Wedding Posts

A Useful Wedding Checklist for Your Canadian Outdoor Country Wedding

January 26, 2012 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

Classic Round Decorative Birdcage An outdoor country wedding in Canada? Say no more! In a word, we know it’s going to be awesome. Rugged terrains that take your breath away, exquisite view of pristine rivers and lakes and an overabundance of natural resources make Canadian weddings a dream come true. Whether you’re getting hitched in Victoria BC overlooking the Olympic Mountains, in Montreal with the unique charm of Mount Royal, or in the hilly terrain of Vancouver, expect to have an extraordinary wedding ceremony that you’d remember for the rest of your life. To ensure that, here is a useful wedding checklist to follow.

Determine the setting and location. You already know you’re going to have an outdoor country wedding in Canada but what specific theme? Are you going to be married in an expansive estate, on a beachfront, on the shore of St. Lawrence River in Quebec or near the rugged mountains of Mount Royal?
Pick the date. Next, you need to pick the wedding date. This is very important because you’re holding an outdoor wedding. Weather is everything for outdoor weddings. If you’re not careful, what is supposed to be a beautiful event can turn out to be a painstaking affair for you and your guests.
Announce your engagement. In Canada, it is customary to have a pre-wedding celebration not only to honor the newly-engaged couple but also to raise money for the event. Traditions differ depending on what part of Canada you’re getting married. For example, in the rural parts of Ontario, guests buy a ticket to the engagement party and the proceeds go to the bride and groom.
Determine the details about the wedding. These would include the overall wedding budget, the chosen people for the wedding party, the type of wedding event (e.g. formal, informal, casual and so on), and the color scheme. When choosing colors for the wedding, it’s best to opt for a rustic palette that includes warm orange and red hues. All these decisions would help in the further planning of the wedding event.
Create the guest list. The practical way to create the guest list is to determine the number of guests that you can afford according to the wedding budget you’ve set. Then from there, work your way into including the people who are closest to you and your beau.
Order the wedding attire and wedding rings. Take your time in looking for your wedding gown. You should also oversee the attire of your groom and the wedding party. As for the wedding rings, both you and your future spouse should spend enough time looking for the perfect pair.
Find the officiant, suppliers and vendors. Suppliers and vendors would include the photographer, videographer, caterer, florist, decorator, wedding planner or coordinator, musicians, DJ and many others.
Decide on the menu. It’s imperative that you choose a caterer who is experienced with preparing food for outdoor weddings. Remember, the menu should be able to withstand the weather. For example, some salad dressings, sauces and other cold items are not ideal for an outdoor setting.
Order and send out the invitations. After that, you should order the wedding favors. Choose wedding favors that are apt for an outdoor location. Personalized chocolate bars that can melt under the strong heat of the sun are not smart choices.

On the day of your wedding, make the most out of it. Don’t sweat the small stuff. You want to look as beautiful as possible in all your wedding photos. Relax and smile!

Filed Under: Country Wedding, Outdoor Weddings, Reception & Ceremony Tagged With: country wedding, Outddoor Wedding, Wedding Planning Checklist

Popular Wedding Color Themes for you to Choose From

December 11, 2011 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

wedding colors Colors do say a thousand words and they might even narrate a tale of an everlasting love story. Choosing the right wedding color theme is no doubt, one of the first steps a couple has to make. The color theme of your wedding would dictate the decors, the bridesmaids’ dress and the flowers too. Some couples go for their favorite color. Others opt for colors and hues that are in harmony with the current season. Or if they already have a wedding theme in mind, be it a garden or a beach wedding, couples might pick colors that go well with their chosen theme. With lots of colors and hues, the possibilities are endless! You just need a little bit more imagination and creativity to come up with the perfect color for you two lovebirds.

Orange + green

This duo has always been considered a classic pair for any wedding. This color combination complements any season of the year. It is also perfect for summer and garden weddings. The vibrant orange hue blends well with the flowers in season while the green color mimics the true color of nature. It can be paired with crisp white linen for a summer wedding and brown ones for a winter affair. Aside from orange flowers, calla lilies and dahlias are perfect blooms for a vibrant wedding.

Purple + blue

Want a royal type of wedding? A mash up of purple and blue exudes a very elegant charm. Deep purple hues can be mixed with light blue colors for a contemporary look. Couples can make use of lilacs and lavender for that purple tone. A combination of light and dark hues can be used to achieve a more cohesive look.

Black + green + white

This trio is another interesting takes for a very elegant wedding affair. Combination of crisp white and black is a traditional pair. But when it is coupled with hue of a light green or lime green, it becomes an instant craze! The fun green tone adds a summery, fresh zest to the traditional black and white combination. The bride can make use of light green roses wrapped in banana leaves for an interesting, beautiful bouquet.

Red + orange

These vivid tones are the perfect pair for a lovely fall wedding. The tones are reminiscent of the falling leaves in a lovely autumn afternoon and the romantic shade of the mid-afternoon. Deep red roses plus dahlias are nevertheless, understatements for this zestful union. These bold hues can be softened by adding touches of white to your bouquet and flower arrangements.

Yellow + orange

These perky tones are perfect accompaniments for a lovely summer wedding. Yellow colors evoke happy, fun affairs. While the orange tone is a great accent to a yellow base, and furthermore intensifies the lively color. These vibrant colors look perfect in outdoor weddings. Furthermore, a marriage of yellow and orange lends a fun twist to any wedding event.

Green + pink

Looking for a classical match? Shades of green embraced with the blushing color of pink exude a classical aura. Light green tones are the perfect complement to pink hues. The bride’s bouquet would be a classical one with jade roses and hydrangeas. Pink also gives an illusion of the blushing bride.

Turquoise + orange

This rather uncanny combination is a refreshing take for your wedding color palette. The orange hue is definitely a stand out. While the turquoise color is a refreshing sight to behold. This would definitely make a bold statement in any wedding. It is a not so ordinary combination that is slowly gaining its niche in the popular wedding color combinations. It also spells perky, perky, and perky!

Picking the appropriate color theme for your dream wedding can be quite tricky. Couples need to determine also what type of romantic sheer they want their guests to witness. Or what mood they want to experience. Is it romance with a fun twist? An elegant and classical one? A blushing romance? A pure romantic drama? Keep in mind that vibrant colors spell drama while light colors mean romance. Remember, colors have this magical touch. They can and will influence your emotions.

Filed Under: Ideas, Reception & Ceremony, Themes Tagged With: Black +green+white, decors, Green+pink, Orange + green, Purple + blue, Red+ orange, Themes, wedding color combinations, wedding colors, Yellow+ orange

Delicious Bridal Shower Food Recipes

November 22, 2011 By Maggie Leave a Comment

For many women, a wedding is not a real wedding without a bridal shower. Bridal showers are done to collect gifts for the bride before she finally ties the knot and bid goodbye to being single. Of course, showers are special occasions where the bride spends quality time with her close friends and immediate family members. It is all about having fun and celebrating one of the biggest moments of a person’s life—marriage.

Shower games and activities are important to ensure that the guests, family members and the bride could bond together but more than these, a great bridal shower menu is the key to bring people closer. You have a lot of options when it comes to bridal shower food but of course, the menu will depend on the bride’s choices, with the input of her friends and relatives as well. There are three Ts in planning a bridal shower menu: the theme, the taste and the type of food. Here are some delicious bridal shower food recipes that you could try to serve to your guests.

Spicy Shrimp and Avocado

Ingredients:

1 ripe avocado, pitted and halved

1 tsp. fresh lime juice

Salt

6 slices white bread

2 tsps. Achiote paste

2 tbsps. Olive oil

24 pcs. medium shrimps, peeled and deveined

2 tbsps. sour cream

1 oz. golden fish roe

Fresh cilantro for garnish

Directions:

Place avocado flesh in a food processor. Add lime juice and season with salt. Process until smooth and transfer to a bowl.
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and arrange bread slices on a baking sheet. Bake the bread until slightly toasted for 10 to 14 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
Over medium heat, add oil and achiote paste on a skillet and cook for 1 minute. Add shrimps and cook until shrimps are pink and cooked through.
Spread 1 tbsp. of avocado puree on each slice of bread. Using a cookie cutter (1 ½ inch round), cut 4 rounds from each bread slice. Top each with a shrimp, sour cream and fish roe. Garnish with cilantro and serve immediately.

Baby Greek Salad

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

2 tbsps. extra virgin olive oil

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

2 baby cucumbers, peeled and cut crosswise (1/4 inch thick)

1 pint cherry tomatoes

1 ½ ounces crumbled feta cheese

1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted, halved or quartered

Directions:

Whisk Dijon mustard and vinegar in a bowl. Add the oil slowly and whisk constantly until the mixture emulsifies. Season this with salt and pepper.
Toss the vegetables and olives into a bowl. Toss with vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper. Divide the salad among twelve three-ounce paper cups and top each cup with feta cheese. Serve immediately.

Roasted Asian Chicken Wings

Ingredients:

5 lbs. chicken wings, wing tips reserved for another use

1 tbsp. Asian essence

1 tsp. salt

2 cups fresh orange juice

½ tsp. ground white pepper

1 cup canned pineapple juice

1 cup sugar

½ cup mirin

½ cup soy sauce

2 tbsps. minced garlic

2 tbsps. orange zest

2 tbsps. minced fresh garlic

2 tbsps. minced green onions

¾ tsp. crushed red pepper

1 tbsp. sesame oil

2 tbsps. sesame seeds

2 tbsps. sliced green onions for garnish

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil with 1-inch sides.
Season the chicken wings with salt, pepper and Asian essence. Make sure to coat each piece well. Lay the seasoned wings on the roasting pan and bake for around 35 minutes until evenly baked and browned.
Combine all the remaining ingredients, except the green onions and sesame seeds, in a big skillet over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally and bring to a boil until sugar is dissolved and the liquid has become syrup. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.
Take the wings from the oven and bring down the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
Place the chicken wings in a large heat-proof bowl and drizzled half of the prepared sauce over them. Toss the wings to coat well. Sprinkle the sesame seeds and toss again.
Arrange the coated wings on top of a rack lined with aluminum foil. Return to the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the skin becomes crispy.
Place the wings on a serving platter and garnish with sliced green onions. Serve the remaining sauce as a dip.

