BRONZE BUDGET BRIDE

We're planning a wedding but I know we all want the happily every after. Everyone says that marriage takes work, but there are so many elements that have to fall in place on a continual basis that really makes any marriage a happy one. I know a thing or two since I've been married four years now but I love these seven tips that RedbookMag.com shares in the article How to Make Your Relationship Last! I enjoyed reading it and hope you do!

I've found some great items at garage sales in my neighborhood and yes some for my reception as well such as the clear glass vases  I've posted below for only 25¢. The home owner were collecting the vases for years from flower deliveries and told me to take all 14 of them, large and small for $3.50 so I saved quite a few dollars with this deal!

A garage or yard sale is also a great way to bring in some extra cash  for your wedding and get rid of some unwanted things around the house at the same time. That is why you should know about about www.TagSellIt.com where not only can you post your yard sales online or find out where the garage sales are happening in your area, you can also see and buy some of these items from sellers in the other states. I saw some great things there today but just like any garage sale you can't expect them to stay around for long so you'll to check out the website on a regular basis if you want are interested in the virtual sales.

If you are more a flea market gal like me then you can just get a lost of all the flea markets close by  so you can start scouting them for deals this week-end!

I've always known that I never really wanted to make my own invitations, save-the-dates etc. because the thought of it just doesn't excite me. Thank goodness for a website like Forever Friends which have won the OneWed Best of 2009 and 2010 WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Award!

One of the reasons brides love this site is because at Forever Friends if you don't find the invitations you're looking for they will help you to customize any of the invitations to match your wedding theme. What that means that is that if you have a Sci-fi Theme or a Jungle Theme maybe even a Crocodile Dundee Theme, which sounds super cool by the way, you don't have to stress yourself out trying to find the perfect invites and you don't have to go the DIY route either...help is a phone call away.

Yes, if you dial 516-721-2635, not only can you get as much as 20% off the price you see on the website and you'll also get a chance to talk to Beth Fruchtman who owns the online store. She is yet another one of the reasons why brides love Forever Friends because not only is Beth incredibly sweet, she pays close attention to the details you want as a bride and brings them to life with her creativity!



Even if you're not interested in invitations there is a such a nice selection to browse through at Forever Friends. You can shop there for favors, wedding accessories, labels, gifts and much more...so click this link to visit the online store or give Beth a call at 516-721-2635.

This video offers up so much advice on how to move and look elegant all day long in your wedding gown. There are tips from how to walk in a big, cindereall a gown to how to pose in a more form fitting wedding dress. You may want to come back and look at this the day before your ceremony because it's that important to remember!

Wedding pictures hold some of the happiest memories of a lifetime, so be sure you consider all the angles when preparing to be photographed on the big day.

In the weeks and months leading up to the wedding…

Plan your procedures ahead- it’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of tastings, fittings and appointments and forget to schedule facial treatments until the last minute. Don’t be tempted to get cosmetic lasering or chemical peels within 10 days to a month of the event, depending on the exact type of laser or peel. Even something as simple as a facial should be given a solid week for skin to normalize, especially if any extractions will be performed. Call well ahead of time and discuss this with the technician.

Practice good skin health- stay hydrated and eat healthfully leading up to the event. Don’t try new skincare products, or anything that may irritate your skin. Anticipate your skin’s history, and treat it accordingly depending on changes your skin may experience in the climate or weather that’s expected at the venue.

For the big day…

Start with a good base- be sure that your foundation is the right color and formulation for your skin. You may feel like you should use a heavy cream or stick foundation since you’re being photographed, but heavier formulas will look caked on and are more likely leave a line of demarcation around the neck and hairline that’s tougher to blend away. Just stick with the liquid or powder that works for you, and be sure it’s properly matched to your color. No one wants to look washed out, but it can also age you a bit if your base is too dark for you. Color correcting concealers, like green or yellow for redness, and peach or yellow for undereye circles are a much better choice than simply layering on more makeup. Remember that redness will be easily picked up in photographs so take care to balance that out, and stay away from more pink based foundations.

Avoid the shiny look- glitter will reflect too much on camera, and shouldn’t be worn to a nice event like a wedding anyway. Radiance-enhancing or shimmery foundations make faces look too slick and shiny for photos, so if you must, only keep the sheen on cheekbones and the cupid’s bow for highlighting purposes. Always finish the t-zone with powder, which is especially important to balance any highlighting applied. If you know you’re more oily, pop pressed powder in your bag so that you stay shine free.

