[SUN]FLOWER child

Today is the first day of October and in thinking of all things fall, we can't help but think about sunflowers! Sunflowers are bold and beautiful and such a great fall piece to incorporate into your wedding in any number of ways.

Sunflowers are the happiest of flowers, and their meanings include loyalty and longevity...which is another reason that they make a great addition to your wedding decor!

Check out the pictures below for all of the different ways we thought it would be fun to add a little SUN to your big day!

The Ceremony



Bouquets


Centerpieces



Dessert!

Vendor-AMA!

You may think that the vendors you have chosen are each seperate components for your special day...well think again! The vendors may or may not know each other or have worked with one another before. It might not seem like it matters, but it is important (and helpful) for them to at least have SOME idea of what everyone else has planned for your day when they start planning for it too!

So to make things easier on everyone...fill out this Style Worksheet and make a bunch of copies for all your vendors! They will thank you!


Style Worksheet PDF

5 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding

Good morning, morning glories! Check out the following 5 ways that you can make your big day YOUR OWN in a BIG way!

1.Invitations
This is quite possibly the first time most people will hear of your event! It is your first chance to announce not only the date, but the colors and theme. Include things you wish you had gotten with some of the invitations you have received in your lifetime. Maybe some extra phone number, map, your favorite bars/restaurants for your out of town guests. Maybe a little hand drawn rendering of you and your love?

2. Vows
Writing your own vows can be stressful...if you make it stressful! This is the person you love...tell them! If you are getting married by a church...sometimes they do not allow couples to use their own vows...but that does not mean you can't include them in the programs instead!

3. Transportation
Think outside the box when it comes to your final farewell! Ride a vespa away from the scene, a classic car...a bike! Make it special and meaningful and fun for the two of you and your guests with get a kick out of it too!

4. First Dance
Whether you want to bring them to tears at your song choice or bring them to tears over your dance moves is up to you! We think it is really important to chose a song meaningful to both of you. REALLY THINK ABOUT IT! If you want to get really snazzy, follow up your sentimental tune by a show stopping dance preformance...rehearsed, choreographed and all!

5. Menu
Serve local flavors or a traditional family dish! Something that is really popular is a late night snack right before the party is over...and no one likes a late night snack like we do!

My Louboutin's

We have noticed that a few brides choose to sport Christian Louboutin's beautiful heels with the signature red sole on their big day. We love his shoes and can understand the worldwide fashion obsession (despite the price) but just in case you were unaware of who he is and why everyone loves him...here is where you get all the answers!

Christian Louboutin is a French shoe designer who launched his line of shoes in 1991. His shoes' shiny red sole has become his trademark. Aside from the red sole, his shoes usually feauture bows, jewels and other extravagant extras. The brand was declared "The Most Prestigious Womens Shoes" in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Christian Louboutin has 3 boutiques in Paris, 2 in New York, 2 in California as well as Vegas, Miami and Dallas. He also has boutiques in Asia, Australia and 2 in London.

If shoes are on your list of "splurge" items for your big day...these are it. Check out brides below that took the jump and wore these red soled pumps!

Hair DO!

Hello pretties! We came across a few snazzy hair DOs and thought we would share them with you. There are so many other ways to make yourself, your dress etc look jazzy on your big day that we agree with the masses that less is more when it comes to your tresses! Keeping your hair simple allows you so much more freedom in all other areas of your appearance. Below are some ideas. Do take a look at these DOs before you say "I do!"

The Curly Pony:
We love it because the whole idea of covering your elastic with your hair is something we think is so pretty! Having your hair pulled away from your face allows everyone to see JUST how pretty you are and eliminates you constantly having to push it out of your eyes.


The Polished Pony:
Same as above...so simple but so beautiful. Making your pony tail without a part gives off such a clean look!


The Bump:
Buy a "bump it"...you know you want to! Adding height to your hair is something women used to do a long time ago and like anything that "used to" be done back in the day it has come back bigger and better than ever! Just picture adding a tiara, headpiece or beautiful veil on top of this do! STUNNING!

