Weddingzilla

Wedding Bargains, Wedding Coupons, Wedding Deals, Wedding Freebies

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:58:00 PDT

The best bridal coupon EVER from
the Knot. Don't waste any time!
It ends up being FREE!! I love free.
Take $10 off $10+ at The Knot Wedding Shop this weekend only! Enter code BRIDECASH at checkout. Hurry – offer expires 10/25.
You'll never know what you'll find on sale
at the Knot, but it will always be less money
than you'll pay elsewhere. Everything from favors,
ribbons, wedding accessories, you name it, you'll
probably find it here and you'll find it at great
prices.
On Sale at The Knot Wedding Shop
The Knot currently has a screaming deal on
wedding bubbles.....yours can be FREE!!

Bridal Favors from Hanson Ellis
Free Standard Shipping on orders $75 or more. Enter code: FREESHIP09

From My Wedding Favors:
Enter coupon code TAKE25 to receive $25 off orders over $200.

From BeauCoup Favors:
Free Shipping for orders over $125 (Code: FREESHIP)

There are always coupons for wedding
invitations here and their invitations
are awesome!
Wedding Paper Divas
Wedding Invitations & Bridal Shower Invitations

Here's a current coupon:
Stylish Save the Dates, Wedding Invites and More - Save $10 on orders of $99. Use coupon AFL10

Wedding Supplies- NOW 80% OFF. Save the date cards, announcments, invitations and more!

Check out the wedding freebies at Vista Print,
I love this stuff and its real quality. We use
them all the time. You can use the postcards
for shower invitations or response cards.
Everything is Free at VistaPrint!

Get Your Own Wedding Website:
Get 25% off a 1 year Wedding Tracker subscription with promo code AFF25. Start your free trial today!

Save on your wedding dress:
Designer Wedding Dress & Bridal Gowns at 80% off retail prices. In stock and ready to ship in you size.

600 free photos from your wedding

Free! Wedding Hairstyle help, this is so cool!
Sign-Up for FREE at TheHairStyler.com!

From Things Remembered:
15% Off Any Online Order! Use Code: FALLGIFT *Not Valid on Sale Items and Personalization.

Everyone Has A Wedding Budget!

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:37:00 PDT

Every wedding couple struggles with
their wedding budget. We spend hours
figuring it out and then weeks trying to
keep in budget. Its work, its stress,
its hard and its a point of contention.

You've all heard of people who've had a
huge bash and did it all on a budget that
even you can afford. Every bride is on the
internet telling you how to do it. Sometimes
it involves a huge amount of luck, knowing
the right people or being in the right
place at the right time to get the deal.
It ALWAYS involves a lot of hard work
and time.

There is a huge difference between
want and affording. Here's how we help
brides get figure out what is important
and what isn't.

Make a list of 5 things that you can't
compromise on at your wedding.
Mine would be:
Wedding Dress
Good food
Music and dancing etc.

Then make a list of 5 things that aren't
all that important at your wedding.
Mine would be:
Calligraphy seating cards
Favors
Champagne or chocolate fountain, etc.

Then make a list of 5 things you can do
to achieve you must haves and get more $$$.
Mine would be:
Forgo Starbucks and brew my own
Brown bag lunch
Pizza instead of an expensive dinner
Garage sale for extra cash

Then work your plan!

Doing it yourself (DIY) will help you save money
but it involves time. I'm going to start a series of
the very best deals I can find on the internet
to save you money, time and effort. If you don't
have the talent to DIY or the time to DIY, we'll
find you the deal to save you time and money!

Are Wedding Magazines Out Of Touch?

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:32:00 PDT

The last issue of Modern Bride just arrived in
my mailbox. Conde Nast just axed Elegant
Bride and Modern Bride. No official word why,
but thumbing through the pages gives some hints:
Who is their audience? Little girls with fantasies
of Prince Charming playing dress up?
Who can afford this crap and who has the money
to pay for this stuff? How many of us can afford to
go to Tahiti and Bora Bora on their honeymoon for
two weeks? And WHO has a bedroom that
looks like the suite of a hotel? Mine is just lucky to
have matching sheets on the bed. Geeze.

The dresses are fugly....totally fugly and not what
brides want. Who wants to look like a ruffled
wedding cake on the dance floor? And how many
brides can pull off a one shouldered gown? OMG..
lets accent the hips so everyone can see and make
comments that we were born to bear children.

Weddings are getting simpler and dresses are
getting rufflier and fancier. Out of touch with
brides? Yup. Have these magazine editors and
designers ever spent a day in the bridal salons to see
what real brides are buying? Give the people what they
want and they'll buy the magazines. Give them a dress
they want and they'll buy it.

Elegant Bride featured a see through dress with a
pinafore top. I threw up a little in my mouth.
No self respecting drag queen who would put on that
ruffled confection and no real life bride would want to
walk down the aisle looking like a naked Little Bo Peep.

These magazines show "real life weddings" that are
out of reach of the average couple's budget. Who can
relate? Sure, its fun to look at the pictures and get
ideas, but come on....these weddings are the exceptions
to the norm. We can't afford them. And if we could,
would we? Or would we buy a house? For all of
us who weren't born with a silver spoon in our
mouth, we can't comprehend their budget. We are
too busy trying to pay the rent, put gas in our cars
and food on the table. And we aren't buying fantasy
magazines....

Tips For Buying Your Wedding Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:14:00 PDT

Next to the search for the wedding dress, looking for your wedding shoes are one of the hardest things on your to do list. You might have to sacrifice comfort for style. You might have to choose comfort over style. You might have to choose price over comfort. Or you can go on the quest for comfort, style and price as most brides do. Expect to do a lot of shopping and expect a lot of frustration.

Wedding shoes are a once in a lifetime purchase. They are part of your wedding attire and will show when you take off your garter, so you want them to complete your look. Remember to budget in wedding shoes so you don't think of them as an additional afterthought expense.

Why are wedding shoes so hard to find?

Most retail stores don't stock them, they order them because its expensive to stock a lot of shoes that will go out of style or may discolor if they sit on their shelf for long periods of time. Most shoes will not discolor, but if they are cheap shoes with glued on satin, the glue may yellow and give the shoes a yellowish color.

