What about your Girls?

Bridesmaids' dresses have a bad reputation of being ugly and, unfortunately, some definitely live up to that expectation. I think this may have to do with the fact that the bride may pick a dress color and style that she thinks is pretty, but it doesn't fit the bridesmaid's body or skin tone; therefore, the dress looks very unattractive. I mean I don't think the bride intentionally went and picked out an ugly dress so that her bridesmaids wouldn't look good (but I guess you never know with some brides).
Here are some ways for a bride to avoid traumatizing a bridesmaid with a dress:

• Pick a color and let the bridesmaid pick the style in that color that best fits her body. Although this doesn't fit the skin tone matching it does allow a bridesmaid to pick something she will be comfortable in all night and not self-conscious.
• Pick a color and let the bridesmaid pick the tone or hue of that color. Your bridesmaids will still all match, they will just be in a more complimenting color of their skin tone.
• Let them know what color you want and they can pick a different style and hue of that color to have a dress style and color that fit them best.
• OR you could just tell them a theme you want to follow and they can find a dress for the theme! Ex. Country themed – they all pick out a cute little floral sundress and wear boots. They don’t have to match each other but they still definitely go with the wedding.

There are many options to help ensure that your bridesmaids are beautiful and comfortable in what they're wearing! Check them out!

Colors for Days

Picking the colors of your wedding can really distinguish your wedding from others. It helps create the atmosphere you desire for the occasion. The possibility of colors and décor are endless and you can do just about anything with any colors you choose. There aren't many bad colors to choose. Any colors can be beautiful if executed properly. But here are some main things to consider when planning:

• Venue: Pick colors that go with your venue. Consider what color the walls and floors are at your venue. Look at the décor they have on display or the style of the building. Will your colors go with it? If the walls are red and you want to have a bright pink and green theme . . . you may should reconsider your theme or venue.
• Season: It is important to consider what time of year your wedding is. Certain colors and themes are connected with a season and it may be confusing and difficult to have a bright, pastel wedding in the fall.
• Color Associations: When picking pairs of colors, consider what the colors are associated with. For example, unless you are going for a Christmas themed wedding, red and green are most likely not a great color scheme. Red and green could still look goof though if you maybe used different shades of the colors. Such as a more coral red tone and a pale green.
• Color Compliments: Research your colors. There are colors that naturally compliment each other and go together well and there are colors who do not. Maybe look for themes with complimentary, analogous, or monochromatic colors.

Just remember, this is your day and you can have it any way you want! These are just tips to help you make a decision that you won't regret and that will be as beautiful as you can imagine it! 

Flowers of the Hour

A nearly vital part of most weddings is the flowers. When I worked at a local wedding venue over one of my summers, one of my favorite parts of leaving was that I could grab as many flowers leftover as I could fit in my arms! They were always so beautifully put together and I would put the whole centerpieces all over my house and leave them for weeks until they turned brown because I loved them so much. From bouquets to centerpieces and boutonnières, flowers cover the scene at the traditional wedding so you need to be smart in the kind you choose in order to have the freshest blooms on display at the best price available.
You need to consider what kind of flowers you personally want. Look at colors and sizes. Consider which will go with your color scheme best. There are hundreds of options available to you. The arrangements you can make are endless: so explore. Also, knowing your options is important for your budget. Some bouquets can be just as beautiful with a switch in flowers to a similar bloom for a much cheaper price. 
What is the first step to saving? Seasonal flowers! By knowing what flowers are in season, you can plan around what will be blooming most and what there will most likely be an abundance of. Think supply and demand. The more of them there are the less you will pay and florists can be expensive. So do your research!
Here are some flowers for the seasons here:

This photo is from wikihow.com.

