The OurWeddingDay Blog

Bridal Shower Party Etiquette: Thank You Notes

OWD — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:08:27 -0500

After your bridal shower, it’s your responsibility to thank your guests for attending. Contrary to what you might think, the primary function of bridal shower thank you notes is to thank your guests for their presence at your bridal shower party. After that, if the guest gave you a gift, mention the gift and your gratitude for it.

So how do you get started with thank you notes?

Begin by having a friend or your maid of honor write down every gift as you open it during your bridal shower. You should try to mention gifts in specific terms when writing the notes.
Purchase upscale thank you notes. Don’t buy blank notes or notes from a party store. While it’s optional to match the theme of your shower, it isn’t mandatory.
Always hand-write and hand-address each thank you note. If you have trouble keeping your handwriting neat, only write a few at a time.
Stay organized with a binder or heavy folder. Keep it in your car or at the office so you can work on your notes when you have free time.
Make sure you finish sending your notes within four weeks of the bridal shower. Ask your local post office for themed stamps to give your notes a nice personal touch.

Incorporating In-Laws Into Your Ceremony

OWD — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:27:12 -0500

My brothers, his groomsmen?

You’re about to start a whole new journey, and part of the lifelong trips includes family-his. While you’re more than likely to address in-laws before the wedding, some family members are often not introduced until wedding preparations. To start things on the right foot, it’s smart to integrate both sides into the ceremony. It’s an easy task if you’re already best buds, not so much if you’ve never met. So check out an in-law ceremony primer here.

Getting Married in New York, Newark, Phoenix, Baltimore or Miami?

OWD — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:54:51 -0500

To make sure you hire the right professionals for the biggest day of your life, check our latest Local Vendor Guides:

Budget Wedding Planning in New York City

Newark Caterers Guide

Phoenix Hairstylists Guide

Baltimore Videographers Guide

Miami Hairstylists Guide

We have great Local Vendor Guides to everyone you need to hire for your wedding, from florists & photographers to limos & reception halls!

And check out our complete local wedding guides for the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Newark, Houston and Chicago.

Create Wonderful Honeymoon Memories with Just a Little Planning

OWD — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:48:29 -0500

Robbin Montero is the wedding planning expert and owner of A Dream Wedding who Travel & Leisure magazine calls, “The expert wedding planner in the California Wine Country.” Now she shares her advice on planning the perfect honeymoon with the OurWeddingDay.com community:

"Generally thought to be the most “honeyed” time of a couple’s marriage, the honeymoon is certainly one of the most romantic trips you and your spouse will ever take. With careful planning, you will have many treasured memories of this occasion.

"I highly recommend using the services of an experienced travel agent. Not only will you get the best prices, but most agents have traveled extensively and can easily provide first-hand information such as which countries are not in good standing with the United States, relevant current laws of the country, and what to pack. Most important, travel agents can insulate you from problems that commonly arise in self-booking.

"Brides and grooms should agree in advance on the desired attributes for a perfect honeymoon. Decide whether you want warm or cold weather, active or relaxed recreation, a foreign country or a cruise, or perhaps an all-inclusive resort package. Verify the climate of the desired location during the time of year when you’ll be traveling..."

Check out the rest of this article here.

How to Shop for a Bridal Shower

OWD — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:10:45 -0500

Planning on attending someone else's shower? Guests to your shower need some help?

When attending bridal showers, gifts are probably at the top of your to-do list. After all, the term “shower” refers to showering the bride-to-be with gifts to help her get started in her new life as a wife. These days, many brides are already settled in homes or living with their partners. So how do you shop for a modern bridal shower party? Try these tips:

Always consult the bride’s gift registry first. Modern registries allow guests to view full gift registries online. See what others are buying and make an attempt to complete a set or purchase something that no one has gotten yet.
For big-ticket items, consider buying as a group. Does the bride need a new appliance or something out of your budget? Call close friends and go in on a gift together. If you do this, be sure to get separate cards or small gifts to shower her individually.
Feel free to give her something handmade or unique. Remember, a registry is only a guideline for the bridal shower’s gifts. While you should consult it to be sure you’re not getting something completely unnecessary, you shouldn’t feel absolutely married to the wish list. If you want to get a special keepsake or a touching, personal gift, feel free.

The First Dance: Contemporary or Classic?

OWD — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:42:17 -0500

Celebrity weddings and glamorous bridal magazines are a lot of fun, but nothing’s more helpful than learning how real brides plan their big day.

Meet OWD's Real Brides: real OurWeddingDay.com Brides-to-be sharing their experiences. It’s not about the “right” way to plan; it’s about each bride planning the wedding that’s right for her.

Amanda from Pittsburgh writes:

Ever since I was three, I loved dancing. Took all the dance classes growing up, won a scholarship to musical theatre school at a talent show, attempted to dance through college (until a torn hamstring changed my plans). Now I take some classes just as a hobby.

When planning my wedding went underway last fall, I was so excited that I could have the opportunity to share my passion for dancing with my fiancé by taking a class to learn our "first dance." At first, he was all for it: “Yes but let’s wait until the spring when its closer to the wedding.”

Even though there was two feet of snow on the ground, it was spring to me and time to talk over those dance classes again. I looked up a couple dance studios, talked to some friends who have taken ballroom dance classes before, really starting to figure out what type of dance to learn for our first dance.

With all the class schedules and prices tucked away in my purse just dying to be pulled out, I brought up the subject of ballroom dance classes for our first dance. The reaction was not what I was expecting. He said no! “What?! Why?” He finally told me that he wants to enjoy our first dance together just swaying back and forth to the music. I wanted to cry. But I said OK.

