Your Song

Feature Story
By: Kristen Henningson

You know that one special song? The song that reminds you of him when it comes on the radio? The song that says everything about your relationship in fewer than four minutes? Maybe it’s because the lyrics perfectly describe him, or it was playing in the background at your first date, or it’s the subject of an inside joke, but regardless of the reason: that’s your song.

Imagine this: you and your wonderful groom have just tied the knot. The reception is in a few minutes, and there you two will finally have your first dance as husband and wife. It was decided from day one that the song to dance to would be your song.

“Mike and I specifically asked the DJ, days in advance, if he had our song, and he assured us that he did,” said Colleen Henningson. Her and her husband, Mike, had had a relaxed wedding and intended to have an equally relaxing reception—after all, the big day had gone off without a hitch thus far.

That is, until it came time to pick the song. “The time came for our first dance and the DJ went, ‘Oh, I don’t have your song,’ even though we had asked him several times if he had it,” Henningson said. The bride and her groom had to quickly deal with the fact that their chosen song would not be the one they would dance to and had to pick a new one.

It had seemed like such a big deal, and my mother still complains to me today about the faulty DJ, but she doesn't dwell on it often, saying, “It had put a damper on our wedding, but everyone still had fun. A lot of people say our wedding was the most fun one they had been to.”

So while it’s nice to have that perfect song, it’s important to remember: that song is still your song, even if it isn't played at the wedding. You can dance to it later, so enjoy the night for what it’s worth.

Message in a bottle wedding invitations

Column by Jessica Rugg

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Here is a website where you can buy kits to make messages in bottles for your wedding invitations:
http://www.invitationinabottle.com/Weddings_s/20.htm
They are a very cool idea for any themed wedding but they are particularly adorable if you are planning on a ocean or beach themed wedding or are going to have your wedding on a beach.
If you don't want to buy the kits from the link above, you could try making them yourself.

1) Soak paper in tea to make it look warn and tear the edges off (you can find paper that looks worn and beat up but it is cheaper to do it yourself).
2) Write your invitation information on the paper (you can try your hand at calligraphy, or print it out before you soak and tear the paper. Or writing it sloppily may help with the theeming).
3) Roll the paper up and put it in a bottle. You can tie the paper with twine and also include sand, seashells, cocktail umbrellas, and anything else ocean themed. You might want your bottle to be plastic instead of glass to ensure that it won't break when you ship it.
4) Corks can be hard to work with. There are ways you can soak the corks in hot water to get them to expand and fit in the bottles, but it would be easier to use wax to seal them. It would be easier still to get bottles with lids that screw onto the bottle instead of corks.
5) Your shipping options very. The easiest way is to send them in boxes through your postal service or UPS. Some specialty services allow you to send them without the boxes, however the pricing range increases exponentially.

This is a fun way to let your guests know that they are in for a beautiful wedding! Get creative and have fun!

Video: dance lessons

Blurb by Jessica Rugg

Here is a helpful video that gives tips on how to do some simple dance moves at your wedding. YouTube has plenty of videos you can watch with your fiance to avoid pricey dance classes and embarrassment.

Color themes for your wedding

Column by Jessica Rugg

Choosing the color(s) for your wedding theme can be a daunting  prospect!
Here I will discuss recent trends in the theming for weddings along with my personal likes and dislikes.


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I personally love the idea of bright colors for a wedding! They are so cheerful and happy!
Bright colors have been a up and coming trend for several years and it looks like it is here to stay! it can work at any time of year but it is most popular in the spring or summer.  

 

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Black and white weddings are becoming more popular as well. I like them because they look very formal and elegant. You do not have to worry about matching shades of colors as well. It can be hard to match a unique shade. Black and white work well at all times of year, but since winter theming colors can be limited, many brides with winter weddings pick black and white color schemes.

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Black and white themes are easy to add pops of color to as well. Red, yellow and pink are all common colors to mix in with black and white themes.

