Bride’s Blog

Bridal showers are a very fun part of the celebrations surrounding a wedding. Some like to create a shower party around a theme and playing games are also popular. One new trend is to make bridal showers co-ed. It is important to thank the hostess with a gift as well as thank you card.You should also look at other bridal shower ideas.

This gift should be in addition to any bridesmaid gift if she also happens to be a bridesmaid.

Check out more thoughts on bridal showers here.

A fun idea is to have your wedding on another day of celebration like a holiday. Another thought is to pick a day that is a little more obscure but also related to joy,love and marriage. The summer solstice is one of those days.

The summer solstice occurs in June.The month of June was named for Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, and midsummer is also associated with St. John, the protector of lovers.

Shakespeare even wrote a play around the theme A Midsummer Night’s Dream that can serve as an inspiration for summer wedding ideas.

Brides are always looking for creative ways to celebrate their girlfriends’ success as supportive bridesmaids. Some brides have hosted a tea party, girl’s night out, luncheon, or a sleep over. Hosting a brunch for her bridesmaids is another alternative for a bride to show her appreciate. Usually during this occasion the bride will present her girlfriends with a bridesmaids gift as her token of thanks. Some of the popular gifts of choice include wedding jewelry, tote bags, and picture frames. During a bridesmaid’s brunch, a bride should do her best to make the event memorable for years to come. What are some ways in which a bride can spice up her bridesmaids brunch?

Having some form of entertainment at any event is essential. Let’s discover some methods of entertaining your bridesmaids.

Memory Lane
Take your girlfriends on a stroll down memory lane. Gather up all of your old videos and reminisce about the past. Your bridesmaids are sure to enjoy laughing at their outdated clothes and outrageous hairdos from the days of old. You might want to serve brunch, then play the video, and afterwards, present your girlfriends with their bridesmaids gifts.
Scrapbooking
Putting together a scrapbook can be a two-fold project. Not only will your girlfriends enjoy skimming through old and recent photos, but you can also present them with a personalized scrapbook as their bridesmaids gift. Your bridesmaids are sure to enjoy hours of fun customizing their very own scrapbook!
High School Heartbreaks
Most girlfriends establish some of their fondest memories in high school and college. Tell your girlfriends to bring their high school and college yearbooks to the brunch. After you guys finish eating your brunch, you and your bridesmaids can spend an hour or two laughing about your former crushes, boyfriends, and serious relationships. After discussing your old flames, switch gears and present your girlfriends with their bridesmaids gifts. Beware, considering just how thoughtful your bridesmaids gifts may be, you might turn their laughter into tears!

There are hundreds of ways to entertain your bridesmaids at their appreciation celebration. Girlfriends are special and it does not take much to make them happy. Keep your celebration simple, lighthearted, and fun and your bridesmaids are sure to have a great time. Keep in mind that not only should the bridesmaid’s brunch be memorable, but the bridesmaids gift should hold a lasting memory as well.

It is hard to find gifts for your flower girls if you are buying jewelry for your bridesmaid gifts and you would like to make your flower girls feel like the are getting the same kind of gifts as the big girls. Silverland jewelry has the same level of quality jewelry gifts for the flower girls as for the rest of the wedding party. Check out more gift ideas for flower girls and bridesmaids.

If you have a flower girl who is a little bit untraditional you might consider this book for a flower girl gift.

Shop for bridal jewelry gifts for the entire wedding party.

With the average wedding costing more than $28,000 you will want to look at areas to cut costs without sacrificing the special joy of your wedding day.

Some sensible areas to look at are :

Wedding Dresses can be a major expense that can be trimmed by careful shopping-See if you can find a dress that can be altered instead of custom ordered. It makes sense because a custom dress ends up being a long set of alterations anyway although at a much higher cost.

If you plan your reception in the afternoon instead of the evening you may be able to save considerably especially if you combine that with selecting a nice self serve buffet in place of a served sit down dinner.

You can save more by purchasing wedding jewelry for the bride and gifts for the bridesmaids at an online jewelry gift store specializing in bridesmaid jewelry.

