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Holiday Sales

Use them to your wedding planning advantage!

We love the holiday season! It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with loved ones and reflect on a fabulous year. Holiday parties, sugar cookies, and some new year’s champagne; those things are just the icing on an already delicious cake. While the non-tangible things are the true reason for the season, we’ve got to admit that the shopping this time of year is pretty killer too. I, for one, shy away from Black Friday, but you better believe I’ll be on my laptop trying to score some amazing post-holiday deals. How about you? If you’re planning a wedding, trust us, you don’t want to sleep on these savings. Here are some items that typically go on sale after the holidays that are perfect for brides and grooms to scoop up and save big:

Lights – Twinkle lights are a wedding staple! Whether you need them for your ceremony, reception, or shower (we’re looking at you, bridesmaids!), the weeks after Christmas are the perfect time to snag them at huge discounts! String lights aren’t the only ones you can save on, either. Typically, candles (LED or traditional) will also go on sale once the holiday party season has passed. Be sure to keep an eye on candle accessories (i.e. lanterns, candlesticks, matches, etc.), too.

Whether as decor or even just a photo backdrop, twinkle lights are sure to add some sparkle to your day! Photo credit to Cory Ryan Photography via Style Me Pretty

Whether as decor or even just a photo backdrop, twinkle lights are sure to add some sparkle to your day! Photo credit to Cory Ryan Photography via Style Me Pretty

Holiday colored décor – If your wedding color scheme happens to overlap with the classic holiday colors (think silver, white, gold, red and green), you can find some amazing deals on décor post-holiday season. You’d be surprised how un-Christmasy (is that a word?) most of those holiday decorations look when they’re placed in a new setting and used in a new way. Gold pinecones, red votives, even pre-lit topiaries are totally wedding ready!

Gold pinecones and red berries - totally wedding appropriate without screaming "Christmas!" Find these at save-on-crafts.com

Gold pinecones and red berries – totally wedding appropriate without screaming “Christmas!” Find these at save-on-crafts.com

Formal wear – Most clothing will go on sale after the holidays, so consider getting special pieces for your wedding then. Whether it be your shower dress, a fun look for the bachelorette, or even your guy’s suit, you should be able to save big! Also consider looking into your flowergirl/ring bearer’s attire now, just be sure to size up in case of a growth spurt! One thing to remember, though, is to be aware of the fabrics you’re purchasing. Winter fabrics are probably not your best bet for summer events, but you may be able to get away with them in the Spring and Fall.
Alcohol – If you’re one of the lucky ones who can bring in their own libations to the wedding venue (a big savings to begin with), consider purchasing after the holidays. Stores typically stock up prior to the holiday party season, and should discount after the rush to get rid of their overflow. Even if your wedding isn’t for another 9 months, most alcoholic beverages will keep for a long time unopened.

Tell us – will you be shopping for your wedding this holiday season? If so, let us know what you snag 🙂

Wedding Weather

Beat the heat (or snow, or rain)

As much as you plan for your big day, there’s one thing that you just can’t control: the weather. Mother Nature doesn’t always seem to want to play nice, so it’s important for brides to be prepared for anything. That’s especially true here in New England, where the weather tends to be annoyingly unpredictable. If the 10 day forecast comes out and your wedding day looks like it will be less than ideal, have no fear! There are tons of ways to beat Mother Nature at her own game!
If it’s going to rain:
Grab tons of rainy weather photo props, like wellies and cute umbrellas. You’ll end up with unique, memorable photos, and on top of that, overcast skies actually provide amazing lighting for your photographer! When it comes to your look, make sure your makeup artist uses only waterproof makeup on you and your girls. Also, bring a pair of flats. If you plan to walk outside, the soft, wet ground will wreak havoc on your heels. For your guests, consider having some fluffy towels near the entrance of your ceremony/reception so they can dry off and get ready to celebrate!

Amazing, kind and beautiful Flair bride Molly had Hunter boots for her girls. The result? Adorable overload!

Amazing, kind and beautiful Flair bride Molly had Hunter boots for her girls. The result? Adorable overload!

If it’s going to be cold:
Again, cue the props! Have a pashmina ready for each of your bridesmaids, and how about a glam fur (faux, if you prefer) for yourself? Also, be sure to have tissues and chapstick on hand, as cold temperatures tend to bring out sniffles and chapped lips! Lastly, see if you can have some warm beverages on hand during the photo session. Irish coffee, anyone? These little touches will keep everyone happy and comfortable, and will ensure that you get some fabulous photos! For your guests, think about having some hand warmers around to get them toasty and in the mood to party!

We found this cutie bridal party on theknot.com (photo courtesy of Misha Media Photography)

We found this cutie bridal party on theknot.com (photo courtesy of Misha Media Photography)

If it’s going to be hot:
My own wedding falls under this category. We chose July, so I had it coming, but our day was far above even the normal average temperature. In the days before, we bought tons of water and portable fans for our bridal party to use during the photos. Also, those little oil absorbing face sheets were a lifesaver. Everyone got a little shiny and sweaty as we walked to different photo locations and those babies got us fresh and camera ready! For your guests, consider turning your ceremony program into a fan (after all, most of them will probably do this anyways) and have some cold beverages on hand. You could even have some cubes of watermelon passed around; a fun, cute way to keep everyone hydrated! If your wedding is outside, provide some sunscreen for your guests. They probably won’t think to put any on beforehand and will appreciate the thought.

We found these adorable feta, mint and watermelon bites on hgtv.com

We found these adorable feta, mint and watermelon bites on hgtv.com

Whatever the weather, try to remember that this aspect of your wedding is out of your control, so just roll with the punches! Your day will be perfect regardless, because you’re marrying the one you love 🙂

Winter Wedding Ideas

Make your winter wonderland wedding a WOW!

So, I went to a wedding last weekend, and it was the first winter wedding I had ever attended. Living in New England, most brides choose the fairer weather months for their big day, myself included. I was a little nervous in the weeks leading up; What should I wear? What if it snows? Is everyone there going to have the flu?? I have to tell you, though, that I was pleasantly surprised by this winter wedding. It was beautiful, elegant, and honestly all of those things that I was worrying about didn’t even matter. Sure, it was super cold, it was dark by 4:45 and I had to wear my sleeping bag sized down coat over my dress, but when you really love the couple, that stuff just isn’t that important. Plus, the summer gets so busy and it was really nice to go to a wedding at a more relaxed time of the year. Do I have you thinking about throwing a winter wedding of your own? I have two more things that might sway you. 1) Generally speaking, you can save BIG on a winter wedding, as vendors are far less busy. 2) If you have a winter wedding, you can do things like this:

Use the weather/nature to your advantage! We love these pinecone placecards, and these sapling favors are just TOO cute, and so unique!

Use the weather/nature to your advantage! We love these pinecone placecards, and these sapling favors are just TOO cute, and so unique!

We've all seen a bubbly bar, but in the winter you can treat your guests to a hot chcoclate or hot toddy bar! Mmmmm

We’ve all seen a bubbly bar, but in the winter you can treat your guests to a hot chcoclate or hot toddy bar! Mmmmm

You can wear comfy yet fabulous things like these Hunter boots and this fur jacket! Interested in fur, check out Flair's fur rental today!!

You can wear comfy yet fabulous things like these Hunter boots and this fur jacket! Interested in fur? Check out Flair’s fur rental today!!