Archive for the 'How-To' Category

Planning Your Own Wedding - A How-To Guide

Published December 23, 2008 How-To , Tips , Tips and Tricks , Wedding Advice , Wedding Planning 2 Comments
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photo from http://www.greatwedding-guide.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/wedding-planning4.jpg

Let’s say you decide you don’t want to hire a wedding planner or a day of coordinator; you’d rather do the whole thing yourself. Where do you begin?

First. Create a list of things that are associated with planning the wedding. What does this mean?

(Did I miss any? Let me know!)

Second. Create a budget. And be realistic! Keep in mind that the cost of MOST of the above depend on the number of guests.

Third. Take an item one at a time. Don’t try to do too much at once and ask for help along the way! Each of the items on that list involves many subparts to think about. For example, with food - buffet verses serving, fixed menu, vegetarian options, etc. Or, what will your guests do between the ceremony & reception if you have time in between?

Fourth. Stay organized!Here is a list of suggestions as to what to handle first! And also, I suggest splitting up the planning of the wedding ceremony verses the planning of the wedding reception.  You can use Google to help you with the organization, too!  The Wedding Mapper also helps you with organization and planning.

Do you have other suggestions?

~ Natasha

Photobooth at the Wedding Reception

Published November 23, 2008 How-To , Tips and Tricks , Wedding Advice , Wedding Trends 1 Comment
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photoboothA photobooth is a trendy idea that many people are starting to include at weddings. They’re fun and you get some funny shots of your friends. You can put a guestbook nearby and have your guests paste them in and sign it.

If you hire a photobooth, you can usually get additional digital copies after the wedding is over, so don’t worry about your gusts stealing their photos! Although if you have a sign letting them know that they can get copies later, maybe they won’t even try to take them with them. (Ahem, J.) In fact, one friend who used a photobooth uploaded her photobooth photos to TheWeddingLens.com as an efficient way to share the photos with her guests. From there, her guests could download or print their own copies of those photos.

There are several alternatives that will have the same effect. For example, you could create a polaroid version in which guests take pictures and sign a guestbook! It’s instant and you get fun photos - not much different than the photobooth.  If you put the polaroid in one place and have props around, it will allow for more spunky photos.

If you want to create a photobooth yourself, the WeddingBee has advice on a “do-it-yourself” photobooth. Basically you need a camera, photo printer, a some props. Here’s another explanation with photos of how to create a simple photobooth using those three items.

Alternatively, you could have the photo area, props and the camera - but put up a sign that informs guests that you will print the photos later and send them to the guests.

Happy photos!

~ Natasha

Invitations & Bringing a Date to a Wedding

Published November 20, 2008 How-To , Tips and Tricks , Wedding Advice , Wedding Planning 1 Comment
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Whether you’ve invited people to your wedding or received a wedding invitation yourself, you have probably wondered what to do about the “and guest” or “plus 1″ for singles.  Here’s the scoop for those of you trying to figure it out.

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photo from http://www.myexpression.com/ArticlesWedding/AddressingInvitationEnvelopes.cfm

If you are the host:

If you want your single friend to bring someone (and you don’t want to specify who), then address the invitation to your friend “plus guest” or “and guest.” 

If you want to specify who someone brings as a date, write that person’s name on the invitation also. For example, if your guest has two girlfriends and you want him to bring one or the other of them, it is acceptable to specify which person (by name) you want him to bring.

If you don’t want your guests to bring a date, don’t include a date’s name and omit the “and guest” from the envelope! It should be known what you mean, even if your RSVP reply card has a line that says “Number of Guests.”  And after reading this blog, your guest will definitely know they’re not allowed to bring someone if it’s not on the envelope! That said, if you have singles at your wedding and you don’t want to be uncomfortable, be sensitive to where you seat them.

If you are the guest:

If you receive an invitation that says “and guest” then you are free to bring any guest.  I received an invitation to a wedding last year and my boyfriend couldn’t come. I didn’t want to assume that I could bring a friend, so I asked the bride.  She said that she specified “and guest” because she wanted me to bring someone (she knew I wouldn’t know anyone else at the wedding) and she didn’t care who it was.

