Some Romantic Inspiration for Valentine's Day

Romantic Pink Wedding by bridelady on Polyvore.com

Gray Heart Themed Wedding by bridelady featuring chiffon bridesmaid dresses

You’re engaged to be married! Now it’s time to celebrate!

Who should host the party to share the happy news?

Planning the party is usually left to the bride and her parents. But if your parents aren’t able or available to do so, other relatives and/or friends may give the party.

If possible, it’s usually held at a time to coincide with the newspaper announcement.

Any type of gathering  -a cocktail party, buffet, brunch or barbecue is  appropriate.You may also wish to have a sit down dinner and serve food that reflects your heritage. An international hors d’oeuvres, wine and cheese party or an elegant candlelight dessert party - all have appeal. If it’s a wintertime affair, have a Sunday afternoon open house and serve hearty Irish stew, chili or thick soup along with a variety of breads.


During the party your father may propose a toast to the two of you. Remain seated and do not raise your glass to drink. Your fiancé then rises and proposes a toast to you and your parents. After that, you toast the groom to be, your parents and the assembled guests.

Be sure to invite everyone to the wedding who has been invited to the engagement party.

While engagement party gifts are not necessary nor are they expected, be aware that some guests may choose to give an appropriate gift for the occasion. You will of course, send a prompt and sincere thank you.

Let the celebration begin!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life. And if you're having it in New England in the winter, it may be one of the coldest. Don't let your "something blue" be you in your beautiful strapless gown. An elegant little cover up will help to keep the chill off your shoulders.

• Jacket - The wedding jacket can be made out of satin, lace, faux fur, or anything that would best complement your wedding dress. Having a removable jacket is also a way to indulge in the trend of changing your outfit from ceremony to reception without the added expense of purchasing another gown.                             

DEMETRIOS - SENSUALLE

Style No. GR155

DESTINATIONS BY MON CHERI

Style No. 29128

JASMINE COLLECTION

Style No. F173

• Shrug/bolero - A shrug or bolero is a short jacket that basically covers the shoulder area. Like a jacket, it can give your dress that touch of style that makes your look uniquely yours.

These will not only benefit the cold weather brides, but also those who need to meet certain modesty requirements for their ceremonies. (If you need to cover your arms and shoulders for religious purposes, consult with your officiant on what is allowed.)

And if you're looking for outerwear to get from the car to the building, you might choose a velvet or faux fur-trimmed cape or capelet for a little glamour. With your cozy cover up on hand, you'll be snug and happy! An elegant cover up is one more way to add style and personality to your wedding day look.

Bridal Show Tips

It's that time of year! It's bridal show season and we have a few suggestions for getting the most out of them.

1. Register before the show. Admission is usually discounted or free when you do this.

2. What to bring. Bring a notebook and pen to take notes, a camera, a calendar for setting up appointments, your wedding color swatches, a very large bag for carrying all the literature and freebies you collect, a list of questions you want to ask vendors, and printed peel-off labels with your name, address, email, and wedding date to use when signing up for mailing lists or registering for prizes.

3. Wear comfy shoes. You'll be doing a lot of walking and you don't want blisters!

4. Make a list of vendors you still need, and when you get to the show, visit them first.

5. Make a note of the vendors you're interested in and jot down price quotes and tips they offer. By the time you get home, you won't remember which vendor told you what.

6. Bring a friend or two. They can help you carry all the literature you'll be collecting and they can offer an objective third party opinion on things.

7. Gather as much literature as you can. What you may not be interested in now, you may be interested in later.

8. Check fashion show times so you can get there early and get good seats. However, if you already have your gown, you may want to skip the fashion show and visit with vendors. The crowds at the booths are usually smaller during the fashion show, and vendors will be happy to speak with you.

9. Don't feel pressured to sign a contract at the show. Shows are usually very crowded and noisy, and if you don't have the opportunity to talk to the vendors in depth, how will you know if they're right for you? It's better to set up an appointment with them at the show to meet with them at a later date.

10. You'll be getting a lot of information sent to you after the show. Consider setting up a wedding only email address and when the wedding is over, simply cancel it.

