Savvy Beach Wedding Thongs
If you are thinking of having a beach wedding theme, then you must take a look at these Swarovski Havaiana thongs. I found them at Love on the Rox. Not affiliated or associated with them in any way. Every princess bride loves bling-bling on their wedding shoes. What better way to incorporate those shiny things with comfy beach thongs for your wedding day.
Havaiana 750 Crystal thongs
They are probably the most expensive pair of thongs you will ever own! However, if you scale them along with other wedding shoe options, they are not too bad. They also have a cheaper version, if you are on a tighter budget, but it is the same stuff just with less crystals on them. I think they will be great as matching shoes for the bridesmaid.
Havaiana Wedding Thongs
Have an Exciting Wedding!
How to Direct Guests to Their Table Faster
Not long ago, I was invited to a close friend’s wedding. The groom was from Indonesia and the bride was from Japan. It was a lovely contemporary Australian style wedding with an Asian flair.
The wedding went smoothly except for one thing: the guests’ seating plans was left with the wedding reception staff, who was responsible for directing all the guests to their correct table.
This would have been fine in most cases but in this instance, the seating plan was done based on each table. That is, the wedding guests’ names were listed out according to which table they seat at.
The poor reception staff had a lot of problems because:
A) the majority of the guests had foreign names
B) the reception staff is unfamiliar with the pronounciation of these names.
C) the names were list for each table, so staff has to check all tables to find the correct one
Obviously, if this has been a family or close friend at the door, they maybe able to recognize a few people and thus make the job much easier. However, this was not the case!
So how can you direct your guests to their table faster?
Easy. Make sure you have 2 separate sets of table arrangement plans. The first plan would be labeled with Table 1, 2, 3 etc and a list of names under each table number. But most importantly, get a second plan (especially if you are getting a stranger such as a wedding reception staff or your wedding planner to do the job) with a list of guests in ALPHABETICAL order, followed by their table number.
It is much quicker to scroll down a list of unfamiliar names, in alphabetical order, to find the one that matches and direct them to the correct table number than to go through each table and find the correct name. There’s nothing worst than leaving your guests waiting in a long queue to find out which table they are seating at.
It would have made life a lot easier and simpler for the poor reception staff at this wedding!
Have an exciting wedding!
The best things about weddings
Sometimes planning a wedding can be quite stressful. There are so many people and items to organize, co-ordinate and manage. It is important not to loose yourself in the nitty gritty details of the wedding. Try to enjoy the whole planning process and allow yourself to shine.
In case you’ve forgotten, here are some of the best things about weddings:
- Getting ready: The bridal gown, the breath-taking hairdos, the veil, jewellery and shoes! The make-up, the preparation and general excitement on the big day.
- The wedding kiss: “You may now kiss the bride.” This is the kiss all brides has been waiting for. It is not just any kisses. It is THE kiss that seals the deal. And your first husband and wife kiss.
- The groom’s speech: Another great moment is when the groom, your husband, stands up in front of all your friends and relatives and declares his love for you and let you know how special you are.
- Men in suits: Men are more handsome in suits, and even more during a wedding!
- Cocktail hour is almost mandatory: although we don’t want a drunken bride or groom or an uncle.
- The cake: cutting the cake is symbolic of having a shared life together, another Kleenex moment…
- Wedding favors: Who doesn’t love a gift? Especially one that has been specially prepared.
- Getting married: Being in the spotlight, center of attention, celebrating the union between you and your partner.
- Honeymoon: When the party is over, and you can really have your partner all to yourself. No friends or family, just the newlyweds enjoying the first of many holidays together.
Have an exciting wedding!
9 Wedding Hairstyles for Short Hair
With an upcoming wedding this week (not mine, but a close friend), it’s time to think about hairstyles. I usually have pretty short layered hair. I personally love long hair but have sensitive skin which means long hair can irritate my skin. Anyway, it is pretty hard trying to find the right hair style when your hair is medium to short length. I scoured heaps of mags and websites, here are a few I really liked. Most are from Bride.com. They have a really nice gallery and how-tos for a range of hairstyles and you can narrow down your search depending on which styles (updos, half up, down etc), length and hair type (e.g. curly, straight).
