Bride’s Blog

It is a common practice for the parents of the bride to give a wedding gift to their daughter and son-in-law to be. This gift may include a household appliance, money, cookware, luggage, etc. Another practice that is growing more popular is for the parents to give the bride a special gift for her bridal shower. One gift of choice is bridal jewelry. Giving the bride a set of jewelry to wear on her wedding day is not only sentimental, but it is practical as well.

Buying wedding jewelry for the bride takes careful consideration. It must coordinate with the bride’s gown, personality, and style. One way to determine which style of bridal jewelry that will work best for the bride is to take her window-shopping. Then allow her to choose the wedding jewelry on her own and surprise her with the gift later on.

Presenting the bride with jewelry as a bridal shower gift is a thoughtful gesture. It is definitely a gift that will be appreciated and remembered for years to come.

For great bridal jewelry sets gift ideas, shop here…

Are you looking for affordable entertainment for your wedding reception? Most couples would love to hire a live band, ensemble, quartet, or orchestra to play during their reception. Live music can really set the mood for a romantic occasion. While music is an essential element to a wedding reception, it can be very costly. Is there a more economical approach to having live entertainment at your wedding reception?

Believe it or not, many couples hire students to play during their wedding reception. There are several school and local bands that are starving for more experience. You and your spouse may consider contacting your local high school, college, or community center to inquire about student bands that may be looking for weekend gigs. Because students aren’t ranked as professionals they offer very competitive rates!

If your heart is set on having live musical entertainment at your wedding reception, but you can’t afford to hire a professional band, then booking a student band is definitely a suitable alternative.

While there is no set rule as to how long an engagement should last, couples should be careful not to rush their wedding date especially if they are facing extenuating circumstances. Typically, engagements range between 6 to 18 months. Many couples decide to extend the length of their engagement for several reasons. Some of these reasons may include:

Education
Some couples choose to get married after one or both parties have graduated from college. Waiting to get married post-graduation will help to minimize the stress of wedding planning in most cases.

Finances
Sometimes it is necessary for couples to save up for their wedding. In this case, they will set a goal as to how much money they would like to save up and then they will plan their wedding accordingly.

Family
Family plays an important role in every wedding. Some couples desire to plan their wedding around out of town family members. Others may plan their wedding around a family member’s illness.

A perfect solution to extended engagements is save the date cards. Couples often use these cards to inform their family and friends that they have reserved that date for their wedding day, but the cards are not used an invitation to the wedding. This gives the recipients the opportunity to plan their vacation, work schedule, or medical needs around the wedding date. For more information about save the date cards, read more…

Wedding Invitations By Email?

Why spend a lot of money on sending invites, when most guests will throw the invitation out after the wedding? This sounds logical doesn’t it?

Many couples are looking for ways to cut their wedding costs down to a minimum. After all, weddings are a multi-billion dollar industry, these days. While the average couple will pay $27,000 for their wedding, many couples go into debt because of their wedding expenses. One cost factor that couples try to get around is wedding invitations. What are some ways to cut cost on wedding invitations?

There is an email craze that is sweeping the nation. Sending email is not only convenient, but also cost effective. So, what about sending wedding e-vites? According to the experts, sending wedding invitations via email is not proper etiquette. It is considered informal and it also may give your guests a false impression about your wedding. Generally, invitations reflect the type of wedding that you are hosting. An elegant wedding calls for an elegant invitation. There is nothing elegant about an email.

If you are looking for beautiful wedding invitations without blowing your budget consider making your own or try these …

Remember, do not use email as your method of inviting guests to your wedding!

Every woman is going to face the reality of changing her name when she gets married. While traditional women do not give much thought to changing their last name, more modern women are taking advantage of other options. Some brides choose to keep their surname, while others may hyphenate their maiden name and married name.

When making the decision about changing your name, it is very important to discuss the issue with your partner. Although a woman has the independent right to keep her last name or to hyphenate her name, it is a considerate gesture to consult the husband-to-be. Hyphenation is usually a compromise for couples that may disagree. If you and your partner are in a strong disagreement about changing your last name, just keep in mind that your marriage is valid no matter which name you choose as long as you have a legal document stating that two of you are married.

