Gifts for the Bride: Take 1 - Non-Traditional Bachelorette Party Gift

If you're my age (yes, I'll admit I'm 30), you've probably been to your share of bachelorette parties. And everyone knows the bride recieves plenty of lovely lingerie at these events. But if the bride is having a pretty large party (so you know she'll be getting plenty of lacey numbers), and you know she's visiting the beach on her honeymoon, it might be fun for a couple of friends to put together a beach-styled gift. You could throw together some items like a white bikini, flirty cover up, floppy hat, flip flops, trendy beach bag, and an elegant beach towel. In other words, you're helping her be a sexy, stylish bride outside of the bedroom too :)

From Top (L-R):

1. White Bikini from J Crew
2. Ruffle Cover Up Dress from Victoria's Secret
3. Velor Block Print Beach Towel from Lands End
4. Beach Hat from Luxury Divas
5. Retro in White Flip Flops from Havaianas USA
6. Lacoste Summer Terry Cloth Bag from Zappos

Inspiration Board #5: Spring Fling - Melon, Peach, Yellow, Orange

I was driving back from the Detroit airport today and noticed massive clumpings of daffodils in full bloom off of I-94. I decided to use these lovely signs of spring as inspiration to create a lively, bright theme perfect for this time of year. Warm and inviting colors with a few narcissus thrown in = a sassy mix of class and comfort.

1. Dahlia Gown by Simple Silhouettes
2. 320 Park Avenue in New York via EMRG Media
3. Striped Neck Tie from Ties-Necktie.com
4. Boutonniere from Wedding Flowers Guide
5. Cool Passport Invitations found on Ars Lounge
6. LulaKate Bridal Bridesmaid Dresses via Lucky in Love Wedding Blog
7. Bouquet shown on Australia Entertains
8. Serrano Ham and Melon photos from The Flirty Guide
9. Raspberry Lemon Pie from Thimbelanna
10. Ticket from Amemptos Music (UK)
11. Flower Hair Combs shown on Martha Stewart Weddings via Bridal Wave
    

Inspiration Board #4: Vintage Wedding at the Pinnacle Golf Club; Brown, Cream, Bronze

Meghan and Justin have pretty much decided on the elegant Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City, OH for the location of their wedding and reception (I'll blog about Pinnacle later). Since they now know the place and the theme, I decided to take an initial stab at creating a vintage-inspired board customized for the location.

Some of my favorite ideas in this board include the necklaces in Jim Hjelm's bridesmaid dress photos(they completely make the outfit and have that vintage-elegance Meghan is seeking), using monograms on napkins, parasols, etc (that along with her lace bridal gown = classic, timeless elegance), and accessorizing the decor with vintage items such as necklaces and keys.

BTW...I'll blog later about an idea I have for a super unique entrance "tree" that combines seating locations and favors all in one (hint - it involves buying up some vintage jewelry lots on eBay).

1. Clubhouse @ the Pinnacle Golf Club– Red Gallery Photography via The Caspersons's Wedding Page (no longer exists?)
2. Wedding arch at the Pinnacle Golf Club
3. Men’s Suit – Jims via Wedding by Color
4. Cameo Lot found on eBay
5. Vintage Car via Long Stowe Hall (UK)
6. Monogrammed Parasol via Australia Entertains
7. Cake via the Cake Channel
8. Faux Vintage Polaroid by Crazy Leaf Design (Tutorial)
9. Typewriter Guest Book from Wedding Bee
10. Peach Bouquet from Vintage Design Company
11. Vintage Keys found on eBay
12. Vintage Photo - Unknown
13. Chandeliers from Pinnacle Golf Club
14. Jim Hjelm Occasions Dress in Style: jh5716
15. Paper Fan via All You Need to Wear
16. Jim Hjelm Bridesmaid Dress in Style: jh5736
17. Jim Hjelm Bridesmaid Dress in Style: jh5708
18. Bouquet - Photo by Rare Image Photography via Flickr
19. Cream Wire Lantern from Global Event Supplies
20. Faux Vintage Postcard by Red Leaf Studios
21. Vintage Bridal Shoes via The Bridal Wishlist Blog
22. Ring Pillow by Paper Hill (sold on Etsy) via Pink Streed Design Blog
23. Table filled with candles photo by Jennifer Dery – Wedding at the Four Seasons
24. Tree Centerpieces - Unknown
25. Monogrammed Napkins via Escape Concepts

(If you recognize a photo on here and know the source, drop me a note - I want to give credit where credit's due!)

