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8 Sep |
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7:00 pm Posted by Kristy |
The experts in the business know that a bride is her own worst enemy when it comes to shopping for the perfect wedding gown. Kleinfeld Bridal, one of the country’s premier bridal salon’s in New York City, and home to TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress”, has seen it all. A recent episode featured common roadblocks brides themselves set up only to stumble when hunting for their dream dress:
(From the current season of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress, Sept. 6, 2011 episode)
Budget. An obvious place to start, but the episode makes the point that some brides get swept up in the fairytale. Reality has limits, so face up to the reality of your budget to avoid disappointment.
The first dress you find…CAN be the one. Many brides experience euphoria with the first gown they try on. This is more than okay, according to the experts–it shows a bride who really knows what she is looking for and knows her own style. Go for it and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise!
Silhouette. Pear? Apple? straight-waisted? Every bride is shaped differently with different assets. So as with anything else, be aware of which features to show off, and discard dress styles that don’t compliment your particular shape.
Alterations. If you find a dress you love, except for a feature that might be fixed by some customization, go for it. Just consider how alterations might affect your budget.
Keep an open mind. Be willing to try a different style than you might have considered. After all, it’s not like we put on a gown everyday. Most of us don’t really know what style might look best.
Wedding location. The setting and environment of you wedding ceremony is a factor. The episode features a bride whose destination wedding on a beach is not suited to the heavy ball gown she thinks she wants. Be realistic!
“Say Yes” when you find it. Don’t keep shopping (and wasting everyone else’s time) when you’ve probably found the right dress. The effort to validate that choice can lead to more confusion and frustration.
Trust your instincts. Closely related to the previous point (#4) and #9 (the first dress), don’t let the opinions of others crowd out how you really feel when you put on a dress. While it helps to have an entourage, your opinion counts more than theirs.
Bling adds up. Adding on accessories to glam up your look needs to be factored into the budget. Tiaras, veils, jewels, purses, and other items can add up fast. If your are relying heavily on extra items, you may need to reconsider your dress.
Who you bring matters. A best friend, a sister, your mom? How about an entourage? Every bride has a preference for whose eye and opinion will be most helpful. But helpful is the key idea–stay away from those whose opinions will be solely critical, or who don’t really know you. Too many people can also hurt more than help.
Whew! So many guidelines for wedding dress shopping will make choosing wedding invitations look like a cakewalk (pun intended). For a delightful shopping experience, visit www.looklovesend.com to browse gorgeous, stylish wedding invitations. If you are getting married in 2012, enter the Wedding Invitation Suite Sweepstakes to win a complete wedding invitation suite up to a $1500 value.
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7 Sep |
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5:41 pm Posted by Kristy |
We’ve all had the usual baby shower fare, from finger sandwiches to cupcakes (baby shower version are called petit-fors). They typically pack a lot of sugar in addition to their predictability. So next time you receive a baby shower invite or plan to host one, think about bringing a dish packed with nutritious pregnancy power foods.
A recent post on Parents.com reveals some of the best power nutrients for pregnant moms and their growing babies. We’ve reviewed these ingredients and come up with some suggestions for baby shower menu items, along with the specific nutrients they provide. In general, think about recipes that contain combinations of pregnancy superfoods, such as: Berries, Broccoli, Beans, Bananas, Cheese, Eggs, Lean Meats, Nuts, Tomatoes and more.
Pregnancy Power Baby Shower MENU
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KEY INGREDIENTS |
POWER NUTRIENTS |
| Blueberry Walnut Spinach Salad OR Broccoli Slaw |
Leafy greens, olive oil, blueberries, walnuts |
Antioxidants Folate (B vitamin) Vitamin C omega-3s Calcium |
| Trail Mix OR Energy Bars |
Nuts (almonds), dried fruits (cranberries, cherries, apricots, etc) |
Omega-3s Protein |
| Banana Orange Smoothies |
Yogurt, Bananas, Oranges or other berries |
Probiotics Potassium Vitamin C |
| Mozzarella Tomato Salad |
Fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced tomatoes, fresh basic, olive oil & balsamic |
Calcium Lycopene Omega-3s |
| Lean Meat Skewers with Tomato-based dipping sauce |
Lean meat such as flank steak or sirloin |
Iron and Vitamin C |
For easy, online recipes that cater to pregnant moms using healthy ingredients, try the recipe finder tools on www. fitpregnancy.com or www.babycenter.com for specific recipe ideas from pregnancy experts.
