Wedd Plans

What To Expect at Bride Expo

2006-05-22T21:45:00.000-07:00

Here is what you can expect to see at Bride's World Bride Expo. I'm listing off the literature that Brideworld sent to me.

Here is what you can expect to see:

- Complimentary Cake and Catering Samples
- Unique and Difficult to find Wedding items
- Spectacular Bridal Fashion Shows
- Free Wedding Planning Seminar
- Free Wedding Planner Workbook
- Free Newsstand Bridal Magazines
- Shop till you Drop from 10am-4pm

There, you will find: Wedding Exhibits, Fashion Showings, Prizes, Contests involving the groom, free stuff and so much more!

So, instead of going to the beach on Sunday, head over to the bridal expo and find what you need for your special day!

Bridal Expo

2006-05-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

This is the seasons "Biggest and Best" Wedding Planning Expo, in California

There you will find tons of great resources for wedding planning and much more. The entrance fee is $10.00 and upon registration, you will receive a free wedding planner book and some publications of Modern Bride.

Here are the following dates for the expo:

- June 4: 10am-4pm South Bay Expo @ Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach
- July 9: 10am-4pm San Fernando Valley Expo @ Sheraton Universal Hotel
- July 16: 10am-4pm Inland Empire Ontario Expo @ Ontario DoubletreeHotel
- July 23: 10am-4pm South Orange County Expo @ Holiday Inn Laguna Hills
- Aug 19-20: 10am-4pm Los Angeles County Expo @ Los Angeles Convention Ctr

You can register online or at the door. If you register online, you can be eligible to win the "Glen Ivy Hot Springs" Bachelorette Party in Paradise!

So, make sure that you find the closest bridal event to you and check what they have to offer! You can get more information on the Bride Expo site at "Bride World Website"

Check out my additional posts on the expo and what you can find.

Bridal Registry

2006-05-20T03:43:00.000-07:00

I would say that the best thing about getting married is having to go out and picking items for your bridal registry. I have almost three and a half weeks left until my bridal shower, and have been checking on my registry a few times a day!

...I cant help it, im just excited!

I would say that it is a good idea to register a few months before your bridal shower. It's a very time consuming process. Yes, its technically shopping but extremely tiring. So, let me help give you some advice, where to register, and where to not even waste your time.

First and foremost, you must register at two different stores. You need to be able to give your guests some choices as to what to purchase you.

Here are some great choices:

Bed Bath and Beyond Registry

Crate and Barrel Registry

Macy's Registry

Linens n' Things Registry

Amazon Wedding Registry

Register at a few of these locations or you can even register online!

Selecting the Reception Site

2006-05-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

There are soooo many things to take into consideration when thinking about which site to choose to hold your wedding reception. The best place for me to start would be to think about these considerations--

1. Guest List-- You need to think about the number of people that may potentially be attending the reception. So, you need to make sure that the restaurant will be capable of holding that size.

2. The Look-- You need to make sure that the site looks good. You don't want to have your reception held in a room where the carpets are stained, and the lighting is too dim. This is your wedding night, the pictures need to come out beautiful!

3. Inclusions-- Find out what's included in the price. Is it going to be a sit down dinner or buffet? Do they provide chair covers? Do you need to decide if 8 or 10 people can fit at a table? Are alcoholic beverages included? Does the restaurant offer meal packages? You need to be sure to come up with a list of questions to take with you.

I found some great question suggestions from a site called www.weddingbuilder.com. They offer great insight of what you should ask before committing to the site you want.

Here are a sample of questions--

-Is my date available?
-What type of decorations are there? Can I bring my own?
-How many hours is the reception hall rented to you for?
-Ask if they have wedding packages.
-Ask about the food.
-Ask about bar service and charges.

Check www.weddingbuilder.com to see a full list of the types of questions you can ask when you decide to inquire on a hall.

20 Jar Spice Rack

2006-05-18T22:18:00.000-07:00

I got the cutest wedding gifts today from a co-worker. It was really sooo sweet...

He bought me a really cool spice rack and a picture frame. If you ladies are interested in a quality spice rack, I would take a look at Olde Thompson Flower-Style 20-Jar Spice Rack. You can get this at Bed Bath and Beyond.

It comes with twenty different spices and in glass and chrome jars. Check it out when you are getting ready to register for your wedding.

Here is a picture of what the spice rack looks like:

I'll keep informing you of what I get. I check my registry every day!

