wedding tips Archives - Bridal Party Tees

What To Do With Unwanted Wedding Gifts

July 18, 2014July 11, 2014 bridalpartytees Leave a comment

It’s inevitable. Someone is going to get you a wedding gift that isn’t exactly on your registry.

You may think you’ve covered all your bases in your registry and by the end of your honeymoon you’re going to come home to all the china, appliances, and towels you needed and wanted. But, someone on your guest list is undoubtedly going to try to think outside of the box and get you something you “really” want. Or it is very likely that you’ll end up with double gifts from your registry. But seriously, what are you supposed to do with neon-pink-zebra-head book ends or two toaster ovens?

We’ve gathered some tips for getting rid of these gifts without your guests being offended or even knowing! (ssshh!)

First is the obvious: return it. Fingers crossed the giver of the bad gift left a receipt in the package and you can painlessly return the item and use the value for something useful. Or you can always tell the gifter of one of the two blenders that you ended up with two of the exact same thing and you’d kindly like to return one. Just do it with gratitude and grace and the gifter hopefully won’t be offended. Of course its rarely this easy or we wouldn’t need tips on what to do with a 3ft ceramic cherub.

In such a case consider selling it. Ebay and Amazon are the perfect places to sell the random gifts you get when you don’t have a receipt to return it to the original retailer or vendor. There are plenty of other sites to sell your things through too. Just do some research to make sure the site is legitimate and not a scam. You can try to sell it at pawn shops or other resale stores too. There just tends to be less of a payout to you with these options.

Coming in with the least amount of payout is a donation. Maybe you’re willing to take a hit, not get your gift, and just get that creepy painting of you and your new spouse that your “artist” cousin painted for you out. of. the. house. Seriously, is that what your eyes look like?

One last tip- check the registry’s return policy before you sign up and start making that wish list. Some stores will allow you to return an item from your registry, no receipts or questions asked. Some work like usual- no receipt, no return. Just try to find the one that’s perfect for you and your guests’ price ranges.

It’s never easy to accept a gift that you… well… hate. Just smile, thank them regardless (thank-you note included) and try to graciously if not secretly get rid of that thing.

7 Tips and Tricks for an Outdoor Wedding

May 16, 2014May 16, 2014 bridalpartytees Leave a comment

It’s wedding season!

Outdoor wedding season to be exact. Brides-to-be are putting the final touches on their sunny beach weddings, their rustic farm ceremonies, and their perfectly planned park nuptials.

We’ve gathered a list of the most vital tips and tricks to pulling off an outdoor wedding. If you’re planning one, read below for advice and avoid wedding day pitfalls!

1. First and foremost, tell your guests. Slip an insert into the invitation that lets guests know that the wedding will be outdoors and they should plan their attire accordingly. It can’t hurt to add a quick note explicitly suggesting guests wear “lawn-friendly or sand-sanctioned shoes” for the day.

2. Get your permits! If you’re having your wedding ceremony in a park or public beach or anything that isn’t a private venue, look into getting a permit for your ceremony. You’ll want to go to the city planning or public service office to do so. You don’t want authorities stopping you in the middle of “I do” to say that you can’t be there.

3. Don’t let the elements throw off your wedding day beauty. Inform your hair stylist that your wedding will be outdoors so that they can plan a style that will work well against sweat, humidity, and wind. Long- lasting make-up spray is a MUST. And head’s up on the heels. If you and your bridesmaids aren’t willing to forgo heels on your big day, definitely think about purchasing heel covers so you don’t slide into the ground with every step. Maybe even get cement blocks for bridesmaids to stand on during your vowels so the sliding is totally preventable.

3. Save the heat for the kiss. Chances are, your wedding day will be a little on the warmer side. (You’re planning an outdoor wedding because you love the warm weather, right?) Have your usher greet your guests with cold bottles of water that they can sip on during the ceremony. And consider printing your programs on fans! It’s a cute, themed way to keep guests cool. You may also want to offer sunglasses as wedding favors and keep bottles of sunscreen around (tip: put the sunscreen in cute- maybe DIY- pump bottles. They’re waaay cuter). Parasols are also an adorable way to keep the sun off your guests. Not to mention, they’ll make for the cutest photos!

