Recap!

This is a short recap of my blog so far with some new additions that I found since posting each entry.

1. The Inspiration for this blog – “Say Yes To The Dress” 5/2

2. My Colors – “Peacock Feathers” 5/3

3. The Theme – “Vintage Country Chic” 5/4

4. Art Projects – “Craft Queen” 5/5

Get the instructions here: www.preownedweddingdresses.com/blog/tissue-paper-flowers

5. Dress Options – “Dresses, Dresses, Dresses!” 5/6

6. Bridesmaids Fashion – “MiSmAtChEd bRiDeSmAiDeS” 5/7

7. Centerpieces – “At The Table” 5/8

8. Decorative Lighting – “Light Up The Night” 5/9

9. Guestbook Alternatives – “Guest ‘books’” 5/10

10. Shower Games – “I Want To Play A Game” 5/11

I guess I’m too young to have heard about the tradition where you bake a ring into the cake at the shower and whoever’s slice has the ring is next to get married. What about this twist with a little extra fun? Undecorated cupcakes (one of which has a ring) are provided with decorating supplies and your guests decorate them. A winner can be chosen and given a prize or something. The other winner is the one with the ring.

11. Wedding Songs – “Can’t Help Falling In Love” 5/12

My playlist (as promised): http://www.playlist.com/playlist/21948405515 and you can find a huge list of more wedding songs here: www.theweddingring.ca/wedding-features/featured-wedding-songs-database-love-songs-and-first-dance-songs.

"Can't Help Falling In Love" -Elvis Presley

This is the first edition of my wedding song picks. Gorgeous, slow love songs - perfect for first dances! I'd love to hear your picks or your thoughts on my choices! (The songs are basically in alphabetical order.)

Amazed by Lonestar
Better Together by Jack Jackson

Butterfly Kisses by Tim McGraw (Father Dance)

Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley

Can You Feel the Love Tonight by Elton John

First Day Of My Life by Bright Eyes

Forever by The Beach Boys

Forever and Ever Amen by Randy Travis

From This Moment On by Shania Twain

Hero (Spanish version?) by Enrique Iglesias

How Sweet It Is by Michael Buble

I Could Not Ask for More by Edwin McCain

I Do by 98 degrees

I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing by Mark Chesnutt

I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden

I Melt by Rascall Flats

It’s Your Love by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Love and Some Versus by Iron & Wine

My Best Friend by Tim McGraw

That’s When I Stop Loving You by N*Sync

The Way You Look Tonight (Or any other song) by Frank Sinatra

This I Promise You by N*Sync

What a Wonderful World (and a bunch more) by Louis Armstrong

When You Say Nothing At All by Allison Krausse

Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton

You Had Me from Hello by Kenny Chesney

Sources:

http://www.dancingtogether.com/songs.htm

http://www.ourbridalsongs.com/

I plan on making an online playlist with all these songs so check back for the link!

Someday I'll have my own first dance because...

Someday I'll Say I Do

Guest "books"

I don’t particularly want my guestbook to be in “book” format when there are so many wonderful alternatives. How often will you/do you flip through your wedding guestbook?

Something I’ve been seeing a lot of are fingerprint “guestbooks.” Most are a sketch of a tree and everyone prints green leaves and signs next to them. I like the one below with a car being held up by balloons or maybe an “Up” house? These can be displayed as art and a constant reminder of the special day.

Fingerprinting too messy or too much work? Why not have guests sign the border or mat of a framed poster with a picture of the two of you or put a wedding photo in it afterwards? Again, this can be hung somewhere you’ll see it often.

Now what about this crazy one: everyone signs a shower liner. This would probably make more sense to do at a shower not the wedding, but what an interesting idea! Guests could write messages, advice, and encouragement for the bride and groom to see daily.

A blank wooden puzzle is probably one of my favorite ideas, but probably the most expensive. Everyone signs or writes a short message on the individual pieces. It would be so much fun to put it together and read everyone’s messages. You could even glue it together one day.

My last idea probably will end up in book form, but it’s more fun to look through than a regular guestbook. Photo booth anyone? Supply a backdrop and chalkboard for guests to leave messages. Or have a Polaroid camera on hand and the pictures could be added immediately while guests write messages near them.

Someday I’ll chose a wonderful guestbook alternative because…

Someday I’ll Say I Do

I Want To Play A Game

Did anyone read the title and hear it in the creepy Jigsaw voice from the Saw movies? Just me? That's alright, I guess. Anyway...

Some bridal shower games are just plain dumb and embarrassing. If you're into that, you probably will not be my maid of honor so I'm not too concerned. For anyone who's looking for games that are a little less uncomfortable, I think I've found some. I'd love to hear your ideas or alternate ways of doing mine!

