Mother of bride dresses

Getting wedding cameras for guests to use at your reception is a new trend in the bridal industry. Not only is it a fun way for guests to get to know one another, but you will get unique photos of moments your photographer might miss.

Wedding Cameras

Wedding Camera Instructions

When you put a camera out on your reception table, you should include instructions. How detailed you want to be depends on your expectations and your guests. Do you have certain shots you want them to get? Are most of your guests outgoing? This will depend on the kind of instructions you give.

Simple Instructions

The easiest way for your guests to use a wedding camera is just to put a small placard on the table next to the camera. It might read something like this:

“Please help us make memories! Snap a few photos and pass it around! Leave on the guest book table at the end of the evening.”

With little instruction, the guests are welcome to take photos as they wish. You may end up with photos of the head table, guests posing together, centerpieces, or the dance. Some brides have even found “artsy” photos of cake slices or guests’ shoes.

Mix-It-Up Instructions

If you want to make your instructions more fun for your guests, you could give each table a “mission” that ties in with their table name or number. For example, if you lettered your tables, have guests take photos of things at your wedding that begin with that letter.

Another idea is to give each table a special assignment, like “kissing” photos or “groovy” photos. Then the photos the people take at each table would have something to do with that theme.

No matter what assignment you give your tables, make sure to mention that the camera should be passed around to different people.

Personal Instructions

If you are wary about giving your cameras to people and getting good shots, you may want to consider giving your wedding cameras to a few specific people. Ask them a few days before the wedding if they would mind taking a few photos with a disposable camera you provide for them.

Giving the cameras to a several people before the wedding can result in some candid shots as people arrive at the ceremony, during the ceremony, and afterwards. You are not limited to just reception photos and have a trusted friend doing you the favor. Be sure to write these people special thank-you’s for their help!

Scavenger Hunt

Couples who choose to take photographs after the ceremony may have a gap of time between the ceremony and the reception. A bit more elaborate, a scavenger hunt works for smaller informal weddings where people know each other well. For weddings with a lot of pre-teenaged children invited, it can help keep them occupied while waiting for the reception to begin.

On each table, have a camera and a small list of items for them to find. Examples of scavenger photos include:

• Candles
• Guests arriving
• Black dress shoes
• Floral arrangement
• Woman’s shawl
• Other photographers
• Food
• Cake
• Great-uncle Henry
• Cocktails
• A baby

Be sure to write several different lists of items and place them by the cameras at the guest book table. Have your guest book attendant encourage people to check off the photos that have been taken, lowering your risk of duplicates.

Buying Cameras

Wedding cameras do not have to be anything fancy. You can use disposable cameras found at any discount or drug store. For beach weddings, waterproof cameras might be in store. Or, get the newest disposable cameras that have a zoom lens on it for better pictures.

A lot of brides like to use specially decorated cameras that match the look of their reception. Check out the following cameras for your wedding day:

• Black and White Prestigious Memories—Get your photos in black and white from this camera.
• Wedding Message Camera—Each camera comes pre-loaded with special messages that appear on the bottom of photographs.
• Personalized Wedding Cameras—Select from a wide variety of cameras that can be personalized for your special day.

You are not limited to just disposable cameras. Companies like YouShoot now offer digital cameras for wedding rental. YouShoot also offers a web-hosting site where the bride and groom can share their photos with everyone.

If you know of a few guests who bring their cameras to social occasions, you may want to ask them if they would give you a set of duplicate prints. Ask that digital camera pictures be emailed to you.

Choosing a mother of the bride dress is a time honored tradition. After all, the woman who is giving away her daughter has to look her best. What follows are some tips for choosing the perfect mother of the bride dress.

Before you Begin

Bridemom dress

Figure out your budget before you shop for a mother of the bride dress. It’s easy to go overboard at times like these; the last thing you want is to go in debt over a dress you’ll only wear once. Once you set your budget you can choose where to shop and what type of dress to purchase.

Many bridal magazines have advertisements for mother of the bride dresses. Peruse your daughter’s magazines to see if there are any styles that appeal to you. If you find a dress you really like, call the bridal or formal wear shops in your area to see if they have the dress before you make the trip.

When to Look

It’s best to shop for a dress at least six months before the event, if you have that much time. This will allow you to take your time to select a dress that’s absolutely perfect. If the dress you like is not available in your size or color, it will also allow for the shop to order the dress for you. Factor in alterations and other small issues that may arise and you’ll be happy you allotted this much time. Keep in mind that once the dress is home and in your closet it wouldn’t do to diet. You want your dress to fit perfectly on the day of the wedding.

