Oahu Weddings in Hawaii

Real Weddings Update

2008-03-22T17:16:00.000-07:00

Today I have a quaint wedding to share with you. Laura and Chris were married by Reverend Rodney Shim at Waialae Beach Park on March 9, 2008. Take a look:

(click on photo to enlarge)

Photography by Kai-Photo

Cocktail Favor Boxes

2008-03-20T01:23:00.000-07:00

Wedding Favors are meant to be a Thank You gift for your guests who spent time, money and energy in celebrating your wedding day. This is especially true for destination weddings where your guests travel hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles away from home to come to come to your event. I say ditch the Jordan Almonds and go for something a little more thoughtful when it comes to favors.

In the case of Hawaiian destination weddings, I like to use something that will introduce your guests to the islands. The example below is a Hawaiian Cocktail in a box - everything you need to make a Blue Hawaii. The packaging is Hawaiian Lauhala, a woven basket-like material that comes in all sizes of boxes and bags. Also notice the personalized tags from www.myweddinglabels.com. Favors like these are fun to create and much more fun for your guests to receive.

DIY Save-the-Date cards

2008-02-15T23:04:00.000-08:00

Today, I have an adorable DIY to share - created by a bride and groom who will be getting married here on Oahu at Moli'i Gardens in September.

Melissa and Danny live in San Jose, CA and they will have many out-of-town guests traveling to Hawaii to come to their wedding. Instead of sending traditional save-the-date cards, they sent luggage tags to their guests for a practical and trendy alternative.

How did they do it? This is how:

- Found a nice picture and lightened it a bit so the black text would stand out
- Downloaded fonts from www.1001freefonts.com
- Finalized the layout (front and back)
- Chose ribbon
- Ordered the color print + laminate job + cuts from a local print shop (San Jose Blue)
- Cut the rounded corners themselves with a corner cut punch and punched the corner holes
- Measured and cut all the ribbons in advance

These save-the-dates are extremely versatile and cost-effective! Any picture, any mood can be created. All you need is a whole punch, a computer, and some creativity.

Wedding Cakes from Cakes by Rose

2008-01-31T02:45:00.000-08:00

Continuing with the bridal show fun, today I just have to share with you the wedding cake that could possibly be the best cake I have ever eaten. I had the pleasure of working next to the very talented Rose, from Cakes By Rose at the San Jose Bridal Extravaganza. I think I ate about five of her delicious little samples last Sunday. The cakes are beautiful on the outside, and they absolutely melt in your mouth with a variety of unique flavors and ingredients that aren’t typical of wedding bakers.

Cakes By Rose is based out of Menlo Park, CA and serves the entire San Francisco Bay Area. She does incredible design with fondant icing including extravagant and whimsical cakes in all different colors, shapes and sizes. Flavors include: Lemony Blackberry, Almondine, Hazelnut Crunch, Hawaiian Carrot, Strawberry Dream, and more. Just read the descriptions of these flavors and your mouth will be watering, trust me.

These are only a few of her lovely cakes, so browse the Cakes by Rose website and prepare to be impressed (and hungry).

Pictures by Rose Graboski, Cakes By Rose

Marizette Paperie Invitation Boutique

2008-01-30T00:46:00.000-08:00

As promised, I will be featuring a few awesome wedding vendors from the Northern California region this week.

First, I absolutely fell in love with the stationery from Marizette Paperie Invitation Boutique in San Jose, CA. These invitations are a perfect mix of class and charm. They are made with fine exotic papers and embellished with an array of accessories. Each invitation is designed specifically for the couple for a perfectly personalized stationery set. These few pictures are only a glimpse of the variety that Marizette offers.

These invitations are absolutely beautiful and unique. They start at $5.00 each and can reach $25.00 each based on the complexity of design and the price of materials.

If you live in the San Jose area, or just appreciate the beauty of these little works of art, check out the Marizette Paperie website and browse through their collection!

