Floating Candle Centerpieces

There are an incredible variety of floating candle centerpieces that you can create. One of the best part about them is that they require no previous experience, unlike floral displays. These centerpieces are a great option for any bride who wants to save money by making her own centerpieces. The fact that floating candles are also beautiful and romantic makes it even better.

Shaped candles are one really neat option, and they are very easy to tie in with your wedding theme. For instance, if you are having a summer wedding in a meadow, floating candles that look like slices of citrus fruit are fresh and pretty. Candles that are shaped like flowers are perfect for a romantic or garden themed wedding, and they are incredibly life-like and come in a huge array of designs. Other popular shapes include hearts, butterflies, and seashells. Simple vessels with wide openings are best for displaying floating candles in special shapes.

For a very elegant or formal wedding, floating candles can be arranged in taller vessels that employ some interesting accessories. For instance, a bride who loves sparkle can add a layer of faux crystals to the bottom of each bowl. It is a beautiful complement to crystal wedding jewelry. If you want even more dramatic centerpieces, think about filling the water with shredded crystal fibers that are colored with submersible lights. This colorful lights create a wonderful glow, and the shimmer of the crystal fibers looks as beautiful as the most dazzling wedding jewelry.

Floating candles can also be used to design centerpieces for earthy weddings. Simply choose vessels like handthrown glazed ceramic pots to hold your candles. White or ivory candles will have a peaceful Zen effect when floating in clusters in shallow bowls with a layer of smooth river rocks under the water. A centerpiece of this style looks great on its own, or used in combination with floral displays.

The perfect centerpiece will help to create a wonderful ambiance for your wedding reception. Floating candles can make fantastic centerpieces that are interesting, romantic, and easy to create. For all of these reasons, you might just find that floating candles will make the ideal centerpieces for your wedding.

Chinese Wedding Customs

Chinese weddings are rich with traditions, symbolism, and rituals. If you have Chinese heritage or are marrying a person who does, it would be wonderful to incorporate some Chinese wedding customs into your own special day. These are some tips on how to plan a beautiful East meets West wedding.

Red is the lucky color for Chinese brides and grooms, and this is a great place to begin with your East meets West celebration. Chinese brides will traditionally wear gorgeous red silk cheongsams for their weddings. Many Chinese-American brides will choose to wear the cheongsam during the ceremony, and then change to a classic white wedding gown and bridal jewelry for the reception (or vice versa).

You can pay tribute to your Chinese heritage in the flowers that you use for the bouquets and centerpieces as well. Some of the favored flowers for Chinese brides are peonies, orchids, and lotus blossoms. The combination of plum blossoms and butterflies stands for long life, and these symbols would make a lovely addition to your centerpieces. A beautiful silk butterfly perched on a plum blossom would make a wonderful surprise accent in your floral displays.

Speaking of symbolism, it is very important in Chinese rites of passage. The double happiness symbol is one that is perfect to use in a wedding. You can set the tone with a rich red double happiness sign embossed on your invitations. The symbol can also be used to decorate the wedding cake, on the favor boxes, as well as on the programs, menus, and placecards.

There are many other wonderful Chinese wedding traditions to think about using in your wedding. They range from décor like paper lanterns to photos in memory of ancestors to exciting performances involving firecrackers, drums, or lion dancers. Whether you decide to have an authentic Chinese wedding, or just to incorporate a few of the customs, it will be sure to make your wedding day more meaningful and memorable.

Would You Let Your Groom Plan the Wedding?

I just saw the most fascinating wedding show on BBC America about grooms planning the wedding while the bride has to sit back and be surprised on the big day. It was a very interesting idea, and it was hard to say who had it worse: the groom who had to make all of the preparations or the bride who had to give up all control over her own wedding. It got me to thinking, would you let your groom plan the wedding?

If you think about it, in almost every case, it is the bride who is in charge of planning the wedding. She makes all of the big decisions about style, vendors, and all of the rest. Sure, some grooms may have opinions and may even have a nearly equal say in matters, but the reality is that the wedding is usually the bride’s show. After all, most women have a picture of a perfect wedding in their mind (even if they won’t confess to it), but very few men have even given the subject a moment’s thought before they become engaged.

