Wedding Reception Games

By on May 29, 2012 in Bridal Party, Inspiration

Mario Weding CakeIt’s been a long day. Not only for the happy couple but for all involved. The vows have been taken, the toasts have been made and the food has been enjoyed. Now it’s time for your wedding reception DJ to bring out his collection of Wham’s greatest hits to a mumble of groans from your guests. A great way to provide entertainment for them (and plenty of laughs) is to play fun wedding reception games. Below is a list of five of our favorites.

Tying The Knot 
(Bride & Groom)

You will need a piece of rope for this game. The bride and groom must hold one end of the rope each, and with the other hand behind their backs, coordinate their motor skills and work together to tie a knot! Sounds simple right?

The Cinderella Dance

(All Singles)
All the single men should line up at the side of the dance floor and turn their backs to the guests. Now the single ladies must all remove their shoes, place one in the center of the floor and form another line opposite with the second shoe behind their back. The men should take it in turns to pick a shoe and then approach the lady they think it belongs to. They should try it on in true “Cinderella”fashion. If it fits, we have a love match!

Photo Captions

(For Everyone)
Before your wedding, get together a collection of some old and funny photos of the happy couple. They can be anything from baby pics to high school yearbook photos. The idea is that throughout the meal you ask each table to caption the photos with something funny. After the meal ask the DJ to read out the funniest.

Counting For Flowers

(Single Ladies)
Instead of typically “tossing the bouquet”at the end of the ceremony why not play counting for flowers? All you need is a glass jar full of marbles, or something similar, ask the single ladies to each guess how many marbles they think are in the jar. The closest guess will win the bridal bouquet!

Wedding Garter Relay Race

(For the Men)
Split your men into two equal teams. The teams should take this game in turns and be timed. Sit the first member of the first team in a chair and line the rest of team up a few meters away… And they’re off! The next team member in line should run up to the chair with the brides garter in hand and place it on the first team members leg (whilst still sitting). When this is done he should take the seat and the garter wearer should return to the man at the front of the line, remove the garter, hand it to him and then move to the back of the line. This process should be repeated until the the original sitting guy is back in the chair. the winner is the team who finishes quickest.

Author: The Havens Wedding Gift List is a simple way for your friends and family to select a truly special gift to celebrate your big occasion.

Photo: Mario Wedding Cake by Andy Fitz, CC ShareALike

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Eight Most Essential Factors to Consider When Choosing the Perfect Destination Wedding Spot

By on May 9, 2012 in Wedding Planning

Taking Your Wedding Somewhere Else

Nowadays, numerous couples are flocking to different destinations to tie the knot. Destination weddings or “weddingmoons” as they are called requires some traveling on the part of the couple and majority of their guests to witness the exchange of vows and to spend a few memorable days in a faraway venue, usually another country.

Destination Wedding

Photo by Lina Hayes

There are many reasons why brides and grooms-to-be choose to take their weddings on the road. One primary concern is the cost. While many people would assume that a destination wedding can take its toll in the pockets of the bride and the groom, this isn’t always the case. For the most part, destination weddings attract lesser guests, which means the couple can save some bucks, especially if they pick an all-inclusive resort. In most instances, however, the couple may choose to invite only their families and some close friends and end up shelling out less money. Another reason why a destination wedding is appealing is that it provides ample opportunity for the couple to make their wedding all the more unique and intimate. They also do not have to deal with family feuds over preparations, since most resorts come with their own wedding planners, which is already inclusive in their packages.

Essential Considerations When Choosing a Destination Wedding Spot

If you and your soon-to-be husband or wife are thinking of having a destination wedding, picking the right place is a must to ensure that you, your partner and guests will have a wonderful time. However, more than just choosing a spot because of its scenic beauty, there are 8 more essential considerations that you should not overlook.

