Wedding Enrichments

Shoes For Your Wedding

2009-06-04T15:34:00.000-07:00

Finding the perfect pair of wedding shoes doesn't have to be difficult, but you do need to be smart. Be careful when you are choosing this particular wedding accessory! Having the right pair of shoes can make a huge difference.

Sure, a pair of 4" heals might look nice with the dress and might look cute on your feet, but when you are standing on your feet for hours on your wedding day you might feel differently about them. You want to be able to focus on your groom, the guests, and the celebration, not on your feet!

You also want to make sure you are not distracted the whole time with trying to keep your balance as you teeter down the isle or as you greet your guests. You might consider another option. There are plenty cute shoes that are comfortable as well as stylish. Many brides wear white satin ballet flats, wedding flip flops or sneakers. You can even find personalized wedding tennis shoes.

Don't forget to think about the fabric when picking your shoes. Fabrics like silk can stain easily in grass or on wet ground. Leather or velvet shoes might be too hot for a summer wedding and lace might be too cool for a winter wedding. There are many fabrics to choose from, but you need to think about the practicality of the material as well as the look and feel of the shoe.

When I was shopping for shoes I was limited because I choose a dress with beading at the bottom that hindered it from being hemmed. I decided to choose shoes with a tall heal so that my dress would not drag. I ended up distracted with aching feet by the end of the night! If I was going to do it again, I would have either picked a different dress or figured out another alternative, but it was good that I waited till after I had the dress so that I could get shoes that worked with the dress. Many brides pick shoes and then the embellishments don't match or the style or color doesn't match.

Don't make the same mistakes that other brides have made in the past. Be smart about your shoe shopping by keeping these factors in mind so that you end up with the perfect pair of shoes for your special day!

The Time of Day For Your Wedding

2009-05-26T05:45:00.000-07:00

Picking the time of day to have a wedding can depend on a couple different things.

1. The day of the week: if you have the ability to have it on Saturday, then anytime usually works. But if you have it on a Friday or Sunday you need most often to have it in the evening in order to accommodate guests.

2. The wedding IS about you right? You need to pick a time that works best for YOU... BUT you also need to be considerate of the guests. If you are a morning person and like to get things going... know that not all your guest and participants are morning people too. You need to give you and your wedding party plenty of time to get ready and your guests time to get breakfast and get to your ceremony. A typical time for a morning wedding is no earlier than 11:00am. For an evening wedding you also need to consider your guests. If you have guests from out of town you need to give them a list of things to do in the area like local museums, parks, or theaters. You also need to consider a child's bedtime if they are going to be involved in the reception.

3. Is it an outdoor wedding? If so you should check to make sure that you are not out in the sun at the hottest part of the day, know when insects like mosquitoes are out and hungry, and know when the sun sets.

4. Food: You need to know that if you have an evening wedding that people are going to expect a sit down dinner or heavy buffet. If you have a morning wedding You may want to consider having a small breakfast/brunch buffet (things like bagels and coffee) for your guests before the ceremony. This shows your thoughtfulness and concern with their comfort and may give the guests time to socialize. You may want to serve a light lunch immediately after the ceremony as your reception or join together later in the day for a full luncheon. For an afternoon wedding you could serve light lunch like salads, melons, and sandwiches, or a mid-afternoon dinner with heavier things like fish or pork. Just be sure to have some lighter options.

5. The formality: The formality can effect all sorts of things like the type of dress you choose, the wedding decorations, the food choices, and the time of day. Generally speaking, the earlier in the day the less formal.

For other wedding ideas or beautiful wedding decorations check out http://www.weddingenrichments.com.

Green Wedding Ideas

2009-05-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of ideas for a "greener" wedding. These ideas will give you satisfaction knowing that you have chosen to make the world a better place while still having a fun and beautiful wedding.

When picking out wedding favors, consider personalizing packets of seeds. It is sure to be a hit and something that each guest will want to take home. The packets can be personalized with your name and wedding date and are a unique and eco-friendly alternative to your ordinary wedding favors!

When choosing your candles for you wedding decorations be sure to pick soy candles. They are made from renewable resources, are cleaner, and longer burning than regular candles. They are available in nearly any color, size, and shape to perfectly accent your wedding. Plus any spills clean up easily with just soap and hot water!

You can also pick wedding decorations that are recyclable. Wedding accessories such as a topiary, floral arrangements, etc. can be reused at the reception. You'll save money and waste less. Then when the evening is over consider donating the pieces to a hospital or nursing home!

There are plenty of other ideas for making your wedding greener. Good luck and have a blast!

How to Budget Your Wedding

2009-04-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

When planning a wedding one of the first steps is budgeting. It is important to make sure that when financing a wedding you figure out just how much you need to spend in order to get the wedding you want. Once you have a good idea of the amount of money you expect to have, then you can set your expectations accordingly.

It is a good idea to sit down with both sets of parents and ask them for specific amounts that they have allotted for you to spend on the wedding. It might be easier to ask for them to finance a specific part of the wedding such as the catering, honeymoon, ceremony, etc. Then decide how much you are planning to contribute to the wedding. Add up all of the contributions and then form budget.

According to theknot.com "The average cost for a 150-person wedding is about $25,000 (higher in urban areas).

* Here is a basic breakdown of what you can expect to pay:
Reception: 48%-50%
Ceremony: 2%-3%
Attire: 8%-10%
Flowers: 8%-10%
Entertainment/Music: 8%-10%
Photography/Videography: 10%-12%
Stationery: 2%-3%
Wedding Rings: 2%-3%
Parking/Transportation: 2%-3%
Gifts: 2%-3%
Miscellaneous: 8%
* To avoid stress, allot about 5% of your budget for a "just-in-case" fund.
* If you're paying for your honeymoon yourselves, remember to budget for that as well".

