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Hot Cocktails for Your Winter Reception

It’s cold outside, but that doesn’t mean your guests need to be. A fantastic wrap-up to a hearty and delicious reception meal is a nice hot drink from the bar with a touch of whipped cream, shaved chocolate or even a slice of apple as a garnish. Check out some of our favorite hot cocktails.

Hot Caramel Apple Cocktail

1 quart + 1 1/2 cups apple cider
1 1/2 cups Apple liqueur
1 cup spiced rum
1/2 cup caramel-flavored syrup
3 apples, chopped
4 cinnamon sticks

Place everything in the slow cooker. Cook on the low setting for 1-2 hours. Serve warm.

Tipsy Mochacchino

1 1/2 cups Milk
4 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon Instant Espresso or Coffee
4 ounces Irish Whiskey
Chocolate Sprinkles

Chocolate Whipped Cream

1 pint Heavy Cream
1/4 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (or to taste)
1 tablespoon Instant Espresso or Coffee
Sweetner to taste

Whisk milk, sugar, cocoa powder, espresso in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil. Add whiskey last. Pour into mugs. Top with mocha whipped cream & sprinkles.

Chocolate Whipped Cream

Add cream, cocoa, coffee powder & sweetener to a stand mixer bowl. Whisk on low for a few minutes until the cream starts to thicken. As it thickens increase the speed slightly, and then to maximum speed. Whip until you have nice peaks. Sweeten more to taste if necessary.

Mulled Wine

4 cups apple cider
1 (750-ml) bottle red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
¼ cup honey
2 cinnamon sticks
Zest and juice of one orange
4 whole cloves
3 star anise
Peel of 4 oranges, for garnish

Combine the cider, wine, honey, cinnamon sticks, zest, juice, cloves and star anise in a large saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour into mugs, add an orange peel and serve.

Maple-Fig Bourbon Hot Toddy

2 oz Bourbon
1 oz Fig-Infused Maple Syrup
1 oz Lemon Juice
6 oz Hot Water

To infuse the syrup, combine a cup of chopped figs, with the stems removed, and a cup of maple syrup in a sauce pan and simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover. Let the syrup sit for about an hour, then strain out the figs and bottle the syrup. Combine the bourbon, maple, and lemon in a mug and add boiling water. Top with freshly grated nutmeg and garnish with a whole cinnamon stick.

Want your drinks to look even more beautiful? Check out the accessories at Best for Bride for something to add as a decoration to the bar, or even for the type of glass you’d like the drink served in!

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Choosing the Best Bridesmaid Dresses

As the bride, you may only be thinking about the way your bridesmaids will look standing next to you, more focused on the design of their dresses and not having much regard towards the other, finer aspects of their apparel. Follow this advice, and not only will you be happy with the results, but so will your bridesmaids!

And trust me when I say that unhappy bridesmaids are not something you want on your wedding day.

First off, yes, design is important, but don’t be stuck in the ways of having a single style for all of your bridesmaids. Everyone is made differently, every single body has a different shape, and one size does not fit all. Having a uniform look may be important to you, but I can tell you from experience that just because a design looks good on one body type does not mean it will look good on every other body type present, and if your bridesmaids do not feel like they look good, their discomfort will show.

Second, aim to get a dress style/color that your bridesmaids will get to wear more than once. Bridesmaids’ dresses can be pretty pricey, and getting more use out of them is always a plus. Color, too, matters. Your first priority is going to have a color that matches your wedding theme. That should be your priority, but you should also keep in mind the complexion of your Bridesmaids to make sure the color dresses don’t make them look sick, or clash horribly with their hair, etc. They will thank you for it.

Alfred Angelo 8100S

This Alfred Angelo, chiffon cocktail dress is perfect for a Bridesmaid dress, but is also perfect for wearing out on the town. Your Bridesmaid will love it.

Third, be mindful of comfort. Your main concern might be to make sure the bridal party looks flawless, or you might see your Bridesmaids as mainly being accessories to you. That is all well and good, because this is your day after all, but remember that your Bridesmaids are going to be wearing their dresses for the entire night, which means they will be dancing in them during your reception. Pick a style and material that is comfortable enough to where they won’t resent you for the rest of their lives for making them wear it for hours on end.

Jasmine Bridesmaid L164053

This Jasmine dress is long and flowing. It is not too tight, nor too poufy, so it will be easy to move in and fun to dance in. The straps will keep it secure without needing much, if any, adjustment throughout the night. It’s perfect.

BestForBride.com has an amazing selection of Bridesmaid dresses. From long-sleeve to strapless, floor-length to cocktail, and a plethora of colors and designers; you’re sure to find the perfect dress for every one of your Bridesmaids. Simply go to http://www.bestforbride.com/bridesmaids.html and browse the selection!

