Unless you’re having an unplugged wedding, you’re going to want to have a wedding hashtag. Why? Here are some reasons to consider.

• Stay Organized: If you come up with a unique wedding hashtag early on in the wedding planning process, it can help you  organize all of the fun wedding party photos and snippets of news that are shared about your big day. This is useful for both you and your guests.
• Build Excitement: A wedding hashtag can help you get guests excited about the upcoming celebration.
• Make Guests Feel Included: When guests use the hashtag, they feel like part of the fun. When guests feel included, everyone benefits!
• Capture Candid Photos: You’ll get to see some candid shots that would have otherwise flown under the radar. Chances are, you would miss the post that your partner’s old college roommate made, which included a hilarious shot of your partner busting out a dance move. But if the post is marked with your hashtag, you can easily find it with a quick search!
• Share with Absent Guests: Guests who can’t make it can join in — at least in the online world! All they have to do is share a message or photo, and include the hashtag. They can also search for the unique phrase you’ve decided on, and get to see all that has been shared about the engagement, wedding, and reception.

So… are you convinced? Are you going to have a wedding hashtag? Leave a comment below!

Are you an introvert, planning for your big day? Here are some ideas that will help you keep the wedding planning, and the actual day of your wedding, pleasant instead of a nightmare. It’s your day, and you should enjoy it! Instead of dreading the small talk, speeches, or being the center of attention, use these ideas so that you can look forward to saying ‘yes’ to your soul mate!

1. Have a small bridal party — two to four maids of honor only.
2. Plan for some alone time on the day of your wedding — even if it’s just an hour or two, it will help!
3. Have an intimate ceremony and reception, with close friends and family only (or, elope!)
4. Instead of a reception with loud music and dancing, plan something on the quieter side.
5. Looking for a wedding venue? How about a museum or a library? These may appeal to your quiet side.
6. Delegate communication tasks to extrovert helpers; perhaps your mom can handle sending the invitations, or your talkative cousin can be in charge of greeting out of town relatives.
7. Just say “no” to speeches. Being nervous about giving a speech might ruin your experience of the day!

Are you an introvert bride? Which one of these seven ideas do you like the best? Let us know, below!

Wedding favors — should you have them, or not? The wedding favor is a little memento to give to your guests, to help them remember your day. Often times, the favor is something practical that the guest can use — like a bottle opener, a baking whisk, a little house plant, seeds for the garden, a fridge magnet… you get the idea! Or, it could be edible. Usually (but not always!), it’s customized in some way to make it unique to your wedding. These little items take some thought and planning. If you’re already overwhelmed with details to plan out, here’s some good news for you: you can skip the wedding favors! They are completely optional.

Reasons Not to have Wedding Favors

Not sure if you want to have wedding favors or not?  If you’re on the fence, here are some reasons to say “no”, and skip this extra touch.

• You’re going for a minimalist vibe
• You’re having a DIY wedding and you have too many craft projects on your plate already.
• Your wedding is just weeks away, and you have a million more important things to do, like book a DJ and a photographer.
• You have a tight budget, and if you buy wedding favors you’re going to have to skimp on something else.

Did this help you make up your mind? Leave a comment and let us know: Are you going to say “yes” or “no” to wedding favors?

Is your wedding venue going to have a fire pit? That’s exciting! No matter what time of year it is, from a starry summer night to a chilly winter afternoon, a fire pit can be a fun addition to your outdoor seating area. Here are some tips to help you use this aspect of your venue to the fullest! Give guests a cozy place to hang out, chat, and toast marshmallows. Most importantly, stay safe. Here’s how…

Do: Know the Restrictions

Several days before your big day, check with the local fire department or town government to see if there are any fire restrictions in place. Check again on the actual day of your wedding, as this may have changed. If the area is dry and winds are high, there could be a ban in place, which means you can’t have open flames. Get the details from people who are in the know, and play by the rules.

Do: Test it Before-Hand

Test out the fire pit yourself, to make sure you know how to light it. Or, delegate this task to the person who will be in charge of it during the party. The point is to know how to use it, instead of assuming that it’s simple. It might not be! Some fire pits have “on” buttons that are located in building interiors, or the pit could have a quirk that you need to figure out before hand (press the red button twice instead of once, and it lights!).

Do: Offer Cozy Extras and Treats!

The fire pit likely has benches or chairs around it, but instead of leaving it at that, why not add a little luxury? Put cushions on the chairs, and a stack of blankets for guests to wrap up in. Even if you already have a rockin’ dessert table inside your reception venue, consider putting s’more ingredients out, as well as some marshmallow roasting sticks.

