When planning a wedding, one of the first things to decide on after setting the date is the wedding budget. Do you want the wedding to be formal, semiformal or informal? Of course, formal weddings are the most expensive of the three settings and informal would be the cheapest.

 

Now the next question would be who would pay for what. Before, paying for a wedding falls on the shoulders of the Father of the Bride. However, a few years ago, the burden of wedding expenses already involved the groom’s family. In some cases, now that many couples decide to marry late with money of their own, they even share with the expenses.

 

There are no written rules as to who pays for what but there is still a kind of general principle and guidelines that are traditionally followed. Below is the list of wedding concerns which can be assigned to a particular family. Of course, you can change this but this can be your guide in planning for the wedding.

 

Following are taken on by the bride and her family:

 

· Brooklyn bridal gown

· Headpiece and accessories

· Wedding ring for the groom

· Wedding gift for the groom

· Bridesmaid gifts

· Bridesmaid bouquets

· Grandmother corsages

· Ceremony and reception flowers

· Altar baskets and arches

· Canopy and carpet

· Kneeling bench/candelabrahs

· Rented items for the wedding ceremony and the reception

· Invitations and announcements

· Wedding programs

· Napkins and other printed items

· Medical visit for the bride

· Church fee

· Musicians, orchestra/band, DJ and soloist

· Church janitor

· Reception hall fee

· Caterer services

· Wedding photographer and videographer

· Wedding cake

· Wedding favors

· Bridesmaids luncheon

· Wedding breakfast

· Bridal Brunch

· Father of the Bride’s formal wear

· Accommodations for out-of town guests

 

Following are taken on by the groom and his family:

 

· Groom’s formal wear

· Wedding ring for the bride

· Wedding gift for the bride

· Groomsmen and ushers’ gifts

· Bride’s bouquet

· Mothers’ corsages

· Father of Groom formal wear

· Groom’s, groomsmen and ushers’ boutonnieres

· Marriage license

· Medical visit for groom

· Clergyman or Officiant fee

· Groom’s cake

· Rehearsal dinner

· Limousine service

· Honeymoon arrangements

 

Of course, other families can always deviate from the list. These only serve as guides to delegate expenses for the wedding.

 

Back in 2005, on one summer night, we were sitting outside making a decision of what business to start up online. We knew we needed a website but didn’t know a thing about internet or building a website. Not letting any of that be a road block in our business adventure, we chose to start making up gift baskets, since Kim is very talented in designs and crafts such as floral, decorations and crafts in that nature. So we chose Kims Gift Baskets and the url http://www.kimsgiftbaskets.com. We wrote our story back 2 years ago in regards to the gift basket business.  Staring in mid 2006, we discussed of other possibilities and products we could introduce into our gift basket business. Don’t get me wrong, we were actually doing pretty good with gift baskets, the business bills were being paid, plus paying us. We had several ideas which were in the gifting market such as gold dipped roses, cookie bouquets, baby shower accessories and favors, wedding accessories and favors and even fruit bouquets to name a few. We kept going back to the idea in the wedding and baby accessories as a good choice of product.  The baby and wedding ideas really sparked for a couple of different reasons, one of the main reasons was, we have been involved with coordinating weddings and baby shower events in the local area even before the gift basket business started, we truly loved doing this together, a great team I must say. Now the other one is a business strategy that anybody who is thinking about selling products should think about if they are going to do a business online, especially with the way the economy is, we wanted to have multiple streams of products. This will give you a chance to reach to a broader range of consumers and in return, more orders.

  As we said, we were entertaining the thought of more than just gift baskets and gifts, so we decided to start with baby shower favors and gifts. We found a company called Baby Aspen and signed up with them, soon after, we were introducing baby gifts and baby shower favors to the Kims Gift Baskets. This was an easy choice for us; our web site was already being searched in baby phrases so that seemed to blend right in. With the baby gifts and baby favors, they just added more depth in search terms and the website. We found a couple more companies which we also set up accounts with giving the consumers more styles and choices. Over the course of a month or so, we worked very hard on the website with adding in baby products, changing site design and working SEO.  

