Wedding Supplies

Let the unity candle light the way to your marriage

The internet has really opened up a lot of creative options for today’s wedding planner.  The traditional wedding has been adapted in many forms thanks to the ideas and ease of research on the internet.  Take the lighting of the unity candle, for example.  There was a time when this tradition was automatically part of the ceremony.  Lighting these three candles, in the presence of the guests at the ceremony, symbolizes the unity of the couple from individuals, into one.

In today’s world, this tradition still goes on, in many different formats.  For a more formal unity candle lighting, with a slight twist, you may want to involve the parents or families of the couple.  This would not only symbolize the union of the wedding couple but also the joining of the two families.  If you’d like to involve your guests, you can provide an unlit candle to each guest as they arrive.  After the couple lights the unity candle, they can have the guests come forward to light their candles off of the newly lit unity candle.  This involves the guests in your ceremony and represents their support of the marriage.  Doing this can be time consuming, not to mention a little dangerous.  It may be something to consider with a smaller guest list or toward the end of the ceremony as guests are leaving.  The candles can also serve as a keepsake for the guests.

 Another less traditional idea is to incorporate the unity candle lighting into the reception.  This would be a great way to tie in centerpieces and or favors.  Upon arriving at the reception, the couple could light the unity candle, then go around to each table and light a pre-set votive centerpiece.  It’s a great ice breaker, a way to say hello to your guests, a way to incorporate a special tradition and an easy centerpiece idea.   Although this tradition is not new nor is it necessary, there are certainly ways to make it a unique and special part of your wedding day.

Engravable wedding party gifts

There are so many details, both great and small, that we remember about our wedding day. Hopefully they’re all pleasant memories. The bride and groom will remember special things such as their wedding song; the first song they dance to as husband and wife. They’ll also remember the generous gifts they were given, along with all the advice they received, (and not necessarily solicited advice!) But isn’t it equally as important to remember the people who participated in your wedding?

               You hand-picked your bridal party and you chose these specific people because of what they represent to you and for the impact they’ve each had on your life. They’ll spend time and money to help make your wedding perfect. They each deserve a special gift to show your appreciation for their support and effort. Wedding Party Gifts can be just about anything you want them to be. There are no limitations on size or dollar amount; of course the idea behind this tradition is not about monetary value. The only gift I would stay away from is money, (cash or check).

Bridal party gifts should be from the heart and be something either sentimental, practical, or both. When I got married, I gave each of the bridesmaids and ushers something special, (all different and tailored to their individual personalities, but all of equal value). My maid of honor received a beautiful 8×10 empty frame with the inscription, “Thank you for standing by my side” and my wedding date. A couple of months later when I received my formal wedding pictures, I presented her with a picture of the two of us to put in the frame. The picture is proudly displayed in her living room, 14 years later.  The best man received the same two part gift from my husband.

The bottom line is that your wedding party deserves due recognition for their part in your special day. They’ll love and treasure whatever you give them because they know it was a well thought out and heart felt gift!

Pick a special wedding gift for your future spouse

Think of all the time and effort that goes into planning a wedding. There’s all the preparation that goes into making the reception perfect; the music, the food, the flowers, the color scheme…the list seems endless! With so many things to get ready and to finalize, is it possible that something will slip your mind? Absolutely! But chances are that it won’t be something major, so try not to stress out or sweat the little things, as people like to say.

                There is one thing that’s likely to be overlooked, and it’s an old tradition. In fact, all things considered, it may ultimately be the most important of the wedding traditions. I’m speaking about the tradition of giving wedding gifts. Not of guests giving gifts to the bride and groom, but rather the wedding gifts between the bride and groom. This is a special exchange of a gift given usually just before the wedding day. It is significant in its meaning to form the initial bond between husband and wife. The gift could symbolize something about your relationship or it can simply be a gift from the heart. The choices are endless and yours to make. My gift to my husband was both practical and meaningful. I gave him a letter opener with our anniversary date engraved on it. It was gold plated with a beautifully ornate crystal handle. I chose this as a special gift for him because it drove me crazy that he always opened the mail with a steak knife!

                Whatever the gift is, be sure to cherish it throughout your married life together. You’ll always have something personal that when you look at it, you are reminded of the happiness you shared on your wedding day. You may have overlooked this tradition simply because you weren’t aware that it existed. Now you know, so share this wisdom with others and have fun with it!

The right wedding accessories will brighten your day

You’ve set the wedding date for a Saturday in May. You’ve chosen this month because the weather really should be cooperative, (and of course the meaning here is all relative to where you live; too late for snow and too early for a hurricane). The days preceding your wedding are filled with countless errands and to double checking all the check lists. Everything looks bright and sunny except the weather forecast …calling for RAIN all day! They say rain on your wedding day is good luck, (so is getting pooped on by a bird, but I wouldn’t want it to happen on my wedding day!) How can this be so? If you are upset and give no merit to this ridiculous wives tail, consider this true story.

                My mother grew up on the third floor of a three family house in South Boston. On the morning of her wedding, she tried to remain optimistic, but all she saw looking out her living room window was a constant downpour of rain. She became frustrated and was concerned about the affects of the rain on her appearance…on the biggest day of her life.

                The limousine horn beeped and she took one final look out the window, only to see that it was still pouring! She collected her belongings and headed for the front door three flights down. A strange thing happened. By the time she got downstairs, it had completely stopped raining! “Finally”, she thought. But once she was safely tucked inside the limo, it began to pour again. Her expectation for nice weather dwindled, but she herself was a ray of sunshine because she was so happy to be marrying my Dad.

