Four Sure Cures to Prenuptial Stress
February 26, 2009 by Wedding Ideas
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by Luca Salamone 
• Arguing with your fiancé more than normal?
• Finding it increasingly difficult to make decisions?
• Finding it increasingly difficult to focus on a task?
• Minor things irritating you more?
• Frequently feeling lethargic?
• Having trouble sleeping?
• Suffering from headaches?
If the answer is yes to more than 3 of these questions, then chances are you’re suffering from stress.
Most of us have a broad sense of what stress is and how it can positively or negatively affect our lives; however, many of us choose to ignore the build up, until something significant occurs.
In Psychology, marriage is considered to be a significant life change. Research by Holmes and Rahe (1967) lead to the development of the ‘Social readjustment rating scale’. The Scale ranked and weighted life events with regard to the amount of stress a person experiences at a given period of time.
Out of 43 life events ‘marriage’ was ranked in the top 20%, higher than ‘pregnancy’, ‘Fired from work’ and even ‘death of a close friend’.
So there it is! Empirical evidence shows us how it is extremely common to be stressed out of our minds when it comes to getting married.
Here are a few handy suggestions that should help you manage stress prior to your wedding:
1. MAKE A DATE
Planning a wedding can place considerable strain on your relationship. As the wedding date grows nearer more and more emphasis tends to be placed on the event, drawing your attentions away from each other. It is very easy to lose touch with your relationship and yourselves, so why not just take time out.
Make 1 night of the week ‘Date night’! There should be no talk of the wedding plans on this night. The word ‘wedding’ and any wedding related topics should be strictly forbidden.
Having this time together should not only help relieve personal stress, but allow you to stay connected as a couple and keep things in perspective.
2. HOLISTIC THERAPY
Massage therapy, acupuncture, reflexology, Reiki healing, the list goes on. There are so many alternative therapies it’s hard to pick one, but if one of them works for you-do it!
A massage is often more affordable than a night out and should leave you feeling rejuvenated as opposed to hung over.
Even if it’s only possible once a month, you’ll feel the benefits, helping you manage physical as well as emotional stress.
3. TAKE A CLASS
Dance classes are usually great fun and a good form of exercise, plus you’ll meet lots of people of all ages. From Salsa to Jive, there are classes out there to suit everyone, however, if shaking your behind once a week doesn’t appeal you can always try something different.
You could take a course in languages. Many colleges and universities run these short courses for various languages.
Providing you don’t take any of these things too seriously they should provide you with fresh stimuli, diverting your attentions on a regular basis and hopefully reducing wedding stress.
4. REGULAR EXERCISE
It is a proven fact that one of the best ways to reduce stress is to exercise. Aerobic exercise such as running, walking and swimming can help to control stress levels. Research also shows that people who exercise regularly will suffer less from anxiety and depression than comparable people who are not aerobically fit.
Experts recommend that we exercise 3-4 times a week for at least 20 minutes per session. Try it out! You may soon start feeling the difference in yourself.
Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. You can integrate it into your normal daily routine, i.e. walk to the shop to buy milk, and walk to work twice a week. This way you are more likely to commit to exercise.
If not managed properly stress can get out of hand and lead to serious problems. The planning of your wedding should be an enjoyable part of the whole experience, so don’t let stress manage you.
Manage stress and ps. Have a truly unforgettable wedding!
As one of the UK‘s most popular wedding singers, Luca provides live wedding music and entertainment packages to clients near and far. You can find out more about Luca and female wedding DJ Sally at www.vocalshow.co.uk.
Wedding Stress Busters
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Choosing Wedding Favors – The Top 7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
February 25, 2009 by Wedding Ideas
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by Linda Kling
Choosing and giving wedding favors is a fun tradition. It‘s a heartfelt way to demonstrate your appreciation to your guests. And, of course, you want the perfect wedding favors for your perfect wedding. What could go wrong? Here are the top seven common wedding favor mistakes and tips to avoid them.
Mistake # 1 - Waiting too long to order. You‘re not a procrastinator. It‘s just that you‘re not sure how many wedding favors to order. So, you‘re waiting for the RSVP‘s to come in, so that you have a better idea of how many guests will be attending. Then, you‘ll place an order for the right number of favors.
