Bride's Way

03/19/2024

8 Steps to Finding Your Wedding Florist Part 2

2. Determine Your Floral Needs
Do you want someone who'll not only make your arrangements but also help design the look of your reception tables and ceremony aisle? A floral designer is probably more your speed. Already have a wedding planner or an eye for design? Then a regular florist will likely do the trick. Figure out which is the best fit—this will allow you to narrow your search and help determine your budget.

Photo Credit- Shannon Williams

03/18/2024

8 Steps to Finding Your Wedding Florist

-When Should You Hire a Florist for Your Wedding?
We recommend starting to research wedding florists about 11 months before your big day, with the goal to sign a contract between 9 and 10 months pre-wedding. Basically, as soon as you've booked your venue and have officially set a date, you can start researching other vendors, including your florist. Given the current wedding boom, vendors are booking up faster than ever (especially if you're marrying during peak wedding season), so the earlier you can secure a florist, the better!

1. Establish Your Flower Style 🌺
Some florists specialize in tall, lush, ornate centerpieces, while others are better at modern, minimalist arrangements. Find photos of bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces you like to figure out your style, and choose a wedding color palette. And familiarize yourself with some of the most common floral terms and types of flowers and greenery, so you'll be able to talk shop with your florist.

Photo Credit- Julie Beaver

02/23/2024

How to Find Your Wedding Band or DJ Part 3

-How to Budget for a Wedding Band or DJ
Now comes the hard part. How much should you spend on wedding entertainers? Sadly, there’s not a single answer to this burning question. However, while the cost of entertainers could vary vastly, there’s an easy equation you can do that will help you budget well for this part of your wedding. As with all areas of your wedding, your overall wedding budget will determine how much you can set aside for the entertainment part of your day. Of course, it’s a personal choice. As a rough guide, 10 to 15 percent of your overall budget should go on your entertainment.

Photo Credit- Vince Fleming

02/22/2024

How to Find Your Wedding Band or DJ Part 2

Now that you have a clear idea of what you want, it’s time you started your search. To help you make the right decision, you may want to talk to your wedding planner. Link in with the wedding coordinator at your venue or your wedding planner. They will have a list of trusted suppliers they have worked with in the past and this can be a great starting point to finding the right option.

If you’re flying solo and planning the event yourself, you can ask your family and friends for recommendations or run a quick Google search. Alternatively, why not dive into your social feeds? “
Using social media can be a useful way of browsing through various styles of bands or DJs.

Photo Credit- Adrianna Geo

02/22/2024

02/20/2024

How to Find Your Wedding Band or DJ Part 1

-How to Choose Between a Wedding Band and a DJ
From the first moment you start planning your wedding, you’re going to have to make some pretty tough decisions. Who will be your bridesmaids? What dress will you wear? What about flower arrangements? And, of course, should you hire a DJ or a live band? It’s enough to stump you. If you haven’t a clue what type of entertainment will suit your big day, there are a couple of important factors to think about.

Your venue is something that you should really consider. If you have a small venue, is a five-to-seven piece band really going to be a suitable choice of entertainment? Maybe a smaller band, a two-to-three piece, will suit your venue if space is tight. A DJ can set up in a small space so that may be the more flexible option depending on your venue and location.
Photo Credit- Alexandra Gornago

02/15/2024

How to Choose Your Wedding Dress If You're an Indecisive Bride Part 3

-How to Narrow Down Your Wedding Dress Options
With so many options, decision fatigue can happen easily and often during the shopping process. To help narrow down your choices, first figure out how you want to feel on your big day. Do you want to feel sexy? Classic? Edgy? Romantic? Try to find that one main aesthetic, and lean into it when selecting boutiques to visit and when pulling dresses to try on. There are many beautiful gowns out there, but having an idea of the vibe you'd like to embrace will eliminate the confusing “pretty-but-not-perfect” options.