Also, another route would be to get creative! Flowers are in no way required in order for you to get married! There are some other options available for the unique bride that can be more cost-friendly too! Plus some of the other options can last forever without wilting or being as frail! Consider making homemade paper flowers or just using greenery or herbs. Try a handful of feathers or succulents! The possibilities are endless!
Here are some non-flower inspirations and ideas:

In order these are from:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/lilis2/51-reasons-to-crave-a-mint-themed-wedding?sub=2563445_1569297
http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2014/07/succulent-wedding-bouquets-centerpiece-ideas.html
https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/AccentsandPetals/11859561
http://www.popsugar.com/home/Alternative-Wedding-Bouquet-Pictures-8577070#photo-30647127

Let's Talk the Gown

 

It's time to talk about one of my favorite parts of being engaged: dress shopping! It can seem intimidating; especially, if you've been watching any of the hundreds of TLC wedding shows depicting dramatic brides competing with one another to win a prize or crazy families who seem to think it's really their special day instead of the couples'. Dress shopping can actually be really fun.

One thing that may help as you go through the process of picking dresses is to know the vocabulary associated with wedding dresses. I'm sure you have an image in your head of exactly the type of dress you are planning on getting but do you know how to describe it so that someone trying to assist you at a store can actually help you find it? Or, if you have no idea what you're looking for, maybe knowing some terms can show you options you didn't know you had for a dress.

Here are common options for the neckline of your dress and what they are called:


This image is from http://truebluemeandyou.tumblr.com/image/68162139135
Also, some styles have multiple names. This is just an overview.

Here are common dress silhouette types:


This image is from http://www.popsugar.com/fashion/Wedding-Dress-Shapes-Silhouettes-37161315?crlt.pid=camp.DedkTxGdBsRi&crlt.pid=camp.3llb6zHTJ6ON#photo-37161315

As for styles, they are endless! There are romantic dresses, lacy dresses, sexy dresses, southern style dresses, boho dresses, and the list goes on!
Think about what you want and what you look good in. Don't be scared to try new things either! You may not even be considering mermaid but try one on and fall in love! Just be open minded to anything!


Establish a Budget

When planning a wedding, one of the first topics that needs to be discussed is the budget. Traditionally, the bride's family pays for the wedding and the groom's family pays for the rehearsal dinner. Of course no one is bound to any rules about who will pay. If the couple ends up being the one who pays for everything, then they can choose exactly what they want and celebrate in the reality that they made their love story come true. If everyone in both families wants to contribute, then great! The more the merrier!
Don't get discouraged if you don't have thousand and thousands of dollars to spend on a wedding. You can have a beautiful wedding on nearly any budget! There are hundreds of sites, articles, and blogs on saving money and planning a wedding. All you have to do is type it into Pinterest and you'll get thousands of pins about people who spent next to nothing on their gorgeous weddings.
One thing is for sure though, if you're on a tight budget, you have to put a lot of effort into planning, waiting, and finding the deals. The great thing is there are so many options now that you can pick and choose from a great variety. I saw an article once (that I can no longer find) on a couple who only spent close to nothing on their wedding because instead of wedding gifts, they asked their family and friends to contribute something to their wedding! They had a friend who was the photographer, a friend that made the cake, friends that came to help decorate, and so much more! The possibilities are endless! So plan a budget but don't let it limit you! And remember, the goal of the day is for you two to be hitched at the end, so don't let anything discourage you!

Where Do You Begin

Congratulations! You're engaged! This is one of the most exciting times in your life but it can be one of the most stressful too. The trouble is that most brides don't know how to begin the huge task of planning one of the most special days of their life. My goal is to help relieve that stress and keep this special time as exciting and fun as it should be!

To begin with, enjoy the moment. Think about what it is that makes your relationship so special. Think about what your relationship means to you and the things that define you as a couple. These things will help you plan the perfect wedding for you! Your wedding should be an outward expression of your love for one another. It isn't a show for your guests. It's not supposed to be miserable. It's supposed to be a celebration of the beginning of a lifelong commitment. It's supposed to be joyful. It's a beautiful day marking the union of two souls. Just think about what your values and priorities are and go from there.

Good luck to you in this wonderful adventure you are starting! I pray that it hold many blessings for you both.