Lately we’ve been asking our customers who ordered group designs to send us their pictures so that we can show them off a little because they are pretty darn good and someone needs to! It never ceases to amaze me how creative and artistic our fans can be (as you will see).

This bridal party photo was sent to us by Rebecca. Rebecca wanted to give her bridal party a gift that was both personal and humorous, so she decided to make them personalized t-shirts to show her appreciation, which read “I Survived” across the chest and their names in the corner. Rebecca put it best when she said, “When you ask those closest to you to be in your bridal party, even if they are family, they sign up for a huge responsibility. No matter how calm of a bride you are, there are moments that are stressful and in those moments it takes a lot of patience for the people around you to remain loving.”

Rebecca’s gift is certainly one that will always be remembered, and we’re sure her bridal party appreciated the humor and loved the personal touch. Thanks for being such an amazing fan Rebecca! We wish you all the best!

1. Talk $$$$$: With the excitement of the engagement, the happy couple might not have thought much on what a reasonable budget would be. Not that you need to rain on their parade, but you do need to be clear about what how much you are able to contribute to their wedding budget.

2. Recognize Your Role: While you may have all kinds of wedding ideas, it is not safe to assume that you will be taking the reins on the whole planning process. Know what your daughter’s/son’s expectations are and let them know that you are there for them should they need your help. And if there’s something you would specifically like to contribute or be a part of, speak up when the time comes. Otherwise, avoid being a mom-zilla!

3. Dress Appropriately: The mother of the bride and the mother of the groom should get in touch with each other to coordinate. While you don’t need to match each other (or the bridesmaids) it’s a good idea to have somewhat similar styles. The only major no-no is any hue or shade of white- that’s for the bride only!

4. Pick Your Priorities: There are probably some things that you really want to see incorporated into the wedding. Like inviting your great aunt Nancy who the bride and groom have never met, or going ahead and ordering the kind of cake that you know they will love from your friend’s bakery without consulting them. If you make a big fuss out of every little detail the bride and groom are likely to shut you out of the planning process completely. A better plan might be to choose, say, three things that you would really, really want to be a part of the wedding and let the bride and groom know about them. This allows you to pick your battles wisely rather than fighting it out nonstop.

5. Back Them Up: Sometimes wedding guests can be a bit demanding. So do your best to help out the bride and groom by fielding issues that arise with the family and friends; whether that be wanting extra servings at the reception, more face time with the bride and groom. You need to help them by being their first line of defense, or if that fails, by being their backup.

Before you finalize your decision on what bouquet and floral arrangements for your wedding, you may want to learn more about what your flower’s name and the meanings they represent. Does it signify jealousy, deception, or forsaken love?! Or does it symbolize beauty, passion, or elegance, (let’s hope for this one)? Read through the list and find out what your favorite flower has in store for you!

Allium: Signifies unity.

Alyssum: Signifies incomparable worth. Can also represent modesty, bashfulness, chastity, being demure, shyness, and being unpretentious.

Amaryllis: Pride, pastoral poetry, and beauty.

Anemone: Forsaken (Yikes!)

Azalea: First love.

Bachelor’s Button: Hope & celibacy

Begonia: Beware

Camilla (red): You are the flame within my heart.

Carnation (pink): Often used for mother’s day, and symbolizes unforgettable-ness.

Chrysanthemum (red): Means, “I love you”.

Clematis: Mental beauty.

Dahlia: Dignity and elegance.

Daisy: Innocence & purity.

Dogwood: Love undiminished.

Foxglove: Insincerity.

Gardenia: Secret love.

Hyacinths: Blue=Constancy; Purple= Request of forgiveness; Red/Pink= Playful; White=Loveliness.

Jonquil (Daffodil): Desire.

Lily: Day=Coquetry; Tiger=Wealth/Pride; White=Purity/Virginity.

Lotus Flower: Rejected love.

Magnolia: Love of nature; Nobility.

Marigold: Cruelty; jealousy.

