Today’s couples are looking for unique ways to personalize their weddings and the festivities surrounding the day. A fun way for the bride and groom to express their individuality is by creating their very own signature drink(s) for their reception.

You can even feature your special designer drink at the pre-wedding events, such as:

• Engagement parties
• Bridal showers
• Rehearsal dinner
• Cocktail hour
• and of course, the reception itself

Image: istockphoto

Signature drinks are a great way to represent the unique personality of the couple, whether they are fun-loving, metropolitan, casual or exotic. These tasty libations will surely be something the guests will rave about for years! Offer the recipe on your wedding blog so guests can recreate the taste at home.

Consulting with a knowledgeable bartender is the best way to design a one-of-a-kind concoction which fits the mood of their celebration and takes into account personal tastes and color choices. Have your friends help you brainstorm a fun name for your signature drink. You can even have an enjoyable evening, experimenting with your own drink mixing or taste testing the drink options your bartender has created.

Consider coordinating the colors of your wedding with those of your specialty cocktail. If your wedding colors are brown, ivory and ice blue, you can feature bar drinks such as Chocolate Martinis, White Russians and Blue Ice cocktails. Color choice is an important element when creating a signature drinks as well. Imagine your signature drink matching your bridesmaid’s dress and reception décor!

If you not want the expense of a full bar consider serving two or three of signature drinks along with several wine choices. Or open specialized drink stations with basic liquors and a variety of fun mixers where guests can actually create their own signature drinks by themselves. Ideas for drink stations include:

• Bloody Mary bars
• Mimosa stations
• Martini bars
• Coffee stations

Ideas for your own signature drinks are only limited by your own imagination. So bottoms up and toast your nuptials with a color coordinated, tasty signature drink.

Going green has hit the wedding scene in a big way in the last few years. The environmental impact of a wedding can be astronomical, causing eco-conscious brides and grooms to choose more earthly friendly options for their weddings. You can even determine the carbon offsetting required for your soiree’ at NativeEnergy.com. To help ease the environmental impact, brides are selecting green wedding invitations and fair trade wedding gifts to help the earth rather than hurt it.

Image: istockphoto

Green Wedding Invitations
Wedding invitations set the tone and formality of the wedding but once the wedding is over, they are usually tossed out. Help keep your wedding invitation out of the landfills by selecting handmade, plantable wedding invitations from BotanicalPaperworks.com. After the wedding, your guests can plant the invite and watch wildflowers grow in its space.

At your wedding, make sure to use recycled paper in everything from your programs to your dinner napkins. You can find personalized eco-friendly napkins at reasonable prices at The Knot Wedding Shop.

Eco-Friendly Favors and Gifts
We’ve all been to a wedding where the favor was impractical or useless. In addition to choosing a fun and practical wedding favor, choose one that is ecological friendly. You can buy a variety of green wedding favors at The Knot Wedding Shop.

The Knot Wedding Shop

Seed Bookmarks – The seed-infused handmade paper bookmarks actually produce real wildflowers when planted in shallow soil and watered. Customize them with your names and wedding date and pass them out on your big day. Love will bloom. Available in your choice of seed paper color.

Eco-Friendly Photo Album Favors – Make your green wedding even more memorable with favors of eco-friendly mini photo albums. The planet-conscious design is big on style: each white recycled paper album with sage-green and cream accents fastens with a chic button and natural-twine loop. Each album favor contains 12 pages for 3″ x 5″ photos.

Buy Locally
When planning your reception’s menu or for your floral arrangements, consider buying locally. Many caterers and florists are familiar with local sources and can suggest substitutions that won’t break the bank or cause undue travel and shipping costs.

Register for Fair Grade Gifts
Don’t just give green gifts—ask for them. You can register for socially conscious gifts at GlobalExchange as well as at many traditional wedding registries.

JustGive.org allows you to create a wedding webpage that encourages contributions to your favorite charities. This can be used in conjunction with a traditional registry or on its own as a gift giving alternative.

With just a little research and forethought, you can have a green wedding that is socially conscious and eco-friendly without sacrificing the beauty or the customs of a traditional wedding.

