Peacock Theme Wedding Centerpiece By Design Master

Photo courtesy of  Design Master

 

Looking for a centerpiece for your peacock theme wedding? How about this simple basket with hydrangeas and peacock feathers. Simple, but effective, this design catches the eye without overwhelming. So many peacock theme centerpieces are overwhelming, while this one is attractive, catches the eye, without the viewer wanting to say "OMG, whose idea was that?"

 

Visit Design Master's website for other ideas for centerpieces for your wedding as well as tutorials on how to make your own centerpieces. For the look above DM suggests:

1.  use 24KT Pure Gold and spray it into a crumpled paper towel and wipe over leaf surface. Re-spray into cellophane as needed. Let dry. This creates a gilded look on the foliage.
2. Spray hydrangeas with Glitter Gold. Let dry.

Just enough glitz without being too much.

Cash In With A Second Job

Are you a bride who would like some extra money to spend on her wedding? Let me show you how.  So if you want that photo booth and don't have enough money, this is a feasible way to make that money. Or if you want a high end photographer or want to add a videographer but are on a tight budget, this can let you afford to have the photographer or videographer of your choice. Want a limo? Again, let me show you how you can make this happen. It's easy, it's fun and not expensive ($10.) to process your application.

If you are thinking it's a fly by night company or one of those 'make money from your home' deals that are a scam, it isn't. It's AVON! Yes, that's right, Avon. A company that's over 100 years old, so it's safe and you'll have the support you need to make your business take off. Sell to friends, family, co-workers or total strangers, it's your choice. Sell directly to people face to face, have book parties, fundraisers, have friends take your catalog to work with them. It's almost (dare I say it?) easy.

I'm not saying it won't involve putting in some time, but you can work at your own pace. So contact me about the Avon Opportunity. Just go to my webpage, http://nancyvecchione.avonrepresentative.com and use the email function at the upper right and let me know you are interested.

If you haven't seen an Avon catalog lately I think you'll be surprised. It's not  your mother's Avon anymore. It's more than makeup.  It's skin care, clothing, jewelry, men's products, and their Kid's Club and Tiny Tillia. Come on, dip your toe in, bet you jump in both feet first and love it! Great people, great products and it's fun. What more can you ask of a job?

So if you are strapped from holiday shopping or for your wedding or just want to take a really nice vacation, call me. You know you want to. Who could resist?

Brides and Braids

Braided Chignon photo from Best Makeup Review

 

Looking for a perfect hairstyle for your wedding day? Best Makeup Review shows you the nine steps to creating the perfect braided chignon.

 

From Best Makeup Reveiw

 

You can add some flowers or bling to the braid for something extra. Smooth and sleek, this look is perfect for almost any bride.

 

Also from Best Makeup Review

 

Use some Avon Lotus Shield Frizz Control to keep your hair neat and smooth the whole day. Don't have an Avon rep? Go to Avon in Delaware County to find out how you can order this online and have it delivered direct to your door. So convenient! Avon also has an assortment of makeup perfect for your big day. Talk to your local Avon Rep if you're getting married soon and try out some products before the big day.

 

Another braid from Best Makeup Review

 

Perfect Gift For Your Bride

 

Louis Vuitton Coin Purse

 

Want to buy a romantic gift for your bride? One of those things she'd never buy for herself but if you gave it to her she would treasure it forever? Consider this Louis Vuitton heart shaped coin purse. Small enough she can take it anywhere with her and keep it close to her. A perfect gift for someone you love. Look for it at LV boutiques everywhere.

 

 

 

Guest Count Worries

If you've ever had a party and worried that no one would come, imagine what it must be like for a bride who worries about how many guests will come to her wedding. There's a reason she sends out those RSVP cards / response cards with your wedding invitation--you are supposed to reply. This lets her know how many to tell her caterer and a million other small details.

So if you are invited to a wedding, keep in touch with the bride and groom about your RSVP status. Be a polite guest. Imagine if you weer the bride what you would appreciate and follow through accordingly.

This is your mother--nagging you about your manners. So just do it!

Valentine's Day Brides

Photo courtesy of Zappos

 

Are you a Valentine's Day bride? How about a kickin' pair of shoes (and flats at that, so much more comfortable.) You will love these beauties, whether you decide to wear them for your wedding or for another occasion, you have to admit, they are great shoes.

Where can you find them? Zappos. Where else? The shoes are made by Vaneli and the style is called Gabbie.  They are a little pricey for a one time wear shoe which is what is great, these aren't shoes you'll wear just once. And if you love the style you can also buy them in tan or black.

