Dream Wedding at Down to Earth Prices

Find a low-cost location
Schedule the event earlier in the day
Plan for the “off-season”
Use seasonal flowers that are locally available
Decorate strategically – focus on the highly visible areas and don’t sweat the small stuff
Put your friends and family to work

12 Months Before

 Select a wedding date and time
 Start a budget and establish who will pay what expenses
 Determine style and size of the wedding you want (including the guest list)
 Reserve a location for both the ceremony and reception
 Book your photographer
 Book your wedding consultant
 Check with your wedding officiant for any pre-marital requirements 
 Create a personal wedding website

9 Months Before

 Alert out-of-town guests of your wedding date and location
 Research accommodations and have a list available for out-of-town guests
 Finalize color scheme, style of wedding and attire
 Select wedding party
 Start shopping for your wedding gown and bridesmaid's dresses
 Check and secure any rental needs
 Book your ceremony music
 Book your reception entertainment (DJ or live band)
 Book your videographer
 Book your caterer
 Book your florist
 Book a bakery and cake
 Select travel agent specializing in honeymoons and book your honeymoon
 Start your honeymoon registry

6 Months Before

 Order wedding gown
 Choose headpiece and bridal accessories
 Order bridesmaids dress (be sure to get correct measurements)
 Select men's formalwear
 Start your wedding gift registry
 Shop for wedding rings and bands
 Make transportation arrangements
 Book any additional décor
 Arrange for newspaper announcements

4-5 Months Before

 Select your invitation style and wording
 Finalize guest list
 Order all invitations and other stationary
 Book beverage caterer (espresso bar and/or traditional bar services)
 Shop for wedding favors
 Select the reception menu
 Meet with hair and makeup stylist for wedding day look - do a trial run
 Check for marriage requirements and blood testing laws
 Select and coordinate mother's dresses and accessories
 Make appointment for first fittings for all bridal attire

2-3 Months Before

 Shop for gifts for your attendants
 Schedule 2nd fitting for bridal attire
 Reserve men's formalwear
 Confirm ceremony and reception locations
 Confirm details with all wedding professionals involved
 Finalize honeymoon plans; apply for passports and/or visas if required
 Book accommodations and flights for out town guests
 Select a calligraphy expert to address invitations
 Mail out invitations
 Purchase wedding day accessories: ring pillows, candles, glasses & cake knife
 Book rehearsal dinner location
 Plan wedding party celebrations
 Design and order your wedding program.
 Get your marriage license

1 Month Before

 Start compiling your wedding day schedule
 Prepare a list for table assignments and order of receiving line
 Schedule final fitting for wedding dress and attendants
 Schedule formal bridal portraits
 Begin writing thank you notes
 Finalize rehearsal dinner plans
 Purchase bridal party gifts

Day Before Wedding

 Prepare payment envelopes and choose a responsible person to distribute after the wedding
 Attend Rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
 Relax and go to bed early

The BIG Day!

 Eat a good breakfast and drink plenty of fluids
 Review the day's schedule
 Have your suitcases and travel documents delivered to the hotel

After the Wedding

 Get your dress cleaned and preserved
 Write and mail thank you notes
 Complete your name change kit

Confident, spontaneous, sophisticated or trendy? What is your lipstick saying about you? While some women stay true to one color, others keep a collection of shades to wear whenever the mood strikes them. Read on to find out what your favorite lip shades might reveal about you.

Pinks
The woman who treasures a pink lip shade possesses a beauty that never goes out of style. Classy and feminine, she’s the measure of a true lady. But don’t be surprised to discover a fun, flirty side winking beneath the pink.

Metals
A metallic lip luster is the perfect shade for a girl on the cutting edge of fashion. She knows how to add that extra something to make any outfit go from simple to amazing. And when it comes to the next new thing, you can bet she’s already there.

Berries
You’ll find shades of berry on the lips of a woman living life to the fullest. She’s energetic, enthusiastic and walks into a room with confidence. It’s no wonder she’s drawn to a lip shade as lively as the life she’s leading.

Neutrals
Don’t be fooled by demure lips in neutrals. When it comes to expressing her style, this woman knows how to make a bold statement. Spend an afternoon with her, and you’ll learn to expect the delightfully unexpected.

Chocolates
Generous and giving, the woman with a loving heart can’t resist a lipstick in a warm chocolate shade. She exudes genuine affection. She’ll make you feel fabulous. And of course, she’s as sweet as candy.

Tawnies
For the sophisticated woman, tawnies are the lip shade of choice. Gifted with impeccable taste, she appreciates the fine things in life from beautiful art to artisan coffee. When it comes to perfecting her pucker, only a shade of tawny will do.

Red
She’s confident and sophisticated. She’s glamorous, trendy and classic all at the same time. She’s true to the end, and her beauty spans a lifetime. What more can we say about the woman in red?

Want an Oscar-worthy wedding video? Just follow these steps:

Before they hit the big screen, all movies go through a certain process: the budgeting, the crew-hiring, the equipment selection, the shooting, the editing. The same holds true for your wedding video. Though it's not a Hollywood blockbuster, your big-day film will undoubtedly make it onto your own personal top-ten list.

So make sure it's created with the same attention to detail as a multiplex masterpiece.
Couples are often tempted to enlist a friend or relative with a camcorder to tape their wedding. While an amateur video is better than no video at all, it's usually way below the quality that a professional can deliver. "Just because someone has a kitchen doesn't mean they can bake a wedding cake," Rudy Childs, president of the Professional Videographers Association of Greater Washington, D.C. (PVA), points out. If you'd like a professional-looking video, you're going to have to go with a pro.

