The Ultimate Guide to Finding YOUR Wedding Dress

Is there anything more iconic, memorable, and statement-making on your wedding day than your wedding gown?

The answer, of course, is no way!

From the moment they receive the invitation to the moment you walk down that aisle, your guests will be anticipating what your gorgeous gown will look like. Make sure their first image of you is perfection with this ultimate guide to finding YOUR wedding dress!

Vague Vision or Detailed Design?

There are two types of brides when it comes to wedding dress shopping. The first bride has a vague idea (or maybe none at all) of what she wants her gown to look like. The second bride has a specific dress that she has designed in her mind over several years. Which one are you? If you are the first bride, you'll want to try on lots and lots of dresses to get a good feel for the direction you want to go in.
If you're like the second bride, consider loosening the reigns on that image you've created of your perfect dress. Choose one or two details that you can't live without, such as the silhouette or the type of beading, and focus on trying on those types of dresses. If you spend all of your time trying on dresses that fit a tight list of specifications, you will most likely get frustrated, fast, and maybe even miss out on a dress you've never even dreamed of!

Give Comfort a Chance

Hear us out- while it's doubtful that you will find a dress that is comfy enough to want to lounge around on the couch in afterward, you should definitely consider attempting to get a dress that doesn't actively cause you discomfort or pain.
That means to try and stay away from dresses that pinch you or squeeze you too hard. Sometimes all it takes is an alteration or two to take your dress from painful to tolerable- or even comfortable!

Start Early

We mean it. Start early. Like, a year early. A year and a half is even better if you can. You'd be surprised how long it may take you to find a dress you are truly in love with.
Nothing takes the fun out of wedding dress shopping like an impending deadline. Don't put yourself in a position where you'll be forced to compromise because you ran out of time.
Keep in mind that once you actually choose your gown, potential alterations and additional fittings can take another few months.

Bring Some Loved Ones

Make dress shopping an important and fun experience for yourself and your close loved ones! Bring along some of your friends and/or family members to make sure you have honest opinions and plenty of memories to make. Make a day of it and go out to lunch or dinner together afterward!

But Not Too Many!

Remember what we said about "nothing takes the fun out of wedding dress shopping like an impending deadline?" We take that back. Nothing takes the fun out of wedding dress shopping like having the wrong people there with you! 
Now is not the time to make your blunt and grouchy aunt feel included. This is not the time to "bond" with your soon to be mother-in-law who always has a comment about your outfit choices. This is about your experience. Sure, you'll want to bring people who are honest but make sure they will be nice about it. Stick to 2 to 5 guests to take with you so that you don't become overwhelmed with opinions.

Be Realistic

We had to mention it. That's right. The budget! Only you know what your budget is or should look like. You will need to decide what to budget for a dress and decide it ASAP. Don't dream up an unrealistic number and cause yourself heartache in the end. Don't waste time looking at dresses with price tags you know you can't afford. There are plenty of "budget" dresses and dress shops, that don't look "budget" at all!

So there you have it. Try your best to look amazing, feel amazing, and not go into debt! Don't forget to enjoy the actual experience of dress shopping and take your time!

• 
  

Gifts to Get Your Husband on Your Wedding Day

What Should You Get Your New Husband on Your Wedding Day? 

Men can be hard to shop for in general. Birthdays, Christmas, and Father's day make for difficult shopping sometimes. Most of you are probably thinking "I never knew you should get your husband-to-be a gift." Giving your husband a gift on your wedding day will let him know how much he's appreciated.

The following gift ideas range in price to fit every budget! 

Write your husband a letter- Tell him how you feel on such a special day for you both. Remind him why he proposed and why you said "yes!" to his proposal. This is something you can keep and share with you kids on their wedding day. This would be a priceless keepsake.

Give your husband an engraved watch- This will compliment his wedding attire. He will feel great knowing you thought of him and look great wearing his new watch. The engraving will always remind him of this special moment. 

