Gracious Ways to Handle a Wedding “B” List
It is a fact of life: when you are planning a wedding, you can rarely invite everyone that you would like to. Either the budget is too small, the venue is too tight, or your family is just too big. One way that some couples handle this dilemma is by grouping their wedding guest lists into “A”s and “B”s.
In a nutshell, the “A” list is the group of people that you will definitely be inviting to your wedding. This group usually includes your immediate family, attendants, close friends, and the random people that your parents insist on inviting to your wedding because they are paying for it. The “B” list will typically be people that you would like to have, space permitting. “B” lists are generally populated by people such as more recently acquired friends, old college chums you haven’t seen in a while, and your co-workers.
As the R.s.v.p.s start to roll in from the first set of invitations, you can invite one person from the “B” list for each declined invitation. The wedding invitations need to be sent out to the “A” list well in advance of your wedding date, usually at least 8 weeks, but sometimes even more. Where it gets dicey is that you have to finagle responses from all of the guests on your “A” list much earlier than usual – four weeks before the wedding at the minimum. If people ask why you need to have your answers so early, blame the caterer; whatever you do, never let on that you have a “B” list waiting in the wings.
Some people find the idea of two separate guest lists to be highly offensive. If you feel this way, then there are a few other paths that you can take. One of the nicest things that a couple can do is to scale back on the luxury of the wedding to be able to include everyone who is near and dear to them. Maybe you have to have your reception in a mid-range hotel instead of a ritzy private club, but in the end, you may find that who you have at your wedding is more important than where you have it.
Other couples will find other cost-cutting solutions to be able to expand their guest list. For instance, you can have a brunch instead of a sit-down evening reception. Another way to cut expenses is to order your bridesmaid jewelry sets online. You can find truly beautiful handcrafted bridesmaid jewelry sets made from Swarovksi crystals and freshwater pearls – they will look like a splurge, but can actually be very affordable bridesmaid gifts.
Whether you decide to have a two part guest list, or simply to cut your expenses so you can expand your guest list, the key is to be gracious. If you do have an “A” and a “B” list, be careful to keep that piece of information private. As long as you make all of your guests feel welcome and wanted, your wedding is sure to be a fabulous success.
Filed under Bridesmaid Gifts, Bridesmaid Jewelry, Wedding Planning | Tags: bridesmaid jewelry gifts, bridesmaid jewelry sets, wedding etiquette, wedding guests | Comment (1)Pre-Wedding Plastic Surgery
Brides want to look their best on their wedding day. It is only natural, especially since all eyes will be on you that day. However, is it possible to go too far in the quest for bridal beauty? What about those women who turn to plastic surgery to improve their looks for their wedding?
One of the most important questions to ponder is whether you want surgery because you are obsessed with looking perfect on your wedding day, or if this plastic surgery is something that you have wanted for years, and the wedding is just the last motivation among many. If you only started considering surgery once the wedding planning began, then that is an excellent reason to decide against it.
Brides who are simply looking for a way to feel better about their appearance for the wedding day can find many other ways to do so. Brides who are stressed about how they look in their gowns can work wonders with the right supportive undergarments. Wouldn’t it be easier to slip on a slimmer than to recover from liposuction? If you are just looking for a little confidence and a “pick me up”, consider treating yourself to some fabulous accessories, like Swarovksi crystal bridal jewelry sets.
The earlier you can get it done, the better. Imagine how utterly un-sexy it would be to have lingering bruises from lipo as you strut the beach in your “Just Married” honeymoon bikini! Speaking of the honeymoon, some procedures will also make it unsafe for you to swim for a couple of months, so don’t schedule plastic surgery too close to the date of your romantic beach getaway or destination wedding.
One of the most common pre-wedding enhancements is breast augmentation. Brides who are thinking about going this route would be very wise make a final decision before ordering a wedding gown. It is the worst nightmare of every bridal shop to have a bride saunter in for her final gown fitting with a totally new figure! If it is even a possibility, be sure to mention it to the bridal shop when you are ordering your gown so that they can take precautionary measures. When in doubt, try a padded bra instead of surgery!
