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How to Preserve Your Wedding Dress

October 25, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

It’s over. It’s really over. The ceremony was beautiful, the reception memorable and the honeymoon the best part. Once your back to real life, it’s time to put the memories away. The same is true of your wedding dress. For some this was the most expensive part of the wedding. For others,even though it may not have cost a fortune, the sentimental value is priceless. How are you able to preserve your wedding dress for the future? You may to keep it for your children to wear, or perhaps have it made into your child’s first christening gown. What ever the reason it’s important that this keepsake is preserved . Just how will you go about doing that?

Well there are a couple of ways to preserve your wedding dress. If you took so much care in choosing it, you should take that much care in keeping it preserved properly. The first step in proper preservation is keeping the bag or box your wedding dress came in.

Take your dress to a reputable dry cleaner. Don’t choose the first one that you see from an advertisement, make sure you get a reference for a cleaner as they are handling your precious memories. Getting your dress cleaned is essential to the preservation process.

Ask your cleaner for a special acid-free box to store your dress in, and pack it in acid-free tissue paper. You can also hang the dress by the bodice by sewing straps that are a bit shorter than the bodice onto the waist, placing on a padded hanger and wrapping in a clean white cotton sheet. Storing your dress at the proper temperature is very important to the process. It needs to be out of sunlight and kept in a cool dry place. Any contamination of moisture will cause your dress to go moldy. Inspect your dressing every anniversary for any discolouration, this is also a great time to revisit your memories as well.

A professional preservationist will survey your gown: the materials used, ornamentation (beading or sequins), and various stains, then formulate a specialized cleaning procedure to take the best action. This is extremely important to know so no damage comes to the dress. After cleaning, your gown is wrapped and placed in a box. Preservationists recommend having your gown cleaned as soon as possible after your wedding because if you wait too long, some stains can set permanently. Keep in mind that if you wait a while, certain materials, such as silk, will be harder to treat — as will particular stains such as red wine and mud.

Some gown specialists use the wet-cleaning method, which consists of gently washing the gown by hand with gentle cleansers that remove noticeable stains and unseen stains, such as champagne and sugar, as well. If left untreated, unseen stains can oxidize and turn yellow over time. Other companies use a more traditional dry-cleaning method, which involves pre-treating the stains and then placing the garment in a dry-cleaning machine. Solvents such as perchloroethylene (perc for short) or petroleum-based cleansers are used as stain removers. Petroleum-based solvents aren’t as aggressive as perc, and they’re also not as powerful in stain removal, but due to its high oil content, petroleum nourishes certain fabrics and can give them a lovely sheen.

This method  can range in cost and should be priced out weeks before you actual wedding to be included as part of your wedding budget. It will also provide you the opportunity to do your research on what you will be doing with your dress after the big day.

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DIY Wedding Guest Book Ideas

October 22, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

With some inspiration, planning and elbow grease, you can transform your wedding guestbook into a personal, funny celebration of the sweet, goofy, and colorful sentiments your guests reflect on on your big day. Unless of course your going for the traditional wedding guest books, then you can become creative in an elegant manner.

Traditional

A take on the traditional wedding guests book for the more modern couple would be a leather bound book with perhaps a satin sash in the colour of your brides maids dresses. This would incorporate the trendy new look of today with a spark of colour that ties into your wedding.

Silver Engraved Platter

Like a ceramic platter  (which is also something that can be done)  but cool in its own way, you can purchase a “silver” (they are actually all stainless steel) platter with a diamond tip pen so that guests permanently engrave their names and messages into your platter. Various places sell this wedding guest book alternative so check around for the best prices and platter options. It never hurts to do comparison, shop online for your specific items.

Individual Cards

Another fun option is to set out small cards and matching envelopes. Putting a sign with instructions, explain to the guests to write a bit of marriage advice, quotes or anything they’d like to share on the cards. The cards can then be simply placed in a decorative basket, tin or box. The beauty of this wedding guest book alternative idea is that the messages are private so guests feel more free to write what they want. It can be a great opportunity for friends and family to say what they otherwise wouldn’t be able to. It is tons of fun for the bride and groom to later open all these tiny cards with personal messages inside. The cards get more and more funny as the night goes on too! What a great keepsake to look back on as you can re read them each anniversary and capture those feelings from you wedding night over and over again. Having each card in the guests handwriting will really keep this an individual memory.

Photo’s & Frames

Some couples love to capture their memories in photo’s. A unique idea is to have large prints on display for your guests. They can be specific to your journey as a couple, or can be moments captured that you want to showcase. Giving the opportunity to the guests to say any of their well wishes on your photo’s of the mat within the frame will be something that you remember forever.

