Olga is manager at Best for Bride since 2005. Currently Best for Bride operates 4 bridal stores in Canada (Toronto, Etobicoke, Hamilton and Barrie). Best for Bride sells wedding, bridemaids, mob dresses and more. https://www.bestforbride.com/
Although you don’t have to give your bridesmaids any gifts, many brides opt to give them small tokens of their gratitude for helping plan the wedding, being troopers and wearing the chosen dresses and just participating in their magical day. But many brides are at a loss as to what kind of gift they should surprise their bridesmaids with, so here are some tips on how what makes the perfect gift!
Really, it’s totally up to you and whatever can fit into your budget. These gifts are to show your appreciation and gratitude and don’t have to be extravagant or expensive. Your bridesmaids aren’t expecting anything, so even a small gift will make them smile. Some sites like the Knot say that you should consider how much you’re asking them to spend for your wedding (bridesmaid dress, shoes, makeup, hair, etc.) and then base your gift on something that is comparable to that amount. But in reality, you’re probably already spending a lot of money and your budget can’t really fit in an additional $75 per bridesmaid (especially if you have a large bridal party).
Instead of buying lavish gifts, think about getting them things that they’ll be able to use everyday. Makeup bags with their initials on them, blinged-out coffee cups, a jewelry box engraved with their name, etc. Taking the time to really choose a great bridal gift will go a long way with your bridesmaids. And to go step further, maybe buy each bridesmaid a different gift tailored to their own personal likings? This will show them how much time and effort you put into their gift and they’ll really love you for that.
Always ask yourself if you’d want the gift to gauge if your bridesmaids will want it too. You don’t want to choose something that is super cute, but won’t be used by them. Again, think practical gifts like monogrammed keychains, tumblers and other things that can be used over and over again. There are lots of bridal gift sites where you can order multiple gifts and have them personalized. Just do a quick Google search and you’ll get numerous results.
Best for Bride is a one-stop bridal shop that has everything a bride needs to make her big day perfect! From dresses to shoes, invitations to cakes, this bridal shop is the only place you ever need to go to plan your special day.
For some brides there is no question about who will walk them down the aisle. If your parents are still together and you’ve always been a daddy’s girl, you’re all set. When that’s not the case you might find yourself trying to figure out who the heck is going to fill this role on your wedding day. While many brides these days are independent enough to want to march down that aisle themselves this article isn’t about those brides. It’s about the ones who can’t imagine walking down that aisle alone but for some reason don’t have a clear cut idea of who will do it.
Mori Lee Bridal SPRING 2015 Collection: 2725 – Majestic Embroidered Appliques Combined with Chantilly Lace on Net with Wide Hemline
Sure, tradition states that your dad walks you down the aisle but what if your dad isn’t actually your father? In the case of divorce and remarriage you may have both a father and stepfather who both mean a lot to you. If that’s the case, what do you do? Having both of them walk you down the aisle could be a bit awkward to say the least, but choosing one over the other could cause hurt feelings and tension within the family.
And then there are brides who don’t have the option of having their father walk them down the aisle because he hasn’t even been a part of their life. In my case, this applies, so when I got married the dad who raised me walked me down the aisle, as opposed to my biological father. But, if I hadn’t had that dad to fill the role who would have done it?
This is a question you may be asking yourself if you are planning a wedding and you are in this position. The right decision depends on you and what you want on the happiest day of your life. You could swallow your pride and ask the father that didn’t raise you to walk you down the aisle or you could choose another male family member or friend. No one can tell you what your decision should be as that is a very personal one that you have to decide on your own.