For unique baby shower invitations to host your next shower, visit www.looklovesend.com for a wide variety of design styles and color palates. Join the email list and receive 20% off your first order!
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6 Sep |
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2:33 pm Posted by Kristy |
I love fall, and so do many brides. According to theknot.com, October is the 3rd most popular month for weddings!
No other seasonal transition is as refreshing or as noticeable, depending where you live. For the northern half, winter comes fast and spring comes too slow (or not at all!). In the south, fall can take it’s time, but eventually brings some of the best weather of the year.
To varying degrees around the country, crisp mornings, color changes, and the noticeable warmth of the afternoon sun make fall a magical time for weddings. If you are already planning your fall wedding for next year, take cues from what the coming weeks will bring, paying close attention to how colors, flowers and foliage can be used in bouquets, cake displays and decor.
We’ve browsed some of the fall floral displays from top wedding sites, such as WeddingWire.com, to find out how to make the most out of fall for a wedding:
Foliage
Experts turn not just to flowers, but to the leaves and branches and other non-flowering plants that evoke the season. When used as accents and filler, many of these can turn classic wedding flowers such as roses and lilies into extraordinary seasonal displays:
- Twigs and vines
- Ferns
- Acorns and pine cones
- Berries
- Crab apples and artichokes
- Oak and maple leaves
- Rosemary and eucalyptus
- Feathers and cattails
Color
The most obvious way to capture the essence of fall is through the season’s extraordinary colors. There are many ways to do this, including pairing non-traditional colors typically associated with other seasons with warmer hues, as discussed previously in our Autumn Colors blog. Other strategies include using favorite flowers available in fall color tones, such as:
- Lilies
- Calla lilies (in sunset-color hues)
- Roses (burgundies, terracottas, “circus roses”)
- Peonies (mauves, off-whites)
- Orchids (cymbidium)
Texture
The pairing of rustic qualities with civilized luxury make fall’s appeal almost magical. Experts mix elements such as bark and feathers with satin and lace to create a unique, unstudied yet elegant atmosphere. The best examples of this include scattering red and orange rose petals down an aisle or even a single gorgeous pink rose set into a nest of oak leaves. The contrast between warmth and cool, element and elegance, field and garden create the excitement that defines fall.
To find fall’s magical balance of contrasts in your wedding invitations, browse the variety of styles and color palates available at LookLoveSend.com. If your fall wedding is set for 2012, enter LookLoveSend’s Wedding Invitation Sweepstakes to win your choice of wedding invitation suite valued up to $1,500.
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5 Sep |
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12:40 am Posted by Nicola |
Have you ever received a birthday party invitation for your granddaughter, goddaughter, or niece and just didn’t know what to get her? Rather than buying into the latest toy craze, hit DVD or fashion trend, consider starting a birthday tradition that you can build upon for years to come.
For my own daughter’s first birthday, my mother started the beautiful trend of building a personalized charm bracelet just for her. It all started with a single bead; and now, 7 years later, my daughter has a stunning silver charm bracelet that is uniquely hers and will be a fantastic keepsake for years to come.
The charms come twice a year, one for her birthday and the other for Christmas. The early charms were the traditional initial and zodiac signs, thus branding the bracelet hers. Then there were the cute & girly symbols of the teddy bear, doll and flower. Thus, the traditional silver chain bracelet started taking shape as each charm was carefully soldered in place over the years.
During her preschool years, the bracelet started getting more fun. Ballet shoes represented my daughter’s introduction to dance class, and a cat charm was added to commemorate a beloved pet.
On my daughter’s 6th birthday, my mother showed her the charm bracelet and then the collaboration set in. Interested in a number of sports and activities by that time, my daughter began giving input for her next charm – often scrolling through pages of great options online and having a tough time trying to decide.
We’ve recently entered the lacrosse stick and peace sign stage of the charm bracelet and it is now atruly beautiful one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. The classic charm bracelet never goes out of style and I’m sure my daughter will treasure this piece for years to come.
