Prepare Your Wedding Jewelry for the Big Day

On your wedding day, everyone will want to admire your diamond ring. Every bride should have her engagement ring professionally cleaned a day or two before her ceremony so that it shines brilliantly.  Nothing will cut the shine of a diamond worse than hand lotion, so if you get a manicure after the cleaning, remove your ring. And when you go to put it back on, avoid touching the gem with your fingers, which will make it smudgy.

If you are wearing fabulous crystal and silver bridal jewelry, you will want to make sure that shines to its best advantage as well. Gently wipe your crystal wedding jewelry with a soft damp cloth to remove any dust or fingerprints. Then run a special polishing cloth over the sterling silver parts to give them a beautiful gleam. Wedding jewelry which is made of sterling silver without any gems can be dipped in a special silver cleaner if it has tarnished. Silver dip can ruin many gems, especially pearls, so use it only for jewelry which is all silver.

Pearls are the ultimate symbol of bridal elegance; they are also fairly fragile, so be sure to baby them. They can be wiped with a soft dry cloth if need be, but that is about it. The best way to make sure that your pearls are in tip-top shape for your wedding is to keep them from getting dirty in the first place. Always put on pearl wedding jewelry after your hair and makeup are done. Hairspray is the sworn enemy of pearls, as it will dull their luster. Spritz on perfume before donning your wedding pearls for the same reason. Never get the silk thread of a pearl strand wet, as it may be prone to stretching and breaking.

If your groom is planning to wear any wedding jewelry, take care to make sure that his accessories look as good as yours. Silver cufflinks can be polished with a silver polishing cloth to restore them to a brand new luster. If they are pure sterling silver and in need of major shining up, cufflinks can also be dipped in a silver cleaner. The chances are that his wedding band is in perfect condition, but inspect it to see if it might benefit from a fresh polish by the jeweler. If your groom has expressed interest in a matte finish ring instead of the traditional high polish, ask the jeweler to brush it on the wheel to make it matte. It takes just a minute to do and will give the band a modern look.

Can Long Distance Relationships Survive?

There is an old saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Some even say that familiarity breeds contempt. These sayings were probably written by someone in a long distance relationship! It is certainly true that there is something very special about the time spent with a loved one who you only get to see occasionally. In a long distance relationship, there is little of the day to day grind, so that when you do make the trip to see your sweetie, that time together tends to be spent doing fun and exciting things. That in turn makes the relationship seem very exciting.

To make up for the lack of daily or even weekly contact, it is important to keep in touch via phone calls, letters, and email. Long, romantic letters can be one of the best things about having a distant boyfriend or girlfriend, as a matter of fact. Without regular times to have long phone calls, the relationship will end up withering. Send little gifts to say “I was thinking of you”, like a pair of pearl earrings you picked up while on a business trip or a travel guide to a place you want to visit together.  To have any chance of nurturing a long distance relationship into something lasting, both people have to be willing to put in the work to stay connected.

Trust is another vital element in maintaining a long distance romance. If you know that you are the jealous type, you may never be able to become comfortable with having your boyfriend or girlfriend (or spouse, for that matter) in a far off location. Their daily life will be filled with people that you do not know, and some of them are bound to be attractive members of the opposite sex. If you cannot trust your partner to remain faithful when they are far away, a long distance relationship is definitely not for you.

Living far apart can tend to make people grow apart. For a long distance relationship to have a chance at succeeding, there has to be an end point in mind for the separation. If there is no chance that you will ever live in the same place, it is hard to stay motivated to put in the work required for a long distance relationship. It can get very lonely. The long distance romances that end up working out are those which hold the promise of one day being together all the time.

New England Destination Wedding Ideas

Tropical beaches and islands are not the only option for destination wedding locations. There are many other beautiful and unique settings which also make for memorable weddings. A great region of the United States which is popular for destination weddings is New England. Let these ideas help you get started on planning a New England destination wedding of your own.

