Win The Everything Wedding Etiquette Book!!!!! ********GIVEAWAY CLOSED********

********GIVEAWAY CLOSED********
The basic principle of etiquette can be summed up simply as the idea of not offending, embarrassing, or upsetting others. While many questions of etiquette are simply a matter of common sense, other situations can be dealt with through consideration, communication, and a little kindness.

Marrying the complexities of wedding planning with the graciousness of etiquette is where The Everything Wedding Etiquette Book: From invites to thank you notes  - All you need to handle even the stickiest  situations with ease (Everything Series) comes in. This book will tell you how to solve contemporary etiquette dilemmas through practical advice while answering some of the most commonly asked wedding etiquette questions. Most importantly, this book recognizes that the world is an ever-changing place and that there are no hard and fast rules of etiquette anymore—what’s right for one bride may not be right for another. Many questions, especially those dealing with today’s complicated family dynamics, have no single correct answer; solutions to these types of dilemmas

depend upon the particulars of each situation.

So...You want to win one? Here's how!

********GIVEAWAY CLOSED********

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

REQUIRED ENTRY:
LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY! 
**IF YOU ALREADY HAVE DONE ANYONE OF THESE, JUST LEAVE A COMMENT LETTING ME KNOW!** 

*Leave comment letting me know you are a public follower of Hip Weddings via Google Friend connect - This is the first and required entry.  IF YOUR EMAIL IS NOT PART OF YOUR PROFILE...YOU MUST LEAVE A VALID EMAIL IN THE COMMENT...OR GO ADD YOUR EMAIL TO YOUR PROFILE. (1 ENTRY)

*Leave a comment about weddings in general OR ask a question (to be answered in a post later).(1 ENTRY)

EXTRA ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):
** Follow Hip Weddings on Twitter (1 entry) Leave twitter ID in comment.
** SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL TO HIP WEDDINGS (2 entries)
** Tweet this giveaway (1 entry daily): "Win The Everything Wedding Etiquette Book from @hipweddings. http://tiny.cc/tv5Vn"
** Blog about this giveaway (3 entries; leave post link)
** Grab the Hip Weddings button for your blog, or add my home page URL to your blogroll with a link back to me (see my left sidebar for buttons; 3 entries for each)

Have you been to visit my other blog 504 Main...extra entries await! LEAVE ALL COMMENTS FOR GIVEAWAYS on HIP WEDDINGS.
** Become a public blog follower of 504 Main (1 entry)

** Subscribe via email to 504 Main (2 entries)
**Follow 504 Main on Twitter (leave twitter ID)(1 entry)

** Grab the 504 Main button for your blog, or add my home page URL to your blogroll with a link back to me (see my left sidebar for buttons; 3 entries for each)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deadline to enter is 11:59 pm PST on March 3, 2010. Include a valid email address in your comments or in profile to be contacted.  The winner will be chosen using randomly, posted on this site and notified via email; Winner will have 48 hours to acknowledge win or another random winner will be chosen. Open to residents of U.S. and Canada.  

********GIVEAWAY CLOSED******** 

Creative Guestbooking

Hey everyone!

This is a repost from awhile back, but I thought...

there are always new brides, and it is getting

to be that time when Spring and Summer brides should be

thinking about guest book options...

So here it is, some scoop on creative guestbooking!

The idea, or should I say, tradition of a guestbook has been around for what seems like forever. Over the last several years the guest book has taken some twists and turns. Probably the most popular reincarnation of the guestbook has been the matted engagement photo, where guests sign their well wishes on the matting surrounding the photo. However, there are many other creative alternatives that deserve some time in the spotlight. I am going to spend a few posts here and there, highlighting some of the best guest book ideas I have seen or heard of.

For the first installment, I am going to start with a really easy and fun alternative. For one super fun couple I worked with we simply purchased a spiral bound scrap book style photo album, like this...

Canson All Black Photo Book 13.25x11

Then I bought crayons, markers, and good 'ole regular pens. We placed these items in a cool container by the book, and created a frame with the phrase "Draw a picture. Write a poem. Share some words of wisdom."

To give guests a clue as to what we were doing (because it was different), I brought the guest book to the rehearsal dinner and had the parents and wedding party do their signing there. Guest love visuals!

Other great {and less DIY} guestbook options include:
Adesso Albums - You can check out a post I did about Adesso HERE.
and
The Guestbook Store

HIP TIP: The family and wedding party are really busy on the wedding day. By taking the guestbook to the rehearsal dinner they will have time to sign it and leave their well wishes without being rushed...and of course you don't want them to be left out of this special keepsake.

