Tag: wedding favors

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Trends in Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are an age old tradition of offering small gifts as a gesture of appreciation to guests at your wedding. Over the years the styles and types of wedding favors have changed and it’s become increasingly difficult to keep up with what’s ‘in’ and what isn’t. It is important to note that although favor trends come and go you should always aim to personalise the gifts. If you have received wedding favors before you may have found that they aren’t always particularly useful and sometimes just end up as drawer fillers at home. For your own wedding day you’re going to want something that they’ll keep as a memento, that is why personalisation is great. Jonathan Goodyear who has worked for a number of wedding planners in Johannesburg says that “don’t look for just another generic gift; look for something that relates to you and the style of the wedding- a little something to remember it by” so bear this in mind when you’re searching for your favors.

Aqueous Bunting Banner - wedding favors

In their earlier days, wedding favors were given among European aristocrats and the gift was usually sugar cubes in trinket boxes. Back then sugar represented wealth and was much more costly than today. This wouldn’t go down too well with your guests in a modern setting but a sugar filled treat will. Chocolates, cakes, and other sweets will always win people over and can easily be customized to match your wedding style and personality. They are a timeless gift that can be enjoyed by anyone.

If you’re looking for a gift that is a little more long term than something like chocolates then succulents are 2013s newest trend. These plants have thicker, fleshier parts than normal meaning that they can better retain water making them very easy to care for. So how can they be personalized? You can swap and match their containers as you choose, or maybe even purchase containers with the individual names of your guests or something unique on each one. The choice is yours. These wonderful gifts will be able to be enjoyed by anyone and won’t find their way into the bin.

This one is a little unusual, but if you’re looking for a unique favor it might be for you. Blankets, throws and pashminas will be a welcome gift for your guests, especially if the wedding is on a cold winter’s day. Conversely if it’s a hot summer’s day, present your guests with fans to keep them cool. To personalize why not try having the bride and grooms initials embroidered onto the blanket, or put onto the fan? This is another gift that can be used time and time again, long after the wedding is over.

On your wedding day give a little something to someone or somewhere that needs it most. You can choose a charity that is closest to your heart and give favors that are symbols of that charity. Many different charities offer different types of favors for a donation, so check what your preferred charity has to offer.

These are just some routes you could go down when choosing your wedding favour, but there are no rules. Try and keep it unique and personal, something you would like to receive on a wedding day and make sure it reflects your wedding!

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Arriving in Style: How to Make the Perfect Entrance to Your Wedding

For many brides, their wedding day is the best (and busiest) day of their lives. With schedules to stick to, guests to organise and the added pressure of looking beautiful it’s not surprising that certain aspects take a ‘back seat’. According to a survey on Canadian wedding trends, transportation to the wedding is one of the lowest costs averaging at around $570 – behind DJ’s/musicians for the reception, flowers and less than half of the cost of the wedding gown and bands.

But when you think about it, getting to the wedding on time is really one of the most important things about the day. And finding the balance between reliable, affordable, practical transport and a unique, memorable method of arriving in style is a challenge for any bride. Here are some transportation ideas for your big day.

Bridal Dresses by Sophia Tolli
Bridal Dress by Sophia Tolli

Air Travel

What could be more glamorous than arriving at your wedding in your very own chartered helicopter or hot air balloon? This would be especially impressive if you were having an outdoor wedding and your guests could watch you descend from the skies. It might sound like something reserved typically for the rich and famous, but it’s not as unusual or as expensive as you may think. Many wedding venues have permission for aircrafts to land within their grounds and with typical helicopters seating up to six people you can take your bridesmaids along for the ride.

What could be more romantic than you and your new husband exiting your wedding in a hot air balloon, toasting your marriage as you sail through the skies?

Tip: Local air travel laws can apply when travelling by air and there will be restrictions about landing as you will need a certain amount of open space to land safely. Check this thoroughly with your wedding venue and charter company before booking.