Sunglasses - Buy your husband a pair of shades. This will boost his confidence in all those fun wedding pictures after the ceremony. You can get fancy with a expensive pair or an inexpensive pair. I promise he won't be able to tell the difference.

Boudoir photos! - Its time for a photo shoot! A boudoir photo shoot is a intimate setting for classy and romantic images. Your husband will love these! 

Things to Consider When Choosing your Wedding Venue

Picking a wedding venue can be exciting! During all that excitement here are few things you should take into consideration before choosing your wedding venue. 

Location

Take the time to think about your in town and out of town guest. Try to find a sweet spot where guest who are local won't have to travel 5 hours away. If your having out of town guest set a room block at a near by hotel where you'll be having your wedding.

The food

Are you only allowed to use the venues  preferred caterer? If so will they be able to make the cuisine you had in mind? Something else to consider is being able to bring in a outside caterer and will the venue have space to accommodate them. For example the kitchen capabilities.

Availability

Are you able to setup all of your decorations the night before? How soon can your vendors start arriving and setting up? What time will everything need to broken down and cleaned up?

Decor

Can you hang things on the wall and if so do need special material? Can you use confetti or balloons? 

Larger venues may offer a wedding planner and taking full advantage of that can eliminate a lot of stress. 

Make Your Bachelorette Party Count

Wedding planning is stressful, right? Besides the obvious decision of hiring a wedding planner, there's one more way to manage your stress leading up to your big day- your bachelorette party! Although it's meant to be a way to blow off some steam right before your wedding, bachelorette parties themselves have become full of traditions, do's and do not's, and high expectations. It's a big mistake to overlook the bachelorette party! Follow these tips to make your big night as wonderful as your big day will be!

Have a Vision

The first and arguably most important thing to decide is what you want your bachelorette party to look and feel like. Do you want a night to rival the movie "Hangover?" or do you prefer something quieter? Do you imagine you and your crew bar hopping all night, or staying in for a paint night with wine? Knowing your expectations and making them clear to your maid of honor will ensure you get the bachelorette party of your dreams!

Organize the Finances

Make sure that whatever you decide to do, it is affordable for your bridesmaids and other guests. If you dream of a presidential suite and bottle service in Las Vegas, keep in mind that many of your guests may not be able to afford that. Tuck that away for a post-honeymoon trip! Instead, think of an agenda that is manageable for everyone. This should be your maid of honor's job to figure out. Ask her to come up with a budget that works for everyone- then plan away!

Timeline

There are so many fun bachelorette party ideas out there, but don't feel obligated to overschedule! Our suggestion is to pick 1 or 2 "activities," followed by a night of bar hopping or wine tasting, for example. Make sure to consider time needed to have a snack or change clothes and freshen up if needed. Don't underestimate the importance of just relaxing with your friends and a couple of drinks!

Don't Drink and Drive

You know that list you have in your head of everything that could go wrong at your wedding? Add a DUI for you or one of your bridesmaids if you don't plan for transportation back from the bars. Not fun. An Uber of Lyft is such a simple and affordable way to get to and from the bars, you don't have an excuse NOT to go that route. If you and your guests are able to shell out the extra bucks, a limo or party bus is super memorable!

Keep it Personal

Don't make this just any night out on the town! Incorporate something special. Personalized matching temporary tattoos are super affordable, simple and fun! Maybe your crew is the scavenger hunt type- there are endless possibilities. If it's an overnight event, send your guests home with cute "hangover kits" filled with things like aspirin, bottled water, and mints. There are so many memorable ways to cherish your bachelorette party forever.

Wedding Etiquette- What Still Applies, and to Who?

Etiquette- it almost sounds like an antiquated word, doesn't it? With social etiquette, in general, becoming more relaxed in recent years, some people underestimate the importance of wedding etiquette. Yes- it's still important. 

However, with so many different styles and types of weddings, it can be difficult to determine which etiquette still applies and which may not. Mix an older generation with a new generation where many feel comfortable running to the grocery store in their pajama pants (which we're guilty of!) and it's even more confusing. 