So all you Valentine's Day brides, head over to Zappos to order your shoes. You might as well have comfort and style.  Price: $119.99.

Wishing Wells For Wedding Showers

Wedding showers frequently come with a note attached to bring a kitchen item for a wishing well for the bride. Sometimes the decision about what to bring for the wishing well is harder than choosing the shower gift. Brides frequently register for larger gifts, but often forget to add wishing well priced items. So how to decide what to bring?

 

Photo courtesy of The 'Ove'Glove on 'As Seen On TV'

My favorite wishing well items are oven mitts. I know, ho hum, boring. But I've found two types that are family favorites. My daughters both swear by Ove-Gloves. I know, weird name, ugly gloves, but hey, you can't complain when they work! So Ove-Gloves are not a bad choice. Don't be put off by having to add shipping and handling, my local Rite-Aid Pharmacy carries them, so check your local stores before ordering online.

Photo courtesy of Williams Sonoma

My personal favorites are oven gloves from Williams Sonoma. Williams Sonoma has many different options for oven gloves but I like these best. (They have some similar to the Ove-Glove as well.) These come in a variety of colors and I've never been burned through them. They are easier to use than typical pot holders, and the colors make a nice accent for my kitchen.

 

OXO Ice Cream Scoop photo from JCP

Other favorites? OXO products. I love their products. Good quality and they last. Consider an ice cream scoop, egg slicer, carrot peeler.

 

Acacia Trivet from Crate and Barrel

Or head to Crate and Barrel and pick up an acacia trivet. I own some of these and love them. Inexpensive but work really well and look great!

So the next time you are stymied on what to bring for a wedding shower Wishing Well, just click on WDW, we're full of good ideas.

The Almost Perfect Bride

It's  your wedding. You've spent a year, possibly more planning each detail. You've read dozens of bridal magazines, blogs and seen all the latest wedding fantasies shown on television. Inside your head you have a vision of the perfect bride, the perfect wedding, the perfect day.

But what is reality and what is fantasy? As you read bridal mags and blogs it is important to realize that the 'brides' in these photo shoots are models who have stylists, and who are airbrushed, have their photos retouched, makeup done by professionals, and have photographers who are experts at making a fantasy appear real on a slick magazine page.

Do you have a perfection fantasy as you plan your wedding? Can your perfection fantasy ruin the reality of your wedding day? The answer to that is a resounding 'YES!' The fantasies that live in our heads (and that we've nurtured possibly from the first time we watched Cinderella) are just that fantasies. We need to accept that they aren't reality.

Will you look like that six foot tall, size zero model in that $30,000 dress on your wedding day? Not unless you are a six foot tall size zero bride wearing the same dress, and even then you probably won't have access to the professionals that spend entire days creating that one photo. So it's time to recognize what is YOUR reality.

You may be a tad overweight, or have a less than perfectly toned body (at least in comparison to a model) so accept this. Sure, head to the gym and work out, but don't lose sight of what your wedding day is all about--the beginning of your life with your new husband. Realize you are great just the way you are. After all, your husband to be didn't ask that model on the magazine page to marry him, he asked you.

So plan a day that reflects you and your fiance's values. Strive to show your family and friends the bond between the two of you and how important it is in your lives. 'Glow' for your husband with the happiness that only a woman in love can achieve. And remember, be kind to each other all through the planning process. Don't let the 'perfection plan' get in the way of real life.

The perfect bride is not the one you see on the pages of that magazine, the perfect bride for your groom is YOU. Just the way you are. So smile, enjoy planning your wedding together, but realize something will go wrong, it always does, so just go with the flow and enjoy your day.

Stubborn Groom?

We've all dealt with them, stubborn MEN! Grooms are no exception. So if your groom is acting a little bit stubborn, I have the perfect food to serve at your wedding:

Photo courtesy of TL Catering

 

Just have your caterer change your entrees to pork--this one sort of looks like my husband (just kidding Bill... but... watch your step or Thanksgiving may NOT feature turkey this year.)  Sometimes a little bit of levity is a good thing as you are planning a wedding, so I offer you 'pig on plate' or 'the stubborn groom picnic entree.' OK guys, get with it, sort of looks like a few of you out there!

 

All kidding aside, a pig roast is a great relaxing way to have a wedding. Caterers can recommend someone who specializes in roasting a whole pig for you, as well as serving it attractively. Great for a backyard wedding or an alfresco affair. Pig roasts are not inexpensive, but definitely less than filet! And the photo alone would make it well worth it!

