My Eyes! My Eyes!

I think I'm on the computer way too much and the fact that I work on a Web site doesn't help my situation. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job and can't imagine life with out computers, but my eyes are killing me and I think it's the glare from the screen.  And since I like to turn everything into a wedding planing tip, here's one re: glare.

If you're getting married outdoors - whether it's just the ceremony or reception or both - check which way the sun hits the location at the time of your wedding.  And not just when the sun is setting if you're going to be outdoors during the day.

In addition to making sure your photographer knows where the sun will be to ensure that you get great pictures, it's important to arrange the ceremony seating and reception layout in such away so that your guests aren't squinting or holding their hand like a visor over their eyes.

Simply ask the location manager what he or she recommends and if possible (and definitely as a Plan B) have a tent installed to protect everyone and the food from the heat and glare of the sun.  You can leave the tent flaps up if it's a beautiful day, and if it does get a bit windy you can let the flaps down to keep the chill away.

And by the way, the reason my eyes are so bad today is because I found a great first dance video online and I watched it several times and then showed it to a bunch of people at the office.  This couple arranged for KISS to interrupt their first dance in a very creative and funny way.

A Fair Amount of Food

I spoke to a guest at dinner tonight about a wedding she went to in New Jersey over the weekend.  She said it was very nice but there was so much food at the cocktail hour she didn't realize that there was also going to be a three-course dinner and a buffet of desserts following it.

She's 16 and lives in LA so she doesn't get to attend many New York tri-state Area affairs.  But it got me thinking.

Just because your caterer offers you a dozen or more stations and passed hors d'oeuvres doesn't mean you have to serve all of them.  It's really a huge waste of food because your guests won't be able to eat an entire dinner after filling up at the cocktail hour.

Now you know how much I love PIBs and I'm not saying that you shouldn't serve a good variety of food but maybe you don't need a pasta, sushi and carving station AND passed items too.  Maybe you just do passed items or a few passed items and one station.  Or select foods that aren't heavy for the cocktail hour or for the seated meal.  You don't have to serve a large steak, you can opt for lighter fare, like fish.

Don't Forget to Check the Calendar for Scheduling Conflicts

I checked my calendar for the week this afternoon and noticed that I made dinner plans tomorrow night with some blogger friends and immediately emailed them that I couldn't make dinner because tomorrow is the 2nd night of Passover.

Since Passover wasn't marked in my calendar it didn't register when I added my dinner plans.

While you probably double and triple checked your wedding date for holidays and personal and business conflicts, have you also checked dates of ancillary wedding events? Rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, showers, bridesmaid luncheon, engagement parties - all of these events are important to you and your fiance so check the calendar to confirm that there are no conflicts.

You don't want to have to reschedule your event or not have all of your guests attend due to scheduling conflict.

Keep an Open Mind When Planning Your Wedding Menu

I went to dinner tonight and was offered a glass of sangria. I'm not a drinker so Dave was surprised when I said yes. I want to try new things and keep an open mind. I've been set in my ways regarding food and drinks for so long. Anyway, I had a glass and it was pretty good. I don't think I'd order one for myself one day but if the table orders a pitcher I may have some again.

When it comes to your wedding menu I suggest you keep an open mind and try different foods your caterer suggests. He or she may have some new and interesting options for you to serve that your guests are sure to enjoy.

If you're not sure if you want to stray from the three wedding main course staples - meat, chicken or fish - have a tasting at your caterer's office/kitchen and bring your fiance and maybe the folks so that everyone can try out the menu. But remember to check with the caterer as to how many people you can bring with you. They may limit the tasting to you and your groom or charge you for extra people.

But no matter what you decide to serve, I always recommend serving pigs-in-a-blanket during cocktail hour with Gulden mustard. PIBs are the one wedding food everyone enjoys! I've even been to a few weddings where the caterer creates a fancy version of PIBs, but they're never as good as the original.

Come Listen!

That Wedding Show with Anne and Chris (of The Man Registry) has launched on the Wedding Podcast Network!

The show is a mix of wedding trends and happenings and Chris and I debate and discuss some of the most common wedding fights/arguments brides and grooms have - like when to talk about the wedding (brides: not all the time) and how to divide the guest list between the two families.