Summer is an easy time to decorate for because you have so many more choices of locations to have a wedding or reception and the kinds of flowers that are available are practically unlimited and many can be purchased at a very reasonable price.

Places like the beach and park or woodland settings are beautiful and with just a few simple additions of sand based or flower/tree based decorations can compliment the existing surroundings. Look at more ideas on Summer wedding centerpiece ideas. Consider smaller centerpieces so your guests will not have trouble looking over them to see and talk to each other.

If you decide on a beach theme wedding you will want to shop for beach wedding jewelry for gifts for your bridesmaids.

Themed weddings are very popular and one of the most popular themes is one with a beach or nautical theme. If the happy couple like sailing then Jimmy Buffet music and decorations of nautical wedding centerpieces create the perfect atmosphere for the wedding.

The best man or father-of-the bride can use A Sailor’s Wedding Toast that captures the nautical sentiment.

Wedding themes are a great idea and they can help create that once in a lifetime memory for everyone who attends the wedding. More ideas on wedding themes.

Are you currently planning a marriage? Are you just engaged and wondering when he is going to pop the question? Have you just been married and are still celebrating the wonderful experience of your honeymoon? If any of these are the situation that you find yourself in your will want to read the rest of this article. Now that the wedding is complete at this time to start thinking about plans for the marriage. This doesn’t mean that the honeymoon is over, it only means that if you want the dreams that began with the honeymoon to continue. It must now give serious thought about how to make the marriage a success.

Marriage is a wonderful idea, and even a wonderful ideal. But making marriage work takes a lot more planning and a lot more work than the actual wedding. Don’t make the mistake of confusing marriage with the wedding. A wedding is a short experience, a marriage is a long time agreement for a man and woman to spend a lifetime together. You really do want those two last until “ death do you part”. By comparison, a wedding ceremony lasts only a very short while. Marriage on the other hand is a job that never ends and you really can’t take long vacations from it.

The wedding is a beautiful experience in the planning of it together is a time of excitement. Just doing the planning together brings you closer. Finding the right place to hold a reception, selecting the decorations have a finding the perfect bridesmaid gifts bring Days, weeks and even months of excitement. It is great to have the ideal dream wedding. But now you want your marriage to be what you vowed it would be during a wedding. If only more couples look forward to the marriage this way we could drastically reduce the number of divorces.

So if you’re hoping to become engaged, planning a wedding or if you’re just recently married, now is the time to start planning on what you’re going to do to make your marriage a success. Observing and learning from successful marriages is a great idea. Another activity that helps many couples is to obtain counseling prior to marriage. After you’re married, and you think about the joys of your wedding, we dedicate yourself to the hard work of turning your marriage into the dream that you have planned for.

Never stop looking for ways to make the marriage successful. And remember that the difference between a happy wedding at a happy marriage as a lot of hard work.

Some useful tips on planning a wedding and planning a marriage.

Selecting personalized bridesmaid gifts
Marriage counseling

Double check all critical items and get affirmation about the times and places of all events with vendors including the caterer,the band,the minister,singers,florists and anyone else who has a time critical role.

Be aware of the current weather forecasts and or traffic problems such as new construction that may affect the way you should direct everyone to the wedding,rehearsals. Have contingency plans in place to notify and redirect everyone if changes are needed.

Get your luggage out and make sure it is suitable well ahead of the day you are going on the honeymoon and have most of your packing done. Have a carry-one somewhere that you won’t forget it for the inevitable last minute items.

Get the wedding rings and assign responsibility to someone to safeguard them and have them available on the wedding day. This is usually assigned to the best man.

Make sure that all the attendants such as bridesmaids,groomsmen.maid-of-honor and best man know what they will be doing and when.

Check that your bridesmaid gifts are wrapped up or labeled if you are giving personalized bridesmaid gifts so when you present your gifts to them the act will appear even more thoughtful and appreciative.

The rehearsal requires most of the same things you will need at the wedding. A complete copy of the vows is required for thorough rehearsal and you really want all the key players there so make sure you have all the numbers and ways to contact them so you can insure that the officiants,singers and other key players are there.

