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15 easy ways to personalize your wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most important days in your personal life. So, why not make it entirely your own?

This is possible when you carefully plan out the details that can make it unique. With so many factors going into every wedding, there are no dearth of options to add a signature touch and style to your special day. And the good news is that it doesn’t have to be handmade or homemade. All it takes is some creativity, and you are on the way to having a bespoke wedding; one that will be remembered for its personal style.

Here are some interesting ideas to inspire you. Check them out to choose ones that appeal most to you. Don’t forget to tell us which of these you have decided to embrace in the comments section below.

Start with your save-the-date

save-the-dateGet creative when drafting your save-the-date cards. Play with interesting quotes, jokes and notes to make it different. You can also make it truly yours by adding your picture to it. This is a great way to make use of your engagement photos in a photo card, and give your guests a sneak peek at what is in store at the wedding. (More about how you can nail your engagement shoot in this article on the Knot.)

Or, if you and your fiance share a hobby or passion, let it reflect in your  cards. This could even be the theme of your wedding. Or skip save-the-date cards altogether and go with a save-the-card magnet instead. It would serve the purpose, but have a unique twist to it.

Add your personal touch to the invitation card

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All your guests expect to receive a standard invitation card. This card would contain all the relevant details about the wedding in it. Surprise them with a fun invitation with a feature they least expect to see. Let this be a reflection of your personal style and unique in every way.

From engraved real wood invitations to fairy tale story wedding invitations and cards with hand-drawn illustrations, there are many unique ideas on this article at the Brides website. Take a look and make your pick. 

Add unexpected elements to your bouquet

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The bridal bouquet is a wonderful accessory to add your special touch. We have watched brides wrap lace hankies around the stems, pin brooches and decorate with family heirlooms for an extra-personal touch.

You can also personalize it by adding a photo locket to it.  Or choose flowers that are not commonly used in wedding bouquets. Don’t go with the traditional choices. Instead spice it up a little with an unusual twist on your bouquet, and let it be a symbol that stands out.There are plenty of non-traditional bouquet ideas on this article at the Martha Stewart website.

Design your own wedding dress

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The wedding dress is the focal point of the bridal look, and one that never goes unnoticed. It is also the one wedding detail that will help you make a statement. Although it is tempting to try the numerous designer dresses out there, remember that there will be at least one bride who has worn the same design.

However, this isn’t the case when you custom-create your own bridal gown. Identify a talented bridal dress maker who understands your personal style and preferences. Use her services to custom-create a dress that is perfect in every way. You could even take an heirloom wedding dress and re-purpose it into a modern wedding dress with features you fancy. It won’t be too expensive when you do your research well and find the right person for the job. If you think you have the skills to make the dress from scratch by yourself, this article on A practical wedding blog is pretty helpful. 

Engrave your favorite quote on your wedding rings

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Pick a short quote you love or one that you can relate to as a couple. Split it in two. Have the first half engraved on your ring, and the rest of it on your fiance’s. This is a symbolic extension of how both of you complete each other, and I think it is very romantic.

It could even be something special that the two of you only know about. A simple engraving such as this will definitely add to the sentimental value of your wedding rings and make this prized possession even more special.

Make your own monogram

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How about customizing everything in the wedding with your own personalized monogram? It is easy to make an interesting monogram with both your names using free online monogram designers like this one.

Design it in the colors of your wedding theme and personalize it with a design of your choice. Then use it on your invitations, wedding favors, website, thank you cards and even in the posters and rest of the wedding décor. Thus, a monogram allows you to mark everything wedding-related with your personal stamp and make it more memorable.

Or have a custom couple portrait rubber stamp made

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An interesting alternative to the monogram is a rubber stamp with your custom couple portrait on it. You can get this done for a small fee on Etsy, and choose from various options according to your preference.

The fun part is that you can use this wedding stamp beyond the wedding day. You can use it for various celebrations afterwards, and even for personal correspondence. So, it is a fun keepsake that you should definitely consider.

Make your welcome gift meaningful

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Even if the hotel where you host your guests has a welcome gift in the package, make an effort to make it extra-special by adding your personal touches. Remember that the greeting gift makes a lasting impression, and you want to nail it.

The guests who have taken the trouble to fly in from far to be part of your special day deserve it too. A pretty box will make an amazing presentation, and use custom labels and tags to decorate it. (This is where you monogram would be really useful, don’t you think?)