  • Foreign affairs. You have to take note that some countries have residency requirements or allow only citizens to marry. As such, if you have a destination in mind, consult with a consular office first to know the requirements.
  • The destination itself. The place you pick can be something that you are familiar with or entirely new to you. The most important thing, however, is that it should be classy enough to hold your wedding and can be easily accessed by your guests, especially by the elderly.
  • Budget. Of course, ask yourself and your partner if both of you can afford a particular place. If not be sure that you look at other options.
  • Space. Are you sure that you would be able to hold a reception in this place that can accommodate the number of people you have on your guest list?
  • Do not forget the season. A beach wedding in the Caribbean is better carried out anywhere from December-March when the weather is fine than during June- November, which are hurricane seasons.
  • Packages or deal offering. It would be preferable to pick a place that offer several nights of free lodging to allow your guests to get to enjoy the whole place. Likewise, it would be ideal if you find a resort that provide all-inclusive packages so that you do not have to sweat yourself doing all the planning.
  • Activities. Make sure that your preferred site can keep your guests from getting bored. There should be enough going around to make your big day and the days after it memorable not only for you and your soon-to-be spouse, but the wedding attendees as well. In addition, guests are likely to come to your destination wedding if there is a possibility for them to have a side trip or plan an adventure.
  • Stress of planning. As a bride or a groom, you would want to have the perfect wedding. The question with a destination wedding is can you handle planning it without necessarily having to visit the location once or twice a week?

Getting married in Scotland is becoming more and more popular due to its wonderful venues and sights. Beecraigs is a wedding venue in central Scotland they offer a wonderful venue for small to medium size wedding parties.

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3 Things To Leave Out of Your Best Man/Maid of Honor Speech

By on March 28, 2012 in Bridal Party

embarassing wedding toastsGiving a speech at a wedding reception is a big deal. It’s supposed to be a rousing round of every emotion you can think of, fantastic stories, and wit, topped off with the perfect toast. Ice water literally flows through your veins if you don’t feel pressure giving one of these.

Because of how important the speech is on this big day, we’ve detailed three “don’t go there” topics for you to steer clear of.

1. Past Dating Experience

This should almost be a given, but it has to be documented. No matter how funny it is that you found his millionaire dating website profile, or that she had a long-distance relationship with a professional Xbox player, don’t mention it. There is, unfortunately, no exception to this rule.

Why? Here is some real talk. The wedding is supposed to be all about the bride (and to some extent, the groom), so if you pull the focus away from their relationship, it’s gonna be a bad time. Heed this rule, lest you feel the wrath of a pissed off uncle in the buffet line.

2. The Bachelor/Bachelorette Party

Even if the event was completely innocuous, and you just played Connect Four and drank Fantas the whole time, don’t do it. The mere mention of a Bachelor or Bachelorette Party conjures up images of stripper poles, binge drinking, and epic hangovers. Your speech will create images in the heads of the attendees, and this isn’t the right types of imagery‚Ķ so leave the bachelor or bachelorette party out of it.

3. Jokes or Pokes at the Bride

Like we said – its the brides day, and if you mess with her at all, it could be your last. Girls dream about their wedding from the day they play with their first barbie, and to do anything to tweak her or make fun of her just isn’t going to work. If you are going to talk about the bride, and you should, compliment her profusely. Save the digs and jokes for almost any other day in history.

I hate decorum, rules, and the word police. I think everyone should pretty much speak freely, without the fear of having to issue an ‘official apology’ to avoid losing their job. With that said, this is one time you have to ditch your beliefs. Weddings are packed with customs that must be followed blindly and without reason or questioning. If a custom is going to be broken, let it be on the bride or grooms terms, not yours!

Follow these simple tips and you won’t end up in a Youtube montage of the ‘Worst Wedding Toasts’.

Photo by: AndyBullock77

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Maid of Honor Duties

By on March 20, 2012 in Bridal Party

Maid of Honor helping her bride fix her heelsCongratulations! Since you need to know what the Maid of Honor Duties are, you have been chosen. Contrary to what some people in the bridal party think, the maid of honor is the most important person. This hard-working, diplomatic problem solver keeps the bride together and the wedding on track. Although the duties vary according to the bride, this trusted friend will assist the bride as she goes from life as a single person to a Mrs.

The Honor

As the Maid of Honor, you are the bride’s most trusted ally. Its time to pull out you best qualities to ensure that you are dependable, staunch, available, calming and positive as you assist your friend through this emotional and sometimes frantic time.

The Duties

Support, help and glue are the three most important attributes you’ll perform. As a cherished friend, you will supports the bride through the million and one tasks and decisions a large wedding entails. This person is a helpmate handling any chore delegated to her. Although the maid of honor is in the middle of all the activity, she is emotionally uninvolved and brings a cool, level head to every issue. With her calming demeanor and wisdom, she helps other people resolve issues and keeps the wedding moving forward on schedule.

