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Hair

A hair style that keeps your hair off your neck and out of your face might be the best option. It’s also very flattering to the face and neck. To keep hair sleek and avoid frizz, use a smoothing serum to damp hair before drying it. Avoid avoid alcohol-based gels which can dry your hair out.

For a sun-kissed look try highlighting your hair in a style called baliage, which is French for “strands of color.”  Strand of hair are hand painted, which results in a more natural look that’s easier to maintain than traditional highlights.

Face

You’ll want to use sheer, long-lasting cosmetics that won’t fade or drip. Layering your makeup will help it to last longer, for example use an eyeliner pencil, followed by a liquid liner. Use an eye shadow primer and then your eyeshadow.  For cheeks, apply a cream blush and then a similar shade of powder. And for lips, use a stain and then lipstick or gloss.

For blemishes or uneven skin tones, apply makeup with a foundation brush only where you need it, and follow up with a dusting of powder for a matte finish.

Body

Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water in the days before your wedding.  Cut back on alcohol and spicy foods. When you shower, use a moisturizing cleanser and finish off with a fast-absorbing dry oil instead of a heavy moisturizing cream, which can cause you to perspire.

You can also use a moisture-absorbing powder on your body to keep perspiration in check. And of course a powerful antiperspirant is key for underarms– and feet, where it will keep your shoes from slipping off!

Try to time your day so you won’t be rushing around. If you do start to feel overheated, run your wrists under cold water and take a long drink of water.

Attire

Here are some ideas that are both formal and fun! Fresh flowers, ribbon, fabric, crepe paper, berries, herbs, acorns… this little ornament provides a great little outlet for your creative abilities!

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All photos compliments of Martha Stewart Weddings

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Dahlia + Polka dot tie = Cheerful and fun!

Flowers + Berries + Leaves = Striking and Earthy

Beaded flowers + Ribbon = Handsome Keepsake

Crepe paper + Creativity = Long-lasting flower!

Orchids + Ribbon = High Style

Ribbon + Button = Loads of fun (Get the How-T0)

Beads + Floral tape = Very vintage

Mini rosebuds = Gorgeous (roses never need anything else!)

Nerines + Mizuhiki cord = Japanese good luck

Ribbon + Fabric glue = Unique!

Oak leaves + Acorns = Jaunty and Autumnal

Muscari buds + Jacquard ribbon = Refreshing

Edelweiss flowers + frog berries + dusty-miller leaves= WOW!

Boronia branches + Hot pink = Manly (oh yes!)

??See even more gorgeous boutonnieres– floral and otherwise– at Martha Stewart Weddings!

Once you’ve decided on your colors and have your wedding logo designed, the next step is to decide what elements of your wedding should include your logo. This is the fun part! There are so many ways to use wedding logos and monograms to create consistency throughout your day, but you’ll want to keep in mind that going overboard is a big mistake. Here Stacey presents 18 ideas for you to pick from, but be sure to pick only your favorites!

1. Save-the-Dates. Save-the-Dates are the first thing your guests will see, and using your logo on them will help set the tone for the rest of the decor that they will experience. Using your logo alone or with a photo of you and your fiance, are both great ways to incorporate the imagery and your colors. Magnets are my personal favorite, because your guests can use the magnet to hang up your invitation when it arrives, and it serves as a constant reminder to mark their calendars every time they go to the fridge!

2. Invitations. A no-brainer, your logo should be included on your invitation. It can be used in a variety of ways here, either on the top of the invite, as a watermark in the background, or even on the envelope. Make sure your text and color scheme matches or complements the logo colors.

3. Stamps. Custom stamps make all of your wedding mail seamless integrated into your decor. Plus they make a great addition to your wedding album!

4. Ceremony Runner. Custom runners are a growing trend in weddings, and wedding logos make the perfect motif. We suggest a white on white color theme, so as not to distract from the ceremony location, flowers, and bride.

5. Ceremony Programs. What do all of your guests usually look at as they’re waiting for the bride to come down the aile? The programs! Cover yours in your monogram.

6. Bouquet Ribbon. Make your bouquet even more personal with your logo on the ribbon that wraps around the stems.

7. Ceremony Candles. Often during ceremonies, brides and grooms elect to include a candle-lighting ritual that represents the coming together of the couple as one. These candles would look fabulous with your custom wedding logo front and center!

8. Escort Cards. Escort cards help to decorate the table as everyone brings theirs to claim their seats.

9. Gobo Lights. As mentioned in a previous post, gobo lights can be used to shine on your dance floor with your names in lights!

10. Cake Topper. Gone are the days of the traditional bride & groom statue cake toppers. Make your cake super personal with your initials, and take it home to put on display next to your album!

11. Cocktail Napkins. With cocktails flowing, have yours handed out with a custom napkin!

12. Door, Wall, & Floor Decals. Decals (which are basically great big stickers) make the place look like it was built just for you.

