Blue Snowflakes on White Wedding

This is a beautiful wedding set perfect for your winter wedding. The background is bright white with blue snowflakes gracing the left side and wrapping around down to the bottom. This set has invitations, save the date cards, response cards, thank you cards, table number tent cards, envelope seals, wine labels, binders, and return address labels available. For matching items in this set **CLICK HERE**.

Blue Snowflakes on White Background Announcements by NoteableExpressions

Product Details
Size: 5" x 7" Invitation

Make custom invitations and announcements for every special occasion! Add photos and text to both sides of this flat card for free.

    5" x 7" (portrait) or 7" x 5" (landscape). Additional sizes available.
    High quality, full-color, full-bleed printing on both sides.
    20 unique paper types and colors.
    Standard white envelope included.
    Premium Envelopments pocket folds, colored envelopes, and envelope liners available.
    Postage rate for this size invitation (up to 1 oz.) is $0.49.

Paper Type: Basic
A crisp professional paper with a smooth semi-glossy finish designed for vibrant full-color printing. 110lb cover-weight. 50% recycled content (10% post-consumer and 40% pre-consumer waste).
 

The Eyes Have it! Halloween Party Invitation

This ghoulish invitation will have everyone dying to come to your Halloween bash! Four eyes in red, yellow, green and blue are reflected against the black background and watching for your guests to arrive. Matching postage is available.

The Eyes Have it! Halloween Party Invitation by NoteableExpressions

Blue Heart Snowflake Wedding

This beautiful and elegant design, called Blue Heart Snowflake Wedding, has a bright white background. At the top is a beautiful graphic of a blue snowflake to frame your names on the invitation. A unique theme for your winter wedding or event. Incredibly elegant and fit for a royal. This set has invitations, save the date cards, response cards, thank you cards, table number tent cards, envelope seals, wine labels, binders, and return address labels available. Use the envelope seal stickers for any of your DIY gifts - these are available in both large and small sizes! For matching items in this set **CLICK HERE**.

Blue Heart Snowflake Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions

Product Details
Size: 5" x 7" Invitation

Make custom invitations and announcements for every special occasion! Add photos and text to both sides of this flat card for free.

    5" x 7" (portrait) or 7" x 5" (landscape). Additional sizes available.
    High quality, full-color, full-bleed printing on both sides.
    20 unique paper types and colors.
    Standard white envelope included.
    Premium Envelopments pocket folds, colored envelopes, and envelope liners available.
    Postage rate for this size invitation (up to 1 oz.) is $0.49.

Paper Type: Linen
An elegant paper made with beautiful linen texture of embossed lines and a matte finish. 90lb cover-weight. Perfect for wedding invitations and most formal occasions.
 

Cool New Halloween Party Invitations

Here is a great selection of Halloween Party Invitations to get you started with your planning!

This elegant Gothic Halloween party invitation has a bright white background with a black border at the bottom and spider web at the top corners. There is a black raven at the bottom. Your invitation text goes in the center. This would be great for any Halloween or masquerade party! Great for kids or teens. Matching postage stamps are available.

Elegant Gothic Black and White Halloween Party Custom Invites by NoteableExpressions

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This cool and fun elegant Halloween design called, Vintage Skeleton Halloween, has a lightly grunged grey background. There is a cool black vintage style filigree border. To the right there is a skeleton holding a candelabra. Your text goes to the left. This would be great for any Halloween or masquerade party! Great for kids or teens. 

Vintage Skeleton Halloween Party Custom Invitations by NoteableExpressions

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This cool Halloween design called, Black and White Freaky Vintage Couple Halloween, is a creepy illustration. This cool photo started out its 'very old' life as a vintage photo of a an older couple standing in the street on their way to an unknown destination. Thanks to the magic of Photoshop, it is now a creepy Halloween portrait of a couple of freaky monsters. Each is wearing a coat and holding a bag. Your text goes on the back. This would be great for any Halloween or masquerade party! Perfect for adults or teens. 

