Confetti: To Toss or not to Toss

Many of our brides question whether to partake in the age-old tradition of the bouquet toss at their wedding receptions.  Most of our brides this year are deciding to forego this tradition and consider alternatives. 

The history of the bouquet toss goes back to fourteenth century France, where guests viewed a bride as especially lucky on her wedding day, and would clamour to tear off pieces of her dress for their own good fortune.  Eventually, brides began to rebel against this practice and tossed their garters to guests, and later, their bouquets.

While there is something to be said for tradition, some people prefer not to call out all their single friends to catch the bouquet in the hopes that the one who catches it will be the next to marry.  Here are some alternatives to consider:

1.  The Anniversary Dance - This is a dance for all married couples at the wedding.  During the song, the emcee asks people who have been married less than a certain number of years to leave the dance floor.  The couple who has been married the longest remains and is given the bride's bouquet.

2.  Have a "dance off" for the bouquet - invite males & females to the dance floor for a dance off.  Form a circle in the middle of the dance floor where guests dance one by one in the middle.  The dancer who wins the most admiration from the crowd or from the bride & groom gets the bouquet.

3.  Give the bouquet to a special female in your life to honor them.

4.  Do the bouquet toss, but open it up to anyone (single or in a relationship) who wants to participate.  As a fun extra incentive, offer a prize such as cash, a restaurant gift certificate or a spa package!

5.  Keep it!

Confetti: Free Wedding Websites from Wedding Paper Divas

Wedding Paper Divas is a company that I frequently refer my brides & grooms to for a variety of invitation and stationery needs.  They have a stylish collection of contemporary styles that I love!  For a limited time only, they are offering free wedding websites.  You can choose from over 35 of their stationery designs, and it comes with many more features.  What I think is so great about this is that the design of your site can match your stationery and the overall theme and feel of your wedding.  You don't find this with any of the other free sites.  So head on over to Wedding Paper Divas and see what they have to offer before this deal expires!

Party Time: Movie Themed Baby Shower

We recently planned a baby shower for parents-to-be, Lauren & Brad.  I was trying to figure out a way to still make it cute but incorporate the men.  So I decided upon a movie themed shower, starring, of course - the baby! 

The theme was introduced with this fabulous invitation, designed by Sarah at Belletristics.

Guests enjoyed treats from a popcorn and candy bar.  Flavors included strawberry, caramel, hot pepper, vanilla butternut (this was the most popular!), root beer & more!

In keeping with the theme, guests drank soda out of paper coke cups with straws, and the room was decorated with floral popcorn containers and movie themed decor.

Flowers by Johnny did a wonderful job with these creative, fun flowers!

The cake, designed by Ohlson's Bakery, was designed based upon the invitation. 

I wanted to keep the games to a minimum, but did have a game called "Give the Baby His Bottle", in which other men challenged the dad-to-be in a drinking contest (milk out of a baby bottle of course!).  Needless to say, this game took a bit of time and patience!

Favors were popcorn & soda flavored jelly beans in these adorable "Ready to Pop" containers!

Congratulations and best wishes Lauren & Brad - you are going to be great parents!

Inspiration Board: Fresh and Pretty

We have been getting ready for a lot of outdoor weddings this Summer, and I thought I would share this inspiration board for a fresh and pretty yellow wedding....enjoy!