Summer Rehearsal Dinner Ideas
For beach weddings, there can be no better rehearsal dinner than a clambake right on the sand. If clam is not quite your thing, substitute a crab feast, lobster bake, or shrimp boil; other than the main dish, they are all pretty much the same to plan. Picnic tables right on the beach would be the perfect dinner seating. Either cover the tables with pretty patterned oilcloth or do what they do for a good ol’ fashioned clambake or crab feast and just cover the tables with layers of newspaper. Finish off your rehearsal dinner with a favorite summer dessert like homemade peach pie or strawberry shortcake.
A wonderful idea for an elegant summer rehearsal dinner is a Great Gatsby inspired lawn party. Picture all the ladies in their lightweight summer dresses sipping icy mint juleps. Simple accessories like a tin cup necklace will be the perfect ornament for this outdoor soiree. Imagine gentlemen in seersucker trousers playing croquet on a lush green lawn. Add a spread of delicious summer foods like salads, grilled chicken, and tasty fresh veggies for a meal that will be enjoyable but not too heavy.
A super fun summer rehearsal dinner theme is a luau. Welcome your family and friends with slushy tropical drinks like daiquiris and pina colodas, complete with paper umbrellas and fruit garnishes. Hand out leis and encourage guests to wear Hawaiian print shirts or dresses to really get everyone into the spirit. Pork skewers with pineapple are a crowd-friendly dinner for your luau, and are really easy to make if you are doing your own grilling. A luau theme is sure to be a great icebreaker when the two sides of the family are meeting for the first time at the rehearsal dinner.
A great rehearsal dinner that anyone can plan is a picnic in a park. This is a theme that can be designed to fit your taste and style. It could be very elegant, with chilled Champagne, hampers of gourmet foods, and portable cd players wafting classical music into the background to create ambiance. A picnic can also be very relaxed, with burgers on the grill, potato salad, and watermelon on the menu, either in a state park or at a shelter in a park close to the rest of the events. Be sure to bring plenty of citronella candles to keep bugs at bay as dusk falls so that the party can continue well into the evening.
Filed under Uncategorized, pearl bridal jewelry | Tags: rehearsal dinners, summer rehearsal dinner, tin cup necklace | Comment (0)Preppy 2010 Bridesmaid Dresses
A big trend for 2010 is to dress the bridesmaids in a very light neutral color, or even white. If this appeals to you, a fantastic bridesmaid dress would be one of the white eyelet lace dresses from Lilly Pulitzer. Available in strapless styles and styles with straps, the look is one of classic romance, with a crisp preppy twist. A pearl tin cup necklace would be the ideal bridesmaid jewelry for white eyelet bridesmaid dresses. Pink and white peony bouquets will be the perfect finishing detail for your beautiful bridesmaids.
Seersucker is another favorite fabric of preppy brides, and there are some marvelous options available. The dress company thread does fantastic bridesmaid dresses in several colors of seersucker, which would be great for a wedding on a hot summer afternoon. There are both knee length and full length dresses, so you can decide on how formal you want to go with your attendants’ attire. Your bridesmaids will love that these dresses do not scream “bridesmaid”, which will make them easy to wear again summer after summer.
For a beach wedding with a preppy flavor, check out the great dresses at Vineyard Vines. They do an adorable pink shift dress with a subtle shell pattern that would be perfect for an informal wedding on the sand. White lace trim adds elegance to the simple shape of the knee length shift dresses. A cute detail would be to have your bridesmaids carry bouquets with seashells wired in amongst the flowers to tie in with the shell print on their dresses.
If your style is more formal, there are some wonderful classic bridesmaid dresses that have a preppy flair to them. The cotton cady dresses at J Crew have a terrific crisp polished look, and are available in preppy favorites like azalea pink and clover green. They are mostly offered in knee length styles, and the nice thing is that bridesmaids can choose from several different necklines within the same fabric and color. That allows each woman to choose the dress which is most flattering to her figure, while still maintaining a unified appearance for the bridal party as a whole (because we all know that preppy gals like things to match!).
