For many, Thanksgiving is about tradition and family. That makes it a perfect time for you to exchange wedding rings in the company of those you both love most. Celebrate your marriage in style while making memories extra festive with these holiday touches.

Bouquets

Adding red or burgundy flowers and light, bright colored foliage to your bouquet adds a special holiday touch to your walk down the aisle. Choosing a smaller bouquet or more compact design also allows more attention to be drawn to your beautiful dress, jewelry, and engagement ring. The unique bronze calla lily arrangement pictured above is available from Walter Knoll, a Saint Louis MO florist, with 10 convenient locations.

Tables and Centerpieces

Bring the season to your table with elegant natural accents. Evergreen branches, holly and mistletoe sprigs, pinecones, nut and gourds are great for building centerpieces and arrangements. They also add fabulous texture and depth to warm fall wedding colors. This beautiful pumpkin centerpiece is available from the Verrill Farm in Concord Massachusetts, if you live in the area.

Wedding Rings

This wedding ring has it all: a modern classic, with a touch of simple, heirloom beauty. It’s beautiful enough to stand on its own, but versatile enough to let your engagement ring shine bright. The white gold is also perfect for a wintery wedding.

Thanksgiving Themed Beverages

Serve your friends and family deliciously different seasonal cocktails and drinks. Impress them with pumpkin ale, porter, cabernet franc and cidertinis. And a warm spiced cider will keep away that fall evening chill! Check out The Jolly Fox blog for their Pumpkin Ale Round Up.

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‘Fall’ In Love With These Awesome Autumn Wedding Styles

Wow, is it September again? My Big Fat Engagement is celebrating it’s 4th year of articles about engagements and weddings! Today we’re going to look at some colorful and beautiful ways to celebrate a wedding with the warm colours that decorate nature when the weather begins to cool down.

Autumn Wedding Favors

This ‘fall in love’ wedding favor is a collection of leaves made out of soap from yourultimateweddingfavors.com. This ‘leaves’ open the door to so many decorative options: from leaf print table linens to orange and red hued candle centerpieces with leaves around the base. The bride might even walk down an aisle scattered with beautiful autumn leaves instead of flowers – it is non-traditional, but visually striking- particularly if the wedding is taking place in one of the states so well known for their fall foliage.

Bridesmaid Dresses for Fall

Picture your bridesmaids and your flower girl in brown dresses. It might be hard to imagine until you see a picture like the one below (dresses from jaksflowergirldresses.com).

Fall Wedding Jewelry

Yellow gold is the perfect choice for wedding rings for a Fall wedding or for an Autumn engagement ring, like the one pictured below. The leaf inspired design on the ring makes it perfect for a Fall wedding or Autumn wedding proposal. For many of us September is more about new beginnings than New Year’s Eve – it is the time of the year most associated with significant changes to our lives (first day of school, moving out of state to go to University, beginning a new job after graduating and then taking the summer off to travel…). It just feels natural to start a new life as a married couple in the same month. As an added bonus, venue rentals and other vendors are less busy (and potentially less expensive).

Fall Wedding Flowers

Another popular color for weddings in September, October, or  November is orange.

For more awesome Autumn wedding ideas, check out our post Fall In Love With These Autumn Wedding Ideas.

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Independent Wedding Fairs

independent [ɪndɪˈpɛndənt] adj

Free from control

Capable of acting for one’s self or on one’s own

Here is Elvis singing ‘My Way’ as the soundtrack for this article all about independent weddings…

In recent years the idea of an ‘independent’ wedding has become increasingly popular. Sometimes independent means that the couple is paying for the wedding by themselves (no parental or family help), sometimes it means the wedding is a crafty do-it-yourself or self-planned event.

Sometimes ‘independent’ means that a few things (or maybe everything) about the event is going to very different from a traditional wedding. Indie brides might wear a nontraditional wedding dress or select a non-traditional engagement ring or wedding ring.

Indie Wed

Last month’s Indie Wed in Chicago “cater[ed] to not only unconventional couples who are taking a more modern, edgy, or eco-friendly approach to their special day but also the more conservative couples who simply want to add some special touches.” The event featured”independent designers specializing in various wedding related fields including stationery, cakes & pastries, fashion, catering, floral design, photography and more.” Check out the video below (from 2010′s event) or their website (indieweb.com).

Indie Wed from I Do Films on Vimeo.

Something New

Minneapolis’ Something New wedding fair takes place on February 5th this year – check out independentwedding.com for more information. The event is offering mini-courses on the following topics: eco-friendly weddings, signature wedding drinks, invitations, selecting bridesmaid dresses and more. It is organized by the Independent Wedding Association, which prides itself in it’s strict criteria for membership- independent of the large wedding industry associations.

