Artificial or Real Flowers

Artificial or Real Flowers

Planning your big day comes with a lot of decisions that have to be made. And one of those decisions, is what type of flowers you would like to have. Would they be…….artificial or real? This decision is a matter of preference. There are a lot of advantages of having artificial flowers versus real. I often hear people say that artificial flowers do not look real; however, it depends on the quality. There are artificial flowers that look, feel, and smell real; which depends on the quality of them. Some advantages of real flowers are: durability (no wilting/freezing), easy to transport, retain its beauty for many years, always in season, nonallergenic, and lifelike/realistic just to name a few.  Live flowers exceed artificial flowers due to the mere fact that they are alive and are constantly changing, growing, and periodically blooming.

Natural Burlap Wreath with Burgundy Sunflowers & Initial

Rustic & Southern Inspirations by Weddings of Grace

http://www.weddingsofgrace.us/services.html

Turn Off that Device!

Wedding couples are asking their guest to be nice and turn off their device. They are requesting that their friends,  family, and guest turn off their phones,  ipads, and other electronic devices during the wedding ceremony and reception.  This trend is referred to as an "unplugged wedding." 

An unplugged wedding gives the hired photographer the chance to capture all elements of the wedding without distractions and untasteful pictures. Can you imagine getting your wedding pictures back and your guest have their phones in the air snapping pictures or they're looking down at their screens? What an eyesore that would be!

"The Great Gatsby"

Your guest should be able to tell the tone of your wedding from the very beginning! Every element of your wedding should be an example of your theme and formality of your wedding. This bride and groom (Ebony & Derrick Brown) created an experience that their guest will remember for years to come. It began with their engagement pictures....

2014 Spring Trends

Vintage and romantic are still popular wedding themes. Brides are wearing blush and champagne wedding gowns, having black and white photos, photo booths, lace table cloths, and champagne cocktails. Add a captivating touch to your wedding with a touch of sparkle or bling.

Green Weddings (Eco-Friendly)

 

 

Planning a green wedding requires a lot of thoughts and resources. Lots of couples get creative and show their uniqueness, values, and personalities in their choices and come up with hand crafted invitations or homemade centerpieces. You have access to more products now than ever…..visit www.ota.com to start your search for vendors. The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is a membership-based association for the organic industry in North America. Their mission is to promote and protect organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public, and the economy.

 

Banana Pudding Shots

What a way to add spunk to your dessert bar with one of America's favorite desserts. This recipe is easy to follow and I hope you enjoy it!

 

Makes 24 shooters

 

1 (4-serving) box vanilla pudding and pie filling mix (not instant)

2 Cups half-and-half

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup of whipping cream

48 miniature vanilla wafer cookies

2 small bananas, thinly sliced

10 miniature vanilla wafer cookies, coarsely crushed

 

1. In 2-qt saucepan, stir pudding and mix half-and-half. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir in vanilla. Remove from heat; pour into medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour or until thoroughly chilled.

2. Beat whipping cream until soft peaks form.

3. Spoon pudding into a 1-gal, zip-top plastic bag; seal bag. Spoon whipped cream into 1-qt. zip-top plastic bag; seal bag. Cut 1/8-inch opening diagonally across 1 corner of each bag.

4. In bottom of each of 24 (2-oz) shot glasses, place 1 cookie. In each glass, pipe about 2 tsp. pudding over cookie. Top with 1 banana slice. Pipe about 2 tsp. whipped topping over banana. Repeat layers. Sprinkle with crushed cookies. Serve immediately, or chill up to 30 minutes.

 

 



Who is Your Planner?

First off, let me ask you a very important question!!! WHO IS YOUR PLANNER? A Wedding Planner is not an add on but a part of your wedding. There are massive benefits in having a planner and keeping cost down is one of them. If you do not have a Wedding Planner; you should be looking for one RIGHT NOW. What is your BUDGET??? This is very important. You need to decide how much you can pay for your wedding. Your budget will dictate where and how you spend your money. Together you and your planner can decide. Wedding cost has spiraled out of control. TV shows such as Bridezilla, Four Weddings, and My Fair Wedding just to name a few, have contributed to brides wedding taste. I am a firm believer of you can have the wedding of your dreams and not have to go bankrupt. You have to keep in mind you have to live after the wedding.

The guest list believe it or not dictates a lot of your cost. All of your decisions depend upon your number of guest and establishing that early on will be very beneficial. When you order your cake it is made to feed the number of guest you have, catering is per head, linens determine the number of tables, chair covers depends on the number of guest, wedding favors, and your venue is determine by the capacity. To keep cost down you can start with your guest list. You should make a list and the groom should make his own list. These are just my thoughts but I think you should only invite people that are close to your heart. Everyone you know doesn’t have to receive an invite. You want to have people there who are there for you and not there as spectators. Stay tuned and Weddings of Grace will share with you how to complete your guest list in an upcoming post. Happy Planning!

Ombre

We are loving the trend of "Ombre Weddings." If you are not familiar with ombre; brace yourself. Ombre is the graduation of color. It can be from light to dark or from dark to light. You can get very creative when transitioning between shades. You will see a lot of this in 2013. Ombre can be used anywhere from your flowers, dress, decor, invitations, and your nails. There is no limit to how you can implement ombre..........

Wedding Flowers

When selecting flowers for your wedding day; you must consider the style of you and your bridesmaid's dresses. Do not ignore your dress styles and accept a standard set of bouquets. The general rule is to use flowers---such as roses, lilies, and orchids with formal attire and casual flowers such as daisies, carnations, and gerberas with informal attire! A bouquet should always coordinate with your gown and never distract from you being the focal point!!!