The Knot's: Tips and Trends: 15 Must Read Tricks

2006-05-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

I found some great tips to give you on helping you choose your colors. I was looking around and found this interesting article on the 15 top tips you should know when choosing your colors.

I included the article below, but you can also go to their site and read it. You can find it ona site called "The Knot." The link to the article is below.

Tips and Trends: 15 Must Read Tips

The article is really interesting and helpful. I wish I found something like this before I had make my color and floral choices. Take this into consideration! The girls at "The Knot" did a great job!

Find a Theme.

Want to make your wedding memorable? Find a common chord to play through all the elements. Ideas: choose a motif, like butterflies; pick a palette, such as turquoise and coral; or mimic a mood, like a chic, retro cocktail party. Sticking with a theme will help keep you focused and make your style decisions (somewhat) easier.

Think the Unexpected.

For example, guests expect leaves and pinecones at a fall affair, so surprise them with ferns and green apples -- you can go sophisticated (real ones dusted with shimmering gold sparkles and placed in copper-color bowls as decor) or sweet, literally (caramel-dipped Granny Smith's wrapped in cellophane as wedding favors).

Pick a Palette.

Flip through home decor and fashion magazines for color combinations that catch your eye. To help you choose the exact hue for your wedding details, carry around paint chips in your wedding colors to make sure everything you choose works in your palette.

Get Inspired by Nature.

Can't decide on just one or two colors for your wedding? Don't worry. In fact, many extraordinary weddings weave a variety of colors, sometimes up to five, that work together as a whole to create a specific sensibility. For example, you might pick bright green, summery yellow, pale pink, rich red, and caramel brown for an English garden look; or leap into autumn in New England with pale green, ruby red, burgundy, and gold.

Color Coordinate.

When it comes to working with your invitation designer and cake baker, pay as much detail to color as you do to design. If you have access to a Pantone book, use this collection of colors to select your shade the same way graphic designers do. Many invitation designers mix ink to match the colors in this book, and many cake bakers use Pantone numbers as a reference when creating dye for the frosting.

Personalize Your Flowers.

The Victorians had a strong belief in special meanings of flowers, and they chose their floral arrangements accordingly. Daisies represent innocence, while Stephanotis ensures happiness in marriage. Orchids symbolize true love, mums guarantee wealth and abundance, and mixing freesia and gardenias alludes to your innocence and purity. To be sure you pick meaningful flowers for your wedding, learn about their symbolic meanings.

Give Extra Meaning.

Keeping the guest list small means that you'll have more money for extra details -- providing limousine services, loading up the gift baskets, and six-course feasts for your guests. Think boxes of chocolates instead of a single truffle, the best champagne rather than sparkling wines, and luxurious arrangements of roses and rare orchids as far as the eye can see.

Site Specifics.

Don't forget that your space should influence your design decisions. For example, beaches and lakes are breezy, so keep decorations simple and well secured. Also, consider providing a small throw blanket on each person's chair as your wedding favor since it's always a bit cooler at the shore.

Size It Up.

Consider setting up different sizes and shapes of tables (circular, square, rectangular) and use different textures or designs for the fabrics (pin-stripe fabrics on round tables and tiny polka-dot covers on square ones).

Customize With Customs.

Even if you're planning a fairly traditional American-style ceremony and reception, you can still incorporate ethnic customs. In France, for example, the bride and groom drink from an engraved two-handled cup at the reception; to represent joy and celebration, the Chinese decorate with the color red; and in Indian tradition, guests sprinkle flower petals over the heads of the bride and groom after they've taken their vows. Just research the origin of the customs so you know you're not offending anyone.

Top it Off.

If you're marrying in a holiday season, give a little extra cheer. Saying 'I do' on New Years' Eve? Make sure the countdown to midnight is merry. The waiters should start pouring champagne a good 15 minutes early to make sure everyone is able to hold a glass aloft during the final seconds of the countdown.

Go For Glam.

Going all-out-glam? Don't overdo it! Glamour is best displayed in subtle, unexpected moments: Violinists greeting guests at the sidewalk and escorting them to the event makes for an impressive (not over-the-top) entrance.

Get Informed.

Be sure to have the 411 on your wedding site before you start making big plans. Having an outdoor wedding by the water? Be sure to check the tide schedule! Tides coming in are noisier than tides going out, plus you risk the chance of water creeping up on you as you wed. For a tide chart, visit www.tidesonline.com.

