Untraditional Toppers

Untraditional Toppers

By: Miranda Weidemier


When you think of a wedding cake, traditionally we envision it with a happy couple dressed in their finest wedding attire standing on top. As adorable as that is, there are a number of other creative ways to top your wedding cake. One popular way is using the first initials of the bride and groom or the last initial of the couple’s last name. This makes the cake personalized and it can be used in any themed wedding.

Other cake toppers include different floral arrangement that match your wedding flowers. You can do a simple topper with a few large flowers or have lots of flowers cascading all the way down your wedding cake. You can also use real flowers or ask your cake decorator to create edible flowers out of fondant and gum paste. Whichever way you choose to go, there are many options for using flowers as your topper.

             

                

                           

For couples that prefer the traditional look of having the bride and groom on top of the cake, there is a modern alternative to this idea. Using silhouettes of the bride and groom as a topper is a sleek modern twist to this tradition. You can use full body toppers or a close up of their heads facing each other. There is even the option of having these toppers customized to be made into actual silhouettes of the bride and groom themselves.

Other topper ideas include objects that represent something to the couple. Wedding bells, doves, wedding rings, and horseshoes are just a few of the meaningful symbols that make for a great cake topper. Couples can use any symbol or object that holds a meaning to them as their sentimental topper.

Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

“Headed down south to the land of the pines, I'm thumbin' my way into North Caroline…” Whether you’re a southern belle from Georgia, a country girl at heart from South Carolina, or marrying into the traditions of southern living, having a southern themed wedding can be a beautiful and uniquely charming production.

The Venue
Going along with the geography and landscape of the south, most southern weddings are set outdoors on farms with beautiful barns and green meadows, the lawns of family homes or picturesque country club grounds, and traditional churches with receptions outdoors. Choosing your venue can determine how you proceed with the rest of your decorations and themes, but here are some potential ideas for southern décor!

Wooden Decorations:  Rustic decorations like this cupcake tier tie in the outdoorsy feel and give your southern wedding a country look!

Mason Jars: What says southern more than a Mason Jar? Throw in some fresh picked daisies and you are home free!

Local Products: Decorating with local products such as the artichoke pictured below gives your wedding an authentic and traditional southern feel

The Menu
Southern Comfort Food

Who says your wedding menu has to be adorned with the finest shellfish and hors d’oeurves money can buy? When most think of “southern food,” images of fried chicken, bbq plates, and pitchers of sweet tea come to mind. The staple meals of southern living may as well be a part of your southern wedding! These trendy chalkboard menus are a cute idea for telling your guests about the comfort foods you have chosen for the dinner or you could even go all out and have a pig pickin’ for your reception!

Ideas: Self-Serve BBQ
Mini Pecan Pies
(or an assortment of blueberry pies, cherry pies, etc!)
Pig Pickin’
Oyster Roast
Banana Pudding!













A Touch of Country

Here are a few more fun ideas to turn your wedding a little more country and make everyone feel right at home in the south!

1. Cowgirl Boots: Have the bridesmaids wear cowgirl boots under their long dresses or change into them for the reception! If you want to go all out, wear them for the pictures, ceremony, and reception!

2. Cotton: This boutonniere made of cotton has been trending on Pinterest for southern groomsmen who value their traditional ties to the south. It even has a cute and unique look for the groomsmen to wear over their black tuxedoes! Brides can utilize the emblem of the south by creating a unique bouquet out of cotton or mixing the cotton buds with flowers!


                      





3. Wedding Favors: give the guests a little piece of the south to take home with them. A can of Georgia Peaches, a bottle of Tennessee Whiskey, or a package of specialty wrapped grits from your wedding. Not only will they think of you and your wedding when they go to use these southern goods, but they will have a part of the south with them wherever they return after the special day!

4. Cornhole! This fun game is a great addition for pre-ceremony festivities and recreation at the reception. You can even personalize it by putting your monogram as seen in the pictures below!

So there it is ya’ll. From comfort foods to traditional southern produce, there are so many ways to make a southern way both beautiful and enjoyable. It’s not exclusive to the southern ladies either- so if you come from above the Mason Dixon and still like the idea of a farm wedding with daisies in mason jars and a BBQ bar, just go for it!

Xoxo,
Audrey

Finding the Perfect Suit for Her

Finding the Perfect Suit for Her

Wedding Fashions for the Classiest Ladies

Photo Rights to www.equallywed.com

One of the biggest controversies in politics lately is whether or not to legalize gay marriage. States all over the country are supporting marriage equality by doing so.  As this continues, more and more lesbian couples are able to happily get married and have a wedding. There are many different scenarios you can expect while approaching a lesbian wedding. There are three possibilities: two brides, two “grooms”, or a bride and a “groom”. When looking for wedding attire it could be as simple are finding two bridal gowns or as difficult as finding two suits for women. According to the Gay Wedding Institute, “58% of lesbian brides have at least one partner in a suit or tuxedo.  Most have men’s suits altered for their female body or pay thousands for a custom piece. “

Photo Credit to www.people.com

Brides know exactly where to start their hunt for “the dress”, but what about women who want to shop for a tux for their special day? Lesbian “grooms” should not have to settle for wearing a men’s tux that does not fit correctly for the mere fact that it is the only kind available to them. Christina from East Side Bride said, “You're not going to be able to walk into the Men’s Warehouse and buy a suit off the rack. Because of the extra curves, the pants might fit but the jacket that goes with it may not. Also, the size pants that might fit your hips might be extra long in crotch, and the waist might need to be taken in.”

