Keep The Party Green! Eco-Friendly Tips for a Bridal Shower, Wedding, or Baby Shower

"Go Green" seems to be the current favorite phrase. Being kinder to Mother Earth is an important consideration no matter what the activity. For years going organic with foods and clothing has been a familiar road, but today being eco-friendly has slowly crept into many facets of our lives. It certainly has become the new consideration in planning bridal showers, weddings or baby showers.

The Responsibility of Being Eco-friendly

Today eco-friendly takes responsibility much further than just recycling a few newspapers and plastic bottles. It employs considerations that not only do not harm our environment but also maintain the natural order of things. For example, notecards and invitations made from hemp - a sustainable material that regenerates itself, has a quick growth pattern and needs zero pesticides or fertilizers to grow; or soy-based inks and natural dyes for printing and coloring - these are resources from nature that do not add to the carbon footprint. Also greatly reducing the carbon footprint is the use of post-consumer materials like recycled paper being used for 'new' product production.

Keeping a Bridal Shower, Wedding or Baby Shower Eco-friendly

Modern couples determined to employ organic and eco-friendly considerations in their bridal shower, wedding or baby shower plans have a vast number of choices available. Anywhere from organic and sustainable materials for wedding dresses and clothing to invitations and favors from recycled materials are available to meet their creative ideas.

One new idea in eco-friendly invitations and favors are those made from plant-able paper. These invitations are created from recycled paper or newsprint and then permeated with wildflower seeds. Plant-able favor boxes are made in the same way and can be filled with organic candies, natural soaps or such. The wedding or shower guests then have an environmentally friendly and lasting remembrance of the day. If not interested in plant-able invitations other choices include ones printed on recycled or natural fiber paper using soy or natural based inks and dyes. Hemp is a popular fiber used in making writing paper, note cards and invitations. Several specialty vendors have also used recycled products such as blue jeans and coffee grinds!

The special day can keep with organic and eco-friendly festivities in a variety of other ways too. Decorations can use organic cotton, hemp or bamboo fabric tablecloths with a replant-able flowering plant as a centerpiece. Plants can then be given to one lucky guest at each table with a note to consider Mother Earth by replanting. Organic cotton napkins or napkins made from recycled paper can be tied with a flowering vine- both are easy on the environment either to recycle or decompose. Menu selection can include Vegan, Vegetarian or Organic foods and treats. Better too if support were given to local farmers by using locally grown organic foods.

Get On an Organic Gift Registry

Family and friends contributing to the celebration can be asked to select gifts from registries set up at niche market places that offer organic, natural or eco-friendly merchandise. Couples wishing to follow a green lifestyle now have a large selection of products including furniture from sustainable woods; bamboo and recycled glass kitchen ware; linens and decorative items from organic cottons; hemp, bamboo, organic cotton, organic wool and modal clothing for men, women and children. Much too is offered, especially for infants, in the way of natural and preservative free personal care products like shampoos, soaps, skin lotions and shaving creams.

Easy To Keep The Party Green!

With the large selection of organic and eco-friendly products available it is easy to keep your party green. So if you are one that is concerned with our environment let your imagination run wild in selecting earth friendly products for your bridal shower, wedding or baby shower. Remember to do some up front research and let your guests know where they can find eco-friendly gifts.

Rich Brown Accents For Your Wedding

Brown is one of the richest and warmest colors. It can also be very elegant and sophisticated, without the harshness of black. Used as a main color scheme or in combination with another color, brown is a wonderful choice for a wedding color palette.

The color brown actually has many great variations. There is deep espresso, warm milk chocolate, and light mocha - that sound delicious, doesn't it? The lighter shades of brown are lovely for an afternoon wedding, and the deeper tones are perfect for the evening.

Brown is also a color that can be used in conjunction with many other colors. For weddings, espresso brown is often added to pink or sky blue to give those colors a sophistication that they would otherwise lack. A very fresh and modern wedding palette can be created by mixing brown with lime green, and for an opulent look, try using chocolate with copper.