Find Your Focus.

Keep bride envy in check. Every time you hear another fabulous idea, don't feel as though you need to find a place for it in your wedding.

Just Say No!

Make a pledge that for the last three weeks before the wedding you will not take on new initiatives. Yes, that includes those DIY flip-flops!

-- The Knot Girls

Selecting a Florist

2006-05-08T00:18:00.000-07:00

Selecting a florist isnt an easy task, especially a florist that wont make a huge dent in your budget. But, trust me, flowers are worth the cost. Flowers will enhance your wedding, from the time you wae up that morning with your wedding boquet, to church flowers, and reception flowers. Flowers add that one special touch.

First things first, you MUST try to find a florist 12-14 months before your event. The very best florists are reserved even before a bride becomes engaged! Also, some florists only work one wedding per weekend, so this is a huge priority! Brides commonly think that the bridesmaid dresses need to be picked out before you pick the flowers out, but its simply incorrect. Make your prelimindary selections, and then make a second appointment after you have picked the dresses.

Steps in picking a florist:

1. Make a few appointments, dont just pick one and stick with it. Give yourself the chance to compare different people.

2. Ask questions such as:
- Pricing
- Ask to see wedding pictures from previous weddings they have done
- How are the florists? Do they create a friendly enviroment?
- What is your overall impression of the shop and the work designed.
- How long they have been arranging flowers
- Do the flowers look crispt and fresh?
- Can they cater to the style you prefer?
- Can they be present with you from the beginning of your wedding day until the end?

These are important questions for you to ask yourself and the florist. Make sure that you get any kind of literature that you can take home and compare!

Choosing your Colors

2006-05-07T02:18:00.000-07:00

Hi There--

Trying to make some changes to my site...so, bear with me :)

I want to talk about choosing your colors. This is really important because this is the themed color for your wedding. This is the color that your bridesmaids are going to wear, the color that is going to affect your flower decision, the color that will affect your napkins, tablecloth colors, and so much more.

You need to think of your color scheme in three different manners: chosing a base color and another color to complement that. For my wedding, I chose sage and white. You are going to want to choose a dominant color that will represent most of your decorations and the other as an accent.

You an essentially pick and choose any color that you want, but if you want to follow a color guideline, the first thing to take into consideration is the time of year the wedding will take place. Most weddings occur in the summer time, in between the months of June and August.

To make your wedding seem upbeat and springy, you need to stick with a light green or pink, colors that remind you of spring. If you would like a darker tone for your color, I would suggest going with a champagne color mixed with other darker colors. I would suggest going with brighter colors if your wedding takes place in the spring or summer. Some examples would be: light yellow, pink, sage, or blue. I would NOT wear white. The only person who would wear white is the bride. If you are having a winter wedding, I would go with a deeper color, however I would stay away from black.

You can complement any one main color with a secondary color. Make sure that you keep this theme throughout such as with your napkins, flowers, and favor tags!

Take a look at the following colors provided by David's Bridal.

You can even check their site for the colors and what dress styles you can get. Just go to www.Davidsbridal.com and check it out!

Any Tea Drinkers?

2006-05-01T20:27:00.000-07:00

I am going to take a moment to talk about something not related to weddings...per say, but related to helping the bride (and groom) to relax. Its not getting a massage or going on vacation, its drinking tea.

Im serious, I know you're probably like'yeah right,' but tea really does help. I was introduced to green tea a few months ago by some fellow co-workers, and drink two to three cups daily. Its so soothing and really relaxing. Plus, its good for your health and there are tons and tons of flavors to choose from.

There is this great site online where I get tea from, it was recommended to me. The tea is FABULOUS!!! The company is called Paper Street Teas and the URL is www.psteas.com.
Tea also makes a great shower or wedding favor. I have been to a shower where the favor is a bag of tea and a mug to go with it, sooo cute!

So, back to Paper Street. They offer a wide variety of tea: Black,Decaf, Flavored, Green, Herbal, Oolong, and Rooibos. My second fav is Green....soooo good :P Paper Street not only provides a wide variety of tea, you can get it for a great price and for you first time shoppers, you can get 10% off your first order and free shipping if you spend over $75.00. Not only do they provide product, they provide helpful information about the tea: articles, resources, how-to's and a even a tea glossary.
So, go to www.psteas.com, and place an order using their secure checkout. You will NOT be disappointed!

