Pretty Centerpieces for Casual Weddings

Everything about your wedding should flow in harmony. If you are the kind of bride who is most comfortable wearing a simple wedding gown with handmade jewelry, then you will want a very different type of wedding decorations than the bride who is wearing an opulent gown with very elaborately handmade wedding jewelry in a hotel ballroom. Your centerpieces should match your general style, and when your wedding reception is more relaxed, you can have fun with more creative table arrangements.

Gerbera daisies are one of the most popular flowers for casual receptions. Their bright colors and cheerful nature are both celebratory and informal. There are several styles of centerpieces which will work wonderfully with gerbera daisies as the main flower. For long tables, plant a “garden” of the daisies in long containers filled with wheatgrass. Choose either a single color, or a mixture of pink, orange, and yellow flowers.  So fun!

Hydrangeas are a perennial wedding flower favorite, and they have the possibility of being made to look very elegant or quite informal. A simple centerpiece idea for an outdoor wedding is to take bunches of hydrangeas and arrange them in pitchers. Find a variety of different pitchers at flea markets to give the table decorations that welcoming homey feeling. These centerpieces are so easy to make that you can pick the flowers from your own yard and quickly drop them into the pitchers.

Potted plants and herbs make wonderful casual centerpieces. Try a mixture of various fresh herbs and flowering plants in a clay pot for a garden wedding. Or choose container plants which are in season for your wedding. Red geraniums or begonias would be very appealing for a summer wedding, or use orange and deep red mums for a rustic fall reception. Put the flowering plants into pretty but informal vessels, such as wicker baskets or painted tin pails. Simply perfect for an informal wedding!

How to Have a Dream Wedding

One bride’s dream is another bride’s nightmare. For every woman who wants to have a Cinderella fairy princess wedding in a castle, there is a city chic gal who gags at the very thought of it. By the same token, for every bride whose idea of the perfect wedding involves a trendy urban loft filled with hip lounge furniture, there is an earthy woman who cannot imagine getting married without the natural beauty of flowers and trees surrounding her. This is why the most important step in designing your dream wedding is to first figure out exactly what a perfect day would look like to you and your fiance, not your mother, and maybe not even Martha Stewart.

With your concept of the perfect wedding day firmly in mind, you can begin to set everything into motion. Begin with your venue, which will be the biggest choice you make for your wedding (other than the groom, of course!). Make sure that it fits in with your vision, in terms of style, size, and location. Be realistic! What if if that picture perfect meadow overlooking a lazy river is soaked with three days’ rainfall? Is that ultra-cool loft in a neighborhood where your grandmother would feel safe walking from her car? It is all too easy to get blinded to potential serious issues with a wedding location when it captures your heart, so be careful about this.

Once you have a venue booked which has the right style, move on to the wedding attire, as this will be the next most important factor in setting the tone for the event. It is extremely helpful to wait to pick your wedding gown until you know where you will be having the ceremony and reception. Certain details will work beautifully with specific types of venues, and when it all comes together harmoniously, the effect will be breathtaking.

Bridesmaid attire and flowers will be the other things which are most important in coordinating your dream wedding. The bridesmaid dresses should in some way complement the style or silhouette of your bridal gown. You can also tie everything together with similar jewelry, such as the tin cup necklace design. The bride can wear a white pearl tin cup necklace and the bridesmaids can wear floating pearl necklaces in a color which look good with the bridesmaid dresses. And then there are the flowers, both for the ceremony and reception. They should be in harmony with the rest of your wedding plans, both in terms of style and color. With all of your details tied together, you will be well on your way to making your vision of a dream wedding come to life.

Affordable Tin Cup Necklaces for Brides and Bridesmaids

The floating pearl necklace worn by Renee Russo in the movie “Tin Cup” made a huge impact on the fashion world. Today, the pearl tin cup necklace is one of the favorite designs for brides and bridesmaids alike. Yet not everyone can afford to shop for their jewelry in Beverly Hills, which may leave one to wonder, it is possible to find affordable tin cup necklaces?

The answer is absolutely yes! While some tin cup necklaces are indeed very costly, savvy brides can find the same fantastic look in a fine quality necklace for a reasonable price. The best place to start your search is the Internet, although there may also be some local boutiques with good prices. Many of the more affordable floating pearl necklaces are every bit as beautiful as those which go for two or three times the price in designer jewelry stores.

