3 Things To Never Say In Your Thank You Notes (and more!)

Do I REALLY have to send hand-written thank you notes?

Many people think that hand-written thank you notes are a long-forgotten tradition. In the age of Twitter, Facebook, text messages and all the rest,  we rarely sit down and craft hand-written notes and letters anymore.

Your wedding is not the time to blow off the hand-written thank you note, though. Each guest will put time, a lot of thought, and money into the gift they give you. It's important to take the time to thank them appropriately, not only for the gift but for attending the event, as well!

What do I say in my wedding thank you note?

Before we get to what you should never say, let's look quickly at what you should say. If you follow these simple guidelines, writing your thank you notes will be easy. You don't have to write a novel, but you want to make sure your thank you notes are personal and sincere.

Here's what TO say:

1. Say "thank you for ..." (fill in the blank with the gift). Start every note this way.
2. Be specific about how you plan to use the gift.  For example, if you received something for the kitchen, you might say, "I can't wait to use it to make our favorite lasagna!"
3. Let them know how nice it was to see them at the wedding.  If they couldn't make the wedding and they just sent a gift, let them know they were missed.
4. Close with a reference to a future visit or get together.

3 Thing to NEVER say in your thank you notes:

1. Never imply that the gift was less than you were expecting.
2. Never let them know if you received a duplicate of the gift from someone else.
3. Never let them know that you are returning or exchanging the gift.

Remember that thank you notes aren't for gifts alone.  Be sure to send thank you notes to your bridal party and any other person who helped you with your wedding day. Your wedding vendors appreciate thank you notes, too ... especially if you have someone who really goes above an beyond for you!

For a great selection of affordable wedding thank you notes, check out our Carlson Craft dealer site! You can personalize and design your thank you notes (and your invitations) online ... it's great!

~ The WhereBridesGo.comTeam
 
Where brides go®  ... for what brides love!

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7 Sentimental Ways to Memorialize a Loved One at Your Wedding

While nothing can take the place of loved ones who have passed on, there are many meaningful and subtle ways to honor their memories during your  wedding celebration. It's really up to the bride and groom to determine what is best for them. For many, this is a very important part of their ceremony.

If you are considering a memorial for a loved one at your wedding, here are some ideas to consider:

1. Use their favorite flowers at your wedding
2. Setup a memorial table at the ceremony venue and include photos and other mementos
3. Place a photo and a bible on an empty chair
4. Play their wedding song at your reception or your ceremony
5. Make a special tribute to them in your wedding program
6. Carry a photo of them with you down the aisle
7. Light a candle in their honor and place it at the guest book table

Photo Memory Bouquet Buckle

Your wedding will be a joyous day in your life, but it can be difficult if you've lost someone close to you and they cannot be with you to share your day. We love this photo memory bouquet buckle because it enables you to hold someone close and carry their memory down the aisle with you. Truly a beautiful tribute to someone who has meant so much to your life.

Another personal way to memorialize a loved one at your wedding as you walk down the aisle is with a soft white satin ring pillow. The one shown here has rhinestone accents and satin streamers, and has a beautiful lace-trimmed pocket for inserting your cherished photo.

Memorial Ring Pillow

If you prefer to use a memorial candle, a floating memorial candle & frame set is a special way to honor your loved ones. A lovely wide glass vase is engraved with the words “Forever in our Hearts... Forever in our Lives” across the top and bottom. A personalized name and date can be engraved in the center of the vase and along the bottom of the frame. This a touching tribute during the ceremony, but also becomes a special treasure for years to come.

Paying a special tribute to a loved one who has passed is a uniquely personal decision. You know your relationship with that person best, so don't worry about what anyone else thinks or says. Whatever you decide to do is going to be absolutely perfect for you ... and that's all that matters.

Floating Memorial Candle and Frame

~ The WhereBridesGo.comTeam
Where brides go®  ... for what brides love!

For more ideas, wedding favors and accessories, check out WhereBridesGo.com!

