Your Wedding Advice - StrictlyWeddings.com Blog

Those Darling Children!

Typically the flower girl or ring bearer is a young girl or boy between the ages of 4 and 8 who has a special connection to the bride and groom. They could be a niece or cousin, or a family friend. Sometimes they follow behind the bridesmaids (sometimes before and sometimes after the maid of honor) with their basket of flower petals or a pillow with the ring tied to it.

How to Choose
For some of you, the choice will be obvious. Others may have to worry about choosing between several possible candidates. There’s no reason why you can’t have two flower girls – it will add to their confidence and ups the cuteness quotient. Of course, we recommend just one ring bearer! Avoid choosing someone who is too young – she will be confused and perhaps scared. An older girl may be more suited for a job such as reader or junior bridesmaid. If your only choices are unsuitable or not that close to you, there is no reason why you have to have a flower girl. Remember, this is your day and the less stress the better.

Preparing Children for the Role
To help comfort the child, consider seating her parents on the aisle, near the front so that they can see them when they walk down the aisle and during the ceremony itself. Ask a bridesmaid to be their “buddy” and make sure their “buddy” or parent has them use the restroom before the ceremony. Most of all, don’t be too nervous that they will make a mistake. When small children make mistakes, it’s cute.

Often, a flower girl is dressed in a mini-version of the bride’s dress, or a white dress with a sash that matches the bridesmaid’s dresses. But you can choose any sweet dress that ties into the look of the wedding. Make sure it’s comfortable and not too long, so that she won’t be pulling at her dress or tripping down the aisle. If your flower girl doesn’t like dresses, choose a pants outfit with the same level of formality as the bridesmaid dresses. For the ring bearer, it’s typically a tux similar to the groomsmen, but a dress shirt and pants and bow-tie can be just as cute and much less clothes for the young boy to worry with.

Photographs Courtesy of Larry Sengbush Photography

Wedding Day Checklist

Check lists can be incredibly useful particularly if you have a great deal of things to still organize. Now, your wedding day is the most important day as all your planning has been centered around this one day, so make sure you have everything around you that you need.

If you are not getting ready at home, then make sure to pack everything you will need for your wedding. Just to make sure you don’t forget, find below a check list for you to use while packing your bag! Make an extra copy for the maid of honor.

* Gown, veil, shoes, hosiery, undergarments
* Something old, new, borrowed, and something blue
* Jewelry
* Gloves (if required)
* Makeup
* Perfume
* Nail polish and manicure kit
* Emergency kit (incl. aspirin, needle and thread)
* Hair necessities: dryer, curling iron, spray, pins, other hair accessories
* Toothbrush, toothpaste, breath mints
* Handkerchief
* Copies of timeline of the day’s events for attendants and service providers
* Wedding programs
* If desired, toasting goblets, cake knife etc
* Written toasts
* Marriage license
* Wedding rings & ring pillow (if required)
* A copy of the vows or readings to be recited at the ceremony
* Flower basket (if not delivered by florist)
* Suitcases packed and ready
* Travel tickets and passports

Cutting Your Wedding Cake: Do’s and Don’ts

This special Wedding Cake Do’s and Don’ts is brought to us by Le Gateau Cakery.  Weddings are heavy with tradition and symbolism and cutting the wedding cake is certainly among the most significant acts that the married couple will do at the reception hall. It is a moment that symbolizes so many things including the couple’s fertility, the first act performed together and the beginning of their new life. It is a sentimental moment that is also very festive and merry. In order to make sure that the cutting of the wedding cake goes off without a hitch, here are a few tips for you to follow:

Dos:

1. Make sure that the timing is appropriate. If you are hosting a brunch or tea, cut the cake just after the guests have gone through the receiving line. If you are throwing a lunch or supper reception then cut the cake after supper and just before the desserts are served.
2. Make sure to get everyone’s attention by either having your MC announce the event or by replaying the first dance song. Then have someone from the bridal party typically the best man make a toast to the couple.
3. Cut the cake with the groom’s right hand gently holding the bride’s right hand and make sure to slice through the bottom layer!
4. Feed one another from the slice you cut. Typically the groom will first feed the bride and then the bride will feed the groom.
5. Make sure that the bride serves the groom’s parents a piece of cake and that the groom serves the bride’s parents a piece of cake.
6. Designate a friend or someone from the catering staff to cut and serve the rest of the cake to your guests.
7. Make sure that the photographer and videographer are aware of the event before cutting the wedding cake.
8. Try to use a special silver cake knife ? either an heirloom or one that you purchase especially for the occasion.

Don’ts:

* Although some people like to smash cake into each other’s faces, it is not a very elegant or dignified thing to do. Not only will it ruin the bride’s makeup (which in many cases was applied professionally) but as this is the first act that the couple performs as husband and wife, it does not bode well for a future of wedded bliss besides, everything you do will be captured on film and video for generations to come.

If there is a sweet table being served at a wedding, it is generally opened with the cutting of the cake. After this tasty ceremony it is time to hit the dance floor and truly enjoy this day on which you begin your new lives together.

