How to be a Celebrity on your Wedding Day

Celebrity weddings are always a very hot item, whether in the news or fashion magazines. I always look to their weddings to get the best and brightest ideas when it comes to the details of the wedding day. Its not only the opulent budgets celebrities have, I also notice that they want to be the first to have something and they are very trend setting in their wedding styles.

Here are some ways for you to make your own wedding have that celebrity touch:

Browse through Brides magazines and watch all the celebrity shows - Magazines that deal with anything Hollywood can provide all the information you’ll need to see what’s in style and what your favorite celebrities are doing. This can inspire your planning and help you with the theme of your wedding

Choose your favorite detail – Look to the celebrity wedding for the details that you think you might like to incorporate into your wedding. Check out the design of the gown or the hairstyle of the latest Hollywood wedding, or maybe what centerpieces they are using.



Hire a wedding planner and consult them on your options - Preparing for a wedding can be a difficult task. It can get very complicated if you are eyeing a particular celebrity wedding to pattern from. Hiring a wedding planner can help you organize your plans and put them into action and the proper wedding coordinator will find the things you want – or be able to suggest better alternatives while still giving that celebrity feel to your wedding.

Pick a celebrity hairstyle - There are certain celebrities who are very well-known for their perfect hair styles. Look for pictures and present them to your salon to replicate the styles of the celebrity you admire. You deserve to look magnificent, that is why your stylist should be able to do exactly what your celebrity counterpart has on her head.



Copy that celebrity-wedding gown - You may not be able to get the services of Vera Wang to get your gown done, but with a picture of the gown you like and the proper help, you can have your own gown designed to look exactly like a famous designer.



There are many things to consider as you prepare for your own version of celebrity wedding. Just make sure that you get what you want. It is your special day. You deserve nothing less than perfect.

Diamond Ice Mold for the Wedding Shower

This is an item I found while looking at another designer's blog and I just had to share it with you - I thought it would make the best add-on to the bridal shower or for the bride at the wedding in her drink - and what woman wouldn't want to walk around with a diamond this big!!

 

 

 

A great gift idea, this whimsical ice mold is shaped like a diamond. These diamonds ice cubes would be great for any special occasion - especially anything bride related. Just fill as you would any ice tray and place one-of-a-kind ice diamond in a rocks glass for a dramatic look. The mold is made from food-safe silicone, is non-stick and releases ice effortlessly.

They can be purchased on-line at - Sur La Table

Last Minute Wedding Venues

Many wedding couples spend up to a year and a half planning for thier wedding. What happens if you decide to to have your wedding on short notice? Finding vendors would definitely be one of the biggest challenges, but not impossible. Here are some tips on how to find a wedding venue that will still make your big day perfect:

Friends or Relatives Homes

Think of all  the people you know and then try and think - does anyone have a beautiful backyard/garden that could be used as the perfect backdrop for your wedding? Not only would this provide a beautiful spot, but cetainly be a more cheaper alternative to renting an area, helping out the wedding budget.

 

 

 

 Restaurants

Many restarurants have small (sometimes private) areas that can be used for your wedding service - and the greatest part would be going to a small reception immidiately after, making this an efficient use of your time. Looking to try and save a little money on the reception? Reception locations are much more flexible and negotiable when you book your wedding reception during non-peak months (and hours).

 

 

 

Parks

If you look around your area, you may notice that there is an abundance of parkland areas that may be very suitable to exchange your wedding vows, with nature providing a great natural setting for your wedding. Contact your local authorities to see if they allow them and what their rules are to hold your wedding there.

 

 

 

In addition to the above suggestions, I suggest doing some online research for available last minute wedding venues. Don’t assume that all the prime spots have already been snapped up, as some popular wedding locations may have available slots due to cancellations or simply un-booked dates.

Hot Trend For This Wedding Season – Wedding Hand Fans

Many fashion forward brides are opting for the Wedding Hand Fan instead of a flower bouquet.  Brides love these fans because it provides a Vintage feel and look.

The Wedding Hand Fans have always been seen as a graceful fashion accessory for ladies ever since it was developed throughout Europe. The fan would enhance the beauty of the user and would add a bit of mystery.

 

 

 

Hand fans can also be a part of the bridal party's accessory and can be given as a gift for your guests who attend your wedding. It is a great way to say "thank you" and to provide them will something memorable from your wedding.

Wedding fans can be custom made to the styles and design to match the theme of a wedding and can be made out of silk, lace, paper and wood. They can also be created to your liking and be painted or printed with almost anything.

So whether the fan is going to be used as a gift for your guest or an accessory for you wedding it will provide the additional feel of beauty that you wish for as well as an stylish companion. After the wedding, your fan can be framed as a lovely keepsake of your happiest day.