Selecting the Ceremony Location

2006-04-30T02:49:00.000-07:00

Selecting your ceremony location depends mostly on religious affiliation and tradition. There are plenty of different locations one can choose to hold their ceremony. For example: for religious affiliations, it is customary to get married in a synagogue or church. Also, brides have the option to marry outdoors, in their home, at the reception hall, or anywhere else the couple agrees to.

If you are deciding to get married at your place of worship, you must do it in a timely manner. It is common for wedding ceremonies to be held on Saturday, but do occur on the occasional Thursday or Friday night. If you decide to go ahead with a Saturday, make sure to book in advance. Contact your church and set up an appointment with clergy to see if you must follow certain pre-wedding rituals.

It is not uncommon for couples to have to attend pre-marital classes. The following denominations must have pre marital classes:

The process a couple must go through is called Pre Marital Counseling, also called Pre-Cana in the Catholic church. I actually am in the process of going through this myself. Different churches have different pre-cana processes. In my church, I have to have three pre-marital interviews. I have only completed the first, and trying to squeeze in the time for two more. It's not so easy because you have to follow the priests timeframe(which has been absolute chaos for me). It is also important for you to understand that this is part of your religion, and no matter what you have to do, you must do it, no matter who tells you otherwise. Sometimes, its hard for others to understand who you are, but stick to what you believe in. You are inevitably going to have parents, siblings, and friends give you different advice. Seperate that from what you want.

The process in Christian churches that couples must participate in is called "Pre Marital Counseling." It is usually accompanied by a face-to-face meeting with the clergyman and also frequent group gatherings with other couples who are in the same process.

Like I said, check with your local church to see what the rules and guidelines are. Make sure to plan in advance.

**Be sure to read the next posting on ceremony checklists, questions, and traditions!

Announcing your Engagement

2006-04-30T02:02:00.000-07:00

After you tell your family and close friends that you are engaged, its important to tell your community. The best way to do this is through the town newspaper. First, contact your local paper and ask them what the policy is on submitting an engagement announcement. For example: do they want a picture, how many words should the submission be, or what the fee is for submitting an announcement.

Once you have the relevant information that you need, be sure to inquire about the deadline. The announcement must include a few pieces of relevant information about you and your fiance.

Here are some suggestions:
- Only include what you want people to know.
- Dont mention anything about the date you and your fiance have set, you don't want to cause any hard feelings if people aren't invited.
- Include career information for both.
- Include educational credentials
- Most importantly, include your parents names and residence.

It is typical for the parent of the bride or groom to place the announcement in the paper, however it is also common for the bridal party to do this as well.

Wedding Magazine Subscriptions

2006-04-29T22:09:00.000-07:00

Before I continue on with the wedding checklist, I wanted to share with you some more reviews on things that I have purchased pre-wedding planning.
A few posts ago, I mentioned something about wedding magazines. I flipped through the different magazines that I found in my "wedding box" and came across some great ones!

You wouldnt think that there are over 20 different wedding managines, but there are and selecting one isnt easy. So, here is the first I would strongly recommend-

Modern Bride is reviwed as one of the best bridal Magazines. Modern Bride offers a 12 month subscription, 6 issues, for $11.97. This is one of the only bridal magazines that you will find that prints issues every two months, other bridal magazines print only 4 issues a year. Let me know what you think if you do decide to puchase. I have included the link below for your conveniece, check it out!

A second magazine that I feel is worthwile and helped me through the planning process is called none other than 'Martha Stuart Weddings.' This is also one of my most favorite ones. Of course, Martha Stuart has yet again created another great resource for brides. Martha Stuart Weddings Magazine provides helpful advice to brides including money saving tips! Martha has included valuable information on floral arrangemetns, dresses, shoes, and honeymoon destinations. This is such a valuable tips, please check it out for yourself!

One last magazine that I found to be helpful in my planning is called Bridal Guide. This provides the bride with both expensive and inexpensive solutions. Bridal Guide also includes special features on fashion, beauty, and of course, planning. Click below to find out for yourself!

Please let me know what you thought about the suggestions, feel free to email me or post a comment!

Guest List....Who to Invite

2006-04-28T23:56:00.001-07:00

First things first, you must understand that the wedding list is inevitably going to cause some sort of disagreement between you, your fiance, and both sets of parents. The guest list is going to determine the type of wedding you are going to have and your choices are going to depend on the list as well. For example, the catering service you may have or the number of favors and invitations you will have to order. The three major considerations to take into account when planning your list are:

- budget
- wedding size you would like
- reception site size

So, Who to Invite??