11. When filling out forms, (if you don't bring peel-off labels), be sure to print clearly. You don't want to miss out on hearing from a vendor you're interested in or miss out on a door prize because they couldn't read your handwriting!

12. Don't bring small children to the show. They will get tired (and most likely bored) and keep you from your mission of finding vendors for your wedding.

I hope you find these suggestions helpful. If you have any other bridal show tips you'd like to share, please let us know!

RSVPs

It's always amazing to me when seemingly well-educated people don’t get why they should RSVP when the invitation clearly requests it.

Knowing the total number of expected guests is critical at weddings and other large events because of the costs and deadlines involved in meal planning and preparation.  But even for smaller social events, I regret the fact that people either don’t know what RSVP means or worse, choose to ignore it.

Here are some social “rules” to keep in mind. 

1. As Emily Post says, “No one is obligated to accept an invitation or to explain their reasons for not accepting.  However, when someone is kind enough to extend an invitation, one should be just as kind and reply to the invitation.”  Unfortunately, this is not always done.

2. Ask for help.  If you have invited someone to your wedding and have included a reply card with a return by requested date and you still haven’t heard back, the best solution is to press bridesmaids or family relatives into helping you contact all those persons who have yet to reply.  If a phone call is in order, helpers can say something like this:  “Hi _______, this is _________.  I’m calling to make sure that you have received the invitation to __________’s wedding.  The bride hasn’t heard from you yet and needs to know if you plan to attend.  The count needs to be in by ________. Everyone is looking forward to seeing you.”  If you are leaving a voice mail message, add “ Please call me back at ________”. 

3.  Respond in the same manner that the invitation was issued. If an invitation to an event has come via 

     e-mail then an e-mail response is in order.

4. Reply as soon as possible.  Don’t put the invitation in the “to do” pile unless you need to ask the availability of the other person whose name may be on the invitation with yours.

5. Keep replies brief.  You don’t need to go into great detail about why you can’t attend.

6. If a reply is not requested, it is not necessary to respond.  However, it is nice to acknowledge the invitation and let the host know when you cannot attend.

Winter Wedding Wonderland Inspiration

Here's a little inspiration for a winter wedding. We love the icy blue and white color with a snowflake theme. And those white painted trees with the white lights give it a real winter wonderland feel. And if there's real snow outside you're getaway transportation can be a horse-drawn sleigh. We think this is just magical! And having a winter wedding can save you money because you're getting married in the off-season.

Winter Wonderland Wedding Theme by bridelady featuring an evening wedding gown

Entertaining Tips

You’re married!  You received new dinnerware.  You're planning your first dinner party.  Here are some tips for the big event.

How many people to invite?  A dinner party for six or eight is ideal.  A successful party depends on the right combination of people so think about personalities and individual interests before you invite the potential guests.

Choose the right table covering to complement your dinner plans.  Formal entertaining still calls for a linen tablecloth with matching napkins.  Informal entertaining lends itself to colorful cloths with either matching or contrasting napkins.  Many hostesses choose to use place mats – either alone or layered.

Adding a special centerpiece can reflect your personal style.  Just remember that:

• A centerpiece should never block a guest’s view.
• The size and shape should be in proportion to the size of the table.
• Flowers should not be so fragrant that they overpower the food.

Using candles at the table adds a romantic touch to the dinner.

Here are some expert tips on candle use.

• Ivory candles are the preferred choice for a classic table setting.
• If you keep your candles in the refrigerator they will burn evenly and slowly.
• All candles should be displayed with charred wicks and should be placed at least two or three inches apart to prevent melting into each other.
• If you forgot to extinguish the candles and some of the wax melted onto the tablecloth, you can remove the wax from a washable cloth by scraping off the excess wax and running boiling water through the fabric.

Following these tips for the first dinner party should help insure that you’ll feel more comfortable in your role as hostess and will be happy and eager to repeat the lovely evening you provided for your guests.


Photos: 
http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/table-decor/christmas-table-decorations-1010
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/holiday-centerpieces