellations. Once you’ve gathered these pieces of information, you can compare the packages that you’ve collected. Analyze each one not only in terms of cost but also the inclusions in the package. Don’t forget to inquire if there are any hidden costs as you wouldn’t want those unpleasant surprises to ruin your big day.

Step 3 – Do a quick background check

Once you have found the beach wedding package that you want to buy, do a quick background check on that wedding company that offers it. Not all companies online can be trusted, you always have to keep this in mind. There are phishing sites that pretend to be legitimate companies but are actually just scammers out to get your money. One way to avoid dealing with those shady people is to get in touch with the company’s former clients. This way, you’ll find out how satisfied their customers are.

Contact the Better Business Bureau to learn if complaints have been made against this particular company in the past. It’s also a must to ensure that the company has a secure system for transacting credit card payments. There are lots of hackers and identity thieves out there that intercept payments to online companies. You’ll know if an online company is secure if the web page where you’ll be asked to put in your credit card details begins with https and not http, and there’s a closed padlock symbol.

Step 4 – Purchase the best beach wedding package

After you’ve made sure of all those things, you can now order your beach wedding package. Depending on the process required by the online store, you can now place your order. It’s a good idea to choose also a package that you can customize so that you can ensure personalization of your wedding. Choose the items you want to include in the package and submit your order along with your payment through your credit card. Then wait for a confirmation that your payment and order have been received. Contact the customer representative of the online wedding store to discuss further your wedding.

Tips and Tricks for Your Beach Wedding Décor

beach wedding decorBeach weddings have become very popular these days due to the creative themes that you can come up with plus the ease that comes with simple and conventional decorations used in it. The environment itself offers plenty of decorations like seashells, tropical flowers, trees, rocks, and the white sand. Despite these simple and easy options, there are also plenty of things to consider when decorating for your beach wedding.

You should take note of the theme, the heat, the strength of the wind, the weather, and the sand when decorating. If the wind is too strong, some of the decors might be blown away or glasses and vases may tumble down and get broken. If there is too much heat, flower decorations might easily get dry. Of course, you need to consider the theme since your decors would depend on it.

Keep in mind the following things in decorating:

  • You can use shells to decorate the aisle where the bride will walk instead of flower petals. If you are going to use flowers, make sure they are whole and that the stems are still attached to hold the flowers down.
  • If the wedding is held at night, tiki torches may be used to light the place especially for Hawaiian themed weddings but be careful where you place them. Candles and small lamps could also be used to light the place and serve as table centerpieces at the same time.
  • If the wedding and reception is held in the morning when there is too much sun or there is a possibility for rain, you can use colorful umbrellas or tents in the venue. Big umbrella stands and tent posts could be decorated with vines and foliage to match other decorations of the event.
  • Sand sculptures are also great decors for the wedding instead of ice carving. A sand sculptor can recreate the bride and the groom or other objects of the sea like a dolphin or a treasure chest covered with sea urchins.
  • If you are one of those people who love photos, you can have several pictures printed in tarpaulins and use the tarpaulins to protect your guests from the sun or protect their meal from the sand. Make sure that the photo will also blend with the theme or complement the decorations.
  • A Caribbean or tropical themed beach wedding could use plenty of driftwood as decoration where you can hang shells, starfishes, and flowers. Wild orchids with different colors and birds of paradise would look great as if they are in their natural environment when on drift woods. They could also look like parts of a sunken ship where sea urchins had planted themselves on.
  • For pirate themed weddings, you may use anchors, swords, cards, and empty wine bottles for decoration. You can hang these on walls of the reception or around the couple’s table. Fill the wine bottles with sand so they will be heavier and will not tumble down easily. You can design the cards to make them look like they’ve been pinned on the walls by small daggers.
  • If you plan on using certain flowers for the wedding, consult with an expert as some flowers may not be available in the place or during the season. Some flowers like orchids and hibiscus are hard to find and you may need to spend extra cash in order to have them. Also consult the expert if these flowers could withstand the heat of the sun the whole day.
  • There are endless varieties of center pieces to choose from depending on the theme. Common centerpieces for beach weddings include bowls filled with different colors of gems and stones, vase of fresh tropical flowers, crystal bowls with white sand and marbles, pearls and seashells, huge bowls with floating candles, or mini sand sculptures.
  • Use white cloth in dining tables and as curtains as this color does not absorb much heat. This color will also make all the other decors stand out.

Aside from choosing the right decorations for your wedding, having the right ambiance is also important to make your wedding day light, stress free, and happy. Playing the right tunes could add a wonderful ambiance in your celebration. Some wonderful tunes for a beach wedding party include Caribbean music, old love songs, slow and soothing songs, and reggae beats.

Eco-friendly Beach Wedding Decorations

Eco-friendly palm tree boxesFor the love of ecology and life, going green is the hottest trend even in weddings. A beach wedding has this natural tone due to the setting and involvement of several natural resources like the sea, the sand, and the wind. Aside from being environmentally responsible, this wedding theme can be done effortlessly.

