STUNNING WEDDING ARCHES: HOW TO DIY OR BUY YOUR OWN

There are so many details that go into planning a memorable wedding. We are here to remind you of something that will make your ceremony beautiful and unforgettable: a gorgeous wedding arch of course! As you walk down the aisle you will love having gorgeous flowers or flowing cloth and rustic wood to frame your memorable moment. It will be a little taste of your style that will stand out in photos for years to come.

Once you have decided that you would like a wedding arch to be a part of your ceremony, you need to figure out exactly how to get one. There are several options, one is to purchase a wedding arch and then decorate it yourself with flowers. You can also rent a wedding arch (often times from the place you’re renting tables and chairs) and you or your florist can decorate it.  Some venues will already have an arch on their property that you can decorate yourself, which will really save you money. Remember though, if you do purchase your own arch you can put it in your backyard later as a constant reminder of your incredibly special big day!

To get a look like the one pictured above you can purchase a metal arch for around $85.00. Then either you or your florist can cover it in beautiful white, pink, and red roses (with a few spray painted gold). You can also rent a metal arch from a rental company for around $40, and decorate it yourself, creating a beautiful fall look while staying within your budget!

The gorgeous arches featured above use a metal arch base for a classic and elegant look. Again you can rent or buy your arch and decorate it yourself or opt to have your florist do it. Your florist may offer an array of options depending on your budget. We love both the sunflower arch, and the rusted metal one with bright pops of pink flowers for a stunning pop of color.

Etsy

These beautiful birch poles are available for purchase on Etsy for $79.95. After purchasing the poles you can then attach your own flowers with clear fishing thread, keeping this arch very budget friendly! We love the rustic look that the birch poles create with beautiful flowers for a stunning burst of color.

Nicole Chatham Photography Via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Natural wood as a base for a wedding arch creates a more rustic whimsical look for your ceremony. We love the white and pink flowers with the brown rustic branches that create a truly unforgettable ceremony backdrop.

Mirelle Carmichael Photography via Style Me Pretty

Artsinfotos Photography via Confetti Daydreams

Sonya Khegay via Mrs 2 Be

For a more classic look you can use an elegant wood base for your wedding arch. You canpurchase a wood base for around $179.00 or look for a more affordable rental option. You can also drape gorgeous flowing fabric over your wedding arch to create an ethereal ceremony style.

Lindsay Madden Photography Via Elizabeth Anne Designs

These gorgeous willow branches create a simple, elegant arch. With flower pots and beautiful hydrangeas on either side, this more untraditional wedding arch is sure to leave guests in awe of your ceremony.

KT Merry Photography via Style Me Pretty

You can always go for a style like this garland featured above. Leaves are a more affordable option to flower covered arches and without the arch base you are sure to save money as well as look incredibly stylish!

By now your head is sure to be swirling with lots of ideas of exactly what you want your wedding arch to look like! With all of these beautiful options you definitely have a lot to think about. Do you think that you would DIY your own gorgeous wedding arch? Or would you turn to floral experts and buy? Let us know what you decide!

8 Ways to Use Your Wedding Dress After Divorce

You were so excited the day you picked out your dress. I remember how I felt just trying mywedding dress on: like a fairy-tale princess, complete with the fluffy Cinderella-style poofy gown. It was perfect for my petite frame, and showed off the "girls" rather well with the strapless neckline. My father, a man who worked in the fashion industry for years, thoroughly approved, and when I look at photos of that day now, I still think to myself, "That was a solidwedding dress choice."

Of course, now, I am two years separated and almost officially divorced from my ex. Don't cry for me — be happy for me. I chose the chance of being alone for good, rather than being with someone who didn't love me for me. The only sadness in it all really is that the chance I took failed, and that my daughter has to go through living between two homes. Even still, the silver lining is she has two parents who love her to no end, and we are both in her life. I made sure to save my wedding photos for her — I am sure she will one day want to view them, but the wedding dress? Well, that's another story. It has yet to find another use, but here are some "creative" ways to make use out of your old wedding dress after divorce.

1. Burn It

Hey, why go softly into that good night? Burn that dress, and have everyone gather with you for a beach or woods bonfire. Not sure if it's legal, but hell, do you really want to remember that special night with your "not-so special" ex?

Meh.

2. Regift It

Military brides who often are strapped for cash could use your old wedding dress! And don't worry about it passing on "divorce bad luck." Chances are this bride-in-need won't care about the fact that your ex went on a spending spree and ran off across the country. Donate your dress to Brides Across America and know that another woman who is joyfully waiting to say "I do" to someone can do it more cheaply thanks to your gorgeous wedding gown donation!

