For anyone that has ever met with me regarding their wedding flowers, I have a battle cry that I state over and over. Pick a theme and stick to it.

How does this save you money on your wedding flowers? Honestly, it’s not about having tons of flowers everywhere, it’s more about creating a lasting impression. Impressions are more easily made when a distinctive color theme or flowers are used over and over. How often have we seen flowers for a wedding where there are 5 or 6 bright colors all mixed together and after the event is done it’s hard to recall what flowers were used or even what the exact color theme was. The eye finds many colors and too many texture to be confusing, leaving more of a confused impression instead of a favorable one.

Don’t forget that you should be looking for your wedding flowers and decor to represent you as a couple. No one would ever disagree, throwing a wedding takes lots of work, planning and money. Picking a striking but simple color combination for your flowers and decor will not only it make it easier for you as you plan your details, it will also keep you from doing over the top decor that will break your budget.

Happy Wedding Planning!

—

Authored by Georgianne Vinicombe of Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co.

Georgianne Vinicombe is the  owner, along with her husband Kevin, of Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co, which is a full service florist with locations in Princeton, New Jersey and Yardley, Pennsylvania. She especially loves doing weddings and is honored when families chose our shop for sympathy flowers for their loved one. Monday Morning Flowers currently has over 20 associates working in the shops in the areas of design, sales and delivery. She and her husband love to travel and where ever they go, they are sure to visit any local flower shops they find, looking for inspiration!

We released a poll a couple of weeks ago asking our users what they would like to see on the site. The overwhelming response was the ability to upload your music directly to the site and the chance to buy and use your own domain name, like www.PaulLovesKatherine.com.

You asked, we listened! Presenting two great new features.

Music

Anyone with a premium site can upload MP3s to their site. Uploading music directly to your site allows you to:

• Play music on your site without interruption. Music will no longer stop and start every time your guests view a new page on your site.
• Bypass music widgets. Most music widgets are complicated to setup and their service can be unreliable. Save yourself the pain and hassle!
• Control how you want your music played. Setting playlist options like repeat and autoplay are a click of a button away.

Check out an example of our music player at work on our premium example site (password is momentville). To upload music go to the Settings->Music tab once you’ve logged into your site.

Personal Domain Names

If you’ve wanted a special domain name for your wedding website this feature is for you. Finding and buying a domain name can be done easily without having to leave your MomentVille site! It is also available for both free and premium sites.

Step 1 involves logging in and going to the Settings->Web Address tab. Step 2 involves seeing if the domain you want is available. Step 3 involves choosing how many years you want the domain for and filling out a single secure payment form on our site. All of it takes less than 5 minutes.

Although buying a domain through MomentVille is the easiest and most convenient way to setup a personal domain name, you can also buy a domain from any seller and transfer it to our site. You will need a premium MomentVille site to transfer it though.

These 2 features along with the 70 new wedding website themes we released earlier in the week have kept us busy. We hope you enjoy using them!

Cheers,

The MomentVille Team

Selecting a wedding photographer is possibly one of the most impactful decisions you can make during your wedding planning. Your wedding photos should last a lifetime and be a direct reflection of your special day. A good wedding photographer will capture the essence of your wedding and convey that emotion through the images. Here are five simple tips to follow when searching for your perfect wedding photographer.

* The Internet is Your Buddy
Most brides (and the occasional groom) know that the internet is a very valuable tool when researching vendors and looking for wedding inspiration. Directory sites like momentville.com are great for searching through a ton of resources all in the same place. This saves you time and puts great vendors right in front of you. Once you have developed a short list of photographers whose work you love based on your initial impression then you can really dig into each site individually. Many successful photographers operate blogs. Checking out a photographers blog is a great way to learn a little more about them, find some more recent work, and even peak into their personality. These days if a photographer doesn’t have a website my suggestion would be to skip them. If they aren’t using the web they are most likely extremely outdated or not serious about their profession.

