WaterFALL in love

You can rent a waterfall to add some ambience to your reception, or you can go wild and rent a rock climbing wall with a waterfall obstacle from a company like the funones.com, based out of Chicago.

This more subdued version of a waterfall for your wedding could include your initials or the first names of the bride and groom (available at gigis-party-rentals.com, Florida).

Waterfall with logo or initials

Tropic Thunder

When it comes to wedding planning, you always have a choice: you can go for the understated or you can go ‘big.’ In this case, you can rent ferns or you can rent a giant palm tree (or several giant palm trees!). Plantman.com provides “extravagant jungle tropics rental to the San Francisco and Los Angeles Areas” for as low as $750. Imagine a nine foot waterfall, a pebble bottom lagoon, fern-filled jungle grottos, a 16′ palm tree, and lush moss-covered rocks with ivy”.

For Beach, er, or For Worse

If the sun and surf are your definition of wild times, consider bringing the beach inside for your reception.

Or, if you anticipate that your  wedding reception will be a walk on the wild side, rent a surf machine and your guests can ride the waves without even getting wet! (Deluxe Big Wave Surf Machine from bigfunuk.info.)

Elegant Ring or Wild Bling

Both extremes may appeal to you – the subdued elegant wedding or the crazy, fun wedding- but what is the best fit for you as a couple? This is a day that you will remember for the rest of your life and it should symbolize everything about you as a couple. Are you more likely to go out for a fancy meal on a date, or are you more likely to go bungee jumping? What are you interests? One great way to establish the tone for your wedding: look at the engagement ring. The groom-to-be (hopefully) put a lot of thought into the ring when he picked it out – and (also hopefully) the bride loves it.

If the engagement ring is an impressive, but simply-designed and elegant solitaire – an elegant and tasteful wedding is best for you.

If the ring is bold and beautiful like this yellow gold engagement ring with a flower and petal design along the top and sides, then you probably have already arranged for live tropical birds and a waterfall for your reception!

For more ideas for wild weddings, check out this series:

Wet and Wild

Welcome to the Jungle

Wild Flowers

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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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Attention: Brides to Be – Boxing Day is just a few days away!

Many stores now hold Boxing Day sales for a week. Online stores also have sales. This is the perfect opportunity to stock up on all of the things you will need for your wedding. Get a jump start on your wedding planning and save money.

Tips for Wedding Shopping on Boxing Day

Prepared to Shop?

Taking advantage of Boxing Day to ease your wedding budget makes sense as long as you already have a clear idea of what your wedding will be like. It doesn’t matter how far off your wedding is, you can start shopping if your wedding party has been selected and you know the size of your guest list.

It is also a fantastic time to shop for wedding rings – you can buy some beautiful wedding bands and engagement rings for reasonable prices at this time of  year. While you’re out there shopping, don’t forget to watch for gifts for your wedding party as well!

Wedding Colors

The more flexible you are, the more you save. If you are willing to select your colors based on what is available at a low price, you will save more money. If your wedding colors are popular then there will be more choices available to you, at lower prices.

Wedding Theme

Select your wedding theme from the wedding supplies available and you will save money.

Ideas – What Brides to Be Should Buy on Boxing Day

Wedding Time Capsule

A wedding time capsule is a great way to collect memories of your special day and then revisit them on an anniversary. You can order this time capsule at giftsnideas.com. Couponcodes4u says they are offering 15% all orders after Christmas (sale ends December 30).

Wedding Dress

Many bridal shops have Christmas and Boxing Day sales – this is the perfect time to get your dress! For example, if you buy your dress from bridalsbay.com during their boxing day sale, you can get dresses up to 75% off their list price. Check local stores in your city for big sales, too.

bridalsbay.com

Wedding Stationery

Everything at Mujka.ca is 50% off for Boxing Day – a site that sells templates you can buy to create your own wedding stationery (the invitation, rsvp card, thanks you card, reception card). A very reasonably-priced way to jump start your DIY wedding project!

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New Years Eve isn’t very far away – time to think about your resolutions. If you’re engaged, New Years Eve is the perfect catalyst for a relaxed and optimistic conversation about your future, so here are some New Years Resolutions For Your Marriage.

Hold Hands and Dream Big

Engaged couples spend a lot of time looking forward to their wedding and spending the rest of their lives together. This New Years Eve, make the following resolutions to help keep your marrriage happy.