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Fall weddings have beautiful color schemes to work with! You can bring all the shades of fall into your wedding and nature trails can be beautiful places for your photographs to be taken. Try Putting actual leaves from trees on your dinner tables or flower arraignments.

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Blue is one of the most versatile colors for theming. It goes well with nearly every other color, and it has so many different shades that it can take on many different moods. Blue can be gorgeous for a winter wedding or it can be beautiful for a wedding on a beach.

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Purple is a color that has always been popular for weddings. My grandmother had it for the theme of her wedding and it is gaining popularity again. It is another color that is fun to mix with other colors (like black and white, orange and green), and it looks good on all skin types and complexions if you are thinking about your bride maid's dresses.

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Pastel themes can be gorgeous in the spring time or winter! Clothing is especially pretty in pastel themes.

Your options are literally limitless! But I hope I gave you a few ideas in this post.

How to Pick a Wedding Planner

Interview
By: Kristen Henningson


When it comes to weddings, there's a lot of ground to cover. Between picking out dresses, color schemes, venues, flowers, and arranging the table settings, it's easy to get lost in the planning!

That's why many brides choose to have a wedding planner by their sides as they tackle all the planning. But with an abundance of people to choose from, how does one know what to look for?

Amy Rieger, a Wedding Planner To-Be, has a few things to look for when selecting the proper planner. "It's pretty important to have a planner who is confident in her ability to get things done and who can budget wisely. Staying organized and having an eye for color and style help, too," Rieger said.

If you want an extra sense of security, Rieger suggests picking a wedding planner who has years of experience. With so many past wedding to organize, there would be no surprise he or she couldn't tackle! Wedding can be frustrating, so one may also want to select a planner who is "able to calm nerves and keep people from worrying," Rieger said.

The preparation for the big day is at times overwhelming. But if one remembers to relax, have fun, and maybe cry on the wedding planner's shoulder when necessary, the wedding is sure to be one everyone will remember.

Makeup tips for the big day

Photo Credit

Column by Jessica Rugg

Here I will list some tips on how to make your makeup last longer and look perfect all day long!

Face:
Primer: Make sure you wear a primer! Primers will make your foundation last longer and some will even increase the coverage of your foundation.
Foundation: Get your foundation well ahead of time and test it multiple times to make sure that it matches your skin tone as closely as possible (you may have to mix multiple shades to ensure it matches), lasts all day, and has good coverage. You should try to get a foundation that is matte and has NO sunscreen or shimmer. Sunscreen and shimmer do not photograph well because they reflect flash back off the face to make your face shinny. Not an attractive look.
I recommend using a buffing brush to ensure an even coverage, and make sure you blend all the way out to your hair line and down your neck so that there are no harsh lines or obvious edges in skin tone.
Concealer: Again match this as closely to your natural skin tone as possible. Try to get a nice, creamy consistency, and blend, blend, blend! Always cover with powder to ensure that it will stay all day.
Powder: Powder should match the shade of your foundation. Any lighter and it can easily make you look washed out, and too dark will make you look fake. Apply lightly to avoid it becoming too cacky. Do not skip powder, however! It will greatly increase the staying powder of your foundation.
Bronzer: Go light on bronzer. It can become overdone quickly. Try to pick a light shade to avoid this as well. This can take practice or should be done by a professional. Try just applying it under your cheekbones to give your face some definition. You can also try this under the jaw.
Blush: Blush should be applied high on the cheekbones. Try smiling and pushing up your cheeks. Just apply it on the apples of your cheeks and blend back towards your hairline. cream blushes applied under a matching shade of powder blush can make it last much longer than just powder. Cream blush can draw attention to any blemishes in the area you are applying the blush, however, so be careful!
Highlighter: Again make sure that there is little to no shimmer in your highlighter. It can give you an odd look in photographs. Highlighter should be applied on the tops of your cheekbones, right above your blush. You can also use highlighter on your brow bones and on your chin and tip of your nose to give your face some definition. Go light with it!

