The goosebumps when you hear that song and take to the aisle. The first dance that makes you both cry. Those ecstatic hands-in-the-air dancefloor moments. Your wedding day is about creating memories to cherish forever. Alive Network is the UK’s largest and best loved live entertainment agency, providing the finest range of artists, to enhance your day, so you can really make the most of every special moment.
Whether you’re looking for a roaming jazz band for your garden wedding, an ethereal harpist to set the scene in a breathtaking castle, an indie-folk band for your festival wedding, or an awesome dance DJ for your party under the stars, Alive Network offers every type of entertainment imaginable UK and world-wide, from magicians in Edinburgh to wedding bands in Surrey, and modern-jazz bands in Paris to premier party bands in the UAE. Alive Network is your go-to hub for online wedding entertainment inspiration.
Set up in 1999 by passionate music-lovers and professional artists, Alive Network attracts the brightest and best performers. Today, their professional service is loved and trusted by over 100,000 couples, with reviews from over 30,000 happy couples. The team Alive knows that the perfect music match for your wedding will create memories to last a lifetime.
A popular trend in wedding design is marbled paper. It can be found everywhere, from the invitations to the wedding decor. Luckily, this is an easy look you can recreate to save you money while still looking elegant. Match the colors to your wedding color scheme for a professional feel.
This guest DIY Bride Tutorial brought to you by FTD teaches you how to marble paper for a trendy and unique look on your wedding day Try creating custom place cards for your big day and then carrying the look through to your thank you notes after the festivities are done.
Just follow the steps below for stylish look!
Materials
Baking Sheet
Shaving Cream (must be foam not gel)
Watercolors and Acrylic Paint
Cardstock
Paint Brush
Dropper
Scraper (paint scraper, ruler or any lat edge)
Step 1 : Fill the baking sheet with shaving cream
Step 2: Smooth out the surface of the shaving cream.
Step 3: Add in two to three colors with a dropper.
Step 4: Swirl the colors in a figure 8 pattern.
Step 5: Lightly press the cardstock into the shaving cream.
Step 6: Remove and scrape off the extra shaving cream.
Being a groomsman is a privilege, but behind that badge of honor lies a big responsibility. Groomsmen have specific duties they need to do before and during a wedding. Many of which are vital in making the event play out smoothly.
If you’re a groomsman, you may want to know what your duties are and what are expected of you. You don’t want to appear at you best mate’s wedding only to find out you have tasks which you are not fully prepared for. Thus, always be in the loop of the arrangements.
For starters, here are some common things you may need to do:
Pay For Your Own Suit
Though the engaged couple offer to pay for their entourage’s outfits and accommodations, they’re not obliged to do so. The burden rests on each individual groomsman and bridesmaid.
Groomsmen are expected to pay for their own suit, their own fare, and their own hotel rooms (if you don’t live in the same area as the couple). If you’re strapped for cash, you can ask the groom if you can crash on their couch so you won’t have to spend as much.
Your main concern should be your outfit. Don’t worry, rental groomsmen suits are relatively cheap.
Purchase a Wedding Present
Your own expenses are meager compared to the costs that the couple will shoulder for their wedding. You’ve been chosen as a groomsman; that means you’re one of the groom’s closest and most trusted friends. In other words, they love you. So give them some love back and but them a gift.
If you’re unsure of what to buy, check out ideas for groomsmen as they can also be great presents for the groom! You’re the best of buds, and probably share many common hobbies with them; it should be relatively easy for you to pick a gift.
Alternatively, you can also chip in with your fellow groomsmen. That way, you all can buy something worth more that each of you could buy individually.
Help Find A Pair of Wedding Bands
Wedding bands are different from engagement rings. They’re what the couple will wear once they’re married and are usually less gaudy. However, they’re still expensive.
Of you can help the couple find an affordable set of wedding bands, you’ll be doing a huge favor. They may already be overwhelmed by a barrage of bills for the wedding itself, so any tip to a cheaper alternative can alleviate their headaches.
Attend Pre-Wedding Activities
Pre-wedding activities, like prenuptials and rehearsals, are important to ensure that the wedding will go through with great success. They also make the days leading to the wedding – and the occasion itself – even more memorable.
As a groomsman, your most important job before the wedding is to help the best man organize a bachelor party for your groom. It’s the twilight of their life as a single before the responsibilities of a married life kick in; thus, go all out in making the best stag do ever.
