6 Essential Steps To Choosing the Perfect Wedding Gown

With so many designs to choose from, the search for the perfect wedding gown can be overwhelming!  Where do you begin when there are so many considerations ... shape, neckline, fabric, headpiece, jewelry?

Just start with the basics!



1. Consider the season of your nuptials.   If you have a summer wedding, you won't want to be fully covered and melt in the hear. Look for strapless or halter-style wedding gowns to keep your cool. For a winter wedding,  you may need a gown with sleeves, a higher neckline, or a shawl to keep you warm.

2. Consider the wedding venue.  Before shopping for your gown, be sure to find out if there are any restrictions at your ceremony venue. Some churches and synagogues don't allow bare shoulders or deep v-neck gowns. Some require the bride to wear a veil. It's important to know this prior to ordering and putting a deposit down on your gown.

3. Consider the formality of your ceremony.  The bride's attire sets the standard for the formality of the wedding. If you are planning a black tie affair, your gown will need to reflect that in length and style. If it's an outdoor casual wedding, a short gown or more casual style will be perfect.   A wedding on the beach may have you looking at a strapless or halter-style dress. 

4. Determine your  budget.  This is one of the the first questions you will be asked at the bridal salon when selecting gowns to try on.  Resist the temptation to try on a dress that is far above your budget ... you may set yourself up to overspend. Wedding gowns can range from just a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars. A great idea is to cut out photos from bridal magazines of gowns you like and take them with you when you shop. The bridal salon may be able to match features from those couture gowns and find something more affordable for you from their collection.

5. Know what flatters your body type.  In short, horizontal lines will make you look wider where vertical lines elongate your shape.  Diagonals cut the width of shoulders and hips. For a shorter brides, an empire waist elongates the lower part of the body.  Checkout one of our recent blog posts, "Choosing the Best Neckline for Your Wedding Gown."

6. Complete the look with embellishments.  Once you've selected your wedding gown you'll be able to embellish with a veil, bridal tiara, gloves, and bridal jewelry. The bridal salon will be able to assist you with the appropriate length veil for for the formality of your gown, as well as the length, style (or absence) of gloves.  The pieces you select will enhance the complete look you want to achieve.

Your wedding day will be one of the most photographed days of your life.  Take your time to ensure you find the absolute perfect gown. Look through the bridal magazines and the designer websites, then cut out or print the gowns that you just love. As you do this, you'll start notice a theme with those you've saved.

When you do head out to try gowns on, take the photos with you ... but be opened minded, as well. The consultants at the salons may have a hidden gem that you'll fall in love with!

~ The WhereBridesGo.com Team

Take 15% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com with coupon code WHATBRIDESLOVE, plus get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100.

Where brides go®  ... for what brides love! For a great selection of affordable bridesmaid gifts, wedding accessories, and wedding cake tops, check out WhereBridesGo.com!  

For more ideas, wedding favors and accessories, check out WhereBridesGo.com! 

Connect with WhereBridesGo.com online!

Follow us on Twitter @wherebridesgo

LIKE US on Facebook!

LIKE US on Google+

6 Great Ways to Keep Your Guests Entertained While They Await Your Arrival

The ceremony is complete and the reception is about to begin! You know the drill ... your guests head to the venue while you, your groom, and your wedding party take some time for photographs. The post ceremony photo shoot can easily take 45 minutes to an hour, so it's important to keep your wedding guests entertained while they await your arrival.

Here are 6 great ways to keep your guests not only occupied, but having a blast until your grand entrance!

1. Start with a Cocktail Hour ... but not just any old cocktail hour. Create a signature drink for the event, or have two signature cocktails ... one chosen by the bride and one chosen by the groom. Be creative with your selection.  If you are going to Maui for your honeymoon, serve something tropical. If your first date was at a winery, offer a wine and cheese pairing. The most important part is to let your guests know the story behind your selection. Create small post cards or table cards with your engagement photo and a short narrative to share. A personalized signature cocktail sign  adds a nice decorative touch, as well!

Personalized Signature Cocktail Sign

 

2. Place Advice Cards Around the Room ... this is a wonderful way to engage your guests. People love to share advice, especially when it comes to marriage. You and your groom will have a great time reading all the notes from your wedding guests after the event and there's no doubt the notes will become cherished keepsakes in the future.

