Archive for the ‘wedding planning’ Category

30 Days To Go Checklist

Friday, April 30th, 2010

30 Days To Go Checklist

After you’ve spent months or a year planning and scheduling every minute detail of your wedding, you will wake up one morning and realize that it’s the last few weeks before the ceremony and there are things you haven’t done. Don’t be surprised if your mind goes blank and you just cannot remember what needs to be done. Stress!

Here is a quick checklist to get you back on track and relieve some of your stress:

• This would be a good time to apply for your marriage license, if you haven’t already done it. Different localities have different requirements so you and your fiancé need to take a little advance care with this process. Normally, this is a task handled by the groom.

The license is usually issued by the County Clerk or the Clerk of the Court. There will be a fee. Check in advance for the fee and method of payment required. Some states require blood tests and others require tests for German Measles, venereal diseases, sickle-cell anemia, tuberculosis, etc.

• Your dress needs a final fitting now to be sure there’s time to make any changes needed. While you are at it, make sure your bridesmaids and groomsmen have their attire ready to go.

• All your vendors need to be contacted to confirm arrival/delivery dates and times. This includes your caterer, florist, musicians, photographer, hotels, reception hall, minister or other officiate, transportation and hotel reservations and the bakery creating your wedding cake.

• Take a little time to check your wedding program for accuracy before you print it. Send a future change of address form to the post office. Make a list of those invited guests who have not responded to your request for an RSVP and ask your mother or sister to contact them. As soon as you know how many out-of-town guests you will have, create your welcome baskets for them.

• As soon as you receive gifts, write thank you notes. People consider it bad manners to have to wait weeks to get thanked for sending a gift.

Two Weeks To Go:

A couple of weeks before your ceremony, flesh out your seating plan and
write your place cards. Confirm any last minute details and tell your caterer how many to expect. Complete your seating chart.

Pick up your dress and hang it where it won’t wrinkle or get caught on something. Occasionally walk around your house wearing your wedding shoes to break them in and make them comfortable for your walk down the aisle.

Arrange for a house sitter while you are on your honeymoon, if necessary. You might need someone to water your plants or take care of your pets while you are gone.

Make sure someone has a list of your honeymoon itinerary and contact information in case of an emergency.

With your fiancé, write toasts for the rehearsal dinner and reception. Attend your bachelor or bachelorette parties.

The Day Before:

Your out-of-town guests will be arriving. Relax with them and make them
comfortable. Personally give them their welcome baskets or have them already in their rooms.

Take a break and have a manicure, pedicure and maybe a massage.

Confirm your transportation schedule.

Attend the rehearsal that afternoon or evening and hold the rehearsal dinner. Give your wedding party their gifts and make sure they know their individual responsibilities, like handing out corsages and boutonnieres, escorting guests down the aisle.

The Big Day:

Give your parents their wedding gifts, if you didn’t do it at the rehearsal dinner.

Follow the schedule you have set up for the morning; hair dresser, make up, etc., and you’ll make it just fine to the wedding with everything running fairly smoothly.

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Getting the Groom Involved in the Planning

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Wedding planning isn’t just for the bride; the groom should take some responsibility and have some input in the process too. However, traditionally the arrangements are covered by the bride and her mother. That means that many people don’t know how to get the groom involved. Let’s take a look at a few ways to help him avoid feeling left out of things or run over by your plans.

If you’ve just gotten engaged, you’re going to want to make the announcement. Both of you can create an announcement card to send out by mail or email, or share the responsibility of calling friends and family. Together, make the list of people you’d like to invite to the wedding.

Food is another important portion of your wedding. Your fiancé can help you with the budget, help figure out the catering situation, and maybe come up with a few creative ideas that you haven’t thought of. If one or the other of you is a skilled negotiator, consider delegating that person to work with the vendors to get the best price. Remember, every task is an important one!

You may wish to write your vows together, too. Collaboration can help you come up with the perfect words to say to one another to express your love. Other things you can do together include building decorations for the reception, researching the music and deciding on the DJs, and choosing the videographer or photographer. You’ll want to talk about just what each of you wants out of the wedding.

