wedding dress

The Wedding Trends to Keep and Ditch in 2019 According to Wedding Planners

January 16, 2019 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Brides

With the new year comes new engagements, new brides-to-be (welcome, ladies!), and new wedding trends. And while we’re still excited about the trends and creative ideas we saw in 2018—think games for guests, statement bridal hats, and basically anything Harry and Meghan did—we, like you, are also ready to dive into the world of weddings for 2019.

Which is why we called on some of the industry’s top wedding planners to see exactly what they’re predicting for the new year. You’ll have to keep scrolling to see exactly what they said below, but one thing is certain: The rules are all out. Think mismatched bridesmaids dresses, coeds on each side of the aisle, and more. Also out? Wedding welcome bags and expensive favors (don’t worry, we’ll get to that later). In terms of what’s in, the experts say we’re all still obsessed with the world’s hottest power couple (hi, Harry and Meghan!) so feel free to continue copying the royal wedding’s statement church entrance, meaningful ceremony touches, and unexpected reception details. They’re also excited to see couples experiment with fresh color palettes and put unexpected twists on the traditional wedding in the year come to.

Keep reading for all the exciting, modern, and on-trend ideas, broken down by the pros who came up with them. Oh, and we also asked the experts to share which trends to avoid and their best pieces of tried-and-true advice for the newly engaged ladies like you… So, basically, read on because we’ve got you covered as you dive into wedding planning in the new year!

The year’s biggest trend: “2019 is all about embracing color and new color combinations that have never been done before,” Jesse says. “We see the trend veering away from soft classic colors and heading in a more fun, pumped up direction.” Case in point: “Living Coral,” the Pantone Color of the Year. “We see 2019 clients leaning more towards younger, fresher palettes with pops of bright and bold color that is fun, youthful and often somewhat daring,” he adds.

Trend to do away with: “Welcome bags! Time and time again, we see many of the expensive, well thought-out items get left behind in hotel rooms,” he says. “Instead, consider giving a nice bottle of wine and a handwritten note, or making a donation to your favorite local charity in the guests names honor.”

Excited for in the new year: “We have a couple who is focused on supporting underserved communities and working with female owned and operated local businesses for their wedding day,” he says. “This is an exciting prospect for us and a first for Alison Events to have a client that is so locally, globally and environmentally minded when planning their special day. We can’t wait to see how it all comes together!”

Can’t wait to see a couple do: “A food and wine-focused wedding,” he says. “We love when clients embrace food and beverage as an integral part of the wedding celebration!”

Best planning advice: “Get personal! Hire vendors you connect with on a personal level, not just ones that suit your aesthetic or budget,” he says. “Get to know a vendor over coffee or a glass of wine to make sure they are a good personality fit for your project and are someone you would want to spend a year of your life with planning such a big and important day in your life.”

Read the rest of the trends here.

The First 10 Things You Need to Do Right After You Get Engaged

January 9, 2019 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

Celebrate!

You said “yes!”—and now it’s time to Instagram a ring selfie to let all of your friends (er, followers) know you’re officially engaged, right? Not so fast! Before you start spreading the news over social media or freaking out over wedding-planning checklists, here’s what you need to do first.

Before you tell your family and friends, take a moment with your newly minted fiancé! Head to your favorite bar for a glass of Champagne, or if your partner thought ahead, pop that bottle of bubbly he brought along in anticipation of a “yes!” You’ll get caught up in wedding planning soon, so savor this time before you let everyone else in on your good news.

Throw a Party

Before you jump into wedding planning, throw a surprise engagement party if you prefer to announce your news to friends and family all at once. Or, if the news has already been announced, many times a couple’s parents or close friends will host the event. If throwing an engagement party in disguise, think of a convincing cover-up, such as a Christmas or Super Bowl gathering, or a casual dinner party. And keep in mind: Everyone who is invited to your engagement party should also be invited to the wedding, so plan this first guest list wisely.

Insure Your Ring

Make sure you talk to an insurance agent about coverage in case your ring or its stones ever need to be repaired or replaced. First, get an appraisal by a certified independent gemologist; most jewelers will provide this service upon purchase and make sure you understand all the terms of the policy. Find out whether you are covered if the ring is lost, stolen, or damaged, what stipulations there are, if any, and how long the claims process takes. You might be able to add a jewelry rider to your existing homeowner’s or renter’s policy; if not, set up a separate policy.

Set a Budget

Prior to making any wedding decisions, you need to figure out what you have to spend and whether your families will contribute. Make sure you and your fiancé are in agreement about your priorities before talking to your parents about budget and logistics.