Filed Under: Bridal Showers, Tips & Ideas Tagged With: Baby Greek Salad, bridal showers, food recipes, Roasted Asian Chicken Wings, Spicy Shrimp and Avocado

Wedding invitations – traditional, elegant, tasteful, modern, funky, informal, fun or frivolous

September 30, 2011 By Kyla Leave a Comment

Many hours of careful thought go into planning a wedding. Organising the venue and catering inevitably take priority but with so many aspects of your big day to plan and pay for, don`t forget about your wedding stationery.

It may seem relatively unimportant to you but for the guests the wedding invitation they receive through the post is their first indication of what sort of celebration to expect. A dull and uninteresting invitation may prompt some invited guests to wonder whether they may have something better to do on your wedding day whereas an invitation which catches their attention will almost guarantee their attendance.

So, with so much else to think about, how do you go about creating unique wedding invitations to send out to your chosen guests? The good news is that there are plenty of businesses out there to help you with wide ranges of invitation cards and plenty of options for personalising them.

The first step is to consider what sort of image you want to project of your big day. Do you want it to be very traditional, elegant and tasteful, modern and funky, relaxed and informal or fun and frivolous? Whichever image you choose for your invitations will need to continue through to the wedding day itself or your guests may end up feeling confused and cheated.

Have a look at the range of designs available. If you want to keep it simple there are plenty of invitation designs available which have a classic script but no images. Alternatively there are plenty of invitations available with images ranging from the traditional bridge and groom, glasses of champagne, floral bouquet or wedding cake to more modern images such as sleek wedding cars, cuddly animals, graphic illustrations or cartoon figures.

If your friends know you as an outgoing and lively couple you may want to choose a spoof wedding invitation where the image is of a newspaper or magazine cover. However, don`t choose a novelty invitation if your wedding day itself is going to be traditional – there will be a lot of disappointed guests who had been anticipating a riotous celebration!

Inevitably, invitations will need to be personalised to give guests the information about who is getting married, when and where. This is your opportunity to make your invitation unique. If you are having a classic wedding then you may prefer to choose more traditional language for the invitation. However, if your big day is going to be a more relaxed or fun affair you can let your creativity run riot. Write a poem, include a joke, use your pet names for each other – there are no rules apart from ensuring that the vital information is included.

Designing your wedding invitations and personalising them is one of the fun parts of planning a wedding so take your time and do it properly. Greetings cards and stationery specialists such as Hallmark have all the designs and tools to help you produce your unique wedding invitation.

Filed Under: Invitations, Reception & Ceremony Tagged With: elegant and tasteful, invitation cards, Invitations, modern and funky, personalised, planning a wedding, relaxed and informal or fun, traditional, unique wedding invitation, wedding stationery

Break the Old Tradition with a Modern Take on Bridal Veils

June 17, 2010 By Nicole Leave a Comment

Embroidered Border Veil Most people have come to associate the word “bride” to a picture of a woman in a white gown, her face silhouetted by a translucent veil while making her way down the aisle. Wearing a bridal veil goes back as far as the ancient times, and it is steeped in symbolism and tradition.

The Greeks and Romans used it to conceal the bride’s face from her groom until the wedding ceremony. In Europe during the Middle Ages, the veil was believed to protect the bride against curses and evil spirits. Most other cultures have a superstition that it is bad luck for the bride to see herself in full attire until the time of the wedding, thus a veil is necessary to ward off misfortune.

These days however, the veil is no longer just an excuse to conform to tradition. It has become a fashion statement and an essential accessory that completes the overall look of the bride. It adds a touch of romance and formality to the occasion and lends more style and elegance to the wedding dress. It is usually worn over the bride’s face during the formal ceremony. However, in many modern weddings, the veil does not cover the whole face, rather just a portion of the head or even just attached to the back of the head.

Double Border of Satin Ribbon Pearls Veil When choosing the veil, it is necessary to consider the style of the wedding gown, the bride’s hairstyle, and the location of the ceremony and reception. Here are some of the most popular choices of modern brides when it comes to bridal veils.

Birdcage veil

This super chic veil was very famous during the sixties, and now it is making a huge comeback. It is made from tulle or French netting and is often embellished with crystals, feathers, or flowers. Its style is very short, often just covering half of the face. The actual comb of the veil can sit at the back of the head, or to the side for extra drama.

The veil itself can fall just up to the chin, lips, nose, or under the eyes. It can even cover only the forehead! This type of veil will look gorgeous with your hair held up in a half-bun, but it also works well with short hair. It is sure to lend a classy and sophisticated beat to just about any kind of wedding look.

Blusher veil

The blusher is not the actual veil itself but just the shorter layer of the veil that falls over the bride’s face. You can wear it during the wedding procession but it is usually lifted up from the face during or after the ceremony.

Flyaway veil

Unique Wedding Veil This multi-layered veil falls just up to the shoulders to give an unobstructed view of the back of your gown. It is great when you want to show off the details behind your dress. It goes best with an ankle-length gown at a less formal wedding.

Fountain veil

This veil sits at the crown of the head and cascades around your face. It is usually shoulder or elbow length and complements a semi-formal gown.

Whatever kind of wedding veils you decide to have on your wedding, it will surely add more style and personality to your bridal look, as long as you choose wisely. So what is the best part about wearing a veil? Of course, it is the time when it will be lovingly flipped back by your groom, to share your first kiss as husband and wife.

Filed Under: Accessories, Tips & Ideas, Veils Tagged With: Bridal Veils, Wedding Veil

Unique Favor Boxes to Dress Your Reception Tables

June 6, 2010 By Nicole Leave a Comment

Wedding Favor Boxes Do you want something unique for the decoration of your reception? Look no further. What you are looking for may just come in the form of a little favor box that you might have otherwise overlooked.

Unique favor boxes make great adornment to dress up reception tables because they are stunning, affordable, practical, and very easy to use. They come in a wide variety of styles and motifs that will suit most types of wedding themes. They are also not that expensive, and in fact, you would be saving a lot because these items double as wedding favors.

You also won’t have any difficulty in decorating the reception tables with these decorative elements because all you have to do is to arrange them around the table centerpiece, and voila, you have put an extra wonderful touch to the table decoration. Alternatively, you can place them in a tiered stand and they can end up being the spectacular centerpiece.

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Do you want to know more about these fabulous favor boxes?

Here are few of the many options you may want to choose from:

1. Miniature Wooden Box with Lid – exclusive “Tree Design”

This wedding favor box, which comes with an exquisite tree design on its lid, is both eco-friendly and elegant. To add a special touch, you can keep a personal message for your guests inside the box, as well as some delectable treats or a memorable jewelry gift that would remind them of the wonderful event of your wedding day.

2. Miniature Beveled Mirror Box with Lid

Glamour and style can come in one small box such as this miniature beveled mirror box with lid. You can even have it personalized by sticking a personalized sticker on this magnificent favor box. You would really love this type of wedding favor class, as it can surely add class to your big day.

3. Miniature Travel Suitcase Container

Perfect for the travel aficionados, this type of favor box is a versatile miniature suitcase container that can carry anything from candies, small gifts, trinkets, beads, jewelry, bubble gums, shells, chocolates, and all sorts of little items. This is ideal for any type of wedding but is most suitable for destination weddings. Show your love for traveling with this type of wedding favor that would definitely be an eye-candy to most of your guests.

4. Mini Treasure Chest

Having a treasure island beach theme? If so, then there is no better favor box to give away and decorate your tables with than these beautiful mini treasure chests that come with rustic design, a miniature metal latch, a rugged map finish and is constructed with real wood. Inside you can put all sorts of treasures like coins, jewelry, and whatever little item you can think of.

5. Novelty Popcorn Cartons

Whether you are having a Hollywood glam type of wedding or you and your beau just cannot get enough of the flicks, you can use novelty popcorn cartons to add fun and whimsy to your special day. These old-fashioned popcorn boxes come with little rows or heart designs to add some romantic ambiance to your wedding day. You can even use funny and delightful stickers to add some personality to the carton box. You can use the “He popped the question” or “Topped with love” stickers.

Any guests would love these fantastic favor boxes. You and your future spouse would also delight in these wondrous favors boxes that are not only beautiful to use as decorative elements for the tables but are also very practical as they double as wedding favors.

Filed Under: Boxes Bags Holders, Tips & Ideas Tagged With: Unique Favor Boxes, Wedding favors

10 Best Ideas for Wedding Table Centerpieces

May 7, 2010 By Wendy Leave a Comment

centerpiece ideas Wedding table centerpieces are going beyond the basic floral arrangements. Interested in stepping out of that box? Take inspiration from these decorating trends:

1. Go natural

Create a tabletop botanical garden. Hit the local nursery or go online to purchase small potted plants, or if there is time to spare, seedlings. If want to showcase flowers, consider Gerber daisies, tulips, daffodils or orchids in terracotta pots. You can also take the green route with herbs and ferns. Cacti would be perfect for a Mexican or cowboy theme wedding. Another popular option is wheatgrass grown in flat, shallow boxes. The plus side to all this? The plants can double as wedding favors. Just leave a sign next to the centerpiece asking guests to “Please pick one”. Or incorporate a “For you” label on every pot.

2. Dazzle with lights

Make each table shine with a light fixture centerpiece. Use a structural shaded lamp surrounded with flowers at the base (to hide the cords) or centerpiece ideas 2 studded with blooms around the stem for added visual interest. Place metal-framed lanterns to create a rustic appeal. Or go ultrachic with square paper lanterns. Want something more high-tech? LED lights in water-filled vessels will do the trick.

3. Cast a glow

If your venue is dimly lit, a “candlescape” can imbue drama and enchantment to any dinner reception. Combine votives, pillars and tapers on a single table. Consider mounting them on top of a round mirror for a reflective light effect. You can also float candles on stemmed glasses of varying shapes and heights.

4. Submerge them flowers

Aiming for a serene but stunning look? Push in calla lilies or orchids in a tall-enough glass vessel so they appear submerged underwater. For a beach wedding, create an aquarium-like centerpiece by using a rectangular or bowl-shaped container with corals nestled onto a sand base. Budget-wise, this kind of display will cost you less because it requires fewer stems.

5. Break container conventions

Arrange flowers in martini glasses or soup bowls instead of traditional vases. Coffee pot creamers, sugar holders and teacups would be great for country weddings. Pails dressed up as planters suit outdoor receptions. Mix and Square Vase Centerpiece match the containers for aesthetic appeal. You can buy them at thrift stores, flea markets or garage sales.

6. Be Zen-inspired

If you’re a minimalist at heart, go with Zen-inspired centerpieces. One option is a willow or cherry blossom branch display. Leave the stems as is or spray-paint them in silver or gold. Embellish with beads, ribbons, or handmade paper birds and blooms. You may even ask guests to hang tags on which they have written down their well wishes. You can also incorporate bonsai trees, battery-powered water fountains, bamboo, origami creations and mini sandboxes.

