How to throw the perfect boho themed wedding

You've heard of boho style and boho weddings, but you may still be wondering- what exactly IS boho?

Boho is short for "bohemian," which simply means unconventional. Of course, there are some things that come to mind when someone mentions "bohemian." We'll go over those things here. 

Most people associate boho with someone free-spirited and in touch with nature. To have a wedding that communicates that theme, you'll want to choose decor and mood that is earthy and ties in nature.

Dream catchers are an easy way to add some flashiness while still maintaining that ethereal theme. Hang them from the ceiling to add pops of color at your reception, or hang several stark white dream catchers right behind you and your fiance as you say your vows for a breathtaking backdrop. 

Opt for lighter and airy linens that will give your reception a light feel. Avoid heavy duty polyester linens with straight ironed lines. This is an especially nice touch if your reception is outdoors, where the edges of the linens can gently blow in the breeze. 

As far as floral arrangements go, think lots of greenery. Sage especially conveys an earthy feel. Instead of large formal arrangements, a fun and whimsical idea is to put single stems in small vases of varying sizes and arrange them throughout the guest tables. Succulents are also a simple addition that can also be used as guest favors.

If you are a boho bride who still envisions some bling at your wedding- don't worry, you can still tie it in! Mother nature provides us with sparkling and eye catching decor in geodes, crystals, and gems! Use them in your centerpieces for a pop of color. Hang them from spots in the ceiling for a colorful and natural way to throw light. 


To throw a boho wedding that conveys elegance and effortlessness all at the same time, remember to embrace the most beautiful parts of nature. Have your ceremony at a beautiful spot in the woods, or at a lake. You could choose springtime and be surrounded by blossoming trees and flowers. Wear a gorgeous flower crown as you say your vows. Just make it you!

How to become a pro at attending Bridal Shows

Tis the season for Bridal shows! We have 5 tips to help you navigate all the upcoming bridal shows and expos like a pro. 

One - Create an email just for wedding related things. You'll be receiving a ton of offers from vendors and don't want to clog up your personal or professional account. 

Two - Bring someone with you to help carry things! You'll be given flyers, promotional items, and swag bags- often more than you can carry. 

Three - Enter in the giveaways! It won't hurt to write your information down for a chance to win discounted services, special offers, or even a honeymoon.

Four -  Bring a folder, binder, or clip with you. You can keep the information you want to look at more closely with your fiance at a later time.

Five - Enjoy yourself! Try free samples, attend the fashion show, and buy the VIP tickets.

5 Easily Overlooked Wedding Day Details

Arrange transportation for the wedding party

Have you thought about how your bridesmaids and groomsmen will get from the ceremony to the photography spot to the reception? What about parents and grandparents?
Imagine how difficult it would be to coordinate several cars to get from point A to point B, all on time. Especially if you have that relative who always gets lost and has to call someone for point by point directions.
A party bus is an expense that is so worth the money. Everyone is in one space and on time. You and your party can relax and drink a little during the photoshoots.

Arrange transportation for the bride and groom after reception

True story- once, we were attending a wedding as guests. The bride, groom, and bridal party had been transported by a party bus during the day, but no one had thought about how the bride and groom were to get to their hotel room after the reception.
As the bride and groom are giving their goodbyes to guests as they leave for the night, it dawns on one of them- that they don't have a ride!
At this point, most of the bridal party had left, and we ended up driving them to their hotel room. A happy ending, but that frenzied and stressed feeling at the end of their night was something they could have gone without!
Make sure you plan for transportation at the end of the night. Whether it's a limo or a bridesmaid's car, this is a step that is easy to overlook but so important!

Check weather and sunset times

Does the forecast call for rain? This is a perfect opportunity to get adorable matching umbrellas and rain boots for your party during photos! Will part of your wedding be outside? Provide bug spray. It's also important to know what time the sun will set. So before you decorate your reception hall in thousands of twinkle lights, make sure that it will either be dark outside or that your hall has blinds that will shut out the sunlight. Which brings us to our next point...

Don't underestimate the importance of lighting

If a casual barbecue reception is your style, then bright lighting may not be an issue. However, if you are going for an intimate vibe, low lighting is a must. Does your venue have light dimmers? Will you be able to block out sunlight if it starts during the daytime?
Check with your DJ for spotlight rental information. This is a simple way to draw attention to certain areas, such as the head table and cake.
Low lighting is also a great way to blur out any decor that you may not be completely happy with, such as old and sad carpet at an otherwise perfect venue.

Make a "do not play" list for your DJ

Many brides don't realize that DJs improvise, a lot. A good DJ will try to feel out the crowd and decide what to play next. There are tons of go-to wedding songs. Do you consider any of those to be too corny for your wedding? Hate line dances? Will you be annoyed to hear country music during dinner? Make a "do not play" list for your DJ, so that his job is easier, and your money goes to music that you want to hear!

Creating Your Wedding Guest List

 

Who should you invite to your wedding?

 

The answer may seem simple, but once you realize how many people you know, the it becomes a little more complicated. The answer can be found by deciding what type of wedding you are planning to have.







First, take into account your budget. If you have a limited budget, like many brides do, you will most likely have no choice but to shave the guest list. Perhaps you'd rather have a more intimate affair if it means you can afford the specialized cocktail menu you've been dreaming about. Maybe you'd rather have more guests to celebrate with and forego certain other aspects of the wedding. It all comes down to personal preference!

Aside from budget issues, it can be super easy to cave into the pressure to invite people you know, but don't necessarily want to share your big day with. Figure out how important it is to stand your ground with these possible guests. You may decide there is no harm in inviting a distant great aunt who you haven't seen in years, but a cousin who you could run into at the grocery store may not make the list because you but heads with them.