Workable Waves:
If you insist on having your hair down while you walk down the isle like many brides do, it may be beneficial to atleast have some of it pushed back. This look combines the sassy waves with the part-less polished look from the polished pony tail. It is kind of bohemian and we DIG it!

Braided Band:
Whether it is your wedding day or your day off...braids are so in right now! This is a great way to combine the current trend with the classic curly haired bride! LOVE IT!

Pattern please!

Ever thought about using a patterned table cloth on your wedding reception tables? Well, you will now! Check out some pics below that should get your creative juices flowin!

The BEAUTIFUL Summerlin House!

HOW have we never seen tables set like this (above) before? WE ADORE IT!

Extra! Extra! RED all about it!

Want a RED wedding but don't really care to incorporate a Holiday or winter theme? Well, we are here to tell you that you don't have to! The following are some RED color combos that you may never have thought of....but now you'll be seeing RED for sure!

RED & orange
Even though the two colors are very close, they compliment each other so well. These colors allow for both summer and fall weddings!


RED & green
Pairing these two colors together doesn't always have to equal Christmas! The lighter "granny smith" green looks great with RED and contrary to what you would normally think, has a really summery feel to it!


RED & navy or blue
RED happens to go well with all varieties of blue. It just screams summer fun!





RED & teal or Tiffany blue
You wouldn't normally pair a bold color such as RED with such a smooth, light color as Tiffany blue. Conversely, dominating teal is surprisingly really complimented by RED. So whether it is a bold color or a light color that you fancy...don't be afraid to try something not usually done!








RED & purple
Just as RED and orange are close, so are RED & purple....but the consensus is the same...it's a match made in heaven! These colors work really well in the cooler months...the opposite of the RED and orange pallette.

That's RED-iculous!

Once upon a time it was daring of a bride to wear silver, ivory or even a colored sash as opposed to all white wedding attire. We do, however, live in a COLOR world! If love were a color it would not be black or white, or even silver or ivory. Love is RED! It's hot, passionate, daring, vibrant and dignified. Make a statement as loud as your love and wear RED on your wedding day!

It used to be that a bride who chose to wear RED on her wedding day (GASP!) would have to settle for a cocktail gown, a quinceniera or prom dress in place of a gown made for a bride. Lucky for the gorgeous girls now choosing to wear RED, dress shops all over the place are equipt with gowns that were made for you to be married in!

Like a white wedding dress, a RED dress can be a variety of lengths, cuts and styles. We really enjoy the classic-eque big poofy dress done up in red!

We are seeing RED lately...so be sure to check back for future RED blogs to feature all the things you need to get RED-y for your RED wedding!

Veils UNveiled!

Do you want a veil or a fancy headpiece? How long and of what material will your veil be? Are you clueless about all of it? Well have no fear, we are about to unveil the ins and outs of choosing your perfect veil!

Historically, veils were worn to protect the bride from evil spirits. However, nowadays it is simply another stunning aspect of the bride on her special day, second only to the dress itself.
Here are some key factors you should consider when choosing your veil:

THE DRESS

You want to select a veil that compliments your dress. To do this, you must determine what the focal point or best part of your dress is. Is it the back? Special detailing on the bust line or through the middle? You should choose a veil that falls just before the detailing you would like to focus on or that covers it and has a fabric that you may see the detailing through. A simple dress allows for a more elaborate veil and in the same respect, an elaborate dress yields a more conservative veil.

THE VEIL LENGTH

Very Short - sometimes called "visor veils" and do not extend past the chin. Cage veils and other very short veils are trendy and popular at the moment. These veils pair well with either extreme of wedding gown: simple or eclectic.

Shoulder Length (blusher) - (20 inches) great for dresses with bust, waist or lower back detailing. They can sometimes be too informal for classical dresses.

Waist Length - (30 inches) this type of veil suits mosts dresses that don't feature a train.

