Pretty Little Things - Miniature Wedding Cakes

Pretty, petite and oh-so-sweet! Why not serve darling little wedding cakes to each guest at your wedding. These individual treats will make your guests feel so special. While individual wedding cupcakes have been popular in the past because of their casual and easy serving, mini wedding cakes allow for that same convenience but with a little more elegance and whimsy. The little cakes can be served just like a regular wedding cake. Your guests can come up to the cake table and collect there dainty delicacies. Another fun option is to have the sweet mini cakes set at each place setting or have a single medium sized wedding cake set as the centerpiece for each table. The beautiful desserts will help decorate the tables and be a great conversation starter for guests. Your little cakes can be mini replicas of a larger traditional wedding cake that is displayed at the reception. Feast your eyes on this fabulous collection of miniature wedding cakes, they may just be too pretty to eat!

Your miniature wedding cakes can double as special take home favors for your guests! Choose an assortment of flavors for all of the cakes and package them in clear topped mini cake boxes or cupcake boxes, depending on how big they are. These easy favors are a 'piece of cake'!

Image Credits: Main cake image, Yellow cake collection, Teal rose cake by Stephanie Joy, Rose topped blue ribbon cakes, Pink rose and heart cakes by Maisie Fantaisie, Pink striped mini cakes, Mini cake candies

12 Days of Weddings - 11 Pipers Piping Wedding Inspiration Board

Thank you for joining us for the eleventh edition of our 12 Days of Weddings blog series.  We've had so much fun bringing you holiday wedding inspiration for each of the 12 Days of Christmas.  It's hard to believe we only have one more inspiration board left.

For this holiday collage, we've pulled from the legendary 11 Pipers Piping to bring you a warm and inviting board inspired by all things tartan.  I love the idea of a traditional plaid Christmas wedding and I'm so excited to be able to bring this inspiration to life.  Doesn't the combination just give you that warm and fuzzy holiday feeling?

Image Credits:  Flower girl in plaid, Scottish ceremony procession, 11 pipers piping gift box, Scottish bride and groom, Plaid lodge setting, Holiday wreath, Bride in plaid, Plaid tablesetting, Tartan reception table, Bridesmaids bouquet, Scottish wedding party, Celtic wedding band, Woman with wreath

12 Days of Weddings - 10 Lords A Leaping Inspiration Board

Welcome to the 10th edition in our 12 Days of Weddings blog series. So far we have given you 9 image collages full of wedding inspiration for your holiday wedding. For our 10th inspiration board, we've decided to honor the infamous 10 lords of leaping by paying homage to the fascinating action photography trend that captures grooms and their groomsmen mid-jump - or mid-leap for our purposes. We chose 10 of our favorite "jump shots" to show you. Hopefully this collection of images will inspire both you and your wedding photographer. If not, at least you will get a kick out of seeing some character capturing photographs, mid air poses, and other acts of randomness.

Image Credits (In order from top to bottom, left to right): 1. Southern Aisle, 2. Delightfully Engaged, 3. Polkadot Bride, 4. Unknown, 5. Bellafotografica, 6. Deroughe Mont Manor, 7. The Romantics Ad Campaign via Art8Amby , 8. Tom and Lorenzo, 9. True Photography Weddings, 10. Bridal Snob

10 Hot Holiday Gift Ideas for Women

Black Friday is one week away and it’s time to start shopping for the Christmas season. Have you been pondering about what gift to buy for your wife, girlfriend, daughter or friend? Don’t sweat it; we have compiled a great list for you to give you inspiration on some gifts that your special lady is sure to love.

1. Custom Traditional Family Tree Canvas Print: This is a gift full of family pride! This custom traditional family tree canvas print showcases your family name and all of its members. A quaint tree design is surrounded by up to 8 family member's names, with the family surname beneath. This Custom print is a great gift for your mom, sister or wife.

2. Personalized Pashmina Scarves: The wonderful combination of classy and cozy, these pashmina scarves are the perfect gift for Christmas for any girl on your list. Each scarf is made from a pashmina/silk blend for the perfect balance of light weight warmth and softness. Make this a gift she will always remember by adding her name or monogram to the scarf.

3. Silver Triple Strand Heart Charm Bracelet: Any lady in your life would love this silver triple strand heart charm bracelet. The precious charm can be engraved with a single uppercase script initial. A trendy toggle closure keeps this piece current while a shining silver heart charm adds a classic touch. This bracelet will become a keepsake that she will have forever.

4. Personalized Black Leather Kindle Case: This genuine leather personalized black leather Kindle case features a velvet interior with two bottom genuine leather corners and two top elastic straps to hold your Kindle securely in place. Add your daughters, mothers or wife’s name to this beautifully designed case to create a one of a kind gift that the reader in your family is sure to treasure.