That said, if the invitation specifies your significant other’s name, then you should not assume that you can bring anyone; only your boyfriend/girlfriend is invited.

Likewise, if you receive an invitation and it does NOT say “plus guest” or “and guest” and it does not include someone else’s name specifically (such as your significant other’s name), then you CANNOT bring a date. Please do not put “2″ in the RSVP reply card as the number of attendees (even if the reply card says “Number of Guests” on it!). Your hosts did not intend for you to bring a guest and it will only put both of you in an awkward position. One friend had to call the guest to explain that the invitation was addressed only to the guest and that the couple couldn’t afford to host an additional person.

A tip for the single guest who isn’t allowed to bring a date: Be Understanding! Weddings are expensive & there are often lots of family guest list expectations to contend with. Don’t take it personally that you will go it alone and don’t make the couple feel bad! If it’s SO upsetting to be going to a wedding alone, then maybe you shouldn’t go. I hope that helps put it in perspective!

~ Natasha

How to Meet Your Boyfriend at a Wedding

Published November 15, 2008 How-To 0 Comments
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So there’s the “wedding boyfriend” that you meet the weekend of the wedding, hang out through the wedding reception, and effectively “break up” with at the end of the weekend.  It’s a comfort zone and can be a natural date for the wedding.

But that’s not quite what happened to me; I met my boyfriend at a wedding over a year ago.

The great thing about meeting at a wedding is that you both have at least one thing in common - the bride or the groom.  Both my boyfriend and I were close friends with the groom (he from college, me from law school), which automatically gave us both confidence that the other person was a good catch. We also had a natural conversation topic that allowed us to randomly start talking. (Or encouraged me to randomly approach him and start talking.)

If you’re on the look out to meet someone, the Finders Keepers Club advises women to go to a wedding along unless you’re in an exclusive relationship.  They point out that a wedding is a natural place to meet a significant other because everyone is in a great mood, looks great, and each person has the bride or groom to vouch for them.

That said, you never know how things will work out! I definitely never thought I would meet anyone at that wedding and I’m sure my boyfriend didn’t think so either.  But we were very lucky and here we are, over a year later.

I guess that’s the key: good luck! (Thanks S&S for having a wedding!) 

~ Natasha

Tips for Staying Calm on the Big Day

Published November 10, 2008 How-To , Wedding Advice , Wedding Planning 0 Comments
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First of all, stop calling it your “big day.” It is, after all, just a wedding. And no, it does not need to be perfect. What is perfect, anyway?

Let me guess: You’re afraid you’ll trip while walking down the aisle, that the florist will fall through or the flowers will look wilted, that the photographer wont get “the perfect moment” on film, that your wedding party will be late, that the makeup or hair wont be exactly what the magazine says it should be, that the DJ plays the wrong song….

Keep it in perspective.  The most important part of a wedding is not the wedding. The most important part is that you and your significant other are gathering your friends and family together to celebrate your love for each other.  It is nothing more, nothing less.  Your friends and family could care less that you trip while walking down the aisle.  They do care, however, that you are happy.

Mrs. Pineapple on the Wedding Bee describes how she felt super duper calm right before the wedding.  She kept things in perspective and knew she’d get stuff done.  But unlike Mrs. Pineapple, don’t resign yourself to the idea that you will freak out.

Be happy! Plan ahead, delegate, and make sure that your loved ones are with you to keep you calm. The good news is that the one you love the most will be there ’cause you’re getting hitched! And that’s the most important part of the whole day.

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~Natasha

Picking a Bridesmaids Dress

Published November 6, 2008 How-To , Wedding Advice , Wedding Planning 0 Comments
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Bridesmaids dresses can be pretty awful. So awful, in fact, that “27 Dresses” is an entire movie that mocks the whole bridesmaid dress industry.  Is there a way to select a GOOD bridesmaid dress?

First of all, despite everyone’s best intentions, bridesmaids dresses cannot (usually) be worn again.  Yes,  you might be able to alter them in a way that works for future wear, but when it comes down to it, a bridesmaids dress LOOKS like a bridesmaids dress and no one wants to look like a bridesmaid when they’re a guest.  That said, it’s very sweet that brides and grooms want to pick re-wearable dresses. (Also, I don’t think any bridesmaid truly believes they will wear the dress again.)

