Super Fun Ways to Add Color to Your Wedding

Want a vibrant wedding, but don't want to go overboard on your color scheme? Maybe use a few of these ideas to add a pop of color to your wedding, without going too crazy!

1. Wear a pair of bright colored heels under your dress! You may not always see them, but when you lift to walk or are dancing, they will be the perfect pop!

2. Give your bridesmaids their own color to accent! Along with their matching dresses, have them accessorize with their own color! It could be rainbow, or a few colors from your wedding color scheme.

3. Have a colorful centerpiece, Legos are a good distraction for the kiddos at your wedding!

4. Add a little color to the traditional champagne toast! Not much, but a few berries will do the trick!

5. Or have a non traditional wedding scheme, go a little crazy! 

6. Photo booth backdrops are always fun, personalize it on your own and give it some vibrant color!

7. Create some wedding guest book art! Finger painting is always a fun idea for any age!

8. Or give your boutonnieres a subtle pop of color!

There are so many different ways to sneak some vibrant color into your wedding, these are just a few ideas that I could come up with! Have fun!

How To Have The Grandest Exit

Right behind walking down the aisle and your grand entrance to the reception, your grand exit is a fun and seriously important part of your wedding! Though, the other day I learned that the old tradition of throwing rice for the bride and groom as they leave is actually a really bad thing to do! (Sorry in advance for getting all dark and cruel) I read an article about how birds will get to the rice the next morning after the wedding and die from swallowing it! Supposedly, when the birds eat the rice, the rice ends up expanding in their stomachs and according to Google, the birds then "explode". (Yes, explode...) I don't know how I feel about that myth though, I'd like to see some facts. But still, not very safe for birds! So if possible, lets's try and avoid throwing rice for your wedding... Instead, I've got a list of 10 amazing ideas for guests to have or toss as you make your grand exit!

Before you get ready to leave, make sure to say your goodbyes and hugs to everyone and have a super awesome last song for your guests to finish off the night dancing to. Make it a great, friends-honoring song to enjoy while everyone has one last hug-it-out dance with you two before you leave. While saying your goodbyes, have someone pull the car around so it's ready to go! (Or call a cab, round up the bicycle, call in the horses). The exit will need to be announced for guests to gather and watch. (Note: have the DJ or someone on a mic do this, It might be pretty awkward if you're the one making the announcement) Also have them announce where they should be going, and what they should be doing, grabbing, or throwing for the grand exit (see list below!).

1. Sparklers are a very popular, very classic choice to have for an exit. Plus, you get some seriously amazing, time-stood-still pictures out of it!

2. Bubbles, also very popular and very cute. I think you will need to have a lot of people blowing them to have the full effect though! If you have a small wedding, maybe have a bubble machine to have more than enough (Will also leave the kiddos at the wedding entertained for hours) 

3. Streamers, sort of self explanatory. Very classic, fun and colorful! Have guests bring out their inner Middle School TP days and toss rolls of steamers in the air.

4. Confetti! Similar to the streamers, fun and colorful. Maybe even get confetti poppers! (Note: maybe look into some eco-friendly confetti, love it.) And make sure to check with your venue regarding their rules.

5. Lavender looks very similar to rice when its thrown in the air, small and delicate. But it smells heavenly! Bonus! 

6. Small wild flowers, perfect for a bohemian wedding. And I'm sure would make for very cool pictures. Or just petals would be simple and classic as well.

7. Glitter or sequins, might be serious pain in the butt for someone to have to clean up, but that's not for you to worry about! This is perfect for a very glam bride, I love this idea!

8. Balloons- if your exit is at night time, you could track down some glow in the dark balloons, how cool! 

9. Glow Sticks would also be cool if you were intrigued by the glow in the dark balloons!

10. Paper Lanterns, I am a SERIOUS sucker for this beautiful tradition. Have guests light and set off their lanterns right before you two for some perfect pictures, everyone cheer and hug, and then you're off!

And one extra! If this post really inspired you to change the tradition of throwing rice at your grand exit, and you are now feeling really awful for those birds, throw birdseed!! Still looks like rice in the air, might be a pain to brush out of your hair, but your helping out those little guys instead of hurting them. (R.I.P. to all the birds lost in the making of those exits) 

XO Jenny

How to personalize your wedding ceremony?