Draft the Guest List

Once the budget is set, figure out who you’re going to invite to your wedding. If deciding who’s coming (and who isn’t) threatens to either bankrupt you or start a war with your families, scale back. If you’re on the fence about someone, consider whether or not you’d invite him or her over to your house for dinner. If you wouldn’t, don’t invite him or her

Think About the Big Picture

Envision the type of wedding you both want—maybe it’s the event of your childhood dreams or one that reflects your current tastes. Even if you are set on a formal event in a ballroom, considering other possibilities, such as a seaside ceremony or a Sunday brunch, may change your mind or reinforce your choice. The same holds true for selecting the time of day and mood of the wedding.

Pick Your Venue

Now that you have your budget and guest list settled, it’s time to pick your wedding venue. Where you wed can dictate a lot about the wedding—from the date to the dress code. The key is to look far and wide, and to follow the advice that’s typically given for the wedding-dress hunt: “Try on” different options, not only the one you think you want. You never know what you’ll end up liking the most.

Discuss a Date

Once the word is out, expect lots of questions, including “When are you getting married?” Reveal a date if you have one, or let curious friends know plans are in the works—as they should be, especially if you want to hold your wedding at a popular time of year, such as June or over a holiday. Locations, photographers, caterers, and other professionals book up early, sometimes a year in advance.

Register for Gifts

As soon as people find out about your big day, presents will likely start flowing in. It’s never too early to register, not only to help ensure you get something you like and need, but also to make it easier on friends and family who are trying to figure out what to buy you. Even if you don’t register for everything right away, at least go to one store and decide on a few things for your list. Try to limit your registry to three places (ideally, at two national stores and one local). This way, it’ll be easier to manage. And, in case you don’t get everything you put down, many stores will keep your registry active for as long as a few years.

10 Foods to Avoid on Your Wedding Day

January 2, 2019 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

Wedding dress, check. Shoes, check. Makeup for touch-ups, check. Tissues, check. The one thing most brides forget to include on their wedding-day checklist? Something to eat! In all of the hustle and excitement of getting married, it’s easy to forget to bring snacks to munch on while prepping for your big day. And though comfort foods may seem the logical choice to calm those last-minute nerves, the last time we checked nausea, bloating, and gas were not on your guest list. Quell those hunger pangs with anything other than these treacherous 10:

1. Sugar

An insulin spike isn’t on today’s menu… Save yourself for your cake, and grab some fruit instead. One caveat: Bananas and grapes are both high in sugar,” says Brad Davidson, author of The Stark Naked 21-Day Metabolic Reset, fitness expert, and nutritionist. Better, low-fructose bets include berries, kiwi, and citrus.

2. Cheese

That cheese platter may seem appetizing, but it can cause some not-so nice side effects. “Cheese contains a heavy burden of hard-to-digest fat making it more likely for you to experience nausea, bloating, and fatigue,” says Davidson.

3. Caffeine

We all love a cup of freshly-brewed coffee, but on your big day it may leave you feeling jittery and anxious. If you have to stay focused, grab a small cup of Joe or brew some herbal tea to calm your nerves.

4. Granola

Processed-granola bars can contain as much sugar as a candy bar, (and without the energy boost you hoped for). Instead, make a homemade trail mix filled with protein-packed nuts and seeds to keep you feeling full.

5. Alcohol

Cheers! You should enjoy Champagne and decadent cocktails, but hold out until the reception. “Beer and carbonated beverages release carbon dioxide in the stomach, which will result in bloating and belching,” says Angela Onsgard, Miraval Resort’s resident nutritionist.

6. Spices

Beat the heat, and save the spices for another day! “Eating spicy food may result in acid reflux or heartburn. It can also contribute to bad breath,” says Onsgard. And that’s not what you need for your first kiss as husband and wife!

7. Carbonated Beverages

Bubbly drinks may seem harmless, but they can irritate your stomach. “Choose still water or tea to prevent bloating,” recommends Onsgard.

8. Cruciferous Veggies

Cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, and bok choy are healthy, but can stir up more than butterflies in your belly. “Be careful not to eat too many raw vegetables in the couple of days prior to, and on your big day, as the extra load of fiber can make you gassy if your digestive enzyme levels are low,” says Davidson, who suggests steaming your veggies to “to reduce the stress on your digestive system.”