Consider this your go-to guide on wedding etiquette so you can quit wondering and start having a good time at those weddings this summer! If you're planning your own wedding, use this guide to keep your guests in line.

White is Still A Big No

Remember when it was a considered bad etiquette to wear all white to a wedding? Yeah, it still is considered bad etiquette. Sure, having some white in your outfit is fine, but if you show up in an all-white dress or outfit, chances are, you will take attention away from the bride. So, save that bright white outfit for another occasion.

Social Media- to Post or Not to Post?

This is a newer, smartphone age etiquette conundrum. Many people take photos of the happy new couple on their phones and that's great! Many of those people also post it to Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms- right away. This can be frustrating for many brides, who have spent thousands of dollars on a professional photographer, only to have the first pictures of them in their beautiful dress unveiled to the world of social media by a guest who took it at a strange angle above Aunt Sally's perm on a smartphone.

Always RSVP

The number of brides that we've worked with who don't receive all of their RSVPs back is astounding. Always RSVP. Even if it's a "no." Imagine how stressful it is planning the biggest party of your life. Now imagine how stressful that would be if you only get 52 RSVPs from 150 invites. 

Without proper planning, the bride and groom either waste a ton of money on food for people who don't show up or don't have enough food when guests who didn't bother to RSVP attend. It doesn't take long- please RSVP.

Be on Time

This means the obvious- don't be late. Nothing throws off a beautiful, quiet ceremony like a guest rushing through the doors 5 minutes in. However, it also means don't be too early! A good time frame for arrival is 15 - 5 minutes before the start of the ceremony. If you arrive too early, you might throw off the family's plans, like pre-ceremony photography. You might even see the bride in her dress, which will ruin the magic of the ceremony for her and you!

Stick to the Registry

If you see a really cute slow cooker that you think they would love, resist the urge to buy it. It's likely not on the list because they already have a good slow cooker. It will help no one to fill up their home with useless items. Don't feel obligated to get something out of your budget, either. Most couples will have items in a large price range on their registry!

"Open Bar or Cash Bar" - The Positives and Negatives to a Open and Cash bar.

Every bride has wondered, "open or cash bar?" There are many positives and negatives to each, but the reality is that no one bar type fits every wedding! It depends on a number of factors,  like your budget and guests. 

Open Bar

Positives-

Guests save money

Starting with the obvious,  your guests won't have to shell out money for drinks (remember to put out a tip jar,  though!) There's not much more to elaborate on here- everyone loves saving money!

Party atmosphere

Ask yourself what type of partiers your guests are. Will there be a lot of your college friends there, ready to down shots and dance the night away? Do you want the reception to feel like a big party? Do you want it to go late into the night? An open bar almost guarantees a late night party! With the alcohol flowing, the dance floor will fill up and the guests will be more encouraged to keep the party going.  

Thanks guests and makes them feel more welcome

Your guests will really feel taken care of if they have complimentary drinks during your reception. It'll feel more like a party. It will also create fun memories that everyone will keep with them forever. 

Negatives- 

You spend a big chunk of your budget

Of course, an open bar is never cheap. If you've been stretching your wedding budget,  an open bar may not be in the cards for you. And that's ok!

Guests may get too drunk

Do you have a few guests that you just know will drink past their limits? To avoid any drama, damages, or obnoxious scenes, you may choose a cash bar instead. As we mentioned above,  it's all about knowing your guests. 

Driving home safety

This isn't a fun part of the night to think about, but it's important.  Do you feel your guests will drive home responsibly? The last thing you want on your wedding night is to feel responsible for a drunk driving incident. 

Cash Bar

Positives-

You save a ton of money on alcohol

Small budgets reap the benefits of a cash bar! 

Responsible drinking

Guests will be much more likely to drink responsibly with an open bar,  reducing the risk of any drunken accidents or scenes. 

