Friday, February 26, 2010

Affordable Wedding Dresses

It's possible to spend an incredible amount of money on a wedding dress when in reality the final outcome will be determined more on whether the dress fits you properly and enhances your looks and figure.

Cheap wedding dresses that are good fitting and well styled can look a lot better than expensive wedding dresses that are inappropriate for your particular physique.

Do a lot of shopping around for deciding on your final wedding dress because you will be surprised at the amount of money you can save by making the right decisions and also you might find that you will get a dress that you feel a lot more comfortable from some of the shops that offer ready-made wedding dresses rather than getting one specifically made for you.

If your finances are particularly tight, then you might even need to consider secondhand wedding dresses. While you might not like to think about this at the time, the fact of the matter is that most of these have only ever been worn once. So, you are effectively getting a new dress for a price that is considerably less than the first person paid for it.

Many people have had the pleasure of wearing designer wedding dresses that might have only required a little bit of adjustment here or there for a fraction of the cost price that they would have to pay to get one made specifically for them.

And the best part of all is that nobody ever needs to know or will know how much or where you got your dress.

It's not about the cost of the dress but rather how it looks on you and how you feel in it on your special day.

After the wedding, you can sell it on again to defray costs if you like too.


Designer Wedding Dresses

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Grooming the Groom

While it goes without saying that most of the attention will be on the bride on the wedding day it is still very important that the groom looks his best also.

One of the best ways of doing this is by following some form of exercise regime in the weeks and months prior to the wedding to get in shape and feel more energized.

As with the bride, the groom should not overdo it to such an extent that it could cause injury that might affect the enjoyment of the wedding day or the honeymoon thereafter.

By maintaining good nutrition in the months prior to the wedding his hair and skin will look a lot healthier and if he has been following an exercise regime and even his clothes will tend to fit better.

The groom should also get his hair styled by somebody who he is comfortable with and is sure will make a good job before the wedding day.

Don't leave it to the last minute and make sure that you've decided on the hair style well in advance of the wedding day.

Don't try new hairstyles if there isn't enough time for it to grow back out should it ever need changing.

Too close to the wedding is not the time to start getting radical with things such as hairstyles.

Any other major changes in life can cause stress and this can be reflected on the grooms face and this will also be seen in the photographs so try to lead a steady and relaxed lifestyle prior to the wedding.

It's all about planning, as this is the only way to be assured of a good outcome at the end of the day and the groom needs to be on that "to do" list of things to get sorted just like everything else.



Groomsman Gifts at The Knot Wedding Shop

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Wedding Colors

It is important to choose your wedding colors at the beginning of your wedding planning process as this will affect all aspects of the wedding from your dress and flowers to minor details such as the colors of your invitation cards and so on.

First, start with a base color that you like and then work it's  complimentary colors.  Don't worry about being trendy. If you don't like the "trendy" colors, you will always look back at your wedding with regrets about your color choice. Pick something that years down the road when looking over your wedding album will make you feel good.  Consult a color wheel if necessary to find coordinating colors. With that in mind, you should be relatively safe in creating a harmonious and visually pleasing wedding ceremony.

With theme weddings a lot of the colors will be determined by the theme and to some people this can actually make it a lot easier with choices.

It is often a good idea to have a discussion with your photographer before finalizing your colors as these can have a dramatic effect on the outcome of your wedding photos.

A good photographer will be able to look at the venue, your own skin colors and that of your partner, your choices of clothing and flowers and any other factors that you have listed on your wedding checklist and give you a good idea of whether there will be anything that will have a detrimental effect on the photographs.

It is times like these that the advice of professionals is most welcome and can have a huge impact on so many other factors.

It is well worth investing the extra money if at all possible to get professional advice in these matters before you start spending the money on purchasing dresses flowers and so on.

If you were to hire a wedding planner they would coordinate all these various different aspects of the wedding and ensure that they will all tie in with one another for a harmonious event.

Don't fret if you can't afford this type of advice however, there are several online sites, like theknot.com, that can help you with wedding colors. 


