9/13/2011 5 comments

You've picked the groom, the date, the venue, and most important, The Dress! Now its time to choose your photographer and to pick packages. Occasionally, I will have a bride who doesn't want to shoot bridals for various reasons. The ones I hear most often are: "I don't want to have to dress up twice and go through all the hassle" "shooting bridals involves extra expense and I'm on a budget" "I'm not comfortable having my portrait taken" and finally "We'll have plenty of time to do that at the wedding". All of these seem like good reasons right? Well I would like to share a few reasons why I believe it is so important to have a bridal shoot before your wedding day.

"I don't want to have to dress up twice and go through all the hassle"

Why not! You've probably spent more money on this beautiful dress than you ever will spend on any other item of clothing you will purchase again. After your wedding, chances are you will never put it on again. If your dress makes you feel beautiful, feminine and just absolutely wonderful (as it should) why not enjoy that as many times as you can! Is it a hassle.. well that depends on how you look at it. For a bridal shoot you will most likely be getting your hair and nails done. What a better way to relax! Look at it as pampering yourself. You have probably been very busy planning your wedding. Take a minute and relax! Not to mention one of the things that brides change most often after a bridal shoot is their hairstyle. You might now like the way it looks, it may not be comfortable or it may be to difficult to keep up during the several hours that you will be wearing it not only for your ceremony but for pictures and dancing.

You will probably have your mother or someone else that you are close to helping you get dressed, enjoy that special time together and the most important... you will be spending about the same amount of time in your dress on the day of your bridal shoot as you will on your wedding day. You will have an opportunity to make sure it is comfortable (yes your dress should be comfortable) and that any difficulties with your dress are discovered now not on your wedding day. For example, is there a trick to bustling the dress, is it difficult to lace, does it stretch out after an hour of wearing it making it too loose in places? One other important reason for this dress rehearsal is to be sure your shoes are not only bearable but comfortable. Often brides think tell themselves that they can put up with a little discomfort to look beautiful. However you may feel differently after 3 hours in them.

"It costs more to shoot bridals and I'm on a budget"

Most photographers have packages that include bridals. It may cost a little more, but consider the reasons above and you may decide it is worth it to cut somewhere else if possible, so that you can include bridals in your photography package.

"I'm not comfortable having my portrait taken"

All the more reason to have a bridal shoot. This will be private time to get comfortable with your photographer and yourself without an audience. It makes a very big difference on your wedding day. You will get to know your photographer better and his or her style of shooting and you will feel more confident knowing that your whole ensemble works.

"We'll have plenty of time to do that at the wedding" This one is one that really concerns me. I want you to have beautiful portraits of yourself in this beautiful dress. So many things can happen on your wedding day that will cut down the time to take those portraits. Think of all the pictures you have to take that day, not to mention all the parts of the ceremony and reception that will be going on. Its a balancing act between you and your photographer to ensure that you get to enjoy your wedding rather than to spend the whole time taking photos. Your bridal shoot will be much more relaxed. That time belongs to only you. The only thing you will need to attend to is looking good for that bridal shoot. On your wedding day you will know that those special portraits are already done and of course you will have that portrait to display at your reception.

All of the photos from your wedding experience are important, but consider which ones will be the most precious to you, the ones of you and your groom, all of those special "first" moments and sharing them with your loved ones and finally, those of your cake and other details. But remember, this will be the day that you look and feel the most the beautiful in your whole life. Wouldn't you like to have images of that after its all over? Wouldn't you like to be sure that your dress, veil, hair and shoes are as comfortable and perfect as possible. Then you can just be confident with your appearance and enjoy the reason for the day rather than focusing on something that just doesn't look or feel quite right? As your photographer, I want that for you and I hope I have convinced you to reconsider having your bridal shoot!

Lorri Dailey
Dailey's Photography
http://www.daileysphotography.com/

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9/06/2011 6 comments

Once upon a time, no woman would have dreamed of wearing black to a wedding. Today it is far more common, yet not accepted by all. Explore the issue of wearing black to a wedding: is it chic or is it scandalous?

