bridal favors : Every Bride Must Have It

Wedding favors are quickly becoming a trendy essential of the wedding celebration. Wedding favors are small gifts that are given to each guest at the wedding reception. It says, "thank you" for coming to our wedding and celebrating this most special day with us. Wedding favors are becoming an important part of the wedding planning process. Before you make or purchase your wedding favors you have to determine the following: 1. How many people are invited to the wedding? You need to know how many people are attending the wedding to determine the number of wedding favors needed. Wedding favors are usually bought after the RSVPs to make sure there are enough favors for each guest. Therefore, the favors are usually bough one month or closer to the actual wedding day. 2. What is your budget per guest? You have to determine the budget for your wedding favors. You can buy some very nice wedding favors for about $2-$3. If you are crafty you can make your own favors, but most people leave it to the professionals and buy their favors. 3. What is your theme? Your theme or wedding location or the time of the year can determine your wedding favors. For example, a beach wedding calls for a beach theme wedding favor such as a dolphin wine stopper, a seashell candle, or a beach chair candle or cardholder. Just like the bridal gown, wedding favors are a part of the bride's to do list. The decision on what favors to give to the guest should be made by the bride and groom. You can purchase inexpensive but useful wedding favors that will end up in someone's home not in trash can of your reception venue. An elegant wine stopper, a pretty candle, a shiny bottle opener, a personalized chocolate bar all have the power say to your guest "thank you" with style and elegance. by George Meszaros

bridal favors : Bridal Shower Planning Tips

Historically, brides have been showered with love and gifts on their bridal shower party. Although the maid of honor normally organizes the bridal shower, showers can be organized by anyone close to the bride. To be more politically correct, couples may decide to opt for a couple shower. It is the same concept as a bridal shower, but it is not exclusive to female friends and family. A couple shower enables friends and family to celebrate both bride and groom. Whether it's a bridal shower or a couple shower, planning the event takes considerable effort. So, read on to learn some fun and helpful bridal shower planning tips. Planning the shower is the responsibility of the honor attendant or honor attendants. It is quite possible for the bride to choose more than one honor attendant. So, it is quite possible that planning the shower would be a team effort. If there is only one maid of honor, she shouldn't hesitate to ask for help from the other bridesmaids, friends, and family. Hint. Several people involved in the planning process can help, but it can also create conflict. Choosing the right date for the bridal shower is of paramount importance. There is no rule about how much time before the wedding a shower needs to take place. It can take place several months or a couple of weeks prior the wedding day. Often, bridal showers are planned in the form of a surprise party. Regardless of the date of the shower, guest should be notified well in advance. Make sure that the date doesn't conflict with holidays or other events that would prevent the guests from attending the party. A bridal shower doesn't need to be an expensive party, but it certainly can be. Be sure that your budget is set early in the planning process. Once your budget has been determined, be sure the required funds are set aside. Don't be a hero and ask for help. Just because you plan the shower, it doesn't mean you have to pay for the whole thing. Unless you are independently wealthy, ask all the bridesmaids to help out. A bridal shower can be a discreet get together or an extravagant party with some great bridal shower favors. The sky is the limit, and, of course, your budget. If you organize the party, you should know enough about the bride to determine what kind of shower she would enjoy the most. Would she enjoy a relaxed shower at somebody's house, or is she expecting a more formal party in a hotel ballroom? Does she have specific hobbies or interests that would provide an interesting theme for the party? You should only invite guest to the bridal shower who will also be invited to the wedding. If you are unsure about who should be on the guest list, feel free to ask the bride to help out. If you are organizing a surprise shower, ask the bride's mother or someone who would know about the wedding reception guest list. It is very smart to include information about where guests can purchase presents in the shower invitations. The guests will appreciate your guidance. After all, it makes it easier for them purchase the proper gifts. The bridal shower invitations can be traditional cards or even e-cards. Most people have an e-mail address, so an electronic invitation might be a feasible option for your shower. E-cards are not only freely offered on many Web sites, but they are also fast. You send them our one-minute and they are delivered the next. If you have a larger budget, you might be interested in sending out personalized chocolate bars as bridal shower invitations. Regardless of what form of invitations you decide to use, make sure they are sent out well in advance. The bridal shower invitations should be sent out about two months prior to the bridal shower party. Food is an important aspect of the planning process, and it is very much influenced by where the bridal shower is held. If you're planning an at-home bridal shower, you may prepare the food yourself or you have a catered party. If you're having the shower in a restaurant or a hotel, make sure they prepare one of the bride's favorite meals. Remember: Bridal showers are supposed to be fun, so don't stress too much. After all, you are planning a party. by George Meszaros

