A Spring Bridal Shower

By: Brenda Cascio

DSC_2404Nothings better than having family and friends toast the bride at a Bridal Shower Brunch.  It’s a welcome change from the afternoon tea, giving endless options for food.  Bridal showers are perfect opportunities to polish the silver, iron the table linens and pull out all those gorgeous things that are normally tucked away for special occasions.  My niece, Rachel, was a gorgeous and gracious bride.  Pouring rain the day before cleared for a beautiful day.  The door was festooned with an arrangement of pink roses, white hydrangea and bells of Ireland – all accented with the initials of the bride and groom hanging from satin ribbons.  Tables were set on the patio and poolside accented with a centerpiece of delicate pink kalanchoe in square gold vases.  The favors were potted pink polka-dot plants that were wrapped in fabric.  Co-hosted by friends and veteran party-givers, the shower was both delicious and fun!  The food was a perfect blend of sweet and savory.  Quiche, Goat Cheese and Pesto Torte, Spiral Sliced Ham with Jezebel Sauce served on Sister Shubert’s rolls.  For the sweet tooth was French Toast Casserole and mini homemade cinnamon rolls. And for those wanting to be healthy, individual yogurt parfaits and a fabulous fruit tray.  Mimosa’s, Iced Tea and Coffee rounded out the beverages.

As is customary here in the South, after opening all the gifts, we loaded them in the car to be displayed at the parents of the bride until the wedding.  I’ll keep you posted!

Bridal Shower Brunch, Silver, Crystal and Lace

Bridal Shower Brunch, Silver, Crystal and Lace

hostess gifts from the bride and her mother

hostess gifts from the bride and her mother

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Anna Weatherly China, Juliska everyday, Reed & Barton Francis I flatware

Anna Weatherly China, Juliska everyday, Reed & Barton Francis I flatware

bridal shower favors, potted plants

bridal shower favors, potted plants

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Theme Park Wedding

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Who doesn’t love going to a theme park or Disneyland? So if your having trouble picking out a theme, why not go for a full vibrant theme of a carnival or theme park! Our Striped Paper Straws with Personalized Tags will really impress your guests and is perfect for the overall decor of your festive wedding! Everyone will love the attention to detail and playful, nostalgic style. Our straws provide an easy way to jazz up your tables and put a stylish finishing touch on your decor.

There so much you can do with a theme park wedding. Every aspect of your wedding can play off this. Have a candy bar buffet with take-home lolly jars, cupcakes or have a ice cream truck arrive during dessert time with the nostalgic tune playing. This theme is great for people to get silly. Have a photo booth with silly props, or even get crafty and make homemade games for your guest to enjoy.

With the fun vibe of a carnival, why not keep your dress that way as well. Dresses of the bridesmaids should be fun and whimsical. Try a short dress or you can even get crazy and try a dress that isn’t the traditional white.

Choose flowers that are inspired by wands, pin-wheels, and lollipops to imitate the theme. Make sure to get crafty and add as much personal touch to your wedding as you can. People will be blown away in sharing in a part of you and your groom’s quirky personalities.

 

Photo Credits: All photos are from Rock N Roll Bride, except the Paper Straws from Gracious Bridal.

A Wedding Fit for a Princess

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Nothing says fair tale quite like a wedding does. Celebrate your fairytale wedding with our Lucky Silver Sixpence Wedding Keepsake. Printed with the age old saying “Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue,” these beautiful gift packaging will fit perfect for your special day.

A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to imitate Cinderella and Prince Charming. You can make those dreams come true with a fairy tale wedding theme. Every little girl’s visions of her dream wedding come from watching her favorite Disney movies. No need for magic, all you need are the right details including location and décor and your prince charming.

Play the part when design this them. Corset the dress, and adorn it with lost of beading for that fairy tale look. Ballroom dresses are gorgeous for this type of theme. A soft side-swept with lost of volume on top will complete the princess role. Arriving at the ceremony by horse-drawn carriage will add to the sense of fantasy.

Decorating with lost of pink roses and golden ribbon will provide an elegant feel. You can also use large, stubbed goblets to serve wine to guests, and even incorporate a medieval theme into your favors and table decorations with castles and knights.