Mystery Memories

Include a blank card in the invitations asking guests to write down their favorite memory of the bride, groom, or couple. When guests arrive have them put the cards in a box to later be read aloud by the bride and/or groom. They must then guess who wrote it. Afterwards, these can be kept in a decorative box as sentimental keepsakes.

*speaking of a keepsake… This isn’t really a game, but blank recipe cards are another thing that could be sent in the invitations. Gather the cards from all the guests and the bride has a wonderful set of recipes.

Pass the Presents

Everyone sits in a circle and two or three gifts are handed out randomly. Guests listen as a story is read. When they hear the word “right,” they pass the present to the right. Same goes for “left.” As the story goes, it’s fun to read faster as everyone becomes comfortable with the game. You can find customizable stories on the internet.

Pin the (blank) on the (blank)

Modify this classic game to fit the mood of the shower. Conservative: Pin the tie/ring on the groom. Risque: pin real lingerie to something.

Scavenger Hunt

You can take the classic route of one clue leading to the next or just give the participants a list of items that can be found in a given area. Make it sexy and hide things like furry handcuffs, panties, or body paint. Another alternative to hiding things or creating clues is to come up with a list of things likely (and some not likely) to be found in the guests’ purses, etc. Team/group/person with the most items on the list wins.

Hot Potato

Another classic, but I have a twist. In the child’s game, you don’t want to be stuck with the “potato.” Let your guests think this is the case by saying “whoever is stuck with the box has to wear what’s inside for the rest of the party.” The twist: the box contains jewelry or something nice and wearable.

Memory Games

An assortment of random (but useful) items i.e. hot pads, tongs, place mats, napkin holder, etc. is shown to the guests for a short amount of time. Lay them all out then cover them up or I heard someone attached everything to a robe, which was modeled for a minute or so. Whoever remembers and writes down the most gets a prize and the bride receives all the items.

The second memory game I have is this: give everyone nametags with famous wives and wear them throughout the shower. Towards the end of the party, remove nametags and hand out a guest list so everyone can try to remember who was who. Or put numbers on the back of the nametags and simply reverse them while sitting in a circle and writing the famous wife next to the corresponding number.

Thank You’s

Finding a way to incorporate guests filling out envelopes for thank you cards is always helpful for the bride. Have everyone address an envelope to themselves then gather them for a drawing.

How Well Do You Know the Bride? (Groom, couple)

Everyone gets the same set of questions and a time limit. Most questions answered correctly wins a prize. Easy-Peasy.

Bridal Bingo

Bingo isn’t usually very exciting so it wasn’t going to make the list. Sometimes though, opening presents can get a little dull as well. Combine them by filling out bingo cards with basic shower gifts. You could even add sayings, exclamations, or gestures (without informing the bride) so when she “Awww’s” over something the guests get to mark their bingo sheets.

Someday I will have a great time at my bridal shower because...

Someday I'll Say I Do

Light Up The Night

I plan on having an outdoor reception and I hope the party lasts well into the night so the place can turn into a gorgeous display of lights. Christmas lights (purchased at after-Christmas sales!), lanterns, candles, and a bonfire are musts. 


But check out these awesome DIY Solar Lamps HERE. Oh and they're eco-friendly. Maybe it's just my engineering side, but I'd love to make some of these and I would totally use them for non-wedding decor. Or here's the "Not Martha" site: http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/homemadesunjar/

Someday I'll dance in a wonderland of lights because...


Someday I'll Say I Do

At The Table

I think deciding what centerpieces to have is going to be one of my toughest decisions when I get married. No joke. There are so many creative, interesting things to do! I'm sure there will be another centerpiece post in the future. For now, let's start with table numbers.


Love the idea of having table numbers with meaning. For example "5: Day in May we met." That would be really difficult though, but I guess you wouldn't necessarily have to use consecutive numbers. Another cute - yet potentially embarrassing idea - is to have pictures of the bride and groom at ages corresponding to the table number. Finally, I like the idea of using locations instead of numbers (though I guess a number could still be included). The cards could have pictures of meaningful locations such as where the couple met, first date, etcetera and a short explanation of why it's meaningful. 

Now the centerpieces. Where to begin? How about some "nontraditional" ones...

And here's some DIY centerpieces without flowers. If done right, pretty paper flowers or egg-carton-vintage-button ones can be a nice substitute. Or check out these vegetable oil filled mason jars that give the pictures inside a vintage appearance. You can even add dried flowers like lavender inside.

Finally, I have to post some floral centerpieces:

MiSmAtChEd bRiDeSmAiDeS

I'm loving the trend of mismatched bridesmaids. No dress makes every girl look good no matter how amazing it is. Of course, it has to be done well or everyone just looks unorganized. I like the idea of only having a small number of bridesmaids so picking out mismatched dresses that "match" shouldn't be too difficult. These are some examples of people I think got it right:

Someday my bridesmaids and I will have to hunt down the perfect combination of dresses that make everyone look great because...


Someday I'll Say I Do