1. Relax.
Relax your arms. Let the weight of the bouquet bring your arms down so that the bouquet is at your bellybutton and your arms are resting on your hip bones. This will make you look longer and more relaxed than choking the bouquet up by your neck. Don’t strangle your flowers.

2. Show your bouquet.
Make sure the most decorative part of the bouquet is facing forward – even if your bouquet consists of all of the same flower. Ask your florist (or a member of your party) for tips if you can’t find the most decorative part. (Remember, you’re looking down at the bouquet.)

3. Be graceful.
Hold the bouquet gracefully. You’re a beautiful bride, not a nervous Nelly. Relax your grip and keep from interlocking your fingers. The bouquet is part of your wedding-day outfit, not a clutch to get your down the aisle. Stand straight, put your shoulders back, take a deep breath, relax your grip on the bouquet and keep your eye on the groom. Remember: You’re carrying flowers, not a weapon.

4. Have fun after the ceremony.
The hard part’s over. The planning is done. You walked down the aisle and pledged your love to the man of your dreams. Now it’s time for post-ceremony pictures. Have fun! hold the flowers to your side. Hold them in one hand. Let your husband hold the flowers. Listen to your photographer’s suggestions. Whatever you do, enjoy the moment. And have fun. The fun pictures are the ones you’ll love the best.

Cake Design by Amy Richardson, The Bake Shoppe, Nashville, www.thebakeshoppe.com

Topped with the newlyweds’ last initial, this traditional tower of buttercream and fondant is decorated with fresh roses to match the centerpieces and bouquets. The square design adds an element and symmetry and style.

A bouquet filled with orange and red roses, burgundy mini calla lilies, yellow daises, orange montbretia and red hypercium berries make a beautiful arrangement for an Autumn wedding.

Photo Caption: Chelsea Floral Design, Atlanta; Photo by Andrea Taylor

Do you have a wedding cost-cutting tip to help other brides? Share the love: Leave us a comment!

1. Think off season. Most weddings are scheduled between May and October, meaning you are competing with more brides for venues and wedding services. Schedule your wedding day during the “off season,” and you’ll probably find better deals (and get the venue, photographer and cake you want).

2. Be strict with your head count. Omit children, co-workers and casual acquaintances, and your guest numbers will shrink. Also, a smaller wedding party equals smaller amount of your budget going to flowers, boutonnieres, gifts and transportation.

3. Have your wedding earlier in the day. Your food and beverage costs will be lower with a morning brunch than an evening dinner.

4. Wear a non-bridal gown.Your wedding gown doesn’t have to come from a bridal salon. Look at bridesmaid dresses, check out the formal wear at department stores. You may even find the wedding dress of your dreams at a vintage clothing store.

5. Ask a friend or family member to officiate. Consider having someone you know officiate your wedding. Laypeople can be ordained online to officiate weddings, and most of the states will recognize them. Check with your county clerk to see if there are restrictions in your area.

6. Skip the wedding program. Sure, wedding programs are nice, but they’re not necessary. Skip the program and you’ll cut down on your printing costs.

7. Buy in-season, local flowers. Work with your florist to select beautiful, cost effective flowers.

8. Go for the big buds.Larger flowers take up more room in bouquets and centerpieces, so you’ll use less.

9. Use the theme to your advantage. Apply the theme to your food and beverages and you can avoid an outrageous tab –– and the guests will never notice. For example, at an Italian-themed wedding, serve only red and white wine and perhaps an Italian beer such as Peroni at the bar.

10. Be a Friday or Sunday Bride. As you research your wedding and reception venues, note price differences between Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will always be more expensive.

11. Pick bridal shoes you’ll wear again. You can add a dash of color to your wedding wardrobe, and be able to enjoy the shoes again after the wedding instead of putting the shoes away in a box.

12. Use your iPod. More music-savvy couples are providing their own music at wedding receptions through their well-stocked iPods.

13. Borrow jewelry. Your mother’s earrings or your grandmother’s necklace may be the perfect touch to your wedding gown. Grooms can borrow, too.

14. Limit cocktail choices. Carefully choose your cocktail menu — offer select beers, wines and a signature cocktail –– and watch your bar tab shrink.

15. BYOB. If the venue will allow it, bring your own alcohol (you, not your guests).

16. Just desserts. Skip the wedding cake (and the cake-cutting fee) and offer a dessert bar. Have the ceremonial slice-and-feed-each-other moment, then invite your guests to come up and have dessert. This works with cupcakes, too.

17. Eschew the limo. Hire a town car, ask a member of the party to drive you, take a cab, walk. Limo companies often charge newly weds more than other customers.

18. Ask for help. You never what hidden talents your family and friends have that will work to your wedding-day advantage.

19. Look for a pre-owned gown. Shop online for gently used, or never worn, designer dresses.

20. Give something made by you. Make your own party favors.

21. Have a one-stop wedding. Host the wedding and the reception in the same spot. You’ll cut down on transportation costs, vendor travel time and space rental.

