Fred Marcus Photography, Brian Marcus

Ivanka Trump, real estate developer, former model, and daughter of Donald Trump, married publisher Jared Kushner in a Jewish ceremony (Ivanka converted to her husband’s religion) on October 25, 2009 at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminister, New Jersey in front of 550 guests.

Here are some ideas you can steal and scale to your budget:

Bridal Attire

Her wedding gown (custom lace and tulle by Vera Wang), hair, and makeup were inspired by Grace Kelly.
Look in vintage clothing stores for wedding gowns from previous eras. Bridal stores also have vintage inspired gowns and many may have “knock-offs” of Ivanka’s gown very shortly.

Ivanka’s wedding jewelry, hair accessory, drop earrings and Art-Deco inspired bracelet was from her own jewelry line, Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry.
Bridal stores and fashion jewelry stores have simialr items if you can’t afford to buy from Ivanka’s line. You could also check online for bridal jewelry rental.

Ceremony

Each guest was greeted with a gardenia.
Gardenias are beautiful, fragrant flowers which can be expensive.  You may select a different flower or give a wedding program to your guests when they enter. Use it to list the order of events, names of the wedding party, or explain rituals you are doing in your ceremony.

The chuppah, the Jewish Wedding canopy, was decorated with crystals and flowers.
Ivanka’s chuppah was very lavishly decorated. Talk to your florist and about locally grown flowers that are in season and ask to see other chuppahs they have decorated.

Reception

Tables were decorated with white lilies of the valley, ranunculus, roses, and floating gardenias. The china was white with gold trim and glassware had gold trim. Chairs were gold chevalier chairs.
Again, talk to your florist about white flowers that are in season for the best prices. Party rental companies have a china, glassware, and chevalier chairs in a variety of colors. Your venue, if they provide these items, may also have these items.

13 layer cake for 550 guests was 70-inch tall carrot, chocolate, and almond topped with sugar flowers
You probably don’t need a 13 layer cake. But, if you want a tall cake and are not having very many guests, you can have your baker put in some faux cakes to make it taller. Also, like Ivanka, you can have each real cake be a different flavor.

The first dance was “This Years Love” by David Gray.
You can request your DJ or musicians play the same song.

18 piece Hank Lane orchestra played at the reception.
Use a DJ or find a local orchestra or band to play are your reception.

Favors were flip flops customized with Ivanka and Jared’s names.
You can find stores online that sell personalized flip flops. Instead of using them as favors, which can be expensive, you might want to have them made as one of the gifts for your attendants.

Ivanka’s wedding planner was Preston Bailey.
Preston Bailey, who also planned Donald Trump’s wedding to Melania, has written books featuring his event designs including one on fantasy weddings. Using a wedding planner is a necessity when you are trying to plan an elaborate wedding.

Photos from the wedding can be found in the November 9, 2009 issue of Us Weekly Magazine and at popsugar.com.

Shopping online for wedding items is extremely convenient.  The web offers a wide selection of wedding invitations, favors, attendant gifts, decorations, flowers, and even your wedding gown and rings at prices are often lower than local retail shops.

Here are some DO’s and DON”Ts for making successful purchases online:

• DO plan ahead – last minute orders will cost you extra shipping and handling charges, and you won’t have time to exchange anything if you are unhappy with your purchase.  And remember to figure shipping and handling charges into your budget.

• DO read exchange and return policies – many don’t allow returns for personalized, edible, perishable and special order items.  Policies can be found in sections such as “FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), Customer Service, or Customer Care on a website.

• DO read change and cancellation policies – some companies will charge you if you change your mind or cancel an order before you receive it.

• DON”T hesitate to call before you order if you have any questions about a product or a policy.

• DON”T be swayed by any promos offering a special price “just for today” if it’s something you didn’t intend to buy.  Stick to your budget.

• DON”T forget, this is one of he most important days of you life.  You might want to take the time to shop in person for some of your items.  You can make it a fun outing for you, your fiance, family, or attendants so you not only get shopping done, you create a memorable event for yourself and your family and friends.

You are looking for the perfect wedding ceremony or reception venue that will accommodate your number of guests, blend with your theme, and is in the right location.  Here are questions you should ask when you’re inspecting your site to make sure it will be all you dream it to be on your wedding day:

1.   Will any renovations or construction be taking place around the time of my wedding?

You want to be sure the room you select will look the same when you book it as it will on your wedding day.  You also want to make sure there is nothing that would inconvenience you or your guests.  For instance, will construction vehicles be blocking part of the parking lot?  Is there a chance the elevators won’t be in service?   Will the nearest restrooms be out-of-service because of upgrades and cause your guests to use ones that are further away, or worse, portable toilets?

2.  What do your gardens/outdoor landscaping look like during the time of my wedding?

You might be visiting  in the Spring but have a Winter wedding.  Ask what the grounds look like during the time of your wedding and look at photos.  Find out if the venue looks as good during the season of your wedding as it does when you visit.

3.  What other events are taking place here on my wedding day?

Conventions, bar and bat mitzvahs, sweet sixteen parties, and other weddings could mean large crowds, noise and parking problems.  Be sure you know what you and your guests might be up against on your wedding day.

4.  Do you allow open flames?

Some sites do not allow you to use candles or sparklers anywhere inside or immediately outside of their facility.  If these are important items in your ceremony or reception, double check that the venue you select allows their use.

