Wedding Bob Hairstyles

Not everyone likes their hair long, and you should feel comfortable on your wedding day, so don't be afraid to rock the bob!

As the wedding day approaches the excitement and the desire to have everything turn out just right greatly intensifies. Choosing the perfect hairstyle is one of the keys, and can be a challenging task for many brides.

A bride-to-be with short to medium hair length might feel discouraged thinking that the styling options she has are greatly reduced compared to longer hairstyles. However, this perception is inaccurate and most of the time just need a bit of imagination. By putting your artful skills to work you will be able to get a fabulous hairstyle that will make you feel confident as well as contributing to an unforgettable wedding day. Not the artsy type? Ask your hairstylist for ideas!

Bob hairstyles are a trendy and stylish option for a future bride who likes to be modern without turning to a complicated hairstyle. Bobs are a perfect alternative, especially in the summer when the temperatures are higher and tend to complicate hair styling.

Here are a few ideas for inspiration to get you started:

Curly bob hairstyles are very romantic, being one of the most inspired choices you can make for the occasions. The styling options are virtually endless, ranging from innocent modern large curls to glamorous retro styles that provide a distinctive and unique allure.

A wavy textured bob is another option you can use if you are not ready to embrace a curly hairstyle wholeheartedly. With the right hair styling products at hand, your success is almost guaranteed.

Decorating with Mirrors

Every bride is looking for something special to add to the design of their wedding to set it apart. One idea that you may not have considered before is mirrors. With their reflective quality, elegance, and drama, mirrors can be the perfect decorating tool for your wedding.

There are numerous ways in which mirrors can be used to est a tone. They can be hunt on the wall of course, but mirrors can also be incorporated into centerpieces. This surprisingly versatile element can do so much to spice up a wedding reception. Mirrors are an old favourite trick of wedding planners because they have the power to visually expand a space, reflect other decorations and increase their impact - plus add some glamour!

Centerpieces

The centerpieces are a great place to think about using mirrors. They can be rented and used to make a low budget centerpiece appear to be much more grand and full. A tried and true trick is to set a floral centerpiece surrounded by candles on a round mirror in the middle of each reception table. The candlelight will look spectacular dancing in the reflective surface of the mirror, and the entire display will appear to be larger than it is.

Mirrored Boxes

For a modern wedding, try setting centerpieces on mirrored boxes. They are a sleek and stylish way to add levels to your table decorations. Keep the floral arrangements on the mirrored boxes sleek and contemporary. Tall clear cylinders of submerged flowers would be gorgeous. The mirrored boxes would also be great for a Winter Wonderland wedding. They are an ideal base for centerpieces created from white birch brands, draped with dazzling crystal teardrops that sparkle like bridal jewelry.

Disco Balls

Mirrors can also be used above the reception tables. For a cool retro wedding, rent '70s inspired disco balls to light up the night. Use small disco balls over each table, or rent one giant one to hang over the dance floor. The reflective mirrors on the ball send beams of light dancing around the room, which creates a fabulous twinkling effect on crystal bridal jewelry. An alternative is the chic and elegant look of art deco style mirrored chandeliers. There are very cool and work beautifully for a cocktail reception. Having little mini disco balls on the tables help reflect great light around the reception tables as well.


Reception Enhancements

Certainly, mirrors can be hung on the reception walls. Large ones in ornate gilt frames are a nice accent when you are trying to create an opulent atmosphere. Mirrors can also be placed strategically around the reception site to make the space appear larger and to give it better light. Even simple mirrors with plain edges can be used for this. Think about situating them in place where they will also visually multiply the number of floral arrangmenets to make your decroations appear more lush.

How to Create Your Wedding Budget

The first step in creating a budget is to outline your planned expenses. List them based on price, with the most expensive items first. When you understand the real costs, you can plan accordingly, and look for opportunities to save.

The Big Busters
The reception will likely be your single greatest expense. When you are creating this section of your budget, remember to include items such as catering, site rental, and rentals of linens, chair covers and potentially tents.

When planning for your reception, work on your guest list first to determine how many people capacity you need. This will help determine the appropriate venue and allow you to begin pricing for catering. There are a few tricks to budgeting for receptions and finding ways to save money.

Budget Basics
Beyond the reception, the items listed below are the basic elements of a wedding to consider for your budget. Treat this list as an outline, a first step in organizing your budget. Remember that you final list should be more detailed.

Photographer/Videographer: If you are hiring a professional, this section of yoru budget will be one of the next big expenses. Wedding photographers and videographers often offer packages, but watch for hidden costs, like extra prints and copies.

