According to a recent study by Conde Nast Bridal Media American Wedding, the average woman gets married at 27. While this accounts for the majority of brides-to-be, there are still many women who are butting the trend by kicking off the union with a bun in the oven. This group is led by influential ...

Aside from the bride, the wedding cake is one of the most important focal points of the entire reception. However, while it’s crucial that you choose a cake that is aesthetically-pleasing, it’s more important that the cake tastes delicious. And keep in mind that just because a cake looks...

Many people are predisposed to thinking that a destination wedding is the cheaper way to go . . . in actuality, a destination wedding can be much more expensive. Depending on how far you plan on traveling, you’ll need to figure in the cost of plane tickets and hotel rooms for yourself and the ...

One of the best ways to kick off the ceremony is with a memorable entrance and exit. There’s nothing more exciting than pulling up to the wedding in a Rolls Royce convertible. This could make more of an impression than a couture wedding gown; while what you wear and say will be forgotten withi...

For many people, choosing the maid of honor can be complicated. Sometimes the choice is between a best friend and sibling; in this situation, what do you do? Do you pick (a) your best friend you’ve known since childhood, or (b) your older sister? While playing favorites seems childish – ...

Struggling with the wedding expenses isn’t uncommon – in fact, almost 93% of couples have to borrow the funds from a parent. If you find yourself in this group, you may be pulling out your hair at this very moment trying to figure out your money situation, or lack thereof. Unfortunately,...

After wriggling into a wedding gown that pinches your midsection into bridal perfection, you’ll be in need of some comfy shoes. For the bride who loves super-chic heels, this can be a tough call. As hard as it may be to tear your eyes away from the racks of five-inch heel dazzlers, the entire ...

Having trouble trying to figure out how to include a friend or family member in the wedding ceremony? If he/she is a good public speaker, you may want to consider requesting them to act as your wedding officiant. Nowadays, getting ordained to marry is a much easier process – in many states you...

For the past year you’ve stuck to a regimented work-out routine, completely rid your diet of fatty carbs, and have seen your aesthetician more than you’ve seen your groom-to-be. This should be all the ingredients you need in order to have a blissful wedding day, shouldn’t it? Unfor...

Finally! – Your boyfriend popped the big question. Rather than feel excited, you’re suddenly overwhelmed with thoughts on how you’re going to handle your split parents. You’re not alone; 50% of people have parents who are divorced or on the verge of separation. No matter what...

Who ever said that a bachelorette party had to be a wild night of booze and strippers? While lap dances and martinis in dark clubs is a recipe for the exciting and unpredictable, it can be a poor choice for the shy bride. If you’re the maid of honor and fully in charge of planning the pre-wedd...

Most women have at least 5-30 dresses in their closet at any given time; the bridal gown is not just another smock to add to the collection. It stands alone as the most important garment that a woman will put on her body during her lifetime. If this isn't enough reason to make sure that it's exact...

1. Spread the Word Your boyfriend finally popped the big question and you've been up all night trying to notify all of the essential people via phone.  After repeating the proposal story for the 30th time, you may feel the temptation to climb up on your rooftop and shout it out in one shot for...

Brides hear “wedding budget” and they go into panic mode. That word implies that the wedding must be modest enough to fit within certain financial constraints – and most brides assume that the wedding of their dreams is bound to cost a small fortune. If you find yourself in this ...

Achieving a radiant and healthy look on the day of the wedding may take weeks of preparation. While some brides may naturally exude an effulgent quality, others will need to work a little harder. Don't be discouraged about where you factor in on the scale – with a little effort you'll get th...

There's no better place in the whole wide world that would be more ideal for a romantic honeymoon getaway. Picture this: endless miles of pristine white coral-sand beaches, lush foliage climbing up posh resort walls, and green mountaintops which reach high into the blue sky. After just one hour of...

Flowers and plants can make a big difference when it comes to a wedding. In fact, the right balance and placement of lush arrangements can turn your small event into an elegant affair. While there are many beautiful ceremony and reception venues, chances are, it can still use a little sprucing up....

