Some Tips

Before you tie the knot here are some things you should do or plan to do.

1-Go away together - take a long weekend and go visit a winery, go to a ballgame, stay in a bed in breakfast, ride a roller coaster at an amusement park or go lay on the beach. What ever it is do it together and try not to talk wedding - just get ready for the marriage.

2-On the wedding day give your cell phone to your best man and/or maid of honor. There are always last minute calls that you don't need to deal with. I don't know why it is but guests always call the bride for directions or info on something to do in the area.

3-Have your planner take you into the reception space right before the guests enter - it will be the only time you can see the room untouched. They you can really take in the ambiance and all the decor that took you a year to decide on.

4-Ask your bridal party to take pictures of the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and/or after party. This is still part of your wedding weekend and you don't want to miss a thing.

5-Tell everyone involved the details of the weekend - this includes bridal party AND the dads. They might need to transport people, the centerpieces after the wedding or picking up the tuxs and they need to know what you know.

6-Get your engagement ring cleaned and polished.

spanks

One of my clients was going for her gown fitting and wanted to know about undergarments. So I thought I would post some ideas here for those of that need to know what goes under that gorgeous gown of yours!

First off - I LOVE Spanx.
What an amazing invention - they hold you in and smooth you out like nothing I have ever used. I have some brown tights that I love but most importantly is the Mid Thigh Shaper or Power Panties - perfect to wear on your wedding day. If your dress is flowy and sliming that this is a must but even if you wear a ball gown you might like the extra support so you don't have to remember to suck it in.

I know we are talking about wedding day undergarments but I have to also mention how I love the Bra-llelujah! Underwire Contour Bra. It hooks in the front and helps with some back buldges and looks great under tshirts.

You might also be wondering what do you do with the 'girls' on your wedding day? Do you put inserts in the dress, wear a corset, add extra boning? Well I like the pushup approach. I wore these on my wedding day. Takeouts are silicone inserts, feels natural, washable and are removable. You can wear these any day not just on your wedding day. Available at Amazon.

Money Saving Tip

Most couples want to have a Champagne or Sparking Wine Toast at their wedding but so many guests just take a sip during the toast and that is it - the rest is a waste and a burden on your checkbook.

To save money omit the Champagne all together and have them toast with what they have already or if you really want it - have the wait staff just put a little in everyones glass - don't fill normally.

Pumpkin Tips

Once cut, a pumpkin lasts about four to five days, then starts to rot.
You can rub Vaseline on the cut parts to help with deterioration.

And a tip I read from Real Simple:

Think about cutting out the bottom of the pumpkin instead of around the stem - place your candle on the porch or walkway then place the pumpkin on top. This will prevent the cut out stem section from falling in when rotted.

Pumpkins are a great way to show some creativity - will you make a scary face, write your initials, a jack o lanturn or maybe turn it on its side and make a candy container?

What will you do?

Cards with Legs

I am sure you have heard this before but please remember to provide something at your reception to hold all your cards - most likely they have money in them. We wouldn't want a guest just walking by and taking one or all of them.

Good options are a covered box - see above or something simple like a hinged basket. You want to make sure that hands can't reach in and grab something out.

You can make this part of your decor by using a bird cage if you have an outdoor wedding or a red canvas box for an Asian wedding.

Your wedding planner can watch over the items and make sure they go in the appropriate car at the end of the night. If you are at a hotel please have someone go with the bellman to your room with the gifts. I have heard of them taking gifts to the wrong bridal suite.

Just remember to secure your gifts and gift cards so no one but you gets to enjoy them.

Wedding Guests

I usually post things that are more for the bride or groom but this is more for the wedding guest.  Its full fledge wedding season so if you have some summer weddings to attend here is some advice.

1-Get a gift off their registry and shower the happy couple with gifts they’ll love (and picked out!)  They might really need that new set of dishes or the entertaining server set.  When in doubt money is always good.

