Spring blooms aren’t strictly for tulips and daisies, don’t forget the beauty before the fruit.

A fun wedding idea is to serve fruits and to use their flowers for decor, rather than unrelated florals.

One of the most loved spring flowers are cherry blossoms. Vivid in color and with divine aromas people come from all over the world to celebrate their blooming and they are of course perfect for weddings in that way as well. Cherries aren’t the only fruit worth picking though, in fact, leave all the fruit behind. If you are planning a spring wedding overlook daisies and buttercups–that’s what everyone else is doing. Instead get a hankering for nature’s candy and use blossoms, or the flowers of fruit instead.

Blossoms are so sweet by nature. They are usually the fruits associated with summertime such as peaches and plums but in springtime they are in another beautiful and useful part of their lifestyle. If you are located in the northeast like us, apple blossoms are beautiful this time of year. Did you know that apples are actually in the same botanical family as the rose? You’ll be getting your money’s worth to use apple blossoms in your wedding because in a lot of ways they are as elegant and romantic as a rose but they are also more abundant and affordable as well. Don’t think you’re compromising to use apple blossoms. These flowers are just as sweet and smell even better than roses. Blossoms need to be pollinated in order to bear fruit so they tend to have delicious aromas that are not only irresistible to honey bees! For a fragrant and affordable wedding blossoms are a great way to go. Look for locally grown fruit to know what kind of blossoms are going to be the easiest and most budget-friendly for you. If you live in the northeast then apple blossoms are everywhere making them easier for florists to source and more price-effective for you. With room in your budget for quality you can go for quantity! You can get twice as many blossoms as you could have gotten roses and so make the best use of them!

Use entire branches of blossoms for an unexpected and rustic look or use just the sweet flowers to make your entire venue feel heavenly perfumed. Blossoms are the perfect spring flower for your wedding!

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Think red roses are overdone? We hear that. But even for the nontraditional bride, there are a million ways to use these traditional flowers.

Not only are red roses simply beautiful, they are also very symbolic, known to represent love and perfection.

There is a reason why red roses are still the flower of choice for those in love. Roses are regal and elegant. Long stemmed and devoid of thorns, a perfectly groomed red rose is the picture of perfection. Unfortunately, it can seem totally overdone. Roses are everywhere and they are expensive so they can seem uncreative and a pain instead of classic and timeless. Deep in your heart though, if you love red roses, there are still ways to bypass their image. Here are some creative ways to work red roses into your wedding.

Firstly, try an attitude adjustment on yourself. Remember the symbolism behind a long-stemmed red rose. It is ethereal and singular and it symbolizes a long standing commitment as well as deep seated passion. That’s what marriage is about so in a lot of ways, red roses are so overplayed because they are so perfect. If you want to cover a venue in red roses with your newfound revelation though, it still doesn’t change the fact that they cost a fortune. Instead, try to concentrate a large amount of red roses in one place so that they act like a centerpiece. Fill one entire table with roses in different colored vases and place that table near the cake or in the middle of the room. Use roses to create a photo backdrop or twine them around an altar so you can get married under them. Because red roses are so expensive it’s hard to use them on every table or in every decoration but they are also so beautiful that they are easy to turn into a standalone kind of decorative piece. Use your imagination, hang roses from modern glassware atop the bar or get wild with your bridal bouquet.

Whether you wear them in your hair or use them to serve as punch ladles, roses can definitely be a part of your wedding without being too overdone.

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Florals are an important part of your wedding day and your wedding budget so make sure to use them wisely.

One of the biggest expenses after your venue and your dress is the florals for your wedding. While nothing says love and romance like beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers everywhere when you are spending that much money on objects that are likely discarded after your big day, how can you make sure you get your money’s worth? A good way to feel good about your flowers is to find creative and multiple uses for them. You can also research different kinds of flowers that are perhaps less popular or less expensive but will look gorgeous on the one day that it matters. In this issue quality might not matter as much as quantity. If you want to fill a room with flowers for a lush wedding it is not each individual flower that will be examined but the overall effect which is a great thing to keep in mind when budgeting for wedding florals.

For most brides, their floral arrangements at their wedding is a pretty big deal. So take a moment to read over these wedding flower tips.