Image: sxc.hu

How Much Will It Cost?
Since budget is often at the forefront of wedding planning, some of the the key questions couples will ask potential bakers center around financial concerns. One of the best ways to keep cake costs is to provide a small, ornate cake for the ceremony and a larger, less decorated cake to be kept in the kitchen, later cut and served to guests. This can save enormously on the budget without anyone taking notice.

Another budgeting concern with regard to wedding cake is the cost of delivery and set up. Ask bakers directly if special fees apply for this service. Pillars, bridges, toppers and other accoutrements are often rented from the baker or included within the cost of the cake. It’s important to discover how these items are handled and request an itemized charge list for them.

How Will It Get There?
Speaking of delivery, how the cake is handled during transport will be a factor when you’re planning what style of cake to serve. For a wedding held during the warmer summer months, it’s important the delivery vehicle be air-conditioned. Whipped cream and other delicate frostings don’t do well in hot, humid weather. If an outdoor wedding is planned, it’s best to consider more durable frosting and cakes without cream fillings to assure freshness or take measures to provide a cool, air-conditioned environment for the cake until right before serving.

Keeping the cake fresh isn’t merely a matter of providing the right environment on the big day, however. It’s important to ask each prospective baker approximately when your cake will be prepared and frosted. Although they are made well in advance and many take several days to complete due to their detail, wedding cakes should never be prepared more than ten days in advance or frosted more than three days prior to presentation. If fresh flowers are to be used for decoration, it’s a good idea to inquire whether or not the baker can collaborate directly with your florist on this.

Can You Check References?
When choosing a baker, ask to see a portfolio of their past designs. If you don’t have a specific style or design in mind, this may help with creative ideas. Also, the portfolio gives couples an idea of the baker’s decorating abilities. Usually they will also provide references upon your request. Any confectionery artist without portfolio and references should probably be avoided.

While planning their wedding day, if a couple already has a specific style of cake in mind, it’s crucial to know if a potential baker can create a cake from your design ideas, drawings or photographs. Be sure to inquire about any extra fees that may be associated with this service.

After all these questions are answered, it’s always a good idea to request your order and a cost breakdown in writing. This makes it easier to choose which style of cake you’ll serve at the reception and compare the relative value of each of your choices.

Finally, the fun part: sampling prospective wedding cakes. Most confectioners offer samples of their cakes and various frostings for the bride and groom. While your hearts may be set on a specific cake, it’s always a good idea to try alternative choices when planning your wedding. Testing what each baker typically has to offer can narrow your choices considerably and may even result in the couple taking a different direction regarding style and flavors.

Find more images from garrisonphoto.org/sxc

Wedding Dress Fabrics

What types of fabric might a bride choose? Traditional bridal dresses come in an array of various fabrics, including taffeta, silk, chiffon, satin, charmeuse, organza and tulle. More modern gowns include cotton, polyester and even hemp.

Image: istockphoto

Let’s examine some of these textiles in greater detail:

Taffeta, has been around since at least the Renaissance period, as it was referenced by Shakespeare. Made of silk or other synthetic fibers, it’s a smoothly woven, sharp fabric. Yarn-dyed taffeta, as opposed to piece-dyed, is most often used in high-end gowns because it is stiffer and more formal appearing. Cost can vary depending on what fibers are being used in the weaving.

The most common type of silk is made from the larvae cocoons of the silkworm, and is prized for its prism-like structure that beautifully reflects light. Commercial silk is not made from cocoons damaged by the emerging moth, as with silk harvested in the wild, so the strands on the former are longer, easier to work with and create a much stronger overall product. They are also easier to dye.

Satin is a high-gloss finished fabric with a dull back. It’s very high-luster due to a great number of missed interlacings. The body of the fabric is similar to silk but a favorite for wedding dresses because it doesn’t have a great deal of excess weight to it. Also it is generally less expensive than silk.

Charmeuse is a satin weave which drapes easily and is more soft and supple than satin. It creates a very elegant, loosely draped looks, but is more prone to tearing and may pucker if laundered. It’s also quite reflective of light, with a satin finish.

Organza is a thinner, plain weave usually used for more simplistic and sophisticated gowns. It is also traditionally made from the filament of silkworms.

Tulle is the netting usually found underneath a bridal gown which gives it the lift and fullness. It’s also found in tutus and bridal veils.

