Wedding Day Tips for the Bride

Brides have a lot to think about when planning their wedding but most forget one simple thing. They forget that they have to take care of themselves on the day of the wedding. It is important that brides remember that this is suppose to be their special day. Everyone will be coming to see the Bride and you need to look relaxed and refreshed.

At the top of every Bride's list should be to relax and enjoy her day. Whether you are a DIY Bride or have hired a Wedding Consultant, it is now the big day and you deserve to have just as much fun as your guest do. Here are a few tips that will help you get through your wedding day.

Tip #1 Makeup...It's not hard to Do!

About 3 weeks before the big day create a wedding day make-up bag. While purchasing your makeup for the wedding ask the sales consultant for samples of everything that you are purchasing. Place them in another little make-up bag. On the day of your wedding give it to a friend, bridesmaid, or family member to hold. Then when you need a quick touch up you have your handy little makeup bag nearby. Don't forget to wear waterproof mascara.

Sweetie Tip: Dab a little perfume just behind your ear, so when your sweetie goes to hug you, he is treated with a sweet hello!

Tip #2 Food for Thought!

While food may be the last thing on your mind, it is important that you have something nourishing to eat before you walk down the aisle. It is going to be a long day and you will need all the energy you can get. Most brides don't get a chance to enjoy the food at the reception anyway, so pack an energy bar in the emergency kit, have a fruit and veggie tray on hand as you and your girls are getting ready or have a breakfast brunch before the activities get started. Sure you will still fit in your dress.

Sweetie Tip: Pre-arrange for something to be waiting in the honeymoon suite after the wedding to share with your sweetie. Most couples are starving after the wedding day and will need to refuel before the wedding night festivities!!!!

Tip #3 Cinderella's Slipper...OUCH!

  Yes those strappy heels are gorgeous for the ceremony and for the pictures afterwards too but kick off those heels and get comfortable. Find a pair of flats, slip-ons, sneakers, or flip flops that won't have your feet bruised and battered for days to come. Make it fun and get your bridal party all a matching pair. What a great photo opportunity as well!

Sweetie Tip: Don't forget about your sweetie...The shoes that most grooms wear aren't that comfortable for the ceremony either. So he may be more comfortable in a pair of converse as well. Check out the Mr. and Mrs. flipflops on etsy.com

Here are just a few tips for you to consider. Remember that fun should be had by all...including the Bride. Relax and enjoy your wedding day!

Grooms Timeline

Okay in my search for things for the Grooms I found this site called "The Plunge" www.theplunge.com built especially for you guessed it Grooms. What I found I thought was hilarious...not the type of wedding timeline I would put togther but......for kicks and giggles I reposted it just for the fun of it.

Traditional Timelines will include advice on when to interview the vendors, select your flowers, and pick a videographer. Screw that. Yes, that junk all has to happen, but if you spent your time stressing over all that, well, you'd be bridezilla.

Instead, we've streamlined the wedding planning checklist to focus only on the things that you actually need to care about.

5-10 years before the wedding

• Have as much meaningless sex as possible.
• Drink an unhealthy quantity of alcohol.
• Spend more time with your buddies than family or girlfriends.
• Care more about fantasy football than a relationship.
• Have at least one pregnancy scare.

3-5 years before the wedding

• Have a serious girlfriend.
• Break up with her in a spectacularly irresponsible, immature fashion.
• Start to feel like maybe, kinda, don't-tell-anyone, maybe you should settle down and find the right girl.

1-3 years before the wedding

• Meet your fiancée.
• Think that okay, maybe it wouldn't suck so bad if you were in a long-term, serious relationship with her.
• Rethink that last point. Damn. Maybe you're not ready? Go back and forth.
• Meet her parents.
• Move in with her. Wonder how that differs from marriage. Wonder how that differs from marriage.
• Push off her engagement ultimatum.
• Finally, after hemming and hawing, decide that what the hell, she's the one.
• Save up for an engagement ring. Figure out how much to spend.
• Buy the engagement ring.
• Ask her father for permission...Or not.
• Plan your wedding proposal.
• Pop the question.
• Announce your proposal to the world.
• Fantasize about eloping.
• Negotiate the length of your engagement.

9 months - 1 year before the wedding

• Figure out your role in the wedding and the groom's responsibilities.
• Understand how wedding porn is corrupting your bride.
• Suffer through an engagement party.
• Start planning the wedding guest list.
• Begin planning the wedding budget.
• Approach the parents about awkward money stuff.
• Ensure she doesn't set the wedding date on Super Bowl Sunday.
• Seriously consider a destination wedding.
• Pick your best man and groomsmen.

6-9 months before your wedding

• Find ways to tighten the wedding budget.
• Start planning your honeymoon.
• Complete your wedding registry.
• Make the tough guest list decisions.
• Pay just a little, little bit of attention to the wedding reception venue selection.

3-6 months before your wedding

• Sign up for dance classes. Start practicing.
• Pick a DJ/band for the wedding reception.
• Be thankful you're not your fiancée who has to deal with much, much more detailed junk.
• Purchase your wedding bands.
• Help your parents plan the rehearsal dinner.
• Embellish like hell: submit a wedding announcement to The New York Times.

