Wedding Decorations

Wedding reception decorations help set the mood for your special day whether youre planning a large formal wedding or a smaller more intimate gathering The type of wedding reception decorations you choose will depend on factors such as your wedding colors the time of year youre getting married your reception location and your personal sense of style However the following are some options you may wish to consider Flowers Although live floral arrangements are more common dried flowers and silk flowers are becoming more popular Balloons Accenting your tables with balloon bouquets provides an affordable yet contemporary look Scatter some glitter or confetti around the base for added sparkle Candles Remember to test the burning time of any candles you choose to make sure theyll last through your party Tiny votives are fine for a short reception but a dance that lasts all night will probably require taller pillar candles
White lights If your reception location wont allow candles due to concerns about open flames use strands of white lights to achieve a similar effect Ribbon bows Available in many different colors and styles ribbon bows add romance to your wedding reception decor Mirrored trays Since they reflect light mirrored trays add ambience and help make small centerpieces seem larger Ice sculptures Although they can be pricey ice sculptures can be elegant and sophisticated additions to a more formal wedding reception If possible use a digital camera to take photos of the reception site before you go shopping for decorations The photos will help refresh your memory and serve as a helpful visual aid for the florist decorator or wedding planner As the cost of the average wedding continues to rise budgetsavvy couples are becoming more creative in choosing their wedding reception decorations If youre trying to cut costs remember the following tips Instead of ordering lots of small decorations choose just two or three larger decorations for maximum visual impact Have someone transport your pew bows candelabras and other ceremony decorations to the reception site to be used againUse your bouquet and your bridesmaids flowers to help decorate the tables Ask crafty friends and family members to help you create some of your own wedding reception decorations Show them pictures of decorations you like and ask for their own ideas If your reception will be in a hotel lobby or another location thats already nicely decorated you might not need many wedding reception decorations after all If your wedding is near Christmas or another major holiday ask about the sites seasonal decorations Rent items whenever possible Florists will generally allow you to rent vases pedestals and dried or silk arrangements Party supply stores also have a wide variety of rental items Dont limit your search for decorations to the wedding section of your party supply store Craft stores dollar stores and discount stores can be great sources of less Costly balloons candles ribbon bows and other wedding reception decorations Save your receipts Theyll help you keep an accurate record of what youre spending and make it easier to return any unused decorations

Bridal bouquet

Bouquets for all bridesmaids Two or three will come with the package more than that are extra Boutonnières for all of the groomsmen the groom and his father Corsages for the mother or the bride and groom Additional corsages are extra At least two arrangements for the ceremony location During your initial meeting the wedding florist will ask how many guests and show you the package options for that amount If you wish to have more flowers these of course will be extra Keep in mind that you dont even have to purchase a package It might be more suitable not to mention affordable to purchase all your wedding flower needs separately instead of as part of a package This is especially the case for small If you are leaning towards an informal wedding youll probably want to shop for informal wedding dresses to go with it Not all have to be formal Cinderellalike affairs While pulling out all the stops may be fine for some people others prefer of a more lowkey variety Their choice of clothing reflects this Perhaps some of these tips can help
The best part about the informal wedding dress is the price With more formal gowns costing in the thousands informal dresses can cost in the hundreds and less There are more options for purchasing dresses of a more casual nature as well For instance one doesnt specifically have to go to a bridal shop Instead one can visit formal wear shops dress shops and any shop selling beach wedding dresses which tend to be more casual It may sound unromantic but secondhand shops are also a great place to find informal wedding attire. Those who choose informal wedding dresses do so for any number of reasons Many dont want to pay the high price associated with a pullingoutallthestops expensive designer gown Others are planning on a more lowkey beach or backyard type wedding Many would prefer to save the money for a down payment on a house and still others dont want to pack a bulky formal wedding gown for a destination wedding Those who are getting married for the second time may prefer to wear something more casual since they already wore a fancy dress the first time around No matter the circumstances if an informal dress is for you there are plenty of options An informal dress doesnt have to come with as many of the adornments bells and whistles as a formal dress There can be sequins and pearls or you can wear a dress thats plain and simple Any length will do Informal dresses tend to be sleek and stylish with perhaps a slit up one side They can be strapless or have spaghetti straps or sleeves They can even be worn off one shoulder Some beach brides even wear a white sarong If you are choosing to go the informal route and are thinking about accessories youll probably want to leave your hair uncovered use a short simple veil or wear flowers or other simple adornments Sparkly barrettes and hair bands are perfect for this type of dress Instead of carrying a large cascading bouquet of flowers try holding long stemmed blooms together with a satin ribbon White pumps or a pair of highheeled strappy sandals will finish off your outfit and add classDont forget jewelry You can still wear an understated string of pearls or a pendant with a single diamond or cameo Pearl drop earrings will make you feel like a princess It may be an informal style but you can still look like a brideJust because youre wearing an informal wedding dress doesnt mean you wont look stunning on your wedding day There are many attractive and stylish dresses to choose from Contact your local bridal salon to find out what types of informal wear they have in stock Theyre sure to have something suitable If not they can make a recommendation such as a store selling formal wear for proms You may not spend a lot of money on your informal wedding dress but chances are youll still look like a million bucks.