5. 8 x 4 x 7 Personalized Clear Frosted Christmas Gift Bags: This is the perfect gift for that special lady you know that loves to make homemade gifts for her family and friends. Help her out by buying some personalized, one of a kind gift bags that she can fill with all kinds of homemade treasures. She is sure to love this personal and fun way to give gifts to others.

6. Family of Elves Personalized Christmas Ornament:  A fun and creative holiday gift is this unique Family of Elves Personalized Ornament. Select a family size; four, five or six and personalize it with all of the elves' first names, last name, and the current year. This ornament makes a great gift for your mother, sister or friend.

7. Art Deco Vintage Style Bracelet Watch: Does your girlfriend, wife or daughter love vintage? If she does this is the perfect gift, with its geometric design and antique feel, this watch is an updated version of a popular classic style. A sophisticated bracelet watch with an authentic Art Deco inspired geometric design, openwork squares and inlaid hematite crystals. This piece has the look of genuine marcasite jewelry. Definitely a gift she will never want to take off.

8. Personalized Blue Merry Christmas Picture Frame: Surprise her with a beautiful photo of the two of you or a photo of you and the kids. This frame looks great on mantels, sofa tables or anywhere that special someone wants to show off your holiday spirit. Each frame features a special Happy Holidays message and provides plenty of room for names or a short personal sentiment. Sure to make a great gift for all of the women on your Christmas list.

9. Therapeutic Lavender Heated Neck Wrap Gift Set: This therapeutic heated lavender neck wrap gift set will melt away her tension by unlocking the gentle, relaxing properties of heat and aromatherapy. Each gift set includes a microwaveable chenille neck wrap infused with Provence lavender, a 100% soy candle infused with lavender essential oils, and a chic gift card to write your personal wishes to that very special woman in your life. She will absolutely love and appreciate this wonderfully thoughtful gift idea.

10. Design Your Own Personalized Beaded Pearl Necklace and Earring Set: Design a special personalized gift for your sweetheart. Each beautiful necklace features multiple strands of vintage pearls, crystals, ceramic, and chains and comes in four sophisticated color schemes. Choose from red, plum, brown and black for your vintage inspired necklace. Your wife or girlfriend will love bragging to all of her friends about how you specially designed this jewelry set with her in mind.

I hope we have given you some great ideas to get you on the road to completing your Holiday shopping. Visit our website to find all of these and more holiday gift ideas for women.

Good Luck!

A Vintage Wedding Inspiration Board to Inspire Your Elegant Affair

When you combine sophisticated floral displays, soft colors, and smooth flowing fabrics you can create an elegant affair with vintage flair. Use colors like champagne, cream, grey, light peach and pink to keep your wedding and reception feeling dreamy. Create beautiful, but simple centerpieces using moon glass vases and pink or light colored roses.

There are so many different types of vintage wedding gowns that you should have no trouble finding a dress to fit the tone of your wedding. For a glamorous wedding, intricate beaded jewelry can be used to compliment your wedding gown. For a more casual feel, the groom and groomsmen could wear grey suits with only a vest, no jacket.

There are a multitude of possibilities when you are looking to plan a vintage-inspired wedding. Try focusing on a certain era or decade to keep your wedding planning on the path to the type of event you are looking to create. It will also be helpful to choose a color scheme for your wedding. Make sure to incorporate your personality into your wedding so that you are always able to look back on your special day with no regrets.

Photo Credits: Chandelier from Victor Sizemore Photography, Vintage Car by Wedding Bee, Bouquet Stems via Lovely Clusters, Garters from The Chica Boutique, Drapery by Project Wedding, Cake via The Knot, Garden Photo from Love and Lavender, Flowers by Simply Seductive, Hairstyle via Bourbon and Pearls, Milk Glass from The Knot, Dress by Art Deco Weddings, Bracelet via Carellya, Ring from Antiques and the Arts, Seating by Style Me Pretty

12 Days of Weddings - 9 Ladies Dancing Wedding Inspiration Board

We are down to the 9th installment of our 12 Days of Weddings, where we are showcasing holiday inspiration for each of the 12 Days of Christmas.  For this romantic take on 9 Ladies Dancing, we've pulled inspiration from the wonderful world of ballet and added a Christmas twist.

When you combine the beautiful lines of the ballet with the romantic nature of weddings, you are bound to have created an enchanting affair full of feminine details and beautiful accents.  Add in some deep shades of red and sparkling gold for a holiday twist that feels rich and lavish.

