Dimensional bridal bouquets are all the rage in the wedding world. When creating your bridal bouquet, opting for flowers and leaves with unique shapes and varying lengths will give you a stunningly vibrant and creative finish.
If you want a memorable bridal bouquet, gather inspiration from these pretty posies.
One of the most controversial guest-list decisions you’ll make is whether or not you’re inviting kids to your wedding. On the one hand, the decision against inviting kids could cause some tension between you and your loved ones. On the other, a wedding without kids is likely to be much easier.
There are many things to be taken into consideration when making this decision. From guest expectations to venue capacity.
Ultimately, the decision is yours and you should do what feels right for you and your partner.
To help you wrap your head around making this decision, here are some pros and cons of inviting kids to your wedding.
Pros of inviting kids:
– Your guests with kids won’t have an issue attending
It is common for guests to complain about a child-free wedding because they don’t have anywhere to leave their kids. Sometimes, finding a good baby-sitter can be tough, especially if the child’s grandparents are also attending the wedding. If you’re inviting guests from out of town, they won’t be familiar with any sitters in the area. Most people won’t leave their kids behind if they’re travelling either.
By allowing kids at your wedding, you ensure that all your friends and family with kids are able to be in attendance.
– They add to the atmosphere
Inviting kids to your wedding brings a playfulness that you likely wouldn’t get from your adult guests. Having children run around and giggle with joy really does add an extra touch of happiness to the special day.
– There will be no tension
If you decide on having a wedding-wide ban on kids, you have to be prepared for some tension. Many people will take offense to the decision. This can be totally avoided if you allow parents to bring their kids along.
– Your nieces and nephews can be part of the wedding
While kids may not always be your cup of tea, we’re sure you’re very fond of your little nieces and nephews. You may even want them to be a part of the bridal party. If your wedding doesn’t accommodate kids, this is something you’ll have to give up.
Cons of inviting kids:
– Kids are unpredictable
Kids are known for their unpredictability. They could start screaming and crying and having a full-blown temper tantrum at any moment. Additionally, they get a bit fidgety if they’re sitting still for too long. They may start running around and acting uncontrollably if they get bored. If you’d prefer to avoid the risk of having your “I do’s” interrupted, then an adults-only affair is probably better for you.
– You will have to spend more money
Venue size and catering need to be taken into account. They may be little but kids still require seats and food. If your budget is tight, you may want to ensure that your adult guests are catered for first and then decide if you can afford to invite kids.
– You’ll have to keep them busy
Entertainment for kids and entertainment for adults are two completely different things. You will have to ensure that you have a way to keep kids busy, because for them a wedding is a very long event.
You know what’s worse than being dumped? Being broken up with a week before you’re supposed to get married. This unlucky bride-to-be, however, turned her misfortune into a symbolic moment by marrying herself instead.
Sandra Blanco, 32, from London, was left heartbroken when her fiancé broke off their engagement a week before Christmas.
“He said he didn’t want to be with me – that was it. Apparently, he had been feeling like this even before he proposed; I was confused, devastated and in shock,” she explained in an Instagram post.
Blanco had already begun planning their wedding, as they had settled on eloping to Las Vegas. Unfortunately, she was unable to receive refunds on anything she had booked. Rather than losing her money, Blanco decided to go forward with the wedding. Except this time, she would be marrying herself.
“I didn’t cancel the chapel or the ceremony,” she explained. “I didn’t want to because I had something very special in mind; I decided I was going to marry myself. I know – sounds crazy, right? But it wasn’t.”
“It was beautiful, emotional and moving; it was a ceremony where I committed to be good to and take care of myself.”
On her wedding day, she headed out to the Little Chapel in Las Vegas, where she made a promise to herself that love would come from within. Photographer Natalie J captured the day beautifully, and male model Iain Spivey acted as the groom-to-be in the post-wedding photoshoot.
“I’m a big fan of ‘cheesy’ and I wanted to make fun of such a situation, so I went to The Little Vegas Chapel,” she explained. “As I walked down the aisle by myself, the officiator, dressed as Elvis Presley, of course, spoke the kindest of words.”
The officiator’s words truly drove home Sandra’s journey.
‘Today you planned to come here with your boyfriend, unfortunately it didn’t work out and yet you still have the courage to come here now to make a promise to yourself. It is time to fully live your life, your wild and precious life,” said the officiator. “It is time to untie the stories, distractions and illustrations that keep you small and lean into the life that is waiting for you. Time to honour your innermost values, time to be gentle with your innocent heart, time to stand firmly by what you know to be true and make a bold, lifelong commitment to love.”
With this wedding, Blanco hopes to inspire others in similar positions and remind them that their pain is only temporary.
“It isn’t your end; this is your beginning and life as you know it now will open new doors and opportunities for you,” she said. “You will learn better and you will choose better; opportunities that will enable you to meet someone else who loves you more than you might ever love yourself. I promise you and you deserve it.”
