If you’re allergic to flowers or if you want to think outside of the box we have 10 great ideas that can be hand-crafted by you! Of course, if you are not into crafting the bridal bouquet yourself most all of these alternatives can be found online to purchase.

Origami Bouquets

Felt & Antique Buttons

Door Knobs

Christmas Ornaments

Butterflies

Brooches

Fabric

Wire

Succulents {ask your florist if they make these!}

Feathers

These are only a few ideas of thinking outside the box for your bridal bouquet. You can also do fans, lanterns, pinwheels, umbrellas, candy, toys, pine cones, paper flowers or just about anything you love!

Happy Crafting!

Photos courtesy of manolobrides.com, ofweddingwebsite.blogspot.com, {next 2} weddinghigh.blogspot.com, weddingzilla.blogspot.com, stylehive.com, pulmonate.blogspot.com, bridalgownblog.blogspot.com, projectwedding.com, thebudgetsavvybride.com.

Sarah said, “The reason I did this was to show the value of having a bridal session. We had lots of time to shoot, with no pressure of a tight timeline and we were also able to pick the BEST time of day to get beautiful light for the photographs.”

Bridal sessions are commonly known as a Southern tradition where the bride does a portrait session in her full wedding day attire – hair, makeup, jewelry, veil, bouquet, and of course, the dress.  Most of the time a large portrait from the session is displayed at the reception (I’ve always seen them near the wedding cake).  In many cases the large photo is given as a gift to the Mother-of-the-Bride after the wedding, with smaller photos being given to the Father-of-the-Bride and the Groom, as well.

One BIG reason I believe every bride should do a bridal session is the opportunity for a trial run of the wedding day look.  It will give you enough time to make adjustments on your dress (maybe it was too big), or the shoes (maybe they gave you blisters), or the eye makeup was too intense, or hair kept falling in your eyes and annoying you, or the flowers didn’t hold up the way you thought they would. Its worth it in the end and your wedding day will fly by with all the extra time!

You can check out more of Sarah’s work by visiting her website and blog! You can also check out Amanda of Add Love, who created the gorgeous bouquet and hair piece.

If you’re searching for the perfect engagement ring or wedding band that’s truly one-of-a-kind, check out Gemvara—a really cool and user-friendly website that allows shoppers to design their own rings, bands, earrings, or necklaces. Which means you can fully customize everything about your ring—the setting, the stones, and even the metal.

If you want an engagement ring with a black diamond instead of a emerald center stone? No problem. Like the setting of one wedding band but want it in white gold instead of platinum? Easy as point and click. Every detail is totally up to you or your groom-to-be! You can even start designing a ring on the website, save it, come back and make as many changes as you want, and then place your order when you’re ready. My favorite feature is the facebook and twitter share buttons, its the perfect way to show your groom-to-be what you like.

Every piece is made to order and your ring will be delivered in 2 to 3 weeks. Visit Gemvara for more great ideas or to start designing your wedding rings!

Happy Designing!

Photo courtesy of Gemvara.

Before I start gushing over J. Crew’s new collection for 2012 I want to take a moment to thank all of you who sent very sweet messages and emails wondering where I’ve been. It reminds me how special it is to be a part of such a wonderful community like the wedding industry! I took a bit of a break to sneak off and enjoy the beautiful Rocky Mountains as well as finish up a few personal projects I’ve been working on. I also have a few new things in the works for LDW and I can’t wait to share all of them in due time. So… enough about me let’s get to the business at hand!

J. Crew’s new collection has me swooning! Seriously, I went crazy when I saw the email for the spring collection. Every. Single. Dress. I. LOVE! It was so hard for me to find favorites I decided to ask for help from my trusty new assistant and show her picks. She loves simple, modern and elegant looks for the bride!

And for the bridesmaids its all about big, bold, bright colors!

If you haven’t checked out J. Crew’s Spring Collection make sure you head on over and do it now!

Happy Shopping!

From the photographer:

I love when I get to photograph a couple who are so perfect for each other that they fit together like two little puzzle pieces.  That’s exactly how Lindsey and Sean describe themselves and I think you can see it in their photos. 

I am hard pressed to figure out a better way to describe this particular session as anything other than just a perfect alignment.  They met at work where they both make a living as accountants and. I can’t wait for their wedding this August!

You can check out more of April O’Hare Photography by visiting her website!

