Archive for January, 2010

Old world customs are a very important element in many weddings today.  The wearing and throwing of the garter is one of those.  This tradition dates back to 14th century Europe.  Many guests of the bride and groom believed having a piece of the bride’s clothing would bring good luck. They would actually destroy the bride’s dress by ripping off pieces of the fabric.  As you can imagine, this didn’t make the bride very happy.  In an attempt to save her beautiful dress, one smart bride decided it was better for her to initiate the process herself by throwing various articles of her clothing to the guests – the garter being one of them.  It then became customary for the bride to toss the garter to the men.  Unfortunately for the bride, the often drunken men would become impatient and try to remove the garter ahead of time. That is how the tradition evolved into today’s custom of having the groom remove the garter from his bride and then toss it to the men.  This change also brought forth the tradition of the bride tossing her boutique to the unwed girls who were eligible for marriage.

Whether you incorporate the risqué performance of the groom removing the garter from under your dress and throwing it to the pack of single men or if you simply want to have a wedding garter as a keepsake of your wedding, there are many colors, styles and even themes available.  You can find pink camouflage, white satin, and even seaside themed garters just to name a few.  Another tradition to consider, a garter is a great way to discreetly add that “something blue” to your wedding day ensemble.


Cheers to the happy couple!!  A toast to your new life together requires a distinctive set of toasting flutes.  Flute sets come in a wide range of styles from casual designs, to a more classic look, to down-right exquisite.  Plastic, glass, crystal, silver, or pewter, are just a few of the types available. 

If you want something really unique, a special theme design like Calla Lily, Renaissance, or Seaside Jewel Stemmed sets of wedding toasting flutes are great options.  Add a little extra special touch and personalize your flutes.  Personalizing toasting flutes is very popular for the wedding couple or as a gift idea for the bridal party.  Glass can be etched and metal engraved with your names and wedding date or the initials of those in your wedding party.  They really make for a great momento of your special day.

No doubt these beautiful keepsake flutes will be used to toast many special occasions to come!


You search and search and search and alas, you find that perfect pair of wedding shoes.  You can’t wait to get them home and break them in.  After 15 minutes of walking around in these gorgeous works of art you realize beauty can be painful.  Well, no more!  These days wedding shoes don’t mean satin stilettos, strappy little sling-backs or anything remotely “pumped” up.  Believe it or not, bridal flip flops have found a niche in the wedding shoe industry with a classier, trendier and less painful option for those oh so fancy feet.  Due to the many styles and embellishments available, they are not only for beach, garden, or casual weddings anymore. 

There are so many different and unique styles to choose from.  You can find elegant wedding flip flops adorned with gems like pearls or rhinestones.  If you are looking for a more simple design, sequined or beaded flip flops may be the way to go. Dyed flip flops are another popular choice and are often available to match any bridal party color scheme.  Wedding flip flops are also a great idea for wedding party gifts or a honeymoon gift for the bride and groom. 

Who wants sore feet by the end of the reception?  Wedding flip flops can really save the day and allow the bride to concentrate on the fun, not the pain.


How about an Ensemble?  Wedding ensembles are all inclusive sets that feature all the beautiful pieces you need, packaged together in one bundle.  Because accessories are bundled together, ensembles will save you time and money.  They are ideal for one stop shopping and cost less than if you purchased all the items separately!

Ensembles are available in many different styles, colors, and themes.  They include matching items like the wedding guest book, ring bearer pillow, flower girl basket, and unity candle.  Ensembles are a convenient, cost-effective way to make your wedding complete.


January 13, 2010

It’s a known fact, people love free gifts.  Wedding favors are a unique way of providing guests with a small token of appreciation for attending your wedding.  They also serve as a momento of your special day.  Selections include boxes or tins of sweets, bells, wine, small games, and frames.  The list is endless. 

Wedding favor boxes come in a variety of shapes and colors.  Add a little flare and personalize your wedding favors with a foil stamp, embossed ribbon, customized label or even custom-made chocolates molded into your names and wedding date.  Favors are a also a great way to complement any wedding theme.  There are lots of fun and creative ideas to assure a truly memorable keepsake for your guests.


 Though it’s really a small part of the overall reception and quite often an overlooked detail, your wedding cake server set serves a very important function.  As you cut that first piece of wedding cake together, not only is the entire reception tuned in to this event, but the photographer will get many of your special photos during this exchange as well.  “Why not just get a knife?” you ask.  Proper etiquette suggests that the cake be served with a cake server.  The server is also a helpful tool for the traditional feeding of the cake to each other.

Knife and server sets are available in a variety of styles and most are engraveable!  When making your selection keep in mind that this wedding cake server set is something you will not only use but treasure through the years.  You can have an ornate set with pearl, beads, or crystal handles.  You can dress up a simple set with satin bows that match your color scheme.  You can find handles designed with specific themes in mind.  Some couples may even choose to use a set passed down from their family.  Although it doesn’t seem like a very important detail right now, just remember that this timeless accessory is something you can use for future special occasions like cutting your anniversary cake or your child’s birthday cake.  Who knows, you may even pass it down to your own children for their wedding day.


A lot of thought goes into choosing the wedding party.  Couples tend to surround themselves with the people in their life that mean the most to them.  In addition to being special, this hand-picked group must be dependable as well.  The wedding party is often called upon to assist with certain tasks and details in the overall wedding planning so it’s important to have a group you can count on.  With all this responsibility and invested time, you want to be sure to properly show your bridesmaids and groomsmen how much you appreciate them being such an integral part of your special day.

Personalized gifts are a great way to say thank you.  There are so many bridal party gifts to choose from.  Traditional gifts, like a silver engraved picture frame for her or engraved money clip for him are always a safe bet.  For non-traditional items, she’s sure to appreciate a spa gift certificate and he would definitely love a golf gift certificate.  You can also go with a theme, based on your wedding’s theme or location.  Whatever you choose, the bridal party will be pleased that you thought of them.  Also, when giving thanks, don’t forget the parents, the flower girl and ring bearer, your officiant, wedding planner and any other guests of honor.  A small token of appreciation goes a long way.