Tips on Getting Organized for Your Wedding

Some people are natural born planners, while others…not so much. Whichever your planning style, when you are trying to pull together a wedding, you will have many details which you will need to stay on top of. These are some tips on getting organized for your wedding so that nothing falls through the cracks.

A great wedding planning book is a must for any bride. The timeline tool is one of the most important keys to keeping on track. After all, if you have never planned a wedding before, you may have no idea that you need to order your bridal gown at least six months in advance or that the most popular reception venues often book one to two years in advance. The other really useful thing about a wedding timeline is that it breaks the planning process down into more manageable bites.

Checklists are another key organizational tool that every bride needs. It can be so easy to overlook details when your to-do list is about a mile long. Any good planning book will have checklists for you to fill in once you have finished a task. Bridesmaid gifts selected – check, honeymoon booked – check, programs ordered – check. Keep your checklists organized by setting up a computer program with monthly, weekly, possibly even daily lists. Some of the items on your list will be big picture stuff “hire a caterer”, while others will be more of the little details “remind fiance to buy dress socks”.

You will also want a way to keep all of your wedding materials organized and at your fingertips. If you a bride who actually enjoys sorting and organizing, you will find that a three ring binder is your best friend for wedding planning. Customize it in a way that makes sense to you. Some brides prefer to store most of their wedding planning details electronically. It is a very accurate way to keep track of things like the R.s.v.p.s, due dates for vendor payments, and items which have been ordered along with their delivery dates. Just be sure not to have any photos of your wedding gown in a computer program where your fiance must stumble across them!

The Fine Art of Wedding Etiquette

Sometimes when you first start planning a wedding, the etiquette can seem overwhelming and perhaps even a little bewildering. However, following proper etiquette is a very important part of planning a wedding; it is about much more than style or appearances – good etiquette ensures that everyone feels respected and enjoys the event. This is a look at the fine art of wedding etiquette.

For those who do not know an invitation from an announcement, a great place to start is with one of the soup-to-nuts etiquette book, such as Emily Post’s. A comprehensive etiquette book not only covers things like how to write a proper thank you note, but will offer guidelines about many practical aspects as well. You can learn what sorts of items make appropriate bridesmaid gifts, how many appetizers to order per guest, and the order of the ceremony processional.

It also helps to have an understanding about the reasons behind some of the seemingly arcane bits of wedding etiquette. Why go to the trouble of creating a seating chart for the reception? It is because a good host takes care to put together dinner tables with a mix of people who will enjoy one another’s company and carry on lively conversation.  It also allows the bride and groom to make sure that honored guests, such as parents and grandparents, are assigned seats at the head tables, and it can even allow the bride the chance to try her hand at a little discreet matchmaking among the couple’s single friends.

Another great reason to brush up on your Emily Post is to make sure that you are a) making you guests feel appreciated and b) avoiding causing any offense. This is where thank you notes come into play. Dashing off a few words of personal appreciation on pretty stationery is nothing compared to the effort (not to mention the expense) that goes into shopping for, purchasing, wrapping, and shipping a wedding present. To neglect this most basic bridal duty is to both show a distinct lack of appreciation and to offend the giver at the same time. Knowing the proper etiquette, on the other hand, will make a fine impression on all of your wedding guests…including the friends of your in-laws, who are sure to comment to your mother-in-law about what a thoughtful, polite woman her son was lucky enough to marry.

Beach Wedding Hair Jewelry and Veils

Naturally the bride will want something fabulous to adorn her hair on her wedding day. As a beach wedding tends to be more relaxed, it is best to choose a headpiece which is not overly formal. Rather than a tall tiara, for instance, try a double headband beaded with crystals and pearls. The gems will make it beautiful enough for a wedding, but the headband style will look more appropriate on the beach. Select a headband which complements your bridal jewelry set. Another great thing about a headband is that if you opt to wear your hair down, it will keep the ocean breeze from blowing your hair in your face during the ceremony.

A beach theme hair ornament can be a wonderful accessory for a wedding by the ocean. A starfish pin in your hair makes a lovely alternative to a fresh flower, and as a bonus it will not wilt in the hot sun. Small starfish clips or pins would also be fun for the bridesmaids. They would make a nice add on to the bridesmaid jewelry sets that the bride gives as gifts. Tie a pretty starfish clip to the jewelry box with an organza ribbon for a nice addition to the bridesmaid gifts that will also make the box extra special.

