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Wedding receptions are designed to accommodate adults. Therefore, children can get restless really easy, especially if the children are younger in age. So, give them something to do! Set up a play tent that matches the colors of you wedding and fill it with play clothes and props. Place a big mirror inside or outside the tent and watch the kids go crazy all night. You can also place games, blocks, and a comfy rug inside the tent to make it a great kid getaway!
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Looking for a DIY way to hold your CD favors. Then you have to check this out! This snazzy bride took a regular fork and bent the prongs to make a one of a kind holder. You can get forks fairly cheap and they can be bought in bulk which is a money saver.
Also, check out your local thrift stores to create an antic and eclectic look.
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Here is a cute idea from Kathy and Keith in Dallas Texas. Place a white ostrich feather on each chair. Then attach a tag to each feather that states, “At the kiss of the bride and groom, please wave your feather for a flight into happiness.” This creates a lovely experience that gets everyone involved in the wedding ceremony.
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It was one of the most memorable moments of your life – the man you love bent down on one knee and told you he wanted to spend the rest of his life with you. Overwhelmed and emotional, you swore it was the happiest few minutes you’ve ever experienced. But after the engagement is official you start to wonder – is this the right decision? Feeling cold feet, or wedding jitters, is common, and most of the time those anxious feelings are just misunderstood nerves that can be tied to something else. Of course, you should always evaluate seriously whether the relationship is right for you and make sure you know the difference between actually wanting to back out of the relationship and silly nerves. Here are a few tips to help you discern emotional fact from fiction.

1. Make a List : This can be a great exercise even if you’re not having the marriage jitters. Make a list of all the positive things about your potential spouse and then list all of the negative things. List all of the great aspects about marriage that excite you and all of the aspects about it that cause you to feel apprehensive. Writing it all down will help to give you some perspective and will help things fall into place. You may realize that all the things you’re afraid of aren’t really deal breakers and all of the things you’re excited about are really more wonderful that you originally thought. Then again, you may feel the opposite, but getting it all out of your system is cathartic and help you make your ultimate decision.
2. Pretend Like You’re Not Getting Married: Sometimes the stress of planning a wedding can make a person overreact about the smallest thing. A moment of nervousness has the potential to turn into a full-blown catastrophe when your family, friends, the cake maker and the florist are breathing down your neck every day and you’re feeling the pressure to make the big day absolutely perfect. Let it go – try to forget about the fact that you’re even getting married. Rent “Sex in the City,” go out with your friends, take a trip. Do anything to take your mind off the impending day. A little distraction will go a long way in terms of lifting your spirits. Then you might realize that what you thought was a reason to call off your marriage was really just nothing at all.
3. Talk it Out : Sometimes you just need to verbalize your feelings and emotions. Find a friend who you really trust and tell them what’s going on. Sometimes a friend – especially a friend who has already gone through what you’re going through – can provide the right perspective to put you back on track. By letting someone close to you in on your secret, you will relieve some pressure, receive some counsel, and also have someone looking out for you, ready to point out when you may be getting yourself into a situation that will exacerbate your jitters.
4. Seek Professional Help : Maybe you don’t have a friend who you would trust with such a private and weighty matter. Then seek out a professional. Talking things out is a great way to solve problems and see things for what they really are, so even if there’s no one close to you that you feel comfortable talking to, signing up for a few sessions with a psychologist or marriage counselor can be just as good – if not better – than talking with a friend. The reason it’s sometimes better is that third party confidants aren’t emotionally invested in your situation, therefore they’ll give you unbiased advice. Also, they won’t be around later after your married to remind you of your previous doubts.
5. Take a Trip: When planning a wedding, it’s easy for the bride and groom to feel distant from one another. Getting caught up in all of the superficial details takes precedence and you can easily forget the real reason that you are getting married – because you love each other and want to be together. Don’t let wedding planning run your life – make room for some alone time by reserving a few weekends during your engagement for a romantic getaway. Or perhaps you need some time on your own? A trip to visit an out of town friend might be just the ticket to help you relax.
6. Keep It Simple : If planning a big wedding is going to stress you out and make you over analyze things, then forget it. Again, the wedding is about you and your beloved committing to each other for life – it’s not about a fancy buffet or an expensive wedding dress. Keep your wedding as simple as possible by limiting yourself to a small guest list and going casual. A beach wedding in jeans or a backyard wedding with picnic-style food can be just as romantic as one in an ornate cathedral. If a simple wedding isn’t possible for you, then try to keep yourself sane by using wedding planning lists or getting a wedding planner who will deal with the details for you.
7. Practice Yoga: Yoga is an excellent form of exercise to help reduce stress and clear the mind. Often times wedding jitters arise when your mind is at a boiling point and too cluttered with needless thoughts and worries. Yoga helps to teach you to clear your mind and listen to your inner spirit. The flow of the exercise is great for releasing stuck energy and inviting quiet into your life. By practicing yoga, you will feel more open and less pressured by the external events in your life. This kind of mental freedom will help put your mind at ease so you can recognize whether what you are feeling is real or if it’s just a by-product of your environment.
8. Meditate: Like yoga, meditation is a great way to calm your nerves and clear your mind. For some, the idea of sitting still with your thoughts for several minutes a day sounds like torture and if you are inexperienced with the art of meditation then it will likely take awhile to become comfortable or get to a point where you actually feel the benefits of the practice. But if you can train your mind to be still for just a few minutes a day and concentrate on your breathing you will begin to feel more relaxed. Being relaxed and getting on an even keel will help you sort out your feelings more effectively. Racing from moment to moment and ignoring your worries will only exacerbate the problem.
9. Hang Out with Your Married Friends: If you are feeling insecure and unsure about your fiancé and your feelings about marriage, try upping the amount of time you spend with your friends who are already married. Observe the way they interact together and what makes their marriage work. You might find that you and your intended actually have a better relationship than you originally thought. Don’t be afraid to ask them some hard questions, too, like how they dealt with cold feet and why they believe their marriage works.
10. Go to a Spa : When you are in the midst of one of the most stressful times of your life, going to a spa or doing something nice for yourself may seem like a bit of an unnecessary indulgence. But actually forcing yourself to have “you” time where you feel like you are taking care of yourself is very important. In the same sense that new moms need time on their own, so do brides-to-be. There are few times in your life when you will feel it almost impossible to escape from constantly having people around you and this is definitely one of those times. Make some time to pamper you and it will help alleviate the fears and irrational thoughts that are creeping into your mind.

