10 Bridesmaid Dress Tips

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Brides almost always choose the closest women in their lives to be their bridesmaids. They’re there for you when you need someone most, they make you laugh, and they know you better than you know yourself. So you want them to look just as beautiful as you when they stand beside you at your wedding…..right? So here are some tips from The Knot to picking the best dresses!

Chris Diset Photography
  1.       Track the Trends. What’s hot now? Hemlines with a little pop of sequins for that glam effect.
  2.         Be Flexible. Why not pick the color you want and then let your maids choose their own style?
  3.         Search for Inspiration. Surf the web. Even if you don’t spot your dream dress, you may find other ideas.
  4.         Shop Early. Get your girls together to scope out silhouettes that everyone can agree on.
  5.         Make Black-Tie Optional. Floor length gowns in seersucker or chiffon fabrics feel less formal.
  6.         Ace the Accessories. Cool-toned dresses go with silver; for warm hues, try gold.
  7.         Tap into Old Hollywood. A rhinestone belt, ruffle collar and knee length hem are so Grace Kelly.
  8.         Do Your Homework. Study up on shapes that flatter all figures, like V-necks and A-lines.
  9.         Find the Right Price. Consider cost when selecting a dress.
  10.       Get a Tailor. Find affordable alterations around your area and make sure the dresses fit to a tee to ensure everyone looking their best!

Budget Ideas: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

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Every couple wants to save money on their wedding. But there are good ways-and bad ways. I’ve seen so many weddings where they think its better to do things on their own and it looks homemade. So if you want to cut some costs, here are some great tips from Brides magazine to how.

Invitations
Good: Printing a single card with both ceremony and reception details
Bad: Texting or emailing the invites
Flowers
Good:
·      Decorating with potted bulbs, herbs, or fresh praoduce instead of just cut stems
·      Buying flowers that are blooming locally (Helllooo no shipping!)
·      Putting your own money into the flowers that will be in the spotlight, like your bouquet and the centerpieces
·      Having each bridesmaid carry a few full-bodied blooms, like hydrangeas or chrysanthemums. This way you don’t have to spend extra money on the little flowers!
·      Flanking the altar with flowering branches like cherry or apple blossoms instead of large cut-flower arrangements
Bad:
·      Skipping centerpieces all together. Bare does NOT look beautiful
·      “Borrowing” flowers from your neighbor’s garden- or anyone’s garden in that matter
·      Using cheap stems that you don’t even like or clash with your color scheme just so you’ll have flowers everywhere
·      Asking each bridesmaid to bring her own bouquet
·      Marking the ceremony location with a bunch of balloons
Food and Drink
Good:
·      Forgoing the champagne toast and having guests clink with whatever they’re already drinking
·      For an informal wedding, serving a pasta buffet
·      Booking a site that lets you supply your own liquor (Buy by the case to save even more!)
Bad:
·      Cutting the toast
·      Doing chips, pretzels, and baby carrots and hoping that people will have shown up already eaten
·      Writing “BYOB” on the invitation
Wedding Cake
Good: Ordering a cake for just two thirds of your guest list. Some will skip dessert or leave before you cut it
Bad: Asking mom to make Jell-O molds- everyone always raved about them when you were growing up
Negotiating
Good: Asking vendors for a discount but expecting to compromise- maybe that means shortening the cocktail hour
Bad: Asking vendors to donate stuff- believe me, if you keep asking for deals, vendors aren’t going to want to give it to you!
Here are some additional tips to saving some extra cash!
  •         Trimming the guest list- If you haven’t socialized with someone in a year or more, cross them off the list. Facebook friends don’t count
  •         Serving wine, beer, and a signature cocktail, not a full bar
  •         Picking a predecorated, fully furnished site. You wont need to spring for rentals and decorative items to make it look photo ready
  •         Having a lunch reception
  •         DIYing your wedding stationary
  •         Scheduling the event during the locales off-season and/or on a quiet day. (i.e. a mountain resort not during the winter)
  •         Eloping! Just kidding.s

The "Plus One" Controversy

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There's the never-ending controversy of whether or not people should be able to bring a "plus one" to weddings.  When trying to control wedding costs, the easiest thing to do is limit the guest list.  So what is the true etiquette of bringing a date?  Emily post says ....


"Spouses, fiancees/fiances, and live-in partners must be invited.  Issuing an invitation to a boyfriend or girlfriend is up to the bride and groom's discretion."


"Allowing single guests who aren't attached to significant others to bring dates is a thoughtful gesture, but one that is certainly not required and often not realistic."


And if it's good enough for Emily Post, it's good enough for me! :)  Ok, now that we have the official etiquette out of the way, let's look a little further.  A wedding is an intimate, personal event, so a friend's random date they have never met, is literally taking the place of one person they could have invited.  I think it is a wonderful gesture to invite all significant others, but do not feel the need to give "and guest" to unattached guests.  If you know your friend or cousin whomever has a significant other, call them to find out the signifiant other's name to put on the invitation.  