The Cons Of Online Shopping

Wedding Shower Gifts. Wedding Gifts. All items you want to have arrive on time. Unfortunately sometimes when you order them online the order does not get there on the promised date, leaving you embarassed and hunting for a last minute gift. Sometimes it is a result of a split shipment. Sometimes it is just plain late. And sometimes, even when you pay extra shipping costs to have a gift arrive it doesn't get there when you need it.

Have you ordered online and experienced a split shipment? If you spend much time shopping online you probably have. What I had not experienced before was having the split shipment cause a problem with a daughter's shower gift.

Online shopping offers you many conveniences. Unfortunately it also offers some pitfalls. Pitfalls you do not want to encounter when shopping for a shower or wedding gift.

I ran into this when I shopped for my daughter's shower gift. I ordered three gifts from One Stop Plus. I paid extra to have things shipped to arrive well in time for her shower. The customer service associate assured me that the items would ALL arrive in time for her shower.

I could have shopped from a reputable company who would honor their promises and not had a problem, or who would have told me upfront that one item would not be shipped on time. I could have purchased the item that was missing from somewhere else, but I didn't. I specifically asked the company rep if all items would arrive by the date needed and was assured they would even if they split shipped. I had no reason to think they would not get here when needed. They didn't arrive on time. Or at least one of them didn't.

So if you are shopping for a wedding or shower gift, and want to be sure it arrives in time for the event, and you don't have time to run around buying the same product at a brick and mortar store, don't trust them when they assure you that your items will arrive on time. Just shop brick and mortar from the start, then no worries.

Obviously the company felt as long as they shipped something to my house on the date promised it fulfilled their promises. I didn't receive a notice that one item would not arrive on time. It just wasn't there. Days later I got an email they were shipping it. Too late.

If you don't want to get stuck holding the bag and with a red face, buy from your local brick and mortar if it's a gift item. With the holidays coming it's something to consider before making your purchase.

Short and Sweet Hair For Weddings

Curly Wedding Hair Style 

Photo no longer shows up at link. See Pinterest link below. 

 

Wedding hair, especially if your hair is short and curly, is tricky. But I found these two styles that are perfect for your special day without making you pull all the 'natural' look out of your hair.

 

I'm a strong believer in keeping as close to your natural look as possible while adding enough styling to make it 'wedding day special.' Of course a good stylist and makeup artist don't hurt the look either.

 

 

 Photo courtesy this site, photo no longer available at that site, as seen on Pinterest. 

 

Curly Wedding Hair can be beautiful while retaining it's natural look. This second style has added some pretty decorative hair pins. Depending on the theme of your wedding, there are a variety of hairpins available to take you hair from ho hum to wow. They are well worth the small investment and can often be used on other occasions.

 

No matter how curly your hair, there is always an option that will allow you to retain your individuality but still look bridal.

 

Make Your Own Mini Wedding Cakes

Mini Wedding Cake Photo from Tablespoon

 

This easy recipe will make four mini wedding cakes from Betty Crocker cake mix. These make great individual servings or to be shared by a couple, as well as great favors. Buy tiny cake pans from William Sonoma.

 

Mini Cakelet Wedding Cake Pan From William Sonoma

 

 

Mini Wedding Cake Recipe 

• 1 Betty Crocker Supermoist white cake mix
• 2 whole eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 (16 ounce) container Betty Crocker Whipped Fluffy White Frosting

1. Set your oven at 350 degrees F.
2. Combine top five ingredients, cake mix, 2 eggs, 1/2 Cup milk, 1/3 cup oil and 1 C of sour cream.
3. Mix on medium for thirty seconds.
4. Scrape bowl.
5. Then increase speed to high and beat for two minutes.
6. Spray your multi-cake mini wedding cake pan with Pam for baking.
7. Fill pans up to the top of the bottom layer.
8. Bake 15 minutes in 350 degree oven, then rotate pan and bake for another 15 minutes.
9. Frost an even layer of icing using a spatula.
10. Decorate using frosting tips, ribbon, pearls or other decorations.  

So if you are looking for an option to paying an expensive baker for that huge wedding cake, think about choosing these mini wedding cakes, easy to make at home and decorate with detailing from your local grocery store.

Buy two pans and double the recipe each time. Faster and easier yet!

 

 

I'd Call These The Best Shoes ...

