One of the most common questions brides and grooms have is "How many of our invited wedding guests will accept and actually show up?" Figuring out how many people to invite is an art, not a science, but there are some guides to help you out.
Second Marriage
When it comes to second weddings, friends and relatives are not required to buy you a gift if they bought you one the first time, however most likely they will want to do so. It is acceptable to register for a second wedding.
If you so choose, here are some polite ways to say no gifts please.
Small Weddings
If you send a wedding announcement, rather than a wedding invitation, for a small wedding and not inviting many out-of-town friends and relatives, it is clearly implied that gifts are not necessary.
Gifts for your Guests
It’s common for brides and grooms to show their appreciation for their guests’ participation in your wedding ceremony by giving favors. Favors can consist of anything from a miniature box of chocolates to handmade keepsakes bearing the couple's name and wedding date.
Attendants’ Gifts
The bride and groom traditionally select special gifts to present to members of the wedding party in thanks for their special role in the event. Any amount you choose to spend is acceptable. You may consider gifts of higher value for your maid of honor and best man.
How Much is too Much? Or too Little?
There are no specific price guidelines for gifts. Gifts are based on what the guest believes the receiver would like, what they want to give and the amount the gift-giver can afford. There is no average amount that a guest needs to spend on a wedding or shower gift. Really, as the saying goes, it’s the thought that counts.
Chat soon,
J
A four-week rotation of style and trends, etiquette, great ideas, and delicious treats. A topic based on “find of the week” and the opportunity leave a comment to “vote” on what topics you are interested in reading about. www.thetopevent.com 514-297-5375
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Outdoor Weddings
If the outdoor is a garden rich with flowers choose those flower decorations that compliment the Flower decorations also add beauty to the outdoor weddings but there should be proper selection of flowers that match the outdoors. The cables should be out of reach of children and well insulated. Do not mix too many lights and see that apt lighting is there and not too much.
Lights bring in mood as well as serenity to the occasion. Several lights are used, strings or personalized wedding lanterns or even making hand made lamp shades and hanging them at desired places can really bring in the elegance to the outdoor wedding event. Lighting is another lovely decoration for an outdoor wedding.
You can line the walks with torches of citronella or tiki torches by sticking them to ground and they really add a ton of elegance as well as descend romantic touch to the place. Believe us, it's a great fun to make arches and you have ample choice to design your arch to match the theme.
You can go for a readily available arch or make one involving the kids and people at home. If you have a wedding theme planned, see that the arch design goes along with it. A lovely arch is a big one to decorate an outdoor wedding.
Outdoor weddings are not uncommon and remember outdoor wedding decorations are an easy task because the nature gives itself three-quarters of the decoration to the event and all you need is to just fine tune it with some add-ons.
Decorating for an outdoor wedding reception gives you a chance to realize a beautiful wedding fantasy. A fabulous outdoor venue makes the perfect backdrop which can be dressed easily with some carefully chosen furniture and accessories. Among the first things to consider with your outdoor wedding ideas are practical concerns to make sure that your guests are well looked after.
Chat soon,
J
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
A brides Wedding Tradition!
The origin of most of our wedding traditions stem from superstitions, and are handed down by folk lore. Because of this you will find various legends of our most popular customs. Traditions vary from culture to culture. Some are widely used in modern wedding ceremonies, while others exist only within a certain race or culture. The Bridal Bouquet Toss
Believe it or not, the bridal bouquet toss celebration goes back to fourteenth century France
Today it is still considered lucky to catch the bridal toss bouquet and the event is usually performed to a unique bouquet toss song. It is said that the lucky recipient will be the next to marry. If you are leery of performing the bouquet toss at your own ceremony, consider some great modern alternatives to that traditional bouquet toss. Make a presentation of the bridal toss bouquet to a dear friend instead of tossing it. Or, a great twist is to look inwards at the fortune you've found by presenting the tossing bouquet and tossing garter to a cherished, wedded couple whom inspired you both to become newlyweds.
List of Top 5 Requested Bridal Toss Songs
1. This One is For the Girls (Martina McBride)
2. Just a Girl (No Doubt)
3. Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)
4. Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend (Marilyn Monroe)
5. I Feel Like a Woman (Shania Twain)
Something Old, Something New ...
Something Old Something New ...Many wedding traditions are rooted in superstition and are closely connected to good luck and bad luck. The following well-known wedding tradition dates back to victorian times.
The complete wedding tradition goes as follows ... Something old something new something borrowed something blue and, a lucky silver sixpence for her shoe.
Something Old ... represents the connection the bride will maintain to her family and the past. Many brides choose to wear an heirloom piece of family jewelry or the wedding gown belonging to a grandmother or mother to uphold this wedding tradition.