Wedding shoes are special occasion shoes and the demand isn't the same as a flip flop or pair of cute boots.

Wedding shoe buying tips:

Shop early and keep your options open. Shop so that you have your shoes in time for alterations because your hem length on your dress is dependent on the size of your shoe heel. You may need to buy the shoes before you order your wedding dress if you are having your dress ordered with your hem length.

Some brides decide to wear a color to match the accent on their wedding dress. If you decide to do color, make sure you wear color accents in your jewelry to tie it all together.

Don't rule out leather shoes. There is no rule that your wedding shoes have to be fabric. Fabric shoes don't breathe like leather and don't stretch like leather.

Look for a shoe that supports your foot and ankle and that you can stand and dance in for long periods of time.

If you choose a heel, look for a shoe that has padding in the ball of the foot so your feet don't start to burn and hurt.

Strappy shoes can cut into your feet after standing a long time and cause blisters.

Feet will swell as the day goes on. Buy them large enough to accommodate dancing and happy feet. You can put in a comfort gel pad and take it out as your feet swell.

Buy shoes that you can wear all day. Taking off your shoes at the reception looks tacky and will make your dress too long. You risk falling or tripping if your dress is too long, not to mention having your feet stepped on with your dance partner.

There is a huge difference in quality in wedding shoes. Price doesn't always indicate quality. Sometimes you are paying for the designers name. Sometimes you are paying for silk shoes versus satin or polyester fabric. Some of the same shoes that are unaffordable in silk can be ordered in a less expensive fabric so you have the same look at a more affordable price.

If the shoe rubs your foot, pinches or feels like it won't bend, don't buy it.

If the shoe is too big at the heel of the shoe, see if adding a heel pad will make a difference or try a shoe size down. If you walk out of the shoe, don't buy it.

If the shoe is too narrow, don't buy it, you will be miserable. Some wedding shoes come in wide widths, some don't. If you wear a very narrow width, it may be unavailable except in the most expensive custom shoes. Consider buying a leather shoe if your foot is very narrow.

After you buy your shoes, make sure you break them in. Wear them around the house with a pair of socks to make them comfortable. If they have a leather sole, make sure you take them to a shoe shop to have a non skid pad put on the bottom so you don't fall. Bring along some self adhesive moleskin to the reception that can be applied to the part of the shoe that is rubbing so you don't get blisters.

Rose Trifero is an internationally known expert in the field of weddings and bridal fashions. She has been involved in the industry for over 30 years and has written and been quoted in national bridal magazines including Vows, the magazine for bridal professionals. She is also the force behind http://www.Beachbridetobe.com a source of information for destination weddings and http://www.Weddingloco.com, a free wedding planning source.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rose_Trifero

Looking for the perfect flat or small heel wedding shoe?

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:55:00 PDT

Its hard to find the perfect small heel or flat wedding shoe. A lot of brides don't want to limp around in 5 inch heels on their wedding day. Other brides want a small heel so they don't tower over their groom and others just want comfort. But along with comfort, they want style in their wedding shoes. We've searched for cute and comfortable low heeled shoes and flat wedding shoes with style. Some even come in wide widths! Check them out:

Camelia by Pink Paradox London have a 1 1/4" heel and are available in wide widths also. Check out the rhinestone buckle. This is style!

Andie by Coloriffics, one inch kitten heel, cute rhinestone accent done in satin. This is available also in wide width.

Coloriffics Lindsay, 1.5" kitten heel, available
in medium widths only.

Lilly by Pink Paradox London has a 1 1/4" heel with rhinestone accents on the vamp of the shoe.
Very affordable at under $40 US, is available in medium widths only.

Touch Ups Monaco, a sturdy 1 3/4" heel
and they are available in WIDE widths..
woo hoo!

How cute is this flat? Heaven by Pink Paradox London, medium widths only, has braided crystal rhinestones. This would make a great shoe for a beach wedding!

Adorable flat with rhinestone and crystal accents by Pink Paradox London.
This is called Bubbles and comes medium width only.

The ultimate flat, done in white or ivory duchesse silk by Benjamin Adams. The inside is kid leather, its a handcrafted shoe with genuine Swarovski crystals. Medium width only, this is a stunningly styled shoe!

Life Throws a Curve Ball, So Does Wedding Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:11:00 PDT

Yes, I've been missing in action because life threw me a huge curve ball. Suddenly, I have custody of a teen aged relative. I don't know how it happened, it just happened. Guess it was part of a bigger plan for my life. "Kyle" needed a home, security and parents. Maybe dealing with brides and bridezillas prepared me for dealing with a teenager. Maybe I just had an extra bedroom. Whatever, I'm rolling with it.

Life is funny, when you think its all planned out, something happens and you have to adapt. The same with wedding planning. Just when you think its all coming together, something happens and derails the plan. You either roll with it and go to Plan B, or you make yourself a miserable mess. Learning how to roll with the punches makes life and wedding planning a lot easier.

So what if the tuxes are a shade off from the maids dresses? How important is that in the context of your marriage? I've seen grown women melt into mushy puddles over tiny details that really are not noticeable and I want to grab them by the shoulders and tell them to get a grip. Pick your battles, pick what stresses you out and roll with the rest. Its the only way to get through life and its the only way to get through wedding planning. Because, its not the wedding, its the marriage that matters!

Update! 2009 Wedding Trends are Rocking!

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:41:00 PDT

The trends in weddings are changing just like the times are changing for all of us.
We are seeing smaller weddings, nontraditional weddings and destination weddings as a response to the economy.

Colors: From the Wedding Report, the brides in the next 18 months are choosing cool colors over warm colors for their weddings. Blue dominates over any other color, we are seeing a lot of brides leaning toward Tiffany blue . The next hot cool color is the purple family followed by greens.

Cost: The average cost of a wedding has dipped 12% to $19,212. Demand is lower for limos, with many couples choosing to rent a luxury car for the day instead of a limousine. Demand is also down for videographers, with many people choosing to have a professional photographer take their wedding pictures and have their family or friends video the wedding.

