Surround yourself with those who make you happiest...

The bridal party may or may not be one of your most important selections during the planning process. Who you and your groom chose to be bridesmaids and groomsmen is a direct reflection of you.

photo: www.pinterest.com

Be sure to select men and women who know you and your groom’s personalities and will make this special day a fun experience filled with love and laughter.

My best advice for choosing bridesmaids is to chose women who you know are going to be supportive and willing to help make your planning experience more enjoyable. 

As far as choosing a maid of honor goes, it can be one of the most stressful decisions of the entire process.

Most girls believe that if they have a sister she is automatically the first choice. In my opinion your maid of honor should be the woman that is most supportive of you in all aspects of life.

photo: www.pinterest.com

Choosing your sister is always an easy way out of hurting all of your close friends feelings. However, she will be overly honest with you in some cases, which could turn in to your feelings being hurt.

Before you automatically select your sister, carefully evaluate how great your best friend would be at this job.

For me I do not have any siblings so the choice is much easier. 

It has been a known fact for pretty much my entire childhood that my best friend Calley will be my maid of honor.

The reason that I know she will make a great maid of honor is because she is always supportive of my decisions and keeps me grounded.

Planning a wedding can become extremely overwhelming and stressful and it is important to have that strong support system to keep you sane.

Now, as far as choosing the rest of your bridal party there has never been a set number for the amount you should have. After doing some research and watching others plan their weddings, I would have to say that most brides have between four and nine bridesmaids.

photo: www.pinterest.com

We all have good friends from many areas of life including high school, college, and maybe even work so be sure to represent a nice balance of these groups in your wedding party.

photo: www.pinterest.com

Make sure that these women are respectful of your decisions because you know as well as I do, when it is time to pick out their bridesmaids dresses the claws will come out.

You want to surround yourself with a wedding party that will wear whatever dress you select for them with a genuine smile on their face.

Today many brides choose not to include their groom’s family members in their bridal party. The more traditional views on selecting bridesmaids and groomsmen have been dusted under the rug.

Although, if you are a traditional bride then including your groom’s sisters or other family members is a great way to show respect. Selecting these women will show your future in-laws that you care about their opinions and want them to be a part of the planning process.

My goal with this post was not to select your bridesmaids for you but instead to help with the daunting decision.

Remember that if the glass slipper fits...then your bridal party will be a supportive group willing to help make this planning process a delightful experience. 

Traditional, Breathtaking, Unique...

If you are anything like me your wedding venue was chosen a long time ago without your consent. This scenario involves my mother and her vision of my wedding.

My parents were married on the Texas Christian University campus at Robert Carr Chapel back in the 1980’s. Ever since I was born my mom has dreamed of me one day carrying on the family tradition and getting married in the same chapel my parents were married in.

 photo: www.robertcarrchapel.com

At first this idea was not appealing to me in the least. I wanted to chose my own wedding venue and do something different that represented me and who ever my significant other might be.

You may have absolutely no relation to that story and if not it’s okay. I am here to give you tips for choosing the best wedding venue in Texas.

I am choosing to discuss venues in Texas because that is where my knowledge is most helpful. Major cities like Dallas, Austin, and Houston have venues that would satisfy any bride’s dreams.

 photo: www.greatoaksmanor.com

For the more traditional bride a church or family house may be the best choice.  Getting married on huge southern plantations is a popular trend. Below is a picture of Great Oaks Manor in Houston, Texas.

This venue is a great option for a southern bride who is really in touch with her roots and loves the idea of an outdoor wedding.

photo: www.villantonia.com

Another option for an outdoor wedding would be the Villa Antonia in Austin, Texas. This venue overlooks the beautiful hills of Austin and is ideal for the bride who is all about breathtaking moments and captivating pictures.

Brides with a little bit of flare usually go for venues that are slightly obscure. Examples of this would be marrying in an art gallery or even an old warehouse downtown. The Dallas Museum of Art is a great option.

photo: www.dm-art.org

Don’t be afraid to choose a venue that you think others will question. This will leave your guests intrigued making for great conversation throughout the wedding and even days later.

