"I Do's" and "I Don'ts" for the Modern Day Bride

Getting Married... AGAIN!

2011-07-12T18:32:00.001-07:00

We are finally putting plans into action for our big wedding! I know, I know... I'm already married! But we love each other so much that we want to do it all over again! And since no one was there to see it, we gotta do it up right. And the wedding planner NOT having a real wedding? Unspeakable!

So, the date is set (9-29-12). We picked out the church and details are starting to come together. Today we officially booked the reception site. And I have the bridesmaids gifts ordered, and the cake topper ordered. (Can you tell I'm anxious? I have everything done already!)

Here are some sneak peak clues on the wedding plans:

The sand dollars are my favorite idea! They are special to me since Chris and I spent our time together in North Carolina combing beaches for shells and sand dollars. I never found a whole sand dollar and I was obsessed with finding them! I'm using them twice in the wedding plans. One will serve as an escort card AND the favor. Any idea on how I'm using the second one???

STAY TUNED!

Major Updates!

2011-03-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

Wow, it has been quite a while since I've updated!

Since the last post:

I got MARRIED!
We bought a HOUSE!

I know... craziness. I am now married to a wonderful man, and I have a stepson. I couldn't be happier! Monday we found out we got a contract accepted on a house, and we will be moving at the end of April. Pictures will be up soon, they took our listing down already so I will have some before and after pictures when we move in!

It's crazy how fast life can change. Chris and I are totally in love and happy, and life is just beginning! I will try updating more often, especially since I will have all kinds of fun projects around the house to show off!

Now that it's getting warmer, I'm going to pick up my photography again.

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

2010-10-03T16:07:00.001-07:00

My friend Veronica came to town and brought her husband and adorable daughter Hailey. We went to Eckerts, which is a local orchard and pumpkin patch. What a way to spend a beautiful fall day!

My first photo shoot!

2010-07-27T16:21:00.001-07:00

All aspects of weddings interest me, including photography. And, I've been wanting to get into photography for awhile now. So, for my 25th birthday my amazing boyfriend bought me my very first SLR camera! And here are the results of my first "photo shoot!"

Not bad for my first time photographing, right?! Next shoot I will try adding people in the mix!

"Guestbook" Ideas...

2010-05-27T13:07:00.001-07:00

Today I was trying to think of some creative guestbook ideas that I've seen. I love the photo booth guestbook, but I was trying to think of something new and original. My cousin got married in Cleveland and had a book of images from around Ohio and had everyone pick their favorite picture out and write something next to it. That was different.

I was thinking about things that I love, and I love cookbooks. I collect them as compulsively as I collect bridal magazines. Then I thought, "Wouldn't it be cute to have each couple/family write their favorite family recipe down on recipe cards?" Then you could have your first guestbook/cookbook and have all kinds of new recipes to cook together! What do you think- yes or no?

CWP...

2010-04-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY did it! I am now an official CWP, which is Certified Wedding Planner! It's been a long time dream of mine, and I finally did it! Now I can finally make Gala-Amorous Events into a reality!

Easter basket help!

2010-03-27T12:33:00.000-07:00

So, this will be my first Easter with my boyfriend's son, Aaron. I haven't celebrated Easter in like, 10 years. I want his Easter basket to be awesome, so I'm asking you for your help... what kind of cute things do you put in your Easter baskets??? I'm sure things have changed in the last 10 years- I got candy and kites- kind of boring now. Do you have any theme baskets or any cool toy ideas??? I wanna know!

Scrapbooking...

2010-03-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

So I've started my very first scrapbook. I can see why everyone likes it. It's addicting! (But expensive!)

Since I'm a scrapbooking virgin, does anyone have any tips or ideas for me? I have all these supplies, but I'm freaking out that it won't come out how I want it to!!!

It's been too long!

