GORGEOUS FLOWERS FOR EVERY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

It’s fairly common knowledge that there are certain types of gifts that you should give to your spouse for each different wedding anniversary year (paper the first year, wood the fifth year and so on), but did you know that there is a specific flower associated with each anniversary year as well? Flowers are a great gift for any occasion, but you can make them extra meaningful by giving your husband or wife a bouquet of anniversary flowers. Each wedding anniversary is a special milestone, and giving or receiving flowers for each special year is a great way to show your partner your love and appreciation while also paying homage to these beautiful traditions. Here are the flowers associated with each anniversary year from the first to the fiftieth and what they each represent.
1ST ANNIVERSARY – CARNATIONS
Carnations are often overlooked, but they are actually quite a lovely flower. You can find carnations in a large variety of colors, from pink to yellow to red. They represent the commitment, loyalty and joy to look forward to for years to come, making them the perfect first anniversary flower.
2ND ANNIVERSARY – LILY OF THE VALLEY
Lily of the valley is a white bulbous flower with an incredible perfumed scent. They look lovely paired with fresh greenery in a bouquet. However, they are highly poisonous when eaten, so make sure you keep them away from pets! These small white flowers represent the purity and devotion of your relationship on your second anniversary.
3RD ANNIVERSARY – SUNFLOWER
Bright yellow sunflowers represent the third wedding anniversary. They embody strength, warmth, loyalty and fidelity. Their thick, sturdy stalks represent the strong foundation upon which your marriage is built.
4TH ANNIVERSARY – HYDRANGEA
Hydrangeas are a unique type of flowering plant that come in beautiful shades of blue, purple and white. They symbolize gratefulness and appreciation of your partner on a day as special as your fourth wedding anniversary.
5TH ANNIVERSARY – DAISY
Your fifth wedding anniversary is an incredible milestone, and the daisy is the perfect flower to represent such an important occasion. Daisies are perfectly symmetrical, with each petal stemming outwards from the center, each one standing for the different direction your relationship can grow from the strong core center. Daisies come in a variety of colors, from pink to red to orange, to suit your partner’s tastes.
6TH ANNIVERSARY –  CALLA LILY
Calla lilies are elegant and sophisticated, commonly available in pure, creamy white. Mini versions are available in beautiful colors like purple, orange and pink. Calla lilies are aptly named after the Greek word for “magnificent beauty” and represent faith, marital bliss and devotion.
7TH ANNIVERSARY – FREESIA
Freesias are a stunning flower that have a delicious fragrance, making them a commonly used scent in shampoos, soaps and lotions. They also create gorgeous anniversary bouquets, with blooms in white, yellow, pink, red and purple. Freesias are given to celebrate your seventh wedding anniversary and represent the strength of the friendship you and your partner have developed over the years.
8TH ANNIVERSARY – LILAC
Lilacs can come in a beautiful, pure white or a soft, gorgeous lavender. White lilacs represent youthful innocence, while purple lilacs represent the first feelings of love. On your eighth wedding anniversary, a bouquet of lilacs could serve as the perfect reminder of why you first fell in love with one another.
9TH ANNIVERSARY – BIRD OF PARADISE
Bird of Paradise flowers are exotic and interesting, thus making them an ideal ninth anniversary gift. They represent a promise of adventure and exploration to come and showcase the magnificence of the relationship you have built thus far.
10TH ANNIVERSARY – DAFFODIL
