BBQ doesn’t necessarily mean messy food, shrimp, steaks, even roasts are all easy and inexpensive to have prepared on the grill

As the weather gets warmer there is probably only one thing on your groom’s mind and that is barbecue! He wants to throw some meat on the grill as soon as he gets home and he wants to coat it all in some delicious homemade barbecue sauce. Heck, it’s not him, nobody can resist the temptation of barbecue. It’s such a delicious comfort food and on the warmest of days it is a great way to spend time together. Not only is the food very tasty but it’s a most people’s favorite and they have great memories associated with barbecue. Why should that be separate from your wedding? Especially if barbecue is your favorite food and it’s a big tradition in your family? A lot of brides feel like they have to have fancy catering at their wedding but if we’re all just craving some burgers straight from the grill then your wedding day is no day to deny yourself. Don’t worry about your wedding going down the drain though, there are a lot of ways to make barbecue as classy and sophisticated as you want it to be. For starters, if you are afraid of smoke or red stains on your white dress you can have the ribs prepared elsewhere. Off the premises or to the side where the smoke can’t get in your eyes. Catering companies are open to all sorts of ideas and are their to make sure you get your favorite food on your big day so just ask around until you find the one that works for you.

It doesn’t need to turn into a hoedown in order for you to chow down, although that could be pretty fun as well!

Image license: iStockphoto (view source)

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Take the stress out of creating your seating arrangement at your wedding by making a fun game out of it!

You’ve probably put a lot of thought into your seating arrangements. Many brides have to begin working on theirs right away using large whiteboards or drawing elaborate maps and plans. It can make or break a guest’s experience of your wedding if they are sitting next to the wrong person and it can be a great opportunity to play matchmaker if you seat two guests together that you know will hit it off. If you have put so much thought into your seating arrangements then you want to show it off not only by having a room full of happy guests but by laying out the arrangement in a pretty way.

Depending on the size of your wedding and the time you can’t individually escort each guest to their table and even if you could you want to make sure they remember or can find it again. Escort cards are a neat way to let your guests know about the seating arrangements and an easy way to lead them to their tables. A typical escort card will have the guest’s name and either the number of the table or some information as to the whereabouts of the table. Escort cards are also a place to get creative or decorative with your wedding planning. An adorable idea we’ve recently come across is to use vintage keys attached to cardstock tags to create escort cards. This is a super easy DIY project and all you would need is cardstock, ribbons and handfuls of vintage keys. Any vintage or thrift shop worth its mettle will have loads of these keys on hand otherwise you can order them in bulk at craft stores most assuredly. These are usually just old keys, if they are oversized or stylized in some way thats even better but without any doors to unlock think of them as the key to having a memorable wedding! They are great decor attached to an escort card and are easily transformed into a wedding keepsake as well.

Image license: iStockphoto (view source)

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Pink isn’t just for a little girl’s room or for your bridal shower. Pink might be ultra feminine but it’s also gutsy and romantic too! Plan a pink wedding, everyone else is!

Gwen Stefani, Jessica Biel & Anne Hathaway Wedding Gown Pictures. Click to enlarge.

Gwen Stefani, Jessica Biel, Anne Hathaway–it seems like all the celebrities are already on board the train for a pink wedding dress. Let’s take it one step further to plan the ultimate pink wedding. Many brides shy away from pink being a prominent color in their wedding decor and planning because it seems alienating. Pink is still “for the girls” and brides are afraid their guys aren’t going to warm up to such a frothy and confectionary color. Hopefully though, your guy and your guy’s guys will understand that pink doesn’t just come in one shade of girly and outdated. Pink has many different faces and there’s one type of pink for everyone!

The many personalities of pink are not just in its shading but also in its uses. Blush is the second most popular color for wedding gowns and it can also be a big hit in wedding planning. Less than romantic or loud pinks, blush is understated and subtle. This means that blush can pair well with lots of colors. It can be paired with other pastels or muted tones to create a serene palette or it can be used to tone down bold colors. A great way to use blush is to use a touch of it like a magic wand. If you are wearing a blush colored gown coordinate with your man to have him add some blush to his vest or tie and you two will look like the perfect couple. Blush is also more sophisticated than other pinks so you need not worry about a childish factor. It will romantic and feminine like other shades of pink but it will also feel grown up and luxurious. If you don’t want to overcommit to pink runners and seat covers or even to a pink dress blush accents such as shoes or flowers are another simple and easy way to add the soft, romantic element that pink always brings to the table.

Image license:
Gwen Stefani – TimeInc.net (view source)
Jessica Beil – PerezHilton.com (view source)
Anne Hathaway – UsMagazine.com (view source)

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Be careful not to shop for your wedding gown too early, as styles, tastes, and even your figure may change.

Oh no, it’s happened. The unthinkable. You have been staring at your gown in your closet every day as you get ready for work or to go on a hot date with your fiance and everyday the gown is going deeper and deeper into the depths of your closet. Soon, you can’t even see it anymore but you can’t get it off your mind either–and not in a good way. Whatever the reasons, whether it is alterations gone awry or that you never really loved it in the first place what are you supposed to do if you begin to hate your wedding gown and your big day is fast approaching?

