Bridal Party Gifts

With all the expenses that a wedding brings, the thank-you gift for your bridesmaids is probably the absolute last thing you are thinking about. But, it is good to remember everything that they are doing to help you plan and enjoy your big day. The gift is your little token of gratitude for them being there, trying on bridesmaid dresses for you, and holding your dress while you pee.

Emily’s choice was a very cute gold Louis Vuitton coin purse. Cute, but more than I would spend on a coin purse. Lucky for me, I get to reap the benefits of my sister’s expensive taste.

Here are more suggestions:

Bath and Body products. One example is the Perfumed Dusting Powder for $28 by Lollia. This product, featured In the New York Wedding Magazine slideshow “What to Get the Bridal Party” is a rice powder base that makes your skin smooth and smell nice. It is a perfect gift for any girl.

Something used in the wedding. Be practical. Emily is having second thoughts and thinking about returning the coin purses and paying for the girl’s shoes in the wedding. Who doesn’t want a cute FREE pair of shoes? Project Wedding also came up with the idea of buying the girls robes to wear when they go to the spa and when they are getting ready in the bridal suite. You can get them at Target for only $17.

Something Embroidered. To make the robes even more fun, get something embroidered on them to make it memorable. American Bridal has a wide variety of gifts that you can personalize such as tote bags, cosmetic bags, apparel, wine glasses and more. You can specialized according to each girl and put their names on the item or put their titles on it: bridesmaid, maid of honor, mother of the bride, etc.

Gift Packages. Create a gift package for each girl with tons of goodies inside. These can include “day of” jewelry, “Bridesmaid” champagne flute, getting ready flip-flops, bath crystals, a gift card to Victoria’s Secret or their favorite restaurant, nail polish, a picture frame with you and your bridesmaid, makeup sets from Dior or Clinique, and so much more. I think a personalized tote with stuff inside is the perfect way to say thank you.

Whatever you decide, make it something your bridesmaids are going to remember forever. Say no to paperweights, even if they are really cute. You want something that is going to bring back memories of a very special time in your life. Be creative.

Check out the Project Wedding message board to get more ideas.

Wedding DO: Utilize the Age of the Internet

I’ve touched on this subject in other posts, but I decided I needed an entire blog entry dedicated to the Internet as a media technology. The Internet is a necessity when it comes to researching how to plan a wedding, however, there are also many other components, like interactive programs, that can make your wedding planning more organized and more fun. Here are some tools you should look in to.

The Wedding Wire. The Wedding Wire has specific tools dedicated to each component of your wedding planning. Some of these tools include a budget tracker, guest management, seating charts, vendor management, and a wedding checklist.

The Budget Tracker is designed to help you keep track of your spending by categorizing each item and listing its estimated and actual cost, and you can also list dates that payments need to be made. The feature starts with how a standard wedding budget is broken down, and then you can alter it to your specific wedding.

The Vendor Management lets you browse over 100,000 vendors, helps you find the venders you want to work with, and manage them by category: your photographer, flowers and décor, your wedding cake vendor, and so on. You can read reviews and request information about each one.

The Knot. The Knot is unlike any other wedding planning web site because it has creative interactive tools that make your life that much more fun. A couple of these interactives include:

Design your inner bride. In this application, you can visualize exactly how you want to look on your wedding day by creating a bride avatar. You can design it to look exactly like you, and then try different hair, dresses, and accessories to build the perfect look for you. What’s even more, is that you can choose a background, so that you get the full effect of how your look might work in a specific setting—for example, you might want to looke at a certain type of dress for a beach wedding.

Design your engagement ring. If you are planning on looking at engagement rings with your soon-to-be fiancé, use this tool to help you decide what you would like in a ring. You can choose from 10 different stone shapes. You can mix and match center and side stones, and also choose the band for your ring.

Look at the full list of the interactive features on the Knot to see which are the most helpful for you.

Facebook. The Knot has also designed a wedding application for your Facebook called the Wedding Book that helps you connect with other brides and grooms, showcase your wedding party, post pictures and so on. Other features include: a wedding countdown clock, a wedding profile box, adding people to your wedding party that links to their facebook page, links to your wedding website and gift registry and Weddingbook boards.

Emily’s Engagement Story Audio Slideshow

Click the picture for an audio slideshow about Emily’s engagement.

Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue

There’s a saying containing each token a bride carries on her wedding day that’s meant to bring good luck and a happy marriage.

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe

“Something Old” symbolizes the bride’s family and her past and continuity, “Something New” represents the new life ahead of her as a married woman, “Something Borrowed” is a reminder that she can count on family and friends, “Something Blue” represents faithfulness, purity, and loyalty, and lastly, a silver sixpence in her shoe represents financial security. However, most have forgotten about the latter tradition. Here are a few ideas for each:

Something Old: Most often, women choose something from a mother, grandmother or other relative. Emily is attaching a locket of our great-grandparents onto her bouquet. Other ideas:

• piece of family jewelry • photograph
• vintage gloves • purse
• handkerchief • headpiece or tiara
• a piece of lace • antique pillbox

Something New: Any new item will work for this category that is meant to bless a union that is meant to last forever. There are many “new” things in Emily’s wedding, including her wedding gown.