2-Don't bring the gift to the wedding.  You should have it sent directly to their home.  Nowadays it is so much easier with online registries and why would you want to lug that gift to the reception?

3-Please think about what you will wear to the wedding.  Women please don't wear white, save that for the bride.  Men please don't wear kaki pants and a golf shirt(unless its a backyard bbq).  Try to dress up a little.  9 times out of 10 a nice dark suit and tie works just fine.

4-There is no need for you to tip the bartenders at this wedding.  The couple has already taken care of this and I promise you the staff is well taken care of.  Put the $5 bill back in your pocket.

5-and last but not least please let the bride and groom eat their dinner.  I know I know you want to see them, hug them and tell the bride how great she looks but can you give them 20 minutes to eat some of the meal they painstakingly picked out for their wedding?

NOW GO AND HAVE FUN!

That will be $4

Whatever your financial situation is or what your reception site tells you, it is NOT cool to have a cash bar! You would never ask your guests to pay for her chicken satay appetizer, you shouldn't ask guests to pay for drinks.

If money is tight or you are trying to cut down on costs just have beer and wine available or have a signature drink station. Maybe margaritas on the rocks to go along with the beer and wine or a maybe a Vodka bar. Think about your theme, time of year and location.

Along the same lines it is also very tacky to have tip jars or cups on the bar. Your guests should NOT have to tip for their drink at YOUR wedding. This note of etiquette also goes to my wedding guest readers - please don't tip the bartenders. A gratuity is included in the catering bill already. It is best to discuss this with your sales person prior to your wedding and of course your wedding planner will make sure there is not tip jar in view.

To get you Dreaming...

I leave in the morning for The Special Event Conference in Atlanta.
This is going to be a great week of learning, getting inspiration, meeting other event professionals, sharing ideas and coming up with new ones.
Here are some inspiration pics from last years Los Angeles Conference. I will report back next week with 2008 trends.

Newly Engaged?

Here are the top things you should do first!

1- Enjoy being engaged, share the news with friends and family, stare at your ring and of course go buy all the wedding magazines - THEN start thinking about a time line. What season or month do you want to be married?

2- Envision the style. Talk to your fiance and decide if you like a hotel ballroom look, outside gardens feel. Envision in your head the final event what sort of feeling do you get, what colors and style do you see?

3- Talk Budget. This is the most stress full thing about a wedding mostly because couples don't know how much things actually cost. Remember the average wedding in the Philly or DC area is about $29,000-34,000. Of course this depends on the guest list, formality and time of day.

4- Which brings me to #4 - Think about who you want to invite and make a preliminary guest list. When you go to look at sites you will need to know if it is too big or too small.

5- Consider hiring a wedding planner, consultant, coordinator and/or designer. They can help you find a location, give you a time line, keep you on track, save you money and just make the whole process a little easier. They will also make sure your wedding day goes off the way you want it to. Definitely a good investment.

6- Choose your attendants. Honor your closest friends and get them to start helping you plan. Search my blog for unique ways to ask them.

7- Start looking at reception sites and narrow down a date.

8- The fun part - start looking at bridal gowns. There are many area trunks hows in the Winter and early Spring. You might just get a great deal.

Real Simple Weddings Magazine

How many of you just love Real Simple Magazine - Its a must read for me! so many great hints and ideas - well its getting even better!

Real Simple Weddings cordially invites you to plan your special day with the ultimate bridal guide online. Get surprising tips, solve guest-list conundrums, find bridal gowns for every body, assemble the perfect menu, and much, much more beginning January 10, 2008.

Look for Real Simple Weddings nationwide on January 28; exclusive advance copies available only at Crate & Barrel beginning January 10.

SPANX

How many of you love SPANX??

Sometimes I don't know how I lived with out them - I wear them with skirts, pants, dresses, anything I want to feel good or better in.

Body shaping tights, body smoothers and power panties. These are also perfect for under your wedding dress.

From now till tomorrow they are offering free ground shipping.
Use code:
SPX071CATE

and get slimming....