Photo from tumbler

 

but I'll just find another pair and fall in love all over again next week! (This is the reason women marry people not shoes!)

 

Love these shoes for a rehearsal dinner, don't you? Sexy and cool at the same time! Can't wait to find a pair. Great for dancing and really show off your legs.

 

Anyone seen them anywhere else? I do so love shoes! Sometimes I just cannot resist sharing the loves of my life!

Topshop Trellis Rings Make Great Bridesmaid Gifts

Trellis Rings Photo courtesy of Nordstrum

 

Looking for a bridesmaid gift that tells your maids just how much you appreciate all they've done for you and how much they mean to you? Are you tired of the ho hum pearl necklaces? Have I got a gift for you!

 

How about this set of heart rings? The Trellis Heart Rings, straight from Nordstrum's are both trendy and heartfelt. They are easy for your bridesmaids to wear and can be dressed up or down. I love giving fun gifts and these fit the bill.

 

Enjoy Cupcakes At Your Wedding Reception

Photo courtesy of Enjoy Cupcakes

 

Why not make cupcakes the focus of your wedding reception? It is a great way to feed your guests, less mess and inexpensive.

 

Serve a variety of cupcakes with some quality lemonades and iced tea. You can even spike the lemonade if you want to!

 

Great for an early summer outdoor wedding in your local park or your own backyard. Friends and family can bring cupcakes as gifts, you provide the drinks, decor, and music. Sounds like a fun party to me!

 

Check Enjoy Cupcakes' Gallery for more great photos of delicious cupcakes and display ideas.

Photo shows: Left to Right ~ lemon basil sherbert www.bakingobsession.com, strawberry basil lemonade cupcake www.enjoycupcakes.com, vintage lemonade table Brea McDonald Photography, wine barrel lemonade stand www.countrygirlwedding.blogspot.com, bride with red shoes Elisabeth Millay photography, rustic centerpiece www.ourlaboroflove.com, vintage herb spoons www.etsy.com/shop/monkeysalwayslook, cowgirls forever trailer www.tinyhouseblog.com.jpg, tablescape www.marryyoume.com, vintage mugs www.jaditekate.etsy.com.jpg, strawberry mug www.flickr.com/photos/greenwellies/galleries

Secret Agent Bride!

Idea and photo courtesy of Project Wedding

 

Need an easy way to track all your RSVPs? Get a black light and a pen with invisible ink. See why this is titled 'Secret Agent Bride?' When one of your guests (or more) forget to write their name on their response card, just shine your black light on the corner of the response card and it will show their initials! How easy is that? I love it! A bride with an invisible ink pen as her secret weapon to track her RSVPs. And it's an inexpensive way to do it and your guests will never know you did it. How cool!

 

Photo courtesy of DX Deal Extreme

 

Where can you buy one of these? At DX Deal Extreme. It takes awhile to have it shipped so be sure to allow plenty of time before you need to send out your invitations if you are planning on using this great gadget.

 

Guarantee this is one way to get your fiance involved in tracking your RSVPs. What man can resist a gadget? None that I know!

Inexpensive Christmas Wedding Decorations

Photo from Mallory Lane

 

Having a Christmas wedding? These red and white holiday finials are only $21.99 (this doesn't include the pots and balls and greenery at the bottom) but think how much money they will save you compared to flowers of a comparable height. Not only that, if you read the comments on the product there is not one negative.

 

While I suppose if you were very crafty you could figure out how to make these yourself, I think by the time you got all the materials together you would spending more than if you just order these online.

 

I love finding decorations that are a little bit different and Mallory Lane has some other great Christmas wedding ideas as well. (OK, so they're basically Christmas but they work for a wedding during the holiday season as well.) 

 

So take a stroll through Mallory Lane's website and see what you think would work for your wedding. Some of the candles would work for a Valentine's Day wedding as well.

 

Let me know what you find and like. I love hearing your comments.

Autumn Wedding Cake

Photo courtesy of Cedar Wood Weddings

 

Getting married in the fall? This cake is perfect for an autumn bride! (and groom). I love the pumpkin patch that wends and winds itself from the bottom to the top of the cake. No need for a cake topper with this cake, the cake has sufficient adornment without adding to it.

 

Obviously this is not a DIY cake, it looks like a cake that will take the hand and eye of an expert to construct, but oh it is sooo worth it!

 

Visit Cedar Wood Weddings to see more upscale weddings with great ideas for your own wedding.