Image: istockphoto

Wedding Dress Designs

Once fabrics are chosen, a bride planning her wedding day can turn to design. Not only are visits to bridal stores a great way to get ideas, but so are magazines and pictures.

Decide what overall style best suits your frame and appearance. Casual dresses are an obvious choice for the bride wishing to reuse her gown; they can be be created in two-pieces, offering more versatility. They’re generally less ornate, more comfortable than their traditional counterparts, yet still dressy enough for such a special event.

Also important to factor-in when choosing a dress style is season and climate. If a wedding is less formal and outdoors, a non-traditional choice such as a sundress might be ideal for a more casual look. Beach weddings also lend themselves to less formal dresses.

If your wedding is in a colder season or climate, sleeves, a light coat made of the same fabric as the wedding dress or a warmer matching stole would be appropriate.

For more formal affairs there are styles such as ballgown dresses or more slinky and sophisticated cuts with clear, crisp lines and less complicated adornments. Currently, the hottest trends are towards a more sophisticated look. Many of them are in the A-line style or sheath, a straighter cut from top to bottom, more form-fitting than other styles. A sheath is generally fitted most tightly to the body and floor length.

Empire wedding dress form is fitted closely to the body nearer the bust and the skirt begins directly below the bust line. Usually the length is to a bride’s knee or calf. These are great for maternity wedding dresses or for someone seeking a fresh alternative to more conventional dresses.

During the 1980’s, however, Princess Diana’s ballgown look was the favored style.

Ballgown dresses tend to vary from extremely ornate to understated, depending on the amount of embroidery and extensive detailing created on the fabric. Use of buttons, fabric flounces and draping, as well as extensive tulle and a wide, hoop-skirt style bottom are all characteristics of ballgown wedding dresses. Often they’re inspired by the Victorian and Renaissance era.

Finally, another popular style is the mermaid dress. A mermaid dress is gathered tightly to the hips and legs, all the way down to the bottom. The bottom of the dress is tailored to scallop outward, giving it the traditional mermaid “tail” appearance and can be the same color as the bodice part of the dress or a different color.

Regardless of what style dress a bride chooses when planning her wedding day, it’s always important to take into consideration the following: body style, fabric, detailing, desired function of the dress, the bride’s general comfort with specific styles and looks, climate and season. Bearing these in mind, any bride-to-be can find a fabulous dress style and fabric that’s tailor-made for the couple’s special day.

With the sudden interest in photo booth rentals, rental companies have popped up all over the country. There is a nostalgia factor for photo booths, which is mixed in with pure entertainment and novelty. Young or old, your guests will love the option to take fun, free candid photos inside a photo booth.

Renting a Booth

Photo Booth

Rental companies dealing in photo booths are growing in popularity. Many photographers and traditional rental companies will offer this service including several add-on services such as scrapbooks, CD-ROMs, online viewing or alternative guest books.

The first decision to make is whether to choose a vintage photo booth or a new digital booth. A vintage booth is harder to transport but they are truly nostalgic and a rarer find. The digital photo booth will often look exactly like a traditional booth but has digital photo options, including archiving the photos taken and the option for ordering prints after the wedding.

A photo booth will normally cost between $1,000 and $3,000 depending on your area, the length of rental, the type of booth and the extra services purchased. Be sure to ask before you sign the contract what is included in the package. Often prints can be custom printed with your wedding date, names or a frame. You will also want to know how many prints are included or if the booth rental is by the hour. A photo booth at your wedding is definitely a unique addition that will cause plenty of sensation.

Photo Booth Extras
In addition to being a big hit at your reception, your photo booth rental can also serve several other purposes. A guest book can be placed nearby and the photo candids can be attached inside along with the guest’s signatures. Some digital booths even create twin prints, so your guest will have one and one can be used in the guest book.

Image: The Knot Wedding Shop

If you are looking for a guest book, check out The Knot Wedding Shop where you can find an assortment of wedding guest books in every price range. The Tied with a Bow guest book and pen set pictured here is just $36.00.

Encouraging all your guests to partake of the photo booth will assure that you will have a photo record of each of your guests. Digital photo booths archive each and every photograph, storing them so they can be printed and viewed later. Depending on your rental provider, many will offer online photo galleries of your prints, allowing all your guests to see the fun prints.

