My Wedding Ideas - Unique Wedding Ideas & Creative Wedding Tips

Are You A Diva Bride?

Wedding Gal — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:13:46 +0000

Television shows, movies and the media all joke about diva brides. Brides who will go to every length to get what they want. “It’s your day” has now become more of a threat instead of a simple saying about treating the bride well for her wedding day. Are you a diva bride? Let’s talk about a few ways to tell. Take our easy diva bride quiz and check your diva-licious score.

photo by Corey Ann on Flickr

You’re ordering your wedding cake. It has five layers and you want the layers to be raspberry – lemon – raspberry – lemon – raspberry. The baker’s assistant writes it down switching it so it says lemon – raspberry – lemon……You do:

Politely point out the error before the baker pulls out the baking pans and gets to cooking.
Shriek “It’s raspberry then lemon!” and burst into tears.
Call your fiancé and make him explain it. He’s the negotiator.

You are trying on your wedding dress for a fitting. They need to fix the neckline. You:

Ask someone at the shop the status of fixing the neckline.
Throw your wedding veil in the air and run through the store saying, “They’ve damaged my dress!”
Tell your mother and let her talk to the store.

A bridesmaid is not getting the invitations ordered or her other duties done. You need to help get her organized – quick! You:

Have lunch with her and find out what is going on – help create a plan for her.
Cry on the phone to her that she is ruining your wedding and then cry to your other 5 bridesmaids about her for two hours.
Ask your future mother-in-law for advice and let her replace the bridesmaid with a cousin.

The caterer is asking for a second deposit. You’ve paid them but now they want even more. Your wedding is three weeks away and your fiancé is out-of-town. You:

Call the caterer and ask the reason for the additional deposit. Get the information in writing and understand why you need to pay them.
Leave work abruptly and go down in person to yell at the manager that he is “wrecking your day” and that he doesn’t understand. Cry on the way back to work and hire a new caterer.
Call your parents and in-laws and tell them you need a new caterer.

The band you’ve hired has an emergency and now can’t perform on your wedding. You’ve got to find a replacement – fast. You:

Put out the word to family and friends you need a referral to a great band.
Cuss out the band manager and tell him you’ll never forget how he tried to ruin your most important day.
Call your fiancé and let him decide what to do.

Okay, it’s time to tally up. How did you do?

All A’s: Regina Reasonable Bride – rational and practical, you’ve got it all under control
All B’s: Diana Diva Bride – get out of her way, she’s loud, proud and out of control!
All C’s: Beth Baby Girl Bride – time to grow up before you put on that wedding dress

How to Choose a Bridesmaid Dress Video

Wedding Gal — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:11:01 +0000

In this how to choose a bridesmaid dress video, an expert from Brides.com gives us some tips on picking bridesmaid dresses that our bridesmaids can actually wear again. A little-known secret about being a bride is that we have some sort of hypnosis or disorder when we’re planning our weddings that make it so we can convince ourselves that any dress we pick for our bridesmaids will be something they’ll be thrilled to wear again. Later, after the wedding fog clears, we realize that it ain’t gonna happen. Truly, after this video, I’m still not convinced, though she gives some good suggestions, like making sure the fabric and color are current or classic, pick something with a little detail (because, as she said, “nothing says ‘bridesmaid’ like a completely plain dress.’” She makes some cool suggestions, like choosing a dress with a pattern, and suggests different accessories to help the dress make the transition. Now, if they only offered different ways to wear that wedding dress!

How to Choose a Bridesmaid Dress Video

Valentine’s Day Weddings – Should You Say “I Do” on a Popular Holiday?

Wedding Gal — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:02:16 +0000

Holiday themed weddings have been popular nearly as long as couples have been saying, “I Do!” With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, many couples are preparing to wed on this very romantic and sweet day of the year. But should you choose a holiday as your wedding day. Let’s talk about the benefits or challenges of choosing Valentine’s Day – or another popular holiday as your wedding day.

image by riptheskull

The costs will often be higher on a holiday wedding day. Expect to pay a premium price for things like flowers, catering and event space for holidays like Valentine’s Day, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Especially flowers will be quite expensive near Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. You’ll want to include these costs in your budget planning.

