Expert Wedding Tips

Today, wedding expert Sarah Creviston of George Street Photo and Video shares with us hot bridal trends & offers simple ways to cut costs on your big day.

With a shaky economy, increasing mortgage pressures, rising job cuts and skyrocketing gas and grocery costs, many couples are looking for ways to cut costs on their big day. More couples are opting for fall weddings (among other things) to save on venue prices. As Sarah of George Street Photo and Video explains, "The average wedding cost is a whopping $28,704. Everyone deserves to have the wedding of their dreams. And with the economy as it is, there are many different ways to make that happen without creating a ridiculous price tag."

Below are Sarah's Top Ten Tips for Beautiful-Brides on a Budget
1. Season - Plan your wedding for the fall or winter and save thousands. (Venues and vendors generally charge more in the popular Summer months)

2. Location - Consider having your ceremony at city hall, on the beach, in the backyard or at a park to further save on venue costs – these places also create beautiful backdrops for photos. (average cost: $1,258)

3. Day of the Week - Plan your big day for a Friday or Sunday (Saturday weddings are in more demand, therefore more costly)

4. The Dress - Buy a pre-owned wedding dress, (a hot bridal trend) or even sell your dress after the wedding - {note: see our post from earlier this week on Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses} (average cost: $1,505)

5. Photos - It is important that your special day is documented beautifully, but consider a company that offers digital negatives, giving you the freedom to print as you wish. (George Street Photo & Video is one of very few companies that does this)

6. Invites - Similarly, print your own invitations - You can buy stunning invitation sets from Target and print at home to save (average cost: $848)

7. Dry Weddings - Couples are trading in alcohol for sophisticated tea bars, cappuccino bars and juice bars. (average cost: $2,826)

8. DIY centerpieces - Some couples are using attractive appetizer trays -- from antipasto to cheese fondues -- as centerpieces in place of flowers at the reception. Also consider a multi-level, pillar candle collection interspersed with some fresh flowers – ambiance and elegance (average cost $1,272) {note: see post below for a fun save the date involving cheese fondue}

9. Music - Use an ipod instead of a typical wedding band or DJ. You'll have more control over the tunes and save a ton. (average cost: $953)

10. Guest List - Simply keep your invite list smaller to reduce overall costs – stick strictly to family and close friends. (average number of guests: 169)

Thank you Sarah for putting this article together and thank you Gina for sending us this valuable information.

above image courtesy of George Street Photo and Video

PS - our weekly tips from BridalGuide.com will be returning next Friday.

Wedding Trends for this Summer's 8/8/08

The other day I received a press release from comedienne and CEO of Bride's Night Out®, Pamela Yager. Pamela is considered the "Lucille Ball of bachelorette party planning". According to Pamela, "one of the foremost trends for this season is 8/8/08 weddings". I thought you would enjoy reading this, so below is an excerpt from the press release:

Bachelorette Party Planning Maven Reveals Why 8/8/08 is so Hot
"The number eight is highly favored in many spiritual and cultural traditions," says Yager. "For example, the Chinese pronunciation of 'eight' sounds similar to the word for 'prosperity' In the Chinese culture, the more eights involved in a couple's life, the better chance for luck and wealth. In Russia, 8/8/08 date is so highly prized that it is called the 'Millionaire Mark' day and one bride told me that people would pay a bribe to secure it for their wedding."

Some other reasons why eight (8) is such an auspicious number include:
• Eight (8) is a multiple of four (4). Four (4) equal sides create a square. A square represents the ultimate shape of balance and stability.
• Eight (8) is the symbol for "infinity". This is connected to the spiritual concept of "forever," which of course is the great hope for every new marriage.
• Just like the circular shape of a wedding ring (which has no beginning and no end), the two loops of the figure eight (8) when joined together represent the connection between a higher power and a human being.

