Great Ideas for Wedding Gifts

Choosing the perfect gift is not always simple. You want it to be unique and impressive, while still being affordable. Luckily, there are many great ideas for wedding gifts.

A good place for wedding guests to start is with the couple’s bridal registry. It would be a very rare couple who is not registered somewhere. If you do not know the couple very well, picking something from their registry can be the easiest way to go. Sometimes a group, such as the groom’s coworkers, might decide to chip in together on one larger gift instead of buying smaller gifts individually.

Another source of inspiration is the couple’s hobbies and pastimes. If you know that the bride and groom love to travel, a wonderful wedding present would be a good set of luggage, perhaps with their monogram. Gifts do not have to be objects either. If the bride and groom share a passion for a sports team, then tickets to a big game would make a much appreciated gift.

A close family member might prefer to give something personal. One of the most cherished wedding gifts that a bride could receive would be a piece of jewelry from her new mother-in-law. Gifts like wedding jewelry show the recipient how much they mean to you, and are a gracious way to say “Welcome to the family!”.

Sometimes a great wedding gift can be the practical things that you would never think to buy for yourself, but will really be able to use. When I got married, one of my bridesmaids gave me a set of storage bags designed to protect all of my new fine china. It may not have been the most thrilling gift, but it was something that I was grateful to receive.

When looking for just the right gift, keep in mind what you know about the couple. Select a gift that you know will suit their taste, encourage their hobbies, or remind them of good times that you have shared together. If you put your heart into the wedding gift, you can be certain that it will be absolutely perfect.

Inexpensive Ideas for Wedding Flowers

Everyone wants ways to save money on their wedding. One area that can get very expensive is the flowers. By the time you have the arrangements for the ceremony, the bouquets, the centerpieces, and flowers for the rest of the reception site, your bill can run into many thousands of dollars. There are some ways, though, that you can have beautiful flowers for your wedding without spending a small fortune.

Many large cities have open air flower marts. That is definitely the best place to find a great selection of the freshest flowers available. If you are fortunate enough to have one in your town, start making visits well before your wedding. This way, you can get acquainted with the different vendors, and find out what types of flowers they expect to have at the time of your wedding.

Did you know that you can special order flowers through the florist at most grocery stores? They may not have the huge selection of a fancier floral shop, but you can certainly get a great deal on many of the classic wedding flowers, like roses, tulips, and lilies. You will usually have the option of having them create the centerpieces or just providing you the loose flowers.

For some brides, the issue with spending a lot on wedding flowers is that they do not last. Unlike something with enduring beauty, like your pearl bridal jewelry, wedding flowers are only enjoyed for one day. There are several ways that you can save money and address the impermanence of wedding flowers.

One idea is to use potted plants instead of cut flowers for centerpieces. Think about it: a really attractive potted mum costs about $10 – $20, and makes a full, lush display for the reception tables. Imagine what it would cost to have the equivalent amount of cut flowers: well over $100 per table, and often much, much more. The nice thing about a potted plant is that you or your guests can take them home to enjoy after the wedding.

Wedding flowers often cost a fortune, but they do not have to. If you look around, you will often find reasonably priced alternatives. With all the money you save on your flowers, maybe you can treat yourselves to a really terrific honeymoon!

Presentation of Your Wedding Favors

Certainly the presentation of the favors will depend on what type of gift you are giving. In general, you will want the favors to tie in with your wedding theme and style. The two things to consider are the packaging and how the favors will be displayed or presented.

It always looks great to have things personalized at your wedding. If you will be giving a favor that comes in a box, such as chocolates, there are several ways to put your distinctive mark on the package. One is to order little boxes that are embossed or stamped with the names of the newlyweds and the wedding date.

Stickers are another way to personalize your favor boxes, and they will be slightly less expensive than custom boxes. It is possible to order very elegant stickers with your names and date to put on the favor boxes. A clear sticker would be great on a colored box, or choose a silver or gold sticker for classic elegance. The great thing about stickers is that they can be used on all different sorts of packaging.

It is amazing how much you can say with a piece of ribbon! For instance, if you are having a formal evening wedding with everyone dressed to the nines in satin and elaborate wedding jewelry, you will want to choose an equally formal ribbon, such as satin or velvet (in the winter only). A bride having a casual seaside wedding will select a ribbon to match, such as a breezy organza. If you really want to go all out, order custom ribbon with your wedding date printed on it.

You should also give some thought to the best way to display the favors. Small items like boxes of candy or silver frames are usually put out at each place setting. Sometimes, however, there is not room on the table for the favors. In that case, you will need to find a place for a table to display the favors. It is a good idea to place it near the exit so that the guests will remember to pick up their gift on the way out the door.

Reasons Not to Be a Bridesmaid

It is a very big honor to be asked to participate in a friend’s wedding. In fact, being invited to be a bridesmaid is one of the things in our society that should only be turned down in very special circumstances, and even then it must be done carefully. That said, however, there are times when a woman should decline the request to be a bridesmaid in a wedding.

