Wedding Trends That Take The Cake

You’re engaged (Yay!), and you were looking forward to planning your wedding. What you hadn’t planned on, though, was the arguing that you and your husband-to-be would be been having over EVERYTHING!

Ah, engaged life. This period can be a minefield…where even the minute topics can trigger huge blow-ups!

Use these tips to ease some of the pressure:

The guest list keeps growing. His family’s guest list is growing well beyond what you both agreed on, and it’s putting a bulge in your budget. To resolve this issue, keep it about the money. Tell him that you don’t mind adding more guests to his family’s portion of the guest list (because you certainly don’t want to cut anyone out), but ask him if he’d mind asking his parents to chip in for the added cost. If your guest list continues to grow, too, you should ask your parents the same question.

He doesn’t care about the details. Most men are clueless when it comes to design and décor…and they really DON’T care what the table cloths look like or what flowers you choose. This doesn’t mean that you should give up on including your spouse-to-be, though.

Give him choices. If he’s not interested in the linens, maybe he’s interested in the menu. If he could care less about the invitations, maybe he’d like to offer input on the music or photographer.

Let your man know that it’s his day…as well as yours. Just let him choose where he’d like to be involved.

Now he cares too much! Well, you wanted him to be involved in the details, and now he is. What you didn’t expect, though, is that his involvement would drive you crazy!

In order to stay sane, prioritize the details. If a detail is minute, and he feels strongly about it, let him have the “win.”

Remember, it’s good practice to learn early on how to prioritize, negotiate…AND compromise. These are all life skills that will come in handy after your wedding day.

You can’t agree on where to spend the big bucks. You want to spend it on your dress. He wants to spend it on a fantastic honeymoon. How do you decide?

Sit down with him, like two adults, and work out the finances of your wedding together…before you go dress shopping. After all, your dress is for you, the honeymoon is for both of you.

If he doesn’t care, though, then go for it! But have this discussion before you fall in love with the dress that costs as much as a trip to Europe.

His best man irks you. Sure, the guy’s been his friend since college, but you can’t stand him! Well, this time it’s important to be supportive, but also sensible.

If your groom’s best buddy is only about the party, respect their bond, but make sure you have some reliable and supportive guys around to help keep things under control. Arrange for your brother or another male friend to help your man resist the ploys of his best man. You might also share your anxiety with your guy, so that you can handle the situation together, if trouble does rear its ugly head.

Come back next week for Part 2 of Wedding Planning: Tips to Tone Down Tension.

With so many Affordable Wedding Invitations available at Best Little Wedding Shop, you and your man are bound to agree on one of them.

Lisa Bakewell

Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day. And you’re no exception. You want to look glamorous, fresh and sophisticated, but you also want to look natural.

Use these tips to help you look “picture perfect” for your big day!

If you hire a makeup artist:

6-12 Months before the Wedding…

Find an Artist. Finding a makeup artist shouldn’t be a daunting task, but you’ll want to plan ahead. Book a few consultation appointments with experts in your area, but be sure to allow yourself 6-12 months to find the best one for you. Most good artists are booked well in advance. You’ll want to look for:

• A qualified, experienced artist

• An artist who’s also friendly and a great listener

• An artist who’s flexible and won’t overbook your wedding date

• An artist who has a an extensive portfolio

• An artist who will give you referrals

What to ask your potential makeup artists:

• What do you charge?

• Will you come to my home?

• Do you charge a traveling fee?

• Do you have discounts available for group bookings?

• Do you charge more for holidays or Sundays?

• Where did you study?

• How long have you been doing makeup for weddings?

• What experience do you have?

• What makeup products do you use?

• Do you have any other makeup commitments on my wedding day?

• Also, get their advice on nail technicians and hair stylists.

0-6 Months before the Wedding…

Plan a pre-show. About 1-2 months before the wedding have your makeup artist do a trial run. Have your bridesmaids with you to get their input. Plan the trial for the time of day that your wedding will be held. If you’re getting married in the daytime, do your trial then; if it’s in the evening, do it then. You might also consider bringing photos from magazines for makeup styles that appeal to you. Also, bring fabric swatches so that the makeup artist can create the perfect color palette to compliment the dresses and flower bouquets.