Here is a super cute idea from my favorite DIYer Martha Stewart. Dress up seed packets with this cute little favor. These handmade origami packets hold a sachet of seeds in one side and planting instructions in the other.
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Some aspects of planning a wedding bring nothing but stress. Figuring out where to seat your strange cousin or deciding upon a final guest list. But other things are nothing but fun, and perhaps one of the most joyous things involved in planning a wedding is dressing up your cute little flower girl. And summer is the perfect flower girl season, because there are so many light, adorable dress styles to make your little one the quintessential picture of innocence. Here are just a handful of dresses to consider for the petal-scattering girl in your wedding party.

1. Ivory with Rose Trim: This yellow-hinted ivory dress is the perfect dress for the summer flower girl. The lightweight netting covering the skirt will allow your flower girl to feel like a princess on her big trip down the aisle and provides a very enchanted look. Plus the rose accents are both cute and tasteful.
2. Lemonade Dress: This sweet dress is an excellent choice for both formal and casual weddings. Its simple design is tasteful enough to blend at even the most elaborate wedding, but would also look great on a barefoot flower girl in a backyard ceremony. The lemony shade could not be more appropriate for summer and the ribbon accent and cute ruffle around the skirt make this dress even more precious.
3. Blue Princess Dress : Blue is a great color for a summer wedding and one way to integrate your wedding colors more thoroughly is to outfit your flower girl head to toe in your chosen tone. Check out this cute and vibrant dress that’s made from a sky-blue tulle and accented by darker blue stripes and dark blue sash further accented with flowers. This is a fun dress that is very light and summery.
4. Bubblegum Dress: Wanting some color accents in your flower girl’s dress that are a little more subtle? Then check out the Bubblegum Dress, a sweet, well-designed dress that features blue grosgrain bows placed daintily around the perimeter of the tulle skirt. This sleeveless number is a little more on the fancy side and calls forth a very Cinderella-like look.
5. Cotton Bella Dress : This easy white dress is a classic style and is a perfect choice for an English garden wedding. The bright white is a great color for a summertime wedding, and also lends an extra air of innocence and purity to your ceremony. This full-length style is conservative and very pretty with crocheted lace striping and satin ribbon sown into the skirt and flowing from the collar and sleeves.
6. Flowers by Xavi Sea Foam Dress : A gorgeous dress that, if available in adult sizes, would be suitable for the bride herself! This tulle dress is very romantic, beautiful and unique. The full-bodied tulle is light and airy for the season and the rose flower accents trailing down the skirt are simply gorgeous. Dresses by this designer all tend to be ornate and fanciful, but the shade and sleeveless style of this particular dress is more suitable for summer.
7. Pegeen Couture Dress: Pegeen has been making popular and stylish flower girl dresses since 1982 and they have several customizable styles that are perfect for the summer flower girl. One of the latest styles is the couture dress, and while it comes in many different colors, this color combo is both hip and great for the season. The full baby blue skirt is complimented nicely by a dark maroon rose bow that trails down the back.
8. Cupcakes Dress: Understated and stylish, this is a wonderful option for a minimalist bride’s flower girl. The sleeveless white sheath is accented by a chocolate brown satin ribbon and a matching brown ruffle around the bottom. And the empire waist will give your girl more of a contemporary look.
9. Keylime Print : Smithereman and Barnwell are a high-end flower girl dress designer that have quite a few styles worth mentioning. The first is this adorable printed yellow dress that features a French renaissance print. Printed fabrics aren’t common for flower girl or bridesmaids dresses, but why they aren’t is a mystery. Add a little pizzazz to your wedding style with a fun, vibrant fabric!
