VIP: Very Important Pet

He’s always been there for you through thick and thin. He waits for you to come home everyday. Nothing feels quite as comforting as the moment he comes and cuddles with you. No! I’m not talking about your future husband; I’m talking about your beloved pet! Weddings do tend to get chaotic and it is completely okay to opt for keeping your pooch in a doggie daycare. However if you do decide to include your special little guy or gal in the ceremony, there are plenty of delightful ways to incorporate your pet into your wedding!

The most popular idea is to have your dog act as your ring bearer. Not everyone can find a little boy to be a ring bearer. But if you already have a well behaved pet, why not let him have this important role on the big day? There are special cushion ring-holders that are especially made to be strapped onto your dog. Many vendors online sell these specialized cushions, or if you’re crafty and feeling up for a challenge, opt for a DIY version that you can personalize.

On the other hand, if you already have a ring bearer in mind, you can still make your pet your VIP guest. There are many cute DIY signs or outfits that are simply too adorable to resist! With so many ways to invite your specially little guy or gal into your ceremony, how will you incorporate him/her into your big day?

Planning with a Pet in Mind

Consider Your Pet’s Personality

A pet can be a guest of honor and simply stand with the wedding party during the ceremony, or your pet can have a specific role (ring bearer or flower girl are common roles) in the ceremony. But before giving your pet a starring role, think about whether this will be an enjoyable experience for him. Will your pet feel comfortable around your guests? Is he obedient and well behaved? There’s no guarantee that your pet will behave exactly how you want him to on the day of the wedding. Even the most outgoing and friendly pet can be overwhelmed by a crowd of guests, according to NAPPS. To make sure that your pet has enough time to develop a level of comfort around your guests, consider hiring a pet sitter, who will act as your pet's guide. And if your pet is especially skittish, consider having someone carry him or letting him ride in a wagon. And if he’s overly affectionate or easily distracted, be sure to use a short leash. Not all pets are suited to a wedding, and it’s important to assess the temperament of yours. Is he friendly or aggressive? Does he make a lot of noise? Does he try to steal food? If your pet's disposition doesn't lend itself to this type of situation, don't try to train him in the weeks leading up to your wedding.

Be Flexible

Once you've decided how to include your pet, be prepared to be flexible on the wedding day. "You can't force it," says Marc Morrone, owner of Parrots of the World pet store in Rockville Centre, New York. "If you expect your pet to perform a certain feat, have a backup plan in case he doesn't do it." Also, consider your own personality. A relaxed attitude is crucial.

Confirm That Pets are Allowed at Your Ceremony

With everything else on your to-do list, it’s easy to forget this simple—yet important—step. You don’t want to show up on the day of your wedding, four-legged ring-bearer in tow, only to be told that he needs to get off the propery, stat. Can’t bring your pet? You can still include her in the wedding! Include your pet in your portraits after the ceremony or in your engagement photos. At the reception, include photos of your pet on your table number cards, or make your wedding favors in tribute to your beloved pooch.

Notify Your Photographer

Prepare your photographer to capture your pet in action. It'll help your photographer prep for those unplanned moments, like when your dog leaps up to kiss you during the vows. Your photographer can also help you brainstorm fun photo ideas with your pets for after the ceremony.

Don’t Jeopardize Safety for Style

Planning on dressing your pooch in a tux? Make sure it fits properly and doesn’t create any discomfort for your pet. Keep the accessories simple—a bowtie or flower attached to the collar is a fun way to deck out your pet. Ensure that any accessories won’t come loose and pose a choking hazard to your pet.

Anticipate Potential Hazards

Ask at the wedding site about pesticides or toxic plants on the grounds, and about creatures that might distract or threaten your pet. Check online if any flowers or plants being used in your ceremony are toxic to your pet. If your florist is adorning your pet's collar, be sure she uses nontoxic materials. And keep pets, especially dogs, someplace safe during the reception so guests won't feed them. Certain wedding fare, including chocolate, alcohol, and meat with bones, can be dangerous.

Inform Your Attendants

Well in advance, inform attendants and vendors that your pet will play a role, and discuss special measures you'd like them to take. Also notify your officiant. Some may refuse to preside over a wedding that includes pets.

Never Leave Your Pet Alone

Consider hiring a handler with whom the pet is already acquainted, or have a friend be responsible for the pet during the wedding.

Practice Makes Perfect

Bring your pet to the site before the wedding day, and have him come to the rehearsal to practice his part if he will be participating in the ceremony.

The Other "Groom"

Take the animal to the groomer before the wedding so he'll look his best. Keep adornments minimal and easy for the pet to wear. Don't make him wear them for longer than is necessary.

Have you attended weddings with pets?
Would you include your pet at your wedding?