One of the big reasons why you might start to dislike your gown is the exhaustion of the alterations and fitting process. Maybe you lost some beloved detail that really sold the dress for you or maybe the fit you thought you wanted wasn’t as much of a dream come true as you thought it was going to be. If this is the reason why your dress is seeming less appealing to you then do not despair! Alterations can seem pretty permanent and irreversible and in a lot of ways they can be but change isn’t always a bad thing. If you lost some pretty embroidery in the bodice as you had your dress taken in see if you can add a belt or accessory that will liven up the dress again. If the fit doesn’t seem as flattering ask if it can be let out again in certain places or try additions such as sleeves, straps or a beautiful, long train. Another big reason for disliking your gown might be that you never liked it very much in the first place. While it may sound ridiculous to some that brides would purchase a gown they didn’t love but under pressure from in-laws or having an appointment overrun by opinionated bridesmaids can make for some bad decisions.

All hope is not lost though! The damage can be reversed!

Image license: iStockphoto (view source)

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See also: Full-skirt Silhouette Wedding Gowns

Watters Trumpet Wedding Gown
Click to view pricing.

Sheath is the silhouette with the most amount of variation. Sheath gowns by nature are straight and oftentimes narrow which can look divine on a tall frame or someone with an athletic build. On shorter women or more curvy women though sheath gowns can have dwarfing or unflattering effect. Luckily there are lots of different types of sheath gowns such as mermaid and trumpet which suit the kind of woman who is loud and proud and wants to show off what she’s got!

Regular sheath dresses fall straight down and when using the right fabrics and embellishments this can be a lovely and romantic silhouette. If you have long legs or are trying to hide a few extra inches around the hips then these gowns can be very forgiving. However if you have an hourglass figure and you are ready to let the world know about it try a mermaid or trumpet gown which also fall under the category of a sheath gown. If you pull a sheath gown in at different places or add a little flare at others then you will get one of its many variations. A mermaid gown is close to the body all the way down. Locking down your bodacious curves a mermaid gown sensually hugs you from your bust all the way to down past your knees sometimes. Mermaid gowns are all glamour and the flare below the knee will give you unheard of length if you are worried about a petite structure. Trumpet gowns on the other hand are more like sheath dresses in that they are flattering on a variety of different body types and their flare happens around mid-thigh and oftentimes very gradually.

Some of the most va-va-voom sheaths we have are this elegant Vera Wang Mermaid or this pretty Watters Trumpet.

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A-line Wedding Gown by Vera Wang
Click to view pricing.

Everyone is telling you that silhouette is an extremely important factor in picking the right gown but sometimes it is hard to know exactly what that means. There are so many different types and variations in those types with all kinds of funny names like “mermaid” and “trumpet”. Thankfully, A-Line is not that complicated but for those who haven’t that much experience with gown shopping (and who does really?) it can at first sound like a part of the New York City Transportation Authority. Don’t worry. It is, in fact, the type of gown silhouette that is most often universally flattering. So that’s good news for you–unless you’re trying to head up-town.

They say that A-Line gowns are perfect for women who don’t have a very great grade between their measurements. If the difference between your bust, waist and hip measurements is mere inches, then an A-Line is ultra flattering. It will make you look slim and svelte on your wedding day no matter your perception of your size and shape. If you have broad shoulders then show them off. Find an A-Line that will emphasize your your toned athletic build with an open neckline. Something cut straight across or a deep-V with long sleeves is beautiful. You can pull off a halter neckline no problem and if you are getting married on the beach then this is welcome news for you! A-Line gowns have a lot more leeway with necklines than other styles and so whatever your favorite part of your body is an A-Line gown will find a way to make people drool! A-Lines are all about flexibility so if you have always wanted an hourglass figure, find an A-Line that has a fitted bodice and create a sexy illusion!

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See also: Check out A-line Silhouettes

Maggie Sottero Bodice Back Wedding Gown.
Click to view pricing.

Fashion magazines and beauty blogs loves to compare your one-of-a-kind “precious temple” of a body to things you could find in your vegetable drawer. What does it even mean to be squash shaped? It all just sounds insulting and makes you mildly crave a summer salad. Well put the vegetables where they belong, and understand what makes you special and how best to show it off. We all have assets, part of our body that we love. Let’s focus on those parts instead of the parts we wish there was a workout for or that the media is telling is to hate. If you are a busty woman, sing it loud and proud. Sure jogging might not be your favorite activity, but don’t say a night at the bar is ever uneventful. Show off those curves, keep it classy and look your best on your wedding day in a Full-Skirt gown.

