Merry Brides

I’m not saying that these are terrible songs (okay…I’m not a fan of the “Chicken Dance”), but you might want to put these 10 songs on your do-not-play list.

1. “Celebration,” Kool & The Gang

Why to Skip It: Unless you want your wedding to have something in common with every eighth grade graduation that’s ever taken place in a dingy school gym, tell your DJ to skip this one.

2. “Cha Cha Slide,” DJ Casper

Why to Skip It: I’m guessing you and your guests have the ability to come up with your own dance moves, so let’s nix this step-by-step group dance lesson.

3. “We Are Family,” Sister Sledge

Why to Skip It: It’s your wedding…we know your family is there. Plus, it’ll be stuck in your head for weeks and weeks after the wedding (and not in a good way).

4. “Hot in Herre,” Nelly

Why to Skip It: This is a stand-in for all the overplayed, inappropriate club songs that have a tendency to creep into weddings. As a general rule, avoid songs with references to “juice” and stripping (unless you have the world’s most open-minded grandparents and ultra-mature flower girls).

5. “I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas

Why to Skip It: After two years of being played at every Sweet 16, bar mitzvah, and prom, I’m betting even Fergie would agree that it’s time to put this one to bed.

6. “YMCA,” Village People

Why to Skip It: The fact that everyone knows the words, everyone knows the dance, and that this song fits lots of occasions — between innings at a baseball game, for instance — does not automatically qualify it as a must at your wedding.

Why to Skip It: At a wedding, everyone’s dressed to the nines and feeling festive. Is this really the best time to flap your arms like a chicken in front of that cute bridesmaid/groomsman/new spouse? Don’t think so.

8. “Macarena,” Los Del Rio

Why to Skip It: You may know how to do the dance — but do you really want to? Besides, everyone has a few certain relatives they’d rather not see get down with that hip-swivel move.

9. “Stayin’ Alive,” Bee Gees

Why to Skip It: There aren’t too many people who know more than one line and one dance move to this song — leave “Stayin’ Alive” to the Saturday Night Fever reruns.

10. ”Love Shack,” the B-52s

Why to Skip It: If the super-repetitive chorus of this song isn’t enough of a reason to put this song squarely on your blacklist, its “overplayed to death” status definitely will.

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Cupcakes

3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Peanut Butter Buttercream

1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large egg whites
1/8 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons softened unsalted butter,
cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup peanut butter
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Coating

8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Method

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin pan with 10 cupcake cups.

2. In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3. In larger bowl combine sugar, buttermilk, oil, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Add dry mixture and whisk until smooth. Spoon batter into cupcake cups, dividing evenly.

4. Bake 25 minutes or until center is just set. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes and then transfer cupcakes to wire rack. Cool completely.

5. While cupcakes are cooling, prepare the buttercream frosting. Combine sugar, egg whites, and salt in bowl of electric stand mixer.

6. Set bowl over pan of simmering water. Gently whisk until mixture registers 160 degrees F on instant-read thermometer.

7. Immediately transfer bowl to electric stand mixer. With whisk attachment, whip on medium-high speed until mixture resembles consistency of shaving cream.

8. On medium speed, add butter one piece at a time, until combined and creamy.

9. Whip in peanut butter and vanilla, and beat until smooth.

10. Transfer buttercream to pastry bag fitted with a plain 1/2-inch tip.

11. Pipe 1/3 cup frosting onto each cupcake. Chill cupcakes in refrigerator until buttercream is completely firm, about 1 hour.

12. Once the cupcakes have chilled, make the chocolate coating. Place oil and chocolate in a medium bowl and melt over a pan of gently simmering water.

13. Stir until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth. Transfer to a large coffee mug.

14. Holding cupcake by the bottom, carefully dip into the chocolate. Be sure to submerge all of the buttercream.

15. Pull up and hold for a few seconds to let excess chocolate drip off. Transfer to cooling rack and repeat with remaining cupcakes.

16. Before serving, let cupcakes rest a few minutes so chocolate can set.

Yield: 10 cupcakes. 