Besides emotional support, this special person will pay for her own wedding attire, plan at least one bridal shower and arrange the baccalaureate party. In fact, the maid of honor may be in charge of making sure the bridesmaids, flower girl and ring bearer get the right attire and accessories. This person organizes the bridesmaids’ gift to the bride. On occasion, she delivers speeches or toasts. There is no cause to panic as the Internet has many well-written speeches that are easily adapted. Of course, this special person will help the bride get ready for her walk down the aisle and assist at the reception. She may or may not be asked to accompany the bride on shopping trips to select everything from napkins to wedding dresses.

The Pleasures

Although the duties may be heavy or light, nothing is more fun than watching a special friend get ready for an exciting new life. Whether the two of you are picking out the right shade of nail polish for the wedding or selecting the caterer who will deliver the fantastic, seven course, sit-down meal, the shared time is priceless. After all, you are the trusted friend with excellent taste.

The Bridal Shower

A maid of honor is required to give at least one bridal shower for the excited young lady. Bridal showers include mothers, future mother-in-laws, grandmothers, relatives, coworkers and friends. These festive events are held in private homes, club houses or other facilities. Festivities include special decorations, something to eat and drink and fun games. As long as the bride is the center of attention, she will think the party is the best one ever.

The Bachelorette Party

This party is the last fling for the bride as a single person and is one of the Maid of Honor Duties. She can ask all the guests except the bride to help pay for the event. There are three rules to this party: the financial investment is affordable for everyone, the event matches the guest of honor’s personality and the event creates long-lasting memories. These events can be as extravagant as weekend in Las Vegas or at an alpine ski lodge or as casual as a night at home playing favorite board games and writing down special times. Some brides relish being the center of attention and enjoy a wild night on the town drinking and partying while wearing a bridal veil. Other women like to be pampered; a day at the spa with 5 or 25 of her favorite friends is her sendoff of choice. The two requirements of this special event is that it is personal and fun.

The Wedding

When the big day arrives, the maid of honor should pack like she is going on safari. In her glittering oversized bag, she will have everything that could ever be needed:

  • bobby pins
  • makeup for touch-ups
  • clear nail polish
  • hairspray
  • jewelry for the bride
  • needle, thread and scissors
  • breath mints
  • pantyhose
  • phone numbers of everyone and anyone including vendors, family members, Minister and wedding party
  • extra money in small dimensions for tips two garters, one for the bride to keep and one to toss
  • aspirin and antacid
  • deodorant

You may also be called on to help the bride get dressed. As a friend, she is responsible for making sure the bride has some food in her stomach to calm her nerves and walks down the aisle without lipstick on her teeth.

The Reception

Between the mother-of-the-bride and the bride, the duties will be clearly defined. She may stand in the receiving line if one is used and help the bride change clothes. Besides giving a toast and dancing with the best man, her main chores are to socialize, have fun and make sure everyone else enjoys this special occasion.

Although Maid of Honor Duties can be a lot of work, they create a special bond between close friends. As the bride takes this important step into matrimony, her best friend helps with the journey. From giving parties to handling chores, this wonder person does everything and anything the bride needs.

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Wedding Processional Music – Songs To Walk Down The Aisle To

By on March 6, 2012 in Music, Wedding Planning
Songs to walk down the aisle to

Photo: Roger Kirby, www.rkirby.com

Wanna skip to the song lists?

Thoughts of processional songs for weddings often jump right to  Here Comes the Bride from Wagner’s Bridal Chorus. Thankfully, that’s not your only option to consider. Carefully chosen music will enhance the meaning and spirit of your wedding ceremony. While the processional is one of the more memorable and dramatic parts of the ceremony, it’s only one of several phases you’ll need to choose music for. With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of tips, ceremony music and bridal processional songs to get you started, but first, let’s break down the order of the ceremony.

Order of the Ceremony

The Prelude: The prelude begins when your guests begin to arrive until the Mother of the Bride is seated. Music for this phase is often soft, gentle, and generally sets a tone of anticipation for your walk down the aisle.

The Processional: Also known as “the bride walking down the aisle songs”. However, there’s a little more to it than that. The processional music starts once all of your guests are seated. Your bridal party will enter first. The procession concludes with the bride’s entrance. While you  could walk down the aisle to the same music as the bridal party, it adds to the drama of the moment when a separate song is played to highlight your entrance.

