After the I Do's

After the I Do`s

So much time and energy goes into planning a wedding. The anticipation and excitement that this one day arises for the bride and groom are extraordinary. Ever since were young girls we look forward to that one day when we say I Do to our Prince Charming. There is so much built up to this one day which marks the beginning of a marriage, but what happens when this day is over? Before a couple gets married, they typically meet and date for a period of time and then get engaged. This is all very exciting, you`re getting to know one another more and more everyday , this is also normally the time when the man is trying to sweep the woman off her feet on cute and sweet dates. It may not be crazy, exotic dates like on The Bachelor or Bachelorette but still the man and woman are trying to impress one another. Once they then get engaged all of their excitement and time is spent on the planning of their perfect, fairy tale wedding. So, after the wedding and honey moon what comes next? How does the couple keep the spark alive? It is so important in a relationship that they remember what brought them together in the first place. I think it is probably easy when a couple is married to forget about that spark, especially when kids come in the picture. Here is a couple things I have come up with that will help you and your significant other remember what bought you together in the first place!

At least one date a month: whether you pick from a jar of date ideas or plan at the beginning of each year some events or activities that the both of you would love to do together, one date a month out of your busy schedules will be just the thing you two need and will be something fun to look forward to!
 

(shannonbrown.typepad.com)

(inspiredbride.net)

Love Letters: These are two great ideas I found on Pinterest that I absolutely love and will definitely do one day myself.

1) Write a letter on your wedding day addressed to your husband for him to open a year later. All of the thoughts running through your head on that day and the love you two share on this special occasion will run rampant thru that letter. It will be a great reminder of how you both felt that day.
                                       

(notonthehighstreet.com)

     
2) Open When letters: Write a couple letters that he can open when certain things are happening in your relationship that will remind him that he still means the same to as the day you got married.

(wish-upon-a-wedding.com)

Look at Engagement/wedding photos together: you spent so much time planning these times in your life why not relive them occasionally thru looking at the photos or even better the videos!

(mormonweddings.tublr.com)

Compliment one another!!!: This is always important! Let your significant other know that you`re still attracted to them and love being with them!

I am not married, so all of these tips I have just listed are things I would hope to one day do to keep the spark alive. Every couple is different and different things work for every couple. It`s important to be mindful of your relationship and what it needs and remember to appreciate your marriage as much as the day you said ‘I Do’!

Xoxo

Melanie

Let the games begin: some fun game ideas to play during the reception

Let the games begin: Fun Games to Play During the Reception

Dinner dancing and good company is always a good recipe for a fabulous receptions but here are some fun games that you can play to get everyone involved during your post wedding festivities.

Bride or Groom: For this game all you need is an MC and paddles with bride or groom on opposing sides. You hand each guest a paddle and the MC asks “who” questions such as “Who snores the loudest” or “who is the neatest” and the guest hold up their paddles with their answer bride or groom.


Couples Challenge: You will need the bride and groom and two other couples as well as an MC and white boards or chalk boards.  The object of this game is to see which couple knows each other better. You ask the couples questions that they should know about the other and see if they can get the correct answer. Some questions can be like “what is her favorite flower” or “what is  his favorite sports team”. Each couple tallies up their points and after a certain number of questions whoever has the most points wins.






Play that tune: Have two teams of however many you want and have the MC play a song and the first team to guess the song correctly wins a point. The team that reaches 15 points first wins






Battle of the sexes: Divide a group of people up into makes vs females and pick a team leader. Have the MC ask questions on pop culture, music, television or even academic questions. The team deliberates and the team leader says the answer out loud. The team who had the correct answer wins a point. Whoever has the most points and the end of the game wins.

Prizes.....Some fun prize ideas can be as simple as fun candies with the bride and grooms names on them. Some prizes that couples use are their center pieces. If you have a flower arrangement or a something that you know you won’t need 20 so give center pieces away as prizes. This way you don’t have to just throw them away after you are done with them. 

Kathryn 

   

Wedding Undergarments

Wedding Undergarments

by: Carina Koerfer

A woman’s wedding dress is undoubtedly one of the most important pieces of clothing she will ever buy; hours and hours go into searching for the perfect dress and accessories to ensure the bride looks perfect on her wedding day. One of the most essential pieces of the puzzle are the undergarments the bride wears under her dress. While they aren’t seen, they do a very important job in making sure the bride looks just as she wants to!



