We LOVE Love: 5 Ways to Add Romance to Your Reception Decor

Most weddings and receptions are all about romance! Couples are always trying to find ways to wow their guests and add a bit of unique romance to their event. Take a look below for five simple ways to add romance to your wedding reception.

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Uplights

Uplights are a simple way to add dimension and romance to your wedding reception. They are a beautiful addition to your decor and a gorgeous way to tie in all of your wedding colors. One of your existing wedding vendors such as your DJ may already have a package that includes uplights at a discounted rate! 

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Candles

Candles provide a relatively inexpensive decor option. They can help soften the look of your tables and add tons of romance to the room. 

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Drapery

If you add drapery to your reception room you are able to create a more intimate setting even in a large room. The lightweight fabric increases the romantic elements in the room and creates a focal point for guests. 

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Sweetheart Table

A sweetheart table allows the couple to have some time alone on their big day. A beautiful decorated table can easily become one of the main centerpieces for the entire room and really tie the romantic effects desired together.

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First Dance Song

Many couples are electing to entertain their guests with the first dance as a married couple. However, choosing a song that truly describes your relationship and gives you some time to reflect on the events of the day can be extremely romantic and just as entertaining.

We LOVE Love: Unique Wedding Vows

Many couples elect to use the traditional vows for their wedding ceremony. They are timeless and for most people they encompass much of what is important for them. However, there are couples who are getting creative and making their vows specific to their relationship and entertaining for their guests. From raps and poems to special songs and full blown choreography routines these couples are sure to make their vows memorable.

This bride became a Facebook sensation when her poem about waiting for the love of her life went viral a few years ago. Sense that time, she met and married the man she was praying for- who happened to be sitting right there in the audience when she performed her original poem.

This couple chose to sing their vows to one another. How special and romantic to have your groom or bride serenade you, especially while playing an instrument.

Both the bride and groom decided to write their own vows, but in very different ways. The bride starts out by sharing her emotional vows and then the groom follows by singing his vows to his bride! Such a priceless moment! 

What do you think about the weddings we have featured above? Did you use the traditional vows or did you create your own?

We LOVE Love: Most Unique Bridal Entrances

Brides these days are always trying to create unique and magical moments for their big day. One of the latest trends have been choreographed dances by the bridal party, mother of the groom/groom, or father of the bride/bride. It is not too often that we see unique bridal entrances at the actual wedding ceremony. Take a look at some of the most memorable entrances we could find.

This bride lost her father as teenager and decided to make her bridal entrance one that was exciting and fun instead of sad.

This entrance involved the entire wedding party, including an interesting blend of songs for a bridal entrance.

This bride incorporated her bridesmaids and even gentlemen from the audience to make her bridal entrance dreams come true.


Would you consider a unique bridal entrance for your ceremony? Or do you prefer the traditional entrance?

Three Outdated Wedding Traditions

It is amazing how many wedding traditions we still include in our celebrations without knowing why or even where they stemmed from. Before including some of these traditions into your day take a look at why many feel the following five traditions are outdated.

1. Cake Smashing: This tradition began in Ancient Rome where the groom would break a piece of bread over the brides’s head and allow the crumbs to drop down on her. This was supposed to be a sign of his dominance over her. Over time, this tradition evolved into cake smashing.
2. Throwing Rice: The thought is that by throwing rice on the newlyweds you are showering them with prosperity, fertility, and good fortune. This tradition declined in popularity of course with the popular rumor that rice harms birds. While many debate whether or not this is accurate, the tradition has declined as many people are leaning towards more alternatives such as flower petals, bubbles, sparklers, etc.
3. Wearing a Wedding Veil: There are many stories behind the origin of the veil. Some are based on personal beliefs and opinions, while others are just based on myths. In Ancient times, it was thought that the bride should wear a veil to protect against evil spirits. Others believe that the veil was to hide the identity of the bride from the groom in the case of arranged marriages. Either way, many brides are deciding to ditch the veil are they choose an alternate type of veil such as a birdcage veil.

