Save the date cards are a destination wedding essential! They provide valuable information to guests and ensure that your family and friends can share your big day. Don’t worry if you don’t have all your details nailed down; a save the date doesn’t require the name of your location or a specific time.
It can be simple or elaborate, funky or traditional, a full card, post card or even a refrigerator magnet. No matter the style, all save the dates should include these features:
- Date. If you are planning a weekend full of festivities, let guests know so they can schedule accordingly.
- Location. Let people know if they need to book a flight, pack the car for a road trip or secure a hotel room. This is the place to notify guests if you have block of rooms at a hotel. Include the information required for their planning.
- A way to get more information. Provide your phone number, email address or the url to your wedding website. Spending time answering questions at the beginning will save you and your guests from last minute panics and ensure that your wedding day is not shrouded in confusion.
- Elements of your wedding style. This is where you get to have fun. Save the dates can be far less formal than wedding invitations and more adaptable. Photographs are a great addition. One of my favorites was the UFC themed card above. It was fresh, reflected the fun attitude of the couple and was a cute addition to my bulletin board. The couple then tied the theme of the card to the reception by having a grand entrance complete with boxing gloves and the famous - ‘Lets get ready to rumble’ announcement. It just goes to show that the only confine to a great save the date is your imagination!
What is the one element that will effect every single photograph you take on your wedding day? Posture. Good posture makes you look thinner, taller and more graceful. It is especially key when you are utilizing photojournalist style photography that catches unguarded moments. Couples and members of the wedding party should practice good posture in preparation for taking gorgeous pictures at every click.
Posture isn’t about posing, but about strength. Posing looks stilted, unnatural and uncomfortable. So instead of going America’s Next Top Model on your wedding day, work to strengthen and stretch the muscles in your shoulders and back. Taking dancing lessons to prepare for your big day? Don’t just focus on footwork, but use the lessons to practice correct carriage. Enroll in a ballet class for even more training. Yoga and Pilates are other disciplines that build the lean upper body strength that you need to stand tall all day. Ask your partner, friend or co-worker to remind you to straighten-up. The more you practice, the more natural the habit will become. The result will be great looking pictures that capture the beauty of your special day.
Browsing for wedding attire just got a whole lot more mobile with Brides Magazine’s new iPhone ‘Dressing Room’ app. The free application lets the brides search hundreds of wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses by designer, price and silhouette, check the selection at local retailers, and even make an appointment. Feel free to get the app here.
Of course even iPhoneless brides can utilize their blackberries and cellphones to make dress shopping easier. Use your camera phone and picture messaging abilities to take pictures while you dress shop. Include the designer and other notes in the comments section, and, wa-la, you have an easy access, easy to share dress album that will help you keep all the dresses straight and lead you to the perfect one!
A man will never wear an outfit more important than the one he chooses for his wedding day. It has to look good -it will photographed hundreds of times, it has to be comfortable enough to be worn all day, and it has to reflect his true style. These five tips will help grooms look great on their big day.
1. Tropical climates such as Hawaii’s inspires a lighter fabrics and color schemes. Cottons and linens are breezy choices. Khakis, light grays and white suits are elegant choices over a linen shirt. Lose the jacket and tie for a more casual choice. Roll up pant legs and sleeves or unbutton the collar to customize. No matter how casual, keep all the components high quality- well tailored trousers, crisp custom made shirts, and French cuffs.
2. Bright colors enliven the typical suit and tie and tie together your palate. For a splash of color, go for vibrant ties and vests. An added bonus is that these components will contrast nicely with your other pieces and really pop in photographs.
3. The well dressed groom has to have style from head-to-toe. Keep this in mind while selecting shoes. Think form and function. Shoes can dress an outfit up or play it down. For an indoor church or chapel wedding, light toned loafers or wingtips are elegant choices when paired with light suit. Switch those for Sperry’s for a nautical feel. Flipflops are a natural choice for a beach themed affair, but think leather, not plastic, for this special occasion.
4. A new wedding ring shouldn’t be a groom’s only accessories. Cuff links, pocket squares, sunglasses, watches, and suspenders are all fantastic ways to customize a staid outfit and add a personal touch. Think aesthetically (does it look good?) and personally (what does this say about me?). Subtle details such as cuff links can be a great way to honor your heritage or celebrate a favorite affiliation.
5. Just like a bride plans her entire ensemble in advance, grooms should pull every element of their wedding day look together before they board the plane for their destination wedding, much less walk down the aisle. Do a full dress rehearsal to make sure you have everything you need - from sunscreen to socks. This simple exercise will spare you any surprises on your big day.
What could possibly make New York’s Waldorf-Astoria even more elegant? How about dozens of runway shows from the world’s best wedding designers? With its epicenter in the Waldorf, Spring 2010 Bridal Fashion Week has descended on Manhattan, providing inspiration for brides nationwide. Both theknot.com and Brides.com/blog have extensive coverage.
Romantic gown trends that keep reappearing on the runway include regal ballgown silhouettes, intricate pleating and ruching, retro stylizations, and the extensive use of organza and tulle. Luxe detailing such as diamond encrusted bodices, floral embellishment, and ostrich feather plumes are popping up in many collections. Designers from Ramona Kaveza to Lela Rose have added short reception dresses to their collections.