If you love all things classic and timeless, a great location for your New England destination wedding would be Connecticut. Known for its preppy good taste, Connecticut would be a terrific spot for a wedding with classic style. Picture yourself wearing a simple strapless gown with pearl bridal jewelry to exchange your vows in an old white clapboard church. Follow with a reception at a country club or in a tent. This would be an absolutely picturesque location for a wedding in the early summer. Decorate the wedding with pink peonies and garden roses for a beautiful classic effect.

For an autumn wedding, you would be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful location in the country than Vermont. The blazing foliage, crisp clear days, and cool nights make Vermont in the fall one of the best places to be. Be aware that peak foliage season does vary a little from one year to the next, and that the higher elevations will get their best colors earlier. So if you were having your wedding in the mountains of Stowe, a wedding at the very end of September or the first days of October would be ideal timing, whereas if you opt for a site like the quaint town of Woodstock at a lower elevation, early to mid-October would be better for foliage. Treat your guests to seasonal delights like fresh apple cider, local Vermont cheeses, and butternut squash soup. Just be sure to plan a minimum of a year ahead, because fall foliage season in New England is very busy!

The rocky shores of Maine would make another marvelous site for a New England destination wedding. This would be a perfect choice for a summer wedding, as the weather will be glorious – not too hot and not too cold. The beautiful town of Bar Harbor would be a great choice for a Maine wedding, as would any of the small coastal towns. A simple style of wedding would be best suited to the rough natural beauty of the Maine coast, so picture the men in khaki trousers and navy blazers instead of tuxedos, and the bride in a crisp organza wedding gown with delicate pearl bridal jewelry. Play up the unique features of Maine by choosing a lobster or a lighthouse motif for your wedding. Speaking of lobster, how could you serve anything else for a Maine wedding dinner?

New England has many other wonderful locations for a destination wedding. There is the scenic Mt. Washington Inn in New Hampshire, the shores of Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket in Massachusetts, or any of the numerous ski resorts for a winter wedding.

Picking the Church for Your Wedding

It might sound strange, but for some couples, selecting the right church for their marriage ceremony can be a challenge. They might come from different religious backgrounds and need to come to a compromise. It could be that neither is a regular church-goer, but they would like to tie the knot in a house of worship. Or it could be that both the bride and groom grew up in their particular church, and neither can imagine getting married anywhere else. These are some tips on how to come together as a couple to pick the church for your wedding.

In some ways the easiest scenario is when neither the bride or groom has ties to any specific church, but wish to get married in one. A good place to begin is by attending services at the churches in your area which are your denomination. If neither the bride or groom have a particular religious affiliation, they can look into community or non-denominational churches. Once you have found a church which feels comfortable, keep in mind that you may need to join to be able to get married there.

More challenging is when the bride and groom belong to different denominations. Although the differences are at times minor, if you always imagined yourself being married in the Methodist church wearing a long white gown with a flowing veil and pearl necklace, it might be hard to say your “I dos” at the Presbyterian church across the street. In some instances, a great solution to this problem can be to hold the ceremony at a more neutral church, such as your college chapel. Most campus ministers will be willing to work with the bride and groom to design a ceremony which respects both of their religious backgrounds. If the two of you were college sweethearts, it is also really meaningful to hold your ceremony on campus.

The biggest struggles can come when the bride and groom both have attended their respective churches for a long time, especially if the ties go back generations. The bride might have always imagined getting married in the same church where her mom and dad did, perhaps even wearing the same pearl necklace. Problems can occur when the groom’s family has also attended his church for generations, and maybe his mom and dad were married there. Even if the churches are the same denomination, the bride and groom will naturally have special feelings about their own church, pastor, congregation, and family ties. One good option could be to hold the wedding in the bride’s church with the groom’s minister co-officiating. In the end, preparing for marriage may entail compromises just like any good marriage does.