Mori Lee Blue SPRING 2015 Collection: 5311 – LARISSA SATIN WITH CRYSTAL BEADING ON ALENCON LACE
For brides who are renewing their wedding vows, something I plan to do with my husband within the coming months, there is a whole new opportunity to repeat the experience with whoever walked you down the aisle the first time or choose someone completely different. As I am in a position where my biological father has not been a part of my life, for my vow renewals I am considering asked a beloved relative that I lost contact with for years if he’d be willing to walk me down the aisle in place of the father who is a virtual stranger to me. That may be the right decision for me but you may disagree with me completely. Whoever you choose to walk you down the aisle should be someone who believes in you and your fiancé.
For the answer to any pressing questions you may have about planning your wedding be sure to visit Best For Brides.com where you will find expert wedding tips and advice.
So you finally took the plunge and popped the big question. Of course, she said yes! So now it’s time for you sit to back, kick your feet up and wait for the big day, right? Not so fast there, buddy boy – you’re not off the hook just yet.
Does the very thought of floral arrangements, coordinated colour schemes, wedding cakes and table linens make you want to run away and hide? If this sounds like you, I have assembled some tips and suggestions for all would-be grooms on how to navigate the crazy, hectic world of wedding planning. Ladies, it can’t hurt for you to read this as well.
Start off with an open and honest conversation with your fiancé.
First off guys, it’s important to recognize that it’s easy for us gals to get swept up in all the pre-planning excitement, particularly in the beginning stages of planning. A heads-up: you’ll probably want to take this into consideration when broaching sensitive topics.
During these early stages, it’s a good idea to choose a time to sit down and talk about how you both are envisioning your day. It’s important for both of you to share your thoughts, feelings and preferences for your wedding day. Of course, having this discussion all hinges on what may be a very difficult decision…
Are you all-in or all-out?
From my experience as an event planner, a lot of guys think they don’t want to be involved in the decision-making process until they start to see the event coming together in ways that are totally different from what you thought. You need to decide – together – whether you’d like to be actively involved in the planning process or prefer to leave most or all of the decision-making to your fiancé. Whatever the decision, choose wisely and don’t flip-flop. There’s nothing worse than bottling it all up only to lose your stuff over a disagreement on napkin folding (yes, it happens!).
So if you choose all-in, you’ve got to mean it and be prepared to be there every step of the way! If you opt for all-out, then remember that she will be making a lot of the decisions (along with her family and bridesmaids) and you may not get the things that are important to you. Whichever you choose, be sure to be open and honest with your fiancé and with yourself about how involved you wish to be.
Take care of the items that are important to you!
Do you have an idea of what style of suit you want to wear on the big day? Are you an audiophile with a strong preference in music selection? Perhaps there’s a certain photography style you prefer? Let your fiancé know your “must haves” and ideally, lighten her workload, by taking on these important tasks yourself! Not only will you score major brownie points, but if it’s something you’re really interested in anyway, you will be more likely to complete the task and complete it well. If you’re stuck doing things you don’t enjoy, like choosing invitations and things that are not important to, you might make quick and fast decisions just to get the task out of the way. A sure-fire way to make a mistake and possibly end up in the dog house or on couch duty.
Be prepared for tears and meltdowns.
Sorry guys, but even the most calm and prepared bride will likely shed some tears along the way. Yes, it may seem crazy to you (kind of like why we consider it a big deal whether a bridesmaid wants to wear her hair up instead of down) but these decisions are important to us and chances are our “less than optimal state of emotions” are related to all the stress of planning the most important day of our lives! Be calm and reassuring and listen to her thoughts – even if you think it’s the craziest thing you’ve ever heard!
Take her on a date!
During the planning process, it’s easy to get swept up and constantly talk about the ever-growing to-do list and what decisions have to be made. Plan at least one date a month where wedding talk is strictly off limits. It will allow the two of you to reconnect and reinforce the bond between you. After all, once the wedding is over, you’ll need to make sure you still have other things to talk about =)
Yup, you’re going to go over budget.
Little things add up. So do big things. Ever been to the grocery store to pick up three things and leave with six because you “forgot” something or saw that chips were on sale? It’s kind of the same thing, but not.
