Stylish Events

Image from Martha Stewart

When you plan a theme for an event, it’s much easier to decide upon the décor, food, beverages, invitations, and more. I always suggest having some sort of theme or color palette for bridal showers to make it easier on the host. Help the bride relax by hosting a spa themed bridal shower. The most inexpensive way to do this is to set up the “spa” in your home.

Invitations

Make sure that your invitations clearly state the theme of the bridal shower. Encourage guests to wear comfortable clothing or bathrobes and slippers or sandals. The invitation should also note what the guests should bring as gifts. Compile a list of spa related items so you’re prepared to give guests suggestions when they ask. Gifts should include a certificate for a back massage, manicure and pedicure set, scented candles, and a cashmere or luxurious bathrobe.

Décor

Let the spa items serve as the décor. You should have a couple scented candles in the main room and possibly a couple small floral displays. If you’re giving favors to the guests, have a separate table for the favors, so they also serve as decorations. Some favor ideas are scented candles, manicure set, nail polish, or lavender sachet.

Spa Stations

Set up a few different spa stations such as a manicure station, pedicure station, and facial station. You could purchase the items yourself or ask each bridesmaid to be responsible for one station. You can find most of these products in your local drugstore.

Food and Beverages

Every bridal shower needs refreshments. Serve the guests water with cucumber, lemon, and lime slices and/or mimosas to celebrate the bride. You could serve healthy options for food or you could serve a cheese display, vegetable display, and miniature desserts. Get creative with the refreshments to make the day special for the bride.

Additional Resources

The At-Home Spa Guide from Martha Stewart

DIY Facial Massage Ingredients from Martha Stewart

How to Host a Spa Night from the knot

Related Posts:

15 Tips for Planning a Bridal Shower

Bridal Shower Outfit

Bridal Shower Question

No Comments | In: Bridal Shower | tags: decor for spa bridal shower, invitations for spa bridal shower, spa bridal shower. | #

Image from Martha Stewart Weddings

 Whitney’s Question: My fiancé and I don’t have a very big budget for our centerpieces. This is an important part of our wedding to me, but we can’t afford elaborate floral displays. Do you have any ideas on how we can make our centerpieces stand out while not spending too much?

April’s Answer: The first way to save money is to cut down your guest list. You’ll save money on food, alcohol, stationery, favors, centerpieces, linens, and more. Another way to save money on your centerpieces is making them have a double duty. For example, use your favors as your centerpieces. If you’re giving your guests boxes of candy wrapped in one your wedding colors, stack them in the middle of the table with a framed note that tells the guests to take one home with them.

You could forgo the wedding cake, purchase inexpensive cake stands, and stack iced doughnuts on the cake stands for a delightful centerpiece. Surround the doughnut cake stand with old fashioned bottles of milk. Write a note that thanks the guests for attending your wedding and a cute saying such as, “Loves never been so sweet.” This way your centerpieces serve as your wedding favors and dessert.

If you really want to have floral centerpieces, stick with using one inexpensive type of flower like carnations and group the same color together like you see below.

Image from Martha Stewart Weddings

2 Comments | In: Ask April, Tip of the Day, Wedding Reception | tags: budget-friendly centerpieces, inexpensive centerpieces. | #

Images from J.Crew

I wish that this jewelry went well with my wedding dress – but it just doesn’t. I absolutely love it, and considering the price that some women pay for wedding day jewelry – this isn’t so bad. This jewelry would look amazing paired with a wedding gown that doesn’t have a lot of beading, a strapless ballgown, or a romantic lace dress. I wish I had a place to wear this beautiful jewelry!

1 Comment | In: Fashion and Beauty | tags: JCrew, wedding jewelry. | #

Dress from ModCloth

Bailey’s Question: My wedding dress is a big, formal wedding gown that I’ve always dreamed of wearing. I can’t wait for my wedding day, because I LOVE my wedding dress. However, I’m afraid that it’s going to get heavy as the night progresses. I want to change into a second dress when there is about two hours left of the reception to dance. I’m on an extremely tight budget for a second dress. I can’t go over $100. I want the second dress to be knee length, romantic, and something that will be comfortable for “my getaway dress.” I’ve seen a lot of second dresses that are either too expensive or too skimpy. Can you give my any suggestions?

P.S. I love your blog. Thanks for your help.

April’s Answer: You’re not going to find too many “wedding dresses” under $100. You could look at wedding dresses at Nordstrom and Dillard’s but many of them will still be out of your price range. To find a second dress that you’re going to love wearing at your wedding reception, you’re going to have to think outside the box. Look in stores that don’t sell wedding dresses. I found the romantic dress above at ModCloth and it’s only $62.99. It falls well within your budget and could easily be a second wedding dress.