Attire/Hair/Make-up: Brides think of the dress but often the hair appointments, accessories and shoes slip our minds. And then there's the groom, he'll need something to wear too.

DJ/Band: When hiring musicians and DJs, find out how many hours of entertainment are included in their fees.

Rings: The cost of your wedding rings will depend largely on your taste. These can be upgraded later if you are tight on money for the day-of, makes for a great anniversary gift for eachother in coming years.

Decorations/Flowers: Bouquets, corsages and decorations for the ceremony and reception.

Invitations/Programs: Include postage and printing fees. When it comes to stationary, always order some extras.

Wedding Cake: The cake may be a separate item on your budget if you are having it made by someone other than the reception caterers. Remember to check with your caterers to see if they charge a cake cutting fee if you bring your own.

Transportation: Some newlyweds rent transportation for themselves and their bridal party, particularly if the ceremony and reception are held at separate locations.

Attendant Gifts: Remember to have some token of appreciation for participants in your special day. Consider gifts for parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearers and ushers.

Ceremony Fees: You will have to purchase a marriage license. Depending on where you get married, you may pay an officiant fee, or offer a monetary gift as a thank you for performing the ceremony.

Tips/Taxes/Hidden Charges: It might sound silly, but remember to set aside some money for the things that you might overlook. I tend to allocate approximately 10% of the budget to this "just-in-case" fund.

As you begin planning, more expenses will pop up. There will be things that you might not have considered before, like table number cards and holders. Work these items into your budget as you think of them.

Looking for assistance making your budget and dream day match?! Contact Cariad Productions for assistance in setting this up and maximizing what you have to spend.

Top 10 Country Wedding Songs

Looking for the perfect songs for your wedding? Here are some great ideas for the top country songs...

10. I Cross My Heart - George Strait

George plucked the heartstrings of female country fans everywhere with this tear-jerker. Since it's feature in his movie "Pure Country" in 1992, fans have danced that special first dance to this sweetly sentimental tune and longtime favourite.

Favourite lyrics: "From here on after let's stay the way we are right now/And share all the love and laughter that a lifetime will allow."

9. Keeper of the Stars - Tracy Byrd

This power ballad became an instant classic with its release by Tracy in 1999. Luckily, in love there is often a bigger plan in play than what we know. Tracy's wife and baby daughter were on set with him for added inspiration as he filmed this music video.

Favourite lyrics: "It wasno accident me finding you/Someone had a hand in it, long before we ever knew."

8. From This Moment On - Shania Twain & Bryan White

Shania added even more emotional heft to his beautiful song when she recruited Bryan White to perform it as a duet. The declaration of love and devotion is a perfect celebration of a union between man and wife, echoing the vows that brides and grooms make when they take that walk down the aisle.

Favourite lyrics: "Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow/ For better, for worse, I will love you."

7. I Love The Way You Love Me - John Michael Montgomery

This is John Michael's country variation of "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." The song evokes images of lovers dancing in the rain, stolen kisses and playful moments, reminding us that when we're in love, even the scent of our bethrothed can leave use weak in the knees.

Favourite lyrics: "I could list a million things I love to like about you/But they all come down to one reason: I could never live without you."

6. It's Your Love - Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

Who better than country's power couple, Tim and Faith, to give us a smoldering love song about the overwhelming intensity of a lover's touch. The video for the tune permeates with the chemistry between these real-life love birds when they were expecting their child Grace.

Favourite lyrics: "Better than I was, more than I am/And all of this happened, by takin' your hand."

5. Could I Have This Dance - Anne Murray

Anne's golden voice has crooned this 1980 classic for the better part of three decades, giving newlyweds a reason to elegantlly waltz across the floor while celebrating their big moment.

Favourite lyrics: "I'll always remember the song they were playin', the first time we danced and I knew/ As we swayed to the music and help to each other, I fell in love with you."

4. Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts

This song by Rascal Flatts celebrates the miracle and rarity of true love, while also addressing the struggle we endure, sifting through the sands looking for that one exact match who will "get" us unconditionally, and how grateful we are when we find the person who can see past our shortcomings and love us anyway.

Favourite lyrics: "This much I know is true/That God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you."

3. When I Said I Do - Clint Black & Lisa Hartman Black

This 1999 duet between Clint and his wife Lisa rocketed tothe top ofthe country charts with its honest reminder of the eternal strength of the marriage vows. Through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, the bonds stay strong.

Favourite lyrics: "When I said I do, I meant that I will/'Til the end of all time/Be faithful and true, devoted to you."

