DIY Wedding Hairstyles: How to Get Perfect Destination Wedding Hair

wedding hairstyle

You didn’t come all this way to look anything less than amazing. Pick the weather forecast that matches your wedding location to find the style that’s right for you.

Hot and Humid Climates


The Style: Up but loose 

Why it works: Whether you have all-out curls, a bit of wave, or a stick-straight mane, you’ll want to make the most of your natural texture while avoiding frizz. David Shmagin, a stylist at the Robert Kree Salon, in New York City, calls this look “organized chaos.”

How to: Let hair dry naturally for maximum smoothness. Hair gets frizzy because it sucks moisture out of the air; avoid that fate by running a humectant styling product lightly over hair. Smooth hair with a curling iron and pin up random sections, starting with the sides.

Cold Weather


The Style: Pulled back with a low, asymetrical bun

Why it works: This style allows you to use a loose hat without messing things up.
How to: Blow-dry hair. Run a drop of anti-frizz shine-maker over hair to conquer flyaways. Pull hair into a low, tight ponytail. Use pins to fasten hair in a tight, off-center spiral near the base of the skull, covering the elastic.
Mild, Temperate Climates

The Style: Down but loose and easy

Why it works: This weather invites an easy, natural look.
How to: Divide dry hair into large chunky sections and curl with hot rollers or an iron, says Shmagin. Let cool completely before touching. Rake a dollop of shaping humectant-styler through hair.

Dry Heat


The Style: Up and clean-looking

Why it works: Keeping hair away from your neck helps you stay cool.
How to: Dry hair and run a flat iron over it for extra gleam. Pull it into two high ponytails, says Shmagin, one on top of the other. Split the top ponytail into two sections. Wind each section around a curling iron to smooth, then pin to loosely cover the elastic. Repeat with the other ponytail. Rub a few drops of a silicone gloss-maker over the front and sides.

Avoid These Disastrous Combinations

Hot Sun + Colored Hair The hot rays won’t zap your color if you use a protective leave-in conditioner with SPF. Go easy to avoid looking oily.

Dry Heat + Dull Hair In the months leading up to your big day ( your flora gown), schedule weekly deep conditioning treatments to optimize hair’s health. For a quick fix, add shine with a dollop of moisturizing pomade.

Humidity + Frizz To keep hair smooth, you must first blow-dry it completely (any moisture invites frizz). Then seal it with a swipe of a frizz-fighting silicone product. Stash a mini bottle with a designated bridesmaid for touch-ups.

Sea and Sun + Fragile Hair Stop hair from snapping and breaking by getting a clear gloss treatment at the salon (Redken makes a good one, says Shmagin). It lasts four to six weeks, he says, and protects hair while adding much-needed shine. Follow up on location with a leave-in strengthener.

DIY Wedding Programs: DIY Wedding Program Basics

DIY Wedding Programs

Follow our basic guide for picture-perfect wedding programs that will make a wonderful keepsake.

The more guests feel involved with your wedding, the more likely they’ll have a great time. Wedding programs are a wonderful way to help your friends and family follow the ceremony and understand the wedding traditions you’re incorporating, plus they can take theirs home as a keepsake. The key to crafting a good wedding program? Think practically and creatively.

What's Included

No matter what design you choose for your wedding programs, consider adding the following elements:

The full names of the bride and groom, the wedding date, and the city and state where the wedding is taking place

The order of the wedding ceremony, including the musical selections (and the lyrics if they're especially meaningful to you), the composers, and the performers, as well as readings, the source or author, and the readers

Wedding party bios with brief descriptions of each attendant's relationship to you

The name of the officiant

A thank-you note to both sets of parents; one to all the guests is another frequent addition

For religious and secular ceremonies alike, it's important to keep guests in the know by briefly explaining traditions, rituals, and ethic customs

If you wish to honor deceased loved ones, you can include a memorial on the back page with a photograph, a fond memory, poem, or quote

Personalizing Them

Your wedding program is an opportunity to tell guests a little more about you as a couple and to set the tone for the rest of the event. The easiest way to personalize your programs is to add special touches, such as favorite poems, quotes, or photographs.

