The Best Locations to Live for a Successful Marriage

Therefore, if you want your love life and your investments to pay off, you should be choosy about where you settle down. Here are the top places with excellent property values and exceedingly low divorce rates.

A Successful Marriage can start in New Jersey

New Jersey might be well-known for big personalities, but those personalities seem to get along rather well. This state consistently scores among the lowest divorce rates in the country, with only around 8 percent of married couples ending their relationships. Experts believe New Jersey boast such low rates because its populations tend to marry at an older age and earn higher salaries – thanks to a culture that emphasizes career success. Plus, home equity loan rates in NJ are exceedingly favorable, so you can continue to leverage your real estate investment by moving your marriage to the Garden State.

New York has a Good Rate for Marriage Bliss

Likely for the same reasons as New Jerseyans, New Yorkers enjoy incredibly low divorce rates and have more successful marriages, also hovering around 8 percent. New York is a wonderful state for a young married couple, with unparalleled cultural events in the city to natural activities and splendor upstate. However, it is important to note that New York is often prohibitively expensive; in fact, you might be able to buy a real, historical castle for less than a NYC apartment.

Building a Successful Marriage in Washington, D.C., is an option

The nation’s capital is consistently ranked as one of the best places for young people to live – and if you’re already married, it’s all the better. The District of Columbia has a divorce rate of just over 9 percent; however, it’s important to note that Washington, D.C. also has the lowest marriage rate in the Union. Less than one-third of citizens in the capital have tied the knot, potentially skewing the divorce numbers. Still, being so close to divisive politics might just bring you and your spouse closer together.

Some of the Most Successful Marriages are in Hawaii

When you are surrounded by pristine white sand beaches and glittering turquoise water, it can be difficult to start an argument. Perhaps that’s why Hawaii’s divorce rate is among the lowest in the nation, around 9 percent.

In reality, it isn’t Hawaii’s gorgeous tropical scenery and climate that keep tempers low; rather, it is the same reason New Jersey, New York, and other entries on this list boast higher marital bliss. Most Hawaiian residents are upper middle class and boast moderate educations, which tend to keep marriages strong. Yet, spending ample quality time with your spouse on the beach can’t hurt. We love these 10 best places Elle Decor finds for the newlyweds and marriages.

Pennsylvania Boasts Many Succesful Marriages

Boasting the highest divorce rates in the tristate area, Pennsylvania matches Hawaii with a divorce rate just above 9 percent. However, while marriages in the Keystone State might be as rock-solid as the Constitution, young people seem to be abandoning Pennsylvania in droves. The reason, many experts believe, is the high rate of student debt in this state, causing many young people to relocate to their home states following college. Fortunately, mortgages aren’t nearly as substantial here as student debt, so you and your partner should be able to find stability and happiness.

Look to Utah for a Long Marriage Life

A state with a reputation for faith and fidelity, Utah not only has a remarkably low divorce rate, matching Hawaii and Pennsylvania at around 9 percent, but it also has the highest marriage rate in the country, with over 55 percent of residents with knots tied tight. It’s also worth noting that several studies have found the Beehive State to be the happiest in the country. Researchers believe Utah offers superior work environments – with fewer working hours and longer-term employment – as well as unmatched community and recreational activities, thanks undoubtedly to the LDS church and the magnificent national parks. When everyone around you is happy and in love, it’s hard not to follow suit.

For more wedding and marriage tips on Stagetecture, look through our wedding archives.

Perfect Fall Wedding Favor Ideas

Fruitful Favors

Send them home with a taste of local flavor with a jar of seasonal fruit jam or honey from a nearby farm. You can also opt for a small box of fall fruits such as apples, pears, or figs. Buy in bulk directly from a local farm or visit the farmer’s market and make your own.

Wedding Guest Gift Ideas: Fall Beverages

One great fall wedding favor idea is to give your guests little take home versions of seasonal beverage favorites. Have autumn tea for brewing, roasted coffee beans, or small pouches of apple cider. Don’t forget to personalize the pouches with stickers showing your wedding date and names.