The summer is upon us and sometimes you can’t be bothered to get hot and sweaty in a long dress. If you’re opting for a fun, modern look, why not go for a short dress? It does not have to take away from the formality, and is sure to have you strutting your best dance moves till sunrise. Here are some of the hottest trends in short wedding dresses:
The beautiful Princess Eugenie tied the knot with Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle a year ago, and she posted a sweet tribute video to celebrate. The two are a much-loved couple, and it’s easy to see their love is real. On her social media, she captioned the video: “This was the greatest day of my life…forever and always. Happy one year anniversary, my Jack!!”
The video shows intimate pictures from the fairy tale wedding at Windsor Castle, dubbed with a voice over of the pair reciting their wedding vows. Her dress takes the spotlight, as well as her jewel-studded crown and the iconic wedding kiss.
Her state of the art Peter Pilotto gown had us swooning all over again, and that train!
At 105 and 106 years old respectively, Charlotte and John Henderson from Austin, Texas are the oldest living couple on Earth. They met all the way back in 1934 at the University of Texas and it was love at first sight. John was seated behind Charlotte in class, and one day they started a conversation that sparked the flame.
“Charlotte looked over her shoulder and smiled and I knew I wanted to take her on a date,” John explained to TODAY. “She was anxious for me to ask her!”
They wed on December 15, 1939. So what is the secret to their successful marriage?
“Don’t indicate to your partner that you’re going to be the leader or you’re going to have it your way,” John told Fox 61. “You have to give and take as life goes by, and be grateful for what you have, and try to make tomorrow a better day than today, and be sure you don’t go to bed at night with a chip on your shoulder. Be aware of the other person’s feelings.”
“Some people say that’s the reason we’ve had such a long-married life, ’cause we didn’t have any kids to worry about,” John also joked.
Feature image: Facebook / Longhorn Village Retirement Community
Romantic yet whimsical, string lights are a favourite among couples for their wedding reception. These tiny lighting options make for a great way to illuminate your big day and set the mood all at once.
Give a gorgeous glow by using twinkle lights in these stunning ways.
It’s been a pretty memorable 10 years. We’ve seen celebs make up, break up, and many tie the knot. However, there are certain weddings that will stand the test of time. Surprising, momentous or just over-the-top, these are the most iconic celebrity weddings we’ve seen this past decade.
Megan Markle and Prince Harry
We’ve seen many royal weddings this decade, but this one was our personal favourite. When Prince Harry wed Suits star Megan Markle, the entire world tuned in to view their May 19, 2018 nuptials at St.Georges Chapel. The wedding was attended by mega-stars like George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin, Priyanka Chopra, Serena Williams and David and Victoria Beckham.
Markle wore a stunningly simple boatneck sheath gown designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, as well as the Order of Splendor tiara once worn by Queen Mary. Her 16-foot veil featured intricate embroidery with signature flowers from all the British Commonwealth countries.
Being a ‘commoner’, American and a woman of colour, Megan Markle marrying into royalty was a huge moment in pop culture. This couple’s relationship has been marred by public scrutiny ever since they started dating, making this fairytale wedding even more special.
Credit: Instagram / The Royal Family
Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra
Nick and Priyanka’s December 1, 2018 nuptials were done in spectacular fashion with a three-day wedding blending Hindu and Christian traditions. They said ‘I do’ at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Kevin and Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner, 30 Rock actor Jack McBrayer and Elizabeth Chambers Hammer were just a few of the notable names at this lavish wedding.
Every member of the bridal party stunned in Ralph Lauren, with Chopra stealing the spotlight in an embellished, sheer number and incredibly lengthy veil.
Credit: Instagram / Priyanka Chopra
Prince William an Kate Middleton
Prince William and Kate Middleton wed in April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in a much publicised affair that had us all glued to our TV screens. The British public lined the streets en masse to catch a glimpse of the bride as she made her way to the chapel in a Rolls Royce Phantom VI.
Middleton wore a beautiful lace gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen that has since seen many brides emulate.
Besides the royal family, other notable guests included David and Victoria Beckham, Elton John and Guy Ritchie.
Credit: Getty images
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian
One of the world’s greatest athletes, Serena Williams, married Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian at the Contemporary Arts Centre in New Orleans in a French ball–themed, Beauty and the Beast–styled wedding. This wedding had some serious star power with Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Anna Wintour all in attendance.
For their November 16, 2017 nuptials Williams wore a stunning ballgown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and Alexis donned an Armani suit.
Photo: Bob Metelus and Erica Rodriguez
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin
Hollywood’s most iconic bachelor shocked the world when he announced his engagement to lawyer Amal Alamuddin. The pair said ‘I do’ in a glamorous wedding in Venice, Italy on September 27, 2014. The city seemed to come to a standstill, with locals linings canals in the hopes of witnessing the couple.
There were many famous faces at the fancy festivities, including Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, Matt Damon and wife Luciana, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber and Anna Wintour.
