Remember, even if you can’t afford a gown by a top designer, use these photos as inspiration for your own dress. Often, a talented dressmaker can remake a gown for a fraction of the cost!

All photos are from Martha Stewart Wedding.

The 4 dresses below have stunning detail on the top, and simple, flattering skirts on the bottom! Gowns by Marchesa.

These gowns by Oscar de la Renta stand out from the crowd, and the outburst of flowers and pastel colors definitely says “spring!”  Patterns and pants, colors and cut-outs– whatever you go for you’re sure to turn heads!

Lots of feminine lace, frills, and bows characterizes Monique Lhuillier’s  line of gowns this season. Long or short, these dresses are all lovely!

We like a little extra cover, and the delicate lace additions on these dresses by Jenny Lee are just perfect for spring!

Looking for something with a bit of old-time glamor? These gowns by Rivini should do the trick nicely!

Vera Wang is going wild in red this season, with lots of interesting shape and texture. From deep maroon to fire-engine red, you’ll make a show-stopping entrance in one of these gowns!

And for something sweet and classic, try one of these gowns by Allure. Each one is prettier than the next!

Want to see more? Martha Stewart Wedding has more gowns from these designers and others!

But sometimes the task can be a little daunting, especially when it comes to writing “thank you’s” for gifts you don’t really love, or notes to people you don’t really know. But with a little finesse and a few helpful pointers you’ll be on your merry way!

Make a List

Hopefully you’ve been keeping track of everyone who sent a gift, and what that gift was. A simple excel spreadsheet works well for this type of thing. Use your wedding invitation list as a starting point, and add space to write in what gift each person sent, and when the “thank you” card was mailed. If you don’t have a gift list already, go through your invitation list and do your best to recall what each person sent.

Get the Cards

Of course, you’ll need something to write on! You can always buy boxed “Thank You” cards, but why not seize this one last chance to personalize them? There are hundreds of gorgeous options; you’ll have lots of fun choosing one to reflect your style, and adding your own photos and message.

Time Frame

Proper etiquette dictates that you have 2 week to send a card for gifts received before the wedding, and 2-3 months for gifts received at or after the wedding. But of course, a late “thank you” is better than no “thank you” at all, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t get them all out on time.

What to Write

Remember that this is just a short note, not a long letter. Include the following:

• Thank the person for the specific gift: “Thanks so much for the lovely crystal pitcher!”
• Say something about how it will be used: “We look forward to using it at many future happy occasions. It will certainly add elegance to our table!”
• If you can’t say something nice about the gift, praise the person: “Thank you for the green-and-orange bath towels.  Your thoughtfulness and generosity are greatly appreciated!”
• If the the gift was money, you can mention something you’d like to use it for: “Thank you for the check! We look forward to doing a few home improvement projects, and your gift will definitely come in handy. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve done!”
• Mention how much you enjoyed seeing them at the wedding, or if they weren’t there, how you missed them.

Getting it Done

Because writing “thank you” cards tends to be one of those things people procrastinate about, help yourself get them off in a timely fashion. One good suggestion is to have a “thank-you-card-writing station.” This is a place where you have everything all ready to go- cards, envelopes, pens, stamps, and gift list. Make sure you’ve got the addresses on the gift list so you can drop the cards in the mail right away!

Write each card as soon as you receive a gift. This way they won’t pile up on you. And avoid the urge to be creative or witty– it is enough to express your gratitude for the gift and appreciation for the person who sent it!

However, not everyone plans that type of affair. For a very formal wedding, that “extra liveliness” may not be what the bride and groom are after. So what exactly is proper wedding etiquette when inviting or not inviting children to your wedding?

feature image: Rabat Photography

Will people be offended if their kids are not invited?

They might be. But then again, you never know what will offend some people! Bottom line is, it’s your wedding and you make the guest list. But if you want to invite some kids and not others, try to create a rule and stick to it. For example, kids of close family members only. Or kids of a certain age only. Or kids at the reception only… etc.

If families with kids have traveled together to be at your wedding, it would be rude to leave them out. Arrange to have someone at the wedding who can help look after/entertain the kids.

