Tweet

You’re finally walking together hand in hand as a married couple. We’ve all watched the classic scene in movies commemorating this moment with white rice thrown around the couple by their guests, but are you craving something outside the norm? Here are some modern twists on this timeless tradition!

Greet your guests outside the ceremony space with pairs of balloons for them to release into the air as you step outside the venue! A versatile design element, these balloons can match your bridal party attire, your reception décor, or perhaps your favorite colors! It’s fun, funky, fresh, and will definitely knock the socks off your guests!

Perfect for evening nuptials, a sparkler exit is the ideal touch for your dream wedding! They are cost effective and super easy to clean up! Not to mention, they look great in pictures! Be sure to have multiple lighters or matches available for guests to light their sparklers before you exit the ceremony space!

For our crafty, D.I.Y. brides, paper planes are a cute send off for you and your hubby! Utilizing and commemorating your love for arts and crafts (and your dexterity!), these paper planes are also a cost effective, easy to clean up exit! This can also be a cute representation of your honeymoon! Consider using different colored papers or perhaps even printed maps to design the paper planes!

If you want your wedding to be a real party, arm your guests with funnels of colored confetti for your grand exit as a married couple! We can’t promise the clean-up will be easy, but this could be a fun pre-wedding D.I.Y. for yourself to distress, or for you and your bridal party for some girl time! Bonus, it’s also cost effective and very customizable! You can shred up excess paper or use hole-punches in all different shapes and sizes to add variety and spunk to your confetti medley!

IF you trust your guests with weighted objects that can be thrown, glow sticks are another perfect idea for a night time wedding exit! Although they may not be as cost effective as some of the previous suggestions, they can serve many purposes such as a favor for your guests and a prop to party with throughout the reception (if they don’t lose them of course!) Besides, don’t they look amazing in pictures?!

We all love the classic wedding couple exit to a cascade of petals, bubbles, and rice, but if you are looking for a key wow factor to set your wedding apart, consider utilizing one of the above suggestions! They are all quick, easy, and unique!

Tweet

Cocktail weddings are a big trend for 2013! Add a signature cocktail to your event that shows off your wedding colors!

A Red Cedar Sunset is perfect for a summer wedding! Fun light colors are created using orange juice, grenadine, and champagne.

If you’re having a December wedding, try The Mistletoe! Vodka, crème de menthe, and peppermint liqueur give this drink its yuletide appeal.

Purple is a popular color for fall and spring, but this drink works for summer too! Mix blueberries, limes, rum, and club soda for a refreshing cocktail.

For more cocktails in every color of the rainbow, as well as their recipes, go to http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/gorgeous-signature-cocktails-in-every-color-of-the-rainbow
 

Tweet

To add a splash of summer fun to your Wedding Cake for your special day, here are some Wedding Cake designs, specifically for the summer season!

This cake represents a summer garden. With yellow Daisies and purple flowers mixed within, gives the feel of a summer, breezy garden scene. The icing ruffles and the purple and yellow borders on each layer adds to the design and the finishing touches of the cake.

 
This cake represents an ice cream orange creamsicle! Walking down the boardwalk and stopping at an ice cream station, or hearing the ice cream man around the corner from your house, this orange designed cake, along with the white and orange flowers, can make you feel as if you are eating a nice ice cream creamsicle on a hot summer day!

 
This Wedding Cake represents lemon ice! Imagine sitting by your poolside, eating a nice cold cup of lemon ice. That is when you know that summer has officially arrived!

 This cake represents the fashion of summer! Dresses, flower skirts, floral shirts, and flip flips; this cake has wonderful mixtures of colors such as pink, orange, yellow, and purple and lime green. These colors can brighten up anyone’s day and wardrobe in a heartbeat!

Tweet

Having children at any wedding can be stressful, especially if they’re in the wedding party! In fact, questions about involving children are some of the most frequently asked! But if you want to involve kids in your ceremony or have them at the reception, here are some tips to make the day easier:

1. Bring snacks! It’s almost a guarantee with young children that there will be some minor issue, but tempers are easily calmed with treats! Neat foods, like small bags of dry cereal or lollipops are great for keeping kids happy and distracting them from long waits or uncomfortable clothing.
   
    
2. Expect the unexpected! Kids, especially little ones, can do anything from dumping their flower petals in one spot to sitting down in the middle of the aisle. The best thing to do is to explain to any children, clearly and simply, what their job is before the ceremony and have them practice. And, in the event something does go awry, laugh it off! It will be a funny memory in a few years.
   
    
3. Have a designated adult! Instead of telling your kids to walk down the aisle and stand in a certain spot, tell them to go to an uncle or aunt, preferably someone they know and are comfortable with. The DA can take control if the flower girl starts playing with the bride’s dress or the ring bearer tries to wander off.
   
    
4. Take their pictures first. It’s hard to organize pictures, especially with kids! Take their pictures first so they can play and the adults don’t have to worry about their clothing getting messy.
   
