River Garden features 36,000 sq feet of beautiful space with a glass conservatory and amazing water features. At River Garden the covered lawns and 3 gate access points allow couples to design a ceremony space that is unique to their style. Allowing the wedding processional to have a direct walkway to the altar. One of the processional access points guides you across a beautiful cascading water feature where you can walk across the bridge to access the ceremony location. Check out some of River Gardens past weddings here
The ceremony site is filled with beautiful lush gardens, mature trees, water features & river rock walls that makes the perfect natural background for your wedding photos. The wedding venue can accommodate 350 guests with parking to hold 200 vehicles with extra street parking if needed. The venue is child friendly and ADA accessible allowing comfort for all of your guests. The wedding space rental includes 12 hours of venue access with your choice of reclaimed wood farm tables and chairs. This allows your wedding to have plenty of set up and tear down as well as a space to drop off decor the day before if needed.
Cocktail Hour at River Garden is made easy with 2 beautiful mobile wood bars that come included in your wedding package. The venue also includes 6 reclaimed wood cocktail tables, 8 umbrellas & 8 heaters for your guest to drink and mingle comfortably in the venue space. The market lights, water features and accent lighting throughout the venue allow for a seamless natural decor look that will tie in the entire space with little to no added decor needed.
The reception space under the conservatory is where the magic happens as the space transforms from day to night with the amazing waterfall focal point lining the entire back of the reception space. As the couple is now married the guests will make their way into the reception space to celebrate and grab a seat at any of the wood farm tables & chairs. The venue also includes the sweat heart farm table for the couple sit while they entertain their guests. With a state of the art speaker ceiling with over 500 speakers guests can enjoy amazing sound systems that stays within the walls of the venue but provides sound clarity & impact like no other venue in San Diego.
When planning your wedding here at River Garden you know you will be in good hands from the onsite facilities and venue manager handling all the venue details to the intentionally curated preferred vendor list of some of the best licensed and insured vendors in the industry. Arenlace Events is so honored to be a part of River Gardens preferred vendor list for wedding planning and coordination. If you would like to chat about wedding planning services or all inclusive wedding packages book a consult with us here to chat about packages.
River Garden all inclusive pricing fits most any brides budget with venue rentals off peak ranging from $5,500 - $6,500 and peak pricing from just $6,500 - $8,500 depending on the day of the week you choose.
If you have fallen in love with River Garden and want to see the space in person you can! Wedding dates are filing up fast at this premier venue location so head over and simply fill out their contact form here and someone will reach out to you to schedule a venue tour. We cant wait to be a part of your big day with River Garden as your wedding venue and Arenlace Events as your wedding planner.
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You & your fiance recently got engaged but now what? The thing is that no ever taught or explained to you how to plan your wedding. Where does a soon to be bride like you figure out where to start planning your big day? Here we will cover things like engagement party, engagement photo session, vendor selection, wedding dress shopping, bridal shower & bachelorette party. We have put together a mini guide on how to plan your wedding in 12 months to help you navigate through your exciting time in your life.
Image via Style me Pretty
In the first month of getting engaged your going to want to announce your engagement. Engagement parties are the perfect way to share the news with your family and friends The engagement party signifies the official start of your wedding countdown. The moment you’re engaged you begin an exciting new chapter of your relationship and it marks the beginning of the wedding planning process.
In the first month of getting engaged and getting started on your wedding planning you want to start planning your engagement photo session. Be mindful when choosing your photographer for your engagement shoot. It can be a good test run to see if the photographer is a good fit for the big day. Many photographers offer a discount package if you book both events with them. You can also use this time to schedule a test run with a great hair and makeup stylist by booking her for the morning of your engagement shoot. Keep in mind that the photos taken on this day would be perfect for save the dates or the actual engagement announcement pictures.
Grab your soon to be hubby and sit down and map out your wedding day. It's a good idea to figure out what your wedding priorities are so that you both are on the same page. Grab our free wedding priorities worksheet here. The worksheet will help you discuss your engagement details, guest list count, wedding location, time of year to get married, budget & much more. This gives you a great starting point and gives the two of you a chance to get your wedding planning off to a great start!
Image via Arenlace
Once you have your budget down you can decide on the type of venue you want to choose. When choosing a venue you also want to think about your wedding theme and color scheme. Choosing a venue that will work well you all of your design elements.
When the venue is chosen you can move forward with deciding on the remaining vendors. Occasionally the venue with have a preferred vendor list that will help with the decision process. One of the first things after choosing your venue is to hire wedding day help. Arenlace Events provides a wide range of services and price points for every wedding day need. The wedding planner can help you with things like budget management & vendor contract review so that your staying on wedding planning track. During this time you want to start narrowing down your photographer, caterer, florist, videographer & DJ.
Now that you have found the venue and lock down your wedding date you need to put together the guest list. Make this a date night with your son to be hubby. Pick a public location because this could be a touchy subject. Once you have decided on the guest list you can send out your save the dates. Grab your closest friends and have them help with addressing the mailings. This will also give you insight on who would make your wedding party cut.
Image via Nouba
Choosing your bridal squad is one of the most important parts of the process. These are the girls that are going to stand by your side, pick up the pieces when they fall and give you a tissue when things get overwhelming. Picking a Maid of Honor that will be able to handle the Bridal shower and bachelorette party planning is a huge responsibility. During this time you should also ask your bridesmaids to be in your wedding.
Once you have your wedding party assembled now its time to set a date to go dress shopping for your dress and theirs. This is also the perfect time to discuss and finalize groom, flower girl and ring bearer attire. You can also get the mother of the bride and groom to start coordinating their colors with the wedding party.
Image Via Maria Vicencio
Your now at the half way mark of your wedding planning and things are starting to get real. Plan some time so that you and your future hubby can go ring shopping. Choosing the right ring that will be durable for him to wear while making a classy statement on his hand.
Now that you have nailed down the guest list and sent out the save the dates for the wedding you should start looking into accommodations. Find a hotel that will block out rooms for your family and friends. Many hotels offer block out rooms at a discount. You might also want to ask if they have activities or gathering places that they recommend so that family and friends can be entertained during the down time.
