By antiquesgalorega
Bridal shower games help to make shower guests more comfortable with other guests, so it’s always a good idea to include them on your activities list. Below are a few shower games to get your guests laughing and talking.
- Who Am I? or What am I? You can adapt this activity to your shower theme. The general idea is to stick a name of a person or an object on your guests’ backs and the guests have to guess their identity. For instance, if your party is a kitchen shower, you might label guests with the words “crock pot,” “spatula,” or “frying pan.” Guests will have to try to guess which object they are by asking other guests questions about their identity.
- Don’t Cross Your Legs: This is a good shower game for a group of women to play. When guests arrive, give each of them ten safety pins. The object of the game is to not cross your legs. Anytime someone crosses her legs, the person who notices first gets to take the other person’s safety pin. The person with the most safety pins at the end of the party wins a prize.
- Toilet Paper Bridal Gown: Break guests up into teams and give them several rolls of toilet paper. Give the teams about ten minutes to create the bride-to-be’s wedding gown and veil.
After playing these bridal shower games, your guests won’t be able to stop talking to one another. They may even make some new friends.
July 22nd, 2009 by Yolanda D. Young | Posted in Bridal Shower, Tips | Comments (0)
by RoOoNa
When my sister threw a bridal shower for me years ago, the menu theme was salads. This was perfect for a mid-afternoon shower. Many of my family members prepared various salads for my shower. We ate potato salad, chicken salad, garden salad, pasta salads, tuna salad, fruit salad, and various garden salads. Here are a few salad recipes for a Salad Bridal Shower.
Tuna Salad: Drain and dump two large cans of tuna fish into a bowl. Add about a half cup of sweet relish, a cup of Miracle whip, and one to two hard boiled eggs chopped up. Season to taste with Lowry’s Seasoning Salt. Mix all ingredients together and top the tuna salad with paprika.
Basic Salad: In a bowl, add lettuce, grape or cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, cucumbers, sliced turkey, chopped bell peppers, raisins and sliced apples. Toss ingredients when ready to serve.
Pasta Salad: Prepare a 12 oz. package of pasta according to directions. Drain, rinse in cool water, and place pasta in a bowl. Steam a bag of mixed vegetables. Drain the vegetables and toss them in the bowl with the pasta. Add banana pepper rings and a large bottle of Italian Dressing and mix the ingredients together. Chill the salad until ready to serve.
These recipes are just a few of the delicious salads that can be prepared for a Salad Bridal Shower.
July 15th, 2009 by Yolanda D. Young | Posted in Bridal Shower, Tips | Comments (0)
By antaresjhw
When people attend weddings, they look forward to receiving a wedding favor. Many people hold on to their trinkets for years as a special memento of the weddings they’ve attended. Listed below are some wedding favors I’ve received over the years.
1. CD. The couple created a CD of their favorite jazz tunes and gave them to guests at the reception. This is a practical wedding favor for your guests. You could make a CD of love songs or you and your mate’s favorite songs.
2. Refrigerator magnet. I’ve received variations of this wedding favor. One couple gave a magnet of themselves and their wedding date printed on it. Another couple gave out purple and gold silk flower magnets that had their names and wedding date printed on a small ribbon attached to it.
3. Bubbles. The small party favor bubbles are always a nice gift. Guests get to use the bubbles to celebrate the couple as they leave the wedding ceremony. Some people print out their names and wedding date on a file sticker and attach it to the bubble bottle. Others just put a ribbon around the neck of the bottle.
4. Candy. I’ve received candy-coated almonds wrapped in colored netting and secured with a ribbon. Also, I’ve enjoyed receiving a few Hershey’s Kisses with the words, “Here are a handful of the kisses from the new Mr. and Mrs.”
When deciding on a wedding favor, you need to decide if you want it to be something your guests can keep or something temporary, like candy. Whatever you decide, make it a token that represents you and your mate’s commitment to each other.
