BrideTalk is now even better!

June 26th, 2009 . Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

More ideas, more interaction, more brides! The BrideTalk communities of Austin & San Antonio have been combined to help brides of each city find answers to their wedding questions. With more wedding professionals serving both Austin & San Antonio areas, a combined online community will better serve the needs of our brides. Whether you are seeking etiquette advice or wanting to sell gently used bridal items, BrideTalk is the online bridal community for you!

Visit www.texasweddings.com/bridetalk to become a part of this awesome bridal community!

Take time to relax

June 17th, 2009 . Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
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Planning a wedding can be stressful and tedious.  An important thing to remember is that this is your day and it is to be enjoyed not worried over.  Take several minutes a day to take a breather and relax during the planning process.  Take a spa day once or twice a month just to get your feet back on the ground.  Relaxing baths or a shopping day with the girls, whatever you choose, make sure you get some time that isn’t thinking about work or planning a wedding.  It will help get things done faster and more efficiently and those around you that are helping will feel more relaxed as well.  So kick back and put your feet up and enjoy a minute or two for yourself.

The Beauty Timeline

June 10th, 2009 . Posted in Beauty | No Comments »
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For those who want to get all the primping and pampering for their wedding but are unsure of a time line in which to do so, here is one that might help.

Six Months Before Wedding

  • Hair Styles:
    -     Carry a notebook or binder with you so that when you see a style that you might like, jot it down with words or drawings.

    - Decide if you are going to let your hair grow. Average hair growth is half an inch a month.

    - Maintain your color with regular visits to your stylist as well as a deep conditioning treatment with processed hair.

  • Begin a monthly facial and massage.

Three Months Before Wedding

  • Continue the facials and massages.
  • Start tanning if you want that glowing look for your day, either real or at a salon.

Two Months Before Wedding

  • Start an “in home” teeth whitening regiment.
  • Get your hair and makeup trials done. These should be done 4-6 weeks before you actual day.
  • Begin manicures and pedicures.
  • Shape your eyebrows.
  • Continue with the facials and massages.

Two Weeks Before Wedding

  • Maintain the brow shaping
  • Go to your stylist and get your last cut and color.
  • Continue with the manicures, pedicures and massages but receive your last facial.
  • Try a body wrap or scrub to soften skin before the wedding.

One Week Before Wedding

  • Get your last massage before wedding.
  • Go in for a bikini wax for the honeymoon.
  • Deep condition your hair for extra shine and bounce.

Day Before Wedding

  • Go for your last manicure and pedicure.

Wedding Day

After a well rested night, sit back to get your hair and makeup done with your bridal party and relax. This is your day!

The Proposal

May 18th, 2009 . Posted in Announcements, General info. | No Comments »
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A marriage proposal is a special event in a couple’s relationship. It’s one you both will remember fondly and even tell your friends, family, and children about for years to come. So what’s the best way to proceed? Here are some pointers on creating a proposal that’s sure to get a positive response.

Getting the Ring

If a marriage proposal is to be taken seriously, it’s best if there is something to signify the event. A ring makes the moment real. You can go ring shopping together and choose something you are both happy with in terms of style and price. However, if you want the proposal to be a surprise, you should get to know your fiancé’s tastes so you can choose something she will like. Sometimes friends can be enormously helpful when it comes to finding out about your fiancé’s likes and dislikes. In any event, don’t be upset if after the proposal your fiancé wants to exchange the ring for something more suited to her tastes. Remember that she’ll be wearing the ring for many years to come, so make sure she’s happy with it. If you are stumped as to the type of ring to get but still want your proposal to be a surprise, give her something to signify the event anyways, like a piece of string, a prize from a candy machine, or a simple piece of costume jewelry. That way you’ll still have something to slip on her hand when you ask the question, but she can be free to buy a ring of her choosing afterwards.