The only way to get great photographs is to hire a talented and professional wedding photographer. This may cost you an arm and leg, however, you'll be glad you paid the higher fee. In the end you'll be left with beautiful shots and montages which aesthetically represent everything you felt on tha...

When it comes to knowing what's “hip” in the wedding industry, there's only one person to turn to: celebrity wedding planner, Marcy Blum. Since 1986 she's been helping brides express their innermost fantasies in the most elegant way possible. Her attention to detail is impeccable; in ...

According to the Chinese, there is a reason why the wedding band is designated for the fourth finger. They think that each digit constitutes an important person in your life; similar to how a palm reader views each hand crease as a representation of life, heart, and head. Below is each finger and ...

As much as we would all like to celebrate our wedding reception in the best resort in town, it's time to face the financial facts. If you pull enough strings and borrow money from parents and the bank, sure - you may be able to afford it. Question is: do you want to come out of the wedding with de...

If you or your partner have a pet that is just as much a part of the family as your own siblings, you probably want to include them in the ceremony. This should be pretty simple to accomplish, especially if he/she is easy to train and well-behaved. In no time at all, your dog or cat will be trotti...

In today's world, every single person in the world between the ages of 10 and 40 visit the Internet on a daily basis. It only makes sense that you would want to create your very own personal wedding website. It's affordable, convenient, and will make your life much easier! Rather than call you fo...

Why spend months trying to find a reception venue that suits your theme and location when you can create your own for the same cost? If you've never been to an event under the billowy ceiling of an outdoor tent, you're missing out. A tent wedding can be much more elegant and romantic than most ban...

Choosing the right combination of colors for your wedding flowers is a huge decision. Once you make your choice and start picking out bridesmaid dresses and matching table settings, there will be no going back! It's essential that you feel 100% confident about the color theme so that in the end, t...

When it comes to the wedding, it's normal for brides to only be interested in advice from the experts; you've been dreaming of this day since you were a little girl and it's important that your aspirations are accomplished in the best possible way. You don't have any time to spend on any one aspect...

The only way to keep your guests on their toes is by planting small surprises around every corner. If your wedding is too monotonous, it will be quickly overlooked and forgotten. It's important that your wedding conveys your own style and individuality. Try to stay away from imitating other weddi...

Some brides want to have a proper and elegant reception, while others want the festivities to feel light-hearted and happy; the difference is the absence and presence of kids. Figuring out what you want could be difficult. The fact of the matter is: if you decide to allow children to attend, it's ...

Any professional wedding planner will tell you that the overall success of any party relies heavily on the details. It's not about having 5-star cuisine or spending a ton of money on floral arrangements – while these things can help add to a wedding reception, they can be extremely expensive....

The wedding invitations and seating cards can be a little complicated. What information do you disclose? How should you structure the details on the actual card? When should you send them out? These are important things that you should know before you start picking out patterns and font types. ...

Although this is your special day, the guests are important too. Without them, there would be no wedding! So be considerate and as accommodating as you can possibly be. Your friends and family have come to see you and share in the excitement of the day – so make sure that you spend some tim...

There's no better place in the world for a first-class honeymoon than on an Hawaiian island. Imagine it now: you and your partner, lounging on the beach with a mai tai in hand, and nothing but clear blue waters as far as the eye can see. There's a reason that Hawaii has quickly become the hot vac...

In order to attain ultimate wedding prosperity, you may need to cut out some of the excess. “Think outside the box.” Don't be afraid to take the wedding by the horns and really move things around. The wedding can be whatever you want it to be. Instead of trying so hard to make your b...

The all-encompassing purpose of the wedding photo album is to convey a story. If you like your tales to be straightforward and simple – you won't have any problem finding a photographer who can meet your ordinary standards. However, if you are more interested in stories that are both complex...

This seems to be the most popularly visited question prior to the wedding planning. It's an important aspect to know; you need to be aware of how much money you can spend, what you're paying for, and who to go to for further monetary assistance. While many view having the parents pay as a rather a...

The celebrities know just who to employ in order to make the wedding perfect. From the white Gucci slippers to life-size ice sculptures – everything about a star's reception screams style and elegance. If you're looking for the same posh pizazz for your nuptials, it would be in your best int...

