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