A wedding is a monumental event that takes months to plan and these days weddings are all about the small details. So it makes perfect sense that as social media becomes more and more popular, that blogging about weddings becomes a hot topic to blog about. The best thing about these blogs are that they are also on Twitter! Here are a few of my favourite wedding blogs to check out...
Ruffled is a great blog for checking out do-it-yourself ideas. Creating unique elements in a wedding that represent you and your groom are very popular right now. Guests who attend your wedding want to feel as though the wedding represents the couple, so DIY projects are not only cheap - they also create a lasting impression couples strive for.
@Ruffled_Blog
Bride Chic is all fashion - if you want to know about the different ways to wear a short veil, or what kind of veil works with your style of dress, this is the blog for you. This blog focuses completely on the fashion element of the big day, everything from shoes to colours to bridal bouquets, hairstyles and even neckties! It has a wonderful collection of images of wedding gowns too.
@bridechic
Seeing photographs from real weddings helps create ideas for your own day, I would suggest Hot Pink Brides blog for this. They are always posting photos from real weddings and it is always really interesting to see what other people have come up with, especially when it comes to centre pieces and colour schemes.
@HotPinkBrides
These blogs are constantly being updated with the newest trends and real photographs. They are a wonderful resource for fashion, flowers, food, colours, reception location... really anything you can think of! I highly recommend checking them out on Twitter as well.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Wedding Albums on Facebook
So it seems as though everyone is on Facebook these days. Which is probably why more and more brides are choosing to post their wedding photos on this popular social networking site.
Facebook works extremely well for brides who want to share their wedding photos with those close to them. I would say 50 per cent of brides I know have made the decision to post their wedding photos online.
And why not? Almost all wedding photographers include a CD with all of the photos they take during the day, which makes it extremely easy for brides to pop the CD into their computers and upload them online.
For this reason Facebook is also a great way to find photographers. For the bride that is still searching for the perfect photographer, Facebook is an easy way to search from your own home.
Photography websites are great, but many photographers still don't have websites, especially in small towns. This is where Facebook comes in very handy. Most brides who make the decision to share their photos on Facebook don't just post a few photos, they usually post the entire wedding. This is great because it gives a clear image of what the photographer's style is like and how they approach capturing the day.
We actually used Facebook to interview two different photographers. Neither of them actually worked out, but that's because my sister, who is also my maid of honour, referred me to a photographer in Ottawa. His name is Mike and his photography took my breath away during our initial meeting, he was everything I was looking for in a photographer and more. So we are going with him and are extremely happy about it.
For those still searching I highly recommend looking at wedding albums on Facebook, even if you don't end up going with them, it is a great way to narrow down exactly what you want from a photographer.
Facebook works extremely well for brides who want to share their wedding photos with those close to them. I would say 50 per cent of brides I know have made the decision to post their wedding photos online.
And why not? Almost all wedding photographers include a CD with all of the photos they take during the day, which makes it extremely easy for brides to pop the CD into their computers and upload them online.
For this reason Facebook is also a great way to find photographers. For the bride that is still searching for the perfect photographer, Facebook is an easy way to search from your own home.
Photography websites are great, but many photographers still don't have websites, especially in small towns. This is where Facebook comes in very handy. Most brides who make the decision to share their photos on Facebook don't just post a few photos, they usually post the entire wedding. This is great because it gives a clear image of what the photographer's style is like and how they approach capturing the day.
We actually used Facebook to interview two different photographers. Neither of them actually worked out, but that's because my sister, who is also my maid of honour, referred me to a photographer in Ottawa. His name is Mike and his photography took my breath away during our initial meeting, he was everything I was looking for in a photographer and more. So we are going with him and are extremely happy about it.
For those still searching I highly recommend looking at wedding albums on Facebook, even if you don't end up going with them, it is a great way to narrow down exactly what you want from a photographer.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Church, Minister and Music!
So walking down the aisle is the part of the wedding that lots of people dream about. My fiance and I met with our minister this past Monday. Generations of my family have been members at the United Church in Smiths Falls, and so it was decided early on that that is where we would get married.
We have yet to decide if we are going to book someone to film our wedding or not. Hits such as this YouTube classic, JK Wedding Entrance Dance, make me a little nervous. I understand the appeal of putting a wedding video online, especially because I have European relatives who would love to be at the wedding but are unable to make it. But the idea of my wedding video possibly going viral is a little scary. The JK Wedding Entrance Dance has had over 45 million views since it was posted... and all I can think of is, what if something goes wrong? What if someone faints?
I am prepared to deal with all of the things that might go wrong, but am I prepared to deal with possibly thousands of other people seeing it? Not so much.
Another element from a wedding that people love to put online is the first dance as a married couple. Joel and I took swing dance lessons last summer, they were fun but if there was one thing I learned from them it is that neither of us possess strong dancing abilities. We also don't love being the centre of attention, so I can guarantee that we will not be pulling off something like this. And if we were to even try we would probably never want a video of it, judging by our dancing abilities.