3. A Divorcee Photo Shoot

Go buck wild and schedule a photo shoot — boudoir, divorcee, and wedding dress style! Pose in your dress and then pose in your most sexy lingerie or a hot new dress to show the world what your ex is missing: a hot woman!

Embrace your new self and photograph this moment in time, with you both in and out of your wedding dress. Do a side-by-side comparison of you as the blushing bride and now you, as the strong lioness you are after the wounds of divorce are cleaned and healed over.

Even if your divorce is a sad stressor for you right now, one day you won't feel so blue.

4. In Memorial

Angel Gowns by Michelle is a great place to pass on your old wedding gown. She takes wedding gowns that are donated from the public, and she and seamstresses around the country (this is what I gathered from her Facebook page) turn wedding gowns into "angel gowns" for stillborn babies.

Knowing that your old dress may bring you many bad memories, you should feel good knowing that they are bringing a slight sense of comfort to someone grieving an even more devastating loss — the loss of a child.

5. Mail It to His New Girlfriend

If you're feeling particularly cheeky, you could always mail the dress to his new girlfriend, although I'm not sure she'll love her new gift! Plus, you have to decide if it's worth the shipping cost. Wink.

6. Donate It to Playtime

Heck, you're thrilled you dumped that loser, so why not send the dress off to your kid or your friend's kid for dress-up time! It could be a cool year-by-year photo to see your child or a friend's child as she grows up in your wedding dress.

7. Use It as a Painting Tarp

Really over the moon about your divorce? Lay the dress out on the floor the next time you're painting to stop drips from getting on the floor. And why not . . .

8. Go Jackson Pollock on That Dress

You can use the dress to let out your anger and sadness in a flurry of painting hurls and furls, much like the famous painter Jackson Pollock. Most likely, though, no one will be visiting the MOMA to see your "creativity" rendition, but heck, it's cheaper than therapy and could turn out pretty lovely.

Divorce is forever, so you might as well say ta-ta to that wedding dress that's simply taking up loads of space in your already-stuffed closet and put it to better use. And don't fret: the right person will come along. Just think of the first marriage as the dress rehearsal you so desperately needed to learn lessons from in order to love right the next time!

When thinking about your reception, it’s important to get the details right

When it comes to planning your wedding reception, start early and be adaptable.

Every couple has their own story worthy of a romantic comedy.

Perhaps they met in a cute way. Maybe they were friends for years before stumbling into a relationship. Some have whirlwind romances climaxing in an elaborate proposal.

All agonize over when to pop the question and how to answer it. Finally saying “yes” comes as a relief, and is an end to the worry, the concern and the first step in a lifetime together.

Little does the couple know, that was the easy part. Now they must plan their wedding, and things are about to get complicated.

Weddings — dresses, an officiant, a photographer and a myriad of other details — require careful planning, but so does the reception afterward.

For newly-engaged couples arranging their reception, the first step Das Dutchman Essenhaus Conference Center Manager Shannon Lee recommends is to pick a date. Settling on a date early will help guarantee a couple can have the wedding on their first-choice date.

“I will book a year or two out because the weekends are the first ones to go. So that is important to get a feel of when you want the date,” Lee said.

Lee has developed her expertise in the subject through helping organize the 15 to 20 wedding receptions Essenhaus, an Amish-style restaurant and conference center in Middlebury, hosts each year.

After selecting a date, Lee advises a couple should decide how many people to invite so they can decide on how large of a space to rent.

“You don't need a really accurate number, but it's good to have an idea so we can make sure everyone fits,” Lee said.

At that point, the bride and groom can also figure out if some of their guests will be coming from out of town. Then they will be able to decide how many hotel rooms to book in addition to an event space, and whether to reserve a honey-moon suite for themselves.

Some couples opt for outdoor receptions. Holding the celebration in the fresh air at a park or on the landscaped grounds of a place like Essenhaus adds to the festive atmosphere.

Rain or shine, weather can make or break the big day for an outdoor reception. Lee recommends renting a tent to protect from the elements and allow the party to go on.

What food to serve, entertainment to hire, space to rent, decorations to use: all of those questions involve money. Couples should decide on a budget, Lee said. Having a target is particularly important for picking the menu for the reception.

“It's good to have an idea of what you want to eat and price range that you can spend per person,” Lee said.

Larger venues often have several dinner options for events, from the food itself to whether it’s served buffet-style, family-style or as fixed plates.

Similar to most event spaces, after the couple has an idea of what they want, they should reserve the space on the date they want to hold their wedding.

