Hello Readers,

Listening on the radio this morning, I heard that Carrie Underwood’s wedding is well underway and is shaping up to be a grand affair!  However, what really sparked my interest was her decision to forego the traditional wedding cake for the “new darling” of weddings: the cupcake.

The cupcake has grown in popularity over the past few years, as its cute and trendy appeal, along with the individualized portions of sweet happiness truly provide guests a unique alternative.

A search for “cupcake” on Wikipedia.com states that the origination of the cupcake began in the “early 19th century” with the first reference of a cupcake “in Eliza Leslie’s Receipts cookbook from 1828.”    Interestingly, the “first bakery devoted exclusive to cupcakes is Sprinkles,  located in Beverly Hills, CA.”

Cupcakes can be utilized for many wedding events including the rehearsal dinner, bridal showers, engagement parties and bachelorette parties.  In fact, I am hosting a bachelorette party this weekend for a great friend of mine, and  cupcakes will play center stage during dinner!  Below are some charming pictures of cupcakes made at bakeries in North Carolina:

Go to The Cupcake Shoppe in Raleigh, NC for these delightful cupcakes:

Go to Simply Cakes in Apex, NC for these sweet cupcakes:

The “New Darling” of Weddings and Events: CUPCAKES! is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Dear Readers,

An unknown author once said, “The pearl is the queen of gems and the gem of queens.”   Thus,whether it is continuing the legacy of the refined elegance illustrated by Jackie Onassis, to Michelle Obama’s modern style, these ladies have both donned a timeless treasure—the pearl.

Pearls have been a mainstay for decades now, but their origins date back to almost 206 B.C. per Wikiepedia.  There are two formations of pearls, with the cultured pearl cultivated from human aid, and the natural pearl created (as you would expect) in nature, with no human aid.   Therefore, natural pearls are much higher in cost due to their scarcity.  With most of the pearls available across the market as cultured pearls, women adorn themselves with stunning beads of varying colors such as: white, champagne, pink, black, and more.   If you are looking for a high quality luster of pearls with a very affordable price, enjoy browsing through the online boutique at PearlsofJoy.com.  The company features a superb shipping program, 90-day return policy, safe and private purchasing options, and has been featured on The View, and In Style Magazine.  Moreover, Pearls of Joy showcases a myriad of quality pearls (perfect for wedding day), such as Akoya, Freshwater, South Sea, and Tahitian.

Revolutionizing the jewelry market, pearls make sophisticated statements from delicate earrings, to a gorgeous bracelet, and of course, the quintessential strand of a pearl necklace.  Additionally, the enduring pearl doesn’t discriminate amongst age groups.  Look around and you may see young girls with small and delicate pearl necklaces, to sorority sisters with their polished pearl earrings, and brides with their bridesmaids beaming in many arrays of pearl bridal jewelry, as well as distinguished ladies of on older generation embellished in the everlasting beauty of pearls.

Consequently, the next time you are searching for the perfect piece of jewelry, select a symbol of what Wikipedia describes as “love, knowledge, wisdom, truth and faith” — the pearl.

Pearls Are the New “Girl’s Best Friend” is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

A wedding party consists usually of the bride and groom, their parents, groomsmen, bridesmaids, attendants and sometimes flower girls and ring bearers. When making the decision on having flower girls and ring bearers in your wedding, there are several factors to consider.

The first factor involves actually having a family member or friend that has children.  If you don’t know of anyone with children, then the decision about having children in the wedding has already been made. Please note:  just because you may not have family or friends with children early in your engagement, this may change over the course of your engagement.  So, if your heart is set on flower girls and ring bearers keep the option open.  You and your fiancé may become friends with someone that has children, and then the option of flower girls and ring bearers may be possible.

Just don’t solicit strangers that have cute children…

The second factor to think about is if the children are age appropriate.  Yes, that means your 13-year- old niece may be best suited as a junior bridesmaid and not a flower girl.  Additionally, if you have a child under the age of 6, you may want to consider having someone (trusted family member or friend) walk them down the aisle.  A child younger than six may not be able to stand for a 20 minute and more ceremony, so once the child makes their way down the aisle, it would be completely appropriate for him or her to sit with their parents, family members, etc.  You and their parents will probably need to spend a little extra time preparing children under the age of six as to what they should expect on wedding day, and what their important role in the wedding will entail.

To give an example: at a recent wedding the ring bearer (7-years-old) pulled a flower girl (3-years-old) down the aisle in a decorated wagon. Behind them, another flower girl (6-years-old) walked down the aisle, slowly dropping flower petals.  Subsequently, the ring bearer pulled the wagon with the flower girl over to the side (out of the way), and he went to stand with the groomsmen.   The parents of the youngest flower girl picked her up out of the wagon and she sat with them for the length of the ceremony.  The oldest flower girl stood with the bridesmaids. The flower girl and ring bearer stood the entire time, watching the ceremony, and behaved very well.  There were a couple moments when the ring bearer became a little antsy and the best man of the groom gently put his hand on the ring bearer’s shoulder and he calmed down.

