Often times the minute your beau pops the question and puts a ring on that left hand finger, many Brides to be have some type of urge to call all their gal pals up and shout "Guess what, I'M ENGAGED!" - some where in that same phone call, either the friend says "does this mean i'm going to be in your wedding?" or the bride out of excitement blurts out "will you be my maid of honor"?

The problem with this is that you've barely been engaged for a minute and have so much racing through your mind about "The Big Day", that you don't have enough time to give it deep thought as to which friends you'd want most to be standing by your side during your wedding ceremony, which friends are truly there for you when you need them to be, which friends can be financially able to contribute to throwing you a bachelorette party (if that would be expected of them), and which friends have the time to dedicate to you in attending fittings or appointments if you need assistance. Bottom line is, give yourself enough time to select friends to be in your Bridal Party (or for the Groom - his Groomsmen) that will genuinely be there to support you and that you will be able to look back on your wedding photos and be able to say your still friends!

Once you've taken the time to make your decision as to how many Bridesmaids & Groomsmen  you will have (as well as Maid of Honor/Best Man), then it is best to ask them to be part of your Bridal Party in a personal and special way! Sending a formal card in the mail as a special gesture to ask them the sweet question of honor is always appropriate (usually the minute they open it they'll end up calling you with loads of excitement and say "yes, I'll be your Bridesmaid" or if they know they have a busy year with a pregnancy or busy work load, they may unfortuantely decline - which is OK too)! Now days there are many creative Brides and Grooms who ask their close friends in extra special ways, such as: custom cookies or cupcakes that say "Will YOU Be My Maid of Honor?", send flowers to them at work with a special card. No matter what you do to ask them, make sure its polite, done in the right timing, and most of all be understanding if they let you know they are unfortunately unable to - trust me, I'm sure you'll have no problem thinking of another friend who would love to play a special role in your big day!

Here are some examples of specialized cards you can order to ask your close friends to be in your Wedding Party, from our Shop:

"Be My Bridesmaid Card" $4 + shipping (or 7 cards reg. $28, 10‰ off = Now $25 *includes shipping)
(Both cards come w/swarovski crystal & high quality iridescent silver envelope)

"Be My Bridesmaid Card?" & "Thanks Bridesmaid!" Card Set = $8 for the set of 2
(Both cards come with swarovski crystal & high quality iridescent silver envelope)

"Be My Groomsmen?" & "Thanks Groomsmen!" Card Set = $8 for set of 2 *also for individual sale $4
(Both cards come with swarovski crystal & high quality iridescent silver envelope)

Bouquet Card (with swarovski crystal & high quality iridescent silver envelope) $4

Honestly speaking, Z-Gallerie is one of my favorite home stores and i just love some of their pieces when used in wedding decor. I just noticed their having an up to 70% off sale right now... I personally used their Cake Knife set at my wedding and boy did it look grand :) One of my favorite pieces I will have to hold on to in remembering our special day! Check out some of my fave's in clearance (all clearance items are final sale):

Lismore Beverage Dispenser (originally $69.95) now on sale = $49.99

Diamond Champagne Flute Set of 2 (was $39.95) now on sale for = $29.99

Marquis Cake Knife and Server (was $29.95), now on sale for $19.99!

Tea Light Stands (was up to $14.95) Now on sale for = $9.99

Was up to $16.95, now on sale for = $9.99

Apothecary Beverage Dispencer (was $49.95), now on sale for $29.95

Acrylic Square Napkin Ring Holder Set of 4 (was $15.80) Now = $11.56

Bling Tealight Holders (were $37.95 and $39.95) now = $29.99 each

I fell in love with this unique company I came across, called Modern Bird Studios; Turning your Engagement Pictures (or any photo for that matter) into amazing wood art to have as a special keepsake art piece is really only clicks away... So convenient! I am actually thinking of ordering one for myself, but instead of using our engagement picture (since we already have a large canvas of it) - I'll be ordering a photo of our sweet lil doggie Merlot to be transformed into wood art. The possibilities are endless, but I really wanted to share this unique find with all of you Brides wanting to bring more unique elements into your wedding! Another great idea is to transform your parents or grandparents wedding photos into Modern Bird Studios Wood Art to display at your wedding, or as a gift to loved ones to say thank you for being part of your special day - it's definitely not a gift they'd already have; very original! Check out their site, i'd love to hear what you all think of their unique woodwork.

