Biggest Wedding Blunders

If you've never seen the show "Four Weddings" on TLC, let me tell you, it's one of my favorite wedding shows. The concept is that four real brides come together to compete for a dream honeymoon. They each attend each others' weddings and rate them for experience, food, venue, and dress. It's hilarious because you get to hear everyone's caddy remarks. Usually it's surprising who wins. I love it when the woman with the lowest budget is the winner because it shows that the best weddings aren't the ones with the highest price, but the ones with the most thought and sentiment put into them.

Last Friday, "Four Weddings" had a Biggest Blunders episode. A lot of them were kind of overly critical. Some things brides really have no control over at all. But some of them were definitely worthwhile to point out. Most things aren't Do or Don't. Different factors contribute to whether or not something is a good idea for your wedding. It depends a lot on size and location of the wedding. So here are my picks for the biggest wedding day blunders:

1. Being Late to Your Own Wedding - Probably the most tacky thing is making your guests wait. I think there's an expected 15 minute swing time that allows for guests who are running late not to walk in during the middle. But anything more than that is kind of rude.

2. Not taking your vows seriously - Most people take marriage very seriously. It's definitely not appropriate to be drunk during your vows. It's ok to laugh out of nervousness, but people to expect some heartfelt sentiments and emotions rather than snickering. BUT DEFINITELY don't be drunk.

3. Disregarding the weather and environment - You have little control over the weather, but you do have control over the day and what precautions you take. Think about heaters, bug zappers, fans and a back-up plan in case of rain or terrible wind (makes the ceremony inaudible). Also look around, is there an airport nearby? Is there a highway close? Those noises will distract from your ceremony.

4. No View - Make sure that there aren't pillars in the way of your guests view of the ceremony. Also let you photographers and videographers know that you don't want guests' view blocked.
5. Reception Commute - Making guests drive an hour is a little excessive. I would say try not to have your wedding and reception more than 30 minutes away from one another.
6. Planning for those who didn't RSVP - A lot of people may not RSVP. Plan on it. I'd plan for about half of however many people don't respond. So keep track of Yes's and No's.

7. Bad dates - I have a rule of thumb with dates. If it's a small, mostly-family wedding, holiday weekends are a good idea because it allows for them to consolidate traveling. If you're wedding is big with lots of friends and business associates and distant relatives, I'd say opt for a date not centered around a holiday. Most people get frustrated if you interrupt their Memorial or Labor Day weekends because they want to make their own plans. If you do decide to make it over a holiday weekend, make sure there are other planned events for all of the out-of-towners. Middle of the week weddings should be reserved for smaller more intimate weddings.

8. Food - Food is tricky because you want to have what you love, but some people may be more picky than you. If you do decide to have adventurous food like Indian or Greek food, try to make sure there are some more generic, non-spicy, recognizable foods. Some people are very sensitive to spicy foods so make sure there's a way to distinguish the spicy foods. But I love the idea of doing anything besides the typical chicken, beef, mashed potatos, green beans, and dinner salad.

9. Buffet or No buffet - Buffets have their advantages. It allows people to pick exactly what they want and requires fewer hired hands. But when you have limited choices, it's not a big deal for people to have choices. Down sides include long lines and people taking over-sized portions. It's a double-edged sword. Talk to your caterer and see which option is more affordable, it might surprise you that some caterers charge less for a sit-down dinner because the portions are controlled.

10. Super Long Toasts - Only best man, the maid of honor, parents, and the couple should give toasts. Enough said.

11. Booze - people are touchy about alcohol. I say, it's your day, you decide if you want booze there are not. Open bars are expensive, people are expecting a lot. Guests should be understanding.

12. Being Completely Wasted - It's your day, don't you want to remember it?

Valentine's Day Inspiration Board

I've been to a gazillion wedding where the colors involve black, red and white. While I can understand the immediate jump to thinking that it is classy and black-tie-ish, often times it turns out awful.

One of the main reasons is the lack of attention to detail in choosing reds. While it would probably be impossible to match all your reds across the board, it is important to pick the right family of reds. A lot of reds turn out too brash and kind of orange-y. When in doubt, I advise to go darker.

My inspiration for this blog actually came from a Valentine's Day Etsy e-mail that I was sent. The necklace in the left-hand corner of my inspiration board here came from that e-mail. I was inspired by the deep hue of red used.

It feels romantic and upscale. When using reds, looking for rich looking color can help to enhance the look of the whole event. It can take you from bleak to chic.