Eyes:
Primer: Make sure you wear a primer! Most will feel kind of gritty to the touch. This gives something for the eye shadow to stick to. Apply it all over the eye to ensure complete coverage.
Base: This is an optional step and you want to be careful with bases. Test them multiple times to make sure that they will not crease. You absolutely want to apply primers under bases and powder over bases to give them a chance of staying all day. Avoid shimmery shades because they reflect the light from flashes and can give you a odd look in your photographs.
Eyeshadow: One word: NATURAL! Do not attempt any crazy colors on your wedding day! This just comes off as fake and tacky. You want to practice this as much as possible in the weeks leading up to your big day. Try different shades and blending techniques and see what you can come up with. The options here are limitless! Try a neutral shade on your lid, a darker shade in your crease, a yet darker shade in the outer corners and around the lash line, and finally a nice light shade on your brow bone and in the inner corners of your eyes. Blending is a key with eyeshadow. Always make sure the transitions between shades are as seamless as possible.There are plenty of videos on YouTube that can give you ideas and tips on this step.
Eyeliner: Eye liner is a crucial step in making your eyes defined and beautiful! Do not shy away from black eyeliner. Browns can look beautiful as well, but black gives you the most defined look. If you have green or blue eyes, you might try using eyeliners that match your eye color. Matching eyeliner to eye color really makes your eyes pop! This look takes practice, so play around with it in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Liquid eyeliner does not have the best staying power, so I would avoid it. Cream, gel or pencil eyeliners are the best options. Apply as closely to the lash line as possible and make sure it is nice and water proof before you apply it on your lower lashes. You can extend the longevity of your eyeliner by applying black powder over the eyeliner. If you use eyeliner if your waterline, make sure you eyes won't become itchy from powder before you attempt this on the day of your wedding.
Mascara: Mascara is a very important step! Always curl your lashes before applying mascara. You can make the curl hold longer by heating your lashes with a hairdryer for 10 seconds while the lash curler is still on the lashes (don't do this everyday, though. It will dry your lashes out and make them brittle). Again, don't be afraid of black! It defines your lashes better than any other shade. Separate your lashes with a lash comb before applying mascara to avoid clumps. Apply in quick strokes, covering the whole lash and don't forget the bottom lashes! Some mascaras work better with two coats, but some work better with one coat. Play around with your chosen mascara to see what works best for you.
Make sure that your mascara is water proof! You do not want your makeup to run if you cry during your ceremony.
Fake Lashes: Fake lashes are of course optional but many women feel that fake lashes are worth it for the wedding day. As with all of your makeup, test your lash glue before your wedding day so that you can be sure that it will not make you break out or irritate your eyes. You also want to test to see how long the glue will last and if it will hold through tears if you cry during the ceremony.
Applying lashes takes practice, so wear them plenty of times before your wedding so that you can be an expert at applying them on the day of. Always apply them as close to the lash line as possible and use eyeliner to cover up any glue that is still showing after it drys. A quick coat of mascara can blend real lashes with fake ones to make them look more natural.

Lips:
Lip Liner: Do not use lip liners to define your lips. Doing so will result in a bold color on the outside of your lips and nothing in the middle of your lips once your lipstick wears off. Lip liner should act as a base for your lipstick. Don't apply it too thickly or it may bleed onto your skin. You may want to apply it with a lip brush to get the most accurate application possible.
Lipstick: Your lipstick should be in a matching shade to your lip liner. There are many different textures to lipsticks so you should play around with all the options until you find one that you are happy with. You might want to take pictures of yourself wearing the different shades so that you can be sure that they will look good when photographed.
Again, applying with a lip brush will make your application much more accurate.
Lip Gloss: Lip gloss is optional, depending on the look that you want, but I think gloss makes any lip so much more beautiful. You can also try just dabbing gloss to the center of the lip to add some shine, but not over do it.