 

     Now if you remember, we entertained ideas adding wedding accessories or something that was wedding related. We found out shortly after becoming a vendor for Baby Aspen, there was Kate Aspen which distributes wedding and bridal shower favors. Now it was a scramble, in less than a months span, we introduced the wedding and bridal party favors into our business along with baby shower favors and baby gifts. Of course, it’s not as easy as just put the products on your website and presto, you have customers. I wish it was that easy! Many hours spent were spent working on the content, SEO, linking and more content to get the search engines to start ranking us in keywords for wedding phrases.  We set up accounts with a few more dropship companies; Fashioncraft and Event Blossoms for the wedding and bridal favors, and couple of other companies who had favors but didn’t like their services, so soon after, we took everything off our website of theirs. When using drop shippers, whether for your wedding business, baby business, or any type of business you are going to sell products, there are pros and cons using their services, but if they’re a good company, you’ll have no worries. Fashioncraft who is mainly favors for a variety of occasions, is very reliable and consistent with getting the orders out to your customers. We have been doing business with them for over a year now and have never had any issues with their products or services.  

 

     As discussed, we still wanted to provide bridal and wedding accessories for all of the lucky brides who are planning their wedding. Weddings, typically is a once in a lifetime event and everything has to be perfect, including the bride! We began our searches for distributors who dropped shipped wedding and bridal accessories and found Lillian Rose, Jamie Lynn, which came a few months later, and of course Beverly Clark. I don’t think there’s a bride, a future bride or a woman in general that hasn’t heard of her line of wedding collections and bridal accessories. There are other distributors which we also use, this gives us a large variety for the customers to chose from.

 

   We do however, carry stock of baby shower favors, baby gifts, bridal accessories and wedding favors to avoid some of the worries of when orders will be shipped to our customers. By doing so, we have more control on providing excellent services to our customer and knowing that their order is shipped and delivered in a quick timely manner.

    

 

As we are now introducing wedding accessories, bridal favors, and bridal accessories, we know there’swas much work to be done. Not only putting them on the website and setting up pages, there’s SEO, Yikes……..again that awful word.

 

    But as we have learned, there’s more to just SEO, you must have traffic, without traffic you have no sales. With the internet vastly changing, social marketing, videos, links, advertising and several other avenues to get your product out there for potential customers and to gain more visibility. You must reach out and utilize these social networking gateways to help you get you name and product to the public.  Facebook, Twitter, Blogging of course are a few options , but remember,  you have to get involved.   

There are only three principal public occasions in a person’s life: baptismal, burial and marriage. Among the three, only marriage allows great honor for the principals. Throughout the tradition, marriages had been considered as the special day for a lady who is about to pledge her matrimonial vows towards the chosen one.

Marriage is Her Big Day more than that of the groom. This is why marriages have always been made special and bridal dresses created as such to fit the festive occasion. This practice of making the bride look magnificent in her bridal dress runs down throughout the history, with widespread influence dating back to medieval times.

Bridal dresses were not always white, in opposition for what have been usually perceived by most people. Bridal dresses before the Victorian era would normally adapt the color of what is trendy and what is available. Shades of lively colors were normally used and pastel colors were also popular. But by mid-1800s, white bridal dresses became the norm when Queen Victoria chose a white bridal dress for her wedding day. The same dress was worn over a black silk dress fifty years later. She also was responsible for setting the fashion of having her bridesmaids carry the train.

1920s

In his decade, revolutionary changes were done with fashion. Up well to 1920s, bridal dresses were created in accordance with what’s the norm. The hemlines rose from shoe to above the knee and became more curtailed. But later, many considered the length of the bridal dress inappropriate for church services, thus the replacement of full-length gowns. In this decade too was the dropped waist and shapeless bodice dresses reach its height of popularity.

1930s

The depression in thirties followed the roaring of the twenties. Women changed from the boyish look to the more profound expression of a woman’s body. Normally, the bridal dresses in this era hugged the body of the bride. To emphasize the shape of the body, bridal dresses were given boat-shaped collars.

1940s

Fashion in the 1940s almost died down, and the same was true for the white bridal dresses. Clothes rations started in 1941 and continued up to the end of the World War I. A number of brides struggled for silk dresses but most suited themselves for the uniform. Those who were not commissioned in the army wore the same costumes.