Wedding Advice Coasters

Children's Wedding Activity Kit

3. Provide the children with a small bundle of crayons and wedding coloring books to keep them busy. Considering setting up a "kids" table at the reception venue that has everything on it awaiting their arrival.  Children will also stay entertained for hours with small bottles of wedding bubbles.

4. Show a video collage of you and your groom growing up, combined with photos from your various dates, trips, and engagement period. Include a photo collection displayed at the reception for guests to look at together. Many brides display wedding photos from grandparents and parents. This is always a favorite of friends and family.

5. Have a wedding photo booth. These have become very popular at wedding receptions and are fun for guests of any age.  Provide props and accessories that match your theme. Offer a personalized photo booth background and let your guests pose to create their OWN wedding favors! You'll love looking at all the photos after the wedding, as well. We also suggest you have wedding cameras at the reception.  Your guests will have fun taking pictures from their perspective. Suggest they start taking pictures when they arrive to occupy them.

Personalized Wedding Photo Booth Backdrop

6. Start the party the minute the guests arrive with an entertainer for the first hour.  Bring in a roving magician or have your DJ interact with your guests and MC a trivia game about your courtship.  What a great way to start the fun!

Your post ceremony photo shoot is an important part of capturing your wedding story, so relax and take your time with it. As long as your wedding guests have something to entertain them at the reception venue when they arrive, they will enjoy the evening and they won't be antsy for your arrival.

~ The WhereBridesGo.com Team

Take 15% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com with coupon code WHATBRIDESLOVE, plus get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100.

Where brides go®  ... for what brides love! For a great selection of affordable wedding supplies,wedding accessories, and wedding cake tops, check out WhereBridesGo.com!  

For more ideas, wedding favors and accessories, check out WhereBridesGo.com! 

Connect with WhereBridesGo.com online!

Follow us on Twitter @wherebridesgo

LIKE US on Facebook!

LIKE US on Google+

Rehearsal Dinner Basics

As if planning the wedding isn't enough, you have a rehearsal dinner to plan on top of it! Not to worry ... keeping a mind a few fundamentals about the rehearsal dinner (and it's purpose) will make this event fun to plan, fun to attend, and stress free.

Rehearsal Dinner Basics

Your rehearsal dinner can be formal or casual.  Even if your wedding is a black tie affair, it's perfectly acceptable to host a backyard  BBQ or choose a less formal restaurant for your rehearsal dinner. 

The Guest List
The guests may be limited to the wedding party and immediate family, but it's also acceptable to include extended family, especially those who come from out of town. Budget often dictates whether or not you'll want to include extended family.

If you do have family coming from out of town for the wedding, but you don't have the budget to invite them to the rehearsal dinner, it's a nice gesture to create welcome baskets or packets that are given to them when they arrive at their hotel and check in. The basket might include a personal note from you and the groom thanking them for traveling to the event and letting them know you are looking forward to seeing them at the wedding. Also include a couple bottles of water, a map to the wedding and reception venues, as well a list of  recommended restaurants and things to do in the area.

The Host
The rehearsal dinner is traditionally hosted by the groom's family, however more and more couples are paying for and hosting this event themselves. Whomever hosts the rehearsal dinner (i.e. pays for the event) should have input about the location, menu, and guest list. If you aren't hosting the event yourself, it's important to be respectful of the desires of the person picking up the tab. That said, it's equally important that the host coordinate the rehearsal dinner with the bride and groom, to ensure the style, theme, and sequence of events suits the couple.

The Invitations

The rehearsal dinner is typically held the evening (or afternoon) before the wedding, directly after the ceremony run-through. The rehearsal dinner is a separate event, so you should plan to send separate invitations for the rehearsal dinner. This is typically done shortly after the wedding invitations are sent. The style of the invitation should reflect the style of the event. WhereBridesGo.com offers a nice selection of affordable rehearsal dinner invitations.

The Menu
Be creative with your menu for the rehearsal dinner. Going to Greece for your honeymoon? Why not select Greek cuisine and tie in the theme? Was your first date at a pizza joint? Celebrate the rehearsal dinner with gourmet pizza selections! Share the story of the selected menu with your guests. What you want to avoid is repeating the menu selected for your wedding reception. It's okay to complement the reception menu, but the rehearsal dinner should not overshadow it.

