13 AMAZING NEW WEDDING RECEPTION TRENDS FOR 2015 PART 3

STRINGS AND THINGS
Romance is, of course, the name of the game and we’re all crying out for equally romantic music. Enchant your guests with a harpist
FABULOUS FAVOURS
Favours should be so gorgeous your guests can’t wait to pop them in their pockets and sneak them home. We love vintage-style music sheets or DIY details like these cute little hanging hearts, easy to make at home and tie in with your colour scheme.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
We love a marquee, but the coolest weddings this year will be celebrating in Stretch Tents – the oh-so-funky alternative. They look stunning and can cover any area making them wonderfully versatile. Adorn with Chinese lanterns and a bean bag chill-out area for the early hours, and you’ve got yourself a chic, festival-inspired big day.
PHOTOBOOTH FUN
Traditional guest books are fast becoming a thing of the past thanks to the handy snaps you get from photobooths. Most booths now produce double shots so you can stick one in your guestbook with a heartfelt note and keep one to take home as a personal favour. Budget friendly and brilliant!
COOL FOR KIDS
Sometimes your younger guests need more than a coloring book to keep them entertained. Enter comedy and Games, the ultimate children’s entertainers who will delight your younger guests from age three to 12. Think tug of war games, water bombs and treasure hunts… Or even a little cooking so they can offer your guests their homemade chocolate truffles while coffee is served. How cute is that?

13 AMAZING NEW WEDDING RECEPTION TRENDS FOR 2015 PART 2

FUNKY DJS
A fabulous DJ makes an equally fabulous party, so find yourself someone who knows how to mix a tune. For inspiration, look no further than the Wedding Smashers, the coolest kids in town. They will assign a dedicated music manager and customize a playlist just for you.
POP GOES THE CAKE
We love big cakes, but also just one sneaky, delicious mouthful can be just as tasty. Cake pops are bite-size pieces of cake on a stick, with decoration to suit your wedding style. Have a large cake pop stand or a smaller selection in the centre of each table.
LIGHTEN UP
The simplest of rooms can look amazing with the right lighting. Think about low-level romantic lighting for tables, or go for the wow factor with giant light-up letters just like we had in so many decorations.
CAKE HEAVEN
Wedding cakes have reached a whole new level of style. Monochrome and metallics are current trends, along with an abundance of height and elegance.

13 AMAZING NEW WEDDING RECEPTION TRENDS FOR 2015 PART 1

You’ve found your perfect wedding venue – now it’s time to think about your reception! How do you make your celebration stand out from the crowd? Here are 13 amazing new wedding reception trends for 2015…
ALL THAT GLITTERS
It’s all about glamour as we go into 2014 and gold is the colour of choice. Keep it elegant by combining with black and white, or add a hint of colour with cool aqua or bubblegum pink. We love gold charger plates, as seen at the real-life wedding. A very classy look for a traditional sit-down wedding breakfast.
COOKIE TIME
What could be finer than a biscuit that looks as good as it tastes? Biscuit pops are small iced delights that make great take-home treats. Be sure to save some for yourself! Try Biscuiteers for some of the best designs or why not have a go at making some yourself?
LET IT SNOW
Sometimes you want the romance of a winter wonderland, even if it isn’t snowing. Snow Business can create a lavish winter scene using their biodegradable ‘snow’, or even just a delicate shower of falling snow as you walk into the room. What’s more, they’ll clear it all away at the end of your celebration, so no one need ever know it was pretend!
TRICYCLES OF TREATS
A summer wedding just isn’t the same without a three-wheeler. Visit Ideas Box or Café Bon Bon for an array of tricycles serving everything from candy floss and donuts to cheese and Pimm’s.