2. Forever and Ever Amen - Randy Travis

The quintessential love-for-the-ages tune, this Randy Travis classic evokes the kind of deep, abiding love our grandparents vowed through hard work, struggle, lean times, and happiness. The title itself inspires us to have hope that real love between two can indeed exist - and thrive - through the years.

Favourite lyrics: "As sure as I live, this love that I give/Is gonna be yours until the day that I die."

1. I Do - Paul Brandt

Paul Brandt's 1996 hit tells of the all-encompassing love that can keep you safe and warm, answering the deepest doubts in your heart. This country wedding song's chorus, " I will, I am, I can, I have, I do" answers all the questions of what we hope someone will be for us from now until the end of time. A true wedding classic summed up in two powerful words.

Favourite lyrics: "I rescued you, you rescued me/And we're right where we should be when we're together."

Lucky Wedding Foods

Food is the center of many events and occassions in our life, and your wedding is no exception. Brides and grooms hoping to add some good fortune to their marriages have some interesting options when planning your wedding feast.

Many cultures have identified foods for newlyweds that supposedly bring good luck, fertility or other luck. The foods range from fried crickets to candied almonds to fish.

In Mexico, brides and grooms sometimes dine on fried crickets, lentil soup, and a bean, rice and agave dish. The crickets and rice dish are said to bring fertility and good luck, and the soup is associated with good luckand good fortune.

Italians serve almonds at weddings becasue their bittersweet taste represents life. The almonds are sugarcoated to wish the couple more sweetness than bittersweet.

Moroccan couples also eat fish because it's an ancient symbol of fertility.

Fish appears on the menu at many weddings! Fish and other white meats, like turkey or chicken, are common wedding foods because of old beliefs that women had whiter blood than men, and these white meats were thought to strengthen the woman's blood, so they were served at weddings to energize the bride.

Wedding cake, one of the oldest elements of a wedding banquet, also has connections to luck and fertility.

Early English cakes were fruit cakes, and brides used to count the number of raisins in their piece of cake to see howmany children they would bear.

Interesting food ideas, do you know any more?!

Choose Your Lingerie Carefully

Of course what you wear on your wedding day is VERY important, but it's not only the dress you need to think about. Whether you used to go to bed naked or you have a huge lingerie collection, the lingerie you choose for your wedding day or honeymoon needs to be something special.

Here are a few tips to help simplify your lingerie shopping...

First, when choosing lingerie to match your wedding gown, you should not choose stuff with straps. No matter how tight a strap is, it may loosen. If you encounter such an occasion when the strap of your lingerie gets loose and even slips down from your shoulders, what will you do? Hope there's no pictures ;)

Straps can also be too tight and leave traces on your shoulders which can be uncomfortable for you, so just avoid them to be safe.


Avoid dark colours - this one seems obvious with a lightly coloured dress, but it's also important to avoid decorative designs that may also stand out from below your gown.


Last but not least, choose suitable lingerie and don't buy it too tight. Almost every bride is busy on her wedding day and if your lingerie is too tight, it could cause you to feel ill and be very uncomfortable.


Do you have any wedding lingerie tips? Share them here!

2011 Dress Trends

I'm sure you have fantasized many times about your wedding day for as long as you can remember. Your gown is the ultimate expression of this storybook dream, and as such a captivating dress is probably one of the first major purchases of your life!

Looking for a long dress? Check out the styles of 2011 here...

Structured

Incorporating tiers, layers, ruffles, and additional fabric on a wedding gown gives us that WOW factor. It can add fun and character to a dress, so forget the "less is more" and dare to be different instead.

One Shoulder

This look has been all over the runways and red carpets, and are now on brides. Spice up a simple gown with statement-making embellishments like a big flower on the strap.

a

a

a

Simple Touches

Keep your gown classy, using simple beading and lace on sexy figure-hugging shapes to accentuate your curves. Don't overpower this elegant look with heavy accessories; let your beauty shine through.

a

a

Mermaid Style

This fantasy-inspired look enhances sexy curves, while hiding flaws with ruching down the front and back.

a

a

a

a

a

Grecian Goddess

Ensure you are the goddess of the day with a high waisted gown with floaty materials like chiffon. This classy look is perfect for slim figured women.

a

a

a

a

Ballgown

This style comes straight for your Cinderella fairytales. The classic style creates gorgeous cleavage and a barely-there waistline. What more could a girl ask for?

So which of these is the style in your dreams? Best of luck finding what you're looking for, and let Cariad Productions know if you need a shopping assistant for this difficult decision.

Keeping it Real

Just to help put the planning of your wedding into perspective, keep these tips in mind...

