I made these air freshener bears for my oldest daughter’s wedding and have used them for several bridal showers and weddings since then.  They look adorable sitting on the refreshment or gift table, and you can even customize the scent to fit into your shower or wedding theme.

Materials:
Renuzit® cone-shaped air freshener (any scent)
Small stuffed bears (You can find these at any craft store)
2 yds. 1″ lace
Spool of 1/8″ ribbon (coordinating color)
Small bouquet of ribbon roses
Small piece of white lace
1 yd. 1/2″ lace with pearl string accent
1 square black felt; 1 square white felt
Small piece 1/2″ black ribbon
Glue gun & hot glue sticks

Directions:
Glue four rows of 1″ lace to the base of the cone-shaped part of a Renuzit® air freshener, ending approximately 1″ from the top.  Cut off head and arms from the stuffed bear.  Sew openings on head and arms closed.  Glue arms to the sides on the top layer of lace.  Add one more layer of 1″ lace for the collar.  Trim collar with 1/2″ lace.  Glue head on the top.  Cut a 10″ circle out of the lace and sew 1/2″ lace trim around the edge.  This will be the bridal veil.  Glue veil to top of bear’s head.  Glue ribbon rose on top of veil.  Tie several pieces of 1/8″ ribbon to bouquet and glue to bear’s hand.

The groom bear’s suit is made from black and white felt.  Cut a small 2″ rectangle out of white felt and glue to the top edge of the air freshener.  Cut small collar-shaped pieces and glue in place.  Cut a tie-shaped piece and glue in place.  Cut one piece of black felt long enough to wrap around the air freshener.  Round top corners for the lapels and fold back.  Glue lapels in place.  Glue coat closed and trim with 2 or 3 small buttons.  Cut two smaller rectangles for sleeves and wrap around bear arms.  Glue arms to the sides of the air freshener.  Glue head on top.  For the hat roll a 1 1/2″ wide piece of index card and cover with black felt.  Cut a circle to cover the top of the hat and glue in place.  Cut a larger circle for the base of the hat.  Trim hat with 1/2″ black ribbon.  Glue hat to hat base and glue entire hat to teddy bear.  Glue rose boutonniere to bear’s lapel.

It takes only a little imagination to customize these bears to fit any shower, party, or theme.  The possibilities are endless and they’re indredibly easy to make!

It’s never too early to begin planning the details of your wedding.  If you’re having a springtime wedding, some of the things that immediately come to mind are pastel colors, flowers and garden parties.  Consider a unique spring wedding with butterflies as your theme.  The butterfly is a timeless symbol of new beginnings, grace and beauty, and therefore fits into a wedding perfectly.

Adorn floral arrangements with tiny silk butterflies.  Have your baker incorporate butterflies into the wedding cake design.  Make pastel-colored butterfly-shaped ice cubes to float in the punch bowls.  Decorate the reception tables with glass bowls filled with water and tiny pink butterfly floating candles.   Surround these bowls with spring flowers and you have the perfect springtime centerpieces.  Purchase extra floating butterfly candles to hand out to your guests as wedding favors.  For a really special effect on your special day, there are companies that offer a butterfly release.  Imagine the delight of your guests as hundreds of butterflies are released at once all around them!

Traditional brides will still opt for the traditional-looking wedding cake.  Three to four layers of white frosted cake with colored flowers delicately adorning the tiers and a bride and groom cake topper perched on top.  This was how my wedding cake looked 32 years ago and I still wouldn’t change a thing. 

However, more and more brides are looking for something just a little different.  Not over the wall, but just different enough to reflect the uniqueness of their personality and style.  I’ve recently come across a couple of ideas that might just fit the bill.

The first incorporates the idea of a ‘memory quilt’ into a wedding cake design.  Bakers have been able to reproduce photos onto cakes for some time now, but it is still rare to find this feature in a wedding cake.  I’ve seen cakes with several pictures on them, such as the one pictured, or even with just one picture.  This is usually the engagement picture of the couple.  The pictures are made of edible ink so the entire cake is 100% safe to eat.

The second idea that I’ve heard of is normally used in evening receptions where the lights might be kept low.  Small tea-light candles are nestled around the top of each layer of the cake.  The candles are actually sunk down into the cake so the edges of the candle are not visible.  When the candles are lit, it treats the guests to a beautifully dramatic display.

There are other ways to make your wedding cake unique.  Decorating with fruit instead of flowers or incorporating a waterfall or fountain into the cake design are just a few ideas.  There are as many ideas for unique wedding cakes as there are brides.  