Additionally, having a good understanding of your must-haves and keeping a list of details you love as you try on different styles. Prioritizing the physical dress and lifestyle factors can help a bride hone in on what is truly important in a dress (and help her not get distracted).

Once you start seeing a trend in styles or details you like, eliminate anything else that does not align with those categories. And as you begin narrowing down your options, stop looking for new contenders and instead, focus on the gowns you already love. From there, consider the types of accessories you want to wear, your venue, the season, the number of alterations, and comfort. If you truly feel stuck.

Photo Credit- Shannon Williams

02/13/2024

How to Choose Your Wedding Dress If You're an Indecisive Bride Part 2

-How to Prepare for Your Wedding Dress Shopping Experience
In the movies and TV shows, the bride simply waltzes into the boutique on a whim and somehow manages to find her dream dress in minutes. In reality, you need to do your research before heading into any gown appointment, as the trip can quickly become frustrating if you are not prepared.

To make the most of your shopping trip(s), be selective with the salons you choose to visit. Alwaya preview shops (via social media and websites) before booking appointments, so you know what the experience will be like. This will make you feel so much more prepared, knowledgeable, and secure in your decision. Also, getting a good understanding of the designers, styles, and price ranges bridal shops carry will allow you to have the best chance of finding a gown you love, while not veering too far off track.

Photo credit - Lucas Mendes

02/12/2024

How to Choose Your Wedding Dress If You're an Indecisive Bride Part 1

-What to Look for When Wedding Dress Shopping

First things first, the most important factors to consider when shopping for a wedding gown are your timeline, budget, and desired aesthetic. Unfortunately, if you have your heart set on a particular style, but it’s out of budget or won’t arrive in time for the big day, that particular option might not work out. Also, you want to order your wedding dress about a year in advance, so if you don’t have that amount of time, you may have to consider consignment ensembles or an buying off-the-rack look.

Next, as you begin trying gowns on, pay attention to the details, and not the fit, of a look. Most sample dresses will never fit you perfectly, and that’s okay because a wedding dress is a garment that will be fitted to your figure. While you want to select a general silhouette that feels flattering on your body, the details (such as neckline, fabric, sleeves, embellishments, train, etc.) are what you really need to focus on during the shopping process.

Photo Credit- Missy Norred

02/06/2024

How To Choose a Wedding Ring That You'll Love Forever Part 2

-Choosing as a Couple
There's just something so special about choosing your wedding ring together with your partner, especially if your engagement ring was a surprise. More often than not, both the bride and groom come into a showroom to pick out their wedding rings as a couple. This ensures both parties are happy with the ring they will wear for the rest of their lives! I love this approach because, as Sassone suggests, it's the perfect excuse to make it a date night. In the whirlwind of planning a wedding, it can be really special to set aside a few hours for yourselves to shop for wedding bands.

Phot Credit- Julie Beaver

02/05/2024

How To Choose a Wedding Ring That You'll Love Forever Part 1

-Who chooses the wedding rings?
When it comes to who buys the wedding rings, the decision varies from couple to couple. Traditionally, it was the responsibility of the groom to select and purchase the rings. However, in modern times, many couples prefer to make the decision together, considering it an opportunity to strengthen their bond and make a joint decision that symbolizes their commitment.

Photo Credit- Shannon Williams

02/01/2024

How to Start Your Search for a Wedding Caterer Part 3

-Where to Start Finding Wedding Catering Services
Ready to find your wedding catering company? Here's a step-by-step guide to finding the best wedding caterer for your big day:

1. Read reviews- Read reviews of full-service catering companies in your wedding location. You can also narrow your search by type of cuisine, pricing, dietary options and more.

2. Ask your venue -If your wedding venue does not have an in-house caterer, ask your venue coordinator for recommendations for catering companies they frequently work with.

3. Ask your other wedding vendors- While your caterer is one of the first pros you'll hire, if you've already hired other vendors, ask them to recommend reputable caterers they've heard of through the industry grapevine or know personally.

