5 Fun Wedding Cocktail Ideas

5 Fun Wedding Cocktail Ideas

May 15, 2013 by ·

Whether you’re having your wedding reception catered or having a “serve yourself” bar, there are some great ways to dress it up! Here are 5 fun wedding cocktail ideas you’re going to love.

Cocktail Bar

Create a cocktail bar with napkins, glasses, shot glasses (for measuring) and tiny chalk boards with drink recipes. Individuals can choose the drink they think they’d like best and create it themselves. This is a fun idea for a more intimate ceremony.

Cocktail Bar

Photo Source: melissa-munding.com

Create Pre-Mixed Cocktails

Use mason jars with lids to create “pre mixed” cocktails that guests can simply pour over ice. There are many great drinks that can be created like this, and there’s no guessing involved – just pour it in the glass!

Pre-Made Mason Jar Cocktails

Garnishes

Fill little containers with garnishes guests can use for their cocktails. Olives with toothpicks through them, lemon and lime wedges, mint sprigs – these are all great garnishes for cocktails. If you’re doing bloody mary’s, you can do celery sticks. You can even stock up on little umbrellas to decorate the drinks!

Purple Cocktail with Orange, Lime and Lemon

Photo Source: chocolateandcarrots.com

Punch or Mixed Drinks

To make it easy for guests to get their drinks and get back to their seats quickly, create large batches of punch or mixed drinks and place them in drink dispensers. Guests can then just use ice in their glass and get their own drink from the dispenser.

Pink Cocktail or Punch with Strawberry

Photo Source: juliasroomfordessert.blogspot.ca

Food Trays

Food trays are great on a cocktail bar. Some foods that go perfectly with different drinks include cheeses of all varieties, fruits like strawberries and grapes, artisan breads and crackers. These are great little hors d’oeuvres ideas for intimate receptions.

Food Trays

Use these ideas to make your cocktail bar out of this world!

Featured Photo Source: elanaspantry.com

Filed Under: Wedding Planning Tagged With: , ,
Unique Wedding Dress Ideas

Unique Wedding Dress Ideas

May 7, 2013 by ·

So you don’t want to wear the typical white wedding dress; well, you’re not alone. There are brides all over the US who are trading in that white dress for something a little more unique. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few great ideas.

Choose a Printed Wedding Dress

Who said your dress had to be solid white? Printed dresses like these are absolutely stunning and can be perfect for any theme or season. It’s sure to catch the eyes of your guests and will look perfect in wedding photos as well.

Printed Wedding Dress

Beaded Dresses

You can also go with a white dress that has a little color on it from beading. This unique one is criss-crossed with gold beads that give the dress a modern and beautiful as well as sophisticated look. It works well with most themes and kicks boring out of the window.

Beaded Wedding Dress

Photo Source: marketplace.asos.com

Splashes of Color

Incorporate color into your white wedding dress with something like this dress. As you can see, the bodice is a deep and rich teal, and then the skirt of the dress flares out like a traditional white wedding dress. It’s beautiful and flattering.

Colored Bodice Wedding Dress

Photo Source: hitched.ie

These are just a few simple ideas for brides who are tired of the white wedding dress look and want to spice their attire up a little bit!

Featured Photo Source: girlywedding.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized
Dramatic Wedding Makeup Ideas: Themed Weddings

Dramatic Wedding Makeup Ideas: Themed Weddings

April 23, 2013 by ·

So if you’re having a themed wedding and need something outside of the usual wedding makeup looks, you’ve come to the right place. Check out these beautiful and dramatic wedding makeup ideas.

This gorgeous look combines eye shades of violet, plum and charcoal and long false lashes. The lip color is a deep crimson lined by charcoal and blended very well. This is a very dramatic look and would be great for theatrical-themed weddings.

Wedding Makeup for Theatre Wedding

This neon look is great for certain themes and uses lime green, purple, teal and pink to create a bright and vivid look. It blends directly into the cheek color and the lips are lined and painted in a bright magenta.