Oleander: Caution.

Orchid: Love; beauty.

Peony: Happy life

Poppy: Red= Pleasure; White=Consolation, eternal sleep; Yellow= Wealth; success.

Queen Anne’s Lace: Haven

Rhododendron: Danger.

Rose: Bridal=Happy love; Dark Crimson=Mourning; Dark Pink=Thank you; Peach=Enthusiasm/desire; Pink=Perfect/You’re lovely; Red=I love you; White=Innocence/ sincerity; Yellow=Joy, friendship, and jealousy.

Spider Flower: Elope with me.

Sweet William: Gallantry/bravery.

Tiger Flower: Befriend me.

Tuber Rose: Illicit pleasures.

Tulip: Red=Believe in me; Varigated= Beautiful eyes; Yellow=Hopeless love

Water Lily: Purity of heart.

Zinnia: Magenta=Lasting affection; Mixed=Thinking of an absent friend; Scarlet=Constancy; White=Goodness; Yellow=Daily remembrance.

Compared to the maid of honor, it seems like the best man has it pretty easy. As the maid of honor, you are responsible for attending several events, showers, etc, going with the bride to all of her fittings, planning the bachelorette party, go to the rehearsals, holding the bouquet during the ceremony, adjusting the dress as needed throughout the ceremony, giving a speech at the reception, and basically helping the bride wherever necessary. Whew! Whereas the best man is mainly accountable for planning the bachelor party, going the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, holding the rings, and giving a speech. Pretty simple right? Well, the best man used to have a very different, and interesting set of responsibilities centuries ago.

The earliest accounts of the best man goes back as far as the sixteenth century when his sole duty was to help the groom kidnap a woman who he wanted to marry. This tradition of kidnapping brides is believed to have originated from the Germanic Goths. Usually, a man would marry a woman from his own town or village, but sometimes if there were not enough women in his own town, he would have to go to neighboring towns and villages to select a suitable bride. Once he found one that he liked and wanted to marry, he would invade the town and kidnap her, asking only one of his most intimate man who he thinks is the “best man” for the job.

During the ceremony, the best man would also try to protect the couple from the bride’s family (who would probably try to get her back) unless they were accepting of the groom. Not only did he have to keep an eye out for the bride’s family, but it was also his responsibility to thwart any other men from hijacking the bride. Pretty serious job, huh?

The best man used to stand to the right of the groom, so that he could have his hand on his sword and at the ready throughout the ceremony in case his services were needed to protect the bride and groom.

So best men today should consider themselves lucky that all they have to deal with is a bachelor party and speech at the reception as opposed to a knock-down, drag-out over who gets to keep the bride!

With the immense preparation and care you take in selecting the perfect dress, hair, shoes, flowers, and accessories, sometimes your make-up takes a backseat. However, what is on your face should certainly be a priority on your big day! Really take the time to decide what works for you and what doesn’t. Here are some really helpful tips that will help you avoid a wedding makeup catastrophe.

If you’re having your makeup “professionally done”:

1. Take the time to go through magazines and tear out pages that illustrate makeup styles that you really like, as well as the ones you really hate. This will save you time trying to describe (endlessly) what you want or don’t want, and will really help the makeup artist visualize what she needs to do. Remember…your idea of pink lipstick and her idea of pink lipstick might be totally different; which is why a picture is really helpful.

2. Schedule a consultation with your makeup artist, or schedule a full makeup application well in advance. This will help you decide whether or not you like their style, and it will give you a good idea of how long it stays on, how it feels, etc.

3. Bring a picture of your wedding gown with you to your consultation/application! Having a visual of the dress gives the artist an idea of the style of the dress and the wedding. Is it dramatic? Romantic? Elegant? This will also give the artist a glimpse of your style as a whole.

Remember, makeup goes on and comes off easily, so don’t be afraid to say something if you don’t like what the artist has done. It should be fun, and be a time to play with new colors and ideas to find your perfect wedding look! Once you have a look set that you like, have the artist write down everything that he/she used and makes note of items that you may not have that you’ll need that day.

