Montana Winter Wedding

January 14, 2015 Leave a Comment

Here at BHL headquarters located in Southern California, we do not see much snow around here, so when we have a dreamy winter wedding to feature, we are totally head over heels in love.  Rich sumptuous colors, roaring log fires, a gorgeous handcrafted bouquet made by the mother of the bride,  beautiful snowy day as the backdrop, and this wedding is romantic and magical. Then you have Marianne Wiest Photography behind the lens to capture it all, and you have a handful of stunning images which has us swooning over all the pretty details.  Cozy up to this lovely winter wedding, and enjoy the romance!

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From Marianne Wiest Photography…

This sweet, cute and goofy couple had a cold and snowy, but absolutely beautiful wedding in Missoula, Montana.  Luckily they were used to the cold since they are from Nome, Alaska!

Jake and Kaley have known each other for 10 years. They met in Kalispell, MT, and were friends through mutual friends. Kaley was in a relationship at the time, so was not interested in more than a friendship. Jake moved to Alaska and they went our separate ways. They didn’t have contacted for 4 years. One night, Kaley’s friend Sara was trying to set her up with a friend. We talked about relationships and Kaley mentioned how she and Jake always had a connection. They spent the night on google looking for info and pictures of Jake. The next day, Sara called the last known bank he had worked at and pretended he did a loan for her. Reluctantly, the bank gave her his number because he had moved to Fairbanks. She called him and told him he needed to get in touch with Kaley. Jake called later that week and they began a long distance relationship for 2 years until Kaley moved to Alaska.

 One of Kaley’s favorite things to do in Nome is to comb the beach for sea glass along the Bering Sea. It was in May and she was leaving for Montana the next day to spend the summer with family. Jake and Kaley went to collect sea glass on the beach. As they were walking along collecting glass, Jake got down and said “I think I found a piece of glass you will really like” Kaley looked down and he was on one knee with a wedding ring. Of course I couldn’t believe he was proposing right before she was leaving but she was so happy that they were going to get married. I said “yes”

They began planning a winter wedding in Missoula, Montana, which was close to both of their families.  They figured a Christmas/winter wedding would be convenient for family that had time off of work were traveling home for the holidays.

Although the blizzard made for bad driving conditions, the snow added a beautiful element to the photos.  And the 1953 Chevy, restored by the groom’s father, was an added bonus as a prop!  Jake’s dad Gerry rebuilt the truck from the ground up. The exact same model driven by 3 generations in Jake’s family. 

Instead of a cake, the couple had a local bakery make blueberry pies out of blueberries they had handpicked and brought with them all the way from Alaska.  This way they could have a little bit of Alaska with them in Montana.

 The bride chose natural colors that go along with burlap, eggplant, blush, and other natural tones. She wanted the wedding feel to be antique, the shabby chic with the lace and burlap. Instead of bouquets, the flower girls walked down the aisle with vintage fans.

On all of the wine bottles were from a book of love poems that the bride’s great grandma had given her mom. The lace, broaches in the bouquet and the gloves were from the bride’s great grandma. The bride’s mom made the bouquet and the bride made the boutonneires.

 

Vendors:

Photographer: Marianne Wiest Photography

Venue: The Ranch Club

Hair: Bella Sauvage Spa & Salon

Wedding Pie: Bernice’s Bakery

Bridal Gown: BHLDN

Jewelry: Blue Nile

Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Tuxedo Gallery

DJ: ZooTown

Filed Under: General, Real Weddings Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Top Five Bridal Beauty Tips for Winter Weather

January 8, 2015 Leave a Comment

Brrr, it’s cold out there! It’s still chilly and will stay chilly for a few more weeks, are you prepared? If you’ve got your wedding or any wedding events on the horizon you’re going to need to be prepared to weather the weather (see what we did there?). Our top five tips will keep you looking perfect, no matter how pretty or ugly the weather can get.

Seal your Look

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If you’re afraid that the rain or humidity outside will melt your makeup, do your part and seal it in. Start with a primer that stays put (we love the primers by Too Faced and Smashbox) before you do your makeup, and when you’re done use a sealing spray (like Model in a Bottle or Urban Decay). The sealers will hold all the color in place and keep your look from melting away. They’re perfect for day long events (like your rehearsal day or for the big day) or before you go out for an epic night.

