A Bridal Pep Talk!

Congratulations!   He has finally popped the question, and  you have become officially engaged!  And so now you think that  you’ve got lots of time?

WRONG!

Are you planning on having a Spring wedding?  Do you really think that you are the ONLY one in search of the perfect gown and reception hall?

NOW…is the  time to begin making your plans!  Don’t let Santa, Christmas carols, and the softly falling snow fool you;  RIGHT NOW is when you need to get your butt in gear and at least make a start at pulling it all together.  There is no need to become alarmed, but it is NOW the time when  you need to begin thinking about your guest list, venue, music, attendants, invitations…etc.  While it may still seem to be a long way off, do not assume that your “Plan A” is going to work.  True, you may be the bride; and although your close friends and family members may fall under your spell and give in to your every whim and wish;  keep in mind that the world at large will not be at your beck and call.  Bridezillas are not new on the scene, and so it would be in your best interests not to put yourself in the position of becoming one yourself.

Surely by now you must know that The Ritz-Carlton and Trump Plaza will not, as if by magic, suddenly become available to you, upon learning of your exciting news; and that depending on the complexity of your personal and individual dream, you may also need to have a plan  B, and/or C lined up as well.  Get my drift?  O.K. girl…On your mark…get ready…set…go!

Let the bridal games begin!

Plan a Beautiful Bridal Shower for the Unique Bride

Let’s face it: not every bride dreams of the bridal shower where she’ll eat cucumber sandwiches holding her pinky finger up all day listening to classical music. There are some brides – human brides – who would prefer something a bit more original and different. There are some great ideals for bridal shower themes for unique brides.

Secret #1: Always think of the bride. When it comes to planning the best bridal shower ever, refer to secret #1: always think of the bride. While the bridal shower may involve family, friends and other loved ones – the bridal shower should be an expression of the bride’s personality and taste. It is the ideal time to say something about who the bride is as an adult woman and to celebrate her becoming a married woman. So begin delving into what she likes, what she doesn’t like and what would make her the happiest. It is in uncovering these answers that you’ll find the perfect shower most often for the “unique” bride.

A bridal shower in a unique place can be an excellent choice. If the bride has always loved the aquarium, see if you can plan her bridal shower there. Or if the bride is a history buff, start researching local historical homes open to the public. You may be surprised at how many places are available for special events. Some cost very little and others are exorbitant. But you’ll only know if you ask….

Sometimes the best unique bridal shower exists in creating the “perfect” menu. Is the bride a chocoholic? Have a sweet chocolate theme and serve only desserts and other tempting treats with coffees and teas. Perhaps the bride has been a margarita girl at heart (and who isn’t?)…then try a margarita shower at her favorite Mexican restaurant complete with Mariachi band. The Asian foods bride would appreciate a sushi themed bridal shower. Or the wine loving bride might especially enjoy a bridal shower in a vineyard that featured a wine tasting. Some brides may be very “into” the menu and with others, this may matter little.

With all brides it is critical that those near and dear to her attend. This is not just the unique bride – but for every bride. To plan the perfect unique bridal shower you need to plan it well in advance so loved ones have enough time to travel or prepare to come. You will have a very disappointed bride on your hands if her great grandmother or college roommate cannot attend.

Don’t go bridal shower-zilla on us when it comes to planning. Most people won’t notice napkins that don’t match, if the favors don’t come or if something is spelled wrong. But they will notice the big things. They’ll notice if the bridesmaids and other ladies planning it are stressed about planning the shower – bridal showers should be fun! Shower guests will notice if you’ve run out of ice or cups or napkins. Anyone else who gets too fussy should be reminded it’s the bride’s day to be the fussy one.

Jill Renee, DanforthDiamond.com – Wedding rings, beautiful wedding jewelry and engagement rings.

Practical Wedding Gifts That Don’t Break The Bank

Attending a wedding this winter? You’re probably looking for a wedding gift. Many people get anxious about finding the “perfect” wedding gift – and some go overboard spending way more than they can afford. Especially in today’s economy that can be a big mistake. Fortunately there are some great wedding gifts that don’t break the bank. Let’s talk about some of the bride and groom’s favorites that won’t be returned or wind up in the back of a closet after the honeymoon.

