Archive for the ‘Bridesmaid Gifts’ Category

On occasion, even our most adored and admired pair of shoes can let us down and leave us limping with aching, tired and sometimes blistered feet.

Soleil Shoe Company figured out a way to alleviate sore feet without sacrificing fashion. They have created a rollable, foldable ballet flat that fits right in your purse… how cool is that?

These folding shoes are ideal for any occasion and they’re perfect to keep on standby at your wedding.

I tried out a pair for my bachelorette party. I, of course, had to begin the evening in a super hot, super high, pair of heels! Eventually, the hotness of my heels wore off as my feet throbbed with pain.

Thank goodness I had my (still pretty hot) patent black Soleil shoes in my clutch. I did the swap and my bachelorette party continued without a hitch.

At least my super hot, super high, pair of heels got to make an appearance. Unfortunately, the rest of the girls weren’t so lucky; they ended their night barefoot on a dirty dance floor.

These shoes form to your feet almost like socks. The bottom of the shoe is very thin and you can feel the texture of the ground more than other shoes (but, that’s what makes them so compact).

The company does warn their customers to watch for sharp objects as they walk. But, I’d rather be on the lookout for potential hazards than hobble around in misery.

Soleil shoes come in 4 colors:

Spring White (perfect for brides!)
Patent Black
Silver
Pink

Plus, every pair of Soleil shoes comes with a protective drawstring pouch to keep your heels safe when they’re not being worn. Gotta love the gift with purchase!

Get your own comfy shoes for $24.95 a pair at www.soleilshoeco.com

Blog Post by Aimee Carroll, resident Girl Tested, Bride Approved Columnist.

Photos courtesy of Soleil Shoe Company.

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

Welcome back to another installment of Real Weddings Magazine’s Partner Profiles!

This week, we have feature Kevin & Kami Arnold from Arnolds for Awards.  (And they’re not just for awards you know! Have you seen the cool stuff that they have? If you’re in need of favors or gifts for your attendants, Arnolds for Awards can help!)  Take it away guys!

Arnolds for Awards

Tell us a little about your company?  We are a family owned and operated business located in the foothills of the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains.

When did you establish your business?  1970

What sets you apart from your competition?  Arnolds for Awards prides itself on providing the best customer service. We realize every project has a deadline and while a lot of them seem to have unrealistic timelines, we do whatever we can to meet and hopefully exceed all expectations the client may have.

Where do you find inspiration?  We find inspiration from our clients on a daily basis. Everyone that walks through our door is coming in for a positive reason. Whether they are rewarding someone for doing something well, beginning a new chapter of their life or welcoming a new life to their family.

When you opened shop, what was your promise to your customers?  Provide a superior product at a reasonable price and deliver on time.

Do you have any hidden talents?  Arnolds for Awards has many hidden talents;  ee can personalize just about anything…from a stainless steel flask to the most delicate crystal flute in our facility. We also offer the large quantity creative event favors for weddings, retirements and anniversary party attendees for any budget and theme.

What trend do you see coming in 2010?  On a business level, I see the trend of streamlining being an overall theme. Business owners are developing their marketing plans and sticking to them.  As for weddings, I think the theme is going to be “biggest bang for your buck.” For years this industry has been about indulgence and while a wedding day is still one of the most important days of the couple lives together, it will also be one of realistic means. Brides and grooms are very well educated when it comes to wedding plans and I think, just like a small business owners facing the challenging economy, they may approach their event as a “Need versus a Want” mentality. Couples are going to be more streamlined and methodical about the planning and expenses for their special day.

Do you regularly blog? What’s your blog site?  We don’t regularly blog, but we would like to.

What’s your favorite local restaurant?  Café Luna in Placerville. It is quaint and friendly and the menu changes monthly. Café Luna offers a great value to the customers. Wino Wednesday is the best.