Here's a taste of what you will find:

Invitations and designs by Marizette Paperie Invitation Boutique

Northern California Bridal Shows

2008-01-28T22:47:00.000-08:00

Sandra and I have spent the last week in Northern California with Oahu Wedding. We participated in the Bridal Extravaganza in San Jose, CA and the Bridal and Party Faire in San Ramon, CA. We displayed pictures taken by Josh Johnson as well as venue pictures of Anela Gardens in Honolulu, and tropical flower arrangements.

It was a great experience and I was extremely impressed with all the great ideas of other vendors in the area. I will have a few great Bay Area vendors to showcase in the next few days! Check up tomorrow for great ideas from the California wedding market!

Josh Johnson Wedding Photography

2008-01-13T19:27:00.000-08:00

Recently, we have been doing some major renovations on our website. I will have a lot more to let you in on when we begin uploading the new stuff, but for now, I want to talk about our brilliant photographer, Josh Johnson. In the midst of all the online and advertizing work, we have had to put together photographs and organize files of stuff that we have had for a while and hadn't put to use.

I recently made a few collages for the website and other things from Josh's pictures. I just want to take today to showcase the wonderful work shown here by Josh. He is such a brilliant artist. He catches the tiniest, yet most perfect glances and moments between couples, and the color in each shot is just amazing. Take a look at some of these photos from Josh's beautiful portfolio:

Bottom right picture by Anela Gardens

Northern California Bridal Show

2008-01-13T18:20:00.000-08:00

For all of our readers in Northern California, I have some exciting news! Oahu Wedding's planners will be represented at the Bridal Extravaganza bridal show in San Jose,CA this coming weekend on January 20, 2008 at the Fairmont Hotel and Resort!

Come and view photos and videos, discuss local Hawaiian vendors, and most importantly start planning your destination wedding on Oahu! Visit www.bestbridalshow.com for more information regarding their shows, and of course, give us a call (808 225-2830)or send an email with any questions about beach, garden and resort weddings here in Hawaii.

Inspired by a Rose - A Winter Wedding

2007-12-06T21:25:00.000-08:00

Today I am inspired by a rose. There is something about the classic simplicity of a blooming red rose that never fails to impress me. Even the simplest arrangement can liven up a room with elegant charm. One such arrangement was given to me today by a very special someone, and I am reminded of the potential of these little beauties.

No matter what the location, roses are the perfect pair for a classy, chic wedding. Embrace the winter season and give in to these rich, bold colors! Here is my answer to this dreamy inspiration:

Top left: Red Ballgown from the Snow White Maidens collection by Kirstie Kelly's Disney Bridal Top Middle: "Simple Love" stationery set - A Touch of Elegance Top Right: Photo and Floral arrangements by JNS Floral Design Middle Left: Cocktail bridesmaid gown by Vera Wang Corner Left: Votive Candles by Target Stores Bottom Left: Individual raspberry desserts by Taste Catering Bottom Middle: Pearl Accented Wedding Cake by Paradise Pastries Bakery Bottom Right: Bridal Gown by Vera Wang Collection, Vera Wang

Designer Gowns by Amy Kuschell

2007-11-26T02:12:00.001-08:00

This week, I would like to mention a few great new designers that are too hot to miss, and perfect for weddings in Hawaii. Today, we begin with gowns.

San Francisco designer, Amy Kuschell took her inspiration from designing her own wedding gown. After working as a designer for companies in New York and San Francisco, she and her husband started their own partnership.

These dresses are elegant and classy, with a modern charm that stands out in the competitive fashion industry. AND… prices on these beautiful gowns start at $1500.00! If you are looking for a chic, stylish and affordable dress for a casual beach ceremony or a formal resort affair, take a look at the Amy Kuschell bridal collection to find a perfect match.

"Alexandria" gown and sketch

"Cookie" gown and sketch - "Cookie" was recently recognized by Martha Stewart as one of this season's best dresses.

"Rachel" gown and sketch

"Scarlett" gown and sketch

An Island Fall Color Palette

2007-11-14T01:00:00.000-08:00

Today I am in the mood for fall. The only drawback to my mood is that here in Hawaii fall weather is pretty much identical to summer weather. I shouldn’t complain – it is a beautiful 85 degrees outside, but I need to find a way to fit a little autumn into my day. So: how about a fun fall color palette?