Plastic surgery is a very personal choice, and it is one that the bride can only make for herself. The worst thing you can do is to undertake surgery because someone else thinks that you should look a certain way for your wedding (believe it or not, I have seen mothers suggest breast implants to their daughters to help them fill out a wedding dress!). In the end, always remember that your fiance loves you exactly the way that you are, and make the best choice for your long term happiness.
Filed under Bridal Jewelry, crystal bridal jewelry, Uncategorized, Wedding Planning | Tags: bridal jewelry sets, crystal bridal jewelry sets, plastic surgery, wedding advice | Comments (2)Successful Sample Sale Shopping
Sample sales are events, usually held twice a year, at which bridal salons will sell off their floor samples to make room for new inventory. The discounts are frequently deep – up to half off is not uncommon – so there are definitely some incredible deals to be found. Because they are floor models, though, you will be expected to take the gown “as is”, so it will need to be one that you are confident can be altered to fit you. Gowns purchased at sample sales will almost always be final sales.
When shopping at a sale, a bride needs to keep an open mind. You are not likely to see the exact same dresses that you have been bookmarking on the internet from the current season of bridal gowns. If you go into a sale with a fixed idea of the exact gown you want, you are going to walk out empty handed. Be open to trying any gown that shows some promise, even if it doesn’t match the picture in your head.
Because you will need to make an instant decision, it is a smart idea to walk into a sample sale as prepared as possible. You will definitely want to be wearing the appropriate undergarments. If you have already picked out some special bridal jewelry or a family veil that you intend to wear for your wedding, it is a good idea to bring it when you go shopping, since once you purchase a sale gown there is no turning back.
Sample sales can be fun, chaotic, and exhilarating. Above all, they can be a great opportunity to save money on a wedding gown or to buy a gown that would have been out of your price range at the regular price. If you go into a sample sale with a well thought out plan of attack, you are very likely to walk out of it with your dream dress in hand.
Filed under Bridal Jewelry, Uncategorized | Tags: Bridal Jewelry, sample sales, wedding gown shopping | Comment (1)The Best Dresses for Busty Brides
Let’s face it, ladies: sometimes too much of a good thing is just too much! If nature endowed you with a bit too much in the bust department, flattering your figure is probably one of your top concerns when you are shopping for a wedding gown. Happily, you will find that there are many styles that will help to get your assets under control for your big day!
When you are shopping for a wedding gown that will get a large bust under control, think of structure as your best ally in reining in the girls. Run away from dresses that are filmy, unstructured, or don’t allow you to wear a great fitting bra or bustier.To get the right amount of structure in a wedding gown, look for styles that have bodices with boning and that are made from a substantial fabric,like a silk mikado. This will enable you to get a nice smooth fit that contains your chest nicely.
Choosing the right neckline is key for full-busted brides. Whenever you are trying to minimize the effect of curves, look for clothing that has strong straight lines. For example, a v-neck gown is an excellent option, as long as the neckline is not too plunging. Another flattering neckline is a portrait neckline, or a straight across strapless gown. Styles to avoid would be anything too curvy, such as deep scoopnecks or exaggerated sweetheart necklines.
Another great way to generate a flattering line on the chest is with your jewelry. The same long straight lines that work in a gown will be ideal for your bridal jewelry. To get the perfect piece, look into custom bridal Swarovski necklaces. Bridal necklaces that are custom made will ensure that you get the perfect length for your neckline, and the Swarovski crystals will ensure that they are fabulous!
It is always going to be more challenging to find the perfect wedding gown when you are not a perfect sample size. However, know that your dream dress is out there waiting for you, even if it takes you a little longer to find it.
