Monday, February 20, 2023
From Bohemian Chic to Art Deco Elegance: 10 Creative Wedding Themes That Will Take Your Big Day to the Next Level!
Bohemian Chic: If you love all things vintage, boho-chic might be the perfect theme for you. Think: floral crowns, flowy dresses, and lots of macramé.
Enchanted Garden: Turn your wedding venue into a magical garden with lots of greenery, twinkling lights, and whimsical touches.
Rustic Romance: Combine the best of both worlds with a rustic romance theme that incorporates natural elements like wood and burlap with romantic touches like candles and lace.
Modern Glam: If you're a fan of all things sleek and modern, go for a modern glam theme that features bold colors, metallic accents, and lots of glitter.
Vintage Hollywood: Bring old Hollywood glamour to your wedding with a vintage Hollywood theme that features classic black and white decor, red lipstick, and lots of champagne.
Festival Fun: Turn your wedding into a mini music festival with a festival fun theme that features bright colors, food trucks, and live music.
Nautical Nuptials: If you're getting married near the water, embrace a nautical theme with blue and white decor, boat-inspired touches, and seafood.
Urban Chic: For a wedding that's as cool as the city you live in, go for an urban chic theme that incorporates industrial elements like metal and concrete with chic touches like flowers and candles.
Art Deco Elegance: Transport your guests back in time with an art deco elegance theme that features geometric shapes, metallic accents, and lots of glitz and glamour.
Country Charm: If you love the country life, go for a country charm theme that incorporates rustic elements like hay bales and mason jars with charming touches like wildflowers and homemade pies.
I hope these 10 creative wedding themes inspire you to think outside the box and create a wedding that's uniquely you. Happy planning!
Say 'I Do' to Savings: A Comprehensive Guide to Creating a Wedding Budget That Works for You!
We all know that weddings can be expensive, but that doesn't mean you can't have the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank. The key is to create a wedding budget that works for you and your partner. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the steps to creating a wedding budget that fits your needs and helps you prioritize your spending.
Step 1: Determine your total budget. Before you start planning anything, you need to figure out how much you can afford to spend. Take a look at your savings, talk to any family members who might be contributing to the wedding, and decide on a total budget that you're comfortable with.
Step 2: Decide on your top priorities. Once you have a total budget in mind, you need to decide what aspects of the wedding are most important to you. Do you want to spend more on the venue or the food? Are you willing to cut back on the flowers to splurge on the dress? Decide on your top priorities and allocate your budget accordingly.
Step 3: Break down your budget by category. To keep your spending on track, it's helpful to break down your budget by category, such as venue, catering, flowers, attire, and photography. Allocate a specific amount of your budget to each category and stick to it.
Step 4: Research costs and negotiate. Once you have your budget broken down by category, it's time to start researching costs. Look at multiple vendors and compare prices. Don't be afraid to negotiate with vendors to try to get the best price possible.
Step 5: Keep track of your spending. Throughout the planning process, it's important to keep track of your spending and make adjustments as needed. Use a budget tracker or spreadsheet to keep track of all your expenses and make sure you're staying within your budget.
Creating a wedding budget can be overwhelming, but with these steps, you'll be able to create a budget that works for you and your partner. Remember, the most important thing is that you're getting married to the person you love, and that's priceless.
Saturday, February 18, 2023
Say Yes to the Perfect Dress: Your Ultimate Guide to Nailing Your Wedding Dress Appointment
I used to work as a wedding dress consultant, and I just loved that job. I helped brides find their dream dress and picked up some interesting insights along the way.
Trust me, I know how overwhelming dress shopping can be, but with my insider tips, you'll be able to breeze through your appointment and snag the perfect dress that you've been dreaming of. I've got some pointers that aren't usually mentioned in similar articles.
Let's chat and make your dress shopping experience as enjoyable as possible!
Before the appointment:
FINDING A WEDDING DRESS SHOP: Start with stores closer to your home, then expand your search if necessary. Remember, you'll likely visit the store 5 or 6 times between the first visit, the try on, the alterations, an accessories appointment and the pick up, so find the dress shops near you to make it easy on yourself. If you don't find the dress at the closer shops, you can go visit some that are further away.
PLAN AHEAD: Ordering a dress can take 8 months or more to have it made in your size, and they are often made overseas. Start your wedding dress shopping well in advance (at least 10 months) and remember to add 2 months for alterations after receiving your dress. With supply chain issues, you may need to start even earlier.
