Brides Village

Fantastic New Unity Candles and Candle Holders!

2009-06-30T15:15:00.006-04:00

We've recently expanded our collections of unity candles and unity candle holders, and we invite you to check out some of the most romantic, charming, and spectacular designs we've ever seen!

Some styles, like this Double Wick Carved Calla Lily Unity Candle, are literally changing the way brides think about unity candle ceremony. Shown with a pair of coordinating taper candles, the double wick allows two flames to burn simultaneously for a highly symbolic visual effect!

This hand-sculpted candle is destined to become a classic and is just one of the many amazing new unity candles and candle holders that are waiting for you to discover.

Something Dad Will Love!

2009-06-08T05:00:00.001-04:00

Surprise dad this Father's Day with something he will cherish for years to come! Why not a cool TRITON HALCYON bracelet? This is one made of substance! Made of solid stainless steel this unique durable piece will go with everything he owns! From day to night this masculine bracelet will make him look like a million! Be sure to check out the matching dog tag and necklace to complete the look!

Blow the Fastest Bubbles in the West!

2009-06-01T16:01:00.005-04:00

Western weddings are growing increasingly popular, and a lot of people ask us for fun reception ideas that are simple to implement.

One of the easiest ways to liven up your reception is with Cowboy Boot Bubbles! That's right, these western bubbles make a wonderful addition to any country and western wedding. The bottles can be easily decorated with ribbons, bows, and charms, but these also stand very well on their own and look fine undecorated.

Trust us, kids love these, and the bubbles actually add some nice ambience so "youthful enthusiasm" can actually contribute to the overall look of your party. Also, rest assured that our Boot Bubbles are completely non-toxic and are safe for all fabrics; anyone and everyone can blow bubbles to their heart's content with no fear of messes or other problems.

If you like the idea but aren't planning a western wedding, we carry an entire collection of wedding bubbles in a variety of styles. And for more in depth western wedding ideas, check out our wide range of western wedding accessories and western wedding decorations, including some fantastic western decor!

BridesVillage named one of the Top 200 Leading Moms in Businesses by StartUpNation!

2009-05-11T15:39:00.004-04:00

We did it! BridesVillage is a winner of the 2009 Leading Moms in Business Competition!

Our strong showing put us ahead of some stiff competition, and it's all thanks to you, our friends, customers, and vendors who supported us with your votes.

Your overwhelming support landed us in the top 100 winners, and we have been touched and flattered by everyone's votes and encouragement. It's been a great experience, and we are honored to be included among a truly amazing group of women entrepreneurs.

Click to read our official press release!

We hope our victory serves as an inspiration for any woman considering "taking the plunge" and starting her own business. Your dreams ARE achievable!

Thanks again to everyone who voted!

Cufflinks: An Easier Choice Than You Think

2009-04-27T07:27:00.005-04:00

Is there a specific etiquette for wearing cufflinks? The short answer: not really! Like any fashion accessory, there's plenty of debate about when it's appropriate to wear certain kind of cufflinks and not others. Some argue that cufflinks should only be worn on the most formal occasions; others claim that cufflinks should be a mainstay of more casual wear. Among the latter group you can find volumes of opinions about what kinds of cufflinks can be worn when; among the former there's not even full agreement on what constitutes a formal event!

One thing the experts do agree on is that cufflinks are always a great idea for any of the men in a wedding, from the groom on down. For those not accustomed to the wide world of cufflinks, the idea can seem a little daunting, but in reality it couldn't be easier.

Shown here: Our new best man cufflinks.

It all comes down to personal taste. We offer a variety of affordable wedding cufflinks that vary from elegantly engraved cufflinks to fun-yet-dashing groosman cufflinks. We even have a set just for your ushers!

When it comes to cufflinks, a little goes a long way and you don't need to worry about selecting the most "appropriate" set. If you buy a pair that feels right to you, then you've made the right choice!

Limited Time! Get This Grooming Case FREE!

2009-04-13T08:27:00.004-04:00

Here's a fun springtime promotion for readers of our blog: The next 5 orders for groomsmen gifts over $149 will not only receive free shipping, they will also get this handsome Leatherette Grooming Case free!

This Grooming Case is a $39.95 value! Conveniently travel-sized, this case features a cross-weave design accented by white stitching. Even better, this case arrives loaded with a host of grooming necessities including a razor, eyeglass tool, toothbrush, nail clippers, scissors, and cuticle tools! Also included is an adhesive silver plate that can be engraved with three initials and placed anywhere you choose on the case!