Click here to listen to the premiere show

And it's about 40 minutes so I'd listen while doing chores in the house or during your commute or at the gym.  I listened to the show at work today with headphones.

And at one point we tell you how you can win free wedding invitations, wedding favors and bridesmaid dresses through the show's sponsor weddingpaperdivas.com.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts and if you have a problem you need help solving email onthecouch@thatweddingshow.com with what you and your groom are arguing about.

Bachelorette Party Props - Sometimes They're Just Gross

I was talking to someone today about a bachelorette party she was going to this weekend.  I told her about the bachelorette party prop story we just published on aisledash and she said that they needed to get penis straws and other phallic accessories.

At my bachelorette party (7 years ago) my friends got me a bunch of these x-rated party props and I have to say, they're really cheesy and gross.  I'd much rather my friends not waste their money on these items and if you are going to buy party props why not spend it on a fun (and inexpensive) tiara or bachelorette sash.

What do you think?

An Exciting Announcement and FREE tickets to the NY Weddings event

I've been working on a project with Chris at The Man Registry for a few months and we're finally ready to announce our new partnership. Chris and I will be co-hosting a podcast on The Wedding Podcast Network and the fist show will be released this week! The show titled, That Wedding Show with Anne & Chris, is unlike anything else in bridal media and will focus on the wedding details that pit brides and grooms against each other as well as discuss happenings in the wedding world.

You can learn more about the podcast in this week's Bridal Scene episode on the Wedding Podcast Network.  That Wedding Show with Anne & Chris will be available on aisledash.com, themanregistry.com, weddingpodcastnetwork.com and iTunes for free.  Click here to hear/learn more about it!

One of my favorite bridal events of the year is coming up! The New York Weddings Event at the Metropolitan Pavillion is the must-attend event for New York area brides. The event is produced by every New York bride's bible, New York Weddings magazine, which is published twice a year. The event will be held on Wednesday, April 7th and tickets are available at nymag.com/wedding and are priced at #35 for one and $50 for two.

I'm giving away a pair of free tickets so you and your groom or mom or maid-of-honor (or anyone else you'd like to bring) can meet with some of the ti-state area's top talent.  I'll be there too so if you see me make sure to say hi!

The first email I get at fromiwilltoido@gmail.com will win the tickets!

PS - Sorry, but the tickets have been given away.

Potty All the Time

I have no idea why the idea of writing a post on port-o-potties popped into my head but I think I was talking to someone about them recently.

If your wedding will be held outdoors - at a park or campground - or at a private home, it is important to make sure that there are adequate restroom facilities available for your guests. A park may have 1 or 2 public bathrooms and a private home may not be able to handle over a 100 users in a six hour period.

There are many companies that you can call to rent portable bathrooms and you are no longer limited to the all plastic, no flush variety. Portable restrooms have gone posh and companies are offering loos (plural of loo?) with vanities and a place to hang a lady's purse.

You can search online for companies you can rent portable restrooms from or talk to your wedding planner or florist. If you're getting married outdoors, assuming you have a tent rental company on hold in case of rain, they may be able to give you some recommendations too.

Here's a short list of some companies I found with a quick Google search:

Mr. John in New Jersey
Elite Portable Restrooms in Louisiana
Potty Queen in Pennsylvania

Potty Finder has a search by state page.

5 Free Tickets to Urban Wed Event

Vane gave me 5 tickets to the Urban Wed Event next week to giveaway to my readers.  If you live in the New York City area and are free on the evening of Wednesday, March 24th please email me at fromiwilltoido@gmail.com and I'll give you the comp code to register for the event.

To learn who's going to be there visit urbanwedevent.com.

And speaking of giveaways, we're giving away copies of wedding planner Donnie Brown's book, Donnie Brown Weddings: From Couture to the Cake on aisledash.com.  All you have to do is leave a comment and it could be yours!

The Power of the Veto

Vane and I are chatting about the B-List over Skype and her husband Chad was nearby so I asked him for his #1 wedding planning tip, and it's not half bad.

While the bride can plan the entire wedding the groom must be allowed veto power.

Chad says unlimited veto power but I'd limit it to three and Vane agrees.


Thanks Chad!

