It seems that everyone around me is pregnant! Parenthood is the most extraordinary part of life I have yet experienced. With becoming a parent there are so many decisions. Early on you decide whether or not you will find out the sex of the baby. For my husband and I we could not stand to wait. We had to know the minute we could find out. We even tried to determine it earlier by looking at the first couple ultra sound pictures! Although, I do think that would be a great surprise when you deliver your baby and find out the sex. A new trend is to go in for your utlrasound (usually around 18-20 weeks) and have the tech write down the sex on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope. Take it directly to your baker. They will dye the cake either pink or blue depending on the sex. Then at your shower (or any other time you have people around that you want to share that moment with), you and your partner cut the cake to find out! What an amazing surprise that would be in front of the people that are important to you. You don't have wait 9 months to find out and you don't have to find out in a sterile doctor's office. Brilliant! I'd love to hear any other ideas anyone has for the big reveal.

I just recently learned about baby sprinkles. What a great idea! Instead of a baby shower people are having baby sprinkles for 2nd or 3rd children. It is much smaller than the baby shower because you already have all of the big things like a crib, carseat, etc. Guests can give things such as diapers, clothes, and bottles. I think this would be especially helpful when the next child is of the opposite sex or if the baby comes a lot later than the last baby.

If nothing is needed for the baby, the baby sprinkle could be focused on the mom. Any way to pamper the mom-to-be (again). Spa treatments, make-up, bed and bath gifts, and accessories make wonderful gifts.

Couple showers are becoming more common and there is no reason you can't have a couple's sprinkle. The reason for throwing a sprinkle is the same as a shower, for friends and family to celebrate a new baby coming into this world. Come up with a theme and start planning!

You can put your initials everywhere! Check out these ideas from Brides Magazine....

• Postage Stamps (mountaincow.com)
• Steaks (brandmysteak.com)
• Spotlight (gobostogo.com)
• Ribbon (namemaker.com)
• Macaroons (bobbetteandbelle.com)
• Shoes (momentsofelegance.com)
• Water bottles (weddingthings.com)
• Sugar cubes (sugarcubes.ca)
• Belgian Chocolates (chocolateboxcafe.com)
• Dance floor (wonderfulgraffitiwedding.com)
• Cake (designerstencils.com)
• Wedding gown (thesilkenthread.com)
• Aisle runner (originalrunners.com)
• Cupcake wrappers (daisy-days.com)

Here are some pictures from B4UIDO this past April. To check out all of the pictures go to the gallery. Stay tuned for details on the next B4UIDO.

Photography by Dustin Francis Photography

Tonight I had a such a good time at the Association of Bridal Consultants meeting at the Big House. We got a tour of the stadium, locker room, got to go down on the field, and check out the different rooms available for rental. The bridal parties start off getting ready in the locker rooms and can come out of the tunnel on to the field to get married! There are so many options for a reception. The question is, who will be my first bride and groom at the Big House???

Amazing! What a fabulous day it was! It was such an experience and every detail was beautiful!

Photographs by Amity Rice :)

If you are tired of the typical bar scene for a bachelorette party check out these alternatives:

1. Take a cake decorating class. Bring some wine and everyone gets to leave with their own cake!
2. Go canoeing. Don't forget the sunscreen and a cooler full of iced cold beers.
3. Have a spa party at a bridesmaid's house. Have everyone bring their foot bath and take turns giving each other facials, manis, and pedisServe fruity cocktails or mimosas. .
4. Schedule a private dance lesson. Any kind, salsa, belly dancing, pole dancing!
5. Have an old school slumber party.
6. Go camping for the weekend. Relax by a camfire and never worry about putting on make up.
7. Have a cooking class.
8. Take an improv-comedy workshop together.

Whatever you do, have fun! Do something that fits you and a majority of the people you want to come. 

Why is that everyone loves food on a stick? Whatever the reason it is great for cocktail hour at an event. No serving ware is needed and portions are already divided.

I love it when brides change into a reception dress. The dresses usually show a lot more of the bride's personality. It changes the bride's mood when she comes out in a party dress. Here are some I like. Though, it doesn't have to be white (pick any color you want!)