Renting a photo booth is a big decision but one that you are not likely to regret. Seeing the fun your guests are having and ordering your favorite prints will make this a great decision for your wedding.

They were definitely supported by others involved with True Blood. Creator Alan Ball, along with co-stars Ryan Kwanten, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley and Carrie Preston were in attendance.

The wedding invitation is your guests’ first glimpse into your wedding’s formality and style. The wedding invitation sets the tone for your special day and reflects the unique personality of your union. It is a harbinger of your monumental first steps into married life.

In the past, the options for wedding invitations were limited to the standard white or ecru folded note cards that you ordered out of a big, bulky catalog. Today, the happy couple has an unlimited palette of invitation options including custom handmade invitations.

Image: istockphoto

Unless you are a capable artist yourself, do not plan to make your wedding invitations yourself. Once restricted to engraved or letterpress printing only, there is still the highest expectation of quality with it comes to your wedding invitation. This is an area where you do not want to skimp.

There are several unique and affordable options for a handmade wedding invitation that still looks sumptuous and elegant. Dochelle Custom Creations has created a fabulous line of handcrafted invitations and wedding stationery that includes “spectacular embellishments and luxurious accents.” From a glistening tulle ribbon tie to your engagement picture printed on vellum, these wedding invitations are one of a kind. Beautiful Swarovski crystal buckles or stylish monograms adorn a few of these invites, adding a classy touch and creating a conversation piece.

You can even opt to have hand painted wedding invitations, created by a true artiste. Kristy Rice of Momental Designs is one such artist that creates beautiful works of art for her wedding clientele. “Weddings are joyous yet fleeting occasions that deserve the utmost in creative details,” Rice said. Her hand painted designs will create a keepsake that you and your guests will treasure for years to come. Hand painting can be done in the form of accents, floral designs and even landscapes.

Besides handmade wedding invitations, many couples are also commissioning handmade wedding programs, place cards or save the date cards.

Image: The Knot Wedding Shop

If you are on a budget, you can also make beautiful wedding invitations yourself with a little help. You can find DIY wedding invitation kits that will get you started.

The Rose Vine Invitation Kit is available at The Knot Wedding Shop. This wedding invitation is adorned with a veritable garden of sugar-white roses, rather like our favorite wedding cakes. The cut-paper design is deliciously ornate; personalize and print the white vellum insert with an easy, online template.

Limited only by your imagination, you can choose a wedding invitation that is truly a work of art.

Chelsea Clinton Wedding

Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie
Hilary Duff married hockey player Mike Comrie on Saturday, August 14, 2010. The couple, who had been dating since 2007, wed in front of 100 guests at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara.

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz
Alicia Keys and Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean were married on July 31, 2010 in a ceremony held in a private home on the Mediterranean Sea. The couple is expected their first child later this year.

T.I. and Tiny
After exchanging vows in a Miami Beach courthouse the day before, T.I. and Tiny celebrated their marriage with a fairytale wedding with celebrity friends on the exclusive Star Island on Saturday, July 31, 2010.

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski
Actress Emily Blunt and John Krasinski (Jim from The Office) wed at the Villa D’este in Como, Italy on July 10, 2010.

La La and ‘Melo
MTV’s La La Vazquez and NBA star Carmelo Anthony were married on July 10, 2010 after a five-year engagement. Their 3-year-old son, Kiyan, escorted them down the aisle.

Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher
Carrie Underwood married hockey player Mike Fisher on July 10, 2010 with 250 guest in attendance at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge in Greensboro, GA.

Jenna Fischer and Lee Kirk
Jenna Fischer (Pam from The Office) and Lee Kirk got married over 4th of July weekend, as did Johnathon Schaech and Jana Kramer. The latter couple have already split up!

Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom
Only a month after confirming their engagement, it was announced on July 22, 2010 that Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom were wed in a secret ceremony on an undisclosed Caribbean island.

Bridal Fair

Bridal Fair Attendance Advice

Create custom address labels to save yourself from hand cramping. You will be asked for your basic information at most booths as well for any raffles or giveaways. Don’t just use your old address labels though since it is missing the most important information.

