Read about Exercise - Fashion - Music -
Familiy - and More!

Buttons, Beads and Broaches
Beautiful flowers can add a special touch to any wedding. Brides are looking for new ways to make their bouquets more than a simple cluster of roses. Bouquets have evolved over time; today, cascading, wispy flowers are very popular. These elaborate bouquets can be traced back to the 1920s when large "shower" bouquets were all the rage. "I am starting to see more brides interested in long, thin cascades of flowers that fall almost to the floor. This is a big trend on the West coast, going back to the more traditional ways women carried their bouquets in the past," says Jenny Thomasson of Stems florist. When it comes time to design your bouquet, try adding non-traditional items such as beads, long grasses, trailing vines, cascading flowers and colorful wires. These items can make your bouquet a work of art that reflects your personal style.

Exercise 'Til Death Do You Part
Establish a workout routine with your fiance to get you both looking your best: With all eyes on you as you say "I do," you'll want to look your absolute best from head to toe. One of the many stresses that comes along with planning a wedding is the pressure of being physically fit. You and your fiance will soon become partners for life, and you will also become each other's workout partner for life. You can begin your lifelong journey by setting goals together and by creating an exercise routine. According to Katie LeMoine, athletic director at Wellbridge Athletic Club & Spa at Town & Country, it is important for you and your husband-to-be to decide that you are going to stick to the program before you begin it.

A Family Affair
Think back to when you were a kid: Chances are, when Cousin Bill's wedding came around, you had no interest in attending. Mom and Dad probably stuffed you into a frilly party dress or dapper suit and forced you to wear uncomfortable shoes all day. You were required to sit through an excruciatingly boring ceremony and wait around for a couple of hours before you could even eat dinner.

Get In the Game
Break the Ice With These Bridal Shower Games: Your shower is a time for your guests to celebrate and catch up on what has been happening in each others' lives. Opening the gifts is the main event at any shower, but fun games can liven up the atmosphere and help your guests get to know each other. Here are some game ideas that will get everyone talking and create memories you and your friends will be laughing about for years to come.

Scrap Your Guestbook
Guestbooks. What's so great about a book with people's names? You already know who you invited to your wedding. And really, how many times in your life as a happy couple are you going to open up a book and read names? Very few.

A History of Headpieces
A veil probably isn't something a bride thinks much about. Sure, most brides want one, but the search for the perfect gown seems much more important than the search for the perfect veil. But how much do you really know about wedding veils? No, they're not just meant to complement your tiara and make your hair look great. Veils have a history-an interesting one.

The Hottest Club in Town: Your Reception
Don't let your reception be a boring affair your guests will want to forget. After all the stress of planning your wedding for months, the reception is a time for you to kick back and celebrate with your friends and family. The disc jockey you choose can make or break the night. A good DJ will keep your music selections in mind while providing the right mix of songs to keep your guests dancing all night.

Ivory Advisory
Options for professional teeth whitening: Professional bleaching kits start at $250 for a take- home kit. Impressions are taken to design a tray that is filled with gel to be worn overnight for two weeks. "During this time, plus one additional week, food and drinks that stain teeth should be avoided," says Lisa Eichorn, certified dental assistant at Boain Dental Care. "Sensitivity in teeth can occur with any whitening treatment and will pass in a few days."

Lights, Camera, Action!
You've picked out all the invitations, addressed all the envelopes and sent them on their merry way. When the big day comes, how are you going to commemorate the guests who are celebrating with you?

Limo Rental 101
Transportation can be a real hassle. Should the limo pick you up at your house and take you to the church? Do you drive your own car there and take the limo to the reception? If so, what happens to your car? Who should ride in the limo? Before you stress yourself out, take the following into consideration:

A Moment in Time
Freeze Drying

Music to Your Ears
During your wedding ceremony, the music is important-it sets the mood for your guests, helps transition between different elements of the ceremony and keeps everything flowing smoothly. A quartet or ensemble of different instruments can set a romantic mood and can provide the music for multiple aspects of your wedding, such as the processional, the prelude or to accompany singers.

Perfect Petals in Any Season
No matter their size, number or color, flowers play a very vivid role in your wedding day. They can complement your formal wear, decorate your ceremony site or merely act as gorgeous eye candy for your guests. We've spoken with Elegant Celebrations owner and floral designer Trisha Haislar, to see what kind of blooms are booming and list some important things to remember when dealing with pretty petals.

Personalize your Petals
Think about the most beautiful wedding you have ever attended. Chances are, there were flowers adorning the ceremony site, the bride and bridesmaids carried flowers and beautiful centerpieces enhanced tables at the reception.

Pet Pawrade
When it comes to planning your wedding, one of the most important decisions to be made is whom to include in the wedding party. Determining which family and friends should actually stand at the altar with you and which should participate as guests can be difficult. You obviously want to include loyal loved ones who have been there for you when you needed them. If your pet fits this description, perhaps you should consider including him or her in your big day. You can incorporate any of the furry members of your family; however, dogs are the most popular pets to include in the ceremony.

Petals in the Wind
This season, pitch traditional flower girl baskets and help the little ones look just as elegant and timeless as you, the blushing bride, and your beautiful bridesmaids.

The Proof is in the Pictures
You've planned every little detail of your wedding, to what kind of favors to use at the reception and what kind of flowers you will carry. The ceremony was beautiful and you and your spouse just returned from a wonderful and relaxing honeymoon. Now it is time to start selecting the pictures for your wedding album. Here are some tips to help you make sense of everything and pick the best proofs.

Rehearsal Dinner Done Right
The rehearsal dinner. You know what that means: You're getting married tomorrow! Chances are, you're probably stressing about anything and everything that could go wrong. The evening of your wedding rehearsal and dinner is the perfect time to fix any imperfections. It's also the perfect night to let loose before you take that jaunt down the aisle.

Say Cheese
Photography is a cornerstone of any wedding. "Your wedding album creates a time capsule of your day," says Daniel J. Stankey, principal at Todd Studios Photography. Photos of your wedding are the long-term gifts you will continue to cherish over the years. Dave Mullenix, owner of Through a Lens photography, agrees. "Photographs mean more to people than anything else. They increase in value over the years."

Show Gratitude
Give thanks to those Who helped you along the way.

Sophisticated Seating
Traditionally, arranging seating for your guests involves place cards and table numbers; however, there are many creative alternatives that can add a personal dimension to your reception and reflect you and your fiance's unique personalities and interests.

A Spin on the Ordinary
Brides, get your grooms involved in the planning process! Flowers have never been particularly manly, so chances are your fiancée let you choose the blooms. Hand him the reins-make it his job to pick the perfect boutonniere!

Tell Your Story
Selecting a photographer is only one part of planning a wedding, as you well know. You have compared prices and quality of photos and have kept in mind exactly what you will get out of your photographer. So, what happens when the wedding is over?


BACK


Planning a wedding starts from the moment you get engaged. Don't be overwhelmed, the Bridal Tools available below offer all of the information you'll need to plan your wedding.

Planning a wedding starts the moment you get engaged.
Once you've cleared your head from all the excitement of the proposal, it's time to get to work. Follow these 36 steps to plan your perfect day!
Open

We can help!
Check out these helpful tips to prepare yourself when booking your wedding service providers. Over 50 categories including cakes, florists, invitations, reception sites, tuxedos and MORE.

There's no better way than to watch and learn .
Topics range from "Body shapes & dress styles" to "Merging money, budgets & goals."
Open