Making your day oh so sweet!

Beauty on Call

Where And When To Look

Start your search at least 6 months in advance as many experts get booked far in advance. Ask a wedding planner, photographer, or friend for a referral. Ask your artist for references or photos if you are unsure of their credentials.

Communication Style

When you meet the stylist and makeup artist, do you feel comfortable enough to express your likes and dislikes? Is the stylist/artist a good listener? Pay attention to what the expert asks you as well. A professional will want to know about your dress, the kind of affair, and the colors the bridesmaids will be wearing. A true professional will try and understand your vision and offer you plenty of advice and options, but will never force their opinions on you.

Experience

Do the stylist and artist have solid experience working with brides? Is he/she properly trained and licensed? Have they had experience working with photographers? What is his/her experience level? Your beauty team should be able to handle a variety of styles so they can work with your bridal party as well?

Trial Runs

As soon as you find an artist you’re interested in, it’s important to schedule a trial run. Make sure to bring a camera, photos of your gown and any hair or makeup pictures that caught your eye. Take a photo of each look you try so you have time to consider it and see it from all angles. When getting your makeup and hair done, wear it all day so you can find out how the products feel and how your hair holds up.

Dependability

In addition to talent, the beauty expert must also be dependable. Do they return your calls in a timely manner? When you have an appointment, do they arrive on time?

What’s In The Kit?

What types of products and tools do the artist and stylist work with? Look for quality products that have all-day wear and good pigments including waterproof mascara and eyeliners. Check for clean brushes, tools and products. Does the makeup artist use disposable mascara wands and disinfect tools in front of you? If not, ask for an explanation of their hygiene methods.

Cost: Do your research

Top artists and stylists are generally more costly because their talent and time are in high demand, however, an expensive artist doesn’t necessarily equal a qualified artist.

Get It In Writing

Most artists will ask for a signed contract and a deposit. If they don’t ask, you should! Make sure the date, price, arrival time, location, and any extra out-of-pocket expenses (parking, products, etc.) are all included. This also protects you, should the artist try to cancel at the last minute or if there is a payment dispute.

Flexibility

Is the beauty professional willing to work around your schedule? Will the hairstylist work from an image you found in a magazine? Find out if the makeup artist will book out an extra 30 minutes for you on the day of the wedding, just in case something comes up. We also recommend asking the makeup artist to supply a list of products used on you during your trial run. If you are an out of town bride, without time for an early trial, ask the makeup artist and stylist meet you the evening of your rehearsal dinner to go over style and color. Find out in advance if the stylist is willing to book a second trial run with you if you’re unsure of the hairstyle you want.

Lessons

So you’re getting married on a sandy beach in the Caribbean and don’t foresee flying your hair stylist and makeup artist out. Simply ask for lessons. Your stylist can demonstrate how to create easy, beautiful styles that will withstand the weather. Your makeup artist can teach you how to perfectly line your eyes, cover any blemishes, and make it stay put.

The Whole Package

Don’t stop after hair and makeup. Have nail technicians pamper the bridal party with manicures and pedicures before the wedding. Need to de-stress? Hire an on-location massage therapist. This also makes a great gift for your bridal party, not to mention a wonderful surprise for your fiancé.

Follow Up

After you’ve taken care of all the specifics, follow up a month before the wedding and the week before the big day to reconfirm each appointment and the location where the services will take place.

Last Minute Cancellation

Make sure you know what will happen if the makeup artist or hair stylist can’t be there on the day of the wedding. Will they arrange for someone else to be available?

Source: BeautyOnCall.com

Attendant Dos and Don’ts

They’re your best friends and your closest relations. Here’s a run-down on the etiquette of working with them as bridesmaids and groomsmen.

DO

• Start a list of possible attendants as soon as you can. As soon as you announce your engagement, friends and family will want to know how they can help.

• Make sure your Maid of Honor and Best Man are of legal age so that they are able to sign the wedding registry as witnesses. If you have children and want them to have special roles, they can always be a Maiden of Honor and a Co-Best Man. Just make sure you’ve got the adult versions, too!

• Once you and your fiancé have figured out the final cut, start asking your attendants right away so they’ve got plenty of time to make plans.

• When you ask each person, make it a special occasion. Arrange to meet each on their own for an after-work drink or a nice lunch, for instance.

• Be clear right from the start about your wedding plans and what they’re likely to face in terms of expenses. If someone feels they wouldn’t be able to afford the time or expenses, discuss a way for them to be somewhat involved, making it easier for them to join in.

DON’T

• Don’t get too caught up in the age or gender of attendants; nowadays, what matters is who’s very special to you.

• Don’t worry if the number of bridesmaids and groomsmen aren’t the same. Neither the procession up the aisle nor the wedding portraits need be symmetrical these days.

• Don’t ask a child first whether or not they want to be a flower girl or ring bearer. Always ask the parents’ permission first before getting the child involved.

• Don’t feel you have to include somebody simply because you were in her wedding party. Asking attendants and being an attendant shouldn’t be about repaying debts.

