Fun Nail Polish Gift from the Bride to Her Maids

Mother of the Bride, at some point in the days or weeks preceding the wedding, here’s a fun gift idea for the bride to give her bridesmaids—nail polish! And not just any nail polish, but nail polish in the color of their dresses or bouquets. Fun and pretty, too, huh?

Not only will your daughter’s maids appreciate this special treat, but it will help their overall wedding day look come together as well. Variety can look fun and festive on the big day, but uniformity has a special beauty too.

And just think of the great photos that might result if their nails are all done in the same color. The photographer could actually take a few shots with their hands in mind. Pretty shots with their bouquets, pops of the same color as they help the bride get into her gown, and even a shot specifically showing off their hands. And if they use the polish on their toes as well, you’ve got more cute photo possibilities ahead!

You or the bride might even want to take the gift of nail polish a step further and surprise the bridesmaids with a professional manicure and have them take their polish to the salon (would probably be a good idea to have purchased the polish there.) This extra treat is entirely optional, of course, but it could be a fun outing for all the girls—bride included—a couple of days before the wedding.

Worth suggesting to the bride, MOB? I think so! And why not get your nails done at the same time? Go ahead—have some fun and treat yourself!

*You might also like to read Bridesmaids’ Manicure: Polka Dots and More.

*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. *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*Flickr photo by Upupa4meCreative Commons License

Sheet Music Design for Bridal Bouquet and Boutonniere

Mother of the Bride, are your sweet Mr. & Mrs.-to-Be music lovers? If so, they may want to plan some of the elements of their wedding with a music motif. And that’s wonderful because possibilities abound!

One way to incorporate a music theme into a wedding is to use sheet music to make the bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere. Isn’t this a clever idea? Not only is it unique, but it’s actually quite attractive—not to mention the fact that it reflects the couple’s love for music. Definitely a win-win, right?

The bride and groom could add even more significance to their bouquet and boutonniere choice by finding the sheet music to songs especially meaningful to them. They could each choose their favorite song or composer/songwriter, or they might want to use the song they consider to be their song. Again, lots of possibilities.

If you’re wondering about the bridesmaids’ bouquets and groomsmen’s bouts, they could be something different but yet coordinate in some way. Your floral designer can probably suggest some terrific ideas.

MOB, share this idea with your girl and her guy and see if it strikes their musical fancy. They might like it even if they’re not musicians—they may just enjoy music and think it’s a cool idea!

*You might also like to read Wedding Decor: Craft It with PaperKnitted Bridal Bouquet and More, and Wedding Idea That Sparkles: A Brooch Bouquet!

*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! *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*Flickr photo by jessica.hanrahanCreative Commons License

Wedding Day Photo: Black and White Bubble Shot

Mother of the Bride, I’ve got a great wedding day photo idea for you today. I hope you and the happy couple are keeping a list of must-have shots to share with your photographer. If so, you might want to add this to your list pronto.

If your daughter and her groom have decided to use bubbles during their send-off from the church or reception site, why not ask the photographer to use a black and white photo finish.

As you can see in the photo above, this shot done in black and white really causes the bubbles to stand out. I love how it almost makes them look like snow falling. I also love how the couple is kissing in the shot above. The perfect touch, right? If you ask your sweet couple to do the same, I’m sure they’ll be happy to oblige!

Show this photo to your daughter and her beloved, MOB, and see what they think. If they haven’t decided on what to use during the send-off, they may decide to go with bubbles just to get a shot like this!

*You might also like to read Engagement Photo Idea: Show Off the RingBridal Portraits: Include Some Artsy Shots, and Engagement Photo Idea: Playground Fun.

*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 with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come 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! *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*Flickr photo by Corey AnnCreative Commons License

Wedding Photos—Include the Venue Signs

Mother of the Bride, many wedding photographers pride themselves on telling a story with their photos. They make an effort to capture more than the standard shots and provide not only a timeline but the emotions of the big day as well. Their beautiful and meaning-filled finished products are works of art.

In the telling of your sweet couple’s wedding day story, ask your photographer to be sure to include the signs at your ceremony and reception sites. Having those locations identified through photos not only helps tell the story, but it will be a help in years to come when you try to recall the names of the venues. After all, these special places play an important part in one of the highlights of your family’s life.

And believe it or not, MOB, a good photographer can even make photos of signs look artistic. So scope out your venues and give your photographer a heads-up about the locations of the signs. Be a part of telling the whole story!

*You might also like to read Wedding Day Tip: A List for the Photographer and Bridal Portraits: Include Some Artsy Shots.

*Photos by Chris Humphrey

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

*The new 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! Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

Mother of the Bride’s Wedding Day Advice for the Bride

Mother of the Bride, would you like to give your daughter some invaluable advice for her wedding day? No, not advice about marriage but advice for the big day itself. Advice that can change a jam-packed day from a blur to a beautiful experience and memory. Yes, somehow I knew you would.

Here’s what to do: Find a few moments during the wedding weekend to pull your bride-to-be aside and give her some final motherly instructions before she becomes a married woman.

Tell her to enjoy her wedding day, to be present in the moment. Encourage her to delight in every detail, to capture the magic of the moments and imprint them on her heart. Remind her to drink in the beauty that surrounds her, starting with her groom and with the love they share. And then remind her to savor the love of family and friends and enjoy each moment with complete abandon.

Mother of the Bride, let your love and wisdom bless your sweet girl one more time. And may you all have an unforgettably wonderful wedding celebration!

*You might also like to read Mother of the Bride – Needed and Loved and Mother of the Bride, You Are Appreciated!

*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, comes out in early November. One lucky subscriber 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! *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*Photo of my nephew Cody and his bride Kaitlynn by *Stephtphotography