Honoring the Mother of the Bride

All brides would like to honor their mother during their wedding. The question is, however, how would you like to do so? If you are close with your mother you may want to do a few of these memorable traditions!

1) The Dress or Veil - Many brides honor their mother by wearing her dress or veil. If the dress is too old fashioned, ask if it can be altered. If the dress doesn't work, you can also incorporate her veil into your dress.

2) Dress the Mother or Mother In Law - If you have already picked out your wedding dress as well as your bridesmaids gowns, you may want to select dresses for the mother of the bride (and the mother of the groom as well!). This helps them feel as though they are part of the wedding party.

3) Ceremony Seating - The mother of the bride is usually the last person seated before the ceremony begins. In Christian wedding ceremonies, she sits on the left side in the front row. In Jewish ceremonies, it's tradition for the bride's mother and father to process up the aisle with their daughter. These days, it's not uncommon for ANY religion to have the mother AND father walk the bride down the aisle. 

There are many other ways that brides can honor their mother during the wedding and reception. The mother can be presented with flowers and a personalized handkerchief. A toast can be given during the reception to honor and thank her for all that she has done.

Wedding Essentials

Tips for Cheap and Easy Wedding Centerpieces

 

Your wedding centerpiece is the first thing that catches the eye of your guests (aside from the gorgeous bride, of course!). You may want to make these centerpieces lavish, however your budget doesn't cover them. Here are some great tips to creating amazing centerpieces without spending your entire budget. 

 

Select Good Flowers: 

If you want more bang for your buck, select a stunning flower that only needs one or two blooms in order to make a huge statement. A Hydrangea, for example, is a beautiful, long and elegant flower that can transform a table with just one or two buds. 

Layer Flowers: 

If you have your heart set on expensive flowers, you can consider lowering the cost by spacing the flowers with cheaper items, such as babies breath. This will make very full centerpieces that aren't very expensive, but LOOK expensive because of the more expensive flowers in the center. 

Table Color: 

Aside from the actual centerpiece, your entire table should "flow" with the rest of your wedding to create the ultimate reception. Little accessories, such as table cloths, favors, napkins, etc., can all play a huge role in the centerpiece that you select. 

Select a Vase: 

Should you opt for a floral centerpiece, you should also consider the types of vase that you are displaying. Many options are inexpensive yet so chic. I think a mason jar is a perfect centerpiece for a shorter display. In fact, mason jars are so versatile, you can skip the flowers all together! Add a candle, water activated diamond light - get creative!

Wedding Essentials

Many cheap wedding centerpieces have excellent use of flowers and space. Less expensive flowers and better use of flowers and vases can allow you to spread that beautiful flower color out.
The hydrangea is a perfect example and a gorgeous wedding flower all on its own! One or two blooms can easily fill a vase. Multiply that times four or five displays on a large or long table and you can very cheaply and easily decorate that table.
- See more at: http://www.easy-wedding-centerpieces.com/cheap-wedding-centerpieces.html#sthash.W4M1J2sw.dpuf

Many cheap wedding centerpieces have excellent use of flowers and space. Less expensive flowers and better use of flowers and vases can allow you to spread that beautiful flower color out.
The hydrangea is a perfect example and a gorgeous wedding flower all on its own! One or two blooms can easily fill a vase. Multiply that times four or five displays on a large or long table and you can very cheaply and easily decorate that table.
- See more at: http://www.easy-wedding-centerpieces.com/cheap-wedding-centerpieces.html#sthash.W4M1J2sw.dpuf

Some Crafty Wedding DIY Tips

Some brides spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a wedding planner. If you have the money and don't really feel like being involved, that's perfectly fine. In fact, a wedding planner can take away a ton of stress if you happen to be feeling overwhelmed.

The rest of the brides, however, may want to plan their own wedding, and this is beyond fine. In fact, it's downright fun! I have seen a ton of DIY wedding tips out there that really save on money as well as enhance that special day.

My first tip: Use everyday items to enhance your wedding. For example: food coloring.

By adding a few drops of food coloring into your wedding vases or to your water activated diamond light display, you are adding a bright color with virtually no cost. This is a great way to illuminate your wedding reception. Especially if it's at night!

My second tip: create your centerpieces from your favors. It kills two birds with one stone. For example, my wedding was beach themed. I took a clear plate with play sand and centered my mini beach bags (filled with chocolates) and some shells. This was the most adorable centerpiece that I did myself (very VERY cheap!) and each guest took home a beach bag.

Wedding Favors

The Grooms Cake - A Fun Twist on the Wedding Cake

 

Originating in the south, he grooms cake is a fun way to celebrate the groom during the wedding reception.  It was intended to be a surprise present from the bride to the groom. Generally, it's something that the groom absolutely loves! A sport, TV show, hobby, etc. It was traditionally dark, and had 'masculine' themes such as sports, hunting, etc. Over time, as weddings became less extravagant, the cake began to be seen as an unnecessary expense and was phased out from wedding ceremonies.

