Filed under: The Inside Track
This is as LEGIT as it gets, ladies. One of our most popular bridesmaids’ gifts ever – the Personalized Zebra Flask - is our featured deal of the day. But at 40% OFF its suggested retail, I’d say it’s more of a steal than a deal! (Yeah, I took it there.)
Because attendant gifts are generally bought in multiples, it’s always great when a bride and groom can find amazing gifts at affordable prices. And this personalized flask has stylish safari savings every bride will go wild about! (Pun intended.)
Click the image below to experience total savings all your bridesmaids will love! Cheers!
August 9, 2011
Alfred Angelo has done it, my friends. He’s created a line of fairy tale, dream-come-true dresses perfect for the princess bride in all of us, and there’s nothing (and I do mean NOTHING!) that I love more about this than that each one is modeled after one of the grandest princesses of them all… a Disney Princess! Whoop, whoop!
Not only are the dresses too cute to boot, but each one is reasonably priced (under $1,399) and available in a size to fit any princesses’ frame (0 to 30W).
So, without further adieu (and in no particular order of ahhhmazing), I give thee, Alfred Angelo’s Line of Disney Dresses…
Ariel. Not even ten leagues Under the Sea could this dress’ beauty be hidden from view!
Jasmine. Open the crowd’s eyes to A Whole New World.
Aurora. You’ll never want to Sleep in the Beauty!
Tiana. You may have Kissed a lot of Frogs to get to your Prince… but in this dress, who even cares??
Cinderella. Not even a Glass Slipper or room full of ladies in waiting can outshine you!
Belle. Captivate the hearts of even the most Beastly men on the day you say “I do.”
Snow White. Wicked Queens and Poisoned Apples beware… there’s a princess ready to party!
July 7, 2011
Would you please put some pants on? I feel weird having to ask you twice. (courtesy of geektyrant.com)
Firstly, if I can provide any ease of mind to a nervous bride-to-be dreading her soon-to-be man’s bachelor party, it’s that men – as a whole – are pretty sad planners. No offense dudes, but many of you demonstrate lackluster skills at best when it comes to gathering and executing a well oiled plan. And after seeing firsthand how my Mister’s bach party debacle developed slowly only to and unravel quickly, I feel safe to say that the notion of poor planning is one explanation how many of these testosterone driven myths are crushed.
The other? The chivalrous men attending said bachelor party, duh! (See, fellas, I knock your planning skills, but totes believe in gentleman mojo!) Of course when movies like the Hangover (part I and II) or the 80′s classic Bachelor Party are setting the standards, it’s easy to see why so many soon to Mrs. get their undies in a bunch beforehand. But fear not, my little chick-a-dees, for there is hope beyond the Hangover!
According to an MSN report on Bachelor Party Myths, here are 10 Myths every bride should know about their man’s last fling before the ring:
Myth #1: The party must take place in Vegas. As much as most men would probably love to celebrate in Vegas, it’s not always fiscally possible. So, they will often times opt to make merry a little closer to home. Some party it locally at their favorite hot spots. Some take it back to nature for a manly weekend of roughin’ it and not showering. Still others will even choose a night in playing cards and drinking brews with their best bros.
Myth #2: Strippers are always involved. Believe it or not, ladies, some men simply don’t enjoy strippers. Shocking, right? But it’s true. Many men feel – especially as they age – that strippers aren’t a necessary part of having fun. In fact, they can think of several other things they’d rather use their moolah on than a half naked, uncomfortable dancer.
Myth #3: Everyone will get severely intoxicated. Speaking from experience, not everyone can party like a rockstar. (Especially one who’s been outta the college game for 5+ years. Oy vey.) Plus, most men have responsibilities. Even if they don’t have a wife and kids waiting for them at home, they more than likely have jobs, bills and chores or their own. All of which become increasingly harder to do when you’re milking a two-day hangover.
Myth #4: The groom-to-be will fool around with the “entertainment.” Okay, am I the only person that thinks this “myth” is too ridiculous to even be considered a myth at all? Maybe I’m just naive, but I can’t think of one guy friend, family member or otherwise that even took this into consideration. I mean, doesn’t that completely negate the point of getting married? And if that’s his interest, why propose in the first place? Silly.
Myth #5: The event is exclusive. Often times, wedding guests have to be cut to solve other issues – the budget’s too big; the venue’s too small; etc. But that doesn’t have to be the case for the bachelor party! If you’re a groom who’s only inviting family to the big event, it’s not necessary to only include them on the BP invite list. Most dudes branch out, especially if there were people knocked off because the wife-to-be wasn’t a fan.
