Gown Shopping

After the ring, the dress is the most coveted item a bride-to-be will search for. Brides who live in or around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area now have a new salon to visit to find their dream gown.

Warren Barrón carries many couture lines, including: Vera Wang, Angel Sanchez, Elizabeth Fillmore and Carolina Herrera. The salon is also the only store in the area carrying Oscar de la Renta's bridal line.

The salon, in Highland Park, has quickly gained a reputation for carrying fashion-forward gowns for the stylish bride.

Thank You Very Much

For every gift you receive during your engagement, you’ll want to send the giver a thank you note. You can purchase notecards at your local stationery store, or order personalized cards that reflect both of your personalities. You can choose something fun or formal.

If you already know what your wedding theme and palette will be, then order thank you notes that reflect the wedding. You can use them throughout your engagement and even into your married life.

Here are a few tips on writing a thank you note:

1 - Express your gratitude for the gift: "Thank you so much for the cappuccino maker." or "Thank you for your generous gift."

2 - Mention how you plan on using the item: "John loves it, and has begun making us cappuccinos after dinner each night." or "We plan on putting it toward our new home."

3 - Mention the future: "We're looking forward to celebrating with you at our wedding."

4 - You must send a note per each gift your receive, so if Aunt Jane sends an engagement, shower and wedding gift, send her 3 notes - one for each gift.

5 - Send thank you notes in a timely manner. Within 2 weeks of receiving an engagement or shower gift, and for your wedding, within 8 weeks from returning from your honeymoon.

The note featured above is one of the many designs available at fabulousstationery.com.

Wrap It Up

Since so many couples get engaged around Christmas and New Year's, I thought the next few posts would focus on the newly engaged.

The wrapping paper featured here by Mr. French is all blinged out with several engagement ring designs. Though your ring may not look like one of these rocks, the gifts you give or receive wrapped in this pattern will definitely get you in the wedding planning spirit.

P.S. - You'll find this paper in the Pop Ink section.

Blumen Flowers

People remember the flowers. How could they not? Guests stare at them the whole night.

When you're looking for a florist, view their portfolios and see how all the different elements of the wedding come together. The bride's bouquet and groom's boutonniere should complement each other. The bridal party's blooms should coordinate too. Look to see if the decor in the room makes sense...do the colors work well with the look of the room? Is there a flow from one part of the wedding to the next?

If you're getting hitched in the Chicago area take a look at Blumen Design. Owner Amy Crum has created breathtaking looks from contemporary to romantic to traditional. Each look she designs fits together, creating an overall look reflecting each couple's taste and personality.

Wedding Tip - When talking to florists, find out which flowers are in season on your wedding day. By using seasonal flowers you can save money on import costs.

Honeymoon Hideaway

With winter approaching, many of us are starting to think of warm places for vacations. Your next vacation will probably be your honeymoon.

When planning your honeymoon, talk to your husband about what you want to do, and what he wants to do. He may want to get in a few rounds of golf. You may want to treat yourself to several spa treatments. A good idea is to look at resorts that offer not only a great room but also, good food, spa facilities, a golf course and other amenities.

The Four Season Hotel and Resort chain offers luxurious accommodations for all of their guests but especially newlyweds. From romantic dinners for two to couples massages in your room and of course a bottle of champagne when you arrive, The Four Seasons can offer you everything for the perfect honeymoon. And with locations around the world, including: Hawaii, Europe and the Caribbean you are sure to locate one that offers services both you and your fiancé will enjoy.

Cakes from Abroad

A destination wedding is when a couple chooses to marry in a location that neither of them live in or can call their hometown. Planning a wedding from afar can be quite difficult, especially if you're not familiar with local vendors.

Hiring a planner familiar with the city you are getting married in will not only help you find the right vendor, but also make sure you don't get taken advantage of.

London is one of my most favourite cities. Unfortunately, I couldn't get married there, but if you are planning an English wedding then you must visit Peggy Porschen Cakes. Both whimsical and elegant, Peggy's cakes are not only beautiful to look at, but tasty too.

Pink Cadillac

Many ‘maids will hire a limo to shuttle the bachlorette party around town, so why not make the car part of the festivities? Pink Car, based in Austin, TX, was created by a mother-daughter team to transport women in style and caterer to all of their needs.

With knowledge of the best restaurants and finest shops, as well as the top salons, Pink Car is the perfect ride for a day out with the girls or a night out on the town.

Wedding Tip - If pink is in your wedding palette you may want to consider hiring Pink Car for your wedding day transportation. You may not want to mention the color of the car to the groom before the big day.

