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Guide to Barn Weddings

Barn weddings are becoming increasingly popular. As couples embrace the rustic chic style, barns and other country settings are in big demand as wedding venues. Though much of the process of using a barn for a wedding venue is the same as using any other type of venue, there are a few differences. What should you know when planning a barn wedding?

When planning the layout for the wedding or reception inside a barn, know the shape and dimensions of the building as well as any interior obstacles and the locations of the doors. It may help you to draw a diagram to plan out the seating arrangements and locations of tables and other items that you’ll be bringing into the space.

The barn offers protection in rain, but what is it like in sweltering heat. What could the weather mean for your wedding and guests? Barns typically aren’t climate controlled. Winter weddings may require you to bring in heaters. Summer wedding may require fans. If you are having a winter or summer barn wedding, you may want to call different barn venues and ask if they have the necessary heating or cooling.

Will you need to spray for mosquitoes the day before the wedding? Ask the owner what weather or insect issues there may be for you and plan accordingly. Barns may or may not have finished floors. Some barns that are rented for weddings have natural dirt floors. This can be a problem if your guests are dressed in formal attire such as long dresses.

Many other types of wedding venues have a kitchen space. Barns, even those regularly rented for weddings, rarely have kitchens. Make sure the barn will have the necessary space and equipment that you or the caterer will need. Some caterers require a working kitchen. Therefore, the availability of the kitchen also may affect your choice of caterer.

Is there ample parking close to the barn? May some guests need to walk farther than others? If so, you may want to have older adults park close and ask others to park farther from the barn. Check with the venue management to see if there will be enough restrooms for your guests. In some cases, couples need to rent bathrooms for their barn weddings.

Know where the electrical outlets are. If possible, plan your reception set up for the best use of the outlets. Don’t overload an outlet or you may end up in the dark. A common way to plan the use of outlets is to dedicate each outlet needed for one particular use. For example, if an outlet is used for coffee, don’t let the band use it. The band’s outlet should only be used for the band.

For more information about how to plan select the perfect venue for your wedding, take a look at the Best for Bride blog.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 2 Comments

Wedding Flowers: Bouquet shapes and how to choose the right one

You have chosen the perfect wedding dress, jewelry to match, the hairstyle to sport and shoes to glide down the aisle. You’re almost the perfect bride, except for one small detail that will add the finishing touches – your wedding bouquet!

Bridal bouquets are not just a bunch of flowers that are put together at random. When chosen well, your bouquet will complete your bridal look perfectly. How do you get it right?

Let us look at the different shapes in which wedding bouquets are available, and find the choice that is the right size and shape for your figure.

Circular bouquets: Nosegays and Posies

The round bouquet is a popular traditional choice. It can be created from the same flowers or an assortment of blooms that are neatly arranged in a circular fashion. Nosegays and posies are extensions of the classic round bouquet, but are smaller in size. In nosegays the flowers are arranged tightly, the cluster is small and the stems are all cut to the same length. Posies are small bouquets that are usually tied with a ribbon.

This shape is generally versatile, and all three go extremely well with classic ball gowns or A-line dresses. Posies particularly suit petite brides. You can choose the size of the round bouquet, or the arrangement of the flowers to complement your figure, so it helps to balance out your look.

Hand tied bouquet

You can understand from the name itself that these bouquets have a casual look and feel. The chosen bunch of flowers are gathered together and simply tied with a ribbon. Unlike the other prim and perfect bouquet designs, hand-tied bouquets are loosely tied to create a messy look, with the stems and foliage showing. It is an apt choice for an outdoor wedding, and you can adjust the size and choice of flowers to match your size.

Cascade bouquet

By Photo by and (c)2007 Jina Lee (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons — *Credits: Jina Lee CC-BY-SA-3.0*

This is a rich bouquet with flowers that flow downwards to resemble a mini-waterfall. The style was a hit in the 1980’s and is one of the most creative arrangements. An assortment of flowers are necessary to create the luscious cascade, and it is often mixed with lavish specks of green. It is also known as the teardrop bouquet, when the thickness of the arrangement thins towards the ends of the bouquet.

The flowers chosen for the bouquet will determine whether it is traditional or modern. The contemporary choice includes orchids and lilies, while the traditional choice has roses. Since the bouquet falls downwards, it has a slimming effect which works well for plus-size brides. The dramatic design also matches mermaid or ball gown skirts.

Presentation bouquets

This style is similar to the ones we see at pageants. Long stemmed flowers are tied together and the bouquet is held across the body to rest in the crook of the arm. It has a formal touch and suits all body shapes.

