Having a wedding isn’t as simple as saying “I do” — and it can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding in 2020 was over $20,000. Figures for 2021 were just a bit lower, and 2022 weddings are toping the charts once again. Exclusive Venues While recommended vendors are great, having exclusive vendors is much…
SELECTING YOUR WEDDING DATE IN 2022 The joy of being engaged is an excitement like no other, but it can also be overwhelming, thinking about how to plan the wedding of your dreams. One of the first questions you will be asked is, “Have you set a date?” The date you choose is key to your…
FALL WEDDINGS – Hot Color Choices As Fall approaches, it’s a good time to start planning your 2022 Fall Weddings. Take a look at the colors of autumn and consider some of the perfect fall color palette options that will reflect the season for you. Cream, Red Crimson, Golden Amber: This is a classic color…
Looking for a unique way to personalize your wedding? You may want to consider a Monogram Wedding – one where you and your future husband’s names are intertwined to create your own custom monogram. Starting with the invitations and carrying through to thank you cards, your monogram will be prominently displayed and will be truly…
Getting married is a major life event that you’ll never forget. If you’re planning to walk down the aisle with that special someone, a backyard wedding could be a great way to say your vows and tie the knot. However – it may not be as “budget” friendly as you might think. So, be sure…
As you are preparing for your wedding day, you might want to refer back to this blog post to remind yourself exactly what a wedding is about – getting married to the one person who’s the love of your life. The Wedding Day Ceremony and Reception is a celebration of your love and commitment…
A “First Look” is the term used when a bride and groom decide to see each other before the wedding ceremony. Many couples go back and forth on this decision. While, a traditional bride might prefer to have her groom enjoy the first sight of her as she walks down the aisle, there are many…
With the new year it’s time to welcome a new group of newly engaged couples who will begin their wedding journey. Besides setting a date and a budget, many couples, especially if the wedding has a short planning period, want to get their engagement photos early in the process. Generally, I suggest scheduling your engagement…
With many brides opting to have fewer guests at their wedding, the question often arises as to how to cut your wedding guest list without stirring up any tension. You and your future spouse probably know a lot more people combined than you realize. So – here are a few tips on how to cut…
What are YOUR Safety Plans for Your Wedding? (Note: This Blog Post was written during the Covid Pandemic) We have been talking with a lot of brides about their upcoming wedding and a typical topic that surfaces is “What Safety Plans are you putting in place for your wedding.” Now that some weddings will be starting…
With the weather turning nicer, many brides have requested information about LOW COST or NO COSTS locations where they can get married. We put this list together some time ago, but I think it was a great idea to update it, as there are some new additions we wanted to include. Did we miss something? …
One of the most romantic touches to an outdoor wedding is hanging candles. Candle accents done right adds just that special touch to set a mood. You can purchase some beautiful ones online or in stores but that can make for a huge expense. If you budget is tight, sometimes that project just is…
ALMOST ALL BRIDAL GOWNS NEED TO BE ALTERED! Fit is everything, which is why, when it comes to your wedding dress, alterations are everything. You can splurge on a pricey dress, but if it’s not altered properly it won’t look any better than a gown that’s a tenth of the cost. Here are 5 TIPS…
Welcome to part five of our wedding planning journey. I am sad to report that I did not meet my goal of finding a photographer. I had every intention of sitting down for a few hours and doing research, making a spreadsheet, and narrowing down my options. However, my laziness got the best…
Welcome back, brides! Now that you have heard my wedding dress saga, I have to share a little dress hack that I recently learned about. How many of you have helped your friends use the bathroom on their wedding day? 🙋♀️ I’ve been a bridesmaid 6 times now so I’ve gone through this experience quite…
I said YES…to the dress! A wedding dress can take anywhere from 5-6 months to come in (not including alterations) and with my wedding coming up in less than 6 months, I knew what I had to do next! As much as I dreaded dress shopping, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had expected….