The Knot Wedding Shop

Monday, February 8, 2010

Planning Your Wedding Budget

Weddings come in all shapes, sizes and price tags. If you're just getting started with
planning your dream day, you're probably curious about the type of wedding you'd like
to have and how much it will cost.
For a wedding with three bridesmaids, three groomsmen, and a buffet for about 100
guests, wedding coordinators estimate that you'll spend $6,000 to $10,000.
But the average wedding has a few more guests than that. Estimate a formal affair with
200 guests and heavy hors d'oeuvres costing as much as $12,000 to $15,000.
Why the big range between dollar signs? There are so many choices, and they run the
budget gamut. Not only are there many types of flowers to choose from, but also the size
and style of the bouquets, how labor-intensive they are, and whether you choose out-of-
season flowers that must be special ordered or seasonal blooms that are plentiful and less
costly.
It's not easy to pin down a price on a cake either. How many people will it serve? How
elaborate? Buttercream frosting or rolled fondant? Would you like a fruit filling? All of
these choices can lead to bigger checks being written.
With our seemingly endless fascination with celebrity lifestyles, the bar has been raised
and people's expectations have become a lot higher.
A nice wedding can be put together for far less than the celebrities spend. If you want to,
you can get married for $15,000, for $1,000, or even for less. It depends on what your
expectations are and what kind of reception you want.
The reception, often the biggest expense, can be controlled by the time of day you
choose. Which would you prefer -- a morning wedding with a brunch reception or an
afternoon wedding with light finger foods? For an evening wedding, will you choose
heavy hors d'oeuvres, a buffet or a sit-down dinner?
One of the more popular options is to choose heavy hors d'oeuvres, but sometimes that
can be more expensive than a served meal. The reason? You're paying for more items and
paying by the piece.
If you want to cut expenses on your food, the time of day you plan your reception is a big
factor. The cheapest time of day is the middle of the afternoon. That's not a time people
are usually hungry, so they'll eat less, and you can get away with serving less food.
Looking for other ways to cut costs?
Look to the internet to print your invitations and announcements.
A Wedding Collection by Lora Severson Photography offers a wide selection of unique
Save the Date Announcements,Bridal Shower Invitations,
Thank You Notes and matching Wedding Postage Stamps.
Designs range from floral and nature to classic or contemporary. Each featuring the
original photography or artwork of Lora Severson. Most orders are printed and shipped
within 48 hours and there is a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Bulk pricing is available-the more your buy, the more you save.
Be creative and put your personality into it. Be creative in your thinking and pick one area
of your wedding to really, really shine.
Keep in mind it's possible to create a beautiful occasion no matter what you can afford.
It's smart to avoid going into debt for your wedding. You should not still be paying on
your wedding when you start paying the hospital bills for having your first child.
Whether you spend $1,500 or $30,000, you'll still be just as married.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Who Pays for What in a Wedding

While there are no absolute or “official” rules on who pays for what, I hope to
shed some light for the most commonly used guidelines. Traditionally, the
majority of the wedding is paid for by the brides’ family. But because of today’s
society with increasing costs of weddings, these obligations will usually depend
on the circumstance and/or situation. It is best to discuss this when both families
can be present so they can decide on the best possible solution for each family’s
needs. Below I have compiled a list of whom (traditionally speaking) pays for
what.

The Bride
• The wedding ring for the groom
• A wedding gift for the groom
• Gifts for all bridal attendants
• Accommodations for out of town guests

The Groom
• The bride’s engagement ring and wedding rings
• A wedding gift for the bride to be
• Gifts for the best man and ushers
• Grooms wedding attire (tux rental, etc..)
• Bride’s bouquet and going-away corsage
• Mothers’ corsage
• Boutonnieres for attendants and fathers
• Marriage license
• Clergyman’s fee
• The honeymoon expenses
• Bachelor’s dinner (if not already given by best man)

The Bride’s Family
• Engagement party (optional)
• Ceremony cost: location, rental, music, & all related expenses
• Entire cost of reception: food, beverages, entertainment, rental items,
decorations, wedding cake
• Bride’s wedding attire and accessories
• A wedding gift for the couple
• Wedding invitations, announcements, and mailing costs
• Bridesmaids’ bouquets
• Transportation for bridal party from bride’s home to where the ceremony
will be taken place at
• Bridesmaids’ luncheon
• Photography (groom’s parents might pay for the pictures they want)
• Personal wedding attire
• Floral decorations
• Special items they may wish to purchase: toasting goblets, ring pillow,
etc…

The Groom’s Family
• Rehearsal dinner party
• Personal wedding attire
• Travel and accommodations for groom’s family
• Wedding gifts for the bride and the groom
• Special items that they may wish to purchase: toasting goblets, ring pillow,
etc…
• Any general expenses they may wish to purchase

The Attendants
• Wedding attire for themselves
• Any travel expenses
• Wedding gifts for the bride and groom
• Showers given by maid of honor or bridesmaids
• Bachelor party given by the best man or ushers

The Bride and Groom
• Gifts of appreciation for parents or others who have helped with your
wedding
• Expenses of items desired which have exceeded the original budget
allocations

Monday, February 1, 2010

Wedding Checklist

Year-Long Wedding Checklist

Your wedding should be coming up within the next 6 to 12 months. Do you know what to do and when exactly you need to do them? Here is a guided time line that specifically gives you the approximate time tasks that should be completed within that time frame. Use the following list as a guide to help you get the right things done, in the appropriate order. Print this guide out and “check off” all the items that you have completed to make things less stressful and more fun for you. Or consider purchasing
The Deluxe Wedding Planner & Organizer
to help keep you organized.

