How to Keep Yourself (and Your Guests) Cool at Your Summer Wedding

Leila Lewis
Jul 19, 2016

We all enjoy a good summer wedding. We love the bright colors, the warm weather and the beautiful outdoors, and we are all about the sun-kissed wedding photography. However, the scene can turn from heart-melting to just plain melting in a matter of minutes. If your special day heats up, you can be prepared with these tips on keeping everyone cool at a summer wedding.

1. Personalized Ice Cream Sandwiches: We already love ice cream sandwiches, so when we saw this mini frozen dessert, we got really excited. If you want to take it to the next level, add a personalized wrapper to each one that showcases your wedding hashtag. We can’t think of a sweeter way to document a wedding on social media! (via Blondielocks)

2. Watermelon Sticks: Watermelon is one of our favorite fruits, and we definitely eat our fair share of it throughout the summer. Because it is so refreshing, it’s ideal to combat the heat. Cut the watermelon into triangles and slide them onto sticks so guests can easily munch on them without making a mess. (via Caroline Tran)

3. Snow Cones: Take refreshment to a whole new level with this Hawaiian-inspired treat. Guests can customize their dessert with flavored syrups of their choice and cool down thanks to the shaved ice. Plus, think of all of the cute photos! (via Christie Pham Photography)

4. Otter Pops: Bring guests back to their childhood with these frozen favorites. Just buy a few boxes and store them in an ice chest to keep them chilled for hours. We love how simple these are to serve, and that the wrapper keeps hands (mostly) clean. (via Aaron Watson Photography)

5. Souvenir Sunglasses: Block out that overly bright sun with colorful shades. Personalize them with your and your spouse’s names, as well as the date of your wedding, to add a special touch. Place the sunglasses in a bin for guests to grab on their way to their seats. (via Vitae Weddings)

6. Program Fans: Who knew programs could be so useful? Add a handle to let your wedding programs double as fans so guests can stay cool throughout the entire ceremony and reception. They also act as a great favor to commemorate your special day. (via Marni Rothschild Pictures)

7. Wedding Cabana: Create a safe haven from the sun by using pillows, drapes and couches to make the space comfortable and to keep the lounge in the shade. Cute signage or banners can double as a backdrop that guests can take pictures with and tag on social media. (via Melissa Fuller Photography / Found Vintage Rentals)

8. Parasol Favors: We cannot get enough of these adorable favors. Not only do they protect people from the sun, but they also make for cute accessories. For an extra-special touch, tag each favor with a design or note that is meaningful to you. (via Mikkel Paige Photography / Color Pop Events)

9. Fresh Lemonade: Lemonade is so refreshing and energizing! You can even add in pieces of fruit to sweeten things up. If you want to get fancy, add some berries or mint leaves into ice cubes to decorate the drinks. (via Lavender and Twine Photography / All You Need Is Love Events)

What’s your favorite “beat the heat” wedding trend? Follow our Pinterest for more ideas!

Upgrade Your Thanksgiving With A Crescent-Roll Cornucopia

This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.

Chris Andre

Materials + Tools:

  • 1 roll of tin foil
  • 2 packages of crescent rolls
  • 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional

Chris Andre

Instructions:

Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.

Chris Andre

Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.

Chris Andre

Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.

Chris Andre

Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.

Chris Andre

Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.

Chris Andre

Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.

Chris Andre

Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chris Andre

Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.

Chris Andre

Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.

Chris Andre

Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.

Chris Andre

Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.

Chris Andre

Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.

Chris Andre

Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!

Chris Andre

A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.

Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!

DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried

Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.

This post has been updated.

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Real Brides Ask: What Should I Do First After Getting Engaged?

So you have a shiny new diamond on your left hand; congrats! Now that the bubbly has been popped and the news spread, it’s time to get to the fun part of planning. Over the next few months you’ll be tasked with everything from picking out the perfect linens to finding a DJ who will bring it on the dance floor. With so many big decisions ahead of you, we’re here (just like a trusty bridesmaid!) to help with Real Brides Ask, a new series that tackles your toughest bridal questions.

“I just got engaged! What are the first items I need to tackle when it comes to wedding planning?” — Natasha L., New Orleans, LA

First off, congrats! Soak in that new engagement glow and ride out the excitement — this is your BIG moment. Once that sinks in for a bit, turn to us for what’s next. We tapped experts to give you all the insight you need to kick-start your wedding planning without a hitch. Kellee Khalil, founder of modern wedding site Lover.ly, and Josh Spiegel, creative director of NYC event planning firm Birch Event Design, share their must-know tips. Before you start tackling your to-do list, read on!

1. Insure your bling. After taking lots of #selfies and showing off your ring, talk with your partner about insuring it. “It’s definitely not as exciting as the proposal itself, but you just received a very symbolic and pricey piece of jewelry, and you don’t want to be one of the horror stories I hear every year about someone losing their ring,” says Khalil. “Getting the ring properly sized by the jeweler who created it should be no problem, and there are plenty of ways to insure your ring, such as adding it to an existing insurance policy (ask if your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance company could cover it).”

