The Wedding Program is one of the most important wedding stationary items in your wedding. Your guests will spend more time studying your wedding programs than your invitations, save the dates, or thank you cards. It will keep them busy while they wait for the ceremony to start and will keep them focused through the ceremony. They will feel more involved and in tune with what is going on. Also don’t forget that your wedding program will be one of those prized keepsakes that you will keep for years to come.

The picture above has a couple of ideas. You can have a traditional program that matches your invitation style or like the unique fan style programs on the right, they can fit into theme as well as help keep your guests cool at an outdoor wedding.
There are many wedding program formats to choose from. But once you pick one out what information should you include in your programs? Here are some ideas:

The Standard Stuff:

- On the cover put the names of the couple, the wedding date, and the location of the ceremony.
- Inside on the left you can put the order of the ceremony including the names speakers where they appear in the ceremony.
- Inside on the right you can put the names of the officiate, musicians, parents of the couple, and the bridal party.

Other things to consider:

- On the cover you can also put an image; it could be a picture of the couple or possibly a monogram of the couple’s initials.
- Inside you can include explanation of some of the traditions in the ceremony.
- Inside or on the back cover you can include a thank you note from the couple. This can be a thank you note to the parents, to all the guests, or both.
- A remembrance of close family members who have passed

There are many options and really it is up to you!  Any other wedding program ideas?

To see a full selection of wedding programs click here!

It is no wonder the peacock wedding theme gained such popularity this year, as was predicted on many wedding blogs. You can find peacock wedding invitations and accessories, not to mention dresses with fit right into the theme.  Peacocks are such regal birds, and just a glimpse of one tail feather automatically brings to mind extraordinary beauty, elegance and glamour.  Which most of us would love associated with our wedding. But, I have learned the peacock theme can mean so much more. So I am going to share with you why I associate this theme with a little more than the obvious, and why I think it is a perfect choice.

I have recently become acquainted with a peahen and if you are not familiar (I wasn’t before now) it is a female peacock. This frumpy female bird is definitely not as glamorous looking as the male, but she has other appealing attributes.

A few months ago a peahen chose my little “barnyard” to lay her eggs, which by the way, without the presence of a peacock, will never hatch. Despite that fact Ms. P (shown above), as we have so affectionately named her, diligently cares for these five eggs. Her dedication and strength is unending. She leaves her nest only once a day to eat and drink, as fast as she can so her nest is not left unattended for very long, and then right back on, for another grueling 24 hours. My husband and I have witnessed her carry out her routine for weeks in the intense Florida heat and sun and once through a horrible thunderstorm. We have both become so impressed by her amazing dedication that I just felt compelled to share this story. So while you are deciding where to strategically place these gorgeous peacock feathers, perhaps in the centerpieces or attached to the invitations, remember Ms. P and her enduring strength and commitment, and know you couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate symbol for a wedding theme.

It is an awesome theme choice for an outdoor wedding or a vintage theme, and what a color palette it inspires, the vivid greens and teals and blues, oh my. Now keep in mind, as with any theme less is more. You don’t want to over do it.

Here’s a great peacock themed wedding invitation from Minted.  You can find our more about it here.  The inspiration board shown above came from the following sources:

Shoes from Etsy
Cupcake banners from Blush Printables
Table Setting from Hostess With the Mostess
Alfred Angelo Bridal Gowns from our own blog!
Man’s suit and tie picture from Andrew and Jessica’s Photography Blog

Table numbers are so 20th Century! Okay folks it appears there are no limits on how you can name your tables. Here are five ideas I found on Weddingbee that run the spectrum from sophisticated to geeky or stick to the theme or want to be more personal.

1. Back in 2008, “Miss Green Tea” named her tables after Chinese Teas in line with her wedding theme in spite of her ministers thoughts of being more personal, like using names of places they visited. 

2. In 2007, “Miss Hummingbird” named her tables after video games. She admits to being a geek and apparently this was in the theme of her wedding.

3. In 2009, “Miss Cowboy Boot” used different horse pictures as the way to distiguish her tables for her horse themed wedding.

4. In 2007, “Mrs Hibiscus” used pictures of places they visited as table names. To keep it in their theme they made them in the color of their wedding theme.

5. In 2007, “Mrs Apple” had a unique idea of using “Great Pairs” Lucy & Desi
Laverne & Shirley
Luke & Leia
Mario & Luigi
Tom and Jerry for the kids table.
Meat & Potatoes

Wow the high-bun version of the updo trend is certainly a hot topic not only as a wedding hair style but also in Hollywood. Do we like it? Do we not like it? Who did it best? Who should never do it again?  Comparisons of the runway versus the red carpet and the list goes on.  One thing is clear, it is popular, whether you love it or hate it.   Here’s my two cents: I think it’s a beautiful style, but not for every day, but for a formal occasion, like a wedding it’s perfect.   There are a variety of different ways to wear it, ultra-sleek or mussed up a bit, high on the very top or a little set toward the back, choose what version suits your features the best.