What’s your favorite local charity or charities?  Marshall Foundation, El Dorado County Western Slope Boys and Girls Club and Rubicon Trail Foundation

What is your favorite fun thing to do locally?  Jeeping and camping in the Sierra during the summer. We are very lucky to have such a beautiful place right in our back yard.

What are you most grateful for in life?  Health and Happiness. As we get older, it becomes more apparent that health and true happiness are things that we never put too much thought into. Then again, maybe it is wisdom that is something that we should be most grateful for…

If you were to plan your own wedding, or re-do your wedding, what elements would be most important to you?  In retrospect, if I were to do it all over again, the most important element would be the people attending the wedding. I would make sure that the most important people in my life were there. Next on the list would be thanking those that participated; attendants, family, and those other individual that made the special day “Our Day.”

What advice would you can give to brides and grooms getting married today?  Breathe. This day does not define who you are. Be realistic and open to alternatives should any last minute changes need to be made.

Anything else you’d like to share with Real Weddings Magazine’s brides?  Your wedding day should be enjoyable to you especially as well as your guests, don’t get so caught up in the details. If something doesn’t go exactly the way you had pictured in your mind, don’t let it ruin your special day.

Find out more about Arnolds for Awards for yourself. Visit them at 3971 Durock Road in Shingle Springs, or call them at 530-677-0623 or visit their Web site at arnoldsawards.com.

Photo of Kevin and Kami by Dante Fontana, copyright Style Media Group.

Product photos courtesy of Arnolds for Awards.

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

As we celebrate 2010, Tiffany & Co. introduces a new collection from favorite jewelry designer Paloma Picasso. Inspired by the animals of the Chinese zodiac, she offers 12 beautiful charms, one for each year cycle of the horoscope. 

“The Chinese zodiac is a wonderful birthday tradition,” said the designer. “We all have a curiosity about the zodiac and whether it influences our lives.” 

Paloma’s Chinese Zodiac captures the vitality of each animal — and the human personality it represents – the inquisitive monkey, restless tiger, self-assured rooster, quick-witted horse, passionate dragon, resolute ox, sensitive rabbit, sensual snake, determined ram, loyal dog, patient pig and tenacious rat. 

Beautifully handcrafted and innately charming, these 18K gold pieces would make delightfully personalized gift for each of your bridesmaids. To figure out her zodiac sign by year, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_zodiac. 

Pictured is the Tiger Charm Pendant, photo courtesy of Tiffany & Co. 

Learn more about these and other Paloma Picasso charms at Tiffany & Co. in the Roseville Galleria, 1151 Galleria Boulevard. 916-872-2129. http://www.tiffany.com/. 

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms. 

Your bridesmaids have got your back! They’ve always been there — through good times and bad, sickness and health, and the entire engagement!

So, you want to treat them to a little something something to show your thanks!

You don’t have to spend a fortune to show your appreciation. We recently discovered a fab gift idea from Favors by Lisa (www.favorsbylisa.com): the “Build a Perfect Bridesmaids Necklace & Bracelet” Collection. Necklaces are $14 each and the bracelets are $8 each (frankly at that price, you can get one for yourself too — hey, it’s hard planning a wedding, so a little treat for yourself is in order too!).

Don’t stress thinking that this is a DIY project — we know you already have many things on your “to-do” list. Favors by Lisa (www.favorsbylisa.com) builds the necklaces and bracelets specifically for you (right here in the U.S.) based on custom options that you choose, such as color of the glass pearl and ribbon colors. Pearl colors include beige, creme, pink, pewter, silver and white; and satin ribbon options include black, celadon, creme, mint, navy, pink, royal blue and white. And then each of the necklaces and bracelets arrives ready to give in a lovely organza bag.

So get your creativity going, and treat your girls to something special.

For more gift ideas for your bridesmaids, your groom and the groomsmen (not to mention some ideas for your groom to select for you), pick up the newest issue of Real Weddings Magazine!