bridal favors : Artificial Flowers: A Great Alternative

Because flowers are so beautiful, most people do not think about the fact that they are really expensive or that they last so temporarily when cut. The good news is that there is an incredible alternative to using so much money on something that will only last a few days: artificial flowers. There are so many uses of flowers that you might be surprised to find out how much all of your flowers are actually costing. Flowers. You see them growing in gardens or adorning elegant tables as the centerpiece or the dresses of young girls at the prom. They are given as tokens of love and affection to celebrate birthdays, Valentine's day, engagements, anniversaries, and other special days between lovers. They provide decoration at a variety of popular events like bridal showers, weddings, banquets and graduation ceremonies. For each of these important occasions, consider replacing real flowers with artificial flowers. You will not be sorry you did. Artificial flowers are great. They look just like real flowers, so you will not have to worry about sacrificing one of the main reasons people love flowers: their beauty. Your friends and guests may not even know that you have used artificial flowers because their quality is constantly increasing. Whether you are planning a special party or looking for the perfect flowers to include in your bridal bouquet, you can be sure that the artificial flowers you choose will have all of the beauty you desire. Often when planning for a large event, expense is something that must be taken into consideration. If you are looking for ways to save money, one of the first things to consider is the use of artificial flowers. The longer you have to look for the perfect flowers, the better deals you may be able to find. Artificial flowers can be found on sale at a variety of craft stores many times throughout the year. Almost any variety of flowers that you are looking to use are now made artifically, so don't worry that you will have to settle for kinds of flowers that you do not really like. Perhaps the best benefit of using artificial flowers rather than real flowers is their longevity. There is nothing worse than picking the perfect bouquet for your centerpiece only to have it be dried out and wilted by the next day. And who really likes to give a gift that will last only a few hours or at most a couple of days? (Or, better yet, who likes receiving this kind of temporary gift?) With artifical flowers you can give a give that almost everyone enjoys, or you can decorate for your event or holiday and be sure that your hard work will last long after your guests go home. After the party is done you can give away the bouquets of beautiful artificial flowers as favors or parting gifts for to your family and friends. Everyone agrees that flowers are beautiful, and most everyone agrees that they make a great gift or a perfect decoration. Spread the word and soon everyone can also agree that artificial flowers are a perfect alternative no matter the occasion. by Rachael Cleipher

