Wedding Tips Archives - Page 204 of 257 - The Best Bridal Store - Your source for everything you want to know about weddings

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 3 Comments

3 mistakes to avoid when planning your wedding in autumn

Autumn is a magical season, perfect for weddings with wonderful natural colors creating a romantic scene and the pleasant weather making an outdoor wedding possible. The months of September and October are peak wedding seasons for precisely this reason.

Nevertheless, there are some factors that can disrupt your wedding plans or make your wedding less exciting. Let us find out what you should consider when planning your wedding in autumn, so you can make sure it is done perfectly.

Never plan an outdoor wedding without a back-up plan

Just like a shower make take you unaware in spring or summer, autumn is a season when you may suddenly see an onslaught of frost. If you are having an outdoor wedding, keep a close tab on weather reports and make sure that you inform your guests about the likelihood of a dip in temperature. This will help them prepare for the natural elements and they won’t be left shivering throughout the function. It is a good idea to always have an indoor venue booked as back-up, should it rain or get too cold. You can still have your ceremony outdoors, but keep the reception inside, so your guests are comfortable. When choosing your wedding dress, make sure that you will be warm in it. If you anticipate a cold spell at the time, make sure you buy a matching stole or wrap to cover up your arms, so you feel comfortable when outdoors on the day.

Work with the natural colors of the season and not against it

Fall brings a wonderful palette of deep and dark colors to work with. Use this to your advantage. The naturally cool weather creates an ambiance that you can play with, rather than work against. If you are interested in using pastels and other bright tropical shades at your wedding, make sure you add some burnt orange, chocolate or dark reds as accent colors, so you balance out the look and keep it appropriate for the natural setting.

Remember autumn is the season for allergies and illnesses

This report on The Telegraph suggests that autumn is the season for flu and illnesses, and this is something we are all aware of even otherwise. With the cold weather drawing in, colds and sniffles begin their rounds. So, be prepared for it as you don’t want to end up being sick on your wedding day. Exercise and good sleep habits can help you be in better shape. Stay away from anyone who has caught the flu or is ill and practice regular hand washing and good hygiene.

Where your wedding day is concerned, remember to check on the pollen levels at the time, before you finalize an outdoor wedding venue. An outdoor wedding may deter those guests who are allergic to it from attending your wedding.

Autumn weddings are romantic, beautiful and exciting, as long as you have prepared well for it. So, get ready the right way and you will have the fantastic wedding that you always wanted. To find the perfect wedding dress for your big autumn wedding, visit us on Best for Bride, and make your pick today.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 3 Comments

Your essential After-the-wedding checklist

Your wedding day flew by like a dream, and you are finally a “Mrs.” The past few months may have been a whirlwind of activities, and you may be relieved that it is finally out of the way. However, there are a few pending tasks to complete, before you can put aside all your wedding responsibilities, and settle into your new life. Let us look at what they are.

Preserve your wedding gown

You may have worn your wedding gown just once, but it is a treasure trove of memories which has to be saved and put aside carefully. Who knows, it may serve you in the future when you renew your vows, or your daughter may someday want to get married in it! It is best that you do not attempt to do this yourself. Instead, have your wedding dress sent to a professional for preservation. Make sure you do this as soon as possible, so the stains and dirt do not set and become difficult to remove. If you will be going on your honeymoon soon after the reception, ask your MoH to take your gown to the cleaners, as early as is possible. Till then, store your gown in a dark and dry place, and keep it airtight and place it far from stains and dirt.

Sort out your gifts and send out your thank you notes

It is a good idea to create a list of the gifts as soon as you begin receiving them, and note down who sent what. This will allow you to prepare your thank you notes faster. Sending out a hand-written thank you note will be better appreciated than sending a printed one. Don’t delay mailing them, make sure your thank you notes are on their way within a month of your wedding. It will help you to have the stationery and gift list ready. You could even write them before the wedding, soon after you receive the gift, and get a head start on it.

Review your wedding photographs and videos

Get in touch with your photographer and videographer and find out how your wedding photos and videos are coming along. Review the prints and choose ones that you want to frame and display. Also, edit your video, so it doesn’t drag on for ever but includes the important highlights. While at your photographer’s, you may also want to get a few prints to share with your older guests who aren’t tech-savvy and cannot see your photos online. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Get your name changed

Now that you are officially married, it is time to inform all the necessary authorities of your name change. Collect your marriage license and visit the concerned government agencies to update your records with your change of name. Do the same at banks and other financial institutions. Also update your insurance plans and change beneficiaries where your deem appropriate, now that you are married.

Once these tasks are out of the way, you are all set to focus and enjoy your life together as a married couple. It is going to be a great journey ahead, so congratulations and all the best!

