Kitty Cake Topper by Helyn

If you have seen any great toppers, we’d love to hear about them! Please let us know in the comment section below.

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I love the vintage vibe of this one, including the sweet verse printed on the bride’s skirts (via cake today)

Is that one a bit too sweet for you? Give your guests a laugh with these ball-and-chain or cell-phone-fanatic toppers!

Firefighter groom? Oh yeah! Check out eBay for more ideas, via HubPages.

Are you a cop? Do you love pizza? And your dog? Then this one’s for you! Otherwise, you can have a hand-sculpted cake toppers made just for you, via Custom Wedding Cake Toppers.

Is the bride expecting? How hilarious would it be to break the news to family and friends with this delicious cake topper? (All Wedding AZ)

The next 4 toppers are from Offbeat Bride (Toppers that won’t make you cringe!) Well, some might cringe at the bride jumping the groom in public, but the little love-fishies and dragons are just sweet as can be!

Offbeat Bride also had the brilliant idea of using salt-and-pepper shakers as cake toppers… aside from being totally adorable, they’re great because you can reuse them on a daily basis!

Maps can be used as save-the-date cards, included in the invitation suite, or inserted in the welcome baskets at your guests’ hotel.

Left: map by Laura Hooper Calligraphy

Here are some beautiful samples from some very talented calligraphic artists. If you have an artistic flair you could even try your hand at designing your own map!

This pretty map is from Calligraphy by Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls:

These lovely maps are by Nancy Howell Calligraphy. She  usually hand-watercolors each map after they are printed for a special one-of-a-kind look.

Whimsical and colorful maps by Laura Hooper Calligraphy:

Watercolor wedding maps with a traditional, modern, romantic, vintage or rustic look, by DesignsByRobynLove on Etsy:

Another Etsy artist, Efinestationery, offers gorgeous, custom-made maps:

A bargain at only $49.99 for color and $34.99 for black-and-white, Etsy artist kessyud offering custom-made, hand-drawn maps!

Absolutely stunning watercolor maps by Elizabeth Danae calligraphy studio! She blogs at I Dream of Letters and offers her talents on Etsy.

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!

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Do you have a bridal accessory website that’s too great not to share? Please let us know about it in the comment section below!

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Portobello Bridal Collection

This website has gorgeous bridal jewelry, birdcage veils, and hairpieces. Edgy, vintage, or whimsical– choose your style!

Messages of Passion by Angelika Liv

Romantic bridal accessories in Victorian and Gothic styles.  We love the idea of having a bolero that you can put on and take off as you choose, whether it’s for added warmth, fashion, or modesty.

SnowWhite Studio

Absolutely stunning vintage-inspired bridal jewelry and accessories, including combs, veils, headbands, garters, sashes, and more.

Honeycomb Veils

Breathtaking, handmade veils that take a stroll and the wilder side of tradition!

The Headpiece Collection

The headpiece and veil combination is one of the most important and personal features of the bride’s attire.  Here you’ll find a wide range of wedding headpieces, tiaras, feather & floral hair fascinators for weddings, wedding hair combs, veils as well as bridal hair pins, twists and clips for you to choose from to complete your look.

Kim West achieved mainstream success in the nineties with her wearable rubber women’s collection. She has dressed many celebrities and fashion icons including Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Isabella Rosselini, and Helena Bonham Carter. Now she’s back with a slick new Spring-Summer 2010 bridal collection, in partnership with Anna McDonald Bridal Gallery.

Kim and Anna make quite a team!  Anna’s showroom is widely acclaimed as one of the best in the industry, and she also received acclaim for her ibridal iPhone application for brides, shortlisted in the highly regarded “Innovation of the year” category at this year’s Bridal Buyer Awards.

Stand out from the Crowd!

Since the Kim West Latex brand was launched in 1984, her designs have been acclaimed for their style and glamor. She is currently one of a handful of designers making wearable fashion in this glamorous, exciting fabric.  For the bride who is looking for something elegant and stylish, but unique and VERY HOT, I certainly think that these gowns, made in ultra fine latex, are it!

They’re Comfy, too!

These gowns are as easy to wear as they are on the eye. Just step in and pull upward! Latex takes on the ambient temperature, so if you are in a comfortable, room temperature room, your gown will feel like a second skin.  Planning on dancing the night away? Well, you might get a little sweaty (that was my first thought when I heard “rubber gown!”), but then again, you probably would anyway!

Here are some pictures to show you just how beautiful this range is.  There are gowns with stunning halter tops, fishtail hemline, Sworovski encrusted collars, silk organza bows, and sprinklings of crystals.  The collection is exclusively available in Anna’s shop and include bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses, and lingerie.

News Source: pitchengine.com

Here are some ways to dress up your programs in order to make them as fun and fabulous as they are functional! All photos are from The Knot.

Multi-Functional

A multi-functional fan kept guests cool and included ceremony information along with a photo of everyone in the wedding party. The “programs” (left) included a simple printout folded over a Popsicle stick—an easy DIY project. The five-leaf program on the right, decorated with bright yellow lily burst also doubled as a fan for the warm summer day.

