Well-Groomed Groomsmen

For these past few weeks, I’ve mainly provided tips for the ladies in the wedding, but for this post, it’s time to give the guys some attention. (Thank you Aaron for giving me the idea for this post!!) Bridesmaids have a few more options when it comes to their outfit on the big day, but more and more, groomsmen are stepping outside of the box and putting on some pretty stylish outfits themselves.

• Depending on the formality of your wedding, first decide between suits or tuxes for the men. You are also able to then choose the color. The trend seems to be a beige color for spring and summer month weddings and gray for the fall and winter months. (Apparently “Gray is the new black” in the world of weddings).

2 Brides Photography

• Next, and this is where the fun comes in, choosing between bow ties and neckties. Both tie options come in tons of bold patterns and colors, which will surely match your theme and the groomsmen’s personalities.

• Some groomsmen are opting out of the jacket all together and instead going for a more casual look with suspenders or vests. These also come in a wide variety of styles and can be much cooler for the summer months.

Matt Alberts Photography

• If you want to add a colorful accent in the groomsmen’s attire, opt for bold dress socks. Similar to the ties, these accessories provide some added visual interest and allow for personalities to shine through. 

Tara Peddicord Photography

• A way to bring to liveliness to your photo shoot, have the groomsmen wear their favorite superhero or sports team t-shirt underneath their dress shirt. These are definitely the types of photos you will want to look back on.

Groomsmen Wedding Favors

Thinking of a thank you gift for your groomsmen may be difficult, but I’m sure your guy will have some good ideas on what to gift. Just in case, here are some ideas to help you out. Keep in mind, personalization is extremely popular right now and most, if not all, of these gift ideas can be personalized in some way!

• Cuff links
• Socks
• Watch
• Money clip
• Pocket knife
• Shaving kit
• Keychain bottle opener
• Pint glasses/beer mugs/shot glasses/flasks
• Cooler
• Koozie
• Cigar
• Lighter
• Golf tees/golf balls
• Duffle bag

It is no surprise that the bride and her bridesmaids often overshadow the guys in the wedding. Encourage the groom and his men to get involved and have some fun with the favors and wedding attire. This will make for some awesome photos and a very happy bridal party on your big day!

As always, good luck!

Don’t forget to check out more of my ideas for groomsmen and wedding favors on my Pinterest!

XO.

To Register or Not to Register

Brides Live Weddings 

As if I haven't mentioned this already, wedding planning is stressful! Preparing your wedding registry can often prove to be just as difficult. It's always hard to know what you will and won't use in the future. Since I've never registered myself, I've taken the time to speak with those who have, as well as, read some articles on the subject. What's funny is that they will all tell you what you just have to register for, but there are so many items that you will probably never use on those lists. When registering, think about the items that you know will get good use, things that need replacing from your college days, and items that you might not necessarily want to spend your money on yourself. (Who really wants to pay up to $300 on a vacuum?) On this list I've compiled, I only chose items that I felt were useful, but if you're the type of couple that intends to entertain a lot, I would expect you to register for the shot glasses, margarita glasses, and beer mugs, too! Just remember to stay practical in your selection.

Bedroom

• Bedding Set
•  Sheets 2
•  Pillows 4
•  Pillow cases 6
•  Pillow shams 2
•  Bed skirt
•  Comforter
•  Blanket
• Alarm clock
• Bedside lamps 2
• Rug

Bathroom

• Bathroom Set
• Bath towels 4
• Hand towels 6
• Wash clothes 4
• Bath mat
• Shower curtain
• Shower liner
• Bathroom scale

Living Room/Accessories

• Throw pillows
• DVD/Blu Ray player
• Throw blanket
• Lamps 2
• Bookcase
• Ottoman
• Doormat
• Vases 2
• Magazine rack
• Wall clock
• Wall mirror

Laundry/Cleaning

• Hamper
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Trash can
• Tool set
• Vacuum
• Step stool
• Folding chairs 2+

Outdoor/Miscellaneous

• Hobbies
• Workout equipment
• Camping gear
• Grill
• Grill accessories
• Board games
• Rolling cooler
• Beach towels-destination honeymoon 2
• Luggage set
• Gift cards

Kitchen

• Flatware-service for 12
• Fine china-service for 12
• Casual dinnerware set-service for 8
• Drinking glasses 8
• Tumblers 8
• Mugs 8
• Serving dishes 2
• Cutlery set
• Cookware set
• Bakeware
• Mixing bowl set
• Metal sheet trays 2
• Muffin tins 2 (One regular, one mini)
• Cake pans 2
• Cake plate
• Cake carrier
• Appliances
• Toaster
• Coffeemaker
• Blender
• Crockpot
• Cutting boards 2 (One plastic, one wooden)
• Tupperware set
• Spice rack
• Salt and pepper shakers
• Serving utensils
• Measuring cups
• Oven mitts/pot holders 2
• Cloth napkins-8/table cloth-1/placemats-8
• Pitcher
• Red wine glasses 8-12
• White wine glasses 8-12
• Campaign flutes-8-12
• Beer mugs-6-8
• Bottle opener
• Wine opener
• Coaster set
• Barware

On your mark, get set, go register!

XO.

Ab Workout 101: 7 Easy Moves for Flat Abs

Thinking about a destination wedding, or traveling somewhere warm after your big day? Your wedding dress may hide your imperfections (lucky you!), but don’t forget about the honeymoon! Not getting married yet? (Seriously, why does it feel like everyone is getting engaged right now?) No worries! Summer will be here before you know it. So take these few weeks and give your abs a little extra love.

