If you buy the same generic gift for all your ladies and call it a day, your hunt for the perfect present really isn’t that challenging. However, if you want a unique present for each bridesmaid that expresses your gratitude for all her help and support, you have a bit of a challenge ahead of you.
Finding a gift that expresses your gratitude will depend on the personality type of each bridesmaid. We have gift ideas for nearly every personality type out there. Check here for gift ideas that will fit every lady in your wedding party.
The Future Starlet
Tickets for an off-Broadway production at a local theater.
A subscription to a magazine with all the latest Hollywood drama.
A gift certificate to the movie theater.
A gift basket will all the fixins for the perfect night at home – a DVD of the latest Hollywood sensation, popcorn, plenty of sweet treats, and fuzzy slippers.
The Always-On-The-Go Girl
Gift certificate for a zumba class at the local gym.
Photography lessons.
Sailing lessons.
Registration in a glamping expedition.
The Next Top Chef
Custom apron.
Gift certificate for a tour of a local winery.
Table linens.
Non-perishable gourmet grocery items.
Cooking classes with a chef.
The Crafts Queen
Handmade jewelry.
Personalized, handmade stationary.
A quilt.
Homemade beauty products like facemasks, soap, hair tonics or lotion.
Yarn and knitting needles.
The Tomboy
Custom poker set.
Tickets to watch her favorite sports team.
Workout essentials – yoga mat, water bottle, running shoes, rollerblades.
The Anywhere-But-Here Girl
Personalized luggage tags.
A gift basket with a plug adaptor, travel alarm clock, ear plugs, and sleep mask.
A small fleece blanket, perfect for curling up on a chilly airplane.
A cosmetic bag with travel size bottles for beauty essentials.
The Green Girl
A compost pail.
Fair trade coffee.
Bike tire air pump.
Bulbs or seedlings for flowers or herbs.
A gift basket with homemade goodies – breads, jams, etc.
The Outdoor Lover
A gift basket with a beach towel, sunscreen, beach ball, and sandals.
A kite.
A picnic basket with reusable plates, cups and silverware.
A custom cornhole set.
The Family Girl
A subscription to a parenting magazine.
Gift certificate to the zoo.
Family-friendly board games.
Gift certificate to a museum.
Snowman building kit.
The Beauty Queen
Silk pajamas.
Designer clutch.
Manicure essentials – nail polish, emery boards, luxurious hand cream.
A weekend travel package to a spa.
The Gadget Girl
Gift certificate to the app or iTunes store.
High tech headphones.
Blu ray player.
Car adapter for mp3 player/iPod/iPad.
Cordless mouse or keyboard.
About the author: Guest author Jessica Zepeda is a newlywed who is happy the drama of wedding planning is over! Now, she likes to share all her wonderful tips with those brides who are still wading through the process. She has even started a blog of best bachelorette party games and bachelorette party tips.
Surely, you will be able to find the perfect gift for each of your bridesmaids. Every lady has a different personality and each one deserves a gift that she’ll appreciate!
Do you have any great gift ideas we left off the list? Let us know!
Wedding Blog, Ideas, News for the Bride & Groom
Showing posts with label Trends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trends. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Honeymoon Registry Trends
Couples are now registering for honeymoons and 'life experiences', rather than the traditional china and crystal.
While on their honeymoon in the Poconos, Josephine and Robert Wilson of Princeton, NJ paused to take a picture -- in front of an inflatable raft on the Lehigh River, smiling big.
(Photo courtesy of Josephine Wilson)
Josephine Wilson, née Hearn, admits it was a corny photo.
But she captured the moment for her thank-you cards. Because without her godparents, the newlyweds wouldn't have been able to afford that river rafting trip. The trip was the wedding gift for which she would be writing to say "thank you."
Before their wedding on June 4, the Wilsons had lived together for more than a year. They already owned most of the traditional items found on a wedding registry. And the ones they didn't have, they didn't really want.
"We're never going to use the salad forks," Josephine Wilson said.
So the Wilsons didn't make a traditional registry. Instead, the couple turned to Honeyfund.com, a website that helps couples register for "experiences" on their honeymoon. Through the site, well-wishers can finance some aspect of a happy couple's honeymoon, big or small: Everything from airfare to peanuts during the flight, massages, candle-lit dinners and snorkeling lessons can be gifted.
The Wilsons are far from unique. Registering for honeymoons, "experience gifts" and other items more practical -- and even more fun -- than, say, a cake platter, is something more and more contemporary brides and grooms are experimenting with.
Eleven percent of marrying couples now register for honeymoons, 16 percent for movies, music and games and 20 percent for sports gear, according to the Knot Market Intelligence 2010 Bridal Registry Study, which was done by the popular wedding-planning website. A small number even registers for pet-pampering.
Why the shift? The average age of a bride is now 29; the average groom, 31. Most of these not-quite-youngsters have been living on their own, and for much longer than the engaged couples of generations past.
So, wine glasses? They've already got those, thanks.
