Wedding Thank You Gifts

Thank you gifts and welcome baskets are often given to guests who have traveled a long distance to attend your wedding and to bridesmaids and groomsmen for participating in the big day. For your out-of-town guests, the welcome baskets are typically presented as they arrive at their accommodations. You can work with the hotel to coordinate delivery of your gifts so each guest feels appreciated and pampered on their arrival. Gifts for the wedding party are often presented at the rehearsal dinner or groom's dinner.

For the out-of-towners, a basket of fruit with a bottle of water used to be the norm, but today couples are getting more creative and personal with their gifts and welcome baskets. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Incorporate your own special twist and your guests will thank you for the incredibly thoughtful gesture.

Spa Bags & Baskets
You don't have to spend a fortune to prepare this pampering gift. Load cosmetic bags or totes with scrubs, lotions, lip gloss, a compact, and a loofah for a perfect spa bag. You can even add a robe and slippers to larger totes for a more elaborate thank you! Don't forget to add a touch of personalization either by monogramming the bag or including a handwritten note. Leave these in the rooms of guests who have traveled a long distance to indulge in a little R 'n' R before the festivities begin.

Welcome Baskets
A little less pricey, but equally appreciated, is the more traditional welcome basket! Include bottled water (add custom labels), munchies, teas, and coffees. You can include an itinerary of the wedding festivities, as well as maps to the venues and personalized thank you note to let your guests know how much you appreciate them making the trip.

Bridesmaid Tote

Treat your bridesmaids to a great bag that is fashionable and functional. It's perfect to tote accessories, shoes, and makeup to the wedding venue. If you are having a destination or beach wedding, fill it with necessities such as a pair of flip flops, water, and a beach towel.

Winning Wine Caddy
Thank your wedding party with personalized picnic bags. A wine caddy filled with a bottle of wine and stuffed with a baguette and cheese is a guaranteed hit! You can include personalized bottle openers and wine toppers for an extra special touch. Top off the gift with a set of personalized wine glasses.

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Think Outside the Box!

Wedding Favor Containers are traditionally filled with candy or chocolates, but these small stylish boxes can be transformed into custom wedding favor packaging easily!

Cone wedding favor boxes are a great fit for wine stoppers, but can easily accommodate other wedding favor items. You can even create a wedding day emergency kit for your bridesmaids by filling them with safety pins, a nail file, lip gloss, and more.

Think of the container as more than just wrapping for your favor. Combine the box and favor together with fillers, dazzlers, and ribbon for a truly unique presentation.

For a beach themed wedding, fill your cones partially with colored sand and a special note for custom "message in a bottle" wedding favors.

Fun miniature galvanized cans and pails work well as favor containers too! Mini metal pails can be stuffed with lollipops and decorated with flowers or dazzlers. Personalize them with custom ribbon or favors tags for an adorable wedding favor.

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Top 5 Most Popular Wedding Gown Silhouettes

Every bride is beautiful on her wedding day, and you will be no exception! Enjoy shopping for your gown ... it will be the experience of a lifetime.

Whether you are dreaming of a ball gown in white silk and tulle or a simple, elegant A-line dress, don't make the final decision before you've determined the style, season, time of day, and site for your wedding.

According to a recent survey, the top 5 most popular wedding gown silhouettes are:

• 29% A-Line


• 15% Princess


• 14% Ball Gown


• 12% Mermaid/Sheath


• 6% Empire

Other silhouettes chosen by respondents included: Baby Doll, Basque Waist, Dropped Waist, Natural Waist, Sheath, Trumpet, and Two-Piece.

Understanding the Silhouettes

The typical A-Line silhouette has seams starting at the bust or shoulders and flowing down to a flared skirt. The top of the dress gracefully blends into the skirt. It gets it name from the "A" shape, small at the top and larger (flared) at the bottom. The Princess silhouette is typically an A-Line with a tightly fitted bodice area. Traditionally, princess gowns are strapless, however many of the newer Princess gowns have some form of strap.

The ball gown silhouette is similar to the A-Line, only it has a much fuller skirt and typically features a full bodice that is distinctly separate from the skirt. The Sheath or Mermaid silhouette closely follows the line of your body, hence the nickname "mermaid". The Empire is high-waisted with a scoop neck and typically has a slimmer skirt. This style is reminiscent of Jackie O.

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Now that we know the basic silhouettes, lets take a look at which ones work for each body style.

The Perfect Hour-Glass Figure
Okay, so you've got a figure even Marylin Monroe would be envious of!
Do consider... A nice A-Line gown paired with a v-neck or scoop-neck to fully flatter your figure.

Think twice about... an Empire silhouette which may hide your figure or make it look disporportioned. A ball-gown may work if the skirt isn't overly full, but watch that it doesn't over accentuate your bottom half.

Short Waisted and Petite Figures
Do consider... an A-Line gown to elongate your waist and make you appear taller. Since the top of the dress gently blends into the flared skirt, it gives a long and lean look.
Think twice about... a ball gown. The ball gown may simply swallow you whole. You want everyone to see YOU walk down the aisle -- not a big gown with a person hidden in it!

Tall and Thin
Do consider... a ball gown. You will look like an absolute Princess walking down the aisle. Also consider a Sheath silhouette - there aren't too many of us who can get away with wearing them. If you've got it, we suggest you flaunt it!

