From changing your Facebook relationship status to “engaged”, to Instagramming the ring, social media has likely played a prominent role in spreading your happy news. However, once you dive into the sometimes tangled, World Wide Web of wedding planning, the number of apps available for those approaching the aisle can be overwhelming.

Appy Couple, a new-to-the-scene wedding app, provides multitasking modern brides with an easy-to-use tool that blends the social interaction of Facebook with the organization capabilities of a wedding website. From RSVPs to the registry, travel info to image uploads, Appy Couple glamorously guides guests to your happy ending, streamlining the variety of wedding planning tools — DIY websites, photo sharing apps, social networks and email invitations – into one brilliant mobile location.

After an extremely successful beta run, the app is now open to Apple and Android users with a pre-launch pricing of just $28 for the entire suite (includes a coordinating wedding website, coordinating emails and unlimited guest invites and customization). For the next 24 hours, you can get Appy Couple for only $20 by using the code INTIMATE14 when you check out.

Couples set out on their magical, interactive journey by selecting one of over a hundred chic themes, categorized by color and style (modern, vintage, classic, etc.), and begin building their digital sharing suite with customized widgets, smoothly streamlined for easy access. It can be personalized with uploaded image galleries, songs added straight from iTunes and more, all in a sleek step-by-step guide.

After receiving your unique wedding code, guests can begin interacting on your custom designed wedding page, leaving virtual toasts, uploading images in real time with Facebook, Twitter and email integration, and striking up conversations with other guests through the manageable Key People message boards, ideal for intimate weddings. You can relay information to guests, such as notes on childcare, dress code and accommodations, as widgets keep them updated on weather and travel information from Expedia. Include them in the wedding planning process with polls – merlot or cabernet sauvignon? – or even take meal orders for plated receptions.

Appy Couple truly takes the traditional wedding website to a never-before-seen interactive level. Simple, social and stylish, we finally have an app that synchs with our social media-driven world. Check out the video on how it works:

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If you are a java fiend like me, you’ll love the idea of making your own chocolate covered coffee beans! Perfect for a coffee-themed wedding! Give them as favors, or serve them up with gourmet coffee at your coffee bar.

You can experiment with different varieties of coffee beans. I used Starbucks French Roast Dark beans and Zavida Hazelnut Vanilla; if you prefer something less robust, go with milder beans.

Ingredients

1 cup of Whole Coffee Beans

12 oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Pour your chocolate chips into a double boiler.

Melt chocolate. Add coffee beans.

Stir coffee beans into chocolate until coated.

Remove each bean with a fork.  A bit tedious, but worth the hassle.

Place beans on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Viola!

If you want to take a less tedious route, create coffee bean clusters by placing the melted mixture into paper candy cups.

So  pretty!

Place in fridge for half an hour.

Is there a single coffee lover that could resist this?

A table runner is a great way to add another textural element without a lot of fuss. You can use a table runner instead of a tablecloth or accent a solid colored or fabric tablecloth for a special design touch.

Burlap table runners are a trendy choice for rustic, vintage weddings. To make them yourself, simply buy a roll of burlap then cut out strips the size of your tablecloths or the length of your tables (with room for them to hang over the sides of the tables). Then turn the sides under and hem the edges to finish or leave the cuts visible for a less polished look.

Customize your burlap runners with a monogram, initials or a personalized message for your guests.

Fill your tables with personal mementos, photos and pieces of your life together, like with this idea for using a photo collage for a table runner. Or pay tribute to your family with wedding photos from multiple generations:

Choose some fabric in classic colours and tie each end with ribbon or twine or have it romantically cascading off the tables. Table runners are also significantly easier to sew and cut than attempting DIY tablecloths, which can get tricky for long or round tables.

Sew lace and doilies together or transform antique table cloths into vintage-inspired table runners. Or simply add lace trims for softer edges.

Bold designs like chevron can really make your flowers and table pieces pop for bright, and even neon, color schemes.

Another DIY table idea to consider is paper flowers seen here grouped together to make a stunning table runner on top of kraft paper (and more budget friendly than real flowers too).

For a rustic touch, place wooden planks on each table to add more levels and depth to the table setting. No sewing required!

Photo one: ucreateparties.com; Photo two: coffeefilterbride.com; Photo three: blog.jennicajophoto.com; Photo four: pinterest.com; Photo five: kristamason.blogspot.ca; Photo six: rpscissors.typepad.com; Photo seven: madamebonbon.com; Photo eight: carterandcookeventco.com; Photo nine: elizabethannedesigns.com; Photo ten: jldesigns.blogspot.ca; Photo eleven: partypatisserie.com; Photo twelve: thedecorista.com; Photo thirteen: taliaevents.com;  Photo fourteen: feathersandcupcakes.com

Isn’t this a stunning bouquet? Can you believe that it’s artificial?

Afloral.com has a gorgeous variety of high quality artificial flowers, floral supplies and bouquet accessories for brides to be. One of their top sellers is the succulent.

The key to a successful succulent bouquet, according to Alforal.com, is using a single jumbo succulent and mixing it with other artificial flowers, like this bouquet:

There are several different types of succulents to choose from. One of the most popular succulents is the echevaria pick in plum green. The plum and green tones will add an interesting color variation to your wedding bouquet. Another commonly used succulent is the agave cactus pick. This is a nice succulent to use if you are looking to have a small accent piece in your bridal bouquet, instead of a large statement succulent.

Afloral.com predicts that succulents will continue to be one of the hottest trends in the floral industry for 2013.

Another trend that shows no sign of slowing down is birch bark.

Afloral.com has an awesome variety of birch bark containers. From tall birch cylinders to short reclaimed wood stump floral containers, Alforal.com’s birch bark containers are the perfect fit for a rustic wedding.

They look amazing paired with wildflowers, greenery, and multi-colored stems.

If you love the rustic look of these bouquets and centerpieces and want to achieve this look for your own wedding, check out Afloral.com.

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Whenever I head to the beach, there are three things I collect: sea glass, stones and driftwood. I make jewelry with my best pieces of sea glass, but I have yet to find a crafty use for my driftwood; that is until I discovered that it’s the perfect way to display my sea glass jewelry – and my necklaces from the {styled} by Tori Spelling line of jewelry (pictured above.)

It’s also a great way to display your bridal jewelry.

If you are handy with a drill, this project is a breeze.

Here’s what you need:

• Drill
• Driftwood
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Picture hangers
• Drawer pulls
• Jewelry

Do the math to figure out where to place your drawer pulls. We made a template on paper. Mark the spots with a pencil.

Drill holes on the front of the piece of driftwood.

Turn the driftwood over and countersink the hole with a larger bit so the screw head will fit.

This is how the back will look.

Add drawer pull.

Add remaining drawer pulls.

Nail picture hangers to the back of the driftwood.

Hang on your wall.

These {styled} by Tori Spelling necklaces look fab on display, but they look even better on! Check out more craft projects using the {styled} by Tori Spelling line of jewelry here.

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