Wedding Hairstyles for Brides with short hair
Top to bottom, left to right:
1. Curly Hair
2. Side part, low chignon to the side with flowers
3. Nice and neat, bangs to the side with a clip and hair tucked behind ears.
4. Short, bohemian, half way up
6. Short and playful. No fringe, with princess style tiara
I really like the last photo. I think the flowers added a nice touch.
Just a few things to remember when choosing the “right” wedding hairstyle:
- the hairstyle should complement the wedding gown.
- a simple look for a simple dress
- ballgown dresses will look best with a dramatic updo (hair done up)
- if you choose to wear a head dress, choose a comb that suits your hair and hairstyle. A fine comb would be more suited to fine and straight hair.
- keep hair in place with gel, anti frizz, and loads of hairspray. Remember, your hair has to stay in place for the whole duration of your wedding.
- you can ask for trials for different styles to see which one suits you before you go ahead.
Fall in Love again…..with Pearls.
I have always loved pearls. I think they are elegant and classic. There is a timeless glamor about pearls. Pearl jewelery are so versatile, they can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. When it comes to bridal pearl accessories, it is important to consider the bridal gown design, such as the neckline and details of the dress.
Another plus with pearls is that you can always wear it again and again long after your wedding. Unlike some wedding gowns that stay in the closet until the dust sets in!
Clockwise:
2. Charleston Daisy Feather Comb
3. Satin W Crystal beads evening bag
5. Freshwater pearl double drop necklace
7. Silk Comb
8. Jessica McClintock East/West satin fold over clutch
10. Paris head band
12. Center Pearl veil
12 Reasons to Wear Flat Shoes to Your Wedding
I am a huuuuge fan of flat shoes. When I had my wedding a few years ago, I wanted to really enjoy the entire day without worrying over sore feet (even though some bride may think high heels, sore feet, inability to breathe, eat and drink are just part of the wedding fun).
Plus, by the time I put on a pair of heels, I would immediately tower over my husband-to-be as we are the same height.
At the time of my wedding, there were not many flat wedding shoes to choose from. The closest thing was orthoheels from our local chemist. Although they are very comfy, they were not exactly my style of wedding shoes! I finally purchased a pair of ballet/sports shoes which I painted the soles white! In hind sight, I only wish I did my research on the net, then I would have saved a bundle and have a greater variety of shoes to choose from.
Here are 12 reasons why you should wear flats on your wedding day;
Top to bottom, left to right:
1. Cole Haan Ceci Air Rose Ballet
8. Pour La Victoire Bridal and Evening Milou
9. Pour La Victoire Bridal and Evening Blossom
Heavenly, irresistable, chocolate wedding cake ideas
If you want a truly indulgent wedding cake, you can’t go past an entire wedding cake covered with rich, velvety chocolate!
Chocolate is so versatile. Not only is it so decadent and delicious, it can also be molded into so many shapes to decorate your cake as well. Imagine decorating your beach style wedding cake with chocolate sea shells. It will send your guests’ taste buds to cloud 9!
It is also a more modern flavor compared to the traditional fruit cake. Chocolate cakes come in all shapes and flavors. Here are some examples of different versions of the chocolate wedding cake:
- dark chocolate mud cake
- smooth chocolate truffle cake
- white chocolate mud cake- a lighter version of the dark mud
- hazelnut and chocolate swirl
- strawberry, vanilla and chocolate combination cake
- chocolate sponge cake
- orange sponge covered with chocolate or chocolate butter icing
Tip: If you decide to serve your chocolate wedding cake as dessert, ask your caterer to add a dollop of ice-cream or whipped cream and some fresh fruits. Alternatively, some strawberry coulis or white or dark chocolate sauce for a really indulgent treat.
1. Dark and white chocolate wedding cake
2. Square white chocolate wedding cake
4. Spotted chocolate wedding cake
5 Basic Wedding Invitation Etiquette That All Brides Can Follow
Most people don’t have much experience with planning a wedding. After all, we only plan to have one wedding in our life time! Having said that, most brides would get a lot of ‘advices’ from all sort of sources from family, friends, future in-laws and of course, from the web. I think preparing the wedding invitation is one of the most exciting time in the whole wedding-till-i-do experience. This is because the wedding invitation is another way for you and your fiance to announce your intention to get married. The real excitement starts from now.