Personalized Photo Album. This is one of the best gifts you can buy them. Most couples spend thousands of dollars getting the best professional photographs they’ll ever have taken in their lives at their weddings. What better way to enjoy them than in a special photo album. But that’s not the only use for a photo album they’ll have. Remember they are often taking a special honeymoon to an exotic destination, a place where they will take many photographs. This photo album could be the one they use for wedding photos or for the honeymoon. Or get them two photo albums – one for each!

Gift Certificate/Card to a Restaurant. This a perfect gift to get a newlywed couple. Many newlywed couples find that their relationship changes, that they just don’t go out on “dates” the way they used to. Your gift certificate to a restaurant is an easy way to enjoy an evening out without the added expense to the family budget. Pick a restaurant that is near their home so they don’t have to think or plan extra hard about going out. You may be surprised, but this is often one of the bride and groom’s most favorite gifts.

Cookbooks. A cookbook is an ideal gift to get a newlywed. So is a subscription to a cooking magazine. Even if the bride or groom have been living on their own for some time, getting married often means adjusting your cooking styles. A cookbook offers some ideas and suggestions to make new meals together and find great family favorite meals. You could be creating family traditional meals by giving this cookbook!

Genealogical Research. This is a fun gift to give a newly wed couple. You can find professional genealogists and online services. Many brides and grooms are curious to learn more not only about the family they’ve married into, but about their own birth families after they have married. Learning genealogy is a wonderful gift. Especially if they have children or are planning a family. This is something they will treasure as they learn about new and old family relatives.

Gas Card. While this doesn’t sound like a very exciting gift, most bride and grooms would be thrilled to see a gas card as a gift. Gas is a regular expense – and weddings are expensive. Your gas card would offer great convenience and could make the difference between taking a quick family getaway for the weekend – or not being able to do it. Most major gas stations offer gas cards.

Jill Renee, owner of DanforthDiamond.com, specializing in diamond engagement rings.

15 Things I Learned from Being a Bridesmaid

Being a bridesmaid is a great honor but for grown-ups, being the bridesmaid, or worse, the maid of honor for one of your best friends can be an experience that you may not want to repeat too often or ever again!

Here are 15 things I learned as a bridesmaid veteran of five weddings:

1. Remember it’s not your day!  The bride is the center of attention and it is her big day so be prepared to cater for her every whim.  After all, as bridesmaid you only have to deal with Little Miss’ tantrums and spats for a few rehearsals and the day of the wedding, after that the poor guy she’s marrying has to deal with her for life;
2. While you may not be the center of attention as far as the wedding is concerned, you can be assured of being the center of attention for lots of guys!  I should know because I met my husband when I was a bridesmaid for the 4^th time but be careful if you are thinking this will be a great way to find a catch because:
3. Never, and I mean NEVER! Let a guy open the door and escort you if he calls you “Sugar”, “Babe” or worse, “Sugarbabe!”;
4. Do not let a bride convince you to wear grapevine as headgear.  Yes you can still find it, on a remote hillside in South Carolina on property owned by a gun toting hillbilly aged 72 and related to Jed Clampett as both his brother and second uncle;
5. Wearing woven grapevine leaves marks, both physical and emotional, which last for up to 6 months, if you have the choice, wear a crown of thorns instead;
6. Glue guns are a great invention for people who want to stick things and are not worried about whether they will explode or not – just remember that glue guns do overheat and will overheat because they are going to get a lot of use and as bridesmaid, you have to pitch in;
7. Brides want everyone to wear matching ear rings so be prepared to get your ears pierced if you haven’t already done so;
8. If you are asked to write a speech, do not retell the time when your “Best Friend”, who is getting married, was violently ill after drinking too much and ended the evening clinging to the toilet, swearing the world was ending and she couldn’t let it go because there was an earthquake (we lived in Ohio at the time);
9. If you are serious about catching the bouquet when the bride throws it, make sure you are wearing an outfit which will hold you in, as falling out of the top of your dress while stretching for the flowers can be very revealing resulting in more guys calling you “Sugar”, “Babe” etc;
10. Do NOT get drunk at the reception!;
11. The old saying, “Always a bridesmaid and never a bride!” is simply not true, I’m happily married to my husband whom I met when serving as a bridesmaid at wedding number 4;
12. Do everything you can to convince the bride that bridesmaid can get out of their dresses and into practical dress as soon as possible for the evening.  If she won’t budge on this, make sure the bridesmaids dresses are comfortable and practical if you have to spend the day in them;
13. The same applies to shoes!
14. Buying gifts for the bride and groom should really be about getting them things they will enjoy – people buy the most boring and unoriginal gifts which cost a fortune but the ones that make an impression are the ones where a lot of thought has gone into them;
15. Being a bridesmaid for five friends I am not interested in repeating the experience unless by new baby girl really wants me to do it for her !

