December 10th

Photo by: Rennard Photography on My Hotel Wedding via Lover.ly

Tip of the Day: Lights add so much joy and festivity to a wedding! If your reception venue doesn’t have big, dramatic ceilings, you can make the space look more elaborate by adding a canopy of white lights over the dance floor.

Just ask your site manager first if this is allowed at your venue; some spots require permissions and a check on electricity needs. Strung lights usually aren’t big electricity guzzlers, but it’s best to be on the safe side before you invest in all the lights you’ll need for all those close-set strands comprising your canopy.

Plus, check out more fun ways to light up your wedding below:

wedding lighting
Photo by: Picture the Love Photography on Style Unveiled via Lover.ly

wedding lighting
Photo by: Simone and Martin Photography on Mindy Weiss via Lover.ly

wedding lighting
Photo by Michael Norwood on Polka Dot Bride via Lover.ly

wedding lighting
Photo by: Agaton Strom on celebrated via Lover.ly

wedding lighting
Photo by: Natalie Spencer Photography on Bridal Musings via Lover.ly

Visit sharonnaylor.net for more great tips and advice.

Creative New Save-the-Date Ideas

As more and more couples plan destination weddings, weekend weddings, or celebrations that require some of their guests to travel (and plan ahead), save-the-dates have become an essential part of the planning process — as well as a fantastic way to express your creativity. You can go vintage, modern, or boho, incorporate bold colors and fonts, or keep your save-the-dates simple and understated. I love when brides and grooms insert their unique sense of style and personalities into a save-the-date with humor, fun, and romance, like these super-cool ideas from Pear Tree Greetings.

The “Get to Know Him & Her” is an accordion style five-panel save-the-date that unfolds to show photos and wedding details. In back, there’s one large photo and separate panels about “Him” and “Her.” This particular card describes how the couple first met and what they thought of one another. Sweet!

him and her save the date pear tree greetings

For couples planning a destination wedding, this “Around the World Spinner” is ideal. Four different photos of the two of you appear in the cut-out circle in front as guests spin the side wheel. In back, your wedding location, date, and website are listed.

love map save the date pear tree greetings

December 9th

Photo by: Sonya Khegay on Wedding Chicks via Lover.ly

Tip of the Day: Put your champagne on ice with this fabulous DIY idea! Pour water into a bucket, add pretty flowers and greenery, then tilt the bucket and leave it outside in the cold to freeze your creation. You can even place a floating ball on top of the water to create a rounded crevice where your bubbly will sit, or carefully chip out that hollow with safe tools like a chisel. Be sure to include a water-catching reservoir. 

This idea is perfect for wintry engagement parties and bridal showers. If you're interested in including it at your wedding, show this photo to your site manager and see if they can arrange to have this unique ice sculpture alternative made for you.

Plus, check out The Hottest Trends for the Cocktail Hour. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more great tips and advice.

December 6th

Photo by: Megan Welker Photography on Wedding Chicks via Lover.ly

Tip of the Day: Metallic hues are perfect for weddings that take place around the winter holidays! Using gold or silver in larger pieces of décor, like tablecloths or aisle runners, is a lot more elegant than you might expect. For a more subtle look, incorporate gold-rimmed glasses or silver chargers to enhance your tabletop design.

Plus, check out New Year's Eve Wedding Ideas. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more great tips and advice.

How to Add Personality to a Ballroom Wedding

Ballroom weddings can be so beautiful — but how can you make yours stand out among the rest? We asked experts in the industry what their brides have done to make their reception truly special. Check out this amazing inspiration and give your ballroom wedding your own personal touch!

1. Unlike outdoor spaces, ballrooms come with a lot of pre-set décor that can’t be changed. Pull elements from the walls, trim, ceiling, etc. to create a color palette that complements the room. That way, your reception style flows cohesively with the rest of the space.

ballroom wedding
Photo Credit: Jen + Ashley Photography

2. Is there a chandelier in the ballroom that doesn’t quite go with your ambiance? Have your florist create an arrangement to hang from it! These florals will soften the room and give your guests something amazing to look at.

ballroom wedding
Photo Credit: Cami Jane Photography

Always a Bride: 92-Year-Old Fulfills Lifelong Dream

The thrill of trying on a wedding dress is a cherished experience for many brides. Take it from Ruth Sullivan, who at the age of 92, finally got that princess moment she had been longing for her entire life.

ruth sullivan
"I like something with a full skirt and I like glamour," Sullivan told The Today Show.
Photo Credit: April Cole/Kathy Woodhouse with Digital Expressions

The Frankfort, Kentucky native married her husband, Norman Sullivan, in Columbus, Ohio in the year 1946. World War II had ended, and there weren't too many big weddings at that time, so she didn't get to wear a grand white wedding dress, although they did spring for a hotel stay to celebrate her nuptials.

Sadly, Norman passed away in 2004, but throughout their 58-year marriage, Ruth always wondered, “What if?”

"I really wanted to know if I would look pretty. It was something that I never got to do and I just wanted the experience of trying them [wedding gowns] on," Sullivan tells us.

Thanks to the help of Second Wind Dreams  a foundation whose goal is to change the perception of aging  and David's Bridal, she enjoyed a fun-filled day trying on beautiful wedding gowns with her loved ones in attendance.

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