Tacky Wedding Ideas

The dictionary definition of the word tacky is “lacking style or good taste”. Not exactly the vision that most brides would say they have for their weddings, and yet every Saturday of the year, there are plenty of tacky things taking place at weddings around the country. These are some of the tackiest wedding ideas that some couples have at their weddings; ones which brides of taste should try to avoid at all costs!

Now, most brides do not set out to be tacky. They usually fall victim to poor advice from friends or family, and decide that the suggestion sounds good, and that because it came from a trusted source, it must be in good taste. Sadly, this is not always the case, and before they know it, well-meaning brides have turned their weddings into something that they never intended. Don’t less this happen to you!

One of the first examples of this that comes to mind is something that happened at a friend’s wedding. When her in-laws suggested a dollar dance, the innocent young bride, thought to herself, “Money is tight when planning a wedding, so a dollar dance would be a great way to raise some cash for the honeymoon.”. What she did not consider is that a dollar dance was not a custom that was usually observed where she came from, and far from lining up to dance with the bride and stuff money into her apron, the guests were appalled. Everyone remained standing on the sidelines while the bride suffered through the awkwardness of standing out on the dance floor alone for most of the dollar dance. A word to the wise, ladies, no matter how good it may sound at first, a dollar dance is always a tacky idea.

Another truly tacky idea that some couples have is to attempt to round up sponsors for their wedding in the same way one would for a charity event. The bride and groom go around to their relatives asking for donations in exchange for billing in the wedding program or a mention in the wedding toasts. It usually goes something like this: “Aunt Margaret, if you wanted to buy my wedding jewelry and veil for me, I will put a note in the program telling everyone how generous you were. And Uncle Bill, would you like to sponsor the d.j. for the reception?”. There is no other word for this behavior than shocking (or at least no other word that can appear in print!).

Oftentimes, a close family member might offer to help the couple with their wedding expenses, and if Aunt Margaret had come to the bride and told her that it would be her honor to gift her the wedding jewelry and bridal veil, that would be a lovely offer that the bride could accept in good conscious (with no note of thanks in the program, just a handwritten thank you note directly to the generous person). However, a wedding is not a commercial enterprise or a charitable foundation, no matter how much the bride and groom might try to pretend otherwise.

There is another very tacky thing that is sadly rather commonplace these days, which is including bridal registry information in the wedding invitations. Many brides may not even realize that this is in poor taste, especially since some registries will give you little cards for the express purpose of putting them in the envelopes with the invitations. However, a bride cannot always trust a store as her etiquette expert, as their goal is to sell as many sets of china and toasters as possible; whether you offend your guests is not a particular concern for them. But it should be for the bride and groom, which is why registry information, or worse yet, a notation requesting “cash gifts only”, should never, ever appear in a wedding invitation. After all, the last thing that you want is for the first impression people have of your wedding to be,”Oh my gosh – how tacky!”.

Finding the whole process of weddings and all the planning that goes into one fascinating, Laura writes about many of the considerations that brides have to deal with. Wedding jewelry makes a lovely gift for the bride.

Eco Friendly Wedding Ideas

Weddings have not changed much over the past hundred years, but the awareness surrounding environmental impact has changed. There are a number of different ways to throw an eco-friendly and cost-effective wedding; all that’s needed is a little creativity. Basic understandings of where products originate, and were they go to end their lives is also helpful when planning an eco wedding.

There are a vast number of things needed for the big event that will impact the environment. There are wedding invitations, shower announcements, rings, dresses, flowers, and leftover food. That’s just a few of the necessities! The following article will help couples find creative and festive ways to save on wedding costs, while doing their part to protect the planet.

Once the date is set, the couple should start sending out invitations for both the wedding shower and the wedding ceremony. An eco conscious way to use paper is to ensure that no trees are cut down during the paper-making process. Many companies make tree-free paper products using recycled coffee beans, cotton, denim and hemp. Of course, there are also lots of places on the Internet to purchase 100% recycled paper.

