February 2009 Archives

Wedding favors are traditionally given to guests at the wedding ceremony as a thank you, but have we moved on from jordan almonds and customized matchbooks?

Wedding favors can come in all shapes and sizes and price ranges. Think about your guests. Are most of them flying in? If so, most liquids and flammable materials are out given the current airline restrictions. If you are having your wedding in a city or location that is famous for something, think local. If your wedding is in Maine, how about something with Blueberries or if it's in Florida, how about oranges? Guests, especially those that have never been to the area, will appreciate something with local flavor. Farmers markets are a great place to find locally prepared items, or at least get ideas. Go green with your favors. Edible favors are always a great idea since they will get used up with less waste. Customized cookies are a fun idea since they can be in any shape and size, and you don't have to do any of the work! Homemade soaps and lotions are also a green idea. What about giving a little customized packet of your favorite flower seeds. A wedding favor should remind the guests of you, so think about what you like and want to share. Whatever you choose, if it has to be wrapped, make sure to always use recycled packaging.

Some brides and grooms, however, are going a different route and not giving favors at all. That is perfectly fine too! Spend the extra money you save on favors on making the wedding more special for your guests. In the end, your guests will remember the event, not the little bag of candy they took home.

These days everyone has an iPod or an iPhone. But besides listening to music and making phone calls, you can upload clips of your wedding to quickly and easily show your friends and family. If you have a videographer, ask them to create some short clips formatted for iTunes, and upload it like any other video or song. If you don't have a videographer, have (the most qualified) friend or family member record some of the memorable moments. It can be before, during the wedding, or even fun moments on your honeymoon that you or your spouse record. There is cheap and easy software available for PCs and Macs that allow you to edit clips together, add titles, music, and anything else. Software developers know that people want videos for their iPods and iPhones, so there are a lot to choose from. Just edit, upload and go! 

One of the hottest styles right now is the wrap dress. Reminiscent of a sari, but with the sophistication of Marilyn Monroe, the Twist dress is versatile and comfortable. This dress works great as a bridesmaid dress, because it can be altered to fit any body type but still have the same color and look. Traditionally bridesmaids buy their own dress, and this dress will eliminate and complaining because they can wear it again and again. When you see your bridesmaids in this dress you will want one of your own to wear on your honeymoon!

The Twist dress is available in short and long versions, each with 12 different color choices. It is also available in sizes from x-small to 2X and comes with an online style ebook so you have lots of immediate styles to choose from, and inspirations for your own creations. Its simple and fun to choose what style you want to wear today. Here are just a few ways to wear the Twist dress:

We all know the current economic status is pretty poor. With the U.S. recession being the worst in decades, surprisingly this can mean good things if you are getting married.

Many companies are offering "economic stimulus" discounts. Look at your current wedding budget and consider things that you want, but may have left out because it was too expensive. For instance, wedding planners are usually a costly expense that many couples forgo. Doing some research shows many wedding planners are offering this "economic stimulus" discount, providing their services for drastically lower rates. Some even offer a few hours for free, which can be a huge help to a couple without and other help. Photography services, honeymoon destination spots, and even caterers are offering major discounts for products and services.

Obviously, there are also many tax breaks available to married couples that are double what a single person gets. President Obama's new Stimulus Plan gives married couples even more tax breaks on new home and car purchases, and double the amount of any tax credits.

The average cost of a wedding is $22,000, which might be out of the price range for many couples. So how can you turn the money in your pocket into the wedding of your dreams? Jean Chatzky, author and financial planner featured on Oprah and Oprah & Friends XM radio, has a few tips to help manage your wedding money.

Chatzky recommends over budgeting for your wedding so you have at least 10% in reserves. You never know when you will need it.

Order shorter centerpieces since they cost less than tall ones. They are still as beautiful and guests will be able to talk to each other across the table. Also consider only ordering flowers that are in season, which by nature will be less expensive.

Print your own invitations, which is much cheaper than having someone hand letter them, and spend a little more on nicer paper. The guest will notice the paper more than whether or not the calligraphy is hand drawn.

