A Budget is A Bargain

Planning your dream wedding but worried about your wedding budget?  The wedding bill can add up pretty quickly if you are not careful.  Good news, there are little ways to help save you money here and there.

1. If your wedding is during the summer months, use programs that can work as a fan as well to cool down your guests.

2. Use treats as your centerpieces.  Instead of floral arrangements use candies, small tarts, or cookies so guests can have these as a favor as well.

3. Place a disposable camera on each table for the guests to take pictures during the reception.  If you can't afford a photographer, why not have the guests do it themselves?

4. Celebrate in one place.  Have your reception right where you had your wedding.  Guests do not have to worry about finding a new spot or wasting gas.

5.  Use your flowers from the ceremony for the reception as well.  Place them on the backs of chairs or in the center of tables.

6. By choosing an ethnic menu (chinese, greek, etc.) you can bring down the price on food.

7. Choose a different toast than champagne.  Champagne can be VERY pricey.  Maybe choose a fun, fruity drink that can be made cheaply.

Must importantly, do not forget to negotiate.  You would be surprised how many people are willing to reason with your price. 

http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2011/04/vera-wang-wedding-advice.html

Vera Wang's very own wedding advice for your special day. 

"i was really thinking up ideas"

my title couldn't possibly be more true.  this week has been crazy with loads of work and a new addition to my small little family. however, in the mean time the lovely, heather youngs, and i have come up with a fantabulous idea.  we are going to shoot a "pretend" wedding. 

SO PICTURE THIS

its fall. mid october, early november. leaves falling. red, yellow, orange, and mixes in between.  a picnic table. an open park. a tuxedo wearing groom gazing into the eyes of his wife-to-be dressed in a head-to-toe lace gown. he can't help but notice her body iced with touches of sparkle here and there. an over-hanging tree drizzled with orange lights that warms their faces as they smile at one another. candles everywhere. the crisp air between late afternoon and early evening.

can you picture this on your wedding day?

2012 Inspired Hairstyles

 

 

These hairstyles are 2012 inspired.  As you can see they are all up do's.  I strongly recommend an up do on your wedding day because it 1) does not take away from the dress and 2) your hair is not in your face.  However, if you do prefer you hair to be down, I would recommend that you do either 1) a side ponytail or 2) half-up, half-down.  Finding the right hairstyle is important because you want it to match your entire look.  If you have a dress with hints of lace add a lace ribbon like in picture 3.  If your dress if covered with sparkles or diamonds add a little bling to your hair.  If your dress has flowers and is simple maybe you could add a matching flower to your hair.  I have see headbands used in bride's hair recently and I love it!  However, do not go overboard with hair accessories because you want your dress to be the main attraction.  Also ladies I would strongly recommend that you have your hair done prior to your wedding day to make sure you are a 100% in love with it.  Contact a hair stylist you feel comfortable with, and have them try your hair in styles that you like until you find the right one! 

Like it or KNOT, it's all about the accessories

A simple wedding gown can be turned extravagant with the touch of a few jewels here and there.  Perhaps the bride wants some fancy colored shoes, or a veil with sparkle from head-to-toe.  Some like simple, some like it fancy, but whatever the case, accessories are the icing on the cake.

Thanks to one of my favorite websites, the Knot, I have collected a few pictures of their lovely accessories.


I mean really, blue shoes, HOW CUTE IS THAT???

Be spontaneous

My Top Picks for Wedding Invitations

I love wedding invitations because they say so much about the bride and groom's personalities.  During my time at Moliere, I saw some of the CUTEST wedding invitations and save-the-dates.  People are so creative and I believe it should be encouraged.  Make your wedding to fit YOU, even when it comes down to the wedding invites.  Here are a few of my favorite picks for the 2011 season.

personalization
This is all about your taste and style from the colors to the font. Pay attention to details as well as the unique aspect of your invites. Correlate your wedding atmosphere, whether it be in a church or at the beach, to fit your invitations.

pretty pockets

How cute are these invitations, and not to mention super unique!  You can allow room for RSVPs and enclosures while at the same time keeping it organized.

colors that make a statement

Colors that catch the eye are always a hit!  Choose your favorite shades of hot pink or a simple baby blue to dress your invitations!  Either way a bold color is always a fun choice!

modern monogram

No matter what this will always be a great choice for your wedding invitations.  The monogram is simple yet fancy and bold.  You can never go wrong with this type of invite.

picture this

I always love when couples use pictures in their wedding invitations.  It is so cute, and it is a great memoir. 