Singing In The Rain... Umbrellas For Your Wedding

Photo courtesy of My $10,000 Wedding

Original Photo 100 Layer Cake

 

How in love with this photo are you? I admit, I am! I love the way all the different color umbrellas are mixed with the white lights and really show off the dance floor at this wedding. But you don't have that many umbrellas you say? Well neither do I, but I can solve your problem--just call Bella Umbrellas.

 

Photo from Bella Umbrellas by, Bethany Murphy Photography

 

Just wait until you see their web site! Every color and design you can imagine. No matter what color your wedding theme is Bella can help you out.

 

And the best part, you can RENT the umbrellas. No having to invest a small fortune for some great photos. Instead, rent them and return them. Such easy decorations! And the best part, they won't die like flowers might, so no worry if you're having them shipped.

 

So if you're a bride looking for a unique look for your wedding, contact Bella Umbrellas for rentals or their sister site, Umbrellas.net if you want to purchase your own umbrellas.

 

 

Brides and Two Year Olds Share Personality Traits

I was reading The Grey Blog where the author talks about her 2 1/2 year old manipulating her, and in general making mommy-dom not much fun! When I realized I hear mother's of the bride often saying the exact same things!

"I am being overcome by an entity greater, stronger, more manipulative, and more cunning than even I. This entity drains me of my physical energy, mental faculties, and patience."

Does the quote above sound like your daughter who is planning her wedding? About five, six months before the wedding and stress has hit. And her ability to manipulate you has become better than ever before! How did this happen?  You made it through toddlerhood, teenage years, college even, but planning a wedding is taking all your guile to outwit the stranger you used to recognize as your daughter.

Maybe you are just getting older and less able to stay ten steps ahead. Or maybe her hormones are going crazy and with it and she has gotten a super power. No, not flying, not leaping buildings in a single bound, no your adult daughter who is acting like a two year old has become Monster Bride! Able to manipulate mother with one hand behind her back and seemingly effortlessly.

If you have a Monster Bride at your house, you have my sympathies. So think back to when she was going through the 'terrible twos' and pull out the tricks of the trade that worked for you then, some of them may serve you well as you try to survive being the Mother of the Bride!

Make Wedding Invitations Uniquely Yours

Glitter Envelope Courtesy of The Persian Laundry on Etsy

 

Want some eye-catching envelopes for your correspondence or wedding invitations? Looking for help lining envelopes? Visit The Persian Laundry on Etsy. They will sell you the liners or will line them for you.

 

You can design liners and line envelopes as a do it yourself project, but it is time consuming and it may be worth it to you to just order the liners and/or have The Persian Laundry line yours for you.

 

This look is not for every bride but I know there are some of you who will love it. Other looks available from The Persian Laundry? Envelopes lined with world maps and other designs that may fit your wedding theme.

 

If you are making your own liners, consider using wallpaper. There are a variety of designs, one that is sure to fit your personal style. (Of course you may never get out of the wallpaper store, there are thousands of choices!) If you are planning on picking out wallpaper, have an idea what you are looking for going in, it will cut your time searching for just the right paper.

 

Whether you do it yourself or have The Persian Laundry do it for you, lining your envelopes can give your wedding invitations a custom look that reflects your own personality. Think of it as a precursor to decorating your first home, but a much smaller project (and a lot easier to undo if you don't like it!)

Do Your Shoes Hurt?

Like most brides you are sure to be purchasing some new shoes to walk down the aisle in. And the one thing you do not want on your wedding day is shoes that pinch your feet. So here are some ways to stretch your shoes. Warning: these are not for tintable shoes. Many include the use of water which is not good for those shoes. Stretch all shoes at your own risk.

However, over the years I've owned my fair share of high heels or high fashion shoes or boots that killed my feet (or at least they did until I tried some of my favorite tricks to easy the pinch.) Working in a women's shoe store I heard them all! Some boggled the mind (and actually worked) others, not so much.

My best suggestion is don't buy the shoes that kill your feet unless you are willing to put some time (and possibly pain) into stretching them out. But the good news is there are some ways to stretch your shoes that don't involve pain (thank you God!)