10. Plaid Skirt Dress: Another dress by Smitherman and Barnwell, this great option is subtle, but so very unique. Like many common summer styles, the dress features a sleeveless white top. But the real attraction is the skirt. A delicate grayish-green and white plaid satiny fabric is gathered at the hip by a tasteful bunch of flowers. Your flower girl will be summoning the spirit of Carrie Bradshaw in this dress in no time.
11. Blue Floral Print: Last one from Smitherman and Barnwell before we move on, but we couldn’t help but mention this great dress. Give your flower girl a little arm coverage with this simple, short-sleeve style. The traditional collar and pleated skirt give the dress a classic look that won’t ever fall out of trend. But the dress’s real saving grace is the terrific electric blue floral print material, which really pops. Your flower girl will be noticed from aisles and aisles away.
12. Elizabeth by Mon Cheri : So, it’s true that five year old girls aren’t normally known for their elegance, but why not let your little one play grown up for a day? This lovely pink satin dress has a very high-end look for a pretty low price. The elegant gathered skirt is the dress’s centerpiece, and, again, mimics a style that is very popular this season among bridal gown designers. The Swarovski beaded waistband adds even more grace, but also tones down the dress’s maturity to a girl-like level. While the pink is a great choice for a summer wedding, so are the other colors in which it is available – gold, ivory, and white.
13. Smock Dress : This dress couldn’t be any more adorable if it tried. The white cottony fabric is made special by adding the eyelet top and sweet satiny apron in the back. The skirt and apron are gathered around the waist to create a rippled, pleated effect. This dress exemplifies innocence and country charm and is a great option for an outdoor ceremony.
14. Frances Johnston Pink and White Dress: It doesn’t get any more classic flower girl than this dress, frankly. The style and accents used in this example are about as traditional as they come, which means this flower girl will fit in at any wedding. The white and light pink are perfect colors for summer, and the well-placed bows around the waist add a feminine and innocent quality. The fact that it’s made of 100 percent silk also means that your flower girl will stay cool and comfy.
15. Lemon Ice Crinkle Dress: This dreamy dress is simply amazing. The yellow and white checkered taffeta covered in a layer of floaty tulle give the dress a light and airy quality accented by a bold, floral sash. The full skirt adds formality while the traditional pattern tones it down a notch. And at a price of $60, this dress really can’t be beat.
16. Rose Petal Ruffle: A simple dress with the most understated and classic features. The sleeveless, full-skirted white dress provides the basics for the timeless style, but the designers have taken it one excellent step further by adding a sprinkling of multi-colored rose petals around the trim of the skirt that give the dress a playful and pretty look. The light pink flower at the sash also highlights the demureness of the style.
17. Flowery Dress : Dress your little petal dropper up like a rose garden in these dresses by My Angelic Kids. With a lightweight fabric and rose-patterned fabric these dresses will have your flower girl looking sweet, carefree and comfy cool as she walks down the aisle. The fabric has a nice sheen that will be well highlighted by the sunlight if you are planning an outdoor wedding. And the price will have you rubbing your eyes – at only $20 this dress is the must-have for budget brides.
18. Ice Cream Flower Girl : Cute, cute, cute. This white dress with black lace-up accents is a great option for the bride who is going for a neutral color scheme and a minimalist look. It comes in a tea length or floor length style and is accented down the back by tiny black bows, black lace-up stitching on the side and black straps. The double layer of tulle gives the dress an especially full look.
19. Us Angels Lace: Like lace? Then you’ll love these sleeveless styles from Us Angels. The lace-covered satin A-line sheath is beautiful, timeless, and innocent. Pick a floral accent for the sash that matches the color scheme of your wedding!
20. Long Sash Dress: This classic A-line dress is accented well with a long, bold sash that is folded stylishly over at the waist and features a crystal brooch. If you’re looking for something simple, understated and tasteful, this dress may be the one for you.

