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Browsing Tag: wedding tips

Winter Wedding Ideas To Make Your Day Magical

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It’s November and if you’re anything like me, you’re already excited about the holidays. Garlands and string lights, reindeer pulling sleighs on neighborhood lawns and rooftops, the first whirls of snow in the air–the whimsy of it all is irresistible. Given the rich color palettes, cozy vibes, *and* off season discounts on venues that come with winter, it’s no wonder the winter wedding is only getting more popular!

If you’re considering or planning a winter wedding, tapping into holiday traditions can add memorable warmth to your ceremony and reception. And it’ll be a lot of fun for both you and your guests! Here are five winter wedding ideas that will make your day filled with holiday magic:

1. Incorporate winter greenery and blooms into your florals.

Shallow focus photo of a branch of holly with red berries.
Photo by sky mack

There is *so* much creative potential here. You can incorporate poinsettias or holly berries into your bouquet for touches of winter warmth, decorate the aisles of your ceremony space with mini Christmas trees, hang pine garlands in your reception space–the options are endless! Maybe even one of these winter crowns for you or your wedding party.

 

2. Add the sound of holiday cheer to your processional.

Close up photo of copper jingle bells.
Photo by Joanna Kosinska

Having a flower girl, ring bearer, or any pups in your ceremony? Give them jingle bells for a sprinkle of winter music as they go down the aisle! You can attach to a flower girl’s basket, a ring bearer’s pillow, incorporate into a boutonniere or wrist corsage,  or attach to a collar. Melt everyone’s hearts by incorporating jingle bells into this winter wedding dog collar for an absolutely adorable wedding party pup!

 

3. Have a wassail toast.

Glass mug of hot apple cider on a dark wooden table with whipped cream and cinnamon sticks.
Photo by Patrick Fore

Wassail, or warm spiced apple cider, is a delicious alternative to toasting with champagne during your reception. It can be made with or without alcohol–spiced rum is *so good* in wassail. Copper mugs are a beautiful option for serving wassail, but any heat-safe mug will do. (There are so many cute mug options out there it’s hard to go wrong.)

 

4. Gingerbread cookie decorating station.

Photo of many decorated gingerbread cookies on a stone or cement countertop surface.
Photo by Kelsey Weinkauf

An interactive winter wedding dessert option that’s fun for kids and grownups alike! The setup for this can range from simple to elaborate depending on how many cookie shape varieties and toppings you want to offer. You can really go all out with sprinkles, candies, beverages like egg nog and milk, and tons of winter holiday shapes! But even just your classic gingerbread man cookies and red, green, and white icing options is enough for a table everyone will enjoy.

5. Rent reindeer.

Photo of two reindeer in a snowy field resting their necks on the slats of a wooden fence.
Photo by Arseny Togulev

Yep, you read that right! Of course, whether there are reindeer to rent in *your* area is a case-by-case basis sorta thing, but there are businesses across the US that rent reindeer by the hour or day. Petting and hanging out with cute reindeer on your wedding day and have them in your photos sounds utterly magical.

But one thing to keep in mind: unlike many other wedding services that tend to be less in demand during the winter, reindeer rentals will be in demand for other holiday-themed events and parties. So, if this is something you want to budget for and commit to for your winter wedding, you’ll want to book a rental well in advance.

 

What other ideas do you have for your winter wedding? Drop in the comments!

 

My posts may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a cent more but but FBNW will get a small commission, which helps keep us running. Thanks!

10 Boho Wedding Hair Accessories That Aren’t Flower Crowns

boho wedding hair accessories that aren't flower crowns

My posts may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a cent more but but FBNW will get a small commission. Thanks!

As a lifelong crystal collecting, fantasy novel devouring, unicorn and dragon obsessed sentimental nerd, I love how the boho wedding trend has opened up so many possibilities for brides who want to look magical on their wedding day! One aspect of boho styling I’m happy to see get more creative is boho wedding hair accessories.

Here’s the thing: I love flower crowns! But there are so many other headpiece and accessory possibilities coming into vogue that deserve more spotlight. Also, flower crowns don’t fit every mystical boho persona: what if you want to be a winter queen, a celestial goddess, a crystalline princess?

So, I’ve collected nine boho wedding hair accessories that aren’t flower crowns for brides who want to accessorize outside the box here:

1. Gold Star Celestial Wedding Crown

starry headband crown

Celestial weddings are having a moment right now and I am *into it.* This starry tiara is elegant yet whimsical, the perfect finishing touch to your bridal look. This crown is $125.