Anyway that you present your wedding guest book ideas, your guests will be sure to include their wishes on your wedding day. Do something that is specific to you as a couple, and will bring back all the emotions of your wedding day when you look back on it.

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Wedding Planning Basics

October 21, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

You’ve done it! You have finally hit that point in your life when you are about to embark on an amazing journey. Marriage. You have the proposal, you have the ring, now all you have to do is plan. The planning of a wedding can be fraught with anxiety, disorganization and all out stress. Try to alleviate these feelings by having a few wedding planning basics in place.

Get  a Team

Assembling a team of wedding planners can’t hurt. Having to many hands in the pot may be trouble, but in this instance you need to recruit your wedding party to assist in some planning. The little jobs that can become tedious are the jobs that you can delegate out to someone in your wedding party. Ultimately you need to be focusing on the projects that can only be done by you or the groom. The rest can be done in a joint effort to keep all areas and aspects of planning covered. Enlist the people you feel will carry out the tasks you ask, and you respect their judgment. When you ask people to be in your wedding, there is the expectation that a level of commitment will be met.

Plan A Budget

Often couples can be on the same page with what they initially think they want to spend. It gets a little out of hand when you go your separate ways and you see things that you think are a must have. It can get very ugly if you have not set an agreement in place. The cost of your wedding dress, flowers and photographs may be quote “the bride’s jurisdiction” however this contributes to the end result cost of the wedding. Planning a detailed budget will allow you to itemize all the items that need to be purchased. Write a breakdown that will list the most expensive items first to least expensive. Then once you have reached a grand total, agree or negotiate on what the most you will spend on a certain item is. This will keep your budget into perspective and alleviate any confusing or misunderstanding of what your budget is.

Comparison Shop

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting the most for your money. After all weddings can become quite costly. So why not try to cut costs where you can, and ask for deals? The only way to get a deal is to ask for one. Things like flowers and venues are marked in price the moment you mention wedding so why not be afraid to ask for a discount if your comparing price with a similar item. The market is flooded with alternatives so it’s important to make sure your getting the best service for the cost.  If someone isn’t willing to give you a break on cost, always remember there is a similar service around the corner who will. It’s about taking the time to comparison shop. Don’t settle, it’s your dream day and you should be able to achieve it.

Planning a wedding can be a headache or it can be an experience that you enjoy and remember forever. In order to make it a memorable experience use a couple of these wedding planning basics to ensure your day is a stress free one.

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Making Your Wedding Day Less Stressed

October 20, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Planning a  wedding takes an enormous amount of effort , time , dedication and organization. While this is what it takes to plan it, you get the stress of it right along side. It can be a very high tense situation to be in, especially in the months leading up to it. This is not without it’s place of course, however there are some preventative measures you can take in making your wedding day less stressed.

Delegate

This should become a key word in your vocabulary during your wedding planning days. You may feel and think that your wedding is exactly that, “yours”. This may leave you unable to relinquish a little control in the planning of your wedding. The fear that if you give up a little part of your wedding it may no longer be in your control. This is a hard perception to change for someone who likes to know what decision was being made and when.

To avoid feeling like your drowning alone is a sea of wedding problems you need to make a “team leader”. There must be someone in your bridal parties judgment who you trust. If not then at least a best friend or family member. Make this person your team leader in charge of a certain area.

Once you have a go to person, discuss your likes and dislikes to make sure the person you choose is on your waive length. If your confident in your decision, next begin to prioritise what tasks you would like to do on your own and what you could take a second opinion on. Ultimately the decision  is yours, but could there be some tasks that can be filtered out? Of course there are. Things like meeting with a variety of caterers. Let someone else weed out the masses and narrow it down to two or three so that you can have the final selection. This will alleviate building tensions so that by the time the wedding day has arrived  you will feel refresh and less stressful.

The Day Of

When your stress has been minimized leading up to your wedding day, the day of the wedding should stress free. In order to ensure that do a couple of things for preventative measures. Get a good nights sleep the day before. Being well rested is essential to your longevity during the busy day ahead.

A good healthy breakfast goes hand in and with a good nights sleep. Make a morning of it to set your spirits high. Keep well hydrated and don’t forget to smile and laugh!

It’s important to know that not everything the day of the wedding is in your control. Things like mispronounced names, nature not cooperating ect doesn’t have to get you down. Delegate the little jobs and concentrate on being a bride.