Get an updated confirmation of all travel reservations for the honeymoon and make reliable plans with contingencies for getting to the ship or airport.

Have multiple ways to contact everyone and a list of everyone’s numbers and give the best man a copy also.

Make sure your shoes are shined,polished etc. and if they are new try to get enough wear so they have traction so you won’t slip.

If you are having out of town guests, make sure that they have excellent directions and express your appreciation for their coming by making sure their accommodation’s are satisfactory.

Put the appropriate tips for officiants,the band,singer and anyone else that is performing a personal service in separate,marked envelopes and assign a reliable person to pass them out at the right time.

Check the bridal party clothes so any repairs,cleaning or pressing can be avoided at the last minute.

Check the brides wedding jewelry and the bridesmaids jewelry to see that the bridal party has the elegant coordinated look that you want.

Planning a wedding reception or bridal shower with a theme is a popular idea. Give gifts to your bridesmaids that reflect the theme of the wedding. Personalized tote bags can be used to celebrate a wedding at an exotic location like an island setting. Monogrammed hanging garment bags with the bridesmaids dresses inside will provide excitement and unforgettable memories of travel to an out of town destination.

There is nothing more romantic then beach weddings, the sand beneath your feet, palm trees, and unique sunsets. Beach theme weddings call for a starfish necklace or other beach wedding jewelry. as bridesmaid gifts. Crystal or silver seashells that are monogrammed to create personalized gifts are also a great choice.

There are numerous online companies specializing in wedding invitations that commemorate celebrations in exotic locations.

The engagement ring has a long history and the customs vary greatly around the world. Did you know that in some countries both the man and woman wear engagement rings.

According to Wikipedia “Designs of engagement rings have varied greatly over the years. Contemporary fashions for ring materials are a gold, platinum, silver or, rarely, titanium band mounting at least one diamond. Recently, three-stone diamond engagement rings have become popular, in contrast to the more traditional solitary diamond.” Shopping for the rightengagement ring can be stressful but this is a usefull article to help you choose and shop for the right engagement ring

Go here for some great bridesmaid jewelry gifts.

Planning the wedding reception is nearly as important as planning the wedding.It often contributes a major portion of the overall costs of the wedding so looking at ways to save money while having a great reception is a top priority.

Reception games are a great way to provide inexpensive entertainment. “Musical Chairs” and “Battle of the Sexes” are two fun and extremely popular games.

Decorations and the dinner are two more items that can contribute to savings if planned properly. Read more on how to plan a wedding reception on a budget.

Should you keep your bridesmaid gifts a secret? Giving your bridesmaids a gift is a great pleasure for the bride and her girlfriends. The fun is magnified when the gifts are a total surprise so don’t tell anyone what you have bought and keep the time that you will give your bridesmaids their gifts and the gifts themselves a secret.

It does not matter whether you have chosen a modest gift or something more elaborate like a complete bridesmaid jewelry set-. The excitement of the complete surprise will come back inyears of fond memories.

Keep your bridesmaid gifts a secret. Everyone will be happy that you did.

It is easy to find unique bridesmaid gifts for your bridesmaids. Wedding jewelry is always nice and one of our favorites,but there are all kinds of gifts that with engraving will result in a personalized unique bridesmaid gifts.

Jewelry boxes,engraved silver bracelets Tote bags and silver key chains are just a few ideas. Read more about unique bridesmaids gifts here

Who will you choose for your bridesmaids? The average number of bridesmaids in the U.S. is six. However some brides have twelve or more not including matron of honor and junior bridesmaids.

If you have a large number of good friends as well as a large family with a lot of females it may be difficult to select your bridesmaids and limit them to a number you are comfortable with. Read more about choosing your bridesmaids.

Once you have decided on your bridesmaids visit the Silverland Jewelry and Gift store to shop for your bridesmaid gifts.

What if you get so pressed for time and money that you have to postpone giving your bridesmaids a gift until after the wedding.

One thing to remember is that these are your friends and if you take the time to explain so it is not a surprise to them-you will be OK. It will help if you make an extra effort to show your appreciation for your bridesmaids and let them know how much their efforts mean. Read how to handle giving bridesmaids gifts after the wedding.