1 Comment | In: Ask April, Fashion and Beauty, Tip of the Day | tags: romantic wedding dress, second wedding dress. | #

Image from 100 Layer Cake

Here are the wedding blog awards for the week of 9/20/09-9/26/09:

The Most Inspiring Blog of the Week: 100 Layer Cake

I can’t get enough of this wedding blog. This week I was blown away by Jessica and Jason’s delightful wedding and the ‘it feels like fall’ inspiration board.

The Most Creative DIY Project of the Week: The Bride’s Café – Wedding Cake Chandelier

I absolutely love this idea for a bridal shower or informal wedding reception. It’s inexpensive and so much fun.

The Most Useful Post/Article of the Week: One Lovely Day – Location, Location, Location

This article is a great resource for brides who are considering on off premise wedding location.

.

The Most Stunning Real Wedding of the Week: With This Ring Weddings – Jordana and Chris

Do you want to see what a professional photographer’s wedding looks like? Well here is a fabulous one – the bridesmaids’ dresses are swoon-worthy, the wedding cake is modern and rustic, and ceremony looks completely romantic.

No Comments | In: Wedding Blog Awards | tags: DIY project, real wedding, wedding blog, Wedding Blog Awards. | #

Images from Brides

No Comments | In: Fashion and Beauty | tags: melissa sweet, wedding dress. | #

Image from Martha Stewart Weddings

Monica’s Question: I just started reading your blog, because I just got engaged two months ago. My friend suggested that I subscribe to this a blog and a couple others. I’m glad I did – I love it!!! I wanted to know what I should do before I go to my first appointment to try on wedding dresses. I’m going in one month, and I want to be prepared. Thanks for any advice!

April’s Answer: Thanks for the compliment and to your friend for recommending Stylish Events. I’m so excited to have you as a new reader. There are a few things you should do to prepare to try on wedding dresses. The first thing is to look through a couple wedding magazines and on a few websites like Martha Stewart Weddings and Brides for wedding dresses that stand out to you. Check out my post, 101 Wedding Dresses from Spring 2010 Runway for a good selection. Try to pay attention to things you like and dislike. It will be helpful to tell your consultant if you hate lace or definitely want beading on your dress. She’ll be able to narrow down the piles of white dresses for you. Bring a couple of pictures if you can.

You want to wear undergarments that look best with wedding dresses – such as nude underwear and a strapless bar. If you’re going to wear any body shaping pieces under your wedding dress on your big day, you should wear it while you try on dresses.

When you show up to your appointment, let the bridal consultant know your budget, what you like, show her your pictures, and let her know what kind of wedding your planning on having {a wedding on the beach and a formal ballroom wedding reception call for different types of wedding dress} but be open to the consultants suggestions. She might suggest something that you wouldn’t necessarily like, but she knows what types of dresses look amazing on certain body types. The worst that can happen is you try it on and don’t like it. Just keep an open mind.

I seriously suggest that you don’t try on dresses that are more than your budget. If you fall in love with a dress that you can’t afford, you’ll just be disappointed and none of the other dresses will measure up. When you tell the bridal consultant your budget, let her know that you don’t want to try on any dresses that cost more than you can spend.

2 Comments | In: Ask April, Fashion and Beauty, Tip of the Day | tags: wedding dress, wedding dress shopping. | #

Images from left to right: {Top Row} Bridesmaids from Martha Stewart Weddings, Guest Book from Martha Stewart Weddings, Favors from Martha Stewart Weddings {Bottom Row} Iced Coffee from Martha Stewart Weddings, Bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, Table Setting from Martha Stewart Weddings, Favors from Martha Stewart Weddings, Place Card from Martha Stewart Weddings

Related Posts:

Inspiration Board: Pink, Light Blue, and Chocolate Brown {Part I}

Pink Centerpieces {Part I}

Pink Centerpieces {Part II}

No Comments | In: Wedding Planning | tags: blue wedding favors, pink bridesmaid dresses, pink light blue and chocolate brown, pink wedding favors. | #

Tamara’s Question: I’m really frustrated right now. I’m a bridesmaid in my boyfriend’s sister’s wedding, and she expects us to do A LOT. I love her but I’m at the end of my rope. We had to buy a hideous lime green bridesmaid’s dress for $250 and silver shoes for $68. Now she wants us to buy matching accessories that will cost us $84 for a necklace, bracelet, and earrings. The money is really starting to add up, and I can’t afford to get these accessories. Plus she expects each of us to spend almost every weekend doing stuff for her wedding. I do have a life, and I’m about to pull out my hair. Her wedding isn’t until March and I really can’t take this for six more months. What should I do?