• wedding gown • new lipstick or perfume,
• lingerie • silk or cashmere shawl
• new haircut or extensions • silk stockings
• use a new car to ride up in • shoes

Something Borrowed: The borrowed item should be from a long-time happily married couple so that the same success will come to you and your marriage.
Ideas:

• Bible or poem book for • Silver knife to cut the cake
the ceremony reading
• Robe for getting makeup • Location: someone’s home for
and hair done the wedding/ reception
• Shoes • First song at the reception
• Pearl necklace or earrings • The pillow for the rings

Something Blue: Blue can be used in a hidden part of the wedding or embraced as part of the wedding theme colors. Emily’s “something blue” is her garter.
Ideas:
• Shoes • Garter
• Blue flowers like hydrangeas • Eye shadow
• Toe-nail polish • Blue rippon in your hair or bouquet
• jewelry • a “blues” band at your reception

One idea is a customized piece of jewelry like this David Yurman designed ring from one bride’s wedding.
You can also check out more pictures from her wedding day.

Other Helpful links:
Associated Content’s article, “Wedding Traditions: Ideas for Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue”

The Wedding Channel’s “Finding Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue”

Etsy.com : Customized, one of a kind pieces can be found here including jewelry and garter’s including this one.

Median Age at First Marriage in the U.S., 1900–2007

Choosing the First Dance Song

First Dance Songs
Emily has been heart set on using the song “Exceed my Expectations” by Emma Wallace for her first dance as a married woman. Despite the fact that her fiancé and I agree it might not be their best choice. The song has lyrics that some people may mistake for being racy although they’re not meant to be. Aside from that, it is a sweet song that could be the best fit as a romantic ode to one other.

When choosing your song, pick something that is representative of your relationship. Here are a few ideas to help you decide on one of the most memorable songs of your life.

1. Make it your style. Are you the type of couple that likes to be sentimental and show affection for one another often? Then maybe you should look into songs that are just as equally sappy and lovey-dovey as your relationship. Or maybe you are more traditional or are the couple that prefers a good laugh and would choose a song most people wouldn’t expect. The Knot has an article entitled “Wedding Songs: How to find your first dance song” that categorizes couples into seven groups. Take a look and you might get some inspiration for a song meant for you.

2. Be open to everything. Just because you always dreamed of having your first dance to a classic like “At Last” by Etta James doesn’t mean that it’s your best choice. You might stumble across a meaningful yet lesser-known song that defines your relationship better than anything else you’ve found. Look through songs that you both have on your iPod—you never know what can double as a wedding song. Project Wedding has a large selection of romantic wedding songs.

3. Consider choosing two. If you cant choose which way to go—classic and romantic or contemporary and fun, why not do both. Starting with a slow dance song and then evolving into an upbeat choreographed dance with your hubby can loads of fun, and not to mention will help rid you of any anxiety about being watched while you dance. Have fun with it! Take a lesson from this couple who did just that.

4. Don’t pick these. Keeper of Lists provides a list of the Top 143 Worst Wedding Song Selections. Double check to make sure your song isn’t on it. Even if you want to play it as a joke, don’t do it. They are not wedding appropriate for any type of couple.

Happy searching!

Also, if you want to get your whole wedding party involved (which is a lot of time and effort but lots of fun nonetheless,) get inspired by these guys.

Multicultural Weddings

Jose, Emily’s fiancé, is from El Salvador. He moved to the United States at a very young age, however, his Salvadoran culture is still a huge part of his life. Emily, on the other hand, is Caucasian and grew up in a radically different context than Jose. Their food, celebrations, first languages, and music all vary immensely. Incorporating two cultures into one wedding can be a lot to think about.
Things to consider:
• Ceremony: Will the service be bilingual? Where will you have the ceremony? If you and your fiancé are interested in having it in a church or synagogue, you may need to follow special guidelines or take classes before you can get married there. Also, if you want to incorporate both cultures’ traditions into the ceremony, you should consult the person that is marrying you. Make sure that the service doesn’t go on to long, however, or your guests will get antsy. Emily and Jose will be married in a Christian church and their service will be bilingual but they will have a traditional ceremony. One couple recounts their ceremony on the WeddingBee, combining Mexican and American traditions. Although their Mass was in English, they had readings in Spanish, and kept traditional Mexican wedding traditions in the ceremony such as the arras, lassos, padrinos, and presenting of the Bible.

• Music & Dancing: Music at the reception is also very important to each culture. Will you have a band from each culture perform, only feature one band that can play both types of music or a band that plays only one type? Or will you have a DJ that can play a little bit of everything? Honor your families traditions, but also, showcase your own personalities. Play music that is representative you and your fiancé and your relationship. Also, schedule dance classes for your families so thatProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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f you do want to incorporate salsa music into the reception, family members will feel better to participate.