Since so many couples come to Hawaii for island-themed weddings, I decided to incorporate both themes. A little bit of green and brown, and a little island flair is the theme for the day. I tried to tone down the colors and get away from those bright pink and purple orchids for a while, and go for warm neutrals.

Also, I am proud to say that everything on this board can be found or made locally!

Top Left: 2 layer wedding cake topped with dendrobium orchids from Paradise Pastries bakery in Laie, Oahu; Top Right: Homemade coconut lemonade – recipe available on the food network ; Middle Left: Fall 2007 Bridal Collection Gown from Casablanca Bridal; Middle Right: “Alana” from Emi Ink’s Island-Inspired invitation designs; Bottom Left: Moli’i Gardens wedding coordination from Oahu Wedding; Bottom Right: Hand-tied orchid and rose bouquet from Watanabe Floral

A Sweet Treat from Shari's Berries

2007-11-12T11:46:00.000-08:00

Last month, I did a post on Wedding Accessories. I mentioned a wonderful wedding treat from Shari’s Berries that day and since then, I have had the pleasure of sampling them myself!

The friendly staff at Shari’s Berries was nice enough to send a sample to Sandra and I at Oahu Wedding. I was impressed in more ways than one: Not only were they adorable and delicious, but the packaging was beautiful and very well-thought-out. When the berries are shipped, they come with an ice pack for freshness, and lots of padding so that they don’t loose their delicate design. Eating those berries was a mini-event for us and now we can truly attest to how mouth-watering they are!

Check out their website for other themed berries! There is still time to send Fall Berries for Thanksgiving gifts (or maybe for a treat for yourself ;-). I can’t wait to see what they will come up with for Christmas!

Wedding Stationery in Hawaii

2007-10-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

As promised, today I have a couple of very different, yet equally great Stationery designers and distributers. I am always more than thrilled to showcase vendors that operate locally in Hawaii. It is admittedly harder to find wedding vendors here in Hawaii in comparison to other major cities like San Francisco and New York, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t exist! Enjoy these pictures and take a look at their websites for even more great ideas for invitations, place cards, thank you notes and all the accessories you need.

Emi Ink by Stacey Emi Shiroma is an adorable line of hand-made (yes, really hand-made) invitations with intricate details and fantastic designs. They are sorted by influence (ie. Asian Inspired, Island Inspired, etc.) She has a ready-made line to choose from, but I think the greatest beauty of Emi’s work is that they are so highly personable. She does custom work based upon the ideas that you will find on her website, and it is just adorable. Rhinestones, paper cut-outs and whimsical fonts are everywhere and these invitations are truly unique. I had the treat of looking at an entire display from the Emi Ink collection, and I just couldn’t get enough of it. Seriously, browse around this website – it’s wonderful!

Another plus is that because everything is hand-made, invitations are sold individually. So, if you are having a more intimate wedding and just don’t need to buy 100 invitations at a time, here is your solution! Each item on the Emi Ink website is priced for individual sale (something that you very rarely see in the stationery world) and since we commonly deal with couples who have smaller-scale guests lists, Emi Ink is a great find – both visually and practically!

"Kathryn" from the "Romantic" Collection and "Posh" from the "Contemporary" Collection

"Daisy" from the "Whimsical" Collection and "Alana" from the "Island-Inspired" Collection

"Keiko" from the "Asian-Inspired" Collection and "Cherish" from the "Contemporary" Collection

Our other featured company today is A Touch of Elegance, a Carlson Craft Company with a studio here in Honolulu! They print many of their designs here, and bring in what seems like endless amounts of other stationery from the mainland and elsewhere. Their website is extremely user-friendly and you can personalize and order your invitations directly from the website! There is a wide price range, starting from under $100.00 for 100 invitations to over $500.00 for 100 invitations, and there is no guessing here – the prices are listed for purchase and there are multiple images of each product.

The variety that A Touch of Elegance provides is unlike anything I have seen locally. These are quality materials and beautiful designs which are easily accessible and affordable.

