Fun With Gift Wrapping: Coming up Rosey!

It's that time of year when we all start our holiday shopping and gift giving routines. It's also the season for engagements, and as many of our friends are proving, babies.

With tight budgets, many of us are scaling back on lavish, expensive gifts. Yet, that doesn;t mean you can't give a gift with the wow factor. One way to achieve this: creative gift wrapping.

For my sister-in-law's recent birthday, we took the stainless steel utensils and water pitcher and turned it into a spring bouqet. We cut out daisy style flower petal rounds and glued them around the utensils. We then arranged the utensils in the water pitcher and wrapped a pretty bow around it. It was a group gift that had a lot of compliments at the party.

A friend of ours also had the same idea for a kids party. They gave the kids flower pot, seed and soil, and made paper flowers around lolipops. The kids then had a treat of the suckers and also got to plant flowers of their own and watch them grow.

So instead of spending a ton of money that you don't have, spend some time on how your present the gift. And don't forget to take the time to stop and smell the roses.

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Couples Trying the Knot on 9/09/09

Today's date has attracted many couples to the wedding chapel. It's not only pretty on paper, but 9 has special significance to numerologists. The number nine represents completion and rebirth, fitting for starting a new life together. The life path of nine is also described as harmonious and broad.

99 couples will put this theory to the test today by getting married at the Stratosphere in Las Vegas. Other chapels are running specials, complete with "99.09" in the pricing.

Yet some believe the day is actually cursed. Theorists believe it is a day that represents Satan, because it is an upside down 06-06-06. The Japanese culture feel the number is unlucky, because its name – “ku” – has the same pronunciation as “agony.”

Since we like to concentrate on the positive, we like to think that this is a lucky day. We hope that all couples that are getting married or having a child today are blessed with the number's representation of harmony and rebirth.

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Turn the Fourth Into A Turquoise & Red Wedding

As the Fourth of July is upon us, I decided to look around at weddings on this summer holiday. While browsing though many websites, I saw the usual red, white and blue on everything the bride and groom could get their hands on! (Even a hideous wedding dress that was made out of a flag!)

Why not twist tradition and turn the Fourth into a turquoise and red wedding? Turquoise and red, also referred to as Tiffany blue and red, is one of this season's "it" wedding color schemes. At first we weren't to keen on the idea. (Probably because we saw a very poor designed ad that forgot about colors that "vibrate" on top of each other and make it hard to read.) But now, we are warming up to this color combo like the hot July sun.

The trick to making this color scheme work is to not forget about white. White will help balance the two colors, since they fall close to being opposites on the color wheel. Another tip is to use red as only a pop of color when you need it. A great way to achieve this is to use red flowers on a table dressed in turquoise and white, or to tie a Tiffany blue favor box with a simple red ribbon and tag for your guests.

Overall, this color scheme is a perfect choice for the cheery days of summer and even for the holiday. Happy Fourth of July weekend everyone!

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Memorial Day Weddings

Since the weather is generally nice across the country, Memorial Day weekend weddings can be ideal for many couples. They can plan a long celebration without worrying about guests taking time off from work. However, there are a few things to consider when planning your nuptials over this holiday weekend.

First, you should consider where you are having your wedding. Memorial Day weekend means a lot of families are traveling, especially to places like the beach or state parks. If your not careful in securing a location prior to the wedding, you may have a lot of uninvited guests!

Also, because of it being a high travel weekend, you should send your Save the Dates well in advance. Many families look forward to planning their vacation, so it is important to let them know not to book any other plans. This will also give them time to find the best hotel and flight deals if they are coming from out of town.

Just like taking care of your guests early, you should also reserve your vendors early. This can be expensive because many vendors charge more for a holiday weekend. It is also a weekend that is often requested, so finding vendors early can help relieve the stress of trying to find one at the last minute and possibly being forced to hire your armature friends as replacements.

Have an outdoor wedding with a picnic style reception to save on food costs. You can serve inexpensive hot dogs and hamburgers in fun decorative plates. Serve lemonade in glass jars and use sparklers instead of rice for your departure.

When it comes time to decorate, Memorial Day Weddings can look lavish without spending lots of money. The weekend is patriotic, but you don't have to go overboard with American Flags everywhere. You could choose your own theme and colors, or stick with red, white and blue. By not using American flags, you still capture the feeling of the holiday but allow your personalities to show through.

Regardless of what you choose, this three day Memorial weekend is a great time to have a wedding.

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Merry Christmas!