Are you planning to include any of these traditions in your special day? What other traditions are you including in your big day and why?

Wedding Trends: Wedding Loans

The budget for a wedding can quickly get out of hand if you are not watchful. It is becoming more and more common for couples to take out personal loans to cover the costs of their wedding. As a result, many couples will have a beautiful wedding day, but is it really the best decision? Take a look at our list of why wedding loans may not be the best option for you.

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1. You will start your marriage off in debt. Many American couples are already entering marriage with a certain amount of debt. Most people have some sort of credit card debt, student loans, mortgages, car loans, etc. You should really consider if you are willing to create more debt, if you already have some, or debt period for this one day event.

2. You can negatively impact your credit. Like every other form of debt, you must pay your payments on time and in full to avoid penalty. On the other hand, it can improve your credit if you pay it off on time.

3. Studies show that finances are a major area of contention in marriage. You should ask yourself if you want to start your marriage off that way.

In no way are we suggesting that loans are bad or good. We are suggesting that you take a deep look at what your goals are for your marriage and finances prior to making such a major decision. Considering meeting with a financial adviser if you are unsure about what you should do.

Stylish Mother of the Bride Dresses

Mother of the bride dresses have come a long way. Gone are the days of the moms wearing frompy dresses. Take a look at some of the latest trends in mother of the bride fashion.

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Can you say DIVA! These dresses will definitely have the mother of the bride looking like the second most beautiful woman in the room! We love the looks of these dresses and the sex appeal they give moms. What do you think about our favorite mother of the brides dresses?

5 Ways to Save on Wedding Invitations

One of the categories of wedding planning that can quickly add up is paper goods. To many it seems to be a simple or unimportant category. To others the paper goods complete the event decor. Wedding invitations in particular are the first indication of the style and level of elegance of a wedding. Check out this five ideas for saving on wedding invitations for our brides on a budget!

1. Go paperless. There are many websites available that offer electronic invites. Evite is one of the most popular but there are also a host of other sites that offer electronic invites such as Paperless Post or Pingg.

2. Consider printing your own. If you are the least bit crafty, you could consider printing your own invites and assembling them yourself.

3. Proofread, proofread, proofread! One of the worst things is when you waste money on printing because you failed to proofread. Consider having multiple people check out the wording and grammar for accuracy.

4. Think about postage before picking your invite. Many people overlook the cost of postage or assume that their invite can be mailed with standard postage. The truth is your postage costs can skyrocket based on the shape of the envelope, weight of the package, and additional decor on the outside.

5. Cut down on the number of inserts you include with your invites. You will save paper thereby saving money.

Do you have any more ideas for saving on wedding invitations?

3 Tips for Buying Bridesmaids Gifts

Brides often overlook the need to purchase something for their bridesmaids to say thank you for being a part of my big day! It is something that is often not budgeted for and left at the end of the planning process. In reality, it should be a priority because these women are sacrificing a lot to be there for you on your special day. From their time to their money, your bridesmaids are making sure that your wedding day and the events leading up to it are perfect for you. Here are a few tips for selecting the best gifts for your bridesmaids.

1. Don't wait until last minute. We tend to want everyone to support us and make us a priority on our wedding day. It is important to let your bridesmaids know just how special they are.

2. Plan to spend in proportion to what they are spending for you. If you are requiring them to purchase an expensive dress, shoes, and finance their hair and make up, along with planning your shower and bridal shower it would be inappropriate to give them a $10 gift. Spend what you can and what fits in your budget, but keep in mind what they are shelling out for you. 

3. Choose a gift that is functional and timeless. Make sure that the gift is something you would actually like to receive and that you would be able to use.

Top 3 Photosharing Sites for Weddings

One of the most popular wedding trends right now is for guests of the couple to share pictures of the event online, most often while the wedding is still taking place. There are several apps that have developed over the years to make this process effortless and fun for guests. In this post we will cover three of the most popular apps currently in use.