1. Always Kiss Each Other Good Bye

Whether you’re on your way to work in the morning, or just stepping out to pick up some milk- take a moment to go over and say goodbye to your partner and give them a kiss.

2. Don’t Expect Perfection

Let’s face it, sometimes your Prince is going resemble a Frog; and sometimes your Princess is going to seem more like the Evil Queen… No matter how head over heels you are right now, it’s wise to keep in mind you are not actually marrying a perfect person. Marriage is not all or nothing – it’s success can’t be based on unreal expectations or ultimatums. A long marriage is based on mutual understanding, respect, and forgiveness. Truthfully, sometimes your mate will annoy the heck out of you! So just remember you don’t have to like him or her all the time, you just have to love them.

3. Promise To Support Each Other

bbc.co.uk

I’m not talking about financial support – although, sometimes this also comes into play. Most basically, I mean that when your partner talks about something he or she is passionate about – you actually listen. It doesn’t cost you a thing and the effect it has on your ‘other half’ and your life together is priceless. Also, if he or she wants to (take piano lessons, join a hockey team, enter a haiku contest, ride her bike across the country) you do what it takes to make it happen (watch the kids, put money aside, round up  all of your friends) and then when it happens you’re in the first row, cheering him or her on.

Did I miss anything?

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This week we feature some crafty Halloween wedding ideas for the DIY or budget-conscious wedding plans.

For more Halloween Wedding ideas, please refer back to my articles “Halloween Wedding Tips Part 1: Scary Spots” for a list of spooky locations for weddings and “Halloween Wedding Tips Part 2” for some cake ideas, a cool ice sculpture, and some great video clips.

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Decorations

Candy-filled Ornaments

You can hang on branches, cluster them together to make a focal point above the dance floor or head table, or use them to spookify an existing chandelier. Instructions and supplies at the Michael’s website.

michael's.com

Halloween Wreaths

Use a grapevine base or spray-paint a holly or evergreen wreath black (or another creepy color). Use a glue gun and floral wire to attach decorations. Here are some examples – you can hang them up or use them as the base for table centerpieces.

ishouldbenapping.com

Banners

Cut out letters from Halloween paper (look for pads of mixed designs for scrapbooking or Halloween wrapping paper). Use letters of different styles and sizes and stick two one or two colors, or use a multicolor paper and stick to simple lettering. String the letters on twine or eyelash yarn.

knittingyarnmarket.com

Pumpkins

Use pumpkins as lanterns rather than lights or candle holders – they can be used as centerpieces or any where in the room. Consider painting pumpkins gold and silver for a look that works with a formal evening reception. You can also carve your names into pumpkins, the date, or even your faces if you’re very talented!

countryliving.com

Eat Drink and Be Scary

Creepy Cocktails

The Black Shadow

This drink is sort of green and cloudy -just what every ghoul wants for her wedding toasts! You can get the recipe at in-the-spirit.co.uk.

www.in-the-spirit.co.uk

Bloodshot Eyeball Drink Garnish

Check out the garnish on this cocktail from the geniuses at Finlandia. To make ice “eyeballs,” peel radishes, leaving thin streaks of red skin on to represent blood vessels. Using the tip of the vegetable peeler, or a small knife, carefully scoop out a small hole in each radish, roughly the size of an olive. Stuff a green olive, pimiento side out, in each hole. Impale the eyeballs on a suitable stir stick (like the pitchfork one below). You can also turn the eyeballs into ice cubes: place one radish eyeball in each section of an empty ice cube tray. Pare the radishes down a bit to fit, if necessary. Fill the tray with water and freeze overnight.

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This article features ideas for Autumn or Fall Weddings. To see ideas for other seasons, see ‘Spring Wedding Ideas‘ (Feb 2009) or  ‘Wet and Wild’ (beach themed weddings, May 2009),and look for a Winter Wedding feature in December.

Awesome Autumn

Fall weddings can be so romantic. Autumn colors are rich and vibrant. And, for longtime students such as myself – September always marks a time for new beginnings, much like the New Year does for others – so a September or October wedding can be symbolic as well.

Warm Wishes

The warm colors associated with Autumn can inspire the entire event. Candle light and textured fabric can inspire a cozy atmosphere. Branches or ‘heavy’ bouquets add to the setting.

