Wedding Etiquette: Thank You Cards

Are thank you cards are going out of fashion? I hope not; a big Thank You should never go out of fashion!

Proper wedding etiquette states that you should send out thank you cards within 2 months of the wedding.

Check out this article from our friends at Jam Paper for information on how to address your thank you cards and thank you card wording examples.

The biggest mistake people make when writing their thank you’s is sending out generic thank you cards. Couples should take the time to thank those who attended in a personal way, just like your guests took the time to attend your wedding. Handwrite your cards if possible, as this always offers an extra personal touch.

Lastly, it’s not JUST the Bride's job to write the thank you’s. If the bride is writing the card, she should mention the groom by name in the thank you note and sign her name to the note. If the groom is writing, he should mention the bride by name in the note and sign his name. If neither name is mentioned in the note, it is signed with both names regardless of who is writing the thank you.

ZCreateDesign

Personalized Tea Bag Favors

Personalized tea bag favors are a great idea for your wedding and here's why: 

Affordable yet stylish. The favors featured here sell for about $1.00 each and yet are elegantly dressed up with 3 styles.

Tea is classic. Americans have been sipping this savory brew since 1907, when an American tea merchant named Thomas Sullivan began handing out samples of his tea in small, Chinese silk bags with handy drawstrings attached.

Health benefits. Too many to count! Not only has tea been proven to have heart-healthy benefits, it also helps protect you from a range of super scary cancers.

Good for the planet! No waste, no worry, no plastic to fill up our landfills. If you enjoy a cup of tea brewed with loose leaves or even a tea bag, these are terrific sources of rich nitrogen for your compost pile.

beau-coup

Source: Beautiful Bridal

Wedding Etiquette: Bachelorette Parties

Bachelorette parties are fun times, but it's not up to the maid of honor and/or bridal party to host the bachelorette party for the bride. If she wants one, then everyone who attends should contribute equally, even the bride!

Pinterest

Source: Deborah McCoy

Fusion Indian-Greek Wedding

This couple did an amazing job at representing both of their cultures and religions into their Jewish-Hindu wedding. Two ceremonies elegantly wove the bride's Greek Orthodox roots with the groom's Indian heritage. Their wedding planner—Alexandra Strawn of Cherry Blossom Events—dubbed the wedding“Bollywood goes Greek”.

When they began to plan the wedding, they knew they wanted to incorporate both of their cultures and religions, as they had both been raised with strong ties to each. After a ton of debate the couple finally decided to abbreviate both ceremonies and do them at the same time. They believed that would be the best way to honor their traditions most fully and allow all of their friends the chance to see both sides of our cultures.

How did they pull it off? The couple started off wearing traditional Indian wedding garb, with a baraat (an Indian groom’s wedding procession) and a celebratory Indian ceremony under a mandap, a traditional Indian wedding canopy. Then, the mandap was transformed, covered with olive branches and the bride changed into a white gown groom donned a suit for the Greek Orthodox ceremony. How clever!

Photo Credits: The Happy Couple

Source: Washingtonian

The 411 on Having Children at Your Wedding

Children, no matter how adorable they are, can be a bit of a wild card when it comes to big events. So do you include them in the festivities or not? And if so, how do you keep them happy through all of the days events?

In this post I'll share a few tricks that may help to avoid near-disasters when it comes to kids and weddings.

Kids in the Wedding Party

• I understand how much you’d love for your adorable two-year-old niece to totter down the aisle amid hundreds of “awws” from your smiling guests. But the more likely scenario is that he or she will end up a) crying, b) falling, c) coming down with a paralyzing case of stage fright, or d) all of the above. Solution: choose attendants between the ages of four and nine that can carry out the job in a more predictable and mature fashion than tiny tots can.
• Once they have performed their roles on the wedding day, allow them to sit with their parents in the audience; don’t keep them up at the altar with you and the rest of the adult attendants. This will ensure an attack of “restless child syndrome” won’t be on display for all to see.
• Incorporate the use of child attendants in the rehearsal to make them as comfortable as possible with their role in the wedding. 
• If all else fails, don't underestimate the power of sugar. Have an arsenal of sweets on hand in case bribes are necessary to make it down the aisle and to sit still afterward. Just remember not to choose anything messy, like chocolate.
• Kids in the double digits are probably too old to be flower girls and ring bearers. But they can still be included in your party, either as junior attendants or by handing programs to guests as they are seated before the ceremony.