The Wedding Veil

Traditionally, a bride wore her hair long, and down to represent purity. With the passing of time, the veil that usually covers the hair has come to represent this instead as more and more brides choose to fashion their hair in different styles. Today, the veil is either worn lifted throughout the ceremony, or sometimes lifted from the bride’s face by the groom after she’s been presented to him, acting as a direct symbol of the consummation of their marriage.

Symbolic or not, the veil has become an article of fashionable craft. Brides-to-be have an array of choices for the style, pattern, and length of the veil as it expresses a detailed final touch to her ensemble. A perfect veil will complete the overall appearance of the bride in her gown, as it will be the statement accessory placed closest to her face.

Veils are as unique as the bride herself. They can be made from a variety of different materials and patterns – some even created to match the patterns on the brides’ lace wedding dresses. There are a few popular standard lengths when it comes to veils.

Cathedral and Chapel

The most dramatic choice of all the lengths, the cathedral length veil usually accompanies a gown with a sizable train. The lace pattern on the outer edge of the veil looks exquisite when laid out flat behind the bride. However, this veil is a diva – it requires constant attention and adjustment from the bridesmaids. The chapel length is shorter than the cathedral length in that it’s a slight train. However, in this case, shorter does not mean meeker – chapel length veils can be just as dramatic and detailed as the cathedral length.

Ankle

Just as described by its name, the ankle length veil is a floor length veil. No train involved in this length and just the right amount of drama for black-tie, but modest enough for semi-formal. If your wedding gown is floor length with no train, but you want to add elegant flare, this will be the perfect choice.

Fingertip

When the bride stands with her hands down by her side, this veil hits her fingertips. This is probably one of the more popular lengths because it’s a good balance between long and short. The fingertip length feels elegant yet spirited, and versatile enough for wedding dresses of all lengths.

Elbow

Even shorter than the fingertip length veil is the elbow length veil. Aptly named, this veil hits the bride’s elbows when her arm is down by her side. Usually the elbow length veil is worn with short wedding dresses or knee length wedding dresses, however some brides that are shorter than 5’3” will find this length more fitting for their body. I personally think this length works for all dress lengths because it is the most playful of the bunch. A more layered look can also be achieved with this veil, giving more volume and poof, which can also be advantageous for a petite bride.

Birdcage

The birdcage veil is very sophisticated and refined. With the television series Mad Men being so popular, many people are fashioning their wedding after the 1960s vintage theme. Imagine classy wedding dresses with sleeves and a sassy birdcage veil – totally modern vintage!

Which look is your favorite?

Would you go for long and dramatic or short and sweet?

✉ Email us today for a quote on any of the styles pictured above.

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French Styled Wedding Theme

We love checking out all the customized wedding palettes available online!  Some bloggers will even take requests if you have an idea of your own color combinations.

This French styled wedding is so unique. Everything about it is just lovely and although I know nothing about the bride, her style is tasteful and everything is gorgeous.



1. B&W Macaroons. No other sweet captures French elegance better. Not to mention that macaroons are so tasty!

2. The bride is dressed in a lacy French countryside style gown, while her bridesmaids are wearing black and white striped J. Crew dresses. Oh-la-la! Although it would be way over the top, imagine her bridesmaids in cute little berets!?

3. The groom and groomsmen’s boutonnieres are of an assortment of greens.

4. Treat bags with floral details. These are so cheap and easy to do, check the DIY here!

5. Black and white poppies up the elegance of her wedding. Although they may not be French by origin, they are too elegant to ignore.

6. An apertif bar stocked with French dessert liquors, flavored wines, champagne, and juices. Yum!

7. Their minimalist invitations keep the B&W theme in check, and brings in the stripe pattern carried throughout the wedding by the bridesmaid dresses.

Hope their wedding was as insipring to you as it was for me. Au revoir cherie!

Wedding Week Immunity Boosts

Last week we mentioned some foods to avoid on your wedding day, so what should you be eating in preparation for the big day? If it's getting close, anxiety, lack of sleep, and other stressors that usually tag along with wedding planning can dramatically effect your body. These super foods give a major boost to your immune system so a nasty cold or flu bug doesn’t creep up when the day finally arrives. Before your wedding, load up on them to ensure you're looking and feeling radiant!

We hear the word antioxidants a lot but which foods exactly contain antioxidants? Vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene all contain high levels of antioxidants. Usually colorful fruits and vegetables contain the most antioxidants. Vitamin C is probably the easiest to satisfy. They are in most citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits. Try a grapefruit or other citrus fruit with honey for breakfast. Citrus fruit not your thing? Brussels sprouts and tomatoes also pack a ton of vitamin C. (Brussels sprouts pack a whole bunch of other beneficial vitamins too; they really are a SUPER food!) Tomatoes are easy to prepare in everyday food and like all foods contain the most nutrients when eaten raw. When cooking most vitamin rich vegetables, boil slightly so that most of the nutrients remain in the food. If you prepare foods raw and under 108 degrees, more of the natural nutrients remain within the food rather than being rendered out by high heat.

