Planner 1 Events

A vintage wedding dress make a beautiful, unique style statement but there are also some practical reasons why ‘something old’ is the choice for an increasing number of new brides. Read on to find out how to source a vintage dress and what you need to think about before you buy.

Choosing an Era

“Unless you already have a clear idea of what era or style suits you, try on a selection of different dresses. This will give you a better idea of shape and the look you want to create,” says Charlie Brear from the Vintage Wedding Dress Company(opens in a new window). “For example, if you want a sleek and glamorous look, you may want to go for a 30s or 40s style, or for a more relaxed, intimatewedding, short 50s styles are increasingly popular.”

Advantages

“The key advantage is no one else will have your wedding dressas they are unique one-off pieces. Another huge bonus is, as it has already been made, you can potentially wear your gown as soon as you’ve bought it,” says Brear. (Remember that complex alterations can take around three months.)

Another advantage is that vintage dresses are often made from exquisite, natural fabrics, such as raw silk, or retro materials, such as rayon. If you were to buy a new dress made from fabric of equivalent quality, you’ll probably pay much more for the final product.

http://www.channel4.com/4beauty/style/fashion-tips/how-to-buy-a-vintage-wedding-dress

1. Save on Postage

There is no need to send out save-the-date cards when you’re only asking your guests to put a date in their diaries. Send out a group email in your lunch hour instead, saving you time, money and the annoyance of sticking down envelopes.

2. DIY Wedding Flowers

All you need is a patch of ground and some seeds and you can raise your own blooms in the time it takes to write your wedding vows. Or, if you are lacking a garden, head to a flower market and pick up your blooms at cost price. You’ll have to get up early (most markets open around 3am and close at 11am) but you’ll save a massive amount of money.

3. Keep Venue Decorations Simple

A slim glass vase containing a single white rose, or some odd bits of crockery from a charity shop stuffed with garden flowers, can have more of an impact than expensive oasis decorations. Save money on decorating the wedding venue by opting for bunting rather than flowers – much cheaper and you can reuse it or sell it on eBay(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window) afterwards to another budget bride. You can even make your own bunting – simply cut triangles of double-sided brightly coloured paper and attach it using glue to some strong string.

4. Don’t Buy Wedding Magazines

Most of the wedding mags, such as Wedding Magazine(opens in a new window) and You and Your Wedding(opens in a new window) also publish online, plus there are lots of other great wedding supplier and resource sites. Try Confetti(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)and Cheap Wedding Success(opens in a new window) to keep you topped up with inspiration free of charge.

5. BYO Bridesmaids’ Dresses

Bridesmaid dresses are often handmade and this can be expensive. The cheapest way around this is to have a rough theme, say ‘vintage nudes’, and ask your bridesmaids to choose and pay for a dress that they’ll want to wear again. Useaccessories(opens in a new window), such as pearls and corsages, to pull the look together.

6. Second-Hand or Sample Wedding Dresses

Apart from the reception venue and honeymoon, your wedding dress is likely to be one of your most expensive outgoings. If you shop around, you can find your dress at a better price than if you simply buy a gown off the rack. Go to the expensive boutiques first to try on the different styles and get a clear idea of what you are looking for. Then, buy a budget dress and find a good local dressmaker who can alter it to your requirements.Oxfam(opens in a new window) have eleven bridal shops in the UK (with the cost of your dress going to a good cause) and they have a decent selection online. You can also try factory outlets, such as the Wedding Dress Factory Outlet(opens in a new window) in Leicestershire, which offers a similar service as upmarket boutiques and the dresses are at rock-bottom prices (around £150 to £400).

7. Tap into the Skills of Your Nearest and Dearest

From your annoying uncle who has filmed every family occasion you can remember to your bedroom-DJ brother, ask everyone with a suitable skill to get involved. Delegating will save you a small fortune – plus it’s a nice way for friends and family to feel involved. Professional photos, in particular, can be very expensive so ask a talented friend to be the official photographer at the ceremony and leave disposable cameras on the tables at the reception. Just give the pictures a good edit before you show them to Granny.

