6 Perfect Proposal Ideas

Not every guy out there has a creative mind so the act of proposing ends up being that much more petrifying! The good news is, whatever you decide to do, she will love it because she loves you so have confidence. In the meantime, we found 6 proposals that any girl would remember forever!

scrabbleCreate a custom jigsaw puzzle (or have one made) with a picture of you and the words “Marry me?” on quiet night when you’re spending time together, suggest the puzzle. Once you’ve both put it together, you can propose!

 

While your soon-to-be-fiance is asleep, slip the ring on her finger and finish with breakfast in bed.

snow-proposalIn true Canadian fashion, before your lady leave for work, offer to heat up her car and scratch your proposal in the ice on the windshield and the ring on the dash board.

Pick a spot that is sentimental to you both (where you went on your first date) and have a hired photographer hiding somewhere close but discreetly taking pictures of your proposal as she says “yes!”.santorini-marriage-proposal-ideas

Tie a ribbon from one spot in your home to another with notes of inside jokes or your relationship milestones. As she follows them, you will be at the end of the ribbon with the ring to put on her hand!

bottleThe night before a beach day, write a poem or your proposal on a piece of parchment paper. Roll it into a bottle with a cork and bury it in a well-marked spot in the sand where you will remember. Make sure she finds the bottle and be ready with the ring!

Top 10 Must See Wedding Movies

Nothing beats a romantic-comedy about a wedding, a wedding disaster you name it. We’ve listed our top 10 wedding movies of all time. See how many you’ve yet to see and have the girls over and break out the wine!

My Best Friend’s Wedding

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As children, Julianne and Michael made a vow to marry one another if they were still single at 28. Four days before her birthday, Michael announces he’s getting married to 20 year old Kimberly. Suddenly realizing she’s in love with Michael, Julianne vows to halt the wedding no matter the cost- that is until she’s asked to be Maid of Honor…awkward much?

The Best Man

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Committed bachelor Harper, just wrote a soon to be best selling novel that is for the most part based on the lives and loves of his group of tight-knit friends. With his entire crew to be present, Harper is to be the best man in his friend Lance’s wedding. To his dismay, an advance copy of the book ends up in the hands of an ex flame and he struggles to keep it under wraps- til he can’t.

Runaway Bride

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Maggie Carpenter is no stranger to a wedding day since she’s left 3 men at the altar thus far. Ike Graham a reporter from the big city branded her “the runaway bride” and after his facts are questioned, he heads to her hometown to report on her upcoming fourth wedding- and to save his rep; til he falls for her.

The Wedding Planner

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The wedding of Internet tycoon Fran Donelly is the biggest and most ostentatious of Mary’s wedding planning career. After being rescued from a near-fatal collision with a runaway dumpster by Steve Edison and spending the most enchanting evening of their lives together, Mary thinks she’s finally found a reason to believe in love. Until she realizes that cupid and her career are about to collide head-on.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

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The entire Portokalos family worries about Toula who’s still unmarried at 30 years old. she works at the Greek family restaurant Dancing Zorba’s, owned by her parents, Gus and Maria. After taking a job at her aunt’s travel agency, she falls in love with Ian Miller, a handsome teacher who is tall, and definitely not Greek. Toula isn’t sure which will be more upsetting to her father, that Ian is a foreigner or that he’s a vegetarian.

Wedding Crashers

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Jeremy and John are divorce mediators who spend their free time crashing wedding receptions. So when Secretary of the Treasury William Cleary announces the wedding of his eldest daughter, they make it their mission to crash the high-profile event. But their game hits a bump in the road when John locks eyes with bridesmaid Claire taking them on a hilarious journey with a family that’s less than functional.

Monster In Law

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Charlotte meets and falls for Dr. Kevin Fields, it’s a whirlwind romance. When Kevin pops the question so soon after they start dating, Charlotte happily accepts. She soon realizes that Kevin’s mom, Viola is anything but thrilled to have a new family member. Viola, a newscaster, has just lost her job and is feeling rather possessive of Kevin, so Charlotte is sheer competition.

27 Dresses

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Forever bridesmaid Jane is the go-to gal whenever someone needs help with wedding plans since she can’t say no. So when Jane’s younger sister Tess hooks the man Jane is secretly in love with, Jane finds herself questioning her role as a wedding junkie for the first time. Meanwhile, a handsome reporter is on Jane’s unusual story.