After the wedding rehearsal, it is customary for all participating parties to go out for a rehearsal dinner.  This is normally paid for by the groom’s parents.  Those who should attend include the bride and groom, both sets of parents, immediate families, attendants and their spouses, child attendants and their parents, the officiant and his spouse.  You may also invite grandparents and other close relatives.  Formal invitations are not necessary, but if you prefer them, they should be sent by the groom’s parents since they are the hosts.  In most cases, however, a phone call is sufficient. 

It may be a good idea to make up simple maps with directions from the church to the rehearsal dinner location.  These can be handed out after the wedding rehearsal and will be quite helpful if anyone gets lost on the way to the dinner.  Be sure reservations are made well in advance of the dinner.  For larger parties, you may want to rent out an entire room of a restaurant. 

If cost is an issue for the groom’s parents, you may consider asking if the church does any catering for rehearsal dinners and their prices.  The church in which my daughter was married, not only cooked a wonderful meal for everyone, but they also had the teenagers in the church serve the meal.  The price was much less expensive than a restaurant and the atmosphere was warm and casual. 

The rehearsal dinner is also the time many couples present their attendants with their bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts. 

Normally the evening before the wedding, it is customary to have a ‘run-through’ of the actual wedding ceremony so everyone will know what their jobs are.   This will go a long way to cut down on wedding day jitters, and if small children are involved, it is an absolute must.  

The rehearsal should be held at the site where the wedding will take place if at all possible and typically should last around 30 - 45 minutes.  The officiant will normally go over the order of events for the ceremony, including music and solos, videos (if applicable), unity candle, the marriage charge, and vows.  The attendants will be told any special instructions such as where to stand.  The Maid of Honor and the Best Man will also be informed of their special duties during the ceremony, such as handling the wedding rings, the bride’s bouquet and the bridal train.  

The rehearsal is also a good time to judge whether a young flower girl or ring bearer will be able to stand with the wedding party the entire time or if they should  sit with an adult during the ceremony.  Chances are if they become too fidgety during the rehearsal, the actual ceremony will be a real challenge.

The job of decorating the getaway car usually falls to the Best Man who can then recruit any of the other wedding attendants.  While everyone is enjoying the reception, the groomsmen sneak out and decorate the couple’s car.  When it comes to decorating, a good rule of thumb to follow is ‘Less is More.’  An over-decorated car, in addition to looking extremely tacky, can also be hazardous to drive.   Be sure to leave the front windshield clean and be sure there is ample visibility for the driver. 

Any party store will sell paints that are safe to use on cars without ruining the car’s paint-job.  You’ll also be able to find car decorating kits that can include ‘Just Married’ signs, vinyl clings or flags that attach to the windows.  Shoe polish, masking tape or even floral tape are safe to use.  Shaving cream is a definite ‘no-no’ as it may leave marks on the car’s exterior.  Attach balloons, streamers or garlands securely so they won’t come off in traffic. 

Be sure to keep your decorating limited to the outside of the car.  I know a couple whose brother got inside the car and filled it with pine straw and chocolate kisses.  Needless to say, it ruined the interior, took hours to clean, and wasn’t nearly as funny as the brother thought it would be.  Fortunately, the groom had an old jacket in the trunk, or the chocolate, which melted in the hot car, would have ruined the bride’s dress.  Some couples may not want their car decorated at all, and if this is the case, you need to be sensitive to their wishes. 

Decorating the getaway car is a fun tradition, and with good judgment and a little consideration, you can send your best friend away on his honeymoon in style. 

Candles are the perfect way to decorate for almost any occasion, but especially a wedding.  These unique ice candles can be incorporated for any type of wedding, but can make an especially striking centerpiece for a winter-theme wedding.  Best of all, they’re extremely easy and economical to make.

You’ll need:
Candle mold, such as round or square pillar (quart-size milk cartons or coffee cans work well)
paraffin or wax
double boiler
liquid food coloring or crayon bits
small ice cubes

Directions:
Completely wash and dry the candle mold.  Lightly coat inside of mold with cooking oil.  If you’re using a milk carton, cut off the top before washing.  The easiest way to incorporate a wick in your ice candle is to purchase a similar color taper candle.  Cut from the bottom to fit the height of the candle mold and center inside the mold. 

Melt the paraffin or wax in a double boiler.  Add desired amount of food coloring or crayon pieces to wax.  HINT: The color of the wax will lighten slightly as the wax hardens.  Once all the wax is melted, fill the candle mold with ice cubes all the way to the top, keeping the taper candle centered.  Carefully pour melted wax into the mold, filling almost to the top.  Allow wax to harden completely. 

