Unique Groomsmen Gifts

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When planning a wedding, there a always a lot of things to consider.  When it comes to the bridal party gifts, they're often forgotten about or leave something to the imagination.  Choosing gifts for bridesmaids tend to be a lot easier to select than gifts for groomsmen, which are typically flasks or socks that coordinate with the color scheme of the wedding.  Today, I've gathered some ideas that may inspire you when looking for a unique and different kind of gift for your the groomsmen in your wedding. Honestly, there's nothing wrong with getting a flask for your groomsmen. Men happen to love them!  How about getting a flask that has a unique quality about it or one that fall in line with the current trend?

RoundFlask

Image via ExclusivelyWeddings.com

CigarFlask

Image via weddingshop.theknot.com

Who doesn't like a well groomed man or groomsman?  If he needs to bee nicely shaven or dressed appropriately, he'll surely appreciate a nicely packaged modern or vintage style shaving kit or tie to wear to your wedding day or any special occasion.

BoxedShaving

Image via Brides.PrestonBailey.com

VintageShavingSet

Image via Etsy.com

TieOneOn

Image via TheBridalDetective.com

Lastly, you can never go wrong with his hobbies or what he loves to do.  Does he like to grill, hunt, or golf?  Is he a techie into gadgets?  Is he a techie that loves a cold beer every once in a while? How about a phone case that's a beer opener?  Buying a groomsmen gift can be a challenge, but only if you let it.

GolfGrillset

Image via ThingsFestive.com

HuntingKnives

Image via Etsy.com

BeerCase

Image via Fab.com

LeatherIPadCase

Image via AllenEdmonds.com

Root Beer Float Cupcakes

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It's the weekend and it's time to have a little fun.  I'll never pass up on a great dessert and this one has two of my favorite things combined; cupcakes and root beer floats, which I loved so much growing up in Michigan. I've always been an avid baker and when I saw these cupcakes with the Faygo "pop"  in the background, I knew I had to have the recipe.  So, I'll be trying these cupcakes out this weekend and indulging in a little food fun.  If you'd like to try these cupcakes out as well, the recipe is below. Enjoy! RootbeerFloatCupcake

Image and Recipe via: SerendipityMommy.com

Root Beer Float Cupcakes:
Ingredients
  • 1 Cup Rootbeer Soda (non-diet)
  • 1 Teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
  • ¾ Cup Sugar
  • ⅓ Cup Canola Oil (Didn’t have canola I used corn oil)
  • ½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Teaspoons Root Beer Extract *(if you use root beer concentrate then only use ½ teaspoon)(Candy’s Note: I did not follow this for me it wasn’t enough I used nearly 3 TSP)
  • 1⅓ Cups Flour
  • ¾ Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • ½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
  • Pinch of Salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350
  2. Combine root beer soda and vinegar and let stand for a few minutes.
  3. Add in the sugar and oil, whisking until slightly frothy.
  4. Mix in your extracts, and slowly add the flour, along with the baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Careful not to over mix.
  5. Fill cupcake liners approximately ¾ full.
  6. (At first I thought I had a lot more batter than 12 cupcakes, but then I noticed the batter would settle, so I went back and added a little batter to each liner, which made 12 cupcakes)
  7. Bake for about 18 – 22 minutes.
Vanilla Frosting:
Ingredients
  • 8 oz of cream cheese softened
  • 1/4 cup of butter softened
  • 4 cups of powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla bean paste
Instructions
  1. Beat cream cheese and butter until well blended
  2. Add powdered sugar; mix until nice and creamy.

Gorgeous Wedding Chair Decor

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I remember when I first started planning weddings, almost ten years ago, wedding chairs were basic brown, black, and white.  The hottest thing at the time was the Chiavari chair in gold and silver; then here comes the Chiavari ghost chair. We all know that the trends in the wedding industry continues to change.  Today, we see the same Chiavari wedding chairs and a few others during wedding ceremonies and receptions.  Brides are choosing to not only decorate the ballroom, but also decorate the wedding chairs as well.  If your budget can handle it, I think it's a very creative way to add some additional decor and personality to your wedding reception. Today, I've gathered my top ten wedding chair decorations that you may be able to gain inspiration from for your own wedding or next event.

