One of the hot wedding trends I’m loving is all things cactus {or cacti}. Whether you’re planning a fiesta themed bridal shower, a tropical destination wedding or a wedding during the summer months . . . you’re going to love these Cactus Wedding Ideas.

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I’ve even joined the cactus wedding trend myself and created a cactus confetti collection that features 4 cactus gift tags included with hot pink and green Festive Fetti confetti. It’s the perfect way to present gifts to your bridesmaids - tuck their gift in a box, add a little confetti, wrap the surprise and add a fun cactus gift tag. Or, you can add the confetti to a cactus piñata from Lulu Flora.

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When it comes to incorporating cactus ideas into your wedding, you might consider one or more of these wedding ideas. See the examples below . . .

Which ones are your favorite? Please let me know in the comments.

1. adding mini cactus piñatas to place settings or centerpieces to hold the table number
2. designing a cactus themed wedding invitation suite
3. top your wedding cake or cupcake with an edible fondant cactus topper
4. creating centerpieces with the cactus in cute clay pots
5. presenting cupcakes with edible cactus on top
6. prefer to not diy? Consider a complete desert cactus wedding invitation suite
7. display a fun cactus printable for the gifts and cards table
8. keep the cactus memories forever with a cactus ring dish to hold your wedding rings
9. how about a bridal bouquet with cactus included?
10. adding a cactus garland as the backdrop behind the dessert table
11. of course, if you’re planning a cactus themed wedding, cactus thank you cards would be a must-have
12. gift your bridesmaids a cactus clutch bag for their makeup

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I have to admit that I love the wedding trend of the mismatched bridesmaid dresses. It’s so fun to see the personality of each bridesmaid come out in the wedding photos.

And, don’t forget that even the guys in the wedding party can pull-off the mismatched look {as you will see in the montage below}. Today’s post is inspired by week 4 of the 52 Weeks of Wedding Photos Instagram Challenge.

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When it comes to mismatched bridesmaid dresses you have several choices . . .

1. Different Colors / Same Dress Style
2. Same Color / Different Dress Styles {as seen in this southern real wedding}
3. Different Colors / Different Dress Styles {as seen in this real wedding in Canada}
4. Same Color but varying shades {think ombre} / Same Dress Style
5. Same Color but varying shades {think ombre} /  Different Dress Style

Enjoy the photo inspiration of the mismatched bridesmaid dresses below and be sure to follow along online as the Photo Challenge continues all year long - each and every week. Image credits are below the montage.

Credits: {from top to bottom right - row by row}
peach and purple bridesmaid dresses // pretty pastel bridesmaid dresses // citrus colored bridesmaid dresses // when the guys and girls dare to be different // mismatched pink bridesmaid dresses // peachy coral bridesmaid dresses // blush bridesmaid dresses

So, now I want to know what your favorite style of mismatched bridesmaid dresses are. Do you prefer the ombre look with same dress style or the complete mismatched look? Please let me know in the comments and let’s start chatting.

And, if you don’t like it, that’s ok too. We each have our own style and there’s no right or wrong. It’s your wedding day and you want to make it about you as a couple and let your personality shine thru in the choices you make.

PS: I'd love to have you join me online for Creative Wedding Inspiration every day . . .

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/weddingsites
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/weddingsites
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/brendasweddingblog

You’re going to love the wedding trends I’m sharing today as I'm unveiling the best in creative weddings from 2016.

But, first - let me say a few things for those of you that are returning in the new year or who are coming here for the first time . . .

I want to take a moment to say Happy New Year to . . .
~ all the brides returning to my blog this year
~ all the newly engaged couples finding my site for the first time
~ all the creative wedding pros looking for the best way to market their business in this ever changing industry where social media continues to play a big part in being seen and found by brides

I’m a firm believer that 2017 is the year of Instagram. At the end of last year, so many new features were added that have made this social media platform the best it has ever been.

I am so excited for 2017 and to continue expanding on the amazing connections I’ve made thru Instagram. I can’t wait to grow and make more connections to keep building an amazing community of creative business owners and brides looking to plan their creative wedding.

Instagram is one of the most powerful social media platforms {along with Pinterest, but I’ll save that for another day}. Today, it’s all about Instagram - a terrific platform for growing your brand and reaching opportunities you never knew existed. I'm now ready to share my most liked Top Nine Instagram Posts from 2016 with you. I love how the posts that made the final cut match so well together and while I personally thought brighter colors would have been the winner - I can definitely see what my audience is loving the most with these choices. Are you ready for the results? . . .

What’s Hot from Creative Weddings in 2016 to give an insight into the trends for 2017

Natural Elements with Brown and Green

Maybe it was a sign that Pantone would choose Greenery for the color of the year?

