Heather's Glen offers the finest in Houston TX wedding venues in Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas

I’m going to a “Linens and Lace” bridal shower next month!  The super-cute invitation had lace on it- I’d never heard of that theme!  So of course I had to tell you guys about it and do the research on bridal shower themes and ideas.

My first instinct was that for a Linens and Lace shower, you could bring either linen or lingerie.  I just assumed that would be the lace- haha!  Not necessarily, however.  This shower is generally for bedding and table linens.  I will definitely report back on favors and decor, of course!

Another theme I researched that I thought was a great idea is a tea party shower.  Tea is obviously served, along with a luncheon of finger sandwiches and petit fours.  Check out my previous blog about the Alice and Wonderland theme for decor ideas.  Give teas in cute tea cups and saucers for a useful favor.

tea party bridal shower

“Stock the Bar” is becoming a popular shower theme, especially for couples’ showers.  I’ve never personally been to one of these showers.  This would be a great shower for a couple who loves to entertain.  Guests would be encouraged to not only bring bar gifts from their registry, but also their favorite wine/liquor/mixer.  This shower would be great at a wine bar in the evening, with fruit and cheese served. 

stock the bar

A third shower I’ve heard about (but not yet attended) is the “Rock Around the Clock” theme.  Each invitation sent is assigned an hour of the day; the guest is encouraged to bring a gift that would be used during that time.  Has anyone been to one of these, and was it successful? 

Let me know about fun showers you’ve been to/planned that were a hit!

A couple who eloped here a year ago are back today to renew their vows!  The two are in the chapel with the minister for a ten-minute ceremony promising their continual commitment to each other. 

Have you thought about renewing your vows?  Gentlemen, let me just say, what an AWESOME gift this is to give to your wives for your anniversary (or birthday, or Mother’s Day, etc…). 

Or vow renewal packages are the same as our regular packages (price-wise), the ceremony is just a little different.  Please give us a call to check on dates if you’re interested!

It’s the boy scouts’ motto to always be prepared, right?  Be a boy scout about your wedding.  Put together a wedding day emergency kit. 

In the chaos of getting ready (well, hopefully it won’t be chaos, but often times it is), a bridesmaid may discover she left the tag on her gown.  She rips it off…ripping the zipper seam with it!  Prevent this scenario with scissors in an emergency kit. 

Here’s what you do.  Find cosmetic bag (clear is best, so you don’t have trouble locating small items in a hurry), and fill it with “emergency” items.  Martha Stewart Weddings has a great list of these items:

For Clothing
1. Sewing kit with needles, thread, buttons, and safety pins
2. Toupee tape (for keeping clothes in place)
3. Scissors
4. Stick-on instant hemming tape
5. Clear nail polish (for runs)
6. White chalk (for masking stains)

From the Drugstore
1. Breath mints
2. Bandages
3. Blister protection
4. Antacid
5. Pain reliever

For Touch-Ups
1. Blotting papers
2. Cotton swabs
3. Tweezers
4. Emery board
5. Lip balm
6. Tissues
7. Hand lotion
8. Bobby pins
9. Comb
10. Lipstick
11. Powder
12. Small mirror
13. Nail polish in the shade you’re wearing

What would you add?  One commenter added: deoderant, tampons, baby powder, hairspray, sunscreen, and extra batteries for digital cameras.  Seems like a no-brainer, but during the hustle and bustle of wedding planning, this can sometimes be overlooked.  As a bride, a great gift to the girls would be a scaled down version of this.  Perhaps a luxury make up bag, filled with a few of the essentials like mints, tissues, nail polish, and bobby pins. 

Below is a photo of the handy kit you can pick up at Target.  Just be sure to check items and add any of your own. 

Wedding Day Survival Kit, available at Target

While the unity candle service has been steadily the most common unity feature in weddings, sand ceremonies have increased in popularity as well.  After witnessing a “libation ceremony” a few months back, I decided to do a little research about various unity features.

Unity candles are common and popular, especially among Christian communities.   Candle sets are sold at bridal and craft stores, and can be dressed up with ribbon and decals to continue the theme of the wedding.  In a unity candle stand, one large pillar candle sits with two tapers on either side.  During the parents’ procession, the mother of the groom lights the candle that is on the side that the groom stands, and the mother of the bride does the same on her side.  Then, during the wedding ceremony, the minister discusses the meaning and instructs the bride and groom to light the center candle, unifying them, with the candles that their mothers lit.  They then blow the tapers out, and only the unity candle remains burning.  Lighting the unity candle symbolizes the new married life together as one; the flame itself symbolizes the Holy Spirit.  Many couples display their unity candles in their home and light them on anniversaries.

The sand ceremony is of the same concept, however the mothers are not typically involved.  On a table, a center vase sits between two smaller vases.  The smaller vases are each filled with sand:  the bride’s one color, and the groom’s another.  During the sand ceremony, the couple fill the empty vase with their respective colored sand and then have a meaningful keepsake to display.  While the sand ceremony is wonderful for beach-themed weddings, they have gained a huge amount of popularity at venues all over.  Often times couples will use sand from lake or ocean coasts where they grew up, or even from beach vacations they have taken together.  Another take on this tradition is to fill an hourglass with sand.  On their anniversary, the couple flip it over to represent their love and vows flowing into the next year.

The libation service was one we’d never seen at Heather’s Glen before.  The couple brought a small tree in that they planned on planting at their home together.  During the service, they each poured a container of water into the tree, representing the love and commitment that they would pour into their growing marriage.  Water has also been used in ceremonies to wash each other’s feet or hands as a symbol of discipleship and purification. 

During my research I stumbled across something called the “Covenant of Salt.”  Ths tradition harks back to biblical times when it was used to bind a contract.  Each party put a pinch of salt in the other person’s pocket.  The contract made could only be broken if each grain of salt in someone’s pocket could be sorted, identified, and then returned to the rightful owner.  Like the sand ceremony, each partner takes a vial of salt and pours it into a single container, joining the particles forever.  Colored salt is discouraged in this ceremony, as they could then be identified as the bride or groom’s, and thus the contract would be dissolvable! 

What service are you having?  Please share with me some ideas I haven’t mentioned!

We still have availabilities for elopements on Valentine’s Day!

Are you thinking about exchanging vows with the love of your life this year on February 14th?  Give each other “I do” candy hearts!

Call asap to find out times available.  Wedding vows are the ultimate Valentines!

"Marry Me" Valentine candy heart

What do you guys think of the crafty bouquet and b0utonnieres?  This isn’t my first time to see button bouquets, but I had never seen the feather ones before!  Love it.  Shop etsy.com, get crafty yourself, or consult your florist for an awesome creation.  The great thing about these is that since they’re not fresh flowers, they’re not perishable.  That leaves room for passing the bouquet on as an heirloom or as someone else’s “something borrowed.”  Browse below for some ideas, and as always, share your own ideas with me! 

A sweet button bouquet and bout to match!

A glamorous feather and satin bouquet

A playful button bouquet (your "something blue!")