Save the Dates

Meghan and Justin have decided on a vintage theme for their wedding. With that in mind, Meghan and I were trying to brainstorm ideas for Save the Date cards. I thought vintage-style postcards might be fun (besides allowing them to save a little bit of money on postage) and started playing with some potential designs. Here is a sample of what I came up with. My favorite touch is the custom postmarks that have each of their last names, their birthdays and town in which they grew up. And obviously the photo would be their TBD engagement pics - they're thinking some might be cute with Justin's vintage pickup truck - which would definitely compliment their chosen theme.

Going Dress Shopping

Meghan came into town a couple of weekends ago so I could take her on her first dress hunting trip. We ended up visiting three bridal shops in the Detroit area - which was just the right amount...I think any more stops and we really would have been sick of wedding dresses :) Our favorite place was the second shop we visited - I Do Too Bridal in Plymouth. Not only were the sales attendants super helpful and friendly, the shop layout made it comfortable to try on dresses (even with multiple brides in the store at one time). Additionally no appointments are necessary and their prices are very reasonable. When we first arrived, we picked out a few dresses for Meghan to try on and once our sales person learned which styles she tended to like, they brought out more. The dress that is in the lead for her right now is a Maggie Sottero gown called Shirley (below) in a color called "light gold." It was a dress we probably wouldn't have every pulled off the rack due to the color. But once she tried it on we were sold...simple, lacey, elegant, just enough of a train, and light enough to be appropriate for an outdoor wedding. Since this dress is in the lead she's now thinking of a vintage-inspired theme for the wedding. I'm getting excited and can't wait to brainstorm some inspiration boards for her!

Before going to shop for a gown, it's good to do a little bit of pre-work. First, know what types of dresses and design cues compliment your body shape. Nordstrom actually has some good tips on their Dress Shop Fit Guide that not only helps you identify your body shape, but tells you what types of dresses will compliment you. I discovered my shape is called a pear, which means "Fuller at the hips and bottom and smaller on top. Dresses with fitted, open-neck or strapless tops enhance your upper body and draw the eye up, while full or A-line skirts help hide wider hips. Darker colors camouflage your lower half."

Second, it helps to look at dress sites online and pick out styles you like. Keep in mind how you think the shape will fit your body. For example, if you're larger, you probably don't want a poofy, oversized ball gown as it will make you look even bigger, but you will want something that flares a little and isn't clingy. Finally, before visiting shops, do some research. Find out what other brides have said about their experiences there and try to avoid stuffy shops that have ridiculous policies like not letting you take photos of the bride-to-be in the gowns. (We followed a strategy to take a picture of the tag on the dress and then of the dress from multiple angles once Meghan tried it on. This helped us remember which gowns we liked the best when we got home).

Inspiration Board #3: Champagne & Lace, Spring Pastels

Since it's starting to warm up here in Michigan and I've been seeing Easter decorations in all of the stores, I was inclined to create a soft, pastel-themed inspiration board. The first photo I found was from the National Park Service - Big Spring Park - and thought it fit the image of the ideal spring wedding perfectly.

1. Men’s Suit from Loris Diran (Spring 2007) via AH Fashion
2. Table Setting from Roland Kreig Photographic Print via All Posters (UK)
3. Big Spring Park via the National Park Service
4. Mui Mui Ballet Flats via Mindless Ramblings & Misadventures of Miss Clio Blog
5. Mui Mui Ballet Flats via Mindless Ramblings & Misadventures of Miss Clio Blog
6. Invitation by Invitations by Nature
7. Fine Silver Stamped Spiral Ring – Wear Me Jewels (Etsy)
8. Love and Romance Bouquet from 4165 Flower
9. Wooden Utensils – Michelle and Noah’s picnic wedding from the Bride’s Café via East Side Bride Blog
10. Folk Art Bunnies – Old World Primatives (Etsy)
11. Dress - Think of Strenesse's strapless dress via Cynthia Nellis (About.com)