4. Consider full-service catering companies and restaurants- While catering companies are the go-to for weddings and private events, some restaurants also have their own catering business.

Photo Credit- Chasse Sauvage

01/30/2024

How to Start Your Search for a Wedding Caterer Part 2

-How Much Does a Wedding Caterer Cost?
A major portion of your wedding budget will go to your venue and catering. In fact, you can expect to spend a minimum $15 per guest on catering and that adds up quickly! The more guests you invite, the more you'll spend on food and beverage, but there are a few ways to save money on catering:

Alcohol is expensive! To save money, limit your bar service to beer and wine (and maybe a cocktail or two).
Host a morning or early afternoon wedding—a brunch or luncheon menu tends to cost less than dinner.
Limit your passed hors d'oeuvres and go heavy on the stationary appetizers.
Serve a single entrée choice (with options for those with dietary restrictions), rather than providing multiple menu options.

Photo Credit- Freddy G Photography

01/29/2024

How to Start Your Search for a Wedding Caterer Part 1

-Do I Need to Hire a Wedding Caterer?
Before you can start your caterer search, you'll need to book your wedding venue. Some special-event venues are considered all-inclusive, meaning that catering is handled in house (often along with other services like rentals, event design and more), and you won't have to hire a separate wedding catering company. However, if your wedding venue does not include catering, you'll need to hire an outside caterer.

Photo Credit- Nadia Valko

01/26/2024

How to Find a Wedding Cake Baker Near You for Your Dessert Needs Part 5

-Meet with the cake baker in person.
Before hiring your cake baker, it's a good idea to meet with them in person or at the very least over Zoom. There are so many different flavors and styles to choose from, and your wedding cake can be a personal part of your wedding—it's something all your guests will enjoy with you, after all! Meet with your baker, get to know their process and your options, and be sure to sign a contract and pay a deposit right away to lock in your date!

Photo Credit- Nathan Walker

01/25/2024

How to Find a Wedding Cake Baker Near You for Your Dessert Needs Part 4

-Dietary Considerations
If you need the cake to be vegan, gluten-free or made without certain allergens like eggs or tree nuts, this can raise the cost. Rather than burdening your budget with a cake that accommodates every single guests' dietary restrictions, discussing the possibility of having your baker create a mini-cake or even cupcakes with the same flavor profile specifically for those with the restriction.

-Specialty Flavors
It's no surprise that certain ingredients and flavors might cost more. If you're comfortable with just the basics, you might be able to curb your budget. But if you are looking for speciality flavors, you might have to make a few upgrades. If the two of you would love and plan for a simple, tasty three-tier pound cake base with vanilla frosting and fruit filling yet, your baker also brings out a sample of their house-made cannoli-filled cake with crushed pistachio topping, or their passion fruit cake, or a tiramisu flavor bomb that makes the two of you swoon. Once you've tasted the flavor profile of your dreams, what you thought you were coming in for will no longer suffice, resulting in the need for a budget revisit.

Photo Credit- Vitor Monthay

01/24/2024

How to Find a Wedding Cake Baker Near You for Your Dessert Needs Part 3

-Cake Size
If you're worried that you'll go over budget due to the fact that you have a large number of guests, discussing alternative options with your cake baker to fit both your dream and your budget. You could have your baker create your dream vision cake as a ceremonial cutting cake to suit a smaller guest count than your total and then have them make a sheet cake with the same flavor profile to feed the rest of your guests. For example, if you have 150 guests at your wedding, you can have the ceremonial cutting dream-style wedding cake made large enough to feed twenty and a sheet cake for 150.

Photo Credit- Photos by Lanty

01/23/2024

How to Find a Wedding Cake Baker Near You for Your Dessert Needs Part 2

-Wedding Cake Baker Pricing Considerations
Before you go ahead and hire your wedding cake baker, it can be helpful to factor in the following price considerations so that you know the exact type of cake you need.

