Tickled Pink Brides

Getting in Shape for Your Wedding

 

   Having worked in the wedding gown business, I can tell you that approximately 95% of my brides, while trying on gowns, said they wanted to lose weight or get in shape before their wedding.  And I'm pretty sure I'm not exaggerating that number.  That certainly doesn't mean they all needed to, but upon getting engaged, something fires in our brains telling us that we have just got to trim down to look our best come wedding day.  I admit it-- I did the same thing when I got married!
    So what to do about it?  We can't deny that the biggest get-fit rules are 1) eating healthier, 2) eating less, and 3) exercising.  Need something more specific?  Here are some rules of thumb from celebrity trainers and registered dietitians, as featured on MSNBC and David Zinczenko's The Abs Diet for Women :

• Start your diet and exercise regime upon getting engaged--- don't wait until the last minute.
• Make your fitness goals a priority.  Treat your workouts like a part-time job that you must attend daily.
• Do weight training along with cardio.  Lifting weights will keep your body burning calories long after your workout, and will tone muscles like arms and back that will be seen in your wedding gown.
• Pair eating less calories with exercise.  Don't use just one or the other.
• Cut out high-sugar juices and sodas.  Reach for water instead.
• Be sensible.  Losing too much weight or doing it too quickly will make you lethargic and irritable, unable to fully enjoy your engagement experience.
• Watch your alcohol intake.  There are plenty of events going on making it easy to party your way through the engagement, but most alcoholic drinks are filled with empty calories and also make it easier to inhale way more of the wrong foods.
• If you've waited until the last minute to start losing weight, restrict calories and avoid salt for only a week or two.  Be very wary of crash diets or diet pills, both of which can do more harm than good.
• Try adjusting to a plan that you can continue for life, not just a fad diet.  Restrictive diets and over-the-top exercise plans set you up to gain it back quickly as soon as the honeymoon starts.
• Focus on health and nutrition.  Your body will be much better off if your are properly nourishing it.  You want wedding guests to say you look "fit", not "sick".
• Start taking a multivitamin if you don't already.  This will benefit you big time, especially on a diet, and an increase of folic acid gives your body a boost should you decide to become pregnant in the months after the wedding.
• Cheat once a week.  Take advantage of date nights or dinners with friends, making sure to enjoy your engagement!

Platinum Wedding Band Giveaway on OneWed

   

    If you have not already stopped by OneWed, now is the time to do it.  The site is a valuable resource for both brides and vendors, with inspiration, a fabulous blog called Savvy Scoop,and links to vendors and bridal shows in your area.  Right now, OneWed is hosting an amazing contest, giving away a pair of hand engraved Platinum wedding bands by Kirk Kara, valued at $5,000!  The contest is in honor of the growing trend of women proposing to their men (a la The Proposal, or Monica and Chandler on Friends), and the lucky winner will be able to do just that, armed with these Platinum bands!

Some notes about Platinum:

Color: Unlike white gold, it’s a naturally white metal so the color will never fade.

Strong yet Gentle: It’s the strongest precious metal, so it will stand up to daily wear and tear. Even better, it’s a pure metal, making it hypoallergenic, ideal for the bride or groom with sensitive skin.

Rare: Platinum is 30 times more rare than gold. In fact, it is estimated that if all the mined Platinum in the world was poured into one Olympic-sized swimming pool, it would only be enough to cover your ankles. Gold, on the other hand, would completely fill more than three pools!

Here's how to enter the contest:

Tell us in 200 words or less how you would (or will) POP your Platinum Proposal, and you could win his and hers Platinum wedding bands from jewelry designer Kirk Kara. Send your platinum proposal story to savvyscoop@onewed.com before midnight on July 15th. And don't forget, you must register on OneWed.com first, and provide your OneWed username along with your Platinum Proposal story! For full contest details, rules, and guidelines, click HERE!

Moroccan-Inspired Wedding Ideas

    Inspired by Moroccan lanterns we're using to decorate an upcoming wedding ceremony, today's post is dedicated to Moroccan wedding ideas.  Whether you are a part of Moroccan culture or just appreciate its aesthetics, the jewel tones and intricate details can be incorporated into all parts of your own wedding.  Here are a few ways to add Moroccan spice to your own wedding:

• Lounge style seating with rugs, pillows and cushions in shades of reds, oranges and purples.

Photo from Oh How Charming!

• Mix and match colors and textures for a "thrown together" look on tables and centerpieces.  Try flowers, branches, mismatched votives and vases, and thick, layered table cloths.  Remember, each table does not need to look alike!

Courtenay Lambert Florals and Simply Timeless Photography

• Line tables with lanterns to save on flowers and create a dreamy, candlelit atmosphere.  This makes a beautiful display down a long table, as well as grouped as a centerpiece on round/square tables.
  

Lanterns available for purchase here

More Moroccan-inspired ideas to try:

• In place of cigar rollers, set up a hookah lounge.  In larger cities, many event rental companies can provide hookahs.
• Hire belly dancers to entertain during dinner.  Search for a belly dance troupe or school in your city and call to hire dancers.
• Serve family-style or passed hors d'ouevres that include hummus, tabbouleh, and stuffed grape leaves.
• Have henna artists available to guests during the reception so they can take home an artistic memory of your wedding.  Or, hold a henna party with your female family and bridesmaids the night before the wedding.