Personalize your wedding program

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The wedding program is an essential part of the wedding ceremony, as it lists the details of the events in your wedding day. Sadly, the program serves little to no purpose and is simply discarded at the end of the day by most guests. With a little creativity, you can transform it into a memento that your guests will feel like holding on to.

An easy way to do this is to add a functional aspect to the program. The idea on the Real Simple Blog suggests printing the wedding program on a fan. I think this is brilliant, especially at a warm summer wedding. It is likely the guests will find it so useful that they decide to actually take it home with them to use again. For more interesting ideas, check out this article. 

Add a photo board to your wedding décor

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A photo board is entertaining and interesting, especially if your guests have to wait a while between the different events on your wedding day. Use pictures to tell your guests the story of your courtship and your interesting journey as a couple.

Add both casual and professional pictures to this photo board and place it at a strategic location. You can also create smaller photo boards and distribute it throughout the venue. Let your creativity flow as you design these.

Have unique bouquets for each of your bridesmaids

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While we are all for a cohesive look to tie your wedding details together, this doesn’t mean everything should perfectly match. Take inspiration from the bridal bouquet when planning the bridesmaids bouquets. However, make it different for each bridesmaid.

Customize each bridesmaid bouquet to represent the woman who holds it. While all the bouquets should have a cohesive factor, let subtle differences set each bouquet apart from the other. This way, your bridesmaids will feel extra-special, and your guests are also bound to notice the uniqueness. Use ideas like bouquets of the same color, but different flowers. Or, bouquets with the same flower throughout, but in different shades.

The centerpieces deserve attention

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The details that matter the most are those that people are bound to see from close. This is why your wedding centerpieces are important. Instead of spreading it out horizontally, I suggest you do a vertical centerpiece. This will add more impact and grandeur to the entire setting. Just make sure that it doesn’t obstruct the views of those seated opposite to each other on the same table.

Use an eclectic collection of items and vary the designs across the hall to make it more interesting. Inexpensive décor items like tea lights and candles can instantly add a unique feel to the entire setting. So, consider these options as alternatives to standard floral centerpieces.

Serve signature cocktails

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An open bar is fun, but signature cocktails are better. It is easy to add a personal touch to your wedding this way. Use your creativity to come up with interesting names for each of the cocktails you serve, and display the name in a creative way. Also add special garnishes to make them prettier.

Use the serving glasses to double up as party favors, and have your monogram added to them for this purpose. Not only will your guests enjoy the gesture, they will also remember your celebration every time they happen to see the glass you gifted them. For bottled drinks don’t forget to add custom labels to make them just right for the occasion.

Let your deserts do the talking

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Your wedding cake is a statement piece at your wedding. So, make the most of it and it will be remembered by your guests for long. You do not need a towering one to make an impact. For it is the unique details that have better effect.

Unexpected embellishments and life-like toppers are ideal. Or, you can entirely forego the cake and choose to have a desert bar instead. Serve up a variety of decadent deserts that will tease every taste bud and will be appreciated by one and all.

Always pick edible favors

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The likelihood of your wedding favors being unused is small, when you gift your guests edible favors at the end of the day. After all, who can say no to a snack.

Use custom wrappers or boxes to add a touch of finesse to your gift, and pick from popular favorites like cookies and pop corn as the content. These mini-delicacies are just right for munching on after the drive home, and do not spoil easily. It will give your guest a chance to recollect the events of the day, as they leisurely chomp it down once they are back home.

Have you thought of any other idea that will help you personalize your wedding and make it extra-special and memorable? If so, we would love to hear from you.

For more wedding related tips and advice, keep visiting us at our Best for Bride blog page. Best for Bride is the one-stop wedding destination for all things wedding-related. With an impressive collection of bridal dresses and dresses for the bridal party, we have one of the most important aspects of your wedding planning covered. Also find evening dresses, dresses for special occasions, accessories and a range of wedding services on our website.

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12 wedding favors perfect for Winter weddings

Wedding favors are one of the things that deserve special attention in weddings. These are the items that your guests will take home from your wedding, and so, you should put in some thought when selecting them. Although there are hundreds of options out there, not all of them equally strike a chord with wedding guests. Unless you make sure that the favors you choose are unique and interesting, it is likely that it will simply be tossed away soon enough or forgotten abut entirely.