Links: Hair Accessory, Necklace, Wedding Gown, Bridesmaid Dress, and Flowers.

Return of the Going Away Dress

A few weeks ago I was doing makeup at a Miss AMerica Party. There was an older woman there. She was the mom of one of the teacher's from my high school. All the younger women were dressing up in formal gowns for a little mini pageant. The woman talked about how she should have brought her "Going Away" Dress from her wedding. All the women at the party were like, "What's a going away dress?" I knew. Come on, "Father of the Bride" anyone? But I realized that the going away dress really has gone out which is kind of unfortunate because who doesn't love an excuse for another dress? It's romantic for a bride to put on something sweet like a cute dress or suit to run off to your honeymoon in.While this blog is about Going-Away Dresses, any of these styles could be worn at a Bridal Brunch or rehearsal.

I found this Delicate Flower Dress on Mod Cloth. I love the A-symmetry to it. This one could be gorgeous for the evening-of going away.

And I like the Cake From Scratch Dress. This slightly more casual dress would also be gorgeous as the morning after brunch dress.

Then I found the Debut of Venus Dress. This is definitely an evening-event dress. I see this as a going-away dress for after the reception or a dress for the rehearsal dinner. The Sweetheart neckline is gorgeous.

Finally, there's the Time of My Life Dress. This dress could work for any and all events. It's timeless and gorgeous.

Mod Cloth

So recently my friends Eric and Meredith got married. Meredith's bridesmaids wore mismatched dresses with tights and heels. One of them told me that Meredith picked a bunch of dresses out on Mod Cloth for them to choose from. She apparently had a huge range of dresses. Here is a narrowed list I found this weekend.

My first pick is the Lavender Wreath Dress. I love the fun texture and gradation of color. Great for someone in your bridal party with an athletic build.

The second dress I love is the Winding Rhodes Dress. Matching the Lavender Wreath Dress in color, this dress accentuates the waist. Definitely would look good on a curvy girl. The folds on the shoulder help to minimize large chests and the dark strap gives an A-symmetrical look while offering support.

The third is called the Calm After the Sandstorm. It is the mid-tone on the Lavender Wreath Dress. It marries the tiers from the Lavender Dress with the strapping on the Rhodes dress. This dress would work well on pear-shaped people because the tiers help it hang away from the body.

Fourth dress is called the Two Spoons Dress. It mirrors the tiered aspect of the others at the bottom and matches the color scheme but incorporates ruffles. This dress will add bulk to the chest area so it is not advised for chestier girls.

And the last one is called On Draped Adventures Dress. It is so freaking gorgeous. This one is a great color that meshes well with the others. The draping would look good on anyone especially curvy girls.

I hope this gives you some inspiration of what is possible with mismatching your dresses.

Tuesday Shoesday Pt 2

I found this gorgeous Kate Spade sandal on the Nordstrom's Web site. It's in my favorite Blush color that I've been loving on lately.

You can also get it in a flat version to change into or for others in the wedding party (ok, so maybe they are a little pricey for that, but it's the concept). I've pulled a few other cute options that are more affordable.

To the right, we have a Calvin Klein blush color floral sandal.

The second one is from Badgley Mischka also in the blush color. It's between the Calvin Klein and Kate Spade in pricing.

The last one is on the more affordable side and is from Nina. Again in the blush color. On the Nina Web site, you can design your own from their swatch book.

Imogen Heap Instrumental Versions

On Imogen Heap's most recent album, Ellipse, she included instrumental versions of all of her songs. I absolutely adore the modern feel of her music. I think that it could be a cool alternative to classical music if you are that type of couple. Check it out.

Different Girls, Different Dresses

Bridesmaids dresses are most womens' worst nightmare. The combination of being forced to buy a dress that you don't particularly care for that is on the higher price side knowing that it will end up in the closet for years to come because it screams "Bridesmaid Dress" and because 5 of your girlfriends have the same one is a little disheartening. As a woman who has 3 bridesmaid dresses hanging in my closet, I am in love with all of these brides who are mismatching their bridal parties. But I especially love it when they take it one step further and shop for the dresses in the places that the bridesmaids would normally shop.

I'm featuring four dresses from Banana Republic. I love the different colors that are all in the same family but not the same color. The four different styles give bridesmaids options for their different body types and preferences.

If you're going to make your friends spend $100 on a dress, at least let it be one that she likes that she will want to wear again. I can assure you that most bridesmaids rarely wear those dresses bought from bridal boutiques ever again, so don't you dare utter, "You can shorten it and wear it again."