4. Don’t bug out over insects ruining your day. Satisfy your Mason jar Pin-board obsession by setting up cute displays with citronella candles. For beach weddings, the citronella torches at your local home improvement store look great and totally fit the theme! Get individual bug repellent packs that guests can grab when they need to. Keep your food and refreshments as bug-free as you can with canopies over the food and cover drinks with upside down cupcake liners!

5. Don’t forget about the restrooms. If there is no public restroom available nearby, you’ll need to consider portable toilets. They don’t have to be tacky and gross either. You can rent high quality portable restroom trailers. It’s just a matter of your budget.

6. Enjoy the sun! As in don’t let it ruin your guests’ view and the photographer’s shot of the ceremony. Plan for the guests to sit with their back against the sun so that they can actually see you getting married. OR schedule the ceremony around the setting sun! If you don’t have to have the wedding early, plan to recite your vows when the sun is going down. The photos will be to die for!

7. Plan, plan, plan. And plan some more. Seriously. Have a back-up plan. It’s outdoors, it’s the weather, and it’s unpredictable. If you think you can really make it through the day without a heavy rainstorm, get a tent or canopy for guests just in case you have light showers (or guests who get desperate for shade). If you’re worried about a serious storm coming in then it might be best to keep your venue near some form of shelter or just go ahead and rent a hall with a totally do-able lawn so you can have the best of both worlds. Think it might turn chilly at night? Have throw blankets available for guests or customize sweaters for guests as a wedding favor! Don’t get caught in the dark with out extra lighting and power strips. And pack a first aid kit, especially if your outdoor wedding is in a remote location.

Outdoor weddings are some of the most beautiful ceremonies and no one can resist looking at those pictures! The absolute best way to plan your outdoor wedding is to think. of. everything. You can’t control the heat, the sun, the bugs, the rain, or the wind (as much as you might want to). All you can do is prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and enjoy your day basking in the sun and love.

The Morning of Your Wedding

March 14, 2014March 14, 2014 bridalpartytees Leave a comment

The caterer is setting up, the photographer is already snapping shots, and your groom is hidden away with his boys getting ready for your wedding. Those few hours before your ceremony starts and your girls lead you down the aisle are crucial. You’ve planned, prepped, and Pinned every detail and the show is about to start.

The last thing you need is to deal with small snafus and messes… like wiping fresh eyeliner all over face when you’re getting dressed.

A simple step to avoid makeup on your shirt or your hair being messed up is to get ready in an easy-off shirt. Choose something you can zip off or pull up that won’t even touch your flawless winged eyeliner or pinned up curls. Customize a before the wedding design on any of our zip-ups or loose-fitted flowy shirts like the flowy tank top or a flowy lightweight top.

Other tips and tricks to make the morning of the wedding run as smoothly as possible:

Have each bridesmaid assigned to a vendor. Sarah will answer any questions or deal with concerns from the caterer. Kirsten will help the photographer get all the right shots. Laura will make sure hair and makeup is on time. And so and so forth.
Have a written out list of the shots that you absolutely want from the day. And make sure Kirsten has it to give to the photographer.
Have checks for all of the vendors ready (including the tip) and put in separate, labeled envelopes.
Round up extra extension cords from the house or home improvement store the week before the wedding. Bring them to your venue because who knows if the caterer might need one, or your curling iron or your stringed lights will reach the available outlets.
Pack an emergency bag just in case. Scary truth is that any number of things can wrong at the last minute. Be prepared with a bag dedicated to extra needle and thread, an extra bottle of nail polish, bobby pins, lipstick, eyeliner, bandages, tape, flip-flops, and some pain relievers.
Make a playlist! Put together a few hours long playlist with upbeat music and some oldies for you and the girls to get ready to.
Give yourself enough time. Either start your ceremony in the later afternoon or plan to get up early, just be sure to schedule yourself plenty of time to get ready. Most wedding day horrors can be cleared up before guests arrive if you just dedicate a couple of extra hours for mishaps and messes.