Flower Girl/ Ring Bearer Attire Made Easy!

Easter is on the way. What does this mean? The stores will be filled dressy clothes for toddler/preschool aged children...at great prices!! No one says you have to spend $200 on a flower girl dress that has to be pressed before the wedding and dry cleaned afterwards. The chances of the flower girl wearing that $200 dress again is lower than the bridesmaids wearing their dresses again. I appreciate the non-bridal clothes for the littlest members of the bridal party because the styles are more appropriate to their age group and they still look great. They are also easy to launder and can be used again more easily...that is until their next growth spurt! (Check out Target online!)

If you want the flower girl/ring bearer in formal clothes anyway, resale stores are a great place to start. I've seen beautiful dresses at great prices at stores such as Savers and at events such as Just Between Friends Sales. (I found a bridal slip at Savers for $5!!) I've also seen some ads on Craig's List with inexpensive used formal dresses/suits for the little ones. And don't forget Ebay...it's also a great price to find bridesmaids dresses too.

More cost savings ideas to come...

Until next time!

Annie

First Peek?

Today, I'm going to write about the first "first peek" I had a pleasure of being a part of. About 10 years ago, I was coordinating my best friend's wedding. At the rehearsal dinner the night before, the two families exchanged some words. Even though they all tried their best to forgive and forget that night, the bride and groom left tense. The next day with tensions still high, once everyone was dressed and pre-wedding pictures taken, I asked my best friend if she wanted to see her groom prior to the ceremony. Her face changed from worry to happiness. I offered the groom 10 minutes alone with her and he jumped on it. They both wanted to clear the air as soon as possible. So, I knocked on her door and advised him again that he only had 10 minutes as he entered her room. I shut the door and stood guard. As promised, at the 10 minute mark, I knocked on the door and told him his time was up. He walked out with tears in his eyes. "Thank you for allowing me to see her early, I really didn't want to cry like a baby at the alter."
This story was 10 years ago....prior to the wedding industry making it the new thing. Some will tell you that seeing the groom show the emotion at the alter is what it is about. Trust me, even with a first peek, the bride always takes the groom's breath away when she starts down the aisle.
Some couples use the first peek to calm their pre-wedding jitters together. There's not a lot of time for the couples to spend alone during their wedding day. The bride is rushing all morning to hair and make up appointments with her attendants. The groom is usually doing the last minute errands. After the ceremony is pictures, dinner, toasting, dancing, cutting cake, and personally greeting each guest. Not much alone time built into their schedule.
Do I recommend first peeks? Yes, I do. Do I get upset when a bride and/or groom won't do it? Of course not. It's not my day...it's theirs.

Until next time...

Annie

Plan B?

With today's blizzard like conditions, I felt the need to blog about the need of contingency plans when it comes to your big day. Do I mean just planning for weather? Well, yes and no. Things to keep in mind:

1) Weather at the wedding location--Especially if the wedding is outside. ALWAYS have a plan B for outside weddings. If you don't, you could end up scrambling at the last minute to find a place for your ceremony. Some reception venues can be used as ceremony venues as well, as long as you tell them in contract negotiations that it is the ceremony alternate site. Some will allow you to make the call the morning of as long as you provide them the room set up for both options. Also, with any ceremony, you have to plan for severe weather impacting your guests ability to drive to the ceremony.
2) Weather at your out of town guests' location--Especially important is someone very significant has to fly or drive in. This includes members of the bridal party, parents, grandparents, etc. Having them travel a couple days prior to the big event gives some time for delays, cancelled flights, etc.
3) Pack a good emergency kit (or have your bridesmaids do this!)--If you hire a wedding coordinator, he/she should bring one as well. I can tell you my emergency kit is quite large! This is a link to the Knot's list. It's pretty comprehensive.
http://wedding.theknot.com/bridesmaids-mother-of-the-bride/bridesmaids/articles/the-brides-emergency-kit.aspx

I hope this gives you food for thought when planning your day...and for planning your plan B's for your day! If you have questions or need more suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me...

Until next time...and hopefully with better weather!

Annie