Fingertip Length - (36 inches) reaches your fingertips when you stretch your arm out (hence the name). This is the most popular type of veil by far and suits the majority of dress styles.

Chapel - (90 inches) this veils reaches if not drapes slighly on the floor and is best with a dress that features a train.

Cathedral - (120 inches) the longest and therefore most formal veil, some extend 9 feet along the ground! It obviously works best with full length classic gowns.

TIERS

Veils can have up to 3 tiers and whether your choose to have 1, 2 or 3 is largely dependant on your dress type and how traditional you are. A 1 tiered veil is usually good for a sophisticated look but a romantic or classic dress could usually pull off 2 or 3 tiers. Keep in mind that with multiple veils, you will most likely not be able to see your hairstyle so it is often best to have it simply styled. The veil used to cover the brides face during the start of the ceremony is usually a blusher (shoulder length). Today's bride often chooses not to have a veil covering her face, but it can be really romantic to have the groom remove it before the first kiss :) Just make sure it is long enough so that when it is flipped over to reveal that bridal beauty that it doesn't look awkward from behind.

FACE SHAPE

The veil frames your face, so just like when you cut your hair, the shape of your face should be kept in mind.

Round - if you have a round face your goal when choosing a veil should be to make your face look longer and slimmer. So you should aim to avoid veils with volume on the side and look for ones that are at least shoulder length with volume towards the top!

Square - with a square shaped face you should choose a veil that softens your face and also adds length. The same type of veil as mentioned for round face shape will work here as well. Circular and cascading styles can help soften yoru jaw line.

Oval - this face shape allows you to experiment with all veil styles but it is a good idea to avoid extremes in length or width.

Rectangle - this face shape should look for veils with volume on the side and not on the top (the opposite of round face shape).

We hope you are now better informed for your veil shopping!

Brides of a Feather

When you think feathers do you automatically think Vegas showgirls? Crazy hats? Well think again because right now feathers are the perfect ingredient for a unique and stylish wedding!

One of the prettiest and easiest ways to incorporate feathers into your big day is in your hair. Hairpieces with feathers do not have to be all out like in Sex and The City, they can be simple and elegant too. Whether your hair is all up or half up you can easily add a feathered hairpiece to accentuate your look while still keeping it subtle.




The next most obvious way to incorporate feathers is in your centerpieces. Peacock feathers have such pretty colors and can really add a new dimension to even the most plain centerpiece. A big trend also seems to be GIANT all feather centerpieces. We love both ideas!

Feathers can also add to a bouquet the same way they add to a centerpiece! Who said your bouquet had to be all flowers? Add some feathers for a new depth! Who knows, maybe your bouquet will go a little further when you throw it if it has feathers on it ;)




Lastly, feathers can really add a fun touch to your invitations. They are so soft and frankly unexpected on a wedding invitations! So tickle your guests by adding one to yours!

All You Need is Music, Sweet Music!

Sometimes it is hard to get people out on the dance floor during a wedding, but have no fear...there are easy ways to fix this problem! First thing is first...a good DJ should have no problem getting your wedding guests out on the floor. A bar doesn't hurt either! What it really comes down to though is the songs you play during the reception. I know that when you think wedding reception you think "Shout" etc...we beg you...consider something else because playing "wedding songs" is played out.

8 Wedding Songs to Skip...(and why)

1. YMCA
just because everyone knows the words...and the dance...does not mean you are obligated to play it.


2. Chicken Dance
the name says it all! Who really wants to flap around and look silly like that?

3. Stayin Alive
no one knows any of the words to this song except the one line...it's just silly!

4. Every Breath You Take
whether it is The Police or Puff Daddy...we can think of so many other romantic songs (that aren't so stalkerish)

5. Total Eclipse of the Heart
If you saw Will Ferrell's rendition of this song in Old School you know why we want to skip it (or that might be why you want to PLAY it..?)