Myth #6: Guys will lose a ton of money gambling. Again, just like Myth #1 was busted for not always being fiscally responsible; the same goes for Myth #6. Not every bachelor has dollars burning a hole in his britches, but even if he did, he’s not always willing (or wanting for that matter) to spend it on gambling. It’s a total preference thing.
Myth #7: The group will show up at a club and throw money around. Does anyone else see a pattern forming? Haha! Not all BP’s are high roller events, and even the ones that are, aren’t going to necessarily make it rain $20 bills just because they can.
Myth #8: Guys don’t do anything buy drink and ogle women. While drinking and some ogling may be standards at some, not all bachelor parties feel the need to only do that. In fact, some won’t do either at all. While my cousin’s bach party had booze, they definitely didn’t have women. They spent a whole day on a golf course playing teams and vying for King of the Green. (Go ahead, be jealous – haha!)
Myth #9: A guy only goes to the party to get out of the house. Um, I’m not even justifying this myth with a response. Everyone knows there’s 1000′s of reasons :)
Myth #10: Guys don’t miss their significant others. Aww, how sweet is this myth?? It’s true! Most dudes out on the town do at least at one point or another miss their lady half. In fact, many would even admit to sending sweet messages here and there just to remind them how much they mean. Love love love this one! See, how much nicer is it to believe in the good of guys, rather than they’re all cheating, drunk lunatics who steal, gamble or otherwise destroy their lives in one night? Much, muuuuch nicer :)
June 7, 2011
You put the lime in the coconut and drink ‘em both up!!
Okay, so maybe you’re not a fan of limes (or coconuts for that matter), but you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who won’t go gaga over a wedding inspired by summertime favorites: citrus fruits!!
Bright, fresh and fun, citrus colored weddings can be a photographer’s dream! Everything from sunshine-y yellows and exuberant oranges to lovely limes and tantalizing tangerines create eye-popping images you’ll surely love to look at… over and over again… after putting the lime in the coconut – ahhh! Can’t stop singing it! Check out below and see what I mean :)
Look-at-Me Lemon.
courtesy of labellebride.com
courtesy of bollea.com
courtesy of weddingandcakes.com
courtesy of blog.dcnearlyweds.com
courtesy of breguetpm.com
courtesy of prettychicky.com
Oh my Darlin’ Clementine.
courtesy of elizabethannedesigns.com
courtesy of loveolio.com
courtesy of weddingaces.com
courtesy of contemporarybride.com
courtesy of cameroningalls.com
courtesy of w-weddingflowers.com
In Love with Limes.
courtesy of greenweddingshoes.com
courtesy of handmadebymeda.blogspot.com
courtesy of projectwedding.com
courtesy of peacefulcake.blogspot.com
courtesy of oncewed.com
courtesy of redphotoco.com
Go Gaga for Grapefruits.
courtesy of onlineweddingdresses.net
courtesy of rebekahwestover.com
courtesy of stylemepretty.com
courtesy of alohaislandweddings.com
courtesy of blondeblueblog.com
courtesy of pinkbridesmaiddresses.org
June 2, 2011
Yep. It's only appropriate given the cost. Gag.
Everyone knows the big names when it comes to wedding registries: Bed, Bath & Beyond, Bloomingdale’s, Crate & Barrel, JCPenny, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Pottery Barn, Target, etc. Of course, there are others, but I don’t have a single doubt that everyone reading this has either A) registered their wedding or B) bought for another wedding at one or more of these retail registry giants.
However, with more and more couples (Grandmothers, cover your ears!) living together and playing house before the big day, there has been a significant increase in couples looking to register elsewhere. Because they have several of the essentials perhaps already taken care of, brides and grooms are looking for less traditional ways to register… and my oh my how the selections have grown! Check below for the Top 5:
- MyRegistry.com. No need to worry about fitting the proper bridal mold of sticking to the 2-3 store registry limit. MyRegistry.com - like its slogan states – features “all stores (under) one registry.” Simply install the “Add to MyRegistry” button to your search engine tool bar and shop any store, anytime, anywhere. It’s a win / win for couples looking to expand their home into specific directions… without the burden of being specific to one store. Can anyone else say boo and yeah :)
- HatchMyHouse.com. Featured on b&g favorites like dailycandy.com and Brides, HatchMyHouse.com gives couples – looking forward to home owning – the chance to build their dream diggs with the help of their guests. After logging onto their site, couples have the opportunity to design their virtual home and giving their guests the opportunity to either donate or buy specific parts for them! Um, hello??? Love love love this! What do you buy the couple who “has everything?” What about a terrace overlooking their conveniently located lake? Purrrrrfection.