Something New ... symbolizes good fortune and success in the brides new life. A new wedding dress, new wedding garter or any other new item can represent this wedding tradition.
Something Borrowed ... serves to remind the bride that friends and family will always be there for her. The borrowed item can be anything of her choosing. Many times it is an antique handkerchief, an item of jewelry or a handbag. It is most often borrowed from the bride's mother, sister or another family member.
Something Blue ... represents loyalty and faithfulness. This symbolism dates back to biblical times when blue stood for purity and constancy. Brides often choose to wear a blue garter to keep with this tradition or blue ribbons in their hair. Violets also represent loyalty and faithfulness. Offering Personalized Violet Flower Seed Favors to wedding guests ties in nicely with this cherished wedding tradition.
A Lucky Silver Sixpence for Her Shoe ... stands for wishes of financial security and happiness for the bride in her new life. To uphold this fun wedding tradition on your wedding day, remember to carry a genuine Lucky Sixpence in your shoe.
Chat soon,
J
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wedding Registries-the 411
Wedding Registries have long been a preferred way for the couple to ensure that people know what they need and for guests to know that their gift will be useful.
In recent years, gift registries have gotten easier for couples to establish and more convenient for guests to access. Most major department and even discount stores offer computerized registries, complete with in-store assistance in selecting items. Some registries can even be created online, and many more can be accessed online by guests looking to shop for the perfect gift.
Proper etiquette dictates that someone other than the bride and groom advises guests where a couple has registered. A family member or a member of the wedding party is acceptable. Etiquette dictates that you do not including gift registry information with your wedding invitations.
The nature of items in a registry has evolved in the past few decades. In the past, it was limited to items such as china and silver. Nowadays, the selections are much bigger. Major Hardware store chains, such as Home Depot offer wedding registry, so instead of china, you can register for a power sander, which you may well find much more useful.
It is, however, still a faux pas to register for cash gifts, anything lewd or vulgar, or anything with an exorbitant price. Whatever you do, don't write "cash-only gifts" on your wedding announcements.
So you look at that rug that Uncle Lester bought you (you know, the one with the giant peacock on it?) and you think that it may not fit with your décor. That’s a sticky situation. Exchanging a gift may offend or hurt a loved one’s feelings, so you have to use your better judgment and consider the risk. If you decide to exchange the gift, you are not obligated to inform the gift giver and your thank you note should be for the original gift receive
d, not the replacement.
If a gift was received broken, was a duplicate or just an incorrect gift, go ahead and attempt to rectify the situation with the retailer. If you’re unable to do so, see if the gift-giver can help you get it straightened out. The store should offer to return, exchange, or replace the gift.
All gifts should promptly be followed by a hand-written thank you card, and not an e-mail. Etiquette dictates that all thank you notes must be written within 3 months of your wedding. This applies to engagement and bridal shower gifts.
When writing your cards, don't worry about sounding original so much as sincere. After all, your Aunt Lucy won’t know that her thank you card sounded strikingly similar to your new husband’s cousin Ted’s card. Just be sure to specifically mention the gift they gave you and how thankful you are that you received it. If you’ve still got lots of space on the card, you can also mention when and how you might use the gift and that the gift will always remind you of the giver.
When writing thank you notes for cash gifts toward a larger purchase (a house or a car, for example), let them know how much you appreciate their cash gift and tell them how the buying process is going. If it’s feasible, invite them over for dinner or take a ride in your car once the purchase is made.
If you are a guest at a wedding and never received a thank you note for a wedding gift sent several months ago, it is perfectly acceptable to inquire whether the couple ever received the gift. You may ask their parents if you feel more comfortable. The gift may have been lost during shipment, a situation which would need to be addressed.
In recent years, gift registries have gotten easier for couples to establish and more convenient for guests to access. Most major department and even discount stores offer computerized registries, complete with in-store assistance in selecting items. Some registries can even be created online, and many more can be accessed online by guests looking to shop for the perfect gift.
Proper etiquette dictates that someone other than the bride and groom advises guests where a couple has registered. A family member or a member of the wedding party is acceptable. Etiquette dictates that you do not including gift registry information with your wedding invitations.
The nature of items in a registry has evolved in the past few decades. In the past, it was limited to items such as china and silver. Nowadays, the selections are much bigger. Major Hardware store chains, such as Home Depot offer wedding registry, so instead of china, you can register for a power sander, which you may well find much more useful.
It is, however, still a faux pas to register for cash gifts, anything lewd or vulgar, or anything with an exorbitant price. Whatever you do, don't write "cash-only gifts" on your wedding announcements.
So you look at that rug that Uncle Lester bought you (you know, the one with the giant peacock on it?) and you think that it may not fit with your décor. That’s a sticky situation. Exchanging a gift may offend or hurt a loved one’s feelings, so you have to use your better judgment and consider the risk. If you decide to exchange the gift, you are not obligated to inform the gift giver and your thank you note should be for the original gift receive
d, not the replacement.
