What to Look For

Before you start shopping, it’s essential to look at what style wedding you want to have. If you’re planning a traditional wedding, you may want to focus on possibly classic satin dresses for your bridesmaids. However if you’re looking to have a more modern or unconventional wedding, then you may want to consider dresses that might be more unique and some would even consider ‘risky’. I personally love to check Cicinia’s website for ideas and suggestions for different dress styles.

Here are some tips:

1. Choose a dresses that are comfortable for your party. Dresses should be comfortable enough to wear all evening long. Don’t get something that you can’t breathe in. I recommended dresses with straps, so it can be tightened up or loosened if necessary.
2. Choose a style that is flattering to the average body shape of your bridesmaids. You don’t want the dresses to look like a “bombshell,” but it also doesn’t need to be too revealing or too low-cut. Consider the dancing for example. You don’t want your bridesmaids to be too shy to dance because of the style of dress they’re asked to wear.
3. Consider the style of wedding, like a civil ceremony or an open-air, choose a dress that will look great on both you and your guests. If you’re planning a beach party then choose something more revealing or low-cut.
4. Avoid a common dress shopping mistake and leave plenty of time for the measurements to be taken before ordering any of the dresses. This will help ensure that the dress fits well and looks great on everyone.

Match or Mismatch

Mismatched bridesmaid dresses are a hot wedding trend. They’re also a great way to showcase each bridesmaid’s personality, while encouraging them to have fun with their look. Plus, they’re a great way to relieve some of your own dress-shopping stress.

You picked your perfect Maid of Honor (MOH)… or so you thought! But now, your best friend isn’t doing the pre-wedding duties that you thought she would. She’s not picking up your calls, and she’s too busy to help with your DIY invitations. Maybe you haven’t heard a peep about the bridal shower that she was going to plan, or she dropped the ball on some other duty that the two of you discussed. What should you do? Here’s a game plan that you can follow that will help you keep your wedding plans on track, while keeping your relationship in tact, too!

Communicate — Even if it’s Uncomfortable

When your older sister, the woman you chose to be your MOH, blows off dress shopping for the second time that month because something with work came up, it might be tempting to just say, “no problem” and let her off the hook. Don’t! Instead, be open about how her actions make you feel.

Communicating feelings is challenging — especially if you really wish everything was just going smoothly. Don’t ignore your feelings. If you feel like your MOH is shirking her duties, blowing you off, or prioritizing everything else in her life before your wedding, you have to speak up. Explain your perception of things, and see what she says.

She might be overwhelmed with work or relationship problems of her own, and therefore unable to be there for you like you need her to be. If that’s the case, it’s best to know sooner rather than later! See what you can do to make her duties more manageable until her personal stressors are done with. If she’s blowing off dress shopping because of a big work assignment, get clear on the fact that she’ll be dedicated to her role again once the project is done. In the meantime, invite another bridesmaid along when you try on gowns.

Check Yourself

Be honest about your behaviors. Have you been overwhelming your best friend with late-night texts about how much you’re freaking out about your big day? Have you been snapping at her, due to your own stress? Have you been assuming she has the cash for certain financial obligations, without asking her? Look closely at your own behaviors. If you find some that have been, ah hem, less than perfect — change them. It’s never too late to change, forgive, and forget!

Relieve Some Pressure

Being a MOH is a major time, money, and energy commitment. If you sense that your MOH is no longer showing enthusiasm about her duties — or neglecting them outright — it might be because she has too much on her plate. The initial excitement of being asked to be your MOH might have fueled her to say ‘yes’ to things that she’s not comfortable doing, like planning a bridal shower for twenty women, some of whom she barely knows. Help her delegate some of the duties that feel heaviest to other friends and family. Say something like, “I’ve noticed you haven’t sent out invitations to the bridal shower yet… my friend Dee from work loves party planning, so I’ll ask her to take care of it.” Watch your MOH’s face light up with relief!