Once you have a good idea of how to allot the money it will be easier to make decisions based on what your budget allows for. This will take the stress and anxiety out of buying knowing that you won't go over budget. Just make sure not to spend more than you have allowed for or plan to take that out of a different category!!

Picking Out Your Wedding Cake

2009-04-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

Picking out a cake was extremely overwhelming for me.

I would highly recommend having an idea in your head of what you want before you meet with the baker. It is a great idea to look at pictures of cakes in magazines or online but realize that it is not always realistic to get what you see in the pictures. Often times those are iced pieces of Styrofoam and staged and fixed on photo shop. But it is important to look in the pictures for idea on the shape, size, colors, and details you would like to have for your cake.

It is also important to note that some bakers are better at design and construction but not as good at the taste and visa versa. Make sure to see a portfolio to get a good idea of their designs but also be sure to taste the cake before hand as well. Sometimes they will pull a sample out of the refrigerator for you to try, make sure however to try a piece at room temperature or one that has been sitting out for a while as your cake will most likely be sitting out for five or six hours at least. You need to get a baker that will produce both a quality tasting and looking cake!

Next, consider the topper for your cake. It is a good idea to have that in mind as well. A popular cake topper is a personalized letter topper. You can put you and your new spouses initial on the top.

It is also nice to use fresh flowers on your cake. If that is something you are considering, be sure to consult with your florist about the different options you have. Using fresh flowers can be a beautiful and inexpensive way to go. It can also be nice in tying together the different elements of your wedding decorations.

The most important thing is to not go into a meeting with your baker or wedding planner, like I did, without any ideas of what you are looking for because the options are vast and the designer will appreciate some specific inspirations to go by. You can do it!

Just the Right Wedding Favors

2009-04-08T15:51:00.000-07:00

Wedding favors are a popular way of thanking your guests for coming to your wedding. These favors do not need to be expensive gifts, but they do need to have a little time and thought put into them in order to not look "cheap."

Wedding favors that do not look cheap and inexpensive (but don't end up costing you a fortune) are things like boxes of M&Ms, packets of plant seeds, personalized lip balm, chocolate cocoa packets, packets of playing cards, or even miniature tape measures. Wedding favors such as these can often be personalized to fit your wedding with different colors, names, and designs. When you customize something to fit your wedding, it makes your decorations much more special.

Try to find wedding favors that are either unique, practical, or themed. When a favor is themed, it is usually themed based on the season or the unique theme of your wedding. Such themes are often one of the following: Asian, Beach, Fall, Winter, Spring, or Vegas. These are among the most popular themes but there are many more.

Small inexpensive wedding favors are perfect for treating all of your guests with, but when it comes to giving gifts to your wedding party and maybe even a few family members that are more deal to you heart, you may want to try getting them a special personalized gift.

Gifts that have a name engraved or embroidered on them usually mean much more than just an ordinary gift card to a store. When you start to think about the gifts you will give your bridesmaids and groomsmen, consider a personalized gift to tell them how much you love them.

Enrich your wedding with just the right wedding favors!

Tips for Your Bridesmaids for 2009.

2009-04-02T21:26:00.000-07:00

Here are a few tips to help you plan for your bridesmaids.

Choose a color! It is great to pick a color and have all of your bridesmaids match. But because all of your bridesmaids most likely will not have the same body type it can be helpful for them to pick a dress that fits them well, yet, is your chosen color. Many bridal shops are now offering different styles in the same color. Want to be a beloved bride? Pick basic black. It will be much easier for the girls to find a dress in black than in avocado.

You can always personalize your dresses! By adding ruffle trims, ribbon belts, varied hemlines, and floral embellishments you can take a typical bridesmaid dress and make it into a unique sophisticated dress that would never be pegged as a multiple. You can also try adding an "extra" onto different styles of the same color to tie them all in, yet make it a dress that the girls will actually want to wear again!

Mix up the bouquets. Consider having each bridesmaid carry a bouquet of different flowers, all within your wedding colors. So if your colors are pink and white, one girl could hold a bouquet of dark pink peonies, another of pale pink daisies, and another of white hydrangeas. Your bouquet could then consist of a couple flowers from each of theirs that would bringing the look together.

Most importantly you want your friends to like you before, during, and after your wedding. So don't jump on a trend before thinking about how your friends will feel and look!

Outdoor Wedding Can be Great If You Ask the Right Questions

2009-03-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Outdoor weddings can be wonderful! Depending on the size of the wedding, you can choose a parent or relative’s backyard, a park, lake area, country club, garden, or local nature preserve. There are many different settings that can work great with your wedding decorations and wedding accessories. Choosing an outdoor setting is a great option and can often help save you some money as well. However, make sure that you don’t end up paying too much on all of the “extras” that the location might not include! Some questions you may want to ask are:
Do they have a place for the bridal party to get ready?
Is the ceremony staging or aisle runners included?
Do they have a tent or additional option in the even of inclement weather?
Are their ceremony chairs?
Set up or rental fees?
Do they have chairs, tables, and service for the reception that will go with your wedding decorations?
Do they require a wedding coordinator for planning or for the day of the wedding? Is that included?
Do they have a catering service?
Do they allow you to bring in food?
Do they have bar service and fee’s for alcohol and bartenders?
Do they have music or DJ services?
Even if you end up with a cheap location, you might end up feeling overwhelmed by all of the additional charges that might come up. So make sure to check before booking the place and paying your deposit. Enrich your wedding with an outdoor wedding with beautiful wedding decorations and wedding accessories!

Advice on Having an Outdoor Wedding

2009-03-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

If you are having an outdoor wedding you want to make sure that you and your guests are comfortable and that you wedding accessories and wedding decorations fit the theme. Here are a few tips to accomplish this goal.

