A recent post on my knot chat board inspired me to find an article related to Bridezillas (Thanks “turkey”). So I searched the web to come across a fun little article on A Houston Wedding. com
Bridezilla \bride-zil-a\ n : a bride-to-be who focuses so much on the event that she becomes difficult and obnoxious.
How to Avoid Becoming a Bridezilla
Everyone loves a bride, but very few people can tolerate a “bridezilla”. A bride is a woman who is engaged to be married and is happily enjoying planning her wedding and all other aspects of her wedding. A bridezilla is an engaged woman who is so stressed out planning her wedding that she makes everyone around her (including herself!) miserable. Planning a wedding should be a fun, exciting time in your life, not a time of excessive stress and misery. As a newlywed recently married in Houston, there are several stress management tips that that I learned and would like to pass along to anyone currently planning their wedding.
Perspective
Many brides get overly caught up in the numerous details surrounding their wedding, which often results in panic and stress. While your wedding is inarguably a very important, special day in your life, it’s very important to realize that it is truly just one day. I would advise any bride to focus on the ‘big picture’ and try to avoid getting caught up in worrying about every single, little minute detail of the wedding. Of course it is important that you plan your wedding carefully to avoid any problems, but at the same time there are going to be some details so minor that truly it makes no difference if they are done or not. For example, does it really matter if all bridesmaids do not have the exact same color of toenail polish the day of the wedding or if the mother-of -the-bride’s dress is similar to the mother-of-the-groom? I know it’s easier said than done, but try and focus on the excitement and nostalgia of the marriage itself and focus less on things that truly won’t matter even one year from now.
Delegation
Keep in mind that there are likely several people that you know (friends and/or family members) who would be thrilled to assist you in some aspect of the wedding. It’s incredibly easy to feel like only you can be ‘trusted’ to get wedding tasks done properly but often, there are minor tasks that you can delegate which would help you immensely. For example, if you don’t have the time to contact all your wedding vendors right before the wedding to confirm everything’s on schedule, why not ask your sister to do that for you? Just give her a list and consider it done. No time to pick up the bridesmaid’s gifts? Chances are your mother would be glad to help out. Your friends and family can’t read your mind. Unless they have recently been through a wedding, they probably have no idea what needs to be done unless you tell them (this includes the groom, too!). As long as people do not feel like you are taking advantage of them, they are often honored to be asked and very happy to help.
Sense of Humor
You simply have to maintain a sense of humor during the wedding planning process. Believe it or not, you will be surprised at some of the seemingly insensitive things that will pop out of people’s mouths while you are planning your wedding (“You registered where?? Oh, I hate that store…why on earth would you register there?”). Try not to take any random comments too seriously and just laugh them off. It’s important you not stress over other people’s perceptions of what your wedding should be. Also, in all events leading up to (and including!) your wedding, it’s highly likely that something may go wrong or not exactly as planned. Just to provide a little anecdote on this issue, I arrived at our rehearsal dinner (along with the wedding party, their dates, our families, etc) to find out to my chagrin that nothing was ready for us…in fact, the night manager had no idea we were coming (apparently some slight miscommunication between the day shift who I been talking to and the night shift). At first I found myself getting really upset and distressed, until I realized that they could accommodate us just fine and I was causing everyone else to be upset. It turned out to be a perfectly wonderful evening. The point of my story is if anything goes awry, just roll with it, make the best of it, and chances are everything will work out just fine.
Treat Yourself
My favorite stress management tip is that if you find the wedding pressure bearing down on you, take some time out from all the planning to treat yourself. Schedule an appointment for a facial, manicure, pedicure, or massage (or all the above!). Plan some time to meet with friends over coffee or drinks and request that you all talk about things other than your wedding plans (or, in reverse, ask if you can “vent” to them, depending on what you feel would help you the most). Another fun way to relax and still be in the wedding mode is to rent classic movies like “Father of the Bride”, “My Best Friend’s Wedding”, or “The Wedding Planner”. Alternately, you and your fiancée could have a ‘date night’ where just the two of you spend time together. Taking some time out to relax and enjoy yourself will help make the overall planning process more fun for you.
