Getting Married

Getting Married Means You'll Have


Getting married means you'll have
Someone's hand to hold,
Even when you're feeling sick,
Even when you're old.

It means when you sit down to eat,
Someone will be there,
So you won't have to tell your day
To an empty chair.

It means that you can have some kids
Just like a mom and dad,
And play with them all afternoon,
Except when they are bad.

It means that when you need some help,
Someone will help out,
Someone always near to you
So you won't have to shout.

But best of all is when it's time
To turn out all the lights:
You won't have to be alone
Those long and scary nights.

So even though you don't have toys,
You don't have to care:
Once you're married you can be
Each other's teddy bear!

Copyright by © Nicholas Gordon
http://www.a-weddingday.com

Taylor & Hart's Blog

Five ways to customize men’s wedding rings

21st February 2018 by Rebecca Smyth, posted in Wedding Bells

There’s been a tangible shift in men's jewelry trends in the past two decades. Gone are the days of simply picking out a plain wedding band just days before the wedding ceremony.

Wedding ring styles for men have seen the classics updated with textures and colours. However, it hasn’t stopped there. The goal post has moved into new territory on what’s possible to seal the deal on your special day!

So here’s what you can do…

Classic

Classic wedding bands have evolved over the past years to include different shape profiles when viewed in a cross section. For the most comfortable, court and D-shaped styles are the way forward. Flat and beveled styles are clean and modern. For comfort with an edge, knife edge and concave styles take the prize.

Mixed Metal

Can’t decide on just one metal? Now you don’t have to! Mixing metals is now very on trend with many wedding band styles available in two or more metals combined.

Metal Finishes

Now that you have found your wedding band, why not add a texture to personalize the finish? The most popular textured finishes are matte, brushed, hammered and satin.

Engraving

In the age of personalization, the classic symbol of fidelity is the perfect canvas to customize. The band can have a message inscribed on the inside or outside. You or your beloved’s heartbeat (electrocardiograph) or fingerprint (no two are alike) can be engraved into each other’s bands. Go one step further and have patterns engraved on the outside of your ring, from organic to geometric.

Gemstone Set

Gone are days when only the ladies get gemstones! Men are embracing diamonds and colored gemstones in their wedding band designs. Diamonds–the hardest gemstone on the planet–are the perfect choice for their rarity and durability. Sapphires follow closely behind on hardness and they’re available in most colors. Or you can have a gemstone set on the inside of your band like your partner’s birthstone to let them know you are always with them.

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Which customizations will you choose?

The Latest Trends For Bridesmaids Dresses

Photo Credit: Amy Kate

The wedding industry has seen some major wedding attire changes in the past few years. In 2016 & 2017, the major change was the bridal gown. Last year, the major change was in the brides gown. Many bride’s were married in dresses that were virtually sheer. Designers used the talent with lace to cover the essentials.

During this bold time in bridal, industry leaders like Azazie. Azazie helped the bride who wanted the trendy look but did not want to sacrifice class and charm. Gowns were designed that gave the coverage needed, with sheer overlay, lace, and nude tones.

Bridesmaids were dressed in A-line dresses, split up the leg to the thigh, with a sweetheart or mock low cut dresses, usually in a single color and design. The trend for this year looks much different.

What is a bridesmaid and how does it affect what she wears?

• If you have never been a bridesmaid you, may think that all they do is put on a pretty dress and spend a few hours having her hair done, posing for photographs. However, that is not even close to what being a bridesmaid includes. The word should clue you in. A bridesmaid is an attendant for the bride. A groomsman is an attendant for the groom.

• In ancient Rome there had to be 10 witnesses to have a legal wedding. The Romans believed that evil spirits would try to do harm to the newlyweds. So all the bridesmaids dressed exactly like the bride to confuse the spirits. (http://mentalfloss.com/article/57821/21-historical-roles-and-responsibilities-wedding-party) Nothing says “I love you” like being a decoy to draw an evil spirit to yourself.

Photo credit: Mihai Stefan Photography

Today’s bridesmaid

Today’s bridesmaid helps the bride put the wedding together. They may help with the invitations. They may monitor the wedding fund that is online. They could remove items already purchased and post more items that the couple wants.

