From the category archives:

Wedding Party

I have been in several weddings and have received some ho-hum gifts that I have never used again. So for my wedding I wanted to put a bit of thought into my gifts. I wanted to give my bridesmaids something they will use more than just once. Below are the gifts I am thinking of giving everyone, and then adding in a couple personalized gifts for each girl. I have already got the monogrammed totes that I am putting everything in. Then its just some simple gifts that are relaxing! A plush robe, some shower gel, candles and my favorite wine, Cakebread.

tote

robe

shower-gel

candle

wine

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Precious Little Things

by Katie on December 15, 2008 · 3 comments

in Wedding Party

Flower girls. Most of the time, they are precious little things, often adding another degree of the “cute factor” to your wedding day. One thing I love about them is that (if they are good sports) you can dress ‘em up like little living dolls and they love it! On a completely unrelated note, I firmly believe that my obsession with weddings stemmed from the fact that I was never a flower girl in my younger years…

Back to the cute factor. Here are some little ways to add to the adorableness!


The Dress
MyGirlDress

This will quite possibly be one of the first “beautiful” dresses your little girlie will wear. It will make her feel like a princess! And the great thing about it is that they don’t necessarily need to be crazy-expensive to achieve the “princess” look and feel. The dress above is from My Girl Dress.


Jewelry


Who doesn’t love getting dressed up and putting on all of her jewels? Especially those youngsters that see mom all glammed up but don’t get to put anything fancy on themselves. I recently got an email from Mija, a site where designer Michelle Guest has some of the sweetest little pieces (for kids and moms).


Something to Carry
flowergirl

If you’re going to stick to tradition, baskets are always nice. By why stick with the old when you can easily welcome the new!? These days flower girls are carrying everything from bouquets to a single stem to candles to bibles. Get creative and think of something original for your special day. I absolutely adore the image above (and have probably used it before)! It’s the handy work of Jennifer Echols Photography.


Fancy Hair


It’s not every day we get to wear our hair in a super fancy ‘do! Another joyous thing about flower girl hairdos – they need not be expensive to achieve maximum impact. As long as it is somewhat different from her normal style, it’s perfect. It doesn’t need to be done by a professional, either – just someone that is good with hair! I have to admit I picked this picture because I simply think it’s sweet as can be. Look at those tiny little hands!

What are some ways you’re dressing up your flower girl (or girls)? Having a flower boy (they do exist these days, you know)? What other little details are you adding to your wedding day “cute factor”?

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I’ve recently come across some fabulous things in my never ending quest to discover all things wedding that I wanted to share with you.

First, some great wedding party stuff ! Needing a little something for your ladies? Check out this fabulously preppy, monogrammed tote (props to Amanda and her first post!) Fill each with a towel, flip flops, snacks and sun screen and give to your ‘maids right before a relaxing day in the sun on the beach.

Tote from giftsandotherwise.com

Or perhaps you’re looking for some cool groomsman gifts? How about this fabulous Cherry Wood Humidor. Stock full before giving. Enjoy together before the big day.

Cheery Wood Humidor from giftsandotherwise.com

And finally, maybe you’ve already thanked your wedding party and are looking for a way to show your guests that you love them. Enter: fabulous favors! Need some fairy tale favors? I’m a particular fan of these little pretties that you can use as place card holders and then let your guests take home to use as a photo holder. (I think your female guests might like these a little more than the guys…)

What about for a wine themed wedding? A bottle stopper would more than fit the bill!

And lastly, if you’re looking for any fall wedding favors, check out some more place card holders! (Can you tell, I love these things!) Send them home with your guests!

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Wedding season is here. Glamour Magazine just ran a show on the Style Network about the top twenty Dos and Dont’s for brides, grooms, wedding parties, and guests. Here we’ve listed those things and added a little to them. Enjoy!

20.Brides: DON’T make your bridesmaids spend a lot of money on a dress they hate.
It’s just mean to make your very best friends shell out a ton of cash on a dress that may be the most hideous thing the have ever set eyes on. Not only will they never wear it again, but they’ll hate the fact that they have to wear it at all and my resent you in the end. If you want a dress that is out of everyone’s budget or that no one else likes, be a good bride and buy the dresses for them.

19.Brides: DON’T go over the top with hair and makeup.
We don’t think you want to look scary on your wedding day! Trying some new “look” you’d never wear on a normal day or even to a special event definitely shouldn’t be worn on your wedding day. Your guests will look at you and think, “Whose wedding are we at?”. Go for a look that’s timeless and classic, not just trendy and chic at the time. You want to look back at pictures and not think “Oh my goodness, I can’t believe I wore my hair like that.”

18.Brides: DO test-drive your hairstyle.
You don’t want to leave your hair to the last second. Meet with your stylist along
with any items you want in your hair (like your veil and other head pieces) long before the big day and figure out exactly what you want to look like. Take pictures of the finished look so you and your stylist can have something to look back on.

