Hello!
As a wedding consultant, let me first start by saying that I had a pretty good laugh a few days ago at the expense of the wedding consumer industry. After returning from the post office to retrieve my mail I started thumbing through a Spring wedding decorations catalog. I flipped open to a page somewhere near the middle of the catalog, only to find the most ridiculous wedding decor item E-V-E-R. I will tell you about the item, but first, I would like to share with you something that makes me fundamentally angry.
My heart sinks a little each time I notice consumers (sadly, mostly brides) purchasing unnecessary items just because they have the words "Bride" or "Groom" imprinted on them, or because they are able to be "personalized". In a perfect world brides would see past this marketing ploy, and would have more discipline than to purchase an item solely because it will allow the bride to see her name in writing.
Below you will find a Top 10 decorations you should never buy for your wedding, which in turn is a big BRIDE BEWARE when dealing with these potential wedding decorations. Either because they are completely unnecessary, ridiculously extraneous in cost, or could simply give off the impression that you have no good sense whatsoever:
10. Rubber [fund-raising-esk] Bracelets. Remember a few years ago when rubber bracelets touting good causes were all the rage? Well, sadly, these bracelets have made their way into the wedding industry’s circle of consumerism. If your aim is to make people wear your names for the evening, consider changing your aim. The moment you are not looking the bracelets will end-up in the trash can.
9. Personalized dance floor cling. This clear plastic item uses static electricity to (supposedly) stick to the dance floor. Sure, you can personalize this item with your names and a little design logo, but it is quite the waste of money considering that it does not light up for people to even notice it, and that people are going to be stepping all over it (and possibly slipping on it).
8. Shaped [centerpiece] table mirrors. I know, I know…"but water and candlelight look so elegant with a reflection…" Although you may believe that your table centerpieces will look better on top of a mirror, this decor element should just go away already as it is severely outdated. (Not to mention that from a designers point of view all that it takes is one smudge or finger print to make it ugly.)
7. "Take-out" [Chinese] guest gift boxes. Not only do these not stay properly shut (their plastic flaps are indignantly annoying), but most of these box types that on the market are completely non-biodegradable. Save your money and go another route.
6. Reusable wedding cameras. Let me be clear: it is a complete waste of money. Not only are you paying to develop film rolls, but the likelihood of you getting a good shot of something that you actually care about is very low. Now, when I married (in 1997), this fad was just coming online, and so the novelty for guests had not worn-off. However, I can tell you that 100% – in the U.S. where wedding budgets are above $10,000 – this fad is dead.
5. Wedding print toilet paper. (Not kidding) I have not had the pleasure nor experience of using wedding printed toilet paper, but I have seen and touched a sample of it. It is basically a cheap 2-ply paper that uses colored ink on white paper to imprint wedding bells, initials, etc. Sadly, when wet, I found that I was able to smear the colored ink. (haha!) 
This could either be the funniest or the most ambivalently mortifying moment of a wedding.
4. Chocolate fountain. Even as I type I am imagining hate mail, however, my personal experience is that the public’s fascination (and mess) associated with the chocolate fountain is over. However, if you are adamant, please rent the fountain and do not buy. The quality of fountain which you are being rented is likely 10x better than the fountain that you would be purchasing. Also, if you must… my friend Michelle recently told me that the trick to making the chocolate in the fountain run smoothly is melted cocoa butter, added in with the chocolate pieces during the beginning of the set-up process.
3. Napkin ring place card holders. Yes, you read that correctly. There are now products on the market that combine the functionality of the napkin ring and the way-finding of the place card holder. If you are to the point in your budget where combining these two items seems necessary, consider going back through your guest list to cut-out some more of the ‘C-listers’. (Same thing goes for Wedding bell place card holders.)
2. Bride And Groom Wine Bottle Cover Set. You can dress up your bride, and you can dress up your wine, but you should not dress up your wine like a bride. This item set comes complete with veil, dress, and tuxedo. Unless you are using this idea for a gag gift, in which case carry on.
You ready for number one? This is the item which had me rolling with laughter as mentioned at the beginning of my post. Sigh…
1. Personalized wedding cowbell. Enough said .
Other "Honorable Mentions"
Floral (silk or plastic) with dew drops
Specialty confetti
Tableware (cups, buckets, pails, plates) with sayings such as "Eat, drink, and be married"
Wedding design trash can cover
Wedding aprons
Ice cube molds
Banners
Bottle stoppers
Specialty luminary bags
Wineglass charms (this never works for groups larger than 25)
Take-away cake treat boxes
Personalized votive candle holders
Long-stemmed candles (they often look like plastic flowers on a fake stem and they are very, very messy)
"Wedding angel" anything (pins, bookmarks, jewelry)
Wedding cookie cutters
Bride and groom rubber duckies (as guest gifts)
Personalized golf tees or golf balls
Personalized wedding coasters
… you get the idea.
Alisha Forrester Scott of La Ruche. event design studio. is available by e-mail at: studio@enterlaruche.com.
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