Let them eat cake

One question that almost every bride asks me is will we have enough cake for everyone to have a piece? We sent out 500 invitations but the cake we ordered only serves 250 people. The recommended servings is usually a full wedge of cake, which is a much bigger piece than what most reception centers serve. Less than half of your invited people will show, and less than half of the ones that show will eat cake. Now there are exceptions to every rule. Are you only serving cake? Then you better get a couple of extra sheet cakes, because people will eat more than one piece. If there is other food being served, chances are you do not need more cake. If the bride and her mom are nervous about the quantity of cake that they have to serve their guests, then by all means order more for the sake of the family being worried. What do you guys think? Should you order more cake and take the leftovers home?

Getting in Shape...

So, I have been wanting/trying/ignoring to get in shape for a while now.... oh, since about the time I graduated high school I would say (hmmm.... almost 9 years now... eeeekkkkk). I have never eaten that healthy, and my weight has fluctuated up and down for as long as I can remember. So anyway, this semester (yes, I am one of those OLD students!) I needed one credit hour to make up my full-time hours, so I took an independent study fitness class. I am required to do two one-hour workouts per week, which many fitness people would just laugh at, as it is nothing near what they do each week. But, for me it was a big commitment, but I must say so far I am doing "fairly" well, I have dropped a little weight and do feel better (now I just need to work on the eating better part!) So anyway, for those brides out there that are looking to lose a little weight before the wedding, I found a few site's which may be helpful to meet your goals.

Brides.com has the "Vow to Wow" program, which you can enter a one, three, or six month program to either maintain or lose weight.

Self.com has the "Self Challenge" program, which allows you to set goals and keep track of your progress.

These two programs as well as many others out there, will send you weekly updates, help you with meal planning, and track your progress... What have you tried, and what has/hasn't worked?

Trash Your Dress!!!

Go ahead, you know you want to. Trash it. Get it dirty. Get it wet. Roll around in the mud. Drench it in the ocean. Totally trash it.

Why? … Why not? You’ve made a commitment to your husband. He’s your one and only true love, right? Then you’ll never need the dress again. And no, your daughter won’t wear it in 20-30 years. So you have two choices:

1) Suffocate it in plastic and throw it in a closet
2) Show your husband how committed you are by trashing the dress, and get some great fun pictures while you do it!


For those who haven't seen a trash the dress session, visit this site: Trash The Dress

I recently completed a couple of sessions and they are a blast. As a photographer, we can all agree how frustrating it is when a bride is so paranoid and worried about getting her dress dirty. It really restricts us in creating the best absolute photos when you are always standing on a sheet.

If you are worried about getting your dress dirty before your wedding, you can always do a trash the dress session after the wedding is over. Almost all local photographers would be more than happy to do this type of a shoot. Ask your wedding photographer about doing a trash the dress session and you won't regret it.

Dustin Izatt
Digital Izatt Photography

March Newsletter Is Out!

Check out this months newsletter!
It includes info on our new brides,
a coupon for $100 off a local Reception Center,
and a chance to win FREE Wedding Photography!

View the newsletter by clicking the image
below or by clicking HERE.

Choosing a date

Just like alot of other brides I too have changed my date several times. My reasons were because of my family. Trying to make everyone happy has been very difficult for me. I finally just set my date and decided that if they love us they will make it to our wedding if not they probably would not have come even if I changed my date for them. I think the best thing to do is make it good for you and your fiance and the rest will fall into place.

Won't let you leave

Many of the receptions these days are celebrations. No receiving lines, just mingle, dance, and eat. One problem that alot of the couples are running into is not being able to leave. Their families are enjoying themselves so much they will not let them leave for their honeymoon nite. OK, here is the tip! HIRE A LIMO. Alot of the reception centers already have a limo included in your package, if not for around $100 you have a sure fire way out. If your limo has arrived at the reception site and you are paying by the hour, you have to leave or else be penalized. What a great exit , fun pictures, and saves your car from being decorated.

Saving on Flowers...

This months issue of Brides Magazine has some great tips on saving money on your wedding day flowers. A few I thought were worth mentioning:

• "Go with simple, low centerpieces" - If you are doing floral centerpieces, consider using lower centerpieces as they use less flowers and are in turn less expensive.
• "Indulge on your bouquet" - Your bouquet will be in almost every picture, make sure you love it!
• "Steer clear of the holidays" - Very true, flowers are always more expensive during holidays such as Valentine's and Christmas. So, if you can plan for an April wedding instead of February, you may save some $$.
• "Use rose petals instead of the entire blossom" - You can usually get 200 petals from 15 roses, this is a perfect option for dressing up your tables.
  

If anyone else has any tips, or great deals they've found, let us know!

Wedding Invitations

Hi, I am Natalie, the owner of Simple Expressions where I make customizable wedding invitations. Your wedding is a special day and you want it to be unique. Why not choose a invitation that is just that, unique. You can see some of my invitations at simpleexpressionsllc.com. Possibilities are endless when making that memorable invitation. If you order your invitations before April 15th, you will receive 10% off your order. Need a sample? Just contact me and I can get a sample mailed to you. Also, what colors are brides choosing for their weddings?

Changing Date....

Uuuuggghhhh! I think I need to change my wedding date!! I was planning on February, but due to school and work and everything, I think I need to move it to May. I hate to make it 3 months later, but I cannot imagine trying to get married in the middle of a semester! This is so frustrating, to think my wedding is more than a year away! But I guess I would rather have the time to plan and do things how I want rather than be stressed out and frustrated the whole time because of school! I guess its just good that I haven't booked a place or any other vendors yet. Has anyone else had to change their wedding date? I guess there are good and bad things to having a wedding so far away...

Emily :)

Another great cake lady

Do I have another great cake lady! Ambrosia Cakes is fantastic, Heather Berntsen is the owner. All of her cakes are made from scratch, and she has the most delicious flavors including amaretto, vanilla coconut, and a ganache filling just to mention a few. Go to her website ambrosiaweddingcakes.com and see some of her designs or call her and design your own.
You will love her!

Cake

So Mr. Stephanie and I are going to design a cake and we are very excited. I went to carriescakes and got some great ideas for cakes. Does anyone know any other good cake webites? Just so you know I like the different style of cakes. Also what are some good cake flavors to have? I was told i can pick any kind. I'm very picky so i know what the top tier will be, but i don't know what the other tiers should be. What flavors do people like to eat? Let me know.

Thanks :)

Welcome Three Winks Studio!

I just wanted to write a quick note to welcome Stacy, owner of Three Winks Studio to the Bridal Solution. Stacy is a wedding and portrait photographer that received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from BYU, and we are super excited to have her be a part of our site. If you want a photographer with amazing energy and passion for what she does, you will definitely want to check out her site. Stay tuned for tips and ideas from Stacy to help you plan your wedding!

Bridesmaids Dresses

Hi everyone, just wanted to touch base with you to let you know that I found my bridesmaids dresses. Alfred Angelo has beautiful dresses to choose from and a great selection of colors. I chose a black dress with pretty beadwork on the front (see picture). The only thing is I worry that my bridesmaids will be cold. I have not ordered them yet because I might change my mind, but one thing I know is that I won't change my mind about where to get them. I was worried that if I bought them local that I would never find all of the different sizes that I need for my girls. Now I need to search out flowergirl dresses, anyone with great ideas? Till next time, bye.