Consider not choosing high heals to wear with your dress. If it has just rained, or the lawn was recently watered, you might sink down into the soft ground. You may also want to avoid purchasing a dress with a train. It will gather the dirt and grass as you walk. If you would still like to wear a dress with a train, make sure that you include an aisle runner in your wedding accessories.

Choose a season that has appropriate weather in the area you live in. Also choose a time of day that will be comfortable for the guests. Mid-day is usually too hot and nights may be a little too cold. Dusk is probably the best time.

You will want to consider putting a note in the invitation informing your guests what to expect. For example, if it is going to be in the evening as the sun is setting you might encourage the guests to bring an extra sweater as it might get cooler when the sun sets. You might also encourage them to wear comfortable shoes or to bring sunscreen if the wedding is in the middle of the day.

Before your wedding day, make sure to visit the location at the same time of day as the ceremony. You want to make sure that you won’t have guests that are blinded by the sun! If you do find that the sun will be too hot for your guests, or that it will be in their eyes, you might consider placing seats under a canopy, or in a shaded area.

Bugs may be an issue to consider as well-- especially for an evening wedding. You can hire an exterminator before your wedding day or include citronella candles in your wedding decorations.

Make sure that you check if the facility has enough restrooms. If not, you might consider renting a port-a-potty. You can add some fresh flowers, wedding decorations, and some perfumed hand soap to help, but a port-a-potty is better than no potty!

Even though an outdoor wedding can be wonderful, you want to make sure that it not only looks nice with the perfect setting and perfect wedding decorations, but that it feels nice as well!

Picking Your Wedding Colors

2009-03-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

When picking a colors for your wedding, make sure and pick something that will be appropriate not only for the season that you are getting married, but also for the formality of your wedding decorations and wedding accessories, and the commonness of the colors.

I've seen that some color choices are nice together, but then the bride gets frustrated when the colors that she picked don't match anything else. It might be because it is such a unique color that she can not find flowers, guestbooks, dresses, ties, vests, or any other wedding decorations or wedding accessories in that color or in a color that matches.

It is also nice, to plan way ahead. This will save you money on your wedding decorations and relieve your stress when the important planning needs to begin. Pick up things that will match your color scheme at the end of the previous year's season. For example, it is nice to get fall wedding decorations and wedding accessories at the end of the season on discount for your wedding the following fall.

This can be helpful in cutting costs in your wedding, as wedding vendors often try to discount inventory that is seasonal to prepare for the following season's new colors, styles and wedding accessories.

Pick a color that compliments you as a person, matches the rest of your colors, and is appropriate for the current season. Best of luck on your wedding planning!

Remembering Those You Love

2009-03-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

On your wedding day, are you looking to honor a family member or friend who has passed away? Are you wanting to honor them with a lit candle but would rather have a personalized memorial in their honor?

Here is a great solution: You can personalize a floating candle which can also serve later as a vase. You can have the name of the deceased engraved into an elegant vase and then put a white, or creamed colored candle to float in the vase depending on what goes best with your chosen color scheme.

This candle can be lit during or before the ceremony, but most commonly it is lit before and displayed in the lobby. Don't let this be a wedding decoration you go without!

It is a great way to let your family and friends know that you are missing and thinking of your loved one who is not able to be with you on your special day.

A Popular Thank You

2009-02-25T15:08:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the most popular (and appropriate I might add) way to say "thank you" to a bridesmaid is through a personalized wedding favor?

There are many gifts that brides often choose to personalize: Jewelry, travel bags, cosmetic cases, cell phone covers, etc. It is fun to be able to put the bridesmaid's initials on a cute and practical item. It is something they will be able to use and appreciate and something they will be able to call their own.

Many brides are also giving a personalized wedding favor for their important guests or wedding party members such as a wedding coordinator, guest book attendant, musician, mother, etc. It is a gift that is simple yet significant.

You can put as much thought into a personalized wedding favor as you would like, for example you can choose a bracelet that is unique to each bridesmaid and their favorite color, or their birth month, or you can choose the same one for all of the them and customize them with their initials and be finished. It can also be used as a wedding accessory when your bridesmaid wears their new favorite bracelet!

What ever you end up getting your bridesmaids and other special people in your wedding, do what is popular and appropriate, make it a personalized wedding favor.

Is it too late?

2009-02-18T10:15:00.000-08:00

Are you stressed out about planning your wedding in a hurry? Do you have a short engagement, or have you been so busy that you are just now getting to think about your wedding decorations and wedding accessories? Don't worry! Many brides have been or are in your same situation with little time left to plan. Here are some things that might help in getting your wedding decorations and wedding accessories:

Order personalized favors for your wedding party. This may seem like more of a hassle but in the end might save you money and time. Instead of shopping for the taste of each girl or guy, find a personalized wedding favor that will work for all the girls and all the guys and then by personalizing it with their initial it will be a special gift for each one of them. Also, when you buy the same item in a larger quantity, you end up saving money in the end.

Pick a simple theme for your wedding decoration and wedding accessories. Instead of trying to be too creative, stick with something that you know will work and that you will be able to easily find other wedding decorations to match. If you get too complicated with your theme, it will cause additional stress.

Pick common colors. If you pick a color that is hard to find or that limits you in your wedding decorations, it will only make things harder on you. Pick out your wedding accessories carefully and make sure they compliment you and your tastes.

For other wedding decorations and wedding accessories ideas visit here.

Wedding Decorations and Love

2009-02-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

I love wedding decorations!

When I go to a wedding, the first thing I notice are the wedding decorations. They are visible to everyone and deserve a little bit of attention. It always puts a smile on my face when I can tell that the bride has put a lot of thought into the wedding decorations and wedding accessories.

