By: Nancy, ECC

While gowns with sweeper trains are beautiful and make us feel like queens when we wear them, brides get tired of carrying around the weight. Simple physics tells us the farther away from your center of gravity you carry a weight, i.e., your train, the heavier it becomes.  Don’t ditch the dress, bustle it.

The idea of bustling is to gather as much of the train inward towards the bride.  Most gowns do not come with a bustle and are added during alterations.  There are several styles to choose, and variations among those.

The least amount of bustle is the over bustle.  An over bustle uses hooks and eyes.  The train can be secured to the base of the bodice at one point or at several; longer trains will require more hooks. This may be the least expensive bustle, but the hooks are exposed which may require bows or appliques to hide them.   This is creates a full bustle and so works well for lighter fabrics.  A note about the one point over bustle-that’s a lot of weight for one hook and eye to hold.  If it tears out, it could be a hitch you would remember.  So if you do have a heavier fabric, the three point bustle may be the way to go.  The three point over bustle is more secure as it spreads the train out over several hooks. This holds the train a little more open.

Another type of over bustle is the ballroom bustle.  It works well if you don’t like the look of a traditional bustle.  Great for gowns with longer trains, and very secure, when done properly make the gown look like a normal skirt, like the dress had no train to begin with.

An under bustle works well for gowns without a definite waistline, or ones that have a highly decorated back area.  Because it is secured under the gown it will not cover up any designs at the waistline or down the back of the dress.  It is also a more secure bustle.  Ribbons are used to anchor the back or the dress to the lining or slip.  You can use as many anchor point as you want.  Because the anchoring ribbons are under the gown, it is very helpful to label the ribbons or color code them. This is the bustle we see most often.  For a more bouffant look, loops can be sewn in a diamond shape with a ribbon running through them.  Pulling the ribbon and tying it off creates the look.

An under bustle is sometimes called a French bustle and can use from 2-25 points on different levels on the dress.  Two levels of anchoring is a Double French bustle and three levels is a Triple French Bustle.  Double and Triple French bustles are sometimes called whipped cream bustles because of the fluffy look they give the skirt.

We have not seen the Austrian bustle, but it is gaining popularity. Created by a loop and string system as with a window shade, it is secure and can be adjusted.  An interesting look that we look forward to seeing.

Bustling is art.  It should be created to best match your dress. It can complement or completely change the look of the dress.  But after you bustle, fatigue will not keep you from dancing the night away.  But the shoes might! Remember to have your bridesmaids/maid of honor practice the bustle before you wear it for your wedding so that they know how to quickly transform the dress in a matter of minutes (versus keeping your guests waiting 30 minutes while you panic the rest room).

Until next time, happy planning!

Popcorn bar

Let’s begin with good ole’ fashioned popcorn!  This is a great idea, especially because just about everyone loves popcorn. Was your first date at the circus? Do you and your hubby-to-be love going to the movies and sharing a bucket? These are all fun reasons to incorporate a popcorn bar. This would be great if you were having a Hollywood or vintage-inspired wedding. You have the options of doing different flavors of popcorn and you could even get it in the color of your wedding.  You could very easily and cheaply make all the popcorn in advance, buy it in bulk from Sam’s Club or Costco, or you could even rent an old fashioned popcorn machine and have an attendant hand out popcorn bags. A cute decor element to include would be a photo of you and your fiance eating popcorn together–you could even do this when you do your engagement photos. Here is a detailed list of needed items for a popcorn bar:

• Buckets (pails, popcorn buckets, large open vases)
• Scoops
• Bags (with ties if need)
• Labels (if you are not doing a printed bag)
• Flavored salts (you can purchase from HEB)
• Décor elements
• 3-4 flavors of popcorn (great site to order bulk popcorn is http://www.popcornpalace.com/Home/Flavors/SupremeAndNutty)
  • Cheddar
  • White cheddar
  • Caramel
  • Chocolate
  • Butter
  • With nuts
  • Kettle corn

There are so many entertaining ways to incorporate your personality into the event and having a popcorn bar is definitely one of them.

When planning a wedding it is very easy for the bride to become overwhelmed with all the details, so it becomes common for a bride to forget some of the smallest things when it comes to her big day.  As someone who has read the countless blogs of top items a bride can forget, yes it is very true, but I am also the person that is there by the bride’s side on her big day and I see everything firsthand.  I have worked with so many types of brides, from the care-free bride to the organized to every detail bride and there is always that one thing, if not more, that every bride forgets.

