By Georgina Clatworthy

When you think about celebrity wedding dress designers I bet the first name that springs to mind is Vera Wang.  Having designed wedding gowns for the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Victoria Beckham & Avril Lavigne, it is little wonder that she is the first name that springs to mind.

But other celebrity wedding dress designers you may know include Armani – Katie Holmes; Monique Lhuillier – Kate Walsh; Christian Lacroix – Christian Aguilera; John Galliano for Dior – Gwen Stefani.

Ironically, the likes of Vera Wang & Monique Lhuillier may not have even started in the wedding dress industry had it not been for their own weddings & a lack of dresses they liked.  A situation which inspired both women to go ahead & design their own dresses & as the saying goes – ‘the rest is history!’

But what if you want a celebrity style dress but don’t have the budget to match?  Well both Vera Wang & Monique Lhuillier have ranges available in stores across the country & worldwide for that matter & although the prices are not exactly celebrity size, a dress from either of these could still set you back several thousand dollars!

Your best option for a dress from a well known designer is to look out for the sample sales where you can back a bargain dress for rock bottom prices, you may need to get it professionally cleaned but even with the additional cost of cleaning you will still be saving a tidy sum.

Another option is to scour the classifieds or search websites like Ebay for second hand or worn once dresses.  Again you will probably grab yourself a bargain & may not even need to have it cleaned!

Many of the mainstream designers will also produce wedding dresses that are a reflection of those worn by celebrities, so you will probably find a dress that is a good match for the one you have just seen in OK! Magazine for under $1000.

Or why not take a leaf out of Vera’s or Monique’s book & make your own!  Here you have two options:

•Do like a designer & design your own.  You don’t need to be a skilled artist, just make a rough sketch of what you would like & take it to your seamstress.  They will be able to fine tune it for you & once you’re happy they can make a pattern & set to work creating it for you.

•Search through the many ready made patterns available.  Pattern companies such as Vogue, Butterick & McCall all have a fantastic range of wedding dress patterns to choose from.  Many will also include vintage designs from yesteryear & exclusive designs from designers such as Vera Wang & Badgley Mischka.  These will come in standard dress sizes so buy the one closest to your own size & then you seamstress can alter it to the perfect fit.

Ask around for recommendations for a good seamstress & look for someone who has experience making wedding dresses.  Wedding dresses can require a certain amount of couture skills to make them look the part & to achieve the perfect fit.  If your seamstress doesn’t posses these skills then it will show on the finished dress.

Ready made dress patterns usually come with a difficulty rating & you will find patterns available for all skill levels – from beginner to expert; easy to difficult.  If you are making it yourself or someone close to you is, make sure you choose a pattern that is within yours or theirs capabilities. 

When it comes to celebrity wedding style you will find it is achievable no matter what the size of your budget!

 By Georgina Clatworthy

When you begin your wedding planning, one of the first tasks is to choose a wedding style or even a wedding theme.  This is one of the first tasks because without a style or theme you will find it difficult to make decisions on things like venue location, transport, your wedding dress & even your wedding favors.

Planning a wedding can be a minefield of decision making & endless discussions about colors, fabrics, accessories & decorations, but by choosing a theme you can make all of that a bit easier & help to narrow down the list of choices available when it comes to making those all important decisions.

Some of the most popular wedding themes are beach weddings & those centered on romance.  Both of these easily lend themselves to weddings & make your decision making process a whole lot easier.  For beach weddings colors tend to be blues & sea greens teamed with white, sea shells, sand & pebbles provide coordinating decorations, motifs & even wedding favors, whilst the bride can choose a simple flowing gown for her wedding dress.  A romantic theme will most likely include the colors red or pink.  Roses, candles & hearts are the order of the day & will feature everywhere from the table centers to the wedding programs.

