We all know that brides-to-be have a lot to prepare for their wedding – from their veils down to their shoes; not to mention all the wedding accessories like wedding rings, flowers, reception menu and all the little details that will make their wedding stand out from the rest. One of those details is getting a manicure or acrylic nails that will shine as they hold their bridal bouquet, be on center stage during the traditional ring ceremony, the wedding toast and the wedding cake cutting ceremony.

Have you thought about what type of design will you chose for your wedding?  Will it be something “simple” that you will feel comfortable wearing or will you choose “adventurous” designs that most brides wouldn’t dream of wearing?  Or, will you choose designs that are “middle of the road”?
To start your “search for the perfect wedding nails”, here are a sampling of  bridal designs created by seven nail artists based on the most popular themes – beach, country, fantasy and garden.

View more wedding nail designs at Nail Magazine. Pick one or two of the designs and take the to your nail artist.  Per change, the designs could inspire her to create one especially for you.  How “out of the ordinary” is that?

Let us know what you finally chose and wore at your wedding.  Better yet, send us a picture or two that we will add to our blog with your name and wedding date to inspire other brides-to-be.

Holiday Wedding Theme.

The month of December is known for festivities – holiday parties, Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations. It is also one of the most wonderful time of the year to get married.   Here are ideas and tips to have a fantastic holiday wedding with all the trimmings.

Wedding Color

Red and green are typical colors for Christmas; blue and white for Hanukkah.  You can also use silver and white, silver and light blue or red and white.

Wedding Invitations

Choose an invitation that does not look like a holiday card.  Choose a white card with red prints and decorated with a red ribbon at the edge.

Wedding Cake

Have a cake covered with white fondant covered with red swirls.  Top it off with real read flowers to match your red and white motif.

Bride’s Gown

Wear a wedding gown that flatters you most.  It does need to be red.  Bring the red and white motif by wearing a white bridal gown and asking your groom to wear a red shirt with his suit . Hmm… romantic.

Bridesmaids Attire

Here’s another chance to bring in your holiday red and white motif.  Your bridesmaids will look elegant with a gown in a matching red color as your groom’s shirt.

Flowers and Décor

Use lighting to reflect the excitement of the season.  Use different sized ornaments and hand them on a twig.  Use red and white flowers to decorated your table.  Add tall red pillar candles to warm the room and throw a reflective glow.  Use red table cloth, white dinner setting and white napkins.

Bridal Accessories

For a fiery red and white theme, explore these bridal accessories to match your holiday bridal colors.

Have fun planning for your holiday wedding theme.  Contact us if you want your wedding to be featured in our website.

Illustration Board:  Christmas Wedding from Polyvore.

Mother of the Bride

The Mother of the Bride, or MOB, is a very important role. While decades past often saw the mother controlling and organizing the entire planning process single-handedly, mothers today need to tread a bit more carefully.  Today’s brides are often older and usually have their own specific ideas of what they want from their wedding and reception.  The MOB today is more of a cheerleader and supporter of the bride.

As soon as the engagement is announced, it is the MOB’s responsibility to arrange for a dinner or lunch with the groom’s parents.  She is the hostess not only for this event, but for most subsequent events and parties, including the wedding and reception themselves.  Setting a wedding budget is another important responsibility.  If the parents of the bride will be paying for the wedding, it is important for the family to sit down together and decide on a budget and what it will be spent on. The MOB often falls into the role of negotiator between her daughter and husband.

The most important factor in determining the further role of the mother of the bride will be her relationship to her daughter.  Many brides want their mother along every step of the way, while others prefer to plan the event with their spouse instead.  As an MOB it is important to understand what your daughter wants, and be available to help and support in any way possible.

This will usually include visiting wedding and reception locations, looking over various decorations and flowers, and possibly even participating in tastings for the cake and reception meal.  The MOB will almost definitely be expected to participate in the ever-important dress hunt.  Though some modern couples will go together to look at wedding dresses, the majority of brides consider this one place that the groom is not to set foot.

One of the greater concerns for many MOB’s is the question of attire.  The first consideration for attire should be the wishes of the bride.  Many brides will strongly prefer a matchy-matchy feel to the wedding and especially the wedding pictures.  She may therefore request that the MOB select a dress that matches the bridesmaids.  If matching is less of an issue, the mother should select something that complements the formality of the event.  Colors to be avoided are black and white. It is also often considered taboo for the MOB to wear anything bright or flashy, such as red.