Interludes: These are transitional moments in the ceremony to special elements, like unity candles, ring exchanges or breaking the wedding glass.

The Recessional: This your grand exit as a newly married couple! Choose an upbeat song to celebrate the moment, and to help remind your feet what to do next. Make sure the music starts promptly, a delay here can leave the new couple turning to face their guests in a moment full of emotional highs, looking like deer stuck in the headlights. Just remember to put one foot in front of the other, and move. You’ll do just fine.

The ceremony can sometimes be more difficult to personalize than your reception. Religious ceremony’s tend be less flexible in music choices, order of events, and so on. If your ceremony is taking place at a church, synagogue, or other religious site be sure to check with your officiant to find out what kind of parameters they may have first. But don’t feel stuck into picking from the list of songs the church gives you, use it to guide you and be sure to suggest your own personal favorites.

Lets start with a very traditional “Movie Perfect” example of a music selection, from there you can mix, match, sort and blend to create the perfect playlist for your wedding. Above all, pick the music that moves you!

Traditional Example:

  • Prelude -  Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach (YouTube)
  • Processional – Canon in D by Pachelbel (YouTube)
  • Bridal Entrance – Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride) by Wagner (YouTube)
  • Interlude – Arioso by Bach (YouTube)
  • Recessional – Wedding March from Midsummer’s Night Dream by Mendelssohn (YouTube)

The Most Popular Wedding Processional Songs:

*These were probably popular around the time of your parents wedding…

Wedding Processional Songs Non-Traditional / Contemporary:

  • Somewhere Over The Rainbow – IZ (Bride) (YouTube)
  • I’m Yours – Jason Mraz (Bridal Party / Groom Processional Songs) (YouTube)
  • All You Need is Love – The Beatles (Recessional) (YouTube)
  • When you say nothing at all-  Alison Krauss (Bride) (YouTube)
  • Bittersweet Symphony (instrumental version) – Verve (Bride / Bridal Party) (YouTube)
  • Beautiful Day – U2 (Recessional) (YouTube)
  • Book of Love – Peter Gabriel (Bride) (YouTube)
  • Bright side of the Road – Van Morrison (Recessional) (YouTube)
  • Signed, sealed, delivered – Stevie Wonder (Recessional) (YouTube)
  • Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton (Bridal Party) (YouTube)
  • Wouldn’t It Be Nice – Beach Boys (Recessional) (YouTube)
  • Light My Fire (String Quartet Tribute to The Doors) – Vitamin String Quartet (YouTube)

Christian Wedding Processional Music:

  • Ave Maria – Andrea Bocelli (YouTube)
  • Amazing Grace – Traditional (YouTube)
  • Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Bach (YouTube)
  • Household of Faith – Brent Lamb & John Rosasco (YouTube)
  • All People That On Earth Do Dwell – Old 100th hymn (YouTube)
  • Dona Nobis Pacem – 16th century hymn (YouTube)
  • Hymne – Vangelis (YouTube)
  • Angels Watching – The O’Neill Brothers (YouTube)
  • Butterfly Waltz – Brian Crain (YouTube)
  • Be Thou My Vision – Dallan Forgaill (YouTube)
  • The Prayer – David Foster & Carol Bayer Sager (YouTube)

Wedding Songs for 2012:

  • I Do – Colbie Caillat (YouTube)
  • I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz (YouTube)
  • Honey Bee – Blake Shelton (YouTube)
  • Make You Feel My Love – Adele (YouTube)

We’d love to hear your suggestions on this, please share the songs you chose for your wedding in the comments below!

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How Long Does it Take To Plan a Wedding?

By on March 1, 2012 in Wedding Planning

How long does it take to plan a wedding?The time it takes you to plan your wedding will be unique to you and your fiance.

You may be capable of planning your wedding in three months or may need as long as two years – it all depends on your personal desires and flexibility.

If you have set your heart on getting married at a certain venue, or on a specific day, you will need to start your wedding planning early. The more detail you desire for your wedding, the greater the time you will need to work out those details. It also depends on the amount of help you have, and if you can handle doing a lot of last minute planning or not.

A comfortable timeline that many engaged couples allow themselves is around one year to plan their wedding.

