To learn more about the different styles of wedding dresses, read our article: Learn About Wedding Dress Styles

Make sure you don’t make these wedding-planning mistakes!

1. When planning their special day, brides tend to put a lot of pressure on themselves, and everyone involved, to make the day absolutely perfect. What you need to remember is that even though your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, it’s just ONE day. Savor the days leading up to your wedding as well. Your engagement is a very special time. Don’t spend it stressed out and anxious! Besides, stressing leads to overeating, which is never good for a bride-to-be.
2. A lot of brides tend to overspend in a big way. I have seen wedding budgets double over the course of a long engagement. Remember, you do NOT want to start your marriage off broke. Think ahead, and make sure you won’t need the money to buy a house, car, or pay your bills before you spend it.
3. We hate to say this, but it needs to be said! Too many brides buy dresses that are a size too small. A lot of times, wedding dresses tend to run small, so if you wear an 8, you might need a 10. I know that it would boost your confidence to squeeze into a smaller size, but your fat pockets hanging out just aren’t flattering. You will feel better about yourself if you look good– who cares about a number on your dress. (Just cut out the tag!) Plus, you want to be able to dance the night away with your new hubby without feeling too sucked in!
4. Once you get your mother and mother-in-law involved, they will have you inviting everyone you’ve ever met and never cared to see again to your wedding! Brides tend to go crazy inviting too many people, which is a bad idea for several reasons. First of all, you will end up spending too much on invitations and postage… especially when you invite those people that you know have no intention of coming. Secondly, you are paying for a plate of food for each person you invite. Third, you don’t want to waste an hour of your reception (especially if you are limited on time) greeting people whose names you don’t even remember!
5. Sometimes, stress causes a bride-to-be to start obsessing over the small details– the color of the napkins, the font on the placeholder cards, or whether to throw rice or birdseed. Before you start going crazy on the details, ask yourself these question: Does this specific thing really matter to you? Will you remember it in 5 years? Will it make or break your wedding day? If you answer no, then let it slide.
6. One of the most common mistakes of wedding planning is when brides-to-be become too controlling. Remember– it is your fiance’s wedding day too! Men act like they don’t care, but they do– and they SHOULD! They most likely won’t care about flower colors or whether or not you curl your hair, but there are certain things that they will want. And they should be at least partly involved in the wedding planning process.
7. When people get overwhelmed, they tend to put things off. And that is why many brides procrastinate! Take advantage of your engagement to get things done a little bit at a time. Plan ahead, and take care of the major things way in advance so that if there is a problem, you will have plenty of time to deal with it!
8. A classic mistake brides-to-be make is ticking people off who are involved in the wedding planning. Your wedding planner, mother, sisters, and bridesmaids are there to help you, but don’t let the power go to your head. Remember—you can catch more bees with honey than you can with vinegar!
9. Some brides will never admit to this mistake… but it happens all the time! They choose ugly bridesmaids’ dresses to make themselves stand out! DON’T LIE… you know it’s tempting! But the only person it really makes look bad is you… and if you don’t want them to steal the show, don’t give people a reason to gossip about them.
10. It is CRITICAL that you do not make this last mistake… Don’t get so involved about planning your wedding day that it makes you forget what this day means. This is the beginning of your life together. Make this time exciting; you won’t regret it.

Take our “Are you a Bridezilla” quiz if you are guilty of some of these typical mistakes.

Who needs the rules of the 1900s to explain proper wedding shower etiquette to us today? In part one of this series, we discussed modern-day etiquette pertaining to invitations and guestlist. In this article, we are talking about planning and preparation!

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Traditional wedding showers have outdated, stale rules that don’t really apply to modern showers. But with all the changes, how can one be certain their wedding shower etiquette is up to speed? This series of articles will outline the essentials of proper wedding shower etiquette for the:
- Host/Hostess(es)
- Guests
- Bride and Groom

Topic 2: Planning & Preparation

Host/Hostess(es):

As the host of the event, you will need to decide on the date, the location, the menu, the theme, the games or activities, and the “flow” of the party.

Date: Wedding showers should be at least a month before the wedding. Most are between one and two months before.

