Wedding Trends That Take The Cake

Want to make your wedding anniversary a party–every year? Then consider having your wedding on New Year’s Eve! As a bonus, it will be very unlikely that either you or your spouse will forget your anniversary.

Arrange to have an early evening ceremony, so that you can plan to get your personal New Year’s Eve party started around 8pm. Not only will you and your spouse have a great time; your friends and relatives will have an awesome New Year’s Eve party to attend where everyone knows plenty of other people.

After the wedding ceremony, and prior to your New Year’s Eve party/reception, you and your groom should change into party clothes. You could wear a cocktail gown (the more glitter, the better), and, if you’d like, your groom can change into a suit instead of wearing his tux.

Good colors for a New Year’s Eve wedding reception might be silver, gold, white and black. These colors are very sophisticated and will go well with nearly any décor.

Consider opting for a nice buffet of appetizers and finger foods instead of serving a dinner. Veggies, fruits, crackers, meats, and cheese trays are perfect for this occasion. You might also include finger foods such as Buffalo wings and shrimp. These foods lend themselves to being eaten while standing, so your guests will feel more in the New Year’s party mode.

Plan on offering a fully stocked bar, since you won’t be buying a full meal. Make sure that you include non-alcoholic beverages, as well, and provide champagne for the mid-night toast. Using plastic wineglasses instead of champagne flutes for the toast will help to keep expenses down.

You’ll want your table décor and reception decorations to be very festive. Consider using confetti on the tables with candles that can be used to set the mood for the mid-night toast when the lights are turned down. Also, baskets of noisemakers and hats make nice table decorations and double as wedding favors and toasting gear when the time is right.

Make sure that your DJ or band has Old Lang Syne prepared for the mid-night festivities. Another nice feature would be a large screen television so that you can watch the ball drop at mid-night.

Last, make sure that you provide plenty of coffee and pizza to your guests before they leave your party. It would be a shame if anyone was pulled over by police when leaving your reception. Better yet, reserve a block of rooms at a nearby hotel, and have your guests stay.

A final note, when planning to have a New Year’s Eve wedding reception, you should give your guests plenty of time to plan for it. Make sure that you send out your Save the Date cards well in advance.

Lisa Bakewell

As you plan your wedding, you’ll also need to decide what types of gifts you’d like to receive. Why not consider gifts for a greener home? Why not choose bamboo gifts?

Bamboo is a fast growing and renewable grass that has inspired a variety of Eco-friendly gifts that would make perfect wedding gifts. Some bamboo gift ideas include:

Bamboo Rugs
Bamboo Place Mats
Bamboo Coasters
Bamboo Wind Chimes
Bamboo Bath Towels
Bamboo Bed Sheets
Bamboo Duvet Covers
Bamboo Cutting Boards
Bamboo Utensils
Bamboo Candle Holders
Bamboo Light Fixtures & Wall Sconces
Bamboo Serving Bowls
Bamboo Fountains
Bamboo Tables
Bamboo Chairs
Bamboo Clothing

You might also consider these household gadgets to green up your wedding gift registry and save the Earth’s resources…not to mention your own resources.

Rechargeable Solar Flashlight
Water Powered Alarm Clock
Solar Batteries and Battery Charger

Green Earth Bamboo has a great assortment of Bamboo Bath Towels, Bamboo Bed Sheets, Bamboo Duvet Covers and Bamboo Clothing to choose from. Here’s a sampling of what they have to offer.

Duvet Covers 

Unlike other duvet covers – this is the softest duvet cover you will ever own! Plus it’s hypoallergenic, wicks away sweat and is made from the world’s most sustainable resource!

Soft and luxurious organic duvet covers made from 100% viscose from bamboo. These bamboo duvets come in a beautiful, earthy color selection to coordinate with your other bamboo bedding selections. Duvet covers are fashioned with button closures and interior ties. This organic duvet is a perfect reflection of your eco-friendly life style. Simply slip your new duvet cover over your bed comforter and save money on having to dryclean your down comforter, when you can easily toss your bamboo duvet in the washing machine! If you’ve never owned a duvet cover, you will be amazed at how convenient it is and what a nice touch it can add to any bedroom. Feel the luxury of soft bamboo first hand and it will surely become your favorite fabric. Softer than cotton, cashmere and silk, our bamboo duvet is hypoallergenic, breathable and resists odor.

Bamboo bed sheets  

100% Viscose from Bamboo Sheets are so luxurious and soft you’ll never want to sleep on another fabric again! Made from an organic and eco-friendly source, these incredible sheets are terrific for people who have skin allergies. All of Green Earth Bamboo’s bedding has natural wicking abilities to absorb much better than other fabrics, therefore making them especially nice for those with night sweats.

