For couples out there looking at the different choices of wedding cars heres a couple of tips to consider when making your decision:

1. Depending on the weather it can be handy if the car comes with umbrellas supplied as standard.

2. Will the dress fit?  It might sound crazy but many classic wedding cars have quite small doors!

3. Will there be drinks supplied?  Everyone needs a bit of dutch courage now and again.  Its a big day after all!

Photo Credit: Baby Skinz (CC)

Some friends of mine from Belgium were given their ‘wedding car’ as a gift.  A VW Van that they could drive around Europe on their honeymoon!  Now thats wedding gift I could go for!

I have to hold up my hand and admit I am not a fan of cash in cards for wedding presents.  I know, I know people don’t want ten toasters, and others think the idea of a gift registry/ordering gifts is a bit cheeky and tacky.  But honestly, what is more crude than cash?

There is a new concept knocking around, dubbed the “HoneyPot“, where wedding guests can contribute towards the cost of the honeymoon for the couple.  In this way, they don’t have to go buying gifts, but don’t have the stigma with how much cash to put in the card on the day either.  From the couples point of view, they can pay for the wedding themselves and have the amazing gift of a holiday from their guests.

MyHoneymoon.ie is a unique online wedding gift registry enabling guests to give couples the ‘Gift of Travel’.  Here’s what the company themselves have to say about it:

Honeymoons make ideal gifts and in the present age where many couples already have their furnished house, pots, pans and Waterford Glass, we thought it would be of benefit to an engaged couple to enable invited guests to give the gift of travel online as a direct contribution to their honeymoon. We simply tailor-make the honeymoon, then create a free online honeymoon gift registry which allows them to direct their guests to the site above.

Wedding Guests and friends can make their monetary gift online and couples have full access to all payments. Couples can give as much or as little information on their honeymoon as they wish and all gifts are acknowledged on line.  For example, they can specify which tours and trips they want in their package and guests can buy them specific experiences eg. bungy jumping etc.

The company also offer special gift cards on which couples can write their unique access code and include in their wedding invitations.  From the day the registry is created, guests can purchase gifts. The account tracks all of the gifts and their givers for easy thank-you’s after the dream trip!

I like the concept and I have talked to a few other brides who do too….what do you think?  Comments below please! :)  You can find out more info on www.myhoneymoon.ie

There’s a reason why actors say you should never work with children or animals; they are the most unpredictable creatures on the planet! A key decision when deciding on your guest list is if you are going to have children at the wedding.  If you ARE, then make sure you read my guest post over on the Confetti.ie blog about How to Keep Kids Entertained at a Wedding

Couples shying away from the big lavish Irish wedding often opt for a wedding abroad. Guaranteed sunshine, great food and wine - and usually at a fraction of the price - what’s not to like?! Some things to consider if you are thinking of flying off to get hitched …>> Read my guest blog post over on the Confetti Blog

The colour scheme of any wedding is of great importance as it has an effect throughout the whole wedding from bridesmaids dresses, invitations, room décor and flowers.  Read my guest blog over on Confetti.ie for the Top five things to consider when deciding on a colour scheme >>

Last Sunday I was invited down to Adare Manor to their wedding fair to check out the property and see what the renowed 5 star property has to offer potential brides.

Let me tell you…ALOT!  It was incredible to see a black carriage being pulled by 2 large black horses with the white feather plumes coming out of the top of their heads!  The Manor itself is really spectacular, and the banqueting hall in particular would be amazing for a wedding ceremony.  For parties up to 90 people they can set the room up with a long extended banquet table - spectacular!

They had invited Wedding Planner to the Stars Tatiana Byron to speak to the brides and grooms to be, about Wedding Trends for 2010.  Diligent as I am, I scribbled notes for you guys so here we go!

A key piece of advice from Tatiana - Approach any decision for your wedding day with one thought in your mind: “How is this going to affect my wedding guests?”  If you always consider your guests then you can’t go too far wrong with your decisions.

Top 10 Trends for 2010

#1 Personalization is key

Suggestions:

• Custom designed monograms for the couple.  This can be used throughout throughout the wedding day from lights on the dance floor, the aisle runner, invitations, cake toppers, menus….the list goes on!
• Custom Wedding Songs.  You tell the story and a musician creates a song, you can use for your first dance, for your wedding “music video” etc.
• Get a characaturist to do a picture of you the couple which can be used on invitations, to display at the wedding etc.  Black Eye Peas singer Fergie did this for her wedding!

#2 Wedding Colours

Suggestions:

• Trend at the moment is anything but traditional, Vibrant colours such as oranges, yellows, hot pinks, greens etc.
• Use colours as a common thread in your wedding - flowers, linens, invitations, table cloths etc.

#3 Themed Weddings

Suggestions:

• French Opulence is popular for 2010.  Think Chateau Versailles.
• Word of caution.  If you are going for a themed wedding, you have to embrace the theme throughout to be true to it and to create the atmosphere you are looking for.  This will inevitably drive up the overall cost of your wedding.

