Bridal Bargains 9th edition

This book is loaded with insider information. The section on wedding dresses is fascinating! They reveal hidden costs, questions to ask before you order the gown, games bridal shops play, and best of all, they rate and compare top bridal designers. I was so glad that I read this book before I went shopping with my daughters for their wedding dresses! Karen

Vera Wang Bridesmaids Dresses
Vera Wang's collection of bridesmaids dresses is available online. Most of the dresses are priced between $190-$300. In a conversation with Brides.com, Vera Wang says that the number one mistake brides make when selecting their bridesmaids dresses is that "conformity of a dress can be somewhat tedious. Each attendant in a different gown can be a bit distracting. Establish some common ground, with slight variations for each attendant: dresses in the same fabric but different shapes, dresses in different colors but in the same style, all attendants in the same dress but carrying different flowers, all bridesmaids in skirts but with different tops."

You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It Too…
Resourceful tips for the Savvy Bride

There have been numerous articles about the economy and how it is affecting brides and their wedding plans. It may sound like everything is doom-and-gloom, but that is not the case. It IS possible to have a beautiful wedding without breaking the bank, but it will take some creativity and thoughtful planning. This is the first installment in a series, You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It Too…Resourceful Tips for the Savvy Bride.


The Guest List
The quickest way to cut your wedding costs is to trim your guest list. This will reduce costs across the board…food, drinks, size of ceremony and reception sites, chairs, tables, centerpieces, wedding cake, invitations, etc. Invite people that are important to you and your fiancé. Do you really need to include all of your co-workers, relatives that you've met once or twice, or your parent's business associates? There is nothing wrong if you choose to include these people, but invite them because YOU want them there to witness your special day. In her book Intimate Weddings, Christina Friedrichsen advises that you ask yourself these questions when making a guest list. "Are we inviting this person simply because we feel obligated to? Have we seen this person in the last year? Does this person have a significant other? If not, is it necessary for him/her to bring a guest? Do we want to invite children?"

The old saying, "The more the merrier" does not apply when you are paying for a wedding. Christine Boulton, creator of Wedding Dish writes, "75% of brides-to-be now have to adjust their budget because of the current economic climate. One of the ways they (45%) are making that adjustment is by reducing the guest list. Like I have been saying for a while, the weddings you see on TV aren't the Real American Wedding, they are the anomaly. It is time that the wedding media got back to reality and started showing brides that they can have a wonderful, touching, meaningful wedding without taking out a second mortgage." I totally agree! Good luck trimming your guest list!
Snip, snip. Karen

Invisible Children

Wedding Day Bliss is committed to supporting nonprofits. A portion of our proceeds supports Invisible Children.

Dog Days of Summer

With the Texas heat in full swing it is only natural that we think about how to keep our wedding guests cool for an outside wedding. For that I have two words, Arnold Palmer. An Arnold Palmer is a simple drink that was made famous by the legendary golfer who knew a thing or two about being out in the heat. It is a delicious drink that mixes two favorite summertime beverages, iced tea and lemonade. At first you may not think that lemonade and iced tea can be mixed, but they do combine together extremely well for a refreshing summertime sipper. This drink is a winner in many ways. It is a budget friendly drink as it has no alcohol in it and it is a healthy choice because alcohol can be dehydrating. Plus who doesn't love a cool drink on a hot day!

To make an Arnold Palmer simply:

• Make some tea, make some lemonade; chill.
• Drop a few ice cubes into a tall glass.
• Fill halfway with tea; fill up with lemonade; stir.

This would look great poured into mason jars filled with ice for a garden wedding. Prepare a table near the entryway and have some Arnie's waiting for your guests. They will appreciate a respite from the dog days of summer.