There is no doubt that wedding planning can be a stressful experience. However, it is important that you make an effort to enjoy your engagement and the planning process because it is a wonderful time of your life. Enjoy!
Filed under: Centerpieces and Decor
Candlescaping is the art of creating decorative arrangements of candles to add warmth and beauty to any room. It’s one of our FAVORITE things to do for a wedding. The best part about candlescaping is your guests can take it home and decorate their house with it. We absolutely adore the candleholders at Z Gallerie (and they are insainly affordable too!!)
Although the possibilities are limited only by the boundaries of creativity, there are some very important rules that, for safety’s sake, must be followed at all times:
1) Be sure to place the candles on a flat, non-flammable, heat resistant surface. On an uneven surface (such as a sloped dish or bowl), the candles will be at an angle so that hot wax drips everywhere, and, in the worst case scenerio, the candles will fall over, ignite your curtains, and burn down the house. (An exception to this rule is a floating candle display in which case the water that fills the bowl keeps the candles safely level and happy.) A non-flammable surface (such as glass, slate, and ceramic) will reduce the risk of such a catastrophe, but be sure it is heart-resistant as well. Some materials (certain kinds of glass, etc.) are not made to withstand extended periods of heat and will give you and your guest a heart-attack when the plate shatters during the third course of your romantic candle-light supper.
2) Make sure the candles are at least one inch away from each other. If they are too close together, the flames will start to melt the wax of neighboring candles. While this might temporarily result in a slightly disturbing and yet fascinating Dali-esque sculpture of distorted wax, the candles will quickly become structurely unstable because of the melted bits and you will soon be left with a nightmarish mess that has a good chance of also meeting the requirements of a fire hazard.
3) Following the theme of a fire hazard, be sure not to use any flammable materials in your candle arrangement. While potpourri may look colourful and lovely when sprinkled around the base of your candles, when the candles burn too low and ignite the dried bits of flowers, the only thing colourful (and not at all lovely) will be the words from your mouth.
3) Since we are still on the subject of fires (which is, admittedly, the whole purpose of lighting a candle provided the fire remains quaint and under control), choose the location of your candlescape carefully. Avoid places that are near curtains, plants, walls (unless you like sooty smudges), and anything else that might be in dire peril from nearby flames. Be sure to place your candlescape in a place where there are no drafts, since the slightest breeze can cause your candle to burn unevenly and thereby shorten its lifespan. Also, take care to put all candles out of the reach of curious children and incorrigable pets.
4) Don’t use votive candles in candlescapes unless they are contained in their own little cup that is specifically made for use with votive candles. This type of candle liquifies very quickly and is therefore unsuitable to be perched on its own on a candlescaping tray.
Some ideas to inspire your creativity:
* Candlescapes seem to look best with an odd number of candles of varying thickness and height. To add even more visual interest, use different candleholders on your main tray to give each candle a distinct look.
* The fireplace is an excellent place for your candlescaping pleasures, since it is actually designed to be a safe receptacle for fire. You may even be able to find candleholders that are specifically designed to hold several candles in a pleasing arrangement suitable for just that space. Some of these are made to look like the andirons that are used to hold the logs in place while they burn.
* Here are some suggestions for items to use in your candlescapes: glass gems, coloured marbles, sand, polished stones, semi-precious pebbles (like rose-quartz), gravel, seashells, and assorted glass beads.
* Choose a theme, like the seashore (sand and shells), Zen (white sand and stones), a colour, or a particular fragrance to create just the mood you want. For example, a large red cinnamon-scented candle in a clear glass hurricane which is surrounded by a wreath of holly would be a splendid combination for the Christmas season.