So what would it be like for a man to throw a surprise wedding for his bride? On the BBC program “Don’t Tell the Bride”, the groom is given $20,00 and one month to plan what he hopes is his bride’s idea of a dream wedding. During that time, not only must he keep all of the plans a secret, but the couple cannot see each other. This is probably to prevent the bride from leaving copies of Martha Stewart Weddings all over their house with favorite dresses, centerpieces, and bouquets marked. No, in this case, the groom is entirely on his own, without any helpful hints from the bride.

By far the most stressful part of the entire thing was when the groom had to choose the bridal gown, crystal jewelry, and even the bride’s hairstyle and tiara. It was difficult enough for the groom, but it was pure agony for the bride. She knew that even if she hated the dress, she would have to wear it down the aisle (or decide to call off the wedding!).

This got me to thinking, how many brides would allow someone else to choose their entire bridal ensemble, including the gown, crystal bridal jewelry, headpieces, veil, and even shoes? Would it be worth it for a free wedding? The day before the featured wedding on “Don’t Tell the Bride”, the bride-to-be decided that giving up control of her gown was so stressful that if she had to do it all over again, she would not have done the show, even though it meant a free wedding. I have to say that I feel the same way!

Luxurious Bridal Lace

Lace has always been a favorite of brides. It is prized for its beautiful designs, romantic feeling, and fine needlework. Whether you use a lot of lace or just a few accents, it will add a sense of luxury and elegance to your wedding.

Of course the most obvious way to use lace in a wedding is on a bridal gown. There are a variety of different effects that can be created with lace, depending on which type is chosen, and how it is used. One of the most classic styles is to appliqué sections of Alencon or Venise lace to the bodice and hem of a wedding gown. For a fresh daytime look, keep the lace details delicate. If you prefer a more formal or grand effect, use a wider border of lace on the hem of the gown, and heavily bead it with crystal and pearl beads to match the bridal jewelry.

Lace is a beautiful addition to many parts of a wedding beyond the bride’s attire. A romantic bouquet of sweetpeas or lily-of-the-valley would look amazing finished off with a wide lace ribbon. This idea would work equally well for the bridesmaids’ bouquets, perhaps in a colored piece of lace. Another lovely way to use lace in your wedding ceremony is as a runner. Lace aisle runners can easily be rented from your florist and create a very pretty path for the processional.

At the reception, lace is a wonderful accent for the tables. An ivory lace cloth laid over a solid tablecloth will look romantic and luxurious. For the solid underlayment, choose a color in a contrasting color to help showcase the design on the lace. Pale blue or yellow look fresh and summery under a crisp white lace; a deep tan color is elegant and understated when paired with an ivory lace.

Small squares or circles of lace can used to wrap the wedding favors. You can also purchase or make tiny lace drawstring bags, which are ideal for the classic wedding favor of Jordan almonds. The lace squares would be pretty packaging for any type of favor, and are especially fitting for a country wedding.

DIY Wedding Idea: Stencils

When you are planning a wedding, it is really fun to engage your creative side with some DIY projects. This is a great way to add personality and style to your wedding while keeping costs low. These are some beautiful wedding projects that can be created with stencils.

Wedding invitations are one of the easiest DIY wedding projects to undertake. With nice paper and a decent printer, you can get very professional looking results. A wonderful way to add a personal touch to your invitations is to stencil a design onto them. You can buy a stencil of a pretty floral or a modern geometric design, or create your own from a piece of plastic. If you decide to make your own stencil, a monogram would be ideal.

Wedding stencils can be used to create larger items as well. Keep in mind that you do not have to limit yourself to stenciling on paper. It can also be done on fabric or walls. A very unique and beautiful decoration for a ceremony would be a fabric hanging stenciled with a large monogram or other design. The fabric can be suspended behind the altar for a one-of-a-kind backdrop. If your wedding is in your own home, you can even think about stenciling a monogram or a large floral pattern right onto the wall. You can always plan to paint over it after the wedding, and the dramatic effect will be well worth the effort.

The wedding favors are a great place to try your hand at stenciling. Choose any type of favor that you like, and place it in a small paper bag or cardboard box. You can use your stencil to add character to the packaging and give your favors that really customized look. This same idea can be used for your bridesmaid gifts. Select pretty bridesmaid gifts, such as dainty pearl earrings, and then make them even more special by presenting them in hand-stenciled boxes. The personal touch will make your gifts even more heartfelt and thoughtful.

