Top Advice for Planning a Wedding Around a Holiday

The first tip is to give careful thought to the timing of your holiday wedding to ensure maximum attendance among your guests. If you want to plan your wedding to coincide with a fun theme like St. Patrick’s Day or Halloween, it would naturally be appealing to host the event on the actual date. That said, if St. Patrick’s Day happens to fall on a Wednesday, how many of your friends and family will be able to come to your wedding to admire your green bouquet and crystal shamrock bridesmaid jewelry gifts? In some instances, it might make more sense to have your wedding on the weekend that is closest to your favorite holiday to make sure that all of the important people will be able to join you.

Some holidays are considered sacred. You would not plan a wedding on Christmas Day or Easter if you want anyone to be in attendance (nor would you be allowed to have a wedding on those dates in a church). But having a Christmas theme wedding in mid-December would be absolutely delightful. You can decorate it in gorgeous shades of red and green, using sumptuous fabrics like velvet or tartan with gold threads. Your bridesmaids can wear velvet dresses with burgundy crystal bridesmaid jewelry gifts and carry bouquets with holly sprigs in them. As long as you schedule your wedding so that it does not interfere with the family holiday plans of your guests, they will be thrilled to attend your holiday season nuptials.

Long holiday weekends like Labor Day and Memorial Day are very popular for weddings. Since most people have an extra day off work, it makes travel much easier for the invited guests, and attendance tends to be quite good. Additionally, these are not weekends that are typically very family-oriented, so most people will not mind leaving town to go to your wedding. The main consideration for these long weekends is that due to their popularity, all of the best venues and vendors are likely to book up early. Add several months to your lead time when planning for a very competitive date. Also be sure to send out a save the date notice at least six months in advance so that your guests do not make other plans for the long weekend. Something else to think about when planning a wedding around a holiday is how much of the holiday’s theme you wish to incorporate into your decorations. When planning a holiday wedding, these are the personal choices that every couple gets to make for themselves.

Easy Ways to Make Your Wedding More Eco-Friendly

One: Use Less Paper. Think about how much paper is used in a traditional wedding: save the date cards, invitations, response cards, double envelopes, bridal shower and rehearsal dinner invitations, programs, menus, escort cards, table numbers, gift wrap…the list goes on and on! It is actually pretty easy to reduce the amount of paper you use for your eco-friendly wedding. Skip the response cards, save the dates, and double envelopes. Write the reception menu on a chalkboard, bistro style. Wrap the bridesmaid jewelry gifts in pretty scarves instead of wrapping paper (plus the scarves will be nice bonus gifts in addition to the bridesmaid jewelry!). And for the essentials like the wedding invitations, opt for recycled paper or an alternative fiber paper like hemp or bamboo.

Two: Think Beyond Cut Flowers. Every wedding needs beautiful decorations. That does not mean that you necessarily need to buy hundreds or even thousands of cut flowers that will be thrown away at the end of the reception. For the centerpieces, consider potted flowering seasonal plants that can be planted in the ground after your wedding. Little pots of herbs displayed in groups in the middle of the table could be not only eco-friendly centerpieces, but can also be taken home as the wedding favors. Grow them yourself from organic seeds to save money. If you do opt for cut flowers, choose organic locally grown blossoms whenever possible.

Three: Serve Organic or Local Food. Wouldn’t your guests enjoy a wonderful meal made from wholesome fresh ingredients grown without the use of pesticides? And wouldn’t they prefer a flavorful piece of free-range chicken that is not full of hormones or antibiotics? Food that is raised or grown with care is both better for the environment and tastier. Local produce and meat are also good options, even if they are not organic. At least you will be supporting local farmers and reducing the amount of fuel used to transport the food from the farm to your reception table. Consider working with local farmers to produce something special like farmhouse cheddar or goat’s milk soap for the wedding favors.

Four:  Plan a Green Honeymoon. For couples who want a relaxing honeymoon with a reduced impact on the planet, a trip to an eco-lodge is just the thing. They are located in naturally beautiful spots around the globe, and are retreats which focus on conservation and appreciation for the local culture. At the same time, the amenities at many eco-lodges are top-notch, so don’t feel like you will be roughing it as you lounge in solar powered splendor. Isn’t it wonderful when you can green up your wedding without sacrificing a thing?

Sophisticated Gifts for Your Wedding Party

Gifts of bridesmaid jewelry are among the most traditional for wedding parties. The wonderful thing about jewelry is that there is a piece of jewelry which will suit the taste of any woman. When you seek bridesmaid jewelry gifts which are sophisticated and stylish, look for pieces made with unique design elements. A pair of keshi pearl drop earrings is a chic gift for the bridesmaid who loves fashion. For your maid of honor, add a necklace with keshi pearls strung on a fine silver chain.

