Your Prince Charming has finally asked you the big question—and you said “Yes!” Congratulations! It is fascinating.
We know that you can’t wait to break this news to the rest of the world! And you deserve to let everyone know. But take a minute before you change your relationship status on Facebook, and click save! Or before you tweet it to the world or post it in your friend circle on FB. There are specific basic etiquette rules to follow where an engagement is concerned. Let us take a look at what they are.
Isn’t it refreshing to see an unconventional wedding palette? Perfect for the casual wedding theme, polka dots are a pattern that can liven up any atmosphere. Whether it is done in just two colors or a variation of several colors, it is always a fun choice that we cannot, but love. And for brides who can’t convince their to-be-husbands that polka dots is the way to go for your wedding, you can still enjoy your love affair with this mesmerizing pattern by having a polka-dot studded bridal shower or engagement party.
So, here is a collection of 10 fantastic polka dot ideas to inspire the quirky bride, whether it is for her wedding or any of the events leading up to it. Get ready to swoon!
1.Fun and festive wedding cake
Choose a contrasting combination of colors for a polka dot wedding cake like that featured in the picture here. Look at how the assorted polka dot colors frame the white frosting elegantly? Matching the polka dot colors on the cake to the design on the ribbon that decorates the cake, instantly adds more style to it. Resembling a gift box, the best part about this cake is that it isn’t too complex to create, but has an unusually interesting overall finish. So, if you are after a budget friendly option, this design is one to consider.
Image Credits: Suzanne’s Bespoke Bakery, via Flickr
2.Spotted cupcakes
Dessert buffets may no longer be as popular as they once were, but if you have one at your polka dot theme wedding, these fun spotted cupcakes are a must-have. The design is so simple, yet unusual, and we are sure your baker will be able to whip them up for little to no cost. Despite all this, the impact of the m&m studded cupcakes will be mind-blowing. If you aren’t up for this idea at your wedding, it will certainly work out for your colorful bridal shower on the polka dot theme. What do you say?
3.Spot this save-the-card
In an interesting twist to the polka dot style, this spot and check polka dot save-the-date photo card will be an instant hit with your guests. This design features emerald and canary ink colors to create the exciting combination featured here. However, you may make your pick from the many colors available to suit your wedding color palette, and you will have a save-the-date that is high on style and impact, and attractive at first sight. Follow up with a matching RSVP card and a wedding invite in the same colors as this invitation card, and find respite for your obsession with polka dots. This save-the-date card can be ordered online from our collection at Best for Bride.
4.Bling invitation card with golden dots
If you are a bride who loves bling, here is a wedding invitation that is a charming representation of dots with plenty of the “bling” factor. While the invitation wording is done on white, it is framed elegantly within a golden polka dot and textured gold border. The best part of this design is that the beautiful golden dots follows through the invitation into the envelope, creating a charming overall effect. With golden lettering as well, this is a rich and luxurious choice that your guests simply cannot miss noticing.
5.Spots on the bride-to-be shower book
Here is an accessory that will blend into a polka dot theme bridal shower seamlessly. This pink and white polka dot bridal shower guest book features a modern bride-to-be illustration that is simply adorable. With the space to hold up to 55 guest signatures, it will easily be enough for all the guests at the shower. It will also be a pretty keepsake that will always remind you of the interesting party you celebrated with your favorite girls.
6.Spotted china for a delightful brunch
If you are bold enough to side-step the conventional wedding day colors and patterns for polka dots, you would most likely be open to the idea of a wedding brunch instead of the usual reception. Not only is this budget-friendly, there are a whole set of other reasons too, that make the idea attractive. Read all about why you should consider having a wedding brunch, in this previous post of ours. If you like this idea, think of using polka dot china to serve your delicious breakfast menu in. If it is an outdoor wedding brunch, it will simply add oodles of color to the overall setting, and make the party more lively. In case this isn’t possible we have other suggestions to make your tablescape work. Nevertheless, this is an option that you should consider, as it is a definite winner.
7.Dots and spots on napkins
If the idea of the spotted china is out of reach, turn to the next best thing instead. Go all the way with a table cloth decorated with dots, or do it in moderate doses with polka dot table napkins instead. We prefer the latter, as it makes the polka dot effect more elegant and sophisticated. This is also your chance to add some glitter and glamor to your reception tables, but with subtlety. Golden polka dots on a solid color napkin would look classy, while still keeping the fun theme alive at your party.