Tip: Have one of your bridesmaids snap a photo at the makeup trial, so that you can see how the makeup is going to show when photographed.

If you do your makeup yourself:

Make it waterproof. Choose mascara that’s waterproof, since it will last longer and withstand tears.

Lighten your liner. Charcoal, navy, and mahogany are good color options for eyeliner, since black or brown may look too severe.

Highlight your eyes. Use a white shadow on your brow bone if you have light skin, or a warmer light peach or vanilla shade, if you have a deeper complexion.

Contour. To give your eyes shape, use a contour color under your brow bone. Make sure it’s not too intense, though, so that it detracts from the natural beauty of your eyes.

Define. Shade and shape your eyebrows with a pencil or eye shadow that matches your hair color. Make sure not to overdo it!

Get cheeky! Color on your cheeks provides an instant facelift. If you have fair skin, use a pink tone. Women with deeper skin tones can use a rosier hue.

Even out your skin tone. Use bronzer on your neck and chest, if they’re whiter than your face.

Give your lips pizzazz! Choose a lip color that’s a bit brighter than you’d normally wear. Pale colors can make you appear washed out in photos. Bring the lipstick with you for touch-ups after the wedding.

Either way, do these things to look your best on your wedding day:

Prepare. A skin and nail care plan should be started about 6 weeks before the wedding. Talk to your beautician about having regular facials and manicures.

Pluck. Shaping and maintaining your eyebrows should be started well in advance of the big day. Make sure that your final pluck is done about a week before the wedding.

Promote. You’ll want to put your best face forward, so get regular facials done up until about a month before the wedding.

Spray Tan. You don’t want to get too much sun before your wedding day. Sunburns and peeling skin are not attractive. Consider getting a spray tan instead, but be careful not to overdo it.

Whiten. There are lots of safe, reliable over-the-counter teeth-whitening systems, which all whiten teeth by a few shades. Make sure to allow yourself about a week or two before the wedding to do this.

Eat. Remember to keep your diet healthy, and don’t starve yourself. Also, you may want to consider taking vitamins.

Drink. You’ll want to stay hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day is recommended.

Sleep. You’ll want to be well rested on your wedding day, so make sure to get plenty of sleep. Shoot for eight hours per night.

Exercise and relax. Planning for your big day can be stressful, so you’ll want to get plenty of exercise and take some time for yourself. You might want to consider the occasional massage leading up to the big day.

Brighten your eyes. Use eye drops to get the redness out of your eyes. Make sure to use a brand that you’ve used before. You don’t want any unwelcome surprises!

Keep your hands away from your face. If you have a blemish or, worse yet, a breakout just before your wedding day, don’t mess with the pimples. The spot/spots will heal better if you leave it/them alone. See your dermatologist and ask for a cortisone injection if a monstrous pimple invades your face just prior to the wedding.

Put your best face forward with Photo Invitations from Best Little Wedding Shop!

Lisa Bakewell

The perfect time for the new adventure that your marriage will bring might just be springtime! Spring is considered a time of rebirth and renewal, and isn’t that just what your wedding signifies? Also, spring is not the most popular time for a wedding  (summer and fall are), so you may have an easier time getting top-notch vendors and venues. You may even get discounted rates! Use these tips to help you plan your spring wedding:

Think. What are your favorite parts of the season? Do you love the flowers? Do you want an early wedding so that you can enjoy the whole summer with your new hubby? List what you love most about the season…even if it’s just the fact that it may be easier on your budget…so that you’ll have a clear picture of your wants and needs while planning your wedding.

Indoors or outdoors? If you live in a warmer climate, you may consider holding your wedding outside. If your weather is kind of “iffy” in the springtime, you may want to keep it indoors. Also, keep in mind that spring brings rain, so any time spent outdoors may require an umbrella or an awning.

Timing is everything. As mentioned before, since springtime isn’t the most popular time to have a wedding ceremony, you may find that vendors and venues are more available. Still, you’ll want to pick your date, venue and vendors in a timely manner. Also, keep in mind that proms are held in the spring, so limos and tuxedos may be rented early. Plan for this.

Choose your colors. When choosing colors for your spring wedding, keep in mind that you may want to stay away from the bright colors of summer and winter. Consider pale, muted colors instead to reflect the season.

