Have you seen the bridal collection from Nicole Miller? I love the simplicity of the designs; they won't take away from the beautiful brides who wear them.
Check them out!
http://www.nicolemiller.com
Monday, November 15, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
What Are Your Wedding Pet Peeves
What about planning your wedding is driving you crazy? Or what about weddings in general really gets under your skin? Here’s my list of pet peeves (we may have some of these in common). Along with sharing those things that drive me crazy, I want to also share how you can deal with these issues if they arise. And please, let me hear from you! What are some of your wedidng pet peeves??
Late RSVPs
Late RSVPs
You have carefully set your RSVP deadline, giving your guests sufficient time to respond. If you see your responses are coming in slowly, send a friendly email reminder of the upcoming deadline. Or, if you have a wedding website, post an update there, reminding people of the due date. If a person responds after the deadline, determine how you will handle this up front! If you still have room to accommodate more guests, determine how many more, and once you’ve met your final number, tell your late guests “I’m sorry, the deadline has passed.” Be nice, but firm. Don’t let a guest press you into you giving in and allowing them to come. After all, you have set a maximum number of guests for a reason!
People who RSVP more people than were invited
You have invited Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and they decide to invite another couple to your wedding! How rude! To try to avoid this upfront, clearly state on the outer and inner envelopes of your invitations who are the persons invited. Also, word your response card so that people cannot add additional numbers or names to it. NEVER include a line that says “Number of Guests” on your response card (unless you fill in that number ahead of time!)
Invitations that ask for money
In my opinion, this is one of the tackiest things a couple can do! When you ask guests to give you money as a wedding gift, it implies that all you want out of your guests is cash! I’ve received a few invites like this, and instead of giving them money, I just don’t attend! In some instances, they may have received money from me anyway, but being asked for money totally turns me off! While you share your gift preferences via a registry, you should never dictate to your guests what they should give you.
Registries that have items that are too expensive
This is related to the previous pet peeve. You’ve registered at one of the most expensive department stores around, and all of your gift choices are pricey! Guests on a budget may not be able to give you a gift if all of your registry items are too expensive. Choose items in a wide range of prices. I also suggest you have multiple registries…one of which is at a more economical store (Target and Wal Mart are great examples!)
Receptions that start hours after the ceremony
Your wedding starts at 12pm, but you’ve decided to have an evening reception (6pm). What are your guests, particularly your out-of-town guests, going to do for 5 hours? Be considerate of your guests when determining your start times. Even for guests who live in town, it’s a bit much to ask them to go home after the ceremony and come back out for your reception (you will lose people that way)! Try to start your reception as close to the end time of your wedding as possible, so that one flows easily into the other.
Having nothing for guests to do while you take post-ceremony pictures
This is closely related to the item above. While you are taking your post-ceremony pics, your guests need something to do! The cocktail hour is a great way to keep them entertained. There should be something for guests to eat and drink at the cocktail hour. They should also have music (either piped in or live) to add to the ambiance of the wait time. If done correctly, guests will enjoy themselves so much, they won’t realize they are waiting for you to finish taking pictures!
People who pressure the bride or groom for an invitation
You have determined how many people you can invite upfront (based on your budget and the size of your venue), so you’re just not able to invite everyone you would like to. Isn’t it bold of a guest to ask for an invite to your wedding? If someone is brazen enough to do this, be polite but firm. Explain that you must stay within your budget, so you are unable to invite them. Thank them for their well wishes and move on! People who really care about you will understand and will not be mad!
People who RSVP more people than were invited
You have invited Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and they decide to invite another couple to your wedding! How rude! To try to avoid this upfront, clearly state on the outer and inner envelopes of your invitations who are the persons invited. Also, word your response card so that people cannot add additional numbers or names to it. NEVER include a line that says “Number of Guests” on your response card (unless you fill in that number ahead of time!)