April’s Answer: Brides can easily fall into the trap of not realizing how much they’re expecting of their loved ones. I would just have an adult, considerate discussion with her. Let her know that you are so excited to be a part of her wedding, but the financial expectations are more than you can handle. Tell her that you enjoy helping her out with wedding tasks – let her know which ones you definitely want to be a part of – and tell her that you wish you had more time to help, but unfortunately, other things {say specific things such as work and family obligations} are overwhelming at the moment. Tell her that you’ll let her know the days that you can help out.

No Comments | In: Ask April, Tip of the Day | tags: bridesmaid question. | #

Images from left to right: {Top Row} Bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, Bridesmaid Dress from Brides, Cake Favors from Martha Stewart Weddings {Bottom Row} Sign from the knot, Stationery from Martha Stewart Weddings, Favors from Martha Stewart Weddings, Favors from Martha Stewart Weddings 

I love these colors together, especially for a spring wedding. Tomorrow I’ll post part II, so check back for another pink, light blue, and chocolate brown inspiration board.

Related Posts:

Pink Garden Wedding Inspiration Board

Inspiration Board: Black, Silver, and Pink

1 Comment | In: Wedding Planning | tags: brownie favors, light blue and brown bridesmaid dress, pink bouquet, pink light blue and chocolate brown, wedding colors. | #

Image from the knot

Amanda’s Question: I absolutely love reading this blog. It’s one of my favorites!!! I wanted to ask about a dilemma I’m having with my bridal party. I would love for us – I have 6 bridesmaids – to get manicures and pedicures on the day of the wedding. I’m having an evening wedding and it would be a fun way to spend the day together. But my fiancé and I can’t afford to pay for each bridesmaid to get this done. Can I still ask them to do this if they’re paying for it?

April’s Answer: Thanks for the kind words Amanda. Having a spa day is definitely a great way to spend some time together the day before or the day of the wedding. If you’re having your bridesmaids pay for it, you can’t make it mandatory. They’ve already bought a dress, shoes, and possibly accessories. They should have an opt out option in case they can’t afford it. One way to do this is if you have the budget to pay for manicures only, then you could let them know that you’ll cover the manicures and if they want pedicures, you won’t be covering that cost.

If you can’t afford manicures, then I suggest inviting your bridesmaids to your spa day but letting them know that you aren’t paying for it beforehand. You don’t want them to show up thinking you’re going to cover the cost and then they end up having to fork over money that they don’t have after getting their nails done and becoming resentful.

Another budget-friendly idea is to have the girls over to your house, your mom’s house, or one of the bridesmaid’s houses for spa time. You could invest the fifty dollars that you would pay for your manicure and pedicure and purchase all the tools to do it at home. Here is a great article on the at home manicure.

No Comments | In: Ask April, Tip of the Day | tags: bridal party spa day. | #

Images from PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com {all $2000 or less}

I’m super excited to introduce you to my newest sponsor, PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com. I stumbled upon this brillant website when I was trying to find a designer dress for less. There was no way that I could afford a $4000 or $5000 dollar wedding dress. It just wasn’t in the budget – so I searched for gently used wedding dresses online and came across a bride’s best friend. A place where a bride can search for her favorite designers and find the dress of her dreams for a reasonable price. It’s also an environmentally-friendly option, because you’re reusing a wedding dress. And some of the dresses are NEW with tags. You can ask the seller questions about the dress, see multiple pictures, and read the detailed descriptions. I just spent over an hour looking at dresses and I already have mine! It’s addicting.

One option that I’ve recommended to brides in the past who have felt extra guilty about spending so much money on a dress that she will only wear one day is to sell the dress after the wedding. Help another bride wear a gorgeous gown that she wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.

Look at how beautiful these dresses are, and they’re all $1000 or less as listed on PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com:

Images from PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com

Seriously, you need to check this website out {especially if you’re still looking for your perfect wedding gown}.

1 Comment | In: Sponsored Posts | tags: preowned wedding dresses. | #

Dress from Charlotte Russe

Headband from Forever21

Earrings from Nordstrom

Pumps from Target

Related Posts:

Fashion Friday: Dinner Party Outfit

Tip of the Day: Dinner Party Outfit

10 Party Favors

No Comments | In: Fashion and Beauty | tags: dinner party outfit. | #