To add the finishing touches to your wedding day collection, check out the many accessories on the runway. Monique Lhuillier’s entire collection sported hats that would make jaunty veil alternatives to a destination bride’s ensemble. Many designers featured gloves of all sizes and materials in their show. Always a ladylike addition, short gloves are being paired with casual and daytime dresses while long gloves look fresh and modern in sheer organza or textured silks. A practical and attractive element, the boleros and coats of the season are fashionable ways of making a gown more seasonable as we head into cooler months.
Enjoy the looks of the season this fashion week, use them for inspiration, and remember to use your own sense of style to navigate the typhoon of style that is of Bridal Fashion Week.
Shoes provide an opportunity to personalize your wedding ensemble and highlight the aesthetics that make your celebration so special. Colorful shoes provide whimsy and surprise beneath your wedding dress. You can use your shoes to highlight the palate of your celebration. Study the shades of your flowers, attire and even your venue for color cues. Use pattern, floral, stripes, or animal print to reinforce your theme. Blue shoes, like Carrie Bradshaw’s bright Manolos in the Sex in the City movie, give you your ’something blue’.
While you’re thinking outside of the shoe box, don’t feel that you need to stay with traditional pumps. For a beach wedding, flip-flops and sandals are both practical and fun. Flats and slippers are comfortable choices for a day that will require you to be on your feet for hours. Your wedding party can join in the fun and sport footwear choices from high-tops to flip flops to bare feet.
“From the earliest times, the circle has been a symbol of completeness, a symbol of committed love. An unbroken and never ending circle symbolizes a commitment of love that is also never ending.”
–Michael Barlow-Sparkman
Circles represent an eternal cycle. The circular form of wedding bands symbolizes the everlasting love between the bride and groom. One special way to incorporate this theme into your Hawaiian wedding is the Circle of Love, a Hawaiian wedding tradition. The bride and groom stand in the center of a circle of flowers as they exchange their vows. The circle is usually made of bright tropical flowers, which are one of the greatest symbols of Hawaii. Some wedding agencies and hotels even offer customized Circles of Love as a part of the wedding package. You can also invite your family and friends to participate in this special tradition by having special guests add a single flower to the arrangement that will encircle the happy couple. The Circle of Love will add a Hawaiian sentiment to the destination wedding you’ve been dreaming of!
Your special day is fast approaching, and you’re worried about looking your best in that perfect dress. There’s no need to panic – making a few tweaks in your diet and adding some physical activity will go a long way. All it takes is a little motivation and discipline!
If you have some room in your wedding budget, you could factor in some sessions with a personal trainer. Research independent trainers in your area for the best prices. If you belong to a gym, there should be several trainers to choose from to fit your needs. Some places even offer group discounts, so drag along the MOH or some of the bridesmaids who are probably also watching their waistlines before the big day! Adding group exercise classes to your schedule can help motivate you, and they are much more fun than spending an hour on the treadmill or StairMaster! One of my personal favorites, Spinning, burns hundreds of calories and reduces fat in just one hour a class. The lively music and energetic teachers pump you up, and you will feel great afterward. Pick up a class schedule and give them a try!
If you don’t belong to a gym, no need to worry! Walking or running outside for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, should be your goal. Fitness DVDs can be rented out at the video store, or you could buy them at fairly reasonable prices at Target. Yoga and Pilates can do wonders for your figure. Try adding Yoga or Pilates DVDs to your fitness plan to elongate and strengthen muscles and appear leaner. They can also help with relieving stress! An hour session will enhance your breathing and calm your mood. There are several other DVD options to help tone your “problem areas” or to improve overall fitness.
Whatever you decide to do to get your heart pumping, start now! Exercising releases endorphins, so you will feel and look great.
Smart eating is essential to your wedding day prep. Trade in white flour for whole wheat or whole grain choices. Drink as little, if any, alcohol as possible leading up to the wedding. If you do attend a few happy hours, opt for lower-cal choices such as white wine spritzers or a glass of red wine. Cutting out soda can make also make a big difference in a short amount of time. Water is your best bet – increase water intake and stay hydrated. Lots of water will be especially important because now you will be more active. Eating at home saves you money and calories, so try to limit dining out. When you do go out to eat, skip the bread basket and dessert. Eat every couple of hours to keep you from bingeing later. Choose smart snacks, such as 100-Calorie packs, low-calorie popcorn, low-fat string cheese, vegetables with hummus, or single servings of nuts. Cutting out some of your favorite things and replacing them with healthier alternatives will reap great benefits when it comes time for your last dress fitting!
Working out and eating healthily will have you looking and feeling your best on the day you’ve been waiting for. Your commitment and hard work will all pay off when you are enjoying that beautiful wedding cake that you so deserve with your new husband!
I’m sure some of you are saying to yourself “ummm, of course wedding photographers would just suggest us to buy their most expensive package.” While I’ll try not to dissuade you from that, our goal is to get you exactly what you want and this is our guide on getting you there. Read the rest of this entry »
Bright contrasting colors make a bold statement at anytime, but especially at weddings. This combination of bright blue and hot pink were a perfect reflection of this wedding party. Lively, cheery, never dull.
