Wedding Tips & Trends – Bridal Blog

Honeymooners are increasingly choosing volunteer vacations as the perfect way to start their new lives together. The benefits to volunteer vacations are many, and the most obvious is that you are devoting your time and energy to a group or cause that truly needs help.

With many couples living and travelling together before getting married, the idea of a honeymoon has changed over the years, and, without compromising on luxury and romance, honeymooners can now consider undertaking a volunteering activity, putting something back into local communities. Volunteering for your honeymoon does not have to be a totally selfless sacrifice – think about how much more fun it is to give a present during the holidays than it is to receive one.

Volunteer honeymoon vacations can be just as satisfying. You will have the opportunity to see and experience things that you may miss if you were simply staying at a resort. It is easy to travel to an exotic destination and head directly from the airport to the hotel, seeing little in between and leaving without a real feel for the destination and its culture. Volunteer Abroad programs center around a one-, two-, or three-week volunteer work experience in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Each year, hundreds of volunteers participate in volunteer abroad programs and set out on unforgettable journeys to amazing destinations in over 15 countries. Volunteers immerse themselves in local cultures, volunteer to uplift lives of the extremely poor, and return with life changing experiences.

One important thing to keep in mind is that you may have to be flexible with the dates you plan for your trip. Volunteer programs often have scheduled start and end dates, and you will likely have to commit for a certain amount of time to helping others.

One of the most important things to remember when shopping for wedding favors is that you should plan on setting a budget while you are setting the budgets for the other aspects of your wedding such as location, food, entertainment and transportation. When I thought of wedding favors, I mostly considered the fact that I wanted to say “Thanks for coming!” to my guests, family and friends in a less typical fashion. I mean, meeting guests is one thing, but giving him or her something to remind them of my wedding is a completely different thing.

The choices of wedding favors are of different kinds, from different styles, designs, sizes and themes. You can find them anywhere. Today, the couple may opt to shop online, which is a very good shopping option considering that local shops do not carry the variety you would find on the web.

Little keepsakes should be nice because these are memorable mementos of the occasion. You can distribute these gifts to all individually as well as per couple. Most couples opt for inexpensive favor ideas, which is often the case. However, besides of thinking the price, you should also think of their practicality. What makes a good favor is its versatility, so it is always best to consider useful items to serve as your wedding souvenirs, like ceramics, fans, garden favors among many others.

Today there are a lot of wedding favors to choose from – edible ones such as cakes, candies and chocolates or non-edible ones such as luggage tags, bottle stoppers and towel cakes. You can stick to the traditional designs that consist of tulles that encapsulates sugared almonds or chocolate, or go for unique favors such as magnets and cards and even a set of bride & groom miniature piggy banks! You can also have your wedding favors go with your wedding theme with beach-themed wedding favors or fairy tale party gift ideas favors. Perhaps you can have different wedding favors for your male and female guests. It’s basically all up to you and how you want to thank your guests for coming and sharing this unforgetable moment with you.

So, which wedding favor would you like to have for your wedding? We have a wide selection of unique wedding favors for you to choose from. Feel free to select one of our bestselling bridal gift ideas. Our party  favors and accessories are not only affordable but they are also very elegant. Let us be part of your journey through your special day in your life!

If you were to have a wedding, what season would you choose to have yours in? Would you want to have it indoors or outdoors, and depending on which you choose what would the theme be centered around? There is a lot to consider when planning a wedding or wedding reception. The weather is always changing, so sometimes an outdoor wedding has to be postponed due to rain, and in some cases snow. The only thing that one could be certain about in this case is the fact that they will, at some point and time, get married.

Spring is the perfect time to begin to plan weddings. The ground has thawed, and new signs of life are everywhere. Spring is one of the easiest times to plan a wedding. Spring often brings on the first signs of the picnic, and allows you to use this theme for your Spring wedding favors. Remember enjoying glorious picnic baskets at a blossoming beautiful spot? Spread a little sweetness around with pastel-colored mint containers. Mint containers have long been a tradition in weddings, and can be displayed in many different ways. One great way to use them as both decoration and a wedding favor is to place them in small ceramic dishes shaped like butterflies or flowers perhaps.