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Wedding Food Tips

October 19, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Some may say it’s the ceremony , some  may say it’s the dress that will leave every talking. The item that will leave a lasting impression on all your guests will be the food. Food is a central part  of your wedding and must be carefully thought out. The bride are groom are the best decision makers on this item. Not because a wedding planner wouldn’t do, but because only the bride and groom know their guests the best. Sure there is a flow to the wedding that should be kept in mind when choosing your meal, but take into consideration who your guests are. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but along the way you will find tips to help the process along.

Time of Day

What you serve at your wedding should be in keeping with the time of day. If you have opted for an evening ceremony, a full course meal that begins at 9pm isn’t the optimal choice. Try to look at a light buffet. When a buffet is suggested it is usually thought of as cold meats. There is no reason to keep this stereotype going. As said earlier, know your audience. Perhaps an antipasto bar would be in order, or a fondue of cheese, meat , breads and then a chocolate fondue for dessert. Your food should also be relevant with the size of your wedding.

A full course dinner should be served at the dinner hour. If your ceremony is taking place  in the early or late afternoon  you may wish to have a cocktail hour to transition from the pictures to the dinner or you may want to omit it. This is up to the bride and groom. A typical dinner should consist of an appetizer( salad) main course and dessert. You can opt for soup or salad to start, and usually there are two options for dinner. Poultry and fish are a safe choice.  The side dishes you choose can be an option of two choices  as well, same with the dessert menu.

How to Choose

When planning for a small or large wedding  it is still important to know what you are serving. This can be the best part of the planning, taste testing! Don’t be shy to sample what’s going to be served at your wedding, after all you are paying for it. You can consult with as many caterer’s as you wish to get an idea of what options are out there. Don’t make your decision in haste, comparison shop for menu and price.

What’s the Cost

Again, size will determine what price range you are in. If your setting out with a budget in mind, stick to it. There will be a a solution to get you the food you want at the price you need. If your wedding is set to be an intimate affair, look at a private chef. This will be an elegant solution and leave your guests talking. Keep in mind you may have to compromise, but it is very important  to comparison shop this market. Always sample the food, and look for references to ensure you are dealing with a reputable company.

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Warm Wedding Dress Ideas for Winter Weddings

October 18, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Winter wedding’s can be beautiful. The lush red roses against the crisp white winter backdrops would make a beautiful picture. The only element that can make this picture perfect would be a brides wedding dress. Warm wedding dresses for winter weddings can be a luxurious as you want, or a simple as can be. It’s all about preference.

Ideas are endless when you plan your wedding. Winter weddings can be done in keeping with the holidays or can be as individual as the bride and groom. To get an idea of what type of wedding dress you need for a winter wedding you must first evaluate the type of wedding you are having. The wedding dress acts as a centerpiece for your ceremony, and you should pick a wedding dress that best reflects this.

Perhaps your ceremony is a small intimate gathering during the winter months. If your not looking to have a large wedding dress,  try thinking about about a full cream tweed suit.  This can be very sophisticated and elegant to match your intimate ceremony.

If your wedding a larger affair and idea for a warm winter wedding dress can be taken in many different directions. Think about you and your sweetie in the elegant look of old Hollywood; the groom in tails, and the bride in a white long silk dress with a white fur or faux fur wrap. Evoke the season with “ice” –diamond or diamond-like jewelry. Ninety percent  of wedding dresses are strapless or sleeveless, but that’s not so practical for a bride who wants to take pictures outside, or needs to walk any distance. Look for wraps, shrugs, and capes, or dramatic coats to complete the effect.

Another take could be there are wedding dresses you can buy now that include sleeves. Designers have modified dresses to accomidiate winter weddings.  These dress looks can range from simplistic to dramatic. This style is sure to turn heads and make your dress the center of attention.

You can also wear a jacket on your wedding day. You could look at purchasing an all white jacket to wear with your wedding dress when you are outside, or you could simply buy a wedding dress that is not solid white and matches the color of your jacket. There are any number of ways that this could work for you.

Winter wedding dresses continue to grow in popularity as more and more brides opt in to the idea of the winter weddings. There are many ways you can be creative with your wedding dress so that you and your bridesmaids can stay warm for a winter wedding. If you use your creativity to wear the perfect wedding dress, you can look perfect on your wedding day.

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Wedding Showers Tips

October 15, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Planning a wedding, can be a a fun and exciting time. It can also be a stressful one. A break in all of this planning for the bride is having a wedding shower. Wedding showers can be planned without the busy bride ever knowing that it has been done. Wedding showers can be a welcome distraction from the stressful planning to celebrate the bride and the new journey she is about to embark on. Of course no shower is complete of course without some jokes and some gag gifts.

