Daily Wedding Planning Tip &#187; Brides

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Wedding Contract Advice from The Wedding Professor

Known across the matrimonial world as The Wedding Professor, Richard Cadieux has been a certified wedding consultant since 2002 and has lent his expertise at more than 500 weddings. Most brides-to-be have little to no experience negotiating contracts, which means much of what is promised to them by wedding vendors never gets put into writing. Consequently, those brides-to-be risk not only being taken advantage of, but also being left without any legal recourse. But The Wedding Professor’s new eBook changes all that and puts the power of negotiation into the hands of brides and grooms, who are the customer and who, in most cases, are making quite significant investments. If you’re a bride or groom looking for wedding contract advice, and think it’s a smart idea to protect yourself and your money, visit his blog today.

Outdoor Wedding Photography Tips

TeamWED — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:08:47 +0000

Brides who are planning to take outdoor wedding photographs should let their wedding stylists know since the bridal makeup that will look best outdoors will be different than the makeup that will look good indoors. Outdoor wedding photography frequently turns out beautifully because diffuse outdoor lighting makes for great wedding portraits. However, we’d warn all brides and grooms interested in outdoor wedding photography should make sure that they are allowed to take photographs in an outdoor location. Some parks and beaches may require that brides and grooms doing anything wedding-related therein apply for a permit, even if they’re not getting married there.

(Photo)

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Wedding Contract Advice from The Wedding Professor

Bridezilla? No Way!

TeamWED — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:56:01 +0000

Bridezilla, bridezilla, BRIDEZILLA! Those of us who are happily married here at TeamWED feel for today’s bride who has been overexposed to the idea of the bridezilla. She is afraid to speak up, afraid to ask for what she wants or to demand that a vendor contract be fulfilled lest she be dubbed a *gasp* bridezilla. Oh, you see the television shows with the catty girls who demand that their bridesmaids all get boob jobs, but those chicks are on reality TV shows because they’re the outliers, not the norm.

Trust us when we say that the bridezilla is a truly rare beast outside of the realm of the WE channel. But that hasn’t stopped a mythology from growing up around the bridezilla! And unfortunately, that mythology has had what we see as a negative effect on the poor brides who fear that making even the tiniest demand will make them seem unreasonable. While we wouldn’t recommend that you ask your maid-of-honor to dye her hair in preparation for your wedding, there’s nothing wrong with requesting (or even demanding) that your gal pals all order their bridesmaid dresses on time so you can be sure they’ll have them in time.

What else can you safely do without being branded a bridezilla? How about:

Ask your wedding vendors for thorough contracts that outline the services they will provide and the prices they will charge.
Refuse to work with any wedding vendor who won’t draw up a wedding vendor contract.
Tell the sales woman at the bridal salon that you would like to purchase the wedding dress you love, not the wedding dress that *she* thinks looks best on you.
Let your future mother-in-law know that she’s smothering you when she demands to accompany you on all wedding-related shopping trips.
Tell your mom and dad that even though you respect their religious convictions, you won’t be getting married in their house of worship.
Demand that your florist provide you with the color of flowers that you requested, not a close substitute. The same goes for your caterer and the food, your baker and the cake, etc.
Give your groom’s best bud a piece of your mind when he makes an inappropriately ribald toast at the rehearsal dinner.
Safely skip save-the-dates, wedding favors, assigned seating, and other non-essentials that most wedding magazines will tell you are necessary to a perfect wedding.
Wear black. Or pants. Or bright pink. Anything but a big white wedding gown.
Carry something other than a bridal bouquet, like a prayer book, a candle… or nothing at all! There’s no rule stating you have to walk down the aisle with something in your hands.
Tell your dad that even though he wants to escort you to the altar, you’d prefer to walk alone since you’ve been an independent adult for years and years. (The same goes for the daughter-dad dance.)
Recite unusual vows or vows you write yourself instead of the same old vows you hear in every movie and television show. In most places, there is no set wording you must repeat to be legally married.
Serve sweets other than cake at the reception. How about a sundae bar or a fruit and cheese spread or milk and cookies?
Skip the booze in favor of non-alcoholic beverages.

OR ALMOST ANYTHING ELSE. Seriously, ladies. As long as what you’re planning is legal and in keeping with good taste (up to a point) you shouldn’t be afraid to have the wedding you want to have just because you’re afraid that some old biddy will call you a bridezilla. Especially if you’re paying for some or all of your wedding!

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Wedding Contract Advice from The Wedding Professor

Mother’s Wedding Dress

TeamWED — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:41:31 +0000

Many a little girl dreams of wearing her mother’s wedding dress. When those little girls turn into bright young women and are poised to be brides, however, they often change their minds. It’s only natural — when you’re seven years old wearing your mom’s size eight heels and sashaying around the house in your mother’s wedding dress, you feel beautiful and special. Fast forward a few decades and add in a little knowledge of what’s fashionable and what’s not, and your mother’s wedding dress looks outdated and cliched. Your mom may want you to wear her wedding dress, but TeamWED says don’t feel obligated to squeeze into her Gunne Sax! You’ll feel most beautiful in the wedding dress you choose for yourself, and your mom will get over it. We promise.