 

The Wedding Registry

A bridal registry is a service provided by retail stores (and now websites) to assist engaged couples in the communication of gift preferences to wedding guests. Selecting items from store stock, the couple lists desired items and files this list with the chosen merchant. The list is then made available to wedding guests, either by the couple's family, the merchant and/or on-line.

Upon the purchase of a listed item, this gift registry is updated accordingly. In addition to providing valuable information for the buyer, the system helps prevent the receipt of duplicate or unwanted gifts, potentially saving time for both giver and recipient.

 

 

The practice of a bridal registry was first instituted by Chicago-founded department store Marshall Field's in 1924 at its Marshall Field and Company Building as a means for the engaged couple to indicate chosen china, silver and crystal patterns to family and friends. US-based Target stores were the first to introduce an electronic self-service gift registry in 1993, using a service provided by The Gift Certificate Center, Minneapolis, MN. The technology was invented and subsequently patented by William J. Veeneman et al., the founder and CEO of The Gift Certificate Center.

In the past few years the traditional concept of the bridal registry has evolved. On one side we now have more specialized versions such as honeymoon registry and charity registry. On the other side we also have more general registries that allow consumer to have items from many stores in one single registry.

 

 

Here is some great tips to help you set up your registry:

• Allow at least an afternoon to choose the items for your registry list and make sure you do it with your fiance.

• Put your list together at least 12-16 weeks before the big day so that details can go out with your wedding invitations (this number should line up with the timeframe of when you are sending the invitations).

• Choose items that you both like and remember - try to compromise! If you love something and your fiancé doesn't, you might have to agree to put something you don't like on the list.

• Include more gifts than you think you will receive to give guests plenty of choice.

• Make sure your gifts fit in to a variety of price ranges, and include some larger items in case guests decide to buy something for you together.

• Think of the future as well as gifts you would like to receive now. A special china set or beautiful wine glasses might be something you treasure in years to come.

• Be wary of choosing too many fashionable colours or patterns. You don't want everything to feel dated a few years down the line.

• Consider whether everything you choose is going to match well. China, for example, should co-ordinate with any table linen, cutlery and glassware when it comes to style.

• Be sure to keep an up to date list of every gift bought - you'll need it when you start to write thank you letters!

• Thank you letters are essential, and it's perfectly acceptable to send them as soon as you receive a gift, even if it's before the wedding date.

After the wedding is over - What to do with the wedding gown?

The process of choosing what to do with your dress after the wedding is almost as daunting a task as shopping for it in the first place. I understand why so many brides vacuum seal their dresses and hide them away in a dark corner of their closet never to see the light of day again – I don’t like it but I understand it.

Many brides sell their wedding dresses on line and from what I gather they have experienced some sentimental pangs as they pack it up and ship it off to the next lucky lady. Brides will shop for months and search high and low for the perfect gown - only to turn around after the wedding and sell it to make a profit.  

Here are some really neat ideas for your gently used wedding gown.

Keep the dress, but change it up a bit.  You could always alter the dress and dye it a different color, that way you can wear it again to someone else’s special occasion.

 

 

 

 

Another great idea is to donate the dress. There are lots of charities that will provide dresses to brides who cannot afford one. Here is one I recommend:

The Brides Project

A lot of brides will get real creative. They will take the fabric from the dress and make a family tablecloth; some will take part of the dress (usually the train) and make a christening gown for their first born baby. Some choose to make drapes, scrapbook covers and even a duvet cover for the happy couples new bed. The ideas are endless.

 

 

 

Some brides will team up with their photographer and have a photo shoot called “trash the dress”. That’s if you don’t mind getting the dress dirty and realize it will never come clean again .  You can get some amazing photos done that way and at least you can say you wore your gown twice.

 

 

 

The most obvious choice is to sell the dress. Brides are always happy to do this despite the few moments of separation anxiety.  You can list your dress on Ebay, Craigslist and even Kijiji.

No matter what you decide to do with the dress it’s a decision you will have to live with it, so make sure you sleep on your ideas before you make a final choice.  Plus discuss it with your husband, he may have a really neat idea.

How to have great hair on your wedding day

On your wedding day, you want to look like yourself, only better. There’s nothing worse than a bride wearing a gorgeous gown, in the perfect location, whose hair is so dreadful that guests can’t keep their eyes off of it.

When choosing the style you're going to use on your wedding, brides should always have a consultation with the stylist who will be doing their hair one to two months before the wedding date to ensure that their dream hairstyle fits in with their dream day.

Here are a few things to factor in when deciding your wedding hair style:

• Make sure to carefully choose your stylist – you’ll remember your wedding day forever, so choose someone you trust to style your hair. If your hairdresser doesn’t typically do wedding hairstyles, ask him or her for a recommendation, or speak with friends or other brides who have had hairstyles you’ve admired.

• Make sure to bring your veil or headpiece to the consultation - the veil factors into your overall look and its length and style will determine whether to wear your hair up or down.