You can create custom labels easily with computer printed label sheets. Just type out your name along with the groom’s name and include your address, phone number, email address and most importantly, your wedding date. When you are handed a form or slip to fill out, just slap on one of your labels—saving yourself time and energy.

Ask about the show specials and special offers as soon as you enter the booth. Make sure to jot down any important details and specifics, including how long the special is offered. Many bridal fair specials must be booked at the bridal show but many will allow you to book within 48 hours after the bridal show, if you ask.

Bring a rolling tote to carry the many, many magazines, brochures and flyers you will be collecting. Tuck a sticky note pad and extra pen in an easy to reach pocket for jotting notes about a specific vendor. Attach the note directly to their sales materials so you can keep everyone’s show specials straight.

Make sure to register for all the giveaways. It is one of the perks of attending a bridal show. If you win a prize you don’t want or have already booked, ask if you can have the money equivalent or if you can trade the offered service for another. (For example, trade the photography package prize for an equal value of videography.)

Wear comfortable shoes and take a break mid-way through the day to sort through your collected literature. If you have brought your groom, get his opinion on what he likes and dislikes. Make a list of questions for vendors you want to revisit.

Make a second round. Stop by the booths you are most interested in and talk to the owners about any special incentives or deals they can offer if you sign up at the bridal fair.

Image: istockphoto

Attractions
Chamonix draws winter – and summer – sports lovers, and romantics, from all over the world.  In addition to the outdoor attractions, Chamonix offers visitors a number of non-sporting attractions.  Among them are:

Aigulle du Midi Cable Car – Once the highest cable car in the world, this transport, built in 1955, takes visitors all the way to the top of Mt. Blanc.  You can even change to another line and continue down the other side into Italy.

Alpine Museum – This museum houses a collection of engravings, objects, and documents having to do with the history of the region, mountain-climbing, and the Winter Olympics of 1924.

Crystal Museum – Not to be confused with the Baccarat Museum in Paris, this small museum focuses on naturally-formed crystals and geodes.  Though the museum emphasizes local rocks and minerals, the collection also includes specimens from the Himalayas, the Rocky Mountains, and Namibia.

History
The earliest mention of the Chamonix Valley was in the 11th century when it became home to a large Benedictine abbey.  The history of the region as a winter sports resort began in 1741, when the area was “discovered” by two English adventurers, Richard Pocock and William Windham.  Their published version of their travels became widely popular in England and led to many moneyed tourists making the nine-day trek from London to the Alps.  Among the intrepid travelers were the poets Lord Byron and Percy Shelley.

The modern age of tourism for the valley began early in the 20th century when Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924.  Visitors to the valley fell in love with its scenic charm and today, the area boasts over 60,000 hotel beds.

Winter Sports
The Chamonix Valley encompasses six separate ski areas.  Among them are Le Brevart, La Flegere, Les Planards, Les Grands Montets, and Domaine de Balme.   Visitors staying in area hotels get a guest card good for free transportation among the different areas.  Although the valley offers skiing for all skill levels, it is particularly known for its extreme sports.  Included are ice-climbing, mountain biking, and extreme skiing.

Summer Sports
The advent of summer brings the hikers and mountain-climbers to the valley.  In addition, summer activities include mountain biking, canyoning, para-gliding, and white water rafting.

Visiting Chamonix
Chamonix is located in the heart of the French Alps, just over the border from Switzerland and Italy.  Visitors can fly into the small airport at Chamonix or one of the nearby international airports at Geneva Switzerland (52 miles away), Turin Italy (132 miles), or Lyon France (102 miles).  Regular bus and train service is also available from Geneva.

Accommodations in Chamonix vary from small bed and breakfast inns to luxury resorts.  There are also a number of house rentals available in and around the village.

Image: The Knot Wedding Shop

Once in town, hotel and other accommodations guests receive a guest card good for free access to the public transportation system that connects the six different ski areas.

Wherever you are going on your honeymoon, you’ll adore this honeymoon tote from the Knot Wedding Shop. This white canvas tote bag is perfect for sightseeing. On one side it reads “Honeymoon” and the other side can be embroidered with your just-married name. This cotton tote is eco-friendly and oh so cute. It measure 15″W x 9″H. This tote is priced at $11.95 and personalization is $7.75.