Looking for the perfect groomsmen gift? From decadent chocolates to personalized drinkware, this gift guide includes something for every budget.

Under $10:

Save some extra cash for your honeymoon fund and opt for these budget-friendly personalized flasks from ThePersonalizedGift.

Under $20:

An on-budget gift that looks uber luxurious? Count us in! This laser engraved custom whiskey glass from MagicWoodShop is an absolute steal.

Under $30:

Any coffee connoisseur would be thrilled to receive this Espresso Patronum coffee candle from My Weekend is Booked.

Under $40:

This sleek and sophisticated personalized flask from theEngraver looks like it costs a fortune.

Under $50:

Your groomsmen will have no excuse not to be on time for your wedding with these engraved pocket watches from RCPersonalizedGifts .

Under $60:

Looking for a gift that’s functional as well as stylish? You know that your groomsmen will use these dopp kits from Fieldworkco time and time again.

Under $70:

PolLeatherStudio knocks it out of the park with these handcrafted custom leather belts.

Under $80:

These decadent chocolates from Neuhaus will make for legendary groomsman gifts.

Under $90:

Buy these Star Wars decanter gift sets from LuxuriousGiftShop for your Star Wars-obsessed groomsmen, you must.   

Under $100:

Sleek, sophisticated and oh-so luxurious, this personalized rose gold watch from AVANTwatches is the ultimate groomsmen gift option.

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Looking for the perfect bridesmaid gift? From budget-friendly personalized jewelry to luxury bridesmaid pajamas, this gift guide includes something for every budget.

Under $10:

These cute wedding handkerchiefs from Boldfaced make for perfect keepsakes.

Under $20:

Personalized jewelry at under $20? Yes please! We’re swooning over these personalized heart necklaces from earringsnation.

Under $30:

My Weekend is Booked‘s Harry Potter-inspired Butterbeer-scented bridesmaid proposal candles are the perfect way to summon your best witches to your bridal party. Harry Potter fans and muggles alike will be enchanted!

Under $40:

Under $50:

Pretty and practical bridesmaid gifts are the best! How lovely are these bridesmaid pajamas from LeRoseGifts?

Under $60:

These beautiful hoop earrings from Atrio will become one of your bridesmaids’ all-time fave jewelry pieces.

Under $70:

Give your besties the invaluable gift of a closet staple with this sophisticated minimalist clutch from boejackdesigns.

Under $80:

These decadent chocolates from Neuhaus will make for legendary bridesmaid gifts.

Under $90:

This heart necklace from TedandMag is truly fit for a princess. The golden crown atop the heart is so pretty!

Under $100:

Your bridesmaids will swoon over the bright floral scent of this lovely Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Eau de Toilette Spray.

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Haleh and Mitchell were married in front of close family and friends at San Francisco City Hall. After a short wedding ceremony on the Mayor’s Balcony, the newlyweds and their friends hopped on San Francisco’s quintessential mode of transportation- a trolley- and rode through town to the Golden Gate Bridge, where Mitchell had proposed to Haleh the year before.

“We all sang the Friends theme song at the top of our lungs and the group hung off the trolley while the Full House theme song blared in the background- it was the perfect way to celebrate Mitchell and Haleh’s commitment to each other,” says photographer Kaitie Brainerd from Kaitie Brainerd Photography.

Kudos to Katie for capturing this simple wedding so beautifully.

Haleh,31 & Mitchell, 31

Location: San Francisco, CA

Wedding Date: June 19, 2018

Number of guests: 50

Wedding Cost: $8,000

Ceremony Location: San Francisco City Hall

Reception Location: El Mansour Restaurant

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We had an intimate wedding because we wanted to celebrate closer to my family who lives in San Francisco and go big for our honeymoon!

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

We actually did not face any challenges planning a small intimate wedding. The hardest part was probably communicating with the violinist over email and phone to listen to his music before confirming him for the ceremony. Otherwise, it was a very easy process that did not require much. Also, coordinating with San Francisco City Hall for our marriage license was a little tricky since we both live in LA. For the most part it was easy breezy. We booked City Hall for an hour for our ceremony a few months in advance, then booked the restaurant and told the family!

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

It was a little difficult to pair down the guest list but in the end we had to keep reminding ourselves this was JUST for family and closest of friends and we had to be selfish on our day.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

N/A

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The highlights of the ceremony were really seeing our family so excited for us and reading our vows to each other. It was emotional but I will never forget that moment of finally expressing what he meant to me in my heart to my loved ones.

What were the highlights of the reception?

The highlight of the reception was seeing my parents so happy dancing together at our reception and then having them sign our marriage license as witnesses.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

The best thing about having an intimate wedding was NO STRESS! haha. I really did not feel overwhelmed and I had just the right amount on my plate to handle with ease. Also, my husband took care of all appointments and arranged the dates so it was great team work. I was able to just enjoy being engaged looking for my wedding dress/do bridal things and not stressing. He always tries to make my life easier … haha. One of many reasons I love him.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

My advice for couples who know for sure they want an intimate wedding is just HAVE FUN! You only get married once … don’t sweat the small stuff because in the end nobody will care if the centerpieces are lilies instead of hydrangeas or that you wrote your vows the day before on your 5 hour drive from LA to SF…  haha. Everyone just wants to celebrate you two and witness your love! It is so much fun to plan a wedding and you get to learn even more about each other during the process!

Also, Kaitie Brainerd was the most amazing photographer and was so sweet and easy to work with, I am so happy she was able to take us to the Golden Gate Bridge after the ceremony for a special photoshoot we will have forever! It was so much fun especially our trolley ride to the bridge! Thank you Kaitie; we adore you!