But if you wait that long, you‘ll have less options available. Custom, personalized wedding favors can take time to create. If you postpone ordering to almost the last minute, you may not have enough time to get just want you want. You might have to settle for something else.
Mistake # 2 - Not getting the right amount. So, how do you plan in advance and get the right number of wedding favors? First, decide whether you want to give one favor to each of your guests, or one to each couple. You‘re probably safe in assuming that at least 80% of those on your guest list will be able to attend. Then, make sure you have extras.
What happens if you have too many favors? Well, that‘s better than not having enough. If you have favors left over after the wedding, you can always give them out or mail them to those who couldn‘t attend.
Mistake # 3 – Spending too much money. Wedding favors are tokens of appreciation to your guests for sharing your special day. They are not meant to be costly gifts. You shouldn‘t have to spend more than a couple of dollars for this gesture. If you find great favors that are also economical, you won‘t hesitate ordering extras.
Mistake # 4 – Buying favors that are not useful or functional. There is such a wide variety of wedding favors on the market today, so you‘re no longer limited to tulle covered dust collectors. Send your guest home with something they can use, such as personalized candles, chocolate bars, frames, magnets, bookmarks, packets of seeds or heart-shaped cookie cutters, to name just a few.
Mistake # 5 – Selecting favors that don‘t reflect your personality. If you‘re shopping on the internet, there is an endless array of unique wedding favors available. Why not choose something that highlights your hobbies, interests, or passions? Go with a theme. Some items, like personalized bookmarks, can contain a longer personal message, such as a favorite poem or quote. Any item with your photo would make a great keepsake. Your favors don‘t have to be bland and generic.
Mistake # 6 - Making your own favors. This may not seem like a mistake until you‘re sitting there one night, gluing a ribbon on the 83rd favor, thinking of all the other millions of things you have to do to get ready for your wedding. Even if you enjoy crafts, making 100 or more of the same thing can be tedious and time consuming. You may think you‘re saving a lot of money by doing it yourself, but craft supplies can be expensive. If you add it up, you might even pay less for professionally made favors, and you‘ll have a lot more time on your hands.
Mistake # 7 – Not giving out favors at all. No, it‘s not absolutely necessary to have wedding favors. But they are such a nice way to say a little “thank you“ to your guests for sharing their love, support and friendship. They are not only a thoughtful addition to your reception, but will remind everyone of your wonderful wedding.
So, shop around and find the perfect wedding favors for you. Select something that is decorative, functional and inexpensive. Make sure it‘s personalized to showcase you‘re uniqueness as a couple. Order well in advance. And wait for your guests to tell you that it‘s the best wedding favor they have ever received.
Linda Kling is the owner of Photo Party Favors, which offers personalized photo favors and photo save the date cards. Visit her website for more information on photo wedding favors, plus recipes, tips, free printable candy bar wrappers, more.
Fresh Spring Wedding Colors – Tangerine and Lime
February 19, 2009 by Wedding Ideas
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by Bridget Mora
Every great wedding starts with a great design. It does not have to be a particular theme; a color combination can serve as your inspiration for your wedding. One of the freshest color combinations for weddings this spring is tangerine and lime.
“Tangerine and lime?”, you may be thinking, “do those even go together?”. Aah, but they do. Imagine the look of a bowl of fresh citrus fruit, and you will see how well these two contrasting colors in fact complement one another. They will add a modern and exuberant feel to any spring or summer wedding.
You can use tangerine and lime together in so many aspects of your wedding. An ideal way to tie them together is to choose prints or designs that feature both colors. Stripes and polka dots are in keeping with the lighthearted feeling of bright citrus colors. You can also go more sophisticated with a chic scroll pattern in lime and tangerine. Round out your color palette with a crisp white.
WildflowerLinens.com
When you are using a consistent color duo throughout your wedding, you can even get away with mixing and matching different prints and patterns. For instance, why not use lime and tangerine scroll patterned napkins over a tablecloth striped with tangerine, lime, and white? The effect will be eclectic, to be sure, but in a really cool way. If you are going out on a limb by choosing a non-traditional color palette, you can allow yourself the freedom to go a little crazy and have fun with your design.