7. Pick fruits

Try using fruits as the focal point of your table centerpiece. Their rich colors will surely make for vibrant displays. Lemons, limes or clementines packed in a glass vessel are wonderful for summer outdoor receptions. Clusters of apples, pears and gourds would work with autumn weddings, and pomegranates or cranberries at winter celebrations. To add height to arrangements, leave the fruits on their vines or branches.

8. Satisfy sweet cravings

Sweet treats add a fun and light touch to your table décor. To give guests something to munch on throughout the evening, fill in glassware with your candy of choice. Or create an edible topiary using round chocolate pieces. Another trend is to have cupcakes or smaller versions of the wedding cake arranged on a multi-tier serving tray.

9. Pile up gift boxes

To add a surprising element to your centerpiece, stack up gift boxes atop cake stands. Make sure to pick out boxes of different sizes and have them dressed up with ribbons or flowers. Fill in each with candy, soap, candle or any other goodies you want to give away at your wedding.

10. Create an activity area

If you want to see interaction within each table, consider items that guests can play with. Take your pick from board games, glass chess sets or colorful checkerboards. Surround these with glitter or confetti for a decorative touch. You can also have decks of cards and puzzles personalized with you and your husband-to-be’s photo.

Play with the decorations as much as you want to. Remember you can turn your table centerpiece spectacular and memorable with just a little creativity, resourcefulness and imagination.

Filed Under: Decorations, Tips & Ideas Tagged With: Best Ideas, Wedding Table Centerpieces

Wedding Favor Ideas for your Spring Wedding

February 22, 2010 By Stephanie Leave a Comment

Candle Wedding Favors What do people love about the spring? Is it the warm temperature, the fresh ambiance, the blossoming flowers, or the fact that so many couples tie the knot during this season? The answer may just be all of the above.

Spring weddings have always been a favorite of many couples and wedding experts. The vibrancy and freshness of the season is a great complement to the celebration of love and union. For couples getting married this spring, check out these wonderful wedding favor ideas that would surely make people feel that love has truly bloomed between the two of you.

Organza Drawstring Bags with Decorative Bow

One look at these favors and you would instantly say wow. The shimmer of the organza and the whimsy of the miniature drawstring pouches give a classic and yet fun look for the wedding favors. Inside, you can put in little treasures like candies, trinkets, beads, shells, flower petals, flower seeds, jewelry or any other small item that can really express your sincere gratitude to your guests. Guests would surely adore the fact that these items can be used even after the wedding, as these are both practical and fashionable.

Botanical Garden Votive Candle Holders

You can’t have a spring wedding without these beautiful pieces of botanical votive candle holders! These decorative glass holders come with visually appealing botanical design made extra special with the application of green flocking. They can be perfect as favor and decoration for a garden wedding or even an indoor celebration. They can be used to hold not only candles but other decorative elements like flowers as well. Be sure to add in a note that says, “Take me home” so guests would know that these decors are also wedding favors.

Hand Painted Butterflies

The intricacy and detail of these favors are the first things that would catch the guest’s attention. They can add color, appeal, and natural sophistication to your wedding favor. Not only that, you can also add them to the table decoration for a spectacular effect.

Miniature Metal Watering Cans

Fun and whimsical—these are what these galvanized miniature watering cans are all about. You can fill them up with flowers, gardening tools, foliage, or whatever element that can remind guests of your elegant and wonderful spring wedding celebration.

With these options in line, it may be easier for you to pick your choice. However, don’t be limited to these, as there are other more options to choose from. Be sure to incorporate your personal style, taste, and preference, and those of your beau’s when picking favors for your spring wedding.

It would also be a great idea to include different kinds of wedding favors and not to limit yourself in giving away only one type. For example, for the entourage, you can opt to hand out mini flower pots, for the little kids you can give away flower magnets, and for the family, you can give them hand painted butterfly boxes containing precious jewelry. Whatever way you go for, you can be sure that these gifts would be surely be loved and appreciated by your guests.

Filed Under: Tips & Ideas, Wedding Favours Tagged With: Botanical Garden Votive Candle Holders, Hand Painted Butterflies, Miniature Metal Watering Cans, Organza Drawstring Bags, spring wedding, Wedding Favor Ideas

50 Ideas to Consider when Shopping for Wedding Favors

February 10, 2010 By Stephanie Leave a Comment

Cheers To A Great Combination

Shopping is always a fun activity. However, if you are going to shop for your wedding, there is some additional pressure because you want to see to it that every item you buy would contribute to the success of the wedding. Even the wedding favors, you want to get the perfect ones. These 50 fabulous ideas will help you with this matter.

1. Choose favors that serve multiple purpose

Mini flower pots that double as table centerpiece are always a hit!

2. Why not do it yourself?

DIY favor projects give you the opportunity to express your talent and creativity. You get to save a lot of money too!

3. Yummy sweet treats for the sweet tooth

Who does not love chocolates and candy bars? For once, forget about your diet and celebrate with these delectable wedding favors!

4. Go wild with the favor boxes

Even the simplest kinds of wedding favors can be spiced up with the use of decorative favor boxes that are truly wonderful and adorable.

5. Save the earth!

Go for eco-friendly items such as the eco-friendly bamboo ballpoint pen with inscription, “Be green, just write,” eco folding multi-use tote made of natural cotton, and eco mini drawstring bag made of 100% organic cotton.

6. Soaps and bath salts, anyone?

Soaps and bath salts are great wedding favors because everyone takes a bath, right? Not to mention, these favors smell great too.

7. Intricate designs for visual appeal

The laser carved glass snowflake tea light holders creates a beautiful glow with its laser carved details

8. Practical and functional favors

Bottle openers, wine openers, tool kits—these are just few of the many items that can be used in people’s everyday lives.

9. Classic and timeless items

Photo frames and candles—these wedding favors never get old!

10. Theme, theme, and theme!

Nautical favors for a beach wedding, a fancy Cinderella wedding carriage candle for a fairy tale wedding. The important thing here is to match the theme of the event.

11. Personalize it

Give more meaning to the gift by scribbling some personal message.

12. Shop the cyber way

Shop online and get your hands on some of the most beautiful wedding favors ever created!

13. Miniature versions of everyday items

Miniature travel suitcase containers and miniature tote bags are great and cute wedding giveaways.

14. The bargain hunt

Shop at bargain or discount wedding stores to save money.

15. Who does not love love birds?

Give away mini love bird house as a way of saying thank you to guests.

16. Fancy playful items

Receiving mini slot machines would make you feel like you hit the jackpot!

17. Adorn the favor with special ribbons and bows

Use these items to make even the simplest wedding favors beautiful and elegant.

18. Musical CD collection

Buy blank CDs and then ask your techie brother to burn some music CDs for the favors

19. Go regional

Asian themed wedding favors would complement an Asian themed wedding event.

20. Some word of advice

Get ideas, tips and advice from family and friends

21. Something for luck

Horseshoes and miniature “good luck” wooden elephants would be appreciated by anyone who can use some extra luck.

22. Feed your fantasy

Fantasy favors perfect for a fairy tale themed wedding are great ideas too.

23. Beachy, beachy

Tropical flip flop candles and nautical sailboats are wonderful options even if you are not going to have a beach wedding.

24. Artsy and craftsy

Poster colors or mini craft punches—whatever your choice is, any artsy farsty would surely love these items.

25. Go creative with the favor cards

Match with the theme or make your own!

26. Personalized ribbons with an attitude

Use personalized ribbons to make the wedding favors more stunning.

27. Silver items for elegance

Silver-plated bottle or wine openers truly spell class and elegance.

28. Wines and spirits

Give away mini wine bottles.

29. Color code it!

Instead of giving away the same item for everyone, why not give away different kinds of wedding favors that carry the same color?

30. Customized candy bar wrappers

If you are going to give away chocolate bars, cover them up with fantastic custom covers.

31. Suitability

Choose appropriate wedding favors that are suitable for the theme of the wedding and the majority of the guests attending your event.

32. Soft and fluffy

Cotton items and mini pillows are soft, fluffy, and wonderful wedding favors

33. Child’s play

Give away mini children toys that any kid at heart would love and enjoy.

34. Garden items

Flower seed packets and garden tools are also excellent choices.

35. Romance is in the air

Give wedding favors that echo your love and devotion for each other.

36. Aromatherapy

Any guest would love a gift of aromatherapy candles, essential oils or incense.

37. A hole in one!

Golf related wedding favors are perfect for golf weddings and for golf fanatic couples.

38. Big and grand

Wedding favors are usually small items but if you want to make a statement, you can try going for medium or large sized wedding favors if you have enough budget for it.

39. Love quotes

Include some love quotes on the wedding favor.

40. Sticker happy

Instead of using favor tags, you can use stickers for the wedding favors.

41. Monogram glam

It has become a trend to include the couple’s initials in invites and wedding favors instead of their complete names.

42. Handmade paper

Go rustic by using handmade paper to wrap the favor, add pressed flowers and dried leaves for an added spectacular touch.

43. Rainbow colors

Choose wedding flavors that come in a myriad of bright colors so that they can also be used as decoration for the venue.

44. Clear glasses filled with trinkets

Fill up clear glasses or small vases with trinkets like candies, shells, crystals, or any other small items. Then wrap the clear glass with ribbon.

45. Ready, set, go!

Items for people who are always on the go are ideal in this modern fast paced society of today.

46. Go out of the box

Lollipops, mints, and salt and pepper jars are not typical wedding favors but guests would delight at the fun and novelty of these items.

47. Sew it

Buy wedding favors online and make it extra special by sewing a cloth packet as its container.

48. The font

Use stylized or handwritten fonts for the wedding favor cards.

49. Discount alert

Watch out for discount sales and get excellent deals from wedding favor suppliers.

50. Know who to trust

If buying online, make sure you go for a reliable and trustworthy store that can provide a secure system for online transactions, good quality products and excellent service.

Keep these tips and ideas in mind for a wonderful wedding favor shopping activity!

Filed Under: Tips & Ideas, Wedding Favours Tagged With: Bargain, Beach Wedding, Candles, candy bar wrappers, Destination Weddings, eco-friendly favors, favor boxes, Favor Cards, Golf, Ideas, Musical CD collection, Personalized Ribbons, Practical, Shopping, theme

50 Wedding Ideas For 2012

January 25, 2010 By Wendy Leave a Comment

Funny Couple At The Beach Are you going to have a wedding this 2012? If you are like most brides, you would probably be looking for new wedding trends as well as unique concepts and ideas to turn your big day into something that is out of the box. This list of 50 marvelous wedding ideas for 2012 would help you achieve that.