Colorful Wedding Makeup

Photo Source: eyeshadowlipstick.com

This look is toned down in comparison with the others but still quite dramatic. Smoky eyes done in gold, bronze and black really create a dramatic look. The eyes are heavily lined and long false lashes are applied. The look is balanced by a nude gloss on the lips.

Natural but Dramatic Wedding Makeup

Photo Source: countdownevents.com

This look is perfect for vintage themes and Hollywood themes. It features winged eyes that are heavily lined and shaded to create a smoky effect and the bright red Hollywood lipstick. It’s very classy and beautiful.

Wedding Makeup

Photo Source: yourquidditchcaptain.tumblr.com

Purple, pink and black come together to create the dramatic eye look in this one and the lips are lined with a very shiny plum gloss. The look is fantastic for a 1920’s vintage themed wedding.

Bold Wedding Makeup

Photo Source: theeflashionmcqueendiaries.blogspot.ca

These are just a few ideas that you can use when trying to find inspiration for your dramatic wedding makeup!

Filed Under: Health and Beauty, Wedding Planning Tagged With: , ,
Lighted Flower Reception Décor

Lighted Flower Reception Décor

April 15, 2013 by ·

If you want to add a cute little shimmer to your party, you can create these easy, beautiful lighted flower reception décor strands. It’s easier than you think and will only cost you a few dollars to create, so you can fill your reception venue with them.

Flower Strand Decor

Photo Source: weddingpartyapp.com

What You Need

You’ll want to purchase some artificial flowers that go well with your wedding theme and colors. You’ll also want some white Christmas lights on white strands. It doesn’t matter whether they’re indoor or outdoor, since you’ll only be using them for this event for a few hours.

Flower Decor

Photo Source: weddingpartyapp.com

How to Create Them

Take the artificial flower off the stem and remove the center. You may need to use a little hot glue at the sides of the center hole to keep the flowers together. Then, poke a white Christmas light through the center of the flower, going from the back to the front. If the hole is larger than the light, you can use a little hot glue to keep it on the light.

Continue this all the way down the strand of lights until you’ve finished. Voila – you have a cheap, beautiful strand of flower lights that will work well when wrapped around posts, or draped from the ceiling. Use all one color to create a uniform look, or for a funkier reception, choose colored flowers and colored lights.

Light Decor

Photo Source: weddingpartyapp.com

It’s easy to create and the lights can be used again for parties or other celebrations.

Filed Under: Wedding Decor, Wedding Reception Tagged With: , ,
Tips for Making Your Reception a Huge Success

Tips for Making Your Reception a Huge Success

April 8, 2013 by ·

Every bride wants her wedding reception to be a hit – to make sure everyone is having a lot of fun and that everything goes smoothly. In order for this to happen, you need to make sure you have several elements in your reception. These tips will help make sure your reception is a huge success.

Adequate Food and Beverages

Not only do you want to make sure that you have great options for your guests, but you want to make sure you have enough. Whether you’re doing a sit-down dinner or a candy buffet, include options for everyone on your list. Make sure your perishable items are refrigerated (you can rent equipment from places like Corr Chilled).

Wedding Food Buffet

Photo Source: beweddingplanner.com

Location

The location is a very important part of the reception. Many brides choose to utilize the same location that the wedding takes place in while others go for a different location and theme. Browse through pictures of venues and look at options like www.lavishlocations.com to find the perfect location that suits your number of guests, your theme and other needs.

Wedding Venue

Entertainment

Make sure you have great entertainment options at your reception. This doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune on a DJ; you can use your iPod if you want. However, make sure you have some great song options so everyone will want to dance and have a good time.

Wedding Entertainement

Photo Source: bellagala.com

By making sure these 3 elements exist within your reception, you can make sure it will be a big success.

Filed Under: Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception Tagged With: , ,
How to Make Your Own Personalized Wedding Bubbles

How to Make Your Own Personalized Wedding Bubbles

April 1, 2013 by ·

Wedding bubbles are becoming super popular these days as ways for the wedding party to send off the bride and groom (rather than throwing rice). Here is how to make your own personalized wedding bubbles that match your wedding colors.

