Military Wedding Cake Toppers Stand Tall
Pride and Service: Military Wedding Cake Toppers
Military Wedding Cake Toppers
Are you or your betrothed a member of the armed forces? Celebrate your commitment to your country on your wedding day with military wedding cake toppers. Military wedding cake toppers are a great addition to your day no matter what the conditions of your service: army, navy, air force, or marines. Military wedding cake toppers represent you or your fiancé in your finest dress blues, or the seal of your branch.
So why military wedding cake toppers?
Because your service is a part of your life; your identity. Why not use a cake topper that shows you as you will be when you walk down the aisle, not as a civilian, but as an exceptional member of our society. Military wedding cake toppers show your guests how proud you are to serve your country and protect your family. Even if you find yourself in another field as your married life goes on, having military wedding cake toppers as keepsakes in the archive of your marriage will always remind you how important military service is the to the life of those serving, their families, and their country.
Support Local Designers with Handmade Wedding Cake Toppers
Handmade Wedding Cake Toppers: The Perfect Touch
Handmade Wedding Cake Toppers
With the popularity of sites like Etsy, shopping for wedding accessories (especially antiques and handmade crafts) has gotten much easier. Handmade wedding cake toppers are growing in popularity, and there are many reasons why they're such a great choice for brides in all price ranges.
Handmade wedding cake toppers are environmentally friendlyWith some traditional cake toppers, the materials that are used are sometimes questionable. With handmade options, you can be more sure of what went into the design and production of your particular piece. Many designers pride themselves on their environmentally-friendly business practices - inquire about materials when you commission yours. Handmade wedding cake toppers are unique Handmade wedding cake toppers have the advantage of not being spit out by a production line that makes thousands of identical pieces. Even if a designer specializes in handmade wedding cake toppers of a particular design, no two will be exactly alike.
Handmade wedding cake toppers are special When you choose handmade wedding cake toppers, you can be sure that no one at your wedding will have used the same design on the top of their wedding cake. Handmade wedding cake toppers make your special day even more different and unique! Handmade wedding cake toppers support local designers
Local designers (such as those on Etsy) will continue to create interesting and fun crafts as long as customers keep buying them. By purchasing handmade wedding cake toppers for your big day, you help to keep the movement of online artists and crafters alive. Be proud of your handmade wedding cake toppers!
Thoughts about Wedding Party Gifts
A wedding party will vary in size and composition depending on a couple’s preferences, but one thing doesn't change: they deserve a thank-you. For most brides, the bridal party is an important support system during the planning process, attending fittings and tastings, holding your hand as you try to hold on to your self esteem and sanity, and standing up for you on your big day. They are there for you as you take your vows and pledge the rest of your life to your partner.
I think that deserves some bath wash.
So who counts as the wedding party?
Certainly your bridesmaids and your maid of honor, but also your groomsmen and best man. Don’t forget about junior bridesmaids, flower girls, ring bearers, and parents, too.
You aren’t breaking any major etiquette rules if you get something for your usher but not your flower girl, but thank-yous are always appreciated, even if they’re only a bath kit or a coloring book.
So, here are some ideas for bridal party gifts:
Groomsmen:
Think practical. Muted colors; leather, silver.
Engraved flasks, personalized cuff links, martini glass set
Bridesmaids:
Something that they can wear during the ceremony; wedding keepsakes.
A spa morning, matching earrings, clutches
Mother:
Wedding keepsakes
Handkerchief (for the ceremony); wedding antiques; matching earrings
Father:
Similar to groomsmen gifts
counterbalance wine holder, money clip
Flower Girl:
Try to include the flower girl with bridesmaid gifts. If she’s too young, less expensive jewelry for the ceremony.
Ring Bearer:
Something to keep his hands busy and his mind active.
Backpack with small games and toys; crayons and coloring books
Sending out your Save the Dates
Save the Dates: The Sooner the Better!
Save the Dates
Wedding invitations and thank you notes aren’t the only bit of wedding stationary you will have to worry about if you’re in the planning stages for your wedding. Wedding etiquette suggests that save the dates are a great idea if you want to help your guests plan for your big day. Save the dates aren’t as formal as your wedding invitations (only one envelope required!), and they’re much simpler. Save the Dates should be sent as soon as possible (six to eight months in advance if you’ve got the time), and they allow your guests to make travel plans and mark their calendars before other events and obligations get in the way. Save the dates are really helpful if you’re planning on getting married during a high-travel season (such as the beginning of summer or over a holiday weekend).
So what should you include on your save the dates? You don’t need much – just the intended date of your nuptials and some hint as to the level of formality of the event (the fancier the save the date, the fancier the wedding). Some couples choose to include their wedding website on the save the date, which will allow you to provide your guests with updated information about the venue, directions to the ceremony, and even hotel info (for those ariving from out of town).