First, you need to ask yourself....who is so important that you cant imagine not being there for your day?
Those typically are the very first on the list. It can be two best friends or your whole family. A number doesn't have to be set, just make sure you answer the question.

Second...
Who don't you want to be there at all, no ands, if's or but's. Make sure you and your fiance discuss those people who are unwelcome.

Third...
Who is paying for the wedding? The individuals who are paying for the wedding obviously have a little more say as to how large it should be. If problems arise, remember to compromise. If you are paying for the wedding, make sure you and your fiance clearly specify the number of invites each side of the family are going to be able to have.

All in all, enjoy this time. Its stressful, but in a way it can be really fun. You don't have to make the list right away and send invitation, you don't want to tell people they are invited before you send the invitations either. Just make a tentative list and re-visit in a few months.

Wedding Attendants

2006-04-27T23:54:00.000-07:00

Hello~

The next item on the wedding checklist is selecting your wedding attendants. This can be a difficult decision to make, as you will begin to learn in all your planning.
It is truly a special honor to be a part of the wedding party. You are essentially selecting those individuals who will best represent you and your future husband.

It is common for couples to select between two and six attendants, and a flower girl and ring bearer. I wouldn't make the decision and then ask the individual. Take your time and about 8-9 months before, ask the person. You never know if you will still be in touch or something may happen if you ask too early, and then it can cause hard-feelings, which you should avoid (especially when trying to plan a wedding)

You should think about selecting:

1. Maid-of-Honor- typically a sibling or a very close friend. The maid of honor is responsible for helping the bride to be throughout the planning process, basically the "right hand man."
Best Man- usually the brother of the groom or a very close friend. The groom is responsible for throwing a bachelor party for the groom, bringing the groom to the ceremony, and giving the speech at the reception.

The best man and maid of honor walk down the aisle together.

Flower Girl- Typically, the flower girl is between the ages of 4-11. Her main

responsibility is to spread roses down the aisle before the bride makes her way down the aisle. Her companion is called the Ringbearer.

Ringbearer- Usually the same age guidelines apply as the flowergirl. The ringbearer is responsible for bringing the rings with him down the aisle. This is symbolic in a way, and is usually tied to two strings on a white pillow.

The flowergirl and ringbearer walk down the aisle together.

Finally, it is up to the bride and groom to decide on the number of attendants they want in the bridal party. It is typical to choose close family members and friends. I would choose between four and five bridesmaids. It makes the procession look amazing. Don't make the mistake of asking too many people, I once was at a wedding where there were 15 BRIDESMAIDS...I'm serious...15!!!! It took forever for them to walk down the aisle..so, you want to keep it rather small.

But overall, just pick those who are close to you because you want to have your best friends in the world standing there being a part of this miraculous day.

Helpful Wedding Books

2006-04-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

The books listed below are some excellent wedding books. Find out for yourself!

I also had a few subscriptions to bridal magazines, which were great! They offer great up to date advice and the best part is that you'll get it monthly!!

Determining a Budget and Wedding Type

2006-04-25T23:04:00.000-07:00

This is a tough thing to talk about, especially if each family has differing opinions and the bride wants something that the grooms mother doesnt. Its really tough to get a budget ironed out and sticking to it.

There are a lot of various considerations to take into account. Planning a wedding isnt only about selecting a restaurant and music. Its about deciding on a sit down dinner or buffet, its about selecting a dj or a professional band, its about selecting butler passed hors d'odervs or a self service stations. Trust me, I had these choices to make ;)

First off, you need to decide who will be paying for the wedding. It is traditional that the brides parents pay for the whole wedding, however I find that today that is no longer tradition as is was years ago. There are other options to take into consideration such as:

- Bride and groom paying for the whole wedding.
- Bride and groom split with both sets of parents
- Bride and groom parents split with each other.

If I had to make the choice, I would pick the third...of course, costing me nothing. But, there are many who dont have the luxury of making those types of decisions.

When looking at a budget and what type of wedding you would like consider the following: a sit down dinner will be MUCH MORE expensive than your buffet, you need to consider the number of guests you want and if you want to keep the list short and simple or invite everyone you have ever crossed paths with. Today, a typical wedding will cost you anywhere from $10,000 on the low end to just about anything...the sky is literally the limit. I have heard that the average wedding will cost an individual up to about $30,000. (My wedding is over that marker, and we have been pretty conservative).