Six To Twelve (6 -12) Months Before The “Big Day”!
Decide on what kind of wedding and the time of day. Are you prepared to feed your guests dinner or do you want a simple ceremony with cake and punch only? The time of day that you choose will dictate the food choices.
Pick a date. Do this as soon as possible so that your bridal party and faraway family can begin making arrangements for hotels and scheduling time away from their workplace.
Choose a location. Remember to take into consideration what the weather could be like on your wedding day. So keep an open mind. Set a budget. This is so important. Discuss it carefully between the two of you and your respective families.
Start planning the reception. Secure a hall, hotel, lodge, or whatever suits you guys for your reception area.
Select the bridal party. It is important to do this as soon as possible so these special people can set aside some time away from work to fulfill their duties and roles in your wedding. Order and send out Wedding Attendant Invitations or Will You Be My Bridesmaid Cards.
Secure the church and inquire about premarital counseling. Some churches require this for a marriage to be allowed.
Choose your colors. Your flowers, attire, linens, and cake will reflect your choice. Since you have to shop for these items fairly far in advance, it’s important that you are rock-solid on your color decision.
Choose and order the bridal gown, bridesmaids’ gowns and accessories. Choose wisely and stay within your budget. Click for Designer Wedding Dresses
Start planning the honeymoon. The groom often takes the lead on this, but it should be a spot you will both enjoy.
Begin your bridal registry. Visit your favorite stores and choose items that you will need to start your life together.
Select the caterer, photographer, florist, and musicians. Keep their phone numbers handy in case you need something.
Choose and order the wedding rings.

Three Months Before The “Big Day”!
Complete the guest list.
Plan to have both mothers select their dresses. The mother of the groom will often wait for the mother of the bride to select her dress. eDressMe - Shop dresses for all occasions!
Make reservations for the honeymoon. Remember to tell them that you will be newlyweds. You’ll be surprised at how many perks you will get!
Confirm the dates and times with the florist, caterer, photographer, musicians, and the church.
Discuss transportation to and from the wedding and reception sites.
Order the wedding cake.
Choose and order the tuxes.
Schedule the bridesmaids’ dress fittings. It is also a good time to choose and dye the shoes if that is necessary.
Order and send out Save the Date Announcements.

Two Months Before The “Big Day”!

Prepare and mail the invitations. Don't forget to add Wedding Postage Stamps!
Get the marriage license.
Finalize the honeymoon reservations.
Make transportation arrangements.

One Month Before The “Big Day”!
Reserve accommodations for the guests.
Record gifts received and send wedding thank-you notes to each person. Many couples think that they must wait to send those thank you notes. Get them done as soon as the gifts begin to arrive to avoid stressful times later on closer to your wedding.
Purchase the gifts for the bridal party. Brides often buy inexpensive earrings or necklaces that the bridesmaids can wear to the wedding. The Knot Wedding Shop’s top 10 bridesmaid gifts will help you find the right gift for each of your ladies. Popular choices for the groomsmen are money clips, key chains, or ball caps. Check out The Knot Wedding Shop’s top 10 groomsman gifts and find the perfect personalized gifts for all the guys.
Schedule the final fittings for the bride and bridesmaids.
Get Wedding Programs printed.
Schedule appointments at beauty saloons for attendants, if needed.
Host the bridesmaid’s luncheon.
Purchase a guest book and decide where it will go. Some couples place the book just inside the door of the church or wedding area. Some prefer to display it at their reception. In either case, have someone stand nearby to invite guests to sign the book.

Two Weeks Before The “Big Day”!

Arrange to have names changed on the driver’s license, social security, etc. Consider purchasing a
Bride Name Change Kit.

Finalize the number of guests with the caterer.

One Week Before The “Big Day”!
Start packing for the honeymoon. Be sure to choose clothing that you won’t need during this very big week for you.
Plan the seating arrangements for all guests.
Have a beautician practice fixing your hair. You may also want to practice your make-up or make an appointment at a department store so it can be done for you.
Make sure that the wedding rings are picked up and fit.

The “Big Day”!!!
Congratulations! You made it to your bid day! The last thing to do is to just relax. You’ve earned it and should enjoy your entire day! But don't forget your The Bridesmaid's Survival Kit!