Three Things You Need to Start Planning Your Wedding

If you’re recently engaged and about to embark on the wedding planning process, here are three basic things you’ll need to get started.

Planning your wedding is one of most exciting things you’ll do in your lifetime. Whether you’re a huge romantic at heart and want to plan that dream affair or you’re laidback and want to put together a modest, no-fuss event, the wedding planning process is a blast because you get to express yourself, bring your family and friends together, and create an occasion that focuses on your love and commitment for your partner.

While wedding planning is loads of fun, it can also be very overwhelming at first. To get organized and start planning your wedding, make sure you have these three things in place before you begin:

A set budget—No matter what, you’re going to need a set budget to start planning your wedding. It’s crucial to sit down with your partner and set some limits and discuss a realistic number you can work with. A set budget will provide a backdrop for the entire planning process because it will dictate how much you can and cannot spend.

A vision—You’ll also need a vision. From the ceremony and reception location to the formality of the occasion and the theme, you’ll need to agree on a vision for your wedding day. Choose a style, theme, and the color you’d like to work with, and be sure to take your personality into account. All of these factors will help set the stage for the wedding planning process and will make the later stages of the process cohesive and much easier in general.

An organizational tool—Even if you plan on hiring a wedding coordinator, you’ll need a way to personally keep track of expenses, catering menus, venue brochures, and appointment dates. Invest in a wedding website (many are free or of little cost) or purchase a paperback planner or binder from your local bookstore or bridal boutique. This gives you a place to store your wedding-related files and receipts and is a must-have to start planning your wedding.

Wedding Cake Alternatives for Your Special Day

Aren’t crazy about traditional wedding cakes? If you want to serve a delicious dessert at your reception but you want something modern and unique instead of the traditional wedding cake option, here are some wedding cake alternatives for your special day.

As wedding trends continue to evolve, more and more wedding cake alternatives are created for couples who want to serve a less traditional dessert to their wedding guests. Considering wedding cake alternatives for your special day is a fun idea if you want to switch up the look and feel of your reception, want to enhance a certain decorative element, or simply make a fashion statement.

Additionally, certain wedding cake alternatives can reflect your personality and beliefs. For example, many couples opt for wedding cake alternatives because they want to serve something organic, healthy, or because they want to go green. Also, many couples want to bypass wedding cake because they are vegan or vegetarian and do not want to serve anything with egg or milk ingredients.

The reasons for choosing wedding cake alternatives are endless, but whatever the reason you choose an alternative, you need ideas that will be equally decorative and delicious. Here are some wedding cake alternatives to consider for your special day:

Bon bon trays—If you’d prefer to do something creative, serve a bon bon tray in place of a wedding cake. Many bakeries and caterers can assemble a variety of bon bon treats to look like a cake or any design you have in mind. The sweets can be served on tier trays or in glamorous gift boxes with your guests’ place settings.

Donuts or cupcakes—Another fun idea for a wedding cake alternative is to use other sweets, such as donuts or miniature cupcakes, by serving them on serving tiers or assembling them into other fun shapes.

Ice cream or yogurt bars—In place of a cake cutting ceremony, you can set up an ice cream table or bar and serve your guests elaborate ice cream or yogurt treats. You can also set up the table buffet style and have them serve themselves.

Vegan cakes—If you’re vegan or vegetarian, there is such a thing as a vegan wedding cake. Enlist the help of a specialty baker who is familiar with vegan wedding cake alternatives. They will be able to bake something that suits your needs and help you come up with a creative, less traditional way to serve your dessert.

Consult your wedding coordinator and caterer about any of these wedding cake alternatives for your special day!

Must-Have Wedding Shoe Shopping Tips

About to embark on a shopping trip to find the perfect shoes for your wedding day? Don’t hit the stores until you grab these must-have wedding shoe shopping tips!

After you choose your wedding gown, the idea to have some must-have wedding shoe shopping tips on hand might sound funny. After all, wedding shoes are a lot easier to select than your wedding gown and other accessories, right? Not always! Your shoes can make a big impact on your entire wedding ensemble, not to mention your overall comfort level on your big day. The last thing you want is to be uncomfortable on your wedding day because of bad shoes. Wedding shoe shopping is just as important as dress shopping or choosing the perfect ceremony venue.

To ensure you pick you the very best shoes for your special day, use the following must-have wedding shoe shopping tips:

Shop with your fittings in mind—Something your gown’s seamstress will likely tell you is that you should have the exact shoes you plan on wearing on your wedding day with you for your first fitting. At your initial fitting, the length of the gown will be marked for alterations, so you’ll need to have the shoes with you so the seamstress can measure for alterations according to your heel height.