Invitations, cake, cookies, bridal shower, honeymoon, candles, dinner, rehersals, bridesmaid/groomsmen gifts, music, photographer, chapel, marraige liscence, florist, videographer, napkins, matches, candy, caterer, wedding planner (if desired), tuxedos, wedding gown, veil, shoes, bridesmaids dresses...and this list goes on and on and on. These are all the things that you need to take into consideration when deciding on the size of your budget.

So, make sure before you start to plan for anything, speak to your fiance...the parents, and inlaws. It is important to first find out who has what in mind and find a common ground. Remember, this is your wedding day, a day you will remember forever, so go all out and enjoy!
This is a very important topic to address early on in the planning process. Accoring to the timeline I am following provided by Rochester Wedding. Please see the link I have attached to help you follow along.

http://www.rochesterbride.com/articles/weddingTimeline.htm

Perhaps one of the most important topics to address when trying to plan a wedding is deciding on a budget that is sensible. According to CNN money, the average cost of a wedding is about $30,000! Check out this Wedding Article from CNN :

http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/20/pf/weddings/

The $30,000 price is only AVERAGE, not including a sit down dinner or any extras. I dont even want to begin to share what the wedding is going to cost...but its more than that. Thats why I am stressing the importance of a wedding budget and STICKING TO IT. You need to sit down with your fiance and plan what you both want the most. For example, you may want an extremely elegant restaurant, no cookies, a cheaper cake, a buffet or a sit down dinner. Its important to narrow what you both are really looking for.

I found some great books that will help you to plan for a budget and remember to bring the book with you to help you make your decisions and record your spending.

The first book I purchased was called:
The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner : Worksheets, Checklists, Etiquette, Calendars, and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
by Carley Roney.

It provides the couple with wedding checklists, fill-in worksheet on budgeting, and great ideas on floral arrangelemts, and the step by step process of planning the most wonderful day of your life.

A second book that I felt was a good investment is:

The Everything Wedding Checklist: The Gown, the Guests, the Groom, and Everything Else You Shouldn't Forget
by Janet Anastasio and Michelle Bevilaqua.

This book has all of the nitty gritty details that the bride needs to have taken care of before walking down that aisle. Imagine standing there thinking you forgot to do something, especially something so small?! I cant, so I heard about this book and immediately purchased it. This book contains great checklists, information on hiring vendors, and bridal registry. The Everything Wedding Checklist book is helpful so the bride-to-be will not forget anything!!

I have also included the link for this book, which can be found on Amazon. Click the link and let me know what you think!

Keeping on Track

2006-04-25T19:40:00.001-07:00

I have been following the "Rochester Bride" wedding timeline that I found. Its a great tool to use in planning. I am going to try to follow the steps that are outlined in order in the timeline and provide my feedback and expertise.

I will include the URL that way you can log on and check the list out for yourself!

Wedding Checklist

I have spoken about setting a date and time for the wedding, which I will try to provide more as I go along. So, please keep reading as I have so much to share with you!

What Favors Do I Choose?!

2006-04-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

I know that this may be jumping ahead just a bit for you as I am trying to help you outline your wedding in easy steps, but I was soo excited to post my wedding favors here for you all to see. MAKE SURE that you start to look for wedding favors ahead of time. I thought selecting wedding favors was going to be so easy, but I was wrongly mis-informed. You need to pick something that people can use and doesn't look like you purchased it from a garage sale. that something different will liven up the wedding and your guests will use the favor!

I personally like different favors, not the traditional candle or picture frame. I mean, how many of those do you have from wedding that you have been to?

Here is what I picked as a favor for my bridal shower:

If you cant see the picture really well, its a heart bottle stopper in chrome. It is so cute and when I saw it, I thought it was perfect. It especially makes sense with my Italian family and can be readily used when my uncles are drinking wine and need to cork it ;)
I will post a few places where you can get great favors at a great price!

I also purchased these favors for my wedding guests. They are really cute coasters.

Let me know what you think of the ones I bought for my wedding.

So, let me tell you about the Most Popular ones of 2006:

1. Coasters- shown above

2. Salt and Pepper Shaker

3. Heart Cookie Cutters

4. Bottle Stopper-- see above

5. Personalized Coffee and Tea Bags

So, think about what you and your fiance are looking for. You need to think about these things early so that way when the time comes, you are already ahead of plan and wont stress about it so much. I will include some links in upcoming posts of where you can get great favors at great prices!

