Adorable Cake Toppers

Oh, I just found these adorable cake toppers! Love the vintage like look of these darling and very creative toppers for weddings or other occasions. Take a look see at Amada's shop over Etsy. These are so unique and cute!

They come in a variety of styles and colors. Sure to get noticed by your guests. What a fun way to top off a beautiful wedding cake. Mixing the old with the new is a great way to start your new life together!

Stress Less on Your Wedding Day!

By using a few simple ideas you can enjoy your wedding day more and leave the stress behind...at least try and leave the stress behind! As with any big moment in your life it pays to prepare. "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear!"

Once you set the date for your wedding, plan everything out on your calendar or planner. Don't leave things to the last minute. "Parley" often with your groom to help keep him on task and include him in the planning and the doing so he doesn't feel left out.

The day before your wedding day should be relaxed and calm. By following a these suggestions, you should be able to enjoy your wedding day and leave stress behind!

*Designate a close trusted friend or family member to be your "errand angel".

Give them a list of any items that need to be delivered or picked up so you don't have to worry about last minute arrangements.

*Your job for the day is to RELAX and get ready.

Sleep in late.
Eat a good breakfast.
Go for a run, a walk or choose another form of exercise.
Go to lunch with your parents. Thank them for all the great times and opportunities they have given you.
Watch a favorite movie.
Have your hair, nails, and toenails done (unless you plan to have your hair done the morning of your wedding.)
Look through your favorite magazine or take time to read from a favorite book.
Soak in a nice warm bath while listening to calm and relaxing music.
Drink lots of water.
Prepare everything you will need for tomorrow, a bag with your bridal survival kit, your bags to take on your honeymoon(which should already have been packed before this day), make sure your wedding dress, shoes, veil, jewelry etc... is in a bag and ready to go.
Take time to sit in a chair or lay on the bed while wearing a facial mask in comfy clothes and picture your wedding day and everything running smoothly. Think very positive thoughts. See yourself and your groom side by side greeting guests and getting married with everything just the way you hope it will go tomorrow.
Get a good night's rest!

*Do Not Stew and Worry!

Remember your family, friends, and guests are excited for you and want you to have a wonderful wedding day. Be flexible and don't panic if things aren't perfect. Prepare and make it a day to remember!

Candle Centerpiece Ideas

Candles are a nice edition to any centerpiece but they make a romantic display at wedding events. Check out the tutorial and photos at Better Homes and Gardens . They are a great resource and have many great ideas.

Candles come in all shapes, colors, and sizes and can be relatively inexpensive to use if you shop around to find them. If you try, you can come up with several ideas of your own for decorating with candles.

Make Room For the Groom!

Once your engaged bride to be starts planning the wedding, as the groom you may feel like you are taking a back seat! Not to worry though, there is "room for the groom" to be involved in planning his wedding day.

Here are a few pointers for you as the groom to fulfill your duties to help your wedding day be successful.

*For starters, you should take care of the engagement and wedding ring.

*Pick your best man.

*Pick your other groomsmen.

*With your fiancee's help choose what you and the groomsmen will wear and then rent, reserve, or purchase what you and the men in your wedding line will be wearing including the fathers in your line. Make sure everyone gets measured for suits or tuxes or whatever you decide the attire will be.

*Help plan and make the honeymoon travel, hotel, and transportation arrangements.
This is a big job and will take some careful planning on your part. You can surprise your bride to be or get her input but plan ahead so you can have a relaxing, fun honeymoon to start your new life together.

*Pick a special gift for your bride to present to her on your wedding day or honeymoon. Doesn't have to be anything big just something thoughtful to let her know she will be the "queen of your castle" for every day to come!

*Mostly be supportive during the planning stages. This is something the two of you have waited your whole lifetime for and though your bride may seem a bit preoccupied with a myriad of wedding details, you are the one making this whole day possible with your proposal of marriage so just try to grin and bear it! Patience is the name of the game.

Awesome Wedding Slippers!

I found these darling slippers over at Ruffles and Stuff. You can add the flowers to basic slippers and they are cute enough that you could wear them under your wedding dress on your special day! Why not! You have to stand around a lot and you may as well be as comfortable as possible! They have the look of a ballerina and they are actually a very popular slipper that you can find at your local department store.

Just follow Disney's (the creator of this cute idea) easy to follow tutorial and there you have some chic comfortable shoes to go with your wedding dress. You could also make some for your bridesmaids and give as a gift. Your shoes could match your bridesmaids as you stand and greet wedding guests in your wedding line!

Check it out and save a little money on shoes, while being very creative and looking very chic!

An engagement and wedding ring is a lasting symbol of your love for each other as bride and groom. It can be a reminder and memento of your pledge to love and care for each other forever. It is a symbol of your commitment to honor, respect, and protect your marriage.

There are many great resources online to help you be educated about picking out the right ring for you. You can also find information about diamond cuts what to look for and info about other jewels if you decide that a diamond isn't your style. It also pays to shop around and talk with local jewelers about wedding rings.

