Tired of the bar scene? Want something different then dressing up in bachelorette party garb and bar hopping? How about an old school slumber party? Pick a house and get all the maids together with their pajamas and sleeping bags. Watch movies, wedding movies of course! (The Wedding Planner, 28 Dresses, My Best Friend’s Wedding) Have lots of snacks and drinks. Bring supplies for manis and pedis. Don’t forget games too! This will save you and your girls money and no one will have to drive!

I absolutely love birdcage veils. I like the retro/vintage look and like that they are small and nothing is dragging behind you. I especially love colored birdcage veils! You can have one in any color you want-  red, yellow, maybe something blue would definitely make a statement! You don’t have go as bold, you could choose a softer hue. You can find a ton of them on Etsy. The sky is the limit if you like it, go for it. After all it’s your wedding day and you can do WHATEVER you want!

Why limit the birdcage veil to the bride? How about the bridesmaids? You could wear a white, full birdcage veil and have the bridesmaids wear smaller veils that match the color of their dress. Or you could all wear them out on your bachelorette party. You can even make them yourself, they are easy and inexpensive.

I went to an event planning event a little while ago and they had a flip book studio set up. I had heard about them and I had seen the flip books before, but I never had the chance to do one. I was so excited to do it. Fun with FlipBooks had all kinds of props like boas, hats, glasses, gloves, and different signs. You get dressed up and then act silly for a short video. At first it was a little awkward because I was by myself at this event. But I loosened up and it was so fun! They printed me a little book right there and I got to take it home. Afterward I thought how awesome that would be if I was behind the camera with a couple girlfriends. I think this is such a great idea for a wedding or any event.  It will definitely loosen up the guests and it can be your favor too. There is no limit on how many books you can have printed.

For more info on Fun with FlipBooks contact Kathleen Burke-Browne at Info@FunWithFlipBooks.com and their website is www.funwithflipbooks.com.

If you don't already know, I am all about anything untraditional. I love the little details and I enjoy making them different. It sets your wedding apart from others, makes it more memorable, and it is just fun! I was thinking of different things you could use instead of a pillow for a ring bearer and I was curious to why a pillow anyway? I wondered if there was an interesting history on why a pillow was chosen. We all know the purpose of the pillow is to carry the wedding bands, the symbol of the bride and grooms’ commitment to one another. They show the world that the bride and groom are now husband and wife. It is fitting they are carried with such care on a pillow.

In ancient Roman and Egyptian times it was only the wealthiest people who had the privilege of owning pillows and cushions. They were considered luxury items. It was only fitting that pillows would be used in wedding ceremonies. Rather than the wedding bands, they carried gold or silver stones.

If you are interested in leaving the old tradition behind there are so many different alternatives to a pillow. Some of my favorites are:  a piece of coral, a kid-sized fishing pole, a bird’s nest, and an antique jewelry box. You can do anything you want that fits you. If you are having a beach wedding a sea shell would be very fitting. If you are really big baseball fans you could use a baseball mitt. It's your day, be creative and have fun with it!

9-12 Months Before

_ Make a budget, don’t forget to think about food, spending money, and transportation.
_ Decide where you want to go, remember to discuss what each of you want out of the honeymoon and research the weather at that time of year.
_ Buy your plane tickets, shop around on line to get the best deal.
_ Book your hotel, get this out of the way so you can start planning the fun stuff.


6-8 Months Before

_ Plan out your transportation, book a rental car, buy a eurail pass if you are going to Europe, or figure out however else you will get around.
_ Get or renew your passport if needed.
_ If you are going somewhere exotic you may need certain vaccinations.

3-5 Months Before

_ Plan your activities. Research different things you would like to do and see. You do not need to plan every detail (unless you want to), just the major activities.

1-2 Months Before

_ Shop. Buy anything you may need for your trip.
_ Plan special activities. Book spa appointments, excursions, etc. The popular ones tend to book up fast at resorts.

1-2 Weeks Before

_ Pack. Make a list and check it off as you pack. You don’t want to be packing the week of your wedding.
_ Pack a carry-on bag. Be sure to pack what you would need if your luggage was lost. You may need to wait a day or two for your luggage so be sure to have a change of clothes, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.
_ Confirm hotel and transportation reservations.

