Wedding Trends That Take The Cake

Vegas-themed Rehearsal Dinner Invites (click photo)

Where are you having your wedding rehearsal dinner? How about a trendy (fun) location your friends and family will love!

Your big day is FINALLY approaching and now it’s time to plan your wedding rehearsal dinner (don’t forget to order your Rehearsal Dinner Wedding Invitations!). For this fun get-together with friends and family, there are a plethora of options and venues to choose from. You could be traditional, but why not have a little fun? Try these trendy activity ideas to get the party started!

Make it a barbecue. Hamburgers, hotdogs, sausages and salads make a great, inexpensive meal–and may be perfect for your rehearsal dinner. Throw up a volleyball net for a little fun and games for your guests too. Or how about getting out the bocce balls or bags and hosting a tournament? Award your winner(s) with a small “trophy” from your local dollar store.

Twist and shout. Love to dance? How about hosting a 50s theme party? Rent a juke box, crank up the music and host a dance competition! For desert? Hire a “soda jerk” to make shakes and sodas in souvenir glasses for your guests.

Strike their fancy. If you have fun-loving friends and family, you may want to take them bowling. There’s nothing like a bit of competition among future family members to get everyone acquainted. You may want to have everyone draw numbers, too, to pick which team they’re on. That way your guests will be forced to mingle and make new friends. Food can be the standard bowling alley fair. Check with the alley to see if they’ll provide a pin of your own for all of your guests to sign as a souvenir.

Check their intelligence. Want to know how smart your family is–or how about his? A fun way to find out is with a trivia challenge. Whether you hold the event at your home, a hall or restaurant, you can pit your guests against one another for fun and prizes. Again, you can randomly split your guests into groups or play in three groups–your family, his family and a “friends” group–to see who’s the smartest.

Hold ‘em. The cards, that is. For a great time, and lots of camaraderie among guests, host a trendy casino night. Your guests will love playing against the odds–and each other. Let your bridal party act as dealers for the card games or hire a dealer. Consider, too, hosting bingo games and offering raffle prizes. As a souvenir for your guests, have poker chips embossed with your names and your wedding date.

Take them out to the ball game. Get the party started by planning your rehearsal dinner at your local baseball field. Many parks offer group discounts, and there’s plenty of fun for everyone. After all, who doesn’t love a ballpark hotdog and a bag of peanuts? For gifts to your guests, give personalized baseball caps or plastic beer mugs as souvenirs. For keepsakes of your own: have all of your guests sign a game ball and see if the park will post a congratulatory message on the scoreboard for you and your soon-to-be spouse during the seventh inning stretch.

Make it tee-time. If you and your fiancé love to golf, why not share you passion for the links with your guests? Host your rehearsal dinner at a country club or golf course, and let everyone perfect his or her swing at the driving range. Instead of dinner, you may want to hold a “cocktail hour” and offer light snacks or hors d’oeuvres. For gifts to your guests, think about personalized tees or golf balls with your names and wedding date on them.

Is your favorite celebrity getting engaged, married or walking in the opposite direction from the altar? Celebrity weddings –- to be or not to be? That’s definitely the question!

Ok, for you kids who are interested in celebrity gossip but haven’t had a chance to catch up on who’s who and who’s doing what in the “Holy Matrimony” department, let us enlighten you.

Let’s start with David Letterman. He just wed his long time girlfriend, Regina Lasko, on March 19th of this year. In case you didn’t know, they’ve been together for 23 years and never saw the need to marry, but finally decided to tie the knot.

Ironically, Letterman was given one more chance to back out. His truck actually broke down on the way to the courthouse. Yes, it’s true, but the poor sap went ahead and did the deed anyway!

On the flip side of that coin, Bruce Willis married his model girlfriend, Emma Heming, on March 21st–also Willis’ 54th b-day (for anyone who cares). The wedding was out of the country, but nevertheless, his ex, Demi, and her hubby, Ashton, were present and accounted for.

Just curious. Could there be a scenario, possibly, sometime down the road where Ashton gets with Bruce’s (younger) wife, Bruce and Demi get back together, and they all live happily ever after? We say, never say never!

Next we have, not a marriage, but a proposal worthy of mention. After about seven years of dating, Harrison Ford finally popped the question to Calista Flockhart this past Valentine’s Day. A lovely couple, indeed. Hey, if they’re interested, we know a great place they can find affordable wedding invitations!

We also received word that Christina Ricci is engaged to her comedian boyfriend, Owen Benjamin. Owen who? Well, anyway, we don’t have any details on the wedding yet but were sure it will be lovely. Nice work Owen–whoever you are.

Did you know, too, that there’s a wild rumor floating around that on-again, off-again couple Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson are engaged? Yep, and rumor has it that they’re planning to wed in June. They can’t decide whether to hold the wedding at Kate’s mom’s house (Goldie Hawn) in Aspen or Owen’s home in Hawaii, though. Well, if you want our opinion, Kate and Owen, we’d opt for Hawaii.

