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Top Picks: The Best Wedding Dresses For Short Curvy Girls

Today, we’re going to be looking at some top picks at the best wedding dresses for curvy girls. Let’s be honest, whatever size and shape you are – finding your dream gown isn’t easy. However, if you’ve got curves or you’re shorter than 5ft 3, it can become more challenging; take it from a 5ft 2 curvy bride! But never fear, your dream dress is out there, and we’ll be looking at some of my favorite picks today.

Whether you’re looking for some princess-like, or something more casual, we’ll be covering it all in this article. Some brides’ priority is for comfort, while others may be glitz and glam. The most important thing to remember is that it’s your wedding dress, and you should be choosing something that is right for you; despite what anyone else thinks.

I was one of the lucky ones! I chose my dream dress online (Alfred Angelo Disney Princess Jasmine) and found a local stockist. Then, I tried it on and I instantly knew it was the one. However, it did need a lot of adjustments! But a store that has a surprisingly wide range of Bridal dresses for all shapes and sizes, is Amazon. Here’s my top picks from Amazon.

Wedding Dresses For Curvy Brides

Whether you want to flaunt off your curves with a figure-hugging dress, or you want something more traditional – whatever your body type, you can find the dress you’re looking for. Here are some of the best wedding dresses for curvy figures.

Kiyonna Women’s Plus Size Wedding Belle Dress

Our first choice is this Kiyonna Women’s Plus Size Wedding Belle Dress. You may want to opt for something short, classy, and elegant. If so, this is the dress for you. It comes in two styles: ivory and lace, with a nude lining. The ivory feels more bridal – but it depends how bold you’d like to be!

This dress is $198.00 and the fit is true to size, according to brides that have chosen this dress for their own wedding. It has 4.1 stars and comes in sizes 0x to 5x.

It’s made from 94% lace and is the perfect dress if you’re looking for something that oozes femininity.

Check price on Amazon

Ever-Pretty Women’s A-Line Empire Waist Embroidery Plus Size Dress

The Ever-Pretty Women’s A-Line Empire Waist Embroidery Plus Size Dress is another great choice. It’s very similar to the first dress, but a full-length gown. Brides often opt for full-length gowns if they’re having a more formal wedding. This dress comes in a wide selection of colors, but the obvious choice is of course, white.

The dress is just $54.99 and the fit is also true to size, according to past brides – despite the brand telling you to order one size up. It’s recommendation rating is 4.2 stars and comes in sizes 14-26.

Due to the price, this dress is made from polyester, so although the material may not be as luxurious as the first, it’s a good choice if you’re working on a tight budget.

Check price on Amazon

Babygirls Beach Wedding Dress Plus Size for Woman

The Babygirls Beach Wedding Dress Plus Size for Woman is perfect if you’re having a beach wedding and want to show off a bit more of that gorgeous figure. A full-length gown made of beautiful chiffon material, that comes in a range of Bridal colors. These colors include ivory, white, off-white, and pastel pink.

The top of this dress is embellished with stunning pearls, which really adds a bit of luxury to this already beautiful dress.

Depending on your size, dresses range from $99 upwards, and again, the fit is true to size. It comes highly recommended with 4 stars and comes in a great selection of sizes, from sizes 2-24 plus.

Check price on Amazon

Wedding Dresses for Petite Curvy Brides

Wedding dresses for short women with curves can be even more tricky! But Amazon has some lovely choices you may like to consider.

Wedding Dresses for Bride 2021 Sleeveless Lace Petite/Plus Size Bridal Gowns

The Wedding Dresses for Bride 2021 Sleeveless Lace Petite/Plus Size Bridal Gowns is perfect for whatever wedding you’re having. It’s traditional, classy, and completely classic. It comes in ivory and white and is made from chiffon and lace. This full-length gown with an open back will have your wedding guests in awe.

The dress comes in at $109.99 and is true to its size. The recommendation score of this dress is 4 out of 5 stars, and comes in the best range of sizes I could find! Sizes 0-24, and sizes 18-26 plus.

Check price on Amazon

Ikerenwedding Women’s V-Neck Sequins Sleeveless Lace-up Mermaid Gown

The Ikerenwedding Women’s V-Neck Sequins Sleeveless Lace-up Mermaid Gown is my ultimate choice. If you want something figure-hugging and something that will leave your guests reeling – this gown is perfect. It comes in a range of colors, but silver and white seem most appropriate for a wedding. It has a built-in bra and is made from gorgeous materials, such as sequins, tulle, and satin.

The dress is priced at $119.99 and is true to size. This is our most recommended choice with 4.4 stars out of 5! It comes in sizes 2-26 and is truly stunning.

Check price on Amazon

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped to highlight the best wedding dresses for curvy girls and shown how easy it can be find your dream gown! Amazon has a plethora of other options if none of our choices take your fancy – the world is your oyster.

Whatever dress you choose, as long as you’re happy and comfortable – that is the most important thing. And you’ll look absolutely beautiful, no matter what your dress looks like.

If you’re a plus-size or petite bride, where did you buy your wedding gown from? Or where do you plan to? Did this article help at all? Please feel free to let me know in the comments below. I love reading through them, and you may be able to help any future plus-size brides!

When Do You Ask Your Bridesmaids The Big Question?

Today, we’re going to be answering the question: when do you ask your bridesmaids to be part of your special day? It’s a question that’s asked often in relation to wedding. Let’s face it – your bridesmaid(s) and maid of honor are a huge part of your wedding. But when’s the best time to ask them? What’s the etiquette? And how do you ask someone to be involved in your wedding? We’ll be covering it all in this article.

When To Ask Bridesmaids

You’ve just got engaged to the love of your life and you’re excitedly telling all your friends and family. You’re in the first stages of wedding planning bliss and you’re making decisions already. One of your first decisions will likely be your bridal party.