Negatives-

Guests may feel restricted if on a budget

Guests on a budget or struggling financially may not be able to drink at your reception. 

Guests may get upset with bartender if they feel their order is incorrect 

Since guests are paying for each drink, they will be more critical of taste and ratios, potentially holding up the bar line. 

Party likely to end earlier

The longer guests stay, the more money is coming out of their pockets. This will make the reception more likely to end earlier.  

Compromising

A simple compromise to those on the fence is easy. You could have a limited open bar with just beer and wine. No liquor will likely keep "problem" relatives out of trouble. It's also more affordable. 

Another good option is limiting the hours of the open bar. An open bar that lasts through the first 2 hours of the reception is much cheaper than an open bar that lasts 4+ hours.  

Laugh Out Loud Questions to add to your "Wedding Shoe Game" Question List

Most people have attended a wedding where the newlyweds play the "Wedding Shoe Game". If you haven't seen it played or played it yourself this is how it works:

In the middle of the dance floor  place 2 chairs back to back. The bride sits in one chair and the groom in the other. They will then take their shoes off and give one shoe to one another. The couple should now be holding one of each. Someone from the bridal party or the DJ will read questions from a list like "Who's always late?" or "Who has the most friends?" The bride and groom will then hold up the corresponding shoe to match the answer 

We have come up with questions to keep your guest laughing and learning more about the happy couple. These questions will be great to mix in with the traditional questions of the "Wedding Shoe Game"

Who said " I love you first"

Who owns the most clothes?

Who is the best dancer?

Who is the better singer?

Who is older?

When you first met, who made the first move?

Who is the better dresser? 

Who starts the argument?

Who got better grades in school?

Who wears the pants in the relationship?

Who has control of the TV remote? 

Who spends more money?

Who was the most nervous about the "Big Day"?

Who complains more?

Who makes all the decisions?

Who holds their liqueur better?

Who is the biggest flirt? 

Who's idea was it to play this game?

Can't Get Enough of the Royal Wedding? 5 Ways to Give Your Wedding Guests the Royal Treatment

Transportation 

If your ceremony and reception are in separate places, offer a fun way for your guests to get from one place to another. Are you having an elegant fairytale wedding? Horsedrawn carriages would be the perfect unforgettable touch. Will your guests be downing shots and partying until late into the night? Get them prepped for the celebration with party busses! If you really want to set the tone (and make sure your guests don't get restless or bored between the ceremony and reception,) consider budgeting for a memorable transportation service for your guests. We promise- it's worth it!

  Cocktail Hour

Your guests will have worked up an appetite by the time they arrive at the reception. Don't let your guests get hungry and grumpy while they wait for you and your wedding party to take photos! Cocktail hour is an integral part of any wedding, especially when the wedding party is taking photos between the ceremony and reception. Don't worry-cocktail hour can be tailored to fit any budget! If you don't have the budget for formal waiters passing out appetizers, a couple of tables of food will do. Cheese platters, vegetable and fruit trays, and dips and crackers are popular food ideas. They're also easy and affordable! A limited bar is a great idea during cocktail hour, as well. Try two signature drinks in your wedding colors! 

 

Know Your DJ

The DJ is so important when it comes to setting the tone of the reception! Make sure to talk to your DJ extensively beforehand. Does he know who and when he is supposed to introduce at the beginning of the reception? Does he know which genres of music you prefer? Perhaps you want to play edited songs the first couple hours in order to keep your older guests comfortable. Do you want your guests to be able to request songs? These are all important things to make sure your DJ knows! The last thing you want is to spend your reception listening to music you and your guests don't like.  

 

Add a Surprise Treat

 Celebrating the newlyweds will leave guest wanting a late night snack! Set your reception apart from the rest by offering a surprise late night snack. Find out how much your local food trucks will charge to make a visit to your reception during the last hour. Tacos, burgers, or anything greasy would be a welcome surprise to your guests, especially if they've been drinking all night. Send them home happy and full!