This is a great time to finalize your wedding invitations and have them printed or assembled and send them out. A great way to reduce the stress is invite your wedding party over for a wine and cheese party and have them help assemble, address and send.
Get in touch with a few bakeries that specialize in wedding cakes and schedule a tasting. Once you nail down the bakery that you two love you can finalize things, book them and put the deposit down. You can make a date night out of it and while you are cake tasting you can start entertaining honeymoon ideas and destinations.
Image via Style me Pretty
Its time to party! This is a perfect time to start planning and having your bachelorette Party & Bridal Shower. There are a ton of different ways to throw a Bachelorette Party from the traditional Vegas style to the low key girls weekend. Pinterest has a ton of great ideas to choose from and will give you tons of inspiration.
if you are D.I.Ying your wedding a Day of coordinator would be good to hire on at this point. Locking in your bridal suite for you and your wedding party for the day of the wedding will ensure that you all have a great space to celebrate and make memories together. Now would also be a great time to nail down the makeup and hair person for you and your wedding party if you did not get one for your engagement shoot. Shopping for your wedding party gifts ahead of time so that they arrive by the time you have your rehearsal dinner.
You happily ever after is just around the corner and there is a lot of last minute details that need to get done. Deciding and packing all of the bride's wedding day essentials. Contacting the bridal shop and going in for the final fitting as well as picking up the dress if any alterations need to be made. This is a great time to have the groom do his final fitting as well.
What is a wedding without the guests. Get together with your maid of honor and have her make the last minute calls and connect with the guests and have those who have not RSVP lock in their attendance. Grab your guy and sit down and book your honeymoon. Plan the itinerary and the travel dates. Look into excursions, massages, romantic dinners and nightlife.
Your big day has arrived and its you time to have your dream fairy tale wedding. Everything that you have imagines in your head since childhood is about to take place. Planning your wedding in 12 months has been a journey. Its now time to let your wedding planner execute all the wedding details that you have planned making your day stress free and blissful. Try not to rush this day and soak in all the little special moments that you will have with your family and friends.
Some brides may feel like all of the wedding planning is so much to think about and is stressful. If your a bride who is overwhelmed with wedding planning and want step by step help from a wedding pro we have the perfect Wedding planning app for you. The Confident Bride Collective is a wedding planning app that will take you step by step, give you access to a wedding planner and be supported by a girl gang community of brides. Be the confident bride you were meant to be, Let's wedding plan together!
Image via Style me pretty
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Hey Beautiful Bride! We know that planning your wedding can be the most exciting yet stressful day of your life and full of uncertainties on how to start. We at Arenlace Events want to educate you so that you can start planning your wedding with confidence. We want to relieve some of your wedding day stress by guiding you so that you feel confident in making your wedding planning decisions.
Your venue is one of the first things you most likely book after you nail down your wedding date. Some venues offer a Venue Coordinator as part of their package.
They may tell you that they can handle things on your wedding day and it's true, but it will be only within a limited scope.
Arenlace Events wants you to know what the difference is between a Wedding Coordinator and Venue Coordinator. Although, they do sound pretty similar there are some major differences. A Venue Coordinator will take care of anything pertaining to the venue while a Wedding Coordinator will take care of anything pertaining to your wedding.
Venue Coordinator
Venue coordinator is there to handle anything that relates to the venue. They'll will act as a liaison between you and the venue's operations team. When booking your venue they might include tables, chairs, linens, food, outdoor heaters and bar. The Venue coordinator is in charge of making sure there are enough seats and tables for your guests.
If the venue is serving food they will make sure they have enough food for each guest and manage the kitchen and wait staff. They will coordinate on site services such as valet parking, coat check in or process final invoices. The Venue Coordinator will not manage any of your vendors so if your vendor is running late or mixed your date up, you will be the one putting out that fire. The Venue Coordinator does not stay for the entire wedding reception and normally leaves right after cake cutting.
Wedding Pro Real Talk: I have had many brides think that the Venue Coordinator will handle all of the wedding and personal details. In my experience, Venue Coordinators are not obligated to put any of your decor out. To be completely honest I have had a few Venue Coordinators say to me that its too much work, complain and literally not do it. Thankfully I was there to handle all of the brides requests.
I have had brides tell me decor at the ceremony and reception was not done. They have told me favors were not put out and guest book was not moved. When this happens the wedding party or close family members are left decorating last minute and having to leave their getting ready appointment to decorate for the wedding within hours of it starting. Brides don't let family or the wedding party decorate on their wedding day.
Wedding Coordinator
Wedding Coordinator is the person that will coordinate all of your wishes and wedding details. At Arenlace Events, our Day of Coordination package starts out by talking about all of your wedding details in our Free 1 hr. Consultation. Here is where we talk about vision and what you want on your big day.
Once your wedding is booked we immediately get started! We start by reviewing your venue and vendor contracts. This allows us to get familiar with all your wedding details such as venue rules, coverage times and package details. We also include vendor coordination, wedding day timeline, load in and load out instructions.
Wedding pro real talk: We had a bride not know before contract review that her photographer was to start covering the wedding at Ceremony. We let her know and she had to pay to add additional time to her contract and almost lost her precious getting ready pictures.
Arenlace Events Day of Wedding Coordination also includes setting up & take down of all decor. This may be the decor at the Ceremony, Cocktail hour and reception site such as signage, linens, drapery, lighting, sweetheart, dessert, memory & guests tables. We handle all the styling of your personal decor at the wedding. We also include free of charge our dessert bar platters and decor to make your dessert bar stunning for your photos.
Arenlace Events wants to know every detail about your wedding so that we can take your wedding day stress away. In our Day of Coordination package we include a 2 hour Wedding Planning meeting where we discuss everything that will happen on your wedding day. We go over timeline details, wedding party, wedding playlist, guest count, special requests & tasks that need to be completed.
Finally, As your wedding day approaches we are all yours 1 month before the wedding so that we can do weekly check-ins, wrap up final details, and contact all vendors to let them know its go time! We handle and attend your 1 hour wedding rehearsal. We get the wedding party down the aisle and make sure they are feeling clear and confident with their role.