In the “aw shucks, ain’t that a shame” department, we’ve been told that Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson have FINALLY called it quits.

Seriously, are we the only ones that think this break-up was long overdue? And let’s just hope that it’s for good, shall we?

Bold Black and White

In other celebrity break-up news, it seems that Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman have ended their relationship for the last time. We guess that the second time’s the charm. According to US Weekly reports, the reunited comedians–who first broke up in July 2008 (after five years of dating and heated up again last fall)–likely won’t be getting back together.

And, finally, in April Mel Gibson and his wife, Robyn, filed for divorce after being separated for almost three years. We’re just wondering, “What took them so long?”

Fuchsia and Black Pocket

Seems that Gibson works fast, though. Immediately following the filing, reports surfaced that he has a new woman–Russian beauty, Oksana.

We want to wish Oksana good luck. After all, Mel’s been a little quirky (shall we say?) the past few years, and, frankly, we’re a little worried about her.

Lisa Bakewell

Make a food budget. This will help narrow your options for the cuisine. Once you decide on the total dollar amount you’d like to spend on food, divide that number by the number of guests you’re expecting. This will give you the dollar amount per person/per plate to shoot for when making your food choices.

Choose traditional meal service. Today’s caterers are acutely aware of the aversion to food that appears to be mass-produced, so your goal should be to have food that looks freshly made and individually prepared. Make sure to communicate this clearly to the caterer.

Make sure that the service is not rushed. You don’t want your guests to feel rushed while eating their food.

Offer a buffet. If you’re planning a buffet, the most important question to ask when you’re discussing the menu is whether you will be charged per person or by the plate. “Per plate” means that you will pay each time a person is served, so a per person charge will be more affordable.

Consider food stations. If you want first-rate food, but you’re concerned that it will be cost prohibitive, consider food stations. Doing this will allow you to forgo most of the wait staff you would require for traditional meal service, so there should be a significant cost savings in labor.

Food stations can vary from the traditional to the more eclectic. Feel free to be creative with your food choices, but keep in mind that creativity can sometimes be expensive.

To keep the cost down, ask for a price breakdown per menu item based on the number of guests you expect.

Ask your guests. Consider inserting a short survey in your wedding invitation announcements asking your guests to choose their favorites from a dozen food stations. This will serve two purposes. First, it will dictate which foods you choose for the stations, and second, it will help tally the favorites, so you can help your caterer determine food quantities for the various stations.

Invitations (click on photo)

Pick a couple of your own favorites. Make sure you include foods that you love. Enjoying your wedding day is a priority, and it will help to make your menu more personal.

Make it brunch, lunch or dessert. Consider hosting your reception earlier in the day. Lunch menus are equally satisfying but cheaper than dinner options. You could even consider a brunch or even a dessert reception.

Do it yourself. If you’re on a tight budget, consider a do-it-yourself wedding reception. Order several meat and cheese trays from a deli or supermarket–or make your own.

Make it a potluck. Potluck receptions used to be the norm, but now they’re considered the retro chic way to celebrate the coming together of a couple. Just ask your guests to bring food instead of a gift. Many guests will be pleased–even relieved–to have this choice. Find out ahead of time what everyone plans to bring, so you’ll be sure to have enough food–and enough variety.

Go ethnic. Many ethnic foods are less expensive than the standard fare of beef or chicken. Also, serving ethnic cuisine gives you an instant theme to build your reception around.

Cook it outside. If your reception will be held outside, consider firing up the grill for barbecue or cooking pork and hosting the ultimate pig roast.

Drink, and eat sweets. Rather than have a meal at the reception, why not have a champagne and cake or dessert reception? Check out this list of Top 10 Inexpensive Champagnes and Sparkling Wines.

Looking for some good wedding menu ideas? Check out menu ideas from Naperville Catering Company, Chef by Request.

Lisa Bakewell

Couple on Beach --- Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis

Looking to have a secluded honeymoon in the great outdoors but also want the privacy that only a secluded location can provide? Well, there’s a secluded honeymoon location to fit every budget. Here are a few ideas to help you start your planning.

If you like tropical rainforest’s and/or beaches, you may want to check out Costa Rica. It has some beautiful country to offer for a great getaway. You could stay in a villa seaside with first class amenities or wander on into the rainforest for a more primitive honeymoon. In either case you can find the privacy and seclusion you were looking for.

Here are some informational links:

If you’re looking to shut out the world, consider Alaska. And, no, you don’t have to book an igloo in Juno. Alaska has some beautiful resorts to offer, so it doesn’t have to be a frigid honeymoon–unless you want an Ice Hotel Honeymoon!