Pearls are a natural choice by the ocean. A cluster of pearl hairpins would be an elegant addition to a simple updo. Low buns are very chic and are un-fussy enough for the beach. They are also a classic staple to have in your jewelry box for future special occasions after the wedding. Wear your pearl hairpins with pearl bridal jewelry, such as a drop pendant or a unique keshi pearl necklace. Add some coordinating earrings, and you will be ready to walk down the aisle in style.

A veil on the beach can be a bit tricky, but any bride who wants one should definitely wear one. For a wedding outdoors, the veil should always be shorter than floor length. The last thing you need is to have your delicate veil catch on a wooden boardwalk or deck and tear. Nor do you want to have a long veil dragging behind you on the sand picking up seaweed and other beach debris from the sand! A calf length veil gives the effect of a long veil with none of the potential perils. Fingertip veils also work well, but be careful about choosing a very short veil, as it will fly around your face with the slightest breeze; in fact, the shortest veils are actually called “flyaways”.

Beach weddings are always beautiful, and with the perfect accessories, you can be sure to look absolutely stunning. From headbands to pins to special veils, there is a combination of beach wedding accessories that will be perfect for any wedding and to match any bridal gown.

Jack and Jill Wedding Showers

A co-ed Jack and Jill shower has many things in common with a standard all-female shower. You will need invitations, food, decorations, and of course, presents. However, all of these things should be planned with a much less feminine flair than they would for a shower without the guys. Start with invitations; instead of something pink and frilly, choose a more gender neutral party invitation (it need not be specifically a bridal shower invitation, as those are likely to be very girly), such as one in green or blue instead of pink or purple. You don’t want the invitation to scare off the men you invite, after all!

Next, think about the decorations for your Jack and Jill party. Opt for a more modern and streamlined design than you might for a traditional shower. Pick a theme which is equally appealing to men and women; instead of the Victorian tea party, go for the backyard barbeque or cocktail party. Skip the lace tablecloths and wedding bells in favor of linens in an elegant dupioni (for a more formal party) or a casual print (for a very relaxed party). Create chic floral arrangements in shades of green and cream, versus pink, pink, and more pink. Attending a wedding shower will be a first time event for many of the men present, and you want to make sure that they do not feel like they accidentally stumbled into a “hen party”.

Many traditional bridal showers have games, such as making a “bridal gown” out of toilet paper or doing word scrambles with the names of kitchen tools. These games are frankly not appealing to many women, and they are certainly out of the question for a co-ed shower. A wedding party does not actually need games at all, but if you really want to include them, limit yourself to just one or two, and make them fun for everyone. The best choice is a questionnaire with questions about the bride and groom; whoever gets the most right answers wins a small prize. This is a fun game because it can spark a lot of funny answers and bring up a lot of silly old memories.

One thing that is absolutely the same for any wedding shower is that the guest of honor must thank their host appropriately. A small gift and a heartfelt letter of thanks from the bride and groom would be lovely after the Jack and Jill shower. If the hosts are bridesmaids, remember that you should get them a separate thank you gift apart from the bridesmaid jewelry you give them to thank them for being in your wedding. While bridesmaid jewelry is a wonderfully personal gift from the bride to her attendants, the hostess gift which is a joint present from the bride and groom should be a little less personal, such as a fine bottle of wine with a personalized bottle opener or a pair of theater tickets. It is a very gracious way to show your appreciation for the Jack and Jill wedding shower.

Do Good While Getting Married

Planning a wedding can feel like a charmed time in your life. While you are in the midst of all that bridal bliss, why not find a way to share your good fortune with others? From charitable donations to environmental good deeds to helping animals, there are numerous ways to do good while getting married. Take a look at these suggestions to get ideas that you can use to “pay it forward” as part of your own wedding.

Start with supporting local vendors in your community whenever possible. Get your bridesmaid gifts from the local boutique which handcrafts jewelry right in their back room. Hire an artist to handmake letterpress wedding invitations for you. Order a wonderful blackberry jam from someone at your local farmer’s market. When you do good in this way, it is a win-win situation for your wedding and your community.

Charitable donations are becoming increasingly popular for wedding gifts and favors. Perhaps you already have a house full of stuff; why not request that in lieu of gifts a donation be made in your name at your favorite charity? These gifts can also come from the bride and groom. In lieu of traditional favors, make a donation to a charity. Put out an elegant card at each place setting informing guests that a donation has been made in their name. Just be sure to select a charity which is going to be acceptable to everyone (animals are good, political causes are not).

