It has become very popular nowadays to include a separate table for the kids at the reception hall to keep the little ones happy and keep them out from under your feet. For the older kids in the group try a few card games with cards that work with your decor. Having a variety of board games available to them is also a good idea. Another good idea is to hire someone to entertain them, maybe teach them to make a special craft or teach them to make balloon animals. This will leave them with a keepsake to show off to their family and friends as well. Or simply leave them with a bunch of kid friendly craft supplies and let their imaginations run wild.

For the bakers in the crowded you could send them off to the kitchen with premade cookie dough and have them make valentine’s cookies(under adult supervision of course). you could also have white sugar cookies made ahead of time and then allow the children to decorate them with icing and sprinkles of reds, pinks or whatever colors go with you valentine’s theme. It would be wise to supply aprons for these little baker’s to save their party clothes from being ruined or to save money you could simply find colorful garbage bags and cut holes for their head and arms.

If the weather is nice you also have the option of sending the kids outside for some outside games or even a piñata. The kids will have a blast whacking away at the piñata and even be rewarded for their efforts when they finally smash it open. To be fair let the younger kids have a few tries(since they are most likely going to miss but will still feel like they had a chance) before handing the stick to the older kids to finish the piñata off.

Another simple idea would be to set up a TV with a kids movie in a corner or if your reception hall has another room available then you can set it up in there. Add a few bags of popcorn or maybe their personally decorated cookies and some wedding punch and you’ll have them happily entertained for hours.

“Many people don’t think beyond traditional diamonds and pearls when it comes to jewelry gifts,” says Natalie Parman, vice president of merchandising at Jewelry TV. “But the options are endless, especially since colored gemstones are increasingly popular. Champagne and chocolate diamonds are gorgeous, and come in everything from crisp, light colors to earthy dark browns.”

Chocolate diamonds are usually more rare than colorless diamonds but look amazing in a cocktail ring setting or a pair of dangle earrings. Give your significant other a special surprise by hiding a white and dark chocolate ring inside a box of delicious gourmet chocolates. Or make her wrist sparkle with a deep brown chocolate diamond bracelet.

If your budget is limited, another chocolate gemstone is Zircon. Known for its brilliance and luster, Zircon is often compared to diamonds but is usually a more affordable option. Smoky quartz is also a part of the trendy brown family. Its color ranges from brown to black to smoky gray and often comes in large sizes, making it a perfect gem for pendants and brooches. Dark brown gemstones can be offset beautifully by a white gold or platinum setting.

Champagne diamonds are found in a range of colors from soft candlelight to warm cognac. Hollywood stars have been spotted on red carpets the world over sporting champagne diamonds.

Drape a necklace with a sparkling champagne diamond pendant over a bottle of good champagne for the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift. Champagne diamonds look particularly stunning with a rectangular, baguette cut to let the color shine through. Nothing captures the sparkle of candlelight or even low evening lighting better than lightly colored champagne diamonds.

“Champagne and chocolate diamonds are hot, trendy and offer a new way to wear diamonds,” says Parman. “They’re warm, they stand out in a crowd and they look good with any skin tone. And who doesn’t like calorie-free chocolate and champagne?”

Visit www.JTV.com to see their entire collection of champagne and chocolate gemstones.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Planning a Valentine’s Day wedding?  Still haven’t found the perfect read dress? Well this deal will make it easier for you to pick. “House of Brides” has a category dedicated to red wedding dresses. So if your looking for a completely red dress or a white/ivory dress with red accents, you are sure to find the perfect dress at “House of Brides“. Here are a few of my favorites:

Left to right-

Designed by Alfred Angelo Style # 1193. Regular Retail $1299.95 for only $899.00.

Designed by Romantic Bridals Style # 6208. Regular Retail $874.95 for only $588.00.

Designed by DaVinci Style # 8305. Regular Retail $779.95 for only $527.00

Left to right-

Designed by Bonny Style # 8611. Regular Retail $1669.95 for only $1158.00.

Designed by Impression Style # 2655. Regular Retail $789.95 for only $525.00.

Designed by Raylia Designs Style # W4421L. Regular Retail $1369.95 for only $886.00

Left to right-

Designed by Forever Yours Style # 38206. Regular Retail $649.95 for only $431.00.

Designed by Forever Yours Style # 45232. Regular Retail $1059.95 for only $704.00.

