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

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.

How to give a GREAT maid of honor speech!

How to give a GREAT maid of honor speech!

Now, a maid of honor speech can go in basically one of two ways. You can take the funny route, like the best man, and crack your audience up with stories of the bride and your adventures over the years. Or, you can take the sentimental route, and your guests will love that, too.

For starters, make sure to choose a tone for your speech that you are comfortable with, so you don’t come off like you’re trying too hard. You want your speech to feel genuine, whether it is funny or not. I’d suggest trying to create a balance between the two, transitioning from a funny opening to a sweet, sappy ending and a big hug for the bride.

Here are some other guidelines to making your maid of honor speech a huge success.

The Beginning – Start by introducing yourself and telling everyone how you met the bride. While this sounds boring, its important to let everyone at the wedding know who you are and what your relationship to the bride is. If the number is impressive, mention how long you’ve known the bride. You can also share a story of your experience being the maid of honor or how excited you are to share this day with her.



The Middle – Be advised: it’s okay for a speech to be short and sweet. Try to max out at around 5-7 minutes so you don’t lose your audience’s attention. One idea for an entertaining but sweet speech is telling the story of how the bride and groom met or how he proposed. Not everyone at the wedding may know these stories, and it’s a great way to focus on the couple. Using stories from the couples’ relationship to show how they will have a great marriage is a perfect way to toast them on their special day. Another approach you could take is “Three reasons why Jessica is right for Paul” (or the other way around). Think of some characteristics and use them as starting points for stories about the bride. Feel free to be silly with this, too!

If you’re worried about fidgeting during your speech, try bringing a bag of things the groom will need to live with the bride (this works especially well if you yourself have lived with the bride at some point). End your speech by passing the bag to the groom and saying, “I’m counting on you to take care of her now!”



The End – Finish by wishing the couple all the best. It might also be a nice touch to include a thank you to the parents, or whoever is paying for the wedding. It’s not required, but you could say something like “I want to extend a big thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Jones for hosting this amazing celebration!” Make sure to raise your glass and toast the bride and groom. Then you’re done!


xoxo,

Carina Koerfer
 

Don’t be Caught Red Handed! (Or in a White Dress) :Wedding Faux Pas

Don’t be Caught Red Handed! (Or in a White Dress)

Wedding Faux Pas

Everyone that has attended a wedding or heard a wedding horror story has encountered them. The guest that got way to drunk off of open bar, the girl who showed up in the low cut top and had everyone whispering about her scandalous outfit, and the couple who waltzed in empty handed without a gift or even a card. The embarrassment surrounding these individuals is real and everyone wants to avoid being the subject of these unfortunate situations. Luckily as either a guest or the lucky couple yourself, you can avoid these scenarios by following a set of rules and proper etiquette for both wedding attendance and your own wedding.

As a Guest: 

RSVP

The first “faux pas” you can commit as a guest comes with the invitation and the RSVP card. One inappropriate behavior is to not rsvp at all which causes the hosts to wonder whether or not you will be showing up and throws off their guest count. Also pay attention as to whether or not you are allowed to bring a plus one or not. Bringing an uninvited plus one is a major faux pas and will not be looked upon with smiling faces.

Open Bar

This is a big one. Due to the fact that open bars are very costly- your over consumption will not only end in bad decisions, but it will be offensive to whomever is paying your seemingly imaginary tab. Just be wary not to take advantage of the free drinks and become “that guy” or “that girl” who is drunkenly dancing and bumping into everyone. 

                             

Interfering with the Program

There is always one guest who thinks they are a professional photographer or the next Jennifer Lopez and has to hop up on stage with the wedding band or start snapping pics to the right of the very well paid photographer. Don’t be this guest! The bride and groom have chosen a professional to take their pictures and are paying them because they want the best quality photographs and oftentimes you will just be getting in their way. Maybe if you are a photographer you could ask to take a few photos on the side, but your real job tonight is to have fun and be a guest. Same goes to all of the American Idols out there. Unless the band opens up a karaoke session, let’s not ruin their sets and covers by belting out the 90s and trying to upstage the wedding band.


Wearing White

The ultimate wedding faux pas- wearing white to a wedding. Do not do this ever! Even if you think you are modern and can pull it off because times are changing and it is a June wedding on the beach, chances are there will be older and more traditional women there who will think you are committing a disrespectful and horrendous social disgrace. Just don’t. There are plenty of other colors to choose from for this one day.



As a Bride: 

Thank You!

