Your Wedding Advice - StrictlyWeddings.com Blog

Beating the Bridal Bloat

Try these tips four days before the wedding:

• Avoid gassy foods like onions, broccoli, and beans. Gas buildup will give you a Buddha Belly. If you have any degree of lactose intolerance, steer clear of milk and cheese.
• Don’t skip meals. The less food in your GI tract, the more air gets trapped, creating gas.
• Don’t chew gum or sip through a straw; both actions allow gas to get trapped in the GI tract.
• Drink lots of water. It aids digestion and gets things moving along.

Tips on Wedding Dress Alterations

It’s seldom that the wedding gown a bride has bought will fit her at the very first try. Every bride wants to look breathtakingly beautiful on her day. So it’s essential to take professional help to get that perfectly fitting wedding gown that looks as if it was made for her only! Whether the bridal dress needs only minor adjustment or a major one, in almost every case, wedding dress alterations will be required to some extent. So it is imperative to give as much importance to its alteration, as to its selection itself.

Here are some tips about bridal alterations which you may find useful:

1. Where to go: It is advisable to take the precious wedding gown to somebody who has years of experience in restyling and alteration of bridal gowns. Usually professional bridal alteration shops are the best option since they have the expertise and the experience.
2. Alternation work: There are mainly three types of alterations done – hemming, bodice alterations and shortening of sleeves. Normally alterations of wedding dresses are based on three fittings. Shoes, head dress and the other accessories should be bought well much in advance before going for the wedding dress alterations.
3. Cost: The cost of altering it depends upon the style of the dress and the complexity of work. It is advisable for the bride to get an estimate of the total cost of alteration. Rush services generally cost double.
4. Deadline: The wedding dress should be given for alterations at least 6 or 8 weeks before the wedding since it’s a complex and time consuming work. The deadline has to be there to complete the job.

You can always rely upon newly married friends to give you recommendations to help you choose the best bridal alternations shop. Word of mouth really helps. Alteration of a wedding dress is a work of art, which requires a great deal of detailing and precision. Do your homework!

Treating Common Stains for Wedding Gown Preservation

You may not get around to thinking about preserving your wedding dress until you get back from your honeymoon, but that’s OK. You will get the best results if you will perform some basic pre-stain treatments on your dress before you let your dress sit too long.

Here are some of the common stains that can occur during your wedding and how you can pre-treat them.

Drink stains: Wine, coffee, tea, or carbonated sodas are common. Some of these stains may not be visible at first. If you know of a stain or can see it, first don’t use soap to try and remove it. Instead it is best to use a white vinegar and water mixture (1/3 white vinegar 2/3 water). Spray the mixture on the stained area, allow it to sit for a minute or two and then rub off with a soft cloth. Repeat it needed.

Chocolate: Since chocolate fountains have become so popular this stain is also common. It is best to soak the area in cold water. Use a soft bristled tooth brush to brush the area. Use a small amount of dishwashing soap and repeat. You’re not trying to remove the stain completely just to minimize the damage. You do not have to rinse. Remember you are just pre-treating these stains, it’s the wedding gown preservation company that will finish the job and remove the stains completely.

Dirt stains: Don’t even worry about dirt stains. Dirt, even asphalt stains, can easily be removed by a professional wedding dress preservation company.

When you get back from your honeymoon (unless you did it earlier) check out various wedding gown preservation companies. Compare services offered. Compare prices. Choose a company that will do a complete job, but at a reasonable cost. It should cost you between $149 – $189. Whatever you do, get your dress cleaned and preserved as soon as possible.

Photographs of the 2010 Carolina Herrera Bridal Collection. Call for an appointment to view their exquisite bridal gown collection.

Save Money on Your Honeymoon

These days saving money is important. Even if you are getting married, you are probably looking for some great ways that you can cut back on the expenses, especially with today’s economy. It’s a great idea to come up with a budget that you can afford to spend for the honeymoon, and then try to stick to it. Wondering how you can cut back a bit on what you spend? Here are five of the best ways that you can save some money on your honeymoon.

Tip #1: Go in the Off Season
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when planning their honeymoon is going to a destination during the peak season when everything is the most expensive. Try planning your trip in the off season. It’ll be cheaper and you’ll get a whole lot more bang for you buck. Look online for those destinations that experience their off season around the time of your wedding and you’ll be much happier.

Tip #2: Register for Your Honeymoon
Nowadays, you can actually register for your honeymoon just like you would register for gifts for your wedding. This essentially allows your loved ones to contribute in a monetary way toward your wedding. Thus, you aren’t having to pay out of pocket for your wedding, nor are you receiving gifts that you don’t want. It’s a wonderful way for you to get what you want: a great honeymoon.