But try not to be too hasty in sharing your decisions with potential bridesmaids. Your wedding will likely be months, if not years, away. What you decide now, may not be your decision months down the line. You may want 6 bridesmaids on your engagement but may only want 2 several months later. It’s definitely best to hold off on sharing your decision with your bridal party, no matter how excited you are!

If your wedding is a few years away, you may want to wait too as relationships can change. Someone you’re close to now, may not be so close in a year’s time. Or you may meet someone new who you’d like to give the role of bridesmaid too.

Usually, bridesmaids are given at least 6 months’ notice of their wedding role – but up to a year is even better! This is because they have a bigger role than you may realize. Not only are they helping you plan your special day, but they’ll need to make plans for your bachelorette party, your bridal shower, choose their dresses – being a bridesmaid is important!

These pointers are the best way to decide when you should be asking:

At least 6 months before your wedding (if that’s possible)
When your know your wedding date
At least a few weeks after the proposal to give you time to think
When you have made a decision on the rest of your bridal party

Do You Ask Your Maid Of Honor First?

When it comes to asking your nearest and dearest, there really is no etiquette on who you should be asking first. You may want to ask your maid of honor first, as, after all, she does have the most responsibility on the day. Or you may like to leave her “proposal” until last to keep her in suspense and make a grand gesture.

Whichever you decide is completely acceptable and she’ll no doubt be over the moon, regardless of when you ask her to be your maid of honor.

How To Ask Someone To Be Your Bridesmaid

So the time has come! You’ve chosen your bridesmaids and now you’re ready to pop the question! What once was a simple question, is now quite an event. If you’re able to put a small budget aside for your potential bridesmaids, it will make the memory everlasting for them, and something they’ll treasure forever.

Whether you have no budget or a huge budget, there’s something you can do to make the proposal special. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ideas.

Flowers. One of the most common proposal ideas is with a bouquet of flowers. The great thing about flowers is that they can be as expensive or as budget-friendly as you need. And you can just pop a “Will You Be My Bridesmaid?” note inside the bouquet.
Scratchcard. This is a super cute, affordable idea. You can find personalized scratch cards on sites like Etsy for as little as $2. This one from Gemma Lou Creations is simple but effective.
Fortune Cookies. Arranging a takeout night with your potential bridal party is an idea that will definitely make the proposal a surprise. On sites like Not On the High Street and Etsy, you can find “Will You Be My Bridesmaid?” fortune cookies for around $5. What a sweet surprise that will be when they crack open their cookies!
Jewelry. Whether you choose a simple wish bracelet for around $2 with “Will You Be My Bridesmaid?” as the backing card, or you buy a piece of jewelry for them to wear at your wedding with a handwritten note inside; jewelry is the perfect way to make a proposal.
Sweet Treats. If your potential bridesmaid has a sweet tooth – presenting her with a printed cookie, or small cake is a cute idea! You could even get several cookies made; one with the question, one with the date, and one with a message on why you’d love her to be your bridesmaid.
Scavenger Hunt. This is a great affordable idea. Leave clues around the house to lead up to the “prize”, which can either be a simple handwritten note with your proposal, or something more extravagant like a personalized gift box. The choice is yours!

For more proposal ideas, Brides has an amazing 30 Creative Bridesmaid Proposal Ideas post to leave you feeling inspired.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped to answer the question of when you should be asking your bridesmaids and what are the best ways to do it. Let’s be honest, however you make your proposal – you’re going to have one happy bridesmaid! She’ll be thrilled to be part of your special day, whether it’s a grand gesture or not.

The most important point to remember is to give yourself time to make final decisions and don’t be too hasty in telling your bridal party.

How did you ask your bridesmaids and when do you think is the best time to ask them? Please feel free to leave any answers in the comments below – especially if you have some imaginative ideas! You may be helping future brides out with their own proposals!

Catholic Wedding Prelude Songs

Today, we’re going to be looking at Catholic wedding prelude songs. It’s important to note that what songs a church allows will vary. We’ll be looking at some of the most popular Catholic wedding processional songs and prelude songs.

However, it’s best to consult the priest and the church itself before making any final decisions. Every church is unique and has different requirements for wedding songs. It is a requirement that all songs throughout the ceremony are prayerful. So let’s take a look at what songs you can choose.

Catholic Wedding Music

There is a huge selection of songs on offer for Catholic weddings, but please check with your priest on whichever choices you make. Their decision is final and should be respected, even if it’s a song you had your heart set on.

Catholic Wedding Prelude Songs

A prelude is 10-15 minutes of music before the ceremony begins. As your guests are gathering and seating themselves for the wedding, it’s a good idea to have some gentle music playing. Or if you’re lucky enough to have a choir/singers at your wedding,

Not for Tongue’s of Heaven’s Angels – Michael Joncas
A Nuptial Blessing – Michael Joncas
Set Me as a Seal – Matt Maher
My Heart, Your Home – Chandler Moore and Alton Eugene
How Beautiful – Paris Twila
The Prayer – David Foster and Katharine McPhee
Sheep May Safely Graze – Bach

You usually play around 5 songs for the prelude, and there are lots of other options to choose from if these don’t feel right. Many churches will have their own selection of songs to choose from, which may make it easier for you.

Catholic Wedding Processional Songs

The procession music is played when the Bride and Bridal party enter the ceremony. You can choose one or two songs for this part of the wedding. This is all dependent on how large your bridal party is.

If you have one or two bridesmaids, one song will be enough. However, if your party consists of grandmothers, mothers, bridesmaids, flower girls, etc., you may need two. These songs can be played or sung.

The entrance of the bride usually has a different song to announce her arrival. She deserves all the attention, after all.