Other:
Pluck your eyebrows well before the week of your wedding so if you over pluck, there is still time for the hair to grow back. Just repluck the stray hairs as they grow back in. Do not wait until the day of your wedding to pluck because many women get watery eyes and even sneezing and runny noses after plucking brows due to nerve irritation. You don't want red eyes or a runny nose on the day of your wedding!
Test everything ahead of time! You never know if something will cause you to break out, or if you are allergic to a new product. Test the longevity of everything and make sure everything is as water proof as possible.
You can also find various products you can spray on your face that are designed to make your makeup last longer. E.L.F. (available at Target) has one that works pretty well for only $3.00.

YouTube is a great place to see people actually applying the makeup and getting application tips. Many YouTube channels offer tips on good brands to buy as well.
EmilyNoel83 has some really great videos! She is a newscaster so she knows how to apply natural, beautiful makeup and she does a good job of explaining everything step by step.

Good luck, ladies! Post your wedding day makeup looks in the comment section below!

"I Do - Pursue Relational Growth"

Blurb by Jessica Rugg

Here is a beautiful message presented by Jim and Sue Nicodeme at a church in St. Charles, Illinois:

http://ccclife.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=161936&programId=138294

Photo Credit
Jim and Sue Nicodeme
 

They tell how to keep your marriage healthy and strong. They are a funny couple with excellent tips!

Top 10 custom printed wedding favors

Blurb by Jessica Rugg

Here is a cool blog post with some cute and clever ideas for custom wedding favors! All of these can be bought on this website, but most of them could also be found other places either through the web or other retailers:
http://www.bluesodapromo.com/wp_blog/top-10-custom-printed-wedding-favors/

Photo from link above
 

Your wedding cake

Feature by Jessica Rugg



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     There are so many options with wedding cakes and the more elaborate you get the more expensive it gets.

     Cakes are usually priced by the slice. Price per slice can range anywhere from $1.50 to $12.00.

     To save money you could order a small version of your dream wedding cake and have sheet cakes made of matching flavors and colors to be cut in the kitchen or back room to be distributed to your guests.

     To make your cake look bigger you could get the top few tiers made of Styrofoam and decorate it with frosting to match the rest of the cake and just cut the bottom tiers.

     Jodi Rugg loves to decorate cakes. "There are so many options and variations! It's always fun to get creative with a cake," Rugg said.

     There are ways to save money on the frosting also. "Fondant icing is more expensive than buttercream or you could get pre-made sugar-flower detailing instead of hand-made flowers," Rugg said.

     Cupcake tiers are getting more and more popular recently. They are generally cheaper, easier to serve, and fun for the kids at your reception to eat.

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You still get to cut the little cake on top with your groom, and serving the rest becomes so much easier!
 

     And you can still get creative with the frosting and decorations!

     Wedding cakes are generally white, but there are lots of fun ways to add color and tie it in with the colors of your wedding.

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     Talk to your baker about pricing options and get his or her creative input before you make any decisions.

     Have fun and get creative!

Amazingly adorable live lip-dub proposal!

Blurb by Jessica Rugg




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Isaac proposing after the song
 

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_v7QrIW0zY

Share your proposal stories in the comments section below!

Pretty (cheap!) DIY French tip nails



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Feature by Jessica Rugg

      Many brides are going to expensive salons to get their nails done for the big day and adding anywhere from 20 to 50 dollars for each person in their wedding party!
      Robin Moses has done nails for almost 10 years. She tells about a quick and easy way to do your own nails and your bridal party's nails on your own! "This could be a fun bridal shower activity for the night before!" Moses said.
      "If you don't already have polish in the colors needed you can get kits for between five to 10 dollars at your local retail store," Moses said. "Many of the kits have guide stickers in them so you won't need the tape or paper reinforcers." Of course, getting each polish individually is a viable option. You can also get French tip pens for under five dollars. These can work well, but require more precision and a steadier hand than the other options do.
      Any of these options will work for a beautiful pedicure as well!