In my opinion there is no important order to any of these.  Every bride is different and while some brides may think one thing is the most important of the whole day, another may not.  So keep in mind not everyone of these may be for you, but I guarantee you will come across one that you will not want to forget when it comes to your wedding day!  So let’s start with some of the important details:

• Legal documents- The whole reason you have been planning up to this big day is to be married, so don’t forget your marriage license.  It is also to nice while you have your photographer to get some pictures of everyone signing it.
• Tell family about reserved seating-  If you have any family that will be sitting in the front for the ceremony or at a certain table for the reception, make sure you let them know because you don’t want them to get there and be confused or not take advantage of it. Make reserved signs and have your coordinator put them on the tables you’d like reserved on the Friday before.
• Extra cash-Throughout the day you will have people waiting on you, hand and foot.  Such as hair and make-up, transportation, bell hop at the hotel or you may plan on going out with friends even after your reception, so having that extra cash for whatever you need, can really come in handy! Plus, if anything goes awry, you wont have to stop at an ATM. We’ve had brides and grooms that went over on their time for their limo and had to pay out of pocket right on the spot and it always helps having that extra cash on hand.
• Someone to take your things home- Now it is very important to designate someone to collect any items you brought to the reception and all your gifts to take home.  Whether you’re going out afterward, to the airport, or just to a hotel, you do not want to worry about all of your belongings you will not need, so make sure to assign a few people you trust to take of those things.
• Bags for dollar dance- Not everyone has a dollar dance, but if you are, almost every couple forgets to bring some kind of bag for the maid of honor and best man to hold to collect the money.  You do not want them to just have it out in the open! If you do forget one, make sure you put the money in a safe place, like Mom’s purse or your overnight bag.
• Wear in your wedding day shoes- Most every bride gets a new pair of shoes for her wedding.  Now you do not want to be uncomfortable or get blisters, so make sure you take the time to wear them in around the house so they are perfect for your big day (just don’t scuff them up too much before hand!)
• EAT- So many brides and grooms are so busy greeting everyone and taking photos they forget to sit down and enjoy their own food and wedding.  Make sure you get a chance to sit and relax and eat dinner! (And dessert too!)
• How to bustle your wedding gown-  I see it more often than not that the bride does not practice bustling her dress beforehand. And when it comes time to do it, it takes a very long time taking away time you could be enjoying.  Make sure you and your maid of honor or someone of your choice practices this, so when it comes time you are in and out and don’t have to have everyone waiting for that first dance.
• Over Night Bag- If you plan on staying at a hotel, don’t forget that overnight bag!  It is a great idea to already have it in your getaway vehicle, so when you are leaving you don’t have to worry about a thing!

Now for some of the fun things you may not want to forget.  Some of these are great for photo opportunities or just great extra memories for you and your new husband or just that extra thing that can help your whole day go better:

• Snacks and beverages while getting ready- You may not want to eat a full meal before your ceremony, so don’t forget to either make or order some small snacks for you and your girls (and don’t forget about your fiancé and the guys) to munch on beforehand.  The last thing you want is a growling stomach during the ceremony. Plus, if you are having a drink or two before the ceremony, you don’t want to be light headed and you’ll want to remember the whole thing too
• A special hanger for the dress- Most brides want that traditional picture of their wedding gown on the hanger before they put it on.  You don’t want your beautiful gown on an ugly old hanger, so make sure to get one making that photo extra special. Here is a link to an etsy search for wedding hangers: http://www.etsy.com/search?q=personalized+wedding+hanger&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US
• Thank you speech- Lots of couples send their thank you notes out, letting their guests know how appreciative they are for them celebrating this day with them.  But now day’s a lot of couples are writing a thank you speech to say that night!
• Emergency kit- You never know what can go wrong on the day of your wedding, such as hair can mess up, a run in your panty hose, or even maybe a headache.  So an emergency kit can sometimes be a life saver.  Most them include things like; mints, bobby pins, lotion, sewing kit, deodorant, clear nail polish, aspirin, band aids, and tissue.  Feel free to add whatever you want.
• Unique photos- Every couple wants those photos with their bridal party and family, but it always nice to get come unique photos to have as well.  The internet is great for this; you can just search photos and make sure to let your photographer know what you want so you can make time for them on your wedding day. You can even bring props for photos for your “Thank You” card after the wedding.

Remember, even with a list it will be hard to remember all of these items.  That’s why you have a maid of honor, bridesmaids and family.  They are there to help you and make your day easier, so use the! Assign each person to certain things.  One last thing that can be hard to remember comes with a quote, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”  This is a great tradition for every bride to have and this is one of my favorite quotes to help you remember! Now whether you forget nothing or everything, just remember to breathe and that this is your day, you are there to celebrate you and your new husband and a long lasting love, so just make sure you do that!

