Your wedding day is fast approaching and before you know it, it will be one sleep away! What things should you steer clear from the night before your wedding? We’ve made a list of ten things that should be avoided:

1. Finish projects: Sorry to say, if something isn’t finished by the night before the wedding, then it probably won’t get done. The night before the wedding is not the time to take on any new or unfinished DIY projects. Doing minor touch ups or finishing touches is alright, as long as you don’t stay up all night.

2. Change something: The same goes for changing something. If you decide you don’t like something, then changing it the night before the wedding won’t help anything. What’s done is done and everything will be fine.

3. Party too much: A rehearsal dinner or girls night before the wedding is a nice way to relax with those closest to you as long as long the celebrations don’t last late into the night. No one wants a hangover on the morning of their wedding! Save the partying for the wedding night.

4. Eat spicy or greasy foods. Abdominal cramps, bloating and diarrhea are not a bride’s friend. To minimize your risk of digestive problems, eat simply the night before your wedding.

5. Drink caffeinated beverages. That post-dinner espresso might be tempting, but a decaffeinated herbal tea is probably the way to go. It will be difficult enough to sleep without adding caffeine to the mix.

6. Major beauty change: You will have already had a hair and make up trial by this point, so you know what everything will look like. There’s no point in doing anything drastic the night before your wedding like deciding you want to cut or die your hair or go too heavy on the spray tan. Also, anything like waxing or skin treatments, you will want to get a few days before to avoid irritation and soreness.

7. Finalize major plans: Most venues require final seating plans and numbers at least two days to a week before the wedding. They might not appreciate it if you come to them the night before with changes or revisions, so whatever it is, don’t worry about it.

8. Assign something major: Your wedding party may not also appreciate it if you come to them the night before the wedding with another project or task. Let them relax as well.

9. Watch a sad movie: That last thing you want on your wedding day is puffy eyes from crying!

10. Too much screen time: One of my general life tips is to shut off all screens (phones, laptops, TVs) an hour before bed and dim the lights. I take that hour to read or do something quiet before I go to bed. Taking those last few hours to check social media, wedding blogs or emails may not only stress you out more, it could also prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep!

 Photos: Nicholas Purcell

It’s the thing that is worn closest to your groom’s heart on his wedding day–and a word that is always difficult to spell. Boutonnieres are typically worn on the left lapel of a men’s suit for formal occasions. Traditionally, boutonnieres were made from carnations, but now they come in all sorts of styles. Don’t underestimate the boutonniere as an important wedding accessory.  Here are 12 cute picks for boutonnieres for your groom:

1. Blue:

Some grooms are opting for different colored suits over traditional black. The same can be said for the boutonniere like this rustic blue boutonniere with wood and leather strapping by BATTLEWOODmaterial.

2. Beaded:

Aside from flowers, you can go as crafty as you like with the boutonniere and dress it up with ribbon, twine, lace and beads, such as this seed bead boutonniere by ImmortelleDreams.

3. Succulent:

A succulent probably isn’t the first type of flower that comes to mind when you think of a boutonniere. The flowers have become more popular recently as wedding flowers that represent a rustic, natural look like this purple succulent boutonniere with tallow berry by Eucca.

4. Feather

A bit of plumage is an alternative idea for a groom who doesn’t want to wear flowers. They can also be made in various colors to match your wedding colors, like this mint feather boutonniere by PompandPlumage.

5. Yellow:

The yellow and grey color combination is a popular choice for a color that pops with a grey groom’s suit. This one uses felt to make a Yellow Billy Ball boutonniere by MoonflowerNatureArt.

6. Vintage

For a more vintage look, use dried flowers in a boutonniere. The boutonniere will also last longer that way. Try this rustic sunflower and dried flower boutonniere by NoonOntheMoon.

7. Wildflower

Wildflowers are a low-cost flower option for boutonnieres and have a rustic look to them like this blush wildflower boutonnieres by Knot2ShabbyDesigns.

8. Woodland

Chances are if you have a wedding theme that is slightly non-traditional, there is probably a boutonniere somewhere to match your style–or you can make your own. This Woodland boutonniere by emsdesertrose is a cute creation.

9. Creative

A lot of people overlook the boutonniere as a wedding focal point. Boutonnieres can look great in wedding photos and get people talking as conversation pieces, like this whimsical Nest boutonniere by FairyfolkWeddings

10. Neon

Another benefit to a feather or crafted boutonniere is that the elements won’t wilt throughout the day. This neon pink boutonniere by LindenFlowers adds a pop of color to any outfit.