2010-02-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a long time! Wedding season consumed my life, but it was a great one! We had some beautiful weddings! Here are some photo highlights of the year:

I am also very happy to announce that I have officially began my CWP classes. Finally took the leap of faith and started in. Hopefully by the end of the month I will be an official Certified Wedding Planner!

Two of my friends got engaged at the first of the year, so congratulations to my first two 2010 brides: Lindsey and Laura! Tommy and Nick are very lucky men!

I will try to update more often now, and if you have anything you would like advice on or would like me to talk about, feel free to leave a comment!

Wedding Season at the Four Seasons...

2009-05-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

"What do you like better, Christmas or Wedding Season?"

"The answer would be, um, Wedding Season?"

"YES!" (from the movie Wedding Crashers)

Ahhhh the social season has begun. The smell of love, buttercream, and expensive floral arrangements is in the air. Especially at the Four Seasons hotel here in St. Louis. We've been having huge galas for several weeks now and last weekend we had our first of 28 weddings! I thought I'd share some pictures from the events we've been having lately!

Contemporary Art Museum Gala

Contemporary Art Museum

Lumiere Place "Fear No Ice" event

Fear No Ice sculpture

Loeber-Diemer Wedding groom's cake

Loeber-Diemer Wedding

Loeber-Diemer Wedding Cake

Ice Bar for Loeber-Diemer Wedding

We have two weddings this weekend, and I'll try to take pictures but we have a tight turn on Sunday so I probably won't be able to get pictures of that one!

New Ideas?

2009-04-14T12:25:00.001-07:00

So I am curious as to how many people this blog gets out to. If you have any questions, comments, want any opinions/advice, have a blog idea, or whatever... please don't be shy and leave me a comment! I'm kind of looking for some new topic ideas!

Dresses that Impress us!

2009-02-23T13:25:00.001-08:00

I watch every bridal show known to man (or at least broadcast in the US), and sometimes things really amaze me. One show I've been caught watching is "Say Yes to the Dress" on TLC. I, myself, have worked in a bridal salon and know the ins-and-outs of dress selection and tuxedos. I just can't imagine walking into a dress shop and dropping $12,000 on a dress I'm doing to wear once. The truth of it is, you're probably going to be the only person who knows that's a Vera Wang or Monique Lhullier gown. As long as you look and feel fabulous, that's all that matters. And, if you can afford to drop that kind of dough on a dress, more power to you! But here are some fabulous and gorgeous dresses that only LOOK like you've spent a fortune! And since some designers have dresses that look like other designers' dresses, only YOU have to know how much you spent, and who it's by. Why, yes, Vera DID do this especially for me! (Shhh... we'll never tell!)

Designer: Paloma Blanca.

Style: Clean, classic, lacey (glamed down, little sparkle)

Similar to: Melissa Sweet, Monique Lhullier

Average price: $1300

Which dress is Paloma?

(Paloma is on the top! The other is Monique Lhullier)

Some of my other favorite designers? Mori Lee is my all-time favorite (I'm a sparkle girl) and Maggie Sottero is also gorgeous! They both range around$700, depending on the store. It pays to shop around!

Mori Lee dress style 2101. It has the best of both worlds- lace AND lots of sparkle!

Have your cake...

2009-02-02T07:37:00.001-08:00

So, I got a few cake decorating books for Christmas thanks to Adam's parents. I'm trying to get into cake decorating, and so far it's lots of fun!

For my Super Bowl party yesterday, I decided to make a cookie cake instead of a regular cake because it's easier to shape. I think it turned out quite well for my first try ever!

Color Me Pretty

2009-01-25T14:01:00.000-08:00

Well, we are all settled in our new abode. We love it so much here! I'm looking out my patio door at the field full of hundreds of geese outside (seriously, I had to take a picture yesterday, it's the craziest thing ever), and the beautiful white snow on the ground. Looking at all the white gave me inspiration for this post.

Why is it that brides are so afraid of color?