Holidays like Valentine’s Day are also an ideal time to find special things you’ll only find at one time of the year. Many manufacturers make things in time for the holidays knowing that they will be purchased by many. Your celebrating your wedding in addition means you can enjoy pink champagne or other romantic things that may be included with the holiday.

A holiday wedding can make it easy for everyone to come – as they have that time off from work or school. A wedding near a holiday can often make it easier for friends and family to come to your wedding as many holidays are days off from work or school. While Valentine’s Day is not a holiday we take off from work. New Year’s Eve and the 4^th of July are. Many of these holidays can be an ideal choice as you will know that family and friends can take the long weekend or part of the week to join your special celebration.

Some guests may find a Valentine’s Day – or other holiday themed wedding a challenge. The holidays are a time when people often make special plans. If family or friends have made plans of their own they may sometimes be hard to change. Of course a wedding is something special you just don’t want to miss. Simply keep in mind that with a holiday themed wedding you’ll want to use Save the Date cards way in advance to let guests know you are using a special holiday date – to be sure they reserve this date for your wedding instead of for other plans.

You’ll always have a “fun” wedding anniversary. When your wedding anniversary is Valentine’s Day, this day becomes even more romantic and special for the two of you as a couple. Just imagine how wonderful it will be celebrating big anniversaries like your 10^th, 25^th or 50^th wedding anniversary and Valentine’s Day on the same day. Very exciting and also romantic as well. Every restaurant in town will be offering special meals and treats. There will always be lots of fun and romantic things to do over the Valentine’s Day weekend that you can do to celebrate your anniversary.

For the Fellas – A Valentine Proposal?

Wedding Gal's Snarky Cousin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:03:28 +0000

While The Wedding Gal’s Snarky Cousin isn’t always the most romantic creature in the world, nothing gets me right at the heartstrings like a heartfelt and creative wedding proposal. It’s a perfect moment in time, or it can be. It’s not about the right table linens or the perfect bouquet. It’s not about bridesmaid dresses that could ruin friendships or whether or not to serve shellfish at the reception. It’s a moment of maximum potential, when two people first make a commitment to spend their lives together. It’s a fresh, new, unblemished promise – unsullied by seating charts and unruly flower girls.

So you’ve got this perfectly unblemished moment, full of romantic promise and magic, so why not make it happen on what is supposed to be the most romantic day of the year? St. Valentine’s Day!

I know what you’re thinking. How could I, The Wedding Gal’s Snarky Cousin, possibly expect you to believe that Valentine’s Day is actually romantic? A Hallmark holiday that makes every unmatched singleton feel rotten and every person that is in a relationship feel this unfair obligation to buy gifts and confections? Phooey on Valentine’s Day! Right?

WRONG!! St. Valentine, according to one legend, married young lovers in secret when marriage was outlawed by Claudius Gothicus. St. Valentine kept love alive in a time of war and oppression. Romantic, huh? So, in keeping with romantic tradition, here are some do’s and don’t do’s for proposing on Valentine’s Day:

photo by oskay

Say It Sweetly

Conversation Hearts are the best-selling Valentine candy. Made by Necco, they have been printing little sayings on the heart-shaped treats since the 1860’s. The kind of conversation heart you can buy today have been around since 1902. That’s a long history of being a Valentine’s Day staple. Even though the company has tried to make their treats more current with sayings like “E-mail Me,” you can go one better and use a fine grit sandpaper to remove the original message and add your own with a food coloring marker. You can write “Marry Me” on all of them, or you can write what will be her married name on all of them. She’ll get the idea.

DON’T go to all the trouble of sanding off the little phrases on a gajillion candies and then neglect to have something romantic to say. You can do it. Just don’t be all, “I got you this candy” and just stand there and look at her. Creepy, Dude.

photo by CFei

Nothing Beats a Romantic Dinner

I read somewhere that next to home, restaurants are the most popular place for wedding proposals. I read somewhere else that 10% of Valentine proposals happen in restaurants. Somehow that math doesn’t sound right to me, but you can imagine that it happens a lot. We’ve all seen movies. Speaking of movies, see the “Don’t” section below for some more tips, but for now I will say DO take her someplace nice. I know they all tell you to take her to the place you had your first date or the first place you said “I love you.” If your first date was at McDonald’s, you may not want to propose there. Unless she really, really likes McDonald’s. I know I do. But not enough to get engaged there. Do say something sweet to her.