11. Fun

Depending on the groom, he may want to showcase a hobby or favorite thing as a wedding accessory, like this super hero inspired Flash boutonniere by AlwaysElegantBridal 

12. Beach

Similar to how you collect seashells on the beach, boutonnieres also make nice keepsakes. For a beach wedding, try a starfish Beach boutonniere by emsdesertrose.

*This post includes Etsy Affiliate links

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No one wants bored wedding guests! In fact, this is probably one of the biggest fears that brides have about their wedding day. It was definitely one of mine. In fact, I had recurring nightmares of guests yawning, checking the time, and wanting to leave early.

Although you can’t guarantee that everyone will have a rollicking good time at your nuptials, there are a few sure-fire ways to prevent your guests from getting grumpy.

1. Plan your timeline carefully

My biggest wedding pet peeve is the amount of time between the ceremony and the reception. If there is a huge gap, then you’re almost guaranteed your guests will get antsy. Depending on your wedding timeline, try your best to arrange to have less time in between. If the gap can’t be avoided (due to photos etc.), open the bar early so guests can have some drinks while they wait. Make sure there are plenty of appetizers to help absorb the alcohol!

2. Food, glorious, food!

Everyone knows that the way to a wedding guest’s heart is through their stomach, so make sure you’ve got some good eats planned for your reception! That doesn’t mean you have to break the bank for a gourmet 10-course meal; food trucks and food stations, pizza bars, taco bars and popcorn bars are just a few lower budget options that will up the fun factor and have your guests raving about your big day.

3. Great entertainment

You will most likely have activities and crafts for the kids coming to your wedding to keep them entertained, why not add some fun and frolic for your other guests?  Along with a traditional guest book, have things on each table for guests to do, such as puzzles, mad libs, trivia or even a modern I Spy game. A band, DJ, live performers, dancing lessons and musicians also help to keep people’s attention after dinner.

4. Account for down time

Most weddings start in the early afternoon and then continue late into the night. That is a lot of time that guests will spend in one or possibly two locations. Try to account for the common lulls in a reception, such as right after dinner before everyone starts dancing or after everyone has danced for an hour and needs a break. Maybe put out a candy bar or late night snacks at that time or activities such as board games, a live event artist, on-site poet or a photo booth.

5. Create inviting lounge spaces

At my wedding reception, I noticed the reception hall quieted down around 10 pm. I walked downstairs to find a group of guests relaxing on couches in the basement of the venue chatting and having a good time. Was I upset that they weren’t getting crazy on the dance floor? Definitely not! Sometimes guests just want to chill – and that’s why it’s a great idea to create some inviting lounge spaces that include comfy seating.

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After five years together, Sadie and Jonathon didn’t see the point in having a long drawn-out engagement or a huge wedding. Instead, the couple just wanted to celebrate the continuation of their journey in life together with those they loved the most and in the way suited them best – with a non-traditional and meaningful outdoor wedding ceremony and a pizza party!

Special thanks to Keely & Aaron for capturing this sweet Texas wedding and sharing it with us today.

Sadie, 22 & Jonathon, 28

Clyde, TX

Wedding Date: May 5, 2015

Number of Guests: 35ish

Wedding Cost: $4,651.00 (this does not include rings)

Wedding Ceremony Location: The Grove At Denton Valley

Wedding Reception Location: The Grove At Denton Valley

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

I’ve gone to weddings and seen huge amounts of people, and the bride and groom looking stressed trying to see everyone. Seeing just how chaotic the day can really be, I knew that, for Jon and I, we wanted it to be the most stress-free day possible. We had originally started planning a huge wedding with a year long engagement, and I just thought “why?”. We’ve been together for five years and it just seemed silly to drag it all out for a whole year, so we had a short engagement instead and a small five hour wedding day with no bridal party. I wanted the day to be about us and I didn’t want to have to stress and make sure everyone else was on time and doing what they were supposed to be doing.

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

We actually didn’t have much trouble as far as planning our wedding. I’m HUGE on decorating and planning events, and I’m super frugal as well, so with our budget I got to think outside of the box, which was even more fun for me as I love a challenge. I had lots of help from friends and my mom and sister, and as far as ideas and opinions go, our wedding coordinator – whom I also rented a lot of our decor from – was tons of help as well.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

It really wasn’t for us. We had our wedding on a Tuesday because I really loved that the date was all fives and felt it was unique and something to remember. Being on a Tuesday we had a lot of guests who were not able to attend, and to keep it an intimate event, we asked that it be an adult only kind of day, so we had some not attend because of that factor as well.