When I worked for a bridal salon, brides would pick these bold, BEAUTIFUL colors! They would gush about the dresses and flowers and how pretty they are going to be... and that's it. The cake- white. The linens- white. White on white on ZZZzzzzz. Sorry, I dozed off thinking about all the white. But seriously, it's like a sterile, white hospital.

I'll admit, I'm a little bit nontraditional with what I want for my wedding. The only thing white at my wedding will be my dress, and even that will be ivory. But I'm not afraid to integrate color into an event. Maybe it's because I think about how it transforms the entire look of the room and really ties the event together. Some brides get so scared when it comes to putting color on something other than their bridesmaids. I think it's because they are afraid it will ruin the elegance of the evening.

One of the first weddings I worked at the Four Seasons was a gorgeous color scheme of tangerine and a hot pink. I was so excited to see the cake! They had wonderful bright flowers and our fiber optic chandeliers were lit up pink. And when pastry brought down the wedding cake, I felt like someone had just told me my dog died. Don't get me wrong, they do a beautiful job and the piping on it was exquisite. But it was white. White white white. And so was the next wedding's cake, and the next one, and the next one. Come on ladies, am I getting through to anyone yet????! And linens come in every color under the sun now. So, there's really no excuse at all. You, as a bride, actually stand out more in the room when everything else is in color and you are in a white dress.

So, what are some great, bold color combinations?

Tangerine, fuchsia, and lime
Teal and bronze
teal and lime
navy and lime
Merlot and turquoise

And my favorite (because it's mine!) raspberry, tangerine and grape.

And the worst color combo I have ever seen? Gray and baby pink. Yeah, like a stuffed elephant. Blah.

So color your wedding, and don't be afraid to color outside the lines!

OH... and the geese. Crazy. I couldn't even get them all in the picture there were so many.

Movin' on up!

2009-01-08T09:18:00.000-08:00

So, Adam and I are moving to Illinois in 6 days and I could NOT be more excited! (Ask anyone, it's pretty much all I can talk about!) I'm absolutely in love with the area, and I drive there everyday. They have tons of shopping and restaurants, which is much different than downtown STL. It's so much safer and more of a community like I'm used to. And I'm sure no one will scrape our '09 tags off our liscense plates there. Yeah, that happened to both Adam and myself. But, I've been doing some shopping to give our new abode a new attitude. And I can't wait to unload all of my goodies in my new place!

During Christmas I got these amazing mosaic red chargers from Dillards for $15... marked down from $50! They are gorgeous and they are perfect for year-round elegant entertaining, not just for Christmas! So, these chargers are my new dining room inspiration. I'm trying to go with an asian infused dining room. I'll have to take pictures next week once we get everything in.

But JCPenny's had an incredible sale this week- I got 4 of these plates for under $20! SO cute, and perfect for mexican night, caribbean night, or those summer BBQ's!

I also got these great votive holders for $2 each... I couldn't find a picture because it was from the "Holidays" but I bought 2 red and 2 gold to go with my asian theme. They have a little swirl hook with a coordinating dangling crystal off the edge. Pics to come!

But these are my new dishes I got from Bed Bath and Beyond... not on sale sadly, but they are perfectly asian inspired!

Pier1 was also having an amazing sale last week, and I got a bamboo table runner for $4, and these black plastic branches with clear crystal leafs on them. EEEK I can't wait!

So in the spirit of moving, I have to get back to packing up and cleaning. I'll be back next week with lots of pictures of our new place!

Going Green!

2009-01-07T12:19:00.001-08:00

If you are "Eco-Maniac", there's a way to incorporate your lifestyle into your wedding. In fact, it's the latest (and a very fast) *growing* trend in the wedding world. Here are some ideas you can use to infuse your wedding with good vibes!

