Pretty Petals

Jen Huang

Kristen Spencer via Style Me Pretty

Half Orange Photography via Stems of Dallas

These are just three bouquets that I couldn’t help swooning over this week. What’s your bouquet going to look like?

Happy Thursday!

xo,

Meg

Tips for Tuesday: Making Decisions

Emily Horton Photography

You said YES! (right?) That’s probably why you’re here, at least. To figure out what happens next. Well once you’ve signed up for Marrily, you realize that it cuts some stress out of your planning process. It’s simplified. Which is a great balance to the stress of making decisions. Can we help? Let’s hope so. You could be the most organized bride with ducks in a row, the money set aside, checklists in front of you, vendor information all updated, but having all that information isn’t going to make the decisions.

How do you chose what colors? What does that even mean? I always suggest starting with the BIG picture. Figure out the scheme, the feel, the ambiance, the overall formality of your reception and ceremony. From there you may want to loosely consider the season. Once you look at the big picture, start finding inspiration-magazines, blogs, Pinterest. Save photos and create inspiration boards. Whatever your eye is drawn to may be the best route to take. Trust your gut.

As a right brained gal, I’m naturally creative. I love all things visual and this overwhelmed me because I wanted everything. I could have gone with several color schemes and been happy, but ultimately I took a chance to decorate our wedding day with pinks, aquas, a hint of vintage with a modern twist. Most importantly, I wanted to highlight our southern hospitality with yummy southern food, Elvis (really! He came to sing our first dance), a biscuit bar, and sweet tea. Even within those guidelines, the decisions and choices are practically endless! You just have to stay focused and allow yourself to make a decision and move onward! I selected the colors because they were really the most appealing to me. I wanted to be feminine, elegant, and romantic. This was my one chance to do so and I wanted to reflect my personal style. As a couple though, Steven and I love to dress up and we love a fancy occasion. We’re very casual on a normal basis, though, so we wanted to just create a comfortable wedding. It was an evening, semi-formal soiree. We didn’t feel the need to have a black tie affaire with large fancy floral arrangements. It honestly, wasn’t in the budget! But we did want to maximize our budget and mix in a fancy fete with a welcoming vibe. Mission accomplished!

Colors will appear in your bridesmaid dresses, your accessories, tablescapes, and your flowers. Other elements can certainly be tied in to create a more formal (satin, lace, crystal) or more rustic (burlap, twine, mason jars) feel. There are so many directions you can go in, but just create something that reflects you and your fiance’s style as a couple. Stay true!

Be sure to consider vendor packages. Don’t overwhelm yourself with 10 photographer packages to chose from. Pick your top 3 and proceed to see if they’re available. This doesn’t mean the first three you come across, but start looking at their sites and blogs and then pursue a few for prices and packages if they make your heart skip a beat! Think about what’s offered and the price and compare. While you don’t want to settle, you must be realistic with your budget.

Feel free to comment below and ask us about some decision dilemmas! We’re happy to help!

xo,

Meg

Selecting Perfect Wedding Bands

For a bride, one of the most important parts of planning the wedding comes down to the outfitting. Of course, the bride’s dress is a major focal point of any wedding, and should thus be given a great deal of consideration. Generally, this can be a very fun process for a woman about to get married. However, there should also be consideration of other aspects of accessorizing for the big day – most notably, the wedding rings! In most cases, the groom will have already given the bride a carefully selected engagement ring, which will always hold its own special significance and memories. However, the wedding rings themselves are important too, and selecting them is a major part of the wedding planning process, on a personal level.

One of the problems with this process is that there is a certain common misunderstanding that wedding rings need to be plain, simple bands. Indeed, this is often the case, but there is certainly no rule or tradition about doing something different with wedding bands. They shouldn’t overshadow the engagement ring, by any means, but it is perfectly acceptable for them to have their own unique designs. One nice place to start looking at some of these designs and ideas is 77Diamonds Engagement Rings.

There are a number of interesting things that you will discover many soon-to-be married couples are doing with their wedding rings. For example, it is quite common these days to select eternity rings, which are often inlaid with jewels (often diamonds) and which are meant as specifically symbolic of long term commitment and everlasting love. Typically, these rings are a bit flashier than ordinary wedding bands, but for couples who are looking for something a bit more inventive, they can be perfect, and again, they have their own significance that emphasizes the commitment aspect of wedding bands.

In the end, all you need to do is shop around a bit to realize the full extent of the variety available in wedding ring selection. You can choose a number of different metals, designs, styles, etc., all according to your own preferences and those of your future spouse. You may well end up choosing ordinary, plain wedding bands, which are perfectly fine for any wedding – however, be sure not to sell this part of the wedding planning process short. Take your time and make sure that you look through a number of different options so that you can have the perfect rings come your wedding day.

Tips for Tuesday: Finding The Dress

Image : Nancy Ray Photography

Hello lovelies!

Let’s face it: The wedding gown totally sets the tone of the entire wedding! As Carrie noted to Big in Sex and the City (the movie), THE dress, just upped the ante. If that isn’t pressure enough, you’ve got to consider all your options without being totally overwhelmed. What you may have in mind, may not actually look right on your body type. What you pictured yourself never loving, just may be the one because it makes you feel wonderful! And you also need to consider your budget (and taxes, the veil, accessories, undergarments, alterations…). It’s quite a process. I’m hoping to give you some hope as you embrace your hunt.