Spring is the time of year for rebirth, so you may want to take this into consideration when you pick out party gift ideas. There are two common themes that you may want to look for when choosing wedding favors for a spring ceremony. First off, spring wedding favors should have some color to them. Think about all of the new colors that are popping up in the spring. The flowers are blooming and the trees are beginning to get leaves. All of these colors are coming to life, and you can make them work for you by incorporating them into your wedding theme.

In addition, wedding favors that incorporate flowers are a great idea. For instance, you can buy flower-shaped photo frames to give out to all of your guests. And of course you can personalize these by putting a picture of the bride and groom in it.

Remember, no matter where you look, or what type of wedding favors you choose, it is important to shop early for the best selection and the best price. So be prepared and organized, because planning a wedding along with all the numerous details is a big deal; a lot of time, effort, and work go into it from beginning to end – regardless of the season – It really is better to start as soon as you can and it’s crucial to be aware of the big task ahead. The more prepared and aware you are, the smoother the journey will be and the greater your success!

Many couples decide to give personalized wedding favors to their guests. Personalized wedding favors are a good idea because they often include the names of the couple as well as the wedding date. This helps to ensure that the guests will remember where they received the favor.

Just about any wedding favor can be personalized. The most popular way to personalize a wedding favor is to include the names of the bride and the groom and the date of the wedding. This can be done on items ranging from pictures frames and fortune cookies to candle holders. The most popular type of personalization is tags or stickers. Personalizaed hang tags can be added to any other type of takeaway gift you decide to give your guests. They come in different shapes and styles and they are very affordable – in many occassions they even come included with a the wedding favors.

Price is one of the most important factors a couple must consider when selecting wedding favors. This is very important because the price will often dictate the quality of the favors. While you can purchase some great favors at a very inexpensive price, there will likely be a great deal of comparison shopping involved to find the best deal on the favor. Another factor to consider when selecting wedding favors is whether or not the favor will be useful to your guests. This is very important because favors which are useful are often much better received than favors which the guest cannot use. For example many guests will find items such as picture frames and candles to be useful but will be less impressed with favors such as figurines of a bride and groom. These may be very pretty but many of your friends and family member likely have a collection of similar items from other weddings they have previously attended and may simply not have room to display these favors in their homes. As a result the favor may end up in a box in the attic or may be thrown away shortly after the reception.

One final thing to remember when shopping for wedding favors is that you should calculate all of the costs associated with the favor before deciding whether or not it will fit into your budget. These types of tokens of appreciation do not have to be expensive by any means, simply practical and memorable.

Having a wedding does not require people to spend a fortune. In fact, the most memorable and meaningful weddings only spend a fraction of the cost that other couples spend. All you need to have is some imagination, creativity, and resourcefulness, and you can be on your way to having a wondrous wedding event without having to spend so much.

Depending on the size of your wedding the budget for your wedding favors can be very important. This is important because you may be planning on allowing for one favor for each guest or one for each couple. Whichever you decide to do, if you are having a large number of guests it may greatly impact the amount you can afford to spend on each favor. If you are only have a few guests you may be able to splurge on more expensive party gifts. However, if you are having a large number of guests on a limited budget you should consider searching for cheap wedding favors. Here are some ideas that might come handy while planning the big day.

Place card holders are one type of wedding favor which is typically available for less than you can imagine. Place card holders make great wedding favors because they not only serve a purpose at the wedding but they can also be used as small picture frames by the guests after the wedding.

Tins containing mints are another option for wedding favors which are often very cheap. These tins come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. You can purchase ones which feature a tuxedo design or a wedding dress. You can also find tins with wedding bells or flowers on the top. Whichever design you think most appropriate, rest asure your guest will love them.

Key chains are another example of wedding favors which can be both romantic and practical not to mention inexpensive. Hearth shaped key chains or key chains in the shape of wedding bells or other items related to love or wedding are a good idea for takeaway gifts. You can select an elegant key chain which is sturdy so your guests will want to use but that is also very romantic and will remind your guests of your wedding for years to come.

Another very practical wedding favor idea is a gift of candles. Whether you choose to give tea light candles, taper candles or candles of another style it is very likely that your guests will be able to use these favors. Candles are very versatile. They can be used to set a romantic mood but can also serve other purposes as well. With so many uses for candles it is no surprise that if you give your wedding guests candles as a favor, they are likely to use the candles in the future as opposed to setting them aside and forgetting about them which might happen with other less practical favors.