Eco Friendly: Many weddings are "going green" with eco friendly invitations, organic foods and eco friendly favors.

DIY weddings: Many brides are doing it themselves. She is tackling jobs herself instead of paying to have it done in order to save money. It can range from printing her own wedding invitations, to making her own centerpieces and anything in between.

Destination weddings: A lot of couples are foregoing traditional weddings and having destination weddings. The trend to destination weddings is because many couples have blended families, don't want the hassle or just want a quiet wedding in an exotic destination. Read more about destination weddings here.

Fashion Trends: Ready to wear influences what is happening in weddings and the trends trickle down. Here's what is hot in ready to wear that you can expect to see in weddings soon.
More tiaras, yes, tiaras for everyone in your wedding party.
Scarves worn with the dresses. Scarves are everywhere, even in the summer.
Textured footwear: Animal print shoes or animal embossed shoes for the bridesmaids instead of satin dyed to match shoes.

Wondering About Your Wedding Day Weather?

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:35:00 PDT

Are you stressing out over the weather on your wedding day, especially if you are planning a destination wedding or an outdoor wedding? Do you want to know when the sun sets on your wedding day so you can exchange vows at sunset?

I came across a cool tool on the Weather Channel called My Wedding Weather.

This shows you the history of the weather on your wedding date. You can also compare the weather at different locations and there are tools to help you set the date according to the weather at that location. Very cool and very helpful, but remember no one can fully predict Mother Nature.

Wedding Makeup Photography Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:52:00 PDT

Put your best face forward in your wedding
pics and we have some tips to help you from
a wedding photographer. We interviewed her
and here are her observations:

"Brides tend to either over do the makeup
as in clown makeup. Some hire makeup artists
who go heavy on the kohl makeup. Avoid
charcoal eyeshadow for the wedding. It looks
smudged in the photos.

Instead, go for a more natural look. Use pinks
instead of harsh reds..pink blushers, pink
accents on the eyes. Pink opens up the eyes.

Avoid sparkles on the face and body. They
pick up the camera flash and don't look good
in the pictures.

Mascara is a must, it frames and opens the eyes.

Keep the makeup natural, match it to you skin tones,
but you HAVE to wear some makeup. Brides that
think they want to go completely natural are
missing the boat because they fade in the photos."

So I asked my beauty maven what she thought
and she said that all the tips are excellent.
Here's what she said:

"To keep makeup in place all day, use a face
primer. It really does the job.

Great makeup starts with a great complexion.
If you don't have a perfect complexion, start
working on it months before the wedding.
Drink lots of water, get rest because it
really works. And avoid stress. (As IF
that's possible during wedding planning!)

Start on a facial program. Any program including
the ones from the drug store are better
than not taking care of your skin. Moisturize,
use a sunscreen, exfoliate to get rid of dead,
dull skin and brighten your complexion.
Go to a dermatologist if your skin is acne
prone and uneven. Or visit a good skin esthetician
who will give you facials and advise you
what to do to care for your skin.

I advise facials and if your skin is dull, blotchy
and uneven, go for microdermabrasion treatments."

All great tips and I have to admit I've been going
for microdermabrasion treatments and the results
are good...so far. It does hurt the first time and
my face was a bit touchy and tender, but I didn't
have red blotches and I was able to put on makeup
and go about my day without anyone knowing. It
has evened up my skin tone and I love it.
Just know if you are thinking of having this done,
you need to start a few months in advance to
get the maximum benefit.

Are Wedding Registries Getting Ridiculous?

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:43:00 PDT

Wedding registries has been a hot topic with brides discussing their registries with the reverence of one talking of the birth of their first child. Makes me wonder if they are getting married to furnish their homes instead of making a life long commitment to their life partner.

I am beginning to think that wedding registries are created by corporate America to sell, sell and sell some more useless items to pad their bottom line.

Case in point: I got invited to a wedding where I know the grooms parents, but haven't seen the groom since he was little and couldn't pick him out of a police line up. I don't know anything about him or the bride. How we got invited is beyond me since I haven't seen his parents in two or three years. Since work is conflicting and the wedding is two hours away, we politely declined the invitation and set about to send a gift.

OMG...after a lot of head smacking and screaming WTF a few times, I make my husband look at their gift registries, no less than four of them. The couple registered for a 52" flat screen TV, a Canon SLR camera with a discounted price of $749, a deluxe outdoor gas grill to make any man break down in tears of joy, a wii with the wii fit bundle, a home stereo system, a Garmin GPS, a sofa bed, end tables, crystal lamps, an entertainment center, sterling silver flatware (didn't know anyone but my Grandma that wanted that!), high end luggage, a beer refrigerator with door tap AND a beer cooler, a wine refrigerator, a sterling silver tea set, 1000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, a camcorder with 42X zoom, an Aero garden with accessories, a Kitchen Aid mixer with ravioli attachment (the attachment is $149.00!!), china, crystal, a food dehydrator, a juicer, convection oven and expensive artwork and paintings.

Needless to say, no one has purchased anything high end. Seriously, what were they thinking when they registered? Do you really need a 52" wide screen TV? My husband says yes. Will they use the china and sterling flatware? Probably once or twice because people don't host dinner parties where they break out the good china unless you travel in high society. This couple doesn't. My own china is gathering dust in the cupboard, I've chalked it up as a big waste of my $$$$. When you have kids, you don't want to use it. Its pretty, but not useful. Are you listening brides? You PROBABLY WON'T EVER USE IT...you'll use nice everyday dishes. Register for a a good set of everyday dishes.

And then there is the really ridiculous. A close, repeat close family member was cajoled into registering. They had a brand new house full of new furniture and gadgets and didn't need anything. Her future mother in law insisted they register for what they want. So they registered for Doritos and salsa, video games, hand crafted beer, tampons, paper towels and paper plates. Mind you, these people have PHD's! And they did get the Doritos and were thrilled. I gave $$$.

So, I'm back to the usual...a gift card. Buy what you want. I have a headache from reading the registries. You figure out how to make it cover what you want.

