1. Send out thank you notes!  This may seem like a small task but it does take some time and effort to complete.   Remember to be sincere, thoughtful and specific in your thank you letters.  For example, “Thank you for the beautiful wine glasses.” This makes your thank you letters more personal and special.

2. Decide what you want to do with your wedding gown.  It took time and careful consideration to pick out so make sure to get it cleaned in a timely matter to get out all stains.  Then decide what you want to do with it.   For example, store your gown for future generations, schedule a Trash the Dress photo shoot, etc.

3. Preserve any Keepsakes.  A beautiful shadow box, wooden chest or album can allow you to keep special items from the wedding safe and sound.  These items may be personalized napkins, programs, invitations, toasting flutes. etc. This way your most treasured items from the wedding can be kept for many years to come.  Some couples even pull out the toasting flutes or napkins to use on their anniversary.

4.  Make it official!!  If you decide to take your husband’s last name, this will need to be changed on your drivers license, passport and social security card.  Many of the forms for changing your drivers license and passport can be found online.  Visit www.ssa.gov for information on changing your social security card.  Also, follow up with Probate court to make sure they received your marriage license if you do not get your copy in the mail within two weeks.

5. Return and/ or exchange gifts.  Make sure to make returns and exchanges in a timely matter.  If you wait too long there may be a return policy where you are unable to return.

6. Choose pictures for wedding album!  You would not believe how many brides I have talked to that have not decided on their wedding pictures and they have been married for years.  Remember that wedding albums can take up to six months or more to get back and you would hate to not have your album by your first anniversary!

7. Notify employer for tax purposes.  Make sure to notify your employer so they can not only update your last name but also the married status on your tax forms.  If not, you could delay your tax refund or prevent wages being posted to your social security record.

8.  Do a Will.  Most young people have not thought about a will but you may need to look at changing your beneficiary to your significant other.

9.  Get Deposits Back.  Many venues require a deposit for damages.  If no damages make sure to inquire about the necessary process to get refund!

10. Discuss financials with spouse.  If you have not done this yet, make sure to discuss how you want to handle your finances i.e. joint checking, separate checking, etc.  and decide how you want finances to be handled throughout your marriage.

If there is anything else we missed on this post wedding checklist, let us know!

We want to hear your thoughts!

Picture Sources: www.shuvarahim.com. www.andreahallgreenphoto.com, www.tomhoganlaw.com

Gold is a not only a perfect accent to many different wedding colors but is best seen in the wedding details.  One of the first ways to give you guests a sneak peek in to your wedding is with your choice of invitation.  Gold letterpress invitations are a perfect choice when using gold!

Some bold brides are even choosing to wear gold wedding dresses.  Definitely not a for every bride but if you want to stand out, a gold dress will certainly do the trick!

If a gold wedding dress is a little too much for you, then try pairing your dress with gold shoes or accessories.

You can even carry a bouquet with gold accents!

Many brides are going all out and choosing a gold wedding cake.  At first I thought this might be a little over the top but I have to say I think it is so unique and interesting I just can’t help but love it!

Whether you choose a soft color palette like pink or choose a bold color like orange, gold is the perfect compliment!

Look how unbelievable gold looks with this chevron pattern (another 2012 trend)!?!

Tell us what you think about this 2012 metallic trend.  Like or dislike…we want to know!

Happy Planning!

Picture Sources: www.bellafigura.com, www.beweddingplanner.com, www.rangolijewellery.com, www.karentran.com, www.strictlyweddings.com, www.elizabethannedesigns.com, www.wedhappilyeverafter.com, www.birddogwedding.com, www.weddingpaperdivas.com

One year before the wedding:
-Start a regular work out routine.
-If you want to lose weight, consult a nutritionist to evaluate a plan that works best for you to monitor your nutrition
-Get your teeth fixed if you have a tooth that is turned or need straightening.
-Decide on a plan for your hair. Do you want to grow it out or maintain your hair length?
-In you free time begin to set aside time to do non-wedding activities at least once a week!

6 months before W Day:
-Consult Dermatologist: Wedding planning can be an overwhelming process that can sometimes cause a lot of stress.  That stress can wreak havoc on your skin.  Your dermatologist can develop a skin regimen just for you that may include monthly facial treatments, microdermabrasion and/or peels.
-Find a Hairstylist and work with them to decide on your wedding day hairstyle.
-Find a Makeup Artist and consult with them about how you want to look on your wedding day

1 month before:
-Now is the best time to get your teeth whitened.  If you don’t have the money for a professional treatment there are many great alternatives you can get at local drug stores.
-Have your Hairstylist and makeup artist give you a “trial run” so you can make any necessary adjustments.
-Consider getting a spray tan.  If this is your first time getting a spray tan make sure to get a trial to test the color and lasting power on you.