What you will need:

1. Nail polish remover and cotton balls.
2. White or cream nail polish.
3. Clear top coat.
4. Tape (for square tips) or paper reinforcers (for round tips).

Optional: glitter or rhinestones, base coat, a bottle of a transparent nude or pink polish.

Step 1:
Remove all existing nail polish with nail polish remover and cotton balls. Push back your cuticles if desired.

Step 2:
After you have applied your base coat (if desired), place a piece of tape or a paper reinforcer along the free edge of your nail so that the base of your nail is covered by the tape or the paper rienforcer and the tip of your nail is exposed. Press down firmly so that no polish seeps under the adhesive.

Step 3:
Paint the tip of your nail the white or cream color and let dry. You will probably want two or three coats depending on the opacity of your polish. Make sure you let each coat of polish dry completely before you add another coat.

Step 4:
When the polish is dry, remove the paper reinforcer or the tape to reveal a beautiful French tip!
You can simply put a top coat on now or you can put a transparent coat of nude, pink or cream polish on over the entire nail.

Step 5:
If desired you can have a little fun with some glitter and rhinestones! While the last coat of white or cream is still wet you could sprinkle a little white or silver glitter over the nail to give it a pretty sheen. The glitter should be as fine as possible to avoid being gaudy (I recommend something like this). Or you could place rhinestones along the edge of your French tip with a little bit of clear polish on top to seal it in. No matter what extras you add onto your look make sure you seal the look with at least one coat of clear polish top coat to make sure that you don't get any cracks or chips on your big day!

     "You could also try bringing in the colors of your wedding into the polish designs in subtle ways," Moses suggested. Something like this would be gorgeous if the color of your wedding is purple, as an example.

Here is a video on YouTube that shows each step in detail.
Remember to get creative and have fun!

Real life story behind "The Vow"

Blurb by Jessica Rugg

An amazing story told by Kim and Krickitt Carpenter; the real life story behind The Vow! True love conquers all :)

http://ccclife.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=161936&programId=136077



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Kim and Krickitt Carpenter

Getting your wedding professionally photographed

Feature by Jessica Rugg

     Getting your wedding professionally photographed is necessary if you want quality pictures to remember the happiest day of your life.
     Ashley Spencer has been a photographer for nearly five years and she thoroughly enjoys photographing weddings.
     She recommends choosing your photographer early in your wedding planning process. You should discuss price, printing options, and whether or not you would like to have the portraits of the wedding party before or after the ceremony.
     "My personal belief is that they should be taken after the ceremony," Spencer said.That way your husband to be's first time seeing you in your wedding dress will be when you walk down the isle. 



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You don't want to spoil this moment!

      The venue is important to take into consideration when you interview your photographer. He or she should know in advance if it will be outdoors or indoors. If it is indoors they will need different lighting equipment than if it is outdoors. They should also know in advance what the plan is if there is inclement weather on the big day. They need to know if the wedding will be moved to a different date or if he or she should bring both indoor and outdoor lighting equipment if it will be moved indoors. "I prefer outdoor photography, but indoor can be just as beautiful!" Spencer said.      Write down all the pictures you want in advance and give this list to the photographer before the big day. Let him or her know if there is anyone in particular you want photographed and if there are any events or traditions you are planning on so that he or she can be ready to capture it.




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Get creative!

     Look online or at friends and family member's photo albums to see if there are any pictures their photographers did that you would like done at your wedding. "Close ups of rings is something that is requested a lot but not everyone thinks of it until it is too late," Spencer said. Think ahead if there is any special way you want your wedding party to stand for the portraits. Creative lineups can be a beautiful and creative touch to your wedding album. 
     Remember to be prepared and get to know your photographer personally before the big day. It's more fun that way!