5.  How much time will I be given to set up my wedding?

The venue will tell you what time you and your vendors, such as the florist, caterer, DJ or musicians,  may have access to do setup.  You won’t be able to plan elaborate or complicated decor if the venue is not able to give you the time you need to do it.

Don’t be afraid to aks questions before you sign a contract, you are entitled to know what you are getting for your money.

American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi planned her own wedding when she married Mike McCuddy in small (36 guests – no celebrities) intimate ceremony near her home in Prospect Harbor, Maine on July 5, 2009.  Photographs and a description of the event are featured in the July 20, 2009 issue of In Touch Weekly magazine.

Here are some ideas you can steal from Kara:

Something Borrowed and Recycled!

• Kara’s matron-of-honor wore the dress that Kara wore as a bridesmaid at her wedding

• Kara wore her late mother’s wedding dress at the pre-wedding reception (her wedding dress was a mermaid-style, strapless gown by Vera Wang)

• She wore her grandmother’s pearl earrings and bracelet

The Ceremony

• The 30-minute ceremony was held in a church across the street from her home

• The couple used traditional vows rather than writing their own

• They included moments of remembrance for her late mother and his late sister

The Receptions

• The pre-wedding and post-wedding receptions took place in her backyard

• Pre-wedding reception food included crepes, quiches, pastries and muffins

• Post-wedding reception food included Maine lobster and salmon – food was organic

• Music was handled by a DJ and featured karaoke

• Colors were cream, white and natural beige

• Desserts were red velvet cake and whoopie pies

• Favors were personally inscribed iPods loaded with music selected by her business partner (instead of  iPods, select music and create personalized CDs to use as favors)

If you are having a small, intimate wedding, you, like Kara, may be able to handle the details yourself.  Be organized and keep things simple, but beautiful.

Kendra Wilkinson, Hugh Hefner’s ex-girlfriend and a former star of The Girls Next Door, wed Philadelphia Eagles football team wide receiver, Hank Baskett, on June 27 at the Playboy mansion in Beverly Hills.  The July 13, 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 civil ceremony was outdoors.  There was a white aisle runner which led to an arch of roses and hydrangeas.

• The reception in the backyard was tented, decor was also all in white.

• Kendra co-designed her strapless, duchesse-satin wedding gown with R-Mine Bridal’s Armine Ohanessian.  The groom was dressed all in white.  The bridesmaids wore short lavender dresses and the flower girl wore a white dress with a lavender sash.

• Flowers were roses, hydrangea blossoms, and orchids in white and lavender.

• The cake was layers of chocolate and strawberry, frosted white, decorated with their monogram and topped with a replica of Kendra and Hank.

• Food was served buffet style and included lobster, rib-eye steaks, sushi and mini cheeseburgers.

• Music choices:

• Processional – The Wedding March

• First Dance – I Cross My Heart a George Strait song

• Father-Daughter dance (Hugh Hefner and Kendra) – As Time Goes By – from Hefner’s favorite the movie, Casablanca

• Bouquet toss – Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye

Find great photos and more details in the magazine.

Are you planning to have sparklers at your wedding?  They are often handed out as favors for guests to hold to form a sparkling tunnel for the bride and groom to pass through.  There are also large, 36″ ones that can be put into the ground to light a walkway and small ones that can be used to top the cake.

You and your guests need to exercise safety precautions when using sparklers.  Here are a few of them:

• Decide if you will allow children attending to have sparklers.  If you do, make sure they are closely supervised
• Make sure people hold sparklers away from their face, body, and clothes and away from other people
• Keep sparklers away from any highly flamable materials or substances

Carefully follow instructions given to you by the maufacturer.

Confirm that the city and county in which you are holding your wedding allows the use of sparklers.  And, confirm that your venue allows their use.  Many venues ban any kind of open flame in and around their facilities so ask before making any big plans.

Are you borrowing or renting folding chairs for your outdoor wedding?  Make sure you get either plastic or wooden ones, metal chairs will get extremely hot in the sun and you don’t want to risk burning your guests.

Some other outdoor wedding tips that might help your guests be more comfortable if it is warm:

• Schedule your wedding early in the day to avoid the afternoon heat.

• Provide shade with a tent, patio umbrellas, beach umbrellas or parasols.

• Give fans away as wedding favors.  You can order paper fans with your monogram or wedding program printed on them when you order your invitations.

• Rent outdoor fans and put them on a low setting to keep the noise level down.

• Provide water or lemonade when guests arrive.  Stay away from alcoholic drinks that cause dehydration.

Make sure you also have an air conditioned place where guests can retreat if the heat becomes too much for them.

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.

To save money, some brides today are deciding to forgo a big wedding ceremony in order to spend their money on a big reception.  Getting married at City Hall gives them the opportunity to eliminate the cost of the site, musicians, and decor and many other details needed for a ceremony.  They can now concentrate their money and their time on creating a more lavish reception.

This idea isn’t for everyone, if you have always dreamed of having your father walk you down the aisle or seen yourself getting married at your neighborhood chapel, that is what you should do.  But if you have always thought of your wedding as big party, you might want to consider getting married at City Hall, or hiring an officiant to marry you in a simple ceremony at home, and having a big reception later.

By the way, a wedding at City Hall or at home doesn’t mean you don’t get to wear a wedding dress.  By all means, find something special to wear on your big day.