• Food: Depending on your reception location, catering regulations might restrict you from bringing food other than their own. If that is the case, another option is catered desserts, which some venues allow. Emily and Jose decided to make their wedding even more multicultural by having Armenian food. The venue that they fell in love with happened to be Armenian, and because it didn’t allow catering, they brought one more culture into the mix.

Ben and Edie, a couple who had a multicultural wedding (Jewish and Cambodian) posted it to Style Me Pretty. Be sure to check out the videos from the occasion.

Other Helpful links:

Here Comes the Guide offers 12 tips to planning a multicultural wedding.

Ever After: Colorado’s Guide to Unique Wedding Celebrations

Best California Central Coast Wedding Locations

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Exotic Honeymoon Destinations: Phuket, Thailand

With Valentines Day just around the corner, I started thinking about romantic getaways, and more importantly, honeymoon destinations. Emily started searching for honeymoon locations almost as soon as she began her search for wedding gowns. Needless to say, she was excited. Similar to wedding locations, honeymoon planning should be dealt with early on. Start thinking about where you want to go now, so that you can get better deals and book cheaper flights.
The Honeymooner’s Review Guide posted a detailed timeline to help you plan your dream honeymoon.

Emily’s Pick. After much research and discussion, Emily and Jose have chosen to spend their honeymoon in Phuket, Thailand. They will be staying at the JW Mariott Phuket Resort & Spa, located on Mai Khao Beach. They chose it because they wanted to go somewhere tropical and secluded, and somewhere that isn’t as popular as Hawaii. The beach overlooks the Andaman Sea, and is next to the Sirinath Marine National Park that has a protected turtle nesting area. According to Smart Travel Asia, it is rated eighth among the top 25 Spa Hotels & Resorts in Asia and 13th among the top 25 Leisure Hotels and Resorts.

Your pick. To help get you started, take the Honeymooner’s Review Guide Pefect Honeymoon Quiz. http://www.honeymoonersreviewguide.com/planning/your-perfect-honeymoon.html
It will help you determine the criteria you are looking so that you can begin your search.
According to their study in 2007, the top factors when choosing a honeymoon destination are:

1. Dream Location
2. Reasonable Price
3. Comfortable Guestroom
4. Good Quality and Selection of Food
5. Enjoyable Activities

Be open-minded. When searching for a destination, be open-minded. Although Maui may be somewhere you always envisioned yourself going, look into other tropical locations all around the world that may fit your lifestyle and budget perfectly. The Wedding Channel has honeymoon destinations listed by regions: The Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Latin America, Asia and South Pacific, the US and so on. Imagine yourself scuba diving in the U.S. Virgin Islands, or horseback riding in Thailand, or taking a bike ride along in Cabo San Lucas. You don’t need to plan the activities until later in the game, but keep in mind that you may be much more tired than you anticipated. Wedding planning is tiresome and if you plan on honeymooning directly after, you will probably need lots of relaxation time. Take time to think about where you want to go, look for deals ahead of time, and plan your trip to paradise.

Bachelorette Party Planning: Including Underage Bridesmaids

Emily is to be married 29 days shy of my 21st birthday. That leaves me, the maid of honor, planning a bachelorette party that I can only partially attend. My sister and I agreed that I should be there for most of the party, although, we haven’t fully figured out what I’ll do during the activities I can’t participate in.

Although Las Vegas is doable, spending the night cooped up in a hotel room while everyone is out until the wee hours of the morning is not exactly my idea of fun. Thankfully, Emily took this into consideration. She would like to spend the day in Temecula: pampering ourselves at the spa and then wine tasting. After, everyone would come back to the house for food, games, and the like. Because this plan is not set in stone, here are a couple other ideas to help you incorporate those under 21.

Theme it. The Knot’s article Bachelorette Parties: 14 Bachelorette Party Ideas & Themes recommends that you find a theme that fits you. If you like the outdoors, consider booking a cabin or a campsite for a night. Get information about all the different activities you can do there such as hiking, swimming, canoeing, fishing or horseback riding. Another theme idea is hosting a Victorian-style tea party, either at your home or at a fancy tearoom.

Cruises &Vacation Spots. During the off-season, you can get really cheap deals on flights and cruises. They also have cheaper rates for large groups. Look into a weekend to take off to for a couple days. Going to somewhere like Mexico, also includes your 18 and over bridesmaids in on the fun.

Comedy Clubs. Many comedy clubs require an 18 + audience. Call in advance to get a front row table. Also, ask about group deals if there is a cover charge. Tell them what you are celebrating and they are sure to be accommodating.

Games & Scavenger Hunts. Project Wedding’s article Unique Bachelorette Party Ideas describes Task Lists. The women will come up with a list that you have to complete. For example, you would be given a white T-shirt with several men’s descriptions on it and will have to find a man fitting that description to sign it or give them her number. Names include someone who is “Acting Lonely, Buying Something, Calling Someone, Drinking Beer… etc.)

Be sure to check out the Wedding Bee discussion board that gives even more great ideas to include those underage. You will be surprised at the possibilities.