A Twist on a Traditional Ring Bearer: A Dog!

Yes, Virginia, weddings with dogs as ring bearers do indeed happen. I’ve never been to one myself, but we all know people who love their doggies so much they want to include them in the wedding in some way. Having the dog act as ring bearer is one fairly simple way to do it since the rings can be secured on a pillow and then tied around the dog’s neck.

And yes, there might be some challenges when going with this plan so the happy couple needs to think through the possible scenarios in their particular situation and be ready for come what may. They first need to check with their venue to see if dogs are allowed, and then they can come up with the best plan for their dog’s participation.

So, Mother of the Bride, if your Mr. & Mrs.-To-Be happen to have a dog they love and also like to be a little unconventional, they might just opt for a “man’s best friend” ring bearer. Curve balls come in all shapes and sizes so be prepared if your sweet couple throws you one in the shape of a dog. Don’t say you weren’t warned!

*You might also like to read Sweet Engagement Photo with Your Favorite Pooch and Burlap Ring Bearer Pillow and Flower Girl Basket.

*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 today. 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 shannylynneCreative Commons License

Rustic Wedding: Ring Bearer Pillow and Flower Girl Basket

Mother of the Bride, if you’re helping your daughter plan a rustic wedding, why not add an extra touch of rustic by using burlap for the ring bearer pillow and flower girl basket?

Chances are you’re already using burlap in some of your décor so a burlap pillow and basket will fit right in. They’ll add the perfect complementing touch, in fact. Like with any color or décor decision, featuring burlap in a variety of places will really help pull the look together.

The photos above and below show how accenting the burlap with lace adds such a pretty and feminine effect. For someone who can sew, the pillow and basket could be fairly easy to make, and if you’re designing and making your own, the possibilities are wide open as to the detail you could use.

So MOB, suggest to your daughter to take rustic a step further and go with burlap on these important ceremony accessories!

*You might also like to read Rustic Wedding Resource, Cake Idea for the Rustic Wedding, Table Décor for Rustic Weddings, Rustic Wedding Bridal Shoes: Boots—What Else?, Wedding Centerpiece With a Rustic Flair, and Rustic Wedding Idea: Boot Bouquets.

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

*Flickr photo at top by Mannia&TittaCreative Commons License, Flickr photo at bottom by Lori Hartman DesignsCreative Commons License

Double the Cute with Double Ring Bearers and Flower Girls

Mother of the Bride, if the soon-to-be Mr. & Mrs. in your life would like to have a ring bearer and flower girl in their wedding party, why not double the cute factor and have two ring bearers and/or two flower girls? This may not be possible given the members of yours and the groom’s families or friends, but if it is, having two of each serve in these roles is definitely guaranteed to up the cuteness factor during the wedding and also add to the precious memories of the day.

The ring bearers featured here today just happen to be my first set of twin grandsons. They served as ring bearers at my nephew’s wedding this summer. How could I not share this idea and these photos with you? No self-respecting grandma in the world would miss such an opportunity, right?

Isaiah and James were just 2 ½ years old at the time of the wedding, but they did great. Mommy and Daddy made sure they got scooted off down the aisle at the appropriate time, and I was stationed up near the front with fruit snacks—the promised treat they would get if they took the pillows down the aisle and gave them to their cousin Cody. As soon as they accomplished their task, they came and sat with me. No need to have them at the front any longer than necessary, getting squirmy and doing who knows what. Ha! (And yes, two flower girls also added to the festivities.)

Precious memories were made and adorable photos captured. Why not ask your sweet girl and her guy if they’d like to double the cute factor at their wedding? Just make sure Grandma has fruit snacks at the ready!

*You might also like to read Flower Girl and Ring Bearer Serve as Sign Bearer, and Man’s Best Friend as Ring Bearer. 

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early November. One lucky subscriber (new or current) will receive $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.)

*Photos by Stephtphotography

Wedding Photo Idea: Rings on a Starfish!

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Mother of the Bride, is your happy couple planning a beach wedding—or one involving the ocean in any way? Maybe boating, sailing, or just ocean life in general? If so, here’s a creative idea for a wedding day photo of the rings.

Why not use a starfish to display the rings? Not only will it make a super-fun and memorable photo of the biggest day in your little girl’s life, but it will be a great photo in and of itself. Just look how it captures the intricacies of the starfish. Amazing, huh?

If your daughter and her hubby-to-be like this idea, you might be able to think of some other ways to incorporate starfish into the celebration, too. It’s always neat to see a common thread recurring in various places, and it could be a great way to feature some of the wedding décor in the wedding photos as well.

So MOB, why not see if your sweet girl would like this idea? Might as well make a splash with the rings, too, right?!

*You might also like to read Wedding Day Photo Idea: Bridesmaids Hold the Groom! and Honeymoon “Just Married” Photo Idea.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early May. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by Ryan Smith Photography, Creative Commons License

Blogging Break Features My Favorite Wedding Pinners

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Hey Mothers of the Bride, I’m taking an extended Spring Break blogging break but will be back two weeks from today on March 28th. Sometimes I’m so busy over spring break that it’s much like that age old dilemma of needing a vacation to recover from vacation. So doggone it, I’m going to do it. I’m going to extend my blogging break to two weeks. Makes sense to me—and I’m sure it makes sense to you, too. MOBs know all about busy times!

In the meantime, I am going to leave you with some great help—links to my favorite Pinterest pinners of all things wedding (see links below.) I follow some of the wedding related boards of these folks myself on Pinterest, and I guarantee if you give them a look, you’ll find some amazing ideas. Why not give them a look?

And of course, if you haven’t checked out my wedding-related Pinterest boards, be sure to do that, too. I currently have eighteen boards pertaining to weddings as well as several personal interest boards. You might even find a few of those that interest you!

So MOB, Happy Spring Break to me and Happy Pinning to you! See you back here on March 28th!

Colin Cowie Weddings
Bridal Guide Magazine
Strictly Weddings
Wedding Wire
Loverly Weddings
Silk and Ivory
Alfred Angelo Bridal
Raspberry Wedding
BRIDES
Brides Magazine
Martha Stewart Weddings
Southern Weddings Magazine
wedding chicks
Bridal Garden
Mother of the Bride
Emmy London
Bride’s Book
The Overwhelmed Bride
Chatfield’s Modest Bridal Boutique

*You might also like to read A Break for Me, Great Links for You and Holiday Break for Me, Gift of Help for You.

*Flickr photo by thelampnyc, Creative Commons License