The Complete Wedding Guide Checklist

As a hopeful wedding planner I believe it is crucial that we have your wedding experience all mapped out from when we first meet to the initial wedding day.  When I begin working as a wedding planner this is the checklist I will follow to ensure a stress-free wedding experience.

Sixteen to Nine Months Before the Wedding:

1. start a wedding folder or binder
2. figure out your wedding budget
3. pick your wedding party
4. start a general guest list
5. HIRE ME!!!!!!!!!!!
6. reserve your venue
7. begin research on photographers, bands, DJ's, florists, caterers, etc.
8. if you wish to have an engagement party, now is the time

Eight Months Before
1. hire a photographer
2. book your entertainment
3. meet with potential caterers
4. find and purchase your dress
5. if you have out of town guests, reserve hotels
6. start your registry

Seven to Six Months Before
1. select your invites
2. start focusing in on your honeymoon
3. shop for bridesmaids dresses
4. meet with officiant
5. if you want, send save the date cards
6. book your florist
7. start planning a timeline for events of the wedding

Five to Four Months Before
1. book the rehearsal dinner venue
2. order cake
3. purchase wedding shoes and schedule fittings
4. schedule hair and makeup artist
5. choose your music

Three Months Before
1. order favors, if you wish
2. finalize the order of the ceremony
3. print menu cards if you are doing a meal versus buffet
4. purchase the rings

Two Months Before
1. touch base with all vendors
2. meet with your photographer
3. review your playlist
4. send out invites
5. bachelorette party

One Month Before
1. get your marriage license
2. mail the rehearsal dinner invites
3. complete your last fitting
4. confirm hair/nail appointments
5. assign seating
6. purchase bridesmaids gifts
7. write your vows
8. get your hair cut/colored

Week of the Wedding
1. reconfirm arrival times with vendors
2. send a timeline to the bridal party
3. pick up your dress
4. send the final guest lists to vendors (72 hours in advance)
5. pack for your honeymoon

Thanks to a few wedding websites, I have put together a completed timeline from start to finish. 

Now all you need to do is get engaged!

I dream of..... Becoming a Bride

I remember when I was a young girl, probably around five or so, dressing up in a wedding gown made of sheets and my grandmother's slips.  At this time,my sisters and I, married our cousins or brothers in our fantasy bridal world.  This of course was the beginning of our dreams which would eventually turn into reality.  So what does it take to make our "dream wedding day" come to reality after so many years of imagination? 

Here are some hopeful tips...

be unique
Set your wedding apart from what you normally see.  Sure you may not want the most expensive, extravagant, outrageous wedding, but make sure you cater to what you desire whether it be simple or lavish.

find a theme
Once you find a theme it is all downhill from there.  This allows me to help you decide what you want and desire more effectively.  Simple color schemes are even helpful.  Three colors are usually at best because you don't want to take away from the most important thing, you!

get your dress
Ladies, the second most important thing is choosing your dress!  As I have previously said, it takes four to five months to make a dress.  A dress can also set the theme, so this may help you choose your overall theme.

have assigned seats
This works very well for your guests even though many are against this idea.  Remember to keep couples and families together.

entertainment
Remember to choose what fits your personality whether it be a DJ or a band.  If you choose a DJ or band ask for photos of past events and find out what their customer focus is like.

food
Yes, i said it.  Dining is a super important part of your reception.  The reception should take a big chunk of your wedding budget. What a better way to thank guests than with food?  Besides the worst feeling a guest could have is going "party hungry."