Budget Saving Tips

We all know weddings can be expensive! But if you get creative, there are many ways you can shrink your spending without compromising the experience both you and your guests have at your once-in-a-lifetime affair. Here are some ideas:

• Cake: Keeping up with this tradition can be a major expense but there are ways to cut back on costs. First, select a smaller cake for "the display" and use pre-cut sheet cake to serve to guests. Second, choose buttercream instead of fondant frosting. Not only is it cheaper, it tastes much better! Another option would be to just do a dessert bar, skipping the cake all-together. I’ve heard of people using cupcakes or even miniature pies along with desserts made by family and friends. This adds a personal touch to the event and a down-home feel while keeping some cash in your pockets.


• Invitations: For all you craft-bugs, there are endless options for making your own invitations, RSVPs, Save the Dates, etc. (I'll talk more about this in a future entry since my sister and I plan to take on this task for her wedding). Another way to save costs on your invitations is to use postcards for reply cards ilo a card with an envelope. Not only do you save the cost of the extra envelope, but you avoid paying extra postage (postcard stamps are cheaper!). Also, avoid square invites or mail them in rectangular envelopes since squares envelopes require additional postage.


• Photographer: One of my rules is to never skimp on photography. However, there are many talented photographers out there who may not be well known...yet. Before making your final photographer selection, check out local photography/art schools and assistant photographers to larger named professionals. You may find a perfect photograher at a great price since some of these individuals are working to put a professional portfolio together and are willing to work for less to pull it together. I would have them take a few shots of you and your fiance as well as show you photos they have taken at other events and of people to give you an idea of the quality of their work and style before hiring them however.


• When - Day of the Week or Time of the Year: Who says you have to stick with tradition? Many venues will offer deals if you hold your event on a Friday night -or- Sunday Brunch. Also, selecting off-months (i.e. October thru April) and avoiding holidays and major flower holidays (Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, etc) should result in lower rental fees.


• More Fillers, Fewer Flowers: Besides not picking to have your wedding during major flower holidays, utilize the use of pretty fillers instead of flower-rich arrangements. I have seen some beautiful arrangements done with branches or leafy greens. It also helps to select locally grown flowers that are in season.
  
• Multi-Purpose: Think about making your decorations work double-shifts. For example, bouquets carried by your bridesmaids become part of centerpieces, favors and place cards become one in the same, etc.


• Bar Saver: First of all, if you're able to find a place that allows you to supply your own alcohol, you're going to save a ton of money (venue mark-ups are huge!). Second, stick to beer and wine and add a "signature" drink instead of having a fully stocked bar.

DIY Wedding Decorations

I've always been a fan of homemade decorations for parties especially when they produce beautiful, professional-looking results. Here are some great ideas for DIY Wedding decorations...to help you save some money while making your event truly beautiful and purely customized.


Below are the sources for these ideas - and most links include how-to instructions!

1. DIY Monogram Runner - Do-It-Yourself Weddings (Another alternative to the white fabric would be to use a custom cut, natural fiber runner)
2. Mason Jar Lanterns - A Backyard Wedding Blog
3. Menu Blackboard -A Backyard Wedding Blog (Would be easy and cheap to re-create using a piece of wood painted with chalkboard paint)
4. Car Pom Poms - Martha Stewart
5. Paper Pew Wreath - Martha Stewart
6. Flowery Swizzle Sticks - Martha Stewart
7. Tissue Dahlia Pom Poms - Martha Stewart
8. Twig Centerpieces - Brides (These happen to use tall, clear vases filled with aqua-colored gel, curly willow branches, white orchids and balls of moss)
9. Wheat Grass Centerpieces - DIY Wedding
10. Photo Garland - This Young House Blog
11. Herb Name Cards - Intimate Weddings
12. Branch Candle Holders - Nuptial Nattering (These are from Pottery Barn, but you could easily make some similar ones if you have access to a saw and a drill press)
13. Luminarias - DIY Wedding
14. Clustering of Wedding Photos - Edyta Szyszlo (I like the idea of finding old frames, painting them all one color and showcasing things like your engagement pics mingled with old family wedding photos)
15. Tissue Paper Napkin Rings - Martha Stewart
16. Birds Nest Ring "Pillows" - Elizabeth Anne Designs (Even a simple, grapevine birds nest from the craft store with a few flowers and ribbon stuck to the edges would be beautiful)
    

