Martha Stewart Weddings is looking to cast two brides-to-be who would like to straighten their teeth before their wedding to participate in an exciting initiative.

If chosen, you will:

·         Receive free professional treatment from a well-known company to straighten your teeth.

·         Be a regular guest-blogger on MSW.com and appear in Martha Stewart Weddings magazine to share your experiences getting ready for your wedding.

To be considered for this opportunity, please email the following to marketing@marthastewart.com:

• Your name
• Wedding date
• City of residence
• 2-3 photos of your yourself (at least one showing your smile)
• A few sentences about why you’d like to participate.

Last day for casting: Friday 3/15/2013

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I am obsessed with sea glass. Every summer I scour the Lake Erie shoreline for beach gems. I have accrued a rather massive stash, so I’m always keen on  finding uses for it.

When I discovered these little glass vials on Etsy, I knew they would be the perfect for my tiny pieces.

These DIY sea glass bottle pendants would be perfect as bridesmaid gifts for a beach wedding. They are easy to make, and super affordable.

You will need:

• Small glass vials
• Silver jump ring
• cord necklace
• tiny pieces of sea glass
• round nose pliers
• flat nose pliers

Gather your supplies.

Place pieces of sea glass into bottle. Once they’re in, they won’t be coming out unless you smash the bottle. Don’t overfill; you will need to leave enough room so that that the top fits on the bottle.

Add jump ring.

Add cord. That’s it!

A wedding day includes many rehearsed elements with the bride in the spotlight for most of the day. With the ceremony, reception entrance and first dance, there are many aspects of performance in a wedding. Some couples rehearse and choreograph a dance number (sometimes involving the whole wedding party), write their own poems or vows and even perform a musical number.

Choreographed dance numbers for a first dance idea are a great way to surprise the crowd and get everyone raring to go on the dance floor. Just search YouTube and you’ll find many examples of good (and sometimes bad) surprise performances from adventurous bride and grooms. Your performance doesn’t have to be a show-stopping music and dance number, but is it cheesy or even tacky to perform at your own wedding?

Traditionally, the bride isn’t even supposed to make a speech at the wedding (seems rather old fashioned now after all the work modern brides put into their big day!) but depending on how traditional your wedding is, or how intimate, you may want to find a fun way to make a grand finale. Here are a few things to consider when thinking about performing at your wedding:

1. Avoid turning the night into a cabaret

You may have musical talents, and perhaps your friends and family do too, but that doesn’t mean the night should turn into an endless sing-a-long or group dance lesson. A song or two performed by you or someone close makes a romantic statement, but keep it short and sweet, as the rest of your guests might not be so keen.

2. Don’t fret over it

You may love the idea of performing on your wedding day, but if you’re in any way uncomfortable or nervous then don’t do it. Don’t make it something else you have to worry about, or fret over the whole day, if you don’t have to. Only  perform if you’re confident and comfortable singing, playing or dancing in front of a crowd.

3. Leave it to the pros if you have to

Everyone has good intentions when it comes to performing, but unfortunately not everyone has amazing talent. If it’s something you really want to do, but you’re unsure of your talents, then consider taking a few lessons beforehand. Or if there’s a song or dance you really love, have a friend or professional perform it for you or help you along. You could even find other ways to incorporate your love for music and dance into your wedding, by having a music-themed wedding with creative decorations, props or playlists.

4. Choose something special

The most important thing is that your performance should mean something and not just be an ego booster. Choose a song that means something to you as a couple. Performing to, or with, the love of your life may end up being one of the most special moments of the day.

Photo one: Green Wedding Shoes; Photo Two: table4weddings.com; Photo two; jeremylawsonphotography.com

Nestled in the iconic Wayne Hotel, conveniently located on Philadelphia’s Main Line,  Paramour restaurant and event space offers an intimate atmosphere for couple’s seeking a contemporary and sophisticated setting with the promise of award-winning cuisine.

The Lobby Lounge’s refurbished style echoes the original architecture and is infused with modern details, making it ideal for small, stylish ceremonies. A glistening chandelier casts a romantic glow overhead as couples say “I do” in this luxe space.

The Dining Room is ideal for hosting receptions, offering a fresh palette of contemporary, neutral tones that gives couples a blank canvas on which to paint their dream wedding. Executive chef Kyle Johnson creates an inventive gourmet menu, tailored to your tastes, while in-house sommelier, Steven Gullo expertly walks you through the wine selections and renowned pastry chef Amelia Dietrich whips up delectable dessert presentations and custom cakes.

Along with the flair and fare, out-of-town guests have the option of staying in a little slice of history at one of the 40 rooms in the Wayne Hotel, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Your guests are sure to appreciate the downtown location and the convenience of having the ceremony, reception, and overnight accommodations all under one roof.

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Wedding tradition states you need something new, something borrowed, something old and something blue, so why not throw something sweet into the mix too? Besides the popularity of candy buffets (everyone loves gorging on candy), there are other ways to use sugar to add a sweet touch to your intimate wedding.

A classic tea party or brunch theme wouldn’t be complete without some fancy sugar cubes. Colored sugar cubes are a simple, DIY wedding project that can be made for favors or served alongside your after-dinner tea and coffee. Make your own in various colors and shapes or pipe royal icing flowers or designs onto each cube (check out this tutorial).

A romantic sugar piece to display with your dishware and mugs will steal everyone’s hearts. Check out this tutorial on how to make your own heart-shaped sugar cubes.

Rock candy is another fun option for a colorful treat. The crystallized confections can be displayed in glass jars or canisters at a sweets station or as favors that will bring your guests back to their childhood candy memories. Learn how to make it here.

This rock candy chandelier is stunning and also completely edible:

Sweeten up your cocktails with sugar-rimmed glasses and edible swizzle sticks.

Add sugar flowers or edible embellishments to your cake for an extra sweet kick. A cotton candy cake perhaps?

For an all-natural favor idea, try homemade body scrubs. All you need is sugar, oils and fragrances of your choice, such as lavender, vanilla or citrus. Beauty scrubs in stores or spas can be pricey, so your guests will love a sweet-smelling homemade favor to bring home. Try these tutorials for brown sugar scrub and lavender sea salt.

Photo one; suchprettythings.typepad.com; Photo two; michelestreasures.blogspot.ca; Photo three; skiptomylou.org; Photo four; 79ideas.org; Photo five; skiptomylou.org; Photo six; culy.nl; Photo seven; sa-wedding.co.za; Photo eight; thelittleroundtable.com; Photo nine; curbly.com; Photo ten; curbly.com; Photo eleven;  heatherbailey.typepad.com; Photo twelve; laurenconrad.com; Photo thirteen; phillymag.com; Photo fourteen; colincowieweddings.com; Photo fifteen; redribbonstudio.com; Photo sixteen;  localkitchenblog.com; Photo seventeen; heygorg.com