When I was planning my sister's wedding and I am still a newbie in wedding planning world, there were some details I really researched about. My mom said in every wedding there is this one practice that at least should be followed by the couple especially by the bride, and the one that she taught me was the "something" tradition. Here what she has told me, there should be:

Something Old

Which represents the life the couples are leaving behind while maintaining the connection from past to their new life. These can be any old stuff from your parents or grandparents, or better the bride's or groom's mother wedding gown or any jewelry from the family heirlooms.

Something New

This one convey new hope and affirmation. It is so easy to have these items, because majority of the details and items you will use in the wedding are new or customized.

 Something Borrowed

Borrowing from someone is not that difficult to do, but my mom said, the couple should borrow something from someone who is jovial or living a blissful life. For the reason that it is like borrowing happiness, so that their happiness will pass on to the couple.

Something Blue

The color is a symbol of good luck, fidelity, purity and loyalty. Finding an item in this color is also not difficult. Blue handkerchief, blue wedding garter or blue small accessories are some of the few items can be considered.

In this modern time,  photography  has come of age. Gone are the days of the Polaroid’s and cameras that uses film. Almost all of us are already using the digital camera. And one of events or special occasions that take advantage of digital picture taking is the wedding. The photographer can take pictures of the couple as long as his memory card and battery lasts.  The couple even  have this engagement photo shoot before the wedding. In line with this, the couple has the time to prepare  and familiarize themselves to be  comfortable in picture taking on their wedding day, plus get rid of their “camera shy attitude"

I suggest for the couples's wedding engagement photo shoot, the couple should prepare at least three best clothes ; formal dress, casual dress and identical clothes or uniform colored shirts. After the the photo shoot, the can be use for the couple's website wedding announcer, their onsite wedding reception audio visual presentations

Here are some more inspirations, in where to use the pictures:

They can be use for invitations, save the date cards, signature photo frame, guests album favors, place card holder mini albums, personalized guest book and glass coasters.

In addtion to that ideas here are the some other ways; glass photo vase for the table at the reception, cake topper, photo keep sake box, personalized cuff links, lockets  and photo frame favors

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Yesterday I was browsing the internet looking for birdhouse that I am planning to use for my next wedding event I am handling. As I browse I found these cute lovely birds, actually they are called lovebirds. I was so curious why they are called love birds and always associted with couples.

This is what I learned about them, a Lovebird is in fact a tiny parrot, from the African continent and Madagascar. They are a social and affectionate small parrot.

In Celtic mythology, Aengus, the god of love, was seen with four tiny lovebirds flying around his head Their name stems from the parrots' strong, monogamous pair bonding and the long periods in which paired birds will spend sitting together. 

Until European explorers wrote about them in their journals. The explorers described the brightly coloured birds that they had seen on their travels and people wanted to know more about them. The love birds were imported into Europe and became very popular as wedding gifts because of the loving ways of the lovebirds.

Nowadays using lovebirds as gifts is not that popular anymore, but  intstead using lovebird inspired wedding theme is very popular.  Here are some suggested wedding favors instead, that captures the essence of lovebirds.

Doesn't that make the "Lovebirds" Chrome Bottle Stopper a naturally sublime favor for people in love?  Perched-lovebird bottle stopper is made of solid chrome, with a notable weight and quality bottle stopper .Clear gift-box design surrounds the lovebird with a clever, cutout tree bursting with heart-shaped leaves; the base is white with a square, soft-green graphic in front that says Lovebirds Chrome Bottle Stopper between two delicate, brown branches, and on top of the box is a white-sating bow and a matching "For You" tag Gift box

And this finely crafted in white porcelain, these modern and romantic salt and pepper shakers make adorable favors for weddings. The exquisite packaging features a pullout box with the two Love Birds comfortably nesting inside. Die cut openings in the box cover allows a small peek into the interior. For added charm, personalize this gift using the versatile Love Bird Paper Band.

Plus these items below that goes well with the Lovebird Theme Wedding. Love Birds book registry,  pen with base, flower girl basket and garter.

While in this photo there are an array of Lovebirds Theme items  to choose from.

1. Love Birds Cling which can be used on any glass surface. It is a great way to personalize the newly wed get-away car in a sophisticated manner. Also plan to use these on the windows of church doors or reception halls to help guide the guests

2. Love Birds Sticker add instant personality to small tins, favor containers, or even envelopes.

3. Even table numbers can be used to enhance the Love Bird theme. This charming design is suitable for wedding receptions.