Don’t: Rely on a Fire Pit for Providing Warmth

A fire pit provides a cozy, fun ambiance, but unless guests are within a few feet of the flames they’re likely not going to feel significant warmth from it. If you have a big group gathered around, people will likely hang back a bit to make room for everyone. Don’t assume that guests will be crowded close to the fire, feeling toasty! Instead, if it’s very cold out, give guests other ways to get warm — like the blankets, mentioned above.

Don’t: Leave it Unattended

Fire should never be left unattended. Make sure someone is in charge of shutting down the fire pit at the end of the night. This could be done with a button, if you’re using a gas-fed fire. Or, if the fire is fueled by wood, someone will have to ensure that the wood is sufficiently cooled, and that the fire is completely out. Delegate this task to a responsible friend or family member — preferably someone who won’t be drinking!

If your venue has a fire pit, use it! This can add an inviting, warm, friendly vibe to your reception. Did these tips make you excited about having some flickering flames at your reception? Leave a comment below.

You’ve been planning for your big day for months, or years… and now it’s finally approaching. It can be easy to get sucked into the feeling of overwhelm. There is a lot going on, and you want everything to go just right. Here’s a great acronym to keep in mind, as the big day nears: K.I.S.S..

What does it stand for? Keep It Simple, Silly! This is the perfect mantra to keep in mind on your wedding day — the day when you will seal the deal with a magical ‘kiss’! Here’s how you can keep it simple, from the moment you wake up until the moment when you make your grand getaway.

Keep your Priorities Straight

Your wedding day is about your union to your partner. Celebrate love instead of stressing over the details. If you stay focused on the priority of the day — celebrating love — you can overlook the little things with ease and grace.

What does this look like, in a nitty-gritty scenario? Think about your family dynamics. Maybe there are going to be people at your wedding who you haven’t seen for years, or people that you find it difficult to get along with. Instead of getting into your head about how to handle each tricky interaction, just remember that your guests are there to celebrate with you. Smile, thank them, share a laugh, and move on.

Let Go and Trust your Helpers

Don’t micromanage! Trust your photographer to get the shots you discussed. Trust your MC to make announcements at the right time. Trust that the caterers are going to put out the perfect meal. You’ve done a lot of planning and managing, and now it’s time to let go and trust that the people you’ve hired or asked for help are going to come through for you. If you relax and trust, your day will feel a million times less complicated.

Cut out Extras Beforehand

Hopefully you’ve already done pre-marriage counseling with your partner and figured out some of the roles and responsibilities of your future together. If not and you’re in the Portland area, you should check it out here to find someone near you.

Set yourself up for a simple, joyful day by cutting out wedding-day extras during the planning process. If the itinerary for the day begins to feel cluttered with things you don’t want to do, speak up! Maybe a ‘first look’ doesn’t feel right, or you’re stressing over the brunch that your mother scheduled. Clear your schedule and only do what feels right to you — not someone else.

Avoid overwhelm and anxiety by repeating the KISS mantra to yourself, Keep It Simple, Silly! Your day is about the love between you and your partner. Focus on that, and let the rest fall away. Set yourself up for success by cutting out unwanted extras in your wedding-day schedule, and then trust that all of your hard work is going to pay off.  Do you think you’ll keep KISS in mind, in the months or weeks ahead? Let us know if this was helpful in the comments section!

You might be under the impression that you can only have one flower girl in your wedding ceremony. That’s absolutely not true! You can actually have multiple flower girls — up to three. This can make things a little bit tricky, because you don’t want anyone to feel left out. Here are a few simple rules to keep in mind as you decide how many flower girls to have in your wedding.

Family Dynamics Come First

Flower girls and ring bearers are usually between the ages of three and seven. How many girls of that age do you have in your immediate family (think nieces and nephews)? If you have one to three, then you are home free. You can either ask one of them, or all three. Asking just two of them to participate would be rude to the one that is excluded.

However, if you don’t have any kiddos in that age range in your immediate family, you’re going to have to branch out into extended family territory, or friends. This might include cousins once removed, or your best friend’s daughter.  If you still come up short, you could include a flower girl who is older, but not yet old enough to be a bridesmaid.

Align with your Wedding Party Values

If you value minimalism and have a small wedding party, you will likely only have one flower girl. If you have an abundance of bridesmaids and groomsman, multiple flower girls will fit right in with your style.

Consider the Kids Involved

If any of your flower girls are very young, say three or four, they might be better at performing the task you ask them to do if they have an older girl to model. Three is still very young, and some children don’t like being the center of attention! Shy or introverted kids will feel more comfortable if they have a friend or relative to walk down the aisle with. This can save you some time and hassle. It will also make the experience better for your little introverted niece!