To get your grooming case, simply write "grooming case" in the comments field of your order form. Be sure to also include the three initials you'd like to have engraved, and we'll take care of the rest!

The Ultimate Spring & Summer Gift Idea

2009-04-06T08:38:00.007-04:00

It looks like spring is finally getting ready to hit its stride! Flowers are starting to bloom, trees are beginning to show buds, and the weather flips from balmy to freezing and back again in a matter of hours. But as everyone begins to thaw there's one thing firmly on our minds here...

The season of the barbecue is about to begin.

And that's why earlier this spring we were thrilled to put together a brand new section on our website for steak branding irons! That's right, you can brand your favorite designs or even your initials right into your steaks and burgers!

We love them! They make you feel like the master of your own steakhouse and are just so much fun to use. If you're like us, you're already ordering one for yourself right now, but what we like best about these is they make awesome gifts!

If you're planning a wedding and are stumped on finding gifts for your attendants, these irons are your answer! Trust us, they'll be totally surprised and you'll catch your bridesmaids and groomsmen using them at cookouts years from now! They're even available in gorgeous gift boxes, or in sets that include steak plates.

These steak irons are also, in our opinion, the all-time greatest Father's Day gifts, but they're also perfect for just about any occasion. If you know someone who loves the smell of grilled food on a summer's breeze, you know someone who would love to get one of these.

In the meantime, we'll see you at the grill!

Help Us Win the Leading Moms in Business Competition!

2009-03-04T08:38:00.010-05:00

BridesVillage is running for the Leading Mom's in Business Competition sponsored by StartUp Nation and we need your votes!

Since its creation, BridesVillage has always been a mom-run website. Cathy Ward, the former owner of a bridal accessories store, sold her business in 1999 and founded BridesVillage so she could devote more time to caring for her infant son, who suffers from a series of health complications.

"Something happens when you have a baby that kicks you into overdrive," Cathy says. "You find yourself willing to make changes and overcome challenges you never would have before. I needed a source of income that was compatible with restrictions I had in my life. Starting a Yahoo! Store enabled me to achieve that."

With $50, a book of samples, and the core values and work ethic she inherited from her father, Cathy established an ever-growing online business that continues to thrive to this day.

BridesVillage would be honored to be chosen as a winner in this contest for a host of reasons, but the most important is to serve as an inspiration to all the moms out there. We want them to know the dream IS achievable. We believe that no mother with an entrepreneurial spirit should ever accept what she perceives as a limitation.

As Cathy herself is fond of saying, "Identify the limitations and find the path around them (or just mow them over)."

To vote for BridesVillage, simply click the graphic or follow this link and cast your vote on our profile. You can vote once per day through the end of March, so be sure to come back and vote again (and tell your friends)! Voting only takes a second, and with your help we can win!

THANK YOU!

Aisle Runners: Protecting More Than the Bride's Dress!

2009-02-26T13:26:00.005-05:00

In our experience, the question of whether or not to have an aisle runner tends to be one of those things brides forget to ask until late in their planning. While aisle runners are one of the most popular items we sell at BridesVillage, we've found that a lot brides don't really think about adding one until after they've thought about almost everything else.

If you're thinking about using an aisle runner (or even if you weren't until just now), it's interesting to note that in centuries past aisle runners were considered as important as the bride's dress, and not for the reasons you might think!

It's true that previous centuries were dirtier than ours and aisle runners were used to cover up all the mud wedding guests tracked into the church. What's more intriguing is an old superstition which held that evil spirits lurked just below the surface of the Earth. According to this belief, brides were tempting targets for these spirits because they represented innocence and purity. You may be nervous about your wedding now, but brides from long ago also had to worry about being possessed!

Enter the aisle runner. Laying down a white aisle runner was believed to confuse the spirits and act as a shield for the bride as she approached the altar!

We have yet to hear of any brides who didn't use an aisle runner getting possessed on the big day, but aisle runners are still a lovely idea worth considering. We offer a variety of aisle runners, including ones in hard-to-find lengths. We're also pleased to introduce two new aisle runners to our collection: the gorgeous Two Become One Aisle Runner shown here as well as a bride-favorite Linked at the Heart Aisle Runner.

Both are available now; visit BridesVillage to learn more. If you have any questions about whether an aisle runner is right for you we invite you to call us at (814) 734-1708.