Danforth Diamond, online wedding jewelry and fine engagement rings.

Alternatives to The Wedding Veil

Many brides today are choosing to not wear a wedding veil. Looking at the bridal magazines more and more bride models are shown without veils. Are the styles changing so brides will now go veil-less? Only time will tell. But if you do wish to be without a veil, there are a number of lovely options for the blushing bride.

Fresh flowers are one of the most popular options for the bride without a veil. These brides have fresh flowers created into a custom-made headdress they wear. This is an ideal choice for brides who feel especially close to nature or want to celebrate the seasons. Flowers are also very romantic. You may choose a flower to design your headdress around that your groom first gave you when he was courting you. That expression gives your bridal ensemble much more meaning than choosing a wedding veil. Fresh flowers can be worn any time of year with the assistance of a florist.

Tiaras are another excellent choice for many brides. Who could resist a bit of sparkle on their wedding day? The bride who chooses a tiara often has an elegant or evening themed wedding. Compliment your tiara with some sparkly jewelry if you can – as your tiara will be flattered with the extra shimmer and shine. Many women dream of being a princess or a queen for the day and a tiara makes their dream come true!

Theme weddings often make it possible for a bride to forego a traditional wedding veil. Some brides during the Halloween season have all of their guests dress in costume – right along with the bride and groom. Depending on what type of costumes the bride and groom have chosen, a wedding veil may not be the ideal expression she wants. She can get just as pretty a “bride” look from a wedding bouquet, lovely jewelry or fancy shoes.

Wraps are also quite popular and another choice for the bride who wishes to forego the wedding veil. With a wedding veil the eye is naturally brought down to your neck and shoulders. You have the same “eye appeal” when you choose a beautiful wrap. Many bridal stores like David’s Bridal now carry wedding wraps to compliment wedding dresses. A wrap can be perfect for a Winter wedding in a faux or real fur. Or a silk or linen fabric for the Spring and Summer. You have many options when you choose a wrap.

Stunning wedding jewelry is an ideal choice for the bride that doesn’t wish to wear a veil. There are so many choices when you choose jewelry to compliment your wedding dress. You could wear heirloom jewelry from your grandmother and mother. Or you could wear jewelry ideal for the theme of your wedding. Your new husband may even give you special jewelry to wear for your wedding day. Or you could have jewelry custom designed for this day to celebrate your union.

If you choose not to have a wedding veil, know that there are many options to stay just as lovely a bride as you would like to be. Every bride deserves to express her originality and personal style as she says her vows and dances for the first time with her new husband.

Tiara photo by robleto

Creative Wedding Favors

The wedding favours were little figurines that were boxed as matching pairs. Chad found an amusing way of playing with these little bubble bottoms; using them to head butt each other. We found 2 minutes of pleasure in this.

To a new bride and groom, wedding guests are special. Each guest has been painstakingly selected based on love, friendship, family dynamics and ‘other reasons’ that maybe only the marrying couple is aware of. For the invited guests, a memento or two can be a nice reminder of that special day.

Matchbook covers, candies, as well as other traditional items have been offered in the past; and brides often spend hours and hours poring over magazines and then selecting large quantities of these trinkets…usually out of exasperation, and then quickly start placing orders without a moment’s hesitation. Why? Well…because it is expected of them. Many of the items, although cute…can be quite useless; and many end up in boxes and junk drawers. Over the last few years, the selections have changed considerably, and there are quite a number of different types of wedding favors to choose from these days.

For example: Wine stoppers, small digital clocks, personalized golf balls, miniature manicure sets, sewing kits, coasters, and book marks can be wonderful alternatives to candy and salt shakers. These items can be selected based on budget, and then personalized and packaged in ways that fit in beautifully with the wedding’s theme and personalities of the bride and groom.