It’s worth noting that some of the songs we’ve looked at in the prelude, can also be used as processional music, and vice versa.

Song Choices

Some popular options include:

Come to Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Chris Rice. It’s worth mentioning that this song has multiple versions, so choose which one suits your wedding most. It’s a gorgeous solo song that will leave your guests weeping with joy, with lyrics such as, “Come Thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace, Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise”.
This is the Day – Scott Wesley Brown. This has been an extremely popular Catholic wedding song for decades now, and it’s not difficult to see why. With lyrics like, “This is the day that the Lord hath made, and I’m so glad, He made you, with each rising sun you are here by my side, you are more than a dream come true”, it’s a beautiful and heartfelt choice.
Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel. It wasn’t composed as a Bridal march, but it’s now a wedding favorite. It makes for a lovely entrance choice, especially if you want a song that does not have any words.
Arioso – Bach. Bach is one of the most popular composers to use at Catholic weddings and it’s not hard to see why he’s a favorite. It’s the perfect melody for any wedding.
Panis Angelicus – Andre Rieu. There are many versions of this song, and it’s a great piece for the Bridal party procession to walk down the aisle too, rather than the Bride herself.

Catholic Wedding Ceremony Songs

Catholic weddings usually have music playing throughout their ceremony. If you opt for music throughout the ceremony, here are some choices you may like to use.

God is Able – Hillsong Worship. It may not be a traditional choice, but with lyrics such as, “God is with us, He will go before, He will never leave us”, it does make a good one.
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Bach. Back with much-loved composer, Bach. You can’t go wrong choosing Bach as any part of your wedding music. It’s relaxing, calm, and truly beautiful.
Ave Maria. This is one of the most popular choices, and there are so many versions of this song to choose from. It’s one of my favorite choices.

For more song choices to use throughout the remainder of your wedding, Love and Lavender have a Guide to the Best Catholic Wedding Songs.

Live Music and Instruments

When choosing your music, it’s important to bear in mind what instruments you’ll have throughout your wedding. And how many singers you’ll have if any. These are all things to bear in mind when choosing music. Some pieces of music sound better with certain instruments, and may not sound best on instruments such as a violin, or organ, etc. Your musicians will be able to help you with any questions you may have, and guide you through your wedding music options.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you to become more familiar with Catholic wedding prelude songs. The church your ceremony will be held at will likely have many options at hand to help you if you’re still struggling to make a decision. There’s a plethora of beautiful Catholic songs to choose from, so you will certainly be spoilt for choice!

Did you have a Catholic wedding, or are you planning to have one? If so, let me know which songs you’re choosing. If any of your choices, didn’t make the list – I would love to hear them! Please feel free to leave any suggestions in the comments below. You may be helping out future Brides and Grooms with their own weddings.

Wedding Without Religious Aspects

Today, we’re going to be looking at having a wedding without religious aspects. You may be an atheist (like me!) and that is completely fine. Your wedding can still be as formal and special, as any religious wedding is. But what may need to be changed to have a wedding without any religious aspects? Let’s take a closer look.

How Do Atheists Get Married?

A wedding between two atheists, or a couple that wishes to have a non-religious wedding holds the same principles as a religious wedding. You both wish to spend the rest of your lives together and want to make a commitment to show your love for one another. There is no place in a non-religious wedding for a higher power. This will all depend on your faith (or lack of it), culture, and tradition.

It’s important to tell the officiant who is marrying you that you do not want your vows to contain any religious undertones or words when you have your meeting with them beforehand. You may wish to scrap that tradition altogether and write your own vows for one another.

Non-Religious Aspects To Consider

There are several points to consider to start planning your wedding. To ensure it maintains non-religious throughout, here’s some things to bear in mind.

Atheist Wedding Officiant

At a religious ceremony, it’s usually quite self-explanatory who will be marrying you both. Whether it’s a priest, rabbi, or any other religious officiant. At a non-religious ceremony, the answer is: it’s up to you! It can be a legal official (such as a judge) or a secular officiant. Or if you’d like a family or friend to marry you both, that’s an option too! It’s easy to be ordained online now – and there’s nothing religious about it at all. You can find out more about becoming ordained here.

NOTE: Please check your country/state’s laws as to who you can allow to marry you and your partner.

The Venue

You may have always dreamed of getting married in a church. While that may still be available to you, it may come across as disrespectful to request a church ceremony if both of you are non-religious. However, if this is something you’d like, speak to the church and discuss their feelings around it. I would highly advise not having a church wedding if you’re both atheists.

Outside of a church (and any other place of worship), you can choose to have your wedding almost anywhere if you’re looking for a non-religious wedding! Hotels, castles, beaches – the world is your oyster. As long as it’s meaningful to you and your partner, that is the most important thing.

NOTE: Again, before deciding on the place of your wedding, check your country/state’s laws to ensure where your wedding is taking place is legal.

The Ceremony

There are lots of vows that include God and religious aspects throughout. When discussing your wedding with your officiant, be sure to disclose to them that you’re both not religious and would like your vows to reflect that. Be sure to remove any religious readings and hymns that may be seen as “standard” where your wedding is taking place.

And if you’d like something truly original, writing your own vows and choosing your own readings is a great way to veer away from the religious side of a wedding ceremony.

Wedding Ceremony Ideas – Non-Religious

If you’re looking for some alternative ceremony ideas that stray from “traditional” altogether, here are some great non-religious ceremony ideas, that still convey your union, and love for one another, beautifully.