The bride and bridesmaids' attire will set the tone for the wedding, so this is a good place to use your brown accents. Brown makes an excellent choice for the bridesmaid dresses. A brown dupioni or satin is gorgeous for weddings year round; for a winter wedding, indulge in luxurious chocolate velvet. You can also have wedding jewelry handmade to coordinate as your bridesmaid gifts. Sparkling Swarovksi crystals in chocolate would make a beautiful accent to brown bridesmaid dresses. Create necklaces and earrings that combine the brown crystals with clear ones to keep the look from getting too heavy; the effect will be stunning!

The bride herself will probably not choose to wear a brown dress (although I did know one winter bride who did), but there are many great ways to use brown as an accent color for the bride's ensemble. One of the prettiest ways is to add a sash in a shade of brown to the bridal gown. If you want something subtle, choose a pale mocha, or be bold and wear a deep espresso sash at your waist.

Another place that the bride can add a dash of color to her ensemble is in her jewelry. Handmade wedding jewelry created from warm mocha colored pearls makes a stylish alternative to the classic white pearl bridal jewelry. A nice thing about mocha pearls is that they will be very easy to mix into your regular wardrobe after the wedding.

Brown can be used in many additional parts of the wedding. A stunning brown flower is the chocolate cosmo, which actually has a soft chocolatey aroma. For brides who prefer white or ivory bouquets, ask your florist to tie them with a chocolate satin or velvet ribbon. The deep brown ribbon will pop nicely against the lighter color of the flowers. A brown ribbon would also work very well with a pink bouquet, for a pink and brown themed wedding.

For a very elegant effect at your reception, look for tablecloths that are trimmed with a brown band near the hem. The crisp brown stripe against a lighter cloth has a great graphic effect that is very chic. Another great idea is to use espresso brown napkins over a sold tablecloth. They will really pop against a blue, pink, or gold cloth. Do be careful about using brown napkins with ivory tablecloths, though, because it can end up looking a bit drab.

One of the most versatile colors that you can use to decorate your wedding is brown. It is a great choice to add sophistication or to tone down a very feminine color scheme. Brown is one of those colors that can be worked into almost any wedding to great effect.

Prepare For Your Wedding Walk Down the Aisle

One moment of your wedding where everyone will look at you is when you walk down the aisle. The people are waiting to see the beautiful bride, as for you want to be the center of attention on your wedding. A wedding dress could fetch you some attention but if you want to look stunningly gorgeous then it is your diet and fitness that you need to work on.

Wedding preparations are very confusing and irritating at times, especially when you have put on weight and are worried about fitting in the dresses that you chose. If you are thinking about losing quick weight but fear that you have lost time, think again. If you do a little bit of research you will see that there is a lot of help around, you can even lose weight and couple of ounces at the very last minutes before your wedding. So stop wondering and act fast before you run out of time.

You can go for diet pills that help you reduce weight, at the same time they provide with vital nutrients. So this means that you need not worry about your body needs. These pills will work simultaneously providing your body with all its needs. You can further help yourself by doing some physical exercises that will help reduce quick weight and unwanted body flesh.

If you commit yourself at getting the perfect body shape you want before the wedding than nothing can stop you. If you are determined and focused on your goals you can reduce a lot of fat and to your amazement will find that you can fit in the clothes you always wished about.

You will be surprised to see that every soul is looking at you when you walk down the aisle. As for your husband, he will be amazed to see you look so stunning and gorgeous.

What to Wear at an Indian Wedding

Indian Wedding clothes:

In India, the wedding rituals and clothes make the wedding as much as that of the Bride and her Groom. Both look their splendid best in gorgeous clothes. Not just the couple, but the guests attending the family and the relatives are often seen dressed up to the teeth. The Bride is dressed up in auspicious colors, where as the Bridegroom is dressed to exude a regale aura.

The Bridesmaids and Best men are often dressed in par with the bride and the groom. But they are toned down a bit because the day belongs to the couple. All the folks attending the marriage are decked up with gold jewelry including the Bride and sometimes the groom. The ladies are additionally adorned with Henna patterns all over their palms, hands, forearms, legs and feet. Sometimes henna patterns are replaced with Alta designs which are short lived and easily removable.