In addition to tree-free paper products, the paper should also be off-white or colored. The chemical bleaching process used to make white paper emits many toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. Many of these chemicals take years to break down in the environment.

Recycled rings are not only more cost-effective, but have a large impact on protecting the environment. Gold mining is one of the most toxic of all gem-mining procedures. Many jewelers today can use any type of recycled precious metal to create custom wedding and engagement rings. For a more traditional approach, the couple could also use vintage pieces, which can be redesigned into radiant new pieces that will be both beautiful and unique.

After the rings, the wedding dress is the single largest expense for most weddings. The choice of dress can be another great way to cut costs to both the budget and the environment. If the wedding will be in a sunny, summer location, a nice cotton dress might be nice for the bride. Cotton is a natural material, and does not require the toxic chemical processing that satins, or other human-made fibers require.

Other human-made materials used in many traditional weddings are plastics for fake flowers. Traditional floral arrangements are used in centerpieces and bouquets that are designed to last long after the ceremony. Instead of using silk or plastic flowers, consider using potted flowers, flower petals, tree saplings, and flower bulbs. These can be used for centerpieces, decorations, and the petals and flower blossoms can be used to shower the new couple as they leave the reception hall. For a twist, throwing lavender blossoms or rose petals is a lovely idea. They create a picturesque backdrop for wedding photos and they smell wonderful!

Many couples choose to open their gifts at a date sometime after the wedding reception. But no matter when they are opened, gifts are a big part of any wedding celebration. A bridal registry is a great way to eliminate the possibility of receiving duplicate gifts, but frequently leaves the new couple with lots of items they don’t truly need. Instead of setting up a bridal registry, many couples choose convenient ways for their guests to make charitable donations. Making the donation in the bridal party’s name gives the new couple a wonderful feeling, and prevents pollution to the environment from the manufacturing of unnecessary gifts.

While the wedding ceremony is one of the most important events the newlyweds will ever celebrate, it is only for one day of their lives. However, the impact on the environment will last well beyond their wedding day. Making environmentally conscious decisions will make a great difference on the effects for Mother Nature. Many of the aforementioned eco wedding ideas are extremely cost effective and show future generations that weddings can be fun and conscientious.

About the Author Dee Sommers

Dee is the Director of Media Relations at a publicity firm on the West Coast. She has a law degree and a communications degree, both from privately run colleges. She has been writing for 25 years, and loves the knowledge that comes with researching new topics for articles. In her spare time she reads, does logic puzzles, watches movies with her son, and plays various sports.

Wedding Ideas That Glitter

Plan a wedding that sparkles and shines! What bride couldn’t use a bit of shimmer on her special day? From decorations to attire to stationery, these are some fabulous wedding ideas that glitter.

The most obvious place to use sparkle is the wedding attire. There are so many ways that hints of shimmer and shine can be added that a bride can really feel like a star by the time everything has been pulled together. A great place to begin is with the wedding gown. For a very subtle shine, choose a silver metallic embroidery on a fabric with a gorgeous glow, such as sumptuous silk satin. When you want a bit more shimmer, it is time to incorporate additional embellishments. Sequins and rhinestones are options, and then there is the gold standard for sparkle: Swarovski crystals. Clear or “ab” finished crystals are stunning when used for beading on a wedding gown. If you want a silvery icy sparkle, opt for mirror back Swarovski crystals. They are available in a variety of shapes, such as tiny round discs, little flowers, or Art Deco inspired square mirror back crystals, which make divine decorative buttons.

Naturally, the bridal accessories are another great place to add glitter and glamor to the wedding. Start with stunning crystal bridal jewelry, which can be created in any number of styles from modern to classic to vintage. A beautiful set of crystal bridal jewelry will make any bride feel like royalty on her wedding day! Next layer in a tiara, comb, or set of hairpins with crystals and mirror back crystals to bring that wonderful shine to your hair. And don’t forget a pair of wedding shoes with sparkly details so that you shine from head to toe on your wedding day.

