Whether you’re a wedding host or guest, there’s no arguing that these events are one of the most complex parties anyone can have. While we can’t instantly make things easier, hopefully the brief guide below will help make the planning a little less difficult.

Plan the Wedding

Although planning a wedding can be a daunting experience, the tips below, as discussed in The Knot, should help to keep you on track.

1. As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to ensure you have enough space for your guests. You’ll want to allow 25 to 30 square feet per guest. While it seems like a lot, it’s not when you consider the dance floor, band, waiters, and other wedding essentials.
2. Ensure the wedding date doesn’t overlap with any major events. The Knot has a helpful list of dates which you should avoid.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for extras from the venue when planning your wedding. After all many venues would rather have your business as opposed to nickel and diming you.
4. As a rule of thumb, you should expect about 30 percent of your invitees to decline the offer. This depends heavily on how many out of towners are expected, along with the destination and timing of the wedding.

Tech Tips for Wedding Attendees

Below are a few tips from The Huffington Post to help you navigate this complex field.

1. Never send out a photo of the bride before she walks down the aisle. The last thing the groom needs to see on their wedding day are images of his bride before she walks down the aisle.
2. Use a provided hashtag when sending out a picture. It’s a great way for people to see the event from a different perspective.If the couple requests you use a specific app to share photos, then try to do so.
3. Don’t vent about the wedding on social media. Whether the food isn’t up to your standards or the DJ needs to change the music, it’s best for you to speak to a the planner directly.
4. Don’t forget to silence or shut your phone.
5. Don’t Vine the couple’s vows, first look or any other sentimental moments

Wedding Gift Tips

Not sure what to buy for the bride and groom? Below are a few helpful wedding gifting tips from Real Simple which should make the decision making process a bit easier for you.

1. It’s okay to veer off the gift registry when shopping for a couple. In most cases, the registry is simply a set of suggestions rather than firm rule as to what to buy.
2. Although you technically up to one year after the wedding to send your gifts, ideally you’ll want to send them one to two weeks before the wedding.
3. If you attend the wedding shower and the actual ceremony, you will need to bring gifts to both events.
4. If you’re part of the wedding party you don’t necessarily need to buy another gift on top of your other expenses. Instead you could just give a little something such as a book of love poems or a small framed picture.

If you’re looking for something easy but thoughtful to give as a gift, why not consider a wedding gift basket? They’re fairly comprehensive and come with a variety of goods, and come in a variety of prices to fit virtually any budget.

 

Halloween is almost here and it’s time to get ready for the festivities with costumes, decorations, and of course treats. Although it’s often a hectic holiday, you can simplify the planning by following the tips below.

Halloween Costumes

One of the biggest expenses you’ll encounter during the Halloween season are costumes for your family. Popsugar has a bit of inspiration you can use to create some amazing creative costumes without breaking the bank.

If you’re a bit overwhelmed by the suggestions don’t worry, we have you covered this Halloween. Below are a few of the more practical outfits for you to create with the family.

• Fortune teller:  Get a head scarf, sparkly top, long skirt, and a shawl to drape over your shoulders. Add some gold and flashy jewelry along with a couple of good fortunes and you’ll be good to go.
• Silent film stars:  If you think silence is golden, this is the perfect costume for you. Get some black attire, white body and face paint, and black lipstick and eyeshadow. To create your blush, use the black eyeshadow. It also can’t hurt to choose an outfit which resembles what was worn in the 1930’s to 1960’s.
• Minions:  A great choice for children and adults, you just need to start with a yellow top and overalls. Make your own hat and add eyes made of cloth or Styrofoam cups. You can also paint your face yellow if desired.

Of course, if you have absolutely no idea of which costume you want, you could just be an error page.

Halloween Decorations

The great thing about Halloween is that there are so many things you can do to spruce up your home for the holiday. Below are a few highlights from HGTV’s suggestions on handmade halloween decorations.

• Tiny ghost town:  By using matte spray paint, you can easily turn craft store birdhouses into eerie mini landscapes. To enhance the look, you can add oversized spiders, rubber snakes, and/or faux birds to the scene.
• Glam glittered pumpkins:  By using school glue and black glitter, you can give natural/faux pumpkins a chic makeover. Choosing an easy pattern makes it a great activity for children, or you can create your own design for a sophisticated look.
• Spider web pillows:  Fuzzy yarn on grey wool fabric is a great way to make a spooky Halloween themed pillow. You can find the instructions for this project here.

Trick-Or-Treating

The American Red Cross offers a wealth of suggestions when it comes to having a safe Halloween when trick or treating. A few suggested precautions are:

• Ensure trick or treaters can see and be seen, by providing them with a flashlight to light their way and adding reflective tape to costumes and candy bags.
• Be cautious around animals such as dogs.
• Only visit homes which have the porch lights on.
• Walk only on sidewalks rather than in the street. If there’s no sidewalk available walk at the edge of the roadway.

Choosing Halloween gifts

Now, we don’t want anyone to get a tummy ache, but have you seen our selection of Halloween gift baskets? Sometimes fun, sometimes spooky, our baskets come in a variety of forms but they’re always delicious.