Lime and tangerine can also be great for your bridesmaid dresses. To keep the look soft when using such strong colors, choose sheer fabrics like organza or chiffon. For an outdoor wedding, a tangerine colored tea length dress would look fantastic when tied with a lime sash at the waist, almost like a refreshing citrus drink on a warm day. To complete the effect, you can have bridesmaid jewelry custom made in your wedding colors. A sprinkling of lime and tangerine Swarovksi crystals will add just the right amount of color to strands of pearl bridesmaid jewelry.
Since lime and tangerine are colors that are pulled from food, it would be a great idea to include the actual fruits in your reception. You can set up big glass pitchers with limeade, tangerine juice, and lemonade at the venue (again, this would be especially nice for an outdoor wedding). A unique way to incorporate the citrus fruit would be to fill clear tall cylinders with the limes and tangerines submerged in water. Use this as a base for your floral centerpieces in shades of white with lime and tangerine accents.
Once you get going, you will find countless ways to use your wedding color scheme, from invitations to favors and more. Tangerine and lime is one of the most fresh and contemporary color palettes to use for weddings this spring and summer. The cheerful citrus colors will make your wedding even more festive.
Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. Check out how we can help with your bridesmaids jewelry at SilverlandJewelry.com. Bridesmaid jewelry can be custom made in Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls to match your wedding colors.
Vendor Spotlight- T.B.A.G Caterers
February 19, 2009 by Wedding Ideas
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Name: Christopher C. Brooks
Location: Metro DC, Northern, Virginia and Maryland
Company: T.B.A.G. Caterers
Number of Years in Business: 6yrs
Website: http://www.tbagcaterers.com
Please tell us about your company and how you got started:
We were two of four partners in a soul food/ live jazz restaurant venture. The restaurant had closed its doors but people had the itch for more of that good, finger lickin’, belly rubbin food. So what started out basically helping some friends and family coordinate and help prepare food for various dinner parties and picnics turned out to a nice business opportunity. People always said that you guys should start a catering business. After thinking about it for some time and urging on from friends and family we decided to do it. So now the question is what is the name of our business, who are we. We looked at what we had.. two brothers (fraternal not biological) and a grill. So we took the first letter of each word and T.B.A.G. Caterers was born.
What inspires you?:
People. The reaction I get with this business is instant feedback, when they take a bite from something you have prepared specifically for them and their eyes roll in the back of their heads from sheer delight. That is my motivation to stay in this business. That is what makes me want o create. Put a different spin on a classic. Another thing t hat inspires me is fresh meats, produce and seafood. Just walking through Lexington Market in Baltimore, or the 9th St Market in Philadelphia, or to the local farmer’s market and buying the fresh catch of the day or sampling some of the produce just picked from the farm, it just makes you want to create something that will do justice for having a product so fresh
What do you think sets you apart from other Caterers in your industry?:
I think what sets us apart from other caterers is that we know our limitations, which doesn’t mean we are not always trying to improve and expand our culinary repetoire, but we like dealing with simple foods and doing them great. I have started a mantra..”less is more..” Taking the classics and doing them great!!
What are your favorite wedding websites?:
Of course http://www.stressawaybridalshop.com
What is the best advice you would give a bride-to-be wanting to save money on her wedding?:
Keep the guest list down as much as possible. Have a small intimate reception for 100-150 max and then maybe after you come back from your honeymoon have a blow out BBQ and invite EVERYBODY and they mamma! LOL I know you want to try and invite everybody, but unless your pockets are deep.. keep to what you, or the bride’s parents can afford.
31 Wine Stopper Wedding Favors Ideas
February 19, 2009 by Wedding Ideas
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Collection of 31 themed wine stopper wedding favor ideas. Wine stoppers are the perfect favor for wine lovers and they are practical. Here you’ll find novelty, beach, whimsical and elegant wine stoppers for your wedding to fit your personal style.