Designed by Bonny Style # 905. Regular Retail $1259.95 for only $838.00

To make these deals “House of Brides” is offering an additonal 5% discount on all of their ‘Red Hot Wedding Dresses‘ when you use the coupon code ‘LOVE14′ . So weither your planning a valentine’s day wedding for this year or next year, buying now from “House of Brides” will save you not only money but also end the ‘wedding dress hunt’ stress!

The answers are actually very simple. Just ask Rochelle Lulow, creative director at American Greetings, who immersed herself in everything love to supervise the creation of the newest romantic cards from the greeting card company. As they conducted focus groups, poured over research and sat down to talk to consumers about their relationships, Lulow and her team gained insight not only into the perfect card, but also what makes for the perfect bond.

“Valentine’s Day is all about your relationship,” says Lulow. “And the very best way to celebrate is to just focus on what makes the both of you happy, and what makes your relationship so unique.”

Lulow and her team offer some basic tips for celebrating your romance, no matter what stage you’re at as a couple.

New Couple or Just Flirting

You may have just started dating or are still working up the nerve, but either way there is some chemistry, so embrace it. Go on a double date to lessen the pressure of a night alone, while not losing the intimacy by going with a large group.

Keep your gift light and simple, but thoughtful. Burn a CD for your sweetheart and pair it with a fun e-card or even a quick text message to let him or her know you’re interested.

Growing Couple

You have moved beyond mutual attraction to something more. Slowly you are learning the subtleties that make each of you who you are. You love spending time together, but are still at the stage where you have to work around schedules.

To get in the romantic spirit, use the whole week leading up to Valentine’s Day to arrange mini-dates. Monday, enjoy game night. Tuesday, watch a favorite show or movie together. Wednesday, skip the gym and get dessert. Thursday, make up for the mid-week treat by working out together. On Friday, Valentine’s Day eve, slip out of work a little early and go out for a light dinner and movie.

Show your sweetie how well you know him or her with a gift that reflects his or her interests. Get tickets to a game for a sports fan, a first edition of a favorite novel for a devoted reader, or a basket of kitchen gadgets for your favorite chef.

Established Couple

You have committed to one another and now you are both looking forward to your future. You are also juggling a lot of responsibilities, which can make planning difficult.
With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday this year, take some time and go on a weekend trip. Visit your favorite city or a city you have never seen and stay in a cozy bed and breakfast to enhance the romance.

Keep your gift sweet and simple by treating your significant other to a random day of kindness. Present breakfast in bed, flood the house with sticky notes covered with compliments and favorite memories, and round out the day by preparing a favorite meal.

Committed Couple

You two have been lucky enough to experience many of life’s most important milestones together. Valentine’s Day is now all about remembering the great memories you have already made, and looking forward to making many more.

Combine romance and nostalgia by re-enacting your very first date. As you reminisce, take the time to discuss doing some of those things you have always wanted to do but never quite gotten around to.

Revisit favorite memories together with a customized photo book. Include favorite photos, but also be sure to add small mementos fom love notes and cards to ticket stubs or theater programs.

For more tips, visit www. corporate.americangreetings.com/tipstrends.html

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Luxurious doesn’t necessarily mean expensive and with some creativity you can give lavish gifts on a limited budget. Some of the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts are jewelry, gourmet food and personal indulgences and all of them can fit into a small budget.

A Toast to Love:
Many couples pop the cork on a celebratory bottle of champagne, but a bottle of the real French spirit can run you a costly $40 to $120 or more. Instead, look for domestic sparkling whites or an Italian Prosecco, an inexpensive, crisp sparkling white wine.

Gourmet Chocolates:
A heart-shaped box filled with chocolate is almost cliche. When it comes to chocolate, it’s quality, not quantity, that counts. A small box of gourmet chocolates in trendy flavors like curry, cardamom, black pepper, red wine and goat cheese will make much more of an impact than a big box of boring generic chocolates with mystery filling. If you’d like to try something different, be daring and try a small tin of caramels with sea salt.

Jewelry:
Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but a piece of classic and stunning pearl jewelry for Valentine’s Day is an affordable, unexpected and appreciated surprise. Freshwater pearl earrings or bracelets give a high-end look for a budget price and allow you to celebrate the colors of love with a gorgeous pink or lavender cultured freshwater pearl necklace. PearlParadise.com offers freshwater pearl earrings starting at just $19. Make a unique statement and show her she’s the only one in your life with the symbolic and exotic Tahitian pearl pendant from PearlParadise.com.

