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!

Tips for Choosing a Wedding Dress

Wedding Gal — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:02:01 +0000

If you grew up like I did with a romantic vision of what my wedding should be like, then no matter how many questions there are to ask yourself, you’re sure of one thing, it needs to be perfect. Nowadays not everyone appears as concerned about finding the perfect dress, but for most of us – deep inside – it really does matter.

As soon as you begin planning or the big day, choosing your wedding dress becomes an urgent need for most brides. Nobody wants to wait. While dealing with wedding stress and preparations, be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to try on different styles and find the one who says “you”.

The theme of your wedding will be an important point when selecting that special dress. Are you getting married on the beach? If so, you might choose a light airy style. Have you decided on a formal affair? Then by all means, go all out and wear a white dress covered in silk and lace. Whatever type of occasion your wedding will be, your dress will play one of the most important roles in it!

It’s also important to think about the month and season you are getting married in. If you are having a middle of summer wedding, then you probably shouldn’t wear a wedding dress with double layers or long sleeves. After all, this is supposed to be the most memorable day of your beginning together. You don’t want the biggest memory to be how much you sweated through the whole ceremony!

When choosing a wedding dress, try on comfortable styles. Walk around in them, if kneeling is part of your ceremony, then kneel in the dress. You need to certain that you will be comfortable in your choice. The beauty of the dress is only half of your decision – the other half is looking beautiful, happy and elegant. And you won’t look – or be – happy if you are holding your breath so seams do not pop or you’re itchy from the lace on your arms.

One mistake that a lot of brides tend to make when choosing a wedding dress is with the size. If you are planning on losing weight before your big day, do not buy a dress the size you think you may be come the wedding day. Instead buy the size you are on the day you choose the dress. It will always be easier to take a dress in if it is too big. It’s an awful job trying to add material for a dress that ended up being too small.

With the expense of weddings, some couples try and cut back by making their own flowers, having a family member bake the wedding cake or hiring a friend to take wedding photos. Although it is okay to cut back and still have your dream wedding, don’t skimp when choosing your wedding dress. If you cannot afford to hit a wedding boutique and pay their prices, try wedding consignment shops, who offer ‘like new’ dresses at an affordable price. Remember too that there are many discount wedding dress shops.

Whatever style, color or price range you eventually decide on when choosing your wedding dress, don’t forget that it’s you your fiancé fell in love with, not your dress. The dress adds to the ambiance of the day, but it isn’t the real centerpiece.
After you have chosen your wedding dress hang it in the bag it comes in and don’t show it to everybody. Give guests something to look forward to when they see you for the first time walking down the aisle. And unless it is truly unavoidable, don’t let your future husband see your dress at all before the wedding. They say it’s bad luck and even if that’s just a superstition, it certainly does spoil his surprise!

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