1. This is my very favorite idea! There is actually paper that you can PLANT! Send your invitations on this paper, and it actually has wildflower seeds embedded in the paper that your guests can plant after the wedding! The paper is bio-degradable so it dissolves and the seeds grow into beautiful flowers! To save even more paper, ask your guests to RSVP by phone or email. (Saves you some postage on those return envelopes as well!) My absolute favorite site is http://www.botanicalpaperworks.com - their invitations are contemporary and beautiful!

2. Make a donation in honor of your guests to your favorite eco-friendly charity- WWF.org is a personal favorite.

3. Instead of trash bins, set up recycling bins for your bottles and cans at the reception.

4. Use locally grown flowers instead of having them shipped from all over the World. Many foreign countries use pesticides when growing flowers, and some are illegal in the US. If you must import your florals, make sure they are organic and not sprayed with pesticides.

5. Make sure your rings have conflict-free diamonds! Ask your jeweler if you're not sure.

6. Donate your leftover food to a shelter, and your flowers to a nursing home! I can't tell you how many brides just leave their flowers at the reception to die (or for the staff to take home! I have soooo many vases. It's kind of scary.) You spend thousands of dollars on these flowers for one day, and just leave them behind. Take them to a nursing home or hospital so that it brings someone else joy! Personally, I think real flowers are a waste of money. Most of them look like funeral flowers, and they cost more than a car sometimes! Plus, many guests probably have allergies like I do and if there are too many flowers they are struggling to breathe all night. (Stargazer lillies are the death of me!) If you use silk flowers, you can reuse them to decorate your new love nest, and it's a great way to remember your special day-everyday!

Hopefully you find some of these ideas inspiring. It's a great way to make a statement, you're helping to make the earth a better place!

Love Makes the World Go 'Round

2008-12-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

Everyday, millions of people all over the world get married. So, I thought I would try to do some research on wedding traditions from around the world.

Did you know that...

Purple is the color of love in Japan. Most brides in Japan will wear purple kimonos. But the traditional wedding color in China is red, symbolizing luck. Indian brides traditionally wear pink on their wedding day.

Pakistani weddings traditionally last FOUR days! Each day is a different ceremony.

In Indonesia, it's not uncommon to have more than 1,000 guests invited to the wedding!

Before her wedding day, it was tradition for Chinese brides to retreat into seclusion with her closest friends for a few days. (Bachelorette party anyone??!)

I just wanna SHOUT IT!

2008-12-02T19:38:00.000-08:00

So, I don't know when it happened, but I kind of let myself go. It happens, I guess. I think it came from working in the hospitality industry- especially banquets and events. At my worst, I weighed (and I'm committing a female sin here by telling everyone) 183 lbs. Yikes. I definitely didn't feel like I weighed that much, but I was starting to look like I just had a baby.

Adam and I started working out about a month ago. I am in love with this kind of stair stepper thing- if I had one in my house I would walk on it all day. It's low impact and it just feels like I'm walking kind of. I watch "Superbad" on my Zune, and it totally takes my mind off the fact that I'm working out, plus the laughing gives me a little ab workout too! I bought a scale from Wal-Mart last week, and now I weigh myself every day.

I just weighed myself when I came home from work and (drumroll please).....

I weigh 166!!!! I have lost 17 FREAKIN POUNDS!!! Although I don't really see it, but Adam says I look thinner and my stomach and waist feels a lot smaller.

I am so happy! I want to get down to 135, so I still have 30 pounds to go. But I've lost 5 pounds this week without working out. (We've slacked with the holidays). But tomorrow I'm going to work out extra hard and hopefully I will reach my goal weight in the next 2 months.

I'm asking for skinny jeans for Christmas. Booyah.

O Christmas Tree...

2008-12-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

YAY! Christmas is upon us! It snowed for the first time yesterday and it made me so happy!

Those that know me, know that I'm a very anxious person. I don't like waiting for things, especially things that I'm excited about. When I have a vision or idea, I have to do right then.

With that being said, I have a confession.....