Since this is now the season for winter weddings, we think it is only appropriate to look at favors which are great for weddings this time of year. After all, no longer are weddings confined to the warm, sunny months of the year. With more and more couples choosing to tie the knot in the cooler fall and cold, cold winter, everything from wedding dresses to wedding favors need to be defined for these weddings. So, join us, as we take a look at what is hot in wedding favors and make your pick.

1.Cocoa in a cup

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Who wouldn’t love to sip on good quality hot cocoa in the cold winter months? Gift your guests a sachet of great quality hot cocoa in a beautiful mug or cup, and it will be a wedding favor that they will definitely use at least once. To make sure that your gift is entirely unique, we suggest choosing an interesting mug or cup for your favor. Either customize it to match the theme of your party, or add your initials or message line to the gift. Otherwise choose a contemporary design, like this beautiful Swish cup and saucer set from Best for Bride, which is bound to impress anyone. The unusual design makes it an attractive display piece that is also practical.

2.Snowflake wine stopper

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Snowflakes are one of the most delightful icons of winter, and snowflake designs never cease to impress. With your wedding being during the holiday season, your guests will love this snowflake wine stopper that they can use to cork up their favorite wine bottle. Don’t you think it’ll make an interesting display element, when they place their wine bottle with this interesting stopper on their table? The chrome and aluminum metal plating gives it a sleek and flawless finish, while the rubber gasket makes sure the contents of the bottle are airtight and fresh. Although a small gift, it is one that your guests will undoubtedly appreciate. You can be certain that this beautiful stopper will find its way to your wedding guests feast tables every Christmas.

3.Wedding Carriage Candles

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As the days grow shorter and the nights darker, you can never have enough candles to warm your homes. So, this is the perfect time to gift candles as everyone will love them this time of year. And when it is one that is as exquisitely crafted as this Cinderella wedding carriage candle, it will be particularly favored. A beautiful design in white and silver, it is a perfect icon that reminds us of the nostalgic love story of the fairy-tale princess Cinderella and her Prince Charming. This candle favor will be a whimsical gift perfect to be displayed at your guest’s homes during the holiday season. Whether you have a fairy-tale theme castle wedding or a traditional style vintage wedding, this is a perfect wedding favor that will easily match either of them.

4.Winter Finery Chocolate bar

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Who doesn’t love chocolate? This beautiful winter finery chocolate bar is nut-free and features a beautiful snowflake design on the cover in the color you choose. Personalized wedding favors have an added charm, and these winter chocolate bars can be customized with the name of the couple as well as their wedding date on them. An additional attraction is that the chocolate wrapper color can be chosen to match the color of your wedding palette, and this makes sure it blends well and adds the perfect punch of color to your dessert buffet. You can also choose to display them at each place setting if you do not have a dessert bar. It is an edible wedding favor that will be enjoyed by your guests and since it is nut-free, it is suitable for almost everyone. The younger guests at your wedding, will be especially thrilled. The wrapper design emphasizes the seasonal element at your wedding, and this in itself will make sure it is noticed.

5.Fancy Popcorn

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Perfect for a casual wedding, your guests will love to munch on freshly popped corn at your wedding ceremony. Set up a fresh pop corn machine at your reception venue, and serve flavored and plain pop corn to your guests in these custom-created novelty pop corn cartons. The design is unusually attractive, spicing up the overall look of the tasty treat. If you have young children at your wedding, this is bound to be a favorite with them. A separate section that is set up to entertain kids would be a lot more attractive with the simple addition of a fresh popcorn machine. Why, you can even expect to see the adults queuing up to pick a popcorn carton! After all, popcorn is a perfect snack for any weather, and is specially welcoming in the colder months. If you would rather have your guests save the popcorn for munching on at home, you can have filled cartons wrapped in plastic and sent home, so they can enjoy it on the way back or after they are home from your wedding.

6.Mini-pie packaging kits

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If you want your guests to take some sweet indulgence home from your blessed wedding, pack them off with individual mini-pies packed elegantly in these adorable mini-pie packaging kits. Small bite-sized pies that are just perfect for one person, these pies will be the perfect snack to enjoy at home after a long drive in the cold weather. Ask your baker to whip up the delicious pies in the flavors that you love, and share them with the guests who made your wedding day so special. These packaging kits come with the boxes, twines and tags that will allow you to easily assemble your party favors within no time.