Although your wedding day is filled with significant moments, the ceremony is the pinnacle of the entire celebration. It's the reason everyone has joined together, and it's more than just a formality. Whether you're having a religious or secular service, your ceremony is your chance to express who you are as a couple; you can personalize your readings, add rituals that have significance for you, or even infuse your love story throughout the service. Here, officiants share some of the most creative touches their couples have been adding to their ceremonies lately.

• Tell your love story, how your met and fell in love.
• Why not ask your guests to get into the action by adding a passage in your program for everyone to read out loud or vows for your guests to recite to help you have a successful and loving marriage.
•   Write your own unique vows that captures your love and commitment to one another.

Guest Book Alternatives

Anyone who has attended a wedding in the past few years I’m sure has noticed that the common guestbook has completely changed and there have been many creative alternatives to take its place! Regardless of how you choose to have your guests sign in, I definitely think at least having something simple is necessary so that you can always keep the memories of your guests on your big day! A few of the more simple ideas that I have seen include having your guests sign one of your blown-up engagement photos, finger prints to fill a picture frame of a growing tree or balloons, or a guest book plate! All of these options are super easy to make! But then there are some more elaborate ideas that are some of my favorites. A puzzle! Having a blown up engagement picture created into a puzzle, then have guests sign the back. A guest book quilt. Hang a rather plain quilt with small different colored squares all over, have your guests sign a square, and then use it for endless cuddles with your love! Creating your own Jenga game and have guests sign each block. One of my favorites, a “date jar” for guests to write down what their favorite date is that they think the new married couple should try! And my absolute favorite idea is to create a time capsule for you and your husband for your 1 year, 5 year, and or 10 year anniversary! Have guests write down a piece of advice, some kind words, or anything that they would like into your time capsule and you then wait to open it for your anniversary! I’ve also seen a lot of Polaroid pictures for guest books, and the most elaborate was from a winter wedding where guests signed paper snowflake ornaments and placed them on two frosty Christmas trees, gorgeous! There’s really so many different ways that you can create your own personal idea for a guest book, there are only a few of my favorite ones! 

Perfect Gift Ideas for your Girls

I wrote last week about ideas on gifts for the mother and father of the bride and for the groom on your wedding day. But thought that I should save gift ideas for your bridesmaids for a whole separate post! So here it is! The ultimate guide to bridesmaid gifts! Now there isn’t a need to go toooo over-the-top for these gifts, because I promise you, they are already so over-the-top excited to be in your wedding! But it’s always fun to spoil your best girls a little bit. I think the most popular idea for bridesmaid gifts right now is creating a little “survival kit” for them. Including but not limited to: nail polish, chocolate, lip gloss, alcohol, mints, a little perfume, earrings, personalized shot glasses or champagne flute, maybe a few granola bars to keep em’ going, and so much more. Whatever you can think of!

Jewelry is a very traditional bridesmaid gift. Something for them to wear the day of the wedding, and also serves as a very memorable party favor for them!

Satin robes are both elegant and practical for your girls. They are perfect for everyone to wear while getting ready that morning while still looking great for pictures.

A personalized zip up sweatshirt could also serve that same purpose. Maybe have “bridesmaid” in cursive or rhinestones on the back? Just a thought…

I’ve also seen a lot of brides get personalized hangers for their bridesmaid’s dresses. I love the cursive names written in the wire, or at the top of the wooden hanger. (Another great party favor!)

And basically anything with a monogram! Flasks, wine glasses, key chains, a small tote bag, tumblers or water bottles, etc. your opportunities are endless! 

Share a bit of your love story!

What better way to personalize your wedding than to share with your guests the real reason why they are there in the first place! I am a total hopeless romantic so I love to know the cute details about how you two met, when you started dating, awesome dates that you have been on, how he proposed, etc. and I know that all of your other nosey guests are interested too! I think the best way to do so is through pictures. Having a power point video of a bunch of pictures and a playlist of your favorite songs is a great way to do that, or incorporate some picture frames of the two of you for the centerpieces at each table. I've even seen a table runner made of pictures going down the tables as well. This also gives guests something to look at while they are sitting down with their drinks or waiting for dinner. You can also share some fun facts about the two of you in a "bio" section of your programs. Or you could make it simple and list out some of the important dates on a chalkboard for guests to see as they are walking in. "December 12th, 2010: the first day we met. January 5th, 2011: our first date. October 3rd, 2014: He asked, I said yes!" etc. And then my personal favorite, I attended a very fun wedding this summer where the man that ordained the bride and groom was also the person who had introduced them as kids many years ago! He cracked a couple jokes about the two and told a few funny stories about them during the ceremony, it was very sweet! I personally think it is a cute idea to add a little personality into the ceremony or to your vows to liven it up a little bit. Everyone's love story is very different and unique, and it is a perfect touch to share a little bit of it on your big day!