Winterizing Your Bridal Party

While at Target I was loving on all of the cute winter accessories that will soon be going away (they have already put out the swim suits). I've seen blog posts about winterizing the bride's wear, but I wanted to play with the idea of winterizing the bridesmaids.

Winterizing your bridesmaids is a fun way to add texture to photographs. Different textures and levels add interest to photos. It also gives you a way to do more photos outside without the bridesmaids freezing their butts off.

I picked a few selections from target that I like (but by all means search vintage shops for antique gloves or check out any shop with winter wear). Pick things with visual interest that pop off of the bridesmaids dresses. You don't have to match them, accent them.

If you know a bride who has done this, I'd love to see pictures!

Jeweled Hat - Beanie - Beret - Gloves - Leather - Scarfs - Fur

Must-Have Bridal Cosmetic

Today while at Target (seriously the most wonderful and evil store all in one place), I decided to pick up Revlon's Just Bitten Lip Stain + Balm.

I picked the colors "Passion" (bright flowery pink) and "Gothic" (Looked a bit like an orangey color but ended up surprising me). As soon as I got the chance, I decided to try Gothic. I was shocked to find that it was a deep red that got deeper as I layered it. It was gorgeous and incredibly vibrant. But it was much brighter than I expected.

The pink was also gorgeous, but bright. I wish I had picked a few of the more subdued colors to see the color payoff of those.

This is the perfect product for any bride because the stain has staying power, however when you use the balm it gives the color a lip gloss sheen. It's fabulous because the color not only stays, but it doesn't come off on the groom when you kiss him. It's the perfect combination. I recommend this product for any bride out there. Definitely give it a try!

Tuesday Shoesday Pt 1

Steve Madden's Glitsi shoe has me in love.

I think brides shouldn't skimp on the shoes. It's a fun detail to reveal to friends. It's also a favorite keepsake that can be shared with daughters in the future. These are a favorite of mine right now!

Shopping for Your Dress

Over the next few months I'm going to talk about shopping at different wedding shops in the Nebraska area, but I want to talk about different ideas for shopping for your dress.

In every aspect of the wedding industry, prices are jacked up just because of the word "bridal" in the title. Most different types of vendors give escalated rates for weddings (with the exception of a few types of vendors). No place is that more true as it is in the wedding gown industry.

So step back. Just because a store isn't a bridal boutique doesn't mean it doesn't house your wedding dress. On a recent trip to Los Angeles, my friend Allison and I were trying on formal gowns at the Nordstrom at The Grove. I sent a picture of me in a peach colored dress with a lace flower overlay. It was a gorgeous designer evening gown. Every person I sent it to thought that I was in a bridal boutique trying on dress (by the way, I have vowed to never put a gown on until I have a ring on my finger).

That's when it hit me that you don't have to go to a bridal store to get a great dress at a great price. The dress I was in was absolutely gorgeous and could have easily have been worn as a bridal gown. The best part is that is was only $400 and it was impeccable quality.

There are plenty of discount bridal stores that you can find a dress for around $400 or less, but take a look inside those dresses. Do you see any tags? No. They have been cut out because these dresses aren't the designer gowns they look like, and they aren't made of what the designer gowns are made of. Discount shops purchase inexpensive knock-off copies of famous designer gowns. They cut out the producer tag and the fabric tag to avoid you knowing exactly what it is you are buying. These dresses look a lot like their designer counterparts, but they are made of lower quality fabrics that may be more susceptible to staining and wrinkling. If the tags are cut out of a gown, proceed with caution.

There are lots of great boutiques that carry gorgeous gowns. But let me start with three major department stores that off fabulous white gowns that you can wear on your wedding day.

Nordstrom actually markets dresses for brides as both gowns and reception dresses. These gowns are at great prices with a guarantee of high quality gowns.

Macy's also is marketing white gowns as bridal attire as well. You can also search in their bridal area for bridesmaids dresses, which I'll talk more about in a later post.

Saks Fifth Ave doesn't specifically market to brides with their fashions, but they carry an extensive line of evening gowns with plenty in white.

It's difficult to see the difference in quality over the internet. I encourage you to go into a discount store and take a look around and then step into a Macy's or Nordstroms and just feel the fabrics. You'll be able to get a much higher quality dress for a comparable price. And by all means, if you have the budget to purchase a full-price designer wedding gown, go for it.

Lingerie for the Bride

Many brides overlook buying their own bridal lingerie hoping that their friends will buy them something wedding night appropriate. But I've been to far too many bacherlorette parties where the bride only receives cotton panties.