Indie I Do

By far the funnest looking wedding fair I’ve seen so far, the Indie I Do takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is described as an event that connects “independent artists with independent-minded consumers.” This year, exhibitors included HellCat Beauty (providing “stellar hair and make-up applications for ‘Bombshell Brides’ and the ‘Matrimonial Entourage’) and Memphis Mike’s barbecue catering.Visit the site indieido.com for more details.

If you know of any other alternatives to the typical wedding fair, please let me know in the comments below and I may feature the event in a future article. Also, are you planning an indie wedding? If so, what are you doing differently?

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This week we continue our feature of MOB fashions for Summer and Fall.

Check out Part 1 for Winter and Spring fashions for MOBs. For even more MOB stories, please check out our previous feature, ‘Mob Stories: Mother of the Bride,’ which includes tips, etiquette, and dresses.

Summer

The Mother of the Bride doesn’t have to dress in the most conservative matronly outfit she can find. The important thing is to not come across like you are trying to upstage the bride.

You can still look flashy without stealing your daughter/daughter-in-law’s thunder.

This dress from lechicboutique.co.uk is a great example of an attractive and elegant outfit for the mother of the bride. Let your accessories follow the current trends – wear several gold bracelets and drop diamond earrings, but choose yellow gold for a timeless elegance that brings out the tone of the yellow dress. The perfect choice if the bride is carrying a bouquet of pale yellow roses, like the one below from hollychappleflowers.

Fall

A deep vibrant blue like this dress from TheRoseDress.com is a great c0lor for a Fall wedding (and actually would be an excellent choice for a Summer wedding, too, with different accessories!). Let the wedding colors inspire your accessories. For example, if the bridesmaids are wearing dresses in a deep gem tone (perfect for Fall), treat yourself to a matching gem! Moms deserve to be spoiled for all their hard work, right? Shoes are a very important part of your outfit, so don’t forget to buy some new, ultra-luxurious shoes for the occasion, like the silver satin wrap shoes below, available at weddingaccessories.net.

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It’s been a year since we addressed the topic of Mother of the Bride style here at mybigfatenagement, so here are some great looks for anytime of year (I thought I’d pick a look for each season since MOB’s like to plan ahead). This week we will feature MOB fashions for Winter and Spring. Next time, we will look at Summer and Fall…

For more MOB stories, please check out our previous feature, ‘Mob Stories: Mother of the Bride,’ which includes tips, etiquette, and dresses.

Winter

If you can get past the young model wearing this dress, you will see that it is a very good mother of the bride or mother of the groom dress. The lacy long sleeved top is attractive and many women like to keep their arms covered after they reach a certain age (to conceal wrinkles, tattoos, or ‘bingo wings’). The shade of purple below would like nice with some blues or greens (even a pale blue or forest green would like nice with this purple). (Bouquet from 4everflorals.com.)

Spring

This cute suit from Jones New York would work well for a Spring (or a Fall actually) wedding. This color would be a nice fit if the bridesmaids are wearing pink or light green dresses. (Button from buttonemporium.com, bouquet from beyondblossoms.com).

Whatever the season and the wedding colors, it is important to communicate with the bride and any other MOBs involved. This is the best guarantee that you will fit in to the wedding photos, get along with y0ur new family members, and feel comfortable during this important event. Be flexible – there is always a shade that will look good on you that works with the wedding colors. In most cases, it is not appropriate to wear the exact same color as the bride or the bridesmaids (unless the bride want you to, of course). Darker or subdued shades are best (stay away from bright colors or, worse, bright prints).

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Spring has been celebrated all over the world, in all types of religions – as far back as you can imagine. When the sun starts shining, the ground under our feet heats up, and the new tender greenery pokes through – it’s hard NOT to get all warm and fuzzy. If that’s not enough to cheer you up, you also have really cute little baby animals like chicks and lambs.

Here are some ideas for how to celebrate your wedding the old-fashioned way (and by old-fashioned, I mean pre-medieval!)

Handfasting

Handfasting is a wedding rite that originates from a pagan ritual, but is being used in weddings based in all sorts of faiths and by people of all different lifestyles. Handfasting is a great way to bond a blended family together, because all members of the new family forged by the wedding can participate. Check out handfasting.info for more information, as well as examples of wording for ceremonies that include handfasting.

Symbols

Oak Leaves

Oak leaves are a symbol for longevity – so the entwined oak leaves that hold two mouth-blown (and therefore completely unique) glass horns are the perfect way for the bride and groom to share a toast (mayhemltd.com). The oak tree was particularly important to the Celts,who felt that all trees were sacred.

Horns

The drinking chalices above are also horn-shaped. The horns are also an important symbol – the most famous Celtic animal symbol is the horned (antlered) stag. The stag is a symbol for sexuality and fertility.

