Archive for DIY

28 Dec 2011
beauty • DIY • how-to • planning

Guest Post: Choosing Wedding hairstyles can be a daunting process: It shouldn’t be!

The right hairstyle for your wedding attire comes with a lot of planning and trial and error sessions. Due to this very reason, choosing the right wedding hairstyle can be a very daunting task for many brides. Are you a bride caught in a dilemma as to what hairstyle suits you the best? Here are some suggestions to go by.

Things to consider

1. Before you pick your hairstyle, check your hair texture and volume and chose the style accordingly. Thick and curly hair must never be straightened as it would be difficult to manage through the entire ceremony. Similarly, straight hair must not be forced to remain permed, especially if it is sunny and humid when the hair can lose its luster and look limp and sticky. Choose a realistic style that suits your hair volume and thickness and also one that you are comfortable in.

2. The decision to wear it up as a bun or down too must be done carefully. Assess your comfort level and personality before making the final choice. The style should suit your face and also the wedding attire that your wear. Do not try elaborate hairstyles that you have never tried before. If you have long hair and are comfortable in wearing your hair up, a simple chignon could look stunning on you.

3. The right hair accessories can add that touch of elegance and attraction to any simple hairstyle. Choose between beautiful flowers, hair clips, hair bands and bows that suit your style. It is also important to coordinate your hairstyle with your dress. For high necks, a classic up do can do wonders. Similarly, for off shoulder or low necked dress, long hair with soft curls or straight spikes can make things elegant.

4. It is important to plan early as it will give you enough time to discuss with your hairdresser and look for possible styles in wedding magazines and hairstyle magazines. This will also give you enough time to try different styles and checkout the effect on your entire personality.

Some popular wedding hair styles

1. The classic bun

The classic bun has seen a lot if variation these days and now you can wear the tight bun into loose curls or with elegant strands of loose hair left around your face or even a fashionable chignon with braided borders and what not. The position of the bun too offers great possibilities for experimentation with side binds, buns that can be placed at the nape, etc.

2. Loose and textured styles

They are very easy and simple and can be styled according to your hair texture. Soft curls cascading down your shoulders can give an ethereal look if you seal the crown with a beautiful braid, flowers or a shining tiara.

3. Straight down

This can be curls or straightened hair left open for s simple hairdo. Styling involves use of beautiful hair clips and flowers at strategic spots to create a sophisticated look.

4. Half up

The half up style has revived interest with the Royal Wedding where Catherine, Prince William’s bride chose to adorn it. You can use a hairclip at the sides and leave your hair open after styling it with curls, or use a beautiful tiara to enhance the appeal.

Hairstyle can add a touch of sophistication to your entire wedding attire and hence, must be chosen with finesse.

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About the author: Karien is a freelance writer, who loves to churn articles on wedding and these days, she is working on short wedding dresses. And her earnest desire is to own a showroom of juicy couture handbags.

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18 Nov 2011
beauty • DIY • how-to • planning • top 10

Guest Post: Top Ten Wedding Day Beauty Products from Wedding Photographer Lauren Phillips

Your wedding day will be the happiest day in your life; it will also be the most emotional. One minute you will be freezing, the next sweating. One minute you will be laughing, the next hysterically crying. All of this is normal; it’s a big day. But this doesn’t mean you have to go through your big day sweaty with makeup running down your face. Thanks to modern-day beauty products, you can make it through the reception without a hair out of place. Listed below are the top ten beauty products for wedding day:

1. Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara; available in black, azure blue and chestnut; $24.50.

2. LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye (shadow) Primer; $20.00.


3. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer; available in colorless shades and colored shades to correct skin pigmentation problems; $32.00-$42.00.

4. Boscia Fresh Blotting Linens-Green Tea; 100 sheets for $10.00.

5. L’Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray Strong Hold; $7.00.

6. Dior Lip Maximizer; available in pink and apricot; lasts for up to five hours; $30.00.

7. Degree Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant Clinical Protection; for extra protection; $7.50.

8. Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash; to freshen up your breathe and mouth before the ceremony;$5.97.

9. Gold Bond Extra Strength Body Powder; to cool off your feet and minimize sweaty palms; $7.00.

10. Visine Redness Reliever Eye Drops, Original; to relieve redness caused by crying; $4.00.

Lauren Phillips has been a professional event photographer for 16 years and knows a thing or two about looking great in your wedding photos. She also owns the site Photography Degrees. She likes to write articles about everything photography. For more information, visit www.photographydegrees.org.

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17 Nov 2011
DIY • how-to • planning • top 10

How to Plan the Perfect Honeymoon

Now that the wedding is over, the dress is covered in dirt, drinks and cake, and the suits have been returned to Men’s Warehouse, it’s time to really get the party started. If the wedding is the main course, then consider the honeymoon a decadent dessert! Plan a trip for you and your fiance that will help you de-stress from the planning, organizing, and hard work you put into getting to this place in your lives. This is truly a time to celebrate! Follow these simple guidelines and plan the stress-free honeymoon of your dreams.