What to wear? When deciding on wedding attire, keep in mind that the weather can be sketchy. One day it’s warm, the next it’s cold. Some days are dry and some are wet. For this reason, you may want to avoid satin shoes (rain) and pick dresses that are versatile. If you choose sleeveless dresses, give your bridesmaids wraps as their bridesmaid gift to keep them warm, if necessary.

Consider a hint of color. Even if you want a white wedding gown, you may want to add a sash in a pastel color. Or how about a hint of all-over color? Embroidery in a light color would work well for this.

Think spring when decorating! What could be more festive than using the colors of spring to decorate your wedding reception? Pale greens, lavenders, pinks, roses and blues would all work well.

Accent tables with gingham fabrics, ribbons or even polka dots. Fill white baskets with an abundance of spring flowers for a fabulous centerpiece, or why not use an inexpensive terracotta pot with a moss or ivy-covered Styrofoam ball inside of it? Rose petals spread around the tables would be the perfect touch too.

Pick your flowers. Spring flowers include roses, peonies, irises, tulips, hyacinth, lilies and Gerber daisies. Choose a variety of these blooms to make the perfect spring bouquet!

Have fun with your wedding stationary! Save the Dates, affordable wedding invitations, place cards and announcements can all be quite whimsical and colorful. Use a matching theme and consider using some fun font styles to accent the whimsy of the season.

Favors should be fun! Keeping with the theme of whimsical fun, some good options for guest favors might include personalized seed packets or bulbs. Individual flower bud vases, personalized with your names and wedding date, might be nice too.

Lisa Bakewell

In Wedding Traditions from Around the World, Part 1, we discussed how wedding traditions and customs vary from one country and culture to another, and that each one is special and celebrates the marriage bond of the newlyweds. Here are some other traditions from around the world:

ENGLAND

• Tossing the bouquet is a tradition stemming from England. Women used to try to rip pieces of the bride’s dress and flowers to obtain good luck, so to escape from the crowd, the bride would toss her bouquet and run away.

• Anglo-Saxon Englishmen often had to defend their brides, so the bride would stand to the left of her groom allowing his sword arm to be free.

• The bridal party was originally established to fool evil spirits. The bride’s friends dressed similarly in order to confuse them and to ward off bad luck.

FINLAND

• The bride walks from house to house with a pillowcase to collect her wedding presents while a married man walks beside her with an umbrella, which symbolizes protection and shelter.

• The bride wears a golden crown during the reception and is blindfolded. She’s then spun around, while unmarried girls dance around her. The one she crowns is thought to be the next one who will get married.

FRANCE

• The wedding couple drinks from the traditional two-handled wedding cup called the “coup de marriage” denoting togetherness.

• On the wedding night, pots and pans are banged together as a way of disturbing the newlyweds.  The groom invites the jokesters in for refreshments.

GERMANY

• To make the wedding night as difficult as possible, friends of the couple do lots of funny or sometimes cruel things. They might fill up the room with balloons, take the bed apart or hide lots of alarm clocks in,

• Friends sometimes kidnap the bride, and the groom has to find her.

• The Polterabend is an informal party held the evening before the wedding. Plates and dishes are smashed, and the broken pieces are thought to bring good luck to the bride.

GREECE

• The mother of the bride spends years collecting various household items for her daughter’s dowry. Once the dowry has been presented to the couple, friends volunteer to set up and decorate the newlyweds’ home.

• The bride and groom are honored as queen and king for the day. They wear crowns made of either gold or orange blossoms connected with ribbons, which signify the couple’s union.

• Once the wedding is over, the bride and groom walk around the altar three times symbolizing the trinity.

ITALY

• The bride does not wear any gold. It is considered bad luck.

• Sunday weddings are believed to be the luckiest.

• To ward off envious people, the groom carries a piece of iron.

• At the reception, the men are supposed to kiss the bride for good luck…and to make the groom jealous.

• To start the festivities, strong drinks are served to toast the couple with “Per Cent’anni” which means “for 100 years.”

JAPAN

• Brides wear purple dresses. Purple is considered the color of love.

• The bridal couple takes nine sips of sake. They sit across the table from each other, looking directly into the eyes of the other, taking a sip at the same moment and being very careful to set the cup down on the table at the same time.  It is believed that this will keep one from dying before the other.