Wedding Pro Real Talk: We have seen vendors get the wedding date mixed up and almost miss the wedding. We make sure that we are calling 3-5 days before your wedding to make sure we have your wedding day correct. This gives us the assurance that all the players will be there wedding day ready!
Wedding Day Bliss is when you show up to your wedding day knowing that Arenlace Events has all of your details and are ready for hitch free wedding day execution. Let us get you down the aisle & to your reception with out ever having to stress or think of any details being left out. We coordinate it all from getting your down the aisle, managing guest experience, to your grand exit as you celebrate and start the happiest day of your life!
Oh and P.S. We will not leave until the last guest is out the door and everything is as we found it.
Wedding pro real talk: I hope this helps you see the differences between a Wedding Coordinator vs. Venue Coordinator. Its really like having your wedding bff by your side allowing you to feel confident in knowing that every dream, unique touch and detail you envisioned will be done and your wedding with be full of dreams.
Let Arenlace Events take your stress away and let your happily ever after begin! Book your Free 1 hr. Consultation with us today!
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Hi Friends! It's Me, Michelle Coto! I'm the founder + creator for Arenlace Bridal Boutique. If you're new here, we would like to tell you a little about us 🙋!
We are an online bridal boutique that specializes in hoodies, tank tops, shirts, robes, and accessories. We cater to brides, wives, besties, birthday girls and more! Celebrating all the good things in Life! 🍾
We design and curate everything in our shop that is located in Oceanside, CA. 🌊 Throughout the years our Brides have helped inspire, grow and design some of our favorite pieces today.
In 2012, I took a bridal robe concept that was designed for me for my wedding day and recreated it. I opened an Etsy account and started selling the custom, handmade personalized robes. Little did I know that that idea would turn into a real full force bridal business! 🎉
Since we opened our doors we have:
launched our own website
done multiple product photo shoots 📸
collaborated with 100's of vendors.📞
Been featured in many blogs, magazines & press 📰
Surpassed over 6,000 orders through our Etsy and Shopify store.💳
Participated in LA & Paris fashion week.👰
We have put our all into this little company with our blood, sweat, and tears and are truly Thankful to all the brides, wives and babes who have supported our small business. We welcome all of our new friends and are excited to be a part of your fairytale!! 👭👭👭👭
Getting married is just the beginning of your new life as a couple. But why not kick off the rest of your tomorrows with a memorable and exciting honeymoon? Here are five ways to make your honeymoon memorable.
If you’re like us, you love to parle français, but no matter where you end up going, think about it... how fabulous would a Paris, Venice, or Santorini honeymoon be where you could immerse yourself in the local culture without translation books or fumbling with smartphone apps? If you’re going anywhere out of the states for your honeymoon, free language learning programs like Duolingo.com are available right in the palm of your hand. An investment of 5-10 minutes a day six months before your big day can make any language your language of love for the rest of your life.
Start a secret collection of enticing outfits that you reveal to your sweety every romantic night of your time together. As your special day approaches, slowly pick up different colors and styles for every night to drive the love of your life wild! Online shopping is fun with sites like Adore Me, Fredericks of Hollywood, and Victoria’s Secret, but be sure to wrap your enticing surprise in one of our comfy custom bridal robes. And have fun with the reveal. How many ways can you take off that robe? Only you know for sure, honey.
Most destination resorts have some kind of honeymoon video package where a videographer will show up at your scheduled activities and get nice shots of you and your new Mr. doing all sorts of things from parasailing, to rock climbing. But what about the moments no videographer can capture? What about those small, special moments driving to dinner, walking on the beach, or sitting on the balcony of your room? Since most smartphones can capture high-resolution video, make sure to take several 15-45 second clips of those wonderful, personal moments, and edit it all together yourself with free editing software like Lightworks or Hitfilm express. Or pay a small fee and a professional editor can piece the clips together for you so you can share those beautiful moments with all your friends on social media!
Resort scheduled couples massages are great. But what’s even better is lighting a few candles in your room and breaking out an assortment of beautifully scented massage oils from Kama Sutra Oil Therapy. You and your sweetheart can rub each other down and work out all of the tension of your busy days. With scents like rose garden, vanilla, and sweet almond, it’s easy to get lost in the moment and forget that anyone else exists besides you and your special love.
There’s almost nothing more romantic than a newlywed couple dancing the tango. Imagine the reaction as you and your lover reveal your sweet moves at your wedding reception, especially if nobody knows that you two have been spending a couple nights a week learning the dance of love. Carry that dance into your honeymoon where all the couples on the dance floor at your destination will remark at how gracefully you move together. Some might dismiss the impassioned synchronicity as a newlywed phase, but you both know you will always make time to dance with each other because this dance you learned together is now a part of your lives together.
]]>In Honor of Get To Know Your Customers Day, which is tomorrow, July 19th, I would love to know where you're from and maybe a little bit on how you're doing.
I've had so many great women and men alike shop for their special day on our site. I've heard bachelorette stories and stayed up late making your handmade gifts so that your bachelorette party gets rave reviews from the bride. Your wedding planning adventures make me remember mine fondly. I can't begin to express how grateful I am to be on this journey with you, and most importantly, your support of our small business.
So tell me a little about yourself in the comments or just share where you're from. I'd love to hear what happened after your wedding or that birthday bae bash. Do you wear your slouchy Engaged shirt around the house even though you've been a Mrs. for a while now? Or maybe you drink coffee every day from your Miss to Mrs mug? I'm so curious!
If you're new to Arenlace, look around the site and read a few of our blogs. Join our community of women and friends on Facebook and Instagram. I'd love to know your story, too! (Plus, if you take pictures on your fun adventures, I always take the time to repost.)
To thank you all, Arenlace is having a sitewide sale tomorrow. Just use the code "July 19th" tomorrow, and you'll get 15% off everything. As always, there's no code required for Free Shipping off domestic orders over $50.