For many grooms, the wine and other drinks that will be provided at the reception are extremely important. If this is something your guy cares about, or if he loves food, let him handle the food and drink. Resist the urge to micro manage! Each of you has the ability to put together something great without supervision, as long as you’re clear on what needs to be done in advance.

Other things the groom can do to take a little bit of the load off the bride’s shoulders include choosing suits for the wedding, contributing his opinion on colors, theme, and size of the wedding, and choosing the transportation for the big day. He can also handle wedding present registrations and handle mediation with your families if there are problems. He can even talk about the toast with the best man if you’re feeling nervous about it.

It’s a great idea to involve your groom in the wedding planning. Just make sure to include him in the decision making as well as the labor, and relax about his ability to handle things. He can get the job done just as well as you can, and it’ll keep you from feeling quite as stressed and unhappy. If you’ll be married soon, you’re going to be entering a life where you do a lot of things together. Planning your ceremony and reception is a great start.

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Some Questions That Might Need Answering

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

Dear Ms. Etiquette,

I recently got engaged and I’m doing a lot of thinking about the upcoming wedding. I have a few questions. Okay, a lot of questions, about what’s considered proper wedding etiquette. I hope you don’t mind answering them for me; I’d feel much better knowing I’m handling situations in the right way.

Q: Do I send a wedding announcement and an invitation to everyone I know?

A: Certainly not. The announcements can go to everyone, including the newspapers, but the invitations only go to people you want at the wedding.

Q: Can I send wedding invites via email?

A: Even though many wedding traditions seem to have gone out the window in recent years, there are some time-honored traditions that remain. Sending real, physical, beautiful wedding invitations via snail mail is one of them.

Q: For financial reasons, I need to limit my wedding to 100 people. How do I invite some and not others? Where do I draw the line?

A: Sometimes it’s easier to limit the wedding to an even smaller number, such as family members and very close friends only than it is to limit it to 100. Start with the “must invites” and work outwards in your circle of people. It won’t hurt to send out invitations to those who live farther away when you know they won’t travel. Aunt Mabel will be tickled to have the invitation anyway.

Where it becomes fuzzier is with coworkers and those in the outer periphery of your circle. Depending on the circumstances, you may opt for honesty and tell those not invited that you had to limit your list to a small number because of budget constraints. This makes for fewer hurt feelings.

Q: I’ve heard we have a year to send thank you notes for the wedding gifts we’ll receive. Is this true?

A: Humph. Let me put it this way… I would be embarrassed for you if you sent me a thank you note for a gift I gave you 364 day ago. Keep on top of it. As soon as you get a gift, jot a nice note and send it. If you do it as the gifts come in, it won’t overwhelm you. Don’t even ask me about sending thank yous via email.

Q: I’m hoping my maid of honor will throw a shower for me. Will she automatically do this or should I ask her?

A: There is no written rule stating the maid of honor or any of your friends have to host a shower for you so if you have someone in mind, you’ll have to ask them. Before you put the burden on them, though, decide if they are really the right person for the job. Can they financially afford to do it? Are the dependable? Would they even like to do it?

Q: Can I invite people to my shower that I’m not inviting to the wedding?

A: No ma’am. The exception would be if it’s a workplace shower with a large number of employees or a shower back in your home town if that town is at least several hundred miles away.

Q: What about the rehearsal dinner? My soon-to-be husband’s parents are both remarried. Who pays? Who gets invited?

A: Traditionally, the groom’s parents pay for the rehearsal dinner, but this does not have to be so. His parents and step-parents may work out a combined hosting, or the bride and groom can pay for it themselves.

As far as who to invite, it should be all parents and step-parents, the wedding party and their significant others, any children you or your intended have, plus your siblings. After that, it’s up to you. If you have close family or friends from out of town who have flown in you can certainly invite them to the rehearsal dinner if it’s okay with the hosts.

Q: Truthfully, as far as wedding presents go, we’d rather receive cash than gifts because we’re saving for a down payment on a house. Is it acceptable to put a note in the wedding invitations or tell people?

A: No, no, no. It’s considered bad form to put any sort of note in a wedding invitation that mentions anything about gifts or gift registries. Get the word out to a close friend and a family member or two and ask them to spread the word. It is acceptable for them to let others know what you want.

