Wedding Gifts from Bride to Groom

As you choose special wedding gifts for your maid of honor, bridesmaids, flower girl, and parents, don’t forget about that most important person on your list – the groom!

It is very common for the bride and groom to exchange gifts on their wedding day. The gifts are usually given prior to the actual ceremony, either at the rehearsal dinner or by way of a messenger on the wedding day. Some couples choose to give the gift after the wedding reception when they have some personal alone time.
 
Any gift of jewelery or something like cuff links or a handkerchief can become a part of your wedding day. Your groom can wear the cuff links or tuck the handkerchief in his tux.  Some handkerchiefs have a personal message on them and the cuff links can be engraved.  You can be sure that he will wear that special watch, necklace or any other piece of jewelery on the big day. Consider the message and sentiment you are hoping to achieve, and that, along with the cost, should guide your decision.

Here are some gift ideas for the groom.

On a Budget

 

• Bottle of his favorite wine or liquor with a love letter
• Customized calendar with photos of you both together
• Mixed CD of your favorite songs and a love note
• Money clip engraved
• Personalized handkerchief
• Photo album or scrapbook with many of your favorite photos
• Photo frame
• Poetry book

Traditional Gifts

• A necklace or bracelet
• A watch
• Cuff links
• Gift basket of all his favorite things (including this favorite cologne)
• New leather wallet, inscribed with a personal message
• Brand name sunglasses

Classy and Customized

• An engraved pocket watch
• Gift certificate for an adventure of a lifetime – scuba diving, skydiving, hot air balloon rides or something else up his alley
• Personalized golf balls or golf club

Technology at Its Best

• Digital camera
• Digital camcorder
• Flat-screen TV
• GPS system
• iPod or MP3 player
• A print, painting, or sculpture by one of his favorite artists
• A set of golf clubs, if he doesn’t already have them
• High-end fashion watch  

Some couples opt not to exchange gifts other than their wedding bands and the honeymoon they’ll share. If you decide not to give a gift, consider sending a sweet greeting card or a handwritten love note – something you both can cherish for a lifetime.

Wedding Day Hair Flowers

A popular trend among brides is wearing flowers in their hair on their wedding day instead of wearing a veil or tiara.  Here are some tips that you should be sure to follow in order to wear a flower as beautifully as possible.

One of the first things that come to mind is that it would be better for you to wear a fresh flower because it’s more natural. This is a common misunderstanding among brides who are interested in wearing flowers in their hair. The truth is that it is much better to wear a flower clip or barrette, than a fresh flower. Why you may ask? After a certain amount of time, the fresh flower will begin to look droopy as the day goes on, while a flower clip or barrette will last forever. There is nothing worse than a droopy flower in photos, so it is best to avoid using fresh flowers in your hair. Another option is to have a number of fresh flowers on hand to replace the flower that starts to droop.  It could be costly and make wrecks havoc on your expensive hair do.

 

 

 

Brides should also keep in mind that flowers worn in the hair do not seem to go with every hairstyle and face shape.  Most hair stylists find that flowers look best with medium length hair and round or square shape faces. This is not to say that people with short hair look terrible wearing flowers in their hair for a wedding. In fact, many people with shorter hair prefer wearing flower clips or some type of clip in order to “spruces up” their hair. Ultimately it comes down to what looks good on you.

 

 

 

One thing that you want to make sure when you do decide if you are wearing flowers in your hair for a wedding is that it matches your wedding day style.  Not only is it necessary for it to match your dress, but also it is also important that it goes along with the whole theme of the wedding.

Please be sure to keep all of these points in mind when deciding on wedding day hair flowers.

How to Throw a Wild, Glam and Sassy Bridal Shower!

   
How many times has this happened to you - you open the mail and there’s another wedding shower invitation and all you can think of is another boring, simple themed shower to go to. No fun, the same food, cake and silly games….

Now it’s your turn to have a wedding shower and you want it unlike anything anyone has been to before! Here’s how you do it:

Think pink this year - A glam and sassy all ladies party is easy to do and something that everyone will enjoy. The greatest part of this theme is that the more pink feather boas and sparkles the better!

For the invitation:  Nothing sets the tone for your party like the perfect invitation! You can choose from several different options for this theme: martini glasses, scrolls or bold hot pink block print.  Make it clear on the invitation if there is also a theme for gifts, such as sexy lingerie, fashion jewelery or stock the couples home bar and beverage center.