#4 Eco Friendly Chic

“Green Factor” Suggestions:

• Food and Flowers - grown within 100 mile radius, organic farming
• Invitations - sustainable materials eg bamboo, plantable seeds, recycled paper etc.  Katherine Heigl had an Eco Friendly Wedding.
• Favours - homemade organic cookies, organic caramel apples, potted tulips, bamboo coaster & plants…these are a symbol of good luck!

#5 Signature Cocktails

Suggestons:

• Serve your favourite cocktail & name it aafter the happy couple á la “Brangelina”
• Cocktail menus can feature your monogram
• Cocktails can be matched to your colour scheme, eg coloured liquers, sugar crystals on glass etc.

#6 Dessert

Suggestions:

• Cupcake displays very trendy in last year or so
• Dessert Spreads and Candy “Bars”
  • Gourmet chocolates
  • Colourful and towerinig desserts
  • Lollipop gardens
  • mini cupcake towers v popular
• Use your monogram on your cake
• Personalised M&Ms with your initials (only costs about €150)

#7 Entertainment

Suggestions:

• Non Traditional Performances
  • Electric Concert Violinists
  • Cirque style performers
  • Stilt walkers escorting guests
• Trend at the moment for “music videos” in weddings which is basically a 1.5 minute video/photo montage of the couple which can be put to music and shown at the wedding

#8 Bridal Fashion

Trends:

• Bridal Fashion follows runways of Paris and Milan
• Brides showing more skin
• Mini dresses
• Multiple gowns for the evening
• Convertable dresses
• Old Hollywood Glamour, think Grace Kelly
• Romantic/Princess like gowns
• Sheer fabrics & lace
• Mismatched Bridal gowns
• one gown, multiple looks
• Alyssa Milano’s bridesmaids all looked different
• Shop: Sydney, New York OR London; 2Birds Bridesmaid make 1bridesmaids dress for weddings which can be worn in 15 different styles!  Something to suit all shapes and sizes and is sure to please your bridesmaids.

#9 Beauty & Accessories

Trends:

• Hair down with simple headpiece á la Fergie
• Birdcage Veils v popular
• Statement Jewellry - beaded necklaces
• Natural Make up
• Loose cascading curls
• Antique brooches used in hair

#10 New Things!

• Wedding Websites so couples can share their planning process and journey with their family and friends eg. mywedding.com, projectwedding.com
  • Can share updates on hotels, recreation activities, restaurants etc.
  • Involve your guests in your wedding planning process
  • If you are having a “destination wedding” then a wedding website is almost obligatory to keep people informed of the plan for the few days you are expecting them to travel for.
• Blogging about your experience is also a growing trend amongst brides-to-be.
  • Build a Bridal Community
• Honour your heritage.
  • If you have traditions in your family, your wedding is a lovely time to integrate them into your new family!
  • Think about food inspired by your heritage, music etc etc.
• Celebrities are a great source of inspiration.
• Ultimately your wedding is about YOU!
• Follow trends but always add the personal touch.

As if planning a wedding was not one of the most difficult things to do in a couple’s relationship, the added stress of difficult in-laws can be extremely frustrating.  In-laws may mean well, but their ideas about your wedding may not coincide with your dream wedding. The key thing to remember in planning your dream wedding, is the simple fact it is YOUR wedding, not your in-laws. (Easier said than done, I know!)

Since you are going to be marrying these peoples offspring, naturally enough it is a good idea to try and keep the peace as much as possible!  If there are certain things that really do not bother you, then try and compromise with the in-laws…Giving in on one or two issues, can win you points to fight the bigger battles. It all comes down to strategy, your wedding, your rules.

Here’s a few biggies that can cause trouble when it comes to interfering in-laws:

• The topic of religion in the ceremony. Wow, that is a big one.  Many couples have to face this issue.  If your in-laws have different religious views than you and your future spouse, it does get tricky to plan a ceremony.  If you are not dead set in a specific religious ceremony, there are ceremonies that can be molded around a number of beliefs.  If you are willing, maybe try and incorporate a couple of the in-laws religious traditions into your ceremony.  You could try and appease the in-laws by including part of their religious traditions in your reception.

• Another big issue that comes up when planning a wedding, is the location.  This is usually only an issue if the couple to be married lives far away from their families.  There are several things to consider when selecting the location of your wedding.  The cost of accommodations for your guests. If it is too costly for your guests to find lodging, they will probably not be able to attend your special event.  The cost of the travel to the location is another important factor.  A fair solution is to try and plan the wedding at a half way point between in-laws.

• The tradition of having a bride’s parents pay for the entire wedding has pretty much been dissolved. Weddings are expensive. It is ridiculous to think one side of a union must pay for the entire cost.  A couple should discuss the cost with all parents involved and come up with a reasonable plan. Nowadays, couple’s typically take on the cost of the wedding themselves.  A way to offset the costs may be the invitation for family members to sponsor a portion of the ceremony.  One family can pay for flowers, another pays for music, and so on.  This ensures all family members are a part of the wedding. However, this type of solution may lead to a lot of extra input on the planning portion of your wedding.