I want to create my own registry, just because. I want a hard top convertible, a cruise through the Greek islands, some spa treatments, a nip here, a tuck there, a new wardrobe and a date with George Clooney. Think anyone will help fund my fantasy?

What Happened To Isaac Mizrahi For Target Wedding Dresses?

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:08:00 PDT

What has happened to the much hyped line by Isaac Mizrahi wedding dresses that he designed for Target? They seemed to have disappeared from the radar.

Issac Mizrahi designed a very simple, inexpensive (cough, cheap) wedding dresses for Target that were hyped as THE wedding dress that was going to take the country by storm. I personally thought the dresses were glorified out dated brides maid dresses cut in white or ivory. The fit on the models was bad. I saw several of them and the fabric left a lot to be desired. (cough, cheap fabric).

Now, I like Target for deals on huge boxes of laundry detergent. And I'm not questioning Isaac Mizrahi's design talent. I just think its darn near impossible to deliver a quality, good fitting dress for under a $100.00. Brides shopping in this price range want style...they want more than Target offered in these dresses.

A few weeks ago, I found several on clearance, but they seem to have disappeared. Hey, Isaac, the next time you decide to do a cheap wedding dress line, call me. I have some ideas to share. In the meantime, it looks like this idea sunk.

Isaac Mizrahi with one of his wedding dress designs. Here's what I see as wrong with this dress....the straight across neckline is not flattering when you add the sheer panel. Sheer panel tops have not been popular in years. The fit of the skirt on the hips is bad and there isn't enough flare in the bottom of the skirt to balance the dress. And the flare is too low for anyone shorter than model length.

And why am I am expert? I've sold wedding dresses for eons..and my mother is a dress designer who taught me everything she knows. I can do pattern making, I can slope, I can tailor, I can and do any bridal alterations. Isaac, take away the sheer panel. Cut the dress strapless with a sweetheart neckline and add minimal beading, adjust the fit on the hips and flare out the skirt higher than the knee area and you have a winner on different body types. Call me Isaac or call me Target.
There IS a market for inexpensive wedding dresses.

Hero Bride

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:39:00 PDT


In my post about the hero bride, Georgette Clemons, I asked if anyone would step up and offer to clean her wedding dress...and this is what I received:

Wedding Gown Preservation Company said...: Kudos to the heroic bride.

We own Wedding Gown Preservation Company and would like to clean and preserve Georgette's wedding gown free of charge.

Please contact me at sues@gownpreservation.com

Sue Schapiro
Wedding Gown Preservation Company
707 North Street
Endicott, NY 13760
www.gownpreservation.com

NOTE: We've used Wedding Gown Preservation Company to clean wedding dresses for many years and they do an amazing job. They cleaned my mom's dress that had been stored away for many years and made it look like new. Thanks, Sue, for your generous offer! If you know Georgette, please pass this on to her.

Bride Hero: Georgette Clemons

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:02:00 PDT

Our kudos go to bride hero, Georgette
Clemons of Bridgeport, CN. Georgette
ran into a burning house to alert the
residents of a fire dressed
in her wedding dress. She was on her way
home from the reception when she saw
the smoke and instructed the driver to
stop.

She ran into the home when she saw
someone inside who was trying to save
her pets. She managed to get them to
leave and the residents and pets were
all saved, but the house wasn't.

Her dress was blackened and her shoes
were ruined, but all our hero said was:
"It's been an eventful day." God love her,
we salute our fearless bride.

Here's hoping someone will step up to
the plate and replace her shoes and
clean her dress. Read the entire
story here: Connecticut Post

I LOVE reading about awesome
brides and Georgette is the
most awesome of the awesome.
Her hubby is one lucky guy!

Combining Wedding Themes To Make A Statement

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Sat, 30 May 2009 07:57:00 PDT

OK, its hard to pick a wedding theme
that expresses your style. Some wedding themes
are almost there, but they miss by a few
degrees. Why not combine wedding themes
to make a personalized statement and
make your wedding stand out from
everyone's wedding?

Combine a sunflower theme with
an animal print. Use favors in an
animal print, use vases of
sunflowers on the tables and in
the bouquets of the bridesmaids.
Incorporate the same animal print
in your invitations or as table
toppers.

What about combining an
eco friendly green wedding with
an Out of Africa theme? Use
eco friendly favors, top the tables
with an African theme table topper,
use animals like giraffes and elephants
for centerpieces grazing in pots of
live grass. Decorate with lots of
tall grasses.

Combine a Tiffany blue theme with a starry
night theme. Use Tiffany blue as your main
color, silver stars as accents. Use silver as
the accent, hang silver stars from the ceiling
on fishing line so they seem to float.

Here's more ideas:
A military theme with a 4th of July theme.
Color scheme is a no brainer. Top it off
with a fireworks display.

Use a cottage theme with wildflowers and
peonies and combine it with a butterfly
theme. Stencil a butterfly on your
aisle runner, put little white wire
bird cages with flowers and butterflies
in them as centerpieces.

Any other imaginative ideas?

Total Sweetness: A Candy Buffet At Your Wedding Reception

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:51:00 PDT

The last wedding I attended treated the
guests to a candy buffet. It was a hit with
guests of all ages.The bride used the colors of
the wedding in the candy, presented them in
glass containers and used frosted Chinese take out
boxes with bride and grooms name and
wedding date on labels on the boxes. She had
flowers on the table, personalized cookies bought
from a favor store and it was sprinkled with
flowers and petals. It was total eye candy!
Sorry for the bad pun, I just felt it coming on
and ran with it.

Since we were from out of town, the bride
packed us up some extras for the plane
trip home...and you could hear our candy
jangling every time we hit turbulence.
We enjoyed the candy more than the yummy
dinner at the reception.

So how can you put together the perfect candy
buffet for your wedding reception?

Plan it in your mind, map it out on paper or on your computer.