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Wedding Gift Ideas: Scented Candles

Another great option for a thank you gift is a fall scented candle. With a variety of warm scented options available-think cinnamon, pumpkin, apple and more. This way, your loved ones will leave with a gift that they can use throughout the season. Better yet, give them personalized matches to team up with each candle.

S’mores Kits and Cookie Kits  

No matter what, you can never go wrong with s’mores and cookie making kits as a wedding favor. Not only do they look adorable, they are delicious and make great DIY gifts. And of course, they are perfect for budget-savvy brides.

Fall Wedding Favor Ideas: Season Inspired Soaps

Just like candles, soap favors make great wedding favors as they are wide open for personalization from the shapes and scents you use to add-ons like flowers or dried herbs. Not to forget the packaging you wrap them in.

Wedding favors are always tricky to get right. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on top of all other expenses but you also don’t want to send your guests home with something they will end up not using. Thankfully, these fall wedding favors are what your guests will actually want.

For more wedding ideas on Stagetecture, look through our wedding archives!

Round Up: Our Favorite Budget Wedding Planning Tips

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Consider Wedding Packages

Believe us or not, a wedding package can save you a lot of cash. As they include everything from venue and food to host and the decorations, they come out to be much affordable than buying individual items. Moreover, it will take away a lot of efforts that you need to put in when finding things for the venue. The best part? Wedding packages can be customized to your need and the theme.

Buy In-Season Flowers

Wedding flowers can easily run you up in thousands. To cut costs, make sure to order the ones that are in-season. Not only will it help you save money but will also be beneficial for the mother earth as blooms that are seasonal can be sourced locally helping to keep the transportation emissions low. Also, if your creativity allows, order loose stems and consider making the arrangements by yourself. Trust us; it’s not as difficult as it sounds. Alternatively, you can order flowers online at much cheaper prices instead of a traditional florist.

Trim Your Guest List

One of the easiest ways to cut your budget is by trimming your guest list. We agree that wedding is a celebration, but it’s also a very intimate moment. When budget is a concern, stick to a guest list that doesn’t go beyond immediate family and closet of friends. Not only will it help you save tons of cash, but you will also end up spending this meaningful day with those you value the most.

Choose an Off-season Date

Weddings can be celebrated at any time of the year, but if you plan your big day choose off-season wedding date the savings can be significant. During off-season the wedding vendors hunger for business. This provides couples an opportunity to negotiate better pricing and save significantly.

A budget wedding does not mean you have to skimp on style. All it requires is a little imagination, creativity, and of course cutting on those extras. Let us know what’s your take on planning a memorable evening without going overboard?

Fore more budget wedding tips on Stagetecture, click here.

3 Fun Alternatives to Serving a Traditional Wedding Cake

A Cupcake Tower

A cupcake tower is a great alternative to traditional wedding cakes and can have an edge when it comes to picky eaters. You can mix and match various flavors so that there is something for everyone. Moreover, they can become an instant decor and focal points for your reception table. Simply tailor your cupcake tower by using particular colored icing or flavors to complement your wedding theme. Similarly, you can do a macaroon tower if you desire.

Image via: Wedding Bells

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Pie Buffet

A pie table is not just a fun alternative to wedding cakes, it can also get budget friendly. If there are great pie bakers in your circle of family and friends, request each one to contribute a different flavored treat. If not, you can always outsource the job to a bakery specializing in the task.

Candy table

This self service alternative is guaranteed to win full points with your guests. To make your candy table visually appealing, add decorative signs to let everyone know what’s what. Alternatively, you can put them in fun containers in a mix of heights, for instance a low bowl shaped dessert dish for truffles and a cake stand for marshmallows. What’s more? Put out little bags or boxes so that your guests can scoop up some treats to go, and you have got favors covered too!

