Choosing a Wedding Dress

We've talked about choosing a wedding dress in the past, but it's definitely a topic that never gets old. Let's say you already have the wedding gown you'll wear as you walk down the aisle... congratulations! That doesn't mean, however, that you can't keep collecting wedding dress tips for your engaged girlfriends. There's always someone who needs help choosing a wedding gown, so we try never to be without a few helpful tips up our sleeves. For those brides-to-be who know absolutely nothing about choosing a gown, here are some basics:

• If you're going to be trying on wedding dresses, wear undergarments that are close to those you imagine you'll be wearing on your wedding day.

• Let bridal salon employees make suggestions -- they deal with brides of all shapes and sizes, and they usually have a good idea of what will look good on you.

• That said, don't let any salespeople (or loved ones) bully you into choosing a wedding gown you don't like. It's your dress, and you're the one who has to wear it!

• Explore colors other than white. There are lots of shades of this traditional matrimonial color, but colored wedding gowns are also popular right now.

• Read those bridal magazines. Even if you're just checking them out at the library, scanning the ads will give you an idea of what wedding gowns are in stores right now.

• Finally, if you don't buy your accessories at the bridal shop, take home a fabric swatch to match your accessories.

Click to shop for the perfect wedding gown

Cheap Wedding Gift Ideas

With the economy being what it is, it's no wonder that everyone from brides and grooms to wedding guests are scaling back when it comes to spending money. That means that newlyweds can't expect to get as many wedding gifts as they might have gotten in days past, and wedding guests won't be spending as much as wedding gifts as they did, say, ten years ago. But as we all know, money isn't everything! You can get great inexpensive wedding gifts that are useful and beautiful.

Here are three wonderful, meaningful wedding gift ideas that are based on wedding gifts employees at Smart Wedding Planning received:

A Simple Note
Kim said: "After all of the adrenaline from the day faded, I truly enjoyed the lovely thoughts that people had imparted in their cards to me and my husband. Some offered tried and true advice on marriage. Others related some inside jokes from high school and college which I am sure will completely perplex us 10 years from now, but which reminded us of our special bonds with these particular guests."

An Invitation to My Own Wedding
Jackie said: "One guest who gave us our invitation back. Only she had matted it and painted a beautiful design around it that meshed so well with the invitation's colors." If you are not skilled with a framing kit, you can always take the invitation to a framer who will do the trick for you.

Lend Me a Tenor or a Calligrapher
Mike said: "We had a DIY wedding, and most of our wedding vendors were our friends and relatives! My mom cooked all the food for our rehearsal dinner, and my dad's college friends who get together to jam were our wedding reception band. A bunch of my wife's girlfriends created the bridal bouquets and floral arrangements. It was all beautiful, and I swear you wouldn't know that we didn't hire professionals. All that help was the best gift we could have gotten."


Click to read more about wedding gifts or to shop for wedding favors and wedding accessories

Wedding Reception Checklist

Once you've said your "I dos," it's time to party! While there are many ways you can format your wedding reception, most wedding receptions involve certain must-have elements. You can't, after all, have a wedding reception without a reception venue, and it is the obligation of every bride and groom to feed and entertain their wedding guests. Most wedding receptions are somewhat formal, but yours can be anything from pizza and beer at the bowling ally where you met your spouse-to-be to a English-style garden party complete with finger sandwiches.

No matter what kind of wedding reception you choose to have, you'll need to be familiar with certain elements of reception planning. Here's a helpful (albeit short) checklist to get you started:

__ Book your wedding reception venue at least six months in advance. Ask for discounts if you feel like it -- the worst the site manager can say is no.

__ Ask about special wedding packages before you book your wedding date or sign any contracts. Many venues will give you freebies or perks because you're the bride.

__ If you don't understand the fees you're paying, a second pair of eyes (your intended, your mom, etc.) can ensure you don't get scammed or overcharged.

__ Make sure your preferred venue will accommodate all your guests.

__ Don't forget that your reception venue will have its own color scheme. Consider whether your wedding colors will clash with the walls, the carpets, or the linens.

__ Ask the reception site manager whether you can use your own caterer or are obligated to use the house service providers. If you can, make sure your baker and caterer are familiar with the site.


Click to see our complete wedding reception checklist