13. Wine Labels. Offer your guests wine at each table, straight from your very own vineyard (or it can appear that way)!

14. Champagne Flutes. Include your wedding logo in your toast, as everyone raises their custom glasses! These also make great favors for your guests to take home.

15. Stickers. So versatile, stickers can be used on all of your envelopes, or on practically any favor to make it customized for your wedding.

16. Hang Tags on your favors also add a personal touch.

17. Thank-You Cards. Your Thank-You cards are the last thing your guests will receive to remember your day, so include a photo of the happy couple as well as your logo to tie the theme together.

18. Wall Art. As a new couple, you’ll be decorating your home together. Use the first symbol of your married life together as wall decor, and you’ll have a reminder of your special day every time you look at it.

Here are some of Stacey’s great custom wedding monograms! Don’t forget that Stacey has created a coupon code for 10% off for Bride.net readers! Enter the code BRIDENET when you’re ready to check out, and receive this 10% discount on your custom wedding logo! You can also check out her blog for more great logo ideas!

If you have any other ideas for using wedding logos, please share them in the comments!

Teacups photo from Vintage Touch

I love the stacks of tea cups: “We took inspiration from other things we’d seen and stacked, stacked, stacked as many tea pots, tea cups, and cake platters together as high as we could. It’s amazing what super glue and patience will get you.”

Check some of the photos below and head over to Green Wedding Shoes to see even more!

An afternoon tea party is such a sweet idea for a wedding shower, even if you are not doing the Mad Hatter bit. There’s something so elegant and ladylike about it, especially if you’ve got a garden like this available! Here is more tea party inspiration from Country Living:

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I also love the way these floral napkin rings brighten up the table!  All you gotta do is buy faux roses in your favorite colors at a crafts store, then sew them, singly or in pairs, onto regular hair elastics with a few stitches. Viola!

One way to add instant charm is to mix-n-match your place setting china, as mentioned above. Keep the look cohesive by focusing on common features — the underlying shade, delicate details, and gold embellishments– as seen here.  Martha Stewart shows us how it’s done:

And of course, now that you’ve got your pretty table all set, you want to know what’s on the menu! Here are some dainty and delicious ideas from Country Living (click here for more ideas!)

It’s short on text, but a picture is worth a thousand words, and each post features a photo that’s sure to intrigue and inspire.

Here are some of my favorites!

photo via erin hearts court

vintage stockings from here

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NYC wedding in the rain! Let the umbrellas be accessories! Cup of Jo’s blog

wedding accessories from j.crew bridal boutique

Deep purple, velvet Ralph Lauren bridesmaids dresses. I kind of like it!

Halloween wedding inspiration from little dailys

How about escaping the cold, and having a greenhouse wedding? Photo source

Can’t get enough? Head over to little winter bride for more!

This monogrammed plastic tumbler looks pretty spiffy, but it actually costs less than many rental glasses. You can get 100 of them for $89.95 at The American Wedding. (These are filled with tangerine juice and Double Cross Luxury Vodka, a play on a standard screwdriver.)

These are so pretty, you can get away with serving them in disposable plastic cups!  The exotically flavored gin and tonics are embellished with a lemongrass-stalk stirrer and flowering spearmint.

These retro-looking drinks are garnished garnished with a lime peel-wrapped melon ball.  Now that looks gorgeous… but time-consuming!

I’m not much for “wasting” food, but this is a cool idea!  Here we have sparkling wine with thin slices of nectarines, apples, and grapes steeping inside.

Not only are the glasses orange, but this lovely little lollipop is orange too! It’s actually made from a rolled-up piece of orange peel, speared with a wooden swizzle stick!

Simple yet stunning, this is the signature cocktail at Los Angeles’s Table 8 restaurant.  A single basil leaf and an organically shaped glass are all it takes!

Like I mentioned before, check out Brides.com for even more great ideas, yummy drinks, and info on where to purchase all these pretty little extras.

feature photo from squidoo.com

Decorate using poinsettia, holly, mistletoe, wreathes, garlands, bells, strings of lights, and of course, red and green flowers. A white dress can be made extra festive trimmed in fur, velvet, or silver-colored accents. And the bridal party can be dressed in colors of the season too, such as silver, crimson, or green.

photos above from squidoo.com

Holiday-themed wedding favors can be really fun and unique.  BellaOnline suggests including a holiday ornament, tea lights, CDs of your favorite holiday songs or carols sung by celebrities, small picture frames for thier favorite holiday photos, miniature pumpkin pie, or personalized tins of hot cocoa, coffee, or cookies.

The photos below from Brides.com create maximum impact by keeping the colors clean, simple, and seasonal.  Shiny ornaments and other trinkets infuse the decor with additional holiday cheer.  Note how the tables are “wrapped” in bright red ribbon to echo all those pretty packages you’d find under your tree!