Celtic Design

Celtic knots date back to almost 500 AD: there is the lover’s knot, the triple knot (Triquetra), and the Triscele.There are many ways to incorporate the Celtic scrollwork or Celtic knots into your wedding, including your wedding band.

Clothing

There are beautiful dresses available now that this type of wedding has become more popular. Rivendelbridal.com has a large selection, here is one example of a dress perfect for a pagan princess, or elven queen: it is called the Celtic Star.

Trees

Trees were sacred to the Celts so an outdoor wedding would be very appropriate if you are going to be influenced by this theme.

Here is a video full of imagery that might inspire you to arrange your own mystical wedding.

Language

This bronze pendant spells GRA, ‘love’, in the Celtric tree alphabet called Ogham. This pendant from celteshop.com would be an interesting and thoughtul gift for members of the wedding party.

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Black is the new White?

Black doesn’t have to be dark (see our earlier article about darker-themed weddings if that’s what you are looking for.). In the old days, black might have been a big “don’t” on the day you say “I do” but now it’s okay. More than okay, actually – black details on the big day can be brilliant. And, even better, when you incorporate the unusual into your wedding day, you often don’t have to buy it at a wedding store -making things much cheaper.

Here is an elegant cake from sedonaweddingcakes.com. The stylistic wedding cake topper is very classy and the black sugar roses are a nice touch. This cake would coordinate well with tables decorated with crisp white linens and black cloth napkins with white polka dots. This is another way to save money – some venues include white linens in their rental fee. If not, party rental companies usually charge less for white linens than for the colored specialty linens. If you are handy with a sewing machine, you can sew the cloth napkins your self. Don’t forget to launder them and iron them before the big day – a perfect job to delegate to a helpful friend, auntie, or even grandmother.

Wear something a bit racy under that demure white dress, like this black garter available from bachelorettesuperstore.com.

Your engagement ring or wedding ring could tie in to the color scheme as well, like this ring featuring black and white diamonds.

Or, wear some dark shoes and gloves with your dress for contrast! You could also add these accessories for the reception, particularly if you are having the event in the evening.

For example, here is a beautiful Alfred Angelo dress that would be perfect for a church wedding.

And here are some items to glam it up afterwards!

Black Shoes

Long Black Gloves

Like these ones from buycostumes.com.

A fascinating fascinator from folksy.com.

All of the ideas in this article would work for any color – imagine red as an accent instead of black. A little black purse would work, too (a bride needs somewhere to stash her lipstick too). A beaded drawstring purse would look great with the accessories above, perhaps a vintage purse – a great gift idea for the maid of honor to give to her best friend!

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This post is dedicated to our dog, and the ring bearer at our wedding, Buddy, who passed away last week.

10-4 Good Buddy

Buddy (a.k.a. Budster, Mr. Buddinski, Budders, and Rex) lived the good life for 13  years. He was, cliches aside, my husband’s best friend. I also spooned him many a night when my husband was away on business trips. He was also my running buddy, our daughter’s stinky big brother, and one of the gang when friends gathered in our backyard or on camping trips…

Buddy

A big part of our family unit, Buddy was part of our wedding plans right from the beginning.

Tips for Dog Owners

1. Respect  your dog’s personality – if they are not going to enjoy the event, leave them at home.

2. Keep costumes simple and try them out on the dog in advance so that they can get used to it.

3. Match attire to your dog’s style. For example, our dog would not have been happy wearing a tutu or a big frilly bow. (And, he would have looked ridiculous…)

4. Assign a responsible person to be his primary care during the big day (pick up/drop off dog, walk and water, lead him down aisle). Provide instructions (and perhaps dog treats?!) in case your pet starts barking during the ceremony etc.

5. If you are a control freak and you can’t accept the unexpected, you might want to leave animals out of the proceedings (humans are hard enough to control, after all!).

6. If he’s the ring bearer, perhaps let someone else actually carry the wedding ring.

danforthdiamond.com

Furry Fashions

These Dog Wedding Tuxedos are only $28.95 from Advantagebridal.com. I like how they are designed – they won’t restrict your dog’s movement so they shouldn’t make him feel too weird (particularly if you have a dog that’s already accustomed to wearing clothing…).

advantagebridal.com

This dress is very cute and suits this pretty little dog perfectly. It’s available at sassypup.net for only $39.99.

sassypup.net

For an elegant, more subtle look for your dog, you could buy this satin collar and bow tie from dogdressonline for only $12.00.

Another option would be to place a wreath of flowers around your dog’s neck – simple and natural – matching to the bouquets.

We took the less expensive do-it-yourself option because we had problems finding something suitable for our dog that was durable, the right size, and not too expensive. We went to a thrift store with his neck measurement and purchased a used white dress shirt and bow tie. My mom cut the collar off and hemmed the edges. The existing button on the collar, with the bow tie (elastic neck band) over top, fastened around his neck. We made cuffs from the shirt cuffs, too, but Buddy didn’t like them (he walked around like a show pony when he had them on) so we didn’t use them.

we love you Buddy

For tips about wilder wedding parties, please see my previous article: Wild Weddings: Animals.