Make your wedding invitations shimmer with the addition of metallic accents. There are many possibilities, from a metallic silver ribbon wrapped around the center of the stationery to a silver envelope lining. A silver star motif (or a snowflake for a winter wedding) is another marvelous idea. For the diy bride, a really cool idea is to create your own glitter edged invitations. Take heavy white or pale blue cardstock, print your invitation wording, and then mask off a narrow border around the edge with painter’s tape. Apply white glue to the very edge of the paper, and then cover heavily with silver glitter. Once it has dried, remove the tape to reveal your very own custom glitter border. It is so simple to do, yet the effect is absolutely spectacular.

Glitter can be used to great effect for diy wedding decorations, as well. Try dipping branches into glue and covering with shimmering silver glitter for a fabulous addition to centerpieces and ceremony arrangements. This works beautifully in combination with very tall floral displays. Or use tall clear vessels for your centerpieces and fill them with a sparkling element. Crystals in either an “ab” finish or your wedding color look incredible in the bottom of a clear vase, especially when surrounded by low votive candles.

A variation on this concept would be to fill the tall vessel with glittering balls in either a metallic like silver or bronze or in your wedding colors. Christmas ornaments work well for this purpose; simply remove the metallic tops and arrange them so the openings at the top of the balls are hidden. When done in a color like pink, purple, or lime green, these glittery balls are festive and fun for any season, not just around Christmastime.

There are so many ways to add glitter to your wedding that you may find it hard to choose between them. If you opt for small touches of glitter and shimmer, you can use them throughout your entire wedding without it being too much sparkle (as if there were such a thing!). Nothing says celebration quite like a bit of sparkle!

Let us know if you need assistance in any area of planning your wedding.Take advantage of Bridget’s experience helping clients select crystal bridal jewelry and other accessories. For the best selection of handmade bridal jewelry, visit us at http://silverlandjewelry.com/, where all jewelry orders over $99 ship at no charge.

Purple Wedding Centerpiece Ideas

Purple flowers are one of the top wedding decorations. Happily, there are gorgeous purple flowers available in every season. Here are some great purple wedding centerpiece ideas for any time of the year.

In spring, there will be an abundance of lovely purple flowers from which to choose, ranging from lilac to deep plum, and everything in between. Bulbs are among the most popular spring blossoms, and many of them do come in a shade of purple. Tulips are iconic of spring and rebirth, and a very simple idea for a centerpiece is to arrange a simple bouquet of elegant purple tulips in a clear glass vase. It is not particularly fancy, but the flowers themselves are so perfect that they need little adornment.

A beautiful idea for a purple centerpiece for an afternoon wedding in the spring would be to plant a collection of hyacinth flowers in a white ceramic pot. For a more casual effect, purple hyacinth planted in a wooden box whitewashed in white or pale green would be lovely. They would also make a great parting gift for guests to take home at the end of the reception. A more lush spring centerpiece design idea is to take an abundance of lavender colored sweet peas and combine them with lilac roses, white peonies and some trailing greens. Arrange loosely in a tall footed urn for a breathtaking centerpiece.

Summer also offers some great options for purple wedding centerpieces. Many brides enjoy planning weddings which feature a range of purples throughout. For instance, the bridesmaids might wear lavender chiffon dresses with plum bridesmaid jewelry sets (or vise versa; rich plum bridesmaid dresses with pastel sets of jewelry). A mixture of purples in one centerpiece is another great way to create depth and interest with your signature color. Try combining dark purple mini irises with medium purple freesia, roses, and fragrant lavender for a beautiful centerpiece. Or create a classic table arrangement with pinky-purple hydrangeas, lavender roses, and lilac parrot tulips.

When people think of fall weddings, the colors that come to mind are often reds, yellows, and oranges, but there are actually some wonderful purple flowers in season in the autumn. The informal look of purple asters mixed with white mums and lilac colored statice would be great for a country wedding. For even more impact, arrange the flowers in a hollowed out eggplant. For more formal weddings, create the centerpieces from bridal flowers which are available year round, such as purple roses and lisianthus.