What you wear under your dress is largely dictated by the type of dress you’re wearing:

Strapless/Ball gown – If your goal is to enhance your natural waistline, try wearing a bustier or corset for extra slimming and smoothing. A strapless, seamless bustier will also support and lift your breasts so you don’t have to readjust during your (long) wedding day, and you’ll keep looking sexy!

Mermaid – Choosing a fit and flare means you’re aware of your body shape and want to show it off! You’ll want to flatten your stomach and smooth out your hips, so it’s a good idea to try a high-waisted slimming undergarment. If you wanted, you could even try an undergarment that gives your bottom a boost – nobody has to know, but you’ll look even more fantastic and curvy.

Halter – Halters often have plunging necklines, so you’ll need to find the best halter bra to wear for the best support and comfort.

Sheath – These dresses are often flowy and sometimes a bit sheer. Consider wearing a slip, and avoid bulges by going seamless, which you can do with a full or half slip. Go for a clean silhouette with a slip that works as a body liner.

A-line- This style is flattering on nearly everyone! The natural wide skirt can hid almost everything on your hips, so wear what is comfortable for a long day of walking down the aisle, standing and dancing the night away. Choose the bra that best matches your neckline.

A few other things to remember –

- You don’t have to wear white! Who says you do, anyway?!  Most dresses will have enough fabric to cover a color, so choose a pink, blue, or whatever color you want.

- Consider your undergarments if you are doing a garter toss. You don’t want anyone seeing anything they shouldn’t when you lift up your dress.

- Bring your lingerie to your fittings to ensure it works well with the dress on your wedding day. This also gives you a chance to have any alterations done to complete the look.

- Go all out! Bridal lingerie is functional AND beautiful. It’s your special day – make sure you feel gorgeous in whatever you’re wearing!

PDA: Public Displays of Affection

PDA

Public Displays of Affection

With the extravagant atmosphere of weddings and receptions, brides and grooms are racking their brains for ways to impress not only their guests but also each other. It is important for the bride and groom to show their affection for one another in the midst of the excitement, dancing, and decorations. 

Personalized Vows

Although the guests will inevitably feel chills upon hearing the famed “till death do us part” and final “I do” vows, having a personal touch and the emotions that come with expressing your love for one another in words is a great touch to the ceremony. Plus you can always frame your vows or do something clever with them for later on! 

Surprise- Break it Down! 

Many brides and grooms have decided to surprise their newlywed spouse with a surprise choreographed dance at the reception to show not only their affection but how willing they are to embarrass themselves in front of an entire wedding for them. These videos can be found all over the internet and are absolutely fun and hilarious! 

The Serenade

For the lucky ladies and gents gifted with a beautiful singing voice, why not serenade your bride or groom? These songs are beautiful and touching to not only the couple but to everyone standing by watching them pour their heart out in song to their new spouse. Or of course one could take a more humorous route and go all out with the backup vocals of groomsmen and bridesmaids. 

Whether humorous and entertaining or heartfelt and tear-jerking, these shows of affection by brides and grooms are sprouting up all over the place and are a wonderful way to add not only a unique touch to your reception or ceremony, but also to give a little something extra to your newlywed spouse. Whether you are a dancing queen or the next American Idol, there are lots of fun and creative ways to surprise your guests, show a little PDA, and have a little extra fun on your special day!

Xoxo, 

Audrey

Shakeology: The Healthy Bride’s Best Friend

Shakeology: The Healthy Bride’s Best Friend 

By: Miranda Weidemier

The wedding planning process leaves brides very busy, always going to an appointment, picking out the color of something, or going to a fitting. Sometimes this stress causes brides to skip meals because they are so busy, eat junk food to deal with the stress, or have a general decrease in energy. The secret to transforming your health while dealing with the stress of a wedding is Beachbody’s innovative product, Shakeology. Shakeology is the easiest way for a busy bride to give her body an unbelievable amount of nutrition, and get this – it’s delicious!

Having shakeology everyday is easy, convenient, and delicious, plus it had so many benefits! It will curb cravings for unhealthy food choices, it saves you time and money, and it can help you loose those last unwanted pounds! For $4.00 a day, each shake contains the amount of nutrients you would find in $41.00 worth of produce! 
Below are the nutrients you can find in shakeology, where it comes from, and the benefits it has on your body.

