Wedding Trend: Ring Warming Ceremony
Your wedding is one of the most important events in your life. On average, you'll spend 12-18 months planning, making sure everything is perfect, for one day. No doubt you’ve agonized over the guest list, narrowing it down and bulking it back up to ensure all the people you love most will be there; so, wouldn’t it be such a nice treat to include them in your ceremony?
A growing trend among many couples is to have a ring warming ritual as part of the ceremony. This simple gesture is a beautiful compliment to your ceremony. During the service, your rings are passed around to all of your guests. Each guest holds the rings briefly, while silently saying a blessing or wish for your union. This ritual is ideal for small ceremonies, and can be a great way to include your guests in the service.
If you like the idea of having a very interactive ceremony, but worry about your rings getting dropped or lost, consider placing the rings in a small bag, or tie them together with fabric. If you are having a larger ceremony, or if you just don’t like the idea of having everyone touching your rings, pass them just among your immediate family members. The passing can even take place during the vows, so that by the time you get to the ring exchange the rings will have made their way back to you.
This ceremony trend is growing in the number of couples who employ it as part of their ceremony, and can be a wonderful way to make all of your guests feel as though they’ve actively participated in your union, besides just showing up and bringing a gift. Your wedding day is your special day, and you should choose to celebrate it any way you want.
Wedding Tradition: Cake Toppers are the 'Cherry on Top'
Indisputably, the finishing touch on any wedding cake is the topper. This seemingly simple addition to your confectionary masterpiece is an essential part of not only your wedding cake but your wedding day as a whole.
The tradition of placing a decoration on top of the wedding cake started in the eighteenth century, when couples began putting wooden figurines on top of their cake to symbolize unflinching devotion to one another. These wooden figurines gave way to more modern plastic replicas of the bride and groom.
Today, figurines are still popular among many couples, but with many options out there, more and more people are choosing alternative cake toppers. The possibilities are nearly endless for what can function as your wedding cake topper. Your wedding should be focused on you and your new spouse, and your cake topper should reflect your styles and personalities, as well as your wedding theme.
There are no limitations on wedding cake toppers, however, there are some topper alternatives that are more popular than others. For example, a trend that is growing in popularity is using the couple’s new monogram as the cake topper, with simple or ornate letters stuck into the top tier of the cake.
Another popular idea is to set a lightweight vase on top of the cake, and use flowers to mirror those of the other centerpieces at the reception. It is important that your vase not be too heavy, or it may sink into the cake!
Photos make a popular cake topper as well. With photo cubes and unique frames, you can have a picture of you and your new spouse as the focal point on your cake.
With the many options available (these are just a few) there is no reason for your wedding cake to be boring! Remember that your cake topper, just like the whole day, is about more than just ribbons and bows, it’s about starting a new life with a person that you love.
Wedding Trend: Make a Statement with Your Monogram
Monograms are traditionally viewed as the elite form of combining your letters into a single symbol. In different areas, monograms have been circulating for centuries. Customarily speaking, monograms were used to display an artisan’s signature on a creation. Through the years, monograms have become a unique way of personalizing one’s possessions, whether it is luggage, robes, or even socks.
For your wedding, why not add the elegant personal touch that monograms bring to any occasion? For subtle touches, you could include your monogram on the wedding stationery, wedding favor packaging, wedding program cover, or place cards. For a bolder look, buy or make a monogrammed aisle runner. In lieu of a traditional cake topper, have one that combines your and your groom’s initials. Wrap your bouquet with a monogrammed handkerchief. It’s your wedding, why not make it personal?
Outside of the ceremony, monogrammed items make great attendant gifts. No one will forget that you gave them that great keychain with their initials on it!
Monograms are a great way to make a statement, and are becoming more and more popular in today’s bridal industry. The inclusion of a monogram in the wedding accessories can add an exquisite and elegant touch to your wedding day.
Groomsman Tip: Great Ideas for Personalized Groomsman Gifts
Every woman knows that guys can be almost impossible to buy gifts for. Why should the groomsmen at your wedding be any different? Personalized items are a welcome gift for any individual though, and here are some great ideas on how to put them to good use.