Make shopping for a ring a little easier by knowing what you want before you go. That way you will have an idea of what you like when it comes to finding a ring. Take cost into consideration and decide if it is worth going into debt for this type of purchase. It costs a lot to set up house and get married so be wise in how much you decide to spend on your rings.

I asked my finacee to pick out a ring for me as a symbol of his love. Whenever I look at my ring, it reminds me that he chose it just for me. I did the same for him. Just an idea when it comes to buying a ring. Also you can think outside the box. Not all couples are buying traditional wedding rings nowadays. You may decide to go for something more creative when it comes to your rings.

However you do it, let it be a special symbol of your enduring trust, love, and devotion to each other. Notice a ring goes around in a circle and never ends...make your commitment last forever.

"Let Them Eat Cake"

The art of designing wedding cakes is just that a very special art. Shinmin Li of
I Dream of Cake is an artist who designs incredible edible works of art for many occasions!

From cakes shaped like shoes and purses to gorgeous towering wedding cake designs. Her cakes are unique, detailed, and very very beautiful! Her exquisite designs showcase her artistic talent while she enjoys the challenge of creating cake masterpieces that reflect her client's suggestions.

When you choose a wedding cake, you may want to have it designed with elements that represent things that mean something to you as a couple. You may want a whimsical design such as birds in an intricate nest or a cake that reflects colors from your wedding decor.

Whatever you hope for in a cake, I dream Of Cake can dream it up for you!

A Hunting We Will Go for a Wedding Dress!

Trying on wedding dresses is a must for the bride to be. You may think you know your own taste and what you like but until you try it on, you can't be certain. Find a shop that is helpful, attentive, and not pushy.

The sales attendant should give you her undivided attention by finding dresses in the shop for you to try on. Hopefully she will want to know a little about you and what you like. She will gladly let you try on dresses and allow you to take your time to look in the mirror so you can see the front and the back view.

Ask about alterations, cleaning, and pressing your dress which the store should be willing to do. Although most wedding dress shops are very careful with their wedding dresses, some dresses look as though they have been worn due to many brides trying them on. A good shop should clean and press the dress for you before you buy it if it needs it.

I love it when the sales associate is not pushy! You should be the one to determine when you are done trying on dresses and certainly you should choose which one you like the best. If you need to shop around, a good shop should have no problem with that. One more thing, love it when the shop allows you take pictures to remember the momentous occasion and isn't afraid that you are a spy or that you are trying to duplicate their dress. This is a special time in your life and a bride deserves the royal treatment!

Easy To Make Bon Bons For Mother's Day

Looking for a delicious but easy treat to give your mother or mother to be on Mother's Day? Try these yummy and elegant Bon Bons. (You could also serve these at a bridal shower or wedding dinner!)

You will need: 1 cake mix (lemon, cherry, orange, or strawberry flavor)
1 can white icing
white chocolate or chocolate chips

Bake the cake and put it in a 13 1/2"x 9" pan. Let it cool. Then take your hands and scoop all the cake mix into a bowl. Add the icing to the baked cake. Form a small ball of cake mixed with icing using an ice cream scoop and place on a cookie sheet. Then freeze the cake balls.

Once they are frozen, melt the white chocolate and dip each ball of cake in the chocolate and set on a plate covered with parchment paper. The chocolate will be shiny at first but will then change to a matte finish once it is set.

Package your homemade Bon Bons in a fancy box or buy a special plate to give to your mom and put your Bon Bons on the plate. These are sure to make her smile!

Cute Lacey Coasters

Saw these on a website that I just discovered Ruffles and Stuff and thought I would share. You will find the very easy to follow tutorial on this site. You can use these lace covered coasters for wedding decor, or special dinner decor, or give them as a gift for bridesmaids, and maid of honor. Why not give a few as a wedding gift to a friend! You could give the bride and groom a set of glasses for their dinner table to go along with this delightful homemade gift!

Don't forget this Sunday is Mother's Day so you might make some of these up to use at your table as you honor your sweet mom. From start to finish they look fairly easy to make and take a look at the way Disney (the woman who created Ruffles and Stuff) packaged the coasters by tying a ribbon around several. Very simple yet very beautiful! Give it a try!

Commitment To Marriage A Beautiful Thing Part 2

It's hard to find happy endings in storybook weddings. However, in the case of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert their marriage seemed to have just that. They tried to build a marriage and a family based on trust, fidelity, and support.

From all accounts it is reported that the young queen was devoted to her husband and he loved his queen! Together they ruled a country and raised nine children. They understood each other and were very happy together.

Working at a marriage alone is a lot of work but running a kingdom on top that! I admire these two for their devotion to one another and their commitment to making their marriage blossom in spite of the fact that it was always on display and under public scrutiny!

Perhaps it is well worth taking time to research about Queen Victoria's and Prince Albert's relationship. It was not without its ups and downs but the key to their successful marriage was their commitment to each other. It is refreshing to find an example of a husband and wife of royal heritage who placed self second to spouse and who respected each other enough to create a sort of fairy tale life together. Long live happy marriages!