Weddster

Don’t fall prey to these wedding-planning blunders like some unfortunate brides before you:

1. Spending money on things that aren’t important to you. Just because your mother-in-law thinks you should spend $400 on wedding favors doesn’t mean you have to. If giving your guests token favors isn’t important to you, then put that money somewhere that IS important, whether it’s the menu, the dress of the honeymoon. Wedding vendors are constantly going to be trying to talk you into spending more than you anticipated on their services. Learn to just say “no.”
2. Drinking too much the night before the wedding. Whether your bridesmaids want to take you out for the bachelorette party or your rehearsal dinner has free-flowing beverages, getting trashed the night before you walk down the aisle is a bad idea. Not only will it ruin what is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life because you’ll have a headache — or worse — but you’ll also have bloodshot eyes, baggy under-eye circles and blotchy skin. That’s not exactly what a blushing bride is supposed to look like.
3. Thinking that because it’s your wedding day, you can do whatever you want. That’s the exact definition of a bridezilla. It’s not just YOUR day, it’s your FIANCEE’S day as well, so don’t forget about him.
4. Booking a ceremony or reception hall before finalizing the guest list. If you fall in love and put a deposit down on a reception venue that only holds 100 guests, but then your future in-laws come to you with their third of the guest list, and it tops out your guest list at 145, what are you going to do? It’s going to be a tough decision to cut 45 people. Follow a wedding planning checklist to make sure that you’re getting things done in the proper order, and you won’t run into a blunder like this.
5. Not paying attention to the legalities. This could be in regards to the marriage license — there are rules that vary by states, and if you screw things up, your marriage license might not be valid. Certain states have waiting periods (for example, three days between when you receive the license until when you can legally marry), and some have time limits (the marriage has to take place within 60 days of the license being issued). Be on top of this at least a month before the wedding.
6. Forgetting to book a block of hotel rooms. If you have a lot of guests coming from out of town, it’s courteous for you to block off a certain number of rooms that the hotel then offers to guests at a discount. If you forget to do this, the guests could have a hard time finding a room near your wedding, especially if you live in a seasonally touristy town or there’s a big event going on in your city the same weekend.
7. Underpaying invitation postage. If you send out a big batch of invitations right at the two-month mark, you’re perfectly on schedule. Except what happens when they’re returned for insufficient postage? That will throw the whole schedule off track and your guests won’t enough notice of the wedding.
8. Not setting up a formal time line for your wedding. Things will be chaos if people don’t know where they’re supposed to be and when. Type out a timeline that indicates the start and end time of the ceremony, the introduction of the bridal party, the time dinner is being served, when the toasts and first dances are, and when the cake is being cut. Hand this out to people who need to know — the DJ or bandleader, the officiant, the maid of honor and best man, and the head of the catering staff. This ensures that no one is taken by surprise.
9. Choosing a menu that most people won’t eat. It’s great if you want to have more than the standard chicken, potatoes and steamed vegetables served as your meal. But if you choose a duo of veal and lamb without any other choices, you’ll likely alienate many of your guests, who will then go hungry (or binge on wedding cake).
10. Putting off wedding dress shopping. The wedding dress process can take time. Not only is it unlikely you’ll find the dress of your dreams the first time you shop, but even if you do, alterations can take months. Occasionally a bride will find an off-the-rack dress that she can take home and not worry about, but it’s more likely that your dress will take at least six to eight months to be ready.

Do you know about any other mistakes? Let us know and leave a comment.

Every bride knows the old wedding-day adage: Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Each phrase refers to an article of clothing or accessory that the bride should be wearing (or somehow carrying) on her wedding day.

The items are supposed to represent symbolize a happy new life and good luck for the new bride. Her “something old” symbolizes the bride’s history and past, though brides often choose to purchase antique or vintage items for this category. It’s nice to include a family heirloom in this category, as a way of showing your family that they’ll always be part of you even as you become part of another family. The “something new” refers to the new life on which she’s embarking and the optimism and hope which she embodies. “Something borrowed” is to “borrow” the good luck of a happily married friend or family member, in the hopes that the lender’s happiness will transfer over to the new couple. Finally, “something blue” has historical connotations, because the color blue used to symbolize purity and faithfulness. It was also a popular wedding color in which to be wed, as a popular saying was “married in blue, lover be true.”