♥ Michelle
It seems like we just celebrated all the beautiful mothers in our lives, and now Father’s Day is rapidly approaching. While the Mother-of-the-Bride is included in many of the planning activities, like dress shopping and picking flowers, there are still plenty of ways we can include the fathers, stepfathers, and honorary fathers on that special day! Here are 10 ways to include your dad in wedding planning:
1. Wedding Planning. Not all fathers sit on the sidelines while the brides, grooms, and mother-of-the-bride make all the plans. Some papas enjoy joining the hunt for the perfect site, the best flowers, and taste-testing the wedding cake, of course! Gear up that special dad with a Father of the Bride Shirt and put him to work.
2. Keeper of Lists. If your father has always seemed to keep track of everything, ask him to be the keeper of lists -- especially if you are planning your wedding yourself. Put him in charge of keeping track of your vendors, the guest list, your registry, or have him be the keeper of the day-of checklist.
3. Bartender. Ask your dad to put together a special drink list to be served at your wedding and encourage him to give each drink a name related to your wedding. Who wouldn’t drink a Happily Ever After Margarita?
4. The Bridal Procession. A father walking his daughter down the aisle is perhaps the most traditional role a father plays in the wedding. As we saw during the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Prince Charles stepped in to walk Meghan down the aisle when her father was too ill to make the trip to England. It’s a huge role. What better way to include dad in the wedding than to have him help pick out the bridal procession music.
5. Father-Daughter Dance at the Wedding. Like the walk down the aisle, the father-daughter dance at the wedding is a special moment between the bride and her dad. Ask him to practice a special dance with you or surprise him with his favorite dance tune! And if you have a stepfather in your life, it would be touching to ask him to lead you in a father-daughter dance, too.
6. Something Borrowed. Put a twist on asking for something borrowed by asking your dad to lend something to your groom and build the bond between these two special men in your life.
7. Wedding Officiant. Imagine the surprise when your father walks you down the aisle and then takes his place as your officiant! It’s fairly simple to be registered as an officiant. Another option is to ask the father of the groom or your stepfather to act as your officiant as your father walks you down the aisle. It’s a touching gesture that you and your groom will remember forever.
8. Reception Speech. While the father of the groom usually speaks at the rehearsal dinner, ask your dad to give a speech at the wedding reception. He will be so touched! Better yet, sit with him and help him craft the message. Writing it together will be sure to add another stop to your shared memory lane.
9. Custom Groomsmen Wear for Dad. There is no consensus on having the father of the bride/groom match the groomsmen. It would be a great touch to give the father of the bride and groom matching boutonnieres and other items like matching socks or even a pocket square to match the groomsmen.
10. Custom Wedding Photo Album. There are several traditional photos taken at the wedding. The list is daunting. Ask your wedding photographer to capture candids of just your father, your father and mother, and your father and you. Your dad will be thrilled to receive a customized photo album of your special day.
If you haven’t guessed by reading our blog, everyone at Arenlace Bridal Boutique loves weddings. We love making your special day feel like it’s a fairytale. So if you are wondering if we were watching The Royal Wedding . . . you don’t even have to ask!
We did.
It’s like watching a real-life Cinderella story.
Now that the royal wedding worldwide mania is dying down, we want to share our favorite moments.
Meghan chose not to have adult bridesmaids since she didn’t want to choose amongst her friends and family. Instead, Meghan had 6 pint-sized bridesmaids and four pageboys that were made up of her godchildren and royal youngsters. They were absolutely adorable!
The best part of being able to include the younger members of your family – nieces, nephews, or godchildren – is being able to shoot adorable bridal party photos like the one below.
In a touching gesture, Prince Harry’s dad, Prince Charles, walked the beautiful bride down the aisle in place of her father, who was not able to make the wedding. It had been announced that Meghan’s father was to walk his daughter down the aisle, but he had to have emergency surgery.
Prince Charles stepping in made all of our hearts melt.
As Meghan walked down the aisle, her 16-foot-long silk tulle veil trailed behind her. The hand-embroidered veil featured flowers that represented all 53 Commonwealth countries. Arenlace knows a little something about making things handmade, so we are all the more impressed by this symbolic and beautiful treasure.
It was clear from the media coverage that the first words Prince Harry said when Meghan reached the alter was, "You look amazing." Every woman wants to feel like a princess on her wedding day. I think this Prince nailed it.
If their PDA is any indication, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will live happily ever after. We wish the best of love and luck to Meghan Markle Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry Duke of Sussex.
]]>10 Ways to Include the Mother of the Bride in Wedding Planning:
1. Mother-Daughter Dance at the Wedding: We all know about the traditional Father-Daughter dance at the wedding reception, but what about honoring the bride's relationship with her mother by playing a special song for her and dancing together? Check out this list for 20 sweet mother-daughter dance songs!
2. Play Your Mother's Wedding Song: Speaking of special songs, why not play your parents' wedding song at the wedding as a way to pay tribute to your mother as a bride?
3. Use Her Cake Topper: Don't shell out money for a cake topper when you can honor your mama by using hers! If you don't want to use it on the cake, maybe have it on display at the reception.
4. Prep for the Big Day Together: Getting ready the morning of the wedding with your best girls and wedding party? Snag your mama a Mother of the Bride Hoodie and include her in the fun too!
5. Include Her Recipe: Does your mom have a fantastic recipe she's known for? Include it on the wedding menu!
6. Recreate a Photo: What a sweet idea! Recreate a special photo of your mom in her wedding dress in YOUR wedding dress!
7. Something Borrowed: Ask her for something special of hers as your something borrowed.
8. Speech: Ask your mom to give a speech at the wedding reception, she will be so touched!
9. Hand Off Your Bouquet: Instead of handing your bridal bouquet to your maid of honor as you walk down the aisle, hand it to your mama! She will be so honored and it is a nice way to honor your relationship.
10. Walk Down the Aisle With Her: And finally, the most important - include your mother in your wedding by having her walk you down the aisle - what a special moment you will always remember!
We hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day! 💞
Featured photo via Aaron and Jillian Photography
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Don't forget to snag your bridal party their ArenLace wedding attire so they can be cheering you on during your wedding weekend in style!