Wedding cakes can be practically be as much as the honeymoon! Save by getting a sheet cake to feed all of your guests and get a much smaller decorated wedding cake for photos.

Use a budget calculator as early as possible to help budget for your wedding. Chatzky recommends at least 12 to 18 months prior to your wedding date to begin saving a little from each paycheck, that totals how much your wedding will cost. Put all of that money into savings and don't touch it!

The Savvy Scoop recently blogged about sending a wedding invitation to the White House to get an official congratulations from the President and First Lady. By sending an invitation, rules of etiquette require that a letter of congratulations be sent to you. Sending out their invitation early will get you a really cool memento that you can display at your wedding! It will certainly get your guests talking and give your wedding scrapbook historical significance. It can also make a great "gift" from the maid-of-honor, bridesmaids or anyone else with access to an extra invitation. 

Send your wedding invitation to:
The Honorable Barack and Mrs. Obama
The White House
Greetings Office, Room 39
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500


President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on their Wedding Day
Photo taken from the Savvy Scoop

Lela Rose, renowned wedding dress designer, has released a line of dyeable shoes and coordinating handbags at Payless. Her line, called Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, allows buyers to try on shoes at any Payless, pick a color in the store, and order the shoes right there. The dyeing and shipping costs are FREE and you pick up the shoes back in the store in under 2 weeks. Dyeable shoes are usually a really expensive and time-consuming purchase only available in specialty stores, but Lela Rose had now made them affordable and accessible. The shoes are also available in kid's sizes which are great for flower girls and even for other special events like proms and sweet sixteen parties.

Lela Rose, who outfitted Jenna Bush's bridesmaids, has a designer look without breaking the bank. Get your Lela Rose bridesmaid dresses here and your coordinating shoes at any Payless.

 

The latest offering from OneWed.com is their blog, the Savvy Scoop. Their featured contributors and guest bloggers offer tons of great wedding information. OneWed has brought together the industry's best wedding planners, photographers, style experts, vendors and more to create a one-stop shop for all of your wedding needs. They even have a contributor geared towards the groom! Check out their blog here.

In addition to the blog, OneWed.com helps you create your own website, find vendors, get advice, lists wedding shows in your area, and has a great forum for talking to other brides-to-be. Make sure to download OneWed's Guide For the Savvy Bride to help you along on your big day.  

Taking photographs is an essential (and obvious) element to every wedding. But not all photographs have to be traditional.

John Michael Cooper, a Las Vegas photographer is doing what he calls "Trash the Dress." Cooper started a wave of non-traditional photographs of the bride in gritty locations doing things that most brides would never dream of doing, like splashing in fountains or playing a sport. Obviously these photos are taken after the wedding, when the condition and cleanliness of the dress is not so much of an issue. Most married couples have pictures of themselves with their wedding party, but if the bride and groom are huge football fans, wouldn't it be more memorable to have a picture of the wedding party playing football with the bride catching a touchdown ball? Some brides would be horrified to get their dress dirty, but after the wedding is over, you get to put the dress back on and have some fun! Unconventional photographs can give a bride and groom the chance to express themselves on one of the most important days of their lives.   

There are many ways to make a wedding eco-friendly, but using nature as your main inspiration adds a very unique element of beauty. If you are having an outdoor wedding, use elements in your environment to enhance what you already are using. Here's an example: if you are going to use name plates to designate seating, and you are having a beach wedding, try using seashells to hold the name plates in place. You can even enlist your family and friends (especially children) to pick out the seashells, which can be a lot of fun and helpful for you. Look around and see what you can use that is both inexpensive and charming.

The same inspiration from nature can be used in planning showers or other wedding parties. Say you are the Maid of Honor planning the bridal shower, knowing the wedding will be held in Spring can help guide your theme and décor. Use wildflowers to decorate the location, and for a fun touch, use edible flowers to garnish the food. Using freshly picked wildflowers as decoration makes a Spring wedding shower feel fresh and new, just like the season. What bride wouldn't love that?