Freaky Vintage Couple Halloween Party Custom Announcement by NoteableExpressions

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This cool Halloween design called, Peace, Love, and Vampires Halloween, is a creepy illustration. This invitation has an aged vintage paper look. In each corner there is an illustration in black - a spider, a Gothic bat, a raven or crow, and a pumpkin or jack-o-lantern. In the center there is a Gothic style frame with the phrase, "Peace, Love, Vampires." At the top, there is a female lipstick pair of lips with vampire teeth biting on the frame and blood dripping. Your text is printed on the back. This would be great for any Halloween or masquerade party! Perfect for adults or teens.

Peace, Love, and Vampires Halloween Party Invitation by NoteableExpressions

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This eerie Halloween party invitation has a black gradient background with black bare tree limbs. Sitting on a limb is an scary white owl. Your invitation text goes on the right side. This would be great for any Halloween or masquerade party! Great for kids or teens. Matching postage stamps are available. 

Halloween Scary Owl in a Tree Party Invitation by NoteableExpressions

What are your favorite styles of Halloween invitations? 

Top 7 Wedding Tasks for Moms

Modern ways your mom and mother-in-law can contribute to the wedding plans (without crossing any boundaries).

It’s Mom to the rescue with today’s wedding plans! She and Dad might not be paying for the entire wedding, so today’s mother of the bride or groom is finding new ways to get involved and save you money, time, and sanity.

Here’s what the savvy MOB and MOG are taking on:

1. Working Their Networks. Mom is really well-connected! Through her friend circles, work community, volunteering cliques, and social networking friends, she may know someone (who works in a floral shop, bakery, photography studio, or jewelry store) who loves her enough to grant her a "friends and family wedding discount" for you. Or perhaps she has in-the-know contacts who can point you to the best pros in town.

2. Providing Guest List Support. Moms protect you from guest list faux pas, such as inviting Mr. and Mrs. Jones when they actually got divorced three years ago or spelling your cousin's children's names incorrectly on the invitation. Enlist her help rounding up current addresses and the names of your relatives' plus ones.

3. Offering Her Tastes. Today’s mom is often invited to attend the VIP foodie-fest that helps you select your menu options, including your cake. It's a sweet way to make her feel involved!

4. Helping With the Bridal Shower. Some still feel that moms shouldn't be the main host (according to traditional etiquette), but they’re now joining in with the bridesmaids and maid of honor to help put together an amazing shower for you. They can contribute funds or come up with fun details to rescue your cash-strapped and time-crunched bridesmaids, who are all too happy to get her assistance (provided she’s a team-player and not a steamroller mom who doesn’t let them get a word in!).

5. Styling Themselves. Moms are fashion-forward and style-savvy, so they’re consulting with stylists and choosing amazing gowns and dresses. The days of "wear beige" are over – unless it’s a really incredible designer beige dress! – and brides are making it a Girls’ Day Out to help mom pick her wedding day outfit.

6. Planning Their Own Parties. It might be the rehearsal dinner or the morning-after breakfast where they use all of their own great ideas, themes, menu plans, décor dazzle, and more. A new trend now is for the moms to plan their own after-parties for their friends and close relatives: You go off to party with your crowd, and Mom can party with hers.

7. De-Stressing the Bride. It used to be that moms caused a lot of wedding stress, but their role has become a lot more fun and relaxed than it used to be. They’re taking the tense bride out for mani/pedis, planning movie nights, working out with the bride, and listening to her vent without being judgmental. Moms are there for the bride like never before.

10 Wedding Etiquette Mistakes Most Don't Know

1. You're not including the wedding location on your save-the-date card.
Even if you and your fiancé are from the same hometown and still live there now, there's no guarantee that the wedding will take place in that same location. Avoid having 100 people asking you, "Where's the wedding?" by including the city and state on your save-the-date (no need to put the actual venue at this stage). Many of your guests will still have to travel and possibly book overnight accommodations so give them a heads as a courtesy.