Open bar

An open bar is worth figuring into your budget! Get your guests loosened up and ready to celebrate. Figure out which type of open bar will fit your wedding best. You might prefer to serve only wine and beer. If your guests are partiers, you may choose to also serve liquor. It's a smart choice to close the bar a half hour to an hour before the reception ends so that your guests aren't drinking up until the minute they leave- they won't want to have a hangover as a wedding favor!

4 Easy Saving Tips to Afford Your Dream Wedding

When someone asks you what your wedding budget is, do you have an answer? 
Do you have a savings plan? If you're like many of us, it can be 

difficult to get by even without spending money on a wedding. These 

foolproof savings plans may seem silly, but they are great ways to save up

 change!

One $5 Bill at a Time

This savings tip requires you to spend cash instead of carrying around your

cards, but the habit you create is one that you could very well carry

into post-wedding life, and continue saving! The only thing you have to 

do is save all of your $5 bills! Every time you get change, stash those $5 in 

your wedding savings shoebox. You'll be amazed at how quickly those $5

bills will add up to hundreds of dollars.

Honeymoon Now, or Honeymoon Later

It's becoming a popular option among brides and grooms to take a 

delayed honeymoon. Instead of jetting off the day after the wedding, 

spend a few months soaking in that newlywed bliss, all while still looking

forward to your honeymoon! This will allow you extra time to save for the

trip and gives you that extra money to spend on the wedding.

Budget Master

Does your budget tend to get away from you most months? Do you have

the best intentions of saving more this time but you still find yourself

unable to do so? The answer is envelopes- that's right, envelopes. Take 

each of your expendable bills (groceries, gas, wine, restaurants,) and label

an envelope with each expense. Budget what you plan to spend every month

on each, take the cash out and put it in the envelopes (and put

them somewhere safe!) Spend no more than what is physically there.

Make it a game. See how much you can have leftover in each envelope 

at the end of each week or month. You'll be impressed with how much

money is left over for saving when you stick to this method!

A Little This Week, A Little More Next Week

This is an easy way to start a savings plan that may seem intimidating. 

Some people prefer to walk into a pool, starting with their toes and, 

eventually, slowly submerging themselves. This method involves money,

not a pool (sorry- it's not your honeymoon yet!) Do this savings plan at a 

rate that is comfortable for you and your budget. For example, start week

1 by saving just $10. Next week, save $12. The week after that, save $14. 

By adding just $2 onto the total saved each month, you'll have $286 in 13 

weeks. Of course, you can always save more if you feel your budget allows it. But the point is, 
building slowly makes saving feel more possible!

Top 10 Things to Do When Selling at a Bridal Resale

1of 40 tables at Event Customs' first Wedding Resale

 Do Your Homework

Does the venue have electricity for that gorgeous LED sign you're selling? Do they have space for you to display that arch that that's been sitting in your basement? Don't hesitate to ask any questions. Any successful resale will be happy to answer you're questions and make sure you're set up for success. 

Know The Details 

What time can you start setting up that morning? Many resales allow you the option of setting up the night before. If that is a more appealing option to you, make sure to ask if that option is available. 

Prepare For Set Up

Take a good look at all of your post-wedding inventory. How long do you think it will take you to carry it all inside? Try to enlist a family member of friend to help you. 

Taller items in back

                           Catch Their Eye

It's helpful to have a picture of how you want your table to look in your head beforehand. For example, you'll want to be able to display the tall candelabras and the bride and groom champagne flutes- prepare to put the candelabras and other taller items at the back of the table. Most resales provide you with one 8 foot table, so being prepared will help you make your space count- and also ensure that you aren't that vendor scrambling to finish setting up your table as shoppers pour in! 

    Know What You Need To Bring

Most resales provide a table and one or two chairs, with the seller being responsible for the tablecloth. It's recommended to bring a clean, pressed, neutral colored tablecloth, so you don't distract from the merchandise. Remember to make sure you know the size of the table so you bring the correct size tablecloth!

