GREEN WEDDINGS

The terms "eco-friendly", "green", and "eco-chic" are being thrown around by celebrities, politicians, and environmentalists, but what does it mean to the bride-to-be? Making the decision to have an eco-friendly wedding is easier than you might think. One simple option is to ask your guests to RSVP on your wedding website. It conserves paper, and saves you from buying RSVP cards and paying for postage. If you want to incorporate several green alternatives, a eco-chic theme wedding may be right for you.

In the Dallas area, brides are fortunate to have access to a store like green living which offers many earth friendly goods for your wedding and home decor. At their online store, they offer recycled glass vases, natural fiber napkins, beeswax candles, compostable serveware, recycled note cards, Fair Trade coffee, jewelry, organic cotton towels, etc.

Winner Is Announced!

CYNDI HILL
of Plano, TX won the FREE Wedding Coordination Package (valued at $975) from Wedding Day Bliss!

Congratulations
Cyndi!!!

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed Something Blue:

Traditions are old-fashioned to some and a loving connection to the past for others. I think that I see a trend of women being drawn back to traditions. Look at the retro and vintage craze in decorating, clothing and even cooking. People seem to yearn for a time when things were more family oriented and so this sweet tradition allows many generations to contribute to the Bride's special day. I fondly remember my mother giving me an embroidered handkerchief that my grandmother had used on her plantation in Tennessee.  I wrapped it around my bouquet right before I walked down the aisle .

I found this explanation of what the symbols mean and if  is true, then that family heirloom must have worked..... because I just celebrated my 28th anniversary!


Old as a guarantee that the love and affection she enjoyed before her marriage will endure,

New for success in her new life,
Borrowed as a symbol that friends may always be helpful when needed,
Blue to designate her loyalty and devotion to her groom.


Oh, and we are so excited by the response that we have had to our drawing that takes place tomorrow. You have one more day to enter to win FREE Wedding Coordination.... Valued at $975.00 !!
Blissfully,
Beth

Wedding Guests Complaints

Meredith Bodgas' article, Wedding Guests Secret Gripes, suggests some issues for the bride and groom to consider. First of all, it brings up the main question - should the bride and groom plan their wedding for themselves or for their wedding guests?

Disclaimer: The comments below are Karen's personal opinions and are not necessarily the opinions or policy of Wedding Day Bliss.

Guests Gripes:

1. "Your Timing Stinks"

2. "You Picked a Bad Day"
Karen - Quit complaining that the wedding is on a holiday weekend or on a weeknight. The bride and groom have probably given a lot of thought to their wedding date. They have good reasons for why they selected that particular date and they should not feel the need to justify it to their guests.

3. "You're Boring Us - Showing us a really good time is the least that you can do to thank us for giving up our free day, traveling, and getting you an expensive gift."
Karen - Wow, why were these people invited to the wedding?!

4. "The Food Isn't Great - We want a delicious meal way more than we want pretty centerpieces. You don't know this, but we actually think of that $200 gift as a contribution to a great meal."
Karen - Reception/food costs typically account for 50 percent of the entire wedding budget. Please be kind to your host and nibble on something BEFORE you go to the wedding!

5. "You Make Us Pay?! - When you have more than 300 guests and a cash bar, we wish that you would've just cut the list and paid for our drinks instead."

Karen - Most weddings have at least a few complimentary drink options. If you choose to drink something else at an additional cost, please don't complain.

6. "You Sat Us Here - Please give us plenty of places to sit. Cocktail hours are great, but it's pretty tough to balance our plates, drinks, and purses while standing — in heels no less!"

Karen - transitional cocktail hours are currently very popular. Most people are not uncomfortable standing for a short period of time. It is not just the expense of renting tables and chairs, but the cost of decorating the tables with linens, overlays, centerpieces, etc. that add up.

7. "You Don't Invite a Plus-One"

Karen - When trying to cut wedding costs and stay on budget, trimming the guest list is the quickest way to achieve it. A spouse or fiance should be included with the wedding guest, but it is not necessary to include dates. Brides and grooms want to be surrounded by people they know at their wedding.

8. "You Put Us to Work"

Karen - Agree with this one. Please allow your guests to be guests.

9. "You Don't Say Thank You"

Karen - This is a no brainer. Please send your guests a thank you card in a timely manner.

I believe wedding decisions should be determined by the preferences of the bride and groom. Certainly, they should try to make their guests as comfortable as possible, within reason. However, you cannot please everyone all the time. Planning a wedding can be very stressful. Many brides and grooms struggle with all the decisions that need to be made. So, wedding guests, please give the bride and groom a break! They are doing the best they can. As an invited guest, you should be supportive and rejoice with them on their special day.

Guests Do Not Want to Work!
I just read this from theknot.com and I thought, this is exactly why people need wedding coordinators!...it is as much for your friends and family as it is for you. People want to celebrate with you and not miss out on the special moments.

One of the main gripes from the guests is......You Put Us to Work!
"We know we'll have to help out with some tasks when we agree to be in the bridal party, but it's insulting when you consider a task like manning the guest book table an honor. We'd rather just be a regular guest at the wedding than have some silly duty like that. At the very least, give us a heads up if you'll need our help. Don't spring flower girl babysitting duties on us minutes before the reception."

People don't want to be running around looking for the tossing bouquet or finding people for pictures. That is what coordinators are for, we know what needs to happen and we are your extra set of hands!

Just a quick reminder that the last date to enter our drawing for FREE Wedding Coordination is August 31!
We are as excited as you are to see who our first winner is!! Beth

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.