Tips for a Perfect Wedding Day

Planning a wedding can be intricate and overwhelming, whether it be for a loved one, or for you. The selected tips in this article can help you shed new light on options you may have not thought of, and help you to organize the perfect wedding.
Understand that religious faith will influence both what your wedding looks like and your relationship going forward. It may help to discuss this with your families so that they understand how you plan on handling dual faiths in your marriage.
When wedding planning, think about what alcohol you want to serve, how you want to serve it, and try to be cost efficient. Just letting people drink all they want can really add up, especially if the reception lasts a long time. The venue representative will be able to advise you of the various alcohol service options available.
When you decide who you want to give the speeches during the reception, ask them to read them to you so you know they are appropriate. If there are going to be different generations there, you don’t want to offend anyone.
The photos taken during your wedding are important as you’ll look at these a lot of times during your lifetime. It pays to spend the extra cash to hire a wedding photographer in order to reduce the chance of some amateur screwing up your wedding photos.
The most important part of marriage is the person you plan on marrying. Do not make a hasty decision. See your partner as she really is–the good and the bad. Think not only about the reasons you love her, but all her bad habits and quirks that might irritate you after months or years together.
Your vows are very important for a very momentous occasion so make sure you take time to write them to perfection. It’s important to understand that a marriage is a strong commitment that takes both of you making sacrifices. Of course, the most important thing for vows to convey is your love for your partner.
For any stylish and fashion forward bride, there is always the option to add some flare to a bouquet with a splash of diamonds, rhinestones or Swarovski crystals. This is easy to do at home; you can just use some heat-fixed crystals or adhesives, some costume jewelry or even attach a heirloom piece. To ensure that it coordinates with the rest of your ensemble, be consistent in terms of sparkling colors, cut, and size of the stones.
Midday is your best bet for planning a wedding reception. People drink less during this time and you will not spend as much on alcohol. By having a lunch reception, the costs for food will also normally be less expensive. This could allow you to put the money saved towards other services required for your wedding.
Now that you know the fundamentals of wedding planning, you can apply the ideas presented here to manifest a personalized experience. Applying these tips can make your wedding planning hassle free, and give your guests, and yourself, an experience you will treasure forever.

July 4th Wedding Weekend Must Do’s

With the Fourth of July  here, and all the barbecues  beach days, and relaxing activities, weddings are also here. Yep, many couples will choose a long weekend to celebrate their love with close friends and family. Why not? I am a total fan of long weekends and weddings. It is the perfect way to spend time with the ones you love for more than just one day. When the wedding day comes, it is hard to spend that quality time with each and every guest. So why not extend the celebrations into a few more days? I think that the fourth of July weekend is one of those weekends where you can totally do this! Here are some ideas of how you can celebrate with your guests at two of my favorite Southern Orange County spots!

  • Dana Point Harbor: A quaint beach town in the lovely city of Dana Point, California. Besides its gorgeous views and beach-side living, this town offers so many fun filled activities for you and your guests. You can go  kayaking,  stand up paddle boarding,  and jet skiing. Want to go Whale-watching? Sure, you can do this too!  What is great is that if any of your guests have children, this is a perfect location for them. There is a small beach called “baby beach” which has shallow water, no waves,  soft sands, and plenty of room to make sand castles! So, your guests who are parents can really enjoy a day at the beach without the worry about waves and a huge crowd. Kids love this place! You can also enjoy seafood at many of the restaurants on the harbor, or if you are feeling like a treat, then there is a famous ice cream place too. Kids will love this as well.  If you are not feeling like going to a restaurant  then you can have a barbecue with your guests. The harbor has some great spots with a grill, and covered picnic tables. The parking is free and the view? Well, the view is amazing. Imagine barbecuing, playing ball, games, or just relaxing…all on the gorgeous waters. It is incredible. So, if you are having a wedding on a long weekend like the 4th of July, then consider Dana Point Harbor. You and your guests will have a great time!

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  • Laguna Beach: Ah, Laguna Beach, California. I may have mentioned this spot a few times before, but I really love this town. Not only does it offer spectacular ocean views from about anywhere you are, it has some of the finest eateries. Whatever your palate desires, there is a restaurant for you and your guests. Want an ocean-view seat? No problem, there are several fantastic places with perfect views of the ocean. Enjoy sunset views with dinner with your guests. Laguna Beach of course has a main beach area where you can play basketball, walk the boardwalk, get some rays, swim, or just relax in the sun. I can go on and on about this amazing spot, but I want to bring your attention to a exclusive and private spot. If you are having your wedding celebrations on a long weekend and want to avoid the large crowds, then I have the perfect place for you. Hotel Laguna is located right in the heart of Laguna Beach. If you stay at this hotel, you have access to the a private beach which comes fully equipped with chairs, lounge chairs, towels, and a server. You do not have to worry about getting to the beach early to hold your spot. It is a fabulous hotel and great service.  Treat yourself and your guests to an amazing weekend in Laguna Beach, California. If you are looking for fine foods, gorgeous ocean views, beach side fun, or a relaxing time, then this is the place for you.

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The private beach area of Hotel Laguna

 

Happy 4th of July!!

All photos are property of Bridal Hot List.