"My bachelorette party clients carefully choose the date of their nuptials," says the saucy auburn coiffed Yager. "I personally chose 7/7/07 for my own wedding and threw seven (7) pre-wedding events. For 8/8/08 couples, Yager suggests the following party planning ideas to accentuate the fortuitousness of the date:

• Produce a bachelorette party with eight (8) distinct elements (i.e. games, toasts)
• Throw eight (8) co-ed pre-wedding parties for the bride and/or groom
• Schedule the bachelorette party for 8:08 p.m.
• The hottest (and best socializing) table shape happens to be an octagon for eight (8)
• Appoint eight (8) wedding attendants
• Set eight (8) diamonds in the wedding rings
• Set eight (8) crystals in your bachelorette party and bridal veils
• Arrange eight (8) featured flowers in each bouquet
• Ask eight (8) special wedding guest to make toasts
• Dance to an eight (8) piece band
• Give favors including eight pieces of chocolate and an 8/8/08 lottery ticket

Beverly Hills bride-to-be and classical pianist, Elena Ganjoula, chose the 8/8/08 wedding date based on the strong cultural significance of the date in her native Russia, "The number eight represents stability, prosperity, wealth and success in love and finances. As a musician, the symbology extends to the fact that the 4:4 tempo is the march, which is a happy, uplifting melody." Ironically enough, Ganjoula and her husband-to-be live at an '808' address. Coincidentally, Pamela Yager lives at a '717' address.

Priscilla Flores, another Los Angeles bride-to-be, serendipitously chose the date when the venue she wished for had the 8/8/08 date suddenly become available. "It was only later we discovered that the 8/8/08 date is fabled to bring my marriage eternal happiness because of the luck surrounding the number eight!"

The "Sex in the City of Hen Parties," Bride's Night Out® (www.bridesnightout.com) is the nation's first and only bachelorette party planning service of its kind and was founded by stand-up comedienne, Pamela Yager. The national network of pre-nuptial festivities is uniquely led by improvisational comedy-trained "Party Guides" at venues, homes, and destinations throughout the U.S. Bride's Night Out® features a lucrative consultant career program for anyone wishing to become a bachelorette party planner, and wedding industry professionals can add BNO to their list of products and services for added income. Most of all, a rockin' good time is offered for the 2.4 million brides that are headed to the altar every year.

Image Credits (left to right): always13 flickr gallery, Documents and Designs, AmmarQ8.com's flickr gallery, songchilde's flickr gallery

Weekly Wedding Tip

brought to you by bridalguide.com
Wedding Cake Samples
"We know it's a lot to ask, but do be sure to sample the work of at least three cake bakers before you book one. And don't skimp on price - a cheap cake often means inferior ingredients and taste."

For my own wedding, this is something that I did not do and as a result, we did not get the cake we expected. Although, I'm not quite sure we would have been able to find 3 cake bakers near our wedding reception site. We were married in a church, but had our reception on the grounds of a B&B a little over an hour away. There was only 1 caterer that worked nearby and he told us he worked with a bakery that would create our cake based on our design requests. If I could do it over again, never would I have just said "ok". I would have insisted on meeting with the baker myself to discuss our cake options. The design of the cake was basic and did match the picture I supplied, and it did taste good - but there was NO raspberry filling as we had been promised. I was so disappointed when the cake arrived in front of me and didn't see a stripe of reddish-pink down the middle. Knowing what I know now, I would definitely have called around to more bakeries to sample their cakes. Even if the baker is out of your area, many will provide delivery options to your reception site. I can honestly say that sampling a cake is a MUST!

Image Credits:
Top Left: mikeying88's flickr photo gallery
Top Right: from Hankins flickr photo gallery
Bottom Left and Right: Martha Stewart

Weekly Wedding Tip

brought to you by bridalguide.com
Deciding on a Wedding Gown
"Even if the first gown you try on screams "you," make yourself model a few more styles before deciding. If possible, sleep on it before you commit."

For my own wedding I was convinced I had to find a dress that would allow me to wear a bra with it. I had never worn a strapless before and didn't quite understand how the world of undergarments for a formal event worked. Thank goodness the dress consultant I was working with made me try on a wedding gown with spaghetti straps. She said they would simply sew cups into the dress . . . who knew it could be so easy? As soon as I tried on that dress I knew it was ”the one”.

Personally, I recommend trying on a few styles that you may not have even considered - you never know - you might just find your dream wedding dress unexpectedly. How did you find your dress? Did you try on many styles at one shop or visit a few places? Did you sleep on it and then make your decision? I'd love to hear about your wedding gown shopping experiences.

At the bridalguide.com's wedding dress gallery you can browse by designer to find the wedding dress of your dreams.

Wedding Dresses as shown (left to right)
Mori Lee from PerfectBridal.com
Chiffon Empire Dress from David's Bridal
Watters And Watters from PerfectBridal.com

Weekly Wedding Tip

brought to you by bridalguide.com
Wedding Travel Guides
"Welcome out-of-town guests with a customized travel guide full of your recommendations for restaurants, shops, museums, nightlife, and places to pass the time between wedding events. A laser-printed listing, mailed ahead or left in their hotel room, is perfect."