Here are some creative concepts:

One couple we know extended their old-world European theme with programs printed on marbled parchment paper rolled into scrolls and tied with a sage-green ribbon and a sprig of eucalyptus.

Two actors created a Playbill for their programs ( and their flora dresses): a booklet complete with The Players (each attendant's picture and a short bio), a description of Acts (the ceremony events), and a Producers' Note (a letter to guests from the bride and groom).

High school sweethearts reprinted their senior prom picture on vellum and used it to top the program, setting a lighthearted, playful mood.

Knot Note: Instead of making just a ceremony program, consider creating a program for the reception as well. Combine it with the ceremony program or create a separate handout for the beginning of the reception. The goal of the event program is to let people know the approximate times for must-see things like the cake cutting and special dances, as well as special symbolism of particular events.

Making Them

Whether you choose to create a program that's bound with a wax seal or a single sheet of paper, there are four basic ways to make your wedding day programs.

Set up an arts-and-crafts station in your home, complete with colorful papers, ribbon, and decorations, and host a bridal party DIY night.

Create them using template designs from a computer program. With the right program, you can create almost anything imaginable.

Have them crafted by a professional designer.

Purchase a DIY kit from a company like Paper Source. All you have to do is follow the directions and put the programs together.

Knot Note: DIY programs can be a time-consuming and expensive process, especially if you get hung up on technical details, so do a test run. Time how long it takes to put together a single program before deciding to make them yourself.

Presenting Them

Because wedding programs can come in unusual shapes, sizes, and colors, they can be presented in various ways. Here are some ideas:

Fill baskets, tin pails, or antique trays -- whatever works with your wedding style -- with programs and place them at the entrance to your ceremony site. Guests can grab one as they arrive.

For an outdoor wedding, put a program on each chair and set a few pieces of colored sea glass on top to keep them from blowing away.

Ask a friend or family member to greet guests and hand out programs as they arrive. It's the perfect way to give a special role to someone special who isn't a bridesmaid or a groomsman.

Have your ushers hand guests a program right before they’re seated.

DIY Stationery: How to Make Your Own Ceremony Programs

From ceremony program booklets to program fans and more, take a cue from 6 of our favorite weddings and get directions on making your own wedding programs.

Kaitlin & Mike's Blue Ceremony Program Booklets

What You Need:
•  8 1/2" x 11" navy blue card stock
•  3" x 3" light blue invitation liner paper
•  2 1/2" x 2 1/2" white paper card stock printed with your monogram (your flora dress).

DIY stationery

•  20" to 30" light blue ribbon (about 1/4" thick)
•  *7 1/2" x 10" paper printed landscape-style with the ceremony info
                                                                                    •  Mini hole puncher
   Glue or spray adhesive

How to Make Them:
•  Fold the sheet of navy blue card stock in half width-wise.
•  Glue the light blue paper square onto the middle of the folded navy blue card stock. Let dry.
•  Glue the monogram-printed white square on top of the recycled paper square. Let dry.
•  Fold the inner page(s) width-wise and tuck into the inside of the blue program cover so that the pages come together like a booklet.
•  Close the booklet with the pages still inside, and punch two holes exactly on the fold line and 2" to 3" away from the program's top and bottom.
•  Open the booklet and loop the light blue ribbon through the holes. Close the booklet and tie a bow around the outside to bind it together.

* Tip: Don't have 7 1/2" x 10" paper? Use an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet for the inner pages -- just set the print area for 7 1/2" x 10" and then trim the edges after printing. Print pages 1 and 4 on one side and pages 2 and 3 on the other.

What You Need:
•  4 1/4" x 5 1/2" sheet of aqua card stock printed with a logo*
•  4" x 5 1/4" sheet of aqua paper printed with ceremony program info*
•  Rubber cement or glue
•  Spray adhesive
•  Large wooden craft stick
   Scalloped scissors
                                                                                    *Print two onto 2 (8 1/2" x 11") sheets                                                                                       and then cut in half width-wise.

