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Wildly Unique Outdoor Wedding Venues

While a church is the traditional choice for wedding venues, so many possible wedding venues often are overlooked. More and more people are choosing unique outdoor wedding venues that reflect their hobbies or interests. There are many unconventional choices for those who want their wedding to reflect their love nature. Here are some examples of wildly unique outdoor wedding venues.

Rustic venues appeal to many couples. Numerous country settings rent space for weddings. A popular version is the barn wedding or reception. Across the United States, barns are rented as rustic chic wedding venues. You may be surprised what is available in your area if you do an internet search for “barn weddings.”

An apple orchard wedding is a way to hold the wedding and reception outdoors in the same location. Some apple orchards regularly rent an orchard space for weddings. Some allow the couple to use their apples in their decorations. If the couple wanted a few bowls with apples or small floral arrangements with apples included on the reception tables, they should verify the policy for using apples from the orchard or bring their own apples. Of course, it would be much easier to buy apples that match the kind at the orchard from a grocery store rather than worrying about picking apples.

Natural waterfalls and caverns may offer wedding packages. Businesses offer waterfall weddings in many tropical locations such as Jamaica and Costa Rica. If you are looking for something closer to home, you may want to contact area tourist locations with the features you want for your wedding. Some may not have considered offering a wedding package until you contact them or might not have the packages advertised on their websites.

Butterfly and botanical gardens make wonderful wedding venues. These are popular wedding venues, so you will want to book yours well in advance. As with all outdoor venues, make sure you are happy with the provisions for a rainy day. Consider things like parking and the availability of restrooms.

Love the outdoors but want something truly unique? Why not have a day of glamping for your wedding? Glamping is luxury camping. Some couples create fun glamping spots in their backyard for the big day. Others rent out a camping park that specializes in glamping. Instead of the usual reception dinners, the couple may go with traditional camping food such as grilled food and smores. If roasting marshmallows is your style, glamping may be perfect for your fabulous wedding.

Who doesn’t love animals? If the couple loves animals, why not rent out a petting zoo or space at a regular zoo. Would you love monkeys or penguins as added guests to your wedding? Believe it or not, some zoos such as the Oklahoma City Zoo and Philadelphia Zoo offer wedding packages. Some zoos truly cater to the needs of the couple and offer several possible wedding venues within the zoo. Even if the local zoo does not have wedding packages, many zoos have areas that can be rented for events like weddings. Now, that’s wildly unique!

For more great tips on creating an amazing wedding, check out the Best for Bride blog. We offer many tips and fun ideas to make the most of your special day.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 2 Comments

Trends we Love – Rainbow Inspired weddings!

We have seen various themes at weddings—some classic, some formal, some casual and others fun! We have seen a variety of color palettes, some of which were right, and some others that didn’t suit our taste!

A great part of the wedding experience is based on the colors in the décor. By executing a beautiful color palette, you can have a stunning wedding setting, that your guests will remember for long. If you are a girl who loves colors, but can’t get your mind around to which colors you ought to choose for your wedding, here is the solution! Go for a Rainbow Inspired wedding.

Doesn’t the name itself sound lively and bright?

Take inspiration from the rainbow, an element of nature that never ceases to marvel, and let your creativity free. With this theme, you will have a colorful and elegant wedding, if you do it right. Here are some tips to get you going.

Begin with your invitations

Choose your wedding invitation stationery in white or ivory card stock as the base, and add the details in various colors to allow your guests a sneak peek into the theme of your wedding. Err on the side of elegance, so your invitations don’t look as though they belong to a child’s birthday party.

Beautifully bright bridesmaids

Mix and match your bridesmaids dresses with colors that add up to VIBGYOR. You can choose a collection, and have your bridesmaids select dresses in different colors from it. For the groomsmen, specify the same colors for their ties or shirts, and your photos will pop with color. It is up to you to decide whether you want the colors to be bold and intense, or soft and light. Remember that the mood created by either choice is different, and go with what suits your personalities best.

Flowers and Centerpieces

Here is an idea for the bouquets—have separate bouquets for each of your bridesmaids in colors that match their dresses! Imagine how stunning the overall effect would be! Similarly for the boutonnieres for the groomsmen.

If you have a smaller budget, consider having your bridesmaids wear a neutral like black or gray, and bring in the colors of the rainbow through the bouquets they hold, and other accessories such as shoes and headpieces.

Mix and match flowers of various colors in the floral centerpieces, or else choose to have each centerpiece in a single color of the rainbow.

Decor

Choose appropriate décor elements, depending on whether you want the effect to be casual and inviting, or formal and sophisticated. Balloons and paper lanterns in various colors have a casual vibe, whereas textile curtains, multicolored lights and complex flower arrangements create a more formal touch. Keep the base white and the colors won’t clash with what is present.

Dessert and gift table

You can be daring and choose a multicolored tier-cake. Else, keep the base white, and decorate it with colorful floral elements, lace, hearts or other toppers. Or you could keep the frosting simple, but on the inside have layers in every color of the rainbow. Throw in colored macarons and cupcakes, arranged in the VIBGYOR order, and your setting is picture perfect. For wedding favors, use multicolored yarn or colored boxes to tie them to the theme.