"Purple Romance," "Silhouette," and "Simple Love"

"Cucumbers and Melons," "Elegant Edge" and "Gathered Together"

"Maple Breeze" and "Red Velvet"

The World Class Wedding Expo in Honolulu

2007-10-28T03:31:00.000-07:00

The past few days were eventful ones for the wedding industry here in Honolulu. The World Class Wedding Expo was at the Hawaii Convention Center showcasing Hawaii’s greatest wedding vendors for brides and grooms to view products and interact with the businesses that will be making their wedding day possible.

As a general note, wedding expos are a great way to find local vendors in your area. Companies from the surrounding areas come and set up booths with samples and information about their services. It’s like making all of your first consultations in one day! OK, so maybe it isn’t that easy, but the point is: Wedding Expos are a great way to find established, talented companies that will cater to your needs.

These shows are not only great for business, but are always a learning experience for me. I am always hunting for local companies with great products and services, and walking through a bridal show is sort of like Disneyland for a Wedding Blogger like myself. I have tons of new ideas and recommendations for you all!

Keep reading tomorrow for a couple of awesome stationery artists/companies here on Oahu, and watch for Bridal Shows in your area!

A Gorgeous Garden Wedding!

2007-10-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

Oahu Wedding is now offering a One-Day coordination service for couples who would like to be very involved in the planning process, but don’t want to worry on the special day. This is a great way to relieve tension from the bride, groom and family members. An Oahu Wedding planner is yours to confirm with your vendors and to assist and take responsibility for the events throughout the ceremony and reception.

While planning the event “from A to Z” is the best way to create a relationship and truly work with the bride and groom, these One-Day endeavors are a great learning experience for even the most experienced wedding planners. Some couples really do have great ideas, and darling accessories that we can all use for inspiration.

The following are pictures from one of our most recent weddings. Josh and Tracy had a traditional Jewish ceremony in a resort garden setting. It was truly a mix of classic customs and island flair.

Flowers by: Always Flowers, LLC
Cake by: Cakes By Abbi, Abigail Langlas
Look closely at the picture on the bottom left. Those are wooden geckos and slippers made by the bride and bridesmaids. This is what I mean when talk about creativity! They are adorable!

Lastly, I just could not leave out these favors! I did a post a couple of months ago about cookie favors and here is a perfect example. These match the color scheme for the day and the Hawaiian theme of the wedding as a whole.

An excellent Calligrapher

2007-10-14T19:32:00.000-07:00

Hiring a calligrapher is an excellent way to add a touch of elegance to your affair. Stationery is used in a variety of ways to personalize your wedding. Invitations, save-the-date cards, table numbers, seating cards, Menus, programs, personalized favors, and many more unique implications of paper goods can really add details that make a huge difference in the look and feel of your ceremony and reception.

Today I would like to share an example of beautiful work from an artist based out of San Francisco. Tracy Joe of Tracy Joe Calligraphy does absolutely beautiful and original work from her home studio in the East San Francisco Bay Area. Her website showcases samples from previous projects and events (it is always smart to request a sample before hiring your calligrapher) and they are wonderful! She has a perfect mix of traditional beauty and modern appeal, and the art of calligraphy is just so unique in itself - her work really speaks for itself.

Here are a few of her beautiful samples:

Hilton's Mandara Spa Waikiki

2007-10-09T01:49:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was privileged to a personal tour of the largest, and definitely one of the most beautiful spas in Waikiki. I wanted to post an informational blog about great spas and salons for brides and bridal parties. I made a few appointments and after seeing and experiencing the facilities at the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Mandara Spa, I decided that this one deserves special recognition.

Mandara Spa is not a trademark of the Hilton, but a renowned spa and salon with location all over the world. They offer signature products and treatments only found at Mandara, and because of their size, they really do have unmatchable facilities. With every treatment, guests receive a day pass to the spas facilities, including an indoor jacuzzi, private outdoor pool, fitness center, dry and wet sauna, and lounge area. You can also purchase a day of relaxation in these facilities without purchasing a treatment for $20 (guests of the Hilton Hawaiian Village) or $24 (non-guests).