22. Use bigger tables. Larger tables at the reception mean fewer centerpieces and linens.

23. Register your honeymoon. Instead of registering for kitchenware and China, ask guest to contribute to your honeymoon. Sites such as honeyfund.com allow you to create an online account and guests to contribute.

24. Skip the champagne toast. Not everyone drinks the bubbly and you’re paying for it. Do, however, consider having it available at the bar in case someone does want a glass.

25. Get the most out of your flowers. Use ceremony flowers on the cake table. Have vases at your table and the wedding-party table so that the bouquets make instant center pieces.

26. It’s all in the family. Consider serving your meal family style.

27. Use double-duty centerpieces. Use bud vases or potted plants as your center pieces, then have the guests take them home as favors.

28. Go green. Use more greenery than blooms in your flowers. And if you’re getting married in a church, just remember the that it doesn’t need to adorned from door to altar with flowers.

29. Loose the invitation liner. Skip the liner on your invitation and, if you can, keep all of the info on one card. This will save on paper and postage costs.

30. Celebrate in ambiance. Look for locations that require minimal decorations.

31. Get the quote in writing –– and signed. If you are planning far in advance, ask for fixed prices, get it in writing and get it signed.

32. Post it. Use postcards as reply cards in your wedding invitations instead of cards that require envelopes. You’ll save on postage.

33. Ask for a discount. When purchasing craft supplies, vases or candle holders in bulk, ask the manager if you can get a discount. It may not always work, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

34. Go custom. Consider having your dress custom made by an experienced, local seamstress.

Image: Sharron Goodyear / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A good rule of thumb when wanting to follow a clean, chic and classy design when choosing your wedding flowers is going with green. This monochromatic bouquet of mini green hydrangea blooms and cymbidium orchids add a subtle yet sophisticated look to the bridesmaids dressed in chocolate brown.

Photo Caption: Crimson and Clover Floral Design, Baltimore; Photo by Meaghan Elliot Photography

1. Upper Canada Keep your hands, elbows and legs well smooth and nourished with this pressed-olive-and-avocado lotion from Upper Canada Soap & Candle Makers. Free of parabens, mineral oil and synthetic dyes, this fast-absorbing lotion is a treat to tired hands after an evening of addressing invitations or an afternoon of putting together favors. www.UpperCanadaSoap.com

2. Michael Kors for Estee Lauder Get ready for your close up with Estee Lauder’s California-inspired collection, Michael Kors Very Hollywood Collection. Featuring lip, cheek and nail colors in pinks, blushes and golds, and dramatic eye shadows, this collection brings the Hollywood glam to your rehearsal dinner or wedding day. www.EsteeLauder.com

3. MAC From the thousands of product options to the Viva Glam campaign, there are so many things to love about Mac Cosmetics. Schedule a makeup session at one of their many counters to get a sense of how you want your wedding-day make up to look. www.MacCosmetics.com

4. Revolution Organics What’s not to love about a line of lip glosses and versatile beauty balm (that can be used on lips, eyes and cheeks) that’s 100 percent natural and contains 85 percent of organic ingredients? We’re smitten! www.RevolutionOrganics.com

5. Stuck-Up You’re not stuck up, but on your wedding day, you certainly want your hair to be. This mega-hold hairspray provides superior hold and volume, and you can still run a brush through your hair without wrecking the do. www.WhiteSandsProducts.com

6. Footzy Rolls Dance the wedding night away in the comfort of beautiful ballet flats. These rollable, foldable flats fit neatly in your wedding-day bag, and are stylish enough to complement any wedding dress. www.FootzyRolls.com

7. Urban Decay Smoke Out Smoky-eyed brides (and bridesmaids) will want to have this handy Smoke Out eye kit from Urban Decay in their wedding-day bags. Kits are available in brown/neutral, black/grey and deep green and include eye pencils, mascara and smoky-eye instructions. www.UrbanDecay.com

1. Smart Box Treat your maid-of-honor or your parents to a customizable getaway. Choose a theme – such as outdoor adventure, spa treatments, getaways or a gourmet retreat – and then let the recipient determine the details.
$49 – $369, www.SmartBox.com

2. RuMe Bags From a destination-wedding gift bag to a wedding-day emergency kit container, the versatile, easy-to-fold-up Rume Bags makes a stylish addition to your gift giving. Rume Bags are available in a variety of sizes, colors and modern patterns.
Prices vary, www.RumeBags.com

3. Nelle & Lizzy Charm Bracelet Give your bridesmaids a charming keepsake from your wedding day: A custom-stamped silver charm bracelet with the names of the wedding party from Nelle & Lizzy.
$35 and up, www.NelleAndLizzy.com

4. Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss Give each of your besties what they want: Scantily clad men and gorgeous lip color. Turn the lid of the lip gloss and – Oops! Mr.-Well-Dressed loses his outerwear! And true to form, Urban Decay’s slick, cushiony lip gloss colors accent all skin tones.
$19, www.UrbanDecay.com