Setting Priorities
People are more important than menus or venues! Determine who you want to share your special day with you, and then you can determine what to serve them and where - not the other way around.

Blissful to Forget
You will be much happier if you forget about "the perfect wedding". Perfection does not exist and does not create happiness, especially when it involves complicated arrangements and all kinds of people like your wedding.

Focus on You
If you try to keep everyone happy, you will go crazy - focus on you! This is your day with your special someone. However, it is good to listen to your friends and family, and ignore their feelings and comfort at your own peril...being married does not mean your whole world changes, you still have to see these people the next day.

Hope this helps bring a little reality check into your planning!

Floral Design Trends 2011 from Platinum Floral Designs

A wonderful guest blog by Tina Barbanoff of Platinum Floral Designs...

I’m seeing a wonderful shift from modern, precisely fitted hand tied bouquets to more ornate, organic, flowing, rustic and personalized bouquets. Using either a bright and bold palette (I’m thinking 1950’s unqiue colour combinations), or a soft and vintage/french palette will be next years must haves.

Thinking Outside the Box

The economy has effected all us in different ways, tightening our budgets where ever possible including the floral world. I’m glad to see more bride’s asking for locally grown and seasonal flowers to use for their wedding day and incorporating items they have found right in their backyards such as pinecones, shells, twigs or anything they can find on their walk-abouts. Anything and everything can be used, thinking outside the box is really the key.

Personal Touches
How to add personal touches is also a common question I am receiving as I book into next years wedding season. Here are some great ideas to inspire you:

1. Incorporate heirloom items: ex. Vintage brooches, buttons and pins can be wired into your bouquet or attached to the stem wrap

2. Fabric swatches: use your mothers wedding dress, quilt patches, hanker-chiefs, lace and even burlap sacks to cut fabric pieces to wrap your bouquet or tie “love knots” with long strips of fabric into your flowers, keep these special elements in your scrapbook

3. Have your bridesmaids write wishes on small pieces of vintage paper, fold them up and wire them into your bouquet to be read later and again kept for your scrapbooking later on

Bold Colour Palette – think unique, think history (1950’s)

As seen in the 1950’s, crazy combinations were used to create bold colour patterns creating interest and depth. Use colours such as bright blues, aqua, turquoise and pare this with mustard yellow’s, cherry reds or try emerald, lime green with red’s, purple’s and pink’s.
Try tying in all elements: ei. Wear brightly coloured shoes, socks, knee high’s, ties, suspenders and hat’s which mimic the colour palette in your bouquets and boutonnieres. This is a great pop of colour and shows wonderfully in your wedding photography.

Vintage Colour Palette

Vintage leans toward the soft, more pastel hues and ruffled petals to create texture such as tulips, poppies, peony, garden roses, scabiosa, delphinium, amemone, daisies and any bloom with a textural feel. Use creamy tones, pale pinks, whites, greens, silver, and brown. A cascading bouquet really will add drama to your vintage feel, but beware, cascading bouquets are often costly as more blooms are wired to create a cascading effect.


French Floral Design

I am seeing more and more French inspired floral design which uses a large amount of greenery to create a garden and natural feel to your bouquet. Try using greenery as your bouquet wrap instead of ribbon to really create a natural, earthy feel or burlap sacks with a brown string. Your florist will have many great ideas for consideration. Laura Dowling, a French floral designer based in Washington is a great reference point to discover French floral design. Her usage of greenery is outstanding. French design is great for the bride looking to have an outdoor garden wedding.

Backyard Design

Gather unconventional items found in your everyday life. Depending on the month you will be married, consider using herbs in floral design to add texture and scent. Ex. Lavender, dill, rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley, garlic, basil, any herb will do! Think about using fruits and vegetables growing in your garden as well : apples, kiwi, plums, strawberries, go totally over the edge using carrots, beets, beans or peppers, let the sky be your limit!

Growing Your Own Flowers
If you are growing your flowers, ask your florist to “condition” them properly in their cooler to ensure your flowers will last the entire event. There are a lot of behind the scenes care flowers need to make them wedding ready.

Use pinecones fallen from trees, sticks and twigs will create architectural details, use love rocks (rocks shaped like hearts you and your fiancé found laying at the beach), and shells. Gather items you are naturally attracted too, you’d be amazed at the different textures, scents, and colours that surround our daily lives. Each month in the year will bring in new items to be used, just keep in mind that many of the items will have to be wired in, which takes your florist valuable time, and can become costly.