A fantastic way to get the gorgeous look of a tin cup bridal necklace at a good price is to select a necklace which is handcrafted with freshwater pearls rather than more costly Akoya pearls. Today’s freshwater pearls can be just as round as the traditional salt water ones, and also boast a fabulous luster. Happily for brides on a budget, you give up none of the beauty of the pearls by choosing freshwater instead of Akoya. The only thing that is different is

Typically, a bride will be inclined to splurge a bit more on her own wedding jewelry, but will try to save what she can on her bridesmaid jewelry gifts. After all, when you have to buy 5 or 6 sets of jewelry, it can add up, no matter how reasonable the price is. For this reason, a very popular idea for bridesmaid gifts is to purchase tin cup necklaces which are handcrafted with beautiful Swarovski pearls. With an even lower price than the already affordable freshwater pearls, Swarovski pearls can be a fantastic option for a bride who has to give gifts to a large group of attendants. Not only is the price right, but a Swarovski pearl tin cup necklace can be created in a color which complements the bridesmaid dress.

The classic elegance of a pearl tin cup necklace is within reach of brides with every budget size. By carefully choosing the right jeweler, type and size of pearl, you can find stunning floating pearl necklaces for every member of your wedding party.

David’s Bridal or Local Bridal Salon?

With brides looking for ways to have a beautiful wedding on a budget, more of them are considering shopping at discount retailers like David’s Bridal instead of their local bridal salon. After all, the idea of getting your wedding gown for only $99 sounds pretty good! But of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to most things in life; to help you sort it all out, here is what you need to know about the differences between shopping at a bridal warehouse versus a smaller bridal salon.

Certainly the number one reason to shop at a place like David’s Bridal is price. There is no doubt that they will have some of the lowest prices in town. However, that is not to say that you will get the best value for your money. They are not selling top quality gowns like you would find in a local bridal shop. When shopping at a wedding warehouse store, you are not getting the same gown for less, you are getting a totally different type of dress. This may be just fine for some brides, but for others it will not be.

Of course, there is one advantage to mass produced gowns, which is that there will be a full size range available in the store. Plus size brides in particular appreciate being able to try on the wedding gowns in their own size. Designer bridal salons only carry one sample size in each style, and it can require a lot of imagination to picture how the gown would look when it does not come close to fitting you. However, with that said, all made to order gowns can be ordered in every size, and a good consultant will know which gowns will look best when they fit properly.

One of the intangibles is the level of service that you will get at a small local salon as compared to a mass merchandiser. At a discount bridal warehouse, you may be able to get help, but many brides end up in a self service situation, which can be a very challenging way to shop for a bridal gown. In the end, it all comes down to what you want in terms of a wedding gown and a gown shopping experience. If you want to be pampered, and have a personal consultant who will help you with everything from picking out your gown to suggesting styles of bridesmaid jewelry gifts, a bridal salon is for you. Brides who are perfectly comfortable picking out their own gowns may be happy with a bridal warehouse which has a large number of dresses in stock. And then there is the matter of finding the right balance between quality and budget, which is a decision that each bride has to make for herself.

Does Your Wedding Need a Makeover?

If you love wedding shows like I do, you have probably seen “My Fair Wedding”, the one where a famous wedding planner comes in and totally remakes weddings at the last second. The results are crystal clear: the “afters” are always way more fabulous, elegant, and chic than the “befores”. Now, most brides are not going to get any last minute guidance from a celebrity wedding designer, but every bride can make her own wedding more beautiful with the right tools. Read this article to figure out if your wedding needs a makeover.

Your wedding might need a makeover if…fake flowers are the main form of decoration. In fact, this has been a common theme on the episodes of “My Fair Wedding” that I have seen: rather than investing in fresh flowers, brides hope to get by with the fake ones. Most of the fakes are not at all natural looking, either, generally coming in too-bright colors or not resembling the shape of genuine flowers at all.

Your wedding might need a makeover if…you spend most of your waking hours with a hot glue gun in hand. While there are certainly any number of lovely diy wedding projects which a crafty bride can undertake, it is also all too easy to go way over the top with the homemade decorations. Here is the key: if your efforts look like you made them at home with a hot glue gun, they are not elegant enough for a wedding. One of the worst examples I saw of this on television was a bride who hot glued fake flowers (two strikes!) to everything in sight, including the bridal hair jewelry for her bridesmaids. Flowers can be a pretty theme for bridal jewelry to wear in the hair, but only if they are delicately handcrafted – never humongous and stuck to a stretchy headband.