KOREA

• The groom’s family welcomes the bride in a private ceremony.

• The bride wears a multicolored silk dress with white sleeves and a black silk crown.

• The bride is made up with red points on her cheeks to scare away bad spirits.

• One important part of the wedding ceremony is the sharing of a special white wine (jung jong), which is poured from cups made from two halves of a gourd made by the bride’s mom.

NORWAY

• Friends and neighbors plant small pine trees on either side of the bride and groom, which symbolize fertility.

• The bride wears a silver crown and silver charms. The music created by the charms is supposed to ward off evil spirits.

• The wedding cake (Brudlaupskling) is made of flour and a mixture of cheese, and cream and syrup are added to it.

PHILIPPINES

• The groom throws a spear onto the front step of his bride’s house to let everyone know about the intended marriage.

• The bride’s gown is often custom made, and it is bad luck for her to try it on before the wedding.

• Pearl jewelry is considered a bad omen.

• The groom presents his bride with 13 gold pieces as a pledge of his dedication to his wife and the welfare of his children.

• Knives and other sharp objects are not given as gifts because it is believed that they will lead to a broken marriage.

• Raindrops are considered lucky because they bring prosperity and happiness. Rice, when thrown after the wedding represents rain.

• It is considered bad luck if the groom does not arrive before the bride.

RUSSIA

• Russian law does not recognize church weddings, so couples wishing to marry must have a civil wedding ceremony.

• After the civil ceremony, the couple takes a tour of the city visiting memorials of those who have died.

• The traditional wedding in Russia lasts two days.

• The bride and groom usually tie a doll to the wedding car if they wish their first child to be a girl and a teddy bear if they want a boy.

SCOTLAND

• Grooms carry a large basket filled with stones (on his back) from one end of the village to the other till the bride comes out and kisses him.

• Bagpipes are played during the parade.

• The groom wears his traditional kilt.

• When the wedding vows are completed, the groom pins a strip of his clan’s tartan color to the bride’s dress…signifying that she has become a member of his tribe.

SWEDEN

• The mother of the bride places a gold coin in the bride’s right shoe, and her father places a silver coin in her left shoe. This ensures that their daughter will never be poor.

• The groom presents his bride with three gold rings…an engagement ring, a wedding ring and a motherhood ring.

• Imaginary trolls were once thought to bring misfortune to the wedding couple, so they were kept away by the bride and her bridesmaids by carrying bouquets of pungent herbs and stinking weeds.

Photo Invitations are a great way to show the world how you and your man feel about each other. They make great keepsakes too!

Lisa Bakewell

Wedding traditions and customs vary from one country and culture to another. Each one is special and celebrates the marriage bond of the newlyweds.

AFRICA

• Young girls are trained to become good wives at an early age.
• Soon-to-be brides are sometimes taught a secret language allowing them to communicate with other married women…without their husbands understanding.
• In Somalia, a girl might be engaged even before she is born.
• In Sudan, the groom must pay his wife’s family in cattle for the loss of their daughter’s labor.
• The bride’s veil is made of plaited hair, representing reserve, and the wedding guests wear traditional regional costumes.
• Wine is poured on the land as a dedication to the gods.

ARABIA

• Often, the bride and groom meet for the first time on their wedding day.
• Arabian law permits a man to have four wives, but today, since expenses can be very high, men are generally sticking to a single wife.
• The bride wears an elaborate veil and has her hands and feet decorated with elaborate drawings created with henna.
• During the wedding reception, men and women are separated.

BULGARIA

• The bride tosses a dish filled with wheat, coins and raw eggs over her head, and if the dish breaks, it will bring her good luck.
• It is considered good luck for the bride and the groom to each step into the church with their right foot first.
• Once the official wedding papers are signed, another wedding custom, stepping, occurs.  Whoever steps on the other’s foot first will be dominate and will provide for the new family.

BERMUDA

• The bride and groom walk under a moon gate after the ceremony to bring them good luck.
• The bride and groom have separate wedding cakes.
• The bride’s cake is a tiered fruitcake covered in silver leaf. On top is a small cedar sapling, which will be planted after the ceremony to symbolize the growth of the couple’s love.
• The groom’s cake is covered in gold leaf to represent prosperity.