The Toasts

Personalized Wedding Party Glassware

The father of the groom traditionally starts the toasting and welcomes the bride to the family.  The subsequent toasts are informal and do not need to have a specific order. Spontaneity can be fun!  The toasts should begin at the start of dinner to avoid  lasting too late into the evening.  You want everyone to be well rested the day of the wedding and nursing hangovers.

The Photo Gallery / Slideshow
The rehearsal dinner is often the first time the two families come together and have an opportunity to get to know one another. A photo gallery or slideshow can be a great ice-breaker.  It's a fun way for people who may be meeting for the first time to begin a conversation.  It can also be a special surprise for out-of-town guests or extended family members.

The Thank Yous
The rehearsal dinner is the traditional time for the bride and groom to present gifts to the members of the wedding party. Being a part of your bridal party is definitely an honor, but it is also an expense for each member of your bridal party. It is important to thank them appropriately, not only for their support and friendship, but for the time and financial commitment they have made. Bridesmaids gifts and groomsman gifts can be unique to each individual ... you don't have to give everyone in the bridal party the same gift. Personalizing your wedding party gifts makes them more meaningful.  Many couples will also take this time to present thank you gifts to their parents.

Another nice touch you might include is to have the groom go around the room and introduce each member from his side of the "family", and you introduce each member from yours. Include a short anecdote or story about each person and their relationship with you. It's a very special touch for your guests, and it helps everyone get to know one another before the wedding.

Whether formal or casual, the rehearsal dinner is meant to bring the wedding party and those closest to the bride and groom together prior to the wedding. Take the time to help everyone get to know one another and to thank those who have helped with any aspect of your wedding. The wedding day is all about you ... your rehearsal dinner celebrates and thanks them.

~ The WhereBridesGo.com Team

Take 15% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com with coupon code WHATBRIDESLOVE, plus get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100.

Where brides go®  ... for what brides love! For a great selection of affordable wedding supplies,wedding accessories, and wedding cake tops, check out WhereBridesGo.com!  

For more ideas, wedding favors and accessories, check out WhereBridesGo.com! 

Connect with WhereBridesGo.com online!

Follow us on Twitter @wherebridesgo

LIKE US on Facebook!

LIKE US on Google+

10 Essentials for Getting Ready on Your Big Day

It's Your Wedding Day ... Where to Begin?

Your mind will be racing when you wake up on your wedding day, but all of your preparation before today will make this day a piece of cake. Packing your bags for the honeymoon, confirming hotel reservations and airline reservations, having your license and documentation in order, and preparing payment/tip envelopes for your wedding vendors are tasks that can be completed in the days prior to your wedding. The more you can do in advance of the big day, the easier and less stressful this day will be.

10 Essentials for Getting Ready on THE Big Day

1. You’ll be excited, so be prepared to start the day early. Go to bed early the night before the wedding (and keep alcohol intake to a minimum). Have an organized plan ready for morning when you wake up. This will keep you from being stressed out right off the bat.
2. Do your normal work out routine. Don’t start one today if you haven’t been working out, though.  This isn’t the time for changes in your physical routine.
3. Eat small meals every few hours.  You don’t want to over-eat, but it's important that you DO eat. With the adrenaline of the big day, many brides forget to eat. This can lead to fainting at the altar. Be sure to go light on greasy and fatty foods, white carbs, and foods with potent ingredients like garlic.
4. If you are a coffee drinker, limit yourself to 1 or 2 cups. You'll get your caffeine fix from this but you won’t get EXTRA jitters.
5. Have an emergency kit prepared with items you may need throughout the day. This may include extra shoes, super glue (for heel breaks), handy-wipes, lip gloss, antacid, breath mints, extra make-up, hairspray, and water. Be sure a complete list of wedding vendors and their phone numbers are in this emergency kit.
6. Get ready with your bridesmaids.  This can help you relax, but will also ensure that THEY make it to the wedding one time.
7. Bring something from home that helps you relax ... a keepsake, a book, or family photo.
8. Have plenty of tissues with you for smudges or tears. 
9. Before you put the wedding dress on make sure you visit the ladies’ room.  It’s a much longer process after the dress is on and you don't want to risk getting your dress dirty before the wedding.
10. If anything unexpected arises delegate the task to another. There WILL be last minute unexpected issues, so just be prepared for it. Have someone you trust take care of these issues so you don’t have to worry about them. Most importantly, arrange this role with the person AHEAD of the big day, so they know they are the go to person and they are ready for it.