After the wedding, there will be even more opportunities to do good works. You can donate your wedding gown to Making Memories, a foundation which raises funds for victims of breast cancer. Make arrangements to have surplus food donated to a food shelter at the end of the reception. You can even have your wedding centerpieces delivered to a nursing home to brighten the day of the residents. With so many easy and meaningful ways to make your wedding a time to share your good fortune, it will be simple to find a couple of things that you can do to pay it forward.

Ideas to Brighten Up Black Bridesmaid Dresses

Just because you have chosen a dark color for the bridesmaid dresses does not mean that they cannot have some vivid color elsewhere in their ensemble. A very fresh approach to the bridesmaid bouquets is to give each attendant a nosegay made of a different variety of flower. Have each bouquet made in a monochromatic color from one type of flower. In other words, you might have one nosegay of green Kermit mums, another of hot pink carnations, another in orange gerbera daisies, and so on. As long as the shape and size of each bouquet is uniform, this will look fantastic.

Accessories are a great way to brighten up black bridesmaid dresses. The bridesmaid jewelry can be a particularly fun way to add a splash of cheer to dark attire. Classic white pearls are lovely, but when the attendants are all wearing black, it can be better to opt for Swarovski crystal bridesmaid jewelry sets. This will give you a huge range of color choices, and will also get some shimmer and sparkle into the bridesmaids’ outfits, which is always a good thing. For summer, aquamarine crystal station necklaces would be gorgeous. In the winter months, a rich color like jade or cinnamon will be just the right amount of color for the bridesmaid jewelry to make it pop against the dark dresses.

Bridesmaids wearing knee length black dresses? Then use their shoes as the pop of color. One of the best colors is a chartreuse satin shoe, which will really stand out and make a statement. There is nothing somber about shoes like that! Cobalt blue is a rich hue which looks surprisingly good with black. Another deep shade with a great hit of color is plum. Metallic colors can work well for the bridesmaids’ shoes also. Silver, gold, or bronze shoes will offer the distinct advantage of being something which the bridesmaids will be able to wear again on many occasions.

What if your bridesmaids have already purchased their black dresses, but when your mother learns of the choice, it launches her into a panic attack? Instead of returning the dresses, consider adding a sash or wrap with a pop of color. This couldn’t be easier, since absolutely any color will look great against a black dress. If it means maintaining family harmony, it may well be a worthwhile compromise. The nice thing is that after your wedding, remove the sash, and your attendants will still have the classic black party dresses that they started with.

Make Your Maid of Honor Special

The maid of honor is a very important part of a wedding. She is the top honor attendant, and as such is often dressed or accessorized in a way that sets her apart from the rest of the bridal party. These are some ways to make your honor extra special for your wedding.

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to distinguish your maid of honor is by selecting special attire for her. If the rest of your bridesmaids will be wearing the same dress, select one for your maid of honor which is similar, but not the same. For instance, your bridesmaids could wear an A-line dress and your maid of honor could wear the same style and color with a fuller skirt. Or keep the cut of the skirt the same, but choose a different neckline for your best girl. If the bridal party wears strapless gowns, your honor attendant can be clad in a beautiful portrait neckline dress to set her apart.

It is customary for the bride to give her wedding party sets of bridesmaid jewelry as their wedding gifts. Part of the tradition is to treat the maid of honor with a gift which is similar, but a bit more special. Let’s say that you have decided to give your attendants crystal earrings and necklaces for their bridesmaid jewelry sets; splurge on your maid of honor by treating her to the matching bracelet as well. The idea is something which is similar, but extra special, just as your head attendant is extra special.

Flowers can be another way to show the prominence of your chief bridesmaid. Typically, the bride’s bouquet will be larger and more costly than the ones she has made for her wedding party. As a way to distinguish your maid of honor, make her bouquet somewhere in between for size. You might also choose to have her flowers more similar to your own. Of course, whatever you opt to do for the ceremony, she will already be set apart in the way which matters the most: the honor of being asked to be your maid of honor.

Pearl Bridesmaid Jewelry Gifts

It is customary for the bride to thank her attendants with thoughtful bridesmaid gifts. Jewelry is one of the most popular types of bridesmaid gifts, as it is timeless and also comes in very handy for the wedding. Brides with classic taste will adore all the different styles of lovely pearl bridesmaid jewelry which are available.

These days, the tin cup necklace is one of the most popular styles of bridesmaid jewelry gifts. Also known as the floating pearl or pearl station necklace, the tin cup design features single pearls which are evenly spaced along a fine chain. Brides love tin cup necklaces because they can be personalized in different colors and sizes of pearls, and bridesmaids adore them because they are very wearable. This is one of those gifts that your attendants will find many occasions to wear again after the wedding, which makes the tin cup necklace a particularly thoughtful present.