1. wedpics.com:
This site is free and allows for you to collect all of your pictures online in one convenient space without having to search all over. They also allow you to break the wedding down into albums based on the events. For instance, you can have an album dedicated completely to the bridal shower, another for the bachelorette party, one of the ceremony, and so on. Pictures are also downloadable to your computer or smart phone. Guests do have to login using your unique wedding ID.

2.trycapsule.com:
Capsule is similar to wedpics.com in that it is free to use, works on most smartphones, and requires a unique ID for guests to locate your wedding capsule. It also connects to Instagram ( a popular photosharing site and the next one we will discuss), facebook, and pinterest. Capsule also allows you to print pictures via an online marketplace. They create a slideshow for you that can be projected and shown during the reception for example. And if you choose to capture images via a professional digital camera instead, you can upload those as well via your computer.

3. Instagram:
Instagram is insanely popular right now and many brides and grooms are using this platform to have guests share pictures from their weddings. Unlike the other photosharing sites, many people already have an account on Instagram and are already familiar with how it works. Many couples are just selecting a hashtag to collect all of their wedding pictures that guest may upload. The hashtag phenomenon is really cute because it allows the couple to create a unique name or identity to label their wedding. The main hazard is that you have to ensure that the hashtag is very unique or it could be in use by another couple and you will end up with a collection of photos that are not entirely your own. Instagram also only allows you to upload pictures via smart phone.

Which platform do you think you would choose? They all have their benefits and disadvantages and you probably honestly cannot go wrong with any of them. They all provide a fun way to see and share your pictures with the world in real time.

5 Tips to Help You Avoid Bride/Wedding Envy

Wedding season is officially upon us! Beautiful weddings are happening all over, especially at Chale! As a bride, how do you stay focused on planning your special event without getting bride envy? Bride or wedding envy includes feelings of jealousy, regret, and doubt when it comes to planning your wedding or reflecting on your recent wedding after seeing the weddings of others. Consider the following tips for avoiding wedding envy:

1. Stay focused! It is so easy to be swayed by the opinions of others! Make your decisions based on what you truly want and not what other people think you should have!

2. Keep as many of your plans as possible to yourself. This will help you to avoid getting the opinions of too many people. It will also help you to maintain an element of surprise for your guests.

3. Don't be tempted to take every idea that you see on TV or at your friend's wedding. If you truly do like something that you have seen, put your own spin on it and make it your own.

4. Remember that it is not a competition! If you treat your wedding like a competition then you will lose sight of what you truly want.

5. Keep your end goal in mind... to get married! When it is all said and done your goal is to marry the love of your life. Of course, everyone wants for their wedding to be memorable and fun for all involved, but the goal is marriage. Always keep that in view!

Congratulations on your wedding and happy planning!

Bridal Shower Planning Tips: Communication

Many bridesmaids split the costs and responsibilities of planning the bridal shower. Communication is so essential in the planning process and it can be an area of stress for the maid or matron of honor, or whoever is coordinating things. Here are a few ideas to spur effective communication:

1. Have multiple forms of communication for the bridesmaids. Because there are so many ways to communicate some people prefer one way over the other. It is important to make sure you are communicating in the best way possible with your participants and that you have options in the event that someone does not respond quickly enough.

2. Create a website or blog that holds all of the information for your bridesmaids. Email threds are great, but it is way easier to have all of the information in one place with each bridesmaid having the ability to reference back with ease. You can use the website to disseminate all types of information from dresses, shoes, accessories, etc.

3. Communicate frequently to keep your audience engaged!

Do you have any additional tips for communicating with bridesmaids for shower planning?

Popular Wedding Themes: Rustic Romance

We are here with another installment of popular wedding themes. Rustic romance offers brides another unique, yet timeless wedding theme that will still look beautiful 20 years down the road. Check out a few ideas for pulling this theme off.

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Rustic romance theme weddings can be so much fun to plan, decorate, and participate in. Barns are always beautiful backdrops and the wedding attire can be so simple, comfortable, and fun!