Image Credits: Red Ballet Shoes, Ballet Dancers, Bride with Bouquet, Jimmy Choos, Flower Girl, Calligraphy Invitation, Ballet Dancers, Checkerboard Wedding Reception, Birds Nest Veil, Bride in Ballet Shoes, Bride in Tunnel

Top 6 Christmas Wedding Gown Styles

A growing number of brides dream of having the most wonderful day of their life during the most wonderful time of the year.  A Christmas wedding, how beautiful and festive!  A time of year tied with family, friends and togetherness, is the perfect setting for a wedding.  While the weather outside is cold, your winter wedding gathering will be warmed by the love of all of your guests.  While you may already be thinking about fluttering snow favors and décor, your wedding dress should be another special consideration.  A Christmas wedding calls for a particularly special Christmas wedding dress!  Take this opportunity to choose a wedding dress that is fit for a winter snow queen (not Mrs. Claus)!  Take a look at our picks for the Top 6 Christmas Wedding Gown Styles.

1. A Hint of Holiday Color – An overall shade of red and fur may have you looking more like the “jolly one’s” other half than the beautiful bride you should be on your wedding day.  So skip the all red dress and instead go for just a hint of holiday color.  A beautiful red sash compliments a white wedding gown perfectly and can tie in the entire bridal party’s look, if you are going with red bridesmaid dresses.  Consider accenting your sash with a sparkling vintage brooch for an elegant addition. Above dress available at www.wholesale4ever.com.
   
2. Pure Winter White – To echo the snow that is surely falling outside during your Christmas wedding, wear a crisp, pure white wedding gown.  There is no better time than the month of December to wear a wintry white wedding gown.  Save the ivory and champagne for warmer weather and stick with a beautiful snow white shade.  Sparkling jeweled belts and accessories set off a pure white wedding dress wonderfully!  Above dress from Angel Rivera.
   
3. Feathered and Jeweled - A Christmas wedding gives the bride the opportunity to go all out with her attire.  Consider a feathered masterpiece enhanced with sparkling jewels and embellishments.  This style option is for the bride who is not afraid of making a statement.  A poufy, feathered ball gown will have the bride looking like a beautiful winter snow queen.  Above dress by Dennis Basso.
   
4. Radiantly Ruffled – Wear an extravagant ruffled gown that resembles rolling snow drifts.  The bigger the better with the ruffles.  Balance out this look with a more fitted bodice, consider a fit and flare style.  Whether you sport just a few ruffles or a whole dress full of them, there is something so bridal about ruffles and something that makes them so appropriate for your Christmas wedding.  Above dress by Sottero & Midgley.
   
5. A Warm Wrap – This style is a no brainer for any Christmas or winter wedding.  A beautiful fur (or faux) wrap will keep the bride warm and looking fabulous!  It is hard to think of a look richer than this.  Your wrap should match the shade of your wedding gown so it doesn't clash.  The bride can take this extra piece of for the ceremony, but she will surely wear it whenever stepping out into the wintry weather.  Talk about a beautiful look for outdoor photos as well!  Above wrap available at David’s Bridal.
   
6. Slightly Sleeved – A Christmas wedding is the perfect opportunity to sport a wedding dress with a little more on top… okay we’re talking sleeves guys!  Not only will the extra fabric keep you warmer in the bitter weather, it will have you looking as classic as can be.  When choosing a gown with sleeves, think of sheer and lace detailing.  A solid or heavy fabric for the sleeves can lead towards a somewhat dated look.  If you fall in love with a dress that doesn't have sleeves originally, don’t worry, nearly any dress can have them added!  Above gown by Romona Keveza.

So for your Christmas wedding, deck yourself out in all that is white, poufy and pretty.  Add little touches of holiday color and don’t forget about the sparkle!  Stay warm and stay beautiful!

Sparkling bridal accessories, perfect for the holidays and other Christmas Wedding favors and supplies are available at MyWeddingReceptionIdeas.com.

12 Days of Weddings - Eight Maids a Milking - Inspiration Board

It's time for our eighth installment in our 12 Days of Weddings blog series! I can't believe there are only four more episodes to go before Christmas. We have been having so much fun creating wedding inspiration boards based on the famous 12 Days of Christmas carol. This latest version is just as delightful.

We wanted to get creative with our "Eight Maids A Milking" theme, so we decided to pretend that those eight little maids finished their milking, churned the milk into butter, and then did a whole bunch of baking. They then hosted a milk and cookies theme wedding reception with a vintage red and white color scheme. Luckily we were on hand to capture the moment and preserve it for posterity with a lovely image collage.

All make-believe aside, the milk and cookies reception is a favorite theme of ours. The red and white color scheme manages to convey a holiday feeling while still tying in the milk-and-cookies theme. We love the way the striped paper straws accent the glass milk bottles perfectly. Kitschy little favor boxes shaped like old-school milk cartons are another fabulous idea. (You can even download a free printable milk carton box pattern here.) The rest of the theme comes together with vintage accents like metal milk pails, a lovely red barn as part of your venue, and red and white wedding accessories.  

Without further ado, we hope you enjoy the playful interpretation that we like to call "Eight Maids a Milking... and Then Baking Some Cookies."

