Bridal Shower Traditions

It is said that the first bridal shower took place to help out a wealthy young woman whose father disapproved of the poor young man with whom she fell in love. Because he was displeased with the match, the father of the bride refused to provide the dowry that was typically used to help a young couple set up their first home as newlyweds. Lucky for the love-struck young woman, the kind-hearted people in her community got together and “showered” her with the necessary items to fill a home. Thus the bridal shower was born.

In keeping with the idea that a bridal shower should help a young couple set up housekeeping, showers are usually reserved for first time brides. If the dear friends of a second-time bride feel moved to throw her a shower, of course they may, but it should be limited to her very closest friends and family members who won’t mind shelling out for a bridal shower gift a second time around. It is the idea that a guest should only be asked to contribute one bridal shower gift that makes it a good idea to only invite a person to one shower for the same first-time bride if multiple parties are in the works. Exceptions to this rule would be the bride’s mother, mother-in-law, and possibly her sisters and maid of honor. Speaking of the bride’s immediate family, etiquette dictates that they should not be the hosts of a shower in her honor, as it would look as if they were trying to drum up gifts for her. The job of hosting a bridal shower is best left to the bridesmaids or other non-relatives.

Since the original purpose of a wedding shower was to help a young couple fill their home, shower gifts have traditionally been practical. Probably the most common theme was a kitchen theme. Besides the idea that a young wife would likely spend much of her time in the kitchen (a fiction, obviously, in today’s world), pots and pans, utensils, dishes, linens, and small electrics (think toaster) were the most traditional shower gifts. Another nice thing about a kitchen themed shower is that there were plenty of gift ideas available in every price range. Although bridal shower gifts have gotten more generous in recent years, if you go back about a generation, shower gifts tended to be less extravagant; a pair of nice wooded salad servers would have been a nice present for a bride in the 1950s or 60s. Guests reserved their best efforts for the wedding gift, which was traditionally fine china, crystal, or silver.

These days, the traditional bridal shower gifts are still perennial favorites. However the idea of what makes an appropriate shower gift has expanded somewhat to include more personal items for the bride, not just homegoods. This would explain the origin of the lingerie shower, as well as the idea of gifting the bride something lovely for the wedding, such as jewelry or a headpiece. The more taste-specific gifts like wedding jewelry are best left to those who know exactly what the bride wants, like her mother. Other guests would be smart to stick to the more classic household items, like picture frames and tablecloths. Bridal showers have evolved a little over the years, but they remain one of the most special parts of a wedding.

Dramatic Fabric Embellished Bridal Gowns

Bridal gowns this season offer some incredibly unique and distinctive elements. Many of the most intriguing details are created from fabric that matches the body of the gown. These are some of the wonderful fabric embellishments that you will find on bridal gowns, from the dreamy to the dramatic.

Floral motifs are huge in bridal this year, and so are the flowers! Big, bigger, and biggest is the order of the day when it comes to floral accents on wedding gowns. Picture a layered organza gown with one enormous flower on the skirt. Or a graceful one shoulder dress with a corsage of exaggerated blossoms cascading over the shoulder and down the back. The most subtle floral effect that you will find is a voluminous organdy ballgown covered in hundreds of three dimensional floral appliques. The really terrific thing about all of these feminine floral extravaganzas is that they can easily work for weddings as diverse as an afternoon garden wedding or a formal evening affair.

Designers are also doing some intricate work in pleating, scalloping, and ruffling for brides this year. Some of the styles can be very bold and dramatic. If you are thinking about wearing a gown with a striking cascade of scallops down the train or a wild profusion of ruffles, the key to pulling it off is to really own the look. Choose your accessories wisely to complement your unique gown. Custom bridal Swarovski necklaces will make it possible to have a wedding day necklace that is as distinctive as your gown. One of the best things about bridal necklaces that are custom made from Swarovski crystals is that they will give you a bold look at a small price so you can splurge on your dream dress.