Don't Forget The Change!

This one is obvious, but so easy to forget during the rush of getting ready- bring change for those cash transactions! You'll want to bring something to keep the cash in, as well.

Be Honest With Yourself

Would you prefer to "price your items to sell" (price them very cheaply to get them out of your hair quickly,) or charge a little more, with the likelihood of going home with quite a bit of inventory left? This is something only you can answer. If you plan on doing a few different resales, you may choose to price higher. Keep in mind, though, that brides come to resales with cheap prices in mind. Ultimately, you need to ask yourself if you prefer to go home with minimal inventory left, or prefer to hold on to your items longer while potentially making more money in the long run. 

Know The Food Situation 

Neatly displayed

How long will you be in the building? Don't forget that you have to eat! Some resales will provide complimentary donuts and coffee to sellers in the morning, and have lunch options for sale to sellers and shoppers. Check ahead. Maybe you'll want to take your own snacks. Maybe youll bring a friend to help you sell and make a lunch run. Just make sure you're not in the middle of peak shopping hours with a grumbling stomach!

                  Prepare The Merchandise 

Make sure everything that you're selling is in good shape. If you do want to sell anything that has stains, rips, or nicks on it, consider selling those items at a reduced cost. 

 Get to Know Your Neighbors 

You may not think you'd be interested in purchasing anything at a bridal resale that you're selling at (hello- your wedding already happened!) but there may be some things you find you need. Maybe the table across from you has adorable doilies from their wedding that would look perfect on your new dining room table. What a great opportunity to dress up your house without spending much!

Interested in selling your gently used wedding items? We are hosting a Bridal Resale this summer- follow the link below for more information!

 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thrifty-bride-wedding-resale-and-bridal-show-tickets-36971015302

Top 10 things you should do when attending a Wedding Resale.

Over the past few years more resale sale events for gently used wedding decor has popped up all over North-East Ohio. You can think of it as a flee market for wedding decor selling anything from table cloths to burlap chair covers. 

Its a great way for a "bride to be" to save money on wedding decor. Event Customs have attended these events and planned many of our own. Weddings can get expensive and this is great way to save money. Here are the top 10 things you should do when attending wedding resale event: 

1. "The early bird gets the worm". Get to the resale early so you can have the best decor to choose from, before everything is picked over. If the event is offering special tickets or passes buy that ticket. 
2. Bring cash. Plain and simple most people will not have a card reader for gently used wedding decor they want to resell. You don't want to miss out by having to run to the ATM for cash and hoping the gold chargers will still be there when you return.  
3. Always negotiate on the price. Odds are most of the wedding decor from a wedding has been setting in a box taking up space in garage,attic, or basement. Most people don't want to take items they will never use again home. 
4. Clean out your trunk. If you find great decor you want to be able to fit it into your car. 
5. Bring someone with you. They will be a extra pair of hands to help carry things and someone to bounce ideas off of. Doesn't matter if its the groom, maid of honor, mother in law or aunt they will be happy to help. 
6. Grab a few reusable or old store bags you have laying around. This way you can put your new decor in bags and move thought out the resale with easy. 
7. Apply for give away.  Create a email just for events like wedding shows and resales. If they happen to be giving away prizes make sure you fill your information out, you could get lucky and win a free honeymoon!
8. Stop back by towards the end of the event. Sometimes sellers don't want to haggle with you on the price of certain items, but if they haven't sold the items by the end of the day, they maybe willing to drop the price. 
9. Check the items before you buy them! Make sure if you bought 8 round tablecloths all the table cloths are round. You don't want end up with 7 round tablecloths and 1 rectangle tablecloth.
10. Collect the sponsors information. After you celebrated your big day you may want to sell your gently used wedding decor at the next resale event.
    
    

Looking for a resale near you? Click the link below for the information on the next resale Event Customs is hosting.

 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thrifty-bride-wedding-resale-and-bridal-show-tickets-36971015302