In decorating a wedding though, you can’t help but have trouble with some environmental policies like gathering too much flowers and using them just for the day then throwing them away. There are also indirect harms like using a lot of paper that adds to the problem of deforestation. Here are several tips and reminders in going green with your beach wedding decorations:

  • In making the invitations, thank you notes, and save-the-date cards, you can use recycled paper or other recycled materials. Lots of fancy colored papers are actually recycled. If you want to actually skip using paper, you can just send online invitations and have a few copies of the actual invitation printed for purposes like scrapbooking or for special guests.
  • For eco-friendly favors that would fit your beach wedding, there are also a lot of ideas to choose from. Using bonsai plants as favors for island beach weddings is a great idea. You can also use the plants as centerpieces before giving them away to the guests. Choosing favors that are made from recycled material is also a great option for going green. Giving away of organic soap is not only economical but is also exotic and good for the body.
  • When it comes to using flowers, they do not actually have to be plastic so that you can avoid cutting and throwing them away. You have the option of using potted plants so you do not have to throw the flowers after using them. For a tropical theme, you can find friends or connections that grow tropical plants in their garden like orchids attached to drift wood. You can just borrow them for the occasion. The key is to use everything natural and organic. Flowers should be grown naturally and without pesticide. If you are going to use flowers like birds of paradise or hibiscus, they can be used as wedding favors at the same time.
  • If you want to minimize the use of flowers, you can alter the bouquets of the bridesmaids with a clutch bags or baskets made from straws and decorated with seashells and ribbons. You can also use small ocean rocks and seashells to adorn the aisle instead of rose petals.
  • If you want your buffet table and plates to go green as well, you can look for caterers who offer menus that are completely organic. The package will automatically include an eco-friendly set-up. Often this would cost you more but it will surely improve the taste of the food and guest satisfaction. Some caterers use native plates that are covered with banana leaves instead of heavy ceramic plates. They also offer fresh coconut or pineapple juice served in their own shells or skin which fits the beach wedding theme perfectly.
  • Choose neutral and soft colors like white everywhere. Tie ribbons in chairs and use clustered seashell and starfish pins to follow the theme. Use sea weeds and vines to decorate posts instead of cloth and paper. Use big ocean rocks with different shapes, seashells, and sand to decorate the altar and couple’s table so that they would stand out. Tiki torches may be used to light up the place instead of using electric light bulbs. If the reception is in an open area, huge bonfires are a big hit as it brings the guests in a circle and is somehow romantic for the newlyweds and other couples present.

The last and most important thing if you really want your beach wedding to be eco-friendly, make the cleaning a significant part of the plan. If the wedding is held in a resort and there are people to do the cleaning, make sure that they are aware of the reuse, reduce, and recycle campaign. If it is held in a private or family owned beach, ask the one who will be in-charge of the cleaning to make sure they will follow the three Rs slogan.

The eco-friendly beach wedding usually ends up costing more than the typical wedding so be sure that you are committed in helping the environment and that you are fully responsible for everything. You will not only make your union special, you will also celebrate a green day and help open the eyes of people who will be part of your event.

Top 3 Sample Bridal Shower Menus

Bridal Shower MealHosting a bridal shower is an exciting thing to do. You get the chance to organize a send-off party for the bride-to-be and bond together with your friends and family members. Aside from planning carefully the theme of the shower, the decorations, games and invitations for the guests, the bridal shower menu is another very important part that you need to put up painstakingly. After all, a great shower menu makes the event more memorable and it brings people closer.

You can serve anything from brunch, lunch, dinner or an afternoon tea when holding a bridal shower. The choice will be made based on your budget, theme, the most convenient time of the day for the guests and the bride’s preference in food. Make sure to have enough food for everyone during the bridal shower. Indeed, it’s better to have leftovers than to run out of dishes.

In selecting the theme of the shower, you may opt for a super simple one or an elaborate theme such as Hawaiian luau or Mexican-themed shower. If you have a theme for the shower, ensure that the foods you serve will complement it.

-          For a color theme, select foods that match the color chosen for the shower. Take for instance; a sunny-colored theme requires foods that are yellow, orange and red.

-          Of course, you don’t need to match everything to the theme but make sure there are a few dishes that will really stand out.

-          For a luau-themed party, include tropical fruits such as papaya and pineapple in the menu. You may also decorate the dishes with bright-colored tropical flowers such as hibiscus.

There are also different types of menus for the shower. When planning to hold a bridal shower, identify first the type of food you want to serve to your family and friends. You can either have finger food or a meal. What’s the difference between a finger food and a meal? Well, the answer is pretty self-explanatory but here is a quick rundown of their characteristics.