Preppy Bride Alert: New Lilly Pulitzer Wedding Gowns

Preppy brides, your dreams have finally come true! Every preppy gal’s favorite designer, Lilly Pulitzer, has created her very own line of wedding gowns, set to debut in select bridal salons in early 2011. Get inspired for a pink and green wedding with the most perfect preppy bridal gowns ever created.

Like all Lilly dresses, the new bridal collection has an informal and lighthearted spirit. It is not a collection of princess ball gowns with heavy beading, but rather a group of gowns which are perfect for all the places one would usually wear their Lilly, like Nantucket, Palm Beach, or a seaside resort. The silhouettes are primarily slender A-lines; there is nothing extremely poufy nor anything skin-tight. In short, the gowns are ideal for a preppy bride who loves simple elegance. Kind of like a Lilly party dress, only full length and just a tad dressier.

The standout feature of Lilly’s new bridal gowns is the use of lace. All Lilly lovers know how beautifully her collection has always used a heavy 1960s inspired lace, and the collection makes good use of it.  Paired with the simple strapless or cap sleeve silhouettes, it is a gorgeous look for a bride who wants a perfect afternoon wedding gown. The wedding gown which is destined to become an instant classic is a strapless gown with a slim A-line skirt and a natural waist; the gown is created from the signature Lilly lace in white over a soft pink satin lining. Finished off with a pink sash at the waist, it is quite possibly the most perfect preppy wedding gown ever made! Add a classic pearl necklace and a bouquet of pink peonies and you will be good to go.

What to pair with all this Lilly fabulousness for bridesmaid dresses? More Lilly, of course! The natural companion to a Lilly Pulitzer wedding gown is pink and green bridesmaid dresses in one of her exuberant patterns. They suit the relatively informal style of the Lilly bridal gowns, and of course you can be sure that these will be the bridesmaid dresses that will definitely be worn time and time again. Pick up some matching Lilly ties for the men and a mini Lilly dress for the flower girl, and your wedding will be nothing short of preppy perfection!

Things You Should Know About Planning a Catholic Wedding

It Takes Time. There are several steps which must be completed before a marriage ceremony can be performed, so most churches advise allowing at least six months to plan a Catholic wedding. Pre-marital preparation is an important part of the process. Couples will often be required to take surveys designed to assess their compatibility and to reveal any potential areas of conflict in the relationship which should be addressed before exchanging vows. In addition, there will be pre-Cana classes to attend, either as a weekend retreat or over a series of weekends. The bride and groom will also meet several times with their Priest to go over details of the ceremony, such as the readings and the vows.

Secular Music is Not Permitted. Before you ask your niece to perform a solo of “At Last” by Etta James at your marriage ceremony, you should find out if your church allows it. In general, secular music is not permitted at Catholic ceremonies. This is not to say that you might not be allowed to bring in musicians beyond the church organist, but it is likely that the musical selections they play will have to pass muster with the church. Before making any arrangements for ceremony music, consult with your Priest or the church secretary to find out the rules.

An Unofficial Dress Code Exists. Attire should be tasteful, not too revealing, and fairly traditional. Within this, there is a huge variation, but suffice it to say that a lace mini-dress might not be the best choice for a Catholic wedding. A classic white or ivory bridal gown worn with a pearl necklace and a veil is always in good taste. A little pearl beading on the gown to complement the pearl necklace would be lovely and sweet. Avoid wedding gowns which show a lot of cleavage, and be sure to ask if shoulders should be covered. Brides wearing strapless gowns should plan on wearing veils at the least, and possibly a little lace jacket for the ceremony as well.

A Full Mass is Not Required. People sometimes groan at the thought of how long a Catholic wedding ceremony can take when it is the full Nuptial Mass including the Sacrament of Holy Communion. However, a couple may opt to have a Catholic marriage ceremony without including the rite of Communion, if they wish. This is less often done to “move things along”, and more often when the guest list will include many friends and family members of other faiths. If you do choose to have a Nuptial Mass, it should be stated on the wedding invitation to give guests a hint that the ceremony will be on the longer side.