Start your wedding shower planning by thinking of a theme. What best suits the bride? What sort of party would have all your guests talking? Think of getting all of the girls together and what would say celebrate the upcoming nuptials. If your bride loves to be self indulgent you could think along the lines of having a spa wedding shower.  If that’s not the route to take since your guests are more refined, think of a chocolate or wine tasting. A wedding shower can be anything you want it to be as long as it suits the guests and the bride herself.

When choosing to invite the guests, a unique invitation will spark an interest. You definitely don’t  have to “break the bank” on the wedding shower invitation. Depending on the guest lists you may be able to hand deliver the invitations for a more personal touch. If your guest list includes email addresses and this serves as a means for contacting everyone an intriguing e-vite might be the way to go. However don’t let convenience get in the way of  finding a memorable invite that signifies the type of wedding shower your going to throw. A trendy invite received in the mail is a great  start to your memorable wedding shower.

Consider your venue. If your having a traditional wedding shower then you will need to decorate. If you have gone a little unique and are having the wedding shower at a specific venue then decorations will not be necessary. Traditional wedding decorations can be anything from streamers and wedding bells to fresh flowers and champagne. This occasion is what you want to make it.  It can be as luxurious  or as casual as you decide. This occasion is an opportunity to plan the party that best exemplifies your bride.

The important tip in planning a wedding shower is to be sure the bride to be will enjoy herself. This wedding shower is a chance for  the bride to celebrate with her best girlfriends. Some wedding showers are themed for lingerie to get the bride ready for her wedding night. These usually induce some gag gift giving and some laughs are not far behind. Some wedding shower planners like to involve wedding games to keep the momentum of the party going. This will all depend on the venue and type of wedding shower you are throwing. Also keep in mind not all brides will like the game playing at a shower , so another form of entertainment may be suitable. The most important tip will be to make sure you keep you bride in good spirits.

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Wedding Budget Tips

October 13, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Weddings are a dream come true. Finally finding that special someone to spend your life with can be the most exciting time of your life. Then reality hits. Weddings need to have a budget. All the lavish trimmings and luxuries you would like to have may only come down the necessities.  It is important to view your wedding as a whole, then break down by cost would the major expenses will be. this involves some strict organization. There are some areas that you can budget that will bring you the wedding of your dreams at a cost you can afford.

When planning your wedding the venue can be one of the most costly expenses. Be creative if your playing with a budget. Of course it depends on the size of your wedding, but venues such as beaches, gardens and backyards are low costs but nature provides a beautiful yet free backdrop. A creative idea for the couple who wants to stand out , is to have your candle-lite ceremony in an old barn. This is an original take on a rustic wedding. It is sure to leave you guests talking and be a memory that will last a lifetime.

Decorations can be costly, so when your looking at your wedding see if you can incorporate any natural decorations which will be accessible and cheap. If your having a winter wedding, greenery and holly will be a classic decoration and very easy on the budget. A fall wedding can be done with a harvest theme in mind leaving you to secure cornstalks and perhaps some fall foliage as your decor. This is a cheap and lovely way to celebrate the season and your ceremony.

The most common sense way to cut wedding costs is to make sure you get estimates from several suppliers for all  your needs. This includes cake, flowers, music, reception  and ceremony site, etc. It is then that you should take the time to sit down and compare what you are getting for the prices quoted. Examine quality, quantity, price, and service. When you are satisfied with your choice,  call and book them. Don’t make hasty or spur-of-the-moment decisions which can end up costing a pretty penny. These types of decisions can cost you more when they didn’t have too if planning ahead could have avoided it.

Looking for more places to cut costs? A good place to look is the guest list. Of course you may need to face up to the reality of having a larger wedding with everyone  invited, or the wedding you really want with fewer guests. in a more intimate setting. Close friends and family are usually shoo-ins, but do you really need to invite all of your parents friends from years gone by? Unless your parents are footing the entire bill, try to keep guests to the must-haves.

In today’s society the organizers have it. We must prioritize, compromise and sacrifice to have a successful event that doesn’t break the bank. After all, you want to remember your wedding as a source of joy, not of debt.