Here is a wedding planning timeline to give you an idea of the what needs to be done, and when to do it to remain on track:

12 Months before the Wedding

  • Set your wedding date.
  • Decide on your personal budget.
  • If marrying in a church, contact your local minister to discuss your plans. If you are intending upon marrying in a registry office, provide the registrar with notice of your intentions.
  • Compile a list of guests to invite to both the daytime and evening celebrations. Ask a friend or relative to check this list to ensure that you have not missed anyone off.
  • If you are marrying in a separate venue to that in which you will be housing the wedding reception, choose and book the wedding reception.
  • Consider entertainment at your wedding reception and book your chosen entertainers.
  • Book the caterers for your wedding breakfast and evening meal/buffet.
  • Book your chosen photographer and/or videographer.
  • Book your stay in a hotel near the wedding venue if you will be unable to travel from your home to the ceremony venue on the morning of your wedding.
  • Book your overnight stay in a bridal suit for the night of your wedding.
  • Choose and book wedding transport, if required.
  • Choose and book your florist.
  • Book a toastmaster, if your wedding ceremony will not automatically provide you with one.
  • Organize your honeymoon and ensure that your passports are up to date.
  • Order a wedding cake.
  • Begin your search for a wedding outfit.
  • Decide on bridesmaids, ushers and a best man and consider searching for their outfits.
  • Confirm all of your wedding bookings in writing.

6 Months before the Wedding

  • Attend an initial outfit fitting and choose all the associated accessories, such as shoes and jewelry.
  • Decide on the wedding attire for the whole wedding party.
  • Choose and purchase the wedding rings.
  • Order the wedding favors.
  • Order your wedding invites or begin to make your own.
  • Arrange a consultation with your hairdresser to decide on your own wedding hairstyle and those of your bridesmaids. Book a time and date for your hair and that of your bridesmaids to be styled on your wedding day.
  • Book a make-up artist/beautician for the day of your wedding, if required.

3 Months before the Wedding

  • Purchase a marriage license from your registrar.
  • Send out your invitations and provide details of overnight accommodation near to your venue, if required.
  • Create a wedding gift list and offer it to your guests.
  • Confirm the details of your ceremony with the registrar or minister.
  • Choose your wedding music.
  • Decide on an Order of Service and arrange for this to be printed out.
  • Purchase gifts for your wedding party.
  • Decide on a seating plan and discuss this with your wedding reception organizer.
  • Arrange to have any vaccinations that may be required for your honeymoon.

1 Month before the Wedding

  • Arrange for a final outfit fitting.
  • Reconfirm your arrangements with the reception venue, caterer, florist, photographer and videographer, wedding transport provider, entertainer, and honeymoon travel agent.
  • Arrange your wedding rehearsal date.
  • Organize a date on which to collect your wedding outfits.
  • Write any speeches.

1 Week before the Wedding

  • Enjoy your wedding rehearsal.
  • Collect your wedding outfits.
  • Pack clothes for your honeymoon.
  • Hand your Order of Service to the minister.
  • Order any foreign currency required for your honeymoon.
  • Ensure that the best man is aware of the wedding plans and hand over the rings for safekeeping.

Image Credit: “Rosey Feet” by  amichan83

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The Six Best Places To Take Pictures In Phoenix

By on February 28, 2012 in Photos

best photo spots in north phoenixYou could make a nearly unending list of the best photo spots in North Phoenix or any other part of the Valley of the Sun. This city is famous for the beauty of a sunny climate that lasts nearly all year. The summers can be terribly hot but they are also terribly photogenic. The blue skies and bright sun make for perfect photo opportunities. There are also a number of places notable for either their natural or architectural beauty in this desert city.

These conditions mean that there are many places to take pictures in Phoenix if you want to adorn the cover of a wedding invitation or take some memorable portraits on the day of your nuptials. The following list is not exhaustive. You could find many lovely locales on your own just by walking around. This is best done in the spring, when temperatures are perfect and the Suns shines almost every day.

Six Spots for Phoenix AZ Photos:

1.    The Tempe Town Lake

In the 1990’s, Tempe took advantage of that fact that water rarely runs down the Salt River thanks to the dam upstream. They partitioned off a section of the riverbed and created their own lake as one more adornment to this lovely college city. You can either take photos from the lakeside or take a boat out on the perpetually calm waters.

