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 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.

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.

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!

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.

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?

Brides who find themselves on a small budget can benefit from wedding planning money-saving tips for a number of reasons. Not only do money-saving tips help you stay within your budget limits while planning your wedding, but they can also help simplify the entire wedding planning process. For example, combining services or opting for sale items can often give you what you need quicker and more conveniently.

If you’re on a small wedding planning budget and need to watch your spending, then it’s important to focus on the details, because that is where all of your expenses will add up very quickly. Here are some money-saving tips for brides on a small budget:

Buy wedding favors in bulk—This is one tip that really pays attention to the details. Wedding favors are typically seen as extras or tiny details in the grand scheme of things, but their expense can really make a difference in your overall spending. To save some cash and get the favors you need, consider buying your favors in bulk. You get plenty of favors and you end up paying less per favor this way.

Condense with a wedding package—One of the best ways to save money and stick to your modest wedding budget is to condense your larger ceremony and reception venue expenses by condensing with a package deal. Many resorts and venue locations offer affordable package deals that save you money if you use the venue space for both your ceremony and reception, instead of having each part of the event at a separate location. Talk to your wedding planner and on-site coordinators at the venues you’re interested in to discover your options.

Seek alternative dress options—Dress shopping is another area you can save big. Consider bridal dress rentals, which some bridal shops offer, or buying a gown secondhand. You can also buy a gown style that is discontinued and save significantly on your bridal gown expense. This is one of many great money-saving tips for brides on a small budget.

Looking for castle wedding venues for your fairytale wedding? Not willing to travel abroad to experience that perfect castle wedding? Never fear! There are plenty of beautiful, romantic, and fairytale-worthy castles in the United States. Check out this list of U.S. castle wedding venues for your fairytale wedding and decide which one will best suit your needs.

OHEKA Castle Hotel & Estate, Huntington, NY

Joey Fatone wed his childhood sweetheart at the OHEKA Castle Hotel & Estate, and you’ll see why the moment you enter the gates of the French Chateau-inspired venue. The OHEKA Castle schedules only one wedding per day, so the entire venue is yours. Located just an hour from Manhattan, the OHEKA castle offers high-quality service, an exquisite formal dining room, and 32 luxurious guestrooms for you and your guests. Considered to be one of the most unforgettable wedding venues in existence, it is one of the most luxurious castle wedding venues for your fairytale wedding.

Falkenstein Castle, Burnet, TX

According to the owners of the Falkenstein Castle, plans for the castle were designed by the same architect and designer of the infamous Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, King Ludwig the II. Located 50 miles west of Austin, the Falkenstein Castle offers guests the culture and romance of the medieval time period. Between natural beauty of two State Parks and 3 of the Highland lakes, the French Gothic carved altar, and beautiful butterfly gardens, the ambience of Falkenstein Castle is practically unmatched. Rented out to only one couple a week, the Falkenstein is one of the most picturesque castle wedding venues for your fairytale wedding.

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

Offering beauty, elegance, sophistication, exquisite accommodations, tailored services, and mounds of activities for you and your guests, the Biltmore Estates in Asheville, NC offers more options to brides than almost any other wedding vendor in existence. Built by George Vanderbilt in 1895, this French Chateau-inspired wedding venue offers true 19^th century style, elegance, and service to their brides. Biltmore Estates even offers carriage rides to the lovely couple on their wedding day, making the Biltmore one of the most enchanted castle wedding venues for your fairytale wedding.

Like all of your vendors, there are some very important questions you should ask your caterer. Some of the questions may help you in your hiring decision. Others will help you avoid any last-minute catering mishaps at your wedding. So, whether you are trying to decide which caterer to hire or just trying to make sure your catering services are planned and ready to go, these questions you should ask your caterer will keep you right on track.

The Legal Stuff

Some of the questions you should ask your caterer have to do with the legalities of their business and how they relate to your wedding. If you plan on serving alcohol, you will need to know whether or not the potential caterer has a license to serve alcoholic beverages. If not, you may have to hire separate staff to do so.

References and Portfolios

Having a catering business doesn’t necessarily mean professionalism or high quality. Take the time to check your caterer’s references. Ask them if they have a portfolio of some previously catered events. Look over their portfolio and ask them a lot of questions about the event featured so that you can get an idea as to whether or not the caterer in question can handle your wedding day needs.

Billing

Your catering bill can account for almost half of your total wedding budget, so billing questions should be on the prioritized list of questions you should ask your caterer. Some billing questions you might want to ask include:

Do you require a deposit? How much is it and when is it due?

When is the balance due? How much will it be?

Are there any cancellation fees?

How much is the cost per head? Are gratuities and taxes included?

Are tables, linens, barware, glassware, and other serving items included? How much are they if they cost extra?

Is there a cake cutting fee?

Can you offer a large-volume discount on beverage purchases?

Remember that these budget questions you should ask your caterer are meant to help you keep your budget under control and on track.

Trying to choose the music for your wedding reception but feeling a little flustered? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. A lot of couples overthink the music for their wedding. They get nervous about choosing just the right songs. They can’t seem to decide on the type of music they want. All of these issues and more can suck all of the fun out of choosing music for your reception. But never fear—there are a few tips you can use to help you choose the music for your wedding reception.

Deciding on a Live Band or a DJ

If you’re like most people, you know that nothing can really replace the sound of a live band. On the other hand, a really good DJ can keep the party hoppin’ and have your guests on the dance floor doing the “Chicken Dance” in a matter of mere seconds. Often, the decision between a live band and DJ rests in the hands of the wedding budget. If you are on a limited budget, you probably don’t have enough to hire a good, quality live band, so go for the best DJ you can find when trying to choose the music for your wedding reception.

Pick a Few Good Songs

Some couples get overly stressed because they try to line up a full night’s worth of songs. If you hire a good band or DJ, you shouldn’t have to do this. You can give your musician a short list of songs that are important to you, fill them in on the theme of your wedding, tell them what kind of music you like and have faith that they can plan accordingly. Most professional musicians, both bands and DJs, are experienced in setting the tone and the atmosphere wherever they go. Save yourself some stress; let the professionals do their job and know that you don’t have to choose the music for your wedding reception from beginning to end.