Author: weddingsteps

Romantically Rustic

Post author By weddingsteps
Post date December 7, 2014

Barns, beige, and burlap! Rustic and country-style weddings are all the rage right now. Having this type of themed wedding gives a warm feeling to your special day and ensures a more casual setting for your guests. Here are some ways to incorporate a rustic theme into your wedding day:

The first consideration is the choice of venue. Finding the right barn, lodge, field, mountain, or park is the most important decision. Ask your friends, go exploring, take a ride to the countryside. Today, you can Google “weddings barns” and get a list of places near you.

Burlap can be your best friend for a country wedding. Tastefully use the material as place settings on tables, for a banner, table cloth, or anywhere else you think it would do the trick. .

Using wooden elements is also a good way to give your wedding a rustic theme. Place stumps of wood on the sides on the aisle to the altar. Interweave bright lights into trees, or write messages for your guests on wooden signs. Planks on saw horses make for nice tables.

Other materials that are typical and for rustic weddings are twine, mason jars, bales of hay, and white lace.

The most important key to a beautiful rustic wedding is the patience for all the DIY projects that come with it, a strong attention to detail, and an imaginative mind. These country-style weddings might be what’s hot right now but the best part about them is that no two weddings are the same.

So if you’re ready to get crafty, and if you really enjoy the country, then you’re ready to have one of the best old-fashioned, down home, venue themes around!

Tags country, rustic, theme, wedding

Wedding Planning Tips

Take the Guess Work Out of Guest Books

Post author By weddingsteps
Post date November 29, 2014

Besides great planning and beautiful decorations, what’s a grand wedding without being surrounded by the people who love you? Guests are like the audience members to a show, witnesses to a wonderful marriage taking place, and important to the success of a good wedding. The bride and groom become the center of attention on their special day and a good just-married couple will often times try to meet and greet with all of their guests at some point during the reception. Depending on how many guests were invited, speaking to every guest that comes to the wedding could prove to be a hard task. To ensure the communication between guest and newly married couple, you should have a guest book so your guests can sign their names and maybe even a short message to the newlyweds. Here are some super innovative ideas on how a guest can leave their name and/or small message to look at later. Other ideas are:

Have guests sign a guest quilt with fabric markers

Have guests sign Popsicle sticks with fun date ideas for the future that they can place into a jar

Have guests place written messages in a giant glass bottle, wooden box, shadow box frame, etc.

Have guests sign puzzles pieces, pebbles, jenga pieces, etc.

Or instead of guests signing small items, have them sign one big thing such as a slab of wood, vintage window, framed poster, etc.

If a guest book isn’t something you don’t want to do for your wedding but still want some input from your guests, print out advice coasters and lay them on the tables at the reception or ask them to give a few pearls of wisdom on the wedding video. Think of creative ways to let your wedding guests know that they are appreciated and that their ideas and messages are wanted.

Tags guestbook, wedding

Wedding Planning Tips

Picking a Good Bridal Party Member

Post author By weddingsteps
Post date November 21, 2014

Getting engaged can be one of the most wonderful things in the world. The person you love more than anything in the world has just let you know that they want to spend the rest of their life with you, how exciting! Now you can start planning the wedding and letting people know about your big announcement. One of the most important decisions leading up to your wedding is picking your bridal party. It might not seem like such a big deal to some, but a bridal party is the entourage and the support team, therefore you need to be sure to assemble the perfect people for the job! Here are some things to take into consideration when picking your bridal party.

Is this person going to be able to get things done if I cannot do them?

Is this person going to be able to make it to the majority of events and appointments that lead up to the big day?

What makes this person a good support?

Is this person helpful and resourceful?

How well does this person know me?

How well can this person get along with the rest of the bridal party?

Will this person be able to calm me down or will (s)he stress me out more?

The best part about bridal parties is that they don’t have to be a big group to be a success. Some of the best bridesmaids and groomsmen are the ones that are more close-knit and in smaller groups. As long as there is plenty of communication between the two parties, a bridal party can actually be one of the most fun experiences to be a part of. Its team-bonding with a group of people who come together to be a part of something great all because of two people who decided to tie the knot!

Tags bridalparty, wedding

Wedding Planning Tips

A Guide to Your Perfect Wedding Dress

Post author By weddingsteps
Post date November 15, 2014

The dress that a bride wears on her wedding day can say a lot about her personality. There are so many different styles and cuts to choose from nowadays so every bride can get exactly what they are looking for. Besides the color of the dress and how to accessorize it, the first and foremost thing to think about is the type of style you are looking to flaunt.
Go for a timeless look by picking a vintage-style dress that is elegant. If older style dresses aren’t your cup of tea, then feel free to explore more modern options. After figuring out if you want to go for a bold or more conservative look, it’s time to pick your style!