At this point, the couple has a room filling up with people and food, but there is still plenty more they can add, including decorations.

“Then … the planning is really up to the bride because she chooses all the colors, if she wants colored napkins — there's so many other different variables,” Lee said.

The final step in planning the reception is to decide where everything fits in the hall or tent, and how it all comes together as a whole piece.

“Usually about a month or so before the reception I make an appointment with the bride and groom,” Lee said. “We make a room diagram so they know where they want everything in the room.”

Some couples can find their wedding day overwhelming. From the moment they wake up until the end of the reception, they will be surrounded by friends and family. Scheduling a brief respite from the chaos can be wise.

“A lot of the couples like to take a carriage ride before or after the reception to have a little alone time,” Lee said.

Overall, her philosophy is to try to accommodate the bridge, groom and whatever their dream reception involves so their Hollywood story can end exactly how they want it to.

“They bring in whatever they need. They have their party and their meal, and we send them on their happily ever after,” Lee said.

Getting Married Soon? 6 Destination Wedding Ideas in Florida Keys

Our first trip together of the year 2016 was a 5 days tour of the Florida Keys, a small chain of islands stretching from the south Florida coast, south west towards Cuba and the Caribbean. The laid back island vibes, tropical weather and eccentric personality of the place make you feel like you've left the States far behind and landed in a different world altogether.

As we're getting married in December 2016, we have marriage, weddings and romance on the brain, so we have dedicated our final year before marriage to our Pre-Wedding Bucket List and wedding inspiration! As soon as we arrived in Key West and every moment after that throughout the Florida Keys, we started talking about how it would be the perfect location for a destination wedding, offering everything from off the beaten path locations, the warm weather, breathtaking sunsets and one-of-a-kind wedding opportunities. Not forgetting, you can cap it all off with a Key Lime Wedding Cake!

1. Get married at the Iconic Hemingway House

You don't have to be a literature fan to appreciate the grandeur and charm of this iconic landmark in Key West. The acre of land offers a breath-taking setting for both intimate and larger weddings in the carefully landscaped gardens during the day or night. Following the ceremony you and your guests can enjoy private guided tours throughout the house as well as use of the wrap around verandas during your reception offering great views to the nearby lighthouse. There will also be plenty of jokes about the irony of getting married in the home of a man who was almost as well known for his infidelity and divorce as he was for his writing!

2. Be Adventurous with an Underwater Wedding
 Photo Credit to Bob Care/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO

Florida Keys is home to the only living coral barrier reef in the United States and each year many marine life enthusiasts take advantage of the opportunity to have their wedding witnessed by an audience of tropical sea-life. This doesn't mean sacrificing all the frills of a traditional wedding however, as many dive companies will equip the bride with a shell-arrangement bouquet and a tuxedo t-shirt for the groom (although full wedding dress is an option for the more traditional couple!)

3. Have a Colorful Wedding at the Butterfly Conservatory

What could be more romantic than exchanging your marriage vows in a tropical garden of butterflies and exotic birds flying around your heads? Key West Nature and Butterfly Conservatory offers exactly that in an intimate setting for up to 20 guests with the added bonus of a pair of flamingos! Your ceremony will take place at 5pm when the conservatory has been closed to other guests, and to mark the occasion staff will arrange a special butterfly release on completion of your vows.

4. Have an Exotic Wedding at the Tropical Gardens

When you think of a Florida wedding, most people will picture an idyllic beach scene with barefoot guests on the sand. If that's not your thing why not venture to one of the Key's many tropical gardens for a more exotic experience? One of these is Key West Tropical Forest and Botanic Gardens, known as "the only frost-free botanical garden in the continental United States" and designed by the renowned landscaper Raymond Jungles.

5. Keep moving on your Boat wedding

To do justice to your seaside location, getting married on board a boat is the true Florida Keys wedding experience! There are endless options of boats available to charter for the big day, from the traditional tall-ship or sail-boat to the more modern glass-bottom, catamaran or even luxury yacht, the choice is yours.

If a themed wedding is your thing, go all out with a pirate theme with rum for a celebratory toast and guests dressed as the crew! Be sure to celebrate with a Key Lime wedding cake and starfish confetti, if you´re lucky you may even be joined in your celebrations by local dolphins.

6. Go for a classic barefoot Beach Wedding

Photo Credit to Azchael

Finally we can't forget the classic barefoot on a white sand beach wedding. Florida Keys is home to many islands that are only accessible by boat or kayak offering incredibly private and personal ceremonies framed by endless blue sea and exquisite sunsets.