 Currently, there is a rapidly emerging market for customized women’s suits. The first company to enter this market was Fourteen. They started creating custom suits especially for lesbian weddings. They offer different styles and vest options as well. Fourteen’s custom suits have smaller armholes, shorter arm length, smaller torso measurements, and bust room is added where needed without sacrificing the style or design. Not only are these designs attracting lesbians who are about to say, “I do,” but they are also a big deal for prom season. Since teenagers are finally comfortable expressing their desire to be in same-sex relationships, there are in fact lesbian and gay couples going to high school proms together.

By : Miranda Weidemier

Bridezilla or Anti-Bride?

Sunday Styles

Bridezilla or Anti-Bride?

Check here for some great non-traditional dresses

Main Entry: The anti-bride
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: A bride-to-be who would rather avoid the months of tedious planning, being the center of attention, copious amounts of cash splashed and simply head directly to the nearest justice of the peace.
Also known as: the pleaser bride; the codependa-bride

Main Entry: bridezilla
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: The temporary (but potentially long-term) insanity that befalls brides-to-be, such as Elana of New York who ordered $27,435.14 worth of flowers for her wedding, paid for it upfront using a cashier's check, and then turned around and sued her her florist for $400,000 because the colors were a little off.  Roses are red, violets are blue, but a bridezilla will sue, if her hydrangeas are of the wrong hue - especially if she is a lawyer.

I loved these examples!  They are so true of the past year.  I even think I had borderline anti-bride syndrome.  While there is nothing wrong with eloping, being intimidated by the planning process, or wanting an intimate wedding to stick to a budget here's how you know if you fall into the Anti-Bride category:

Bridesmaids
So you want your besties to truly wear their dress again right?  Telling them a color, style, shoes, and how much to spend seems so demanding?  You're probably not the matchy matchy bridesmaid type, and your temp is rising toward anti-bride-itis. Anti brides created the mismatched bridesmaid look! (PS- Thanks for that!)  

Thankfully, technology is on your side.  To make it affordable site like Rent-the-Runway and Little Borrowed Dress can give the girls a fancy look without breaking the bank.  Beware here- timing and a small bridal is key.  When renting there's no room for alterations, no room for them to plan to lose weight, and no room to see how it looks.  If you're choosing this option you need to be very confident in your girls- but if you're anti-bride that actually has a bridal party, that's saying enough.  ModCloth and other online retailers offer great options for your girls to express their style too!

The Dress
Do you remember the Sex in the City scene when Carrie broke out in hives trying on wedding dresses?  Do you relate?  Would you feel more comfortable in an off-the-rack ensemble like she ended up in?  You may have a touch of anti-bride-itis. Anti brides are about comfort and staying true to their style.   Luckily for you there is no shortage of white dresses (if you even want to do the whole "white" thing) in the spring/summer season.  Even better, some stores have amazing casual bridal lines like BHLDN and Nordstrom, and vintage style finds are always on Etsy.  Here's a couple of my faves:

Free People

via polyvore

via etsy

via Etsy

 via BHLDN

























Reception(and anything else that places you at the center of attention)

Do you fear the thought of making it through the day in heels and have no clue where to find wedding flip-flops?  Are you having nightmares about your guests posting video of your lack of rhythm to Facebook?  Do you just want your fiance to send an Evite rather than thumb through stationery books and lick stamps?  What if they don't like the food?  You and your beloved prefer dim-sum and  sushi and your fam loves Texas BBQ?  What do you do? 

Well, if all of the above are true, I would have to diagnose you with a full blown case of Anti-Bride-itis!  There are two very important steps here:

First:  Don't Panic!  Panic is the transition of going from Anti-Bride to Bridezilla.  Throwing your hands up and saying I don't care, breaking your family's hearts, and not giving you and your honey even just a second to bask in some kind of limelight will come back to haunt you.  
Remember Bridezilla is just someone that gets so wrapped in details (even if its the idea of non details) that she forgets that other people have feelings and just want to share in her day somehow.  

While there is nothing wrong with eloping, telling your families in person can help soften the blow when they don't understand your vision or budget constraints.  Getting creative and Skyping your elopement, or enlisting the very vehement protesters to help in DIY projects  could help everyone too.  

Second:  Enlist a planner! No this isn't a shameless plug, (well maybe a little) but all the details you hate are the things we live for.  We can help you decide on what's really important and make whatever vision you have, no matter how minimalistic come to life.  Planners are Bridezilla's Kryptonite.  So whether you're just starting the fever, or have a full blown spell, there is hope for the anti-bride! And to the anti-brides of 2012, we thank you for giving us some great style ideas and decor trends!

TTFN
Rachel