I have had my Christmas tree up for 3 weeks already. EEK! I got the theme of my Christmas tree nailed down, and I started buying the decorations in the middle of October. (I know, it's gross. But I saw these cute ornaments in a Crate and Barrel mag and it became the inspiration for my tree.) So I went out and bought the ornaments and all the other decorations. And, here in St. Louis there is a radio station that has been playing Christmas music 24/7 since the week before Halloween. So that didn't help matters. But it's super cute, and now I present to you- my PEACOCK CHRISTMAS TREE!

My mom always did theme trees, so that's where I get my ideas from. They are so pretty, and are a great way to showcase your personality!

I always have used artificial trees. I like the smell of real ones, but I don't like dealing with the sap and the pine needles. SUCH a mess! I bought my tree from Wal-Mart (pre-lit, which saves time AND money!) and the pre lit one was about $5 cheaper than the unlit one. So, it was a no brainer. I got it home, and I lasted 2 hours before I gave in to my urges to put it up. I got it out, put it together, and I was so disappointed! There were MAJOR gaps between the layers, which wasn't that noticeable at night, but during the day you could see right through the darn tree!

But, being my crafty self, I had a solution. If you have a tree that isn't as full as you like, then buy a GARLAND and stuff in in the middle of the tree to fill it in! It will make your tree look like a million bucks, for only about 5 bucks!

Happy Decorating!

Budget Trimming Mistakes

2008-11-30T10:50:00.000-08:00

There are many ways you can trim down your budget, but there are also many things that you should NOT hold out on.

1. Photography: A good photographer is essential for your memories. A good photographer is one splurge that you shouldn't feel guilty about. Any photographer can line up your family members on the church altar and snap a photo (some can even manage to get them all with their eyes open!) but a GREAT photographer can capture the emotions and energy in a picture. I personally love the photo journalistic style, which is becoming outrageously popular. They do a great job at capturing the moment, and they are beautiful pictures that you will enjoy looking at in the years to come that really tell a story. They generally are more expensive to hire, but it is SO worth it, they are beautiful photos. Some say a photo is worth a thousand words, but I say a photo journalistic style picture is truly priceless. Need some suggestions? Check out Birdsong Photography's blog listed on my page, and their website is beautiful. I also love SilverBox Photography.

2. The music: A good DJ can really get your wedding reception rockin! They can inject energy into your party, and that's what your guests will really remember- how much fun they had! I've seen some DJ's that will interact with the guests and even play games and give out prizes at weddings. A good band is hard to find, which is why they can be so expensive. If you have your heart set on a band, give yourself plenty of time to do your research. Ask for demo tapes, and in either case ALWAYS ask around for recommendations.

3. The Food: Typically, the food for a wedding is about 45-60% of the total budget. You definitely don't want your guests to go home hungry. While it may be necessary to cut down slightly on the quality of the food, you don't want to cut down on the quantity. If your budget is tight, you may need to order chicken instead of the filet and lobster combo. But, they are doing amazing things with chicken these days!!!

My best friend's wedding...

2008-10-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I attended my best friend's wedding as a bridesmaid, and what else but her wedding coordinator! I just wanted to share a few pictures that I took with my digital camera. It was such a cute wedding, and I'm so happy for Mr. and Mrs. Eric Baker!!! Enjoy some photos!

Lets Talk Food...

2008-10-13T16:38:00.000-07:00

We all know the best part of the wedding- the food. The food cost should be one of the biggest parts of your wedding day budget (normally it's 40-45% or more!) But if you're planning with a tight budget, there are several ways to cut the costs without cutting the cheese... or beef, or whatever you want to eat.

1. If you are having a later wedding (after 5 or 6 pm) it is socially acceptable to only serve finger foods. Be sure to put on your invitations that it is an hor dourves reception, and your guests should know to eat before the ceremony begins. If you are having an afternoon wedding and your reception starts around dinner time, your guests will be hungry, and you will spend more money on hor dourves trying to fill your guests up than you would have if you planned a dinner.