If you prefer to stay closer to civilization there are many luxury seafront hotels and private homes for an equally romantic and peaceful wedding among friends and family.

Pros and Cons of a Beach Wedding

Beach weddings are so romantic — sunshine, blue waters and beautiful pink and orange sunsets. If you’re the type to tie the knot in laid-back attire, toes in the sand, these 14 beach weddings will provide magical inspiration.

If you are considering a beach wedding, here are some of the pros and cons.

Pros

• The beach provides a beautiful, natural setting and can be a great venue, especially for non-religious ceremonies.
• A beach wedding can be less expensive than other weddings, considering that you will not be paying a lot for a location fee, which is often a big part of the budget. If you get married on a local public beach, you may have to pay only a small permit fee.
• You and your guests can wear laid-back attire. You can even go barefoot, if you like.
• Your wedding will be like a vacation for some of your guests — everyone will be in a relaxed and celebratory mood.
• Wedding and reception happen in the same place, right on the beach, so you don’t need to book two venues.
• Beach theme decorations and favors are fun — you can get creative.
• Your wedding photos will be taken in natural light, so you’ll be gorgeous.
  

Cons

• The weather may not cooperate. If it rains or gets windy, things can get ugly fast.
• Having a second location lined up in case of bad weather pretty much negates any cost savings.
• Your flowers may wilt. You’ll want hardy, tropical flowers or non-floral arrangements.
• Most beaches have rules. You may need to pay for a permit ahead of time, sometimes up to a year in advance. And some beach rules forbid alcohol and fire — should you be planning to light candles or have a bonfire.
• There will be strangers on the beach when your wedding is taking place. This is true for public beaches as well as private beaches, even those you obtained a permit for.
• You can’t control wild life. Seagulls are notorious beggars. If there’s food around, they will try to snatch it up.
• The tides will dictate the timing of the vows, as well as photo sessions, so look up the tidal charts.

Did we leave anything out? Do you have more pros and cons for beach weddings?  Comment below.

How to Pee When You're Wearing a Wedding Dress

I tried on my first wedding dress when I was 22 years old. I was at the wedding dress store to try on a bridesmaid dress that the bride picked out for me to wear and decided to casually flip through the racks of white dresses.

My mom was with me and we both fell in love with this simple, straight, silk dress. "Try it on," she said. "Yes, please try it on," the lady who worked at the store said. She must have thought I was engaged. I wasn't, not even close. I had just downloaded my fifth dating app that week and hadn't been on a first date in over five months.

But I did. I put it on. And that was the first moment I fell in love with an article of clothing that cost more money than I've ever had in my savings account at one time. It was also the moment I asked probably the most prolific and important question of my life to the store attendant: "How in the world would someone pee in this dress?"

The dress was skintight. I couldn't spread my thighs apart to walk, dance, or sit down. I walked in it like I was a penguin. The dress was zipped, tied, and buttoned on me. To get this thing off, I needed a small army of women and a good 17 minutes. I imagined that if I wore this on my wedding day, I would spend three-quarters of the evening in the bathroom dealing with wardrobe malfunctions on account of me having to empty my bladder.

But after being a bridesmaid for my friends many times and having to take on the duty of accompanying them to the bathroom and solving this age-old problem of how they are going to pee, I've learned (the messy way) some tips and tricks. Here are five of them.

1. Wave Hello to the Wall

If you're able to hike up the bottom of your dress, you can keep it on to pee. But instead of sitting on toilet, like you normally would, you're going to sit facing the opposite direction — your face eying the flusher. That way, the train of your dress doesn't stand a chance at falling into the toilet bowl.

2. Take Baby Steps Out of It

If your dress is skintight and you can hardly move in it, the best scenario is to unzip it and take it off. Even if this takes a lot of time, it's the best route. Trying to pull the bottom up or attempting to pee in a cup or a bag just gets messy, and the last thing you want to do is be faced with the challenge of trying to get pee off your $4,600 wedding dress.

3. Ask For an Extra Pair of Hands

This tip is a must — no matter what style dress you have. It may be awkward to ask a friend to step inside the stall with you and help you pee, but having them help lift up the back of you dress will make the whole experience a whole lot easier.

4. Find the Handicap Stall (but Be Courteous)

The more room you have, the better. Find the biggest bathroom stall you can for your trip to the bathroom in your wedding dress. Have an extra bridemaid on guard duty to make sure that if someone needs the stall you can hop out.

5. Plan Your Pee Times

Be strategic about your bathroom breaks. It may sound strange to schedule times to pee, but if you do it this way, you won't find yourself stuck in the bathroom when you should be on the dance floor doing your father-daughter dance.