Wedding Florist

Shopping for a wedding florist should be at the top of your to do list No wedding is complete without flowers Theyre necessary for the bridal bouquets ceremony decorations and table centerpieces at the reception Chances are there are hundreds of wedding florists available in your area Knowing what to look for will help to narrow down the choicesMany wedding planning companies offer packages complete with all the vendors necessary to throw the perfect affair Included are the wedding photographer limousine and driver and wedding florist Just because the price is right doesnt mean this is the person you should go with however Make sure you see his portfolio and get customer recommendations If you can visit an event that has been decorated with his flowers Many times these wedding boutiques dont offer the personal service youll find with a local wedding florist If this is important to you youll want to find a smaller independent wedding florist The caterer or restaurant who will be hosting your wedding is sure to have one or two recommendations for a fine wedding florist Many florists will offer discounts or special packages if purchased through the catering hall It might be worth your while to look into it The good thing about this is that if the wedding florist has worked with the catering manager and the venue before hell have recommendations as to which flowers will work best for your event
You might also discuss wedding florist choices with some friends or relatives who have recently wed They will let you know if the florist was easy to work with and if the flowers arrived fresh and in good condition.Before choosing your wedding florist ask to see a listing of the different packages available.

Less Costly Wedding Dresses

Most brides dream of wearing an expensive designer dress on their wedding day Their dreams are dashed once they espy the price tag hanging from the dress however Just because a bride is confined to a budget doesnt mean she shouldnt have all the bells and whistles Even those who dont have thousands of dollars to spend on a wedding gown deserve to look like a fairy tale princess on their wedding day If youre in the market for an inexpensive wedding dress perhaps one of these tips will help

Once a year several stores have an annual wedding dress sale Although many bridestobe stay away because of the crowded chaotic atmosphere many others find the dress of their dreams at an affordable price Heres how it works the hosting shop will put ads in the newspaper advertising a huge sale or dress run Many women will line up outside the doors of the shop either the night before or in the wee hours in the morning By the time the doors open in the morning the crowd surges through Most shops will only allow a certain amount of women in at a time while others will pack the house

Many brides to be will wear a bathing suit under their clothes so they wont have to deal with dressing rooms These quick changing women will try on dress after dress right in the show room Its always a good idea to bring a couple of friends along to help hunt for dresses and hold them while the bride tries them on The bride better be in love with her choice though because there are no returns Dresses can be found at these events for $100 to $500 If chaos doesnt bother you you might consider this method for purchasing less Costly wedding dresses

If you already know what style and brand of dress you want these sales may be ideal for you Your dress may be sitting on the rack just waiting for you to snatch it up If possible peruse the store a day or two before the sale to see what dresses they have available A word of caution many stores carry sample dresses in just one or two sizes If you arent the socalled average size 8 or size 10 that many wedding shops have in stock you may be out of luck

If money is indeed an object and youre open to suggestions you might try a second hand shop Thrift stores and consignment shops are excellent venues for purchasing less Costly wedding dresses There are several things to be considered

Different neighborhoods boast a different quality of clothes If youre shopping in a depressed neighborhood chances are you wont find designer duds If youre shopping at a consignment shop in an upscale neighborhood theres a good chance the clothing will match Keep in mind prices will also reflect the neighborhood but there are still bargains to be had
Most Consignment shops wont accept any item of clothing unless its in perfect or near perfect condition Thrift shops on the other hand accept all sorts of items in various states of repair If youre purchasing a wedding dress in a secondhand store examine it thoroughly and make note of any rips stains pulls tears or other damage Be absolutely certain you can repair the damage once youve purchased the gown Most secondhand shops have a no refund policy and you dont want to be stuck with a gown you wont be able to use
If the shop does have a return policy get it in writing Some shop owners miraculously change their minds as soon as somebody tries to make a return
In most cases a secondhand wedding dress only needs minor repairs which can be handled by a dry cleaner or tailor

