be a better Bride…

Even though tuxedos don’t have a lot of variations from guy to guy, your husband-to-be can still stand out from his groomsmen! While all eyes will be riveted on the bride, you still want your man to look dashing and unique from his buddies – here’s how!

1. A Unique Boutonniere

Mismatched tuxedos won’t work for a very formal wedding, but adding a fancier flower to his jacket can help distinguish your groom from the rest of the party. Have your groom wear a 2-blossom boutonniere while the rest of the groomsmen wear one blossom; it’s a simple and coordinated way to separate the groom from the rest of the pack!

2. A Different Tie

Whether you’re wearing a tie or bowtie, make it a different color than the rest of the groomsmen. For example, the groomsmen can wear ties that coordinate with the bridal party attire while you wear something different to stand out from the pack (but still keep things coordinated to avoid looking out of place!)

3. Cummerbunds, Anyone?

Traditionally, the groom and groomsmen wear vests over their tuxedo shirts. You can play around with this by wearing a different color vest; alternatively, however, you can nix the vest altogether and wear a coordinating cummerbund while your groomsmen wear the vests. This will definitely help you stand out from the crowd!

It’s trickier to make your husband-to-be stand out from his posse than it is for you and your bridemaids, but it can be done! These tips can help ensure your groom stands out and is unquestionably the man of the hour.

05 Feb, 2010

Are Wedding Favors Really Necessary?

Posted by: Denise In: Wedding Favors

Do I Need To Give Wedding Favors?

While wedding favors are not mandatory, if you have the budget for them it’s a nice way to thank all of your guests who came to celebrate your big day with you. Your guests might expect a favor or token of your appreciation, as well. I’ve honestly never been to a wedding that didn’t include some type of favor for guests to take home, but ultimately the choice is yours!

Do I Need To Spend A Lot On Favors?

Not at all! Even if you are on the strictest budget, you can still invest in a few economical wedding favors that will delight your guests. MomentsOfElegance.com has great, budget-friendly favors that can work with any wedding theme or decor.

Often, inexpensive touches such as handmade name tags or personalized labels can add that extra something special to your favors without having to take on much additional cost.

How Many Favors Do I Need?

Count on having one wedding favor for each guest, but make sure you buy extras! Many guests might snatch more than one favor, or you could have unexpected arrivals. Even if you work to put individual name tags on each favor, that doesn’t necessarily mean every person will have their own at the end of the night!

In short, wedding favors are a traditional method of thanking your guests for celebrating your day with you. While it’s not required that you offer favors, it’s a nice gesture that will stay in your guests hearts.

(Photo: MomentsOfElegance.com)

04 Feb, 2010

Top 3 Italian Honeymoon Destinations

Posted by: Denise In: Honeymoons

If you’re considering a destination honeymoon to Italy, consider one of these three top spots. They offer something for everyone, and you’ll have memories that will last for a lifetime!

Venice, Italy

This bustling “water city” offers just the right amount of romance you are looking for. May through September are the most seasonable months, so plan accordingly. Take a romantic gondola tour through the city, dine on fine seafood and Italian fare and enjoy some of the most amazing shopping opportunities you’re likely to experience!

Rome, Italy

Art lovers and history buffs alike will fall in love with Rome’s amazing art and architecture nearly anywhere you look. Take a tour through the Coliseum or gaze in wonder at Michaelangelo’s work on the Sistine Chapel – a must-see experience! Indulge in a little high-end shopping and feast on the most delicious Roman cuisine, wine and coffee. Book your honeymoon from late fall and winter for the best deals!

Sicily, Italy

Soak up your fill of beautiful beaches, historical sites and delicious food all in one place. Sicily offers the perfect location for honeymooning couples that dream of blue ocean and white sands but is a unique experience apart from other beach destinations. Their food offers a unique taste experience unlike any other, and the weather is seasonably mild all year long!

While there are many romantic Italian locales to choose from, these are arguably the top 3 spots for romance, fun and lasting memories. Did you honeymoon in Italy? Where did you stay?

The days where every member of the bridal party wears the exact same dress are long over. Different body types are flattered by certain styles but can look dreadful in others, so it’s important to keep that in mind when selecting dresses for your bridesmaids.