Image via: The Knot

If a traditional wedding cake is not your style, consider one of these delicious alternatives for your reception. So, which one are you serving?

Family Reunion and Family Wedding Decorating Ideas

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Create a family banner

Create a huge family banner and hang it in the main area of the event. Have everyone sign it and take a group photo under it to keep it as a memory. If you have a family slogan, add it. This idea is sure to be a hit and your loved ones will rant about it for years to come. To make it even more personalized, let everyone dip their hand in paint and leave a hand print by their name.

Family reunion decorating ideas: Celebrate heritage

Seek inspiration from your family heritage for your next reunion party. For instance, if your grandparents come from America, decorate using American flag. Or if your grandfather belongs to America but your grandmother came from Italy, bring out flags from both the countries. The idea is to create a feel of whatever country your ancestors belong to by decorating with items that transform the reunion setting into your family’s home country.

Family reunion centerpiece ideas: balloons and streamers

What is a family reunion without balloons and streamers? Especially, if you have a lot of little ones in the family, they are always a hit. Blow up several of them and let them float around. Make sure they have long strings so that kids can enjoy walking under them. To personalize them you can also family pictures on the strings. Wall hangings and refrigerator art from everyone’s childhood is another interesting idea.

A family reunion like other parties requires decorations and a festive atmosphere. Use these ideas to make it fun and merry for all. But just remember to keep it simple and low stress!

For more family gatherings and wedding decorating ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Wedding Reception: Summer Cocktail Ideas

Image Via: Fine Wine Fine Food

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Love Blooms

Doesn’t the name stand very familiar to the wedding mood? Made using one part grape syrup, one part rose aperitif and two parts of organic spirit, this beautiful cocktail tastes as good as it looks. Serve this cocktail champagne flute glasses and garnish with pansy flowers. Also do not forget to use lots and lots of ice while preparation so that it is served chilled.

Image Via: Pocketful Of Dreams

Rose Crush

A gorgeous blend of one part orange juice, one part cranberry juice, two parts rose wine and lots of crushed ice this cocktail is a perfect fit for beach themed summer weddings. You can garnish this summer cocktail with fresh mint, cranberries and raspberries. Use martini glasses to serve this lovely wedding drink and get ready for a rocking beach party.

Image Via: Bridal Guide

Summer Passion

Out of the many wedding drinks, this beautiful orange red cocktail is a delight to the eyes. When served fresh and cold, garnished with edible summer flowers this cocktail beautifully complements the summers. Prepared using one part passion fruit juice, one part hazelnut liqueur, a little champagne and grenadine, this cocktail needs to be served with lots and lots of ice. What you will love is the beautiful gradation of orange to pale yellow, that is an absolute treat for the eyes.

Image Via: The Polka Dot Wedding

Blushing Bride

Blushing Bride is a blend of one part grenadine, one part peach schnapps and eight parts sparkling wine. This very flavorsome cocktail is nice sparkling pink in color and very much stands up to the happy and gay mood of your wedding. Best served in champagne glasses, you might not need any extra garnishing as the beautiful color of the cocktail is a highlight by itself.

Image Via: One Wed

Sparkling Romance

A combination of two parts chilled Champagne and one part Rhuby rhubarb liqueur, Sparkling Romance is a great choice for wedding drinks. To add a spurt of color you may choose to garnish it with seasonal fruits like raspberries, strawberries or even edible flowers. Do not forget to line the glass edges with salt for that extra punch of flavors.

Image Via: Wedding Chicks

Summer is a season of fruits, so it is taken for granted that summer wedding drinks are going to be a beautiful combination of fruity and alcohol flavors. After all sweet blanches bitter in a very nice way. Use fresh fruits and edible flowers like pansies for garnish and just wait for compliments to flow in. Also make sure that lots of ice goes into the preparation so that the cocktails are served nice and cold. Do share your views on this post and let us know of your favorite summer wedding drinks.

