Are you looking for something just a little different for your wedding cake topper?  Then be sure to check into getting a customized wedding cake topper that is truly personalized.  These unique cake toppers not only incorporate yours and your groom’s heads, but they can also wear identical bridal gowns and tuxedos.  You can even go so far as to have the cake top couple depicting a favorite pastime, hobby, or activity.  This feature can fit very well into any theme wedding.  For example, your beach theme wedding cake can be topped with a couple wearing bathing suits or a hula skirt.  Musical weddings can feature a cake topper like the one pictured.

These personalized cake toppers can be pricey, so be sure to shop around.  Check out testimonials, ask how long your topper will take to be created, inquire about return policies or shipping insurance. 

The best part about these toppers is that their usefulness does not end with the wedding day.  These beautiful sculptures are really works of art which you’ll want to display for years to come.   

There is no denying that manicures and pedicures have become a billion dollar industry.  No mall, shopping center, or outdoor strip mall is complete without at least one nail salon.  Even if you’re not into fancy nail art, you should consider making an appointment at one of these salons in preparation for your wedding day.

The services offered can range from the basics to an all out nail design to fit your wedding theme.  My daughters got me into the ‘nail art’ thing after they were married, but they all wish they had known about it beforehand. 

Nail art is a simple way of expressing yourself, plus it has the added benefit of enhancing any theme your choose.  The hand-drawn designs can include butterflies or flowers for your spring & garden theme wedding, seashells or fish for your beach theme wedding, wild geometric patterns for a more contemporary theme, or even white with black bows trimmed in gold or silver glitter for your elegant evening wedding. 

Although rain on your wedding day has always been considered to be good luck by many cultures, it can be more than an annoyance if you’re planning an outdoor wedding.  This is one reason why many brides won’t even consider the idea of getting married outside.  If, however, you’re one of the brave ones that has always dreamed of a garden wedding, beach wedding, or some other outdoor setting, there are a few things you can do during the planning stages that will assist the comfort of you and your guests.

Renting large tents or awnings to cover the wedding party and your guests during the ceremony can do a lot to help keep everyone comfortable and dry if there are showers in your forecast.  Check with places that allow outdoor weddings to see if they provide an open-sided shelter for smaller weddings.  These shelters work well for light rains, but if a wind kicks up, you really only have two options.  You can grin and bear it or you may want to opt for ‘Plan B’.  It never hurts to have an indoor option ready if it becomes necessary.  Again, most public garden areas will have indoor accommodations to move the ceremony to for inclement weather.

It’s a good idea to begin checking your weather forecast no later than one week before the ceremony.  If it looks like rain is unavoidable, but not bad enough to cancel the outdoor plans altogether, you may want to even provide plenty of golf umbrellas for your guests.  If walkways are wet and slippery, be sure to have ushers, equipped with umbrellas, available to help guests to their seats. 

The old expression ‘Bloom where you’re planted” basically means that you don’t have to go to exotic places in order to do great things.  The same is true for your wedding reception.  You don’t need to be in Italy to have an Italian theme wedding;  you don’t need to be on a cruise ship in order to create a cruise-type atmosphere, and you don’t need to get married in the summer in order to have a beach theme reception.

Decorations can do it all for you.  Be sure to check with your reception hall before planning any ‘off the wall’ renovations, but most places will let you create a theme type atmosphere within reason.  Put a little Italian cafe feel into your reception by using red and white checked tablecloths with wine bottles dripping with multi-colored candle wax for centerpieces.  Instead of a band, hiring strolling violinists to play music during the meal.

Beach theme receptions are easily duplicated during colder weather by decorating with small pools, sand, inflatable palm trees, and beach balls.  Create a picnic lunch look at the reception tables and serve fun picnic-type foods.  You can even rent an indoor fire pit and have your guests make smores.  Hire a band to play Beach Boys music.  Don’t forget to have your wedding favors match your theme.

Using your imagination, you can take your wedding guests just about anyplace in the world!

Do you love the idea of a beach theme wedding and reception, but aren’t real crazy about taking a chance on the variables such as blistering temperatures, sky-high humidity and unexpected rainshowers?  Here’s an alternative that you may want to check into.

Consider holding your wedding and/or reception at an aquarium.  There are several aquariums around the country that have banquet rooms cozy enough for a party of 50 and large enough to accomodate up to 500 people.  Just a few of the states that have aquariums that cater to weddings and receptions are: Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.  Do an online search in your particular area to see if there is an aquarium located near you.

Being located in Georgia, I’ve done a little checking with the Georgia Aquarium.  You can choose your own caterer or you can use the aquarium’s famous caterer, Wolfgang Puck.  Meals range from ‘coffee break’ type foods and hors d’oeuvres, to buffets and exotic sit-down dinners.  The prices, as  of the writing of this article, start at $5 per person and can go as high as $75 per person, so it’s fairly easy to fit into your budget and style.  Informal weddings, as well as extremely formal elegant weddings fit well into this aquarium’s atmosphere.

The best part of this type of beach theme wedding is the scenery.  Rooms are lined with gigantic windows peering into the aquarium itself.  Whales, sharks and other exotic aquatic animals happily join your celebration as they give an ever-changing backdrop to your reception room.  Plus, by holding your event at an aquarium, there’s no need to wait on warmer weather to be able to incorporate your beach theme.