July 6th, 2009 by Yolanda D. Young | Posted in Tips, Wedding Planning | Comments (0)
Searching for the perfect wedding gown can be both exciting and daunting. When I began my search, I lived in Baltimore, Maryland. I wanted a dress designed with an African influence. I looked for my wedding gown in various boutiques in Maryland. I drove to Philadelphia and Virginia before deciding on a gown in Ohio, my hometown. I had flown in twice to try on this reasonably priced semi-traditional sleeveless white satin gown with tiny pearls on the bodice and an intricately designed train. I wanted to fly to New York to see a simple white satin gown with a very small African pattern around the waist I had seen in a catalogue; however, my mother put her foot down, and said I was getting the gown in Ohio.
My sister, on the other hand, was not even engaged when she stumbled upon her gown. While visiting a historical site in Ohio with summer campers, she walked into a tiny wedding boutique, saw her gown and knew it was the one for her. She went home and told our parents about the gown that she wanted to buy, and “Yes, I know I’m not even engaged, yet.” After some persuasion, the next day we headed to the little town to purchase my sister’s bargain-priced wedding gown.
You never know where and when you’ll find your wedding gown. It’s nice to have an image of your dream dress in mind and even some magazine clippings as a guide, but make sure you’re open to the surprises and unexpected treasures you may find while you search for your wedding gown.
July 2nd, 2009 by Yolanda D. Young | Posted in Tips, Wedding Gowns | Comments (2)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/janined/
Despite the stylish dresses available for bridesmaids these days and the bride’s effort to choose a dress her bridesmaids can wear again, most women probably won’t wear their gown to another event. I had ten bridesmaids in my wedding, and after shortening the hemline, only one of my bridesmaids wore her gown again. What can you do with your bridesmaid gown after the wedding is over and you’ve cleaned it? Here are a few ideas.
1. Donate it to charity. Most thrift stores have a nice selection of formals. Someone will come across your gown and find it to be perfect for her event. Also, some high schools and non-profit groups accept formal gown donations, which they sell or give away prior to prom season. Your generosity may allow a young lady to attend the prom in an affordable gown.
2. Sell it. You can sell the gown in a local or online consignment store. If you sell it on consignment, the owner may look up the retail value of your gown and sell it for half its value, and then you will get half of that.
You, also, can sell it on eBay. You’ll need to set up a PayPal account, take a picture of your bridesmaid gown and write a descriptive blurb about it. Once you upload your photo, and take care of the other eBay requirements, such as setting your price, you’ll be able to sell your gown online.
3. Save it. You may, in fact, find that you will have an opportunity to wear your gown again to an event. Perhaps none of the other former bridesmaid will be in attendance and wearing their bridesmaid gown. Perhaps you’ll wear it, and everyone will want to know where you found such a stunning gown!
July 1st, 2009 by Yolanda D. Young | Posted in Bridal Party, Tips | Comments (2)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sherrysrosecottage/
After perhaps months of searching for the perfect wedding gown, finding the one that made you feel and look like the most beautiful bride in the world, the wedding day has come and gone. Now you must decide what to do with your gown. If you are a sentimentalist, here are a few suggestions.
1. Save it. Some women dream of the day that their daughter will walk down the aisle wearing the same wedding gown that they wore. If this is your desire or even if you just want to save your dress, you need to store it properly. Don’t just throw it in a bag or leave it hanging in your closet. Both of these choices may cause damage to your precious wedding gown. Have your dress preserved properly.
Many dry cleaners offer bridal gown preservation. They will clean your dress and store it, using archival methods to prevent discoloration and deterioration. Some preservationists guarantee their work for 30 years.
2. Repurpose it. Using the fabric from sister’s wedding gown, my sister’s friend designed and sewed a dress for my niece. When my niece was dedicated at my church, she wore the dress made from her mother’s wedding gown. Another idea is to have a quilt for your first baby made from your wedding gown. When your baby snuggles up under the quilt, you’ll be reminded of two special days in your life.