With that in mind, one of the primary considerations (I think) should be price.  Keep in mind that your bridesmaids have budgets too and while they’re honored to be in your wedding, they may not be able to afford every dress.

Generally, the color is going to be determined by the color scheme of the wedding.  You can pick one color to reflect the color scheme or have bridesmaids wear several colors.  For example, if the wedding is in the spring, each bridesmaid could wear a different springy color.  Or the Maid of Honor could wear one color so she stands out while the other bridesmaids wear a different color.  When you are picking the color, however, keep in mind that the color is going to be worn. On human beings. Who may not forgive you for picking a ridiculous color that looks awful on all of them.  Really.

Don’t forget that each woman has a different body shape and that some bridesmaids may be self conscious about some part of that body.  There are certain cuts that work for busty women but not smaller-chested women and vice versa.  Be aware of what your bridesmaids look like!

The material and length is also important - both because they change how the dress fits on the woman and because weather might play a role.  If you’re getting married outdoors in the middle of winter in Maine, please do not ask your bridesmaids to wear a short dress.  (Note: There may be other issues if you are getting married outdoors in the middle of winter in Maine.)

Finally, shoes! You may want your bridesmaids to wear the same shoes, or just the same color shoes, or you may not care at all about shoes.  Whatever you choose, make sure you let your bridesmaids know.  Often stores won’t do dress fittings without the shoes that will be worn at the wedding!

You may want to let your bridesmaids pick out their own dresses.  One of the coolest brides I know made all of the above a lot easier by saying to her bridesmaids: ”Pick a dress and shoes that you like in X color. I have veto power.”  That way she got her color scheme to work, her bridesmaids were comfortable (with the style and the price), and everyone looked great in their wedding day garb!

~Natasha

Do It Yourself: Hair

Published November 2, 2008 How-To , Tips and Tricks , Wedding Advice 1 Comment
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Sometimes you can’t afford to have your hair done and you don’t have someone to help you! Even if you do, your bridesmaids (and perhaps groomsmen) may not.  You can do it yourself! A few warnings:

  • The pictures are forever.  Don’t just be sloppy about your hair, especially if you’re in the wedding party! You want to look put together, not like you just rolled out of bed.
  • Is it an outdoor wedding with the possibility of wind? Make sure your hair is UP! Get it out of your face so that if the wind blows, you won’t have to be moving your arms around and fixing your hair the whole time. Why? See above.
  • Get some ideas from the web, but remember, if you’re a bridesmaid, don’t out-‘do the bride! If you’re the bride, then the Wedding Planning blog suggests a few things to keep in mind – such as the shape of your face and the time of the year.
  • Make sure it looks good before the wedding! How stressful would it be to find out on the day of the wedding that your hair just doesn’t do THAT? Remember, once you make sure it does work, do NOT go get a haircut! 
  • If you decide to curl your hair, do it right!
  • Finally, make sure you are comfortable! You don’t want to be irritable because your pony tail is too tight. Just be sure you’ll be fine with the ‘do hours later.

~Natasha

How to Write a Maid of Honor Speech

Published October 31, 2008 How-To , Tips and Tricks , Wedding Advice 0 Comments
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One of the most challenging things I’ve ever had to do is write a Maid of Honor speech.  I was flattered to be chosen as one of the MOHs and I was excited that I would be able to tell all the guests what a great friend the bride is, how much I adore her, and how fabulous the bride and groom are as a couple.  But once I opened up the blank Word document to start writing, I couldn’t think of anything.  I came up with a lot of stories, but I wanted to be cautious about what I said — after all, there was going to be family there!

I reflected on some of the speeches I had heard at other weddings and tried to draw from them.  In the end, I came up with some great stories and the speech went well!  Both the groom and I cried during the speech and I received many compliments afterwards.