2. You're choosing a less convenient date or time.
As weddings have grown more expensive, it’s not surprising that more couples are opting to get married on a Friday or Sunday rather than the high-priced Saturday night. But there’s a reason Saturday is the most popular day for weddings to take place — with Friday weddings, your guests either need to take the day off work, leave work early, or skip your ceremony altogether and just attend the reception. With Sunday weddings, unless it’s a holiday weekend, guests won’t be able to let loose as much as they’d like, and many will leave early to get a good night’s sleep before the work week begins again.

If you choose Friday, start your ceremony later — perhaps 7 or 8 p.m. And if you opt for Sunday, consider an afternoon ceremony with the reception ending by 9 or 10 p.m. (you can have an informal after-party back at the hotel for guests who do want to party all night).

3. You're not making clear-cut lines on who’s invited and who’s not.

There are certain groups you generally can’t break; even if you see some of your aunts and uncles a few times a month and others a few times a decade, you really should include all (or none) out of fairness.

Regarding “plus ones,” the general rule is that couples who are married, engaged, or living together must be invited together, even if you haven’t met your friend’s significant other. After that, it gets a little less clear-cut. Some couples give a plus one to singles over 18. Others decide to include dates for anyone in a relationship, while others draw the line at just couples who have been together for a year or more. Whatever you decide, consistency is key. The exception is your bridal party members — if you can swing it, allow your single bridesmaids and groomsmen to invite dates if they choose to do so.

4. You're putting a false start time on the invitation.

If you’re planning to walk down the aisle at 7 p.m., the time on your invitation should be 7 p.m. Don’t leave your guests waiting just because you want to make sure no one misses your grand entrance. Most guests know better than to show up right at the invite time anyway, so if you put 6:30 for a 7 o'clock ceremony, some of your guests could be waiting around for as long as an hour before you begin.

5. You're using pre-printed labels on the invitation.

Your invitation sets the tone for your wedding — and that starts with the envelope. Now, we’re not saying you need to hire a calligrapher, but it adds such a personal touch to hand write the addresses. Perhaps ask a friend or relative with nice handwriting to help out. Or, try this calligraphy cheat: Using a fancy font in a very light gray, run each envelope through your printer, and then trace over the printed address using a calligraphy pen. Your guests will never know your secret!

6. You're sending an invitation to someone who already told you she can’t attend.

After receiving your save-the-date, your friend tells you that she’ll be out of town and can't make it to your wedding. When it’s time to send your invitations, skip mailing one to this person — sending when you know she can’t attend gives off a “gift-grabbing” vibe.

This rule confuses a lot of brides because you’re also not supposed to invite anyone to the engagement party or bridal shower who won’t be invited to the wedding. However, since you did extend the invite — even though you didn’t send a physical invitation — it’s acceptable in this scenario for your friend to be included in pre-wedding events.

7. You're having a cash bar.

In a perfect world, your guests won't have to open their wallets at your wedding. But you don’t need to shell out for a top-shelf open bar if that’s beyond your budget. It’s perfectly acceptable to offer just beer and wine, and it's a nice touch to add a signature cocktail or two. If you must have a cash bar, see if you can negotiate some drink specials with your venue to lessen the burden on your guests.

8. You're not feeding the band.

Vendors who will be sticking around through your reception — band/DJ, photographer, and videographer — need to be fed. Most even state this in their contracts. Check if your venue offers a “vendor meal,” which typically cost about half as much as a guest’s dinner (the vendor meal usually includes just the main course, which lowers the cost). Or, you can sometimes provide subs, pizza, or another quick meal for your vendors (ask them!). Also, encourage them to grab some food during the cocktail hour.

9. You're not take the time to greet each guest personally.

As receiving lines have gone out of fashion, more and more couples plan to visit each table during the reception instead. What you don't know is that most couples never make it around to every table — you'll get sidetracked when your favorite song comes on or when your cousin drags you off to the bar for celebratory drinks, and before you know it, it's time to cut the cake and say goodbye. Our advice: Have a receiving line, even if it feels outdated and takes away from photo time. Think about it this way: Would you rather spend 15 minutes having a receiving line after the ceremony or spend an hour (or more!) going around to every table? Whatever you do, do not make an announcement that guests who want to see you can come join you on the dance floor — yes, we’ve heard this happen many times.