If you need a dress for a wedding in less than 4 months, call and ask if the store has off-the-rack options available, or if they have some "rush" options; some designers have dresses that have a quick turnaround time.
Check if the wedding dress shop has a seamstress available for alterations and ask about storage fees if you need to keep your dress at the store before the wedding. If the shop doesn't have a seamstress, you'll need to find one who can do your alterations.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT: Let your chosen store know how many people will be accompanying you. The shop will be less crowded during the week, and super crazy on the weekend. During your phone call, the staff will provide you with any relevant details regarding their store.
UNDERGARMENTS: Wear a strapless bra and "good" undies. The store associate will be helping you get in and out of the bridal gowns so don't wear any underwear you would be embarrassed being seen in. The bridal salon will have a strapless bra to wear during the appointment if you forget yours. The wedding dress shop I worked at never washed the bras that customers wore. I always thought that was disgusting, so that's why you definitely want to bring your own!
SHOES: It doesn't hurt to bring along shoes in the height that you would probably wear on your wedding day (they don't have to be white, you're just considering the height) but you really don't need them. You won't have time to try on your shoes with every dress, but for your favorite choice, you can slip the shoes on.
LOOKIN' CUTE: Doing your makeup before you arrive ensures you look your best in pictures. Most stores don't mind if your "TeamBride" takes photos of you in the dresses. Also, take a little time to fix your hair the way you may wear it on your wedding day. Having it up or down can really make a big difference in the overall look. If you have very long hair though, having it in a ponytail or bun will make it easier to get in and out of the dresses.
At the Appointment (make sure you are on time!):
LEAVE THE COFFEE IN THE CAR: Avoid bringing food or drinks into the store. Most bridal shops prefer to keep food and drinks, even water, away from the dresses. If you want to bring champagne, be sure to ask first and bring glasses or cups too, so you come prepared, if they allow it.
SETTING EXPECTATIONS: Tell the store associate the shape, color, fabric and overall look you would like. You can bring pictures or show her on your phone the styles of dresses that you are interested in. She may ask you about the venue, wedding size, and time of day, to get a good idea of how formal the dress needs to be. Keep an open mind when choosing dresses. While you may have a style in mind, trying on a few dresses outside of your comfort zone may surprise you.
BUDGET FRIENDLY OPTIONS: Be sure to state your budget so she can steer you towards dresses in your price range. You can save money by purchasing a discontinued floor model dress. Ask to see what is in your size, or close to it, on their discount rack. The advantage of this is not just the price, but also you won't have to order your dress and wait several months for it to arrive.
You can inquire about trunk shows too, where dresses by one designer are marked down for a short period of time.
CHOOSING DRESSES: Dress appointments are often around an hour and fifteen minutes. This goes by really fast so stay focused; pick just 3-4 dresses you like best to try on first before going back to the racks to find more. And again, you may want to grab a couple that are completely different styles. 5 or 6 dresses will be a good number to start.
You might realize after the first few dresses that you actually prefer a different style than you had initially wanted, so you can always have your consultant pull some new choices for you.
When you look through the dresses on the rack, remember they look very different on the hanger. They look flat, for one thing, and the shape is completely different than when you have it on. They may also be hung on the rack in a clear plastic bag. It can be hard to envision the dress in this situation so ask the consultant if she has photos of the dress you can look at.
BRING ALONG TEAMBRIDE: Check with the store how many people you can bring with you. Keeping the group to 3-4 or less is easier, (1-2 guests makes it less complicated) and make sure the store has enough space for everyone. While friends and family may offer their opinions, it's important to follow your heart and choose the dress that feels right for you. Remember, the ultimate decision is yours.
Don't let well-meaning friends or family members take control of your appointment and distract you with dresses you're not interested in. If TeamBride starts pulling you in different directions, ask the wedding dress associate to help steer them back on track.
Once you and your consultant are back in the dressing room, you can tell her what dress or style you love and that you are trying to "tune out" the strong opinions to the contrary. She'll be your ally and make sure your vision is the main focus. Remember, it's your day and you get to choose the dress that makes you feel amazing! Chances are, TeamBride will support you in finding the dress you love.