Location: You can have the party at someone’s house, a restaurant, or another location such as a spa or bed and breakfast. If you are going to have it in a location other than someone’s home, make sure you reserve it well ahead of time. The location can match the theme of the party if you have a theme. For example, a Bridal SPArty would be held at a spa.

Menu: Most of the time, finger foods are served at wedding showers. The menu can go along with the theme but here are some ideas: tea sandwiches, vegetable tray, fruit tray, assorted cheeses, or cold salads. Depending on the time of day, you may also want to serve dessert too. Cake is served at most bridal showers. If you are planning on serving a meal, here are some ideas: baked ziti, stuffed chicken breast, four cheese ravioli, or quesadillas. Another idea is to do a pot luck shower where everyone brings something different. Wine or champagne can be served if there are no religious objections. You definitely want to check with the bride first.

Theme: You can choose to have a theme or not. Here are some fun theme ideas: A Day at the Spa, Lingerie Shower, Summer Luau, Pajama Party, or Afternoon Tea. The theme can also go along with the menu: Dessert Shower, Sunday Brunch, Cocktail Party, or Country BBQ. You can also try to match the theme of the wedding.

Games/Activities: If you decide on a themed shower, the games and activities should match. Here are some generic game ideas…

For Bridal Showers:

• Who knows the bride best? The hostess of the party should come up with a list of questions that the bride answers before the shower. Everyone gets a sheet of paper to write down their answers, and the hostess asks the questions. After all the questions are asked, the guests switch their papers and grade one another’s.
• Bridal Pictionary: The hostess(es) of the party write down wedding-related words on strips of paper (examples: veil, bouquet, cake). Divide the room into 2 teams. Each team takes turns having a player go and try to draw the item in 30 seconds.
• Advice for the Bride: Everyone writes down their best advice for the bride. Some will be serious and some will be funny. Then, the bride has to guess who gave her the advice.
• TP Wedding Dress: This is actually a pretty popular bridal shower game. The guests are divided into teams and each given a roll of toilet paper. They choose one person on their team to model. Then they design a wedding dress using the toilet paper (and if you choose, some other items such as ribbon, rhinestones, etc.). The bride chooses the best dress.

For Couple Showers:

• How well do the bride and groom know one another? The bride and groom sit facing one another, each with a small dry erase board. The host(s) prepare questions to ask the couple about each other. (Examples: What is your fiance’s favorite TV show? What did he/she want to be when he/she was a kid?) They try to guess each others’ answers then see if they are right or wrong.
• Advice for the bride and groom: Everyone writes down their best advice for the bride and groom. Some will be serious and some will be funny. Then, the bride and groom have to guess who gave them the advice.
• Guess the Better Half: This one is boys vs. girls. The hostess will have the name of ONE of the two people that make up celebrity couples (ex: Angelina Jolie, Spencer Pratt, Ashlee Simpson). The sides take turns picking a name then try to guess the “better” half. (You will be surprised how much the boys know!)
• Famous Couples: If you are throwing a couples shower where only couples are invited, you can try this game. Otherwise, it might make the singles feel bad. As each couple walks in, they have to pick a famous couple from movies, TV, or cartoons (ex: Scarlett O’Hara & Rhett Butler, Lucy & Desi, Fred & Wilma Flintstone). Then, they have to try and get the others to guess who they are.

Icebreakers:

• 2 Truths & a lie: Each person describes him/herself with 2 truths and 1 lie. The other have to figure out which is the lie.
• The Clothes Pin Game: As the guests come in, they get one to three clothes pins to put on their shirts. They are not allowed to say “wedding,” “bride,” or “groom.” If a guest hears another guest say one of the words, he/she can take a clothes pin from the person who said the forbidden word. The one with the most pins at the end of the game wins.

***Shower games should have little gifts for the winners. These can be candy bars, picture frames, candles, or other small presents.***

Guests:

If you are close to the bride or groom and/or a member of the wedding party, you can definitely offer to help with the shower. However, this is definitely not mandatory.

Bride and/or Groom

For the most part, the bride and groom should be free of any responsibilities. However, the hostess should definitely get their input on the theme and location of the shower.

If you are shopping for a wedding dress but don’t know what style you want yet, let this article educate you!

A-Line: An a-line wedding dress has a snug bodice. The skirt flows down to create the shape of an “A.” I would say that this is probably the most popular style. Modern brides often wear a strapless a-line dress.

