In the past Rehearsal dinners were traditionally small, intimate events the night before a wedding that only the wedding party and immediate family of the bride and groom were invited to. This is no longer no longer the case; trends are headed toward more unique and laid-back rehearsal dinners. Here are a few ideas to make help make your rehearsal more personal, memorable and fun:

1.) Choose a familiar place;this could be the first restaurant you dined at with your fiancee, your parent’s backyard, your favorite cozy cafe or anywhere else that means something special to you.

2.) Capture the memories by hiring a professional photographer: this will be the night before one of the biggest days of your life. With all the excitement and emotion swirling in the air taking quality pics may be the last thing on any of your guests’ minds. By hiring a pro you are sure to get some great shots, and if you make these plans early on you may be able to negotiate a good rate with your wedding photographer since he or she will already be working with you and your fiancee.

3.) Keep it low key. There are several ways to keep your rehearsal dinner informal and fun. Start of by inviting whomever you want. Break tradition by inviting long term family friends, a close neighbor or anyone else you’d like to include. Another way is do a ‘pot-luck’ or a BBQ. Just make sure nobody near and dear gets stuck cooking or cleaning up all night.

4.) Make a toast to your guests; at your wedding you and your fiancee be the guests of honor. Many people will say lovely things about you and your union. At the rehearsal dinner take the opportunity to acknowledge the friends and family that helped you work toward the big day, tell ‘em what they mean to you.

You’ve got to check out these beautiful faux pearl bib necklace, by Ranjana Khan, for sale at hsn.com. They are all the rage on the runways right now. Not only will they look great with your wedding gown they are perfect for dressing up any casual outfit and serve as an eye-catching accessory/momento of your big day. When I first saw this necklace I couldn’t keep my eyes off of it, the shine and sparkle are almost mesmerizing.

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Tired of seeing the same old send off at wedding receptions? Want an impressive way to make your departure that leaves your guests in awe? Sky Lanterns, also known as Flying Lanterns, are the answer. Their sparkle can be seen flying up in the air for as long as 20 minutes and will travel several miles in distance, after which the flame will blow out and they will gently float back down for a safe landing. Sky Lanterns will fly to more than 1,000 meters in altitude, providing an enjoyable yet amazingly simple show for all ages.
The back ground on Flying Lanterns: otherwise known as Khoom Fay in the Asian culture, they were used next to fireworks in traditional Asian festivals for thousands of years. Paper lanterns were used to celebrate the Chinese New Year and as a signaling device. Countless paper lanterns were launched to rid the people of their worries and to decorate the city’s sky with light. The flame would symbolize knowledge and wisdom.
The Paper Lanterns are safe and easy to use. They are made of flame resistant paper, are 100% biodegradable and require only minimal assembly. They are calm and quiet, and let you sit back and enjoy the show.
A great interactive way to use these beauties is to order half as many as your guest count and let people pair up and light them right before your formal departure! This is an innovative way to invite your guests to participate in your send off. These lanterns are inexpensive and can be purchased for $4.99 ea. (or less depending on the quantity). Using them allows everyone to easily participate in an elaborate firework show with great effect. Simply let the air warm up inside for a couple of minutes and release!

Wedding Ambigrams

An ambigram combines word-art and optical illusions ~ a word is drawn so that it will appear the exact same when flipped up-side down. This creates a beautifully symmetrical piece of artwork is sure to catch your guests’ eye and serve as a great conversation piece.

With a two word ambigram, the first word rotates to create the second word. These are a wonderful way to pair the names of a couple, a first and last name, a name with an adjective, or any two words. You can display one word at a time, or, when the words are placed together, the whole image appears the same when rotate. There are several websites that offer this service, just Google: Ambigram and wedding I you will find plenty of options.

Tired of the same old rose boutonnieres? Looking for something different and original to pin to your groom? If you answered “yes” to these questions you’ve got to check out www.rosenowfloral.com . With unique boutonnieres like the one pictured above these bouts are sure to get noticed. It’s all in the details!

If you are looking to relax, get your mind off of wedding details and laugh a little; watching Bride Wars is a must. This cute film that features Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway as life long best friends, that mistakenly book their weddings on the same day at the Plaza in June, is a ridiculously funny tale. These ladies dupe each other with things only a best friend would think of. It’s a little outrageous and maybe a tad bit unbelievable, but that is what makes it entertaining. Check it out when you have the chance, it’s defintely worth seeing.