As with most things in this life….you will not be able to please everybody, but as time goes by, hopefully they will forget the differences and move on.  It is your special day, and you should be able to do as you please.  My best bit of advice?  Put your foot down when you have to, but choose your battles wisely.  Good luck!

Todays post comes from the guys behind www.myweddingworkbook.com a US-based website providing wedding planner software.  They’ve completed a survey on peoples wedding spending.  The results make for some interesting reading…

October 30, 2009 — The lagging economy has caused almost two-thirds of brides to cut back on their wedding budgets – with honeymoons, flowers/décor and reception catering taking the biggest hit. All this according to a recent survey of brides conducted by My Wedding Workbook - http://www.myweddingworkbook.com/ - an online wedding planner for brides.

62.2% of the brides surveyed responded that the recent recession has influenced their wedding planning decisions, with 58.7% stating that they have cut back on their honeymoon budget, 58.2% on their flowers and décor and 54.7% on their reception food and drink.

“Brides are certainly trying to squeeze more value out of every part of their wedding budget,” said Jeff Kear, co-owner of My Wedding Workbook, “And although they are definitely cutting back extensively in those top three areas, our findings show significant cutbacks across the board.”

Brides are also significantly shaving their expenses in many other areas, with 51.2% reporting cutbacks in wedding transportation, 47.3% in photography/videography, 45.8% in the reception venue, 45.3% in number of guests and 39.3% in wedding attire (including wedding gowns).

Of the brides surveyed, almost half (41.3%) stated that their wedding budget was by far the biggest challenge they faced in wedding planning, followed by choosing a venue (13%), family issues (10.9%) and finding the time to plan a wedding (10.9%).

“Even though they are cutting back, brides are getting creative in how they save,” said Kear. “Some of our respondents are moving their wedding to a Friday night or a Sunday so they don’t pay the Saturday premium that many venues charge. Others are planning their ceremony and reception in the same venue. And almost three quarters of the brides we talked to are handmaking at least some of their wedding items to save on costs.”

Some brides are even putting off their big day, with 29.4% saying that they have moved their wedding date further out because of the economy. “That shows how smart and prudent brides are being. If they can’t have the wedding they want sooner, then they will take longer to save up and be more patient.”

But even though brides are paring back in almost all areas, the survey shows that photography/videography and the reception location and catering still remain the biggest priorities for brides.

“Brides want to make a great, lasting impression with their wedding, and they want to hold on to the memories,” said Kear. “Even though the economy may be unpredictable, some things never change.”

My Wedding Workbook provides all the tools engaged couples need to manage their wedding details.  Its Web-based wedding planning tools are completely free, easy-to-use, comprehensive and let brides track their budgets, guest lists, RSVPs, gifts and every detail for every wedding-related event.

I don’t know a bride to be out there that hasn’t indulged in buying a wedding magazine or two while planning her big day, so most of you out there will most definitely have heard of Confetti - probably the biggest wedding mag out there!  Recently, I got an email from one of the Confetti-ites asking me would I be interested in doing some guest blogging for them.  Naturally, I was absolutely delira to be asked to contribute to the Confetti.ie blogs & newsletter which will be going out weekly.

For the first post, I wrote about…what else?!  Choosing the Right Wedding Venue..

Once a couple gets engaged, inevitably the first job to be done is to choose the wedding venue! Now, as the months of planning go on, you will begin to get very in tune with what’s hot in weddings and get a clearer picture as to what you want your big day to be like. But with one of the biggest decisions one of the first things you have to do, it can be a daunting experience!

Of primary importance is the type of venue you want to get married in. This will end up factoring into most other decisions you make regarding the wedding. The type of venue may help dictate the style and the pace of the day as well as some of the necessary and not-so-necessary suppliers you need to have.

For the rest of the article, check out the original on Confetti.ie

1. iDIY - Design Goodies for “I Do”-It-Yourself Weddings
2. The UnBride - Unconventional & Unforgetable
3. Didn’t Get the Wedding Gene - personal account of an Irish gals wedding planning
4. Temple of Groom - One for the Boys!  An LA Groom who is very much part of his wedding planning
5. Etsy Wedding - Offbeat finds for the Ecclectic Bride (From Etsy, online shop for all things handmade)
6. Wedding Nouveau - A Style Guide for Intercultural Brides
7. Brenda’s Wedding Blog - Daily Inspriration for the One-Of-A-Kind Bride and Groom
8. BrideChic - an online resource for Bridal Fashion - DRESSES, DRESSES, DRESSES!
9. StyleMePretty - “Obsessions for Brides” - the photography in this blog is FABULOUS!
10. Beaut.ie - Irelands #1 Beauty Blog - Now while not 100% weddingy, I think all brides-to-be need to be in the know re: beauty products and regimes!