Follow these 10 tips and we are certain you will minimize your stress on the big day.

What would you add to this list?  We'd love to hear your ideas!

~ The WhereBridesGo.com Team

Take 15% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com with coupon code WHATBRIDESLOVE, plus get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100.

Where brides go®  ... for what brides love! For a great selection of affordable wedding supplies, wedding accessories, and wedding cake tops, check out WhereBridesGo.com!  

For more ideas, wedding favors and accessories, check out WhereBridesGo.com!

Connect with WhereBridesGo.com online!

Follow us on Twitter @wherebridesgo

LIKE US on Facebook!

LIKE US on Google+

7 Great Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding

Okay... if you aren't a dog lover, you aren't going to drool over our tail wagging wedding ideas for pooches, BUT ... for those of us who LOVE our slobbering pooches, share our beds with these furry "babies", and wouldn't even THINK about getting married without our best canine friend by our side, READ ON!

At Where Brides Go (TM), we LOVE all dogs (but we're a little partial to Basset Hounds) and we have some fun ideas for including "Fido" in your festivities.

Seven Fun Ways to Include Your Pet In Your Wedding

1. Include "Fido" in your engagement photos and hand out wallet size copies during your reception as wedding favors.

2. Include your pet in your actual wedding photos. This is a great idea for couples whose Sanctuary or wedding venue will not allow the pet inside. Simply hire a "pet sitter" to wait with the pooch outside. After the ceremony, come outdoors for photos and include your little cutie pie in them. (Of course, you need to make sure he's in proper doggy wedding attire!)

3. If your wedding venue won't allow your pet inside, you can still include your pet as part of the ceremony. Have your officiate work in a cute story that illustrates how you two share a love of dogs.

4. Add a tribute to "Fido" in your wedding program.

5. If your venue allows, have "Fido" as a groomsman or "Fidette" as a bridesmaid. Do make sure you have a human bridal party member in charge of making sure your baby has piddled outside before walking down the aisle.

6. At an outdoor wedding ceremony, you can have Fido stand in as the ring bearer or flower dog! As always, appropriate wedding attire and doggy wedding accessories are a must!

7. For an outdoor wedding reception, just about anything goes. Invite "Fido" as a special guest and have his date be the hired dog walker (don't leave out this part ... you'll want to make sure someone else is attending to your pooch so you can enjoy the eve).
-----

While including your "baby" in the big day is a no-brainer to you, do keep in mind that not everyone is going to agree. You should check and double-check with your ceremony venue, reception venue, officiate, and bridal party to ensure no one has an issue with your canine participant.

Be mindful that some of your guests may have extreme pet allergies and may not even be able to attend if "Fido" is on hand. Consider announcing your plan to include your pet on your wedding website so your guests will know in advance.

You should also make an honest assessment of your dog's behavior and coping skills. If "Fido" isn't extremely well-behaved, well-trained, used to large crowds, and a relative non-barker, you should consider leaving him at home for the actual ceremony/reception and only involving him in engagement photos and pre-wedding festivities. After all, if your "baby" is stressed out and acting up, it won't be a pleasant experience for anyone.

No one loves dogs more that we do ... in the end, you want a happy and memorable day with your family and best friends by your side. If "Fido" fits the bill and is up to the challenge, go for it. Woof!

Shop for Pet Wedding Supplies at WhereBridesGo.com!

~ The WhereBridesGo.com Team

Take 15% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com with coupon code WHATBRIDESLOVE, plus get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100.

Where brides go®  ... for what brides love! For a great selection of affordable wedding supplies,wedding accessories, and wedding cake tops, check out WhereBridesGo.com!  

For more ideas, wedding favors and accessories, check out WhereBridesGo.com! 

Connect with WhereBridesGo.com online!

Follow us on Twitter @wherebridesgo

LIKE US on Facebook!

LIKE US on Google+

How to Cut the Cake at your Wedding

The Tradition of Cake Cutting

The tradition of cutting the wedding cake represents a special moment at your wedding. This ceremony is intended to show the commitment of your union. 