7.Mini marmalade or preserve bottles

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Holiday season is the perfect time to indulge in good-quality marmalade and preserves. So, you can be certain that a mini jar of tasty preserve will be well appreciated by your winter wedding guests. Serve it up in style in beautiful glass bottles with wire snaps to secure it and keep it airtight. These mini glass bottles from Best for Bride make the ideal choice for this type of wedding favor. You can personalize it to perfectly match the theme of your wedding party with wedding stickers and tags created for your special day. Wrap it up with a silk ribbon or tie a pretty twine around it for the finishing touches. Add a sweet thank you note with your initials and wedding date, and it is all set to be taken home. To order this for your wedding, check out this link. You needn’t look elsewhere for the essential stationary to dress up your gift.

8.Rustic wood pencils

 

As the weather becomes chilly, everyone dreams of bundling up in front of a roaring fireplace. Too bad that there are few log fires burnt these days. Nevertheless, you can bring forth the memories of piles of logs stacked up to burn and warm the entire house, with the next best thing possible – rustic wood pencils. Perfect little gifts that can be used to play paper games or even sign your guest book with, these unusual looking pencils will definitely be loved by every one of your guests. Their rough and authentic look make them a beautiful addition at any winter wedding, although they are specially suited for a vintage theme or nature-inspired wedding theme. Each pencil has been created from neem and comes pre-sharpened in standard size.

9.Personalized glass globes

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The possibilities of personalizing these glass globes to make them unique and well-received wedding favor are endless. Either fill them up with beautiful flowers, feathers, crystals or candles and use them as part of the centerpieces on your reception tables. Otherwise, pack them in plastic wrap for a wonderful takeaway gift. Your guests can either place them on their mantels or tables as a decorative display, or hang them up as an attractive ornament in their home. Either way, it is a gift that is just perfect to be used in their home décor at Christmas time, and will be a regular at their homes once they receive it. Don’t forget to add a short and sweet thank you note on your custom created wedding stationery to complete the effect.

10.Mini lovebird snowglobes

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Another ornament that will easily be a part of your your guest’s regular Christmas decorations, these lovebird snow globes are elegant and interesting. A pair of pretty white love birds snuggling together make a meaningful gift for your wedding, and it will also serve your guests well as a paperweight for all times or a festival ornament every year. The beauty of this wedding favor is that the snowy white color is ideal for any winter wedding theme and color palette. And don’t forget the little dose of magic that it will add to your reception tables.

11.Lip balm with custom covers

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Chapped lips will no longer be an issue for your guests this winter, with your thoughtful wedding favor in the form of these lip balms. Choose the lip balm cover in the color combination you like, from the available wrapper choices, and customize it further with your initials and wedding date. The chap sticks have an attractive vanilla scented flavor, and will be favored by one and all equally. Just the right size to easily fit into a pocket or purse, your guests will find it practical to carry it around and use at all times.

12.Mason jars packed with goodies

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The humble mason jar is one of the most versatile wedding favor carriers you can come across. Whether you choose to fill it with preserves, candy or other goodies, it will look beautiful and be useful to your guests. For your winter wedding, how about filling it with holiday candy or treats? Or for a special pampering touch fill each jar with scented sugar scrub and your guests can indulge in a sweet bath on their next day off. With so many options to choose from, you will not have trouble finding the perfect filler for your wedding theme. Top it off with a sticky cover label in your color theme and add a thank you note to the side, tied on with twine or ribbon, and you have a beautiful and practical favor to gift.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. At Best for Bride, we have hundreds of wedding favors for you to choose from. Browse through the immense variety of options we have, by clicking on this link and you are bound to find every wedding favor you could possibly imagine. What is more, with customization options and all DIY stationery essentials as well, you will have no trouble planning and making your wedding favors come to life. For more wedding tips and advice, keep visiting us at Best for Bride.

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Make your wedding truly memorable by adding your own personal touches to it

Wedding planning is one of the most stressful tasks anyone can undertake. There are a zillion details to take care of, and it can overwhelm even the most level-headed bride. This is why most couples choose to go with a wedding planner or delegate part of the wedding planning process to someone so they can stay sane.

