Donate your bridesmaid dress!

So we've talked about what to do with the bridal gown, now what about that bridesmaid dress crammed into the back of your closet that you're NEVER going to wear again? There's something for you girls too. It's called The Glass Slipper Project and it is based out of Chicago.

How does it work? There are plenty of girls who dream of their senior and junior proms but never have enough money to afford the perfect dress for them. This is where you come in! With your donation of your bridesmaid dress, you can help a girl make her wishes come true. This is a fabulous project that is always in need of great donations of dresses, garment bags, accessories, and makeup for these deserving girls.

For more information on how you can help, please visit:

http://www.glassslipperproject.org

Thanks for helping others!

-WedChick-

What to do with the dress?

After the wedding...what to do with the dress???
You've spent so much time and not to mention money, getting the dress of your dreams. The big day has finally passed and now you're stuck with a gorgeous gown hanging in your closet. Gone are the days of saving the dress for your daughter to wear. Let's face it, times change and so does style. By the time your daughter grows up she might have grown out of the possibility of wearing your gown. We'll discuss a few ideas in this article.

Trash the Dress
I know, you're sitting there reading this thinking "What the HECK is she talking about!!!" Many

brides are opting to get the most out of their dress and their pictures by doing what photogs call a "Trash the Dress" shoot. This can be as simple as taking pictures in the ocean or as down and dirty as going mudding on a four wheeler in your couture creation. If you can imagine it, it can be done. It does make for some really fabulous and fun pictures that your friends and family will never stop talking about, but it's not for everyone. Don't fear though...depending on the fabric your gown consists of most can be cleaned even after a trash the dress session is all over with.

Donate It

Making Memories has a program entitled "Brides Against Breast Cancer." Throughout the year, donates dresses make their way across the nation and are put on sale for local brides in the area. All monies received from the sale of the gowns goes towards preventing and treating breast cancer. If you're interested in donating your gown to this amazing, worthwhile cause or even donating a few hours of your time to volunteer, please visit their website by clicking here:
Brides Against Breast Cancer-Making Memories

Preserve It
Even after reading our other suggestions, you still would like to preserve your gown...we understand! Just make sure you leave the preservation to trusted, certified professionals. We've heard stories of girls who opened their gowns years later to find nothing. This in fact happened to tv show host Leeza Gibbons! Did the dress disinegrate or did it never actually make it into the box? Who knows. One thing is for sure, you do not want this happening to you. Simply leaving it to hang in it's garment bag will destroy the dress due to harmful gases the bag emits. Talk with the bridal shop where you purchased the gown to find out if they have someone they work with directly.

Ciao for now!

-WedChick-

Why hire a wedding consultant?

You've seen it done on television and you wonder if it's something worthwhile that you can afford? The choice to hire a wedding consultant is one that should be a part of your planning process from day one. In this article, I'll explain the benefits and things you should consider when choosing to hire someone to help you on your dream day.

There are so many out there, how do you choose the right one? Wedding consultants are special people with a love for the romance and intimacy of the celebration of one of the biggest days in someones life. They sometimes hold special certifications and memberships through organizations such as the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC), that require a certain level of proficiency. Most will offer complimentary consultations to learn more about you and to tell you about their company and their services. You should meet with a few consultants and pick the one you felt the greatest bond with.

Wedding Consultants spend a great deal of time networking and establishing strong relationships with quality vendors in your area. By doing this, they can attest to the finished products and ensure you not only great work but at a great price. Some consultants have special pricing worked out with vendors and pass the savings onto you.

Consultants help you in meeting with vendors, establishing a budget, creating timelines and schedules, payment of vendors, choosing a location, handling out of town guests, reviewing contracts, and most importantly they are there with you on your special day.

Some girls can handle most of the details themselves but are looking for someone to take control on the day of their wedding. This is often called day-of management. Most consultants will offer this service and may include it in a package. This is cost effective for the bride who needs minimal help. For brides needing help throughout the entire process, full coordination services is the best way to go. Full coordinating can cost you anywhere between 10%-15% of your total budget.

In short, it's best to leave the planning up to the professionals. What happens if your photographer quits the day before the wedding? Trust me, I've seen it happen. What if your cake gets demolished during delivery? All these things a consultant will know how to handle without causing you extra stress and worry on your big day.

Check the web for local bridal professional organizations that will refer you to qualified consultants. It helps to also stop into a bridal shop, cake baker, photographer, etc. to find out if they have reccommendations as well. Often times these vendors have worked with these consultants and can tell you first-hand just how they are.

Good luck and happy planning!
-WedChick-

The Best Wedding Reception Ever!

For those of you looking to make your reception a memorable party (who isn't?), I have a fantastic book for you! It's called The Best Wedding Reception Ever written by Merry Weddings, Inc. It has amazing ratings on Amazon.com and is written by a first class DJ/Entertainment company based out of California. The author Peter Merry, has been featured on many state morning tv shows and is a highly respected entertainer.

Sometimes brides can get so caught up in the perfect flowers, delicious meals, and scrumptious cake without thinking about the importance of the reception. Your reception should be a party, a grand celebration in honor of your new life with your new husband! This book gives you excellent ideas on how to get the party started with game ideas and more. It's really a must have for every bride. For more information on The Best Wedding Reception Ever, please visit their website at:
http://www.thebestweddingreceptionever.com/ Don't forget to check out their super fun blog as well. To purchase the book through Amazon, click below.

Wedding Webbies: Party Supplies & Furniture Rentals

Hi everyone! For this weeks edition of the Wedding Webbies we feature three websites chosen by party planner guru David Tutera. We have two websites carrying an outstanding selection of party supplies for every occasion including prom, mardi gras, baby showers, and more. If you have chosen a theme for your wedding, this is a great place to garner some ideas or make a few purchases to get you going. The other site offers modern furniture rentals. Let's get started!