Non-Cheesy and Out-of-the-Box Bride and Groom First Dance Songs:
2. Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel
3. That's How Strong My Love Is by Otis Redding
4. Better Together by Jack Johnson
5. Stay With You by John Legend
6. True Companion by Marc Cohen
7. Rainbow Connection by the Muppets
8. You Are the Best Thing by Ray Lamontagne
10. You And I by Ingrid Michaelson
And, because we couldn't resist, here are 5 more first dance songs for the bride and groom which will make everyone ooh and ahh!
1. Into the Mystic by Van Morrison
3. Seven Day Mile by The Frames
4. Never Tear Us Apart by INXS
]]>Hello is it me your looking for? Arenlace Bridal Boutique has grown quite a bit since we have opened back in 2012. We would love to share with you the five best placed to find us!
One of the Best places to find us is right here on Shopify! We launched our shopify site so that we would have a larger reach to help brides with their wedding planning. Here on Shopify we at Arenlace Bridal Boutiqe send out monthly Blog posts. These blog posts help give insight on wedding planning ideas, Bridal inspiration as well as help you navigate marriage so that both you and your spouse have a happy life.
The second best place to find us is over on Etsy! This is where we started our adventure back in 2012. Etsy is a great venue to reach thousands of brides getting married. We have shipped out over 5,000 orders to brides! We do alot of our personalized work here so if your looking for a personalized robe or something special come check us out here
Another great place to find us is on The Knot. We just joined The Knot in 2017 and have already gained alot of exposure! We have won the 2018 The Knot best of weddings. They have been such a great addition to our brand. We just love being teamed up with them and honored to be one of their favs!!
One of the best places to find us is on Emmaline Bride! We have been partners with them since 2015. We love to do giveaways with them so that we can give back to brides that are on a budget. We love that they are such a big supporter of the Handmade community and provide a place for us to showcase our items.
The final place to find us is on Snapchat! We post about our behind the scenes and stuff we do as husband and wife. Its really basically our personal life that we would love to share with you. Stop by and check us out!!
Here are just a few of the places that you can hang with us! We would love for you to join us and check out the different items and options we offer for brides and wives.
]]>But don’t forget to get your girls matching Bachelrette Party shirts. We have so many fun options that will be sure to stand out wherever you go for your party! Let everyone know you are having a bachelorette party with your super adorable wearables. Hey, you never know, someone might even buy you drinks!! ;)
These beautiful Bachelorette Party shirts for your Bridal or wedding Party are perfect for the beach, too. Planning a day at the beach or next to the pool our Nautical Bachelorette Party Tank Tops are cute and comfy! These Nautical Bride tanks come in navy or any other color that matches your theme. We have a shirt for everyone on your Team Bride, Bride Squad or wedding party, plus we can customize them!
We hope your bachelorette party is fun and you are able to enjoy yourself!!
]]>We have been together for about 11 years and this year will be our 8th wedding anniversary. I really enjoy this thing called Marriage and its amazing to do life with someone who is your Best friend, lover and confidant. We have been navigating our marriage and how we find happiness and have learned 5 ways to keep your Matrimonial Grass Green. We are a bit silly, crazy and love the idea of being in love. I wanted to share with you what our love life looks like in the Coto Household with these 5 fun facts about us as husband and wife!
First of all, discuss which holidays and traditions mean the most to you. Does your future spouse love the special Hanukkah dinner his grandmother prepares each year? Maybe you can enjoy Hanukkah dinner with his family this year and spend another day with your family to enjoy Hanukkah traditions. What if you can’t imagine missing Thanksgiving dinner with your parents, and your spouse doesn’t have any strong emotions concerning the holiday? Perhaps you can make plans to spend Thanksgiving Day with your parents and the day after Thanksgiving with his family.
Whatever you decide, make your decision concerning the holidays before you get married. This is especially true if you’re planning an autumn or winter wedding. You definitely want to struggle with this issue before your parents start asking where you’ll go to spend Christmas or Kwanzaa. Remember that none of this is set in stone. You can always change your mind next year and rearrange holiday plans to accommodate different situations. Some couples switch it up each year. For example, they may celebrate Thanksgiving with one spouse’s family the first year and celebrate with the other spouse’s family the following year.
Ask for Advice
If you don’t know how to handle the holidays as a married couple, ask your parents what they used to do when they first got hitched. Not only will they provide valuable advice about navigating the holidays as a newly married couple, but they’ll also be more empathetic about your reluctance to travel long distances several times of year to celebrate with one particular set of in-laws.
It Won’t Be Perfect
Realize that no matter where you decide to celebrate the holidays, some of your family members won’t be happy. Your mom may be upset that you won’t be at her house for Thanksgiving. Maybe your mother-in-law isn’t exactly thrilled about you and your spouse’s decision to spend Kwanzaa with your parents. No situation is ever perfect, but everyone needs to focus on being flexible as you and your spouse split the holidays between both sides of the family.
If you want to avoid hurt feelings among family members when they discover you won’t be coming home for Christmas or New Year’s, why not host the party at your house? Newlyweds who want to get the whole gang together for the holidays can invited everyone to their home. This way all the in-laws can enjoy the holidays with you as a married couple, and you don’t have to worry about where you’ll travel for Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving or any other holiday your family celebrates.
If you’ve never hosted a holiday before, find creative ideas on places like Pinterest. It has tons of interesting tips to help you plan a successful holiday party for the family that descends on your home during the holiday season. You don’t need to spend a bunch of money either. Keep it simple to avoid too much stress. Candles, greenery and pine cones make excellent decorations for the dining table and various rooms of your home. Play festive holiday music that will get everyone in the mood to celebrate. Here’s a handy checklist from HomeAdvisor to prepare your home for the holidays.
Managing the holidays as newlyweds isn’t easy, but it can be done. Discussing where you’ll celebrate the holidays before you get hitched is imperative if you want to avoid hurt feelings and keep the peace among two different families who may lives thousands of miles from each other. Negotiation, flexibility and sacrifice are all part of splitting the holidays with your family and the in-laws.
