Why say yes if it’s not your dress?

Wedding dress shopping is one the most difficult things I have encountered in wedding planning. I thought I had prepared myself for it. I read countless blogs, shopped countless websites had my favorites all picked and ready to go, but once I got into the store with my consultant and had all my favorites lain out before me, I felt hopelessly lost.

There I was on the green carpeted stage, fresh faced and hair recklessly thrown back trying on dresses with three other brides-to-be. Each of us fighting for space to try out our best bridal strut in this or that dress. My consultant bouncing between myself and two other brides. Some of the dresses were beautiful yes, but I felt so unbridelike.

I felt about as bride-like as the hangers the dresses were displayed on. 

Dresses I thought I would love ended up being the enemy. Everything felt so off the shelf, it was too “mass-production” for my taste. I know you might be thinking “that’s what you get when you go to a store . . .” but reality television makes you feel like everyone has that moment where they slip into a dress and sparks fly and tears roll. Even my entourage was relatively non-plussed about the dresses. Sure they would like some more than others but that’s what happens whenever you try on gorgeous expensive clothing.

I’m lucky in that I have time before my wedding, we’re still over a year away from it. But time goes fast and consultants have a way of making you feel the pressure. I remained strong and let them know I’d be back, I just wasn’t feeling the magic despite having been done up in every single accessory a bride could want.

Long story short, although my initial dress shopping trip wasn’t as magical as I thought it would be, I’m back on the horse and trying things I didn’t think I would like and trying to figure out what my dream dress is. Throughout the dress trying process don’t let others, consultants, moms, bridal party, grooms or otherwise pressure you into a dress if you aren’t feeling the magic.

Get your organization on! (part two)

Now that we have our binder started, let’s get into the details now. In Part One, we went over the basics to keep in your binder, extra paper, divider tabs, pens/pencils, post-its etc. But how exactly should we organize things. Well I have suggestions, but they are only suggestions. Everyone functions best on their own level of organization, I have 8 specific main tabs, but I’ve seen as many as 25. So how ever many you find necessary is perfect. My main 8 are as follows:

1. Budget: Spreadsheet and Breakdown
2. Calendar: Countdowns, Deadlines, Schedules/Timelines
3. Guests: Lists, invitations, RSVPS, Hotel
4. Contacts: Vendors and Emergency
5. Ceremony: Decor, Wedding Party Processional, Music, Officiant, Marriage License, Programs, etc.
6. Reception: Decor, Menus, Playlists, Rentals, Seating Chart, Favors, etc.
7. Vendors: Photographer, Videographer, Caterer, Baker, Venue, Florist, DJ, etc.
8. Odds n’ Ends: Honeymoon Details, Gift Registry, Bridal Shower, etc.

These are just my suggestions, everyone likes different levels of organization. If you would rather have more tabs, less tabs or the same amount of tabs but with different headers go for it! Its your binder make sure it makes sense to you!

Get your organization on! (part one)

So now that we’re wading through the millions of wedding ideas we have flowing, let’s get them wrangled into one place that you can take with you wherever you may need them. No I’m not talking about pinning your ideas on Pinterest, I talking about once you start bookings and guest lists and all the nitty gritty details. We’re going to travel all the way back to the days of primary school and make a binder to keep you (and everything else) together.

When I started my wedding planning adventure I though I would be able to easily keep everything together in a good old fashioned journal. I was wrong. I like to physically have things (fabric swatches, color swatches, pictures, etc) if you can name it, I tried to keep it in this journal. That was until my journal became a mess of disorganization and jumbled thoughts, it was then that I turned to our old friend the binder.

Now you can either stick with me and make our own binder, or you can purchase one pre-made. Personally I like this binder by none other than The Knot. It comes pre-organized, however, I like mine a little more personal.

The most important element of this little project is a binder of course. You can go the pretty flowery frilly route or you go could with something a little more utilitarian. Either way mine absolutely had to have pockets. Like I said I like “things”, from samples of pearls to fabric to invitations, you have to have a safe place for it all.

Some of the little necessities for your planning and organizing binder are dividing tabs, loose leaf lined paper (for ideas and doodles), a zippered pouch (or a few), pens/pencils, and post-its of various sizes.

A big necessity is a good calendar, there are several routes to find a good one. I chose to look up free printable ones with pretty borders leading me to this 2015 calendar with fun and funky patterns. Or there’s always templates on various document creating programs. Either way, make it a good one that you can live with for the next year or so.

Now that we’ve gotten our basics into the binder, spend some time gathering all of your information and bits n’ pieces that you have compiled and be sure to to check out Get Your Organization On! part two.

So you’re planning a wedding

So you’re prepping for the big day, but one of the biggest questions in wedding planning is where do you start anymore? Today’s constant flow of information being thrown at you from every angle imaginable can make everything seem overwhelming. It seems like everyone has their entire wedding and then some planned out on Pinterest, plus the trends and fashions of today are constantly in flux and flow, it could almost make your head spin. So where do you start?

Some may say start with a venue, or your guest list, color palette, the date etc. etc. the list goes on and on and on. Somehow every detail and aspect is interconnected and seems like you can’t make one decision without making at three others beforehand. There really is no correct place to start, so why not start with you (and your significant other of course)? What do you want for this big day? Not to put any pressure on, but most of us don’t get wedding redos, so lets make this one exactly the way you want it.

Being a fellow Bride-To-Be myself, the place I go for inspiration are magazines and of course my Pinterest boards, but not for the categories you would think. When I reach for an inspiring magazine, I go for something in the cuisine genre, because I place a lot of importance on that aspect of my wedding, and let’s face it a majority of my guests will too. I hear it all the time that guests are only coming for the free food (and you but mostly the food). When I’m cruising for Pinspiration I head to my fashion, craft and home boards. Those boards are my go-to’s because I put things there that speak to me on a personal level and that’s what I want in a wedding more than anything. I refuse to be put into a wedding theme category no matter how generic anyone may think my wedding will be.

That’s just it, not every Bride or Groom will fall into the same exact categories as someone who choses the same color palette centerpieces they did. Go to the things that you know reflect your personalities. The worst thing you can do is box yourself into a category. Do not be afraid to be inventive or creative, who knows, you could end up the next big wedding sensation!

Hello Wedding World!

And what a big world it is! We are covering everything in the latest styles in bridal hair, dresses, and shoes but let’s not forget our gentlemen’s fashion too. We will share with you our favorite DIYs of the upcoming seasons, the latest decor tips and trends, and so much more! Our Wedding Specialists will be here to help make your day a perfect picture of happiness and romance.