Don't hope that your friends will get you something you and your hubby-to-be will like, go out and get it yourself! Here are some fun ideas:
1. Romance - This night gown from La Petite Coquette by Jane Woolrich Design. The waterfall design skims the butt and the soft silk gives a beautiful barely-there feeling. This design is very romantic. It's definitely not what most people expect to see. The back is a fun surprise. I love that it is a little bit more formal and, dare I say, proper. If you're ever going to splurge on lingerie, this is the night.

2. Personalized - I found these panties on Etsy. The seller MichaelAngela creates lots of cute personalized items for the wedding day including sweatshirts and ring-bearer pillows. I love these panties for day-of wear. They are great because you could continue to wear them after the wedding because they don't say "bride." The cheeky design would also go great with a teddy the wedding night. The groom seeing his name on your behind will definitely be a nice surprise. One thing to be mindful of with these is if they will show through your dress. Make sure you try them on with the dress to be sure.

3. Over the Top - Victoria Secret offers a dramatic Sexy Little Bride look. If you want to rock a fun look on your wedding night, this would be the one. You can probably only wear this on your wedding night and maybe on your anniversary. I love the accompanying veil and garter. It really pushes the look over the top.

4. Vintage Inspired - This corset, pantie and stocking combination is very sexy and understated from Frederick's of Hollywood. I adore this look. It goes well with the popular vintage wedding style.

Whatever kind of look you choose for your wedding night, I say don't hold back and think about what your groom would like. This is the one night that you can justify going all out with the special Glamour Girl Slipper and garter belt. Go for it!

Saving the Date, Going Green

Having graduated from one of the top journalism schools in the nation, I'm constantly thinking about new media and how it can be used to advertise a wedding. I've thought about using different media for invitations, but I think having a paper invite is somewhat important (although I recently sent out paper invites for my birthday and nobody checks their mail regularly).

This week local Photographers The Leekers posted this video of one of their client's on their Twitter (theleekers).



I love the idea of sending out a digital save-the-date. Since save-the-date cards are a new concept and just a way of letting everyone you're inviting know what the date will be, a digital save the date would be appropriate. While I love what Dan and Tara did, another use of video was used this past year in Archrival's founder Clint! Runge's wedding to Kristen Keppeler. If you haven't seen this video, check it out (I promise it's worth following the link).

I love how they made up their own song and executed the whole thing. While not everyone has the creative aptitude, time, or equipment to execute something like Clint! and Kristen's video, I love the idea of branching out like that. Using a save the date to tell a little bit of your story is a great way to engage your guests and make them get excited about you forthcoming nuptials.

A Sound Impression has put together proposal videos for several brides and grooms. If you're lucky enough to have a groom who did this, a video proposal would be a great piece of footage to incorporate into a video save-the-date.

Proposal Video from Cali Hlavac on Vimeo.

Including footage from the engagement session is a fun idea. If you don't have footage from the actual proposal, the day of your engagement photos is the perfect day to film you each telling the story. These could be used for a Love Story video that could be shown at the wedding as well, but just the proposal story would make a great intro to a save-the-date video.

The best part of this idea is that it saves money on postage and it's good for the environment by cutting down on paper waste. Consider using a digital save the date and making it the home page of a wedding Web site that could house everything from RSVP's to registry and accommodation information.

Pretty in Pink-new favorite neutral

There is something I love about this pale pink. I've never been a huge fan of pink of than for it's positive affects when placed against one's complexion. But I am falling in love with the idea of this lovely pink as a neutral for wedding day. It's almost nude but still pink. Here are a few of my favorite accessories in the gorgeous blushing colour.

Looking very sophisticated herself in the soft, nude pink is Miss Taylor Swift for the people's choice awards. Her dress has a vintage feel at a modern length.

Chinese Laundry Shoes. I think that foot wear is the best way to make a statement on your wedding day. These pink shoes are gorgeous, soft and feminine while have the gladiator feel. I am a huge fan of shoes that wrap around because that makes them instantly more comfortable than shoes that do not.

BCBG Purse. I saw this purse at Von Maur and I knew I had to have it. It goes with pretty much any dressy outfit I own. It's the perfect clutch for a bride because it carries a lot while also being soft and just a bit glitzy.

BCBG Maxazria Dress. Very Cute dress that could be used as a bridesmaid's dress. This just goes hand-in-hand with the idea of not purchasing at a bridal boutique.