5 Reasons You Should Consider Hiring a Wedding Coordinator

Planning a wedding can be a very stressful and expensive process. Many couples chose not to hire a wedding coordinator out of fear that it will be too expensive. In all actuality, hiring a wedding planning could prove to be a valuable investment towards your wedding and impending marriage. Check out the following five reasons to consider hiring a wedding coordinator:

1. You may actually save some money. Most wedding planners have inside connections and business relationships with great vendors. Those relationships can assist you in securing better deals or special discounts and pricing. They are able to help you negotiate the best rates and packages and will help you really stick to your budget.

2. They will handle all of your vendors. The average wedding has over 20 vendors from florists, photographers, videographers, caterers, venues, etc. Trying to manage all of those vendors while actually getting married is definitely a challenge. Allow the wedding coordinator to be your point person to handle all of the stress and last minute issues that come up.

3. Organizes your ceremony and reception. The wedding coordinator would work to coordinate your wedding ceremony and reception from start to finish. If you are concerned about things happening on time such as toasts, dances, etc. hand that off to your wedding coordinator and just enjoy the events as they unfold.

4. They can make your dream a reality. Many brides have a vision for their big day. That vision does not automatically equate to reality without some assistance. Wedding coordinators are experts at making your dreams come true.

5. They eliminate stress and worry and so you can enjoy your big day!

Are you considering hiring a wedding planner or coordinator? There are so many benefits of doing so, many of which can ensure that your day is exactly as you always wanted it to be.

3 Non-Traditional Wedding Dress Ideas

Many brides are seeking a different and unique look for their wedding gown. Gone are the days when you had to wear white or a shade of white for your wedding attire. Today's brides have options! Many of the choices out there are still classy, sophisticated, and refined, they just have a twist! Check out a few options that we have gathered together!

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This dress is sexy and gorgeous! It allows the bride to show both her sexy and her feminine side at the same time!

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Represent your culture! This modern Indian wedding dress is absolutely beautiful!

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Lace, lace, and more lace! This dress offers a classic feel and a modern vibe creating a wonderful combination!

Are you considering a non-traditional wedding dress for your big day?

3 Classy Bachelorette Party Ideas

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Are you looking for ideas for a classy bachelorette party? Not every bride wants to go to a bar or a club for her last shindig before "I do". Here are a few suggestions for alternative party ideas.

1. Organize a Scavenger Hunt: You can create one based on the bride's interests, special memories, or wedding theme. This could be an exciting time to get all of her friends together to go out and do something fun and unique to the bride. It can also be a great bonding activity for everyone involved.

2. Bachelorette Getaway: Take the bride and her closest friends away for a weekend trip! A quick road trip to a place the bride loves or even a place that she has never been could be the perfect way to relax before the big day.

3. Sex and the City: You can create a theme party from the infamous TV series and movies. You could include cosmos for drinks and have everyone dress up and wear fabulous shoes!

5 Hidden Wedding Costs

Weddings can be super expensive and even with a detailed budget there are some costs that slip in unexpectedly. We want to help you plan as much as possible, so we have compiled a list of five of the top wedding costs that may pop up and surprise you if you are not prepared.

1. Postage: So you have spent weeks picking out the perfect wedding invitation, save the date, and thank you cards. You are so excited to finally have that portion of your planning complete, then you realize that you actually need to send them out! Be careful to choose invitations that fit in a standard size envelope or be prepared to pay more shipping costs for those cute little square invites, custom boxes, or oversized envelopes.

2. Alterations: Many brides and grooms budget a certain amount for their wedding day attire, but they forget to include wiggle room for alterations. It may be a good idea to contact a few shops in your area to see what they typically charge for alterations and budget for it in advance.

3. Taxes and Tips: We do not always read the fine print or notice that in addition to whatever price we see on that line it does not include tips and taxes. Find out what the percentage is for taxes in your area and what the vendor suggests or requires for gratuities.

4. Approved Vendor List: Many venues have an approved venue list and will charge an additional fee if you chose professionals not included on that list. Before signing on the dotted line, be sure to check and see if your vendor has an approved list and see if you are willing to use the professionals listed.

