Managing Your Guest List - Common Questions and Answers

It would be perfectly lovely to have the funds and space to invite everyone to your wedding from that coworker that you barely know three cubicles over to distantly related cousins and their plus ones. For most of us, however, there are budget restrictions, people we don't particularly care for but feel we ought to include, space restrictions at the chosen venue, and too many other possible limitations to list. It isn't fun to cut people from your dream wedding list, but sometimes it must be done. Here are a few answers to the most commonly asked guest list questions.

Q: My wedding will be very small. What do I tell people that will not be invited?

A: This is very simple. You tell them exactly that - your guest list is small - limited by funds and space available, so you are only able to invite close family and friends. Don't get too caught up in social obligation or feelings of guilt. It is perfectly understandable to want only those you are most intimately connected with to witness such an emotional event in your life. Your not-so-close friends and distant family will understand this. They may even feel awkward attending if they do not know your group of guests well.

Q: Can I invite guests to the reception, but not the ceremony?

5 Fun & Affordable Father's Day Gift Ideas

Father's Day is fast approaching and it's time to start thinking about gift ideas for Dad. It can sometimes be hard to find a gift as special as your dad or husband. I have tried to take some of the guess work out of it for you. Here are few options that are not only fun for all kinds of dads but also affordable.

You know that old saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words'. This is so true and so meaningful. Just by adding a photo of yourself or your children to a personalized frame, you can create one of the best gifts you can give. What dad wouldn't want a photo of his kids or grandkids and by adding a personalized message to the frame, this gift has become a special keepsake that your dad or husband will have for many years.

Wedding Purse Essentials - It's All in the Bag!

On your big day the last thing you are probably thinking of is what purse to carry with your wedding dress. While you won't want to have anything hanging on you all day (other than the groom of course), it is helpful to have a small purse or clutch to match your gown with some wedding day essentials in it.

First off you need to select a cute clutch or evening bag that will coordinate with your wedding dress. Go with an elegant beaded, white or ivory bag to match your gown or choose a bag with a pop of color that accents your wedding colors and accessories. You obviously won't hold this purse during your ceremony but have it on hand before and bring it along to the reception. Give one of your bridesmaids the job of keeping track of it for you!

Things you might want to include in this bag are: 

• Compact mirror
• Hanky or tissues
• Lipstick or lip gloss
• Powder
• Small perfume spritzer
• Pocket comb
• Breath mints
• Bobby pins
  

Choose purse or travel size beauty items to fit in your bag.

Another important bag to have on hand the day of your wedding is a larger tote bag with other emergency items and necessities. These items will be used by you and any of your bridesmaids who might be of need. Keep this bag on hand where you and your bridal party will be getting ready. For this carry-all tote bag, choose a large durable bag with fun personalization (bride-to-be or your name or monogram). These personalized totes are also great gift ideas for all of your bridesmaids.  

Here is a list of must-haves to have on hand on the big day. Okay, so it might not all fit in one bag!

• First aid items (Band-Aids)
• Comb, brush, hairpins
• Hair spray
• Medicines for headaches, upset stomach, allergies
• Sewing Kit with needles, thread and safety pins
• Anti-static spray
• Lint roller
• Spot and stain remover
• Eye drops and spare contacts (if the bride or groom wears them)
• Travel iron or steamer for touch ups
• Pen and pad of paper for last minute notes
• Miscellaneous tools for emergency repairs to decorations (scissors, tape, stapler, super glue)
• Nail polish for touch ups, nail file, nail glue
• Deodorant
• Lotion
• Make-up kit
• Tooth brush and tooth paste
• Double sided fashion tape
• Tweezers
• Extra earring backs
• Green floral tape and boutonniere & corsage pins
• Crochet hook (for brides buttons and an easy way to bustle your dress)
• A light snack and bottle of water

Pack your wedding day purse and tote bag a day or two beforehand. That way you can just grab it and go the day of. Having these items on hand will hopefully quell any big day disasters or mishaps!

Photo Credits: Bride's Planning Tote, Wedding purses and Evening Bags, Bride and Bridesmaid purse totes, Monogram backpack and personalized tote

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.