When trying on dresses, the sizes the shop has on hand will likely be too big, and the consultant will use clamps to give you an idea of the dress's shape. These may look like something your dad keeps in the trunk of his car, but they do the job.
MODIFYING A DRESS: If you love a dress but want to tweak it a little bit, ask your consultant if they carry a sparkly belt, sleeves or straps you can try with the dress. A sparkly belt really can "bling up" the dress, and your seamstress can sew it right to the dress, so it stays in place. If you invest in a sparkly belt, be sure to remove it after the wedding and add it to your wardrobe. Trust me, you will love wearing it again with your favorite "normal" dresses.
The seamstress may also be able to add sleeves or straps to a dress. Investing in customizing your dream dress may come at an additional cost, but it guarantees a unique gown tailored to your specific preferences and style.
FABRIC CONSIDERATIONS: Keep in mind the wedding location when selecting your dress. If you have a spot chosen outside in the summer, stay away from tulle dresses with lots of layers. Bugs will get stuck in there and it is a real pain to pick them out.
For a beachy wedding, consider if you want your dress blowing away in the wind. While many beach brides gravitate towards a soft light flowy dress, you may want something a little heavier or form fitting that isn't going to be blowing around as much.
But don't go too heavy. Dresses with lots of beading and rhinestones will be really heavy. You'll be wearing it for a long time on your big day, and you want to be comfortable.
At the end of the appointment:
ACCESSORIES: The store associate may bring in a veil and jewelry to try on once you have narrowed down your choices and you have a favorite dress. Keep in mind you can buy wedding accessories online for much cheaper. Even Amazon has beautiful wedding veils for a fraction of the cost.
You can always make an appointment another day to try multiple accessories on with the dress you chose. Some veils do take a while to order, so if you're considering a special veil from the bridal shop, ask how long it will take to order it. But be sure to shop online first to find some deals!
READY TO BUY?: You may feel like you need to make a decision right there and then and buy the dress that you like. Your consultant may put a veil and a necklace on you and even hand you a little bouquet. This is a sales tactic to try to push you toward buying the dress and veil today. They want you to see yourself in the mirror and imagine getting married in this bridal gown.Your bridal consultant will even bring another team member or two or even the store owner/manager to show them how amazing you look in the dress and the veil. The other team members will tell you very enthusiastically that this dress looks beautiful on you, and it is definitely the one for you. This is another sales tactic to try to get you to buy the dress today.
The consultant or store owner may even come right out and say in a loud voice so everyone in the shop can hear, "Are you saying Yes to the Dress?" You might be ready to shout "Yes!" If you aren't ready, take a deep breath and realize it is okay if you don't buy today. If they try to pressure you to buy today, just tell them you need to text a photo to your grandma to get her input, but she (you look at your watch) is taking her nap right now.
IF YOU WANT TO WAIT: You can always take a few days to think about it. You may want to show your photos of your top choices to a trusted friend or family member (like sleepy grandma) who wasn't at your appointment. It might not be convenient to get your TeamBride back together for another appointment, but you can always stop by on your own or with just your mom.
If you decide you aren't ready to buy a dress, ask the store associate to write down the information for the dresses you liked. You may have more dresses or styles you want to try on but ran out of time. That is a great reason to make another appointment. It is easy to get mixed up after trying on several dresses, especially if you hit more than one store. You'll want to have the prices and the designer's name written down to remember which dress you tried on where.
One of your friends or your mom can also take notes while you're trying on, so after the appointment you can look at your photos and your notes, and you will know which dress is which. The store may also have an electronic customer file in their computer to keep track of your favorite dresses and accessories. Ask them to file away your top choices!
And you're done! Now go have lunch or some coffee with TeamBride! You made it through your appointment!
I hope my tips and insights will prove useful, and most importantly, I wish you smooth sailing, lots of smiles and a few tears of joy as you find your dream dress.
Plan the Perfect Easter Gathering with These Exquisite Handmade Treasures from Etsy!
Whether you're entertaining guests, decorating your home, or just looking for special touches, Etsy has something for everyone this Easter season.
Your kids will treasure a handmade personalized embroidered Easter basket. This is an Etsy best seller, it ships for free, and comes in your choice of colors. Create a new tradition and build core memories with a special basket they will look forward to using year after year.

