Make Party Planning Easier with Social Media

Thanks to social media, party planning has become much easier! From intimate, living room gatherings to large-scale celebrations, there's more available than Facebook events (although we still recommend them) to take your party planning online.

Twitter - Twitter's a great resource to find vendors such as venue, entertainment, catering, etc. Looking for something specific? Send out a tweet and there's sure to be someone in your network who can help you find it.  Need to know if the hotel you're booked at for your wedding offers free breakfast? Use Twitter to ask them directly. Twitter is also a great way to get news of your event out. Use it in conjunction with other social media channels to drum up pre-event excitement by using a specific hashtag such as #janstagette. Because anyone can see your posts, remember to use Twitter to chat about the event only and keep the specifics (like address) for the official invitation.

Google+ Events - Google + recently rolled out their Events in June 2012. Offering an attractive, easy-to-use interface, Google+ Events allows you to choose the look of the event, add any information (YouTube URL, ticket seller URL, etc.) and upload photos before, during and after. Once a guest accepts the invite, it goes directly into their Google calendar so it won't be missed!

Pinterest - This addictive online vision board network can be used for much more than sharing those must-have shoes. Use it to create a board of your daughter's "favourite" things and share it with guests who are looking for gift-giving ideas. Or create a board after the event to showcase the gifts you received from your wedding or beautiful decor.

Caroline Pigott is the owner of Flourish, a boutique marketing & social media firm dedicated to helping other women entrepreneurs flourish through such services as social media management, SEO web content, press release writing & distribution and consulting.

For more information, visit www.youwillflourish.com.

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Bridal Jewelry for your Wedding

Custom earrings made at a Bridal Beading Party 

We have been huge fans of Gown and Glory for a long time, a Canadian consignment boutique located in the Greater Toronto Area.  We love so many things about them!  We love that they offer fabulous designer gowns at a fraction of the cost, we love that they are helping to save the environment one dress at a time, and we love the amazing customer service every bride that walks into the boutique receives.   

Angela, from Gown and Glory, is sharing what to look for when choosing your bridal jewelry.

1)  Pick something that your are comfortable in.  If you are an earrings person, wear big sparkly chandelier earrings and a bracelet, if you like studs, wear subdued studs with a necklace.  If you like to make a statement, wear a big statement necklace.  It's all about your own style, and accessories are a way for you to make your gown look even more personalized.

2)  The shade of your dress is critical to the type of metal that should be in your wedding accessories.

If you are wearing a bright white gown (also known as diamond white), pearls, crystal and platinum will enhance the gowns shade.

If you are wearing a slightly off white gown you can wear gold, silver, and rose gold.  Rose gold is the new trendy "it" metal, and goes especially well with a colour scheme that has pink or black in it.  This shade also looks amazing with pearls, but be sure to maintain the off white colour in your pearl selection as well.

If you are wearing an ivory colour dress (a very light cream colour), wear gold, bronze or pewter jewelry and cream coloured pearls.

This is why many brides choose to have their jewelry custom made by a company such as Beading Buds, because then the necklace will be made in the colour metal and shade of pearls that best complement and enhance the detail of the dress.

Custom pearl and crystal bridal necklace

3)  Neckline of the dress. Pick jewelry that goes with the style and neckline of the dress. Make sure the necklace is the correct length to visually fill the space above the neckline.

If you are wearing a halter dress, wear a bracelet and earrings instead of a necklace perhaps, especially if there is a lot of beaded or embroidered detail already in the dress.  You can also wear a hairband, tiara or fascinator if you feel like you need to add more sparkle.

For a strapless dress you have a couple of options depending on the simplistic or extravagant look you're going for; you can wear a statement necklace with small earrings, or statement chandelier earrings and a bracelet, or a simple necklace, bracelet and earring set.  This can be as simple or extravagant as you choose, based on the style of your dress...and the vibrancy of your own personality.

If you are wearing a v-neck dress, wear a statement necklace with a large crystal or pearl pendant, to fill up the space and draw attention to the neckline. 

Custom necklace made at a Bridal Beading Party 

4)  Pick your dress first and then the jewelry.  It is much easier to match the jewelry to the dress, especially if you have it custom made.

5)  Make sure to consider all the specific details in the dress.  This can help set the tone and style of the jewelry.

For more information on Gown and Glory Consignment Boutique check out their website at www.gownandglory.ca