2.    The Superstition Mountains

You will need to drive out east of the Valley to reach these mountains. They can be seen, however, from just about any place in Phoenix or its environs. This range is a perfect location for hikes. You can turn the search for a perfect photo into an enjoyable hike. Try it in early spring, when the wildflowers will be in bloom.

3.    Papago Park

You do not have to drive all the way up to Sedona to see red rocks and scenic buttes. You can get both in your wedding photos when you take them at this park located north of Van Buren, off Galvin Parkway. This is another outdoor shot that will be lovely anytime of the year, especially in spring.

4.    The Desert Botanical Garden

This garden is not far from Papago Park. The desert vegetation on display is undeniably beautiful. Check out all their exhibits before making up your mind. If you time your arrival right, you might be able to take advantage of some of the cultural phenomena that are celebrated there, such as the Day of the Dead in early November.

5.    Arizona State University

If you are more interested in architecture, the university in Tempe might be the place for you. The Gammage Auditorium would make a nice backdrop for any photo, day or night. If that is not modern enough for you, take a look at the Coor building on campus.

6.    Downtown Phoenix

If all else fails, head downtown. You have your choice of a number of museums, stadiums and towering buildings. The regions surrounding the government buildings and the large Catholic basilica are exceptionally clean and attractive for a downtown area.

Image Credit: “Downtown Phoenix” by Michael Ruiz

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Press Release: The Wedding Link Launches New Wedding Planning Website for Phoenix, AZ

By on February 10, 2012 in Press Release

 

theweddinglink.net announced today the launch of it’s first community driven local wedding reviews and planning website for Phoenix Arizona.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Feb 10, 2012 -
The Phoenix Wedding Link is designed to give newly engaged couples, bridal parties, and their family a trusted resource for identifying wedding vendors and events in the Phoenix Valley Area.

Highlights of the website’s feature set include the ability to search by location, reviews, rating, compare pricing options, retrieve detailed information on each vendor and easily contact them, or save them to a profile for later use.

“The vast majority of couples would prefer to plan their wedding online. We are working to give time-strapped brides and grooms the freedom to plan every detail of their wedding at their convenience,  from the comfort of their own home, ” says Stephen Romero,  Marketing Director and Founder of theweddinglink.net.

Business and bridal fair organizers are welcome to increase awareness and exposure of their service or event through a free listing on the website.

The Phoenix Wedding Link marks the first of many cities that The Weddinng Link will be launching in this year. A nationwide roll-out of the service is planed for all major cities in the next 6 months.

# # #
theweddinglink.net is a service designed to give newly engaged couples, bridal parties, and their family a trusted resource for identifying wedding vendors and events in their city.”When all is said and done, how well your wedding day comes together is going to depend on the experience and skill of the wedding vendors you choose. Through our website, we hope to help you find the perfect wedding dress, tuxedo, caterer, wedding photographer, florist, reception facility and wedding venue.” — The Wedding Link Team
— end —

 

Image Credit:  MPClemens

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Is It Okay To Wear Black To A Wedding?

By on January 26, 2012 in Etiquette

By Agatha Garcia

Thinking of sliding into your newest little black dress and want to know is it ok to wear black to a wedding? Based on everything women have been taught about how to dress for special occasions, black is definitely a fashion faux pas when you are attending nuptials. After all, because it is bold and stands out on any occasion, it threatens to violate one of the first rules of attending weddings: do not upstage the bride.

Black dresses at weddings, though, can be classy and command the right kind of attention, if done tastefully. There are certain rules that will make a black dress go over well for this special occasion.

1. Add a splash of color to your black dress. It keeps the outfit festive and moves the mood you set away from funeral attire. Now, if you find yourself a little envious, wishing it were you strolling down the aisle to an altar with all eyes bulging at the fancy dress you are sporting, then go ahead, give in to temptation and dress like this is a funeral. Seriously, if you have any respect for the two people getting married, it is best to find a bright scarf, polished stone necklaces, earrings and bracelets or a smashing belt and pumps to set off the little black dress.

Don’t be afraid to add a colorful hat to match some other colorful accessory that you choose, too. It is a tradition in among sophisticated women to enter a church or other ceremonial place in precious head gear. Do not choose anything too attention-grabbing, but make sure that everyone who sees you will remember what you wear.

