Another rainy day, not great for weddings, but very refreshing!

As soon as I saw this fabulous ‘do, I thought, “Wow, I have to blog this!” I don’t know what it is about this look but I really love it. It has a very coastal look – perfect for a tropical beach wedding. I think this style would work well for a summer wedding because while it’s still very elegant, it’s not a super formal hairstyle. Leaving your hair half down like this will give you a light, summery look. You can use any light colored flower for the back, either fresh or artificial. Fresh flowers can be kept in water or refridgerated until you are ready to wear them. This helps to preserve the flowers and keep them lasting much longer. Real flowers look natural and smell wonderful, but they won’t last as long as artificial ones.

Strapless wedding dresses have definitely been the “in” thing for a while now. Sure, they look great (especially on the beautiful bodies that model them), but strapless dresses may not be as flattering on some as they are on others. I once heard a bride comment, “I want a strapless dress because it’s sexier.” Well we think that wedding dresses with sleeves can be just as sexy, not to mention more comfortable and here are some pictures to prove it. Not having to worry about your dress slipping has got to be a bonus. Sleeves also give classy and elegant look. Besides, wouldn’t it be fun to wear something that most everyone else isn’t?

Four Tips For Stunning Centerpieces By Stephen Badiali
There are many details that go into planning a wedding reception. After you find a location for your reception, book the caterer, and hire the entertainment, your focus can turn towards other topics like wedding centerpieces.

As with all wedding details, wedding centerpieces come in a wide range of choices. From expensive and over the top to cheap and modest, you will have to search for the option that is right for you and your wedding celebration.

Set your budget and start thinking of wedding centerpiece ideas. As the saying goes, sometimes less is more, and centerpieces are no exception.

If you are having a simple, elegant wedding you would not want to have lavish, obnoxious centerpieces that excessively stand out. On the other hand if you are having an elaborate wedding affair an extremely simple centerpiece may look out of place.

Here are four tips for finding the perfect wedding centerpiece:

Look For Unique Vases or Items For Flowers
Flowers are the most popular choice for centerpieces, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be creative. Try finding unique vases instead of ordinary clear glass vases. There are many options including different color glass vases and unique shapes.

Instead of vases you can also choose other items to hold your flowers like birdcages or fishbowls. Try adding items to the containers like stones, pearls or other objects that match your theme.

Think Seasonal For Centerpiece Ideas
The season that you are getting married can spark some great, creative ideas for wedding centerpieces.

For a Fall wedding consider incorporating pumpkins into your centerpieces. Options include small carved pumpkins that can double as wedding favors and pumpkins filled with flowers or candles.

Summer weddings have many items that can be used for centerpieces. These include seashells, lighthouses and other nautical items.

For a Winter wedding, add pine cones or holiday items.

Get Creative
Think outside of the box and come up with something unique. If you have an overall theme to your wedding, try incorporating something from that theme into your centerpieces.

For example, if you are getting married in a city like New York or Chicago, try tying in something unique from that city. New York is called The Big Apple, so you could somehow incorporate apples into your centerpieces.

Ask a Professional
Having trouble coming up with unique ideas for your centerpieces? Ask your vendors for help.

Florists, caterers and wedding planners are great resources for centerpiece ideas. They have a lot of experience and have seen a lot of things, so bounce your ideas off of them.

Stephen Badiali
http://www.wedding-ideas-guide.com

Tips for perfect wedding day skin

Everyone wants to look exceptionally beautiful on their wedding day including the groom. Unfortunately getting ready for that big day can be stressful and can take a toll on even the most beautiful complexion. The good news is that there are simple things you can do for yourself before the wedding that will help relax you and make your skin look great. Here are a couple of the most frequently asked questions.

Should I do anything special with my skin before my wedding?

Your skin should definitely look healthy for your wedding day. This is a time to look radiant, not made-up. I suggest starting one week prior to the wedding with a daily routine of cleanse, scrub, tone, and moisturize. Use a cleanser that is not drying so you won’t create any excessive lines or patchiness. Use a scrub with micro action to exfoliate dead skin layers and reveal new healthy skin. Nonalcoholic toners are best during this routine so you don’t over strip the already exfoliated skin. A moisturizer that is light should be applied morning and night. When the day arrives, you will notice that your make up glides on easily and promotes a healthy glow.

Is it safe to use acids on my face?

There are several types of acids, glycolic, salicylic, fruits, aha, etc. Acids while in a high percentage, say 35%, will cause the top most layers of the skin to “burn” away within minutes. This process needs to be administered my a licensed professional. Acids with a lower percentage around 5% are intended for home use and can be already included in some skincare products such as moisturizers or serums. These products are a good source of continual gentle exfoliation and reveal beautiful new skin within days.

Is there any help for over dry skin?