Sand Ceremony. Each of you chooses a different color of sand and mix the sand into one container. The idea behind it is that now the sand is mixed together, it’s almost impossible to make separate, just like you and your new life partner
Candle Ceremony. Candles are extremely popular in non-religious weddings and can be utilized in a range of ways. You each light a candle, with a large, unlit candle in the middle. At the end of the ceremony, you each light the large candles with the small candle you lit earlier. This symbolizes two becoming one, and your unity.
Tree Planting Ceremony. Not only is this a beautiful idea, but it’s good for the environment too! Each gets soil from a place that’s special to you (or your garden if that’s easier!) and plant a tree in the combined soil. Over the years, you can watch trees grow, just like your relationship continues to. It’s symbolic and is a landmark you and your partner can cherish forever.
Tying the Knot Ceremony. We often refer to a wedding as “tying the knot”, so why not take that in it’s most literal sense? Bind your hands together (and your children if you have them), to show that you are eternally bound together, and choose a knot that is special to you. Go wild with colors and materials!

There’s a range of other ceremony ideas that are non-religious over on the Confetti website. From water ceremonies to wine ceremonies, to love letter ceremonies – there’s so many to choose from, that can be personal to you.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you to understand how easy it is to get have a wedding without any religious aspects. The most important part of any wedding is declaring your unwavering love for one another, and committing to spending the rest of your lives together. As long as your wedding has those principles, your marriage is just as perfect as a religious one.

Did you have a non-religious wedding? I did! If so, what ideas do you have for any future bride and grooms? Was there anything that didn’t make the list that you think is worth sharing? If so, please feel free to leave any suggestions in the comments below. You may be helping out any future couples with their own wedding day.

Who Buys The Groom’s Wedding Ring?

Today, we’re going to be answering the question: who buys the groom’s wedding ring? Are you having a traditional wedding, whereby you follow wedding etiquette? Or is your wedding day going to be more modern? Whichever you decide, let’s take a look at who should be buying the groom’s ring.

Who Buy’s The Guy’s Wedding Ring?

We’ll be looking at a range of options today – from traditional to a more modern approach.

Traditional

Tradition states that the Bride should be the one to buy the Groom’s wedding ring. Whether she foots the bill herself or obtains help from her family – the Bride is the one who chooses and pays for the Groom’s wedding ring. This works both ways, therefore the Groom should buy the Bride’s ring. You can show each other the rings beforehand, or leave it for a surprise on the big day.

If you’re a classic couple, this makes for a great photo opportunity and makes the ring even more special. However, this approach is binary and excludes a large amount of weddings. We’ll be looking at same-sex weddings later.

Modern

There’s a variety of options you can choose for your wedding rings. Let’s take a look at the most common options.

Choose the Rings Together. If you want to get matching rings, or would just simply prefer to see what each other’s choices are – go shopping together! It may not be traditional, but you can choose rings that are special to you both, and lots of couples now opt for similar style rings.
Buy Your Own Rings. Let’s be honest, you want your wedding ring to be something you love – you’ll be wearing it for the rest of your life. And you may want to buy something extravagant and expensive, whereas your partner may want something simple and affordable. If that’s the case, choosing and paying for your own may be the best option. Many couples fear for what their partner may have chosen for their “forever” ring, so if this is a worry of yours – buying your own is the perfect solution.
50/50. If you’re unsure what to do about the cost, go shopping together and split the cost down the middle. Sure, one may be more than the other – but you are a couple now! What’s mine is yours, and all that jazz!
Receive as a Gift. One of your parents (or other family or friends) may wish to help out with the cost of the wedding rings. It can take a large chunk out of the budget, so if they wish to contribute a monetary sum – why not spend it on the wedding rings? That way you won’t have to worry about who buys what!
Whoever Earns More. One of you may work, and the other not. Or one of you may earn more than the other. If that’s the case, the higher earner (whoever that may be) may wish to purchase both of the rings. Whether you go together, or set a budget and surprise each other on the day, this option works for some couples.

Read more about How Much Are Baby Breath Flowers?

Does The Bride Buy The Groom’s Wedding Ring?

As we’ve seen earlier in this post, it is traditional for the Bride to buy the Groom’s wedding ring. But as a couple, you must decide what works best for you. As long as both of you are happy with the decision, it doesn’t matter who buys what for who!

Same-Sex Couples

Etiquette is usually very binary, which is frustrating. This isolates a lot of couples – so what’s the etiquette from same-sex couples? As there’s no “tradition” set, you can do whatever you want for your wedding! Whether you buy the rings individually, buy each other’s, or split the cost 50/50 – do whatever works best for you as a couple.

Picking The Perfect Wedding Ring

Now you’ve made a decision on who is paying for what – now you need to choose the rings! The Knot have a great guide to show you how to make the perfect decision. They say that there’s 9 ways to choose the right bands for you and your partner. They include:

Incorporating your style
Setting a budget
Shopping as early as possible
Shopping together
Considering the lifestyles you both have
Considering personalization of the rings
Hold off on any re-sizing of rings
Think of what the engagement ring(s) will look like with the bands
Put faith and trust into your jeweler

The full article is informative and a good starting place to read before you go ring shopping. Speaking of ring shopping, you may be wondering where to look. Looking online is a good place to start, but I would always advise making any purchases in person as rings can look very different online, as opposed to in person.

Look for a jeweler that comes recommended if you can. Ask your family and friends for any suggestions, they will probably have some ideas for you.

Conclusion On Who Buys The Groom’s Wedding Ring

I hope this article has answered the question: who buy’s the Groom’s wedding ring? The simple answer is: it really doesn’t matter. Tradition or not, as long as both people in the couple are happy, that’s the most important thing. There really is no right or wrong answer to almost every question in a wedding. There may be etiquette and guidelines you may like to follow, but nothing is set in stone – and that’s important to remember.

Who bought the rings in your marriage? When I got married, me and my husband both chose our own wedding rings and payed for our own rings. We did go shopping together though, so it was a special experience for us both. Let me know what you did/are doing in the comments below. I would to know what worked for you. You may be helping out any future bride and grooms.

