Wedding Reception Flowers With Crystals

If your wedding is in the evening, candlelight reflected off the crystals will set an elegant and romantic glow anywhere you use them—on the guest book table, on pews, at the altar. But even a daytime wedding will seem more romantic when surrounded by crystals. That extra sparkle when the sun catches the crystals will make a magical setting.

If you are planning a winter wedding, crystals can be especially useful in creating a “winter wonderland” theme. You can hang them from an archway with silver “icicles” to create a shimmery look. But this idea works well for warm weather weddings, too. The addition of crystal strands to hanging ferns at an outdoor wedding, for example, would add a touch of drama to an otherwise simple decoration.

Anywhere you can think of to add a crystal or two would be a little extra touch of elegance to your wedding day decorations.

This wedding decoration idea was brought to you by WeddingandPartyNetwork.com.  A special thanks goes to Trias Flowers, Antiques & Gifts, a Miami Wedding Florist who graciously let us use their photo.

Do A Little Dance…

Remember that feeling that you had when the bride's best friend got up and delivered a heartfelt toast at the wedding reception? The wedding toast in this video is a rather…well…inspired take on that sentiment.

I'd rather not ruin the surprise. However, if you're looking for a fun and unique wedding toast idea, watch this video!

A very special thanks to the Transcendence Theatre Troupe for sharing this video with us.

Can't see the video? Watch Amy's hilarious wedding toast surprise at YouTube.

Some Of Us Aren't Blessed With The Gift Of Verse

Don't forget to read the disclaimer the adorable man in this video gave before singing this dapper little tune. Why do I suddenly fear Hawaii?

Can't see the video? Find it on YouTube here. Ukelele Wedding Toast

Note To Self: Burn The Little Black Book

Can't view the video? Watch this funny wedding toast video on YouTube.

Have any stories or videos of unique wedding toasts? The good, the bad, the ugly…comment below or send your unique wedding toasts to bjackson@weddingandpartynetwork.com.

Strawberry Punch

Now, don’t get me wrong, sherbet has its’ place. But if you go all out on a wedding reception, why not put a little research and creativity into finding a really great punch recipe. Search the internet, cookbooks, ask relatives and friends what they like and stay open to new ideas.

I was impressed recently when I tasted a coffee punch. It looked great in the bowl, the aroma was captivating, and the taste was like a frosty coffee milkshake—yum! A punch like that may not be the only one you serve. However, it will definitely pique your guests’ curiosity enough to try it.

If your wedding takes place in cooler weather, try a hot cider punch or a warm rum punch. Marrying in warm weather? A frosty mint julep punch or an Italian Limoncella punch would be a refreshing change. Try something out of the ordinary. Your guests will be refreshingly surprised and will appreciate your creativity.

This wedding reception planning idea was brought to you by weddingandpartynetwork.com, your number 1 source for wedding planning.

A special thanks to Catering Creations By CruLa Ro, an Athens Al caterer
who graciously let me use their strawberry punch photo.

No kidding! I saw this idea in a popular craft store to make your pet part of your wedding decorations. Now you can purchase “costumes” for your dog to be the ring bearer and your cat to be the flower girl.

The dog costume is a tuxedo “bib” that ties around the dog’s neck, complete with four French cuffs. The pillow is tied around the dog’s midsection so that it sits level on his back. The flower girl costume is a frilly pink headband, tutu, and a basket for the flower petals that hangs around the neck. These are purrfect (sorry—couldn’t help myself) for those brides and grooms who truly consider their pets part of their family and want to include them in their wedding ceremony.

You may want to consider this idea for getting your pets safely down the aisle: have a traditional flower girl and ring bearer pull child-sized wagons loaded with the pets so that they reach their destination safely and in a timely way. The wagons can be decorated with tulle, fabric, ribbons and flowers to match your wedding decorations so your pooch or kitty can enter in proper wedding style.

So think about making your best friend part of you big day!

This wedding planning ceremony idea was brought to you by weddingandpartynetwork.com.

Now, this can be accomplished in many ways, but the basic idea is to have a table specifically set aside at the reception with a "tree" on it—usually a large branch—that is in the center of the table. Paper clips and small envelopes are provided so guests can clip their bills or envelopes to the tree. By the end of the reception, the tree is filled with monetary gifts to help the couple as they begin their life together.

The money tree can be a decorative focal point at the reception. The branch can be placed in a large container, weighted down with rocks and covered with moss. The branch could be sprayed white or silver, and you could even put mini white lights on it for a beautiful effect. If you’re having a wedding near the holidays, a miniature Christmas tree would work great.

I think this is an especially helpful idea if the couple has just purchased their first home. Gifts from the money tree could actually pay their first month’s mortgage.

This traditional wedding reception idea was brought to you by weddingandpartynetwork.com, your number 1 source for wedding planning.