Personalized Wedding Bubbles

Photo Source: weddingshop.theknot.com

What You’ll Need

Corn Syrup

Water

Dish Detergent

Food Coloring

Pipe Cleaners (in your wedding colors)

Small, Empty Bottles (1 for Each Guest)

Printer

Paper

How to Make Them

Start by mixing the bubbles. You’ll need 2 and ½ cups of water, ½ cup of corn syrup and ½ cup of dish detergent. You can mix as many batches as you’ll need to fill all of your bottles. Tint the mixture with the food coloring to match your wedding colors. Now, cut your pipe cleaners to the appropriate size and make an enclosed shape at the bottom – a circle, a heart, a star, etc.

Personalized Bubbles

Photo Source: justbubbly.com

Fill the bottles with the solution. Now, print your own custom labels and tape them to the bubble bottles. Then, you can use the ribbon to tie the pipe cleaner wand onto the bubble bottle. Voila! You have your own custom bubbles that are cheap and easy to make, and that match your wedding reception and ceremony colors perfectly.

Personalized Bubbles

Photo Source: orientaltrading.com

Personalized Wedding Bubbles

Photo Source: etsy.com

Additional Ideas

If you don’t want to make these for your guests, you can make them as “favors” for the children that attend your wedding, such as the flower girl and ring bearer. In any case, these are a lot of fun to create and can be a great addition to your big day.

Filed Under: Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception Tagged With: , ,
Top Destination Wedding Locations

Top Destination Wedding Locations

March 26, 2013 by ·

Are you considering a destination wedding? They’re becoming more and more popular, especially with wedding packages designed to provide you with the destination wedding you want without costing a fortune. Here are the top wedding destinations that brides and their soon-to-be grooms love.

Hawaii

Hawaii is gorgeous; there’s no doubt about that. Maybe that’s why it’s one of the top wedding destinations. The great thing about Hawaii is that there’s no “bad” location – everywhere you look is gorgeous. Plus, you can enjoy some of the best water sports and fun in the world!

Hawaii

Photo Source: globalspiration.tumblr.com

The Caribbean Islands

The Caribbean islands are just as beautiful as Hawaii and you’ll enjoy some of the bluest water in the world. With more than 20 islands to choose from, you can opt for a wedding in a high-traffic tourist location or on one of the more secluded islands so it feels like a private getaway.

Caribbean Islands

The United States

If you’re thinking “boring,” think again! There are some absolutely stunning locations to get married without going abroad. Why not get married in the middle of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, or Napa Valley in California? These are both gorgeous places to visit and marry, and you can save a lot of money by staying within the US.

Mardi Gras Wedding

Photo Source: eyewanderphoto.com

Napa Valley Wedding

Photo Source: blrphoto.com

Tahiti

Tahiti is a wonderful place to get married for couples who want a tropical wedding without the thousands of tourists. It’s more secluded, and you can find some adorable little nooks and crannies to celebrate your special day in.

Tahiti

It can be difficult to choose which location to get married in, but you can think about some of the things that are important to you and then choose your location based on that.

Featured Photo Source: girlywedding.com

Filed Under: Outdoor Wedding, Wedding Planning Tagged With: , ,
4 Unique Wedding Themes You Probably Haven’t Considered

4 Unique Wedding Themes You Probably Haven’t Considered

March 19, 2013 by ·

If you’re still trying to decide on the best wedding theme, the following ideas might help you out. These are unique themes that probably haven’t crossed your mind, but that work really well for a fun and exciting wedding.

Masquerade Ball

A masquerade ball is mysterious, beautiful and elegant. If you’re attracted to these types of themes, then you might want to consider this one. Have a mask for everyone at the reception, and decorate with rich jewel-tones and gold accents. You can even learn a choreographed dance that the entire wedding party takes part in to present to the rest of the guests!

masquerade wedding

Photo Source: my-weddingdream.com

Travel Themed Wedding

If you and/or your future spouse travel a lot, why not have a travel-themed wedding? Use cheap maps to create décor, favor wrapping paper and even paper airplanes for a “rice-throwing” alternative. You can even create a different theme for each reception table, using different countries.