Indian weddings generally tend to continue for several days and new attire is worn each day. All these dresses and the color symbolize the meaning of marriage and the period that follows it. Indian wedding is one that gives more importance to details like different rituals and the various attires one wears to attend them.

Brides

Bridal wear are made in a wide range of fabrics ranging from silk to georgettes, from traditional Kanchipuram silk to contemporary synthetic fabrics. The designer wear for the brides have delicate brocade patterns as well as intricate Zari work. Heavily embellished with Swarovski, stones, crystals and Kundan works, the bridal wear series adds charm to the already gorgeous Bride. Brides have a wide range of attires like Saree, Choli, Lehenga Style Saree, Lehenga, Gagra to select from to wear on their D day.

Bridegrooms

A dazzling series of ensemble for Bridegrooms include majestic Sherwani, gregarious Suit, blended Indo-western suit and ethnic Jodhpuri suit. The exquisite shirts, coats and jackets are designed with extra care and touch to bring out the magnanimity out of the Bridegroom on the Marriage day. Precious embellishments are studded into the collars and the cuffs of the Bridegroom's dress. Available both in simple cottons and splendid, royal raw silk, these Kurta Pyjamas are a preferred mostly by the bridegrooms.

Bridesmaid and Family

While during a Marriage function, the Bride and the bridegroom take the centre stage, the Bridesmaid takes over everyone off-stage. Dainty Lehenga Cholis in bright colors, Long Cholis for the conservative, authentic Designer Lehengas and readymade Lehenga Cholis are usually selected by the Bridesmaid as wedding ensemble. Sometimes the bridesmaids wear sari rich in silk and embroidery too. Delicately put together with alluring fabrics of bright and cheery colours, these Lehengas bring out the playful nature of the Bridesmaid.

For engagement rings it is very important to choose a ring setting that your future wife will like. For diamond engagement rings there are a lot of traditional options like solitaire and pavé engagement rings. Check out different engagement ring settings and decide for yourself which ring setting is best suited for your future wife. Choosing the correct ring setting is not only a matter of taste but also a matter of convenience. Have a look at all the different ring styles and decide for yourself!

Tips on Choosing a Ring Bearer Outfit He Can Use Long After the Wedding

There are many things to consider when shopping for a ring bearer outfit, especially if you want to reuse it. Things to consider are: child's age, personality of the child, formality of the wedding and colors of the wedding, just to name a few.

The child's age has quite a bit to do with choosing a ring bearer's outfit. If the child is young, you need to take the fabric into consideration. For instance, you do not want a stiff, scratchy or starchy fabric. The child will be uncomfortable, and will not want to wear the outfit again. Also, the ease of movement should factor in, too. You want the child to be able to move around in the outfit. When purchasing an outfit in advance, make sure you buy it large enough for growth spurts.

The ring bearer's outfit should reflect the child's personality. If the child is vibrant and energetic, the outfit should have punch of color. Also, it should have a bit of fun to it. Try adding a printed cummerbund and bowtie, for instance. After all, it's a child that's wearing it.

If a wedding is formal, then the ring bearer's outfit should be more along the lines of a tuxedo or suit. If it's less formal, then a nice pair of pants or even dress shorts would be appropriate. Also, keep in mind, what season the wedding takes place. Maybe a sweater would suffice or a polo shirt.

You should always keep the colors of the wedding tied into the ring bearer's outfit. If it's a formal wedding, then the tie or cummerbund should pick up on the colors of the wedding. For less formal, a button up shirt in the colors of the wedding would do just fine. A boutonnière can be used to help with tying in the colors from the wedding.

Now that you know how to pick an outfit to match the child and the wedding, the last thing would be how to make sure you can use it again. Make sure you buy the outfit with a little bit of room in it, so the child can grow a little without outgrowing it right away. By interchanging shirts and pants, you can use pieces of the outfit more often, too. If you purchased a cummerbund, bowtie or vest for the event, this makes a great keepsake for years to come.