Daffodils are one of the simplest yet most beautiful flowers, with its bright yellow color and fun shape. When put together in a bouquet to celebrate a decade together, daffodils create a simply stunning display. Your tenth wedding anniversary is certainly a milestone to celebrate, and the simplicity of a single bloom magnified when put in a bouquet is a beautiful symbol of your marriage.
11TH ANNIVERSARY – TULIP
Different colored tulips carry different meanings, making them a very versatile flower to give to your loved one on your eleventh anniversary together. Yellow tulips represent cheerful thoughts, red for passion and love and purple for elegance and royalty. No matter what color tulip bouquet you choose, it’s the perfect anniversary flower to represent love, devotion and grace.
12TH ANNIVERSARY – PEONY
A classic wedding favorite, the peony stands for prosperity and good fortune. These full blooms come in a variety of colors and are the ideal 12th wedding anniversary flower. Peonies are viewed as an omen of good fortune and happiness to come.
13TH ANNIVERSARY – CHRYSANTHEMUM
These sun-like flowers have been highly regarded as symbols of luck, prosperity and longevity, thus making chrysanthemums the perfect flower for an occasion as important as your thirteenth wedding anniversary.
14TH ANNIVERSARY – DAHLIA
Perfectly symmetrical dahlias represent strength, creativity and endurance. A gorgeous bouquet of dahlias can come in a variety of vibrant colors, and describe the solid foundation of your marriage on your 14th anniversary.
15TH ANNIVERSARY – ROSE
One of the most popular romantic flowers, the rose is synonymous with love, passion and romance. Your fifteenth anniversary together deserves a beautiful bouquet of roses to represent the beautiful relationship you’ve had together thus far.
20TH ANNIVERSARY – ASTER
Your twentieth wedding anniversary marks two full decades together. Asters symbolize wisdom and good fortune, making them the perfect flower to give to your spouse on your 20th anniversary. You’ve both gained so much wisdom over the years and deserve the good fortune to come.
25TH ANNIVERSARY – IRIS
A quarter century of marriage deserves a beautiful flower with a deep meaning. The 25th anniversary flower is the beautiful iris, representing royalty and faithfulness. After all these years, you still view one another as royalty and your
30TH ANNIVERSARY – LILY
Lilies come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and types. Throughout the thirty years you’ve been together, your commitment and bond has only strengthened to become what it is today. A beautiful bouquet of lilies on your 30th anniversary showcase the commitment, fidelity and devotion you have for one another.
40TH ANNIVERSARY – GLADIOLUS
Gladiolus flowers have a long and slender shape with brilliant and vibrant blooms. This stunning plant symbolize all of the wonderful memories you have from the past 40 years, and a bouquet of gladiolus will show your spouse your appreciation and love as you both reminisce about these beautiful memories.
50TH ANNIVERSARY – YELLOW ROSES AND VIOLETS
Congratulations – you’ve made it to 50 years of marriage! Such a momentous milestone deserves two different flowers: the yellow rose and the violet. These two flowers are complementary colors and look even better together than they do apart – just like you and your partner.
Each anniversary has a different flower to represent the different stages of marriage. They all have deep meanings and symbolize varying traits of your relationship. While these flowers are appropriate for specific anniversaries, you can also give your spouse her favorite flowers in combination with or in addition to the anniversary bloom. No matter what flowers you choose to go with, each wedding anniversary is an important reason to celebrate and an excellent reminder of your love for one another.