How to Make Them:
•  Adhere the 4" x 5 1/4" logo piece to the 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" program info piece with spray adhesive, making sure not to glue the bottom third of the two papers together.
•  Using rubber cement, adhere a large craft stick in between the two pieces of paper and glue the rest shut using rubber cement.
•  Cut each corner of the programs using scalloped scissors to finish them off.

Traditions: 9 Favorites From Around the World

traditions of the wedding

Every culture has traditional marriage rituals, from the Bulgarian throwing of figs at the departing newlyweds, to the seating of a doll on the bride and groom's wedding table (Puerto Rican). Here are a few rituals to celebrate your heritage that you may not even have known about:

African-American
Jumping the broom. Since African slaves were not permitted to marry in America, they would make a public declaration of their love and commitment by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. The broom has since come to symbolize the newlywed act of setting up home.

Chinese
The color of love and joy in China is red, so during the ceremony the couple drink wine and honey from goblets tied together with red string. Find out more Chinese wedding traditions here.

French
The couple often drinks the reception toast from an engraved two-handled cup -- the coupe de marriage.

German
The bride carries salt and bread in her pocket to ensure bounty; the groom carries grain, for wealth and good fortune.

Indian
The groom's brother sprinkles flower petals over the couple at the end of the ceremony to ward off evil.

Japanese
The couple takes nine sips of sake, becoming husband and wife after the first sip.

Mexican
A traditional pinata is fun reception entertainment -- especially for kids! A sweet addition: Guests often form a heart-shaped ring around the couple before their first newlywed dance.

Polish
For village weddings, friends weave a crown of rosemary leaves, symbolizing remembrance, for the bride.

Turkey
Before the bride walks down the aisle, she asks her single bridesmaids and relatives to sign the sole of her bridal shoes. After a night of dancing and prancing, tradition states that the person's signature who has faded the most will be the next to marry.

Incorporating one of these acts into your ceremony is a great way to add originality, as well as to pay a special tribute to your background and heritage.

Toasting: A Guide for the Bride & Groom

                         toasting of the bride and groom

You've spent months planning, dreaming, arguing, and waiting. So why would you waste this enormous opportunity to address those guests who have gathered to celebrate the two of you? (Hey, they're not there for the best man, and he's up on his feet with a clever speech.) It's time for both groom and bride to speak up, to raise a glass to their guests and new spouse, and to share a few words from the heart on this singular day. Take the stage for a moment or two, and your celebration will be warmer and more festive for the effort.

Why Should I Make a Toast?
Well, why not? You are, after all, the entire reason all these people have come to this celebration (great hors d'oeuvres notwithstanding). JoAnn Gregoli, a New York- and New Jersey-based wedding consultant, routinely encourages couples to toast. "The couple making a toast gives the guests a sense of appreciation," she says. Besides, a wasted opportunity can leave a tinge of regret. Chances are, this particular collection of old college buddies, distant grandaunts, and in-laws' cousins is not likely ever to be together again. Seize the moment: You are more likely to feel sorry for not speaking than for saying a few simple words of welcome and gratitude.


Aw, Do I Have To?
No bride or groom with severe social anxiety should be forced to make a toast. If the very thought of raising your glass and saying a few words makes you feel ill, skip it. No one likes to see a person making a toast squirm. The only one really expected to make a speech is the best man, and even he can be replaced by, say, the maid of honor if he is truly uncomfortable.

But My Knees Will Be Knocking
Everyone is at least a little nervous before they speak to a group, but this can actually be a good thing if you use that energy to create some momentum and excitement for yourself. Sounds silly, but breathing deeply is very calming. So is remembering this: You are preaching to the converted. These people love you; after all, they're your wedding guests, not some howling mob. Basically they are going to adore anything you say to them. Which brings us to the next point..
.
How Do I Break the Ice?
You'll probably want to start off by making your guests chuckle, to get them engaged. No need to tell a true knee-slapper, but do start with something light and amusing. Some people are not great joke-tellers, but you don't have to be Conan O'Brien to be funny. Tell a story about your new spouse that always makes you grin (but nothing embarrassing!). Or describe the first time your parents met your intended, if it was offbeat. The things that will make people smile are those that are personal but never mean-spirited. Bonnie Kowar, a wedding consultant from Vail, Colorado, will never forget the toasts of one particular couple: "One bride told the 200 friends and family gathered that she never thought she would get married because there just wasn't any man as wonderful as her golden retriever. When the groom had his moment in the spotlight, he approached the microphone, looked out at all of the guests for a moment, and in a deep voice said, 'Woof, woof.' That brought down the house!"