Invitations that ask for money
In my opinion, this is one of the tackiest things a couple can do! When you ask guests to give you money as a wedding gift, it implies that all you want out of your guests is cash! I’ve received a few invites like this, and instead of giving them money, I just don’t attend! In some instances, they may have received money from me anyway, but being asked for money totally turns me off! While you share your gift preferences via a registry, you should never dictate to your guests what they should give you.
Registries that have items that are too expensive
This is related to the previous pet peeve. You’ve registered at one of the most expensive department stores around, and all of your gift choices are pricey! Guests on a budget may not be able to give you a gift if all of your registry items are too expensive. Choose items in a wide range of prices. I also suggest you have multiple registries…one of which is at a more economical store (Target and Wal Mart are great examples!)
Receptions that start hours after the ceremony
Your wedding starts at 12pm, but you’ve decided to have an evening reception (6pm). What are your guests, particularly your out-of-town guests, going to do for 5 hours? Be considerate of your guests when determining your start times. Even for guests who live in town, it’s a bit much to ask them to go home after the ceremony and come back out for your reception (you will lose people that way)! Try to start your reception as close to the end time of your wedding as possible, so that one flows easily into the other.
Having nothing for guests to do while you take post-ceremony pictures
This is closely related to the item above. While you are taking your post-ceremony pics, your guests need something to do! The cocktail hour is a great way to keep them entertained. There should be something for guests to eat and drink at the cocktail hour. They should also have music (either piped in or live) to add to the ambiance of the wait time. If done correctly, guests will enjoy themselves so much, they won’t realize they are waiting for you to finish taking pictures!
People who pressure the bride or groom for an invitation
You have determined how many people you can invite upfront (based on your budget and the size of your venue), so you’re just not able to invite everyone you would like to. Isn’t it bold of a guest to ask for an invite to your wedding? If someone is brazen enough to do this, be polite but firm. Explain that you must stay within your budget, so you are unable to invite them. Thank them for their well wishes and move on! People who really care about you will understand and will not be mad!
Don’t let the above mentioned items drive you crazy! Instead, use the tips we’ve shared to help deal with them. Happy Planning!
Monday, October 25, 2010
When The Happiest Time Of Your Life Is A Friend’s Saddest
I could definitely relate to this article. A sorority sister asked me (almost a year in advance) to sing in her wedding. Of course, I said yes, not knowing that by the time her wedding came around, I would be divorced. It was a difficult situation for me, but I got through it. Since the bride lived out of town, I chose not to tell my sorority sister about my divorce (I didn't want to have a cloud hanging over her special day).
Not everyone is excited when a bride announces her engagement (I'm not talking about those who are jealous, but those who are going through difficult situations). Should a bride be sensitive to others' feelings, or should she not worry about it?
http://wedding-blog.wedalert.com/2010/10/07/when-the-happiest-time-of-your-life-is-a-friend’s-saddest/
Thanks WedAlert for an interesting blog post!
Not everyone is excited when a bride announces her engagement (I'm not talking about those who are jealous, but those who are going through difficult situations). Should a bride be sensitive to others' feelings, or should she not worry about it?
http://wedding-blog.wedalert.com/2010/10/07/when-the-happiest-time-of-your-life-is-a-friend’s-saddest/
Thanks WedAlert for an interesting blog post!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Planning Your Reheasal Dinner
Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of planning your wedding, the rehearsal dinner may get lost in the shuffle. The time following your wedding rehearsal is a great way to kick-off your wedding celebration. It’s also an opportunity for the bride and groom’s families to start getting to know each other (if they don’t already), and for friends to share this special time with you!
Who should be invited?
Your entire bridal party, immediate family, and close friends should be invited. If your budget allows, consider inviting out-of-town guests as well (it’s a great way to thank them for traveling to your wedding while at the same time, giving them something to do the night before your wedding). This event is more intimate than your wedding reception, so don’t worry about not having a large guest list.
Who should host it?
Traditionally, the groom’s parents host (i.e., pay for) the rehearsal dinner. But who says you have to stick with tradition? As couples are waiting later to get married, they are sometimes paying for everything themselves. If family members plan to contribute to your wedding, this should be worked out early on in the planning process.