After months of planning a wedding, dieting to fit into a dress, stressing about all of the small details, and then finally getting through the big day, the last thing a bride wants to do is write hundreds of thank you notes. This is absolutely necessary though! Everyone who travelled, asked off of work, and spent their hard-earned money on gifts for you and your groom deserves to be thanked for their efforts and gifts. Especially if your guests adhered to the proper etiquette and rules of weddings, be sure to stay classy and thank them for their efforts!

Xoxo, 
Audrey

Who to Invite: Getting Your Guest List Under Control

Who to Invite: 

Getting your guest list under control

By: Miranda Weidemier


Making a guest list for your wedding is a very exciting part of the wedding planning process. It’s really where it all begins! But, as exciting as it is, it can be one of the most challenging tasks to do. Here are some tips on how to take control of your wedding guest list. First, you should create an estimate number of guests according to your budget to have a round about idea of what you’re working with.

Bridal Guide’s website offers some great insight to Sharon Naylor’s book, The Essential Guide to Wedding Etiquette. This book suggests creating four lists, A, B, C, and D. List A includes the people you couldn’t see your self getting married without, your parents, very close family, and best friends. List B includes aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. List C should include coworkers, parents’ friends, and neighbors. Finally, list D should include distant relatives and old friends. If these combined lists fits your “guest budget”, great! However, most times these lists will exceed your initial estimate. This is where you start eliminating people starting with list D and working your way backwards until you are satisfied with your guest list.

When dealing with your parents, you may get into arguments about whether or not to invite certain family members or family friends. A great way to solve this problem is to cut your guest budget in thirds where the brides parents pays for guests on the brides side of the family, the groom’s parents pay for the guests on the groom’s side of the family, and the bride and groom pay for their friends, coworkers, etc. If you have a tighter budget and are paying for your wedding yourself, you can also simply give each side of the family a set number of guests they can invite so they do not exceed the limit.

What about the people you haven’t talked to in years? Old friends and family often pop up while planning out your guest list. If you haven’t talked to them or can’t remember what they look like or where they live, you probably shouldn’t invite them. Chances are, you wont see them for another few years anyways. Don’t feel bad when choosing not to invite people to your wedding. It’s YOUR wedding!

When deciding if you want kids at your wedding, take into consideration the type of wedding you’re having. A casual outdoor wedding is much more kid friendly than an upscale wedding at a classy venue. If the kids are very close to you or in your wedding party it may be safe to say no kids, except for those select few. You don’t want your third cousin to bring her five kids and have them running around the whole time. An alternative is to hire a children’s activity coordinator who kind of watches the children and does activities with them. But for the most part, weddings aren’t exactly kid friendly.

One of the toughest battles couples go through while making the guest list is deciding who to give a plus one to. It is especially hard for younger couples that are more likely to have single friends. Some suggest that unless they are dating or living together don’t invite them. It’s not your responsibility to let them find a “date” to bring to YOUR wedding. This isn’t prom people! They should be there for YOU if they  are good friends they will understand. This also gives your single friends an opportunity to meet new people and socialize while some dates end up being party poopers.

Finally, if you come down to your final decisions and you are on the fence about whether to invite someone or not and you just cant decide. Invite them. If it’s someone important to you, but you’re already over your limit, it’s better to have him or her there than regret it afterwards.

Happy guest list making!

Rules Of Engagement!

Rules Of Engagement!

1. Make it a surprise!

There is nothing like the element of surprise! The proposal should be unexpected and a complete surprise.

2. Have a camera ready!

Ask a family member or hire a photographer to be present during the proposal so you will have the priceless memories of when your journey to become husband and wife started.


                        


3. Plan. 

For the perfect proposal think about how and when you are going to pop the question. While it doesn't have to be extravagant it should be special and unique to you and your partner.

This guy proposed after he and his girlfriend completed a race together. 

This couple got engaged in a photo booth. 

Just remember this is a special moment for both of you so make it personal, capture the sweet memories and be happy!

xoxo

Samantha

Flower Girls

Flower Girls!

The flower girl’s job is to be cute, of course! But – there might be more to it than you think. Here are a few things you should know and do as the bride to make sure everything runs smoothly, and your flower girl feels comfortable on your wedding day!

First, let’s be clear on what the flower girl’s job description includes: 

• She walks down the aisle just before the maid of honor, scattering flower petals along the bridal path. She follows the ring bearer (if there is one) and traditionally carries a basket filled with petals. Some variations of the traditional flower petals could be candies or confetti, or the she can carry a single flower.