For brides looking for beautiful pearl bridesmaid jewelry gifts on a tight budget, the single pearl pendant can be ideal. If you want to make it more elegant, consider a pearl with a crystal accent. It won’t add much to the cost, but it certainly will make a statement. A very pretty pendant design is to combine a classic white pearl (round or teardrop) with a colored crystal which matches the bridesmaid dresses.

Of course, necklaces are not the only wonderful option for pearl bridesmaid jewelry gifts. Earrings also make fabulous presents for your attendants, and there are a huge number of styles from which to choose. There are classic pearl studs, simple drops with crystals or rhinestones, and long modern drops as well. Either on their own or as a set with a pearl necklace and coordinating bracelet, you will find it impossible to go wrong with gorgeous pearl earrings as your bridesmaid gifts.

Purple Wedding Flowers for Bouquets and Centerpieces

If you are having a traditional wedding, purple roses are gorgeous. One of the most beautiful ways to use them for bouquets is in a range of shades from lilac to medium purple. Silvery accents like Lamb’s ear add interest to rose bouquets with a cool lavender tone for a looser arrangement or opt for the classic tight nosegay in multiple shades of purple. You can carry this into your bridesmaid attire by choosing light purple dresses and giving them bridesmaid jewelry gifts in deep amethyst colored crystals.

There are some gorgeous options for romantic purple wedding flowers. Tall footed urns overflowing with lilacs, sweetpeas, and French tulips would be breathtaking for a garden wedding. For coordinating bouquets, omit the lilacs which will wilt out of water. Use a mix of white and lilac sweetpeas with deeper purple French tulips for the bride’s bouquet, and the same floral varieties done entirely in shades of purples for the bridesmaids. These bouquets would make a wonderful complement to flowing soft chiffon dresses – white for the bride and lilac for the bridesmaid dresses.

Purple flowers are wonderful for creating a sophisticated or exotic style as well. A deep eggplant arm bouquet of calla lilies would be perfect with a slender elegant silk sheath gown. Another favorite wedding flower which comes in shades of purple is the orchid. Always dramatic, orchids can be found in every conceivable purple hue, from pale lilac to plum with spots to bright fuchsia. When you are looking for a sophisticated yet vibrant flower for bridal bouquets, the orchid is ideal. Purple orchids also look fantastic for submerged flower centerpieces for the reception.

The simplicity of lavender asters with purple mums and bachelor’s buttons makes a great casual bouquet. These flowers work very well as a fall wedding decoration for couples who prefer to avoid the standard autumnal oranges and reds. A terrific way to display these informal purple flowers is to create small arrangements using eggplants as the vessels instead of regular vases. Very simple and yet memorable. With so many ways to use them, it is no wonder that brides love purple wedding flowers.

Summer Wedding Checklist

Make sure that you have not overlooked anything with this handy summer wedding checklist…

Venues and Wedding Coordinator: This is certainly tops on the list. It is not too late to decide that you want to hire a coordinator just to make sure that the wedding day itself runs smoothly. Definitely be sure that all contracts are signed and delivered for both the ceremony and reception venues, if you have not already done so.

Musicians, Photographer, and Florist: By the early spring, your wedding vendors should be in place. However, you do still have some time to work on specific details. Your florist will certainly need to have your final bouquet and centerpiece selections made a few months in advance so that all the necessary blossoms and supplies can be ordered. However, as long as you have all song requests and a list of desired photographs in to the musicians and photographer a month before the wedding, that should be sufficient.

Caterer and Baker: Good caterers go fast, so hopefully you already have yours booked! Most caterers will want your final menu in a month or two before the event, and then the complete head count within one or two weeks before the reception date.

Transportation, Bridesmaid Gifts, Beauty Appointments: By early spring make sure to have your limos and beauty appointments scheduled. Bridesmaid gifts do not take as long, but why not get that important detail checked off your list now, rather than leave it until things are ultra-busy at the last minute?

Summer Extras: In the summer, especially for an outdoor wedding, be sure to plan for the things which will make the experience pleasant for everyone. That means things like suncreen wipes and possibly insect repellent (either to wear or environmental, like tiki torches and citronella candles), plenty of bottled water to offer guests as they arrive to the ceremony, pretty paper fans (great combo with the wedding programs), and a tent for shade.

With everything checked off of your list, it should be smooth sailing ahead to your summer wedding!