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I recently blogged about using a Wish Tree in lieu of the traditional guest book and got such great response from brides that I wanted to tell you what you would need to make your own. By purchasing the materials to make your own Wish Tree, you’ll be able to use it again for other types of parties such as baby showers, birthdays, graduations, etc. Think of it as the Wish Tree that keeps on giving.

Here is what you need to recreate the tree shown in the picture:

Manzanita Branches: You can spray-paint them gold or silver, or you can leave it the way nature intended.
Crystal Garland for use on the tree and in the vases
2 Large Glass Hurricanes or Floral Vases
Ornament Hooks
2 pens for guests to write with
2 Large serving trays which can be used to display the wish cards before the guests hang them on the tree. (If you want the guests to be able to access both sides of the table you will need 2 Large serving platters 2 frames and 4 pens.)
1-2 frames: The frames are placed between the hurricanes on either side of the table. Inside the frame, place card stock with the wording: “Best Wishes Brides Names & Grooms Name.”

Wish Tree Notes: To keep it simple, you could have your invitation vendor create the notes in the same style and card stock as your wedding invitations, place cards, programs and guest cards. Or, you could choose card stock in any shape or color you want to fit the theme or look of your wedding. It could look like an actual leaf or it could be done in the shape of a sea shell or snow flake. You just want to make sure there is enough surface space on the card for the guest to write her message.

Useful tip: Make sure to get 15-20 extra notes more than your total guest count. You can take the cards to Kinko’s and have them drill a hole in each one.

Most of these materials can be found at Crate & Barrel and Target. You can pick them up while you are registering for your wedding gifts.

Here is how you would construct your Wish Tree:

1. Wrap the inside the hurricanes with the crystal garland in a circular direction so that you get a good base in which to place the manzanita branches.

2. Place the two hurricanes about a foot apart from each other on the table on which the wish tree will be displayed.

3. Arrange the manzanita branches in the hurricanes.

4. Take the remaining crystal garland and drape them throughout the branches. This could take some time and you might need to make adjustments. You just don’t want to have any huge holes.

5. Place a ornament hook on each wish card and display them on the table. You can use the a serving platter to display the cards on, like it is in the picture, or you can just spread them on the table itself. (This step was the most time consuming for me.)

6. Place the frames in the center of the two hurricanes

7. Place the pens on either side of the serving platter

Useful tip: To get the most sparkle out of your tree place it near a great light source or add a few votive candles around the tree.

You’re done! You now have a show-stopping place for guests to send their good wishes.

Article: herecomestheguide.com

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Non-traditional theme weddings often have one thing in common. Elaborate costuming and dramatic effects. Let’s take a look at eight of the most common nontraditional weddings.

All Hallow’ Eve

Halloween is a favorite event for a lot of people including kids. It’s not odd that once your grow up that you’d want to get married on one of your most favorite occasions, right? Halloween weddings include costumes and a masquerade ball type of event. You can downplay the harsh orange and black colors of Halloween by mixing in other colors like grays, silvers and white. I’ve also seen people use pumpkins with smiley faces as table decorations. Orange and black candles also create a lively affect.

Balloons

Balloons can create the same dramatic affect that flowers cans. You can hang them in the doorway to the reception or wedding hall. You can tie them to chairs. You can even use the bouquets on the tables as centerpieces. You can take your pick, cover the ceiling with a helium blown balloon or cover the floor with a hot air blown balloon. The idea is to have balloons everywhere! This is a very cost effective theme.

Celtic

Celtic weddings are booming right now! They are similar to renaissance weddings in that you’ll need an old castle or outdoor setting in order to pull it off. The bride wears an ivory satin gown and a flowered wreath. The groom wears plaid tartans, kilts and kneed high white socks.

Country ‘N Western

Get your blue jeans and line dancing shoes ready. You’re in for a foot stomping, hand clapping good time. The food for the day is barbeque and potato salad. The reception hall is lined with red and white-checkered tablecloths. You can pull this theme off on a real life ranch or outside in a big backyard. Let your imagination run wild as far as decorations is concerned. You can use anything from cowboy hats to red bandanas. Let’s move from the old west to the south of the border.

Fiesta

Have fun planning a Mexican fiesta! This theme is for people who enjoy the culture and the people. You can enjoy authentic Mexican food including tacos and burritos. You can also have fun decorating using piñatas and paper crepe flowers. Perhaps the warmth of Mexico isn’t your only option. Try a wedding them that takes you across the Pacific.

Polynesian

Okay, so you may not be able to duplicate the Pacific Ocean for a Polynesian wedding. Any body of water will do! All you need are authentic music, tiki torches, flower leis and crepe paper flowers to get you in the mood here. The food is relatively inexpensive including from roast pork to fresh fruit.

Renaissance

Renaissance weddings are similar to a Celtic wedding in that you’ll need elaborate costuming. They also take place outside or on the grounds of an old castle. The bride wears a heavy gown similar to what they use to wear in the 14th century. It has bell shaped sleeves and a V back line. The groom and his groomsmen wear velvet doublets and shirts with billowing sleeves. A feathered hat and sword tops off the man of the hour’s wardrobe.

The Ole South

This is another wedding theme that takes place mainly outdoors. You’ll need a beautiful mansion or plantation to help pull this theme off. The bride wears a southern belle wedding dress complete with parasol. The bridesmaid’s dresses are also ball gowns. The groom and his groomsmen wear white dinner jackets and black pants. I hope you have some idea of the kind of theme wedding you’d like to have now that we’ve run through the most popular ones.

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A budget may be the first thing a wedding coordinator will want to go over with you. But, a wedding theme is the second. You don’t have to have one, however a wedding theme can give you some direction with your planning. For instance, I recently attended a theme wedding where the couple played out Cinderella complete with glass slipper and horse drawn buggy. None of the bridesmaids could fit the glass slipper. It was really cute. Take a look at these themes and let me know what you think!

Rose Riches

As it’s name suggests, roses, roses and more roses make up the theme to this wedding. The idea is to buy as many as you can afford, then fill in the gaps with lots of greenery. I’ve known people to beg, borrow and steal from relatives to get the potted plants out of homes and backyards. You’ll save a lot of money that way. You can also use ribbons in the color scheme that you’re using to tie around the plants. You can even add silk plants in with the live ones to add a dramatic effect. You can add wrought iron benches to create the garden affect as well.

In The Park

This theme is as its name suggests. You can pick a park to get married in and ship in more and flowers as needed. I’ve known couples that added everything from candle towers to portable streetlights at night to create the desired affect.

Hearts Mixed With Flowers

You’ll want to use lots of hearts all over the place with this theme. You can buy many different kinds of heart shaped items in your local party store. If you’re really looking to save money, you can make your own. I know a couple that made hearts out of construction materials like poster boards. My favorite hearts shaped items are thrown on tables for decoration. The pink, red, gold and silver like hearts are about the size of a flat pea. You throw them on the table and they sparkle.

Watch for our next article…8 Non-Traditional Wedding Themes….

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