-Extent of the Design
Most cake bakers consider their creations works of art, so you can expect that the greater the design, the heftier the price tag. Elaborate and time-consuming designs such as intricate piping, hand painting, fondant work or sugar flowers can add to the price of your cake. If you want to save a bit on your cake, you may want to avoid these design elements and opt for textured buttercream instead of hand piping.

Photo Credit Julie Beaver

01/22/2024

How to Find a Wedding Cake Baker Near You for Your Dessert Needs Part 1

-When to Hire a Wedding Cake Baker
While you might not think a wedding cake takes all that long to make, it's important that you hire your wedding cake baker well in advance. In fact, we recommend scheduling your wedding cake tasting at least three to six months in advance. Some bakers book up to one year in advance, so it's a good idea to get on their radar and put down a deposit as early as that, but I don't recommend making final decisions until a bit later. Your wedding style can evolve as the wedding planning goes on, and you don't want to have to make too many design changes to your wedding cake by committing to the design too early.

Photo Credit- Christina Victoria Craft

01/18/2024

Here Are the Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Wedding Photographer Part 4

-Ask all your questions.
And, of course, ask any and all questions that come to mind. For instance, you will want to know how long it will take to get the gallery back, do they send sneak peaks, if they are a film photographer ask how much film they'll shoot in comparison to digital. No two photographers structure their business the same, so there are no silly questions.

-How Long Should You Hire a Wedding Photographer For?
The answer to this question will vary based on the type of wedding you're having. For instance, an intimate elopement would need less time than a full wedding day. Generally though, at least eight hours of coverage is standard for a wedding.

-How to Coordinate With Your Photographer After Booking
So you've booked your wedding photographer, what's next? The first step, is asking them what their preferred method of communication is (email, text messages, phone calls, etc.), if they haven't already let you know, because every photographer does things differently. Having that open line of communication that goes both ways is essential.

Photo Credit- Fallon Michael

01/17/2024

Here Are the Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Wedding Photographer Part 3

-What to Look for in a Wedding Photographer
Finding your dream wedding photographer becomes a whole lot easier when you know what to look for. There are two main factors that should help drive your decision: the photographer's style and how you get along with them.

-A Style You Love
First and foremost, biggest piece of advice on what to look for in a wedding photographer, you definitely want to love their work and not just the work you see on their Instagram and website. Ask to see full wedding galleries so you know exactly what to expect from your own.

Photo Credit- Josh Applegate

01/16/2024

Here Are the Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Wedding Photographer Part 2

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Wedding Photographer?
As with all wedding vendors, the cost of a wedding photographer will vary. The investment will be based on the photographer's experience, location, the wedding destination (which may or may not include travel costs) and different packages they may offer. For example, some may offer both digital and film photography or pre-wedding engagement photos as well. To give you a ballpark number though, for an experienced, professional photographer, couples can expect to spend at least $6,000. However, the average wedding photography cost in the U.S. is $2,500.

Photo Credit: Shannon Williams

01/15/2024

Here Are the Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Wedding Photographer Part 1

A wedding photographer is one of the most essential vendors to check off your wedding vendor checklist as you plan your big day. The tricky part though is how to choose a wedding photographer. What should you look for in a wedding photographer? How do you actually hire a wedding photographer? What does that entire process entail? To answer these questions and more, read on for everything you need to know about how to choose a wedding photographer to capture your special day.

When to Book a Wedding Photographer
The short answer: The sooner the better. Wr advise booking your wedding photographer as soon as you secure a wedding date and venue. Many photographers take on a limited number of weddings each year before closing their books. Time is of the essence and you don't want to miss out on having your dream photographer. As a rule of thumb, about a year in advance of your wedding date is a good timeline.

