A Gorgeous Garden/Tea Party Bridal Shower

Permit me a little walk through memory lane here.

My grandmother loved flowers. She had gardens all around her property, each one tastefully done. There were always cut and carefully arranged flowers in vases throughout her house. And one thing she really loved was a sweet, simple and beautiful garden party.

I get nostalgic seeing all the retro bridal showers today — especially those that involve all things floral. I think the look is so sweet, and it’s so very, well, bride-like.

Flowers have always been (and, in my opinion, will always be) a huge part of most wedding related festivities. After all, flowers are all about beginnings, growth, the innocence of fresh love and the beauty that’s in this world — and between the two of you.

Cute wedding tea favors. Click for info.

Where Should You Hold Your Garden Bridal Shower?

If you have a back yard, or if a friend or family member does, obviously, that’s your first choice. However, don’t feel limited to a large yard — or even to the outdoors. If you live in an area where weather may be a concern, or if you’re in an urban or small space, you can still add floral touches to your bridal shower.

If the weather is expected to be nice, don’t discount outdoor locales like the local park. Just be sure to call your city first to find out whether the park requires notice and reservation of picnic tables, gazebos, etc.

Garden/Tea Party Foods

Garden party foods don’t need to be expensive. That’s one of the great things about a garden party. Try:

• finger sandwiches — any kind the bride and guests like
• tea, iced for summer or hot for cooler days
• cut fresh fruit arranged prettily on a tray with a few cut flowers for decoration on the plate
• cookies, mini brownies, mini cupcakes
• cool salads: potato;  pasta with sun dried tomatoes; three-bean; romaine lettuce with pecans or walnuts, plum tomatoes and a sprinkling of feta or another cheese; or any chilled salad that’s your favorite
• sorbet – mmm!
• fresh fruit punch

Your Table Setting, Decor and Shower Favors

Use cut or silk flowers in a vase for your table centerpiece. A subtly floral-decorated tablecloth is also nice, but any pastel or soft color tablecloth will do for a garden party.

If you’re using a tent, gazebo or other covering, lace it with faux flowers and ribbons.

For favors, why not give small potted plants or a pretty packet of seeds? Another option: cute floral-shaped soaps and other toiletries.

Candles are always a favor “favor-ite:” you can even go to your local dollar store, pick up empty candle holders in frosted glass and hot glue small faux flowers to them. Make sure these don’t go near or over the lip of the candle holder because if you do, they’ll be too close to the candle flame.

What Types of Flowers?

Any kind you’d like! And don’t limit the decor and gifts to just flowers. Ferns, natural twig arrangements gathered in pretty bows and set around the table arrangement, and fruit are all pretty additions.

Lilies are traditional to weddings, as are baby’s breath. You may want to include some of each of these to add a very bridal feel to your garden wedding shower.

Have pics of your own garden bridal shower? Send them in! We may just feature you in a future post on yourweddingwhisperer.com.

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Bridal Showers, Revisited: Is Sophistication Back?

Okay, my fine brides- and grooms-to-be. Are you ready for the latest in bridal showers?

Sophistication’s back!

Doin’ my little happy dance over here.

Look, it’s not that I don’t love the fun we’ve been having with playful themes. I do (and we’ve been having fun for sure — Hello Kitty retro, anyone?). And the earthy retro-chic movement in bridal is wonderful too. In fact, one of the best things about being a bride today is that we have so many choices that we can really let our inner selves shine.

But I admit to a longtime (read: from childhood — very very early childhood) love of all-things-sophisticate.

I don’t think I’m alone. I believe we all have that inner diva who secretly longs to make jaws drop when we walk down the aisle. Now, according to the top wedding sites, we’re being given carte blanche to pull out all the sophisticated stops. (Not that they could have stopped us secret divas anyway! NOBODY can stop a true diva at heart.)

So, ladies…let’s make that bridal shower one to remember.

Invitation Basics

As always, your invitation sets the tone for the party. Printed or actual

(glued) pearls are nice, and a glamorous font will add to the theme. Don’t worry too much about wording here — you can still be casual about that as it’s a party invitation. The imagery will speak for itself.

Stay understated with coloring, for example a creamy ivory background, or a smooth pastel (pink, green or grey work wonderfully here).

Delicious Decor

Lean toward pretty flowers, filigree — understated but elegant. Banners and the like aren’t necessary for this type of shower. You’ll announce the festivities with lovely plates (disposable is fine — just make sure the print is pretty), a garden party type table setup and perhaps big satin bows on guests’ chairs (so lovely).

...and the guests lived happily every after. Fairytale shoe candle.

Favors With Savoir Faire

Thank your guests in style with this theme. But don’t go crazy on costs — it’s the uniqueness of a sophisticated favor that’s the idea here.

You don’t have to lose all the magic when you go sophisticated; in fact, charm is key. We love the pretty Cinderella slipper candle shown at left.

Other ideas: mini luminaries; ceramic miniature tea caddies; $5 gift certificates to your favorite local spa; bubble bath in cute plastic “champagne” bottles.