Having children in your wedding can be absolutely delightful while filled with beautiful moments, and really cute pictures. There may be situations with the children that you did not prepare for, but sometimes those impromptu moments make great memories. Even if you do not have flower girls and ring bearers in your wedding, remember you will be surrounded by family and friends that love you and are there to support you.  Here’s to your wedding day!

How To Choose Your Flower Girl and Ring Bearer is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Hello Readers!

If you are a bride trying to figure out what to get your bridesmaids as a gift, or want something special to treat yourself, check out our personalized flip-flops!

Perfect for the bride and bridesmaid that doesn’t want to wear high-heels all night, these flip-flops are a great alternative to heels, especially as the celebration gets moving on the reception dance floor!

Additionally, these stylish flip-flops are adorned with a dazzling rhinestone, and the opportunity for the bride and each bridesmaid to have their name embroidered onto the foot strap! Therefore, a bride and her bridesmaids can enjoy their flip-flops at the wedding and beyond–perhaps even at the beach!

Click Here to Pamper the Bride and Bridesmaids with Personalized Flip-Flops

With This Favor’s Favor of the Week: Personalized Flip Flops is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Hello All!

Planning a wedding would be so difficult without the help of the lovely ladies in your life! They’ve been your shoulder to cry on, they’ve offered advice, and they’ve been there for you every step of the way as you planned one of the biggest events of your life. What will you give them as a token of your appreciation?

A Gift to Start
If you’re just starting the wedding planning process, and haven’t chosen your bridesmaids yet, consider starting off by offering them a small token of your appreciation! Send them flowers, with a sweet note asking them to be your bridesmaid. Or, give them a little card expressing how important their friendship is to you.   WeddingAccessories.net offers a sweet selection of cards, like the card to the right, which could be perfect for your bridesmaids! If it’s a close group of girlfriends, consider inviting them all over to your house for a glass of wine and making the announcement that you hope to have them as your bridal party.

A Monogrammed Gift

One of the most personal gifts you can give is a monogrammed gift! It’s so personal, it shows how much thought you’ve put into it, and it’s something your best friends will treasure forever. These monogrammed tote bags are so versatile and trendy! I love the idea of filling these bags with goodies and passing them out to the bridal party. They’re also perfect for a destination wedding – fill ‘em with magazines, SPF 15, and snack foods and present them to each lady before the trip!  With This Favor offers the following bag to the left for all your bridesmaid’s needs.

Gift Certificates
I love the idea of giving out gift certificates to my bridesmaids – it will allow them to go redeem them for something they’ll truly love! The key to making it personal? Choose something you know they’ll adore. You don’t need to get the same thing for everyone (although it’s a good idea to spend the same amount, because they will compare notes!). Gift certificates to local yoga studios, restaurants, spas, or boutiques are always appreciated, and you can choose them based on personality! Put them in a pretty card with a personal note, and tie it with a ribbon.

When to Give Bridesmaid Gifts

While it is traditional to give out the gifts just before the ceremony, it’s truly up to you! If you are giving something that you want the girls to wear or use during the wedding, consider giving it a little in advance so they can plan around it. Find a time that is calm and that you will be able to focus 100% on your friends. Many brides choose to have a ladies luncheon a few days before the wedding – this is a perfect time to present your friends with gifts.  Treat your bridesmaid to a Monogrammed Polka Dot Tumbler that is personalized with their initial!

Good Friends

If you have a good friend who was not a part of the bridal party (many brides have family-only bridesmaids), it’s a sweet gesture to give her a small token of appreciation as well. Let her know how much you appreciate her efforts!

Presenting your bridal party with a token of your appreciation is so important – after all, they’ve done so much to help you arrive where you are today. On that note, don’t forget to also remind hubby-to-be to take care of his groomsmen gifts!  You will find a popular groomsmen gift to the left, Silver Square Cuff Links, from With This Favor that will delight the fellas!

Thanking the Ladies: Perfect Gifts for Bridesmaids is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Hello Readers!

To keep my matron of honor, maid of honor and bridesmaids aware of upcoming wedding-related dates, I would email or snail mail newsletters.  I wanted to make sure they felt like they were a part of the wedding planning process, as well as let them know how special they are to me, while still encouraging them to keep track of all the wedding events.  Truth be told, it helped me stay on track as well:)

Wedding Newsletters for Bridesmaids is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Hello Brides and Grooms!

At the ninth month of our one year engagement, I spent a lot of time focusing on my matron of honor, maid of honor and bridesmaids.  Along the course of my engagement, I wanted my bridesmaids to feel special and truly bring them into the whole wedding planning experience.