Thank you for enlightening me, Ms. Etiquette. I believe you’ve answered all my questions regarding wedding etiquette.

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Beach Wedding Dresses

Monday, October 5th, 2009

Indeed, modern brides are truly lucky because today, weddings—no matter how unconventional are they—are socially accepted. One of the most popular themed weddings today is the beach wedding. And because of this popularity, more and more designers and bridal shops are offering a wide array of beach wedding dresses that brides—as well as grooms—can choose from.

What you need to know about beach wedding dresses:

Because of the popularity of beach weddings, beach wedding dresses have occupied a large number of racks in various bridal salons and stores. If you are one of those brides that are considering a beach wedding for her big day, you must familiarize yourself with everything about it first.

Usually, couples that are beach bums are the only ones who prefer beach wedding. This is because they would like the beach to be a special part of their union just like what it was during their dating stage. But today, even those who are not really into beach life can opt for this type of wedding if they want to. All they need to do is plan everything out carefully.

In a beach wedding, the major consideration is the venue or the beach itself. Since you will be inviting guests, it will be wiser to choose a nearby beach to save you and your guests from hassle in getting to the place. Also, it is best to choose a beach in a tropical country because the climate is warmer and better all throughout the year.

For brides, the next major consideration would be the attire. Here comes a variety of beach wedding dresses to choose from. In choosing beach wedding dresses, keep in mind that they should not be formal since the celebration itself has a casual mood. There is no need for full and formal skirts or elaborate headpieces. What is called for in this occasion are and sleek style—perfect for a beach backdrop. Ideal beach wedding dresses are those that have simple yet classes and elegant design. Here, minimalist look will work best since there is no need to over accessorize.

If you look in various bridal shops that offer beach wedding dresses, the staple designs would be strapless or tube, sleeveless, and halter. These beach wedding dresses are designed that way not only to show off the nice figure of the bride but also to give her utmost comfort during the rites. Most beach wedding dresses come in these styles but there are also variations in terms of length and body type of the bride.

When it comes to accessories, beach wedding dresses require very minimal and casual ones. In fact, compared to the gowns worn on traditional church weddings, beach wedding dresses don’t even require a veil. Since the overall feel of the theme is casual, you can choose dainty accessories such as a ring of flowers and use it as a hair band or barrettes that match your beach wedding dress and your other accessories.

For the hair, easygoing styles such as simple ponytail would do. For the footwear, there is also no need to wear high heels since it doesn’t match the dress and the location. Opt for dainty pair of flip-flops or sandals with soft and intricate straps. If you truly want an authentic feel of the beach, you can go barefoot. Just make sure that there are no stones in the sand so you won’t hurt your foot as you go your way.

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Don’t Forget To Get Your Sleep

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Planning your wedding is a big deal and can use up a lot of energy. If you’re going to married soon, you’re probably finding yourself running all over, and you might not be getting enough sleep. However, that’s a bad idea. There are lots of unfortunate side effects that come from not getting enough rest, and they could put a crimp in your plans for the big day. Let’s take a look at the reasons that brides need plenty of high quality sleep, especially the night before their weddings.

Did you know that sleep prevents disease? If you get less than the amount your body requires (and some of us need more than others) you’re putting yourself at risk for faster aging and more diseases. Sleep keeps your heart healthy, and can reduce your risk of cancer. It also helps you reduce your stress levels, since sleep deficiency elevates stress, raises blood pressure and increases muscle tension. Not enough sleep can result in aches and pains, as well as trouble getting through the day.

Get enough sleep before your wedding to be fully alert, capable of remembering everything you need to, and even help you with that last minute diet so many brides go on (just don’t do it after your alterations have been finished!) You’ll feel smarter and be happier, and your body will be in better shape. Skip the sleep, and you may find yourself feeling and looking exhausted before the big day even gets started!

Of course, some of us get so nervous that sleeping can be tricky, even if we make an effort to get enough. There are a few things you can do to help yourself sleep, even the night before. Don’t turn right to sedatives or other chemical sleep aids, though. Try changing your behavior first – it’s easier on your body.