Some of my other suggestions:

• Break shoes in gradually. Wear them for an hour or so a day when you can spend part of that time sitting down. This lets them slowly break in without you breaking out in blisters. Ouch!
• The trick you see shoe salesmen doing all the time, take the shoes out of the box, removing all the tissue etc. and bend them up and down. I used to do this every time I put a new pair of shoes on a customer to relieve the stiffness. Works only if a shoe needs minimal stretching. You may want to do this in conjunction with other 'tricks.' If I do this at home I do it in conjunction with heating the shoe with a blow dryer for 2-3 minutes.
• Shoe stores and shoemakers can also sell you shoe stretcher. Don't waste your money buying the spray they'll sell you, just use a spray made of half water and half alcohol, a lot cheaper especially if you have a lot of shoes to stretch.
• Shoe stores and shoemakers sometimes have a metal tool that they will use to ease your shoes for you. If you shoes pinch really badly this alone is not the answer, but it's worth asking. Also Amazon sells shoe stretchers that are worth a try. I've never tried them so can only tell you they exist, not if they work. Be aware, the Amazon product comes with just one stretcher. I know my shoemaker recommends buying different stretchers for men and women as well as different ones for flats and heels. Seems like a lot of gadgets to clutter up the closet. The one pro with taking your shoes to the shoemaker, if he screws up his insurance will probably cover the damage, you do it at home, you are just out of luck.
• Another trick your shoemaker can do is to use a machine to stretch your shoes. This will take at least a day, but it's another good option for those expensive shoes and boots and it seems to work well.
• If you don't want to break you neck scuff up the bottom of your shoes on bare floors, concrete or with a piece of sandpaper. This can help you avoid going flying as you start walking around in them on other surfaces. It doesn't ease the tightness but it helps when you are wearing new shoes.
• If the shoes are leather, pleather, or fake leather, etc. try freezing them. It gets stranger. Grab a ziplock bag (or brand of your choice) and fill 1/3 to 1/2 of the way with water, seal the bag. Put the bag with water in it in your shoe and be sure it fills your shoe from heel to toe. Place your shoes in the freezer and let them sit there several hours or overnight until they freeze. Thaw 20-30 minutes and remove the bags. Repeat if necessary. Don't use this on your designer shoes, instead use it on your less expensive shoes, just in case the baggie leaks or the freezing damages the materials.
• The next tip is from the manager of a shoe store (Thanks Marianne) where I worked years ago. Take a big potato and push it far enough into your shoe to make it bulge out. Leave the potato in the shoe overnight and try it on again in the morning. Wipe of any potato residue before wearing. We could never figure out why a potato worked better than other 'stretchers' but she swore by it. I've run across this tip from other friends over the years so I guess sometimes the old wives tales work! (We were using these on inexpensive shoes, not sure if you want to use it on shoes that you paid hundreds of dollars for.
• The Wet Sock Method (use on leather shoes): Put on damp wool socks and then don your shoes. Dry using your hairdryer. Heat 20-30 seconds at a time. Let shoes cool. Try them on with regular stockings (or socks), whatever you are planning on wearing with the shoes, repeat until they are comfortable. I hate this method for two reasons, first I hate wool socks, second wet wool socks are the one thing I hate even more. I don't use this on my shoes but you may be perfectly happy using it on yours.
• Add some moleskin to the skin where the shoe is pinching. Soak your feet with the moleskin on, the moleskin should expand. Then put your shoes back on. The moleskin will help stretch the shoes only in the areas you need them stretched. (It will also help protect your feet as you stretch out your shoes.

Remember, your best bet is to buy shoes that fit. Have your feet remeasured periodically. Feet will change with weight gain or pregnancy or water retention and age. You may need to adjust your shoe size accordingly. Also be sure the size you wear is in USA sizes. Many shoes come from different parts of the world and are listed in European sizes.

I hope these suggestions make your next new pair of shoes a more pleasant experience from the first day you wear them. Remember, it takes time to stretch shoes out, so give yourself plent of time to complete the stretching and enjoy your big day!

A Winter Pomander

 

 

 

White Marabou Feather Ball from Amusing Designs on Etsy

 

Having a winter wedding? Looking for an option for your bridesmaids and flower girl to carry as they walk down the aisle? Why not try this white maribou feather ball made by Amusing Designs, one of the stores on Etsy. I love the look of this, especially for a winter wedding in the snow.

 

How about you? Would you rather carry flowers down the aisle or something that gives your wedding a unique look? It reminds me of the muff I had as a child, so you know I love it!

Lace Covered Wedding Invitations

Photo courtesy of Dionne LaShell Handmade Custom Invitations and Beyond

 

Are you planning on ordering custom invitations for your wedding? Why not consider this beautiful lace covered invitation tied with a contrasting bow by Dionne LaShell?  Delicate, and so pretty your guests are sure to be impressed. You can combine a modern font with the antique lace to combine the two looks for your wedding invitations.