OKLAHOMA CITY'S PERFECT WEDDING GUIDE EVENT

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to work with Moliere Bridal at the Oklahoma City Perfect Wedding Guide Event.  It was an eye opening experience to say the least.  I walked through and met two or three vendors of the 50+ there.  It seems that there is at least five different categories of each category.  It was a great experience for me because I got to pick and choose my favorites.  Let me tell you ladies, it is NOT EASY to pick the best, but I feel that I have captured the best of what is available.  I picked up brochures which lists prices and the goods and services.  This allows me to be able to cater more efficiently to you.

I would like to hear back from you all about what you feel is a great price range for your wedding?

Mismatching Is The New Matching

i need your help

i need your help... yes YOU

so i have many ideas coming to mind today...

of course i am by no means a registered wedding planner, but clearly on my way... i need experience.

in two weeks, i am working with a well-known event planner in oklahoma city with an event, this of course beginning my "shadowing" experience... but

i. need. the. real. deal. thing.

SO... this is where you come in.....

If you are getting married, know someone getting married/engaged..etc..etc..etc.... (endless possibilities here people)....

send them my way... FREE OF CHARGE.. for a little "help" in planning their wedding... I'm talking beginning to end... share my help, my contacts, my "experience"... and it will be a fun process without anyone getting hurt.. or becoming BROKE!

Let's do this...!

Give and Take

Thankful to my friends from Moliere Bridal, I have properly named this blogpost "Give and Take"

So... I know not EVERYONE is enthusiatic about the color gray, but  it is a give and take sort of relationship. To your surprise, gray and yellow make a phenomenal color match. Sure, we aren't all that excited about the seemingly "blah" color gray, but with the added spice of yellow it becomes eye-catching! I absolutely adore brides that pull this off.

Is it not simply fantastic? 
So why not be brave on your wedding day and try something new, exciting, and brilliant!!!

Tis the Season to "FALL" in Love

Wedding Gowns of 2011

Maggie Sottero Wedding Gown 2011
This beautiful Maggie Gown features hints of lace throughout the gown.  It offers a strapless neckline with a small dip.  It is what I would consider to be an A-line gown with a small, yet dramatic train!

Justin Alexander Wedding Gown 2011
This head to toe lace gown is extraordinary!  We carried this in-store at Moliere and it was a hit! It carried a very elegant presence with it's vintage look.  It is an A-line gown with a sweetheart neckline which also includes a belt that can be swapped for a different color.  I loved matching this gown with a veil that had touches of lace here and there.

La Sposa Wedding Gown 2011
I absolutely love the Spanish flair this dress sends out!  The ruffles are one-of-a-kind and fit perfectly with the semi-ballgown skirt.  The sweatheart neckline is very appropriate for this dress. 

Mikaela Wedding Gown 2011
This is such a unique gown.  I fell in love with this gown because of the straps and the peek-a-boo tull at the bottom of the skirt.  It is very fitted but will show off CURVES!  Because of the dresses sort of "fun vibe" I would match it with a veil that is busy!

What is your Wedding Gown Style?

From my work at Moliere (the Bridal Boutique) I had the ability to work around a series of different gowns.  It is very interesting to me to see which direction Brides will go in sometimes, but usually it fits their personality just right.  At Moliere we had six different designer gowns each very unique in style.

Mikaela-  These gowns were absolutely gorgeous.  A little on the pricey side, but you would not be disappointed with your pick.  The fabric is a light satin, and most of her gowns are VERY simple with maybe a few ruffles here and there.  All gowns are very fitted and usually mermaid style.  My sister wore a Mikaela gown in her wedding and it was absolutely stunning!  Mermaid gowns fit well on busty brides with more curvaceous figures.

La Sposa-  Doesn't the name sound fantastic?  These dresses all have a "Spanish Flair" to them.  With deilicate beading, tull, and lace, these dresses have just about everything.  The fit of the dresses consist of A-line, Mermaid, and Ball Gown.  One of my favorite dresses was a La Sposa.  It was a fit-to-flair with head to toe lace.  However, fit-to-flair usually works better for a taller bride.  :( 

2Be-  These gowns were all over the place.  There was not a signature sell point for these gowns.  I usually told brides that these gowns offered you a wide selection of anything you were looking for.  Usually brides that were unsure of what they were looking for started here because it narrowed down their selection. 

