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Bridal Tip of the Week!!
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Each and every week we will be updating this section with advice geared towards planning and enjoying the perfect wedding. All the info you see here has been prepared by Mary Liu of www.vowsforever.com, and so far has been absolutely bang on. If you would like your own private Wedding Website please check out their site. Wedding gowns come in multiple styles and fabrics, and you should choose one that represents both the ceremony style (formal, semi-formal, or informal) as well as your personal tastes. Traditional wedding gown styles include Ball Gown, Empire, Basque, and A-Line. A Ball gown resembles "Cinderella's" dress with a big poofy skirt. The Empire has a high waist (cropped just under the bust line) with a flared skirt. The Basque comes in both the "U" or the "V" shape, with the waist just below the natural waistline. And, the A-Line resembles the shape of an "A," slimmer up top and widening as you go further down. Some of the more popular fabrics include satin, velvet, lace, tissue taffeta, chiffon, and linen. Satin is wonderful for fall and winter, but may be too hot and heavy for summer months, especially in warmer climates. Chiffon and linen, on the other hand, are great light summer fabrics. Lace and tissue taffeta are very popular for spring while the rich feel of velvet is appropriate for fall and winter. Mary Liu VowsForever - Online Wedding Memoirs Hiring a wedding consultant can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on your needs and the level of service, but you may wind up saving both time and money. On average, planning a wedding takes 250 hours of your time, so if you work long hours and have very little time, it may be worth it. As they say, time is money. Consultants may also help save you money on the services you require for your big day. Many have strong relationships with vendors in your area, understanding both pricing and quality of these vendors. Also, they bring repeat business to vendors, creating possible discounts for you. When you are interviewing potential consultants, here are a few questions to ask: 1. What services do you provide? Full range or do you have a specific list of services you can provide? 2. How long have you been in the business? How many weddings have you coordinated? Can you provide references? 3. What vendors in the area do you have relationships with? What types of discounts do they offer if I work with you? 4. How do you charge? Flat fee? Percentage? 5. Will you be bringing on a staff to help coordinate events or do you handle all the details yourself? Mary Liu VowsForever - Online Wedding Memoirs Traditionally, you get showered with rose petals, rice, confetti, or birdseeds after the wedding ceremony or reception. Be careful with rose petals - they are very slippery. And, rice is harmful to birds and other wildlife since they can't digest uncooked grains. Try something a little more unique - maybe blowing bubbles or releasing butterflies. At a wedding I attended last year, the couple decided to have a butterfly release in lieu of the more traditional symbols. It symbolized the different stages of your courtship, from first date to marriage - the butterfly started as an egg, then larva, then pupa, and then finally transformed into a beautiful butterfly. Mary Liu VowsForever - Online Wedding Memoirs Buying a diamond for your engagement ring is a big and pricey decision. Some men like to surprise their fiancés with a beautiful ring, but many times, they would like a woman's input because it is she who will be wearing it around her finger. Shop around for price as well as quality. Ask friends and family for referrals of reputable, honest jewelers, and make sure they are members of the Jewelers of America or the American Gem Society. As for jewelers who advertise "wholesale to the public," beware.... Once you have decided on a diamond, make sure that it has been graded and certified by an organization like the Gemological Institute of America, with an accompanying proof of certificate stating the diamond's weight, grade, and identifying characteristics. Once you're ready to buy, make the sale contingent on an independent appraisal. Make sure you get a written lab report and a 30-day money back guarantee for time to get your appraisal. Most reputable jewelers will accommodate this request, and if you find one that won't, go to a different jeweler. Mary Liu VowsForever - Online Wedding Memoirs Are you interested in preserving your beautiful wedding bouquet for years to come? If you would like a bouquet of dried flowers, you can easily dry them on your own while away on your honeymoon. First, make sure you talk with your florist about using flowers that dry well. After the wedding, hang your bouquet upside down in a dry, dark place for two weeks. Then display your bouquet in a location with minimal traffic since dried flowers are extremely fragile. If you would like to preserve your bouquet to look like it did on your wedding day, ask your florist about freeze drying your flowers. After the wedding, your florist will take apart your bouquet, freeze dry each piece separately, reassemble it, and then display it in a glass box. Your bouquet will be preserved for generations to come - for you to share with your children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren. Mary Liu VowsForever - Online Wedding Memoirs As your wedding day approaches, so does your long-awaited honeymoon. Finally, no more guests and no more planning, just the two of you alone in a romantic getaway. Below is a checklist of items you may need to help prevent some potential mishaps: 1. Passport and visas if you are traveling overseas - make sure you have applied for these items far in advance. Remember that security is now extremely tight and unyielding. While you are on your vacation, keep your passport and visas in a safe location, so you won't run into any complications during your return trip. 2. Adapter for small appliances like your hair dryer or curling iron - if you are going to a foreign country, remember that your electrical plugs may not be the same voltage as required for the electrical outlets available. 3. Prescription medication - anything that is crucial to your well being will help make your trip that much more enjoyable. If you have allergies and forget your medication, you may have constant attacks during your time away. 4. List of credit card and traveler's check numbers kept in a separate and safe place - if your wallet gets stolen, you'll be able to call and report your cards and checks stolen. Unused traveler's checks can be reissued, so you won't be stranded with no money. 5. Inoculations - certain diseases are prevalent in various parts of the world. Check with your doctor to receive the appropriate vaccinations before you leave for your destination. 6. Extra pair of contact lenses or eyeglasses - if you lose the only pair you have, the rest of your trip may literally be a blur. 7. Health insurance card - in case of a medical emergency. 8. Clothes for the climate - if you live in Buffalo and your honeymoon is in Cancun during March, remember that shorts and bathing suits are appropriate but not winter wool coats. Mary Liu VowsForever - Online Wedding Memoirs Destination weddings are beautiful and romantic, but remember to research the legal requirements of each destination you are considering. Of course, Las Vegas is the simplest and fastest place to get married. There are no blood test or waiting period requirements. Just go to the Marriage License Bureau and apply for your license - they're open seven days a week and 24 hours on weekends and holidays for your convenience. However, if you are considering an international destination, like Fiji or Italy, make sure you have all the legal requirements at hand before you hop on the plane. For Fiji, bring your birth certificates, and if you have been divorced or widowed, bring your original divorce decree or previous spouse's death certificate. For Italy, you and your fiancé (with certified copies of your birth certificates with the Apostille seal), along with four unrelated friends must first visit the Italian consulate in the U.S. to sign affidavits even before taking off for your Italian destination. Other procedures must be complied with once you land in Italy. Mary Liu VowsForever - Online Wedding Memoirs Make sure to pack a "Wedding Day Savior" bag for the big day. Think of some things that you might need or little mishaps that could occur throughout your day, like having a run in your pantyhose or developing a headache. Make one of your bridesmaids in charge of this little bag and have it handy at all times. It'll take the stress off of the "What if's...." Include makeup (lipstick, powder, etc.), extra pair of pantyhose, hair pins, safety pins, hair brush, hair spray, tissues (you might need them while saying your vows), aspirin, deodorant, sewing kit, toothbrush and toothpaste, perfume, small first-aid kit, and anything else you feel might be needed. Keep the items small so that your bag is easy to carry and not too cumbersome. Happy New Year! Mary Liu VowsForever - Online Wedding Memoirs |
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