Does Your Shower Have to Be Pricey?

Bottom line: sophistication means understatement coupled with your own personal flair. It doesn’t mean spending a lot. Have you seen My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding? Not that we’re not enchanted by that show (we are) but it’s a case in point. Those girls are spending a lot of cash. But understated and sophisticated? Not so much.

Careful selection of your shower items means you can have what you want without breaking the bank. Using delicious colors goes a long way toward delivering a sophisticated attitude to your shower. So do tiny touches like faux pearls, which normally aren’t too pricey at all. Pattern is another factor and won’t usually affect price.

Have a blast, ma cherie!

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Cruise Cabin Door Decorating, The Latest Trend

With our cruise accessories being wildly popular and very helpful when having a destination wedding or a wedding on a cruise ship, we’re happy to announce the new addition to our cruise accessory line, a Personalized Cruise Cabin Door Magnet, 8 1/2″ x 11″ to capture your personality with humorous expressions and a chance to share what you are celebrating.

Designed to help you spot your cabin from a distance and find your way, and set you apart from the rest.

Included is a  beautiful picture of your destination along with 5 lines (or more if needed) for personalizing your sign. Sayings are offered as suggestions, but you can come up with your own as well.  A few  examples:

If you don’t see your destination pictured, or want a design to express your celebration, simply let us know and we will design your magnet to suit what you are looking for.  Make a statement next time you cruise with one of our Cruise Cabin Door Magnets for decorating your home away from home.

Check out our entire line of cruise related products

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Making a planning guide for your wedding

If you just recently got engaged, a big congratulations.   Now that the excitement of your engagement has settled down a bit,  is the time to sit down and make a To Do list of what you need to get done before your big day.

Start with your 6 months list.

Of course you need to lock in your date, and start the hunt for your dream location.  Once you have selected the date, you should plan on sending out Save The Date cards or magnets, so your guests can  arrange their vacations and not miss the most important event.  They may even decide to skip that vacation if their budget won’t allow for both and they have to travel to your wedding.  We prefer  Save The Date magnets since they can be put on the fridge or file cabinet as a constant reminder. There are lots of beautiful designs to choose from and they are reasonably priced.

Next, you need to shop for your dress.  Unless you’re planning on buying one off the rack, it takes months for your dress to be made and fitted properly, so getting a head start is always a good idea. You may think you know exactly which dress you want, but until you try it on, and see if it suits your body type, what you had in mind may not be the best look for you after all.  This dress is gorgeous, don’t you think?    Don’t forget to take into consideration whether you are doing a formal or informal reception, inside or outside.

When it comes to the photographer and the band or DJ, you have an excellent shot at hiring your top choices if you plan ahead.  If they’re booked, ask around for referrals from recently married couples.

Check back for your 3 month list.

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Are you ready for a Fanciful Bridal Shower?

When planning a bridal shower most women start by thinking of a theme the bride would enjoy.  Depending on the time of year,  the decor might be in jewel tones for Fall and Winter and pastel colors for Spring and Summer.

Sometimes I think the fun is mostly in the planning, don’t you?  Anticipating the look on the bride’s face when she comes in and sees all you’ve done to make it a very special day for her.  Don’t know about you, but I’m a list maker.  I have lists of what to put on my lists.  It takes a lot of organization skills to plan a party, no matter what the occasion is, but we’re here to help.

Recently I was talking to a friend about the Hello Kitty phenomenon amongst young women and she was telling me how popular the little femme feline is in high end stores such as Tiffany and other retailers for clothes, accessories and jewelry.  I’ve seen champagne bottles with Hello Kitty labels (even wrote about it in a previous post), so why not a Hello Kitty Bridal Shower?  I can visualize sassy hot pink, with zebra mixed in and lots of bling.

In fact, while we’re on the subject of fanciful showers, we have sold many favors in a  Cinderella theme for bridal showers and weddings.  Lots of princesses out there, as we all know (myself included),  and a  bridal shower I went to was as elegant as they come, but done in a Cinderella theme.  So I got to thinking (and that’s always dangerous), if I have an annual pass to Disneyland (and most of my friends do as well)  why not a Minnie Mouse or Tinkerbell bridal shower as long as it’s still grown up and sophisticated of course?

What do you think?  Do you know girls who would just love the idea of a bridal shower in one of these themes?  Let me know and I’ll make sure we have all that is needed on Favors By Serendipity to make their dream come true!

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Big News!

We are so excited to announce some changes to our site. You’re hearing it here first! We have FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25! Get your order in soon, because it only lasts until 12/31/12. With all of our great priced items you will be able to order to your heart’s content!

Also, we are introducing our no hassle return policy. We appreciate our customers and do whatever we can to make your experience a memorable one.  After all, wedding planning is stressful enough. Why not shop with us and reduce that stress level?  Our commitment to service has always been a focus of our company. We now offer 30 days to return your items, and we’ll even pay the shipping back to us! See restrictions here for full details.