When it comes to the marriage proposal, timing and preparation goes a long way. If you couldn't get the ring you wanted – don't worry about it. You can make up for anything that the wedding band lacks through conscientious proposal planning. The most fundamental element in regard to the pro...

The most helpful advice is, more often than not, straight from the horses mouth. In other words, directly from a professional source. And in the case of wedding florals, Mathew Robbins is the one to go to for ultimate assistance. He is the co-founder of the New York store, Artfool, an uptown and ...

The wedding color scheme is one of the first determinations you need to make before you can even plan out the more important details. It will help to set the entire appearance and mood of the ceremony and reception hall. It's vital that you not only pick colors that you favor, but that you also se...

The purpose of the wedding reception is for everyone to relax, bask in the celebration of the new marriage, and have a generally good time. For many guests, this is going to be impossible without the aid of a few alcoholic beverages. It's for this reason that it's essential that the bar is well-st...

The average couple spends around $20,000-$25,000 on the wedding ceremony and reception. In many cases, these expenditures don't include the honeymoon or the wedding rings! If you're looking at your bank account and wondering how you're going to come up with the rest of the cash for your wedding bu...

If you're having the ceremony outside, an arch is a given. It highlights the end of the walkway and draws the guest's eyes inwards; it adds character and dimension to an otherwise plain space. It's such a simple structure that can be built in a few different ways, each which are all easy and cost-...

In today's day and age, you can get married anywhere, and in whatever manner you wish. Contemporary couples are throwing all traditions out the window and grabbing hold of current customs and ideas. And why wouldn't they? Half of the traditions we follow were made up by the generations before us ...

There's nothing more satisfying than pulling up to the ceremony in a vintage Rolls Royce. When considering your wedding transportation, think “big.” There are dozens of companies in town equipped with a wide assortment of revamped vehicles – each perfectly suitable for your elega...

The wedding photographer is one of the most important key players in regard to your nuptials. After the tables are broken down and the chairs put away, you'll have nothing to show for the money you spent except for a few memories, and of course, the pictures. Invest more of your money into this ar...

It's important that you get the most for your buck when it comes to your honeymoon vacation. A recent survey taken within the last year revealed that couples are spending between $2000-$5000 on their trip. A few poor choices and you could wind up spending thousands of dollars on top of the base ex...

Picking out the flowers is always an enjoyable part of the wedding planning. What's more fun than mixing and matching hundreds of flowers in an attempt to come up your own personalized creation? You may just discover in the midst of all of the floral chaos that your own dashing husband-to-be has a...

The wedding dress is the most important element of the wedding planning process. Any bride-to-be will tell you the same thing. The color, style, cut, length – very important things to consider. You could spend months agonizing over the details and never reach a consensus with any one bridal...

Music is an essential element to both the ceremony and the reception. You can completely transform a space with the right music choice. Unfortunately, coming up with a strong and memorable play-list for the ceremony alone can be difficult. Next comes choosing an exit song to conclude the ceremony...

While finding a great ring is important, it's not the sparkle of the diamond that's going to get you the “yes” you're looking for. Trust us, it's not necessary that you drop $5,000 on a 4 carat diamond in order to impress; you can manage this through thought, planning, and careful consi...

The wedding vows are probably the most important aspect of the wedding ceremony. It's an opportunity to say everything that's important to you in regard to the person you're about to spend the rest of your life with. It can be funny and heartfelt, or romantic and tear-jerking. You can refer to mo...

The first thing that your guests see in regard to your wedding are the invitations. For this reason it's vital that your wedding invitations not only correspond to your wedding theme, but that they are also elegant. Whether you have a company print them for you or write them out yourself, make sur...

We're not going to lie: planning a wedding is hard work. While movies like to dress it up and make it appear glamorous, what they generally depict couldn't be further from the truth. If you're not willing to put in long hours and you lack the fundamental skills necessary to organize large projects...

Every bride needs some help when it comes to planning out the wedding reception. If you're going at the preparations alone, you may find yourself having a nervous breakdown on the day of the wedding. Before you even pick up the phone to call local wedding vendors, you should write out a comprehens...