Charming Country Wedding Ideas

A wedding out in the countryside is a wonderful way to bring friends and family together in an informal celebration. Make the most of the wonderful setting by incorporating elements with a great country flair. Get inspired with these charming country wedding ideas.

The flowers for a country wedding should have an informal, natural style. Loose arrangements of wildflowers, daisies, or seasonal potted flowers like geraniums or mums would be perfect. Choose centerpiece vessels with a relaxed feeling. Handpainted pitchers, mason jars, wooden boxes, and wicker baskets would all be great examples of centerpiece containers with a country flair. For the wedding ceremony, use yellow and white gingham ribbon to hang daisy pomanders from the backs of chairs.

Definitely the attire for a country wedding should suit the setting as well. A lace gown in white or ivory would be lovely for the bride. A heavier lace such as Venise would be particularly nice. A simple pearl necklace and a short veil will complete the bride’s look. A super cute detail would be pearl tipped pins to coordinate with the pearl necklace in the centers of daisies as the bride’s bouquet. As for the bridesmaids, knee length dresses in a floaty cotton voile would be beautiful. Choose a cheerful color like yellow, spring green, or red for their dresses. For the flower girl, a cotton dress with smocking and white sandals would be absolutely precious.

Country celebrations always involve a lot of great food. There is no need to make it fancy, just make it delicious and abundant. For the cocktail hour, serve favorites like fried green tomatoes, dilled potato salad, and mini sliders. As for the main course, treat your guests to good ol’ country fare like chicken fried steak with homemade mashed potatoes, and fresh vegetables. Another great option would be barbeque with all the fixins’ like corn on the cob, fresh cole slaw, the works. The way to make it feel special enough to serve at a wedding is to present the food in an elegant way, rather than the ultra-casual way one might for a picnic. With all the details in place, your country wedding is sure to be nothing short of delightful!

Tropical Winter Wedding Ideas

Does getting married in the winter months mean giving up the dream of a tropical theme wedding? Not necessarily! Destination weddings are always an option for a winter beach wedding, and it is also possible to create a wedding with a tropical flavor right in your own hometown. These are some fun ideas for tropical winter weddings.

The ultimate in a tropical winter wedding would be a destination wedding to a sunny resort. For a destination wedding in the winter, the bride can essentially plan it like any summer beach wedding, since after all, it will feel like summer where you are headed. A flowy organza or chiffon wedding dress worn with a simple veil will be gorgeous. The great news is that bridal salons do not follow seasons, so you can order a summer weight bridal gown at any time of the year. A tropical pearl necklace made of unique keshi or coin pearls is the perfect bridal jewelry. The bride can carry a bouquet of tropical flowers in bright colors like fuchsia or orange.

If you choose to have a beach theme wedding at a cold weather site near your hometown, the key is to totally transform the space. You need to make your guests forget that outside is cold and snowy by creating a tropical paradise inside the venue. A great place to start is by renting potted palm trees. Your guests will instantly get into the island spirit when they enter a room lined with palms. The trees could even be used to line the aisle of the ceremony site so that the bride can walk down an aisle with a beachy flavor.

Bright colors and tropical flowers will also help to transform a venue into a mid-winter island paradise for your wedding. The great news is that some of the flowers which are readily available during the winter months come from the tropics or have a tropical feeling. Showy white flowers such as white amaryllis and even white poinsettias are easy to come by in the winter (stay away from the red varieties, which will look too Christmasy). Bring in bright color with hot pink and orange lilies, and use beachy accents like palm fronds and beach grass in the bouquets and centerpieces.  A steel drum band, island flavors like pineapple, and a wedding cake decorated with tropical flowers will help to complete the transformation of a winter wedding venue to an island paradise.