As with any fashion decision, choosing an appropriate outfit for a wedding depends on context. Time of day, geographic region, and the wedding location will all come into play. For instance, if you were invited to an evening wedding in a loft in New York City, you would only look out of place if you did not wear black. On the other hand, the guest who shows up for an afternoon wedding in a garden in Savannah wearing a black frock is going to find a few disapproving looks cast her way. She is also going to be darn hot in a dark color on a sunny day! In that instance, the black dress would not only be inappropriate, but also impractical.

The personal style of the bride will also be a factor. The hip young urban woman who has a wardrobe built exclusively around black outfits will be unlikely to take offense to her guests attending her wedding in that shade. The young woman with more classic taste, who favors pink twinsets, monogrammed towels, and pearl wedding jewelry may well disapprove of her guests wearing the traditionally taboo color. Keep in mind that it is not only the bride whose opinion on the subject counts; she might think it is fine, but her mother and grandmother may well be offended. The older generations were raised with the idea that it was nothing short of a scandal to wear all black to a wedding. You may disagree, but why upset them?

There is one person who should never think of wearing a black dress to a wedding, and that is the mother of the bride. While some do these days, you absolutely run the risk of people interpreting your color selection to mean you disapprove of the marriage (which was the traditional meaning of making such a choice). If even one guest thinks that, it is too many. That is not to say that the bride's mom can only wear lavender or baby blue. A platinum or espresso colored dress worn with stylish wedding jewelry will look just as chic as black, and far more appropriate for the occasion.

Ultimately, even if you can get away with wearing black, why not consider something a bit more festive? It is rather depressing to attend a wedding and be swallowed up by a sea of black attire. Besides, it is harder to express your personal style in a basic black dress. The LBD that you pull out for every function gets a little dull after a while, and a wedding is the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a new dress in a beautiful color. If everyone is used to seeing you only in noir, they will probably find it very refreshing to see you don a cranberry or aubergine dress for one day.

In the end, wearing black to a wedding is not as scandalous as it used to be, but is still frowned on in many circles. With so many other color choices available, why not think about stepping away from basic black and trying something new? You will be certain not to offend anyone, and will look fabulous.

Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about wedding planning, style, and etiquette. Sign up for our free newsletter to receive special offers on our unique handmade wedding jewelry and bridesmaid gifts!

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8/17/2011 9 comments

Christmas time is a very romantic time of year, and finding those perfect ideas for wedding favours isn't as hard as you think. By using these ideas for wedding favours and decorations will make your Christmas wedding a perfect winter wonderland wedding.

In creating your Christmas wedding, colour is going to be an important part. You can choose the traditional red and green, or you may want to go more elegant with blue and silver.

Choose a ceremony location that has a fireplace to give you more of a grand wedding. When decorating your chosen location you can hang wreaths on the pews or at the ends of a row of chairs. For the decorations at the reception you could put up a Christmas tree. You could decorate the tree with white lights and special ornaments that have the bride and grooms name on them as well as the wedding date, and then give those away as wedding favours. You could also ask for the guests to wrap your wedding gifts in Christmas wrapping paper and then have them place the gifts under the tree instead of on a table.

For the tables you could use a gingerbread house as a centrepiece or a wide pillar candle with cranberries surrounding it. You could also hang mistletoe above the bride and grooms seats at their table.

When deciding on your menu for the reception you should have the menu reflect the season. When guests arrive at the reception you could greet them with hot apple cider or mulled wine. For dinner options you could have maple glazed ham, served with apple gravy, butter herb roasted turkey with stuffing, lemon pepper salmon, prime rib, or roast baron of beef. The side dishes could include items such as roast potatoes, green bean casserole, glazed carrots, and creamy garlic buttered mashed potatoes. For dessert you could offer a selection which could include baked cheesecake with seasonal berry compote, hot steamed pudding, sticky toffee pudding or traditional holiday cookies and candies.

For the wedding cake this is where you can get very creative. You could have a tiered cake that is different colour presents, or maybe have a tiered cake set on top of a sleigh pulled by Santa and his reindeer. You could also have a traditional cake and use poinsettias for the flowers.