It's important that the food and drink at the wedding reception is good, because for many guests, it's the only meal that they're going to get all day. There are ways to ensure that these elements are a success without spending a tremendous amount of money. This is good news for the couple who can...

Accommodating the wedding guests doesn't mean going all out with high-class wedding party favors, a live band and expensive wedding reception food. You can be hospitable in other ways and make them feel just as appreciated and significant. Your guests already know and accept the fact that this is ...

Nowadays the average wedding reception could cost anywhere from $20-30,000. That's an absurd amount of money! On average, most couples don't have those kind of finances to expend. Thus, they are forced to go to great lengths just to obtain the monetary resources which will allow them to have the ...

Planning the party details for a wedding reception without any outside help is a huge project. It becomes so stressful that even budgeting couples cry out for a bridal consultant. Of course you want one (you're surely crazy if you don't!), but you just can't afford it and so you just have to make ...

The entertainment is perhaps the most crucial element of the entire wedding. Years after the wedding, your guests won't be able to recall what the flowers looked like – many may even forget the style of your dress – but they will all remember whether or not they had a good time. The on...

Getting 150 guests properly fed is a huge responsibility – you can't give that task to just anybody. There are so many things that could potentially go wrong when it comes to the food and drink aspect of the wedding reception. It's essential that your wedding caterer (or company) that you en...

We have a secret to tell you: the wedding cake is more important than the reception food! This was the general consensus from a few wedding guests who have attended more than a few weddings in the last couple years. While people will quickly disregard what was served as the main course and what th...

When selecting your wedding photographer, use the same consideration as you would when trying to choose a fine wine. Start off each and every consultation by asking to see samples of their work. You can't make a decision based off of one picture. Every working photographer will have one or two gr...

This is one part of the wedding that cannot go unplanned. If your groom to be thinks he’s getting out of wearing a penguin suit when you’re going to be all dolled up in white, he should think again. (Unless of course, you’re going for a more casual, beachside affair. In that case, ...

If you’ve picked out your wedding dress, or even if you’re not quite done shopping, you’ve probably already picked out the color for your bridesmaid dresses. But there are always more decisions to be made when planning a wedding. Later on we’ll have some local resources to as...

If you’d like to share your wedding vows on a beautiful beachside blanket of sand, you have a few things to consider first. The nagging question in the back of your mind is probably: What will we do if it rains? That is always a possibility. You can plan a backup indoor location for the recept...

If you are planning to elope, but you don’t yet have the dress—relax! There are plenty of bridal shops who can work with your time-frame, many of which can even get you an elegant wedding gown for a fraction of the price! Because spur-of-the-moment weddings are common, retailers have ple...

Choosing a wedding caterer is a big job. You have to find a company that not only makes delicious food, but one that is up to date with health and safety inspections and more. If you are having a large wedding, you’ll also need to find a company that can comfortably handle the size of group yo...

Congratulations on getting this far in your wedding planning! If you’ve set the wedding date and have gotten most of the key details out of the way, it’s time to choose the wedding gown that will make you feel spectacular on your big day. After you’ve decided the general style ...

If you think a Vegas-style wedding is cheesy and contrived, think again. Today’s Las Vegas weddings can be far from the cookie-cutter chapel experience, or the famous drive-through wedding chapel. With world-class Las Vegas hotels lining the Strip, you can figuratively travel the world by v...

What more could you ask for – the reception site is picture-perfect and your wedding gown is exquisite? Well, if you’re like most brides, you’d still like to dress up your wedding ceremony with a few beautiful flower arrangements, as well as a bridal bouquet and a boutonniere for y...

You should be able to find plenty of places to rent a wedding tux. But because of the number of weddings constantly going on (over 120,000 a year!), you’ll want to reserve a tux early if at all possible. If you pick up a tux on your way to the chapel, you may end up with a poorly fitting suit ...

So you’re planning your wedding? Congratulations! You have a lot of decisions to make as you go through the wedding preparations in order to make that special day happen. Your first decision is to pick a date and reserve your wedding ceremony and reception location, because those can fill up f...

There is one cardinal rule of wedding tuxedo shopping: Don’t pick up the tux from the shop the day before the wedding. This allows you to make sure that the measurements were taken correctly and all is well. Although this seems to make sense to many women, some men just don’t understand ...