Oh yeah...come back on Friday...I will be giving away a copy of The Everything Wedding Etiquette Book!

Happy Planning!
Holly

Oh Shoot That's a Great Gift!

A few weeks ago, while perusing through blogland,

I came across a giveaway a blogger was having and

fell in L-O-V-E with what she was giving away.

Seriosuly how FAB is this?

Seriously, is this not a fantastic bridal shower or wedding present?

These wonderful prints are from Oh Shoot Photography

and would make any bride or groom happy as can be.

 It is a wonderful personalized gift.

There are so many different ways of creating the print

to capture individual (or as they case may be couples) personalities.

How does it work?

-Send an email requesting a proof...

-You can have up to 9 letters in your collage...

-The info for the top or bottom could be...wedding date, wedding year, wedding location, etc. 

-Oh Shoot Photography is happy to help with ideas once you tell them the occassiononce I hear what occasion they are looking for.

-Pricing is only $30 for one 10x20 print.  Frames can be purchased for as little as $20 at most retail stores.

Oh, but wait...these collages are not only good for weddings...

they are great housewarming presents, anniversary presents,

to celebrate a birth...pretty much anything you

can think of and can be personalized with parents names,

kids names, grandkids names, the year your house was built.....etc.

Go check out Oh Shoot Photography 

for a fun, fabulous and totally unique gift or addition to your home.

Want To Be A Winner!

There is a giveaway going on over at Midday Escapades!

You can win an autographed copy of my latest book...

The basic principle of etiquette can be summed up simply as the idea of not offending, embarrassing, or upsetting others. While many questions of etiquette are simply a matter of common sense, other situations can be dealt with through consideration, communication, and a little kindness.

Marrying the complexities of wedding planning with the graciousness of etiquette is where The Everything Wedding Etiquette Book: From invites to thank you notes  - All you need to handle even the stickiest  situations with ease (Everything Series) comes in. This book will tell you how to solve contemporary etiquette dilemmas through practical advice while answering some of the most commonly asked wedding etiquette questions. Most importantly, this book recognizes that the world is an ever-changing place and that there are no hard and fast rules of etiquette anymore—what’s right for one bride may not be right for another. Many questions, especially those dealing with today’s complicated family dynamics, have no single correct answer; solutions to these types of dilemmas

depend upon the particulars of each situation.

So...You want to win one? Here's how!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE DONE AT MIDDAY ESCAPADES...

SO GO PAY LYNN A VISIT!

But...don't forget to complete the first two extra entries here by following hip weddings publicly via Google Friend Connect and on Twitter !

REQUIRED ENTRY:

Leave a comment about Holly's book or weddings in general. This is the first and required entry.   

EXTRA ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):
** Become a public blog follower of Holly's Hip Weddings Blog (1 entry)
** Follow Hip Weddings on Twitter (1 entry)
** Enter the same giveaway at Holly's Blog (1 entry)
** Follow Midday Escapades on Twitter (1 entry)
** Tweet this giveaway (1 entry daily): "Win The Everything Wedding Etiquette Book #giveaway from @HipWeddings and @middayescapades  http://bit.ly/bBCFkJ Pls RT"
** Blog or "Share" (Stumble, Technorati, Digg, etc.) this giveaway (3 entries; leave post link)
** Become a public blog follower of Midday Escapades (1 entry)

** Subscribe to my Midday Escapades blog (1 entry for each)

** Grab my Midday Escapades and Friday Follow buttons for your blog, or add my home page URL to your blogroll with a link back to me (see my left sidebar for buttons; 3 entries for each)

** Enter another one of my current giveaways:  Giveaways Galore (1 entry for each)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deadline to enter is 11:59 pm CST on February 20, 2010. Include a valid email address in your comments or in profile to be contacted.  The winner will be chosen using Random.org, posted on this site and notified via email; Winner will have 48 hours to acknowledge win or another random winner will be chosen. Prize will be shipped directly by sponsor to chosen winner.  Only residents of U.S. are eligible to win. 

If you need additional information about entering this giveaway, please review Midday Escapades complete Giveaway Entry Guidelines.

Enter to win Midday Escapades other giveaways at the Giveaways Galore page.  Come and list your giveaways, too.

Charming Design Inspirations

Happy Friday!

The other day I was feeling inspired...

wanting to create a sweet,

romantic, charming vintage-inspired table with lots

of fun details for a project that I am working on.

I was pleased as punch with the way it turned out...

so I just had to share!

There are a lot of little details and ideas found here

that a bride {or bridesmaid} can easily be incorporated

into a wedding, bridal shower, or bridesmaids tea/luncheon.