The bridesmaids normally give the bride a wedding shower or a bachelorette party. Today’s bridesmaid does not dress like the bride. However, she does dress in a formal dress of the brides choice.

At the wedding, the bridesmaid is on full alert. She helps the bride prepare. If something is forgotten, the bridesmaid takes care of the situation. She shields the bride as much as possible.

She is on her feet for hours that day. While the bridesmaid needs to be beautiful, a bride needs to select a gown that is low maintenance, and comfortable. Many bridesmaids walking shoes while the getting ready part takes place. When it is time to line up for the wedding, she slips into her heels.

Trends

This year you will notice bridesmaid’s will wear understated and chic gowns. Her dress needs to be below the knee, brushing the calf, or tea-length. Few bridesmaids will be wearing dresses that are long, The only dress that is floor-length will be worn by the bride.

The trend for this season is to wear a dress that has a discrete and sexy overtone. One way the bridesmaid is pulling this off is by wearing a dress that would normally have tiny straps, but trading the straps for a sexy little cup sleeve. Mock necklines is another easy way to have the sex appeal tastefully.  Lace that goes over a sweetheart neckline, and fastens at the back of the neck is lovely.

• The simple changes give the bridesmaids a classy look. The bridesmaids are having their sensuality is a big way with the backs of the dresses. A low cut back looks beautiful as the bridesmaids are walking down the aisle. Since the hemlines are tea-length (or close to it) a high-low dress works well. From behind they look like they are wearing a full-length gown. When they turn around the sorter from hem is stunning.

Colors

The colors you can expect this year are:

• Dusty rose
• Sea green
• Gunmetal blue
• Blush pink
• Coral
• Teal

These colors go well indoors or outdoors. These colors are great for weddings venues such as:

• Parks & gazebo
• Small church weddings
• Backyard weddings
• Weddings on the beach
• Vineyards

Extremely formal wedding colors

• Navy blue
• Champagne
• Black
• Silver
• Deep red
• Deep green
• Ivory
• Cream

The venues these colors will work well in are:

• Fine cathedrals
• A hotel venue
• A smaller church

Photo credit: secret garden

Flowers

The current trend for flowers for brides and bridesmaids are very large and colorful bouquets. The blooms are completely open. The flowers are embellished with a lot of greenery.

The flowers are normally placed in the center of the table as a centerpiece. The bride's bouquet will be the largest, and it is usually placed at the bridal table.

In many weddings, the final duty of the bridesmaid is to gather the flowers and donate the to a retirement home. Residents rarely receive anything o beautiful. If you can take them inside you will be so happy. The retirement home keeps records. They can make sure that someone who is lonely gets a vase of beautiful flowers.

Conclusion

Your wedding can be everything  you want it to be. Tradition always starts with one person. You could be that bride who introduces a new trend that will change the look of the bride of the future!