 

 

 

 

For the cocktails: You always need to have a fun "signature" drink at the party and name it after the bride-to-be. This doesn’t need to be complicated at all - make a batch of cosmos or even a champagne cocktail - just add an extra splash of fruit juice or liquor and presto, you have your "Lisa." Try garnishing glasses with pink sugar rims and lime wedges and make sure to add different patterned ribbons around the stems to serve as glass labels.

For the food: This type of event lends itself to the sweet tooth that everyone has inside all of us. Sweet tables adorned with candy, cupcakes, and petit fours are a great option. Don’t forget to offer at least one or two savory appetizers, such as a cheese platter or simple hors’ douveres.

 

    

 

For the décor:  Have the event space look bright, bold and fun!  Pair bright pink with animal prints or even black and white prints. Try to use lots of beads and feathers to give texture to your centerpieces.

 

 

 

This will be a party that all your friends and family will talk about for years to come!

Writing a Maid of Honor wedding speech

 

Writing a speech can be quite an ordeal, let alone the fact that you have to give it at a wedding in front of several hundred people. Eventually, after your friend asks you to be the maid of honor at her wedding, this anxiety will appear and the question will arise -  how do I write a good speech. What kind of speech should I prepare? What should or shouldn't I say? How long should it be?

The internet may provide you a good amount of resources that offer maid of honor speeches to the public, but don’t you really want something great, unique, different and even a little funny so you can make the couple happy that she chose you to give the speech (and not be embarrassed on the way back to your seat afterward).

 

 

Here are a few tips to consider when writing your speech:

 

• Try and be thoroughly prepared. Don't start writing your speech until the last minute. Make sure you start as soon as possible; don't leave it until the night before the wedding.

• Check with the bride to see what kind of speech she'd like – this would give you a great place to start.

• Know your crowd – you’re at a wedding and you don't want to embarrass the bride on her big day. Is there anything in the speech that is a little too private? It might seem funny to you, but to other people it could be the complete opposite. You may want to run your speech by a friend first to make sure that nothing seems inappropriate.

• Make sure it has some flavor and a personal touch. This can be the hardest thing to accomplish in writing, to customize your speech to suit the bride and the groom. Try and inject some jokes or a few funny lines that you feel as though would be good on their day.

• Try and hold off on the alcohol until after the speech; drinking may seem like a good idea when you’re nervous, but it can only get you in more trouble. If you’ve even seen anyone slur and stumble through a speech, well need I say more?

• Most of all make sure everything is done in good taste, as families will be attending on the day. If you’re not sure of something, it might be best to take it out instead of leaving it in.

If you’re still having trouble writing that speech, here is a website for speech writing that might be helpful.

Wedding Cake Trends for the 2010 Wedding Season

Planning a wedding is considered one of the most memorable occasions a couple with have in their lifetime. When you think of weddings you always think of the brides wedding gown and of course the wedding cake.

Wedding cakes are very important at a reception and represent more than just a delicious dessert - a wedding cake serves as a centrepiece at your wedding reception. It is extremely important to select the wedding cake carefully in order to match it with the right trend, the theme of the wedding, and your personal style. It should also reveal your style as a couple.

Every year brings with it a different trend and this year is no exception. This coming wedding season you will see both the traditional and modern styles of wedding cakes. Here are few of the top wedding cake trends for this wedding season:

Oversized and Tall Wedding Cakes

This year we are seeing a lot of gigantic wedding cakes. Last year the wedding cakes consisted of maximum one to three layers, this year it has increased to five to seven layers. So if you are planning a wedding this season, the best bet for you would be to go for five to seven layers of cake. If the cost is too expensive we suggest adding artificial tiers to make up the difference.

 

Butter Cream Cakes

Many wedding couples are opting for delicious butter cream for their icing. The bride, groom and their guests prefer butter cream because it’s a lot tastier. Fondant was largely used to give the cake a very attractive look as opposed to butter cream, which tends to melt fast and doesn’t give the required smoothness to the cake. Always remember, a layer of fondant over butter cream will give you both an elegant look and delicious taste. 




Bold Colors

Fashion runways have been showcasing dramatic colors this season for wedding dresses and décor.  Now we are seeing these colors show up on the wedding cakes.  We are seeing a lot of blues, plums, oranges and fuchsia colors for the icing and embellishments.   Some couples are very cautious when it comes to color so they usually stick to all white cakes and then add the bold colors through flowers, fruit and jewels. 