A candy buffet should be a feast for the eyes and
part of the decor. Choose clear glass containers,
unusual shapes, vases, oversize martini glasses,
anything to give it a good visual vibe. You'll need
scoops for the candy and containers or candy bags
for your guests. Do you want to get really creative
and create a visual scape with candy ponds, green
paths and a gingerbread house? Its only limited
by your time, budget and imagination.

Budget enough money to give it a great visual impact.

Don't try to gauge the amount you need to by
calculating how many ounces you need per
person. When it comes to candy, throw that
out the door. Your goal is to have more than
enough candy to have an interesting presentation
and not to run out of candy.

Match the colors of the candy to your wedding colors.

This will give it a great visual impact, you can layer colors
of the same candy in your clear containers to make it pop.
Vary the kinds of candy on your buffet. You can use some
colorful foil wrapped chocolates in your wedding color with
some colored M & M's, white Good and Plenty, colorful
lollipops, you get the idea.

Kick it up a notch.

Vary the heights of the containers by using risers,
boxes or milk cartons covered with fabric (like a
tablecloth) to give it more visual interest. Caterers
do this and it also makes it easier to get the candy
you want without knocking down some of the
containers.

Finish it off.

Add flowers in vases, floral arrangements, a picture
of the couple or flower petals to give it some
visual interest.

Enjoy and enjoy the kudos from your guests.

Don't forget to pack some extras in your carry on
to enjoy on your honeymoon. It will be a sweet
treat to remember the sweetest day ever!

How Long Can You Live Off Wedding Cake & Champagne?

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:29:00 PDT

I came across this on Favor Ideas
and it cracked me up. The premise
is how long you can live off your wedding
cake and champagne if you and your
new spouse were on a desert island.

You plug in both of your height, weight
and age and the type of cake and the
number of slices. It will tell you how long
you can live without extras just by feasting
on your decadent wedding cake.
This is so fun....check it out here.
I scored a month and a bottle of champagne,
but come on, I'd have it gone in a week.

How To Make Your Bridesmaids Hate You and Ruin Your Friendship FOR FREAKING EVER

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:22:00 PDT

I would like to hear the statistics on how
many weddings end with one or more of
the bridesmaids never speaking to the
bride again. Sadly, it happens.
Sometimes its the fault of both, sometimes
the blame goes on the shoulders of the
bride or the bridesmaid. It shouldn't
happen, but it does.

I was the victim of a Bridezilla myself.
I stepped in as a bridesmaid when her
friend got pregnant. Barbie, the
bride, wanted to keep the girls symmetrical
both in height and weight. That should have
rang a bell, but it didn't. She was my good
friend, I thought I was helping her out.

She started by insisting we wear matching
bras and she checked them out so they
were adjusted to her liking. No cleavage,
no boobs bigger than hers. The dresses
were hideous, a mint green (gag) and we
had to wear matching GREEN eyeshadow.
She made us line up for inspection before
we got dressed for the wedding. Barbie
inspected our makeup. She had everyone in
tears when she started smearing our makeup.
Then she made us remove our nail polish.
She wiped off our lipstick and made us all wear
the same shade off the same tube. Yuck.
Her mantra....you are representing me and
you will represent me the way I say you
will represent me. We weren't allowed to
eat or drink even before we were dressed
and before we walked down the aisle, she
rechecked our bra straps and our teeth
for lipstick. Her mother kept saying
"Its her day, you do what she says".

Oh, and we had scheduled bathroom breaks.
She had a breakdown of when we were
ALLOWED to go to the bathroom.
And did I mention she did all of this with
a cigarette hanging out of her mouth
while she was dressed in her wedding
finery?

We weren't allowed to eat at the reception
until she and the groom ate and we were only
allowed to dance with our groomsman partner
and not our SO or dates. It was misery.
I don't think anyone has ever spoken to
her since. The groom is a great guy, we
should have helped him escape. ;)

So if you want your bridesmaids to hate
you forever, here's what to do:

Damn their budgets, this is the dress I want them to wear.

Tell them the dress deposit is due tomorrow.

Choose a dress that is unflattering on them.

Choose a color that is hideous on their complexions because you like that color.

Choose a wacky theme that forces them to wear costumes.

Insist they accompany you to every dress fitting, every wedding shopping spree whether it involves them or not and bitch because they just aren't into your wedding.

Spam them with text messages and emails about the wedding plans.

Talk nonstop about your wedding and get ticked off at them when they aren't excited to hear about it.

Plan your own shower and tell them they owe you for it.

Plan your own bachelorette party and make them pay.

Start wedding projects, like printing your own invitations and making centerpieces and make attendance mandatory.

Make hair and makeup appointments for them and forget to tell them that they have to pay for it themselves.

Schedule a spa day on them.

Make them take time off of work for dress fittings so you can be there to supervise.

Forget that it is final exam week and they have to study.

Complain about them to anyone who will listen.

Make remarks about their weight at their dress fitting.

Insist upon matching updos even if she has short hair.

Buy them matching shoes and then give them the bill.

Assign them tasks that they don't have time to do because you don't want to pay someone to do it.

Keep repeating to them "Its MY day".

Forgetting to thank them for all they've done for you.

Yes, these have all happened in various
weddings and we heard it from the maids.
If you want to ruin a friendship, do any
of the above, and trust me, its a done deal.

Moral of the story: Be nice to your maids,
keep them in the loop, keep their budget
in mind and shut up about your wedding.
They are shelling out considerable cash
to do YOU a favor and they are your
friends and family. You won't get a
do over, and a wedding is supposed to
be a joyous occasion. The bride sets
the tone. Make it a good one!

Lets Hear it For Unusual Wedding Dresses? Would You Dare?

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:40:00 PDT

Runway couture wedding dresses are dresses that the
designer makes just for their live runway shows
to create buzz. They don't mass produce these wedding
dresses, they are one of a kind wedding dresses made
to shockand awe the guests and to get their pics in
the magazines. Translated into our world,
these are dresses you could never afford and
wouldn't be caught dead wearing. Its fun to see what
lurks in the mind of the designers.