Many of these gifts, although high-tech, can be surprisingly inexpensive. Mercifully, items of more practical use can now be given to the honored guests. Please keep in mind: Wedding favors are usually different than bridal shower favors, in that they are less “frou-frou”, and have a much broader guest appeal. This ultimately requires that a wedding couple recognize the difference between them; and make their selections accordingly. And so, if enough thought is given to choosing of your special wedding favors; your guests can be both…grateful , as well as delighted!

Article from DanforthDiamond, providing wedding rings and eco-friendly jewelry. Source for wedding favors.

Photo by Sifu Renka

“I Do” or Don’t Wear a Wedding Veil

Wedding veils are a hot topic these days. Brides of your mother’s time can remember the moment when their groom would lift their veil to reveal their face for the first time as a married woman to have that kiss as man and wife. Some contemporary brides are choosing to say “I don’t” when it comes to a wedding veil. Others are adding wedding veils to their bridal ensemble to look more beautiful than ever.

Brides who wear wedding veils can count on them for a dramatic look. This is one of the biggest arguments bride-to-be’s make when it comes to staying contemporary and selecting a wedding veil. These brides will say their wedding veil is a true showstopper look and going without it makes their bridal ensemble look “incomplete.”

But brides who choose to go without a veil can often get a stunning look with other accessories. A rhinestone or gemstone tiara for example, glitters and shines and is an ideal accent. A headdress created from fresh flowers is a beautiful look that doesn’t have to be limited to Spring or Summer weddings. Talk to your florist about creating a lovely Winter or Fall themed bridal headdress. Wraps such as faux or real fur are another attention grabber at a wedding that can make guests completely forget you are veil-less.

For many contemporary brides the choice to wear a veil is not simply about fashion – it is a traditional choice. These brides remember being little girls playing “bride” with their pillowcases and looking at Mommy’s picture in her wedding dress with her lovely veil. The veil to them means “bride” in every sense of the word. To not have a veil would be missing out on something very special. This bride puts on her wedding veil with her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother in her heart on her wedding day.

But other brides don’t like some of the old wedding traditions and want to be seen as a completely contemporary bride. They see wearing a wedding veil as putting themselves in a traditional mold they long to break out of. This contemporary bride may not even wear a classic white wedding dress or have a unique wedding bouquet of wildflowers or other flowers not usually seen. The contemporary bride of today has many more choices than her mother or grandmother. She chooses to exercise these choices in every way – especially when it comes to her wedding veil.

Many know that the wedding veil traditionally covers the bride’s face. This custom comes from the times when many couples did not actually meet until their wedding day. As hard or unusual as this may seem to so many of us, these weddings happened all the time. Some wonder if the wedding veil was meant to mask the bride – it was more meant to reveal her face to her husband as a new bride at that very moment – just to his eyes.

Whether you choose to keep the wedding veil or to go veil-less, know that you will be a beautiful bride on your wedding day!

Photo by aprillynn77

Wedding White

White is white…right?  Wrong!  Any woman in search of that perfect wedding gown will be the first to tell you that she has discovered otherwise.  After waltzing into her local bridal shop;  and being faced with row upon row of gorgeous white wedding dresses, many a bride, has been shocked to discover that there are countless shades of white…There are : creamy whites, eggshell whites, brilliant whites, white whites,  blue whites; as well as other hues of white that she may never have dreamed of! For many, this has been a rude awakening, and an unexpected ‘punch’!

With all of these shades of white around, how do you decide which is the right one for you?   A good place to start would be with your own skin tone.  The shade you select, should be one that is best for you.  First of all, you will need to know whether your skin tone is either cool, warm or olive.  Experts tell us that if your skin tone is ‘cool’, bright white is often the right choice; as its blue undertone very easily complements this particular skin type.   If your skin tone is ‘warm’,  because of its creaminess, a soft, ivory shade may be the one for you.  Olive toned skin requires a  not-so-stark ’white’ that is on the deeper end of the spectrum.  Ecru and antique white can often show off a skin tone of this type to its best advantage.

While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to selecting the gown of your choice, it is nice to know that there are resources available to assist you in choosing one that will help you to look your best on your very special day.

