Now brides, I know how worried you get about the most important thing on your wedding day: your hair! Well, this product has been around for the past 2 years, and I cannot say enough about it! Moroccan Oil is the one hair product you need for your wedding day.
I, personally, have hair that frizzes the second I walk out the door...whether it's just humid or raining, I have these unattractive flyaways that can never be tamed. I usually will just pull my hair back, but on your wedding day, that isn't an option.
Enter: Moroccan Oil. This lightweight oil gets applied to towel dried hair (very important to get all of the dripping water out) and it's as simple as that. You don't even need that much. The oil will cut down blowdrying time and make your hair soft and smooth but it won't weigh it down or make it look greasy. You can easily brave the rain and humidity with this in your hair.
What's better, is that the more you use this oil, the healthier your hair will be and the better it will look over time. I tell all of my brides when I meet them for the first time about this product and before their wedding day it's a gift from me to them. But go spoil yourself. This is a product you must buy. It's on the pricey side, but since you will be using such a small amount each time, it will last for months. It's even better if you're a hot iron abuser like I am, or a color junkie.
Now, if you are working with me as your planner, you will eventually receive this wonderful product as a gift before your wedding day, but if you're not, you should run, don't walk and grab it for yourself. Yes, I do put together a cute little gift basket for all of my brides before they say "I do" (just another reason to work with me), and this by far, is my favorite item.
So run out and try this...remember, the more you use it before your wedding day, the more wonderful your hair will look. Now then, isn't it nice to have one less thing to worry about on your wedding day?
(Edit: Don't believe me? TheKnot.com backs me up:http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/planning-a-wedding/articles/wedding-dates-to-avoid.aspx)You're cordially invited to spend your entire holiday weekend at our wedding. Because we're important and you didn't have anything else to do.
So clearly, I think holiday weddings are a mess. Yet, over the years I've watched couples get married over Fourth of July, Labor Day...even Christmas.
To all of the brides who do this, I say "tsk tsk". The only thought going through the minds of the people you are inviting is "There goes my holiday and one of the only breaks I get all year." Trust me, not many will be excited.
That said: Is it your wedding? Yes. Can you have it anyway you want? OF COURSE! But there is a point where you need to think of your guests before selecting the date. And if you're hoping to cut costs and make money back from your guests...guess again, especially when some of your guests don't show up. Despite etiquette rules, most won't send gifts if they are invited, but then don't come. Shame on those guests, but that's another story.
One of the arguments for having a holiday wedding is that things will be cheaper. Let me shed some light on that having worked on weddings where the bride insisted on a holiday wedding.
There is a good chance that the venue will be cheaper. While the venue is a big price tag to worry about, let's not forget all of the other ones you will need to keep in mind:
Vendors: florists, photographers, videographers, and yes, even officiants are going to charge you more money. If you have your wedding on a holiday weekend or, worse, directly on that holiday, you will have your vendors charging you more for giving up their time that they otherwise would not have been working. I have watched vendors raise their rates solely because a wedding was on a holiday weekend. It happens, so be prepared.
You may be limited to the vendors you can hire now because of a. limited availability (it's a holiday, duh face) and b. they raise their prices because...it's a holiday...did I mention that already?
But let's say that you're one of those lucky brides where budget isn't even a concern. To you, I say mazel tov. What's the pricetag on your friendships and your relationship with your family members?
I've heard brides with holiday weddings say "I don't care if people don't want to come. If they don't want to come because it's a holiday, then they don't have to." These same brides have been MISERABLE on the day of their weddings when they see how many people in fact do not show up. And, again, despite the fact that etiquette dictates that the people that receive invitations are still supposed to send gifts, trust me, you won't receive many if any at all. It is very hard for most brides to see on the day of their wedding how empty the venue is. Make sure that's something you can handle. Be honest with yourself.
I've also heard brides say "If people don't show up, that just shows we're not really friends". First of all, stop inviting 500+ people that you never see or spend time with. Those people aren't your friends in the first place and why you want them at your wedding is beyond my comprehension. Second of all, just because people don't come, doesn't mean they aren't your friends. It means it's a holiday and you're not being a good friend by picking your wedding date and having no respect for anyone else.
I know this post is harsh and I've probably offended some brides. To those brides I say, you've offended a good portion of your guest list.
My advice is to avoid holiday weddings at all costs. You will lost relationships no matter how strong you think they are. Also, even though you think you might be saving money on the venue, do not forget the rest of the items you have to purchase that will be more expensive because you just HAD to deck the halls on your wedding day.
I promise I'll be nice in my next entry. And even though this is harsh, it simply serves a warning. Brides that want holiday weddings need to be aware: 1. prices won't be cut, 2. vendors won't be available, 3. guests will not be happy. Weddings are stressful enough...don't add more stress to your day. There are 52 weekend to choose from.