Allure-  If you love beading and want to feel like a princess this is your gown.  Extrinsic beading and gorgeous princess-like gowns are what Allure specializes in.  The beading is a definite selling point because it is jaw-dropping.  Most of the gowns were ball gown, but they had a very unique sheath gown which had a lace overlay.  It was a huge seller because it is so unique and carried a vintage vibe which is so popular right now.

Justin Alexander-  Justin Alexander is an INCREDIBLE designer.  His gowns are always beautiful.  He offered short cocktail like wedding gowns which are slowly making their way into popularity.  He also had a few gowns which offered a bolero jacket to cover the bride's shoulders.  These were always a good pick for a bride getting re-married or an older bride. 

Maggie Sottero-  Of course everyone knows about Maggie dresses.  Three out of four brides requested her dresses.  Maggie is another awesome designer with dresses that were flawless in style.  Her dresses were all very different and offered a range of fit and style.  She incorporated silk in some of her gowns which is very beautiful.  Her dresses are reasonably priced for the quality of gown that you are buying.

So along with this advice and my guidance, maybe this can make it a tid bit easier to pick the dress of your dreams!  We all know it can be a complicating process, but remember you will look beautiful on your day no matter what!

Weddings Trends for 2011

Are you fashion conscious?  Do you thrive on having an original wedding of your own.  I am here to present you with the latest and greatest fashion trends to thrill your attendees. These tips will help you surpass any normal wedding and transform your own wedding into the wedding of your dreams.


1. A touch of vintage.  Yes ladies, vintage is back and it is beautiful.  I am talking laces, pearls, and neutral colors.  Cap sleeves and full lace gowns are a hit.  Having had the ability to try on a head to toe lace gown, I can tell you they are FABULOUS!  Outdoor settings are very popular for fall weddings, and with a vintage touch can you imagine?


2.  Thanks to Prince William and his beautiful new wife, we are now seeing the redefined princess dress coming back into style. When you think of a "Princess Gown" the first thing that may come to mind is the overload of tull.  However, a slimming silhouette with a bold train is what's in. Don't forget to throw in a cathedral veil with sequins and an extravagant headpiece.


3.  Rustic-Chic Cowboy boots and Western hints are starting to make way in the Bridal Industry.  Not only are men wearing cowboy boots, but brides are wearing them under their wedding dress!  I have seen several brides choose very rustic venues like farms or barns.


4.  Do it Yourself. Customization is ALL OVER THE PLACE.


5.  NAVY BLUE-  I love the color and I think it is a fabulous color for Mother of the Bride or Bridesmaids.

Did you know?

A wedding dress takes four to five months to make. Surprisingly, when I worked at the Bridal Boutique we had brides coming in a month or two before their wedding! Give yourself a break and trust me when I say order the dress WAY in advance. 

Welcome to my World

Hi,


Just wanted to give everyone a little insight to what my dreams are.  As a recent graduate from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Fashion Merchandising, I am ready to jump start my career as a Wedding Planner.  Of course, we all have to start somewhere, so this is my start.  I want to blog and share my blog with the bridal industry and future and upcoming brides.  I want to contact with anyone and everyone willing to turn my dreams into reality.  Over the past Summer, I worked in a Bridal Boutique and got my first taste of the Bridal Industry.  I feel that my experience in school as well as my internship has helped me develop a sense of what it takes to make it in this industry.  I feel like this is the part where I need to sell myself to brides/bridal contacts.  I am over the top organized and sometimes a little OCD.  I love being organized, timely, and efficient.  I want the job to be done to the best of it's ability, and if it isn't I will not stop until it is.  I can adapt to ANY environment, and with wedding planning being as stressful as it is, I think this is a good quality.  Everything about the industry thrills me, and I find it exciting. 


So.... with your help, I can start to live my dreams. 


Please follow my blog to be updated with current trends of the Bridal Industry.


Until next time,


Megan