How to Honor Lost Loved Ones at Your Wedding

There are few things in your life that are as important to you as your wedding day.  Not having a loved one there to share it with can be a difficult experience. But just because they are no longer with us does not mean that they don’t need to be included in your special day. After all they will always be alive in your heart.  Here are a few ways to honor the special people in your life that have passed on and cannot be a part of your wedding celebration.

Using a memorial candle during the wedding ceremony is one of the most popular ways for the wedding couple to honor the loved ones that they have lost. Most memorial candles or candle holders can be personalized to add a name of several names. During the ceremony you can have the minister or officiant add a moment when you recognize those that cannot be present with the lighting of the candle. Another way to use the candle would be during the reception. Have the candle placed on a special memorial table where you can include a photo or several photos of the lost loved ones you are honoring.

One of my personal favorites is to make a donation in honor of your lost loved ones in lieu of favors. For my daughter’s wedding we made a donation to the American Cancer Society due to the family members we had lost to cancer. We had cards placed on each table to explain this memorial to each of our guests. This is a wonderful way to honor people you have lost and to also help a charity that is close to your heart.

Another popular way to honor your loved ones is to include an ‘In Memory’ section in your wedding programs. This idea also allows you to give a little more detail to your guests, such as adding 'mother of the bride' and so on. You may also want to add a prayer or moment of silence to the wedding ceremony and include this in the wedding program so that your family and friends will be included in your special wedding memorial.

Take your loved ones with you on your wedding day with a memento or photo. Add a photo of someone to your wedding bouquet using a bouquet photo buckle memory charm.  Many brides choose to carry a lost loved ones handkerchief or wear a piece of their jewelry to keep them close to them for the entire day. This can work for the groom as well if he has a special memento that he can carry in his pocket.

No matter how you decide to honor your lost loved ones during your wedding ceremony, the most important thing to remember is that there is no wrong way to honor someone you love. Create a special memorial in the way you feel will honor your loved ones that have passed the best. Good Luck!

Curled, Twirled, Twisted and Tousled Hairstyles for the Whole Wedding Party

Wedding day magic doesn't stop with the perfect dress and accessories, a bride and her maids are not aisle ready until they are sporting a fabulous wedding day hairstyle! Whether your hair is short and sassy or long and luxurious, there is a style to complement your look. No longer are the days when cookie cutter (traditional) bridal hairstyles are the only option. Brides are showcasing their style and personality by wearing their hair in new and inventive ways. Extravagant twists and braided masterpieces are all the rage while simple tousled locks are also making a big impact. Tailor your hairstyle to your wedding dress, venue and formalness of your event.

Loose, tousled locks are perfect for a casual beachside ceremony, while curled creations are perfect for a formal setting. Dress up your 'do' with special accessories like jeweled headbands and feather and rosette fascinators. Your accessories can really showcase your personal style and add a special touch to the look. When choosing hairstyles for your whole wedding party it is important to picture the overall look to your group. You don't want one of the bridesmaids standing out with a completely different look than the others and you want to make sure that the bride's hairstyle is the star of the show. The girls can have different looks for sure, just maybe give some parameters like, everyone wears some sort of updo of their choosing or they can wear the same type of hair accessories to help create a cohesive look. Take a look at our collection of gorgeous hairstyles to inspire your wedding day look. Start collecting pictures of styles you like. It will be easiest to bring a picture of your desired look to your stylist for them to re-create.

 

Keep the inspiration going and take a look at our collection of fun, flirty and completely romantic wedding day hair accessories to add wow to your big day look!

Image Credits (listed from left to right, top to bottom): Main Image short hair bride, Hairstyle 1, Hairstyle 2, Hairstyle 3, Hairstyle 4 from Twigs and Honey, Hairstyle 5, Hairstyle 6, Hairstyle 7, Hairstyle 8, Hairstyle 9 from Jessica Janae Photography, Hairstyle 10, Hairstyle 11, Hairstyle 12, Hairstyle 13 from Micah and Megan Photography, Hairstyle 14, Hairstyle 15

Seafoam and Coral - A Wedding Color Story

Today's wedding inspiration board features a color palette that we think is utterly perfect for a summer wedding.  Refreshing seafoam paired with the contrast of invigorating coral.  (Cue, Sigh)  It makes me wish for salty ocean water and a sunkissed tan.

