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.

Heart Shaped Jewelry Gifts for Brides and Bridesmaids

There is no symbol more romantic than the heart shape, which is why it is a perfect symbol for a wedding. A lovely way to use a heart in a wedding is in the form of beautiful jewelry. Always romantic, and an enduring design which will be cherished for years, heart shaped wedding jewelry makes a wonderful gift for a bride or bridesmaids.

For a casual heart theme gift, sterling silver wedding jewelry is great. A heavy silver link necklace or bracelet with a Tiffany inspired heart tag charm is a wonderful way to thank your bridesmaids for being such a special part of your wedding. This is the kind of wedding jewelry which your attendants can enjoy wearing every day after the wedding, which makes it as versatile as it is thoughtful. Naturally, you will want to personalize each piece of silver jewelry with the recipient’s initials or monogram on the heart charm.

A lovely wedding jewelry design is a simple Swarovski crystal heart pendant on a silver chain. If you wish to keep the look elegant but understated, opt for a petite heart in clear or “ab” finish crystal. Or opt for an extra dash of femininity and romance by selecting a rose pink crystal heart. That makes a very sweet gift for everyone in the bridal party, including the bridesmaids, junior bridesmaids, and flower girl. Another fantastic option is to choose a bright Siam red crystal heart pendant, which is the perfect expression of passion. The red hearts are especially appropriate for the bridal party at a Valentine’s Day wedding. They also make a touching declaration of love from the groom to the bride at any time of the year.

Large crystal heart pendants are truly spectacular. Swarovski offers its signature crystal hearts as big as a silver dollar, which is a marvelous when you want your wedding jewelry to make a statement. The largest sizes of crystal hearts are particularly favored by brides, who need their jewelry to have a presence. They are generally created to have a clear finish, to maximize sparkle and brilliance. This is a stunning look with a strapless bridal gown or any other open neckline. There is no doubt about it, hearts and weddings are a perfect match.

Colorful Wedding Bouquets

Colorful wedding flowers can be a great way to inject personality and style into your wedding. Even a fairly formal wedding can benefit from a bit of color in the wedding bouquets. As long as the flowers which you select are sufficiently elegant, adding color will in no way detract from the formality of your ceremony. Roses are an excellent option, as they are both traditional and available in a beautiful array of colors. For an autumn wedding, bouquets with roses in fall shades of terra cotta, sunflower yellow, and rich red will strike the perfect mood. Extras like red hypericum berries and velvet ribbons will enhance the effect.

Colorful flowers are always fun for a summer wedding. Make your garden wedding romantic with pink and green bouquets for all the ladies in the wedding. Lush pink peonies and vivid green hydrangeas are a winning combination. Pink and green striped grosgrain ribbon bouquet wraps will up the preppy factor, or splurge on gorgeous watercolor painted ribbons with all of the flower colors for a bit of luxury.

It is really easy to come up with fantastic informal wedding bouquets in bright colors. Gerbera daisies in fuchsia, orange, and yellow are festive and cheerful on a hot summer day. Mixed wildflowers in shades of purple, yellow, pink, and orange will look like you gathered them yourself on the morning of the wedding. Spring brides can enjoy bouquets combining yellow mini daffodils, purple hyacinth, and white roses.

Exotic bouquets can also be colorful. The hottest trend going is to enhance your flowers with fanciful peacock feathers. Pull out some of the shades in the feathers for your flowers. Deep purple with dashes of gold and green flowers will look stunning with the peacock feathers. Tie it all up with a big gold bow. For the bridesmaids, echo the effect with a smaller number of feathers. You can take it one step further and choose bridesmaid jewelry gifts in some of the feather colors. A bridesmaid dress in a neutral but glamorous hue like gold would be the perfect backdrop for gifts of bridesmaid jewelry in an assortment of peacock colors. Really allow yourself to have fun and express yourself with colorful wedding bouquets.

How Real Brides Save on Their Weddings

Take a look at these ideas that real brides have used to save money on their weddings…

Trim the Guest List: You do not have to invite your second cousin or your old college roommate whom you never see anymore. Even if they had you at their weddings, you are not obligated to invite distant relations or casual acquaintances to yours. The absolute best way to trim your wedding costs is to be ruthless about cutting down the guest list. You will save thousands on food, decorating the tables, invitations, favors, and more. Not only that, but the people who you do have at your wedding will be the ones who mean the most to you.