Wear a red wedding gown. Colored wedding gowns have become the latest trend in wedding fashion. It is bold, daring, and the perfect way to make a statement.
Have an intimate wedding affair. Invite only close family and friends. Nowadays, big extravagant weddings are not anymore expected or seen as practical.
Fly off to an exotic location to say your “I do.” Barbados, Bora-Bora, Phuket, Bali, or the Bahamas—take your pick!
Skip the veil and wear another kind of headpiece. Opt for a wide brimmed hat, a floral headwear, or a princess tiara.
Hold a fun lottery game during the reception.
Have a honeymoon registry. This can be used in lieu of the regular wedding registry.
Opt for a breakfast reception. This is something new, and something that would give your pockets a relief.
Give disposable cameras to family and friends so they can capture priceless candid moments during the event.
Sing while walking down the aisle. Who said that only the wedding singer could sing during this event?
Do something new with the wedding traditions. Instead of tossing the bouquet, why not have a “pass the bouquet” game for more fun and excitement?
Serve vegetarian dishes during the reception. Vegetarian dishes need not be exotic vegetable dishes that guests would not enjoy. You can serve delectable carrot cakes, stir-fried vegetables, green salad, artichokes, pasta with marinara sauce, and so many more.
Go green! Reduce consumption of energy by opting for a day time outdoor wedding and give away eco-favors like flower packet seeds and mini potted plants.
Wow the guests by having a unique entrance by riding a helicopter or a jet ski.
Hold the wedding at night. The night provides a romantic ambiance for your wedding ceremony.
Have a 1940’s or 1950’s wedding theme that would transport you back in time.
Choose an exotic venue. Not often do you see couples get married in a safari or on a mountain cliff.
Give souvenir invites. These are invitations and souvenirs rolled into one. Even if the guest would not be able to attend, he/she would still have something to remember your big day with.
Have a scrapbook guest book that you made yourself instead of the regular one.
Pass around a journal book in lieu of the guest book where guests can jot down their fondest memory of the bride and groom.
Decorate the whole wedding venue yourself with the help of your family and friends. DIY weddings are still very big this year.
Send e-vites instead of paper invitations to save paper, ink, and energy.
Make a musical video presentation to be played during the reception.
Decorate tables with centerpieces that can double as wedding favors. A tiered stand with mini potted plants is a good example.
Make a documentary film on your love story and play this during the reception program.
Hire a caricaturist to draw your guests. Sign the artwork and give this as a wedding favor.
Scribble personal notes on each of the wedding favors. The personal touch would make the favor more meaningful.
Have an assortment of cupcakes to stand in for the wedding cake.
Serve cocktails or finger foods during the reception. This is a delicious way to give your pockets a break.
Hire a face painter to paint your guests’ faces according to the theme.
Have a dessert or tea reception in the middle of the afternoon.
Invite your guests to a surprise wedding reception. This works great if you had a secret destination wedding.
Create a website for your wedding to keep family and friends updated regarding the wedding details.
Don’t keep the kids out. Weddings usually try to ban the kids. Make your event more youthful and fun by including the children.
Write an online blog where guests can keep track of planning and preparations for your wedding.
Use a cake topper with a funny twist.
Give away homemade cookies or cupcakes as favors.
Let the bridesmaids choose the style for their dress. As long as they keep up with the theme and color motif, it’s all good!
Say no to vanilla and chocolate. Choose a unique flavor for your wedding cake such as carrot, cranberry, or pumpkin.
Shop for wedding items online. This would save you time, energy, and money!
Wear a mini wedding dress. Super short dresses are making their way to wedding fashion this year.
Pick bright and vivid colors for your motif.
Hold the wedding ceremony in your own backyard or garden.
Enter the ceremony venue through a non-linear wedding aisle. It can be a circular aisle or a multiple-aisle.
Give out practical wedding favors and thank you gifts that the guests could actually use in their everyday lives.
Go for a rock and roll theme and hire rock bands to play during your wedding. This is perfect for a young couple with high spirits. Warn the elderly guests prior to the event.
Opt for balloon decorations in lieu of flower decors
Decorate the table with an edible centerpiece that guests can devour during or after the meal.
Sing your wedding vows.
Recite your wedding vows as poems.
Wear your hair down. Not only literally. Don’t stress yourself too much, let loose, enjoy, relax, and have a blast!

Having a wedding 2012 is all about elegance, simplicity, drama, fun, and unique ideas that would help make this event something that people would never forget. You do not have to do all the ideas mentioned in this article, but you would surely want to include a bit of these and then use the others as inspiration to come up with your own unique wedding ideas.

Filed Under: Interviews & Inspirations Tagged With: Ideas

Wedding Favor Guide for the Clueless Bride

January 25, 2010 By Wendy Leave a Comment

Beach Wedding Favors

Having a fancy wedding is what many brides dream of. But if you have ever helped plan a wedding, you know that you cannot have the perfect wedding day if you do not exert much effort and time into the planning and preparation. In fact, even the smallest details like the wedding favors require proper attention.

You cannot just say, “Oh, I don’t know anything about wedding favors, let us just skip that part.” Even the clueless bride needs to wield some extra effort to find out what she has to know in order to end up with the perfect tokens of appreciation. Fortunately, this guide will provide you most of what you need to know regarding this detail.

Wedding favor choices

Themed wedding favors – Themed wedding favors are very popular these days. Going for this type of favor is easy because you can easily narrow down your choices according to what is relevant to the theme of your wedding. One good example of these are beach favors, which are perfect for weddings held at the beach or indoor weddings that have beach themes (nautical, tropical, Hawaiian, and so on.) You would not need to look at other themed favors anymore and thus, save you time and energy.

DIY projects – These favors are ideal for the crafty bride who wants to make personalized gifts for the guests, showcase her craftiness, and/or save some money on the wedding budget. DIY projects, which may include scented soaps, candles, beaded accessories, music CDs, and hand painted boxes, are beautiful, creative, unique, and very cheap!

Edible sweet treats – Edible goodies such as chocolate bars, candies, brownies, cupcakes, and so on are great for satisfying the guest’s sweet tooth. Just make sure that you wrap these treats in personalized or customized cover or packaging, which the guests can keep these as souvenir after eating up the edible wedding favor.

Eco-friendly giveaways – In the desire to help the environment, some wedding experts have started the fad of giving away eco-friendly favors such as seed packets, gardening tools, mini potted plants, and anything that has to do with going green.

Some Tips on Choosing Wedding Favors

Shop around so you can compare products, prices, and services of different stores.

Buy online. The Internet market is always bustling with good discount deals on products such as wedding favors.

Choose an online store that has a safe and efficient system for credit card transactions.

Consult your future spouse about this matter. Let him have a say on what wedding favours to give away to the guests.

If you are going for the DIY projects, see to it that you still have the time to finish the wedding favors. It would also be best to round up some of your family and friends to help you out on these.

Even if you are clueless about table guest gifts, you can easily learn so many things about them by researching and asking around. Remember, even though favors are just a small part of the wedding, they are still very important.

Filed Under: Reception & Ceremony, Themes, Wedding Favours Tagged With: bride, themed, wedding favor guide

12 Essential Items for Your Honeymoon

January 15, 2010 By Nicole Leave a Comment

The wedding is over but your life together has just begun. But before you go back to life’s reality, you are still entitled to a romantic getaway, also known as the “honeymoon” where you can have fun, relax, and enjoy yourselves. To help make your honeymoon a perfect one, here are 12 essential items to keep in mind.

Perfect destination – A perfect honeymoon needs a perfect destination. Take your pick among the top honeymoon destinations all over the world: Aruba, Barbados, France, Italy, Thailand, Seychelles, Mauritius, Bahamas, Bora Bora, Hawaii, and so many more. Choose according to your preferences and budget.
Trip itinerary – A trip calls for some planning and it is not any different with honeymoons. Even if you want to simply “go with the flow,” you may still need to organize some things like hotel bookings, vehicle rentals, and so on.
Guidebook and Map – A guidebook can let in you some secrets of the place you choose to head off. It would be great to know where the best attractions are, where the best cuisines are located, and how to speak some local words (if you are in a foreign land). A good old map helps you find your way.
Travel documents – You literally cannot leave home without these: airline tickets, passport, visa, identification cards, and vaccination certificates (where applicable).
Money, money, money – Take a sufficient amount of cash but bring also with you credit cards and traveler’s checks. You do not want to be stuck in a foreign place with no money, right?
Clothes and personal items – Packing clothes and personal items can be quite tricky. Bring a lot and you will exceed allowed weight for luggage. Bring a little and you will find yourself at loss for clothes by the middle of the vacation. Making a packing checklist will help prevent these scenarios. Bring only the basics. Bring travel-sized items to save space. Some items that should be on your list include clothes, shoes, toothbrush, deodorant, cosmetics, toothpaste, comb, razors, and so on.
In case of emergency – Prescription medicines (in original bottles), phone numbers of doctors, medical insurance, insect repellent, sunscreen, band-aids, aspirin, antacid, antihistamine, diarrhea medicine, motion sickness medicine are just some of the things that should be found in your first aid kit.
For keepsakes – Make sure you have every memory etched by bringing a reliable digital still camera (for endless shots) and a video camera. Do not forget to bring spare batteries and/or a battery charger.
Things to leave behind – Before you leave the house, leave these items to family and friends: your itinerary and hotel phone numbers, photocopies of passport, credit cards, and traveler’s check receipts, sealed copy of wills, life insurance policy numbers, and important financial information.
Electronics/gadgets – Some of the things you need include cellular phone, GPS, MP3 player, and electrical converter/adapter.
Useful items – You may also find it handy to have items like a Swiss army knife, compact umbrella, rain poncho, and a small backpack.
Romantic stuff – Of course, do not forget the romantic items that would make this honeymoon trip unforgettable. Bring some scented candles, massage kit, sexy lingerie, romantic tunes, and romantic DVDs.

This trip is something that you would remember for the rest of your lives. After all, this is your first trip together as husband and wife. Make sure that everything goes smoothly by ensuring all these honeymoon accessories are well taken care of.

