The Fate of Your Wedding Gown - To Trash the Dress or Not to Trash the Dress



 As if there aren't enough decisions to make, modern brides are being asked to decide the fate of their wedding gown. It was once considered an obvious choice - preserve the gown as wedding memorabilia or for future generations.  Brides now have a few other options that are becoming increasingly popular.

Many brides are giving their precious gowns away to charity. These gowns will either be given to brides who cannot afford the princess wedding of their dreams, or sold with the purpose of donating the money to a good cause. Brides Against Breast Cancer is one such charity that offers new and gently used donated gowns at slashed prices to raise money for the cure. This option is for the bleeding hearts who won't miss their dress hanging in the back of their closet because they will know their donation has helped another woman in need.

Another option that is growing in popularity defies all of the above traditions. The is the infamous Trash The Dress photo shoot. If you haven't heard of this phenomenon, it is where the Bride puts on her wedding attire and gets all dressed up for a professional photo shoot after the wedding. Sometimes the Groom even joins gets a few photos snapped. The catch? The location is chosen because of its contrast to the formal wear - this means beaches, painting studios, muddy fields, swampy rivers, and anywhere a bride would avoid like the plague while wearing her dress before the big day. The results are fun, un-posed, often stunning and artistic photos... and a completely trashed dress. Of course a little dirt doesn't necessarily mean the dress will be ruined forever. A good dry cleaning would probably return your dress to savable condition - unless you opt to cut, burn, or paint it during your photo shoot. The idea is that the bride has made a forever commitment and has no need of a wedding dress anymore. It is also a way to get great photographs. While Trashing the Dress isn't for everyone, it does provide some intriguing images. This is for the trendy bride, who is perfectly happy treasuring her wedding gown forever via amazing photographs like the ones shown below.



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What ever you decide, enjoy your day and enjoy that fabulous dress!

~ Jenna

Additional photo credit: Hanging Wedding Dress, Bride in Muddy Boots

How to Add a Personalized Touch to Your Son or Daughters Graduation Party

It is that time of year when many parents are filled with pride at the thought of their son or daughter getting ready to graduate from High School or College. This is a very special time not only for your child but also for the parents. If you are anything like me, you want the graduation party to be filled with special touches that your child and your guests will remember for years to come. Here are a few ideas on how to add a few personalized touches to your party.

Picture perfect photo napkins are a fun and inexpensive way to add a personal touch to any graduation party. You can have a photo of your child printed on the napkins with their name, school name and graduation year. The photo napkins are also a great way to add some humor into the day. If you have some old photos of your child that you would like to add to the napkins with some funny quotes this is sure to be a party pleaser.

Personalized cups are another fun idea. This is not only a great way to add personalization to the day but it is a gift that the guest can take home with them and use over and over again. The personalized cups can be printed on both sides and you can add a graduation design and/ or your graduates name, school name, date and so on.

 

  Monogrammed canvas guest signature mat is my favorite idea for your graduation party. You can have the canvas monogrammed with your child’s last name or first name initial. You can also add there name and the date of their graduation. All of the guest can sign the mat and then your son or daughter will have a keepsake that they will be able to cherish for many years.

Personalized lunch bags are another great way to add a special touch to the day. The bags can be used for favors and snacks for your guests. Another idea is to use the bags for your guest to pack a slice of cake or some left over’s in to take home with them.

It truly is the small things in life that mean so much. By adding a few small personalized touches to the gradation party you are planning you will in turn add a large amount of fun and memories that will last a lifetime.

Shabby Chic Made Easy at Found Vintage Rentals

Have you ever wondered where to get all that vintage, shabby chic wedding decor you've been swooning over?  Jeni, founder of Found Vintage Rentals, has made it easy from you.

With connections across the country, Found is a vintage prop resource based out of Southern California that rents one-of-a-kind vintage pieces for your wedding or event.  From tables and chairs to the smallest accessories, Found's inventory is nearly endless.  And if by some chance you can't find what you're looking for, you can contact Jeni for a custom search.  It's about time someone took the idea behind the hit show 'American Pickers' and turned it into something the wedding world can benefit from...I just wish I would have thought of it first =).

To learn more, visit Found Vintage Rentals to check out their current inventory.

Happy Planning!

Stay On Time On the Big Day...Planning Your Wedding Reception Timeline

So you've set the date, bought the dress, ordered the flowers, booked the DJ and planned your little heart out. Your wedding date is almost here and the last minute details need taken care of. Your wedding reception is a time to relax and bask in the joy of your new marriage with friends and family. A carefree time right? Well it should be and will if you plan and layout your wedding reception timeline in advance. This should be an hour by hour breakdown of the events for the evening, taking into account things like the toasts, dancing, dinner, and cake cutting. Make these plans before hand and put someone else in charge of keeping to the schedule on the big day. Give your schedule to your wedding planner, DJ or Emcee for the night to keep things on time. This way you can relax and enjoy yourself!

The average length of a wedding reception is between 3 and 5 hours long. Here is a sample layout for a 4 to 5 hour long reception, start to finish!

Oh and by the way, don't stress if you don't stay on your schedule to the minute. Remember, ultimately a reception is a party and certain aspects of the evening may run longer or shorter than planned. Don't worry, your schedule can always be adjusted. Be flexible and have fun!

Delicious Menu Ideas for Your Summer Wedding

Summer brides may just have the least amount of stress when it comes to planning their wedding reception menu. Outdoor weddings and exotic warm-weather venues offer inspiration for the types of food you can serve.  Keep your guests tastes in mind but remember that it is okay to choose your own personal favorites and have fun with it. Need ideas? Check out a few of our favorite menus for summer events.

Candy and dessert buffets have been a big hit for the past year. They have branched out to encompass ice cream bars, cupcake topping bars, brownie buffets, and you name a dessert and someone's already turned it into a lovely buffet! The ever talented Amy Atlas took this idea in a new direction with a beautiful display of fruit and veggies. This Fruit and Veggie bar goes beyond that standard round veggie tray and offers your guest delicious treats. This would be a refreshing feast on a hot summer day!

Amy Atlas Veggie Bar courtesy of Pink Blossom List

Another favorite summer reception menu is a seafood smorgasbord. Beach and New England backyard weddings alike are perfect settings for a clam or lobster bake! Fry up some fish and offer your guests a raw bar of steamed oysters, clams, and shrimp. Don't forget the hush puppies -yum!

Photo Credit: Oysters from Prepare to Wed, Lobster Bake Plate from The Sweetest Occasion, Lobster Crate from Clam Bakes Etc.

Last but not least is the summer barbecue. This menu involves honey barbecued ribs, fried chicken, some mashed taters and homemade macaroni and cheese. Roast corn on the cob on easy to handle sticks and have a little fun with appetizers trays full of sliders and mini cups of ketchup and fries. Keeping with your finger food theme -add in some mini apple pies and you have an appetizing all American menu that I would choose over gourmet grub any day! If your little backyard wedding has a country chic feel, this is the menu for you and your hubby to be.

Photo Credit: Slider Tray from The Vegas Wedding Planner, Ribs from Bridal Buds, Fried Chicken from Elizabeth Anne Designs, BBQ Sauce Favor  and Corn Cobs on a stick from Manolo Brides, Buffet plate from Old Carolina, Mini Pocket Apple Pies from Darlini

While you're planning your reception don't forget the personalized napkins - all these finger foods can get messy! Adding personalized napkins or cups to your reception allows you to dress up the tables by matching your colors or decor. These practical items also give you a chance to share an inside joke, a memorable quote, or tie in that custom designed monogram you love.

Enjoy!

~Jenna