Friday, July 3rd, 2009,
by
Bridget Mora,
pearl bridal jewelry, thank you notes, wedding gift,
Uncategorized,
No Comments
The most important thing when it comes to thank you notes is to actually write them! For each and every gift, no matter how large or small, fabulous or hideous. Promptly. In your best handwriting on good stationery. If this sounds like too much effort, just think about how much longer it took the guest to purchase and send you a gift. By comparison, a few minutes to dash off a note is really nothing.
This is a sample of a basic thank you note that you could use for most gifts: “Dear Mr. Martin, Thank you so much for the beautiful place setting of our china. Todd and I are really looking forward to entertaining on our lovely dishes. We hope that you will be among our first dinner guests when we get back from our honeymoon in Tahiti. It was wonderful to see you at our wedding, thanks so much for coming. Sincerely, Susan Jones Gerber”
If the guest is a close relative, or did something to make your wedding special, you can certainly mention it in the thank you note for the wedding gift. For instance, you might add in a line saying, “Thank you for letting me wear your pearl bridal jewelry for my wedding, Aunt Sarah. I got so many compliments on the pearl strand, and it was such a pleasure to tell everyone that it was the same bridal jewelry that you wore when you married Uncle Fred.” Or to your sister-in-law who did a reading during your ceremony, you might say, “The reading that you did at our ceremony was lovely. Henry and I were so glad that you could be a special part of our wedding.”. It is just as important to thank people for their non-monetary contributions to your wedding.
Cash gifts are becoming more and more common, and they often present a dilemma to the newlyweds when it comes to writing the thank you notes. The basic formula is actually fairly straightforward. You do not name the specific amount of the cash or check present in your note. Instead, you thank the donor for their gift, by saying, “Thank you for your (thoughtful, kind, generous, extremely generous – going up the scale from smallest to largest amount of money) gift.” Then go on to say how you used it or plan to use it, based on the approximate buying power of the size of the check. If someone gave you $50, for instance, you might say, “Your gift allowed us to complete our wedding china set, for which we are grateful. We will think of your generosity every time that we eat on our china.”, or something like that. In this situation, politeness is more important than brutal honesty, so if you lost the $50 at the roulette table on your honeymoon, thank them for the china anyway!
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009,
by
Bridget Mora,
custom bridal jewelry, red flowers, wedding centerpieces,
Bridal Jewelry, crystal bridal jewelry, wedding planning,
No Comments
If you are looking for a wedding flower that says “love”, you certainly cannot go wrong with red roses. This is one of the most popular flowers for bouquets and centerpieces for very good reason. Red roses are timeless, and yet they are also dramatic. The rich red pops very well against the bride’s white gown. You can use red roses in a variety of ways for your centerpieces. If you are wearing a very elaborate wedding gown with sparkling custom bridal jewelry, then go for extreme opulence in your centerpieces. Tall antique silver vases will look amazing when overloaded with rich red roses. Surround the vases with tall candlesticks with graceful ivory tapers for even more romantic ambiance.
There are plenty of other beautiful red flowers besides roses. For a winter wedding, elegant red amaryllis make a lovely single flower centerpiece. They would look lovely at a reception where the bride is wearing a snow-white bridal gown with simple crystal drop custom jewelry. If you would like to add some height and architectural interest, you can use tall red-dogwood branches as an accent. To enhance the all-red effect, fill the bottom of clear glass vases with red marbles.
For a country casual wedding, red flowers work wonderfully. In the spring, bright and cheery red gerbera daisies make fun centerpieces. They look great in combination with other colors of gerberas like yellow, pink, or orange. These flowers call for absolute simplicity in the way that they are displayed. You can pop them into an eclectic assortment of vessels, like painted tin buckets or white pitchers. For a really cool effect, “plant” red and orange gerbera daisies into a bed of wheatgrass as your centerpieces.
Centerpieces do not have to be floral. For a bride who is having an Asian inspired wedding, a really fantastic centerpiece would be an arrangement of branches hung with red origami cranes. Red is a lucky color for Chinese weddings, and the crane is a symbol of longevity in both China and Japan. This would be a very beautiful and memorable red centerpiece design. When you are looking for panache, you simply can’t beat red.