2. If you are on a tight budget, ask if you can look at the lunch menu instead of the dinner menu. Many places will alllow you to select lunches (be it plated or buffet), and lunches are sometimes almost half the price, with a lot of the same options that some of the dinners have.

3. Which brings me to my next point- buffet or served? Honestly, sometimes they are about the same price. With buffets, people tend to eat more so they have to prepare more food which can cost more. With served meals, the food cost is controlled, but it takes more staff to run a plated dinner so the service charge may be more. It's totally up to you.

Wedding meals are a good way to treat your guests to something different that they don't normally eat. Try different flavors, colors, presentations- we eat with our eyes first and our mouths second. We all want something that beautiful on a plate, and there are so many options in this day in age. A lot of couples are afraid to try something different because they are afraid their guests won't like it even if they do. DON'T be afraid- a lot of times you are creating something memorable for a guest that they might never get to experience again. Leave the chocolate covered crickets and pig spleen at home though: no one will be able to stomach that. DO arrange a menu tasting before the big day, but DON'T be afraid to go with the sea bass if you like it. Just don't go with the entire fish on the plate- it's kind of scary.

Ebay for your wedding day

2008-10-02T10:55:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been awhile that's for sure! But I've been researching some money saving tips from the most addicting wesbite ever... Ebay. This website is a goldmine for deals!

Do you dream of centerpieces with crystals dripping down? Well, you could spend hundreds of extra dollars by letting your florist get them, or you can spend $20 for 15 feet of crystals from a chandelier dealer. What a steal!

Don't spend a ton of money buying votives from craft stores or Wal-Mart. On Ebay there are stores where you can get 400 votives for around $40. Imagine the savings!

I even ordered a wedding dress from ebay- customized to fit me. No alterations ladies! It was a brand new dress for less than $300!!!

So when trying to find good deals, they are closer than you can imagine. Savings are just a click away- but don't get too caught up in the bidding. Set a limit for how much you're willing to spend for an item- or betting yet, search on the "buy now" feature or search for stores.

My personal favorite store- HJK imports. You can get vases, acryllic crystals to fill your vases, floral lights, and more. Perfect for the DIY bride like myself!

Happy Hunting!!!

Topic of the Week: Reception venues

2008-06-20T08:22:00.001-07:00

There are lots of things to consider when choosing your reception venue- the look and feel, the cost, what have you. But the latest trend is not to have your reception in the typical hotel ballroom or the Eagles Lodge, but to go off the beaten path!

Museums offer lots of space, and additional things for your guests to do! There are so many beautiful and historic things in museums to look at, you may not even need much decor! You can also check out your local zoo for event space, which usually has lush landscaping, flowery foilage, and ponds/lakes. Your guests can take tours of the museum or see the animals at the zoo. (Just stay away from the monkey house!) It's a unique way for you and your guests to enjoy your day with you, and it will truly be a memorable experience for everyone!

Topic of the Week: Lighting makes the difference!

2008-06-10T07:21:00.000-07:00

Lighting is one of the most important aspects in any event- especially weddings. It sets the tone for your event, red lighting for a sultry event, pastels for a romantic feel, etc. Lighting can change the look and feel of a room in an instant!

If you think you have to spend several thousands of dollars on lighting for your event, you're so wrong! The room appearance can change drastically by just placing lots of tea lights around the room, and you can buy those by the hundreds! Think you have to spend thousands on hiring a professional lighting company come in and design your event? Try doing it yourself! You can create a look similar to the picture by purchasing spot lights from a hardware/garden store and positioning them around the room. To change the colors of the lights, place pieces of colored cellophane on top of the lens and secure with a rubber band. That's it! And, if you're having an outdoor wedding, you can even get solar spotlights and then you can reuse them in the your yard after the wedding!

So you don't have to be technologically inclined to do your own lighting- it's as simple as that!