Figure it out quickly & be clear

Whatever you decide, you should make it clear by the time you send out invitations. Parents often need a bit more advanced warning when making plans for an evening out.  Although most parents can tell by the way the envelope is addressed whether their kids are include or not, you may want to follow up with a phone call to make sure they understand. Do it tactfully, of course. If you are providing child care, they’ll be happy to know that, too!

If kids are welcome, you can put their names under the parents’ names on the invitation. Writing “Mr. & Mrs. Smith & Family” is another option, though some experts consider that too vague (maybe you’ll bring granny, uncle Bill, and second-cousin Marie who’s visiting from France along too?) For kids over 18, consider sending them a separate invitation, even if they live at home.

Some parents may prefer to bring along their own nanny. This is up to you! If you say yes, she will sit with the children but should be provided with her own place card and an adult meal.

Kids with Duties

It is traditional to have a flower girl and a ring bearer, but there are other ways a child can be part of the wedding.  They can be junior bridesmaids, ushers, train bearers, and program distributors. They can give out yarmulkes and packets of rice. Just make sure that the children match the job they are picked for – very shy kids may not be eager for a public role.

Your sibling’s children (or other family members) should take priority over other people’s kids. Traditional etiquette says that flower girls and ring bearers should be between the ages of 3 and 7. Of course, we say you can do whatever you want to. At my wedding, I assigned the role of flower girl to 2 sisters, who were the daughters of my good friends (no siblings had children at the time). One little girl was delighted with the job and walked proudly down the isle, scattering rose petals. Her younger sister got stage fright and wouldn’t move. He father saved the day by sweeping her up and skipping down the isle himself, holding her in one arm and tossing the flower petals with the other hand. It was hilarious and gave the guests a good laugh.

If you do have children participating in the ceremony, the thoughtful thing to do is include them in the reception. The kids are all dressed up and excited to be at a wedding. Believe me, they’ll be disappointed to have to leave the party early, and having unhappy kids will spoil things a bit for the parents too. If you really want an adult-only reception, you may want to consider hiring someone to look after the kids in another room, where they’ll have something fun to keep them occupied and happy.

Special Considerations

If there will be a number of children present, you should consider things like having a children’s table, special kid’s meals, and activities to keep them busy. Some kids are just as happy eating the same food as adults, but there are kids who like to stick to their favorites, like spaghetti, chicken fingers, or hot dogs.  (Some venues offer discounts for kids meals- it’s worth asking.) If kids do have their own table or corner, you may provide other distractions like coloring books and crayons, Lego, crafting supplies, or games.

If you don’t want the kids running back and forth to their parents’ table all evening, put them in a separate room with supervision (although that may not solve the problem 100%!). There, you can arrange for a kid-friendly movie, story-reading, an art project, or an entertainer (puppeteer, balloon artist, magician) if it’s in your budget.

You decision to have kids at the wedding or not reflects many things, including your personal style, budget, and familial obligations. But whatever you do, we hope you and everyone present will have a fabulous time!

About.com Marriage has a super-inclusive, alphabetical list of flowers and their meaning. Check it out here. Here’s a partial list:

BABY’S BREATH: Innocence.

CALLA LILY: Magnificent beauty.

CARNATION: Fascination, distinction, divine love.

CHRYSANTHEMUM: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth, long life, joy.

DAFFODIL: Joy, happiness.

DAISY: Innocence, loyal love.

FERN: Sincerity, magic, fascination, confidence, shelter.

FORGET-ME-NOT: True love, hope, remembrance, memories.

GARDENIA: You’re lovely, secret love, joy, sweet love, good luck.

HYACINTH, BLUE: Constancy.

IRIS: Wisdom, valued friendship, faith, hope, valor, passion.

IVY: Fidelity, wedded love, friendship.

LILY: Majesty, wealth, pride, innocence, purity

ORCHID: Rare beauty, love, refinement.

RANUNCULUS: You are radiant with charm, radiant charm, attractive.

ROSE: Love, passion, perfection.

SUNFLOWER: Follows the sun as it grows, adoration, devotion.

TULIP: Perfect lover.

ZINNIA: Thoughts of absent friends, in memory of an absent friend.