10. Personalized Cuff Links: These gifts are classy and serve a double purpose- besides being great gifts they’re also a perfect wedding accessory! He can wear them on the day of the wedding, and any time after that as well. With custom personalization, his initials will always be right at his wrist. Available in stylish designs, this is definitely a gift your groomsman will use again.
9. Personalized Money Clips: What guy doesn’t have a hard time keeping track of things sometimes? A money clip will help keep him organized, and having it engraved with his initials adds a personal touch that he will surely appreciate. For an added feature, some money clips also have a watch as part of the design-talk about handy!
8. Personalized Sports Mug or Pilsner Glass: Your groomsman will love kicking back to watch the big game with a mug or glass that features not only his favorite team’s logo, but also his initials. This is a great gift for any guy who loves sports, or even just the occasional game.
7. Personalized Insulated Cooler: For the sophisticate or wine enthusiast, a wine cooler tote is a perfect gift. With his name or initials embroidered on the bag, your groomsman is sure to enjoy this gift when trekking to the park or for an evening out.
6. Personalized Duffle Bag: Whether he’s an athlete or just likes to go to the gym, your sporting groomsman will love an extra-large duffle bag. A strongly built duffle bag embroidered with his initials will not only be a hard-working gift, but one he’ll use again and again!
5. Personalized Canvas Travel Bag: For the on-the-go groomsman, a personalized travel bag is an ideal gift. The perfect thing to carry all of his toiletry essentials, adding his initials is a great way for you to say thank you. Not only will this gift keep him organized on the road, but it’ll be an item he can use again and again.
4. Personalized Golf Towel and Divot Tool Set: If your groomsman is a golf enthusiast, this is an exceptional gift. With his initials engraved on both a golf towel and a keychain-divot tool, he’s guaranteed to never lose his towel again!
3. Personalized Multi-Tool with Pliers and LED Flashlight: For the handyman, a personalized multi-tool is one he’s sure to put to good use. These super-charged pocket knives come in handy in almost any situation, and who would say no to having their initials engraved in their most useful tool?
2. Personalized Cashmere Scarf: Whether your groomsman is style conscious or just likes to be trendy, a personalized cashmere-blend scarf in a neutral color will fit into any man’s wardrobe. Having his initial embroidered in the corner adds a personal touch that he’s sure to appreciate.
1. Personalized Bar Sign: What guy wouldn’t want a bar sign with his name on it? Whether it’s in his kitchen, bar, or patio, any guy is sure to love a sign personalized with his name and interests.
Bridesmaid Tip: Selecting Attendant Gifts for Bridesmaids
They have stuck with you through thick and thin, through elation and breakdown. They have been there to revel in mini triumphs and smooth over meltdowns. They are an ideal mixture of family and friend. They are your bridesmaids. And because they’ve been so wonderful, you’ll no doubt want to find the perfect attendant gifts for each one of them.
Attendant gifts are an indispensable part of the wedding. Too often, though, brides feel the need to give all her bridesmaids identical gifts. Cliché as it might be, the old adage that just as no two snowflakes are alike, so are no two people alike is sadly, still true. It isn’t likely that all of your bridesmaids are going to be interested in the same things, so why would you get them all the same gift? While it is fair to be equal in price of the gift, the gifts themselves don’t have to be identical.
One great way to individualize gifts is through personalization. It’s is a fast and easy way to make each present unique, and because just about everything can be personalized, you’ll easily be able to find a gift for every one of your girls!
For a girly bridesmaid, you could get a bracelet with a pendant engraved with her initial. For a sporty bridesmaid, why not a gym bag with her name embroidered on the front? And for the coffee addict, a stainless-steel thermos with her initials engraved is a great gift.
They might all have different personalities, but one fact remains the same: they’re the best friends you could imagine. So keep in mind that they are individuals, and so should their gifts. After all, you are thanking these remarkable women for helping you with your wedding!