Ever wonder how you could enhance the look of your wedding? Your linens are beautiful, the florist did a great job, but what makes the room complete? Fabulous lighting, of course!
I recently stumbled across "Luminous Designs" while searching for a lighting designer for a wedding we are currently working on. Seems that there is more to offer than just uplighting.
This company shows off their talents hanging chandeliers from tents, globes from ceiling, swallowing the whole room in a wash of reds, you name it, they do it.
Think of your wedding as a movie. What does every great movie have in common? Beautiful lighting. Lighting is a great way to showcase what your other vendors have already put together for you.
You can keep it simple, and have your initials splashed up on a wall, or designs of flowers or snowflakes, or you can really turn it up. For instance, say your colors are purple, orange and golds for a fall wedding, why not have your flowers be deep purples and plums with orange accents while drenching the entire room in a golden hue? There are so many ways to play with it.
Don't just think about the walls, there are ways to decorate the ceiling and the floor as well. If your ceiling is a white tent, why not turn it into a canopy of leaves using lights? Perhaps turn your floor into an icy blue color all night for your winter wedding.
Lighting doesn't always have to be big and bold. If you have a small wedding planned, pinches of lighting here and there can complete the total picture. Whether it's lighting the entrance and archways that guests walk through, or places bright bulbs outside the venue, there are many options.
I invite you to take a look at Luminous Designs' Website here: http://www.luminousld.com/
Happy Lighting!
While working on a wedding lined up for this May, I became incredibly inspired by the natural look this bride was going for.
Her wedding will be at a beach and she seems to lean towards glass, candles, hanging lights...very clean and natural. The reception area has a wood ceiling with wood beams and the floor is also wood. There is something very natural about the place.
I took a look around at wedding pictures that I've seen and found some gorgeous ways to incorporate wood in every way possible. Wood adds a natural, feel that you can dress up or keep simple. Like flowers, there are so many combinations that you should look at before dismissing the idea completely.
The picture on the left that I have posted are large branches that were placed at the entrance of a cocktail hour. Hanging from the branches are flowers, but you can do so much more than just this. These flowers are an off-white, but you can put bright bursts of your colors in the forms of flowers, candles, glass bottles, pretty much anything that hangs. Think of it as a Christmas tree..there are thousands of ornaments you can use!
I've also seen this type of a centerpiece on a smaller scale either placed on tables or around the ceremony area. You can see from the picture on the right that charms were hung from strings coming down from the branches. They also used flowers but the charms would easily have stood on their own.
You could also hang votive holders (long enough for the flame not to catch the wood on fire) from the branches to add a beautiful glow. This would be gorgeous for a piece on the table where your guestbook is. You could even carve your initials inside of a heart on a piece of wood by your wedding cake.
If you want to go all out with the wood theme, and not just stick to centerpieces, look for places where you could add a little here and there. For instance, at your cocktail hour, why not place bleached wood on the bar area or around pictures of you and your new spouse? Bring the wood to your altar with branches hanging above you and your love as you say your vows.
Whether you wedding is on the beach, in a church, or whereever it is, you can add little touches of wood or go full out. The choices are yours and the possibilities are endless!
Pretty much everywhere around the country is freezing now and covered with snow...and now is a very popular time for those destination weddings, where the only thing white on the ground is the sand.
Since these weddings are frequently outdoors, you will need a hairstyle that will work with the elements...especially the island breezes.
So you want to work with your hair, and not against it. This is not the time to go against your natural wave, but it is the time to embrace it. One of my favorite products to use in the summer is SurfSpray by Bumble and Bumble. This product will bring out the natural texture of your hair and is super easy to use. Spray it on dry hair, wet hair, whatever. It will give you that "I just came from the ocean and always look this sexy" look. You can buy it here: http://www.bumbleandbumble.com/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT72&PRODUCT_ID=221
Whether you leave your hair down, or put it up, let the islands inspire you. Don't hesitate to add flowers, shells, starfish, or whatever you find beautiful about the place you're getting married in.
One thing that is important to be careful of is to make sure your hairstyle doesn't conflict with the neckline of your dress. If you have beautiful details in the forms of straps, you don't want to hide it under surfer girl hair. You can pin is loosely or take it completely off your neck. If you have too much going on it just looks busy and not pretty. You also want to make sure that your hair, even if it's all down, stays off your face. The last thing you will need is your hair blowing in your face during your ceremony and making it impossible to get through your vows.