The most common uses for flowers in weddings is as bouquets or centerpieces. Your bouquet is obviously incredibly important and you want it to be a reflection of yourself. If you aren’t usually into something big and showy consider succulents or your favorite everyday flowers for an eco-friendly and budget-friendly option. You need not “go big or go home” with your wedding bouquet because it’s not about impressing anyone as much as it about expressing yourself and if daisies or carnations are your favorite flower don’t shy away from those choices. Your wedding bouquet will go to a good home if you toss it and you other florals could be pressed or preserved. Try thinking outside the box when it comes to flower arrangements. While florists will take care of the actual arrangements use your flowers are decoration or to add a soft touch to your ceremony and venue.

If you feel as though your flowers can bring something fresh and lovely to your wedding day then you’ve done it right.

There are so many options for music at your wedding and so many ripe opportunities for it. When and what will you choose?

Hiring a professional deejay for your wedding is a great idea, as he will often have access to thousands of songs on-demand.

There are a myriad of options when it comes to music for your wedding. You could choose to hire a live band, have a DJ or even do it yourself! There also a lot of times during your wedding that are appropriate for music so it takes some planning to get the timing and type of music right. How do you figure out what you want and when you want it? Forethought of course!

Your reception is probably the place where music will be most important. A reception is usually downtime where you can mingle with your guests and let everyone share in on the ecstatic happiness you feel post-wedding. Many receptions involve dancing and if you are planning for yours consider having a DJ for the most flexibility. Live bands can be great but limiting by their talents and songbook. A DJ might also be more conducive to dancing whereas a live band might be more conducive to having an experience or adding ambience to your reception. A reception is not the only place for music though. You could have music before your ceremony as your guests sit themselves and await your entrance, you could have music accompanying your walk down the aisle (and it need not be the wedding march) and you could even have music during the ceremony itself! Anytime is a good time for some tunes. For music during the ceremony it might be too distracting or impersonal to have outsiders such as a live band or a DJ.

If you have talented friends though they might be willing to or able to sing or play an instrument during your ceremony. This can be an incredible honor and a wonderful way to make your ceremony more inclusive. If you don’t know anyone with such talents or wouldn’t want to trouble someone you could DJ yourself! You could choose songs ahead of time and have someone willing to just hit “play” at the right moments.

Having so many option can seem really overwhelming at first but enjoy the freedom of all the possibilities! Mix and match to create the best experience for you.

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Online invitations may seem informal or difficult but there is a case to be made for how speedy, convenient and eco-friendly they are.

These are a few samples of e-vite wedding invitations provided by evite.com that can be selected and customized online.

A lot of brides find online invitations to be tacky or informal and with good reason but as technology evolves at lightning speed we think they are worth reconsidering. Online invitations now have fancy designs and software that make them beautiful works of art, instead of looking like cheaply made greeting cards. Online invitations have a lot of pros and the modern bride might begin to seriously consider them. The best case to be made for them is that they are extremely convenient in numerous ways, they are faster than the postal service and of course they are super eco-friendly!

Almost everyone is online today; the internet has truly become a democracy without regard for age, race, class or gender. Planning a big wedding especially becomes easy with the wealth of online resources and tools such as online invitations. Online invitations usually come with software or ways to quickly generate a guestlist saving you an extra step. This guestlist is not only created for you but then becomes live with simple management of RSVP statuses, extra guests and any changes. With this kind of real-time updating the online guest list can go anywhere with you and your guests can respond easily and as soon as possible which always great news for the hectic bride! Online invitations are also a lot easier to keep track of and control.

Without sheaves of paper and envelopes everywhere but just a screen with an easily manipulated user interface you can add, delete and customize your invitations however you want. Online invitations give you a lot of control and power over every step of the process and that is always a good feeling. One of the biggest draws for switching to online invitations is that it’s great for planet Earth. Without any paper you don’t have to worry about the reply cards or menu options burning down the rainforest. Just a little bandwith and you will be doing your part for the environment.

If you’re still unconvinced you don’t have to make the switch whole-heartedly. You could just have your save-the-dates or reply cards as online functions. There is a lot of wiggle room.