Another special detail to look for in this season’s crop of gowns is an impressive train. The aforementioned scalloped train is one option. You can also check out some of the dresses that pair a slender gown with a billowing train. This is a great way to have a dramatic ceremony gown without being encumbered by a large and heavy dress during the reception; some of these styles feature removable Watteau trains.

Indulge your romantic side with a frothy chiffon gown, or treat yourself to a gown made from numerous organza pleats or one with a billowing organza skirt. Any of this season’s dramatic and yet ultra-feminine gowns will help you to feel chic and gorgeous on your wedding day.

Rich Accessories for Autumn Brides

If you are an autumn bride, you will be delighted to hear that there are some wonderful accessories available to you. The best pieces embrace the warmth of the season with rich tones and luxurious textures. Check out these perfect autumn wedding accessories for inspiration.

A great place to begin when choosing your accessories is with your headpiece. For autumn, some of the nicest motifs are abstract floral and vines. Look for pieces such as hairpins and tiaras that have little flowers created from freshwater pearls or Swarovski crystals. When you are shopping for pearls, keep in mind that a warm ivory tone will be better for fall than stark white. Vines are a very pretty motif, especially if you are planning to use some autumn leaves and branches in your wedding centerpieces.

There are many fabulous options for bridal jewelry sets that would be perfect for a fall wedding. It is often possible to have your bridal jewelry handcrafted in your choice of colors, so why not take advantage of this to design a custom set of jewelry especially for you? Bronze and amber Swarovksi crystals and pearls look gorgeous in combination with 14kt gold and creamy freshwater pearls. Handcrafted bridal jewelry in the warm tones of autumn are the perfect accent for a fall bride.

Something else to think about for fall is a special wrap in case the weather is chilly. These can really run the gamut from rustic to very elegant, so there will be a cover up that is a beautiful complement to any style of gown. One of the most basic styles is a simple silk wrap in a heavy satin, a soft slubby silk, or a crisp organza. Although you could certainly choose a wrap that matches the color of your bridal gown, you might also think about having some fun, and letting your cover up bring a nice pop of color to your wedding ensemble. You could either order a wrap in a color that matches your bridesmaid dresses, or simply choose your favorite rich fall hue. Some great options include chocolate brown, cranberry, or a deep golden yellow. Rich tones, metallics, and nature-inspired elements are all perfect accessories for autumn weddings.

Delicious Wedding Cupcake Towers

There are many things that are great about having a cupcake tower instead of a standard wedding cake. The most important one is that everyone loves cupcakes. Cupcakes also give you the freedom to mix and match different flavors very easily, which will make your guests even happier. Plus, cupcakes are more lighthearted and fun than a formal cake, which makes them a terrific dessert for a casual wedding.

When you are having cupcakes, you will be able to choose a variety of flavors. Certainly, you should plan on having plenty of the classic yellow butter and chocolate cupcakes on hand. From there, why not think about including one or two interesting seasonal flavors? A lemon cake is lively and refreshing for spring; at a summer wedding, a light-as-air angel food cupcake would be wonderful; fall brides can serve up a warm and cozy pumpkin spice cupcake; for a winter wedding, a gingerbread cupcake will get everyone in the holiday spirit. Vanilla, chocolate, and white chocolate are the most popular frosting flavors, but you can also dabble in some of the specialty varieties like rich cream cheese frosting or a light whipped cream topping.

Your cupcakes should be as beautifully decorated as the rest of your wedding, and there are infinite possibilities. If you choose a vanilla frosting, it can be custom colored to match your wedding colors. From there, you will want to think about choosing a special adornment for the top of each cupcake. As with wedding cakes, flowers are a favorite choice for cupcake decorations. You can choose from fresh flowers (dainty pansies look especially nice), classic buttercream flowers, or handmade sugar flowers (the most costly of the three). A whimsical alternative to flowers is butterflies or ladybugs.