At the end of the night you could give each guest a goodie bag filled with wedding favours such as one of the ornaments off the tree, special hot chocolate mix, and any other little gifts you want to add to say thank you for attending my wedding and celebrating the beginning of your lives together.

Make big savings with DIY wedding favours. Wedding Favours Delight provides a range of favour boxes and accessories which will help you to make your own individual wedding favours. Check out http://www.weddingfavoursdelight.co.uk/ to see our collection and order online.

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8/11/2011 9 comments

Of course, you would want every small detail of your wedding to reflect your own unique personal preference and taste - from shoes to gown, food to flowers. If you want your wedding to reflect your favourites, then one of the best wedding ideas would be to pick your color scheme right from the start. It will do wonders for setting the right tone for your big day, as well as the events surrounding it. For a nice touch, you may want to add simplicity or sophistication as you pick the colors.

See the most popular choices for wedding color schemes:

1. Green and All White - Of course, there are many hues of white and greens that you can choose from. This color combo is a winner for many couples as it presents a wide array of choices ranging from ivory to pure white to the palest of pinks. If you choose an ecru or ivory gown, then you may want to choose complimentary shades for your table skirts and napkins. However, if you would like to wear a dress of pure white, then its best to select snow white flowers.

Here are some great choices for flowers: sweet pea, iris, lilacs, orchids, daisies, carnations, and camellias. If you prefer a softer hue, then go for tulips, roses, lily of the valley or fresia.

Popular green hues can go from a deep camellia green or fresh lime to leather leaf ferns. Those who want a brighter color look for shades of fresh grasses, citrus trees or green berries.

2. Red equates Romance - This is a sure hit at any time of the year, more so since red roses are a great way of saying "I Love You." Red looks fantastic especially during the winter, coupled with pine greenery, berries and red or black gowns for your attendants. You can find red in peonies, tulips, ranunculus, daisies, gerbera, lilies, camellias, and carnations.

3. Red and Pink With Green - For this color scheme, you can use bright or pastel pink flowers and add some red accents. Or vice versa - red flowers with pale pink or bright pink accents. You may also want to add purple or lavender tones from hydrangea. For an added texture, use deep red berries with a green foliage.

4. Subtle Blush Tones - This color scheme will definitely help you create a sophisticated, elegant statement during your big day. Choose colors that range from soft peach, pink and ivory. To accent, simply add touches of pearl. If you want to enhance this color scheme, go for roses - they come in a myriad of soft tones and hues.

Fiona Dean is a wedding professional in Glasgow who loves to share her expertise to help couples plan the perfect wedding. Discover great ideas for throwing the wedding of your dreams while saving money => http://www.glasgowwestend.co.uk/glasgowweddings/index.php

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8/09/2011 0 comments

Planning a bridal shower and you don't know where to begin? Well, after you establish the date, your next step is to determine where you are going to hold the shower and set the theme. Both the location and the theme will play an important role in determining your décor.

Location

Select a location that can handle the guest list. For example, if you have 50 people attending, you may need to rent a hall or see if a local church would welcome your event. If it's a smaller guest list, you could hold it in a private home, maybe even on a pretty patio if the weather allows.

You also need to consider decorating the space when you select your location. A pretty patio may not need crepe paper, but you might want to incorporate a floral theme in keeping with what's in bloom outside. On the other extreme, a rented hall could really use some decorations to set the mood for the occasion. But if you decided to hold the shower in a restaurant, your decorations will be limited. Focus instead on name cards, favors and centerpieces for the tables.

Theme

The theme should reflect the bride's taste. Of course, if the shower is a surprise, you will have to depend on those who know her best to guide your decision. For example, the bride might like a couple's shower in which the groom and his friends are invited. In that case, establish a western theme and throw a barbecue. Or maybe the bride would prefer something elegant that creates a special occasion for her and the females in her life. If that's the case, go with some traditional, but fun, decorations to set the stage.