There are not many good reasons to decline an invitation to be an honor attendant, but there are some that are valid and socially acceptable. One of the most likely reasons is finances. It is frankly very expensive to be in a wedding, often costing as much as a couple of thousand dollars. By the time you have paid for the dress, the bridesmaid jewelry, the airfare, and the hotel, the costs can really add up!

Pregnancy is another valid excuse to opt out of being a wedding attendant. If the wedding is within a month or so of your due date, it is highly unlikely that you will feel up to standing at the altar during the ceremony. This is also one of the few times that it is acceptable to drop out of a wedding that you had agreed to be in. The bride should understand, and treat her pregnant friend as an honored guest instead of a bridesmaid.

Another reason not to be a bridesmaid is if you do not approve of the bride’s choice of husband. This can be a very difficult situation, especially if your friend was not previously aware of your feelings. There is a strong possibility that the friendship may not survive, but if you have serious concerns about your friend’s future husband, you should not be an honor attendant at their wedding. It would be highly hypocritical to do so.

Most of the time it is wonderful and exciting to take part in a friend’s wedding. On the rare occasion when this is not the case, you must find a way to extricate yourself from the situation gracefully. Your goal should be to get out of the wedding while keeping your friendship with the bride intact.

Perfect Fall Centerpieces

Fall is a wonderful time of year to have a wedding. The weather is pleasant and there are so many beautiful natural elements to incorporate into your wedding. A perfect place to explore the beauty of fall is in the centerpieces for your reception.

Some brides love the rustic look. It is ideal for the type of wedding where the bride will be wearing a simple gown and handmade wedding jewelry. If your style leans more towards a satin ball gown with wedding jewelry handmade with dazzling Swarovksi crystals, there are ways to use the fall theme in a more elegant style.

A great idea for a less formal wedding is to carve out pumpkins and gourds for your centerpieces. They make a great alternative to regular vases. Autumn flowers like mums and asters would look fantastic casually displayed in a carved out gourd.

One of the most popular ideas for wedding centerpieces is to use natural branches. They are a great way to add height and an interesting form to centerpieces.  For a fall wedding, it would look wonderful to use leaves in the fiery autumn colors and attach them to the branches. It is a great way to bring the outside to an indoor space.

Another great fall item that you can use for decoration is apples. Tall clear cylinders would look great filled with bright red apples. To dress up the centerpiece, adorn the each cylinder with a beautiful ribbon, and scatter votive candles on the table surrounding the apples. Like the pumpkins, apples will make very attractive seasonal centerpieces at a minimal cost.

When looking for fall centerpiece ideas, you can also consider other items from nature, such as wheat stalks, vines, and mini haybales. There are many unique possibilities to dress the tables for a fall wedding, and many of them will be affordable as well as charming. Embrace the best that the season has to offer to really give your autumn wedding a lovely and unique look.

Entertainment for Your Youngest Wedding Guests

Children can be so much fun at weddings. They add such a sense of joy to a special occasion, and they just look so darn cute in their fancy clothes. A wedding reception can be a long event for a child to sit through quietly, though, so consider providing some entertainment for your youngest guests.

The type of entertainment you decide to have at your reception will depend on the number of children coming, as well as their ages. The more kids you will have, the more fun you should plan for them. If it will be only one or two children, you might take a different approach.

A very nice idea for a couple of children would be to make little gift bags for them. For little girls, it would be adorable to include some wedding related items, such as a small doll dressed as a bride. If you are very close to the little girls, you could go a little further and include some wedding dress up items, like a tiny tiara and some fancy pretend wedding jewelry.

f you have a larger crowd coming, you might want to arrange for some form of group entertainment. Some brides and grooms go so far as to hire a clown to come to the reception to amuse the children. Of course, some children (and adults!) are afraid of clowns, so feel free to hire a children’s magician instead. The kids will especially love one who makes balloon animals.

Activities do not have to be formally planned, either. You might just have someone round up all of the kids and bring them to the dance floor. Most kids love music and dancing. If they are a little older, kids will also be thrilled to be handed a children’s camera to take pictures of the festivities. There are lots of great ways to make sure that your young guests remain entertained and tantrum-free.

If you have decided to invite children to your wedding, plan for their amusement just as you would for your adult guests. Kids will bring lighthearted and unpredictable fun to your reception. Be sure to return the favor by providing them with special entertainment.

Be a Great Looking Bridesmaid!

It is very fun to be in a friend’s wedding. You get to help her plan, go to the parties, and make lots of fun memories together. As a bridesmaid, you will want to be sure that you do everything possible to look your best for the wedding.

One of the biggest mistakes that bridesmaids make is to order the wrong size dress. Dresses are usually ordered several months before the wedding, and more than one bridesmaid has made the mistake of ordering a dress based on the size she hopes to be by the wedding, rather than the size that she really is.

Often the bride will have give her attendants gifts of bridesmaid jewelry to wear at the wedding. If, however, the bride does not give bridesmaid jewelry as gifts, you will need to make other plans for your accessories. A fancy dress does not look right without the finishing touches. A beautiful and affordable option is to order Swarovski crystal bridesmaid jewelry to match the color of the dress.