bridal favors : A Wedding Shower Checklist

Bridal showers are one of many pre-wedding parties and are great fun. They are known as parties with a purpose. The purpose of a shower is to assist the couple in equipping their new home or for the bride to assemble a trousseau. Not only that, but they are a good excuse for the bride to get together with her friends and family to play hilarious games and to enjoy the food and wine. Did you know that a trend has started for ‘couples showers'? This is sometimes termed as the ‘Jack' and ‘Jill' shower where you shower both the bride and groom with gifts and good wishes. Either way, if you are having a traditional shower party for just the bride, or decide to have a couples shower, then the planning and the checklist will invariably be the same. Here is an outline of a wedding shower checklist to get you on your way to organising a great shower party. Who should host the shower? Traditionally the maid of honour tends to plan the shower party. But today, anything goes and it is perfectly acceptable for both family and friends to work together to organize, host and share the cost of the wedding shower. It doesn't really matter who actually hosts the party as long as it is planned well in advance and normally in consultation with the bride. If the shower is planned to be in someone's home, then it's always a good idea to choose the person with the largest home or garden. When to have your party Because of the busy schedule the bride and her family will have in the lead up to her wedding, it is best to hold the shower about four to six weeks before the wedding. A growing trend is that more wedding showers are no longer a surprise and statistics show that 4 out of 5 brides are employed, therefore it is necessary to include the bride in the planning when it comes to setting a date and time. A traditional 'girl-only' party could be a Sunday brunch, a midweek lunch or an afternoon tea garden party. Couples showers are best held on a weekend day or evening. The majority of people tend to work between 9-5 Monday-Friday, therefore a weekend is a safe bet in that most of the couples' friends and relatives can attend. If you are having a shower party with work colleagues, then the ideal time would be in your lunch hour or straight after work. Who to invite Apart from your family members, the host should invite people you know well whether it be friends, relatives or work colleagues. You don't want to invite too many people, as a large group tends to split off in small separate groups. You want everyone to interact with each other and be a manageable size for everybody to play the hilarious shower games and not feel left out. Taking all this into consideration, a comfortable shower should involve about 10-20 people. You don't necessarily need to buy expensive shower invitations. Another growing trend is that many brides are doing their wedding research on the Internet. The internet has opened up many ‘cheaper' avenues and you can now get some great printable-wedding-shower-invitations. These invitations are customized with your own wording and design, and are printed directly from your own printer. What's your Theme? As with the actual wedding, it is wise to choose a theme before sending out the invitations. The theme can then be used throughout the shower and incorporated in with the invitations, decorations, favors and refreshments. There are literally dozens of topics for a shower party theme. The most popular is the ‘kitchen' theme as there are endless pieces of equipment and accessories you can buy for the kitchen. The host knows the bride well and will surely fit a theme around either what the bride and groom need, or their lifestyle. For example if the happy couple are both into health and fitness, then a fitness theme could be an option. One good idea for a couples shower is a wine tasting theme. This is ideal for a Saturday night party and I am sure the men will enjoy this one and easily get into the swing of things! Food, Favors and Games Food: It depends on the theme and location for which type of food to prepare. For example, if you are holding a ‘wine tasting theme', then a finger buffet with crackers, nuts and other nibbles goes down well with wine. If you are holding a garden shower party, consider light finger food - cheeses, crackers, fresh fruit, mini-quiches, blueberry cream puffs, crab dip and a bacon, egg and cheese casserole and salads. Favors: Some people choose not to give shower favors. It really depends on where you live and if it is a tradition in your area or not. If you do, you don't have to go overboard with favors if you want to keep the expense down. Give something small and useful like a scented candle. Most people like scented candles and they are practical. A potpourri satchel is another welcome and practical idea. Games: Everyone should be included in the shower games. Shower party games are a great ice-breaker for people to get to know each other. Games can include bridal shower bingo as this is always a big hit as is ‘what's in the bag (memory game). Trivia questions about the bridge and groom or making a wedding dress with toilet paper are all fun games to be had. Thank You Cards: Normally a simple ‘thank-you' was enough, but today, with showers being larger and guests busier, a personal note is the only way to make sure that sincere appreciation is expressed. Summary Bridal showers are meant to be fun. They do need a lot of planning and organization in advance, but they are worth it. The bride and groom receive practical gifts for their home, and shower party's are a great excuse to get together with friends and family to have one whale of a time! by Claire Bowes

bridal favors : Bridal Bouquet Basics

A beautiful and fragrant bridal bouquet is the perfect compliment to any bridal attire. The bridal bouquet should enhance the beauty of the gown, but not overpower it. A "traditional" bridal bouquet is designed with all white flowers so that it does not draw attention away from the bride and her wedding gown! However, there is an increasing trend toward adding color to the bridal bouquet from soft pinks and pastels to fuchsia and ruby reds. The bridal bouquet should compliment the personal style of the bride as well as the overall theme and atmosphere of the wedding. So, if hot pink suits your personality…there should be nothing stopping you! Bridal bouquets come in all colors, shapes and styles. It’s best to work with a reputable florist who can design a bouquet that’s just right for you. Here are some of the basic designs for bouquets… The Cascade Bouquet The most traditional and formal style for the bridal bouquet. As the name implies, it resembles a cascade or waterfall with the flowers flowing downward. Traditional wedding flowers used in the cascade bouquet are white and include roses, stephanotis, white or calla lilies, and mingled with some greenery. The bouquet has the appearance of being loose and free flowing. The Nosegay or Round Cluster Bouquet Round in shape and usually smaller than the other styles. It can be created with all the same variety of flowers or a mix. A popular version of this bouquet is the tight round cluster in white or pastel pink roses. This type of bouquet usually has very little greenery. The Hand-tied or Lose-tied Bouquet A little less formal than the others. It gives the illusion of a "just picked" bouquet of spring flowers tied loosely with delicate ribbon or lace. The bouquet is put together with a variety of different types of flowers. In this bouquet, the flowers can actually have some movement, or just the appearance of being free flowing. It all depends on the preference of the bride. copywrite 2005 USA Bride.com

