Subtle Memorial Ideas for Your Wedding

There are many tasteful ways to remember loved ones that have passed on. The key is to make is meaningful for the Bride, Groom and the family; but not uncomfortable for the guests. A wedding is a celebration of new love and life. It is also a celebration of the heart and family. There is a fine balance that you must keep in order to "do it right." Here are a few suggestions:

• Add their name(s) to the program ("Remembering those who are with us in spirit.")
• The Bride or Groom can wear something that belonged to the deceased. For example, the bride could wear a piece of jewelry; the groom a pocket watch, or perhaps cuff links.
• Include them in the prayer.
• Create a charm and add it into the bridal bouquet. A charm could be a small picture inserted into the bouquet, a vintage handkerchief wrapped around the bottom of the bouquet, or perhaps a photo pinned on the brides slip.
• Set up a memorial table with pictures of your loved ones and have a lighted memorial candle next to it.
• Play a favorite song of the person.
• Have memorial candles or vases of flowers.

Last but not least, here are two items that are both classy and sensible that could be used. I personally love the feather/angel pin. It's subtle, sweet and "nice":

Angel Wings - Designed to acknowledge family members or friends who have passed away but remain forever in your heart. This pearlized angel wing pin is beautifully presented atop a real feather and then attached to a heavy stock card. The angel wings can be pinned into the bride's bouquet or inside the hem of her gown as a reminder of those who are missed. The poetry card is available in six different versions including Dad, Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, Someone Special and Special Friend.

Rememberance Vase - Celebrate and honor the life of your loved ones who have passed with this hand blown glass vase to be placed on the altar or another special area at the ceremony or reception. You may choose to have the vase personalized with a specific name or something more general such as "Our Loved Ones" or "Our Grandparents", up to 22 characters and spaces. Personalization will be placed under the word "Remembering".

Jelly Belly Candy For Your Wedding Favors

Having a wedding near Easter? Perhaps a brunch. It doesn't get much cuter than this. Most everyone loves jelly beans. They are small, nostalgic and if you buy the Jelly Belly's ... fun flavors. Check out this adorable jelly bean carrot with tangerine flavored jelly beans! Cute or what?

Here is the deal ... Jelly Belly makes many varieties of jelly beans, including juicy pear, watermelon, root beer, cherry, promegrant, chocolate and buttered popcorn (to name a few). The jelly beans were most famously endorsed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who kept a jar of them on his desk in the White House and on Air Force One and who also made them the first jelly beans in outer space, sending them on the 1983 Challenger shuttle as a surprise for the astronauts. With that in mind, if it is good enough for them, it is surely good enough as a favor for your guests (right?) And, if you are having a candy buffet, you can mix or even segregate your flavors!

Suprisingly, Jelly Belly sells more than jelly beans. You can buy chocolate, other gelatin candies; and, if you want to go with the standard Jordan Almonds, you can buy a 10 lb bulk box (they sell those too! )

I am including the banner below, because if you use it ... you will at least get Free Shipping : )

Trust Me. Break in Your Wedding Shoes Before You Walk Down The Aisle

Yes, your bridal shoes are as important as the dress. And yes, you should buy what you love ... but use your head. Trust me there is nothing worse than standing, walking or dancing in shoes that are killing your feet. You want to be smiling in your pictures, not grimacing. Whether wearing flats, heels or stilettos, here are some tips to help you break in your shoes:

First, try purchasing shoes later in the day, when your feet are already a little swollen from standing and walking.

Break your shoes in on days when you are not going to be walking a lot. You want to ease into your shoes. If you plan on a lot of walking, take an extra pair with you so you can switch them.

Wear your shoes for a half hour to an hour every day, taking them off as soon they start to hurt. After a few days, you should feel more comfortable in your new shoes.

Treat problem areas. Sandals and high heels sometimes have an edge or seam in them that can be painful if the seam rubs against the foot. A quick fix for this according to Daniel Skair (top selling shoe salesman for Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco) is to "Use an emery board to rub down a rough edge; or take a white candle and rub the wax onto the problem spot to soften the leather whether it's inside a boot, heel or sandal." Leather conditioner or saddle soap may also work, but not as effectively. Another quick fix; put a piece of moleskin where the irritant is.

Avoid painful styles such as stilettos or too-tight peep-toes. Breaking your shoes in should mean that they start out comfortable and get more comfortable with time. If you spend a few hours in your shoes and your feet are killing you, it's time to buy a different pair.

To keep from sliding around on shiny soles, use a bit of sandpaper and "rough up" the soles, especially the area under the toes.

Lastly, don't forget to wear your shoes when trying on your gown; you want to make sure your gown is hemmed according to the height of your shoes.