Click here for more Summer Cocktail Ideas on Stagetecture!

Summer Weddings: Thoughtful Wedding Favors

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Spell Love With Sunglasses

Summers are shining bright and so is the summer sun. Your guests will love favors that can save them from the summer sun and let them enjoy the wedding. Sunglasses make up for a perfect choice if you are planning on an outdoor day wedding. You can tag the sunglasses with your name labels and a short catchy note too!

Image Via: Pinterest

Little Potted Friends

Plants and flowers bring life into the dehydrating outsides. Giving your guests, little potted favors, is a wonderful way of saying thank you. Not only will the potted blooms bring color into the life of the receiver but also decorate a corner of their home with the sweet memories of your wedding.

Image Via: Intimate Weddings

Culinary Delights

This one is the best option for food lovers. You can fill little glass jars with jams, spreads, honey, sauces ,etc. It would even be better if these culinary delights are homemade or special to the particular region that you belong too!

Image Via: Jenny Wren Weddings And Events

Beauty Hampers

The ladies at your wedding will love this one. You can have sunscreens, lotions, balms and gels ready for your guests. Easy DIY tips and tricks can help you personalize these beauty accessories. If your budget does permit then instead of giving single items you can go in for full basket beauty hampers for your guests.

Image Via: Anns Bridal Bargains

Fan Favors

This one is another summer favorite. Whilst you will be busy taking your wedding vows and won’t worry about the heat too much, it is certainly going to affect the wedding guests. Thoughtful wedding favors like hand-held fans, hats ,etc. can catch your guests happily surprised.

Image Via: Fab Mood

Flip-Flops Really?

Yes, of course and why not? This is probably the best wedding favor one can think of. Think of it, everyone will come to your wedding in their best attire and shoes. It’s not necessary that the shoes they wear to your wedding are comfy enough to dance. So if you want to see a crowd on the dance floor present them with flip-flops!

Image Via: Brides

Wedding is the most important and happy time in the life of a bride and a groom. The idea is to make the wedding as memorable in the eyes of the guests too. And why not, happiness shared is happiness multiplied. So get some awesome wedding favors for your guests and make your wedding a truly memorable affair! Do share your ideas on wedding favors.

Click here for more Summer Wedding Ideas on Stagetecture!

Wedding Checklist: Summer Last Minute Tips

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The Wedding Cake

Of course you haven’t forgotten the cake! However you need to remember that it’s going to be hot, so your cake’s icing shouldn’t melt. You should take care and instruct beforehand exactly when the cake should be brought out. After all, so much effort must have gone in getting your gorgeous wedding cake ready!

Image Via: Silver land Jewelry

Stock Up Extra Water

Don’t forget to add extra water bottles in your last minute checklist! The heat is going to be intense and to top it there is going to be dancing, partying and running around. Sure some throats are going to get extra thirsty. Catering for extra water will just help.

Image Via: Wedding Star

Check With The Weather Guys

Believe me, unexpected weather pops up on days when you really don’t want it to. And your wedding day is just too important for it to be ignored. As a lot of summer weddings are set in the outdoors, check with the weather department for unexpected storms, rain etc. If they do give you a hint about unexpected changes, make alternate arrangements to avoid last minute shockers.

Be Bug Ready

Summers come with loads of bugs and insects. The chances of bug attacks increase if your wedding is set in the outdoors. Don’t be hassled. Just include bug sprays, bug deterrent candles and lamps in your last minute summer wedding checklist, to keep the nasty insects away.

Image Via: One Wed

Keep The Flowers Fresh

Chances are that you have already ordered the flowers and decided flower arrangements with your florist. However keep the heat in mind. Ask the flowers to be delivered just in time, so that they can be used before they wilt and dry away. Have a flower decoration plan ready.

