With the new year it’s time to welcome a new group of newly engaged couples who will begin their wedding journey.   Besides setting a date and a budget, many couples, especially if the wedding has a short planning period, want to get their engagement photos early in the process.  Generally, I suggest scheduling your engagement session at least six weeks prior to the date you want to mail your announcements.  And earlier than that if you are sending out Save the Date cards and want to personalize them.

A question that many couples have concerning their engagement photos is “What to wear?”  Engagement photos should reflect who you are and what you love.  So if you love casual jeans and a more relaxed look, go for it.  If you’re a fashionista, just be sure that both of you have outfits that match your level of dress.  Wear clothes that are complimentary.  Your personality and style will greatly influence your choice of clothing, but keep it simple.

Having talked to several photographers, here are a few other guidelines for you to keep in mind.

What’s Good:

• Wear solid colors with little or no pattern. Avoid prints and stripes as well.   If you both want to wear the same color, try different shades or varying hues.
• Dark colors are always slimming.  Many couples like blue jeans and black shirts.  And gals, a cute dress is always a good way to go.
• Keep in mind your body type.  Anything baggy will make you look bigger than you are.  And jersey material will cling to your body, and may reveal unflattering curves.  Also avoid tight fitting clothes that accentuate every curve of your body – unless that’s the look you are going for.
• The layered look is great for almost anyone.  Casual jackets, sweaters, etc. would be perfect.
• Gals can jazz up their outfits with cute heels, a terrific hat, or other accessories.
• And speaking of accessories, bring along fun signs, maybe other personal items like a guitar, or even your dog…if these items are part of who you are.  And you guys with a motorcycle, don’t be shy about getting a few photos with your bike.

The engagement period can be one of the happiest and most romantic time of your life, and your photos should reflect that casual, crazy, fun-loving attitude.

On our next post, we will give you a list of favorite St. Louis locations for your photos.  And don’t forget about purchasing your tickets for our next Bridal Show “My Dream Wedding” another great St. Louis Bridal Show at The Christy Banquet Center in O’Fallon, MO on Feb. 28, 2021.  Tickets and details at BrideStLouis.com.

 

Congratulations to all your newly engaged brides-to-be.  We thought this would be an excellent time to share with you some tips on how to care for that newly acquire ring.  Wedding rings will last a lifetime, and maybe longer if you pass it down to future generations, so extend the shine and sparkle and keep your stones safely in their settings.

1. Clean your wedding jewelry at home with warm water and a baby soft tooth brush. Stay away from sinks and drains.  Lotions, powders, soaps – even the natural oils from you skin will create a film and reduce their brilliance.   You can use a small bowl of warm suds containing a mild household liquid detergent, but don’t use any cleaners containing chlorine.  Be sure to rinse and avoid touching the diamond with your fingers.  There are also ultrasonic cleaners available that you may purchase, and there are some liquid jewelry cleaners that you can buy as well.
2. Store your rings in a separate soft compartment, fabric lined case or box with dividers to avoid scratches. Be careful when using ring holders or jewelry dishes as these tend to stack rings on top of each other which can cause damage.
3. Don’t remove your ring in public. Hand washing with COVID-19 is recommended, but resist the temptation to remove your engagement ring.  It’s very easy to leave your ring on the ledge of the sink or worse, drop id down the drain!
4. Avoid wearing your diamonds while doing housework, yard work or other kind of rough work. Even though a diamond is extremely durable, a hard blow could chip it.
5. Insure them! Get comprehensive coverage against loss, theft, damage and mysterious disappearance.
6. Once a year take your engagement ring and wedding bands to a jeweler for inspection and cleaning. They will check for loose settings, any worn prongs and other potential problems.  However, if you see a loose stone or prong between your annual checkup, immediately take your piece to the jeweler.  Your jeweler can also professionally clean your ring at the same time.  If you have a 14K white gold setting, it can look a little worn with time and wear, but your jeweler can rhodium plate it to bring back its shine.

 

 

Congratulations on your engagement!  This is such an exciting time in your life.   So – just how do you start to plan a wedding?  Where do you start?