Act One: the Search
To find a videographer, start by asking friends and family for recommendations. You can also contact a professional videographers' organization, such as a local PVA (check the list of locales at videographer.com/local_PVAs.htm) or the Wedding and Event Videographers Association International (online at weva.com). And don't forget to search Brides.com's Local Services section.

After you've identified a few candidates, meet with them in person so you can see examples of their work. Roy Chapman, chair of WEVA International, recommends that you take a look at a full-length wedding video in addition to demo tapes. "Trust your eyes and your ears" when selecting a videographer, Chapman advises. "If you don't like the look or the sound of a video you're being shown, or if you are bored watching it, that's not the fault of the wedding. It's up to the videographer to produce a high-quality video that's entertaining to watch."

Act Two: the Selection
Make sure you ask questions about the videographer's professional background (such as the number of weddings they've shot and any special training they've received). According to Kit Slitor, founder of the PVA, the most important thing to look for when choosing a videographer is experience: "A seasoned professional will be technically and artistically proficient. He will know how to gather the right footage, how to properly frame and focus shots, how to discreetly and properly light a scene and take care of audio considerations."

Since videographic technology is changing quickly, find out if the person is up to speed with the latest equipment and techniques. "The best format to tape with today is digital video," Slitor says. Videos recorded digitally can be transferred to a VHS tape or to a DVD, an increasingly popular option. DVDs make it much easier to edit the video, meaning your pro can, according to Chapman, "manipulate images, rearrange scenes, add tasteful special effects, change colors or backgrounds, and improve picture quality."
Chapman suggests that you also ask how many cameras the videographer will use. "This comes down to budget, but it's really preferable to have at least two cameras; you're limited with one." (Chapman also recommends checking with your clergy member to be sure that at least one camera will be allowed up front in the altar area.) Also, find out how the videographer records sound. A new audio advancement is tiny, wireless microphones that "can be clipped to a lapel and that are almost invisible. This lets you have nice, clear, uninterrupted sound."

Learn what type of editing the videographer uses. Chapman explains: "Some videographers use in-camera editing (which is basically just the footage as it was shot, with little or no editing afterward), which is the least costly but most limited method of editing. Others may spend up to 20 hours editing your video and making it television-quality."

When it comes to video style, you've got a range of options. The "love story production" or the "relationship segment" is increasingly popular. "These videos are the story behind the story, how the couple came together. It's important family history," Chapman says. "Sometimes these segments are produced in the relaxed style of A&E's Biography or a high-energy TV special. The videographer might take the couple to some of their favorite spots, interview them about their relationship, or get reactions from friends and family. On the wedding video, the love story segment usually appears as a prelude to the actual ceremony."

Another emerging trend is videos shot in an MTV, music-video style.
How to make a good style match? "Tell the videographer what your television viewing preferences are," Chapman advises.

Finally, if you're dealing with a videography studio, be sure to indicate in your contract the specific person you want to shoot your wedding. Often, studios will employ more than one videographer, and it's important to make it clear which one you want to work with.

Act Three: the Wedding Day
You can make the videographer's experience a little easier by supplying a schedule of the day's events. Be sure to introduce the videographer to the key players in your wedding—for example, your parents—to ensure that these VIPs are featured appropriately. You might want to pay extra to have the videographer shoot the rehearsal dinner. This will familiarize him or her with your ceremony and allow for prenuptial mingling with the important folks.

And remember: Your videographer needs to eat! Supply a meal—and if there are assistants, feed them too.

Post-Production: the Final Cut
Some wedding videos take months to complete, so when you sign your contract, make sure you get an idea of when you can expect to see the finished product. And find out exactly what you'll get: Discuss with your videographer whether you will receive just an edited copy of the wedding video, or if you will also receive the raw footage, i.e., all the material that was shot over the course of the day. Some videographers include the raw footage, some don't. If you have a preference, hire accordingly.

Once your video's in, make a party of it: Invite over the video's stars, whip up some popcorn, and wait for the applause for your big film debut.

1. Set a budget for your wedding.

2. Schedule an initial face-to-face consultation with a wedding coordinator.

3. Expect prompt responses to your phone and e-mail inquiries.

4. Ensure the consultant’s availability on your wedding date.

5. You should feel a good personal connection with your wedding coordinator. Be sure the coordinator understands and expresses interest in your vision for your wedding day.

6. Request to see photos or letters of reference from previous clients.

7. Decide on the level of service you will require from a wedding coordinator.

8. Interview wedding coordinators who have fees that fit into your budget.

9. Consider interviewing more than one wedding consultant.

10. Ask how long the coordinator has been in business; experience is important.

11. Ask how many coordinators will be on hand on your wedding day…one, two? Many consultants base their staffing on the number of guests attending the wedding.

12. Ask how many weddings the coordinator does each month. More than two may indicate that you will not be given the personal attention for which you have paid.

13. A member of a professional wedding association should have a great network of wedding vendors to recommend and are more likely to participate in professional development courses which keep them in tune with the latest wedding trends and etiquette.

Hiring a wedding coordinator should be an essential. Just as you will search for and purchase the perfect gown for your big day; the same logic should apply to hiring a coordinator. Coordinators with professional training and experience can make your wedding day worry-free and enjoyable for you, your family and your guests.

Courtesy of Reception Perfection, LLC