CHINA

• Firecrackers greet the bride when she arrives at the wedding ceremony to ward off evil spirits.
• Chinese wedding dresses are red adorned with gold for good luck.
• Decorations and gift-wrappings are red and gold to symbolize happiness and wealth.
• Peanuts are associated with virility and are a lucky gift for a new bride and groom. The most traditional type of wedding sweet is a hard peanut and sesame candy, and it is said to bring the bride and groom a large family.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

• An infant is laid on the wedding bed to symbolize fertility.
• The bride and the groom break plates into as many pieces as possible. The number of pieces is proportionate to the success of the marriage. The more pieces, the more successful the marriage.
• Brides often plant a tree in their yard and decorate it with ribbons and painted eggshells. It is their hope that they’ll live as long as the tree.

DENMARK

• Arches of pine branches are built in front of the bride’s home, which symbolises fertility.
• During the reception, when the groom disappears to the restroom, or wherever, all the unmarried young men run over to kiss the bride. When the bride disappears, all the single young girls run over to kiss the groom.
• After the wedding waltz, the male guests lift up the groom and cut the tips of his socks to symbolize that he should no longer walk in the footsteps of other women.

Look for Part 2 of Wedding Traditions from Around the World next week.

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Lisa Bakewell

You want your guests to have a great time at your wedding reception, so you’ve spent some time thinking about the music that you’d like to have your band or DJ play. And it’s a good idea. After all, you want to have the perfect songs for your First Dance, your Daddy and Daughter dance and your Last Dance. 

But…have you given any thought to songs that you DON’T want played at your reception? No? Well, you may want to consider adding these songs to your  “DO NOT PLAY” list:

YMCA, the Macarena, the Hokey Pokey and the Chicken Dance…Sure your guests all know the moves, but these dances are not the most flattering for guests dressed for elegance. Do you really want to see your relatives swiveling their hips and flappin’ their arms?

Locomotion, Cha Cha Slide and Limbo Rock…Again, these songs bring out the teenage dancer in all of us, but, again, some of your guests are a tad further from their teen years than others. People could get hurt!

Mony Mony (Billy Idol) and Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler)…These songs are ones that everyone loves to try to sing. They also love making up their own…objectionable lyrics…to them too. Do you really want Aunt Bertha subjected to that?

Stayin’ Alive…This Bee Gees classic brings back memories of John Travolta’s classic hustle moves, but there aren’t too many of your guests that will know more than one dance move to this song…Yep, that’s the one!

Who Let the Dogs Out? (Baha Men) and Everybody Have Fun Tonight (Wang Chung) …Yikes! I’m not sure how these songs ever became popular in the first place!

My Humps (Black Eyed Peas)…Again, this song may be objectionable to some of your guests. Think teens and twenty-somethings dancing to this song in front of grandma! Not a pretty thought, huh?

Every Breath You Take (The Police)…A little stalkerish, don’t you think?

Lips of an Angel (Hinder) and Jesse’s Girl (Rick Springfield)…These songs are about cheating and lusting after your friend’s girl. A bit inappropriate for a wedding, don’t you think?

Tears in Heaven (Eric Clapton)…Sure it’s a beautiful song, but a bit of a downer for a wedding reception.

White Wedding (Billy Idol)…This song is about Idol’s hate for his sister’s fiance. Other hate songs you might want to skip include Love Stinks, I F**king Hate You, You Gave Love a Bad Name and Tainted Love.

For a great selection of Save the Dates, visit Best Little Wedding Shop.

Lisa Bakewell

Planning your wedding reception seating may seem like a daunting task…especially if your wedding is large…but creating a satisfactory seating plan is relatively easy if you follow these tips:

Number of guests

You’ve sent out your invitations, and you’ve received your RSVP’s for the reception, but before you can start worrying about who is going to sit where, talk with your venue coordinator about the actual space that’s available for guest tables. Keep in mind where the head table will be positioned, as well as the music, cake table, buffet tables, etc. Also, ask the coordinator for his/her advice on which table shapes work best for the number of guests you wish to invite. Keep in mind, too, that it’s better to have fewer tables that are full, than many tables with just a few guests. Last, remember it’s beneficial to have some extra seats available for unexpected guests.