*Photo & Recipe Credit : Martha Stewart Living

I found these cute folded wedding ticket seating cards on Love vs. Design

Click Here for a free download

I can’t say enough about how much I adore wedding signs! The custom details at weddings are what make them special and personal. Adding signs into your decor is the perfect way to bring your guests attention to different areas, aspects or tiny details of your day. Here are a few of my recent favorites.

Photo Credit: True Connection

Photo Credit: tcart2010

Photo Credit: BeLovelyShop

Photo Credit: SophiasSignBoutique

Photo Credit: Trent Bailey via FamilyAttic  

Photo Credit: SophiasSignBoutique

Photo Credit: tooshea

Photo Credit: AndTheSignSays  

Maggie Sottero Lena

Maggie Sottero Dixie

Maggie Sottero Jordan

“Tying the knot” becomes literal when you make these simple sailor’s knots to scatter around your wedding venue!

These fun knots are perfect as favors, place cards, or simply just as table accents.  Alternatively, the knots can be turned into napkin rings by using a longer length of rope when making the knot, and hot gluing the ends together to form a circle.

Clothesline is the just the right thickness for these knots, is inexpensive, and is widely available at hardware stores. First, form a loop in the rope, as shown in the image on the left, and then bring the tail down in back, like in the image on the right.

Bring the tail through the loop, and then pull taut. Voila! A neat-looking figure eight knot.

Trim each end of the rope to the desired length. 

* Credits: Project styling and photographs by Mary Swenson & Project Wedding

I love this place setting…it has a rustic feel yet still sweet and feminine.

* Photo Credit:Amber Shaw Photography 

If your anything like me you probably love Pinterest and have boards full of wedding ideas and pretty things. Chances are that you’ve already created a board with all of your gift registry wishlist items. But there’s only one problem with Pinterest — how to share those items with all of your guests?

Well fear not my ladies as all your hard work of pinning items to your boards is not in vain. I recently found a useful tool called myregistry.com which will help you turn any Pinterest pin into a actual gift registry which you can share with your guests. Best of all its free and super easy. Here’s how it works….

Simply sign up and download the free gift registry browser addon here.

Once you have registered your Pinterest account you will notice a new “Add to my Registry” Button on all your pins.

Convenient huh? Next you simply click the button to add any pin to your registry as a gift on MyRegistry.com. No need to worry as the prices are automatically retrieved for pins from ecommerce sites.

Then you simply tell your friends and family to visit your registry on MyRegistry.com to buy your gifts. One great feature is the registry automatically manages transactions and stays up-to-date so you do no extra work.

Oh and before I forget to mention it you don’t have to start a new Pinterest board if you already have a lot of gifts on your boards. There is a “mass import tool” feature which will help you download many pins at once to your registry.

This MyRegistry.com Pinterest Feature will save you a lot of time and aggravation as you won’t have to visit the stores or browse site after site online trying to make your gift registry.

*Photo Credits: Myregistry.com

I think this cute burlap and lace silverware pouch would be perfect for a rustic wedding.

Photo Credit: Chelsea Davis Photography 

Guest Blog by Chelsea

These printable activity books are perfect for keeping even your youngest guests entertained. Filled with fun puzzles and coloring pages, it’s one wedding favor that’s sure to delight the kids.

All you have to do is click here  for the PDF file, hit print, and go make some copies!  You’ll have to do a little double-sided action to make the order of the book right, but you get the idea. 

For a fancy finish, get some baker’s twine, punch two holes in the spine of the book, string the twine through from the inside, and tie a little bow on the outside.  Set out some crayons and pencils at your kid table, and they’ll have a ball. 

Thanks Chelsea for this great tutorial. Please be sure to check out Chelsea’s blog Lovely Indeed 

* Photos by Chelsea Costa 

Here’s a light, refreshing palette for a hot summer wedding…

Bride and Bridesmaids: There are so many beautiful flowers in these shades – a florist shouldn’t have any problems creating pretty, colorful bouqets.

Groom and Groomsmen: For a summer wedding, light colored suits with crisp white shirts would probably be best for the men.

Details and Décor: I love the idea of having signature drinks at the reception or during the cocktail hour. For a summer wedding, perhaps ice cold flavored lemonades and punches. Candles are another way to add a little color to the table…but it’s probably a good idea  to stay away from scented ones.