Offer Alternatives

If none of the above steps work, you might have to offer your MOH an out. You’ve tried communicating, modifying your own behaviors, and taking some duties off of her plate, and she’s still not coming through for you. Maybe she’s really not up for the job. Tactfully give her an opportunity to bow out and be a bridesmaid instead of your MOH, and assure her that your relationship won’t change because of it.

Now that you have some strategies to use, do you feel better about your own MOH situation? Leave a comment, below.

The Bolder the Better

Narrow stripes can look busy and unflattering. The many lines create an optical-illusion effect that is not pleasing to the eye. Bold stripes, on the other hand, can be very flattering!

Horizontal Stripes Work Best

Choose horizontal stripes, over vertical or diagonal ones. When your bridesmaids are lined up together, the pattern of all of the dresses together looks gorgeous.

Short and Tea-length Dresses Balance the Look

Too many stripes can be overwhelming. Instead, consider a dress that stops at or above the knee, or is tea-length. This cuts down on the number of stripes, and can really balance the overall look of your bridal party.

Pair Skirts with Strapless Tops

A cute alternative to a dress is a skirt! Pair a striped skirt with a strapless top. The top should be a solid color, as the skirt will be the focus of the outfit. For more ideas or inspiration for more traditional bridesmaid dresses check out Cicinia.

Do you see why this look is so trendy right now? It’s fun, unique, and stylish. Do you think you might dress your ladies in stripes? Leave a comment below.

There’s nothing quite like throwing an awesome bachelorette party on the beach. The sand, sun, and surf provide the perfect backdrop for any special occasion and, once the tropical drinks start flowing, it’s easy to get your party on. Whether you are planning an intimate beach party for the bride-to-be and her pals or you’re trying to put on the party that everyone will talk about for years to come, the beach is the perfect setting for any bachelorette party.

If you want your party to be amazing for all the right reasons, though, a bit of careful planning is required. After all, you want the guest of honor (and everyone else!) to remember the party because it was so amazing—not because it was a total disaster. Here are a few tips for throwing a beach-themed bachelorette party that any beach babe will love.

Choose the Right Location

First things first. Before you can start working out all the details, you need to know where the party will be taking place. Figure out whether you want to host the bash close to home or travel to a location. If you happen to live near a beach, hosting the party nearby will save everyone some money and allow you to have a great time without needing to worry about things like flights.

If you plan on heading out of town, start planning as early as possible. This will ensure that all attendees have time to book flights, get passports, plan for childcare while they are away, etc. When you’re looking at potential destinations, be mindful of other things that may be going on at the same time. If you’re wanting a relaxing beach vacay, for example, you will probably want to avoid traveling to a tropical vacation hot spot during spring break season. It never hurts to call around to a few resorts to find out when would be the best time to travel.

Figure Out Food and Drinks

No bachelorette party is complete without a menu of yummy foods and mouth-watering drinks. Talk to the bride-to-be to find out her idea of a perfect meal. She may want a five-star gourmet meal, or she may just want to grab a pizza or enjoy some homemade treats from a backyard pizza oven. Figure out the menu and make arrangements with caterers as needed. If you are doing something simple like a beach cookout, figure out who is paying for the food and making the arrangements. If you plan on dining at a beachfront restaurant, make reservations or, at the very least, call to make sure the restaurant can accommodate your group.

The drinks are a big part of most bachelorette parties, too, so make sure you have a game plan. Bar hopping along the boardwalk is always a fun way to spend a night, but if you are planning on spending your time hanging on the beach, you’ll need to have a more solid plan. Figure out if you will be bringing your own beverages or paying to have them delivered to you. If you choose to have your party at an all-inclusive beachside resort, of course, you and the rest of the wedding party can have drinks delivered to you by the resort staff. When it comes to keeping things simple, this is often the best option.

Come up with a game plan for who is paying for everything, who is responsible for what, etc. A bachelorette party on the beach can be expensive, so it’s usually best to split the bill between a few people.