                But wait, they pulled up to the church and just as she’s ready to get out of the limo, it stops raining again; how bizarre! During the ceremony, everyone can hear the rain coming down hard. And just as they were getting ready to leave the church, blam! It stops raining again! Then it picks up again and rains for the entire 30 minute ride to the reception.

Someone must have been watching over my parents that day because guess what? As soon as the limo pulled up to the reception hall, it stopped raining and I think the sun even came out! So in the end, my mother never got a drop of rain in her hair or on her gown. And I’m happy to report that my parents just celebrated their 42^nd wedding anniversary this month!

At WeddingTreasureChest.com, we can’t control the weather on your wedding day. But what we can do is spread a little sunshine over your wedding plans by offering great wedding accessories, wedding gifts and novelties at great prices.

Why buy individual pieces when you can get a beautiful wedding ensemble?

Have you become overwhelmed with the thought of everything that’s entailed in planning the perfect wedding? Or maybe you’re having a short engagement and you’re pressed for time to make your wedding plans. No bride wants to rush through her wedding day, but there’s so much to plan and so much to do. How do you do it all and end up with results that make you happy?

                One thing to consider amidst the chaos is consolidation. I don’t mean to skip over things you want or to cut down your wish list of the days’ events; I mean do as much as possible with one stop shopping. Most function halls and hotels offer package deals which are meant to save you both time and money. They save you time because you’ll get to work with one person who’ll help you plan the entire reception, (probably a wedding or special event planner), and this person works directly for the function establishment. Often times this package will also include flowers for the place where the marriage ceremony will take place, so this can save you money!

                Another way to save money on your reception is to buy your accessories together. Things not included in a reception package deal are some of the items that make a wedding special, a reception memorable and create life-long treasures. Items such as ring bearer pillows, cake knives and toasting flutes can be found in a wedding collection. If you plan to purchase these types of items anyway, consider purchasing a wedding collection. The one stop shopping will save you time for sure. Wedding collections are readily available with different pieces and in many colors to compliment your chosen bridal colors.

Help the little guy out by getting him a soft, cushiony ring bearer pillow

Does the thought of all eyes on you make you nervous? Well as a bride, you’ll have to learn to get over this fear for the sake of your wedding day. Do whatever works best to calm you down. Then try to remember that you are the center of attention only briefly, but for a cause that serves as a lifelong memory and an anticipated life time of happiness!

                Now that you’ve got that covered, who else that walks down the aisle, even before you, may be scared or nervous that day? Maybe the ring bearer? After all, he’s probably fairly young and you’re counting on him to transport the wedding rings down the aisle safely. This is a huge undertaking for the little guy! So how do you get him to relax? First of all, you need to make sure that he has a durable yet comfortable ring bearer pillow to help him get the job done. Satin or velvet is soft to the touch and can give him a sense of tranquility. Ring bearer pillows come in a variety of styles and colors to fit your wedding décor.

To take his mind off of the attention he will receive, you can always give him a special reason to get down the aisle. Find a ring bearer pillow that has a pouch, slit or secret compartment and leave something, (besides the rings), in it for him. It can be something as simple as a special note, a piece of gum or a dollar bill, (find out ahead of time what motivates him)! Then tell him that he can have his surprise just as soon as he gets the pillow safely to the altar!

Flower petals are beautiful. So too should the little gals' flower girl basket be

You’ve picked your best little gal to walk before you down the  aisle. The goal is to get her to smile and do something wonderful with flowers. Will she give a long stemmed red rose to each woman at the wedding? Or will she shower the aisle with flower petals? And if so, will they be real petals or silk? And what color? The list goes on and on!

 Whatever you decide to do with the flowers or petals, there is one thing that is undeniable. That is that every beautiful flower girl needs a beautiful flower girl basket or satchel.  There are a variety of flower girl baskets out there to choose from. You can purchase a basket or satchel either as a single item or as part of a wedding collection. Many flower girl baskets are available in multiple colors. Once you’ve picked out your flower girl basket, you will be able to decide what to put in it.

After the wedding, you may choose to proudly display your flower girl basket or satchel as part of the memory of your special day.  Of course you can always fill it up with whatever you like and use it for everyday living too!

The tossing of the garter is popular at weddings but not mandatory

With wedding season soon to be in full bloom, are you ready for your big day? You’re probably well aware of the age old tradition that you need to wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Your gown probably meets one of the first two criteria. It’s easy enough to borrow a piece of jewelry from a relative or close friend for the day. But what about the something blue?

It’s not that easy to find something blue to wear on your person as you embark on your greatest journey. Go easy with the blue makeup and nail polish that day; you don’t to look like a clown! Blue suede shoes will probably just clash with your outfit. I’ve never run into a blue veil, (although in today’s day and age, they’re probably out there for the taking)! And tattoos don’t count! So what’s a bride to do? There’s nothing that says these items have to be noticeable, so it’s safe to put your something blue under your gown somewhere. So how about a blue garter? The great thing about a blue garter is that you’ve fulfilled the tradition criteria and, you can prove it to all your guests if you opt for partake in another old wedding tradition; the tossing of the garter.

Customized or engraved items make great wedding presents

I’m always looking for interesting things to blog about. Do you have a funny story about your own wedding or a wedding you attended? If you do, please let me know and I’ll be happy to review and post it!

Have you ever been to a wedding that didn’t place and all the guests showed up only to see someone get jilted at the altar? That must be an awful feeling, to be the guest of a love one whose world has just crumbled! Better luck to that person the next time around, (if there is a next time, that is!) There was probably a good reason for it and it’ll probably be for the best in the long run. You’re going to run into a problem if you try to return certain wedding gifts, so hold on to it for a while…you just never know what will happen down the road!

Let’s hope you have never been involved with the wedding that never was, but if you do have a story to share, please let me know.