10 CREATIVE WAYS TO PROPOSE TO YOUR GROOMSMEN

You’ve popped the big question, and now it’s time to propose to your best friends. Your wedding party is made up of your closest friends and family members, from your childhood friends to your college buddies. Your group of groomsmen will be your support system through the wedding planning process and during the craziness of the big day. Once you’ve narrowed it down to the select few who will get to stand by your side on the most important day of your life, you’re ready to ask them to in your wedding. Here are 10 creative and fun ways to propose to your groomsmen.
1. I MUSTACHE YOU A QUESTION
Mustaches are a fun trend that can be easily incorporated into your groomsman proposals. Fill a box with items that can be adorned with mustache stickers and labels, such as a bottle of his favorite beer and a pint glass. You mustache them a question – will they be your groomsmen?
2. CIGARS
Cigars have been associated with men in weddings for ages, making them a standard wedding day tradition. What better way to celebrate your engagement and ask your guys to be in your wedding than by lighting up a fresh cigar? By presenting your question on a nice piece of stationary alongside a gift you can enjoy together, your friends won’t be able to say no.
3. CUSTOM-LABELED ALCOHOL
Create custom labels on your favorite type of alcohol to ask your friends to be your groomsmen and best man. They’ll love the personal touch with their names and your wedding details as well as the gift of a bottle of liquor. You can even enjoy a drink together when they accept your proposal!
4. CUFFLINKS
In traditional wedding day attire, men hardly have any room to add a bit of their own personality. Cufflinks are the one accessory where men can add a fun twist on the standard suit and tie. When asking your groomsmen to be a part of your wedding, why not provide them with great cufflinks they can wear both on the day and afterwards?
5. FUNNY CARDS
If you know your guys will appreciate a good joke, this Top Secret file is the perfect way to ask your friends to be in your wedding. Your best buds will agree to be your secret agents for the most important mission of your life – getting married!
6. SHAVING KIT
Every man appreciates a nice shave, whether he’s capable of growing a full beard or just some stubble. Nice shaving tools are a great gift that every man would love to receive, so ask your best buds to be in your wedding party with this convenient kit. It’s a great way to show your appreciation ahead of time.
7. PLAN AN EVENT
If you’re more interested in spending quality time with your bros instead of sending them a card or gift, you can plan an event for everyone. Beer tasting, golfing or a sporting event are all great ideas. When you’ve got your group together, you can pop the question to everyone at once.
8. BOWTIE
If you already know that your groomsmen will need to wear something special for your big day, such as a bowtie or a special printed tie, include it when you ask your friends to be in your wedding! This will alleviate some of the pressure and costs of being a groomsman. Pair your item with their favorite bottle of liquor to make the gesture even more exciting.
9. FUN SOCKS
If your groomsmen are going to rent their tuxes and bowties for the wedding, you can still influence their attire by giving them a pair of socks! Create individual labels asking your friends to wear the socks as they stand by your side during your wedding.
10. BOWTIE CARD
Learning how to tie a bowtie for the big day can be a daunting task, especially once you see all the steps involved! Ask your friends to be in your wedding party with this card that states that you won’t be able to do it without them.
As marriage proposals and weddings have become more elaborate, it’s no wonder that more and more grooms are looking for creative ways to ask their groomsmen to be in their wedding. The roles of groomsmen and the best man are hugely important in a wedding; they plan the bachelor party, attend rehearsals and pre-wedding events and make sure everything goes smoothly on the wedding day. When your groomsmen receive a fun and creative proposal from you, they won’t be able to say no!

2015 WEDDING TRENDS PART 2

WEDDING FAVOR

Although completely optional, couples now choose more unusual, useful and personalized favors to thank their guests for coming. In many cases, the favors do double-duty as place-card holders, table decorations and even centerpiece arrangements where larger favors are grouped together in the center of the reception tables.
Favors can be ready-made items or hand-made and embellished with ribbon and decorative accents that coordinate with the wedding theme or color scheme. This is definitely an area of weddings that has gone DIY in recent years. Tip: Have some fun and get the wedding party together to help make them with you!
WEDDING LOCATIONS/VENUES
Mansions, churches, beaches, country clubs, resorts, hotels, public gardens, parks, museums, yachts and private homes are the most popular locations for weddings.
WEDDING PLANNING
Wedding inspiration boards are very popular as they are a great tool for helping brides focus their wedding ideas, color schemes and decorating details. Choosing a wedding motif is also helpful in coordinating the overall wedding day decor or theme.
ECO-FRIENDLY, RUSTIC WEDDINGS
Going green is important in almost every area of life including weddings. Many couples are choosing organic fabrics, flowers, decorations, food and invitations, etc. Making green and sustainable choices helps our environmental crisis tremendously. Decisions that lessen the amount of carbon emissions promote sustainable practices, support local businesses, foster community and worldwide health and longevity. Let's hope this trend is here to stay!
WEDDING CAKES
Wedding cakes decorated with handmade icing flowers, chocolate shells/starfish and delicate dots and pearls remain popular. Couples are choosing cakes that fit with the location, theme and season of their wedding. Three to four layers is the average size for a wedding of 150 people.
Butter cream or smooth fondant frostings are most common. Popular cake flavors include lemon, chocolate, carrot, spice and "white" although some couples are choosing non-traditional flavors such as gingerbread, espresso and hazelnut. Flowers, sculptures, bunting and large monogrammed letters are replacing the traditional bride and groom cake top.