Don't forget about our Coupon Code BLOGREADER which saves you an additional 15% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com!!  We also offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $100 (continental US only).

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Our 5 Favorite Wedding Guest Book Alternatives

	Fun Wedding Coasters Let Your Guests Give Marriage Advice We love this unique guest book alternative. What a way to get your guests talking and get their insights on what makes a happy marriage. You'll enjoy these for years after the wedding, there's no doubt! These soft white paper coasters feature "Advice for the Mr. & Mrs." The design is printed in blue with red heart accent at bottom. Four lines for writing advice and area at bottom for signature. 4" x 4". Not available personalized. 25 per set.
	Lovebirds Canvas Signature Guest Book So romantic! This beautiful canvas becomes a work of art as your guests arrive and sign it. It's custom made, personalized free of charge, and fashioned with a vintage inspired lovebirds design and quote. This super cute guest book alternative creates interactive fun for your guests on the big day and a standout, signature art piece for every day after. Combining contemporary style to a time honored wedding tradition, this framed canvas transfers beautifully into custom home decor.  Quote along the top reads, "Without love, we are birds with broken wings." -Morrie Schwartz
	Metal Etching Signature Frame Another one of our favorites. This Personalized Signature Frame is a great alternative to traditional paper guest books and is a wonderful keepsake from your wedding day that can be displayed for years to come. You simply add your favorite photo! The easy-to-use Signature Engraving Scribe™ permanently etches signatures into the sturdy, high quality alloy surface. No special treatments are needed for the mat, your guests just sign and it is ready to display.
	Signature Decorative Platter, Pen & Easel Set If you're looking for a fun way to collect guest signatures, look no further than with our Signature Decorative Platter, Pen & Easel Set. An interactive way to involve your guests, this fun platter also makes an amazing keepsake for your home. The three dimensional design of the square platter gives a modern twist to traditional shape, and the vintage easel easily displays it for all to see.
	The Story of Us Personalize this unique guest book alternative with your very own love story! Fill the pages with the story of your first date, how he proposed, your family trees and so much more. Your guests can read your "Story of Us" then sign in the guest book space at the back of the book (allows for up to 128 signatures). Includes a small hidden compartment suitable for a few select keepsakes such as your "something blue" or sentimental marriage vows.

~ The WhereBridesGo.comTeam
Where brides go®  ... for what brides love!

For more gift ideas, wedding favors and accessories, check out WhereBridesGo.com!

Don't forget about our Coupon Code BLOGREADER which saves you an additional 15% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com!!  We also offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $100 (continental US only).

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5 Indispensable Tips for Your Wedding Reception Tables