Aside from the fact that viscose from bamboo is so comfortable and soft, it’s nearly indescribable until you’ve tried it for yourself. Green Earth Bamboo’s  beautiful bamboo bed sheets come in a variety of earthy colors, and go wonderfully well with Green Earth’s other bamboo bedding, such as a beautiful bamboo bedspread coverlet, duvet cover, pillow shams and pillowcases. Create a bamboo bedroom that’s luxurious and cozy for you.

Bath towels 

Wrap yourself in pure luxury with organic bamboo towels that are ultra soft and super absorbent. Green Earth Bamboo’s bath towels come in three beautiful colors to complete your bamboo bathroom. Their towels are so soft and comfortable you will want extra sets for everyone in the family, and extra sets of hand towels for your powder rooms. If you have the luxury of a jacuzzi, whirlpool or hot tub you will most certainly want a couple of the bamboo bath sheets in the extra large size.

Bamboo clothing  

Green Earth Bamboo has fashionable women’s bamboo clothing that you’ll love! Super comfortable, stylish and made from an environmentally friendly source, bamboo clothing is ultra soft and cozy, super absorbent and breathable, and it naturally resists odor–keeping you feeling fresh all day long.

Viscose from bamboo is also temperature regulating , so you stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. And organic bamboo is a pesticide-free, sustainable and renewable resource.

To learn more about the wonderful qualities of Bamboo, please visit our Bamboo Facts section for a wealth of information on organic fabrics and how bamboo takes the lead as the fabric of our future.

Lisa Bakewell

Recycled Paper Wedding Invitations…

Looking for a wedding invitation that has Mother Nature’s seal of approval? Best Little Wedding Shop has a great collection of Eco-friendly, recycled paper wedding invitations, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice style to “go green”! Order your favorite design today and do your part to help save the environment!

One of the most obvious ways to make your wedding invitations Eco-friendly is to use recycled paper. Recycled paper has greatly improved in durability and quality, and when one ton of 100-percent recycled paper is used, it saves 7,000 gallons of water and enough energy to power an average home for six months. Recycled paper also saves about 17 trees from being cut down to make the paper.

Naturally Ever After Wedding Invitations® come in unique styles and themes that you’ll fall in love with! This unique “designer line” offers Eco-friendly wedding invitations with natural earthy tones which are stunning!

Other Green Trends…

Seeded paper is also a trend in Eco-friendly paper products. They also make a unique wedding invitation that your guests will love, since your guests will be able to plant your wedding invitation! Seeded paper is handmade and contains a mix of wildflower seeds. Pressure is carefully controlled during the production of the invitation to help guarantee seed germination. Once you’re guest is ready to plant the flowers, all they have to do is plant the wedding invitation in a pot or in a sunny spot in their garden.

Another option for an Eco-friendly wedding invitation is one made of tree-free paper–paper made without using wood. Today, tree-free paper accounts for about one third of paper produced in developing countries. Plants like the African kenaf, hemp, flax and cotton are all used to make tree-free paper. Crop leftovers like rice and banana stalk fibers can be used, as well as cotton rags.

Looking for Eco-Friendly Wedding Gifts?

If you are looking for eco-friendly wedding gifts, try Green Earth Bamboo for bamboo sheets, bamboo clothing, bamboo towels and bamboo socks.

Seems that everyone wants a summer wedding, but creating and having a romantic winter wedding can be both glamorous and magical. Create your winter wonderland wedding by using these tips!

Attire

Why not create a romantic, Hollywood feel to your big day? Put your groom in long black tails and pick a golden-era-styled dress for yourself. Paired with a white faux fur wrap or a red silk cape, you will be stunning! For jewelry, consider anything diamond or diamond-like to add sparkle and shine.

For bridesmaid dresses, you may want to pick dresses with rich fabrics, such as satin, heavy silk, brocade or velvet. And don’t forget an attractive wrap for the bridesmaids to wear on the day of your wedding. This would make a great bridesmaid present, as well.

Location

You can get super-creative with location for your winter wedding. Why not choose a bed and breakfast, a lodge or inn with a fireplace or an historic mansion? Be sure to find out what seasonal decorations your wedding venue uses too. You may be able to save a lot of money if your wedding site is already heavily decorated for the season!

Invitations

Wintry motifs make a great theme for your wedding invitations. Also, you could go with metallics or white on white for a dramatic announcement of your big day. Check out these great invitations from Best Little Wedding Shop.

