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These unique bouquets, crafted from brooches, are breathtaking and won’t ever wilt. Brides have the option of including vintage pins and brooches they’ve collected in antique shops, or for something even more special, using pieces from their family members.


How special is it that no other bride will ever have a bouquet like yours?

A Creative Way for Guests to Wish you Well

There’s a new spin on what is thought to be the most boring and traditional part of the ceremony: The Guestbook. You’ll love the adoring comments, and guests will enjoy the freedom to express all the joy they wish for your new marriage with these new and inventive ideas!

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Have a framed canvas that guests can sign. You can hang this in your home and remember everyday about your special wedding and how loved you both are!

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Have the person overseeing the guestbook take a quick snapshot of each guest, and write a little something on the back. They can place the photos in a decorated folder or anything of your choice. You will have a photo of everyone in attendance which will be great to look back on in later years.

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Include a blank construction paper page in with your wedding invitation, along with instructions for the guests to decorate and personalize the page as they please. Some ideas are poems, old photos of you and your husband-to-be, quotes, or song lyrics. The guests can bring the finished page along to the wedding and paste it in a traditional guestbook. Guests can be as creative as they like, and this will also avoid the hurried, cliché writings the day of.

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Provide a cup of clothespins next to some cardstock. Guests can jot down a blessing and hang it up on a clothes line in the reception room. The cards can be easily viewed by everyone and also make a cute decoration for the venue.

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How about having the guests sign a possession that is really special to the both of you?

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Here are a few more ideas that might catch your fancy!

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What is the most creative guestbook idea you’ve seen?

It’s all about the dress, but you girls know that every little detail counts! Here are some of the latest shoe trends that have been making an appearance this Summer:

Black Wedding Shoes

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Black. Always classy and always in style. For the daring bride that wants a stark contrast to her dress.

Gold Wedding Shoes

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Gold. Anything in the nude color family creates a simplistic and refined vibe for your overall look.

Silver Wedding Shoes

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Textured Silver. Slip on a pair of these for a chic, shiny look. Try pairing with a dress that has silver beading or grayish detail.

Pink Wedding Shoes

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Blush pink. The go-to color if you want to look and feel girly and flirty.

White Wedding Shoes

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And of course, white. Perfect for the bride with traditional taste. Choose flats for a more casual look.



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Fuzzy heels add a touch of playfulness.

I’m loving the subtle earth tones this season, they’re all very elegant and sophisticated. You’d be surprised how many people notice your color choice of shoe, and think of how many compliments you’ll get with these beauties!

There are lots of unique ideas out there, the hardest part will be deciding which one you like most!

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Non-Floral Centerpiece Idea #1 :: Candles

Candles come in every color and shape and can add a romantic touch to any evening wedding.

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What’s better….candle centerpieces are also reusable!

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Floating a candle in water is both elegant and practical. The water will not allow the wax to stick to the vase and allows you to reuse them.

Non-Floral Centerpiece Idea #2 :: Fruit

Fruit can also make beautiful wedding décor. You can choose fruit that corresponds to the season of your wedding.

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Depending on the complexity of the arrangement, using non-floral centerpieces can be a great way to save money. Just hope your guests don’t get strawberry cravings in the middle of your wedding!

Non-Floral Centerpiece Idea #3 :: Potted Plants

Potted plant centerpieces can double as favors for your guests. If you have a group of potted plants on each table, guests can each take a plant at the end of the night. This helps ease your break down, serves as a usable keepsake for guests and is easy on your budget!

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Non-Floral Centerpiece Idea #4 :: Photos

Photo centerpieces are a great way for your guests to start a conversation trying to figure out where each special memory is from. Guests will love the story you tell of your relationship with pictures!

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Non-Floral Centerpiece Idea #5 :: Lanterns

Groups of differently sized or shaped lanterns can be placed on each table. Or, lanterns can be the focal point of your centerpiece, surrounded by tealights or bud vases.
After your wedding, you can decorate your house and yard with your wedding lanterns as a great reminder of your special day!

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Your centerpieces, just like your wedding, should be uniquely you, so have fun! Let your season and location inspire you!

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In addition to hanging up your gorgeous gown, what about gifting your bridesmaids with hangers for their dresses that they can use again later? And doesn’t your flowergirl deserve a pretty hanger too? LilaFrances also makes these in children’s sizes.

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Hangers currently take 8-10 weeks from order time for production (these are in high demand!) and her shop will be closed briefly in August so if you want one of these lovelies order soon! She also donates 10% of profit to Ovarian Cancer Research in honor of her mom.