6. Macarena
Do you really wanna see all your relatives doing that hip thing?

7. My Heart Will Go On
EW!

8. Mony Mony
Weird!

Don't get all flustered and heart broken just yet brides and grooms...we have a list of new songs that haven't been deemed "wedding songs" just yet that we think you should try...

1. Lucky - Jason Mraz and Colby Callet
Maybe a first dance song? The lyrics are so romantic "lucky I'm in love with my best friend"! Not to mention both Jason and Colby have AMAZING voices!


2. Viva La Vida - Coldplay
This song just makes you feel good and makes ya wanna move!

3. Good Time - Alan Jackson
If you have never seen this music video, open a new tab and find it now! How is this song NOT more popular?


4. The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson
Another song with some great lyrics!

5. Single Ladies - Beyonce
This is a number that you DO want to see your relatives try to dance to! Plus, it is just fun! It's also pretty relevant "if you like it then you should have put a ring on it" isn't that what everyone is there to celebrate? Your ring and commitment?



6. Beautiful - Akon
This is a good party starter

7. So What - P!NK
Another party starter...just like her other song "Get This Party Started"

8. Just Dance - Lady Gaga
No one can resist dancing to ANYTHING by Lady Gaga

9. Green Light - John Legend
This is a good transition into the "goodbye" portion of the evening

10. When the Night Comes - Dan Auerbach
A good last song!

This list could continue forever...just keep in mind "oldies but goodies" are not always good! :)

I'd Like to Propse a TASTEful Toast!

Toasting the bride&groom is a wedding tradition and expected of you if you happen to be in the wedding party. Add some more bubble to your bubbley with some tips and delicious additions to a tradition that we don't want to see fizz out:

On the tip of the lips....
(some advice on how not to spill out your speech)

*Do not wing it
make note cards, pratice, write it out....just like in school, remember?

*It's a toast...not a ROAST
a toast is made in HONOR of a person (or couple) not to embarass them. So, if you wouldn't be honored if the same speech was made about you, then it may need some revisions.

*Shorter is Sweeter
You wouldn't want to listen to yourself talk for more than a minute or two, so why make everyone else?

*Hold on to your glass
Alcohol will calm your nerves, but too much will make you babble over your bubbles so limit the pre-toast intake.



Ritzy Glitzy Recipes to Make Your Sparkling Beverage Really Shine!...
(Courtesy of The Ritz Carlton)

*Wedding Veil Cocktail
This blue beauty is the perfect addition for the popular wedding color.

60 ml Champagne
10 ml parfait amour bols
20 ml white peach puree
20 ml apple juice
20 ml blue curacao
green cherry
lemon peel


*Barefoot Bubbly
Why not? We are in Florida, aren't we?

1/2 tsp. sugar
2 dashes of bitters
1 oz. guava rum
1 squeeze of a fresh, Florida orange
1 strawberry
champagne


"CHEERS!!"

Some invitation FAQ (and answers!)

Invitations used to have to be worded a certain way and the order of names on the invitation had underlying meaning...but the tradition of traditional invitations seems to be fading. Word your invitation however you'd like, in whatever order, font and color you choose. There are a few things with respect to wedding invites that haven't changed however:

* Invitations should be in the mail 4-6 weeks before the celebration.

* If you don't want children at the wedding your options are:
1. Leave their names off the invitation
2. Have friends and family spread the word that you don't desire children at the wedding.
3. Add one of the following phrases to the bottom of the reply card: "adult reception", "We hope that the (# of guests) of you will be able to join us", "(# of seats) have been reserved in your name"

* If someone hasn't responded, one week after the "reply by" date, call them.

* Your officiant and their better half get an invitation

* Send your parents and wedding party invitations as a keepsake, you know they're coming so they do not necessarily have to reply.

* You have to put the return postage on your RSVPs.

* You are not supposed to put registry information on the invitation. If you have a wedding website, an insert containing the address can accompany the invite and the website can obviously contain your registry information.

* Do not seal the invitation in it's envelope before you write the address on the envelope, it will leave indentations on the invite.