Practical Unity Candles

For a candle that's only being burned for an hour, unity candle is huge for its size. It takes so much space to keep it and it's a waste of waxes. Fortunately, these days the wedding industry have come up with some alternatives for unity candles. These are some practial unity candles ideas I love :

Engraved Medallion for Unity Candle
You can buy any scented candle of your choice, attach this medallion on the candle, and Voila! You've got your own personalized unity candle. After the wedding you can burn the candle at home and keep the personalization medallion as a keepsake or tie the medallion around your marriage certificate.

Personalized Pedestal Unity Candle Stand
Less is more. The pedestal is one of creative invention for unity candle. With this pedestal unity candle stand, you only need a medium sized candle. After the ceremony, bride can burn the rest of the candle at home and reuse the pedestal stand for special occassion, or display it in the living room as keepsake of the couples memento.

Floating Unity Candle and Vase
Adored by many, I have to say this floating unity candle & vase idea is among one of my favorite wedding stationery. If you think about it, your ceremony only lasts for an hour, who needs a huge candle to burn? The floating candle size is perfect. It such a practical design. Both the floating candle and the vase are reusable. Although sized almost as big as the traditional unity candle, the vase can be displayed in your living room and make a beautiful personalized decoration at home rather than sitting in a box somewhere in your storage.

Wedding Trend: Something Old , Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Green...

Going green is the hottest wedding trends right now. Many couples decided to spend their money wisely by throwing an ecofriendly wedding.

Maria McBride, the wedding style Director at brides magazine said
“Going a little bit green is better than not at all, because every thoughtful action helps our environment,” she said. “Celebrating your wedding with global awareness is a satisfying way to begin a life of commitment together and an important way to guide the marketplace to provide even more environmentally correct business practices.”

So what's the typical "Green Wedding" like?

The Dress: A dress that could be worn again after the wedding. The dress usually made of organic cotton, hemp, soy or silk.
Location: An outdoor garden setting over a large, energy-sucking reception hall.
Menu: Organic, Pesticide-free Food
Dinner Plates: China or disposable plates made out of sugar cane
Utensils: Silverware or disposable utensils made from potato starch
Napkins: Linen napkin or disposable recycled napkin.
Transportation: The groom organized car pools in hybrid vehicles
Gift Registry: Donations to charities foundation that helps saving the earth
Bridesmaid Gifts: Eco Friendly Organic Tote

Asian Chic Wedding a la Lisa Ling

The 33-year old TV Reporter, Lisa Ling ties the knot with Oncologist, Paul Song on Memorial day weekend. She walked down the aisle in a dashing red gown designed by Vivienne Tam. Lisa Ling's wedding reflects her style, personality and the couple's Asian background. The ushers were reportedly dressed in "karate kid" like outfit which gives more character to the wedding.

The reception room were decorated with Asian red lanterns and large painted hand fans. Guests include Kelly Hu, friend and mentor Connie Chung and Ling's close pals, Patricia Herrera and stylish Rachel Zoe.

Lisa Ling has successfully created a wedding that's uniquely hers. She proves that a wedding doesn't have to be white and any bride can look fabulous in any dress color.

Asian Wedding Favors

Wedding Stationery For the Modern Bride

Champagne Flutes Set in a Vase
A rare find and one of a kind of wedding Toasting Flutes. Simple enough to complement any table setting, a set of classic flutes with frosted stems rest inside a glass vase that may be filled with ice or any other decoration to match your event. The champagne flutes in a vase is absolutely unique and it will be something you will treasure as a keepsake. A unique way to toast to your new lives together!

Floating Unity Candle in a Vase
Unlike the traditional unity candle,the floating unity candle vase can be use to decorate your home after the wedding. It's look sleek as a flower vase, look stunningly elegant as a floating candle holder. It will add just the right amount of ambiance and grace to your ceremony and your home after the ceremony. You can add fresh flowers or colored water to vase to match your wedding theme.

Swarovski Rhinestones Cake Top
So, you dream to have a monogram ice carving at your reception, but you have overspend your budget. Now what? This Swarovski Rhinestone Cake Top is the solution for you. These metal letters decorated with Swarovski crystals will look amazing amongst your reception decorations. This beautiful Crystal Cake Top is a rare find and it will bring shines to your wedding picture. You can customize your look by pairing two letters with the heart, two letters with the ampersand, or form a monogram using three letters.

Reception Decoration Ideas

Do you know what the most expensive part of a wedding usually is?
If you said, “the reception” then you're absolutely correct. Receptions eat up an enormous chunk of most wedding budgets – throwing a great party isn't cheap. However, your reception's decorations don't have to cost a lot to make your celebration visually appealing. Below are some decoration ideas you can use for your indoor or outdoor reception:

Indoor Reception Ideas

• Fill clear bowls with colored water and add rose petals or floating candles then use them as centerpieces
  
• Have an ice sculpture, chocolate or champagne fountain, or a balloon release to combine decorations with entertainment
• Sprinkle the tables with customized confetti – the confetti pieces can be cut from colored paper or fabric and cut into wedding-related shapes or the bride and groom's initials
  
  
  Outdoor Reception Ideas
• Fill small silver or wood planters with your wedding flowers and let your guests take them home as living keepsakes
• Hang Japanese lanterns to light outdoor receptions or to illuminate walkways during evening receptions
• Fill small decorative glass bottles with bubble-blowing liquid and place on tables for your guests along with blowers decorated with lace, ribbons, bows, or flowers.
  

These are just a few ideas to help you decorate your reception in style without increasing your expenses significantly.

Another way you can save money on your wedding planning is by using this coupon SMBBLGRD-WD to save 5% on your purchases at http://www.sweetmemorybaskets.com/

Practical Gifts For Men

Finding gifts for men is more challenging than finding gifts for women.
Men aren't as emotional as women, they care less about sentimental value of the gifts. Think practical! Practical gifts that they can use and keep for a long time such as golf accessories gifts for a golfer would be more appreciated then men's cufflinks. Look for something along the line with his hobbies or occupations.

A personalized wine stopper would make a great gift for a wine connoisseur; a cigar aficianados can use a personalized cigar box to store his cigars; for a football games lover give him something that represents his favorite teams such as NFL Money clip. Whatever you choose, purchase a gift that he can use , not wasted.

Accessories For Your Wedding

Wedding Guest Book

Traditionally, a guest book is often use to keep record of the wedding guests attendance on your wedding day. After the wedding, bride will keep the book as a keepsake of her wedding. Today, bride gets creative with their guest book. One alternative idea is to take a polaroid picture of each guests at the entrance table and have them to write messages for the loving bride and groom on the book. After the wedding, the printed pictures will then be placed in the guest book on top of each guest's personal message.

Selecting your guestbook

A wedding guest book and a matching pen holder usually sold separately. If you plan on getting the matching pen stand, you may save a bundle by purchasing it as a set.

There are different types of wedding guest books to choose from, the most popular one is Satin Guestbook. For a bride who likes think out of the box, the personalized platter guestbook has been increasingly popular.

Silver Plated Guest books

Personalized platter Guestbook

Photo Frame guest book

Instant Photo guest book

Placing your guest book.

Your guest book table is the first place your guests will stop by when they entere your reception area, decorate it with scented fresh flower arrangement or flower petals to bring the positive energy to your guests. Put some candles to create the warmth atmosphere into the room.

If you have many guests at your wedding, it's recommended that you prepare enough pens for people to fill out your guest book or sign your photo mat to avoid a long queue. Place your wedding guest book , pen and signature photo mat strategically where people can either fill out the guest book or sign your photo mat at the same time.