Filed under Bridesmaid Jewelry, Wedding Planning, pearl bridal jewelry | Tags: 2010 bridesmaid dresses, bridesmaid dress, preppy bridesmaid dresses, tin cup necklace | Comment (0)Classic Spring Wedding Bouquets
Spring has some of the loveliest flowers of any season, so it is no wonder that it is such a popular time for a wedding. There is no need to do anything exotic with your wedding flowers, as the ones in season are so exquisite all on their own. These are some of the most classic spring wedding bouquets.
Perhaps one of the best reasons to be a spring bride is to have the chance to carry a delicate bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley. The tiny white or pink blossoms are an emblem of spring, and are in season in early May. In fact, lily-of-the-valley is the birth flower for those born in the month of May. Its meaning is “return to happiness”, making it a very appropriate choice for wedding flowers. Allow a lily-of-the-valley bouquet to be very simple; all it needs is a satin ribbon around the stems to become the height of bridal perfection.
Peonies are another gorgeous spring flower, and they are very popular for bridal bouquets. Typically used in shades of pink or in white, the lush full blossoms of peonies are fantastic for creating larger bouquets. They work beautifully with classic bridal style, such as a lace gown worn with a pearl tin cup necklace. Peonies are also wonderful for garden weddings, as they have a fresh-picked appearance.
Of course, it would not be spring without tulips, and no bride could go wrong selecting this classic symbol of spring for her bouquet. Tulips look amazing when arranged in single color bunches, and you can create a different feeling depending on which color you choose. For the most traditional effect, an bouquet of white tulips is gracious and elegant. Tie them with a white ribbon if you want to maintain a traditional style, or add a black and white striped ribbon for a touch of modern elegance. Red tulips are fun and festive, yellow are cheerful, pink are feminine, and purple a bit more sophisticated. There are so many pretty spring wedding flowers that that may be enough reason to set a spring wedding date!
Filed under Bridal Jewelry, Wedding Planning, pearl bridal jewelry | Tags: bridal bouquets, spring wedding bouquets, spring weddings, tin cup necklace | Comment (0)Affordable Tin Cup Necklaces for Brides and Bridesmaids
The floating pearl necklace worn by Renee Russo in the movie “Tin Cup” made a huge impact on the fashion world. Today, the pearl tin cup necklace is one of the favorite designs for brides and bridesmaids alike. Yet not everyone can afford to shop for their jewelry in Beverly Hills, which may leave one to wonder, it is possible to find affordable tin cup necklaces?
The answer is absolutely yes! While some tin cup necklaces are indeed very costly, savvy brides can find the same fantastic look in a fine quality necklace for a reasonable price. The best place to start your search is the Internet, although there may also be some local boutiques with good prices. Many of the more affordable floating pearl necklaces are every bit as beautiful as those which go for two or three times the price in designer jewelry stores.
A fantastic way to get the gorgeous look of a tin cup bridal necklace at a good price is to select a necklace which is handcrafted with freshwater pearls rather than more costly Akoya pearls. Today’s freshwater pearls can be just as round as the traditional salt water ones, and also boast a fabulous luster. Happily for brides on a budget, you give up none of the beauty of the pearls by choosing freshwater instead of Akoya. The only thing that is different is
Typically, a bride will be inclined to splurge a bit more on her own wedding jewelry, but will try to save what she can on her bridesmaid jewelry gifts. After all, when you have to buy 5 or 6 sets of jewelry, it can add up, no matter how reasonable the price is. For this reason, a very popular idea for bridesmaid gifts is to purchase tin cup necklaces which are handcrafted with beautiful Swarovski pearls. With an even lower price than the already affordable freshwater pearls, Swarovski pearls can be a fantastic option for a bride who has to give gifts to a large group of attendants. Not only is the price right, but a Swarovski pearl tin cup necklace can be created in a color which complements the bridesmaid dress.
The classic elegance of a pearl tin cup necklace is within reach of brides with every budget size. By carefully choosing the right jeweler, type and size of pearl, you can find stunning floating pearl necklaces for every member of your wedding party.
