Band or DJ?

Music can set the whole mood of your wedding. The entertainment is a really important factor. Do you wish to have a romantic dinner party or dance your night away? Either way you need to consider what type of music to have. Band or DJ. There are pros and cons to either way but it really depends on what you want. A DJ is generally cheaper but a band can be more personal and unique. DJs have a wide variety of any type of music at their fingertips but a band can personalize songs in a way that a DJ cannot. Either way you must really do your research. Interview the person and look up reviews of their previous gigs. There is a site called Gigmaster.com that allows you to look up bands in your area and it provides reviews for each along with pictures of previous events. Check it out and don't forget about planning this key part of your event!

Dinner Time!

Food at your wedding tends to be an important aspect that guests look forward to. Whether you decide to serve just cake or a full three course meal, you need to consider what fits your budget and your taste. Consider the theme of your wedding, the location, your budget, your guests, and the types of foods you want to serve. 

There are many ways to serve your food. Some of the basic ways are: buffet, family style, stations, plated and heavy passed hors' doeuvres. The buffet style allows guests to get their own food at a main station that has all the food available for them to load on their plate. Family style serving is when each table is given their own bowl of each food item and they can load their plate from the bowls on their table. They don't have to get up and they can pick and choose what they want on their plate from your menu. At a stations style serving, guests can go to different areas to get different types of food. They have options and it's spread out so guests aren't waiting in a long line to get their food. In a plated serve style wedding, guests are served an individual plate of food already prepared by the caterer. You can also plan not to have a full meal served. The hors' doeuvres style serving allows for a more casual setting and guests are able to get as much or as little as they want in small bite-size servings. 

Look for a caterer and ask them what they generally do. Often, their staff is accustomed to serving a certain way and the serving will run smoother if you do it their way. If you desire to serve it a certain way, discuss it with the caterer to make sure they can do it before you hire them for the job. 

Also, when planning to serve food, consider guests' allergies. If there is a child who is extremely allergic to peanuts, either pick a menu not including peanuts or plan for a separate meal available for that guest. It would really put a damper on your day if an ambulance has to come to take someone to the ER for an allergic reaction. 

Good luck in planning! 

source: http://loveincmag.com/serving-style-which-catering-option-is-best-for-you/

http://www.marthastewart.com/274748/cocktail-party-hors-doeuvres/@center/276959/cocktail-hour

http://9weddingwebsites.com/wedding-catering-ideas/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/29/brunch-wedding_n_3618629.html

Do It Yourself!

A great way to save money on your wedding is by making your own decorations! There are so many easy ways to make your wedding personalized and beautiful without spending loads of money on Etsy or wedding sites. It also allows for you to make it the way you want! Instead of spending more money and time looking for the perfect item you need, you can make it exactly how you want it. Creativity isn't even necessary! The internet is one of the greatest tools you have for planning and getting ideas! Etsy and Pinterest are great sources for ideas on DIY things. I will be posting soon with ideas I have found for different easy DIY decorations!

First Look Or Traditional Way?

The moment the groom finally sees his beautiful bride is one of the most magical moments of the wedding. Most people definitely agree that it is a moment they want remembered at their wedding. When he gets to see her is up to the couple though. Many people are now considering a first look between the bride and groom rather than the traditional way of waiting until she walks down the aisle. There are many pros and cons to both and there is really no correct way. It always depends on the couples' desires for the wedding.
The traditional way is due to a "superstition" that it is bad for the bride and groom to see each other before she walks down the aisle. According to an article on My Wedding Chat blog, the tradition of not seeing the bride before the vows, began when arranged marriages were common. There was a fear that the groom would back out of the wedding if the bride wasn't as beautiful as he wanted. Lucky for us, arranged marriages aren't commonplace here now and, most of the time, both parties generally know what they're getting when they marry another person.
There are many articles stating the pros and cons of both ways but I'll just a list a few that are big for me.
Traditional:
Pros:

• The walk down the aisle is even more magical. 
• You get to share the moment of excitement with the people at your wedding. (This may be a con to some people)
• When you the your bridal party pictures, they will actually be of you as a married couple.

Cons:

• Pictures afterwards can be rushed and will keep your guests waiting. 

First Look:
Pros:

• More intimate moment for the couple before they are married.
• More time for photos and you won't keep your guests waiting after the ceremony. 
• You'll be fresh for photos so you'll look your best.

Cons:

• Less magic in walking down the aisle. 
• You won't be married in your photos.

This is by no means a comprehensive list but it includes a few things to consider when deciding. I've even seen photographers who require a first look so they have time to get the photos they feel are necessary. Talk to your photographer about it and to your future spouse. Think about what you value most. Neither is a wrong decision. Whatever works best for you is the best decision! Best of luck!

Sources: http://www.weddingshoppeinc.com/blog/index.php/2015/05/11/should-you-take-first-look-wedding-photos/

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