(Last-Minute) Creative Valentines Gifts Coupon!

2009-02-09T11:50:00.006-05:00

It happens to the best of us... Valentine's Day is just around the corner and you still haven't found the right gift for that special someone. Now is not the time to panic.

In fact, for you last-minute shoppers (or maybe you're just looking for a nice add-on to that box of chocolates), we've instituted a special 14% off discount on our beautiful collection of Preserved 24k Gold Roses.

Whether it's a Single Stem Red Rose or a full Gold Plated Rose, all of our roses are real hand-picked blossoms. They never wilt but will always be remembered, cherished, and kept. The gift may be last-minute, but the memories last a lifetime.

Time is running out so be sure to order yours now! A shipping upgrade may be necessary to ensure Valentine's Day delivery, especially for orders shipping to the west coast. We will contact you about any upgrades you may require.

Enter the coupon code Valentine into your shopping bag when you place your order to receive your 14% discount. Coupon valid for Preserved Roses only. Coupon expires Wednesday, February 11th, 2009.

Get Free Samples of Ecofetti Biodegradable Confetti!

2009-01-20T14:21:00.006-05:00

The traditional wedding toss, once an indelible moment of many marriage celebrations, is rapidly disappearing. Citing environmental concerns and clean-up costs, many venues (and even whole towns) have actually boycotted the practice.

That's why we're happy to introduce Ecofetti! If you haven't heard, Ecofetti is a fully biodegradable confetti that is bringing back the wedding toss in a big and brilliant way! Ecofetti is 100% water-soluble (read as self-cleaning). Simply rinse the ground with a hose after your celebration (or just wait for the next rain) and it dissolves, leaving no residue, no mess, and no harmful effects to the environment.

Like to check out Ecofetti for yourself? We're making free samples available now at BridesVillage.com! Try it and get ready to put a wedding toss back into your plans!

Click to learn how you can get your sample of Ecofetti Biodegradable Confetti.

BridesVillage Announces Redesign and Prize Drawing

2008-10-20T12:35:00.018-04:00

Brides' Village is thrilled to introduce the new look of our website, BridesVillage.com! Our new design is easy to navigate and makes shopping fun! Building the wedding of your dreams (and staying within your budget) has never been simpler, and we invite you to stop by and check out some of the changes we've made!

Click to view a special coupon code and prize drawing!

Easier to navigate. More fun to shop.

At the top of each section we've created an exciting new sliding scrollbar to give you a quick way to view all the categories (sub-sections). Just click an icon to see the products (and any additional categories)

Expect to find something special.

Below the sliding scrollbar, each category shows a preview of a few of the products you'll find inside. To learn what each category has to offer, click on the "View All Within Category" link to the right of the heading. Also, continue scrolling down the page to discover more categories and individual products contained within the section you're in!

Click the image below to see the full-size diagram.

There's always more to discover!

If you continue to scroll down each page, you will find our complete selection of "uncategorized" products below the categories. In this example, you can scroll down the page to see additional stationery products like place cards, envelope seals, extra envelopes, and more.

Click the image below to see the full-size diagram.

Coupon and Prize Drawing

We want your feedback! Browse the site and let us know what you like, dislike, and what products you'd like to see. Shop www.BridesVillage.com and use coupon code Blog10 to receive 10% Off your purchase; and don't forget shipping is free on orders over $149!

Every order using the Blog10 coupon code with feedback in the "comments" section of the order will be entered in a drawing to win one of four $25 Gift Certificates! This isn't peak bridal season so your odds of winning are quite high! Drawing will take place December 2nd; winners will be notified via email. We look forward to hearing from you!

*To enter without purchase, just send an email to sales@bridesvillage.com with "Blog10" in the subject line, and give us your feedback in the content of the email (feedback is optional but greatly appreciated).

Fall Weddings: Dare to Do Autumn

2008-09-18T14:05:00.000-04:00

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting, and autumn a mosaic of them all.
--Stanley Horowitz

Autumn is almost upon us, and we're entering that time of year that many wedding planners and bridal experts refer to as the "dead season." While it's true that the majority of weddings are held in the spring and summer, many couples have discovered that fall has a lot more to offer than pumpkins and hayrides. A fall wedding, in fact, can be one of the most spectacular wedding themes you'll find anywhere.