Many brides like to have their wedding dessert coordinate with their bridal attire and jewelry. If you are a pearl bridal jewelry kind of gal, then cupcakes decorated with a pert little frosting bow with a tiny white frosting pearl in the center would be adorable. Brides who prefer the glitz and sparkle of crystal bridal jewelry will love the effect of having a shimmer powder dusted over each cupcake. Other popular choices for the wedding cupcake toppings include monograms, hearts, and beach themed accents like starfish.

Cupcakes are definitely here to stay as an alternative to wedding cakes. More and more couples are deciding that they are just too fun to resist. So if you are looking for a wedding dessert that is festive and that your guests will love, give a cupcake tower a try.

Decorating for Fall Weddings With Wheat, Straw, and Hay

Wheat has very powerful symbolism for autumn, which makes it a wonderful motif for a fall wedding. It represents the bounty of the fall harvest, as well as fertility and the cycle of life. As one of the most elemental foodstuffs in history wheat (in the form of bread) also is attached to the concept of nourishment and plenty. How could you do better than this when looking for a motif to use in decorating for a wedding reception?

One of the great things about wheat is that it has a rustic and natural appeal that makes it well suited to receptions in places like farms and barns, and yet, it also looks very elegant when neatly bundled. A large group of wheat stalks gathered into a fat bundle look amazing when tied with a wide satin ribbon for a contrasting texture and a touch of elegance. This wheat stalk bunch can stand up on its own when the stems are trimmed to one length, which is a very attractive effect. You can place your be-ribboned wheat on buffet tables, the guest book table, or use it as a part of the centerpieces.

Individual stalks of wheat make a nice seasonal addition to the wedding bouquets. Wheat combines beautifully with other rustic elements like mums, berries, dried grasses, and seed pods. Tie with a satin ribbon or a gingham one for a true touch of country style. The soft color of wheat works very well against many of the more popular colors for bridesmaid dresses and jewelry, like chocolate, russet, or deep gold. A pretty detail for your attendants would be to give them sets of bridesmaid jewelry to wear that are handcrafted in Swarovski pearls in a warm bronzy tone to complement the wheat color.

Straw and hay are natural companions to wheat when you are creating a rustic elegance design scheme. Greet your guests with escort cards standing in a bed of straw. If you are the diy type of bride, you can make your own escort cards by creating a rubber stamp of a sheath of wheat to stamp on one side of a heavy card stock. Write the name of each guest in simple calligraphy next to the motif. You can easily build a shallow box to contain the bed of straw. These simple natural materials are a wonderful addition to a fall wedding, and you are sure to have fun designing around them.

Fabulous Headpieces for Short Hair

When you are a short haired bride, you may wonder if you are going to be able to wear a special headpiece on your wedding day. While your options may be fewer than if your hair was long, there are actually some truly gorgeous adornments for short hair. These are some suggestions on the most fabulous headpieces for short haired brides.

Veils are one of the loveliest accessories for a bride, but they can be challenging to affix to short hair. Any bride who has tried to secure a long veil in her short hair has probably experienced firsthand how the veil simply slides down the back of her head. A wonderful alternative to a long veil is a short cage veil made with a wide netting. It is a very chic look with a retro flair to it. One of the prettiest ways to attach a cage veil is with a little barrette on the top of the head. Look for one that is decorative, such as a bow with a piece crystal or rhinestone bridal hair jewelry on it. This elegant style looks especially nice with a smooth and sleek hairstyle.

Sometimes when you are working with less hair, you might want to consider creative options for your bridal hair jewelry. If you adore the look of a sparkly crystal clip or barrette, but it slips out of your hair, try anchoring it in the front of your hair at the part. This is a very pretty way to bring the attention to your beautiful face, right where it belongs.

One style that is a guaranteed success for a short haired bride is a headband. Headbands are one of the hottest trends in bridal accessories this season, so you will find yourself with many fantastic pieces from which to choose. Soft fabric headbands are especially big, and if your hair is at least as long as a bob, this can be a beautiful finishing touch for you. Look for a wide silk headband that can be tied around your hair with soft tails flowing down the back, slightly to one side. You can keep it very simple, or add an embellishment like a crystal or pearl brooch for even more style and a unique flair.  Embrace the modern and chic look of short hair and the fabulous hair jewelry that will help you to shine on your wedding day.