Seek Deals Online: Many times you can find significantly lower prices for your wedding essentials at online retailers. This is especially true when buying items which are specifically designed for weddings, like many favors, bridesmaid jewelry gifts, unity candles, and decorations. Bridal stores often have large mark ups on all of the little extras that brides need, and it can add up to be quite a large sum. The bridesmaid jewelry gifts which cost $75 each at your bridal salon might go for as much as 60% - 75% less at an online bridal jewelry store, so it really pays to shop around.

Choose Your Venue Wisely: Look at your reception venue selection as a business decision. Before signing on the dotted line, find out the details about what they provide and what they allow you to provide. If you can find a venue which permits you to bring in your own alcohol, you can save thousands of dollars just on that. Venues which include all of the basics like tables, chairs, and linens in their base price will also be far more cost effective than places which require you to rent each piece individually. All of the little ways in which you save money on your reception can really end up being a lot of money left in your pocket at the end of the day.

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.

Who Needs a Wedding Planner?

Think wedding planners are only for opulent weddings with six figure budgets? Well, think again, because couples with all different budgets and tastes hire wedding planners these days. In fact, more people can benefit from some professional help than may realize it. This is a look at who needs a wedding planner and why.

Budget conscious brides and grooms. Surprised? Yes, you have to pay a wedding planner for his or her services, but they can also be really helpful in making sure that you stick to your budget. There are even planners who specialize in fabulous weddings on tight budgets, which is ideal if you are looking for tricks to stretch your wedding dollars. Besides knowing the tricks of the trade, a planner will also know vendors with whom they can negotiate to get you the best rate or freebies thrown in.

Busy brides. Let’s face it, most of the wedding planning is still handled by the bride, maybe with help from her mother. If you are a bride with a demanding career, finding time to interview caterers, shop around for the perfect bridesmaid jewelry gifts, and pore through dozens of wedding stationery books can be flat out impossible. The planner will do all the legwork for you, and present you with the top few options which suit your needs. From listening to bands to searching for custom gifts of bridesmaid jewelry for your girls to seeking out a caterer who specializes in Portuguese cuisine, a wedding planner can do it all so that you don’t have to.

Destination wedding brides. This is a big one. Planning a long distance wedding on your own can be next to impossible. How are you going to visit with florists, check out venues, and go hear local bands play when your home is hundreds of miles from your wedding location? A common scenario is that the planner does all the research and the bride and groom make just one or two trips to the wedding location to see the options that the coordinator has rounded up and to make their final decisions.

It is always a good idea to know when you could use some help along the way, whether it is just a wedding day coordinator to make sure that everything goes smoothly, or a full service planner who will arrange everything from soup to nuts. One thing is for sure, if you need one, you sure will be glad to have a professional wedding planner on your side!

Festive Jewelry for Holiday Weddings

Get into the spirit of a holiday wedding with festive jewelry! Special earrings, bracelets, and necklaces with a holiday twist are the perfect way to set the stage for a Christmastime wedding. Unique jewelry with a holiday theme is ideal for everyone from the bride to the bridesmaids to the flower girl; read on for suggestions on how to pick the perfect pieces for your wedding.

One fantastic idea for holiday wedding jewelry is pieces which have been handcrafted with Swarovski crystal snowflakes. The carefully shaped crystals twinkle and glimmer, just like a frosty winter day. They are perfect for anyone in the wedding party (or for the wedding guest looking for a festive pair of earrings to complete her outfit for the big event). The Swarovski snowflakes are so intricate and beautiful that they look best in a simple design, such as on a pendant or as the main decorative element on a pair of drop earrings. They make fabulous bridesmaid jewelry gifts, and are also wonderful for the bride and the mothers of the bride and groom. Best of all, you will be able to enjoy a set of Swarovski crystal snowflake jewelry all winter long.

If you are planning a true Christmas theme wedding, complete with poinsettias, holly, amaryllis, and evergreen boughs, you will want equally traditional holiday themed jewelry. A marvelous idea is Swarovski crystal earrings which are handcrafted to look like tiny perfect Christmas trees! They are absolutely unique, and will be a real conversation starter. Green crystals are layered to form a “tree”, and then finished off with a crystal trunk and a red “star” topper. These precious earrings make ideal gifts of jewelry for a bridesmaid, junior bridesmaid, or an older flower girl. They would be spectacular with red or green bridesmaid dresses.

