Wedding Gift Etiquette

In the realm of wedding gifts, manners matter. There are classy and tactful ways to encourage your guests to express their support for your future as a husband and wife. Considering that you have a common bond that you care for them and they care for you, be assured that most givers want to satisfy the desires of the recipient, and chances are they will inquire as to what would be the most welcome sort of gift. Spread the word to your close contacts, such as close family or bridesmaids, that if people do happen to ask, what you would prefer receiving. You can make it easier by having a gift registry at a popular retail store. Finally, don't sweat it if you get duplicate items, especially ones you didn't want or need. Just keep in mind the sentiment behind the gift, be sure to thank with a written note, and remember to mention what you intend to do with the money if that is what you are given. Doing so makes you look good and the giver of the gift feel great. 

Photo Credit:The Happy Couple

New Bridal Trend: Herb Bouquets

Once a bride begins to consider her wedding flowers, she might find herself in a virtual greenhouse brimming with possibilities. Ideas can be borrowed, old, or new. One fantastic trend for bouquets is the resurgence of incorporating herbs as a part of the arrangement. Ancient legends of long ago speak of the symbolic power of herbs. Not only do they stand for a grand virtue, such as strength or courage, but they also have been used as comforts for eons. Rosemary represents love, faithfulness, and remembrance- all essential ingredients for a long life together. Thyme hearkens back to the medieval era because it was adopted as a symbol of courage, a virtue any military spouse will be sure to value. For strength, choose sage, which is a lovely addition to both bold and romantic bouquets. Creative brides may consider mint or parsley, both of which have a pleasant effect on the aroma of the arrangement, and even of the breath when a leaf is nibbled! 

Photo Credit: ElizabethAnneDesigns.com

August 2013 Bridal Newsletter

Click here to read our latest bridal newsletter.

Photo credit: Principle in Action Blog

To subscribe to our monthly bridal newsletter, please contact our Wedding Director, Elizabeth.

The Power of Scents & Your Memories

Weddings usually evoke thoughts of frocks, flowers, and food but one often neglected detail is fragrance. Our senses trigger memories and one of the most memorable events in a person's life is the wedding day. Making a special scent a part of your planning will provide you with a unique way to tap back into a beautiful remembrance of a day filled with singular significance. Choosing a fragrance that is reserved for such a reminiscence can make subsequent anniversaries and birthdays, weekend getaways, or even making-up after a tiff connected to a time of happiness and hope. Make your special day a wonderland of sensual delights, from the music to the decorations, but don't forget about capturing the moment with a specific perfume, which will be a symbol of the essence of the love that you pledge on your wedding day.

The Wedding Channel has a list of popular fragrances that best fits your personality and reception. Click here to see the full list.

Photo Credit: Katelyn James Photography

Life Happens, For Better or Worse

Life happens, for better or worse, whether we are richer or poorer, in sickness or health, life promises to present us all with an assortment of challenges. Unfortunately, there is not a cosmic 'pause button' on a universal remote that can protect a wedding from some of the more difficult parts of life. When a couple gets hitched, of course they dream that it will go off without a hitch, and the notion of wedding insurance is something that may be viewed as a lack of faith, but it is far from that. A wedding day is a special celebration, one which takes long hours of planning and a significant investment. When life throws a curve ball, wedding insurance provides you with the bat or glove you need to handle it. Protecting this investment is an essential part of the preparation for the beginning of a life together that is certain to encounter the unexpected. Securing insurance for such a major event will simply give peace of mind that should an unexpected turn of events occur, there is one less very big thing to worry about. 

Elite Group Insurance Services has teamed up with other professionals (a financial planner, an attorney, a loan officer, and an interior decorator) to offer Merging Lives. This evening informational session will include a meal and will provide valuable information on topics we believe are important for all couples to discuss (merging finances and assets, saving money, merging households, ect). It will be held on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 from 6-8:30 pm at the Inn at the Olde Silk Mill. 

There is limited space for this event. Couples can register at MergingLives.eventbrite.com. If you are interested in finding the right wedding insurance please contract Marshelle Davis at Elite Group Insurance Services.

Photo by: Carley Rehberg Photography

High Heel Protectors

For many brides, the grass is always greener at an outdoor ceremony. For those brides and their bridal party, who hope to effortlessly glide across the rolling knolls at Stevenson Ridge, we have discovered a handy little gadget that can ensure you are more able to do just that! Stevenson Ridge offers two beautiful waterside locations for the perfect outdoor ceremony, but as everyone knows, Mother Nature often presents challenges along with her pristine beauty. With heel protectors, one small annoyance for brides can be simply remedied. If the ground is soft because of a recent rainstorm, heel protectors can help stop that embarrassing moment when a shoe gets planted but the foot within wants to keep walking, especially in the presence of a hundred witnesses! At Stevenson Ridge, we do our very best to think of everything, even the smallest details, to make weddings and other special events as perfect as can be.

http://www.shoebuy.com/high-heel-protectors.htm

Rt. 208 Sale Trail

Sometimes, the trail may be long and of much toil, but this journey will prove to be worth the hike!  The Rt. 208 Sale Trail on September 13-14th will take you on a 24- mile excursion filled with the wonder of discovery and the thrill of finding a great bargain. Treasures abound, not only in the glory of the historical realm of Spotsylvania, but also along this unique Sale-Trail, which promises to be an adventure like no other! On this expedition, the industrious yard-sale champion and novice alike will delight in the distinctive experience of reveling in the beauty of a scenic route while encountering the delightful community of Spotsylvania, seeking to sell their stuff.  Caravan with the gang for this first ever, one of a kind, without fail, 208 Sale Trail!