Wedding Decorations give off a certain "feeling of love." When picking wedding decorations and wedding accessories a bride needs to take this into consideration. From flowers and candles to colors and themes, love trumps them all.

I encourage every bride to put thought into their wedding decorations.

Guestbooks

2009-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

An important part of your wedding accessories and wedding decorations is the guestbook. Having a nice guestbook is more than just something you are "supposed to do." It meaningful to the guests to sign your guest book. The bride and groom may glance over the guestbook once or twice in their lifetime, but it's the guest who feel important when they sign it.

Your wedding decorations and wedding accessories can really set the tone for the wedding, and the guestbook is one of the first thing they see. When the guests arrive they sign the guestbook and see the guest book attendant before they ever see the wedding decorations or anything else. If you have a nice book and pen, it tells the guests that it is important to them that they are there and tells them that "wow, this will be a great wedding."

It is a place for people to feel like they are a part of the wedding, if even in a very small way. It is one of the wedding accessories that you don't want to leave out. Like everything else though, you want it to match the overall feel of the wedding with the rest of the wedding decorations. It would be out of place to put a classic book in a modern wedding or a modern book at a classic wedding.

Keep in mind the number of guests that are going to be attending the wedding. If it is going to be a large wedding then make sure you have enough room for people to sign. Keep in mind that people often take up a few lines and write short messages, or have large signatures. If you get guestbook alternatives such as signable picture frames you want to make sure and get two or three so that there is enough room for all the guests to sign. (signable picture frames are one of my favorite wedding decorations and wedding accessories because it is like hanging a good looking guestbook on the wall to be reminded of the people who love you - they are also very popular right now).

Also, if you are going to have a guestbook attendant, make sure that he or she is friendly and someone who will be dressed appropriately in order to give a great first impression to your guests!

Whatever guestbook you chose make sure it reflects your beautiful day and gives the first impression of what your wedding decorations, wedding accessories and personalized wedding favor will be like.

Plan Well - But Make Sure You Relax

2009-01-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

It takes time and effort - and possibly a little bit of stress - to get the perfect wedding decorations, wedding accessories and personalized wedding favor when you are planning your wedding.
Make sure during the week before your wedding to plan some good quality time alone. Go to a spa and get a facial or go to the library or a book store and read, or do whatever it is that relaxes you.

It is important to have the time that you need to gather yourself in the middle of all of the busyness of company, last minute details, and stress. Let others handle the wedding decorations for an hour and leave the location to relax. Take time for yourself to mentally prepare for the upcoming weeks as well as the change that is about to occur when you get married.

Delegate as much as you can, but make sure that you delegate to people that you can count on. Remember, this is YOUR wedding with YOUR wedding decorations and wedding accessories.

Once you do, truly, let it out of your hands and don't worry any more about it. Your wedding is a time for you to enjoy. If you get too bogged down with all of the details, wedding decorations, personalized wedding favor, etc., then you will miss out on all of the wonderful blessings of having friends and family in town to celebrate your marriage.

Plan your wedding decorations and wedding accessories like the best of them. But then take some time to relax. Your wedding is meant to be enjoyed.

The Seating Plan at the Reception

2009-01-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

In addition to all of the wedding decorations and wedding accessories that need to be found, the reception seating plan can be a dreaded thing for many brides. A wedding planning book is always a good reference when making these critical decisions.

Here are some free tips that might help:

Make sure not to seat relatives together that don't get along. In order to make it a fun time for everyone, it is courteous to seat people with others they get along with. For example seat the cousins at one table and the aunts and uncles at another.

If you decide that you are going to label your tables, stick to numbers. Famous couples, locations, etc. are hard to see. Many guests complain about having to search for their table. Put your numbers in the middle of each table near the centerpieces of your wedding decorations so that it is easy to see. You may want to have a couple of number cards per table on either side of the center wedding accessories so that it can be seen from all angles.

Also, reserved tables are all you need. It is a whole lot of unnecessary work to have reserved chairs for each guest as well. The parents are really the only ones that need reserved seats. Any more than that just gives the guests more reasons to complain.

Make sure too that you have an extra table prepared for unexpected guests. If you haven't heard from the guests a week after the RSVP is supposed to have been reserved, it is good to follow up with a phone call to see if they will be coming.

Those are a few tips from us. We hope you wedding planning is smooth sailing for you! Remember to get personalized wedding favor, wedding accessories and wedding decorations that will enrich your wedding!

Bridesmaid Gifts with Meaning

2009-01-22T11:03:00.000-08:00

Have you ever gotten a gift for being a bridesmaid and ever wished that it was a personalized wedding favor rather than just a gift card? I have. As a bride, don't make that same mistake.

Give your bridesmaids something that they will enjoy for years to come. Don't give them a gift that they will graciously thank you for and act thrilled about but then turn around and never use or think of again. Give them a personalized wedding favor. A personalized wedding favor is just about as important (if not more) than your wedding decorations and wedding accessories you pick out. A personalized wedding favor stays with the people you love for a life time!

There are many options to choose from. A favorite is a personalized bracelet. Bridesmaids love bracelets. You can find them in many different colors. You can choose bracelets that match the color scheme of the wedding for them to wear, or you can pick their favorite color or their birth color. This is definitely a pleaser as a personalized wedding favor. The nice thing about jewelry is that it is something that can be worn over and over and admired by many.

When you give them a personalized wedding favor it tells them that you didn't just buy the gift as a last minute, but that you put some thought into it and got a gift just for them. The same goes for your personalized wedding decorations and wedding accessories. You want your guest to think that you put a lot of time and thought into it.

A personalized wedding favor is a great way to give them a personalized gift, as well as to really tell them that they are special and that you appreciate them being in your wedding. You can also give this personalized wedding favor to the flower girl. She is sure to love it as well!