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Winter Wedding Tips

Winter weddings are fast approaching! Have you thought about how you’ll look on the  big day? I bet you have! I thought I’d give some tips to our upcoming Winter brides.

• Want the shimmer of snow without the melting in your hair? Sprinkle some sparkly eyeshadow in your hair! It will add a glint to your hair and look like freshly fallen snow in the light.
• Find a stunning wrap. Keeping warm is important, but many brides won’t cover up for fear of hiding their spectacular gown. Find something fabulous like a faux fur wrap or a shining pashmina!
• Make sure you keep up a moisturizing regimen before the big day. Many venues will be dry and hot, which could show in your face if not properly moisturized.
• Keep hand cream near by. So many photographs are taken of the rings, your bouquet and you and your groom holding hands. The winter weather is quick to dry and damage your skin.
• Don’t be afraid of color. You may want to try a bolder style on the  big day. The winter white canvas will make bold colors pop!

Stay tuned for more bridal tips! And don’t forget to check out our great selection of Winter Wedding Favors!

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New! Personalized Fortune Cookies!

I’m so excited! We have just added Personalized Winter Design Fortune Cookies to our site! Fortune cookies are so much fun to have at a reception. These are extra special because you can choose the sayings, they will be totally unique to your wedding. Not only are they unique, but scrumptious as well . These are hands down the best fortune cookies we have tasted.

Not only are they great for weddings, but also for Corporate Gifts! Your clientele won’t forget you when they crack open this delicious cookie!

Having a winter wedding? These are perfect treats for your guests. You can choose to have your names and date of the wedding inside, a quote from your favorite poem, song lyrics…there are so many options and no one else will have the same fortunes!

“Love is patient. Love is kind.  Love is not boastful or rude.”

“Today I marry my best friend,  the one I laugh with, live for, love.”

“All you need is love”

“To have and to hold, from this day forward”

“So this is the miracle I’ve been dreaming of”

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Say Cheese! Trend Alert

I’m loving the new trend of photo booths at weddings! What a great idea and instant memento! You add props and let your guests go at it. The pictures can be serious, funny or a combination of both.

You can rent photo booths, ask your photographer if that’s an added option or even make your own.

To make your own you can use a fabric backdrop and any number of fun props. You can tailor props to your theme, provide either a disposable digital camera or a Polaroid camera. You can even create a great guest book with a picture and note from your guests. The fun is endless. I admit that I got lost on Pinterest and there are so many cool props!

Picture frame favors are perfect for a reception with a photo booth. They give your guests a way to display the photos and are great for the cost conscious bride who still wants to say thank you with a favor. They can be used as place cards as well. Dual function!

Did you have a photo booth? Are you planning on having one at your upcoming reception? Drop us a line here, tweet us or stop by our Facebook page to let us know!

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Let them eat cake!

Who doesn’t love dessert? Your wedding cake is another big decision along the way to your perfect day. Your cake will serve as the focal point of your reception. I know that one of the first things I look for when I go to a reception is the cake. Today we’ll be giving you some pointers on choosing the perfect cake.

Again, planning ahead is the common thread in wedding planning. Make time to sit down and think about what your likes and dislikes are. Give yourself 4-6 months ahead to plan, interview and taste.

• Compile pictures from Bridal magazines, cake decorating books and the internet. There are so many choices as far as design goes. After you’ve found cakes you like then sit down with your fiance and narrow it down to 5 or 6. Going to a baker with 20 pictures might overwhelm them and they won’t have a clue as to what direction to go.
• Decide what icing you’d like. That will also determine which direction your baker takes. The cakes you like may be only available with fondant. Some may be possible with butter cream.  Remember that the time of year you choose for a wedding date may also help to determine what icing. Think ahead to whether or not melting will be an issue.
• Budget. This is a big one. Make sure to ask the baker when you interview if the price per slice includes labor, transportation and set up. You want to get the total cost up front and not be met with surprises on the day of the wedding. Some bakers are able to decorate foam tiers and provide sheet cakes to serve. If budget is a deal breaker, but  you have your heart set on that baker then ask if that’s a possibility. You probably won’t have rsvp cards returned to you before ordering so a ballpark figure may have to do.
• Taste. You and your groom may love different flavors. You also have to think of what your guests will enjoy. Multi-tier cakes can be made with different flavors in each tier. Make sure the baker you are interviewing doesn’t mind giving you many choices. They should have cake flavors, fillings, and icing at the ready for your appointment. If you are going the sheet cake route, make sure to ask pricing for the flavors and fillings you choose.
• Wedding cakes have become works of art. See if your baker is comfortable with varied shapes. The traditional 3 tier, round cakes aren’t the only thing out there these days. Ask to see photos of the cakes they’ve done. See how they support larger structures.

Make sure you know what kind of topper you’d like for your cake. That’s something you may want to take to your tasting/appointments with your potential bakers. We have a great selection of cake toppers so make sure you take a peek!

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