Whatever you both decide is best for your situation is perfectly fine.  However, my only advice is draw a line in the sand and make no exceptions!  For example, "all couples in relationships are okay, but no first dates or friends as dates."  I literally have a friend who's boyfriend was recently invited to a wedding where the couple chose who could bring their significant others and who could not!  Talk about lots of hurt feelings!!!

Alternative Wedding Locations

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Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life and there's so many different ways to make it special and personal to you! The most traditional option is to have it at a hotel ballroom. However, there are many options that will create a beautiful and memorable wedding for you. Below are some ideas and alternatives to make your reception as amazing as you can!


Sports Field:
Cakes and Kisses
 Jack K Hou Photography
DomFoto.com
Ski Lodge:
 Mitchell Dyer Photography

Farm:

http://wedding-dresses.more-tips.com/

Zoo:

Furious Photography

Art Gallery:

A Bryan Photo

Botanical Garden:

Lin and Jirsa Photography
College campus
  • Most college campuses let alumni get married at the school!
Industrial loft
Private home
  • Think of close family and friends who might have gorgeous homes and will be willing to open it up to you! This is a great way to be original and save some money!
Racetrack

No matter where you decide to have your wedding, it will be beautiful but I hope these ideas help you see other ways to be original!

Franciscan Gardens, San Juan Capistrano

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Okay, I just want to start out by saying how amazing

Franciscan Gardens in San Juan Capistrano

is! It is such a gorgeous venue to have any wedding at. Not only is it a beautiful place to get married, they also have amazingly delicious food because they are owned and operated by the fabulous

24 Carrots Catering

. Unlike a lot of caterers who have preset menus, they customize menus for every bride. Contact

Anne

if you have any questions at all! She’s amazing!

Check out their gorgeous pictures and their 2012 pricing sheet and a list of all that is included in their package with the site rental fee.

Amanda Doublin Photography

Left: Amanda Doublin Photography, Right: Marilyn Nakazato Photography

Amanda Doublin Photography

Kate Noelle Photography

Jessica Holley Photography

Marilyn Nakazato Photography

Marilyn Nakazato Photography

Anne Watson Photography

Amanda Doublin Photography

Jessica Holley Photography

Insure Your Wedding Ring!

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Now-a-days there is insurance for everything. From our cars to our houses, we insure what is most valuable to us! So why not insure your engagement ring? Thanks to The Knot for this great article on tips to insure your most special piece of jewelry! It's easier than you think!
John Partridge Photography


What It Is:
There are a few ways to insure your engagement ring. Ring insurance can be purchased as an extension (also called a "rider") for your renters' or homeowners' policy. Renters' and homeowners' policies cover the items in your home, but only up to a certain dollar value. Expensive, special items, like engagement rings, art, and electronics are guaranteed through scheduled personal property coverage -- an insurance policy extension that covers particular items. Another option is to insure your ring through a company that specializes in jewelry insurance, which might offer more coverage than a standard homeowners' policy (replacing a lost or stolen ring rather than paying a set amount of cash, for instance).

Who Needs It Most:
Any couple with jewelry that has high material or sentimental value -- whether your wedding and engagement ring cost $500 or $50,000, an insurance policy is a way of honoring not just their financial value but what they represent. The sentiment behind your ring is priceless, but the ring itself can be replaced -- if they're insured -- in the event that something happens to them.

What to Know About How It Works:
You will need to provide your receipts, as well as an appraisal (which costs a small fee; you can get an appraisal from a certified gemologist). And remember, if you move after the wedding, make sure your "ring rider" follows you. Some couples have the ring insured at the bride's house (or her parents') before the wedding, but forget to add it to the policy for their new home when they move in together.
If you don't have a renters' or homeowners' policy, there is an alternative way to insure your ring: Certain insurance companies offer policies through jewelers on individual pieces -- ask your jeweler if they work with an insurance company to offer ring insurance. These kinds of policies can vary widely company by company (usually a jeweler will offer a policy that's underwritten by smaller company), so ask specific questions about the level of coverage provided.

Questions To Ask Before You Choose a Policy:
  • Is the ring covered if you lose it accidentally, or only if it's stolen?
  • How will the company replace the ring -- with a check? Or will they require you to purchase a replacement through a specified jeweler
  • What if it's a vintage ring or other unique piece? How will the quality and size of your diamond -- and that of a replacement if needed -- be documented?
  • Is the ring insured to full cost or a fraction of it?
  • How will you need to prove the ring vanished if you make a claim?
  • Are there any circumstances that aren't covered? (What if your ring flies off at the circus and gets trampled by elephants, for example?)

Average Cost:

The yearly cost to insure your ring is $1 to $2 for every $100 that it would cost to replace. In plain English, this means that if your ring would cost $9,000 to replace, you might expect to pay between $90 and $180 per year to insure it -- or slightly more in cities where the risk of theft is higher.

How To Get Your Cost Down:
Buy a vault or safe to keep jewelry in when it's not being worn. (You can also keep paperwork like appraisals in the safe, so you'll always know where they are if needed.)

What To Remember if You Only Remember One Thing:
When you shop for a "ring rider" policy, make sure to read the fine print: A good policy will cover every potentially ring-threatening situation from theft to damage to accidentally dropping it in the garbage disposal.