For more wedding ideas and inspiration, visit us at Best for Bride.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 2 Comments

Laughter & Love Notes: Entertaining Pen and Paper Games for a Memorable Bridal Shower!

One of the traditional rules for a bridal shower is “There shall be games.” You can of course, have a bridal shower without any games, but remember that bridal shower games were introduced with more than one purpose. While all the guests know the bride, they may not know each other, and games are the best way to break the ice. Plus, they make the party fun and exciting as it brings guests of different generations and age-groups together and give them a chance to mingle freely.

1. Do you have it in your purse?

Things you need: List of items, markers or pencils

Make a list of items that you would normally find in every purse like credit cards, tissues and makeup, and add a number of random items like cookies, toothpicks and band aid, to the list. Please print out a list with all these items and distribute it among the guests. Ask them to strike off all that they have. The winner is the one who has most items.

2. Bridal bingo

Things you need: Bridal bingo cards, markers or pencils

Add a wedding-related twist to the classic bingo game by providing the guests with bingo cards that has wedding words instead of numbers in the grids. The rest of the rules remain the same: the host calls out the words, and guests strike out those that are on their cards. The first player to complete a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line wins.

3. Petal wishes for the bride

Things you need: Petal wishes kit from Best for Bride or note papers and writing pad, pens

Make use of our petal wishes kit, and get the guests at the bridal party to write their wishes to the bride. Once they have done it, you can simply snap the petals together to create a beautiful flower bouquet that the bride can treasure forever. Alternatively, you can also provide the guests with mini writing boards and a note to share their thoughts, which you can later put together into a book and gift the bride.

4. Whose lines are these

Things you need: list of questions, answers to the questions and pens

The hostess compiles a list of things that the bride and groom have said in the past. This is then printed beside two columns which have the bride’s name and groom’s name on them. All the guests are asked to circle who they think said the statements. The hostess then calls out the answers and the guest who gets most answers right wins the prize. This is a game that opens up conversation and can prompt friends and relatives to also share wedding stories and other trivia.

Aside from these sit-down and play games, you can also organize few active ones which will get the guests up and about. Just remember to balance it out, so that everyone attending the party enjoys it. Keep visiting us at Best for Bride for more wedding tips and advice.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 2 Comments

Wedding Traditions from around the world

Weddings are special in every country and community. It is perhaps the one joyous occasion in life, that the entire world deems worthy of celebration. Hence, there are traditional rituals associated with this occasion, that have been followed for ages, and continue to this day. Let us look at some wedding customs from various countries of the world, and understand how each culture solemnizes the union of man and woman.

China

China is a huge country with many ethnic groups. So, the wedding customs vary greatly from one region to another. The traditional style of matchmaking had matchmakers who took the proposal from the groom to the girl’s family. The wedding was fixed only after a fortune teller predicted whether the couple would have a happy life together. Traditional wedding attires of both bride and groom were in red. The bride and her party were expected to cry for days leading up to the wedding, as this symbolized her grief of leaving her home. After the wedding rituals, the guests were treated to a feast, that often had six or nine courses.

India

Indian weddings involve several rituals and take days to complete. The traditional bridal attire includes heavy jewelry, elaborate hairstyles with flowers and beautiful dresses with plenty of golden embroidery and embellishments. The bride is adorned with turmeric during the Haldi ceremony, and her hands and feet decorated with mehendi (semi-permanent tatoos) a few days before the wedding. The groom’s family arrives in a procession and are welcomed by the bridal party. The couple exchange flower garlands to symbolize their acceptance of each other. In some cultures, the groom ties a necklace called the mangalsutra, around the bride’s neck and this has to be worn by the bride at all times.The couple circle the holy fire, as they vow to love and care for each other.

Ghana

In Ghana, the wedding ceremony begins with the groom and his family members knocking on the door of the bride’s house and making their wedding proposal. They hand over gifts to the girl’s family, and if these are accepted it means their proposal will be considered. On the day of the wedding, the elders discuss dowry arrangements and then the bride is asked if she agrees to marry the groom. Once she does, the couple exchange rings and prayers are said. The guests are treated to a feast during the reception.

Arab weddings

In Arabic weddings, the couple exchange rings on their engagement day. A day before the wedding, the bride’s hands and feet are decorated with henna and the groom gives the bride her mehr, or gold. The marriage ceremony or the Nikah begins with the religious representative reciting prayers and telling the group how husbands and wives should honor their relationship and each other. Legal documents are filled out and signed by the groom and the bride’s father, witnesses sign the contract and the marriage is official.

Mexico

In Mexico, the couple’s Godparents sponsor their wedding. Flamenco-style ruffled dresses are the traditional bridal dress choice. The bride changes her outfit a number of times during the ceremony. The reception buffet includes traditional dishes like spicy rice and beans. The cake is a rich fruit cake, and almond cookies are an essential sweet treat served at the reception.