Until next time, happy planning!

Photo Credit: Limelight Photography

By: Chelsea, ECC
One of the most important things I think every couple wants to have on their wedding day is for the guest to have a great time!  Wedding music is one of the key elements to get your guests on their feet having a fun time and going home saying, “That was a great wedding!”  When hiring a DJ or band, you do not want to just leave them to the thinking they know what exactly what you want them to play.  Yes they should be very good at their job, but every bride is different and you want to make sure you have the right music at the right time!  It is good to set one or two appointments with them to go over what you do want played and do not want played on your wedding day.

Of course you have your music for the ceremony, the first dance, father daughter and mother son dances.  Now you need come up with some playlists to get the party started.  Before your wedding maybe ask the bridal party or some friends what some good dance music is and what they want to hear at your wedding.  This is good because it will give you a wide range of music and if you forgot some music you like, maybe they said it!  Along with that, they are your bridal party so make sure to let them know they need to be dancing the night away with you because it is known your guests are more likely to get up and dance if there are other people dancing.

Now when that dance floor opens you want to start it off with a bang.  You want something to get people loose and if not dancing right away, but something to start putting them in that dancing mood.  The top 5 most popular party songs played at a wedding are:  1. You Shook Me All Night Long- AC/DC, 2.  I Got A Feeling- Black Eyed Peas, 3.  Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison, 4.  Just Dance- Lady Gaga, 5.  Twist and Shout- The Beatles.  As it gets later in the evening, that is when your guests will be completely in the dancing mood!  So make sure you don’t use all the best songs as soon as the dance floor opens because you want to save them when you have the most people on the dance floor.  The top 5 most dance songs are:  1. Cha Cha Slide- DJ Casper, 2.  Gettin’ Jiggy Wit’ It – Will Smith, 3.  Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) – C+C Music Factory, 4.  I Got A Feeling – Black Eyed Peas, 5.   Just Dance – Lady Gaga.

So once you have all your playlists for the open dance floor, don’t forget you want to have that great party music for all the key points at your wedding.  Such as for your bouquet toss a great suggestion would be, Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it) – Beyonce or American Women- Lenny Kravitz.  For the garter removal some great songs would be like, A Little Less Conversation- Elvis Presley or Sexyback- Justin Timberlake.  Now for the dollar dance I would recommend songs such as, that’s What Friends Are For- Dionne Warwick, Money- Pink Floyd, or even Can You Feel The Love Tonight- Elton John.  Make sure when you have your meetings to go over all this with the DJ or band.  You want to make sure they know what song you want for every special part of your wedding.

Now it’s great to have a verity of music at your wedding.  But like I said know your guests.  You should know if you have more of a hip-hop, country, oldies, or even Spanish crowd.  Don’t be afraid to play all sorts of music, but you do want to play music that will keep your guests having a great time and dancing the night away!  This is why it is very important to have those meetings with your DJ or band, so they have the right music and the right time to play it.  Don’t be afraid to have a “Do Not Play” playlist and an “I want to hear” playlist.  Make sure to leave some room open for requests the night of your wedding and any last minute ideas you may have!  Have a great night and party down!

By: Nancy, ECC

It is hard to make tipping sound festive.  Is parting with your money ever festive?  But for all of us who have worked in the service industry, we really do appreciate it.  Weddings involve a multitude of vendors and service industry personnel.  So, as you plan for your nuptials and reception, let’s talk a little about tipping.

There are universal norms to tipping – tip when and as much as you feel it is merited, but don’t make it obvious.  And these norms hold true for the wedding industry as well. Read you contracts!  Some vendors will include gratuities in the bill, and some may have a policy against tipping at all.  Since vendor owners negotiate their own prices, no further compensation is required.

Most vendors are compensated as they would be at any other time – hair stylists, make-up artists, chauffeur, bar tenders, delivery and set up staff.  But don’t for get the others.  If you opt for live musicians tipping is not required but $10 to $20 per musician would be appreciated.  Some DJ’s do a spectacular job making sure your dance floor stays busy all night, their tip would be $50 to $150 and if there is more than one, split the tip between them.  Videographers and photographers capture the joy of your day for you to reflect on for years to come, the customary gratuity is $50 to $200 per vendor.  Catering companies almost always build in gratuities in their contracts, but if they haven’t, 15 to 20% is customary. Event planners and coordinators ensure everything runs smoothly before, during and after your big event.  Gratuities are not required, but always appreciated, $50 to $100 is generally considered appropriate.