There’s no two ways about it: weddings are expensive. The important thing is make sure your budget is realistic from the get-go. Be sure to leave some wiggle room for the unaccounted and inevitable extras that come up.
Plan the honeymoon!
This may actually be the most fun thing to plan! Imagine you and your future wife on a beach or exploring the world. Take that off her plate and handle the arrangements yourself (even better if you can surprise her!). But remember, this is not the time to scrimp and save and wait for a last minute deal. Find a reputable travel agent to help you put the arrangements in place so there are no surprises at the airport!
When in doubt, hire a wedding planner
Believe it or not, a wedding planner can actually save you money. Sounds counter-intuitive, but if wedding planning is not your thing, you’ll save time, money and a whole lot of headaches. A wedding planner can also act as a marriage counsellor and financial planner of sorts: helping guide you both through important decisions while simultaneously keeping you on-budget by finding great vendors who fit your price range. This means she (and by extension, you) will be able to truly enjoy the day together instead of worrying over trivial matters such as gathering the groomsmen for the ceremony or whether the guest favours are coordinated properly on the tables.
In Conclusion…
Guys, let’s face it – planning a wedding is a lot of work and can be a real test of your relationship. Adjust your perspective and focus on how close it brings you together, planning one of the most important day of your lives. Set realistic expectations on yourself and your future bride and communicate openly and often. Follow these not-so-simple rules my friend, and you will set yourself for total wedding bliss – and likely a much better honeymoon as well 😉
About the Author: Amy Stevenson has spent six years into this action-packed, thrilling and incredible industry and has been loving every minute of it!
Being the Lead Editor at EventSource means I get to experience a whole new level of wedding and special event amazing-ness! Every morning I open up my inbox to a whole new set of jaw-dropping event photos submitted by the industry’s top leaders and get to share their work with you! You can follow our work on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Your husband-to-be loves chocolate, but you love vanilla, so how to you choose the perfect wedding cake flavor that not only satisfies your sweet tooth, but will delight the tastebuds of friends and family attending your special day? Of course, you want your wedding cake to be one that everybody remembers for its extraordinary flavor, but what’s the secret to having an unforgettable cake? Well, read on to find out how to go about picking the right wedding cake flavors that will please all!
The good thing about wedding cakes these days is that you can have as many tiers as your heart desires. Not only does this look great in wedding photos, but it also allows you to have a variety of cake flavors for each tier! This means you can have every flavor you want, so indulge in that vanilla, while your significant other can give into his sweet tooth with a tier devoted to chocolate. And ask about rich, new flavors that they might have like amaretto cake! Adding flavors to each tier might be an extra cost, so make sure this is one of your questions when picking out the right cake maker.
Besides the traditional filling choices like strawberry and chocolate, ask your baker if they have any other amazing filling choices. Many now offer choices like raspberry filling, mimosa, mint and so many more! Ask your baker what are their cake/filling combos and which ones are the most requested. Have them include a few of their popular choices when you to your cake testing.
Add Liqueurs
Some bakers like to get really creative with their cakes and might change things up by adding some liqueurs like Gran Marnier in their batter. According to Perfect Wedding Guide, it’ll take any regular cake and make it that much better, which will definitely make it a cake to remember. Other great liqueurs that can be used in batters are Chambord and its raspberry flavor, Creme de Cassis with its blackberry flavor and even Chocolate liqueur!
Fondant isn’t precisely liked by many, but it makes beautiful cakes. However, backers can make amazing cakes using buttercream for the frosting. As for examples of both see what you personally like best. And if you go the fondant route, ask them to put a layer of butter cream frosting between the cake and fondant so that guests will still have delicious butter cream underneath if guests don’t eat the fondant.
Best for Bride is a one-stop bridal shop with everything a bride needs to make her wedding day perfect! From gowns to accessories, flowers to cakes, and everything in between, our store is the only place a bride needs to shop at for all her wedding needs.
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