Filed under Bridal Jewelry, Bridesmaid Gifts, Bridesmaid Jewelry, pearl bridal jewelry | Tags: Bridal Jewelry, Bridesmaid Jewelry, tin cup necklace | Comment (0)Top Bridesmaid Gifts for Winter Weddings
Looking for some great ideas for your bridesmaid gifts? Well, look no further! These are the top bridesmaid gifts for winter weddings, any of which your bridesmaids will surely be delighted to receive.
A tin cup necklace. Why are these beautiful necklaces one of the best bridesmaid gifts? Simple, because they are a true classic that is always in style, in any season and for any style of wedding. The floating pearls on a tin cup necklace make them so airy and feminine that they are a natural to pair with your favorite bridesmaid dress style. For every woman in your bridal party, a tin cup necklace makes a fantastic gift!
Swarovski crystal necklaces. Winter weddings are often very elegant, and nothing adds glamor like the sparkle of genuine crystal. You can customize the Swarovski crystal necklaces for your bridesmaid gifts in your wedding colors. Or choose a dramatic color such as rich garnet to add intensity to a bridesmaid dress in one of the neutral shades that are in vogue this season. Clear crystal Swarovski necklaces are fabulous for that icy “Winter Wonderland” effect.
Snowflake theme bridesmaid jewelry. How beautiful will your bridesmaids look and feel in gorgeous crystal snowflake earrings? It is a stunning style that is festive and cheery for a winter wedding. Another idea is to use a Swarovski crystal snowflake on a simple pendant for a piece that is sure to dazzle the recipient. For your flower girls, a small silver snowflake charm for her charm bracelet would make a lovely gift idea.
These ideas are fantastic for winter wedding bridesmaid gifts. Some celebrate the winter season, while others are great for any season; what they have in common is that all are heartfelt expressions of your appreciation.
Filed under Bridesmaid Gifts, Bridesmaid Jewelry | Tags: Bridesmaid Gifts, tin cup necklace, winter weddings | Comment (0)Preppy Bridesmaid Dresses
If you are a bride who loves the classics, then you will have fun planning a wedding with preppy details. From the bouquets to the attire, everything should proclaim your personal style. These are some ideas for the most perfect preppy bridesmaid dresses.
A favorite of preppy brides everywhere are the whimsical designs of Lilly Pulitzer. Always cheerful and bright, Lilly dresses are ideal for less formal bridesmaid dresses. Best of all, your friends will have plenty of chances to wear them after the wedding, since they are not specifically bridesmaid dresses. Lilly’s strapless dresses tend to be the most popular for weddings, as they are a bit dressier than the classic shifts. Slip on a set of pearl bridesmaid jewelry and a cute pair of sandals, and your ‘maids will be picture perfect. A bonus is that you can coordinate the rest of the wedding party with the bridesmaids; there are dresses in matching fabrics for little flower girls and even Lilly print neckties for the men in the bridal party.
If your wedding is a bit dressier, you may prefer to choose bridesmaid dresses that are not so boldly patterned. The first color that springs to mind for preppy bridesmaid dresses is pink, perhaps with a lime green accent. A strapless dress that hits just below the knee would look wonderful in a pink silk shantung (in any season) or silk organza (spring and summer only). Add to the appeal with a cheerful sash at the waist in lime green, or perhaps a silk patterned Vineyard Vines waist sash for a little more flair. White pearls would be timeless and pretty, or you could have custom sets of bridesmaid jewelry created from pretty pink Swarovski pearls. A tin cup necklace style would be perfect for the simplicity of this type of bridesmaid dress.
Most preppy brides and grooms love the water. If your wedding is going to be held at a yacht club or oceanside, think about navy blue bridesmaid dresses. The crisp combination of navy blue and white always looks fresh for a nautical wedding. Navy faille dresses would be marvelous, especially accented with a bit of white piping around the neckline and at the waist. Strapless is always nice, but another neckline that would work very well is a slightly squared scoopneck. The dresses can be long or shorter, depending on the time of day and the formality of your event. The options are really limitless; it is all a matter of selecting the dresses that best suit your bridesmaids and your wedding style.
Filed under Bridesmaid Gifts, Bridesmaid Jewelry, Wedding Planning, pearl bridal jewelry | Tags: bridesmaid dress, Lilly Pulitzer, pearl bridesmaid jewelry, preppy wedding, tin cup necklace | Comment (1)