There is more to getting married than having a wedding. Many couples spend their engagement planning their special day and somehow neglect what’s more important—life after the wedding! Discussing marriage, career and starting a family ahead of time is an integral component to having a successful marriage. What are some issues that should be discussed as it relates to life after the wedding?

Education
If you plan to further your education in the near future, it is important to discuss your plans with your partner ahead of time. Enrolling in a degree program can have a huge effect on your marriage and career.

Career
You should be open and honest about the career that you would like to pursue if you aren’t currently pursuing it. Career choices such as law enforcement, medicine, and social services can be very stressful. You should be sure to gain your partners support before making your final decision.

Birth Control
If you would like to prolong having children, be sure to discuss methods of birth control ahead of time with your partner.

Children
Be sure that you and your partner agree on issues involved with having children (i.e. timing, quantity, fertility, adoption)

Keep in mind, it is important to get a clear understanding about what you and your partner expect out of your marriage before you actually tie the knot. Planning ahead may increase your chances having a successful marriage.

Here are 100 questions to ask your partner before getting married…

Lesser thoughts are what should i choose for bridesmaid gifts.
Where can I find ideas for unique bridesmaids gifts

What is the purpose of a Save the Date Card?

If you are planning to invite out of town guests to your wedding or are hosting a destination wedding, then you are the perfect candidate for Save the Date Announcements. The purpose of these announcements is to give your guests the appropriate amount of time to make arrangements to attend your wedding. How far in advance should you send your Save the Date Cards?

If you are planning a local wedding, but are inviting out-of-towners, then you should send advance notices as soon as you set your wedding date. The average time to send Save the Date Announcements is at least 4 to 6 months ahead of time. Destination weddings should be treated with more urgency. In order to give your guests enough time to plan and save for your destination wedding, a year’s notice is ideal.

Many couples do not opt to send Save the Date cards for obvious reasons. However, for those couples that are planning to invite guests from other parts of the world or are planning a destination wedding, it is best to send Save the Date Cards. Relying solely on your wedding invitations (6 to 8 weeks prior to the wedding) may hinder some of your guests from attending.

What does ABC Carpoolers actor Jerry O’Connell have to say about losing his wedding ring while at work?

Losing your wedding ring can cause distress for many couples. Not only does a wedding ring have monetary value attached to it, but there is deep sentimental value emotionally involved as well. Many people have a special place to keep their bridal jewelry safe while it’s not being worn at home. What about those individuals that are not allowed to work in their wedding jewelry? Where’s a safe place to keep your wedding ring at work?

Actor Jerry O’Connell has no plans of losing his wedding ring. As reported by People Magazine, O’Connell is required to take off his wedding ring while working on the set. His foolproof way of making sure that his ring is in safekeeping is to attach his wedding ring to his underwear using a safety pin. Talk about being dedicated to caring for his wedding band!

There are more ways to keep your wedding jewelry in a safe place. You might consider attaching it to your keys, a pocket inside of your purse, or simply keep it at home until you are finish working. The key is to do what works for you and do everything in your power to keep your wedding ring safe!

Do you have an unusual place where you store your wedding ring? We would love to hear from you. Share your comments about avoiding the hazards of losing your wedding jewelry.

Check out some ideas for pearl wedding jewelry here.

Brides sometimes find it difficult to come across the perfect bridesmaids gift. On the other hand, bridesmaids have a similar problem with finding the ideal gift for the bride. When it comes to true friendships, great gifts are hard to come by…or are they?

Despite the theme of a bridal shower, giving the bride an informative, funny, yet spirited book is always in order. One manuscript that is climbing the charts in the wedding industry is Chicken Soup For The Bride’s Soul, written by four best-selling authors. This paperback is filled with stories of love and romance to help encourage brides as they prepare for a lifetime of marriage.