Travel Theme Wedding

Photo Source: bridalmusings.com

A Royal Wedding

Celebrate the union of the “king and queen” in a royal-themed wedding. Have thrones built for the reception and go with jewel tones and beautiful rich fabric. You can also use themed invitations and royal-inspired wedding favors.

Wedding Cake

Photo Source: squidoo.com

Tattoo Themed Wedding

If you and your future spouse aren’t the traditional kind, why not go with a tattoo-themed wedding? This is great for artists, and has a wonderful visual impact. Give out tattoos to all the guests and the wedding party, and have your baker create a delicious, tattooed cake!

Wedding Cake

Photo Source: squidoo.com

Use these ideas for your wedding or to inspire you to come up with a fantastic theme all your own!

Filed Under: Wedding Planning, Wedding Theme Tagged With: , , ,
Wedding Band or DJ: Which is the Best Choice

Wedding Band or DJ: Which is the Best Choice

March 11, 2013 by ·

Both a wedding band and a wedding DJ can provide excellent entertainment for your reception, but which is the best choice? By looking at the benefits of each, you can determine which would be better suited for your reception.

Benefits of a Wedding Band

If you love a local band, you’d probably love them singing your favorite songs for your reception. One of the benefits of a wedding band is that you get a consistent sound no matter which song is being played at any given moment. Live music is very popular amongst brides, and bands are often more affordable than a wedding DJ. Of course, this depends on your location and the band itself. Bands often take requests and will adhere to your “do not play’ list.

Wedding Band Entertainment

Photo Source: bellagala.com

Benefits of a Wedding DJ

A wedding DJ is more versed in entertainment than bands most of the time. The DJ will attempt to get individuals involved in the entertainment, will announce the bridal party and the bride and groom, and generally knows how to make sure everyone is having a great time. Of course, the DJ doesn’t actually sing, but plays the songs you want to hear. The DJ will typically adhere to your “do not play” list, and can even instruct people for popular dances and more.

Wedding DJ

Photo Source: bellagala.com

Which is Best for You?

Before deciding whether to hire a wedding DJ or a band, you will want to take into consideration your wedding budget. Check prices for local bands and DJs and see how they match up with your own needs. It’s also really important to meet with the bands or DJs you’re considering, to see how well you mesh with them and whether your instinct tells you they’re a great choice or not.

Sound System at Wedding

Photo Source: Blake Miller – Pro Motion Entertainment

When considering these tips and doing your due diligence, you’re sure to discover which option would be best for your reception.

Filed Under: Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception, Wedding Vendors Tagged With: , ,
Mason Jar Orange Trifle: Wedding Desserts

Mason Jar Orange Trifle: Wedding Desserts

March 5, 2013 by ·

If you’re planning to create your own wedding menu, then you have to know about these mason jar orange trifle desserts. They’re super easy to make, can be made ahead of time, and are really beautiful additions to the menu (as well as delicious). Here’s how to make them.

Trifle Dessert

Photo Source: justeasyrecipes.co.za

You’ll need one mason jar per guest, orange juice, angel food cake, cool whip, orange marmalade, and mandarin orange slices from a jar or can.

Wedding Dessert Trifle

Photo Source: pauladeen.com

First, place a layer of angel food cake about 1 inch thick in the bottom of the jar (you can cut layers with biscuit cutters to make them round). Add 2 tablespoons of orange juice to soak into the cake. Mix your cool whip and orange marmalade equally. Add an inch-thick layer of that to the jar. Now layer the mixture with orange slices, and repeat the layers one more time.

When you’re finished, place the cap on the jar and tie a spoon to the jar using an orange ribbon. These are beautiful and fantastic, and go very well with an orange colored wedding. You can make this with other fruits as well, using strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc.

Berry Trifle

Photo Source: smittenfoodie.com

Place these in the refrigerator until just before time to serve. They’re a cool and refreshing treat, great for a summer or spring wedding or really, any time.

Featured Photo Source: blog.weddingpaperdivas.com

Filed Under: Wedding Budget, Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception Tagged With: , ,
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