 

First – Celebrate the Engagement!

Take a moment to relax and truly enjoy the feeling of being engaged.  It’s a moment worth celebrating and you deserve to relish every minute of it.

 

Make Announcements

Tell your family and closest loved ones first.  They should learn about the good news before you post on social media.

 

Insure Your Ring

This is really important.  If something should happen to your ring, this insurance will give you some peace of mind and save you from a budget busting situation.

Throw an Engagement Party

This doesn’t have to be something big – just a few of your closest friends.  After all, we are still limited due to the pandemic.

 

Start choosing a time frame for your wedding.

You will be asked over and over, “When’s the wedding?”   Give yourself enough time to plan the details and not stress over limited time to make decisions.  Check out our 2021 Wedding Date Guideline HERE.

 

Discuss with your future spouse – the kind of wedding you prefer.

Do you want an outdoor wedding, a destination wedding, something small and intimate?  What’s your style – casual or formal?  Do you want to dance the night away with a big band in a grand ballroom.  Bear in mind, you might each have different ideas.  Wedding planning is a good time for couples to really see how well they work together.  If your ideas are different – can you agree on something both of you will love?

 

BUY Tickets now for our Premier Wedding Expo on January 9^th and January 10^th.  Sign up for some of the seminars.  I recommend Wedding Planning 101 if you are totally new to being a bride – this seminar will guide you through the entire process.  (If you don’t attend this seminar, sign up online for our FREE E-BOOK on Wedding Planning available at our home page on our website, BrideSTLouis.com.)

 

Create a Timeline and a Schedule.     The Venue should be selected first, as it sets the date and tone of the entire wedding.  From there create a schedule of activities leading up to your wedding date, spreading out tasks in manageable segments.

 

And One More Idea: Snap Photos.

Keep photos on your smart phone – dresses you like, flowers, and any other details that inspire you.

 

Planning a wedding is easy if you stick to your plan and your schedule.   Have a fantastic wedding!

2021 Wedding Trends Mg

 

As the Holidays approach, many of you may be anticipating the joy of being engaged.   It’s an excitement like no other, but it can also be overwhelming, thinking about how to plan the wedding of your dreams.

One of the first questions you will be asked is, “Have you set a date?”  The date you choose is key to your entire event.  If you are on a tight budget there are some dates you will want to avoid and if you choose a date around a Holiday, you might find your favorite vendor already booked.  To save money, go for a Friday or Sunday wedding as many vendors will offer a reduced price on those days.   We also listed the 3-day weekends – these are great for guests who need to travel.   In our area, October is a very busy wedding month.  If fact, it ranks up with June as one of the most popular wedding months.

PLANNING THOSE 2021 WEDDINGS – DATES TO CONSIDER

January 1^st – It’s a Friday this year.  (Some of you might want to opt for a 12/31/20 end of year wedding.  And besides it will save money on taxes if you file as “Married”).  Many companies will be celebrating a 4-day weekend, so this could be a great time to say those “vows” especially if you have out of town guests invited.

January 2^nd – As easy date to remember!  What I call a Novelty Date. 1-2-2121 (Saturday)

January 9^th & 10^th – Okay – it’s not a unique wedding date, but it is an important date to mark on your calendar.  It’s our HUGE, 2 DAY BRIDAL EXPO.  This is your opportunity to plan your entire wedding in one weekend.  Look for more information on our web site at BrideStLouis.com.  Buy your tickets early so you don’t miss out on some of the great, FREE, seminars that occur at this event.

January 18^th – It’s a Monday.  A 3-day weekend for many to celebrate Martin Luther King’s Day.

January 24^th – Our Second Bridal Show of the Year at The Christy Banquet Center in O’Fallon, MO.

February 7^th – Super Bowl – If your guy is a sports fan – forget about this date!

February 12^th – Lincoln’s Day is a State Holiday in Illinois.  It’s a Friday.  (Could be a 3 Day Weekend for some.)

February 14^th – Valentine’s Day (Sunday).  Florists will be super busy, and you might pay more for those red roses.

