Archive for the ‘wedding preparation’ Category

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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A New Twist On Traditional Wedding Receptions

Monday, November 16th, 2009

The traditional church weddings and formal receptions are not that attractive to many of today’s brides. Weddings are taking place in hot air balloons, on beaches, in airplanes and in fast food parking lots, to name a few currently popular non-traditional sites.

An emerging trend, highly creative wedding receptions, is a total flight from tradition and will make memories for your wedding guests that they won’t easily forget. You and your new spouse can add touches to your wedding reception that highlight your whimsical side, major interests or elements of your personalities.

Some couples have hosted two receptions, brunch for the family following their ceremony, with some of the traditional aspects their mothers wanted and the relatives were comfortable with.

Later that evening, they host a less formal reception for their friends. This reception could be an old-fashioned ice cream social or a barbecue on the beach, with youthful music and a party atmosphere. The bride’s wedding dress and the groom’s tux are abandoned for casual attire. Friends truly happy for the new couple, a relaxed, unfussy atmosphere, a tub of iced cool ones, chicken on the barbecue and dancing barefoot on the beach in the moonlight, would definitely make memories of your special wedding.

Even if you want a reception with familiar trappings, you can still jazz it up with some creative presentations.

If your reception hall is not huge, inflate balloons, with a small, light favor inside them. This favor could be a small token, like a map to the real favors hidden in the hall or a small snapshot of you and your new spouse. It does not have to be elaborate. The appreciation would be in the presentation.

Tie them off with a ribbon long enough to reach without ladders and have a guest’s name hanging from each ribbon, including the children at the reception. Let them hang from the ceiling around the walls, so as not to interfere with the meal or buffet you will be serving. This decoration would not only be colorful, but it would give your reception an intimate, closer feeling. At some point, have the guests find their name and get their wedding favor.

The way you present your food can add dramatic accents to plain food. Buffet tables are perfect for creative presentations. Tiered plates of strawberries dipped in chocolate are always an attraction at buffet tables. Consider dipping the strawberries in the hot chocolate mixture and letting them set up on a chocolate spoon. The dramatic effect could be enhanced by dipping the berries in white chocolate and then placing them on chocolate spoons. Other fruits can be strung on a bamboo skewer, dipped in chocolate and presented in silver goblets.

Martini glasses with their stems wrapped with pretty ribbons can be used to present almost any vegetable, fruit or candy. Instead of sit-down dinners of chicken or meat, served by caterers, consider bamboo skewers loaded with anything you can combine that doesn’t need to be kept warm in a sauce.

Try ice-cold shrimp, lightly brushed with a shrimp marinade and strung on a skewer. Separate the shrimp with red or black grapes. Creative salads can be put on a skewer and marinated with an elegant dressing before placing on the buffet table. Load salad skewers with cherry or grape tomatoes, chunks of red, green and yellow Bell peppers, whole, pitted olives, cocktail onions or slices of red onions, other veggies of your choice.

If your guest list is smaller, consider a river cruise with dinner, dancing and maybe a turn at the gambling tables, if they have them. Your wedding favors could be small bags of chips for your guests to try their luck at the tables.

You could schedule a hay ride by moonlight, with a surprise barbecue or candle-lit buffet tables arranged around a fire pit at the end of the ride. Be creative.

Instead of an organized wedding reception, you might try having a mystery party, like Clue. Some cities have Victorian houses you can rent for parties and events. Let your guests have some fun discovering “Who Dunnit.” Have a special prize for the one who unravels the mystery and smaller ones (themed favors) for the rest of the participants. In one room have a buffet table and a few bottles of wine.

There’s no reason to follow the old traditions with your reception if you don’t want to. Make it fun and memorable in your own way.

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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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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.

Develop A Systematic Wedding Planning

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

The most important day in your life is your wedding, and there is no doubt that you would want this day to be a grand success. Making a proper and effective wedding planning should be your top priority if you want your wedding to be remembered by all your relatives and friends for a long time to come. However, the development of the wedding planning needs to be done systematically and thoroughly so that the various steps are accomplished in an orderly fashion without any stress.