Maintaining a regular routine, instead of going to bed at all different times, can put you in much better shape. A regular schedule helps your body be ready for sleep at about the same time each night. Keep that schedule even on holidays, weekends, and special occasions to keep your internal clock ticking correctly.

Get up at the same time each morning, too – even if you didn’t sleep as much as you’d like. That might sound counter intuitive, but it’ll help train your body to sleep properly the next night. Likewise, avoid going to bed extra early, even if you’re tired. That keeps your body trained.

Remember that sleep should be a priority, and make plenty of time for it. It’s not a waste of time – it’s an investment in your health, your happiness, and a great wedding day. Create a comfortable environment for sleeping, with a temperature and bedding that feel good to you. If you’re tossing and turning, the quality of your sleep is going to be reduced. Try a warm bath before bed, or scent your room with relaxing smells like lavender, to improve your chances of a good night’s sleep before the wedding. You’ll appreciate it when the big day comes.

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10 Questions to Ask When Looking for a Wedding Photographer

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

When it comes to preparing for your wedding, you are probably up to your elbows in magazines, paperwork, bills, and glitter. But even though there seems to be a never-ending list of things to do in order to be properly prepared for the big day, you have to make sure that you are not skipping certain details.

Here are 10 questions to ask when checking out wedding photographers. This is not just about making sure that you are spending your money wisely but it is also about making sure you are going to end up with photos you will be able to proudly cherish for the rest of your life.

1. Will he or she be the exact person at your wedding taking your photos?

If he or she cannot guarantee that, you will want to look somewhere else. You want to make sure you are interviewing and reviewing the work of the exact person who will be at your wedding taking photos. The last thing you want is to be surprised on the day of your wedding and end up with photos that are not worth a dime.

2. What styles does he or she specialize in?

Photos are not just photos. Every photographer out there has their own special style or way of doing things that you want to be familiar with. Do you like the photographer’s style? Is it your style? In order to be a happy bride, make sure that you are getting a photographer that is capable of taking the shots you want on your wedding day.

3. What kind or type of camera will be used for your photos?

It is important to make sure that some inexpensive 35mm camera available at any Wal-Mart is not being used. There is nothing wrong with an everyday camera for everyday photos, but your wedding is special. You want high quality photos so make sure that your photographer has the right equipment.

4. Is there a backup plan?

What happens if that camera breaks? Make sure the photographer has a back up plan such as having spare cameras on hand and an assistant who is qualified to work in his or her place should an emergency occur.

5. How large is the photo package and what is the price breakdown for each photo?

By understanding all of the pricing and what you get within each package you will be able to make an educated decision on what you should be going with. Ask questions if you don’t understand. It’s better to not be surprised when the bill and the proofs come in.

6. How long before the proofs are ready?

You will want to know how long it will take for the proofs to be finished for your review.

7. Do they automatically give the negatives/cd or is there an extra charge for this?

Some will give you the negatives free of charge while others will not unless you ask for them and then there is an additional charge.

8. Is he or she covered by liability insurance?

In case something goes wrong or there is an accident, the photographer needs to have liability insurance to cover costs.

9. Can you request specific types of photos to be taken?

This will help to ensure that you are getting exactly what you want. If the photographer seems rigid and uptight about your input, you should look elsewhere.

10. Is there an additional cost for staying longer then scheduled?

If there is a delay or the event simply lasts longer than you expected you probably want the photographer to stay. Is he or she available to stay longer, and do they charge extra for doing so?

Your wedding photographer can be like a magician creating beautiful photos of your very special wedding. Don’t hesitate to ask questions when you’re deciding who to hire – it’s that important.

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Congratulations – You’re Getting Married

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Now that you have shared your happy news with family and friends the fun really starts. It’s time to actually start planning your wedding; wedding reception ideas, bridal bouquets, wedding favor ideas and dress ideas will be swimming around in that little loved-up head of yours!

Take a deep breath and relax because the BIG question you’re already asking yourself is… “Where do I start?”

Well, the only way to successfully plan your perfect wedding is to start with your wedding reception ideas. Treat yourself to a few bridal magazines [you've always wanted to buy one and now you can with that rock on your finger!]. Start looking around in haberdashery departments and put together a collection of the materials, styles and colors that appeal to you. These will provide the essential ingredients for your wedding reception ideas board or scrapbook or however you choose to present them.