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One question that more and more couples who are getting married are asking, is do we send out traditional or e-vite invitations?

Wedding invitations come in all shapes and sizes to be sure but would you let yours be digital?

Imagine the millions of papercuts and the soreness of your tongue after licking all those envelopes? Or heaven forbid that you go the way of the famous Seinfeld character Susan and are poisoned by cheap wedding invitations? Stationers beware!

With the dawning of the digital revolution the idea of sending digital wedding invitations becomes more and more appealing. Is it right for you?

Many people reject the idea of a digital wedding invitation because they see it as being incredibly informal–almost offensively so. Sending an “e-vite” or digital invitation seems no better than sending a mass text message or making a Facebook Event Invite for your wedding. What is to separate special events such as your wedding from a night at the bar or a church fundraiser? Using paper, especially fancy paper as you would for your wedding invitation, is a way of demarcation. Doing something you wouldn’t normally do means “pay attention, this is special”. Wedding invitation suites also turn into keepsakes.

Many people have their wedding invites as a tangible memory of their big day and that cannot be replaced or recreated. It’s not just the bride and groom that would keep those physical memories but friends and family members as well. It is a celebration for them and they might want to remember your special day. This doesn’t even include that your great Aunt might not have e-mail or know how to work a computer. A digital invite could exclude some wedding guests and if you’re going to print paper invitations for a few why not go all the way? Another argument against digital invitations is the concern that if people don’t take a digital invitation seriously enough you might not get a clear commitment from them. If you are stuck in a black hole of “maybe” responses or no responses or have a lot of technological troubles it might not be worth the hassle.

While there are a lot of reasons not to go digital there are just as many arguing for the convenience and use of technology. In the end it always comes down to personal preference.

A primer on veils of all sizes: tiers and appliques are not to be forgotten!

Now that you know whether or not you want a wedding veil and know what kinds of factors go into that decision the first step to learning about veils is to talk lengths! Veils come in all different lengths and widths so remember to consider your dress, your wedding and your hairstyle when thinking about lengths.

Click here to search through our discount bridal veils.

The most popular length of veils are “walking length”, headband or birdcage and then of course cathedral or chapel length. If you want a very long veil or a very short one, you have usually already decided or have some sort of predilection for one or the other. Most brides, and undecided brides, will fall somewhere in the middle. “Walking length” veils can be anywhere from ending at the elbow, shoulder, or waist. They are mostly just middling length. All veils, especially middle length veils, come in different widths. Instead of being cut straight-across many veils are cut in “U” or “V” shapes to not only complement your hair if worn loose but also to add some dimension to your dress. The gradation of this wave can be incredibly drastic with the highest point being near your neck and shoulders and the bottom of the “U” being as low as the waist. Middle length veils are very adaptable in that way. Birdcage veils, headbands and fascinators on the other hand have some variation in style but in length they don’t usually go past the ears. Birdcage veils are usually netted and cover the face in a coy fashion recalling fashion of earlier days. Fascinators and headbands usually do not have a blusher component, or any part that covers the face, but they make up for it with lots of style! Chapel length and cathedral length trains on the other hand tend not to have too many embellishments as they are so long and make a statement in that way. Chapel length trains are shorter than cathedral length, they probably go a few inches past the hemline of a floor length gown. Cathedral length trains are the longest and will trail out past your gown for that elegant, royal look.

While veils really come in all lengths, these are the basics. Think about the style of your dress and the kind of statement you want to make when choosing a veil. Consider longer veils for a more formal or romantic look and shorter if you want something modern or approachable.

Something blue…

Make sure your groom doesn’t see you in your dress before the wedding! Don’t forget to wear something blue! Tuck a sugar cube into your glove to sweeten your union! Weddings are surrounded by superstition and depending on your personal beliefs can be tiring, exciting or a cause of concern. Many people shrug off superstitions and don’t believe in horoscopes but sometimes it doesn’t feel like it’s entirely your decision whether or not to observe.

The hardest thing about wedding planning, heck, the hardest thing about marriage is the number of people involved. Even if you aren’t superstitious your future partner could be or even the other way around. Either way conflict can arise. We advise that if your partner or his family have differing beliefs than you and you are not committed one way or the other to try your best observe or respect the tradition.

