Bridal Archetypes: Where Do You Fit In?

Brides come with many different personalities, backgrounds, and levels of taste. There truly are significant bridal personality types. Do you fit in one or more of these categories? THE SUPER-ORGANIZED BRIDE: In your hand you always carry your wedding planner book completely intact and perfectly organized. It is filled with all the information you have collected over the years to make your wedding the perfect event. You have control of every detail, and when you meet with the right vendors, you book their services because they fit within your well-structured wedding ensemble perfectly. Your big day will go perfectly and will be a detail-driven and exciting event for all to see firsthand. For example, what would happen if an invited guest arrives with a date who was not RSVP‟d in advance? Well, [more]

Wedding Planning 101: A 12-Month Wedding Planning Checklist

You've said yes to the big question, now what? If you're starting to become overwhelmed with the thought of planning your big day, sit down, take a deep breath and look over this 12-month planning guide. You'll see that planning a wedding is simply a matter of getting organized. You can do it! 11-12 Months Before the Wedding Officially announce your engagement. Your own personal wedding site is a great way to share the plans as they develop. Your out of town family and friends will definitely appreciate it! Set a time and date for the wedding. Decide style of ceremony (size, setting, formality, etc.) Contact wedding a officiate. Arrange for your families to meet if they haven't met before. Develop a budget and [more]

Tips For The Bride and Groom: A Complete Guide To Help You Select A Caterer

Many people discover that their catered event is the biggest expense of their wedding or party. The cost of your wedding reception or party includes the food, beverages, kitchen staff, waitstaff, rentals, the decorations, and the cost of the reception site itself. About 50% of a couple’s wedding costs are the reception. It is very important to know how to interview and to choose a caterer. SITE/AVAILABILITY When you are selecting a facility such as a winery, hotel, country club, park, resort, reception hall, or restaurant you need to know whether the site includes the caterer. Some reception/facility sites have their own in-house caterer and they do not allow outside caterers to provide the food on their site. The site that your choose should match the formality of the event, the theme [more]

Tips For The Bride and Groom - How to Hire a DJ

It's hard enough planning a wedding ceremony, but then you also have to plan a reception! That means choosing food, drinks, decorations, locations, entertainment… While it may seem terribly important to pick exactly the right flowers, what's really important is that you pick the right people. This is by no means a comprehensive list of rules but the most important ones to consider. If all else fails, trust your instincts and use common sense. Remember, a DJ can make or break the your reception. Rule 1: Meet your DJ. No matter how well respected a DJ company (independent or not) is, reputation does not guarantee success. Be sure to meet your DJ! Large DJ companies are constantly hiring new employees, and each of those new employees has a first show. Do you [more]

For The Bride: Wedding Gown Tips - How To Flatter Your Figure

Do you know what style flatters your body type? Many brides don't, but by choosing wisely, you can highlight your best features while camouflaging your "problem areas". Here's a guide that can help you look your best for your wedding day. This is just a guide to go by; ultimately, you have to decide what looks good on you and how you feel in it! Styles that look good on everyone include A-line silhouettes, Queen Anne necklines, tank/scoop necklines, cap sleeves. FULL HIPS Stick with: A-Line silhouette (conceals fuller hips) Avoid: Sheaths (emphasizes fuller hips) Overly full skirts (makes you look heavy) THICK-WAISTED Stick with: Empire silhouette (hides thick waists) Avoid: Princess silhouette (draws attention to waist) VERY SLENDER Stick with: Ball Gown silhouette (adds curves and enhances waistline) Spaghetti straps Dropped waistlines Flaired skirts Low necklines FULL FIGURED Stick with: A-Line silhouettes Basque waistlines Open necklines, such as V-neck Lots of detailing near neckline to [more]

For The Bride & Groom: A Guide to Vendor Contracts

Let's get something straight: Every time you hire a photographer, caterer, florist, or hairdresser; book a chapel, park, or hotel ballroom; or order something from a dress shop, dressmaker, or formal-wear store, you must get your agreement in writing. Until you put down a deposit, there is no contract, and you have no guarantees. Read everything in your contracts and receipts, and be sure to document every single wedding arrangement you make.   1. Flexibility You might not want to think about an April snowstorm's effect on your lovely garden ceremony, but if you want to ensure that the catering hall's ballroom will be available, write that into the contract. Don't be afraid to alter the stock contract that the vendor or manager [more]