Wow! Your engaged to be married, after you tell all of your family and friends, you may have a few questions, sooooooooooo-here we go!
Decide when and where your wedding will take place. Then schedule the location that you want and put your deposit down. But don't take to long in deciding because while you are pondering someone else may take your spot and the next thing you know you are the one having to change your date! Remember "The early bird gets the worm"!
Start on your search for your perfect wedding gown. Remember that you will need to allow enough time to get your gown in. This can take as little as 2 weeks and as long as 4months depending on the manufacturer and his inventory. If you wait too long you may be upset when you find out that the dress of your dreams is not available until after your wedding date! So start early it is better to have a dress sitting in your closet waiting for your special day than to be panicked about whether or not your gown will arrive in time.
Remember this is your wedding and if you invite all of the bridesmaids with you to choose the dress NO ONE will agree on the same style. The best rule of thumb is for you and one other (either mom or maid of honor) to decide on the style of the dress that you like best and then ask the others to come and be sized so that the dresses can be ordered. At that time they can see the gown you have chosen for them to wear. Most bridesmaids' dresses take quite a bit of time to come in because they are all made at the same time so that the colors all match. A few companies will do what they call a "Rush Cut" which means they will make the dresses in a shorter period of time then their regular time schedule. Rush Cuts are an extra charge on top of the regular price of the gown. They can run as little as $10.00 extra per piece to as much as $50.00 extra per piece, depending on how quick you need them. The less time you have allowed the more the rush cut fee is. You will need to call on an individual basis for us to be able to tell you how much extra your rush cut would be. Again remember that both Bridal Gowns and Bridesmaids' Gowns need to be ordered in plenty of time for you to be able to have the dresses you want.
Your mother should be looking right along with you. Mother's tend to wait until the last minute thinking that they can run to the mall and pick up something to wear at the last moment. This rarely happens. You want your mother (and his) in a certain color and style and usually what you want is not readily available. You may think for instance that Navy should be an easy to color for a mother to find a dress in but that all depends on the year and whether or not Navy is in the color palate for that season. Remember just because it is your wedding color does not mean that the stores will have that color. In fact most of the colors girls choose for their wedding colors are not available in mother's gowns except through special order. So plan early and allow a little flexibility. The closest color to the swatch you have given both mothers may have to be off a shade or two to even get close to your color. You might also offer your mothers a selection of two colors so that their options are greater. At Kathleen's we offer a wonderful selection of mother's dresses in a varied of color options. They key to success in mother's gowns it to shop early.
Don't wait until the day of your Bridal Pictures to have a stylist work their magic on your hair. You may hate your bridal pictures if you do. Find a stylist you feel comfortable working with and one that you can talk to especially if you don't like what she has done with your hair. Take pictures with you for the styles you do like so that she doesn't have to read your mind.
Don't get overwhelmed! There are a lot of people who would love to help you. Let them be involved as long as you have given them guidelines as to what you want done. Go over the assignments often, checking with them on how things are coming along. Make sure to do this more than once. This is your day to shine, and show your style and taste. It will all work out as you have planned if you let people who love you help you. But most importantly it will take a lot of stress off of you!
A professional photographer is best. Relatives sometimes put you last on their list and have a hard time finishing the work in a timely manner. Professional Photographers come in all price ranges making it possible for you to be able to find one that will fit your budget. If you are having Bridal Portraits taken you will need to have your wedding gown alterations completed at least six weeks before your wedding date. Bridal portraits are taken between four and six weeks before your wedding date. You will want to check with your photographer for his individual time frame. Remember these pictures are the one thing that you will have to remember your special day "50" years from now, when your memory will be slightly faded!!!!! You will want them to be good.
****Now for just a suggestion to you and your groom, from a mom who was very touched...Take just a moment or two before your wedding day to each write a thank you note to each of your parents. Then just before you leave your reception find a quiet moment to give it to them or put it on their pillows so that they will find it when they come home at the end of the special day. It is very hard for your Mom and Dad to let you go, and an expression of love and gratitude from you will be a cherished keepsake for them to have from you for years to come. I guarantee they will be very touched!!!
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