DON’T put her ring in food or drink of any kind. Why? Why would you a) get chocolate or crab dip or champagne all over her nice new ring or b) take the chance that she’ll swallow it and then have to go to the ER and eventually have to have the darn thing removed or….worse? Don’t do it.

photo by autiscy

Say It Loud, Say It Proud

Use a billboard, a scoreboard, a sky-writing airplane, or an ad before a movie showing, but ONLY IF YOU KNOW SHE’S GOING TO SAY YES!!!

DON’T go to all the trouble, expense, and possibility for public humiliation if you have any doubt in your mind that she’s going to balk.

There you have it, Guys. Don’t say I never gave you anything.

Popular Winter Wedding Shower Gifts

Wedding Gal — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:52:28 +0000

Are you attending a winter wedding shower? You’ll want to get the bride something special. That truly makes her feel like a bride and especially something ideal for winter. Fortunately, there are many terrific winter wedding shower gift ideas you’ll love. Try some of our favorites!

The key to giving a winter wedding gift is to think of something ideal for the season. Some gifts simply lend themselves more easily to the season than others do. Giving the bride and groom a gift that is suited for the winter is something that is more thoughtful than you might at first think. If the bride and groom get married during the winter, your giving them a winter themed gift means that they will think of winter and their wedding every time they use it. Some gifts they may use year-round – but for special winter themed gifts they will use them even more during winter months and this will bring a special smile to their faces as they remember their wedding day and the moments they shared with you.

Hot chocolate machine. This is a sweet treat ideal for the bride starting a new life. A winter wedding means moving into a new house when it is cold and often snowy. A hot chocolate machine makes yummy hot chocolate at the push of a button. This tempting treat is sweet and also romantic. Chocolate is actually an aphrodisiac, ideal for newlyweds. Include all of the hot chocolate fixins’ with this gift like whipped cream and sprinkles.

Bread maker. A bread maker machine is a great gift for a new bride. What could be more delicious in the wintertime than hot, freshly made bread? Bread makers today are quite easy to use. A bread maker used to be a bit tricky to operate but today they are rather simple to use and create delicious fresh bread at the push of a few buttons. You can make many varieties of bread in a bread maker.

Ice skating lessons. Many say that the first year of marriage is the hardest. Often couples simply have to adjust to being with each other, and not “dating.” Giving newlyweds ice skating lessons is some romantic fun for them to look forward to. They can have fun on the ice and enjoy ice skating during this winter – and then for every winter following. Your thoughtful gift of ice skating lessons this year could mean they ice skate for the rest of their lives – thinking of you as they start of on the ice! Those couples certainly look happy as they skate side by side holding hands on the ice. We’re sure you’d agree.

Tanning sessions. This might look funny on a winter wedding shower gift list, but the fact is that many winter wedding couples go to tropical destinations for their honeymoon. It is so important to get that base tan for protection before you go into the sun. A nice tan also looks wonderful in your wedding photographs. If the bride and groom enjoy tanning, tanning sessions could be a thoughtful gift they would enjoy. A little imported summer sun for the wintry weather.

Do You Want to Be Your Own Wedding Planner?

Wedding Gal — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:35:12 +0000

Do you want a wedding planner? Many brides dream of having a wedding planner who can give them the wedding of their dreams. But with some planning, preparation and a little creative thinking – you can be your own wedding planner. You’ll save on costs and best of all you will have exactly what you wanted for your own wedding.

Stay organized for the fairytale wedding. When you are trying to coordinate an event that can have up to 300 guests and a wedding party with 20 or so people in it, staying organized is critical. But don’t make staying organized more difficult than it needs to be. One of the best tips is to simply keep everything related to your wedding in a single place. Create or purchase a wedding organization binder to keep your planning, receipts and other materials in. When you can easily put your hands on “the wedding stuff” you’ll find your stress level goes way down – and your fairytale wedding is that much easier to plan.