Lip Butter Base

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If the cold makes your skin that much more sensitive, you need to do what you can to keep your skin soft! Before you do your big bold red lips (that we are LOVING this Winter), swipe on a layer of moisturizing lip balms. We love Chapstick, EOS lip balms, and the Jack Black lip balms. Try swiping on some lip balm, doing all of your makeup and saving your lip color for last so the moisturizer absorbs into your lips. It’s also a great idea to swipe on a hearty amount of lip balm before you to go sleep. Trust us, you’ll wake up to the softest lips ever!

Liquid Liner

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Liquid liner tends to have more lasting power than the pencil liners- when they dry they’re seriously stuck there until you clean your face. We love the pencil liquid liners because they’re easy to swipe on quickly and give you a lot of control when you apply. The Marc Jacobs liner is fantastic, but a splurge. If you’re on a budget, the Ulta brand liquid liner pen is a great value and stays put all day.

Liquid Concealer

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If you’re hiding bags under your eyes or even some cold time breakouts, switch out our concealer for something liquid to keep your skin from drying out. If you have a blemish or a breakout, you’ll still need to keep your skin moisturized. We love the Kat von D Tattoo Concealer because it keeps your skin from drying out but also hides imperfections and breakouts like a champ.

Moisturizing Removers

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Moisturizing should extend past your makeup- you should keep it in mind even while you’re taking your makeup off! We love the Neutrogena hydrating makeup wipes this time of year because it gets off every bit of makeup on your skin without drying your skin out. The cold can be so harsh that you need to sneak in those bits of moisture wherever you can!

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Top Five 2015 Resolutions for Brides

January 6, 2015 Leave a Comment

Happy New Year! Now that you’re caught up and have cleaned all the 2015 confetti out of your NYE outfit, it’s time to get down to business. If 2015 is your year to tie the knot, you’ve got a whole lot of fun ahead of you, and we’re here to help. We’ve got our resolutions that are extra important for you to follow this year to have an amazing year, wedding, and rest of your life!

Go to the Dentist

I know, I know- it’s scary. It’s not fun. It’s kind of the stuff of nightmares and it usually can cause some pain. But you know what’s more painful? Yellow, crooked teeth full of tartar and cavities in your wedding photos. Now that the year has reset, many insurance plans reset so this is the best time to get back into the groove of things. If it makes you feel better, take off work and leave mid-Friday to go to the dentist and treat yourself to a slightly longer weekend. If you’re too nervous to go alone (or anticipate some laughing gas or pain killers), task one of your bridesmaids to tag along. The dentist is always a must- and if you find a good one it can seriously make the chore really easy. While you’re there, be sure to schedule a whitening a few days before your big day too.

Drink More Water

This is such an easy win you’ll wonder why it’s not on your resolution list to begin with. Water flushes all the icky stuff out of your system, clear up your skin, slim your waist, and overall just make your life better. You’ll even save money when you go out! If you hit the town at night and drink, have a glass of water to match your adult drinks and it’ll keep you from feeling icky or dehydrated the next day. It’s a lifesaver and it’ll get your body into an amazing place for your big day.

Ditch the Tan

You should NEVER hit the tanning booths (it will destroy your skin, and seriously put a dent in your health!), and this year you should try to stop doing the fake tan thing too. Enjoy your regular skin and keep it real! Fake tans can be pricey, and if you’ve got a wedding and a honeymoon coming up you’re going to need to save up some cash. Fake tans can also get everywhere and stain your clothes- that’s no fun. Skip the skin tints and enjoy your natural glow!

Say ‘Thank You’ More

This may have been the big buzz in November, but we feel like it should be a year-round state of mind. If you’re not sure how to resolve to do this, start by committing to sending thank you notes once a week. These can be little hand-written cards or a phone call, but just make sure that they are personal. Saying thank you more will instantly remind you of everything that you have and how awesome the people in your life are. Also be sure to say thank you to your vendors and everyone you’re working with for the big day! They’re doing a lot to help your perfect day be perfect- that’s definitely worth being thankful for.