And a helpful graphic from FrugalDad!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Source: http://frugaldad.com

Of course, we already know your glasses don’t take away from your beauty or womanliness. In fact, some may regard them as a necessary fashion accessory. If you love your glasses and don’t feel like “you” without them, then by all means keep them on! If, however, you never really came to terms with yourself as a bespectacled kind of girl, then maybe it’s better to get yourself some contact lenses.

But whatever you decide, it’s definitely acceptable these days to wear glasses at your wedding. Still not convinced? Google “brides in glasses” and you’ll see quite an impressive array of lovely brides in their glasses.  Here a few adorable examples!

Photos: 1. etsy via orange and blossom 2. Intimate Weddings 3. Fifties Wedding 4. Offbeat Bride Feature image: MyWedding.com

Here are some symptoms and suggested remedies to heal ailing communication between partners, from Kim Malchuk, motivational speaker, coach, and award-winning author (via Hitched). :

1: Short Fuse. This is a warning flag, especially if your spouse is generally easy-going. If he/she seems to be getting irritated quickly then something’s wrong. Try approaching your partner in a calm and caring manner (a bit of light humor might help if that’s your style) to help your spouse open up and tell you what’s on their mind.

2: Withdrawn and Distant. Career, financial pressures, family issues, health– there are a lot of things that cause us stress. It’s not unusual for people to pull back or get really quiet when they are stressed out. Let your partner know you are there for them and that you’d love to listen to whatever they have to say whenever they want to talk about it.” Again, use a soft and non-demanding tone will help create a comfortable space to start the conversation.

3: Guessing Game. If you sense that something is off kilter, don’t try to guess what it is; just come right out and ask our partner if something is bothering them. Better to get the info from the source rather than letting your imagination run wild. Checking in with your spouse shows that you are paying attention to them and to the overall harmony of the marriage.

4: Kids Rule. This one’s tough but it can be done! Designate a time or a place in your home where the topic of kids is taboo. This time or place should be reserved just for the two of you. A happy Mommy and Daddy with a healthy relationship will benefit everyone living under the roof.

feature image from Saida online

Martha Stewart Weddings and other wedding websites have some lovely ideas to get you started. Check out these photos and then let it flow from there!

Invitations and Envelopes:

via 100layercake

Click here for How to Make These Wallpaper Envelopes.

Ceremony Decor:

The valence, runner, and chair covers are all made from this elegant wallpaper. Click here to learn more about how to do it yourself!

Reception Decor:

These ideas incorporate wallpaper in many things, such as the lampshades, table runners, bottle labels, place card displays, and napkin rings (via Martha Stewart).

Photo Booths

We are a great fan of Wedding Photo Booths, where guests can pose for fun or formal pictures with a great backdrop and fun props. Wallpaper is a fantastic way to entice your guests to pose!

Photo: Sara Gray & Novia Events via Style Me Pretty via Storkie

The Knot: Rose and berry bouquet.

Martha Stewart weddings: In this holiday-time wedding, mercury-glass vessels filled with candles were placed in the hearth. Above the fireplace hung embroidery hoops stitched with the words “Oh Joy,” by Etsy vendor Chez-Sucre-Chez

Wishpot Wedding Blog: Adorable pine cone place cards!

Martha Stewart Weddings: A wreath adds a festive, holiday feeling!

I Do Inspiration: This necklace by etsy seller msbelle is the perfect shade of red and they even look like little ornaments or cranberries! A perfect gift for yourself or your bridemaids!

Martha Stewart Weddings: Garlands of cedar, pine, magnolia blossoms, pepperberries, seeded eucalyptus, princess pine, and balsam wrapped around the staircase’s banister.

The Knot: Votive candles and garlands of orchids and crystals hung down from tall Manzanita trees, which decorated some of the tables.

Martha Stewart Weddings: These centerpieces are accented with vintage sleigh bells and old hardcover books in shades of green and burgundy.

Martha Stewart Weddings: The  menu says, “Here’s the list, check it twice!” while the pencil says, “be good for goodness sake!”

The Knot: Yummy dessert of three-layered chocolate mousse with a chocolate snowflake.

Martha Stewart Weddings: Naughty bags hold chocolate “coal”; the nice bags are filled with peppermint sticks and peppermint-chocolate bark.