* Your Cousin/Sister/Aunt/Friend
You might be tempted to skip the expensive professional wedding photographer and use your best friend who has a great camera. Please don’t make this mistake. Wedding photography requires experience to do it right. There are a hundred things that go on during a wedding that you must capture, correctly, the first time. A professional knows where to be, what to look for, and how to capture an image unobtrusively. Professional photography gear is also critical for shooting wedding. Many times off camera lighting or specialty lenses are needed that most hobbiest just don’t have.

* Chemistry
It really is all about chemistry. Make sure you take the time to interview the photographer you are considering. This is a very common and acceptable practice and if the photographer is not happy to meet with you before hand, move on. Your wedding day should be fun and relaxing, if your photographer doesn’t “click” with you it will only create stress. After booking your photographer you should feel confident that they are reliable, trustworthy, and can deliver the photos you expect.

* Product Overload
Your first encounter with a photographer might seem a little overwhelming. There are literally hundreds of available products and services for you to choose from. My advice is to select a photographer based primarily on their skills and images. Product can usually be added at any time after the wedding. Don’t choose a less talented photography simply because they offer a free print or promotional product.

* Background Check
A few questions you might want to ask your prospective photographer are:

1. Are you a full time photographer or part-time?
2. May we see a completed wedding (all images.)
3. May we have a few references to contact?
4. Are you insured and is your business registered?

These questions will give you a better idea about your photographers background and wether or not they are legitimate. If the photographer acts offended or defensive it may be a sign that they are hiding something.

Just remember, go with your instinct and the selection process should be a fun and enjoyable experience. Happy hunting!

—

Authored by Phil Thornton from Nashville Wedding Photographer.

Phil Thornton is a Nashville Wedding Photographer who owns and operates Phindy Studios with his wife Mindy Thornton.

Today we’ve launched 70 new wedding website themes. Each of these themes are paired with modern wedding invitations from our partner Modern Girl Invitations!

Now you can get a whole range of modern, stylish wedding stationery that match the theme of your wedding website. You can get save-the-date cards, invitations, thank you cards, and other stationery all in the same color and style as your wedding website. There are a lot of designs to choose from, and most of the designs come in a range of colors.

If you see designs on ModernGirlInvitations.com that you really like, but you don’t see in our themes, be sure to let us know!

Are you doing your own hair?

1. Time your practice session and make a list of all of the tools and products you will need. If you are not going to be in your home, you will need to plan and pack well.

2. If you are doing your hair at your home put everything in a basket and hide it away to bring out fresh and ready for your special day.

3. Schedule times for showers.

4. Make sure there is a mirror and a counter or table to work from.

5. Make sure there are proper outlets, if not bring a power bar and extension cord. Older inns and Bed & Breakfasts’s may not have as many outlets or one near good lighting.

6. Put all of your pretty under things on first and cover up with a button down shirt or robe. This way after hair and makeup are done, just slip into your gown!

Is a stylist traveling to you?

1. Give exact, adequate directions and phone numbers. Many times brides give the directions they follow and forget the stylist may be coming from the opposite side of the highway. Or make sure she has GPS.

2. Have a spot prepared and set up for the stylist to work. It can be a large bath room, a well lit dining room or kitchen. Put out hot pads or thick towels to protect surfaces from hot tools.

3. Don’t assume the stylist can do extra people last minute. Make sure everyone who is having their hair done is mentioned ahead of time and arrives promptly.

4. Be ready yourself and allow extra time for interruptions.

Are you going to a salon?

1. Schedule your wedding day hair appointment at least eight weeks ahead.

2. Have a practice session at least a month ahead and bring a picture of your dress and your headpiece with you to the salon.

3. Record your travel time from the salon to where you are getting dressed.

4. Add on extra time for getting dressed and make-up if the salon is not applying it.

5. Ask for more than one stylist to help with the wedding party. Three stylists for a party of six is the best bet for staying on schedule.

6. Schedule all nail appointments for the day before, this also saves time.

7. Don’t expect to get your favorite stylist to do your wedding hair if you desire an intricate Updo. This is a specialty service and best left for the salon’s updo expert or team.

The Morning of Your Wedding covers this subject as well as many others and is a must read for every bride. Whether you are getting ready at home or at a hotel or other venue find great tips about stress, family issues, scheduling, petcare, food issues and more. No other book covers this hetic first part of your most important day. Be prepared!

