Category Archives: Wedding Articles

21May2012

Hot Color Palettes for 2012 Fall Weddings

Every year, fashion brings us new color combinations and palettes to play with! Today we’re focusing on a few of 2012’s hottest color palettes for fall weddings.

We’ve chosen three invitations to showcase each color palette. You’ll notice we’ve showcased the color combos through choosing one color for the design and a complementary color for the wording.

Remember, most of Ann’s discount wedding invitations allow you to choose from a variety of colors for your wording. It’s a great way to add a splash of color to any invitation.

 Hot Color Palettes for 2012 Fall Weddings1. Soft and Sweet in tangerine with lagoon imprint.

2. Sweet Sophistication in lagoon with tango imprint.

3. Pretty Petals in tangerine with palm imprint.

4. Antique Details in tango with tangerine imprint.

5. Modern Floral in scarlet with tangerine imprint.

6. Growing Love in tango with brick imprint.

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14Jan2012

2012 Color Trends for Spring

Looking for bright, fun colors to complement your spring wedding theme?

Consider tangerine or canary. These colors are alive with energy and will bring a fresh, bold look to any floral bouquet. Use the color lipstick, similar to fuchsia, if you want the same brightness but prefer a pink.

 

Ann's Bridal Bargains 2012 Wedding Color Trends

 

If you want a color just as bold, but not quite as bright, consider the deep and engaging eclipse. It is more interesting and visually appealing than a traditional navy or midnight blue, and it provides depth and texture — a great accent color! Use coordinating ribbons to make a color statement that gets attention without extensive cost.
Pretty pastels are also available in the Spring 2012 lineup. These include petal (a light and dusty combination of pink with a hint of coral) and Lagoon (a unique blue-green color with a hint of turquoise).

Prefer to stay classic? Orchid is a beautiful hue of purple that makes a great traditional shade for any wedding. Ocean blends blue and purple, creating a soft color that’s incredibly pleasing to the eye. Let’s not forget the neutral and earthy tones such as sterling and latte, both of which are excellent accent colors.

A few of these colors were highlighted during Floral Week. Check out the looks we pulled together in the hibiscus post, the orchid post and the daisy post.

Are any of these YOUR wedding colors?

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22Dec2011

After-Christmas Deals for Your Wedding

Post-Christmas sales can help a bride on a budget save FORTUNE. You’ll find a variety of possible wedding decorations marked 50-90% off.

Not having a holiday wedding? Doesn’t matter! A lot of “holiday” decorations can be used all year round. You just have to take the time to shop and find the right items.

What to Look For:

  • White Lights – for romantic lighting at the wedding reception, inside or out.
  • Bulk Ribbon – for accenting stationery, centerpieces, bouquets, Ornamentsgifts, favors, etc.
  • Bulk Netting – for creating favors.
    Candles
  • Battery-Operated Tea Lights
    Lighted Branches – for centerpieces and general room décor at the reception.
    Silver or Gold Chargers – make attractive bases for table centerpieces.
  • Greenery and Florals
  • Ornaments – can be used in clear glass vases as centerpieces.
  • Beads and Garland – can be used in centerpieces or on tables.

Where to Look:

  • Hobby Stores – probably your best bet for the most variety of decorations.
  • Department Stores – Department stores get picked over fast, so shop early. You can find things like candles, votives, lights, ribbon, etc.
  • Home Improvement Stores – Great for strands of lights in all different colors and lengths.
  • Grocery Stores – the holiday aisle(s) have more than just candy and cookies.

There are plenty of other places to visit and many more treasures you’ll find after Christmas, but this should at least get you started. Have fun shopping, Bargainistas!

 

What tips do you have for snagging those after-holiday deals?

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Posted in Budget-Savvy Ideas and Tips, Wedding Articles | Tagged , | 1 Comment
19Dec2011

10 Romantic Holiday Outing Ideas

The holiday season has flown by and Christmas is just a week away. In the midst of all the craziness, you’ve likely forgotten to sit back and enjoy this magical time of year with your fiancé. Don’t fret! Here are a few special things to do for couples this holiday season:

1. Bundle up and go for a stroll through your neighborhood to find the best holiday lights display. Too cold for a walk? Take a leisurely drive instead.

2. Go for a winter hike and make the final destination a bonfire in the snow (if possible). Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and marshmallows for toasting.

3. Take a walk through your favorite city park and admire the familiar surroundings all dressed up for the holidays.

 

 

4. If you receive a good snowfall, have some fun with it! Make some snow angels, a snowman or even a snow fort just like when you were kids.

 

5. Go sledding just the two of you at the best hill in town, and don’t forget to name the sled something awesome like Snow Surfer 2000 or Super Chill Ride.

 

6. Make reservations at a nice restaurant with an outdoor view, a fireplace or romantic lighting. Be sure to order a classic winter drink, like hot buttered rum or mulled wine.