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Secrets On Choosing Cheap Wedding Shoes

October 12, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

A wedding gown is the most pivotal piece of the wedding to a bride. The look and feel it creates can carryout through the whole wedding. The same can be said of the foot wear needed to accessorise the wedding gown. Finding the right footwear can be a challange  since you’ll be wanting to achieve comfort and fashion. There are a few ways to determine what will best suite your needs, but it also needs to be cheap. Your dress may have been the highest priced item for your wedding so buying shoes should be done cheaply.cheap wedding shoes

Getting What You Want

How will you know what you even want?  Trying to determine what will best suite you can be done a couple of ways. Look at your wedding dress for the style of the gown. If your gown is a mermaid or trumpet style gown, a ballerina flat is probably not the shoe to accentuate that type of dress. So when choosing your shoe, either take your dress with you, or carry a photo for a visual aide. Most of these styles will range in price. Try to compromise on your shoe choice. Most of these styles will be available in designer and then a slightly different version will be also be available elsewhere. Not everything is a “must have” on your wedding day, and this is an area that you can look for a cheap alternative in.

The next choice should be fabric. While a traditional choice may be satin for a bride, there alternate choice such as leather. Cloth satin seems to be the most reasonably priced and used more often than not as the fabric can be dyed to match the colour of your gown.

The Perfect Shoes for Your Budget

Don’t spend a ton of money trying to find shoes that match your gown perfectly. Dying your shoes the colour you wish is cheap alternative. Some brides forgo the traditional white and opt for metallic shoes to match the beading on their gown. Having an elaborate shoe may cost a fortune and really won’t be seen.

Of course the major factor in your shoe should be comfort. The most expensive shoe can be breathtaking, but after ten hours in it, you no longer care how pretty it is. There are two ways to handle this conundrum. Some choose to purchase two cheap pairs of shoes. One in a heel for walking down the aisle, and then another for the reception. Or the other alternative would be to purchase one pair of flat ballerina slippers or a kitten heel shoe to be worn the entire length of the wedding.

Both styles are simple, elegant and relatively cheap. The secret to choosing cheap wedding shoes is remember less is more. Intricate beading and sequins can be lovely, however how much of your shoe will be seen? Keep this in mind when preparing to shop for those wedding shoes.

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October Floral Arrangements – Find the Perfect Arrangement for Your October Wedding

October 11, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

The wait is finally over. Your going to be a bride! Now that it is time to start planning the wedding, you need to decide on a date.  Finding the date of your wedding is more than just picking a number, it’s finding the season that suits you best. Season’s can reflect your personality and so will the theme of your wedding.

Fall is a time of bounty and harvest. Try to close your eyes and picture the colours that develop when you think of October, fall streets lined with falling leaves. Rich chocolate browns, deep purples, vibrant reds, with hints of cream.  October provides natural foliage to compliment your wedding bouquets leaving a stunning backdrop to accent your wedding. Of course your don’t have to stick with traditional harvest colours for your wedding bouquet there are other ideas that can help with your quest on finding the perfect arrangement for your October wedding.

Think  Texture

It is assumed  that wedding bouquets have to be to same old thing. With a fall arrangements go unique and think about adding texture to your bouquet. Lush, rich arrangements can be visually dramatic, pulling the attention toward the bouquet. Perfect arrangements can announce summer is over with dramatic use of poppies  for a stunning center to your bouquet . Try using a wide variety of flowers instead of the traditional two or three, incorporating berries, fiddle heads or ferns will be a wonderful pop for greenery in your arrangement.

Rich Hues Are Classic

Although you may way to add a modern flare to your wedding, classic wedding flowers are still a favorite. Try to co ordinate your flower choice with the time of year your in. Colours that are rich and in deep shades such as copper, gold, and forest green will add depth to your bouquets. Flowers that can achieve this are lush elegant dahlias.  They may be the quintessential fall blossom since they come in all the autumnal tones (red, burgundy, orange, and plum). Hydrangeas in greens and purples, and deep crimson calla lilies will accent your wedding and provide

Carry a Polished Arrangement

In the spring and summer season, often brides will carry a few stems, or have a loosely gathered bouquet to resemble an English garden bouquet. For a fall arrangement your bouquet should have a more structured feel. Densely packed flowers will create a dome shape to your arrangements giving it depth. Any exposed stems should be wrapped in fabric such as satin, or tightly bound floral tape to keep a polished look. Boutonnieres wrapped in satin or grosgrain ribbon for your wedding party will keep the same polished look throughout your wedding.

Carry It Through

Once your perfect arrangement for your October wedding, you can carry your theme through by having plants as your centerpieces. Using copper pots to hold the October flower of the  Fall Mum will be the perfect touch . This is sure to catch the eye of all your guests on a lovely crisp day in October when you exchange your vows.

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