 


Monograms

Monograms are very classy, trendy and stylish at a wedding, plus it gives a nice signatory fashion to the wedding cake.  This look adds a classic feature like no other, and it’s timeless.   
 
 

 
Traditional Something Blue

Some couples struggle to find the traditional “something blue” to add to their wedding date. So why not have a blue wedding cake – metallic horizon blue, ice blue, aqua blue, and any understated hue of blue color, wedding cakes would be perfect for your 2010 nuptial.

2010 Bridesmaid Dress Trends

When you ask any single 30 something year old women to be in a wedding she will say “always the bridesmaid and never the bride”.  Nowadays women love to be asked to stand in as a bridesmaid at a wedding because the dresses have never been more stylish and sophisticated - and this year is no exception. (some people have been known to hit the bridal salons just to purchase the dress off the rack because they are so chic this year).

Here are some of the 2010 bridesmaid dress tends for this wedding season:

Neckline

Designers are now saying good-bye to the strapless bridesmaid dresses and introducing more diverse necklines to their collections. One of the biggest trends this year has to be the classic bateau neckline.

 

 

 

 

Gray

Gray is the new brown / black this year.  It will complement most skin tones and shades of gray will always look good no matter what the season is! Gray bridesmaids dresses are a wonderful choice because the color is timeless. Plus the look is very much the same as the typical little black dress.

 

 

 

Two-toned Colors

Two-toned dresses are very hot this wedding season, along with separates. Having two separate pieces allows all bridesmaids to feel comfortable on the wedding day no matter what size they are. Separates will compliment all body types and so will two toned colors.

 

 

 

Sleeves

Bridesmaids dresses always come in sleeveless styles, but now you may want to consider some really cool sleeves for the girls dresses especially for the ladies who like to cover up a bit more on the wedding day.  

 

 

 

Off White and Ivory Shades

Designers these days are including shades of soft vanilla, pale beige and even faint khaki colors for bridesmaid’s dresses.  When selecting a shade like this make sure you purchase it from the same store as the brides wedding dress.  You don’t want the shade to be too close to the brides dress and you don’t want to blend in.  

 

 

 

Wolfgang Pucks Wedding Catering Trends for 2010

World-renowned chef, Wolfgang Puck, in a recent interview reveals his wedding catering trends for 2010:

“The use of organic and sustainable ingredients are more popular than ever, and couples are more knowledgeable about food these days” says Chef Puck, “Caterer’s that shop at the farmers market and think about seasonality are important. Organic and sustainable products are appealing to a lot of wedding couples.”

 

 

 

In the current economy, comfort foods have become even more popular (think burgers, pizza, ribs, pot pie and risotto.)  Comfort doesn’t have to mean pedestrian. “At a wedding, you can serve hors d’oeurvres like Kobe beef burgers, wild mushroom risotto, smoked salmon pizzas, braised short-ribs or a single pot pie with lobster." His advice to dazzle your wedding guests – upgrade ingredients and prepare them with great expertise.

“One of the more popular trends now is to serve a small cheese course right before the wedding cake,” says the famed gastronome, “it’s very chic.”

Another popular trend is for your wedding guests to see the food being prepared.  “Having the chefs out in front cooking for the guests is the latest thing,” he says. “It’s fun for the guests to see real professional chefs at work making food that is cooked to order. This is especially good for hot appetizers and the main course.”

Personal touches are very important in what you should do. “Heart and love should inspire everything,” says Chef Puck. He likes to ask the bride and groom what they like to eat and then take it and add a twist to everything, giving them something better than what they are used to for their wedding reception.

These are the type of tips that I pass on to my wedding clients when they approach me and ask for something different for food options at their wedding reception. I always let them know all of their trends, however including one or two of these trends into their wedding meal is enough to take it from ordinary to extraordinary. 

 

Wedding Makeup Trends for 2010

Now that winter is almost over and spring is just around the corner, it’s time to start considering  your wedding day makeup. Here are some of the hottest trends in makeup for this coming wedding season:
 

• Smokey eyes have been popular time and again over the years but for this wedding season, we are seeing a new take on our old favorite. For year’s we have seen blacks and browns dominate the smokey eye look at weddings, now purples, grays, metallic and jewel tones are at the top of the list for eye shadow this season. 
  

