Dear internet, I know I don’t have to tell you that you can find wedding inspiration~ just about everywhere.  One of my personal favorites is Country Home magazine.  Ah, a place to escape and daydream of old nails and vintage toile fabric and read about those who are undaunted by color and devoted to a menagerie of flea-market finds. Yes, it’s all good!

In any case, I was paging through the February edition and saw this Wire Photo Hanger and immediately thought WEDDING…  perfect for a French country or rustic-style event.  Similar to the wish jar, I envision this hanger as a wonderful place for guests to place their well-wishes, photos, notes to the bride and groom, etc.  And, perhaps the hanger could be dual purpose~ using it to hang Place Cards as well.

Hmm… What do you think?

Wire hanger rianrae.com

Country Home Magazine

Are you planning a multicultural wedding?  If you are, I’d venture to say that your event has the potential to be spectacular… extraordinary… fun and unique!  Is it possible to successfully blend two very different cultures while at the same time~ honoring your family and guests and helping them to feel comfortable and cared for.  The optimist in me says YES, I think you can!

The realist in me; however, sees the unique challenges you face with planning a multicultural wedding. It’s quite possible that not all of your guests will be on board with the compromising of deeply held, traditional customs. What to do?

Talk about it! And, keep talking about it! By talking with your soon-to-be new family and taking a genuine interest in their culture, you’ll gain a greater understanding and appreciation of what is important and appropriate to include in your wedding.  Sure, it’s your wedding but your genuine interest in their customs and willingness to incorporate one, two, many… of them will earn their respect and gratitude both on your wedding day and beyond!

South Asian Spirit, Save the Date Card

Tips for Successfully Blending Two Cultures

As with all weddings, the goal should be a joyous and celebratory occasion.  But, you can really make your multicultural event truly memorable by promoting understanding and appreciation of another culture.  And, if you’re excited but feeling overwhelmed, hiring a specialized wedding planner could be a tremendous help to you.  On with the tips…

• Programs/Order of Service: a perfect opportunity to explain the meanings behind the customs being upheld.  When your guests understand a certain custom, they are more apt to participate and gain appreciation.
• Special Music~ Share and explain significant musical pieces with your guests. They will enjoy the music and feel included.
• Special Dancing~ Tell a story with a special dance, but remember to explain it in your programs.
• Food~ YES!  Food… a great mediator… plenty of food and drink! An awesome buffet will not force but allow your guests to sample food and drink from a different culture. Seek referrals for caterers who specialize in the cuisine so the food is complementary.
• Attire~ By changing into traditional dress, you’ll promote excitement and interest and start conversations.
• Use Decorations and Flowers to accent your multicultural event. Create new traditions~ after all, this is your wedding!

Are you planning a multicultural wedding?  Have you attended a multicultural wedding?  How did it go?  Any suggestions for what works and what doesn’t?

Mendhi hands photo: Chrissy Long

Sources: South Asian wedding planning site

As I was wandering through Etsy Wedding, I happened upon TheBrokenPlate store and these cool little custom broken plate pendants.  I just love them… they’re an original twist based on the broken heart necklaces you had when you were a kid.  The pendants are made from broken plates.  Each plate is different and chosen based on the bride’s wedding colors.  What a great gift idea for your Mom, BFF, MOH, bridesmaids…

So clever and I love the sweet sentiment behind this gift! “You complate me” is the tagline!

Fun and unique, I can see the necklaces being a great conversation starter on wedding day~ everyone is coordinating but not totally match y.

{images link back toTheBrokenPlate store}

What do you think?

Every bride and groom want to be at their absolute best, and look like it on the big day.  For some of us that means making some changes.  You may want to take back control of your life in some way, take off a few pounds, firm up those thighs, or any number of other things.   If you are trying to make any kind of significant change in the way you live, eat, work, or play before your wedding day, this post is for you.

A disclaimer seems in order at this point . . . and as you’ll quickly see, it’s really the overriding theme of what I have to say today….BE REASONABLE with how you go about change.  Take into consideration how much time you have, what you would ideally like to accomplish and make some decisions about where to start.  By all means, don’t do anything dangerous to your body or commit yourself to fad diets that promise to take off 10 pounds in a week.  Even if it were possible to drop that much weight that quickly, you may end up with worse problems than a bad visit to the scale…so, be sensible, give yourself plenty of time, and think long term.

Here’s a peak into my own journey with change.  My hubby and I have declared 2009 as the beginning of our life-long trek into healthy living.  And, for us, healthy living means moving our bodies in some way every day, eating a balanced diet, getting our rest, and pursuing our passions.  Living out our passions is, really, what makes everything else worthwhile.

Now we weren’t complete losers on the healthy living front, but it was clear when we looked at our calendars that clearing those calendars in order to make our new priorities, well, a priority was going to be a challenge.  So, we started out slow.  January we got to the gym twice a week, February with some of our commitments dropping off, we added in another day.  By summer we fully expect that every day we’ll either be at the gym or outdoors pumpin’ the iron and getting our hearts and bodies in shape.

We’ve taken a similar approach to what we eat, how we play and the time we devote to pursuing our passions . . . just starting where we’re at and changing one or two things at a time.  I can personally see the momentum building in both of us, and we’re beginning to see some results in how we feel.  It’s kind of exciting!  No false starts thinking we’d have celebrity abdomens in 30 days, no magical thinking, but just plain resolve to move in a new direction one step at a time.

As you are on your way to becoming Mr. and Mrs., a season filled with thoughts of romance, love, exciting preparations and lifestyle changes, it’s wise to go at change gently.  It’ll set the stage for a great life together and, little by little you’ll notice things are changing.  Then when the big day arrives, you’ll be glowing with confidence, radiantly healthier and ready to enjoy the day so much more.

What are you working toward where this gentle approach might be helpful?

Yours in the effort,

Cheryl

Photo courtesy Creative Commons