DIY Favors Mini Glass Bottle with Wire Snap

These Mini Glass Bottles offer endless possibilites for DIY enthusiasts. Fill with candies, nuts, cocoa, honey or even home-made preserves. Finish with a personalized sticker or tag to create a great favor your guests will love to
receive.

MaterialsGlass/ Metal Wire

Quantity
1(pkgs of 12) $30.00 USD($2.50 each)
2-3(pkgs of 12) $22.68 USD($1.89 each)
4-7(pkgs of 12) $20.16 USD($1.68 each)
8+(pkgs of 12) $17.76 USD ($1.48 each)

The Engagement

The engagement ring which was known as a betrothal ring was use to serve as a partial payment for the bride and the grooms honorable intentions. Diamonds were used in the rings due to its hardness; symbolizing enduring love; this costume originated from Italy.

Most men propose without a ring in their hand although having a ring is a tradition in many parts of the world. Most men express their love by purchasing the most expensive ring; some people use a wedding band with or without diamonds, while others wait until they can afford one. Couples today discuss engagement and marriage when they make the decision to become engaged they then together make a trip to the jewelry store.

A diamond is still the usual choice symbolizing love and fidelity, but colored gems can be used. Many brides uses either their birthstone or their groom. Colored gems are less expensive and you can choose a much larger one. Classic solitaires are the most popular style. Solitaires come in the following styles: round, princess, heart, oval, marquise, emerald, pear, asscher, and trillium shape. Make sure your jewelry is insured. The most popular solitaire is the round.

S/N
*A widow wears her ring until she is engaged again it should be transferred to the right hand
*A divorcee removes her ring when marriage ends or transfer to the right hand until she is married again
*Engagement ring should be returned if engagement is broken
*Rings should be chosen to flatter the wearer
*You should move your engagement ring to the right hand during the wedding

*Your wedding ring closer to the heart
*The plain wedding bands are the most popular for men

How to Love!?

We often find ourselves on a search for that special someone. We feel as if there is an empty void inside of us that needs to be filled. Some of us feel as if they have to be in a relationship and then after being in several different relationships often ending the same, can’t figure out why our relationships never succeed. You are missing the most important piece. You must LOVE YOURSELF FIRST!!! How can you love anyone if you do not love yourself? Take the time and get to know yourself. Learn your likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, figure out your long and short term goals, and most of all figure out what makes YOU happy. Notice I said you, not everyone else. What do you stand for? What is your worth? Some often get wrapped up in the outer appearance; anyone can dress themselves up. After you attract the man for all the wrong reasons, and he gets what he wants; what’s next? We all have played the fool, but it is time to smarting up and make better decisions. Just because you made a bad decision doesn’t mean you can’t change the situation and have to stay in it. Best Regards------Malika

Black Pocket Ensemble with Lipstick Flourish Design 100 for $388.90

This exciting ensemble includes reception and respond cards with the invitation - all tucked neatly in a black pocket folder. Optional accommodation and direction cards may also be added. Imprint color and format only as shown. Ensemble includes glue dots to hold invitation in place. Single white outer envelopes.

Visit www.weddingsofgrace.us to order

Customize Your Bridal Look!!!

Create your own look for your wedding day. You and your bridal party can have free unlimited makeovers @ www.marykay.com/malikawaters Our Custom Compact is only $65.50 includes: Mary Kay Mineral Eye Colors (3)
Mary Kay Cheek Color
Mary Kay Crème Lipstick
Compact Cheek Brush
Eye Applications (pk./2)
You can have fun with this in your own home. Choose hairstyles, accessories, and makeup. You can even upload your own picture and do a before and after.

Contact Weddings of Grace for more information!!!! weddingsofgrace@aol.com

Bridal Registries

It's very exciting choosing items for your bridal registry, that will be enjoyed for many years to come. Bridal registries, eliminates the guest work ensuring you get an item of your choice. When chosing items, consider; practicality, multiple registries, shower gifts, and classic or nouveau items. It is not proper etiquettes to send registry information with your invitations. Make sure both parents have the registry information along with your siblings, close friends, and bridesmaids, because they will be the ones most often asked.

A wedding web page is a great way to inform your guests. If you do not have one you can make one at the following sites: mywedding.com, weddingwebsites.com, ewedding.com, and momentville.com

Contact our wedding expert at malika@weddingsofgrace.us for more information or visit our website at www.weddingsofgrace.us

Floral Embossed Place Cards

This white, embossed place card is available with your names and lines for you to write your guest's name and table number assignment. Available only in the format shown.

Folded size is 4 1/4" x 2" Price: $43.00 for 25 Item Number: MGJ10149PC

Visit www.weddingsofgrace.us to order!!

Gold Heart Serving Set

Heart accents and a heart shaped server are available in gold plating. Server blade size is 5" and knife blade is 8". Set can be personalized with names and wedding date.

Gold-Tone Heart Handle Serving Set - Blank $41.95 each

Gold-Tone Heart Handle Serving Set - Personalized $45.95 each

Order at www.weddingsofgrace.us

Personalized Silver Heart Serving Set $40.95

A raised heart design accents the silver-plated handles of this serving set. The server has a 6" heart shaped blade for extra romance. The knife has an 8" blade. Set can be personalized with names and wedding date.

Silver Heart Serving Set - Blank $36.95 each

Silver Heart Serving Set - Personalized $40.95 each

Visit www.weddingsofgrace.us to order

Natural Tone Guest Book

Gold foil leaves sneak their way onto the cover of this textured, natural tone guest book with a matching gold foil title. This book may be personalized with your first names and wedding date on a gold-tone plate. Please specify names and date. Visit www.weddingsofgrace.us to order.

Natural Tone Guest Book - Blank $24.90

Natural Tone Guest Book - Personalized $28.90