Pavé Bow and Pearl Drop Stretch Bracelet $68.00 at Ann Taylor
A glamorous stretch bracelet featuring sections of cubic zirconia stones and a shimmery bow detail. Dangling pearl bead. Shiny silvertone backing. Inset elastic for a flexible fit.

There are so many beautiful bridal garters out there these days... I have to say this particular custom garter design caught my eyes pretty quickly as it is very on trend in the bridal high fashion world and has the timeless beauty we all want to wear on our wedding day! For those of you who haven't found the right garter yet, i recommend visiting Bleu Garters to view their collections - enjoy!

I do have to say I am delighted to share this fabulous new vendor out on the Bridal Scene... Chinny Lulu Designs is a creative new Hair Accessory Designer with her store featured on Etsy! I am delighted to call Chinny my friend, she is sweet inside and out; and to top it off she is so talented!! Check out her new store featuring custom pieces for all (she has pieces for Modern Brides, Vintage Brides, Fun Bridal Parties, and pretty much any other occasion and style lovers)~ I just love how on trend each piece is, enjoy:

I'm a sucker for watching Giada with her awesome cooking recipe's/tips and boy do I love shopping at Target! It's with much excitement that I share with all of you who haven't noticed that Giada De Laurentiis now has products at Target (if you are registering at Target, be sure to check out her new products). *Target Tip: Make sure that any items you register for are available both in store & online (don't register online - it's best to register in person at the store). Happy scanning :}

I love these adorable socks from the online etsy shop of Erin Borges...

What a cute gift for your groom to have on your Wedding Day from his lovely Bride - Socks that say "In Case You Get Cold Feet", "Im So Happy You Walked Into My Life", or "By Your Side Every Step of the Way" in custom colored embroidery! All socks are made custom to match your wedding colors. When ordering just specify what color and shade of that color you would like and I will make them just for you! They also offer custom orders per request only. Check em out~

photo by loveandsplendor

Mazel Tov Glass

Tradition
"As part of the Jewish wedding ceremony, it is tradition for the groom to step on the wedding glass. The guests joyously shout "Mazel Tov" which means congratulations and good luck. There is much clapping and cheering as the couple celebrates their marriage moment. It is a hope that the couple's happiness will be as plentiful as the shards of glass.

The breaking of the wedding glass has many interpretations. It is a reminder of the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem; its fragility symbolizes that the couple's love must be cared for. It is a metaphor for the vulnerability of human relationships. It symbolizes the break between single and married life. Some say it is the last time the groom gets to "put his foot down."

Their Story
They "chose to make a colorful brown Mazel Tov wedding glass to be stepped on beneath the chuppah, but a pile of broken glass shards is not a good wedding gift. So they came up with the idea to use the colorful broken pieces to create the first Mazel Tov Glass Heirloom vase."

Their Process
"They hand blow a Mazel Tov Wedding Glass in your choice of color and ship it to you in a velvet Mazel Tov bag, imported from Israel, ready to include in your wedding ceremony.
After the glass is stepped on, you mail the Mazel Tov Wedding Glass shards back to them in the provided shipping container.
They then take the Mazel Tov Wedding Glass pieces from your wedding ceremony, and suspend them with clear molten glass to make a Mazel Tov Glass Heirloom." SOURCE

What a great way to celebrate tradition and be able to transform something so special into a beautiful family heirloom to pass on to future generations! We have also heard of non-Jewish couples integrating the Mazel Tov tradition into their ceremonies as well. If you would like to get your very own Mazel Tov Glass, check out their website!

Check out these amazing rings from Personalized Boutique; the hottest celebrities in town are sporting them and now you can say thank you to your bridesmaids with one of the hottest new trends!