Wedding Gown Care

 by: Carol Clarke of  TotalBridalGownCare.com  

Most gowns are designed to be worn only one time. The designer uses fragile fabrics, delicate trims and beads to make the most elegant looking gown for each bride’s special day. Unlike our everyday clothes, these specialized garments cannot be cleaned in the same manner as your favorite silk blouse or your polyester slacks by the dry cleaner. Special processes, solutions, procedures need to be followed to make sure the soil and stains are properly removed without damage to the gown. They cannot withstand abrasive treatment and should not be totally saturated with solvent, solutions or liquid which will dramatically increase the weight of the gown. Any major movement or agitation could cause major damage to the gown. Invisible stains are important to identify. They are called invisible because they cannot be seen with the naked eye, but the aid of a “black” light will identify them, which shows the area affected and allows the technician to clean the spot or stain completely before the gown goes into the machine. Not cleaning these soil stains properly could result in brownish colored stains in the future, much like when you cut an apple and leave it sitting for a period of time in the air. It starts to turn brown; much like the garment stains will do over time. A bride will never hear a guest say ….” Oh you look so beautiful in this gown, and by the way, I just spilled some of my drink on the side of it”. And if the dry cleaner / technician does not properly “flush” the solvent from the stain area, in years to come, there will be a ring area around where the soil was which may also discolor and affect the fabric of the gown. If you are not able to clean your gown within 2-3 weeks after the wedding, do not store it in plastic. The garment needs to “breathe”. You can always wrap it in a sheet, or if you have a cotton/mesh type garment bag, it can be returned to hang there. Gowns should not hang for more than 6-9 months, as the weight of the gown can pull on the bodice fibers and the risk of a “torque” to the bodice may require major alterations if someone else wants to wear the gown. You have made a major investment in your gown and cleaning it should be done by a professional who is experienced in gown cleaning. Many cleaners will clean gowns, or even send them out to be cleaned, but the person who is actually doing the work should be trained in the proper techniques and procedures. You are entitled to know how and who will be doing the actual cleaning and a reputable cleaner will provide you with all the information to give you a comfort level that your gown is in good hands. Mailing your gown to an out of state cleaning facility has risk and should be evaluated carefully. Here are some tips for keeping your prized wedding gown clean and ready for your perfect day starts the moment you bring it home from the Bridal Salon. First take your gown out of the plastic garment bag and hang it somewhere it will be safe from little children and pets. Breathing is important to your gown. It cannot properly breathe while covered in plastic. Inspect your gown – inside and out. Check for loose seams and beads. Avoid storing your wedding gown in a plastic bag or container. Plastic emits fumes which can yellow or trap moisture which will be harmful to your gown. Protect your gown from exposure to light, dust, and air by loosely wrapping it in a clean sheet or freshly laundered unbleached muslin. Hang your gown using the loops inside the gown which are attached to the side seams, never by the fragile shoulder seams which can stretch or sag. A Final Fitting should be completed 2 to 4 weeks prior to your wedding in order to complete any last minute alterations and tailoring. Pre Wedding Touch up – Have your gown steamed and pressed by a cleaner or salon that is trained in gown care and has specialized equipment for this purpose. Pick up your gown 1 – 2 days prior to your wedding date. Transport your gown to the wedding site in a gown carrying and preservation bag (or protected by a clean sheet pinned around the gown). Consider using a gown specialist who can deliver your gown directly to your wedding site. Emergency items are important. Attach a few safety pins to a hidden inside seam of your gown prior to the wedding. Most problems occur when a seam opens or the gown gets stepped on during the reception. Safety pins provide a quick fix.

Choosing the Right Venue for Your event!

Choosing The Right Venue For Your Event

By Paige Mateski

   Your engagement is a moment you will never forget, and a story you will be telling friends and family for years to come. But what happens after the happy news? Well, you start planning your exciting day!

One of the biggest decisions you'll make about your wedding is deciding what venue to use. Here are a few important aspects to think about before selecting the location of your event.

   In your travels, you have probably made an emotional connection to certain places and memories with your partner. This connection could play a role in choosing a venue. Do you love the ocean or do you prefer spending time among the pines in the mountains? Think seriously about the type of location you'd choose for your once in a life time event. And remember, if it's outdoors, there should be a back up plan (and if there's rain, well, that's said to be good luck!) A good first decision is a simple one. Out doors or in? This will help narrow it down a bit, and give you a jumping off point. Many event venues have in door and out door options and built in back up plans.

    Location is important. My husband and I wanted to get married in the mountains, beside a lake. We love camping in Big Bear, and wanted a venue that was reminiscent of the area, but when we spoke to our families, some issues that we couldn’t ignore came to the surface. We had family members that would have trouble at that altitude, so the choice was made to keep the event outside, but at a more comfortable location for all parties involved. It's important to keep the seasons in mind as well. Will the weather be predictable or could it be a problem? 

Having an idea of how large or intimate you'd like your event to be will narrow your choices down. If you know you want a large guest list, then you know a small venue is out. 

Try to make appointments, be flexible, and visit several places before making a final decision. It's important that the venues you go see have time to plan for you. It's bad form to show up at a venue or an event just to see what the place looks like. Also, listen to your gut. This is the just the first of several meetings with the events manager If there is an immediate disconnect, be weary!