Next, a few things that might make her feel at ease:

• If you’re worried about how your flower girl might handle walking down the aisle alone, try the buddy system. There’s nothing wrong with sending down a pair of girls, or a flower girl and ring bearer at the same time. Pairing them will probably make them feel more comfortable when they have so many people watching them.

• It’s a good idea to explain the girl’s duties to her well in advance. Don’t assume you can spring this job on her right before the wedding – she may need rehearsals and pep talks. Communicate the importance of her role without adding pressure by giving her plenty of time to understand what is expected of her.

• Seat the girl’s parents near the front of the ceremony so she has a focal point during her walk down the aisle. Their smiles will encourage her and reassure her. Very young flower girls may be seated with their parents after their job is done; older girls may stand at the altar with the other bridal attendants.

• It might be a good idea to arrange for the flower girl to attend the bridal shower or a bridesmaids’ event. This will allow her to meet and feel comfortable around the other (bigger) women. Seeing familiar faces on the big day will reduce any anxiety the flower girl may feel.

And lastly, some general reminders about your flower girl:

• Flower girls don’t have to wear a tiny replica of the bride’s dress – there are many little-girl looks to choose from!

• Having a child participate in the ceremony is always a little bit unpredictable. Don’t worry if the flower girl decides to throw her basket, lift her dress, or do any number of things children do – whatever she does, your guests will smile at her regardless!

It shouldn’t be hard to make your flower girl feel special and relaxed. Anything you can do to make your flower girl feel at ease will only serve to make your ceremony even more perfect!

Good luck!

xoxo,Carina

Boudoir Bash....The Classy Lingerie Shower!

Boudoir Bash

The Classy Lingerie Shower

For most brides the bachelorette party and lingerie shower are a night to let loose, perhaps exchange some college stories over one too many sugary cocktails, and even exchange a naughty present or two. Usually adorned in flashy tiaras, a feathery black boa, and a sea of hot pink – these brides are ready for a wild night out, but what if your bride-to-be is a little more conservative? Or she tends to have more sophisticated tastes to cater to?

Throw her a classy lingerie shower.

Invitations

DIY Invitations with cream cardstock and caramel satin ribbon. Printing at Kinkos is an economic and simple option! Supplies can be purchased at Michael’s Craft store or AC Moore

(Only about $1.50 per invite!)

Cut and shape the invitations into corsets to fit the lingerie shower theme. Use a hole puncher to create the corset detail and tie the satin ribbons through with a bow! I chose to add small gold pearls, but you could also write the bride’s monogram, add a lace detail, or many other unique touches. There are many more cute ideas for corset invitations on Pinterest to check out! You can also let the guests know of the bride’s size by providing a lacy bodice insert.

Refreshments

Although the bra and panty shaped cookies and hot pink cupcakes are absolutely adorable, there are certainly a few more fitting items for the classy lingerie shower. Mini cheesecakes and chocolate covered strawberries are always a hit and have an elegant look when presented the right way! They are also easy to make and inexpensive if you choose to make them yourself rather than purchase them from a bakery! Some other ideas would be a chocolate fountain with dipping items, uniquely decorated cake pops (perhaps with edible pearls), or even desserts served in martini glasses to push the elegant theme. For drinks you could either serve specialty martinis or stay classic with bubbly champagne!

*Tip: to give your homemade chocolate covered strawberries that professional shine, add a little vegetable oil to your chocolate!

*Tip 2: If you don’t have mini springform pans (which can be purchased at many home good stores), you can always make mini cheesecakes in cupcake tins! The ridge of the cupcake liners makes a nice decorative edge on your mini cakes.

Decorations

Once you decide to throw a classy lingerie shower- pick a subtheme. “Sassy, Sexy, Elegant, and Chic” was the theme here, so the colors were a rich chocolate brown and the same cream color from the invitations with lace details. Tea candles were also used to create a sexy and sensual atmosphere alongside the desserts. I also utilized the same silk ribbon from the invitations to create name tags for the wine glasses- giving the shower a unique touch and feel! Another fun idea is to paint each glass with chalkboard paint and write each guest’s name on the base. Finally customized napkins with the bride’s name and date of the shower were ordered from “For Your Party.com” to make her feel extra special and throw in another unique personal touch!

                             

 

Games:

1) Name Game: Everyone gives a cute or sexy name to their gift and then the bride tries to guess which name goes with which gift!

2) Bridal Bingo

3) Circle of Love: Changing up the rules of fun drinking games to fit bridal lingo and wedding industry!