What Should I Say?
Whatever you say, say it simply and say it quickly. Two or three minutes are sufficient for this toast, especially if both the bride and groom are planning to speak. Be sure to thank your parents and your in-laws. Next, thank all your guests for coming. Finally, toast your new wife or husband. Don't tell long stories about your childhood or growing up or whatever. Don't thank a long list of people: You have not won an Academy Award here. Don't say a single thing that you would not repeat to your mother-in-law or your grandmother if she were the only one in the room. This is not the time for anything even slightly raunchy. Don't tell inside jokes in order to make your old college roommates guffaw: It's rude not to be inclusive of the entire group. For example, don't say, "And thanks to Shirley and Steffi. Don't worry, the cotton candy came out." But you can say, "I especially want to thank my bridesmaids for the trip to the amusement park we took last week. It was great being a kid again with you guys -- and I did manage to get that cotton candy out of my hair."

I Think I Need a Drink
Yes, several of those chocolate martinis may make it easier for you to gather the courage to get up there and do your part. But keep in mind that drinking may also make you difficult to understand, boring, or -- worst of all -- inappropriate. There are lots of reasons why you should not get inebriated on your wedding day. The chance of making an embarrassing toast is just one of them.

Where's My Teleprompter?
While index cards may have worked nicely in your high school civics class presentations, at your own wedding, this technique lacks that warm, personal touch. Your toast should feel spontaneous and sincere -- which is not what comes across when you whip out that stack of 3x5s. But hey, you can't be spontaneous and sincere without practice. The key is to practice but appear unrehearsed. In fact, you may have to practice at appearing unrehearsed. One way to accomplish this is not to write anything down, except perhaps for a list of single words or names so that you don't forget anyone. Bonnie Kowar tells the story of a bride who made everyone laugh by thanking her hairdresser for making the day possible. Alas, the same bride failed to toast her groom. Get set in your mind the general gist of what you want to say, who you want to thank, and the few little anecdotes you intend to sprinkle in. Then at the right moment, let the spirit of the celebration inspire you.

When Do I Take the Stage?
Your moment can come after the traditional speeches from the best man and bride's father (often other people, including the groom's father or maid of honor, will also speak) before or during the meal. But many wedding consultants, including Jean Picard of California, urge couples to speak just before the cake-cutting. "This time works well," she says, "because it's not just 'one more toast' along with the other toasts; and at this point the bride and groom already have everyone's attention."

Finally, don't forget to clue the photographer in to the big moment. You'll want a photo of the bride raising her glass to her groom, with the wedding cake in the background.

we have 8 years' experience of oem/odm in formal dresses and bridal dresses industry.The main products are bridal dresses, bridesmaid dresses, evening dresses, flora dresses, wedding accessories, cocktail dresses, ball dresses and so on.Floragown.com Buy Flora Gown ,Flora Wedding Dress - Flora Prom Dress online shop.

Guest List: Should You Invite Your Ex?

Can't decide whether to ask an ex to the wedding? Read on for when you should and shouldn't invite your blast from the past.

When it comes to the people in our pasts, the decision to keep them there or bring them into our futures can leave us totally perplexed. That's why when you ask most brides or grooms if they'd consider inviting an ex to their wedding, they'll most likely say, "Sure -- if we're good friends." Ask if they'd mind if their partner invited an ex, and that's a whole different story. For many engaged couples, though, this situation isn't hypothetical but rather one that has become increasingly common, especially for those who maintain friendships or have children with their former partners.

So if you find yourself in these circumstances, should you start addressing that engraved invitation to the ex? Not just yet. First, you need to think it over very carefully, and let others -- such as your partner and your ex -- weigh in on your decision. Of course there are the very obvious reasons you shouldn't put that person on your guest list, like if there's still a love connection between the two of you. If that's the case, you've got bigger problems on your hands and this article isn't for you. But if it's not and you're still confused about the right thing to do, read on.