Tiffany Blue and Yellow Weddings

Today, we’re going to be looking at Tiffany blue and yellow weddings. In more recent years, a Tiffany blue and gold wedding has become increasingly popular. And it’s not hard to see why. Tiffany blue is the signature color of the infamous brand, Tiffany and Co. The color is bold, but somehow still remains subtle. It adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to your wedding, in the most beautiful way.

It’s a color that radiates calm when you see it, and that’s why it’s the perfect addition to your wedding day. The color is versatile and works well with a range of colors (we’ll be looking at those later!), but more commonly, Tiffany blue and gold are the preferred color theme. But how can you inject those colors into your wedding? Let’s take a closer look.

How Can I Incorporate Tiffany Blue and Yellow into my Wedding?

Whether you want the color scheme of your wedding to be obvious, or you’d rather opt for more subtle ways, there’s a range of ideas to incorporate the colors into your wedding. Let’s take a look at a few.

Bridal Party. If you’re wanting something really striking, a super cute idea would be Tiffany blue bridesmaid dresses. Their bouquet of flowers could be something less traditional, like Sunflowers. This pairing is bold and looks beautiful.
Groomsmen. For something more subtle, the men of the wedding could wear a Tiffany blue tie/cravat and have their pocket square/handkerchief a cheery yellow color.
Décor. Decorating is one of the best parts of the wedding – so feel free to go wild! Yellow and blue bunting works well together. Even down to alternating blue and yellow straws at the tables!
Wedding Cake. A Tiffany blue cake with yellow and white flowers cascading down would look stunning, and fit in with the scheme perfectly.
Chairs. Decorating chairs is time-consuming if you’re doing it yourself, but worth the extra effort. A Tiffany blue banquet cover with a yellow bow is an idea you could use on your big day. This is definitely not a subtle look!

Tiffany Blue Wedding Centerpiece

Centerpieces are by far the easiest way to incorporate the color theme into your wedding, in the most natural way. They take pride of place on each table and one of the first things your guests will see when they enter. Let’s take a look at some ideas!

Tiffany Boxes. A popular choice that adds a touch of class to your wedding is a tower of boxes, that resemble the iconic Tiffany and Co boxes. You can actually make these yourself reasonably easily. All you’ll need is scissors, boxes, glue gun and sticks, white ribbon, and spray paint. Here’s a video where you can learn to do it yourself!

Balloons. If you’re looking for a budget open that still looks beautiful, balloons are a great option – and also what I used at my own wedding. I bought my own helium tank and made arrangements on the day (you can get someone to do this for you if you do not have time). Whether you opt for Tiffany blue balloons on their own or add yellow/white for a touch of color – they’ll look amazing.
Flowers. Lots of couples opt for flowers as their centerpieces. Whether you opt for something subtle like a Tiffany blue ribbon tied around the arrangement or have Tiffany blue flowers themselves, this is a great way to incorporate the color into your wedding.

For more Tiffany blue wedding decorations and centerpiece ideas, Wedding Forward has a great article that you may find useful.

What Color Goes With Tiffany Blue for a Wedding?

If you’d like Tiffany blue in your wedding but are unsure on yellow/gold as the secondary color, never fear – there’s plenty of other beautiful alternatives! Let’s take a look at the most common colors paired with Tiffany blue.

Blush Pink. Blush pink is my personal favorite to go alongside blue. It’s the perfect wedding day color and is easy to add touches of pink to whatever you choose. Blush pink is a more traditional wedding color, so perfect for a more traditional wedding. Cake, bouquets, and bridesmaids/groomsmen are easy ways to inject these colors into your wedding.
White. Another traditional color is white. Tiffany blue and white look amazing together; it’s a comforting and peaceful pairing. As the bride is usually already wearing white – you already have a start!
Orange. This is a bold one that would work great at a more casual wedding or a Fall wedding. An orange, blue and white wedding cake is a good starting point. Also, bright orange bouquets with Tiffany-colored bridesmaid dresses looks eye-catching.
Grey. If you’re wanting something in the middle of traditional, yet striking – why not opt for Tiffany blue and grey? These colors can work at a casual or formal wedding. Getting the groomsmen to wear grey suits and the bridesmaids to wear Tiffany blue dresses looks stunning in photos.

Although those are the most popular color choices, you can pair Tiffany blue with any color that you like! It’s your wedding day, so choose whatever works for you. What other colors do you think work well with Tiffany blue?

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped with your Tiffany blue and yellow weddings. As Tiffany blue is such a gorgeous, versatile color – it really does work well with almost anything. And it’s one of the easiest colors to find items themed around, so it can make your wedding planning as easy as possible.

Did you have Tiffany blue at your wedding? I did! How did you incorporate it into your big day? My flowers, centerpieces, bridesmaid dresses, groomsmen accessories, and even my wedding favors, were all blue and white. I would love to know any ideas you have, so please feel free to leave any suggestions in the comments below. You may be helping out future couples with their wedding.

Wedding Dress For Less Than 500

Today we’re going to be looking at how to buy a wedding dress for less than 500 dollars. Affordable wedding dresses may seem impossible to find but they’re actually easier to source than you may think. My wedding dress was only just over £500 (I’m a UK bride) and was a Disney Princess Alfred Angelo gown. It was meant to be almost £1500. Let’s have a look at how to get wedding dresses under $500.

There are a few tips and tricks you can follow to find more affordable wedding gowns. Here’s a round-up of some of my top suggestions for finding a gown that’s affordable and 100% you.

Bridal Outlets

Bridal outlets are a great place to start if you’re looking for a wedding dress on a budget. They’re a wholesaler so they usually have some gorgeous designer dresses for a fraction of the price.