Ball Gown: A ball gown, like an a-line dress, is snug on the upper body. The skirt of the dress is full all the way to the floor. If you want a fairytale wedding dress, try this style with off-the-shoulder sleeves.

Column: The column silhouette is a narrow shape from top to bottom. It is a form-fitting dress that is best for thin figures. This is probably the most casual style but you can dress it up by having a separate bodice and skirt.

Empire: The empire style features a high waist line just below the chest. The skirt flows loosely to the floor. This is a classic style that looks good on most figures. (FYI: This dress is perfect for brides-to-be that are also expecting!)

Mermaid: The bodice of the mermaid dress is very form-fitting all the way down past the hips and thighs. Around the knee or calf area, the dress flares out. This dress shows the curves of your body so it looks best on an hourglass figure.

If you are not sure which style would flatter your figure, take our quiz!

• Make sure you are ready to get married! Take the quiz now.

After you are engaged…

• Take engagement pictures.
• Send out engagement announcements; announce your wedding in the newspaper if you’d like.
• Have your engagement party.

12 months before your wedding day…

• Pick a date and time for your wedding.
• Buy a planner with a calendar, to-do list, and place to put all your ideas, coupons, etc.
• Begin to discuss your wedding budget with your fiance and family. Look at the average costs of some wedding vendors to get an idea of your budget.
• Research local wedding vendors and write down their contact information.
• Start looking for sales and deals for wedding dresses & other wedding-related items.
• Make sure you don’t start off on the wrong foot by making these common wedding planning mistakes.

11 months before your wedding day…

• Start interviewing wedding planners if you are going to hire one.
• Begin a guest list draft.
• Enlist your groom to help. If he’s not interested, read these tips for getting the groom involved.
• Pick out your wedding colors.
• Begin looking at ceremony & reception sites.

10 months before your wedding day…

• Finalize your wedding budget with your groom and your families. Need tips for saving money? Read about money-smart wedding planning.
• Decide on your wedding party. Need help deciding who should be included?
• Sit down with your family to work on the guestlist.
• Choose a wedding planner.
• Decide on a wedding theme if you are going to have one. (Ideas: Romance, Going Green, Winter Wonderland)
• Meet with different wedding vendors to discuss pricing options, etc. Read about little known ways to receive wedding discounts!

9 months before your wedding day…

• Decide on your ceremony & reception sites and reserve them for your wedding day.
• Decide on a wedding officiant, a florist, and caterer.
• Decide on a DJ or musician. Read about how to choose a DJ that is right for you!
• Create a wedding website so your guests can find all the information they need in one place.
• Decide on what style wedding dress you want to wear. Not sure? Read about wedding dress styles or take the quiz: Which style wedding dress flatters your figure?

8 months before your wedding day…

• Plan your honeymoon and have your groom reserve the hotel rooms, etc. Having trouble deciding where to go? Take the quiz: Where should I go on my honeymoon?
• Finalize your guestlist
• Go with your bridesmaids to look at their dresses and get ideas
• Meet with wedding cake designers and go to tastings
• Decide on and hire a photographer. Read about what to look for in a photographer!
• Decide on and hire a videographer. Read about why you should hire a videographer!
• Rent any equipment like chairs and tables that you may need

7 months before your wedding day…

• Order save-the-date cards or magnets
• Get all your guests’ addresses
• Order bridesmaids dresses & accessories
• Decide on a baker and order your wedding cake. Need help deciding what kind? Take our quiz: What type of wedding cake fits your personality? 
• Think about what your groom and groomsmen will wear. Suits or Tuxes?
• Shop around for invitations and work on the invitation wording

6 months before your wedding day…

• Make a final selection for a wedding dress
• Choose your veil and accessories to match your dress
• Decide what your parents will wear
• Finalize your honeymoon details
• Request off work if you need to
• Send out save the date cards
• Purchase or rent groom’s and groomsmen’s suits or tuxes
• Finalize the menu with the caterer
• Register! All your wedding registry questions are answered here.