1950s

The padded shoulders of the last decade were superseded by the narrow shoulders in the 1950s. However, many brides wanted their dresses adopt the intermediate style. The bridal trains were fashioned after the trains of the Elizabethan era. But another fashion arrived- The New Look outfit. Simply put, the New Look outfit is tailored after the ballerina dresses in terms of length. The dress typically has a jacket bodice with tight sleeves.

1960s

There were not so much changes in the bridal fashion in the 1960s. Ladies still preferred wearing the circular dresses, short veils and tight sleeves only differing on the veils with more bouffant approach. Most women wore coronets and a single rose with the veil gathered together from the flower. In contrast with the extravagant and flowing bridal dresses, bouquets in the 1960s were made simpler. More often than not, tiny flowers in tight posies are used.

1970s

After two decades of tights sleeves, Tudor sleeves were introduced in the seventies. The high-waisted line of the 1960s gradually moved lower to a princess line. Trains diminished too and the cuts of the dresses were made far simpler.

1980s

By this era, the waistlines had returned to their normal position. The dresses were much fuller now and the big bouquets returned back to fashion. This period was marked with more extravagant sleeves, suited after the bridal dress of the Princess of Wales.

1990s

Wide skirts remained popular with the start of the 1990s. However, different fashion icons popularized varieties of skirts. But among the most popular are the super low waists with skirts flared down.

New Century

With the coming of the new century, the norms with wedding have changed too. Themed costumes were much more practiced today and so are the themed bridal dresses.

There is no doubt that bridal dresses remain to be the eternal testimony of a wedding. And the efforts of making the dresses extravagant and special are both to the benefit of the bride’s contentment and the ever-changing fashion trends.

The prettiness and aroma of exotic flowers combined together with natural light, candlelight, and lighting fixtures sets the tempo for a complete wedding calibrations and beautiful bridal parties. The assortments of the flowers available for your choosing is simple unbelievable. What more, they are beautifully arranged in wedding bouquets which make perfect gift ideas for bridesmaids and flower girls on the memorable occasion.

These gift ideas are the perfect wedding accessories and gifts that will make the gathering come alive and make your wedding a lovely event, cherished by all! The bouquets embellish the aisle, through which the bride gracefully passes, displaying her elegant wedding dress. The bouquets enhance the overall surroundings of the reception and wedding party. They give a feeling of royal elegance.

Furthermore, the bouquets comprise of flowers that have vivid colors such as brilliant splashes of gold, orange, cobalt blue, hot pink, purple, and red. They are beautifully tied with ribbons and arranged in bouquets that have a traditional beauty about them. These perfectly blend with the wedding attire of the bride and groom, besides they enliven the setting of the party and set the mood for the occasion.Wedding bouquets are handcrafted and personalized in a variety of traditional and contemporary themes to make them an ideal keepsake gift idea.

Many are also packed with artificial and synthetic flower assortments that keep memories as fresh as they look, whenever you see them.The White Aquarius Rose bundle with Satin Ribbon Tie bouquets are elegantly packed and creatively arranged such that they have and edge over all other wedding favors. The silk flowers interspersed with rose flowers are the least affected by environmental variations.

The best part is that after wedding and reception ceremony, these ideally become a part of your living room. The White Calla Lily with Pearl center & Dahlia Nosegay Bouquet is a beautiful masterpiece that is subtly designed with silk flowers and surrounded with White Satin Ribbon. The combination of satin and silk gives the just the right exotic look and offers an exhilarating appeal that will make it a remembered and cherished for a long time to come.

These can be personalized and customized as per the need. The bouquet of synthetically designed artwork of flowers looks bubbly not only in the wedding but also at your home environs.The White Peony bouquet with Natural Stems is a unique network of stems and silk flowers, creating a subtly created mesh that adds a feeling of beauty and splendor in the typical wedding environs.

