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wedding blog + planning guide for creative weddings | inspiration for DIY Brides

Brenda's Wedding Blog is your online resource for planning your dream elegant wedding. Helping you find the "wow" in weddings.

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The #1 Bridesmaid Gift . . . Bridesmaid Robes

Give your girls a gift they'll love . . and one you'll love too.


At The Wedding Outlet you can easily mix and match colored robes to compliment your wedding colors and create kodak moments while you get ready for your big day. You might even want to gift your bridesmaid a robe in her favorite color. Your girls will enjoy these comfy Bridesmaid Robes long after your wedding day. Some of the robes can even be personalized making them extra special for your bridesmaids.

What color robe would match your wedding?


If you were to pick a colored Bridesmaid Robe to match your wedding, what color{s} would you choose from The Wedding Outlet?
Stylish Food Presentation Ideas for Parties of all Kind
Restaurantware {a proud member of my wedding vendor guide} sponsored this post and provided their products for use. All ideas, opinions and photos are 100% my own.
Whether you are planning an engagement party, a bridal shower, a bachelorette party, a wedding, or a party for any celebration - serving food in stylish and unexpected ways is a great way to surprise your guests. It's also a fun way for conversations to get started. I love thinking outside the box when it comes to parties and food. Today, I am sharing with you some stylish food presentation ideas for your next party that I've come up with thanks to the amazing items that are available from Restaurantware {your source for eco-friendly tableware}. I want to know what your favorite food presentation idea is - please share in the comments and let me know what party you have in the works.

Serve your Snacks in Style with Bamboo Cones

Let your guests grab a bamboo cone and snack away - perfect for cocktail parties. Fill them with whatever you choose {here I used blueberries, pretzels and potato chips} and you can either place them in a cone holder or a cute little pail like this one works perfectly too.

Citrus Place Cards with Paper Straws

Place cards are always best when they serve a purpose. This is a fun way for each guest to add a slice of lime or lemon to their drinks. Simply attach a clip art image of a lemon or lime slice with the guests name attached to a paper straw that is inserted into a fresh lemon or lime. The guest can then slice their very own lime or lemon for their drink{s}.

Watermelon with Pearl Topped Toothpicks

Surprise your guests with a super fancy fruit treat held together with pearl topped toothpicks. Makes a super elegant display {my daughter said it looked like the watermelon was ready for a fancy tea party}.

Sweet Treats For Party Guests in Paper Goodie Bags

Surprise your guests with a sweet treat goodie bag to go home with. A cute little way to close the bag is with a folded paper doily, a little fruit clip art image on paper with a clothespin holding it all together.

Yogurt Smoothies are Fun in Mason Jars with Paper Straws

I love how you can get paper straws to match any color palette and there's so many patterns to choose from too - stripes, zig zags, spirals and polka dots. Simply make some yougurt smoothies {or buy them pre-made} and layer them into mini mason jars - top with a fancy lid and add a paper straw. It's the fancy way to enjoy your smoothie :)

Pearl Topped Fruit Skewers

A super pretty way to serve fruit at any party - simply add the fruit of your choice {in any pattern} onto the pearl topped toothpicks and wow your guests.

Candy Favors in Mini Mason Jars

Anything can be placed in these adorable mini mason jars - but I always think candy in the party colors is a great way to greet your guest at their place setting. A fun way to finish off the candy favor is with some twine and a hand-stamped thank you tag with some sequins glued on. I also painted an ombré watercolor background on the tag.

What was your favorite food presentation idea?
Please share in the comments Below . . .

When shopping at Restaurantware be sure to use
Coupon Code BRENDABLOG10 for a 10% discount.
CLICK TO Tweet: Serving food in stylish + unexpected ways is a great way to surprise your guests http://ctt.ec/CVox8+ . . .
serving food in stylish and unexpected ways is a great way to surprise your guests
3 Unique Ways to Create a Personalized Wedding Ceremony
Did you know that some of the most popular wedding accessories can easily be incorporated into your wedding day to create a unique and memorable ceremony that has it's very own personal touch? Today, I'm happy to have The Wedding Outlet joining me in sharing the Top 3 Unique Ways to Create a Personalized Wedding Ceremony.

1. Unique Wedding Ceremonies

Traditional weddings call for the couple to celebrate their union with a wedding unity candle. Trending alternatives to a unity candle include Love Letter Ceremony, Sand Ceremony Sets, Decanter Wine Ceremony, Red Rose Ceremony and more.

