Tips for happy bridesmaids

Choosing who will be in your wedding party is one the most important decisions you'll have to make. And it can be one of the most difficult. Hopefully these tips will help you and your attendants have the best and happiest time:

Select friends who understand you. Kate Chynoweth, author of "The Bridesmaid Guide: Etiquette, Parties and Being Fabulous," says think about the roles you want your bridesmaids to play including supportive listener and party planner. Think about those friends who you talk to regularly, who live near you and whom you've known to be reliable. And don't hesitate to ask one of your best guy friends.

More doesn't necessarily mean merrier. Chynoweth suggests having no more than six bridesmaids unless you plan to invite 300+ guests. Trim your list of potential 'maids before you begin inviting people; do this so you don't lose track or end up with a bigger group than you anticipated. And although it's appropriate to include your future sisters-in-law, it's up to you to invite other in-laws and additional family members. Also, don't feel required to "repay" friends who asked you to participate in their weddings if the relationship has since died down.

Remember that timing is everything. According to wedding planner and designer Michelle Rago, you should spend two to four weeks without asking anyone to be a bridesmaid. "It's lovely to be engaged and focused on this huge life change." Try to select them within the first three to five months (they should at least have six months' notice), and ask them around the same time so no one feels last.

For four more tips, check out our source: Have Happy Bridesmaids.

Photo from: davieandchiyo.com

Creating a candy buffet table

Having a candy table at your reception can be a fun addition or act as playful and interactive favors.

When it comes to the presentation:

Use a color scheme that matches your wedding palette. By taking advantage of the colors you've already established, you can enhance the table's presence, and pull together the whole reception.

Create depth and height in your display. You can form a beautiful landscape on the table with simple boxes or even phone books. Wrap the boxes in decorative paper or leave them bare and place matching linens on them for a polished, free-flowing cascade.
Use the centerpieces to your advantage. Whatever your centerpiece are, using a couple of extras ones will tie into the rest of the reception and bring life and freshness to your candy table.

Don't be afraid to use trimmings. Details such as good quality linens, ribbons and paper can add nice touches to your display. At the same time, remember less is more: Too many space fillers can clutter your table and cause sensory overload.

Consider the table. Where will it be located? Will you include a nice backdrop or have a wall behind it for pictures? Will the table be round or square? Will people be able to access it from all sides? Ask yourself these questions before selecting a set-up design.

For tips on the candy, containers and supplies, visit our source: Candy Buffet Table 101.

Photo from: tucsonweddingsite.com

Choosing a wedding dress for your body type

It's not the easiest thing in the world to find a dress you love and one that accentuates your assets, but it is possible. The following are tips to help you find the dress that's perfect for your body type:

If you have a triangle shape (your hips are wider than your bust and shoulders), the goal is to minimize your lower body and make your upper body appear wider. Do this by:

• Creating height with an elongated waistline.
• Wearing full sleeves to create the appearance of wider shoulders.
• Drawing the eye up by choosing a decorative bodice or details at the neckline.
• Staying away from bulky or straight skirts.
  

If you have a reverse triangle shape (your upper body is wider than your lower body), the goal is to highlight lower body width. Do this by:

• Wearing a simple bodice and/or unadorned sleeves which will minimize your upper body width.
• Staying away from high necklines and narrow skirts.
• Selecting a detailed skirt to draw the eye downward.
• Creating additional height with an elongated waistline; one example is a dropwaist dress.

If you have an hourglass shape (larger bust and hips, small waist), the goal is to find balance. Do this by:

• Avoiding high necklines and waistlines.
• Highlighting your small waist with a fitted waistline.
• Wearing soft gathered skirts; they conceal your hips and draw attention to your waistline. A-line dresses work well, too.
• Using details wisely. Bodice details like lace or beading will draw the eye upward and highlight the upper body.

If you have a rectangle shape, (long and narrow without a strongly defined waist), the goal is to highlight width and avoid long, vertical lines. Do this by wearing:

• Sleeves that bring the eye outward.
• An open neckline or off the shoulder dress which will broaden your shoulder line.
• A full skirt with horizontal details. For instance, you can include a horizontal trim from the waistline to the hem.
• A dress with a fitted waist as opposed to high or drop waists.

For more tips, check out our source: How to choose a wedding dress

Photo from: masterfile.com

What you should have on your wedding website

A wedding website is a great way to let your guests know all the details of your wedding. Here are some ways to make sure your site is fabulous:

* Put all the details of your wedding-- the what, when and where. Also, include maps and directions to the wedding and reception sites. This will answer many of the questions your guests might have.

* For your out-of-town guests, use the website to make their travel arrangements simpler by including hotel, rental car information and maps and by suggesting restaurants and fun activities.

* Share your love story and how you met. Not only will this appeal to guests, it will also make your wedding more personal for them.

* Include info about your attendants. Provide their names and tell how you know them; this will be interesting for your guests as well.

* Place a link to your wedding registries.

* Don't ramble. Sharing a little personal information is good and interesting; sharing your life story is not a good idea.

* Stay away from copyrighted info and pictures.