Bridesmaid Dresses for Your 09 Wedding

Are you looking for bridesmaid’s dresses to complete your wedding?  We have a great recommendation to find the best bridesmaid dresses by today’s top designers – Bella Bridesmaid.  In addition, Bella Bridesmaid offers fun and innovative accessories that make great bridesmaid gifts – a monogrammed bag company, satin-edged pashminas, and customizable jewelry, attending to every fine detail that finishes off the elegant look of a bridesmaid dress.

Today’s bridesmaid dresses have reached a new level of sophistication—brides want dresses that are stylish, made of fine fabrics and most importantly, can be worn again, and again! We offer a wide variety of modern dresses, as well as other classic and specialty bridesmaid products, all in a one-stop shop. Over the last six years of working in the bridal industry, We’ve learned that brides love their experience at Bella Bridesmaid because they don’t need to shop around for months looking for a dress everyone likes, as well as bridesmaid gifts, purses, jewelry, etc. And bridesmaids are thrilled with their adorable dresses that are a hit with all the bridesmaid’s! Love them, so check them out here in Dallas, as well across the country.

Dallas Boutique
3015 State Street
Suite 121
Dallas, TX 75204 | Map
dallas@bellabridesmaid.com

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Tuesday through Friday: 11am-7pm
Saturdays: 10am-5pm
Please call or email for an appointment.

Helpful Spa Tips for the New Year

For this Friday’s post, we’d like to share some helpful Spa Tips, provided by our partner, The Spa at Willow Bend.

This is an excerpt from an article that appeared in WeddingBells Magazine.

“A bride should consider adding an Intraceuticals Oxygen Facial to her wedding beauty regime to restore the skin’s natural vitality and glow. The application of pressurized oxygen helps increase hydration and moisture in a completely new way.  The Intraceuticals Oxygen Infusions are not really a facial and do not exfoliate or extract, so this is a very safe and reliable treatment for brides.  Brides are often stressed out and not sleeping well and this shows in their skin – and since the treatment provides intense long-lasting hydration, which not only defines the facial contours but also gives the skin an extraordinary glow – photographs look amazing.

The bride can incorporate oxygen facials into her pre-wedding skin regime with a few sessions or one just prior to the big day.  It’s best to give the skin at least three to six treatments to maximize the benefit and for this reason one treatment per week starting three to six weeks before the event would be ideal.  The last treatment should be scheduled either the day of or the day before the wedding date. Please don’t forget the mother of the bride (or groom)!

If the bride wants stunning skin then here is the skin care program that is recommended:  Six weeks before – have a cleansing facial with light exfoliation and extraction.  Have a series of six Intraceuticals Rejuvenate Infusions once a week and have the sixth one the day before the event.  Use the Rejuvenate Home Treatment products, which layer different types of Hyaluronic to intensify and maintain the effects of the treatment.  Makeup will go on smoothly and the skin will reflect light beautifully.”

So You’re Engaged – Now What?

The First Steps in Planning Your Wedding

Congratulations on getting engaged. Are you happy or stressing out already about the wedding planning that has to take place? Take a deep breath. You may feel confused and out of control, but here are some tips of how to handle the first few weeks after you get engaged.

Stop and Look at the Diamond Sparkle

Take a moment and look at the sparkle of the ring on your finger. You’re engaged! While you may be married for the rest of your life, you only get that short engagement period. Enjoy it. Take some time to just bask in the glow of your engagement before you start getting stressed about your wedding planning.

Tell Family and Friends

Call your mom, dad, grandparents, and more. Let them share in your happy moment. Let them enjoy the ring and begin sharing ideas about the wedding. Give them a chance to catch their breath with your engagement. Remember, though, to tell your family first. Then you can tell your friends. Tradition dictates that you tell the parents of the bride first, but it is up to you as to the order of whom you tell.

Put Together an Engagement Announcement

One way to be sure you are focusing on your engagement and not worrying too much yet about the wedding planning ahead is to put an announcement in the paper, telling the world that you are engaged. If you are not into putting an announcement in the newspaper, then you may want to just send out formal announcements to family and friends.

Start Buying Organization and Idea Resources

Before you jump head first into your wedding planning, try buying a wedding journal, bridal magazines, and a wedding planner. This way you can start writing down how you’re feeling, cutting out ideas, and keeping things organized. Allow yourself to revel in the dream wedding before you start getting into the actual planning. Don’t just focus on the wedding day, but the entire marriage. That’s what being engaged is all about.

When should we send out engagement photos?

If you are planning on using your engagement photos on your save-the-date cards, make sure your photographer has them ready for you about nine months ahead of your wedding date, which is when you should send out your save-the-date cards. (If you don’t know your wedding date and location at the nine-month mark, send them out as soon as you have those details.)

If you are planning on running your engagement photo in your local newspaper’s engagement announcement section, find out from the editor when you need to have your photo and text sent in.

You do not have to mail your engagement photo by itself to friends and family. You may want to show them to both your immediate families, in case they want to order copies of them; but you do not need to mail them to your guests.