WILL YOU BE MY BRIDESMAID?

FUN WAYS TO POP THE QUESTION
Asking someone to be your bridesmaid is a big deal. Your bridesmaids will be your main support system from the bridal shower to the bachelorette party to the ceremony to the reception. They’ll be there for you through your wedding planning crises, help you find the perfect wedding dress and celebrate with you when you book your dream venue. These women also happen to be your best friends and closest family members, so it makes sense for you to want to do something special when asking them to be in your wedding. We’ve compiled 11 adorable and fun ways to pop the question to your girls.
1. What better way to celebrate your engagement than with balloons and confetti? Conceal a secret message and confetti inside a balloon, provide a safety pin and ask your girls to pop the balloon. They’ll be surprised and ready to celebrate with you!
2. Create a fun game for your best girls with this crossword puzzle. The wedding-related clues will indicate to them that you won’t be able to say “i do” without them! 
3. Nothing’s sweeter than a box of chocolates asking if she’ll be your bridesmaid. You can spell out your request with any of their favorite goodies, such as cupcakes, cookies, macaronis and brownies. Bonus points if your treats are homemade!
4. Tell your friends that you’ve got the guy, but you need your girls with these custom wine bottles. Not only do you get to include fun personal photos and anecdotes on the labels, but they’ll love the gift of a bottle of wine! When they say yes, you can enjoy a glass with them and toast to the exciting journey you’re about to begin.
5. If you know that your girls love coffee, surprise them with their favorite drink and your proposal! They’ll appreciate the thoughtfulness behind your gesture and love the fun spin you put on popping the question.
6. Give your girls these custom mason jars that read “Will you be my bridesmaid?” These versatile gifts can be used as drinking glasses, flower vases, storage containers and more! If you’re planning on having a rustic-themed wedding, including mason jars in your bridesmaid proposals is the perfect way to start incorporating the theme.
7. Mail in your proposal with a funny card! Promise your girlfriends that there won’t be hideous bridesmaid dresses to get them to say yes. There are plenty of cards with funny messages on the outside, leaving you plenty of room on the inside to write a personal message and include photos if you’d like.
8. Another funny card with a message they won’t be able to refuse – a promise for all the free champagne they can drink in exchange for being your bridesmaids and maid of honor! Make each card personal with handwritten messages and pictures of the two of you from years past.
9. Confess to your gals that you can’t tie the knot without them. After all, they’ll be the ones standing by your side at the altar. Include a small knot-related item, like a ring, bracelet or necklace to represent your upcoming nuptials.
10. Give each of your bridesmaids a gift box that includes everything they’ll need to prepare to be one of your bridesmaids: instructions for each event, a mini bottle of alcohol, chocolate, jewelry and photos of you. You can personalize each of these boxes to fit each of your individual friendships and relationships.
11. Bridesmaid poems are a lovely way to express your feelings of gratitude, appreciation and love, so it makes sense to write each of your bridesmaids and your maid of honor a poem. You can write individual poems tailored to each friendship, or write one poem for all of your girls. They won’t be able to say no!
We’ve been through so much
As these years have flown by.
And you’ve been there for me,
(Though not close by) By my side.
 It’s a blast all this planning,
The dresses! The hair!
Though not nearly as fun,
If you were not there.
 So get ready for questions,
For stress and for tears
Which will soon become memories,
We’ll laugh at for years.
 It would mean oh-so much,
It would fill me with pride
If you’ll stand next to me,
The “maid” to my “bride”!
Whether you choose to send a funny card or shower your ladies with gifts, asking your closest group of girls to be your bridesmaids is a fun and exciting opportunity to express your creativity and start incorporating your wedding’s theme. Asking your bridesmaids and maid of honor to be in your wedding marks the beginning of all the fun and creative things you’ll get to try out in the wedding planning process. With these great ways to pop the question, your girls won’t be able to say no!