Photo Credit- Shannon Williams

09/11/2023

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Venue Part 4

-Remember Your Budget
It’s more than just how much renting the space will cost. Decor and floral design will also drive the cost up. Know how much your total budget is as well as approximately what your design will cost to execute. If adding that on top of the cost of using the space blows your budget out of the water, you will either need to scale back your design or look at more affordable spaces. Break down your overall budget by category, prioritizing more funds for vendors that are a higher priority. If you select your venue first, and then realize it’s more than you should have allocated, it is an uphill battle to stay within your budget when you still have a dozen other other people to hire.
Photo Credit- Leave it to Beaver Photography

09/05/2023

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Venue Part 3

-Know Your Guest List
Knowing how many guests you’re expecting to invite before you go looking at venues will help save you from headaches and heart aches down the road. If you choose a venue that is too small for your guest list and more guest RSVP “yes” than you can fit in the space, you will be in a tough situation. Couples often underestimate how many people they will invite or how many their parents will want to add, so have that conversation early to know what you’re really working with. This will also help you break down your budget as some costs are very dependent on the number of people you are inviting.

Photo Credit - Daria Magazzu

08/31/2023

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Venue Part 2

-Talk to a Planner First
Yes, talk to a planner before you start looking at spaces. Planners are much more familiar with the capabilities of a space, the layout, and the time and items you'll need to really transform it. If there's a creative way to make it unique or a quirk about the space that could make your vision hard to accomplish, your planner will know.

-Choose a Venue That Aligns With Your Vision
This might seem obvious, but seek out venues that fit the aesthetic you have in mind. If you're planning a modern wedding, look at art galleries, well-designed restaurants, or warehouse spaces. On the flip side, a wedding incorporating more natural elements works well with outdoor venues such as parks, backyards, and ranches. Choosing a venue that fits in with (and enhances) your theme will enable your wedding to feel more connected to the space.
Photo Credit- Leave it to Beaver Photography

08/29/2023

How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Venue Part 1

There's no denying it, choosing the perfect wedding venue can feel like a daunting task. But fear not! With a little bit of research, some careful thought, and a dash of creativity, you too can find the ideal space to tie the knot. From majestic ballrooms to rustic barns, there are countless options when it comes to selecting a wedding venue. First, consider the style and mood you want to create for your special day. Then, think about your guest list and what kind of space would best accommodate everyone. Finally, don't be afraid to get creative - sometimes the most unexpected spaces can lead to the most unforgettable wedding days. Stay tuned, we’ve put together this guide on how to choose the perfect wedding venue for your big day! So let's get started on making sure you find the best place for one of life's most memorable moments!
Photo Credit- Leave it to Beaver Photography

08/22/2023

To Invite or Not to Invite…Everything You Need to Know About Who to Invite to Your Wedding Events
Part 4

-Children:
Your choice! If you are trying to keep your guest list down or simply do not want children at your wedding you may absolutely not include children in your guest count, although if you have children in your wedding party they should also be on the reception list. If you have children in your wedding party and you don’t want other kiddos there, just make sure you don’t make any exceptions outside of those when addressing invitations. What to do if children show up to your wedding and weren’t invited is a topic for another day. A great option for out-of-town guests who may bring their children with them for the weekend…there are some wonderful babysitting companies that are specifically tailored for events.

-Plus Ones:
This goes back to the same blanket rule as with family members…if you allow one person to bring a plus one you should allow everyone.

Photo Credit- Justin Clark

08/21/2023

To Invite or Not to Invite…Everything You Need to Know About Who to Invite to Your Wedding Events Part 3

-Parents' Friends:
This group of people may touch upon other areas, such as if they feel like your extended family as well, if they are the parents of people in your wedding party or close friends. Bottom line, if your parents are contributing to your wedding costs then they get to add names to the guest list!

-Co-Workers:
Guess what? You do not have to invite people you work with to your wedding! If you are close friends with people outside of work, they most certainly should be invited, but the lady over in cubicle one that you may have a bite with in the lunchroom on occasion does not have to be. If you are going to be uncomfortable having co-workers or bosses see you in a more personal setting you can elect to leave them off the guest list.
Photo Credit- Jonathan Borba