"The trend is more of a lifestyle registry; outdoor gear, sports gear, stuff that pertains to their lifestyle, because chances are they have plates, forks and knives," said Amy Eisinger, associate editor at WeddingChannel.com. "They are not looking to fulfill (the) same needs as people who are moving out from parents' " homes.
It's not a universal movement yet. Couples' top three choices of retailers to register with continue to be Bed Bath & Beyond, Target and Macy's. Even couples who also register for honeymoons or experience gifts normally make a small traditional registry, so as not to offend guests.
And, of course, even those who already have a house or an apartment full of stuff can use wedding gifts to kick their style up a notch. "Many couples who have already lived together are using this as a chance to upgrade to cohesive sets," Eisinger said. "But registries are letting couple's personalities shine through. If a couple registers for camping equipment, and they love to camp -- most likely every time they use it they will think of you.
"If it's honeymoons, you get to help them remember their special time."
On the Honeyfund, the Wilsons registered for things such as gas for the drive, a bottle of champagne, the cost of staying at a romantic cabin, lift tickets, a wine and cheese tasting and bike equipment.
The Wilsons received most of their Honeyfund contributions from their younger friends, while the older guests tended to purchase crystal and china.
"Couples are using online a lot more while planning a wedding," Eisinger said. "Now you can have a universal registry, and I'm even hesitant to say if honeymoon registries existed 10 years ago. Only in the past five years has this stuff really surfaced."
Michael Gleeson and Andreea Vasilescu, who married on July 17, were reluctant at first to try the Honeyfund, but when their friends registered for it, they thought it was a "neat alternative."
Once the duo decided what they wanted to do -- take a honeymoon trip to Greece -- Gleeson wrote up the descriptions of what they hoped for and posted them on Honeyfund.
"Greece isn't necessarily cheap," said Gleeson, 37, who lives in West New York. "We weren't sure if people would go for it."
"But we had to add more things because they all were purchased so quickly by our guests," said Vasilescu, 30.
The couple didn't feel comfortable asking for hotel or airfare from their guests, so they asked for dinners at local restaurants, a Santorini sailing trip and a snorkeling trip in Mykonos, among other things. The newlyweds did not ask for anything they couldn't have purchased on their own, they said, but the gifts helped ease the cost of the trip.
"We are not the most traditional couple -- we have a groomsmaid," said Vasilescu. "For us to have to have something different, like a honeymoon registry, it's not a surprise to either of our parents. We tend to make things up as we go and what works for us."
Article by By Meredith Galante/The Star-Ledger
(Newsfeed, www.nj.com)
While on their honeymoon in the Poconos, Josephine and Robert Wilson of Princeton, NJ paused to take a picture -- in front of an inflatable raft on the Lehigh River, smiling big.
Josephine Wilson, née Hearn, admits it was a corny photo.
But she captured the moment for her thank-you cards. Because without her godparents, the newlyweds wouldn't have been able to afford that river rafting trip. The trip was the wedding gift for which she would be writing to say "thank you."
Before their wedding on June 4, the Wilsons had lived together for more than a year. They already owned most of the traditional items found on a wedding registry. And the ones they didn't have, they didn't really want.
"We're never going to use the salad forks," Josephine Wilson said.
So the Wilsons didn't make a traditional registry. Instead, the couple turned to Honeyfund.com, a website that helps couples register for "experiences" on their honeymoon. Through the site, well-wishers can finance some aspect of a happy couple's honeymoon, big or small: Everything from airfare to peanuts during the flight, massages, candle-lit dinners and snorkeling lessons can be gifted.
The Wilsons are far from unique. Registering for honeymoons, "experience gifts" and other items more practical -- and even more fun -- than, say, a cake platter, is something more and more contemporary brides and grooms are experimenting with.
Eleven percent of marrying couples now register for honeymoons, 16 percent for movies, music and games and 20 percent for sports gear, according to the Knot Market Intelligence 2010 Bridal Registry Study, which was done by the popular wedding-planning website. A small number even registers for pet-pampering.
Why the shift? The average age of a bride is now 29; the average groom, 31. Most of these not-quite-youngsters have been living on their own, and for much longer than the engaged couples of generations past.
So, wine glasses? They've already got those, thanks.
"The trend is more of a lifestyle registry; outdoor gear, sports gear, stuff that pertains to their lifestyle, because chances are they have plates, forks and knives," said Amy Eisinger, associate editor at WeddingChannel.com. "They are not looking to fulfill (the) same needs as people who are moving out from parents' " homes.
It's not a universal movement yet. Couples' top three choices of retailers to register with continue to be Bed Bath & Beyond, Target and Macy's. Even couples who also register for honeymoons or experience gifts normally make a small traditional registry, so as not to offend guests.
And, of course, even those who already have a house or an apartment full of stuff can use wedding gifts to kick their style up a notch. "Many couples who have already lived together are using this as a chance to upgrade to cohesive sets," Eisinger said. "But registries are letting couple's personalities shine through. If a couple registers for camping equipment, and they love to camp -- most likely every time they use it they will think of you.
"If it's honeymoons, you get to help them remember their special time."
On the Honeyfund, the Wilsons registered for things such as gas for the drive, a bottle of champagne, the cost of staying at a romantic cabin, lift tickets, a wine and cheese tasting and bike equipment.