    
5. Have fun! Let the kids run around, take off their shoes, and slide around the dance floor! Make sure you have some kid-friendly food, like chicken fingers and French fries, and have a kids table for them to sit at together. If the wedding is at a hotel, have a babysitter or teenage guest take the kids to watch a movie or do an activity so the adults can have fun without worrying about their children. Children pick up on stress from adults, so let them know everyone is there to have fun and they’ll have fun too!

Tweet

20’s style weddings are a big trend this year! Drop necklines, classic hairstyles, and headpieces are all appearing in wedding styles. Give your wedding a Great Gatsby twist!

An empire waist and cap sleeves give this wedding dress a vintage feel. The beading and low neckline keep it modern and elegant.

Two-button suits are perfect for a 20’s style wedding. A classic combed hairdo adds to the timeless appearance.

A headpiece is a unique alternative to a veil! Floral accents and a patterned band are reminiscent of a flapper, but are still appropriate for a wedding.

Simple table décor is best for a 20’s themed wedding. Use white or clear vases and classic flowers, like roses and lily’s, for a dramatic centerpiece. Dark colors are more fitting for a 20’s style wedding!

Having a themed wedding can be fun, but it doesn’t have to be rigid! A 20’s style dress or suit can still work with modern music. It’s your day, so specialize the wedding to your taste!
 

Tweet

Mint is a big color for 2013 weddings! There’s many ways to incorporate it into your wedding, from dresses to décor!

Mint bridesmaid dresses are perfect for spring and summer weddings! They also go great with pink, especially peach and lighter tones. Mint bridesmaid dresses with a coordinating pink maid of honor dress look fresh and modern. Match them with a coordinating bouquet of summer flowers!

Mint cakes are also beautiful and unique for weddings! Although the mint color is more creative, white accents have the traditional wedding feel that many brides desire.

Mint tablecloths are also a great way to mix color into your wedding! Pink accents, like napkins or candles, go great against a mint backdrop! Centerpieces with a mix of pink, white, and mint create a romantic décor for your wedding! Add strings of pearls or crystals for a vintage look.

Tweet

The first dance between the bride and groom is a major highlight of the wedding night.  The song they dance to usually has a special meaning for the bride and groom, so it is important to choose a song both will love.

Tweet

Spring is the season for First Communions! First Communions are an important rite of passage and there are many great ways to celebrate them!

Start off your communion by sending out simple invitations. Classic pink, blue, yellow, or white are fitting for the occasion.

The reception following the ceremony is where you can have more fun! Pretty, simple table designs are perfect for the mixed crowd you will probably have at your reception.

If you don’t want a floral centerpiece, a small picture frame with a printed design is a cute way to celebrate a communion! Any color will go well with a white frame, and you can add accents, like sports-themed scrapbook stickers, to suit the girl or boy of honor.

Balloons in the color of your choice can also add color to your table without looking too adult. After your meal, you can add some fun with a candy station! Candy stations are a fun way to serve up sweet treats to please all your guests, regardless of age.

To finish, try a fun dessert to wrap up the party! Cake designs with a classic cross or congratulations are fitting for the occasion. Additionally, cake pops are all the rage right now! You can try making them at home for a fun project with your guest of honor as well! 

For favors, try an edible gift to take home, like a communion cookie or a molded lollipop! They look adorable and are sure to please the young guests at the reception! Make this day an event to remember!

Tweet

Spring is a great time to get creative with your wedding! If you don’t want to get too crazy, try changing up your bouquet! Using unconventional materials for your bouquet is a fun way to make your wedding pop!

These bright bridesmaid dresses are the perfect accent for a spring or summer wedding, and go beautifully with the lemon lollipops the bridal party is holding! Edible props add a touch of whimsy without being overbearing.

Tweet

 Bling bling! Did you ever really take the time to look deep into an engagement ring?

When shopping for an engagement ring, there are various types of metals to be aware of. Some of these include Palladium, Platinum, Rose Gold, White Gold, White Metals, Yellow Gold, and Yellow Metals. Shown below is a Platinum metal ring!

The stone is the next important thing that the bride-to-be focuses most on. Some brides are pretty picky about this, so watch out future husbands! Some examples of stone shapes are Asscher, Cushion, Dream, Emerald, Marquise, Pear, Princess, Radiant, Round, Oval, Square, and Rectangle. Shown below is a Princess Stone ring!

Last but not least, it is important to choose the style of the ring. Every bride has her own unique style that suits her personality. Examples of styles are Colored Gemstones, Modern, Traditional, Unique, Milgrain Edging, Vintage, and Matching Bands. Shown below is a Colored Gemstone Style!

The metal, style, and the stone shape are what collectively make up a beautiful engagement ring. Having the perfect engagement ring tailored to the bride-to-be’s personality and style will make her feel even more special when you pop the question! Intimidated? Don’t go it alone! Ask a close friend or family member for help when you go ring shopping! Good luck!