  1. Finger food- As the name implies this kind of party food can be eaten using the fingers of the hand. Many shower organizers opt for finger foods because they have more choices which are filling and easy to prepare. Finger foods are also easy to eat, you can enjoy it for the entire duration of the party as well. Since these foods are versatile, you can offer guests to eat them with a plate and a fork too. Finger foods don’t necessarily mean only those that can be eaten with the fingers. You could also include a cake or salad along with the wide selection of meatballs, sushi, mini quiches, deviled eggs, cheese sticks and vegetable sticks.
  2. Meal- If you want a proper sit-down dinner, there is no other choice but to offer a complete meal with appetizers, main courses, salad and dessert. Set the table with elegant table wares and a magnificent centerpiece. You may serve hors‘d oeuvres as the appetizer, steak for the main course, Caesar’s salad with rolls and Chocolate-dipped Strawberries for dessert. Of course, include drinks in the menu.

Here are some simple bridal shower menu suggestions that you can try:

  • Brunch

Orange juice to toast for the bride

Fresh bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon

Seafood salad

Mini Danish

Fruit salad

Tea or coffee with the bridal shower cake

  • Lunch or dinner

Appetizers: chips with dip or salsa, or cheese and crackers

Red wine or non-alcoholic beverages to toast the bride

Vegetable salad and rolls

Lasagna or a casserole dish with chicken, salmon, etc.

Strawberry rhubarb pie

Tea or coffee with the shower cake

  • Bridal shower tea

Assorted open-faced sandwiches

Sugar cookies

Bite-sized pastries

English Trifle

A basket of individual tea choices

Bridal shower cake

Champagne, red wine or non-alcoholic beverages for the toast

In creating the shower menu, make sure to consider the food choices of the bride so everyone could enjoy the feast on the table. Never forget to ask the guests if they have any food considerations such as allergy. Nothing is worse than having a banquet of seafood on the dining table only to end having majority of your guests allergic to shrimps, scallops, seaweeds and other food from the bounty of the sea. With these suggestions, you can plan and execute a perfect bridal shower that everyone will remember.

Source: TheBridalCoach.ca, a wedding planning blog specializing in wedding help.

10 Engagement Ideas to Surprise Your Friends

You and your beau are holding an engagement party to break the news that you’re getting hitched soon. The idea of sharing this wonderful news to your family and closest friends certainly thrills you. To ensure that you’ll have the best engagement party possible, here are some terrific ideas that you would want to consider.

engagement partyFantastic engagement idea # 1 – Cool invitations

Every party starts with wedding stationery, right? So if you want to have an extraordinary engagement party, think of a cool and unique invitation to give away. One excellent idea would be an invitation that doubles as a party favor. It can be a potted flower plant or a box of chocolates. Just make sure that the details of the event are printed on that item you’re giving away.

Fantastic engagement idea # 2 – Surprise engagement party

Instead of letting everyone know it’s an engagement party, why don’t you keep it a secret for a while, until all the guests arrive and you surprise them you and your beau are getting married? It would be a great thrill to see the look on your family and friends’ faces when you announce the engagement.

Fantastic engagement idea # 3 – Themed event

Parties are always more fun if it has a theme. Make your engagement party a themed event. Fabulous options include Hawaiian Luau, Las Vegas Casino, Caribbean Getaway, Hollywood Glam, Jungle Fever, Outer Space Intergalactic, and so many more. The great thing about themes is that it makes the planning so much easier. From the decors to the invites to the activities during the event—everything can be patterned to fit the theme.

Fantastic engagement idea # 4 – Funny photo booth

Your guests will have a grand time posing in front of the photo booth. Make sure you have costumes, masks, head gears and wigs ready for them to don while posing.

Fantastic engagement idea # 5 – Mini roast of the couple

Who doesn’t enjoy a good roast? Since you and your beau are the center of the event, you can be good targets for the roast. Make sure that the “roaster” keeps it clean and safe though so no toes will be stepped on.

Fantastic engagement idea # 6 – Karaoke activity

Engagement parties don’t usually have karaoke singing but this doesn’t mean you can’t have one in yours. If you and yours guests love to belt it out, this is one good activity to do that will not only break the ice but will also keep the guests entertained.

Fantastic engagement idea # 7 – Memorabilia exhibit

Another wonderful idea to do for the engagement party is to put up a mini memorabilia exhibit. This would include baby photos and old photos of you and your beau. You should also include courtship keepsakes like the first greeting card that you gave each other or the gift that your beau gave you on your first date. Don’t forget to display engagement photographs if there are any.

Fantastic engagement idea # 8 – “The Proposal” movie

Usually, the couple would tell the story about the proposal during the engagement party. In fact, this is one of the most awaited parts of this event. But if you’re not good storytellers or you want to infuse something different into this tradition, why not shoot a homemade movie reenacting the scenes of the proposal? This will surely get the guests rolling with laughter.

Fantastic engagement idea # 9 – Outdoor picnic

You’ve probably attended a lot of engagement parties in the past. And if there’s one thing that you notice in all these parties is that they are held in similar venues. It’s usually held in the house of the bride or groom, or in a rental hall. Make yours extraordinary by holding it outdoors. Instead of a formal sit-down dinner or buffet, hold an outdoor picnic engagement party that can put everyone in the mood for relaxation.

