Wedding Ideas

So you’re engaged! This is such an exciting time in any bride’s life. There are so many things to consider, and they are all spinning in your head at once I’m sure. You might think to yourself, “Where do I begin?”

The very first thing every bride and groom should determine, is what the budget will be for their big day. How much do you have to spend on your wedding? Will family members be contributing to the costs? Will you be using other means (like 401K disbursements or bank loans) to supplement the cost? What is the most you want to spend? All of these questions need to be answered before you book your first consultation or appointment.
Unfortunately, far too many brides miss this key step and find themselves heartbroken when the “wedding of their dreams” is fiscally out of their reach. Knowing where you stand financially will help you keep a realistic view of what your wedding day will be.

Now, this is not to say that your wedding day still can’t be absolutely fabulous, BUT you have to recognize early on what is important to you. Once you know how much you can afford to spend, the very next question is how do you plan to spend it? You may love flowers, but not have a passion for stationery. You’re biggest desire could be having a designer wedding gown, but you’re not as concerned about the decorations at the wedding site. Knowing what elements of your big day are most important to you will help you better distribute your finances and resources.
Every bride should consider sitting down with her fiancé and going through a list of the following elements of their wedding day to determine which ones are most important to each of them:

1. Fashion
2. Transportation
3. Flowers
4. Music for the Ceremony
5. Ceremony Location
6. Ceremony/Reception Decór
7. Reception Location
8. Reception Entertainment
9. Food & Liquor
10. Stationery
11. Favors

There are more you can add to the list, but you get the picture. A great idea, is to look at the entire wedding budget and try to agree upon what percentage of the budget you would like to spend on each. You may be surprised to learn that you and your beloved place the same level of importance on the same things. Likewise, you may realize that you both have totally different ideas about what you expect your wedding to be. Either way, this is a wonderful way to get your groom engaged in the planning process from the start. But most importantly, it starts you down the right path of being a savvy bride!

Happy Planning!!!

Article submitted by Maria Morales of SYL Event Planners

This Disney themed wedding wasn’t all princesses and castles- the subtle touches made this Beauty and the Beast themed wedding very elegant. The couple incorporated Beauty and the Beast in various ways.  Their guest book had the Disney theme, titling it “Be our Guest: Guest Book”.  The wording on the menus and programs also correlated to the Beauty and the Beast theme. The bride created the centerpieces herself with tea cups and hydrangeas, and the table numbers were different locations from the movie (The Tavern, The Inventor’s Workshop, etc).  This Disney wedding was so elegant, and the bride added just the right touches to incorporate their theme.

1. Playing Cards in Personalized Travel Tin- These stylish, personalized wedding favors let guests take home a winning reminder that love is worth the gamble. These personalized favors are perfect mementos of a beautiful wedding day.

2. Stainless Steel Spreader with Wine Cork Handle- If you want to spread some sensational buzz at your wine-themed wedding, put this cork in it! Let this wonderful and unique wedding favor do the talking for you. Thank your guests with the “Vintage Reserve” Spreader with its wine-cork handle, and just drink in the compliments!

3. Fleur de Lis Ceramic Salt and Pepper Shaker- Perfect for the day you marry your knight in shining armor! This fleur-de-lis salt and pepper shakers wedding favor brings a touch of nobility to your tables and helps create the elegant ambiance you imagine for your wedding design.

4. Mini Photo Album- Every memory you make on your wedding day is worth its weight in gold! Our little gold book of memories photo album wedding favors give your guests the perfect place to preserve precious memories of your wedding–and other happy occasions in their life!

5. Silver Finished Bookmark- Perhaps the most beautiful word in any language, love is what brought the two of you together and what brings your family and friends together for one very important moment. Thank them all with one word in this meaningful bookmark wedding favor.

6. Personalized Hand Sanitizer- Let’s face it. Sometimes you just can’t wash your hands! But, with this practical wedding favor, you can still wipe away germs. Perfect for outdoor events, this travel-size sanitizer makes sure that guests hands are not only clean but enriched with aloe to keep them soft. The ideal size to keep in the car or purse, it’s a handy gift they’ll truly appreciate and use.

Browse more practical wedding favors here!