Russian Twists with Med Ball – 50 reps

These can also be performed with a dumbbell.

 

Plank – Hold for 45 seconds

Maintain correct posture by keeping your hips and glutes in line with the rest of your body. These can be performed either on your hands or on your forearms. The full plank, on your hands, will engage your shoulders and triceps. The forearm plank will focus on your core.

Mountain Climbers – As many as you can in 1 minute

Start in plank position and alternate pulling your knees up to your elbows in a climbing motion.

 

Superman – Hold for 3 seconds, 12 reps
Start with arms and legs reaching for opposite walls, head facing on the floor. For maximum intensity, raise arms, legs, and chest simultaneously, slowly lower, and repeat. A modification would be to raise one arm and the opposite leg simultaneously, and then alternate.

Plank Crunches on Stability Ball – 20 reps

Place ankles on stability ball in a plank position and pull your feet in to a crunch position. Where you place the stability ball on your legs will determine the difficulty level. Placing the ball by the ankles/feet will increase intensity; placing the ball near your shins will lower the intensity.

Stability Ball Crunches – 20 reps

Similar form as floor crunches, but the stability balls allows for a fuller range of motion.

Side Crunches on Stability Ball – 20 reps each side

To help with balance, rest feet parallel along a wall and place your lower arm on the floor.

These seven exercises are a great way to switch up your normal abs routine and see what works best for you! Don’t forget, if something is painful or straining, stop. It is only beneficial to complete these exercises correctly.

Thanks again to Abbey for helping out!!

Good luck, ladies!

XO.

Five Steps to Toned Arms

It’s finally spring, so break out those tanks and strapless dresses and show off those toned arms. Whether you’re in a wedding, attending a wedding, or just enjoying the nice weather, add these 5 exercises to your workout and get those Jennifer Aniston arms you’ve been waiting for.

Tricep Dips – 15 reps

Keep your back close to the bench. To increase intensity, move your feet further away from the bench.

Figure Eight – As many as you can in 1 minute 

Abbey is performing these vertically, but they can also be done horizontally.

 

Overhead Tricep Extension – 15 reps

Keep your elbows in close to your body.

 

Dumbbell Bicep Curls – 15 reps each arm, 30 total

 

Push-Up on Rolling Med Ball – 15 reps

Remember, quality over quantity when doing these exercises. It’s much better to do half of the reps with perfect form, than the full amount with sloppy form. Shout-out to my workout partner, Abbey for rockin’ it out in the gym today! Make sure to check out her blog for awesome tips on getting the most out of Pinterest!

Check back later this week for 7 moves for flat abs this summer!

Happy toning!

XO.

Wedding Would Haves & Must Haves:

Anthony Carbajal Photography

It’s no secret that preparing for your wedding can be a stressful time. It’s only natural that simple things go overlooked or are forgotten. I’ve complied a list of common wedding mistakes and suggestions from professionals and brides that have already taken the walk down the isle to help you dodge those wedding blunders on your big day!

• Wedding planning is a long and overwhelming process, full of difficult decisions. One thing to think about when making all these decisions is to first choose an overall theme you are trying to convey. Many brides get caught up in picking all of their favorites, but some forget to create a cohesive plan. Try carrying your theme throughout the ceremony and reception by incorporating it in your invitations, music, food, beverages, colors, and flowers.

• For the best results on the big day, work with flowers that are available and match the season of your wedding.

• Do something other than the typical sign-in book. Try a unique idea instead, like Jenga blocks, stones, thumbprints, or Polaroid photos (also a great excuse to have a photo booth).

• Wait a day before jet setting off on your honeymoon. You will be exhausted and probably hungover the day after your wedding, so why would you want to deal with the stress of airports or driving?!

• Your wedding reception should be about your guests! Spend the extra money on an open bar and plenty of food for the guests. They are there for you, so show them some love, too! -Katie H.

• Videographer: some say over-rated, others say it’s their biggest regret. You may think that having photos of the ceremony and reception are enough, but within the past few years videographers have become the must-have for your big day. -Katie H.

• Avoid grumpy guests and have them eat while you are out taking your photos. The photo-shoot always takes a little longer than expected anyways, and this way you’ll have plenty of time for mingling. -Alex R.

• Have a private wedding photo shoot with just you and the groom before the ceremony starts. These pictures are going to be ones you’ll want to look back on. If you were hoping to keep the dress a surprise, you can still have a photo-shoot with a blindfolded groom! -Alex R.

• You can never have too many family photos; just make sure to coordinate with everyone accordingly. You don’t want to look back later and realize Grandpa never made it to the photo-shoot. -Alex R.

• Brides: maybe provide a day-of kit with everything that your bridesmaids may need. This can double as your thank you favor to your girls, as well. (If the bride doesn’t have time to put together a kit, bridesmaids: this would be a great way to pick up some slack so that the bride doesn’t stress). -Brooke C.

• Invest in a DJ. This way you won’t have to worry about coordinating all the music and entertainment and you can have time with your family and friends. -Kristen F.

• Chair covers or embellishments are something that often goes overlooked. These are a great way to amp up the decorations and your venue without a lot of effort. -Kristen F.

• Don’t get too caught up in planning that you skip taking some time for you. Make sure to set aside some time to do your nails, or get them done. It’s also a good idea to bring all of your getting-ready essentials, including hair products, makeup for touch ups, and curling irons or straightener for some last minute fixes. -Mary F.

Feel free to comment below with your #1 wedding must-have! Good luck and happy planning!

XO.