Photo Credits: Bride, Cake, Table Set, Flower Girls, Shoes, Crown, Sixpence

A Day at the Beach

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What’s hotter than having a beach wedding! Give out Our Candy Stripe Personalized Lip Balm to your guest to keep their lips moisturized on a hot sunny day, perfect for a fun filled day at the beach! Beach weddings are one of the most romantic and popular ways to say “I do.” The natural beauty of the setting is a great way to celebrate such a beautiful day.

With the waves crashing in the background, the smell of salt in the air and the subtle sounds of seagulls chirping, what could be more romantic. If you are one of the lucky ones who gets to celebrate such a lovely location, be sure to put in some fun personalized items into your wedding. A beach theme is a given choice, you can style your wedding with the traditional navy blue accents with wood, shells and starfish to highlight on you beach them. Or choose a completely different theme and let the beach just a be a backdrop to your perfect day.

While you can plan to make your ceremony as formal or informal as you want, in general, beach weddings have a more casual feel. Groomsmen might consider wearing khaki linen suits, or navy blazers in lieu of tuxes, while the bride can wear anything from a traditional ball gown, to simple gossamer sheath dress that will blow in the breeze.

Weather is a huge factor when it comes to a beach wedding. Since you can’t control the weather, the best you can do is plan for the worst. Having a solid rain plan that you and your fiancé are happy with is essential for any type of outdoor wedding ceremony. Check your venue before booking to make sure they have a rain plan you are happy with. There are certain times of the year that you should check before hand. For instance, if you’re planning a wedding in Florida, skip August or September since those months often have the highest number of hurricanes and tropical storms. Good Luck and hope your wedding will be beach fantastic!

Photo Credits: Bride on Beach, Lip Balm Favors, Message in a Bottle,

Bachelorette Party

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With all this serious wedding planning going around, it’s time to take a break and let loose! Celebrate your bachelorette party with surprising your bridesmaids with the Hanky Panky Bridesmaid Thong Panty. What better way to get the party started with some fun gifts to say thank you to your bridesmaids.

Alright, we know the bachelorette party planning is up to the maid of honor, but we wanted to give some help ideas on how to have your bachelorette bash filled with non stop fun. First start out with figuring out what type of party you want to throw. Some brides might want to go a little racy and  bring out the penis hats and straws. Others might be a bit more conservative and rather focus their bachelorette on bringing old friends together. The bachelorette party is supposed to be a time for the bride to hang out and relax with her girlfriends, and unless the bride specially requests that the theme for her party be an evening of raunchiness, try something different.

Make sure to get your budget and the girls’ budget in line to figure out if you guys want to go all out on a trip somewhere or stay local and hit up the town. Be sensitive to what they can afford in order to avoid embarrassment and hurt feelings. A wedding party consisting of 20 something recent college graduates won’t be able to afford to spend the same kind of money as a group of 30 something year old professionals.

Remember to not schedule the party too far in front of the big day, but don’t wait until the last minute, either. And forget the whole night before the wedding thing. Nothing worse than being hung over on a day you know you’ll spend being stared at people and photographed.

So lets get ready to party! Get creative and play some games that will keep you gals entertained. Here are some fun games and theme ideas: A dress party – where the group outfits reflect the bride’s personality and ties you all together, name that lingerie – ask guest to bring lingerie that shows their personality and the bride has to guest who’s is who’s, luxe nearby at a spa or hotel pool side to get the feeling of a girls’ getaway, or go out to a karaoke bar and sings tunes of you and your girlfriends past. Remember, this is supposed to be fun for the bride so always keep her in mind when planning.

 

donut rings, sash, cookies, girls at dinner, mug shots of the day after, invitation, girls in feathers, champagne bottle and hanky panky panties

Wedding Programs

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We’re always in search of new ideas for chic, crafty weddings. So we’re super excited to show off our Circular DIY Wedding Program Fan Kit. A perfect solution for the DIY Bride to help cut cost without sacrificing style! The Programs fans are a classic way to cool off your guests while supplying important information.