Speaking of Gifts

If you're not sure where to register, then make a list of stores that you like and go visit them. Think about what you need for your home and pick the store, or stores, that offer what you like.

For example if you and your fiancé love to cook, you may want to choose Williams-Sonoma. If you’re looking for furniture, Pottery Barn would be a good choice.

Kitchen and dining items make up the traditional registry, but if you don’t need china and glassware, then pick a store that has products you want and need. Are you a sports enthusiasts? Register at a sporting goods store like Paragon. Wine lovers? Ask your local liquor store if you can create a gift registry of your favorite wines.

Guests will want to buy you an engagement, shower and wedding present, and it’s better for you to have a wish list at your favorite stores than to risk a bad gift that you can't return.

Wedding Tip - You can choose more than one store. I recommend at least 2 but no more than 4. Make one of them more traditional - china, glasses, linens, flatware. Guests that are your parents' and grandparents' ages will want to buy something they know you will use such as pots and pans, towels and kitchen gadgets.

To the Happy Couple

Once you're engaged you are going to want to shout it from the rooftops, and a great way to get the word out is to have an engagement party. You can throw one for yourselves, but it's probably a better idea to have your parents, his parents or friends throw a party for you. The party can be as formal as you want it to be. Remember, it's up to you and your fiancé to decide how you want to celebrate.

Be careful who you choose to invite to the party. I highly recommend that your wedding guest list include the names on the engagmeent party list, especially if you're getting married in the same town or close by. You risk the chance of offending guests not invited to the wedding. They may think that they were only invited to the engagement party for their gifts.

The engagement party invitation featured above was designed by Snow & Graham, and is available at Luxe Paperie.

Don't Forget the Groom

Remember that without the groom you wouldn't even be planning this wedding. Though he may think his role is pretty much over after he gave you that beautiful ring, it doesn't have to be and it's up to you to have him involved in your wedding plans.

The Engaged Groom by Doug Gordon is the perfect engagement gift for you to give your fiance. It will fill him in on the dos and don'ts of wedding planning that you've been reading up on in all of those wedding magazines.

Wedsite

I've been invited to several destination weddings next year. We received lovely save the date cards from both couples and though they were beautiful, the most useful information came from each couple's website.

On Josh and Lauren's site we were able to find out airline information, hotels and rentals in the area, activities on the island - restaurants, golf courses, water activities and of course when and where the rehearsal dinner, wedding and post-wedding brunch will be taking place.

Engagepage.com allows you to create your very own wedsite. Guests are able to get information on your registry, wedding, travel and anything else you want to share. You can have your page up for 6, 12 or 18 months, and each package costs less than $100.

I'm not suggesting to do away with a save the date card, but add a wedsite to your wedding checklist so guests can turn to the site for help instead of having to call and e-mail you.

Here Comes the Bride

When selecting music for your ceremony processional, think outside the music box. There is no rule that the bride must walk down the aisle to Here Comes the Bride.

You and your fiancé should pick songs that mean something to you, and reflect your relationship. You can choose all love songs, songs by your favorite musician or you can select a potpourri of songs just because you like them.

Curtis Music, based in the New York Metro area will work with you to ensure that you choose beautiful songs for your walk down the aisle. You may also want to choose songs to be played before the ceremony while your guests are being seated, as well as songs to be played during cocktail hour. If you are having dinner before dancing, Curtis Music can play background music while you and your guests enjoy their dinner.

Wedding Tip - If you are getting married in a house of worship make sure non-religious music is allowed to be played in the sanctuary.

Charitable Favors

Maybe it's just the holiday season, but I wanted to write about charitable favors. Many couples donate money in honor of their guests, or in memory of a family member, to a charitable organization close to their hearts.

There aren't any rules when it comes to these types of favors.

You can donate any amount of money - no one has to know how much you give unless you want to tell the IRS to get a tax deduction.

You don't have to give a specific amount per guest. Some couples give $1 or $2 per person, but if you have 500 guests, $500 or $1000, may not be in your budget. The charity you choose will accept any amount you decide to give.

You can donate to more than one charity. Both you and your fiancé can pick an organization.

Think of a creative way to tell your guests about your donation. You can print the information on your program or create a tag to attach to a second favor, or ask the organization if they can supply you with, or make your own, donation card.

If you're not sure of which charity to choose, visit The I Do Foundation. They have a list of charities based on different themes - health, hunger, children, social justice - to help you decide. They also have donation cards that you can give to your guests.