LED The Light In

Use LED ‘candles’ to reduce heat, fire hazards, and the need to light/maintain flames throughout the evening. The 4″ Pillar style below flickers realistically and lasts up to 200 hours (batteries included in price).

hassle-free LED from yummicandles.com

Make or buy Fall tone wreaths to go around each candle for table centerpieces. You can buy the supplies you need from Michael’s: you’ll need a grapevine wreath, floral wire, and a glue gun. Attach decorations that match your wedding colors and the season: berries, leaves, flowers, apples…

michaels.com

Be-Leaf It!

Leaf designs are complex, elegant, and visually pleasing – perfect for wedding invitations and decorations.

Save the Date

Designer Meg Moynahan has created a stunning collection called “New England Fall Wedding” which includes an invitation, save the date, and website. I enjoyed her other invitations as well (the polka dot collection was my favorite).

megmoynahan.com

Attire

Incorporate leaf motifs into the wedding clothes or jewelry. The ring pictured below has a leaf design along the top and sides.

danforthdiamond.com

This 18K white gold wedding band has a hand-engraved leaf pattern.

danforthdiamond.com

Favors

You can order the bags and leaf ribbon from sophiesfavors.com. Their website also suggests you can use this ribbon to decorate bottles, invitations, hang tags, and tins. I also imagine it could be used to decorate the reception chairs, tables, or candles.

sophiesfavors.com

Fill them with traditional Jordan wedding almonds or any candy of your choice. You can order Jordan almonds in an Ivory Tusk (light beige) color or a seasonal color mix for Autumn.

jordanalmonds.com

I also like the white Amorini hearts offered by the same company – these are traditional Italian wedding favors and translate to ‘little loves’.

jordanalmonds.com

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Jack and Jill parties are getting more popular every year but there seems to be some confusion about what this means.

Actually, the term can mean a few different things (some are x-rated) but here we are going to focus on Jack and Jill parties as they relate to weddings!

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Jack and Jill wedding events – basic guidelines

1. The bride and groom are both guests of honor (thus the name).

2. The event is not usually a surprise – the couple may even be involved in the planning.

Jack and Jill Shower

One type of Jack and Jill wedding event is the Jack and Jill shower (in fact there are also Jack and Jill baby showers, too). Contemporary couples think to themselves, ‘why should the bride have all the fun?’

This mixed shower is also great for couples who share the same group of friends or brides who have lots of male friends. The traditional dainty pastries and semi-formal clothing of a bridal shower is replaced by a barbeque, picnic, or house party with blender drinks, beer, and food that will appeal to everyone.

Gifts are ‘his and hers’ items or things that will appeal to both of them, or may be intended to tie in to the party’s theme. Sometimes cash gifts are requested but this isn’t very common and is not really appropriate (requesting gift cards is more acceptable) – see our etiquette tips below for more exceptions to this rule.

Jack and Jill Stag or Bachelor Party

Again, these parties work well if the couple shares the same group of friends. If not, make sure the bride’s friends and the groom’s friends will mix well together (this isn’t always the case).

The venue for this type of Jack and Jill may also be a house party or barbeque, but could also take place at a bar or even take place over a weekend excursion of some kind (camping, renting a houseboat, trip to Las Vegas…).

Jack and Jill Fundraiser

More recently, the Jack and Jill party has been used as an event to raise money for the couple’s wedding expenses. Today many couples pay for their own weddings rather than receiving a budget from the bride’s parents. The maid of honor and best man (or some other family/friend) organizes the event and all proceeds go towards the wedding (or honeymoon) budget. In some cases, the bride and groom organize the event themselves.

Examples: A casino night, a sports tournament (golf, foozball), or a poker tournament. Other options: guests pay a flat fee for drink tickets and a chance to win door prizes at a bar or organizers put a package together for an outing (refreshments, chartered bus, tickets to a concert or game) and build in a profit margin. Popular games for fundraisers are: casino-style games (with play money and prizes for the biggest winners), 50-50 draws, and coin tosses. Wine lotteries can also raise a lot of money (if friends and family are all wine drinkers).