One final idea of wedding favors guests love is basically anything which they can use and which will help them to remember the wedding fondly. One way to accomplish this is to provide wedding favors which are not only practical but also closely relate to the theme of the wedding. Wedding favors which incorporate the theme of the wedding are much more likely to trigger the guests to remember the details from the wedding each time they see or use the favor.

Giving out wedding favors as a display of true appreciation is a long standing tradition. Everything that is seen at the wedding: from the reception place to the menu, will be certainly enjoyed on this special day. However, it is the wedding favor that will make the wedding to be remembered for a long time. So picking out the right favor is extremely important. But with a great number of options out there for these little tokens of love and appreciation, sometimes, it could cost a tremendous amount of time to decide which one to choose. Here are a few pointers for you to consider:

1. Innovation – remember your wedding will probably turn up hopefully only once in your entire life time, so you wouldn’t want your guests to go back home with a gift which they will stack up with 20 others just like it somewhere on the floor of their closet. Make sure your favors are unique and in some way reflect you, your spouse, and especially your special day. Keep it connected to the theme of your wedding party and above all make it personal. A number of people also give their guests photo coasters with that special snapshot that says it all – a happy couple with a fairy tale dream that has just come true -

2. Planning – no matter what you choose to send your guests off with make sure you choose it early on. Like everything else in your wedding favors need to be planned for before making purchases. Take your spouse’s opinion regarding the gift you have chosen. Remember it’s their special day too and in case you end up gifting people something he/she doesn’t like it might become a sore subject in the years to come. Consult your friends in case they are helping you out with the wedding. Make sure to have purchased your gifts at least three weeks before your wedding. Keep them packed and store them in a safe place to avoid any breakage or spoiling.

3. Budget – You might want to consider giving photo frames as low cost wedding favors. Your photo frame can do double duty by also serving as place cards. Or perhaps bookmarks will be a great inexpesive option to consider. This is a wedding favor that you can easily purchase in bulk.

Cookie Cutters – For a sweet slant on traditional wedding favors, couples could purchase love-themed cookie cutters in the shape of hearts or birds and have a printer create custom recipe cards containing their favorite cookie recipe.

Candle Wedding Favors – For a touch of romance, consider purchasing votive candles and small, cheap candleholders that can be adorned with lace or ribbon. These cheap wedding favors would be especially lovely placed at the dinner tables of the guests.

In short, your wedding is a special day for you so make sure your wedding favor reflects that. Remember to keep it simple, stylish and unique and ensure that they are packed beautifully. A great wedding favor will make your wedding a memorable affair for all who attend that special event.

Everybody knows the Wedding gown is the  dress of every woman’s life and with no doubt, one of the biggest traditions in a wedding ceremony. That’s because every woman dreams of it and imagines it for her entire life, thinking about the magic moment that will be captured in hundreds of pictures, and remembered forever.

In ancient times, there were no specific rules about the wedding gown. The only expectation was around the beautifulness of bride’s dress that should be the most graceful the family could afford. However, by the year 1406, Princess Philippa, daughter of Henry IV of England, wore a tunic with a veil in white silk with gray borders. That’s was the earliest wedding gown to be documented in our culture.

In the Eastern culture many wedding dresses are colored red, such as in China, India and Vietnam. For them this color represents good luck and fortune. South Indians traditionally use white or cream-colored saris as their wedding dresses; and in Japan brides usually wear three or more dresses throughout the ceremony including the traditional kimono.

In Western culture, after the Medieval era, weddings started to be a union between two families, two businesses or even two countries; a matter of politics, not of love, exactly. Because of that, brides were likely to wear a dress that should represent the cast of their families, for they were not representing only themselves during the ceremony.  In order to comply with family and society expectations, brides of a wealthy family often wore rich and bold colors, layered of furs, velvet and silk.

The tradition of a white wedding dress was not popular until 1840, when Queen Victoria wore a white gown for her ceremony with Prince Albert. This tradition remains until today and there is a poem about how the color of your wedding dress can influence in your future:

“Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in grey,you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen. Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink” (Kelsey McIntyre, “The History of White Wedding Dress).

In a Wedding ceremony everything looks absolutely perfect when we think about the new life that is just starting. One of the most interesting moments of the ceremony is the Wedding Vows when the priest usually asks the bride and the groom to say their names and promise to be “lawful and loyal to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part”. That’s beautiful, of course, but seems to have a lack of reality about the life we live in the present moment.

Maybe the next suggestions could be a little bit more genuine. What do you think?

