Friday Favorites

Here's the first edition of Friday Favorites in 2014! Enjoy!

Elegant Fairy Tale Reception Decor. (theknot.com)

This Romantic Georgia Wedding. (100layercake.com)

Hibiscus Bouquets. (stylemepretty.com)

Edible Wedding Favors. (weddingfavors.org)

This gown. (jessicalorren.com)

TGIF

xoxo

The Advantage of Having a Winter Wedding

Now that we're finally coming out of the deep freeze that was the Polar Vortex, the majority of us (particularly those of us living in the South who forgot 9 degrees could be a legitimate temperature) are swearing off all things cold and, well, wintery. But not so fast! Winter is far from over, but we've found some really advantageous aspects of this chilly season when it comes to wedding planning, so listen up!

Typically, there aren't as many weddings happening during the winter being that it isn't really "wedding season." This can really work in your favor for a number of reasons, the biggest being the lack of competition. Since less people are planning weddings, you'll be able to have your pick of both venues and vendors without worrying so much about them already being booked and you'll have a much better chance of actually having both your dream venue and photographer. This lack of competition also comes into play when you start to take your wallet into account as well. Since not as many people are booking vendors' services, you'll see much lower prices. This allows you to spring for even more luxurious details without breaking the bank. As for your guests, you're much more likely to gather everyone that you want to be there being as you aren't competing with summer vacations and a multitude of in-season weddings. 

We hope these hints give you a little help to appreciate the next few chilly months before spring sets upon us and our mailboxes begin to be filled with wedding invitations.

xo

6 New Years Resolutions for the Bride-to-Be

It's a New Year which usually results in an ample amount of new brides-to-be following the happy holiday season. While you're probably used to making a list of New Years resolutions each year, we've made a list of resolutions for you to keep this year if you are sporting a sparkly new engagement ring.

1. Make the guest list before you do anything else - While the guest list may be one of the most tedious parts of planning and may inevitably cause a fight or two, it's also one of the most important parts of planning. You can't book a venue until you know how many guests to expect, and you can't set a solid date until you've booked your venue. Booking a venue that can only accommodate 100 people and then realizing that you can't trim your list under 200 people is an easy blunder to avoid by making your guest list first.

2. Mind your manners - Nobody wants to be the next bridezilla to become Youtube famous. It'll haunt your forever, we promise.

3. Don't go overboard on the diet and exercise - Adopting a healthy lifestyle in order to look and feel your best on your big day is definitely encouraged, but don't plan on subsisting off of kale and the latest juice cleanse alone. You're going to be doing a lot of work and dealing with a lot of stress over the next few months. Don't make yourself miserable just because you're hungry. Schedule in an extra barre class  each week or take a long weekend walk instead of skipping lunch.

4. Continue to make your relationship with your fiance your priority - As a bride, it's easy to get caught up in planning the wedding, but don't forget to make time for the person you'll be marrying or treat him with anything less than the love and affection that made him want to marry your in the first place.

5. Vow not to use social media as your personal wedding journal - We know you're excited, in fact, everyone knows that you're excited--and you have every right to be! But don't flounder everyone else's excitement by bombarding your friends' social media feeds with everything that you're doing for every stage of wedding planning. Keep it slightly under wraps until the big day, everyone will be more than excited to see the final production if they haven't been watching it in the making for months.

6. Stick to your wedding budget - While saving money may be an age old New Years resolution, it may be more important now than ever. Don't start your life together in debt, be careful with how you're spending for the big day. There are plenty of ways to achieve the day of your dreams without spending every penny.

We hope that these resolutions will send you on your way to a happy year of wedding planning! Good luck!

xoxo