Your wedding is going to be one of the most important days of your life, and your happiness matters most, but don’t neglect the other members of your wedding party! Remember, your Bridesmaids are your friends and your family, and you want them to be just as happy and smiling just as brightly as you are when you’re standing on that altar. The right dress will make that so much easier!

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Choosing your Wedding Color Palette

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One of the most powerful ways to showcase the theme of your wedding is by selecting a special color palette. There are so many colors to choose from that finding the best options for your wedding may be difficult at times. However, if you rely on the following tips, you will easily be able to choose colors that are beautiful and that fit your personality and wedding theme.

Time of Year

Some colors work better depending on the time of year that your wedding is taking place. For example, you may want to choose fall colors when the leaves are changing colors, but pastels may be better when the flowers are blooming. Traditionally, spring is the best time for pastels, summer weddings typically use bright colors, earth tones are used in the fall and jewel tones are saved for the winter.

Venue

Another factor that can be important is the venue that you have chosen. Some venues may have décor that will not work well with certain colors. It is best if you avoid matching the colors of the venue too much, but you do want to choose colors that work well with your surroundings. If you don’t, the colors could wind up competing with each other and causing a distraction for you and your guests.

Your Favorite

Is there a color that you love or that will look great on your friends? Keep this in mind when you are planning your wedding colors. You should try to choose a color that will be flattering to everyone and that will work well with their complexions. You should also keep in mind the color that you look best in because you will be surrounded by the color that you choose on your wedding day. Choosing a color that is unflattering to you will make a difference in the way that you look.

Popular Colors

There are many different color options and you can find many options on popular sites like Pinterest and other wedding sites. Getting some ideas that others have used in the past can be helpful when you are planning your own wedding. This will help you to know which colors work well together and allow you to see them put into action in other weddings.

Conclusion

Choosing your wedding colors can be an exciting part of your wedding planning process. Be sure to take some extra time to decide which colors work best for you and will help you to create the theme that you are looking for with your wedding. Take into consideration the colors that work well together and complement each other nicely. When it is time to plan your wedding colors, be sure to keep these tips in mind so that your wedding is as beautiful as you imagined it would be.

Best for Bride

Best for Bride is a wedding specialty shop that offers a one stop shop for all of your wedding planning needs. Their experts will be able to help you select the perfect dresses and décor that will create the theme that you have chosen and the colors that will work best with it.

 

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Tips to consider when choosing a wedding invitation

Choosing to have a wedding invitation can cause fear similar to selecting the right wedding dress. This is because the first feeling will last a lifetime, and invitations tend to bring out the ideal theme and tone of the wedding. It will also become an unforgettable experience for your mother-in-law. Some of the tips to consider when making a wedding invitation include:

Determine your colors

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It is crucial to consider the colors for your wedding too. One might desire to incorporate a motif and colors in their wedding invitation and carry both of them to the remaining wedding paper which includes either ceremony programs, menu cards or escort cards. This forms a more unifying appearance. Contrary to choosing a formal white, cream or ivory card paired with gold or black font, you could consider having a brighter look comprising of metallic or colorful font, liners, envelopes and paper stock. However, it is essential to consider readability when selecting the colors.

Make invitations legible

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It is good to consider the text equally as the patterns and colors. This is because the information in the card is the reason for sending it to guests. You can choose to seek help from a stationer in your locality. However, avoid dark ink on dark backgrounds and light ink on light backgrounds. Pastels and yellow are usually difficult to read. Therefore, if you decide to go with them, it is crucial to ensure the background contrasts well for the letters to remain visible or incorporate the colors into the design instead of the text. Additionally, beware of text that is difficult to read such as an extreme scripted typeface.

Avoid overcrowding the wedding card

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Write down only the important points on your wedding invitation card. This includes the RSVP information, dress code (optional), and the names of the couple, the hosts, location and time of the event. The attempt to squeeze a lot of information onto the card can make it difficult to read hence not elegant. Leave out details concerning post-wedding activities for your website or have them printed on separate enclosed cards as well as directions to your wedding location. The place that you got registered should not belong anywhere on a person’s suite. The wedding website is the only acceptable place to write any information regarding registry.

Have your dates right

The RSVP information should be included on the bottom right corner of the card or a separate enclosure. It is also important to ensure that the deadline does not extend to more than three or four weeks after the invitations have been given to the guests.

It is advisable for an individual to purchase a sample of the invitation before deciding to make an order. This allows you to see the quality of the invitation card before making a large order. Viewing the product makes the whole difference.

Feel free to give us a visit at www.bestforbride.com