5 months before your wedding day…

• Order or make your wedding favors. Here are some unique ideas.
• Reserve hotel rooms and make accomodations for out-of-town guests
• Start thinking about your make-up and hair
• Order your wedding invitations
• Create a wedding day timeline
• Make your wedding night plans & reservations
• Begin thinking about the rehearsal dinner

4 months before your wedding day…

• Plan your rehearsal dinner; decide on a location, menu, etc.
• Reserve a car, limo, or your desired wedding transportation
• Think about your wedding music (first dance song, father/daughter dance song, etc.)
• Book a hair dresser and make-up artist
• Help your maid of honor make a bridal shower guestlist
• Shop for your wedding bands

3 months before your wedding day…

• Have your wedding shower
• Make sure your dress is tailored
• Finalize your wedding music
• Address the envelopes for your invitations
• Buy your wedding rings
• Have the maid of honor and best man make sure the wedding party has purchased their outfits and accessories
• Designate people to give toasts at the reception
• Make sure you have started an exercise routine and diet if you need to lose a few inches before getting into your dress! Here are some tips to tighten your tummy before your wedding day.

2 months before your wedding day…

• Buy your wedding party their gifts. Check out some cool wedding party gift ideas.
• Write your wedding vows if you so desire. Read about the secret to writing great vows!
• Send your wedding invitation 6-8 weeks before the wedding
• Start making a final guestlist as you begin to hear back from guests
• Fill out any documents needed to change your name
• If you are going to have your rings engraved, do so
• Fill out any documents needed to change your insurance information after married
• Create and print wedding programs
• Buy lingerie or undergarments before final dress fitting
• Send thank you notes for gifts received at your shower

1 month before your wedding day…

• Work on your seating chart
• Make or buy placeholder cards
• Get anything you need before your honeymoon (passport, shots, etc.)
• Do a final fitting for your dress; begin a diet and exercise routine if necessary
• Confirm all the details (arrival time, cost, etc.) with your wedding vendors
• Get a marriage license
• Send rehearsal dinner invitations
• Order alcohol
• Buy a guestbook

2 weeks before your wedding day…

• Take care of all the details like what you will use to cut the cake, toasting glasses, etc.
• Prepare welcome baskets for out-of-town guests
• Purchase thank you notes
• Finalize the menu, etc. for the rehearsal dinner.
• Finalize your seating chart.
• Give final headcount to caterer, etc.
• Do a hair and make-up trial run.
• Plan the activities for the night before your wedding.
• Help your wedding party plan the bachelor and bachelorette parties if they need it.

1 week before your wedding day…

• Get checks ready to give your wedding vendors.
• Make sure you have something old, something new, something borrowed, and (most importantly to us) something blue.
• Make sure you have a garter.
• Get a manicure, pedicure, hair cut, eye-brow wax, etc.
• Pick up your wedding dress and the bridesmaids dresses
• Confirm all the details with your florist.
• Give the members of your wedding party their tasks for your special day.
• Pack for your honeymoon!

The day before your wedding day…

• Go to the spa to get a massage!
• Hold the rehearsal dinner.
• Give your wedding party and parents their gifts.
• Attend the bachelor or bacheloretter party.

After your wedding day…

• Have someone take your wedding dress and keepsakes if you are going straight on your honeymoon.
• Keep the top layer of your cake for your 1st wedding anniversary.
• Go on your honeymoon.
• 6-8 weeks after: send thank you cards. Not feeling motivated? Read the lazy bride’s guide to sending thank you cards.p
• Start your life with the one you love!

Check out their blog at http://creativecustomcardboxes.blogspot.com/ or follow them on twitter @cardboxdiva!

Traditional wedding showers have outdated, stale rules that don’t really apply to modern showers. But with all the changes, how can one be certain their wedding shower etiquette is up to speed? This series of articles will outline the essentials of proper wedding shower etiquette for the:

Topic 1: INVITATIONS & GUESTLIST

Host/Hostess(es):

Typically, it is the maid or matron of honor’s responsibility to throw the wedding shower. However, sometimes it is hosted by another member of the wedding party. If you are the maid/matron of honor and no one else is already planning on throwing a shower, you probably need to step up!