Now that you know you can have multiple flower girls, what are your thoughts? Do you have one, two, or three possible flower girls in mind? Remember to consider your family dynamics. Be sensitive to the fact that you don’t want to create hurt feelings. Also think about your wedding theme, and choose an number that aligns with your values. Lastly, think about the special little girls you’re going to ask to participate in your big day.  Is one particularly shy? She might perform better with a friend! I hope these insights helped with your choice. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts.

Listen, we know that there’s a tonne of things to get sorted before the biggest day of your life, but that’s not to say you can’t cope; it will get done. However, when you are looking for inspiration to help you create a magical day or you’re stressing about table plans, your sleep can be affected as a result.

We know that you want to look as positively perfect and healthy on your big day, and the close correlation between enjoying regular, better-quality slumber is a large contributing factor in you achieving this

Alas, pre-wedding day nerves and anxiousness can often result in a bunch of unsettled nights. The Sleep Advisor are on hand to give you a handful of informative, easy-to-use tips on how you can remain cool and stress-free in the lead-up to the wedding, while also racking up some well-earned, much-needed sleep too.

1. Try sleep aids

If you’re finding yourself worrying about things and not sleeping soundly as a result, you can try the benefits that sleep aids offer. There is a range of free apps for smart devices in app stores you can turn to.

You can also give white noise machines a go too. White noise devices act to effectively block out any noises which might be distracting you from getting to sleep, while also producing soothing sounds to help you unwind and sleep peacefully.

2. Strip off

You might feel cosy and content when you slip on your PJs and wrap up under the sheets at night, but sleeping naked has the ability to offer a host of benefits you can reap.

Studies reveal that not having the right internal body temperature when you are trying to sleep can halt your attempts to drift off. Therefore, by not giving your body the chance to regulate its temperature by wearing pyjamas and other night clothes, for example, it can inhibit you from attaining deeper stages of sleep to rest effectively.

3. Leave the alcohol alone

Okay, for many people this is going to be out of the question on the big day, but apart from the hen party, it’s seriously advisable to cut alcohol from your life altogether.

Not only is alcohol packed with sugar and calories to give you issues fitting into your dress properly, it reduces your REM sleep; this is the stage of sleep where deep dreaming occurs.

By missing out on REM sleep, you can suffer increased feelings of drowsiness during the day, so give booze a miss and reach for healthy options like green tea to help you stay hydrated. You’ll enjoy more benefits from herbal teas too!

4. Skip the caffeine

Ouch! Another one that you think will have been helping you get through these hectic times. However, caffeine is a stimulant, so it effectively keeps you awake.

You want to avoid these types of stimulants, or if you do have a coffee, for example, ensure it’s at least six hours before you slide off to bed or you sleep troubles will be intensified.

5. Stay active

You might be thinking that we’re nuts for trying to pile more things for you to do on top of an already packed schedule, but regularly exercising will help you to feel better, look good, think more clearly and it will also give you a small break from all the planning!

6. Think about the foods that can help

You might well be keeping a close eye on what you eat as the big day approaches, but if it’s a healthy energy boost you need, stick to foods that have tryptophan in them.

This is a naturally-occurring amino acid that helps to produce serotonin, which in turn produces the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. Some examples of good foods you can eat that contain tryptophan are:

• Milk
• Yoghurt
• Bananas
• Eggs

7. Put the smart devices down (TV too)!

However tricky this might be, and we’re more than aware of how hard this could be, do your best to leave the phones and tablets alone at least an hour or two before you go to bed (this includes when you’re in bed as well).

They emit a blue light that halts your melatonin release, and thus keeps your awake. And while we’re on the subject, TV can have detrimental effects on your sleep cycle as it supports staying up later than you would normally to finish episodes, or if something good is about to come on and you don’t want to miss it.

8. Create a sleep haven

A final and vital point to observe; your bed should be as comfortable and tailored to your needs as possible.

This can be something as big as having the right mattress, to swapping out pillows for ones that promote better sleep or even selecting a better-quality of sheet. Just ensure you’re cool, comfy and calm and a sound night’s sleep will ensue before your special day.

Cocktail hour will be the warm up for your wedding reception dance party. It’s a time for guests to chat, loosen up, and laugh while sipping delicious drinks. Don’t let your cocktail hour fall flat! Set the mood for the fun ahead. Here are your four must-haves:

1. Spot-On Signature Drinks

Your signature his and hers cocktails should be crowd pleasers. Avoid drinks that have too many obscure, potentially off-putting ingredients. The drink should have some character, taste delicious, and be general enough that you think your guests will enjoy it.