TLC’s Four Weddings Episode Recap: June 20th

Friday is here! Fridays are the best right? I mean, I love them. Not only does it mean I get to start my weekend, but I get to provide you a recap of one of my favorite wedding shows on TLC. Yep, its a good day for sure! Did you tune into last night’s episode of  “Four Weddings” on TLC?  What are your thoughts of the four brides and their weddings? What details stood out for you? Was there one bride which had a total “wow” wedding day? If you missed it, we have a recap of the episode right here:

 

Who are the Brides?: TLC

  • Christian is ready to walk down the aisle at a grand cathedral where her ceremony takes place. Inside the cathedral there are high ceiling, stunning details, and a large aisle. The ceremony had little decor, however the bridesmaids wore lavender colored short dresses, each holding a small bouquet.  After a traditional ceremony, the bride and her groom together with their guests light up paper lanterns and release them into the sky. Following, guests go to a night club where the reception takes place. Inside there are many candles, stunning chandeliers, and white flowers. The cake is a three tier white cake with a masquerade mask with feathers as the cake topper  Guests join the bride on the dance-floor as her groom throws dollar bills from above into the crowd. Guests enjoy this unique money dance.TLC
  • Ashley a bride who has planned her wedding since she was a young teenager and is now ready to marry the love of her life.  The day begins outside on the green lawn of the plantation venue.  The alter is rustic with a chandelier hanging in the middle.  Ashley makes her grand entrance for the ceremony on a white horse and carriage. A very Fairytale entrance. After a heartfelt ceremony, the married couple release white doves, and then exit in the horse drawn carriage.  Inside the plantation venue, the reception begins. The space features blue up-lighting, vintage style decor, and tall floral centerpieces. A shout out for the guest bride, Christian for her birthday, and everyone was on the dance-floor having a good time.TLC
  • Courtney  has a love for nature and elegance. Her wedding takes place at a local zoo. First, the ceremony takes place at a church. The decoration consisted of pink and white flowers on the pews, and four grand floral arrangements at the front. After sealing the ceremony with a kiss, guests travel to the zoo for the reception. As guests enter, they are greeted by some of the animals such as an elephant, peacock, and flamingos. Inside the reception space, it is decorated with pink, white, and gold colors. The guest tables have a soft pink linen, gold chargers with pink napkins, gold candleholders, and a few small floral arrangements. The cake was a five tier white and gold cake with some intricate details. After a buffet dinner, the dessert table is set with array of desserts to choose from. At the end of the night there is a second line, and Courtney changes into a short white dress with silver beading on the top.TLC
  • Joy is ready to have a good time at her wedding.  Her wedding day is at a hotel and the ceremony inside. The ceremony space is all white with candles lining the aisle. After a jump over the broom, the couple is ready to party with their guests. The reception space features blue up-lighting, trees with hanging candles and peacock feathers.  After dinner, guests enjoy liquor filled cupcakes. The dance floor was high energy and everyone was packed on the dance floor. A second line joined in and the party continued.

A Hot Detail:  There was one detail from each wedding that stood out for me. I really loved Christian’s wedding gown. It was a lace with beading all throughout. This dress was made for her, and she looked gorgeous!  Okay, so this is a first, but I also loved Ashley’s wedding gown as well! Yep. What I absolutely loved about her gown was EVERYTHING! Her dress was a fitted satin mermaid trumpet style with feathers on the top. Totally stunning and simply beautiful. Perfect gown for this bride.    I actually loved the overall style and design at Courtney’s wedding. I loved the romantic feel of it all. All the details were simply gorgeous and elegant.   was a fitted A-line lace dress with a beautiful veil. It was perfect for her vintage style wedding.   What I thought was a “wow” factor at Joy’s wedding reception was the ice luge. The large ice luge had the signature drink flow right down into the guest’s glass. I thought this was super unique and fun for guests. A fun way to get your drink!

Who won?: Congrats to Courtney for winning!  She and her husband won an all expenses paid honeymoon to St. Martin.  I was not surprised at all about Courtney winning.  As soon as I saw her wedding, and all the gorgeous details, I knew she would win.  While I can not account for the food since I wasn’t actually there, all the other details – venue,  bride’s dress, and originality – were owned by Courtney’s wedding. I loved how it was so romantic and every single detail from the ceremony to the desserts, was absolutely lovely.  Those flowers and the gold and pinks, Swoon!  Every cent spent was worth it! Fantastic job Courtney!   So how did the other three brides score? Ashley came in second, Joy in third, and Christian in fourth. Were you surprised by the results?  Love to hear from you, so please share!

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TLC’s Four Weddings Sneak Peek: June 20th

It is Thursday and that means it is time for this week’s sneak peak of “Four Weddings” on TLC. Are you ready?   If you have never seen the show, let me tell you a little about it.  This show features four completely different brides who have never met, and attend each other’s weddings with one wedding being deemed “the winner” at the end. The brides rate the food, dress, venue, originality, and overall experience of each wedding, except for their own. At the end, all the scores of each bride are tallied, and the one with the highest score wins an all expenses paid honeymoon.

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On tonight’s episode the four brides are :  A bride who loves the New Orleans details, a bride who has a princess dream wedding, a high energy and fun loving bride, and a bride who has an elegant zoo wedding.  Each of these brides share their unique style and taste on their wedding day. Which bride will be your favorite? Which bride’s detail’s will you like the best? Which dress will stand out the most? What ceremony will be the most touching? Which bride do you think will win? What do I think? You will have to wait until Friday where I will provide a re-cap on this episode. All I can tell you know is that you do not want to miss this episode! Fire and partying like its 1999?  What? Well, you will have to tune in tonight and find out.

TLC’s Four Weddings airs Thursdays at 9/8c. So set your DVR’s, or watch it live tonight!

For more information on Four Weddings, check out the website: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/four-wedding