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We all have some part of us we don’t like, and I don’t think any woman feels more compelled to diet, than the crazy lengths she might go to in the days leading up to her wedding day.

Just remember what you looked like when he slipped that engagement ring on your finger – he loved you the way you were then, so you shouldn’t have to make any drastic changes now!

While it’s always the right time to make healthier lifestyle choices, it is NEVER appropriate to diet dangerously. You don’t want to make yourself sick – you want to look happy and HEALTHY on your wedding day!

Prepare yourself for a long, peaceful married life by getting good at focussing on the positive.

What is your best feature?

Your goal should be to highlight the best things about yourself and draw attention away from your least favorite…

When the Hourglass Is Half Full…

If you are blessed with the curvy part of the bottom half of an hourglass but you’re missing the top, then a full skirt may be your best bet. Select a skirt that falls loosely around your waist – a princess dress with a fitted or strapless top will accentuate your slimmer shoulders, torso, and waist.

This “Shania” southern belle style gown by Bridalonlinestore.com is a great example of simple on top and busy on the bottom – just what you want if your real better half is from the waist up!

bridalonlinestore.com

Here is another great option for this style – the detail along the neckline attracts attention and the a-line cut of the skirt skims the hips and flatters… this one is from lightinthebox.com and available for less than $150.00. Check out the back of the dress too – very pretty!

When the Hourglass is Half Empty

If you have very wide shoulders, you might consider a one-shoulder dress, which will help to balance you out.

Freedom to Bare Arms

Here are some ideas to wrap your arms around when your less favorite body part is your arms. Consider a longer elbow-length veil that will flow around your arms. Other options are a bolero jacket or a wrap, but I don’t favor wearing these during the actual ceremony. For full-time coverage, consider some sleeves. 3/4 length or even cap sleeves might do the trick, depending on your area of concnern.

The dress below by Zaftique is called “Celestial Diva” and costs up to $142.00 – wonderful!

www.zaftique.com

Prints Charming

An all-over print can camouflage curves.

Get a Leg Up

If you don’t want to show off your legs, consider a floor-sweeping gown. Another option: sex up your shoes and ankles and cover the rest!

This dress is by one of my favorite wedding gown designers, Alfred Angelo – reasonably-priced and really elegant at the same time – you can buy the dress below at houseofbrides.com.

houseofbrides.com

Short on Ideas?

If you also don’t like lack of height, consider these ways to lengthen your look: wear an up-do (avoid hair past your shoulders) and wear high heels (stating the obvious, but just in case!).

Waist Not Want Not

You can draw attention away from a full waist by raising, lowering, or eliminating the waistline.

This chiffon halter style gown also has eye catching neck detail at onlygowns.com.

onlygowns.com

The gown with sleeves pictured earlier is also a great example of this type of style.

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Who Says It Isn’t Easy Being Green?

Here are some wedding options that are both beautiful and eco-friendly (and often, economical, too!)

A Dress That Won’t Cost the Earth

Your dress doesn’t have to be made out of recycled tin cans to earn it’s green status. Look for dresses made from natural fibers, like the gowns from Tennessee company ‘Threadhead Creations’. Their dresses are made by hand from hemp, organic cotton, peace silk, and bamboo.

Go green with your gown: wear a hand-me-down!

Reconsider wearing that ugly dress of great grandma’s if your family will allow you to alter it’s design. Re-using fabric to create a new gown is a wonderful way to be eco-conscious. There are experts who specialize in restyling heirloom gowns, like the Illinois-based Treasures by Tina. The gown featured below was originally a high-necked, long-sleeved wedding dress from the 1960′s.

treasures-by-tina.com

What Kind of Metal is Your Love Made Of?

Did you know that “mining is a very “dirty” business and the production of one beautiful gold ring will generate five tons of environmental waste, contaminating water and lands which endangers the health and lives of humans and animals” (danforthdiamond.com).

Think Refined, Not Mined

Eco-conscious jewelers offer engagement and wedding rings that are made from 100% recycled precious metals, like the 14K white gold set below.

Warning: make sure the company can provide a certificate of authenticity!

Do the Earth a Favor

Don’t send your guests home with another useless knickknack… provide guest favors that are good for everyone! Here are some heart-shaped bird seed favors: a favorite for any feathered wedding crashers at  your garden/outdoor wedding! Or, guests can take them home and hang them outside their windows. These favors, from blissweddingsmarket.com, can be personalized with your name and a ribbon that compliments your wedding colors… If you buy at least 35 favors they are only $2.99 each – so they are nice to your wallet as well as the earth!

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