5. Gifts for Your Wedding Party: Are you planning to give gifts to your wedding party? Have you included those costs into your budget? Often, brides and grooms plan to give gifts to their wedding party and even to their parents, but they fail to add that to their ever growing budget. Plan in advance and search for deals!

Men’s Wedding Bands

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In the past, when looking for wedding bands for men, the choice was pretty simple and straightforward. You would choose between either white gold or yellow gold. Today, the options are vast and many men are choosing an alternative metal for the band.

All too frequently, men are returning to jewelry stores for replacement bands after damaging their band in their everyday tasks. This is particularly true and common for men who have manual labor type jobs such as construction or carpentry. Men in these fields are often advised to choose a ring made out of tungsten due to its durability, scratch-resistance, and weight. Another alternative for men with active lifestyles is titanium. These rings are almost as durable as tungsten, but they are also lightweight which many men prefer.

Further down the spectrum are men who want a cool look, but do not necessarily need the toughness of tungsten or titanium rings. Black rings are example of that new look. This look initially started in the urban demographic, but now they are pretty popular across all groups. Finally, you have your traditional man who still prefers to wear a gold wedding band, in white or yellow.

No matter what the lifestyle of your groom may be, there are options for him that he may love! Talk to your local jeweler about your options!

Rainy Day Weddings

Here in the south, our weather has been so crazy lately! We go from ice and snow, to wind and rain, to sunshine in a matter of days! However, weddings must go on! Time, money, resources and more have been dedicated to planning a fantastic event to celebrate your big day. And, in most cases, the show must go in despite the weather conditions!

We have come up with a few ideas to survive a rainy day wedding and to still capture some great images and memories:

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If you are feeling down about rain on your wedding day, consider bringing some footwear options that will still make for some gorgeous photos and memories!

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Or, you could just bring a cute, transparent umbrella!

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You could always keep it real! I love how this couple's honest reaction to their umbrella blowing up was captured!

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Dance in the rain! This image is so beautiful and timeless!

Come back tomorrow for tips on how to survive a rainy day wedding!

5 Non-traditional Gift Ideas for Your Groom

Are you looking to surprise your future hubby on your wedding day? Brides are beginning to consider non-traditional gifts that are specific and unique to their groom. Check out these ideas for inspiration!

1. Boudoir Photoshoot: What groom wouldn’t love a custom book filled with portraits of his bride! This would particularly be a good idea if your groom travels frequently!
2. Secretly Embroider his tie. How cute is this  groom’s tie embroidered with their wedding date and a cute little “I love you”? With this gift, your groom never has a reason to forget your wedding anniversary!

   

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3. For the man who loves his car! These floor mats make a statement to anyone entering about whose car it is! 

   

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4. A weekend away with the boys! No explanation needed.
5. Get him a groom’s cake! Can you imagine the look on your groom’s face when he walks into the reception and sees a cake made specifically for him!

   

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Pinterest for Wedding Planning

Today’s bride has so many resources at her fingertips when it comes to planning a fabulous wedding! Gone are the days where brides carrying around large binders with all of their wedding details and ideas. All of that information and more can be housed electronically, most often on Pinterest.

So exactly how has Pinterest affected wedding planning today? For many brides and grooms, Pinterest gives them the opportunity to catalog all of their ideas and inspiration in one, easily accessible place. They can share their pins with loved ones miles away and even collect images from their favorite photographers, venues, and wedding planners. You can create a board for just about anything and can organize your pins in a way that makes most sense for you and your wedding. Check out the following three tips for using Pinterest to help plan your big day.

1. Use Pinterest to find your wedding theme. Pinterest contains so many details and inspirational sites on themed weddings that will often provide you with ideas that you never would have previously considered.
2. Use Pinterest to scope out wedding vendors. You can follow the boards of certain vendors and really decide if they match your style or ideal look for your wedding.
3. Get your bridesmaids involved. Create a board specifically for your bridesmaids to contribute ideas and for you to share your thoughts with them as well.

Are you very active on Pinterest? Have you used it to plan your wedding or another event?