Tip #3: Be Spontaneous
Many engaged couples like to plan their honeymoons down to the very last second of time. This includes booking and pre-paying for activities. Don’t do this. You may find that when you get to your destination, that you no longer desire to participate in your planned activities. In addition, you may also find cheaper alternatives or prices once you get there. So be spontaneous and save yourself some money.

Tip #4: Tell Everyone You’re Newlyweds
Don’t be shy! Tell everyone on your honeymoon that you are newlyweds. This can actually save you quite a bit of money. Often companies give special upgrades, discounts, and even vouchers to those who are just married. When you are dining out, share the news with the server as well. You may get a discount or even a free meal.

Tip #5: Look at Packages
If you are looking to go somewhere fun, exotic, and exciting but don’t wish to spend a lot of money, check out the vacation packages available at out StrictlyWeddings.com travel partner – Signature Travel Boutique They have great deals on cruises, hotels, flights, and much more. It’s a great place to find great deals, and great locations!

Wedding Day Make-up

Even if you don’t wear a lot of make-up, it does need to be a little darker and thicker to look perfect in your wedding day photos.

Start with a good “base” so your wedding day photos look flawless. Use a good concealer to cover up any stress pimples that might have “popped” up. Find a good liquid foundation. Foundation helps to cover and make your skin look smooth and beautiful. Lastly, find a good compact powder. Make sure it matches your skin so you won’t have lines on your neck plus the compact allows you to touch up as needed.

If you like your make-up simple, downplay your eyes. Just add a neutral, shimmery eye shadow. If you love dramatic make-up, don’t be scared to be bold (but if you need help, you may want to go have it professionally done or get advice first). When doing your eye shadow, make sure to start with the lightest color first. Using the lightest color shadow, place the color near your eyebrow line, working your way to the middle of your eye lid. Next, use your medium dark shadow for your eye lid closest to your eye lashes. Make sure you are using a good eye shadow brush and that you are brushing from your inner lid to your outer lid. Lastly, take your darkest shadow, and shade in the crease of your eye lid. Use your own judgement on how light or dark you want your eye shadow to be. For a more dramatic eye, use a black eye liner to line the upper and lower eye. If you would like to get a little creative, you can take a white, shimmery shadow and dab a little on the inner corner’s of your eye for an “eye popping” look! Finish this look of with some black mascara.

Destination Wedding Tips

• Each of your guests has unique needs. They are coming from different cities, and may stay for different lengths of time. You don’t want to be in the middle of all of that chaos. Find someone you trust to manage your guests or hire a professional so that it will go more smoothly and you can focus on your special day.
• Create a realistic budget. In today’s economy you want to be considerate of everyone’s budget – yours, your parents, your friends and family. The more affordable it is, the easier it is for more people to attend. However, you don’t want to book at a resort that doesn’t meet your needs as a wedding couple. Contact one of our partners to help you plan the perfect destination.
• Timing is everything. The perfect time to put your arrangements in place is between six to ten months prior to your date. You’ll want to send “Save the Date” cards out in plenty of time for your guests to arrange their schedules.
• Ask before you confirm. If there is anyone who absolutely must attend or your heart will break, speak to them first to see if they have any conflicts for the dates you’re considering.
• Relax! The main reason to have a destination wedding is that you can relax! Let us handle the inquiries from your guests, let us help you choose the resort and the destination so there will be no surprises.

StrictlyWeddings.com destination wedding partners.

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!

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.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

You’ve gotten so many lovely gifts, and now they all must be properly acknowledged. Handwritten notes show that you care enough to take time for individual thank-you’s. If you prefer printed or engraved cards, do add a personal handwritten note. Tradition calls for finishing all of your thank-you’s within three months of the wedding. In today’s day and age, email and text messaging are what you’re comfortable with (but your parents friends and family still come from a traditional era), so do a few each night and the list will soon disappear.

To offer truly personal notes of thanks, try hand crafting your stationary.

• Start with Plain white or cream note cards
• Buy rubber stamps of houses, leaves, flowers, or whatever design you like
• With the fold positioned at your left, stamp a design on the note card, using a color that was featured in the wedding décor—or one that you like. Practice your stamping technique a few times to get it right. Be sure to extend the design to the edges of the note card. Let the stamped design dry.
• Stamp envelopes to match; limit your design to the lower left-hand corner of the envelope, to leave room for the address, return address, and postage stamp. Let the stamp design dry.
• Using mounting corners (pick white, gold, or a color that complements the stamped design), attach a photo of the couple to each card, centering it on the card. The Photos should be small enough so that you have 1/2-to 1 inch border around them, to allow your design to show.
• Write your greeting inside the note card and address the envelope.
• That’s a very personal thank you!

Need a good resource? Please contact one of our StrictlyWeddings.com partners.