9. Fried Foods

Rather than reaching for fatigue-causing greasy foods, choose a salad with an oil-based dressing to bolster your energy. “Avocados, coconut oil, and olive oil are a safe bet to keep your blood sugar stable for long periods of time. Yawning at the alter is not allowed,” says Davidson.

10. Carbohydrates

What do dried fruit, bread, crackers, and potato chips all have in common? An unhealthy amount of carbs. “Many carbohydrate foods, especially those containing high amounts of fiber, can result in gas production during digestion,” says Onsgard. Instead, Onsgard suggests eating “easy to digest grains” such as buckwheat, rice, quinoa, and millet, to increase digestibility and reduce bloating.

6 Wedding Gifts No Couple Wants to Receive

October 17, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

The anticipation when you start to open a wedding gift is high: Will the contents of the box be that deluxe coffeemaker that brews lattes and espressos you registered for, or could it hold the gorgeous stand mixer you loved the moment you saw it in the store? The box is open, the tissue paper unfolded, and you lift out the gift: It’s…an electric cheese grater. What? Why? You don’t come across as a person who needs voltage to grate her Parmesan. But bad gifts happen all the time, so be prepared for what lies ahead. Here are more presents that are generally unwelcome.

Anything that’s not on the registry.

Why veer off to the Land of Non-Registry Gifts, where the temptation to buy odd appliances and statues of farm animals is as strong as an ocean current? Buying a gift from the bride and groom’s registry is the way to go. It’s easy, it’s quick, and it’s a guaranteed winner. They picked out some items they really, really like, put together a list, and told people about it. Gift buying couldn’t be easier.

Something that suits the giver but not the couple.

Monogrammed towels are lovely but very traditional. So are crystal candlesticks and fine china. But if the couple has a very informal lifestyle where personal lettering and shiny things are of no interest, the gift giver is better off getting them the wind-surfing lessons they registered for instead.

Re-gifted items.

Oh yeah, it happens. There are brides and grooms who’ve found a “Merry Christmas, Judy” tag stuck to a box of napkin rings or a toaster in a yellowed box that looks like it’d been sitting in the basement for years. Everyone likes to save a buck but giving someone a gift you’ve rejected is just wrong.

“Cute” his-and-hers gifts.

If an engaged couple truly wanted matching aprons or bathrobes, they would’ve registered for them.

Artwork.

Surprised by this one? The reason it ranks as a worst gift is because no one is gifting a Matisse or Warhol—the newlyweds are more likely to get a kitschy painting of kittens dressed as pirates. Unless the gift-giver knows the taste of the couple extremely well, they need to step away from the wall art.

A bounced check.

This gift is just as embarrassing for the couple

6 Important Tasks to Budget Time for on the Morning of Your Wedding

October 10, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

By the time your wedding day arrives, you’ll likely have the timeline for the ceremony and reception broken down into 15-minute increments. But what about the hours before the ceremony starts? There are several important tasks you’ll need to budget time for on the wedding morning, and having a clear timeline that spells out what you should be doing (and when!) can make everything so much easier. Here, six essential big-day to-dos that you should carve out time for on the morning of your wedding.

Getting Ready

Showering, having your hair and makeup done, and getting dressed take a surprisingly long time on your wedding day. You can typically factor in about one and a half to two hours for hair and makeup, but it’s always smart to ask your artists for their own timing estimates after you’ve finalized the look during your trials. Getting dressed usually takes another 30 minutes, as your photographer will probably ask you to stop and pose for photos throughout the process. Add another 15 minutes at the end for last-minute hair and makeup fixes and gathering your accessories.

Eating Breakfast and Lunch

While you don’t necessarily need to set aside blocks of time for each meal, it’s crucial that you eat both breakfast and lunch on your wedding day. Between the adrenaline rush you’ll feel throughout the day and all of the physical activity of standing, dancing, and greeting friends and family, you want to be sure you’re well-nourished and hydrated.

Enjoying a Little “Me” Time

If you’re able to set aside an hour or two for yourself on the morning on your wedding, your brain and your body will thank you for it. You don’t have to be entirely alone if you don’t want to be, though. Take a long walk with your maid of honor, attend a yoga class, or get a massage with your mom. Whatever your chosen relaxation technique, be sure it’s something you truly enjoy so you can start your day off stress-free.

Changing Hotel Rooms

Most couples choose to have either the bride or the groom get ready in the room they’ll stay in on the wedding night. If you’re not setting things up this way, or if you have to change rooms or check into a different hotel on the same day, be sure to set aside time for the transition as it could take as long as half an hour.

Read the rest here.

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