Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 3 Comments

The Groom’s Guide—How involved should you be in wedding planning?

Congratulations on your engagement! Now that the inevitable’s happened, and your lady love has agreed to share her life with you, what do you do next?

Don’t be surprised if your level-headed and practical fiance has already taken on her new part-time job—wedding planning, and while you are wondering about what colors and flowers she talks about all the time, don’t forget that you too have to be involved in planning your marriage. Well, atleast to a certain extent! If you thought the safest thing to do is to nod “Yes honey”, we have some news for you! Better listen to what’s going on, or you’ll regret it later.

While your bride goes ahead with planning “most” of the wedding, here is information on where you should step in and lend a hand!

Money matters

When a woman becomes a bride, cutting down costs suddenly becomes an alien concept. This is where you enter the show. Be there when she plans the guest list and the venue. This will account for a huge part of the wedding budget, so make sure you help with sorting out who has to be there and who doesn’t.

Similarly, set a maximum amount for booking the venue and decorating it. Women are often taken in by the look of a place, and once they are bowled over, there is no taking it back. So, take the initiative to search out alternate venue locations before going to see her suggestion. Ease her into the idea that she can get what she wants for a lesser price. Make it your responsibility, and not only will your bride remember how considerate you were to help her, you will also save some money.

Often ask about the wedding, and offer to help

There is usually a point in the engagement when the bride bursts out into tears and complains that the groom doesn’t care about the wedding. Well, you do, but not with the obsession that she has! But, for her sake and yours, ask about the plans and progress every now and then. Lend a ear when she pours out her frustrations over which shade of peach goes with the green in the décor. You may not have the slightest idea of what she is talking about, but peace with reign!

Your few responsibilities include finding a good tux, picking your groomsmen and getting in shape for the wedding. So, do these with gusto, and she will be proud of you.

Be involved in things that matter to you

You do not have to touch the invitations, flowers or wedding shopping. Let her handle it. Where the cake is concerned, make suggestions only if you are asked. Nevertheless, go along and enjoy all the tasting sessions she plans.

Instead, concentrate on the wedding music. Be involved in deciding which songs ought to be played, and definitely those that shouldn’t be.

One mistake grooms make is to avoid the wedding registry. It’s your folly. If you want other gifts besides than silver tea cups and pretty home ornaments, you will have to register at places of your choice too. So, make sure you do!

For more wedding related tips and advice both for the bride and the groom, check out our website at Best for Bride.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 5 Comments

How to Get in Shape for your Perfect Wedding Dress

One of the biggest concerns that brides have is looking great in the wedding dress that they have chosen. Most brides feel as though they should lose a little weight before the attention is completely focused on them. If you are in this situation, you will find that there are many things that you can do to help improve your figure for your big day.

Eat Healthy

The first thing that you will need to do is to make sure that you are eating the right types of foods to remain healthy. There are many nutrients available in fruits and vegetables that are great for you when you are looking to lose weight.

You should also avoid things that are bad for your health, like caffeine, sweets, cigarettes and excessive drinking. These items can all hinder your goal of losing weight and can make it harder for you to get in shape for your wedding.

Exercise

Plan some time every day to get out and get some exercise. Not only will this help you get in shape quickly, but you will be able to eliminate some of the stress that you are undoubtedly feeling from all the wedding planning that you have been doing lately. This may be something that you prefer to do alone so that you can relax your mind each day.

You can also make your exercise routine part of a special bonding ritual that you have with your bridesmaids. If you are all looking to get in shape so that you will look great in your dresses, schedule some time at least once or twice a week that you can all meet up and go for a walk or run together. This is a great way to spend some time together and to get in shape with your friends before your wedding arrives.

Get your Fiancé in on the deal too

Another thing that you may want to consider is getting your fiancé involved with the exercise process. Whether he already has a gym that he attends regularly or is new to the exercise game, the two of you can enjoy a bit of time away from the wedding planning process to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Many may be surprised that the groom usually wants to lose a little weight before the wedding too. He will want to look fantastic for you in his tux on your wedding day as well as for the honeymoon. By exercising together, you will both be able to look and feel your best when the wedding arrives.

Conclusion

Getting in shape for your wedding is a simple process if you put your mind to it. You should keep your goals realistic and feel good about any progress that you make before your wedding day arrives. Regardless as to how much weight that you do or do not lose, your groom will find you beautiful in your wedding dress.

Best for Bride

Best for Bride is an all-inclusive wedding store that offers everything that a bride will need to look beautiful on her wedding day. Alterations are available, so if you do find your weight fluctuating between choosing your dress and the final measurement, you will still be able to make alterations as needed.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 3 Comments

The Right steps to finding the Best wedding planner

The term “wedding planner” broadly encompasses a number of services. Who you choose to hire for your wedding, should depend on what you want them to do. You can select between full service wedding planners and partial services. Either way, the final intention is to reduce your stress as the big day approaches, and have everything on track, in time.