 

Don't forget, invitations with bows will need to be hand cancelled by your post office. You don't want your pretty invitations mangled by the machines at the post office that are not made to handle envelopes with contents that are not flat.

 

Butterfly Cake Box Cakes

Photo from Pinterest via Victoria Barnes (source: Butterfly Cakebox)

 

I found this photo on a friend's Pinterest and fell in love with the unique decorations on this three tier wedding cake. I love the color of the ribbon that takes away from the stark whiteness of the icing but the flowers on the cake are gorgeous! I've never seen anything like them.

 

If you are a bride looking for some unique ideas for a wedding cake, visit Butterfly Cakebox's web site and scroll through their photos. You are sure to find one to love.

 

You can also find out about the owner's passion for baking, which is just one of the reasons her cakes both look and taste so good.

 

Contact info:

Jackie Thompson, Butterfly Cakebox
email: jackie@butterflycakebox.com
phone: 905.877.8466

Five Ways To Stay Healthy On Your Wedding Day

Brides dread the possibility of being sick on their wedding day. No bride wants a nose red from the sniffles or a cold so here are a few preventive measures to keep your body healthy and in tip top shape.

 

Photo courtesy of Honest Tea

 

My personal favorite, Honest Tea's Green Tea with Honey.  Honest Tea has Epigallocatechin gallate. Wow, what the heck is that mouthful? Well aside from this specific Honest Tea being a tasty drink, it is full of EPCG and it's powerful antioxidants. Scientists posit that it may protect our cells from oxidative damage from free radicals. Chronic diseases associated with free radical damage include cancer, arteriosclerosis, heart disease and faster aging. It can also protect our cells from ultraviolet and radiation damage. But best of all, it MAY (and I only say may) be effective in promoting fatv oxidation and LOWERING OF BODY WEIGHT. Hmmm... what bride (or mother of the bride) wouldn't love to lose a few pounds, have better looking skin just from drinking some green tea? It's also a well known cold remedy. Read more about EPCG here or here.

 

Photo courtesy of Purell

 

Winter, spring, summer or fall, many of us suffer from allergies, and even if we don't we're surrounded by people who are and their germ-laden sneezes.  Purell won't stop the sneezes but it can help stop the person to person spread of germs. Keep a purse size Purell Hand Sanitizer with you (they also make sprays and wipes along with the handy gels) and have an effective defense against germs left on doors, shopping carts and other contaminated surfaces.

 

Nasal Flow Neti Pot by NeilMed Pharmaceuticals

 

Suffering from an upper respiratory infection? Rhinitis, sinusitis, nasal allergies and dryness, post nasal drip, other sinus problems, nasal congestion from flu or colds and other causes all have been shown to be relieved by using these clever little pots. So if you suffer from some of the symptoms above, give a Neti Pot by NasalFlo a try.

 

Photo courtesy of Stonyfield Organic Yogurt

 

Some studies have shown that just a cup a day of low fat yogurt can reduce you susceptibility to colds by 25%. Researchers suggest that the beneficial bacteria in the yogurt my stimulate production of immune system substances that fight disease. I know what I'm piling in my grocery cart next trip! Read more health tips and advice from the nutritionists at Stoneyfield here. Sure sounds to me like a lot of really good reasons for buying yogurt. (Oh, you have to eat it, not just store it in your frig.)

 

Photo courtesy of Cold-Eeze.

 

There are debates about whether Cold-Eeze works, but some studies have shown it can cut the length of your cold in half if you take it at the first sign of a cold. Worth a try, especially if you feel like your about to come down with a cold a few days before your wedding. Just one more product that can help you have a happy and healthy beginning to your married life. The company offers a satisfaction guarantee, so it's worth the investment!

 

So stay healthy and if you can't stay healthy use something to make your allergies and cold more comfortable. And enjoy your big day!

 

 

 

 

 

Wedding Cakes Go Chocolate

Photo from Martha Stewart Weddings

 

Chocolate wedding cake? Yum! I know, you're used to white or even pastels, but why not go with chocolate? It's rich, a little unconventional, and what I like, surprising. I like something a bit different. This chocolate petal wedding cake has a mocha spice cake under the bittersweet chocolate 'leaves.' This is one of the most striking wedding cakes I've seen.