The Wilsons received most of their Honeyfund contributions from their younger friends, while the older guests tended to purchase crystal and china.
"Couples are using online a lot more while planning a wedding," Eisinger said. "Now you can have a universal registry, and I'm even hesitant to say if honeymoon registries existed 10 years ago. Only in the past five years has this stuff really surfaced."
Michael Gleeson and Andreea Vasilescu, who married on July 17, were reluctant at first to try the Honeyfund, but when their friends registered for it, they thought it was a "neat alternative."
Once the duo decided what they wanted to do -- take a honeymoon trip to Greece -- Gleeson wrote up the descriptions of what they hoped for and posted them on Honeyfund.
"Greece isn't necessarily cheap," said Gleeson, 37, who lives in West New York. "We weren't sure if people would go for it."
"But we had to add more things because they all were purchased so quickly by our guests," said Vasilescu, 30.
The couple didn't feel comfortable asking for hotel or airfare from their guests, so they asked for dinners at local restaurants, a Santorini sailing trip and a snorkeling trip in Mykonos, among other things. The newlyweds did not ask for anything they couldn't have purchased on their own, they said, but the gifts helped ease the cost of the trip.
"We are not the most traditional couple -- we have a groomsmaid," said Vasilescu. "For us to have to have something different, like a honeymoon registry, it's not a surprise to either of our parents. We tend to make things up as we go and what works for us."
Article by By Meredith Galante/The Star-Ledger
(Newsfeed, www.nj.com)
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Royal Wedding May Spark More Traditional Ceremonies
Bridal media and marketing guru Leila Khalil of Be Inspired PR shares her thoughts on how Prince William and Kate Middleton's upcoming "I do's" will affect the wedding industry.
(Credit: AOL)
With all the hype and build-up surrounding the nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton, you'd think the royal wedding is the final event. But in reality, it's just the beginning. I have no doubt their wedding will influence the bridal industry for years to come in every possible way -- from design, fashion and customs. It will be the start of Kate's legacy as a trendsetter.
For the past few years, the industry has veered from the classic and luxe, experiencing a move towards vintage-inspired details and D.I.Y. weddings. We anticipate the regal affair will return our business to opulence, traditions and timeless fashions.
The British monarchy is rooted in ritual, and the royal wedding will inspire a new generation of brides to follow in their footsteps -- with more ceremonies held in churches, incorporating family heirlooms and traditional vow exchanges.
How The Royal Wedding Will Inspire Bridal Trends
From flowers to food, dresses to diamonds, this event will be imitated, replicated and reproduced for years. In my opinion, fashion will be most affected business aspect. Kate's dress, hair, makeup, accessories and bridesmaid dresses will surely spark new trends and renditions. She's already started fashion frenzies with her dapper stylistic choices -- from her classic Burberry trench coat to her silk sapphire-blue engagement dress by Issa, which sold out within 24 hours of her appearance! It's safe to say Kate's wedding look will launch her as a style icon, mirroring greats such as Jackie O., Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana.
In addition to ushering in new styles, their wedding will be a day that brings love into many people's hearts and lives, and will renew the world's hope in the sanctity of marriage.
Article by Leila Khalil, www.beinspiredpr.com
(Newsfeed)
(Credit: AOL)
With all the hype and build-up surrounding the nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton, you'd think the royal wedding is the final event. But in reality, it's just the beginning. I have no doubt their wedding will influence the bridal industry for years to come in every possible way -- from design, fashion and customs. It will be the start of Kate's legacy as a trendsetter.
For the past few years, the industry has veered from the classic and luxe, experiencing a move towards vintage-inspired details and D.I.Y. weddings. We anticipate the regal affair will return our business to opulence, traditions and timeless fashions.
The British monarchy is rooted in ritual, and the royal wedding will inspire a new generation of brides to follow in their footsteps -- with more ceremonies held in churches, incorporating family heirlooms and traditional vow exchanges.
How The Royal Wedding Will Inspire Bridal Trends
From flowers to food, dresses to diamonds, this event will be imitated, replicated and reproduced for years. In my opinion, fashion will be most affected business aspect. Kate's dress, hair, makeup, accessories and bridesmaid dresses will surely spark new trends and renditions. She's already started fashion frenzies with her dapper stylistic choices -- from her classic Burberry trench coat to her silk sapphire-blue engagement dress by Issa, which sold out within 24 hours of her appearance! It's safe to say Kate's wedding look will launch her as a style icon, mirroring greats such as Jackie O., Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana.
In addition to ushering in new styles, their wedding will be a day that brings love into many people's hearts and lives, and will renew the world's hope in the sanctity of marriage.
Article by Leila Khalil, www.beinspiredpr.com
(Newsfeed)
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Romancing The Green
Unite Exotic Adventure and Eco Friendly with a Green Honeymoon.
Golfo Dulce – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s Pacific coast has been described by National Geographic Magazine as ‘the most biologically intense place on earth.’ This Eden-like setting is an idyllic, remote location for a romantic and adventurous honeymoon and a perfect spot to make it a Green one where you can not only unite two hearts into one, but also show your desire for working together towards a more sustainable planet.