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009,
by
Bridget Mora,
gay wedding, New Hampshire, wedding jewelry gifts, wedding planning,
Wedding Jewelry, wedding planning,
No Comments
The state of New Hampshire just became the latest to legalize gay marriage. As this trend continues, more and more same-sex couples will find themselves with the opportunity to formalize their union. Then the question becomes, how to plan the perfect wedding?
The place to begin with any wedding is the invitations. Typically in a same sex marriage, the couple will have their names on the invitation as the hosts. The wording would be something like this: The pleasure of your company / is requested at the marriage of / John Howard / to / Robert Young / Saturday the twentieth of June / two thousand and nine / at four o’clock in the afternoon. For a ceremony in a house of worship, you would replace “the pleasure of your company” with “the honour of your presence”.
In a traditional marriage ceremony, the bride is escorted down the aisle by her father and “given away” to the groom. This symbolism does not really work for a gay marriage, and so most couples prefer to find a different way to make their entrance. One of the more popular choices is for the couple to walk down the aisle together. If the pair has supportive parents, it would also be nice for each partner to be escorted down the aisle by both sets of parents.
The next question is one of attire. For two men, the answer is more straightforward. They will usually both wear a tuxedo or a suit, depending on the formality of the wedding. In the case of tuxedos, they will likely be identical; if suits are preferred, you could choose to wear the same suit, or each gentleman could choose his own, perhaps with coordinating neckties. When it is two brides, the question of wedding attire is more wide open. Some couples like to wear matching dresses, others choose two different dresses, and still others will choose one dress and one suit. It is all a matter of your personal preference; as long as both brides dress with a similar degree of formality, they will look great.
Gifts are customarily exchanged as part of a wedding, especially gifts of jewelry. When there are two grooms, the wedding jewelry gifts will likely consist of the wedding bands and perhaps a watch or a pair of silver cufflinks, engraved with a special inscription. Two brides will usually exchange wedding bands as well, and may also wish to surprise one another with another thoughtful gift on the morning of the wedding.
Monday, June 29th, 2009,
by
Bridget Mora,
Bridesmaid Gifts, Bridesmaid Jewelry,
Bridesmaid Gifts, Bridesmaid Jewelry,
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Spring weddings are a time for all things pretty, feminine, and light. This gives lots of great possibilities for bridesmaid gifts. One of the most classic is a set of bridesmaid jewelry, either in traditional white pearls or in a pastel colored Swarovski crystal. Often when jewelry is given as the bridesmaid gift it is custom designed to match the wedding colors, but it does not have to be. It can be just as thoughtful to give your attendants jewelry that they can wear with their everyday attire.
Many summer weddings are held at beach resorts or other places involving travel. For your bridesmaid gifts, why not give your friends something to make their travels more enjoyable? Monogrammed tote or garment bags make a practical and pretty present for your wedding party. Best of all, they can be found in a style to suit any taste. The quilted floral bags are among the most popular, but you can also find luggage in sleek stripes or classic canvas to personalize. Nice bags for traveling are the sort of thing that your bridesmaids would probably not splurge on for themselves, but that they will really enjoying using year after year.
If you are planning an autumn wedding, think warm and cozy as your gift theme. Handknit throws for the home are a very thoughtful gift. Give each bridesmaid a throw in a color that will match her décor. Another cozy gift idea is a soft wrap that match the bridesmaid dresses, such as a pashmina or a handcrafted mohair shawl. This is a particularly nice gift for outdoor weddings in the fall when the weather can get chilly.
Winter brides can choose bridesmaid gifts that tie in with the celebratory spirit of the season. If you are having a Christmastime wedding (and your bridesmaids celebrate that holiday), elegant silver or handblown glass ornaments for their tree would make a wonderful present (you might want to pick up one for your own Christmas tree, as well). For a New Year’s wedding, treat each bridesmaid to a really expensive bottle of Champagne with a pair of graceful crystal flutes. You can be sure that this is a present that will be enjoyed!