Put thought into your wedding. Personalize it with personalized wedding favor, wedding decorations and wedding accessories!

Wedding Program

2009-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

The wedding program is an important part of the wedding accessories and wedding decorations.

It is nice to have a program at a wedding. It allows for the people that arrived early to have something to look at, it gives a place for the bride and groom to thank special people, or to recognize anyone that wasn't able to be at the wedding like a family member or friend who passed away or is overseas, and helps people to recognize the flow of the wedding.

Wedding programs can come in all different styles, shapes and sizes. Pick one that is unique to you and that matches your personalities and the style of the wedding. For example, it might be out of place to have a simple and casual program at a elegant wedding. You want the program to match the overall feel of the ceremony. You also don't want to have too much in the program to where it feels cluttered and too detailed. You also want it to match the rest of your wedding decorations.

It is nice to be able to recognize people in your program, but you don't want to list everyone you know as it might go on and on and on. Be sure to ask people how they want their name in the program. For example, the pastor might want to be listed as "Pastor Mike," "Mike Smith," "Pastor Smith," "Reverend Mike Smith," or as "Pastor Mike Smith." Just makes sure that your program is both personal and professional. It never hurts to have a few pair of eyes look over it for misspellings or other suggestions.

For a great selection of wedding program paper and other important wedding decorations and wedding accessories click here.

Engagement

2009-01-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Many women have already thought about their wedding decorations, wedding accessories and wedding theme long before they even get engaged. They long for that moment.

Isn't getting engaged a whole lot of fun?! It is different for everyone. For some it is getting engaged right out of high school, or right out of college, or it is two people that have already been living together and decide to make a commitment. For some there are already children in the mix and for others there aren't. Some are getting engaged for the second or third time.

But no matter what the background or age, there is that special moment. The moment when the man decides that the girl is right for him. That she is worth making sacrifices for; that she is the one who will make him a better man. And that girl (hopefully) looks back at him and says "yes, you too are worth making sacrifices for and I can't imagine life with out you". In that moment, that small moment, there are no worries. It is as if everything stands still and all you can feel is the swirl of emotions inside of you. It is a brilliant and wonderful time that is to be cherished and remembered forever.
But don't let the special moment end here. Don't let yourself get caught up in the stress of planning the wedding. There are many great ideas to allow it to be a do-able experience. Just make sure to get a wedding organizer book, and have fun picking out things that are fun and special to you and your fiancé'. Always remember too, that at the end of the day the good news is that you will be married!!!

After engagement comes wedding planning: Picking out wedding decorations, wedding accessories and perosonalized wedding favor. Do it the right way- dont stress yourself out.

Sparkles

2009-01-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

It is always alright to add some sparkle to your wedding day!

It is fun for any time of day, but can really create some ideal moonlit ambiance when you add some scattered small Swarovski crystals and glass pearls to give it that starlight look. It is a delicate look, yet it catches the eye and makes the moment a special one. For any bride with a sparkly attitude, this is sure to make wedding decorations and wedding accessories thrill the guests.

Don't forget to add the sparkle to things like your veil, garter, unity candle, ring bearer pillow, flower girl basket, ribbons and bows, and bridesmaid jewelry as well as on anything else you like! Make your wedding decorations, personalized wedding favor, and wedding accessories sparkle like no other!

Personalize It

2009-01-10T08:00:00.001-08:00

Personalized wedding decorations, wedding accessories and a personalized wedding favor are a lot of fun! They are becoming more and more popular and a huge hit at any type of wedding. They can be elegant as well as fun.

When you make the favors personalized they become something special and unique. I can be hard to find wedding favors that are thoughtful, but when you make them a personalized wedding favor, they are a hit!

There are a lot of fun ideas of thing that you can personalize. For example, something fun is personalizing robes or slippers. They can be used over and over and make a practical, yet personal gift.

Personalized your wedding accessories, wedding decorations, and wedding favors - Your guests will love you for it!

Destination Wedding

2009-01-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Destination weddings are not for everyone. But for some it is the perfect option for a wonderful and beautiful wedding. Often the wedding ceremony is set on a beach with beach themed wedding decorations and wedding accessories. Family and friends fly out and spend some time with the bride and groom in a warm tropical climate where everyone can truly enjoy themselves. It makes for a memorable time for all involved.

There are so many wonderful things that you can do to make this a romantic and picture perfect wedding. A unique idea is to have personalized wedding favor beach chair covers as favors that the family, friends and wedding party can enjoy all week long while they are lounging at the beach or by the pool. They can also take them home with them and enjoy them again at their next vacation spot!

Another fun idea is to give the ring bearer and flower girl a pillow and basket that match the wedding decorations theme. They love to be part of the wedding and it is fun for them to carry items that have starfish or something else on them that bring the wedding details and the children together as part one theme and perfect day.

Plan Your Wedding Like A Pro!

2009-01-05T14:41:00.000-08:00

Planning a wedding is supposed to be fun! Many young girls dream of their "perfect" wedding with the perfect wedding decoration and wedding accessories. However, when it comes down to it, it is much more complicated than they might have imagined.

It is especially difficult when you are on a tight budget, in a hurry or a people-pleaser like me. The input of your family, the soon to be in-laws, as well as your well meaning friends can be overwhelming at times.

In order to help you stay organized I would recommend a wedding organizer book. It gives you good tips so that you are not offending any friends or relatives.

Next, think of the things that are most important to you. For example, your wedding party personalize wedding favors, your wedding decorations and colors, the flowers or the dresses and other wedding accessories. Let everyone know that you are going to be deciding on the dress and the flowers and that you don't need their advice on those items. On everything else you are open to their input. Then, listen carefully to their advice and be flexible with the rest.