So next time you receive a little girl’s birthday party invitation, consider starting her a charm bracelet and building her a special piece of jewelry. And if it’s your daughter who’s having the birthday, checkout the great selection of birthday party invitations available at LookLoveSend.com. Join our mailing list and receive 20% off your first order.
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4 Sep |
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1:04 am Posted by Nicola |
How best to remember the guests who share your special day with you? Wedding albums usually focus on the bridal party, video footage generally captures the most traditional ceremony moments, but years later it may be more difficult to recall all the other family members, friends and colleagues in attendance. While the traditional wedding guestbook is a great keepsake, another wonderful option is to have your guests create a commemorative art piece that can be displayed in your home for years to come.
But be warned, give your guests too much free space and a pen and you may regret it. For my own wedding I decided to mount one of my wedding invitations and ask guests to inscribe a message in the broad mat border. That was a mistake. A few guests messily crossed out words and one particular congratulatory note (from a family member’s girlfriend at the time) was roll-your-eyes-bad and not something I particularly wanted displayed on my wall. So the inscribed wedding invitation did not get frame and I’m left with my Excel spreadsheet of invitees as the only way of remembering every person who came to share our special day.
Instead, we love this thumbprint wedding tree painting as a unique and beautiful way to get tasteful artwork created by your wedding guests. Etsy features this handpainted tree on a high quality canvas accompanied by differently colored ink pads ready for guest thumbprints. The tree can accommodate 125-175 guests and can be further customized with initials carved into the tree, names and wedding date printed below the tree, or two love birds painted on a branch. And if you want to specifically remember the names of your guests, provide a small leaf-shaped stamp and allow guests to inscribe their names within each leaf with a fine point pen.
The thumbprint wedding tree is a great way to capture the memory of your wedding guests. Select inkpad colors to coordinate with your wedding invitations or flowers to further remember your special day. If your wedding is scheduled for 2012, enterthe LookLoveSendsweepstakes for the chance to win a complete wedding invitation suite valued up to $1500.
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3 Sep |
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4:30 am Posted by Kristy |
Whether or not you are Jewish, Bar Mitzvahs (and Bat Mitzvahs for the girls) are known as one of the most celebratory of coming-of-age parties any religious or cultural tradition observes. But modern day parents of boys turning 13 (or girls turning 12) discover stress lies not so much from party planning details, but in maintaining a perspective of this deeply important religious tradition that dates back two millennium.
One way to keep the meaning of the occasion out in front is through the choice of gift. Experienced parents know that instead of an iPod or pair of Uggs, extravagant but meaningless for the occasion, items that convey an understanding of the importance of the occasion could include:
- Telfillin (for the boys) These traditional black boxes containing parchments of Torah verses are expensive. But as a group gift from able family members, their message conveys the two ways a young adult should serve: through thought (worn on the head) and action (worn on the arm).
- A Book Giving the young Jewish adult an insightful book acknowledges his or her transition to an adult in the Jewish sense of responsibility–developing a close relationship with God through education and reason. Consult a list by Rabbi Shraga Simmons in A 7-point Guide to the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, on the Jewish website Aish.com.
Other insights on keeping your focus meaningful when planning your child’s bar mitzvah include not placing too much emphasis on the reception and details of planning. Children absorb their parents attitudes and actions, regardless of what they are told. So instead of focusing too heavily on the food, music, invitations, decorations, etc., experts suggest balancing it with an equal or greater among of discussion about community, family and God.
Keep it simple by starting with high quality bar mitzvah invitations that evoke the meaning and beauty of the occasion, available through LookLoveSend.com. Join the email list and receive 20% off your first order.
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2 Sep |
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4:30 am Posted by Kristy |
A Philadelphia couple and their 150 guests had to evacuate, effectively canceling their destination wedding on North Carolina’s Outer Banks…for a second year in a row. Ten months of planning could not prevent it!
Then there’s the Leibowitz wedding at Riverside Farm in Pittsfield, Vermont. Their dream of a rustic Green Mountain wedding came true, only to end with flood waters washing out bridges and stranding them with about 100 wedding guests.