The eyes have it- keep in mind that darker eyeshadows and heavy liner make eyes look smaller. A matte or pearl shadow formula will be universally flattering and especially in warm, earthy tones. To keep eyes looking big and bright, highlight the inner corners and brow bone with an off-white, light pink or pale gold shadow or crayon. The older you are, the more important it is to stay fast to the no shimmer rule, as it tends to bring attention to fine lines. Black eyeliner can also look too harsh for older women (same goes for liquid liner) and fair blondes are more suited for eyeliner and mascara in the brown tones. Don’t forget to make sure brows are properly framing the face- everyone looks better and younger with defined brows. Fill the arches with powder or if using a pencil, blend with a brush. Brow color and size are important considerations here, so don’t forget to use a light hand and blend.

Consider your venue and lighting- do take the time to stop and think about if the event/ photos will be taking place indoors or out, and at what time of day. Indoor photos will be taken with flash, so it’s important to use powder to combat shine and to also be sure foundation is matched well. If outdoors, soften makeup a bit as it can easily look too heavy or harsh. Also adjust your makeup look for more formal locations, and later times in the evening. When considering these factors, you will want to use more color and definition over simply adding more makeup.

Keeping these ideas in mind, remember its always most important to look like yourself and feel comfortable on your wedding day. These techniques will help ensure you look flawless both in person and in photographs for years to come.

 

Content provided by Sarah Logan on behalf of ASI, which is an aesthetics school offering classes in waxing, facial treatments, cosmetic laser training, and medical aesthetics.

Hey ladies there is a free bridal show this weekend..If you are located in the Atlanta...bring your guys.. They are having casino games for the fellows and everything else for your wedding..

http://www.myengagementparty.com

Also if you don't have your dress or any accessories.. this is the place to be..

If you've been looking for cheap but elegant totes for your bridal party these could be the ones. They are made of cotton and almost 16 inches tall but are 18 inches wide. So head on over to The Lakeside Collection and see if these Wedding Tote Bags are bags your Bridesmaids, Maid of Honor or even your flower girl will get excited about. At $4.95 a piece, I think they at least worth a peek.

• highlight your favorite color
• create a new monogram
• play with the date of the wedding
• create a logo or use a photograph
• incorporate a passion of yours

Highlight a Personal Favorite Color

If you love yellow – use it at your wedding. In addition to flowers, think about the linens, the paper products (invitation, seating cards, etc), maybe what the singers in the band are wearing…there are lots of ways to play up a color – and it doesn’t have to be in your face either…it could just be hints of it. We did a wedding once where the bride’s favorite color was yellow and her table linens were a soft yellow, where her menu cards were printed in a bright yellow.

Create a Wedding Monogram

This is the first day that you will be husband and wife, so have fun with it. We have had designers create monograms for the new couple and have had it displayed on the dance floor with lighting or embroidered the monogram onto the dinner napkins (which is great because the bride and groom can keep them after the wedding). But you can also do simple things and have stickers made with the monogram and use it with favors – maybe a small box of candy sealed with your personalized sticker.

Play With the Wedding Date

 If nothing else comes to mind…you can have fun with something as simple as the date of the wedding. We have had cocktail napkins printed just with the date of the wedding – very clean and very modern looking. For a wedding that was going to involve the guests being outside – as a favor, the bride and groom gave umbrellas that had the date of the wedding on them…and what is fun, you can still walk around NYC and see people using the umbrellas.

Create a Personalized Wedding Logo

Many times the feeling and theme of the wedding – is dictated by where the wedding is taking place – and this is a great way to pull inspiration on little ways to personalize the wedding. It could be creating a logo of where the wedding is – we have done welcome bags that had a logo of the islands off the coast of Maine for a wedding we did in Maine. Or it could be a photograph of the couple that is used throughout the wedding…maybe on the save the date and then again on the welcome note…or incorporated with the favor.

Incorporate a Hobby in the Wedding Theme

This is one way to really make the wedding personal. If you love a certain kind of cookie and everyone knows it – why not give that away as a favor at the ending of the night. Or for one wedding, the groom was very involved with the environment, so as their favor a tree sampling was given to each guest with instructions on how to plant it.

So these are just some ideas, but by talking to each other and to your vendors, the options are endless on ways to make your wedding stand out as your wedding.

courtesy of about.com

If you are looking for crystal garlands for your DIY Wishing Tree or Crystal Trees, save-on-crafts.com now carry a 35" long acrylic crystal curtain with 34 strands for $22.

Michaels is having a great offer going on this week. You can use a 40% off coupon on regular price items and then there is an additional 30% off for just wedding accessories. So you can get 70% off one item! You can find the coupon on www.retailmenot.com. Good Luck !