Alfred Angelo Disney Bridal Dresses
Alfred Angelo Disney Bridal Dress

Horse and Carriage

Arrive at your wedding in true fairytale fashion by opting for this classy, traditional mode of transport. At typical prices running between $500-1000 depending on the type of carriage, distance and length of service, a horse and carriage is certainly within the ‘average’ remit for transportation prices and offers a certain charm to the day. The only down side is that they can be very weather dependent unless you opt for a carriage with an extendable roof.

Tip: If you like the idea of a horse and carriage but would prefer something a little different and contemporary then there are a range of customised carriages in a variety of colours and styles – including replicas of the infamous Cinderella ball carriage. A cheaper and quirkier version of the horse and carriage (becoming increasingly popular with metropolitan weddings) is a pedicab – picture a bicycle where the horse would usually be! Or, alternatively, ditch the carriage and arrive on a finely dressed white horse – a popular mode of transport for Hindu weddings. If you plan to do this then be sure to get acquainted with the saddle in the weeks before your wedding.

Bridesmaids Gowns by Mori Lee
Bridesmaids Gown by Mori Lee

Car or Motorcycle

Arriving by car is still the most common and convenient way to make your arrival. Whilst the popularity of vintage, classic wedding cars such as the Rolls Royce Phantom and Bentley S2 remains high, many couples are now thinking outside of the box when it comes to picking their cars. The selection of used vehicles available for weddings has grown significantly in recent years, with more and more couples looking to find the perfect car that fits their theme and budget. From classic sports cars to vintage Volkswagen buses, there’s something out there for everyone. The key is to pair your vehicle with the theme of the wedding – for a traditional, white wedding then you may still opt for a classic car or perhaps something chic and elegant like an stretch limo, but if you’re wedding is a quirkier affair then your car should reflect this. Many people now use vintage vehicles of another variety – think old VW beetles and even retro campervans. If you want to add a touch of style to the day then why not opt for a super sports car like a Lamborghini Gallardo – there’ll be no excuse for being late in one of those.

If you’re feeling brave then opt for a motorcycle arrival – the same rules apply when choosing the type of bike that you’d like to arrive on. If your dress is a reasonable size then you could even squeeze into a sidecar. Just watch the helmet on newly styled hair.

Tip: If you plan to hire a car then you should decide whether or not you’d like to also hire a driver or if someone in your wedding party will drive. If this is the case then you’ll need to ensure that any liability/insurance issues are covered upon hiring the vehicles.

Alfred Angelo Disney Bridesmaid Dresses
Alfred Angelo Disney Bridesmaid Dress

By Boat

With more and more couples opting for a beach wedding in exotic locales, it would be a shame not to make the most of the stunning scenery by arriving on a high powered speedboat or luxurious yacht. Many stately wedding venues also include some sort of lake so a gondola or old fashioned rowing boat would also add an elegant, romantic effect.

Tip: If you’re someone who suffers from seasickness then arriving by boat (particularly on the ocean) might not combine well with your pre-wedding jitters. As a rule, speedboats tend to go too fast for you to notice the motion of the ocean too much but with that speed comes the inevitable damage to make up and up-do’s.

Party Bus

Why not start the celebration early by inviting up to 60 of you guests to travel with you to the venue on a party bus. These buses complete with disco lights, music and bars, have been popular since 2007 and are undoubtedly the best way to hold a mobile celebration. They have high ceilings, seating and a bathroom on board so there’ll be no worrying about the ladies crumpling their dresses.

Tip: If you plan to enjoy a few celebratory glasses of champagne on board then check that the bus company you hire from are licensed with the local authority to ensure that you receive the best quality service.