When Weatherproofing Becomes Disaster Planning
In a recent blog, Weatherproofing Your Wedding, we recently suggested some ways to to make the most of inclement weather. But recent events on the East Coast underscore some insurmountable risks when weddings and other events find themselves staring at potential disaster.
This risk is not exclusive to late summer/early fall weddings on the coast. There’s winter’s ice storms, the west’s wildfires, Midwestern tornadoes, and earthquakes, which apparently happen anywhere anytime! But what are the odds that Mother Nature’s rages will wreak havoc on your special day?
Plan for Year-Round Weather Risks
Planning for the worst isn’t really the attitude most couples want to have when planning such a special event. But there are a few steps you can take to sleep better at night if you think your location or time of year are particularly susceptible to potential disaster.
- Travel Insurance This is a must for honeymoon travel plans requiring air travel or high-end accommodations. There’s too much at stake if you have to cancel for any reason–weather disaster or otherwise.
- Wedding Event Insurance This insurance, such as the policy offered by Aon’s Wedsafe, is to cover costs for cancellation of the actual wedding event itself for any of the following reasons:
- Weather so extreme it prevents the wedding from taking place
- Unexpected illness or injury to the bride, groom, or key family member
- Withdrawal of approved leave for a bride or groom in the military
- Other losses, such as to a wedding gown, lost jewelry or undelivered or damaged photographs
Either of these plans are relatively inexpensive compared to the overall expenses they protect. Most plans run between anywhere between $200 to $500, perhaps more for additional coverage. It’s really a matter of weighing the odds of weather disaster with your location, time of year, and need for peace of mind.
To enjoy a less risky part of wedding planning, browse the wedding invitation collections on LookLoveSend.com. If you are getting married in 2012, enter LookLoveSend’s 2012 Wedding Invitation Suite Sweepstakes for the chance to win a complete wedding invitation suite up to a $1500 value.
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1 Sep |
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4:00 am Posted by Kristy |
If you are like many brides, gearing yourself for a 12-month or more wedding planning period, and next fall 2012 is your target wedding date, take some color cues from the dynamic array you will see this fall.
A Word About Autumn Color
Color is one easy way to tie together your wedding. Gowns, flowers, wedding invitations, table setting accessories, the cake, wedding favors, and more can be coordinated through the simple application of a well-thought out color scheme. For some expert guidance, consult the color combo ideas set forth in theknot.com, which include some of the autumns most popular color choices, like reds, browns and golds. This fall’s hot trends include a surge in jewel tones against traditional fall colors, like magenta and chocolate brown.
But don’t stop there. Autumn offer a much more diverse color palate than you might think. With the right color tones and combinations, some colors you might not automatically associate with fall can be pitch perfect.
Wedding Invitations for Fall
One word of caution when looking at invitations: take care to pay attention to elements other than color. For instance, stay away from overtly springtime florals like tulips or lilacs, even if they come in enticing fall shades. Other organic elements such as vines, acorns or olives might be a better choice.
Here’s a closer look at some gorgeous color palates perfectly suited for fall wedding invitations if you are planning ahead for next year:
- Oranges. Probably the first fall color that comes to mind, theknot.com displays some great orange color combos. While orange and pink is better suited to spring and summer, here are two very different invitation styles and orange color combos from LookLoveSend.com:
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| Orange and Green are perfect for fall in Sneha Sheth’s “Decorative Zircon” wedding invitation design. | “Mums” by Bethany Hagans evoke fall’s favorite flower and is available in other fall color choices. |
- Greens. Think about softer, less intense shades like moss or sage instead of limes and springtime grasses.
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| Genevieve Gail’s “Boho Birds” are inspired by vintage wallpaper designs and come in this autumn-perfect shade of green. | “Floral Lattice” by Suling Wang is a subtle splash of green that leaves the door open for any other fall accent color. |
To find your fall color inspiration, look at the wide selection of color palates available for many of LookLoveSend.com’s wedding invitation designs. If you are indeed planning a wedding for anytime in 2012, enter the LookLoveSend Wedding Invitation Sweepstakes for the chance to win your choice of wedding invitations, including coordinating components, up to a $1500 value. Receive 15% off just for participating!