On the One Hand...

Among experts, there seem to be two schools of thought with regard to inviting exes. Some are completely against it, while others are for it in certain circumstances. Robert Billingham, PhD, an associate professor of human development and family studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, believes once people are lovers, they can never be "just friends," and that an ex should never attend your wedding under any circumstances. "Once sex happens, it can never be a friendship because sex makes relationships something different -- it's not like a Friends episode. People who find themselves in this situation can put on a good show, but it really kills them and takes away from what should normally be a day focused on celebration."

Ubertraditional etiquette expert Peggy Post agrees that exes shouldn't be present, but her concern is mainly for the children, if you have any, and those coming to your wedding. In her book, Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, Fourth Edition (Harper Resource, 2001), she says that even when you have children with an ex-spouse, it's better not to invite your ex. "It can be confusing to your children, who need to see you and your new groom (or bride) as a family unit, separate from the ex. They also need to understand that while you are all still their parents, you are otherwise not connected to each other." Another reason for not inviting the ex? No matter how amicable your divorce, she thinks it can be awkward for your guests to show happiness for you in front of a former partner with whom things didn't work out.

On the Other Hand...

But there's the other camp that believes if your ex is a truly good friend, there's no reason he or she shouldn't be there. "It depends on how 'ex' your ex really is," says Pepper Schwartz, PhD, a professor of sociology at the University of Washington, and author of several books, including Everything You Know About Love and Sex Is Wrong: Twenty-Five Relationship Myths Redefined to Achieve Happiness and Fulfillment in Your Intimate Life, (Perigree, 2001). Schwartz says maintaining a good connection with your ex can be beneficial, especially when kids are involved: "You can be a really loyal person who knows how to convert one kind of relationship into another." She also adds that it's a positive indicator of your current partner's personality if he or she is still friendly with his or her ex, as long as that ex isn't overly dependent or clingy.

And because society is rethinking its definition of what a family means, all the old rules don't apply, according to Tina B. Tessina, PhD, a licensed psychotherapist in California and author of ten books, including The Ten Smartest Decisions You Can Make Before You Get Married, (Macmillan, 2002). If you have children with an ex, she suggests "acting like grown-ups." Invite your ex to the wedding so your kids can have extra parental support on what may be an extremely emotion-filled day for them.

Some Dos & Don'ts

If you do invite your ex and your cordial invitation is accepted, there are a few dos and don'ts that you should keep in mind to ensure a stress-free wedding day. Do: Invite your ex with a guest. This way, he or she won't feel alone. Greet your ex on the receiving line as you would any other guest. Introduce your ex as an old friend or the father or mother of your children. Seat your ex with people he or she knows and likes. Limit chatting with your ex to just a few minutes when you're visiting guests at their tables.

Now for the don'ts. Don't dance with your ex. There's no reason to become the center of gossip at your own wedding. Plus, you might upset your partner. Don't let your ex catch the garter or bouquet if your ex is single: "There shouldn't be anything that causes your ex to stand out," says Billingham, so this is a big no-no. (Before the wedding, casually mention to your ex that you think it would be best if he or she skipped this part of the reception.) Don't introduce your ex as "my ex." We're not encouraging you to lie, but there's no need to tell someone who doesn't know about your history together. And if it's a person who already knows your ex, there's no need to rehash the past. Don't spend a lot of time chatting with your ex. "This person is not a major part of the day no matter how you feel about them," says Schwartz. Don't drink too much. This is a day you want to remember, not regret. Alcohol loosens inhibitions, and sometimes makes us say things we would never say when we were sober.

Guest List: Inviting Estranged Relatives

You've written the guest list. Not once. Not twice. But three times, cutting coworkers, adding neighbors and leaving other folks in the "maybe" column until the "A-listers" RSVP. You're comfortable with the final list...with one exception: You're still debating whether to invite an estranged relative. A father or mother, sister or brother, grandmother or grandfather, aunt or uncle whom you haven't spoken with or seen in years. On the one hand, you're tempted to send an invitation because, like christenings and funerals, weddings are family affairs. But on the other hand, why waste a $100 dinner on people who don't act like family as far as you're concerned, and whose past misdeeds still make your blood boil?