Whatever you decide to do with your wedding gown, I know the memory of wearing your gown on your wedding day will be cherished in your heart forever.
June 30th, 2009 by Yolanda D. Young | Posted in Tips, Wedding Gowns | Comments (0)
By david.nathan.cox
After you become engaged, one of the earliest decisions you’ll make concerns who you’ll ask to be bridesmaids or wedding attendants. Usually, being selected to join the bride and groom as they recite their vows is seen as an honor bestowed upon special family members and close friends. This is a decision you’ll want to take seriously because your choices can impact your future relationships with people.
Try not to allow others to choose your attendants for you. Ideally, the people you decide to stand up with you on your wedding day should be close to you and your future husband. You should not base your decision on other friend’s or family member’s desires. Believe it or not, some people have been coerced into including people in their wedding party whom they would not have included otherwise. Yet, with that said, I highly recommend including family members in your wedding party.
Some people expect to be included in your wedding party and will be offended if you don’t ask them to be in your wedding. Many relationships have been strained or severed because a bride-to-be didn’t ask a college friend, for instance, to join her. Sometimes you will not know about these hurt feelings until the wedding is over, and you don’t hear from your friend anymore or your friend seems distant.
Ultimately, your wedding day should be a joyous day for you and your husband. You want to be able to look back at this day without regrets, so select bridesmaids and wedding attendants whom you’ll be able to say, “I’m glad they were by my side on my wedding day.”
June 29th, 2009 by Yolanda D. Young | Posted in Ceremony and Vows, Tips, Wedding Planning | Comments (1)
It has been quite some time since I had thoughts of marriage. As a young urban single, I often justify the piles of wedding magazines on my floor with one single statement: “I have no plans to marry just yet. I just want to have a wedding.”
What an odd way to see an event so entrenched with meaning and sentimentality, when that sentimentality has not yet entered my life. Then it occurred to me, the aesthetics of a wedding are nothing more than an exercise in self-expression–something we all crave, engaged or not.
Here’s something I can get my head around. Let us, for a moment, remove the sappy factor, which I’ll admit is not always one to be ignored. A wedding is an opportunity to invite those closest to you into the world of your imagination. It is a way to make the fantasy come to life. Quite fitting considering a wedding is a dream-come-true.
Suddenly I can understand why there are so many options, why every detail matters, why every piece of the day must have that personal touch. I use this as a jump-off point to begin my own exploration of the magic, the mystery and the drama of The Big Day. Though I understand the simplicity and dignity of a modest affair, I feel invigorated by the capacity of a big wedding.
Just as with any other aesthetic aspect of our lives–how we dress, how we speak, how we decorate our homes–we yearn to translate our imagination into reality. And the choices before us are dazzling. I’m curious to hear, readers, what the Big Day means to you. How is it set apart from any other party you might throw, or rite of passage you reach? And how do you envision your special day?
Carla Gonzalez-Hart
(photo credit: jurvetson)
April 15th, 2009 by admin | Posted in Tips | Comments (0)
Brides and Maids of Honor, listen up! There is a task at hand–two to be precise. Bride, unless you are rich as Roosevelt, you may find yourself charged with the task of assembling your own centerpieces, aisle decorations or wedding favors. Maids of Honor, you have a bridal shower to throw, and a bunch of giggly women to entertain. Let us work together to solve these two problems!
Brides, will your centerpieces be silk flowers delicately placed in sterling silver urns? Are your party favors delectable chocolates wrapped in tulle and tied with a pretty ribbon? Have you discovered how to bundle organza and silk to make soft flowers to line the church aisle or decorate chairs? Pick one piece of the total decorations for the day–one that will surely keep you, your mother and your sister knee deep in satin scraps and ribbon all through the night. You should really have a staff.
Maids of Honor, you must plan a lovely affair to shower the bride with gifts. While bridesmaids and female friends feast on pretty little cupcakes and drink champagne, you’ll find it helps when there is something to DO. Watching the bride open her gifts is one thing. But how long does that really last?