The Prettiest Pink Bridesmaid Dresses
February 17, 2009 by Wedding Ideas
Filed under Bridal Beauty
by Bridget Mora
Pink is one of the favorite wedding colors for brides everywhere. It is especially popular for bridesmaid dresses and flowers. Many of the prettiest bridesmaid dresses are those done in pink.
There are a few reasons that pink is so popular for weddings. The biggest one is that it is a very feminine color, and always so pretty. Another nice thing about pink is that it is flattering to almost every skin tone, unlike colors such as green or yellow. When you are shopping for pink bridesmaid dresses, you will find that you have a fantastic number of choices, in every shade of pink.
The most classic shade of pink is the pale pastel, or baby pink, version. Pale pink is very delicate and graceful. It brings to mind feminine icons like ballerina slippers, and it was very much favored by the ladies of the 1950s. This is a great shade of pink for an early spring wedding, especially if you are having white or pale pink bouquets.
Pale pink looks beautiful when done in classic cuts for bridesmaid dresses, such as strapless A-line (either knee length or floor length). It also looks gorgeous as the color for flowing chiffon dresses in a Grecian goddess style. The strapless gown would look great when accented by pearl bridesmaid jewelry sets. For the goddess style, the sets of bridesmaid jewelry should be dainty and dangly.
Medium pink (what you Lilly Pulitzer lovers know as “Bermuda pink”) is another terrific shade of pink for bridesmaid dresses. This color has a little more substance to it than the wispy ballerina pink, and is perfect for a wedding that is going to be heavily decorated in a combination of pink shades. Bermuda pink is a very happy color, and looks perfect for a mid-summer wedding.
If your wedding is fairly casual, you can consider choosing bridesmaid dresses with a pink pattern. The timeless preppy favorite of pink and green is always a good choice, either done in a toile or a Lilly Pulitzer design. If you want to give your pink bridesmaid dresses a nautical edge, choose ones that are a solid medium pink accented by a navy grosgrain ribbon sash at the waist.
Hot pink is another option for pink bridesmaid dresses. This is a strong color, so do think about how it will look on your attendants before choosing a hot pink dress (not everyone can handle such a bright color by their face). Hot pink is ideal for a tropical wedding. If you are looking for a color to pair it with, consider the less standard option of orange. Hot pink and orange actually work very well together, because they are equally vivid. You can choose a bridesmaid dress that uses those colors together in a stripe or perhaps even a Madras plaid.
Hot pink can also be used in a way that is more sophisticated than tropical. It would be a great look for a summer evening wedding. A rich espresso brown makes a good accent color if you are trying to add a level of elegance and sophistication to hot pink. Hot pink will look particularly flattering on women with deeper skin tones.
Whatever your style, there is a shade of pink that is going to look great for your bridesmaid dresses. Choose the color that you think will best suit your wedding and your attendants. With dresses this pretty, they may even want to wear them again after your wedding!
Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. Check out how we can help with your bridesmaids jewelry at SilverlandJewelry.com. Bridesmaid jewelry sets are the perfect finishing touch for your attendants. They also make a great gift from the bride!
How to Select a Veil to Match Your Dress Style
February 16, 2009 by Wedding Ideas
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by Laura M. Roberts
Most women are adept at putting together a complete outfit for any given occasion, but the wedding day is one occasion we have no precedent for, and we only have one chance to choose a look that will live forever in our memories and photo albums. Given the importance of this day, the selection of the veil is a necessary part of the complete look. Several things are crucial to keep in mind when matching your veil to your dress style.
- A simple dress = a simple veil. If your dress has no or very little train, you should select a fingertip veil, or 36″.
- A dress with a medium train can handle a 42″ or 50″ veil. Likewise, a sweeping train pairs nicely with a cathedral 108″ veil. However, the rule to remember is never to let your veil be longer than your dress.
- Consider the detail on your dress. Ornate embellishment on a wedding gown should not compete with an intricately embroidered and busy veil. Be sure your veil is translucent enough for your guests to see the detail on your dress! However, if the back of your gown is fairly simple, you could select a veil with delicate embroidery, since your back is visible to your guests for most of the ceremony.
- Decide whether or not you would like to use the traditional blusher or whether you would like the double-layered look in the back or a simple, more translucent style.