A trumpet or a mermaid dress enhances an hour glass shape and is extremely fitted.

An A-line dress is has a fitted bodice that gradually flows out to the bottom and is known to flatter any body type

An empire dress has a high band located right below the bust and proves to make the bride’s body look more elongated

The ball gown dress poofs out tremendously and makes the waist appear smaller.

After choosing your perfect style the next step is to focus on neckline options and dress material. Once you’ve got the ideal style, neckline, and material, you are on your way to being the center of attention as you make your grand appearance down the aisle on your wedding day!

Wedding Planning Tips

Ways to Save for Your Special Day

Post author By weddingsteps
Post date November 7, 2014

The words “impossible” and “stressful” have often been associated with planning a wedding, but what if those terms could be eliminated from your wedding-planning experience? The worry usually starts with the almighty dollar and an unrealistic budget, so as long as you’ve got expenses under control, you can then begin to enjoy the actual process of it all. The key is to be as creative and resourceful as you can. Here are some tips to help you save some serious money for your one-day only extravaganza:

Natural items and weddings are a match made in heaven. Think about your theme and what (free) things from nature you can pick up from your surroundings whether it be sand, shells, rocks, or beautiful sea glass.
A backyard venue is always cost efficient
Schedule a wedding in off-peak times
Choose any day but Saturday
When doing a wedding on a budget, thrift stores and garage sales are your best friends.
Network with some people in your local area regarding things they are selling/giving away. It really does take a village sometimes.
There are sites online that have people essentially recycling and selling their already used (but in great condition) wedding favors, dresses, and other items that you might just need.

The more creative you get with your wedding, the better experience you’ll have and the more stress-free you’ll be. Staying on budget and saving your money will have you concentrating less on annoying costs and will undoubtedly have you more focused on the actual day of celebration!

Wedding Planning Tips

Maritime Marriages

Post author By weddingsteps
Post date October 31, 2014

Cruise weddings have been becoming more popular these days because of how exciting and jam-packed they have the potential to be. Whether you’re inviting friends and family to join you on your special day at sea, or taking some private cruise time with just your partner, a ship is a great option for tying the knot!

Cruise weddings give you many different romance package option that you and your significant other can choose from
Inviting friends and family to celebrate with you gives you time to spend with them by doing many fun activities before and after the big day
A cruise wedding easily transitions into a honeymoon for you and your partner
You can choose to get married on a ship, or dock and get married at one of the many port locations that the cruise line has to offer
The wedding packages help you save money
You can easily customize your itinerary
Venues, catering, video, photography, and any of the other hassles that come with planning a wedding are already on the ship for you.

Having a wedding on a cruise takes the guess work out of planning, scheduling, and making arrangements (that you hope don’t fall through at the last minute) because every detail is pre-booked before you even get on the ship. It is a smart option for any couple looking to associate a lot fun and excitement around the day of their wedding. This option saves you a boat load of money and ensures some beautiful memories along the way as well.

Tags cruiseship, weddings

Wedding Planning Tips

There’s No Place Like Home

Post author By weddingsteps
Post date October 23, 2014

The chore of picking wedding venues can often times be tricky and overly-expensive. Sometimes you find that perfect romantic location and then you find out it’s booked for months or that the dates available don’t match up to your desired dates. To ensure that these disappointing situations don’t occur when planning your wedding, why not look a little closer to home? Intimate or large, fancy or casual, a backyard wedding is a fool-proof idea for both a wedding and/or reception. Here are some reasons why a backdrop of a beautiful yard setting is the way to go:

You can save so much money by using your yard or a friend/family’s yard for your wedding venue
You’re in total control of your environment.
You can make it as formal or laid back as you desire.
Everyone feels more comfortable letting loose in a private setting.
Outside weddings in general make for beautiful pictures because you have the natural elements that are associated with being out in nature.
The chance of inclement weather can be solved by using a giant tent for you and your guests.

The seasons of spring, summer, and early fall are ideal for a backyard wedding, so if you’re into saving money–if you’re inner DIY personality is just itching to come out and if you’d enjoy a more closed-off and intimate location to celebrate with your friends and family–sometimes you don’t have to look far for the best locations.

Tags backyard wedding, married at home