In the winter months, weddings tend to be very elegant. A gorgeous idea for a winter wedding centerpiece would be an arrangement of deep purple orchids. Try a spray of plum dendrobium orchids arranged in a dramatic tall dark purple vase with interesting greenery for a modern and sophisticated centerpiece. Or create a rounder table arrangement by combining the orchids with burgundy carnations and deep red roses; it would be stunning for an evening reception. Orchids can also be staked and formed into breathtaking Zen inspired table decorations; try vivid purple Mokara orchids paired with bright green accent flowers.

Whatever your style and whatever the season of your wedding, there are going to be stunning purple centerpiece flowers available to you. From pale pastels to exotic dark plums, purple is one of the very favorite wedding colors for the bride with discriminating taste.

Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. Check out how we can help with your bridesmaid jewelry sets at http://silverlandjewelry.com/. We are pleased to offer free crystal samples for color matching and complimentary shipping on all jewelry orders over $99.

The Beauty and Advantages of Winter Weddings

The words “Winter Wedding” evoke visions of snow, sparkles, white, and all things glamorous. Think winter wonderland, and you have an excellent theme for a wedding. There are so many things that you can do with a winter wedding, and better yet is the fact that there is no “norm”. You can be as creative as your imagination and budget will allow.

Some of the advantages to having a winter wedding include the cost. Winter is considered the “off-season” for weddings, making the cost of certain items go down. Some of the items on that list usually include the wedding location and reception hall, both of which you will be more likely to book for your desired date. Since there are fewer weddings, your date is less likely to already be booked. Another advantage to having a winter wedding is the fact that more of your family and friends may be able to attend.

One of the first decisions to make when you are planning your winter wedding is the theme. Do you want to have a general winter theme or something more specific and special? One of the most common themes is the winter wonderland theme. The winter wonderland theme is exactly what it sounds like, whimsical and majestic. Think yards of fabric (organza or tulle) draped on the ceiling and cake table. Twinkle lights lighting the room and gorgeous center pieces. Most often the colors used for this theme are white and silver, or white and pale blue. If you are really adventurous you can use all of the colors together.

Once you have decided on your theme, you need to decide on your floral arrangements. Some of the flowers that work well with winter themes are white tulips, hydrangeas, and orchids. White flowers combined with bright green foliage look beautiful.

Wedding party attire is also a big decision. With a winter theme brides may want to wear satin gloves, a faux fur wrap, or even a tiara. Think princess, and you get the idea. You can make your bridal attire as lavish and fairytale like as you wish. Once you have decided on the bridal attire, next you need to think of the other members of the wedding party. Silvers and light blues look beautiful on both bridesmaids as well as vests on the men.

Wedding favors can be especially fun with a winter themed wedding. There are so many options available. You may want to go with something as simple as a beautiful ornament, or something a little more involved like a wintery snowflake inspired candle holder. Anything that will make you think of winter is a great choice.

Whatever winter theme you may decide to go with, winter weddings are beautiful. Not only are they fun and romantic, but they also give you a great excuse to find a sunny tropical destination for the honeymoon. Using a little creativity can give you a wedding you will remember for a lifetime.

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Bridal Shower Do’s and Don’ts

Bridal showers can be a very special and fun event for the bride-to-be as well as the guests. The best of them are full of laughter, love, and great memories. The worst bridal showers, however, are tacky, greedy, or rude. To make sure that your party is one of the great ones, these are some dos and dont’s for bridal shower hosts, guests, and the bride herself.

Do: Invite the women in your life to whom you feel most close. Usually only local friends are invited to a bridal shower, unless they are in the wedding party or close female relatives. Although guests will travel from far and wide to attend the wedding itself, it is not generally the same for bridal showers.

Don’t: Invite anyone to the bridal shower who will not be invited to the wedding. This is one of the worst possible types of shower faux pas. It is incredibly rude to send the message that a person is welcome to come and bring a gift for the bride, but that she is not considered to be important enough to also witness the wedding and join in the celebration at the reception. It is either an invitation to both, or to neither.