—

Authored by Gretchen Maurer.

Gretchen Maurer was approached to write the first ever, bridal-based hair industry book, The Business of Bridal Beauty, published by Milady Publishing. A licensed stylist since 1980, Maurer noticed there were too many wedding morning horror stories and wanted to see everyone’s morning of a successful beginning to a very important day. This first book was a step toward educating the salon industry and stylists.

Maurer taught seminars, classes and performed at hair shows for 12 years, presenting information to stylists to help them better serve their bridal clients. The wedding industry became Maurer’s next audience, namely wedding planners, whom she felt needed to know the inside of the salon industry. Once involved in The Association of Bridal Consultants, she spoke at many meetings and seminars.

In 1998 Maurer developed and created Weddinghair.com. In 2002 weddinghair.com was voted the #1 wedding beauty site, by Brides magazine! The web site offers over 100 wedding hairstyles each created by Maurer. Each style is photographed in a step-by-step format with simple DIY directions available for FREE in a down loadable PDF file. Her first book, along with the web site, has fostered many interviews, articles and hairstyles to appear in numerous national and local magazines and web sites.

Although Maurer did many on location weddings while working in a salon, by 2000 she left the salon environment and became a fulltime on-location bridal stylist. Traveling to numerous unique locations and servicing weddings of all sizes and budgets, Maurer experienced many chaotic and frustrating wedding mornings. Now with the help of The Morning of Your Wedding, every bride will get an inside peek to how that day might unfold, so she can be prepared for her best wedding day ever!

In the last couple of weeks, more than half of the envelopes I have addressed for brides have had square envelopes. If you are concerned about postage, make sure you take into consideration when looking at invitations that the square will cost more in postage, in some cases up to $1.00 each to mail. When the price of stamps went up, the postal service actually lowered the price of what I refer to as the “bridal” rate stamp (they used to be $.63 and now they are $.58 each) but the price of squares went up a lot. A small square envelope might be able to use lower postage (but not as low as a $.42 regular stamp) but it would have to be about 4 1/2 inches or less. Always, even with non-square invitations, make sure you take one completed invitation to the post office to have the weight checked before buying your stamps.

—

Authored by Maren Nicholas of DreamWeaver Calligraphy

As a wedding professional for over 15 years, I have participated in hundreds of celebrations. As a result of these experiences, I have developed 14 tips that will make for a better wedding reception. The more you can adhere to these tips, the more likely your reception will be a success!

1. Strongly consider an indoor over an outdoor reception

This first tip can be one of the biggest impacts on the success of your event. Let me start off by saying some of the most beautiful and enjoyable weddings I have been a part have been held outdoors. However I have experience numerous events impacted negatively due to hot or cold temperatures, rain, wind, and complaints of the music being too loud from venue owners and/or their neighbors. People can’t enjoy themselves if they are not comfortable. Every bride envisions their wedding day having temperatures in the 70’s, sunny blue skies with no wind or rain when in reality that isn’t always the case. In 2008, I had 5 outdoor weddings that were impacted negatively by adverse weather or sound complaints. By having an indoor wedding you eliminate a whole host of problems from these environmental factors that can negatively impact your reception. If you have a summer outdoor wedding, consider having it later in the evening when temperatures are more comfortable and the sun has set.

2. Entertainment should be a focal point of your reception

Don’t cram your entertainment off to the side. Entertainment should be seen by all the guests. Powerful entertainment will work to fill the dance floor and must be seen as part of the action, not just the side show.

3. Where you seat your older guests is important to their enjoyment

Older guests should never be seated by the dance floor or near the speakers. This should be self explanatory.

4. Too small of a dance floor is better than having one that is too big

It creates the illusion whether real or not that the floor is full. In doing this people are more likely to dance when the crowd is dense rather than feeling they are the only ones out there. Take it from the people who know about dancing and motivating crowds, not from venue manager trying to sell you why a large dance floor is so important. If people end up dancing on the carpet or grass, the story of how your dance floor was so packed that they couldn’t even fit on it only further reinforces my point.