Everyone loves a snowman, and that is another fun motif for winter wedding jewelry. Little snowman earrings are great for a wedding in any winter month, not just December. They are handcrafted in either Swarovski crystals or pearls, complete with black crystal “top hats”. Unique snowman earrings are not only wonderful for the wedding party, but they also make sweet thank you gifts for anyone involved in your wedding, from the bridal shop owner to your wedding coordinator. These special pieces will help to make your entire wedding party get into the spirit of your holiday wedding. Best of all, holiday theme jewelry can be enjoyed over and over each holiday season.

Thoughtful Brides Know…

Sure, most of the brides you see on television are not the most thoughtful people. After all, more people will tune in to see an episode of “Bridezillas” than to watch a program about brides behaving beautifully. When it comes to your own real-life wedding, though, you could not do any better than to get a reputation for being a considerate and gracious bride. These are the things that thoughtful brides all know…

Your guests do not want to be inconvenienced. This means things like going with your second choice reception venue over your favorite because it is fifteen minutes away from the church instead of almost an hour away. It could mean setting up a bridal registry at a national chain, not just online if you will be having a lot of older guests who might prefer shopping in a brick and mortar store with salespeople to help them. Not hosting your reception in a remote location like a mountain top that involves a hike, unless all of your guests will be fitness nuts.

Everyone appreciates being appreciated. There will be countless opportunities to express your gratitude while planning your wedding. One of the most important ones is to give special thank you bridesmaid gifts like jewelry to your wedding party. If you take the time to customize or personalize your bridesmaid jewelry gifts, your attendants will feel even more special. And don’t forget about everyone else who helped to make your wedding a success; a simple note of appreciation with a photograph will mean a lot to your baker, florist, and the rest of your vendors.

Spending time to get the reception seating chart just right is really important. No one enjoys making seating charts, but the best hosts will always make an effort to seat people together who will enjoy each other’s company at dinner. Do your best to avoid leaving anyone stranded at a table with total strangers. Finally, be sure that anyone who does not get along will not be at adjacent tables, and arrange it so that divorced parents can each head their own table in a way that will make them feel equally important. It takes a little extra effort, but it is well worth it to be a gracious bride.

Rehearsal Dinner Etiquette

It is customary to hold a rehearsal dinner on the evening before a wedding. This event can be as formal or casual as you like, but either way, there are still some basic rules of etiquette that should be observed. Here is what you need to know about rehearsal dinner etiquette.

One of the biggest questions about any part of the wedding is who should be paying for it. Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is planned and paid for by the groom’s family. This was done to help alleviate some of the financial burden from the bride’s father, who traditionally shouldered the entire burden of the other wedding expenses. These days, the groom’s family is more likely to pitch in with some of the other wedding costs, as are the bride and groom themselves. If the parents of the groom is helping to pay for the rest of the wedding, it is not technically necessary for them to cover all of the costs for the rehearsal dinner, although in most cases, they still will.

The next question is who should be invited to a rehearsal dinner. Etiquette used to be that the guest list for the rehearsal dinner was a small one: the bride and groom, their parents and other immediate family like siblings, and the wedding party. The age old question is whether it is necessary to invite the spouses or significant others of the bridal party, and the answer is yet. A rehearsal dinner is a social event, after all, and it is never appropriate to invite only one half of a married couple to a dinner party.

Something else that couples wonder is if they should be presenting their bridesmaid jewelry gifts and groomsmen gifts at the rehearsal dinner. The answer to this is no. The only thing that goes on at a rehearsal dinner (other than dinner, that is) is a couple of toasts, often from the parents of the bride and groom. Bridesmaid gifts like jewelry are best presented at a bridesmaids’ luncheon which takes place about two days before the wedding.

Planning a rehearsal dinner need not be a very time consuming or stressful thing. It should really be no more than a nice dinner to give the close family and friends of the bride and groom a chance to do a “meet and greet”. Now that you know the rehearsal dinner etiquette, the rest should be easy.