Unfortunately it happens, a loved one passes and you are tasked with offering your sympathy, we are here to give you some tips…
When you lose a friend, family member, or someone close to you passes away, it can be difficult knowing the best way to offer support. How can you help? What should you do? These are just a couple of the questions which might come up. Although it’s a tough time for all involved, you can simplify the grieving process by considering the information below.

Tips for attending a funeral

About.com offers a few essential tips and information on best procedures for attending a funeral. One of the most important things to remember is that it’s appropriate to send a gift to any member of the family of the deceased or anyone in the immediate family. You might also want to give something to close friends or significant other of those impacted by the loss.

Below are a few basics when it comes to etiquette at a funeral:
Arrive on time: Ideally you should arrive 8 to 10 minutes ahead of the scheduled event. When you’re planning your commute, ensure you account for parking, traffic, and other potential delays.
Turn off your cell phone: This is a given but it’s worth repeating here. If you need to keep your phone on, ensure it’s set to vibrate.
Wear proper attire: Although wearing black is ideal for somber events, guests also can wear subdued conservative clothing. In general you’ll want to avoid anything that’s bright or cheery.

Sympathy card etiquette

Sending a sympathy card can be so daunting that you keep procrastinating and never actually get to the task. In general it’s ideal to send a card within the first two weeks of a death however as Simply Sympathy points out, even if you don’t make that window, it’s still possible to show your condolences.

When you’re signing your sympathy card, you’ll want to write a thoughtful closing or statement and then write down your name. You’ll want to clearly identify yourself by using your first and last name. If desired you could also add a brief explanation of your relationship with the deceased.

Offering assistance

If you’re close to the family of the deceased, you might want to go a bit further when helping out by offering assistance in this time of need. As Elegant Woman mentions, a few ways you can offer assistance to the family are though:

• General funeral assistance such as answering the door
• Helping to arrange food and drink
• Receiving visitors
• Assisting with ushering guests
• Childcare
• Pet care
• Making arrangements for services

Just remember that you don’t want to intrude on the family’s privacy by contacting them unless you’re very close.

Consider Religious Preferences

Before sending a gift or attending a function, you’ll want to ensure that you know the religious customs and preferences of the family. For example, flowers are a good gift for Christian families, however they aren’t so good for those of the Jewish faith. If you’re thinking of giving food to a Jewish family, you’ll need to ensure it’s kosher.

Choosing a sympathy gift

Whether you’re involved with sympathy or funeral occasions, we have a variety of sympathy gift baskets to fit your needs. If desired, you can even create a unique gift with our custom gift basket creator.

Regardless of how you choose to respond to a sudden tragedy, one of the most important things you can do is take some time to show you’re going to be supportive for the long haul.

Writing a welcoming birthday card, can be a bit tricky sometimes but we will give you some tips to help you through it. Celebrating a friend or family members turning a year older (and wiser) is a fact of life which nobody can escape. It’s a fun part of life where the birthday boy/girl gets to shine and see how much they’re loved by getting gifts and indulging in sweet desserts.

There are times however when expressing excitement for a person’s birthday said than done, especially when you’re working on writing the perfect birthday card message. Fortunately overcoming writer’s block isn’t nearly as difficult as it seems. By following the tips below you should be able to easily choose the perfect gift and write the perfect message for those you care about.

Birthday Card Wording

Depending on the birthday boy or girl, the wording of your card is going to greatly vary. Are you looking to make sincere birthday wishes? How about some heartfelt birthday wishes? Maybe some birthday jokes about getting old?

Whether you choose to be funny, romantic, or cute, the tone of your card is going to depend on who you are writing the card to. Below are a few suggestions for wording a birthday card as discussed on Shutterfly.

Cute Birthday Messages

• Thanks for being here, for being you. Happiest of birthdays.
• So grateful that you were born. Happy birthday.

Funny Birthday Greetings

• Happy birthday to one of the few people whose birthday I can remember without a Facebook reminder.
• Forget about the past, you can’t change it. Forget about the future, you can’t predict it. Forget about the present, I didn’t get you one.

Sincere Birthday Wishes

• I wish that every candle on your birthday cake brings you a reason to smile.
• It is always good to remember you, my friend, especially on your big day! Make it unforgettable.

Choosing a Birthday Gift

It’s not always easy choosing the right gift for those you care about. After all, everyone has different tastes and preferences. Fortunately by following the tips below, from the The Huffington Post, the decision making process should be much simpler..

1. Make the present an event:  Instead of just wrapping the gift and handing it over, you could treat the gifting experience as an event. You can hide the gift and send the person on a scavenger hunt, or hide a secret message in a book.
2. Make a list of all the things the person is interested in or choose a gift based on the items which define the person you care about. By spending two minutes on your brainstorm you can come up with a variety of ideas for each item on your list whether it’s small or big.
3. Include a little bit of yourself:  Make your gift personal in a different way. For example you can create a piece of art, write a song, knit a scarf, or something along those lines. When combined with other suggestions from the article, you’ll be able to create an ultra personalized gift.