Contrary to common belief, your ceremony officiates are not tipped. A donation to the church can be made in lieu of a tip. Should your ceremony require alter boys, or girls, $10 to $15 is appreciated. And you can tip your wedding coordinator at the church, who may have helped you with your music selections and readings.

That all said, money is not the only way to show your appreciation, especially if you know the vendor involved.  Gift baskets and other small thoughtful gifts are appropriate.  Alter boys and girls will appreciate movie tickets as much as cash.  If you know your Dj, why not give him/her a gift basket of all the things they like to eat and drink during a job?  Event centers love copies of your best wedding pics.  Don’t be afraid to step out of the box and use your creativity.

We hope you receive great service from all you vendors, for those you feel provided a service well above what you expected, tip accordingly.

Photo Credit: Limelight Photography

Amongst all the details planning your wedding don’t forget how you will be arriving and leaving!  There are many ways to go about this.  Such as if you just want it to be yourself and your new husband you could rent classic car or even a horse buggy.  Let’s say you want it to be the two of you with the bridal party you could rent a limo or party bus.  There are many neat ideas to get your guests awing over, your photographer wanting to photograph, and you and your new husband having a blast in!

So let’s say you are leaning more on the romantic side and want it to just be you and your husband.  Here in San Antonio, there is a Tom Daniels Rolls Royce (www.salimo.com ) rental service that has great wedding packages!  This place is fantastic selection of cars to choose from plus with their wedding packages they do deals where you are not charged by the hour.  They offer split packages where you can use the car for instance from the church to the reception and then from the reception to your hotel but you will not have to pay for all the hours in between while at the reception.  Another unique idea is to have a beautiful carriage pulled by horses.  For this, I would recommend Yellow Rose Carriage Co.  because they do wedding packages as well and give you detailed to options to what you want the carriage to look like and the color of horse of you’re choosing.  Now we all know that every guy has a fantasy car that he would love to have so another great idea would to be to surprise your newly husband with that dream car to ride around in for your big day!  Just about anywhere in San Antonio you can rent just about any car for the day.  So find out your fiancé’s dream vehicle and surprise him coming out of the church!  This can be used as a great gift from the bride to the groom and make your special day even more memorable.

Photo Credit: Raul's Photography

Now let’s say you’re a little more on the party side and want to have room for you and your groom and the whole bridal party and maybe some family and friends!  A great way to do this is with a party bus.  San Antonio has multiple party bus options rentals from buses that are a little more fun and outrages to something a little more sleek and elegant.  Either way they are a great way to keep everyone together and keep the party going.  Now if you don’t want to go with a party bus there are many options of limousines from a Cadillac Escalade to a Lincoln.  SanAntionioLimo.com is great because you can find all of these there.  They have many options of party buses and limos for everyone to enjoy on your wedding day!

Riding in style is a great way to get everyone’s attention and give them something to take some fun pictures and talk about all night.  As well as for looks, this can be a fun and safe

Photo credit: Alamo Photographic

way to leave your reception.  Not having to worry about a designated driver you can keep the champagne flowing all night and have a safe way to your next location.  So don’t forget to think about what you want to being riding in on your wedding day, whether it is a wedding present to your husband or a fun way for you and your friends and family to ride around in you will give your photographer some great shots and your guests just another thing to remember about your special wedding day!

Photo Credit: Limelight Photography

By:  Chelsea, ECC

“I’m engaged!” When someone tells you that, your first reaction would be to look straight at the left hand for a beautiful engagement ring.  Have you ever thought of how that tradition came around?  Some say it could have begun way back when caveman would braid grass around the wrist or ankle of their chosen mate.  In that case we have come a long way from grass to a diamond ring!

The engagement ring arose in 1215 when Pope Innocent III added to Pope Nicholas declaration to make the engagement official instituting a mandatory waiting period between the engagement and the wedding making it where the engagement could not be avoided or skipped over and the ring having a more important role.  At this time only the wealthy could afford beautiful stones for their engagement rings while majority had a metal engagement band.

Proposing with a diamond ring did not really become popular until 1477 when Archduke Maximilian I of Habsburg proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a ring with flat diamonds pressed into it in the shape of an ‘M’.  Even as the 19^th century came around, diamonds were still very uncommon unless you were rich or famous.  Diamonds were desired for the engagement ring but there was not enough until 1870 when the rich Kimberley deposit was founded in Africa, making the price of the diamond drop and diamond becoming the most popular thing for a man to give a woman and the famous quote, “Diamond’s are a girl’s best friend” very true!

Today 80% of women are given an engagement ring.  In countries such as Denmark and Germany, plain simple bands are still very popular for both men and woman to where.  In places like Norway the ring is worn on the right “ring finger” instead of the left.  So even though there are many different traditions and styles of the engagement ring, it has been around for many centuries and will continue to be the symbol of true love!