If you are on a tight budget then make sure that the things that are most important to you are picked first and then figure out creative ways to make your wedding as elegant and perfect as you wish it to be without going over budget. There are plenty of places to get the items that you need without spending a fortune on your wedding decorations and wedding accessories.

Wedding Decorations, Wedding Accessories, and Personalized Wedding Favors

2008-12-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

Wedding decorations bring life to the room
when added with flowers they take away the gloom.

Wedding accessories are needed they say
To have a ceremony and reception and one perfect day.

Personalized wedding favors are genuine and unique
They tell your wedding party that you think they are sweet.

Wedding decorations can be black or white
Regardless of their color, they are a very nice sight.

Wedding accessories are essential it might seem
And sometimes they may even follow a theme.

Personalized wedding favors possess love and affection
Which is what a wedding is all about, a special selection.

Wedding decorations are exciting and fun
You want your day to be grand and all full of sun!

Wedding accessories should have a bit of your taste
Cause' it's YOUR special day and you have nothing to waste.

Personalized wedding favors send your guests off with care
Like totes and picture frames and even jewelry to wear.

We hope that your wedding decorations make your day great
For wedding accessories and personalized wedding favors should never be purchased late.

The Wedding Garter; A History of Tradition

2008-12-26T12:44:00.000-08:00

As probably the smallest and least expensive detail of your wedding accessories and wedding decorations, the wedding garter comes from a long line of historical tradition.

The wedding garter is one of the earliest wedding traditions. Garters were imbued with fertility and the bride's garter signified consummation, fulfillment, and progeny and was always fiercely sought after. Men in the wedding would rush at the bride at the end of the ceremony in order to get her garter for themselves. They would then wear it on their hats until they found a girl to give it to for good luck.

Sometimes the bride would be knocked over and trampled off from this frenzy of activity so the tradition was soon tamed. They would simply throw it to the single men at the wedding reception and it became a big honor to catch it.

It’s funny to me that this small wedding accessories among all of the other wedding decorations was of such great meaning.

Let history speak for itself. The wedding garter is an important wedding accessory. Don’t forget it at your wedding.

Keeping Flowers Withing Your Budget

2008-12-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

The flowers at your wedding can be one of the most expensive wedding decorations in you wedding. Here are a few tips to keep the costs down:

1. If you get them from a florist then pick them up from the shop yourself and do your own planning and decorating at the church and reception area. Florist often charge a lot of money to deliver and set up.
2. If you shop around enough you can often find flowers for much cheaper at street venders or grocery stores or even Walmart. Taking a little time to find flowers and doing them yourself could save you a bundle.
3. I’ve even heard of people getting flowers from their own gardens or friends’ gardens. This may not be able to supply the flowers for ALL your wedding decorations, but may just enough for your bouquets and centerpieces.

In order to keep your costs down on your wedding decorations one of the best places to start is with your wedding flowers. It may take a little more work on your part, but it’s usually worth it in the end.

Themed Weddings

2008-12-22T13:05:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard a bride-to-be say, “I would really like to have a themed wedding”? My response to that simply statement is, “As opposed to what?”

If you think about it, nearly every wedding has as theme. It may not be specifically stated or defined in words, but most likely all of the wedding decorations have a common theme. It could be defined by the colors, the time of year, the culture in which the wedding accessories are comprised of, or many other factors.

The typical wedding themes for wedding decorations are: Winter theme, beach theme, summer theme, spring theme, fall theme, heart theme, blue theme, pink theme, Asian theme, traditional theme, and many many… many others.

Whatever theme you choose for your wedding decorations and wedding accessories (even if you “claim” to not have a themed wedding) make it one that is unique to your tastes and gives a feeling of beauty to you and your guests.

Do Men Hate Weddings?

2008-12-22T12:36:00.000-08:00

I’ve heard it said that a man hates weddings. Well, if you are talking about the average American male who falls asleep in most weddings he attends and dreads dressing up and then getting dragged out on the dance floor with his girlfriend who is thinking about marriage the whole entire day and has that look in her eye that says, “I wonder if he wants to marry me,” then, YES, your are correct.

I will admit, I was one of those males.

Weddings were boring. Wedding decorations, cake toppers, and all the other little wedding accessories and details meant nothing to me. And then…. I got married.

All of a sudden these were very important things in my life. Wedding accessories actually had to be decided on. Wedding decorations were a necessity in my life. And how much my future bride liked me (I knew she would always love me, but not always like me) depended on my answers and expressive responses to the never ending question, “Honey, what do you think about _____________?”

It’s funny to me that I really did not play a big role in making the decisions for choosing wedding decorations, wedding accessories, or any real wedding related details, but for some reason I really did start to care about these things. After all, it was MY wedding too. I should care.

Well, I can definitely say that my view of wedding decorations, wedding accessories and weddings in general changed right there and forever. I still get sleepy during wedding ceremonies, and occasionally hate having to get dressed up, but there is something more meaningful about a wedding that I actually enjoy now.

To those men out there who can relate to the first paragraph of this post: Get married. If you cant do that… well, good luck sitting through your friends’ weddings. I used to feel your pain.

Unforgettable

2008-12-19T14:34:00.000-08:00

Nearly every young woman I have met wants their wedding to be an unforgettable experience. From the wedding dress to the wedding decorations, they want everything to flow and look amazing.

Something that often gets overlooked are the personalized wedding favors. In my opinion, personalized wedding favors are second to wedding decorations and wedding accessories in regards to importance, but are still way up on the list of details that should taken care of.

A personalized wedding favor says "You are an important part of my life" ten times better than a normal gift card wedding favor or a simply card or candies. When you take the time and money to give someone a personalized wedding favor with their name engraved on the side, you are telling them that they are super special. For this they will remember you wedding for a life time.