Guide Guests During the Reception
Groomsmen are ushers and attendants to the groom. In medieval times, they helped the groom fight off angry relatives and rival suitors after stealing the bride-to-be, hence the term groom’s men. Glad that part is history, but hey, if you really want to go medieval, why not do your own LARP wedding?
Anyways, on the actual day of the wedding, your duty is to help guests to their seats. Usually, groomsmen escort the women while the bridesmaids do the same to the men. If several guests arrive all at once, assist the eldest lady first then the next oldest one.
And Remember to Stay Informed
In many cases, the couple may want to do a dance entrance together with their entourage. It’ll be really awkward if you’re not a part of that, so always keep in touch with the rest of the groomsmen and the bridesmaids.
A wedding, after all, is a collaborative effort, starting with the bride and groom and, by extension, their respective attendants. Work together to make the occasion as joyous as possible for everyone involved – the wedded couple particularly.
Your wedding should be a reflection of the love that you and that special someone share. From the moment you say “yes”, to the second you declare “I do”, you will plan every detail of the big day. Of course, it’s important to have a wedding that is uniquely you, and that will require learning about all your options for things like flowers, music, and tableware. Here, we share our tips to help you find some of the more eco-friendly options to create a memorable event.
One of our favorite trends is the use of environmentally friendly responsible materials for everything from wedding rings to lively table linens. Shop for products made of renewable or biodegradable materials, or try using what you have on hand. Eco-chic is all about thinking outside the box.
When it comes to choosing dinnerware for your reception, there’s more to consider than just ‘paper or plastic’. The word plastic may conjure up images of a floating mass of trash in the ocean or bags hanging from a tree, but, when disposed of properly, plastics can be recycled. There are even some that are made of plant materials and can be composted. And what about paper — Is it as planet-safe as they say?
There are pros and cons with every choice, but here are some of the basics of disposable tableware to help you make the best decision for your special day:
PET: Traditional plastics are made from petroleum products. Not all of this can be melted down and repurposed because of the harmful chemicals involved, but PET (polyethylene terephthalate) can be! So, although plates, utensils, and cups made from petroleum are from non-renewable sources, they are often recyclable. Just be sure to check for the small “please recycle” label stamped on the item, and give them a rinse before placing them in the appropriate green or blue bins.
PLA: There are the plastics made from plant sources like PLA (polylactic acid), which is a chemical derived from cornstarch. This dinnerware can be easily broken down by bacteria, but only if disposed of properly. For example, they will not decompose in a landfill or in a home compost system. There are facilities, however, that can be biodegrade PLA products, so you can enjoy the delicious cake at the reception without worrying about all those dishes.
Sugarcane: Last of the renewable plastics is the kind sourced from sugarcane. The pulp left over after juicing sugar cane is called bagasse, and its fibrous nature is a great building block for bowls and plates that look like porcelain. The best part is that, because it’s plat fiber, it’s compostable, even in a home set-up.
Traditional Paper: We haven’t mentioned paper yet, but it is another option in the realm of disposable plates. Paper can be recycled and trees are a renewable resource when forests are managed properly, but the production of paper is more energy intensive than that of plastic.
Plant Leaves: Bamboo and palm leaves can be pressed into very unique shapes. The plant does not have to be harvested to get the raw materials, and the end-product, typically eco- friendly plates and bowls, are entirely compostable. Even better, the dinnerware made from leaves will have an organic look that evokes images of warm, tropical beaches.
Bamboo and Wood: Crafting dishes from wood can take finesse, which could be why they are a bit more expensive than others. But, if you’re looking for something will a light, natural wood grain and sturdy build, these are totally worth it! Wooden items are also inherently biodegradable, as long as they haven’t been treated harmful chemicals.
Now For the Fun Part!
So, as we said, there are pluses and minuses for each choice. Some are pricier, while others may require a special process to dispose of them in an environmentally sound way. Now that you’re armed with some basic knowledge, however, you can plan and shop accordingly.
Just remember, the serving ware you opt for can really complement the food being serve, as well as the decor you spent so much time considering. There is sure to be something that is exactly what you’ve been looking for and will fit into the design of your dream wedding. So, have your them in mind as you scroll through pages or walk down aisles of napkins, cups, utensils, and plates, and have fun!
Author Bio: Casey Pontrelli is a freelance writer and content strategist. She has collaborated with a variety of industry insiders and worked with a number of brands, writing about everything from events, to fashion, travel and more.