8. Budget Honeymoon

Two weeks in the Caribbean might sound like a dream come true, but when you check in at reception with hundreds of other honeymooning couples, it loses some appeal. You could try a working holiday, such as one of the amazing experiences on offer with the National Trust(opens in a new window), walk the Great Wall of China(opens in a new window)or try any of the other once-in-a-lifetime expeditions organised by charities. Ask your wedding party to sponsor your trip as a wedding gift. Alternatively, the Youth Hostel Association(opens in a new window) andHosteling International(opens in a new window) have come a long way since Pot Noodles and Kumbaya.

9. Ask Your Wedding Guests to Contribute

We are not suggesting you charge at the door but with wedding receptions commonly coming in at £70 per head, it’s worth considering recouping some of your expenses. Sites, such asThe Bottom Drawer, allow you to create a wedding list of almost anything, from the cost of an extension on your house to donations towards your honeymoon.

10. Champagne Versus Prosecco

Italian prosecco and Spanish cava are much cheaper and tend to be less acidic and more fruity than champagne, so many find them more palatable – as well as economical. For proseccos, look out for Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene on the label – this guarantees that the grapes were grown in the best Prosecco region, just north of Venice. Cava is made in the same way as champagne but at a fraction of the price. Freixenet and Codorniu produce some great examples. You should be able to pick up a bottle for about £8 compared to around £20 for a bottle of champagne. Try Majestic(opens in a new window) or the major supermarkets.

http://www.channel4.com/4beauty/style/weddings/wedding-tips/10-budget-wedding-tips

Flower Mistake 1: Not seeing the big picture

“Couples tend to see the centerpieces and the table setting but do not visualize the whole reception room with their guests in it. For example, couples pay for a room with a wonderful view of the ocean or scenic surrounding and want tall, large centerpieces that will obstruct this view.”

– Faith Cass, Cass the Florist, Inc.

Flower Mistake 2: Not trusting your florist

“Communicate your vision, likes, dislikes, and expectations but have a little flexibility and be comfortable with substitution. We want to make your wedding absolutely breathtaking. So relax, put trust in your vendors and remember why you hired that amazing talent!”

– Alana Guglielmo, Mixed Greens Event Design

Flower Mistake 3: Not reusing ceremony arrangements

“Aisle flowers can become centerpieces and altar pieces can be moved to the buffet table. The ceremony usually only lasts about half an hour — it’s a shame to see so many flowers only being used for that amount of time when they could easily be incorporated into the reception decor!”

– Paula Pritchard, Paisley Petals

Flower Mistake 4: Booking your florist last

“Couples should begin the process of booking vendors by speaking to one vendor from each category before booking anyone. This way they can get an idea of what things cost and perhaps they could budget better.”

– Douglas Koch, Douglas Koch Designs ltd

Flower Mistake 5: Refusing to compromise

“The biggest mistake is for a bride to have her heart set on specific flowers and not be flexible. A florist can do a much better job if the bride asks for an overall look, feel, and color scheme and let the florist create it.”

– Jana Stall, Events in Bloom

Flower Mistake 6: Ruling out pricey blooms

“Don’t be scared of the expensive flowers. Flowers like cattleya orchids and peonies are more expensive, but they also cover more space and have a greater impact. One cattleya orchid can have a greater impact than a bouquet of roses.”

– Erin Drake, Enlighten Events International

Flower Mistake 7: Not communicating with your florist

“Knowing what you like is just as important as knowing what you don’t like. Bring lots of pictures — it is the best way to help convey what you do and do not want your floral designs to look like.”

– Danielle Childress, McKannix Floral Studio

Flower Mistake 8: Using only one color

“A lot of brides try to match the flowers to the bridesmaid dresses. A bridesmaid in a lavender gown with lavender flowers will make for very disappointing pictures. Flowers are a great place to choose an accent color — for example, a lime green against a lavender gown will bring out the best in both colors and make for fabulous photos.”

– Linda Maggert, One of a Kind Events

Flower Mistake 9: Choosing strongly scented flowers

“Choosing highly aromatic flowers for centerpieces may sound like an amazingly romantic idea, but it will drive your guests insane if they are prone to allergies. For highly aromatic arrangements — stick to your bridal bouquet and the altar arrangements.”