* Photo Credits:row 1: Real Simple, Melina Hammer Photography,  row 2: all images – Martha Stewart. row 3: J. Crew

Q. Do I have to include a return address on my invitation envelopes?

A. The US Postal Service requires that a return address be on first class mail. For wedding invitations, the return address is printed on the back flap of the envelope, not in the upper left corner of the front of the envelope.

I admit it…I am an addict…Peanut Butter is my addiction!  I absolutely love anything with Peanut Butter in it! So when I found this recipe on Pinterest I knew I had to try it. So…..are….you…READY?  I give you…

Nutter Butter Cookie Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 package Nutter Butter cookies
• 1 8oz block of cream cheese
• 1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

• Using a food processor or a blender, crush up the cookies until finely ground

• Place the cookie crumbs and the cream cheese in a stand mixer (I am sure you can use a hand mixer or even mix it together with your hands, but it will take a bit more time and effort on your part.)

• Mix for several minutes until well-blended.

• Form mixture into small balls and place on waxed paper.  Put in the fridge or freezer for about 20 minutes or so.

• Melt your chocolate and dip the cookie balls into the chocolate, tapping off the excess chocolate.

• Let sit on waxed paper or foil until set. 

I tried making these with peanut butter instead of cream cheese. It works and definitely makes them more peanut-buttery-ish. However, the texture is not as smooth with the peanut butter as it is with the cream cheese.  But it is also another delish variation!

Enjoy!

Recipe Credit :Sassy Sanctuary

Once you’ve chosen a stone for your engagement ring, then the fun part starts: choosing a setting. Although the stone can account for up to 90% of the cost of the ring, the setting is what defines its look and showcases the stone to its best advantage. When shopping, be sure to check out a variety of rings, even those you might not like — these things can surprise you!

Below are the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular basic settings from Adiamor Diamonds & Fine Jewelry. The choices are endless, from a simple solitaire to a number of stones and combination of settings on the same ring.    

What It Is:  This most common type of engagement ring setting  involves three to six “claws” that hold a stone firmly in a metal “head” or “basket”. Prongs can be pointed, rounded, flat, or V-shaped, and act as “pockets” for a square stone’s corners. When deciding between four and six prongs, know that four prongs show more of the diamond, while six prongs are more secure, but can overwhelm a small stone.

If you have heart-, marquise-, or pear-shaped stone, be sure its points are cradled in a V-shaped prong for protection. Flat prongs are recommended for emerald-cut stones.

Advantages:

• Permits the most light exposure from all angles and therefore maximizes a diamond’s brilliance and “lightens up” richly colored gems.

• Less metal means less time and money is required than other setting styles.

• Allows easy cleaning of the stone.

• Holds even the most fragile (soft) gems securely.

Disadvantages:

• Offers less protection to the stone than other styles since most of the girdle (the perimeter of the stone) is exposed.

• Can get caught in hair or snag clothing (especially when pulling on a long-sleeved shirt) and panty hose.

• High-set prong settings can scratch and hurt other people if brushed against, and are hard to fit in gloves. (Lower prong settings are available and more practical for those on the go.)

What It Is: A metal rim with edges fully or partially surrounds the perimeter of the stone.

Advantages:

• Protects a stone’s girdle from being nicked or chipped.

• Conceals existing nicks or chips on a stone’s girdle.

• Secures a stone well.

• The ring surface is completely smooth.

• Metal can be molded to fit any stone shape snugly.

• A white metal encircling a white stone can make the stone appear larger.

• A yellow gold bezel setting can enhance the color of red or green gemstones.

Disadvantages:

• A yellow gold bezel setting can make a “white” stone such as a diamond appear less white because the yellow tint of the setting is reflected in the stone.

What It Is: Popular for wedding bands also, this setting sandwiches a row of stones — with no metal separating them — between two horizontal channels for part or all of the ring. 

Special  Note: Round stones cost less to set than square or rectangular ones.

Advantages:

• Protects the girdle of the stones.

• Provides better security for small stones than a prong or pave setting.

• The surface is completely smooth and unobtrusive.

Disadvantages:

• A ring set with stones all the way around can be difficult to resize (leave at least one third of the shank unset for greatest flexibility — this saves money, too)

• Not recommended for fragile gems such as emeralds, opals, or tourmalines.