I say, put all those French manicured hands to work! With love, of course. Provided the instructions are easy–even for the artistically impaired–and the workload not too big, how about a decoration-making party?
Maybe it seems you’re recruiting your friends into some sort of slave labor, but keep in mind that you can limit their efforts. Buy all the material and make sure everything is ready to use. Does the tulle need to be cut into little squares? Should ribbons be cut to a specific length? Spare your guests, and do the prep ahead of time. Let your friends have fun just with the assembly. Ask that each guest make only about five items–10 if they work in pairs. If the bride still has decorations left over to make, at least she’ll be ahead of the game.
Maids of Honor, what a fun and successful party you will have thrown! Rather than playing the usual bridal shower games, you will have organized something special. There is nothing like a fun activity and a clever art project to liven up the typical bridal shower.
Brides, the outcome will be charming. Your centerpieces, aisle decorations or party favors–whatever you choose to make on your own–will all come out a bit differently, having each been made by different hands. The personalities of those you love will be entrenched in your wedding. And your friends will feel as though they were a part of making your special day happen.
Any ideas for homemade wedding decorations or party favors?
Carla Gonzalez-Hart
(photo credit: justintosh)
April 12th, 2009 by admin | Posted in Tips | Comments (0)
On a popular wedding-themed Web site, which shall remain nameless, I took a fun little quiz to figure out my wedding style. I was bored to tears half way through and even more disappointed when I saw the results. I am a “Classic” bride. No kidding. I didn’t need a quiz to tell me that.
The other pre-assigned personalities–romantic, modern, bohemian–all seemed tired.
So, readers, let’s put down the cake and flower catalogues and take a breather from all of this “typical wedding” stuff. Take my Alternative Bride Quiz, and see what happens when you’re given atypical options to answer the typical questions.
Favorite Movie
- A) “Cast Away” B) “Terminator” C) “Singles” D) “The Labyrinth”
- Ideal First Date A) Being dropped off on a mountain and finding your way home, together B) A trip to the shooting range, togetherC) Attending an all-ages indie rock show in a dive bar, together D) LARPing (Live Action Role Play. Hint: Dungeons and Dragons), together
- Ideal site for a wedding A) Gilligan’s Island B) A war zone C) A coffee house in Seattle, circa 1992 D) The Future
- Favorite fabric A) Leaves B) Steel C) Flannel D) Gauze
- For an evening out with friends, you’d wear A) Leaves B) Steel C) Flannel D) Gauze
- Your most treasured piece of jewelry is: A) A dandelion necklace B) Bullets on a chain C) Anything from Urban Outfitters or, better yet, the Salvation Army D) A magical tiara that turns you into a fairy princess, literally
- Who is your fashion icon? A) Gandhi B) Sarah Connor C) Courtney Love D) Glenda the Good Witch
- What is your favorite cocktail? A) Sea water B) PowerAde C) Draft beer in a plastic cup D) Elixir or potion
- Your dream vacation A) A deserted island–oh wait, you already live there B) A trip to the gun show C) Visiting Kurt Cobain’s grave D) A weekend in an enchanted forest
If you chose:
- Mostly A’s– You live a simple lifestyle. For your wedding, you require only the basics: a groom and a judge or clergyman. Get married naked. Any fabric might be needed to build shelter.
- Mostly B’s–You’re not girlie at all. The traditional wedding makes you sick. Opt for cargo pants.
- Mostly C’s– Wear a plaid flannel shirt, ripped jeans and army boots. And find a time machine. The early 90s are the perfect setting for your reception.
- Mostly D’s– Swathe yourself in sheer white layers. You’re a bit nuts, but oddly the most traditional of the lot.
Indulge all of your fantasies. It’s the only day of your life where it’ll be excused.
Carla Gonzalez-Hart
(photo credit: tuffer)
April 9th, 2009 by admin | Posted in Tips | Comments (0)
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