Bridesmaids who adore beautiful things will also enjoy receiving sophisticated gifts of silver. A monogrammed silver compact mirror would be a terrific bridesmaid gift for your friend who likes designer bags. After all, she wouldn’t want to pull a cheap plastic mirror out of her fabulous handbag! For your bridesmaid who likes home decorating, a chic silver picture frame with her initials is an elegant wedding party gift. If you have a friend who is crazy for jewelry, a great gift idea is a small engraved silver jewelry box to hold her most treasured pieces. It is perfectly fine to choose a different personalized silver present for each attendant, as long as they are all of comparable value.

Let’s not forget about the men in the wedding party. Groomsmen deserve sophisticated gifts too! A terrific present for a formal wedding is a pair of monogrammed silver cufflinks that can be worn for the ceremony. Choose oval cufflinks for the men who have the most classic taste and square ones for the guys who like more modern streamlined style. Executive silver gifts are also highly appropriate for a group of groomsmen who are mature and successful professionals. An engraved silver business card holder will make a handsome addition to a man’s briefcase or desk. Pen sets and silver plated USB flash drives are also very sophisticated choices.

Personalized leather gifts are another excellent idea for the groomsman with sophisticated taste. A leather portfolio is a nice choice for a lawyer or any professional who needs to keep a notepad handy. Or how about a monogrammed leather passport cover for your best man, the world traveler? A customized leather and plaid covered flask will add style to a tailgate party for your buddy the college football fan. As with the bridesmaid gifts, groomsmen gifts can be chosen for each individual, or you can select one item that you think the whole group will like.

How to Choose Truly Great Bridesmaid Gifts

Every bride needs to find special thank you gifts to give her bridesmaids. But not just any old thing will do when you are trying to express your appreciation for such special people. Learn how to choose truly great bridesmaid gifts which your attendants will be genuinely delighted to receive.

The first thing a bride should know when shopping for bridesmaid gifts is that they should be something valuable. Note that I did not say expensive; it is entirely possible to find bridesmaid gifts which are affordable yet special. A valuable gift is one with a timeless appeal and which will last a long time. Bridesmaid jewelry, an engraved silver picture frame, a handmade album, and a cashmere wrap are all examples of presents with a high perceived value. Gifts which are not timeless enough to be bridesmaid gifts would be items such as paperback books, gift certificates to the movies, or a bottle of inexpensive wine. While they might be appropriate presents for other occasions, these are really not the best kind of bridesmaid gifts.

If there is one thing which is a turn off to bridesmaids, it is getting a present which is really about the bride and not them. Don’t give all of your bridesmaids gift cards to get manicures just so you can make sure that their nails look good for your wedding – that is actually something for the bride, not a genuine gift for the bridesmaids. Bridesmaid jewelry makes very popular wedding gifts because it is something that the bridesmaids can use again after the wedding. With that in mind, always consider your bridesmaids’ individual taste when selecting bridesmaid jewelry. It is terrific if they can wear it with their bridesmaid dresses for the wedding, but it is even more important that the jewelry is a style which each woman will enjoy wearing long after your wedding.

Another tip for choosing bridesmaid gifts which will be a hit is to take the personality and style of each attendant into account. It is important that all of your bridesmaid gifts be of a similar value, but it is not important that they are all exactly the same. A good way to shop can be to choose a general category of bridesmaid gifts, and then shop for unique items within that framework for each individual. Just be sure to show no favoritism with your bridesmaid gifts. Imagine how hurtful it would be for one bridesmaid to realize that you got much more expensive gifts for the other girls. The one exception to this rule is the maid of honor’s gift, as it is customary to treat her to an extra-special present for her important role in your wedding.

Bridesmaid Gift Ideas, From Classic to Contemporary

The most traditional bridesmaid gifts are timeless, feminine, and gracious. If it is small, silver, and engravable, it is sure to be a hit with your friends with classic taste. This could mean a monogrammed silver compact, a mint julep cup engraved with her name, or a small silver jewelry box personalized with initials. Little touches can make your traditional bridesmaid gifts extra special. Place the monogrammed compact into a beautiful velvet pouch, present the mint julep cup filled with pink peonies cut from your garden, or tuck a beautiful pair of pearl earrings into the silver jewelry box. These are the types of gifts that your friends will keep and cherish forever.