Is there anything that cant be found on eBay You might be pleasantly surprised to find that eBay has quite the assortment of wedding dresses Some new some old some used and some damaged there is something for everyone in all price ranges On a good day one might even find a dress for $35 00


Of course one must proceed with caution when purchasing anything from an online auction site Items sometimes show up in ones home not looking a thing like they did in the picture Stains are darker minor rips are actually large tears or the size is all wrong Plus if you purchase a less Costly wedding dress from one of these sites its highly unlikely youll be able to return it if its not what you had in mind Make sure you receive a full disclosure of any and all damage to the wedding dress In fact it would be a good idea to get it in writing bk Dont be afraid to ask for additional pictures either Theres nothing more disappointing than learning your wedding dress has components you hate

Theres no shame in asking friends and family if you can borrow one of their wedding gowns Many former brides are touched to pass on this treasured family heirloom A mother grandmother sister or aunt is sure to be happy to loan you her wedding dress A free wedding dress can be just as special as a customized dress

Flower girl dresses can be charming or whimsical expensive or economical Of course the flower girl in your wedding will be adorable no matter what she wears but wants your flower girl to look as precious as possible so weve come up with some great flower girl dress tips and ideas. While many people choose to dress their flower girls as a miniature version of the bride this rule isnt set in stone In fact many flower girl dresses echo the designs of a bridesmaids dress instead Whatever style you choose however keep the following points in mind Comfort is importantFlower girls may be as young as one or as old as a preteen but comfort should still be an issue no matter her age Make sure her dress fits comfortably Check the lengthYou dont want her tripping over the hem as she walks down the aisleChoose material carefullyChoose material that isnt scratchy If she doesnt like the feel of the material be sure and find a full slip for her to use that protects her tender skin
Dont forget the accessoriesSometimes a simple pearl necklace or lace headband is all you need to accessorize a beautiful flower girl dress Some actually feature themes such as beach or medieval Your flower girls dress should echo the theme as much as possible Look for great accessories that play up the theme such as leis for a beach wedding or flowered tiaras for a Renaissance theme Be sure that the theme inspired dress fits well and the accessories or the dress itself is not too cumbersome especially for a younger flower girl

Although flower girl dresses arent as expensive as the wedding dress or the bridesmaids dresses they can still cost quite a bit of money In most cases the parents of the flower girl will pay for the dress and they will probably love it if you keep their expenses down as much as possible Sometimes the bride actually allows the parents and the flower girl to choose her own dress as long as they follow a few of the brides suggestions All of these details should be worked out beforehand however to avoid confusion and misunderstandings In many cases the bride may select several different flower girl dresses and ask the department store to hold those dresses until the parents of the flower girl has a chance to select the dress that they preferChoosing a mother of the bride dress is a time honored tradition After all the woman who is giving away her daughter has to look her best What follows are some tips for choosing the perfect mother of the bride dress The mother of the bride should be appropriately lovely on her daughters wedding day Figure out your budget before you shop for a mother of the bride dress Its easy to go overboard at times like these the last thing you want is to go in debt over a dress youll only wear once Once you set your budget you can choose where to shop and what type of dress to purchase Many bridal magazines have advertisements for mother of the bride dresses Peruse your daughters magazines to see if there are any styles that appeal to you If you find a dress you really like call the bridal or formal wear shops in your area to see if they have the dress before you make the trip