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The Importance of Wedding Dress Preservation: Everything You Need To Know

The Importance of Wedding Dress Preservation: Everything You Need To Know

Your wedding dress is a reminder of that particular day, the day of your dreams. Brides spend a lot of time and money finding their perfect wedding dress for the perfect wedding, so seeing the wedding dress will cause those happy memories to come flooding back. Unfortunately, many wedding gowns get left in a plastic cover at the back of the cupboard or in the loft after the special day with every intention of one day getting it cleaned and preserved. Leaving your wedding dress in its plastic cover will not only cause oxidation of any stains, but it could also cause plastic fuming, which can discolour the material even more than the yellowish colour that came with age.

Continue reading The Importance of Wedding Dress Preservation: Everything You Need To Know
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Color Me Beautiful – Choosing your Wedding Dress Color

For some brides to be choosing their wedding dress is by far the most important aspect of planning their wedding. For a handful it could even be a more important decision than choosing the right partner! Choosing a dress to walk down the aisle can be a daunting task, particularly if you have no pre-conceived ideas about what you want. Even if you do know what you want, finding the wedding dress that meets the image in your mind’s eye that you have held for decades can seem like a never ending search and can even end in disappointment if your dream dress just doesn’t look right on you.

Wedding Dress by Alfred Angelo Disney

Worse still, for blushing brides who just don’t want to conform to the idea of a traditional white wedding, the task of finding the perfect dress can seem even more impossible. However, help is at hand and fortunately there is a lot more leeway these days when it comes to bridal fashions. Furthermore there is a lot more choice and professionals are on hand to help you source exactly what you require for your big day, particularly when it comes to fashions for brides, bridesmaids and mothers alike.

White dresses are a tradition set by Queen Victoria who wore one at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. Since then it has become a common theme in European weddings as brides subsequently wanted to adopt the fashion set by the then Queen. Initially wearing white was also a sign of significant wealth as laundering techniques of the era weren’t what they are today and as a result wearing white indicated a certain social standing.

http://www.bestforbride.com/showDresses/SophiaTolliByMonCheri/Bridal.php

With this in mind modern brides looking for an alternative to so called ‘traditional’ white may be more encouraged as wearing white is not actually a symbol of purity and virginity as many often think. It may even mean that more prospective brides look to utilize different colors in their wedding dress than they previously might have done. Here’s a few things to consider:

Know what suits you

Having an idea of what suits you and an image of your dream dress can be two wildly different things. When it comes to wedding dress shopping don’t lose sight of what suits your individual style and shape. More importantly don’t try and become something you’re not just for your wedding day as invariably you will end up feeling uncomfortable and find it hard to enjoy the occasion. The same applies to the color of your dress so if you know that white won’t suit you don’t try to make it fit – opt for something more flattering rather than going with what you think is expected of you.

Talk to professionals

When it comes to weddings it pays to talk to professionals and get as many ideas as possible before making any rash decisions. A professional will know what is both fashionable and seasonal and therefore can guide you with what works and could work for you. When it comes to choosing a wedding dress color they can help you find something that is suitably special and yet flattering for your skin tone and at the same time exceeds your expectations. Don’t feel you have to find everything on your own and end up floundering – getting the opinion of a professional can be invaluable.

Bridal Dress by Mori Lee

Getting covered

Ensuring that you have adequate protection in place in the form of wedding insurance is not just recommended for eventualities like ill health or venue cancellation but is also important to protect assets associated with your wedding. Your wedding dress is one such asset and as such should be covered in your wedding policy to ensure it is safe in the lead up to your wedding day and for its duration.

In any event wherever you purchase your wedding dress from should be able to advise you about different options available for insurance. This is particularly important if you choose to opt for a bespoke, handmade wedding dress rather than one off the peg.

Being happy with your choice

Your wedding is a day to remember for the rest of your life so what is most important is being happy with the choices you make for your wedding and choosing things to please yourself and not others. If you desire to step outside the norm and opt for a different style or color of wedding dress then that is your wish and your loved ones must respect that fact. Making informed and confident choices about how your day should be will stand you in good stead for your future happiness.