Engagement Photo Ideas: Chris Craymer

    While perusing one of my fave sites, Gala Darling, I came across some incredible photography by the UK's Chris Craymer.  This led me to the Romance section of his website, showing unbelievable, candid photos of couples that are so unique and beautiful, I had to share them with you.  I was inspired by some of the shots that would be absolutely fantastic for young and modern engagement portraits.  When you take a look at Romance, you'll find that some of these potential "engagement portraits" are not exactly suitable to send to grandma, but below are my pics for some scenes that might be:

Wedding Channel's Bridal Blog Awards

   

    Tickled Pink has been nominated for the Wedding Channel's Bridal Blog Awards!  If you like what you see on this blog, please vote for Tickled Pink Brides.  Simply click the link and leave a comment showing your support for our site!  Thanks, everyone!

Wedding Invitation Etiquette

    I'm often asked what the proper etiquette is for addressing wedding invitations, depending on the formality of the event.  Firstly, remember that your invitations set the tone for what guests can expect at your coming wedding.  The invitation guides them as to the formality, and even helps many guests choose their attire for the night.  For instance, an invitation to an daytime, backyard event may look very different than an invite to an evening dinner reception at a formal restaurant or hotel.  Your invitation does not need to leave guests questioning what is to come, so be sure to use clear language if black tie dress is optional or requested, if you are solely having a dessert reception, etc.

For a formal wedding, consider sticking to white or ivory paper (whichever matches the bride's dress), and traditional black ink.  You can play around with color, but keep the design simple.  Stripes, seashells, or polka dots do not say "formal" or "black tie".

Address labels are, by most standards, not appropriate for a wedding invitation.  Calligraphy is beautiful and elegant for a formal wedding, and printing directly onto the envelope is always a good choice.

Timing is important when sending invitations, especially when some guests are traveling to be there for the wedding.  Guests should receive your invitation about eight weeks from the wedding day, but consider sending a Save the Date six to eight months out if you have many out of town guests, or if you are having a destination wedding.

Don't forget to list an RSVP date clearly on your invitations.  This is typically 2-3 weeks from the wedding date, but check with your caterer or venue to be sure you'll have enough time to turn in your final headcount.  It is perfectly appropriate to call any guests who do not RSVP to politely ask if they'll be attending.  Do this about two weeks from the wedding date.

Include information/direction cards if your ceremony and reception are not in the same place, or if a large amount of guests don't know their way around your city.  These days, it's also appropriate to include the address to your wedding website, which can offer directions, maps, and hotel options.

Many wedding invitations require additional postage, so be sure to visit the post office before mailing them all to be sure you won't end up with a mailbox full of returned invites!  Always self-address and affix postage to the response card envelope. 

Unsure how to word your invitations?  Check with Wedding Paper Divas on sample wording.

It's a Jaime Thing's Custom Canvas Giveaway

    One of our friends in the wedding blog world, It's a Jaime Thing, has launched her new site and is celebrating by giving away a custom wedding canvas.  The canvases, by Geezees, are perfect for displaying engagement photos and special sentiments at the entry of your wedding, or for capturing a wedding photo along with your vows. 

    To enter, you must leave a comment on Jaime's blog post, telling her how you would design your custom canvas should you be chosen as the winner.  The giveaway is open to U.S. readers only and will end at midnight on July 24, 2009.  Good luck, and please show us your design if you win!

Wedding Featured on The Knot

   

    The upcoming issue of The Knot Florida features both my own wedding and that of a friend.  I'm so honored to have our photos chosen (thanks, Garrett Nudd Photography!) and almost a year and a half after our big day, I still love the way our wedding turned out and would do it the same all over again.
Here's a link to the Real Wedding article about my own wedding.

Our friends Jennika and Brandon were also featured in the issue with their natural wedding theme of Kelly green and chocolate brown.  Below is a sneak peek of their images, by Root Photography.

Bridesmaid Dresses by Thread

    For fashion-forward brides and their girlfriends, the words "bridesmaid dress" can sometimes invoke images of dowdy frocks that will be hung in the very back of the closet and have no chance of ever seeing the light of day again.  Lucky for all of us, designers know this and in the last couple years have revamped the bridesmaid dress to keep up with ready-to-wear fashion.  I recently toured Orlando's new Priscilla of Boston store and found dresses that I cannot wait to order for any cocktail event that comes up. 
    Another of my favorite designers is Thread, who makes gorgeous cocktail-style bridesmaid dresses in the most stunning colors.  For absolutely any occasion that a cocktail dress is needed, these dresses are perfect!

THREAD PARTY COLLECTION

THREAD LUXE COLLECTION

 

THREAD COTTON SEERSUCKER



Oh, I just love them all!

A Nature-Inspired Wedding

    A big fan of all things natural and organic myself, this Etsy seller's products are right up my alley.  The "going green" trend has sparked a lot of new wedding ideas and products, and I know many of you are incorporating natural elements into your own weddings.  Using preserved moss, April Hiler Designs offers unique and woodsy decor that is perfect for an outdoor summer wedding, or for bringing the outdoors in.  Below, the mini firefly lantern takes the place of votives and can either be grouped with your centerpiece arrangements or hung from the ceiling or trees for a beautiful, natural glow.

This preserved moss initial is wrapped with twine to hold pictures near the guest book or cake table.  Guests can also write "wishes" or sentiments for the married couple and slip them onto the initial to decorate the couple's home.



These alternatives to the traditional flower girl basket are nature-inspired and tie in your theme as your flower girl precedes you down the aisle.  On the left, a rustic kissing ball, or pomander, is filled with succulents.  On the right, a moss-filled basket will hold pretty petals.



Finally, a moss-covered ring bearer pillow completes your theme and looks adorable holding your rings in pictures.  Choose one adorned with succulents and berries, or keep it simple with plain sheet moss.