Wedding Trends That Take The Cake

Even the best laid wedding plans can go awry, as seen in these “Wedding Disaster” videos from YouTube.  Enjoy!

Here are a variety of wedding disasters…some are hilarious!

Trying to pick out your wedding gown? You may want to avoid these…

Remember…wedding vows are a serious matter. Apparently these brides forgot…

Feeling a little stressed? Check out these Bridezillas…

Ladies…don’t let your man make a grand entrance. At least not one like this!

Here, on the other hand, are some GREAT entrances…

Finally, here are some potential “Wedding Disasters” that you’ll have no control over, but if this happens at your wedding,  you’ll end up with your own YouTube viral video to share.

You might not be able to avoid every “Wedding Disaster,” but you can get started on the right foot by ordering your Affordable Wedding Invitations from Best Little Wedding Shop.

Lisa Bakewell

You’re engaged, and you’re ready to start planning for your big day! The best place to start? Right here…with these 13 Top Wedding Resource Sites!

Best Little Wedding Shop: The Best Little Wedding Shop has been serving brides across the country since 1995 has decided to make their top-quality product line available to brides across the world. In this fast-paced world, brides find it easier and faster to shop online for their Wedding Invitations & Bridal Shower Invitations, Wedding Accessories and Wedding Favor needs.

Team Wedding : Team Wedding wants to be a part of your wedding planning team. Just name a wedding topic, and they can help you with it! Browse by category or state for some terrific planning tips and resources.

Brides.com : Brides.com has a wide range of galleries and topics for you to research, and they have tools that you can use such as budget, to-do list, guest list, and seating chart guides.

The Knot: The Knot has tools, great articles, videos and honeymoon ideas. Check out their photo galleries and wedding planning tips, plus peruse “Grooms + Guys” and “Maids + Moms” for some specific wedding strategies.

MyWedding.com: MyWedding.com offers and “Ideas and Trends” blog, free wedding websites and over 100 local wedding guides to help you plan your wedding.

Perfect Wedding Guide : At Perfect Wedding, you can find vendors, get ideas, go shopping and attend events. This is a terrific comprehensive online wedding guide for brides and wedding planners.

Green Elegance Weddings : Offers eco-friendly wedding tips for couples who want to leave a small green footprint when they get married. They offer wedding contests and green wedding news too.

FrugalBride.com: Canada’s number one online wedding magazine, FrugalBride.com,  is a great resource for brides that offers wedding bulletin boards, frugal wedding crafts and budget tracking worksheets for weddings. They also offer a “Bride’s Planner,” a “Groom’s Planner” and “Vendor Tips.”

GayWeddings.com: If you’re planning a non-traditional wedding, GayWeddings.com discusses gay and lesbian wedding questions that you may have. They also offer products, resources and information networking to same-sex couples seeking to affirm their life-long commitments to each other through commitment ceremonies, civil unions, domestic partnerships, civil marriage and other alternative weddings.

InStyleWeddings : Want to plan a classy, celebrity-style wedding? The InStyle Wedding website can help you plan your dream wedding. Even if you can’t afford a lavish wedding, you can get fabulous tips and ideas here.

WeddingChannel.com: If you’d like the answers to all your wedding planning questions, WeddingChannel.com is a great resource, and they also provide tools like bride checklists and budget calculators.

WeddingSolutions.com: WeddingSolutions.com offers “Real Reviews from Real Brides Like You,” “Celebrity News and Gossip,” wedding registries and a multitude of wedding resources and advice.

DestinationWeddings.com : DestinationWeddings.com offers a full service “one stop shopping” approach which has one goal in mind–to make the planning and coordination of your Destination Wedding as simple and stress-free as possible.

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.

Check out Pocket Wedding Invitations from Best Little Wedding Shop…one of their most popular styles! Each invitation offers unique pocket folds to tuck away your invite and display it to your guests in bold colors and unique styles. Check them out!

Lisa Bakewell

Traditionally, the most popular day for a wedding is Saturday, which makes for tough competition when it comes to securing venues and services for your big day. To avoid hearing “that date has already been booked,” why not plan an “off-day” wedding instead? Not only will you have a better chance of having your wedding on the date of your choice, it also makes economic sense because:

Banquet facilities, caterers, photographers, videographers, musicians/entertainers and limousine services are much more willing to negotiate. (Vendors tend to see Friday and Sunday as bonus days, a time when they can earn income.)

Some hotels and restaurants require a lower minimum number of guests during the week.

Lower airfare is often available for your out-of-town guests during the week.