Filed Under: Honeymoon, Interviews & Inspirations Tagged With: destinations, essential items, honeymoon accessories

Setting a Wedding Budget Is Great Practice for Your future Married Life

December 20, 2009 By Stephanie Leave a Comment

dreamstime_4269271 Setting a wedding budget is a great way to start your lives together. You should both be part of setting up finances and the choices involved. By having a plan, you won’t exceed your financial means while including all the elements you really want for your special day.

Decide who will pay for the wedding. In days gone by, the parents of the bride and the bride paid. Today, brides sometimes pay themselves but often the bride-to-be and her fiancée share the expenses. The groom’s family traditionally pays for the rehearsal dinner and part of the honeymoon but may choose to offer additional financial support. Be upfront with your parents and find out how much they are willing to contribute. Gently let them know you will be making the final decisions about your wedding and be prepared to pay for your day yourselves if strings are attached to money offered by your families.

dreamstime_2377669 Once you know who will pay for the wedding, determine the funds available to cover the costs. Write down this figure and develop your wedding day around your budget. Discuss your dreams, themes and ideas then work within your designated budget to make them happen. The longer you have, the more bargains you will be able to find. Planning a last minute wedding often incurs larger expenses because you simply don’t have time to shop around.

Maintain a wedding binder to write down expenses and keep receipts. Use receipts as proof deposits were paid and to keep track of ongoing expenses. You can also keep on online ledger and comparison sheets on a computer program such as Excel. Compare vendors and maintain a record of what you’ve paid out for your wedding on the computer if it’s easier for you. Have a folder for physical receipts and store it in a safe place.

Get price quotes from vendors. There are several vendors that are likely to be part of your wedding day including a florist, caterer, photographer, music, entertainment and limousine driver. Find out if the vendor has a minimum charge and the estimated cost for your event. Keep the quotes organized in a folder or binder so you can easily refer to them when making your final decision. Shop around for wedding rings, a bridal gown, bridesmaid gowns and tuxedos.

dreamstime_4153496 Decide your guest list so you know how many people to budget for. If you want a large wedding, you may have to choose a buffet over a four-course meal. On the other hand, you may decide to have fewer guests and have the lavish dinner. Remember the number of guests also impacts the number of invitations, thank you cards and wedding favors.

It’s your wedding day and you should both be able to have it your way. Discuss your priorities so you can make sure they are covered as you are setting a wedding budget. Review your purchases and decide what is most important. Consider the lasting moments of your wedding that will be with you long after the party ends, such as your wedding rings and photographs. You made decide to spend a bit more on these items and make your own wedding invitations and centerpieces. Avoid trying to keep up with friends or family and make decisions based on your own finances and preferences.

dreamstime_5419071 Don’t be embarrassed to ask for referrals from friends or family. Often people are willing to recommend someone they had a great experience with and you may enjoy a discount. Sometimes people have friends or family who are willing to offer their services for less. Even when you deal with vendors you don’t know, barter to get the best deal.

Setting a wedding budget also ensures you are not interfering with your long-term financial goals as a couple. If you max out your credit cards before you even get married, you are already starting with money stresses. Plan a realistic wedding in accordance with your financial circumstances. This type of organization and discipline will help you plan for a house and family in the future.

Remember, setting up a financial plan gives you the experience to handle the larger financial situations awaiting you as a married couple.

Filed Under: Planning Tagged With: plan, wedding budget

Wedding Planning Membership Site Opens Its Door!

November 5, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Canadian brides, for the first time in internet history, can do all of their wedding planning online with certified wedding planners guiding their every step. No longer do modern brides have to search around outdated websites for out-of-date wedding information. The first wedding planning membership site in North America, TheBridalCoach.ca opens its door on November 10th, 2009, combining cutting edge technology with experience and expertise of certified wedding planners.

(PRWEB) November 5, 2009 — The old paradigm is still alive and well on the internet. Bride’s are going online to search for information to help them plan their wedding. What they find is outdated wedding planning checklists, vague promises of wedding solution ebooks, online wedding magazines full of beautiful wedding gown pictures, forums where they can get answers from other brides, and funny YouTube entrance dance wedding videos. But none of this gets them any closer to planning their wedding—mostly it gets them more confused and plants the seeds for bridezillas to emerge.

Angela Fiebelkorn states that the membership site offers a unique combination of cutting edge technology and years of wedding planning expertise.

TheBridalCoach.ca is opening its door as a response to this disfunctionality in the online wedding market. It is the first and only wedding planning membership site in North America. Their stated mission is to provide the modern bride and groom one place on the internet to find everything they need to plan their wedding the right way, in a timely manner, with the least effort and from the comfort of their home. This entrepreneurial group of wedding planners is launching its membership site on November 10, 2009, just at the beginning of the wedding planning season for most brides and grooms.

Read the rest of the press release about the wedding planning membership site.

Filed Under: Weddings Canada

The Smart Way To Plan Your Wedding

October 27, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Here Is A Brief Summary Of All The Benefits That Await You Inside TheBridalCoach.ca

This one-of-a-kind Wedding Planning and Coaching Membership site (www.thebridalcoach.ca) is all about you and your perfect wedding. Everything here will support your dream and help you to really get there. Our team of virtual wedding planners is committed to provide you with what you need every step of the way, with your vision, with your theme, how to get things done, how to deal with your relatives and friends, and so much more. You have everything in one place and you can do it all from the comfort of your home.

Click Here to Learn More!

We will keep you up-to-date with newest wedding trends through our weekly webinars, and we connect you through our members’ forum with other brides and wedding planners so you aren’t doing this alone. The wedding planning checklists accompanied by how-to videos will get you organized, which in turn reduces all the stress brides report when planning their wedding. You will be confident that you will have done everything on-time and in the most creative way, and best of all, the money you spend for our membership site will be put back into your pocket many times over by following our time-proven money saving tips with vendors.

Click Here to Learn More!

Here is what you will receive when you order a membership with TheBridalCoach.ca TODAY!

Time-proven wedding planning checklists

The first cluster of information in the members only area called Start Here explains through text, videos, and checklists the following: engagment, wedding vision, wedding budget, legal stuff, reception site, ceremony site, photographer, videographer, bridal party, wedding gown and encore weddings.

Comprehensive wedding planning videos covering every aspect of your wedding

The second cluster Build On It includes bridal party attire, honeymoon, stationary, guest list, florist, wedding cake, personal grooming, bridal registries, ceremony musicians, reception musicians, wedding rings, and bridal suite.

Daily answers to your questions by our wedding planners in the members’ forum

The third cluster called Finalize explains through text, videos, and checklists the following: transportation, reception and catering, ceremony and vows, rental items, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, parties, guest accommodation, finalize contracts, and spousal gifts.

Weekly webinars with the latest trends, ideas, and information

Virtual wedding planners in the forums and on the weekly coaching calls

Almost There is the 4th cluster of modules where you will be guided through topics like wedding invitations, decorations, wedding favours, itineraries, music selection, toast to parents, wedding announcements, thank you gifts, more legal stuff and attire tryouts.

Wedding planning timeline to keep you on-track

Money saving video series for every part of your wedding—gowns, caterer, flowers, musicians, wedding favors, and much more

The final cluster is called Countdown and that’s where we coach you through topics like seating plan, task assignments, bridesmaids’ luncheon, groomsmen outing, vendor payments, wedding day kit, rehearsal, decorating, and final confirmations.

Click Here to Learn More!

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Filed Under: Launch Tagged With: Planning

BBQ Wedding Reception Ideas You Never Thought About

October 16, 2009 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

BBQ SERVED

Barbecue wedding reception—just the sound of it can make your mouth water. If you think about the delectable barbecue choices that you have, you would instantly get hungry. This kind of reception which is suitable for outdoor and beach weddings can surely be a hit. And with so many flavorful options that you have, you would not have a difficult time choosing what kinds of barbecues to serve to your guests.

Here are some excellent suggestions on tasty barbecues to serve on your wedding reception:

Amazing Skirt Steaks

Skirt steaks are the perfect option for a wedding barbecue. Other cuts of tender steak such as New York, Porterhouse, Rib Eye or Filet Mignon can be very expensive and thick (and are therefore more difficult to cook), skirt steaks on the other hand are inexpensive and they come in just the right thickness that can be cooked for a very short time. You can marinate this in a sweet spicy barbecue sauce overnight or for several days so that the taste will be absorbed by the meat.

Tangy Korean Style Beef Barbecue

This type of barbecue consists of thinly sliced beef marinated in a sweet Korean marinade and grilled perfectly. You can also choose whatever cut of beef you like but the recommended cut is sirloin or anything similar. Aside from beef, you can also go for chicken or pork if you are not much of a beef fan. This barbecue is ideal to serve with rice.

Zesty Chicken Breast Tenderloins in Teriyaki Sauce

For chicken lovers, teriyaki chicken breast tenderloins can be a nice addition to the wedding barbecue menu. Just like with the steak, you have to marinate them in teriyaki sauce the night before. Alternatively, you can use chicken strips and use other kinds of marinade like garlic and herb with lemon, garlic ranch with rosemary, or orange marmalade.

INDIAN CHICKEN TIKKA KEBABS

Heavy-on-the-Appetite Sausages

Since there are so many sausages to choose from, it will not be too difficult to make a choice. Cervelat sausages, Italian sausages, Hungarian sausages, and Andouille sausages are just few of the many options you have for this kind of barbecue. Butcher-made sausages can be a wonderful selection because these are smaller in size and are easier to cook.

Mediterranean Chicken Kebabs

A popular Mediterranean dish, Kebabs are meat marinated with a blend of herbs and spices grilled on skewers with vegetables like bell peppers, cucumbers, and onions. Chicken is one of the most popular options for kebab but you can also make use of beef or seafood.

Other Barbecue Options

Pork tenderloin, beef spare ribs, lamb chops, pork and cider sausages, beef burgers, chicken thighs, and vegetable skewers are other barbecue options you can serve for your wedding reception. As for side dish suggestions, you can serve coleslaw, tossed green salad, baked baby potatoes, corn on the cob, grilled mixed vegetables, tomato salsa, grilled endive, rice, pasta with herb oil, tomato and red onion salad, and freshly baked bread.

Barbecue is great for all types of occasions. Weddings can also be a nice event where you can serve scrumptious barbecues. Just make sure that you choose those that would be suitable for the theme of the event and that would be a hit to your guests.