- Lastly, if you are purchasing a cathedral length veil, you should consider whether you will want to simply take it off or buy a shorter fingertip veil for the reception, as your dress will be bustled at that point.
Written by Laura Roberts. Laura is the co-owner of Sensibly Couture Weddings, at http://www.sensiblycoutureweddings.com
Bridal Jewelry- How to Select the Perfect Bridal Necklace
February 11, 2009 by Wedding Ideas
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by Denise Sanger
Planning for your wedding day should be fun and exciting. Once you have decided on your wedding gown, shoes, hair style and make up, then it’s time to pick out your bridal jewelry. Your wedding outfit will never be complete without your bridal jewelry, especially the bridal necklace. Picking out the best wedding necklace can be quite a task to make since you have to match them with your wedding dress. Here are some ideas that will surely help you decide as to which bridal necklace suits best with your elegant dress.
Open-Backed Gown
Adding a bridal lariat necklace is a great way to show off the details of your open backed wedding gown. It is best for these types of gown because it has a hanging jewel embellishment that dangles at the back of the neck, which enhances the beauty of a backless gown.
V-necked Gown
A v-necked gown demands a unique fashion of jewelry. With this type of gown, Y-drop bridal necklace will prove to be wondrously stylish and elegant. The matching angle of the V-neck shape of the gown and the Y in the Y-drop bridal necklace gives a look that is in an entirely matchless dimension.
Strapless Gown
If you have decided to wear a strapless dress for your wedding, you will have a lot of options for your bridal necklace- that’s the beauty of a strapless gown. Popular choices include a simple pendant, a Y-drop design, choker, and the single and double strand necklace.
Square Top Gown
For the traditional square top wedding dress, the great way to add beauty to it is to finish it off with a simple single or double strand bridal necklace. These necklaces bring contrast to the outfit and can greatly attract the eyes toward the cut of the dress.
Scoop-necked Gown
A simple or a multistranded necklace is perfect for a scoop-necked wedding gown. These types of necklaces, such as simple one to five strand necklaces, will perfectly frame out the top of the wedding dress.
Halter Top Gown
For a halter-top wedding gown, you need to draw attention to the front as well as to the back of the dress. To achieve this, what you will need is a dangled-back or lariat necklace. This dress also looks beautiful with a pendant necklace and a Y-drop necklace.
Sweetheart Gown
As for a sweetheart gown, a Y-drop necklace fits just right as it perfectly follows the edges of the top of the dress. Other bridal necklaces that can complement the neckline of a sweetheart gown are simple round necklaces, pendant necklaces and bridal chokers.
Off Shoulder Gown
Any bridal jewelry necklaces work well with an off shoulder gown. If you want to frame out your look with simplicity, choose the single or double stranded necklace. It you want to put emphasis on your shoulders, go for the bridal jewelry choker. If you want to stress out your back, then a Y-drop necklace is the best choice.
Wedding necklaces are as important as your wedding gown and your wedding shoes because they add beauty and elegance to whatever wedding dress you plan to pick for your wedding day.
Denise Sanger is the owner of My-Wedding-Jewelry.com which has a diverse catalog of Wedding Jewelry including gorgeous Bridal Necklaces for every special wedding day. We are located in Sunny North Florida.
Go Green at Your Wedding
February 6, 2009 by Wedding Ideas
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by Kathleen McCabe
Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, so what could be better than celebrating the environment while celebrating your nuptials? Here are some ideas to get you started.
Green wedding tip: Bridesmaid Dresses
Let your bridesmaids wear their own (or at least choose their own) bridesmaids dresses. Not only will you make your bridesmaid happy because they can wear something they feel comfortable in, you also won’t be causing to the all of the waste that comes from making a dress that someone only wears once. Not to mention that you won’t be contributing to landfills when your bridesmaids toss all of that taffeta, sequins, and lace into the trash. A great compromise is to choose a color and a theme and let your bridesmaids pick from there.
Green wedding tip: Flowers
Use local, in-season flowers. The same principles for choosing fruits and vegetables at the supermarket should apply to our flower purchases. By using flowers that are from the area and currently in bloom, you will reduce the transportation, packaging, and preservatives that are used for plants that need to be shipped from around the world. Your wedding theme will most likely include the season and area anyway, so commit to it and go local!