The bride and her parents Its best to shop for a dress at least six months before the event if you have that much time This will allow you to take your time to select a dress thats absolutely perfect If the dress you like is not available in your size or color it will also allow for the shop to order the dress for you Factor in alterations and other small issues that may arise and youll be happy you allotted this much time Keep in mind that once the dress is home and in your closet it wouldnt do to diet You want your dress to fit perfectly on the day of the wedding There are many places to look for a great mother of the bride dress Most department stores have sections that sell formalwear and dressy dresses This may be a good place to start especially if youre on a limited budget You can also find plenty of styles at formal wear stores and even bridal shops The Internet also has a wide assortment of choices The downside to ordering online is that you cant try the dress on to see how it looks A mothers dress can coordinate with the wedding colors Before you choose your dress its important to remember all eyes will be on you at one time or another throughout the course of the event Now is not the time to make a statement and the day isnt about looking better than the mother of the groom or your exhusbands new wife The day is about your daughter getting married Your dress should be tasteful and elegant without causing tongues to wag You might want to consult with the bride about her choice of colors While you dont want to wear the same exact color as the women in the bridal party you might want to wear something that at least matches The last thing you want to do is clash or stand out in wedding photographs If you are unsure of what to choose take your daughter with you to find a mother of the bride dress Shell help you select something appropriate that compliments the color scheme Since the mother of the bride traditionally chooses a wedding dress before the mother of the groom the bride will also alert the grooms mother as to what you are wearing This will avoid both of you showing up in the same dress Proper etiquette dictates that the bride is the only one who should wear white While you may have seen other mothers of the bride wear white to a wedding this is considered a major faux pas Youll want to avoid black too Not only is this considered inappropriate but many also feel its bad luck

Check first to see what the wedding party will be wearing and see if you can find a color that works well Also choose a color that works well with your skin tone You might also avoid dresses with busy prints as these can be quite distracting Its always a good idea to take along someone who will offer an unbiased opinion when choosing a mother of the bride dress

Bridal Purse

A personalized bridal purse is a nice accessory for every bride to have so she can stow her necessities for the big day yet still wear a coordinated elegant gown .Just like a regular purse a bridal purse is meant to hold various necessary and emergency items the bride may need during the long day of preparations hair and makeup appointments photos and celebrating Small mishaps smeared makeup a broken zipper a headache can put a big damper on this special day and a well stocked bridal purse will include all the necessary emergency supplies such as
Makeup for touchups including lipstick or gloss waterproof mascara and nail polish
Safety pins and small needles and small spool of thread in the bridal colors,Aspirin or other pain relief medication,Band aids ,Bobby pins for hair style touchups ,Small nail file,Breath mints ,Compact mirror ,Tissue or handkerchief ,Menstrual pad or tampon.Many brides also choose to carry something sentimental or symbolic in their bridal purses such as a picture of the groom a photo of a deceased parent or friend or a small keepsake or good luck charm By having these types of items readily available brides can quickly resolve most unexpected emergencies including emotional moments without excessive hassle.The style a bride chooses to carry should fit her personality and the formality of the wedding as well as provide enough space to hold whatever supplies may be necessary Some brides choose to have multiple purses perhaps a coordinated one for the wedding ceremony as well as a larger more practical bag for the reception or to use when leaving for the honeymoon.While any simple white purse can easily coordinate with a brides attire a more personalized bag is often desirable because it blends well with the overall detail of the wedding dress and other accessories.Choose a color to match the gown or the bridal party dresses for a coordinated look The fabric of the purse may be colored or colored accents such as beads ribbons or other embellishments may be added. Monograms Adding the brides married monogram to the purse is an elegant way to personalize the bag If the bag is reversible it may be possible to put her maiden monogram on one side and her married monogram on the other so it can be switched after the wedding ceremony If the full monogram wont fit use a simple initial instead Fabrics Bridal purses come in several types of fabrics from cotton to matte satin to fine silk Generic bags can also be covered in any desired fabric and choosing cloth that matches the wedding dress similar lace or tulle for example adds sophisticated coordination to the purse Accents Elaborate accents can be added to a bridal purse to personalize it for the wedding A piece of lace a rosette that matches the bridal colors a butterfly or other themed details are quaint touchesEmbroidery is an easy way to personalize a purse Add the brides name the wedding date the location or just the word bride to the purse to add a more personal touch than a plain bag. Coordinated bags are elegant accessories While a crafty bride may be able to personalize her own purse many brides are too busy with more elaborate wedding preparations to attend to this type of detail.A personalized bridal bag may cost as little as $10 for a simple style or more than $50 depending on the type of fabric the bags size and the personalization requested Brides can save money by opting to personalize the bags themselves by adding a bit of ribbon color or other accents When buying a bag brides should check any personalization costs and times before ordering Some manufacturers may require several weeks to personalize a bag and enough shipping time should be available before the wedding so there is no last minute rush Once a bride has her personalized purse and has stocked it for the big day it can be a challenge to carry it elegantly Most brides opt to give the purse to their mother maid of honor or another trusted guest to hold during the wedding ceremony Other brides may choose to carry it discreetly with their bouquet a coordinated purse can look very elegant as part of the ceremony Larger bags should generally be left with an attendant during the ceremony so they do not cause awkward shuffling or distractions