Clooney looked debonair in a Giorgio Armani suit and Amal was picture perfect in a custom Oscar De La Renta gown crafted from French lace with hand-embroidered pearls, diamanté details and a sweeping train.
Credit: People Magazine
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
The queen of social media married rapper Kanye West in a lavish Italian ceremony back in May 2014. Their wedding weekend began in Paris where Kim had her bachelorette party, a pre-wedding lunch at Valentino’s home and an epic rehearsal dinner at the Versailles’s Hall of Mirrors. Wedding guests were then flown to Florence, Italy for the big day.
Kim stunned in a custom Givenchy haute couture gown designed by Ricardo Tisci. Italian singer Andrea Bocelli serenaded the bride as she walked down the aisle.
Other than the entire Kardashian/Jenner clan, famous guests included Serena Williams, Jaden Smith, John Legend and Chrissy Tiegen.
Credit: instagram / Kim Kardashian
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Even though they are no longer together, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were once the most famous (and attractive) celebrity couple so we cannot not include them in this list. Their August 2014 wedding was held at Château Miraval, the family’s estate in the French village of Correns.
It was an incredibly private affair, with only 20 people attending. Their kids were all big parts of the wedding. Maddox gave his mom away while Pax and Knox were ring bearers.
Jolie wore an elegant custom-made, pure white silk-satin Versace gown adorned with drawings by each of the couple’s six children.
Credit: Hello Magazine
Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello
The Modern Family actress said ‘I do’ to the Magic Mike star in a lavish $3 million wedding at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Florida back in November 2015. With 400 guests, this wedding party was pretty big. Channing Tatum, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Reese Witherspoon and Vergara’s Modern Family co-stars were just some of the famous faces in attendance.
Vergara wore a stunning custom Zuhair Murad gown that featured a detachable skirt. Pitbull even gave a surprise performance at their wedding.
Credit: People Magazine
Solange Knowles and Alan Ferguson
From arriving on vintage bicycles to her stunning cream jumpsuit, Solange’s wedding to longterm boyfriend Alan Ferguson was memorable for many reasons. The musician wed the video director in New Orleans Louisiana at the Marigny Opera House back in November 2017.
She wore an incredible Stephane Rolland jumpsuit featuring a plunging neckline and cape for the ceremony, and changed into a white caped gown by Kenzo designer Humberto Leon for the reception. Forgoing tradition, their 200 guests all wore white on the big day.
Of course, big sis Beyonce and mother Tina Knowles were on hand to ring in the festivities, along with Jay-Z and Questlove.
World-famous Italian tenor is known for his beautiful vocals and distinctive voice, and recently collaborated with pop singer Ellie Goulding to sing a breathtaking song called Return to Love. He dedicated a Christmas version of this song to his wife, and it will leave you in tears.
Bocelli was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma after a football accident, and went completely blind at the age of 12. Since he first launched his career in 1982, he has recorded 15 solo albums, along with three greatest hit albums and nine complete operas.
Bocelli has said that his success would be nothing without the support of his beautiful wife Veronica. He arranged this beautiful surprise to thank her for all her love and support throughout the years, and blindfolded Veronica before leading her into their house. When her blindfold was removed, she discovered her husband at the piano, along with a gospel choir to serenade her.
While some traditions fade and others are altered, the wedding kiss has remained. A kiss after the vows is a wedding tradition that, it seems, will never disappear. Today, the wedding kiss serves as a representation of love and devotion between the couple. Historically, however, the wedding kiss had a different purpose.
Like many – if not most – traditions passed down for centuries, the history is a bit broken and unclear. As a result, there are a few origin stories of the wedding kiss.
The most commonly cited story is that of the ancient Romans (753 BC to 27 BC and then from 64 AD to 1453 AD). In ancient Rome, the wedding kiss was more of a legal formality; it symbolised a transaction that had taken place.
In those times, marriage was considered a contract and the kiss was the “signature” that rendered the contract binding. Neel Burton MD says, “In an age of widespread illiteracy, kisses served to seal agreements, thus the expression ‘to seal with a kiss.'” The kiss was also considered to be the first time that the couple ever kissed.
Others argue that the history of this significant kiss starts in the church. In ancient Catholic ceremonies, it was customary for priests to give the groom “a kiss of peace.” The groom was then required to pass the kiss on to his dearly beloved. It is said that this is how the phrase “you may now kiss the bride” came about.
Another religious argument about the origin story of this kiss comes from the scripture itself. The kiss is said to symbolise the fulfilment of the scripture that says “and the two shall become one flesh” (Mark 10:8).
Wherever it stems from, we’re pretty glad that it stood the test of time. The wedding kiss is one of the most anticipated moments of a western wedding. When celebs or royals are married, the kiss is sometimes even analysed by body language experts.
If public displays of affection are not for you though, remember that the kiss is not compulsory and your nuptials are still valid without it!
