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.

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!

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

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.

Leave a comment, and let us know.

BM= bridesmaid or best man
MOH= maid/matron of honor
GM= groomsmen
FH= future husband
FW= future wife
FG= flower girl
RB= ring bearer
MOB= mother of the bride
MOG= mother of the groom
FOB= father of the bride
FOG= father of the groom

Any others?

Dear Heather,
I am always all for doing whatever is going to make you and your fiance happy on your wedding day. However, you should always show your guests respect. In other words, do what makes you happy without horribly offending your family. I would suggest completely eliminating liquor. You can serve champagne with the toasts and then maybe offer beer and wine. Also offer cider or something similar to those who do not wish to drink. This way, those who want to drink will (in moderation) and those that are against drinking don’t have to.

When planning your wedding, remember that you are starting your life with the one you love. And it is important to get that life started on the right foot! That means having a special wedding day but also keeping the life ahead of you in mind. You don’t want to come home from your honeymoon to bills, bills, and more bills. So, the question is—how do you have the wedding you have always dreamed about without putting a huge dent in your bank account?

1. Ask recently married friends what they recall and treasure about their wedding day. You’d be surprised at how little some of them remember. Your wedding day is usually like a whirlwind of events surrounded by few moments that you truly hold dear. Friends who have been through the experience before can help trim down the list of what you want to spend money on and help you decide on what is most important.
2. Get crafty! Things like wedding favors and centerpieces can get really expensive really fast. Wedding favors can be as simple as a candy bar in a personalized wrapper that you could design and print yourself! For centerpieces, go for candles and a photograph of you and your significant other instead of flowers, which are extremely expensive. Another idea is to incorporate the favors into your centerpiece, which can save extra cash.
3. Get married on a Sunday instead of a Saturday– in the winter or fall instead of summer or spring. Most wedding venues have discounted prices for these things.
4. Trim down your guest list. You don’t have to invite everyone you and your family members have ever met. This will save money on invitations AND food!
5. Opt for beer and wine instead of liquor. Also, if you have your wedding earlier in the day, less people will want to drink.
6. Keep the reception under 4 hours. Most venues charge extra if you go over time. (And people will drink more if the reception is extremely long.)
7. Have the ceremony and reception in the same location to keep from having to pay two hefty bills.
8. Print out your own invitations and programs. Most of them will eventually end up in the trash can, and that is money literally being thrown away. You can even design online wedding invitations to save money on postage and supplies.
9. Have a budget, and stick to it! After you figure out how much money will be available to you, sit down with your significant other and create a budget for everything you want. You may even want to take cash with you when wedding shopping to keep you from going over your budget.
10. From the moment you get engaged, be on the look out for sales and deals. Don’t wait until the last minute to buy everything! Take advantage of your engagement period and give yourself time to find all the necessities—most importantly, an inexpensive wedding gown.

Are you and your fiance planning on writing your own wedding vows? Are you totally lost? Read below to find out how to write memorable vows for your special day!

It may sound cheesy, but you need to speak from the heart. Ask yourself the following questions, and let your heart do the talking.
- What did you think of your fiance when you first met?
- What made you make the decision to get married to him/her?
- What makes him/her desirable to you?
- What are some of your best memories together?
- What makes you sure that you can spend the rest of your life with him/her?
- What do you see for yourselves in the future?
- What promises can you make to him/her?

Let those questions and the emotions that they stir up guide your writing. And keep in mind the following things:

Don’t be generic; be SPECIFIC! The worst thing that you can do for your vows is say things like “your love is magical” or “you had me at hello” the whole time. Talk about things that are specific to your relationship. Make it as personal as you can.

Keep it short and sweet. There might be a million things you want to say to your future spouse, but the altar is no place to ramble. Say the things that you feel are most important.

Don’t be afraid to show your sensitive side. This is no time to hold back your emotions! Say how you feel and again, speak from your heart.

Today, it is more common to use a small alter to hold the sand containers so that the couples is left with a keepsake. You can purchase sand in various colors (to match your wedding color scheme, for example) along with two smaller glass containers for the bride and groom and one larger glass container representing your marriage, relationship and new life.

The sand ceremony can also be away to involve other family members. If you have children, your children may also participate by pouring some sand into the container as well. Parents of the bride and groom may also be involved.

Personalize Your Sand Ceremony Set

The vases for your wedding sand ceremony can be purchased at craft stores, or for a more meaningful approach, consider purchasing special sand ceremony sets. Such sets can be monogrammed with initials or the date of the wedding.

Sample Unity Sand Ceremony

After the minister reads the statement below, the bride and groom pour the two containers of sand into the third container simultaneously.

“(Bride) and (Groom), today you join your once separate lives together. The two separate bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. They represent your past, your history and your life before today. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.”

So many “something blues” in this winter wedding theme!

COLORS: Wintery blues and silver. Let the winter season be your guide in choosing the right blues and silver.
  

FLOWERS: Hydrangeas in white & various shades of blue. Your bouquet can include white and light blue flowers while your bridesmaids’ bouquets incorporate darker blue flowers.

ATTIRE: A shiny, satin gown with light blue trim or a light blue sash and long, satin gloves. Dress up your groom’s traditional tux with a light blue tie and vest. Have your bridesmaids all wear various shades of frosty blues. A super cute idea would be for you and your bridesmaids to all have small fur coats to sport around after the ceremony.

LOCATION: A cabin, church, or antebellum home. You definitely want to have an indoor ceremony & reception for this theme. Even if the weather in your state in bearable, you want your guests to feel cozy. Have a fire going during the reception if possible.

CAKE: White cake with light blue accents. Adding snowflakes would be a nice touch.

MENU: Warm, holiday foods. Have a soup bar instead of salad bar. Serve honey-baked ham, roasted potatoes, and a vegetable medley with warm dinner rolls. As a special treat, offer hot cocoa with dessert.

OTHER IDEAS: AmericanBridal.com has clear jewels to spread on the table that resemble icicles. They also have frosty blue-colored candle wedding favors that would be perfect for this theme.

Wedding season is coming soon! Do you have your something blue? Here are some “hot items” we found at  AmericanBridal.com.

Blue Keri Earrings: If you want a subtle but fashionable “something blue,” these charming earrings are a great choice!

Blue Leilani Pearl Necklace: Pearls are in! And if you are looking for something more fashion-forward than ivory, your “something blue” can be this trendy necklace.

Personalized Canvas Handbag 3 in 1: If you need something blue but would rather not be wearing it, this adorable handbag has your name on it– literally. Best part? It converts into different colors and styles so you will use it way after you say “I do.”

Spa Comforts Herbal Hugs Kit: Perfect for the pampered bride! If you are in need of some pre-wedding relaxation, this kit will definitely do the trick!

Bridal Shower Guest Book: This cute keepsake will stay with you forever. Have all your bridal shower guests leave their messages in style!