Fun wedding facts

Here are some fun wedding stats we found. Hope you enjoy!

• The average American engagment is 16 months.
• June is the most popular month for weddings, then August, followed by September, October and May.
• The average age for first-time brides is 25; for grooms, 27.5.
• The average size of a wedding party is 12.
• On a traditional American wedding, an average of $22,000 is spent.
• $72 billion is spent on weddings annually in the U.S.
• The average amount spent on a bridal gown in $800.
• 53 percent of weddings happen in the afternoon; 31 percent in the evening; and 16 percent in the morning.
• 45 percent of honeymoons are to domestic locations, and 55 percent are foreign.
• Annually, an average of 2.4 million weddings are performed in the U.S.

Source: Wedding Statistics

5 fab resources for brides

Wedding planning can be very hectic so here are five wonderful websites to help you with any and everything you might need:

Chocolate Brides- Provides wedding inspiration for brides of color. It's all about promoting loving marriages, building friendships and supporting one another through the highs and lows of life.

DIY Bride- Serves as a way for couples to share ideas, templates and tips on creating a kick-a** do-it-yourself wedding no matter one's budget or skill level.

Offbeat Bride- A blog with tons of "wedding porn" (photos from real people's really offbeat weddings), advice and inspiration for couples who are working their butts off to create authentic weddings full of intention and personality.

Project Wedding-Connects brides across the nation and helps them share ideas, advice and vendor recommendations.

TheKnot- A one-stop wedding planning solution featuring first-class fashion, inspiring images, personalized tools and more.

Feel free to share your favorite wedding websites below!

Photo from: thepartyproducers.net

Questions to ask before tying the knot

According to an article by J.J. Austin on African American Brides Blog, you should ask yourself 10 questions to be sure you're ready for happily ever after:

• Do you have any issues with his family or does he have any with yours? You might be very much in love with your future husband, but issues with his family (or vice versa) can mean trouble later on. Settling any issues before the big day is important for the long-term health of your marriage.
• Have you talked and do you agree on the handling of your family finances? Money is the number one reason marriages end in divorce; you need to devise a plan so your finances will be handled, and stick to it. You'll have peace of mind know that the financial plan is taken care of.

For the rest of the tips, see Do You Have a Marriage-Ready Checklist?

8 ways to personalize your wedding day

Here are eight ways to make your wedding as unique as you are:

1. If you're having a small, informal wedding, 50 guests or less, write your invitations yourself.
2. Choose a ceremony date that has a special meaning for you as a couple.
3. Have a ring bearer that's not a child, like your dog, for example.
4. If you really want to, have a Man of Honor or Best Woman instead of a Maid/Matron of Honor or Best Man.
5. Let the ringbearer carry something other than a pillow.
6. Serve a signature drink at the reception, and name it after yourselves.
7. Use lanterns overhead. Some to choose from include Chinese rice papers, rustic hurricanes or sleek glass.
8. Remember that color is one of the best ways to put your personal stamp on your wedding.

Feel free to share any tips you have for personalizing a wedding!

Source: Bridal Guide Magazine; Photo from: weddingreceptioncenterpieces.net

10 things to do after you get engaged

According to TheKnot.com, the following are 10 things you should do right after you get engaged:

1. Send a funny ecard to let everyone know you're about to get hitched.
2. Plan your engagement party. Here are six planning tips from The Knot.
3. Choose your date (but stay away from these).
4. Find a fabulous reception site.
5. Get professional engagement photos.
6. Determine your budget.
7. Find the perfect wedding gown.
8. Create your wedding website, the one-stop shop all about your upcoming nuptials.
9. Consider hiring a consultant. As you probably know or have heard, planning a wedding isn't simple. Think about hiring a professional, even if it's just for the day-of.
10. Start your guest list. You can make changes later on, but for now, go ahead and add those who just have to be there.

For more info, check out Just Engaged?

Photo from: istockphoto.com

Setting your wedding budget

Did you know that the average wedding cost is $28,000? With a number like that, I'm sure you can see why determining your budget is so important and why it can be overwhelming.

Here are some tips to help you plan your wedding budget:

Speak to everyone who's contributing to your wedding. Sit down with everyone who is going to contribute to your wedding and discuss how to reasonably split the tab and come up with a total number.

Assign totals for each service accordingly. When you've come up with a reasonable budget total, you'll then have to figure out where the money will go. Create a list of items, vendors and details that you'll need and how much you'll allocate to each. After doing that, you can tailor each amount to your style and priorities. For example, if your wedding gown is very important to you, you might splurge in that area and cut back on the floral arrangement.

Get a system and begin saving. You need to set up a reliable way to record your savings and spending. You can use anything from sophisticated software to regular, old spreadsheets to do this.

Bank it. If you already have money saved for your wedding, speak with your financial institution about the best way to accumulate interest leading up to the the big day. Be sure to open an account that is separate from your personal savings so you you won't be tempted to dip into that account.

Save smart. If you're starting from zero with your wedding savings, think about paying for as many of your expenses as you can with a credit card that collects benefits such as frequent flier miles, rewards or cash back that can go to your honeymoon travel.

Source: How to set your wedding budget. Photo from: big-wedding-tiny-budget.com

The top 10 prewedding fights & how you can stay away from them

Your engagement period is, for the most part, a fun and loving time. But you'll probably experience some not-so-great moments as well, from fighting over the guest list to who pays for what.

"Planning the wedding is a trial run for your future marriage," says Tina B. Tessina, psychotherapist and author of "True Partners: A Workbook for Building a Lasting Intimate Relationship."

"The things that you battle about now are clues to where you're going to have trouble in the future."

Some of the most common things couple fight about include the groom's involvement, money, prenuptial agreements and bridezilla behavior.

Read what causes these common issues and how you can resolve them in the article, Top 10 Prewedding Fights (and How to Avoid Them).

Feel free to share you've dealt with or are dealing with issues in your engagement.

Photo from: momlogic.com

Choosing an engagement ring on a budget

Guys, maybe you're ready to pop the question to your special lady, but you're not exactly sure what kind of ring to buy and how you can purchase it inexpensively.

Well, here are some tips to help you get the ring of her dreams without breaking the bank (from TheKnot.com):

Put a ring around it. You've heard the phrase, "strength in numbers," right? The same thing applies when it comes to enhancing a stone. A ring with a halo setting (a circle of smaller diamonds around the center stone) can make the middle diamond look bigger. Not only is it an excellent way to create an illusion of additional carats, the halo can also completely alter the diamond's appearance by giving it a vintage look that'll stand out.

Choose an emerald cut. An emerald cut has fewer facets (the surfaces that reflect light and make the diamond sparkle), so it won't be as shiny, but the shape allows the diamond to cover more surface area than other cuts of the same carat weight. This means it will look bigger, and the style is timeless so your ring will never seem outdated.

Skip the eternity bands. Diamonds around the band are great for many; not so much if you're a frugal shopper. Instead, try a band that highlights the center stone such as one that's decorated with twists or engraving. If you must have a little more bling, try adding baguette diamonds on each side of the center stone for more glitz at a lower price.

For more tips, check out Engagement Rings: Engagement Ring Budget Tips

Photo from: diamond.com