If a gift was received broken, was a duplicate or just an incorrect gift, go ahead and attempt to rectify the situation with the retailer. If you’re unable to do so, see if the gift-giver can help you get it straightened out. The store should offer to return, exchange, or replace the gift.
All gifts should promptly be followed by a hand-written thank you card, and not an e-mail. Etiquette dictates that all thank you notes must be written within 3 months of your wedding. This applies to engagement and bridal shower gifts.
When writing your cards, don't worry about sounding original so much as sincere. After all, your Aunt Lucy won’t know that her thank you card sounded strikingly similar to your new husband’s cousin Ted’s card. Just be sure to specifically mention the gift they gave you and how thankful you are that you received it. If you’ve still got lots of space on the card, you can also mention when and how you might use the gift and that the gift will always remind you of the giver.
When writing thank you notes for cash gifts toward a larger purchase (a house or a car, for example), let them know how much you appreciate their cash gift and tell them how the buying process is going. If it’s feasible, invite them over for dinner or take a ride in your car once the purchase is made.
If you are a guest at a wedding and never received a thank you note for a wedding gift sent several months ago, it is perfectly acceptable to inquire whether the couple ever received the gift. You may ask their parents if you feel more comfortable. The gift may have been lost during shipment, a situation which would need to be addressed.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Style color trends for 2011
This past season many couples mixed vintage with modern, this is just one of the hot trends being carried forward; in fact it has gotten much bigger with many couples going with a more Victorian approach. Many Brides and Grooms are actively looking for a connection to past traditions, some are looking to incorporate an item from their mother or grandmother’s wedding memorabilia into the mix.
The bridal gown may be the ceremony’s show stopper, but wedding cakes are the main attraction at the reception. Many brides are incorporating the style of their gown into the designing of their cakes, with the addition of intricate icing, pearl and crystal studding, rosettes and lace. Stately, towering layers with metallic designs and colors are also making a statement. The one thing that hasn’t changed from year to year is that, this decision is always in the bride’s hands.
We’re seeing the emergence of pinwheels, those colorful windmill decorations that are fun for guests to wave as the bride and groom drive off into their future, après the reception. They are cheerful to look at and more environmentally friendly than rice or confetti and create a festive mood.
Knowing that the trend this year is color, brides are seeking out Pantone’s Wedding Colors, http://www.dessy.com/PANTONE which are “the stars” in the fashion world. 2011 colors are African violet, electric blue, chocolate truffle, red, living coral, antique dust rose, and crisp apple. These colors will be the most used and recognized this upcoming season and, when used in a palette, will provide a stimulating and exciting color combination to any wedding.
We’re seeing the emergence of pinwheels, those colorful windmill decorations that are fun for guests to wave as the bride and groom drive off into their future, après the reception. They are cheerful to look at and more environmentally friendly than rice or confetti and create a festive mood.
Statistics are proving that couples today prefer to have a unique wedding rather than their parent’s traditional wedding of the past. There will still be traditional and ethnic wedding invitations in your mail box and no matter what mode the bride and groom are in- a wedding is a commitment to a future together and may it be blessed with love, laughter and friendship.
Chat soon,
J
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Best tips for Wedding Hairstyles
The way in which you wear your hair for your wedding will be a big part of your overall look. Hair always sends a message, whether it is polished, beachy, trendy, or something else. Finding the right person to do your hair for your wedding is key, because your wedding is not the day to do your own hair or to trust an amateur. These tips will help you to find a great wedding hairstylist for your big day.
While many women already have a hairstylist that they trust without reservation, there are an equal number who do not have that kind of relationship with a particular stylist or salon. It might be that you get your hair cut at a walk-in salon or that you are getting married in a town far from your home and your hairdresser. Or perhaps you even have someone who normally cuts your hair, but you are not sure that you can trust her to style it for the most important event of your life. Whatever the case, bad hair results in a bad looking bride, so this is no time to take chances!
Start your search for the perfect wedding hairstylist by asking around. Word of mouth is always the best way to get recommendations. Keep in mind that styling hair can be very different than cutting or even coloring it, and that different stylists may have different specialties. I once knew a stylist who was a brilliant colorist, very talented at cutting hair, and always current with the latest trends and techniques. She had no interest in creating formal hairstyles however, and routinely referred brides to a more junior member of her salon who had great enthusiasm for updos and other wedding hairstyles. So be sure that you ask your friends, family, or wedding vendors specifically for a great wedding hairdresser, not just a great hairdresser.