* Placing a candlescape near a mirror can create interesting effects with the candlelight.
*So long as you use common sense, there is no wrong way to design a candlescape. Experiment with different shapes and candle fragrances. Visit stores that specialize in selling candles (ie. Illuminations and Pier 1 Imports) for accessories and ideas. Craft stores (such as A.C. Moore and Michael’s) usually have candle sections with similar materials and more appealing prices. (Note: While inexpensive accessories are usually just fine, be mindful of the quality of the candle you are purchasing. In most cases, you get what you pay for. Article found on www.everything2.com
I have seen a lot of problems with brides and their bridal party attendants lately (mostly girls), so I thought I would post this fun article that I found on About.com just in case there may be a bride out there that would want to share this article!! My girls were the greatest!! I was definitely lucky to have chosen the 4 best girls to be by my side and honestly don’t have any regrets about choosing them. The only hickup we had along the way was whether or not Chip N Dales or Thunder From Down Under was a better show at my Vegas bachlorette party!! 
Being a great attendant
A bridesmaid is first and foremost someone who the bride wants to be a part of her wedding. Perhaps she is a sister, or a very close friend; her friendship and support of the marriage is meaningful.
More than that, a bridesmaid and/or maid-of-honor serves a practical purpose. During the hectic time of planning a wedding, she is a confidant, advice giver, doer of menial tasks, errand runner and more. A bride should have at least one bridesmaid (preferably the maid-of-honor) who is reliable, cheerfully helpful, organized, and who lives close to the bride.
A bridesmaid’s duties might include:
* helping the bride shop for her dress and bridesmaids’ dresses
* when asked, giving advice on decorations, favors, music, and more
* helping the maid of honor to plan a bridal shower, and, if appropriate, chipping in for the costs of food, decorations, or venue
* helping to plan a bachelorette party (this the bridesmaids may pay for or split the cost with the other attendees)
* helping the bride dress (and stay calm) before the ceremony
* providing moral support at all times
* telling others where the couple is registered and other details, such as when they will return from their honeymoon, where to send
gifts, and any name changes.
* being useful at the wedding reception.
* The couple may ask you to help direct guests to the guestbook, assist with a special moment, make sure that vendors have arrived,
or do crisis management. You might also want to stick around after the reception and make sure things are cleaned up and wedding
presents secured.
* being social. Be sure to talk to as many guests as you can, making them feel warmly welcomed. If there’s a dance floor, help get the
party going!
* consider throwing (or helping to pitch in for) a day-after brunch. These events are great to help the couple catch up with out-of-town
guests, and have a more relaxed environment to socialize in.
A good bridesmaid also makes sure she is helpful rather than a hindrance. This means being where she needs to be, on time, ordering her bridesmaid dress at the right time, and not badmouthing the bride behind her back.
A Maid of Honor or Matron of Honor has additional duties. She is the person whom the bride most wants to honor and celebrate her friendship. At the wedding ceremony, she has the honor of being the last to walk down the aisle before the bride, and stands next to her during the ceremony. In addition to a bridesmaid’s duties, listed above, a maid of honor should:
* help with wedding planning, such as researching locations, florists, caterers and other vendors.
* volunteer to help address wedding invitations and/or announcements
* make sure her fellow bridesmaids have ordered their dresses and accessories on time
* helping with the rehearsal dinner
* holding the bouquet during the ceremony
* giving a meaningful toast during the reception.
The Expenses of a Bridesmaid
There is a considerable expense involved in being a bridesmaid, including cost of apparel, travel and hotel room for the ceremony, hosting a party, as well as a shower gift and a wedding gift. A bridesmaid can save money by asking others to pitch in for the showers, wearing a dress she already owns (if that’s okay with the bride), making her own dress, and staying with friends. She can give her friend the gift of time – i.e., the gift of addressing and stuffing the invitations. Also, a bride may pay for some of the expenses if her budget allows it.