Topic of the Week: Wedding Cakes

2008-06-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

I know every girl dreams of the traditonal white cake for her wedding, but the latest trend is not a big white cake, but a big purple, green, fuschia cake. It's out with the white, in with the bright. Instead of just using your wedding colors as an accent on your cake, how about painting the town (or the whole cake) red? Or blue, or purple or whatever colors your wedding are. Use fun, whimsical patterns and colors that reflect your style and personality!

Got big cake dreams on a sheet cake budget? I have the answer for you! Most bakers can make only a few layers actual cake, and then have "filler" tiers- pieces of styrofoam decorated to look like the rest of your cake! This will save you money and you can still have the big cake that only LOOKS expensive! This tip also works if you're having a small wedding with few guests, but still want the big cake. Just don't serve the wrong tier up to your guests!

So, now you can have your cake... AND eat it too!

Topic of the Week: Bridesmaids Dresses

2008-05-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

Ladies, long gone are the days of tulle, ruffles, and lame' (we hope). I'm sure we have all seen our fair share of horrible bridesmaids dresses- I know I have and I'm only 23! Luckily for the modern day bride, the 21st century has blessed us with OPTIONS!

Okay girls, I know we all want uniformity with our bridesmaids. Some brides want everyone to be the same- down to the hairstyle! In the modern day world where women have the freedom to do whatever we dream of- please do NOT dream for everyone to have the same hairstyle too! Each of your girls probably has their own style and personality about them that you love, so why would you want to cover that up? Everyone has a different body style, and what works well for one girl might not work for the next. The newest trend is to have one uniform color, but have the bridesmaid pick the dress that they feel the most comfortable in. Some girls need more support up top, some want a long dress to cover their cankles. Whatever the case, your 'maids will love you for letting them choose their own dress. If you decide to let them pick their own dresses though, make sure they are all from the same company or designer. The colors may look the same in the catalog, but they WILL look completely different next to everyone else's dress.

If you really feel like taking a walk on the wild side, you can go completely different and choose a general color, like green, and let them be creative! If your color is green, one girl can have a bright green and white tea length print dress, another in a long seafoam chiffon dress, another in an emerald halter... you get the point. You have a uniform theme instead of color, and it eliminates jealousy because the girls won't be looking at each other and fighting over who looks the best. Each girl will feel like she looks the best because she will be comfortable knowing she picked a dress that looks fabulous on her!

Shoes don't have to match either, ladies. Feet vary in size and shapes just like other body parts. Let them choose their own shoes, especially if they're all wearing the exact same dress.

DON'T make them all get the same hairstyle- you could actually make the pictures look worse because one hairstyle can look completely different on one girl because of hair texture or length. Just... don't. Please.

Now, I know you brides are thinking "Why should I listen to you? It's my day- it's my decision." You're absolutely right. You make the decisions. But try to put yourself in their shoes (literally- try them on and see if their comfortable and if you would want to wear them) They've been good friends to you, and they have to look at their picture for the rest of their lives too. You can have exact matching dresses, but find a way to let them be themselves on your day too.

Welcome!

2008-05-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

Well, hello there! Welcome to my blog! Basically, I'm an aspiring wedding planner. On here I'll post my ideas for my own wedding, and helpful tips and ideas for other weddings. I'll discuss growing trends in the industry, ways to save money, and many other topics!

So what makes me so qualified to do this? Well, I recently graduated from college with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, with a concentration in event planning. I have taken several event planning classes, and I'm pretty much obsessed with anything that has to do with event planning- ESPECIALLY with weddings! I read every bridal magazine, and watch every wedding show out there. I offered my assistance to a couple in LA with planning their wedding, and was sought out by a bride in London to help plan hers. I'm also getting ready to start studying to become a Certified Wedding Planner soon. I have worked in the catering business for four years now- I've worked for a winery, a national food service company, and now I'm a banquet supervisor at a Five Star, Five Diamond hotel in Missouri.

So now you know a little about me and what I love- so I hope you come back and visit me soon!