The number one advantage of a fall wedding is, of course, color. Like the quote says, there's really no venue, environment, or even amount of decorating that can come even close to matching the stunning colors of autumn at its most vibrant. It's like getting a decorator who is willing to work on a completely epic scale (for free!) just for your wedding. The fall photo you see here, in fact, is actually the cover to one of our favorite wedding programs! You can also get creative with some incredible wedding favors unique to this time of year such as fall leaf ornaments.

But there's an undercurrent to fall weddings that goes beyond the colors and the crunching of leaves and the taste of hot apple cider. Autumn is, in fact, more symbolically linked to the idea of matrimony than any other time of year. Because at its heart, fall is about maturity. It's about harvesting the things that have grown throughout the year. It's about the triumph of color and light and wisdom that prepares us for the calm of winter. There's really no better way to summarize a wedding or even why we choose to marry, and daring to do a fall ceremony gives you not only a unique color palette but also a pervasive symbolism that, for us here at BridesVillage, is the very essence of romance. Autumn, after all, is the reason we have those other three seasons!

A fall wedding can look just about any way you want, and we've got plenty of ways to get started. Don't forget to also check out our fall leaf garter!

2008-08-01T14:51:00.000-04:00

When many people think of a home bar, they conjure up images of sprawling family dens or wine cellars or collections of rare imported beer. And most of have us have made the acquaintance of at least one person who can't wait to tell you about the new tap system they've installed or to show off their new 15-foot mahogany counter.

Home bars are the new major trend in hot spots for friends to gather, but for those of us who lack the time or disposable income to create our own micro-brewery, a home bar might seem to require more time and effort than it's worth. But a real home bar doesn't have to be nearly that complicated. It can, in fact, be as simple as a comfortable couch and a few cool decorations in your basement or your living room.

The key is the sort of environment you create. The best bars know their clientèle and shape their environment to fit their patrons' needs. This is no different than when you create your own bar space. Ask yourself first, what kind of gatherings would you like to have? Once you have your answer, run with it.

The key is how you decorate. Have a few cabinets and a refrigerator handy (even if they're just the ones in your kitchen), provide a space for people to comfortably interact, add the right decorations and a couple pieces of barware and you're done. After all, a basement is just a basement, but when you add a card table and a couple awesome bar signs it can be your new favorite pub.

At Brides' Village we've just added a huge collection of Personalized Bar Signs to accompany our collection of Barware so you can make any part of your house or apartment your favorite place to unwind. We've got everything from ultra-hip Martini Bar Signs and a super-cool Monogrammed Ice Bucket to good-old fashioned Engraved Shot Glasses and sports-themed Personalized Bar and Grill Signs. All of our signs are professional-quality and fully personalized to truly give you a bar of your own.

Bars are places where people go to relax and have a good time with friends, and your home bar is where you live. Make yourself comfortable and your friends will be comfortable too. That is, in the end, what going out to the bar is all about.

2008-06-25T10:30:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 Brides' Village, along with over 15 other e-commerce sites, will be donating a portion of our sales for that day to the American Red Cross.

Even as floodwaters begin to finally recede, the devastating impact of recent flooding along the Mississippi River continues to be felt throughout much of the Midwest. The floods have been blamed for over 20 deaths and have left more than 40,000 people in Iowa and other central states displaced or homeless.

The American Red Cross is currently in desperate need of funds to continue relief efforts for the victims of the Midwest Floods. That is why every purchase made at Brides' Village or one of the retailers listed here on July 1st, 2008 will result in a donation to the American Red Cross. While the percentage at each store will vary, Brides' Village will be donating 5% of all sales. The more you buy, the more you give.

For more information about the American Red Cross or to find more ways to help, please visit www.RedCross.org

-----

On July 1st, please visit the following retailers participating in One Day for the Red Cross:

All Things Jeep (www.allthingsjeep.com) - Great gifts and accessories for Jeep and off-road enthusiasts

Affordable-Breastfeeding-Supplies.com (www.Affordable-Breastfeeding-Supplies.com) - Breast pumps and breastfeeding supplies.

Brides' Village (www.BridesVillage.com) - An extraordinary selection of wedding accessories and attendants gifts.