2 weeks Before:
-Have hair colored and trimmed.  Make sure not to do anything drastic to your hair this close to the wedding.

Week of Wedding:
-Get eyebrows professionally shaped
-Get Spray Tanned mid week to allow for tan to wear off but still give you a healthy, natural looking glow.

Day before:

-Wash hair
-With all the stress right before the wedding you may have a breakout.  Don’t worry….just visit your dermatologist and ask them to give you a shot of cortisone to deflate it!
-Treat yourself to a Manicure/pedicure

Day of Wedding:

Relax, enjoy and make sure to take time out to remember that you are marrying the man of your dreams today.  I promise when your groom see’s you for the first time he will think you are the most beautiful woman he has ever seen!

Picture Sources: www.afteryesweddings.com, www.texasweddingssltd.com, www.onewed.com, www.gettingmarriedonlongisland.com, www.hamletphotography.com

One way you may see polka dots at a wedding are actually in the bridal gowns!  These romantic gowns are an elegant way to show off your love for polka dots!

Polka dots are showing up in all different wedding attire like the beautiful veils and gloves below.  Some guys are even carrying this theme in to their wardrobe and wearing a polka dot bow tie!

Take a look at some of these adorable options for polka dotted bridesmaid dresses!

Or you can decide to go with a more 50′s throwback polka dot which would give the wedding a totally different feel!

If wearing polka dots isn’t your thing you can always incorporate them in to the details of the wedding.  This would include things like favors and invitations.

Many girls are going ga-ga over polka dot cakes!  Depending on your color scheme polka dots can be elegant in all ivory or ivory/black or more fun in bright colors.

For any polka dot wedding it is the little things that can pull everything together.  For example, use polka dotted napkins, runners or place mats on the reception tables.  You can even use them as an accent behind table numbers or used in the ribbon around centerpieces.

What do you think about polka dotted weddings?  Leave us your comments!

Happy Planning!

Picture Sources (in order): www.100layercake.com, www.dresssafari.com, www.betseywhite.com, www.societybride.com, www.wedzu.com, www.bridefinds.com, www.tumbler.com, www.matrimonialmeg.blogspot.com, www.manolobrides.com, www.partyfabrics.com, www.onewed.com

Seeing each other before allows for a much smoother timeline.  There is not as much stress associated with taking all of the pictures in a short amount of time.  Most timelines give between 45 minutes and an hour to get all the post ceremony pictures done which include family, entire bridal party and romantic pictures. Put it simply, not a whole lot of time to get every shot you may want.

Another reason you may want to consider a first look is the intimate time you will get together.  In a traditional timeline one of the last people to see you is the groom.  Most of your wedding day is spent away form each other.  A first look allows you to take as much time as you need to see each other for the first time and show the emotions you may not show with everyone around.

Which brings me to my last reason you may want to have a first look is that seeing each other can ease a lot of tension and nerves that a ceremony brings.  You will already be the center of attention, which is nerve-wracking in itself.  A first look lets those jitters that come with seeing each other for the first time lessen a bit.

This new tradition is definitely not for every bride and groom and you will need to do what makes you happy.

What do you think about the first look?  We would love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Planning!

Picture Sources: www.eventstoatdc.com, www. inspiredbythis.com, www.onewed.com, www.truephotography.com, www.curtoneil.com

Here are some of my favorite table number ideas!

Some of the best table numbers are the ones that use pictures!  Some brides are using pictures of themselves at different ages of their lives and the age they are in the picture coincides with the table number.  For example, the bride and groom are both two years old in the pictures below and the guests will sit at table #2…ah-dorable!

Another way to use pictures for the table numbers is it to take pictures of you and your fiance holding signs with places you have visited and use the name of the places as the assigned table.

If you happen to have pictures of the two of you from those places you both visited you can attach that picture to the table name.

If you don’t want to use pictures of the two of you for table numbers you can always use a picture of something meaningful to you. You can use pictures of your favorite artists or postcards from places you have or hope to visit.

If you want more traditional table numbers you can use nontraditional ways of displaying the number.  Chalkboards are perfect and great for a rustic wedding (or all of my brides that are teachers)!  You can even use moss, burlap or wood to create an interesting table number.

No matter what you decide to do, it will add to the overall look and feeling of the guest tables.  You spent so much time designing the table, don’t forget about the table numbers!

Happy Planning!

Picture Sources: www.weddingwindow.com, www.carolinaweddingsandevents.com, www.weddingbee.com, www.elizabethannedesigns.com, www.onthegobride.com, www.txweddings.com, www.ruffledblog.com

1. Hire a professional wedding photographer!!

If you do nothing else…take this advice! So many brides try to save money by hiring a friend to take pictures.  Trust me, you will be disappointed in the end.  Professional wedding photographers understand how quickly and efficiently they need to stage photos to get all of the shots you want without all the stress!