Skirt Steaks

Filed Under: Interviews & Inspirations, Weddings Canada Tagged With: BBQ Wedding Reception Ideas, Chicken Breast Tenderloins in Teriyaki Sauce, Chicken Kebabs, Korean Style Beef Barbecue, Skirt Steaks

Get Inspired with Humorous Wedding Gift Ideas

October 6, 2009 By Wendy Leave a Comment

Comical Bridal Hats

When you got married, you and your spouse received two dozens of china sets, ten pieces of bath towels (all with your names printed on them), and countless kitchen utensils that you were hardly able to use. You did not know what to do with all those same gifts. You wish you took your friend’s advice and signed up for a bridal registry.

Oh well, it is too late to regret about this at this point. The best thing you can do is to learn from that mistake. But since you do not have plans of getting married again (you are happily living with your spouse), you just plan to apply what you have learned from that event in the future weddings that you are going to attend. You vow never again to give a typical gift that the couple would just toss into oblivion because they have gotten the same kind for the nth time.

Buying humorous gifts is one way to ensure that you give the couple something unique and distinct. The couple will also surely appreciate your attempt to make them laugh. Here are some ideas on funny wedding gifts for you to consider:

Jewelry Gifts with Funny Engraving

Bequeath the newlyweds with fine silver, gold, platinum, or titanium jewelry. It can be a matching bracelet or necklace. Make the gift unique by having the jeweler engrave funny quotes about marriage such as “Marriage is like a bed of roses but with no petals, only thorns!” or comical greetings like, “Congratulations! (You don’t know what you’re getting into!)” Alternatively, you can purchase a pair of photograph locket necklace but instead of putting the couple’s pictures in it, it would be funnier to have their caricatures.

China Sets and Place Settings in Weird Shapes

Who said china sets have to be so common? The couple will surely love the whimsical set of china and place settings in unusual shapes and styles. They will have a fun time eating and dining with the use of these things. Plates that come in colorful designs and heart shapes are some of the many options you have with this kind of gift idea.

Matching Shirts with Comical Designs and Texts

If you are close to the couple and you know they would take it lightheartedly, you can give them a funny shirt with designs like a ball and chain couple or a shotgun wedding. But if you are not that close to them, stick to other kinds of funny items so that you do not risk offending them. Some funny texts on bride shirts can read, “Bridezilla No More,” while the groom’s shirt can have something like, “Wedding Survivor (Survived the Stress and Expenses!).”

Honeymoon Gift with a Laugh Twist

Honeymoons are always about romance but nobody said it could not be about fun and laughter too! Present the couple with a pair of tickets to a hilarious movie, preferably a romance comedy or passes to a stand-up comedy bar.

Whimsical Cake Toppers

Giving this gift before the wedding day is a good idea so that the couple can use it for their wedding cake. Cake toppers of a ball and chain groom or a bride that went out for shopping are just few of the many choices you have that can surely make the couple laugh out loud.

When shopping for this kind of gift, just make sure that you know the personality and taste of the couple so you can find something that would be suitable for them and something that they would not find offensive. Have fun in your wedding gift shopping activity!

Filed Under: Gifts, Interviews & Inspirations Tagged With: Cake Toppers, comical, Honeymoon Gift, humourous, inspirations, Wedding Gift Ideas

Real wedding: Lianne + Jeong

October 2, 2009 By Stephanie Leave a Comment

RSS news source: 100layercake.com

Another adorable wedding today! Major DIY explosion courtesy of Lianne, the lovely bride, and sent to us by the excellent photographer team Janet & Lisa of JL Photografia.

There’s not a ton of explaining to do here. Just know that Lianne had her hand in every single detail of her wedding. She worked really closely with Marky from Vingette to create the vision she had for a vintage ranch wedding.

She even made all the wooden signs, baked all the cookies and cupcakes, made the jams, collected the wood and vintage fabrics herself… pretty much just went to town in the DIY department.

And here’s a super sweet part of the story: Lianne’s dress is vintage and Jeong is the one who actually won it for her on ebay. Awwww. See, it’s okay if groomy sees the dress before the big day! Whatever works for you is perfect.

These invites = delicious. Sooooo cute. Lianne worked with her friend Erin of Indigo Bunting to design and print them. Awesome work girls!

(cute fabric by Sandi Henderson of Portabellopixie. Thanks for stopping by Sandi!)

Photography: JL Photografia (tons more photos here!)

Venue: Radonich Ranch, Los Gatos CA

Planning & event design: Vignette and Lianne

Invites & paper: Lianne and Erin of Indigo Bunting

Flowers: Jeong’s mom

Wedding dress: Vintage

Reception dress: Jcrew

Suit: Jcrew

Filed Under: Wedding Posts Tagged With: real wedding

Sexy Red Wedding Decoration Ideas

October 2, 2009 By Harmony Leave a Comment

Red Wedding Theme

Red is the color of love. It also represents passion and devotion. Because of the meanings it stands for, red is a terrific color to use for weddings. If you are thinking of having red as a color theme for your wedding, you have made the right choice. This color can turn your wedding into a fantastic, sizzling, and sexy special day that your guests would surely remember for a lifetime. To help you with the decorating aspect of the wedding planning, here are some fabulous red wedding decoration ideas.

Red roses and flowers

Roses are red, violets are blue, what’s a red wedding without red roses for you! Red roses are surely a staple for most red themed weddings and for a good reason. These are the ultimate symbols of love and passion and can surely complete the wedding occasion.

Arrange red roses in bouquets, tie with a satin red ribbon, and use them to decorate the place. You can also use these blooms in combination with other kinds of flowers such as calla lilies, alstroemeria, hypericum berries, Gerbera daisies, tulips, or carnation for a more beautiful and elaborate floral arrangements that can be used to adorn pews, buffet tables, or pillars in the wedding venue.

Heart-shaped balloons

Heart-shaped balloons in colors red and white can be used to decorate the entire wedding venue. They can fill up the ceiling, adorn the couple’s gazebo, or clustered as a pillar arrangement. Heart shaped balloons can also be used as a less expensive alternative to flower decorations for the buffet table and the couple’s table.

Red organza for the chairs

Cover chairs with white or gold cloth and then tie them with red organza for a spectacular visual effect. Alternatively, you can cover the chair with a red cloth, tie it with a wide white organza ribbon, make it into a bow and then insert red roses within the bow for the final touch.

Red napkins on white linens

A striking combination for the table decoration would be to cover up the table with a crisp white tablecloth and top them with nice red napkins. Scatter rose petals all over the white tablecloth for an eye-catching contrast.

Red table centerpiece

Aside from the table napkins and linens, you also have to think about the table centerpiece, which will serve as the focal point of the table decoration. Red crystal or glass vases are excellent to use for your red bouquet centerpiece. You also have the option to make use of a set of red pillar or votive candles placed on a mirror base, adorned with white and red rose petals or crystals. White floating candles on a wide clear vase with red-colored water is another great choice for a marvelous red centerpiece.

Wedding favors

Red boxes of chocolate candies, fudge cake wrapped in red cellophane and tied with red satin ribbons, and the whimsical gumball machine in traditional red are just some of the many options on wedding favors that can double as decoration for the reception.

Red weddings can surely captivate people’s hearts. It is a bold, alluring, and passionate color that resonates the couple’s fiery love for each other. Have fun on your red wedding!

Filed Under: Decor, Decorations, Reception & Ceremony, Red Wedding Themes, Themes, Weddings Canada Tagged With: Heart-shaped balloons, Red napkins on white linens, Red organza for the chairs, Red roses and flowers, Red table centerpiece, Wedding favors

How to Plan the Perfect Garden Wedding

October 1, 2009 By Wendy Leave a Comment

Garden Wedding

Tying the knot with your beloved in a garden setting is what you have always dreamed of and now that the time has come, you cannot contain your joy because your spouse-to-be shares the same sentiment.

Having a garden wedding has various perks. For one, there are so many venue options such as city, state, or town parks, summer camps, horticultural facilities, arboretums, your own yard, or the yard of family, relatives or friends.

Aside from that, the beauty of nature and the natural wonderful breeze make a very fresh and cool ambiance for the wedding. Of course, there are also some disadvantages like having to rent additional equipment (tent, chairs, tables, etc) and some difficulties such as bugs, bees, rain, windy conditions, logistics, electricity, and so on.

Even though there are some disadvantages, you do not mind. After all, you and your partner both agree that the pros certainly outweigh the cons. To help you plan a perfect garden wedding, here is a practical guide on different aspects of this kind of wedding that you need to take care of:

Venue

When picking a venue, it would be a good idea to hold your wedding in a place where a wedding has been held before. This would make it easier for you in terms of logistics planning. See if there are electrical sockets or extensions available, and places where you can set up the decoration.

If you are going to hold the wedding in your yard or that of someone you know, make sure the space is large enough to accommodate all your guests. It is also a good idea to rent a tent for the venue even though you do not think it is going to rain since you can never really predict the weather and that even if it does not rain, the tent can be a good cover from the heat of the sun.

Couple In Garden

For your garden wedding, the basic equipment you will need include tent, tables, chairs, altar, sound system, and bathroom facilities. Arbors, arches, gazebos, and plant hangers are also necessary for decoration purposes. Most of these things can be rented, even the portable toilet. The portable toilet can be optional if the reception would be held somewhere else or if there is a bathroom available nearby.

Flowers

Holding your garden wedding means you do not have to worry about flowers anymore, right? Not necessarily. Even though the garden will naturally be filled with beautiful and fragrant flowers, you still have to think about the flowers that you will use for the table centerpiece or the altar decoration. It is very important to ask a florist what kinds of flowers will stay fresh the whole day even when exposed to sunlight.

Invitations

Be sure to inform guests that your wedding is going to be held outdoors so that your guests would know what to expect. Having a garden wedding means you can have a less formal invitation so be a little playful with the invitation and do not make it look too uptight. An invitation printed on a handmade paper with pressed flowers and raffia ribbon is ideal.

Wedding favors

As for the wedding favors, give guests something that would commemorate your outdoor wedding. For example, votive candles, bags of dried flowers, hand painted terracotta pots and packets of flower seeds are just few of the many great ideas for wedding favors.

Wedding Cake

Choose a wedding cake that will not easily melt under warm conditions. A cake with fondant icing may be your better option than a cake with butter cream icing. Another choice for you to consider is the wedding cupcake tower, which is just as nice and stunning but not as expensive.

Food and Drinks

For a garden wedding, buffet-style is more appropriate than a formal sit-down dinner. Grilled dishes are especially a hit for outdoor weddings. Not only are they sumptuous and tasty, they are also easy to cook and affordable. Drinks such as lemonade, sweet tea or punch can be placed in clear glass jugs.