Take it Seriously

The best proposals are the ones that mean something. Don’t “try out” a half-hearted attempt because you feel your beloved might say no. Don’t ask the question when you’ve been drinking or as part of “pillow talk” either. When it comes to a real proposal, the only way to do it is to look in your fiancé’s eyes and utter a heartfelt and serious desire for her hand in marriage.

Proceed With Care

Proposals that come at professional sporting events, amusement parks, concerts, or the like are fine if both of you are into these types of events. Asking your beloved to marry you while at a baseball game, for example, can be a wonderful memory you both will relive each and every time you go to a game. However, if you aren’t really into these types of things, a proposal staged at such an event might seem a bit over the top, and only serve to overwhelm your intended. Choose a quiet, romantic location that will allow you the privacy and time to adjust to such a momentous event in both your lives.

What to Say

You don’t have to be clever, witty, or quote Shakespeare in your proposal attempt. Being too coy or mysterious might confuse your beloved and frustrate you both in the process. The best bet is to speak from your heart. So give some thought as to the reasons you are in love with her and why you want to spend the rest of your life with her. Being specific can make the proposal all the more personal and special. A few heartfelt words to preface the question “Will you marry me?” will be appreciated and remembered.

After the Proposal

If your partner doesn’t immediately respond with a resounding “yes!” when you pop the question, don’t become disheartened. After all, it may come as a complete surprise to her. She may need a moment (or even a few days) to process the information. Chances are, however, that she’ll immediately respond in the positive. Which means you should celebrate! Call your family and friends and let them know the happy news.

What about the kids?

April 28th, 2009 . Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
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An alternative idea to having the “younger” guests at your wedding running around and causing unneeded stress would be an activity table with activities, romping room or even a professional party sitter’s service. An innovative idea that has been used more and more in the wedding industry is a “nanny” or nannies” for the reception. Ask local babysitters or professional day care specialists to tend to the children for the four to five hour reception so that parents and other guests can relax and enjoy your celebration. Seek out an area close to the festivities and supply age appropriate toys, games and movies to keep your child guests occupied and entertained. Children will be children so why not give them a party of their very own?

The Sand Ceremony

April 14th, 2009 . Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
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If the unity candle doesn’t quite fit with your wedding or is impractical such as in the case of an outdoor or beach wedding, try a sand ceremony instead. Using sand, the bride and groom alternately pour separate vials of colored sand into a common vessel, symbolizing their unity in a non-traditional but meaningful way. The different colored sand signifies their individual identities being forever joined together. You can find colored sand at your nearby arts and crafts store or use sand from your favorite vacation spot and get colored chalk to rub on the sand to tint the sand different colors.

The Out of Town Wedding Guest

April 8th, 2009 . Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
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In years past it was common to have family and friends living within a few miles of your own home. However with today’s transient life style, it is not uncommon for loved ones to be scattered through out the globe. This will require many of the guests on your invitation list to arrange travel and have need for overnight accommodations while attending your event. Preparing for this in advance will help ensure that everyone feels appreciated for their attendance and enjoys your special day.

Where should your guest stay?
Hotels are the best and least stressful way to accommodate the overnight guest. The amenities provided by these professionals will remove any anxiety or added stress of “house guests” from wedding party members. Securing the hotel location and price in advance is always a good idea. Providing your guest a place for privacy, personal space, relaxation and keeping budgets in mind,  will not only benefit you, but will be greatly appreciated by your invitee.

Things to consider when selecting a hotel

  • Guest Room Rate: Whether you are personally providing the hotel accommodations or the guest will pay for their own, keeping budgets in mind when securing a hotel will benefit everyone. Generally hotels will provide a rate discount for groups of 10 or more guest rooms per night. Each hotel has specific guidelines for reserving or holding a “block of sleeping rooms”. It is important to be clear on these requirements before securing the rooms agreement. If your quests are paying for their own accommodations and you are expecting thirty or more guest rooms per night, you may want to consider two or more hotels so that your invitees will have a choice on price.
  • Location: Consider the travel plans of your guests when selecting a hotel location. Will your invitees drive in, fly in or travel by rail? Convenience of hotel location and accessibility to the wedding venue seem to be high priorities on a traveler’s wish list. As well, access to area shopping, eateries, car rental or transportation providers are key to their stay be a success.
  • Amenities: The average guest wedding stay is one or two nights. In this situation a hotel that can provide standard, spacious rooms with the choice for single and multiple room occupancy is best.  Diverse room style options allow your guest to select the room that best fits their individual need. For the multi-day wedding event, a hotel that specializes in extended stay accommodations may be a better fit. These hotels generally offer larger rooms, kitchen or kitchenettes, and several room styles to select from.