 

 

Another cake shown on Martha's website is this chocolate chestnut wedding cake. It is topped with sugared fruit and laurel leaves, so no worry about finding in season flowers if you are having a winter wedding. Chocolate wedding cakes appeal to me for winter weddings, they're warm, rich and melt in  your mouth! Yum!

 

Visit Martha Stewart Weddings for a group of chocolate wedding cakes to choose from for your wedding day.

 

 

 

 

Milk Margaritas? What?

Photo and concept from Party Blog

 

Margaritas and cookies? Nope! Sorry to disappoint you! But for an end of the evening of drink at your wedding reception how about serving your milk and cookies in a margarita glass? It looks amazing and with the cookies perched on the edge of the glass, who can resist?

                                                                                                                              

Make some cute hang tags and get ready to serve your happy guests. WTG!

Cupcakes: The New Wedding Cake?

 Pinterest (link there doesn't work)

 

Sometimes you see food that is a work of art. These cupcakes fit that description perfectly! Unfortunately the photo was on Pinterest and the link there doesn't work on my computer, try it on yours, maybe you'll be luckier! I love these! Would order them for my daughter's wedding if she hadn't already placed her order. These are so delicate and perfect for a wedding.

 

 

Cotton and Crumbs

 

And then we have these gorgeous daffodil cupcakes. Perfect for a spring wedding. Nothing says spring like daffodils and I've never seen them on cupcakes before. These grabbed my eye immediately! Working on how to make the fondant flowers myself. The small ones are probably harder than the larger ones, but the combination of the two sizes makes a great display.

 

Cupcakes and Crumbs

 

The above combination of gold, pink and blue iced cupcakes with delicate florals topping them are incredible! The designs and textures differ from cupcake to cupcake, each one showing off a different skill of the baker. Now, which one to try first? Hmm...

  

Cupcakes and Crumbs

 

And finally the perfect white floral cupcake with silver dragees in the centers. I love how the baker showed off the cupcake by tying a ribbon around the base of each cupcake and presenting them on their own tiny cupcake plate.

 

Will cupcakes replace wedding cakes entirely? I still like seeing the traditional wedding cake, but love seeing a smaller wedding cake surrounded by these smaller wedding wonders! What do you think? Big cakes? cupcakes? combination of the two?

 

 

 

Orchid Veil

Photo courtesy of Love, Wed, Bliss/taken by Christine Shields Photography

 

Looking for a unique veil for your garden wedding? Love this look this bride wore for a photo shoot for Love, Wed, Bliss. Love the way the flowers frame her face in the second photo, accenting her cheek bones. If anyone knows who the designer is for the veil please contact me, I'd love to recommend your work. Enjoy!

 

Be sure to take the time to browse through Love, Wed, Bliss to see more great wedding looks that might influence your design choices for your wedding day.

Metallic Dress Shoes

Winged White Shoes courtesy of Heels.com

 

Want to fly down the aisle to your groom? These are the perfect shoe for you--complete with golden wings! Yes, I said wings. I know, I know, shoes don't have wings, but in this case they do. I don't think I'd trust them to keep you up in the air but they certainly provide a focal point on your feet!

 

Stuart Weitzman Bridal and Evening Collection on Zappos

 

Not ready for wings but want shoes that look like they belong on the feet of a goddess? Try these pumps adorned with silver by Stuart Weitzman for his Bridal and Evening Collection. Be sure to spray the glitter to keep it from getting on your feet and dress but otherwise, the perfect shoes for your wedding day. 

 

The Bride Wore Blue--Shoes That Is

Photo courtesy of uku2 on Etsy

 

Something Blue satin and lace boots are perfect for the bride who doesn't want to wear heels for her wedding and who is looking for something a little different to wear instead of sky high satin heels or sky high price designer shoes. Sure we love our heels, but sometimes comfort is nice, and sometimes going a little quirky during your reception is just your thing.

 

If quirky is your thing, head over to uku2 and see all the different shoes available (and boots). If you want to see one of my favorite boots for steam punk brides, go to Black and White Weddings. Etsy artisans have something for everyone!

Gifts For Your Groomsmen

Photo courtesy of PopTag

 

Looking for a great groomsmen gift? Try these personalized dogtag like keychain/bottle openers that you can engrave with anything from names to dates, lyrics, initials, anything that fits the occasion. These are a great way to say 'thank you' for you bachelor party. Includes key ring, and your choice of colored rubber bumper (Red, Black, Blue, Pink, or Purple.) Visit their website to see the details about how many characters and lines you can add to the keychain. BTW, you can also have these made to wear on a chain.