We will now look at how you can find the right wedding planner from the numerous options available.

Full-service planner, a “day of” coordinator or Part-time Professional

If you want a professional to handle all the details of your wedding and you can afford it, choose a full-service planner. They will take care of all tasks including hiring and decorating the venue, creating invitations, booking the florists, caterers and band, all the way up to sending your thank you notes.

A day-of coordinator will take charge for everything on your actual wedding day. If you prefer to plan and execute everything yourself, but want help on the day, this is the ideal choice for you. Part-time professionals can help you perform chosen tasks. For example, you can hire them for décor suggestions, assistance with booking vendors etc. They charge a flat fee for the service they provide, and it is hence less expensive than a full-service planner.

Factors to account for when booking the service

The most important factor when booking a planner is your budget. A full-service planner is expensive, and they may cost up to 10 to 20% of your total budget. A “day-of” coordinator charges a flat fee for his job, and relieves you of the pressure of handling things on the day.

Compare costs of various planners and shortlist the option/options that seem ideal. Make sure that the names on the list are all professionals who are experienced and well-trained. The next part is conducting interviews to zero-in on the right choice.

Interviews and decisions

At the interview, obtain references of past weddings your wedding planner has conducted. Ask them how they work, how they handle emergencies and what ideas they can contribute to your wedding. The basic idea of this discussion is to determine how well the two of you can work together.

You will be spending a lot of time with your wedding planner, so it is important that you strike a rapport right from the start. You should be comfortable discussing your ideas, and he/she should welcome your ideas and be ready to build on it. If you are struggling to convince him/her of what you want, it is obviously not the right choice.

Discuss what will be included in the cost and make sure all the terms and conditions are included in the contract. Once you have finalized everything and your wedding planner has begun the planning process, be in touch regularly and ask for updates on the progress. With the right person to help you, you can be certain that your dream of having the perfect wedding will be realized with no difficulty.

Best for Bride has everything you need from wedding dresses, to décor ideas, invitations and more. Visit us today to get started with your wedding plans today.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 2 Comments

Planning and putting together a wedding emergency kit

You may have planned every detail of your wedding up to the very last bit, and be certain that everything will progress smoothly without hassles. While this optimism is good, it is also important to remember that a wedding emergency can happen at any time; and believe us when we say they do!

A few helpful items are all it takes to keep you safe and prepared for such situations; these are what make a wedding emergency kit. Let us take a look at what you should pack and carry in your bride’s survival kit.

Must-have’s

To decide on what to put into your survival kit, first think of what all could go wrong on the day. This will help you decide on what would be required to fix the issue, if it arises.

Your kit should also include all the things that you will require to freshen up and look great throughout the day. The following list covers all the essentials

Water

Make-up and nail polish to touch up with
Hairspray
Compact with mirror
Sunscreen if it is an outdoor ceremony
Small stash of perfume
Comb/hairbrush and bobby pins/hairpins
Extra earring backs
Emergency sewing kit with needles, thread, buttons, small scissors and safety pins
Face towels or wipes
Breath mints
Nail file
Sanitary napkins/tampons
Stain removal sheets
Vaseline to line your shoes with, if they begin to pinch
Scotch tape
Aspirin or Paracetamol
Band-Aids

Extras that help, and how to pack it all up

You can also add a quick snack like a cereal bar or biscuits; nothing messy, nor ones that crumble. Carry few lint removal sheets and throw in few straws, so you can have a drink before the ceremony, without having to touch up your lipstick.

All these essentials are small items which can be neatly packed into a medium-sized clutch or toiletry bag. You can choose a pretty little bag that is inconspicuous and can be carried around without drawing attention. Put your maid of honor in-charge of it. Make sure she puts it in a place which is easily accessible, so you can get to it whenever the need arises.

You could also put together a similar bridesmaid’s survival kit, for all the likely mishaps your bridal party may end up with. Another one can be arranged for the groom’s party too. These kits could include lint rollers, extra pairs of socks, an emergency sewing kit and corsage pins.

A ready made solution to the rescue

For some brides, just thinking of all that could go wrong on the day can be stressful. If you are such a worry wart, get your mother, sister or friend to put your kit together for you. Or even better, buy a ready made kit that has all the essentials packed neatly and ready to be taken with you on the day.

The Brides Fashion Emergency kit from Best for Bride is such a kit that contains all the essentials to rescue you from any wedding day crisis. Ensure that you are covered for any wedding emergency that may pop up by ordering it for yourself, and put all your wedding day fears to rest.