 A chandelier of found branches hangs from the camellia tree,
adorned with ribbons and miniature paper globes,
it creates a whimsical focal point.
Imagine a fantastic cake sitting under the chandelier!

A view from overhead.

A nest provides the perfect spot for a paper globe to rest.
A glittering monogram awaits the guest.
A truffle, your favorite candy, or
another special treat can nest here.

A simple glass container set a top a silver tray
is home to a bed of moss, baby's breath
and gorgeous red camellias.
I just love baby's breath when it is paired with
the unexpected or grouped in a large, full bunch.
Carnations rock this way too!

Petite vases on either side of the main
centerpiece hold pink baby roses.

A shot of the overall place setting - my favorite
find last week were these pink basket weave plates.
I paired them with toile saucers and
a rose/love themed larger plate.
A glass and pitcher set with a platinum rim.
I used that because it complimented
my tea cups with the platinum rim.

I played with the linens a lot.
First I laid a basic white linen,
then layered burlap on top
{I am officially in love with burlap these days}.
I topped the burlap with a small embroidered square linen.
The napkins are simple and ecru.
I just loved the look of the contrast between
the smooth, rough, and vintage layers.

Embroidery detail from the topper.

A close up of the mixed and matched tea cup and saucer.

Handmade paper globes with flowing ribbon
hung from the chandelier.
Crystals were add for some sparkle.

I used some decorative iron garden chairs,
wrapped them in a lightweight white fabric
and tied them off with a strip of burlap.
Tucking some baby's breath, and topping the chair
with a vintage doilie finished the look.

 

Hope you enjoyed it!

Have a sweet day!

Holly 

Resources: Toile plates and Love plates (Marshall's); basket weave plate (vintage, Goodwill); tea cup (Goodwill), Centerpiece (Marshall's); Topper (grandma's); Burlap (Ace Hardware); Glassware (Vintage, grandma's); Paper globes, monogram (handmade); ribbon, nest (Michael's).

I Want the Sand Between My Toes...But What Are We Supposed to Wear?

I have had a few questions pop up regarding

what to wear for a beach wedding.

For this one, I thought I would call in an expert,

Deborah LaFranchi of La Franchi Couture 

to share her expertise and knowledge.

With over 20 years of experience, she knows

what a bride and her entourage need.

Thinking of having a beach wedding?  Perhaps you are lucky enough to live close to the ocean or maybe a destination wedding on some exotic beach is what you have in mind.  Either way, Mother Nature will be alive and well and part of the wedding so you will need to take her into consideration when planning a beach wedding.

The beach is usually breezy so you need to think about the wind.  When choosing a gown, you want to make sure it isn't something that will fly up easily should a sudden gust of wind come your way.  This will be a choice of materials.  Don't pick fabrics such as chiffon or gauze or lightweight silk. Make sure the material has some weight to it so you have one less thing to worry about.

Also, beaches tend to be sunny and hot, whether it's humid like the Caribbean or dry like Malibu, be sure your gown is comfortable.  A strapless gown will be the coolest and won't show embarrassing underarm sweat marks the way a gown with sleeves might.  If you tend to get cold or chilled, have a wrap or stole handy that can be added if you need it last minute in case there is a change in temperature.  Make sure this is chosen when getting your gown so it co-ordinates with it and looks
like it was part of your ensemble.

Veils may become a nusance as you may just end up fighting it in the wind both during the ceremony and pictures.  But DO make sure you wear something in your hair.  A bride looks unfinished without some sort of head adornment.  Flowers are the perfect compliment to any hairstyle and beach wedding.  Beautiful combs, clips and tiaras are other options to explore,  but this designer says something in your hair is a MUST!

You may also want to have a hairstyle that is up and close to your head.  This will also be a benefit in a windy or hot setting.  It also gives an elegant look to any bride.

When choosing a gown, you probably don't want one with a long train when having a beach wedding.  It will drag and collect sand and just feel uncomfortable.  A small train is more manageable or even a short or ankle length gown might be your choice.  Shoes can always be optional at a beach wedding but for safety sake you may want ballet slippers or classy sandals...please remember heels don't work in the sand.

When it comes to dressing your bridesmaids and mothers the same tips I have just given should apply.  They too are in the same place with the same weather so you want to make sure they have thought of all the above elements.

-Deborah LaFranchi

Deborah LaFranchi is a professional designer who has worked in the Los Angeles area for over 20 years. She has extensive background in theater having designed over 100 theatrical productions. She perfected her technical skill in sewing at an early age and attended "The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising" in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

A very BIG thanks to Deborah...

now, go checkout Deborah's website 

www.deborahlafranchi.com,

to see her amazing creations.