Some of the different themes you might want to build around include:

The season of the year. Is it a winter, fall, spring or summer wedding? Use that to decide what to emphasize with your decorations.

Honeymoon location. Is the couple headed to the beach? That is an easy theme with lots of decorating possibilities.

Does the bride want a Cinderella wedding? Lots of brides want just that kind of wedding, so there are lots of Cinderella-themed decorations.

Ethnic celebration. If the bride prides herself on her heritage, embrace that. For instance, some African-American brides to be might want to include the African wedding tradition of "jumping the broom." There are a host of miniature brooms with which to decorate the shower.

Favors

The purpose of a favor is to thank the guests for being part of the shower experience. It should be something small, but something that will remind the recipients of the bride and the lovely shower they attended. Little gift boxes, which come in a variety of styles, make useful favors as they can be used to store rings, buttons, safety pins and more. Also consider picture frames, cookie cutters and even candles.

The best favor will follow the theme of the shower. Not only are they a token of remembrance for the guests, but they will also help decorate the tables where the guests sit.

If the shower has a seasonal theme, you will find especially nice choices for fall and winter showers. Little metal pails (or buckets) decorated with pumpkins, scarecrows and other symbols of harvest are a great favor. Delight your guests when you fill them with nuts or mints. Your guests can use them again when it's time to decorate their Thanksgiving table. Each pail is about 3 inches high and 3¼ inches in diameter. For a winter shower, consider silver stars or snowflakes that your guests can hang on their trees.

If the shower has a western theme, check out Western cowboy signs with a vintage look. Each sign comes with a wire hanger and touts a business from the Old West: the Dry Gulch Saloon, Chuck Wagon restaurant, Tumbleweed Hotel or the Rodeo. Each sign is 4 inches wide by 2½ inches high. What a fun gift - especially if it's a co-ed shower.

Table Decorations

What you use to decorate the tables at the shower is a good place to incorporate the theme.

Going with the Cinderella theme? Little pewter Cinderella coaches hold the name cards at each place setting. How about little slipper candles or a clear slipper that holds a name card? There are even metal Cinderella pumpkin coaches to grace the table. Measuring 3½ inches, they come in gold or silver tones.

Going with a floral theme? If that's the case, you can incorporate calla lilies on place card holders, votive candle holders and even a guest and registry book. The shower will be all abloom.

Follows these steps and even the most novice party planner will be off to a good start.

Zack Spence is a freelance writer who writes about weddings, including products like bridal shower decorations.

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5/28/2011 4 comments

One of the most important aspects of planning any wedding is the task of choosing wedding planners. You will be entrusting them with the vital task of turning all of your dreams into reality. To choose the wrong planner could be more stressful than having no planner at all for you and your fiance.

So where do you start?

Even in this current climate, weddings are big business and there are wedding planners popping up all over the place. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as it offers more choice to the prospective bride and groom, but unfortunately some individuals are setting up businesses with no real experience or training, so it pays to do your homework before making a choice. As with all industries, word of mouth is often the preferred option and you may well have a best friend or sister who had a really good planner to organise her wedding. Of course what suited them may not suit you, so always look at several options. You could try looking in trade magazines, online wedding directories or do a simple Google search narrowing it down to your specific area.

Once you've got some results, the best thing to do is take a look at the wedding planners' websites to see what services they offer and to get an idea on price structure. Most planners charge a percentage of your overall budget for a full planning service or a fixed fee for specific services such as sourcing a venue. Think of their website as their shop window. If it is badly laid out, or contains spelling mistakes, then think seriously before contacting them. After all, if they can't be bothered to proof read their own website can you really trust them to organise your wedding? Naturally, you can't meet too many planners face to face or you will simply end up overwhelmed. Narrow it down to 2 or 3 wedding planners that appeal to you and then ask for a meeting.

What questions should you ask wedding planners?