Where to Cut the Guest List

I was chatting with my aunt this weekend about her upcoming wedding. If you're a fan of aisledash on facebook she's the fan who keeps spelling my name wrong.

Anyway, she mentioned that she thinks they'll do something small and maybe limit the guest list to immediate family. I said that if I'm invited than I can't make the 15-16 of May because of work and she was surprised that I phrased it that way.

To me immediate family means parents, siblings and children. As her niece I'm not one of those three so I didn't want to assume I'd be invited. She said of course I'd be invited, I'm immediate family.

Everyone has a different definition of who makes up their immediate family and where to draw the line as to how many branches of their family tree they want to invite. Some will stop at 1st or second cousins. Some may go as far back as 4th cousins.

When you're making up your guest list think about setting some guidelines for yourself as to where to draw the line: Singles with no guests, only first cousins, no work colleagues.  And where to make exceptions: Singles in the bridal party can bring a date, the only single friend in a group of friends can bring a date.

While many people will ask you when your wedding is and tell you they are excited for the big day it's up to you and your groom, and your budget, to decide who is on that final guest list. Don't add someone who you don't want there because they think they'll be invited. And definitely don't add people you can't afford to have.

It's okay to tell people that you're sorry but you've decided to limit the guest list to close family -- you may offend them if you say "and close friends" if they think they are one. People will understand that the list has to get cut somewhere.

Check Out the New aisledash.com

Come check out the new aisledash.com! This new site will be edited by me and feature multiple posts everyday. I’m working with some of the best wedding writers in the industry who have worked at your favorite wedding magazines – Modern Bride, Elegant Bride, InStyle Weddings and Martha Stewart Weddings.

It’s brand new so please excuse any hiccups in the first few days but I couldn’t wait to share it with you!

You can also follow aisledash on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

We'll have an amazing giveaway every week so make sure to check in Monday's to find out what you can win!

Can't wait to hear what you think!


PS - I'll still be blogging at From "I Will" to "I Do" so don't forget to check back here too.

Where Did the Time Go?

I'm so sorry I missed a few posts but launching a new Web site take up all your time, just like the last week or two before your wedding.  No matter how much you plan for in advance there's always more to do and there are so many tasks that you can't actually get to until right before the big day.

When it comes to your wedding, and the final countdown, it's very important to delegate responsibilities to your groom, mom (and his) and bridesmaids. It also helps if you've hired a day-of coordinator, who really starts about a month before to handle logistics and finalize vendor details such as drop off, load in and load out schedules.

Also, think about all the things you want to make for your wedding and complete as many tasks as you can in advance. I know you can't finalize your seating chart until all RSVPs are in but you can make your programs, package non-edible favors, draw up a do and do not playlist and write your toast.

Moral of the story: The more you can do in advance of the last week before your wedding the less stress you will have going into your wedding.

Playing with the Idea of Place Cards

If you're looking for a unique way to add some personality to your reception table think about adding place cards to them.  Place cards tell your guests where they should sit at the table he or she is assigned to.

Since many of your guests are coming in pairs it won't be too difficult to place them at the table.  And if you're looking to play matchmaker at the single's table you can ensure that your friend sits next to the guy you always thought she should meet.

Place cards will add money to your stationery budget.  Talk to your stationer about using a design that matches your wedding invitation exactly or something less expensive that compliments it.  Another way to save money is to combine the place card with another item on the table, such as a menu card or favor.

Clearing Your Calendar

As you know I'm re-launching aisledash.com in a week or so and insanely busy getting everything up and running. You'll have to forgive me if I miss a post or two this week - I'll do my best to get one up each day.

Here's a related tip:  Try and start pushing your workload off to colleagues in the few weeks before your wedding so that the week before your wedding you don't have to stay late or get in early and you'll have time to take care of last minute details like your final fitting and visiting with guests from out-of-town.

Bridal Market's Here Again and How It Affects You

I've started getting invitations to a few wedding dress shows to see the Fall 2010 collections and I can't believe it's been six months since the Spring 2010.  For me, and other bridal media editors bridal market is a time for us discover the latest trends in wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses veils, headpieces and accessories and of course we all share them with you.

