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! 

Things to Consider When Choosing your Wedding Venue

Picking a wedding venue can be exciting! During all that excitement here are few things you should take into consideration before choosing your wedding venue. 

Location

Take the time to think about your in town and out of town guest. Try to find a sweet spot where guest who are local won't have to travel 5 hours away. If your having out of town guest set a room block at a near by hotel where you'll be having your wedding.

The food

Are you only allowed to use the venues  preferred caterer? If so will they be able to make the cuisine you had in mind? Something else to consider is being able to bring in a outside caterer and will the venue have space to accommodate them. For example the kitchen capabilities.

Availability

Are you able to setup all of your decorations the night before? How soon can your vendors start arriving and setting up? What time will everything need to broken down and cleaned up?

Decor

Can you hang things on the wall and if so do need special material? Can you use confetti or balloons? 

Larger venues may offer a wedding planner and taking full advantage of that can eliminate a lot of stress. 

Make Your Bachelorette Party Count

Wedding planning is stressful, right? Besides the obvious decision of hiring a wedding planner, there's one more way to manage your stress leading up to your big day- your bachelorette party! Although it's meant to be a way to blow off some steam right before your wedding, bachelorette parties themselves have become full of traditions, do's and do not's, and high expectations. It's a big mistake to overlook the bachelorette party! Follow these tips to make your big night as wonderful as your big day will be!

Have a Vision

The first and arguably most important thing to decide is what you want your bachelorette party to look and feel like. Do you want a night to rival the movie "Hangover?" or do you prefer something quieter? Do you imagine you and your crew bar hopping all night, or staying in for a paint night with wine? Knowing your expectations and making them clear to your maid of honor will ensure you get the bachelorette party of your dreams!

Organize the Finances

Make sure that whatever you decide to do, it is affordable for your bridesmaids and other guests. If you dream of a presidential suite and bottle service in Las Vegas, keep in mind that many of your guests may not be able to afford that. Tuck that away for a post-honeymoon trip! Instead, think of an agenda that is manageable for everyone. This should be your maid of honor's job to figure out. Ask her to come up with a budget that works for everyone- then plan away!

Timeline

There are so many fun bachelorette party ideas out there, but don't feel obligated to overschedule! Our suggestion is to pick 1 or 2 "activities," followed by a night of bar hopping or wine tasting, for example. Make sure to consider time needed to have a snack or change clothes and freshen up if needed. Don't underestimate the importance of just relaxing with your friends and a couple of drinks!

Don't Drink and Drive

You know that list you have in your head of everything that could go wrong at your wedding? Add a DUI for you or one of your bridesmaids if you don't plan for transportation back from the bars. Not fun. An Uber of Lyft is such a simple and affordable way to get to and from the bars, you don't have an excuse NOT to go that route. If you and your guests are able to shell out the extra bucks, a limo or party bus is super memorable!

Keep it Personal

Don't make this just any night out on the town! Incorporate something special. Personalized matching temporary tattoos are super affordable, simple and fun! Maybe your crew is the scavenger hunt type- there are endless possibilities. If it's an overnight event, send your guests home with cute "hangover kits" filled with things like aspirin, bottled water, and mints. There are so many memorable ways to cherish your bachelorette party forever.

Wedding Etiquette- What Still Applies, and to Who?

Etiquette- it almost sounds like an antiquated word, doesn't it? With social etiquette, in general, becoming more relaxed in recent years, some people underestimate the importance of wedding etiquette. Yes- it's still important. 

However, with so many different styles and types of weddings, it can be difficult to determine which etiquette still applies and which may not. Mix an older generation with a new generation where many feel comfortable running to the grocery store in their pajama pants (which we're guilty of!) and it's even more confusing. 

Consider this your go-to guide on wedding etiquette so you can quit wondering and start having a good time at those weddings this summer! If you're planning your own wedding, use this guide to keep your guests in line.

White is Still A Big No

Remember when it was a considered bad etiquette to wear all white to a wedding? Yeah, it still is considered bad etiquette. Sure, having some white in your outfit is fine, but if you show up in an all-white dress or outfit, chances are, you will take attention away from the bride. So, save that bright white outfit for another occasion.