Yves St. Laurent designed this floral confection,
made to express your inner gardener. I imagine
if you wore this dress to your wedding, your
mother in law would drop dead on the spot.
I love the color combos and this would make
a gorgeous wedding bouquet,

This dress is by Christian Dior and is called
Oragami. It does look like folded paper. I've
always liked Dior, but I think I'll stick to
their eyeshadows and mascara.

Another head smacker from Chinese wedding week.
I can't figure this out, it reminds me of a Space Oddity
with some chicken feathers trailing. This would make a
great a do it yourself project...get a white pillow case,
stick some feathers in the chest, pin together,
attach an old Mardi Gras feather boa and your kids
Star Wars helmet...and voila!

This dress doesn't really qualify as couture.
Its a dress full of LED lights. I wonder where
you store the battery pack. Actually, a few years
ago we did have an LED dress in the bridal shop
by Bonny Bridals, but it was in the lace and very
subtle and pretty. This looks like an auxiliary
backup power source in a power outage. OMG..this
is scary!

Loving That Unique Wedding Cake!

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Tue, 26 May 2009 09:37:00 PDT

I've come across some really unique wedding
cakes and I have to confess, I'm loving some of
them, shaking my head at others. But, couples
thinking outside the box is what is important
when personalizing your wedding.

The wedding cake is the centerpiece of the
wedding reception, and some of these couples
are showing their fun side. Some of these cakes
are works of art. I'm totally up for cake!
I'm ALWAYS up for cake.

How would you like to have Miss Piggy lounging
on the top of your wedding cake surrounded by
all of her Muppet pals encircling the cake.
So darn cute, this definitely isn't for everyone.
By Essex Wedding Services.

This cute travel trailer cake with a beach
twist is just adorable. The VW van shows shades
of the 60's and 70's hippie vibe when people
traveled around the country in their van and
saw the world on a shoestring. This is one of
a group of great cakes by Divine Wedding Cakes.

From A Matter of Taste, how perfect is this cake
for a reception after the destination wedding?
Or for the couple planning on traveling after the
wedding. Either way, its unique!

OMG, I love this cake. I applaud the
imagination of the cake artist and the
couple who were lucky enough to land this
cake. Who says purples are out of style?
By Karen Lindsay.

A Beatles Yellow Submarine wedding cake
for the ultimate Beatle fans. I love love love
this cake, probably because I'm a longtime
fan who even flew to Vegas to catch concerts
by the remaining Beatles. Anyway, this is such
a fun, happy, bright cake, complete with little
John, Paul, George and Ringo and a yellow submarine
on the top. Photo info here.

This is the one cake that does not
ring my chime, probably because its not
make of cake and iced with sugar...
this is a sushi cake with a rice base.
It looks amazing, but the thought of it
gags me. Ironically, I own the exact set
of rubber duckies they used as a cake topper.
I got mine in a gift shop called Desert
Dancer in Sedona, AZ and mine swim around in
the bathroom of the bridal shop.

The big mama of all wedding cakes, this one
really DOES take the cake. This bride decided to
have herself duplicated in her wedding dress in
cake. Creepy! I wonder how much teasing and trash
talk the groom is still enduring. And if you save the
top layer of cake for your first anniversary, can you
imagine having a severed cake head in the freezer
staring back at you? I guess it would be one way
to watch your calories...open the freezer, freak out,
leave the room.

Mother Of The Bride and Groom Dresses Are Ugly!

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:54:00 PDT

Please, don't dress mom in these dresses!

Yes, I said it, UGLY, unattractive, frumpy and no one
really wants what the dress manufacturers are cranking out
for the mothers of the wedding. No one wants what you
are selling!

Most mothers dresses fall into two categories: Dresses that
look like great grandma's burial dress and dresses that look
like mom is going to prom. There are millions of Baby
Boomer and Boomlet moms who want to look fabulous
and would buy a dress if they could just find it.

Moms want to look 10 years younger, and 20 pounds slimmer.
They want their upper arms covered and they want the dress
to hide the nasty parts. Most moms want a jacket they can remove
and straps on the dress wide enough to cover regular bra straps.
They want to look age appropriate, yet feminine with a hint of
sexy. And they want to radiate style. They want a flattering color,
and honey, that's not beige or platinum gray. Those colors just
drainthe color right out of your face. Its not too much to ask.

They used to manufacture dresses that fit the bill, but somehow,
the manufacturers let go some of their designers, moved their
manufacturing to the far east and knocked off competitors prom
and bridesmaid dresses and are trying to pass them off as
mothers dresses. Geeze, hire a designer familiar with real
women and real women's bodies.

Do all of today's designers think that every mother of the wedding
wants to wear beige and platinum ball gowns with big poofy skirts?
I've sold mom's dresses for years, and have yet to meet a
a mom who wanted a strapless ballgown, yet I'm sure they
exist somewhere, just not in my area. Mom does not
want to look like an older prommie, a street walker or grandma.
Even grandma won't wear these styles!

If you are a bride, get your mom out shopping stat. If she has
to order her dress, she'll have to allow 8 to 12 weeks or more to
have her dress made. Most dresses are now made in Asia and that
is the time frame to complete the dress. Unless she is a sample
size and wants champagne or taupe, she's not likely to find what
she wants hanging on the rack.

Here's what you need to know about MOB (mother of the bride)
and MOG (mother of the groom) dresses before you go shopping.
Forget shopping for a petite,very few lines cut petites and the
petite still runs long. Either way,the dress is probably going
to need to be shortened.

Mom's dresses are made either in colors that blend with all
weddingcolors, like all pastels, sort of a unicolor MOB dress.
Or you'll find garish hot colors that don't match anything.
Any color in between will have to be ordered.
Some dresses are only made in two or three unicolors, others
come in a variety of colors. If you are lucky, they'll have her
colorand size in stock but don't hold your breath. The sooner
you shop,the better the chance of getting what you want.

Some dresses start at size 6 and go to size 20 only. If you are
larger or smaller, you are out of luck.

Don't expect to find tailored suits, high necklines and collars.
You'll find some suit like dresses with a jacket, but I haven't
seen a high neckline in years.

And plan for alterations, all dresses need alterations to
fit properly,just like the wedding dress. Very few dresses get by
without a few tweaks.