There is no end to the different things that you can create for your wedding using a stencil. The key is to choose one special motif that you can carry throughout the wedding. The attention to detail will make your ceremony and reception feel very unique and personal.

Stylish Ways to Use Bamboo in a Wedding

Bamboo has long been a symbol of Asia and the countries of Southeast Asia. In China, it is considered to be a symbol of longevity, which makes bamboo a very fitting motif for a wedding. Not only is bamboo culturally important and beautiful to behold, it is also one of the most sustainable and renewable plant resources, so it is an excellent choice to include in an eco-friendly wedding.

As with any wedding, one of the places to start is with the invitations. It is now possible to have your wedding stationery created on gorgeous bamboo paper. The bamboo paper is ideal for the letterpress styles that are so popular these days. Bamboo has several environmental advantages over the cotton rag paper traditionally used for fine stationery. For one thing, it can be grown without pesticides, unlike the cotton used for paper; for another, bamboo requires very little water, making it an ideal choice for brides who want beautiful paper that is also “green”.

Bamboo is not only fantastic for paper, it can also be used to create lovely fabric. The truly eco-conscious bride can consider gowns created from bamboo for herself and her bridesmaids. There are some beautiful styles available for all of the women in the wedding. Your bamboo bridal gown can be accessorized with handmade jewelry sets. Look for sets of bridal jewelry that are created from dazzling Swarovski crystals, which are a better choice for the environment than diamonds.

There are many other wonderful ways to use bamboo in a wedding. It can be highly decorative, and is a very pretty natural design element. Create Asian inspired centerpieces with elements such as tall stalks of bamboo, pebbles, and graceful floating flowers. Lucky bamboo in planted in tiny ceramic pots is also a very modern and hip idea for your wedding favors.

Bamboo is a cutting edge material that has a lot to offer your wedding. It looks great and is great for the environment, which makes it a super element to include in your festivities. Whether you want to have an eco-conscious wedding or just a chic one, bamboo is a fantastic thing to use.

Get the Most for Your Wedding Jewelry Budget

It seems like everyone is more budget conscious these days, even brides. When you are planning a wedding, it is important to find ways to get the most for your money. As you shop for your bridal jewelry and bridesmaid jewelry gifts, keep these simple tips in mind to get the most for your money.

The first tip may seem obvious, but not all brides do it: shop around. You may see something absolutely beautiful at that big city bridal boutique where you purchased your gown, but it may also be much more expensive than it needs to be. Because the wedding gowns have suggested retail prices that keep the cost equal from one shop to the next, some bridal stores will try to make a little extra on the accessories. This is especially true in big metropolitan areas where the overhead is incredibly high. Your best bets are to shop for bridal jewelry in smaller cities or online.

When price is an issue, you can also substitute one type of gem for another to save money. If you love the classic look of pearls, shop for wedding jewelry sets created from freshwater pearls instead of akoya or South Sea pearls. Freshwater pearls have a beautiful luster and radiance, and these days can be just as round as traditional salt water pearls, but they cost considerably less. For your bridesmaid jewelry gifts, consider having pieces handcrafted with lovely Swarovski pearls, which are an exceptional value.

Swarovski crystals are another great option for a bride on a budget. You can get all the sparkle you could ever want without paying for diamonds. These dazzling crystals are also very popular for sets of bridesmaid jewelry, because they come in an astonishing array of colors. Many brides like to have necklaces and earrings created in their wedding colors to give as bridesmaid gifts. It is a great way to show your gratitude while also helping your bridesmaids to look even more lovely for your wedding.

Cutting Reception Costs

The wedding reception generally eats up at least half of your total wedding budget. Being the most costly part of your wedding also means that it is the reception that gives you the most opportunities to cut costs. These are some great tips that will help you save money without sacrificing on style.

1. Decorate with food. You are going to be serving food anyway; why not let it do double duty and help to beautify your tables as well? If you choose family style service over individually served plates, you will actually save in a few areas. You may be able to reduce the number of servers needed, and it can also be less expensive to serve large platters of passed favorites, rather than single plates of more expensive dishes. The best part is that if you choose pretty decorative platters, they will take up a lot of space on the tables, reducing the need for a lot of costly flowers.