However, what you see is what you get with these dresses. If you find a size 10 on one of the racks, a size 10 may be the only size they have. They very rarely have different sizes and will not usually have someone who does in-store alterations for your dress, which is something to bear in mind.

They usually have accessories and shoes available too, so it’s easy to complete your outfit – at a fraction of the price. These dresses can start from as low as $100 and get significantly more expensive, depending on the gown you’re looking for.

Dresses from China

Ordering your dress from China is a great way to get a more affordable wedding dress. While the internet will have a plethora of options, it’s important to keep in mind a few key points if you decide to order your dress this way.

Check Reviews. The quality of the work done and fabrics the dress has been made with will vary from place to place. Reviews are a good way of checking how satisfied past customers are with their dresses and help you decide who to choose.
It May Look Different. They often show “best-case scenario” photos of the dress you’re ordering. If you’re happy that your dress may arrive not looking as “perfect” as the photos show, this is a great option.
Find Someone to Alter the Dress. Some people will be reluctant to alter dresses from China that are cheaply made. Make sure you find someone happy to make the alterations you need before you purchase the dress.

Discontinued Dresses

This is how I found my dream dress. It happened by sheer coincidence really! I knew I wanted the Alfred Angelo Disney Princess Jasmine dress and found a local stockist.

I tried on their sample gown and completely fell in love. After making a few calls, she told me she had good and bad news. The dress had been discontinued, but they had one size 10 remaining that they were selling for half the price!

If you’re looking for a dress and you find one about to go out of season, find a local stockist and see if they’re offering any discount rates, as it will be discontinued soon. This is such a great idea to find designer dresses, at an affordable price.

Sales

There’s a few times around the year where you’ll get the most for your money. After wedding season is over (Summer), dresses will plummet in prices – so check the sale racks in your local bridal boutique! They sell off old stock to make room for next year’s dresses. Also, keep an eye out on days like Black Friday – there will definitely be bargains to be had.

Online Stores

If you’re looking for a dress that comes with a reasonable price tag, it may be worth shopping online. While you won’t get the bridal boutique experience, shopping this way decreases the price massively. And there’s lots of shops that have the most gorgeous dresses, that would be perfect for your wedding day. Shops like Chi-Chi and ASOS are my favorites, and have quite an extensive bridal selection – most of which are well under $500 wedding dresses!

Marketplace or Charity Shops

If you’re open to the idea of buying your wedding dress secondhand, places like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and even your local charity shop/thrift store is the perfect place to start. Charity shops are preferable as you can try the dress on before you buy and really get an idea of how it looks before you make the purchase.

Also, most people on Facebook Marketplace are happy to send additional photos or let you view the dress before you decide to purchase. And eBay usually offers a free returns service if you’re not satisfied with your purchase.

So however you’re wanting to purchase your secondhand gown, there’s definitely a way around it for everyone.

Learn more about Adding Rhinestones To A Wedding Dress

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you realize how easy it is to buy a wedding dress for under 500. I would strongly advise seeing a dress in person before you buy, especially if they do not offer a free returns service. However, I know some brides aren’t particularly fussy about their dress and how it looks, and just want it to be as affordable as possible.

As long as you’re happy with your dress, that is all that matters. Whether you want to look sexy, or pretty as a princess, there will be a dress out there for you for less than $500 – you just need to know where to start!

Was your wedding dress less than $500? If so, how much was it and where did you get yours from? Only share if you feel comfortable doing so. If you do, please feel free to post in the comments below. You may be helping out future brides with their dream dress.

No matter the cost of your wedding dress, your big day will be perfect. As long as you’re marrying your partner – that is the most important part of your wedding!

Gay Wedding Reception Ideas

Today, we’re going to be looking at gay wedding reception ideas. And also some gay wedding ceremony ideas. There’s a range of ideas you can choose from to add a bit of pride and LGBTQ+ love to your wedding ceremony and reception. Whether you want go big, or want something more subtle, this article is for you. Let’s have a round-up of some of the most fun and cutest ideas!

Pride Décor

There’s a whole host of ways you can add a bit of pride to your wedding. Some of my favorites ideas include:

A “traditional” white-tiered wedding cake on the outside. When you cut into it, it’s full of color and a rainbow design. Or even full of multicolor sweets! It adds fun to your wedding cake, and LGBTQ+ representation in a subtle way.
If you’re wanting something slightly bolder – use the LGBTQ+ colors as your color scheme for the big day! You can even match it your sexuality. For example, a lesbian wedding idea could be the lesbian flag colors. The main colors are oranges, pink and purples. Getting your guests to arrive in those colors would be perfect. Or if you’re bisexual and proud, the flag colors are pink, royal blue and purple. Match your wedding to your sexuality. Or cover all basis and just go full rainbow!
If you’re wanting to incorporate the colors in less subtle ways, maybe match your bouquet to the colors. Bold, multicolor flowers can look really beautiful together – real or artificial.
Rainbow confetti is not only a great way to celebrate your LGBTQ+ wedding but also makes for the most beautiful wedding photos. All photos look better with an explosion of color in them.
Incorporate pride into your shoes. Whether you have rainbow laces or colors added to the bottom of your shoe choice – this is another good subtle way.

This list is by no means extensive, there’s a huge selection of ideas you can do using pride décor in your wedding.

Cake Toppers

Looking at gay wedding plans, getting adorable custom same-sex cake toppers is such a lovely idea. You can find designs on sites like eBay and Etsy. There’s a selection available here. You can add dates, pets, outfits – whatever you wish! Depending on how lifelike you want your topper to be, they start at a reasonable price and go up to prices that may take a hefty chunk out of your budget.

