Fads that are Fading Out T he first thing that you need to understand when you start planning is that it is YOUR wedding! Any question that you have regarding what you can and should do should be answered with a YES! It's your day, and your wedding can be any style you want featuring any traditions you want, and excluding any you don't want! I get a lot of questions regarding traditions or "norms" and whether you HAVE to do them. For many of these questions, the answer is no! Here are some examples of fads and traditions that are fading out, and not necessary to include in YOUR day! THE BOUQUET TOSS The bouquet and garter toss is a tradition that has been going on since Medieval Times! Brides used to toss a piece of their dress to the unmarried women at the wedding as good luck to the next lucky bride. As dresses became more expensive, brides began to toss their bouquets instead. This tradition has fizzled out for many reasons. At many weddings, the femal

Do You Need a Wedding Planner? This is a question that I get ALL the time from brides: Do I need a wedding planner?  There is really no right or wrong answer to this. However, there are some factors to consider that may help you make your decision... Are you planning a wedding in a different state? If you are planning your wedding in a different state than where you live, you may want to hire a wedding planner. Planners will know the best vendors in the area, for one, and you will need recommendations in you are in unfamiliar territory. You may not have time to visit a ton of venues if you are flying in from another state, so a planner can also visit venues beforehand for you, and either Facetime you, send you photos, or tell you which venues are really worth you making an appointment with.  Your planner can also meet with vendors on your behalf if you can't make a trip right away, and often has a personal relationship with vendors as well.  Are you busy with w

The Question I Get Asked All The Time... What should we do for wedding favors? Ok, here's the deal. 99% of the time, your wedding favors are either going to be left behind, or thrown out once our guests get home. In my opinion, favors are often a waste of money! If you are looking for a place to cut costs - maybe don't do favors at all!  If you insist on giving guests a little something to say 'thank you', here are my recommendations: Make a Donation in the Guest's Name... Do you have a favorite charity? An organization that means something to you, personally? Make a small donation in each guest's name to the charity of your choice, then at each place setting, give them something in writing, thanking them for attending, and letting them know that a donation has been made in their name! Guests will appreciate this much more than a bottle opener with your name on it...I promise! Edible is Always the Answer! Something that guests ca

Celebrity Inspired Wedding Gowns (for less!) Ok, so your favorite celebrity fashion icon wore an amazing dress to their wedding, and you totally want to wear it too! But...it's out of your budget. Or unavailable to the public. Here are alternatives to some of the most talked about celebrity wedding gowns of the past few years. Cause we can't all get a custom couture dress, right?? Reese Witherspoon   Actual Dress : Monique Lhuillier (Custom) This dress was probably upwards of $10,000US. It was custom created for Reese, therefore it cannot be purchased. Here are some alternatives!                                                                                                 Same Designer: Love Reese's look? Try "Candy" by Monique Lhuillier. The blush color and slightly fitted skirt mimics Reese's feminine, ethereal look. Try it with a dark pink satin ribbon as a belt! (Retail: Around $7,000US). Monique makes many gowns in this gor

Everything you need to know before you go to try on wedding gowns! The first time you walk into a bridal salon, it can be extremely overwhelming. Even if you have done your homework and have some ideas as to what you like, that style may not look good on your body! When you see rows and rows of white dresse s, you can get a bit panicked! But relax, and follow these simple tips to having a successful appointment at the bridal shop! Do Some Homework Before you head to the salon, look online and decide which styles and fabrics appeal to you. Even if you have never set foot in a bridal shop, you can still look at a few photos and decide what type of  look(s) catch your eye. You can either print photos, write down styles, or just get to know which fabrics you like. Here is a bit of background on dress styles and fabric! Vocabulary you should know: A-line: shaped like an "A", not too "poofy" but still away from the body rather than skin-tight. This is also an e

Should You Hire a Wedding Planner? Are you busy with a full time job? Do you want help making decisions about your wedding? Do you want someone to organize all of your wedding details? Do you want someone there with you on the day of your wedding to make sure everything runs smoothly? Hiring a wedding planner is something many brides today consider. Planning your wedding can be stressful, and there is only so much you can ask your maid of honor to do. Sometimes it is beneficial to hire someone either to help plan the entire affair, or to be there on the day of your wedding as your "right hand man" to make sure everything goes as planned! You do not necessarily need a wedding planner or coordinator there for the whole day. Once you are dressed, everyone is accounted for, all deliveries are made, etc. you are generally ready to relax and just enjoy the ceremony and reception. It is sometimes helpful for a coordinator to stay to help people find their seats, or t

I HATE my __________________. As a bridal consultant, I hear it all. Every girl hates something about her body. Now, you can choose to cover it up, but why let a few flaws dictate what style dress you wear on your big day? Want a strapless dress but hate your arms? Get the arms you want AND the dress you want! Don't settle for sleeves, flaunt your body. Here are the most common areas of the body that brides complain about- and how to tone them! ARMS Best exercises: Push ups, Rows with Dumbells, Lateral Pull Down Work your chest and back to get rid of extra armpit skin! It's not just about your arms, your back and chest need to gain muscle in order to make this unsightly flab go away! BACK You may have never even considered this- but dresses with a low back can show back fat and even pinch your skin making you look like you have rolls. Keep in mind- the problem isn't always YOU, it can be the fit of the dress!! Loosening a dress a tiny bit can get rid o