Do: Give the bride a thoughtful gift that you think she will cherish, whether or not it is from her bridal registry. Think of the registry as a great place to start, but definitely not the only possibility. Since the people at a bridal shower should be the closest friends and family of the bride, the chances are that they know her tastes, and would be able to pick out a unique gift that she will appreciate.

Don’t: Give the bride a gift that is a “gag” gift, too personal, or in questionable taste. A beautifully embroidered white silk nightgown which she can wear on her wedding night could be nice (if you know her size and taste in such things), but a really racy set of red lingerie is really just too intimate. If the bride would be embarrassed to open the box in front of her grandmother, it is too risque. Gifts such as wedding jewelry can be among the most special a bride receives at her shower, but only if the person giving it knows for certain that it is the particular wedding jewelry the bride has been wishing for to complement her bridal gown. Don’t guess; if the jewelry does not go with her gown, the bride is put in the awkward position of having to wear something that is not right or not wearing it and hurting your feelings.

Do: Designate a guest at the bridal shower (ideally one with very nice handwriting) to make a record of the gifts as they are opened. She should note the type of gift, from whom it was received, and any other special information. The bride can then use this list to write her thank you notes after the bridal shower.

Don’t: Pass around envelopes for guests to address to themselves for thank you notes. This is an alarming trend in some circles, and it is an insult to the guests. Presumably the bride and hostess know where the guests live, since they managed to send them shower invitations. What’s next, asking the guests to write the thank you notes themselves?

Some of the other things that happen at a bridal shower are more a matter of local custom than etiquette. In some families, games are played, in others they are not. Bridal showers may be formal or informal, all female or co-ed, depending on what works for the particular bride and host. None of those choices will change the good natured fun of a thoughtfully planned bridal shower.

About the Author Bridget Mora

Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. Check out how we can help with your bridesmaid gifts and wedding jewelry at http://silverlandjewelry.com/. All jewelry orders over $99 receive complimentary shipping, so visit us today!

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The Etiquette of Wedding Etiquette

Weddings are one of the few times in modern life when etiquette becomes a frequent topic of conversation. As people become more and more wrapped up in the idea of planning the “perfect” wedding, there are times when etiquette ends up being used as a weapon, which is certainly not what Miss Manners or Emily Post ever intended. To help you avoid this pitfall, here is the etiquette on wedding etiquette.

One thing that is oven overlooked is that one of the primary goals of etiquette is to make life as pleasant and sociable for everyone. The whole reason behind having a set of manners is to give our society a set of agreed upon guidelines to help us act in a way that will make our daily interactions with others easy and enjoyable. To put it another way, if we did not have etiquette, everyone would have to make up their own rules as they went along, which would mean that their intentions would be unclear to everyone else. It is like visiting a foreign country with different customs; you are likely to offend people inadvertently if you are not familiar with their set of manners.

What etiquette is not is a tool to put other people down. The idea is not to be able to “catch” someone in the act of using the wrong fork, but rather to help the diners know which fork to use for which course. Once learned, basic social manners quickly become second nature, which makes life much easier. So how does this apply to wedding etiquette? For starters, it means that wedding etiquette should never be used to put someone down or humiliate them. An example of this would be the mother in law who critiques the bride’s bridal attire by saying that everyone knows that only pearls are proper for weddings. Not only would she be mistaken (crystal bridal jewelry is always appropriate too), but by trying to correct another person’s etiquette, she is showing her own lack of manners.

There certainly may be instances during the course of planning a wedding where the bride or her mother realizes that someone else is committing a breach of etiquette. The trick, then, is to graciously get them to change their plans without being rude and telling them flat out that they have no understanding of what is polite or correct. A lot of this depends on your relationship with that person. Let’s say that the bride has mentioned to her mother that she plans to include her bridal registry information on the wedding invitation. Now her mother knows that this is a horrible faux pas that will be sure to offend some of the guests. And yet, if she were to blurt out, “How rude! Don’t you know anything about proper wedding etiquette?”, that she would be breaking the rule of etiquette which says that etiquette should not be used as a club to beat a person down.