Your ideas can then spiral off in a multitude of different directions as you start to consider wedding themes, wedding favor ideas, color themes and style themes, etc. It is truly essential to set the tone of your wedding first and then everything else falls in to place. For example, if your bridal gown shop knows you are going for a traditional “ivory and gold” theme, she can then advise you on gowns to suit this theme. In addition, you can then advise your wedding favor supplier that any ideas for wedding favors must fit within this theme.

Wedding favors come in all different styles and design. They range from candle favors, chocolate favors, cd wedding favors, beach themed favors and many more. You can even personalize your favors to make them unique to your guests.

In these early days, there is no need to ask for the groom’s comments – wait until you have narrowed down some ideas before you present them to him. He won’t really respond to “do you like this?” and “what about this?” being thrown at him 50 times a day. It is far better to approach your groom once you have narrowed down groomsmen ideas, color ideas, wedding reception ideas, wedding favor ideas, etc to a minimum. You will also get a more honest answer from him. Don’t forget, even though ideas for wedding favors have completely taken over your life for the moment, he might not share your enthusiasm at this early stage of the preparations.

Throughout your ideas stage, you must not forget your wedding guests. Fundamentally, it is your day, however every girl wants their wedding remembered for its class and elegance. The one way that guests will treasure your wedding memories is by the giving of unique wedding favors. Second to your wedding themes and wedding reception ideas, you must consider wedding favor ideas carefully. Once your beautiful day is over and you’re embarking on married life, you want your guests to look back at their favor boxes and bomboniere and reminisce!

However you plan your wonderful day, and whichever of your original wedding reception ideas and ideas for wedding favors you choose, have a special day and a magical married life thereafter!

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Bomboniere

Friday, September 11th, 2009

(Sugared Almonds Wedding Favors)

Your wedding reception should be the party of your life and when planning it, every effort should be made in order to ensure that’s what you get. Table decorations, floral arrangements, venue, entertainment and bomboniere are key to a successful wedding reception.

When it comes to the venue, it needs to suit the theme of your wedding. For example, if your bridal gown were princess-like, a castle would be suitable. Alternatively, you may have a simple floor length shift-shape dress and to be in keeping with your look, the venue may be a modern riverside restaurant. Whichever theme you choose, even the smallest detail must be meticulously well planned and this includes your choice of bomboniere.

Originally, brides were supposed to make up favors or bomboniere by hand, but in the busy lives we now lead, this is near on impossible. Bomboniere consist of round shaped colored nets tied together with coordinating ribbons and finished with dried flowers or beads. These pretty nets are filled with a dish of delicious dragees [tear-shaped sugar coated chocolates in various colors] or sumptuous almonds [sugar coated tear-shaped nuts available in a range of colors].

Each dragee or almond is said to represent one of the five common wedding wishes; fertility, health, happiness, longevity and wealth. By giving them to your guests, the bride and groom are said to have a marriage filled with all these things. Nowadays of course, many brides are turning away from traditional almond or dragee bomboniere and are choosing more modern ways to thank their guests. Although there are a huge range of inedible favors such as candle favors, flower seed wedding favors and ornament wedding favors, there is nothing more beautiful than leaving a wedding reception with a hand-tied net pouch filled with almonds or dragees. Despite popular belief, the traditional bomboniere can still be very much a part of a modern wedding. There are so many options when it comes to bomboniere, that the world is quite literally your oyster.

For example, natural color theme weddings are very much en vogue with brides choosing simple, clean cut dresses for themselves and taupe, pale green or ivory 50’s style dresses for their bridesmaids. Floral arrangements reflect the simplicity of the wedding as brides opt for small hand-tied white bouquets or a drape of plain orchids across their arms. Traditional bomboniere can fit beautifully in these more retro occasions as brides can select ivory or white nets, fill them with white almonds and finish them with a pale green bow. Alternatively, ecru colored nets can be complemented with ivory or gold dragees and finished off with coordinating ribbons or flowers.

So, whatever your wedding venue, dress or bouquet, there is a bomboniere to suit all occasions. Your choice of bomboniere should reflect your theme and personality and with such a vast range of nets, almonds, dragees, colors, flowers and ribbons, no two bomboniere need be the same!