Not sure which dress styles work for which body type? Keep reading for your must-have guide to bridesmaid dresses!

The Best Dress For : Slender Gals

If you’ve got a slender woman in your bridal party, a sheath dress will complement her figure beautifully. Sheath dresses are a timeless classic and can be as simple or as detailed as you want.

The Best Dress For: Curvy Gals

Instead of hiding a curvier bridesmaid in an unflattering shape, choose a flat-front ball gown style dress to enhance her curves and disguise typical problem areas like the stomach and thighs. This type of silhouette also works well for women with tiny waists because it adds the illusion of curves without adding extra bulk!

The Best Dress For: Petite Gals

Petite women need a dress that flatters their figure without looking like they’re drowning in material, so ball gowns and high necklines are out! Instead, choose an A-line dress that still adds fullness without bogging a smaller woman down with unnecessary bulk. A-line silhouettes are almost universally flattering, too, so pear shaped girls and hourglass curves look beautiful in this type of dress, too!

Most women know the type of dress styles that work best for them, so when in doubt trust the judgment of your bridal party to find a dress that works for them. As long as their dresses match your color scheme, you will have a beautiful bridal party where everyone feels comfortable in their dress!

(Photo courtesy of TheKnot.com)

The bachelorette party is your excuse to kick back, relax and have fun with the girls before the big day! Throw one of these quirky bachelorette party favors into the mix for even more fun and lasting memories!

These fun bustier cookies are the perfect quirky favor to give away at the bachelorette party! These hand made, high quality cookies promise to taste as delicious as they look. Order extras to serve at the party, too!

($4.50, Minimum Order of 12 Cookies)

These adorable bath salts look exactly like a real cosmo – and are even scented like the classic cocktail! Fun, original and a great bachelorette party favor, each girl will have plenty of bath salts to relax and unwind before the wedding.

(Starting at $3.65)

These lovely corset sachets are filled with French Lavender and smell just as divine as they look. Each sachet is highly detailed and works wonderfully as a playful bachelorette party favor or wedding shower gift. Imagine these gems hanging from a bedroom doorknob or tucked away in your intimates drawer – fabulous!

($6.95/each)

These fun favors are the perfect addition to your bachelorette party! Plus, they are an economical way to show the ladies a token of your appreciation.

All favors are available at MomentsofElegance.com

02 Feb, 2010

A Wedding Favor They’ll Actually Use!

Posted by: Denise In: Wedding Favors

That’s right – when you present your guests with these adorable heart shaped coffee scoops, they will actually want to use them in their home!

Each scoop comes packaged in a deluxe favor box with a heart shaped “Thank You” tag and a pretty organza bow.

The scoops are also embossed with a small heart on the handle and are made from durable stainless steel. Plus, they hold just enough coffee so you can make the perfect pot!

Whether you want your guests to have cute, functional wedding favors or you just want to be unique, these heart shaped coffee scoops are sure to please.

Available at MomentsOfElegance.com, starting at $2.25

02 Feb, 2010

Romantic Hairstyles for Spring Weddings

Posted by: Denise In: Fashion Trends

If you’re looking for the perfect hairstyle for your spring wedding, these photos will help inspire you to create your own signature look!

Barely-there curls and a jeweled hair clip add a touch of romance to this simple style. It’s a soft, chic look for a spring wedding and very easy to do! Before your grand entrance, spray a light misting of hairspray to keep curls in place without weighing your hair down.

This alluring updo complements a spring wedding beautifully! The hairstyle starts with a side part, a loosely knotted bun and a smattering of gorgeous flowers as the finishing touch. The end result? A look that is romantic, soft and surprisingly easy to pull off.

For a boho-chic look and feel, try this effortless hairstyle. Wrap ends of hair loosely around a 1″ barrel curling iron to give the hair a little wave, then create two small braids on each side of the crown. Pin them together and voila! Effortless spring wedding hair that looks amazing.

Whether you have highlighted hair like the model in the photograph or not, this romantic updo is perfect for a spring wedding. Pin up your hair in a messy-chic, tousled updo and curl a few pieces that frame your face and you’ll be ready for your walk down the aisle!