- HoneyFund.com. Already got your cabinets stocked with fine China and toasting treasures but would really like a place to honey*swoon? Well then, why not let your guests be a part of the post nuptial planning! By clicking on HoneyFund.com, soon-to-be newlyweds can register for their dream vacation and let their hair down in true, wedded bliss. I mean who needs a blender, when the margaritas are already on tap? Haha!
- IDoFoundation.org / JustGive.org. For the more charitable couple looking to do good during the “I do’s,” websites such as IDoFoundation.org and JustGive.org provide the opportunity for newlyweds to give instead of receive. Talk about generosity at its finest! Instead of registering for a bunch of appliances and dishware, why not give to a cause in need? Because if it’s truly in giving that we receive, couples registering at these locations will surely get the greatest gift of all :)
- MerciRegistry.com. Looking for something that’s totally you? Well then, peep out MerciRegistry.com and let your wedding gifts become just that. By choosing from one of their well crafted themes, brides and grooms can design, dinker and decorate their very own wedding registry website and pull in items from all over the world. Of course with greatness, there is sometimes a price, and in this case, subscriptions start at $65 :)
May 17, 2011
Every bride – even the most easy going, “not a care in the world” bride – has an opinion… and we want to hear ‘em! Fueled by an excited energy to update our line with items you’ll love, Marilyn’s Keepsakes is taking product research to a whole new level!
In order to make our line even more fabulous, we recognize the importance of starting with a single bride’s opinion and growing from there. She is – after all – the main engine force behind the entire kit and caboodle, and we want to make sure she’s traveling in style :)
So, let us hear from you – yes, you! – and give us your thoughts on some of these Trend Vs. Tradition bridal accessories. Simply click on the link below and be a part of our first ever Survey & Save Blog! Whoop, whoop!
May 12, 2011
courtesy of marilynskeepsakes.com
A fun alternative to the traditional unity candle ceremony, the unity masterpiece is exclusively symbolic to the love it represents. Powered by innovation and your indubitable creation, these custom canvases are yet another way for couples to commemorate their union as husband and wife.
Featuring a multitude of designs – drawn from both contemporary and vintage styles – these fine art photographs are printed on canvas and professionally stretched over a substantial 16×20 inch wooden frame. With styles to match any wedding theme or home décor, each design is available in 3 versions to match your preferences:
- vow writing prompts of “I promise to”,
- declaration of your love with “I love you because”, or
- with no text at all so your creative freedom can take the driver’s seat.
Using a standard fabric or paint pen, which can be purchased at any local craft store, brides and grooms may take turns during the ceremony writing their vows, sharing their feelings or simply signing their names as a symbolic declaration of their love. The paint color and text is truly up to you. Feel free to use multiple colors that compliment your wedding décor and if your vows are too long write, don’t be afraid to do some leg work beforehand and save something simple for the ceremony.
Write gently and fluidly as if using a normal pen. You may write with canvas lying down or set up on a sturdy easel and be sure to leave ample time for it to dry before handling.
Then, after the wedding – rather than being boxed away like typical unity candles – unity canvas masterpieces are meant to be displayed in your home and admired by all throughout the years. You’ll easily see how this growing trend becomes an instant focal point in any setting… especially since you are allowed to be the artist of your own masterpiece. Check out all available designs below, as well as the instructional how-to video:
Designs:
Click Here to Shop!
YouTube Video Link:
May 10, 2011
courtesy of Jessika Feltz Photography
It’s funny, but I’m not much of a jewelry gal. I know, I know. Feel free to gasp and guffaw accordingly :) Even though all my girlfriends tell me it’s un-female to not love any and all trinkets that dazzle, I’ve always argued that I sparkle enough :)
However, all this played a role into the whole engagement process. My dear, sweet husband wanted to surprise me but had no idea what my ring finger size was, and sorry to report, I didn’t have a clue either. Thus the process for “finding the perfect fit” began.
Of course, every girl will be different – not only in size – but also in comfort. Some girls like the tight, almost-too-snug fit because it gives them a greater sense of security. Others, prefer it a little looser because the “spin factor” helps remind them it’s there. Still others are concerned with climate. If they’re in a hot, humid area where fingers can swell up like sausages, they may be more mindful and bump up their size .25″ or so… whereas ladies-in-waiting living in the artic may size down a bit to ensure the rock stays put when snow’s flying… but alas, as always, the choice it up to you.