What It Is: The French word for “paved”, a pavé setting (pronounced “pah-vay”) involves two or more rows of several small stones fitted into holes that set them level with the surface of the ring. Surrounding metal is then raised to form beads that secure the gems. The setting can be flat or domed.

Advantages::

• Gives the illusion of more and bigger diamonds than they really are.

• Allows an uninterrupted design flow of varying width.

Disadvantages::

• Not recommended for fragile gems, although the proximity of the stones offers good protection for the girdle of each stone.

• The surface is level but not as smooth as a bezel or channel setting.

• Beads are not as reliable as other settings for securing stones.

Photo Credits: Adiamor Diamonds & Fine Jewelry

It’s always fun to come across a really striking hairstyle. Scarlett Johansson’s romantic yet boho-chic braided updo would be perfect for a summer wedding. All your hair is out of your face and you can even add a fresh flower to accessorize

Q. Without getting into extreme detail: My sister is 13 years older than I am, and we are not close. She is, let’s just say, the black sheep of the family. Should I feel obligated to invite her to my wedding just because she is my sister?

A. Family matters are the toughest ones. But the bottom line is this: If inviting her is going to cause you a lot of grief on your wedding day, then don’t. On the other hand, if her presence isn’t going to aversely affect you, and her not getting invited might create even more of a problem, then extend an invitation. Remember, just because you invite her doesn’t mean she’ll come.

Though you shouldn’t feel obligated, you should definitely give it some serious thought. Talk to your parents and other siblings (if any) about it and see what they think. Chances are, if you’re wondering whether to invite her, you probably should. But only you can really answer that question!

My husband Matt likes to joke that I am an Etsy addict and I must admit there is smidgen of truth to that fact. I just love hand-made jewelry. So when I found this Etsy shop called Natural Pretty Things  it was love at first sight. What makes this jewelry so unique is the fact it incorporates natures beauty with pressed leaves and flowers. I think this whimsical jewelry would make fun bridesmaid gifts. Best of all it’s very affordable so it won’t break your budget. 

Here are some of my favorites…

 Nautical Real Starfish Turquoise Necklace Available here

Real Yellow Rose Bud Necklace Available here

Queen Anne’s Lace Victorian Earrings Available here

Make a Wish Real Dandelion Pendant Available here

Glass etching is a fun way to add a personal touch to your glasses, wine bottles, vases, or even mirrors. 

Flea-market finds and dollar-a-glass specials can be transformed with monograms, stripes, and whimsical polka dots.

Supplies

1. Etching cream (available at craft and art-supply stores)
2. Masking tape
3. A template

When using etching cream, wear plastic gloves and an old shirt with long sleeves, and be sure to work in a well-ventilated area.

Start by deciding upon your design

* Use masking tape to make stripes

* Adhesive hole-reinforcers (for loose-leaf paper) to make the polka dots.

* Use stencils - Available at any craft store.  

* Make your own stencil. - In the photo above the M stencil was created by enlarging the typeface on a photocopy machine and cutting a stencil. (To make a monogram stencil, place the enlarged letter on a piece of Con-Tact paper, which has a sticky back that will adhere to glass. Trace the letter, then cut it out with a utility knife, discarding the letter itself and reserving the template — remember to reserve the center cutouts of letters with closed shapes, like O and A.

How-to

When applying your design, always clean and dry the glass first; press the design onto the glass, and rub hard.

Using a paintbrush, apply a thick layer of etching cream to the glass. (Avoid spills, since cream will leave permanent marks.) Wait 5 minutes, then rinse off the cream with warm water, and remove the stencil. Practice on a jar until you’re comfortable with the process; the cream is simple to use, but for best results, the design must be applied carefully and smoothly.

* Photo Credit: Martha Stewart

Awww…who doesn’t love a nice hot relaxing bath? This Tropical Bath Soak and spa scrubbie would make a cute shower or birthday gift.

Rather than signing a traditional guest book, give each guest a postcard with your address preprinted on the back. The guests can fill the postcard with good wishes during the reception and drop into a special  mailbox. After the reception have a friend collect the mailbox and mail the postcards to you. When you return from your honeymoon, you will have a lot of fun mail full of happy wishes.

* Photo Credit : Mailbox available at Target.com