Masses of Colour

Another ongoing trend is using only 1 or 2 types of flowers in your bouquet and centerpieces, this makes for a large impact with simplicity.

Centerpiece Trends

It’s hard to say, as there really is such a wide variety of things being used for centerpieces. The choices are endless. Here are some ideas to start you off:

1. Masses of Colour - using numerous and varying heights of vases per table incorporating 1 type of flower will ensure a large impact and create visual interest even if you are using a minimal amount of flowers.

2. Branch centerpieces make for outstanding displays – incorporate flowers on the branches and at the bottom of the display for visual interest

3. Let’s back away from flowers for a minute and discuss centerpieces using masses of vegetables or other natural materials, try using a vase filled with garlic or tomatoes, lemons and limes, apples, peppers, shells, or rocks. Using a combination of items on one table will create a striking effect and a conversation piece. Now let’s combine these items with flowers, if using large, tall vases, why not try to fill the vase with your choice or fruit or natural material and create a masterpiece of flowers above, this will make a great visual for your special day especially at a venue with high ceilings.

4. Let’s create height: why not place a square vase upside down and another unique vase on top of it to create interest and height, try incorporating flowers in both vases, or flowers in the bottom one and a candle in the top.

Final Thoughts
Floral Trends are coming back in a strong way and the best advice I could give to any bride is: instead of using numerous smaller arrangements scattered about, focus on one or two main focal points. Does your venue have fire place mantles, or are you getting married under a stone wall? Really discover your venue, ask the coordinator which focal points are best to adorn with floral spreads? Decide which area is the most important to you and spend the most money there. Ask your florist if she has previously worked at this venue, if not ask her if she could meet you at the venue to discuss options.

Also remember trends come and go. Remember to keep true to your heart. Use flowers in colours you are absolutely in love with. You will want to love your images 10 years from now! Your florist is here to guide you whether you do not know anything about flowers, or even if you’re a flower wonder and know exactly what types of blooms you will want to use, she will help you to achieve balance, create harmony, colour and depth.

A professional florist passionate about her work will help you to narrow down the look are you trying to achieve and she’ll express ideas to fit your budget! Good luck and I hope this article will inspire you to get messy, explore and ask questions!

About Platinum Floral Designs

Tina Barabonoff is a young and vibrant floral designer with a keen eye for creating colour harmony, balance and architectural details.

Tina’s formal training in interior design allows her to be uniquely creative, bringing in new structural aspects to floral design. Completing her courses in 2007, Tina dedicated her time to working in and learning about the design world.

After a short hiatus to start a family, with her husband and two young children by her side she opened Platinum Floral Designs out of true passion to integrate design and flowers to create a harmonious world. Her designs are simply breathtaking and are at the forefront in the flower world! Check them out at http://www.platinumfloraldesigns.com/.

Inspired by my Travels

I'm BACK! Thanks for sticking around.

Coming Soon

I have some exciting new posts coming soon, in particular a floral design post written by Tina of Platinum Floral Designs. Check out her amazing work at http://www.platinumfloraldesigns.com/, and be sure to look back here for her great ideas.

Inspirations
This trip I went to Dublin, Ireland and throughout northern Wales. I was inspired by many new bridal and event ideas, and of course will be sharing those with you soon as well. My favourite new idea is a tradition from the mid 1600's in Wales, where they give Love Spoons. They are a wonderful style of wood carving that began as a courtship gift. They were created by a young man as a present for his intended bride, the intricacies and themes carved on the spoon's handle all have symbolic meanings.

Today the giving of Welsh Love Spoons have been expanded to include wedding presents, anniversary presents, house warming gifts and even baby shower gifts. They adorn the walls of newlyweds houses, showing the love that surrounds them.

Love Spoon Examples

The anchor symbolizes a settled love, eternal devotion and security.

The ball in the cage is to commemorate a love held safe, or to represent the number of children desired. The number of children is also sometimes shown as a chain on the Love Spoon handle as well.

This one has double meaning...the double heart is for steadfast love, and sharing the feelings from each other...the keyhold is to show that I will look after you.

Leaves symbolize a growing love and love being evergreen.

My Love Spoons

And here are a few Love Spoons dear to my heart, as they are the 2 that I purchased.

The music symbolizes a love of music, which is very close to any Welshmans' heart as music runs deep in the Welsh traditions and blood.

The horseshoe represents good luck, while the bell symbolizes together in harmony and happiness. Love spoons with bells on them are most often given as gifts for weddings or anniversaries.

Other Traditions

What traditions are there in your culture? I am so intrigued by this simple gesture, and am wondering about other wedding-related gifts that are unique!