What should I do?
Besides eat? :-) As I said earlier, this is a great time for people to fellowship and to get to know each other. One way to have people interact with each other is to plan the seating so that people sit next to someone they haven’t met before. You can also play a game or do an icebreaker that will get people moving and talking. Check out this blog article for some icebreaker ideas! http://blog.ourweddingday.com/Wedding-Rehearsal-Dinner-Get--Know-You-Games-8793210
Who should be invited?
Your entire bridal party, immediate family, and close friends should be invited. If your budget allows, consider inviting out-of-town guests as well (it’s a great way to thank them for traveling to your wedding while at the same time, giving them something to do the night before your wedding). This event is more intimate than your wedding reception, so don’t worry about not having a large guest list.
Who should host it?
Traditionally, the groom’s parents host (i.e., pay for) the rehearsal dinner. But who says you have to stick with tradition? As couples are waiting later to get married, they are sometimes paying for everything themselves. If family members plan to contribute to your wedding, this should be worked out early on in the planning process.
What should I do?
Besides eat? :-) As I said earlier, this is a great time for people to fellowship and to get to know each other. One way to have people interact with each other is to plan the seating so that people sit next to someone they haven’t met before. You can also play a game or do an icebreaker that will get people moving and talking. Check out this blog article for some icebreaker ideas! http://blog.ourweddingday.com/Wedding-Rehearsal-Dinner-Get--Know-You-Games-8793210
Your rehearsal dinner is also a great time to present your bridal party with gifts of appreciation. Although you don’t have to spend a lot, you should give something to thank your bridesmaids and groomsmen for being a part of your wedding. After all, they bought a dress or rented a tuxedo, gave you a bridal shower or bachelor party, and will be spending the entire wedding day with you!
Finally, this is a great time for family members and friends to extend their well wishes. You have probably limited the number of speakers at your wedding reception, so you can use this time for others to speak (if they want to).
Should I have a theme?
Themed events are a great way to show your personality! Are you and your fiance’ planning to travel to the Caribbean for your honeymoon? An island-themed dinner (including island attire) is a great idea! Or, are you and your future husband very formal and enjoy dining at 5-star restaurants? Then plan your rehearsal dinner to be a dressy affair!
How long should my rehearsal dinner last?
Your rehearsal dinner is a pre-celebration, but remember, the big day is less than 24 hours away! You want to have fun at your dinner, but don’t wear yourself out! Make it an early evening so you can get the rest you need. I advise my brides to not have a bachelorette party the night before the wedding. Do you want your wedding pictures to show a bride with bloodshot eyes an dark circles under them?
Your Planning Assignment
Be intentional in planning your rehearsal dinner. Incorporate your likes, preferences and personality in this event. If you want something nice but don’t have time to plan it, consider engaging a wedding or event planner to assist!
Happy Planning!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Wedding Prayer
This is absolutely beautiful! Thanks to Wuilmark Events for sharing!
http://wuilmarksevents.blogspot.com/2010/10/blessing-for-marriage.html
http://wuilmarksevents.blogspot.com/2010/10/blessing-for-marriage.html
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wedding Ring Metals: What Are My Options?
Choosing the right metal for your wedding ring is just as important as choosing the right diamond! Here is some information on what is available to you as you make one of the largest jewelry purchases in your life.
Platinum
Platinum has become a very popular metal for wedding rings. It is extremely durable, and is great if you have sensitive skin (platinum is hypoallergenic). It’s a good choice if you have a diamond that is very clear. However, if you are on a tight budget, this may not be an option for you, as platinum is rare and can be expensive.
Gold
Gold is probably the most traditional ring metal for all rings, not just wedding rings. It has definitely stood the test of time, and because it is more available, it is less expensive than platinum. But, gold prices have risen in recent years, so keep that in mind as you shop. With gold, you have the option of choosing what karat you desire. A karat is a measure of purity for gold, so the higher the karat number, the purer the gold is (and of course, the more expensive).