In today's economy, with layoffs and budget cuts, it's hard to imagine having an extravagant wedding of years past. So how can you have your dream wedding, without the financial headache?

Having a clear idea of where you want your money to go, saves time and effort in the long run. For example: if you want to splurge on your wedding dress, think about where you can cut back in other areas.

More important than having a budget, is sticking to it! Write down everything you need and want, and plan accordingly. Leaving out a key item might cause a disaster later on, so think everything though now. A budget wedding doesn't have look or feel cheap. Be creative in finding alternatives. One great tip is instead of having a full bar, think of your favorite cocktail and highlight it. Your guests will remember your signature drink for years to come. Think about homemade and reusable items, which can cut down on cost and make your wedding more eco-friendly. Think about giving an environmentally friendly bag as a favor to your wedding party like this "Eco Tote." Just remember, your wedding is all about creating memories, not a financial crisis!

Everyone across the world had their eyes on Michelle Obama's inaugural attire last month. Its simple to incorporate her style into your own wedding and bridesmaid's dresses. Think simplicity. Use classic styles to accentuate your best features. An uncomplicated wedding dress, paired with complimentary bridesmaid dresses gives your entire wedding an air of elegance, worthy of a First Lady.

What made Michelle Obama's inaugural gown special was its modern take on a classic design. When thinking about your own dress, consider where your wedding will be held, the time of year, and most importantly, styles that you like. Choosing the right dress for the right occasion is very important. There are so many styles to choose from, but going back to the basics will make it not seem so complicated. Michelle Obama's style is accessible, combining classic elements with modern touches and that is what makes her so popular.

When considering your own wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses, remember that your style sets the tone of the wedding. What better way to shine than with a simple and elegant gown worn with confidence.

The bed is a big part of a marriage.  Although rarely discussed, making sure you and your hubby sleep soundly together is an important part of keeping tension out of your marriage.  If you haven't been placing much importance on sleep, it may be time that you changed things up.  Here are some tips for ensuring you rest well.

1.  Try to stick to a routine.  Your body's circadian rhythms will run much more smoothly if you aren't always switching up your schedule.  Sure, staying out late is acceptable once in a while, but if you make a habit of it, you might always feel groggy.

2.  Avoid distractions.  If your pets keep you awake, don't allow them into the bed.  If cars or other outside noise is what keeps you awake, you may want to invest in heavy blinds and a noise machine.  If your partner keeps you awake, it may be time to invest some money in a larger bed.

3.  Write in a journal.  One of the leading causes of insomnia is stress and writing down what you're feeling can unload a lot of that anxious stress.  

4.  Sleep when you're ready.  If you can't fall asleep after 30 minutes of trying, get out of bed and do something until you're sleepy.

5.  Take sleeping pills as a last resort.  If you or your partner truly have sleeping problems that can't be resolved by any natural measures, it may be time to talk to your doctor.  

When planning a wedding, things would be a whole lot easier if you could just trust everyone involved in the wedding planning for their word.  Unfortunately, I think we all know that trusting people can't always be this simple.  When you're making contracts with your wedding vendor for your cake, it is essential that you make sure your contracts are put together well enough to save you trouble in the future.  

Your cake vendor contract you make should include the following:

1.  Deposit amount and due date.

2.  Date, time, and location of your reception.

3.  Your names and the name of the baker.

4.  Payment balance amount and due date.

5.  Compensation for no-show or cancellation by baker.

6.  Requirements for cancellation by bride and groom.

7.  Style of cake and number of tiers.

8.  Flavors of cake layers, fillings, and icing.

9.  Cake design and colors to be used.

10.  Whether the cake will be delivered or picked up at the bakery.

11.  Any special decorations.

12.  If delivered, compensation for damage to cake during transport.

13.  If picked up, a description of how the cake will be packaged.  

If getting married is your goal, you're going to need to be proposed to, right?  Wrong.  Who says you can't be the one doing the proposing?  As untraditional as it seems, I have a more than one lady-friend who has proposed to her boyfriend.  And you know what?  Each time, the boyfriend has said, 'yes'.  Sometimes a guy is just too nervous to pop the question.  Not proposing isn't always an indicator of a disinterest in marriage.  If you're trying to figure out how to propose to your boyfriend, here are some tips:

1.  Make sure you have conversations about marriage and commitment.  You need to know that you two are on the same page on the subject matter.  