(Photo)

Visit USABRIDE.COM for an incredible selection of wedding jewelry, wedding accessories, bridal headbands, wedding veils, and now bridesmaids dresses at the best prices you’ll find on the Internet.

Wedding Contract Advice from The Wedding Professor

Bride’s Gifts and Groom’s Gifts

TeamWED — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:30:18 +0000

Almost all brides and grooms buy gifts for their attendants (and sometimes parents) but some couples take it a step further and buy pre-wedding presents for each other. The bride’s gift and groom’s gift can be anything from tickets to a sporting event to jewelry for the wedding day. Sometimes the groom will have a small gift sent up to the bridal chamber on the morning of the wedding, or the bride will secretly book a special activity for the honeymoon, like snorkeling or hiking. Remember, though, that this exchange of gifts is by no means mandatory, so it’s up to you whether you will buy a pre-wedding gift for your spouse-to-be.

(Photo by Kevin Dooley)

Visit USABRIDE.COM for an incredible selection of wedding jewelry, wedding accessories, bridal headbands, wedding veils, and now bridesmaids dresses at the best prices you’ll find on the Internet.

Wedding Contract Advice from The Wedding Professor

Cold Feet?

TeamWED — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:43:04 +0000

Cold feet are normal, and almost everyone gets them. Don’t worry too much about cold feet unless your feelings are getting in the way of your day-to-day life. Passing thoughts questioning whether marriage is the right choice don’t signify danger, but if you’re absolutely paralyzed by fear of the future, reassess your choices. One of the best ways to deal with cold feet is to talk to someone you trust. Some brides feel comfortable airing their doubts in front of their spouse-to-be, but most of the people we’ve talked to felt more comfortable admitting cold feet to their moms and best friends.

(Photo by SashaW)

Visit USABRIDE.COM for an incredible selection of wedding jewelry, wedding accessories, bridal headbands, wedding veils, and now bridesmaids dresses at the best prices you’ll find on the Internet.

Wedding Contract Advice from The Wedding Professor

Co-Ed Bridal Showers

TeamWED — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:29:53 +0000

Some engaged couples feel uncomfortable attending pre-wedding parties that are segregated by gender since it’s common nowadays for brides and grooms to have male and female friends. While having separate pre-wedding parties – a bridal shower for the ladies and a bachelor party for the gents – is still more common, there’s no rule that says the festivities have to be all-girl or all-boy. The co-ed bridal shower is one answer to this dilemma. But brides who’d rather have a co-ed bridal shower should spread the word among family and friends so that whoever decides to throw the bridal shower knows that male relatives and friends should be included on the guest list.

(Photo by Mary Witzig)

Visit USABRIDE.COM for an incredible selection of wedding jewelry, wedding accessories, bridal headbands, wedding veils, and now bridesmaids dresses at the best prices you’ll find on the Internet.

Wedding Contract Advice from The Wedding Professor

Silver Wedding Dresses

TeamWED — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:23:33 +0000

Looking for something a little different? Bored of all the white wedding dresses out there? In that case, silver might be just what you’re looking for! Silver wedding dresses are chic and elegant and rather subtle in that they’re not bright canary yellow or striking red. For that reason, silver wedding dresses are a great compromise for the bride who wants something other than the traditional white wedding dress, but doesn’t want to wear a gown as flashy as many of the colored gowns out there today. They’re not hard to find, though you may not see many in your local bridal salon. Look for silver wedding dresses online before you shop and you’ll have no trouble finding the designers who have delved into this beautiful metallic color.

Visit USABRIDE.COM for an incredible selection of wedding jewelry, wedding accessories, bridal headbands, wedding veils, and now bridesmaids dresses at the best prices you’ll find on the Internet.

Wedding Contract Advice from The Wedding Professor

Bridal Shoes: Heels vs. Flats

TeamWED — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:16:52 +0000

Shoes, shoes, shoes! TeamWED is certainly not ashamed to share our love of shoes — especially bridal shoes — with the world. We like them all: heeled bridal shoes, flat bridal shoes, satin bridal shoes, colored bridal shoes, and even bridal sneakers! Heck, we’ve been known not to turn up our noses at bridal flip flops, which we’re sure you know are the red-headed stepchild of the bridal shoe world.

Assuming that you’re not a bride who plans to walk down the aisle barefoot, you’re going to need some bridal shoes. But what sort of bridal shoes to choose? It’s a conundrum, mainly because there are so many ways for the bride to cover her feet these days. Almost anything goes! Some brides wear the traditional white satin shoe, but others do a 180 and wear sneakers that match their wedding colors. So let’s make a second assumption, and presume that you are a bride who plans to wear something that is not a sneaker or casual sandal.