Did you know that there is actually a method on how the cake cutting should be done?  During the cake cutting, the bride holds the cake cutting knife in her hands and the groom’s hand then holds the bride’s as they make the first cut together. The reason the bride's hands are placed on the knife first is because the cake is a symbol of fertility and prosperity and the direct connection with the bride should not be broken. 

This tradition started long ago with the bride actually serving the cake to the wedding guests.  It has since evolved into the bride and groom cutting the cake together, sharing the first piece with each other, and making a toast to their guests to thank them for sharing in the celebration.The reception venue or caterer generally cuts the remainder of the cake and serves it to the guests.

Capturing the Moment

You want to make sure the moment is perfectly captured when you cut the cake. When planning the setup of your reception venue, be sure the cake table is setup in a well lighted area or have your DJ enhance it with a spotlight. You also want to be certain your photographer and DJ know exactly when the ceremony will take place. Your DJ should announce to your reception crowd that the cake cutting ceremony is taking place and give your guests plenty of time to gather around the table.  Have your photographer take several "before" shots of the cake ... and then have them ready for the cutting, sharing, and toast portion of the ceremony!

Whether you politely eat the cake as a couple or mash it into each others mouths (don’t forget about the hard work your lovely bride did with her makeup), have fun with this long standing wedding tradition. We suggest you have a conversation before the wedding about your plans for the cake sharing ... this will help avoid unwelcome, messy surprises.

Wedding Cake Toppers

Cake Toppers add to the uniqueness of each couple’s commitment.  The traditional wedding cake topper often shows the couple in formal attire…but they can also represent hobbies, shared interests, humor or an unusual theme.   This is a perfect way to bring your personality to the cake for everyone to see. 

Pick a cake topper that is representative of who you are and have some fun with it! If you are using fresh flowers on the cake, you can still have a cake topper set off to the side of the cake.  It serves as decor at the cake table and still enables you to share some of your personality with the wedding cake.

Preserving the Top Tier

Preserving the top tier of the wedding cake has been part of the wedding tradition for centuries. Often couples will open the cake package on their first anniversary and enjoy another taste as part of their celebration. If this is something you plan to do, make sure to have an airtight plastic bag or box ready to store the top tier of the cake.  It helps if the top tier is frozen briefly before being wrapped with wax paper and placed into the airtight container. For best results, it should be placed in a freezer right away. 

~ The WhereBridesGo.com Team

Take 15% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com with coupon code WHATBRIDESLOVE, plus get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100.

Where brides go®  ... for what brides love! For a great selection of affordable wedding supplies,wedding accessories, and wedding cake tops, check out WhereBridesGo.com!  

For more ideas, wedding favors and accessories, check out WhereBridesGo.com! 

Connect with WhereBridesGo.com online!

Follow us on Twitter @wherebridesgo

LIKE US on Facebook!

LIKE US on Google+

Traditional Order of the Wedding Procession

There is a traditional order for the procession in Catholic and Protestant ceremonies. That said, don't be afraid to change things up for your own wedding to suit your needs and situation. This order is simply for your reference when planning your wedding ceremony.

• The officiate enters (usually enters from the side) when the music begins
• Groom's grandparents (walk down aisle, then take a seat)
• Bride's grandparents (walk down aisle, then take a seat)
• Groom's parents (walk down aisle, then take a seat)
• Bride's mother (walk down aisle, then take a seat)
• Best Man (usually enters from the side)
• Groom (usually enters from the side)
• Groomsmen and Bridesmaids (usually paired in twos)
• Maid/Matron of Honor
• Ring Bearer (walks down the aisle, then takes a seat)
• Flower Girl (walks down the aisle, then takes a seat)
• Bride (typically escorted by her Father)

Are you changing this up for your wedding ceremony? We'd love to hear about YOUR wedding procession plans and what you doing to make it unique!

~ The WhereBridesGo.com Team

Take 15% off your entire order at WhereBridesGo.com with coupon code WHATBRIDESLOVE, plus get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100.

Where brides go®  ... for what brides love! For a great selection of affordable wedding supplies, wedding accessories, and wedding cake tops, check out WhereBridesGo.com!  
 
For more ideas, wedding favors and accessories, check out WhereBridesGo.com!

Connect with WhereBridesGo.com online!

Follow us on Twitter @wherebridesgo

LIKE US on Facebook!

LIKE US on Google+