Bright and Bold (www.BrightandBold.com) - Modern home decor and accessories

Calypso Parrot (www.calypsoparrot.com) - A tropical parrot-themed gift store for all parrot lovers

Fitness Organica (www.fitnessorganica.com) - Hard-to-find fitness and yoga DVDs from around the world

Gourmet Parrot (www.gourmetparrot.com) - Natural and organic gourmet parrot foods and supplements

Greek for Me (www.GreekForMe.com) - A Greek store for fraternity and sorority merchandise

Katbird (www.katbird.com) - Offers Laurel Burch Cat & Alley Cat collectibles and jewelry for the cat lover.

Lolita Martini Glasses (www.lolitamartiniglasses.com ) - featuring the beautiful and whimsical martini glassware envisioned by Tracy Healy and brought to life by Santa Barbara Ceramic Design

Lolita Wine Glasses (www.lolitawineglasses.com) - Featuring the beautiful and whimsical wine glasses designed by Tracy Healy and brought to life by Santa Barbara Ceramic Design

My Gowns (www.MyGowns.com) - Gowns, dresses, petticoats & wedding accessories; for everything but "I do"

Nature Chest (www.NatureChest.com) - A full line exotic bird store for all parrots and their people

Painted Kiwi (www.PaintedKiwi.com) - Here you'll find Life is Good stuff, Liv’n Out Loud! Clothing, Mismatched Socks, and other colorful products that are playful and fun

Self Expressions (www.selfexpressions.com) - Breast pumps and breastfeeding supplies

Shower-Curtains.com (www.Shower-Curtains.com) - The highest quality and best choice of shower curtains

ScrapBookGifts.com (www.ScrapbookGifts.com) - Great scrapbooking gifts for the beginner or expert; indulge yourself

Shop the Gift Basket Store (www.shopthegiftbasketstore.com) - Shop The Gift Basket Store for birthday gifts, get well gifts, corporate gifts, and gourmet baskets

Shakespeare's Den (www.ShakespearesDen.com) - Smart gifts for intelligent people; celebrating great thinkers and the people who love them

Tree Hollow Toys (www.TreeHollowToys.com) - Offering eco-friendly, green toys that are USA made, European made, fair trade, or sweatshop-free

Top Notch Gift (www.topnotchgiftshop.com) - Top Notch Gift has a great selection of outdoor games for the whole family

Special thanks to Eric Yonge of EYStudios (www.EYStudios.com) for his donation of graphic design services for this event.

Join us in supporting the Red Cross as they help flood victims in the Midwest

2008-06-20T14:28:00.000-04:00

Recent and continuing flooding along the Mississippi River has devastated communities in six states and created $1.5 billion in damages, leaving thousands homeless and tens of thousands more without power or ready access to clean drinking water.

The American Red Cross has been a major presence in the areas affected by this flooding; already they have opened 97 emergency shelters and have distributed over 135,000 meals to those in need.

But as floodwaters continue to move downstream, the Red Cross and the victims of this tragedy will need our support.

That's why on July 1st BridesVillage, along with participating merchants in the Yahoo Store network, will be donating 5% of their sales to the Red Cross so they may continue to provide lifesaving assistance to communities throughout the Midwest.

We invite you to join us! On July 1st, 5% of any order your place will go directly to help the Red Cross as they continue to support residents of the Midwest recovering from this disaster.

If you would like to contribute to the Red Cross independently or would like to learn more about the Red Cross and their mission in the Midwest, please visit www.redcross.org.

Bring Your Shopping Home!

2008-05-31T17:24:00.000-04:00

Gas prices are on everyone's mind these days, and with the cost of oil continuing to rise at an alarming rate, many of us are looking for ways to keep up. Energy trends and the economy may be adding another wrinkle to your wedding planning, but here's the good news: There's never been a better time to shop for your wedding online.

Online shopping has many advantages in today's economy:

It's more fuel-efficient: Yes, some shipping costs have increased, but in many cases the increase is offset by what you save in driving to a distant mall or several specialty stores. It's also better for the environment!

It saves money: Many retailers offer price breaks and discounts on shipping for a variety of purchases and that savings gets passed on to you! At Brides' Village, shipping is FREE for purchases over $150!

It saves time: Less time driving from store to store means more time at home with your family and friends, which can make your day less hectic, lower your stress, and even give you some extra time to plan your dream wedding with your spouse-to-be!

Gas crunch or not, thinking a little differently about how you shop can make a big difference in your life. And we're here to help get you started no matter where you are in your wedding planning. From your ceremony to your honeymoon, all of your wedding accessories are here!