Wowing guests with your venue choice is always a great option. Whether you chose breathtaking views, the traditional chapel, or an art gallery your location will tell a story.

Wedding planning is all about telling the story. It is about showing those who know you best what your relationship means.

As I have said before if the glass slipper fits…the wedding venue you chose will tell a story that last a lifetime.

Palettes that Satiate Your Taste...

Selecting a dress is the hardest part of the wedding planning process. Good thing that should be over with by now. If not don’t sweat it, the dress of your dreams will find you.

The dress is the centerpiece that holds the entire wedding together. Once it is selected the bride is usually overcome with an immense amount of inspiration for other elements of the wedding.

The next important aspect of wedding planning is choosing the color scheme. Most brides find this to be an easy task at first. Your initial instinct may be to go with a color that you would wear on a day-to-day basis.

This is not what I would suggest doing because in most cases the hot pink that you love to wear out on the town is not suitable for one of the most important days of your life. 

Photo: pinterest.com

The most popular colors for spring are usually bright and fun but also subtle enough not to be confused with summer color combinations.

photo: pinterest.com

This year is no different. The most popular choice for wedding color schemes is tangerine tango. This color is bright but also subdued enough to not be confused with summer schemes.

In wedding terms spring is considered the season of rebirth. The weather is starting to get warmer and all of the flowers are in bloom.

Photo: pinterest.com

Frequently chosen schemes include yellows, lime greens and soft turquoises. In order to tone down these colors and create a softer look some brides may chose to incorporate shades of cream and white.

Photo: marthastewartweddings.com

My personal favorite color combination for spring is sheer citrus and pink. I know what you are thinking. Earlier I gave advice not to necessarily chose pink for a wedding but if it is executed correctly the color can actually turn out fantastic. 

Photo: pinterest.com

For many brides picking a bouquet color helps in picking a color palette for the entire wedding. To the right is an example of a beautiful bouquet that follows the guidelines given for spring wedding palettes.

The color palette you select should bring out these qualities while still creating a vision that you and your groom both agree exhibits the unique aspects of your relationship.

 

Always Remember that no matter which color combination you decide on, it will truly be what works best for you because if the glass slipper fits…the perfect color palette will reveal itself. 

You have the great guy and great ideas, now what?

photo: Fresh from God Photography

When weddings first come to mind I cant help but think of all the stories you hear growing up about little girls who experience life and meet the man of their dreams all to eventually live happily ever after.

I have slowly come to realize that this is only a small piece of the puzzle. Many brides think that the perfect guy is all they need and that the special day will figure itself out. 

photo: pinterest.com

For others who are not so fortunate, the planning panic begins instantly.  Overwhelming questions haunt the bride-to-be such as, what day will be best? What dress fits my personality? Who will we invite and what food will we serve?

Never fear, if you are feeling completely overwhelmed and in need of help you have come to the right place. This blog will guide you through those crucial details, keep you calm and act as your virtual maid of honor. 

Having a "trendy" wedding is not a priority for every bride, but for those of you that are interested in trends, lets start out with something the seems simple, yet extremely important. Picking the dress.

Spring 2012 is full of new opportunities to find the perfect dress. The most popular dress trend for this spring is lace sleeves. It’s funny to think that this modest trend was big in the 1980s when my parents got married and is now making its return.

photo: theknot.com

photo: fashionista.com

photo: theknot.com

Kate Middleton’s dress choice was the talk of the town for months. Brides saw her lace sleeve choice in a new light. Instead of portraying a woman of a certain age the trend now portrays elegance of a queen.

Another popular trend for the spring season is beaded bodices. Strapless dresses that contain intricate beadwork are paired with minimalist skirts in order to draw attention to the upper body.

Other trends that are being seen walking down the bridal runway are slits, illusion sleeves, and nontraditional colors.

Whether you chose one of these trends or something different, remember to choose a dress that shows your guests who your true personality.

I hope that the advice I have given provides you with the confidence to go out and find your perfect dress. Don’t be afraid and always remember that if the glass slipper fits…your day will be special no matter what dress you chose.