I have actually been thinking of telling my younger sister that if she wants to video tape our wedding that I would consider that an amazing wedding present, because I do like the idea of it being captured on film. I would just make sure to specify with her that if something crazy does happen, and she captures it on film, that she is not allowed to immediately post it online.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
To 'Save the Date' or Not
For those of you not familiar with this new phenomena, a Save the Date is a small piece of paper that announces when your wedding will take place and asks guests to please save the date. It is sent out before your invitations are, like a preview for what's to come. Now, anyone who watches wedding shows will understand this concept, but of course many people don't.
Above is a picture of the one my fiance and I designed for our upcoming wedding.
We ordered them through Stephita. My fiance and I completely agreed on the invitations, and we were thrilled with the colours and the style.
Save the Dates was another matter entirely. He thought we should have them, I wasn't so sure.
The etiquette on Save the Dates is not entirely clear. Some websites say that Save the Dates should be sent out more than a year in advance of the wedding, and some say they should be sent out months before the wedding. Some articles claim that Save the Dates should only be sent to people living outside the country, or people that will have to travel for the wedding. Some articles state that Save the Dates should only be sent to dear friends and relatives that you don't want missing your wedding.
The issue - there is no clear method of attack.
The end result - we decide to do them.
The problem - our guest list has continued to increase at an alarming rate for the last few months. Our initial estimate of 100 guests has ballooned to 171 guests. Meaning some of our guests have received Save the Dates and some haven't. To be honest, it is a mess and more than a little stressful.
My word of advice. Think long and hard about whether or not you wish to "Save the Date" or not.
Monday, February 15, 2010
THE dress
Two weeks ago I received the phone call that all brides anxiously await - the call from the bridal store saying my dress had arrived. I eagerly scanned my agenda, checking for an available time to go and try it on.
I may have neglected to mention in my last post that I am a full-time college student, as well as a bride, and two weeks ago I was up to my neck trying to secure an internship for my program. Needless to say I had to re-schedule my appointment at the bridal store twice.
Many brides spend hours browsing bridal boutiques, trying on dress after dress after dress. And because I have been known to take up to three months to decide on a winter coat I like, everyone around me was expecting my search for a wedding gown would be epic.
I found my dress at a small store on the Danforth called the Dressroom. I was with my mother and it was my first time trying on wedding gowns.
It ends up the Dressroom is actually the sister store of Beckers Bridal, which is just down the street. I lucked out and had a fabulous consultant helping me. I tried on a few different shapes, and a few dresses were absolute disasters. Many of the dresses looked fine, but I just wasn't in love with any of them. Then my consultant thought of a dress she thought I might like and when she put it on me, I fell in love. I knew immediately.
People often ask me how I knew it was the one. The only way I can explain is that I loved every aspect of my body it in, could not stop smiling and did not want to take it off.
I would recommend Beckers Bridal to anyone. The service was amazing, the dress was exactly what I wanted and they are willing to do anything to make sure you leave happy. During the next five months I will go in for three fittings and I am sure I will leave as happy as I am now with the whole experience.
I may have neglected to mention in my last post that I am a full-time college student, as well as a bride, and two weeks ago I was up to my neck trying to secure an internship for my program. Needless to say I had to re-schedule my appointment at the bridal store twice.
Many brides spend hours browsing bridal boutiques, trying on dress after dress after dress. And because I have been known to take up to three months to decide on a winter coat I like, everyone around me was expecting my search for a wedding gown would be epic.
I found my dress at a small store on the Danforth called the Dressroom. I was with my mother and it was my first time trying on wedding gowns.
It ends up the Dressroom is actually the sister store of Beckers Bridal, which is just down the street. I lucked out and had a fabulous consultant helping me. I tried on a few different shapes, and a few dresses were absolute disasters. Many of the dresses looked fine, but I just wasn't in love with any of them. Then my consultant thought of a dress she thought I might like and when she put it on me, I fell in love. I knew immediately.
People often ask me how I knew it was the one. The only way I can explain is that I loved every aspect of my body it in, could not stop smiling and did not want to take it off.
I would recommend Beckers Bridal to anyone. The service was amazing, the dress was exactly what I wanted and they are willing to do anything to make sure you leave happy. During the next five months I will go in for three fittings and I am sure I will leave as happy as I am now with the whole experience.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Wedding Countdown
My wedding is taking place on July 10, 2010. That is exactly 171 days away, which feels like not nearly enough time to accomplish everything that is left to do.
I am sure many brides feel the same knot of panic as they sit in front of mountains of bridal magazines, trying to decide on colours, decor, centrepieces, cake flavours, menu options, bridesmaid dresses, venue locations and whether or not to write your own vows.
The "To Do" list could literally go on forever.
This blog will chronicle the remaining 171 days before my wedding, as I wade through the many decisions that are left to be made. I promise to share the funny stories, the great finds and the little surprises that happen along the way.
I am sure many brides feel the same knot of panic as they sit in front of mountains of bridal magazines, trying to decide on colours, decor, centrepieces, cake flavours, menu options, bridesmaid dresses, venue locations and whether or not to write your own vows.
The "To Do" list could literally go on forever.
This blog will chronicle the remaining 171 days before my wedding, as I wade through the many decisions that are left to be made. I promise to share the funny stories, the great finds and the little surprises that happen along the way.
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