One of my girlfriends recently got engaged. Before we could even bask in her happiness, the conversation turned to the dreaded guest list.
Audrey Irvine was not only invited to her cousin’s wedding in 2004, she served as a bridesmaid.

Audrey Irvine was not only invited to her cousin’s wedding in 2004, she served as a bridesmaid.

Fun questions like, “So, honey, do we have to invite your great aunt, whom you haven’t seen since you were 10?”

So, who should get an invite?
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The photo album of your wedding will be the best way to preserve that special day. It is very likely that you, your children, and your family will view these photos many years down the road. It is for this reason that you will want to hire the best photographer you can afford. While saving money is always a good thing, you don’t want to be cheap when it comes to your wedding. Many couples try to save money by hiring the cheapest photographer, and they end up unhappy when they find out their photos aren’t as nice as they expected. When it comes to your wedding photos, you will get what you pay for. Read the rest of this entry »

Giving a wedding present or gift is a great way to congratulate the newlyweds, but how much should you spend?  Are you spending enough?

When I got married, I really didn’t look at how much people spent, but I did notice whether or not they got me something that was on my registry.  Heck, even more so than that, I looked at whether they got me something useful.  My husband and I got a good laugh when we opened up a present from an uncle and it was 1 towel for a local linen company.  Who the heck gives just one towel that doesn’t even match the rest of my house wares?  - needless to say.. That uncle was from my husband’s side of the family.

So what’s the best way to make sure that you’re spending enough?
Over at MyWedding.com, the co-founder, Rob Johnsen recommends considering how close you are to the couple getting married.  If the couple are “two of your most cherished friends or relatives” expect to spend about $200, if they’re people you value but don’t communicate regularly or see often than spend between $50 and $100, and a couple who you don’t know very well would receive a gift worth $50 or under.
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Choosing a photographer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during your wedding. If you choose the wrong one, your wedding day could be a disaster, and you may find yourself embroiled in a dispute. Virtually any reputable photographer you meet will require you to sign a contract before they photograph the event, and if you choose the wrong one, or you don’t take the time to read the agreement, there could be disputes over the quality and level of service. This is something you must avoid at all costs. One of the ways to do this is to get referrals before you hire the photographer.

Take the time to review their portfolio to make sure you like their work. You should also take the time to conduct an interview with the photographer to make sure you like them. If your personality clashes with that of the photographer, this is a sign that you should take the step of hiring someone else. When you choose a photographer, choose the best you can afford. If you follow this general rule, you will be successful.

Shape Up: Fitness Pros’ Best Tips for Brides

Track Your Progress
Keep track by recording your goals in a journal — having them in writing is a fantastic motivator. The key, Rice says, is to keep them small and specific. He gave us a few examples:
Week One: Work out at least twice and be sure to strength train; then also do cardio two times during the week for at least 20 minutes.
Week Two: Repeat your fitness regimen from week one, but add 0 minutes to your two cardio workouts. Also, cut out all soft drinks for the entire week.
As you reach each goal, record it — you’ll find it’s not so tough to build on your successes.

Change Your Mindset
Conde says that instead of looking at your fitness goals as chores, you should try to see your time at the gym as an oasis of sanity. After all, she says, “With all the chaos around you planning a wedding, it is comforting to know that you have control over how your body will look in your wedding gown and on the honeymoon.” Focus on what you’re doing, turn off your cell phone, and forget about your list of to-dos.

Maintain a Positive Perspective
Will you ever have better fitness motivation than your wedding day? Maybe, but we’re not sure when. “Take advantage of this rare window of opportunity to be super-motivated,” Rice says, “there may never be another time like this in your life. It’s not about discipline, it’s desire! Get real — when is your desire going to be more intense than the months leading up to your wedding day?”

Stay Well-rounded
The key to your success: Putting it all together, with proper diet and exercise. “You can lose weight through diet alone, but it is exceedingly difficult to lose body fat by leaving your diet the same and trying to exercise it off,” Rice says. Conde advises a balanced workout as well. “Most brides want to focus solely on their upper body because of their wedding gowns, but you want to work on your entire body for symmetry and balance. Remember ladies, the dress eventually comes off!”

IDoSugar has a great little article on how to become an Ordained Minister Online.

Now you can have that wedding in your backyard!

If you’ve ever dreamed of saying the words “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife (or husband and husband, or wife and wife)!” or wanted to have your wedding ceremony performed by someone who is not a complete stranger, then consider getting ordained over the Internet. It takes about five minutes, is generally free, and in return you can legally perform wedding ceremonies and be called Minister.

A well-known and popular way to be ordained online is through the Universal Life Church. Nondenominational and nondogmatic, they charge no fee for online ordination, just submit your application and they get back to you within 24 hours. Read the rest of this entry »

Shape Up: Fitness Pros’ Best Tips for Brides

Looking to drop a dress size (or two)? We talked to a couple of our favorite health and fitness pros and got some of their best tips on how to get slim and strong for your wedding day. No more excuses!

Be Realistic
What’s healthy weight loss? About one to two pounds per week, for a total of four to eight pounds per month. “Not every bride must be a size 2 on her wedding day,” Cynthia Conde, celebrity trainer and creator of Bridal Bootcamp tells us. “You need to realistically evaluate what your ideal weight should be.”

Set a Deadline
With a healthy level of weight loss, all it takes is some grade school math to figure out how much time you’ll need to do it. Need to lose 30 pounds? Get the lead out at least six months before your wedding. For 5, you’ll need three months, and so on. Read the rest of this entry »

In recent years, black and white wedding photography has become quite popular among couples who are getting married. To meet this demand, a large number of professional photographers are adding black and white photo services to their wedding services. However, you may often find that many of these photographers will produce black and white images that aren’t much different than their color photo counterparts. One thing that you must realize is that what many photographers call “black and white” is not truly black and white photos. Understanding the difference is crucially important. Read the rest of this entry »

Professional Wedding Photography is a field in which professional photographers will photograph the marriages of their clients. In most cases, these photographers will have a formal education in the field, or they will have some type of professional designation which shows they are qualified to take the images. There are a number of things which make professional wedding photographers distinct from those who are amateurs or freelancers. First, professional photographers tend to have many years of experience. They have built up a large number of clients, and they can often provide you with references. Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to paying someone to take your wedding photos, it is easy for confusion to occur. To avoid this confusion, you must always sign a written contract. If you don’t sign a contract, you’re just asking for trouble. The contract should include the pay, the amount of photos to be produced for that pay, and the name, address, and email of both you and the photographer. If there are any disputes that occur over the work, the contract can be used as a document which clearly shows what both parties agreed to. When you are presented with the contract, read over it carefully to make sure you agree with everything that has been presented. Read the rest of this entry »