– Katie Martin, Elegance & Simplicity

Flower Mistake 10: Not taking care of your blooms

“Everyone loves hydrangeas, especially in bouquets. However, hydrangeas need to stay hydrated, and the average lifespan out of water in temperate conditions is about three hours. They might not even make it through your ceremony if you’re out all day taking pictures.”

– Esther Galantowicz, Scarlet Petal

Flower Mistake 11: Forgetting to budget for flowers

“Most brides find that flowers are an important part of their day but forget to include them in the planning from the start. When I have a budget and a theme, I am really able to advise them better right from the beginning.”

– Georgianne Vinicombe, Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co

Flower Mistake 12: Taking on too much DIY

“Brides [who try to DIY their flowers] will purchase dozens of glass vases for centerpieces, only to become overwhelmed. We receive many frantic calls, asking to take over the stress of these DIY projects, which oftentimes becomes more expensive than hiring a professional from the start.”

– Natalie E. Willett, Zuzu’s Petals

Flower Mistake 13: Ordering your flowers too late

“Flowers come from South America, Holland, and all over the world, so it is very hard to contact farms across the world and have flowers arrive within one or two weeks. Leave at least a six-week window ahead of your wedding week to be able to line everything up. Your flowers will be cheaper if you can give us the time that we need to order.”

– Brenda Sterk, J’s Fresh Flower Market

Flower Mistake 14: Choosing an oversized bouquet

“Brides often think: ‘The larger the better!’ What they don’t realize is that the larger the bouquet, the more it covers and fights with the overall design of their dress. Further, do you really want to carry something that is huge and heavy? Think about the size and comfort when it comes to your bouquet.”

– Shawn A. Rabideau, Shawn Rabideau Events

Flower Mistake 15: Overlooking the reception table linens

“What’s underneath a centerpiece is as important as the arrangement itself. Linens don’t just complement the look of your centerpieces; they complete them. From runners to underlays and overlays, the right ‘undergarments’ can make flowers flourish on a table.”

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-flowers/articles/15-wedding-flower-florist-tips.aspx?MsdVisit=1

Overbuy Bras

Before you buy a bra, ask about the store’s return policy. You’ll likely want to try on a few different bras with your gown, so make sure the garment is returnable for a full refund if you leave the tags on. Take home a handful of styles and try them on with your dress. Move around and dance to make sure the bra stays hidden.

Be Prepared for Fittings

Remember: Make sure you take your bra, slimmer, stockings, and shoes to your dress fittings; a body-support garment will give a slightly different shape than just sucking in your gut, and changing your “support” down the road will affect the way your dress fits.

Examine Your Undergarments

Try on your entire wedding ensemble to ensure you’ve made a good match. Can you tell that those control tops are cutting your torso in half? Likewise your thighs in those stockings? Is the outline of your garter belt or your pantyhose waistband embarrassingly obvious? Is your gown fabric so sheer that your under-the-dress essentials may as well be over the dress? If any of the above applies, rethink your options and consider other alternatives.

The Right Tights

If you think you’ll kick off your heels as the evening progresses, you might choose tights rather than sheer hose to avoid holes in your toes. You could also go with knee highs that you can slide off along with your shoes. Whichever style you select, buy a few extra pairs — when you accidentally shred one on wedding morning, you won’t miss a beat.

A Veil Do

Don’t forget to check your look from behind. If showing off the back of your gown is important to you, you may want to opt for a very sheer veil of just one or two layers of tulle.

A Veil Don’t

Though it may look cleaner than unfinished tulle, depending on its length, a ribbon around the edge of your veil could create a horizontal line across your middle, making you appear shorter.

Dare to Go Bare

If you plan to remove your veil after the ceremony, have it attached to your headpiece with fabric hook and loop closures for easy on-and-off. Keep in mind, though, that if you remove your veil before the reception, it won’t appear in pictures of the cake cutting and the first dance. Many brides wait until after the first dance.

Fix Your Fabrics

Be mindful of the effect your slip or crinoline can have on your hose; depending on the material, the friction of the undergarment against your legs could end up shredding them, so do a test run.