17.Brides: DON’T feel like you need to wear a huge veil just because you can.
We know, you’re finally the bride! But that doesn’t mean you should hide in a veil that makes you look like the Abominable Snowman. Get a veil that compliments your dress. A large princess ball gown needs a simpler veil. Something too big will make you look cluttered! If you simply must have a huge veil, pick a more simple, form-fitting dress. The look will work much better.

16.Brides: DON’T make your bridesmaids look like a parade of look-alikes.
You want a look that’s simple, elegant, and classic. Glamour says to think of it like a fashion show, where everyone looks their best. And looking her best for one girl is totally different than another. Bridesmaids dresses are more about color and tones and fabrics than a particular style of dress. Cookie cutter dresses are out. If you want happy and comfortable ‘maids, let them pick their own dresses (within your guidelines) or at least have a say in what they wear.

15.Brides: DON’T go broke on your wedding dress.
You want to buy the best dress that you can afford, but that doesn’t mean spending 50 percent of your wedding budget on a single dress. In fact, you probably shouldn’t exceed ten percent of your total budget. Look on Ebay or pick through sample sales. Or, spend your money on a personal trainer, so that no matter what dress you’re wearing, you’ll look fabulous in it.

14.Brides: DO be yourself with your wedding dress.
Just because you’re a bide doesn’t mean you have to wear a big, white, princess dress. Though lots of ladies dream of that dress, it’s definitely not for everyone. If you want a short dress, wear it! If you want a pink or purple or red dress, wear it! Wear a dress that fits your body and style tastes. Be true to yourself.

13.Grooms: DON’T rent your tux, just buy it!
As the people from Glamour put it, it’s one of the most important days of your life, don’t wear another man’s pants. They really do have a good point there! When you rent a tux or suit, chances are those same pair of pants have been worn thirty times already. Formal can be affordable! Look into purchasing your tux, or buying a really nice, tailored-just-to-you suit. Not only will you look like a million bucks, but you’ll have a great suit or tux that you want wear over and over again.

12.Grooms: DO let your guys put a bit of their own personality in their ensemble.
When you go to pick out your groomsmen’s and ushers’ ensemble for “the big day,” pick something that the fellows would feel good about wearing. Let them spice their ensembles up a bit by letting them wear their own cuff links, tie, or shoes. There is no need to let them go over the top, but letting them be their selves is a must.

11.Guests: DO give some thought to your outfit.
This is not the time for the mini skirt and mega platform shoes. In regards to your outfit, be a little on the conservative side. The attention should be on the couple, not on you. After all, it is their wedding day. If you have an outfit that you’re questioning, call up the bride and ask her what she thinks! And just remember, sequins are not for daytime.

10.Brides: DON’T feel like you need to wear a tiara just because it’s your wedding day.
You simply don’t need to wear one. Once upon a time, tiaras represented hope, magic, glamour, and wealth. But now, wearing a glitzy tiara with a huge, elaborate dress might just be a little too much. It a tiara is a must for you, consider a more discrete or understated look. Remember that more is not always better. Again, make sure that your whole look works together.

9.Wedding Party: DON’T get crazy with tanning or fake baking.
Hello! Fair skinned brides can be gorgeous! In fact, it’s kind of a misnomer that because you’re wearing white or ivory, your skin will be washed out. Wearing those colors and tone will in fact enhance your skin’s natural beauty. If getting a few shades darker is a must, try spray tanning an bronzers. And remember to always do a test run, and never get it done on the day of or before the big day. You want to look like a bride (or pretty bridesmaids), not like a pumpkin.

8.Brides: DON’T make the ‘maids wear the same hairstyle.
Just as with dresses, the same style on everyone is simply not flattering on everyone! If forced the wear the same hairstyle, girls will be girls and there is no doubt that they will compare themselves to each other. Work with your bridesmaids’ individual styles. And remember, they are not there to compete with you, so let them feel their best!

7.Brides: DON’T be too trendy when it comes to your gown, hair, accessories, and the rest of your look.
The trick is to go timeless! We all love to be fashionable, but something that’s simply trendy won’t look all that great in the years to come. You know what we mean. Think back to the 80’s brides. Just plain scary! If you choose a dress that’s elegant and works with your body, you can’t go wrong. Enjoy the time you spend looking! And a tip that we here at Wedding Fanatic love, which came from WeddingBee: When looking for “The Dress”, start with the cheapest ones and work your way up. That way, you might just fall in love with a dress that’s only 500 bucks rather than having your heart set on one that’s $5,000.

6.Guests: Don’t wear white to a wedding.
Would you like it if you spent a small fortune on a dress you’ll wear one time, then someone shows up on your special day wearing something similar? We didn’t think so. It’s the bride’s turn to wear “the dress” so let her wear white. A Wedding Fanatic tip: Sometimes a couple might want you to wear white (think: simple beach chic nuptials), but if this is the case, it will be noted on the invitation or included in other information that you’ll receive.

5.Guests: DO know that you can wear black to a wedding.
A while back, it was considered kind of morbid to wear black to a wedding, but today, it’s a perfect color to wear. It’s slimming and looks good on most everyone. Some brides today are even choosing black for their bridesmaids dresses.