The most important thing about your save the dates is this: make sure your guests won’t lose them. A good way to avoid missing save the dates is the make them magnetic! Guests love the convenience of sticking a wedding reminder on their fridge, and you can rest easy knowing that your friends and family will be ready for an invitation!
Every Wedding Has a Place for Wedding Ring Accessories
Wedding Ring Accessories: Tradition and Elegance
Wedding Ring Accessories
The wedding rings are the one static symbol in a society that is constantly changing and shifting the (new and old) traditions of marriage. Wedding ring accessories (that is, wedding accessories that feature wedding rings, not accessories FOR wedding rings) fit in to any wedding decor without distracting from the overarching theme of the day (that is, if there is one). Wedding ring accessories feature intertwined wedding bands on almost any feature of your day, from toasting glasses and guest books to wedding cake toppers and cake servers. Wedding ring accessories offer the unique aesthetic opportunity of a delicate intertwined circular trinket to adorn anything that has to do with your wedding - from invitations to napkin rings. The wedding ring accessories, not unlike your actual wedding bands, symbolize your eternal commitment to your future spouse. Wedding rings, even if they're featured on your flower girl basket or unity candle set, will consistently promote the idea of commitment and tradition. Wedding ring accessories are as versatile and they are beautiful, and they make a great engagement or wedding gift for the guest who isn't quite sure what direction the wedding aesthetic is going. Wedding ring accessories are the one static symbol that won't disappoint on the wedding day.Irish Wedding Accessories Combine the Old with the New
Heritage and Elegance: Irish Wedding Accessories
Irish Wedding Accessories
Irish wedding accessories are a popular addition to May weddings, even those not tied to Irish decent. The charm of Irish and Celtic flare is hard for any bride to resist.
Irish wedding accessories usually feature a staple symbol of Celtic and Irish culture: the Celtic knot. The knot is usually an attached silver trinket that adds simple style and elegance to any cake server, toasting glass, unity candle, or cake topper. Irish wedding accessories also take a turn for the mythical and tradition-steeped, often featuring knotted pewter stemware and whimsical Irish Claddagh flower girl baskets.
It’s never hard to coordinate Irish wedding accessories, as they often follow a very predictable color scheme. Predictable isn’t a downside of these Irish wedding accessories, however; it’s actually quite the opposite. The shades of green and silver that adorn Irish wedding accessories make it very easy for a bride to put together a wedding that nods to Irish culture without drowning guests in it. At a green/garden/natural-feel wedding, Irish wedding accessories fit in perfectly.
Irish wedding accessories are also wonderful gifts to couples who come from Irish backgrounds. Whether from a father to a daughter to carry on family tradition or from a family friend choosing to honor the heritage of the happy couple, Irish wedding accessories never disappoint.
Music to Walk Down the Aisle To
Your personal wedding march might not be one of the most pressing matters on your mind as you plan your nuptials, but it certainly isn’t a detail that should be left until the last second. Your options aren’t exactly numbered, but it’s worth it to keep a few things in mind while choosing the right tunes for your walk down the aisle:
Does it fit your personal style?
If you and your fiancé spend all of your free time at metal shows where at least half of the audience leaves with blood on their leather vests, it might not be true to your nature to hire a concert pianist. That’s not to say that pianists aren’t a completely viable option, but it might be prudent to think long and hard about what sort of music represents your style. If you and your fiancé are huge fans of the Rolling Stones, there is no rule that says you can’t march up to the altar to “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” though “Paint it Black” might make your future mother in law fall out of her chair. Will it scare your family?
If your family is less than liberal about their musical tastes, and the last piece of contemporary music they heard was Ke$ha at the mall (and it ruffled some feathers), you might not want to start your big day off with a hearty rendition of “Poker Face.” While you want to be true to who you are (and the music that you care about), it often isn’t worth it to alienate your family with R&B hits that feature the word “booty” more than once. Consider alternatives such as string quartet versions of contemporary songs. You get the music you love, and your grandmother survives the ceremony.
Does it mean something to you?
If the traditional wedding march really is your thing, by all means, set the harpist to work. But if you and your fiancé are choosing your own wedding march, don’t be afraid to pick a song that is meaningful to your relationship. Was the song you danced to at prom “Video Killed the Radio Star”? Did you catch him crying while listening to the theme music from “Up”? Nothing is cheesy if it’s meaningful – don’t let your family bully you into a decision if it isn’t something you really want to walk down the aisle to. After all, it’s the song you’ll probably remember forever. Do you really want it to be some Sarah Mc Lachlan song you’d only heard of the week of your wedding? Do you have the budget?