10. You have expectations for your gifts.

We all secretly hope that we’ll get those carefully-selected items on our registries or that we’ll receive enough money to make a down payment on a house. But, contrary to popular belief, wedding guests aren’t even required to give a gift — and there certainly is no minimum amount that your guests have to spend.

Also: This means that you should not include registry information with your wedding invitation. You can, however, include it with your bridal shower invite, since the primary purpose of the event is to shower the bride with gifts!

What to Know About Planning a Second Wedding

 

Remarrying? Worried about doing it "right"? Here's everything you need to know.

Planning your second wedding should be a source of joy, not stress, so don’t get caught up in what you think you should do differently. This etiquette guide will help you plan your dream celebration with confidence and ease.

Getting Dressed
Is it okay to wear white? Yes! When it comes to attire, you call the shots. If you want to wear a traditional white wedding gown with all the fabulous tulle and satin trimmings, go for it. The only question that may give pause is whether to wear a veil, or a gown that has a train. Although the majority of second-timers choose not to, we don’t see why you shouldn’t. Other headpiece options include flowers, a tiara or a pretty, wide-brimmed hat.

Setting the Tone
You might think that a second wedding necessitates modest, low-key revelry, especially if your first wedding was elaborate. Second weddings do tend to be more intimate, with smaller guest lists, but there’s no reason not to throw a big shebang. It’s your choice: The point is to bask in the glory of your union — don’t hold back.

Registering for Gifts
Is this appropriate? By all means. You might already have the fine china, silver and crystal categories covered, so consider registering for “fun” gifts — camping equipment, electronics, sushi sets and so on. Or you might want guests to make an optional donation to a charity in lieu of a gift.

Your Marriage License
In general, the same application process you followed for your first marriage applies to your second, with one exception: You’ll need the divorce decree from your previous marriage or, if one of you has been widowed, a copy of the deceased spouse’s death certificate. Call your local county clerk’s office to find out the specifics.

Prenuptial Agreements
Talk this one over with your lawyer — a prenup might be a good idea if you have considerable wealth, own property that you want to keep in the family or are worried about the financial future of your children. Sure, it’s a sticky subject, but someday you might be glad for the extra protection.

Premarital Counseling
It may be helpful for easing any fears you have about repeating past mistakes and for helping you gain a better understanding of each other’s expectations. Find a specialist in couples’ therapy (try the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy) or seek help through your house of worship, which may provide this service.

The Honeymoon
Don’t even think about skipping it! But should you bring your kids? You’re not obligated to do so. If you prefer, plan to take them on a separate get-away to a kid-friendly destination later on. This will be a great way for family members to start to connect.

Married…with Children

It’s important to involve your kids from your previous marriage(s) in your wedding. After all, they’ll be part of your new union. Here’s how:

• Most children will jump at the chance to be a flower girl, ring bearer or junior bridesmaid or groomsman. Giving them these roles will make them an integral part of the event.

• Trust your children with important responsibilities like greeting guests upon arrival or handing out wedding programs or favors.

• Have your children join you at the altar, and exchange personally written vows that emphasize “new family” themes.

2014 Witer Wedding Hairstyles

Winter weddings generally mean that you’re less likely to show off your shoulders in an attempt to keep warm and toasty when you’re standing around post-ceremony and pre-party. Brides will reach for faux fur stoles and shrugs while the bridal party and guests of the groom will factor winter coats into their wedding outfits to keep them snug and cozy. But it does throw up a dilemma when it comes to styling your hair with no-one wanting to get it tucked into collars or looking windswept and wiry.

“If you’re wearing a high neck, it’s best to take your hair back and away from your face,” advises celebrity stylist, Andrew Barton. “Wearing your hair up is also a great option because it won’t flop or flatten as the day goes on - you need to consider the fact that you’ll be moving around quite a lot during the day. Securing it into an updo means it won’t shift out of place either so it’ll look the same in all of the pictures!”