One of my best friends got engaged a couple months after I did. Recently for her birthday her fiancé surprised her with ballroom dance classes for the both of them. Am I jealous? Let’s just say it would have made quite a Valentine’s Day gift for me. But I am willing to accept that my fiancé just isn’t interested.

Since then, she has offered to teach us a simple waltz. And that really is all I am looking for. Anything but that swaying back and forth like we are in high school! As a classically trainer ballerina, I just cannot stand that!

I explained to my fiancé that if he still feels the same way, I am OK with that. We can sway. But at least give my friend teaching us a simple waltz a try. I am not trying to do something as elaborate as “Dancing with the Stars!” Just a dance that is more classic than contemporary.

Massive Updates to the New York Wedding Guide!

OWD — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:29:26 -0500

We just updated our New York Metro Wedding Guide in a big way... with 9 new articles to help you plan your perfect wedding in NYC!

New York Wedding Photo Keepsakes
New York Wedding Warm Weather Tips
New York Wedding Cold Weather Tips
Where to Get Married in NYC
New York City Wedding Trends
New York Wedding Floral Trends
New York Wedding Planners
New York Wedding Dress Shopping Tips
Hiring Wedding Bands in New York

Check out our complete local wedding guides for the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Baltimore, Newark, Houston and Chicago.

Tips for Visiting a Bridal Spa

OWD — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:17:40 -0500

Spas offer clients a variety of beauty and health services in one convinient, relaxing location. Planning on preparing for your wedding at a bridal spa? Whether you're new to spas or you're a seasoned pro, use these tips when visiting and selecting the bridal spa for your wedding preparation.

Start looking for local bridal spas and bridal salons at least six months before your wedding. Popular bridal spas book quickly, especially during the peak wedding season.
Visit the bridal spa before you book your appointment. Ask for a complimentary tour. Take a look at the treatment rooms and try to get a feeling for the vibe and atmosphere. Look for cleanliness, a calming atmosphere, and attentive employees. Don’t feel obligated to make an appointment if you’re not completely happy with the spa.
When booking your appointment, schedule plenty of time for treatments. Try beginning your day with an aromatherapy massage, hot stone massage, or body scrub. To avoid surprises, remember to ask about all fees and additional costs while booking your appointments.
If you’re having your hair and makeup done at a bridal spa, meet with your aestheticians beforehand for a practice run of your hairstyle and makeup. Have a friend take pictures so you can see what the makeup looks like on camera.
Coordinate with bridesmaids well before the wedding so that you can make simultaneous appointments for attendants who would like to join you as you prepare at a bridal spa.
Call the wedding spa two weeks before your visit to confirm that the appointment is on the books and your preferred technicians will be available.

Demoting My Maid Of Honor... And Other Items On My Checklist

OWD — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:51:18 -0500

Celebrity weddings and glamorous bridal magazines are a lot of fun, but nothing’s more helpful than learning how real brides plan their big day.

Natalie from Irving, TX writes:

The week started with finding out that my Maid-of-Honor betrayed my trust on something significant, so she has now been placed as 3rd out of 7 ladies in the lineup...still keeping her in the bridal party because she's already purchased her dress.

I met with the florist and loved what I saw; we just received their proposal yesterday from our meeting 5 days ago. We have some questions and changes to be made to it, but we're closer to getting the florist lined-up for our big day. We're in communication with the photographer/videographer but we haven't come to a final decision and signed contract yet; still have a couple loose ends to cover with them before we feel comfortable locking things down with them and signing a contract.

The invitations are currently with the calligrapher until tonight; I will go and pick them up after 6pm. I will be able to stuff the envelopes tonight and tomorrow to hopefully get them all into the mail by tomorrow late afternoon...with the wedding May 29th, we're running out of time to get these out to our guests.

The wedding dress came in yesterday that I ordered back on January 20th, so I plan to pick this up on the 15th of March. Today, I am custom-creating the Thank You cards, just as I did with the invitations, using MyGatsby.com. And in this last week, I managed to get the guest book ordered, ring bearer pillow ordered, sand and sand vases ordered and engraved for the unity ceremony, gem confetti ordered, my garter ordered, and monogrammed cake knives, Swavorski crystal cake topper and six-pence all ordered.

:-D Yay!...My list is dwindling.

Happy Planning!

Last-Minute Wedding Planner Meetings

OWD — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:24:48 -0500

Is your big day almost here? Now that you’re approaching the final stages of wedding planning, it’s time to coordinate with your wedding organizer to make sure everything’s in place. Here are some tips for working with your wedding organizer before your wedding day:

Schedule a meeting with your wedding organizer the weekend before your wedding. During the meeting, get confirmation that all vendors are prepared for the wedding. Schedule any last-minute appointments you need to make, including a final fitting or picking up your wedding dress.
Have your wedding organizer prepare an itinerary for the upcoming week and the day before your wedding. This should include the schedule for your rehearsal dinner, picking up any accessories you need and attending last-minute appointments. If you’re planning to visit a bridal spa on the day of your wedding, include arrival and treatment times on your itinerary.
Establish boundaries regarding availability in the days before your wedding. If you have a close relationship with your wedding planner, you may feel inclined to turn to her in moments of panic or if you have questions. If you’re not working as closely with her or don’t feel comfortable, make sure you have a friend on call so you can vent or ask for last-minute opinions.