Real Life Wedding Planning

I was in a pet boutique the other day and saw a number of outfits for dogs who will be bridesmaids, flower girls, best dog, and ringbearers.  Are you planning to make your dog a member of your wedding party? If so, here are some tips to help you make it a good experience for you and your furry family member:

• Check that your ceremony site allows dogs.

• Only include your dog if he or she is friendly and comfortable with crowds.

• If your dog will walk down the aisle, practice doing it several times.

• Be sure the rings on the ring bearer pillow are fake so there is no risk of the rings being lost, or worse, ingested.

• Decide who will walk your dog down the aisle, it might be easier if a bridesmaid or groomsman has this task rather than you or the groom.

• Ask someone to walk your dog just before the ceremony to minimize the chance of an accident.

• Make sure your dog has water, food, and gets the walks that he or she needs.  Do not tie him or her up, have someone with them at all times.

• If your dog will not be allowed to stay after the ceremony, have someone take him or her home, never leave your dog unattended in a car.

Don’t forget to arrange for a pet sitter to care for your dog while you are on your honeymoon.

Wedding planing on a budget does not mean you’re forced to have a plain, boring wedding.  Vogue magazine talked to three fashionable brides and got 17 chic wedding planning ideas.  Here are a few of them:

• Document all your ideas and resources in a journal or scrapbook, this keeps everything in one place.

• Use letterpress or flat printing instead of engraving on invitations.

• Asked talented friends and family members to help with things like calligraphy or music.

• Instead of hiring a DJ or band for your rehearsal dinner or pre-reception cocktail party, use an iPod with external speakers.

• Your “something borrowed” can be your wedding dress, wedding jewelry, or vases for your floral arrangements.

Pick up the June issue of Vogue to get the rest of the ideas and don’t miss the photo of tennis star RogerFederer’s bride, Mirka Vavrinec, in a beautiful wedding dress from Oscar de la Renta’s spring collection and the fashion photos of model Sasha Pivovarova’s “reenacted” wedding.

Can’t see yourself in a white wedding dress?  No one says you have to wear white or ivory on your wedding day.  Brides are starting to select many colors, pink, green, lavender , blue, or whatever reflects their style and makes them feel great on their wedding day.

In the June 2009 issue of Vogue magazine, fashion writer Amy Larocca tells her story of selecting her Carolina Herrera gown in Wedgewood blue.  Some reasons why she did it:

• She never had thought of wearing a “wedding dress” even though she loved being a bride.

• She had already been living with her fiancee for two years, and it didn’t appeal to her to appear in virginal white.

• She wanted a dress that flattered her and was comfortable.

In her article, Amy reminds us that celebrities have gotten married in non-white dresses, Sarah Jessica Parker in black (although she recently said she regretted the choice), Gwen Stefani in a pink ombre dress that she wore at both of her wedding ceremonies, and Portia de Rossi wore pink for her wedding when she married Ellen DeGeneres last year.

So, if you are considering a Cinderella themed wedding where you want to wear blue, are having an Asian themed wedding and want to wear red, or just would not feel comforatble in white, find a dress in your color and enjoy it.  Make sure you tell your florist, wedding planner, cake designer, and anyone else involved in the design of your wedding so they can help you select coordinating colors for your ceremony and reception.  Tell your photographer and videographer too so they can plan how to put you in the most flattering light.

Television’s former Bachelorette, Jen Schefft, wed options trader Joe Waterman on May 15.  The June 1, 2009 issue of Us Weekly magazine gives details that you can use when planning your own wedding.  Here are the ideas you’ll want to steal:

• The venue was a restaurant.  The ceremony was in a private room which was transformed into a candle-lit dining room for the reception while the guests were attending  the pre-reception party in a separate room.

• The ceremony was secular, even though the couple are both Christians.