The same goes for you wedding decorations and wedding accessories. When you personalize them, people remember you wedding much longer.

Put time and thought into your wedding decorations, wedding accessories, and personalized wedding favors. Don't let your wedding slip away from your guest's memories.

Feelings

2008-12-19T14:24:00.000-08:00

Close your eyes for a couple of seconds... Think about the different weddings that you have been to and the "feel" of each one of them. What is it about those weddings that give them different feels?

Wedding Decorations. Wedding Accessories. And the Personalized Wedding Favors you take away from them.

When you are in a chapel watching the bride come down the aisle, you FEEL the whole experience. Emotions are running crazy. The groom is so nervous and the father of the bride is about to lose "it" because he is "losing" his beloved daughter.

The emotions of the moment are crazy, but it's the wedding decorations that give you a feeling that you hardly even notice. Wedding decorations bring a bit of life to the room. They are the unnoticed gems. Every bride wants their wedding to be talked about amongst their friends as a beautiful and unforgettable experience. The chances of that happening are much higher if the feeling in the room is made up of beautiful wedding decorations and wedding accessories. It also helps when the wedding party goes home with cherish personalized wedding favors.

So give your wedding a good feeling. Get wedding decorations and wedding accessories that are just right for you.

The Flower Girl: An embarrassing moment as a child

2008-12-18T14:07:00.000-08:00

I remember when I was a flower girl in my sister's wedding. I wasn't very old, but I remember feeling like a little princess. I remember the beautiful wedding decorations and the sound of the music filling the air. I was so honored to be a part of her wedding and to put flower petals down the isle to elegant music in preparation for her arrival.

My instructions were simple: place a few petals down with each step and just make sure not to put them all in the same spot. I understood.

Finally, the time came for my big moment in the spotlight. I started walking down the isle. I knew that everyone was watching me and I felt so important and pretty. But then all of the sudden it happened. The basket broke and all of the petals fell in one spot. I only had one important job to do and I failed! I ran down the isle with tears streaming down my face and fell into my mothers lap to escape my embarrassment.

While it is now a family joke and something to be laughed at, I remember being so disappointed. The lesson I then learned at my wedding was to make sure that I had purchased a quality flower girl basket for the precious little girl that was so thrilled to be walking down the isle feeling like a princess.

In fact, I wanted to make sure that ALL of my wedding decorations and wedding accessories were of just the right quality for a smooth-flowing, beautiful wedding!

Hope your wedding is filled with fun memories and all the wedding decorations and wedding accessories come together smoothly for you!

Your Wedding Party... Favors are Important.

2008-12-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

Because your wedding is a time of celebration, you want all of your closest friends and family to be a part of it. You get to pick bridesmaids and groomsmen that have supported you and will be there for you on you special day as well as hopefully in your future. To show them how grateful you are to have them in your life, much less your wedding, you need a special gift.

Instead of the usually gift cards or box of chocolates, why not go above and beyond what they expect. After all, you already took the time to find the perfect wedding decorations and wedding accessories, the least you could do for the special people in your life is give them something of value and thought. When you personalize a gift with someone's name or a special comment engraved on the side, you are showing them your love them without even opening your mouth.

For the women, some fun things are personalized jewelry, or jewelry to match their bridesmaid dresses, picture frames/albums, travel bags or coolers, personalized cosmetic bags, spa gifts, or personalized keepsake jewelry boxes.

For the men, personalized golf towels, pocket knives, sport watches, duffle bags, bottle opener wallets and money clips, coasters, etc. make special and practical gifts every guy is sure to love.

Just make sure you do not leave these gifts to the last minute. You want to give your wedding party a gift that shows them you really do care and are glad that they are standing up there to support you.

MLH

Old, New, Borrowed, Blue

2008-12-18T12:48:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my earlier post, there are a lot of details in a wedding. From the wedding decorations like wedding cake toppers and unity candles to wedding accessories like garters and personalized wedding favors; Your details will add up fast!

Not to put one more thing on you plate before you get married, but here is another fun little detail that should be given a little thought:

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe."

Many sources say the this phrase dates back to the Victorian era and is definitely English. However, many brides still know this phrase and consider it good luck to have something old, new, borrowed, and blue. But what does it all mean?

"Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and with her past. "Something new" means an optimistic hope for their new life ahead."Something borrowed" is usually an item from the brides family or a close friend who is happily married. That person's good fortune is then supposed to be carried over into the new brides marriage."Something blue" represents love, modesty, and fidelity, dating all the way back to ancient Rome. The Virgin Mary has been long dressed in blue represents purity. "Silver sixpence in her shoe" is meant to represent wealth and financial security. These days a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted.

Brides have often worn things like old crocheted handkerchiefs, borrowed pearls, blue garters, new panties, new wedding accessories, etc.

Have a wedding filled with "good luck"! Remember, every detail of your wedding is special: from your wedding decorations, and personalized wedding favors to the small wedding accessories like garters, wedding cake toppers, and unity candles.

Dream Big. Live it up at your wedding!

-M L H

Details, Details, Details...

2008-12-15T09:23:00.000-08:00

Getting married is something that we all hope only happens once for us. Because of that, it is a very special day. It is a celebratory time of our lives when we commit to our fiancé for better or for worse till death do us part. It is witnessed by our closest friends and family and is a day remembered by all.

For some the ceremony is the most significant part, but for many the reception is the part of the wedding day that is the most remembered. Either way, wedding decorations will add a special touch to this memorable day.

Decorations tell the guest much about the personalities of the bride and groom as well as their backgrounds and the future they hope to share together.