Cheerful Yellow Wedding Flowers

For a charming homespun wedding style, try combining yellow flowers with red and white accents. This is not the red of seduction, but rather the classic red of mittens, Radio Flyer wagons, and folk art. A bouquet of round yellow button shaped blossoms tied together with a red yarn bouquet wrap would be absolutely adorable. Decorate the handle of the bouquet with an eclectic assortment of colorful buttons to play up the handcrafted charm of the arrangement. For the reception, red and white patterned tins can be used as centerpiece vessels filled with informal yellow blossoms.

A sweet old-fashioned yellow wedding flower is the sweet pea. The ruffly blooms simply exude the feeling of a simpler time gone by. Combine yellow sweet peas with blossoms like white garden roses, trailing ivy, and white lisianthus in loose arrangements for the wedding bouquets. They look marvelous with a soft organza bridal gown and delicate drop pearl earrings. For bridesmaids, pair these charming yellow and white bouquets with dresses in a contrasting color like spring green or lilac.

What could be more cheerful than a daisy? A bouquet of bright yellow gerbera daisies would be a fantastic addition to any informal wedding celebration. There are so many other wonderful things which can be done with yellow daisies. Suspend the round blossoms on ribbons to create vertical hangings behind an outdoor altar or the head table at the wedding reception. “Plant” the daisies in containers of wheat grass for fresh summer centerpieces or use them in a more minimalist fashion by lining the center of a long reception table with clear glass bud vases, each with one perfect yellow daisy in it. They are sure to bring a smile to the face of every guest.

After the grayness of winter, bright yellow flowers are one of the favorite signs of spring. If your wedding is to take place during the spring months, fill it will sunny daffodils and tulips. They combine beautifully with fresh white blossoms to tone down the yellowness of the floral arrangements, or stick with all yellow for a super happy look. A great thing about both tulips and daffodils is that they come in a nice range of varieties, including ruffly parrot tulips, two tone tulips and daffodils, and delightful mini-daffodils. A mini-daffodil bouquet carried by a petite bride in a lace gown with pearl earrings would be a delightful sight indeed on a beautiful spring day.

Birthday Gifts for the Bride to Be

Every bride has things she desires for her wedding, but almost no one can afford to get all of them! This is why a little something special that she can use for her wedding always makes a fantastic birthday gift for the woman who also has a wedding in the near future. You could treat her to a gorgeous pair of pearl chandelier earrings to wear with her wedding gown. A vintage beaded clutch would be a marvelous gift for any bride to be. If you wish to make it even more special, slip a silver monogrammed compact into the handbag as a fun surprise.

Anything which will make the bride to be feel pampered would be a fabulous birthday present. A gift certificate for a relaxing massage is something that any woman in the throes of wedding planning can definitely use! She might choose to save it for the week of her wedding, or perhaps she will treat herself to the massage right away to melt away the stress of organizing the wedding. Maybe you know that the bride to be in your life would love to have her makeup professionally done for the wedding but cannot fit it into her budget; a gift certificate for a makeup artist would be a thoughtful birthday present.

If you know the bride to be plans to take her husband’s name when they get married, it would be fun to treat her to something with her new monogram that she can use after she changes her name. This could be virtually anything, from a cashmere sweater to an elegant silver jewelry box to a set of notecards (every bride has a lot of notes to write, after all!). Other cute ideas include a monogrammed throw for her new home, a set of etched champagne glasses, or even a pair of monogrammed sandals to wear on the honeymoon. She is sure to get a kick out of seeing her new married name or initials in print!

Speaking of the honeymoon, this can be a terrific category of birthday gift ideas for the bride to be. How about a piece of personalized luggage for her trip? This is a great present idea which can work for any price range. Items could be anything from a very affordable cosmetic bag to a garment bag to a set of leather suitcases, depending on your budget and relationship to the bride. Other neat honeymoon related presents include guide books, monogrammed travel journals, digital cameras, or fashion items like a cute dress to wear while honeymooning.