• The colors were black and white.  Jen wore a white Carolina Herrera wedding dress with a black bow and black peep-toe pumps.  The bridesmaids wore black.  The four-tier, red velvet cake was frosted in cream cheese and trimmed with black satin  ribbons.

• Receptions centerpieces were pink and purple hydrangeas, tulips, and peonies.

• The gifts for the bridesmaids were pearl bracelets.

• Music choices:

• Recessional – Signed, Sealed and Delivered by Stevie Wonder.

• First Dance – Everything by Michael Buble.

• Father-Daughter dance – My Wish by Rascal Flatts.

• Bouquet toss – Single Ladies by Beyonce.

• Favors were M&M’s with their portrait printed on them.

Find out more details and see photos in the magazine.

Don’t select your wedding day transportation until you have selected your wedding dress.  Why?  Because you need to make sure you can enter and exit the vehicle without ruining your gown.

Brides I have worked with hired stretch limousines on their wedding day.  These cars have not been a problem no matter what style of dress they were wearing because  these cars are close to the ground and the doors are large.  However, Hummer limos are now a fairly popular choice with couples.  I was given the privilege of riding in one recently.  It was a fun ride but in order to get into the car, I had to duck my head and climb up into it at the same time.  I can’t imagine it would be easy for you to get into if you are are in a ball gown or mermaid dress or if your dress has a long train.

So, when you are investigating the mode of transportation you want to use on your wedding day, whether it is a vintage car, a horse drawn carriage, or a limo, think about the style of your wedding gown and look at the vehicle before you make a commitment.

Are you busy planning your wedding your way then realize your fiance is also obsessed with the details of the day?  Here are some tips for handling a potentially stressful situation:

• Have him pick one task to handle himself such as writing the invitations, selecting the DJ or band, or finding the right place for guests to stay.

• Communicate, make sure you both express what you want and what your priorities are regarding the wedding.

• Occasionally take a day off from wedding planning and de-stress.

Remember to take a look at the bigger picture and prepare not just for your wedding but your lifelong marriage.

To help you prepare your wedding budget, I’ve added two calculators to this blog, the Wedding Cost Search, which you will find on the right, and the Wedding Cost Estimator, which you can find by clicking on the tab at the top of the page. Both will give you an idea of the amount of money couples in your zip code are spending on their weddings for typical wedding products and services.  Spending and prices vary so the amount you spend may be higher or lower according to the vendors, products, and services you choose.

I blogged about meeting wedding vendors in person in my April 25, 2009 post.  Please be sure you set up your meeting at a public place or in an actual professional business location.  You should not be inviting vendors who you don’t know into your home or go to their homes, no matter how nice they sound over the phone or on email.  Suggest meeting at a potential wedding site or a cafe where you can talk privately.  Also, it’s best not to go alone.   Take your fiancee or a member of your bridal party.

Always be safe, take precautions when you are meeting someone for the first time.  Not everyone is who they say they are.

Have you chosen your wedding favors?  Remember that favors are not a necessity, they’re just nice to give.

If you really want to give something special, in lieu of favors donate the amount you would have spent on them to the charity of your choice.  With the downturn in the economy, chairitable organizations have been hurting for donations and would welcome your generosity.  If you like, you can let your guests know what you have done and encourage them to donate also.

Have you be procrastinating on getting out your “Save the Date” cards or wedding invitations?  US postage rates go up 2 cents on Monday, May 11, so if you bought special 42 cent stamps to use, get your mail out today or add 2 cent stamps to them when you mail them out next week.

Speaking of stamps, did you know can create a stamp using a photograph of you and your fiancee?  Check out the wedding section at stamps.com for more information.  The stamps are more expensive than regular over-the-counter stamps so budget should be a consideration when considering purchase.  Also, be sure you order the stamps for the right amount of postage.  Invitations that are square or rectangular in shape, thick, or more that one ounce in weight will cost more to mail.  Take an invitation to the post office and have a postal worker give her the exact cost to mail it.