Your hair, makeup, and nails will be an important part of your wedding day appearance. Unless you are truly an expert, plan to have your hair professionally done for the wedding. Nothing will detract from your elegant look faster than messy hair. The same goes for your nails. Treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure the morning before the wedding.

You want to be sure that you look great for your friend’s wedding. A sloppy looking bridesmaid will detract from the proceedings. Besides, you never know who you might meet at a wedding!

Festive Food Presentation

Did you know that when Jacqueline Bouvier married John F. Kennedy, the wedding luncheon consisted of a fruit cup, creamed chicken, and ice cream in the shape of a rose? That was just what you served at a wedding in those days, even at the Wedding of the Year. Today, even couples having very small or inexpensive weddings want to dish up elaborate feasts that will wow their guests.

It is not just the food that makes a statement, it is the presentation, as well. In fact, sometimes the way in which food is presented can be even more important than the food itself. Some couples will still serve their wedding dinner in the usual way (similar to a typical restaurant), but many are looking for ways to make a memorable statement with the food displays or to tie them into a theme.

For serving stations, couples will often create a theme at each station that ties in with the food. One wedding that I attended had an enormous seafood station in the middle of the room. The stage was set with nautical paraphernalia, such as crates and draped ropes, oysters on the half-shell, and so forth. The display was almost as impressive as the food: mountains of lobster tails, crab claws, peeled shrimp, oysters, and mussels.

Another festive way to present food is in individual bites. One chic trend is to serve a small appetizer in a porcelain spoon. The appetizers make a very attractive display for the cocktail hour. For a cold weather wedding, try serving tasty soups in shot glasses.

When considering the presentation of the food at your reception, don’t forget to dress the table as beautifully as the food. Using special napkins can go a long way towards adding style to the place settings. Pick linens that coordinate with the rest of the wedding. For example, if you are wearing a lot of classic pearl bridal jewelry, you can select napkins with a pearl edge.  It is a gorgeous way to tie it all together.

Every couple wants their wedding and reception to be one that their guests will always remember. A large part of the impression at a reception is created by the food. Serving the best foods in a festive presentation is the perfect way to make your wedding stand out.

Wedding Planning for Capricorns

Every astrological sign has its own unique characteristics. For brides, this means that their sign can influence how they plan their weddings. A Capricorn bride will be a great wedding planner, as she is practical and always thinks things through.

Status is often very important to a Capricorn bride. This means that you will want your wedding to be very elegant and expensive looking. Labels can be very important to Capricorns. The Capricorn bride will be happiest wearing a wedding gown from a well-known designer (and she will be sure to let the name slip out frequently!).

If an expensive gown is your priority, you can balance your budget a little bit by shopping for sets of fabulous Swarovski crystal bridal jewelry instead of diamonds. You can find stunning handcrafted bridal jewelry sets that will give you the high end look that you crave without spending a fortune.

Because status and recognition is so important to a Capricorn bride, she will want the details of her wedding to be luxurious. Capricorns will want to serve the finest brand of Champagne, order their invitations from a top-notch engraver, and give out favors that impress the guests.

One of Capricorn’s greatest strength is her well-considered approach to any task. This is not going to be the bride that forgets to hire a band or who impulsively fires the caterer at the last minute and is left without any food for her reception. Everything that the Capricorn bride does will be meticulously planned to the last detail, so her wedding is sure to go off without a hitch.

Capricorn’s greatest weakness (besides getting too caught up in status symbols) is that she works so hard that she forgets to have fun.  If you schedule in some time to relax and just enjoy your engagement, you will arrive at your wedding day feeling happy and refreshed, and because you are such a great planner, everything will still look perfect on the big day.

Is That Bride Drunk?!

Weddings are a time of great joy and celebration. Everyone wants to relax, have a good time, and enjoy the party. Some brides, however, get swept up into the spirit of things too far. Nobody likes to see a drunk bride!

Too many brides these day see their wedding as just a very big party, one that is all about them. They forget that a wedding is not only a festive occasion, but a solemn one as well. You are pledging to spend the rest of your life with another person – that is a big deal! When the bride (or the groom) do not treat the event like the momentous milestone that it is, something is lost.

At the reception, it is always best for the bride to maintain some sense of decorum. What might be fine at a nightclub is not necessarily going to fly at your wedding with all of your family in attendance. There is nothing quite like the sight of an inebriated bride tossing back shots to shatter the graceful illusion she spent months trying to create with the perfectly selected wedding gown and exquisite bridal jewelry handcrafted with the finest Swarovski crystal.

A good rule of thumb is to think about how many drinks you would likely consume at a party or other festive event, and limit yourself to at least one less than that. So if three or four drinks usually makes you pretty silly, plan on two drinks or glasses of wine, tops. (Yes, champagne does count in the tally!) If your bridesmaids keep trying to bring you cocktails, ask them for a glass of water with lemon instead, which will keep you hydrated instead of drying you out like alcohol.

When people reflect back on your wedding day, you want them to remark about how lovely and gracious the bride was, not about how drunk she got. Your wedding is not a day to cut completely loose; it is better to keep your celebration within the bounds of good taste. Besides, if you are looking for a chance to go wild and kick up your heels, you can always do it on the honeymoon, where nobody knows you!