Bride Wars

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As little girls, best friends Liv and Emma started planning every detail of their future weddings, including choosing the same venue: New York’s famed Plaza Hotel. But when a clerical error causes a dilemma in wedding dates, a war begins that reveals and unravels Liv and Kate discover their inner demons which may end their lifelong friendship.

Bridesmaids

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Annie is a single woman whose life is a hot mess, but when her lifelong best friend, Lillian, gets engaged, she has no choice but to serve as the maid of honor. Though loveless and almost broke, Annie, nevertheless, fights her way through the awkward and expensive rituals associated with her job as the bride’s go-to gal. That is, until things start to unravel and Annie takes everyone down with her.

AVPEvents on: how to keep your marriage happy and thriving

In the last few months we’ve heard of major celebrities once seemingly happy then took a sharp turn into splitsville. Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney after 5 years and an engagement. Our favorite guy from the creek, Joshua Jackson and Diane Kruger have opted out after 10 years together. Now Drew Barrymore has filed for divorce from husband Will Kopelman- even Mary J. Blige! What’s in the water? There are many reasons why long term relationships and marriages don’t last, so how do you make it last? Here are some suggestions to ensure you and your partner make it through those tough times and come out stronger than ever!

  1. Respect

It goes a long way and is not one-sided. Respect is the foundation of any relationship, be it family, friends or a Respectmarriage. If there is a lack of respect, one person or both will start to shut down. Respect or lack of it is reflected in actions and speech. Condescending remarks, silent treatment, withholding “the cookie”, invalidating feelings are all areas you want to avoid if you expect to be respected in return. Be sure to keep your ego in check and remember that it’s not just about you, the world revolving around planet you stopped spinning the moment you chose to marry someone. They matter too, compromise is important.

  1. Communication

This is one of the leading causes of failed relationships and marriages. Either is a miscommunication or a lack of it. Don’t hold back your feelings of happiness, disappointment or cCouple talkingoncern to your partner- you are essentially shutting them out. Likewise, if your partner is sharing these feelings with you- listen! If you feel like they invalidate your feelings or don’t consider what you think then tell them- in a tactful way. Here is what I do…if I need to get a point across I think about what it would take to convince me or help me understand if someone else was coming to me with the issue. What would someone have to say to you for you listen? Side note: Ladies, calling your man out in public or among a group of friends is not only a huge violation of #1 (see above) but will emasculate your man- reverse the roles, how would you feel? I thought so.

  1. Don’t Stop Dating

Yes life gets hectic, we are preoccupied with lesser but seemingly important things like making money and people pleasing. However, your partner should be your most important priority. You may think this is unrealistic but think of it this way… whDatingo is going to be there when you lose your job? If you don’t invest in your relationship and take time to laugh and spend some quality time together you will end up being nothing more than two roommates who live together. Husbands and boyfriends: plan surprises, go see a movie, make dinner reservations, dance, snuggle and read- anything! Women don’t want to be the creative, spontaneous ones all the time!

  1. Focus on the positive

If you can’t get over the songs he sings off key in thCheerful young cooking couple at homee shower or that her coffee mugs are literally everywhere- you aren’t going to enjoy much of one another. These are small insignificant things that aren’t worth dwelling on. Consider the fact that no one makes a latte better than her or that you never have to worry about him not fixing something that malfunctioned. It’s the little things you do for one another, like having his drink ready when he comes home or doing the dishes because she made a great dinner. These are the important things and the more you focus on them the more your bond will grow and strengthen.

Marriage isn’t all rainbows and butterflies, it takes work daily. Working on yourself and working together is the only way to ensure that you both grow together. Those vows “through better or worse” are real, so if and when worse comes, if you’ve used these tools you can both rest assured that hard work will pay off.

AVPEvents on the worst marriage advice we’ve ever heard from real couples

I thought this would be an interesting blog post because most of us would expect our friends and loved ones to give us some helpful marriage counsel. Recently I asked a handful of my married friends, what was the absolute worst marriage advice they ever got.