Filed under Bridal Jewelry, crystal bridal jewelry, Uncategorized | Tags: custom bridal Swarovski crystal necklaces, wedding dress shopping, wedding gowns | Comment (0)Wedding Cake Jewelry
The wedding cake is one of the most important elements in today’s weddings. No longer a simple white affair, the cake has become almost as key to the wedding as the bride’s gown. Accordingly, brides want their cakes to be absolutely spectacular, and many are even ordering special wedding cake jewelry for decorations.
Brides and their bakers can find many ways to use cake jewelry to create a one-of-a-kind confection. The effect of the cake should enhance the bride’s overall look and style. Brides who are wearing crystal bridal jewelry sets love the idea of adding some sparkle to their wedding cakes. For brides who have chosen the more demure look of bridal jewelry sets handcrafted from pearls, there are also some gorgeous cake decorations available to coordinate.
Nothing is more fabulous than a crystal and rhinestone crown perched atop your cake. This is one of the most fantastic types of cake jewelry, as well as the most regal and fabulous. A large glittering crown will make your cake look fit for royalty. This is a cake topper that is likely to be chosen by brides who don’t quite have the guts to wear a full crown on their own head, but love the look. Having the cake wear the crown allows the bride to choose a more delicate tiara for herself while still getting to use a big crown in her wedding design. It is the proverbial chance to have your cake and eat it too!
Brides who prefer pearls need not be left out of the fun. A very popular cake design is to decorate the base or top edge of each cake tier with faux pearls. It is a simple and classic treatment for a wedding cake. Pearls arranged in a diamond like pattern all over the cake is another beautiful design, and it works very well for a summer wedding, as it can mimic the fresh and pretty look of Swiss dot fabric.
Jewelry isn’t just for brides anymore! One of the best parts about cake jewelry is that you will end up with a special keepsake from your wedding that you can display or even wear. This is a terrific way to not only make your wedding cake spectacular, but to also create a lasting memory as well.
Filed under Bridal Jewelry, crystal bridal jewelry, pearl bridal jewelry, Wedding Planning | Tags: bridal jewelry sets, crystal bridal jewelry, pearl bridal jewelry, wedding cake jewelry, wedding cakes | Comment (1)Popular Wedding Trend: Orange Flowers
When you think of wedding colors, the ones that first come to mind are probably white, ivory, and that perennial favorite, pink. These colors are as popular with brides as ever, but there is a more surprising color that is in style for wedding flowers. The new hot color for bouquets and centerpieces is orange.
So why choose orange for your wedding flowers? Well, for one thing, it is unexpected. If you attend five weddings over the course of a summer, and three are pink, one is all-white, and one is silver and white, choosing a different color palette will feel like a breath of fresh air, and will help your wedding to stand out from the crowd. Orange is also a color that can feel contemporary and hip, or rich and cozy, depending on how you use it. It offers a surprising amount of versatility.
I have seen orange flowers used for weddings in some wonderful arrangements. One bride I knew was having a fairly informal wedding on a ship. For her centerpieces, she grew wheatgrass in low containers, and then on the day of the wedding, she “planted” bright orange gerbera daisies into them. It was the perfect pop of color for her cheerful summer wedding. She brought the touches of orange throughout the wedding – the men in the wedding party wore pale orange ties, and she gave orange crystal jewelry as bridesmaid gifts to the women in the wedding party.
For an intimate winter wedding, a lovely effect is to create table wreaths of terra cotta roses to use around hurricane lanterns. I once attended a wedding that used this type of orange centerpiece to great effect. The bride carried a bouquet of the terra cotta roses mixed with hypericum berries, and it was the perfect accent for her ivory gown.
Orange is a color that is rising in popularity for weddings, and yet it is still offbeat enough to feel fresh and original. It can be used for all different styles of weddings in a really beautiful way. If you are looking to make your wedding bouquets and centerpieces unique and vibrant, you should definitely consider using orange colored flowers.
Filed under Bridesmaid Gifts, Bridesmaid Jewelry, Wedding Planning | Tags: Bridesmaid Gifts, Bridesmaid Jewelry, orange, wedding flowers, wedding trends | Comments (4)