It’s also a great time to think about investing in some hair accessories to give your style some je ne sais quoi. Sparkles and diamontes are traditionally top of the list but with winter you can push the perimeters and get away with feathers and jewels so experiment with colors and textures to liven up your style. Look to hairstyles from different era’s too - if you like 60s hairstyles, add a hairband or for a 40s twist, why not secure your victory rolls with ruby red velvet bows.

“A key trend in bridal hairstyles this year has been retro hair and this is continuing into winter,” continues Andrew. “It’s all about hair that’s a bit more done like Marilyn Monroe, Mad Men, Pan Am. Hair that’s been set in rollers and dressed out into a more glamorous wave is really gorgeous or anything that’s been dressed and done in a 40s-inspired style will look great at a winter wedding.”

Other tips to ensure you look the belle of the ball on the big day include making sure you get a couple of practice runs in (whether it’s with your hairdresser or simply in front of the mirror) – this will mean you’ll feel completely confident on the day; do your research and collect pictures of celebrity hairstyles that you like – it will make it much easier when you have to decide on your final look as you’ll have plenty of options to play with; keep your hair in mint condition in the run up to the event with weekly hair masks – don’t forget your hair will suffer in winter due to cold weather and central heating sucking all of the moisture out of your locks, and finally, get a man’s opinion on your chosen hairstyle if you can. Chances are, they won’t beat around the bush and if it’s someone who you know and trust, getting a guy’s perspective will put your mind at ease if you’re worrying about whether the man in your life will like it! Job done!

Blue and White Snowflake Wedding

This beautiful design would be perfect for your winter wedding. The background is a bright white which sets off the navy blue ribbon across the top and down the left side. There is a white snowflake where the blue ribbons cross and three blue snowflakes across the top. This design has matching invitations, save the date cards, response cards, table number tent cards, thank you cards, envelope seals and wine labels available. For matching items in this set **CLICK HERE**.

Blue and White Snowflake Custom Invitation by NoteableExpressions

Product Details
Size: 5" x 7" Invitation

Make custom invitations and announcements for every special occasion! Add photos and text to both sides of this flat card for free.

    5" x 7" (portrait) or 7" x 5" (landscape). Additional sizes available.
    High quality, full-color, full-bleed printing on both sides.
    20 unique paper types and colors.
    Standard white envelope included.
    Premium Envelopments pocket folds, colored envelopes, and envelope liners available.
    Postage rate for this size invitation (up to 1 oz.) is $0.49.

Paper Type: Basic
A crisp professional paper with a smooth semi-glossy finish designed for vibrant full-color printing. 110lb cover-weight. 50% recycled content (10% post-consumer and 40% pre-consumer waste).
 

White Raven Halloween Party Invitation

This cool and fun elegant Halloween design called, White Raven Halloween, has a grey and black striped background. There is a cool black and white art deco inset for your text. At the top there is a white filigree embellishment with a white raven sitting on it. Your text goes to in the center. This would be great for any Halloween or masquerade party! Great for kids or teens.

White Raven Halloween Party Invitation by NoteableExpressions

  Product Details
Size: 5" x 7" Invitation

Make custom invitations and announcements for every special occasion! Add photos and text to both sides of this flat card for free.

    5" x 7" (portrait) or 7" x 5" (landscape). Additional sizes available.
    High quality, full-color, full-bleed printing on both sides.
    20 unique paper types and colors.
    Standard white envelope included.
    Premium Envelopments pocket folds, colored envelopes, and envelope liners available.
    Postage rate for this size invitation (up to 1 oz.) is $0.49.

Paper Type: Basic
A crisp professional paper with a smooth semi-glossy finish designed for vibrant full-color printing. 110lb cover-weight. 50% recycled content (10% post-consumer and 40% pre-consumer waste).

Top 5 Bridesmaid Dress Trends

You've got your dress chosen and it is fabulous! Now you have to turn your attention to your wedding party. So what are some of the new trends for your bridemaid's dresses?

1. One-Shoulder Dresses

2. Bold and Vibrant Hues

3. Mismatched Gowns

4. Short and Sassy

5. Pastels

2014 Winter Wedding Trends

Even though summer is in full bloom, there is just enough time to plan for a white wedding and Wedding & Party Network has this year's most popular winter wedding trends.