Additional Source: EisemanColorBlog.com

Why Wedding Reception Invitations?

Wedding invitations and wedding speeches are important part of the planning, however they can have different style and type just like fall wedding invitations.
Why are wedding reception invitations different from the wedding invitations as such? The arrangement doesn’t suit everybody due to the higher costs that it involves. It seems that if the wedding ceremony and the party occur in the same place, wedding reception invitations are not necessary. On the other hand, if the party is held somewhere else, then separate cards are sent.

Wedding reception invitations give guests a good idea about where they need to go, and they are normally mailed together with the wedding invitations but on separate cards. Moreover, it is also necessary to add a response card in the envelope so that the guests may confirm their participation. Such a detail is very important given the fact that you need to make arrangements with the caterers for the party, and you have to know how much food and drink to order.

In special cases, the ceremony is organized in a very quiet and simple mode, while the reception takes place at a later time when all the friends and family members join the couple. Wedding reception invitations are meant to provide all the necessary details. Consequently, you will send more wedding reception invitations than wedding invitations.

Then, it is good to know that the wedding and the reception invitations have to follow the same decorative line although they are designed in a different way. Use common elements for uniformity, but also distinctive patterns to allow a differentiation between the two types of invitations. You can use the same envelope for mailing but with different pockets, and, for the reception, you should not forget to add the response card too.

Do not overlook costs: you will pay more when you have separate wedding reception invitations because the number of items will be double. There are ways to cope with the money challenge if you buy discounted cards or if you choose the do-it-yourself solution, printing all the cards starting from distinct free templates. When the budget is very tight, be as inventive as you can to keep costs minimum and to achieve good aesthetic effects and a positive feedback from your guests.

The Most Expensive Wedding Dresses in the World

No matter who you are, the bride’s wedding dress is going to make a big dent in your budget and as many a man has discovered, whether he be the bride’s father or the groom who are paying for it, they end up being highly perplexed that a dress which is only to be worn once can cost so much money.  When you are dealing with cost issues in your wedding, it may help you to consider that these items, and the wedding dress ranks very high up there with them, are not so much about “cost” as about the value they give – the look and feeling they give to the bride, the groom and the assembled cast who are participating in the wedding.

As the credit card advert says, “Priceless!”

From the humble wedding to the sublime or ridiculous, you can take your pick; we have the wedding dresses where money is clearly no object and nothing has been spared for delivering the ultimate creation.

The most expensive wedding dress in the world to date is the USD $12 million creation, known as The Diamond Wedding Gown, which was the result of a collaboration between Renee Strauss (owner of a super successful, wedding salon in Beverley Hills) and Martin Katz, a rare jewel dealer.  The dress itself uses over 150 carats of diamonds and to give you an idea of what this means, the typical engagement ring rarely hits a full carat and hovers around the half-carat mark.

The Diamond Wedding Gown was premiered in 2008 and took the title of the most expensive wedding dress in the world from a design by Yumi Katsura of Japan.  Her creation followed the same traditional white design as The Diamond Wedding Gown, but came in at a paltry USD $8.5 million though it does lay claim to containing over 1,000 pearls and one of only two 5 carat white gold diamonds in the world.

Coming down to the mid-range in terms of expense, we have the Peacock Feather Wedding Dress which was launched in 2009 and contains 2009 peacock feathers to commemorate the year.  For a miserly USD $1.5 million you can have the ultimate in mating display for your wedding day and for the non-traditionalists, it isn’t white.  One word of caution here, with a display of male peacock feathers of such grandeur, you should not be so surprised to find the bride being trailed by a long line of brown hens!

We have to take all of these dollar values with a pinch of salt given the recent economic wrangling; Vera Wang who is the wedding dress designer to the stars and claimed the most expensive dress she’s ever made was the unused wedding dress for the J-Lo/Affleck marriage that never was, is now selling her wedding dresses at a 50% discount compared to last year.

Finally, there is a chance for all of us to get into something, expensively uncomfortable, and then hang it in the closet for the rest of our lives!

Written by an authority on wedding ring sets, engagement rings and fine jewelry. Danforth Diamond provides wisdom and advice to help you choose the right engagement ring at the best price. Visit DanforthDiamond.com or call 877.404.RING

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