If you are looking for that perfect gift for the bride-to-be then you may consider giving her a copy of Chicken Soup For The Bride’s Soul. For a list of other great marriage books, click here…

If you are not the type of bridesmaid that likes to by books for others, then you might consider giving her bridal jewelry. Not only is wedding jewelry a beautiful gift for a bride, but also it is useful. Click here for bridal jewelry gift ideas.

Many couples grow to love a particular love song while they are dating. Sometimes the song is one that they danced to on their first date, or maybe it’s a song that was playing on the radio when they had their first kiss…

A romantic gesture that some couples conform to is playing their favorite song at their wedding. There are several ways that couples can incorporate their favorite song into their wedding day. One method is to play the song as the groom comes down the aisle. Another option is to have the song playing while the guests are taking their seats. Some couples opt to save their beloved song for their first dance as husband and wife, which is a logical choice.

Believe it or not, some love songs contain lyrics that are not appropriate for a wedding ceremony. If you and your fiancé would like to incorporate your favorite love song into your wedding day without offending your guests, then you may consider playing the instrumental version or just a portion of the song.

Whether your favorite song was adopted after your first kiss, your first dance, or during love at first sight, celebrating your love through song is a romantic beginning to an everlasting marriage.

Many brides sacrifice a lot of time in order to make their wedding dreams come true. Balancing work, relationships, and wedding planning can get very stressful. Time-management skills are the solution to every busy bride’s problems. Below you will find a few helpful strategies that may make your life as a busy bride a lot easier!

Organization is the key- One of the greatest contributors to stress is disorganization. A great way to organize your wedding plans is to record your plans in a planner. There are several wedding planners on the market that are specifically designed for the busy bride. However, a regular appointment planner will also suffice.

Use E-mail- It is very important that you communicate with your wedding party on a weekly basis. While it may be impossible to personally contact each attendant, individually, sending mass emails is the perfect solution to this problem.

Plan around your work schedule- Take advantage of your lunchtime. You can use this opportunity to make phone calls, jot down ideas, run errands, or send emails.

Delegate tasks- you should not hesitate to put your bridesmaids, friends, and family to work. Take advantage of offers from others to help. Small tasks that are not bride-specific can be handed off to others. You’ll be surprised just how willing your loved ones are to help.

For 10 tips to help you manage your wedding planning time, read more...

Of the most important decisions that a couple will make while planning their wedding, choosing the right photographer ranks high on the list. There are two things that a couple will cherish the most, years after their wedding—a distant memory and their wedding album! When deciding on the best photographer and the type of photographs to use, many couples are clueless. Shopping for the best deal is usually at the forefront of decision-making more than anything else. What should couples consider when choosing the right photographer?

Modern photographers are turning more toward digital cameras rather than your traditional 35mm camera. While film is growing less popular, there remains to be several benefits to using film. According to the experts, storing your wedding on film can help preserve them for years and years to come. Digital photos, on the other hand, may not last quite as long due to technological advances and equipment upgrades.

While, digital photos produce a more crisp visual quality, it tends to lack the subtle appeal that film produces. The intimacy of a wedding ceremony can be preserved on film more accurately than with digital photography, according to some experts. However, the turnaround time that a couple will receive their digital photos is more efficient than with film.

If you are undecided about which type of photography will best suit your needs, read further for more pros and cons…

Some other photography ideas.

Getting married is very exciting! Hosting a bridal shower is the perfect way for a bride to celebrate her engagement amongst her closest female friends and family members. Serving a cake for dessert is a popular tradition among bridal shower hosts. However, one dessert that you may consider serving is sherbet. Serving a cool refreshing treat such as sherbet to your guests is a perfect way to indulge them while the bride opens her gifts.

Most weddings take place during the summer months; therefore sherbet is the perfect dessert to serve on a hot day. You may consider offering a choice of flavors (raspberry, lime, orange, rainbow, etc.). Serving sherbet in a dessert cup along with a slice of fruit will add a nice decorative touch.

Another alternative to sherbet is sorbet or mousse. Both are easy to serve, non-traditional, and tasty! Your guests are sure to enjoy one of these refreshing treats on a hot summer day. Remember, there is more to dessert than settling for cake.

For more bridal shower dessert ideas visit

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…