As an alternative many brides are choosing the season of the wedding for their wedding theme.  A fall wedding will include fall colors of orange, brown & muted gold’s, pumpkins filled with seasonal flowers & foliage dress the tables & the guests are given leaf shaped bookmarks as wedding favors.  Summer weddings call for outdoor ceremonies & likewise receptions, with seasonal blooms such as roses & peonies, a light wedding breakfast menu or seasonal buffet on the lawns of a grand country house keeps the guests happy, whilst at dusk, the dance floor is subtly lit by paper lanterns & live music keeps everyone dancing into the night. 

Your choice of wedding theme is really only limited by your imagination & creativity (& perhaps your budget!).  Anything is possible, be it a casino/James Bond theme or an elegant 1920’s soiree, it really is easier to plan your wedding if you have a theme in mind.

Coming up with a theme may take some discussion though.  Sit down with your fiancé & talk about what you would like, this is also a good opportunity to prioritize those elements of your wedding that are the most important to you.  Doing this will help you assign your budget much easier.  Make sure that the theme you pick is one that appeals to you both or if you cannot agree on one, try combining two themes for something new & unique.  After all your wedding should be about your tastes & personalities.

Take some inspiration from celebrity weddings, internet resources & bridal magazines.  Ask around your family & friends about weddings they have been to or even their own.  They will be able to give you lots of advice about choosing venues, decorations & creating an air of authenticity within your theme.

You will find a wide choice of themes which could be applied to your wedding.  Choosing the perfect one for your wedding is all about choosing one that is all about your tastes, style & personalities.  This helps to make it unique & personal to you both & will leave your guests talking about it long after the day is over.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Every bride wants to look their best on their wedding day, & for most the wedding planning will also include loosing weight & toning up in vital areas.  But if you are short of time & lets face it with all that wedding planning, who isn’t, you might want to consider signing up to a bridal boot camp.

More & more brides are turning to these camps to help them not only loose weight but to also take classes in etiquette, poise & personality.  Bridal boot camps offer the ideal way to slim down & shape up & help brides achieve what may have seemed physically impossible just a week before.   They offer a fitness & nutrition program that will not only help you fit into that stunning wedding dress you ordered, but also help you on the way to a fitter, healthier lifestyle long after the wedding is over.

So what can you expect from a bridal boot camp?  Well many women are finding classes in calisthenics, pushups, running, aerobics, resistance training & much more.  Sessions typically last an hour a day with a full course running for a week, but you will find boot camps will vary in terms of what they offer & the length of their programs.  Boot camps will also provide you with nutritional counseling & personality development classes, as well as offering you the chance to talk with wedding planners, photographers, beauticians & stylists.

It also seems that budding brides do not attend these camps alone.  Bridesmaids, moms & even mothers in law are dragged along too, just to make up the party!  In fact it is a good idea to take along as many people as possible as many camps will offer group discounts for large parties.

Such is the success of these camps that even celebrities are joining them & not just for a wedding, but to get into shape ready for the swim suit season!  They are fast becoming part of the package of indulgencies that a bride treats herself to before the big day so she will look & feel her best when it arrives.

But as with all good things there is a drawback.  They are not cheap.  Training on a month long program could cost around $300, with those camps with a better reputation costing much more.  You will find bridal boot camps advertised on the internet, in bridal magazines & in bridal stores.

In short, these camps are perfect if you are struggling to shift those last few, stubborn pounds & perhaps need the distraction from the wedding planning!  For many brides, bridal boot camps offer them the quick fix to the body beautiful that they are desperately trying to achieve.  Hallelujah!

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Wedding etiquette is a phrase you will probably hear a lot throughout your wedding planning, but do you know which areas of your wedding you should be applying it to?

No worry if you don’t, here is a quick guide to the most common applications of wedding etiquette which you can use for any style of wedding.

Invitations

This is probably the one area that most couples get stuck on.  Who sends out the invitations?  Who is hosting the wedding? & what exactly do we put inside?