So when it comes to what, where, when and how of wedding invitation, there are a few basic rules you should follow. This should not restrict your own style or taste. There will always be room for your individual creativity.
1. All words are written from a third person view.
2. Social and Professional titles.
-Guests name should be written in full. No nicknames and initials.
-If they have a professional title, you must include it in full. Example, Doctor and Mrs James Begg. Lieutenant Jake Mikell.
3. Addresses.
-Spell out the addresses in full. Use ‘Street’, ‘Unit’ or ‘Avenue’ instead of St, U, or Ave.
-House number smaller than 20 should also be spelled out.
-Return addresses should also be written in full.
4. Dates and Location.
-Same as addresses. All must be spelled in full. For example, Saturday, the fifteen of July, Two thousand and ten at 4 o’clock.
-Use punctuations to separate date from time, street from state etc.
5. Two envelopes
-Having another envelope outside the actual wedding one makes sense. It means that the actual wedding one will be protected from being torn or soiled.
-The outer envelope do not have to contain all the family names, it just needs enough information for the postal system to get it where it needs to go
Wedding Invitation Example
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
requests the pleasure of the company of
_______________
at the marriage of their daughter
Jennifer Esme Smith
and
James Kurt Hussell
at St. Andrews Church, Sydney
on Saturday, fifth of May, Two thousand and seven
at 2 o’clock.
R.S.V.P. Date
Break the tradition: How to have an eco-friendly wedding
In 2010, there seems to be a lot of talk about traditional versus contemporary style weddings. Everyone has their own opinion. More and more brides are having traditional weddings with added personal touches that reflect modern tastes. The first one that comes to mind is the ‘eco-bride’.
Eco-brides are basically brides who are eco-friendly. So how can you have a wedding party that has all the pizazz and be kind to the environment at the same time? Here’s how.
- Recycled wedding invitations: use wedding invitations that is printed out on recycled paper and decorate them with other recycled materials.
- E-vites: a modern twist to the traditional invitation is to use E-vites instead. Invitations can either be sent directly to your guests as an email or you can email them a link to your wedding website where they can access all the wedding information, RSVP and contact the bride and groom directly. No paper, no wastage.
- Wedding car: choose an electric or hybrid wedding car instead of the usual limo. Or perhaps a horse drawn carriage that does has no carbon emissions
- Wedding gift: requests that your guests donate to your favorite environmental groups such as WWF international, instead of a wedding present
- Wedding favors: how about flower bulbs, mini herbs or plant seedlings as wedding favors? They don’t cost much when purchased in bulk and you can easily dress them up in stylish little pots.
- Wedding dress: wear a vintage dress instead of a new one
- Bridesmaid dresses: choose bridesmaid dresses that your bridesmaid can wear again at other special occasion. Avoid dresses that are too excessive as it may be hard to re-wear them again.
- Decorations: try decorations made out of paper. They can be kept as momentos after the party or easily recycled later.
Paper wedding decorations
- Wedding ceremony: have a daytime outdoor wedding- save electricity on artificial lighting and air conditioning.
Wedding carriage
Mini flower pots from Weddingstar.
So break the tradition and have an eco-wedding instead! Not only will you leave a lasting impression on your guests, you will also have a great party that is environmentally friendly.
Free Wedding Music Planner
There are two things you absolutely must have to build the perfect music list for your wedding day:
1) Creativity, and
2) Wedding Music Planner- to organize your music and to facilitate better communications between you (and your partner and the band or the DJ. You don’t want the wrong music played during the wrong part of the ceremony!
The second part is easy. Just download my free wedding day music planner! If you start early with this simple planner, you will have one more thing organized, and one less thing to worry about on your special day.
Download your free wedding music planner here
(Right click and Save As)
To read more about how to plan your wedding day music, check out my other post on how to compile the ultimate soundtrack for your big day.
Tip: You should start planning your music around 2 to 3 months before your wedding day.
Happy planning!