At first I was shocked at some of it but then I realized it shouldn’t be so surprising since we live in a society that hardly values the sanctity of marriage. Here is what some of them said:

“To walk away when things get tough…but we made vows for a reason!”– Mariah & LeRon

“I’ve had some rough go’s and hard times but have also had some great times, worst thing I was ever told was to suck it up for the kids.” Jake & Ashley

“My husband got the advice: Tell your wife her cooking is good, even when it isn’t! I don’t know how many stir fry and quiches my husband choked down before he told me he didn’t like them. So frustrating, I want to make meals we like and improve on them!”– Jennifer & Andrew

Poor guy!

“Have babies, they will solve your problems and make your marriage happier…shouldn’t the marriage be happy first?” Leigha & Greg

“Happy wife, happy life. What about my husbands needs?! I want him to talk to me and tell me what makes him happy or what bothers him.”– Megan & Dustin

“Don’t get fat…”– Sarah & Zach

Hopefully that person got a big 2000 piece of cake in the face!

“Everything is 50/50…no its 100/100!  If you are only putting in half the work then expect a half-assed marriage.”– Erica & Scott

Here is our personal favorite:

“Don’t compromise most marriages end in divorce anyway.”– Pamela & Adam

Moral of the story: marriage is what you decide to make it, good or bad advice no one is in the relationship but you. It’s a good idea to keep as much of your marriage between just the two of you to ensure less people are involved in giving their opinion. While we appreciate our friends and family, we also want to remain keenly aware that their own experiences can bias the advice they give. Keep those who support your marriage close to you and remember to consider one another always.

What to accomplish at your wedding rehearsal

Traditionally wedding rehearsals are held the night before the wedding itself and is a great way for the two families and bridal party to get acquainted if they don’t already know each other. Another benefit to rehearsals is that it can help to alleviate any nerves; and make everyone invited feel comfortable. Whether it’s formal or an informal setting, really depends on the style of the couple, but it’s part of the wedding celebration altogether. However there are some things that need to be accomplished at the rehearsal, here is what you need to make sure happens!

  1. 20141229_181736Mix and Mingle

If the rehearsal dinner is a larger affair, there should be some time for the families and bridal party to meet and socialize. As previously mentioned, if the families have not yet had the opportunity to get to know each other, the rehearsal dinner is a great occasion to do so. Similarly, it member of the bridal party are not from the same group of friends, it’s nice for them to bond as well. This is also important for the soon to be newlyweds to spend time with everyone since the wedding day/night will be exhausting.

  1. The Toast

20141229_195446Wedding etiquette dictates that the host of the rehearsal dinner (usually the father of the groom or both parents) make a toast to the soon to be daughter in law and her family. Afterward, the groom then toasts to the hosts, guests and his bride. However it is quite common now that both the bride and groom decide to do the toast together.

  1. The Gift Exchange

Now is a great time for the bride and groom to gi20141229_174819ve the bridal party their gifts. This way it’s not in front of your entire guest list, you can have a few sentimental moments with them. As well, this is another opportune time if the bride and groom would like to give a little something to their parents or one another.

  1. The Ceremony Rehearsal

It’s not just about the dinner and wine surprise! This is pretty much the entire point of having the “rehearsal” anything…to rehearse! So at this point, the bridal party should know what order they are walking down the aisle in, which translates to the order they are standing in at the altar. From there, this should also coincide with who they are paired with to walk back up the aisle with and in what order! As well, if there are any cultural traditions to be incorporated into the ceremony, everyone will need to know when that happens, who is involved and what they need to do and where they need to stand. You want the ceremony to be executed flawlessly so…rehearse! Until it’s perfect!

Don’t forget to have a great time, enjoy your dinner and company and then get some sleep since the day after is the BIG day!

Feature Article in The Wedding Planner Magazine- Summer 2015 issue

I was so happy when I was asked to write an article for the magazine I currently work for. I really enjoyed writing this and am thankful for the opportunity! I’d like to applaud all of my amazingly talented and hard working colleagues who put so much time and dedication into this publication. Please go to our website and see all of their incredible work. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram  I hope you enjoy! AV.

Ash ArticleClick article to read.