To begin with invitations should be worded from the people who are hosting the wedding, so consider one of the following, to suit your wedding…

• Bride & Groom as hosts: Miss Joanne Smith & Mr Paul Jones request the pleasure of ……………. at their wedding.
• Bride’s parents as hosts: Mr & Mrs Simon Smith request the pleasure of …………….. at the marriage of their daughter Joanne to Mr Paul Jones.
• Divorced parents as hosts: Mr Simon Smith & Mrs Jayne Smith request the pleasure of …………….. at the marriage of their daughter Joanne to Mr Paul Jones.
• Evening Party invite only: Mr & Mrs Simon Smith request the pleasure of …………. at an after-dinner evening reception, following the marriage of their daughter Joanne to Mr Paul Jones.

Print RSVP in the bottom left hand corner so guests know you require a reply.  Include RSVP cards with the invitation for a speedier response.

Another good tip is to include maps, transport details & local accommodation.

Running Order

The Ceremony – The running order can be the same for religious & civil ceremonies but remember that a civil ceremony must not include any religious references, which includes any music you play.

The ceremony begins with the entrance of the bride, followed by an introduction, a hymn (religious ceremony), the marriage, prayers (religious ceremony) & readings or blessings.  Finally there is the signing of the register & your exit down the aisle as Mr & Mrs!

The Reception – At the reception your ushers will guide your guests to the car park & then into the venue.  As guests begin to arrive, allow half an hour to welcome them then serve canapés & aperitifs whilst the photos are taken.  Next follows the wedding breakfast & then the speeches & toasts.  Cutting the cake traditionally takes place once the wedding breakfast & speeches are finished.  Your first dance will take place when the evening party begins & your guests should stay until you leave the party.

Gifts

It is traditional to give the mom’s a bouquet of flowers at the reception & you should also have gifts for your bridesmaids, best man, ushers & flower girls & page boys.

Set up a gift registry with a reputable store or website so that guests who want to purchase a gift for you can choose something you want.  On average guests will spend between $30 & $70 each.

Many couples prefer cash or vouchers these days but it is considered bad etiquette to mention this in your invitations.  Ask your family & friends to pass the word around instead.  Another alternative is to put gift vouchers on your gift registry or set up a gift registry with a travel company so you can get vouchers towards your honeymoon.

 By Georgina Clatworthy 

When it comes to your wedding photographs it is useful to give your photographer a list of the shots that you want taking during the day.

Here is a handy list of shots you may want to consider. From pictures at home to shots at the wedding reception, make sure your photographer knows what you want.

At Home

• You in your dress
• You with your mum
• You with your dad
• You with both your parents
• You with your whole family
• You with your maid of honor
• You with your bridesmaids & flower girls
• You touching up your make-up
• Close ups of your hair & accessories
• You & your dad getting into the car
• Your mum & dad

The Ceremony

• Your guests outside the venue
• You & your dad arriving
• Key family members arriving (specify which ones)
• Ushers escorting the guests
• Musicians/choir/organist
• Your groom & best man
• You & your dad walking down the aisle
• Your groom seeing you for the first time
• Exchange your vows
• Wide angle or aerial view of the ceremony
• Shot from the back of the ceremony
• You & your groom exchanging rings
• Signing the register
• You & your new husband walking up the aisle
• Your bridesmaids walking up the aisle
• You & your groom outside the venue
• You & your groom in the car

Before the Reception

• You & your groom
• You & your bridesmaids
• Your groom & the best man
• Your groom, best man & ushers
• Full bridal party
• You, your groom & your parents
• Your, your groom & all your family
• You, your groom & his parents
• You, your groom & all his family
• You, your groom & both sets of parents
• Everyone

The Reception

• You & your groom arriving
• You & your groom entering the reception
• The receiving line
• Group shot of all the guests
• The room from a distance
• Tables centers from a distance
• Table centers close-up
• Place settings
• The table plan
• Your wedding cake
• Cutting the cake together
• The toasts
• The speeches
• Musicians
• Your first dance
• You & your dad dancing
• Your groom & your mum dancing
• You throwing your bouquet
• Your exit together
• The rear of the car as it leaves

 By Georgina Clatworthy

When it comes to modern day wedding photography there are a number of styles you can choose from.  From the formal traditional styles to the modern fly on the wall option, there are a number of styles available.  So when you get to your photographs in your wedding planning which style will you choose?