Image Credits: Bride and Groom from Jared Wilson Photography, Striped Bridesmaids via Stacey Kane Photography, Milk Glasses, Bottles and dessert table from Amy Atlas Events, Red Stripe Tie by La Vie Photography via Kelly OShiro Events , Red Shoes via Style Me Pretty, Milk Carton Favor Boxes by The Sweetest Occasion, Striped Gifts from Country Living, Snow Cake from Tiny White Daisies, Christmas Armoir from Country Living

Ten Great Christmas Gift Ideas for Guys

Another Christmas season is around the corner and it’s time to start planning gift ideas for all the special men in your life. So what do you buy your husband, brother or boyfriend for Christmas? Well we’ve done some of the leg work for you and made a great list below to give you a great starting point for your Holiday season.

1. Mr. Beer Home Brewery Kit with Personalized Pub Glass Set: Perfect for any home bar, the Mr. Beer Home Brewery Kit with personalized pub glass set is the gift that keeps on giving! Completely reusable, the brewing system comes with all you need to make two gallons of beer. Enjoy your brew in the included personalized pub glass set!

2. Personalized Black Leather iPhone Case: This is a great gift for the phone junky in your life. Not only will it keep his phone safe from damage but it is also a beautiful case. This iPhone case is made of genuine leather and sure to be a hit with anyone.

3. Personalized College Football Locker Room Picture with Frame: The perfect gift for the sports fan. How awesome to have a team photo with your boyfriend or husbands last name on the jersey. Also a great gift idea for you son.




4. Sterling Silver Personalized Guitar Pick Necklace: This is a great gift for the music lover or guitar player in your life.  Add your name or your sweethearts name to make it personal keep sake that you with both cherish.




5. Personalized Leather Wallet: You can’t go wrong with an old classic. Get your guy a genuine leather wallet personalized with his initial and this is a gift he will really use for years to come.





6. Personalized Man Cave Canvas Sports Prints: This is great gift for the special man in your life, he will love it and think you are the best for getting it for him but also his friends will be so jealous!




7. Klondike Personalized Lockback Knife with Flashlight: This is a perfect gift for any man, whether he loves to fish or hunt or just needs a good pocket knife for odd jobs around the house. This knife also includes a handy flashlight for those dark hard to reach areas.




8. Personalized Genuine Leather Auto Utility Kit: Everyone could use one of these handy kits in their car. It comes with a pen, tire gauge and flashlight. This is the perfect gift for your son who is getting ready to get his driver’s license.





9. Personalized Soft Sided Picnic Cooler: The sports or fisherman in your life would love this cooler. A great gift for heading out to the football came or heading to the lake to catch come fish.  Also a great cooler for picnics or weekend soccer games with the kids.

10. Personalized Classic Beer Tankards - Set of 4: A great addition to your home bar or to his man cave. These beer tankards make a wonderful gift and can also be personalized with a monogram initial.







I hope we have given you some great ideas to get you on the road to completing your Holiday shopping. Vitis our website to find all of these and more good gifts for guys for Christmas.
Good Luck!

The Perfect End to a Perfect Night - A Getaway Car Inspiration Board

At one time or another, you have surely seen a car or limosine driving down the road with the words 'Just Married' scrawled accross the back window. Inside that car rides the couple who just announced their love to the world and are on their way to start their new life together. This is the final detail of the wedding night and is easy to overlook, but be careful not to miss out on a perfect ending to your perfect night.

Whether you decide to cruise off in a classic or on a motorcycle, be sure to show off your personalities in this and every part of your wedding. Are you having a rustic wedding on the shore of a lake in the summer? Consider a canoe or boat to leave the party. If you are both pretty adventurous, maybe you can take a hot air balloon ride or even go bungee jumping after you take the plunge!

If you are trying to keep things eco-friendly, you could make your great escape on a moped or a tandem bicycle. You can also keep things fun (and budget friendly!) by assigning the groomsmen the task of decorating the car or even a golf cart to ride off into the night in style. Are you having a romantic, storybook wedding? Think about taking a carriage or sleigh ride to finish off your night. If you are planning a country themed wedding, leaving on a

tractor would tie in nicely.

With so many ways to finish off your wonderful wedding night, give your guests something to remember and do something you will love to look back on. Make sure you stay true to who you are, and try to tie in your getaway car with the theme of your wedding.

Image Credits:  Just Married Tractor from Dawn Mealson, Vintage Car by The Wedding Yentas, Moped via Style Me Pretty, Trolley from Siegel Thurston Photography, Canoe by The Pursuit Aesthetic, Hot Air Balloon via Love and Lavender, Sleigh Ride from Black Comb Sleighrides, Golf Cart by Crossed Keys Inn, Fire Truck via Sakura Photography, Bicycle from Grazier Photography, Boat by The Knot, Bungee Jump via Just Weddings, Carriage from Ashley's Bride Guide