Picture courtesy of Tartelette

If you are having a garden themed wedding, then these cherry-orange blossom cakes are perfect for you! The pails that they are baked in are simply adorable. Leave it to Tartelette to come up with a lovely and scrumptious recipe!

Recipe: 

2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 Tb. olive oil
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp to 1 Tb orange blossom water
1 tsp. baking powder
grated zest of one lemon
pinch of salt
1 cup fresh (or frozen) pitted cherries

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, oil, milk and orange blossom water.
Sift the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the wet ingredients. Fold in the cherries.
Bake at 350 F, for 20-25 minutes.

Et Voila! Once you get the basic down, you can modify this cake to what is in season. It is one of my go-to formulas when I am urged to bake something in somebody else’s kitchen. Easy, delicious and comforting. I am telling you…success lies half in the smells coming out of your kitchen and half in how fast these little guys disappear.

1.Use the ShieldingHydro Tint and All Over Cover Stick together. Dab a bit of the Shielding Hydro Tint onto your forehand, then glide over the Cover Stick with a Blending Wedge and mix with the Shielding Hydro Tint to get a foundation consistency that’s right for you. Letdry

2. To create a lasting shine free photo finish look, apply the Mineral Booster all over the face with the Total Face Brush.

3. Moving to the cheeks, take the Blusher in Bronzed, and gather some powder on your Blush Brush, tap off any excess then apply to the cheekbones.

4. Next use the Shimmering Facial Whip in LilacPetal as a shimmery base to the eye. Now line the entire eye with large lines using the Brightening Eye Liner in Black, getting nearest to lash line as possible. Smudge in color by using the Smudge Brush.

5. Follow by applying to the eye the Eye Shadow color in Drama, use the applicator tip to smudge in the charcoal color like an eye liner. Use the white shade right up to the brow bone to create depth.

6. Now apply the Earth& Water Mascara in Black to the lashes with several coats to create a full lash.

7. Lastly, create the soft lips by applying the New Moisture Care Lip Color in Pink Lemonade.
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Pictures courtesy of theknot.com and brides.com