Plan Your Activities

Does the bride-to-be want to spend an entire day on the beach soaking up some rays, or would she rather go on a hike through a tropical rainforest? Or maybe some time at the spa is more her style? If you are heading to a local beach, you’ll likely spend most of your time on the beach swimming, listening to the waves, and working on your tan. You may also want to consider planning a game of beach volleyball or coming up with some other fun oceanside games.

If you are heading to the beach for a long weekend, you’ll probably need to have some more plans in mind. While you may spend the evening of the actual party dancing on the beach and downing fruity drinks, you will need some things to do during the day. Check out local shopping destinations and tourist attractions to figure out how to spend your time while you’re away. Remember that the weekend is all about the bride-to-be and choose activities that she will love. Make sure she’s happy and spoiled for the entire trip.

Make Amazing Goodie Bags

No beach bachelorette party would be complete without awesome goodie bags for all the attendees. Instead of going the traditional route, get each guest a monogrammed beach bag and fill it with beach essentials. A bag stuffed with sunglasses, a beach towel, sunscreen, lip balm, flip flops, and other necessities is the perfect gift to get everyone in the mood for an amazing party. Pick out some special customized gifts for the ladies in the bridal party, and everyone in attendance will feel valued and ready for the big day.

Conclusion

Planning a beach-themed bachelorette party doesn’t have to be difficult. Keep the bride-to-be’s interests and preferences in mind when making decisions, and you will be able to plan a day (or a weekend) that she will remember for years to come. Whether you are heading to a local beach or traveling to a tropical destination, the tips above will help you plan a party that everyone will enjoy.

Merry Everything… Not Just Christmas

The holiday season is upon us, and one Houston-based couple is celebrating by launching a company of their own. Merry Expressions, a bridal and event products company, opened its online doors. The e-commerce store includes products that are designed to be used during life’s milestone moments. The founders are also passionate about giving back to causes.

They state that the idea for Merry Expressions came to them when they were thinking about what their family of four stood for. The couple, who have two daughters, are passionate about business, and they wanted to combine this passion with the aspects of family life that they cherish. The owner said, “We love hearing our children’s laughter echoing within the walls of our home, we love beauty and we love business!”

Merry Expressions sells products which people can use while celebrating significant moments, like weddings, birthdays, and graduations. Current products include high quality cake toppers, welcome bags with gold lettering, and gift boxes with beautiful satin ribbon details.

The company donates a portion from their revenue to great causes. The donations go to nonprofits, which customers can vote on each month. So far, the couple has brought awareness to illiteracy, child labor, and human trafficking.

The owners were excited to launch before the holiday shopping season. They also plan on releasing more products in late December and early January. You can see what Merry Expressions has to offer by visiting www.merryexpressions.com/products

You go through a lot of trouble so you can have that dream wedding. How can you show them how much you appreciate their help? Here are five ways.

Treat Them to a Spa

You and your bridesmaids will become so tired from the flurry of activities before, during, and after the wedding. That doesn’t mean you should all forget pampering yourselves, though. Get away from the busyness of the wedding preparations by spending a relaxing day at the spa, and recharge yourselves before the wedding day comes.

Give Them Personalized Gifts

You have your customary wedding giveaways, but your bridal party is a unique group. Surely your bridesmaids deserve more-personal reminders of their supporting role on your big day. Buy them special monogram robes and other gifts that reflect their personal tastes or the things they like. These presents don’t have to be expensive, check for cheap bridesmaid robes or other sale products to save up. As long as you put a lot of thought and love into them, the gifts should be very much appreciated.

Have a Ladies’ Night

You’ve probably met your bridesmaids at different times and places, so it’s likely that not all of them may know one another. It’s best that they feel comfortable in one another’s company during the preparations and on the wedding day itself, so a get-together should break the ice. Have a pajama party at home or drinks at the bar, or huddle for coffee. Who knows, these gatherings may start new lifelong friendships.