If mom insists on waiting to shop until she looses 20 pounds,
she'll be panicking before the wedding when she can't find
anything to wear. The department stores stock way less social
occasion dresses than they used to carry because women just
don't get dressed up very often. You'll have to start with your
local bridal salon. Get her shopping early. If she finds a dress
that looks good now, it will look fab if she looses the weight.
And the dress can be taken into fit.

If a manufacturer would just LISTEN to what women want,
they'd sell tons of dresses and trounce their competition.
Women will rejoice, look fabulous and be deliriously happy,
the manufacturer will be revered. Happy women will spread
the word faster than Twitter.And please, if any of you reading
this are manufacturers, drop me a line. I KNOW what we
women want. We just can't find it.

If You Are Going to DIY Your Wedding, DIR (do it right)

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:27:00 PDT

In today's economy, there are a lot of
DIY (do it yourself) brides. Its a way to personalize
your wedding, its also a way to keep
within your wedding budget. If you are going to
put your effort into DIY wedding projects, do it
right (DIR).

I was away on vacation and came home to a huge
pile of mail. Mr. Weddingzilla put the mail in piles,
his, mine, junk and catalogs. I looked at the important
stuff..and a few days later decided to throw the junk away.
What looked like a piece of junk advertising
mail turned out to be a wedding invitation.

This invitation was by a DIY bride who didn't DIR. OK,
before you blast me, hear me out. It was printed on a computer
but it wasn't spaced properly and it wasn't on invitation blanks.
It was on some paper that looked like junk mail paper. Nothing
wedding about it. The reception card was hand cut and it was
crooked. And the time to respond was less than a week from
when it was mailed and a full two and a half months before the
wedding.

This invitation bothered me because I had received
it after the response time and I felt bad about it. And I felt
bad I didn't realize it was a wedding invitation and I've sold
wedding invitations. It made me wonder
how many more people tossed it in the trash without
reading it.

Its OK to make your own invitations if you DIR.
Its a lot more work than it looks when you see the blank
invitations. You have to have time, motivation, ability
to do the task and a good amount of printer ink. And you need
to find out how to do it the right way. Get some advice
from a professional or get on the internet and get some
instructions. And I don't mean getting advice from Yahoo
answers where you ask a question and pick the answer you like.

DIY means you have to invest some money into the
components besides time and work.
If you aren't willing or able to do the work, don't attempt to
DIY whether its centerpieces, flowers , favors or invitations.
If you can't do it after you've bought the components,
you've wasted your money and time and you'll have to
spend MORE money to get the job done.

If projects stress you out, think before you tackle a DIY
project. Don't feel inadequate if your peers are all DIY
brides and you aren't. And don't attempt to DIY everything
yourself if your budget dictates it. Get help from your
wedding party, your family or your friends.

If its totally out of your field of expertise, don't attempt it
for your wedding. I met a bride who said she is making
her wedding cake but doesn't know how to cook. OMG!
She has to buy the pans, mixes, etc to make the cake and
she can't cook. She's bragging about how much money she
is going to save by baking her own cake. Say a prayer for her,
she's going to need it and put a bakery on speed dial.

If you could do your wedding over, what would you change?

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:18:00 PDT

We posed this question to newlywed brides and grooms to get their answer to this question. Some of the answers were surprising, some were very provocative. See for yourself. If YOU could get a wedding do over, what would you do?

Jen: I'd make sure I kept on my shoes and didn't walk around the reception with a long necked beer in my hand. That picture will haunt me forever!

Ashley: Nothing, it was the perfect day!

Kerry: I'd have listened to my fiance when he told me not to sweat the small stuff. In retrospect, the flowers weren't worth all the tears, they turned out beautiful.

Dave: I would have paid more attention.

Jeff: I should have told the family to back off and let us do it our way. I think we had our mothers' dream wedding and it was more for them than for us. But it was awesome and the honeymoon.....(grin)

Taylor: I would have spent less money on stuff that really wasn't necessary and used the money towards a better honeymoon.

Kim: I would have eloped to the Caribbean and we wouldn't have been all the family hassles.

Emily: My wedding was exactly like I wanted, small and intimate. My only regret is that my grandparents weren't able to travel because of health issues.

Ethan: My wife planned her fantasy wedding and I was good with it. But I wish I would have reined in the budget just a bit.

Cole: (laughs) I wouldn't have had my bachelor party so close to the wedding. I felt like hell at the wedding. My buddies were in town, and you know, we had a few drinks, and a few more.

Lauren: I wouldn't have put on my dress and then had a glass of wine. Don't ask!

Shelli: I wouldn't have insisted on all the bridesmaids having their hair, makeup and nails done. I should have trusted them to do it themselves. I feel guilty now for the extra expenses I put on them. I still feel bad about it.

Kelli: I wouldn't have been such a control freak and insisted on doing everything myself. I took on way too much work and didn't get to enjoy the day.

Jay: I wouldn't have hired a friend to DJ. He would have made a better guest.

Crystal: I should have listened to the people I hired to do the job and not my friends.

Gerri: My husband wanted to get married in Las Vegas. We had a big expensive wedding and I was stressed the whole time. We should have eloped to Las Vegas, we'd have been just as married and a lot less stressed out.

Kent: I should have included my family more in the planning since they paid for a big chunk of the wedding. My parents were hurt and I was so caught up in the excitement I didn't see it until the deed was done.

Brian: Nothing, I married my dream woman!

Toni: I would have bought the dress I wanted instead of settling for a less expensive dress and cheaped out on decorations so I could get THE DRESS. I really didn't need chair covers, but at the time, I thought I did.

Ashlee: I shouldn't have forced my sister to make a toast. She was so nervous that she didn't have fun.

Joe: I would have kept tabs on my groomsmen. They got out of hand.

Janine: We had an awesome wedding. We should have put the same effort on planning the honeymoon. We both got sick from the water. Not fun.

And now I will answer the question: I should have insisted on having a smaller wedding. It grew from a small intimate wedding to a big Italian blow out, thanks to my family. Once it got going, it took on a life of its own. It turned out to be a great wedding, but it was TOO big!

