Rita’s writes:
“LeAnne;
I originally had you create an inspiration board for my clover and watermelon wedding, I have unfortunately changed my colors to shamrock and violet seen in the bridesmaid dresses attached, could you please create a new board for me using these colors. My bridesmaids will be in shamrock. Thanks so much for your help )
Rita”
Rita, no problem! I created your new inspiration board with flowers in greens and purples. We have a great pre-made ranunculus bouquet that would work great for you! Otherwise, if you wanted to create your own, why not make them using the green roses, green bells of ireland, either the purple zinnia or gerbera daisies, and accent with the purple hydrangea. Then you could wrap the bouquet stems with purple ribbon and accent that with green pins. I hope you like your board!
Dresses from Alfred Angelo.
Items used to create Rita’s Shamrock Green and Violet Wedding Inspiration Board from Afloral.com (clockwise starting at top left):
5″ Green Bells of Ireland Kissing Ball – SLK-AA0375-GR
Bridal Showers
- Who throws the shower?
The first party to be given in your honor will most likely be a shower, which can take place anywhere from two months to three weeks before the wedding. A shower is usually given by the maid of honor, the bridal party as a group, or some close friends. It is often a surprise.
Traditionally, it is considered inappropriate for the bride's immediate family to host the shower, since it appears as if they are asking for gifts. In many parts of the country, however, this has become an acceptable practice. Another way for the mother of the bride to get involved is to help defray the costs by footing some of the catering bill or offering her home as the location.
- Who's invited?
While any female (or male) who's on the wedding guest list can technically be invited to a shower, it's best to keep the event intimate, including only the bride's closest friends and relatives. The exception is a shower hosted by office workers, not all of whom may be attending the wedding but who wish to give you a celebratory send-off. It's also becoming increasingly common to host a coed shower for the couple's friends. These are generally held in addition to a traditional ladies-only event and are more casual.
Most showers have 20 to 40 guests. If more than one shower is being given, it's best to avoid duplicating the guest lists, since buying several gifts can become a real financial burden. If as many as three showers are being planned, encourage the hostesses to combine them into one or two larger events.
- When should the bridal shower take place?
The best time to hold a shower is one to two months before the wedding. As the actual event draws near, the bride herself will become busier. Invitations for the shower should be sent no later than three to four weeks before the date of the event. They should include the names of the hostesses; the name of the bride,; the date, time and location of the party; a mention that its a surprise (if thats the case); any special themes; and an R.S.V.P. name and phone number. If the bride has registered her gift preferences, it is acceptable to list the name and phone number of the store on the shower invitation (but never on the wedding invitation!).
- Is the bridal shower casual or formal?
The shower itself can be as casual as a pool party or as formal as a sit-down luncheon. If several parties are being planned, it can be fun to differentiate them with themes, such as a lingerie shower or kitchen shower. This also helps to avoid duplicate gifts. Another popular idea is to include a "wishing well," for which each guest brings a small household item in addition to their other gift. These smaller items are thrown into the wishing well, which can be rented, borrowed or made.
- What do we do at the shower?
While it used to be de rigueur to play games at showers, most brides today prefer something a little more low-key. Plan on the shower lasting about three to four hours. Guests generally arrive a half hour or so before the bride, so everyone is there to shout "surprise!" Then the bride makes her round of greetings and the food is served. After everyone eats, the bride begins opening gifts. Bridesmaids should stand by to help with the unwrapping and someone should record whom each gift is from. Cards should be placed in each box to make doubly sure no gift giver goes unidentified. Afterward, cake and coffee is served and the party begins to break up. The host or hostesses will also want to make arrangements for the bride and groom to get all of the gifts home.
The Bridesmaids Luncheon
Hosted by the bride for her attendants, the bridesmaids luncheon is given a few weeks before the wedding as a way to say thank you to the women in the wedding party. The bride may present her attendant gifts at this event, and a pink cake with a trinket baked inside is traditionally served for dessert. According to legend, the bridesmaid whose slice contains the trinket—which can be a ring, thimble or charm—will be the next to wed.