• Don’t cut your hair days before the wedding - stay away from the scissors and don’t plan on getting a haircut right before the big day. Instead, do it a month or two prior to the wedding to ensure that you like the cut and it will work with the hairstyle you’ve chosen.

• Don’t experiment with hair color - talk to your stylist about how you envision your hair on the big day, and let your colorist know if you are planning on wearing your hair up or down. It’s also not advisable to dramatically change your hair color before the wedding. You want to look like an enhanced version of you, not someone completely different.  

• Try more than one style – just like trying on several wedding dresses, have your stylist show you at least three different looks based on your description of what you want.

• Bring photographs to your consultation - pictures speak louder than words. Gather photos (e.g., from magazines) of hairstyles you like. This will give the stylist an idea of the kind of style you’re seeking.

• Always factor in the dress with your style - your hair should always complement your gown. Select your gown first and then decide on the hairstyle with your stylist.

How do you measure love? With this wedding favor!

Every client that I have always wants a really unique guest wedding favor.  I'm always on a mission to find something fun, useful and of course super unique. Most of the wedding favors that I find are so interesting that many soon to be brides that are guests at another wedding are wanting the same item or upset that they didn't discover the favor first. I guess that's the benefit of hiring a Wedding Planner!

Beau Coup is a fantastic website to find unique gifts for your bridal party, bridal shower and wedding favors. One of my favorite items is a really adorable set of heart shaped measuring spoons. It has  four clever and romantic phrases (A heap of love, A spoonful of affection, A dash of tenderness, A pinch of joy) engraved on the handle of each measuring spoon. They consist of traditional measurements (1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, 1 tablespoon) and are listed on the back of the handle. Heart shaped spoons are made of stainless steel so they won't tarnish. This is a wonderful wedding favor that your guests will be able to use, and always remember you gave it to them.

The set of measuring spoons are presented in a black gift box with black velvet lining and clear lid.  The box is also wrapped with white ribbon and the gift tag reads "Love Beyond Measure."

 

 

Here is a link to Beau Cuop for your wedding favor

Occasions Favorites - New Wedding Ideas

This is the first of many articles I'll be contributing to the blog titled "Occasions Favorites" These articles will consist of things that I find on the internet that I think are great ideas for a wedding - its a pretty simple concept, so let start off with the first one:

'I Do" Cookies

Let's face it, guests love receiving favors at a wedding. The newest trend nowadays that guests love are "edible wedding favors'. After a night of food, fun and drinks, who doesn't like a little something sweet to munch on. You can have the cookie on the way home or you can fight over it the next day. And with these, you'll never hear the words "dust collector wedding favor" again.

I found a great company that makes beautiful wedding favor cookies called Elenis.com. They have a huge variety of cookies to choose from that can be personlized with your names and date, or have your monogram on it. These are not only great wedding favors but they can be given out at your bridal shower as well.

Check out these sweet designs:

 

 

 

What’s up with the Almonds as Wedding Favors?

Why do couples make such a big deal about wedding favors!

We have found many theories about what stimulated the tradition of giving wedding guests a favor for attending their wedding. Some history books are saying the tradition originated with the Romans during the 8th century, while others believe it started with the throwing of rice and giving wedding favors to guests around 400 B.C.

What’s up with the Almonds as Wedding Favors?

Almonds have always been a very traditional symbol for good luck and assurances for a successful marriage.  Originally, only well-off families followed this practice.  Often the favors were placed in silver, gold, or crystal, called bonbonierre. When the tradition filtered down to the other social classes, by the end of the 19th century, almonds were dispersed in golden paper boxes.

In the Middle East they use Jordan almonds at their weddings, and they believe it’s an ancient symbolic rite. Guests are given only five Jordan almonds, which represents traditional wedding wishes of health, fertility, wealth, good fortune and a long life of happiness. The outside candy coating on the almond is supposed to represent both the bitter and the sweet parts of marriage.

Today, many wedding couples will present guests with Jordan almonds wrapped in tulle as one part of the wedding favor. It’s often attached to a much larger gift for the guests.

 

 

 

The wedding favor tradition has evolved into a thriving industry. It can be a very time consuming search for bride and grooms.   Couples want the wedding favor to suit the style of the wedding and match their personality.

Personalized wedding favors are really important to couples.  Often they choose to have a set of pens or paperweights engraved with the date of the wedding or a shot glass engraved with the details. Another thoughtful personalized wedding favor is a small picture frame with a photo of the bride and groom or it can be used as a place card for the guests table.

 

 

Some wedding favors are traditional, but some of them have evolved into themed items, like wine, wine stoppers or decanters. Beyond the tangible favors, some brides and grooms choose to make a donation to a charity of their choice.

 

 

 

Regardless of wedding theme, knowing the history behind the gift for guests, can help motivate couples to give a personal, thoughtful, and meaningful wedding favor.