Image Credits: Shari’s Berries, via Flickr
8.Polka dot metal boat as wedding favor
Here is the perfect polka dot favor for those couples who want something that matches a nautical theme. While the groom enjoys his share of fun with a sailing or ocean theme, you can add a soft touch of your own with this as a display accessory at your wedding reception. These quaint blue and white polka dot metal boats can do double duty as both a thematic place setting, and as a favor for the guests to take home after the party. Stuff it with mints or candy and personalize it with a thank you note on the flag, and you have a wonderful favor that your guests will love.
9.Spotted cellophane bag insert
The simplest way to add dotted details to your favor table is to use polka dot inserts in cellophane bags, like shown here. The simple addition of these economically priced bag inserts can liven up a plain cellophane bag and make it a work of art. With custom options to choose from four different colors, these favor inserts are a perfect addition to any color palette. It can also be your little polka dot detail, if you don’t want polka dots ruling the entire wedding scenery. With such a pretty cover to carry candy off the dessert spread, your guests will love your attention to detail. Whichever color you choose for the spots, this will add a welcome dose of color to your desert table and really make it pop. You can also add a small bit of information and a thank you message on the insert to complete the look. You can also use matching polka dot straws for the beverages at your party. Whether you choose to serve these straws by themselves, or with little flags, their presence will not go unnoticed. This will allow you to mix and match the details, and still achieve a cohesive effect that your guests will not miss.
10.Bright and beautiful spotted bridesmaids dresses
Polka dots may not be standard bridesmaid stuff, which is what makes it so much fun. It is an easy, and obvious way of adding your favorite detail into your wedding day and making it totally unique. Your bridesmaids will be happy to buy a dress that they can definitely use again, and you have a world of options to choose from. If you have your mind set on an outdoor spring or summer wedding, bridesmaids dresses such as that shown here will be a pleasant addition to the overall picture. This dress also has a vintage charm with the puff sleeves and bigger and bolder dots on the fabric. With bright colors like pink, turquoise or orange appearing on a white or cream background, the entire atmosphere will resonate with fun and joy. As interesting as this idea is, remember not to take the detail overboard. Balance out the polka dots with suitable addition of a solid color, that blends well into the overall picture. Also remember that it may not be a great idea to go with full-length gowns, as it can look overwhelming. Stick with cocktail length dresses instead. You can also think of matching the bridesmaids accessories to the color of the polka dots.
11.Polka dot manicure
Wearing a polka dot wedding dress may be stretching the theme a little too much. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have any thing dotty on yourself. Surprise your guests with your own unique polka dot detail, through your wedding day manicure. Polka dot nails look fantastic, and having this done will easily make it a fashion statement on your wedding day. The options are endless, as you can choose any possible base color and polka dots in any color, so it blends into your wedding theme. Our favorite combinations include white with black dots and black dots on gold. You can choose to keep it simple with just a border of polkas at the nail base or on the end of the nails. The other option is to keep it uniform and have it all over your nails. You can also try add polka dots of different sizes and in mixed colors, for more impact. It will be a delightful addition, either way. Make sure that you have your manicure done closer to the wedding day, so that your nails look fresh and the dots are details that are obvious and attractive.
12. Lucky gnome with polka hat
To keep your décor interesting, but not overwhelming, choose décor elements that bring in the effect softly. Accessories and charms like this adorable little procelain gnome featured here, can achieve this effect perfectly. Although the polka dot effect is seen only on his hat, it is still striking and just enough to make it significant in any setting. Place him as part of the centerpieces at your venue, or gift him as a party favor that carries a good wish to the bearer, and it will be a gift that everyone will appreciate. It is possible to customize the message he carries to one that you choose.
Hope this has given you enough inspiration to plan your wedding with this ever-trendy and interesting detail.
For more interesting ideas and everything wedding-related, keep dropping in at Best for Bride. Beginning with wedding dresses, accessories and bridal party attires, we bring you all that you need for planning the perfect wedding day. We also bring you interesting ideas, latest trends and fabulous pictures from real weddings to inspire you as you begin to plan the most special day of your life. Join us to explore all that the world of weddings has to offer you.