Groovy Graphics

The bride and groom made their programs themselves. They printed their large oak tree design (left) on pearlescent paper and tied the programs with Hanna Silk hand-dyed ribbons. The programs on the right, bearing the peacock motif, were especially important because they explained the significance of the Hindu ceremony.

Creative Genres

On the left, postcard-sized ceremony programs detailing the wedding party and ceremony information mimicked the Wild-West style of the custom-designed invitations. Comic book lovers designed a custom-made program with a cover featuring cartoon images of themselves, on right.

Embellishments

The bride made the programs on the left herself using heavy bronze and cream card stock. She added eucalyptus leaves and a brown silk ribbon to incorporate the wedding colors. On the right, the program features a glued-on starfish for a waterfront wedding.

Roll it up

On the right, a scroll program features the events of the day, the delicious menu, and a Rumi poem.  The programs on the left were rolled around twigs and tied with brown velvet and satin ribbon.

Ribbons and Bows

The beautiful programs on the left picked up the black-and-white pattern of the wedding invitations, made eye-catching with crimson and gold ribbons. The chocolate-brown programs on the right are tied with gorgeous yellow-and-white gingham ribbon.

Added Features

One inventive couple included a crossword puzzle in their program, with questions about the couple. (“We said that the puzzle was meant for early-comers and shouldn’t be done during the ceremony!”) Be creative and think of ways to make your program a personalized, fun, and interactive part of your wedding.

What to include in the Program

Basic Info: Names, wedding date, location, and time.

Order of events: What will happen during the ceremony, including processional music, greeting, readings, prayers, exchange of vows, ring ceremony, unity candle ceremony, etc.

Members of the bridal party: Officiant, parents and grandparents of the bride and groom, maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, readers, and anyone else you’d like your guests to be acquainted with.

Other things you may wish to include in your wedding program (from About.com)

• An explanation of traditions or customs used in your ceremony
• A request for audience participation in certain parts of the ceremony (e.g. affirmation of the marriage, communion, singing, offering of the peace, standing or kneeling)
• Thank yous
• Memorials (for example: The memorial candle is lit in honor of the bride’s mother, Shirley Fielding.) More advice on honoring a deceased parent or relative
• A short sentence about each of your bridesmaids and groomsmen, describing why they are important to you.
• An explanation of the significance of the location, theme, first dance song, etc.
• Quotes or poems about love or marriage
• Directions to the reception

For more Wedding Program inspiration, visit The Knot to view hundreds of real wedding programs!

Here are 10 ways to choose bridesmaids dresses that are pretty, stylish, and definitely not typical! (All photos compliments of the knot!)

1. Pick a Pattern!

This bride chose cheery red-and-white-striped frocks from Anthropologie (who doesn’t love Anthropologie?) and red satin wedges for a look that’s chic and quite different!

2. Follow the Rainbow!

Instead of dressing all the bridesmaids in the same color, create a rainbow with maids in varying shades! These cocktail-length wrap dresses from Calypso look good enough to eat (they remind me of sorbet)! The bride even bought one for herself!

3. Don’t blend in!

Red is always a popular color, but this eye-catching shade is quite uncommon.  The persimmon red of these gowns is inspired by the bride’s favorite flower, the bird-of-paradise.

4. Mix ‘n’ Match it!

This funky bride put her maid of honor and three bridesmaids in tangerine silk tricotine dresses from J.Crew. Her nieces, who served as honorary bridesmaids, wore coordinating patterned dresses in tangerine, aqua, and chocolate brown.

5. Add Interesting Accessories!

These custom-designed, emerald green, satin gowns (by Raul McGinnis) are accessorized with green hair jewelry and flower boas made of ivy garland and off-white hydrangeas. Unusual and very glamorous!

6. Complimentary Colors

Mixing two complimentary colors makes a bold statement. These maids wore two-piece Alfred Angelo A-line dresses in pink, with green sashes.

7. Cool Cover-ups

Add matching wraps in case of cool weather. This bride was lucky enough to have her mother’s friend knit all these lightweight ponchos to go with the dresses. In addition to being practical, they are quite pretty and feminine.

8. Go with the Theme:

If your wedding has a theme, like this 60′s-styled celebration, get your bridesmaids to dress the part! These four bridesmaids (including the bride’s mother, the matron of honor) add to the fun by wearing short white dresses with pretty scarves and white go-go boots.

9. Take a cue from the Bride!

Don’t be afraid to dress your attendants in white, especially if yours is a summer wedding. The purple ribbon on these dresses differentiates between the bride and the maids… as if that extraordinary, glowing aura is not enough to announce “here comes the bride!”

10. Dare to Re-wear!

Now here’s an idea for the truly daring bride: How about letting your bridesmaids wear a dress that they actually will wear again?!  This considerate bride had two criteria for her bridesmaids’ dresses: simple and comfortable.  These brown Mark Shale dresses are classic, flattering, and most definitely re-wearable.

For more photos and ideas, visit the knot!