It’s the season of beautiful wedding and gorgeous brides. If you have chosen to get married at an outdoor venue for the big day, make sure to follow these tips to make your day as wonderful as possible!

1. Save the elaborate décor, like huge expensive bouquets of expensive flowers. Nature is your friend on this one, so let its beauty be all the decoration you need.
2. Clamp tablecloths down (or use duct tape underneath the table) in case of a big gust of wind.
3. Be sure everyone in your wedding party wears sunscreen. Keep some extra on hand for guests.
4. If your venue won’t let you hang lights, bring along some camping lanterns if the party will be going late into the evening.
5. Pick a place with playground equipment for any children that may be attending.
6. Be sure to make reservations early. Summer is also the season of graduation parties and family reunions, so park pavilions are in high demand.
7. Go with outdoor-friendly food. It can be as simple as burgers and hot dogs or you can get fresh pasts dishes from a local restaurant. The object here is not to have to worry about catering and all it entails.
8. Provide specific directions to the venue for wedding guests. (I learned this hard way, when one of my friends ended up driving around for a hour, gave up, and headed home.)
9. You can save on a dj or band by bringing your own stereo or iPod dock. Play mixes of your favorite party music. The best part about this? There is no chance of hearing a song you don’t like, or of not hearing songs you love!
10. Bring a few umbrellas just in case an unexpected summer storm comes your way.

Big Dot of Happiness has you covered on all your needs for this outdoor extravaganza. From the invitations to the decorations and tableware, everything is affordable and there are so many themes to choose from… well you just might want to have two weddings, just to use up all of your favorites!

 Posted by Jillian, a Dot-arilla Blogger

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Here is a quick and easy idea for standout wedding or baby shower centerpieces that will later serve as keepsakes for the wedding couple or parents-to-be. Put old photos frames of the couple as babies and kids in some inexpensive. Make collages or simple do side-by-sides. Place them on tables throughout the venue with simple votive candles or personalized tea lights. Use a current picture of the couple as the topper for the wedding or shower cake.

Not only is this simple and affordable, but celebrates the new journey the couple will be taking together. Use the personalized tea lights as party favors and the couple can use the collages as décor in their home. If you’re looking some great frame options, check out our wedding and baby shower gift sections on Big Dot of Happiness. You’re sure to find elegant pieces that will be cherished for years to come.

Posted by Jillian, a Dot-arilla Blogger

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Big Dot of Happiness has adorable baby shower gifts at affordable prices, but if you and your friends want to pitch in a few dollars each for one big group gift, consider some of these cool new high-tech gadgets.

• Lullabelly: This is a padded belt that gets strapped around mom’s belly with headphones so baby can listen to music in utero.
• Video Baby Monitors: An upgrade to monitors that simply let you listen, these let mom and dad watch baby too. More expensive models come with wireless monitors parents can carry from room to room.
• Temporal Artery Thermometers: More accurate than ear thermometers, these are simply scanned across the baby’s forehead for painless temperature-taking.
• Handi-Cam: If Mom and Dad don’t already have a video camera, this is a great present to record all the precious milestones in baby’s life. Many also take digital stills to get the most out of the technology.

Once you’ve chosen one these gifts, you can pick a gift at Big Dot of Happiness to complement it. Try a gorgeous photo frame to go with the Handi-cam or an adorable Plush Rattle for baby to play with while they’re being watched on the monitor. It’s so easy and affordable, why not buy two gifts?

Posted by Jillian, a Dot-arilla Blogger

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Finding the right theme for a bridal shower can be a daunting task. You want a pleasing aesthetic that will complement the bride but not go over your budget. Luckily, Big Dot of Happiness offers many different themes to choose from. Use these tips to figure out which theme will work for you.

If the bride has purchased her wedding invitations from us already, your work is halfway done for you. Just continue the theme. However, if she hasn’t ordered them yet, start by considering her personality. Is she girly and always on-trend? Go with our Trendy Flower theme. For a bride with contemporary tastes, go with one of our Bridal Silhouettes.

Your next option to consider is what kind of party you’re throwing. Is it an elegant cocktail affair? Our Champagne Glasses theme is perfect. For a laid-back garden party, our Cherry Blossom theme is gorgeous.

Next, consider the bride’s favorite colors. The Bridal Silhouettes come in several different colors. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with our Modern Black & White theme, with tableware in her favorite shade. Big Dot of Happiness has all the plates, cups, flatware, banners, and balloons you need to decorate in any color you choose.

It’s really that simple. You can even order thank you cards when you order the invitations, to make the process easy for the bride. Have questions about any of our products? You can chat live with an agent by clicking the link on the left of the page.

Happy Showering!

Posted by Jillian, a Dot-arilla Blogger

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Tweens are sometimes the hardest age-group to have a party for when it comes to games. They’re a little old for piñata, yet you can’t think of anything else to play but Pin the Hair on Zac Efron. Here are a few games and activities that you may already have around your home, or are fairly simple to make up.

• Pop Culture Trivia: No need to go all out for this. Visit a few websites or read a couple of magazines your child has lying around. Pull easy questions from what you read, break the kids into teams and voila!
• Who Knows The Birthday Boy/Girl Best?: Come up with a few questions about your child (favorite book, celebrity, etc.), and have them write their answers on a separate sheet of paper. Again, you can break the kids into teams, or have them compete individually writing down their answers on their own paper. Whoever gets the most right wins!
• Apples to Apples, Jr.: This is a great game that can last for minutes or hours. Kids have to make the best match of a noun to the given adjective (e.g. Heavy = a bowling ball, elephant, car, etc.)
• Make Your Own…: Now pick what to make! Pizzas, tacos, and snack mixes are all great food options. or, you can let the kids make their own party favors by making necklaces, decorating journals, or cd cases.
• Scavenger Hunt: Hide different clues around the house (or even the neighborhood) to find prizes or even party supplies.