Many superstitions can be fun! For example, if you keep your wedding dress a secret then you can see a genuine look of surprise and delight on your future husband’s face when he sees you at the end of that long walk. Remember that heart-warming moment in the royal wedding when Will saw Kate for the first time? If you keep your groom from seeing you until the last possible moment we guarantee that you will take his breath away. (Especially in this Matthew Christopher Sheath.)

That’s an easy superstition to follow and something you could do even if you didn’t believe. What if you are faced with something a little more unseemly such as the English idea that finding a spider in your dress brings good luck? We recommend talking with family and friends to let them know of your beliefs and perhaps encouraging them not to surprise you with arachnids. On the same note, if you are the superstitious one in the family, your family and husband may appreciate the daily horoscope updates but remember not to push them to follow your traditions. As always, follow the golden rule!

Watters Bridesmaids Dress

Variation in your bridesmaids dresses can be a great way to add pizazz to your wedding and to ensure happy bridesmaids.

Ah, the dreaded bridesmaids dress. You can’t just leave them in the back of your closet forever but you feel too guilty to donate them. Brides try to do their best in getting the bridesmaids involved but matchy-matchy dresses can be tossed to the wayside as close friends fear showing up to an event wearing the same dress or having it recognized from ubiquitous wedding photos. Reassure your worried bridesmaids by getting creative in choosing your dresses.

You’ve probably seen lots of shades of cream and ivory at other weddings but do not fear the accent colors. Beautiful colors to include besides traditional pinks and reds are blues and yellows. Whatever colors you decide on though, apply them liberally to bridesmaids dresses as well. Every dress does not need to be the same shade of lavender. Try a range of dresses that are subtly darker or lighter than the maid of honor dress, which could be in a bold, stand-out shade for added emphasis. You can have the same dress in different shades, or for the even funkier bride, a different dress for every bridesmaid, in a different color. Don’t worry that varying your bridesmaids dresses will be a headache for your groom, though. Solid color neckties are an easy way to coordinate and will probably make his best friends look more dashing than you have ever seen them look before.

Vows makes it easy to spice up the bridesmaid dress as all of our dresses are orderable. You can easily order the same dress in different shades or we will be happy to help you choose a variety of dresses to match your wedding palette. Try this WToo dress which is simple enough to look good in every color or this sweet Watters dress which will add a little sparkle to whatever color you choose to have it in.

Wedding veils are seen by a lot of brides as the crowning touch to their wedding attire. It can be easy for the details of this accessory to get lost in all the hustle and bustle of preparations of the wedding day. Because of the visibility of the wedding veil, however, it is important to give it the attention it needs and deserves.

The bride’s wedding veil should complement her dress. In many cases, a bridal fashions manufacturer will make a veil to match any wedding gowns they make. If this is the case, it is best to buy that particular wedding veil since it has been made to specifically match the wedding gown itself.

For those brides that fall in love with a wedding dress but it does not have a wedding veil that goes with it, there are ways to get a stunning veil that will complete the her ensemble. By keeping a few tips in mind, a bride’s search for the perfect veil will probably go much more smoothly and quickly. It is possible to get wedding veils that closely match wedding gowns though the veils were not specifically made to match a particular gown.

• Color: Pay particular attention to both the color of the wedding gown and the color of the wedding veil. Wedding dresses come in a variety of different shades of white. It is important to match the color of the veil to the color of the dress as closely as possible. If a bride chooses an ivory veil to go with her cream wedding dress, the contrasting shades of white will be highly noticeable and take away from the entire look of her wedding outfit.

• Details: Many of today’s wedding gowns come with intricately detailed beads, lacing, or jewels attached in places that are designed to give the bride an attention-grabbing look. The neckline, sleeves, and waistline are three of the most popular places to find these types of details. In order to match the veil to the dress as closely as possible, these details should be found on the wedding veil as well.

Length: In general, the longer the wedding dress, the longer the wedding veil can be. This does not mean that a bride cannot wear a shorter veil if she has a long dress, however. Of course, the opposite is true as well. If a bride loves the look of a longer veil even though she has chosen a shorter dress, she can have the look she wants.