Source: What to put on your wedding website

10 ways to cut wedding costs

As you know, weddings cost lots and lots of money. Fortunately, there are ways to cut costs. Here are 10 ways to do so:

1. Lengthen you engagement. If you have longer to plan, you'll have a better chance of acquiring the best vendors in your price rage. Additionally, you can usually lock in rates that might increase by your wedding date.
2. Reduce the number of wedding attendants. By having less people in your wedding party, you can save hundreds on bouquets, boutonnieres and gifts.
3. Choose a multi-purpose venue. If you use one site for both the ceremony and reception, you'll save on the site, and you won't have to pay for transportation.
4. Have a brunch or lunch bash. That way, you'll save on food (breakfast and lunch entrees are less expensive), the bar (daytime tabs are generally much smaller) and you might even save on the fee for the space.
5. Trim the ceremony decor. Your guests will see the flowers for just an hour or so, so stick with the basics. Think about placing one or two large arrangements in the front (where everyone will be looking) and decorating the rest simply.
6. Check out some sample sales. A couple of times a year, a lot of bridal salons sell samples of dresses they carry at a significant discount. You could land a bargain (first, find out what dry cleaning and alterations may cost so you can consider that before buying).
7. Ask about hidden fees. Before you commit to a venue, ask about all the little costs-- for instance, some sites will charge to cut your cake or uncork your champagne. You can save money by totaling the extra costs and factoring this into your choice about the venue.
8. Go minimalist. Opt for carrying a few dramatic flowers like sunflowers or calla lilies instead of a big bouquet. You'll get a chic look for a lower price.
9. Choose a site that's well-dressed. Some of a venue's affordability is based on how much decorating is needed. For example, a grand historic estate might just need minimal flowers for decor, so ultimately, the venue might cost less than a bare reception hall.
10. Get a little help from your friends. To free up money for other parts of your wedding, have your more crafty friends make welcome baskets or ask you aunt with the neat handwriting to address your invitations.

For more tips, visit our source: Save Big Without Skimping.

Photo from: prattlibrary.org

5 ways to get the groom involved

This may come to news for some soon-to-be brides, but the wedding isn't yours alone-- it's your groom's, too! : ) Here are five ways you can get your groom involved in the wedding planning process (from BridalGuide.com):

1. If you just got engaged, let him assist you in spreading the wonderful news. Split up the list so he can call his family and friends.

2. If your groom has great negotiating skills, ask him to work out prices with your vendors. You never know what extras he may get added onto your packages.

3. Is he into food? Let him decide the menu, advises Judith Sherven and Jim Sniechowski, authors of "The Smart Couple's Guide to the Wedding of Your Dreams." And even if he's not a professional, make sure he's with you when taste-sampling with the caterers.

4. Let your groom choose the transportation for the Big Day.

5. Whenever you're updating wedding things, get his input. As your wedding day gets closer, your groom will become more involved with the details-- and that's how it should be.

For more tips on getting your groom involved, check out How to Get Your Groom Involved (In the Planning!)

Feel free to share ways you included your groom in the wedding planning!

Top wedding flowers (and what they mean)

Beautiful calla lily bouquet

Choosing wedding flowers can be simple (if you have a favorite flower), or it can be difficult (if you have no clue what you like). Well, according to WeddingChannel.com, the following are a few of the most popular wedding flowers (and we included what they mean). If you're not sure what flowers to use, maybe this will give you some ideas:

Calla Lily: Symbolic meaning of majesty and beauty. Calla lilies bloom in the spring and summer and can be found in many colors like pink, yellow, orange, lavender, green, maroon, purple and white.

Hydrangea: Represents perseverance and understanding. This flower bloons in spring, summer and fall and is available in pink, white, lavender, purple and blue.
Lilac: Means first love, and it blooms in the spring in white and numerous hues of purple like lilac, deep lilac, pink and mauve.
Orchid: Symbolizes love, beauty and refinement. It blooms year round, and its colors include pink, red, white, purple, yellow, orange or green.
Tulip: Represents passion and perfect love and is available in pink, red, white, orange, purple, yellow and lavender.

Check out these photos of wedding flowers for more ideas.

Photo from: flowersbarbados.com

More fun wedding & marriage facts

Here are a few more fun wedding facts for your reading pleasure:

• The longest train for a wedding dress was made in Germany and measured 515 feet.
• The longest engagement on record was between Octavio Guillen and Adriana Martinez. They were engaged for 67 years.
• New Yorkers Richard and Carole Roble have taken their vows 55 times, all in different locations and at least once in each of the fifty states.
• On average, 7,000 couples marry each day in the United States.
• Seventeen tons of gold are made into wedding rings each year in the U.S.
• Valentine's Day and New Year's Day are the two busiest wedding days in Las Vegas.

Source: Wedding Facts and Trivia

Summer Wedding Ideas

We hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

As you probably are well aware, summer is the most popular time to tie the knot. Here are a few ideas for getting married during the summer:

Colors

Summer time, of course, makes you think of tropical, beach-themed hues and bright colors. For your wedding, consider hues like light pinks and peaches, baby and bright blues, soft purples, tan, vibrant hot pinks, yellows, lime greens and oranges.

Flowers

You can choose chic, traditional flowers like calla lilies and roses or minimal and playful ones like dahlias, daisies and chrysanthemums. Additionally, tropical flowers are a great idea like ginger and birds of paradise. For your centerpieces, you can include fresh fruits such as lemons and limes with your flowers for a fun twist.

Decor

A couple of common themes for summer weddings are tropical and beach. If you want to use a beach theme, consider including a beach-themed cake topper or seaglass colors for tableware. If you're going with a tropical theme, one idea is using tiki torches as table centerpieces. Also, you can use dolphins, starfish or palm trees.

Fashion

Because the summer months are so hot, you'll probably want to keep fabrics light and airy. You could have the men wear linen suits, women don sundresses and maybe a tea length dress for the bride.

For more info, check out our source, Summer Wedding Ideas.

Photo from: beachwedding-guide.com