Stack Cash When you Can

Weddings are expensive (duh) so when you can, save money! That can be a big range of things like not picking up that extra pack of gum or soda at the grocery store, or skipping a cab and calling an uber instead. If you have some time during the day, call your bank and credit card companies and ask for lower APR rates (it works- try it!) and higher credit limits. Reassess what you own and sell off or donate what you don’t need anymore. Save as much money as you can this year and you’ll be surprised what you’ll be able to afford by the end of it (hello upgraded honeymoon suite!).

 

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Industrial Chic Winter Wedding Styled Shoot

January 5, 2015 Leave a Comment

It is always hard to start the week after a holiday break. We do not know how you are feeling, but we am feeling a bit stuffed and full from all the fabulous holiday food,  yummy treats, and delicious desserts from these past couple weeks. Today we are packing up all our gym gear and heading for a workout. But before we head to the gym to burn off some of that holiday weight, we want to take a moment to share this incredibly gorgeous styled shoot from Kim Lyn Photography and the team of talented vendors. The gym can wait because this one has us glued to our seats.  Yep, winter never looked so glamorous and pretty. When you have gorgeous golds infused with lush red blooms, an elegant tablescape, and a killer industrial backdrop, then it is a fabulous chic winter wedding.  We’re seriously dying over all the glitz and gold. Oh my goodness, and that dress? Can you say WOW? We are saying it over and over again, and can not handle how stunning it is. Browse through the breathtaking images that will have you “ooing” and “aahing” at every detail. Kick your week off with a chic bang!

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The inspiration from Kim Lyn Photography

The vision behind this shoot was an industrial chic winter wedding.  Ameeta from Birch and Honey Design reached out to me to help her start her portfolio.  Together we came up with an amazing team of vendors to host this shoot.  It was one of my favorite shoots yet.  We are loving the non-traditional bride.

 

Vendors:

Photography: Kim Lyn Photography

Location:Studio One RI

Design and Decor:Birch And Honey Design

Flowers: Flowers By Semia

Calligrapher: Heather Belle Ink

Makeup Artist:M.A.W.Beauty Hair & Makeup Studio

Rentals: Rentals Unlimited

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Top Five Ways to Repurpose your NYE Dress for Weddings

January 2, 2015 Leave a Comment

The asprin’s probably kicked in by now- you should be all recovered from New Year’s Eve and ready to take on 2015! Check out your calendar and look ahead at all the fun that’s coming up- the birthdays, the holidays, the weddings (our favorite, duh!). With all those fun dates in mind, we’ll give you the best ways to turn your NYE dress around and make it work all year long.

Blaze Up Your Outfit

If you have something bright (like a diamond) in a bold color, simply do a long straight cut blazer with a matte texture in a neutral color. Be sure to do contrasting colors though- if your dress is deep maroon or blue, pull a khaki or white blazer. If your dress is eye popping pink, pair it with slate gray or black. A long blazer instantly makes your look chic and slimming- plus you have pockets to stash your phone, keys, and camera to snap shots of the bride.

Hit the Hardware

If your NYE dress doesn’t have a lot of texture, add some to make for an interesting, unique look that will stand out at the reception. We love adding studs to pieces- they’re easy to apply and super cheap (buy a bag on ebay for just a few bucks!). If you want something more romantic, replace belts with soft satin ribbon. Get a little crafty and make your dress even more your own.

Give Em the Booties

If your dress is a little too formal for your friend’s beer garden wedding, pair it with some booties over regular heels to make your NYE dress more low maintenance and informal. It’ll be much easier on you, on your feet, and on the dancefloor. If you want to go super grunge, pair it with combat boots. If you want something flirtier, pick up some velvet booties with bows.

Super Tight

If your NYE dress was a little short (ahem- we’re not judging!), pair it with some deep toned or neutral tights. Tights will keep your legs covered, warm, and looking long and lean under your sparkly and fun NYE dress. For this look, skip the bright and bold colors. You want to save the 80’s throwbacks for the DJ, not your fashion choices.