This week Bride St. Louis made a stop at ReFresh in Brentwood to donate dresses that remained from our 2019 Run for the Dress. Re-Fresh is not your typical resale store. The only thing that can top fashionable clothes at reasonable prices is shopping in the name of a great cause. ReFresh is run…
Welcome back, St. Louis brides! The next step in your wedding planning process definitely requires a glass (or three) of wine! It’s time to think about your venue! This was definitely the most stressful part of wedding planning that I’ve experienced so far. Yet, once it’s over you can breathe a HUGE sigh of…
Hello St. Louis Brides! We are introducing a new “feature.” Colleen, one of our very own team mates is getting married this year, and we’ve asked her to share with you her journey as she prepares for her wedding this coming July. Witness her decisions, frustrations, and joy as she journeys to her “Dream Wedding”….
As couples begin planning for their wedding most are in completely new territory. Hiring a venue, photographer, bakery, caterer, florist, and all the other services that make for a wedding isn’t something they do regularly. As a result, most couples have no idea what questions to ask potential vendors. Then, armed with limited and often…
So many of us here in the St. Louis area absolutely love FALL – and as October is one of the busiest months in our industry, it’s obvious that our brides love Fall too! Fall represents COLOR! Find inspiration from the leaves changing and seasonality around you. There are so many shades of autumn’s color…
What will guests most remember about your wedding? While great food is always important, it’s so much more than that. Your reception is the biggest party that you will ever plan, and while it marks the importance of the fact that you just married the love of your life, your guests will look to you…
Are you looking for a Distinctive Destination for your wedding? Here are fourteen suggestions of great wedding venues that will set your wedding apart. Garth Woodside Manion, Hannibal, Missouri – www.garthmansion.com Contact: Julie Phone: 888-427-8409 Of the many wedding venues in Missouri, Garth Mansion is special as it offers their beautiful historical mansion and bed…
Every bride needs to know a few things about working with their wedding photographer to capture those amazing images that you absolutely love. Here’s how to help your photographer capture your special day and get those images. You hopefully hired a professional photographer that has done this many times. So, trust your photographer to get…
Over the next few posts we will introduce you to some basic information about wedding gown styles and silhouettes. We will start with details about the Trumpet, Mermaid, and Fit and Flare. For the brides who is just starting to look at wedding gowns, they can appear very much alike. A trumpet wedding dress fits similar to…
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make in planning your wedding is where to have it. Because there are over 350+ Venues, your decision can be difficult. Here are some basic options to consider when deciding on your wedding venue. BUDGET This is the most important factor. The reception cost is generally about 50% of…
Tipping vendors and wedding providers isn’t always mandatory, but I can guarantee that they always appreciated it when you do tip. Many vendors put their heart and soul into making your day the very best possible. If they have done a good job for you and the service was exceptional, just do it. …
Your wedding budget should not be something you are paying off for the next 5 years! There is a lot of pressure from family and friends to spend lots of money and I am here to tell you that you don’t have to! Make your budget something you are comfortable with and not what your family…
Your bridesmaids are very special friends in your life. So much so, that you want them to take a special place on your wedding day. Bridesmaids end up spending a lot of time, money, and effort on the wedding and deserve some special thanks and consideration. Learn how to personalize your bridesmaid requests and…
How to Save on Open Bar Costs: Open bars are fun, but they get expensive fast. Cut down on the open bar cost by only keeping it open during certain times. For example, you could have a cocktail hour during the reception, and then switch over to just beer and wine during dinner. Or you…
Wedding vows today no longer necessarily follow the standard “love, honor, cherish…” verbiage. Couples use their vows to express their feelings and commitments to one another. Here are some examples: I, (Bride/Groom), take you (Groom/Bride), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for…
All women want to look their very best on their wedding day – beautiful, confident and radiant! Here are some tips to ensure that you make a GREAT choice when it comes to your choice of bridal gown. Start NOW to find your dress. If you plan to order a designer gown it can take…