There is no issue with this as long as you still do your part to ensure your wedding is unique. One of the main problems with delegating party planning and other details is that it can easily become impersonal. If the weddings in your planner’s portfolio look pretty much the same, this should be what your wedding will also end up like.

It is alright if you don’t mind having a wedding that people will soon forget. But, if you want a memorable wedding, which is one that everyone will remember long after the event, you need to inject some personality into your wedding plans. Only then will the memories linger, and you can say that your wedding was a grand success.

Even if you work with a wedding planner or book an all-inclusive wedding package, here are some details you can focus on and add your personal touches to.

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Personalize your wedding favours

This is one easy way to ensure your guests will remember your wedding for years. Choose a wedding favour that is representative of the people you are. It could be anything like a traveller’s kit if both of you love travelling, or a CD with your favourite songs if you are avid music fans. Ensure it is not just another pretty-looking favour that matches the party’s theme and can be tossed after use. Instead, choose a practical gift to remind the receiver of the two of you whenever they see it. Personalize it to match the theme of your party, and Voila! You have a gift that makes your wedding all the more memorable.

Involve the guests in an incredibly fun activity

Your wedding is all about you. Nevertheless, make it an exciting and entertaining occasion for your wedding guests by adding an exciting element to it. This could be an instant photo booth that ties to the theme of the wedding. Or it could be a variation to the traditional guest signing booth. You could use our petal wishes kit to have the guests leave their special message for the couple, and they will likely remember spending some time with jotting down a small note for you.

Use your creativity to plan unique additions to your wedding

Think out of the box, and find ideas to inject a unique message into your wedding décor. Display pictures or interesting messages that you can identify with. This is the opportunity to proudly bring forth your family’s traditions, and display it creatively with it. Bring out family heirlooms, add portraits to your décor, or incorporate family dishes into the menu. Some couples choose to even include their furry friends in their ceremony, and even this can be interesting. Just remember to keep it meaningful and well-planned, and you will do it right.

If you want more interesting ideas to make your wedding one-of-a-kind, we suggest you head over to the offbeat bride website, which is chock-full of winning ideas.

Visit us on Best for Bride, and we can help you realize your wedding vision in the most unique and interesting way.

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Special Ways to Choose your Bridesmaids

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Some of the most important people who will be sharing your big day with you are your bridesmaids. They are usually close family members or women who have been standing beside you for a great number of years. If you are looking for a unique way that you can ask them to be a part of your special day, be sure to try out a few of these fantastic options for yourself.

The Ring Pop

This is a fun way to ‘propose’ to your bridesmaids. You simply purchase or create some cute boxes that resemble a ring box and that will be big enough to hold a ring pop. Then you can create labels with the girl’s names on them as well as a cute message on the inside of the box. For even more fun, you can have a small party where you announce your engagement and ask them to be your bridesmaids at the same time.

A DIY Card

With this fun item, you will be doing a bit of crafting on your own. Take some card stock that you can purchase from your local craft store and create a simple card requesting that your friends accept the responsibility of being your bridesmaids. Then you can add a bit of confetti to the card so that it will fly out when they open their card. You should also add some fun envelopes to the mix as well to brighten up the event even more.

Fun Game

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Gather your bridesmaids for a party at your place. Before they arrive, hide some gifts for each of them around your space with clues that will help them guess their fun surprise. In the end they will have so much fun discovering that you want them to share your special day with them, that you won’t even have to ask the question. This is a fun way to make both the announcement of your engagement and to ask your bridesmaids the question.

Cookie Puzzle

With a little creativity, you can create a special cookie that asks the question for you. Simply print the question on the icing of the cookie and divide it into small pieces. You can then arrange the pieces in such a way that your bridesmaids will need to spend a bit of time rearranging their cookie to find the hidden message. This can be a fun game to play with your bridesmaids and you may even decide to offer a gift for the person who figures it out first.

Conclusion

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The women that you choose to stand beside you on your wedding day are important to you. You have chosen them for a reason and are asking quite a bit of responsibility from them. It is important that you make them feel special during this process so that they will understand who important that they are to you. By asking them to be your bridesmaids in a unique way, you will be showing them how much you care.

Best for Bride

Best for Bride is a full service bridal shop that offers a great number of bridesmaid gowns as well as gifts for the special women in your life. Be sure to stop by one of their locations when you are looking for the best options for your bridesmaids’ gowns and supplies.