If cake isn’t your thing…and the candy bar is old news to you…I suggest creating a chocolate fountain for your guests and decorating it with delicious desserts to dip in the chocolate!

This is a great station to offer your guests and let them take their choice of dessert.  Get creative with what you dip in the chocolate from a variety of fruits, to different types of cakes or anything you can dream up!  I encourage you to have one out-of-the-box signature dessert to dip into the flowing chocolate.

I love the contrast with the two white and dark chocolates, give your guests a choice of flavors! Put all of the brides favorite foods next to the white chocolate fountain and the grooms favorite desserts next to the regular chocolate fountain!

Light up the evening with a delicious chocolate fountain centerpiece!

Despite wedding dress trends constantly changing, most brides keep their dress with thoughts of one day her daughter wearing the dress down the aisle.  Is this a realistic dream?

I do think it is unique and fabulous when a bride has the same style as her mother and is able to fit the dress to her body shape.  This will not only save you money but there is great history around your dress—unique to only your family.  If your mother has saved her dress this long, I am sure it will make her proud to see you wearing her dress on your big day.

I think this is a detail that depends on the personality of the bride and her picture of her big day.  I think that some brides want a brand new dress that they will be the only one to ever wear.  Other brides enjoy vintage dresses or are able to get great deals on resold dresses.

You want to feel 100% comfortable and gorgeous on your big day, I would hate for a bride to wear her mother’s dress because she feels it will make her mother happy.  Today is not about making your mother happy, it is about creating an event that reflects you and your future husband.

My suggestion is to possibly compromise with your mother.  Take her dress to a seamstress and if your mom is willing to let you alter it, change it to a more modern style.  Possible make it strapless or add some beading to make it a dress you originally envisioned.

If you are using your mother’s wedding dress, here are a few considerations from Weddingbells Blog:

Dresses condition
Review the overall state of the dress. Is the fabric strong enough to be handled without the gown literally falling apart at the seams? If it’s too fragile to withstand handling, you can always use the design as inspiration for a new custom-made gown. Or incorporate elements of the original—some lace details or the bodice—into a new garment.

Dress Size
Does the dress fit you? Does it even come close to fitting your body shape? This will determine how much work needs to be done on the gown. If it’s too small, the job only gets bigger as fabrics that form an exact match must be found in order to redesign it. Remember, the bigger the job, the bigger the final bill.

Find a Great Designer
Do your research before hiring a designer. Don’t pick the first one you see in the Yellow Pages. Make appointments, meet with each individual, show them your gown and look at their portfolio. Only when you find the perfect match should you commit to having the project done.

Good Luck and Happy Altering!

What is your message you are conveying on your last night out as a single gal? Or a bachelor?

Let your group stand out with a message and color of shirt of your choice!  Strange Cargo is able to provide your wedding party with a way to make a scene and be the center of attention on your bachelorette party!  A small investment in some t-shirts will definitely pay off when you are out. Bars like to have groups who are there to have a good time and will often offer you some free drinks and appetizers to keep you all there and happy!

Of course you can always go with the typical “Game Over” t-shirt for the guys. To personalize it further you can add nicknames or a funny saying that is an inside joke with your group.

What catchy saying or message did you convey on your bachelorette party?

Source: Furious Photographers

Do you remember the time you stayed up talking at a 24-hour coffee shop with the groom?  Or that pizza joint that you and the bride went to every Friday back in college?  These were the moments in which you formed those forever friendships that you are celebrating years after!

You receive the invitation in the mail with the great news of the upcoming marriage, the date, and the places the couple registered.  When you look at the registry I want to encourage you to look at it a bit differently!  Think back to the pizza joint or the state you grew up in and find an item on that list that represents your relationship over the years.  Be creative and write on the card why you choose the gift that you did.  The couple will love the gift more if they know you put extra thought into it!

For example, maybe you share a special salsa recipe with the bride that you created when you were younger.

Or…maybe you spent a late night (or a few late nights) drinking margaritas while telling stories of past experiences.

Or if you and the bride used to meet every Sunday for brunch and her favorite meal she ordered every week was a ham and cheese omelet…consider this pan for her gift!

You and the groom might have grown up in the South together where Sweet Tea is famous.  Consider buying this pitcher, with a quick note about how you want them to carry on the family sweet tea recipe with their new family.

What I am proposing for you to do when purchasing gifts is to take some time and make a connection with the item you are buying and let the couple know you cherish your memories together!  Happy Shopping!

Source: Bed Bath and Beyond