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How exciting…Time to talk about your wedding cake ! I LOVE this one. So if you are doing this on  your own
(WITHOUT A PLANNER)   choose 3 bakers first. That way you won’t be overwhelmed. Remember if your budget is somewhat limited think simple & elegant. Wait until you have attended all your tastings before you commit to one. You won’t believe how many flavors there are !

2) Choose your rehearsal dinner venue and book it. This dinner can be as casual or elegant as you wish. I have noticed that lots of couples are going for the more casual to take the stress off their budgets.
3)  Dress fittings:  Make sure that you have chosen your shoes prior to the first fitting so that you can bring them with you. Bridal shops are great places to look for accessories But I have an even better resource for you ! For the most exquisite Bridal jewelry, hair accessories, veils & sashes check out Bella Bleu Bridal  All of their pieces are very well made and absolutely gorgeous.  So back to fittings…definitely start them at 4 to 5 months prior to the wedding so you will have your dress at least 2 weeks before your wedding.

4) Check with your stationer to see a sample of your invitations. Make sure they are exactly the way you want them. This is your last chance to make changes.  
5) Choose your music for the ceremony, your presention at the reception, your first dance & of course music for your guests to dance to. Make it very clear what you like & what you do not want.
6)  If you have not already done so choose & purchase your rings.
      You will need time to order them if they are custom made and for perfect sizing.

  Happy Spring Brides to Be !  Six months out you definitely should have a meeting with your maids about:
1) Their Dresses !  Here’s why you should have a meeting…Presumably you have a color in mind and your maids will go along with your choice. But everyone has some insecurity about their bodies & what they look good in.
So sit down with them and show them your ideas about color & style. If you are flexible, a great trend that I have seen a lot is having one color in various styles. That way everyone can be happy ! Ann Taylor is definitely just one store where you can accomplish this.

2) Shop for & purchase invitations. If you have the budget for a calligrapher, hire one immediately.
    If you are in Chicago & are looking for custom designed invitations or save the date cards Lidia Varesco
of  LVS Design is a great source.

3) Sit down with your fiance`and plan your honeymoon. Here are all the important items to take care of besides your destination.
a) Budget – That’s huge and controls your Hotel choice, Travel agent ? and Flights.
b) Book your flights EARLY… about 10 months before your wedding.
c) Look for hotels & book one. The earlier the better, so you can get the one you really want.
d.) Travel Insurance
e) Passports, Visas (if necessary) & vaccinations if you are going somewhere exotic.

4) Send save the date cards.

5) Meet with your officiant and discuss with him or her how you would like the ceremony.
     If you are having a destination wedding ask the hotel for a referral.
6) Jot down all the wedding day events ( with your Mom or friend or planner) & organize them
into a timeline. This is the perfect time to check in with your makeup and hair team & organize a timeline with them.

Next time, Four months out. Rehearsal dinner, Wedding Cake
your accessories & more !

Hello Brides to Be !  I think that for most women the next section is the most thrilling part of this process. By now you have pulled photos of gowns & found  where your favorites are carried. Please give yourself time for the shopping. You may discover dresses that were not in magazines & if time is on your side you can try on several and have a wonderful time at the bridal salon. Nine months is a good time to find a dress so that you can have at least 3 fittings.

2) Entertainment    Whether you desire live music or a great DJ recommendations are the way to go. Of course if you have been to weddings & events where you loved the music, interview those first. When you find your favorite book them immediately.

3) Catering    Some venues offer their own caterers of course but if they do not, consider your reception time of day & the type of cuisine you are looking for. Again if you had great food at an event you attended start there first. They will do a tasting for you. When you’re sure hire them !

4) Out of Town Guests     If people are attending from out of town book rooms for them. Many hotels will discount (especially in this economy) for a block of several rooms.

5) Bridal Registry    It’s a good idea to choose a few places to register. Yes it takes time but giving guests a choice is a wonderful & thoughtful idea, especially if you know that some guests may be on a budget.

6) Free Wedding Website     Many Bridal Websites offer couples a personal page to list their date, venue, photos, guests’ hotel etc. One great site for this service is Wedding Wire  
They also have lots of fabulous resources & ideas.
After you establish your site send your guests the link.

        Next blog:  Six months out: Bridesmaids dresses,
invitations & more!

                                                       

Happy Belated Valentines Day brides to be !  Thought I had better get busy with continuing the Planning Guide Since there were many engagements between Christmas & February 14th.                
So we begin with 9 months out.
1) Shop for your Makeup & Hair team. Get recommendations from friends who have similiar tastes. Try to go with quality as opposed to price and if possible try out a few & take photos at the trials. Also, these people will be spending several hours with you & your bridesmaids & Moms. Make sure they are friendly & likable.
2) Florists. Again, Check out the wedding websites. Usually if a vendor has lots of good reviews they will be winners ! Go to your meeting with a firm idea of what you want and beforehand check out what flowers will be in season on your wedding day.

3) Hire your Photographer & Videographer     Ask other married friends for recommendations and look at their albums & videos. Also ask your makeup artist for photographer references. They are particular & have a good eye.
Ask to see entire weddings from these 2 vendors. You want to be positive that your vision is the same as theirs.
Acquire references from them & call these brides.
I feel a small studio is a much better way to go because you are dealing directly with the people who will be shooting & filming your wedding.
Also find out how long it will take to get proofs & that you see them before they go online.
            