7. Learn some new moves with your fiancé and take a ballroom or salsa dance class. Bonus: you can surprise everyone with your new skills at the wedding reception.

8. Book an appointment for a couples massage for a little de-stressing. See if you can’t sneak in a hot, steamy sauna before or after the massage.

9. Discover something new together. Take a class doing something neither of you have done before: Thai cooking, pottery 101, glass blowing, etc.

10. Take in a holiday performance. Whether you choose a theater production or a choral concert, you’re sure to enjoy a little something traditional.

And after the holidays are over, check out our 10 Tips for Rejuvenating Your Wedding Planning Spirit.

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11Aug2011

A Look at the Wedding Garter Tradition – You’ll never guess how it got started!

The tradition of the wedding garter toss dates back to the 14th century. In parts of Europe, wedding guests believed it was good fortune to have a piece of the bride’s clothing. At the end of the night, the bride’s dress would get destroyed from guests ripping pieces off to keep for themselves. (Can you imagine? Don’t touch a bride’s dress today. Harm one strand on that dream gown and you’re liable to get a black eye.)

 

 

Brides began throwing pieces of their attire to wedding guests before the guests could charge. It became customary for the bride to throw the garter to the men, which eventually turned into the groom removing the garter and tossing it to the men.

 

 

 

 

Today the wedding garter toss is purely for fun. A couple may or may not choose to include the tradition in their reception, but we highly recommend it. If you like to keep private matters private and prefer not to have your husband take it off with his teeth in front of Grandma Patty, we understand. The garter toss can be as wild or as mild as you want it to be.

 

 

 

 

If you choose not to toss a wedding garter at all, make sure to get one just as a special memento for yourself and a fun surprise for your husband at the end of the night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’ll find many places sell wedding garters to keep and wedding garters to toss. You’ll also find sets of two so you have one of each. Be sure to find a garter that fits your style and love every moment that you get to wear it!

 

 

 

 

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09Jun2011

Letter from the President: Thank You for 17 Successful Years of Ann’s Bridal Bargains!

Dear Ann’s Customers,

I’m proud to say that this week, Ann’s Bridal Bargains is celebrating 17 years of business, and we’re more excited than ever about where we’re headed.

The wedding market/industry is an ever-changing market, but one thing will always remain the same — weddings happen on a budget.  Ann’s Bridal Bargains was created in 1994 to help couples just like you plan the wedding they’ve always dreamed of with a realistic budget in mind — and it’s possible!

We love designing and creating the best, most affordable products for you.  We also enjoy finding the most helpful wedding planning information every budget-savvy couple needs to know. Due to advancements in technology and social media, we’re able to share with you money-saving tips, creative ideas, etiquette advice, exclusive bargain alerts and so much more in a variety of ways. Ann’s now keeps you in the know all the time through our website, the blog, Facebook, emails, free catalogs, and coming soon, a NEW, mobile website!

We enjoy communicating with you, whether it’s about the latest bargains or inspirational ideas. We want to help you succeed in creating the perfect wedding for an affordable price; and we enjoy doing it too! Thank you for following Ann’s Bridal Bargains.

Sincerely,

President and CEO

Darryl Mills

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27Apr2011

Ann’s Wedding Invitations Featured on Mindy Weiss’s iPhone App

Just in time for the Royal Wedding and the 2011 wedding season — celebrity wedding planner, Mindy Weiss, is giving every bride even more tools and tips for planning their own royal event!

The new and improved version of Plan Your Wedding with Mindy Weiss, was just released April 21st with new features to help Brides like you plan the perfect wedding. Ann’s is proud to have six of our favorite wedding invitations featured on the iPhone app, but wedding invitations only scratch the surface of what this app will do for you!  Initial Love wedding invitations and Peacock wedding invitations are featured below.

Initial Love Wedding Invitations Peacock Wedding Invitations

Other features include:

• Exclusive access inside some of the hottest celebrity weddings!

• Access to view designer wedding collections

• Exclusive video advice from Mindy Weiss on trends and inspiration

• Red carpet trends

• Easy-to-use tools for managing your wedding budget (awesome!)

• and more!

To learn more about the app, click here!

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Posted in Wedding Articles, Wedding Invitations & Stationery, Wedding Tips, What's New | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment
31Mar2011

Impress guests with fancy wedding napkin folds! Plus, a dab of napkin etiquette advice.

We’ve found an awesome website that shows you how to do several beautiful napkin folds. You can see a few of our favorites for wedding napkins below. Check it out at http://www.napkinfoldingguide.com/ and find more options to fit your wedding theme plus lots of other good information.