Chair1

Chair2

Chair3

Chair5

Chair6

Chair7

Chair9

Chair10

Chair11

Chair12

Shades of Beauty

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Today's post is a bit of a personal one for me because I don't condone bullying of any kind, especially in children.  Instead of my usual wedding inspiration, I've put together an inspiration board of a different kind, but before I get to that, I wanted to get into the why.... Last week, at a summer camp, there was a beautiful little girl crying because the children at the camp were picking on her.  They were picking on her because her skin was too dark.  I was beyond infuriated!  One, I was picked on by my own classmates for similar reasons when I was a child. I was too dark, too skinny, and never had the best clothes. Two, many of the students at the camp are of the African American race, so this reasoning just didn't make any sense to me.  I was just sick and tired of the African American race picking on each other, especially after just recently watching Oprah's documentary Dark Girls.  My mom used to say "it doesn't matter if you're black, white, blue, green, or yellow, people are just people".  I still believe this and I raised my children to believe the same.

I happen to have the latest copy of Munaluchi Bridal magazine, which shows women in all shades of brown getting married, walking the runways in fashion shows, and around the globe being depicted in positive ways.  I chatted with her for a bit so that she could hear how beautiful she really was.  I told her that it's not about having light skin, white skin, long hair, or short hair; it's about being who you are and loving who you are.  We all have something special within us and underneath it all, we all bleed the same color, red.

Shades of Beauty

Today's inspiration board was put together so little girls like the one I encountered last week and like the one that I used to be, can see that beauty comes in so many different shades; from pale white to dark chocolate and everything in between, and have not a single flaw. I'm not oblivious to the fact that beauty is depicted one way on tv and in other forms of the media, but our young girls need to know that what they see when they look in the mirror is more than just ok.  So, I thought I'd start off by telling them with this post. You are beautiful!

Beautiful Blue Stilettos!

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If you ask me what my favorite color is, I'd have to get a little bit more information from you to answer the question.  My favorite wedding color is pink and I don't mind wearing it either, I love earth tones in my home, such as burgundies and browns, but my ultimate favorite color is blue because it simply reminds me of the ocean, which represents my favorite thing; tranquility.  When I saw these shoes, of course I thought, what's not to love???  They're blue, they sparkle, and they're absolutely gorgeous!  A woman's dream.  So, for this Tuesday Shoesday, I had to represent my ultimate favorite color; blue! Enjoy!

Boutonnieres Don't Always Have To Be Flowers

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Many weddings are filled with beautiful flowers.  However, there are times when flowers just aren't an option, due to allergies or budgetary reasons.  If this is the case, there is a likely chance that the groom's boutonnieres will be non-floral.  This is a great opportunity to incorporate more of the decor into the groom's boutonniere, such as a the bride's bouquet, cotton, feathers or berries. You could also incorporate his personality, such as his favorite sport, hobby, musical instrument, or his love of watches!  For today's Men's Monday post, I've gathered some of my favorite non-floral Pinterest pins for your wedding and groom's inspiration.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fashion Friday: Elegant Date Night

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It's not uncommon for a wife to dress her husband or a couple to dress in similar styles, patterns, or colors when going somewhere special.  Some people find it annoying to see couples dressed alike, but I happen to find it quite flattering to have your mate on your arm in complimentary colors and textures.  I find that it adds to your style and personality as well also showcases an unspoken bond between the two of you. For this Fashion Friday post, I've put together an elegant "date night" couple in the classic colors of black and white, which you can never go wrong with.  You could be going out for a great night on the town, headed to a night at the theater, or a semi-formal affair.  Either way, I hope I've provided some inspiration for you to have some fun!

Black & White Date Fashion

Man Image: Mensah007.tumblr.com Woman Image: Images.Yahoo.com

Trendy Thursday: Cake Pops!

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In the wedding industry, something new always emerges. Lately, it's all about the cake pops and we've seen a barrage of them.  From traditional to whimsy, cake pops have been making their rounds to weddings and many other social events.  Today, I've gather some of my favorite Pinterest pins just to show you how creative cake pops can be.  I hope you're inspired!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: etsy.com via Enraptured on Pinterest

 

Wedding Inspiration: Ivory, Green, & Gold

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It's no secret that the summer months are the biggest months to get married and plan a wedding because brides love to get married outdoors.  The weather is nice and warm and nature allow us to use it as decor, when it's not raining.  Today, I've put together a nature inspired inspiration board of ivory, green, and gold because I love the summer months and the sunshine, just as much as the next person.  I hope you're inspired and I hope you enjoy! Ivory Green & Gold Numbered

1) Centerpiece Image: JuneBugWeddings.com 2) Bridesmaids Image: StyleMePretty.com 3) Perfume Image: Sephora.com 4: Bride Image) MeggieLynn.Tumblr.com 5) Tablescape Image: StyleUnveiled.com 6) Earrings Image: Etsy.com 7) Caramel Apples Image: MarthaStewartWeddings.com 8) Wedding Cake Image: FlowerAndFlour.com

Chiffon Ankle Stilettos

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It's Tuesday Shoesday and I have a gorgeous pair of tan chiffon stilettos for you today.  Chiffon is perfect for the summer and this pair is perfect for just about any occasion.  Normally, I don't like shoes that wrap around my ankles, but this pair I just couldn't resist falling in love with.  These shoes put the new back in nude and I'm in love.  Enjoy!

