Must for the Bride to Be

As plans ramp up and your focus is THE WEDDING at the expense of other aspects of your life, take the advice of many wedding planners and Practice Self Care. Do whatever you need to do to unwind, relax and sleep well. Take your vitamins, get healthy exercise and find emotional outlets for the stress you are under. Remember your groom. Do fun things together and plan together. This is not the time to get run down and “catch” the bug that is making the rounds. You need to be healthy and strong and resilient.


Get and stay organized. Start early and document every decision made around your special day. It doesn’t matter if you have high tech records or sheets of paper clipped together or in file folders or paper bags. Whatever system works for you- implement it early and keep it current.

Set a budget and stick to it. Early on the couple should sit down together and decide how much they can afford to spend on the wedding and where they feel it should be spent. Agree on priorities. Talk honestly with parents about their willingness and ability to contribute to the wedding. Look at the major expense items – reception costs, honeymoon, clothing, photographs, entertainment, and flowers. Working within those guidelines makes other decisions easier.



Remember to be grateful for all that you have and all that others are doing for you. You will get gifts, good wishes and offers of assistance. Remember to thank everyone for their offers. Weddings are joyous affairs and people want to be a part of a positive and exciting event that a marriage truly is.



Remember your plans and don’t be derailed. You’ve set your budget and made significant decisions. Don’t be tempted to play “one ups manship”. You’ll go to other weddings while planning yours and see lots of ideas. Some you’ll want to copy and others you won’t but before you do, remember your budget. This is your wedding – not a copy of your old college roommate’s big day. She had her event. You’ll have yours.



Let go of bridal guilt. No one can make everyone happy all the time. Worrying about it takes up far more time and energy than is deserved. Sometimes guilt is good. It can help us deal with the feelings of others. But most of the time, we are afraid we’ve let someone down. Do your best to be aware of the feelings of others and honor them when you can. But on the wedding day, you are there to please yourself and your groom as you begin your new life together.



For ideas or answers to your questions call Kristin Anderson at 708-268-7528 or email weddingsbykristin@yahoo.com

Gifts you give

There are many special people who help make your wedding day a success. It is a nice token to say thank you for their help or their presence. Brides come to us for advice on what to give to members of the bridal party, to families and to guests. We have plenty of ideas that we are happy to share with our brides. Here are some of our guest gift favorites.


• Some of the most popular wedding favors are edibles. Wrapped chocolates or truffles in an attractive box that is imprinted with the couple’s names and date are a big favorite. Also popular are chocolate covered pretzels, nuts, fruits as well as chocolate hearts. In many areas, couples choose to give cookies frosted in wedding colors and packaged in tulle or color matched gift boxes. Some brides have chosen to give small wine bottles with personalized labels with or without wine charms that bear the wedding date and/or names of the couple.

• Couples are also giving living items that bloom and grow like your marriage. Weddings with garden motifs, environmentally themed weddings and ceremonies in outdoor or rustic settings choose favors like potted plants, seedlings, flower seed packets and miniature bamboo shoot plants.

• Other brides prefer a permanent keepsake that is both useful and attractive. Some of the favorites are picture frames, candles and candleholders, glass bowls filled with colored sand or rocks, small books or albums, CDs with favorite songs, ornaments for Christmas weddings, coffee mugs with coffee or hot chocolate packets tucked inside.

• Some couples are choosing to make a donation to a favorite charity rather than provide a gift item. In that case, a printed card is included in each place setting which informs the guest of the donation.

• Be sure that each item has a thank you note attached. They are likely to be pre printed although handwritten notes are lovely as well.

• The placement of favors depends on space available. Many brides have the favors arranged on a separate table near the exit for guests to make their own selections. Or you can ask a friend or friends to help with the distribution as guests leave the party.

• Grouping the favors in the center of the table in an attractive basket or on a mirror does double duty. It insures a centerpiece without incurring the cost of flowers, and thanks the guests for sharing in your special day.

Work with one of our consultants for more ideas on ways to thank wedding guests and special friends.