Why and How to Find A Makeup Artist

Have you ever noticed how many salons don't have makeup? I have. Ok, I'm kind of biased because I'm a freelance makeup artist. Maybe you haven't noticed. Maybe you don't care. But you should on your wedding day. First, I will give you a few reasons to consider booking a makeup artist for your big day.

1. You simply don't have to worry about it.
It takes a lot of stress out of the makeup process when you don't have to do it yourself. Instead of feeling rushed (which is when I inevitably get mascara everywhere), you can sit back, close your eyes, and let a professional take care of it.

2. Professionals know what they're doing.
Ok, so most professionals know what they're doing. But if you do your homework in hiring a makeup artist and being sure to have a test run, everything should go smoothly and your makeup will be flawless.

3. You will photograph better.
Believe it or not, there are a lot of special techniques that help with how you look when photographed. Photographers will agree that having well done makeup can make a huge difference in the quality of portraits in the end.

4. A uniform look.
Let's admit it, someone you know wears way too much eye-liner or maybe someone doesn't know how to do their own makeup at all. By hiring a makeup artist, you take the guess work out of it for your bridal party. Plus they will have every product needed for every person.

5. It's fun.
You and your bridal party will enjoy a little pampering. Getting your makeup done is kind of like someone making you a sandwich, it's always better when someone else does it.


Where to find a makeup artist?

Believe it or not, most of the training general licensed cosmetologists receive in school is pretty limited. You want to be sure your booking someone who specializes in makeup and has experience. It's also not the best idea to book the same person as your hair stylist because it limits his or her time more.

Here in Nebraska makeup artists are fewer and farther between, but a good place to start is Model Mayhem. It is a networking site for models, photographers, hair stylists, and makeup artists. You can find makeup artists in your area by browsing the site. Now for a little shameless self promotion, here is my profile. You can also follow my company on Facebook.

Check out their portfolio to see if their style suits yours. Always schedule a test run to make sure that you like their work. This also helps the day of the wedding to go much smoother.

Drawing Inspiration

One of the biggest mistakes I think that most brides make when planning their wedding is buying a whole bunch of bridal magazines and only drawing inspiration from things labeled "Bridal" or "Wedding." Only drawing inspiration from those things is limiting. It's what separates good weddings from incredible and inspired weddings. Here are a few ideas of where to draw from other than Bridal Shows, Bridal magazines, weddings themselves and vendors.

1. Magazines-other than Bridal ones
It seems like the first thing brides do after getting engaged (or maybe a little before to drop a hint) is buy Bridal Magazines. Bridal magazines are a great way to get started and act as a guide for planning your wedding. The articles are often helpful especially for those brides who've never helped in planning a wedding. But when looking for all around inspiration, there's no need to box yourself into a Bridal Magazine. What magazines do you usually read? That's a great place to start. It could be a fashion spread or even just an ad. Look for color combinations, textures, or time periods you are drawn to.

I found this spread in Elle magazine. I loved the color palette. I plan on creating a whole inspiration board for my friend Ashley's wedding to give her some ideas. I'll be sure to share it with you all!


2. Your favorite stores
I found this cute cuff bracelet in one of my favorite Lincoln boutiques, Rae'n. I first just loved the color combination, but soon it struck me that these cuffs could be a neat replacement for corsages used to honor host couples, cake-cutters, guest book attendants and the like. The stores you shop at probably reflect your style so they could be a great source for your style of wedding. You may even consider purchasing your bridesmaids dresses from your store rather than a bridal boutique. Take a stroll through your own closet. Do you have a signature style? Think of ways of incorporating it into your wedding fashions.


3. Food
It seems silly, but so many brides end up with very standard food (a chicken, a beef, green beans, mashed potatoes, dinner salad with Ranch or French, and rolls). Starting now, think about the foods that you love. Be open to trying new options. Think about the way the food looks as well. Not only do I love the way these Sprinkle's coconut cupcakes taste but I love the way they look. The coconut looks soft like snow or feathers. Consider heavy hors' d oeuvres with fun presentation. Mini Chinese boxes with lo mein, mashed potato bar with traditional and fun toppings, the possibilities are endless.


When you see something that inspires you or likes you, take a picture on your phone or with a digital camera. Keep all of your inspiration pictures together and see if a trend begins to develop.

I hope that this blog inspires you to pull your head out of the bridal magazine and take a look at the world around you. Hopefully these ideas get you started. Truthfully you can find inspiration from anywhere. Go out there and open your eyes!

Live Music on a Budget

The most classy touch on any wedding ceremony is live music, specifically having a quartet of musicians such as a brass or string quartet. It immediately sets the mood.