Winter Wedding Colors

When brides think of a winter wedding, some may picture turquoise or light blues and silver while others go for the deep reds of Christmas. However, this year blushes of pink and tones of gold have been making their way onto the winter wedding color swatch. Consider neutral colors like greys and tans, and even pair some colors rarely seen during the season, like mint or deep purple, which  go well with neutrals.

Winter Flowers

Unless you are planning on having your wedding in the snow, bring the outdoors indoors by incorporating rustic plants along with your flowers. Holly and pine needles add to the winter theme of your wedding. You can also add these plants of the season with your reception arrangements. Baby's breath can be incorporated into all your arrangements due to its likeness to snowflakes; make your bouquet full of baby's breath and it will seem as if you are holding a bundle of snow.

Wedding Decor

Make your guests smile with a little taste of winter. Set up a hot chocolate bar with jars full of marshmallows and candy canes to stir. Add other drink options like coffee or hot tea for those who aren't fans of the sweet drink. Fill apothecary vases with marshmallows of different sizes, candy canes, and small chocolates. Both guests young and old will have fun making their wintry concoction and be grateful for the warm snack. This snack serves as both food and unique decor.

Food

You can get really creative with themed goodies like gingerbread cookies for dessert and eggnog cocktails for adults. Add a twist to the famous chestnuts roasting by dipping chestnuts in chocolate and coating them with sprinkles in your wedding colors.

Favors

Anything from snowflake shaped sugar cookies to homemade hot cocoa mix can make great wedding favors for your guests. Something they would really appreciate are some gloves, mittens, or even blankets as favors, and don't wait until after the party to give them out. Have baskets filled with them near the entrance of your reception or by the hot cocoa bar. Give them a personal touch by engraving the guest's name or the wedding date. Every time they wear the gloves or cuddle with the blanket, they will have memories of the great day they shared with you.

Wedding Dress: Covering Your Bases

From comfy shapewear to no-slip strapless bras. what you need to wear beneath that beautiful gown.


Bridal Bras

You've got approximately 472 bras in your underwear drawer, so surely one of those will suffice on your wedding day, right?

Think again, sister. Unless your gown allows you to go al fresco (don't limbo too low, if that's the case), you'll need to give some deep thought to your bridal bra. For example, if your dress features a low back, yet requires support up front, you'll want to invest in a backless, strapless bra that's both comfortable and undetectable through the fabric. For those well-endowed women who have chosen a plunging neckline, a super-low, yet supportive bra will be in order to stay supported and covered. Women with a smaller bust might be able to get away with a set of sturdy pasties.

Since every gown is about as different as every woman's body, it's essential for brides to consult with a lingerie expert. Often, the bridal shop where you purchase your gown has an in-house specialist, or your consultant can recommend a local lingerie boutique where you can be fitted and measured with the stipulations of your gown in mind. Be sure to take along your bra for any and all fittings, as it can significantly impact necessary alterations. Also, take a few hours to test-drive the garment by wearing it around the house. If it's miserably uncomfortable or difficult to dance in, you'll want to take another shopping trip to find a bra with a better fit. There's just no sense in hiring a DJ if you can't wave your hands in air without worrying you'll expose yourself.


Perfect Panties

Panty requirements vary based on the fit of your gown and your overall desire for comfort.

Thongs work for any bride wearing a fitted gown, but be sure to shop around to find one that's comfortable, functional and an appropriate color. If you're wearing a thin or slinky gown that's just one layer of fabric, you might risk giving away hot pink or even black undies. A color that's close to your flesh tone is less noticeable than white or ivory.

What about those dreaded panty lines? Mermaid, trumpet, sheath and fit-and-flare brides, we're looking at you again. You've got two areas to eyeball: where the panty meets your thighs/buttocks, and where the panty meets your waist. Too-tight undies cause unsightly lumps and bulges, so choose a seamless panty. There are plenty of materials to choose from, so if prettiness is a factor, go for lace. If you're only concerned about function, choose a breathable, unpatterned panty.

