Let's Hear it for the Girls!

Last week we talked about how equally important and difficult it can be to purchase thank you gifts for the groomsmen or males in your wedding party... but we can't forget about the lovely ladies! The ladies who have spent the entire time leading up to the wedding listening to all of your ideas, thoughts, frustrations, excitement, hopes, and fears deserve a very special "Thank You"!

There are so many ways to demonstrate your gratitude through gift giving, which is why it is vitally important to choose a gift that is personal and significant to the recipient. Additionally, we recommend avoiding the use of stereotypical gifts that have been over-exposed by the wedding industry. Don't get us wrong, flip-flops for the reception or jewelry to wear with their bridesmaid dress does get the job done... but these gifts pale in comparison to a unique gift that is thoughtfully selected.

That's where we come in! We love to help our brides put their thoughts into action by suggesting beautiful and thoughtful gifts ideas for the wedding party that will truly communicate how much each individual is appreciated.

Here are a few fabulous gifts ideas that our brides have used... all of which were such a hit with their friends!

If you're going to give jewelry, make it something personal, beautiful, and something they will cherish for years! This monogram cuff bracelet is the perfect combination of class and fashion... a gift that your friends really will wear and appreciate for years to come!

Adding a monogram to any gift shows that you went the extra mile to make it personal. This beautiful spa towel and slipper set is something that any of your friends would love to receive. This gift is timeless, functional, thoughtful-- and completely adorable! Function is a key consideration with your gift selection. Every time your girlfriend uses this cozy set, she will think of how much fun she had when she stood by you on your wedding day!

Personalized, hand painted wine glasses! We all love a wine night with our girlfriends, right!? This gift has it all... function, style, creativity, and class! And what great pictures you will have if your bridesmaids all use the glamorous glasses at your reception!

Celebrate your friendship with a personalized bottle of champagne! You can customize each bottle for every bridesmaid by writing individual messages that are etched into the glass, creating the most priceless keepsake long after the bottle is popped! What a heartfelt and fabulously fun way to say "Thank You!"

We hope you enjoy these ideas... but there are many more where these came from!

Allow us to help find the fabulous gifts that your bridal party deserves!

Sensational Send-Offs!

First impressions are important, but last impressions are a MUST!

How you choose to make your exit should truly be the icing on your magnificent, wedding-cake-filled day! Sure, bird seed, bubbles, and flower petals are timeless classics that will always be used as a way to celebrate the send-off of the bride and groom... but let's turn up the volume! Why not get creative by employing the elements of surprise and delight with new and exciting ideas that will *WOW* your guests and make for priceless photos?

Here are some sensational {{Shenanigans approved}} send-off suggestions (say that 5 times fast!) that will leave your guests mesmerized by the all-around fabulous-ness of your event... from beautiful beginning to extraordinary end!

Ribbon wands create just the right amount of whimsy on your perfect day! Not to mention, the beautiful color-coordinated streamers look stunning in photos!

Sparklers are jut simply beautiful! They make for some of the very best exit photos and they're a hit with guests of all ages. What's even more exciting, there are special types of sparklers that are slow burning, allowing for enough time to make your exit, as well as colored sparklers that coordinate with your wedding colors!

Dance your way into the night with a musical exit! Using instruments such as a trombone, trumpet, guitar, or many others to lead the way creates a fun and exciting element of surprise!This kind of exit is sure to keep the energy alive right up to the very last minute!

When it's time to GO, it's time to GLOW!!

Glow sticks are such a fun and unique way to make your exit. They can be ordered in huge quantities of any color, they're relatively inexpensive, and guests love them!

Fireworks! Need we say more? Nothing has quite the same WOW-factor as an illuminated sky full of brilliant, sparkly colors. This is not only entertaining, but also sets the scene for the most stunning photos!

Photo courtesy of Google Images.

Light the way with these stunning driveway flares! Your guests will stare in awe as your get-away car whisks you and your new husband away into the night and disappears into the glow of these sparkling flares! How incredibly romantic... and let's be honest, it's picture perfect!
Photo courtesy of Google Images.

Fabulous Flower Girls!

Any little girl would be overjoyed to be a part of your big day, wear a princess dress, and have her moment in the spotlight as she walks down the aisle just before the bride. But why not make the experience even more exciting by adding something unusual and, well... fabulous!

Several of our beloved brides have searched for exactly that-- something to make their flower girl stand out from the norm and add the element of surprise and delight to their special day! With the help of our team at Shenanigans, dreaming up these ideas and making them a reality is a cinch!

Check out some of the fabulous flower girls and flower girl accessories from the weddings of our dear brides...

These lovely little ladies had a great time with this super fun sign! Not to mention, it made for a very grand and memorable entrance for the bride!

Another shot of the precious sign...

Flower girl baskets made of real flowers! The girls LOVED them and had fun showing the guests their unique totes all night!

This Pomander Ball is a very beautiful accessory for a flower girl, and it's a nice change from the traditional basket of flowers! In addition to looking beautifully chic, these are very easy for the little ones to hold on to!

What flower girl wouldn't love her own Flower Wand? This accessory adds just the right amount of whimsy to your wedding, and serves as a prized possession of any flower girl!

Planning Michelle's Wedding - Chapter 2 - The Wedding Budget

Even though deciding on the date and place really gets the wedding planning process off and running, the Wedding Budget should be the governing factor when a bride begins the planning process. Having a realistic goal in mind will help in every aspect of planning, and will help you focus your money on the things that are most important to you.

Michelle, a prepared girl by nature, came to our first meeting armed with a basic budget goal - a nice wedding for 75-100 people with great food, decor, drinks and entertainment for $10,000 or less, which means we will need to keep a close eye on every expenditure, and weigh each purchase carefully. I like to take the estimated goal and work backwards, subtracting along the way, so that we can see how much is left after the "want" list is plugged in, and determine ways to cut or eliminate as necessary. Helping massage the budget and negotiate the most for the money is a major benefit of hiring a professional wedding planner such as Shenanigans Weddings and Events.

A major piece of advice, other than knowing your budget, is being prepared with an amount you can spend on each item (such as flowers or photography) before you meet with the vendor. A quality vendor will steer you towards what will fit in your budget rather than trying to consume all your budget!

Next topic: Color & Decor Ideas

Plan a Wedding with Us!

Curious about the steps involved in planning a wedding? Do you need decor or venue ideas? Are you trying to stay within a budget? These are just a few of the many questions that arise when planning a wedding. At Shenanigans Weddings and Events, we work with clients in every budget range. No matter what your budget is, each bride deserves the wedding of their dreams, and while not all of them can be "Platinum", all can be uniquely yours.

Meet one of my newest brides, Michelle. Michelle is a self-professed "laid back" kind of girl. The vision and inspiration for her wedding is the Town Mouse meets the Country Mouse - or, in this case, the City Girl and the Country Boy. Follow along as we go step by step through the wedding planning process. Michelle has a limited budget, so our goal will be to maximize her dollars spent toward the elements that are the most important to her!

Next topic: Date and Venue Selection