Put time on your side when planning your wedding. The “typical” wedding can take 1 to 2 years to plan. That is “if” you can get the site you desire and everything in place. Brides and grooms who have their eye on a special venue or site may have to wait a little longer – or if you want to get married in a specific season you will simply have to wait for the calendar pages to turn. Use this time to your advantage when planning your wedding to organize everything and do things in advance. Many bridal magazines give a timeline – consider your own personal desires. Some brides may need additional time if they have more responsibilities to juggle. Other brides may have help putting together their wedding and can do things quicker.

Use your strengths and know your weaknesses as a planner. We all have our talents and we all have our weak points. What are yours? Maybe you are a foodie or a fashion plate. Maybe you are a black belt bargain shopper. Make a list of your wedding planning skills. Then sit down and make a list of the skills you may be lacking in. Are you not good at details? Do number or budgets drive you up a wall? With these skills you will need reinforcement. Ask family, bridesmaids and your groom for help in planning the wedding of your dreams. You may have a bridesmaid who is a foodie when you don’t understand menus as well. Or your mother-in-law may love fashion when you don’t enjoy shopping for clothes at all. When you know your skills and weaknesses, you get things done quicker and with more confidence. Best of all, you have more fun planning your wedding!

Take inspiration from life, bridal sites and other brides for the wedding of your dreams. Your fairytale wedding is a combination of what you always dreamed of as a little girl and what makes everyone happiest today. Many brides have specific things they “must” have at their weddings and that’s okay. You can get great ideas by connecting with other brides to learn today’s bridal trends and hot ideas for your wedding. Or take your own passions, inspirations and include them in your wedding. A wedding should be about the joining of two lives and including things about your two lives gives your wedding truly a polished and complete look. Ask your Groom for ideas about adding to the wedding too!

Winter Weddings – Why Not?

Wedding Gal — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:21:27 +0000

photo by Evandro Miquelito

You might not want to go this extreme with a winter wedding, but you also might not want to wait until spring or summer to tie the knot. There are a lot of cool things (pun TOTALLY intended) that you can do for a winter wedding that you can’t for a wedding in warmer months, so go for it!

Two Words: Snow Globes

photo by graftedno1

You can have snow globes as a part of your centerpiece decorations, you can have snow globes as wedding favors, or you can have really nice, high-end snow globes as your attendant gifts. Everybody loves a nice snow globe!

Excuse to Go Formal

photo by madmolecule

Since you know the reception will be indoors, why not make your wedding a black tie affair? You don’t have to spend a fortune on the food and drink, but it gives everyone a great excuse to don their finery and look their absolute best. Plus, how gorgeous will your photos be?

Food and Drink

photo by photo kitten

A summer reception means that extra sweet, extra warm, and extra decadent is a little over-the-top. Use this winter wedding as an excuse to break out the bisque, serve the cheesecake, and serve up some belly-warming holiday spirits. Two great ones to try? How about eggnog? A classic holiday drink, it’s got a creamy, nutmeggy taste and if you put spiced rum or bourbon in it you’ll have your guests feeling all warm and cozy. Another great? How about a Peppermint Martini with a candy cane rim? Garnish with a mini-candy cane and you’ll have tasty AND pretty cocktails.

Have a wintertime wedding to rival any fairy tale. And make sure you send us some pictures!

Creative Centerpiece Ideas

Wedding Gal's Snarky Cousin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:17:41 +0000

Your wedding is a special day. That’s the understatement of the century – right? Of course it’s special. Not only do you want everything to go smoothly, to look perfect, and to be a fairytale kind of day, you also want your reception to stick out in people’s heads as a first-class event that reflects your personality and style.

If you don’t go in for theme weddings (and let’s face it, not everybody does), you can still spice up your reception with something special on the table. You can go for an artsy-type centerpiece, a fun and interactive centerpiece, or something simply beautiful and memorable. Here are some ideas to get you thinking about the perfect centerpieces for your wedding.