Fantastic engagement idea # 10 – Slideshow of photos over the years

Collect your most memorable photos with your beau. Then compile it into a slideshow. Add some romantic music in the background. Be sure to choose something that’s close to your hearts. Rent an LCD projector for the event and show this to your guests.

They say engagement parties should be kept simple so they won’t compete with the wedding. But this doesn’t mean it should be plain and boring. Spice up the event with these fabulous tips and wedding ideas.

Celebrate Your Love with these Gorgeous Wedding Toasting Flutes

Open Loop Heart FlutesCheers! The wedding toasting is truly one of the highlights of the reception, as this is when everyone celebrates the love and union of the couple. Wedding flutes were designed specifically for this purpose and we have seen so many people toast and drink to that over the past few decades.

However, it is only recently that we have seen the emergence of gorgeous and creative wedding flutes that can make your wedding one-of-a-kind. Yes, the options available in the market today are staggering that making a choice can be somewhat painfully confusing. Fortunately, this list, which features some of the most beautiful, elegant, and spectacular toasting flutes ever created, will definitely make choosing much easier for you.

  • Venice Gold Toasting Flutes

One thing that you would immediately notice and love about these toasting flutes is the beautiful detail of Swarovski crystals around it. Aside from that, you would also adore the two-tone silver that gives a classic effect on the flutes.

  • Silver Plated Love Stem Champagne Holder and Glass FlutesContemporary Double-walled Champagne Flutes

If you want something extraordinary for your wedding, you would probably want to go for these festive flutes that feature a double walled design that not only looks majestic but also works to ensure that the wine stays crisp and cold even after a while. These are the perfect flutes to use for your modern themed wedding.

  • Silver Plated Stacked Hearts Glass Flutes

These toasting flutes are surely an eye candy! Any guest would fancy the silver plated stacked hearts stem design of these flutes.

  • Silver Plated Interlocking Heart Stems with Glass Flutes

If you love the stacked hearts design, you would admire the interlocking heart stem of these next flutes. If you put a pair of these flutes next to each other, you would be able to form a wonderful heart shape, which is the perfect symbol for the couple’s everlasting love.

  • Silver Plated Love Stem Champagne Holder and Glass Flutes

Another flute from the silver-plated series that is worth mentioning is the silver plated love stem champagne holder and glass flutes. A silver plated heart shaped base featuring the word “love” holds the removable glass flute in place.

  • Silver Plated Heart Stem Glass FlutesOpen Loop Heart Flutes

If you want something that is more classic and simple in design, you would probably like the open loop heart flutes that come with contrasting glass tops and silver plated stems that create stunning symmetry. Since the glass tops can be engraved on, you can personalize these flutes by putting your name, wedding date, or a love quote that is special for you and your spouse.

  • Diamond Ring Champagne Flutes

Like the open loop heart flutes, these flutes are also engraveable. But aside from that, they hold the symbols of diamond rings in the design of the stem.

  • Silver Plated Open Heart & Jewel Drop Stem Champagne Flutes

The intricate design of the heart and jewel stem makes these flutes special. This is perfect if you want to have both hearts and jewelry incorporated into the design of the flute.

Wedding flutes truly provide a touch of sophistication to the celebration of a couple’s union. They help you toast in style! Choose the perfect ones that will not only make your wedding more beautiful but will also serve as a keepsake that will always remind you how special your wedding was.

How to Ask Your Family to Contribute to your Wedding

Happy Wedding CoupleLooking back 50 years ago when lives were simpler, weddings actually only consisted of a cake and some punch. However, in the last 20 years, these occasions have become extravagant and elaborate that simply a cake and a punch would not be enough.

Needless to say, weddings have become very expensive. But this does not make it okay for you to deplete your life savings for this one-time event. There are various ways a bride and groom can do to cut down the expenses, one of which is to ask the family to contribute for the wedding.

Asking your family to contribute to your wedding should not be too difficult especially if you are close to them and if they are comfortable in the money department. But just to make sure that everything goes smoothly when you do, here are some tips on how to ask your family for contribution for your wedding day.

Right Timing

Timing is everything when it comes to making requests such as financial assistance. It is imperative that you find the perfect moment to bring this topic up. See to it that your parents are in a happy mood, there are no signs of distress within the family, and the atmosphere is relaxed and at ease. For example, it would not be a good idea to mention this during a situation where your mom and dad are having some arguments about the household bills. Even if they would want to help you, the current situation might make them say no.

Perfect Place

In addition to the timing, it is also a must that you bring your family to a quiet and relaxed place where you could talk. You can take them out for a dinner in a peaceful and lovely restaurant or invite them to a picnic in a park near your home. Do not attempt to discuss the matter in the house with the kids around unless there is a place there where you can sit and talk peacefully.

Appropriate Words

The right words can also make a big difference. You should be able to express your request in the nicest way possible. Never sound as if you are making a demand. After all, it is you who are asking for their help. It is also not advisable to use guilt-trip strategies wherein you would bring up all the good things you did for them in the past.