Make sure the honeymoon you choose fits both of your lifestyles and energy level. If you are super athletic, laying on a beach will soon bore you. If you enjoy relaxing, sitting on the couch at home, sitting on a beach sipping margaritas would be right up your alley. Some places may offer both with different excursions. Although beware, excursions do get pricey. If you really like art and history, Europe would be an excellent choice.  If you want warm weather and want to lounge, Mexico, Hawaii, and anything in the Caribbean would be great. If you want to be adventurous I would suggest going to Bangkok, Barbados, or Hawaii.

Whatever place you choose to have your honeymoon make sure that you will both enjoy it and it’s in your budget! Do your research.

Top All-Inclusives

1 Sandals
2 Dreams
3 Secrets
4 Couples
5 Excellence

Top Cruise Lines

1 Regent Seven Seas
2 Celebrity
3 Crystal
4 Princess
5 Royal Caribbean

Top Romantic Cities

1 Paris
2 Venice
3 Florence
4 Rome
5 Barcelona

Top Romantic Beaches

1 French Polynesia
2 Hawaii
3 Fiji
4 St Lucia
5 Bali

If you do not want to go far, go for too long, or want to save a little cash, there are so many great places to honeymoon right here in the US.

1 Napa and Sonoma Valley-Why go? There are over 300 vineyards, hot springs, antiquing, and beautiful views.

2 Lake Tahoe- Why go? It is sunny 75% of the time, beaches, golf courses, biking, hiking, skiing and other winter sports in the winter, casinos.

3 New Orleans- Why go? The music, the Creole and Cajun food, the French Quarter, the Garden District, Beignets (fried doughnuts).

4 Nantucket Island- Why go? The beaches, the whales, the history.

5 Aspen- Why go? For an adventure, snow sports, four mountains, the dining and nightlife.

I am so glad spring is finally here! I hope that means warm weather will soon be here to stay. All of this cold weather in Michigan has left me dreaming about vacationing in a warmer climate. This week my blog will feature everything about honeymoons! At least I can day dream about all of these warm places :)

Hottest Honeymoon spots of 2011

1 Hawaii
2 French Polynesia
3 Fiji
4 Italy
5 Bali
6 Bermuda
7 Costa Rica
8 Greece
9 The Bahamas
10 France
11 Antigua
12 Aruba
13 Jamaica
14 The British Virgin Islands
15 The Cayman Islands
16 Australia
17 Anguilla
18 Barbados
19 Mexico
20 St Lucia

Whether you’re married, engaged, or dating, date nights (or days) are important. Sometimes we get tied up planning our wedding, busy with our career, or kids get in the way. It doesn’t have to be a fancy expensive restaurant or the typical dinner and a movie. It just needs to be some time spent together, alone.  Here are some inexpensive suggestions for dates in the Detroit area.

Friday nights at the DIA The Detroit Institute of Art is open Friday nights from 6pm-10pm for live music from around the world and other events www.dia.org/calendar/friday-nights.aspx Cost   $8 per person (free on Fridays for Detroit residents).

Take a cooking class together You can learn how to make new things and make dinner together at home at least once a week.

Go ice skating There are so many ice skating rinks and it’s very inexpensive.

Go fishing You don’t need a boat, just a fishing pole. Look in your area for places you can fish and be sure to get a fishing license, they are only $7 for 24 hours www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364_52261_52262---,00.html. Have a competition on who can catch the biggest fish!

Go hiking  There are so many parks and different areas you can hike. You can end with a nice picnic lunch or just some wine, cheese, and crackers.

Take a dance class together It can be very romantic and bring a new couple closer. Who cares if you have two left feet, have fun!

Volunteer together This is free and very rewarding. You can go to a local children’s hospital and read to ill children, work at a soup kitchen,or  go play basketball or chesswith a boys and girls club.

Splurge on dessert Go to a nice restaurant and share a fancy dessert.

Check out your community’s website for events going on in your area.

….I should take my own advice and have a date night with my husband one of these days