Hotels that provide guest with opportunities for gathering, relaxing and helpful staff are added perks. Wedding guests look forward to “catching up’ with friends and family during this special time. Choose hotels that have ample locations for group conversations, places to eat, recreational activities and hotel personnel that will be able to assist your guests with their questions and area information.

How can you make your Out of Town Guest feel appreciated and thanked for coming?
Nothing makes for a long, tiresome day like travel. Whether the person travels alone or with a group, cramped transportation quarters, schedule delays, fast food or lack of, and unpredictable events can make for cranky travelers. A pleasant surprise awaiting your guest at the hotel is the perfect way to ease their tension and let them know how greatly they are appreciated and welcomed.  Most hotels will gladly deliver the surprise to your guest upon arrival. Make arrangements with the hotel Front Desk team for this service.

Things to consider for guest pleasant surprises

  • VIP Gift: Small, personal gifts placed in a basket or gift bag with a note says “you are special” to any receiver. VIP Gift ideas are as diverse as your guests. Ideas may include a favorite beverage with snacks, milk and cookies, candy,  table games and books.  Maybe you prefer local area items as in food, clothing, and post cards, just about anything as a souvenir of their stay. They key is to fit the gift to the guest.
  • Get Around Town Pack: Information on area hot spots are a sure win for travelers.  Provide your guests a local information folder containing a map with directions to and from the wedding event locations, complete with the venue addresses.  Compile a list of area shopping centers, same day dry cleaners, restaurants, area attractions and local site seeing venues. It is best to provide information on events and activities for your guests to do before and after the wedding day to fill in their calendar while visiting.

Providing your out of town guests with information on hotel accommodations, attractions and services in the area, directions to special events and a quick note of welcome will ensure that your friends and family know how special they are to you and how very much you appreciate them coming to share the in the joy of your wedding day.

Contributed by:
LaDonna Dunigan Conner
Marriott San Antonio Airport / Medical Center
Office: 210-200-2155

Stretch Your Wedding Budget by Renting

April 6th, 2009 . Posted in Event Ideas, rentals | No Comments »
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Engaged couples long for a wedding day that will be unique and memorable, but in these tough economic times many are becoming more cautious about how they plan and spend their budget.

According to The Wedding Report, a research company that tracks wedding spending in the United States, the average cost of a wedding in 2008 was $21,814. That is a 24 percent decline over the 2007 average of $28,704. This decline doesn’t mean you can’t have exactly what you want on your big day to create your dream wedding.

“You can rent almost anything you need to make your wedding match your vision,” says Christine Wehrman, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American Rental Association (ARA), the global trade association for the rental industry. “By renting items for your wedding, you have access to products that may have otherwise been too expensive in large quantities. You can get exactly what you want at a price that meets your budget.”

Choose linens that match your wedding colors, or go for classic white to offset the color of your centerpieces. Linens can be rented in a variety of colors and textiles, and add a touch of elegance to every space. Create drama without adding cost by creating a monochromatic design for your table.

Centerpieces can be elegant or casual, depending on your style. Mix tall and short clear vases to add depth to your table and save money on large floral arrangements. Or choose a variety of candleholders to create a vintage-inspired look and a romantic, low-light atmosphere.

Planning an outdoor wedding? Tents can transform any setting into striking surroundings for your big day. ARA member rental businesses have a variety of tents to create the venue, as well as everything you need to make it beautiful and comfortable.