Appreciation and Gratitude

If your family does say yes to your request, be sure to show your appreciation and gratitude. No matter what amount of money they give you, be happy that they are willing to help you in any way they can. Never force them to offer beyond what they can afford.

Surely, your family would be more than happy to help you with your wedding. However, it is possible that they may not be willing or capable to extend financial assistance. If this is the case, do not be mad. Instead, show them other ways by which they can help. Remember, there are many other ways they can show their support and it is not just through financial means. They can help organize the reception, design wedding stationery, create wedding favors, and so on. The possibilities are endless!

Using Wedding Favor Boxes for the Groom’s Cake

Wedding Favor BoxIf there is one positive thing that the global financial crisis has brought to the world of weddings, it is probably that it encouraged soon-to-wed couples to look for creative and resourceful ways on how to maximize the wedding budget.

Even wedding suppliers are now encouraging couples-to-be to purchase wedding items that serve double/multiple purposes. For example, wedding favors today are not simply for souvenirs anymore. They can be used as table centerpieces, reception decoration, and even for the groom’s cake! How is this possible? Here are some ways on how you can use the wedding favor boxes for the groom’s cake.

Idea # 1: Use favor boxes as decoration for the cake

You can surround the cake with fancy favor boxes that can also serve as decoration. If you would browse at the different types of favor boxes available in most online stores, you would find it hard to make a final choice, as all of these boxes are truly eye candies.

Idea # 2: Put mini cupcakes inside the favor boxes

Instead of having the traditional groom’s cake, you can have a bunch of mini cupcakes placed inside the favor boxes.

Idea # 3: Complement the choice of favor box with the theme of the wedding

Choose favors boxes that would be suitable for the theme that you have picked for your wedding day.

Some Favors Boxes you can use for the Groom’s Cake

  • Organic Green Woven Favor Boxes – If you are going to have an eco-wedding, (a theme that is very popular these days), these are the perfect embellishments to put into the cake.
  • Natural Miniature Woven Beach Bags – These are also ideal for green weddings but you can also use these favor bags for other types of themes because you can change the content to fit whatever theme you are having. For example, you can fill up the bag with shells, sand, and pebbles if you are having a beach wedding, and then place these bags around the cake.
  • Metal Boats – Speaking of beach weddings, these striped and polka dotted metal boats are great for beach weddings with nautical themes.
  • Miniature Athletic Bags – As most guys are athletic, the groom will probably love these items to go with his cake. These are also great favors for a bunch of jocks attending the wedding.
  • Romance Design Paper Cups – These paper cups, which come with a bottom text that reads, “Our love is forever” is great for cupcakes and other types of food products like chocolates and candies.
  • Miniature Travel Suitcase Container – These favor boxes would surely be a hit for destination weddings, and also for couples who love to travel a lot. Aside from this one, you can also use the miniature travel trolley with wheels and retractable handle.
  • Miniature Metal Watering Cans – These ones are fun galvanized miniature watering cans that are perfect for garden weddings.

Wedding favors boxes are not only for wedding souvenirs. They can also be used as cake decoration such as for the groom’s cake. Make sure that you choose something that your groom would love.

Secrets to Preserving Your Wedding Gown

Looking for the perfect gown was not easy. You had to spend countless hours visiting numerous bridal stores and fitting an endless array of wedding gowns. But all your efforts were worth it because just when you were about to collapse in exhaustion and despair, you spotted the ideal gown with at the right style, trimmings, fit, and color. One look at it and you knew it had that magic you were looking for all this time. Now that the wedding is over, you feel sad that you have to say goodbye to this wonderful dress. But this is not necessary, as there are so many things you can do to preserve this gown and make it last for a very long time.

Clean the Dress

Clean the gown immediately after the wedding (or the honeymoon) to prevent stains such as food spills, body oils, and perspiration from seeping into the material. The longer you leave the stains on, the more difficult they would be to remove. Check the care instructions on the wedding gown to know the right process of cleaning it. Some types of gowns especially those that contain sequins and beads cannot be dry cleaned while others such as silk, acetate, and rayon are recommended for dry cleaning. Many wedding gown experts would advise gentle washing of the gown with hand using specialized gentle cleaners to remove visible stains.

Store it Properly

Keep your precious gown in a clean, acid free tissue. Place the acid-free tissue in between the folds of the dress and around it. This would help prevent permanent folds and wrinkles. Remove shoulder pads, metal buttons, and buckles, and anything made of foam that is attached to the gown as these materials do not have excellent shelf life. Do not store the gown in plastic bag because this has poor air circulation. It is also not a good idea to hang your wedding gown. Instead, store the gown in a pH-neutral box in a secure place free of insects and away from heat sources. Take out the dress from times to time to examine it.

Hire a Professional

If you do not have time to care for your gown or you feel you do not have the skill to preserve it efficiently, it would be a smart move to hire a professional gown preservation service so that it would be able to maintain its original beauty. Yes, this may be a little more costly but at least you would not have to worry about your much-loved wedding dress. You can be assured of expert specialized cleaning and storing procedures.