If you choose Friday night as your off-day wedding day, you’ll probably have your wedding later in the evening. This means that your reception will follow immediately after the ceremony, and you’ll avoid the extra cost (and hassle) of having to provide an interim reception or cocktail party. (Also, having the ceremony and reception back-to-back ensures that more people will attend the wedding ceremony.)

Keep in mind, too, that restaurants are usually thrilled to have rehearsal dinners booked on Thursdays or other evenings during the week. These are, typically, their slower business days, so you’ll find that the staff will be more attentive to your party’s needs, and the atmosphere will be more relaxed.

Another reason for the growing popularity of off-day weddings is that benefits you, your family, and your friends.

Many couples host off-day weddings, so they can pay more attention to those that traveled to be there. (For example, your ceremony could be held Friday, and you could plan activities through your honeymoon departure on Sunday.)

Additionally, an off-day wedding frees up at least one day of the weekend, making your family, friends and guests more appreciative of the extra time–especially if they are traveling.

Guests will appreciate a Friday wedding because they won’t have to face a workday after a night of merrymaking.

The off-day wedding becomes more of a reunion than a quick ceremony.

By now, you may be thinking that an off-day wedding sounds like a terrific idea for you and your soon-to-be-spouse. If this is the case, you’ll not only save money, you’ll be able to enjoy more time with your loved ones and you’ll most likely hear “Yes” from vendors and service providers instead of “We’re already booked.” Here are a few things to keep in mind, though:

You’ll want to schedule the wedding a little later, if you choose Friday, to avoid rush-hour traffic.

You’ll want to design your menu to fit the timing of the reception. Again, if it’s a Friday, you may want to opt for light snacks instead of a full meal.

Your guests will need ample time to take off work, if necessary, so you’ll want to send out your “Save the Date” cards early.

If all of this advice sounds good to you…go ahead and buck the traditional Saturday wedding!

Lisa Bakewell

Pulling off the perfect wedding is a challenge, but making yours an eco-friendly wedding doesn’t mean making it more difficult. Use these 10 tips for planning your green wedding:

Plant the centerpiece.
For centerpieces and other wedding décor, you can use potted flowers, trees or plants. When the wedding is over, you’ll have a head start on beautifying your yard or patio!

Decorate with bamboo.
Bamboo is considered one of the most sustainable materials on earth, growing up to two feet per day, so it takes only three to seven years to mature. Use stalks of bamboo in centerpieces, or choose other bamboo accessories for your reception tables. To get more information on bamboo, visit Green Earth Bamboo.

Plant a tree or two or three.
Plant one tree or more in your backyard or the neighborhood where you got married after the honeymoon. That way you’ll be able to track the growth of the tree by the number of years you’ve been married.

Ditch the bouquets.
Have your bridesmaids carry fans instead of flowers. Or how about beautiful silk boxes or purses? If you still want the look of flowers, consider using silk instead of real blooms. Though they may be a bit more expensive, they will last forever.

Think locally.
If you REALLY want traditional blooms, support your local nursery. Locally grown, seasonal blooms will cost less money, and you’ll be helping your local economy. You could also use locally grown herbs, greenery, and berries instead of blooms or you can use them for fill in your bouquets.

Make a donation.
Make a donation in your guests’ names to an organization that plants trees (such as AmericanForests or the Arbor Day Foundation) in lieu of a traditional wedding favor.

Choose organic foods.Base your menu on food that is organic or locally grown. Consider serving a wedding cake made of organic ingredients as well.

Toast organically.
True Organic wines are certified by the USDA National Organic Program and have become quite popular. For the back-story on organic wines, check out this article from The Wine News.

Light an earth-friendly flame.
Candles are a must for weddings, but paraffin candles are produced from petroleum, which is not very earth-friendly. Use soy wax candles instead.

Put it on the Web.
Create a wedding site where you can list your wedding details instead of including them in your invitations. There, you’ll be able to list your registry details (along with your wedding details) and be able to express to your guests that you’d like eco-friendly gifts or, in lieu of gifts, you’d like a donation made to your favorite charity.

Lisa Bakewell

With weddings costing an average of $20,000 today, it’s smart to start budgeting right away to determine who will pay for what. Traditionally, the bride’s parents picked up the tab for most of the wedding, but today more couples are breaking with tradition (due to later marriages and skyrocketing costs) and divvying up the costs in their own way.