5. Glowology Pamper your bridal party with the gift of smooth, glowing skin. Crafted from skin-nourishing ingredients such as clover honey, milk protein and lavender, the Glowology line from Noodle & Boo is perfect for even your most sensitive-skinned bridal party member.
$12 – $45, www.GlowologySkincare.com

6. Liz Ballet Flats Let your bridal party the dance the night away in comfort in the stylish, customizable Liz Ballet Flat. Available in silver, bronze and black, the leather ballet flat comes with interchangeable snap-on flowers in a variety of colors.
$64, www.SwitchFlops.com

7. Foot Petals Have a wobble-free wedding party with Foot Petals in their shoes. Designed to fit even the strappiest shoes, Foot Petals will your bridal standing pretty. And don’t forget to get a set for yourself!
$44.95, www.FootPetals.com

8. Spiegelau Wine Glasses Toast your wedding party with a bottle of bubbly and a pair of Champagne flutes from Spiegelau, the sister company of Reidel Cystral. Treat your maid-of-honor or best man to the 24-piece Spiegelau starter set, which contains six of each glass: Bordeaux, White, Pinot Noir and Champagne. Cheers!
$29.90 – $219, www.Spiegelau.com

One of the details the two of you (yes, get your fiance involved) need to figure out is: What song will be “The One” for your first dance? You can choose a time-honored classic from the Big Band Era, your song (if you have one) or a favorite song that you both love. But if you haven’t decided, check out the “Make-out Mix” from NPR’s All Songs Considered.

The eclectic mix includes classical music, jazz, indie rock, alt country, artists you’ve always loved and ones you’ve never heard before but are going to fall in love with. And who knows, you may not only find your first dance, but also the song you walk down the aisel to.

P.S. This wasn’t going to be a Valentine’s Day post, but since Valentine’s Day is coming up this weekend, play the stream and test the make-out-ability for yourself!

source: klicknation.com

by Jennifer Gibbs

The day a bride finds her gown is one of the most memorable throughout the wedding planning experience. She puts on the dress at the bridal shop and knows instantly that the dress was made for her. Her eyes swell tears, and before you know it, all the sales clerks are dabbing her face with tissues, crying right along beside her. However, the pathway to the perfect dress is usually rocky. The number of dresses she tries on before “the one” becomes far too many to count.

Trunk shows can help alleviate the stress of finding the right gown. “A trunk show is a special weekend where every piece of a particular line goes into a specific, bridal store,” Elle Warren of Angel Sanchez describes. “Because stores don’t usually have it in their budget to buy all of a line’s pieces, trunk shows provide a unique time that brides get a chance to see all the designer has to offer.”

Trunk shows create a surge of energy for bridal gown stores. “We get to hear pros and cons of our store from designers,” says Elizabeth Maxwell, co-owner of Faccio Bridal in Franklin, Tenn. , “and it helps us better serve our customers.” Beth Bowman, Faccio’s other owner, adds, “We really get to know designers at these shows, and once that strong relationship is formed, we stand behind the name.” Brides learn a great deal about budgets, gown construction and body styles. “The designers advise the brides that they should understand exactly what they are paying for,” Maxwell says. She continues, “Brides also discover which designer and silhouette fits their body the best.” “Most of our brides walk away saying ‘I’m so glad I came,’” says Bowman.

Seeing anywhere from 20 to 30 different gowns from one line, brides get a good sampling of what a designer has to offer. “Many have the misconception that trunk shows are high-pressure sales, but that’s not it at all,” Maxwell says. “It’s a fun time for designers and brides. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere, not stressful at all.” Bowman adds, “All the brides who attend come together and help one another find the perfect dress. The designer, sales associates and brides all become one united force—one big family.”

“We try to do a trunk show every weekend,” says Lee Price of Stephen Yearick. “When we started doing shows, we found them very beneficial, so we started doing them more and more.” Price finds it much easier to serve the customers if he can get to know them. “We get to meet the girls, and no one else knows bridal trends better than brides themselves.”

“Bride’s benefit greatly from shows too because they get to see the entire breadth of a collection: from skimpy to sexy, from slim silhouettes to full ball gowns,” Price explains. He goes on to say that the best benefit for a bride shopping a Stephen Yearick trunk show is that the designer’s representative will make changes to fit the needs of the bride. “Sometimes brides’ visions are not practical in terms of construction. At trunk shows we can make those visions feasible.”

It’s important for brides to know that designers try very hard to serve their needs and desires. Trunk shows give designers the opportunity to make magical things happen for brides. Price says, “We can make your dreams come true in a way that is practical as well as beautiful.”

“The best thing about a trunk show is that the bride can see everything the designer has to offer,” Warren concludes. Furthermore, the bridal shops benefit from having the designers give them specific information about their lines, helping them better inform the brides. Then again the designers benefit and can give brides exactly what they want. It all comes back to the bride. Everyone’s goal is to make her gorgeous for her wedding day.

Cake Design by Leslie Pippin, Classic Cakes, Brentwood, www.classiccakes.net

The Tuscany was designed with the vineyards of Italy in mind. Fresh fruit adorns the classic white fondant cake, adding color and character.