Where to Look

Mother of bride

There are many places to look for a great mother of the bride dress. Most department stores have sections that sell formalwear and dressy dresses. This may be a good place to start, especially if you’re on a limited budget. You can also find plenty of styles at formal wear stores and even bridal shops. The Internet also has a wide assortment of choices. The downside to ordering online is that you can’t try the dress on to see how it looks.

Choosing a Mother of the Bride Dress

Bridemom dress

Before you choose your dress it’s important to remember all eyes will be on you at one time or another throughout the course of the event. Now is not the time to make a statement and the day isn’t about looking better than the mother of the groom or your ex-husband’s new wife. The day is about your daughter getting married. Your dress should be tasteful and elegant without causing tongues to wag.

You might want to consult with the bride about her choice of colors. While you don’t want to wear the same exact color as the women in the bridal party, you might want to wear something that at least matches. The last thing you want to do is clash or stand out in wedding photographs.

If you’re unsure of what to choose, take your daughter with you to find a mother of the bride dress. She’ll help you select something appropriate that compliments the color scheme. Since the mother of the bride traditionally chooses a wedding dress before the mother of the groom, the bride will also alert the groom’s mother as to what you are wearing. This will avoid both of you showing up in the same dress. Hey, it happens.

Appropriate Colors

Proper etiquette dictates that the bride is the only one who should wear white. While you may have seen other mothers of the bride wear white to a wedding, this is considered a major faux pas. You’ll want to avoid black too. Not only is this considered inappropriate, but many also feel its bad luck.

Check first to see what the wedding party will be wearing and see if you can find a color that works well. Also, choose a color that works well with your skin tone. You might also avoid dresses with busy prints as these can be quite distracting. It’s always a good idea to take along someone who will offer an unbiased opinion when choosing a mother of the bride dress.

Have Fun

The most important tip for choosing a mother of the bride dress is to have fun. When else do you get to try on as many stylish dressy dresses as you like? Don’t let the experience be stressful. After shopping enjoy a nice lunch or dinner out. Make the most of your mother of the bride experience!

wedding cakes with waterfalls can be lovely, romantic desserts that are artistic pastries and a highlight of the wedding reception decorations. With many options available, there is a waterfall wedding cake design suitable for many different types of nuptials.

Why Waterfalls?

A waterfall is a wistful, romantic scene, whether the brilliant water plunges down dramatic cliffs or trickles over meandering cascades. Waterfalls are scenic and beautiful, and dozens of magnificent waterfalls around the country named after bridal or wedding veils because of their tapering tiers.

Couples may choose a waterfall wedding cake simply because they enjoy the beauty of the cascading falls, or they may have more memorable reasons, such as:

• The marriage proposal or wedding ceremony takes place near a waterfall. Many mountain or beach wedding ceremonies are near waterfalls in lovely scenic locations.
• A waterfall is planned as part of the honeymoon, such as Niagara Falls, which is one of the world’s most popular honeymoon spots.
• The wedding has a tropical theme and a waterfall is part of the planned decorations. Some reception locations may even feature a faux waterfall in the background or as a photo backdrop.
• The couple is planning a swan, aquarium, or other aquatic motif for their celebration and a waterfall can be a delightful addition to the theme.

Types of Wedding Cakes with Waterfalls

There are many design options for waterfall wedding cakes, some of which incorporate real moving water while others simulate the appearance of a waterfall in a more creative way.

• Drizzle Icing: Cakes with icing drizzled down the tiers are reminiscent of a waterfall design, particularly if the icing drizzle is confined to one area of the cake rather than spread evenly around all sides.
• Working Fountains: A fountain wedding cake can use a real, working fountain that is similar to a waterfall. Fountains are available in different sizes and shapes to suit any cake.
• Floral Falls: A carefully arranged cascade of flowers down the sides of a wedding cake can simulate the appearance of a waterfall. Blue flowers such as hydrangea can be used for a vibrant aquatic look.

Waterfalls are popular wedding sites.

