Wedding Dress Series...A few things

There are a few things about the make up of your dress that you may want to consider before you start shopping. If you already have an idea of the style and fit you're looking for then you're off to a good start! But for those of you who are just starting to look for gowns, I'm going to break it down for you.

For those tech-savy brides, Theknot.com has an excellent app to assist you in your dress hunt called "The wedding look book."

Silhouette
Simply put, this is the overall shape of a gown and sets the mood for the entire look. Brides choose a ball gown to look like Cinderella or an empire waistline to feel modern and feminine.

Neckline
The neckline is the first thing people notice about your dress and it will frame your face. If you're a more modest bride then a bateau, jewel, or mandarin neckline would suit you best. Your neckline shows off your modest or bold personality and can be great to show off an accessory or family heirloom

Waistline
The waistline is the horizontal seam that joins the bodice to the skirt, which adds a signature style to the silhouette and balance to the gown. Most brides love the natural waist on an A-line dress because it shows off soft curves. If you're more petite, try a drop waist to give the appearance of a longer torso. If you are a little self-conscious about your weight then the high empire waist will help slim your waistline.

Train
Your train will mimic the formality of the ceremony and will be bustled during the reception. Make sure the dress just brushes your toes so you can be dancing all night!

Color
The oldest tradition of the wedding gown would be its white color. Some brides are choosing more pastel dresses or adding color in the details of their gown. Most brides still choose white, or shades there of, but you'll want to make sure your dress matches your skin tone so you don't end up looking washed out in your pictures.

Don't be afraid to make your dress your own: long or short, white or colorful. Be daring with a corset-laced back or classy and sassy with a keyhole cutout. Add beads and embroidery for some extra personality in your dress. After all, you'll only be wearing it for one day and want it to be perfect for you!
Next time we'll be talking about which dress would best fit your body type. Until then, happy planning!

Fun and Contemporary - Lindsay and Ross

Lindsay wore a short party dress which was perfect for this summer wedding. Together, they decided on a smaller reception to be able to spend more on food and beverages for their guests.

Wedding Dress Series... The right fit for you

I hope you found the last blog about the different elements of the dress very enlightening. Now that you understand the parts of your dress lets talk about which ones would best fit your figure. There will be numerous pictures of you in your dress so you're going to want to look your best!

Here are some things you'll first want to consider:

What body type are you - apple, curvy, pear, petite, or slender?

What's your bra size?

What is your height?

What best describes your personality - classy, elegant, girly, glam, modern, princess, sexy, trendy, or vintage?

What's your wedding style- Backyard, ballroom, beach, black tie, casual, cocktail, courtyard, deck, garden, loft, religious, or white tie?

What time of day is your wedding?

What are your best features - legs, arms, back, chest, or stomach?

What are your problem areas - legs, arms, back, chest, or stomach?

Whew. Once you take note of these things we can start looking at which dress would best fit your body and your style. Don't forget that your entire wedding should be a reflection of your dress; you are the main attraction after all! You want to feel more beautiful in this dress than you have in your lifetime.

A Picture Tells a Thousand Words.. Part2

Welcome back to my blog about picking out the right photographer and having great pictures for your wedding. This time I want to share with you how to make the pictures go smoothly once you've already booked your photographer.

It's also a good idea to make a list of pictures you know you want your photographer to take as well as a list of family members you want in the picture. This is especially important if you have a larger family. Most family pictures are taken after the wedding and having these lists ready will help this time go quickly and smoothly allowing you to get to your guests quicker.

Check out this wedding day checklist from The Knot for a more complete idea of pictures you may want on your wedding day.
Wedding Day Picture Checklist

*Make sure to check with your venue about what restrictions may apply to photography and videography. You'd hate to end up in a situation like this poor couple who's priest stopped mid ceremony to tell the photographer and videographer to get out.
http://bit.ly/15787uY

Wedding Dress Series...Fitting

Yay! You have found your dress! Woohoo! Now let's talk about what to expect and what to prepare when you go in for your fitting.

Before your first fitting make sure to have all accessories and undergarments and shoes. Have all of these items on during your fitting to ensure the true fit and what it will feel like on your wedding day. If you're deciding between a couple accessories bring a camera to take a picture of the completed look with each accessory so you can decide. You should do your first fitting about 6 weeks before your wedding day. Just like we advised with your dress shopping, it helps to have one supportive friend or family member with you. You want someone who knows and desires your vision for your wedding and who will be honest and supportive about the fit. This first fitting is to make sure your gown is the right size and to let your seamstress get to know your dress and how it fits you. She'll be able to see where it needs to be taken in, let out, shortened, lengthened, or altered in other ways. This is also a time for you to really get to know your dress. Notice how the material falls and feels, how the waist and chest fits. Are there places where the material fits or pulls oddly? Is it well put together and sewn? Now is the time to talk to your seamstress to figure out if and how your dress can be altered. You are allowed to *mildly* let your bridezilla take over and check out your dress and see how your seamstress can help. Be realistic in your expectations but also know that you've paid quite a bit for the dress and your seamstress should be able to help you get the perfect fit.

Your second fitting should be about a month before your wedding. Make sure to bring along undergarments, shoes, jewelry, and accessories like you did the first time. Make sure all of your concerns from the first fitting have been addressed and fixed. You should be able to move comfortably in your gown and it should stay in place. Also make sure that there is no obvious wrinkling or pulling. If your dress is full length, the hem should skim the top of your toes. Again, speak up if you aren't satisfied with how something fits!

On your last fitting (finally) have your mom or maid of honor come with so that they can learn your gown. If it needs to be laced up, buttoned, or bustled, the seamstress will be able to teach them how. Now is the time to get rid of any last minute wrinkles. Can you steam it? if something was to get spilled on it, how can you clean it?