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

We did and we just explained that this is what we really wanted and it was what we were going to do. In the end everyone loved our day and thought it was perfect.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

We were so worried that it was going to rain the whole day and when I finally walked up to face my husband, a huge rain drop hit the top of my glasses and slowly ran down as myself and Jon watched it go and tried not to giggle uncontrollably. It was something I will never forget and it eased our nerves. I spent weeks writing out our ceremony as I wanted it to be as non-traditional as possible, but still be romantic and meaningful. One thing I wanted to emphasize was that this was not a new start or new journey for us, but rather just another step in our journey together, and that we were there so that our loved ones could witness our love and our commitment to each other. We also used a “these are the hands” poem and it really just moved me to stand there with my husband holding my hands and smiling down at me and squeezing my hands as the poem was read. I’ll never forget the feeling of standing up there with him while our justice of the peace spoke; it really did feel like we were the only two people there and nothing else mattered.

What were the highlights of the reception?

We did a pizza buffet and we were a tad worried it wouldn’t go off like we wanted, but to see that it had been all laid out perfectly made for such an awesome reception! I think cutting into our cake was our second favorite highlight of the reception; it was so, so delicious and feeding it to each other was just so fun.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

I would have to say the atmosphere; it was such a calm wedding and it flew by much faster than I wanted, but during the wedding, there was no stress, no “it’s time to throw your bouquet” or “do this” or “do that”. We just got to hang out with family and friends, eat good food, and enjoy our day. I felt like we were actually present in our day and because there were not many people there, we really got to feel the love from each and every person. And hearing everyone call me Mrs. Prestridge was just such a joy that I felt all giggly and free, and so, so happy the whole entire time.

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

I would say do what you want to do regardless of what others would like. If you want pizza, have pizza; or burgers or whatever you want! The most important things are the two items you take away from your wedding which are your husband and your photos, so don’t sweat the small stuff.

Vendors:

Venue: The Grove at Denton Valley 

Photographer and Cinematography: Keely & Aaron

Makeup: By Jonathon Mendoza at TG & Company

Hair: By Carlos at TG & Company

Food: Papa Johns

Cake: The Flour Shop Bakery

Bouquet: Baacks

Bride’s Shoes: Michael Kors

Bride’s Dress: Asos

Linens and Centerpieces: A Sense Of Bride

Cake Topper: My brother in law Jason Cobb made it with his 3d printer.

 

Back in the day when guestbooks were simply, well,  a book, there was always some reluctant guest assigned to “guestbook duty” to make sure everyone signed the book. That poor soul would go around the reception tables and ensure that every last guest signed the book. Fast forward to 2015, and wedding guestbooks have become a fun wedding activity. With an exciting guestbook, guests are eager to write lovely messages and will sometimes even line up to sign. Here are 10 brilliant wedding guestbook ideas we love:

1. Classic book

A classic guestbook does the job as long as you dress it up a bit with a personalized cover, like this custom calligraphy guestbook from starboardpress.

2. Botanical

This design featuring leaves for your guests to sign, is a wonderful alternative to a traditional guest book.  This poster is designed by Helloam.

3. Custom Illustration

This custom wedding guest book print by Kathryn Selbert on Etsy features a couple illustration and is the perfect guestbook alternative.

4. Wooden 

This wooden guestbook by TotallySalinda features the places the couple met, lived and married in laser engraved wood. The cover is stunning wood while the inside is paper for guests to sign and is perfect for couple’s who want to make their mark on the world.

5. Advice cards

At your wedding, chances are there will be people attending who have been married 20, 30 or even 50 years; and they have a lot of advice to give. So give them the option with wedding advice cards. Write questions out on Kraft paper or find some templates on Etsy, such as this set of 50 wedding advice cards by SouthernCards.

6. Advice coasters

Instead of having a traditional guestbook table, place the “advice cards” at the tables or at the bar, so people can fill them out while they are having dinner or drinks. This letterpress coaster set from LuckyBeePress is a fun, wedding idea.

7. Drop jar

The latest trend is wedding guestbooks is the “drop jar.” Similar to a shadow box, guests fill out pieces of paper or wood and then drop them into the framed box. It is interactive and an interesting piece of wall art for your home after the wedding. We love this “mason jar of hearts” guest book idea from StrangelyYours.

8. Heartfelt wishes

Maybe your guests will want to write something a little more private and not have it displayed publicly on a large poster. In that case, have small pieces of paper, fabric or wood for each guest to write on.

9. Photo poster

This wedding guestbook idea takes the idea of the “fingerprint poster” and a photo poster and melds them into an even more interesting concept. Guests can sign a custom poster of you as a couple that is also a work of art in itself by FlutterbyePrints.

10. Map poster

Map your journey as a couple with a map poster of your travels designed by MarshmallowIncLLC.  You could also have also guests who have traveled far to attend the wedding sign it with where they have come from.

*This post includes Etsy Affiliate links.

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