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Birthday Bae Off the Shoulder Shirt Information
Engaged Off The Shoulder Shirt Information
Happy #fashionwednesday!! I am adjusting to life with two kitties (still hoping they’re best friends by the end of the week, but we will see), and hanging out with my hubby! Today I’m showing you how to style my new favorite accessory: the graphic bomber jacket. This particular one is from Arenlace Bridal, and they have a MILLION adorable accessories for my married and soon to be married readers. Don’t worry though — if you aren’t married I’ve linked to some other cutes one, too! Let’s do this.
SHOP THIS EXACT JACKET HERE & SIMILAR ONES BELOW:
I am so obsessed with this jacket it isn’t even funny. I think it’s absolutely adorable. I’m so into bomber jackets lately, and I think you can style them so many ways. Obviously, my favorite way is with a graphic tee and ripped jeans. I typically like to pair them with Nikes or another kind of sneaker. You can check out how I styled my light pink bomber here, and my sequin bomber jacket here.
This is a look I would wear out on a relaxed date night with my husband, out to lunch with a girlfriend or running errands. It’s so casual, which I love, but also lets you play with the type of hair and makeup you wear because it’s so neutral which is also awesome.
I definitely plan on taking this look with me to NYFW this year (eeeeeek stay tuned for more posts on that).
Tip #1: How to find your perfect bomber
This is really about personal style. I have 3 bombers — a light pink (millennial pink if you will), a black sequin and now a graphic. I think they are three distinct types of bombers. I think the light pink one is interchangeable with any outfit, fancy or casual, but the graphic one is kind of limited to casual. The sequin one CAN be casual, but I honestly think it looks best when paired with a killer pencil midi skirt. Decide what kind of look you reach for most and then plan your bomber around that.
Tip #2: How to find your perfect pair of boyfriend jeans
I use this simple rule when buying boyfriend jeans: tight butt, loose strut. Ok, I have literally never actually said that but the rule is the same. LOL. You need to keep the jeans fitted around your bum, and loose around your knees. Preferably with ripped sections because that aids in the the loose knees without looking like your pants are too big. People run into problems when they forget the tight butt rule. It doesn’t look intentional when you have a baggy back side.
Tip #3: ROCK THAT LOOK
I always like to end with this even though it isn’t a real tip per say. The key to EVERY SINGLE OUTFIT you wear is having the confidence to wear it. If you feel pretty in it, ignore the haters. It doesn’t matter your body shape, what you weigh, how society thinks you should look, etc. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “red lipstick intimidates guys, don’t wear it”, or “you really can’t pull off bell bottom jeans”, or “don’t wear fake eyelashes because you look too done up for every day”. Forget it. Forget them. I like red lipstick so I wear it. I like bell bottom jeans so I buy them. I like fake lashes so I AM GOING TO PUT THEM ON. Do what makes you feel like a queen.
PIN THIS FOR LATER:
Ok, so I know today wasn’t chalk full of bomber jacket tips, but I hope what you took away from this post is that you can wear anything that makes you feel amazing. It’s hump day, so make the most of the rest of your week and wear one thing out of your comfort zone!!
Did you like this outfit? Let me know in the comments below!!
There are so many different options to choose from when it comes to throwing a good wedding and party. We have found not only a budget friendly wedding but a bright and cheery theme and a way to Fiesta Like There's No Manana!
In order to Throw a Fiesta Like There's No Manana you will need to shop for the perfect invitations to invite all of your amigos and familia to the celebration. We found these adorable fiesta inspired invitations over on Etsy!
Shannon Skloss Alexander Photography
You'll need the perfect attire for you, your bridesmaids & flower girls to Fiesta Like there's No Manana. We have found some really adorable pin-worthy outfit ideas and have pinned them for you on our pinterest.
The best way to Fiesta Like There's no Manana is to save like there's no manana! Here's alitle D.I.Y table decor and it's so easy yet so beautiful and full of color. Grab some bundles of baby's breath from you local farmers market and have family member start saving their salsa can. You can decorate all of your wedding tables just under $30.00. You can also make tissue paper flower for photo booths, table skirts & banners head over here for the ideas.
Shake your money maker and Fiesta Like There's No Manana! Wedding favors are a must and were are swooning over these maracas. Favors simple as these or little cactus plants make great favors for your guests to remember your big day by. The maracas can be a great way to get the groom and bride to kiss.
Let's taco about How to Fiesta Like There's No Manana! In order make it a fiesta we need comeida (food)! Tacos fit the bill perfectly, budget friendly and they feed a whole lot of people. We all love those taco guys so grab one and hire them for your party. They will bring all the condiments, and the guac and some also include quesidillas for the kids!
You can't Fiesta like there's No Manana without the proper music. Why hire a DJ when you can throw this playlist on with some great speakers and let the party play out. This will get all of your guests in the fiesta mood.
The final touch to Throwing A Fiesta Like There's No Manana is to purchase various tequila's so that you can set up a tasting bar. Have guest take shot of their favorite drink and let them chase it with a salted glass and a lime. This is a great budget friendly drink option to provide for guests instead of a full open bar. We hope that these tips have your guests leaving like they Fiesta Like There's No Manana!
]]>As a bride to be right now it may be all about fairy-tales and happy endings. During your first year of marriage things change. Living together can be challenging at times. In times of frustration, anger or imperfect behavior remember above all that you should have ground rules, speak lovingly & always respect one another to help water your matrimonial grass.
1. Set the Ground Rules before Marriage
When my husband and I were planning our marriage we covered alot of ground work ahead of time. We discussed stuff like finances, children, life style and ways to deal with difficult situations. Having these things in place allows for you to view things in reality. My husband and I did not live together before marriage so there were many things that needed to be ironed out before marriage. We were able to keep our personal bank accounts and opened a joint account for household bills. We had to decide what type of family we envisioned and how many children. We went furniture shopping together to pick out new color schemes and fixtures. We took pre-martrial classes that tough us that love is a verb and that each day you have to choose to love your spouse. Love dosen't come natural especially when emotions are running high.