Some Other DIY Wedding Ideas I LOVE:

• Recipe Cards: Send a blank recipe card with your invitations and ask people to bring a recipe to the wedding and use it instead of a guest book. Alternatively, you could have an open recipe box with some of your favorite recipes on it at the guest table and instruct each person to take one as a gift from the bride and groom.
• Fruit for Centerpieces: I've always liked the look of clear glass containers filled with fresh fruit ilo a traditional flower centerpiece...and guests can take the fruit home with them.
• DIY Photo Booth - Instead of renting an expensive photo booth, hang a sheet on a wall, add a custom "photo booth" sign, and leave some fun accessories (feather boas, glasses, hats, etc.) and a Polaroid camera on a table next to it. Guests can then take photos of themselves and write a message on the bottom of the Polaroid. After your wedding, you can then put the photos into a memory book ilo having a traditional guest book. This idea is great because it showcases the varied personalities of your friends and family.
• Custom Bride/Groom Chair Covers - This is a nice option for brides who don't want use chair covers (which in my opinion look cluttered/stuffy) or rent expensive Chiavari chairs (for a crazy $8-on-up per chair!). Rent white resin folding chairs for around $2.50 per chair (this is often cheaper than renting chair covers) and purchase two chair covers from your local Target, Wal-Mart, etc. (or make your own if you're good with a sewing machine). Embellish the back of the two chair covers with a monogram, silk flowers, beads, etc. and put them on the bride and groom's chairs at the reception. Savers Tip: Many stores have chair covers deeply discounted after the holidays.

Cute Wedding Accessories: Printed Peep-Toe Pumps

I'm a sucker for funky printed shoes - especially if they're stilettos and look great with a cute summer dress. So when I was looking at Overstock.com the other day, you can imagine my surprise when I discovered they had such a fantastic selection of patterned pumps! Several of these gems would make perfect accessories to dress up those common, solid bridesmaid dresses. A little pop of pattern, a peek of painted toe, and a nice little lift from a pretty pair of pumps...can I be your bridesmaid? :)

Shoes from Top - L-R:

1. Naughty Monkey Wavelength Striped Peep Toe Pumps - $49.99
2. Naughty Monkey Basic Instinct - $49.99
3. Exchange by Charles David Fuss in Green Fabric – $45.29
4. Paris Hilton Nichole Green Cheetah – $46.58
5. Misbehave by Aldi – Floral Embroidered Pumps – $32.99
6. Tribeca Net Prime Grape Satin – $32.35
7. Betsey Johnson Mackenzie Aqua/Silver – $103.52
8. Naughty Monkey Nature Calls in Red – $35.58
9. Betseyville Bernidette Yellow – $54.35
10. Tribeca Prime Sailor Blue – $32.35
11. Gabriella Rocha Nikki Light Green Fabric – $29.50
12. Naughty Monkey Sucker Brown – $48.52
13. Jessica Simpson Peers Scarlett Gingham – $46.58
14. AK Anne Klein Torie Black/White Fabric – $44.64
15. Rsvp Agneta White - $39.47
16. Chinese Laundry Darcie Natural/Red - $37.52
17. Enzo Angiolini Peep Toe Stilleto Pumps - $59.99

Wedding Etiquette - Deciding Who To Invite

After setting a budget, the next logical step in wedding planning is to pull together your invite list. Completing this task early in the process determines the appropriate size of your event, confirms whether or not your budget is realistic, and helps you figure out where the wedding/reception should be held based on how many out-of-town guests you may expect and what reception venues will physically fit your party.

Deciding who to invite to a wedding can be a very stressful process. Many couples feel obligated to invite people due to pressures from their family or peers. And sometimes there will be disagreements over the number of potential invitees since the bride and groom have different approaches to their decision making. So how do you reach a consensus and figure out who makes the list and who doesn't?

