How to ask your loved ones to be in your wedding

You want your closest family and friends to stand beside you on your big day, but you may have no idea how to ask them to be a part of it. Fortunately, there are some really cute and creative ways to ask your bridesmaids, maid(s) and matron(s) of honor to participate in your wedding:

Ask her face to face. If possible, it's a great idea to take her to lunch so you can ask her. And if a lot of your bridesmaids live close by, you can ask them at the same time and use the lunch as an opportunity for early bridesmaid bonding.

Use humor. Everyone knows the joke that bridesmaid dresses are less than appealing. And the folks over at UglyDress.com have a collection of ugly bridesmaid dresses. You can print out your favorites, and use them to create a card with a cute or funny phrase.

Send her a book. Wrap a bridesmaid guidebook in pretty paper, and place a note on top. You can write something like, "This is something I think you'll be needing soon." Make sure you place a personal note in the book as well.

For more ways, check out my source, How to Ask a Friend to be a Bridesmaid.

Photo from: zazzle.com

Wedding Cake Topper and Wedding Favors for Soccer Fans

Image Source from fifa.com

Are you a soccer fan? The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup 2010 in South Africa was just over. Andres Iniesta made a magic kick during the extra time between the Spain vs Netherlands final game today. The FIFA World Cup 2010 Champion goes to Spain. Click here to view more detailed news about the game.

For our soccer fans and soccer lovers, we do have Soccer Player Groom Mix and Match Cake Topper and Soccer Theme Miniature Sports Gumball Machine if you like to add the soccer theme to your upcoming wedding.

Visit us at http://www.supergiftplace.com

5 things to do after you say 'I do'

1. Clean and put your gown away. Get your dress dry-cleaned within six months of your wedding (the sooner, the better). Be sure to use a service that focuses on wedding dresses so they use the appropriate solvents. Ensure they stuff it with acid-free tissue, stay away from using metal pins or buckles and place it in a box. When it's home, keep it in a cool, dry place.

2. Change your name. It's ideal to change all your IDs within 90 days of tieing the knot. Here's how:
Go to DMV.org to find state forms to change your driver's license. Many states require you to bring your marriage license to the DMV as evidence of your new name.
Change your passport. Visit TravelState.gov for more info. You'll have to mail in your current passport, a copy of your marriage certificate and possibly new passport photos.
Change your social security card. You can find out how at SocialSecurity.gov. You might have to apply in person depending on where you live.
Call your credit card companies to get your name changed.

3. Send thank you notes. You should send thank-you notes within two months of your wedding. Set a goal (such as 10 per night), and write them during commercial breaks. Split the project with your hubby, and the job will be less overwhelming. Be sure that both of you sign your names on each card; another tip: print address and return address labels on your computer if you can.

4. Deal with registry returns. Go ahead and return any gifts within two months of your wedding. If you're registered with a particular store, they are likely to be lenient; keep in mind, however, that each store will have a different policy on when to make returns and what they'll take back.

5. Figure out finances. Talking about money isn't exactly fun, but hopefully you and your spouse have talked about your finances before getting hitched. Several married couples choose to combine their single accounts into one; bring this option up if you haven't already. All you have to do is visit the bank, fill out required paperwork, and obtain new debit cards and checks.

For more after wedding to-dos, check out our source: After the Wedding: Newlywed To-do List.



Photo from toyandgift.co.uk

Worth the Wait

After being under construction for 10 years, the Museum of Nature re-opened to the public in late May- better than ever. It was worth the wait and Marry Me was so honoured to plan the first wedding there in their new space.

http://nature.ca/en/about-us/products-services/facility-rentals


Belinda and Tim were married May 30 2010 at the Museum. Their ceremony was in the Salon and their reception was in the Fourth Floor Gallery. Believe it or not there were two fire alarms that day and even that couldn't stop this couple from walking down their beautifully decorated aisle!


The couple chose vibrant colours that reflected their vibrant personalities. The Fourth Floor Gallery is a modern-looking room with a loft-like feel; with exposed industrial ceilings and stark white walls. The trick to decorating in a loft-like space is not to fight it but to compliment it with decor that is bold, contemporary and unique. The centrepieces were simple yet tall to emphasize the open space above and the tables were sleek, simple and long.