Vendors:

Dress Designer: BHLDN

 Venue: San Francisco City Hall

Photographer: Kaitie Brainerd Photography

One of the most important tasks of the wedding planning phase is to hire an officiant that is a good match for you. If you are having a religious ceremony and aren’t members of a church, the task of finding an officiant can be a challenge. Some couples choose to get married where their parents or grandparents were married, which, needless to say, makes it much easier. Other couples might choose a church merely for it’s aesthetic appeal, and hire the officiant that comes along with the church. For these couples, the physical structure of the building is more important than the man or woman behind the pulpit.

If you’re looking to hire an officiant, start visiting local churches, or simply go online. It’s best to start your search as soon as possible to ensure availability.

In fact, becoming certified as an officiant is quite simple. The Universal Life Church, a non-denominational church, offers free ordination to anyone that requests it. Ordination can be done online or via snail mail. According to their site, “ordinations from Universal Life Church Ministries are legal and recognized across the United States. Because we are a fully-incorporated religious organization, ULC ministers enjoy all the same legal benefits granted to clergy members of other churches.”

Their roster of celebrities who have become ordained includes: Lady Gaga, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Branson and Paul McCartney.

If having a loved one or friend become certified is out of the question, it’s time to start interviewing officiants! Here are the questions that you need to ask him or her:

If you are getting married in a church:

• Will the church require you to become a member or attend classes/counseling?
• Will the church marry couples that are common law? (A question to ask only if you are living together.)
• What equipment will be provided by the church? (Can the church’s candelabras, candles, speakers, organ or piano be used?)
• Is the church wheelchair accessible and are the aisles big enough to accommodate a wheelchair? (In case one of your guests is in a wheelchair.)
• What is the rental fee?
• Is the church’s organist available for the ceremony?
• Can we hire our own musician for the service? If so, do the songs have to meet with the church’s approval?
• Is there air conditioning? If not, are fans available in case it is hot?
• Are non-biblical readings or poems permitted during the service?
• Is the church’s organist available for the ceremony?
• Does the church allow photography and videography during the service?
• Are guests allowed to toss rose petals or rice after the ceremony?
• Are there other ceremonies scheduled that day? If so, what time?
• Is the church available for a rehearsal the night before?
• Can we put a decorate the front door of the church with a wreath?

Questions to ask Regardless of the Venue

• What are your fees?
• Do we have to stick with traditional vows, or can we write our own?
• Do you offer assistance with writing vows?
• How long will the ceremony last?
• Do you have a back-up in case of illness?
• Would you be okay with marrying us at a nonreligious site?
• Have you performed a wedding at our venue before?
  

• Are you available for a rehearsal before the wedding?
• Will you perform a completely non-religious ceremony?
• Have you ever missed or canceled a wedding?

Photo One: Facibeni Fotografia; Photo Two:Half a Rice Studios; Photo Three:Zakas Photography

Are you clueless about what to include in your wedding program? You’ve come to the right place! Not only will you learn what to include in your wedding program, but also how to make it worth keeping!

Aside from keeping our your guests informed, your wedding program will add a personal touch to your ceremony – and it will make a wonderful keepsake for your guests – and for you.

Personalized wedding programs from adorationdesign

If you are having a ceremony that combines various religious traditions, a wedding program is a great way to explain to your guests what the various rituals mean. What’s the significant of the chuppah? What is the unity candle? What is the Chinese Tea Ceremony?

The standard simple wedding program provides a chronological list of what will take place during the service. It’s no more than a few pages long. It usually includes:

• The name of the bride and groom
• The time and date of the wedding
• The order of events
• The couple’s selection of music
• The couple’s choice of readings/poetry
• The names of the people involved, including that of the musicians, officiant, attendants and parents.
• Explanations of various religious rituals if it is an interfaith ceremony.

Newspaper wedding program from WishfulPaperie

A more elaborate wedding program can also include:

• Thank-yous to guests and others who participated in the wedding.
• A description of everyone involved in the wedding and how they are affiliated with the bride and groom.
• Special quotes that are meaningful to the couple.
• A special dedication for someone who has passed on.
• Directions to the reception site.
• Order of events for the reception.
• A reminder to unplug.

Destination wedding programs from adorationdesign

I chose the more elaborate version for our wedding. In fact, our wedding program (which I created myself) ended up being an 11-page booklet. I wanted more than a list of events. I wanted to describe each and every person that had a role in the wedding, and what they meant to us.  I also wanted to thank everyone who helped out with the wedding (and all the pre-wedding preparations) by pointing out their contributions. I also wanted to include a few love quotes that dazzled me.

Programs should represent your style and story. If you enjoy writing, why not use programs as a way to elaborate on the important details of your wedding day? Knowing the back story will build interest for your guests – creating excitement for your guests.

Timeline wedding program from PineTideCo

Here are some other ways to make your wedding program unique:

• Include a story about how you met
• Include copies of the poems or readings that you will be using
• If you are writing your own vows, include a copy
• Talk about the significance of the ceremony location. If it’s an historical church, you might discuss its history within the community.
• Include a photo of yourselves

Have your ushers hand out programs before the ceremony or have programs displayed in boxes, trays or on a table. Make the program a traditional folding booklet or use fabric, kraft paper or cards of your choosing. The options are endless! Why not incorporate your artistic abilities and show your creative side with hand drawn pictures and even cartoons, depending on how simple, humorous or romantic you would like it to look and sound?

You can have the programs made along with your custom wedding stationery or you can make your own programs. There are templates online for creating programs, which includes sites such as Canva.com. Etsy is another amazing source for wedding programs.

Visit 15 Wonderful Wedding Program Ideas to get started!

Psst… We also love these wedding program sign options from Etsy:

Wedding day timeline sign from PineTideCo

Wooden wedding program sign from PaperandPineCo

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