I’ll admit it, I like cats…scratch that (pun intended), I love them! I don’t actually have a cat, but I can imagine that if I did, “Princess Cute Muffin” would be there with some kind of flower crown on. Anyone browsing weddings on Pinterest can see everything from elephants to birds, being incorporated into the big day. I don’t know if animals at weddings is a passing trend, or if it has some major staying power, but dressing up your Westie in a little bow tie does’t seem to be going anywhere soon.

{ Photo: Amanda Keeys Photography }

{ Photo: Jennifer Bullock Photography }

Some people refer to their pets as their “furry kids,” so it kind of makes sense to have your kids at your wedding, don’t you agree? If you find dressing up your animal a little over the top, pets with signage are a great idea… assuming that you can trust that your four-legged friend won’t run off.

{ Photo: Leila Brewster Photography }

{ Photo via Pinterest }

No pet? A llama or elephant adds an exotic touch to a destination wedding. Goats and horses complete the vision for rustic farm weddings, adding a level of authenticity and of course making for adorable and beautiful photos.

{ Photo: Amanda Kopp }

{ Photo: EP Love }

If all else fails, maybe you will be lucky enough to have an uninvited “guest” show up at just the right moment…

{ Photo: Thru Kat’s Eye Photography }

{ Photo: Marie Wootton Photography }

xx

Sara

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{ Photographer:  Katie Hall }

The post Beautiful Bridesmaid Robes appeared first on Doie Lounge.

 {Photo: Maggie Thalheimer, of Gerber and Scarpelli}

Whit and I were married at the Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay, Jamaica in February of 2013 (the best time to escape a Chicago winter!)  95 of our friends and family joined us in Jamaica for the most memorable, fun-filled weekend.  When Whit and I were deciding on gifts for our bridal party we wanted to give them all really special gifts after all they were doing for us!  Doie Lounge bridesmaid robes were perfect.  I really had never seen anything like them, and I can’t even describe how comfy they are (I wear mine EVERY SINGLE DAY when I am getting ready, my husband jokes that I live in it, and he’s pretty much telling the truth!)

My bridesmaids absolutely loved these robes, and it was so fun to get ready in the bridesmaid robes all together.  My little sister called me last week and said thank you again for the robe as she uses it all the time (in fact she told one of her good friends to use Doie Lounge for her bridesmaid robes). It makes me so happy that it is something that the girls can wear all the time and think of our awesome wedding weekend- truly a gift that keeps on giving.

Sara was an amazing vendor to work with…she responds quickly to emails, offers great suggestions and I received the bridesmaid robes extremely quickly- I can’t say enough good things about my experience with Sara and Doie Lounge– just the best!

~Mary R. married 02.09.13, in Montego Bay, Jamaica

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As many frequent wedding attendees know, often the biggest night of the wedding weekend is not actually the night of the ceremony and reception. Instead, it’s the eve of the wedding that stands out most: what is known as the rehearsal dinner. These dinners take many forms. Though traditionally hosted by the groom’s side, in modern times it’s becoming increasingly more common for both sides to split the cost, or even for the bride and groom to cover the cost themselves. There are a few reasons this night ends up being one of the highlights of the wedding weekend: there’s not as much pressure, everyone has just arrived and is ready to start celebrating, and the toasts are often the most memorable part. Again, though it has become customary for more than just the best man to speak at the wedding, the rehearsal dinner is often the more intimate night in which members of the wedding party, family, and other special guests have the opportunity to toast the couple.

Make no mistake, this night does require some attention to set the tone for what’s to come.

• It’s not a bad idea to put the vibe out there that you’re open to toasting and even roasting! I attended one wedding where the groom’s father asked that people please keep their toasts brief and to the point. Of course this mild request basically turned everyone off from toasting.

• Attendants and family: use this night as an opportunity to be playful with the special couple. The best dinners I’ve attended included the shoe game in which bride and groom sit back to back and each hold one of the other’s shoe in their hands. As members of the wedding party as the couple questions, each must hold up whichever shoe represents the answer. Kind of a pre-newlywed game of sorts –but fun and lively and always a crowd-pleaser.

• Another wedding I attended in Florida included favors for the wedding party from the mother of the bride: each bridesmaid received a copy of Anne Morrow Lindberg’s A Gift from the Sea. This was such a nice personal touch – a way to thank the wedding party in a private and thoughtful way before the rest of the guests descend on the weekend.

• Be a planner! There will be plenty of out of town guests clamoring at the opportunity to begin celebrating. Choose a festive bar or restaurant for everyone to descend upon during or after the dinner. But watch yourself….you don’t want to fall victim to the “rehearsal dinner” night syndrome, in which you have a little too much fun or are what my dad likes to call “over-served” to enjoy the actual wedding and reception the next night. Pace yourself and maybe give yourself a curfew.