If “landscaping” your wedding day with beautiful flowers and tropical greenery seems like a big chore, don’t sweat it. Your biggest job will be to pick out your wedding colors and visit a competent florist who can plan out the rest. When you visit a florist for your personal co...

Unless you want your guests to get hungry and leave your reception early, it’s best to plan some kind of food to be served to your guests. And since it’s your special day and you’ll be very busy meeting and greeting friends, family, and strangers, you won’t want to deal with ...

You want your wedding ceremony and reception to be perfect. Yet there are countless details all piling up during the wedding planning and you can’t believe sometimes what you’ve gotten yourself into. Relax! A wedding can be anything you want it to be. So if a lavish affair with 400 guest...

One of the best little secrets about shopping for a wedding tuxedo is not how suave your man will look on the big day. It’s how much you can save by taking up the formalwear shops on their frequent promotions. For example, many tuxedo shops will offer special discounts or promotions, such a...

Choosing your wedding florist should be a cinch once you’ve selected your color palette. Unfortunately, this is not always the case as some brides and grooms disagree on matters such as a floral budget…and the need for those rare, out-of-season blooms that “simply must be shipped ...

The traditional wedding is set outside a historic southern mansion, amidst jewel-colored gardens where guests can bask in the warmth of summer. But if that is not your preferred wedding fare, you’ll be happy to know that today’s bridal couples are gravitating towards personalized wedding...

The idea of eloping is thrown out at some point with every engaged couple, especially when wedding plans get overwhelming. But for some couples, eloping can be a good choice. If you don’t care about having a huge wedding with everyone and their brother witnessing your personal commitment and d...

Wedding planning equals stress, especially for the bride-to-be. The endless planning can easily become overwhelming instead of exciting. Bachelorette parties are a great time to escape the non-stop planning, spend some quality time with the bride’s best friends, and celebrate the bride and her...

Before attaching the “ball and chain” around their ankle, most guys want a chance for one last freedom ride with their best buddies—one last chance to act as manly as possible without getting nagged by a woman. Enter the bachelor party. The first requirement of a bachelor party is ...

You’re now in the midst of planning your wedding. You’ve squared away all of the big wedding planning details, like your wedding date, preliminary budget, number of guests, reception hall and ceremony location. You may have even found and ordered your dress, booked a caterer, squared awa...

In many ways, your timeline for wedding planning depends on how long you and your fiancé are planning on being engaged. Couples who want to tie the knot within 5 or 6 months with have their work cut out for them to get all of the little details lined up. Those who leave themselves a year or ...

A “short” engagement is defined is 3 months or less, though some couples may think 5 or 6 months is a short engagement period. While most couples are engaged for 6 months to a year, some engagements drag on for longer than a year. If you and your fiancé are talking about tying ...

Wedding florals serve to pull wedding colors together and add to the overall mood of the wedding. There are countless different flower types and colors to choose from. Like most other wedding decisions, this decision requires some careful research and planning. Here is a short guide to help as you t...

Choosing your bridal party sounds like an easy process: just pick your best friends and siblings, right? Unfortunately, this choice is often not that simple and involves etiquette rules, assumptions, and potentially hurt feelings that can make choosing difficult. Here are a few general tips to help ...

Although weddings are one of the most expensive events of life, you do not have to spend a fortune to have a great and memorable day. Here are some practical tips to follow to achieve major wedding savings: Plan your wedding for an “off” time of year. Consider having a winter wedding ...

To elope or not to elope? That is the question. If planning a huge wedding makes you feel like running off to Vegas to elope, you may want to consider if you’re just overdoing it and inviting too many people. In theory, a wedding ceremony is a chance to gather together the people who are mo...

If you’re having a Saturday wedding, you’ve likely got one thing on the agenda for Friday night. (No, not the bachelorette party, though that can be fun.) The wedding rehearsal is an essential component of planning the big day. This is your last chance before the actual wedding to stand ...

So you and your fiancé have decided to write your own wedding vows, or maybe you’re still in the midst of deciding what to do for that part of the ceremony. The decision to write your own vows rather than using traditional ones is a big decision that will affect the mood of your wedding...