If you're wearing a ball gown, A-line dress or something with an empire waist, you've got a lot more freedom when it comes to picking panties. Nothing's going to show through your skirt, so panty lines, fabric and color shouldn't be causes for concern.


Compression Garments

Way back when, women had to rely on torturous corsets for instant slimming. Fortunately for modern brides, compression garments have come an impressively long way since the days of dance cards and parasols.

Currently available on the market are Lycra and spandex slimmers for troublesome areas like the thighs, waist and belly. Early versions of these miracle workers were anything but attractive, but many lingerie manufacturers have begun to produce garments pretty enough for any bride to sport proudly. Depending on your personal needs and the silhouette of your gown, you can choose a slip, shorts or a basic girdle. Some compression garments even have built-in boning and cups to assist your bust.

Whatever option you pick, be sure to hang on to it for future use. You might think you need a little help from Lycra now, but once you pop out a kid or two, you'll definitely appreciate the supernatural capabilities that compression garments possess.


Hosiery

Your mother and grandmother probably wore some kind of hosiery with their wedding gowns, but this undergarment was standard in their days. Ladies wore panty hose, plain and simple.

Flash forward to today. Hosiery provides support (support hose, anyone?) as well as color and texture. You might wear tights in the fall and winter months, but they're not necessary for warm weather.

So, which brides need hosiery? If you're wearing a closed-toe shoe or standard heel with your wedding gown, your feet might be more comfortable with something between skin and shoe. Or, you might just like the look of a silky, stockinged leg under your gown. Prevent the problem of ill-fitting hosiery by trying on panty hose ahead of time with your gown. Be sure to pack an extra pair or two in your emergency kit in case a pesky run, snag or hole develops during the course of the day's events.


Slips and Crinolines

If you've chosen an elegant and understated gown (read: sheath, sundress, anything slinky or cut on the bias), a slip might be necessary to smooth it out. This garment also provides an extra layer of lining to keep your dress from being too transparent, which is certainly a comfort when 200 of your closest family and friends, not to mention your videographer, have their eyes on you.

Brides wearing ball gowns might consider wearing a crinoline to provide that extra-special bounce that the look requires. Try on crinolines of varying fullness with your dress to achieve the perfect volume. If possible, we suggest borrowing one from a friend. Crinolines aren't particularly cheap, and after your wedding day, they outlive their usefulness. Unless, of course, you're a fairy-tale princess and plan on wearing it once a week.

How to Pick the Perfect Flower Girl Dress

"Black" is the new color for flower girls for the more dramatic and formal weddings.
It's important to remember flower girls are little girls and the dresses should be age appropriate and not "mini" versions of bridesmaid or even brides dresses.
The traditional "puffy" dress with a big bow is still very popular.
Flower girl dresses do not have to match the junior bridesmaid but most brides choose complementary dresses.
Girls under 5 years old should stay away from halter dressers and dresses with spaghetti straps.
Suggested fabrics for Summer are organza and tulle.  Suggested fabrics for Winter are satin and taffeta
Flower girl dresses should be ordered about three months prior to the wedding to account for growth and time needed to special order. 

Blue and Silver Snowflake Wedding

This beautiful design, called Blue and Silver Snowflake Wedding, has a pretty winter inspired design. The background is a beautiful blue. There is a silver border made from snowflakes scattered across the edges. At the top there are two linked hearts. This would be perfect for a winter wedding or if you are looking for a winter wonderland style. This set has invitations, save the date cards, response cards, thank you cards, table number tent cards, envelope seals, wine labels, binders, return address labels and more available. Use the envelope seal stickers for any of your DIY gifts - these are available in both large and small sizes! For matching items in this set **CLICK HERE**.

Blue and Silver Snowflake Wedding Invitation by NoteableExpressions

Product Details
Size: 5" x 7" Invitation

Shape: Bracket

Make custom invitations and announcements for every special occasion! Add photos and text to both sides of this flat card for free.

    5" x 7" (portrait) or 7" x 5" (landscape). Additional sizes available.
    High quality, full-color, full-bleed printing on both sides.
    20 unique paper types and colors.
    Standard white envelope included.
    Premium Envelopments pocket folds, colored envelopes, and envelope liners available.
    Postage rate for this size invitation (up to 1 oz.) is $0.49.