Set your budget early and stick to it!
Don’t torture yourself by looking at locations that you can’t afford to visit. Talk with your fiancé about your budget, and keep that number in mind when you search for your honeymoon destination.

Think Outside the Box
Most people automatically think of a beach side resort when they start planning their honeymoons, but there are so many other amazing destinations and trips to choose from! If you are an adventurous type, plan a hike through a worldwide known landmark or a visit to a romantic camping trip. If you are kids at heart, visit a popular theme park and ride all of your favorite rides while eating cotton candy and ice cream. You don’t have to be on a beach to be on your honeymoon.

Talk to a Travel Agent
The internet can be a big black hole when it comes to finding information. If you simply type in “honeymoon destinations” you’ll be inundated with sites and information and advice that you might not need. Talk to a travel agent or planner who can help guide you in the right direction, and help you find the best deals.

Search For the Best Deal
Speaking of deals, don’t’ be afraid to search for them!With the economy coming back from a large downswing, many companies, hotels and travel companies are offering deals and packages that are very affordable. Search travel sites like Groupon Getaways to find a package deal and save a ton of money to spend on drinks and seashell necklaces for your family back home.

Plan Ahead
If you decide to plan your honeymoon at the last minute, expect things to get expensive, especially if you’re traveling out of the country. By booking tickets early, at least a year in advance, you can not only guarantee your rentals but save a lot of cash as well. Start with flights, and then work your way down to the smaller details.

Have a Checklist
It may seem like it would be more fun to plan a spontaneous trip, but you’re better off having a detailed list of everything you need to book, rent, buy and pack. Make sure you check the weather forecasts ahead of time so you know exactly what conditions to pack for, print all of your rental agreements and make sure you have all of your travel documents on hand and ready to go.

Relax and Enjoy Yourself
The stress of planning a wedding can be overwhelming. The honeymoon is a chance for you and your new spouse to take a break and simply enjoy being married. Unplug from technology, leave the phone at home, and take lots of pictures! Cherish the time you have together, because once it’s over, it’s back to reality!


Before you take the trip of a lifetime, you should probably get married first! Shop wedding invitations packages, save the date cards, thank you cards and much more at www.jennlanedesign.com!

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25 Oct 2011
DIY • how-to • planning

How to Pick the Perfect Centerpieces

Centerpieces are the main decorative item in your wedding reception. Having a great centerpiece can tie a room together, while having a bad centerpiece can make mingling difficult with your guests and leave your tables too crowded and uncomfortable.

There are a few key components to making a beautiful centerpiece that is both functional and beautiful. Just go down the list and you can easily customize the arrangement to what you want for your reception.

For the focal point, choose something that you can build around, such as:
pilar candles
tealights
a small bouquet of flowers
individual cakes or cupcakes (this would be a great favor idea!)
a vase with colored gemstones, rocks or fruit
wine bottles (also an excellent favor, just make sure you have sparking cider for the under 21 crowd)
gourds or pumpkins for a fall themed wedding
vintage birdcages filled with flowers

For the containers, choose something that works with the theme and decór. For an affordable idea, you can get vases from thrift stores in different sizes and shapes. You can find shipping crates for rustic themes, or tall cylinder vases for a modern look. Most hotels that hold wedding receptions have small plates of glass that reflect candlelight beautifully, giving the room ambiance.

Around the containers, you can decorate the table with gemstones, shells, flower petals and votive candle holders to tie the table and the centerpieces together. You can buy pieces of fabric or handkerchiefs to lay on the tables to add a pop of color from the tablecloth.

Once you have all the components in place, all you have left to do is arrange it on the table in a way that allows enough room for the plates, silverware, glasses and favors to be placed.

Your guests will love and appreciate the special touches and time you took to plan and arrange beautiful centerpieces for your tables.

To Shop Wedding Invitations Packages, click here!

To Shop Save the Date cards, click here!

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24 Oct 2011
DIY • how-to • planning

Unique Guestbook Ideas

At most weddings, on your way to the platters of cheese, fruit and perhaps even an open bar, you have to make one quick stop and sign your name in the guest book. Traditionally, the book is plain and consists of gray lines on which to hastily sign and get to the goods waiting for you at the reception, but lately, guests books have become crafty, creative and unique to the couple. Guest books are now a piece of the reception that describes the couples’ personality.

One of the most popular guestbook ideas is one that stems from an age old school tradition. We’ve all spoken the words, “will you sign my yearbook?” and watched as someone flipped through the pages to sign next to their class picture. The only difference is that this book is filled with beautiful pictures of you and your new husband or wife (and will hopefully consist of less profanity).

Photo Credit: www.bubblybride.com

Why not have a guestbook that can hang in your house? Frame an 8 x 10 engagement picture with a wide mat around the edges for enough room for your guests to sign. This way you can hang the photo up in your home and always look back at how great it was to spend time with everyone who attended.