Romantic hairstyles don’t have to be elaborate creations. In fact, some of the prettiest styles are relatively simple to pull off! Hopefully, these hairstyles allow you to be inspired to create your own signature look for your big day.

The color pink is fun, girly, and perfect for a spring or winter wedding. If you plan on having a pink color scheme for your special day, check out these cakes, bouquets and decorations to help inspire your own design ideas!

Combine a gorgeous assortment of red tulips and roses with pink peonies and you’ll have a bouquet worthy of any spring bride. Plus, it will smell absolutely heavenly!

A modern wedding cake helps offset the “girly-ness” of pink while still incorporating the playful color well. Pink roses and hydrangeas add a sweet vibe to this square cake, with black ribbon as an accent.

Who says your shoes have to be boring? Even your bridal accessories can match your wedding’s color scheme, as these bright pumps prove. They will add a splash of color to your wedding ensemble and are a fun way to incorporate your color scheme into every aspect of your special day!

Jazz up any wedding whether indoors or outdoors with hot pink votive holders. Candles add ambient light to any atmosphere, and the vivid shade of these votive holders tie in beautifully with a pink color scheme.

A pink wedding is playful, girly and oh-so-fun. Whether you’re marrying in the heart of winter or waiting for Spring, these pink wedding accessories and decor can serve as inspiration to help you design your own pink color scheme!

26 Jan, 2010

Announcing Your Engagement

Posted by: Denise In: Engagement

You’re now engaged, and delirious with happiness – but who do you tell first, and how do you announce the news? Take a deep breath and read these tips for announcing your engagement to the people closest to you.

Do You Have Kids?

If either you or your partner have children, you must tell them about your engagement first. They will be the ones who are gaining a stepmother or stepfather, so it’s important to fill them in (even before your parents!)

Don’t expect your children to be comfortable with the idea right away, either. It will normally take some time before they grow accustomed to the new family dynamic.

Telling the Parents

There are several ways you can announce your engagement to your respective sets of parents. How you do it is dependent upon how you think they’ll react and how well they know your intended spouse. A group gathering may be uncomfortable if your parents have never been introduced to your partner’s family before, so in the interest of comfort it’s best to announce the engagement separately.

Friends

If your parents don’t like your partner and you know they won’t react favorably to the news, it’s perfectly acceptable to tell your friends first to get the support and encouragement you need! If, however, you have a certain friend that might bring you down, don’t feel like you have to tell her. This is YOUR news; the bottom line is that you can tell whoever you want, whenever you want!

Announcing your engagement is an exciting time, but it’s important to handle the news with care. Remember, kids come first; after that, it’s all up to you!

Instead of having an open bar, why not save money and create a signature cocktail to serve to ALL of your guests? If you must have some variety, offer beer and wine and one of these yummy cocktails your guests are sure to love.

If you’re hosting a spring or garden themed wedding, these festive strawberry watermelon margaritas are the perfect signature cocktail. You can devise your own recipe using whatever ingredients sound delicious, but the fresh fruit purees are the star of this delectable drink!

The classic mojito is a perfect signature cocktail for a summer wedding. While there are several variations of this drink, the basics stay the same: a delicious mixture of rum and mint. Yummy!

For a delicious spin on the traditional martini, try this Cranberry martini instead. It’s a festive winter wedding concotion with cranberry juice, vodka and Sprite (or any other lemon-lime soda you prefer.) Your guests will love sipping this signature cocktail!

Use these cocktails as inspiration to devise your own signature recipe for your wedding and your guests will go home happy!

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Your guide for weddings with a pinch of sugar and a whole lotta spice! ....because there's a Bridezilla in all of us ;)

Best Bridezilla Stories

One of my cousins got married last year and I was a bridesmaid in her wedding. About 2 weeks before the wedding the bride calls me up to ask me if I would mind not wearing my engagement ring at her wedding since it would distract people from looking at her ring, and she really didn’t want anyone in the bridal party sporting jewelry bigger than hers. Can anyone beat that bridezilla request?? — Alexis