2. Do not cover everything up. Choose a dress that is drop-shouldered (on one side or both sides), has a split on the side or gathers at the shoulder and elbow to tease onlookers with your upper arms. By giving a little peek of skin, you want to be sexy, but not too sleazy.

3. Choose a dress with texture. Sequins, pearls, lace trims and textured fabric give a little black dress a lot of personality. Just make sure it is suited for your body shape and that your choice of accessories does not clash with the fabric of your black dress.

Attitudes toward the black dress at weddings has evolved. It has had enough appearances now to be considered elegant, chic and fashionable. Do not spend a lot of time deciding whether to wear a black dress. Spend that time instead choosing accessories that will look good on you when you toast the bride and groom.

Image Credit: Sleeveless Velvet Fur Trim Sheath Dress (Black) by AgathaGarcia via Flickr. The dress is available for purchase here.

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How To Make A Wedding Card Box

By on January 25, 2012 in DIY, Inspiration

Wedding card boxes are an ingenious way to ensure that the cards given by guests are not lost in the bustle of ceremony and reception. They can also make a wonderful keepsake in honor of the event, and can serve double-duty by becoming the perfect place to store mementos that could otherwise easily be lost. The best part of wedding card boxes is that they do not have to be expensive, and a little creativity can go a long way in designing the perfect box for your wedding.

How To Make A Wedding Card Box

Wedding card boxes are often made using the same concept as the Valentines Day boxes made by school children for the passing out of cards each February. A few embellishments added to a something as simple as a shoe or photo box often does the trick, although ready-made decorative boxes can also be purchased for a reasonable price at many home stores. How elaborate or simple the design is up to you, but for a truly personalized touch, here are some simple ideas to turn a plain box into a beautiful wedding card box:

  • Photo boxes are the perfect size for holding cards, and they can be purchased in a variety of colors from nearly every department store. A simple white box may be the easiest to work with for a wedding, however, as the combination of simple white with colorful embellishments creates an elegant look suitable for any type of wedding. Simply gluing artificial flowers to the front box panel is often enough to turn a plain box into a decorative one, and the addition of a decorative placard stating Cards can let guests know to drop their cards inside. Stamps can also be inked onto the front and sides of the box to add a more decorative touch, and a variety of wedding-related stamps are available at most craft stores.
  • Fabric-covered boxes make truly elegant wedding card boxes, and creativity can really come into play by stacking large and small boxes covered in alternating colors of fabric. Another creative idea for stacking boxes is alternate the fabric colors between the boxes and the lids. Slitting the top box can create the perfect way for cards to be dropped in, and a ribbon can be added to tie the stack together, which also enables a large bow to the tied at the top. The use of alternating fabrics is a great way to make card boxes a part of the wedding decorations, and gluing fabric to boxes is an easy do-it-yourself project.
  • Hatboxes make some of the most amazing wedding card boxes, as these round boxes can be designed to resemble the wedding cake, or the display can be set off with a wide ribbon around the circumference with bows placed on each level. Stacking a small box on top of a large one can also create a shelf to add flowers, which looks amazing when white boxes are used in combination with flowers that match the wedding bouquet. A simple slit in the top is all that is necessary to make it easy for cards to be dropped in. Hatboxes can be found at many craft stores, or they can be purchased inexpensively online.
  • A wire birdcage can make a unique wedding card box, as the spaces between the wires are perfect for sliding cards inside. Lacing white ribbon through the wires can add beautiful sophistication to the cage, and the ribbon can be tied into a bow at the top to make turn the birdcage into a wedding decoration centerpiece. Garland can also be strung through the wires of the cage to match the season of the wedding, with strings of flowers working well in spring and summer, and fall leaves adding a wonderful touch for autumn. Simple green garland embellished with a dusting of spray-on snow is a simple way to make a birdcage card box stunning for winter weddings.

Wedding card boxes are a functional and attractive addition to the wedding decorations, and designing your own is a great way to add a personalized touch to make them really stand out. How to make a wedding card box is easy, as simple boxes can become elaborate displays with the addition of a few simple embellishments. The use of a birdcage is perhaps one of the most unique card box creations, as they are ideal for holding cards and can work with virtually any wedding theme. Wedding card boxes can be as simple or elaborate as you choose, and the easy-to-do project is inexpensive enough not break the wedding plan budget.

Photo by: Du Žiedeliai { Vestuvinė floristika }

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