Here’s a couple of examples you can use as inspiration for your wedding hair style along with a tiara, hair comb, or hair bands that I think would go great with it.

Everyone knows Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.   This is a great example of classic beauty, 50 years later she still looks great!  I’ll tell you, finding an equivalent wedding comb is difficult but I think this one would work with this style.  You can find this wedding comb in our Wedding Shop.  What do you think?

Then you have the beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones.  Look at that mountain of hair.  This wedding hair style calls for a wide tiara.  Once again, while not the same this one does the job well.  You can find this wedding tiara here.

Here’s a look that seems to be the rage. In these pictures you have Jessica Alba with a bun and a black hair band and on the right from a Vera Wang show of her Spring 2011 Wedding Line (a picture I found on WeddingBells.ca) you see the model has a French Twist with a black hair band.

From Vera’s blog (also a tip from WeddingBells.ca) you can see a close-up of the model’s French Twist and a black hair band. What do you think of the black hair band verses the white hair band for a wedding? Here’s also an example of a white wedding hairband.

If you haven’t been fortunate enough to have had a cake pop, brace yourself, I am about to enlighten you on a scrumptious, golf ball size, chunk of heaven, on a stick!

(photo credit:  all photos from cjmartin on flickr of Sweet Lauren Cakes cake pops!)

Granted I love cake, pretty much in any form, but these little pops are in a class all their own. It is cake mixed with frosting and then, get this, dipped in chocolate, all three of my favorite things rolled into one little “power ball.”  So what can you do with these delicious, little, magnificent creations, well for you brides too be, the options are endless. It just so happens that there is a Cake Pop expert who can help with recipes, inspiration and so much more and she calls herself Bakarella. Maybe you have heard of her before and if you haven’t I’m sure you will in the future.  Check out her book called Cake Pops: Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irresistible Mini Treats

And if you are searching for a DIY project perhaps for wedding favors or for the bridal shower I think the cake pop is a terrific candidate for such an undertaking. There is a great blog post from Roxy of Roxy Cakes which provides full instructions on how to make cake pops. And even if you are not looking for a DIY project go ahead and visit Roxy’s site her creations are absolutely beautiful, another great place for inspiration and expert advice.

Fall is just about here and that means it’s time to start thinking about Fall Wedding Signature Drinks.  Once again we are honored to have a guest post by Jonathan Pogash, The Cocktail Guru and owner of Wedding Cocktail Design, a branch of his beverage consulting company that specializes in unique, one of a kind signature drinks for weddings. He is a frequent contributor to NBC’s Today Show, Martha Stewart Living Radio, and The Knot.   This picture is a cocktail he designed for Corzo Tequilia, the Corzo Ruby Red. Thanks again Jonathan!!!

The fall brings us some amazing ingredients: apples, peaches, pears, cranberries, figs, and more.  Little did I know that as a wide-eyed 5 year-old picking apples at the local farm in NJ that I would be using apples as ingredients in alcoholic beverages.

Playing off of all the colors, scents, and textures that we experience during these months is what invigorates me the most. I would have to say that it is my favorite time of the year when it comes to experimenting and coming up with new recipes.

The color of a signature cocktail is important. In the fall, colors like burnt sienna, burgundy, and caramel come to mind.

Apple cider adds a nice sweet fullness to a mixed drink. It also mixes well with almost anything…okay, maybe not cream. But you get the idea. Using whole apples and pears as garnish really add a great look to any cocktail.

Fresh cranberries…oh fresh cranberries – be still my beating heart. These glorious little berries literally burst with flavor and color. I am reminded of the bogs that dot the coast of southeast Massachusetts, where my wife is from. A simple blend of 1 cup fresh cranberries and 1 cup sugar heated over the stovetop yields a lovely puree that, once cooled, is a perfect accompaniment to a vodka, rum, gin, or tequila-based drink. Try it with Champagne or sparkling wine – it’s like drinking fall.

I tend to brainstorm ideas based on what works in the culinary world, which is why baking spices, like cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon always come to mind for me at this time of the year. Not only would I use freshly grated nutmeg (has to be freshly grated) and cinnamon sticks as a garnish, but I can also infuse these into a favorite spirit of mine.

I’ve included a couple of my favorite fall cocktail recipes below. Don’t forget to enjoy these months, take the air in, watch the leaves change colors, and close your eyes and imagine the smell of freshly pressed apple cider and aromatic baking spices gently kissing your nose.

Cranberry Spiced Sparkler

8 fresh cranberries
1 tsp. Pumpkin spice Agave nectar ***
Splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 oz. Champagne or sparkling wine
Directions: In the bottom of a mixing glass, muddle the cranberries, agave nectar, and lemon juice. Then add ice and the champagne or sparkling wine and gently fold. Strain out into a champagne flute. Top off with an extra splash of wine.

Garnish with 3 floating cranberries

***to make pumpkin spice agave nectar, simply combine 1 cup agave nectar with 2 tsp store bought pumpkin pie spice (comes ground), and stir.