Photo Credit: www.xoxofavors.com

To make your guestbook more interactive, decorate a large jar and have pens and small slips of paper set out that match your wedding colors. Ask the guests to write you a message, like “where do you see us in 20 years” or “what is the key to successful marriage”. You can keep the jar in your house and take a peak at your guests advice, quips and well wishes whenever you want.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Set out a Polaroid camera and have a scrapbook set up with photo corners already put in. Have your guests take their photos and then write a little message in your guestbook next to their photo.

www.weddingjunkie.com

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18 Oct 2011
DIY • how-to • planning

Fall Wedding: Candy Buffet

Candy buffets are a wedding reception trend that has been gaining more and more popularity. With the seasons changing, leaves turning beautiful colors of orange and brown, fall weddings are taking center stage. There are several ways to make your candy buffet fit into your fall wedding theme without making it a Halloween festivity begging for ghosts and princesses to walk up to your sweetheart table yelling, “TRICK OR TREAT!”.

Choose candies that fit in with the colors of fall, but don’t bulk up on traditional Halloween candy. Having several jars full of candy corn and pumpkin shaped Reese’s might give off the wrong idea.

Photo Credit: www.weddlady.com

Make your buffet festive by replacing some of the glass jars with gourds or fall-shaped containers.

Photo Credit: www.goodhousekeeping.com

Photo Credit: www.housingtouri.com

Choose decorations to go around the candy jars that tie in your theme, like pumpkins, fall leaves, colored table clothes and candles.

Photo Credit: www.orchardhillsfloral.com

Rather than having your guest fill up plain plastic bags, choose fall-themed goodie bags to tie it all together.





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here.

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25 Aug 2011
DIY • how-to • planning

Wedding Inspiration Boards


Weddings have so many components to them, and it get be overwhelming to see a list of every little detail, and try and figure out how it’s all going to fit together to look like a cohesive, beautiful event. If you look at each item individually, it’s going to seem like an impossible feat, but having a “look and feel” for the entire wedding will help make the planning process much more manageable. Not only will it help you and your fiancé decide what you want, but it will help you convey what you want for your wedding to family and friends who are helping you plan as well.

One of the best ways to find out exactly the type of wedding you want is to make an inspiration board.

Source: blog.bohoweddingsandevents.com

Start by reading bridal magazines and websites to really get an idea of what you want for the look and feel of your wedding. Talk with your fiancé on ideas that he has, and together come up with a concept. Weddings don’t have to have themes, but they do have cohesive design elements that need to work well together.

Search the internet for pictures that fit into your ideas. Collect images of dresses, wedding invitations, flowers, save the date cards, cakes and color combinations. Start arranging them using a design software (whether it be Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or even a Powerpoint slide.

Source: newenglandfineliving.com

Save this image and share it with anyone who is helping you with your wedding planning to make sure everyone is on the same page! Print the collected images and arrange them into a small scrapbook to bring with you when you meet with vendors, so that they can have a clear and concise idea of what you want, and there won’t be any gray areas in creating the perfect wedding for you and your fiancé.

Happy planning!

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19 Aug 2011
DIY • how-to • planning

Reception Ideas: Candy Buffet

It doesn’t matter if your 5 or 55, getting something for free makes you giddy. Wedding favors are one of the first things I look for at a wedding reception. It’s something that shows the couple’s personality and is the bride and grooms way of thanking you for being a part of their special day. Now, a lot of wedding favors have been done (and done and done and done…I’m looking at you bubbles) and it’s time for a new generation of wedding favors. One of the up and coming favor ideas is something that engages not just the visual senses, but the taste buds as well! This is one D.I.Y. Project that is as easy as it is sweet.


Here are a few things to remember when setting up your own candy buffet:

1. Buy in bulk. If you shop early enough, you’ll be able to find most of your candy from wholesale stores online. Stores like Sam’s Club and Costco will have some of your favorite chocolates and candies in bulk packaging as well, for a much more reasonable price than purchasing them individually.

photo credit: Rachel Janssen Photography

2. Coordinate the color of your candy with your wedding decór. For example, if you are having a beach wedding, find candy in colors of blues, browns, tans and greens to match the colors of nature and the scenery.

Photo Credit: www.gumballstand.com

3. Have a variety of candy choices. Not everyone loves chocolate as much as you do. (I know, it sounds crazy, but it’s true.) Make sure to buy a variety of candies, such as hard candies, sour candy, gummies, salty snacks along with the signature Hershey’s kisses and Sixlets.

Photo Credit: www.sliceofsweetness.com

4. Personalize your treats for a nice touch. Companies like M&M will personalize your candy for you when you order from their website. This is a cute idea to add a little something extra to your buffet. You can make personalized labels for candy bars and tie ribbons around lollipops with your wedding date and names on them.

Photo Credit: www.candybuffetwrappers.com

5. Make sure you have enough to go around! The first few guests to go through the buffet line will probably get extra large scoops. There is something about a buffet line that makes people think they won’t ever get the opportunity again, and go to town, which is fine! But just make sure that the last people to get through the line have a full bag of candy as well.

Photo Credit: www.unitedwithlove.com

Most importantly, have fun and sit back as your guests excitedly fill up their bags and boxes with your favorite treats. I guarantee this will please even the grumpiest wedding guest, and make everyone feel like a kid again!

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