If you’re doing it yourself:

1. Use a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 30, especially if your wedding is outdoors. Chances are, you’re probably getting more sun than you think you are, and you don’t want to look too pink in your wedding pictures.

2. Make sure that your foundation matches perfectly. It should be gone after you blend it along your jaw line in 2-3 strokes. If not, you’ll be blending the wrong shade forever.

3. Two words: Waterproof Mascara. Even if you don’t like to wear waterproof mascara every day, you can apply a layer of your regular mascara followed by a light coat of waterproof mascara. That way if there are any (happy) tears on the big day, you won’t have any watery black streaks!

4. If you have a sudden breakout or blemish just before your wedding day, don’t panic, and don’t touch it. It may be tempting, but squeezing and touching will make it worse, whereas if you leave it alone, it will heal more neatly. If a sudden monstrous blemish appears that you just cannot deal with, see your dermatologist and ask if they can give you a cortisone injection which will shrink it right away.

5. If your eyes look red or tired, pop an eye drop to ease some of the irritation. Stick with a brand that you know and trust though, to avoid any unwelcome surprises!

6. To keep your powder and concealer on all day, fold a tissue into squares and lightly press foundation before you’ve powdered to remove excess oils and leave only pure pigment. Then, apply a little more powder than you’d think you need, and press again with a tissue. The foundation will stay on hours longer this way.

7. Don’t forget your blush! If you have fairer skin, try using a pinker shade, for darker skin tones a rosier hue will work.

8. Go brighter with your lip color. Pale nude or brown lip colors can make you look a little washed out in photos, especially since you’ll be wearing white. If you normally wear a natural lip color, wear it as your base with pink on top. If you normally wear a darker color, use that as your base with a sheer pink on top for a lift.

9. When applying makeup to the eyes, it’s usually best to go with neutral colors, and play up colors with cheeks and lips. Make the most dramatic part of your eyes be your lashes and eyeliner (this will look best in pictures). Do this by applying black or brown eyeliner to the outer ½ or ¼ part of the eye and blend with a q-tip. Then, take your mascara and eyeliner brush and lightly line the eye with your mascara. Let dry and smudge again. It will stay on for hours! Don’t forget to curl your lashes before applying mascara, not after!

10. When you’re finished with your look, you may want to apply a little more blush, then a light layer of loose powder, then lightly mist with a soft spray of water to set. It will take away the look of makeup while helping to set the makeup.

We talk a lot about what is expected of you as the bride, maid of honor, groom, bridal party etc., but what we don’t always talk about that is also important, is what is expected of you as a guest to a wedding. Since we are in the midst of wedding season as we speak, I wanted to throw out a few pointers to ensure that you do not inadvertently commit a faux pas, or do anything mistaken at a loved one’s wedding.

Tip #1: Don’t be late! If a wedding invitation says that the ceremony begins at 3 p.m., be sure to be there by at least 2:45 or before to give yourself some time to be seated and to get settled.

Tip #2: You should not take photos during the ceremony. The couple probably paid to have a photographer take pictures for them, and having several flashes during the ceremony is distracting. So just sit back and enjoy the ritual.

Tip #3: You actually do not need to bring a gift with you to the wedding. More gifts means more things that the couple’s family will have to deal with after the reception. So unless you choose to bring a card with a monetary gift, you have up until a year after the wedding to bring a gift.

Tip #4: Ladies-do not wear white to a wedding. I do not know how many times I’ve seen this, and it makes me cringe every time. If your ensemble has some white in the pattern, that’s fine, but it is in poor taste to wear an all white dress or outfit.

Tip #5: Do not bring a date unless the invitation says your name (+ Guest). Remember that the cost for each guest at the wedding is typically pretty high so bringing an unexpected guest is impolite. That includes other relatives and children.