So, for all you ladies out there looking to find your perfect fit, the World Wide Web offers are several ways to go about it:
- For instance, there is the String Test. This is where you cut a small piece of string, wrap it around your finger, measure it accordingly and compare with jewelry store measurements.
- Also, there is the Paper Test. Several online dealers will have versions of this for you to use. They simply provide a perforated guide that you can cut out, wrap around your finger and see where you land. You can even try using Google Images; just be sure the scaled measurements are accurate when printed.
- Finally, there is the “Secret” Test. Again, if you look online, most retail jewelry stores will have a ring scale you can use for accuracy. This is where you align a ring which you want to mimic the fit of on top of a chart to see which size will fit best. This is the one guys can use “behind the backs” of their ladies when purchasing a ring so she won’t know about; hence, why it’s the “secret” test. :) Of course, please, please, please note, this is the one my Mister tried – tried being the operative word - for me. Unfortunately, he chose a ring from my childhood (yes, CHILDhood) that would’ve been perfect… if this were the 16th century and I was betrothed at the ripe old age of eight, haha. So, make sure if your man is one who would do this, that you leave out only appropriate sized rings :)
Click here for a free PDF from Zales.com that has all three versions readily available.
Now, while it’s always best to get a feel for the ring fit yourself, there are many obvious reasons why this can’t always happen. So, if your actual ring can’t be there for you, BlueNile.com offers a Free Ring Sizer that will deliver plastic ring sizer to your house within 5-7 business days of your request. SUPER handy for the girlfriend DYING to get engaged who’s looking to drop some hints or just a girl looking to buy herself some bling ;)
May 5, 2011
Okay, so I’m pretty much OBSESSED with our staff photographer’s (wad up, Linds!) work. Not only does she have an eye for all things amazing, but she’s got a dollface personality to match :)
Sooo, you can imagine my excitement when we started toying with the idea of using some of her b-e-a-uuuuutiful photography to create Custom Gallery Wrapped Canvases for newlyweds to use in their homes… it was like <insert celebratory funky chicken dance, back dropped by fireworks here>!
With stretched canvases being such a popular trend in home decorating, it was only a matter of time until we brought our unmatched Marilyn’s flare to this time honored, art tradition, and I couldn’t be more excited to reveal the results!
Ideal for newlyweds, housewarming gifts, holidays or simply just because, these one of a kind canvases feature custom photography, professionally stretched over a wooden frame. Every printed canvas is made even more personal when you add in your own lines of custom text at no additional cost! That’s right. You have the ability to make these already fab pieces even more one of a kind with words written by you!
Feel free to check ‘em out, pick one up and start brightening your home with a pop of personalized appeal!
April 19, 2011
photo courtesy of weddingbee.com
That’s right guys and gals, when it comes to your wedding day I do’s, it’s all about the bird!
{{I said a bird bird bird uh bird is da word!}}
Whether your feathering your ceremony in birdie delight or frocking your reception with lovebirds just right… one thing is for sure… brides and grooms the world over are discovering the undeniable cuteness of adding bird decor to their big day!
{{Ooh mow mow papa ooh mow ma mow!}}
Don’t even act like it’s not stuck in your head too! Haha! But I promise, all the pain of repeating the same lyrics over and over again will all be worth it, once you scope out this 2011 Trend in all it’s glory. Check out below to see what I mean:
Add feathered friends to all your wedding stationery -- guaranteed to be tweeted about later! (courtesy of claytonaustinlovestories.com)
Both trendy and cute, birdcage decor is all the rage :) (courtesy of greenweddingshoes.com)
No bird brain here! Just bridal hair covered in festive feathers! (courtesy of stoneblueproductions.com)
From feathery flower girls to uber cutie cake tops, it's all about the beautifying with birds! (courtesy of greenweddingshoes.com)
Bridesmaids? No! Birdsmaids, duh! (courtesy of weddingsgoinggreen.blogspot.com)
Create high flying decor and more! (courtesy of weddingbycolor.com)
Add feathers to your reception table for a look that's funky and fresh! (courtesy of josevillaphoto.com)
Bird's Nest? Yes! For the perfect ring bearer pillow alternative! (courtesy of sarahrhoads.com)
Birds of a feather... stick (and eat!) together! (courtesy of claytonaustinlovestories.com)
Bride + Bird = Love! (courtesy of claytonaustinlovestories.com)
April 7, 2011
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