Mandara is a full-service salon and spa with services ranging from a simple manicure to a full Spa “Day of Perfect Bliss.” Their facilities include 25 massage rooms and the only triple massage room in Honolulu which is great for bridal parties, or maybe mother, daughter and grandma! You will receive professional treatment by one of Mandara’s certified massage therapists, and also have the opportunity to purchase the products that your therapists use at the boutique in the main lobby of the Spa. They carry Mandara’s signature brands, Elemis and LaTherapie. There is a soothing product for everything, girls!

This spa is also great for the men in the bridal party. Whether the plan is to relax with the guys (try the Men’s Spa Escape), or treat a special someone to a treat a special someone to a day of serenity and romance (try Exploration in Chocolate), they’ve got what you’re looking for.

This spa is particularly great for bridal parties because of the large facilities. There is plenty of room for your entire bridal party, family members and anyone else who wants to enjoy the pampering before the big event. You can choose to relax and be treated separately or together. Also, for you local brides and grooms, Mandara Spa offers 20% Kamaaina and military discounts with proof of ID.

Enjoy these pictures (the lighting with or without the flash doesn’t really do the rooms justice, but you can still get an idea of the beautiful ambiance) and consider Mandara Spa for the most important Spa day of your lives!

Wedding Accessories and Favors

2007-10-05T04:15:00.000-07:00

Today I would just like to share a few wonderful wedding accessories. Some of the best events are those that have the smallest finishing touches – things that your guests will not expect, but will remember. When choosing these little details, keep in mind that your wedding day is about you as a couple and your favors and accessories should reflect both you and your life together.

Here are a few frills that I found particularly great:

Starting on the Top right: Chocolate covered bride and groom strawberries by Shari’s Berries. Talk about an adorable snack! She has a whole collection of decorated strawberries decorated for seasons, events and of course weddings. Top Middle: “I’m the Maid of Honor” pin from www.weddingthings.com. Hopefully, your guests will be able to figure out who’s who at the wedding, but these are great for bridal showers, bachelorette parties, etc. Top Left: “Something Blue” candle wedding favors from www.myweddingfavors.com. Perfect for the classic elegant wedding, and for those who follow tradition. The entire bottom row are by Martha Stewart. She just has so many adorable nick-knacks, I couldn’t resist sharing them (from left) Fortune Cookie Favors with personalized messages from the bride and groom (you can find the recipe on the website); “Cake for One” favors made by New York caterer, Glorious Food. These single decorative cake pieces are placed in boxes and topped with ribbon; Parasol Seating Cards in bright colors placed in a tray of sand – how wonderfully creative and perfect for a beach wedding here on Oahu, not to mention cost-effective; Linen ring pillows in various colors and patterns, created to match the feeling of your day.

The Confetti Cakes Cookbook

2007-10-01T02:45:00.000-07:00

After my post regarding the beautiful wedding cakes at confetticakes.com, the designers there contacted me with news from their company that is too awesome not to share:

Elisa Straus, head designer and owner of Confetti Cakes has just released the company’s first book! It is filled with great pictures of her creative ideas and step-by-step instructions about how to make the cakes and create the artwork that they become.

Look back at my original post and notice the wedding cake in the top right corner of the arrangement of pictures. Elisa calls that a Pink and Chocolate Embroidery Cake. Her book actually includes instructions on how to create the design in the frosting! Not only is this book great for wedding reference and inspiration, it is also a great cookbook (Elisa’s cakes are no JUST beautiful – they are also delicious). Use it for your baking needs and get ideas for adorable desserts for any occasion.

The book was released in May and is selling in all major bookstores for $29.99 (although, we did find it at barnesandnoble.com for $21.59 on sale). So if you are in a mood for creativity and sweet goodness, here’s a word of advice: Buy this book!