2. Be on Time!

Sounds easy, right?  This has to be the #1 reason for stress on the wedding day.  Make sure if you are having a makeup or hair stylist they do not leave you to do last!! Artists always run late (even with the best of intentions) so leave enough time to sip some champagne and relax while the rest of your girls are getting ready.

3. Make a list of your Top 5 shots!

Some brides create a long list of poses and ideas for pictures that even the most skilled photographer cannot accomplish in the time allotted.  If you make a list of the top 5 shots or ideas you can’t live without it will allow your photographer time to be creative while getting your “must-have” list accomplishedl!

I have included some of my favorite wedding photography picture ideas that you may want to add in to your Top 5 shots!

Anything involving jumping!! Whether it involved the bride and groom or the whole wedding party jumping shots are so much fun and a great expression of what an amazingly fun time you are having!

Funny shots of the guys!! Let your guys be creative and have fun with choosing how they express their excitement!

To show off your style and how awesome your choice of dresses and bouquets are; line up!

You can even have a bridal portrait taken of you with all of your girls in the background.  Beautiful!

Don’t forget about the shoes!! (or socks)

Anything involving flower girls is usually adorable but this idea is one of my all time faves!

Light up the night sky with sparklers!

I hope these ideas and advice have helped in staying stress free on your wedding day and given a little inspiration for those Top 5 shots!

Happy Planning!

Picture Sources: www.kevinweinstein.com, www.tumblr.com, www.bridalmusings.com, www.mastinstudio.com, www.homegrownwedding.com, www.theknot.com, www.sarahromingphotography.com

Ostrich feathers are becoming very popular in bouquets and come in a variety of colors.  White is most commonly used and is the perfect touch to an Old Hollywood themed wedding.

Peacock feathers are beautiful with their rich color and are perfect by themselves or paired with flowers.

This bride decided to bleach the peacock feathers for her bouquet!

Another feather that is new to the bridal world is pheasant feathers….what do you think?

Some brides are even choosing to create bouquets by only using feathers and very little to no flowers at all!

My advice when using feathers is to use them sparingly.  If you have feathers in your hair, on your dress, in your bouquet, etc.  you may end up looking like a bird not a bride.  Used correctly and with a keen eye, feathers are a great addition to your wedding attire and floral decor.

Happy Planning!

Picture Sources: www.hotpinkbrides.com, www.coatspress.com, www.blowoutparty.com, www.ruffledblog.com, www.sparkleandwish.com, www.yesbride.com

There are many reasons to opt for a food truck at your wedding.  The first reason may be cost.  Most food trucks are less expensive than traditional wedding caterers.  Also, food trucks are usually more eco friendly by using fresh ingredients and making less mess by using paper products.

Another reason to have a food truck would have to be the awesome pictures you can get!

Some brides and grooms instead of a traditional receiving line are serving up tasty treats from the food truck as a way to welcome everyone to the wedding!

Lastly, I like food trucks because it is unique and sets your wedding apart from any other. How surprised would your guests be as they depart to see an ice cream truck waiting to hand out their choice of dessert as they leave?!?  Or grab mini appetizers from food trucks during the cocktail hour?

I know this trend is not for every wedding but there are ways to incorporate food trucks and still have a traditional catered meal for dinner.

If you live in the Atlanta area, a new food truck park has just opened and includes at least 15 different food trucks at one time giving you the opportunity to taste from several different food trucks and find the one perfect for your wedding.  The Atlanta Food Truck Park is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week offering live music and even a weekend farmers and art market!

What are your thoughts on food trucks?  We want to know!

Happy Planning!

Picture Sources (in order): www.unitedwithlove.com, www.eco-beautifulweddings.com, www.weddingplanninginstitute.com, www.bridesmaidtrade.com, www.weddingclan.com

If you are like me, I had never heard of an on-site flip book service for weddings and had no idea exactly what that meant. I will try my best to explain…. I think we have all seen the original flip books with a series of pictures when flipped through would create a “video” of sorts?

Well, flip book companies are now setting up an area at the wedding where they film guests making a short video clip.  In less than two minutes they create a flip book of the video to take with them as a favor from the wedding!! How cool is that?

Most companies will make as many flip books as the guests would like to make.  And the cover of the flip book can be personalized including your names and the date of the wedding.

You can also supply fun props that always make the flip books a little more interesting!

If you love the idea of a flip book some brides are even using this idea for save the dates and wedding invitations!

What do you think about this new trend for weddings?

Happy Planning!

Picture Sources (in order): www.iloveflipbooks.com, www.bridalinsider.com, www.iloveflipbooks.com, www.fitnesscure.com, www.simplyjubileeblog.com