Decoration

Decorate the trees with lights, tulle, ribbon, and some flowers. Do the same thing for the trellis, arbor, arch or the gazebo. Add some balloons with the same color as the wedding motif for a fun whimsical effect. Line up the aisle with candles placed inside paper bags. You will be surprised at how nice the effect of this would be especially for an outdoor wedding held at night.

Garden weddings are truly exquisite and beautiful. Make sure you follow all these tips but at the same time enjoy planning the event. Have fun!

Filed Under: Garden Theme, Reception & Ceremony, Wedding Theme Collections by Weddingstar, Weddings Canada Tagged With: Decoration, Equipment, Flowers, Food and Drinks, garden weddings, Invitations, Venue, Wedding Cake, Wedding favors

How Do I Include A Deceased Parent in The Wedding? – Ask The Expert Answer

September 30, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Ryan:

Hi. My mother died last year, and I want to include her in the wedding somehow. Is there a proper way to do this?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Ryan, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Many individuals want to put their deceased parent on the wedding invitation, but the wedding invitation is specifically for who hosts the wedding.

There are a number of ways to include your mother in the wedding, and the ceremony is the best place to do this. You can mention her in the program by writing a short tribute. You can light a memorial candle during the ceremony, and have the officiant read her tribute while it is being lit.

Another option would be to place a flower on the chair next to your father at the ceremony. You can also acknowledge her at the reception and toast her, or you can come up with your own unique ideas based on her personality.

The point to remember is that this is a wedding, and you don’t want to take away from the joyfulness of the event, but you do want to acknowledge her because she was a big part of your life. The right balance needs to be struck. Your officiant might have further ideas in how to give tribute to your mother.

Congratulations on your wedding!

Angela Fiebelkorn, certified wedding planner

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Candles, Ceremony, Supplies, Unity Ceremonies, Wedding Posts Tagged With: memorial candle

Real Wedding: Laura + Bobby

September 29, 2009 By Stephanie Leave a Comment

RSS news source: http://100layercake.com/blog

Courtney of Flush Designs and Erin Hearts Court (trés talented, no??) sent us this really sweet Maine wedding with a super wedding day story attached. First, the wedding is super cute and full of delicious details so we’re excited to post it anyway. But you know how we love a good story.

It absolutely poured rain on the day of the wedding. It was so soggy that the couple and EHC decided to take all of their portrait photos the next day, in the pretty post storm light. Flexibility and staying relaxed is so key for a successful wedding!

Luckily the family had rented a HUGE house in Cape Porpoise Kennebunkport, so with a little help from everyone, the beach ceremony was moved inside. They moved around all the furniture in the living room to make room for a ceremony, strung up a few key pieces of decor, and just went with the flow.

As it turned out, holding the ceremony in an intimate space was incredibly special and made for an even more beautiful little ceremony. Even Court sobbed her way through their vows, making it pretty hard to take pictures. But that’s why there are two of them! (Erin being less of a softy, apparently). Had their ceremony been out on the beach as planned, it certainly would have been lovely, but the guests would have missed the sentiment and the reading of Laura and Bobby’s own, perfect vows in favor of the crashing waves. And plus, isn’t there something so romantic about a rainy day?

And luckily the reception was tented so plans for dinner could continue on.

Good details, no? Laura’s sister made the river rock escort cards. So cute. And Courtney did the flowers, picking 85% from local wildflower patches and supplementing with a delivery from a local farmer.

For dinner they served a traditional lobster bake along with Maine whoopie pies. It’s so fun to plan an event in line with the local fare. It makes the entire party feel like it has a cohesive theme without any extra effort.

Bubbles! And the party went late. The caterers left. The tent was semi trashed.

But the party was good. Like really good.

Courtney, thanks so much for sharing everything with us! Awesome work, and great story. You can see TONS more photos on the EHC blog.

Photography: Erin Hearts Court

Venue: Hidden Haven House, for info contact the Cape Porpoise Motel

Bouquet and bouts: Blooms & Heirlooms

Reception flowers and decor: Flush Designs

Catering: Old Fashioned Lobster Bake & BBQ Co.

Invites: Flush Designs

Dress: Demetrios

Suit: Banana Republic

Cakes and whoopie pies: Cranberry Island Kitchen

Filed Under: Wedding Posts Tagged With: real weddings

When Do I Send Thank You Notes? – Ask The Expert Answer

September 29, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Lily:

Hi, I am getting married in about a month, but am already receiving wedding gifts. When should I send out the Thank You notes.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Lily, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. It is proper etiquette to send wedding gifts to the bride’s home before the wedding, although bringing the gift to the wedding is also acceptable.

Thank you notes should be sent as soon as possible after a gift has been received. So, the gifts you are receiving now, can have the thank you note written and sent right away. After the wedding, you will have your honeymoon, so late arriving gifts will have the thank you notes sent later. The rule of thumb is to send out thank you cards within one month after returning from your honeymoon. It is never too late to send a thank you note, and they must be sent no matter how long it takes for you to write them out.

It is very common to share this task with your spouse, so writing a few thank you notes each day together is the way to do it.

Good luck, and congratulations!

Angela Fiebelkorn, certified wedding planner

Filed Under: Invitations, Invitations Tagged With: Gifts, thank you notes

What Is The Guest Etiquette for A Same Sex Wedding – Ask The Expert Answer

September 28, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Carol:

Hi, I’ve been invited to a same-sex wedding, and I am wondering if there is anything I should expect that is different from a regular wedding?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Carol. Guest etiquette is the same for both traditional weddings, and same-sex weddings.

Sometimes, guest who are invited are opposed to a same-sex marriage, or may feel uncomfortable attending. If this is the the case, it is best to just decline the wedding invitation graciously without excuses. Whether you attend or not, if you received a wedding invitation, you are obliged to send a wedding gift. Wedding gifts are usually sent to the couple in the weeks before the wedding day.

Your attire as a guest should reflect the formality of the wedding, and the time of day in which it is held—the same as a traditional wedding.

Sometimes, at a same-sex wedding, the wedding couple do not have a receiving line. If this is the case, be sure to extend your best wishes to both the couple and their families at some point during the reception.

The basic etiquette at all weddings include:

being respectful at the ceremony by not interrupting through use of flash cameras
turning off all pagers and cell phones
being respectful of religious traditions that are not your own (stand when others stand, sit when others sit; you are not required to kneel or recite prayers that are not your own beliefs)
not bringing a surprise guest (your invitation will state who is invited to the wedding—you and a guest/spouse/partner, or just you)
don’t monopolize the couple in the receiving line or during the wedding—they have a lot of guests to talk to
don’t alter place cards or switch tables if seating is assigned
be sociable with others at the wedding ceremony and reception
dance when asked to dance, and if required, offer assistance to the elderly and infirm
do not ask for a ‘doggie bag’ to take food home
do not take centerpieces, or flowers at the end of the ceremony (the couple may have made arrangements for them)

Overall, wedding behaviour and etiquette is the same no matter whether what kind of wedding you are invited to. If you have further questions feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, certified wedding planner

Filed Under: Ask The Expert

An elegantly unique wedding invitation poster

September 27, 2009 By Stephanie Leave a Comment

Amanda found this invite while snooping around the I Am Always Hungry site last week. We were like, WHOA. WIth a little investigation we found that the project is an insanely talented collaboration between Ness of IAAH, Lisa of Birdie Birdie and Anthony of Battery.

The invite was enclosed in self-folding envelope which opened up to a 9? x 18? poster. So awesome. You can read Lisa’s description on her blog, but just to give you a taste, she created custom patterns and typography for the project.

100lc_invite11

100lc_invite2

100lc_invite31

100lc_invite4

Isn’t it perrrty? This invite team is most definitely available to do custom invites so if you’re looking for something unique and completely beautiful, you might want to suss them out.

RSS news source: http://100layercake.com/blog/archives/2542

Filed Under: Invitations, Wedding Posts Tagged With: Invitations, poster

Monica & Tony’s historic village garden & carousel wedding

September 27, 2009 By Stephanie Leave a Comment

The Offbeat Bride: Monica, Market Information Administrator (and OBT member “Monk”)

Her Offbeat Partner: Tony, Night Auditor

Location & date of wedding: Faust Park, Chesterfield MO, the historic village garden & carousel — 8/30/08

What made our wedding offbeat: We made decisions based on what we wanted to do rather than what we were supposed to do, which in this day is a total bucking of tradition! Based on that idea, every aspect of our wedding was carefully thought out.

The most obvious offbeat aspect of our wedding was that the reception was held in a historic carousel, but there were a lot of little ways the day was a reflection of ourselves. If we didn’t want it we didn’t do it. So no dollar dance, flower girl, garter toss, etc. We created our own ceremony by looking at five or six different ones, cutting out the stuff we liked and putting it together. I switched to Chucks for the less formal parts of the day. We had a small parade to the reception lead by a guitarist playing The Darkness’ “Do You Believe In A Thing Called Love”.

Our biggest challenge: Finding a middle ground that our families would be comfortable in. The groom’s family was more familiar with simple ceremonies while the bride’s family was more familiar with big celebrations. Although finding a middle ground seemed to make sense, we ended up getting criticism from both sides. Because everyone had an idea of what the wedding is “supposed to be,” we had some difficulty along the way. But by reminding family and friends that they only thing we must do is get married, making a few compromises, and by using examples of different kinds of weddings (many from Offbeat Bride), we were able to refrain from losing our minds.

My favorite moment: The day was such a whirlwind that there isn’t one event that sticks out from the day of the wedding. However, the next morning I woke up early with a stomach ache and went downstairs so as to not wake the new hubby (we stayed in a penthouse with an upstairs and downstairs bedroom) and got in bed and started watching tv and eating snacks in bed. Tony soon woke up and joined me and we opened cards and gifts in bed and shared memories with each other about the wedding day. We laughed a lot and it was way fun opening gifts together, just the two of us.

My advice to other offbeat brides: Be prepared to make compromises. But it helps to have examples from other people’s wedding to support your idea. My mom was against a cupcake wedding cake until I pulled up examples from Martha Stewart online. After that I never heard a peep about it. Oh, and definitely share offbeat wedding porn with friends and family! The more familiar they are with weddings outside the norm the more open they will be to yours.

Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?: The dress was from David’s Bridal but my mom attached the ribbon herself.

Enough talk — show me the wedding porn:

To see the slide show, head to offbeatbride.com.