2.  If you're unsure of whether or not he'd be comfortable being proposed to, figure it out!  Tell him a story of a woman who proposed to her husband and see how he reacts.

3.  Ask his mom for his hand in marriage if you really are in the market for reversing tradition.

4.  Pick a symbolic gift to propose to him with.  Think of something that will be as meaningful to him as a ring would be to you.

5.  Figure out the perfect way to propose!  Scour the web for proposal ideas and make it happen!

When you're picking dresses out for your bridesmaids, you have a lot of things to consider.  From the colors and prices of the dresses, the last thing you might find yourself thinking about is whether or not the dresses will flatter the figures of your dearest ladies.  But shouldn't this be something to consider?  Shouldn't the most important ladies in your life look their best on your big day, too?  Posing this question yields a follow-up question that leaves many answerless:  Is there a type of dress that flatters all kinds of body shapes?

Certainly your lady-friends aren't all equipped with the same kind of body.  Bless your heart if they are, but since this is improbable, finding a dress that will flatter everyone is important.

A-line dresses tend to flatter all figures the best.  They'll look good on your thin friends but trim down your larger friends.  One tip most professionals offer is to dress for the biggest girl.  As in, find a style of dress that flatters the biggest girl first and foremost.  Girls with trimmer figures will more than likely look good in more kinds of dresses than bigger girls.  

Separates are also a great idea for your bridesmaids.  Allowing them to mix and match all sorts of styles will yield a more flattering fit for everyone.  

Outside of the shape of the dress, it's safe to assume that darker colors are more flattering to just about everyone.  They make everyone look smaller.  My advice is to find a dark color that matches your wedding theme and go with that.  

If you're preparing vows for your wedding, you're probably wondering how you can make them sound natural.  It's no accident that many wedding vows end up sounding generic.  Sounding genuine during such an important speech in front of so many people is tough.  Here are some tips for making your vows sound more natural:

1.  Make it poetic, but not cheesy.

Finding inspiration in poetry is important and most certainly helpful when writing vows, but you want to maintain sincerity throughout anything poetic you say.  

2.  Make sure your words are binding.

All romanticism aside, the purpose of the vows is to verbally bind you to your partner.  Make sure that you remember to mention that you're taking your partner as your spouse and you are committing to staying with your partner during your vows.

3.  Don't make your vows too long.

Setting yourself up for a long speech is bad in a lot of ways.  Not only will you be anxious about remembering all of the words, but you'll likely begin to bore those listening.  The more you say, the less genuine each word becomes in many cases.  Short and meaningful is always better in my opinion.  

Wedding favors are an interesting component to the wedding.  Traditionally, they are a part of the reception and paid for by the bride's family.  However, these rules don't always apply.  It's not unheard of for both parents to split the cost of the wedding 50/50, and the includes the cost of any wedding favors given out.  

Regardless of who is paying for the favors, budgeting is important.  Favors should be considered as part of the entire wedding budget, not something separate.  

Think you don't have enough money to budget out wedding favors?  Then don't.  Wedding favors are absolutely optional and I have been to a handful of weddings that didn't include them-and it didn't even occur to me.  

If you're on a tight budget, consider handmade items as favors if you're dead-set on having them.  Items that can be cheaply made by hand can be more charming than most other wedding favors.  Handmade soaps, potpourri, and candles can all suffice as wedding favors and work especially well if wrapped in a sheer cloth that matches the theme color of the wedding.

The most important thing to consider:  Money should not be blown on wedding favors unless there is a surplus of money.  The bride and groom as well as the guests will appreciate the wedding experience much more so if the money is spent on a good DJ or delicious food, for instance.  

A clever retailer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Ms. Kristin Carlson
of Bridal Elegance has crafted a quantity of Dessy's Eco-friendly, polypropylene totes into a wearable dress.