Martha Stewart Sweepstakes

2007-09-28T02:46:00.000-07:00

I just want to let everyone know that Martha Stewart is having an awesome sweepstakes! She has such an amazing wedding line, and now you can enter to win tickets to a taping of her show! They are calling it the Martha and Macy’s VIP sweepstakes. Seven grand-prize winners will receive:

-A VIP trip to New York City for four to attend a live taping of The Martha Stewart Show
-Four tickets to the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
-Thanksgiving dinner for four at a premier New York City restaurant
-$1000 shopping spree at Macy’s
-Round-trip airfare to New York City
-Double occupancy hotel accommodations for 3 days/4 nights and ground transportation to/from the airport

Sounds like a great way to spend Thanksgiving to me! Hurry and enter because the opportunity ends on September 30th! Only a couple of days to go! Go onto www.marthastewart.com to enter the sweepstakes, and also watch Martha Stewart’s Today Show to see Jessica and Cody’s Martha Stewart wedding on October 5th – a great tool for inspiration and ideas for your own wedding straight from the best!

Extraordinary Wedding Cakes

2007-09-26T03:26:00.000-07:00

Today I ran across the ultimate in culinary creativity. Confetti Cakes, a bakery in New York has an amazing selection of wedding cakes and specialty cakes. The wedding cakes are gorgeous and come in an array of colors, designs and flavors. The specialty cakes are unreal – in shapes and sizes that will blow you away! These are perfect for any unique groom’s cake, or maybe for bachelorette and bachelor parties.

The cakes are designed by chef, Elisa Strauss who has a background in both culinary arts and design. She is truly amazing! If you don’t live in New York, or plan on getting married elsewhere (like Oahu,) don’t fret: If for nothing else, these cakes are a perfect source of inspiration and ideas for weddings and themes. Of course, if you see something you absolutely love, print it out for another talented baker to recreate.

Take a look at a few of these marvelous edible masterpieces, and then go to www.confetticakes.com to view the rest of them:

Beautiful Wedding Cakes

And Adorable Specialty Cakes

Take an island cruise for your Hawaiian honeymoon.

2007-09-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

Imagine this: Your beautiful beach wedding on Oahu with family and friends goes off without a hitch. After the ceremony, you retreat to a Waikiki beach hotel for a marvelously elegant reception for with your guests. You dine on gourmet cuisine, drink mai tais, dance the night away with those who love you, and spend a couple of memorable days in Oahu’s warm Hawaiian sun.

Sounds great, huh? The only discrepancy with destination weddings is what to do about your honeymoon. Do you consider the wedding itself to be your big trip together? Should there be time for the two of you to ditch your guests and be alone? Try this for a romantic, convenient and cost-effective solution: Take a cruise! You already committed to pay for the airfare to the islands, why not see them all in one vacation? Spend a few quality days with your wedding guests, and then board a ship with your one and only for a Hawaiian honeymoon ocean cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Lines offers 7-day Hawaiian cruises on the signature, Pride of Hawaii ship from $599.00 per person to depart and return in Honolulu. They port in the four major Hawaiian islands – Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii (the big island). They also offer 10 and 12 day cruises with a multitude of amenities.

For a longer voyage, Princess cruise lines offers Polynesian trips to Hawaii and Tahiti. Consider an 11 day cruise trough Polynesia with ports in Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii (the big island), Christmas Island, Bora Bora, Moorea, and Papeete. This is only an example of over 50 cruise options offered in the 2007-2007 season.

When visiting the islands, cruises are an extremely cost-effective way to see as much as possible. Trying to travel from island to island by plane can be time consuming, expensive and frustrating. There are millions of things to see in the Polynesian Pacific, and most of us don’t have a few months to take off and travel from island to island. Also consider that meals, entertainment, room and room and board are included in the price of your cruise, and there is plenty to do while at sea. Take a look at your ship’s amenity list before choosing your trip, and make sure it has what you are looking for.

Bon Voyage, Hawaiian love birds!

Disney Bridal Couture

2007-09-22T03:38:00.000-07:00

Every bride dreams about being a princess on her wedding day. Bring that dream to life with this fantastic new alternative to real-life royalty. Disney has a new bridal couture line by designer, Kirstie Kelly. Each line is inspired by one of your favorite Disney princesses! Choose from Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Jasmine, Ariel or Belle, and browse through all of the choices from each princess.