For more information about legally changing your name after marriage, read further

Maybe July 7, 2007 is a lucky day after all. After having several days of gray skies in Paris, Eva Longoria and Tony Parker’s wedding was showered with sunshine. The couple was married during a civil ceremony performed by Mayor Bertrand Delanoe of Paris on Friday. Mayor Delanoe later commented about Longoria and Parker’s wedding on RTL radio and said that the ceremony was romantic. The couple exchanged vows before their family, friends, and many fellow celebrities on Saturday. The second ceremony took place at Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois Church a regularly visited cathedral by French royalty.

Longoria’s wedding dress was described as a silk wool mermaid gown with silver metallic embroidery. She wore a 5-foot train designed by Angel Sanchez. Parker wore a De Fursac suit—a label for which he models.

This is Eva’s second marriage and Tony’s first. Hopefully, luck will be on their side and it will work out for the both of them.

Hosting a Cash Bar Wedding Reception

When it comes to planning a wedding it is always a good idea to consult the experts. If you have reservations about certain elements in your wedding plans it doesn’t hurt to get a more experienced opinion. One question that many brides have raised is whether or not it is appropriate to have a cash bar at the wedding reception. If a cash bar can be avoided, it is best not to have one.

Couples are strongly discouraged from having a cash bar for several reasons. One reason is that by doing so, you run the risk of offending your guests or putting them in an awkward situation. Your guests will most likely feel obligated to bring a wedding gift, so why make them pay for their own beverages? An invitation to your wedding should not have a financial obligation attached to it. While it is obviously your guests choice to buy alcohol or not, it’s the principle behind requiring them to pay. There are other more economical alternatives to having a cash bar at your wedding reception.

Check out these alternative ways to serving alcohol at your reception…

Do’s and Don’ts for a Wedding Gift Registry

The issue of including wedding gift registry information along with the wedding invitation has been a topic of debate for a long time. While it seems very convenient to provide a desired gift list to your guests it can be offensive and misrepresented at the same time. It is important to keep the focus of your wedding on just that—the wedding!

It is perfectly okay to set up a gift registry for your guests to reference and you are encouraged to do so. However, there are alternative ways to inform your guests about your gift selections. Some suggestions are via word of mouth or the bridal shower invitation. As a rule of thumb, it is most appropriate for a couple to create a gift registry that will accommodate varying budgets.

For further etiquette and advice about alternative gift registries, read more

Put Your Wedding Aside

We all know that planning a wedding is very demanding in more ways than one. In addition to costing a lot of money, wedding planning is quite stressful. Many couples have reported that their engagement period has drawn them closer together while others say that it actually pushed them apart.

In order to avoid drifting apart from your fiancé while planning your wedding, it is important to spend time with each other outside from making preparations for your wedding. It is a good idea to set one day aside during the week to spend time together without mentioning the wedding at all. This time would be a great opportunity to make plans for your marriage.

Some of the topics that you may choose to discuss over breakfast, lunch, or dinner includes: employment, religion, home improvement, vacations, children, and marital counseling. Many problems arise in a marriage because of the lack of communication from the beginning. If you and your fiancé devote time to your relationship during your engagement you can decrease your chances of growing apart before the wedding.

More information on planning the marriage.

Don’t Go Overboard With DIY Wedding Ideas

Are you a bride that has decided to take on a DIY project for your wedding?

While making your own wedding gown, bridesmaid’s dresses, decorations, or cake is quite extraordinary for you to do, it’s not necessarily the most sensible gesture. As the bride, you may create your own DIY project for a couple of reasons. One might be to save money or to add a personal touch to your wedding, while the other could be to attract attention. Taking on a DIY project can be more stressful than the average bride might have imagined.