Efficiency is important. If you attended an event, did it run well? Was the manager behind schedule from the moment you walked through the door? If so, chances are that the event will not run as smoothly as you'd like. Make sure you get quotes and ask how much discrepancy could be in the final bill.

This leads to affordability and what is included in the price. Planning a wedding can be huge endeavor, and, sometimes, the more included in the package, the better. Find out if the venue includes extras like floral arrangements, centerpieces, a DJ or coordinator on the day. Venues that do this all the time will have a lot of vendors they work with regularly. I always suggest using the list of vendors that the venue knows. They have worked together previously and know the staff, and the way their events usually work.
 
This will be a day you remember for years to come, and you’ll want to take your time planning it. The day will fly by, and having the right venue and staff will make it that much better.

This Weekends Bridal Show

We will be at this weekends Bride World's bridal expo at the L.A. Convention Center, 1200 L.A. Live Way, Los Angeles, CA  9001,5 on Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22nd. 

Don't miss the biggest and best Los Angeles County Bridal Show of the year. Now 2x bigger than other bridal events. Shop, compare and connect with 150 Los Angeles County wedding vendors. Find new planning ideas, inspiration and great values at this season's largest gathering of florists, wedding venues, photo booths, photographers, disc jockeys, bridal gowns, tuxedos, entertainers, bridal beauty tips, custom invitations, vintage decor, and romantic honeymoons.  

Get your discounted tickets at Bride World's website!

Don't Skip Beauty Sleep Before the Big Day (Reduce Stress for Better Sleep)

Your wedding day may be one of the happiest days of your life, but that doesn’t mean stress doesn’t come along with it. The guest list, future in-laws, and making decisions about the venue, flowers and place settings takes its toll on even the most patient person.

Unfortunately, the sleep deprivation that accompanies stress can do more than leave you feeling fatigued. Sleep plays an important role in your overall appearance. Studies have shown that well-rested people are perceived to be healthier and more attractive. Sleep can affect how you look and feel on one of the most important days of your life.

What it comes down to is this—beauty sleep is a real thing, and you don't want to miss it.

Pre-Wedding Stress Management

Stress management needs to start before your wedding day. There are a few simple ways you can reduce stress in as little as 15 to 20 minutes a day.

Before you jump into several different stress management methods, consider the conditions in which you sleep. Do mattress reviews
confirm that your bed is supportive of your preferred sleep position? Are there bulges or valleys that cause discomfort and wake you during the night? Do you keep the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet? Make sure you've created the right environment for a full seven to eight hours of sleep.

Meditation

Meditation has been used for centuries to help focus the mind and body. Today, there is science to support what regular meditative practitioners have known for years that meditation reduces stress and helps you sleep.

Mindfulness meditation teaches you how to focus on present body sensations rather than concentrating on stress-inducing thoughts of the past or future. Deep breathing and relaxation are important parts of letting go of stressful thoughts. Regular practitioners of this method show a thickening of the  prefrontal cortex, the reasoning part of the brain, and a strengthened connection between it and the amygdala, the emotional center of your brain. Essentially, meditation allows you to apply more reasoning to your emotional responses, which reduces stress.

Yoga

Stress often leads to the release of inflammation-causing proteins.
Yoga has been shown to reduce the number of these proteins, in turn reducing stress.

There are many different yoga methods from those that invigorate and strengthen the body to ones that quiet the mind for sleep. While any yoga method is beneficial, quiet, gentle poses done before bed are the most useful for getting a better night’s rest. Some yoga poses can even be performed in bed so you can drift off to sleep when you're ready.

Journaling and Scents

Sometimes it's the simple things that reduce stress. Keeping a journal by your bedside in which to jot down ideas or tasks can often relieve wedding-related anxiety. You don’t have to worry about forgetting something. You can also sleep better by using  lavender
essential oils, candles, or lotions as they have been shown to improve sleep quality.

A few minutes of meditation, yoga, or journal writing might be all it takes to help you not only enjoy your wedding day to the fullest but look amazing too.