Apple and Cinnamon infused Vodka

1) Core and chop 2 granny smith apples and 2 red delicious apples (or your favorite apples) and add them to a mason or infusion jar.
2) Add 3 cinnamon sticks to the jar.
3) Take a bottle of your favorite vodka (I like Russian Standard for this recipe) and empty it out into the jar.
4) Allow to infuse for 5 days, then discard the apples and cinnamon.
5) Refrigerated, this infusion can last up to one month.

For a twist on the classic vodka drink, a Moscow Mule, add 2 ounces of your apple and cinnamon infused vodka to a tall glass with ice, and fill with good quality ginger beer (I like Fever Tree, Barritts, or Regatta).

I just got word yesterday about a wedding invitation sale from one of our affiliates that will start tomorrow, October 1st 2010, and will run for the entire month of October! Jean M has some amazing wedding invitation designs not to mention wedding accessories. Many of the accessories, such as napkins, favors, etc come in matching designs with their invitations. The picture above are a few examples. As you can see they provide wedding invitation designs in various colors to match your theme. They have a whole line devoted to modern black and white wedding invitation designs plus you can get coordinated items such as water bottle labels that match your theme.

The sale is for 25% off of your purchase of $250 or more. This includes invitations or any of their accessories. Just click the link below.

Well, the boutonniere has certainly come a long way since its matchy carnation days and I must say that I am thrilled. I personally think the boutonniere is a very important element in a wedding because it is one of the few areas that the groom can express himself. Let’s face it we all know that the bride is the star of the day, so this small detail is an opportunity for the groom’s personality to shine through. And lucky for him he has so many more choices than in the past.

Check out these unique boutonniere designs:

These are some great ideas for the guy who may not feel comfortable wearing a flower or just wants the opportunity to incorporate his personality. These boutonnieres can be made by Fitts Rosenow, I found them at the The Man Registry’s Grooms Advice Blog.

I found my personal favorite on The Polka Dot Bride in this photo by Jeff Greenough:

 Here are some flower boutonnieres you can find in our own Wedding Shop.

A more masculine flower:

Here’s a beautiful Sunflower Boutonniere:

Fall isn’t here yet but it’s definitly time to start planning for that fall wedding if you haven’t yet!  I’m excited to have a guest post today from Sarah Harris of Wedding Planning Advice where you can find a selection of wedding widgets to countdown the days until your wedding! 

Fall brings pumpkins, multicolored oak leaves, and new wedding flower trends! Even though a simple, white rose wedding bouquet can be an easy go-to, these new trends can inspire you to think outside of the box when designing your wedding bouquets and flower décor.

Photo From: http://www.intimateweddings.com/blog/

No Longer Just a Filler

Even though some women may cringe at the sight of this “filler flower,” a large bouquet of baby’s breath can be a simple, low-cost alternative to an orchid or rose stuffed bouquet. If you choose this unique style, you can be sure to turn heads with this new and trendy idea. The understated beauty of a baby’s breath bouquet is decidedly girly while remaining unpretentious.

Photo From: http://blog.koyalwholesale.com

Say it with Moss

If you are a DIY diva and love wedding projects, this fall wedding trend is for you. Moss can be a wonderful design element for many do-it-yourself wedding projects. Creating a monogram or initial out of moss will add a natural element to your décor. Also, your guests will be impressed with your stellar DIY skills!

Photo From: http://weddingtip.files.wordpress.com

Less is More

Even though some wedding flower designs can be over the top, you do not have to follow suit and bury your reception under a plethora of petals. Sometimes a simple bunch of the same flower is more beautiful and interesting than a multicolored slew of stems. If you love this fall wedding flower trend, you can be sure that you will save time and money.

Photo From: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/

Just Plant It

Natural elements are hot for fall wedding flower décor. What is more natural than a “planted” flower in the grass? A new trend for wedding flower design is to make your flowers appear to be growing from the ground. Though this trend may take more time and effort from you or your floral designer, your guests will love the look of your beautiful aisle.

Wax Seals date back thousands of years as a way of authenticating documents and ensuring they weren’t open and read by an unintended recipient. I found some interesting info on SealMaker.com about how Signet Rings were used to make the impression in wax and how people let friends and family know it was genuine.

After a seal was cut into a ring, the seal engraver made many wax impressions which were given to the owner of the seal along with the signet ring. The owner then distributed the waxes among family, friends and officials, so that when an important document was sent the recipient could check the unbroken seal against the wax impression to ensure that the document was genuine. After the death of the owner of the seal, the signet ring used to produce the seal was cracked to prevent further use.

Want to add a touch of old world class to your wedding invitations? This would be great if you are having a traditional wedding. You don’t have to get a Signet Ring made anymore. I found out about OldSchoolSeals.com in a recent issue of InStyle Weddings! They have the option of purchasing Initial Wax Seals along with sticks of wax to use. Or, if you want the easy way out they even have Peal and Stick Initial Wax Seals as shown in the picture above.