Yes, Most skincare products containing hyaluronic acid will give immediate smoothness and moisture to rough dry skin surfaces and significantly improve skin appearance. Hyaluronic acid actually absorbs moisture from the atmosphere and binds it together on your skin. Essentially greaseless, the natural acid will also plump up lines and wrinkles.

By celebrity skin specialist Larry Costa
ewonderfullife.com

Larry Costa has been cited as an expert in the field of health and beauty in countless magazine, TV appearances, and newspapers, including Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, New York Magazine and The New York Times. Long recognized as the premiere massage therapist to the stars, he was named the “Best Massage Therapist in NYC” by Vogue Magazine. Larry first began creating his skincare line at the young age of 16 while working on his family farm in Florida. He then began acting on the TV show Miami Vice, where he sold his skincare to the cast. And crew. Larry now has a large celebrity following including Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Uma Thurman, Liv Tyler, Frederique, K.D. Lang, Donatella Versace, Gweneth Paltrow, Billy Zane, Melanie Griffith, Kelly Klein, N-Dea Davenport, and Don Johnson.

By Lois Heckman, Celebrant

Because your wedding day is one of the most personal and cherished days of your life, your ceremony should be just as special. Every aspect of it, from readings to music to symbolism, should be a reflection of you and the bond that you share, making this day truly your own, rejoicing in everything that makes your union unique. You can express yourself among family and friends through a personalized ceremony. Additionally, when the ceremony is great, the tone is set for a wonderful celebration. Here are some ideas to make your ceremony unique:

Tell your personal story . Share the story of how you met and why you fell in love. What were the first words you said to each other? Where was your first date? How did the proposal happen? What actions of the other say I love you? What does your partner do that always makes you laugh? Your celebrant can include these words in the introduction or elsewhere in the ceremony.

Honor the Presenter. If one or both of you will be presented in marriage, take this time to reflect on what this relationship means to you. Have your Celebrant include words of homage, amusing stories, and thanks.

Celebrate Your Heritage. Make a list of your respective ethnic, cultural or religious backgrounds. Research wedding rituals, poets and music from these traditions and create a distinctive blend of words and symbols. Honor both your backgrounds and the ceremony will reflect your unique partnership.

Something New. Borrow freely from the rich wedding customs around the world. You don’t need to belong to a particular culture or religion for its rituals to have meaning. Such rituals have been performed for hundreds or thousands of years because they resonate with universal truths about marriage.

Interfaith Weddings. Over 25% of marriages are between partners of different faiths. A good officiant will help you honor each faith tradition in a way that pleases everyone.

Involving Children & Stepchildren. When children are involved, your wedding reflects not only the joining of husband and wife, but the creation of a new family or stepfamily. There are many ways to reflect family unity in your ceremony.

You may have found the perfect spot for your wedding ceremony, but are unsure of how to find a minister, rabbi, clergy, or other officiant. You can have a ceremony that reflects your values, and the joy of your wedding day, and a Celebrant may be the answer. Celebrants are people who are trained to officiate at, compose and perform the highest quality personalized ceremonies. I studied at the Celebrant USA Foundation in Montclair, NJ. and I officiate in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is a joy and pleasure to be able to provide couples with meaningful ceremonies in just some of the ways I have explained. I hope I have inspired you towards a creative approach to your wedding ceremony.

- Lois Heckman ( www.LoisHeckman.com ) is a Certified Celebrant ( www.celebrantusa.org ) in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, and beyond.

By Adam Leyton

Do I need a Seating Chart?
If you have a small, informal reception, you may not feel you need a plan. However for larger numbers, or a sit down meal, both you and your guests may benefit from a seating chart. Guests are saved from a mad panic of trying to find a seat on a table with their friends/family and you can place people where they’ll be happiest! The wedding meal may last for 2-3 hours and is a significant part of the day. If your guests are sitting with people they get along with, it will make a big difference to their overall enjoyment of the day.

There are a number of options for the seating plan:
No plan at all – best for stand up buffets or small and informal events.
Assign guests to tables – you allocate guests to tables but the choice of seat is theirs.
Assign guests to seats – you specify the seats at which each guest will sit.

If you remember only one thing…
Do what you think would make you and your guests most comfortable.

The Head Table Dilemma
While the traditional head table (Bride and Groom seated at a long table flanked by the wedding party) is still favored by most, alternatives are often being used. The traditional layout is as follows:

Groomsman – Bridesmaid – Best Man – Bride – Groom – Maid of Honor – Groomsman – Bridesmaid

There are alternative arrangements – such as including parents/godparents or clergy on the table. Or you might want to include partners of the bridal party. Alternatively, you may want to avoid the top table altogether and have a romantic table for two.

