Wedding Help

There are some people who are really crafty, and can make some beautiful things with just a little imagination, and then there are the rest of us who simply seem to get by. There is one craft that has really been gaining popularity in the last few years, and you can see them in offices, restaurants and even schools. These are the flower pens. I’m sure you’ve seen them before if you were looking closely, what seems like a beautiful bouquet of flowers in a decorative flower pot is really a ballpoint pen made to look like a flower. Pretty snazzy huh? Offices like them so that people won’t steal their pens, and teachers and families like them because they’re cute and easy to make, besides the fact that no one will steal their pens either. But have you ever thought about making flower pens and giving them away as wedding favors? They’re pretty simple to make, and the materials don’t cost you much at all. Plus, with all the different colors that silk flowers come in, you can make some beautiful flower bouquets for your tables. Here’s a quick rundown on how to make flower pens you can give away as wedding favors.

Materials:

Straight Ballpoint Pens

silk flowers (with or without the leaves)

green floral tape

a hot glue gun

wire cutters

To make a flower pen, remove one of the blooms of the silk flowers (leave a bit of stem for you to wrap, and the leaves if you like as well), and hold it at the top of the pen. Then, take your green floral tape and wrap it tightly starting at the base of the bloom all the way down the length of the pen. You can stop once you get to the bottom, although some people chose to wrap the pen going back up as well to really make it look like a flower stem. The bloom should then be attached to the top of the pen. If the bloom isn’t very secure, then you will need to use the hot glue gun. Add some hot glue around the base of the bloom attaching it to the pen. If you’re using leaves, they can be pressed into the hot glue as well to help camouflage the glue.

There are lots of different colors and kinds of flower pens that you can make to fit any wedding color combination. From silk Gerber daisies to sunflowers and even roses, you can create some beautiful pen bouquets to place at your tables for guests to admire and take. Plus, flower pens make some great Spring Wedding Favors. For a flower pot to place them in, you can take tin cans, wrap them in fabric or decorated paper and save money on purchasing real flower pots. Flower pens can make a great wedding favor you know that you’re guests will use and enjoy in the future.

Tags: flower pen wedding favors, flower pens, make a flower pen

When I was planning my wedding, I foolishly thought that spring was one of the most popular times of the year for people to get married. Turns out that I was wrong! In a recent survey that’s come out, summer and autumn weddings are actually more desirable to couples than a springtime wedding. Who knew? Anyway, with summer rapidly approaching, many couples planning a wedding are getting closer and closer to their wedding date. I remember the feeling, the days are speeding by and it seems like there is still so much to do! And of course, so many huge decisions to make about what kinds of flowers, food, decorations, and so much more! So, if you’re in the process of planning a summer wedding, looking at having a summer wedding, or just in desperate need of some fun summer wedding ideas to make your wedding what you’ve always dreamed of, then here are some new and popular summer wedding ideas you can expect to see this summer.

Summer Wedding Flowers

For June, expect to see a lot of pink. Pink is an extremely popular color for summer wedding bouquets, it comes in a variety of shades and can be paired with soft blues, lavenders or even white flowers for a beautiful wedding bouquet. You can find all the beautiful shades for June with carnations, orchids, hydrangeas, dahlia, gladiolas and more! Then, as the summer starts getting hotter in July, so will the colors! Bright yellows, oranges, reds and even hot pinks can be found in July wedding bouquets. What a beautiful contrast to a white wedding dress! In July, look for Gerber daisies, roses, daylilies, cala lilies and more! They’ll hold up against warm weather and still look great! As August approaches, so will the depth of the flowers. In August, you’ll find a wide variety of two toned flowers to add depth and life to the brighter colors of June and July. Pink and white combination roses can add some real beauty to your wedding bouquet. Also, some exotic flowers such as deep colored orchids or lilies are very popular. Summer is a beautiful time of the year to get married, and getting some great summer wedding ideas for flowers never hurts!

Summer Wedding Themes

Many summer wedding ideas tend to hinge on some kind of wedding theme. Having a summer wedding theme is an easy way to incorporate some of our favorite things about summer into your wedding! For example, beach weddings are always a favorite, and especially during summer. Your wedding doesn’t have to be held on a beach, and your wedding reception can easily be transformed into a beach paradise through the use of some key decorations, such as sand, shells, umbrellas, tiki torches, and much more. Some other popular summer wedding themes you can use are: an English Garden, Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Fourth of July, or even a night under the stars. You’ll find that if you have a wedding theme that applies to summer, the summer wedding ideas will flow much more easily.