Schedule a Photo Shoot for Their Personal Portraits

Weddings are usually once-in-a-lifetime events, and because they are special, every memory of them is worth keeping. Make your bridesmaids’ moments unforgettable by taking snapshots of each of your bridesmaids. Let the camera see them at their most candid and most beautiful selves. Give your bridesmaids framed photos of themselves.

Write Them Customized Thank-You Notes

Of course, nothing beats a well-composed note that expresses the full sincerity of your gratitude for their help. Words still are powerful enough to move people. Take the time to gather your thoughts and put them all in an old-fashioned letter. This gesture will surely touch the hearts of your bridesmaids. If you’re feeling artsy, you can hand-letter your notes.

Last Reminder

The married life is another journey altogether, but it all starts with a carefully planned wedding. You go through the roller-coaster ride of choosing the fabrics, motif, and colors and wading through the checklist of details, among other things.

Maybe you’ll experience something as wild as what happened in the movie Bridesmaids, or maybe everything goes off without a hitch or any mishaps. Whatever the case may be, your bridesmaids’ contributions to a successful wedding event are valuable, and your acknowledgment of their efforts is equally important.

Don’t you love this photo? These masks make for an original bridesmaid photo that goes with the artistic desert theme of this destination wedding in Sonora, Mexico. Are you looking forward to taking silly, quirky pictures with your girls? Here are a few ideas for photos with props.

1. Hold up colorful masks as in the picture above!

2. Put on hilarious mustaches that will make you giggle.

3. Have each girl display a chalkboard sign (how about a message to the groom? He’s one lucky guy!)

4. Make a parody shot styled as a toss the bouquet moment (don’t worry, the cat can be Photoshopped in!)

5. Three cheers for the bride: line up your ladies facing away from the camera and hold up your drink of choice!

Do you have any other ideas for silly bridesmaid photos? How about posing around an over-sized wreath, heart, or picture frame? What else could you do? Be sure to share them in the comments section below!

Fishtail braid via Bridal Musings

Loose French Braid via Svatby,barvy,koláže

Left: Fabmood | Right: Hair by Tonya Stylist Hair & Make Up

Above 3: Missy Sue

Pinterest

Left: Pinterest | Right: Amanda McKinnon Photography

Side Braid for Shorter Hair, via Bajan Wed

Left: Halo braid by Twist Me Pretty | Right: Jeweled Braid via Holistic Habits

Double braid on Sarah Nagel of Holistic Habits

• Comfortable elastic to keep your toesies secure and dancing at your best
• Padding for optimal comfort
• Faux leather that compliments any outfit and is also weather resistant (so your guests can wear them all the way home)
• Flexible scuff proof soles

Wondering how many to order? They recommend 1 box set per 60 wedding guests. These luxury slippers are so much better than just going barefoot for the night.

Wow did these come in handy. Even though I specially put on the invitation that high heels were highly discouraged due to uneven terrain, of course women still wore their heels. Every single woman was wearing a pair of these by the end of the night, and everyone could not thank me enough for getting them. Thanks Rescue Flats! – Priscilla, Wedding Date: 10/11/2014

Read more about what people are saying about Rescue Flats here.

Shop Luxe Ballet Flat Wedding Favors at Rescue Flats!

FTC This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of my links I will receive a small percentage.

I make each locket with love and care and this one I’ve designed with a flowering vine embossed back. You can choose your letter and whether you’d like a black background and white letter, or ivory/cream background and blush pink letter (see all options here). Plus, I can include a little piece of parchment paper with “will you be my bridesmaid” on it if you’d like!

Many of my designs include fine art photography or vintage botanical prints. Each locket tells a story, evokes an emotion, or glimpses a seemingly intangible realm, and is lovingly packaged in a beautiful violet velvet drawstring pouch.

Special deal just for you, Violets!

Now through August 2nd use code SWEETVIOLET20 to get 20% off your monogram lockets.

p.s. This discount is good for other lockets in the Etsy shop too 😉