Large tents and elegant canopies come in a variety of colors and styles. Many come with cathedral ceilings, windows or even clear tops — allowing guests to catch a glimpse of a dramatic sunset or a sparkling night sky.

Many ARA member rental stores offer personalized service through their Certified Event Rental Professionals (CERPs) who are specially trained to help you choose the right rentals to make your dream wedding come to fruition. Most offer on-site support the day of your wedding, and that’s a day you’ll be looking for all the support you can get!

You can also rely on the expertise of your ARA member rental store professionals before you book your venue. They can help you assess the potential site for things like power accessibility, ground water issues or overhead power lines that may interfere with your vision of a tall tent, among other situations.

The wonderful experience and memories of your wedding day will be yours to own forever. And everything else? Well, that you can rent! To find your local wedding rental companies, click here for San Antonio and here for Austin.

Centerpieces Good Enough to Eat

April 3rd, 2009 . Posted in Event Ideas | No Comments »
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Traditionally, brides pick candle or floral centerpieces with which to decorate the tables with but why not go inventive and creative. For a centerpiece that will wow your guests not only with eye-catching colors and shapes but with a sweet and scrumptious smell as well, try desserts. Different flavors and styles of mini cakes in the center of the table will put a unique and tantalizing spin to your wedding décor. Alternate with cupcake trees to give height and variety or try chocolate dipped goodies in 3-4 tiered stands. Your guests will be delighted when discovering the variety of flavors and delicious options they have to choose from. Remember to be creative, set your own rules and just have fun.

Maid of Honor? Be Prepared…

April 2nd, 2009 . Posted in wedding party | No Comments »
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The role of the maid of honor can turn into a dress rehearsal for the day when it is your turn to be the bride. The bride’s maid of honor typically has a very close personal relationship with the bride and often serves as confidant and advisor on a variety of issues. Preparations can include selecting wedding colors; choosing the bridesmaid dresses, the caterer and flowers;  identifying a location for the wedding and the reception; and hosting a bridal shower.

This position of honor can be loaded with a lot of work and responsibility as well as a lot of fun. Typical maid-of-honor duties often include shopping with the bride, arranging transportation for the bridal party, communicating plans and responsibilities to the bridal party, selecting and sending out wedding invitations, ensuring the bridal party gets to rehearsals on time, helping during the rehearsal dinner and other events and making sure the reception runs smoothly.

“Deciding to marry is a big step and preparing for a wedding is an extremely stressful process,” says Dr. Douglas Whiteside, director of the Argosy University Seattle Psychology Center. “The bride needs reliable and trusted people around her to help make decisions and transact business. Therefore, the role of the maid of honor is critical in helping the bride cope with the demands of planning a wedding and preparing for a new life.”

She also has official duties such as signing the marriage license along with the best man and participating in the first dance with the best man, holding the groom’s ring during the ceremony, holding the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony and toasting the newlyweds during the reception. Then there are the tender tasks of helping to prepare the bride just before her grand march down the aisle by fixing her hair, adjusting the veil and wiping tears to avoid smudging makeup, along with the tedious task of helping to keep track of the wedding gifts and money cards.

Lest we forget, the toughest task for the maid of honor is the unofficial duty of keeping the bride calm, being a sounding board for the bride and offering thoughtful opinions when major decisions are being made. There is also the responsibility of keeping the bride calm the day of the wedding when nerves and anxiety will be at their peak. Screaming at the caterer, banquet hall attendant or church clerk over a forgotten detail can raise the stress level of the bride and those around her prior to the wedding. This can take the mood of this festive occasion in a wrong direction.

Assisting the bride through this delicate and stressful process also means looking out for her emotional well-being. The maid of honor often tells jokes to make the bride laugh and help reduce her stress level, and makes sure the bride eats healthy meals to keep her nourished and balanced. On top of all that, the best maid of honor must be a good listener in order to provide the necessary emotional support the bride needs leading up to and the day of the wedding, as she prepares for the start of her new life.

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