Make Other Statements

If your NYE dress was a little more on the safe side (LBD anyone?) rather than the sparkly side, this is the time to pack on the sparkles. At weddings, you’re sure to find a ton of women in sort of basic, neutral, or non-sparkly dresses. You don’t want to blend in- you want to stand out so you can tag yourself in group photos! Pack on statement jewelry or a bold statement clutch to liven up a more basic outfit. You should wear clothes that make you comfortable and accessories that make you confident.

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Colorado Winter Wedding

December 26, 2014 Leave a Comment

We do not see much of winter here in Southern California, as most of the year it is sunshine and blue skies.  However, once in a while, I love when a winter wedding comes long that brings a smile to my face. One that usually entails a beautiful winter affair with all the gorgeous details. This one is no exception. This wedding is super romantic.  Behind the lens to capture it all is Mathew Irving Photography.  Pretty snow flakes, lovely white flowers, pine cones, and sparkly details make this winter wedding a magical one. We love that this couple thought of their guests and the cold weather when planning their day. They offered socks to warm up those cold toes, staying cozy and warm throughout the reception. I have seen flip flops, but never socks! This is such a great idea for a cold winter wedding.  And a winter wedding is not complete without a s’mores bar to make your own little treat. Its fun, and yummy. So before you head out to do the day after Christmas shopping, or if you are taking a shopping break, make sure to take time to browse the photographs of this Colorado winter wedding. So, grab a cup of hot chocolate or coffee and see all the winter details from this romantic affair.

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Karin and Travis had a wonderful, wintery wedding. Despite the unseasonably warm December day, the couple’s carefully chosen details glistened like freshly fallen snow. From the sparkling snowflakes to the frosted pinecones, these newlyweds had their theme covered. Their genial personalities showed that opposites really do attract- an icy theme and two warm hearts are the perfect match.

 

Vendors:

Photography: Mathew Irving Photography

Venue: Villa Parker

Event Planner: Marilee & Grace Wedding + Event Desigm

Floral Designer: The Garden Path Co.

Wedding Cake: The Makery Cake Co.

Caterer: Three Tomatoes Catering

Filed Under: General, Real Weddings Tagged With: , , , , ,

Top Five Holiday Items for your Wedding

December 23, 2014 Leave a Comment

Happy Holidays! We’re almost done with Hanukkah, Christmas is just a few days away, and the holiday season is in full effect- are you feeling the cheer yet? For many of our readers, friends, and family this is their favorite time of the year. If it’s yours too, we’ve got some fun stuff you can stash away for your wedding that will keep the holiday spirit going. If you wait until December 26th, you can probably score these all at a discount, so plan ahead!

Fairy Lights

Putting up lights is always an easy win- be sure to stock up or hang on to yours for your big day! We love the white lights with white cords for weddings and the holidays- try to steer away from the rainbow or color lights. The white lights are neutral and work for all color schemes for your wedding (and for any color scheme you go for with holiday decor!). You can use this to light scenery, light pathways for night weddings, in selfie spots for wedding pictures, all sorts of decor!

Candles

We love candles, and they’re a fantastic staple for the holidays.  They’re really easy to find around the holidays, so this is the time to keep an eye out for some that you can use for your wedding. Bonus points if you can score some candle holders that flow with your wedding decor.We love white pillar candles for weddings and the holidays alike! If you got some for your celebrations, save them for the big day celebration as well. These don’t typically go on sale at a big discount after the holidays are over, so just keep your eyes peeled for any sort of discount or deal you can get on them.

Ribbon & Bows

Are you a hard core wrapper (see what we did there?)? We love bows and pretty ribbon, and you can make that work for your wedding too! Keep an eye out for your favorite ribbons and bows and you can use them throughout your wedding as decor, or to jazz up certain not so fancy things. Use the ribbon to tie your silverware into a bundle so it looks pretty and isn’t just folded. Use the bows on the backs of chairs, on name places, or anywhere you can think of that you’d like a little more festive fun.

Fun Foil Paper

It can be hard to gauge how much wrapping paper you’ll need- most of us end up with weird little scraps that aren’t big enough to use on anything else. Don’t immediately toss that into the recycling- look for places where you can use it again! We love getting foiled patterned or plain color wrapping paper that isn’t holiday or season specific because it’s easy to reuse. You can use them as name places or for directional signage (cut letters, table numbers, etc. out of the wrapping paper and stick it on black or white to pop). Start a pile, stick them all in a bag, and get creative when it’s time for some fun wedding DIY projects.