The more guests feel involved with your wedding, the more likely they’ll have a great time. Wedding programs are a wonderful way to help your friends and family follow the ceremony and understand the wedding traditions you’re incorporating, plus they can take theirs home as a keepsake. The key to crafting a good wedding program? Think practically and creatively!

The wedding program is an opportunity to tell guests a little more about you as a couple and set the tone for the rest of the event. The easiest way to personalize your programs is to add special touches, such as poems, quotes, and photographs.

When deciding on a wedding program type first decide what style to go with, formality, and whether to keep it simple or info filled. Make sure to have the five main components of a wedding program, which is the opening, order of events, parents and officiants, wedding party and the personalized message.

Top Left to Right: wedding program – DIY Weddings Magazine, Intimate Weddings,
Gracious Bridal, The Knot, bottom right

Spring Time Wedding

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What better way to celebrate the spring season than to add some seasonal flair! Our White Chalkboard Tin Pails allow you to get creative and have fun with your favors! The time pail would be great to hold colorful candy that mimics the color of the blooming flowers. Each shiny white pail features a chalkboard surface to write the names of your loved ones and thank them for joining you on your special occasion. Our Chalkboard Tin Pails are sure to wow everyone with the handwritten, personal detail and the fun, unique look. Just fill with goodies and get creative!

Spring is the most popular wedding season, so it’s important to have a good idea of the different spring wedding themes. One the of the first steps in setting the mood for a spring wedding is sending out spring themed wedding invitations. Typically, wedding invitations with spring influence incorporate flowers or spring scenery on them. Lots of pastel and soothing colors.

Part of the reason why spring weddings are so popular is because of the wonderful weather! Of course this depends on where you live, but generally spring is great weather. Since the weather is great, there is more options of wedding dresses to choose from. We suggest light fabrics like Batiste, Charmeuse, Crepe. Spring is also great for dresses with designs and patterns of flowers. Damask is made of various fabrics and has pattern/ designs woven into it. Spring weddings also leave room for adding an elegant touch of color to the wedding dress. Many brides like to choose a sash or embroidery of a different color to their dresses.

Spring is a time for color! Soft colors are easy to pair and usually work well with anything. Some good combinations for the spring are light blues and pastel green, pink and green, lavender and yellow. There is a lot to choose from with all the flowers blossoming around you.

You can save a lot of money buy purchasing flowers in the season. Nothing adds to the romance of two people coming together to spend the rest of their lives together then burst of colors from beautiful flower accents. Rustic accents such as garden tin buckets, watering pails are great to inspire the “growing” of your love. It is up to imagination to find the most unique spring favors.\

Photo Credits: Chalkboard Tin Pail Favors, Butterfly Dress, dining room, cake, flowers, pastel blue bridesmaids and bride

Tips on Choosing the Perfect Wedding Day

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There are many factors at play when setting the wedding date.  Here are a few guidelines to assist you when planning the big day.

OTHERS

Of course, any significant life event, especially your wedding would not be the same without the most important people in your life surrounding you — parents, grandparents, siblings, close friends, and anyone else you may consider a VIP.  Make sure that they will be available before setting the final date.

HOLIDAYS OR NOT

Holidays are often a great time to plan a hometown wedding.  Many guests will be home visiting family during this period.  The time also lends itself to a more festive decor, giving you additional options for themes.  Churches and venues are “pre-decorated” allowing you to save money there.  Keep in mind that for an out-of-town wedding, it may reduce your guest list because many people want to be home for the holidays.  Then again, that could be a benefit to keep the event small and personal.

TIME OF YEAR

Historically, the most popular months to get married were June, July and August, however, that centuries-old tradition has been changing recently.  Couples are now taking into account their location and the weather.  August in Austin Texas can be downright miserable in the heat, but a late October or late January wedding is likely to have gorgeous weather.  That date would be unfathomable in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  Yes, ever since you were a little girl you may have dreamt of a summer wedding surrounded by daisies, but if that is impractical, consider alternatives.  A wedding (and marriage) is a series of trade-offs and thinking about others.  This is a perfect opportunity to flex that thoughtful muscle.