2. Pick the date. Before you begin reaching out to potential vendors you’ve been shamelessly stalking, sit down with your spouse-to-be to set the cadence for your event. “The date is the most important element at this stage because you need to figure out what date works for both families, and it will surely affect what venues/vendors are available to work with you,” says Khalil.

3. Dig into the bigger details. The months to come will include a whole ‘lotta decision making, but now is *not* the time to delve into the nitty-gritty. Focus on the larger items ahead of you, like the guest list so you know what venue you’ll need and be able to provide a potential headcount to vendors, says Spiegel. Then, from there, you can settle on the venue and slowly pencil in the smaller items. “Map out the day and draw in the lines later,” suggests Spiegel.

4. Gather your resources. To prepare yourself for a seamless planning season, gather all the inspo you need in one place. Start with your Instagram feed or wedding magazines for visual references, recommends Spiegel. Then, consider bookmarking a more structured guide, like this free 12-month wedding checklist, to keep your long-term vision in mind. Pro tip: As you tackle each to-do, be sure to build a team that’s supportive of you. “Surround yourself with pleasant vendors that make you excited about your big day. It’s a stressful process but should also be enjoyable, so it is nice to be surrounded by people you trust,” says Spiegel.

4. Enjoy your engagement! Committing to a lifetime with the one you love should be anxiety-free! Treat your actions accordingly. “Once the date is settled (hopefully it’s far in advance so you have some time to plan), relax and enjoy being engaged. Wedding planning is stressful, so take this time for yourself and your partner before you start the journey of a lifetime,” adds Khalil.

Where are you in your planning process. Let us know! Then, share your burning bridal questions with us @BritandCo using hashtag #WeddingWoes for a chance to have them featured in our next post.

(Photos via Getty; Illustrations via San Trieu/Brit + Co)

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Your Ultimate Guide To Holiday Shopping In 2024

Though Black Friday is traditionally the official start of the holiday shopping season, we argue that it’s been kicking since mid-October. We know, we know: it still feels extremely early to start thinking about the holidays, but they’ll be here before you know it! Plus, many brands and retailers are already promoting their holiday goodies with plenty of sales and discounts available right now.

If you’re ready to embark on your holiday shopping journey, but still need answers to questions like ‘when’s the best time to shop?’ and ‘where should I shop for gifts?’ and even ‘how the heck do I save money this season?’, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your go-to guide for holiday shopping in 2024.

Scroll on for our best guidance on navigating this busy time of year and finding the best gifts possible!

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

Mikhail Nilov / PEXELS

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

Ron Lach / PEXELS

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Sora Shimazaki / PEXELS

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Kindel Media / PEXELS

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on our best 2024 gift guides, shopping advice, and all things holiday!

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When Is Starbucks' Red Cup Day?

The holidays at Starbucks are creeping up on us, people! Peppermint Mocha season will return on November 7. If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you know Red Cup Day is a whole holiday in itself – the frenzy for a free reusable cup is truly no joke. There’s even an entire website dedicated to counting down the madness! Even though there’s no official word on when Red Cup Day 2024 will be, there are several clues that cue us into the annual event. Scroll on for details!

What is Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day is Starbucks’ highly-awaited annual event that marks the start of holiday beverage season at the coffee chain. For one day only (and while supplies last), customers who order any of Starbucks’ holiday drinks will receive a reusable red cup that features a bespoke design for the respective year.

Starbucks

Here’s a list of all the drinks rumored to be available on the Starbucks holiday menu starting November 7:

  • Peppermint Mocha
  • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
  • Caramel Brûlée Latte
  • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
  • Chestnut Praline Latte
  • Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew
  • Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

What do the red cups look like for 2024?

Starbucks

Starbucks hasn’t officially announced when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, let alone what the famed red cups will look like this go-around. The one obvious point is that the cups will be red! They’ll also likely feature some festive motifs that echo the holiday season. Last year’s red cups boasted playful white and green stars and ornament-like shapes.

Why should I participate in Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day = freebies, which can feel really rewarding if you’re really into receiving free goodies. Plus, it’s just a fun way to lean into the holiday spirit. The red reusable cup keeps giving beyond Red Cup Day, though! Every time you use the reusable cup for future Starbucks orders, you get a 10-cent discount as well as 25 bonus stars toward your Starbucks Rewards account to save up for more discounts on drinks, food, and merchandise.

When is Starbucks' Red Cup Day 2024?

Starbucks

Again, Starbucks hasn’t alerted us on when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, but based on previous Red Cup Days, we can infer it’ll land on the third Thursday of November. In 2022, Red Cup Day happened on November 17, and for 2023, it was November 16. The third Thursday of November in 2024 hits on November 21, so mark your calendars, everyone!

Additionally, check back here for official info as Red Cup Day approaches.

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This post has been updated.

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