4.Groom: DON’T not get your haircut the day before the wedding.
Getting your hair cut the day before or the day of your wedding is just not a good idea. You should do this one to two weeks earlier. And just like we tell the brides, don’t do anything that looks drastically different than your normal self! You want to look like a cleaned up and dressed up version of yourself, not someone else. Brides, it will do you good to talk with your groom in advance and make sure he doesn’t wait to the last second to get his hair cut!
Brides: DON’T get a facial the day before your wedding.
You need time for your face and body to get back to normal after you’ve had a facial. If you have one done the day before, you’re likely to have red blotches all over your face. And that’s just something you don’t want in those wedding pictures!

3.Brides: DO consider comfort for your wedding dress and accessories.
While a little pain won’t kill you, you don’t want a dress you can breathe or move in, or a train that you have to drag around during your whole reception. While there is no need to wear something that is just plain ugly for the sake of comfort, you do want to take it into consideration.

One thing you DO want to take comfort seriously with are your shoes. Don’t get a pair you can’t walk in or make your feet hurt as soon as you put them on. And idea we like: get a fancy pair for the ceremony and your first few dances. Then when you’re ready to get your groove on, slip on some comfy yet cute ballet look-alike slippers. For the crafty bride: dress them up with some ribbons and embellishments for something you can wear around the house later on.

2. Brides: DON’T drink too much!
Do we really need to spell this one out? There are few things worse than looking your absolute best, but then stumbling about and slurring your words. It just isn’t pretty. A Wedding Fanatic tip: drinking a lot of alcohol the day before your wedding could leave your face a little flushed and red. If you can, encourage your wedding party to take it easy on the drinks the night before.

1.Brides and Grooms: DO just be yourself.
Like some of the other points have said, you want to be the best version of yourself on your wedding day. You don’t need to compete with other couples and try to “out-wed” them. You want to look your personal best and treat your guests to an even that reflects you as a couple, not just the trends of the day. You can’t go wrong being yourself!

And always remember, your wedding day isn’t the end! While it does mean no more wedding planning, it also means the beginning of your new life together. Enjoy the planning, the wedding, and most of all, the rest of your lives.

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PEOPLE magazine recently had an article about Katie Masters, a bride with five fabulous bridesmaids. While doing some wedding work, she came across a “Bridesmaid’s Contract” on theknot.com. She found it hysterical, so she sent it to her ladies as a joke. Seems funny, right? Consider this. The contact had “clauses” that restricted the ‘maids from changing their hairstyles or gaining weight before the wedding.

Sounds funny enough, but some of her ladies didn’t get that it was just a joke. Through emails, the somewhat private joke turned much too public. It got to the point where Masters was receiving hate mail and having vendors cancel on her.

So a word to all of you brides out there. It’s one thing to ask your bridesmaids to do a few nice things for you. It’s something completely different to basically have them sign their lives away to you. A sense of humor is vital during your wedding planning period, but make sure your family and friend know when you’re just joking!

Just for fun, we made up our own “Bridesmaid’s Contract”. Check it out below.

Bridesmaid’s
Contract

Hello ladies of the Couple’s Last Names Go Here, Bride’s First wedding party. It is our understanding that you have accepted the offer to be a bridesmaid. As such, please read the following. Sign and return back to us at Address Goes Here. Upon your signature, it is understood that you have read and commit yourselves to the guidelines stated below. Thank you for you cooperation.

I will not change the style, color, length and texture of my hair prior to the wedding

I will not gain more than five pounds than the weight at which I weighed when asked to be a bridesmaid.

If I weigh more than one hundred seventy (170) pounds, I will be sure to loose the weight required so that I will weigh less than or equal to one hundred seventy pounds.

I will not break any bones prior to the wedding date, nor will I engage in any reckless behavior that could possibly result in injury.

I will devote least five (5) hours every week to planning for the wedding, helping the bride, or completing the tasks she assigns me.

I will not become pregnant or have any major body-altering surgeries prior to the wedding day.

I will not fraternize with groomsmen before the wedding day so as not to interfere with my wedding duties.

Whenever a meeting between the bridesmaids or between the bridesmaids and bride, I will wear the proper attire, which consists of black dress pants or a black skirt which does not pass three (3) inches above or below the knee, and a pink button-up or polo shirt. Pink or black shoes with a two and a half (2.5) inch heal required.

I will refrain from consuming salty foods and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol one week prior to the wedding as to prevent the retaining of water and redness of the skin on facial areas.

Whenever speaking with the bride, I will address her in a polite and cheerful tone.

Above all, I will not forget that the wedding day of Bride’s and Groom’s Name Goes Here is their special day and I will do nothing to disrupt it or prevent their happiness. It is my duty to serve them.
………………………………………………………………………………………

Bridesmaid’s Name, Printed:

Bridesmaid’s Signature:

Witness’ Signature:

Date:

 

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Watch old Michael Jackson videos and memorize every dance move!

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