• Terraced Pools: A wedding cake can be designed to incorporate decorative “pools” on each tier, with waterfalls connecting the tiers for a coordinated design.
• Shaped Cakes: For a more intricate and realistic waterfall, the entire cake could be constructed as a cliff or rock wall with an elaborate icing stream and waterfall as a focal point. This is particularly popular for groom’s cakes, and a waterfall design will be a whimsical touch for a fishing-themed cake.
• Waterfall Stands: Some wedding cakes with waterfalls may actually use an elaborate wedding cake stand that features a functioning waterfall, rather than incorporating the waterfall design into the cake itself.

Cake Details

No matter what waterfall cake design a couple chooses, it is the small details of that design that make the cake even more stunning. The color of the icing can help highlight the waterfall effect, and adding wave-like embellishments and pearl decorations will reinforce the aquatic theme. Couples can also incorporate decorative bridges or islands for the wedding cake topper, or choose a topper with a watery theme, such as swans, mermaids, or fish to add a touch of related whimsy to the cake.

Finding a Waterfall Cake Designer

Wedding cakes with fountains or waterfalls can be difficult to design and may require more intense labor and specialized experience from the bakery to ensure the cake is elegant as well as edible (wet cake is not particularly appetizing). Because these cakes can be tricky, the wedding cake price is typically higher and may include more costly setup fees, particularly for real working waterfall or fountain cakes.

Couples should be clear about the type of waterfall wedding cake they want to design when they consult with a baker. If the expectations and requirements are clear, the baker will be able to provide a realistic assessment of whether or not a waterfall design is feasible.

Waterfall Alternatives

If a couple wants a waterfall motif for their reception but an edible waterfall cake isn’t possible, there are several alternatives to consider that can help create a similar ambiance without added complications.

• Add a chocolate fondue fountain to the menu. The circulating chocolate “waterfall” will be a delicious option for guests.
• Investigate a punch fountain arrangement for serving drinks instead of static punch bowls.
• Find elegant table or decorative waterfall fountains to use as part of the table decorating, particularly for the cake table.
• Investigate rental options for large functioning waterfalls that can be easily assembled in any reception area for an instant waterfall tableau.

Wedding cakes with waterfalls can be elegant, unique wedding cakes that are an exotic and memorable part of the wedding reception décor. Whether a couple wants a real waterfall or a decorative icing one, they can find a delicious way to add this natural beauty to their wedding cake.

Would you believe medieval wedding dresses are gaining in popularity? This recent trend in wedding dresses has nothing to do with tulle and lace or finding a dress without sleeves or straps. It goes back further in time than that. In fact, this trend has more to do with covering up than wearing something that leaves the back bear.

The Romance of a Medieval Wedding Dress

It’s no wonder medieval weddings are now in vogue. Is there a more romantic period in history? Kings and Queens, knights, princesses, fair maidens and wandering minstrels, if any type of wedding deserves the title of “fairy tale” this would be it. While a medieval wedding dress might not be of the color and style we now associate with omance factor.

Friends and Family

Keep in mind that friends and relatives might not understand why you’re choosing to wear a green dress with a style last seen in days of yore. Most of us are set in our ways when it comes to wedding dresses and though white dresses didn’t come into vogue until the Victorian era, they are what’s expected nowadays. Don’t change your mind if this is what you want, just be prepared for a little backlash.

Color and Style

In the Middle Ages, brides were all about color. While there are white medieval style wedding dresses on the market, to dress in true medieval fashion, a bride has to use bold color. Rich burgundy or deep green wedding gowns were made from velvet or silk with brocade or braided trim. Full skirts, wide sleeves, deep cleavage and a lace-up back were the fashion back then. Where to Buy

So where does the medieval bride find her dream dress? Believe it or not, a medieval wedding dress isn’t too difficult to find. If it’s not important for you to keep your dress forever, you might be interested in renting a period costume from an upscale costume shop. The downside of course, is that others have worn the gown before you and it may not be in pristine condition. Still, for finding an authentic period piece, this might be your best recourse.

If you’d rather purchase a dress, you have plenty of options. If your area happens to host a Renaissance fair, this is a wonderful place to purchase an authentic medieval wedding dress. You’ll be able to choose from several different vendors and the gowns will be true to their period. The folks selling the garments are very knowledgeable about these period pieces so don’t be afraid to ask questions.

The Internet also hosts a wealth of information regarding medieval wedding dresses. A search will yield many links to dressmakers and shops that specialize in the sale of medieval costumes. In addition, patterns are available from pattern makers specializing in period pieces. If you or someone you know is skilled with a needle, this might be the way to go.