Traditional Expenses:

Bride’s Family

Reception (including food, music, decorations, rental fees and entertainment)
Ceremony
Flowers (wedding and reception)
Wedding Dress, Headpiece and Accessories
Invitations
Announcements
Programs
Postage
Favors
Photography
Transportation

Groom’s Family

Rehearsal Dinner
Wedding Present
Alcohol for Reception

Bride

Groom’s Ring
Groom’s Gift
Makeup, Hair and Beauty Treatments
Gifts for Her Attendants
Bridesmaid Luncheon

Groom

Marriage License
Bride’s Wedding and Engagement Rings
Honeymoon
Bride’s Gift
Gifts for His Attendants
Corsages
Boutonnières
Bride’s Bouquet
Clergyman/Officiant Fee

Wedding Party

Bachelorette/Bachelor Parties
Tux Rentals/Bridesmaid Dresses and Accessories

Non-Traditional Ideas:

Older Bride and Groom
The bride and groom pay for all wedding costs.

Asking for Help
The bride and groom set their budget, then ask for help from their parents for the remainder of the costs. Another approach may be to split the bill three ways (bride & groom, bride’s family, groom’s family).

Lisa Bakewell

Every bride dreams of her wedding dress, and some brides like to get a little more creative than others. Here are a few — let’s say — nontraditional wedding dresses with added flare:

Alfred Angelo has a line of gowns called “Dream in Color.” His subtle addition of color is a nice addition to the traditional gown.

Red Hot Brides, a resource for the bride who wants to stand up above the crowd–and throw one heck of a wedding party–has a wide variety dresses in an assortment of color (yep! they have red ones too), materials and styles.

Lia Griffith, of Papier Couture, has created a line of carefully sculpted dresses made primarily from paper. Here are two of her fabulous creations from the Venus Collection:

So, if you feel that you’re the epitomy of the non-traditional bride, consider looking beyond “lacey white” for your wedding gown. Colors and fabrics abound!

Also, look beyond the traditional for your wedding invitations and wedding accessories too! Best Little Wedding Shop has just what your looking for in non-traditional (and traditional) wedding supplies and gifts.

Lisa Bakewell

You’ve decided on a Las Vegas destination wedding. So now it’s time to plan the festivities, and then you’ll be ready to order your Las Vegas-themed Save the Date cards (and  magnets)  and Las Vegas-themed wedding invitations.

You’re excited. And you should be! As the marriage capital of the world, Las Vegas grants more than 122,000 marriage licenses every year. And it’s no wonder. From its simple drive-thru weddings to super-extravagant (and expensive) black tie affairs, Las Vegas has a lot to offer the couple ready to tie the knot in a fun and exciting way.

Check out some of the reasons, and you’ll be saying, “Viva Las Vegas” as your perfect wedding day destination!

It’s fast and easy.

• Neither blood tests (nor waiting periods) are required if you want to tie the knot.
• The legal age is 18 for both men and women (proof of age is required).
• Civil ceremonies can be performed at the Marriage Commissioner’s Office at 309 S. 3rd St.
• Most chapels allow couples to book their wedding right away, and some even accommodate walk-ins (or drive-thrus). Chapel fees vary depending on the services provided.
• For marriage license information, call the Clark County Marriage License Bureau at (702) 671-0600. License Bureau hours are 8 a.m. to midnight, including holidays.

It’s affordable.

• Las Vegas weddings cost less than traditional ceremonies, with weddings starting as low as $75.
• Weddings can be created ala carte in most cases too.
• Licensing fees are $55.
• You can have the wedding without the reception, if you want, and still have lots of entertainment options for your guests. The party never stops!

It’s convenient.

• Most hotels in Las Vegas have their own wedding chapels and wedding coordinators in charge of all the preparations–from flowers and music to the wedding official, souvenirs and entertainment ideas.
• Need a ring or two? They’re easy to find in Las Vegas.
• Flowers? Not a problem.
• Gown and/or tuxedo? You can rent both.
• You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own car. You can do the drive-thru. Don’t have a car? You can rent one.

It’s fun!

Las Vegas is not only the marriage capital of the world, it’s also the crazy wedding capital of the world. If you go there to get married, you don’t have to have a traditional ceremony–plan something fun! Las Vegas wedding chapels offer unique weddings galore. Check out these resources, and start planning your dream wedding:

• MyWedding.com: Find everything you need to plan your wedding
• ONLY Vegas: The official Las Vegas tourism website brought to you by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
• LasVegasWeddings.com: Las Vegas wedding packages starting at $75
• Vegas.com: The official Vegas travel site

Lisa Bakewell

It’s been determined that you and your fiancé are fun-seekers who shy away from the traditional. You want your wedding and reception to be memorable–for you and your guests. That’s why we’ve decided to offer you some additional ideas for holding your unique wedding and reception.