Cute Wedding Signs

There’s a variety of signs you may like to have at your wedding that suit you and your partner. Some of my favorites include:

Seating Plan – Rather than having a traditional seating plan, let your guests choose where they’d like to sit. You can signal this with cute wording like, “pick a seat, not a side, either way, it’s for a bride”.
Matching Flags – Whether you and your partner decide to hold them, or your bridal party/groomsmen, matching “Here Comes the Bride” or “Here Comes the Groom” signs are super cute.
Banners and Flags – Give each of your guests mini rainbow flags each. You and your partner could hold a banner saying something like, “love is love”. A group photo with these props would be a keepsake you can treasure forever.
Pets – If you and your partner want a fun way to incorporate your fur baby into your wedding, pop a little sign on their collar saying, “daddy and daddy” or “mummy and mummy” are getting married. There will no doubt be some gorgeous photos from that!

Flatware

On sites like Etsy, you can find Mrs. and Mrs./Mr. and Mr. spoons and cake servers. This is a lovely, subtle touch – and also a great keepsake for you and your partner. These can be available to all guests as a favor, or exclusively for the top table. Or even just for you and your partner to enjoy!

Matching Accessories or Bouquets

Wearing the same color bowtie/tie or cufflinks is something quick and easy to do – and adds that little bit extra to your wedding. You can do this with brooches too, for female guests if they’d prefer. And for two brides, matching bouquets always look stunning. If you’re feeling extra bold, have the accessories/bouquets rainbow colors. That way they’ll really stand out from the crowd.

Cupcakes

Having hers/hers or his/his cupcakes or rainbow cupcakes is the perfect way to incorporate your sexuality into your big day. And also an extremely tasty addition. You’ll likely already be having cupcakes at your ceremony anyway, and you could even make them yourselves.

Ditch Tradition!

Tradition can be boring! This is your wedding and it can however you want it to be. If you want to wear a playsuit, or shorts and shirt – go for it. If you don’t want a bouquet and want to walk down the aisle waving a wand – who cares?! This is your wedding and it should be 100% authentically you. Go as over the top as you want, or be as subtle as you want. It’s your big day and you should embrace every second of it – whether traditional or not.

Conclusion

I hope this article has given you a few ideas to get started on planning your wedding, and given you some gay wedding reception ideas. Sexuality is a huge part of who you are, and likely for some of your life, you may have suppressed it – I did until I was in my 20’s! So now you’ve found your soulmate, celebrate with pride for all the world to see. Love is a beautiful thing and love is love, whatever your gender is.

Have you had a LGBTQ+ wedding, or are you currently planning one? I would love to know some of your ideas, or if you end up using one of our ideas on your big day. Please feel free to leave any suggestions in the comments below – you may be helping out future bride/grooms.

Read more about Wedding Shower Host Gift Ideas

Sending Mickey and Minnie A Wedding Invitation

Today, we’re going to be looking at sending Mickey and Minnie a wedding invitation. That’s right! You can invite the world-famous mice to your wedding. This is actually something I did for my own wedding, as I thought it would be a perfect keepsake. They may not attend your wedding, but you often get a reply!

If you’re a Disney crazy fan like myself, I highly recommend sending a few invites out to your favorite characters. They all have individual addresses, which we’ll be taking a look at later.

Where to Send Mickey and Minnie a Wedding Invite?

Of course, Mickey and Minnie have their own address – in fact, they have two! I did send an SAE (self-addressed envelope) with my invite, but Disney covered the postage themselves. My wedding was over 5 years ago now and things are always subject to change. Perhaps send a SAE with your invite, just in case!

The addresses to send your wedding invites to are:

Mickey and Minnie Mouse
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

Mickey and Minnie Mouse
The Magic Kingdom
1675 N Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

What Do They Send Back?

At the time of writing this, certificates and pin badges are a thing of the past! They used to send “just married” pins but that is no longer the case. Now you’ll receive a Happily Ever After postcard, with signatures and well wishes from Mickey and Minnie. I have seen a few people receive certificates but more than likely, the response will be a cute acknowledgment postcard from the pair.

How Long Until I Hear Back?

The response time will depend on where you are in the world, and the time of year you send it. I’m from the UK, sent my invite in May, and received a response in about 4 weeks. If you’re sending in the busier months (i.e. July and August), the wait time may increase.

In general, the average wait time seems to be around four to six weeks. Bear in mind, that this is the average response time for the US. However, I had a similar response time across the pond!

Will You Always Get a Response?

There is no guarantee that you’ll receive a response. Usually, they will reply but bear in mind how many letters and invites they must receive on a daily basis! It’s important to note that items may get lost in the mail too. If you want to be sure your invite gets there, it may be best to send it at a safer level of postage so you can track it through the system.

Are There Any Other Characters Who Reply?

Yes! That’s right, it’s not just Mickey and Minnie who reply to their wedding invitations. Let’s take a look at some other characters who may respond to your invites!

Cinderella and Prince Charming

Another popular wedding favorite is Cinderella and Prince Charming. Their response time is similar to Mickey and Minnie. The only difference is with this pair, you receive a congratulatory certificate.

The certificate is beautiful and a perfect keepsake to commemorate your wedding. However, I sent my invite to Cinderella and Prince Charming at the same time as my Mickey and Minnie wedding invitation and did not receive a response.

I was quite upset by this, but it just proves that there is no guarantee of a response!

If you’d like to try sending an invite to Cinderella and Prince Charming, their address is:

Cinderella and Prince Charming
P.O. Box 1000
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830

Disney Princesses

If you’re a big fan of Disney princesses in general or have a particular favorite, send them an invite. Much like Mickey and Minnie, they are known for sending back a postcard with a whole bunch of signatures on! The postcard includes Jasmine, Ariel, Tiana, Cinderella, Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Rapunzel. The princesses are subject to change, and hopefully, they include Anna and Elsa too.