Reportage

This is the fly-on-the-wall style which aims to capture all the days best moments as they happen & which aren’t influenced by the photographer.

This particular style will suit those who don’t want to spend hours posing for shots & for those who would prefer the more informal look reportage pictures give you.  This is a great choice for relaxed, informal shots of all those spontaneous wedding moments!

However, don’t choose this style if some of your more important guests will be upset that are not in any shots – reportage doesn’t guarantee that everyone will be photographed.  You also shouldn’t choose this style if you cannot afford a photographer who is experienced enough as reportage is difficult to get right.  Whilst the photos may look natural & unforced, there is an art to getting the lighting right & the composition of the shots.  There are also no guarantees as to the shots you will get!

Traditional

The emphasis with this style is on formal portraits of yourselves, your parents & other members of the wedding party.  It will also include posed shots of certain moments throughout the day, such as the signing of the register or cutting the cake.

It will suit those who are having a large wedding & have big families as you can make sure everyone is in at least one picture.  But don’t consider it if you are on a tight schedule as it can take time to arrange the shots & get everyone together.  They can take a lot of time & organization so they are not the easiest option.

Contemporary

This option essentially gives you the best of worlds, combining traditional & reportage shots in one package.  Some will be posed whilst others will be spontaneous shots as they happen.

This will suit those who want shots that only a professional photographer can give them, such as those photojournalism type pictures that capture something really special.

Don’t pick this style if you cannot find a photographer who is skilled enough at both styles of photography.  Some are good at one style & some good at the other so finding one who can do both styles can be tricky.  A good way around it is to hire a photographer who is good at reportage & ask them for some posed shots as well. Make sure you discuss the posed shots at great length with them though to make sure you both know what you want, but don’t ask for too many or you won’t leave enough room for your reportage shots.

Special Effects

Your wedding photographs can have special effects applied to help improve them.  Here are the three most popular techniques.

Cross Processing – This is the process of altering the intensity of the colors to make them bolder.  It is very effective for outdoor shots & can create a dream like almost surreal image.  This works best though on non-portrait style shots.

Spot Color – This is the effective of coloring a certain part of the image which would be otherwise black & white.  This is a great effect for enhancing bouquets of flowers for instance, but the subject needs subtle colors otherwise it can look gaudy.

Color Tints – This is when a color wash is added to a black & white image or when shading is applied to images to enhance the feel of them.  This is a great for technique for photos which you want to make into wall art rather than applying it to just a couple of photos in your album, which may then look out of place.  It is a good technique for warming up black & white images but should be used carefully.

If you want to use special effects on your wedding photographs check that your photographer is experienced in applying them before you book.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Weddings are a time for families to come together & for family feuds & differences to be resolved or at the very least put to one side for the day.  But often family issues are not that easily remedied, so what can you do.

Below is a typical family feud scenario & three options for you to consider when it comes to finding the perfect solution for all concerned.

The Dilemma:

My Fiancé’s family will not stop feauding!  My husband to be has not spoken with his brother for over 5 years & we were hoping that by inviting him & his wife to the wedding, their differences would be resolved.  He says he is thinking about it, but now my fiancé’s sister says that if he does come then she won’t!  How can we solve this for the benefit of everyone?

Option 1 – The soft option

You Play Peacekeeper

If possible talk to them individually, preferably face to face.  Ask what the issues are & if you can help them with them.  However, bear in mind that the more chance you give them to put forward their grievances, the more control they will have over your wedding.

There is also the risk of becoming too involved in other people’s problems & over stepping the boundaries. If you choose to sort out the rift yourself you must be realistic & expect difficulties; it can be impossible to get people to get along by a certain date or for a special occasion & can often be fraught with problems.