Once you have a couple of recommendations, it is time to get on the phone. There are several important questions to ask any hairstylist you are considering. Of course, you need to know about their fees and their availability for your wedding date. If you are looking for a salon which has enough staff to style the hair of your entire bridal party, and the mothers of the bride and groom, in addition to the bride's hair, definitely see if they can handle that. Perhaps you are looking for a stylist who will come to your hotel on the morning of the wedding or one who has a great makeup artist available at her salon. Or maybe you have extremely long hair or want a non-traditional hairstyle; these are all important things to discuss with a potential stylist.
The next step is the trial run. Schedule it at least a couple of months before your wedding, in case you are not happy with the first attempt. Be sure to bring pictures of hairstyles which you like, a picture of your wedding gown, and your wedding hair jewelry. If you are planning to wear a special piece of wedding jewelry, such as a dramatic pair of crystal chandelier earrings, you may wish to bring those too so that your hairstyle can be planned to show them off. During your trial run, pay attention to things like how well the stylist listens to you, how informed she is of current trends in wedding beauty, and how long it takes her to achieve the style you like. Also go in with an open mind, because she may have some suggestions on how to improve upon a hairstyle you saw in a magazine. Be sure to leave your hair in the style created at the trial run for the rest of the day to see how well it holds up.
If the first trial run is a success, there is nothing left to do but to book your appointment for the morning of your wedding. If the hairstyle created was close, but not quite right, you may wish to have a second trial run to fine tune things. Of course, if you were not at all happy with either the hairstyle or the experience of working with a particular stylist, by all means, keep looking. Every bride deserves to have fabulous hair on her wedding day.
Chat soon,
J
Once you have a couple of recommendations, it is time to get on the phone. There are several important questions to ask any hairstylist you are considering. Of course, you need to know about their fees and their availability for your wedding date. If you are looking for a salon which has enough staff to style the hair of your entire bridal party, and the mothers of the bride and groom, in addition to the bride's hair, definitely see if they can handle that. Perhaps you are looking for a stylist who will come to your hotel on the morning of the wedding or one who has a great makeup artist available at her salon. Or maybe you have extremely long hair or want a non-traditional hairstyle; these are all important things to discuss with a potential stylist.
The next step is the trial run. Schedule it at least a couple of months before your wedding, in case you are not happy with the first attempt. Be sure to bring pictures of hairstyles which you like, a picture of your wedding gown, and your wedding hair jewelry. If you are planning to wear a special piece of wedding jewelry, such as a dramatic pair of crystal chandelier earrings, you may wish to bring those too so that your hairstyle can be planned to show them off. During your trial run, pay attention to things like how well the stylist listens to you, how informed she is of current trends in wedding beauty, and how long it takes her to achieve the style you like. Also go in with an open mind, because she may have some suggestions on how to improve upon a hairstyle you saw in a magazine. Be sure to leave your hair in the style created at the trial run for the rest of the day to see how well it holds up.
Chat soon,
J
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Some Yummy Wedding Treats
Let's get the wedding basics down; dancing, fun, laughing, celebration, love, and of course, food. Everyone knows that when they go to a wedding they are going to get a good meal and some delicious wedding cake. So why not top it off with some edible wedding favors?
Edible wedding favors can be presented in a wide variety of ways like in bags, glass containers, boxes, and many others depending on the item. But the fact is that your guests will absolutely love to sit down to some delicious treats whether it be some cupcakes, chocolate, mints, or any other scrumptious idea you can find to offer as the perfect wedding favors to your very important guests.
You can even use edible wedding favors such as candies, cookies and other treats to compliment the theme of your wedding and enhance all the hard work and long hours of planning that you have put into creating a wedding that is totally you and immensely dreamlike. Break barriers with edible wedding favors because your guests will automatically loosen up when they are munching on some of their favorite treats and talking animatedly about the beautiful ceremony that they all just witnessed. With some great edible wedding favors your guests will get ready to party, dance, and laugh with you at your wedding reception that you've worked so hard to make a reality.
You can even use edible wedding favors such as candies, cookies and other treats to compliment the theme of your wedding and enhance all the hard work and long hours of planning that you have put into creating a wedding that is totally you and immensely dreamlike. Break barriers with edible wedding favors because your guests will automatically loosen up when they are munching on some of their favorite treats and talking animatedly about the beautiful ceremony that they all just witnessed. With some great edible wedding favors your guests will get ready to party, dance, and laugh with you at your wedding reception that you've worked so hard to make a reality.
You can even try personalizing the packages that these edible wedding favors come in so that your guests have a memento from your wedding even when the delicious treats have all been consumed by the happily munching mouths of your friends, family, and loved ones at your wedding reception. Here are a few stunning examples of edible wedding favors that will certainly enhance the mood at any wedding reception, whatever theme you have chosen during your months of careful planning.
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