- I promise the passion is not going to make me an obsessive person, but instead to be respectful about the individuality of my husband/wife, because he/she doesn’t belong to me and if he/she is part of my life is because of his/her free will.
- I promise I’m going to be the best friend and the best lover my husband/wife ever had, being aware when I must be one or another, and still be a romantic person, at the same time.
- I promise to make our life together the best way to age together, not the best way to complain about dreams that could not become true.
- I promise to be happy being next to my husband/wife, just because he/she is the person who knows me the best, so he/she is my best helper, as much as I’m his/her best supporter.
- I promise I’ll allow my husband/wife to know everything about me.
- I promise to be gentle, kind and temperate, never using the everyday life as an excuse for my irritability.
- I promise to make sex without modesty, to have children because I want to, not because that’s what society expects from me, and I promise to raise them to be independent, intelligent, polite and aware of the life ahead.
- I promise never bad-mouth about my husband/wife.
- I promise the word “freedom” is going to have the same meaning I always believed in and I promise I’ll be in charge of myself without being dependent of my husband/wife.
- I promise I’ll always be the same person I was minutes before I enter for the wedding ceremony.

In this case, I now declare you husband and wife… You may kiss the bride…

Let’s talk about celebrities’ engagement rings! They are usually amazingly huge, sometimes almost as big as the bride’s finger (LOL)… Wow!

Names like J.Lo., Kate Hudson, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Maddona and lots of other renowned ladies received from their grooms astonishing rings made exclusively for them.  Pink diamonds, Asher-cut diamonds in an art-deco mounting, white gold with .18 carats of diamonds, platinum Neil Lane ring with decorative band, colored gemstones, everything you can imagine. It’s actually a no ending list of assortment!

Most of the times, the emotion of the commitment is denoted by an inscription inside the ring. The traditional name of the spouse and the wedding’s date are also combined with little love notes (and sometimes with personal jokes), like Courtney Cox and David Arquette who reportedly have “A Deal’s a Deal” engraved in their rings.

But love is not only symbolized by huge engagement rings. Some classic engagement rings stand the test of time, like a single (solitaire) diamond set on a white-gold or platinum band. This kind of rings retain their elegant look making other engagement rings look out of date.

But, you don’t have to be a millionaire or a celebrity to buy a diamond, because classic engagement rings are available with diamonds (sometimes with three) in a variety of sizes and colors you can afford, even if your budget is under a thousand dollars.

What do you think about looking just like a celebrity with your wonderful engagement ring? I’m sure you can! Just use your imagination!

Last month, Madonna celebrated her 51st birthday in Italy with her family – Lourdes, Rocco, Mercy and David -, and her new boy friend, Jesus Luz.

In a moment of overwhelming excitement Madonna had told the guests Jesus was the love of her life. Could that be real or was it just a sensitive instant in her birthday party? Could Madonna be actually contemplating making a commitment with Jesus just a year after she broke up with her ex, Guy Ritchie and a multi-million-dollar divorce?

People who know Madonna say she’s actually in love with Jesus and thinking about getting seriously engaged with him by the end of this year. Her friends say she’s absolutely crazy about him.

Madonna met Jesus last December, in Brazil, during a photo shoot for W magazine in Rio de Janeiro and since then they’ve been constantly seen together with her family in New York. She reportedly said to her biographer Randy Taraborrelli: “He’s so sweet. He checks in with me all the time. I probably should do the same, but you know me. I think he gets it now that I’m a little – shall we say – self-involved”.

Jesus insists Madonna is just a friend… what do you think?

Fall Weddings are very popular, mainly in North America.  The season is full of romance, bright orange colors, but is also full of a little fall foliage and because of that you may have to be a little precautious about your Fall Wedding planning in order to make the ceremony an absolutely gorgeous event, without any inconvenient.

Everybody knows an outdoor ceremony completed with natural foliage setting sounds perfect. If you and your guests are ready for the elements, an outdoor fall wedding is completely possible and stylish. The changing leaves create amazing sceneries allowing to take astonishing pictures and since it’s not too hot like Summer, neither too cold like Winter, no one will be sweating through their clothing, but be careful of weather changes in order to avoid unpleasant (chilly) surprises.