bridal favors : Tips for Choosing a Bridal Bouquet

Select flowers that are in season. This will keep costs down tremendously. Consider purchasing silk flowers if you have your heart set on a flower that is not in bloom. Some brides choose silk flowers because they are usually less expensive than fresh flowers and the bouquet can be kept and displayed in their home after the wedding. Select flowers that will hold up for the entire day. Particularly if you are taking pictures before the ceremony or outside, you want to make sure that you select flowers that will hold up to the sun and wind and still look gorgeous when you walk down the aisle. Another option is to use a bouquet holder, which will keep your flowers hydrated with water for most of the day. Don’t let your bouquet overwhelm you. A beautiful waistline will be covered by a large, cascading bouquet. If you are petite, the weight of a large bouquet could become a problem during the ceremony. Consider your gown and your stature before making selections. Show the florist what you like. Don't just tell your florists the gowns are "pink"... bring in fabric swatches if at all possible. (I mean, there are probably more than 50 different shades of pink!) Cut out magazine pictures of bouquets you like and some that you don’t. This will give your florist a really good feel for your particular tastes. Select flowers with special meaning. Most flowers have a specific meaning. For example, ivy means fidelity, friendship and marriage, violets mean modesty and hope, zinnias mean thoughts of absent friends, jasmine is for happiness and tulips mean enchantment. http://www.usabride.com/wedplan/t_flowers.html

bridal favors : What Jewelry Should You Wear To Your Wedding 2

Second, make sure that your pieces match in some way. You don't need to buy an entire set, especially if you have an heirloom you can use. Get pieces that have aspects similar to what you have – color, cut, type of gem, design, etc. The more subdued versions will do for the ladies of the entourage, especially the flower girls. Lasty, turn your attention to the men – especially your groom! You'd be amazed at the accessories they use. The most essential of the lot are the cufflinks. If these can be in the same motif as your jewelry, it would be great. But remember that most people prefer to be able to use expensive pieces more than once. It is important to consider also what he likes. Another essential piece in his look is the tie pin. This should also be consistent with his cufflinks. Optional pieces include collar pins, dress watches or chain watches. For the completely consistent jewelry for you and your entire entourage, you can customize the design. This will save you hours poring over glass cases and catalogues but it can be expensive. So, consider this well. At the end of the day, as the bride, it is your decision—your choices, your budget and your jewelry. Be open to those who can help you – you can use all the help you can get! It all boils down to you – no matter what you wear, you are the radiant bride whose smile gives the best sparkle of all. by Tom Takihi

bridal favors : What Jewelry Should You Wear To Your Wedding 1

Ever since time immemorial, brides have always relied on accents to highlight their glow and beauty on their special day. The first stop for this is your jewelry. But how do you choose? First, consider is your gown and your wedding motif. A simple gown merits an elaborate jewelry design heighten the accent. High necks can provide the perfect backdrop for large gems serving as a lavaliere (a pendant on a necklace). A low-cut neck makes way for a multi-layer arrangement of gems or pearls. As the bride, you can wear the more elaborate earrings, if you so prefer. Gems can hang on chandelier earrings, especially if you have a long-ish face. Studs serve to frame the face – circles for round faces, squares for long faces. For your wrist, a bracelet over your glove will do wonders. You can opt to wear a watch though this is not a traditional wedding accessory. If you absolutely need to be abreast of the time, bring a mobile phone in your little bridal purse. This will also help keep you on top of everything. If your veil requires a headpiece, discuss this with your hair designer. A tiara can be a wonderful accent, though a floral arrangement can be a refreshing alternative. In some cases, a combination of the two would be perfect. In any case, let the expert advise you on this. The color depends on your preference but there are traditional choices – pearls and diamonds. In recent years, gems have gained more popularity to serve as a consistent thread among the jewelry of the bride and the entourage. The color motif helps guide which stones to use – sapphires and lapis lazulis for blue, gold and amber for yellow and orange, emeralds and jades for greens, amethyst for pinks and purples, and others. by Tom Takihi