5 Indispensable Tips for Your Wedding Reception Tables

Once you have decided where to have your wedding reception, you can start thinking about the design of your reception tables. 1. Place Cards & Place Card Holders Using place cards and place card holders not only direct guests to their seats, but they are the perfect way to dress up your reception tables or to continue a theme. Today, many place card holders can do double duty by also serving as a wedding favor for your guests. 2. Centerpieces Another aspect of reception table decoration is the centerpiece. You want to be sure that the reception centerpieces are not so large that they keeps your guests from seeing each other. One really clever idea is to create a larger floral or candle arrangement using smaller vases and candles.  At the end of the reception, the individual pieces serve as wedding favors when each person seated at the table then takes one of them home. 3. The Head Table If you are planning to have a head table for you and your wedding attendants, be sure to put it at the front of the room.  It is customary for the head table to seat each of the attendants facing the other wedding guests. A very popular decorating idea is to use wedding party toasting glasses at each place setting. Another idea is to consider decorating the head table with one of the accent colors used elsewhere at the reception. For example, if you have chosen garnet and gold for your wedding colors, the guests’ tables may be covered in garnet table cloths, while the head table is covered in shimmering gold with garnet accents.   4. The Gift Table Many of your guests will bring their wedding gift with them to the reception. Place your gift table near the entrance of the reception so that your guests don’t have to worry with storing it during the party. You can also move your guest book from the ceremony location to the reception venue and place it nearby. Be sure to use make the table inviting by using the same decorations as the other tables in the room. The gift table is also the perfect place for a wedding card holder, which can serve as the gift table centerpiece. There are some beautifully designed card holders available today, including personalized etched glass card holder which serve as wedding heirlooms after the event. 5. The Cake Table Perhaps the most important table in the room is the table that holds the wedding cake. Because today's wedding cakes are available in so many beautiful designs, this table needs to be centrally located so that the wedding cake serves as both dessert and decoration. If you are planning to have people serve themselves wedding cake, then be sure there’s enough room for people to move on both sides. Many brides purchase whimsical cake tops that fit the bride and groom's personality or custom personalized cake tops to set next to the cake as additional decoration and as a keepsake! ~ The WhereBridesGo.comTeam Where brides go®  ... for what brides love! For more gift ideas, wedding favors and accessories, check out WhereBridesGo.com! Don't forget about our Coupon Code BLOGREADER which saves you an additional 15% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com!!  We also offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $100 (continental US only). Connect with WhereBridesGo.com online! Follow us on Twitter @wherebridesgo LIKE US on Facebook! LIKE US on Google+

The Traditional Order of the Wedding Toast

 

The Traditional Order of the Wedding Toasts

It's said that the Greeks in the sixth Century B.C. started the tradition of the wedding toast. Greeks poured wine from a common pitcher, so the host would drink from his glass first to ensure the guests that there was no poison in the vessel. While you certainly won't have to convince your guests there's no poison in their beverages, toasting has become a tradition at weddings to wish health and happiness to  the couple and to the guests attending the event.

Here's the traditional order of the toasts:

1. The best man starts the festivities with a toast to the beautiful bride.
2. The second toast is also done by the best man and is to the bride and groom as a couple.
3. The third toast is done by the and groom is meant as a response to the best man's toast. He also typically includes a few words to his bride, thanks the parents and the wedding party.
4. Toasts from other people in the wedding can then begin. You may want to limit who is giving toasts to keep this portion of the reception from dragging.
5. The second to last toast is again done by the best man to thank the groom on behalf of himself and the rest of the wedding party.
6.  Finally, the last toast of the evening is from the father of the bride. He thanks all the guests on behalf of himself and his wife. This indicates the official start of the party.

That's a lot of CHEERS!

Be sure to raise your glass in style with a pair of sparkling, personalized wedding champagne flutes.

The champagne toasting flutes at WhereBridesGo.com are beautifully designed and are sure to become an instant keepsake from your wedding.

~ The WhereBridesGo.com Team

Where brides go®  ... for what brides love!

For wedding accessories,  wedding favors and wedding supplies, check out WhereBridesGo.com!

Don't forget about our Coupon Code BLOGREADER which saves you an additional 15% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com!!  We also offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $100 (continental US only).

 

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Your Wedding Reception Sound Track - Essential Checklist

Music sets the stage for just about everything at your wedding reception. You need to decide what songs you want played for your grand entrance, the cake cutting ceremony, the first dance, and so on. There's a good chance there are songs you don't want played, as well songs that you want to make sure are played.  The best way to make sure your reception music goes off without a hitch is to provide this information to your wedding DJ well ahead of time.

Use this outline to help coordinate your track selections.

RECEPTION EVENTS

1. Wedding Party Introductions

• Song:
• Artist:

2. Bride & Groom Grand Entrance

• Song:
• Artist:

3. Bride & Groom First Dance

• Song:
• Artist:

4. Father -Daughter Dance

• Song:
• Artist:

5. Mother-Son Dance

• Song:
• Artist:

6. Cake Cutting Ceremony

• Song:
• Artist:

7. Bride & Groom Exit

• Song:
• Artist:

DON'T PLAY LIST
If the Electric Slide annoys you and the Macarena isn't exactly what you had in mind for your reception dancing, be sure to create a DO NOT PLAY list for your DJ.  Keep in mind, your wedding guests may request these songs, so let your DJ know how you want him to handle it if they do!