Start Early And Make A Checklist

You should start early with your wedding planning and make a proper checklist of all that needs to be done. This checklist should also be accompanied by a budget plan that matches the various expenses needed to fulfill the various activities of the checklist. Preparing the checklist should be done with proper thought and with plenty of time. Whereas you might have all the bright ideas for the checklist, it would be a good idea to consult your parents who can offer valuable suggestions based on their experience.

Decide On The Venue

The other important things that need to be included in the wedding planning are the venues of the marriage and the reception. The venue for the wedding would depend on whether you want to have a church wedding or a civic wedding. There are many people who like to have their wedding in unconventional and non-traditional places such as a ship or in the mountains or even aboard a plane. However, if you want to have your wedding in a unique place, you will have to start very early with the wedding planning.

Reception Arrangements

The arrangements for the reception also need to be included in the wedding planning as you might like to hire a singer or a musical group for providing live entertainment for the guests. Moreover, the other aspects that need to be decided well in advance are the food, the wedding cake, the flowers, and the decorations. Besides these, you would also have to organize the various clothing items such as morning suits for the men, hats for the ladies, the wedding dress for the bride, and the dresses for the bridesmaids.

Finalize List Of Invitees

Perhaps the most important aspect of the wedding planning is finalizing the list of the invitees. The activities connected with this aspect are: finalization of the wedding invitation cards, sending out the same to the various people, and making out a seating plan in such a way that there is minimum resentment among the guests.

Other Miscellaneous Arrangements

The wedding planning should not overlook many other small arrangements that have to be made. These include appointments at the hair salons for the bride and the bridesmaids, the rehearsal dinner, gifts for the bridesmaids, distribution of gift lists by the couple, center pieces for the various tables, and plenty of confetti.

A proper wedding planning can go a long way toward ensuring the success of your wedding functions.

Finding Cheap Bridal Accessories

Friday, November 9th, 2007

Finding cheap bridal accessories online or at a local retail store is not very hard to do. If you live in a bigger city that has many discount stores or outlet malls, you can find some wonderful bridal accessories at affordable prices. A cheap accessory does not mean that the quality is loss, it just means you are going to save money for other important things, like the honeymoon. Some of the things you need for your wedding include wedding invitations, thank you cards, dress, shoes, make up, jewelry, veils, wedding favors, flowers, garter, bridesmaids gifts, cake, cake topper, cake and server set and a guest book. Once you have all these bridal accessories, you should be set for your wedding day.

Sears and JC Penney’s have online outlet stores that do carry dresses, veils and shoes. You can always look through the websites to see if they have any closeout specials running, which in many cases, allows you to find some very good deals on designer dresses. Shoes and veils can also be found at these outlets or you might try a specialty shop for the veil and one for the shoes. Keep in mind, your veil or headpiece needs to compliment your dress and so do the shoes.

If you need make up, many websites offer sample make up for a very low cost. This would be a great way to fill your entire make up needs for a low cost. You can spend sixty to eighty dollars on make up that you may not use after the wedding, therefore, sample make up packages are idea. If you need nail polish or false nails that you can do yourself, you might also consider looking online. You can find cheaper ways then going to a nail saloon to have beautiful nails.

Flowers are a little harder to buy online unless you have a florist in your local area. Many flower shops allow you to design your bouquets online and they have everything ready the day of your wedding. For the most part though, flowers are usually the one thing you have to do in person. Cheap bridal accessories might also include rose petals for the miniature bride and do not forget the corsages for the men. Once you have your flower order made, you just have to look for the rest of your bridal accessory needs.

Another thing to keep in mind is the wedding cake. You can order cheap bridal accessories, but the cake is usually going to be full price unless you find someone to make the cake for you. You can find many cake pictures online and if you can, you could find someone to make the cake for you. Then all you need to do is find the cake topper, cake knife and the cake server. Along with the cake and cake accessories, you will want to find a guest book for your guests to record their names. These books usually come with a fancy pen attached right to the book.