Oh if only I knew about these beauties before I got married!

Color Me Pretty…Modernizing Bridal Wear

Most western brides think of white when they imagine what they’ll be wearing on their big day. Why is white the color choice for so many walking down the aisle?


White was not always the color of choice for bridal gowns. We wear white because Queen Victoria decided to break tradition and wear white on her wedding day in 1840! Since then it has become the standard in Western weddings. But, what if white is not your best color? source

The most important thing about your wedding dress is the way you feel wearing it. Find what makes you both look and feel your best, regardless of the color.


I promise you won’t blend into the background by choosing a color other than white; you are still the bride and center of attention! You will be marked with the unmistakable bridal glow, so choose a dress you love!


Check out the rainbow of bridal gowns for inspiration!

Pink Wedding Dresses

Gwen Stefani dared to wear PINK, and wow did she look great!

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Blue Wedding Dresses

Now you can be sure to have your something BLUE.

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Silver Wedding Dress

SILVER bells are ringing, perfect for a winter wedding.

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Gold Wedding Dress

GOLD is both classic and elegant.

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Green Wedding Dress

Yes, you can even wear GREEN.

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Queen Victoria broke the mold and started a trend that has lasted over a century, now it’s your turn! What will make you feel your most beautiful on your wedding day?

Here are some different ways to do it…

Popcorn Wedding Idea #1 :: Popcorn Bar

You’ve no doubt seen candy bars, but not everyone has a sweet tooth. How about a popcorn bar? Have guests scoop popcorn into popcorn containers, or DIY if you prefer a more personalized look.

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Popcorn Wedding Idea #2 :: Old-Fashioned Popcorn Machine

For something even more fun, what about an old fashioned popcorn machine?

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Popcorn Wedding Idea #3 :: Late Night Popcorn

Send guests home with a late night snack in your favorite favor packaging – bags, boxes, tins, anything you’d like- and customize it!

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Popcorn Wedding Idea #4 :: Popcorn Exit

Guests can get hungry during the ceremony at an evening wedding. Why not have popcorn waiting with the programs with a note saying they can eat what they want and toss the rest at you on your way back down the aisle? It’s eco-friendly and it hurts less than rice!

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For weddings, Cornucopia can create favors with bags personalized with a photo of you and your fiancé and your wedding date if you prefer not to use your own favor packaging. They can even make popcorn in your wedding colors! This is sure to get your guests talking!


If you didn’t get a chance to experience Cornucopia at our event at Copa, you’re in luck. Tomorrow (7/23) is free popcorn day! Head over to Cornucopia (located on Guadalupe St., just south of the UT campus, behind Veggie Heaven) and get a free kid’s size bag of popcorn (they typically feature a flavor or two), and try the flavors you’re thinking about for your wedding.

Enjoy!

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And my favorite, a dessert model of the spot where the groom proposed!

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Why not learn to do something together that will bring joy to your home long after your honeymoon?

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Culinary honeymoons are a new trend for couples that are looking for more than the beach. They are the perfect way to spend time together and pick up a new skill, or enjoy what you both already love.


Whether you crave pomodoro in Tuscany, or wish to sip up the vineyards of Bordeaux, or cook with the Greek Isles as your backdrop you will be sure to experience the most romantic honeymoon that will have you coming back for seconds… and maybe even thirds!

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There are lots of great tours available, which will make it easy to find one that appeals to you and fits both your schedule and budget. The hardest part will be deciding where to go first, since I am sure it wont be your last culinary vacation!


To get started, check out these websites that offer package tours in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Epiculinary
The International Kitchen
Food Vacation

Here’s to your best honeymoon, Bon Voyage, and Bon Appetit!

A Coffee Bar in the Summer?

Ice it down!
XPresd offers an iced drink bar–perfect for Austin Summer weddings! The iced drink bar includes iced coffee, Italian sodas, lemonade and iced teas. You can rent the iced drink bar by itself or add it to the espresso bar. Or, you can just add individual drinks like iced coffee or Italian soda. There are so many options!

Specialties for Fall & Winter

Planning a Fall or Winter wedding? Don’t worry…there’s something special for you, too!
How about a Caramel Apple Steamer with real apple cider? Ummm…yum!


You can check out all these options on the XPresd web site.
Better yet, come see XPresd in person at tomorrow’s Weddings Unveiled event. Join us at Palm Door from 6 until 8. Buy a ticket and bring a guest for free with code GUEST.