Preserving your wedding dress is one of the important things that you have to do after the wedding. You have to ensure proper cleaning and safe storage. It would also be a good idea to hire a professional gown preservation service. Who knows? In the future, your daughter may want to wear your gown and she would be very thankful that you did everything to maintain its original condition.

Wedding Guest Books To Match Your Style

Where can I find wedding guest books to match my theme? After all, using a themed guest book adds a professional feeling to your wedding reception. When the reception is over, your guest book will be a valuable resource for writing thank you notes to your guests and may even become your first marital phone book.

A wedding guest book is a focal point at your reception. Usually the guest book is displayed on their own table so the guests can comfortably sign it at their leisure. Decorative, themed accessories decorate the guest book table and a matching, attractive pen is displayed so guests can easily write a few words.

After the reception ends, the wedding guest book is a wonderful way to capture the day all over again. As you read all the statements made by your guests, both of you are certain to laugh and cry. The guests include their names, addresses and telephone numbers so you can write thank you cards without a hitch. Once your thank you cards are sent, your wedding guest book will be the place you turn when it is time to write holiday cards or make a call to invite a few people over for dinner.

So where can I find wedding guest books to match my theme? Online resources are the best place to start. You can shop anytime at your convenience because the Internet never closes. Peruse your options in your pajamas or during your break at work. You can select a lovely item to match your style, order it and have it delivered right to your door.

Destination weddings are increasingly popular. As more celebrities visit exotic locations to tie the knot, more everyday couples also choose to exchange their vows at the beach. If you have a sensational seaside wedding with your toes in the sand, a seaside allure traditional guest book is the perfect touch. With a starfish embellishment, everyone will have a seaside feeling when they sign it.

Many girls dream of a fairytale wedding when they grow up and they imagine themselves twirling around with Prince Charming just like Cinderella. Bring that thought to your wedding reception and beyond with a fairy tale dreams traditional guest book. Much like a chariot and elegant gown, no Cinderella wedding is complete without a matching guest book.

Western weddings are a fun way to include guests of all ages at your wedding. From little ones to seniors, everyone has a good time an old-fashioned hoe down. Have your reception in a renovated barn, wear cowboy hats and hire a caller for square dancing. Make sure you include a romantic vintage western traditional guest book so all your guests can write how they feel in their own words.

Are you a military member? Are you proud to be marrying a military member? Show off your pride by using a discerning camouflage traditional guest book. All your guests will salute you with their words in this attractive camouflage guest book, which will be a perfect accent on the coffee table in your new marital home together.

Couples often choose a wedding theme to reflect the season. While summer weddings are a classic choice, many couples prefer the ambiance of other seasons. During a spring wedding, everyone feels the excitement of new life. Often butterflies are released at spring garden weddings to celebrate the moment when the couple exchanges their vows. A butterfly dreams traditional guest book captures names, sentiments and the vision of your wedding day. For a fabulous fall wedding, an autumn splendor guest book is an eye-catching accent at your reception.

The spirit of an Irish wedding brings a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. From green accents to lacy trim, the atmosphere at your wedding reflects Celtic cheer. Place a Celtic charm traditional guest book on a lovely table with a doily so your guests can write their own unique messages to you. After the reception, this cheery Celtic charm guest book will be a treasured keepsake for the rest of your lives. Where can I find wedding guest books like this? At easy-to-shop online retailers such as My Dream Wedding.

2010 Wedding dresses – choosing the right trend for your body

Eden Bridals 2010 wedding dress

Eden Bridals #2248

Every year, new and exciting style changes keep wedding dresses fresh and interesting. Once again designers have worked their special magic to make 2010 wedding gowns hotter than any we’ve seen in season’s past.

As with any type of garment, it is important to choose the right style for your body. Having said that, how do you pick the right dress while keeping with this year’s hottest trends?

Ruffles

The hottest trend in bridal wear for 2010 is by far the ruffle. Ruffles will be present in all aspects of bridal attire from the veil to the hemline.

If, however, you fall under the category of petite or full bodied, you will have to be very careful when choosing a dress with ruffles. Stay away from horizontal tiers on the dress or even on just the skirt, as this style will make you look shorter, yet wider framed. Also, ruffles along the skirt’s hemline will make you look stouter.

A good look for you this year would be a skirt with vertical ruffles or choose a style with ruffling on just the hem of the bodice or sleeves.

Both horizontal tiers and vertical ruffles look great on slim, tall and athletic figures. If you fit under this category, choose a style with ruffles on the skirt or both the bodice and skirt. You can’t go wrong with any type of ruffling as this trend was meant specifically for you.

Eden Bridals 2010 wedding dress

Eden Bridals #2361

Crystal Beading

Crystal beading will also be a hit for 2010. Remember, petite brides have to keep the embellishment to a minimal as too much of a good thing will, in turn, drown your petite figure in too much bling. Keep it simple and select styles with minimal beading in appropriate areas, perhaps on the neckline or waistline. Less is more in this case!