Imagine hiking with your new partner to a secluded swimming hole with a cascading waterfall in the rainforest? Or peacefully kayaking in one of only four tropical fjords in the world? The Golfo Dulce, or the Sweet Gulf, off the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica offers a unique opportunity for both a beach and a rainforest honeymoon in one location. The gulf is surrounded by protected rainforest preserves, national parks, biological corridors and sanctuaries with hiking trails and a myriad of wildlife easily viewed wildlife.
A Dream Honeymoon
Though teeming with natural beauty, the Osa Peninsula is still far enough off the beaten track so you’ll not be surrounded by hordes of other travelers. Most resorts are accessible only by boat. One such resort, Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, has the tranquil waters and unspoiled beaches of the gulf at its front door, and its 165-acre rainforest preserve and the lush Piedras Blancas National Park out back. If you’re looking for a private escape for your adventurous honeymoon, this may be the place for you.
The small size of Playa Nicuesa allows for an intimate experience with nature. Its cabins, guestrooms and the main lodge are uniquely designed to create a seamless and enjoyable transition between the indoors and outdoors. The lodge’s five cabins are all very private and great for couples seeking unique accommodation, including a special garden open air shower surrounded by nature.
Playa Nicuesa’s honeymoon package offers intimate rainforest cabins, aromatherapy massages, and candlelit dinners on the lodge’s rainforest terrace, and a selection of adventure activities, such as a private hike with a naturalist guide to a hidden waterfall, kayaking, mangrove river tours, snorkeling, fishing and bird watching. The package includes meals with an emphasis on local cuisine and fresh fish, tropical fruits and vegetables. If you want a little more room, a Cabin Suite is yours for the asking.
Playa Nicuesa’s green philosophy stands out. They understand the fragility and value of the beauty and nature that surrounds them, and have adopted strong environmental practices and policies. They practice sustainable, low-emission living and have adopted carbon neutrality as a way of life.
Their conservation program protects 95 per cent of its 65 hectare (165 acres) rainforest property in an undeveloped and natural condition. They also use clean energy powered by solar panels to run the majority of the lodge’s electrical service, and candles are used throughout the lodge to maintain the natural experience.
Playa Nicuesa Lodge has also earned a FONAFIFO (Costa Rica’s official carbon credits foundation) certification for offsetting their use of fossil fuel by purchasing carbon credits and has begun the official process to be certified a Carbon Neutral Business. Guests can offset the carbon footprints from their flights to Costa Rica by purchasing carbon credits with FONAFIFO that will be used to reforest and preserve the Golfo Dulce/Osa Peninsula.
Honeymoon couples can also plant their own hardwood tree to symbolize their start of their own marriage and contribute to the lodges Osa Peninsula conservation program that donated $10,000 to the Nature Conservancy last year. A perfect combination for romancing the green.
Playa Nicuesa also offers special rates to rent the entire lodge, if you are looking for a wedding venue. This option includes a nature guides, chef, boat captain and housekeeping, as well as unlimited use of preserve trails, kayaks, windsurfers, snorkeling equipment and fishing gear. The lodge can accommodate 22 guests.
If you want to go off on our own adventure the lodge will set you up with a delicious packed lunch, a bottle of wine and some snorkeling equipment to put in your kayak and go off for a day of exploring private beaches and snorkeling spots.
The Golfo Dulce
Corcovado National Park, Piedras Blancas National Park, and private reserves create a protected biological corridor around the gulf, and an extraordinary large trail system for hiking and exploring the incredibly bio-diverse rainforest. The region is only accessible by boat, so you know you’ll be able to experience nature intact complete with howler monkeys, over 250 types of birds including toucans and parrots, butterflies, coati, iguanas, lizards, tree frogs and much more.
Golfo Dulce, protected from the open Pacific by the Osa Peninsula, is home to groups of whales and at least three types of dolphins, as well as sea turtles, sea birds and other marine life. The gulf, the tenth deepest in the world, is a great place for kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, windsurfing, sailing or surfing. Its tranquil waters are pleasant for sailing and windsurfing, and excellent for snorkeling and fishing. The lodge has its own boats and local guides to take you out for a variety of tours including a private sunset boat tour of the Gulf or a variety of fishing trips.
The Golfo Dulce and Playa Nicuesa Lodge are a perfect combination for romancing the green.
Submitted by Margo Malcolm, www.nicuesalodge.com
Golfo Dulce – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s Pacific coast has been described by National Geographic Magazine as ‘the most biologically intense place on earth.’ This Eden-like setting is an idyllic, remote location for a romantic and adventurous honeymoon and a perfect spot to make it a Green one where you can not only unite two hearts into one, but also show your desire for working together towards a more sustainable planet.
Imagine hiking with your new partner to a secluded swimming hole with a cascading waterfall in the rainforest? Or peacefully kayaking in one of only four tropical fjords in the world? The Golfo Dulce, or the Sweet Gulf, off the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica offers a unique opportunity for both a beach and a rainforest honeymoon in one location. The gulf is surrounded by protected rainforest preserves, national parks, biological corridors and sanctuaries with hiking trails and a myriad of wildlife easily viewed wildlife.