Saturday, June 27th, 2009,
by
Bridget Mora,
copper, custom bridal jewelry, metallic wedding colors, wedding colors, wedding decor,
Bridal Jewelry, Bridesmaid Jewelry, crystal bridal jewelry, pearl bridal jewelry, wedding planning,
No Comments
Copper has a mellow richness that sets it apart from the more bright metallics like silver and gold. This makes copper a great choice when you are looking for a metallic than can be used in a more low-key way. Copper combines beautifully with other colors to create an attractive color palette for your wedding.
Naturally, it is stunning when paired with a deep color like chocolate brown, but copper is also gorgeous with some less expected hues like moss green, aubergine, and even pink. You can also pair copper with earthy décor elements to give them a touch of elegance. It is just enough contrast to add interest, but the copper will not clash with natural materials in the way that a shiny silver would.
A great place to introduce your copper accents is the wedding invitations. For a formal wedding, a heavy ivory card stock with rounded corners would look absolutely fabulous when finished with a metallic copper border. The engraving can be done in traditional black or in a deep chocolate color for additional warmth. For the envelope linings, choose a textured copper paper.
Copper vessels make wonderful centerpieces. There are a variety of textures and styles from which to choose. A hammered copper is one of the most unique and visually appealing options. Wide open hammered copper bowls would look amazing with floating candles and flowers for an evening wedding. You could also consider copper pitchers or compotes overflowing with flowers for an afternoon wedding. If you prefer just a touch of metallic, choose clear glass vases with a metallic copper painted rim (you could even do this yourself).
Copper is also a fantastic color for bridesmaid dresses, especially in the autumn. It is a color that imparts a beautiful warmth to the skin and flatters most complexions. Another idea is to choose a neutral brown dress for your attendants, and give it some flair by adding custom copper colored bridal jewelry. The bride might want to get in on the act too, with custom made bridal jewelry in rich tones of copper or bronze, which are readily available in Swarovski crystals and pearls. The warm soft glow of copper makes a wonderful accent for almost any style of wedding.
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009,
by
Bridget Mora,
wedding advice, wedding guests, Wedding Jewelry,
Destination Wedding, Uncategorized, Wedding Jewelry, wedding planning,
No Comments
It seems like every time that you turn on the television, all you hear is more bad news about the economy. You might think that this has discouraged people from attending weddings, but the truth is just the opposite. Even though brides and grooms may decide to scale back a bit, they are still getting married, and their family and friends are still coming to join in the celebration. These are some practical tips for the engaged couples and their wedding guests on how to handle a wedding in tough financial times.
There is nothing more important to most couples than having their loved ones with them to share in their joy, and many brides and grooms are doing what they can to make that possible. For instance, there is a trend to get married closer to home instead of at a far-flung exotic destination. This will save all of the wedding guests considerable sums on travel and hotels, making it possible for more of them to attend. Another easy thing that an engaged couple can do with their guests’ finances in mind is book blocks of rooms in hotels in a few different price ranges to make sure that everyone has a comfortable option.
One thing that a couple should definitely avoid is not inviting someone because they think that the person cannot afford to come. This gaffe is often made with the kindest of intentions, but it is a terrible mistake. You might be surprised at how many of your friends and family will find it worth it to make the effort to attend your wedding. For those who have cut back on their travel in recent times, a wedding can be an opportunity to see their entire family in one place. It is also true that in troubling times, people have a tendency to cherish their family bonds even more. And even if they cannot come, they will at least feel honored to have been asked.
As for the wedding guests, the best advice is to go if you can. Do not let it stand in your way if you cannot afford a new dress and wedding jewelry for the event; even society ladies in New York are recycling their gowns and jewelry when they attend a wedding or gala these days. Also, go even if you cannot afford an expensive gift. Etiquette says that you have a full year after the wedding to send a present, and even if you still cannot afford much at that time, don’t worry about it; your presence at the wedding is the most important gift of all. It is time spent with family and close friends that really makes a wedding memorable and special.
Monday, June 22nd, 2009,
by
Bridget Mora,
centerpieces, crystal bridal jewelry, wedding decor, wedding trends,
crystal bridal jewelry, wedding planning,
No Comments
One thing that all of the weddings that you see in magazines or tv shows have in common is their fresh, modern appeal. Another common thread is the use of a surprise element somewhere within the wedding design. It does not have to be an expensive grand gesture, just a small unique touch that will give your wedding a unique character.