Put Your Guests in the Right “Frame” of Mind

photo by Eggybird

One way to personalize your wedding tablescapes is to use pictures of you and your spouse-to be as part of your centerpiece. You can place votive candles and flowers around the frames, and your guests will have lovely photos of the two of you to entertain them during the really long best man’s speech. You can take it a step further and use a double frame with the photo on one side and a description of the time the photo was taken – be it a vacation, the day you got engaged, etc.

Water, Water Everywhere

photo by Tracy Hunter

Another easy but beautiful option is to float your flowers or candles in a water-filled centerpiece. You can use varying heights of cylindrical vases, like the picture above, or (better yet) get large, flatter bowls and float a candle and some flower blossoms in it. Not only do you have a beautiful, fragrant centerpiece, but your guests can talk to one another without peering around a tall centerpiece.

Build Some Fun

photo by oskay

If your guests have busy hands, fill some large clear bowls with Legos or other building blocks and have them build you little wedding gifts. Better yet, let them build things to take home with them as part of their favors. For an additional Lego good time, rumor has it you can email Lego and they will send you a bride and groom Lego cake topper. How cute is that?

No matter what centerpiece idea you choose, remember this is your day and your chance to express your personality and your flair. Go for it!

The Running of the Brides

Wedding Gal — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:31:41 +0000

Twice yearly, Filene’s department store sponsors a well known event that is recognized around the world wide as The “Running of the Brides”. On the selected day(s), brides line up at the door to participate in a race, in search of their dream wedding gown. Many have already brought along lawn chairs, tents and sleeping bags in anticipation of being amongst the first to grab the best bargains.

The gowns selected for sale are usually available due to cancelled orders, cancelled weddings, or shops needing to relieve their inventory. Many famous labels are included and gowns are usually priced at astonishingly low prices. This “no holds barred” event begins when the doors open and a flood of mostly women, race in to grab as many gowns as possible. Future brides often enlist the help of friends and family members to assist them in the free-for-all. The vast rows of gown –filled racks are said to be often cleared in less than a minute . This race is not for the fainthearted, nor is it the time to be picky in making selections. After all of the initial chaos is over, the real work begins.

Each participant then examines the arms full of gowns to determine whether anything is worth keeping or trying on. Soon the real “wheeling and dealing” begins! Negotiations involve trading amongst the group for correct styles, sizes and prices. Many purchasers enjoy the fun and the high energy surrounding the event, and so attend with a specific shopping strategy in mind. In any case, fun can be had by all.

And yes, men can also attend….if they dare!

Have a Wonderful Winter Wedding!

Wedding Gal — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:18:15 +0000

Winter weddings can be exceptionally beautiful; especially around the holiday season. During that time, many places of worship and commercial venues have already been outfitted in festive colors, and oftentimes come with ready-made celebratory atmospheres. In many cases, very little will be needed in the way of additional decorations. In many parts of the world, snow is prevalent, which can definitely add to the festivities.

However, winter weddings can be subject to their own seasonal challenges. Many a happy couple have had to navigate stormy weather to get to the church on time. Brides often have to find practical (yet elegant ways) to keep warm, while not detracting from the overall look and feel of the occasion. A winter bride may want to consider including either a cloak, cape, shrug, shawl, wrap, bolero, or faux fur stole to her wardrobe.

Certainly each and every delay and/or potential snag cannot be foreseen. However, having a little peace-of-mind ahead of time can prove to be priceless if the occasion should call for it. Before scheduling a winter wedding, having a Plan “B”, just in case things are not pulled off as smoothly as planned can surely be a good thing. So as not to have a stranded bridal party (especially the bride and groom) , an alternate means of transportation may need to be kept at the ready; and contracts made with any venue scheduled to host the reception will need to be examined for clauses that detail what would happen in the event of unavoidable tardiness or a cancellation. Maintaining a list of things that need to be taken into consideration is a great way to keep track. In the meantime, enjoy planning your winter wedding while not forgetting to set a place for Mother Nature….keeping in mind that she reserves the right to be the ultimate Wedding Crasher.

Photo by Anne Ruthmann

My Wedding Ideas - Unique Wedding Ideas & Creative Wedding Tips

Are You A Diva Bride?

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