Tag: bride

The Benefits of Hiring Local Wedding Vendors

February 8, 2018MBEhleAdvice, Seasonal, Shopping

Local vendors are often a go-to choice when couples are planning their wedding ceremonies and receptions. As the “shop local” movement grows in popularity, weddings present a prime opportunity to embrace this movement. Couples may have different ideas regarding where to tie the knot, but local vendors can be hired regardless of geography. Brides magazine says the biggest factor influencing wedding location is the size of the guest list and the number of people who wouldn’t be able to attend if the wedding was in a particular locale. Hometowns might be the traditional choice regarding wedding location, but the XO Group says one in four couples now host destination weddings. Once couples choose a town or city to host their weddings, they can begin exploring the benefits of working with locally-based vendors.

Familiarity

Local vendors will be familiar with the area and possibly even the location where the wedding will be held. That can help couples avoid having to give directions, discuss venue protocols, and handle other tasks that must be worked out with non-local vendors. For example, local photographers familiar with a particular venue will know all of the best places to get shots, and some vendors may have preexisting relationships with venue representatives that could ensure wedding day operations go smoothly.

Proximity

Local vendors can meet with brides and grooms more readily throughout the planning process, making things less stressful on the happy couple. This also makes it easier to drop off deposits, attend meetings, make fitting appointments, or attend styling sessions.

Savings

Couples who travel for their weddings and employ local vendors will not have to pack as much. Using local vendors eliminates the need to bring along bulky dresses, decorative items, flowers, and much more. Plus, couples needn’t pay to transport and house vendors brought along from back home.

Environment

Individuals who take great strides to conserve resources by reducing their energy consumption and protecting the environment often find that shopping local is beneficial. Local vendors are more likely to source their materials from other local businesses, reducing their carbon footprints along the way. For example, local caterers may rely on local farmers for their foods, affording couples the chance to host eco-friendly or even farm-to-table weddings.

Wedding Tools Make Planning Easier

January 11, 2018MBEhleAdvice

Ensuring an event goes on with minimal hiccups takes patience and thorough planning. This is especially true for weddings, when many elements must merge together for a memorable day. Today’s couples have a bevy of new resources at their disposal to facilitate wedding planning.

The internet makes vetting vendors and reading reviews that much easier, but wedding-related apps also can simplify wedding planning. The following are some top picks as culled by Wedding Shoppe, Inc., The Knot and Lifehacker.

• Wedding Spot: Couples can search for their ideal wedding venue based on location, budget, styles, and capacity. The website enables users to plan their ideal weddings and get cost estimates based on guest list and options. Users also can access discounts and exclusive deals.

• Wedding LookBook: This app enables couples to browse through thousands of dresses, accessories, jewelry, and much more. The app will help customers find products in their area.

• Shutterfly: This photo, invitation and image-sharing tool can be an inexpensive place to create save-the-date stationery, invitations, and photo memory books.

• Appy Couple: This app and website helps couples manage their budgets, timelines, wedding parties, and seating charts, while also allowing them to share photos. There is a free version and basic packages that allow access to more features.

• iWedding Deluxe: In addition to managing timelines, to-do lists and vendors, this app offers inspiration ideas for gowns, manages and tracks gifts, and offers first dance suggestions from iTunes. However, it is only available to iPhone users.

• AllSeated: This tool can help couples figure out seating arrangements by creating 3D floor plans of the event, and couples can pull contacts from email and social networks to establish a guest list. If floor plans are unavailable in their database, they can be drawn.

• The Knot’s Marketplace: With the click of a button, couples can search for wedding vendors in all different categories, read reviews, and directly connect with those businesses.

• HitchSwitch: Brides or grooms who may be changing their names can do so in one convenient place. Three different packages cater to various name-changing needs.

• Vistaprint: These stationery specialists offer an array of services, from cards to invitations to personalized envelopes. Once a design is chosen, Vistaprint will offer add-on suggestions for coordinating items, helping to create a cohesive look for the festivities. Wedding websites, apps and more can streamline wedding planning.

Beat the Heat During Summer Weddings

June 25, 2015MBEhleAdvice, DIY, Seasonal, Summer

May, June and July consistently rank among the most popular months to get married. These months typically provide pleasant weather, and if it does rain, it’s often in the form of a brief thunderstorm.

But summer weather can be extremely hot, and while a sunny, warm day may be perfect beach days, such conditions are not always ideal for weddings, especially weddings that take place outdoors. If wedding-day weather threatens to be very hot, explore these methods to staying cool.

· Choose a later start time. A late-afternoon wedding may be the way to go in the summertime. The temperature usually drops a bit in the early evening, even though the sun won’t set for a couple of hours. That lingering summertime sun allows the bride and groom to enjoy an outdoor ceremony and still take beautiful outdoor photos.

· Rely on shade and proximity to water. Shade can be your friend when the sun is blazing. If your outdoor wedding is in the early afternoon, keep temperatures under wrap by seating guests beneath umbrellas or inside a tent.

· Tie the knot near the water. Breezes off of the water also help combat the heat, so a lakeside or beach wedding can make hot temperatures more manageable.

· Wear breathable fabrics. Opt for lightweight fabrics instead of heavy gowns and full tuxedos for the bride, groom and wedding party. Cotton and linen allow air to flow through clothing, helping people to stay cool. Light colors also will help deflect the sun. Bridal gowns made of chiffon, silk or satin may feel luxurious and help tame the heat.

· Have beverage tables. Keep canisters of cold beverages at the ready so guests can easily quench their thirst. Fresh lemonade, iced tea and water with a few sprigs of mint can help guests ward off dehydration.

· Make fans and hand these out to guests. Homemade fans of thick cardstock and popsicle sticks can keep guests comfortable. Such cards can double as thank-you messages or ceremony programs.

· Tailor the reception menu to the weather. A large, heavy meal may not be what guests are hoping for when temperatures are especially hot. In such situations, provide some cool, light fare, such as chilled salads or cold soups, as first courses. Sorbet can be a cool palate cleanser, and grilled meats and vegetables will make for a satisfying, light main course. Ice cream cake may be a decadent option in lieu of more traditional wedding cake.

· Choose hairstyles and makeup wisely. Brides may prefer up-dos to keep hair off of their necks and allow for breezes to cool their bodies. Rely on makeup primers and powdered foundations so that makeup does not melt in the heat. Waterproof cosmetics are adviseable so that perspiration won’t cause makeup to run.

Summer weddings are preferable, and couples can take several steps to make sure they’re both beautiful and comfortable.

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