#1 Mod Prop
Modprop.com offers a super fun selection of entertaining and interesting furniture rentals. They are located on Madison Avenue in New York and feature pieces such as chaise lounges, rugs, bars, and much more. They even have a section featuring classic cars!

#2 Shindigz
This is your one stop shop for your upcoming bash or special event. These guys have everything covered. They have over 38,000 supplies ranging from balloons, curtains, wall graphics, cardboard cutouts, arches, photo stand ins, and more. There isn't anything they don't have!

#3 Bulk Party Supplies
This site offers up to a 70% discount on items in their store. Their wedding collection includes aisle runners, buttons, koozies, and more. You do have to buy in bulk which can save you if you're purchasing an item being used for your bridal party or your entire guest list.

Many thanks to David Tutera who you can visit at http://www.davidtutera.com/

Wedding Webbies #3 - Music -

For this edition of Wedding Webbies we'll focus on music for your ceremony & reception.

#1 The O'Neill Brothers
A personal favorite of mine and just about the only artist I recommend to my brides. They have amazingly beautiful piano music and their site allows you to preview each and every track. They currently have three wedding CD's that consist of two traditional CD's as well as a CD specifically for beach weddings! The track listing consists of traditional hymns, famous concertos, and popular music. Their site allows you to download individual tracks for just 99 cents each, download the CD online, or purchase it and have it shipped to you. Be sure to sign up for their e-mail list as they frequently do amazing offers like buy one, get one free and more!
http://www.pianobrothers.com/cart/shopaff.asp?affid=507

#2 Wedding Music Central
This is a really great site that simply lays out each aspect of your wedding you'll need music for and which tracks are commonly used.
http://www.weddingmusiccentral.com/advice_tour.php

#3 Giving You the Rest of My Life
A CD full of Christian artists singing beautiful songs for your ceremony. Certain Churches do not allow secular music to be played, this CD is a great option for those who fall into that category.

Answering your questions!

Do you have a wedding related question that needs to be answered?

Please send an e-mail to PrncssShan03@aol.com

We'll get back to you right away and feature your question on the blog!

-Wedchick-

Brides Against Breast Cancer

Brides Against Breast Cancer is a wonderful group created by the folks at Making Memories. Each year they have a wonderful gown sale featuring amazing designer dresses at even more amazing prices. Proceeds from the sale of these gowns goes towards winning the fight against breast cancer.

Volunteers are needed in every city from Seattle to Tampa. Kick-off beings Friday, January 11th in Seattle and runs until October 12th in Port Townsend, WA. Please visit their website for detailed information on the sale and also how to be a volunteer.

http://pepmembers.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=437

The Pink Envelope Project is also in conjunction with Making Memories. This group encourages donations through distribution of Pink Envelopes at your bridal shower, reception, and more. They will even provide you with the envelopes and instruction cards for your guests. Don't miss this oppurtunity to make a difference.

-WedChick-

Bridal Salons - What to expect when finding your dream gown!

-What You Should Expect From A Bridal Salon-

Many girls find themselves in a whole new world after becoming engaged. There are hundreds of bridal magazines, websites, and of course married friends and family to offer their opinions. As we know times have changed, and what worked for Aunt Edna in the 60's probably isn't going to work for you.

There is a huge difference between the "cookie cutter" bridal stores and full-service bridal salons. I know, I currently work in one. I've seen countless brides come into our salon after visiting a nameless "cookie cutter" complaining about lack of attention and concern for them. Sadly, these consultants are stretched to their limits by expecting to take care of multiple brides at one time. They are also pushed by managers to do whatever it takes to make the sale that day.

When stepping into a bridal salon, you should feel a difference in the air after visiting one of the above. While they may be smaller, they offer one-on-one attention which often requires an appointment but for good reason. A consultant will take the time to listen to your dreams for your gown, review photos with you, and allow you to pull dresses of your choice. They might have some ideas based on what you've said and grab those for you as well. They are educated on gown design, materials, and the designers they carry. More often than not, the designers in bridal salons are open to changes in their gowns. So your dream of having a sweetheart neckline on that v-neck dress can often times be a reality. These dresses are also custom ordered and are not off the rack. Turn-around time for these gowns are between 4-6 months so plan accordingly. Rushes can be added to orders but be prepared to pay a minimum of $200.

Full-service bridal salons also offer in-house alterations, accessories, and much more. Consultants will measure you on the spot after placing an order and review the designers size chart with you to choose the size that best fits your measurements. Some will house your gown until your wedding date at no additional cost as well as press your gown for free. Be sure to ask before buying!

Beware of bridal salons that include alterations in their pricing. Maybe your dress comes in and all you need is a bustle, which may only cost $150. ABC Bridal Salon added $500 to the cost of that dress shown on the tag to include alterations. You just cost yourself $350, which could help you hire a wedding coordinator or increase your floral budget!

Stay tuned for more tips on finding your wedding attire! Please leave comments and questions!

-Wedchick-

Girls night at the movies!

Brides magazine is offering free screening passes for the upcoming movie "27 Dresses" starring Catherine Heigl.

After walking down the aisle 27 times as a bridesmaid, a young woman wrestles to stand by her sister who's marrying the man she's secretly in love with.

You must be 21 years of age or older (so you can enjoy the yummy cocktails!) and reside in Atlanta, Dallas, or New York. Tickets are limited to the first 250 people. The event takes place on January 10th, 2008. For more information and screening passes please visit http://www.brides.com/promotions/27dresses

Have fun girls and let us know how it is!

-Wedchick-