Option 2 – The Hard Line

You stick to your decision

The sister has made this feud theirs as well by some sense of misplaced loyalty to your fiancé.  In effect, by not backing down, they are un-inviting themselves.  You should also be asking why the brother is only thinking about coming, are they using the wedding as some sort of bargaining tool or is there another reason?  Be firm & point out to all concerned that you do not want your wedding day spoiled by ultimatums issued by other people.

Sadly, in this scenario there is unlikely to be a happy ending so it is best to focus on plans that will make the two of you happy.  This will avoid feelings of regret & sacrifice later on.  Accept that you are powerless to resolve this situation & you will be all set for a much happier wedding day

In other words, save the emotional energy for better things!

Option 3 – The Compromise

You keep them apart

Splitting them up may be the only way here.  Suggest the one comes to the ceremony & leaves after the wedding breakfast & the other comes to the evening party only.  It will help to reinforce the message that you love them both & that their feud is not going to over shadow your wedding.  This may even have the effect of making them both realize the position they are putting you in.

Talk to each of them & listen to what they say without passing any kind of judgment.  Try to get them to see things from your point of view but without including the person they are feuding with.  Letting them see that you are struggling to include everyone you love may make them reconsider their position & they may just work with you to find a compromise.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

If you have had enough of other people telling what you should be doing & what you should be having on your wedding day, then take this short quiz to find out how assertive you will need to be to get the wedding that YOU want!

1. Your parents want to pay for the wedding reception but you prefer that they don’t.  Do you:

A. Accept it graciously after all they have been waiting for this day since you were born. Secretly though you will try to keep the costs down.

B. Tell them that you would prefer to pay for it yourselves as you don’t want to have to explain how you are spending the budget.

C. Offer a compromise & ask them if they would rather pay for the flowers instead as they will be a fixed cost & will avoid any nasty surprises.

2. You want your bridesmaids to wear a particular style of dress & shoes but they don’t. Do you:

A. Allow yourself to be overruled after all it is 3 against 1! They are helping you out loads so you agree to let them choose the style of dress & shoes they want.

B. Put your foot & explain that as you are paying for the outfits you would prefer things your way.

C. Compromise – they choose the dresses & you choose the shoes.

3. You have chosen a posh buffet for your wedding breakfast but you mother-in-law questions your decision. Do you:

A. Alter your plans. If she doesn’t like it then other family members might feel the same way.  Besides you were concerned about long queues of people anyway.

B. Stick with it.  If she disagrees then it’s probably a good choice!  Teach her a lesson & book a second one the evening do as well!

C. Give in & agree to a sit down meal, but give each guest a selection of dishes to choose from for each course.

4. Your Vicar is not keen on your choices of modern songs for the ceremony.  Do you:

A. Bow to his demands & instead play your songs at the cocktail hour.

B. Put forward the view that these songs have particular meaning to you both & it’s not like they are inappropriate!

C. Compromise to playing just a couple of songs whilst you sign the register.

5. Your Fiancé’s choose of best man is someone whom you revile.  Do you:

A. Accept his choice – after all he isn’t telling you who your bridesmaids can be.

B. Explain your feelings & hope that he puts them before his friendship.

C. Make some innocent suggestions as to why he wouldn’t be suitable i.e. ‘can you trust him not to loose the wedding rings?’

6. You are being put under pressure to invite some people whom you have never met or even heard before today.  Do you:

A. Give in & invite them, it isn’t worth arguing over.

B. Put forward that you have other people who are more important to you to invite & who would miss out if you invited these other people.

C. Send them an evening invite, but post it at the last minute.  With any luck they won’t want to come anyway!

The Results

Mostly A’s… Your big heart could be to your downfall at times.  If keeping other people happy, keeps you happy then by all means continue.  But if you find yourself giving in to everyone’s demands just to keep them happy you will end up with a messy wedding that will please no-one, least of you.

