wedding tips

8 Wedding Registry Items You’ll Actually Use—Every Single Day!

March 13, 2019 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Setting up your wedding registry is such a fun and exciting process. When else can you go on essentially a free shopping spree? It’s all too easy, though, to get caught up in the process and scan until the sun sets without thinking of perhaps the most important question—when will you actually use all this stuff?

A coffee machine? You’ll use that everyday for sure. Fine china? Maybe not so much. It’s so important to keep in mind the frequency of use while registering for housewares and electronics, and to make sure you’re registering for quality products when it comes to items you’ll use daily.

To help you get the most use out of your wedding registry, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite wedding registry items you’ll definitely use daily. Happy registering!

Roomba 690

You should really vacuum your home everyday, but who has that kind of time? Roomba users, that’s who. The Roomba 690 is one of Roomba’s more affordable options—but it still comes with an impressive array of features, like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa compatibilities, a Virtual Wall Barrier so you can keep Roomba from wandering too much, and the iRobot HOME app which lets you schedule cleanings and turn it on or off remotely. Now, you have no excuse not to have spotless floors every single day.

Perry Divided Hamper & Liner

You get undressed and toss all your clothes into the hamper without a thought. But then it’s time to do laundry, and you’re forced to spend extra time separating darks and lights. Stay organized with this rustic hamper from Pottery Barn, which comes with a liner separated into two compartments. Anything that makes laundry time just a little bit easier is worth every penny in our book.

The Ultimate Pillow

You can retire the saying “As cool as the other side of the pillow,” for good because The Ultimate Pillow from Eight Sleep maintains that refreshing, cool feeling throughout the night, regardless of where your head lies. Aside from that mind-blowing main feature, The Ultimate Pillow also comes with inner layers which can be rearranged into nine different setups for optimum comfort.

Turkish Cotton Bath Towel

Quality towels are one of those household items that we often take for granted. To guarantee that you never get out of the shower with only a thin, scratchy washcloth to cover yourself with, register for quality bath sheets like these, from Macy’s. The wide assortment of patterns and colors are guaranteed to match your bathroom and will keep you nice and warm post-bathtime.

Nespresso by Breville VertuoLine Coffee and Espresso Maker Bundle

Can’t start your day without a cup of Joe? Us either. This Nespresso bundle by Breville is perfect for an easy morning coffee, cream, espresso, latte, or cappuccino with just the push of a button. This powerful yet petite machine will save you time and money in the mornings by bringing the coffee shop to your kitchen—without taking up a ton of countertop space.

Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Sheets

You’ve got the pillows, now grab the sheets. Brooklinen’s Luxe Sateen Sheets are among the most comfortable on the market. Opt for the bundle—which includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet, four pillowcases, and a duvet cover—so you can keep things consistent. You’ll probably end up buying backups, too, just to ensure you don’t go a night without.

Simplehuman 50 Liter Stainless Steel Trash Can

No matter how eco-conscious you may aim to be, the fact of the matter is most of us will have to throw something away each day. Thus, it’s important to have a durable, quality trash can that’s also pretty to look at. This Simplehuman receptacle has a finger-proof finish to hide any prints, a strong steel pedal for hands-free disposal, and a silent close lid—all of which make it much less of a pain to take out the trash.

DōTerra Lumo Diffuser

Essential oils are super popular right now and for good reason. Unleashing the power of specialty scents throughout your home can help promote everything from relaxation to energy, stress relief, and more. The Lumo diffuser from DōTerra will match any decor and can run from two to five hours continuously, or 10 hours intermittently. It covers up to 540 square feet and also has seven light color options to set the mood, based on your mood.

Ashley & Alexandria’s Real Bride: Jenell Is Gorgeous in Her Rosa Clara Bridal Gown

February 27, 2019 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Ashley & Alexandria’s Bride Jenell is gorgeous in her Rosa Clara bridal gown.

The appointment was fun! Jenell was a joy to work with. From the time she made the appointment to meeting her at our bridal boutique, we will always remember her enthusiasm.

Our bride found her dream dress. The designer, Rosa Clara. Janelle wore a stunning ball gown with a portrait collar in a beaded lace and Mikado skirt. Along with her infectious enthusiasm, Jenell was also a decisive bride. She knew exactly what she wanted. She had the vision and we found her dream dress.

