Post your BEST DW planning advice and tips for Newbies here!

[jenniferkuhr]

 

Man, I am three weeks away and I wish I started all this planning earlier!  Whew!  For all you Newbies, get started NOW!  

 

Here’s a few things I’ve learned from wedding planning so far:

 

1. Wedding colors are tricky.  I picked hard-to-find colors (coral and teal) and it seems everything comes in more basic colors like light blue, royal blue, navy, purple, pink, orange, green.  Just a thought to consider when choosing colors.
2. Dance lessons!!!  This has been the MOST fun of preparing to get married.  Expensive…but SO worth it! 
3. It IS possible to get an amazing but less expensive dress.  Keep searching.
4. There is a reason people go with traditional bridesmaid dresses…they are easy to match with the rest of the bridal party.  I went with just regular gowns from Nordstrom’s and had to find out the hard way NOTHING comes in that color (coral!!!)
5. DO NOT write anything about your registry on Save the Dates or Invitations….TACKY!  I thought this was a given (this advice is in every wedding book ever written…), but I’m finding tons of people are making this mistake and it just keeps rubbing me the wrong way, especially now that I'm in the wedding planning process myself.

 

Any other BDW ladies have some good advice to share?

[Sharon99]

Great advice, thanks!! Congrats!

I am still new with planning but my advice would be go with your gut when choosing a dress & don't stress if you haven't had the "moment" yet.

[JayKay]

Great advice!

 

I guess the best advice we received was that it is our wedding day and we need to do things we want, not what other people want! And never second guess your decision to have a DW!
 

Originally Posted by jenniferkuhr 

 

Man, I am three weeks away and I wish I started all this planning earlier!  Whew!  For all you Newbies, get started NOW!  

 

Here’s a few things I’ve learned from wedding planning so far:

 

1. Wedding colors are tricky.  I picked hard-to-find colors (coral and teal) and it seems everything comes in more basic colors like light blue, royal blue, navy, purple, pink, orange, green.  Just a thought to consider when choosing colors.
2. Dance lessons!!!  This has been the MOST fun of preparing to get married.  Expensive…but SO worth it! 
3. It IS possible to get an amazing but less expensive dress.  Keep searching.
4. There is a reason people go with traditional bridesmaid dresses…they are easy to match with the rest of the bridal party.  I went with just regular gowns from Nordstrom’s and had to find out the hard way NOTHING comes in that color (coral!!!)
5. DO NOT write anything about your registry on Save the Dates or Invitations….TACKY!  I thought this was a given (this advice is in every wedding book ever written…), but I’m finding tons of people are making this mistake and it just keeps rubbing me the wrong way, especially now that I'm in the wedding planning process myself.

 

Any other BDW ladies have some good advice to share?

 

[anichols8]

Good NOT agree more with JayKay!  I am already starting to feel the pressure.  I guess at some point you should remember to have fun.  Also, be prepared for a little lag time from some of the more popular resorts with regards to getting information from your WC; especially if you are planning during a busy month for them.  I have become frantic many times and in the after math am realizing that I should calm down a little bit; it's still hard to do so though.
 

Originally Posted by JayKay 

Great advice!

 

I guess the best advice we received was that it is our wedding day and we need to do things we want, not what other people want! And never second guess your decision to have a DW!
 

 

 

[bride3183]

Yes, I completely agree.  Don't get frustrated when people don't answer right away and slow down and enjoy it!
 

Originally Posted by anichols8 

Good NOT agree more with JayKay!  I am already starting to feel the pressure.  I guess at some point you should remember to have fun.  Also, be prepared for a little lag time from some of the more popular resorts with regards to getting information from your WC; especially if you are planning during a busy month for them.  I have become frantic many times and in the after math am realizing that I should calm down a little bit; it's still hard to do so though.
 

 

 

[greatbritain]

I have to disagree...Going with a non traditional bridesmaid dress is possible and can work! Similarly to finding the an amazing dress that isn't expensive, you just need to search!

Originally Posted by jenniferkuhr 

 

Man, I am three weeks away and I wish I started all this planning earlier!  Whew!  For all you Newbies, get started NOW!  

 

Here’s a few things I’ve learned from wedding planning so far:

 

1. Wedding colors are tricky.  I picked hard-to-find colors (coral and teal) and it seems everything comes in more basic colors like light blue, royal blue, navy, purple, pink, orange, green.  Just a thought to consider when choosing colors.
2. Dance lessons!!!  This has been the MOST fun of preparing to get married.  Expensive…but SO worth it! 
3. It IS possible to get an amazing but less expensive dress.  Keep searching.
4. There is a reason people go with traditional bridesmaid dresses…they are easy to match with the rest of the bridal party.  I went with just regular gowns from Nordstrom’s and had to find out the hard way NOTHING comes in that color (coral!!!)
5. DO NOT write anything about your registry on Save the Dates or Invitations….TACKY!  I thought this was a given (this advice is in every wedding book ever written…), but I’m finding tons of people are making this mistake and it just keeps rubbing me the wrong way, especially now that I'm in the wedding planning process myself.

 

Any other BDW ladies have some good advice to share?

 

[aquamaniac]

Keep the advice coming! I'm a newbie and could use all the help I can get!

[Amandalina]

Hi Ladies,

 

Congrats to all of you.  I am getting married November  17, 2011 at Dreams Palm Beach, Punta Cana.  After researching numerous DW sites, I have found some great cost effective tips.....

 

Centerpeices at the resort can be costly....I noticed one bride had brought her own vases and had her bridemaids put thier bouquets in them. It looked stunning and it's actually a great way to save!!

Table setting- use the "free white linen" that they give you and bring your own accents....they will try to charge you for just about anything and everything (I'm finding anyway)

Buy your chair sashes before you go and bring them down there  You can get them for 0.75 - $2.00 each....the resort will be much more expensive...

Boutinerre's are expensive too.......personally you can get the "real touch silk" ones made to your liking for like $6.00 ea. My resort wants to charge us $17.00 ea. 

 

I hope this helps some of you. If anyone has anymore tips please share....I could use as much information I can get.  I wish you all the best of luck!!

Amanda

 

[merrylee]

Enjoy every minute even the small ones.  Planning can be as fun or as stressful as you want it to be.  FI and I actually do all of our DIY projects as a team.  It helps make it feel more like a partnership.

[greatbritain]

Thank you so much for the suggestions, especially about the chair sashes!! I was thinking about doing the silk flowers, where did you order yours from?
 

Originally Posted by Amandalina 

Hi Ladies,

 

Congrats to all of you.  I am getting married November  17, 2011 at Dreams Palm Beach, Punta Cana.  After researching numerous DW sites, I have found some great cost effective tips.....

 

Centerpeices at the resort can be costly....I noticed one bride had brought her own vases and had her bridemaids put thier bouquets in them. It looked stunning and it's actually a great way to save!!

Table setting- use the "free white linen" that they give you and bring your own accents....they will try to charge you for just about anything and everything (I'm finding anyway)

Buy your chair sashes before you go and bring them down there  You can get them for 0.75 - $2.00 each....the resort will be much more expensive...

Boutinerre's are expensive too.......personally you can get the "real touch silk" ones made to your liking for like $6.00 ea. My resort wants to charge us $17.00 ea. 

 

I hope this helps some of you. If anyone has anymore tips please share....I could use as much information I can get.  I wish you all the best of luck!!

Amanda