Keep Your Wedding Fun for the Kids

2008-05-15T14:07:00.000-04:00

We've seen both kinds at weddings: from the quiet, dignified little ring bearer to the rambunctious flower girl who skips down the aisle; from the creative future inventor making toy boats out of your favor boxes to the groups of children playing hide-and-seek.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that the personalities of children are as unique and varied as adults. For many children, however, your wedding may the first big social event of their young lives. Incorporating their needs into your planning, especially at your reception, can go a long way towards making your special day fun and memorable for them while making it easy on their parents.

For children in your bridal party in particular, we recommend presenting them with a flower girl or ring bearer gift like a child-size backpack for them to keep a few favorite toys or books nearby while they wait for your ceremony, bridal party pictures, or before the reception. You can even go further and place activity kits or coloring books inside the backpack to express your gratitude for their participation and keep them entertained.

Featured right: Child's Special Day Kit

And for the children outside of your bridal party, we also recommend keeping some kid-friendly entertainment nearby. If you have a small extra room at your reception, consider setting up a television with a DVD of a popular kids movie, or have a chaperone play games or lead activities during some of the "slow periods." Little activity centers are also perfect places for additional coloring books or activity kits.

They'll love the fun and their parents will thank you for it!

Brides Village Coupon Codes!

2008-05-01T13:22:00.000-04:00

With summer just around the corner, this is the perfect time to order your wedding unity candles. The warmer months may damage your candles during transit as the heat and humidity can soften and even melt the wax.

To help you beat the heat we're offering a BridesVillage coupon code on our unity candle holders! For a limited time only, receive a 25% discount on any of our gorgeous unity candle holders with your purchase of one of our unity candles! Enter coupon code holder25 when you place your order to receive your discount!

Featured Left: Our Sparkling Entwined Unity Candle

From May 1st to October 1st, candles are only shipped if we know they will arrive prior to the weekend; this avoids your package being damaged in a hot UPS warehouse. To avoid having to incur the cost of upgraded shipping, order your candles now before the summer heats up.

Wedding Purses - The Ultimate Accessory

2008-04-15T09:48:00.000-04:00

What can we say? We love purses! Aside from providing a home for all our little necessities from our car keys to tissues for those pesky spring allergies, no fashion accessory says quite as much about our sense of style, our outlook on life, and how we define ourselves as women.

Handbags are such an important part of our daily lives that at Brides' Village we've even created a special section devoted to bridal purses so you can incorporate your favorite accessory into your big day!

(Left: Our Retro Bridal Handbag)

As much as we would like it to, life won't take a break just for your wedding. Nails will be chipped, noses will be runny, and makeup will need a little last-minute touching up; and that's what makes wedding purses so important. Nothing else allows you to keep everything from a "bridal emergency kit" to spare change close by and act as a beautiful highlight to your wedding dress, your bridesmaids' dresses, or even a prom gown!

(Right: Our Pearl Wedding Purse)

Purses, in fact, have always been with us. They are not only the oldest fashion accessory in history, there is also evidence they were invented before clothing! You can learn all about it in our brief, fun, and informative history of bridal purses. There you will discover why until a few centuries ago purses were designed for both men and women (and why someday soon you may see guys sporting purses of their own). You will also learn how the first wedding purses were actually gifts from the future groom to his betrothed--a tradition we fully support reviving.

Whether you stop by to learn, to shop for yourself, or are looking for some great bridesmaids gifts ideas, we know you will love browsing our carefully chosen selection of some of the most elegant, trendy, and breathtaking wedding purse designs available today!

Attendants Gifts: Go Beyond the Ordinary...

2008-03-12T11:12:00.001-04:00

Amidst the hustle of wedding planning, many brides treat shopping for their attendants like just another task on an ever-growing checklist. But with a little bit of foresight, you can make searching for attendants gifts one of the most enjoyable parts of the planning process.

We offer a broad and exciting range of gifts for your attendants to make shopping as painless (and fun!) as possible. We are also adding new products all the time, so you can always visit us for fresh ideas (hint: many of our attendants gifts our great for birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions as well).

Featured here (above right) is our new Velour Comfort Robe. If you're looking for a completely original idea for your attendants, it doesn't get more creative (or comfortable) than this. Your bridal party may not regularly visit the spa, but with this robe they won't have to! This also makes a great Mother's Day and Father's Day gift.

Another creative addition to our collection that we simply adore is our new Personalized Photo Box (below) Some of the best gift ideas are the ones that include a personal touch, and this box is a great way to combine something meaningful, whether it's photos or keepsakes, with something anyone would be proud to display in their home.