White Gold
White gold is a mixture of gold and a white metal such as silver or platinum. Similar to yellow gold, it comes in various karats, based on the amount of gold in the ring. Typically, white gold rings are coated in rhodium, which will make the gold look more white. However, this coating does not last, so you will need to have your ring re-coated to maintain its appearance.
Silver
Silver is the least expensive of the available metals and is a good choice for brides and grooms looking for an economical option. However, keep in mind that silver can be an irritant to some, and because it is soft, it can show wear over time.
Tungsten
Tungsten is a very rare metal that retains its polish and finish very well. This metal has become a very popular one for wedding rings, particularly for men, who are attracted to its permanence. Because it is a rare metal, it can also be expensive.
Titanium
Titanium is a white metal with a slightly gray appearance. It’s a bit darker than silver and white gold, and is very strong. It is also hypoallergenic and can be inexpensive. It’s another great option for men!
Palladium
Palladium is a rare, silvery-white metal that resembles platinum, but it lighter than platinum. It has become more popular in recent years as an option for wedding jewelry. If you want the platinum look, but do not have the budget for it, palladium is a good alternative.
Your Planning Assignment
As you can see there are MANY options in wedding ring metals. Take your time when making this very important decision, since you plan wear your wedding ring for a long time. Brides, as you consider what to purchase for your groom, take into consideration what kind of work he does. If he works outdoors or in a factory setting, he may need something that’s very durable, or something with few (or no) stones.
Happy Planning!
Platinum
Platinum has become a very popular metal for wedding rings. It is extremely durable, and is great if you have sensitive skin (platinum is hypoallergenic). It’s a good choice if you have a diamond that is very clear. However, if you are on a tight budget, this may not be an option for you, as platinum is rare and can be expensive.
Gold
Gold is probably the most traditional ring metal for all rings, not just wedding rings. It has definitely stood the test of time, and because it is more available, it is less expensive than platinum. But, gold prices have risen in recent years, so keep that in mind as you shop. With gold, you have the option of choosing what karat you desire. A karat is a measure of purity for gold, so the higher the karat number, the purer the gold is (and of course, the more expensive).
White Gold
White gold is a mixture of gold and a white metal such as silver or platinum. Similar to yellow gold, it comes in various karats, based on the amount of gold in the ring. Typically, white gold rings are coated in rhodium, which will make the gold look more white. However, this coating does not last, so you will need to have your ring re-coated to maintain its appearance.
Silver
Silver is the least expensive of the available metals and is a good choice for brides and grooms looking for an economical option. However, keep in mind that silver can be an irritant to some, and because it is soft, it can show wear over time.
Tungsten
Tungsten is a very rare metal that retains its polish and finish very well. This metal has become a very popular one for wedding rings, particularly for men, who are attracted to its permanence. Because it is a rare metal, it can also be expensive.
Titanium
Titanium is a white metal with a slightly gray appearance. It’s a bit darker than silver and white gold, and is very strong. It is also hypoallergenic and can be inexpensive. It’s another great option for men!
Palladium
Palladium is a rare, silvery-white metal that resembles platinum, but it lighter than platinum. It has become more popular in recent years as an option for wedding jewelry. If you want the platinum look, but do not have the budget for it, palladium is a good alternative.
Your Planning Assignment
As you can see there are MANY options in wedding ring metals. Take your time when making this very important decision, since you plan wear your wedding ring for a long time. Brides, as you consider what to purchase for your groom, take into consideration what kind of work he does. If he works outdoors or in a factory setting, he may need something that’s very durable, or something with few (or no) stones.
Happy Planning!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Magician for Wedding Entertainment
Hmmm....interesting! Thanks to Wedding 101 Blog for sharing.
http://wedding101blog.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/entertain-your-wedding-guests-with-a-little-magic/
If you don't think this will work for your adult guests, I think it's an excellent way to keep younger guests entertained. What do you think?
http://wedding101blog.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/entertain-your-wedding-guests-with-a-little-magic/
If you don't think this will work for your adult guests, I think it's an excellent way to keep younger guests entertained. What do you think?
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