Pay attention to heel height—This is wedding shoe shopping tip #1. Know beforehand the heel height you’d prefer to wear, and if you’re unsure of which height you’d be most comfortable in, consider trying a variety on before you make a decision. Take into account the environment you’re getting married in to make sure you choose something comfortable. Are you getting hitched on the beach? In a chapel? In the woods? Consider ballet flats or wedges if you need a shoe that offers stable footing or traction.

Color matters—If your gown is a particular shade of ivory or beige, make sure you purchase a shoe that matches the shade of your gown. While most subtle color differences won’t be noticeable, some of them can be an eyesore. Consider purchasing a shoe that can be dyed if you wish to wear a color that is unique or one that does not match the color of your gown. This is another important wedding shoe shopping tip for the style-conscious bride.

Unique Thank-You Cards for Your Wedding

Want to give your wedding guests a thank-you card they will cherish for years to come? Try some of these unique thank-you card ideas for your wedding.

Unique thank-you cards can give you just the inspiration you need to present your guests with a thank-you gesture that they will love and cherish for years to come. But if you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, you may be tempted to just purchase stock thank-you cards. Or you may be stressing because you really do want to offer something unique. Not to worry! These unique thank-you card ideas can help you find just what you’re looking for.

Photo Album Thank-You Cards

Photo album thank-you cards are probably the most time-consuming yet unique thank-you cards to put together. To use this idea, ask your guests for photos that they took during your wedding and reception. If you had a destination wedding, you may even be able to collect photos from your actual honeymoon. Once you have the photos, upload them on-line or take them to a photo shop and create a thank-you card template. If you had a small wedding, try to include pictures of all of your guests so that everyone can feel special when they receive their thank-you card. If you had a large wedding, however, you may find it impossible to include all of your guests.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Instead of trying to involve all of your guests in your unique thank-you cards, try taking a picture of you, as a couple, in a special place on your honeymoon holding a thank-you sign. You can have the sign specially made if you like. You may even want to make the photo a little more romantic by kissing in the photograph. Guests are certain to love these unique thank-you cards!

Taking a Different Direction

Another option is to create a thank-you card that is directly on your wedding website. Using e-cards to thank your guests can cut down on the cost of your thank-you cards if you are on a budget, while still giving everyone a way to view your wedding photos, making these the most frugal, unique thank-you cards.

Off-the-Rack Wedding Gown Shopping Tips

Are you buying a wedding gown off the rack? Off-the-rack gowns can save you a pretty penny when it comes to your wedding expenses, but be sure to use these shopping tips to ensure you take home a quality gown.

For brides on a budget, an off-the-rack wedding gown can be a lifesaver, but off-the-rack wedding gown shopping tips are essential before the final purchase is made. Buying a gown straight off the rack can offer huge financial advantages if your wedding budget is tight, but you still want to spend your hard-earned money on a quality gown.

Here are some off-the-rack wedding gown shopping tips to keep in mind as you shop for your dress:

Bring along an expert. You might not personally know a seamstress, but if you know anyone who is familiar with fashion, dress making, or the bridal industry in particular—your wedding coordinator, for example—bring them along when you’re ready to shop for a dress. Have them inspect the dress with you and help you hunt for gowns that are in good condition and that meet your style preferences.

Inspect, inspect, inspect. Aside from taking home a gown that is in fairly decent condition, you want to thoroughly inspect the gown before you buy it to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth. You can typically bargain or talk down a gown’s price significantly if you find excessive damage.

Don’t limit yourself. When you’re buying an off-the-rack gown, one of the biggest off-the-rack wedding gown shopping tips to keep in mind is to be careful not to limit yourself. You are not limited to the sale section if you’re buying off the rack. If you like a dress enough and don’t mind paying a little more, most bridal shops will allow you to buy even the latest trends directly instead of ordering one of your own. The only exception here is if the store prefers to keep the floor model on hand for brides who want to try it on.

Use these off-the-rack wedding gown shopping tips as you embark on your hunt for your wedding dress, and enjoy the benefits of saving money and staying within your budget.

Bridal Party Dos and Don’ts

Are you a bridal party member? Are you a bride looking for some basic bridal party etiquette tips? Here are some basic bridal party dos and don’ts for both the bride and bridal party.

Just as there are dos and don’ts with wedding reception and wedding shower etiquette, there are etiquette rules for members of the bridal party, as well as for the bride and her involvement with the bridal party.

Here are important bridal party dos and don’ts for everyone involved:

 

The Bride

Don’t choose a maid of honor based on history.