Unity Candle Alternative -- Sand Vase

A unity candle flickers like an eternal flame representing the love of the bride and groom. Something like a sand candle (wicks can be inserted) or sand arrangement is a unique symbol of unity stronger than most others. The crystal of sand, like tiny pieces of their hearts and lives, come together and form something beautiful and respectful. Each crystal of sand resides beside a crystal of sand that represents their new husband or wife. Lives converge. Feelings, thoughts, emotions, and daily life all become one precious thing now. Such is the representation in a sand filled vase.

If you're looking to truly personalize your wedding, try something unique like this as an alternative to lighting the unity candle. When you view the sand in the vase every day in your home it will be a constant reminder of the precious, wonderful things you cherish together.

It made me think about fall leaves and how their colors are the best part of autumn. Nature offers such beauty—why not use it for wedding decorations? Using the natural hues (gold, russet, burgundy, and mocha) of fall leaves makes a gorgeous decorating theme. Think about it! With brown being the new black, mocha colored for bridesmaid dresses (especially in silk) set the stage for a rich earthy essence that can carry through to the wedding decorations.

Bridesmaids could carry flower bouquets in an array of fall colors tied with chocolate silk ribbon and a few fall leaves tucked in—how elegant! The pew flowers could be all one color—maybe chrysanthemums—with leaves and raffia ribbon. A lavish combination of rich fall-colored flowers with willow twigs could complete the altar flower decorations. Rather than the flower girl dropping petals, she could scatter fall leaves down the aisle before the bride’s entrance. The warm glow of candles (in fall colors) grouped in various sizes at the altar will create a stunning backdrop for pictures.

Using nature's hues and fall leaves is a theme easily incorporated into all aspects of your wedding from your wedding program to wedding reception decorations and wedding favors. It even lends itself to eco-friendly weddings where couples give seedling trees as favors so guests can take them home, plant them, and have a lasting memento of their wedding day.

So take a clue from nature and work fall hues into your wedding decorations.

However, for those not quite that bold, I thought this would be a great way for the wedding party to make their entrance at the wedding reception. Most receptions begin with the wedding party introductions. Each member of the wedding party could enter the reception dancing. Or the wedding party could enter the reception with a choreographed dance. This is actually a rising trend in wedding receptions. Naturally, the bride and groom would be the last to enter, which could flow right into their first dance.

I think this is a great way to kick off the wedding reception giving the guests a great view of the newlyweds with a little wedding reception entertainment to boot.

One of my favorite songs is the classic “At Last.” I can see that being a perfect “first dance” song, but any song that is meaningful to the bride and groom would work well. After the first dance, the bride and groom could proceed to cutting the cake or greeting guests, and then continue with the father/daughter and mother/son dances. I’ve attended receptions where the official dancing didn’t start until the reception was well underway, and I really like this idea of starting the reception with some upbeat, celebratory music.

Pink Rose Bud & Ivory Wedding Bouquet

Coral and Fuchsia Pink Wedding Bouquet

#4 A Richly Textured Coral And Fuchsia Pink Wedding Bouquet
What a vivid pink wedding bouquet! What I believe makes this wedding bouquet the perfect wedding accessory for any bride are all the various shades of pink. Whether its the light pinks or dark pinks you may prefer best, this bouquet has a mixture of all so it wont disappoint. Pink is my favorite color which is why I'm not disappointed and why this wedding bouquet could not be left off my top list. This wedding bouquet was submitted by Dills Floral Haven Inc, a Belleville Illinois florist.

A glamerous Ivory wedding bouquet

Bride & Groom with red-wood and ivory rose wedding bouquet

# 2 The Bride & Groom With an Elegant Wedding Bouquet
This happens to be one of my most favorite wedding bouquet on this list. The combination of red, white, and pale roses looks prominent against the brides alluring gown. The rose does symbolize "I Love You" , so using this particular flower in a bouquet is the perfect choice for any wedding, and also the perfect choice for the number 2 spot on my list. This wedding bouquet was submitted by Amazing Images Photography, a Hesperia California photographer.

Bride with Cotton Candy Pink & Ivory Rose Wedding Bouquet

Jason and Dana decided to have their wedding officiant turn his back to the wedding guests and face only the bride and groom. This way, everyone in the church was looking at them–their special day. I'd never seen it before and was very surprised when I heard that it had been done this way. Kudos to Jason and Dana though because this was just the first thing they did to personalize their wedding.

I wonder at which point during the wedding planning that my cousins decided to shake things up a bit. Knowing Jason, that much wasn't surprising. Knowing the kind of woman it would take to make the other half of a happy couple, it wasn't that surprising of Dana. Still, I was taken aback by it in the best of ways.

Personalized weddings are huge now and this is just one way that modern brides can put a unique spin on their weddings, truly turning the wedding into a day all about the couple.

When you're planning your wedding, consider asking your wedding officiant to face you instead with his back to the guests. It's a bit out of the ordinary but that's precisely what makes it so cool.