The original saying actually had a final line: “And a silver sixpence in her shoe.” A sixpence is a type of old British coin. Different types of coins are sometimes substituted these days, though sixpences can be bought for this specific purpose. The sixpence symbolizes financial security and wealth.

There are classic interpretations on this traditional poem: an old handkerchief, a new dress, borrowed jewelry and a blue garter. But there are plenty of other options when trying to creatively include these traditional symbols into your wedding-day attire. Naturally, you can combine two categories into one item – using a borrowed piece of antique jewelry as your “something old” and “something borrowed” – but it’s lots of fun to seek out an item for each category specifically.

Here are some options if you want to do something different for your tradition:

Something old

• Mother’s or grandmother’s engagement or wedding ring.
• Antique lace tied around your bouquet.
• Vintage earring or other jewelry.
• Family wedding photo in a locket.
• Vintage or secondhand shoes.
• Your mother’s wedding veil.

Something new

• Sexy undergarments.
• New shoes.
• A shiny tiara or headband.
• A piece of jewelry that just happens to be a gift from your groom.
• A beautiful veil.

Something borrowed

• Mother-in-law’s pearl necklace or earrings.
• The bracelet your best friend wore at her wedding.
• A barrette or hair brooch from your sister.
• Your grandmother’s wedding ring tied into your bouquet.

Something blue

• Blue flowers in your bouquet.
• Sapphire stones in a piece of jewelry.
• Blue ribbon tied around your bouquet.
• Fun blue high heels.
• Blue undergarments or lingerie.
• Blue sash for your wedding dress.
• A blue button replacing one of the original buttons on your wedding dress.

The beginning of wedding planning begins with the placement of an engagement ring on the bride’s finger and ends with the exchange of wedding rings. These important symbols of your marriage and your love deserve the same amount of attention as any other part of your wedding-planning duties. Here are our top tips for finding the right wedding band for you.

• Girls, decide if you want a new ring, a wrap or just want to wear your engagement ring. Some women think it’s silly to wear their diamond for a year, then replace it with another ring. Therefore, they just keep on wearing their engagement ring as a symbol of their marriage, and think nothing of it. Other women add a wrap, which is an additional piece of ring that wraps around the engagement ring, making it look like a whole new ring. These two pieces can be welded together to create one ring or kept separate. These wraps can range anywhere from $100 up, depending on if it’s adorned with more diamonds. Finally, some brides decide that the hassle and risk of wearing their diamond engagement ring is too much for everyday, so they go with a plain gold, white-gold or platinum wedding band.
• Don’t go cheap when buying your wedding band.  This is especially true for the men, who don’t have an engagement ring as a symbol of the marriage. Wedding bands are forever, so spend accordingly. If you used the “two-months-salary rule” for spending on the engagement ring, a “one-month-salary rule” is appropriate for the wedding band. Is that too much? Start by buying temporary, less-expensive wedding bands and start saving for higher-quality permanent bands for the future.
• Don’t worry about matching his-and-hers wedding. How often will you really be comparing your wedding bands side by side? If her taste is white gold, and he prefers yellow gold, then who cares if they’re different colors? It’s great if the couple choose complementary wedding rings — some jewelry shops will even offer a great deal for these type of matchy-matchy rings — but it’s more important that both the bride and groom’s taste and style are reflected in the ring. You will be wearing it for the rest of your life, after all.
• Start shopping early, especially if you want engraving on the wedding bands. Six months prior to the wedding is a good timeline. Many wedding bands need to be special-ordered, and personalization can take even longer. You don’t want to be stressed that your wedding bands haven’t arrive a week before the wedding ceremony.
• Another one for the girls: Buy a ring that’s the same material as your engagement ring. If you’re planning on wearing them together, you’ll probably want them to match. But even more important than that, the two rings will rub against each other if they’re being worn on the same finger. The ring that’s made of a harder, stronger material will wear away at the ring that isn’t at durable.
• Buy from a jeweler you trust. Most reputable jewelers will offer free cleaning and adjustment for the life of the ring. Hopefully the groom did his research before buying the bride’s engagement ring. If the engagement ring is holding up to your standards, then returning to the same jeweler is a great idea. You might even be able to negotiate a good deal by flashing the bride’s super-expensive engagement ring at the jeweler.