Gift Bags

If you’re doing wedding favors, be sure to pick up as many small gift bags as you can! Gift bags are one of those expenses that can get overlooked, but still come out of your wedding budget. Since there is an opportunity to pick up a bunch at a discount after the holidays, be sure to swoop in on that. If you find some that are great but have some small seasonal images or say something like “Happy Holidays” across it, don’t let that discourage you! You can always cover that with little labels or stickers with the guest’s name on it or your last names and the date. It’s an easy fix and overall, an easy win!

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Top Five Trending Nail Colors for Winter Brides

December 16, 2014 Leave a Comment

Did you switch up your regular lip palette yet? The seasons have changed, it’s time to switch things up. If you’ve gotten on board with the rest of your beauty routine, it’s time to step up your mani/pedi game for the winter. It’s fair to opt out for a classic french mani for your big day (don’t worry, we won’t judge you!), but if you’re more adventurous or if you just want new fun shades for your bachelorette party we’ve got our top five picks for this season.

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We Love Olive

For a more unexpected neutral, swoop up an earthy olive tone. This color is beautiful and complimentary of the woodsy nature of the holidays and winter in general. If you want to pair this with an outfit for your bachelorette party, get something bold in color but in the same color family- it’ll be the perfect pairing (just like you and your fiance!).

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Sparkly Deep Tones

We love deep dark colors that balance out with glitter chunks for dimension. Paint this on over short nails for an edgy progressive look or on your toes for a fun sparkly surprise. This color really pops against a white dress and gives you a cool, chic look. The glitter is so necessary for making your mani that much more fun. If you wear this out with your bridesmaids, they’ll be totally jealous of how pretty your nails are.

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Deep and Daring

If glitter chunks aren’t your thing, find a deep toned shade that you can layer to be as dark as you want it to be. Find something with a color-balancing sheen- like the color shown above. It skips the chunkier glitter in favor of a more subtle complexity in the shade. There is some glitter but it’s so small that it just creates a cool effect of changing a little bit when you change angles. This is for those girls who do a deep dark lipstick- if you’re daring enough for big bold lips, you’re daring enough for this!

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Rudolph’s Red Mani

If you love those classics but want to adjust it for the holiday, a plummy red is perfect for you. Don’t go too dark or you can risk it looking a little vampy. You also want to skip the orange based reds and save those for the spring. A plummer red is complimentary for the season and still looks so perfect for all occasions. Red nails are just as perfect for weddings as a french mani, but that much sexier.

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Galaxy-Inspired Nudes

If you want something subtle but fun, look for a warm nude shade that still has some glitter. Nothing says holidays like throwing glitter and sparkles all over everything! This nude is sheer enough to have your natural tones pull through but provides enough color to make your mani fun. This is more unconventional, so if you want to skip it for the wedding you can save it for the next bridesmaids’ night out.

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Black, White, and Pink Washington Wedding

December 8, 2014 Leave a Comment

Excuse me while I swoon over all the pretty details of this romantic wedding.  Oh my goodness! I can not handle the sweetness of this wedding. I love the wedding colors. Pink can sometimes be too girly, but in this case, the color pink is classy and romantic as it compliments the black and white stripes so perfectly. Today, pink=romance. Fully in love with all the details, from the gorgeous greenery surrounding the ceremony to the pink roses at the reception.  IJ Photo was on hand to capture all the sweet moments.  And you thought your Monday was going to be boring and dull.  Enjoy!!

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From IJ Photo…

April and Ben live in Portland but chose to have their wedding in Washington. Together with April’s two boys, Sam and Simon,  this lovely couple promised to love one other on a beautiful afternoon at the Inglewood Golf Club.  The wedding day was filled with beautiful emotions right from the start. Luckily April’s sister and maid of honor did a great job keeping tissues close at hand.  The couple have a charming manner with each other that is not only relaxed, but inspiring to watch. It was also obvious that Ben not only loves April, but her boys as well. During their ceremony he shared special vows just for Sam and Simon. At the reception Ben’s family carried out a  Nelson family tradition with the performance of a skit based on the story of how they met in Vegas. The skit included a choreographed dance and some hilarious cross dressing by Ben’s groomsmen.  The details of their wedding were expertly crafted and stylish. Using black and white stripes with pink roses, hydrangeas,  elegant candelabras , and even pink up-lights to flood the room with beautiful soft light. 