Now I know what you’re thinking, “How can a shake with all of those nutrients possibly taste good?” Well, I’m glad you asked! Shakeology comes in 4 delicious flavors: chocolate, vanilla, tropical strawberry, and greenberry. Basically, with the variety of recipes for each flavor, you can never get bored of these shakes. Each order comes with a months worth of different recipes that you’ll love trying! All you need is a blender! Here are a few recipe ideas that are out of this world!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup
1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1 cup Almond Milk
3 TBSP Peanut Butter
I cup ice

This recipe is my absolute favorite! It basically tastes like a milkshake!

Tropical Strawberry Banana
1 scoop Tropical Strawberry Shakeology
1 cup Almond Milk
1 Banana
I cup ice

If you’re a fan of fruit smoothies, this recipe is for you. 
It’s so refreshing, especially in the summer time!

You can whip up any recipe you desire in minutes and your off to meet with your wedding DJ, full and energized. Shakeology really will change your entire wedding planning experience.  Shakeology not only makes fantastic shakes, but you can also create a variety of other things such as cookies, pancakes, etc. For those brides that are looking for more than shakeology to shape up for the big day, pairing shakeology with any of the Beachbody workout programs will amplify your health and fitness. You simply can’t go wrong.

Memorable Gifts for Mom and Dad on Your Wedding Day

Memorable Gifts for Mom and Dad on Your Wedding Day

I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love and support of my mom and dad. Our mom and dads that have been there through it all for us I believe deserve some recognition on the big day. There are many traditions that go along with Weddings to do this, such as; having dad and sometimes mom walking us down the aisle, the father daughter dance, and the mother son dance. But beyond these great traditions it is always great when the bride and groom give something special to their parents, a gift that shows them just how much their care about and appreciate everything their parents have done for them. This can be a small gift that costs nothing. For instance, at a wedding I was at recently, the groom sang a song to both his parents that had meant a lot to him growing up. These kind of gestures can go a long way in just letting them know that you are thinking of them and that they are in your heart on this big day in your life. As Carrie Underwood`s song implies, many parents probably feel like their losing some part of their relationship with their son or daughter on this day and it`s important they know their not, this is just another step in your life that won`t change your special relationship with them.  Here are some great ideas to let them know you`re thinking of them.

Picture frame filled with pictures of your family:

(simplyweddinggifts.com)

(Pinterest.com)

(Etsy.com)

 
Sentimental Letter: Write them individual letters letting them know you are who you are because of them.
 

(Pinterest.com)

(zazzle.com)

(Etsy.com)

Weekend Getaway: Plan a weekend for just the two of them or you and your groom to getaway with them to one of your favorite places you may have vacationed to when you were little. Spending time together after the hustle and bustle of the wedding planning will mean a lot to them and will be a great time for you to share stories and pictures from the wedding.

Matching Jewelry for mom and you: This is a great way to remember the day and always have something that reminds you both of the bond you have with one another.

(Etsy.com)

(Etsy.com)

First look with Dad: This moment and the pictures from this moment the both of you share will be something special he will never forget. This will allow you to spend some time with dad before you walk down the aisle together, this time spent together you two will both appreciate.

(bridalguide.com)

Music: If you are musically talented, why not play your parent`s favorite song on an instrument, or sing them a song that has meant a lot to your family over the years. Putting in music how you feel about them is a great way to show your appreciation for them on your wedding day.

DIY Ideas: Making your parents something from the heart will not only allow you to save money, but it will be a sentimental gift that allows you to be as creative and personal as you want.
                   

(mlittlephotographyblog.com)

(Savvysugar.com)

(Designocd.com)

(Etsy.com)

                         
                                       
                                               














Your wedding is a great time to show the people that have helped you the most prepare for you wedding, that you are thankful for all that they have done for you. Mom and dad may be two people in your life that should not be forgotten at this time. A little gift will go a long way and will show them that no matter what you will always be their baby and that relationship will never change!

Xoxo
Melanie

The Language of Love: The Meaning of Flowers

Language Of Love

The Meaning of Flowers 

By: Samantha

Flowers are usually a vital part of most weddings. Flowers are mainly used for decoration as well as the bridal bouquets. Behind there physical beauty flowers also hold a meaning behind them. Each different flower can represent something different. Here are just some of the beautiful flowers and there meanings.

Lily of the Valley: Sweetness

Morning Glory: Affection

Myrtle: Emblem of Marriage, True Love

Roses: Love, Desire

 Lavender:Devotion

White Clover:Think Of Me

 










Heliotrope: Eternal Love

Honey Suckle: Bonds Of Love

Hyacinth: Constancy Of Love and Fertility

Violet: Loyalty, Devotion, Faithfulness

For more on flowers and there meanings visit the Farmer’s Almanac website.