Kids at the Reception

• Little ones often have picky palates and might even throw a fit if the food’s not to their liking. Rectify the situation by pre-planning a children’s menu for any guest under the age of 12. Chicken fingers and fries or pizza are always crowd pleasers.
• Try to have some sort of entertainment for the kids, if possible, so they can eat their dinner, do a little dancing, and then head off to the pre-arranged babysitter to allow Mom and Dad to enjoy a few kid-free hours.
• If a babysitter isn’t in the cards, put out some small-scale activities at the designated kids’ table. Just a simple paper tablecloth and crayons or other non-messy activities can do the trick.

Most importantly, if you choose to have kids at your wedding, in any capacity, be prepared to roll with the punches. After all, sometimes the hiccups are what make the day funny and memorable.

weddingfavors.org

Source: Washingtonian

Cool Wedding Transportation

What a fun idea...rent a vintage Porsche to drive to your reception in style!

Photo Credit: Green Wedding Shoes

Wedding Planning Tip: Menu Tastings

Make sure to ask if a menu tasting is included in your contract with the caterer or if there is an additional cost for this. When serving dinner or having a buffet for 100 guests or more, it's essential to have a "tasting" with your caterer (although you may want to have one even if your wedding is smaller). The caterer schedules a tasting so that you can sample the foods that will be served at the reception from the hors-d'oeuvres, to main course, to the cake (if included in the package). At the tasting, you can make any applicable changes. Don't be afraid to speak up if there is something you don't like or something you want to change. This is your opportunity!!

Valentine's Day Wedding Inspiration Board

Being the most romantic day of the year, Valentine's Day is the perfect day to say "I do". To me, Valentine's Day means ROMANCE and lots of it! So, I've put together an inspiration board for you with an example of my romantic Valentine's day look. Enjoy!

Pink Bridesmaids Dress, Shoes, Earrings, Bouquet, Pink Lemonade, Canopy/Chuppah, Boutonniere, Heart Chair Back,  Heat Shaped Tea Sandwhiches,

Pink Diamond Rings, Rose Centerpiece, Tablescape, Chair Decor, Heart Cake, Seating Chart, Glitter Table Number, Pink Champagne Favors

What Your Valentine's Lip Print Reveals

Here's something just for fun. Your Valentine’s lip print can reveal some interesting personality traits:

1. If the lower lip print has a V-shaped indentation (called a gourmet lip split) in the middle of the inner edge, it is safe to assume that this person is not a cheap date. They tend to have champagne and caviar tastes

2. A dark line (energy line) at the edge of the inner aspect of the lower lip print is someone that gets their feelings hurt easily.

3. A round or oval shaped print is someone that doesn’t like conflict or confrontation. They like everyone to get along.

4. A hug pucker looks like a tonsil hanging down from the middle of the inner edge of the upper lip print. The larger the hug pucker, the more these people are generous with their hugs. They enjoy being physically affectionate.

Source: Michael Kett

What's Trending in Weddings 2014 Part-5

In our final installment of the the hottest wedding trends for 2014, we go back...way back in time. Prohibition era style is all the rage in weddings. From clothing to decor, everything from the 1920's is made new again by Great Gatsby inspired looks.

Source: Biz Bash
Photo Credits: Style Me Pretty, Pinterest, The Knott, Invitations by Ajalon, Philadelphia Wedding

What's Trending in Weddings 2014 Part-3

This 5-part blog series is all about the hottest wedding trends of 2014. 

I could not be more stoked about this trend. Oh Yes, Ombre! What is that you ask? Obmre is the gradual change from one color or shade into the next. And I love it soooo much that I've dedicated an entire Pinterest board to it. Check out my board, appropriately titled Oh My Ombre!

Source: Biz Bash

Photo Credit: Stewart Weddings, Jason Kindig, Pinterest, I Do Weddings, I Do Weddings

What's Trending in Weddings 2014 Part-2

In this series of blog posts I'm bringing you the inside scoop on the hottest wedding trends of the moment. Trend #2 goes to the ever-chic black and white motif.

In 2014, black and white gains new swag through metallic pairings.

Source: Biz Bash
Photo Credits: Biz Bash, Exclusively Weddings, The Aisle Style, The Knott, Jupiter and Juno