Head Table

The head table, or top table, is generally located in a prime location at the reception venue…typically in the front. This table is reserved for you, your groom, your wedding party and possibly your parents. If your parents do not sit at the head table with you, make sure that they are directly in front of you.

Guest Tables

Apart from the head table, guests traditionally sit at round tables. Have your family tables closest to the head table, and follow these tips for the rest of your guests:

• Keep couples, families, co-workers, etc., together. Those who share common interests will converse freely and be at ease. Small children should be seated with their parents, too, so that they will be supervised.
• Keep in mind that age is a factor. Seat elderly people together and other guests of similar ages together. They’ll have more in common.
• Solo guests should be dispersed throughout your seating chart, not thrown together at one table. Make sure they have something in common with those that they are seated with, though. One to two single people per table should be sufficient.
• Keep divorced men and women separated to avoid conflict. Even if they get along, you’ll probably still want to separate them, so that painful memories aren’t triggered, which may cause conflict.
• Guests with special needs will need extra consideration when you’re planning your seating arrangement. Obviously, walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, etc. need special attention, but, also, keep in mind that your elderly guests will need to be seated in close proximity to the restrooms. Moms with babies, too, should be placed in an area where they can make a quick exit, if necessary.
• Balance your tables with even numbers of males and females.
• And, as a final note, check with your parents for any possible seating errors. There may be some tensions between people that you are not aware of, and seating them together might cause a problem.

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Lisa Bakewell

If you’re a true romantic, a Valentine’s Day wedding theme might be right up your alley. Even if you’re not getting married on Valentine’s Day, you might consider incorporating some of these fanciful touches to create the wedding of your dreams

Attire: Classic style dress is just what the doctor ordered for a truly romantic wedding. Consider wearing a timeless white dress and have your man wear a tuxedo with tails…and possibly a top hat and gloves. Check out old movies for great ideas. You might also consider a wedding dress with red accents, and have your bridesmaids wear a complementary color, such as red or pink. The groomsmen might wear red ties (maybe bowties) and cumberbunds.

Location: Make sure you book your location early, especially if Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend, as it’s a very popular day to get married. Pick a location that’s not too small or too large, but one that allows you to create a cozy, romantic feel. Decorate as you would for a romantic dinner with soft lighting, lots of candlelight, flowers and flowing fabric.

Décor:A classic red and white color scheme would work well for your wedding reception, and you can play up the Valentine’s Day theme in a number of ways. Anything heart-shaped or red and white (and, possibly, pink) will add to the overall romantic ambience on your special day. You might also consider draping the light fixtures with jewel- toned beads. A great source for beads is area thrift stores, such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army stores.

Music:You’ll want your music to set the mood for your romantic day. Consider hiring a string quartet to help set the Valentine’s Day mood. Or, if you want a DJ, consider having him/her create a song list full of romantic love songs. Granted, your guests will want some music to get them moving, too, but a great slow dance every now and then will set the mood for romance.

Flowers: Flowers are by definition romantic, so use them in abundance for your Valentine’s Day theme wedding day. While roses are the classic, they may be expensive in February. You may want to look to other red, pink and white flower type, such as carnations, which look great and are typically inexpensive.

Menu: Since Valentine’s Day is the most popular lover’s holiday, why not fan the sparks between your guests by including some aphrodisiacs in the menu? You might include foods, such as oysters, asparagus, almonds, poultry with mole sauce (a Mexican chocolate sauce), chili peppers and chocolates.

Cake:Valentine’s Day is all about love, so a great option for your wedding cake might be a tiered cake in the shape of a heart. Other things you could incorporate might include cupid, Valentine’s Day cards, doves, candied hearts, sugar ribbons and, possibly, a Swarovski cake topper.

Invitations and Save the Dates: Again, Valentine’s Day is all about love…and so is your wedding day…so you may want to consider continuing the V-Day theme with hearts, flowers and “Love.” You’ll find a wide variety of appropriate wedding invitations and save the dates to convey your message at Best Little Wedding Shop.

Favors:Give your guests tiny heart-shaped boxes of candy, chocolate kisses in a mesh bag tied with a red bow or heart-shaped ornaments that can be used on your guests’ Christmas tree as a remembrance of your big day.

Special Touches: Instead of table numbers, consider naming your tables after famous romantic couples…from today and yesterday. For some great ideas, check out Famous Couples website.