A wedding should always feel magical, which means that your guests never see the behind-the-scenes stuff taking place. The good news is that it is never too late to make the small changes which will yield big improvements in the style and beauty of your wedding day. From decorations, to attire, to the reception, you have the power to make everything absolutely gorgeous so that you will be able to enjoy the dream wedding you deserve.

International Wedding Hors D’oeuvres

Weddings are all about blending families and cultures, everything from your great-aunt’s wedding jewelry to your fiance’s family church. Beyond wedding jewelry and the like, another fantastic opportunity for mixing cultures is with the wedding food. Here are some great suggestions for an international array of wedding hors d’oeuvres.

Asian food is very popular and it makes a great place to begin planning your international wedding hors d’oeuvres menu. Fried wontons with little dipping sauces are a sure-fire hit. Another delicious appetizer idea is tiny mu shu pancakes tied with a piece of scallion or other edible tidbits. Little cups of egg drop soup will be much enjoyed by guests on a cool evening.

Greek cuisine offers many tasty appetizer options for wedding cocktail hours. You can bet that guests will gobble up mini pitas stuffed with gyro meat, feta, and a cool cucumber sauce.  Phyllo triangles filled with spinach and goat cheese are elegant and delicious, perfect for a passed tray of appetizers. Stuffed grape leaves are another excellent addition to the cocktail hour menu.

Mexican and Spanish cuisine offer many more delicious ideas for the wedding cocktail hour. Empanadas are loved for their savory/sweet combination, and the closed shape of them makes them an easy food to eat while standing up. Mini tacos or chimichangas may remind the bride too much of sports bar food, but guess what: the guys at the reception will wolf them down. Or arrange for a Spanish tapas bar, serving all the little bites which are so popular: everything from olives, battered squid, chorizo, cured meats, cheeses, and small pieces of bread. A tapas station is an upscale addition to any wedding reception.

Your around the world appetizers stations can also include Japanese sushi, Italian antipasto, and maybe even something American like comfort food (mashed potato shooters, anyone?) or soul food. Whichever cultures and cuisines you choose to represent, one thing is for sure: your guests will not leave your wedding hungry!

Wedding Day Transportation

When you are planning a wedding, it is important not to overlook any of the important details, like how you will get there. It is not only the bride and groom who require transportation either, the entire wedding party (and sometimes even the entire wedding) must be accounted for. Here is what you need to know about wedding day transportation.

First of all, the bride needs a way to get to the ceremony site, as do her bridesmaids. It is customary for all the members of the bridal party to assemble in one place to get dressed. This is a fun ritual, and it is also very practical, as the attendants can help each other with zippers, clasps on bridesmaid jewelry, etc. (Certainly someone will also need to help the bride get ready also.) Usually the bride and her attendants will travel together to the ceremony site in a limo. This is very convenient and it ensures no stragglers.

The men will often make their own way to the ceremony site in their own cars, but they may also hire a car if they wish. From there, it is time to get from the ceremony site to the reception venue. The bride and groom will travel together in the same limo which she rode in with the bridesmaids. No one else should ride in the car with the newlyweds, as this is their special private time to share together. Of course, there are other options, such as renting an antique car, a horse and carriage, or even a tandem bicycle.

At the end of the evening, more transportation will be needed. The bride and groom will need some sort of vehicle for their grand exit. It is a very fun part of a wedding when the newlyweds dash off together to their waiting car while their guests cheer and wish them well. A tip for the wedding guests: if your friends have hired an antique Bentley as their getaway vehicle, the chauffeur may not take kindly to having it decked out with “Just Married” written on the windows in soap or lipstick, so tread lightly!

What to Pack for a Beach Honeymoon

The perfect honeymoon vacation all starts with a well packed bag. After all, you do not want to get to your destination and discover that you have forgotten something important, yet nor do you want to lug around massive suitcases stuffed with things you will never use. This is what you need to pack (and leave behind) for a beach honeymoon.