Alfred Angelo 2010 wedding dress

Alfred Angelo

Tall brides can take the beading trend one step further than their petite counterparts by adding crystal embroidery on the bodice and skirt.

Gathered Skirts

One more trend of note for 2010 wedding dresses is folded or gathered skirts. This is an excellent way to add drama and texture to an otherwise plain skirt.

Alfred Angelo 2010 wedding dress

Alfred Angelo

Thankfully, with pleated, folded or gathered skirts, petite brides have as many options to play with as the taller gals. In this case, you have to play around with various styles to see how much of this trend you can carry around with you all day, as these dresses are made of heavy satin or taffeta; so the dress itself is heavy compared to the ruffles made primarily of lighter chiffon.

The 2010 wedding season is soon upon us with a variety of new trends and ideas. The wedding dress is no different. Scope out all the latest trends and have fun finding just the right one for you.

Wedding Planning Membership site launches – PR Press Release

Wedding Planning Membership Site, TheBridalCoach.ca, Changes the Landscape of the Online Wedding Industry

Canadian brides, for the first time in internet history, can do all of their wedding planning online with certified wedding planners guiding their every step. No longer do modern brides have to search around outdated websites for out-of-date wedding information. The first wedding planning membership site in North America, TheBridalCoach.ca opens its door on November 10th, 2009, combining cutting edge technology with experience and expertise of certified wedding planners.

(PRWEB) November 5, 2009 — The old paradigm is still alive and well on the internet. Bride’s are going online to search for information to help them plan their wedding. What they find is outdated wedding planning checklists, vague promises of wedding solution ebooks, online wedding magazines full of beautiful wedding gown pictures, forums where they can get answers from other brides, and funny YouTube entrance dance wedding videos. But none of this gets them any closer to planning their wedding—mostly it gets them more confused and plants the seeds for bridezillas to emerge.

Wedding Planning Membership Site
Wedding Planning Membership Site
Angela Fiebelkorn states that the membership site offers a unique combination of cutting edge technology and years of wedding planning expertise.

TheBridalCoach.ca is opening its door as a response to this disfunctionality in the online wedding market. It is the first and only wedding planning membership site in North America. Their stated mission is to provide the modern bride and groom one place on the internet to find everything they need to plan their wedding the right way, in a timely manner, with the least effort and from the comfort of their home. This entrepreneurial group of wedding planners is launching its membership site on November 10, 2009, just at the beginning of the wedding planning season for most brides and grooms.

“The launch is a massive internet marketing event,” says Angela Fiebelkorn, wedding planner and CEO of www.TheBridalCoach.ca. “This membership site offers a unique combination of cutting edge technology and years of wedding planning experience and expertise.”

She further states that “a team of certified wedding planners share their collective wisdom in countless short videos that tell the bride and groom what they need to know each step of the way…

Read full story here:  Wedding Planning Membership Site, TheBridalCoach.ca, Changes the Landscape of the Online Wedding Industry

Plan Your Wedding The Smart Way

The real world secrets behind the most beautiful (and inexpensive) weddings around…

This one-of-a-kind Wedding Planning and Coaching Membership site (www.thebridalcoach.ca) is all about you and your perfect wedding. Everything here will support your dream and help you to really get there. Our team of virtual wedding planners is committed to provide you with what you need every step of the way, with your vision, with your theme, how to get things done, how to deal with your relatives and friends, and so much more. You have everything in one place and you can do it all from the comfort of your home.

Click Here to Learn More!

We will keep you up-to-date with newest wedding trends through our weekly webinars, and we connect you through our members’ forum with other brides and wedding planners so you aren’t doing this alone. The wedding planning checklists accompanied by how-to videos will get you organized, which in turn reduces all the stress brides report when planning their wedding. You will be confident that you will have done everything on-time and in the most creative way, and best of all, the money you spend for our membership site will be put back into your pocket many times over by following our time-proven money saving tips with vendors.

Here is what you will receive when you order a membership with HappyWeddings.ca TODAY!

Time-proven wedding planning checklists
The first cluster of information in the members only area called Start Here explains through text, videos, and checklists the following: engagment, wedding vision, wedding budget, legal stuff, reception site, ceremony site, photographer, videographer, bridal party, wedding gown and encore weddings.
Comprehensive wedding planning videos covering every aspect of your wedding
The second cluster Build On It includes bridal party attire, honeymoon, stationary, guest list, florist, wedding cake, personal grooming, bridal registries, ceremony musicians, reception musicians, wedding rings, and bridal suite.
Daily answers to your questions by our wedding planners in the members’ forum
The third cluster called Finalize explains through text, videos, and checklists the following: transportation, reception and catering, ceremony and vows, rental items, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, parties, guest accommodation, finalize contracts, and spousal gifts.
Weekly webinars with the latest trends, ideas, and information
Virtual wedding planners in the forums and on the weekly coaching calls
Almost There is the 4th cluster of modules where you will be guided through topics like wedding invitations, decorations, wedding favours, itineraries, music selection, toast to parents, wedding announcements, thank you gifts, more legal stuff and attire tryouts.
Wedding planning timeline to keep you on-track
Money saving video series for every part of your wedding—gowns, caterer, flowers, musicians, wedding favors, and much more
The final cluster is called Countdown and that’s where we coach you through topics like seating plan, task assignments, bridesmaids’ luncheon, groomsmen outing, vendor payments, wedding day kit, rehearsal, decorating, and final confirmations.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Great Idea On How To Entertain the Kids at Your Wedding…

