Travel Size

Whether you're planning on relaxing on a beach or climbing every mountain during your honeymoon, you'll still have to worry about small loads of laundry.

Make sure you have everything you need to clean your lacy delicates, sexy swim suits, and stain removers for red wine, fab food or anything else that may spill on your clothes.

The Laundress has a complete line of detergents and fabric care formulas to make sure your trousseau is picture perfect for the whole trip. They also carry garment and shoe bags so you can protect your clothes and accessories while on the plane.

Leave Your Mark

Many couples want to put their personal stamp on their wedding. And since a wedding should be personalized, you should leave your mark anywhere you wish.

If you're not sure what your mark will be, checkout the digital monograms at Bliss! Weddings Market. You can choose from contemporary, romantic and designs with symbols as seen above.

Whichever design you select, you can place it on your invitation, favors, programs or anything else you can imagine. Click here to watch their CD favor how-to video.

Wash This Way

I hate the idea of a toiletry basket in the bathroom at a wedding. There is no reason a bride and groom need to supply a mini-drugstore for guests. All of the items usually included - tissues, nail files, hairspray, mints, and sewing kits - are a complete waste of money. Your guests arrive with their hair in place, hems all sewed up and if they need a band-aid, your location will have a first aid kit.

Instead of leaving a basket of items that will go unused, or end up going home with guests as an extra favor, place something that they can really use in the bathroom...hand soap.

Vasey and Me sells boxes of one-time use soaps displayed in a stylish box. 40 individually “soap chips” are placed in a white, brown or black case adorned with a coordinating ribbon.

Each chip is sized at 2" x 1" by 1/8 " thick, hand cut, made with natural ingredients and hand wrapped. The wrapping can be personalized with your names, wedding date, monogram, quote. You can also select a specific scent, including: white grapefruit, cinnamon orange, mango butter, lavender oatmeal and milk, almond & honey.

The box is sized at 8" x 5" x 5" and can be placed next to a sink, or you can have the chips placed in plates or bowls if your counter space is limited.

Mini-Cakes

Some couples are choosing cupcakes over the traditional wedding cake. If you're in the Seattle area you must visit Trophy Cupcakes on North 45th Street. This new cupcake bakery bakes the most adorable cupcakes for your wedding, shower or any other event you're hosting - wedding related or not.

You can choose from a variety of flavors and colors, as well as custom detailing including monograms, icons and photographic images to personalize your desserts.

Pretty Papers

I received an e-mail about Abby Jean last week. As you can see from the image above, the designs are beautiful. The colors, fonts, icons and borders are traditional but with a modern twist.

Remember your invitation is the first element guests will see of the wedding. While your save-the-date is sent out months before, it doesn't have to match the theme and style of the wedding, because the details won't be finalized until the final months of planning.

You want your invitation to represent the tone or feeling of the big day. If you're getting married on the beach and want a relaxed day with casual attire, then your invitation should reflect that. If you expect everyone to show up in ballgowns and tuxedos, then your invitation should be traditional/formal in its design.

Looking for ideas for a theme and palette? Check out Abby's blog, Style Me Pretty, for great ideas and details for your wedding.

Everyday is Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is the one-day that everyone feels they must express their love. But the truth is, you should tell him you love him everyday, and he should tell you that he loves you everyday too.

That doesn't mean you should expect a bouquet of red roses and a Hallmark card every morning, but planning a wedding is very stressful and you should plan to spend non-wedding quality time together.

Schedule a date night, or morning or afternoon, and plan something fun you can do together.

And if you are expecting a bouquet more than just once a year, send him the link for bouquets of the month from Red Envelope.

Again & Again

No matter what you tell your bridesmaids, they will probably never wear their bridesmaid dress again. If this bit of truth is making you feel a bit guilty, visit J. Crew's bridesmaid shop online.

Their collection includes dresses for a ballroom or the beach, or something in between, and there are a rainbow of colors to choose from.

Prices are reasonable too, but before you make a purchase, ask if you will receive a 10% discount if you open up a J. Crew account.

As Cute as a Button

I just love Jane Jenni's line of buttons, plates, mugs and magnets. Unfortunately, the blushing bride pattern, pictured here, is only available as a button.

Not sure what you'd do with it? Well, you could wear it to the rehearsal dinner, or forward this post your bridesmaids and they could pin it on you at your shower or bachelorette party.

It’s so much fun being a bride, isn’t it? There are so many fun items made just for you!

Cheers!

You're probably expecting your best man and maid-of-honor to make a speech at the wedding. And why shouldn't you? Toasting the bride and groom is part of their job description. But some people, no matter how close they are to you, don't know what to say.

There are several companies that will help write the perfect speech, and give the toaster tips on how to speak in front of a crowd. Here's a list of some companies you can refer your best man and maid-of-honor to:

Instant Wedding Toasts
The Perfect Toast
Ultimate Speeches

Wedding Tip - It's common for the newlyweds to give a short speech at their wedding. Sometimes the groom will thank everyone and toast his new bride, or the couple can both toast their parents and thank them for their love and support.

Newport Weddings

Catherine Abbate's Wedding Room is the source for planning a wedding in Newport, RI, or along the Narragansett Bay.

Planning a destination wedding is very different than planning a wedding in your hometown. If you're not familiar with the local area, you definitely need to hire an expert who can steer you towards the right vendors.

The Wedding Room offers brides and grooms a chance to view portfolios of talented vendors in the Newport area. For a nominal fee, you can meet with Catherine, or one of her experienced associates, to create a planning timeline and learn about vendors who can create the perfect day for you, within your budget.

Classic Candies

When searching for a wedding favor, many brides turn to the classic Jordan Almond.

Several cultures handout almonds at wedding celebrations because of their bittersweet taste, which represents life. The sugarcoating is added to ensure that the newlyweds have a sweet life.

Today, these familiar candies are available in a myriad of colors, so you can choose a shade that matches your wedding palette - silver, white, pastel. Whatever shade you're searching for, JordanAlmonds.com is sure to have them.

The company carries a wide selection of Jordan Almonds, in a rainbow or colors, including seasonal mixes - Christmas, Easter, Autumnal or Valentine’s Day.

And remember to purchase bags or boxes to package your candy. Bella Terra has a great selection of favor packaging.