The little details of wedding planning can be the most stressful. I remember thinking that things were under control. We had picked the wedding party, the church, the location for the reception, the colors, the dress… but then all of the little details crept up on me. What am I going to do for a garter? Do I have something old, new, borrowed and blue? What glasses are we going to use for toasting at the reception? What color pillow do I want our ring bearer to carry? Will I be able to find a flower girl basket to match? I figured out what kind of cake I want, but I don't have a topper!

Luckily I found websites that were very helpful in securing all of the little details for the wedding decorations and accessories. I even found a wedding planning guide to help me think about the details that I might have missed.

Take if from a girl who has been there, done that: Do your research and don't leave out the details. Start planning now so that when the day really comes you'll be able to simply ENJOY!

M L H

Choosing your guests

2008-12-15T07:58:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, choosing wedding guests is a big dilemma for most engaged couples. Between family, friends, colleagues, and even business acquaintances, your list can fill up fast. So how do you decide who should be invited and who does not make the cut.

Here are several rules of thumb that you can use to determine you list. First off, you need to determine whether or not you want to have large, medium, or a small wedding. This is relative to what you consider large and small, but my view is anything above 400 guests is large, and anything below 100 guests is small. A medium wedding is often the most popular. In a medium size wedding your budget for wedding decorations, wedding accessories, and personalized wedding favors is often very affordable. After you have a set goal in mind, start to compile your list by writing it down and putting people into two different categories:

1. Must
2. Maybe

Easy enough. You know that pretty much all (close) family members are in the "must" category. You also will probably want to put all close friends in the must category. But if there are any hesitations at all in the "must" category then move them on down to the "maybe" pile.

After listing as many people as you can think of grab a highlighter and a pen. Examine the names in the "maybe" category and ask these few questions about each one. If the majority of the answers point towards not inviting them, then, without hesitation- cross them out. But, if not, then highlight them and add them to the invitation list.

1. Will you see this person again soon?
2. Will this person be extremely offended for not getting invited?
3. Do you have enough room for this person?
4. If you invite this person, will several other people expect to be invited as well?
5. Will YOU regret not inviting this person?

Your invitation list is not the beginning or end of the world as we know it, but since it involves people who are care about you, it is definitely something to give a lot of thought. In fact, your whole wedding planning is not something to take lightly. From your wedding decorations to your honeymoon, your wedding is one of the greatest times of your life.

Don't settle. Plan. Enjoy.

-G R H

9 out of 10 People Claim to be a Wedding Photographer

2008-12-13T07:37:00.000-08:00

Does it drive you crazy as much as it drives me bonkers? I cannot stand it when everyone and their brother says that they can shoot your wedding for you.

You Tell your friend, Joe, "We're looking for a wedding photographer, do you know anyone?" Joe replies, "yeah, my brother's roomate's friend from highschool takes excellent pictures of cool nature stuff.... and to be honest, I'm not to bad myself. It would certainly save you a lot of money." You agree to Joe's suggestion, end of saving 100's of dollars, but when the pictures come back from the wedding.... oops!

Photography, especially at weddings, takes skill, leadership, a good eye, and focus (not to mention a little experience, but I gues you gotta start somewhere). I was talking to a friend of mine about this yesterday. He is wanting to start his own photography business, but he knows that he has the skill and know-how to be a professional. I agree with him. I've seen some of his stuff and he definitely has "the eye" for it- something I, however, was not gifted with. Buying a new expensive Nikon or Olympus camera does not automatically give you an eye for taking good pictures. Trust me, I know.

My friend and I agreed that the photography market is becoming more saturated with mediocre photographers because people are trying to save a few pennies. Now, I'm all about saving a few pennies here and there in life, but when it comes to a wedding- that's one thing in life you want to do a little splurging on. I mean, it only comes around once a life time (God willing).

People complain about professional photography being way too expensive for only a half day of work. Well, let me put this into perspective for you. You've already spent good money on your, wedding decorations, personalized wedding favors for you wedding party, and other wedding accessories, why leave out one of the most important elements? The wedding photographer. After all, you wedding decorations and wedding accessories make your wedding special and personalized, but your wedding photos will help remind you of that perfect day for many years to come.

And not only is it a good investment for the future, but a professional photographer will spend many hours editing and screening his pictures before he show them to you. Average Joe with the new expensive camera will copy and paste them to a cd and give them for you to pick through.

Dont settle for mediocre photography. Find a professional who can bring the leadership needed in order to keep the family pictures moving smoothly, who has the skill to get unique quality pictures, and who takes the time to bring you the pictures that will last a lifetime.

-Griff Hanning

Cherish your wedding day - You deserve it!

2008-11-25T13:07:00.000-08:00

When it comes to planning a wedding, the average bride-to-be has already rehearsed the entire event in her mind before she turned 16. For a groom to have any say about what the wedding decorations, wedding cake toppers, personalized wedding favors, etc... will look like or smell like or even taste like is far from reality. A groom's job is to sit back, relax and give his future wife a big smile, hug, and "that sounds great" everytime she asks him what he thinks about such and such. The bride is in charge and that's just how it is going to be.

And why shouldnt it be that way? I have no problem with that. It's one of the most important days of a young woman's life! She deserves to have everything happen just the way she has been dreaming it.

Now, the father of the bride is saying, "Whoa! Wait just a minute! I only have so much money for this shindig- we need to be rational here."

I agree 100%. Rational and practical. But what IS "rational and practical" when it comes to weddings? In my opinion, there needs to be a budget and the bride needs to come up with a list of the things that are the most important to her. Once these two items are nailed down then the wedding decorations, cake toppers, and wedding favors need to fit inside that particular budget.

In other words: Go for Quality gifts and decorations rather than a whole bunch of unnecessary cheap things. A bride's guests will remember unique, personalized, and high quality things about the wedding, not the things that are in every other wedding and all look exactly the same.

Splurge a little on you wedding day - You deserve it!

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