New Hope Soap Blog

In the seas of wedding gifts that wedding couples are bound to get, how will yours stack up? Is it going to be ho-hum, run-of-the-mill and as-expected or will yours make a lasting impression? If you’re looking for ways to make a splash with your gift, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive, a little creativity may just do the trick. Here are some creative wedding gifts to consider:

Personalized Towels

What better way to remind the newlyweds of starting their lives together than personalized bath towels. Whether it’s embossed with a monogram or names or embellished with graphic or custom logo, personalized towels are thoughtful tokens that will be greatly appreciated.

As anyone who has ever been married can tell you, you want everything at the wedding to be perfect.  This means the venue; the decorations, invitations, catering, cake and everything else must be looked at time and time again to insure nothing goes wrong.  This is particularly true with your decision for the Wedding Entertainment.  Every wedding needs music, and there will always be the debate of which is better: a wedding DJ or house band.  Both offer their advantages and disadvantages, so it will be up to you to decide which is best for your special day.

From the day he asked you to marry him, you've probably had an idea of what colors you want your wedding to be.

1. Tiffany Blue

Even though your dream wedding may be Tiffany bluewith white accents, there are a few things to consider before selecting your colors.

First, where are you having your ceremony and reception? You may want your colors to be complemented by the venues so taking into account the colors already present is important.

2. Lavender

For example if your reception is in a lodge filled with moose heads, deep red walls and carpeting, your Lavender color scheme might not exactly match the decor already present. You should consider the lighting, carpets, and decor already in place.

3. Sand

If your church is ultra modern with big windows and a lot of light, Sand might not be a great color as it will look white.

Hiring a wedding videographer who will film your special day is just as important as hiring a caterer who will feed your guests, a photographer who will capture precious snapshots of you, and a DJ who will provide the music. But just like with the other important personnel that help to make your wedding day a success, it can be difficult to find the person who will get the videography job done right. Luckily, we have compiled a list of tips that will make the process much easier and less stressful!

1. Know your budget. For all wedding-related people and services you have to hire, making a choice that is in your financial reach is the most important tip. With a videographer, it's important to find the right balance between expensive and cheap so that you get quality videos to look back on and still have enough money to spend on other things.
   
   
2. Find someone near your venue. Choosing a videographer who lives close to your venue will allow them to steer clear of any traffic-, weather-, or time-related mishaps on the wedding day. You can rest assured that your videographer will be able to get there, and get there quick--without you having to constantly and anxiously check your watch.
   

By Linda Hilliard - Author of the Book
E-mail Your Weight Away - Diet Dialoges for Women

When my eldest daughter got married a few years ago, I had it easy. She planned every detail of her wedding. I just had to show up as the beaming mother-of-the-bride. For my younger daughter: Well, not so much. I was assigned the role of finding the wedding photographer.

I learned several obvious, but basic facts about wedding photographers: Some are good/some awful; they can cost a fortune; and you have to shop around. Oh, and I also learned: DO NOT use your cousin’s son who took a photo class in high school and swears he’ll do a “good job.”

The Wedding Reception Dinner - Culinary Spectacle or Complete Disaster

So, wedding season is coming up and you're having the wedding caterer's dilemma--what is there going to be to eat, how is it going to look, and who is going to put it there? If this sounds like you, not to worry! New Hope Soap has got you covered with 10 top tips on how to find and hire the wedding caterer that's perfect for your upcoming big day.

 By Linda Hilliard - Author of the Book
E-mail Your Weight Away - Diet Dialoges for Women

The wedding’s over, the happy couple is back from their honeymoon. On to marital and domestic bliss and - sigh - gaining weight.

Prior to the wedding, a bride and groom tend to be super conscious of their weight. If they don’t shed a few pounds, at least they try not to gain any extra weight that might make the tux a smidge tight or the dress bulge a bit.

But once the honeymoon is over (in fact even during the honeymoon), the siren call of tasty foods can sometimes have a negative impact on the newlyweds’ scale.

By Linda Hilliard - Author of the Book
E-mail Your Weight Away - Diet Dialoges for Women

I remember when Kate Middleton was preparing to marry Prince William and a newswoman observed that like so many brides, Kate was trying to lose a few pounds. I was shocked. Kate seems (to me) to be extremely thin and hardly in need of “Shedding a few pounds.”

There’s no denying that brides often go on diets before their weddings. In fact wedding dresses purchased in January may need to be taken in a bit before the June nuptials.

Watching my own two daughters walk down the aisle, I totally understand the desire to be thinner for that special day (hey, mother-of the brides here also shed a few pounds for the occasions).

HOWEVER, when it comes to dieting for a wedding, I would caution brides (and the entire wedding party) not to succumb to “I have to be stick thin to be beautiful” thinking.

Shopping for bridesmaids gifts can be a special experience for a bride-to-be.  The bridesmaid favors allow the bride a very special opportunity to show how much she appreciates her girlfriends and how grateful she is to be sharing this special day with them!

A heartfelt, thoughtful gift can make all the difference in the world and a personalized gift shows you care all the more. Why not indulge your bridesmaids with personalized engraved scented soaps and candles from our extensive collection at New Hope Soap.

Post by
Kevin Bryan
KJBryan Photography

So you want to capture great memories of your wedding...here are five things to keep in mind in selecting and working with your photographer!

1.  Don't let a beginner practice with YOUR wedding.
   
   Friends don't let friends take their wedding photos, and there is good reason for this. If the bride and/or groom are disappointed with the results, or if something should go seriously wrong, this could put a lasting strain on the friendship. Professionals take pains to make sure there are no problems, or at least none that can't be remedied. Extra cameras, multiple copies of the digital images, and other precautions make sure that these once-in-a-lifetime photos are captured secured. Should a friend make a mistake or have an accident, not only will your photos suffer, you may also damage a valued relationship.
   
   In terms of quality, an experienced professional will have more than just a few impressive images to show you. You will see a wide variety of work, and consistent success at capturing all the phases of a wedding day.