Menu

Go ahead offer the chicken or steak as your entrée, but consider adding wintry touches to your menu, such as pumpkin soup or a squash dish. Also, consider serving hot chocolate, eggnog, spiced wine or mixed coffee drinks.

Cake

Choose a white on white cake and decorate with marzipan snowflakes, Swiss dots, fresh white poinsettias or a snow globe. If you’d rather not have a traditional cake, though, why not choose a rich dark chocolate cake or a cheesecake with a raspberry filling or sauce? Not in the mood for cake at all? Chocolate covered cherries or strawberries might be just what you’re after!

Flowers

Winter flowers offer you an abundance of choices. Want an elegant look? Go for silver and white. Flowers you might use include dusty miller, baby blue eucalyptus, white roses, white mums or beautiful lilies. If you’d like to celebrate the season with more color, consider red and green. Using red roses, ornamental berries and holly and pine greenery will give your bouquets and flower arrangements a festive look.

Décor

Simply decorating your tables with white poinsettias will set a wintry mood to your reception. Also, pillar candles with pine branches or cranberries paired with floating candles will do the trick. Consider using strands of small white lights strung around doorways, over tables and on archways to add a rich and festive mood.

Favors

Favors for winter-themed weddings offer a lot of inexpensive choices. Why not give an ornament or a snow globe featuring a bride and groom? Also, inexpensive cocoa mixes in an attractive tin would work nicely. Sweets, such as cookies or candy would make a nice treat, as well. 

Things to Consider

Winter weather can be a problem depending on your location. Make sure that your guests don’t have to walk too far or spend a lot of time outside.

Make sure your receiving line keeps your guests out of the cold. If your ceremony space has a large entryway or vestibule, you may be able to wait there and have your guests greet you after the ceremony. If you hold the receiving line at the reception, make sure you’re far enough inside the building, so that guests won’t have to wait outside if the line gets backed up.

Remember to consider the holiday travel season when planning your wedding. Lots of commitments and higher travel costs might make it inconvenient for your guests to attend a late December or early January wedding. Book your date and get your save the date cards out early.

Lisa Bakewell

The big question has been asked, and you’ve given the positive response. Now you’re engaged, and you want the whole world to know…today! Well, hold on a minute. Rather than shouting the news from the nearest rooftop, you should be aware of proper engagement announcement etiquette. After all, you don’t want any hurt feelings, right? So, before you start planning the wedding, use these tips, and you’re more apt to keep everyone happy.

First of all, your formal engagement announcement should be made within one to three months after you and your husband-to-be become engaged. And, typically, your engagement will last about a year prior to your wedding, so there will be plenty of time to plan–for you and your guests. Immediately after you’re engaged, though, you should get an engagement ring (if you choose to have one and haven’t gotten one already) and you should tell those closest to you about the engagement.

Family

Etiquette states that the parents of the bride should be told about the engagement first, then the groom’s parents. Typically, the bride’s parents are told first, then the grooms immediately afterwards. While an in-person visit would be nice, if your parents live far away, a telephone conversation would be fine. Make sure that both of your are present, though.

If there are children involved, you should tell them first. Hopefully, you’ve prepared them for the possibility that you may be getting married. This may be a tough time for them, but reassure them that your new spouse won’t replace them.

Grandparents, siblings and other relatives should be told immediately, as well. A simple phone call or family dinner to announce the news is great!

Friends

Your engagement announcement to your friends can be an informal get-together or even a phone call. A get-together with friends, though, would be a nice way to celebrate your upcoming nuptials!

When you’re ready to tell the world of your engagement, you may want to consider the following resources:

Newspapers

Contact your local newspaper(s) to submit your engagement announcement. If you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, either set of parents would be glad to help or do it for you. Before submitting the announcement, though, consider having an engagement photo taken.

Wedding Website and/or Blog

A simple way to make your announcement to the world is by publishing the news online. Websites, even a simple one-page design, will work great, and blogs are easy to create (and oftentimes free). If you have a Facebook or MySpace account, these forums would work well too. Update the site(s), periodically, with additional wedding news and announcements. Be sure to include your gift registries, hotel information and other pertinent wedding information.

US Postal Service

Though this is a more expensive method, announcing your engagement through a card sent in the mail is the classic way to announce your upcoming wedding. Check out these great wedding engagement announcements from Best Little Wedding Shop!

A note about engagement parties: While engagement parties are generally a part of engagement, it is not mandatory to have one. If you do, though, remember only to invite those people who you plan to have at the wedding.

Lisa Bakewell