2015 WEDDING TRENDS PART 1

The following trends have been compiled from hundreds of sources in Asia, North America, Africa and Europe to guide your selections and inform you of the vast array of options available.
WEDDING DRESSES
Multiple layers and textures are prominent themes for 2015 bridal gowns. Brides today choose romantic flowing dresses in floor-length styles with combinations of overlaid soft fabrics (chiffon, organza or tulle), crystal studded bodices, lace sleeves and delicate ruffles and floral details. Open-back dresses, visible hemlines and deep V-necks are also gaining popularity. Many designers have included ball gowns and tea-length styles in their lines as well as dresses in off-white and pastels.
WEDDING ACCESSORIES
Shorter trains and veils (especially the bird cage veil) are popular as are pretty boleros, and shawls. For colder weather, brides choose wraps of faux-fur, velvet, heavy satin, or pashmina. Light weight fabrics, including organza, lace, tulle and chiffon, make perfect wraps for the spring or summer bride and reduce sun exposure on bare arms and shoulders.
Pearls, rhinestones, and crystals remain the top jewelry choice for necklaces and earrings. Crystal brooches are also a popular accent for wearing on the dress, in the hair or on the bouquet handle. Many brides are also accenting their shoes with shoe clips made from tulle, feathers and/or crystals.

ENGAGEMENT RING VS WEDDING RING: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

One of the most important aspects of a marriage proposal is the engagement ring. This ring is traditionally a beautiful gemstone set on a band and is what has come to be known as a symbol of wedding culture. This piece of jewelry is oftentimes mistakenly referred to as the wedding ring, and the two terms seem to have become interchangeable in everyday vocabulary. But, what really is the difference between an engagement ring and a wedding ring? Do you need to have both?  We answer these questions and more to help clear things up.

WHAT IS AN ENGAGEMENT RING?

An engagement ring is given to someone at the time of a marriage proposal. Traditionally, women receive the engagement ring and are expected to wear it starting from the time of the proposal. Having a ring on her finger will indicate to the world that she is taken and is committed to her partner. These rings can vary greatly in terms of extravagance and price, but the most common type of engagement ring has a diamond or another gemstone set atop a pretty band. The engagement ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand (the one next to the pinky).

WHAT IS A WEDDING RING?

Wedding rings are exchanged between partners during the wedding ceremony. They are typically more simple bands in comparison to the engagement ring and do not have a center diamond or prominent gemstone. Both partners receive a wedding band during the ceremony and they each wear them on the third fingers of their left hands. Because the wedding band is placed on the same finger as the engagement ring, many brides choose to move their engagement rings to their right hands for the ceremony and then move them back to the left hand afterwards so that their two rings are stacked.

THE MEANINGS BEHIND THE RINGS

The tradition of the engagement ring dates back many centuries, when a man would ask for his lady’s hand in marriage by giving her a valuable ring in exchange for the father’s approval and exchange in “ownership” of this lady. These rings became more and more extravagant over time because they came to represent the man’s wealth, which was very desirable for both the man and the woman and her family. Although this notion is clearly very dated, the tradition of offering a ring for one’s hand in marriage has lived on.

In addition to the historical meaning of the wedding ring, there is also a symbolic aspect as well. The circular shape of a ring represents eternity and infinity, and the hole through the ring signifies a doorway leading to events in the future. To give someone a ring indicates the commitment of never-ending and immortal love.

DO I NEED TO WEAR BOTH AN ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING RING?

Because the engagement ring is traditionally the flashier and more extravagant ring of the two, most women wear the engagement ring on their left hand ring fingers. Many women will wear their wedding bands stacked underneath the engagement ring as well, while some women choose to only wear one ring to represent both. Many jewelers sell engagement rings and wedding rings as a set so that they match one another and look stylish when worn together. However, this is absolutely not a requirement and you and your partner can choose to buy wedding bands at your own leisure if you wish to have them at all.

Men typically receive wedding bands on the day of their wedding ceremonies. These grooms wedding bands are generally thicker in width than bridal wedding bands and are usually made of one type of precious metal, such as gold, silver or platinum. Some men’s wedding bands may contain small diamonds or jewels and the design and style of the band is up to their personal preference.

HOW MUCH DO WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENT RINGS COST?

Wedding rings and engagement rings can vary greatly in price depending on the materials used to make it, the size and your location. Most engagement rings include at least one diamond and most wedding bands do not have any gemstones, so engagement rings are usually much more expensive than wedding rings. A general rule of thumb that many people choose to follow is to spend about two to three months’ salary on an engagement ring. Of course, how much you choose to spend on any of your wedding jewelry is entirely up to your preference and tastes.

Your engagement ring and wedding ring both represent the unity and bond that you’ve committed to one another on your wedding day. Whether you choose to go with an extravagant jewel or an understated band, this piece of jewelry is something that will indicate to the world and to yourselves your commitment to one another as a married couple. There’s so many different types and styles of both engagement rings and wedding rings, guaranteeing that you and your partner will surely be able to find the perfect ones for you.