2. Be slow to speak & quick to listen
Often times anger gets the best of you and before you know words start to fly out of your mouth. Hurtful and angry things that are not meant to be spoken to the person you hold so dearly. If you feel that you are starting to get upset take a deep breath. If you feel that you are unable to speak to your spouse lovely ask them if you can take a break or continue the conversation at a later time. Its also a good idea to have discussions in public. Public settings allow people to feel more comfortable and at ease to discuss difficult things.
3. Learning your spouses love language
My love language is gifts and affection, My husbands is words of affirmation, quality time & Physical Touch. Knowing these i'm able to access my husband and see when he is lacking in one of his love language departments and his tank is running low. Being in touch with your husband is almost key for knowing what his true happiness is and how hes fairing in the marriage role. Words of affirmation for my husband is huge and that's why i Had to learn to be mindful of my words when things go heated. Hurtful words can do alot of damage to a persons confidence & love they feel for you. It can empty a love tank so quickly and it could damage trust & confidence in you with your spouses feelings.
4. Respect one another
Respecting one another is pretty much like a promise that you made to each other and to God. To have, to hold and to cherish from this day forward. Being respectful means that you don't talk bad about your spouse to other people. Respecting your spouse means that in a group setting you don't call him out to embarrass him. Respect means that in an argument you don't use curse words or call them names. Respecting your spouse and treating them just as you want to be treated.
5. Financial Freedom
Finances can bring alot of turmoil to a marriage. I remember when my husband an I were dating I was working on repairing my credit. My identity had been stolen and someone purchased a home in my name. My husband always thought that was a negative aspect that I was bringing into the marriage. Once we were married we started going to a financial class called financial peace university. We learned how to do finances together, how to plan, budget and communicate about money. We were able to get on the same page about how we wanted to spend money and how we would make our money work for us. We wanted to live like no other now so that we could be like no other later. This has really been able to put us on the same page as far as spending. Giving us guidelines on when to ask the other if we can spend money. Going through the class made us realize that my no credit meant that I had no debt walking into the marriage and the as a whole we would only have one student loan and car payments. What seemed at the time to be such a negative thing ended up being a great way to start our lives together with minimal debt.
Marriage is a beautiful thing and is a great relationship if you choose to love daily, cherish on another and treat each other with respect. It is the perfect union between a couple that is willing to do anything for one another. Make sure to always keep your matrimonial grass green by watering it daily.
]]>Choosing your Wedding Party is a big decision that will be a part of your and your future spouses new life together. We have put together a few tips for you and your Fiance to help make the process a lot easier and to help narrow down the right candidates for your Wedding party.
If you have sisters or brothers these would be the ideal candidates to ask to be in your wedding party because family will always be a part of the new life the two of you are creating. Choosing them to be in your Wedding Party will let them know that you cherish the relationship and trust them to take on the Best Man and Maid of Honor Duties. Also keep in mind that the person you choose for your wedding party Best Man or Maid of Honor will be the one to throw your bachelor and Bachelorette party so choose wisely!
Do you have that special friend that has been with you through thick & thin? A friend that you have had since your high School days or have known for 15+ years. This would be the perfect person to ask to be in your wedding party as a Groomsman or Bridesmaid. Not only do you know the ups and downs in their life they know yours which will be so helpful to help plan, be on hand to calm, comfort & console.
When choosing your groomsmen & Bridesmaid for your wedding party look for someone who is responsible, outgoing and organized so that they can shop for jewelry, dresses, tux's and help with stamping & sealing invitations. They will also be in charge of keeping your guest entertained so a great hype man or girl would be perfect for your wedding party.
Choosing the stars of your Wedding Party might just be the most adorable part of planning your big day. The Ring Bearer & Flower Girl could be from ages 1 - 12. They could be a Nephew or Niece on either side of the family or a close family friends son or daughter. When choosing them for your wedding party you might want to choose someone who is not shy but loves to be the center of attention. The Ring bearer could assist in the groom and groomsmen during the fitting by bringing refreshments. He can also help with serving snacks and drinks to the guys on the big day. The flower girl duties can also be to help greet your guests at your engagement party or rehearsal dinner. Also be sure to find out if they love to dance you can add their favorite dance song to your playlist to help get the party started on the dance floor.
A Junior Bridesmaid is a young woman that is between the age of 13- 17. She could be a young woman that looks up to the bride or groom or a daughter of either. This role is a great way to be a role model of what marriage is and what kind of Man she should groom herself for. If you decide to have a Junior Bridesmaid in your wedding party she would make a great hostess and a leader for your Ring Bearer and Flower Girl.
Things to also think about when choosing your wedding party would be personalities that compliment you and your fiance. Do you have an overbearing friend that always wants to win the conversation? Do you have a friend that always has drama, makes up excuses or doesn't vibe with your other friends? A great way to weed out these potential wedding party position holders is to plan a get together at a local bar, restaurant or house and have everyone interact with each other. This will help you get rid of those who don't fit the vibe you are going for and choose the right fit for your wedding party.
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Your engaged, Congratulations! I know you must have tons of butterflies in your stomach and every time you think of your life changing you get all teary- eyed. We know that this is all new to you so we have put together a list of the perfect ways to announce your engagement to family and friends.
The most popular thing to do these days once you get engaged is to get a manicure and take a ring selfie. Posting your newly engaged status on facebook, instagram or even twitter might be a great choice for you. There are coffee mugs out there with saying such as Miss to Mrs or Does this ring make me look engaged that you can use in your selfie picture to announce your engagement.
Gathering friends can always be fun and a great time to play catch up in the lives of the people that you surround yourself with. Set up a date to have all of your friends over for an I do BBQ. Grab some drinks and food and share a few laughs and memories with the people you love most. This makes it a great time to announce your engagement while having a great time and celebrating the new life the two of you will be creating together.
Another great way to announce your engagement is to have a reveal party and put a diamond ring in the center of a cake. Have a family member or the flower girl to be cut the cake to reveal the secret that the two of you are holding would be amazing! Have a friend or a local baker create the cake for the party so all you have to do is show up and surprise your guests.