Grooms Can Wear Hats Too!

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When it comes to the wedding, we're used to seeing the bride wear a veil; long ones, short ones, cathedral length ones, birdcage ones, or sometimes none at all.  What we aren't used to seeing, however, is the groom adorning headwear of his own.  Because I'm a planner that feels that every wedding should reflect the styles and personalities of the couples, I love when couples choose to do something that's completely outside of the norm, unexpected, and totally them, and throw tradition out the window.  Today, for this Men's Monday post, I wanted to show groom's looking fashionable in their hats, while representing their own style on their wedding day.  I hope you enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Sparkling Silver Stilettos!

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Silver is just as basic as black when it comes stilettos. Accompanied with a little bling and it's a win-win situation.  When I saw these stilettos, I fell in love and wanted them for myself. They are so perfect for an evening out, a formal affair, and even your wedding day!  I hope you love them as much as I do! SparklySilverShoes

Image via WeddBook.com

Cream and Gold Inspiration

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I have always love the combination of cream and gold.  There's just something so clean and classic about it. Weddings look more soft and romantic when they're designed with the subtle tones of the creamy textures and they happen to work well together all year long. Today, I've put together an inspiration board of the cream and gold color palette to show that they can easily work together and compliment each other.  I hope you enjoy! Cream and Gold

1) Car Image: OnceWed.com 2) Bouquet Image: ConfettiDayDreams.com 3) Cake Image: HeartLoveWeddings.com 4) Chair Image: StyleMePretty.com

What Does Your Veil Mean?

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In a recent discussion, the topic was whether or not guests should wear white at a wedding, when many of us avoid doing so because the bride should stand out on her big day.  Wearing white on your wedding day has always been a sign of purity. The veil is the next thing that's purchased after the wedding gown.  What does your wedding veil say about you?  For today's post, we'll look at the a few traditions and etiquette rules behind wearing a long veil or not wearing one at all.

 

 

The long veil has the tradition of it being lifted over the bride's head before the first kiss.  If the groom lifts the veil, it shows his dominance in the relationship.  Today, the more independent bride may lift her own veil to show they are more equal in the relationship.

 

 

When shouldn't you wear a veil? According to etiquette rules, you shouldn't wear a veil if you've been married before, if you're pregnant, or are living together before marriage.  It's also not necessary to wear a veil if the weather is too hot.  It's a personal decision to wear one in warmer temperatures.  I would suggest a birdcage veil in the warmer climates because they can be just as beautiful.

 

Summertime Party Time: Drink Inspiration

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It's officially spring time and for most of us, it feels like summer.  This means there will be a lot of celebrating outdoors.  Whether, you're having an outdoor wedding, a birthday party, an anniversary party, a simply a beach party, you'll want to serve your guests something cool and refreshing, but most importantly, good.  Today, I've put together some drink inspiration from my Pinterest boards for whatever outdoor event you're celebrating this summer.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

Pink and Grey Wedding Inspiration

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If you ask me what my favorite color is, I'd tell you blue because I love the tranquility of the blue skies and blue water.  My home is filled with earth tones; browns, golds, and burgundies.  However, I'm a girlie girl and I love the color pink! I love to wear it and I think it looks great on my skin.  When it comes to weddings, it's one of my favorite colors to work with and it's easily paired with so many others.  Today, I've paired it with grey and put together a pink and grey inspiration board for your viewing pleasure.
Photo Credits: 1) Drink Image: FrogPrincePaperie.com 2) Cake Image: BobbetteAndBelle.com 3) Bouquet Image: StyleMePretty.com  4) Table Image: CalligraphyByJennifer.net


Green & Brown Wedding Inspiration

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Considering today is Earth Day and how I was feeling a little woodsy and romantic.  I put together this inspiration board for brides who care about the earth and want to celebrate their weddings at the same time.  Sometimes putting the right colors together for your wedding or event is a challenge for many brides or expressing the ideas that you have in mind.  There are so many beautiful colors and ideas to choose from.  I throughly enjoy creating inspiration boards and hope that you find some inspiration from this one.



Happy Planning!