Here's a great idea if don't want to create a travel guide yourself - Beau-coup now offers blackbook city guides that are exclusive to their site. These guides are pocket sized and include detailed maps and carefully researched information on the best restaurants, cafes and nightlife. These guide books are perfect for welcome baskets and at Beau-coup, you can personalize your guidebook with your names and wedding date on the cover. Currently, there are 6 titles to select from: New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Miami and the their popular Jet Set Guide which covers New York, Paris and Los Angeles. You can choose your font and the placement of your text to make your own special edition.

Of course, your options are unlimited if you choose to create and print your own travel guide for your wedding guests. I love handmade guides that are tied together with ribbon like the samples shown above. Adding a scalloped edge to the guide pages will add an elegant finishing touch. Will you be providing your wedding guests with a customized travel guide? I'd love to hear your ideas.

Handmade programs and guides as pictured:
Left: from clared23's flickr gallery
Right: from Lana Stewart's flickr gallery

Weekly Wedding Tip

brought to you by bridalguide.com
Toss Bouquets
"Unless you don't mind sacrificing your beautiful bridal bouquet, you'll want to order a second one for tossing. Ask your florist to arrange a smaller bouquet, perhaps using inexpensive flowers, so you don't have to part with the original."

For my own wedding, my husband and I decided to forgo both the traditional bouquet and garter toss. But, I can definitely understand why you'd want a toss bouquet so you can keep your own bouquet as a momento of the special day. Will you be having a toss bouquet created for your wedding reception? You might even be able to find a florist that offers a complimentary toss bouquet as part of their wedding floral package.

Another twist to the bouquet toss that I think is so clever, would be to create multiple bouquets (maybe 5) for a "fortune bouquet toss". You could either have mini versions of your own bouquet or a breakaway bouquet. Each bouquet would include a tag with a fortune on it - this way you could invite all the female guests out to participate, not just the single ones.

A few other options for a toss bouquet:
- make a mini bouquet with silk flowers so the catcher can have a keepsake
- you might want to do something just for the kids and toss a stuffed animal
Do you have any other ideas?

To preserve your own bridal bouquet - you might consider either Florage or Heller and Reid.

Please look for a new wedding tip each week, courtesy of bridalguide.com. These tips will now be a regular feature of the blog.

Above Bridal Bouquets with corresponding Toss Bouquets from ProFlowers

Wedding Workout Tips

from Violet Zaki (trainer for www.exercisetv.tv)
Violet (a trainer with Exercise TV) has put together some bridal tips for our readers so you can achieve the best bridal body in time for your special day. Here's her top 5 tips:

TIP 1: Using a light to medium weight, hinge at your hips and extend your arms back, alongside of your torso. With your shoulders back and down and your abs in tight, bend and extend your elbows. Try 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions for sleek and sexy triceps.

TIP 2: Fuel Your body right to feel slim and trim on your big day. Save indulges like rich desserts and sweet, high-calorie cocktails for your honeymoon. Get wedding gown-ready by sticking with an array of fresh vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins. Eat your complex carbs - in the form of whole grains - early on in the day.

TIP 3: Give your posture a check up. Whether you’re walking, dancing or feeding your groom some wedding cake, sit tall by lengthening your spine up ward. Relax your shoulder blades back and down as you lift your heart. You'll radiate beauty, confidence and grace while looking pounds slimmer instantly.

TIP 4: Preparing for your big day is an opportunity to get into the best shape of your life. To do this, you have to eat. But, be a grazer. Try eating mini meals every 3-4 hours. This will help rev up your metabolism and keep your blood sugar leveled throughout the day, so you’ll never feel deprived or overeat.

TIP 5: Marriage is about commitment, so make a vow to your health and sanity by getting plenty of rest. Chronic stress and sleep deprivation can actually lead to weight gain, especially around your midsection. Try a yoga class, daily meditations or simply a relaxing bath to keep "Bridezilla" at bay.

ExerciseTV is a free, video-on-demand network dedicated to the hottest workouts, fitness trends and sports training from top instructors and trainers. With ExerciseTV users can workout on their schedule to hundreds of fat burning workouts like cardio, abs, yoga, dance and more. ExerciseTV is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on demand with digital cable and online at www.exercisetv.tv.