If you are in to art deco and love the idea of a vintage newspaper layout you are in luck! The daily proposal paper is a newspaper that is filled ith details on the couple such as ho they met and their love story. You can send this to your family and friends via snail mail or via email.
Couples these days often have families that they will be blending and that could look very different for each family. A great way to unite both sides of the bride to be and groom to be is to have them announce your engagement for you. You could do this at a dinner party, engagement pictures or even just at a family gathering. This is a great way to get the new siblings on team Bride and Groom to start thinking and acting as a united family and help announce your engagement.
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You just got recently engaged and have announced to your friends and family that you are the bride to be! Planning an engagement party is the perfect way to get the wedding festivities off to a great start.
1. Choose your Engagement Party Date
Engagement parties are usually throw right after you get engaged. Some couples like to make an official announcement at the engagement party while close friends and family are gathered together. You can also make this date a themed date to your wedding date making it a special memory between the soon to be husband and wife.
2. Create a Guest list
Your guest list must include all the guests that you will be inviting to the wedding. Use this list to think about your wedding party and who you will be asking to be a part of the big day. You can also have your flower girl greet guests as part of her flower girl duties.
3. Plan the Engagement Party Menu
The engagement party menu can be as simple or as grand as you like. Serve things that are special to the two of you. If you love wine and cheese, make a cheese board and serve your favorite finger foods. If you love desert serve small samples of your favorite cakes, pies and cookies. If the two of you love brunch serve up some quiche, mimosa and fruit trays. If now of these fit your fancy then you can throw an I do BBQ.
4. Ambiance
If your wanting to take advantage of each celebration then you have the option to have a themed engagement party. Sprinkle your engagement pictures throughout the party to show your love story. The theme can be your wedding colors, food theme, game theme or nautical theme.
5. Decide what to wear
Choosing attire that best fits your wedding colors. You can plan to wear his and her matching outfits just as you did during your engagement photo session. If you are having a Summer engagement party wear a pretty sundress with a hat. Wearing a little white dress is always the perfect outfit. Wearing a complementing outfit will dress the occasion for the perfect engagement party
]]>Getting cozy and hanging with your girls can be a fun night filled with Instagram worthy selfies, laughter and tears. Cuddle up in matching personalized robes, host a sundae bar and watch your favorite chick flick. A quick game of twister with the girls would provide plenty of entertainment. You can also try out your signature wedding drink and make sure it's a hit at your slumber bachelorette party before the big day. Wake up to coffee and conversations. Have your Maid of Honor put together a breakfast brunch with pancakes, fruit, eggs & mimosas.
Bathing suits, sunscreen, music and flaming floating cocktails! How delish does that sound? A day filled with all of your besties. Grab your favorite speaker and listen to this Bachelorette Party Playlist.Stock your pool party with an assortment of hydrating drinks along with great mixers so your guests can create the perfect cocktail. Get some great conversation with your gal pals as you and your wedding party work on their wedding day tans.
Champagne is always a good idea. Grab a few bottles of the bubbly and take the bride to be on a hot air balloon ride. You can grab a dozen of your closest girlies and sail away into the clouds. You can make a day of it and do a brunch before the ride. Have a few cocktails with the bachelorette party and do a few Snapchats with the group.
Grab your favorite dress and cute hat and head for a day in the vineyards sipping on reds, whites, and bubbly. Find a great place that has small plates so you can pair some grapes, cheese, and crackers with your wine. Have the Maid of Honor make a toast to the bride and give her some well wishes or advice on marriage. Bring a few Bachelorette party games that you can play while sipping your bubbly.
Pack a weekend bag and head out of town for your weekend bachelorette party getaway. Have all your girls pitch in and rent a small house with a pool. Plan a day at the spa and get a day of rest and relaxation in with your girls. Try a foot massage, plan a food menu, grab some pool toys and decorate the place. Create fun and unique ways to celebrate the bride at her weekend bachelorette party weekend.
]]>You asked the most awesome woman in your life to be your Maid of Honor (or Matron of Honor) because she’s always been there for you. Here are ten ways to honor that love and friendship through the planning stages and through the wedding day.
Give your awesome Maid of Honor some color swatches to choose from, and pick a dress color that suits both you and her wishes. You’ll honor her by letting her be involved in this big decision.
If your bridesmaids don’t really know one another, it’s great to have a lunch so your Maid of Honor will know who she’s contacting when planning the bachelorette party and bridal shower. Check out this How to be a Maid of Honor video.
Your Maid of Honor should stand out from the bridesmaids even just a little, so don’t be afraid to give her a different style dress or shade of color in your color palette.
If you are planning on asking your Maid of Honor and the bridal party to go all out with crazy intricate updo’s or hair styles - think about paying for them! Besides your Maid of Honor costs will add up when she's planning your wedding.
Personal gifts will make your Maid of Honor feel super special, so don’t be afraid to gift her something just for her when the other girls aren’t around.
The sincerest way to honor your Maid of Honor is to include her in your thank you toast and to share some sweet sentiments about your friendship. Check out some great speeches in our last blog post ... Top 5 Maid of Honor Duties.
If Maid of Honor is wearing heels and your wedding is outdoors, a great idea is to include heel stoppers with her outfit. Pedicures can also be a sweet treat and a great way to get in some Bridal planning girl time.
Celebrate your Maid of Honor with a little bestie time before the wedding. She’s going to be running around like crazy for you, so why not have a little champagne brunch to loosen you both up.
If she doesn’t know the Groomsmen give her a heads up about players, creepers and potential stage five clingers! She may not be on the lookout for a man in her life, but she should know a little about the other half of the bridal party, anyway!
Time Your wedding day is going to be crazy. Don’t be afraid to make time for special moments – just the two of you, your Maid of Honor and you – to cherish on your big day!
]]>As the Maid of Honor, you will need to give one amazing speech on behalf of the bride and one that is directed toward the couple and their ultimate happiness. Weave a sweet childhood, college or inside joke in. Something that is just “you two”. That way it’s super personal. Speeches should ultimately focus on the bride and her future! We have a few great speeches to share with you.