If you are having a bridal shower for females only, it is typical to invite the bridesmaids, the bride’s close girlfriends, and any female relatives that are close to the bride and/or groom. If you are having a couple’s shower, you should invite the entire wedding party, close friends and family. (Even those who probably will not be able to attend should get an invitation.) Most of the time, children are not invited to the shower but can be. If it is a concern, address it on the invitation by letting guests know whether or not children are welcome.

On your invitations, be sure to list the following information:

• Bride’s (and Groom’s if it is a couple’s shower) Full Name(s)
• Date of the shower
• Time of the shower
• Location of the shower (Include directions if it is hard to find.)
• RSVP information (name, phone number, and date to RSVP by)

Optional information:

• If it is a surprise shower, be sure to say so on the invitations. You wouldn’t want a guest to spoil the surprise!
• Registry information
• Host’s or Hostess’s Name(s)

Invitations should be sent out at least 4 weeks before the shower, and the RSVP date should be between 1-2 weeks before the shower.

Guests:

If you have been invited to a wedding shower, make sure that you RSVP by the date on the invitations whether or not you are going but ESPECIALLY if you are going. The host/hostess will only plan for enough favors, food, etc. for those who say they will attend.

If this is a surprise shower, remember to keep it a secret, even if you aren’t going!

Bride and/or Groom:

When it comes to planning the wedding shower, the bride and groom are pretty much responsibility-free. The only thing they need to help with is the guestlist. Make sure your host/hostess knows who you want invited (and maybe more importantly who you DON’T want invited)! You will also need to provide the contact information for those you want to invite.

If we left something out or if you have more questions about wedding shower etiquette for invitations and guestlist, ASK OUR ULTIMATE BRIDE!

I have gotten some “Ask Tinka” emails about throwing a wedding as little as $1000 so I decided to respond with an idea I have.  Afterall, everyone deserves to celebrate their wedding– even those who don’t have $15,000 to spend!

If I were getting married with a small budget and wanted to have a simple wedding day with only close family and friends, this is what I would do: I would have the wedding and reception at my home or the home of a close relative or friend. It’s cozy and best of all, FREE! I would wear a simple white sundress and have my groom wear something casual like khakis and a white shirt. Then, instead of a traditional buffet or sit-down dinner, I’d serve coffee, hot chocolate, and cake! Get your favorite songs together to play on your stereo and have a designated area for dancing. Keep the reception short– about an hour or two and maybe serve wine and beer.

That sounds just delightful to me

Milledgeville Limousine Service, Inc. was founded in 2008 to provide the people of Milledgeville and surrounding areas with a convenient, safe, stylish, and affordable alternative to celebrate many of life’s special occasions. The owner/operator, Tracy Daugherty, a retired educator, taught in various colleges throughout the South for nearly 40 years.

Milledgeville Limousine Service, Inc. offers a full array of customer directed charters. Our goal is to provide our customers with safe, convenient, and affordable transportation. And for a nominal extra charge, we can stock the limousine with ice, water, your choice of beverages, newspapers, or whatever else you would like to take on your journey. Below is a sampling of how our customers may want to use our service:

• Dining out
• Shopping
• Retirement parties
• Weddings
• Funerals
• Anniversaries
• Special lunches
• Girls’ nights out
• Boys’ nights out
• Proms
• Birthday parties
• Valentine’s Day
• Tailgate parties to Athens
• Atlanta/Macon sporting events
• Airport transport to Atlanta/Athens/and Macon
• Transport to and from Grooms in Macon  

1. Gratuity! Gratuity is usually added to the final bill for your caterer. However, it is also polite to tip waiters/waitresses, bartenders, church musicians, and any others who you think deserve it.
2. Taxes! Don’t forget to include taxes in your budget for the dress and tux, flowers, food, and beverages. You may think you are paying $20 per person and end up paying over $25!
3. Overtime! Many wedding vendors such as photographers and DJs charge overtime fees. You never know until the day of your wedding how long you are going to need them so make sure to work this out BEFORE your big day!
4. Food for your wedding vendors! Don’t forget to feed your wedding vendors! Your photographer, videographer, DJ, etc. will probably be at your wedding for more than 6 hours. Unless you want them to leave to get dinner, make sure you have a meal for each of them.
5. Postage! Some invitations can cost up to $2 for postage. If you are sending out 100 invitations, that adds up to $200. Make sure to leave some room in your budget for stamps.