Green wedding tip: Invitations and Save-the-Dates
With all the communication that goes on between a bride and her guests, this is a great place to go green (and save a little green!). Between invitations, save-the-date cards, and all those envelopes, weddings can use up a lot of paper. A great place to begin being green is to create a wedding web site. There are plenty of web sites that let you create your own page without needing to know the technology behind how to build a site. Once you have the web site, you can use email as your primary form of communication for reminders and information. If you still want to send paper invitations, many companies now offer recycled paper.
Green wedding tip: Party Favors
When is the last time you actually remembered what you got as a favor at a wedding? Typically the gifts are cute but useless trinkets that half the guests end up leaving on the table at the end of the night. Instead, consider making a donation to your favorite environmental charity on behalf of the guests at your wedding. Your friends and family will appreciate such a creative gift.
Green wedding tip: Gift Registry
These days, a lot of brides and grooms already have many of the household staples normally gifted at weddings. Whether or not that is your situation, consider asking for “green” gifts for your wedding. There are all sorts of great wedding gifts with a green twist (many of which can be found on this site). You’ll be making your life greener while introducing your guests to a whole world of environmental responsibility.
Go green at your wedding and treat your guests to an environmentally-friendly event that they’ll remember forever!
Kathleen McCabe is the editor of http://www.GreenSmooch.com – a site filled with tips and articles to help you go green. Contact kathleen.mccabe@greensmooch.com
Flower Girl Dresses – Top Ten Tips For Choosing a Dress
February 5, 2009 by Wedding Ideas
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by Bruce D Hunter
Dresses are a special part of any wedding. Brides only have one chance to get their wedding right. So here are our Top Ten Tips for Choosing Dresses:
1. Age Appropriate Most girls are between the ages of four and eight years old. The bride should consider the age of the girl. If she is very young, make sure that the dress she will be wearing is not only stylish, but comfortable. A bride doesn’t want the young woman to be pulling at her dress, tripping down the aisle, or worse – shedding tears as she walks down the aisle.
2. Affordable The bride will usually expect the girl’s parents to pay for her dress. Be aware of their budget and choose a dress that is affordable. If the bride sees an expensive dress that she would absolutely love to have, offer to split the cost with the parents.
3. Try Something Different Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Some very sophisticated weddings have had young ladies walking down the aisle in a chic and formal pantsuit. This takes care of comfort. A stunning color, rhinestone buttons, lace borders – all of these can make a beautiful addition to the wedding party.
4. Length A favorite length for dresses is one that hits the middle of the calf. Don’t choose a dress that is below the ankle; a bride doesn’t want her to trip as she is walking.
5. Don’t Make the girl’s dress too soon. Girls between the ages of four and eight grow very fast. If you’re having custom-made dresses sewn, make the girl’s dress last. This will avoid having the flower girl outgrow the dress before the wedding.
6. Don’t Forget the Accessories The bride will need to decide what accessories she wants her girl(s) to have. What will she wear in her hair – ribbons, bows, flowers, a tiara? Will she wear earrings – pierced or clips? What color should the shoes be?
7. Favorite Colors The most popular color for dresses is white. Secondly are the pastel colors. For Christmas weddings, girls may be seen wearing red. At evening weddings, they may wear darker colors.
8. Consider the Ringbearer Don’t forget the little boy who will be the girl’s partner. It’s best to match up what the Ringbearer will wear with the dresses. Choose their attire at the same time; don’t make the Ringbearer an afterthought or the two children may not coordinate well together.
9. Remember, She’s a very young lady. Regardless what the bridesmaids are wearing, remember that she is still very young. The most popular designs for dresses are those that are feminine, frilly, and that celebrate childhood.
10. Make It Fun It is far better to see a smiling or laughing young lady in an unremarkable dress than a serious or crying young woman in a designer gown. Make the experience of being in the wedding a fun time, and she will always remember your wedding with fond memories.
Visit CORE now to get free access to advice and information on choosing flower girl dresses.