Tip #6: RSVP ASAP!! The couple will be making important decisions and choices based on how many guests will be attending. Additionally, if you have to cancel after you have accepted, do so as soon as possible.

Tip #7: This one is crucial. While a wedding is a time to enjoy yourself and have a good time, no one appreciates a drunken guest embarrassing themselves. Drink alcohol in moderation.

Most importantly…Wish the bride and groom the best and have a great time! Weddings are a celebration!

Hey BPT Blog Readers! Today I want to feature a guest article that one of our readers submitted about exotic/getaway weddings. Emily Jacobson (our guest author) offers great advice if you’re thinking about an alternative to the traditional wedding. Thanks Emily!

Exotic Getaway Weddings: The Antidote for Bridal Stress

Romantic getaway weddings are coming of age! All you need is the Internet (or a phone) to arrange any kind of celebration in any imaginable locale, including everything from dancing elephants and fireworks to trousseau, rings, and license. If what you want isn’t already offered, wedding planners will work with you to create the wedding of your dreams. Many couples are attracted to the idea of a worry-free wedding. Why not, when planning a fantasy summer destination wedding is as easy as ordering pizza?

At Exotic Indian Weddings, for example, you can choose a romantic beach wedding, a jungle wedding, a river-rafting wedding, or a Himalayas wedding in a package to suit your budget. For something more stately, you might choose an India palace wedding on a small island.

The Wedding Experience displays a map of the world and gives you the option to choose from locales as diverse as Amsterdam, Tahiti, and San Francisco. They also offer cruise ship weddings and will see to all your travel arrangements. If your family is dismayed by the prospect of being left out, wedding planners will provide for their travel arrangements and accommodations as well.

Formerly known as eloping, the exotic destination wedding has many advantages over conventional weddings, not the least of which is cost. In “Beyond Vegas: 25 Exotic Wedding and Elopement Destinations Around the World” by Lisa Tabb and Sam Silverstein, the couple provides a compendium of exotic destinations like Borneo where complete wedding packages cost an average of $5,000. That’s $14,000 less than the $19,000 listed in Modern Bride as the average cost of weddings today.

The $5,000 price tag gives you lodging at the best hotels, sumptuous local food, personal pampering, and an exotic vacation — in addition to a wedding! With the money you’ll save by eloping, you can host a lavish reception for family and friends upon your happy return, treat yourself to a pair of diamond earrings to match your new ring, or even buy a 2nd vehicle. Saving time can be as important as saving money. Ms. Tabb testifies that her weddings were planned in anywhere from a few weeks to a few days.

Tabb and Silverstein eloped ten times and were legally married in far-flung locales like Kenya, the Galapagos, and Jerusalem. Their Fiji ceremony came with transport for the bride by raft, after which she was carried to shore by islanders. The happy and satisfied couple claims that each wedding was classy, well done, and definitely worth the money.

Perhaps the best part of an exotic getaway wedding is the adventure. Even without getting married on skis in the Alps, your celebration is sure to be delightfully unique. You’ll get an insider’s perspective of the local culture and, while every detail may not be perfect, Tabb and Silverstein believe this only adds to the charm and appeal of the experience.

If you’re in the early stages of planning your military wedding, you may have noticed that there are a lot of different things to keep in mind, and lots of rules and etiquette to follow. Below is a list of things to keep in mind as you’re planning your wedding, as well as some helpful tips that may make the planning process run a lot smoother.

1. Decide where: Do you want the ceremony to take place in a military chapel, on academy grounds, or at a civilian place of worship. The sooner you know this the better, especially if you decide you want to get married on Military Academy grounds. Military undergrads aren’t permitted to get married, so space is limited right after graduation.

2. How do you want to decorate: The sooner you know where you want to hold the ceremony the better, because some sites have particular rules and regulations as to how their facility is decorated; some do not allow additional decorations at, which is something you need to know.

3. Don’t forget the ranks: You can order traditional wedding invitations, but don’t forget to include any military titles held by you, your fiancé, or either sets of your parents. Some brides choose not to list their rank, but it’s completely up to you.