You have a decision to make! And that decision is: Heels or flats? Or maybe something in between? Choosing bridal shoes is harder for some brides than others… especially those brides who spend their lives in Uggs or running shoes or slipper socks. Some brides don’t know much about formal shoes at all, and are basically starting from scratch when choosing bridal shoes. Luckily, we’re here to help, and today, we’re going to run through some of the pros and cons of both bridal heels and bridal flats.

Let’s start with bridal heels…

Pros: Brides look taller in bridal heels; high heels lengthen the leg, slimming the silhouette; bridal heels are traditional; many brides feel more comfortable wearing heels with their wedding gowns; heels coordinate easily with most formal gowns; bridal heels make brides walk taller and more gracefully; heels look beautiful in photographs.

Cons: Bridal heels can be difficult to walk in; brides marrying outside may find themselves sinking into the grass; heels can catch a hem and rip it; ceremonies and receptions can go on forever, leading to hurt feet or twisted ankles; bridal heels aren’t always easy to dance in; brides must have their heels at each fitting.

And then there are bridal flats…

Pros: Bridal flats are comfortable and easy to walk in; no sinking into the grass at outdoor weddings; there’s no limit to how long a bride can dance in bridal flats; shoes without heels look adorable with the right kind of wedding dress; great for the bride planning a less formal wedding; very feminine and dainty.

Cons: It may be more difficult to find formal bridal flats; even formal flats may not seem formal enough; the bride may feel too short in bridal flats; shoes without heels can make legs look thicker; bridal flats don’t look as stunning in photographs.

It’s up to the individual bride, of course, what sort of bridal shoes she’ll wear. A bride who wears flats 99.9% of the time may simply not feel comfortable wearing heels on her wedding day, while the bride who lives in high heels might find she can hardly walk in a pair of simple ballet flats. We recommend that brides don’t choose bridal shoes that they’re not used to wearing unless they’re prepared to spend some time acclimated to them by spending time in a similar pair of shoes in the weeks or months leading up to the wedding. Better safe than sorry, right? No bride should have to hobble through her wedding reception on a twisted ankle.

(Photo by Marriott Photography)

Visit USABRIDE.COM for an incredible selection of wedding jewelry, wedding accessories, bridal headbands, wedding veils, and now bridesmaids dresses at the best prices you’ll find on the Internet.

Wedding Contract Advice from The Wedding Professor

Wedding Cake Alternatives Are Sweet

TeamWED — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:41:20 +0000

We here at TeamWED are quick to announce that we like cake and even quicker to say that we think wedding cake is the sweetest cake of all. However, we also understand that there are plenty of brides and grooms out there who simply do not care for cake. And wedding cake can be very expensive, so there have to be brides and grooms who can’t afford cake for their wedding receptions. Sad, but true. You know what? There’s nothing wrong with that! Cake doesn’t make a wedding any more than the bridal gown or the invitations make the wedding. If two people say vows and are henceforth legally wed (or just plain wed), a wedding has taken place.

That said, we do prefer to attend those wedding receptions that include mouth watering sweets. Does it have to be wedding cake? Of course not. There are scads of alternatives to wedding cake, all of them delish. Here’s a sampling that will hopefully inspire the cake haters out there!

The candy buffet is quickly become a classic fixture of wedding receptions, and we say “Why not?” What’s not to like about grabbing a bag and a trowel and piling in oodles of treats that can be eaten during the reception or taken home for later enjoyment. Candy buffets are a great choice for DIY brides and grooms, since all you need is some glass jars (even cheap fishbowls will do), candy shovels, favor bags… and of course, the candy. The best candy buffets feature old favorites and new standards. We like red hots and peppermints and, duh, chocolate. Try to include enough different varieties of candy in your candy buffet to ensure that every one of your guests can find something they like.

Then there’s the sundae bar, which has been delighting children and adults alike at wedding receptions for a long time now. This option is definitely a crowd please, especially at weddings that include a lot of kiddies. This is another DIY bride friendly option, though we recommend giving the ice cream (at least) to your wedding caterer to handle instead of trying to wrangle it yourself in your wedding gown. As far as toppings go, TeamWED recommends going hog wild, with everything from chocolate and butterscotch sauces to sprinkles to nuts to cherries and whipped cream and *sigh* Keep the ice cream flavors pretty benign — stick to chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

Now, we don’t often find ourselves wowed and surprised, but when we came across this picture of a milk and cookies bar on another blog, we were happily shocked that we hadn’t though of it first. While we’ve seen plenty of cookies (and danishes and doughnuts and pastries) at weddings we’ve attended over the years, we’ve never once seen a set up like this. The milk and cookies bar is probably the wedding sweets option best geared toward DIY, since it involves little more than making or buying cookies and having the caterers or wedding helpers pour the milk. We recommend that brides and grooms who decide to have a milk and cookies bar at their wedding reception (in lieu of or in addition to wedding cake) try to have as many varieties of cookie on hand as possible and to include some of their not-so-favorite flavors. Some TeamWED staffers, for example, are huge oatmeal raisin fans while others eat nothing but chocolate chip. You don’t have to please everyone, but it is nice when brides and grooms try to please *almost* everyone.

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