5. Darker is better than lighter for dancing

People feel less of a spectacle, less on stage when they think they are harder to see. That is why crime increases at night. If you are having an outdoor reception in the summer, consider having it later in the evening when the temperature is more comfortable and the sun has gone down and there is less light. One great advantage of an indoor reception is you generally can control the lighting in the room to achieve this effect.

6. Keep the exit doors closed

Having doors open invites people to their cars. It also lets light into the room which works with the same psychology as tip #5. You want to keep the focus in the reception room as long as possible. Brides and grooms should never stand by the exit door unless they want people to leave. I’ve seen rooms drain guests rapidly one by one when the bride and groom stand by the exit door.

7. Bar & Desserts should be in the same room as the entertainment

These are popular draws for people’s attention and can pull from the dance floor. If possible, have the bar and/or dessert table near the dance area as part of the whole entertainment experience. Oftentimes when the bar closes, people get the impression that the party is over. We strongly encourage you to keep the bar open the full length you plan on having entertainment.

8. Happy music keeps things going

Avoid choosing any songs that have a negative message. Respect the musical opinions of your DJ, since we do this for a living. A fundamental rule with music is people will not dance to music they do not know. Your reception is not the place to play obscure music that can negatively impact the dance floor. Let the disc jockey exercise his tools and really work his craft that you are paying him for.

9. Consider not doing a dollar dance

Why? When the bride and groom are doing this, the guests realize they can’t be seen slipping out the door and can definitely stop the momentum of a great party. If you want to do a dollar dance, do it early after the main dances and limit it to three songs.

10. People remember the beginning and end of an event

This is why we strongly recommend having your DJ play during the cocktail hour and have him do a powerful grand introduction to begin the reception. This helps your disc jockey build a rapport early and puts him in a more powerful position to work your crowd all night long.

11. It’s best to have all traditions, speeches, and photographs of the bridal party done and out of the way before the dancing begins

I have seen more parties lose steam because the bridal party has pictures taken after the bridal dance. Please have all your pictures done with your photographer before dancing begins. You may have to invest an extra hour earlier in the day, but it will save you from losing momentum and potential on your dance floor.

12. Consider having your rehearsal dinner two nights instead of one night before the reception

Why? I have seen bridal parties that were hung over the next day. They were already burnt out and it makes it difficult for the disc jockey to build any inertia throughout the evening.

13. A party should end when it shouldn’t end

Ending a party before it dies down leaves everyone the impression the floor was packed all night and nobody wanted to leave. It just feels better when people leave wanting more verses being totally burnt out with just a few guests staying to the bitter end strolling out of the venue.

14. If you have to cut corners, don’t compromise on your entertainment

I have heard from many clients who attend weddings prior to their own where there is no DJ present and they described how dead and unorganized the reception can become. It’s not just the music, it’s also the interaction, announcements and dancing that makes hiring a skilled DJ an excellence choice. We don’t just play music. We Emcee your event and help smoothly transition from one event to another. We also offer a variety of fun activities that can enhance your event. Also consider how a DJ can enhance the experience not just for you and your guests, but also the photographer and videographer to capture some really great images of your celebration.

—

Authored by Dave Meine from DJ Dave’s Mobile Disc Jockey Entertainment.

Dave Meine is a leading wedding entertainer from Boise, Idaho. He has been designing successful wedding celebrations for couples for over 16 years.

In a time when the environment is one of the most important topics on the minds of everyone, even brides are looking to “do their part.”

Giving “green” favors to guests isn’t a trend - it’s a way for a couple to give back. Not just to guests, but to their children, and their childrens’ children. To the world.

As we become more aware of the consequences of our daily lives upon the earth, people are more appreciative of the little things - like the wildflowers they pass in a field while driving to work, or the perfectly blue sky on a clear, sunny day.

No longer looking for China-made pewter that takes extensive gasoline to export and ship, (mainly due to its weight,) guests are happy to receive plantable favors, bio-degradable packaging, and even notes on recycled paper stating that a donation was made in their name to an earth-friendly charity.

Seed packets and seed tin favors are a favorite among 2008 brides, as are lavender sachets among bridal shower hosts.