When we think about fall the first we think is of harvest time and all the rich yellows, oranges, copper, gold, browns and peach colors. This can give you an idea about the color scheme of your fall ceremony and also an idea about the flowers you should use in the event. Try to keep away from out-season flowers. In-season flowers are a good way to keep wedding costs down and fall floral arrangements made with dahlias, chrysanthemums, orchids, gardenias, and asters built-in with fall fruits, vegetables and foliage – like crabapples, ornamental cabbage, cornstalks, some hay, maple leaves and peppers can be eye-catching and equally elegant.

Following the rich colors and harvest theme, you may need to consider using heavier fabrics in your wedding decoration – like velvet and linen, emphasized with candles and large hurricane lanterns as centerpieces.

The bride dress can be chosen from an endless collection depending upon the theme of your wedding. Just remember the weather in the fall can be unpredictable, so the bride and bridesmaids dresses can be strapless, but we suggest you to wear capelets, stoles or wraps to be prepared for an emergency. On a warm day, the over layer can be easily removed. You may chose in cream, ivory or white colors which will work with the bright scheme of a fall ceremony. The flowers in the bride gown would offer an angelic halo to your appearance, and for a delicate and shy look you may put white and purple orchids in your hair arrangement.

One last tip, remember travel costs are usually lower in the fall, since it’s not peak vacation season. It’s just one of the most romantic seasons to get married.

Okay, okay! You spent too much in your Wedding planning and ceremony and now you have just a little budget to use in your honeymoon. Don’t worry, you can make it affordable, unforgettable and simply amazing, at the same time!

Well, nobody said you must go to a honeymoon right after the wedding, so if you are considering this possibility in order to rebuild your cash, maybe you can be surprised with lots of attractive locations offering reasonably priced honeymoon.

Most of the time, Weddings are a collaborative effort with family and friends. Honeymoon, on the other hand, is usually the first big decision you make together as a couple. You have to decide on a budget, discuss your idea of a perfect vacation, pick your destination, take more money than you think you’ll need, schedule time to do nothing at all, be considerate of the wishes of each other.

How long you can get away, choose whether to fly or drive, if you prefer hot or cold climate, mountains or beach, city or country are some of the other points to consider. You must understand you won’t agree on everything, and based on the elements you agree on, you’ll have a profile on your ideal trip.

Regardless of the month you plan to take your honeymoon, it’s always a low season somewhere. If you had a Winter Wedding in North America, for example, places like New York, San Francisco, Washington DC and Dallas are the best places to travel in January. Of course you have to forget about seeing the cherry blossoms if you travel to Washington DC in January. They only emerge in spring when hotel rates are the highest. If you’re planning to travel to Ireland or Netherland, February is the best month to a cheap honeymoon in these countries, following by Italy and Spain, in March. Places like Jamaica, Hawaii, Utah, Tucson, and Las Vegas are cheap from April to August. September is time to Japan and Orlando, meanwhile Costa Rica, Lake Tahoe, Dominican Republic, Germany and Greece are cheap between October and December.

One good option is a cruise. Usually cruises are cost-efficient vacations. They are all-inclusive for the most part, and the shorter the cruise, the less you’ll have to pay. Something about 3 to 7 days is a good time to celebrate your new life as a couple. What do you think?

If you love the outdoors and don’t mind doing about four hours of work daily you can stand for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). That’s ideal for who, in exchange of volunteering, receive food, a place to stay, and the opportunity to learn about organic living. It’s a little dirt choice, but completely affordable.

Camping is another great idea, if the two of you love the outdoors. The major expenses are going to be transportation, camping supplies, campground fees and food that you can cook or eat in restaurants. That’s a good idea for a cheap honeymoon.

Actually you can honeymoon anywhere you like or anywhere you can afford. The most important thing to think about is how to make the occasion something absolutely divine and romantic in this new life that’s just starting.

Have fun!!!

Last August 22^nd, 2009, the actress Milla Jovovich and director Paul Anderson get married in an intimate outdoor ceremony at their own home in Beverly Hills, California.

The ceremony was simple but absolutely gorgeous. They invited about 50 guests including “Grey’s Anatomy” actor Patrick Dempsey and his wife Jillian.

The “Resident Evil” actress, Milla Jovovich (33) met Paul Anderson (44) on the set of the film in 2002 and have been inseparable since then.

Their lovely daughter, Ever Anderson, 20 months old, was the cute flower girl and reports say Milla designed her own wedding dress with a 60’s inspired look.

Congratulations to the happy newlywed.