• If like a natural look for your wedding, I suggest gold and bronze eye shadows.  It will appear soft yet dramatic.  

• In order to keep your wedding day make up looking fresh and trendy, try not to overdo your lips and check bones.

• The main difference in this year's smokey eye trend is that the rest of the face looks natural.

• Remember to include your eyebrows on the wedding day.  Do not over tweeze them!

 

 

 

 

• If the eyes can’t handle the smokey look then switch it up a bit and try to enhance your lips and leave your eyes natural on the wedding day.

• Always remember - in order to keep your look fresh this wedding season, emphasize your eyes or the lips but not both. The rest of your beautiful face should look natural with a bit of foundation and some really good quality waterproof mascara.

• I always tell my brides to hire a professional makeup artist on their wedding day and make sure you have a trial the week of the wedding. Try to take a few photos of yourself to see if you really like the look.

Don’t ever show up to a wedding without any makeup on. Photographers need to see some color in the face because once the flashes starting going off, it will really whiten a brides face and not flatter it.  

What is a Wedding Aisle Runner?

A wedding aisle runner is a long piece of material sometimes plastic, vinyl and even canvas that may serve several purposes at a wedding. Wedding aisle runners have always been used to protect the bride, bridesmaids and women guests attending the wedding from dirt.

Wedding aisle runners can be used at the steps of the church, or on the aisle between seats.  When weddings take place outdoors, wedding runners can prove excellent for protecting dresses. As a Wedding Planner I always tell brides to choose a sturdier fabric for runners when they are hosting an outdoor wedding ceremony.

 

 

 

Many brides choose white or ivory aisle runners, but there is really no limit as to color choices these days. Couples can order elaborate decorations for the runner, including things like the couple’s name or monogram, and they can even custom order sizes and styles. Fabric choices can be custom-made to suit many different décor themes, and include very expensive materials like silk, lace and velvet.

 

 

 

Not every couple chooses to have a wedding aisle runner. They are often used to protect a dress or shoes from dirt at an outdoor wedding location, but indoor locations surely don’t require them. Of course, some aisles are not in the best possible shape. A beautiful wedding aisle runner can easily cover any spots or dirt on an aisle, which might detract from a bride’s beauty or the otherwise charming nature of the location.

For more information or to post a question about your wedding, please visit my website at www.occasionsniagara.com

Wedding Cuff Links for the Groom

All of my grooms ask about wedding cuff links. What they are, do they have to purchase them for the wedding and what purpose do they serve? So today I will explain…

The wedding cuff link is an attractive clasp that ensures the sleeve cuff on a shirt fastens properly. The cuff link dates back to the early 17th century and was created as an alternative to using the well-known button. Over the past decade the cuff link has been created in many unique and stylish designs and has been recognized as a fashionable item worn on all different types of special occasions but particularly at weddings.

The wedding cuff link today comes in various stunning and unique designs ranging from novelty and humorous designs to high end ones that are made of precious metals like gold, silver and platinum.

Who Wears cuff links? 

Throughout the early years of the cuff link, the gentleman was traditionally the person to wear a cuff link. The cuff link was part of ones formal attire and created to impress other gentlemen and the ladies. It was to not only a fashion forward trend it was to show off your wealth and status. The most popular place to wear the cuff link was at a wedding. However in today's society the cuff link is widely accepted as a fashion item that can be worn amongst casual wear.

How to Wear Cufflinks -

Although the cuff link comes in many diverse styles and designs it cannot be worn with just any outfit. The cuff link can only be worn with certain shirts that come with specially created holes without the button. Unfortunately the standard shirt that features a button will not be able to accommodate the cufflink. The clothes created specifically for the cufflink come without any buttons on and have designated holes instead. When renting a tux or purchasing a suit let the tailor know that you are going to be wearing cuff links at the wedding so that they can size you up with an appropriate shirt.

The Prefect Gift -

Cuff links come in some of the most creative designs available. Designs can include sporting designs, favorite football team colors, logo's, cars, planes, emblems or can be engraved and personalized. Due to the fact that they can be personalized they have become the ideal gift for a partner, loved one or just a friend. They are perfect gift for your groomsmen and ushers.  Also, brides love to give them to the groom the morning of the wedding.

 

 

 

When asked, I always recommend www.cuffwear.com to my clients, they are very reasonable and they have so many varieties to choose from. Check them out for some great ideas!!