Word of caution with hair that is completely down: don't wear lip gloss. Should your hair go across your face, it will drag the color right off your lips and be a sticky mess. There's a chance you won't even notice that your coral lipgloss is on your cheek until you see the wedding photos that you're paying all of this money for. Trust me, that lipgloss across your face is not easy to photoshop out. Just say "no" to gloss outside.
Even if your wedding isn't a destination, you can always use these casual looks for your ceremony. Be creative and use your imagination...and of course, a hairstylist isn't a bad idea either.
"I'm at Table 3."
Sounds boring doesn't it? It doesn't have to.
Think you've thought about every detail and how to personalize your wedding down to the last thought? Well, what are you naming your tables?
That's right, name your tables. Who says your tables have to be numbered?
The picture I have chosen to accompany this post was borrowed from theknot.com and featured a wedding that took place in NY State. Clearly, this couple has a shared bond over classical music, hence the table name "Tchaikovsky".
This is one of the details of your wedding that actually gets to be more fun than stressful. You get to spend time with the person you love and talk about what you both enjoy and have in common.
The possibilities for table naming are endless. Personally, my wedding took place at a winery and we named the tables after wines that we love.
Where is your wedding taking place? Any place you are getting married at tells a story. Here are some examples you're welcome to steal or expand on.
Perhaps you're getting married at a library. Why not name the tables after well known love stories? Avoid Romeo and Juliet though and stick to ones with happy endings. Unless you and your partner are Shakespeare addicts, and then, by all means, go ahead! If stories aren't your thing, what about authors that made their mark just as your and your partner will? Maybe you're both Stephen King addicts and are incorporating that theme...why not title the tables after his famous works?
Getting married in a garden? Tables named after flowers or plants are a given...but what about pairing the table names with that particular flower? Of course, speak to your florist about what is in season to make this work. You can even take it one step further and add something for your guests to read about the flower that is at their table. Great ice breaker for big weddings where not everyone knows their table-mates.
But of course there are the brides that get married at a hall and can't find anything particular to name the tables after. If you can't think of anything about your venue special enough to showcase as a table number, then rely on your history as a couple. Perhaps you love old movies like Casablance and Gone with the Wind, or maybe you're both crazy about famous weddings...why not name your tables after these couples in a way to honor both them and your marriage?
There are so many ways to name your tables rather than using numbers. Best of all you can use this as an excuse to spend time with your better half coming up with ideas...no input from anyone else required.
What is your wedding theme? Need help figuring out how to name your tables? Please feel free to leave a comment and I'd be happy to help.
Ok, so you've been to weddings and you think you've seen it all as far as centerpieces go. They can be tall, short, half and half...roses, lilies, dreaded baby breath (that's a no-no, don't do it, it's a weed)...
...and sometimes instead of flowers you will see branches, candles, even fake flowers (don't do that either, it's tacky).
But what about produce?
Fruit and veggies are making an appearance in centerpieces at weddings, screaming "here we are, not just for the grocery store anymore." This particular centerpiece showcases oranges and grapes, and arrangements are now including artichokes (both green and purple), pomegranates, you name it.
It's a daring choice and will have people talking. Inevitably, people will touch it, just to see if it's real. Please do not use fake fruit, I implore you. Some guests will even smell it.
If you decide to go the fruit option, speak to your florist about what is in season. Just like flowers, not all fruit will be readily available. For instance, as gorgeous as halved blood oranges are, there are few months of the year (depending on where you live) that you would be able to find them. Your florist will be able to tell you what fruit/veggie is in season and more importantly, what flowers will go with them. That's not to say you have to use flowers though, you can always mix it up with candles, branches, or any of the "regular" stuff you see in wedding centerpieces.
If you're running on a tight budget, or if you're a DIY bride, fruits are fun to work with. Depending on how creative you are, you can vary your centerpieces from clusters of lemons and candles to oranges and wood. Be careful though when it comes to cutting the fruit as often florists will put a glaze over the fruit so that it a. doesn't go bad and b. doesn't attract fruit flies or any other insect.
You could also submerge some fruits/veggies in water with flowers but you'll have to be careful to not let them sit for too long before the event. You don't want soggy grapes in a pile of water, you want elegance and creativity. Play around with different combination months before your wedding at your own home so you know what you're working with.
The most important thing with using fruit as a centerpiece is to know that, like flowers, the possibilities are endless. From star fruit, to kiwi, to cranberries, there's a color pattern that will work for your special day. Draw inspiration from everyday life: caramel covered apples for a fall wedding, or chocolate covered strawberries...
Whether you're using a florist or putting it together on your own, have fun and and open your mind. Your guests will love it, guaranteed.
Now brides, I know how worried you get about the most important thing on your wedding day: your hair! Well, this product has been around for the past 2 years, and I cannot say enough about it! Moroccan Oil is the one hair product you need for your wedding day.