A Dream Honeymoon
Though teeming with natural beauty, the Osa Peninsula is still far enough off the beaten track so you’ll not be surrounded by hordes of other travelers. Most resorts are accessible only by boat. One such resort, Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, has the tranquil waters and unspoiled beaches of the gulf at its front door, and its 165-acre rainforest preserve and the lush Piedras Blancas National Park out back. If you’re looking for a private escape for your adventurous honeymoon, this may be the place for you.
The small size of Playa Nicuesa allows for an intimate experience with nature. Its cabins, guestrooms and the main lodge are uniquely designed to create a seamless and enjoyable transition between the indoors and outdoors. The lodge’s five cabins are all very private and great for couples seeking unique accommodation, including a special garden open air shower surrounded by nature.
Playa Nicuesa’s honeymoon package offers intimate rainforest cabins, aromatherapy massages, and candlelit dinners on the lodge’s rainforest terrace, and a selection of adventure activities, such as a private hike with a naturalist guide to a hidden waterfall, kayaking, mangrove river tours, snorkeling, fishing and bird watching. The package includes meals with an emphasis on local cuisine and fresh fish, tropical fruits and vegetables. If you want a little more room, a Cabin Suite is yours for the asking.
Playa Nicuesa’s green philosophy stands out. They understand the fragility and value of the beauty and nature that surrounds them, and have adopted strong environmental practices and policies. They practice sustainable, low-emission living and have adopted carbon neutrality as a way of life.
Their conservation program protects 95 per cent of its 65 hectare (165 acres) rainforest property in an undeveloped and natural condition. They also use clean energy powered by solar panels to run the majority of the lodge’s electrical service, and candles are used throughout the lodge to maintain the natural experience.
Playa Nicuesa Lodge has also earned a FONAFIFO (Costa Rica’s official carbon credits foundation) certification for offsetting their use of fossil fuel by purchasing carbon credits and has begun the official process to be certified a Carbon Neutral Business. Guests can offset the carbon footprints from their flights to Costa Rica by purchasing carbon credits with FONAFIFO that will be used to reforest and preserve the Golfo Dulce/Osa Peninsula.
Honeymoon couples can also plant their own hardwood tree to symbolize their start of their own marriage and contribute to the lodges Osa Peninsula conservation program that donated $10,000 to the Nature Conservancy last year. A perfect combination for romancing the green.
Playa Nicuesa also offers special rates to rent the entire lodge, if you are looking for a wedding venue. This option includes a nature guides, chef, boat captain and housekeeping, as well as unlimited use of preserve trails, kayaks, windsurfers, snorkeling equipment and fishing gear. The lodge can accommodate 22 guests.
If you want to go off on our own adventure the lodge will set you up with a delicious packed lunch, a bottle of wine and some snorkeling equipment to put in your kayak and go off for a day of exploring private beaches and snorkeling spots.
The Golfo Dulce
Corcovado National Park, Piedras Blancas National Park, and private reserves create a protected biological corridor around the gulf, and an extraordinary large trail system for hiking and exploring the incredibly bio-diverse rainforest. The region is only accessible by boat, so you know you’ll be able to experience nature intact complete with howler monkeys, over 250 types of birds including toucans and parrots, butterflies, coati, iguanas, lizards, tree frogs and much more.
Golfo Dulce, protected from the open Pacific by the Osa Peninsula, is home to groups of whales and at least three types of dolphins, as well as sea turtles, sea birds and other marine life. The gulf, the tenth deepest in the world, is a great place for kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, windsurfing, sailing or surfing. Its tranquil waters are pleasant for sailing and windsurfing, and excellent for snorkeling and fishing. The lodge has its own boats and local guides to take you out for a variety of tours including a private sunset boat tour of the Gulf or a variety of fishing trips.
The Golfo Dulce and Playa Nicuesa Lodge are a perfect combination for romancing the green.
Submitted by Margo Malcolm, www.nicuesalodge.com
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Planning A Green Wedding
6 steps to planning an earth-friendly wedding
Global warming. Holes in the ozone layer. Extinction of species. Climate shifts. The side effects of our use of fossil fuels and a century of conspicuous consumption are readily apparent, and only by changing our ways can we begin to reverse the process that brought us to where we are today.
Many people are already doing what they can to preserve the environment by recycling, composting, using green or recycled products, buying natural or organic foods (or even growing their own) and cutting energy consumption through a number of means. If you’re a green-leaning bride or groom and want to extend your conservation efforts to your wedding, here are a few things you can do to ensure the only mark your wedding leaves is on the minds of your guests. Call it wedding planning with a decidedly green perspective.
1. Reduce your paper usage
Elaborate printed wedding invitations and save-the-dates are a time-honored tradition in announcing weddings, but they are also resource intensive. Now there are many e-mail programs and services available that allow you to send creative e-invitations from your computer, saving paper as well as the fuel required to deliver all those printed missives.