When I asked my very special ladies to be a part of our wedding, I went out to Target, bought black short-sleeve shirts in each gal’s respective size, and bought Swarovski crystal iron-ons signifying “maid of honor” or “bridesmaid.”  This DIY (Do It Yourself) project was fun and creative for me, and I enjoyed watching each girl as they received their shirt and card asking them to be a part of our wedding.

After about four months of the engagement, I decided on Alfred Angelo as the designer brand for the bridesmaid dresses. My goal was to have each gal choose what they would be wearing on wedding day.  Inclusion was very important to me.   Therefore, I chose an Alfred Angelo “harvest gold” long-length skirt with a train for each bridesmaid to wear, and they each chose a different Alfred Angelo top (also in “harvest  gold”) that they felt would best complement their body shape.  The bridesmaids were also able to choose between two sets of sparkling gold shoes that I felt looked classy and elegant with their dresses.  I didn’t want them to all have the same type of shoe because each girl has a different shape of foot and comfort-level when it comes to dress shoes.  Half the girls chose one style to wear, and the other half chose another style.  It ended up a “win-win” situation because not only were the shoes all in the same color and beautiful, but we all had a part in deciding on the shoes.

In addition, I started sending out emails titled “My Beautiful Bridesmaids” every 2-3 months during that one year span of time.

The purpose of the emails was to keep my bridesmaids informed of where I was at in the wedding planning process, reminder dates of events that were approaching (like the engagement parties, bridesmaid shower, and bachelorette party), if money was due, or if hotel rooms needed to be booked.  Most of all, my intent was to include them in this very special time in my life.

By the ninth month of the engagement, I started picking out gifts for the girls that I wanted to give to them on Rehearsal Dinner night as a way for me to say “thank you” for being such an instrumental part of my life.  One of the gifts that I bought was individual, monogrammed bags in their favorite color.  I bought small bags so they could set items like wedding jewelry in, and then larger bags so that they had something to place all the wedding- oriented items (shoes, make-up, curling irons, etc) in. Some comparable items to what I bought were the Black Monogram Polka Dot Jewelry Cases and the Carry All Tote Bags.

Within their bags, I included items like cute wedding candles, DIY (Do It Yourself) necklaces that me and a fellow bridesmaid created at a jewelry/bead store, as well as a little surprises for wedding day that included: Tylenol, Chewing Gum, Crown Royal bottles, Sky Vodka bottles, Coca-cola bottles,  etc. Some comparable items to what I bought are the “Damask Traditions” Frosted Glass Tea Light Holder and the Monogrammed Polka Dot Koozies.

My point of this post is to just spark imagination and provide readers an opportunity to start thinking on ideas for bridesmaids.  These ladies are very important people that a bride chooses to be a part of her and her husband’s wedding day, so these ladies should be honored in a way that makes them feel special…and included.

Best Wishes and Happy Planning!

Bridesmaid Gift Ideas is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Hello Brides and Grooms!

Theoretically, we are about at the 8-month mark in our 12-month Wedding Timeline!  Therefore, this post will reflect upon the support from family members and friends that can be useful (if not needed) for wedding day.

It can be very effective for some brides and grooms to create roles and responsibilities for their wedding party.   Not only does it take the bride and groom, their respective families, as well as wedding vendors to successfully pull together a wedding, but the wedding party is also an integral part of a wedding.

In my own experience, it was important to define roles and responsibilities as an outlet for me to de-stress and to take some of the wedding planning off my “to-do” list and delegate to others.

Thus, I have identified two options to explore when creating a roles and responsibility list for your wedding party.  The first option involves the agreement from wedding party members to accept responsibility.  I like to call this “obtaining their buy-in.”  You can present to wedding party members “why” their help is so valuable and ask what area of the wedding they would feel most comfortable helping out in.

On the flipside, if the first option does not seem a good route to take with your wedding party, then delegating responsibility may be a great avenue to explore.  Although it may take some gentle reminding and gentle directing, it may be appropriate to talk to wedding party about the purpose of the day–to help support the bride and groom as they begin their married life together.  With that in mind, when family members and friends committed to being a part of the wedding party, they are making a verbal or non-verbal vow to perform the duties of being a part of the bride and groom’s wedding day.

Below is an example of the roles and responsibilities list for the wedding party of With This Favor’s co-owners. Individual copies of the list were given to the wedding party the night of the Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner so that these important and special people were aware and prepared for wedding day.  We hope this ignites creativity and provides focus as you continue forward on your “bridal wedding planning bliss!”

Right click here and save to download Roles and Responsibilities in PDF

Right click here and save to download Roles and Responsibilities in Word

Wedding Party Roles And Reponsibilities is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.