But to take no action would be to allow her daughter to do something offensive and in poor taste. The polite way to inform another of their breach of etiquette is with extreme tact and gentleness: “Darling, I am sure that it is very common these days to print the registry information on wedding invitations, but some of your older relatives will find it in poor taste. Why don’t you just put the registry details on your wedding website and I will make sure to spread the word to anyone who asks?”

Etiquette does provide kind ways to help others out of their social miscues with grace and tact. It also says that there are times (like when someone drinks the water from the finger bowl) that the best thing to do is simply to overlook an etiquette accident. Taking care to treat your family and friends with kindness is far more important than always being “correct”, which is a great lesson for everyone involved in planning a wedding.

About the Author Laura Firenze

Laura is interested in wedding planning and wedding trends including jewelry,receptions and gifts. Bridal jewelry which is handcrafted with luminous freshwater pearls or sparkling Swarovski crystals is always in good taste.

For more on wedding etiquette visit:

Plan Weddings Now for wedding guest etiquette tips.
New and Blue for rehearsal dinner attire ideas.
Utah Weddings for receiving line etiquette tips.

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Practical Wedding Gifts That Don’t Break the Bank

Attending a wedding this winter? You’re probably looking for a wedding gift. Many people get anxious about finding the “perfect” wedding gift – and some go overboard spending way more than they can afford. Especially in today’s economy that can be a big mistake. Fortunately there are some great wedding gifts that don’t break the bank. Let’s talk about some of the bride and groom’s favorites that won’t be returned or wind up in the back of a closet after the honeymoon.

Personalized Photo Album. This is one of the best gifts you can buy them. Most couples spend thousands of dollars getting the best professional photographs they’ll ever have taken in their lives at their weddings. What better way to enjoy them than in a special photo album. But that’s not the only use for a photo album they’ll have. Remember they are often taking a special honeymoon to an exotic destination, a place where they will take many photographs. This photo album could be the one they use for wedding photos or for the honeymoon. Or get them two photo albums – one for each!

Gift Certificate/Card to a Restaurant. This a perfect gift to get a newlywed couple. Many newlywed couples find that their relationship changes, that they just don’t go out on “dates” the way they used to. Your gift certificate to a restaurant is an easy way to enjoy an evening out without the added expense to the family budget. Pick a restaurant that is near their home so they don’t have to think or plan extra hard about going out. You may be surprised, but this is often one of the bride and groom’s most favorite gifts.

Cookbooks. A cookbook is an ideal gift to get a newlywed. So is a subscription to a cooking magazine. Even if the bride or groom have been living on their own for some time, getting married often means adjusting your cooking styles. A cookbook offers some ideas and suggestions to make new meals together and find great family favorite meals. You could be creating family traditional meals by giving this cookbook!

Genealogical Research. This is a fun gift to give a newly wed couple. You can find professional genealogists and online services. Many brides and grooms are curious to learn more not only about the family they’ve married into, but about their own birth families after they have married. Learning genealogy is a wonderful gift. Especially if they have children or are planning a family. This is something they will treasure as they learn about new and old family relatives.

Gas Card. While this doesn’t sound like a very exciting gift, most bride and grooms would be thrilled to see a gas card as a gift. Gas is a regular expense – and weddings are expensive. Your gas card would offer great convenience and could make the difference between taking a quick family getaway for the weekend – or not being able to do it. Most major gas stations offer gas cards.

About the Author

By Jill Renee, President of DanforthDiamond.com, a leading authority on diamond engagement rings and fine jewelry and writes about wedding planning. Danforth Diamond provides wisdom and advice to help you choose the right ring at the right price. Visit DanforthDiamond.com or call 877.404.RING

Visit A Practical Wedding for interesting discussions on having a practical wedding and married life.

Practical Wedding Gifts Ideas

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Including Nieces and Nephews in Your Wedding

If you have a lot of young relations running around, you might be wondering how best to include the little ones in your wedding. Children of all ages can have a role in a wedding, and their spirit always adds something special to the festivities. These are some ideas on how to include your nieces and nephews in your wedding.