HOW TO GRACEFULLY WALK DOWN THE AISLE

You walk down the aisle on your wedding day, all eyes are on you. Your dress, veil, hair, makeup and accessories have been carefully planned out so that you look absolutely perfect. You’ve chosen the perfect song to set the scene and demonstrate your feelings. To ensure that your walk down the aisle goes smoothly, you’ll want to practice it at least once during the rehearsal. Follow these simple steps to make your walk down the aisle graceful and elegant.
1. HOLD YOUR BOUQUET LOW
Even if this might feel unnatural at first, holding your bouquet lower will make your arms and torso look better. This will create a slimming effect in photos and guests will also be able to see the beautiful bodice of your wedding dress. To achieve this sophisticated look, hold your bouquet low enough so that your arms are bent in a diamond shape in front of your body.
2. WALK AT A NORMAL PACE
Some brides tend to walk quickly when they are nervous, while others tend to walk slowly. To make things seem as natural and seamless as possible, a good rule of thumb is to walk at a normal pace for you. However, depending on the song you’ve chosen for your walk, you may want to adjust your pace to match the beat. If the song is set to a moderate or slightly fast beat, it might seem more natural to follow the tempo. If it’s slow, then you’ll want to walk at your normal pace. Figuring out what pace to walk at is definitely something that you’ll learn quickly with a practice run.
3. FEEL FREE TO LOOK AROUND
It may help to calm your nerves to stare directly forward and avoid all eye contact with your guests, but this creates a stiff, unnatural presence that ultimately looks and feels awkward. Feel free to look around at the crowd at all of the guests who have shown up to support you and your love. You may find that your aunt is beaming back at you, or your uncle is sending you a comforting gaze. If eye contact is something that will cause more fear than reassurance, then glancing around at the tops of guests’ heads in the crowd is a simple trick that will help you achieve this natural presence.
4. STAND UP STRAIGHT
Your dress and bouquet may be heavy, and you might not be used to wearing your wedding heels, but the easiest way to instantly appear more graceful and elegant is to stand up straight. Having good posture while you walk down the aisle will make you look tall, lean and more beautiful. Hunching over will look especially obvious in photos, and something as simple as rolling your shoulders down your back will you help you avoid this unappealing look.
5. BE MINDFUL OF YOUR DRESS
Perhaps the most common fear brides have of their walks down the aisle is tripping over their wedding dresses. These gorgeous gowns are typically floor length, and oftentimes have long trains too. Most brides probably don’t have much experience walking in floor length ball gowns, so a helpful trick to help you glide down the aisle is to be mindful of your dress as you take each step. As you put your foot forward to take a step, your dress will move against the back of your leg. If you wait until the hem of your dress grazes your ankle, you will never step on your dress. This is something that may require a few practice runs, so if you still aren’t comfortable with this process then you can also ask your seamstress to hem your dress slightly shorter.
6. SMILE
We know you’re nervous on one of the most important days of your life, but sometimes we let it show in our faces. Remember to smile and try to enjoy yourself as you  gracefully float down the aisle. Everyone in that room is there to support you and celebrate your love, and smiling throughout your walk will let your guests know that you’re happy they came and there’s nowhere else you’d rather be.
Your wedding rehearsal is the ideal time to have everyone in your wedding party practice their duties at least once before the big day. Walking down the aisle on your wedding day may seem like a huge deal, but remember that all you’re doing is walking! Smile, stand up straight and be mindful of your dress and bouquet. When looking around the room, you can lock eyes with your partner to be reminded of all of the reasons why you’re doing this. In the end, the most important thing is that you’re marrying the love of your life and your friends and family are there for the two of you.