4. If you want to welcome your guests to wear their full dress uniforms, make sure you indicate that on the invitation by saying something to the effect of, “Full dress uniform invited”.

5. Wedding Party Attire: The Bridesmaids traditionally all wear long, formal gowns, and the groom and/or groomsmen typically dress in full uniform. Brides in the military can choose to wear a traditional wedding gown, or they can also dress in uniform. If she chooses to wear a uniform, of course she can still carry a bouquet.

6. The Arch of the Swords: In most military weddings, the honor guard will form an arch that the bride and groom can walk under as they leave the church. It is preferable that six ushers from the wedding perform this ceremony, but many more can be used. Also, if you do not have enough swords or sabers rifles can be used.

7. At the reception, seat military guests according to rank and title.

8. Use a sword or saber ready to cut the cake at the reception. The guests will love it, and it adds a dramatic touch to your wedding reception.

9. Use military cake toppers according to your branch! There are hundreds of options that you can choose from that will add a personal touch to your cake.

10. To complete your military themed wedding, consider using tiny military flags or other military symbols as decoration at the reception.

How Well Do You Know the Bachelorette?

Have the M.O.H or some other bridesmaid ask a series of questions that range from naughty to nice. This game makes a great ice-breaker that will really get your group talking before the evening’s festivities. You can have the questions written out and have everyone fill out the forms, or you can ask the group as a whole. Ask questions like, “What is your favorite romantic movie?”, “What was the bachelorette’s first date?” etc.

Bachelorette, Never Have I Ever

This is a pretty simple game that you’ve probably played at a slumber party, where all sorts of truths come out. To play, one person either reads from a card or states, “Never have I ever lied about my age” or “Never have I ever went skinny dipping”, and those people who have, either take a drink, or lose a point, or however you choose to play the game.
Suck for a Buck
Give the bride a t-shirt with candies (lifesavers, or lollipops) stuck to it and charge people to lick them off.

Bachelorette Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of as many items or tasks that you want the bride and/or bridal party to find/complete before the end of the night (usually it ranges from 10-35 items/tasks). You can make them as ridiculous or tame as you want.

Examples: Call in a radio station to request a song for the bride.
Get something embarrassing from the groom
Write a toast related to marriage, sex, or weddings

Horror Shows

If you’re bridesmaids are married, ask them to bring a video from their wedding. Every time the camera shows the bride’s fake, nervous smile everyone drinks. Every time the groom wipes his nervous brow, every time a drunken bridesmaid stumbles across the dance floor, the whole party takes a drink, or gets party points (however you choose to play).

Wedding rings have been exchanged as couples exchange their vows for centuries, and in so many different cultures that no one seems to know the origin of this practice.  Obviously, many assume that the shape of the ring (a circle) is indicative of undying love and the continually renewed vows of the married couple.  The circle is also associated with the roundness of the heavens, as well as the return of the seasons.

Rings generally have magical roots, appearing in magical tales, and folklore.  Spells and incantations for the protection of the wearer ate common in themes.  Today, in traditional wedding ceremonies, the rings are blessed by a priest or other religious leader, continuing the symbolic practice of giving the rings protective powers.

In addition, the choice of metals and stones used for wedding bands corresponds with the colors used to represent the sun and the moon, hence the use of silver and gold.  In some cultures, one betrothed is given a silver band to represent the moon, and the other is give a gold band to represent the sun.

Wedding rings are most commonly worn on the third finger of the left hand.  There are several speculations as to why this is.  One reason could be because the Romans believed that a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart.  Another is that the left hand was considered less “pure” than the right, and so wearing something religious and blessed on that hand “draws” the evil out.  It could also symbolize the couple’s willingness to publicize their union in broad daylight.

So there you have it! If you have ever stopped to think about why exactly we use rings to declare our love and fidelity for another, ponder on the historical background of the wedding ring.