Whether you choose to keep this night simple, with just immediate family, or open it up to a much larger group – it is most often the beginning of it all: be present and enjoy every moment.

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Liz Mathews is a Connecticut based mother, teacher, and freelance writer who blogs on children’s books and related topics at La La La. Her work has appeared in Quality Women’s Fiction, Town and Country magazine, and Literary Mama.

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{Photo: Jeff Tisman Photography}

~ Kate M. married 10.18.13, in Pennsylvania

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 {Photo: Callaway Gable}

I was fortunate to have amazing sisters to stand beside me on my wedding and knew the Doie Robes would be a perfect bridesmaid gift.  I picked a variety of colors that would fit their personalities and I chose my favorite color, blue, so I could continue to wear it after the wedding.  They were the perfect attire for the relaxing morning and everyone looked beautiful in the robes with lovely Maui in the background.  I was so excited to find these robes and working with Sara made it easy and stress free.

~ Eryn S., married January 19, 2014, in Maui

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{Photo: Kacie for Jennifer Leatherwood Photography}

Brendan and I got married at Castle Hill Inn in Newport, RI on October 18, 2013.  We wanted a Fall New England wedding and it was the most magical day!  When I met Sara a year before our wedding, I knew these robes would be the perfect bridesmaid gift for my ladies and of course I had to get one for myself (Sadie’s my favorite).  The morning of the wedding, they were hanging up in Doie garment bags with a special note for each of them when they walked into the room.  It was really fun getting ready all together in our robes!  They are so soft and cozy and something that we’ll have for a long time.  Bonus…the girls were able to wear them over their dresses without revealing them to anyone on our way out of the hotel to the ceremony.

Sara is awesome and so easy to work with!  I highly recommend these robes because they’re such a thoughtful and useful bridesmaid gift and they photograph really well.  Every time I wear mine it brings back so many wonderful memories!!!

~Stacey H., married on 10.18.13, in Newport, RI

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~ Jenny W, married 09.22.13, in Los Gatos, CA

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{Photo: Mike Adrian}

My husband Brent and I were married on May 31, 2013 at the St. Regis Princeville on the beautiful island of Kauai. We were fortunate enough to have 30 of our closest friends and family members join in our wedding celebration and the day could not have been any more perfect.

Brent and I wanted to create a wedding that was clean and classy, yet relaxed and tropical. I was struggling with something to get my bridesmaids as a token of my appreciation for being part of our wedding when I came across the Doie bridesmaid robes online. I knew they were perfect the moment I saw them and fit the style of our wedding overall. I was overjoyed that Sara was able to get the handmade bridesmaid robes to me in plenty of time for me to transport them to Hawaii.

My bridal party included my twin sister Hillary, older sister Alison, and my best friend Sara. I gave them the robes the night before the wedding. They each wore the bridesmaid robes while getting ready in the room at the St Regis before the wedding and could not believe that the bridesmaid robes were as soft and comfortable as they are while still looking great.  They also made it super easy to transition from getting ready clothes to wedding dresses without messing up our hair.

When I received my photos from the wedding, I was again impressed with appearance of the bridesmaid robes in the photographs. They look beautiful on everyone and I would not have changed a single thing about them. I have used my robe many times since the wedding, not only on our honeymoon, but also at home and while traveling and think of the special occasion it represents each time I put it on.  I would definitely recommend these bridesmaid robes to brides looking for a fun, thoughtful, and useful present for their bridesmaids!

~Sarah B. married, 05.31.13, in Princeville, Kauai

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 Photographer: Charity Swords

Greg & I were married in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on January 16, 2013.  We were so very fortunate to have 65 of our closest family and friends join us and we had an amazing time spending the week with them all.  Although it rained our ENTIRE wedding day we refused to let it get us down and had such a great night we were all still dancing at 3 am!

I wanted to get my bridesmaids something that they could also use after the wedding and when I came across these bridesmaid robes I knew they were exactly what I was looking for.  They were perfect for lounging around in the suite while we were getting our hair and makeup done and were awesome to have with us for the rest of the vacation. I highly recommend these bridesmaid robes to destination brides!  We all used them throughout the entire week and I already know it will be coming with me to Thailand on our 1 year anniversary trip.  The quality of the bridesmaid robes is amazing, they are so soft and even after washing they look like new.  They are the perfect mix of sexy, comfy and pretty and I know I will use it for years to come.  Sara you’re the best!!

Lindsay W. married on 01.16.13 in in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

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