Most venues can accommodate a mix CD and a walkman with few problems, so seriously consider how fancy you want to get with your musical choices after that. If you have your heart set on a live string duet but you would have to sacrifice a wedding cake, remember that quality recorded versions of string music exists, and your guests probably won’t throw their hands up in rage if they can’t see where the cellist is. Remember also that bands you hire for your reception are usually fine with showing up a little early for some ceremony mood music (for an extra fee – though it’s much smaller than hiring two separate musical performers).
Does it fit your personal style?If you and your fiancé spend all of your free time at metal shows where at least half of the audience leaves with blood on their leather vests, it might not be true to your nature to hire a concert pianist. That’s not to say that pianists aren’t a completely viable option, but it might be prudent to think long and hard about what sort of music represents your style. If you and your fiancé are huge fans of the Rolling Stones, there is no rule that says you can’t march up to the altar to “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” though “Paint it Black” might make your future mother in law fall out of her chair. Will it scare your family?
If your family is less than liberal about their musical tastes, and the last piece of contemporary music they heard was Ke$ha at the mall (and it ruffled some feathers), you might not want to start your big day off with a hearty rendition of “Poker Face.” While you want to be true to who you are (and the music that you care about), it often isn’t worth it to alienate your family with R&B hits that feature the word “booty” more than once. Consider alternatives such as string quartet versions of contemporary songs. You get the music you love, and your grandmother survives the ceremony.
Does it mean something to you?If the traditional wedding march really is your thing, by all means, set the harpist to work. But if you and your fiancé are choosing your own wedding march, don’t be afraid to pick a song that is meaningful to your relationship. Was the song you danced to at prom “Video Killed the Radio Star”? Did you catch him crying while listening to the theme music from “Up”? Nothing is cheesy if it’s meaningful – don’t let your family bully you into a decision if it isn’t something you really want to walk down the aisle to. After all, it’s the song you’ll probably remember forever. Do you really want it to be some Sarah Mc Lachlan song you’d only heard of the week of your wedding? Do you have the budget?
Most venues can accommodate a mix CD and a walkman with few problems, so seriously consider how fancy you want to get with your musical choices after that. If you have your heart set on a live string duet but you would have to sacrifice a wedding cake, remember that quality recorded versions of string music exists, and your guests probably won’t throw their hands up in rage if they can’t see where the cellist is. Remember also that bands you hire for your reception are usually fine with showing up a little early for some ceremony mood music (for an extra fee – though it’s much smaller than hiring two separate musical performers).
Mother of the Bride Gifts for Classy, Stylish Moms
Moms Appreciate Mother of the Bride Gifts
Mother of the Bride Gifts
During the wedding planning process, the bride's mother becomes a very important resource. She's supportive, understanding, and helpful in more ways than you might have expected. Show her how much you appreciate her with mother of the bride gifts. Mother of the bride gifts aren't usually exact copies of the gifts you may find for your bridesmaids or other members of the wedding party. You aren't finding mother of the bride gifts just to show your recent appreciation; you're thanking her for a lifetime of dedication. Go classy. Mother of the bride gifts should reflect your mother's adult taste; find something that will either work its way seamlessly into her established household or find something unique and meaningful that she won't just stash on a dusty shelf for the next twenty years. Consider mother of the bride gifts like glass decanters (always a good pick for mothers who entertain), stylish aprons (one that makes her look cute, not like a short order cook), and/ or personalized bags or totes. Mother of the bride gifts don't have to be fancy, but they should be simple and stylish, just like the mother whose work has helped make your wedding a reality.Switch it Up with Winter Wedding Toasting Glasses
Winter Wedding Toasting Glasses for the Colder Months
Winter Wedding Toasting Glasses
Toasting glasses are an important part of a bride’s keepsake arsenal. They’re often personalized and are a relevant part of the proceedings during a wedding reception. While Spring, Summer, and garden weddings often feature lighter beverages (such as light white wines and champagnes) in their toasting glasses, winter wedding toasting glasses offer some fun and unique opportunities for cold weather brides.
Switch up your beverage choices. Winter wedding toasting glasses accept more than champagne. The cold winter months allow you to change things up a bit and pour beer or spiced cider in your winter wedding toasting glasses. For dry weddings, no one will say no to a pint of hot chocolate or cider, especially if you drink yours out of special winter wedding toasting glasses.
Winter wedding toasting glasses also allow you to switch up your materials and design. Find winter wedding toasting glasses that feature frosted glass (to mimic the frosty weather), or the foliage of the season (like pine cones, conifer leaves, etc). Though most winter wedding toasting glasses will keep to the traditional shape, don’t be shy about switching it up.
Everything looks sleek and delicious in the right set of winter wedding toasting glasses.
Friends of Felines Always Enjoy Cat Cake Toppers
Cat Cake Toppers: Kitty Love
Cat Cake Toppers
Are you and your betrothed fans of feline friends? Show your love for our pawed and whiskered brethren with cat cake toppers. Cat cake toppers could be carbon copies of your own house pets or they could reflect the mugs of famous cartoon kitties, such as Garfield and Arlene. Cat cake toppers have the benefit of inherent elegance and grace (they are cats, after all), and they will always look sleek and put-together atop your wedding cake.