When selecting her attire, the mother of the bride should look for muted colors, such as silver or lavender. Even if she is not matching the bridesmaids exactly, she should not clash with them.  Traditional wedding etiquette states that the mother of the bride selects her dress first, and then informs the mother of the groom of her attire so that she can match.  This tradition is rarely followed today, however.  As a courtesy, the MOB may tell the groom’s mother about her dress, but she should not expect the other mother to wait or to purchase something exactly complementing her attire.

For some great ideas on mother of the bride attire, check out the following sites:

Mother of the Bride Fashion

(1) Mother of the Bride Two Piece Dress from Chadwicks

(2) Mother of the Bride Silk Tunic and Skirt from Nordstrom

(3) Scala Mother of the Bride from Audrey Mother of the Bride

Photo Credits:  Polyvore, Xsight Photo

Planning for Second Wedding

Second weddings may have once been a unique and rare occurrence, but they are becoming increasingly more common.  For this reason, couples don’t need to worry as much about what’s acceptable when it comes to their second wedding.  The most important rule to follow is to do what feels right for you and your family.

Should you tell your ex?
The most difficult part about planning a second wedding may at first be deciding what to do about ex-spouses.  If you have children, it is polite to inform your ex about your engagement.  This can be done in a simple letter or email if you do not frequently speak with each other.  It will be easier on the children involved if they are not put in a position of wondering what they can and cannot say to their other parent.  If you do not have children with your ex, you have no obligation to inform them at all.  Ex’s and their families are rarely if ever invited to the second wedding.

How about the children?
The biggest difference in many second wedding ceremonies is that they now involve children or even grandchildren of the bride and groom.  It is very important to include these special family members in the wedding.  Make plenty of room in your bridal party for older children, and consider giving younger children the role of flower girl, and ring bearer.  You can even invent your own traditions to get everyone involved.

Who will give away the bride?
Another big difference will be the traditional giving away of the bride.  Many brides choose to walk down the isle unescorted at their second wedding.  When asked “Who gives this woman”, the children may be asked to say “We do.”  Of course, this part of the vows can also be left out altogether.

Is it proper to have a big second wedding reception?
Second weddings customarily tend to be smaller and more intimate gatherings than first weddings.  However, this is a very personal decision.  If the first wedding was an elopement or performed in a courthouse, the bride may still want a chance at her big day.  In this case, it is perfectly acceptable to go all out and create the wedding you’ve always wanted.  Keep in mind when deciding on the size and scope of the wedding, that second weddings are paid for by the bride and groom.

If you’re looking for some less traditional solutions to putting together your second wedding, consider having an event that is more of a small party than a big wedding and reception.  The ceremony can even be performed at the same location as the reception, whether this is a hotel banquet facility or a beautiful outdoor park.  If you have an outdoor wedding, you might even consider following it with a fun and casual picnic.

What to wear for your second wedding ceremony
The theme and formality of your wedding will determine the attire.  For second weddings, you can really choose any type of dress you want.  You may want to wear a cocktail dress or beautiful tailored suit.  You can also use this event as an excuse to buy that lavishly designed gown you’ve always wanted but never had a reason to buy.  If you choose a casual wedding, you can even wear a sundress.

Should there be a bridal shower?
For second weddings, large gifts and bridal showers are generally not held.  However, this will all depend on your situation and the guests that are being invited. Many will insist on gifts, and some may even insist on a shower.  For this reason, it can be acceptable to register for a few items.  However, don’t offer registry information unless specifically asked.

This wedding is your opportunity to create a special day for you and your family that will be a beautiful memory for everyone.  Parents of the bride and groom tend to be much less involved in these weddings, and children can be involved in many aspects of the planning process.  Make sure everyone feels happy and comfortable and create a wedding that defines you and your fiancé as a couple, and a new family.

Red and White Bridal Accessories

It’s no surprise that most brides immediately picture a white or at least off-white gown when they set out to find their wedding dress. However, with many traditions and formalities falling to the wayside, a pristine and snowy wedding gown is no longer mandatory. For brides who are looking to add a little spark and feisty personality to their attire, a gorgeous red dress may be just the way to go.

I received emails from my blog readers who commented favorably on my past post about the Red Wedding Theme.  They loved the gowns, the cake, and the reception table all decked in beautiful red and white linens, red chairs and red flowers.

Red can be a stunning and beautiful wedding color. This bold, vibrant hue speaks of romance and passion. Marketing professionals know that bright, warm colors like this induce a feeling of excitement and make the pulse increase. Red may be the perfect accompaniment to the couple’s outgoing personality, or it can highlight a holiday wedding.

To get started exploring your options with a fiery red and white theme, explore these bridal accessories to match the theme – Lillian Rose’s Red and White Wedding Collections.