Weddings in quaint European towns and the exotic Caribbean are no longer a novelty. Many brides and grooms are packing their bags, and getting married in attractive locations far away from home. Nevertheless, it is a fact that while these weddings are possible, they involve more long-distance and detailed planning than weddings near home.
It is not only the couple, but also the guests at the wedding who have to make allowances to attend a destination wedding. As it is far from home, there will be lot of things to consider. From paperwork to aero plane tickets and accommodation, there are many factors to consider.
Since these weddings involve travel, the rules and expectations are slightly different than in the case of a regular wedding. Let us find out what these are today!
1.Be prepared for a smaller and more intimate wedding
It is highly unlikely that all the people on your guest list can practically attend your wedding, when it is held far away from where they stay. If you have a large friend and family group, narrowing down your guest list can be difficult. However, it becomes necessary when you consider the expenses involved. Be reasonable with your expectations when you invite people. The entire scenario is different when you ask someone to travel for a wedding. Not everyone may have the time or the finances to make this long trip. So, when you decide to have a wedding far away, prepare to be satisfied with a small and intimate wedding with the people who matter most in your life. You can always host a reception once you are back, and include all your friends and family in it. This way, they get a chance to be involved in the wedding without having to travel. All the same, this is in no way compulsory. If you are satisfied with celebrating your wedding with just those who attended it, keep it that way.
2.Send out save-the-dates earlier than is usual
Planning a destination wedding is complicated, and you may not be certain of all the details of the wedding till much later. Even so, you should inform your guests of your plans well in advance, so they can plan accordingly. Attending a destination wedding is comparable to planning a holiday—in terms of money involved and time off work. So, the earlier you provide information, the more convenient it will be for your guests to attend. Anywhere between 4 to 8 months before the wedding, is a good time to send your save-the-dates. Include all that you know at the time, particularly the date and location. Take care to highlight the date on the RSVP, so you can plan your final guest list and confirm the rest of the arrangements based on the number of attendees. If you are very particular about having certain people in your wedding, check their availability prior to planning the wedding date. This way, you can avoid disappointment if they have constraints that do not allow them to travel to your wedding. Once you finalize your plans, don’t delay sending out the invitations. Destination wedding invitations should be more detailed than the customary wedding invitation, as your guests need to know much more to plan and budget their trip.
3.Wedding websites are your best friend
When you plan a destination wedding, your guests will usually prefer to find out as much as they can to make their trip easier. Since a wedding invitation for what it can hold, then use your wedding website for the rest. Include anything and everything your guests should be aware of, on your wedding website. Provide links to places where they can find accommodation, the weather at the time of your wedding, any dress requirements that they should be aware of, what they should carry and transportation options they have. Also share all the details of the wedding program, so they can carry all that they need to attend it. You could also go further and add some information on the local attractions, as it is likely that your guests will want to tour the place. Since you will anyway be seeking all this information out for yourself, do your guests a favor by sharing it with them. Since websites allow you to organize and provide all this information in a streamlined format, your guests will have no trouble finding what they want to know. They will also appreciate your effort in helping them plan their trip so well.
4.It isn’t considerate to guilt your guests into attending
It is your wedding, and you deserve to be happy. Nonetheless, this shouldn’t be at the expense of making someone unhappy or miserable. If an important person in your friends or relative’s circle is unable to attend, don’t pressurize them too far. Remember that the case would be entirely different if you were having your wedding closer to where you stay. Consider the different logistics that they have to work out, financial constraints they may have, or how impossible it is for them to travel so far and take time off work. So, be reasonable with your expectations and life will be a lot easier for everyone. Be understanding of those who can’t attend and answer “No” to your invitation. This is why it may be a good idea to hold a reception party later, when all those who couldn’t participate in the actual wedding, get a chance to congratulate you.
5.Everyone at the engagement party and whoever receives a save-the-date receives an invitation too
Whether your save-the-date RSVP says Yes or No, the addressee is eligible for a formal wedding invitation. The same goes for the guests at your engagement party. This is one area where traditional wedding invitation etiquette applies. Even if your guests have confirmed that they won’t make it to your wedding, they still deserve a formal invitation. Some couples worry whether sending an invitation to someone who won’t be coming, is like they are fishing for gifts. It isn’t! The guest you send the save-the-date card to, might in fact feel ignored or slighted if they do not receive a follow-up invitation to the wedding. Things may also change along the way, and if they find a way to make it to the wedding, they may be disappointed when they do not receive an invitation. The other way you could handle it, is to send an invite to the reception you will host later, if they confirm they won’t be attending the wedding. So, if you have an engagement party, make sure that you choose the guest list properly, so that it will only have those people who will be invited to the wedding as well.