Cat cake toppers also make wonderful keepsakes after your big day. If you choose to model your cat cake toppers after your feline house pets, they could live forever in ceramic above your mantle, and they’ll be there to support you in spirit on your wedding day.
With cat cake toppers, you could either choose to sport the kitties as feline doppelgangers for you and your fiancé (as the main attraction atop the cake or beside the escort card table), or your cat cake toppers could supplement your more human-like main topper.
Cat cake toppers don’t just come in the domestic variety; big cat cake toppers work for lovers of felines who prefer more exotic accessories.
Maid of Honor Expectations
If you’re a bride, it’s understandable for you to want to share some wedding responsibility. After you’ve selected your wedding party, it’s easy to start handing out tasks to your Maid of Honor, and she probably wants to help, but keep these things in mind before you clutter her inbox with weekly wedding update emails:
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The role of Maid of Honor only has one responsibility: showing up and standing beside you on your wedding day. You didn’t pick her because you want a free wedding planner; you picked her because she’s the best friend you’ve got (aside from your fiancé). Don’t think that she HAS to sit up every night the month leading up to the wedding designing dessert tables and addressing invitations. It’s not a crime to ask for her help, but don’t expect it as a part of the Maid of Honor contract. Talk to her as soon as you can about how much responsibility she wants – NOT how much you expect.
Bachelorette parties and bridal showers aren’t part of the deal either. It isn’t the responsibility of your Maid of Honor to plan and pay for all of your pre-wedding events, and you should probably hold off on asking for them. If someone (such as an aunt or bridesmaid) wants to host a shower for you, your level of involvement should be providing a short list of people you would like at the event (making sure that they’re all also invited to the big day); It’s up to the hostess to figure out the budget and how many people she’ll be able to afford. Pushing a large guest list or taking the initiative to assign parties to your Maid of Honor will cause undue stress and some unintended resentment. Take it easy – this is one part of the wedding process you don’t need to fret over!
In the final weeks leading up to your wedding, you will probably be very focused on your impending nuptials – and that is completely understandable. Your Maid of Honor, however, probably has other duties that she’s trying to juggle in addition to her responsibilities as your right-hand woman. She probably has a job, a family, a cat, and an infinite number of other things weighing on her mind. Is she still in school? Working on her master’s thesis? None of these things will pause for her. Try to understand if she has to slip out of a Mani/Margi/Pedi Party a little early or can’t make it to your place for invitation addressing during lunch on a weekday. She would do the same for you!
Remember, your Maid of Honor will probably want to be there for you as you make your journey down the aisle. If you make a point to discuss expectations and responsibilities before things get crazy, your friendship will come out the other side even stronger than before.
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- 1. A Maid of Honor Only Has One Set-In-Stone Duty
The role of Maid of Honor only has one responsibility: showing up and standing beside you on your wedding day. You didn’t pick her because you want a free wedding planner; you picked her because she’s the best friend you’ve got (aside from your fiancé). Don’t think that she HAS to sit up every night the month leading up to the wedding designing dessert tables and addressing invitations. It’s not a crime to ask for her help, but don’t expect it as a part of the Maid of Honor contract. Talk to her as soon as you can about how much responsibility she wants – NOT how much you expect.
- 2. Don’t Ask Her for Parties
Bachelorette parties and bridal showers aren’t part of the deal either. It isn’t the responsibility of your Maid of Honor to plan and pay for all of your pre-wedding events, and you should probably hold off on asking for them. If someone (such as an aunt or bridesmaid) wants to host a shower for you, your level of involvement should be providing a short list of people you would like at the event (making sure that they’re all also invited to the big day); It’s up to the hostess to figure out the budget and how many people she’ll be able to afford. Pushing a large guest list or taking the initiative to assign parties to your Maid of Honor will cause undue stress and some unintended resentment. Take it easy – this is one part of the wedding process you don’t need to fret over!
- 3. Your Maid of Honor has other Responsibilities
In the final weeks leading up to your wedding, you will probably be very focused on your impending nuptials – and that is completely understandable. Your Maid of Honor, however, probably has other duties that she’s trying to juggle in addition to her responsibilities as your right-hand woman. She probably has a job, a family, a cat, and an infinite number of other things weighing on her mind. Is she still in school? Working on her master’s thesis? None of these things will pause for her. Try to understand if she has to slip out of a Mani/Margi/Pedi Party a little early or can’t make it to your place for invitation addressing during lunch on a weekday. She would do the same for you!
Remember, your Maid of Honor will probably want to be there for you as you make your journey down the aisle. If you make a point to discuss expectations and responsibilities before things get crazy, your friendship will come out the other side even stronger than before.