Here, the chairs at the Head Table are trimmed with ornaments and mini bouquets.

Make guests merry with crimson-and-peppermint martinis…

…and brighten their spirits with a sumptuous cake designed to mimic a pile of gift boxes!

If you are having a lot of children at your wedding, how about this idea from Dana at iVillage? “For a very special touch, we’ve invited Santa Claus to hand out gifts to all of [the kids]. We’re going to get some special photos taken with Santa and us with all of the kids. It should be great fun!”

Another bonus: low centerpieces are easier to DIY than higher, more ornate ones. They can also be a more cost effective, but still gorgeous, option!

Here are some pretty ideas to get you inspired! And remember, centerpieces do not have to be flowers only. See how others incorporated things like sea shells and live fish in glass bowls!

2 images above from Manolo

10 images above from the Knot

feature image from Mind Body Partnerships Blog

Do Something You Loved Doing as a Kid

Do you ever long for those days when recess, pillow forts, and Saturday morning cartoons were your biggest pleasures?  Just because you’re all grown up now doesn’t mean you can’t still partake in the simple joys of childhood. Turn off your cell phone, disconnect from the internet, and act like a kid again!

Ride a bike to the park. Start a pick-up kickball game with your family or friends. Go to the beach and bring along your favorite book. Make a snowman in the wintertime. The possibilities (and your imagination) are endless.  Take along your own kids, or borrow a friend’s to really get into the spirit of things!

Cost: Free!

Volunteer Your Time or Expertise

One of the best feelings in the world is giving back to others.  Non-profit associations are always looking for more help, so even if you can only donate 5 hours a month, your time will be very much appreciated and well worth the effort. Volunteering can be something small – like reading a story to young cancer patients one day a month – or something bigger – like serving as a disaster relief nurse. No matter what you do, you can be content to know that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.

(Extra bonus: Not only is volunteering incredibly fulfilling, it’s also a great resume builder. If you’re a recent grad or career changer, volunteering can give you valuable training and hands-on experience to jump start your career!)

Cost: Mostly free! (You may have to provide your own transportation and pack a lunch). Volunteering abroad may cost the price of airfare and lodging.

More Info: Check out AllHealthcare’s exclusive Guide to Volunteering. You can also Google “volunteer” and your town and state or visit Volunteer.gov, American Red Cross, Serve.gov, Volunteers of America, and Habitat for Humanity.

Stretch, Breathe and Meditate

It’s hard not to feel stressed and overworked by the hectic pace of our hyper-connected society.  Before you go into meltdown mode, hit pause, relax and take a breather.

Yoga is a great thing for some , but even some basic meditation, stretching and breathing techniques can work wonders for your stress relief. When you stress out, tension is stored in your body, causing pain and tightness, especially in your back and shoulders. Stretching will get your body loose and your circulation flowing in full force again.

To meditate, find or create a relaxing atmosphere, sit on level ground (use a cushion if you like), close your eyes, relax every muscle and breathe deeply with your abdomen, not your chest. Focus on each inhale and exhale to exclude other thoughts and quiet your mind.

Cost: Free
More Info: Google “how to meditate” or visit How-to-Meditate.org

Have a Really Good Laugh

It’s been scientifically proven that laughter is both preventive and therapeutic. It decreases your stress hormone levels and boosts healthy hormones, like endorphins, while strengthening your immune system. You even get a mini workout for your abs, diaphragm and your shoulders!

One good way to achieve this is to spend some quality time with your funniest friend. Not only will you laugh a lot, it will also take your mind off all the stressors in your life. Plus, the emotional bonding will boost your self-esteem and feeling of connectedness to others.

Laughter really is the best medicine, so call up your funniest friend and hang out. You can also rent your favorite comedy or watch re-runs of a funny show together. You’ll be glad you did.

Cost: Free

SLEEP

Nothing beats a good night’s rest.  Many working professionals bring their troubles home with them and that equals more stress for you and your loved ones. Why not sleep it off? Getting even 30 minutes of shut eye can help you relax and put your problems in perspective.

If you’re going to try to sleep off your stress, make sure you’ve got surroundings that promote good quality rest. A dark, cool, quiet room with few electronics is best (turn off the phones, blackberries, and laptops!). If you still feel too antsy to rest, try a cup of Valerian Root or chamomile tea. A warm bath can also help put you in a restful state of mind.

Cost: Free
More Info: National Sleep Foundation

Get in Touch with your Creative Side

Looking at art definitely has its calming effects, but it’s not always all about the finished product. You don’t have to be Picasso to get the health benefits of producing beautiful works of art either. People who make art as a hobby find that the process of self-expression through unwinding and creating art can be extremely soothing as well.  Art therapy is thus frequently used in hospitals, clinics and rehab facilities to promote physical, emotional and mental wellbeing via creative expression.