Companies like bloembox are making headlines on Oprah, the Today Show, HGTV, and FoodTV, and in major magazines like InStyle, Woman’s Day and Family Circle, with their “eco-friendly” floral seed favor tins and boxes

More companies are jumping on board, but it’s not a bandwagon their joining. It’s a movement.A change. A change in the way we’re all thinking. A change in the way we’re all living.

When planning your wedding, no matter what the theme, consider giving your guests an earth-friendly favor at your event, and make your mark on the world while making your vows to your partner.

Not only will you feel good about it, but your guests will appreciate it too!

—

Authored by Tiffany Lamothe of Favor Bonanza.

Tiffany Lamothe is owner of Favor Bonanza - an online retailer offering wedding favors, bridal shower favors, anniversary favors, and more.

Just when it seems that you’ve navigated hundreds of decisions, and had near-missed tizzies with just about everyone involved in your wedding - ANOTHER hard decision! What to give your best friends for helping you through this blessed event?! Here are some helping guidelines:

• A gift that will remind them of your wedding after it’s over. Think durability.
• A gift that is conducive for all your bridesmaids irrespective of fit or size
• Think of something that they can wear or have with them on the day itself
• It would be ideal if your gift helps co-ordinate their look at the same time.

For all the reasons above jewelry makes an ideal gift. By buying affordable jewelry gifts for your bridesmaids you solve two problems at the same time: their jewelry will now co-ordinate with each other (while matching their dresses) AND you’re giving them a wonderful gift that they will be able to appreciate long after your wedding.

Some great ideas are: matching earrings, matching pendants, or a matching set. It’s even better if you can incorporate an accent color at the same time. For instance, if you have pink as an accent color you can choose pink stones (cubic zirconia) in the jewelry.

You may also want to think of your own bridal jewelry and select toned-down versions of that theme. For instance, if you are wearing multi-stranded pearls, you can choose simpler single-stranded pearl necklaces for your bridesmaids. Freshwater pearl necklaces would also be lovely since they are more playful than traditional pearls.

A very popular trend in jewelry right now is cubic zirconia set in sterling silver. Cubic zirconia, or CZ for short, have come to resemble diamonds so much in recent years that the diamond industry is seriously worried. It is also very common practice for people who can afford diamond jewelry to buy cubic zirconia instead. It’s easy to understand why with the price difference. For example, a gorgeous “O” or “Circle of Life” pendant with real diamonds is prohibitively expensive compared to a sterling silver and CZ pendant at $49 from Custom Couture Bridal.

Far from costume jewelry, these quality pieces are made with the same care as their diamond counterparts. At this modest price point it is possible to deck out your girls (and yourself!) in beautiful bling without breaking the bank.

—

Authored by Christianne Brunelle of Custom Couture Bridal

Christianne Brunelle is a wedding dress designer, jewelry designer and is the founder of Custom Couture Bridal (http://www.customcouturebridal.com)

When planning a Florida beach wedding, it is important you keep in mind the reception. While everyone comes to see the two of you conjoin and become newlyweds, it is the reception where the real fun begins. Here are four tips for your Florida beach wedding reception.

1. Local restaurant

It is best to hire a local restaurant for your reception as oppose to a caterer. Using a local restaurant can save you a lot of money over hiring a catering company. They will take care the food, service, and anything else you need.

2. Hawaiian theme

Having a Hawaiian theme for the wedding reception can be fun and nice. An example would be roasting a pig or having fresh pineapple. You cannot go wrong with seafood or a barbeque as well. Everyone likes that and it goes with the theme.

3. Using a boat

Florida is known for its beaches, boats, and anything that has to do with the water. A creative idea for your wedding would be to get an old boat and fill it with ice, drinks, appetizers and anything else you can think of. It is creative, fun and sticks with the overall theme.

4. Use your company

The last tip for your Florida beach wedding reception is to consult the company that you hire. They are going to have a plethora of ideas and advice for how to plan the perfect reception. The more advice you can get, the easier it will be for you to enjoy your day stress-free.

—

Authored by DJ Miller from an article on Destin Beach Weddings. Visit the website for more information about Florida Beach Weddings.