Theme Weddings

My favorite weddings are theme weddings. I don’t mean color themes rather overall themes such as the honeymoon theme. If you are going to honeymoon, let’s say in Hawaii can do a number of things to tie in your trip. Passing out leis to your guests, serving Island foods, and using Hawaiin flowers for centerpieces and wedding flowers are all cute ideas.

If you are a fan of King Arthur and knights, you can have your dress fashioned after the costumes of the day and even invite your guests to dress accordingly. I have seen this done and the wedding was very beautiful.

There are many different ways you can go with job inspirations, for instance if the groom is a fireman they will often go to the firehouse and pose for pictures on the fire truck. Police officers will have their co-workers come to the reception and pretend to arrest the groom. The extent you want to go with a theme is up to you.

Don’t be afraid to explore and consider various themes, they can make your wedding a little more personal and fun for you and your guests!

Calling All Atlanta NearlyWeds!

The awesome DC NearlyWeds is expanding into Atlanta, GA and looking for Atlanta brides-to-be!

<blockquote> DC NearlyWeds is expanding its blog to encompass the road to matrimonial bliss of brides-to-be in Atlanta, GA! We are looking for brides in the Atlanta area, or brides who are planning to wed in Atlanta, to blog on the site! The bride’s blog will follow her planning process as she works with a professional wedding planner to navigate her way down the aisle! The Atlanta blog will be a great place for brides to get information about vendors, sales and events in her area.

Brides who are interested, please send an email to blogwithus at dcnearlyweds dot com. Each applicant should respond with a short recap of her planning process and vision, wedding date, and story of her relationship and engagement. </blockquote>

Still no Beijing NearlyWeds, so I’m out of luck, but sign up if you’re in Atlanta!

Green Weddings

Green weddings are environmentally friendly weddings. Many couples are electing to have green weddings as a way of helping the environment and enjoying a fabulous wedding. One of the key considerations for your wedding is to have material that is environmentally friendly for the entire wedding party. Cotton is the most environmentally friendly for green weddings. There are some exquisite styles and choices for wedding attire out of cotton.

Consider having the wedding outside. This will save on energy consumption. If the wedding is to be inside, consider asking the building attendant to turn the temperature up 2 degrees for air conditioning or down 2 degrees for heating. This will help to conserve energy. Also, consider using candles and windows for lighting instead of the overhead lighting in the room where the wedding ceremony is to take place.

Table cloths should be avoided. But if not possible, consider only using cotton table cloths. It takes less energy and resources to wash and dry these than it does to manufacture paper table cloths. If you must use paper table cloths, be certain to use ones made from recycled paper. This will help you to have a greener wedding.

Trash receptacles should be lined with paper bags made from recycled paper. Additionally, have receptacles for recyclable items that are being served at the wedding reception such as aluminum cans, plastic bottles and even glass if needed.

Instead of using cut flowers for the wedding, consider using potted plants that are blooming. You can then use these in your new home, plant in your yard or donate to an assisted living facility or community center in your area.

These are a few ways to have green weddings that are attractive, fun and best of all friendly to our environment.

Bridal Extras

My buddy at “Don’t Be That Bride” (ok, ok, she’s not really my buddy, but if she comes to Beijing, we’re totally going to hang out) talks about all the “extras” for the wedding party. If you’ve been in a wedding, you know what the extras are. The shoes to match the dress you’ll never wear again, transportation to the wedding/shower/bachelorette, a hotel near the wedding, and so worth

 I don’t mind shelling out for a friend’s big day, but I end up giving a smaller wedding gift because I’ve already overspent on the extras.

<blockquote> A long time ago, I talked about “add ons” — and how it’s not simply the wedding present that creates cost to friends/family invited to and attending the wedding and related activities.

It’s the shower gift. The $100+ ladies plunk down on bachelorette “stuff” (drinks, dinner out, etc. etc.) Flights or train tickets for out of towners. Hotel stays.

The cost can become immeausrable, in some respect. And I understand it. I’ve been through it!

In terms of my shower/bachelorette weekend, I’m THRILLED that 90% of the friends I invited will be attending.

Many of these friends are from out of town, which is another complication, since NYC hotels cost at least $250-300 a night if you don’t want to sleep in a rat-infested box.  <blockquote>

Rich Bride, Poor Bride Giveaway

  The WeddingBee brides are giving away 4 copies of Rich Bride, Poor Bride: Your Ultimate Wedding Planning Guide.<blockquote> Based on the international hit reality tv series of the same name, this 224 page book is chock full of great tips from the featured planners on the show.  And like the show, it really focuses on budgeting - one of the most important aspects of the wedding planning process for every brides! </blockquote>

 Head over to WeddingBee and share a budget-saving tip to win!

How Much Are You Spending?

Join the WeddingBee Budget Poll!!! How much are you spending on your big day? And, more importantly, is it coming from your savings, your fiance, your families or you credit cards? Apparently last year’s most common budget was the $10,000 - $20,000 group, followed by the $20,000 - $30,000 group, excluding the honeymoon.  I’ve heard the American average is $35,000 but I’ve been to lovely low-budget weddings for under $10,000.

Keeping Your Name?

Miss Dahlia at WeddingBee tipped me off to this article on E! Planet Gossip. Looks like Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds are calling it quits… reportedly over an issue that most brides-to-be are thinking about.

<blockquote>The Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds split apparently involves some name-calling.

And that name in particular is Murphy.

I’m told one of their major—and ongoing—disagreements was whether Edmonds would take Murphy’s last name. “He was insisting she change her name,” a source just told me. “It was a huge issue. They were arguing about it before they left for the wedding.” </blockquote> 

What a mess! I’m planning on keeping my name, but luckily for me, my intended isn’t calling off the wedding over it! Are you keeping or changing your name?

Chinese Wedding Traditions With A Spin

This post on Offbeat Bride talks about an awesome way to incorporate the Chinese hong bao into an American wedding. Hong bao are little red envelopes, which are filled with money and given to children on New Year’s, and to the bridal couple at weddings. Instead of asking for cash, though, this couple asked their guests to write a wish for the couple, and put it in the lucky red bags.

DIY Bride Giveaway!

You know, I almost don’t want to share this one, because if YOU enter the contest, you’re decreasing MY chances of winning. The fabulous DIY Bride is giving away two copies of her book, The DIY Bride: 40 Fun Projects For Your Ultimate One-of-a-Kind Wedding. She says:

<blockquote> I won’t make you send in your sad tales of crafting gone wrong this time. Just post a comment below by Sunday, Jan. 20. I’ll randomly pick the winners from the pool of entries on Monday morning. </blockquote>

Get over to DIY Bride and make a comment!

Britney Re-Wears Her Wedding Dress!

The fabulous Bridezilla blog tipped me off to this story in People about Britney Spears re-wearing her wedding dress…as she goes car shopping with her new friend.

 

Huh? Is it a Trash-The-Dress shoot in the making? (You know, maybe they were choosing the car to run over the dress?) An attempt to get a second wear out of a wedding gown, without all the hassle of a second wedding? A way to give the finger to her ex-husband? Just a way to make a Then And Now figure comparison photospread easier for the tabloids?

I don’t get it.

Next Page »