Attempting to design and create your own wedding attire for members of your bridal party may be a bit far fetched. If you feel compelled to put your signature on one of the elements of your wedding you may consider the following DIY projects:

1. Construct your own wedding favors.
2. Decorate your bridesmaids’ bouquets.
3. Create your own wedding invitation.
4. Write a poem and provide a copy for each of your guests.
5. Design your own wedding program.

If you do decide to tackle a “Do It Yourself” project for your special day, be sure to keep it simple and don’t wait until the last minute to begin the task. For more DIY wedding projects visit

Bridezillas Should Pay For Their Behavior

Unless you can afford million-dollar bridesmaids gifts, do not put your girlfriends through unnecessary stress while planning your wedding. Some brides get the impression that just because it’s their wedding day that they can boss their wedding attendants around until no end. While the bride is usually the focal point of the wedding day, she has no right to walk all over her bridesmaids or any other members of the wedding party.

If you have been accused of being a “bridezilla” then you should really undergo a serious self-examination. As seen on the television series Bridezillas, those women are totally out of line. On one episode, one of the brides had the audacity to put her bridesmaids through a self-instructed boot camp! How crazy is that? The only people crazier than the bride were the bridesmaids that actually participated!Report Bridezillas here

Listen up ladies! The only duties that a bridesmaid should adhere to are those that will contribute to making the wedding a success. Suffering through unnecessary diets and strenuous exercise regimens are not a part of a bridesmaid’s job.

Remember, a sensible bride can get away with buying inexpensive bridesmaids gifts!

It is very important to send your guests a special “thank you” note to show appreciation for attending your wedding and giving a gift. The experts suggest that a couple begin working on “thank you” notes shortly after returning from the honeymoon. Sending your notes two weeks following the wedding is ideal, but unrealistic for many. Two to four weeks after the honeymoon is reasonable, but you should be careful not to go beyond that.

It is considered inappropriate to wait too long to send out thank you’s for a couple of reasons. First, couples that procrastinate on sending out “thank you” notes run the risk of never sending them at all. Secondly, some guests expect to receive feedback from their gift. If you wait too long to send the note, your guests may ask you if you liked their gift—how embarrassing?

Be sure to make a guest book available to your guests. Your attendees should sign the book and later the information will help you keep track of names and addresses of all of the guests that attended your wedding. Remember to send a “thank you” note to the out of town guests that could not attend but sent a gift.

For more information about wedding thank you notes etiquette, read more

Many couples have incorporated a rehearsal dinner into their long list of pre-wedding activities. While hosting a rehearsal dinner is not an ancient practice, more and more couples are adopting it as a traditional wedding component. There are several guidelines involved in properly hosting a rehearsal dinner. The key elements to keep in mind are: (1) the guest list, (2) day and time, and (3) style.

According the experts, a rehearsal dinner should include the wedding party and immediate family. It is important not to extend the invitations far beyond these individuals in order to avoid hurt feelings and too much work. The most popular time to host the rehearsal dinner is the evening before the wedding. However, some couples opt to host the dinner a few days before the actual wedding day. The style of the rehearsal dinner is totally up to the couple. A casual rehearsal dinner creates a more relaxed atmosphere and takes less preparation. It’s best for the couple to save their time and energy for the wedding itself.

For more information about proper etiquette for a wedding rehearsal dinner, read more…

Want to look sexier in your bathing suit without going on a crash diet?

Many women, both large and small, find themselves to be self-conscious about wearing a bikini or bathing suit on the beach. If you are a bride-to-be that is looking for the right bathing suit for your body type, then the fashion professionals may be able to help you. According to the experts, there is a swimsuit available for all body types.

Most women try an extreme diet regimen before their wedding day in order to squeeze inside a swimsuit, that wasn’t otherwise designed for their body type. On the other hand, smaller women attempt to wear bikinis that were designed specifically for voluptuous women. When buying a swimsuit, it is very important to select a suit that is right for you! Choosing the swimsuit that is custom designed for your body type will help you to feel sexier and will give you more confidence.