Artistic self-expression helps lessen anxiety, stress and depression, and promote self-awareness, self-esteem and insight into your life. You can pick up reasonably priced art supplies or art kits at any hobby store. Just set aside an art space, turn on some relaxing music and paint to your health!

Cost: $7 and up
More Info: Google “art store” or “hobby store” and your town and state. For more info on art therapy, read Mending the Heart–Calming the Mind With Art Therapy

Cook a Delicious Homemade Dinner

America’s “Fast Food Nation” has us plowing through processed, barely digestible microwave dinners and super-sized extra value meals. Not only is our physique suffering, our stress and anxiety levels are off the charts. Everything around us, even food, is moving way too fast.

Back up, slow down and consider taking the time to cook your next meal with simple items you already have in your fridge and cupboards.  The process of chopping, measuring, stirring and sautéing (and even washing the dishes afterward) can be incredibly therapeutic.

Check what ingredients you have in your kitchen, and look up a recipe (see below). Pick something simple that won’t stress you out! Let the culinary sensations overtake you, and then invite a friend (or fiance) over to enjoy your delicious meal and bask in the compliments!

Cost: Free!
More Info: Visit any of these websites to get recipes:
• Allrecipes.com
• Cookingbynumbers.com
• Bigoven.com
• Recipematcher.com
• Supercook.com

Get Outdoors, Go to the Park, Take a Hike

Let’s not forget to stop and smell the flowers!  Science has proven time and time again how the psychological benefits of nature can calm the brain and better your mood and concentration. Hospital patients recover faster when they have a view of trees and flowers from their window, and children with attention-deficit disorder exhibit less symptoms in a natural environment.

So get back to basics, and enjoy nature. Bring a blanket to the park and lie out, or go for a hike and take in the scenery. Bask in the sun, breathe in the fresh air, and appreciate all the colorful simplicity of the outdoors. Your brain’s health depends on it.

Cost: Mostly free (Some parks/hiking grounds may charge $3-5)
More Info: Check out this great great interactive park directory or just Google “hiking trail” or “park” and your town and state

Take a Bath with Candles and Aromatherapy

The recuperative and healing properties of water have many stress-relieving benefits and allow the body to fall into a deeper sleep. Submerging in a bath tub relieves your body from the constant pull of gravity, and heated water relaxes muscle tension, improving circulation, range of motion and energy flow.

Melt away your stress by creating a mini spa in your bathroom. Turn on soothing music, dim the lights, light candles and prepare fresh towels. The music will drown out household sounds that you may associate with everyday stressors, and relaxed lighting can go a long way when creating a peaceful mood.
Most importantly, make arrangements for your well-deserved uninterrupted solitude. Turn off your cell phone, log out of email and if you have roommates or family around, tell them to leave you alone for an hour or two. Be sure to prepare your bed beforehand so you have a nice, comfy space to crawl into after your bath.

Cost: $4 and up, depending on how many spa items you want to buy.
More Info: You can pick up high-end aromatherapy bubble bath soap, scented candles, skin-moisturizing oils, and exfoliating body scrubs on the cheap at your local T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Ross stores.

1. Hang amber-lit lanterns

The warm-colored light perfectly coordinates with fall wedding colors.  With so much going on overhead, you can keep things simple on the guest tables.   Use rustic lanterns in place of elaborate floral centerpieces that might compete with the suspended setup. Also, consider using a lantern motif on all of your stationery. (From the Knot)

2. Warms-your-Heart Wedding Favors

• Make it – homemade goodies like fudge, candy apples, or jams presented in festive packaging always go over well
• Bag it – fill mini burlap bags with coffee beans, bulbs, or any treat you desire, and tie a label with your monogram or wedding date to the top
• Pour it – miniature bottles of maple syrup are a sweet treat
• Fill it – miniature wood crates lined with straw and filled with goodies are a rustic touch (From Elegala)

For more autumn-themed favors and inspiration, visit American Bridal!

3. Create a Mini Pie Bar

Pie is the dessert of choice for fall! Apple, cherry, blueberry, persimmon… and and miniature food is a huge trend, too.  You can send guests home with mini pie tins as wedding favors, including recipe cards for your favorite kind of pie.  (From the Knot)

4. Go Glam

You are not confined to rustic and casual in the fall (you can skip the hay bales and pumpkins if that’s not your style!).  To create a posh autumn ambiance, use accents such as lush velvets, antique broaches, crystal stemware, and elegant candelabras.  (Chair covers from Dreams Do Come True)

5. Blooming Bouquets

The colors of the season (red, orange, gold, purple…) can be expressed in so many ways. This beautiful bouquet of flaming calla lilies is perfect for a fall wedding. It also adds a stunning contrast against the bride’s ivory gown. (From Martha Stewart Weddings via Allwomenstalk)