Destination Weddings- All the rave and why

For the last several years, destination weddings are increasing in popularity. It seems as though newly engaged couples are opting for this more often than not. I mean, who wouldn’t want to get married on an island, the middle of paradise with sand and the ocean literally at your feet? It makes for gorgeous pictures, almost guaranteed great weather and a tan! Here are a few reasons why the destination “fad” has more couples considering it for their wedding day

  1. Affordable

In most instances, a destination wedding is realistically much more affordable than the one you would pay for locally. Since most resorts have their own wedding packages you don’t have to fuss about expensive décor andreams-riviera-cancun-destination-weddingd are essentially paying for the package, travel and the stay at the resort. Unlike local weddings where you are paying for the guest’s food and alcohol, destination weddings only require you to pay for the two of you, so there is no paying a minimum for food or alcohol since the guests are paying for their own travel and accommodations.

  1. Less is More

In terms of planning it’s much more simplistic than a local wedding as well. You won’t have to listen to family or friends bicker over what they think should be done with music or décor. As previously noted, the resort will have customized wedding packages for you to choose from. This minimizes stress for everyone since most resorts have their own or work with planners. Perhaps a few other decisions will need to be made during the planning but for the most part, the wedding package will cover everything!

  1. Relaxed

Destination weddings are usually much smaller than your typical local wedding. Most resorts have wedding planners or coordinators that work with you the day before and of.  This means yodestination-weddings1u will be able to spend more one on one time with those who could make it and be able to really enjoy the moment. There is also less chaos with a smaller wedding, everyone is there to celebrate with you and be on vacation at the same time. The everyday anxieties and stresses of life get left behind and replaced with laughs and a memorable wedding day!

If you are considering a destination wedding, do some research and get some information that you are your partner can discuss. Have a number in mind for your guest count and then contact a travel agent when you have made some solid choices!

3 Ways to keep your groom happy

So often the groom gets “left behind” so to speak during the process of wedding planning, but let’s face it, most men are NIDS (Not Into Details). They just want to get married to you and celebrate with friends and family all night and wake up in a familiar place! They aren’t into the color of the edible pearls on the cupcakes that must match the rest of the color scheme for the whole wedding. However, it would be nice to stop once in awhile and look up from underneath the 12 layers of tulle and make sure he is happy too, here are some suggestions.

Keep it drama free

annoyed groomOkay, we all know that planning a wedding is the essence of drama in itself, there will always be drama but keep it away from him! Nothing annoys a man more than for his woman to come to him with a problem where we hope he will just listen to us vent. Then he offers a solution (because that is what men do) and then we freak out! Example: Your sister is being the bridesmaid from the underworld and is preventing the bridal party from choosing their dresses because she doesn’t want to go over a certain price. You come home all upset, frustrated and annoyed and start on a rant and he patiently listens. After you are done, he says “Well tell her she either deals with it or she’s kicked out of the bridal party” sips his beer and puts his feet up on the couch. You go berserk…you can’t kick her out! There’s no way your mother will allow that to happen, your other siblings will get involved…why would you say that!? With that being said, keep it simple; focus on the things that are progressing and getting accomplished, save the rantfest for your maid of honor!

Make time for him

Yes planning your wedding is time consuming…unless you have a planner of course! Set aside some time weekly to spend with him; maybe even doing something that he wants to do. This will show him that as important as planning is right now, he is important as well. Sure he knows you have been obsessing over whether a rose sauce would go better with the pasta option on the menu rather than an Alfredo sauce, but you both need time tocouple_playing_video_gamesgether minus wedding related discussion. Take him out for brunch or go hit a sports bar to see his favorite team play, stay at home and bond, go away for a weekend and shut off your cell phones. No matter what you do, making time for him shows him that you appreciate him and his support.

Include him in the planning

You aren’t the only person getting married, so often I have had to remind brides that it’s your groom’s day as well! Even though most men are NID’s, it doesn’t mean you can’t include them in the planning at all. When you schedule appointments to see venues, bring him along! Chances are he will have some great questions for the coordinator. Menu tastings are another great way to include your groom…what man doesn’t love food?! You can both have fun trying samples from menu’s the catering company has created and you can both make the final choice. How about your music list for the DJ? Okay so Green Day might not be ideal for dancing but asking for his input will emphasize that his opinions and thoughts are taken into account.

This isn’t to say you can’t tell him about some problems you’re working on, or spend 6 days chasing your florist down. Wedding planning is a tough job and you both need to support each other, I just don’t want you to get lost in the details and forget about what is really important…both of you being happy!