So how does the average bride go about designing a wedding with style and flair without the aid of a celebrity wedding planner? By stealing their ideas, of course! One of the first tips that the hottest planners will give is to steer away from matching centerpieces on the reception tables. Instead of the expected cookie cutter look, do something a little different on each table to make the whole room look more custom and interesting.
It can be much easier than you may think to design these unique centerpieces. The trick to making it all flow is to choose a couple of recurring elements that you will repeat on each table to give your design a sense of continuity. For instance, square and rectangular clear glass vessels are very chic and modern. On each table, place a set of three vessels, each of which is slightly different. You can also combine clear and frosted glass for even more visual interest.
Your second design element is your flowers, which can be whatever suits your personal style and your budget. Orchids are one of the most popular choices among wedding planners, and while they are expensive, it is also possible to get away with using a very small number of them while still creating fabulous centerpieces. Submerged orchids are particularly stylish and you only need one or two stems per table. The third tabletop element can be floating candles. When you think about it, floating candles are pretty much the perfect wedding décor item. They are affordable and yet add a great impact to your design.
The surprising element is also very important when you are trying to add visual interest to your wedding. They can be many different materials. It could be a narrow piece of copper wire crossed loosely over the top of a bouquet. The same element can be echoed in the form of wires wrapped around rolled napkins in lieu of regular napkin rings. If you are more into sparkle and love crystal bridal jewelry, you can do something similar using strands of shimmering crystals. It is this type of attention to detail that will help to give your wedding a designer look without the celebrity wedding planner price tag.
Thursday, June 18th, 2009,
by
Bridget Mora,
custom bridal jewelry, roses, wedding flowers,
Bridal Jewelry, wedding planning,
No Comments
The most commonly used type of rose is the hybrid. These are the roses that probably spring to mind when you picture a rose, with their petals arranged in concentric circles with a higher center and a long stem. Classic hybrid roses are the ones that you are most likely to see in the florist’s display case. They are particularly popular for weddings thanks to their hardy nature and year round availability. Many of the most classic wedding roses, such as the rich red Black Magic or the lovely white Bianca, are hybrid tea roses.
The hybrid rose is an ideal choice for a bride who loves roses precisely because of their classic style and grace. A round bouquet of a single color and type of rose would be the prefect complement to a wedding gown with a full skirt and pearl custom bridal jewelry. Hybrid roses also look fabulous in combination with flowers such as lisyanthus and hydrangeas.
If you love flowers like lush peonies, then you will adore the large full look of garden roses. These roses are generally bigger than hybrid teas and have an incredible plucked from the garden look, often with a heady scent to accompany it. These roses are gorgeous for centerpieces that are overflowing from garden urns, and work wonderfully with loose and trailing greens. If you are designing a wedding with a romantic English garden flavor, garden roses would be perfect. Garden roses do have some limitations, however; they are more expensive and fragile than hybrid roses, and they are not available in the winter.
This brings us to the spray rose. Spray roses are flowers that grow in clusters of four or five, rather than a single blossom on one long stem such as the hybrid roses have. Spray roses combine beautifully with hybrid or garden roses to add texture and interest to a rose-based bouquet. They are often paired with hybrid or garden roses in the same color. Since they have several blooms on every stem, spray roses are a very popular addition to floral arrangements when you want to quickly add more fullness. They are available in virtually any color, making them even more versatile.
Finally, there are the miniature roses, which just as their name suggests, are small roses. As with the spray roses, mini roses are a wonderful addition to a hybrid rose bouquet or centerpiece. Their petite size adds a nice contrast in scale that will make your displays more interesting. Mini roses are also very sweet for boutonierres and make adorable bouquets for flower girls.
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009,
by
Bridget Mora,
Bridesmaid Gifts, grooms, wedding planning,
Bridesmaid Gifts, Uncategorized,
No Comments
If you are in the midst of planning a wedding, you could probably use a good laugh. So if you can tear yourself away from the bridal magazines for a minute, check out this list of funny ideas that grooms have for weddings. It is sure to remind you exactly why you have decided to take on most of the wedding planning yourself, and hopeful it will also give you a laugh or two.