To create an invite list, I first recommend the bride and groom go off on their own and determine who they would like to attend (along with some parental input re: relatives and close family friends). Then the two of them should combine the lists into one and go through some basic questions together to classify each person into the following bins: Must Invite, Back-up List, Remove from List. Here are some questions that may help with this process:

• How long has it been since you last talked to this person? If this is a person you only "talk" to in a yearly Christmas card, or you haven't seen them in several years (even if they were your "best friend" at the time) chances are they aren't close enough to you now to be invited to your wedding.
• Are they mutual friends? If not, how much does this person know about the person you are marrying? If the person is a good friend, they should know quite a bit about the most important person in your life.
• Are you only inviting them because they invited you to their wedding or you were in their wedding years ago? Friendships can change over the years so it's perfectly appropriate to not invite someone whose wedding you attended several years ago (even if you were a bridesmaid).
• Would you call this person after the birth of your child? If you'd call them in person they definitely should be invited. If they're someone you would add to a mass distribution e-mail they should be on your back-up list. If you would just let them find out on Facebook or MySpace they shouldn't be invited.
• Are you inviting them just because they're a co-worker and you're afraid of hurting their feelings? You should only invite co-workers if you consider them to be a close friend. One way of putting this into perspective: When was the last time you spent time with this person in a social setting - outside of work?
• Has this person met both of you? If you have been together as a couple for two or more years, everyone on your wedding invite list should have met your fiance at least once.
• If you are planning to exclude children from your event, will this person understand your desire to have an adult-only wedding? It's perfectly appropriate to ask guests to leave their children at home. However, most sites recommend being very clear with this desire since some people don't understand etiquette. In other words, you should leave the children's names off the card when addressing the invitation -and- have "Adults Only" printed on the details for the wedding &/or reception.
• Overall, couples should remember their wedding is an intimate celebration to be shared with people who mean a great deal to them and who have made a positive impact on their lives. If someone on the invite list does not fit this bill they definitely shouldn't be invited!

I found a great article on CNN.com from last August that had 10 questions each wedding guest should be able to answer. For obvious reasons, I don't recommend sending out this survey to each of your potential guests :) Rather you should use this to help narrow down your guest list. The Political Calculations Blog also came up with a scoring mechanism to help you with this process as well.

Should you be invited to my wedding?
By Audrey Irvine
(CNN) -- One of my girlfriends recently got engaged. Before we could even bask in her happiness, the conversation turned to the dreaded guest list. Fun questions like, "So, honey, do we have to invite your great aunt, whom you haven't seen since you were 10?" So, who should get an invite?

Too often, women are pressured into inviting way too many people to their weddings out of a sense of obligation. Parents, prospective in-laws and grooms can turn a simple wedding into a grand affair.
And as soon as that engagement ring catches her eye, that occasional lunch acquaintance feels entitled to share in your happy nuptials. Then you realize too late that the majority of people at your wedding don't really know you or what has been going on in your life up until your big day.

This quiz is something I shared with friends years ago and feel inclined to share with other women.
Here are 10 questions couples can use to trim that guest list and weed out the people you really don't want at your wedding:
1) Name the city I'm living in now (Good one to weed folks out, especially if you have moved a lot. Don't use this if you've lived in the same place for 10 years).
2) Name at least two of my closest friends.
3) Name my current employer and my past employer (Again, if you've remained in the same job for 15 years, this does not apply).
4) Do I have any kids?
5) Do you know the name of my fiancé? Bonus question: Where and when did we meet?
6) Do you know where my parents are and whether they are still alive? (Imagine a friend at your wedding asking how long have your parents been married when they divorced years ago).
7) Name at least two of my hobbies.
8) How old am I? (My favorite is when family friends would query, 'Are you 28 now?" Imagine their surprise when I proclaimed, 'yeah, 10 years ago!')
9) Where did I go to college? (Some people might not remember whether you attended college or even graduated.)
10) Name my last boyfriend before this engagement. Bonus question: if you can name the last two and why we broke up. If you get the bonus question right, that might automatically get you in.

If you score 50 percent or below, you definitely are not getting invited. If you score barely over 50 percent, you are on the waiting list. If you score over 60 percent, you get an invitation.