Think twice about... well ... we really can't think of a style that you wouldn't look great in!

Pear Shaped
Do consider... a gown that will draw attention to the upper half of your body. The Silhouette isn't quite as important as the neckline you select. The idea is to flatter your shoulders and chest while drawing focus away from your hips.

Think twice about... the mermaid silhouette ... for obvious reasons.

Full Figure and Plus Size
Do consider... a ball gown or A-Line gown. The ball gown is full and will hide many figure problems in the lower areas. An A-Line will flatter practically any figure.

Think twice about... mermaid silhouettes, thin straps, and sleeveless gowns. Instead, focus on drawing attention to your best features. Wear short or long sleeves to cover upper arm troubles and consider a scoop or v-neck to flatter your chest and neck.

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Looking for the perfect bridal jewelry, bridemaid gifts, and wedding accessories? Visit us at http://www.WhereBridesGo.com for an amazing selection of wedding supplies. Use coupon code BLOG at checkout to take 10% off anything and everything in the store!

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"Budget" Impacts 2009 Wedding Trends

With the rough and tumble economy of 2008, brides in 2009 will place a heavy focus on saving money when planning their wedding. Some of the expected new 2009 trends include:

• Smaller weddings with fewer guests
  Brides and grooms are trimming the fat off their guest lists to help keep the costs down. Look for immediate family, close family friends, and close friends of the bride and groom to receive invitations. 2nd cousins, "work friends", and friends of relatives may not make the cut in 2009. If the bride or groom will be meeting the person for the first time at their wedding, it's unlikely they'll be on the invite list this year!
  
  Tip: Save money on your invitations when you order online!
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• Destination weddings
  While it may intuitively seem like destination weddings are more expensive, in many cases they are much cheaper than a traditional wedding for several reasons:
  1) the guest list is typically much smaller;
  2) destination weddings are often held at all-inclusive resorts;
  3) destination weddings often serve as the honeymoon, too!
  
  Tip: Enjoy a beach-themed wedding at your favorite destination resort. Use beach themed invites, wedding favors, and wedding party gifts! Take 10% off at http://www.wherebridesgo.com with coupon code BLOG.
  



• Accent colors - everywhere!
  Popular 2009 hues are greens and blues.
  Forget the traditional all white wedding. 2009 brides are adding a punch of color to their wedding cakes to save money over elaborate fresh floral decor. Sure, bridesmaids have always had the funky colored dresses, but modern brides really know how to tie it all together when tightening the budget belt. 2009 Brides will look to save money on elaborate floral centerpieces by using color in their table linens and opting for simpler centerpieces. Look for color splashes in the wedding accessories, wedding gown, tuxedos, and reception chair covers, as well.
  
  Tip: Choose wedding accessories with color to add personalization and visual impact! Visit http://www.wherebridesgo.com/ for a HUGE selection of custom color wedding accessories.



• Increased reliance on family and friends to help plan, pay for, and provide certain "professional" services
  Modern brides and grooms tend to be in their late twenties and early thirties, independent, and professional. This has led to a trend of brides and grooms footing all or part of the bill for their own weddings. With a tightening economy, look for brides and grooms to lean on parents more, not just for the bill, but possibly in lieu of hiring certain professional services.
  
  Tip: Be careful not to cut back on services you may regret later. There really is no substitute for the quality of a professional photographer and videographer. The professional services of an experience DJ or wedding band/MC are absolutely invaluable if you are planning are large formal reception.
  



• Increased use of green and echo friendly products and services
  Brides Go Green (TM) in 2009! The trend will be toward earth friendly wedding favors, invitations, and everything green (where possible). Brides will even begin using online RSVP’s over the traditional mail-in RSVP for the wedding!
  
  Tip: Look for green wedding favors and eco-friendly wedding favors!

• Simplified decorations, centerpieces and wedding invitations
  With the trend toward pinching pennies, brides in 2009 will have one thing in common ... simple. Simple centerpieces, simple (yet elegant, of course) decor, and simple invitations. The complexity will be in the hues, but simple will rule the setting. Think reusable when it comes to centerpieces, think dual-use when it comes to placecards, and think practical when it comes to wedding favors!
  
  Tip: Take 10% off Practical Wedding Favors, reusable (aka practical) centerpieces, and placecard holders at http://www.wherebridesgo.com/! Coupon Code BLOG
  
  


• Off-peak weddings
  October will become the new June! Many venues offer substantial off-season and off-peak day/hour weddings to complete their bookings.
  
  Tip: Check wedding venues for discounts on Mornings, Afternoons, Fridays, and Sundays. Be sure to ask ... you will be AMAZED at the HUGE savings available, even at the most expensive and exclusive venues.
  



• Buffet meals, Hors d’oeuvre, and cocktail receptions
  Brides will be looking to save on the food and cocktails (one of the largest expenses related to the wedding!)
  
  Tip: Don't assume a buffet is cheaper. It's usually not! Price out the buffet vs the plated dinner at your venue. Rather than an appetizer table, have servers hand-carry Hors d’oeuvres. Your guests will eat fewer (so you need to purchase less). For the cocktails, consider open beer and wine for a fixed period, then switch to cash bar. Have 100% cash bar for hard/premium liquors.
  

Do you have GREAT money saving ideas to share with brides? Post them here with Where Brides Go (TM)! We'd love to share your unique ideas with other brides.