 

Your personalization blogger,

Jenny

Wedding Cake Alternatives

 

A wedding cake that's not... cake? That's ridiculous! Or is it? Now I am a strong believer in having at least a small, personal cake for you and your new spouse to have for a cake cutting ceremony. One that you can stuff in each other's faces, or save and freeze for your anniversary, or whatever you may please! But there are so many different desserts that you can substitute for a main "wedding cake" for your guests.

• Cheesecake! Who doesn't love a good cheesecake, I know your mouth is watering just thinking about it. 

• Cake pops. Adorable. And so easy!

• Pie. Hello? American classic! So perfect for a casual outdoor wedding.

• Doughnuts. My personal favorite! And also, so easy!

• Macaroons. Tied with cake pops as the cutest dessert ever. And there's just something about macaroons that are so classy!

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  Or just have a big ol' dessert table with an assortment of choices for your guests to choose!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 

Your personalization blogger,

Jenny

UP Up and Away with Lanterns!

One of my absolute favorite big wedding trends is setting off the beloved lighted paper lanterns! Whether you have a great appreciation for this beautiful Asian tradition, or you just really love the movie “Tangled”, you really can’t beat this trend. Last year I got the chance to go the first ever ‘Lantern Fest’ in the U.S. with my boyfriend, held in Post Falls, Idaho (pretty random, right?). But it was absolutely breathtaking! If you’ve been able to witness the lights you’ll understand that it’s pretty hard to put the experience into words; or maybe it’s just me… But I love it! And I love what it symbolizes too, letting go of your past. You’re starting a whole new part of your life with your new spouse, so why not symbolize that with letting go of these beautiful paper lanterns!

Your personalization blogger,

Jenny  

Personalization: DIY Food Bar

A great way to personalize your wedding is to have a DIY food bar! Choose your favorite guilty-pleasure treat and create a whole bar of mixin’s to have people make it their own. These food bars are an easy, but fun, way to display and serve food to your guests. A few examples of my favorite ideas are having a DIY ice cream sundae bar, a fro-yo bar, a baked potato bar, a waffle bar, a fruit cabob bar, a fondue bar, a caramel apple bar, a nacho bar, an ice cream sandwich bar, or having a candy table with baggies for the guests to fill for themselves! You can even create a DIY bar for your favorite drink too! Think about how great a DIY Bloody Mary bar would be with every sort of garnish you can think of! Or mimosas, sangria, margaritas, etc. You just need to set up a table, put out all of your ingredients for your food or beverage, and that’s it! Your friends and family get a customized snack, dessert, or drink. And it’s fun!  I love the idea of having guests make their own creation and I hope I’ve convinced you to too!

Your personalization blogger,

Jenny  

Teaser from our Wedding Personalization Blogger Jenny

Hi! I’m Jenny Bask and I work as an intern and assistant for Elegant Affairs. I’m currently a junior at Eastern Washington University and I am also an Alpha Phi sister with Lori and Rachel!  My favorite things to do in my free time (that I usually never have) are playing the ukulele, painting, taking my cat Prince Louie on walks, and I love to travel. My next destination will be Taiwan for my spring break next week. For my blog posts I’m going to write about how to make your wedding fun and personalized! My favorite weddings that I have worked at are the fun and different ones that have some serious personality! A few of those have been, creating a pyramid of Dick’s cheeseburgers as wedding favors, having Santa pictures at a Winter Wonderland wedding, a hot cocoa bar with monogrammed mugs, having a pie truck come by for a walk-up dessert and so much more! And I’m excited to give you all some ideas on how to personalize your wedding too!

 

Thanks!!

 

Jenny