1. Be open minded. As a recent bride, I tried on all types of silhouettes and fabrics before I found my dress. I also tried on gowns with a ton of lace and gowns with sparkle and ruffles. I know myself to be very picky, and I also know myself to have champagne taste on a beer budget, so I was actually dreading dress shopping. (I know, I know, but that’s only my reality.) And I squashed that kind of thinking, I went for it with an open mind! I tried on tons of styles for good measure, but I was pretty on point with how I envisioned my dress looking before I found the right gown. And it turned out, I was almost right.

2. Don’t overwhelm yourself with all of your friends coming with you. Keep it simple. The less opinions, the better. If it’s one thing that you can have to yourself as a bride, it’s your feeling in your dress. One would hope that bridesmaids and family would be supportive and gush over everything, but sometimes they don’t! Bring along a friend who may be supportive, but honest, in a good way. If you end up finding the right dress, and they hate it because it isn’t their taste, don’t you want them to at least be excited for you regardless!? Now, on the other hand if it’s not flattering at all and you’re unsure, you’d like them to tastefully point it out to you that it takes away from you! Right? If you’re confident in your choice, treasure that feeling and hang on to it. Don’t let opinions sway you. You’ll feel amazing come the big day!

3. It’s OK if you’ve narrowed down your options and you’re kind of unsure. Sleep on it. If you’re still unsure, go back to compare or keep hunting. It’s also OK to not know for sure if you’ve found The One. So what if you didn’t have that “OMG OMG” moment and you didn’t shriek with giddy delight! Maybe if I had an unlimited budget and Vera herself was able to have a hand in the design of my gown, I would have felt like that! I definitely had a couple of doubts after we paid the deposit. This is normal, I think. Here’s why: Most dress shops carry larger sized samples, so in reality the dress you’re actually testing out is way too big. You’re make up may not be done as fancy as your make up artist will do it for the wedding and your hair won’t be done either. Another thing to consider is your skin tone. Will you do a spray tan before the wedding? That can alter how the dress pops against your skin! You probably also won’t be accessorized, because accessories are usually purchased after the dress! Only when I was done up for my bridal portraits and finally had all my accessories on with my dress for the first time did I really feel like a bride! That’s when I got emotional.

4. Eleviate that pressure. Don’t compare yourself to others throughout this process. Everyone’s style, budget, and bodies are different. When you go into your bridal appointments, be sure to relax and have a good attitude so you can make it fun! Most gals can be pretty on point with their instincts, so trust your gut. Go with your gut feeling. Don’t pressure yourself with the “what if” or the “well, maybe…” The dress doesn’t have to be the end all be all for your wedding day. You’ll have a team to make you look beautiful no matter what! The key is just to feel confident.

5. Let’s say you have found the dress and it’s out of your budget. GULP. Contact the dress designer directly and see if there are any samples in your size. There could perhaps be a floor sample that they could send your way at a discount! You could even search for it online and go that route, if you’re brave! Some sites have pre-worn gowns and you can really save some cash. Are there other dresses that mimic that dress? Surely you can do some researching online to find something along the lines of that one. Another option would be to simply reconsider your priorities. Don’t go for the monogram napkins or those extra passed hors d’oeuvres. Skip out on the large centerpiece florals. Find some reasonably priced shoes. Fudge it around some so you can see if you have extra money for the dress. Also see what sort of things the dress boutique includes. Alterations? A discount on a veil? Any accessories? Those small things add up!

I hope this was helpful for you ladies! Please don’t hesitate to comment if you have any questions or if I may have missed anything! Go try on those gowns and have fun! Don’t forget your strapless bra, some heels, and some lipstick!

xo,

Meg

Staying Positive

For most brides, planning a wedding can definitely be a bit stressful! We’ve already established some engagement woes and there are many things can bog a bride down as she attempts to get all the ducks in a row for the biggest day in her life! In the midst of all the appointments, checklists, decisions, and financial worries that revolve around the wedding, I encourage you to take a step back. Unwind. Clear your mind. Have your sweet fiance plan a date night out. Do a little shopping for your honeymoon. Indulge in a manicure or a facial. Take out some of your stress on a DIY project (IF that’s your thing!) or take it out on a punching bag at the gym. Being engaged should be (or is supposed to be) one of the most exciting times in your life! But every day of it isn’t neccesarily going to be a breeze. But overall,  it is such a special time because you’re about to walk down the aisle to and say your I DO’s and embark on an amazing journey with your best friend.

Engagements prep you for marriage! It’s totally true. I struggled with many things as a bride-to-be because I battled with anxiety, a hectic job,  the wedding opinions from everyone around me, the budget, and a ridiculous living situation! The process was overwhelming for me, and I know I don’t speak for everyone, but I thought I was going to crack! I saw my future husband stick up for me though and be there for me.  I tried my hardest to remain positive. At the end of the day, I was getting married to him! At the end of the day, those who love us would be there to celebrate us! At the end of the day, we would be creating our own home! At the end of the day, I would be well on my way to Mexico to soak up the sunshine with my HUSBAND! Those kind of thoughts helped me to cope with the negative.

The big picture helped me brush off some of the stress. An impromtu weekend gettaway with three of my girlfriends was just the ticket to pop the wedding bubble I was living within. Outdoor activities with my fiance distracted us from our project to-do list. Yes, it’s important to check things off your list and to be mindful of your timeline, but it will get done! Breathe, relax, take time to reconnect with your future husband because you’ll need to know how to do so when you’re a wife! Focus on navigating these hurdles with him and embrace how it ties the two of you together. Stay positive, y’all! Your day will be here before you know it! And you will be beautiful!

Meg