SAYING THANK YOU AFTER YOUR WEDDING

From a young age, it’s been embedded in our minds to say please and thank you. It’s a simple matter of good manners, and the latter becomes hugely important in something as extravagant as your wedding day. Throughout the months you’ve spent planning your wedding, you’ve likely been in contact with dozens of friends, family members and vendors – all of whom have provided their help or support in one way or another. Then there’s the guests who actually attended your wedding, supporting you and celebrating your joy on the happiest day of your life. They probably gave you a substantial gift in honor of your big day, too. How do you handle thanking all of these people who have been involved with your wedding in one way or another? Sending out so many thank you notes may seem like a daunting task, so it’s easy to want to send out generic messages. But remember: a personal touch shows you truly care and appreciate these people. Here’s how to say thank you after your wedding.
PREPARE BEFOREHAND
Staying organized throughout the wedding planning process will save you loads of stress and headaches. One great example of this is with your thank you cards – if you keep a spreadsheet or document of all your guests and their contact information, you can easily access this information when you’re ready to send out thank you notes. When you gather all this information for your wedding invitations, keep it handy for when you’re writing your thank you. As you open gifts from the bridal shower, bachelorette party and wedding, make a note of who got you each gift. This will expedite the thank you process immensely.
THANK YOU CARD IDEAS
The standard wedding thank you note is a handwritten message inside a nice card or piece of stationary. One popular trend is to make cards out of your favorite wedding photo or a special photo you took on your wedding day just for the purpose of the thank you card. You can also purchase fancy stationary and have it monogrammed with your new initials as a way to embrace your newly-married status. Whichever route you choose, make sure you write out each individual note with a unique message with a nice pen that will make your words stand out.
For those who were more involved in your wedding, such as bridesmaids, groomsmen, your maid of honor, your best man and your parents, you’ll want to thank them properly with an appropriate gift or gesture. You and your partner know your wedding party the best, so choosing a gift for each member of the party will be a fun activity where you’ll get to exercise your creativity. Travel bags, bottles of wine, cufflinks and jewelry are all great gift ideas to start.
HOW TO WRITE A HEARTFELT THANK YOU
The most important thing when it comes to writing a thank you card is being genuine and sincere. You want to include heartfelt, emotional comments and express your gratitude for their support or gift when choosing the wording of a thank you card. Regardless of what you are thanking them for, make sure that your words are gracious and personal. Make sure to always include the name of the gift, how much you appreciate it and how you plan to use it. If you received cash, never mention the dollar amount that was given; rather, mention that you are grateful for their generous monetary gift and how you might use it. Here are a couple examples of thank you card wording:
DEAR AUNT JENNIFER,
Thank you so much for the blender! John and I have wanted one and are so excited to start using it and try out new recipes. We’re so happy that you were able to come to our wedding and hope to see you soon.
Love,
Jane
Dear Uncle IFE,
Thank you so much for your generous gift. John and I have been saving up and thanks to your thoughtful gift, we’ll be able to shop for our dream home soon. Thank you for sharing our special day with us and looking forward to seeing you over the holidays!
Love,
Jane
WEDDING THANK YOU ETIQUETTE
Now that you know how to write your thank you notes, you’ll be able to take care of them as needed. It’s proper etiquette to send out thank-you within 2 to 3 weeks after the engagement party and the bridal shower. Even if an attendee didn’t bring a gift, you should still send out a brief thank you message thanking them for coming and their love and support. For any gifts that you receive before the actual wedding day, you should send out thank yous as soon as possible when you receive them. If you’re totally swamped with other wedding planning tasks, just make sure that those thank you notes go out before the wedding takes place.
Wedding gifts that you receive at the wedding should receive thank you cards within 3 months after the big day. This should be plenty of time for you and your spouse to respond to each gift individually. If you receive any additional gifts after the wedding has already taken place, proper etiquette is to send out thank you within 2 to 3 weeks of receipt. Remember that although sending out all of these thank you cards seems daunting, you and your spouse can split up the responsibility to alleviate some of the pressure. If you fall behind schedule, feel free to mention the time that’s passed in your message rather than pretending like you’ve just received the gift. For example, you can say something like “Apologies for the tardiness of our card! We are settling into married life and are really enjoying the blender you gave us.”
Thank you cards are a must for all attendees of your wedding, but they aren’t a requirement for your vendors. If you feel that any of your wedding vendors provided exceptional service, feel free to send them a thank you card. They’ll certainly appreciate it.
When it comes to your wedding thank you, make sure you prepare yourself for this task beforehand by keeping an organized list of your guests and their contact information. Being organized will expedite the process significantly when it comes time to write out each individual message. Including a personal and appreciative note will show your guests that you truly care and are grateful for their gifts, love and support. And remember – you’re both capable of writing thank you notes so be sure to split the work fairly.