Oftentimes, ways to save money on your wedding means giving up something you’ve been dreaming about your entire life. Other budget-savers require no second thought. Here are a few money-saving tips that fall into the latter category:

• Host a limited bar. It’s better than a dry wedding, but not as expensive as an open bar. Create a specialty cocktail (and have fun with it!) and offer a mid-level wine and beer. That way, everyone will have something yummy to drink, but you’re not stuck with a huge bar bill at the end of the night.
• Create your own centerpieces. It’s easy to dream up gorgeous centerpieces for a fraction of the price if you create them yourself. The key is to use low-cost ingredients (think filler flowers like baby’s breath — which has gotten a bad rap — or pretty fruits like lemons or apples) and coupons/sales for everything else. If you start collecting centerpiece items early, you’re likely to be able to collect coupons or hit the sales throughout the year at the local craft store. Buy the bigger pieces one or two items at a time, and you’ll save a bundle without sacrificing the look of your wedding.
• Cut the favors. Plain and simple, you just don’t need them. You’re spending anywhere from $200-$800 on something that is likely going to be left on the table. Even edible favors are mostly a waste of money. Spend the funds somewhere where it really matters — like the wedding dress.
• Hold your cocktail wedding reception on a Friday night instead of Saturday. This option won’t always be a budget-saver, or even realistic for some couples. For example, if many of your guests are traveling from out of town, then the likelihood they can get there in time for a 7 p.m. Friday night ceremony start isn’t good. (Then again, you would cut costs if those guests declined to attend … it all depends on priorities.) Second, a venue that’s more likely to be booked on a Friday night, like if they offer live bands or host corporate functions, won’t offer any reduced rates. But if you can find a venue that offers cheaper rates on a Friday versus Saturday night, and all you care about is that your wedding reception has a lounge-y, cocktail-party feel, then who cares if which weekend night it’s on?
• Go for less-luxe comfort food for the reception meal, like pot roast and macaroni and cheese, or barbecue chicken and mashed potatoes. It’s not really a surprise that crab cakes and steak are the ultra-expensive options for a reception meal. But if you’re not having a super-luxurious affair, then why do you need to serve lobster to your guests? The comfort food is not only cheaper, but it’s just as yummy as its more-expensive counterparts.
• Bail on the champagne toast. It’s likely that three-fourths of your guests won’t even like champagne. Instead of having it automatically poured; just have a waiter walk around with a tray of glasses. Guests can take one if they want. If not, they’ll get the hint that the toasts are coming up soon, and they should hurry up to the bar to get their own drink filled.

It seems that a wedding dress is no longer simply a wedding dress. In fact, to figure out what all the different terms mean when it comes to wedding dresses, you practically have to have a master’s degree in fashion. OK, that’s not entirely true, but it can be kind of daunting to figure out what type of dress you want. What is true is that your wedding dress can vary drastically depending on the type of wedding you have. For example, a ballgown wedding dress isn’t exactly the most appropriate choice for a beach wedding. Did those phrases confuse you? Here’s a primer in what all the terms mean:

Silhouettes (the shape of the skirt of the dress)

• A-line/princess: This is the most popular type of silhouette and is flattering on nearly everyone. The dress is fitted through the hips, then flares out slightly into an A shape. It can be worn for any type of wedding, from very casual to formal, because it’s such a classic style.