In addition, there are many paper products used at weddings and receptions (programs, napkins, table coverings, etc.). Find out if there are viable alternatives to these products or if you can use recycled versions.
2. Minimize and streamline guest travel
Take a moment to think of all the guests attending your wedding and the distances they will have to cover in getting there. That’s probably quite a bit of fuel. In fact, airline travel is one of the most fuel-intensive methods of travel period, and if your guests are travelling one or two people to a car, that isn’t exactly efficient, either.
One way you can cut down on the energy consumed through guest travel is to arrange carpools for your guests travelling from the same areas. In addition, you can contract vans or shuttles to haul groups of guests from your hotel, ceremony and reception locations to mitigate having everyone driving separate cars to each destination.
3. Use recycled or re-useable items whenever possible
Instead of buying decorations that will be thrown away after one use, rent your decorations from a local rental vendor so that they can be reused. Or instead of wasting rice or releasing helium balloons when you leave the church, use biodegradable confetti that will quickly turn to compost. Whatever wedding product you need, there’s probably a green alternative now being offered.
4. Take a green approach to wedding gifts
Unfortunately, many of the gifts on the typical wedding registry come enclosed by lots of earth-unfriendly packaging, and sometimes the gifts themselves may not have been made with eco-friendly processes. When filling our your registry, take the extra time to make sure your desired gifts are as kind to the environment as you are. In addition, forego all the fancy wrapping paper and instruct your guests to either leave your gift unwrapped or to wrap it in newsprint.
5. Select green vendors
Many green vendors often have earth-friendly practices that will make a big difference when it comes to conserving the environment. For example, photographers can shoot with digital equipment instead of using film, and they can also preview your shots electronically instead of printing them all out for your initial review. And caterers can use organic or naturally grown produce and range-fed meats.
6. Offset your carbon footprint with carbon credits
No wedding is going to be completely off the grid, and it’s virtually impossible in your wedding planning to eliminate all consumption. So for the amount of carbon that you will use, you can purchase what are called carbon credits to offset your wedding’s carbon footprint. Carbon credits can be purchased from organizations that invest in carbon reduction products, so every credit you purchase goes to counterbalancing the carbon you have used or will use. TerraPass is such a company and has a calculator for determining the carbon usage of a wedding at www.terrapass.com/wedding/.
Jeff Kear is co-owner of My Wedding Workbook, the next-generation online wedding planning software that’s free, easy-to-use and helps engaged couples manage every wedding detail, from your engagement to your honeymoon and everything in between.
Submitted by Jeff Kear, www.myweddingworkbook.com
Global warming. Holes in the ozone layer. Extinction of species. Climate shifts. The side effects of our use of fossil fuels and a century of conspicuous consumption are readily apparent, and only by changing our ways can we begin to reverse the process that brought us to where we are today.
Many people are already doing what they can to preserve the environment by recycling, composting, using green or recycled products, buying natural or organic foods (or even growing their own) and cutting energy consumption through a number of means. If you’re a green-leaning bride or groom and want to extend your conservation efforts to your wedding, here are a few things you can do to ensure the only mark your wedding leaves is on the minds of your guests. Call it wedding planning with a decidedly green perspective.
1. Reduce your paper usage
Elaborate printed wedding invitations and save-the-dates are a time-honored tradition in announcing weddings, but they are also resource intensive. Now there are many e-mail programs and services available that allow you to send creative e-invitations from your computer, saving paper as well as the fuel required to deliver all those printed missives.
In addition, there are many paper products used at weddings and receptions (programs, napkins, table coverings, etc.). Find out if there are viable alternatives to these products or if you can use recycled versions.
2. Minimize and streamline guest travel
Take a moment to think of all the guests attending your wedding and the distances they will have to cover in getting there. That’s probably quite a bit of fuel. In fact, airline travel is one of the most fuel-intensive methods of travel period, and if your guests are travelling one or two people to a car, that isn’t exactly efficient, either.
One way you can cut down on the energy consumed through guest travel is to arrange carpools for your guests travelling from the same areas. In addition, you can contract vans or shuttles to haul groups of guests from your hotel, ceremony and reception locations to mitigate having everyone driving separate cars to each destination.
3. Use recycled or re-useable items whenever possible
Instead of buying decorations that will be thrown away after one use, rent your decorations from a local rental vendor so that they can be reused. Or instead of wasting rice or releasing helium balloons when you leave the church, use biodegradable confetti that will quickly turn to compost. Whatever wedding product you need, there’s probably a green alternative now being offered.
4. Take a green approach to wedding gifts
Unfortunately, many of the gifts on the typical wedding registry come enclosed by lots of earth-unfriendly packaging, and sometimes the gifts themselves may not have been made with eco-friendly processes. When filling our your registry, take the extra time to make sure your desired gifts are as kind to the environment as you are. In addition, forego all the fancy wrapping paper and instruct your guests to either leave your gift unwrapped or to wrap it in newsprint.
5. Select green vendors
Many green vendors often have earth-friendly practices that will make a big difference when it comes to conserving the environment. For example, photographers can shoot with digital equipment instead of using film, and they can also preview your shots electronically instead of printing them all out for your initial review. And caterers can use organic or naturally grown produce and range-fed meats.
