Floral Chairs

A beautiful touch to rustic or garden themed ceremonies is tying flowers and fabric around the ceremony chairs.

While tulle tends to work best (it's structural and wide - as well as being affordable), any ribbon or fabric can work.

Assuming you only need to cover a few chairs (say, for parents or honored guests), get 5 yards of tulle.

- Cut the 5 yard piece into 3 sections - this will be enough for 3 tiebacks that drape a bit down the chair. (If you want shorter tiebacks, this will be enough for 4.)

- Wrap the tulle around the chair and bring the end pieces together in the back to tie a knot.

- Fan the tulle out to cover the chair back and tuck the flowers into the knot of the fabric.

Fresh, dried, or silk flowers can all work well for this decor. You can also use non-floral items like balloons or tucking programs into the ribbon. If you do choose fresh flowers, you may want to put each bunch in a water tube to keep them fresh.

Gift Registration: Online vs In-Store

For some people gift registration is the best part of wedding planning.

For others, juggling hectic schedules, navigating inconvenient transportation and trying to manage a checklist that looks like War & Peace can lead directly into the temptation that is online registration. Before you commit yourself (and your partner) to a houseful of grab-bag items, hear me out: go to the store.

I know, I know. It's super inconvenient to try and coordinate your & your partner's schedule or get yourself via 3 buses and a walk through a sketchy neighborhood to the nearest Bed, Bath and Beyond, but trust me - it's the only way to ensure that you are getting what you want.

Having opted for the online registration route myself, I can tell you there were a lot of "we didn't register for this...did we?" or "oh...THAT'S what this looks like??" or "Jesus, that wok weighs a TON!" moments that could have deftly been avoided, had we gone to register in person at the store. (Also, it makes for some super awkward bridal shower moments when you open a gift you've never seen in person and have to immediately fake liking it when, in fact, you think it is the most hideous thing you've ever seen...and have only yourself to blame.)

If one of you is going to try and fly solo at the store registration, make very sure that you have both discussed exactly what you want to register for. I've seen couples that have received gifts from their registry that one person thought the other would love, only to end in an argument over the color of the flatware.

Best case scenario: both of you go to the store and register together. That not being possible, try to sit down together with the online registry, pick out what you like together, then send one of you into the store to double check all the items and make any changes necessary.

Save yourselves the headache of a lot of post-wedding returns and exchanges. If you thought getting to that Bed, Bath and Beyond was inconvenient before, try doing it with a one-ton wok in tow...

Let Them Eat...Candy?

While no one loves cake more than this girl, and it can certainly be a fun and tasty tradition to observe, those who are not so baked-goods-inclined are in luck with this new trend: candy bars! (And no, I don't mean like Snickers.)

Candy bars are popping up at events and weddings as a popular way to provide a more casual dessert option that kids and adults can enjoy. Usually placed near the drink bar (either after dinner or as an all-night option), as many varieties of candies as desired (or as are affordable) can be set in all kinds of fun containers that correspond with the event's theme. Or, you can always opt for the traditional clear, glass candy container! (No need to re-invent the wheel.)

Let's face it: the phrase is "kid in a candy store" for a reason. It's a fun indulgence to be able to grab a handful of jellybeans, gummy bears, malt balls and lollipops, and it's a guest treat that can be far more easily tailored to varying tastes and allergies than a single cake.

SALE!

Who doesn't love a discount, especially on wedding items?

Wedding Paper Divas, an adorable online store outfitted for all your paper needs (programs, menus, invitations, place cards, etc), is currently holding a sale through 9/7/10.

For free shipping, use the code: freeship

For $10, $20 and $40 off specific amount purchases*, use the code: WPDSEPT
*their homepage lists all the details

Check out their site for beautiful designs and quality printing. Having ordered from them myself, I can report a timely delivery and invitations & RSVP cards that looked exactly like they did online.

Bonus: They are also able to accommodate tweaks to their designs if you write them a note when placing your order!

Close to my Art

When attempting to find the perfect gift for a bridal shower, wedding attendants, groom/bride gifts, parent thank-yous, try a piece of art. Many people don't shop for art and most people appreciate a framed piece, especially if it's thoughtful and in their style. (So maybe not a great idea for the bridal shower of your sister-in-law-to-be who you just met a week ago.)

Etsy is a fantastic place to look for interesting, affordable prints and originals. (These Kelli Murray prints are some of my favorites!)

Also, most major cities have some kind of art fair either based in town or that passes through from time to time. (A great traveling fair where you can find everything from home decor to baby clothes is the Renegade Craft Fair.)

If shopping for wedding party attendants, you can get each of them a framed piece of art but you can individualize it so that they each get different prints or even different artists.

Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Your giftee will thank you.

Hair Today, Fall Tomorrow

Some of the top trends for Fall '10 hair are blessedly DIY-friendly, a boon for any trend-spotting bride or bridesmaid on a budget.

Take this curly bob. It's a simple style for straight or curly-haired ladies who love a little casual ease to their style.

For curly-haired ladies:

- Wash and either air-dry your hair or use a diffuser, scrunching upwards underneath the top layer to dry it to completion. A leave-in mousse-gel combo will smooth frizzies and flyaways without weighing down the hair too much. Ouidad makes specifically curly-hair-friendly products that work wonders.

- Use a round brush to smooth the top of your hair, if you like the smooth roots look that these models are sporting. Note: If you do smooth the roots, make sure you tease underneath the smooth area though to create volume. Otherwise, you may wind up with something that looks like bad hat hair.

- Use a hot flat-iron to flatten the ends of your hair. It's okay to leave some ends fully curled. The idea is to give it a lived-in look.

- If your hair is still laying a bit close to your head, tease the under-layers to create more volume around the head.

For straight-haired ladies, the folks on becomegorgeous.com do a fabulous job of explaining the details of this style for you. You can also find other fall hair trends on their site.

* As with any event hair, make sure you practice before the big day to ensure you can do it and it looks good.

Mason Jar Decor

Whether planning a garden party-themed summer wedding, a rustic fall wedding or an elegant glass-centered winter wonderland wedding, mason jars can be a budget-friendly way to create warm lighting, charming decor and memorable favors.

I'm sure you're familiar with the classic and beautiful flowers-in-mason-jar centerpiece. Both wildflowers arranged by the wedding party or family or professionally arranged flowers look fantastic in mason jars and give a homey welcome to the event.

They can also be used as table lighting with a little bit of sand (colored or natural), stones or shells as a base for votive candles. This inviting lighting allows for a protected open flame at the table and less (potentially more costly) lighting elsewhere.

Another option for lighting is hanging lanterns. This involves slightly more DIY-work on your part, but are a great option if you're going with an outdoor wedding. P. Allen Smith has a great how-to on their website: www.pallensmith.com

And never underestimate the charm of using them for guest favors. Use your imagination to showcase the wedding locale or your personalities through a small mason jar full of items like:

- local jam (ex: huckleberry jam in Montana)
- a favorite candy (or candies in the color of the wedding)
- soil & a planted seed (for a green-themed wedding)
- local flowers petals (to evolve into potpourri; also involves a bit more DIY)

The options are endless!