Bridal Jewelry Has Lasting Value

Although most brides say that they are trying to save money on their weddings, there is one area where they have decided not to cut costs: bridal jewelry sets. There is a very good reason for this; not only will the right wedding jewelry help to make the bride shine on her special day, but it is one thing that can be used again and again after the wedding is past. These are some tips on how to choose bridal jewelry with lasting value and beauty.

The most important thing when you are looking for jewelry that will become a wedding keepsake is to choose pieces that are made from fine materials. Diamonds and akoya pearls are long time wedding favorites, as are more affordable gems like Swarovksi crystals and freshwater pearls. All of these options will look beautiful for years and years to come. In addition, choose sets of bridal jewelry that have been handcrafted from sterling silver or gold instead of a base metal that will lose its beauty over time.

Style is another factor to keep in mind. If you select necklaces, earrings, and bracelets with a timeless elegance, you know that you will always love them. Also think about your lifestyle, and what types of pieces you are most likely to enjoy wearing again after the wedding. For instance, if you have no special occasion items in your jewelry wardrobe, you might be glad to have bridal jewelry that you can wear again for future special occasions. In this case, look for very elegant pieces, such as those that have a lot of Swarovski crystals for the most sparkle.

On the other hand, some brides to prefer necklace, earring, and bracelet sets that they can wear more casually, like with a pair of jeans and a crisp white t-shirt. The jewelry that works the best for this type of future use is often a bit more trendy and casual. Chokers and bib style necklaces can be great accessories to wear when you want to add a quick dash of style to a very simple outfit. Now that you know all of the ways that you will be able to enjoy your bridal jewelry again after the wedding, you can see that is it one thing that you can definitely add into your wedding budget without guilt (unlike the $900 designer shoes or the helicopter ride to the reception!).

A Newlywed’s To Do List

Thank You Notes. If you haven’t done them already, you really need to get on top of your thank you notes immediately after returning from your honeymoon. This is one of those tasks that only gets harder as time goes on, so do not procrastinate. Get some pretty stationery (perhaps personalized with your new monogram), a good black pen, a book of stamps, and start writing. The notes do not have to be long nor particularly original, as long as they are gracious and heartfelt. If you really have a big pile of notes to write, get your husband to sit down with you and write some too. It is a really small thing to do for all those well-wishers who spent the time and money to buy you gifts.

Update Insurance. Does your current homeowner’s policy have enough coverage for all those aforementioned gifts? Is your new spouse the beneficiary on your life insurance policy? (Do you even have a life insurance policy?) Have you asked your agent to add your wedding rings and bridal jewelry to your policy? Many insurance companies require separate riders to cover your valuable articles, like fine bridal jewelry or original artwork. It may also be worthwhile to transfer all of your policies to one insurance company, if you and your new spouse previously had them in different places, because you can take advantage of large multi-policy discounts that are often available.

Change Your Name. If you have decided to take your husband’s name, you will need to go through a few steps to get this done. Check with your local agencies to be sure of their requirements before beginning the process. In general, the place to start is by getting a new Social Security card with your married name. Be sure to bring along all of your I.d. and documents in your maiden name, as well as your marriage license. Once you have your new Social Security card, you can work on changing your name on your driver’s license, at the bank, on your credit cards, utilities, and so forth.

Clean and Store Your Wedding Gown. Don’t leave your wedding gown hanging in the plastic bag from the bridal shop for an extended length of time. Within a few weeks of your return from the honeymoon, you should have it professionally dry cleaned by a company that specializes in wedding gowns (most do not). Even if you do not see any stains or marks, it is wise to have the gown cleaned, because invisible spots from perspiration or Champagne will oxidize and turn brown or yellow over time, causing irreversible damage to the gown. After it has been thoroughly cleaned, your bridal gown should be loosely stored in an archival quality acid free box and tissue, never sealed in plastic in one of those boxes that some dry cleaners still offer.