6. Offset your carbon footprint with carbon credits
No wedding is going to be completely off the grid, and it’s virtually impossible in your wedding planning to eliminate all consumption. So for the amount of carbon that you will use, you can purchase what are called carbon credits to offset your wedding’s carbon footprint. Carbon credits can be purchased from organizations that invest in carbon reduction products, so every credit you purchase goes to counterbalancing the carbon you have used or will use. TerraPass is such a company and has a calculator for determining the carbon usage of a wedding at www.terrapass.com/wedding/.
Jeff Kear is co-owner of My Wedding Workbook, the next-generation online wedding planning software that’s free, easy-to-use and helps engaged couples manage every wedding detail, from your engagement to your honeymoon and everything in between.
Submitted by Jeff Kear, www.myweddingworkbook.com
Wedding Dress Trends – Top Styles For The Modern Bride
Reflecting the overall trend of breaking away from tradition and steadfast rules, modern brides are choosing wedding gowns that reflect their personality and vision, not necessarily their grandmother's. The only rule for wedding dress style these days is to choose one that suits you. Whether that means wearing a gold wedding dress, trouser suit or sundress, go with it! And even if you are more traditional and have always envisioned yourself as the fairy princess in the white satin ball gown, you needn't worry about being perceived as old fashioned or "not with the times." The modern "rule" for wedding dress style is to choose something that makes you feel comfortable and beautiful on your day.
That said, although certain traditional dress styles are always popular, bridal fashion does follow mainstream fashion to some extent. If you are looking for something a little more contemporary or "now," consider turning to the catwalks for inspiration.
The currently popular 20s-and floral-style dresses can be easily incorporated into a wedding dress. Accessories, such as chandelier earrings, can also transfer from the catwalks to comprise your wedding look. Try to avoid fashion that will date quickly, however, as you will want to display your wedding photographs for a long time. As a general rule, keep your wedding ensemble fashionably forward, not overly trendy.
Today's Hot Wedding Dress Trends
Add Some Color
Using a wedding dress to bring out a colorful personality, modern brides are not afraid to add a splash of color to the traditional white gown. Whether that means adding a colored ribbon or piece of jewelry or foregoing the white wedding dress all together, today's brides find inventive ways to incorporate color into their wedding attire. Particularly popular shades are blue, pink, cappuccino and champagne.
Lace Up
Lace has made a recent comeback, exuding a look vintage romance that is feminine, yet not overdone. Many brides are enchanted by lace, envisioning a majestic day in a lush green garden.
Magnificent Embroidery
For an ultra elegant, opulent feel, glamour girls savor wedding gowns adorned with intricate hand-embroidered details. This look warrants grand chandeliers, candlelight and an isle of red roses.
Ultra-Feminine
As seen on the runway, feminine details are making a big impact. Ribbons, ruffles, flowers and bows are finding their way back onto wedding dresses and taking femininity to a new level. Brides who envision themselves floating along the cobblestones of a historic mansion will love this look.
For more advice on planning your wedding day look, visit the complete wedding dress, attire and accessories guide at Elegala.com - Elegant Galas Made Simple.
Gala Weddings Magazine
Cori Russell, Editor
500 Carol Way NW, Atlanta, GA 30327
P 678.705.9407; F 603.610.0532
Offices in Portsmouth, NH and San Francisco, CA
Gala Weddings Magazine guides brides through the first months of engagement with a regional directory of the best venues and vendors in New England, along with planning articles and tools to help brides get started.
Submitted by Cori Russell, www.elegala.com
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wedding Ring Tattoos - What You Should Know
Celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Mariah Carey, and Paris Hilton have "partner marking" -- the wearing of tattoos to represent commitment to a spouse or significant other -- popular. As go the celebrities, so go the public. Consequently, there seems to be a growing interest in having the wedding rings tattooed as the ultimate commitment.
True, when you say your vows, the words "till death do us part" have real meaning. This union is intended to be forever, and the wedding rings are one way to demonstrate your commitment. From that standpoint, it makes sense to wear rings that will never get lost, go down the kitchen drain, or even leave the fingers.
Who wears a tattooed wedding ring?
It isn't only the well known and well publicized opting for permanent circlets on their ring fingers. Doctors, construction workers, mechanics, athletes, and others who can't wear metal wedding bands are taking a serious look at this option. Those who are put off by the price of gold, silver, or gemstones are finding that tattooed wedding rings are less expensive.
Why not wear a tattooed wedding ring?
Having a tattoo applied is not painless, and the finger doesn't heal as quickly or as well as other places on your body. The obvious disadvantage is that tattoos are also permanent. If you change your mind about the design or the marriage, the ring stays ... unless you want to go through the uncomfortable and costly procedure of having it removed. On the other hand, tattoos tend to rub off on the underside of the finger from handling objects. One caution: don't go to an amateur. Be sure the person who applies your tattooed wedding ring has experience in this area.
What is involved with removing a tattoo?