The general addresses to send invites to Disney (just remember to add who your invite is intended for) are:

(Insert Guest Here)
Walt Disney World Communications
P.O. Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

(Insert Guest Here)
Walt Disney Company
Attn: Fan Mail Department
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

If you have a favorite character that didn’t make the list, they’ve been known to send back a 10×8 dedicated photo to you and your partner! I didn’t do this myself, but there have been lots of positive stories about getting a response this way. I wish I had sent an invite to some of my favorite Disney villains. I’m a lover of Mickey and Minnie – but I’m a villain at heart!

Just change the guest name to whoever your invite is intended for. If you’re sending to a lesser-known character, include a SAE so it’s quick and easy for them to send a response back.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you to become more familiar with sending Mickey and Minnie a wedding invitation. It’s not just Disney characters who respond either – the Queen, the President; try them all!

You can find a list of addresses here. I sent an invite to Barack Obama and the Queen – I only received a response back from Buckingham Palace with her apologies for being unable to attend. Maybe you only receive a response from the Queen if you’re British, and the President if you’re American?

Have you sent an invite to Mickey and Minnie recently? I would love to see any responses you received. Or if you’re now looking at sending invites out to your Disney favorites because of this article, please let me know if they reply. Would love to see their replies in the comments below. It would be great to update this post with any new information for future bride/grooms too!

Read more about Renting A Restaurant For A Wedding.

Rental Dishes For A Party

Today, we’re going to be looking at rental dishes for a party or wedding. This may not even be something you’ve thought of, but it can be very important! You may be asking, why would I need a dishware rental for my wedding? Well, depending on your venue, it may be something you need to provide. And renting is definitely the cheaper alternative. Let’s take a closer look.

Why Dinnerware Rentals?

If your venue requires you to use your own dinnerware, it can take up quite a large part of your wedding budget. There’s a range of reasons why it’s better to rent than buy your own.

Price – It may seem cheaper to buy plates yourself, especially as you can reuse them after, but most of the time it works out cheaper to rent them out.
Space – For example, if you have 100 guests, what would you possibly do with that many plates after the wedding? Where would you store them? Logistically, hiring them out would be much more convenient.
Time – On the day, transporting that many plates and then setting them up would take up a lot of time, especially if you’re doing it yourself. However, most rental companies will deliver your dinnerware on the day and help you set up.
Aesthetic – The bonus of renting is that you can choose your own designs. It doesn’t have to be a standard white plate, you can go wild and choose dishes to match the theme and vibe of your wedding.

Things to Consider

There’s a number of factors to bear in mind when choosing a rental company. Let’s go through some of the most important ones.

How many? – I’m not just talking about guests here! While it’s obviously most important to know how many guests are in attendance, you also need to bear in mind how many courses you’ll be having. It may sound obvious, but you will need a plate for every course, for every guest. For example, if you have 100 guests, and a 3-course meal – you’re going to need at least 300 plates (plus a few extra for potential breakages, etc.). Or to keep the cost down, you could hire someone to wash plates in between courses.
Food – If you’re having a 3 course sit-down meal, you’ll need far more dinnerware than if you’re having a buffet, for example. Also, having desserts like cupcakes would mean you may need less plates for that course. I can’t be the only one that doesn’t need a plate for a cupcake, right?
What are you Buying? – Is it just dishes you’re renting? Or will you need cutlery, glasses, charger plates too? All of those additional items will take an extra chunk out of your budget.
The Look – Do you want it to look formal, or something more casual? It may be worth deciding on how you want the look of your dinnerware to be before you start your search. This will make the search much easier.
Date – It’s important not to leave booking the rental until the last minute. Summer months are popular for weddings (June, July, August) and if you don’t book it early enough (6 months is recommended), there may not be many options available.

Where to Find Companies?

Google is your oyster when it comes to finding companies. Finding a company will all depend on the area you live in, as most companies deliver themselves. If you put in a simple “rental dishes (insert area here)”, you’ll likely receive a lot of hits!

USA Party Rental is what I’ve chosen for my example. It’s easy to navigate and choose what you’re looking for. You can sort by price and compare product prices and looks. There’s a range of colors and styles, and prices start from just $0.50. Naturally, the prices increase depending on how fancy you want your dinnerware to be.

Cost of Dishware Rental

Like with anything, without knowing how many guests and courses you’re having, it’s impossible for me to predict how much your tableware will cost to rent. However, working out the average cost can be made easier when using websites such as Weddings Cost Helper.

Weddings Cost Helper estimates that if you’re looking for something simple, it’s around $4 per head. If you’re looking for something a bit fancier, it’s around $5.50 per head. And if you’re looking for something extravagant, it’s around $7.50 ahead. Depending on how many guests you have, that’s quite a knock to your wedding budget!

Those figures are based on each guest needing cutlery, wine glasses, a bread plate, a salad plate, a dinner plate, a cup, saucer, and dessert plate. If you’re not needing all of the above or having fewer courses – of course, the price will be cheaper.

Something else to bear in mind is that companies may charge you extra for delivery or fuel, especially if you’re venue is a considerable distance away from their base. Always keep a bit extra aside in the budget to make allowances for this.

Remember, if your venue provides all-inclusive catering, renting doesn’t even need to cross your mind as it will all be sorted for you. Or you may want to opt for disposables – that really would keep the cost of the wedding down. Luckily for me, when I got married, I didn’t have any additional extras like this as everything was included!

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped to navigate rental dishes for a party or wedding. It may seem overwhelming, but as long as you’re organized and get things arranged early enough – your wedding will be as stress-free as possible. And you’ll hopefully have some gorgeous dinnerware to flaunt.

Did you rent dinnerware for your wedding? How did you find the process? Was it more or less expensive than you were anticipating? I would love to know your thoughts. Please feel free to leave your answers in the comments below.

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