Here are some tips for the MOH speech:

  • Make the speech family friendly! I kept picturing myself telling the speech to the bride’s parents. It ensured I stuck to appropriate stories and didn’t have too many inside jokes. 
  • Don’t forget to thank the families. Regardless of who’s paying for the wedding (and sometimes it is the bride and groom), the families should be mentioned. After all, they’re responsible for bringing both the bride and groom into the world and/or raising them!
  • Tell stories about the bride, the groom, or the bride and groom.  Sound obvious, right?  But once you start telling a story, it’s very easy to end up speaking more about yourself than the couple.  One of the worst speeches I ever heard was a Best Man who told stories about how he and the groom used to compete in high school sports and how he (the Best Man) was a much better athlete than the groom.  Remember: it is THEIR day, not yours! 
  • Make it personal.  I know I just said to make sure the stories are about the bride and groom, but you should be sure it has to do with you! After all, you were selected because you are a good friend and vice versa.  Share stories of times when you were with them.  That’s much more meaningful than a list of reasons why marriage is sacred.
  • Keep it relatively short! It doesn’t need to be a minute, but it shouldn’t drone on either. A few quick stories, maybe a how you met the bride or groom, and a toast should suffice!
  • Try not to read.  Obviously you’re nervous and you’re afraid you’re going to forget something, but do your best not to read.  Some people like to take a few notes up to the microphone, while others feel more comfortable with the full speech written out.  I did not bring anything with me because I didn’t want it to sound too rehearsed.  I was talking about my friend, not doing a closing argument!  In retrospect, sure, I forgot some things — but no one knows but me!  
  • Try not to be nervous! The Wedding Maid of Honor Speech Blog suggests introducing yourself, talking about how you met, and introducing humor to make the speech more relaxed.  

If you happen to start crying in the middle of the speech, like I did,  or if you forget what you were going to say, then just take a minute, breathe, and move on.  It felt like ages when I paused to wipe the tears, but when I saw the video afterwards, I realized it wasn’t nearly as long as I thought it was.  Good luck!

~Natasha

How To Create Your Own Wedding Favors…Part II

Published October 2, 2008 How-To , Tips and Tricks , Wedding Design 0 Comments
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DIY Wedding Favor Kits

DIY Wedding Favor Kits

In a previous post we visited creating your wedding favors directly from the craft store.  Now lets take a look at a different approach of DIY wedding favors, “wedding kits.”

Wedding kits are less time consuming than creating your own favors from scratch.  The kits can be ordered and sent to your home, and all you have to do is assemble them according to the instructions.

Jena Richards is a good place to start to get your wedding favor kit ideas.  From spring fling to Las Vegas wedding favors, they have a nice list of ideas that may spark your interest.  But what exactly does a wedding kit entail?  Here is an example of a DIY wedding favor kit made available at Jena Richards.

White Mini favor box with candy-DIY kit

  • 10 white favor boxes
  • 50 pink or white almonds (imported) with edible beads or or 50 conversation hearts.
  • 10 ribbons, pre-cut for the color of your choice.
  • 10 pieces of white tulle

Does this approach seem like a no-brainer?  It should be.  Planning a wedding is hectic and stressful enough, and you don’t need complicated wedding favors to assemble when you are trying to save money.

If you’re sold on the idea of wedding favor kits, here is a list of other places you may want to consider to begin your DIY wedding favor journey.

Here’s to stress free, DIY wedding favors!

~ Lindsey

A Great Way To Share Your Wedding Lens Album

Published September 18, 2008 How-To , Tips and Tricks , Wedding Design 1 Comment
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Our friends Jasmine & Rodney recently got married (congrats guys!), and used The Wedding Lens to help get all the photos from their wedding.

One of the neat things about their thank-you cards, besides the fantastic design, was that they created stickers with the link to their Wedding Lens album, plus the access code, so all their guests would have a reminder to not only view the wedding photos, but also upload any that they took at the wedding.  How clever!

This is such a great idea that we’ll be considering this as an upgrade to our premium albums.  In the meantime, if you have a Wedding Lens album, you should consider adding your album URL to your wedding cards and favors, to maximize the number of pictures you’ll collect.  It definitely works - Jasmine and Rodney ended up with 1193 photos in their album. :)

-John

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