2. Speaking of flowers, they don’t have to cost a fortune. One thing that you might not have considered is that by selecting vases with smaller openings, it will take fewer blooms to make them appear full and lush. Isn’t it funny to think that such a small change could make such a big difference? Another cost cutting measure is to use masses of inexpensive flowers over a just a few stems of very pricey ones. You will get a lot more impact for your budget, and the look is very chic and modern.

3. Speaking of the newlyweds’ grand entrance, don’t feel like you have to follow the hot trend of changing into a second bridal gown and party jewelry. The band or d.j. can make a big fuss over your entrance to the reception, and it really isn’t necessary to do anything more to make a big splash. If you want to make a subtle change to signal the transition from ceremony to reception, an easy thing to do is to choose a hairstyle that is designed to be worn up for the ceremony and down for the party. Switch out your studs for more festive bridal jewelry like chandelier earrings, and you will be ready to dance the night away.

4. Make your placecards do double duty as favors. The most popular favors are edible, and they can be very inexpensive. For instance, place one beautiful ripe pear at each guest’s seat. Tie a paper “leaf” to the stem with the name of the guest written in calligraphy. It will look pretty at the table, let each guest know where to sit, and serve as a favor all at the same time.

Creative Places to Shop for Bridal Gowns

When shopping for bridal gowns, most brides will usually go traditional bridal salons. When you want a classic wedding dress, this is a great option, but for brides looking for a more simple gown, a bridal shop may not be your only choice. These are some ideas on creative places to shop for bridal gowns.

Many of the newest bridal gowns on the runways are inspired by vintage fashion. If this appeals to you, why not go right to the source? It is possible to find stunning wedding gowns at vintage or antique shops for a fraction of the cost of a new vintage inspired gown. When shopping for vintage, it is important to be educated about what you are looking at. Inspect the gowns carefully for damage, dry rot (often seen in lace), or embellishments that are glued on instead of stitched on (common in the 1970s, and a very big problem when it comes to cleaning and alterations). Find out if the vintage shop will let you buy a gown on approval to take to your seamstress to see if it can be altered to fit you properly.

Women today love the ease of shopping online, and many will use the internet as a starting point when seeking out a wedding dress and bridal jewelry. You will often find very nice bridal accessories, such as crystal jewelry, veils, and shoes available online, but be cautious about buying a wedding gown sight unseen. The best source for internet gowns is a well-known retailer that has a special occasion collection, like J Crew. They offer chic streamlined styles for the modern bride, as well as easy return policies, in case you don’t love the dress when it arrives. Unlike some of the so-called “discount” online gown retailers, when you go with a well-known clothing company, you will know that they are reputable.

When you are looking for a gown that is offbeat or non-traditional, also check out your local boutiques. Especially in major cities, there are little shops that carry unique and beautiful styles appropriate for weddings or other special occasions. You might just find the perfect little beaded or hand-sewn dress that will give you the one-of-a-kind look that you have always imagined.

A Scrapbooking Bridal Shower

Scrapbooking is very popular because it is a way to preserve your memories and express your creative side at the same time. It is also something that even a novice can do, which makes it a good idea for a bridal shower. You will need to do a little bit of advance preparation to pull it off, but it will be well worth it. To make it really special, have each guest create a page during the shower that will be bound into a scrapbook for the bride to take at the end of the party.

The first place to start when planning a scrapbooking bridal shower is with the invitations. Ask each guest to gather photos of the bride to bring to the party. Friends can bring pictures of themselves with the bride. Family members can gather everything from baby pictures to graduation and birthday photos to pictures of the bride and groom together. It would be really cute if the groom’s mom brought a few of his baby pictures along as well. Also ask each guest to come up with a special memory or quote to add to her page.

The host of the bridal shower should supply the guests with the supplies that they will need. For starters, you will need loose scrapbook pages, scissors, and glue sticks. Other things to provide include scissors or cutters that create decorative edges, patterned origami paper, stickers, and other decorative motifs. It would be a good idea for the host to have one page made up in advance that can be used as the first page in the scrapbook. Put it on display so that newcomers to the craft will have an example in front of them.

Finally, wrap up your scrapbooking shower by assembling the pages from the party into an album for the bride. If there is room left in the book, put in some blank pages so that she can add to her memory book with pictures from her bridal shower, wedding, and honeymoon. A scrapbooking party is a fun and unique bridal shower idea that will leave the bride with a very special keepsake at the end of it all.