Summer Wedding Favors

Again, if you have a summer wedding theme, then the ideas for your wedding favors can follow right along with them. But if you don’t, you could always make some flower ballpoint pens with the use of some greenery tape and silk flowers. Handing out pairs of flip flops or floppy hats are another option, but you can also use sea shells, candles, or any other summery looking favor. They don’t all have to match, so look around for a great deal, and you’ll find your guests delighted with the favors you’ve chosen.

As I’ve mentioned before, summer is a beautiful time of the year to get married. Getting married on a beautiful clear sunny day will be something you remember for the rest of your life. There are lots of different summer wedding ideas that you can use to make your wedding the event you’ve always dreamed of. Keep checking back for great tips and ideas you can use.

Tags: summer wedding favors, summer wedding flowers, summer wedding ideas, Summer Weddings

Beach themed weddings are one of the most popular wedding themes, whether you’re having your dream wedding on the shore of some beautiful beach, or just transforming a reception hall into your own tropical paradise. I get a lot of comments and emails in my site on ladies asking for help planning their beach weddings. Mostly, they all seem to want some great ideas on how to decorate their tables in some interesting beach reception centerpieces. Granted, if you look on the Internet you can find lots of great pictures of wedding centerpieces, but due to budget concerns, availability, or even finding something that appeals to a particular bride - it can be really difficult to find what you’re looking for. I’ve been there, and gone through the same endless stream of pictures that aren’t quite what I’m looking for. So here are some new and trendy ideas for decorating your tables with some great beach reception centerpieces.

Sand and Candle Beach Reception Centerpieces

This is probably the most widely used combination when it comes to wedding receptions with a beach theme. Trust me, it’s not widely overdone. The main ingredients include sand, candles, shells, and a glass container. They’re inexpensive and particularly classy when you have the right combination. For example, use some bright white candles against white sand and decorative add some shells or colorful pieces of coral. Or, fill a decorative glass bowl with sand and shells, inserting a large candle into the center. Many couples also use floating candles with beach weddings, filling the bottom of the candle holder with fruit, sunken blooms, or even sand and shells. Plus, you can color the water a bit with food coloring to help add some color to your tables.

Out with the Mirrors

Many people trying to think of ideas for creating wedding centerpieces will advise you to get a large mirror, and place everything on top of the mirror for a cool beach reception centerpiece. While you can still do that and have a classy centerpiece, the new trend is to do away with the mirrors entirely and focus on a different base for your centerpiece. Instead, experiment with a large bamboo tray or plate, and cover with large green banana leaves or dried grass for a cool new look!

Cool and Natural Table Runners

If you’re having long tables versus the traditional round wedding table, then why not go for something interesting for the eyes? Instead of a traditional linen table runner, why not look for something a little more tropical? Create a large pile of shells down the center of the table, or even rose petals, and add some votives along the table as well. Or, find a few long pieces of driftwood (clean it off a little of course), and place some tea lights or orchids on the driftwood for a true work of art. Potted plants, such as orchids or other tropical looking plant or flower, and allow a guest to take home a plant as a souvenir.

There are lots of ideas for beach reception centerpieces that you can use to create a wedding table that is what you’ve dreamed. Don’t be afraid to experiment with a few ideas, and be sure to play around with the different possibilities until you’ve found a decoration that you totally love. It’s worth the time and the effort.

Tags: beach centerpieces, beach reception centerpieces, beach themed weddings, Beach Weddings

Planning a wedding for your daughter is a momentous occasion. There are so many details and plans to take care of, that sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. As her mom, I’m sure that you want to take over some of the responsibility so that she doesn’t have to carry all of it herself. You can be as involved as you want to be, but keep in mind that this is a very special time in your daughter’s life, and there are times during the wedding planning process when she will want your involvement, advice, and closeness. While there aren’t really any mother of the bride duties that are set in stone, there are many details and ways that you can help to take some of the strain off of your daughter. Here are some suggestions of ways that you can help.