2015 WEDDING TRENDS PART 5

WEDDING HAIR STYLES
There are no clear trends in hair styles, although wearing the hair in long romantic waves or loosely pulled back are chosen for brides with long hair. Hair ornaments such as hairpins, brooches, hair vines, flowers (silk or real) and feather fascinators are also popular choices.
Beautiful combs and headbands made with either rhinestones, crystals, feathers or pearls have been the trend for many seasons. Some brides are placing their veils directly on their hair or using a single silk flower for a simple, classic look. Visit our hair gallery for hundreds of hairstyle ideas.
2015 WEDDING COLOR TRENDS
This colors are the color to look into in 2015 they includes popular wedding color choices: aqua coral yellow mint soft pink
turquoise latte plum grey navy
WEDDING BOUQUETS
Ninety five percent of wedding bouquets are hand-tied, where the flowers are gathered together and the stems are wrapped in wide satin ribbon. Brides wanting more glamorous bouquets choose beads, brooches (i.e. brooch bouquet), jewel pins, pearls, crystal/rhinestone picks, and monogrammed or rhinestone ribbon to dress up plain ribbon-wrapped stems and blooms. With the continuing popularity of the beach and garden themes, brides wanting a more rustic and natural look to their bouquet add elements such as shells/starfish, feathers, burlap ribbon, berries and pinecones.
The rose continues to be the most popular and elegant bouquet flower. Lilies, peonies, hydrangeas, tulips and orchids represent the trendier choices. Arrangements with a just-picked and looser casual look have replaced the more tightly-bound bouquet shapes of seasons past. Silk flowers are also popular for their versatility and life-like appearance. Visit our extensive bouquet gallery for ideas and inspiration.

2015 WEDDING TRENDS PART 4

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
The photo-journalistic (candid) approach to wedding photography is preferred by many brides to the traditional posed shots. Capturing the day's events as they happen helps tell the story of your wedding. Naturally, posed pictures are still enjoyed and requesting that some of the photos be black and white is common.
WEDDING THEMES
Currently, the top wedding themes are beach/nautical, winter wonderland, vintage glamour (think Great Gatsby), woodland/rustic, and diamonds/bling. Destination and ethnic-influenced celebrations also remain popular choices.
WEDDING STATIONERY
Stationery adorned with ribbons, beach items, feathers, rhinestone buckles or floral accents remains in high demand. Ribbon is used for decoration, or to simply hold the invitation together. Handmade stationery is a more personal, and with the popularity of scrap booking, stamping, and various computer programs available, there are endless creative options. Many couples choose to add this personal touch to their wedding.

2015 WEDDING TRENDS PART 3

WEDDING RECEPTION DECORATIONS
Brides are choosing centerpieces that are in the same color tones, but of different sizes. They are also changing the shape of the tables, mixing round with square. These trends give the reception tables a more interesting look and a less "coordinated" feel. Unique vase fillers include plastic pearls, fake snow, sea glass shells, acrylic ice, water absorbing crystals and fresh fruits such as lemons and limes.
Burlap fabric and lace have been a huge vintage-style trend for a few seasons now. Burlap is an inexpensive, natural fabric that fits will with a rustic theme or barn wedding location. It is primarily used for table runners and centerpiece decorations.
Ring pillows and flower girl baskets often come in colors other than just white and ivory and include beads, pearl, ribbon or handmade floral accents. Popular fabrics include velvet, lace and satin.
Silk rose petals, diamond confetti and shells/starfish remain the most popular table confetti. Reception chairs are decorated with either tulle, fabric overlays, sashes, floral swags and/or ribbons. Other popular decorating items include Chinese lanterns, tissue pom poms, garlands and oversized balloons.
A popular decorating trend is the candy buffet or confection bar which has been around for many years now. This consists of a variety of candies or treats placed in varied sizes of glass containers and grouped on a table. Pretty silver spoons or scoops in each container allow guests to fill small boxes or bags as take-home wedding favors.
Bolts of economical tulle fabric are typically combined with white lights and/or floral garlands for draping between pews and decorating banisters and ceilings. Click for more tulle decorating ideas.
Candles, always a popular choice for centerpieces, lend a romantic feel to any room. Choices include pillars, tea lights, tapers and floaters. Since some facilities do not allow candles, alternatives include faux tea light candles, battery operated LED lights, submersible LED lights and fiber optic lights.
Today's couples most often pay for their own weddings and make their own decisions about what they want for their wedding day. Using a budget calculator allows them to allocate their money and prioritize wants and needs. They want to enjoy a wedding that is uniquely theirs, and one that displays their own sense of style and personal taste. Personal touches (DIY: Do it Yourself) appear throughout the entire wedding and can be found in attire, centerpieces, bouquets, favors, decorations, stationery, photography, themes, gifts and locations.