To find information about the perfect bathing suit for your body type, read more…

Wedding bells will be ringing and the sounds of slot machines cha-chinging!

If you are among the thousands of brides that have chosen to get married on July 7, 2007, then consider yourself to be lucky. This day has been considered the luckiest day of the year. Many brides were turned away from popular venues because the seventh of July was completely booked. So, you really had to have luck on your side in order to have booked your wedding on this day. It’s going to be exciting to hear about all of the wonderful festivities that took place on this favorable day. A well-known Hollywood couple is expected to marry on July 7. We’re all waiting to hear news about Eva Longoria and Tony Parker’s lucky wedding to take place in Paris. Whether getting married on 07/07/07 has any bearing on the success of their marriage remains to be seen.

Here are some ideas on how to get the most use of bridesmaids gifts that you may not have thought very useful.

Bridal Jewelry
You may have worn the jewelry the bride gave you as a bridesmaids gift just to please her but now that the wedding is over you think the jewelry does not suit your tastes. One idea to look at is that it might work great to wear to places that you would not normally wear jewelry that you bought for yourself. If you normally only wear jewelry on formal occassions consider making it your casual jewelry.

Picture Frame
If you received a picture frame as a bridesmaids gift and it has been sitting on a shelf serving not being used, get those pictures developed from your girfriend,s wedding and make yourself a memorable keepsake.

Duffle Bag
A duffle bag it is too big to be carried as a purse, yet too small to be used a luggage. However it makes a great gym bag and can be used as a shopping bag. It is also convenient for packing miscellaneous items for the beach or as an airline carry on bag.

Both you and your friend will be happy when you get a lot of use from her bridesmaids gift.

It’s a common tradition for a bride and groom to be showered with rice, birdseeds, or gardens seeds as they rush to their getaway car. As a symbol of fertility, a rice or seed toss is a practice that couples have engaged in for many years. Today, some modern couples have either done away with the ritual or have found an alternative to the traditional rice and seed toss—instead they use feathers!

A past issue of Bride’s Magazine gives tips on how to make feather tosses. If you are interested in making feather tosses for your wedding, here are 5 easy steps…

1. Roll a standard sized sheet of paper into a cone. Use glue to bond the paper into position.
2. Wrap a ribbon around the top of the cone to add a nice decorative touch and for more reinforcement.
3. Fill each cone with feathers.
4. Spread a layer of feathers in the base of a punch bowl and carefully nest all the cones in the bowl. Add more loose feathers between the cones.
5. Allow each guest to take one cone as they prepare for the feather toss.

Traditionally, a couple will get engaged, have a wedding, and go on a honeymoon. While the traditional method is most commonly used, it takes a lot of planning and it can be very costly. Today, more modern couples are opting to have a weddingmoon. What’s a weddingmoon?

Sandals resorts offer destination-wedding packages that combine the wedding and the honeymoon. This a great alternative for couples that are on a tight budget and aren’t too particular about having a big wedding in front of all of their friends and family. If a couple commits to a 7-day honeymoon package, they automatically receive a complimentary wedding package. A free wedding—it doesn’t get better than that!

The complimentary wedding package includes: a personal wedding consultant, wedding venue, marriage license, wedding photo, wedding cake, marriage officiant, dinner, and much more…to learn more about Sandals Resorts Weddingmoon Packages visit their site today!

Have you ever noticed just how magnificent those models look in those bridal magazines? It’s pretty disappointing to try on a wedding gown just to find that you don’t do the dress any justice. Well, one of the major elements that contribute to looking sexy in any dress is your bust line. If you want to add cleavage and a little volume to your bust area without going under the knife, there’s a reasonable alternative. PK Fashions offer a no bra solution. Their patented push-up bra cups are self-adhesive. Better yet! They adhere to your dress and not to your skin! No more messy clean ups. According to their ad in Bride’s magazine, you simply peel and stick them into your dress and Voila! The foam push-up cups add at least one full cup size to the bust line.

Find out more about this great product by visiting PK-Fashions.com today!