Ventura Wedding

Planning and practice are good strategies for making your wedding day festivities run smoothly but nothing beats some practical advice from brides who have been-there-and-done-that. Eliminate the stress of discomfort on your wedding day by following these simple tips. 1. Make sure your dress fits and functions. Don’t be alarmed if your dress doesn't fit perfectly after your first fitting. It can take up to three or four fittings to get it right. If possible, schedule your last fitting two weeks before your wedding. Also, keep in mind the time of year and movement in your dress. “I picked out a silky lightweight mermaid wedding gown that fit me perfectly and looked gorgeous. My problem was a cold October wedding with an outdoor evening reception. It was cold! I also should have practiced dancing because my dress was too tight around the bottom and I had to borrow my friend’s hair tie to bunch it up above my knees so I could move on the dance floor!” Lydia 2. Wear comf...

Carefully chosen flowers match the color of the napkins, flawless makeup looks great for all your photo close-ups, and everyone in your bridal party arrives on time for your ceremony at the wedding venue of your dreams. Every bride wants her months of planning and preparation to unfold into a perfect day free of hiccups and embarrassment, and every groom just wants his bride to be happy. With so many elements falling into place, stressful situations can occur which take your mind off the real reason for your special day: to celebrate your love for one another. Too often it becomes so easy to forget what your wedding day is all about. With just a few special touches, you can keep the love alive through these times of stress and decision. Love notes are free, romantic reminders that can be shared publicly or intimately. They can be as creative as you can dream them or charming and simple, as long as they are thoughtful. Here are some of my favorite examples. Everyday for almos...

Flowers are a big part of your wedding day décor. The arrangements you choose will likely be in every picture from the bouquets and boutonnieres during the ceremony to the table centerpieces at your reception. They are another layer of the overall design, theme, style, and mood of your wedding so it is worth investing time in choosing a florist that understands your needs, budget, and vision. So how do you go about finding a florist that works for you? Referrals can be helpful coming from friends, family, wedding venues, or trusted vendors but it is also important for you to do your own research. The best advice for selecting any professional for your wedding day is to look at their work. Websites are a great way to view portfolios of a florists work, and to pick up on their particular style and design knowledge. These days, a website is a must for professionals; and a modern beautiful site is a must for a great designer. Go ahead and judge, you want the best! When you...

Being asked to speak at a wedding is a great honor. If you are a best man or maid of honor you can expect to offer a toast to the happy couple. In addition, parents who host the wedding usually welcome the guests and thank them for coming. Finally, a word from the couple may also be appropriate. What a nice touch for a groom to welcome the bride to his family and say how honored he feels to have her hand in marriage!   There is a lot of advice about what to say and what to avoid when giving a toast. Overall the most important thing to remember is to honor the bride and groom with your words. Don’t risk embarrassing the couple or anyone else in the room trying to get a laugh. Practice your toast (you want it to be thoughtful), keep it short (2-5 minutes), and give genuine compliments to the couple and well wishes for their future.   Below is a great outline for writing a toast: §        Introduce yourself in one sent...

It is a good idea to prepare a wedding day schedule in writing to pass out to wedding participants a week or more before the wedding so they can make appointments and you can clear up misunderstandings or concerns (Individual schedules will vary depending on the responsibilities). Make sure to bring a copy with you to the rehearsal in case you need to make adjustments. The schedule should include details like: time and place of pre-wedding gathering, time and place the bride and attendants will dress, time and place of hair and make-up appointments, arrival time for each individual, time and place of portraits, and time and place of the ceremony and reception. Since each wedding is different, more information could be required and the clearer you are- the less room for misunderstandings. Also consider your attendants and discuss travel times, consider asking typically late friends to show up earlier to “help you with _______,” and make sure your vendors and offician...

Ceremony rehearsals are important for all wedding participants. As the bride and groom, this is your last opportunity before your wedding day to clarify your plans and wedding day schedule. For the bridal party and ushers, readers, moms and dads, and others involved it is a good chance to practice and experience what is expected of them during the ceremony: where they need to meet and stand, when they need to come down the aisle, and who they will escort. Everyone will feel more comfortable knowing that they’ve already run through the steps of the ceremony and have eliminated anxiety about travel plans if they are coming from out-of-town. To ensure that your rehearsal is effective and organized, some planning is required. You need to choose someone (not in the bridal party) to run the rehearsal. This could be your officiant, a wedding planner/coordinator, or a person you can count on to keep things on track and direct the focus of your excited family and friends. ...

Deciding on (and sticking to) a budget may seem like a difficult task, but there are several resources and plenty of advice readily available to help you get started. While some couples may start off knowing exactly how much they have to spend, others may have no idea. Nina Callaway, author of the article “Creating a Wedding Budget,” suggests budgeting about $100 per wedding guest, depending on your area. The next step is to prioritize each element of your wedding. Jo Gartin, voted best wedding coordinator by Vogue Magazine, lists the following “key components” to consider: beverages, bridal gown and accessories, celebrant, coordinator, favors, flowers, food, hair and make-up, honeymoon, insurance, location, music, photography, rentals, specialty linens, stationary, styling and décor, transportation, videography, wedding cake, and welcome gifts. Deciding what is most important to you will help you determine where to spend and where to save. The third step is to make a basic budge...