1-3 months before your wedding

• Knock out the marriage license.
• Taste the wedding cake.
• Buy (yes, buy) your tux.
• Make sure the groomsmen have taken care of their formal wear.
• Handle the wedding day transportation.
• Attend your bachelor party.
• Buy gifts for the groomsmen.
• Buy a gift for your bride.
• Understand the marriage tax consequences.

1 week - 1 month before

• Call/confirm any guests from your side of the family.
• Perfect your moves for the first dance.
• Prepare your rehearsal dinner and wedding night speeches.
• Write your wedding vows.
• Give the DJ/band song instructions.

A few days before

• Pick up formal wear.
• Get your hair cut.
• Confirm transportation.
• Check on logistics for your family's share of out-of-town guests.
• Keep plenty of cash on you for emergencies.
• Practice vows.
• Confirm honeymoon logistics.
• Start packing for honeymoon.

Day/night before

• Give marriage license to officiant.
• Give gifts to groomsmen.
• Attend the rehearsal dinner.
• Stay sober. (But just in case, learn how to fight the hangover.)

Wedding Day

• Warm your cold feet.
• Give rings to best man.
• Goof off and relax with your buddies. Seriously.
• Get married. Compared to everything else, the wedding ceremony will be quick and painless.
• Don't blow it in the bedroom. Have mind-blowing wedding night sex.

Afterwards

• Recuperate on your honeymoon.
• Help with wedding thank you notes.
• Overcome post-wedding stress.
• Don't get your bride pregnant.

All About the Dress

This is the single most exciting time of the planning process for your wedding and why shouldn't it be! Every bride wants to look gorgeous on her wedding day. After all, all eyes will be on that traditional moment when your grand entrance. Today there are so many choices....Satin, Lace, Silk, A-line, Ball gown and the list goes on.

So how do you find that perfect dress. The first thing you should do before visiting a bridal salon is get an idea of which styles of dress you prefer. Look through wedding magazines and pull out pictures of things that you like. This will help the consultant at the salon understand your vision. Also take a friend or someone that will be supportively honest with you.

First think about the silhouette of your dress. Depending on your body type certain styles can flatter your appearance or do just the opposite. A-line, Ballgown, and Mermaid are just a few silhouette to become a familiar with.

A-Line Wedding Dresses

A- Line Dresses have no marked waist and the seams run vertically down from the shoulders into a flared skirt creating an "A" shape. If you are thicker around the middle, this would be a very nice choice for you. It will hide those less than flattering features and accentuate your best. A-Line dresses also can create the illusion of height for shorter brides because of the long lines. This style of dress is truly perfect for all body types.

Ball Gown Wedding Dresses

One Word...Cinderella. When most brides think of the wedding dresses this is it. Ballgowns are very formal with fitted bodices and very full skirts. Many styles from full circles of tulle to tiered layers of fabric offer a soft romantic look. The full skirt of the ball gown is ideal for disguising full hips and thighs while accentuating the waistline. It is great for slightly taller brides. This gown can be overwhelming for petite or smaller framed brides.

Empire Waist Wedding Gowns

 The waistlines on empire style gowns are raised to right below the bustline which allows the skirt to flow loosely and flow down over the hips. This gown is flattering on most body types especially  brides that are smaller on top.

Mermaid Wedding Dress

The mermaid dress is contoured to the body from the shoulders down to the knees. At the knees the gown flows out giving a sexier look. This dress will accentuate your hourglass figures. This dress does not work if you are heavier on top and smaller on the bottom. It will make you appear top heavy

Sheath Wedding Dress

The sheath gown has no true waist and follows every curve of the bride. Most sheath have detachable trains. Brides that want to show off their figure in their wedding gown would look for this style of dress.This dress doesn't allow for too many body flaws due to it's slim shape. The long lines can elongate the look of your body so this dress would also be a good look for shorter brides.

You're Engaged ...Now What?

So you're Engaged Now what! After you scream, shout, and cry for joy....share the good news with family and close friends. They will be just as thrilled as you are and will probably spread the news just as quickly as you will.

Here is a "Get Started" list.

1. First the Bride and Groom should sit down and decide before making any plans, if their special day will be formal or informal. This will help you in your search for a venue, your design, and especially finding the perfect wedding dress.

2. Next determine what your budget is and who will pay for what. Traditionally the Brides's family pays for all the expenses of the wedding and the reception. This usually means that the bride's family determines the size and style of the wedding. The new trend is for both families to either split the cost 50/50 or each family donates a set amount towards the total. However alot of working couples are choosing to pay for the entire celebration themselves.

New trends or old traditions which ever route you choose, this is one of the first conversations that you and your fiance should have with your families. It will save on alot of confusion and frustration in the long run.

3. After searching though the magazines, collecting your ideas, hire a wedding planner. Whether you are a DIY Bride or have no idea where to get started hiring a Planner/Consultant may be your biggest lifesaver. They will be able to do as much as you like or as little as you want without losing your vision keeping your wants first before anything eles. Decide how or what you need from them. Many consultants have packages you can choose from. If you are still unsure if you want to hire a consultant....Check out my blog on why to hire a consultant!

Talk to you soon!
Michole