Paper Type: Linen
An elegant paper made with beautiful linen texture of embossed lines and a matte finish. 90lb cover-weight. Perfect for wedding invitations and most formal occasions.
 

Gothic Church Halloween Party

This cool Halloween design called, Gothic Church Halloween, is a creepy black and white photo. Taken from low on the ground, this photo is shot looking up at a bare winter tree with an old rock church in the background. Very stark and creepy. Your text goes on the back. This would be great for any Halloween or masquerade party! Perfect for kids or teens.

Gothic Church Halloween Party Personalized Invite by NoteableExpressions

Product Details
Size: 5" x 7" Invitation

Make custom invitations and announcements for every special occasion! Add photos and text to both sides of this flat card for free.

    5" x 7" (portrait) or 7" x 5" (landscape). Additional sizes available.
    High quality, full-color, full-bleed printing on both sides.
    20 unique paper types and colors.
    Standard white envelope included.
    Premium Envelopments pocket folds, colored envelopes, and envelope liners available.
    Postage rate for this size invitation (up to 1 oz.) is $0.49.

Paper Type: Basic
A crisp professional paper with a smooth semi-glossy finish designed for vibrant full-color printing. 110lb cover-weight. 50% recycled content (10% post-consumer and 40% pre-consumer waste).
 

Shadow Weddings - A Here and Gone Trend or Here to Stay?

Have you heard of this new trend called a Shadow Wedding?

The hands-down worst part about when your friends get married is how often you have to go to events that are related to the wedding, but aren't the actual wedding. You have the engagement party, the bridal shower, the bachelorette party, and now, the Shadow Wedding.

Shadow Weddings are a new and totally real thing in which you and your betrothed talk about all of your flaws. According to the official site, it's "an intimate ritual held before a regular 'light' wedding in which all manner of difficult material between the couple is welcomed. It provides a consecrated place for partners to give voice to their darker sides." While in this tree of trust, each person shares whatever it is they're most ashamed of, embarrassed by, or otherwise terrified to admit. "Partners choose one another with eyes wide open, seeing ALL aspects of their beloved."

Shadow Weddings, then, are the life-milestone equivalent of throwing pasta against the wall. You hurl all your baggage at your partner, and see what — if anything — sticks. It's the faux fight of teenage girls in which you take turns saying, "No, I'm the worst."

Then, you get married (that'd be your "light" ceremony).       Read the full article here

I'm all for being 'real' with your prospective partner but do we really need to celebrate our faults? Why are your thoughts? Crazy or crazy good?

Hot Winter Wedding Color Combos – White, Silver + Ice Blue

There is a reason why some colors are popular and never fade away in weddings and that’s mainly due to the fact that they simply work well together, while other color combinations find it hard to compete. It just so happens that ice blue, snow white and shimmering silver work ever so well together and especially during the winter months. There are jewel pinks and other blue hues that work well with these colors, but today we want to focus on these hot shades that make 2014 winter weddings look ever so dreamy.

The invitations

When it comes to winter wedding invitations we think formal is the only way forward, Christmas and winter is always the time for a wee bit of sparkle and shine. We also love the idea of damask invitations glitzing up the envelopes too with some shimmery liners or rich contrast colors. As well as color consider texture and motifs to get the perfect look for your wedding.

The bouquet

White hydrangeas, soft ranunculus and other fuller plump flowers are popular for any winter wedding bouquets. If you want a more modern and contemporary twist then add some sparkle into your bouquet to keep things looking fresh and glam.

The table decorations

To make your wedding reception feel warm and inviting why not add more light through the added aid of some stylish candles, however just ensure that they are placed in a safe space and out of children’s reach. We also love the idea of plush full floral bouquets with snow-white flowers and silver/blue ribbons and confetti.

The Cakes

Vintage-style ice blue and white wedding cakes with silver powder will look divine. Make them look formal with added shimmery powder and iced piping or even cute dainty little roses or snowflakes.