Composite bouquets

This is a bouquet that takes time and effort to create. An individual big flower is crafted out of hundreds of small petals from individual flowers, which are glued or tied together. It is more expensive than the other bouquets, but is a unique and stunning design worth its price.

Now that you know the technical differences between the various bouquets available, you should be able to choose the one that is right for you. Visit Best for Bride for more wedding advice and tips.

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Trends for Brides

The wedding season is in full swing, and many interesting trends are taking place this year that are pretty exciting in the wedding world. While many brides choose to stray from the norm, the popular trends this year are attractive to most brides and help create a beautiful experience for the couple, the wedding party and the guests. Consider some of the following if you are getting married this year.

British Style

Due to the popularity of Princess Kate and Downton Abbey, many brides are choosing to go with a British flare for their weddings. This new design is centred around an afternoon tea or a garden party. Frequently, tables are left uncovered, or brides may cover them with a vintage lace cloth. Garlands and loose floral centrepieces are also a popular addition. Blooms like English roses, dahlias, peonies and hydrangeas are the most common at these weddings.

Champagne and Signature Cocktails

Another popular trend this year is to forgo the traditional drinks and the open bar. Instead, brides choose to go with champagne that can be mixed with fruit puree or signature cocktails. These not only are easier on the budget, but they create a customized and fun addition to the receptions.

Tasting Stations

Tasting stations are also becoming quite popular with signature cocktails and special champagne. However, these tasting stations focus more on food than drinks. These allow couples to show off their favourite foods in small and fun ways. Some of the most popular additions are make-it-yourself taco stands, oyster shucking stations and macaroni and cheese bars. Some couples have even chosen to have local food trucks present for their wedding rather than going for a traditional formal dinner arrangement.

Fancy Cakes

Another popular trend this year is cakes that dare you to touch them. These cakes are created with unique textures and designs that make them appear as though they are not a cake. Herringbone, geometric patterns and three-dimensional lattices are popular designs for today’s wedding cakes. However, many brides are still choosing lace patterns, textured buttercream frosting and pleats to add a more romantic feel to the occasion.

Photos

In the past, photo booths were a popular addition. However, these days, couples are choosing something a bit more interesting. Many couples have decided to hire a silhouette artist who will create memorable portraits of their guests. Not only is this a fun idea, but it also gives guests something they can bring home to remember the special occasion.

Conclusion

2015 is going to be an exciting year to become married. With the many trends that are taking place, you can easily create a beautiful wedding with some fun modern twists.

Don’t forget to stop by Best for Bride so that you can have all of your wedding day supplies in one location. Here, you will find all the best dresses for the year and will be able to choose your wedding décor as well.

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Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 3 Comments

Start a Wedding Website

A wedding website is a great way to keep your friends and family informed about the wedding plans. Wedding websites share important information regarding the ceremony and reception locations, driving directions, bridal party biographies, and bridal registry. The website can be used to share photographs of the ceremony, reception, and honeymoon with family and friends after the wedding. A simple blog is sufficient for a wedding website. The couple can start a wedding website easily with these helpful tips.

Free blogs are a way to have a wedding website without paying any fees for hosting or a domain name. Some couples may want a domain name to make the website address easier for the guests to remember. Free blogs are available through Blogger, Weebly, WordPress, and other blog networks. The networks can be found by typing “free blog” into a search engine. There also are free wedding blog networks such as weddingwire.com. These wedding blog networks are like the free blog networks but with a wedding theme and related applications.

A domain name is a personalized website address. It can be purchased through a domain name registrar such as GoDaddy.com. The domain name is not necessary for a free blog. However, some couples like to get a domain name for their wedding websites to make it easier to remember. The website address can be shared through social media like Facebook. The address also can be printed on the wedding invitation and save the date cards.

The proper way to share the bridal registry information is on the website. Nothing about the bridal registry should appear on the wedding invitation or save the date cards. The couple may tell people where they are registered when asked about gifts.

A wedding Facebook page is an alternative to a wedding website. The advantage of using a Facebook page is that it is easy to set up and share with the guests who use Facebook. Couples can share their wedding photos on the Facebook page set up for the wedding. Disadvantages of using Facebook are that the design of the page cannot be personalized, information added to the page can only be done in the form of status posts, and guests who don’t use Facebook may feel slighted.

Free blogs have design templates. The couple can choose their colors and style for the wedding blog. They may want the blog colors to match the wedding colors. Important information such as the location, date, and time of the wedding can be added to the home page or in the side bar of each page. If the bridal registry is for an online retailer, the website can have a direct link to the registry retailer.

There are no strict rules about when to put up and take down the wedding website. Many couples take down their wedding websites several months after the wedding. Browse the Best for Bride blog for more helpful advice about planning a wedding.