After your final alterations are completed schedule a day to pick up your dress. You may decide to pick it up a couple weeks before the wedding if you'd like to hold on to it or if you're afraid of something happening to it, the seamstress should be able to hold onto it until wedding day.

After your wedding, look into preserving your gown. This way you can show your kids and grandkids how great the dress looks in person. You'll want to get this done immediately after your wedding. If you're leaving right away for your honeymoon ask your mom or maid of honor to take it for you. Your bridal gown salon or seamstress should be able to tell you how to get this done.

Now you know the ins and outs of your fitting. Until next time, happy planning!

A Picture Tells A Thousand Words.. Part1

When you're old and grey and your grandchildren ask about the night you married the man you've now shared a lifetime with, your pictures are going to tell the story for you. That being said, your photography is possibly the most important element of your wedding. When the food is gone and the linens put away, your pictures will remain and don't you want them to be fabulous? To help you on your quest to find the perfect photographer I'd like to give you some resources and ideas to think on.

First of all, there are several different styles of photography but the main ones we're going to look at are outdoor and indoor. It may seem silly but most photographers prefer to do one or the other. When you're researching your photographer take a look at where most of their work is done and consider if your venue is outside or inside. Always ask to look through at least 2 entire wedding albums to see their style and how many times it took them to get that "perfect" shot! If you are making a personal connection with the work then it's time to move on. Remember that even a broken clock is right twice a day and any photographer is bound to get at least 1 GREAT shot out of every 1000 pictures per wedding. That GREAT shot is then showcased on their website and without the right research and interview questions you could be their next practice wedding. Here are just a few things to ask your potential photographer; Is there enough natural light coming in or would they need a flash? If they need flash and are using a separate stand, will that stand show up in some of your pictures? Will they have a lighting assistant or a second shooter? Don't be afraid to interview more than one photographer. If you like their style and they're listening to you then that's a great sign. For more important questions to ask the photographers you're interested in click on the free printable below which was found at www.herecomestheguide.com. 

 *Questions To Ask A Potential Wedding Photographer*

Look for part 2 of how to make your wedding day photos run smoothly.

Until next time, Happy planning!

Emily and Tyler

Emily and Tyler were unique in that they actually did their ceremony a couple weeks prior to their reception. Their intimate ceremony was held at Coles Garden with a brunch to follow. The happy couple then went on to their honeymoon and a couple weeks later came back for a rooftop reception downtown at the Museum of Art. Emily said splitting the two really helped her not feel as overwhelmed and they were able to look forward to celebrating with friends and family when they got back from the honeymoon. Here are just a few moments of their unique wedding. 

It's over.. Now what?

Your reception has ended and you are off to your honeymoon! You're friends and family stand outside your limo waving goodbye as you drive off. Now what? What happens to the beautiful reception room and the things you left behind? What about your guestbook, gifts, and left over cake? Are you supposed to circle back around and get those? If you're starting to panic thinking about all these questions, don't! I have the solution.

What happens after you leave your wedding is rarely discussed until wedding day or maybe not even at all but it is something you should consider so that you can make the appropriate arrangements. If you have a wedding planner they should be able to help you make a plan for what happens to everything after you leave. If not, here are some helpful hints to get you started.

1. Does your venue require you to clean up after the wedding?

If yes, then try to enlist responsible friends and family to be in charge of clean up. Ask the venue liaison  if they provide cleaning materials or if you need to bring those yourself. However, if at all possible just pay the extra fees for cleaning. Trust me......it's always worth it.

If no, then all you truly need to worry about is your personal belongings.

2. What happens to all of your belongings after you leave?

Make sure to coordinate with parents or bridal party members who will take care of your things when you leave. Make a list of things that you brought and should be taken home. Parents can take them back to their house until you get back and you can pick them up when you get back from your extended stay on the beach. At P2P we make sure that all of the bride's belongings are in a central location then we ask a family member to drive the car around so they can start loading up all the presents and wedding items you brought to the venue. We also make sure that personal belongings such as your purse are loaded up in the vehicle you're going away in. See if a similar plan can work for you so you can rest assured that your belongings are safe and sound even after you head to your honeymoon.

Until next time, happy planning!

Stacy and Steffan at the Gaillardia

The Gaillardia Golf and Country Club was perfect for this romantic bride. They even put a unique flare on their wedding by choosing to send off a Chinese lantern. 

Veil or No Veil

What is now a gorgeous accessory once started out as an Ancient Roman attempt to ward off evil spirits. I'm glad that symbolism is gone and we can now focus on how they enhance your overall wedding day look! Many brides still love the classic look of a veil but some are choosing to go with a more modern style or even no veil at all. Let's go over the do's and don't's, the why's and why not's.

Why you may want to skip the veil:

Not the best look for your wedding day. If you're thinking about getting married outside you may want to consider an alternative for your hair accessory. A birdcage or beaded accessory may be a little less formal but odds are it would fit better with your outside venue.
If you're sure you want the look of the veil but are going to be uncomfortable wearing it, try wearing it for just your pictures. 





Why you may want the veil:
It's been said that the number one thing your husband will remember about your wedding day attire is your veil. If you're like most women, you're not wearing a veil on a regular basis so this is something different and unique and adds to the special feeling of your wedding day wardrobe.
If that's what you want for your wedding then let me give you a few of the many possibilities..

1. Keep it classy like Kate in a traditional long veil

2. Make it modern in a birdcage veil

3. Let loose with a layered veil

There are many options out there so don't be afraid to choose what you like best. This is a great way to show your personality and tie your wardrobe to the overall style. Wear it the whole time, part of the time, or not at all. 

Until next time, happy planning!