For more wedding tips and advice, visit us at Best for Bride.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 3 Comments

Say yes to these rules and stay away from wedding planning stress

Planning a wedding is no easy feat. Gone are the days when the options were limited, and you had to only choose from one or two choices and be done with it. With a plethora of options in wedding dresses, venues, wedding styles, flowers, caterers, invitations and more, brides can easily find themselves stressing out over the wedding planning. So, we thought we’d bring you this set of rules to follow and stay sane during this intensely stressful time. Read on and be prepared to handle it right

#Rule 1

I will stick to the budget, no matter what

Yes, it can be tempting to throw in an extra stash of dollars to get that designer dress, or go with the florist’s recommendation to add those imported delicate flowers to the bouquet and make it just “perfect.” Just remember that “perfect” is how you define it. You can have a perfect wedding even on a shoestring budget if you are content with what you choose. So, stick to what you can afford and don’t splurge. Decide that whatever you find within budget is good enough, and it will be just that.

#Rule 2

I won’t listen to others for the sake of making them happy

Your friend who has started her own baking venture may want to do your wedding cake, or your cousin may have requested to be your wedding photographer. It is also likely that you have friends or relatives who suggest that you do the wedding like they suggest. Keep your cool, and go with what they suggest only if you are convinced it is worthwhile. Unless your friends or relatives are professionals who have worked at weddings previously, don’t take on their offer for fear of offending them. If someone tries to force their preferences on you for your wedding, say you’ll think over it, but stick to your decisions. If these people genuinely care about you, they will understand, no matter what you decide.

#Rule 3

I will not stress over perfection

Everyone wants the best, but when you begin to obsess over it, you lose all the fun of wedding planning. So, don’t be worried if you can’t find the perfect colors for your wedding décor, or if you have to settle for plans that are not exactly as you anticipated. Be flexible with your plans and keep your expectations realistic, you will find wedding planning a lot more relaxing.

#Rule 4

I will be happy with how I look on my wedding day

So, you wanted to shed several pounds before your wedding, or had decided to get a few facials but couldn’t find time. Remember that you will be beautiful, no matter what. You may not even remember this plan to shed weight, when you think back over your wedding years later. So, don’t obsess over what you couldn’t do. Instead, go forward with optimism and you will enjoy your wedding day as you ought to.

What is important today may seem irrelevant tomorrow. So don’t dwell on what could have been, or whether it would be better if done differently. Just go with the flow, relax and enjoy things as they happen.. All that matters is that you have a great engagement and exciting wedding.

To help you with your wedding shopping needs or for more wedding related tips and advice, keep visiting us at Best for Bride.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 3 Comments

Have realistic expectations from your wedding planner: 3 things she cannot help you fix

Do you think that you can hand over the A to Z of your wedding planning to your wedding planner, and sit back and relax till the wedding day? If so, you are in trouble.

While a wedding planner can help you with the planning process, and even reduce the stress associated with the task, she isn’t going to be responsible for everything. After all, it is your wedding, and you should have a role in planning it. A wedding planner can only facilitate your plans and execute them smoothly.

Check out this article on the Huffington Post , where wedding planners share their thoughts on what they wish brides would realize. This will open your eyes to the fact that wedding planners have limitations, and it will be better for both parties if you set reasonable expectations from her.

Having said this, let us come to the three most important things that you are responsible for. Make a mental note of these, do your research and planning on time, and you will make your life (and hers) much easier.

Planning your guest list accurately

The guest list is your decision to make. Unless your wedding planner knows you personally, it is unlikely that she can help you with who should be dropped, or who should be added to your guest list. You should be decisive about the number of people attending, and she will do the bookings and planning for them. While your planner may be able to accommodate a few last-minute changes to plan, she is not a magician who can make arrangements for 50 extra guests, who simply turned up on the day. Similarly, make sure you get those RSVPs on time, and follow up with those who don’t send it. Or else, you will simply lose money on those extra bookings you made, just in case. Your wedding planner cannot do anything about guests not turning up.

Making sure your bridesmaids are where they are and when they should be

While your wedding planner can create a well planned schedule for the day, help to speed things along and fix last-minute hassles, there is no guarantee that she can have your girls ready and in-place, unless they make the effort to do so. So, entrust this task to your maid of honor, and choose your bridesmaids wisely. Make sure they are girls who will be serious with their responsibility of getting their hair and make-up done on time.

Sticking to deadlines

Your wedding planner will put you in touch with the right vendors, caterers, photographers and all other services you require. They will offer options, and also suggest deals with the best value for the money you spend. However, they cannot make your decisions for you. Many wedding tasks are time-sensitive, and unless you inform her of your final decision on time, you run the risk of losing a booking or missing an offer.

Remember that your wedding planner can only help you so much. Have realistic expectations, and follow her instructions. This way, you will be a great client, and she will ensure that your wedding plans progress in the best way that is possible. For more wedding planning tips and advice, visit us on Best for Bride.