No matter how much you feel conflicted over which of your best friends to choose for your maid of honor, don’t choose one over the other based on guilt. Even if you knew one friend longer or were closer to her at one point in time, don’t assume you have to choose someone based on the history you share. Choose a friend or family member who you are currently close to and who will be able to be there for you during the wedding planning process.

Don’t forget to gift each member of the bridal party. 

This is bridal party etiquette 101. It is customary for the bride (and the groom) to gift their bridesmaids and groomsmen with gifts before the wedding.

 

The Bridal Party

Do make arrangements for the bride’s bachelorette party and/or bridal shower.

Traditionally, the maid of honor or the bride’s closest friend or family member will take the initiative to throw the bridal shower and bachelorette party, but if you’re a member of a bridal party and you’re unsure of these plans, ask the best man or maid of honor to find out if you can help plan the occasion.

Don’t miss fittings or rehearsals. 

This might sound obvious, but there’s nothing worse than showing up late or missing your fittings or the wedding rehearsals all together. It’s rude and an inconvenience for the bride, groom, and other parties involved. Be sure to confirm and keep track of your tux or dress fittings, and attend all the necessary dinner rehearsals as promised to keep on the bride and groom’s good graces.

Follow these bridal party dos and don’ts and you’ll get an “A” in wedding etiquette!

Best Favor Ideas for a Casual Wedding

Planning a casual wedding? Having a hard time finding favors that fit your casual style? You’re not alone! Relax, take a deep breath, and check out these perfectly casual favor ideas for your casual wedding. 

If you’re looking for favor ideas for a casual wedding, you are probably a little frustrated. Most weddings today have a touch of formality to them, and many wedding favors have a sense of formality as well. But don’t let this worry you. There are some really great favor ideas for a casual wedding if you know where to look.

Edible Treats

Edible treats are the tastiest favor ideas for a casual wedding. Everything from chocolate covered food items to small candies and cakes can be presented to your guests. Give them a little extra flair with organza packages, favor boxes, or some ribbon, and you have a tasty favor idea that your guests will love.

Photo Frames

For these favor ideas for a casual wedding, you can use regular photo frames or specially made photo frames that serve a dual purpose, like a pencil or paperclip holder. If you’re planning a really small wedding, consider adding a really personal touch, such as a photo of the bride and groom. A personalized “thank you” note or engraving will make your guests feel special as well.

Luggage Tags/Key Chains

Key chains are a great wedding favor idea for casual weddings, and luggage tags are great favor ideas for casual destination weddings. In both instances, your favors can serve as name plates for your guests at the reception, making these favors a great way to cut the cost of your wedding.

Potted Plants

Small starter plants are great favor ideas for casual weddings, but they can serve as green wedding favors as well. To implement this favor idea, make sure you choose a plant that is in season at the time of your wedding. You may also want to add a something small that will indicate the contents to your guests. If potting the plants seems like a little too much, consider giving your guests all the contents they will need to create these great favor ideas for casual weddings right at home.

How to Make Your Wedding Dress Eco-Friendly

Conscious about the environment? Planning an eco-friendly wedding? Not sure how to extend your green wedding ways to your wedding dress? These tips can help.

If you are planning an eco-friendly wedding, you might be interested in learning how you can make your wedding dress eco-friendly, too. But how do you go about it without sacrificing style? Check out these tips and you will find that there are plenty of stylish ways to make your wedding dress “green.”

Buy it “Once-Worn”

Buying your wedding dress used is a great way to make your wedding dress eco-friendly. For most brides, a wedding dress is a one-time outfit. Plenty of brides donate or resell their wedding dress because they just don’t see a point in storing the dress away when someone else can use it.

To ensure that this method of making your wedding dress “green” goes off without a hitch, visit bridal shops and try on dresses. Find the dress you like, get your size, and then search out your wedding dress on-line or through other used outlets. Some bridal shops will even have used wedding dresses to help you make your wedding dress eco-friendly.

It’s All in the Threads

Not into the idea of buying a used dress? Buy a wedding dress made with sustainable fabrics. Organic cotton and hemp-silk are just some of the beautiful fabrics designers are now using to make eco-friendly wedding dresses. These fabrics still provide the same look and style that every bride is looking for, but the fabrics are less damaging on the planet.

Donate Your Wedding Dress

Now that you’ve learned how to make your wedding dress eco-friendly, give another bride the opportunity to make her dress eco-friendly too by donating your wedding dress to a charity. Not only will another bride be able to purchase her dress once-worn, the money from the proceeds will also go towards the organization running the charity. More and more charities are banding together to help brides carry out their eco-friendly missions. What better way is there to make your wedding dress eco-friendly than contributing to a cause you believe in?