RSS news source: http://offbeatbride.com/2009/09/faust-park-wedding

Filed Under: Wedding Posts Tagged With: carousel wedding, garden

What Do I Do With Out-Of-Town Guests? – Ask The Expert Answer

September 27, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Janelle:

Hi, I have about 30 out-of-town guests, and I don’t know what I should do to help them attend, and make the wedding fun for them. Most of them are arriving on Thursday (wedding is Saturday), and leaving on the Monday after the wedding. Please help!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Janelle, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding! It is not necessary to plan constant entertainment for out-of-town wedding guests who are not part of your wedding party, but it is common to give them information about accommodations, and activities they can attend if they so choose.

It is usually the responsibility of the groom to make arrangements for out-of-town guests. Out-of-town guests are expected to pay for their own lodging, but it is common for the groom to recommend and arrange for a discounted room rate at a hotel. Usually a block of rooms are pre-booked at the hotel where you are holding your wedding. Sometimes, family and friends might offer their home for specific guests that they know well, or just state they can host someone. If private arrangements are not made, you can include a list of family and friends (with addresses and phone numbers) who are willing to host someone, and include it with the wedding package for out-of-town guests. If someone is hosting an out-of-town guest at your wedding, you should be sending them a thank you note and a gift for extending their hospitality.

After you announce your wedding, you are usually approached by family and friends offering to help you plan your wedding. Asking these people to host an activity for two or more out-of-town guests is the thing to do. They can offer to plan something during the rehearsal dinner, they day before the wedding, during the day of an evening wedding, or the day after the wedding (usually a post-wedding brunch). Sometimes, the groom will arrange something for these guests instead—including them in the rehearsal dinner, planning a round of golf or shopping during the day before an evening wedding, or inviting them to a post-wedding brunch or ‘after wedding party’.

Family and friends might host a dinner for one or two couples on your out-of-town guest list while you are at the wedding rehearsal is the way to go. Sometimes, someone might offer to throw a party for all the out-of-town guests in their home on the day before the wedding. If this happens, be sure to send thank-you gifts (or flowers) to the party hosts, along with a thank you card.

Usually, when out-of-town guests arrive at their hotel, the couple will have a welcome basket for them. It could have toiletries, or other small items, or have a combination of fruit and individual coffee packages. Included with the welcome basket should be an itinerary of wedding events so they know where to go to attend the activities. Usually, transportation is arranged for them, and pickup times and drop off times and places are listed so they can plan accordingly.

Overall, you want to include them in appropriate wedding events, and arrange for them to visit with family and friends during their stay. Because many do not have transportation, and don’t know your city well, you should make traveling to and from wedding events easy and convenient.

If you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, certified wedding planner

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Gifts

How Do I Plan A Rehearsal Dinner? – Ask The Expert Answer

September 26, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Suzanne:

I want to hold a rehearsal dinner, but I am unsure of what is involved. Can you tell me more about rehearsal dinners?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Suzanne,

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. The rehearsal dinner is a popular tradition in some families, whereas other families never hold a rehearsal dinner. The choice is up to you, as there is no ‘right or wrong’ when it comes to holding a rehearsal dinner.

The rehearsal dinner usually takes place in the late afternoon or evening before the wedding. The rehearsal is usually the same day, but the rehearsal itself can be held another day in the week leading up to the wedding. It is tradition that the groom’s family host the rehearsal dinner, which means they plan and pay for the rehearsal dinner. Often, they consult with the bride or the bride’s mother on details so that it fits the overall theme of the wedding. The rehearsal dinner is usually a dinner at a restaurant. If it is a large party which also includes out-of-town guests, it can be a more elaborate with flowers and wedding favours that match the wedding colours and theme, and can be a catered affair at a hotel. This is more common at high-end weddings.

The rehearsal dinner includes the entire wedding party, the officiant (and their spouse), the wedding planner, the couple’s parents and grandparents (including step parents), and siblings of the bride and groom who are not in the wedding party. Any one of those listed here should have their partner invited (spouse, fiances, and live-in companions). Dates are not included in the rehearsal dinner. If the wedding couple have children, they can attend, as well as the flower girl and ring bearer, if the time of the rehearsal is not too late in the day. Out-0f-town guests can be invited to the rehearsal dinner, but it is not mandatory.

The rehearsal dinner invitation should be sent out three to six weeks in advance. They can be informal, handwritten notes to more formal purchased invitations.

The dinner should not ‘drag on’ as the next day is the wedding, and everyone should be well rested. So toasts, and gift giving should take place during the dinner—between courses, or at any time throughout the meal. The first toast is usually by the host of the party (groom’s father) welcoming guests and expressing their feelings about the upcoming wedding. This is usually followed by a toast from the bride’s father, and then anyone else who would like to make a toast.

If the attendant’s choose to make a toast, they should be funny stories about the bride and groom’s past. The Maid of Honour and the Best Man usually present the atttendants’ gift to the couple at the rehearsal dinner, and the bridal party will also receive their thank you gifts from the bride and groom. If not already given, the couple will present their parent’s with their gifts on this occasion. The couple usually make their final payment to the wedding planner at the rehearsal dinner, whereas the officiant is paid the day of the wedding.

This the basics of a rehearsal dinner. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, certified wedding planner

Filed Under: Ask The Expert Tagged With: rehearsal dinner

Best Wedding Flowers for your Autumn Wedding

September 22, 2009 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

PINK ORCHID

The wedding season of autumn is best known for its rich colors and striking contrasts that are complementary to what the season generally looks like. It is the same thing for flowers. Golden yellow, orange, and deep red are just some of the major choices. Bold colored flowers such as gerberas and pinks are very popular.

If you are getting married this fall and you want to get to know your choices on the best wedding flowers, here are some to help you get started:

Gerbera

Perfect for dramatic and contemporary bouquets, gerbera is one of the most popular choices for autumn wedding flowers. With its wide array of over a hundred of shades and colors to choose from, it will not be difficult to decorate your wedding with this wonderful bloom.

DAHLIA

Dahlias

These flowers that come with multiple petals in vibrant yellow and red shades can be a wonderful addition to your wedding as table centerpieces or floral arrangements for the altar decoration.

Delphinium

The usual color of delphinium is blue but this flower also comes in pink and lilac. Delphiniums are brilliant to use during the wedding reception to add height to table arrangements and to create dramatic touch to the whole event.

Bird of Paradise

The bird of paradise is an exotic flower that has a green beak, orange and blue crest, and green leaves with a touch of silver. This flower is ideal to use for destination weddings, tropical themed weddings or for decorating contemporary tables.

Bouvardia

Bouvardias are loose clusters of starlet flowers that are tubular in shape and have a faint sweet scent. These flowers are mostly used for creating stylish buttonholes.

Pink

When you think of this flower, you would obviously think that it only comes in the color pink. However, pinks are also available in very light shades of pink to reddish hues. You can use these flowers for making beautiful round flower arrangements for the altar or for the bridal bouquet.

HYDRANGEA

Hydrangea

Another popular flower for the fall is the hydrangea, which has full blooms that come in gorgeous pastel shades such as soft white, pink, lilac and light blue. This is suitable for creating flower table centerpieces, pedestal floral arrangements or for the bridal bouquet.

Rose

This flower is not often associated with the season of autumn. However, roses in deep burgundy or yellowish hues can add grace and beauty to your fall wedding.

Chrysanthemums

These flowers are available all year round but they actually grow during the season of fall. Chrysanthemums, which come in a variety of sizes and colors, can be used as fillers for floral arrangements on table centerpieces, as decoration for wedding arch, and for the bouquet of the bride.

Orchid

The list of best wedding flowers will not be complete without the exotic and beautiful orchids that are a major staple in many weddings. Although a bit pricey, many couples prefer to add orchids to their wedding because of the exquisite touch it can provide the event. Orchids in either white or bright pink are stunning for modern table centerpieces, and bouquets of the autumn bride.

Picking the right flowers to decorate your wedding or to use in the bridal bouquet should take sufficient time since flowers are some of the most important aspects of the wedding decoration.

Filed Under: Tips & Ideas, Wedding Reception Themes Tagged With: autumn, Bird of Paradise, Bouvardia, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Delphinium, Gerbera, Hydrangea, wedding flowers

Beach Wedding Accessories for the Exotic Couple

September 19, 2009 By Nicole Leave a Comment

Black or White Just Married Sandals

If you would take a survey on the most popular wedding themes, beach wedding would probably top the list. This is because many couples love the vast expanse of beautiful ocean that can serve as the backdrop, the romantic ambiance of the beach scene, and the fact that beach weddings are beautiful and inexpensive at the same time.

Since there are now many couples who get married on beach wedding settings, some exotic couples want to take it a step higher in order to have a unique kind of matrimonial ceremony at the beach. One way to achieve this is to wear one-of-a-kind beach wedding accessories that would complete their look for their big day. Here are some fantastic ideas on wedding accessories that any couple would surely love.

Lei or Flower Garland

A tropical flower garland is one of the first things that will come into your mind upon the mention of the words, beach wedding accessories. Whether you are getting married in a beach in Hawaii or in any other part of the world, a lei of beautiful tropical flowers around the necks of the bride and groom can surely be a memorable embellishment for the event.

Seashell Jewelry

It is very common to find seashells in any beach, which is why this element is always present in many beach weddings. Incorporate seashells into your wedding attire by donning accessories made from terrific beach finds. You and your spouse-to-be can wear seashell necklace, seashell bracelet, or a seashell anklet. Since there are many colors and styles to choose from, it is a good bet that you would end up with a unique looking accessory that would certainly wow your guests.

Beaded Accessories

Aside from seashells, beads are also a staple when it comes to beach or summer accessories. Beaded necklaces, beaded bracelets, and beaded earrings can add a touch of creativity and exotic appeal to your and your partner’s beach wedding attire.

Flower Headdress

For the bride, instead of wearing the traditional veil, you can choose to have a flower headdress made of tropical flowers such as sunflower or hibiscus. Just remember that if you are going to wear the headdress, you should skip the flower garland (or the other way around, depending on your preference) because wearing both would be overdoing it.

Barefoot Bridal Sandals

Barefoot bridal sandals are becoming a hot fashion statement for brides who want to walk down the aisle with bare feet. Barefoot bridal sandals can be made of beads, rhinestones, or leather straps that accents the top of the feet without a covering for the sole.

Shell tiara or headband

In lieu of the flower headdress, a bride can also wear a seashell tiara or headband as a hair accessory. This is suitable for simple hairstyles like a classic bun, ponytail, or hair let hanging down on the shoulders.

Beach weddings have that unique romantic feel and creative look that many exotic couples love. Complete the special occasion by wearing one-of-a-kind beach wedding accessories that you can use even after the wedding day.