Although it's tempting to choose a variety of colours for a wedding in a loft where the walls tend to be white or glass, it's safer to choose one or two vibrant colours and use them to fill the room. That way, the room isn't competing for attention between various colours. Belinda and Tim chose eggplant and a dark blood red. Pink elements were peppered in with the napkins, bouquet and cake.
All of Belina and Tim's decor dreams were brought to life by the Nancy and the fabulous people at Wedecor http://www.wedecor.ca/


Up lighting was used to fill the space with the vibrant eggplant colour, and the tables were covered in votives of different sizes. The glow from the uplighting and votives really made the room come alive at night.

Another difficult element when using a loft for a wedding is carving out specific 'spaces'; for dinner, for cocktails, for relaxing etc. Belinda and Tim rented Barcelona white leather chairs and a sofa complimented with glass tables. A shag rug underneath framed that space to be the lounge area which guests appreciated when their feet needed a break from the dancing.


One element that wasn't modern was Belinda and Tim's homage to their African culture with their tribal dress at the end of the night. Which is why we love the last picture in this set- the juxtaposition of their traditional dress while looking at the modern glass wonder that is now part of our city's newest museum is breathtaking.


Congratulations Belinda and Tim- we wish you all the best !


Thanks once again to our amazing friends at MIV Photography http://www.mivphotography.com/miv.htm for sharing these shots with us.

4 Ways to get others involved in your wedding (besides being a bridesmaid)

So you're getting married and everyone from your sister to your best friend from kindergarten to your sorority sisters want to be included in your bridal party. However, you don't want 20 bridesmaids. What's a girl to do? Fortunately, here are some other roles your girls can play during your big day:

Site stylists. If you plan to decorate the reception venue you yourself, you'll need a capable crew to help you with everything-- from arranging tables and chairs to putting down place cards. To make all this seem like less work, you could turn the set up into a pizza party.

Program distributors. Depending on where your wedding is held, you may want at least a couple of people to distribute your programs. Not only does this allow some of your favorite people to be front and center, it also allows them to enjoy the rest of the day stress-free.

Readers. You can have some individuals read religious passages; one thing to keep in mind, however, is that the potential reader may not feel comfortable if you don't share the same beliefs. Additionally, you can choose two or three beautiful poems or passages to read.

Guest book guardian and greeter. Sometimes, guests get confused about the guest book. One way to solve this problem is having a cheerful friend or relative be in charge of it. Select someone who will retrieve your expensive pen, but not a person who'll be aggressive in getting everyone who walks through the door.

Have a thought or a question? Leave a comment below!

Source: chocolatebrides.com; Photo from: bigstock.com

Rate Our Weddingstar Products and Write a Review

Help us to help you! We want to know how our products fit your wedding needs on your special wedding day. In our efforts to make a better, more informative, and high quality product and web site, we recently implemented our product review system at our sister Weddingstar site. If you have ordered one or more of our Weddingstar products, or would like to send us your feedback about our weddingstar products, please take a moment to write a product review.


Go to the product you ordered ( you can search for it by product names or numbers ). Click Write a Review. You can rate our product from 1 star (Disappointed!) to 5 stars (Perfect!). Tell us why you like it or dislike it by checking the boxes on Pros and Cons. You can comment about a product too.

Click Next and Submit your review. We love to hear your feedback. We look forward to reading your honest and unbiased reviews. Thank you for your time and feedback.

Happy 4th of July, 2010!
Wishing you all a happy and safe holiday!


Visit us at http://www.supergiftplace.com

5 reasons not to elope

1. Including family and friends in your ceremony is a significant emotional, social and cultural component of marriage. It might seem like the commitment is simply happening between you and your soon-to-be spouse, but the reality is that marriage encourages the support of the community. Marriage creates a bond between families and loved ones, and it requires a commitment from them to support you in your relationship.
2. If you elope, you will likely end up throwing a wedding or large event anyway. Family and friends are probably going to want to celebrate with you; because of this, some couples end up having a second marriage while others throw a large party. You can avoid hosting multiple events by having a wedding in the first place.
3. Eloping can distance you from those who feel hurt by your choice not to include them in such a significant event. Close family members and friends will likely feel slighted, disappointed and maybe even offended if you choose to elope. Rather than spend time repairing these relationships, why not include your loved ones?
4. Planning a wedding is an important experience. It's a chance to make decisions together and gives you practice in working together towards a common goal. For some couples, it is the first time they've really had to make compromises regarding finances, priorities or preferences.
5. Contrary to popular belief, it isn't all about you, but it is still your big day. Your wedding should reflect you as individuals and as a couple, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't consider others, too-- you absolutely should. Find a way to make your wedding work for everyone, and you'll have more to celebrate.
   
   
   

   
   Photo from: blog.adw.org