2. Ease Of Access

The drinks and appetizers which you serve at your cocktail hour should be easy to access. Put tables out into an open area, so that guests can walk past either side. If you happen to put your table along a wall, make sure it is not in a corner. You want the path of traffic to be able to move past the table, and then find a place to stand and talk with others while eating. You don’t want guests feeling cramped, stuck, or cut-off.

Guests should be able to reach ice-water, alchoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and horsderves easily and without waiting long. Remember, they have just enjoyed your ceremony, and may be hungary and thirsty!

Cut down on the line to your bar by making sure that you hire at least one bar tender for every 75 guests. This will keep things moving quickly. If you have an open bar, place beers out in ice-filled chests where people can get to them easily. You can even put signature drinks in ice-chests if you can find a cup with a lid that works well with your wedding theme.

3. Gathering Zones

Provide natural places for guests to get together and chat. Think about providing tables of different heights, couches arranged in a U shape, or little clusters of other types of seating. Give guests plenty of room for movement.

4. Background Music

During cocktail hour, people who haven’t seen each other in years will be reconnecting. Others might be meeting for the first time. Don’t make them shout. Play soft to moderate music that will create a peaceful, happy environment. It should be light and upbeat, but not so energized that people feel like they should be dancing. That will come later!

Every wedding reception should start off with a fun, social cocktail hour. Make sure guests can access refreshments and appetizers without waiting long in a line. Plan your space so that there is a good way for traffic to flow around food and drinks. Set the mood with comfy seating, and beautiful music.

Charcuterie (which is pronounced “schar-cute-er-ree”) is a French word for smoked meats. If you’re looking for an exciting addition to your wedding reception, a charcuterie plate might be just the thing! It is more extraordinary than a plain cheese platter, and guests will be delighted with your taste. Here is everything you ever wanted to know about this enticing food.

Many Varieties

Since Charcuterie is literally French for smoked meats, it makes sense that there are many different varieties. Charcuterie boards or plates are built with a mixture of several different varieties of smoked meats. It is good to pair common meats with delicacies that you guests may never have tasted. This way the guests who like the familiar will be satisfied, and you’ll get big compliments from the adventurous foodies in the group.

Mousse

This dish is made with smoked meats that have been finely pureed so that they have an incredibly creamy texture. Mousse is designed to be spread over crackers, bread, or toast. It goes well with chutney, and pickles.

Prosciutto

This dry cured ham, which means that it has been prepared with a combination of air curing and salt curing. Prosciutto is created from a fatty cut of meat, and is cut very thinly.

Pâté

A spreadable mix of cooked meat and other ingredients, such as butter and spices. Pates are commonly made with chicken liver. They can be served hot or cold, and are best eaten on a cracker of slice of baguette.

Rillettes

This is salted, cooked meat that has been shredded finely. The result is an almost spreadable dish that tastes amazing on bread or crackers. Common items used in rillettes are duck, pork, and rabbit.

Salami

You probably already know all about salami! This is cured sausage made with beef or pork that typically has mustard seeds and black pepper in it.

What To Serve With Charcuterie

Along-side your charcuterie, you should present a variety of vehicles for the spreadable dishes. This could be freshly baked baguettes, toast, or nice crackers. Present a variety of cheeses among the meats, including some soft varieties, like brie, and hard varieties like Manchego.  In addition, you can add in fresh veggie sticks, pickles, chutney, nuts, or fresh fruit.

Best Wine Pairings

Earthy, full-bodied red wines go well with charcuterie. Offer your guests a hearty Pinot Noir, or a Cabernet Sauvignon that is described fruity, with blackberry or cherry undertones. Avoid bright, white wines.

Give your guests a wonderful wedding day surprise by presenting a sophisticated charcuterie plate with your other appetizers. I hope that you enjoy sampling delicious bites as you decide what to include! Have you considered serving smoked meats at your reception? Leave a comment below!

Dying hair into unnatural hues is now easier than ever. Cosmetics companies have come out with do-it-yourself, vegan-friendly hair dies in bright, vibrant colors and the process is easy to do and lasts for months. Professional stylists are also fulfilling many a request for colorful, playful purple, blue (could this be your something blue?), and pink hair.

This might be great for a “getting out of a rut” stage of life, but what do you think about going for colored hair on your wedding day? Is it too out there? Or is it fabulous? Lets vote! I think that personally I wouldn’t want to have colorful hair on my wedding day. What about you? Vote yes or no in the comments section below!