This pink and orange wedding was loaded with amazing details. The couple met in North Carolina while attending pharmacy school, and their destination wedding took place in gorgeous Charleston, South Carolina. The pink bridesmaid dresses along with the tan suits were perfect for this bright and fun wedding. The girls each held different bouquets while the guys donned colored ties and socks. The outdoor wedding ceremony had a great set-up with the couple being in the middle of the guests instead of at the end of the aisle. The colorful wedding flowers were the perfect touch to the white tented reception. Enjoy this gorgeous wedding captured by Chi Photography of Charleston.

Photographer: Chi Photography of Charleston
Caterer: Relish Catering
Event Planner: Sweetgrass Social Event and Design
Favors and Gifts: Totally Koozies
Floral Designer: Colibri Fleurs
Dress Designer: Pronovias
Cake Designer: DeClare Cakes
DJ: East Coast Entertainment
Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Joseph A Banks
Officiant: Lowcountry Wedding Minister
Event Venue: Pavilion at Patriots Point

Enter to win a fresh flower combination for your wedding. This is the perfect prize for you DIY brides! Create your own bouquets, centerpieces, boutonnieres, and much more with this wonderful array of fresh flowers delivered to your doorstep.

Winner receives:
-250 roses, your choice of color
-60 stems of alstroemeria, your choice of color
-36 white calla lilies
-8 bunches of fillers

This giveaway is valued at $388!

Global Rose is the go-to site for high quality, fresh flowers that are delivered to your doorstep directly from the greenhouses. Their prices are unbeatable and their customer service is outstanding. Global rose has a wide variety of fresh flowers available. From roses to gerbera daisies to hydrangea and hypericum berries, you are sure to find just what you need for your DIY wedding flowers.

Global Rose has various different “how to” videos on their site to help you create the perfect wedding bouquets, wedding centerpieces, and wedding arrangements. Global Rose also has extensive care instructions on keeping your flowers looking fresh and perfect for your big day.

Enter to win this fresh flower combo here!

This wedding was a complete DIY wedding with a focus on the reception. The reception was decked out with vintage heirlooms. Tables were covered with quilts made by the bride’s grandmothers and great grandmothers. Frames held quotes from both of their ancestors about love and life. At the entrance, the couple had a “family tree” that held wedding pictures from all of the members of the bride and groom’s families. It was a very southern, vintage, and traditional wedding.

Photographer: Lynnsay Macey Photography

Men’s Tungsten wedding rings are becoming ever so popular lately. Their stylish looks and great pricing make them the perfect fit for today’s groom. Tungsten wedding bands are incredibly durable and withstand harsh ware and tear.

MensTungstenOnline.com has a wide selection of Tungsten wedding rings that will suit any groom. They have brushed tungsten wedding bands, grooved tungsten wedding bands, designer tungsten wedding rings, and many more styles!

For a limited time only, take 25% off all of their tungsten wedding rings! Coupon Code: WED$25. Free shopping, free engraving and a lifetime warranty as well!

Click here to browse through wedding bands at MensTungstenOnline.com.

This beautiful purple wedding took place in Virginia Beach. This military couple had an intimate wedding ceremony and celebrated with their families and close friends. The orchid theme carried throughout the entire wedding. The bride had a gorgeous orchid wedding bouquet, the cake was adorned with orchids, and the escort cards even had orchids on them. Such a simple and beautiful wedding.

Photographer: Charity Remington Photography

We have a new name and a new look! TheWeddingVendor.com is now WeddingVibe.com. It’s still the same great site, just received a bit of a makeover and a brand new name! Enter to win weekly wedding giveaways, browse wedding ideas, and find local wedding vendors.  Take a peek at the new WeddingVibe.com!

This beautiful winter wedding took place in Dallas, TX on a cold December day. This Dallas couple chose navy and red wedding colors to pull off a wintery wedding look. The elegant wedding theme flowed throughout the entire event, from the intimate ceremony to the beautiful, classic reception. With snowflake wedding details to red cranberries and crimson red roses, the wedding was absolutely beautiful. The couple gave hot chocolate as wedding favors,  and guests left notes to the couple on snowflakes as their guestbook.