I often get questions from readers who are having tented weddings, or weddings in locations where they can provide their own alcohol. This is a great plus, but, if you aren't careful, it can end up being nearly as costly as having a bar package at a catering hall or restaurant. Here are some great tips for keeping your bar costs down:
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I got word about this new blog called Will You Be My Bridesmaid? and have been enjoying it thoroughly ever since. The site traffics the many horrific encounters women have had over the years with hideous bridesmaids' dresses. 
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I've been posting a lot lately about eco-friendly choices for weddings, from gowns to jewelry. Today, being Earth Day, I thought I'd touch on the paper trail all couples leave during their wedding: the stationary! 
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Anyone who has ever been in, or tried to coordinate with, a large wedding party knows the woes the can ensue. In addition to the million emails with women you may or may not know, there are those awkward moments of saying yay or nay to attire and hairstyles. Well, these may all become problems of the past with eWeddingTeam.com 
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This is about the time that summer and fall brides start thinking about getting those wedding invitations out the door (and if it isn't, it should be). You may be wondering exactly HOW you should go about addressing the envelopes. Calligraphy has been a wedding standard, but when watching a budget it's easy to make that the first thing to go and run your envelopes through your at home printer. I typically advise brides NOT to go that route. a style="float: left;" href="http://simplystated.realsimple.com/.a/6a00d8345165de69e20115701af7ef970b-pi">
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Last week we talked about sustainable rings. Today, it's ecological dresses as, the ethereal and green Alabama Chanin launched her wedding collection called, The Wedding, today. a style="display: inline;" href="http://simplystated.realsimple.com/.a/6a00d8345165de69e201156f077d35970c-pi">
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Last night was the NY Magazine Weddings Showcase here in New York, which is always such a great event showcasing some of the latest trends and services in the wedding world. I was blown away by MyPublisher Photobooks and their gorgeous wedding albums that can be just a few clicks away! 
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From soy candles to recyclable centerpieces, making eco-friendly choices for your wedding has become not only more popular, but easier. But what about those items that last beyond the day itself? What about your wedding bands?
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The upside of the current economy is that it's created a lot of creative thinking and open minds, especially when it comes to floral decor at weddings. Brides are doing sweet little arrangements, modern clusters of colorful carnations and yes, even Baby's Breath has been making a comeback.
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Now that wedding season is upon us, I thought I'd spend the next couple of posts giving some tips to make the day itself run a bit more smoothly. If you aren't working with a DOC you may be wondering "who runs my ceremony and rehearsal?". This is especially true if your ceremony isn't at a house of worship. Here are a few tips to keep things moving right on track. 
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With the growing number of brides and grooms who have divorced parents or blended families, the trend of a "sweetheart" table has grown. Some couples feel they are too overtly "romantic", or that perhaps they make the couple seem anti-social. Other people love them, because it eliminates the question of who gets to sit with the bride and groom.
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Even with couples cutting spending, sometimes when it comes to wedding stationary, there isn't anything quite as nice (or as fitting) as custom wedding stationary. Which is why I love Minna Designs. While most custom designs are only available in pricey letterpress or engraving, Minna offers an array of design and printing options including affordable flat printing. If you've been looking for custom, but haven't wanted to break the bank, Minna works with brides from coast to coast. Here are some of her creations. Are any of you doing custom invites?
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I've shared before how much I love a decorative runner as an economical and simple way to decorate your ceremony area: it takes moments to roll out, it stands out in photos and it is easily pulled up and put away. For RealSimple.com readers, The Original Runner company is offering a 10% discount on runners. 
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Last week David's Bridal opened it's first store here in Manhattan. Across the country major bridal designers whose gowns retail for multiple thousands of dollars are launching lines that offer similar looks for a bit less: 2008 saw the creation of Angel by Angel Sanchez and Reverie by Melissa Sweet. (here, a Melissa Sweet and a Reverie by Melissa Sweet). But 2008 also saw the launch of the uber luxe, uber pricey, Giambattista Valli bridal line. So, in light of this economy, are you spending more or less on the dress?