In Unique Wedding Venues…Get Creative! we offered several unique venue ideas including cave weddings, underwater weddings, train weddings, movie studio weddings, among others. In part two of this series, we’re bringing you even more great ideas for unique wedding venues. Also, click on the photos for links to a great invitation, save the date and accessory idea from Best Little Wedding Shop. Be sure to visit the site for more great wedding products!

Here are some more “off the grid” wedding venue ideas:

Wed him a vineyard. Looking for a dreamy outdoor wedding venue? Wine Country Inn, Palasade, Colorado can help you create unforgettable lifetime memories in a spectacular vineyard setting. Exchange vows in the open outdoor pavilion among the vines, the beautifully landscaped courtyard or the elegantly appointed Vineyard Ballroom. They also offer smaller venues for more intimate events.

Marry Prince Charming. If your dream is to be married in a castle, look no further than Castle Farms in beautiful Charlevoix, Michigan. As Northern Michigan’s premiere wedding location, you’ll have lots of regal options available to you that would make even Cinderella envious! [Editor's Note: One nice feature of this venue is that you can hire your own caterer and bring in your own alcohol]

Take it up, up and away! Have your wedding in a hot air balloon! Arizona Balloon Rides in Phoenix, Arizona offers private, romantic hot air balloon wedding ceremonies as well as larger elaborate ceremonies requiring multiple balloons. They will customize the experience to meet your needs!

Make it spooky. Looking for the perfect place for your haunted wedding (or honeymoon)? Thayer’s Bed and Breakfast  in Annandale, Minnesota will fit the bill nicely. This historical B&B is an Old West Victorian mansion just minutes from the Twin Cities. As well as offering weddings every day of the year, they also offer a “Haunted Honeymoon Package” which includes a one-hour Couple’s Psychic Reading, a half-hour of private ghost hunting instruction and a disposable camera to photograph the many ghosts which inhabit Thayer’s B&B.

Follow the light. Are you and your significant other lighthouse buffs? If so, you should consider getting married in Martha’s Vineyard. Lighthouse enthusiasts consider the five lighthouses on Martha’s Vineyard to be the most diverse in a small contained area in the country, and they are available for wedding ceremonies. All of the Island’s lighthouses, except the Cape Poge Lighthouse, are easily accessible by road, and the Gay Head, East Chop, and Edgartown Lighthouses are maintained by the Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society. Call the Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society at 508-627-4441 for more information.

Have a garden party. Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland, Ohio provides the perfect place to share your beautiful wedding day with family and friends. From its exotic Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse to its beautiful outdoor gardens, this botanical garden offers a most unique and elegant setting.

Lisa Bakewell

You and your fiancé love to have fun, you love the unusual and you don’t want to have your wedding at the traditional chapel or VFW hall. We understand.

As mentioned in one of our previous blog posts, many soon-to-be-wed couples are choosing eco-friendly weddings and receptions by having them outdoors. We’ve also blogged about how to plan for destination weddings. Well, today, we thought we’d give you more food for thought with these “off-the-grid” wedding venue ideas:

Wed him underground. How about having your wedding and reception in a cave? The Bridal Cave at Thunder Mountain Park  in Camdenton, Missouri might just be your ticket for adventure. Rated as one of the most scenic caves in America, the first Osage Indian wedding was held here in the early 1800s.

Make it historical. Still want to get married in a church, but not just any church? Well, how about Trinity Church in New York?  The present day Trinity Church, designed by architect Richard Upjohn, is considered a classic example of Gothic Revival architecture. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its architectural significance.

Play ball. Wed your true love at The Stadium Club at Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL. Not only will you welcome your guests with your name in lights on Wrigley’s famous marquee, you’ll also enjoy pictures on the field with the legendary manual scoreboard.

Take it down under–the water, that is. Another unique idea is to have your wedding and reception at an aquarium.  Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey offers a perfect venue for your big day. Your guests will have a one-of-a-kind immersive experience!

You should’ve been in pictures. Marlene Dietrich, Mae West, Audrey Hepburn and Gloria Swanson are among the exquisite leading ladies who have starred in Paramount Pictures productions. Well, it’s a list that you can join too–at least for a day–when you have your wedding hosted by the Paramount Special Events Department in Hollywood, California.

Board the train. Except for your guests’ high-tech cameras and modern garb, a time traveler from the 19th century would feel quite at home riding Western Railroad’s Skunk Train even today. The train, which departs from Fort Bragg or Willits, will transport you and your guests to a remote and romantic location in the redwoods of California.

For all of your destination wedding invitations and unique wedding accessories, check out what Best Little Wedding Shop has to offer!

 

Lisa Bakewell