Expert Advice

According to Chicago therapist Leah Shifrin Averick, the decision to invite estranged relatives should be based on the circumstances surrounding the rift and whether you really want to renew the relationship. "Yes, it's gracious to mend fences and invite them," Averick says. "But it's OK not to invite them, too -- especially if the circumstances of your falling out were so horrible that you can't forgive the person and you really don't want anything to do with them."

Questions to Ask Yourself

To help you decide, ask yourself these questions:
Are you angry about something that would be impossible to forgive? (Examples: Did your father molest you as a child? Did you mother abandon you when you were a baby? Did your uncle steal money from the family business and force your parents into bankruptcy?)

Was the rift the result of a minor misunderstanding that escalated into a feud? (Examples: Did your aunt stop speaking to you because your late grandmother left you more money than her children? Did your brother make disparaging remarks about your fiance?)

Are you worried about a scene at the wedding? (Example: Is your alcoholic brother prone to verbal outbursts and violence?)

How would you feel if the relationship didn't improve after the wedding?

Resolve Differences First

If you choose forgiveness, don't extend the wedding invitation out of the blue. "Resolve your differences first; then send the invitation," advises Gilda Carle, Ph.D., a New York psychotherapist. "The invitation won't solve the problem. Only a candid discussion will do that."

Madeline's Story

Madeline, a 28-year-old New Yorker, learned that lesson the hard way. Though she hadn't spoken to her great aunt and uncle for several years, she invited them to her wedding as a courtesy to her grandmother. "I knew my grandmother wanted them to be there," says Madeline, who can't recall the details of the rift. "Besides, my aunt is 89 and my uncle is 82. They won't be around forever, so I didn't want to have regrets." But she does. Both declined Madeline's invitation by scribbling nasty comments on the RSVP card. "My aunt wrote, 'I think you're a selfish person. You always have been and always will be. I hope your marriage is unsuccessful,'" Madeline says. "My uncle wrote, 'Will not attend!' -- and underlined it for emphasis. I'm sorry I invited them. They didn't have to be so harsh."

Sara's & Larry's Story

For Sara and Larry, inviting Larry's biological father, Bert, to their wedding proved bittersweet. Larry's parents divorced when he was a toddler, and Bert virtually disappeared from his son's life. "By the time I met Larry, they hadn't spoken in 10 years," says Sara, a 32-year-old Atlanta resident. "Larry didn't have a strong opinion of Bert. But 11 months before our wedding, Bert started calling and sending email. He even bought us airline tickets for our honeymoon. I was happy that Bert was making an effort, so I pushed Larry to invite him."

They did. And after the wedding, Bert showed his true colors. "He turned out to be unreliable and selfish," Sara says. "We've been married four years now, and we've only seen him once. The more I got to know him, the more I realized that he wasn't capable of having a normal relationship with us." Even so, Sara doesn't regret inviting Bert to the wedding. "We gave him a chance to be involved in our lives and to make a new connection with Larry. Unfortunately, it didn't work out. But if we hadn't invited him to the wedding, it always would have been an open question."

Keep it in Perspective

Ultimately, deciding whether to invite estranged relatives is deeply personal. That's why it's crucial to weigh all the pros and cons. "Forgiveness is not for the other person -- it's for you," says Carle, the psychotherapist. "If you want to heal past pains, invite your estranged relatives. But remember, your wedding day is your special day. If you're not ready to forgive or you're worried about the person's behavior, don't invite them. You shouldn't stir up negative feelings toward a relative on the happiest day of your life."

we have 8 years' experience of oem/odm in formal dresses and bridal dresses industry.The main products are bridal dresses, bridesmaid dress, evening dresses, flora gown, wedding accessories, cocktail dresses, ball dresses and so on.Floragown.com Buy Flora Gown ,Flora Wedding Dress - Flora Prom Dress online shop.