Your swimsuits. Bring a few, so if you go swimming in the morning, you will have a dry one to slip into after lunch. It is a good idea to bring a few styles of swimsuits on your honeymoon. Definitely get one that is a little more daring that what you would wear for a family trip to the beach with your parents. It is your honeymoon, after all! Very cute are those bikinis which can be customized with “Mrs. ____” on the back in crystals; perfect for sipping tropical drinks poolside. If you plan to undertake any sporty water activities like scuba diving or waterskiing, a practical tank suit will also come in handy.

Sundresses and cute sandals. Even if your usual beach attire is shorts and tanktops, it is nice to dress up a little for your honeymoon. It is particularly nice to have something feminine to wear for romantic dinners together. Bring along some sassy strappy sandals (not your beat up flip flops) and any wedding jewelry gifts which he gave you to complete the look. Your new husband will love seeing you tan in a pretty dress, and he will also be glad to see that you liked his wedding jewelry gifts so much that you want to wear them again and again.

A camera. Surely you will want to have lots of photos by which to remember your honeymoon. But don’t bother emailing pictures home to your family and friends during your trip. While on your honeymoon, the focus should be on the newlyweds only. There will be plenty of time to share pictures when you get back home. And last, but not least, remember to pack your sense of romance and adventure to make sure that your honeymoon is the trip of a lifetime.

When the Groom Gets Cold Feet

It happens: you get engaged, are buzzing along happily planning the wedding, when all of a sudden your husband-to-be drops a bombshell: he has cold feet and wants to postpone the wedding. Once you get over the initial shock and horror, you will have to decide on your next move. Here is some help to assist you in navigating through the various scenarios until you find one that you can live with.

For some grooms, the closer they get to the wedding day, the more panicked they become. Maybe it was just a dull nagging anxiety nine months ago when he first popped the question and presented you with the wedding jewelry. Then perhaps as the plans picked up steam and you went shopping together to pick out wedding bands and the rest of your bridal jewelry, his palms got a bit sweatier. With the actual wedding day in sight, his level of stress may rise so high that he feels the need to bolt.

Cold feet may certainly signal that he is unsure about the course the two of you are taking, or that he has an insurmountable fear of commitment, but it also might not mean that at all. Maybe he wants to spend the rest of his life with you but fears that marriage will somehow change a relationship that he feels is perfect just the way it is. Or maybe his parents have been divorced and remarried, so he is nervous about taking the plunge. The key question is whether he is experiencing temporary pre-wedding jitters, which can be overcome, or a true doubt about the future of the relationship, which is far more serious.

If you are the bride in this situation, you have several options. The first is to suggest that you put the wedding aside and spend a few weeks completely apart to allow time to for deep reflection. Another option for some couples is to put the wedding on hold and live together first to be sure that getting married is right for both of you. The final option when the groom gets cold feet is for the bride to cut her losses and move on. Whatever you decide in the end, just be certain that it is a decision that you can live with for the long term.

The Pros and Cons of a Vegas Wedding

Las Vegas has always been a popular place for weddings. As with any type of weddings, there are advantages and disadvantages to tying the knot in Sin City. Use this list of pros and cons to help you decide if a Vegas wedding is right for you.

Pro: Las Vegas is glamorous. A Vegas bride has the perfect excuse to choose a sexy beaded wedding gown with lots of sparkling crystal bridal jewelry. Imagine yourself as an extra in “Ocean’s Eleven” or a James Bond film with gorgeous ladies and dashing tuxedo-clad men in the high end casinos. That can be the vibe you channel to put together the perfect crystal beaded gown and dazzling jewelry for your Vegas nuptials.

Con: If you do not consider yourself to be a glamorous person, you may be uncomfortable with the sexy attitude of Vegas. Certainly some brides will wear traditional lace gowns for Las Vegas weddings, but they are in the minority. If you are not comfortable showing some skin, you might prefer to hold your wedding elsewhere.

Pro: Anything goes in Vegas. That is a large part of the appeal for many brides and grooms. Want a wedding that is whimsical, quirky, or just plain silly? You will be able to find whatever you want in Las Vegas. Especially if it is an Elvis impersonator.

Con: That whole “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” attitude. If you are the sort of couple who prefers a traditional and wholesome wedding experience, the whole Las Vegas vibe may be too much for your taste. Hint: if the word “conservative” is one which you use to describe your dream wedding, Vegas is not for you!