Here are some links to get you started:

Alaska Honeymoon Destination
Our Alaska Honeymoon
Steamboat Honeymoon
Ice Hotel Honeymoon

Bull Moose at Yellowstone National Park

If you are feeling extravagant, you can actually rent your own island–or at least part of one–for a week or two, with servants, fine cuisine, sporting activities and plush accommodations. And it may not be quite as expensive as you think. Especially if you want consider making your honeymoon a family and friends event. Split the cost among everyone and you could have a memorable honeymoon event with minimal expenditure.

Check out these links for great island options for a fantastic secluded honeymoon:

Rent My Island
Guana Island
Private Islands Online
Rent an Entire Island in Fiji

Horseback Riding-Themed Wedding Invitations (Click on photo)

If you’d like a honeymoon retreat that offers a bit of activity in the great outdoors, such as horseback riding, white water rafting, cycling or hiking, take a look at these honeymoon ideas:

Horseback Riding in the Poconos
Horseback Riding in Fiji
Equestrian Honeymoons in Puerto Rico
Whitewater Rafting-Sarapiqui River
Naranjo River Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater Challengers
Hike Puerto Rico
Hiking and Cycling Honeymoons

If you just want to commune with nature, whether it’s in a tent or a cabin, here are some terrific secluded honeymoon ideas:

Stonecreek Cabins
Romantic Honeymoons in Canada
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Honeymoon
Yellowstone National Park
Above the Rest Luxery Cabins
Honeymoon Cabins Online

Nature Theme Invitations (Click on photo)

Want help paying for your honeymoon vacation? Register it! The Big Day Honeymoon Registry & Romantic Travel Experts site is just the place to register the trip of your dreams. 

Do you have a favorite secluded honeymoon spot?  We’d love to hear about It.  Just leave us a comment.

Lisa Bakewell

Photo by: Joe Buissink/WireImage

Celebrity weddings definitely pique our interest, and there are several blogs, websites, magazines and television shows that are dedicated to keeping our obsession alive. We want to know who got married to whom, how much it cost, who came to the wedding and what they wore. Heck, there’s not a detail that we don’t want to know! 

Celebrity Weddings: What they Cost

• Christina Aguilera & Jordan Bratman-$2 million
• Catherine Zeta-Jones & Michael Douglas-$1.5 million
• Liza Minnelli & David Guest-$3.5 million
• Jennifer Aniston & Brad Pitt-$1 million
• Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise-$2 million
• Salma Hayek- Francois-Henri Pinault- Was supposed to cost $3.5 million but they married in a civil ceremony in Paris instead.
• Beyonce Knowles & Jay-z-$3 million
• Paul McCartney & Heather Mills- $3.2 million
• Vanisha Mittal & Amit Bhatia- $60 million (no, it’s not a typo) 

Let’s just assume that you don’t have this much money to spend on your wedding day. You can still have the classy wedding day of your dreams–and make it look like a million bucks. 

Why not start with stylish pocket-fold wedding invitations or an elegant invitation such as Royal Doulton? You’ll be on your way to projecting the super-star, upscale wedding image that you dream of.

Next, check out these two articles from WeddingChannel.com to find out what the current celebrity trends are and how to create your own celebrity wedding on a budget.

Here are a few great ideas from the articles: 

Jewelry:Celebrity brides love wearing vintage jewelry with character. While buying (or borrowing) million-dollar pieces from Neil Lane is a luxury the non-famous can not afford, you can get a vintage look by scouring estate sales, wearing a family heirloom, or purchasing new, costume jewelry with a vintage feel. And although stars love to flaunt diamonds, Swarovski crystals offer an affordable alternative that looks extremely elegant.
Unique Attendants:It seems that more is better when it comes to celebrity wedding attendants. Marcia Cross and Mariska Hargitay both opted to employ a swarm of little girls for aisle duty rather than select a single flower girl. Other celebrities with pets in their lives worked their furry family members into their wedding celebrations. Adam Sandler included his two bulldogs in his wedding party, and Gavin Rossdale was escorted down the aisle by his sheepdog Winston. Pets can carry the rings, hold a basket of flowers, or serve as a sentry outside the ceremony site. If you want your precious pet to be part of your celebration, just make sure your venue is pet-friendly and that your pet is comfortable as well as appropriately trained.
The Flowers:Flowers can be a very pricey wedding detail, especially when it comes to the-sky-is-the-limit celebrity weddings. The key in this case is to match colors with your favorite celebrity wedding. Nicole Kidman utilized masses of white flowers for her wedding, and you can do the same–but substitute white dahlias, daisies, or tulips for roses, peonies, and hydrangea for an enormous savings. You can also take a cue from celebrity brides who went without bridal bouquets altogether: Christina Aguilera carried a single crimson rose down the aisle, and Gwen Stefani held an antique, family Bible in place of blooms.

Want a chance at a free honeymoon? Check out the Caribbean Honeymoon Giveaway contest from InStyle Weddings.

How about over $30,000 in free diamonds? Enter InStyle Weddings Diamonds Giveaway today!

Lisa Bakewell