Hello Everyone-
We haven't been keeping up on our blog posts lately due to the hustle and bustle of the holidays. We wanted to reassure you that we will continue to bring you great tips, advice, and special stories in the new year. After all, the holidays bring new brides, and we want them to be armed with the latest and greatest information to plan the wedding of their dreams too!

Happy Holidays from Be In Love Designs!

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Holidays + Wedding Planning = Stress

Every year we get the pleasure of braving a crowd at the mall, searching for the best gift, cooking and baking elegant meals, and dealing with all of our relatives. Throw wedding planning into the mix, and you might just explode from all the pressure your under.

Be In Love Designs knows this stress all too well. In fact, we ourselves are dealing with the same thing. How, you might ask? Well, no, we aren't planning a wedding, but we are planning a wedding website. We are currently in the middle of adding our fabulous products to the site for ordering. We are also preparing a booth for the Phoenix Bridal Fashion Debut in January.

Truthfully, with all this pressure, adding the holidays into the mix almost seems laughable. That's why we decided to give our brides and grooms some tips on how to weather the storm.

A great way to de-stress is an obvious one - get a massage. Your body can tell a lot about your emotional state by the healthiness of it. Work some of those stress knots out by booking an appointment. Many spas are running discounts that will work to your advantage.

Another great way to de-stress is to go for a walk. I myself have made a promise to our dogs that they will get a long walk almost every day. Not only are they happier for it, but I am finding that being outdoors has been giving me the calming effect I've been looking for. I also try to work on my laptop outside when I can and enjoy the beautiful garden my husband has planted for me.

Finally, spend some time with your friends. It's amazing how better you feel when you connect with those close to you. Not only do they lift your spirits, but they will also listen to your problems and give you advice.

Now we know you have limited time. Yet, you will not only feel better but will also preform better at whatever task you are doing if your mind is not flustered. Always remember how strong you are and that you will survive it!

Lessons of this post:
• Learn to de-stress
• Take time for yourself
• Get a massage, take a walk, enjoy nature, seek comfort in friends
• Remember you are strong and you will survive the tough times

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Let's Give Thanks

It is not a secret that many people are going through some tough times right now. With the economy in the gutter, the negative effect has kept our spirits low. Yet, they say that gratitude will help bring abundance. (Yes- we love the Secret too!)

That is why Be In Love Designs would like to take a moment and thank some important people. We are a new business - in fact we don't even have our full product line up for ordering yet. (Our official launch will coincide with the Bridal Fashion Debut in January.) Many of our friends, and some new relationships we have formed in this endeavor, continue to help push us towards success.

We would like to thank Dana Davidson, Lisa Davison, and David Duda for their inspiring suggestions regarding our site, content, and designs. We would also like to thank Port City Web for working with us to create a beautiful, well functioning site (and working with a picky designer.)

I would also like to thank our friends in the business- Jen with Ever After Florals, Kevin with Piece of Cake Desserts, and Kim with the Event Essentials for becoming instant friends with great advice. Thanks to Nuri and Anita at Bizcard.com, for seeing my potential not only as a designer, but a marketer, and giving me the knowledge and encouragement to move forward with my own business. Also thanks to Shannon and the folks with the Bridal Fashion Debut/ WMBA, for arming me with knowledge and showing their support by sending me referrals.

Most importantly, I would like to thank my husband, Brian. He has pushed me towards my dreams, and although we don't always agree, he has been my biggest inspiration.

Thank you, everyone. We really appreciate it. We hope you to take the time to thank some important people in your life. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Theme & Happy Halloween

Here at Be In Love Designs, we love Halloween. For one day a year, you get to be whomever - or whatever- you want. Some people decide to have a funny costume. Others decide to stick with the more traditional, frightening picks.

What does this have to do with weddings you might ask? Creating the perfect Halloween night and planning a wedding actually have a lot in common.The most enjoyable and memorable events usually revolve around a theme.

When planning your wedding, just like Halloween, it is important to decide on a theme for your special day. It will not only make the planning of the "little details" much easier, but will also create a lasting impression with your guests.

When my husband and I planned our wedding, I first designed our logo. We used this logo throughout our wedding - everywhere from the table numbers, to bar menus, and even as a cake topper. (As well as the branding for this site!)

So when you are beginning the planning process of your wedding, think about your colors, designs, and other elements of your theme. Be In Love Designs has several options that can be used to create a theme for your wedding. We are also happy to help put those designs on additional items that we currently do not offer, such as napkins and matchbooks.

Lessons of this Post:
• Think about your theme early in the planning process.
• Try to carry your theme throughout the wedding and reception.
• Contact us for additional products and services you might not see available.
• Happy Halloween!

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