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Five Winter Wedding Ideas

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

Unless a couple is eloping in Las Vegas by themselves, a wedding should have some unique planning and twists to it in order to make the wedding memorable. Inventing a winter wedding theme is one such concept, and in order to properly design a winter wedding, a few simple ideas could be put forth.

1. Probably the easiest winter wedding idea is also one of the simplest, which is providing simple twists on common wedding conventions. For example, the wedding cake could be made in the shape of a snowman or a snowflake. While this is not the most elaborate of ideas, providing simple twists on common conventions is sometimes all that is required to present the appearance of a novel idea.

2. The wedding attire of the bride, groom, and bridesmaids can also be designed so as to embody the theme of winter. This is another winter wedding idea that can be easily put in motion so as to create a wonderful winter wedding theme. The use of silver, white, and blue colored formal wear can provide an excellent evocation of winter and is highly suggested for those planning a wedding that is to follow a winter theme.

3. Selecting the food for the wedding should involve selecting food that closely follows a winter theme. This would involve “hot” items such as hot chocolate and “cold” items such as eggnog. There does need to be a bit of careful planning involved, as one should not cross the line into territory where the wedding theme becomes murky and a Christmas or holiday theme becomes too pronounced.

4. The decor of the wedding should also follow themes that are consistent with the winter. This does not mean that the decor should embody specific winter conventions, but should at least emanate a certain color scheme that is more closely associated with winter than anything else. That would mean using colors such as silver, light blue, white, etc. To use other colors not associated with winter would distract away from the theme and undermine the idea of having a winter wedding and turning the entire wedding into a generic theme instead.

5. For the actual wedding itself, sometimes the theme can be proactive as opposed to being passive. One of the biggest myths about weddings is that they are passive and dull events. Well, the reality of the matter is that a wedding can be boring and dull. There have been some enterprising individuals who can put a unique, active spin on the traditional wedding. For example, there have been those fun minded individuals who will have their weddings performed underwater in scuba gear or even falling to earth while skydiving! Now, for winter loving people, a wedding at a skiing or snowboarding resort can provide the same theme of active fun to coincide with the wedding, while remaining much more sane than holding the wedding underwater!

Ultimately, having a winter wedding is simply taking traditional wedding ideas and putting a minor winter spin on them.

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Special Candle Favors

Sunday, February 8th, 2009

Weddings are a time of happiness and love, a time to rejoice and be surrounded by friends and family you hold dear. Giving each guest a unique candle wedding favor will surely immortalize your special day forever, and allow attendees to take a home a useful, heartfelt memento of this very special occasion. Shopping for the perfect favors may feel impossible to you, but there are a variety of different candles you can choose to present your guests with on your wedding day, and various resources to help you do just that.

When you plan a wedding, you also plan on the occasion being memorable, an event your guests will be hard pressed to forget. What better way to do that than with sincere favors? There are a multitude of different candles you can present your guests, and a variety of websites and specialty shops catering specifically to wedding favors. For a cute, fun little favor, you can consider miniature candles shaped like a wedding cake. These are cute, definitely wedding oriented, and will work with almost any theme. If you would like, you may also want to consider tea light sets. In a variety of colors and designs, these candles will suit almost any celebration. What is more, they are fairly cheap! Definitely a plus for a wedding on a budget.

Let us say you are having a theme wedding, and it is taking place on the beach. Obviously, you will want a candle favor that will take your guests back to that special day. How about miniature candles shaped like flip flops? If it’s a casual beach occasion, these will most certainly do the trick. If it is a more formal beach event, beautiful glass sailboat tea light holders may be just the ticket. They are classy, and they will definitely serve as a beautiful reminder for your guests. This illustrates how easy it can be to find favors that suit your unique wedding theme, for both formal and casual affairs.

You want your wedding to be as special as possible, every detail taken care of and everyone kept happy. The favors you choose for your guests will forever memorialize your special day, so you want them to be a reflection of your heartfelt gratitude for your guest’s presence. Now, your wedding guests will have something to look back on to remember a time of joy, and a time of love, forever captured in these favors.