Setting the Date and Time

2006-04-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

Setting a wedding date takes careful consideration and isnt as easy as one would think it would be. First, you and your fiance should decide what year you would like to hold the ceremony. I would suggest picking a Satuday night and planning at least a year and a half in advance. However, if you are on a budget, its much cheaper to host a wedding on a Thursday or Friday night. Once you and your fiance have selected a date, it would be wise to check with the bride and groom's parents on what dates thay have other engagements on.

There are certain dates of the year that are considered popular wedding dates. The most popular dates of the year to get married are Valentines Day, New Years Eve and Christmas Eve. So, if you decide to want to have your wedding on one of those dates, please book in advance.

Also, if you live in a climate where weather is inconsistant (like where I am from), I would try to stay away from booking a wedding between September and April. The most popular time to get married is between June and August.

Please take these little tidbits of advice into consideration when choosing your special day. Please dont hesitate to share some information with us here, we would love to hear about you and your plans!

Wedding Checklist

2006-04-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

Sometimes its hard to figure out where to start once you want to start the planning. I searched on tons of sites for a wedding checklist/guide and couldnt find something that was decent. So, the link I provided above is the link to RochesterBride. I found that they have the best wedding checklist out there.

Go ahead and check it out for yourself and let me know if you have any questions!

Wedding Supplies on Ebay

2006-04-23T02:41:00.000-07:00

I recently have been planning a wedding as you all know and my special day is going to be on July 22, 2006. I am also planning this wedding 3,000 miles away from home, so it has been extremely difficult. However, I have done a significant amount of purchasing online for my wedding. I have purchased wedding and bridal shower favors, napkins, ribbons, cake bags, cookie boxes, confetti, etc. Basically, I have purchased everything online and let me tell you the best places to go to .

I have shopped extensively on EBAY and Amazon. I put each of their ads on my blog site that way if you need to search for something that I have written about here, you can find it quickly. So, feel free to search and see for yourself. I will put everything that I have purchased, including pictures tomorrow so you can see that you dont have to physically be there to make every single last minute detail, you can also do this online!

Dont worry though, I am here to help you!

Birthday

2006-04-23T02:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to me! Today was my 24th birthday! We had a great time. We went to dinner and then out and about on Sunset and Beverly Hills. Then, we went out to see a movie. I had so much fun.

I really needed to get some wedding plans done today, but was too busy. However, I was on the phone with my flowergirl this afternoon, and still she has not gone to get her dress fitted or for that fact...ORDERED! I mean, how hard is it for a parent to take their child to get fitted for a dress..especially if the child is the fiances sister. **Sigh**

Tomorrow, I am going to document a lot of information. My organist cancelled on me, so I need to come up with a solution. Also, I need to make sure that I remembered to invite every single person that I can think of that I want there. I dont want to leave anyone out. Its so easy to forget amidst all of this planning.

ok, its late and I need to sleep. I will fill you in more tomorrow !

New Site

2006-04-21T23:04:00.000-07:00

Hey---

Just wanted to quickly let you guys know that I am trying to tweek the site as best as I can so, if things seem out of place...its because I'm a newbie...but I will 100%%%% make sure to have all the wedding information possible for you.

Its so nerve wrecking when you think of being engaged and then trying to plan. Half the time, your just trying to keep the peace between the mother-in-law and trying to get your fiance involved; all while planning the biggest event that may ever occur in your life.

But dont worry, its seriously going to be okay. I will walk you through everything possible!!!

:)

Wedding Books

2006-04-21T21:53:00.000-07:00

I was sorting through some wedding books and Magazines tonight and wanted to share a little bit with you. I have read through some pretty bad wedding books, then all of a sudden I was on a lucky streak and found some great ones on Amazon. I am going to continue sorting through which I think are worthwile and I will give you a list that you can link to through Amazon.

Other than that, I have so much more to do for the wedding. More to come.....

Hello World

2006-04-21T19:15:00.000-07:00

Hi There...

Welcome to my site. I just got home from work and wanted to get a head start on weddplans.com. I am in the planning process and have three months left WOOoHooOO!!

This site is going to help you future brides to plan a wedding on a budget or plan a lavish one. Over the next few weeks I am going to be adding a LOT of information about dresses, registry, traditions, in-law help, favors, books, and so much more!

So, stay tuned and come on in to see what I Have to share!