4. This blank note card can be used in any number of ways to help develop a Love Bird theme.

5. This delightful Save the Date card will give your guests a small preview of the sentiment that will guide the planning for the main event.

6. This miniature favor/gift  tag with a Love Bird theme will add instant charm to any favor, decorating item, take-away gift or other wedding accessories.

7. This Love Bird Water Bottle Label Sticker will add instant charm.

You know how when you were a little kid and you believed in fairy tales, that fantasy of what your life would be, white dress, prince charming who would carry you away to a castle on a hill. You would lie in bed at night and close your eyes and you had complete and utter faith. Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, Prince Charming, they were so close you could taste them. And singing a few lines, "Someday my prince will come..."

And this fairy tale is happening to someone who have believed and found her Prince Charming. Ayha to her friends with her soon to be husband Leih, is busy preparing for almost 9 months now, for their dream Fairy Tale wedding. They're wedding theme caught my attend so I captured some of the photos and reveal some of the details that kept them pre-occupied in their wedding announcement website.

 

In this photo includes: the couple's wedding announcement website, wedding invitation, mock up table arrangement for  the reception and the candle favor that will be lighten on the table during dinner. Their wedding motiff will use lavender, purple and pink colors.

The bride will be riding this very royal like beautiful carriage ,which will bring her  to the church.  She will be like a real princess on this. While the church will be  this enchanting lduring the wedding ceremony.

A carriage inspired candy mint box which will be given to the guest, a kissing bell and since not everyone is aware of what is a kissing bell, they decided to put a small cards with this note, on it. And with these wedding place card holder  certainly add to the allure.

Then the special wedding candle favors for their guests to bring home.



Lastly, she shared what she will wear on her wedding day.  The diamond engagement ring that is similar to this one , a custom made clear polyethylene bridal shoes to give her shoes the look of a glass shoes, her tiara  that will give her a complete look of a princess. She will be using this necklace jewelry set but in lavender color and her astonishing wedding gown adorned with semi-precious stones and Swarovski crystals inspired by this one.

To add on these, I will give her a compact mirror with crown design on it. I'm sure she will be needing this from time to time during the wedding for some quick fix and retouch.

With all of these preparations, I am very sure she will be a bride princess with her prince charming, and their fairy tale wedding will be breathtaking and magical.

"Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you. If you’re young at heart ...."

Frank Sinatra

In the East where I grew up I have never experienced attending a wedding using almonds as favor, maybe because they are not abundant in our location and it's not that cheap too. So, when I had the chance to attend a wedding in the West, I was amazed  that they used nuts as wedding favors which I later found out that they were Jordan almonds as they call it.To my interest and awe with the almonds I even researched about it.

Jordan almonds are use as wedding favors because of it's cultural meaning particulary in Italian, Greek and Middle Eastern Wedding and later on adopted by Western culture.  Fresh almonds have bitter-sweet taste, which signify life, white the sugar coating is added with faith that the newlywed's life will be more sweet than bitter. Before they use only white sugar coating for the nuts but now they come in different colors.

Here some exercepts from where I researched:

 Tradition suggests using five Jordan Almonds for each guest. One to signify health, one for wealth, one for longevity, one for fertility and one for happiness.

Different cultural meaning in different countries:

ITALIAN WEDDINGS Five almonds signify five wishes for the bride and groom: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. These almonds decorate each place setting as favors, tucked into pretty boxes or tulle bags called *bomboniere* that are often personalized with the couple's names and wedding date.

GREEK WEDDINGS Sugarcoated almonds in traditional Greek weddings are called *koufeta*. They are placed in little bags in odd numbers and are served on a silver tray. Odd numbers are indivisible, symbolizing how the newlyweds will share everything and remain undivided. Tradition holds that if an unmarried woman puts the almonds under her pillow, she'll dream of her future husband.

MIDDLE EASTERN WEDDINGS Candy-covered almonds, considered aphrodisiacs, are always on hand.

When using the almonds as wedding favors consider using this Jordan Almonds poem and print it on give  tag

Jordan Almonds for Thee

Five sugared almonds for each guest to eat
To remind us that life is both bitter and sweet.
Five wishes for the new husband and wife --
Health, wealth, happiness, children, and a long life!
by Jill Girardo