But how does bridal market affect brides?  These are the dresses that will be arriving in bridal salons between the end of the summer and early fall.  You can browse online galleries to start looking at styles you like so that when you're ready to make an appointment at a bridal salon you can show the salesperson what you want to try on.

It's important to remember that these dresses will NOT be available for about six months but you can show a picture of a style you like but it won't be available to try for several months.

You should order your wedding dress six months before your wedding so if your wedding is next spring or summer you can afford to wait till the fall to buy a dress, but if you're getting married in the next six to nine months you shouldn't take a chance and wait for these gowns to hit stores.  You will either incur high rush charges or it may not be possible at all to get the dress in time for your wedding.

Occupying Kids at the Wedding

If you're having kids at your wedding - older than the infant/toddler stage - you should think about providing some activities to keep them busy.

I'm not suggesting that you hire a magician or face painter but you may want to buy some coloring books and colored pencils (markers may run and stain hands and clothes) so that while they're at the reception they are occupied.

While parents may take their kids for a spin on the dance floor, they will need something to keep their littles ones busy when everyone is eating or listening to toasts.  Coloring books are inexpensive and popular with boys and girls in a wide age range.

Trust me.  They'll thank you for this thoughtful gesture.

The Point of Inspiration

A lot of bloggers and magazines and Web sites write about inspiration and I think at this point we all pretty much know what inspiration for your wedding is: Any and everything that inspires you or gives you ideas for your wedding. But what exactly are you looking for?

It's important to see what things you are consistently gravitating to: colors, details, themes, locations. As you start to review the items that you are pulling and saving either alone or with a wedding planner or florist start grouping together images that are similar. You'll start to see a pattern. Those images will help you form your wedding color palette and wedding theme.

I'm sure you've selected dozens of pages of great ideas but you don't need/want to include everyone of those elements in your wedding. Some may not make sense at a wedding and you can save these other ideas for other occasions: Showers, cocktail parties, birthday parties, etc...

Your theme and color palette are created to help you and your vendors bring everything together so your wedding has a unique look and feel and is not a hodge podge of your favorite things. Trust me, you'll find a place for these other ideas at an event down the road.

A Wedding Event Produced by One of My Favorite Bloggers

Is your wedding taking place in the New York tri-state area? Are you still looking for the right vendors? People who are unique and talented and different from the vendors your friends have hired? Are you a fan of the blog Brooklyn Bride?

If you’ve answered yes to any of the above questions then I’ve got a bridal event for you!

Brooklyn Bride s producing The Urban Wed Event, a two night bridal showcase featuring some of the most talented, up and coming wedding vendors in and around NYC.

Her are the details:

Where: Nest Event Loft, 920 Broadway Ste 1703
When: March 23rd & 24th (you only need to go one night)
Who: Only the top vendors including:

Jenny Ebert Photography
Paper + Cup Design
Nine Cakes
Cobblestone Catering
Just About Married NY
Elan Artists

Why: Because your planning your wedding and you need to find the perfect vendors! And because you get to eat cake!

Only 150 tickets are available for each night of the event so sign up now at urbanwedevent.com. See you there!

Wedding Inspiration from the Muppets

I have no idea why the theme song to The Muppet Show is in my head, but I've been humming it all day and now that I'm home I've been singing it. I'm trying to think if there's a wedding tip in this and there are two things that I came up with.

1 - Inspiration. Think back to your childhood because there could be something from those years that inspires you. If you were the type of little girl who dreamed of her wedding day think back to what those dreams were. Did you always imagine walking down to the aisle to a particular song? What did the flowers and cake look like? What did you dance to with your dad? Was there something you remember from a wedding you attended as a child that you always wanted to do for your wedding? Inspiration can come from anywhere! Even from the Muppets.

2 - Music. One of my favorite songs about weddings is from the movie The Muppets Take Manhattan and it's sung by every character: Somebody's Getting Married. It's just one of those songs that make you smile. I made a CD of wedding-themed songs and played it while we were getting ready. The other songs on the disc were Going to the Chapel, With This Ring, Get Me to the Church on Time and The Boy I'm Gonna Marry.  I made a similar CD of shower-type songs for my sister's shower that we played while guests arrived.  I just thing it's a fun way to add to all the excitement.