Dinner for Two:
A romantic dinner for two at a restaurant can easily break the bank. Instead try a candlelit gourmet dinner for two at home which causes much less stress on the pocketbook while scoring points for thoughtfulness. You can break out the cook book and make recipes from scratch or log on to any number of Web sites and have a three or four course feast delivered to your door.

The Gift of Time:
Time is the ultimate luxury and giving the gift of your undivided attention for an entire weekend, running a relaxing bubble bath or giving a foot massage is the best and most heartfelt gift of all.

Whatever you’re shopping for this Valentine’s Day, don’t wait until the last minute. Shopping ahead can save big money. Look for sales at your favorite stores or surf around for awesome deals online. PearlParadise.com, for example, offers pearls up to 80 percent off retail price. Remember, putting some thought into your gift and thinking ahead truly shows you care.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

This wirework heart is 13 x 11 1/2″ and absolutely gorgeous! Just tie a ribbon to it, and hang it on the doorway into the chapel/reception area. Or, hang 3 at varying heights behind the head table. These are on sale for $6.75 each, so you can easily add a few to your decor without spending a fortune!

These heart shaped cookie magnet set would make a lovely wedding favor, and at $3.97 for 6 – that works out to about 65 cents per guest!! VERY affordable, and perfect for a pink or red wedding theme.

Here is one find that gives you an entire centerpiece in one, and the entire thing is $8.97! All you have to add is a candle! This centerpiece works for a red wedding any time of year, but if you are planning ahead for a Christmas 2008 wedding, the red berries will fit right in as well!

And one more worth mentioning, these adorable little gift bags! Just add some chocolates or other treats, and you have a wonderful favor. These are on sale in sets of 3 for $4.97.

This first one is a very romantic candle holder design, suitable for a tradtional, semi formal wedding. The hearts make it suitable for a Valentine’s theme, while the berries make it very suitable for any winter wedding. The design itself has a country feel as well. This set is a complete centerpeice, you wouldn’t really need to add anything to it – and they sell for $18 per set.

My second choice is this very modern, trendy design of a man and a woman forming a heart that would be suitable for even the most formal, elegant wedding. The black color also means it will work in any season, with almost any color scheme and most themes! You could add a pillar candle behind each one for a romantic glow, or place on a mirrow with small glass pebbles for accent peices. These are very affordable, on sale right now for $3/piece.

This cute little tin buckets stand 3″ high and are perfect for holding candies, cinnamon hearts, mints or chocolates. Available in sets of 12, they are about 84 cents each!

These glass votive holders are adorable – and they come personalized with whatever you wish: your names and date for example. They are very affordable ($10 for a dozen) and can also double as part of your lighting/table decor.

Here is a unique twist on the Chinese Take-out Box idea. You can put candies, mints, chocolates or other small goodies in these 2 1/2″ high boxes. The best part – at $3 for a dozen, that is only 25 cents per box!!

If you prefer a longer-lasting favor, and want to avoid the regular old candy routine – these valentine magnets may be just the thing. They look good enough to eat, and are very affordable at about $1 a peice.

Another non-edible favor idea, these little angels stand just over 2″ high and would add an elegant touch to any table! Use a few small boxes stacked together, covered with red cloth to set them in a group at different levels. Sprinkle rose petals, pearls, and/or cinnamon hearts among them – and you have a centerpeice as well! These sell for $15 per dozen, so about $1.25 per guest.

Heart-shaped lollipops – there are so many ways you could use these. Tie them with a ribbon along, tuck them in under the napkin ring, stick them in cupcakes, or place a few in the centerpieces for a unique touch. At only $4 for a dozen, these are an affordable way to treat your guests.

i want my wedding theme to be ‘romance’. i am looking for suggestions, from everything from colors to decoration ideas. my wedding is in april by the way.

My Answer:

Things that scream ROMANCE:

chocolate
wine
strawberrys
roses
rose petals
red
white
pink
silks and satins
candles
elegant finger foods and fancy cocktails
poetry
elegant fonts
orchestra
lights
dancing
moonlight
stars
instrumental music
horse drawn carriage rides

Some Ideas:
- use famous couples in history, favorite romance songs, etc as table names
- candlelight evening weddings are very romantic, as is dancing under the stars. See if you can rent a tent with “skylights” that can be closed if it rains, but open to the stars otherwise.