• Song:
• Artist:

• Song:
• Artist:

MUST PLAY LIST
If there are certain songs that mean a lot to you as a couple, add them to your MUST PLAY list.  You might also want to pay tribute to parents and grand-parents in the room by playing THEIR wedding songs during dinner. Creating this list for your DJ will ensure that your favorites are played all night long.

• Song:
• Artist:

• Song:
• Artist:

~ The WhereBridesGo.com Team
Where brides go®  ... for what brides love!

For wedding accessories,  wedding favors and wedding supplies, check out WhereBridesGo.com!

Don't forget about our Coupon Code BLOGREADER which saves you an additional 15% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com!!  We also offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $100 (continental US only).

 

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10 Essential Questions to Ask Your Wedding Florist

Avoid hiring a florist who might be a thorn in your side by carefully interviewing three or four different shops before signing a contract. These 10 essential questions (and their answers) will help guide you to the best decision, the best service, and most beautiful floral display for your wedding. Is my date available? If your date is available, the next thing to do is ask what deposit is required to hold the date. What is your cancellation and/or reschedule policy? It seems like a negative question, wedding do get cancelled and rescheduled for many reasons. You might decide on a different florist later, have a death in the family, or reschedule the date for some unanticipated reason. You need to know the answer to this question, and have it in writing. Do you charge a delivery or setup fee? This is a standard question. Some shops will charge a separate fee for setup and delivery, while others include it in the cost of your flowers. You just want to make sure you have all the costs up front so there are no surprises later. Have you done flowers at my ceremony and/or reception location before? If they have, they may have some photos you can look at or some floral ideas you haven't thought of. If they haven't, it's not necessarily a problem. You may want to arrange a time to meet them at the location to have a look at the layout. Do you just deliver the flowers, or do you stay  to help distribute the corsages, bouquets, etc? If you've hired a wedding coordinator, this may not be necessary. You could also have someone in your family help with this task. At a minimum, you should ask the florist to label everything so whomever is helping you will know who gets what. What time will you be at my site(s) to setup? There's not necessarily a right or wrong answer to this question. You just want to be certain that things arrive on time, but not so early that your flowers will not look fresh when the wedding begins.  Do you rent decorative items? Some florists will rent archways, candelabras, runners, and other decorative arrangements. Be sure to shop around with local rental companies, as well. The florist may be higher in price for these items. Do you offer silk or dried floral arrangements? If you want to keep your bouquet or allow your family members to keep their corsages and boutonnieres, you might want to consider silk or dried arrangements. You can also make these yourself by purchasing stems at a local craft shop.  Another option is to have your live floral bouquet freeze-dried after the wedding. What items will need to be returned to your shop and what is your return policy? You will obviously have to return any rented items, so be sure to ask the return policy on these. You also might be required to return any plant stands or other items not included in the cost of your actual arrangements. Be sure to ask ... again, to avoid surprises. Do you have references that I can contact? Your best source for unbiased information is another bride who used this florist at her wedding. Ask the florist for references. Selecting a florist is like selecting any other vendor. Be sure to comparison shop and take good notes at each interview. After you have met with three or four florists, you'll be able to make an informed decision and get the biggest floral bang for your wedding budget. What additional questions would you ask (or did you ask)?  Please share here so other brides can gain the benefit of your experience! ~ The WhereBridesGo.com Team Where brides go®  ... for what brides love! For more gift ideas,  wedding favors and accessories, check out WhereBridesGo.com! Don't forget about our Coupon Code VIPBRIDE which saves you an additional 10% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com!!  We also offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $100 (continental US only). Connect with WhereBridesGo.com online! Follow us on Twitter @wherebridesgo LIKE US on Facebook! LIKE US on Google+