One of the first, and most important, tasks that any bride to be can accomplish is taking planning their wedding invitations. Not only does this help you to know the number of guests to expect for the remainder of your big day, but it will also help you to develop a plan as to who you wish to celebrate your union with.
Continue reading The Importance of Wedding Invitation Etiquette
A bouquet is a personal touch that often incorporates the wedding colors or theme. More brides are creating handmade accents for their weddings including the wedding bouquets. Whether you want a traditional floral bouquet or something nontraditional, you can easily make your own bridal bouquet. Follow these simple steps to learn how to make your own bridal bouquet.
There are several types of bridal bouquets and flowers for the rest of the bridal party. The traditional bouquet is a hand-tied flower bouquet. A cascade bouquet has a trail of flowers and foliage that hang below the main bouquet. The Biedermeier is a striped bouquet of different types of flowers created by aligning the same type of flowers in circles. A pomander is a ball covered with flowers that is held dangling by a ribbon.
Floral Bouquet
The type of flowers used for a bouquet may be chosen based on what is available in the wedding colors. If you are using fresh flowers, prepare the flowers by removing any leaves and thorns from the stems. Select three or four of the flowers that you want as the central flowers and hold them tight in the position you want them. Add one flower at a time to the bouquet evenly around your central flowers.
After the main flowers are placed as desired, you can add filler flowers along some of the edge of the bouquet and among the main flowers. Baby’s breath is a traditional choice for filler flowers, however other flowers that feature clusters of small flowers or berries can be used as filler. Some flowers used as filler include seeded eucalyptus, aster, bouvardia, wax flowers, trachelium, and delphinium.
This classic, hand-tied clutch bouquet also could be made with silk flowers instead of fresh flowers. The cascade bouquet style can be made by adding longer flowers like orchids or using floral wire to connect flower blossoms in trails under the bouquet.
When you are happy with the overall appearance of the bouquet, you can wrap the stems tightly with floral tape. Once the flowers are secured in the arrangement with tape, trim the stems so that they are all the same length. The tape can then be covered with satin ribbon and lace to achieve the desired look. The finished floral bouquet should be wrapped in tissue paper and placed in the refrigerator.
Craft or Theme Bouquet
Some brides are opting for a nontraditional bouquet that shows off their craft diva side. Bouquets of colorful buttons or items that reflect the theme of the wedding are popular choices. Are you having a unique wedding? Make a theme bouquet using objects related to the theme.To create these unique bouquets, the bouquet form is created with a styrofoam ball and either a bouquet holder or stick to hold the ball. For a pomander or brooch bouquet for the bride or flower girl, ribbon can be used to hold the styrofoam ball. The ball is then decorated with items that reflect the bride’s personality or wedding theme such as flowers made from colorful buttons, pearls, shells, lace, or silk flowers. If a stick is used, the stick can be transformed into a pretty holder by covering it with layers of tulle, ribbon, and lace.
For more unique wedding ideas, visit Best for Bride and browse or wedding blog. We have a lot of great tips to prepare for your special day and how to make it a memorable event for everyone.
Do we see you admiring the lovely ring on your finger after saying “Yes” to the man of your dreams? CONGRATULATIONS! You are officially engaged! Isn’t it exciting thinking of your upcoming wedding? As the bride-to-be, you will have a busy, but fun time ahead.
Don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel confused. What do you do next? Are you overwhelmed with what to do and where to begin, now that the inevitable has happened? Don’t worry, we can help you get there. Here are the first few things that you should do once you are engaged, and the rest will simply fall into place.
Break the news to near and dear ones, and begin thinking of a wedding date
Great news like this should first be celebrated with the most important people in your life. Share the news with your parents and close friends and let them have a glimpse of the ring that seals your love. The obvious question that the two of you can expect at this meeting is, “ When will the wedding be?” That is because, it is time to think about it, which brings us to the next point.
Think about your wedding; start planning the place, date, time, and everything else
Now that you know you are getting married, how do you want to do it and when? Would you prefer to be wed at your local church, or can you afford an exotic destination wedding? Do you want an outdoor reception, or a stylish indoor venue? You’ll have to plan the time of year, and shortlist a couple of days in order of preference, so it’s easier to get the venue, caterers, photographers and band on any one of these days. At this time, discuss your thoughts about the perfect wedding with your partner, check out books and photos, and then begin organizing everything to make these dreams a reality.
Time to budget
You now know what your wedding should be like. Now, it is time to decide how big or how small you want it to be and budget accordingly. A rough idea at this point will help you plan the rest of the details . If your families are contributing, you can ask them how much and figure it into the budget. Also, draft a guest list, and calculate the cost that this will translate into. Budget for individual components such as the wedding dress, venue cost, photographer etc, so you know how much you can spare on each and stick to it.
Plan your wedding look, and begin your dress search
This is perhaps the most exciting part of all the planning—deciding how you will look at your lifetime event. Remember that you may have to look through hundreds of wedding dress pictures to filter the ones to try on. Wedding shopping takes a long time, so be prepared. Plan early, find the boutique that carries your choice of dresses, and book your appointment. This will help you choose your wedding dress at a relaxed pace, find time for alterations and be ready in time for your big day.
Best for Bride brings you a spectacular collection of wedding dress from the best designers. Browse through our online database and start off on your search for the perfect dress at the right place.
Do you find that the allure of Hawaii or an all-inclusive beach vacation just isn’t what you are interested in doing for your honeymoon? We feel you. Honeymoons are not “one size fits all”! That’s why we’ve compiled a list of five unconventional honeymoon ideas and destinations.
Road Tripping
Pack your car and head out on the open road! Whether you have a destination in mind or not, it’s not how you get there, but the journey you have. Some road trippers like to map things out and find places like B&Bs or national parks to stay, and others like to throw their maps away and let the open road take them wherever it wants.
Explore Your Wild Side
Nothing says ‘exotic’ like a trip to South Africa or Kenya where you can go on safari and see majestic and beautiful animals in their native habitats instead of behind bars at a zoo. From luxury safari lodges to accommodations with thatched roofs, there will always be something exciting to see or do if you take your honeymoon on safari.
Honeymoon Fit for a King and Queen
Explore the multitude of castles offered in England, Ireland and Scotland that have been turned into luxurious getaways for couples looking to do something a little different. If that’s not quite your cup of tea, plan a honeymoon that includes visiting historic castles in various locations across the country; travel by train (very affordable) to allow yourselves more time to focus on one another and the scenery.
Cozy Up in an Ice Hotel
You’ll want to stay snuggled close in these accommodations that can be found seasonally in Quebec, Canada, Norway, Finland, Romania and Sweden, owners of the worlds largest ice hotel. With many different activities and classes available at the hotel, you’ll never be bored (but you may be a little chilly sometimes)!
Giving Back Honeymoon
If you’ve ever wanted to help your fellow man, consider taking a ‘giving back honeymoon’ and work with an organization to visit a part of the world in need. Many charities are more than happy to help you arrange a giving back trip, and you’ll feel better having known that you were able to provide for someone who otherwise would have gone without.
Thinking about your honeymoon when you haven’t finished planning your wedding yet? Head to Best for Bride to see the latest in bridal couture, accessories and more!