Something about this color combo beckons for a day at the Hamptons. It's so clean and modern yet classic at the same time.  To pull this look off, simply ground the two colors with a warm tone of taupe, gold, or brown to bring in a bit of warmth.  Don't you just love the pop of purple in dining room centerpieces?  Simply gorgeous.

Photo Credits: Balloons, Macaroons 1, Macaroons 2, Coral lip, You + Me, Ruche ruffle dress by Elizabeth Messina, Wildflower print, Staged dining room, Flower in vase, Bouquet, Earrings, Ribbon

A Short Story: Sweet Ideas for Short Summer Wedding Dresses

There once was a bride who was looking for something unique. She thought only long dresses could be sweet. Her summer wedding would be just too hot, to dress from head to toe in such a lot! But alas she was mistaken! For she discovered a whole world full of romantic bridal gowns that let the breeze flow! At or below the knee or skimming the ankle, short informal summer wedding dresses are readily available. Whether your style is edgy or antique, sweet or sassy, dressing for your summer wedding can be easy and classy! Check out our latest inspiration board featuring summer wedding dress ideas that are perfect for warm weather and wedding day bliss!

Wear a short wedding gown for your whole wedding day or consider changing into one for just the reception. A short wedding dress will add a fun and flirty touch to your big day and not to mention keep you cool and comfortable!

Image Credits: Short dress main image from: Diana Marie Photography, Short & Sweet Dresses: from Ivy and Aster, Short & Edgy Dresses: Bride in red shoes dress from The Harrogate Wedding Lounge, Black and white dress photo, Bride with Blue Car, Sassy Wedding Dress from Stephanie James Couture, Fence and ferns bride from Scott Stater Photography, Barn bride and groom from Diana Marie Photography

Ombre Obsession - A Wedding Inspiration Board

Ombre, from a French word meaning "shading," is our new favorite way to make a colorful statement in your wedding. The idea behind this look is creating a color palette consisting of graduating shades similar to those created by dip dying fabric. You can use any color you wish or even a group of colors, like red, orange, and yellow or shades of blue and purple. We chose to use pink for our inspiration board because it is the color we see most often in ombre. This trend seems to also go hand in hand with lovely ruffles everything from cakes to dresses to decor. Ombre ruffling creates such a fun, romantic look and we knew we had to share it with all our spring and summer brides.

Here are few simple tips for brides using an ombre theme...

1. Tone down your color palette by choosing a neutral color that will be used on the majority of your decor. Shades of grey are on trend right now, as are shades of pure white and creamier tones of ivory. If you want a more dramatic look, go for black or brown as your backdrop. This will keep your ombre from being too overwhelming.

2. Dip dyed bridesmaids dresses aren't every girl's style. Instead, dress your bridesmaids in solid colors that are one shade darker than the girl's dress on her right. When they all stand together in a row, the ombre effect will be stunningly subtle. Your groomsmen can wear whatever neutral shade you have chosen with ties or boutonnieres that coordinate with the shades used in the bridesmaid dresses.

3. Check out paint swatches at your local hardware store for color inspiration. Usually the colors on these swatches already show perfectly graduating shades.

We hope you enjoy the inspiration board we've put together. For more ideas, follow our Ombre Wedding Inspiration Board on Pinterest.

Image Sources: Rose Carpet from Martha Stewart Weddings, Feathers from Green Wedding Shoes, Dresses from Anna Elyse, Shoes from Shoes.com, LOVE Design from Wedding Chicks, Soda bottles from Jam and Toast, "Oat to Joy" Favors from Green Wedding Shoes, Ruffled Cake via Calligraphy by Jennifer, Ombre Cake Slice from Call Me Cupcake, Flower Box from Ruffled Blog