Mehndi - Indian Art

A beautiful Indian tradition is the art of Mehndhi. This 5000 year old tradition is painless and the art can last from several days or as long as a month. This tradition began for less fortunate brides to wear in place of fine jewelry. Indian brides have a Mehndhi party the night before the wedding {girls only!} where the feet and hands of the bride are adorned. The designs are reddish-brown and fine lines (lacy or floral). The peacock is often incorporated (India's national bird), the lotus flower (India's national flower), and an elephant with a raised trunk (symbol of good luck).

Juuuuump!

As if the marrige jitters wasn't enough...how about mixing those butterflies with the thought of jumping out of a plane for your vows? How much fun though?

Sexi Gift Bags

These sexi guest bags rock my socks. Are you having an out-of-town wedding and want to treat your guests? First think about your motive. If you are creative - you may want to include homemade treats. Here are some ideas:

• Flower seeds from your hometown
• Home-grown coffeebeans or honey
• Area specific treats like lobster bibs for a Boston wedding, sunscreen/seashells for a beach wedding, cutsi earmuffs for a mountainous wedding along with maps and guides....
• Wine with customized labels - or if your lucky - wine that you designed
• Regional handmade soaps and lotions
• Assorted teas
• Gift certificats to a popular local resturant/bar/resort

Let your creativity bloom! Your special touch will be sure to make someone's stay very speacial.

Butterfly Release

There is something dainty and beautiful about a butterfly release as the new Mr. and Mrs. run hand in hand into their new future.

Freegan Wedding

Get your 'FREE' on!

$ Pick your own home-grown flowers $ Dress for less -- Borrow, rent, or find a fabulous dress from a thrift shop $ Recruit -- use your frinds help and talents to make your day unique $ Forget following the rules. Do things that are important to you! $ Location -- your backdrop should present opportunities for less moolah

$ Music -- remember that friend who can play the piano or guitar?

$ Drinks -- if it is a must put b.y.o.b on your invites

$ Invites -- make your own

This will make a lasting impression on your family and friends. Plus...your wallet will be forever grateful.

Are you up for the challenge? The goal is to "buy" as little as possible. Use your creativity

to borrow, reuse, or re-make things you already have.

What's Your Mantra?

What future bride doesn’t think about getting hott and in shape pre-wed? Planning, stressing, and fasting can take a major toll on the mind and body. In the midst of all of the hustle and bustle…take a breath….and take some YOU time. Consider getting involved with a fun dance class for exercise. Try to combine spirituality, meditation, and exercise in one. This will help release some stressors, and will also add some culture to your life. New disciplines help one become grounded – and exercise help one become a sexy fox! Research the following. You may find a practice that you fall in love with and want to continue for life! C’mon…it’ll be fun!

5 Rythyms: Incorporates different types of music related to the rythyms. Flowing, staccato, lyrical, chaos and stillness. As Kelly says "We danced the rhythms and each one represents a different wave. Flowing is circular movements, birth, like a river flowing and meandering. Staccato is sharp and angular movements. Lyrical is joyful like a child, Chaos is letting go completely, anger, power, strength, surrender and Stillness is death, peace, finding that stillness inside." African Dance: The mood of the African people are expressed by the sound and rythym of the drum. The drum is to evok emotions to touch the heart and souls of those who hear the rhythyms. Yoga: The majority of practitioners of yoga outside India are primarily interested in improving health and fitness. The ultimate goals may range from reaching Moksha to physical immortality.

Tai Chi: Is classified as Wudangquan or a Chinese martial art. You may have seen this practice in parks by people in a group moving in slow motion - Matrix style! This is used for health and longevity. Belly Dancing: Origionated in the Eastern countries. Meditation and seductive moves are sure to turn your man on.

Ballet: So Beautiful and graceful!

Nataraj Meditation: is the dancing posture of the Hindu god Shiva, who performs his divine dance as a part of his activities of creation and destruction. I bet Shiva was pretty fiesty...

Meditation: Esacpe from life for a second. Meditation has many health benefits and helps one connect with inner soul. Start with 5-10 minutes a day. Click here now for a free vaction get-a-way from it all. Pretty good deal huh? You can also learn more about the practice from Osho.

Me Lucky Charms

So, it is time for the awkward bouquet toss. All the 'single' ladies get a stab at a chance to tackle one another to see who is next to be married. Who needs boys anyway? :) The alternative idea of having a break-away bouquet for the toss is appetizing. Each maid will receive a piece with a 'lucky charm' attached for good luck. Everyone gets to share the experience and has a charm to take away with them! Talk to your florist about the options of a break-away bouquet. The charms or fortunes can be whatever tickles your fancy. I was intrigued by the below yantras just because it is unique. However, if you feel the need to attach a four-leaf clover or horseshoe, be my guest. *note* A yantra is meditational device used in Hindu and Tibetan Tantric meditation. From the root "yam," meaning "to sustain," the Yantra is a symbolic image used to maintain a focused state during meditation. A yantra is usually composed of an outer geometrical form enclosing an interior geometrical designs. Each particular design is used for a specific purpose or intent. Check out the beauties:

The Vashikaran charm is to attrack love and romance into the life of the wearer. This charm can help to resolve relationship problems, bring harmony to personal relationships and can draw the affections of a particular person.

The Mahamritrunjyay charm is a powerful mantra for inviting good health, fortune, and harmony into one's home.

The Santaan Gopal charm is for people who wish to have children.

The Crystal Shri Yantra is for prosperity and success. The crystal is known as ‘Safaitik’ which means pure.

The Shani Yantra is for overcoming the hardships and obstacles caused by Saturn or ‘Shani Dev.’

The Bagla Mukhi Yantra is a charm for for protection from evil and for overcoming enemies.

The Shri Yantra is a charm for success, wealth, & good luck.

Check out powerfortunes for more charm ideas.

Bohemian Rhapsody

The beautiful outdoors! The natural look of baby pinks and greens is calming. Pick an outdoor spot for the ceremony and use bohemian themed favors for a pulled-together masterpiece. Peace. Love. Happiness.

Trash Your Wedding Dress

the cool thing to do is actually trash your wedding dress! that's right! it won't always ruin it & it makes pictures fun. so, the careful pre-wedding stiff pics are no more. schedule an apt with your photographer for after wedding pictures and get dirty! Read full article.

Photo Quilt

after the 'love bugs' wear off of the newlywed high - your SO will give you some sleep room. just when you think that you will never be warm in bed again....grab a customized pic quilt and snuggle up!