February 15^th – President’s Day (Monday)

February 16^th – Marti Gras (Tuesday)

February 17^th – Ash Wednesday (Catholics usually don’t marry in Lent.)

February 28^th – BrideStLouis’ Bridal Show at the Foundry Art Center in St. Charles

March 14^th – Daylight savings time begins.  (Longer Days)

March 17th – For You Irish Lads. (It’s a Wednesday. Wear those kilts!)

March 20th – First Day of Spring – Vernal equinox. (Saturday)

March 21^st – Another Novelty Date (Sunday)  3/21/2121

March 27^th to April 4^th – Passover

April 2^nd – Good Friday

April 4^th – Easter Sunday.  Most couples avoid that date.  Many churches will not perform weddings the Saturday before Easter – April 3^rd)

April 11^th – Bride St. Louis’s Bridal Show at Moolah Shrine.

May 9^th – Mother’s Day.  (Be sure to check with your Mom’s about that weekend.)

May 28-29-30-31 – Big Wedding Weekend – Memorial Day Weekend.  If you are thinking about one of those dates, you need to get your contracts signed NOW.  Photographers and favorite venues may already be booked.  Vendors know that they can book these dates – so don’t look for price deals.

June 20^th – Father’s Day.

July 3-4-5 – (Saturday, Sunday, Monday) This could be a busy time for many places so get your reservations in early.  If you have folks who need to travel this could be an ideal time for them to come.  It’s generally HOT so consider an indoor wedding.

(July and August can be very hot in St. Louis.  It is best to plan for an “indoor” ceremony/venue.)

August 15^th – Bride St. Louis Bridal Show at Water’s Edge Banquet Center in St. Peters.

September 4-5-6  – Labor Day Weekend.  Book quickly if you want this date.  Good again for those with out-of-town guests.

September 6 – 8  – Rosh Hashana Begins (Monday-Wednesday)

September & October Weekends

Extremely popular in the St. Louis area.

Great time for those Wine Vineyard Weddings.

Ties with June as the most popular month.  Book EARLY for weekends in these months.

October 9-10-11 – Columbus Day Weekend.  Another good long weekend.

October 31^st  – Sunday.  Halloween.

Nov. 7th – Daylight Savings Ends

November 11^th – Veterans Day  (Thursday)

Many in the military choose this day.

November 21^st – Novelty Date Again (Sunday) 11-21-2121 (All 1s and 2s)

November 25-26-27-28 – Thanksgiving Weekend. These dates book fast.

November 28 – December 6 – Hanukkah

December 25th – Christmas (Saturday)

December 31^st – January 1^st, 2022 – End the year married!  (Friday & Saturday)

 

Also, be mindful of religious and cultural holidays (Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Yom Kippur, Christmas, and Kwanzaa) when planning your wedding.  There may be restrictions at your house of worship.

And if your family is deeply involved in sports – avoid weekends with the Super Bowl, Final Four March Madness, and perhaps some local college games as well.

And finally, for number “13” fans – you have (on weekends):  February 13^th (Saturday), March 13^th (Saturday), June 13^th (Sunday), August 13^th (Friday), and November 13^th (Saturday).   This is for Friday, Saturday or Sunday events as noted.

With many brides opting to have fewer guests at their wedding, the question often arises as to how to cut your wedding guest list without stirring up any tension.  You and your future spouse probably know a lot more people combined than you realize.  So – here are a few tips on how to cut your list to a reasonable and affordable number without drama or hurt feelings.

1. Rule #1 – If you haven’t spoken to a relative in years, don’t feel obligated to invited them to your wedding. It’s not a family reunion.
2. Do you have friends that you’ve grown apart from or no longer speak to frequently – that’s an easy cut.
3. Your work connections could be huge, so only those who are truly good friends should be invited.
4. Make your wedding an ADULTS ONLY event. Give couples with kids ample notice to arrange for alternative care for the night.  Those couples might really enjoy a kid-free night.
5. Remove Plus Ones you’ve never met. If you’ve never met the person, why buy them a dinner?

A wedding is a celebration for you and the person you’re marrying – and should be shared with those closest to you.