Since busy prewedding schedules do not always allow for a last-minute luncheon, you might want to find another way to say thanks. Another good time to treat everyone to a lunch or evening cocktails is when you are all out shopping for dresses. You may also hold a get-together at your home.
The Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties
The thought of a bachelor party sends shivers of fear down the spine of many a bride, but in most cases, the scenario of all-night drinking and exotic dancers popping out of cakes is nothing more than a myth.
The bachelor party originated because it was once believed that grooms needed one last chance to sow their oats before committing. Now, it's considered an opportunity to exorcise last-minute jitters. Either way, bachelor parties today take many forms—from a quiet dinner with buddies to a beer-and-pretzel poker game or a night at the casino. Bachelor parties generally include the male attendants, male siblings of the bride and groom, and the groom's closest friends. They are best held a week or two before the wedding—discourage your fiancé's groomsmen from scheduling one any later, or else a hangover might interfere with his wedding responsibilities.
Of course, there's no reason to stay at home by yourself that night—and bachelorette parties are the perfect solution. In fact, many bridal parties have adopted the idea and enjoy their own "girls' night out" with the bridemaids and close girlfriends just before the wedding.
The Rehearsal Dinner
Every wedding needs a rehearsal, and a rehearsal dinner immediately following is the perfect time to see that everyone in the wedding gets acquainted. Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is hosted by the groom's parents. Not only does this take some of the party-planning pressure off the bride and her parents, but it also helps the groom's family feel more involved.
The rehearsal dinner should be intimate enough to serve as a relaxing icebreaker. You will want to invite all those who attend the rehearsal itself:
- the members of the wedding party and their spouses or dates
- parents of children in the wedding party
- the officiant and his or her spouse or date
- your immediate families and their spouses or dates and children
- close friends or relatives who are participating in the ceremony
- It's also nice—if budget and space permit—to invite out-of-town wedding guests.
You may send out invitations or telephone guests and invite them. Either way, make sure you give them at least three weeks' notice, and be sure to provide the date and address of the location and an R.S.V.P. name and number.
The rehearsal dinner should be fun and lively—but there's no need to upstage or even attempt to equal the wedding itself. The most popular options include:
- an at-home party with a home-cooked or catered meal
- a restaurant with a private room or table large enough to seat everyone
- a catering hall.
The meal may be a sit-down or buffet, but either way guests should have a chance to mingle and get to know each other at some point.
Unlike a wedding reception, which revolves around music and dancing, the rehearsal dinner focuses on reminiscing about the bride's and groom's past. Generally cocktails and hors d oeuvres are served first, and the couple and their immediate families should make a point of introducing guests to each other.
Following the main course, dessert is served and the toasts begin. It's customary for the best man to start off by toasting the couple, and the groom's father (as host) may follow. At that point, everyone else can join in the fun, including the bride and groom, who will probably want to toast their parents as well.
Afterward the couple may present their gifts to the wedding party, their parents and each other. And at some point during the evening, the groom should discreetly pass the officiant's fee to the best man to bring with him the next day.
At the end of the evening (which should conclude early enough for a good night's rest), the bride and groom traditionally separate, not to see each other again until they arrive at the altar.
Wedding Guitarist Bristol

If you are looking to save some money when choosing invitations, pick blank wedding invitations. They can be just as beautiful as custom bought, but not nearly as expensive. Put some effort in to finding quality invitations first, and let your imagination take care of the rest.
You may think it’s difficult to find high quality blank wedding invitations but it’s really quite simple. You just have to allow yourself some time to look through the options available to you. This will not only save you money you can spend elsewhere on your wedding, but they can be just as elegant and beautiful as any others.
By choosing blank wedding invitations and planning a little time to make them, you can have the beautiful invitations you want. Just like all of your other personal devices, computers have come a long way and it’s easy to produce quality with what you have right on your desk.
Your guests will feel like you went all out buying the best when they see the invitations you made. They will have no clue that you used blank wedding invitations if you take the time to plan out what you want and use what you already have. Pick a pretty font type and use a quality printer and they’ll never know the difference.