Are you questioning including plus ones? Consider this- at larger weddings where there are guests who may not know other people well (or at all,) these guests will feel pretty lonely and awkward if they don't have someone to enjoy the night with. At smaller weddings, not including a plus one is considered more acceptable. If money is the issue and you have to nix the plus ones, do your best to craft a seating chart where those guests who don't know many people will at least be seated with others who have similar interests and personalities. That way your reserved coworker from 6 years ago isn't seated next to the party animal friend from college!





Remember that you and your partner are planning what is likely to be the biggest and most memorable celebrations of our lives- it is completely acceptable to be assertive and firm in your guest list decisions!

Nontraditional and Delicious Substitutions for Wedding Cake

A wedding cake can seem high on the list of things that have be at a wedding. Cutting the cake is a moment couples look forward to at their wedding. This moment will be just as special even if there is something different for the newlyweds to cut into. Here are a few alternatives to having a wedding cake.

    

  

Cupcakes- These will look great on a dessert table. 

Cake-Pops- You can have cake and save money too. 

Pie- Not a fan of cake? Try a spread of pies for you and your guest to enjoy.

Pizza- Try different types of pizza with classic toppings. 

Waffles, Pancakes, or Crepes- Any of these options will give your cake table a unique spin.

Donuts- Having donuts can offer a range of sweet and savory flavors.

Cookies- Sweet and easy. 

Cheese- This can still assemble the shape of a cake and blow guest away. 

Ice-cream Cake- The perfect combination.

The Ultimate Guide to Finding YOUR Wedding Dress

Is there anything more iconic, memorable, and statement-making on your wedding day than your wedding gown?

The answer, of course, is no way!

From the moment they receive the invitation to the moment you walk down that aisle, your guests will be anticipating what your gorgeous gown will look like. Make sure their first image of you is perfection with this ultimate guide to finding YOUR wedding dress!

Vague Vision or Detailed Design?

There are two types of brides when it comes to wedding dress shopping. The first bride has a vague idea (or maybe none at all) of what she wants her gown to look like. The second bride has a specific dress that she has designed in her mind over several years. Which one are you? If you are the first bride, you'll want to try on lots and lots of dresses to get a good feel for the direction you want to go in.
If you're like the second bride, consider loosening the reigns on that image you've created of your perfect dress. Choose one or two details that you can't live without, such as the silhouette or the type of beading, and focus on trying on those types of dresses. If you spend all of your time trying on dresses that fit a tight list of specifications, you will most likely get frustrated, fast, and maybe even miss out on a dress you've never even dreamed of!

Give Comfort a Chance

Hear us out- while it's doubtful that you will find a dress that is comfy enough to want to lounge around on the couch in afterward, you should definitely consider attempting to get a dress that doesn't actively cause you discomfort or pain.
That means to try and stay away from dresses that pinch you or squeeze you too hard. Sometimes all it takes is an alteration or two to take your dress from painful to tolerable- or even comfortable!

Start Early

We mean it. Start early. Like, a year early. A year and a half is even better if you can. You'd be surprised how long it may take you to find a dress you are truly in love with.
Nothing takes the fun out of wedding dress shopping like an impending deadline. Don't put yourself in a position where you'll be forced to compromise because you ran out of time.
Keep in mind that once you actually choose your gown, potential alterations and additional fittings can take another few months.

Bring Some Loved Ones

Make dress shopping an important and fun experience for yourself and your close loved ones! Bring along some of your friends and/or family members to make sure you have honest opinions and plenty of memories to make. Make a day of it and go out to lunch or dinner together afterward!

But Not Too Many!

Remember what we said about "nothing takes the fun out of wedding dress shopping like an impending deadline?" We take that back. Nothing takes the fun out of wedding dress shopping like having the wrong people there with you! 
Now is not the time to make your blunt and grouchy aunt feel included. This is not the time to "bond" with your soon to be mother-in-law who always has a comment about your outfit choices. This is about your experience. Sure, you'll want to bring people who are honest but make sure they will be nice about it. Stick to 2 to 5 guests to take with you so that you don't become overwhelmed with opinions.

Be Realistic

We had to mention it. That's right. The budget! Only you know what your budget is or should look like. You will need to decide what to budget for a dress and decide it ASAP. Don't dream up an unrealistic number and cause yourself heartache in the end. Don't waste time looking at dresses with price tags you know you can't afford. There are plenty of "budget" dresses and dress shops, that don't look "budget" at all!

So there you have it. Try your best to look amazing, feel amazing, and not go into debt! Don't forget to enjoy the actual experience of dress shopping and take your time!

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Gifts to Get Your Husband on Your Wedding Day

What Should You Get Your New Husband on Your Wedding Day? 

Men can be hard to shop for in general. Birthdays, Christmas, and Father's day make for difficult shopping sometimes. Most of you are probably thinking "I never knew you should get your husband-to-be a gift." Giving your husband a gift on your wedding day will let him know how much he's appreciated.

The following gift ideas range in price to fit every budget! 

Write your husband a letter- Tell him how you feel on such a special day for you both. Remind him why he proposed and why you said "yes!" to his proposal. This is something you can keep and share with you kids on their wedding day. This would be a priceless keepsake.

Give your husband an engraved watch- This will compliment his wedding attire. He will feel great knowing you thought of him and look great wearing his new watch. The engraving will always remind him of this special moment. 

Sunglasses - Buy your husband a pair of shades. This will boost his confidence in all those fun wedding pictures after the ceremony. You can get fancy with a expensive pair or an inexpensive pair. I promise he won't be able to tell the difference.

Boudoir photos! - Its time for a photo shoot! A boudoir photo shoot is a intimate setting for classy and romantic images. Your husband will love these!