Celebrate the holidays in style with this timeless and festive platter, always ready to showcase your beloved dishes. This plate is the perfect addition to any holiday spread, becoming a cherished tradition for your family every holiday.

Add a touch of charm to your home with handmade wooden bunny decor. This decorative item will add Easter charm to any room in your home. Choose from 7 springy colors.

Enhance your Easter gathering with charming pastel-colored wine charms. Effortlessly distinguish each guest's wine glass, eliminating the frustration of mixed-up glasses at your Easter dinner.

Welcome guests with a beautiful Easter door sign. This handmade item sets the mood for your guests and gets your home ready for the holiday.

Personalized Easter cups make fun gifts for the kids and are an eco-friendly way to reduce the number of cups being used. That means less time washing dishes and more time visiting with your guests. The kids will love using these reusable tumblers because they have their names on them.

Make your dining table the center of attention with a beautiful blue table runner. This handmade item brings a calm and happy vibe to your Easter celebration.

Add a touch of sophistication and a pop of color to your Easter dinner table with these elegant placemats, featuring delicate designs to elevate the look of your spread. These placemats will not only protect your table, but also create a memorable setting for your guests to enjoy. It would match nicely with the table runner too!

Dial up the color and bring some Easter cheer to your kitchen with a festive Easter kitchen towel. This handmade item is an effortless way to brighten up your cooking space.

Create a cozy and inviting atmosphere for your guests with a beautiful Easter pillow. This charming pillow will create a holiday mood for living room, family room, entry way or patio. A matching kitchen towel in this pattern is also available.

Whether you're looking for a special basket, a unique kitchen towel, or a cozy pillow, these items are a sure hit for the holiday and will add holiday charm to your home.
So hop on over to Etsy today and start shopping for the perfect handmade Easter items for your home!
See all my Etsy Easter picks here: My Curated Etsy Easter Finds
Unlock Your Creative Potential and Make Money from Home: Why You Should Start an Etsy Shop Today!
Hello artisans and crafters,
Have you ever thought about opening an Etsy shop? Maybe you have a passion for making unique jewelry, creating handcrafted pottery, or designing cute graphic t-shirts. Whatever it is that you love to create, Etsy provides a great platform for you to share your talent with the world and potentially earn some extra income. And the best part? It's incredibly easy to get started!
First things first, let me share a little secret with you: you can get 40 free listings when you sign up for Etsy using my referral link! This means that you can open a store and start selling your handmade items without any upfront costs. Pretty cool, right?
Once you're signed up, Etsy's user-friendly interface makes it easy for you to set up your shop and start listing your products. You don't need to be a tech genius to use the platform - even if you're not the most tech-savvy person, you'll find that the process of opening an Etsy shop is quick and almost painless.
But why should you open an Etsy shop? For starters, you get to sell what you're passionate about. This means that you can create unique items that you truly love and are proud to share with the world. Not only will this bring you a sense of personal fulfillment, but it also provides an opportunity to make money from home.
Plus, when you sell on Etsy, you're able to connect with people who will appreciate your art and craft. Etsy has a global audience that loves handmade items, so you'll be able to reach customers from all over the world who are looking for something unique and special. You'll also be part of a community of like-minded creators who share your passion for art and craft.
Oh, and before I forget, I have to tell you that I am an Etsy seller myself! My shop name is "So Unique By Tammy" and it's been a really fun way for me to stay busy and make a little extra money. I create and sell an original line of "Something Blue" bridal bouquet charms and wedding keepsakes.
It's been such a rewarding experience to be able to connect with customers from all over the country who appreciate my work. If you're looking for a way to express your creativity and potentially earn some income, starting an Etsy shop is definitely worth considering!
In short, opening an Etsy shop is a great way to share your talents with the world, connect with like-minded people, and potentially earn some extra income. So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of my referral link, open an Etsy shop, and start sharing your art with the world!
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