Scouting Out Locations and Vendors

One way that you can help your daughter plan her wedding is to ask around to friends and co-workers about different reception venues and recommendations of certain vendors. Plus, in some of your free time you can help the bride and groom scout out different locations they might like.

Guest List Worries

One of the most common mother of the bride duties is to help the bride and groom compile a guest list. This could include working with the groom’s family about who they want on the guest list, and helping to manage the difficult task of limiting the guest list.

Planning a Bridal Shower

Typically, there is a bridal shower that is thrown for the family sometime before the wedding. While this can be designated to another family member, such as an aunt or grandmother, the mother of the bride is expected to help plan and of course, attend the bridal shower for her daughter.

Being a Go-To Person

Your daughter will have a lot of things on her plate when it comes to planning the wedding. One great way that you can help her out is to be one of the go-to people for vendors and guests needing advice and instructions. Have family coming in from the airport who need directions? Give them your phone number so they won’t call your daughter and add unnecessary stress. Also, being a go-to for the vendors will save your daughter the stress of knowing that the caterer will be arriving late, but still should have everything set up in time. This is an important detail the mother of the bride can easily handle for her daughter.

Being a Mom

Even though your daughter is getting married and maybe starting a family of her own soon, she will always be your daughter. Remember to be there for her as a shoulder to cry on, someone to confide in, and someone that she can rely on to help her in this important time of her life. What a special time in her life you’ll miss if you choose not to be a part of it.

Again, there are not set mother of the bride duties. Just be sure to remember to be there for your daughter during this stressful and exciting time, and always look for ways that you can help lessen the burden. She will always remember and be grateful, and it can be a very special bonding time between mother and daughter.

Tags: mother of the bride, mother of the bride duties

I’m sure it must be hard for the mothers of the bride and groom. The bride knows what she is supposed to be wearing, whether it has been picked out and purchased yet or not. Maybe you’re so busy helping your daughter get everything she needs for the wedding completed that you haven’t even thought of finding a mother of the bride dress for yourself. One of the great thing about finding a mother of the bride dress is that there really isn’t any kind of tradition or regulation on what you have to wear. But still, wouldn’t it be easier if someone out there just told you what to wear, instead of having to go shopping to find the perfect mother of the bride dress? Here are some great hints and ideas for choosing a great mother of the bride dress that will match the elegance and excitement of the impending wedding.

Discuss Colors with the Bride

Look at the colors that will be primarily present in your daughter’s wedding. Your daughter may request that you wear a shade similar to that of her wedding colors. Having a color to look for when looking for your mother of the bride dress will really help to narrow down the possibilities. While you don’t always have to match the color exactly, a softer shade may match the color well and you won’t be confused with a bridesmaid.  However, if you cringe at the thought of lime green, or don’t think they would be very becoming on you, then you can politely ask to wear another color of dress. Chances are it shouldn’t be a problem at all.

Be Willing to Splurge a Little

Your daughter’s wedding is an important occasion, and you should be able to invest in a beautiful mother of the bride dress so that you can look and feel your best as well. Wear what you love and what looks great on you, but most of all, what you are most comfortable wearing. Remember that pictures will be taken that day that will last a lifetime, and if you hate your dress, then you’ll think of it every time you look at those pictures. Some of the higher end department stores should have some great choices for you to look at, and some bridal shops have sections for mothers of the bride dresses as well. They’re always worth checking out.

No Help at All?

If you’ve spoken to the bride and there are no color preferences for you to wear, and you just feel like you’re stuck, here are some tried and true pieces of advice from people who’ve been there. First of all, start shopping early! Finding your dress early (and hopefully on sale), is just one thing you don’t have to worry about as the wedding starts approaching. Go with something elegant that will flatter your figure, and neutral colors are always a safe bet. Some say that a mother of the bride dress can be black without it being taboo anymore, but I would still check with the bride to make sure she won’t have a problem with it. Mother of the bride dresses with a jacket are always a popular choice, as are mother of the bride suits.

It’s a day that you’ve dreamed of since your children were little, their weddings. A wedding truly is a momentous occasion, and not one to be taken lightly. So be sure to start shopping early, take your time and find a beautiful mother of the bride dress that you will be comfortable wearing for the big day.

Tags: mother of the bride dress, mother of the bride dresses, mother of the bride suits