6.Your wedding dress should be low-fuss, easy to transport and manage
Wedding dresses are yards of fabric, delicately and intricately woven into splendid designs. Most of the traditional style wedding dresses are heavy, and may easily crinkle or look shabby if handled too much. If there are too many embellishments on it, over-handling can displace stones or crystals and ruin the overall look. These factors make it important to choose a wedding dress that is practical to transport. You will have to carry your wedding dress in your hand luggage when you board the aircraft. So, it should be a dress that is possible to stow away in the overheard luggage compartment or be hung above your seat. Once you are at the location, you may have to steam the dress to get rid of wrinkles and creases. So, it should also be made from fabric that can be ironed easily and not be damaged. Dresses in light, breathable fabric with just the necessary amount of embellishments are your best bet. Uncomplicated gowns without too many layers are practical to be transported and restored to its original look after the long journey to your destination. Dresses from collections such as the Mori Lee Voyage bring you plenty of options that will be perfect for a dream wedding away from home. Here is a sample.
This beautiful Mori Lee 6784 in poetic lace is a dress perfect for a vintage style wedding in an exotic location. The slim silhouette is formed of light layers that hold their shape during handling and the minimal embellishments reduce your risk of damaging the gown.
7.Your guests and wedding party will appreciate it if you offset some of the expenses
You are in no way obligated to foot the expenses for any of the factors that are normally paid for by your guests or bridal party. So, destination wedding or not, your guests will have to arrange for accommodation, bridesmaids will pay for their dresses and the wedding guests have to find their way to the venue. Nevertheless, if you have the funds to help with some of their expenses, like the accessories for bridesmaids or transportation on the day of the wedding, it would be very helpful for them. You could consider hiring a van or arranging a cab to pick your guests up from the airport, to transport them to their hotels. Or you could sponsor a guided tour on a day they are there, and we are sure your guests will love you for the thoughtful arrangement. Another thing you could do is to sponsor breakfast on the days they are there. It will be one meal they don’t have to pay for, and also allows everyone to meet and get together ahead of the wedding.
8.You can still register for gifts
Don’t think twice about registering for gifts. The people at your wedding will be spending a lot of extra money to make it to your wedding venue. Nevertheless, they will still want to gift you something to remember them by. The others who are unable to attend your wedding may also like to gift you, since it is a wedding after all! So, do set up a wedding registry. The only thing to remember is that your registry should contain affordable gifts of different prices. This way, your guests will have plenty of options. It will also take the burden off them to buy an expensive gift, after they’ve spent so much money to attend your wedding.
9.Your guests will appreciate it if you help them find cheap travel and accommodation deals
Air tickets are expensive, and so are hotel bookings. While this is on the cards when your guests agree to attending your destination wedding, you can still do a little in helping them along the way. The first thing you can do is to choose off-season wedding dates, so the entire transport and stay will be much cheaper. You could also research bulk airline booking discounts and hotel stay discounts that will lighten their expenses. If you inform an airline that there will be a group of people traveling together to your wedding, it is likely that they will offer you a discount. If you do your hotel reservations in advance, you may be able to block a set of rooms for a lower price and help your guests this way too.
Destination weddings have their pros and cons, just like every other wedding. Despite all the difficulties of planning and getting people to attend it, it is a unique, one-of-a-kind wedding that you should consider if you can afford it. The memories of getting married in an exotic location with the people you love the most, is definitely worth it.
So, if you have a destination wedding in mind, come visit us on Best for Bride and check out how we can help you nail your wedding vision. From the ideal wedding dresses to vendors and everything else you need for your wedding day, we can help you make your planning a big success.
Weddings are wrought with thousands of details that you may overlook or forget a few things. While some of these may not matter in the big picture, sure, others will make your guests unhappy. Unfortunately, after the wedding, the couple usually realizes they should have given more attention to these factors. After all, a wedding should be a satisfying and fun event for those in it and for all those who attend it.
Here is a list of the nine most common problems wedding guests complain about. We also have the solutions to each of these issues to help you handle them easily. Make sure you prioritize these potential issues when planning your wedding, and your guests will be a happy bunch.