 

Vendors:

Photographer: IJ Photo

Event Venue: Inglewood Golf Club

Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Men’s Warehouse

Floral Designer: Flowers by Tiffany

Event Planner: LoveBug Weddings and Events

Cake Designer: The Cakewalk Shop

Hair Stylist: Urbanista stylist

Filed Under: General, Real Weddings Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Top Seven Best Holiday Bridesmaid Bonding Activities

December 4, 2014 Leave a Comment

It’s getting chilly outside but that can’t stop you from getting out with your girls! If you want your bridesmaids to bond this winter leading up to the big day, we’ve got seven awesome ways for you all to bond. You can turn any of these into one of your bachelorette party, or even a pre-bachelorette party. Get out, have fun, and stay warm!

Secret Santa

A cute, sweet way for you to bond with your bridesmaids is to get everyone together and have a secret santa party. Arrange secret santas a week or two before your party, and get everyone together. You can theme it to add to the mystery, like as a masquerade party where secret santas are super secret! You’ll all have to get to know each other while you’re shopping for each other, and it’s a great excuse to hang out and bond with a low level of bridal talk.

Volunteer Together

‘Tis the season for giving- both for loved ones and for those who need it. Get together as a group and do some serious good. If you’re all crafty or Pinterest fanatics, have a baking or cooking party and donate food to a local shelter or pass food out to those who need it. If you’re more hands on, volunteer at a soup kitchen. If you’re all mallrats, go out and pick up blankets, jackets, winter gear, anything at all and donate them to those who need it. It’s such a great way to give back and get close together. Plus, you can brag on how your bridal party gave back during your big day!

Santa Crawl

Every big city nowadays has a santa crawl around the holidays, and it’s so amazing! A ton of people dress up as Santas, elves, and all sorts of fun holiday characters and go place to place. It’s totally fun and a great way to experience fun new places with your girls. You can all dress up as a themed group and have a great time! Team bridesmaids is always the best team to be on- especially if they’re sporting some holiday cheer.

Gingerbread Bake-Off

Want to stay in for the night? Have a little competition with a fun holiday classic. There are gingerbread house kits that can be as low as around $5 for a whole box, or you can bake everything fresh yourself (but that’s more of an advanced move). Get your girls together, put out some icing and candy, and see who can build the best gingerbread house. Trader Joe’s has a great gingerbread house kit that’s under $10 and actually is super yummy. You can hashtag your whole night and see which of your bridesmaids is the most creative.

Ice Skating

Remember all those birthdays in the fourth grade you got invited to at ice rinks? Yeah, it’s still fun to go ice skating! Some places even have discount nights during the week when it’s a little slower, and if you go on a school night it can be less crowded. If you have a more athletic group of bridesmaids, this could be a really fun way to bond and get into the holiday spirit. There’s a whole bunch of outdoor ice rinks popping up this season in major malls and shopping areas and they’re way more fun than they look.

Tree Decorating Party

Get together at someone’s house and everyone needs to bring different ornaments to decorate a bridesmaids-only tree. You can sit around in footy pajamas, sew popcorn together, throw tinsel up in the air, and hang your ornaments with care. If you’re able to keep it to just bridesmaids so it can be your ‘family’ tree. Fake trees are actually fairly inexpensive (under $50 for some serious tree height!) and are a great addition to any house to make everything look more festive.

Hot Cocoa Night

Stay home and make a whole ton of hot cocoa and have fun stuff to go along with it. You can add things like raspberry, pirouettes, gingerbread cookies, all sorts of fun stuff to your hot cocoa. Have everyone make a different flavor and have fun with it! Take pictures, compare recipes, and see who can make the best original hot cocoa. If you find a recipe you all really love, write it down and maybe save it for your next winter party! Or if it’s really good- your wedding!

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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