Disney has such a wonderful appeal to all ages, perfect for every little girl who dreamed about slipping on her own princess creation someday. Each one of these dresses has the perfect touch of royalty, and shines with elegance. Go to www.disdeybridal.com to view the collections and find a boutique near you!

Personalized Wedding Stationery

2007-09-18T02:37:00.000-07:00

We love adding extra personal touches to every aspect of your wedding. Check out the charming custom-made stationery, stickers and other accessories by www.blissweddingmarket.com for really great stuff! They were recently featured in In Style Weddings magazine, and they sure do have style!

We especially love the “Concert Ticket” idea. Use them as invites to a less formal part of your wedding like the bachelorette party or engagement party, or as an addition to your invitation. We find the idea especially relevant for destination weddings like an Oahu Beach Wedding - send your family a "ticket" to your wedding in Paradise! Either way, they are absolutely adorable and creative.

Blissweddingmarket.com also offers classy accessories like wedding seals, Bridal Hang Tags, customized labels for favors, and much more. It really is the little things that make such a difference in an outstanding affair.

Bridesmaid Ettiquette

2007-09-17T02:54:00.000-07:00

Getting married comes with all kinds of choices; even the fun of planning your wedding brings serious decisions and responsibility. Choosing your bridesmaids should be an exciting thing for you brides-to-be; the last thing you want is to offend people that you love, or include someone for the wrong reasons.

First of all, remember that this is your day and you choose who is involved. Don’t choose friends out of obligation – who do you want to be there with you every step of the way? Who can you depend on to go on the shopping trips, help you with the flower arrangements and ultimately be there for moral support? Here are a few tips to on bridesmaid etiquette to help you throughout the process:

1. If you have a long enough engagement, give yourself time to enjoy the prospect of your marriage without including anyone else. Spend time with your fiancé and make big decisions like the date, locations and theme of your wedding before asking your bridesmaids. Traditionally, a six month notice is proper, if possible.

2. Choose bridesmaids and groomsmen together – obviously the number of each should match, but also consider your partner’s thoughts on who you are including. Make a list and decide together before you tell anyone else. If you have a large number of friends and family to choose from, don't loose sight of your overall vision for the day (Do you really want 10 people standing on either side of you?). The general consensus is not to exceed 6 couples in your bridal party. Of course, that can be played with.

3. After you choose, ask your bridesmaids individually. Take them out to a favorite lunch spot, dinner date, or shopping trip and give them a token of appreciation or friendship (be creative – make something or write a note). Also keep in mind that you are ASKING them, not telling them. This is an investment in time, money and energy for everyone involved and if one of your bridal party is not happy about being there, it can really cast a shadow on the feeling of the day.

4. Give your maid of honor (and best man) a sense of responsibility. Give her an idea of what she will be responsible to set the president right away. She needs to have an idea of what you expect from her and what kind of involvement she should count on. This way, you won’t end up with a dead beat or an overly involved right-hand-woman.

5. After everyone is informed, try having some sort of get together with the entire bridal party, or just the bridesmaids. You want to be able to work as a team and keep your “players” informed. Make them feel wanted and honored to be a part of your special day – have a catered lunch, informal drink night at your place, or evening at a park to relax together.

6. Be conscious of your friends’ budgets. It is expected that the bridesmaids pay for their own dresses, hair and make-up. However, if you absolutely have your heart set on those Vera Wang gowns, you might want to consider paying for a portion of the dress. Your bridesmaids probably didn’t agree to the task with the intent of spending $400 on a dress.

7. Keep them informed throughout your planning process. A website is a great way to do this, and also a fun way to plan your wedding as a couple. Send your bridesmaids written reminders and fun updates to keep everyone just as excited as you are.

8. It is customary to give your bridesmaids gifts as a thank-you for their help and devotion to you. The gifts don’t have to be over-the-top expensive, but they should be elegant and meaningful. Try pearl necklaces to wear on the wedding day, or personalized jewelry boxes. These gifts are the best if they strike a personal note. Remind them of the good times in your past and thank them for helping with your future.

Whatever you do, always remember that your bridesmaids are there to help you. If this is a painful process, there is definitely something wrong. Choose friends and family that you care about and want to have around, and have fun!