It’s important to look and feel great on your wedding day. That does not mean that you can’t eat real meals in the months before your wedding, or that you should budget for daily trips to the spa. But there are some simple beauty treatments you can and should do to be a radiant bride. ...

If you have ever been to a wedding reception and didn’t know what to do, you may have experienced a “B.R.” (Boring Reception). Need some unique finishing touches to make your wedding reception unique? Here are some ideas from real weddings. Photo Slideshow This is a very popula...

So, you are shopping for a guest book? Most brides and grooms choose to have a guest book in order to remember which guests where at the wedding. Others don’t really know why they need guests to “sign in”—they just require it because that’s what they’ve been asked...

Almost every wedding reception incorporates music in some way. It may just be quiet prerecorded music in the background, but most weddings either have a Disc Jockey (DJ) playing fun dance music or a band playing great hits. Both a DJ and a band can liven up a reception and turn it into a great celeb...

When asked for general wedding planning advice, here’s a few wedding tips a few people had to say: “Surround yourself with friends that really care about you and won’t mind having tasks delegated to them. The less you have to focus on the mundane, menial issues that develop, the...

Many couples look back on their wedding day and realize it was everything they wanted it to be. But sometimes, there is just one thing they decide they would do differently if given the chance. When asked what they would do differently in planning their wedding day, here’s what a few people h...

If you don’t like cake, don’t feel pressured to serve it on your wedding day. Many brides choose to forgo the traditional dessert in lieu of other options. One of the most popular wedding cake alternatives is the chocolate fondue fountain. Whether you decide to rent a large fountain f...

Deciding on your wedding cake may feel like a cinch—but don’t forget to follow these helpful tips before putting down your deposit and signing a contract. How do I look? Ordering a beautiful wedding cake is among the most important details to many brides. Your bakery should suggest id...

When choosing your wedding cake, the sky (or your wedding budget) is the limit. A good cake designer can bake anything you envision, matching the dessert to your wedding style, theme, and colors. Flavor Don’t confine yourself to traditional white sheet cake. If you prefer something with th...

Every once in a while, all of that planning you did goes to the wayside, and cringe-worthy wedding bloopers happen. Even if somebody trips and falls, or the unity candle starts a small fire, just remember: At the end of the day, you’ll be married! Mission accomplished. Even still, read on to s...

Every bride wants to look spectacular on her wedding day. One of the most important aspects of achieving an amazing look is finding the right dress. It is easy to spend on small fortune on a wedding dress, but there are some practical ways to cut the expense while still getting a spectacular Bridal ...

“What are your wedding colors?” This is the first question many brides are asked. The colors, however, may not be that easy to choose, especially for those who are not artistically inclined. Here are some tips to help you make your wedding a visually dazzling day! Start by conside...

Bridal showers are a time of excitement and celebration, as well as an escape from the stress of wedding planning. They are a time for the bride to relax and be pampered by her friends and family. A great way to facilitate fun and relaxation at a bridal shower is through a theme. Here is a list ...

One of the most exciting (and draining!) parts of planning a wedding is registering for gifts with your future Mr. or Mrs. To make this process easier, many stores have gone to online bridal registration processes, where you can update or complete your registry online after setting up an account in...

Before you make plans to cater your wedding, you need to decide on a guest list and also set your budget. It is important to know how many people you will be feeding on your special day before deciding on a three-course meal ending in Lobster Thermidor and Prime Rib. The number of guests invited wi...

When making out the guest list for your wedding, you will most likely: Want to pull out your hair Decide to can the whole wedding and just elope in Vegas Later realize you are being irrational, getting back to the business of wedding planning. This is normal, and you are not alon...

Here you are: getting ready to partake in a tradition that dates back as early as ancient Sparta -- the bachelor party. As you take the rite of passage from being a bachelor into marital life, planning out the evening's events can make or break a great bachelor party. In many cases your best man, br...

Here you are in full speed ahead in the beautiful chaos, making plans for your wedding. In most cases, you will need to order a service to handle the musical aspect of your reception. The two logical choices that come into play are hiring a disk jockey or a live band. Both choices can enhance your w...