Getting Clothes For the Wedding

Everyone wants to look their absolute best for the wedding ceremony. Having the right hair, the right outfit and even the right accessories can create all the difference. Even searching for the greatest you does not mean that you have to be awash in all the fuss. Be sure that you practice with your wedding day attire so that you reveal the most awesome you and not a you that you do not even recognize.

Organize a hair appointment far previous prior to wedding. Practice the hair style that will clash best with the tone of the wedding and with the style of the wedding attire. Flaunt the hairstyle around for the day to see how it holds up. Choose a style that is comfortable, durable and that reflects you.

Use your makeup for the wedding day and inquire with a friend to take some photos with that makeup on your face. You will be able to see how the makeup will appear in images and in person. Identify the best features but do not let the makeup overwhelm you.

Wear the big day shoes for tons of weeks before the ceremony. DO NOT wear them outside but do wear them around the house. You will be able to get comfortable with the shoes and you will also allow the shoes to get comfortable to you. Be sure to mark up the bottom of the shoes so that they will grip the floor and not be as slick as a smooth bottom.

Simple suggestions are all that you need to help you dress for your big day and unveil the best you that there is when you walk through the wedding chapel aisle.

I Am Wedding, Hear Me Roar

Salt or pepper, catchup or mustard, bread or toast, the basketball game court-side or a booth at the opera, guess what, you can stop making these small bothersome decisions. You do not have to worry about them anymore. No, you are not dead; you are getting married. It is the reason you were born. If you think about it, it is a pretty good deal, actually. I mean, women enjoy making decisions for other people. That is why they are so darn good in the workforce and why there should be a woman president.

If a man were in charge of a wedding, we would have some pretty plain and ordinary ceremonies with very little style and zero class. We would have roses, a woman would have roses, and about two dozen other flower varieties that make roses look good. We would have wedding favors; they would languish for years in someone's attic, closet, or cedar chest. A woman would have unique wedding favors that people would cherish and put on display in their homes.

Men can plan weddings and can come up with beautiful ideas that would enhance the wedding and make it special, but only by thinking like a woman. After the wedding, we would be heading for sports camp or a fishing resort to spend our honeymoons. By listening to women, we instead have a wonderful time lying on a beach being catered to by a staff that wants nothing but our happiness. I would not have thought of it but hey, I will take the beach any day of the week.

From the moment the doctor said, "It's a boy!" A woman started making decisions for you. Does it sound like a bad thing? Well, you would be wrong to think so. If it were not for that woman taking charge at that precise moment, you would have lain there butt naked, shivering in the cold, crying your heart out. (Just like the last time a girlfriend left me.) Women do everything well but what they excel at is making decisions. I am not necessarily referring to major, planetary stuff, although if they were in charge, there would be peace and the planet would be in great shape. I am talking about everyday stuff, weddings included.

Not for the catch and see if this sounds familiar to you because it is a design that was set up by a clever woman centuries ago and, with the patience born of womanhood, has proven throughout the years to be a huge success. From the day that you were born, you were "groomed" to be a loyal and obedient husband. Every decision in your life was made by a woman. She loved you and cared for you and told you what to eat, (and when to eat it) what to wear, (and how to wear it) and what to say (do I need to say it?)

Then came the day that we grasped at our independence and we took control of our own lives rebelliously. When mother lay our clothes out we left them there on the bed. We chose our own set of clothes from the closet and we left for school leaving her standing at the doorway with a defeated look on her face at least, until we were out of site. Then she smiled at our foolishness. After all, the closet is full of clothes that she picked out, not the man-child.

For the next twenty or so years, we believed we were making the decisions that forged our independence, never realizing that we were being cleverly manipulated into becoming the kind of husband she and your new wife's mother decided you would be years before you were born. Now, when you walk into a room and your mother, your mother-in-law, and your wife stop talking and smile at you, you jokingly ask if they were talking about you. They will all look at each other and laugh because they were talking about you. They were talking about how well you turned out and they were also discussing how to "groom" your son. Congratulations, you are about to be a dad.