When choosing the games and activities for the party, keep the birthday tween involved in as much of the planning as possible. They’ll appreciate the grown-up responsibility. Also, let them choose their invitations and decorations on Big Dot of Happiness. They’ll take so much pride in decorating their own party; it may just be effortless for you!

Posted by Jillian, a Dot-arilla Blogger

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Have you seen this adorable new addition to Big Dot’s selection of baby shower themes? Our new Ducky Duck theme is a great neutral choice in bright yellow and blue, with themed items for every aspect of the shower from the invitations to the tableware.

Many different items in the Ducky Duck theme are also able to be personalized, like our invitations, placemats, and various party favors. You can make ordering tableware incredibly easier by ordering a Big Dot Bundle that comes with duck-shaped dinner and dessert plates, cups, dinner, and beverage napkins.

When it comes to party favors, there are several cute-as-a-button options. Select from candy bar wrappers, rich body butters, lip balms, and candle tins, all of which can be personalized to make it truly special. Remember, everything is affordable so you can certainly order several different pieces and make a party package if you want!

Save time by ordering Thank You Cards in the Ducky Duck theme when you order the invitations. Not only will this simple step keep the theme going, it will make the mother-to-be’s life remarkably easier. Don’t forget there are many more options in the Ducky Duck theme. Look around and you’ll be amazed as all of the adorable choices!

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Finding the right theme for a baby shower can be hard. You want to please the mom-to-be but not go over your budget. Luckily, Big Dot of Happiness offers many different themes to choose from. We have you covered from the invitations to the tableware in any theme or color you choose. Use these tips to figure out which theme will work for you.

Do you know what gender the baby will be? Start there, by going to our It’s a Girl, It’s a Boy, or It’s a Baby (for those whose parents are keeping mum). From there, consider if you want to be more cutesy or grown-up. For cutesy, choose one of our adorable Sweet Pea or Monkey Baby themes. For a more adult aesthetic, choose our Mommy Silhouette or Trendy Mommy theme. If you’re throwing a coed shower, choose of the various couples themes Big Dot offers. With over two dozen baby shower themes, you’re sure to pick something that’s just perfect.

Have questions about any of our products? You can chat live with an agent by clicking the link on the left of the page. It’s really that simple. You can even order Thank You cards when you order the invitations, to make the process easy for the parents.

Happy Showering!

Posted by Jillian, a Dot-arilla Blogger

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Celebrate the new little macho man joining the family with our new Construction Truck theme. We have you covered from the invitations to the tableware with this theme, so read on to find out about just a few of those options.

Many different items in the Construction Truck theme are able to be personalized, like our invitations, placemats, and various party favors. Select from candy bar wrappers, rich body butters, lip balms, even lightly-scented candle tins, all of which can be personalized to make it truly special. Remember, everything is affordable so you can certainly order several different pieces and make a party package topped off with one of our personalized stickers or die-cut tags!

Save time by ordering Thank You cards in the Construction Truck theme when you order the invitations. You can even get return address labels to match! Not only will this simple step keep the theme going, it will make the mother-to-be’s life remarkably easier. Be sure to look around to find even more adorable options for this theme that’s sure to cause a rumble of happiness!

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Is the mini-swashbuckler in your life is singing, “Yo-ho-ho, a pirates theme for me!”? Let him know that Big Dot of Happiness feels the same way. We now offer a Pirate Birthday theme, sure to have guests saying “Ahoy, Mates!” as they join you on the deck to celebrate your little one.

We offer you need to throw a great party. Start with personalized invitations and matching return address labels. Get the place ready with a customized banner, some balloons, and streamers. Then set up a pirate’s feast with our themed tableware, complete with personalized placemats. Don’t let guests leave without some booty. Fill a small bucket with a pirate’s treasure of personalized mini candy bars. How sweet! Big Dot of Happiness also offers Thank you cards for after guests have shipped out. 

Don’t walk the plank. Instead, let your fingers do the walking… right to Big Dot Of Happiness as you pick out everything you need to throw a party any parrot would be proud to

attend!

Posted by Jillian, a Dot-arilla Blogger 

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Want to get the best deal on flowers, venues, music, and more? Here are a couple of tips for getting the best deal on major expenses for any event:

1. Know your budget. Vendors are better equipped to help you out when they know what you can spend.
2. Know what you need. Don’t get sucked into things you don’t really need, like a coat check for a summer event. Ask what packages your vendor can offer and make sure the one pick has things that you need, then ask about the cost of extras.
3. Adopt a friendly, but firm, attitude. Being polite and assertive helps you and your vendor when working out the details, and encourages the vendor to come up with creative solutions for your budget.
4. Be prepared to walk away. If negotiations aren’t working out, politely say “No, thank you” and continue looking for a different vendor.
5. Know what’s in season. This applies to everything from flowers to food. If you’re booking an event in the summer, know that things will be more expensive because it’s wedding season. As far as things like flowers and food go, ordering what’s in season helps to cut costs because there will be no need to ship special orders just for your events.
6. Keep it as simple as possible. The easier the request, the more likely it is you’ll get a better deal on it.

Don’t forget that your supplies are already available at a budget-friendly price by Big Dot of Happiness. We have everything from the invitations and party favors, to the decorations and tableware. There’s no need to stress when everything is ordered in just a few clicks!

 Posted by Jillian, a Dot-arilla Blogger

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