Social Media- to Post or Not to Post?

This is a newer, smartphone age etiquette conundrum. Many people take photos of the happy new couple on their phones and that's great! Many of those people also post it to Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms- right away. This can be frustrating for many brides, who have spent thousands of dollars on a professional photographer, only to have the first pictures of them in their beautiful dress unveiled to the world of social media by a guest who took it at a strange angle above Aunt Sally's perm on a smartphone.

Always RSVP

The number of brides that we've worked with who don't receive all of their RSVPs back is astounding. Always RSVP. Even if it's a "no." Imagine how stressful it is planning the biggest party of your life. Now imagine how stressful that would be if you only get 52 RSVPs from 150 invites. 

Without proper planning, the bride and groom either waste a ton of money on food for people who don't show up or don't have enough food when guests who didn't bother to RSVP attend. It doesn't take long- please RSVP.

Be on Time

This means the obvious- don't be late. Nothing throws off a beautiful, quiet ceremony like a guest rushing through the doors 5 minutes in. However, it also means don't be too early! A good time frame for arrival is 15 - 5 minutes before the start of the ceremony. If you arrive too early, you might throw off the family's plans, like pre-ceremony photography. You might even see the bride in her dress, which will ruin the magic of the ceremony for her and you!

Stick to the Registry

If you see a really cute slow cooker that you think they would love, resist the urge to buy it. It's likely not on the list because they already have a good slow cooker. It will help no one to fill up their home with useless items. Don't feel obligated to get something out of your budget, either. Most couples will have items in a large price range on their registry!

"Open Bar or Cash Bar" - The Positives and Negatives to a Open and Cash bar.

Every bride has wondered, "open or cash bar?" There are many positives and negatives to each, but the reality is that no one bar type fits every wedding! It depends on a number of factors,  like your budget and guests. 

Open Bar

Positives-

Guests save money

Starting with the obvious,  your guests won't have to shell out money for drinks (remember to put out a tip jar,  though!) There's not much more to elaborate on here- everyone loves saving money!

Party atmosphere

Ask yourself what type of partiers your guests are. Will there be a lot of your college friends there, ready to down shots and dance the night away? Do you want the reception to feel like a big party? Do you want it to go late into the night? An open bar almost guarantees a late night party! With the alcohol flowing, the dance floor will fill up and the guests will be more encouraged to keep the party going.  

Thanks guests and makes them feel more welcome

Your guests will really feel taken care of if they have complimentary drinks during your reception. It'll feel more like a party. It will also create fun memories that everyone will keep with them forever. 

Negatives- 

You spend a big chunk of your budget

Of course, an open bar is never cheap. If you've been stretching your wedding budget,  an open bar may not be in the cards for you. And that's ok!

Guests may get too drunk

Do you have a few guests that you just know will drink past their limits? To avoid any drama, damages, or obnoxious scenes, you may choose a cash bar instead. As we mentioned above,  it's all about knowing your guests. 

Driving home safety

This isn't a fun part of the night to think about, but it's important.  Do you feel your guests will drive home responsibly? The last thing you want on your wedding night is to feel responsible for a drunk driving incident. 

Cash Bar

Positives-

You save a ton of money on alcohol

Small budgets reap the benefits of a cash bar! 

Responsible drinking

Guests will be much more likely to drink responsibly with an open bar,  reducing the risk of any drunken accidents or scenes. 

Negatives-

Guests may feel restricted if on a budget

Guests on a budget or struggling financially may not be able to drink at your reception. 

Guests may get upset with bartender if they feel their order is incorrect 

Since guests are paying for each drink, they will be more critical of taste and ratios, potentially holding up the bar line. 

Party likely to end earlier

The longer guests stay, the more money is coming out of their pockets. This will make the reception more likely to end earlier.  

Compromising

A simple compromise to those on the fence is easy. You could have a limited open bar with just beer and wine. No liquor will likely keep "problem" relatives out of trouble. It's also more affordable. 

Another good option is limiting the hours of the open bar. An open bar that lasts through the first 2 hours of the reception is much cheaper than an open bar that lasts 4+ hours.