2. Large Crystal Wedding Back Crown

quartz crystal back headband hairpiece

For the bride who wants a clean, modern boho look, this quartz hairpiece adds an earthy, raw touch of magic. This hairpiece is $133.

3. Opal Stud Tiara

opal spike crown headband

Major rock’n’roll goddess vibes! I love this tiara–it’s edgy, organic, and a little bit outer space. This opal tiara costs $62.

4. Dark Mermaid Crown

moody mermaid seashell crown

Not every beach wedding has to be drenched in teal and fuschia! For the bride who dreams of a moody beach wedding, this seashell crown is a stunning finishing touch paired with a shimmery gold or ivory gown and structural dried bouquet. This seashell crown is $65.

5. Gold Star Bridal Headband

gold star headband

A simple yet striking hairpiece like this starry headband is both incredible romantic and easy to wear with a number of hairstyles. At $37.42, this is an affordable way to add starry night sparkle to your wedding look.

7. Wild Crystal Wedding Tiara

wild quartz crystal tiara bridal crown

There are a lot of options out there for crystal crowns, but this one stands out for its wild, organic structure and two tiers of crystals. This stunning tiara is $161.50.

8. White Berry Bridal Crown

white berry bridal crown

For a bride looking for an unexpected botanical headpiece, this berry crown is full of ethereal, innocent romance. And at $8.50, it’s an incredibly affordable way to achieve a unique and magical look for your big day.

9. Golden Halo Bridal Headpiece

boho wedding halo crown sunburst bridal headband

Halo crowns are a fast-growing trend, and Batcakes Couture does them right! Most halo crowns are made from zip ties, but Batcakes’ crowns are handcrafted from wood and made to last. She offers a variety of halo crown designs, which can even be customized with colorful gems! This crown is $124.95.

10. Ivory Lace Bridal Crown

boho avant garde wedding lace crown

Piece. De. Resistance. Seriously, I gasped when I saw this crown, also from Batcakes Couture. For the bride who wants to exude magnificent, avant garde queenliness, this crown is meant for you. Truly, I *need* to see someone wear this for a moody, regal winter wedding. This snowy, beautiful crown is $300.

Have you stumbled upon creative boho bridal hair accessories worth knowing about? Share in the comments! Also, don’t forget to sign up to get my FREE exclusive “Four Places You Aren’t Shopping For Affordable Wedding Dresses (But Should)” Guide!

Three Beautiful Pinterest Wedding Dresses and Where to Find Them

My posts may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a cent more but but FBNW will get a small commission. Thanks!

Like probably every bride-to-be post-2010, I fantasize a *lot* about my wedding and Pinterest is my biggest enabler. (Because I *need* to pin every DIY macrame wall hanging I see, right? Right?!) But Pinterest wedding dresses are my *thing*–I’m perfectly happy browsing wedding dresses on Pinterest for hours on end!

Pinning wedding dresses might be the most fun because there are so many swoon-worthy bridal gowns to imagine yourself wearing! But wedding dress hunting on Pinterest can also be *very* frustrating: you see a dress you love, click on the pin for info on how and where to buy it, aaaaaaaand–

Nothing. Nada. Womp-womp.

I can’t count how many times I’ve clicked a wedding dress pin to see who designed it or where to buy it, only to find a clickbait article that doesn’t list designers, an Instagram photo without the designer tagged, or–my personal favorite–another pin with no info.

After so many Pinterest dead ends, I thought *somebody* had to have spilled the beans on where to find those popular Pinterest dresses, right? Nada again.

So, for all you brides who have been as baffled as me, here’s my first Beautiful Pinterest Wedding Dresses and Where to Find Them! In this post, I’ll give you the lowdown on popular pins featuring three dresses.

melanie dress flora bridal pinterest wedding dress
The Melanie from Flora Bridal

Dress 1: The Melanie from Flora Bridal

Who *hasn’t* swooned over this dress? It’s a stunning boho wedding gown with a long sleeve, backless silhouette that’s become (and remained) wildly popular with brides over the past few years. The intricate details on the bodice and sleeves are breathtaking.

melanie dress flora bridal
The Melanie from Flora Bridal

Melanie is from Flora Bridal’s 2019 Siren of the Desert collection. Flora Bridal is based in Haifa, Israel and their dresses are carried in bridal shops throughout the U.S. You can find U.S. stores that carry Flora here. Melanie’s price tag is $4050.