When she put on the dress, the biggest smile spread across her face. With that smile, came a dance and celebration. She moved as though the dress was hers, and it was. She said, yes to the dress!”

Jenell knew from the beginning to the very last visit she and her mom worked to make her wedding day everything that she envisioned. She is absolutely breathtaking in her gown on her big day with her friends and family to celebrate. Her bridesmaids were beautiful and the sun was shining bright on this perfect day.

Thank you, Jenell, so much for allowing us to be a part of our very special day it was our honor and pleasure.

If you are a bride-to-be, consider Ashley & Alexandria’s. Our clients are from all over Michigan, California, New York, the DMV, Atlanta, and more. We understand the importance of privacy, memorable moments, and decision making when it comes to choosing a wedding dress. Each of our clients have a memorable experience as we listen to their vision, needs, and requests. Then, we take it from there so together we can celebrate as our brides say “yes to the dress.”

Call 248.351.9741 to schedule your appointment and see the collection.

Photography: Jay Dreifus Photography

4 Reasons Why You Don’t Have to Feel Guilty About Having a Destination Wedding

February 13, 2019 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

The first stages of planning a destination wedding go something like this: After weeks of debate with your fiancé, you settle on a location you’re both excited about. Then, you start shopping the idea of a destination wedding around to friends and family, getting a feel for which guests will be able to attend and which won’t. And finally, you’re overwhelmed with the data you’ve collected that runs the gamut of responses from totally enthusiastic to totally discouraging. Here’s the thing: You shouldn’t have to feel bad about having a destination wedding. The people you love who want to be there will find a way, and those who can’t swing it will come up with another way to celebrate your love.

Here, more reasons why you don’t have to feel guilty about planning a destination wedding if that’s what you really want.

This wedding is about the two of you, and who you are as a couple.

As much as people will try to convince you to have a certain type or style of wedding, your wedding is really meant to be a celebration of who you are as a couple. If you both love to travel and explore far-off places, it only makes sense that you’d have an adventurous destination wedding. Celebrate that, because this traveling phase of your life may not last forever.

As much as your guests love you, they won’t sign up to attend an event they can’t manage.

The reality of traveling to attend a wedding can be difficult for some guests. Some may have a fear of flying, limited budgets, or may not be able to take enough time off of work. While that’s a tough pill to swallow because you’d love for all of your friends and family to attend, they’ll ultimately make the call that’s best for them. For those guests who just can’t swing it, they’ll probably try to find another way to celebrate your marriage, either through a small dinner gathering or by sending a nice gift your way.

Your guests who are able to make the trip will have a memorable experience that feels like a vacation.

For the guests who make the trek, you certainly won’t have to apologize for treating them to a weekend filled with good food, great music, and excellent company. Though it’s tempting to fill every hour of your wedding weekend with group activities, be sure to leave some space for relaxation so your guests can fill in some of their time with their own agenda. Et voilà—guilt-free destination wedding!

You might inspire some of your friends and family to travel more than they typically would.

If you have a few guests attending your destination wedding who don’t spend a lot of their time traveling, you might be surprised by the travel bug you’ve inspired. Maybe they’ll tack on an extra few days or weeks to explore the region or a nearby place they’ve always wanted to see. You should never feel guilty about providing your loved ones with inspiration!

Recovery Kits Are the Latest Guest-Approved Wedding Trend

January 30, 2019 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

Everyone loves an open bar at a wedding—until the following morning, that is. Your celebration is bound to be a moment of indulgence for at least a few of your guests, which makes accommodating your friends’ and family members’ recuperation the hospitable thing to do. Enter recovery kits. Filled with plenty of hangover repellants, these pouches and boxes are sure to come in handy, especially following that epic after-party.

To help you fill yours, we tapped Lauren Fremont of Loli Events, who’s prepped many of these kits for former clients. Her best advice? Either integrate them into your welcome gift or—her personal favorite—hand them out after the festivities as favors. “I always think that a favor should be thoughtful and useful—not a random trinket that won’t get used—so a hangover kit is great,” she says. Here, our favorite recovery kit options for any type of party.