A friend of mine was recently married in the Lincoln Train Station. She seemed to have kept the costs down on everything. So I was surprised to see the string quartet at her ceremony. The one thing that I did notice about this string quartet is that all of the members were fairly young. This was her secret.

There are lots of talented, well-practiced musicians right in your hometown. They practice every day because they do it at school. That's right, I'm talking about high school students. My friend was able to book the students for $200 for the whole group (dirt cheap pretty much). And to a high school student, the extra $50 is worth it for them.

Now you can't just pick any students, obviously. The best place place to start is the Lincoln Youth Symphony. This is a group of the most talented young people in Lincoln, so you should get your money's worth with them. These kids are serious about music and usually jump at the opportunity to get more experience.

You can also go through local high schools. Attend an Orchestral concert and save a program to find out which students are soloists and first chair. Ask the director for those students by name.

Before calling the professor, set your price and exact expectations. Have your music picked out. If you're using a special song (like Jon Schmidt's song mentioned in a previous blog post), have the music ready so the group knows what is expected. Once the group agrees, ask them to audition for you and put together an agreement with them with the songs, dates and times specified.

Also consider Select Groups at high schools and colleges. Choral and Instrumental groups sometimes offer performance services. One group to consider is Lincoln Christian's select singing group "Image." These groups often need to raise money for trips and such. They will often allow you to choose a donation amount.

My last piece of advice is to take the time to hear the groups and make sure you are satisfied what you will be paying for.

A Logo for Your Day

Corporate events have their own logo, why shouldn't your big day? A personalized logo helps create something that your guests recognize right away as the emblem of the event. Use it on your invites and directional signs pointing guests to the venue to a lasting impression.

There's even a Web site that sells personalized logos for the your big day. WhoWhatLogos offers personalized logos for your wedding and personal life. The also sell personalized goods that could make an attractive party favor. My personal favorite is the wall decal that would translate an aspect of the wedding into your home decor.

The truth is that anyone with design experience can probably create a logo for you using design software like Adobe Indesign or Illustrator. For my own resume, I created a personal logo for the upper left-hand corner of my resume, cover letter and the cover of my portfolio.

This bride from Omaha had her maid of honor design her logo. It was incorporated on their seating chart, programs and even their cake topper. It was a very cool touch (photo courtesy a screen shot from a video of Brooke and Jim's wedding, filmed by A Sound Impression).

Logos can be used in lots of different ways. If you are fortunate enough to be using a lighting specialist for your reception, many light companies can create custom gels or cutouts of your logo to shine your logo on the dance floor or an empty wall.

If your family has a strong heritage with a clan or has a family crest, consider using that or integrating elements of that into the logo. The blending of both family crests creates a special memory for older family members.

Adding a logo to your designs is an inexpensive way to pull all of your printed elements together and create a very finished look and feel to your wedding.

*For a list of area freelance designers, e-mail me at kate.stevenson1221@gmail.com.

Vintage Jewelry Instead of Flowers

It's important to make sure everyone who is involved in the wedding feels appreciated and special, from the parents of the Ring Bearer to the Guest Book attendant and Host couples. Many brides opt to get flower corsages for these special people involved in the wedding. But why not give those special something that they can wear again after. Cuff bracelets offer a unique touch that lives on long after the wedding. Most of these bracelets are between $12 and $70. You can save on flower costs by replacing the cost of flowers with these creative gifts. All of these I'm showcasing I found on Etsy. There are plenty more to browse through on their site, but these were some of my favorites.

To the left is the a Couture Wedding Bracelet from user 2007musarra on Etsy. 2007musarra has a wide variety of bracelets to choose from. Her style is glamorous, vintage and beautiful. To the right is a Blue Silver Filagree bracelet. These gorgeous bracelets could be gifts for even your bridesmaids. 2007musarra also offers gorgeous vintage jewelry and clutches.

Another collection of bracelets have a more one-of-a-kind, homemade feel. These are by Guksertokca. Depending on your color palette you can find a look that suits your whole wedding. These have a slightly younger feel to them. I very much like the use of textiles in these designs.

I love this Victorian cuff by Radusport. It is a steal at just $12. It's sophisticated and classic. Grandmothers would especially like wearing these cuffs. If your wedding theme has an old-time, lace feel to it, this cuff is perfect.

My last pick from Etsy is a really fun designer. Sayagdis has a vast array of colors and styles of cuff bracelets. Each one has gorgeous personal detail give an eclectic feel. These are perfect for the mismatched bridal party.