Your nieces and nephews can have a place in your wedding ceremony no matter what their age. The most common role for young children is ring bearer or flower girl. Do not feel as though you have to choose between your nieces and nephews if you have a large family. While too many bridesmaids can end up being a bit silly looking, a large group of children in your bridal party will inspire many smiles and “awwwws”. Some brides who have a very large group of young relations to include in their wedding will decide to have only a maid of honor and best man for the groom, forgoing the rest of the bridesmaids in favor of having a wedding party comprised of all of their nieces and nephews.

The most common role for young children is ring bearer or flower girl. This tends to work the best for children who are between the ages of three and eight years old. The flower girl (or girls) can either carry a small bouquet of flowers or a basket of petals to toss (if permitted by your venue). They are usually dressed in sweet little dresses with patent leather shoes and possibly wear a floral wreath in their hair. The bride should plan on giving flower girl gifts to the little ones. Traditional flower girl gifts include silver lockets or very dainty pearl pendants.

The ring bearer theoretically carries the wedding bands down the aisle to the altar (I say theoretically because the rings on the pillow are often fakes). If you had two little boys and wanted each to be a ring bearer, they could each carry a small pillow, one with the bride’s wedding band, and one with the groom’s ring (or the facsimiles). When you have a larger number of nephews, they can be pages. This works best when the wedding is a large and formal affair. Pages traditionally help to carry the bride’s train. It is very sweet when the bridal gown features a grand cathedral length train, but would be rather impractical for a little sweep train. In that case, simply have the young men dress all alike and walk down the aisle in a group. Even without a specific task, your nephews can still be a part of the fun.

Older nieces and nephews can be invited to participate in the wedding as junior bridesmaids or groomsmen. This is a bridge position for a child who is too old to be a flower girl or ring bearer, but too young to be a full fledged bridesmaid or groomsmen. The typical age range for junior attendants is around nine to fourteen. Once they are about fifteen or sixteen years old, they are ready to be regular bridesmaids or groomsmen. The junior bridesmaids will wear dresses which are similar in style to the bridesmaids’ dresses, only a more demure and age appropriate. Since mens’ formal wear varies so little, the junior groomsmen can wear the same type of suits as the groomsmen, or they can wear a jacket and trousers instead of a full suit.

Even tiny children can play a role in your wedding as long as you don’t expect things to go perfectly. There is nothing more adorable than a very young niece or nephew riding down the aisle in a fancy wagon or sleigh pulled by an older sibling. I have even seen babies pushed down the aisle in flower bedecked strollers! It is wonderful fun to include as many of your nieces and nephews in your wedding as you like.

About the Author Bridget Mora

Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. Check out how we can help with your bridesmaids jewelry and flower girl gifts at SilverlandJewelry.com.

Gift Ideas for Nieces and Nephews in Your Wedding

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Wedding Ideas Weekly

There are so many helpful wedding ideas and gorgeous wedding inspiration circulating on the web via blogs, websites and social networks including Twitter and Facebook. Here are 10 of my favorites for the week:

1. Ruffled shares 15 gorgeous wedding dresses for under $500!
2. Etiquette Expert Talley Sue Hohlfeld answers the question “Must engagement-party guests be invited to the wedding?”.
3. Expert make up artist D.D. Nickel shares makeup tips for your wedding day.
4. Learn how to properly cut a wedding cake at the Austin Wedding Blog.
5. Photgrapher Michelle Hayes shares a charming, fun Rollerskating Wedding.
6. Wedding Music Unveiled shares information and a free checklist that busy couples should use before letting their Musician choose their wedding music.
7. Ajalon Printing and Design share lovely Invitations for Nature Lovers.
8. The Wedding Diva’s share gorgeous vintage-inspired birdcage veils.
9. If you’re having a vintage themed wedding and looking for a cool way to include some retro correspondence into your wedding plans, Globetrotting Bride shares a clever idea.
10. Something for the guys- The Man-gagement Ring. What an awesome way to show he’s taken!

Have a stress-free wedding planning week!

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