Of course if you’re looking for a quick and easy gift which can easily be personalized, why not purchase a  birthday gift basket? The great thing about these gift baskets is that aside from shopping at home, there’s so many possibilities it’s easy to find the right gift for the one you care about.

Let’s all raise a glass to champagne, the king of all things bubbly! While it might seem like a drink for special occasions such as ringing in the New Year, wedding toasts, or for mimosas at lunch and doesn’t have to be limited to significant moments.

This tasty drink can be enjoyed on its own or with a variety of courses ranging from appetizers to desserts. Anyway, if you love the drink, you might as well enjoy it!

Although the labels might seem intimidating at first, you don’t need to worry. The tips below will help you integrate champagne into any occasion, making any event feel extra special.

What is champagne?

Champagne is a carbonated (sparkling) beverage primarily made in the region of Northern France. In fact, in order for a wine to be referred to as champagne, it must be made from the region in order to bear the name.

If the wine comes from Italy, it’s known as Prosecco or Spumante. If it comes from Spain, it’s referred to as Cava. If the wine comes from the United States, it’s referred to as Sparkling Wine.

What kind of grapes are used to make champagne?

In order to create it, three types of grapes are used – chardonnay, pinot noir, or pinot meunier. If a champagne is labeled “blanc de blancs” that means only white grapes were used to make it.

If the label reads “Cuvee” it means a variety of all three grapes were used and if you see “blanc de noirs,” that means that it is made from grapes, pinot noir or pinot meunier

The most notable trait however is that the skins are removed quickly in order to maintain a white look. If the wine is pink, it means a small amount of wine is mixed in, making it a Rosé.

How did champagne get its bubbles?

Believe it or not, it got its bubbles by pure accident. In the 17th century cold temperatures interfered with wine fermentation and caused it to stop earlier. A second fermentation began when the frozen yeast (from the frozen wine) thawed, resulting in exploding bubbles.

After some time, winemakers began to attempt to control the second fermentation. By the 18th century the champagne industry began to resemble what it is today.

For more information on the creation process, check out this helpful guide from Wine Folly.

How do I enjoy champagne at its best?

Since it is best served chilled, you’ll want to put it into the fridge an hour or two before opening. If you have an ice bucket or wine chiller, you could use that between glasses. You might want to use a stopper so you can preserve the bubbles, plus you won’t feel like you have to drink the entire bottle in one sitting.

Not sure where to get started when shopping for champagne? Why not look into purchasing a champagne gift basket? Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or are just purchasing it because, you won’t be disappointed with your decision.

Teaching is one of the most under-appreciated jobs today. They shape the future of the generation and receive very little in return. To show your support for the people that care for your little devils, present them with a gift basket at the beginning or the end of the school year.

The beginning of the year is a stressful time for teachers especially if they’re about to teach small children. First time students always have jitters and can cause some trouble for the teacher. Presenting a gift basket is a great way of familiarizing your child with the teacher and vice versa. Kicking off any relationship with a positive start is a good way to ensure that your child will have a great year ahead.

The end of the year naturally warrants a gift for the teacher. They have put in a lot of hard work and dedication to teach your child and make them better human beings.

The Swiss Army Knife– The teacher is no less than a soldier who needs a million supplies for their classroom. The Swiss army knife gift basket should include all kinds of arts and craft supplies that the teacher will need. Make sure to equip them with files, folders, notebooks, markers, paints, boxed crayons, scissors and glue. Don’t just make it all boring school supplies though. Make sure to put in some edible items that you know the teacher will love. YOU can never go wrong with chocolates.

Baked items – Cupcakes and cookies are loved by everyone. Teachers will be especially thrilled to receive freshly baked goodies that come in gourmet baskets. In fact you can put in custom made cookies with designs on them. There are some really beautiful designer cookies available. The best ones are those with school themed illustrations on them. To make the item more personal however, make sure to put a thank you note in there to show you really appreciate their efforts.

Flowers and chocolates – Everyone loves receiving flower and chocolate. These two items are immediate mood lifters and can really show your appreciation for the teacher at the end of the school year. Nothing is better than seeing one of your favorite Godiva baskets on your desk when coming into the classroom.

Make sure you find out whether the teacher is allergic to pollen or certain flowers before you give them though. In case of chocolates, find out about any potential nut allergies. If you’re unsure, go for full milk or dark chocolates.

Fruit Basket – Fruits are great gifts for school teachers. They are just the right mix of formal and casual and you can even sneak in the eternal cliche; apples. Fruit gift basketshave dual purposes. Presenting a teacher with a healthy gift will not only promote the feeling of gratitude, sharing and care in your child but also instill a love for healthy edibles in their life.

Book Bouquet – This is a great gift for the book loving teacher. Although eBooks are very popular nowadays, nothing beats the smell of a new book. In fact, if you are willing to shell out some money and go for a hard back cover, the teacher will never forget the gesture.apples.Fruit gift baskets have dual purposes. Presenting a teacher with a healthy gift will not only promote the feeling of gratitude, sharing and care in your child but also instill a love for healthy edibles in their life.