Stop and smell the... wedding?

A married friend had some fabulous advice that I would like to share with the world. It may sound a little obvious, but as crazy as wedding days can become, I think the more reminders to just slow down and enjoy, the better. On your special day, try to hit the “pause” button periodically. Just stop and take in the moment, dwell on the goodness, the beauty, the joy, or maybe the humor- whatever there is to savor. Try for a little “Zen” if you will: be fully present in the present moment as much as possible. For example, when you are walking down the aisle, take time to make eye contact and smile at loved ones around you. It can be tempting to just beeline for the altar while keeping your eyes on the groom, but taking note of some of the faces around to support you will enhance the moment for you and make your guests feel extra special. I could keep giving examples, but what could be a special moment will vary for each person, and the main idea is to cultivate a mindset so that you really stop to take in and enjoy to the max all the pleasures your wedding day has to offer.

Color Me Happy: Some Thoughts on Choosing your Wedding Palette

I have, on more than one occasion, had the interesting experience of trying to help a bride find a bridesmaids dress that will match her table linens. By “interesting” I really mean incredibly frustrating and difficult. Most bridesmaids dresses come in a variety of colors, but it somehow seems that once a bride has settled on an exact shade to match, finding it is always problematic. There may be only one fabric from one designer that is just right, and figuring out which it is can be a headache, plus then we are limited to the styles that come in that fabric from that designer, which the bride and bridesmaids may or may not even like. Yipes! Here are some hints to save yourself some stress as you plan your day.

1) Don’t nail down your colors for other items until you’ve looked for the bridesmaids dresses and gotten an idea of what’s out there. You may find dresses in the perfect color you were thinking of, but if this turns out to be difficult it is will be far easier to find linens or cummerbunds or whatever that will work with the dresses than vice versa.
2) Rather than choosing just two colors as the basis for your décor, pick an inspiration piece and work from that. It could be a bowl of fruit, a bouquet, a unique scarf or a plate, a handbag… there are limitless options. You will still end up with a few dominant colors, but this can help you work in interesting accents.
3) If you do end up with one or two dominant colors, rather than trying to match everything, go for various shades within the same family of those colors- this will add depth and richness to your scheme. One of the most beautiful weddings I have seen did various shades of pink from fuchsia to primrose. Yummy!
4) Your bridesmaids dresses don’t have to be in the “wedding colors” (i.e. match the invitations and the ribbons on the chairs), they just have to compliment. If you’re doing vibrant flowers, you may want your maids in a more neutral tone so the flowers really pop. Or if you’re in love with a color that doesn’t flatter anyone in your wedding party, work it in to the décor and put your girls in a color they’ll shine in.

(The first image is of a vintage scarf I could base my wedding scheme on. I’d put the the bridesmaids in black with flowers in rich oranges and pops of green- my favorite!- everywhere possible. For those of you who are not so into the vintage thing, behold this lovely photo with vibrant bouquet and more subdued bridesmaids dress.)

Strike a Pose!

You've got the gowns, hair, and makeup set?
There's something else you can't forget:
If you want great pictures of your special day,
"Practice makes perfect!" is what they all say.
So as you prepare to say "I Do"
Practice posing in front of a mirror too!

Here are a couple of links to pages with some things to think about as you smile for those cameras!

http://www.aisledash.com/2007/11/29/pose-like-a-celebrity-tips-for-perfect-photos/

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/picture-perfect-practice-posing?rsc=taxonomylist-b_fashion-and-beauty_makeup-and-hair&lnc=34d477c119b1d110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD

Preservation: A Quick Primer

Here are a few things every bride should know about taking care of her gown after the big day. You can get a lot more detail elsewhere on the web, but here are the basics.

1)If you really want it to last, go pro. Find a company with an established reputation and be sure to find out the details- what they guarantee and don’t for example.

2)Get it taken care of sooner rather than later. The faster you get the gown in, the better the chance there is of removing stains, etc.

3)Keep it clean. Even if the gown doesn’t look dirty, it may have picked up oils and dirt from the day that can yellow over time, and if it has visible stains of any kind those need to be dealt with.

4)Whatever you do, do not store it in plastic long term! The gown needs to breathe and in plastic moisture can build up over the years- not good! There are different options, but you basically want acid free paper or muslin around the gown, and then some kind of acid free or ph balanced box or container.

5)Remember, light and temperature extremes are not your friends. Under the bed or in the back of your main closet are good places to consider for your gown’s permanent home if you want to keep it happy.