4) Bridal Pictionary

Favors

Fun ideas are to give each guest a black lacy panty, a sexy lipgloss, or even a fancy bag of chocolates! Wrapping can be simple or elaborate, but as long as it goes with your theme you can use the favor bags as another decorative piece. I chose simple brown bags with white tissue paper and another lace detail with a calligraphic script of each guest’s name. Each girl received a lip stick with which we used to create a guest book for the bride!

                      

 

While you can choose to go over the top or keep things simple, a classy lingerie shower is a wonderful outlet to celebrate and give a few fun sexy items without a sea of hot pink and feather boas. She will feel like a queen as you shower her with not only gifts, but an elegant display of delectable treats and champagne. There are so many elaborate dessert options, classy color schemes, and unique ways to make her lingerie shower fashionable and fun!

Xoxo,

Audrey

Mail Merging: A Life Saver

Mail Merging: A Life Saver

How to create address labels and letters in a flash!

By: Miranda Weidemier


As you know, there are lots of things to be personalized and set out throughout the course of planning your wedding. Starting with “Save the Dates” or engagement party invitations and ending with thank you cards. These can be dreadful and tedious processes, especially when you have 300 people on your guest list. Microsoft Excel and Word will become your best friend when dealing with mailings and letters. By using the “Mail Merge” feature in word, you can customize mailing labels and thank you letters for all of your guests in minutes.

First, you will need to make an excel spreadsheet with your guests’ information. Important columns to include are title (Mr., Mrs., etc.), first name, last name, address, city, state, and zip code. Your spreadsheet should look something like this:

Make sure all of the information is formatted correctly in the spreadsheet before moving on to the mail merge. One thing you will need to format is the zip code column. You will notice that if a zip code starts with a zero, that zero will disappear. To format the column, you will need to highlight it, right click, and click Format Cells. You can then select “Special” from the category box, select “Zip Code” from the Type box and click okay. Now you should save this spreadsheet. Once your information is complete it is ready to start the mail merge!

Next, you will open a new Word Document. Click on Mailings > Start Mail Merge and select the type you want to run. Labels is probably the one you will appreciate the most. Then, Click Select Recipients > Use Existing List. Find your excel spreadsheet and open it, this will connect your document to your spreadsheet. Click Mailings > Edit Recipient List, here you can select the columns you want to include in your merge. You will want to format these fields as you want them to appear on the label itself. This means inserting a space between each field, putting a comma after “<<City>>” and entering the fields into three lines like a traditional address is written. You will also want to format font size, type, and color at this stage. Double check to make sure you have completed all formatting.

You can now preview your labels to make sure they look exactly how you want. If not go back and format them to your liking. If you are happy with the results, you can complete the mail merge and print and any kind of labels you desire. A label will print out for each address on your guest list. It will look something like this:

Ways to Make Your Honeymoon Even MORE Special!

Ways to make your honeymoon even MORE special!

After the wedding, the honeymoon is the next most anticipated event marking the beginning of marriage! It is an opportunity for the bride and groom to enjoy each others’ company and celebrate their new marriage. For this reason, everyone wants their honeymoon to go smoothly – but there are a few extra things you can do to make your time away even more amazing!

One thing that many couples don’t even know about is the possibility of setting up a honeymoon registry. This allows people to give honeymoon related gifts instead of traditional wedding gifts. For example, someone may choose to list experiences such as a couples’ massage, a candlelit dinner, a suite upgrade, or champagne and chocolates in bed! Whatever you and your significant other decide is on the wish list, can go on the registry.

Next, it’s important to choose the right honeymoon location for you and your fiancée. Don’t just jump to the ‘tropical location’ option; think about what you really enjoy doing with your special someone, and plan a trip that allows you to do those things. You want your honeymoon to be filled with memories of you two doing what you love most!

While on your trip, its okay to tell people that you’re newlyweds – it often results in freebies or discounts! Pack a copy of your new marriage license in case you need to verify that you are indeed on your honeymoon.

Splurge a little – this is a once in a lifetime trip! Book a room with a Jacuzzi to give yourself plenty of private, romantic opportunities to relax together. And indulge in breakfast in bed at least once – it will allow you to wake up slowly, making your whole day feel less rushed and more romantic. You might even want to spend all day in bed after that!

Above all, its important to remember to enjoy each others company on this special trip. Tell your new spouse why you love him, pack little gifts for him, and cherish your time alone together as newlyweds. Doing some of these things will serve to make your honeymoon even more special, so you have a truly amazing start to your life together!

- Carina