Wedding Trend: Incorporating Photos into Your Wedding
Your wedding day is unique and special. Above all, it’s about you. So, what better way to personalize your reception than with photographs? Including photos in the décor of the reception can be a great way to add an even more personal touch to your special day.
A creative way to incorporate photos of you and your spouse into your reception is through the use of personalized glass photo vases. These glass photo vases are stylish and reusable. Most feature a slot in which you can easily slide an engagement or other photo, and then you can fill the vase itself with flowers or other décor items. They make great centerpieces or cake toppers at your reception, and after the wedding you can reuse them throughout your home to display your favorite photos.
Signature photo frames are another unique way to personalize your wedding. These photo mats are typically large enough to house a 5”x7” or 8”x10” photo of you and your new spouse. Your guests can then sign the photo mat, creating a classy guest book alternative. After the wedding this valuable keepsake can be displayed in your home, an intimate reminder of your extraordinary day.
Another fun way to incorporate photos into your reception is with the use of personalized photo guest books. These creative guest book alternatives feature pages which house single instant photos, and have plenty of space for your guests to write their own personalized messages. You can snap photos of your guests, which you can keep to treasure for years after your wedding.
Who can resist stopping to look at photographs? Whether they’re on a newspaper, a website, or even a refrigerator door, photographs are an intimate look into the lives of individuals. Incorporating photos into your reception is not only easy; it’s also fun and a great way to share your happiness with your wedding guests. After all, your reception should be a time for fun, not work.
Wedding Tradition: Wedding Toasting Glasses an Essential
With all the stress of your wedding, it’s easy to get lost in the details. You might get frustrated with wondering why you have to focus on so many little things that don’t seem to make a lot of difference. For instance: where is the importance of toasting glasses? Why not just go pick up some cheap wine glasses at the dollar store? The fact of the matter is that your wedding toast is an incredibly special occasion, and one that you will remember for the rest of your life. The event should be marked by singularly precious glasses as well. Not only will these toasting flutes add an elegant touch to your reception, they will be a keepsake that you can use again and again.
Toasting flutes form the cornerstone of your new glassware collection. While you may not think you need a glassware collection, you never know when you might find yourself in need of a nice set of glasses to serve with. Your toasting flutes will serve as the basis for the rest of the glasses you buy in your marriage. Whether it’s a night at home with friends or just you and your spouse, toasting flutes are an essential part of your home, and serve as the building blocks to a great collection of glassware.
Personalized toasting flutes are becoming a very popular trend, with many couples choosing to have their names and wedding date engraved in the glass. These are a great way to commemorate your special day that you can use after the wedding as well. What better way to celebrate your anniversary than by sharing a drink in the first glasses you drank from as a married couple?
Another use for toasting glasses, aside from the reception, is to use them to mark special occasions. Imagine sipping champagne on Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve out of a set of beautiful, elegant glasses. These glasses can be put to use in almost any situation, not just formal affairs.
In all the hustle and bustle of the wedding, don’t forget that no matter how stressful it is; all of the planning pays off in the end. Your wedding day is a special time, and the details help to make it so. Toasting flutes may seem like a dispensable added cost, but they are a memento that will flood your heart with memories for many years to come.
Packaging as a Gift--A Fun Way to Dress Up Simple Gifts
If you find it challenging to dress up common gifts like gift cards, jewelry, and wine, how about concentrating instead of how the gift is packaged? Some of the nicest gifts are ones that include personalized initials, names, or dates on them. Gift-givers can incorporate this into their “packaging” in many creative ways. For example, a jewelry bag with an embroidered initial would make a great accompaniment to a piece of jewelry. Or perhaps a personalized spa robe would make the perfect “packaging” for a spa gift certificate. A personalized photo frame with names and dates would be a great way to present a special photo. A bottle of wine can be brought to a dinner party in a tote embroidered with the host’s name or initials. Each section of KismetGiftShop.com is filled with potential packaging ideas! Thinking of ways to dress up common gift ideas will enhance any gift and make it memorable and unique.