The three-piece Decanter Wine Ceremony Set that you see above is a perfect way to integrate wine into your ceremony. It also makes a perfect keepsake gift for the newlyweds. The set includes a personalized fluted decanter and two personalized toasting flutes. Each one is engraved with a monogram {in your font choice}. This decanter set can be used after the wedding too for holiday celebrations, anniversaries, birthday, or any special event that includes wine.

2. Ring Pillow Alternatives

While Flower Baskets and Ring Bearer Pillows are still very popular, children today are making their way down the aisle with customized banners, ring boxes or kissing balls. These ring pillow and flower basket alternatives are certainly a crowd pleaser and make a statement just before the bride walks down the aisle.

3. Custom Aisle Runners

An aisle runner makes a wonderful focal point and runway for the bride. When you use a customized aisle runner for your ceremony, you can tastefully add a personal touch to a highly visual area. The personalized runner will look amazing in your photos too.

Which of these 3 Unique Ideas will you be including in your wedding to make it special and personalized?

Other posts with items from The Wedding Outlet you may like include . . .

Top 5 Trending Anniversary Gifts to say "I Love You"
When it comes to anniversary gifts, Bradford Exchange has a large selection of wonderful gifts for him and her - some with love inscriptions and some personalized. In addition to their engraved rings, there's even watches for the couple to gift each other with and a beautiful heart necklace featuring the couple's birthstones and names.

Featured Anniversary Gifts Include:


"Timeless Love" Engraved Diamond Men's Watch - this engraved watch is handcrafted in stainless steel with 24K-gold plating, 11 genuine diamonds and precision quartz movement. It also arrives in a gift box. Etched on the reverse side of the watch face is this loving sentiment: "For the memories of yesterday, For the happiness of today, For the promise of tomorrow. I love you".

"Love Always" Diamond Heart Watch With Engraving - this engraved watch features 50 brilliant-cut diamonds surrounding a Mother of Pearl watch dial. Comes with a gift box and is inscribed on the reverse side with the sentiment "Love Always".

"Love's Journey" Personalized Couples Ring - this 24K gold-plated solid sterling silver ring comes gift boxed and personalized with 2 engraved names and your choice of 2 crystal birthstones. The inscription on the inside of the ring reads "Our Love Grows Stronger".

"Forever and Always" Engraved Couples Birthstone Necklace - this solid sterling silver with 18K gold-plating necklace features a customized dual-heart design that is personalized with 2 names, 2 birthstones and a genuine diamond.

"Two Hearts, One Love" Personalized Ring features a sparkling white topaz and brilliant garnet gemstone in solid sterling silver with 24K-gold accents and 2 engraved names.
A Classically Rustic Chic Navy Blue and Gold Wedding with Pearls

It's time for another brand new inspiration board today and I like to call it "classically rustic chic" since pearls are always a classic for weddings and they never go out of style. But, they can easily be paired with other elements {like twine and paper}, making the pearls take on a whole new style. Today's inspiration started with the Jan Vermeer painting "A Girl with a Pearl Earring". I loved the colors in this painting and it's definitely a classic one ... and a great reminder that inspiration for your wedding can start anywhere. If you happen to be looking for the perfect pearl addition to your bridal attire or as a gift to your bridesmaids or even your mom - you will love the choices from Blue Nile {like the featured Sapphire and Freshwater Cultured Pearl Halo Stud Earrings in the inspiration board}. At the end of the inspiration board, I've gathered up some of my favorite Blue Nile pearl jewelry under $300. And, there's even a special discount Blue Nile wanted to share with my readers today. Please see the end of the post for the full details on that.

Now, it's time for a few of my favorite pearl necklaces, pearl earrings & pearl bracelets from Blue Nile, but first, here's a special offer they wanted to share with my readers {you can see the full terms and conditions at the end of this post}

Receive 10% off Blue Nile Jewelry with Code: SUNBURST10 from now thru 6/30/15.


terms + conditions: Valid on select regularly-priced jewelry excluding loose diamonds, settings, Build Your Own Diamond Jewelry™ and preset engagement rings. Offer not valid on preset engagement rings, sale merchandise, gift certificates, Monique Lhuillier jewelry, Zac Posen jewelry back-ordered items, polishing cloth, and jewelry cleaner purchases. Reference code SUNBURST10 must be entered in cart or mentioned over phone at time of purchase. Offer may not be combined with any other offer, and cannot be applied retroactively. Void where prohibited. Offer expires midnight PST 06/30/2015. The offer terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Other restrictions may apply.

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Additional Inspiration Boards You May Enjoy . . .