With these four tips in mind, you will be on your way towards being a happy and organized new husband or wife!

Should the Groom Get a Say in the Gown?

Tradition holds that it is unlucky for the groom to see the bride in her wedding gown before the ceremony. However, more and more couples are bucking this custom. In some cases, the groom even gets to help pick out the bride’s dress! This got me to thinking, just how much say should the groom have in selecting the wedding gown?

When the young couple is paying for the wedding themselves, they will need to come up with a detailed budget. This means that even traditional brides who intend to keep their gowns a surprise until they walk down the aisle may still have to allow the groom a voice when it comes to the price of the gown. Now personally, I frown on this, because most men have no clue about how much it costs to look fabulous, but in the interest of fairness, if joint funds are being used, the groom should probably get at least some say on the appropriate price range for the bridal gown, veil, and handcrafted bridal jewelry. Of course, if you do not want your fiance to have even this much influence on your gown selection, you might want to set aside your own separate funds beyond the general wedding budget so that you can spend whatever you feel is necessary to get your dream gown.

It is very important to most brides that their future husbands will be wowed by them the moment that they walk down the aisle. To this end, they are often very nervous about picking a gown that he will like. One way to get some input without giving everything away is to ask him his general likes and dislikes about dresses. Of course, you may not get very far with this, because a lot of men do not have strong opinions when it comes to ladies’ fashion! But if you think about it, you probably have a pretty good sense of his taste. Does he always compliment you when you wear a certain dress? Then you can use that as your jumping off point.

For those who are very concerned about the groom loving the wedding gown, the final step is to actually take him dress shopping. To be frank, I am not a big fan of this, as I think that it takes away from the bride’s big reveal on wedding day, but more and more brides do choose to go this route. This is especially true when the couple is assuming joint responsibility for the purchase of the gown, and she wants to make sure that he is happy with their investment (particularly when the gown is a costly designer one). I suppose that one advantage to this approach is that when the groom goes shopping for a gift of handcrafted bridal jewelry for the wedding present, he will know what will look best with the gown! In the end, as long as it works for you, it is fine to let the groom have a say in the bridal gown.

Charitable Weddings

I recently watched a new show called “Wedding Day” that had an interesting new premise. A team of talented wedding planners get together to throw an amazing dream wedding for a deserving couple who could not otherwise have one. This got me to thinking, it doesn’t require the magic of television to make someone’s dream come true. The friends and family of a worthy couple could get together and throw their own charitable wedding as a surprise gift to their loved ones.

First of all, everyone on the wedding planning team would pitch in their services. If the groom’s mom is a fantastic cook, maybe she could handle the catering, with some extra help from a few sets of willing hands. Maybe the bride’s aunt is a talented baker. Great! She can contribute the wedding cake. Almost anyone who is handy with a computer can design and print lovely low cost wedding invitations to spread the good news.

Of course, not everything can be handmade by a family member. For the items that will need to be purchased, one idea could be to gift it to the bride or groom in lieu of a wedding or shower present. For instance, the maid of honor could take the bride shopping to look at sets of bridal jewelry. When the pieces are made from gems like freshwater pearls or Swarovski crystals, the bridal jewelry sets can be found for no more than the cost of any other wedding gift, and jewelry makes a wonderful keepsake for the bride even after the wedding. Perhaps the bride’s parents or grandmother might decide to gift her a bridal gown, if there is not a talented seamstress available in the family.

As you are planning a charitable wedding, you are likely to find that most people who work in the wedding industry are romantics at heart. If you share the special story of the bride and groom who you have decided to help, you just might find that some vendors can be a little more flexible on their rates or might throw in some extras for no additional cost. Promising them a big thanks in the wedding programs might be a good incentive; every company loves good publicity. And surely there could be no more heartfelt wedding than one that has been lovingly assembled by the bride and groom’s dearest friends and family.