• Ballgown: If you want the princess look, this is for you. Ballgown dresses are similar to A-line dresses, but the skirt is much fuller and often layered with tulle. Ballgown dresses are most common in formal, elegant weddings. They are a very dramatic choice, but can convey an image of high-maintenance or a fussy bride. Additionally, ballgown styles aren’t ideal for everyone – it can overwhelm a shorter bride because your height doesn’t balance out the fullness of the skirt. This look is better suited for a slender or pear-shaped bride. A bride with a large bust will also look great in this style, but the top half of her body will easily balance out the bottom half of the dress.

• Mermaid/trumpet : This style of dress is fitted through the top of the thighs or knee, then flares out in a dramatic fashion. This is a popular style of dress right now, though it bound to be a passing trend. Because the majority of the dress is very form-fitting, certain body types will want to avoid this style.

• Sheath/column: This is the essential destination wedding dress. The dress has a narrow shape that flow naturally from top to bottom, following the curves of the bride. Lean figures will have the best luck in this type of dress because the form-fitting nature of the dress isn’t very forgiving.

Now anyone who has ever gone shopping can probably easily figure out what terms for other parts of the dress means – strapless, v-neck, halter, etc. Those aren’t too complicated. What is confusing is the different types of veils. After all, this will probably be the only occasion you’ll ever go veil-shopping.

• Royal: This is the grandest of all types of veils, as it extends 10 feet beyond the bride’s waist for a sweeping train. Think about what royal families wear when they get married.
• Cathedral: This type of veil is shorter than royal, but it still pretty significant for most brides. The cathedral veil extends about seven feet from the bride’s waist, about one foot past the bride’s gown on the floor. Make sure to remove it before the reception.
• Fingertip veil: This type of veil is just how it sounds: A veil that extends to the bride’s fingertips. It’s the most commonly worn style because it’s very bride-like, but not as fussy as a cathedral veil.
• Elbow veil: Similar to the fingertip veil, this one goes to the bride’s elbows. It can be a single layer or multi-layered for more dimension.
• Blusher veil: This type of veil covers the bride’s face, and it most common for a first-time bride. The father of the bride typically lifts the blusher veil above the bride’s head as he “gives her away.”

In a dream world, wedding photography wouldn’t be subject to budget cuts. After all, it’s generally the only tangible memories of your wedding that you’ll still have after all is said and done. But good wedding photographers can be expensive, and really great wedding photographers can charge thousands of dollars. For a couple on a tight budget, that’s just not realistic.

Luckily, there are ways to find wedding photographers who will get the job done without charging an arm and a leg.

Do plenty of research. If you can, call dozens of photographers and get quotes from them all. This will give you leverage to negotiate with your favorites.

• Hire a photography student. If you have a local university with a photography department, you just might be in luck. College students are always looking for ways to earn extra money, and you might be surprised at the talent available. But spend extra time on the vetting process with these potential photographers. It’s likely they aren’t aware of the protocol that comes with shooting weddings. Make sure you have a standard contract drawn up and a list of expectations so everyone is on the same page.
• Post an ad on Craigslist. Let the photographers come to you. Post your wedding date, general location and what you’re willing to pay, and the photographers can decide if they want to do the work for that rate. As with photography students, make sure you see a lot of samples, call references and talk to them extensively before booking.
• Skip the pricey albums. These days, most photographers offer albums, scrapbooks or coffee table books in standard wedding packages. Do it a la carte and just get the photos and the rights to the images, then create your own albums for a lot less. This is only a good idea if you’re crafty and motivated enough to get it done yourself.
• Cut the photographer’s hours. Ask your bridesmaids to snap pictures while you’re getting ready in the early morning and just hire the photographer for the hour before the ceremony and beyond. You might be able to shave off some money for only booking for part of the day.
• Realize that wasting money is worse than spending too much money. If you cut back your budget too far, you risk hiring a horrible wedding photographer. Weeks after your wedding, when you finally receive the proofs, the last thing you want is to discover you threw away the money you paid the photographer because none of the photos are usable.