“I Regret Nothing”

Believe us, they’ll regret enjoying those signature cocktails even less when they’ve got a bag filled with handy helpers, like ibuprofen, eye drops, and mints, says Fremont. Throwing in a midnight snack is another appreciated touch. Other good adds? Facial mist, eye cream, and a hydrating facemask, advises the planner, so attendees can feel and look their best the next day.

Before and After

Prepare guests for a night of indulgence with a bottle of water and vitamin B (it supposedly staves off hangovers!). We can’t say the supplement is foolproof, though, which is why a second bottle of water and Advil makes for an appropriate follow-up. Bonus points if you serve it all up with these cutesy labels, which you can easily DIY.

Sea Legs

Not all recovery kits revolve around alcohol. For this couple’s boat wedding, pouches were filled with anti-nausea pills to prevent sea-sickness. Come to think of it, they’d likely work just as well the morning after, too…

Recovery Box

While Fremont maintains that these kits don’t have to be big to be effective, we can’t knock these newlyweds for pulling out all the post-wedding stops. This box had it just about everything—electrolyte-restoring Gatorade, water, a protein-rich granola bar, mouth wash, eye drops, and Aleve.

Read the rest here.

The Wedding Trends to Keep and Ditch in 2019 According to Wedding Planners

January 16, 2019 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Brides

With the new year comes new engagements, new brides-to-be (welcome, ladies!), and new wedding trends. And while we’re still excited about the trends and creative ideas we saw in 2018—think games for guests, statement bridal hats, and basically anything Harry and Meghan did—we, like you, are also ready to dive into the world of weddings for 2019.

Which is why we called on some of the industry’s top wedding planners to see exactly what they’re predicting for the new year. You’ll have to keep scrolling to see exactly what they said below, but one thing is certain: The rules are all out. Think mismatched bridesmaids dresses, coeds on each side of the aisle, and more. Also out? Wedding welcome bags and expensive favors (don’t worry, we’ll get to that later). In terms of what’s in, the experts say we’re all still obsessed with the world’s hottest power couple (hi, Harry and Meghan!) so feel free to continue copying the royal wedding’s statement church entrance, meaningful ceremony touches, and unexpected reception details. They’re also excited to see couples experiment with fresh color palettes and put unexpected twists on the traditional wedding in the year come to.

Keep reading for all the exciting, modern, and on-trend ideas, broken down by the pros who came up with them. Oh, and we also asked the experts to share which trends to avoid and their best pieces of tried-and-true advice for the newly engaged ladies like you… So, basically, read on because we’ve got you covered as you dive into wedding planning in the new year!

The year’s biggest trend: “2019 is all about embracing color and new color combinations that have never been done before,” Jesse says. “We see the trend veering away from soft classic colors and heading in a more fun, pumped up direction.” Case in point: “Living Coral,” the Pantone Color of the Year. “We see 2019 clients leaning more towards younger, fresher palettes with pops of bright and bold color that is fun, youthful and often somewhat daring,” he adds.

Trend to do away with: “Welcome bags! Time and time again, we see many of the expensive, well thought-out items get left behind in hotel rooms,” he says. “Instead, consider giving a nice bottle of wine and a handwritten note, or making a donation to your favorite local charity in the guests names honor.”

Excited for in the new year: “We have a couple who is focused on supporting underserved communities and working with female owned and operated local businesses for their wedding day,” he says. “This is an exciting prospect for us and a first for Alison Events to have a client that is so locally, globally and environmentally minded when planning their special day. We can’t wait to see how it all comes together!”

Can’t wait to see a couple do: “A food and wine-focused wedding,” he says. “We love when clients embrace food and beverage as an integral part of the wedding celebration!”

Best planning advice: “Get personal! Hire vendors you connect with on a personal level, not just ones that suit your aesthetic or budget,” he says. “Get to know a vendor over coffee or a glass of wine to make sure they are a good personality fit for your project and are someone you would want to spend a year of your life with planning such a big and important day in your life.”

Read the rest of the trends here.

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Ashley & Alexandria’s Bride Jenell is gorgeous in her Rosa Clara bridal gown.