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Good Things Utah on ABC4 - Tips on how not to become a BrideZilla.
Things change. And we’re glad. Every year something new sparks, a trend hits and rules change. Here’s some advice from those who know best on what’s new and improved in the wedding industry—and in modesty.
Simply Irresistible
There’s no need to stick with the traditional “carnation” or “rose” boutonnières. Today, you can do all sorts of unique arrangements to fit your man’s style. He’s already irresistible in his tux – now top it off with something extraordinary!
Flowers by Studio Stems
Photography courtesy of Digital Izatt Photography
Intimate Gatherings
It is common to feel obligated to invite your whole ward, stake or neighborhood to your wedding. This day is meant to be shared with family and friends who have influenced your life, but wedding success is based on substance, not size. And you want to be able to enjoy your celebration without the stress that six or seven hundred guests may carry with them. The good news is that the tide has shifted from massive “stand-in-line” functions to more intimate gatherings. And fewer flowers, fewer invitations and fewer decorations mean a lesser headache. With a smaller guest-list, your budget shrinks in accordance.
Managing even a small guest list can be tricky business, though. One way to streamline your guest list (and allow your budget the greatest accuracy) is to create a wedding web page with an RSVP option. Include the web address on your invitations and have your guests RSVP online. The site will automatically generate a spreadsheet with guest names and total party size. Ten days before the big day, you should have an incredibly accurate guest count and an equally accurate idea of how much you’ll be paying for. Why pay for 250 guests, when you could have easily known that only 208 would actually come? Having a smaller function and tracking your guest count will allow you to have less stress and more budget to go around when the big day comes.
Millcreek Inn
801.278.7927
www.millcreekinn.com
No Need to Cut Corners
Brides often assume they can save money by having a do-it-yourself wedding reception. But not everyone knows the tips and tricks and ways to save that a wedding consultant can help with. Many brides spend $300-$400 too much on wasted food alone! If you do plan on creating a do-it-yourself celebration, do your research to make your budget as accurate and reasonable as possible. And if you find that you need some help, Uniquely Yours can help you stretch your dollars and save your money without cutting corners.
Uniquely Yours
Keep Your Style Hot
A woman’s personal style is continuously changing, and the metamorphosis from chic single to classy wife can be a challenge. When buying new clothes this year, there are a few things that can help you make the most of your time and resources.
1. First, spend more money on classic pieces that are made well. They will outlive the trends. Buy cheaper supplement pieces to spice up your wardrobe. When they fall apart, it won’t matter; they will already be out of style.
2. Second, what looks good on your best friend won’t always look good on you. Stick with styles that are tried and true on your body.
3. Third, find and keep your unique personality. Dressing modestly doesn’t mean dressing boring.
4. And last, don’t get frustrated. Finding modest clothes in a sea of mini dresses and tank tops can be overwhelming, but if you want a cheat sheet of the best in modest fashion, subscribe to Eliza Magazine. It will give you endless ideas that will keep you looking your best.
ELIZA Magazine
Meaningful Location
To make your engagement photos unique and fun, find a location that has special meaning to you as a couple. Look for places like where you had your first date, your favorite hangout or maybe the place of your proposal. Choosing a special location will make your engagement photo session more meaningful and bring out your personalities in the photos. And since the location of your choice will be something special only to you, your pictures will truly be one of a kind!
Lindsay Jane Photography
801.541.0942
www.lindsayjanephotography.com
Planning a Wedding Long Distance
Living in Florida and planning a wedding in Arizona was a bit of a challenge. If you are a bride planning a wedding in a different state or across the United States like myself, your best resource is your family. I know I could not have done this without the help of our two families.
During the wedding planning, I worked closely with my Mom and Dad who were extremely supportive and helpful despite not being a part of the Church. They were such a great team. I remember weeks when I could do nothing for the wedding because of all my class work. I would call my parents and give them lists of things I needed them to work on for me….and they did such an amazing job! They were so good at remembering every little detail from the ring pillow to guest gifts and engraved cake servers. I can’t imagine what I would have done without them.
Valerie and Daniel
Mesa Arizona Temple
Photography courtesy of Sarah Meyers, Professional Photographer
Ultimate One-Year Anniversary Gift
Want to give your spouse a special one-year anniversary gift? Try recording the special moments during your first year of marriage in a personal journal and detail the reasons that you love and appreciate your spouse. On your one-year anniversary, present these thoughts and feelings as a gift in a hardbound journal. It’s certain to be one of the most unique and thoughtful gifts you can provide.
Don’t do well with carrying around a paper journal? No worries, with LDSJournal.com you can record your thoughts for FREE and print your digital journal to a hardbound book at the end of the year.
Robin Saville of BrideAccess.com will now be a regular on ABC4’s Good Things Utah… focusing on creating wonderful relationships while you are planning your wedding.
by Shauna Lund
The Gathering Place at Gardner Village
I received a call from a “Maid of Honor” last week to set up an appointment for a tour of The Gathering Place at Gardner Village. I was impressed by her eagerness to help her bride. As they arrived for the tour, she pulled out a checklist and began to ask important questions about availability, parking, ceremonies, wedding luncheons and reception information. She also inquired about details such as linens, centerpieces, décor, food options and favors. She was well prepared with her questions and wrote notes to refer to once they had completed their tour of wedding sites. She was definitely going above and beyond the call of duty. How lucky that bride was to have such a well-organized and helpful friend in planning that very important day!