Bird of Paradise Napkin Fold Crown Napkin Fold

Bird of Paradise Fold Crown Napkin Fold

Shop Ann’s soft, 3-ply wedding napkins available in a variety of colors to coordinate beautifully with your wedding! They’ll work great for many of the folds shown at NapkinFoldingGuide.com since paper napkins tend to hold their shape better than cloth. Do be aware that rounded folds will look better with cloth napkins. So choose a fold with sharp corners for your wedding napkins from Ann’s.

NapkinFoldingGuide.com also reminds us of a few important napkin etiquette rules:

• Never let a napkin sit beside your plate. Always lay it on your lap.

• Traditionally, guests wait for the host to pick up and unfold his/her napkin first.

• Gently dab at your mouth when using your napkin. No large sweeping motions.

• Lay your napkin on your lap before dinner is served to create more room at the table.

• If you leave the table or are finished eating, lay the napkin to the left of your plate.

• Napkins should be placed in your lap, not tucked into your pants or shirt — unless you’re eating something especially messy, like spaghetti.

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28Mar2011

Ann’s Bridal Bargains Presents: A Color Story in Lipstick and Pinks

It’s not just your favorite beauty product anymore — lipstick is a color, and a statement! It’s bold, fun and perfect for weddings. Here’s some affordable wedding invitations and accessories from Ann’s to help complete your wedding in lipstick and other shades of pink.

pink wedding invitations

 

1. Our Two Hearts Save the Date will introduce your wedding with vibrant color, charming design and a beautiful photo of the two of you!

2. If the two of you are romantics at heart, this Hearts and Flourishes wedding invitation in lipstick is the perfect, affordable wedding invitation for your big day.

3. Classic style and true romance come together to form our LOVE Photo Invitation, which really pops with color when you choose lipstick.

4. The Close at Heart wedding invitations will be dear to your hearts when you send them out to introduce your beautiful wedding day.

5. White Favor Cards that say “Thank You for making our day a happy one” in pink imprint will put smiles on your guests’ faces.

6. Artistic expression and sensual design create the Watercolor Roses Wedding Invitation — a sophisticated choice of affordable wedding invitation.

7. Simply adorable! These floral place settings are made of bear grass and pink gerbera daisies. They add eye-catching color and style to any table setting.

8. Imagine a bright pop of pink on every wedding reception table — now that sets a scene! You can pull it off with totally affordable, personalized wedding napkins.

9. Colorful flowers below your photo add a delightful touch of design on this Pair of Flowers Photo Invitation.

10. Brightly colored with a stylish flourish pattern, the What a Combo! Seal and Send Invitation is a top choice for affordable wedding invitations in lipstick.

11. If a touch of color is all you’re looking for on your wedding invitation, than the Initial Love Wedding Invitation is a great choice for you.

12. A variety of flowers in slightly varied shades of pink will add fantastic color and texture to your wedding bouquet.

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Posted in Wedding Articles, Wedding Invitations & Stationery, Wedding Themes | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment
21Feb2011

Spotlight on a Pro! Ann’s gets some insider tips from Red Shoe Gallery.

The owner, Nancy White, of Red Shoe Gallery has been a photographer for 15 years, and has been running her own wedding photography business for 5 years with co-owner Karon Dubke. We’re lucky to work with Nancy regularly! Naturally, we turned to her to get some insider information and opinions about one of the first things a couple has to tackle after getting engaged — engagement photos.

 

In the last five years, the increasing popularity of photo save-the-dates and photo wedding invitations has made engagement photos more important than ever. That’s why we asked Nancy to share her favorite styles, locations and poses with our Bargainista brides!

 

Favorite Engagement Photo Style Fun engagement photo ideas

 

 

 

“Fun and artsy is the name of the game for us. We encourage everyone to have fun during the engagement shoot. They can be as creative and original as they want to be. Portraits like this take on a more photojournalistic look by capturing natural, candid moments.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engagement photo location ideas

 

 

Favorite Engagement Photo Locations

 

 

“Our favorite locations are the places our couples choose that make their portraits all about them. We have been on location at a pool hall, in different city parks, numerous college campuses, at the local rail yard and even ‘down on the farm.’ It’s important to us that our couples are comfortable in their surroundings. This puts them at ease and that translates to more natural smiles and interaction between them. And that makes for some memorable portraits that they will enjoy for years to come.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Engagement Photo Poses

“We approach posing couples a little differently than some photographers in that we ‘loosely’ pose them to begin with, but then we just let them run with it and we shoot while they are interacting. It gives them the most natural expressions. We will make suggestions along the way, but we try to stay away from the standard, ‘forced’ poses. We talk with the couple a lot during the shoot. This helps us get to know each other better so they’re more comfortable with us the day of the wedding.”

Relaxed engagement photo

If you have specific questions for Nancy, she’d love to hear them. Just post a comment/question below and we’ll be sure to answer all of your photography questions!

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