Keeping it Together

Staying organzied while planning your wedding is key, and there are tons of great books and planning tools out there to help you avoid getting frazzled. The budget-minded bride can find everything she needs to stay organized without spending a penny if she knows where to look online. Here's a link to a great tool for keeping your bridal party organized and on track, as well as figuring out how much each girl needs to budget once everything is included.

http://wedding.theknot.com/bridal-fashion/bridesmaid-dresses/articles/a-comprehensive-bridesmaid-worksheet.aspx

Mix and Match Maids: Pros and Cons

Having each bridesmaid in a different dress is an increasingly popular option for wedding parties these days, with good reason- everyone can choose a dress they like and feel comfortable in. However, there are some potential issues brides will want to be aware of if this is the route they choose. First, most manufacturers will not guarantee dye lots with different style dresses, even if they are in the same fabric. (If you’re planning to do different colors as well as different styles this won’t be a concern.) Ordering gowns in the same fabric from the same designer will minimize potential variations, but there is never a guarantee. A potential benefit with this is that since the dye lot isn’t going to be guaranteed even if they’re all ordered together, each maid can place her own order wherever it’s most convenient for her. Second, if careful thought isn’t given to coordinating the looks of the girls, the overall effect can be sloppy and distracting. This can be true even if you keep the same style and do different color dresses. It can work and be gorgeous, but trying to make sure everyone ends up with something that will work with the other dresses can be more challenging than trying to find a single dress that will work. So, keep these things in mind as you make your plans!

For the MOB's and MOG's

Mothers aren’t the stars of the show on wedding day, but they should dress for the role of best supporting actress. The ultimate rule is of course that what the bride says goes: If she approves, you’re fine. It is also technically the Mother of the Bride who should choose her outfit first, with the Mother of the Groom deferring her choice. In my opinion, it looks a little silly to have the mothers match the exact wedding colors, or both wear the same shade of color (see picture!), but either of those is better than clashing, and there can be some exceptions. If navy, black, or a dark brown is one of the colors, then it can work for the mother(s). Periwinkle blue or red, not so much. Also, avoid white or ivory, unless it’s lace trim or maybe an accent. Some of my favorite mother’s gowns are from Collection 20 by Watters and Watters. They have lovely fabrics and very classic, elegant styles. Also, it’s perfectly acceptable to wear an appropriate bridesmaids dress- no one needs to know! If anyone else has advice/ideas, feel free to comment!