Photo credit: Raul's Photography

By: Nancy, ECC

It’s hard to believe that throwing something at your friends could bring them good luck.  But so it goes with the bouquet and garter toss.

Brides are good luck; after all, they have found “The One and Only”.  And in days gone by it was in fashion to grab a piece of that good luck.  Elated brides were easily overwhelmed by the early age’s paparazzi. Brides found that if they tossed their bouquet, the crowd ran after it and an escape could be made.  Women learn fast, and a tradition was born.  Bouquets started out being made of herbs to cast off evil spirits, bad luck and ill health while bringing fortune and wisdom. While fragrant, they were not terribly pretty.

Flowers eventually replaced herbs, symbolizing a new life with the hope of fertility.  It became accepted that the maiden catching the bouquet would be the next bride.  Today brides often have two bouquets, one to toss and one to save.

So the bride gets to toss the bouquet, but the groom gets all the fun by getting to toss the garter.  Once upon a time, garters were an essential piece of women’s clothing, they held up stockings.  While women have not worn stockings since the days of our great grandmas, the guys sure like this tradition.  There are several versions for the reasoning of tossing the garter.  Back when marriages were for political gain and peace, consummation of the marriage had to be verified.  The groom would toss the garter from the wedding chamber as such proof.  A different version is that wedding guest would invade the wedding chamber in the wee hours of the morning, stealing the bride’s stockings.  The goal was to toss the stockings onto the groom’s nose.  Whoever did this would be the next to marry.

Photo credit: Raul's Photography

Tossing the bouquet or garter is a way of passing the good luck you have found in finding your mate to others, so spread the love to your still single friends and toss away!

The color white is a sign of purity and innocence.  The color a bride “must” wear on her wedding day.  Traditionally speaking, most brides used to where a very formal gown, but in any color they choose. Perhaps something that could be easily taken care of and wore at many events.  The tradition of the white wedding dress is relatively a recent tradition that was first took on by the upper class.

The white wedding dress gained popularity when Queen Victoria of England married Prince Albert in 1840.  At that time white was uncommon and not a sign of purity but a sign of wealth.  Later in a 1849 edition of “Godey’s Lady’s Book”  it stated, “Custom has decided, from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue, whatever may be the material.  It is an emblem of purity and innocence of girlhood and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one.”

Then as department stores were becoming very popular, every bride wanted a “new” and “white” dress to show their wealth and that they don’t have to necessarily buy a dress that has to be worn again.  As well as in the mid 20^th century when pictures and videos started becoming popular, the world’s wealthiest and richest brides were only wearing white bridal gowns.

Then again, you can always go by the old saying, “Married in white, you will have chosen all right.  Married in grey, you will go far away.  Married in black, you will wish yourself back.  Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead.  Married in blue, you will always be true.  Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl.  Married in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”

Photo Credit: Alamo Photographic

The mother and son dance is an expression in itself.  Your mother has had that maternal bond with you since your birth.  She has cared for you and made sure you were safe, fed and clothed.  Now she is passing that torch onto your wife. The song you choose can perfectly express the bond between you and your mother, can tell the story of your relationship, and is your opportunity to honor and thank her for all she has done for you.

Sit down with mama and go over some of these songs and see if any spark her interest:

Classics:

• A Song for Mama –Boys II Men
• Blessed –Elton John
• Close to You –The Carpenters
• In My Life –The Beatles
• What a Wonderful World –Louis Armstrong
• You are the Sunshine of My Life –Stevie Wonder
• Simple Man –Lyrnyrd Skynyrd
• First Lady in My Life-Paul Todd
• Stand by Me –Ben E. King
• First Time I Saw Your Face –Roberta Flack
• Sunrise, Sunset –Steve Kirwan

Country:

• I Hope You Dance –LeAnn Womack
• Heart to Heart –Toby Keith
• The Best Day –Taylor Swift
• Angels –Randy Travis
• It’s Your Song –Garth Brooks
• I’ll Be –Reba McEntire

Modern classics:

• Hero –Mariah Carey
• Wind Beneath My Wings –Gary Morris
• Greatest Love of All –Whitney Houston

Not so mainstream:

• Dear Mama –Tupac

So many of the mother-son and father-daughter songs are interchangeable; don’t feel like you can’t do The Beatles’ In My Life with your dad just because it’s on this list. Listen to the lyrics and what speaks to you and your mother or father. And remember that you can always do a google search to help in this quest…last time we checked there was about 2 million hits about this topic, so you are sure to find something you can dance to!