Wondering how to entertain the kids at your wedding? Here is a great idea from The Knot. Source: http://community.theknot.com titled: Reception Idea for the Kids – Engagement Photo Coloring Books:

This couple made coloring book pages out of their engagement photos for all their younger guests. I. Am. A. Fan.

Photo: Mathew Morgan Photography (Matthew-Morgan.blogspot.com)

> Get more wedding ideas for kids!

Unique Wedding Cake Ideas

Whether you are looking for a way to save money on your wedding cake, or just want the most amazing cake you can find, this post by “The Knot” will give you some ideas to plan your perfect wedding cake.

We are always looking for newsworthy articles for our wedding news blog, and this article fits the bill!  Read on and follow the links to learn more.

Source: http://community.theknot.com/cs/ks/blogs/wedding_style_file/archive/2009/10/07/wedding-cake-ideas-macarons-as-cake-decorations.aspx

Title: Wedding Cake Ideas – Macarons as Cake Decorations

It’s two desserts in one: Colorful macarons (aka macaroons) on the outside and tasty cake on the inside. What guest could resist?

>See more of our favorite wedding cake trends.

Photo: Ira Lippke (http://www.iralippke.com)

Cake: Payard (http://www.payard.com)

A Great Idea On How To Present Your Menu At Your Wedding

What an original idea, look for yourself what we found on MyDiyWeddingDay.com:

Source: http://www.mydiyweddingday.com/2009/10/idea-we-love-menu-wheel.html

Title: Idea We Love: Menu Wheel

100809Designsponge_side

This idea won us over. Instantly! Yep, that is an actual menu sitting on that plate. Amazing! As soon as we spotted this on designspongeonline.com,we couldn’t wait to share it with all of you.
The best part? Once you have all of the supplies, you can be as creative and imaginative as you like. Let us know if you try one of your own.

Wedding Handkerchiefs for the Cry Babies in your Family

Tied Bouquet of Something Blue Handkerchief

Tied Bouquet of Something Blue Handkerchief

A wedding is a celebration of love. It is therefore a time for merriment and festivities! But wait, why are half the people in your ceremony shedding a tear or two? Truly, weddings are such a joyous event that most people cannot contain their over joy. Happiness taken into an extreme level can come in the form of tears. Because of this, wedding handkerchiefs can be the perfect gift for your family (especially the crybabies!) during the wedding day. Here are some terrific tips about this kind of wedding gift.

Factors to Consider

  1. Color of the Handkerchief. Most brides go for either white or ivory. The choice depends ultimately on you. You can choose something that would complement the color of your wedding gown or you pick a non-traditional shade like red, orange, pink, or green.
  2. Fiber content. Make sure that the hanky you buy is 100% cotton, otherwise it would look stiff and cheap. This may be a little more expensive but it can truly be worth it.
  3. Handkerchief Size. Size of hankies for the women is usually 10 x 10 to 12 x 12 inches. Hankies for men are larger. The size usually is 14 x 14 to 16 x 16 inches.
  4. Trim and Design. Men’s handkerchiefs are basically plain or have simple patterned design. For the women, the trim and design may be more elaborate. A woman’s hanky can have an embroidered design in one or more corners. It can also be adorned with a lace design on the edge.
  5. Personalized Embroidery. Another type of design you can put into the handkerchief is personalized embroidery like first name, single initial, two- or three-letter monogram, bride’s names and wedding date, or a special personal message.
  6. Packaging – For less formal occasions, a hanky placed inside a beautiful pouch would be all right. But if your wedding is formal, a handkerchief gift box would be more appropriate.

Buying Wedding Hankies Online

Searching the internet may be your best option for buying wedding handkerchiefs especially your schedule is also very tight. Just type in the words, “wedding handkerchief” on the search engine and you will find many websites that sell this kind of product. When buying wedding handkerchiefs online, be sure to look for the following things:

  1. Padlock symbol – indicates that the site is secure
  2. Https – found before the web address, indicates the same thing as the padlock
  3. Contact us – this would give you the address and contact information of the site. This is very important because you have to know where the product will be coming from. Remember that shipping can be expensive.
  4. Terms and Conditions – you have to know and understand the store’s terms and conditions to avoid having problems during transaction.
  5. Security certificate – click on file, then properties, and then pick the certificates tab. Here, you will see who the certificate is issued to and the duration of its validity.

During weddings, there are so many people crying that you would think they might flood the church (or ceremony venue) with their tears. Wedding handkerchiefs can therefore be the perfect wedding memento to give to guests especially to your family.