Image Via: Charlton Park Florists

A wedding checklist is more of a personal thing as needs and requirements vary from wedding to wedding. For, instance some of you might want to include things like practicing to walk in your wedding shoes, creating a seating arrangement plan for your guests, assigning duties to close friends ,etc. So just build upon the list and create a personal one for yourself. Also do share with us, if you think of anymore points that need to be considered for a summer wedding.

Click here for more Wedding Ideas on Stagetecture!

Summer Wedding Color Inspiration Ideas:

Image Via: Plan A Wedding

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Peach & Whites

White stands for purity, innocence and simplicity. Peach stands for warmth, happiness, laughter and fun. And so, peach and white apart from being very light and summery colors exude a quality of enthusiasm, spontaneity and adventure along with elegance, class and simplicity. So, if these qualities appeal to you then peach and white are for you.

Image Via: The Bride Link

Peach & Yellows

Yellow is another summer color that is happy, warm, cheerful and happy. Peach used in contrast with yellow will bring forth an ambience that is uplifting and jolly. Just try not to overdo yellow as it can cause anxiety to your guests.

Image Via: Wedbook

Peach & Pinks

Pink speaks of love and thoughtfulness. Pastel shades of pink will keep the summery feel alive and in contrast with peach this color theme will bring out unconditional love, happy chitter chatter and a fun time with friends.

Image Via: One Wed

Peach & Mint

Nervous brides get on the greens as they induce the effects of serenity and composure. Greens also bring about the feeling of rebirth, renewal and growth. Greens also balance out emotions as well. Mints and peaches will ensure a happy go lucky wedding mood.

Image Via: Elegant Weddings

Peach & Turquoise

Turquoise is a refreshing color, its happy and cheery. It’s calming and healing. Turquoise also ensures that there is an atmosphere that is conducive to friendly chatter and communication. No wonder turquoise along with peach will bring about a perfect wedding setup.

  Image Via: Taylord Events Sv

Colors can greatly influence our moods and behaviour. No wonder color themes are amongst the most important decisions that a couple will take. Colors choices also subtly reflect our personalities, choices and moods. Of course we have different color themes for various season as we need to consider mother natures moods too! Do share with us what is your color choice for a summer wedding.

Click here for more Color Inspirations at Stagetecture!

Spring Party Ideas for your Wedding or Get Together

Image via: Style Me Pretty

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Send Out Spring Invitations

The invitations you choose will set the tone for the party. Keep the season in mind when choosing invitations. You can create customized invites if you’re crafty or buy readymade options and personalize them. Add herbs or dried flowers to the cards or pictures of your plants and flowers if you have a green thumb.  Inform your guests that the party atmosphere is relaxed and they should wear comfy attire.

Choose a Theme

It goes without saying that spring foliage should create a backdrop for your get-together. Stretch your decorating budget by using inexpensive flowering plants and mix them with the bulbs you planted in fall. String white lights in trees and add a fire pit for wonderful night lighting. Set multicolored plates and cups on the table and cover it with a brightly colored tablecloth. Decorate chairs with fresh flowers and hang flower baskets from patio trellises or eaves.

Image via: Celebrations at Home

Serve Seasonal Finger Foods

Fill the buffet table with mouthwatering finger foods. This way, your guests can move around and pick what they like most. Include finger foods in your menu like cheesy quesadillas, crisp toasts, mini pizzas, frosted cupcakes, creamy dips, artful veggies, candy-coated almonds, and fresh fruits.

Don’t Forget Seasonal Drinks

The drinks you serve at the party should reflect the season. If you have a big budget, hire a bartender to mix drinks. If you don’t, create a spring cocktail to replace a fully stocked bar. Serve drinks like gin and tonic or mint julep and have a selection of wines. As well, include soft drinks like sweet tea and freshly squeezed lemonade to the menu.

Image via: The Kitchn

There’s no better way to celebrate spring than to throw a fantastic party in your garden. A garden party is the perfect way to usher in the season and forget about winter. Whether you want to host a standout soiree or a no-frills affair, look to these spring party ideas.

Can you share with us your spring party ideas?