The most common wedding gown silhouettes are full-skirt, A-Line and sheath–in fact, we arrange the dresses in our store by silhouette to make it easier for you to find the dress that’s right for you! While there are many variations within each silhouette, full-skirt gowns are the ones with the least range of change. A full-skirt gown flares at the natural waist or maybe even slightly above and it flares for its life! Usually stuffed with tulle a full-skirt is the perfect picture of a wedding gown. If your best asset is your bust a full-skirt will balance it out instead of making it stand out in a vulgar way. If you choose a sweetheart neck especially a full-skirt will show off your curves without actually showing them to anyone but your sweetie. A full-skirted gown is also great for really tall or statuesque women who can carry off the volume effortlessly.

Some of our full-skirt bestsellers are this luscious Vera Wang in a soft peach or this Maggie Sottero with a bodice back.

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Circular Cut Wedding Veil
Click on image for pricing.

Even though a bridal veil is an essential part of the bridal look and can really bring an ensemble together, they are often times overlooked or considered as an afterthought. For the expressive bride, this is a big mistake. Just because veils are a necessity doesn’t mean that they are boring! They have so much potential, so make sure to utilize it all. Try a textured veil to add some va-va-voom to your wedding. Every part of this day is a way to show off who you are and what’s important to you so why let the veil be an exception?

A textured veil actually has a pretty broad description. For some it can just be veering away from traditional veil fabrics for bolder choices. Veils are typically made of tulle. Rougher tulle with a larger spread is great for a blusher because it reveals more of your face but high quality microtulle will be soft and sweet for longer veils. If you want to switch up the texture of a traditional veil but you are a heart a pretty traditional girl you need not despair or start looking at swatches of pleather. Look to your gown for inspiration. If you have a flowy A-Line like this Amsale with a pretty belt then keep your veil long and strong using fabrics such as silk or chiffon. They will also flow prettily from the back of your head. Unfortunately this does kind of make a blusher not an option, and heavier fabrics do make for a weightier veil but cascading from an updo, a silk or chiffon veil is absolutely stunning. If you are even more adventurous then go to your local fabric store and explore all the option. Start at felt and end at fur! Just remember that you do have to bear the weight of the veil and that might mean a lot of hairspray or a shorter veil but that’s a small price to pay for expressing yourself on your walk down the aisle!

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Have you thought about what you’re going to do after you leave your wedding celebration?

You’ve said, “I Do”, danced lated into the night and ridden off into the sunset with your new Prince Charming. At this point in your wedding day you must be over the moon, but what happens next? Well you might be jumping straight on a plane for your honeymoon but most people are heading to a hotel room or maybe even back to their own homes for a night of rest and relaxation… and maybe something more. This is your own private afterparty to the wedding and nobody else is invited. What are you going to do?

Well for starters, stuff your faces. A little hint: you are going to be exhausted after your wedding. No matter how small or how short the ceremony is you will just be so tired. Even if you spent all night sitting on a throne and greeting guests weddings are emotionally trying because you will go through a large spectrum of feelings and fast too! You will feel scared and nervous and elated and excited and very, very loved but it takes a lot of energy to feel all those feelings especially when there isn’t really time to process what they all mean. So as you and your new husband reach your final destination for the evening take some time to yourselves. You might be planning on having a lot of time to yourselves actually, but before that part we suggest dinner. You may find yourselves too tired to talk or you might be gushing to rehash every intimate detail but all of that can be done over a hot plate of food. Plan ahead and order yourself a meal, have it hot and waiting for you (or easily reheatable) and make sure it is full of carbs because you will not only need to replenish the lost energy but you’re going to need a lot more for the night ahead!

Image license: iStockphoto (view source)

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Wedding rings are a very symbolic part of marriage, so wear yours with pride. Oh, and don’t forget to get great shots of your marriage bands on your wedding day!

When you first get engaged and slip that brand new shiny rock on to your hand, don’t walk but run to the nail salon. As soon as the news of your newfound happiness breaks your hands are going to get the most attention they have ever gotten because everybody’s first question will be, “can I see your ring?”. It’s not a bad problem to have (as long as you have a good manicurist) and you hopefully won’t get too tired of gushing over the perfect setting you’ve always dreamed of. While you might get used to your engagement ring eventually and your wedding band might already start to feel comfortable mere hours after you start wearing it, you will want to remember how special and new it feels right now. Capture the way you get giddy every time you feel this new weight on your fingers by getting your photographer to pay some special attention to your wedding and engagement rings.

A picture or pictures of the rings is an essential wedding photography shot. It’s not just about capturing how shiny and new your rings used to be but also about being able to show them off to one and all. Many photographers choose to frame the photo with three rings: your engagement ring and both yours and your partner’s wedding bands. This is a sentimental and touching photo. Try this shot with lots of different backgrounds. Rings are small so they give you a lot of creativity when trying to frame them perfectly. Also because rings are so reflective they will give off dazzling inner light making the photographer’s job a little bit easier. Some great ways to photograph rings incorporate your cake or flowers or some element of your wedding decor. This is delightful especially because it incorporates other ephemeral parts of your wedding.

Play around with different backgrounds and different ways of framing the rings on and off your finger because although diamonds last forever, it’s nice to remember how you felt when you first got them.

Image license: iStockphoto (view source)

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