Etiquette:

It is more appropriate to organize a fun event to pay for a wedding than to directly ask family and friends for money, unless the event is raising money for one specific aspect of the event. For example, asking guests not to bring gifts but placing a jar at the Jack and Jill party for donations to the couple’s honeymoon fund is okay. Asking guests to come to the party with extra bottles for the reception so that the couple can provide an open bar might also work. Asking for cash to pay for the wedding rings is not appropriate – these items should be paid for by the wedding couple or their families. Likewise, raising money for anything considered overly extravagant (an ice sculpture, release of doves, etc) would be in poor judgment – it’s important to remember that attending a wedding can already be quite expensive: guests often have to pay for travel expenses, lodging, appropriate attire, the wedding gift, etc.

theplatelady.com

Other definitions of Jack and Jill:

1. A nursery rhyme

2. A cash register.

3. Slang term for the drug Ecstasy.

4. A bathroom that connects two bedrooms.

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Dream Girl Update

Here is an update on Jennifer Hudson. Note that this is also a great example of a real-life scenario for last week’s article  “Should Men Wear Engagement Rings?”

Dream Life Turns to Nightmare

Last September we featured Jennifer Hudson’s engagement in the article ‘Dreamgirls Jennifer Hudson is on her way to her dream wedding’. Tragically, the next month, she lost her mother, brother, and nephew – murdered.

December 2008

William Balfour “estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson’s sister, Julia Hudson, and the stepfather of one of the victims, 7-year-old Julian King” is charged for the crimes: three counts of murder and one count of home invasion (cnn.com).

January 2009

Jennifer Hudson makes her first stage appearance after the tragedy when she sings the The Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl (starsjournal.com).

Jennifer Hudson looking wonderful in white

February

Monstersandcritics.com reports that a source has told them that Jennifer Hudson is going to marry her fiance David Otunga “real soon”. There are rumors that they might get married on Valentine’s Day.

Jennifer Hudson wins a grammy for best R&B album and also performs at the event. She also wins the Outstanding New Artist, Best Album, and Best Collaboration awards at the 40th annual NAACP Image Awards (cbc.ca).

March

Still apparently unmarried – Jennifer Hudson talks wedding plans with Access Hollywood. She tells them she wants her 3 dogs (names Oscar, Grammy, and Dreamgirl) to be in the wedding and that she is going to design her own wedding dress. She confirms that a secret wedding date has been set during an interview with Ryan Seacrest (tvwatch.people.com).

April

Hudson reciprocates and proposes to Otunga on his birthday (he originally proposed to her on her 27th birthday). She gives him a 5 carat platinum and diamond engagement ring (People.com).

Here are some examples of platinum and diamond wedding rings that would also work as engagement rings if you’re going to propose to your man!

May

Family and friends throw Hudson a baby shower in Chicago, confirming rumors that the engaged couple are expecting a baby (chicagotribune.com). The baby’s due date has not been confirmed. It makes sense that the wedding might be postponed until after the baby is born…

July

Jennifer Hudson performs at the Michael Jackson memorial service, she can’t hide her pregnancy anymore at this point but has never publicly confirmed it either.

August

Jennifer Hudson gives birth to a 7 lb 14 oz baby boy, named David Otunga Junior after her fiance (binsidetv.net). His birth day indicates that she was approximately 8 weeks pregnant in February (the discovery of this good news may be what delayed the couple’s wedding?!).

September

It’s now September and I predict a Fall or Winter wedding, once the new mama is settled in with baby and ready to wear her wedding dress again! Let me know if you hear anything!

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Last post, I started writing about cookies at weddings.

Cookies are always a fantastic idea, and they are really great when it comes to weddings.

They sweeten up any wedding-related event.

See my last post “Wedding Cookies – The First Half” to read about my top 5 reasons why wedding cookies work and to discover a bunch of ideas for smart cookies (cookies you can prepare yourself to take a bite out of your wedding expenses).

Elegant

thewelldressedcookie.com

Pretty

These wedding rose cookies will add color to every table and can be color coordinated for the event.

rollingpinproductions.com

Picturesque

When the bride and groom look good enough to eat…

ediblegiftsplus.com

Sweet

Just supply the guest list and order the cookies and ediblegiftsplus.com will make these cookies that double as seating cards!

ediblegiftsplus.com

Cookie Themed Favors

The cookie cutter below comes with a recipe for sugar cookies and you get to personalize the card. The online store suggests that you “tie the cookie cutter to the card with a string or satin ribbon (not included) that coordinates with your wedding colors or… arrange them with sugar cookies in a basket on your reception table for an extra sweet surprise!” Available at orientaltrading.com.

orientaltrading.com

hotref.com

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