Next.. in a couple of days I promise; Your DRESS, entertainment, caterers & more.
        Have a great day !

Hello Brides to be !  So you just got engaged. Congratulations !  And you already may be feeling a bit over whelmed…OMG WHAT DO DO FIRST !!!  The key is to have a solid planning guide.

The guide that I will be giving you is based on a one year plan though of course you can adjust it to your own timetable.

1) Start a bridal file and fill it with photos from Bridal, Cooking and Home magazines & websites. This will inspire you and help you choose your Dress, Jewelry, Flowers, Table Design & Cuisine. Pinterest can be a great resource for this. Start your own wedding Pinterest Site !

2) Put your budget together. If family members are contributing
    combine your wedding savings with theirs & begin to decide how  
     you will allocate the funds.
3) Choose your Bridal party. Both you and your Fiance should work on this together.
4) After shopping for & choosing a venue, book the date.
5) The guest list.  Of course you need to discuss this with parents
     Just keep in mind that there will be many other costs to be considered so if you don’t have a big budget you may have to be strong on this point. People will
be understanding about this.

6) If your budget allows hire a wedding planner to help with all the details and the vendor search .
     But you Can find vendors on your own….there is plenty of help out there. One Wed, Wedding
     Wire and Wed Plan are great because vendors are reviewed by brides. Good idea to start your
     search now & give yourself 2 months to decide.
7) Book your officiant.

Next time we will talk about florists, makeup, hair, entertainment,caterers and other important things to do nine months out.

Hello everyone, I was going to blog about wedding planning tonight. Then I watched the Benefit for the victims of the hurricane and decided that more important things had to be said. I’ll keep it short & not preachy.
      For those of us who did not lose a loved one
and who have a place to go home to… we are so lucky. I know that things are rough for lots of us That money is tight & some of us have to work 2 or more jobs to make ends meet but think about those people on the Jersey Shore & Staten Island.
They have lost everything.
 So if you have just $10 please send it to the Red Cross & help.  Think of how fortunate you are tonight. I know I am.

Happy Fall Brides !
Autumn Weddings are very popular now. Cooler temps and lower humidity are much more desirable than sweltering summer days.
So let’s talk about the finishing touches on your bridal makeup.
    Blush should take a “back seat” to the rest of your makeup. Keep it in the same color family as your lips. Use a really good brush, not the one that comes with the product. Do not take it down lower than the halfway point between your nose & mouth and lightly powder over the blush to give it a more professional, natural look.
Now, for your lips. Lips are sooo personal. Most women are not going to make an extreme change in lipstick on their wedding day.
    For the woman who wants a natural look I suggest a neutral lip colored pencil all over the lip followed by a low key or clear gloss.  If you are going for color please match the pencil to the lipstick. No lip pencil lines!!!  To help keep the lipstick on longer blot and powder between coats. Then finish with a moderate amount of gloss.  Lipcolor REALLY pulls the whole look together so even if you never wear it do a natural color. You will look so much more wonderful in your photos.
Have a beautiful Weekend !

Great Tips for Brides to Be: DIY Bridal Makeup Tips Part Two / Foundations:   Happy Spring Everyone!                  We are having an unusually early Spring here in Chicago. Everything is green & in bloom…it’s so…

Happy March !
         Spring is on the way & wedding dates approach more quickly than you can imagine. So if you are a future bride or bridesmaid and are planning to do your own makeup I have detailed, helpful tips for you.
Part One: Skin Care   Have fun with this…remember it’s for your wedding!
          I know you are 20something and your skin feels fine so you don’t think you have to moisturize. There is a moisturizer for every skin type…oily,combination or dry. You don’t have to spend lots of money to get one. Drugstores now have a wide range of skincare products for all skin types. If you feel unsure or worried about allergic reactions see a friend recommended dermatologist.
          If you break out when under stress it’s a good idea to see a dermatologist well ahead of time to ask about a product that will help.
Also if you want to have a facial before your wedding have one
at least one month before. This is really important, believe me.
Have a simple facial if you have not had one before and use an esthetician who is highly recommended.
                                                          Now for brides 30 & over ! All of the above applies plus eyecreams
are a real plus. The skin under the eyes are the first part of the face to lose moisture.If you are a regular makeup wearer regardless of age be sure to cleanse well. Your skin will thank you.
                          OK, here’s the bottom line. You will feel great & look gorgeous on your very special day
in person & in your photos if you take good care of your skin.
        Part Two / Foundations is coming in a few days. Have a wonderful weekend, Wendy
                   
                     
       

Hello All ! I know that you have not heard from me
in a long time. Life & work get in the way of blogging.
But I’m back !
        On Saturday we did a lovely wedding at
The Public Hotel in Chicago. This is the home of
The Pump Room, where every public figure since the
1930s has come to dine. What a great job they did renovating this beautiful landmark hotel, from head to toe.
         My wonderful bride Iris (to the left) was such a pleasure to work with. Her stepmom Peg, her sister
and bridesmaids were all terrific. They were fun to be with and were so loving to Iris. They took really good care of her and attended to every detail.
Plus regardless of timing pressure Iris was sooo patient & sweet and maintained her great sense of humor.
They are all very fortunate to have each other & we were very lucky to spend the day with them.
I hope all future brides will be blessed enough to have this sort of wedding day !
                                                                                  See you soon (REALLY !) , Wendy