The first meeting with a prospective wedding planner is your chance to not only meet them but to decide whether you think they would be the right person to entrust with your wedding day. Make a list of questions before the meeting, as it is easy to forget them once you start chatting. Questions to start off with include asking how long they have been in business and how many and what types of wedding they have planned. Then you need to ask if you can see some examples of previous weddings that they have planned and, more importantly, do they have testimonials to show you from these weddings. If the answer to this is no, then walk away. It is also important to know what insurance they hold, how often they envisage being in contact with you, whether any commissions they receive will be passed to you, and what is included in their fee.

How to decide on a wedding planner

It's all very well being impressed by their credentials but did they listen to what you had to say? Did they offer advice and suggestions of their own and did they point out any possible pitfalls, such as your budget not being realistic to meet all of your requirements. Also were they enthusiastic and knowledgeable? The bottom line is: did you like them? Did you feel comfortable about putting forward your dreams for your big day or did they rubbish them? Did you feel they were trying to change the direction of your day or encourage you to increase your budget unnecessarily? You should be spending quite a bit of time together with your wedding planner in the next few months, so you want to enjoy their company and even have fun with them.

Before reaching any decision, listen to your gut feeling and if something doesn't feel quite right then walk away. Never make a decision then and there, give yourself time. You should expect to receive a detailed report based on your meeting which will give you another opportunity to evaluate what service and level of expertise is being offered. Just remember, this is your big day and the right choice of wedding planners should give you treasured memories to look back on in years to come.

SAWeddings is a dedicated wedding directory with all the information you need to plan your wedding in South Africa. Find the best wedding planners in South Africa, to make sure that your wedding is perfect and stress free.

5/27/2011 1 comment

Wedding-planning, despite being the most joyous event of the lifetime, could be very stressful.

In addition to this stress, there could be work stress, family stress and many more.

I remembered I was totally stressed out during my wedding planning period last year that I almost broke down. I'm not sure if I'm entering depression stage but this was real to me.

I know some wedding couples could be stressed out too and they are not aware of it. To add more impact, they give each other more stress, hoping that each other can understand them.

A fair amount of stress is important to ensure your wedding plan is according to what you have planned. Too much pressure may cause you to end up as an unhappy bride or groom or even to the extent of calling the wedding off.

One of my readers emailed me pleading for help. She felt alone because the groom was in overseas and not supportive. She felt that she was the one planning the wedding. Moreover, the in-laws were setting many unrealistic expectations such as "forcing" her to carry out in the exact manner they wanted.

There was no say in the bride at all and she felt like calling off the wedding.

This was not the only one such email I received. There were a few more like this. Some brides managed to cope better after that. Others canceled their weddings.

So how did I cope with my stress while planning my wedding?

The first thing I did was blogged and told the whole world what I was feeling. My aunties were my loyal fans and were always closely following my posts. My cousins too. They emailed me and even posted in the comments telling me to sound out whenever I needed help.

I was very touched.

One of my aunties even told my mother about it. Partially, I was pleased that my mother was informed so that she understood what I was feeling at that time.

In Asian's culture, we don't share what we really felt. We speak the politically-correct content so that everyone, except us, is happy.

My wife was very helpful too. I'm not saying she had no stress. In fact, she had more than mine. Her mother was trying to control what we had planned. We were almost toppled upside down.

My friends were there to chip in now and then. I had a few friends who were not invited to my wedding but they helped me alot. I'm really grateful to them.

My colleagues were very understanding too and they assisted me in anyways they could. Some made my wedding ang-pow box (but ended up I didn't use at all.) My manager gave me emotional support because she understood how stressful wedding-planning could be.

In all, these are 5 ways to cope with stress:

1. Share with your significant-other

2. Share with your family members and relatives

3. Share with best friends who understand you

4. Share with colleagues so they can know what you are going through

5. Continue with your hobby

Still carrying on your hobby put your mind off wedding for a while. Use this opportunity to rest and re-charge.

What about you? How do you cope with your stress?

Jhong Ren owns an authority wedding blog and he aims to provide 1 million wedding couples wedding planning help and relationship problem advice. His Wedding Blog is at Romance-Fire.com Jhong Ren is the best selling author of the Wedding Series - "Plan Your Fabulous Wedding" at PlanFabulousWedding.com