Carefully unmold candle over the sink to allow melted water to drain.  If a milk carton was used, you can unmold your candle by simply tearing away the carton carefully.  The result is a beautiful lacy candle that will cast delicate shadows when burning. 

Now use your imagination.  Make several sizes and surround your ice candles with pine logs or boughs, pine cones or holly.  Embellish with artificial snow spray, glittering snowflake ornaments or decals.   

Probably the part of the wedding that couples dislike the most is the receiving line.  Once the wedding is over, getting to the reception seems to be foremost on everyone’s mind.  If the thought of having to make small talk with so  many people is making you so nervous that you’re considering not having a receiving line, consider this:

1.)  Having a receiving line is considered proper etiquette and absolutely essential for weddings of 50 or more guests.

2.)  Having a receiving line guarantees some face-to-face time with each and every guest.  Remember some of them may have come a long way to celebrate with you.

3.)  Having a receiving line allows each guest to congratulate you.  This makes them feel a part of the whole celebration.

4.)  You don’t need to talk at length with everyone; you can do that at the reception if you’d like.  Keep it short and sweet; thank them for coming.

It’s best to have the receiving line at the church immediately following the ceremony.  Some people may not be able to attend the reception, and this will give them the opportunity to wish you the best.  If you’re having a fancier reception, your budget may have required you to invite less people to the reception than to the wedding, and the receiving line would be your only opportunity to thank those people for attending.

You can also have your receiving line at the reception hall.  If this is your first choice, just remember to have the receiving line before everyone has access to the food.

The proper order for a receiving line is as follows:
~ Bride’s mother
~ Bride’s father
~ Groom’s mother
~ Grooms’ father
~ Bride
~ Groom
*Optional members of a receiving line are:  maid of honor, bridesmaids, other attendants, and grandparents.  Remember, the shorter the receiving line, the less time it will take up. 

Receiving lines have gotten an undeserved reputation over the years.  The way I figure it, any tradition that lends itself to having dozens of people tell you how beautiful you look, is NOT a bad thing! 

The tradition of the wedding veil dates back to Biblical times. It was a symbol of modesty and innocence. Genesis records how Rebekah veiled herself when she was to meet Isaac, her intended bridegroom.  (Genesis 24:65-67).  Leah was believed to be covered with such heavy veils that Jacob was unaware he had married her instead of Rachel, Leah’s younger sister, until after the wedding night. (Genesis 29:22-25).  Historically, the veil has always been used to cover the physical form of the bride until the groom removed it on the wedding night, a sign of respect and submission to her husband.  The removal of the veil by the husband acknowledged his duty to love and protect his bride.  Although a lot of the original symbolism has been lost, it is still a wonderful picture of the sanctity of marriage and the physical exclusivity between a husband and a wife within the covenant of marriage.

Veils have not always been white.  In early Greece veils were yellow, and they were red in ancient Rome.  White veils came into style in the United States in 1799 when Nelly Curtis, George Washington’s adopted daughter, wore one at her marriage to Major Lawrence Lewis, Washington’s aid.  The story goes that Major Lewis first saw Nelly when she was standing behind a filmy lace curtain and thought her so beautiful that he asked for her hand in marriage.  She then decided to wear a veil at her wedding in honor of that meeting.

What does the best dressed groom wear these days?  It all depends on the wedding ~ where it will take place, the basic style of the wedding and, of course, the time of day.  Let’s start with the ‘when’.

The time of year, as well as the time of day that the wedding will take place will have an effect on what the groom will wear.  Darker suits or tuxedos work well with evening weddings, or fall and winter weddings, whereas lighter colored suits are great for spring and summer weddings. 

The ‘where’ is equally important.  No one expects the groom to wear a tuxedo for a beach themed wedding.  A nice light-colored linen suit is perfect for this type of wedding.  Informal church weddings should always rank at least a business suit with white shirt and tie. 

The style of the wedding is also a major factor when choosing the appropriate groom’s attire.  If your church wedding is a semi-formal occasion, add a cummerbund or vest and a bow-tie to your suit or tuxedo.  Formal weddings can require anything from dinner jackets and waistcoats to black tie and tails.  Military dress uniforms can also be worn if the groom is in the service. 

Choosing the perfect groom’s attire really isn’t very complicated after all is said and done.  The best rule of thumb is to consider the style of the bride’s gown and choose a suit or tuxedo in keeping with that same style.