Still Feeling Overwhelmed?
You and your friends may be feeling a lot of pressure with the approach of your big day, but in centuries past being a part of the wedding party meant a lot more than just planning the bridal shower. Don't miss the fun, informative, and surprising history of the wedding party on our Attendants Gifts section. Learn why the groom traditionally stands to the right of the bride and the real reason the couple's families are on opposite sides of the aisle. We also have some great tips to make your shopping experience a breeze!

Time for a Little Country Flair!

2008-03-03T01:06:00.000-05:00

The Country Flair Collection features some of the most popular accessories for Western themed weddings, and you can find it here! Our greatly expanded selection of new products includes the Country Flair cake top, guest book, favor boxes, and more.

Distinguished by their rustic charm, brides love the traditional wood grain finish and stylish design that is the hallmark of the collection. The Country Flair Guest Book, for example, features two trail-worn cowboy hats beneath a heart lasso.

For our full selection of Country Flair products check out our Western Wedding Accessories.

We've Expanded Our Selection of Wedding Programs!

2008-02-20T18:06:00.000-05:00

No one understands how every aspect of your wedding should look better than you, which is why we are catering to the do-it-yourself bride with our dramatically expanded selection of wedding programs and wedding program paper. In just the past week we’ve added over twenty new wedding program styles featuring some of the most colorful designs and best artwork we’ve seen in a long time.

Our new Wedding Programs section even includes some useful tips from our staff writers on how to make creating your own program as relaxing and stress-free as possible. If you’re entering some of the final stages of your wedding planning, you won’t want to miss this.

Click to view our new Wedding Programs section and our own Program Writing Guide!

An Important Note:

Every ton of paper that is recycled in the United States saves 17 - 24 trees. You can help preserve our forests and our environment by setting up "recycling stations" at your wedding reception for guests to dispose of their wedding programs and other recyclable material. Also, the back of your wedding program is a great place for including a special note or message -- consider writing a reminder asking your guests to be conscious of what they do with your programs. Old wedding programs are also wonderful for wedding albums and scrapbooks!

The Joy of Flu Season

2008-02-15T11:35:00.000-05:00

If you ever buy the new Zicam Multi-symptom Cold & Flu TO GO medicine, be aware these are disposable spoons of medicine, "virtually tasteless when added to any beverage".

Be advised of the following drug contraindications (or is that "contradictions"):

The lid to the spoon is almost impossible to tear off without spilling the medicine; often forcing you to wipe up spillage with your fingers (see trauma from lickage below).
They don't tell you that half the medicine stays in the spoon so you have to lick it off, and...
"Virtually tasteless when added to any beverage" means this stuff tastes so bad you have to mix it in a beverage, which you will desperately need after licking the aforementioned spoon and / or fingers. When mixed in a beverage, however, rest assured the virtually awful taste is virtually diluted thereby causing virtually few effects worse than the original illness. And then you get to that last swallow, which is where all the medicine's hiding, and then you virtually only have one or two body shivers as your taste buds desperately try to ask, "What were you thinking?"

Valentine's Day Is Just Around the Corner!

2008-02-04T09:44:00.001-05:00

The tradition of Valentine's Day dates all the way back to the time of courtly romance and Medieval kings; when courtiers would present flowers, candies, poems, and gifts to their loves. While the holiday itself honors two Christian saints, the expression of love associated with February 14th can be attributed to none other than Geoffrey Chaucer, the first and one of the greatest authors of the English language.

While Chaucer and Christians of this period may have correctly envisioned the enduring symbol of love that Valentine's Day would become, they never could have imagined gifts like these beautiful real roses preserved in 24k gold!

Yes, these are real, fresh-cut flowers! For a memorable Valentine's Day gift, we offer a glorious single stem red rose -- each rose is hand-picked and painstakingly opened to reveal the most perfect details of the flower before being preserved forever in shimmering gold or copper trim.

We also offer a selection of gold roses as well as a magnificent array of colored roses and a even a stunningly preserved three-blossom blue orchid!

Not Just for Valentine's Day

While our selection of preserved flowers are great for the upcoming holiday, they're also perfect for Mother's Day, anniversaries, your bridesmaids and, of course, weddings. From Christmas to your daughter's high school graduation, these gifts are true expressions of love that would do Chaucer proud!