Mustard greens, mangoes, and spinach all pack high amounts of vitamin E. In any season, mangoes mixed with apples and a few types of leafy greens tossed with a sweet vinaigrette make a refreshing salad. Spinach is also a very versatile vegetable. It can be tossed in any type of salad or slightly steamed and served with pasta, meat, or poultry.

Purple and blue colored foods are also nutritious favorites. A handful of blueberries in a smoothie or red cabbage (which is actually colored purple) tossed in a salad with blue cheese and apples will easily satisfy your antioxidant intake for the day. Boosting your immune system will help keep nasty cold and flu viruses at bay. After all, you don’t need another thing to worry about with all the excitement that is already going on in your life!

Check out these free ebooks on Amazon for some kitchen motivation!

Foods to Avoid on Your Wedding Day

We often stress-eat or over-snack when we experience anxiety. Fatty foods trigger the production of serotonin, which is partially responsible for your body’s natural anxiety reduction mechanism. Carbohydrates and high fat foods also stabilize sugar levels in the blood, which soothes irritability. Snacking is your body’s natural way to cope with stress, but you might want to rethink what you put in your mouth. Certain foods you eat on the big day will greatly effect how you feel. Below are a few items you should avoid to ensure that you feel at your best because let’s face it, who wants to deal with an upset or bloated tummy or indigestion?

Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners (like sorbitol) are found in foods labeled as “diet” or “sugar-free.” Many brides-to-be who are dieting might not be stranger to these foods, however on your big day, it’s better to stay away. These ingredients are not easily processed by the body. A frequent side effect of artificial sweeteners is diarrhea. They can have a laxative effect, sometimes even in small quantities simply because your body might not tolerate it as well as the next person.

(Too much) Caffeine
Yes you need the energy to keep going, and a cup of coffee will help get you there. However, don’t have a coffee, an espresso, and a Redbull! Not only will this make you jittery, restless, and irritable, it can also make you sweat profusely. Another culprit in causing overactive sweat glands is capsaicin. This is the ingredient responsible for giving spices and chilies its spicy or “hot” component. Consider staying away from spicy foods and caffeine to avoid over-perspiration.

Salt
Avoiding salt in foods should really be something that you consider doing weeks before your wedding. Not only are overly salted foods bad for your health, but it will also make you retain a lot of water. Ever wonder why some girls can never shake those last 5 lbs? You can probably attribute the bloating to water retention. By avoiding salt and increasing your water consumption you can lose those extra pounds in just a few days!

Soda/Carbonated Water
Carbonation in drinks can give off gas in your stomach and that will end up coming out one of two ways or get trapped in your intestines and cause bloating. Moreover, if you’re opting for a diet Coke, well, remember what we said in #1?

Heavy Cheeses
Heavy or fatty cheeses are not very easy digest thanks to something called casein. Casein becomes a rubbery curd in your stomach and is tough to break down. While a cheese plates are an easy option as a quick snack, make sure it’s a light cheese. Alternatively, fruit plates are just as easy.

Waterproof Mascara: To Wear or Not to Wear?

Waterproof mascara, what a love/hate relationship we have. Despite the fact that it stayed on through The Notebook, and various other tearful occasions, this is also the same reason to hate it! Sometimes its staying power even lasts through makeup removers and face washes. The difficulty of getting it off can rip off at least a few strands of already barely-there eyelashes. Not only are waterproof mascaras hard to remove, most formulas are also clumpier than their non-waterproof alternatives.

On your wedding day however, the inevitable tear-shed could happen. Even if you are able to fight your emotions and keep it all in, a few hours of dancing will have you sweating buckets. Who wants their mascara to be the weakest link when they’re standing in front of family and friends in a beautiful wedding gown?

Here are a few waterproof mascaras that won’t wear out your lashes, and will stick with you throughout the whole day and night.

Maybelline Lash Discovery Mini-Brush Waterproof Mascara
A steal at only $8, the tiny brush can catch every individual lash and even the tiniest of lashes in the inner corners of your eyes. This is also a great mascara for lower lashes because of the mini-brush feature.

Lancome Hypnose Waterproof MascaraA cult classic! This is one of our favorites because it adds volume and length without clumping. It won’t give you spider-leg lashes even if you layer multiple coats.

Diorshow Iconic Extreme Waterproof
Talk about a mascara that does it all. Not only does this mascara have a whole bunch of conditioning agents to sooth your lashes, it is also super buildable and hangs on to your lashes forever. This is a mascara that everyone can appreciate.

Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara
If you already have voluminous lashes and just need a waterproof formula that will add color intensity to your lashes while holding its curl firmly, this is the one for you. This mascara also dries super fast so you don’t have to worry about it getting elsewhere on your lids.

We hope you have a Happy New Years Celebration!

See you next year ツ