The Bachelorette Party Planning
A bachelorette party should be a fun experience for a bridesmaid to toast the bride and have a blast with both new and old friends. The party planner should be sure to keep the bride in mind always. Just because the wild maid-of-honor might want a stripper doesn’t mean the bride will. Consider if the bride is more a gambling-in-Vegas type of gal, or a sitting-by-the-pool-with-a-white-wine-spritzer girl. Read to get some ideas and hints. Most of all, a bachelorette party should be a unique amazing experience that’s both a total blast and an enormous bonding time.
My husband has a thing to play with YouTube on his iTv and we came across the video for Avril’s wedding. I thought it was so cute that I just had to post it!! She makes such an AMAZING brides!! So beautiful!! But what I found facinating (for some odd reason) was watching her do the things that “normal” brides do like the candle lighting ceremony and having a nice wedding, not OVER the top celebrity glamerous. It’s just perfect, in my opinion!!
Ok I know a lot of you have seen those beautiful tree branches dripping with crystal rhinestones and wondered how to make it. Well, we found this AWESOME site that gives you all the details and all the products you need.
A Stunning Focal Point for the room as shown in Bride’s magazine – Brilliant idea: Simple centerpieces succeed with a single eye-catching installation, such as this crystal-festooned tree, as the party’s focal point. The main attraction: tree branches—gilded (not painted) silver, and dripping with crystal ropes—sit atop a special champagne bar (or escort card station). centerpieces. Perfect for Showers, Receptions, Engagement Parties, Brunches and more. Crystal candle holders with taper candles serve as simple guest table decorations, while Swarovski crystal leafs adorne the backs of the chairs (double as guest favors). Because the tree is the room’s focus, you can spend some of the usual fresh floral centerpiece $$$ on the tree instead … much more stunning and memorable. Unlike anyone else, we make the Swarovski Lead Free crystal ropes, sell the Swarovski crystal leafs (shown on the chairbacks) and manufacture and sell the actual trees like this, right here on this website. Bride’s magazine is full of stunning decor ideas like this. You can subscribe to Bride’s by visiting their website at Brides.com.
How to Make a Crystal Tree?
Ethereal Decor sells awesome Faux Reproduction Manzanitas trees in silver and other colors, as well as professionally made real manzanita Trees. Just choose your tree (faux or real) and then decorate with crystals and other tree decorations of your choice.
You can buy our Swarovski Lead Free Crystal loose octagon prisms (link together yourself), or you can purchase our octagon prism ropes already linked together. Make your own crystal tree using a suitable locally obtained tree or branches or buy Swarovski Lead Free crystal from them and a finished Faux Reproduction Manzanita or even a real, natural, silver or gold “tree”.
The crystal tree in project #1 with the long ropes of Swarovski Lead Free crystal is actually nearly 6 feet tall (according to the tree’s maker). You can make a smaller version however. The tree in the picture above was made with predominately 16mm and 26mm size Swarovski Lead Free octagon prism ropes. 14mm crystals simply do not make the same impact.
©Copyright 2007 Ethereal Manufacturing & Sales. Written permission required to copy or post our editorial copy elsewhere whether in whole or in part. The following info is not from Brides, but direct to us from the designer: according to the tree’s designer, this stunning tree is a full 6 feet tall and was made using 16mm and 26mm size Swarovski Lead Free Crystal octagons linked with gold (brass) with subtle connectors (no ugly “bow tie” connectors) made into long ropes. According to the designer, he used mostly Swarovski Lead Free Crystal Octagons on most of the branches and a added a few Swarovski Strass 32% lead crystals mixed in on some of the outer branches. Swarovski Lead Free Crystal is the second finest crystal chandelier crystal in the world and Strass 32% lead crystal is the absolute finest precision cut chandelier crystal available anywhere. Swarovski Strass costs 2 – 3 times as much as Swarovski Lead Free crystal and sparkles probably about 20% more than the lead free.