How to Make The Best Wedding Memories

By Stacey Wolf, author of Never Throw Rice at a Pisces

Over the weekend, Stacey was so kind to put together the following ideas for our readers on making the best wedding memories for each astrological sign. (her book Never Throw Rice at a Pisces was reviewed in yesterday's blog entry)
Aries: Do something wild and fun—like play on some swings with the flower girls or jump in a lake (in your dress, of course) — and make sure your photographer is around to capture it.
Taurus: Have one of the guests take pictures of all the food courses. Make sure you try all the offerings down to the cake and what ever you do—don’t skip the meal!
Gemini: Make a warm and witty speech of your own. Dance with everyone you know and put it all on the videotape.
Cancer: Wrap a rose with a note telling your sweetheart, mom, dad, and best friends, how special they are. Have them delivered the morning of.
Leo: Take dance lessons so your first dance looks as graceful and romantic as if you were Fred Estaire and Ginger Rodgers.
Virgo: Plan an elaborate DIY craft—like making the favors and gift-wrap yourself—so that your guests delight in your talents and perfectionism (for the rest of your life!)
Libra: Hire a top-of-the-line photographer and leave plenty of time before and after the ceremony to take pictures. If your photos aren’t the most beautiful that you have ever seen, you will be extremely disappointed.
Scorpio: Plan a few romantic minutes alone with your groom after the ceremony so that you can sip champagne and remember what is truly important— your love for each other.
Sagittarius: Take your guests on a big adventure. Plan an usual spiritual ceremony, have foods from around the world, hire some exotic entertainment—such as a steel band or belly dancers, or even take a dinner cruise instead of booking a reception hall.
Capricorn: Hire an ace coordinator and go over your schedule a gazillion times so that the events of the day unfold exactly as you’d like and there are no negative surprises to ruminate over for the rest of your life.
Aquarius: Do something funny and unconventional. Sing a duet, plan some group line dances, or ride away on a Harley. Your wedding will delight your guests, people will be talking about it forever.
Pisces: Add fairy-tale elements and sentimental touches. Get photographed on a white horse, wear your best friend’s garter, carry your grandmother’s handkerchief, even wear your mom’s wedding dress—and don’t forget to have your husband carry you over the threshold.

Image Credits:
Aries: Carpe Icthus' flickr gallery, Cancer: Brides.com, Virgo: Brides.com, Pisces: Adam Schott flickr gallery, Aquarius: Bashed's flickr gallery

Fairytale-Worthy Weddings on any Budget

Today's post features insider tips to make your bridal dreams come true. From finding discounted dream dresses to cutting the cake costs . . . Tatiana Byron, Founder of The Wedding Salon and a longtime wedding planner herself, shares insider cost-cutting knowledge and tips for getting the biggest bang for your buck. According to Byron, "Every wedding planner and industry expert knows that you don’t have to have a million bucks to make your wedding look like it costs that much."

(please see the post after this one for details on how you can receive complimentary tickets to the NY Wedding Salon, taking place on April 21st. I have 5 tickets to give away, each ticket admits 2 into the event.)

THE BRIDE
• Sample sales, trunk sales and high-end consignment shops can save you up to 50%.
• Consider alternative fabrics: Silk organza, crinkled silk and silk faille give the look and feel of a designer gown for half the price.
• Nix the fancy bouquet: Opt for a few exotic flowers that are local and in season.

DÉCOR
• Use less expensive filler flowers: Choose bargain flowers in season or in your color scheme. Pricier blooms can be final touches.
• Blend fruits with floral to create vibrant, unique and money saving centerpieces.
• Pick a beautiful site that doesn’t need a lot of embellishment to save tons on décor.

DINING
• Use costly ingredients sparingly, like lobster or caviar, in hors d’oeuvres which still give an expensive impression. Heavy appetizers can replace a dinner course!
• Cut out the fancy beef or fish dish; opt for a delicious chicken or vegetarian entrée.
• Lunch or brunch menus are less pricey but can still be exquisite. You can also save on bar and venue fees.

LIQUOR
• Switch out champagne for the trendy Prosecco or a sparkling white wine.
• Limit the free liquor: Keep the open bar to beer, wine and a signature cocktail or nix the top-shelf liquors.
• Bring your own alcohol; stock up at Costco, but find out about corking fees from your venue first

OTHER
• Smaller wedding parties save money on boutonnieres, bouquets and gifts.
• Off-season and Friday night weddings usually include lower rates.
• Timing is everything: A longer engagement gives you time to find the best deals and delaying your honeymoon till the off-season can save you thousands.

"Just by making a few adjustments, you can save a lot of money," Byron confirms.