BUDGET

Budget is perhaps the most important factor of all in setting the date.  Popular wedding dates vary around the country.  If money is a factor (and it often is), then find out the “off-season” in your locale, and schedule then.  If it is a small wedding, consider a Friday evening when venues charge less.  What about a Sunday morning service followed by a brunch?  Mimosa’s and breakfast foods are significantly less than hors dourves, dinner, and cocktails.  A piano player is much less expensive than a five-piece dance band.  There are many ways to cut costs and no one will ever know.  Consider this your personal challenge to be creative.

Blessings,

Brenda

The Wedding Toast

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Jump-start your reception with an eloquent toast. And what better way to raise your glass than with our “Celebrate” Engraved Champagne Flutes to commemorate your life’s special occasion. These champagne flutes will be a handsome reminder of an occasion to remember and the kind words our love ones give to you at your wedding.

One of the things we love about weddings is listening to the toasts. It’s an opportunity for friends and family to publicly express their feelings about the bride and groom. People speak of friendships lasting a lifetime, acts of courage, moments of hilarity, or what it feels like to watch your son or daughter grow up and go through such a momentous rite of passage. Above all, you hear them talk about love.

Traditionally, the people who speak at the wedding are the host, the bride and groom, the best man and a relative. A good toast is heartfelt, humorous and personal, but remember not to be too private. It can be hard to gauge what is humorous and what is embarrassing. Best way to avoid the awkward silence is to practice in front of people and grab their opinion first. A rule of thumb is to keep the toasts short and sweet, we say no more than two minutes. Also it is best to spread out the speeches so that the party doesn’t feel like it comes at a stand still.

Now what are you going to say? It takes times to come up with the memories and then put them into words. Don’t wait till the last minute. Make sure to practice so when it’s your turn to give a toast, it flows with ease. Sometimes we can’t put it into our own words, our advice is to find a poem or song that expresses how you feel and recite it. Remember if it comes from your heart, you can never go wrong. Good Luck!

Photos going clockwise: Couple toasting, everyone holding champagne glasses, champagne and strawberries, Toasting friends with couple, dad toasting, bridesmaids toasting with bride and groom, Celebrate Toasting Flutes

Having a Romantic Wedding in Italy

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There’s a diverse range of places to get married in, all of which would make excellent wedding venues. Brides who’d like to make their matrimonial ceremonies extra special often ask their grooms – as well as the family members doing them a big favor by shouldering the majority of expenses – if they’d agree to tie the knot in Italy.

Any future husband shouldn’t have any qualms with getting married in this European country. This romantic tourist destination has a lot to offer couples, such as breathtaking ocean views of the Amalfi Coast, the stunning architectural designs of the seaside villages of the Italian Riviera, mystical lakes, and more.

Like any other wedding destination, choosing the time of year for actually hosting the nuptial ceremony is important. Moreover, weather across this nation varies from area to area, so those looking to get married somewhere in the northern region should pick a date sometime between May to September, most especially if it’s going to be an outdoor affair.

As for those plotting a wedding in southern Italy, the months of April and October don’t have to be excluded from their list of potential dates, as the weather typically remains warm and temperate during these times of year.

Moving forward, an Italian marriage ceremony is carried out best with a touch of local culture – instead of champagne, serving the guests bottles of quality Italian Prosecco instead would make for an excellent choice. An Italian-inspired gift favor for all of the occasion’s attendees would be great as well, and may range anywhere from sugar-coated almonds to tiny bottles of locally produced olive oil.

Lastly, consider scheduling the special event according to the availability of VIP guests. Italy is a lot further than the venues of most wedding occasions, so it may require attendees to stay for a couple of days or so. This can also conflict with their work days, as well as the fulfillment of other important obligations they cannot ignore.

On the other hand, those who can make the trip are likely to be looking to be taken care of properly, especially after having to spend a large sum of cash for transportation, or taking several days off from work.

Making sure they’re looked after throughout the entire duration of their stay, have all their needs or concerns catered to, and that they go home with a decent gift favor is crucial for hosting an unforgettable nuptial ceremony.