Under Where?

To avoid the inevitable wedgie, which is pretty much impossible to fix in a wedding gown, wear pantyhose with a sewn-in cotton crotch or thong underwear. Again, if you’ve never worn a thong, try it first — this barely-there item is not for everyone, and some women compare the experience to having a permanent wedgie.

Be Prepared

Keep two or even three extra pairs of hosiery on hand. Give them to your maid of honor to stash in your wedding day beauty kit, along with a bottle of clear nail polish in case of runs.

http://wedding.theknot.com/bridal-fashion/wedding-accessory-jewelry/articles/top-10-wedding-accessory-tips.aspx

Many flowers and herbs have been used for weddings throughout the centuries; although wedding flowers have a long history of use, originally herbs were more common.

The ancient Greeks are credited with the first recorded use of wedding flowers; it was more common to use herbs in a bridal bouquet than it is today. Bridal bouquets were originally formed from interwoven garlands and wreaths which were placed on the heads of both bride and groom. Herbs such as Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and Marjoram (Origanum marjorana) were common in the bridal crowns of Greek brides, as well as other herbs, bulbs and garlic.

The Meaning of Herbs in a Bridal Bouquet

Many herbs were believed to have magical powers to ward off evil spirits and bad luck and were used to protect the future of the bridal couple. Dill(Anethum graveolens) was said to be the herb of lust and a bride would only lust after her husband if she carried Dill and garlic together; Sage(Salvia officinalis) was believed to be a herb of wisdom and the bride who carried Sage and garlic together was believed to learn goodness and gather great wisdom.

The Use of Wedding Flowers in a Kissing Knot

A Kissing Knot was made from tying Roses (Rosa damascena) and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) together; it was then hung from the ceiling over the head table of the reception, where the bride and groom would sit. A kissing knot was believed to bring love and good luck to both the bridal couple and others sitting at the head table.

The Use of Confetti

Another ancient wedding tradition was the throwing of confetti over the bridal couple. Confettimeans sweets in the Italian language but it was common to throw rice, grain, nuts and sweets as well as more traditional flower petals as confetti; the throwing of confetti was meant to symbolize good luck, fertility, riches and sweet experiences for the bridal couple.

The Use of Wedding Flowers in Different Countries

In Medieval times, a knight usually wore a Lady’s colors to declare his love for her; many flowers have been used in different countries to symbolize various meanings. In Victorian England, flowers in bridal bouquets were chosen with reference to the Victorian language of flowers. Another common English tradition was for a flower girl to precede the bride on the pathway to the church, scattering flower blossoms; this was said to bless the bride with a lifetime of happiness and flowers.

In India, the bride groom’s brother scattered flower petals over the bridal couple at the end of the wedding ceremony to ward off evil spirits. In Sweden, the bride groom traditionally carried Thyme(Thymus vulgaris) in his pockets and the bridesmaids carried bouquets of aromatic herbs to scare away any trolls.

http://sharonfalsetto.suite101.com/history-of-wedding-flowers-a86644

If you are holding a beach themed wedding, keeping the theme universal makes the planning and preparations much easier. When you begin planning the bridesmaid luncheon, why not consider combining the male and female attendants “thank you” party into one competitive and fun event. Planning the wedding attendant luncheon for your entire bridal party can be a great deal of fun and take very little effort as long as you identify your main goal of the event and create an entire afternoon around that activity. Since you are hosting a luncheon, a beach barbecue would be a thematic and fun.

An afternoon activity that would provide lighthearted fun and competitiveness between the two sides of the bridal party could include a “sand castle building” competition at your local beach. This unique and exciting activity would provide a great opportunity for everyone to meet and get to know one another and express their creative side along the way. Additional activities that could be included in the day’s itinerary could include a game of beach volleyball and a bonfire. However, if you intend to build a fire on a public beach it is often a good idea to check with your city council to discover if any special permits are necessary prior to hosting your event.

Taking time to locate beach themed wedding attendant gifts for each member of your wedding party is actually easier than you might think; many online and retail wedding planning outlets have unique and creative wedding party favors to give to your friends and family on this special day.