Every little girl dreams of her walk down the aisle. Let your dreams become a reality with Dessy! Dessy offers a wide array of dresses sure to please any bride-to-be. Although we love all things Dessy, below & above are a few of my favorite After Six Wedding Dress Designs:

Walk down the aisle in a strapless dress with draped lux chiffon and full tulle ballerina skirt. The After Six Wedding Dress Style 1038 {above} is sure to make a statement! Going for simple yet elegant? The After Six Wedding Dress Style 1036 is breathtaking. This dress offers a pleated bodice, beaded straps and waist band with a flared skirt. I absolutely adore the After Six Style 1019. This full-length guipure lace bridal gown with hand beaded inset waistband and straps is sure to have all eyes on you.

{1036}

{1019}

Find your perfect dress! Enjoy!

Glowing Skin

Mix chia seeds in your oatmeal or a natural fruit shake, or sprinkle them on your salad on your big day. These little black seeds are the highest natural source of omega-3s, and when your cells are nourished, your skin glows.

Staying Hydrated

Not getting enough fluids can leave you feeling lethargic. Tropical Fruits are a natural hydrators. Melons, papaya, and mangos are especially good because they also contain potassium, which helps regulate your body’s balance of fluids and minerals. Cut a cantaloupe in half, scoop out the seeds, and fill with sliced papaya or mango for a quenching treat.

Ease Water Retention

Waking up with puffy eyes can make you look less than photogenic and swollen feet can keep you off the dance floor. You can trick your body into letting go of excess liquid by eating natural diuretics, such as salad.

All-Day Energy

A great way to kick off your big day is with a bowl of oatmeal. You will be fueling your body with food that lets blood-sugar levels rise slowly and stay even for a long period of time.

Lastly, if your looking for a hotter wedding night, consider snacking on some oysters during the champagne toast. Oysters are packed with the mineral zinc, which apparently works as a libido-enhancer

TGIF!

Photos courtesy of Taste Spotting, thekitchn.com, my recipes, and food channel.

So, today I bring good news to all my expectant brides out there! If you have already checked out David’s Bridal and Terra Amore’s Maternity Bride and are still searching for the perfect dress make sure you check out Tina Mak Weddings! Tina’s maternity wedding dresses are breathtakingly beautiful. This Canadian designer has created silk gowns that are both comfortable and fashionable, and are reasonably priced between $890 and $1,700.

Not only are there are accessories like shrugs, sashes, and hair accessories to personalize your look, but if you’re not pregnant, the dresses would totally look spot-on at an outdoor wedding. Make sure you head on over to Tina Mak’s website and check out her full collection.

Photos courtesy of Tina Mak.

Don’t you LOVE the candy bar?

You can check out more of Chyna Darner Photography by checking out her website!

Happy Monday!

Every bride experiences nervousness, excitement, and all those other crazy emotions on their wedding day. You’ve put a lot of time into planning your day the last thing you want is an upset stomach, bloating, or gas problems. To avoid any kind of stomach issues we’ve put together a list of foods to avoid the day of your wedding.

Starchy foods

Foods such as potatoes, pasta, and rice are associated with bloating and gas. On the day of and the day before the wedding try and stay away from them if at all possible. Great alternatives if you need a snack before the wedding are wraps and pita bread for sandwiches.

Artificial Sweetener

Artificial sweetener found in some diet drinks, gums, and hard candies, is difficult for your body to break down and can cause bloating and indigestion. Plan ahead and have naturally sweet options on hand, such as frozen fruit like grapes or blueberries.

Caffeine

Water is the best thing to drink before your wedding. Avoid coffee, tea, sodas, energy bars, and other caffeinated products as much as possible. If you’re a daily coffee or soda drinker try to limit the amount you have that morning. Caffeine reduces the amount of water in the body and can lead to dehydration during the ceremony – often a cause of fainting at the altar.

Carbonated drinks

Carbonated drinks, such as sodas and seltzers, contain carbon dioxide which makes your stomach expand so you look and feel bloated and may cause belching. Its best to avoid these at least until after the ceremony. Try reaching for a fizzy drink or water flavored with cucumber slices.

Spicy foods

Spices can do all sorts of strange things as they’re eaten and digested. Spicy food can heat up your body and could cause extra sweating; some spices may irritate your stomach. There’s also a chance of bad breath or food getting stuck between your teeth!

Milk & dairy products

Limit the amount of lactose you eat on the big day. Yogurt, cheese, milk, and other dairy products should be fine in moderation but could irritate your stomach if you’re already anxious.

Powerhouse vegetables

Although cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower are nutritional powerhouses, they also tend to be difficult to digest and can cause gas. Its best to steer clear of these vegetables (as well as beans) on your wedding day.

Think healthy, high protein, and low fat when you’re selecting foods to eat before your wedding day. Avoid the foods listed above and also stay away from foods and drinks that contain a lot of sugar – sugars are good for short-lived energy, but usually leave you feeling tired and sluggish soon after. Also stay tuned for next week when we share with you the best foods to eat on your wedding day!