I know you intend to be with your fiancé until the end of time, but it's a fact that many couples break up or divorce every day for unforeseen reasons. If this happens to you, realize that your tattoo ring will be a constant reminder of the past. Your choices will be to live with it or have the ring painfully and expensively removed.
There are several options for removing a tattoo. The following is a brief description of each. You would need to consult a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or other doctor to determine the best choice for you:
- Cut it off. Some smaller tattoos can be cut out of the skin. The remaining skin is then stitched together or a piece grafted from another part of your body.
- Sand it off. You have probably heard of dermabrasion for your face. This is a similar concept, but much more severe. A rotary sander is used to dig out the skin until the tattoo is gone. Expect bleeding.
- Laser it off. Laser light can also remove a tattoo. The light breaks up the tattoo ink and your body carries away the pigment. This procedure takes more than one treatment. While less invasive and not as painful as other alternatives, multiple treatments can become pricey.
In any case, do not expect your finger to be restored to "pre-tattoo" beauty. Discoloration or scarring may remain after the removal.
Things to consider before getting your wedding ring tattoo.
- You will have to have your tattooed wedding ring touched up in five to ten years.
- A tattoo design can be altered, but if you have your significant other's initials engraved on your finger that may present a few challenges.
- An alternative to a tattooed wedding ring is to have matching tattoos elsewhere on your bodies; select designs that are meaningful to you but don't look like an obvious tribute to your loved one, just in case.
- Another way to add meaning to your engagement or wedding ring is to have a custom ring made to your specifications.
Whatever your decision, understand that the choice of having a tattoo ring engraved upon your skin is as critical as the choice to marry. Both have implications that last a lifetime.
Bobette Kyle-Wagner is publisher at www.MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com -- a Website helping engaged couples get the most use from Internet wedding resources. The site includes online wedding tips, original articles, tutorials, and shopping sections. Read more about wedding and engagement rings at www.myonlineweddinghelp.com/rings
Submitted by Bobette Kyle-Wagner, www.myonlineweddinghelp.com
True, when you say your vows, the words "till death do us part" have real meaning. This union is intended to be forever, and the wedding rings are one way to demonstrate your commitment. From that standpoint, it makes sense to wear rings that will never get lost, go down the kitchen drain, or even leave the fingers.
Who wears a tattooed wedding ring?
It isn't only the well known and well publicized opting for permanent circlets on their ring fingers. Doctors, construction workers, mechanics, athletes, and others who can't wear metal wedding bands are taking a serious look at this option. Those who are put off by the price of gold, silver, or gemstones are finding that tattooed wedding rings are less expensive.
Why not wear a tattooed wedding ring?
Having a tattoo applied is not painless, and the finger doesn't heal as quickly or as well as other places on your body. The obvious disadvantage is that tattoos are also permanent. If you change your mind about the design or the marriage, the ring stays ... unless you want to go through the uncomfortable and costly procedure of having it removed. On the other hand, tattoos tend to rub off on the underside of the finger from handling objects. One caution: don't go to an amateur. Be sure the person who applies your tattooed wedding ring has experience in this area.
What is involved with removing a tattoo?
I know you intend to be with your fiancé until the end of time, but it's a fact that many couples break up or divorce every day for unforeseen reasons. If this happens to you, realize that your tattoo ring will be a constant reminder of the past. Your choices will be to live with it or have the ring painfully and expensively removed.
There are several options for removing a tattoo. The following is a brief description of each. You would need to consult a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or other doctor to determine the best choice for you:
- Cut it off. Some smaller tattoos can be cut out of the skin. The remaining skin is then stitched together or a piece grafted from another part of your body.
- Sand it off. You have probably heard of dermabrasion for your face. This is a similar concept, but much more severe. A rotary sander is used to dig out the skin until the tattoo is gone. Expect bleeding.
- Laser it off. Laser light can also remove a tattoo. The light breaks up the tattoo ink and your body carries away the pigment. This procedure takes more than one treatment. While less invasive and not as painful as other alternatives, multiple treatments can become pricey.
In any case, do not expect your finger to be restored to "pre-tattoo" beauty. Discoloration or scarring may remain after the removal.
Things to consider before getting your wedding ring tattoo.
- You will have to have your tattooed wedding ring touched up in five to ten years.
- A tattoo design can be altered, but if you have your significant other's initials engraved on your finger that may present a few challenges.
- An alternative to a tattooed wedding ring is to have matching tattoos elsewhere on your bodies; select designs that are meaningful to you but don't look like an obvious tribute to your loved one, just in case.
- Another way to add meaning to your engagement or wedding ring is to have a custom ring made to your specifications.
Whatever your decision, understand that the choice of having a tattoo ring engraved upon your skin is as critical as the choice to marry. Both have implications that last a lifetime.
Bobette Kyle-Wagner is publisher at www.MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com -- a Website helping engaged couples get the most use from Internet wedding resources. The site includes online wedding tips, original articles, tutorials, and shopping sections. Read more about wedding and engagement rings at www.myonlineweddinghelp.com/rings
Submitted by Bobette Kyle-Wagner, www.myonlineweddinghelp.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)