Add to Wedding Ceremony and Reception To-Do List: Save Precious Memories
What often gets left off a Wedding To-Do list may end up disappointing you down the road. In the excitement of leaving the wedding ceremony site for the reception site or the reception site for a honeymoon, couples can often forget to keep those apparently trivial mementos from their wedding. The personalized guest books and unity candles get packed away, as do the extra wedding favors, but what often gets left behind in rush are smaller, but still valuable keepsakes. Special signage at the wedding sites, table numbers, reception menus, small wedding decorations such as confetti, and other seemingly insignificant but sentimental tokens are often forgotten about. How can you best ensure that all these treasures are saved?
You’ll probably be much too busy that day to remember to do this task yourselves, so the best way is to delegate. The bride and groom can each designate one person from their parties to gather these things at each venue. For example, one of the bridesmaids will be in charge of gathering a handful of flower petals and guest sign-in table signage from the ceremony site; and one of the groomsmen can be asked to pick up a menu and other paper mementos from the reception hall. One way to keep all these small mementos organized is to purchase a special keepsake album to slip in these memories. These items can then be placed inside and labeled neatly for future enjoyment. You can use a customizable photo album that can be engraved with names and dates to make it extra special.
Another keepsake that brides often do not get a chance to hold on to is the wedding garter. Because the garter gets “tossed” to the crowd, there is nothing to keep except photos or memories of the tossing ceremony. However, “tossing garters” solves this problem for brides! Brides can wear two garters, one that the groom traditionally removes so that the bride can throw it to the bachelors, while the other garter remains on the bride’s leg and acts as an accessory for her husband to admire later on that evening, and as a keepsake of the special day. Some wedding accessory stores will include a “tossing garter” for free with the purchase of a regular garter so that brides can indulge in the tossing tradition while keeping a beautiful garter as one more token of her wedding day. The wedding day will be a blur for many couples, so plan ahead to make sure all mementos of the day are saved by including this task on your wedding planning checklist!
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Brides Planning Weddings Are Not Fazed by Economic Downturn
New poll shows that more than half of those planning weddings are not making budget changes, even with the arrival of a recession.
Houston, TX, January 14, 2009 -- Even though consumers are tightening their purse strings, at least one segment of the purchasing public is not changing their particular spending habits: couples planning weddings.
In a poll taken last week on the popular wedding blog weddingbee.com, more than half of engaged brides (56%) say the current recession has no effect on their wedding budget. Many of those cite their already frugal ways and prior plans to have a simple wedding. “Recession or no, our plan was always to KISS --Keep It Simple Stupid. For us, it's about getting family together to celebrate a happy occasion.” says blog reader “cantabrigian”.
For the other 44% of respondents who are making budget adjustments, they are doing it creatively. Some ingenious brides who do not want to compromise on the wedding they have long imagined for themselves are finding ways to lower their wedding costs instead. One message posted by “caliwed” shares her idea of using simpler versions of centerpieces by scouring thrift stores for glass vases. “We will have a unique, eclectic look”, she enthuses.
Others say that although the recession has made them more aware of people who may be going without, they are not “necessarily scaling back, but are more thoughtful of [our] decisions”, as posted by “quiche”. One way brides are giving more thought to their budget is by shopping around and finding deals, especially online.
“We recently added the Product Comparison tool and the Wish List tool on our website because it helps shoppers make better buying decisions,” says Vicky Yip, partner at the recently re-launched KismetGiftShop.com, which sells personalized wedding accessories and bridal party and groomsmen gifts. “Using the Product Comparison tool allows them to see the prices and details of our products side by side. The Wish List allows them to keep track of the products they like, so as they price shop on the internet, they can always come back to KismetGiftShop and view the items that they’ve put on their Wish List”, adds Yip.
Although there are plenty of tips for couples on a budget, most couples are not troubled by the downturn and are planning their walk down the aisle just the same, rain or shine.
KismetGiftShop.com operates under Yip Yip Hooray! LLC. KismetGiftShop carries all-occasion personalized gifts for men, women, and kids, as well as personalized wedding accessories for wedding ceremonies and receptions.
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