Top Tips for Other Tables
1. Seating tables with just one family group will let them relax, but won’t do much to encourage mingling. However, a table where no one knows anyone else might be a bit daunting for most people! Try and arrange a mix on each table – so everyone knows a few people. By thinking about guests’ ages and interests you can make sure that each table is likely to get on and have fun!

2. Where to sit singles can also create a dilemma. On one hand you might want to try out a little matchmaking, but on the other, this could be rather uncomfortable and awkward for your guests (it might be very obvious too!). Certainly avoid a ‘singles’ table but generally do whatever you feel is best for your guests.

3. If you are using round tables, the general etiquette is to seat males and females alternately around the table. If you are using long tables, seat couples opposite one another and then alternate male/females along the table.

4. The tables closest to the Bride and Groom should be reserved for the closest friends and family.

5. Give each table a name or number. Table names could be themed – for example people, objects or places that are relevant to you as a couple. Names also remove the perceived hierarchy of tables. You should create a name card for each table (your venue may do this for you) so that guests can easily find their table.

6. If you are assigning guests to specific seats you should create name place cards. These could also show menu choices (if you are offering them) or indicate vegetarians. The waiting staff will really appreciate this and it will allow them to give a more seamless service. You should also give a paper copy of your plan to the venue so that they can see where people are seated.

Creating the Chart
Start arranging your seating plan early. You can start doing this before all your RSVPs have come in as most of your close friends and family will probably be definitely attending, even if they haven’t formally replied yet.

To begin creating your arrangement, get a general idea from your venue how tables will be arranged in the room, determine whether you’ll be using round or long tables or a mixture of both, and work out how many people you can sit at each table.

Arranging the chart can take a long time and might involve numerous revisions. Many people cut up pieces of paper for each guest and table and use these to try out different layouts. Thankfully, over the last few years software (web-based, for download or even Excel spreadsheets) has become available to make the task simpler. It can save you not only hours of your time but also reduce the stress in the lead up to the big day by simplifying last minute changes.

Written by Adam Leyton
http://www.toptableplanner.com

By Mike Staff

We all know the saying “You can’t please everyone”! While that may be true, these types of guest criticisms are easily avoided by careful planning — and addressing them now will make everyone’s memories of your wedding day so much nicer.

1. The DJ was obnoxious or played lousy music. Find the best wedding DJ available using recommendations from other brides and the advice of wedding industry professionals.

2. The music was TOO LOUD. Again, hire a great DJ who is experienced and focused on creating a fantastic overall experience for you and your guests. Other suggestions to avoid this common complaint: Move tables and chairs away from speakers and seat older guests further from the sound equipment.

3. Speeches were TOO LONG and we couldn’t decipher the words. Keep speeches under five minutes. Ideally, they should last between two and five minutes. A good DJ will spend a few moments with each person making a toast or speech, teaching him or her how to correctly operate and speak into the microphone. He will also use a quality microphone!

4. We didn’t know anyone at our table. Take the time to carefully plan your seating arrangement, placing guests at tables with others they know. They don’t have to be fast friends, just acquaintances or people with some kind of connection. Try to seat out-of-town guests, who aren’t likely to know anyone, with others having similar interests.

5. I resented paying a dollar to dance with the bride. Unless it’s a long-standing family tradition, and you will offend someone if you break the ritual, the dollar dance is best forgotten.

6. We stood forever in the receiving line. The bride & groom, and their parents are the only required greeters. Better yet, couples should instead consider visiting individual tables during or immediately following dinner. (See #10 below)

7. We had too much time to “kill” between the ceremony and reception. Out-of-town guests are often at a loss for ways to fill the time between a two o’clock wedding and a six o’clock reception. Try to keep the down time to a minimum. When it isn’t possible to hold the events within an hour or so of each other, ask the hall if it will open its doors early for your visiting guests (and ask them if there’s a charge). Other options include asking relatives or close friends to invite them to their home for a light snack, or arranging a hospitality suite for them at their hotel.

8. The centerpiece was so large that I couldn’t see or talk to guests seated across the table. Smaller, shorter arrangements are best. Your centerpiece shouldn’t be the center of attention (or main topic of conversation) at the table.

9. I was offended that I had to pay for drinks. Open bars are the accepted norm. If your budget is tight, offer wine and beer only — or limit drink choices to “call” brands. You can also close the bar during the dinner hour to save on costs.

10. The bride and groom didn’t stop by to say hello. Make the rounds of guest tables at your reception, but don’t spend too much time at each. A quick greeting, thank you or compliment will suffice.

11. I was never thanked for my gift! Share this task with your husband. Divide your list, write your notes at the same time, and make a pact to finish a certain number every night until they are finished. Dangle a carrot in front of your noses. When the last note is FINALLY written, reward yourselves with a special bottle of wine or dinner out. It is customary to mail thank-you notes within three months. You don’t want to wait that long for your carrot anyway, do you?

By Mike Staff
Mike Staff Productions