As you choose attendants who will assist you on your wedding day, I recommend choosing someone Read more…
Yes, it is that time of year… when Bridal Shows are abundant. How do you get ready for them?
Plan a time to go. Often, vendors are not quite as busy at the very start of the show, which may allow you more time to ask questions and visit with them.
You will be filling out your name and information many times over… be ready with some labels with your information already on them… small mailing labels work great. Include the following:
Bride’s full name
Groom’s full name
Wedding date
Wedding budget
Email address
Phone number
These are the basics, but it will save you a lot of time and hand-cramps!!!
If you know what you are looking for, go to those vendors first, whether it is a particular vendor, or a type of category, such as videographers.
If you are not sure what you are looking for, make sure to keep an open mind to new ideas, that can help you achieve the wedding you want.
Make sure to ask questions, and get information so that you can make sound decisions.
Bring someone along with you… a mother, a sister, a friend, the groom… etc… It is always great to have someone else to help bounce ideas off of. They may catch something that you don’t.
If you are looking for a dress, make sure to not miss out on the fashion shows. Styles change every 6 months or so.
Be prepared to come away with lots of information, packets, handouts, DVDs, business cards… Help keep your planning organized and sift through everything when you get back home and place everything in one binder or folder so that you are not searching for everything.
Of course, last but not least… make sure that you are registered on BrideAccess.com to help you maintain your budget and checklist, get great ideas, so that planning your wedding can be a pleasant and fun experience with the least amount of stress as possible.
Happy Planning… from all of us at BrideAccess.com!
This is where we start with Nick & Whitnee. They were guests on Good Things Utah and talked a little bit about how their wedding is being planned! Watch this!
Don’t forget to watch Good Things Utah, next Monday at 10:00am for the first picks… Invitations and Photography!
Where YOUget to help pick you their wedding which will be at The Tower on February 11, 2010!!!
Watch Good Things Utah on ABC4 every Monday morning at 10:00am starting TODAY to find out what the choices for each category will be… cakes… photography… flowers… ect.
Then, starting on November 23rd, you will be able to start voting on BrideAccess.com.
On Saturday, January 9, the voting results will be announced at the Bridal Showcase Event at the Salt Palace, where you can plan your wedding and see what has been chosen for Nick & Whitnee for their wedding day.
You’ve just gotten married in the Temple, you’re on cloud nine and it’s time to start the celebration! We sat down with Mary Crafts, owner of Culinary Crafts, for some fun trends for LDS receptions.
A growing trend for LDS brides is to have food “stations” instead of a plated dinner or buffet. The goal of this type of reception is to have the guests mingle and talk to each other. And so the focus of the night is not to stay in your seat and eat your dinner, but rather to get up and visit the various food stations. Each station offers a small portion of the cuisine; only about 4-5 bites. Again, guests are encouraged throughout the evening to get up and visit all of the stations and to come back for seconds (or thirds or fourths). One station might have an Asian theme and servers are distributing small take out boxes of stir fry. Another booth might have freshly-made flaming crepes or even sliders (mini burgers) and French fries. The food then becomes a conversation piece and an ice breaker for those guests who might not yet know each other. Read more…
Wedding bells will soon be ringing and there are tons of things to plan. One thing is for sure, this is a time for celebrating! And you know you want this celebration to be fun and exciting … that means music!
So here’s the big decision. Do I just plug in my iPod? Do I have my friend come and be in charge of the music? Or do I hire an entertainment company?
I know what you’re thinking. “Hire a DJ? I’m not so sure about that. I’m already on a very tight budget. Plus, all my favorite songs are on my iPod. I can just use that.”
What I wonder is if you are sacrificing a crucial component of your dream wedding when you hand over your entertainment to a 4 inch hunk of metal. Don’t get me wrong, an iPod is a great piece of technology, but it is definitely not a replacement for the personal touch of a live entertainer.
The Married Man’s Guide to Getting Married
(for the soon-to-be-married man)
by Jonathan Cabot, Wedding Survivor
Illustrated by Thomas P. Reidy III Photography by Digital Izatt Photography
Having recently taken the plunge, bitten the bullet, fastened the chain (connected to ball) or what have you, and especially having attended a multitude of weddings over the years, I contend the groom should, after all, have a say when it comes to making the plans. The wedding will always be her day—without question—but there is absolutely no reason why you can’t offer some input, even if your fiancée doesn’t agree that a football cake or Texas tuxedo will make the event extra special. Not to mention the fact that today, costs are often split between families or the couples themselves—all the more reason for your needed suggestions.
With that in mind, I present the following pieces of essential advice that the betrothed man would be wise to follow in the months, weeks and days leading up to the big occasion. Good luck, friend. Read more…