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A few years ago the concept of wedding insurance started to really gain some popularity in the wedding world. In the early days of wedding insurance, the coverage options were fairly limited: mainly they covered costs lost should your wedding be canceled due to rain, etc, or if a vendor didn't deliver on a service. It was a nice add on if you had the room in your budget for it, or if you were holding your event in the dead of winter. But these days, wedding insurance seems to go further and cover more than ever before.
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Every wedding magazine under the sun sings the praises of linens as an easy way to spruce up your wedding decor. But today I thought I'd share an insiders secret with you about where brides can rent some of the best linens in the country: Cloth Connection!Bright_event_2_3
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Saturday after Saturday, not matter the budget, the decor or the location, most weddings end the same way- a gaggle of bridesmaids dancing without shoes and their high heels thrown in the middle. Well, no more bare feet and no more "one size fits all" flip flops in the bathroom. I give you: Pocketflops! from Flocs Designs 1229252999983865564800
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I am so excited about the new "Set Your Table" tool on brides.com I don't know if I can contain myself. Hundreds, maybe thousands of Nearly Weds will be saved from bickering brought on by an exhaustion that can only be achieved by wielding a registry gun. Bloomiestablesetting_4
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In the olden days, RSVP cards didn't even exist. Guests instinctively knew to send a hand-written note noting whether or not they could attend. Then came the "formal reply card", which left it up to the guest to offer up the name and number of guests attending. Here's an example of a blank reply card, still often used for formal invitation suites: These days though, brides have gotten so much more creative. I saw these on wedding bee and thought they were just the cutest (though they heavily rely on your guests being a bit clever with words). I think giving your guests a chance to be clever is such a fun idea. Plus, if it works, you can always display your RSVP's at the reception. We've had couples use vintage post cards for RSVP's and pin them up near the guestbook area as a way to personalize the space....
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As a fan of vintage and antique jewelry, I have long been a fan of Doyle & Doyle, which is this little shop here in New York co-owned by sisters Elizabeth and Irene Pamela Doyle. Their love of old, classic, beautiful pieces led them to pursue their passion and open their shop in 2000. Often, when I have brides who love things vintage, I'll direct them there for bands and wedding jewelry. The prices are amazingly reasonable. I wanted to share it with you, because I only recently realized that this little jem of a store (pun intended) offers online shopping. But, take heed! Because most of these are one of a kind pieces, what's here today, might be gone tomorrow! Are any of your wearing any heirloom or vintage pieces on your wedding day?
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A few years ago, we were working on a very wedding in a fabulous outdoor location, The Tobacco Warehouse, where budget became a consideration. To save on linen rental, but still make the accent tables (for escort cards, programs and more) feel special, the bride selected pretty patterned papers to serve as runners. The idea was so great, cheap and simple, I've been excited to see it turn up again. This wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty a few months ago and they used a bold damask pattern to create a real atmosphere at their wedding. The photos are by Angelica Glass and the wedding was by James Abel. In case your in need of some inspiration, or don't have access to a stationary store or paperie, I thought I'd post some of the more fun and funky patterns available from 2.25 per sheet at Paper-Source. And, they're eco-friendly,...
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I've been a bit obsessed with clutches as the perfect bridesmaid gift/ accessory. I'm particularly fixated on the idea of a patterned clutch with a solid colored dress, just because I think that's a smart little look and decidedly un-bridal. So, this week, I discovered not one, but two fabulous clutch designers whose little bags seemed designed for bridesmaids gifts. Snap Handbags are sophisticated and fun and could work for both a bride or a bridal party. They are around $120 and the hardware can be customized to fit the look of your wedding. The Gold is just fantastic, but she also offers a fabulous velvet number that would be great for winter weddings. Then I heard from Dana Rainwater at BugabooBabyBags. She just launched the KissMeClutch, which comes in an array of fabrics with a contrasting lining. It's practically an endless supply of pattern out there and if you...
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