 

 

amira dress immacle novias
The Amira from Immacle (photo by Pablo Laguia)

Dress 2: The Amira from Immacle

While the previous dress took detective work, I stumbled on this one by total accident and was ecstatic! From the moment I saw this dress on Pinterest in the most lighthearted and fantastical wedding shoot, I adored it! I love its fringe-y bell sleeves and delicate floral lace. It strikes the perfect balance between edgy hippie and ethereal woodland goddess.

amira dress immacle novias pinterest wedding dress
The Amira from Immacle (photo by Pablo Laguia)

The Amira is from Barcelona label Immacle’s Senda collection. Although Immacle currently only stocks dresses in their Barcelona and Madrid showrooms, they ship worldwide. Also, their website has an e-shop page indicating it will open soon–exciting! I don’t have the exact price of the Amira, but Immacle’s gowns start at approximately $3,300. (I’ll update with exact price here if confirmed.)

 

 

rebecca schoneveld bridal separates pinterest wedding
Evalyn Bodice, Ivy Lace Overlay, and McKinley Skirt from Rebecca Schoneveld (photo by Sarah Joy Smith)

Dress 3: Evalyn Bodice, Ivy Lace Overlay, and McKinley Skirt from Rebecca Schoneveld

It’s no wonder this bridal look has been getting lots of love on Pinterest. It’s relaxed yet elegant, boho yet classic, and trendy yet timeless all at once. The emotional, intimate photos of the bride with her groom beautifully showcase her entire look from lush greenery crown to chiffon skirt.

rebecca schoneveld bridal separates pinterest wedding
Evalyn Bodice, Ivy Lace Overlay, and McKinley Skirt from Rebecca Schoneveld (photo by Sarah Joy Smith)

These separates can be found on the Rebecca Schoneveld website (separates toward the bottom of the page). Bridal shops nationwide also carry Schoneveld’s dresses and separates. The combined price of the Evalyn Bodice, Ivy Lace Overlay, and McKinley skirt is $2820.

Is there a Pinterest wedding dress you’re swooning over but can’t find? Let me know and I might discover your dream dress in my next Pinterest Dresses and Where to Find Them! Also, don’t forget to sign up to get my FREE “Four Places You Aren’t Shopping For Affordable Wedding Dresses (But Should)” Guide!

Plus, if you need to accessorize your beautiful Pinterest wedding dress, check out FBNW’s list of boho wedding hair accessories!

(PS: If you know the photographer for either Melanie dress photo, please let me know! I want to credit photographers for their beautiful images as much as possible.)

Why I Started Fly By Night: Everyone Needs a Little Help

Hello, and welcome to Fly By Night! I’m so glad you’re here.

I started Fly By Night because like many brides–especially those planning their own weddings!–I spend a *lot* of time online researching wedding stuff. And I love it! You won’t hear me complain about 3am Pinterest binges dedicated solely to browsing cute sandals for the rehearsal dinner.

*However* (and this is a big however!)

Despite the endless supply of wedding resources online, I find myself asking the same questions over and over:

That dress from Pinterest is beautiful, but where can I actually buy it? (And can I afford it–and if not, does anyone carry something similar? In my size?) 

Why did none of the many advice articles I read tell me my vendor would need this one thing to feel comfortable executing my vision?

Why are there still so few resources for–or just writing about–weddings with queer couples, queer wedding parties, and queer attendees? How do you help queer loved ones feel as safe and comfortable as possible at your wedding, especially around conservative attendees?

After every one of these questions I think, I wish *somebody* had written about this. But one of the most basic (and best) snippets of writing advice is to write what you want to read but hasn’t been written yet, so finally I realized: I could write about this!

I’ve named this space Fly By Night, because a tiny, quiet truth beneath the flood of how-to articles, Pinterest boards, and all-in-one resources seems to be that a lot of us feel like we have no idea what the hell we’re doing when it comes to planning one of the biggest, most meaningful days in our lives. And it makes sense! You only plan on doing it once, no one teaches you how to do it, and there are people whose literal full time job is doing a thing many of us are scraping together in spare moments between multiple jobs and chores and still trying to have a social life. (Can you tell I’m in my thirties?)

So I want to affirm this experience of feeling like you’re floundering a little through an exciting but also big, stressful process, which is why I chose the name Fly By Night. Not only do I want to offer advice and resources I haven’t found anywhere else, but also keep things real–because everyone needs a little help, including help feeling okay about needing help.

I’m here to help you, so let’s help each other: what wedding advice would you like to find? What resources do you want that don’t seem to exist? What question do you keep asking yourself that no one has answered? I’ve love to hear your thoughts!