Lace on wedding gowns + table linens

Glitzy rose gold topped wedding cake

Pretty Sparkling Bridal Headpieces ~ with an adorable dog as a model

Great Ring Shots

Speaking of Ring Shots . . . Did you know that Week 1 of the 52 Weeks of Wedding Photos Challenge for Wedding Pros is all about Ring Shots? 

Glitter on Wedding Shoes

Fun Wedding Drinks with fancy drink stirrers

And, of course, each post in the Top Nine features what I LOVE blogging about . . . fresh ideas for creative weddings - like the table number on a marble slab - isn’t this a great idea?

Now, it’s your turn. Please leave me a comment and let me know what element you love the best from my Top Nine most liked Instagram Posts from 2016? What are you excited to see more of in 2017?

With wedding season getting ready to be fully underway, it's likely you'll be looking for a wedding gift for a special bride and groom. I'm happy to welcome etiquette expert, Cheryl Seidel to the blog today as she shares her expert advice on the most unique and useful pieces that every hostess should keep on hand. Whether you're a bride that loves to entertain large crowds or prefer small intimate get together's - you will want to add a few of these fun items to your wedding registry. These pieces also make the perfect birthday, housewarming, or holiday gifts for any friends and family that love to entertain.

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1. Make a bold statement with this simple, but stunning tiered server from Williams-Sonoma. The 3-Tiered Stand is crafted from rustic mango wood and stands at 24" inches tall, making it perfect for displaying fruit and cheese, cupcakes, cookies and other delicious goodies.

2. Effortlessly move the party to the living room or backyard with this Wine Bottle and Glass Caddy from Crate&Barrel. It’s crafted from beautiful sheesham wood, and would look fabulous on display in a dining room after the party.

3. Soapstone has amazing thermal properties and the Oven-to-Table Entertainment Platter from Uncommon Goods will keep food at the perfect temperature for serving. You can put the soapstone in the freezer for up to an hour and use it to serve fruit or ice cream. You can also heat it up in the oven to serve hot appetizers or dessert. You can even bake directly on the platter.

4. Serve up 7 quarts of your beverage of choice (maybe a sangria!) in this attractive, handmade Glass Beverage Dispenser from CB2.

5. There are certain occasions (i.e. backyard gatherings or ones that include children) that necessitate the use of casual, unbreakable dishes and cups. The Radiance Aqua Melamine Dinnerware and Drinkware from Bed Bath & Beyond features a trendy Moroccan tile pattern in a cool blue color- a fantastic choice for summer entertaining.

6. The Trudeau Duo Tone Floral Wine Charms from Amazon are made of silicone and adjust to fit on any stem glass. There are 12 in the set and they can stay attached to the glass in the dishwasher. Pair these sweet flowers with a bottle of wine for a fun hostess gift.

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7. Set up this beautiful Wildon Home Antique Butterfly Tray Table from WayFair anywhere you need a little extra space for food or drinks. Each Tray Table is handcrafted and easy to transport and has a warm patina finish and a removable tray which can be used with or without the metal stand.

8. Fill these eye-catching glass jars with decorative fruit, plants or flowers - or, you could even stock up on your favorite candy! These Voluminous Containers from Pottery Barn come in several sizes and will add a special touch to your décor.

9. A lovely choice for a casual evening with friends is the Acacia Wood Cheese Board from Macy's that features a hidden compartment that swings out to reveal knives for slicing and spreading both soft and hard cheeses.

10. Keep the drinks chilly and the guests happy with the Artland Oasis Copper Oval Party Tub from Kohl's. This large drink station is constructed from durable metal and the stand elevates the drinks to just the right height, making it excellent for both indoor and outdoor entertaining.

If you've added any of these items to your wedding registry, you are well on your way to becoming "hostess with the mostess". Or, you’ve made a loved one very happy if you've gifted them with one of these great pieces.

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About the author, Cheryl Seidel:
Seidel is the author of the Ask Cheryl blog where she helps advise readers with handy tips on how much to spend and when gift giving is appropriate. She is also the founder and President of Registry Finder, an intuitive search engine that helps gift givers quickly and easily find online registries for weddings, baby showers, graduations and more.

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Marquee lights are simply amazing! And, you don't have to be a movie-obsessed couple to have them at your wedding. There are so many ways you can use marquee lights for your special day, in particular the reception. A bonus of incorporating marquee lights into your day, is that you have one of the most spectacular decor pieces for your home after your wedding. You can hold marquee letters that say "I Do" for a great bride and groom photo opportunity, you can have your new last name initial in lights, you can have the first initials of your name with the ampersand on display {maybe on the guest sign-in table}, and you can even have your name in a marquee {that lights up} as your cake topper.

Light Up Marquee Letter with the Bride and Groom's Last Name Initial

Vintage Inspired I Do Marquee Light for Weddings

Vintage Style Marquee Lights for a Bride & Groom

LOVE Marquee Letter Lights for Weddings

The above Marquee Light Wedding Cake Toppers are from CrankBunny:
top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right

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