Mostly B’s… Now you know exactly what you want but unfortunately all that determination can hurt the feelings of others.  Try to take the time to listen to other people’s suggestions – you never you might just like what you hear.

Mostly C’s… Top of the class – you are a master at wedding diplomacy.  Just be careful that you are not too subtle when turning down suggestions, some people need it spelling out to them.  Remember that if you stand firm with your decisions in the right way, you shouldn’t upset anyone.

8 Ways to put them behind you 

By Georgina Clatworthy

Wedding planning can be a stressful experience for all concerned but mostly for you & your fiancé.  You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t fall out at least a couple of times in the run up to the wedding day.  Make sure you are still talking by the time you get to the aisle with these eight tips for making up.

1. Try to set aside at least one day a week when all wedding talk & bickering, is banned.  Have a romantic evening in or at a special restaurant & try to remember what it was that attracted the two of you together in the first place.
2. Never go to sleep on an argument.  Always kiss & make up before morning no matter what the argument was over.
3. Make a list of priorities for the big day.  Write down separately what you feel are the five most important things to you about the wedding & then compare your list with your fiancé’s.  It will help the two of you focus on what is really important & you can refer back to them if you start to loose your way with the wedding planning.
4. Realize when an argument cannot be won.  Perhaps you are both right or maybe both wrong.  The only way forward in such a situation is to change the subject & move on.
5. Diffuse the tension with some laughter.  A little humor can go a long way to making you both see how silly the argument really is.  Pledge that when ever one of you starts to moan about something, the other has to give you a kiss!
6. Make lovemaking your priority.  Staying intimate with each other, even just hugging & kissing will make arguing a lot harder.
7. Try to look beyond the wedding.  Your wedding is just one day & even though it will be special, so will the rest of your lives afterwards.  Spend some time talking about your hopes & dreams for the future & the goals you both want to work towards.  It will help focus your minds & take some of the pressure off.
8. Let it go! Your wedding day is about love & happiness.  Things may well go wrong, you may well overspend on the budget but you should just stay cool, calm & relaxed, accept what’s happened & concentrate on marrying your true love.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

The general rule of thumb for wedding photographs is to allocate between 5 & 10% of your total wedding budget.  As it is such a big investment on your part, what will really matter is what you get in return.

Many photographers will retain the copyright to your pictures – it is their work after all.  This mean that if you want re-prints you will have to pay extra for them, so make sure you find out the cost of these beforehand so you can add it into your sums.  Be careful though as it can easily add hundreds to you bill.

As well as the above you will also need to know the answers to these 8 questions:

1. How many hours’ work will you do for the price & are your travel & accommodation costs included?
2. What are my choices of album & how many pictures are included in the price?
3. Are there any special deals or discounts available? – check the payment schedules including how much deposit you will need to pay to secure their services, also ask when the balance is due.  Some photographers will give you a discount if you book & pay upfront.
4. Can I purchase the rights to my photographs? – you may be able to get digital image files with a usage rights agreement so you can make your own prints.
5. What about added tax?  – beware of photographers who quote prices without tax added in, it can be a sign that they are trying to make their prices look artificially low.
6. Is there a practice run included? – it could be an idea to practice posing together & get an idea of what looks good, as well as what doesn’t!
7. What happens if we run over schedule? Will you stay on & charge us the extra (remember to ask how much this will be) or will you leave at the agreed time & miss our speeches or first dance?
8. When can we expect delivery of our photographs? – many couples like to have a preview of their images either online whilst on honeymoon or from a CD-rom sent to them.  Hard copies can take a month or two to arrive after your wedding date.

And Finally…..

It is often worth paying that bit extra for a larger selection of photographs.  If your budget is tight don’t be tempted to opt for a cheaper package or a lesser quality photographer.  The best way to save money is to hire them for a shorter time – ask them to just photograph before & after the ceremony.  Ask a friend to take pictures during the reception & provide your guests with disposable cameras for some quirky shots throughout the wedding reception!