Lisa Bakewell

Contrary to traditional thought, you and your groom do not have a year to send out your thank you cards. All of your thank you notes should be written within three months of receiving a gift–sooner, if possible.

To make sure that you stay on top of the important task of showing your appreciation, you should try to send a thank you card to the sender the day that you receive your gift. If you can’t get them out on the day that your gift arrives, though, at least vow to get the thank you out within a week. You definitely don’t want to let them stack up. It’s a lot easier to write a few notes a day (or week) than to have to write a hundred in a month!

Personal thank you notes are an absolute must! A personal note inside your thank you cards is the only way to appropriately show your appreciation for a wedding gift.

So…

Don’t use preprinted or fill-in-the blanks cards–and never send an email. These options will convey to your gift-giver that their gift didn’t mean much to you.

Do write a warm, handwritten note. The message can be brief, but make it personal, mentioning both the gift and the giver.

Don’t forget to consider other gifts, such as bridal parties and wedding showers, when you’re writing out your thank you notes. It’s appropriate to add this particular thank you to the same note you send thanking them for your wedding gift.

Do mention each gift received in your thank you note when you are the recipient of more than one gift from a particular person or family–if the gifts are received close together.

Don’t thank your gift giver for a shower gift and wedding gift in the same card. Each gifting event deserves its own recognition. Shower gifts should be acknowledged within two weeks of your party, and wedding presents should ideally be acknowledged within two weeks of returning from your honeymoon.

Do write an individual thank you note to everyone involved in giving a group gift.

Don’t forget to mention what you’ll be purchasing with a monetary gift. If you’re saving it for a new home, etc., you may want to mention that, as well.

Do promptly acknowledge the receipt of a shipped gift. Even before you prepare the thank you note, you may want to call the giver to let them know that you received their gift. Follow up with a written thank you card, though.

Don’t mention to the gift giver that you’ll be returning a gift or that you’re dissatisfied with it. Some things are best left unsaid.

Do send photos ONLY if including them won’t delay sending the thank you note.

Don’t use tardiness as an excuse not to write your thank you notes. Receiving a late thank you is better than no thank you at all.

For an excellent selection of Thank You Cards, visit Best Little Wedding Shop.

Lisa Bakewell

The purpose of your wedding gift registry is to help you and your spouse-to-be get off on the right foot. This is a task that you should do together, but one that you should both enjoy. After all, it’s not too often that you get to make a list of items that you want…and need!

Here are things to consider when registering for your wedding gifts:

Where should you register?

Registering at multiple stores is a good idea. That will give your guests a nice array of price points and gift ideas. Consider registering at stores like Target, Macy’s, Bed Bath & Beyond and any local stores that you frequent…and your guests may, as well.

How many gifts should you register for?

You can go crazy here. Pick as many gifts as you’d like to have, and choose several price points. This will allow guests of all income levels to get gifts for you that fit into their budget. Also, some of your guests will want to buy a lot of smaller items, and other guests may want to chip in on a larger gift for you and your soon-to-be spouse, so a well thought out list will give them lots of options.

When should you register?

Register at your chosen stores about six months prior to your wedding date. This will give your guests time to purchase items for your shower(s), as well as your wedding. Don’t register too far in advance, though, or you run the risk of your favorite store discontinuing an item that you register for.

What types of gifts should you ask for?

This is another area where you shouldn’t restrict yourself. Sit down with your significant other and make a list of all of the items that you think you’ll need to purchase within the next year. Consider kitchenware, linens, home appliances, luggage and furniture. Also, consider lifestyle gifts. If there are movies, CDs, sporting equipment, etc. that you’d like to have, include them.

How do you tell your guests where you’ve registered?

You can include an announcement of your gift registry choices in your wedding invitation, or you can pass along the information through family members and close friends.

Gifts to consider adding to your registry:

China
Flatware
Drinkware
Cookware
Bakeware
Small Appliances
Bedding
Linens
Tools
Home Improvement Gift Cards
Lifestyle Gifts (camera equipment, computer equipment, sports equipment and entertainment equipment)

Note: If a lot of your guests live out of town, consider large retailers that have shipping available, so that guests don’t have to transport your gift. This will also save time for guests who are busy, because they can order your gifts online at any time of the day or night.

Lisa Bakewell