As usual with these types of thing, this old tradition is coming back with a vengence. Brides are getting more and more creative with their surprise grooms cakes. Couples with disposable incomes are splurging big time on a day that will come once in their lifetime, and are experimenting with their ceremonies. The groom's cake, thus, becomes a good idea to invest in, adding a layer of 'awesome' to the ceremony.

The purpose of the groom's cake can be endless. Some brides serve it as a dessert at the rehearsal dinner, or can be an alternative choice to the main bridal cake at the wedding. Custom dictates that the cake be placed next to the bride's cake at the ceremony. It is then cut into wedges and placed in boxes to be given out to guests. Such slices can even serve as a wedding favor (thus eliminating one expense!). You can have the cake placed in stylized boxes and add a further layer of 'chutzpah' to the ceremony.

Legend has it that single women who sleep with a slice of the groom's cake under their pillows dream of their future husband that night. While you of course don't have to compel the single women to take this course, it can make for a wonderful excuse to have this cake at your wedding!

Fun Cake Toppers

Bellacroft’s Wedding Budget Advice

 

Weddings these days are very expensive, which is why most brides and grooms choose to plan their wedding based on a budget. You don’t need to look at your budget as the end of your wedding world, however. It can simply mean thinking “outside of the box” to get the most bang for your buck! Bring your ideas back down to basics and try to focus on your guest to make sure that you accommodate them.

The first step is to create your budget, even before you select a venue or guest list. You must know your limits before you decide on how many guests will be It is important that you set a budget before making a list of who to invite. You need to know what you can spend so that you know how many people you can have at your wedding.

The next step is to decide what you can do yourself. If you are pretty skilled with crafts, you may want to tackle the favors and décor on your own. If you have a friend or family member that knows photography, see if they will do your photo shoot pro-bono (or for a reduced cost). All of these tiny details will help you to keep your budget for other aspects, such as food and venue.

If you can’t afford certain things, try to find help or resources that will make them within your reach, allowing your budget money to be spent elsewhere. A great idea is to buy a used or pre-owned wedding gown. If you think about it, this dress has most likely been only worn for an hour or two. The cost will be reduced in half, a great savings for most brides!

Remember that you should spend time planning a wedding so that cost do not get out of hand. If you being your planning well in advance, you will find that you aren’t feeling rushed and overwhelmed, you will have plenty of time to research your wedding essentials and stay within your desired budget.

Affordable Wedding Accessories

Wedding Flowers: The Orchid

 

Flowers are considered a main part of the wedding décor. In fact, if you’re not careful, they can take up a huge portion of the budget.  Flowers omit elegance, beauty and symbolism. Because of this, it’s hard not to incorporate the orchid into your wedding.

Aside from the traditional rose, orchids are one of the most popular bridal flowers. The orchid's structure is delicate, intricate and luxurious. Beautiful in bunches, even a single orchid flower looks stunning. Picture the exceptional beauty of a selection of these tropical flowers and their delightful colors complementing your wedding ceremony and reception.

Orchids have attained such favor as wedding day flower is because they keep their fresh look for a long time without having to add water. This is particularly important if your wedding takes place in an air-conditioned venue or during hot dry weather. Orchids can be found in shades of pink, white, yellow and light green. Their flower petals are full-bodied and bendable, they are very resistant to drying out.

Orchid can be used in several ways, such as in a bouquet, as a cut flower or floated in a crystal bowl. While orchids appear delicate and fragile, they are actually firm and sturdy.

If you’re in love with orchids but want something a little more original, consider pairing them with roses or lilies. This contrast is extremely attractive and unique, creating a floral appearance that any bride looks forward to. Whatever your wedding ideas might be, orchids will easily accommodate the special effects that you are looking for and life up to your expectations of the most beautiful of all your wedding blossoms.

After your wedding event your orchids can live for up to two to three weeks. The combination of orchids and weddings is an instinctive match. The beauty and enchantment of both the bride and the orchids are an invincible combination for an everlasting cherished marriage ceremony memory.

Cathy's Concepts Affinity Wedding Reception Vase

What are Save the Dates?

 

I read somewhere that brides should send out their "Save the Dates” about 6 months in advance. When I was discussing this with my sister in law, she asked the common question: What exactly is a Save the Date and why is it different from a wedding invitation?

A save the date is a notice stating the date of a significant event. In this case, a wedding. It is generally addressed to those likely to be interested in attending so that they can keep this date free of other activities. Many brides opt for the save the date to be formal, however, if the wedding isn’t extremely formal, the bride will just verbally inform everybody.  

For weddings, save the dates usually take the form of a card. These days, this card can be customized for coordinate with the wedding theme, if the bride has picked it out already. Save the Dates are usually mailed out at least six to twelve months before the wedding date. They are followed by the formal wedding invitation, which is detailed with times, locations, etc. While the save the date started as a wedding formality, it is now used by individuals, businesses, and organizations to announce the date of any special event.

Save the Dates