Bridal Bouquet Idea: Add Sparkle with Gemstones

Mother of the Bride, when it’s time for your daughter to select the flowers for her bridal bouquet, maybe she’d like to add some sparkle too—with jewelry! Never fear, though. I’m not referring to genuine gemstones. Imitations will work quite nicely.

Bouquet jewelry, like the rhinestones or clear crystals in the red rose bouquet above, provide not only sparkle but also contrasting color, much like baby’s breath or another white accent flower. And bouquet jewelry will do those things less expensively. That’s right, you’ll save money!

Possibilities abound where bouquet jewelry is concerned. Bouquet jewelry can also be added to the stem wrap as shown on the ribbon in the photo below. Bigger items like brooches can be used as well on the wraps or in the bouquets themselves. One dazzling rhinestone butterfly or brooch can transform a bouquet from pretty to gorgeous in seconds. And a variety of imitation gemstones and pearls lay at the disposal of your floral arranger.

How about it, MOB? Try suggesting bouquet jewelry to your daughter. After all, what girl doesn’t love jewelry?

*Check out Afloral.com for ideas and prices. And if you’re interested in another way to save on the bouquets, you might also like to read Savings Tip for Bridal and Bridesmaids Bouquets

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come out in early August. Sign-up is FREE and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*Photos by Elece Hollis.

Turn Ordinary Wedding Items Into Keepsakes

Mother of the Bride, why not turn a few of the ordinary every-wedding-and-bride-must-have items into something more? Why not transform them into keepsakes that will remind the newlyweds of precious wedding day memories for years to come?

For instance, instead of picking up a set of standard wedding garters (one to keep and one to toss) at your favorite craft and hobby store, ask a family member or dear friend who loves to sew if she would be willing to make garters for your precious girl.

My friend Teri made garters for both of my girls (see Kelli’s above), and her loving touch and personal effort instantly transformed the garters into precious keepsakes for both Kristin and Kelli. And since Teri and I had great fun selecting the lace and ribbon she would use to craft this traditional part of the bride’s attire, the whole experience made for a great memory for us as well.

Toasting flutes can also become a treasured keepsake. I found a special and elegant set for Kristin’s wedding, but for Kelli’s, we decided to ask a friend to dress up some standard flutes. This time we asked Teri’s daughter Stephanie for help. With her creative knack and a little input from Kelli on what she would like, Stephanie transformed the flutes into something far more beautiful than we could have found at any wedding supply or craft store (see below; click on the photo to see it better).

MOB, these are just a couple of ideas—I’m sure other possibilities will come to mind as you think of your own daughter and her desires and style. Have fun turning the ordinary into keepsakes for her. She’ll be forever grateful—and you may make some great memories along the way!

*You might also like to read Craft It: Bridal Keepsake Box, A Keepsake Photo of the Wedding Invitation, Deciding On a Wedding Guest Book: Ideas to Get You Started, and Wedding-Themed Shower Gifts.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*The current issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, came out earlier this month. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is FREE and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*Photos by Will Flowers

Fun Gift Idea: Tote Bags For the Bridal Party

Mother of the Bride, if you’re looking for a fun gift to help your daughter celebrate her journey as a bride, how about one of those cute tote bags designed especially for brides?

You could give it to her right after her engagement so she can use it throughout the months leading up to the big day. Or you might want to save it for her bridal shower so it will be something special for her to pack all the essentials and extras she needs on the big day itself. Bottom line, though, she will appreciate it whenever you decide to give it!

You or the bride might even like to purchase the tote bags that are available for bridesmaids as well. They would make a fun gift for the bride to give each one when she asks them to be a part of her big day. Or they would add a special touch to a bridesmaids luncheon or some other gathering especially for the bride and her maids. Again, they will be welcomed at any point.

And yes, they even have tote bags designed especially for you, MOB! You might want to treat yourself to one early on in the wedding planning process—or who knows, someone you know may gift you with one! Wouldn’t that be fun?

Here are a few links to check out if you’re interested in this fun idea:

David’s Bridal

Zazzle

Amazon

Etsy

Target 

Totally Promotional 

Hope this helps. And have fun with it, MOB!

You might also like to read A Fun Gift from the Bride to Her Maids: Nail Polish!, Ten Thousand Villages Gifts for the BridesmaidsChristmas Gifts for the Bride, Fun Gift Idea From Bride to Groom: Snazzy Socks!, and Wedding-Themed Shower Gifts.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early February. One lucky subscriber (new or current) will receive a $15 gift card to Starbucks and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*Public Domain Photo

Wedding Shoes for the Party: Sneakers!

Mother of the Bride, heels look gorgeous for the wedding ceremony, but when it’s time to party, why not break out the sneakers! Just look at the bridal party above. Cute and comfy, too. Those girls look ready for some serious dancing, don’t they?

To make it extra fun—and snazzy-looking as well—the sneakers could all be in a matching style and color. The example above shows the bride sporting one of the wedding colors and all the bridesmaids in a coordinating color, and that looks super cute for photos and also continues to set the bride apart from everyone else.

MOB, why not give your daughter this suggestion for her maids? After all, when it’s time for everyone to let their hair down and party, they might as well let their feet get down in comfy territory, too!

*You might also like to read Comfy Shoes—Add This to Your Wedding Day List and Winter Wedding Favor: Dancing Socks!

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

 *The current issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, came out earlier this month. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is FREE and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*I hope you found this slightly revised post from May 2014 helpful to you today, MOB!

*Flickr photo by soundman1024, Creative Commons License

Boutonniere Idea: Calla Lily and Peacock Feather

Mother of the Bride, are your daughter and her intended ready to consider flowers for their wedding yet? If so, how would the groom feel about incorporating feathers into his choice of boutonniere? Peacock feathers could be one way to go if the colors coordinate with the couple’s chosen wedding colors.

Some grooms like the idea of a peacock feather boutonniere minus flowers, but the idea pictured above shows how it can be made more elegant by pairing it with a calla lily. Not only does it look more elegant, but the light color of the calla lily makes the whole look pop. And then, of course, if calla lilies are featured in other aspects of the wedding, all the better.

Why not share the idea with them, MOB, if they haven’t made firm choices on their wedding colors yet. This may be just the special touch they’re looking for without even knowing it!

*You might also like to read Wedding Flowers: Baby’s Breath Boutonnieres, Bridal Bouquet and Boutonniere Sheet Music Idea, and Wedding Day Need: Corsage and Boutonniere Pinner

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early May. One lucky subscriber (new or current) will receive a $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*Flickr photo by ohsohappytogether, Creative Commons License