Your bridesmaid gifts should try to be in keeping with the interests of your friends. If your pals are a very sporty group, the silver compacts may not be so much in keeping with their lifestyle. A pair of tickets to a hot sporting event, a set of personalized golf balls for the golf enthusiast, or a great coffee table book showing breathtaking pictures of skiers, gymnasts, or another favorite sport would be ideal. Just remember that bridesmaid gifts should always have lasting value; a new pair of running shoes might be a practical gift for the marathoner in your bridal party, but it would not be an appropriate keepsake from your wedding.

If your bridesmaids appreciate gourmet food and wine, this can give you some great options for bridesmaid gifts they will love. A vintage bottle of Champagne, a basket of imported cheeses, or a cookbook with gorgeous illustrations would all be good possibilities. The nice thing about gourmet gifts is that you can easily pick something different which is tailored to the specific interests of each bridesmaid, all while staying within the same price range and general theme. Your bridesmaids will definitely appreciate the thought and care that you put into selecting each individual gift.

Jewelry is one of the most popular bridesmaid gifts, and with good reason. It is a timeless keepsake, beautiful, feminine, and can be designed to suit any taste. Brides also like giving bridesmaid jewelry because they can give fabulous gifts while working within their budget, whatever that may happen to be. The neat thing about jewelry is that it can be classic or contemporary, depending on the particular necklaces, earrings, or bracelets which you select. By all means, feel free to pick out different pieces for each attendant that suit her particular taste.

The Mix and Match Wedding Trend

Brides these days are moving away from the type of wedding where everything is perfectly coordinated. Instead, a natural and colorful trend is on the rise that is all about creating a festive and relaxed atmosphere. Get inspired by the mix and match wedding trend when planning your own celebration.

Bridesmaid dresses are one of the top things that are being mixed up lately.  Nowadays, even the color coordination is being tossed out, in favor of exuberant bridal parties full of lively colors. Kelly green, fuchsia, cobalt blue, you name it, the colors can be put together for the bridesmaids. The unifying theme is that all the colors are equally vibrant (or all equally pale and delicate, if you prefer). To give your group of bridesmaids a sense of cohesiveness, give them all similar bridesmaid jewelry gifts.

A really fun way to give your reception space a funky appeal is to mix and match chair colors.  For instance, a sorbet palette of pale watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew would be fabulous for a spring wedding. Or opt for sophisticated tones such as chocolate, moss green, and taupe for a fall celebration. The concept works equally well for slipcovered chairs, chairs with cushions, or even wood laminate seating in fun colors.

Centerpieces are another wonderful idea for mix and match wedding design. Who says that every table has to be decorated with the same flowers or even the same colors? You can absolutely have pink tulips on one table, deep red roses on the next one, and ivory peonies on the one next to that. The key is to have something about your centerpieces that is common for all of them. Choose similar vases, a general color family, or centerpieces with a similar fullness and height. The style of the blossoms should make sense together, especially in terms of formality. Gerbera daisies paired with orchids simply would not flow well, whereas Gerbera daisies and wildflowers would be charming together for mix and match centerpieces.

Shopping Online for Your Wedding

Most brides are busy enough without running from store to store trying to round up everything they need for their weddings. The great news is that these days you can get almost everything you need online. With a few clicks of your mouse, all you have to do is sit back and wait for your package to be delivered right to your house. These are some tips for shopping online for your wedding.

You would be amazed at how many of your wedding supplies can be found on the Internet. It is an especially wonderful resource for the bride who wants to make some of her own decorations. Starting with the wedding flowers, you can get all the supplies you need to make stunning DIY centerpieces and bouquets online. The prices are much lower than those of a retail florist, the selection is broad, and you can have your blossoms delivered fresh to your door a couple of days before your wedding.

Another thing which is great to buy online are your bridesmaid jewelry gifts. You can get customized sets of jewelry handcrafted from stunning Swarovski crystals or pearls in colors to coordinate with the bridesmaid dresses. Not only is it super convenient to have your gifts of bridesmaid jewelry delivered right to your door, but chances are the prices will be far more affordable than what you see in a traditional bridal salon. While you are at it, order a set of bridal jewelry and headpiece for yourself too. If you choose the right online retailer, you may even be able to score free shipping!

Speaking of free shipping, why not order your wedding shoes from a website like Zappos? Any of the shoe websites which offer free shipping both ways are an ideal source for your bridal shoes. The selection will be far superior to what you can find in any one regular store, and searching for shoes on the Internet allows you to do it at a time which is convenient to you, rather than battling the crowds in the shoe stores on a Saturday afternoon. From favors to candles to the guest book, almost everything you need for your wedding can be easily found on the Internet.

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.