If you took a survey of 100 grooms, about 98 of them would say that the part of the wedding that interests them the most is the food. When it is time to visit florists, your fiance may be nowhere to be found, but let the words “cake tasting” pass your lips, and he will be in the car before you even have a chance to grab your purse! The only thing is that a lot of guys when left to their own devices would make some pretty odd choices for the wedding reception menu. Some of the funniest groom-suggested menus that I have heard include: nacho cheese fountain, buffalo wings bar, a “cake” made of meatloaf (eeeeeewwww!), and a taco truck. So unless you are planning to show “Monday Night Football” during your wedding, you might want to keep the groom away from the caterer.
Many grooms think that the wedding should be as much a platform for their interests as it is for the bride’s. This is a fine idea in theory (and sometimes in practice as well), unless the groom happens to be a sports fanatic. If you have ever seen the movie “Diner”, you know exactly what I am talking about. For those who haven’t seen it, rent it some night, and you will see that your own fiance is not half the sports nut that you thought he was. (One hint: a wedding decorated in a football team’s colors.) Another not-so-great idea: custom tuxedos in team colors. Those of you who saw the green and gold Green Bay Packers themed tuxes on “That 70s Show” are with me on this.
Some of the groom’s ideas can spring from a general unfamiliarity with wedding customs and etiquette. Being a guy, he is to be excused for this. It is the bride’s job to gently inform him that he cannot text the wedding invitations to his side of the guest list. You should also be sure to inform a budget-conscious groom that although saving money on the wedding is an admirable goal, there are some ways in which it should not be done. For instance, if he suggests trimming costs by skipping the bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts, he needs to be told that the purpose of these gifts is to thank each groomsman and bridesmaid for bring in the wedding, and that they really are mandatory. Another cost cutting idea that I heard proposed by a clueless groom was to have an open bar for only the wedding party, and a cash bar for the rest of the guests. Was he planning to hand out wristbands for the A-listers?
It is fun to gently mock how little most men know about weddings, but the truth is that most grooms do try their best to make their bride’s dream wedding happen. So if your fiance suggests something truly silly (like Darth Vader performing the marriage ceremony), try to let him down kindly and hold the peals of laughter until he has left the room.
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009,
by
Bridget Mora,
pearl bridal jewelry, vintage, wedding cakes,
Bridal Jewelry, pearl bridal jewelry, wedding planning,
No Comments
Back when your mother and grandmother got married, the wedding cake was not the extravagant showpiece that it is today. Brides back then would have been shocked at the price that some couples pay for today’s over-the-top wedding cakes. Cakes these days have become like competitions; it seems like every bride wants hers to be taller or more elaborate or quirkier than every wedding cake that has come before. If you feel like sometimes simpler can be better, take a look at some ways that you can design a wedding cake with a refreshingly nostalgic charm.
A traditional wedding cake was frosted in white or ivory buttercream. The buttercream icing has a softer and more genuine look than the too-perfect look of perfectly smooth fondant. The look of buttercream frosting harkens back to the day when the families of the bride and groom did much of the cooking for the wedding celebration. Although I don’t necessarily recommend having your mom try to make your wedding cake, working with buttercream is something that a talented amateur could conceivably do.
The decorations on your nostalgic cake are what will really give it a charming simplicity. White on white is best, perhaps with a touch of pale pink if you want a hint of color. Keep the design classic. You cannot go wrong with pretty decorations piped in white frosting. Wonderful choices include garlands, scrolls, and Swiss dots.
The pearl is another lovely addition to a vintage inspired cake, as it really ties in with the classic bridal jewelry favored by brides throughout the ages. You can have a simple pearl border piped along the edge of each tier, which looks beautiful when the bride is wearing pearl bridal jewelry. Another nice choice for cake decorations would be fresh flowers. They can be arranged in small clusters on the base of each tier, cascading down one side of the cake, or as filling between layers if your cake has risers.
A nostalgic wedding cake should definitely have a vintage cake topper. The best of all would be if the bride or groom’s parents saved their cake topper for you to use. Otherwise, look around at vintage stores and online for wedding cake toppers with a sentimental design. You cannot go wrong with an original bride and groom topper. Other popular choices from the past are wedding bells and doves. A nostalgic wedding cake is the perfect sweet ending to your special day.