Show your invitees who you are and what you are all about by choosing blank wedding invitations and making them yourself. It doesn’t take as much time as you think, especially if you ask for a little help from your friends in making them.
Don’t let yourself think by using blank wedding invitations you are going the cheap route. You will definitely save yourself some money by doing so, but it’s easy to make them look completely custom and done by a pro if you take the time to plan out the details of what you want.
Your whole wedding is a plan so make sure to plan some time to use blank wedding invitations and make them what you want instead of buying something done before. You can get help from members of your bridal party in making them and have them done in no time. this also lets your uniqueness shine through.
Don’t keep your guests guessing about what type of wedding they will be attending. By deciding to use blank wedding invitations and making something that says you by using your talents, they will not only get a glimpse into the wedding day, but they’ll get a glimpse into you as a person as well.
Bruce Carson helps brides get the information they need for their wedding supplies. If you want more information on blank wedding invitations, just visit his website. Searching for information and through blank wedding invitations options is the easiest way to get what you are looking for.
Related posts:
- Make Creative Wedding Invitations By Using Your Unique Style
- Affordable Wedding Invitations Does Not Mean Cheap
- Show Your Style In Your Wedding Shower Invitations
- Do You Really Need Invitations?
- Getting Married? What About Invite Cards?
Creative wedding invitation ideas can add some flair to your wedding. You can browse around and get ideas from what others brides have done before you, and take a little of their style combined with your own to create truly one of a kind invitations.
Creative wedding invitations could be an attractive keepsake for the guests. It can remain for display in guests’ living room reminding them of wedding date and keeping afresh memories of your wedding even after attending it. It will add to the dcor of the room. Important wedding information may be printed on a paper and stuck on the pot, or engraved.
Creative wedding invitations can be made unique by using many different methods. Think about what you love in life. Are you into dogs? How about pottery? The list is practically endless when you just stop and think about who you are and allow that to flow through to your wedding invitations.
Creative wedding invitations can be made special by making your own wedding invitations from a scrap booking hobby that you’ve already created, or just want to create. You can find all of the supplies you can think of to create your own unique and creative wedding invitations. You might have a hard time getting your groom to be involved in making them, but it’s an important time for the both of you so try to get him involved and have fun with it.
Creative wedding invitations are a more personal way to show your guests your unique style. When your guests open your invitations it is your chance to show your guests what type of affair your wedding will be. Everything on the invitation will cause your guests to draw a mental picture of what they believe will take place on your wedding day. From the text, font, and style, use this opportunity to make something special.
Creative wedding invitations are a means to inform people about the much anticipated exchange of vows between you and your future spouse. Whether you are on a tight budget or you have enough, it is not a hindrance for you to be creative and add more excitement to your wedding invitations. Preparing your own invitation will definitely be a good idea to bond with your partner and share different suggestions.
Creative wedding invitations are a more personal way to show your guests your unique style. When your guests open your invitations it is your chance to show your guests what type of affair your wedding will be. Everything on the invitation will cause your guests to draw a mental picture of what they believe will take place on your wedding day. From the text, font, and style, use this opportunity to make something special.
When making creative wedding invitations, it is crucial to use a good laser printer. Basic printing software should also be used to create and print card templates. Another crucial factor in the process is the selection of a special paper where the invitations are to be printed. Envelopes that match the chosen paper should also be purchased. For other decorations that may be used in the invitation cards, you can go to local craft and art stores.
Bruce Carson has been helping brides daily locate the supplies and necessities needed for their wedding day. For more resources and information on creative wedding invitations visit his site. The key to being successful in finding creative wedding invitations is searching in the right places.
Related posts:
- By Selecting Blank Wedding Invitations You Can Make Your Style Shine
- Show Your Style In Your Wedding Shower Invitations
- Unique Ideas For Wedding Invitation In Summertime
- Creative DIY invitations
- Creative DIY Wedding invitations
Wedding Guitarist Bristol