The White Rose & lily of the valley Bridal Nosegay Bouquet is a handy and tenderly crafted bouquet, chiseled out of silk roses and lily of the valley flowers.The Six Shooter Charms with Brass Finish bouquet is yet another unique way of rendering a personal feel to the wedding stationery and favors including the garters, invitations, and place cards. The Pastel lily, Hydrangea, Sweet pea wedding bouquet is a bouquet designed specially for the wedding party. You will get all maximum species of synthetically designed flowers to add variety to the party.

The perfect clutch of flowers will have the power to do two things – complement any color and style of wedding dress and help set a joyous mood at every turn. There are thousands of color combinations and a rainbow of hues to select when your planning your nuptials. Arranging gorgeous blossoms into the perfect wedding appropriate bouquet can be done in many different style and sizes. Depending on your dress, the formality of your wedding and your color palette, the size of your bouquet can have an affect on the unique look of your ceremony. Being savvy about your flower bouquet can create an eye-catching and memorable experience for your guests. No matter what type of blossoms are in your bouquets, you can be assured your wedding flowers will enhanced the beauty of your special day. Read on to learn more about the different types of wedding flower bouquets: 

Hand-Tied Bouquets
 These bouquets have a nature inspired look and are perfect for summer weddings that take place outside, such as in a garden or on the beach. These flower blooms are simply tied together, usually with a fancy ribbon or bow. These wedding flower bouquets are suitable for almost any setting, whether formal or informal. Adding textured flowers such as roses, peonies and chrysanthemum can add an extra elegance to your bouquet. If you are looking for a more personalized hand-tied bouquet, instead of using a ribbon, use meaningful objects such as your mother’s old wedding dress, etc. These bouquets are eye-pleasing and classical

Cascade Bouquets
Cascade wedding bouquets are designed to resemble a “waterfall” of blossoms. Although these bouquets are beautiful to look at, they are usually only complementing to taller brides and dresses with a simpler design. Since the bouquet itself is larger, it is important to balance out the proportions of size and color with your dress. These bouquets are usually filled with flowers such as calla lilies, orchids, stephanotis and long, flowing greenery. The soft accents of green are an excellent backdrop for any other vibrant colors in your bouquet. A cascade bouquet can be striking on it’s own! 

Posy
These smaller flower bouquets are popular among flower girls and bridesmaids. Tiny flowers such as spray roses, baby’s breath and lily-of-the-valley can create cute bouquets for your wedding. Another creative option for the posy flower bouquet is to use a couple larger flowers as focal points to complement your color scheme. These flowers arranged together can make a large statement at your ceremony! This style of bouquet is perfect for children and has the ability to accompany every dress type. Some more examples of flowers that would work are hyacinths, hydrangeas and multicolored roses.

Over arm
This modern look is an elegant and simple, yet extremely beautiful design for any wedding. Over arm bouquets are most commonly seen with long-stemmed flowers such as orchids, calla lilies and roses. These flower buds are your best guarantee because of their sturdy and durable stems. Wrapping these flowers together with a ribbon is also a stylish option. Figure fitting dresses are perfectly complemented with an over arm wedding bouquet. Keep in mind, holding the flowers for long periods of time during photos may make them become heavy – select lighter flowers if this is the case.

Round Flower Bouquet
Round wedding flower bouquets are the most commonly seen as bridal flowers. Although similar to the posy style bouquet, round bouquets are larger in size and usually contain a collection of various flowers. Using color to your advantage for these bouquets is important – use complementing or contrasting colors to create the biggest emotional impact. Any wedding, whether formal or casual, can accompany a round wedding flower bouquet. If fragrance is an important part of your floral design, consider adding sweet smelling roses, lilacs or peonies to your bouquet. Capitalizing on flower texture, color and size, your can be assured to have the most striking bridal flower bouquet your guests have seen!

A lovely, creative and personal flower bouquet is just as much a part of your wedding day as finding the perfect dress. Selecting blooms based on the style of your dress, the color of your wedding palette and the availability of your flower choices can assure you that your choosing the right flowers – and help you save money at the same time. Your bridal flower bouquet is the glorious finishing touch to radiating the true beauty of your entire wedding. Call on flowers to set the mood and scene for the wedding you have dreamed of since childhood. Knowing the various designs of bouquets can help you select the perfect arrangement of complementing flowers for your wedding day.