Free Wedding Tee Shirt, I Love Free Stuff!

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:10:00 PDT

I love love love freebies. If its free, I want it,
even if I don't need it. I WILL eventually find someone
who can use it. And the price...free...rings my bell.
Well, I got an email today from Bridal Party Tees.Com
offering a free t-shirt to all of my readers.

Bridal Party Tees is the company that makes personalized
bridal party tee shirts with all the cutesayings on a wedding
tee. You know, the ones that say Bride to Be,
Matt's Bride, Matt's Hot New Wife, Bridesmaid,
Brides night out, Bride's Army. They'll print whatever.
Anyway, all you have to do is to sign up for their
email list and you get to personalize your own
tee shirt for free!

I've seen these tees and they are cute! They're perfect for a
bachelorette party or an engagement party...or cute to wear
on your honeymoon.

Tiffany Blue Wedding Colors, Accents and Accessories

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:46:00 PDT

Tiffany blue continues to be a popular wedding color.
By special request, we are revisiting and updating Tiffany blue
wedding invitations, favors and accessories for your wedding.

Tiffany blue blends well with the traditional colors: white, ivory,
cream, champagne, silver, and the ultra popular chocolate brown
accent.

Punch up Tiffany blue with an accent color of hot pink, cinnamon,
buttercup yellow, amber, burnt orange, coral, grass green,
lime green, and navy blue. Here are some of the colors against
Tiffany blue, the colors on your monitor may be different than
on mine, but this will give you an idea of accent colors.

If you want to keep to icy tones, accent with cool shades like
silver,navy blue or teal.

If you want to warm up the color, use coral to give
it a Caribbean vibe,hot pinks to play up summer and
lime greens to give it a bright punch
of color.

Here are some of the colors accenting the dresses
to give you an idea of how the colors actually
work together.

We've updated a previous post that with Tiffany blue invitations,
favors and accessories. Check them out or use them for ideas
to pick your perfect accent color.

Etched Floral

Modern Toile

Vintage Damask

AQUA & CHOCOLATE FLORAL GUEST BOOK

SPRING BLOSSOM VOTIVE HOLDERS (BLUE)

MONOGRAM HEART CANDLES

SOLID COLOR SILK FAN - BLUE

BIRD'S NESTS

BLUE WEDDING FAVOR BOX (medium)

SOMETHING BLUE LINEN FAVOR BOX

MEDIUM ROUND MONOGRAM LABELS

RECTANGLE THEME LABELS

Blue Polka-Dot 3" x 9" Unity Candle and 12" Tapers

Personalized Elegant Meadows Tote Bag

"Turquoise Tapestry" Favor Boxes (Set of 25)

Personalized Eco-Friendly Wildflower Wedding Favor Bags

Something Blue Gift Box Candle in Pearlized Box with Satin Printed Ribbon

Personalized Wedding Grapes Favor Savers

midori organdy ribbon

2" Aqua Blue Favor Box (Set Of 10)

Exclusive Wedding Mint Tins - Greek Swirl 111

treasure chest favor boxes - blue

pillow favor boxes - blue\

favor bag with handle - blue

Small European Style Ballotin Favor Boxes pack of 10 - AQUA BLUE

Put a No Drama Clause in Your Wedding Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Your Wedding Coach) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:59:00 PDT

None of us needs drama in our lives,
especially when planning your wedding.
And weddings are famous for drama....

The only drama in your wedding should
start when you take your first step down
the aisle. The moment when everyone sees
you for the first time dressed in your
finery and looking radiant. That's
good drama!

Put a no drama clause in your wedding
planning. Make a point of telling
everyone that there will be NO drama
in your wedding planning and stick to it.

If you don't want drama, don't create drama.
Yes, brides do create their own drama.
Don't go there, if you see yourself going down
Drama Lane, do a U turn and exit.

If a family situation is creating drama,
nip it in the bud before it explodes.
Don't let it escalate, don't run to your
fiance crying, don't run to your friends and
complain, go to the source and work out a
solution. Talk it out with the source.
You can do it. Do it tactfully and kindly,
just do it! It won't be nearly as hard or
as horrible than if you let it escalate.

If a member of your wedding party is causing
drama, there is a reason they are behaving
badly. Is it jealousy? Financial? Find out the
reason, solve the problem before it spreads
throughout the wedding party. To deal with a
Maidzilla and find out what's going on,
click here.

If your mom or his mom is causing drama,
then you need to talk. It might be that
they are having a hard time realizing that
their child is an adult and can make adult
decisions. Or maybe they aren't ready to
let go of the control they've had over your
lives. They might just be feeling left out.
Sometimes just a little reassurance and
being included in some of the girl stuff
that goes with weddings is enough to rein
them in. (Or if you have a nutso mother in
law like me, there is just no hope...go with
the flow and let her compete for the Academy
Award in drama. When no one pays attention,
she'll stop.) Show her the Momzilla test.

If advice from everyone is causing drama,
learn to separate the advice from your
actual plans. Everyone who has ever been
married likes to give advice to the bride
to be. Of course, THEIR wedding was the
best wedding ever. Tell them you appreciate
the advice, take it with a grain of salt
and then do what you want. Most people just
want to give advice. Don't get angry,
don't get upset. You ultimately, as the bride,
get the final say. Just smile and say thanks.

If finances are causing drama, then scale
back the wedding into something you can
afford. You can have a beautiful wedding
on a smaller scale by cutting down on
some frills and doing some things yourself.
Weddings should be about the marriage,
the beginning of your life together.
Unfortunately, society puts too much
importance on the PARTY.

If stress is causing drama, then take time
for yourself. Learn to handle wedding stress
using these proven methods.

Wedding planning can be fun or stressful.
Its all how you deal with the situation.
Strike the drama out of the wedding plans
and vow to make it fun and productive.
When its over and someone asks what you
would change when it came to planning
your wedding, you can answer honestly,
"NOTHING! It was perfect!"

Remember, keep smiling, be optimistic
and it will spread throughout your life.
Have a happy wedding! You CAN do it!