Wedding Wednesday: How to create your personal bridal style

Complete your wedding ensemble with the perfect headpiece! If you're still unsure of which route to go check out some tips on Choosing The Right Headpiece courtesy of frugalbride.com...

• You might want to look through some bridal magazines or websites to see what is out there. Which styles grab your attention? Which styles look good with your wedding dress and desired hairstyle? It is also helpful to determine what you don't like as well as what you do.
• You can talk to your hairstylist about potential ways of wearing your hair, and see if they have any suggestions about what would work especially well with your hair colour, length and your face shape. Are there any styles that they would recommend against? It is very valuable to get some opinions with experience behind them.

Headpiece Shopping:

• It doesn't hurt (or cost anything) to go into a shop and have a good look around. Don't be afraid to ask to try the headpieces on as that's what they are there for, and you never know...that style that has potential but looks "too much" or "to simple" on the shelf could look absolutely perfect once you try it on.
• There are no hard and fast rules about what to wear in your hair. Everyone is unique and has different preferences and tastes and there are a vast range of styles to choose from. You are free to try and match the beading in your dress (if any) to that in your headpiece but you definitely don't have to.

What are the Choices?

• Be open-minded and creative. Ask about that current trends or new styles. You certainly don't have to wear a traditional tiara, you can us pearl or crystal twists, a beautifully beaded comb to top a veil, flowers on wires, or even delicate white feathers in your hair!

Veils

• There are no strict rules about the length of your veil, but consider your dress: if it has a beautifully detailed waistline, you may want a veil that comes to that point to draw the eye. If you have a very simple dress you may want a longer veil to add a bit of drama.
• Veils are available with a wide range of edgings. You can have a simple serged or rolled edge, a satin cord or ribbon edge in a variety of widths, a pearl edge, an embroidered edge, or no edge at all, just well-cut tulle.

Don't forget... today is your last chance to enter DG's August Giveaway. Win a fabulous feather & chiffon hair accessory by either leaving a comment of your preferred hair piece OR become a fellow @DreamGroup follower and retweet the August Giveaway post! Do both to increase your chances of winning! :)

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Top 10 DIY Wedding Planning Tips

...courtesy of DreamGroup's Principal Planner, Geneve McNally:

1. Find yourself a reliable Wedding Planning Workbook or Checklist and USE IT!! This is a sure fire way to ensure you are not forgetting anything along the way. DreamGroup's Step by Step Guide to Planning the Perfect Wedding is a fantastic e-book for the busy bride who has bravely decided to tackle the planning of her wedding herself! It is filled with terrific tools, planning tips, DreamGroup FAVs, links, and advice to help get you through the planning process with as much focus, encouragement and direction as possible.

2. Take the time to Create an Estimated Wedding Budget Breakdown of all desired products and services for your wedding with REALISTIC cost averages. If you are unsure of the costs call up a Vendor and ask what an average might be for your guest size and needs. Just because you want to spend $1500.00 on flowers does not mean that what you want will be able to be done in within that amount.

3. Schedule a Wedding Budget discussion meeting with your Families (either separately or together) to confirm exactly what amount(s) or portions of the Budget they will be covering.

4. Confirm that the amount you have to spend is in line with the bottom line on your Estimated Wedding Budget once you have factored in Family contributions and your own budget contribution. If it's not in line, then go back to Budget Breakdown drawing board and discuss your priorities... reducing or omitting certain products and services attuned more so to an unlimited or larger budget.

5. Start Interviewing Vendors (2-3 in each category is plenty to get an idea of popular costs and the best style of service for you). The best way to approach this step is to be honest with the vendors as far as what you are hoping to spend in that particular area so that they can help you make the most of that amount or advise you as needed in the event that your vision and budget parameters are not realistic.

6. Hire Your Vendors. It is a well known fact that the best outcomes are a result of first hiring reputable professionals, detailing your wants and expectations for the wedding and getting it in writing to ensure everyone is on the same page, and then stepping back and allowing those chosen professionals to bring your vision to life.

7. Do not procrastinate! Follow your Checklist and try your very best to stay on track and attend to the suggested tasks as directed. There is a method to the madness and every task has a time and place to be considered and addressed. Procrastination is one of the top three reasons couples experience stress during the planning of their wedding. This can be avoided by "not putting off today what you will have to end up doing anyway tomorrow".

8. Keep communication lines open! Make sure everyone involved in the planning of the wedding is "in the know" as far as what tasks are being handled by each person and when they need to be addressed. Never assume someone knows what you are thinking or how something needs to be done. Communicate clearly your needs and desires for a particular task and don't forget to say please and thank you! :O)

9. Respect your Mother! Or at the very least make her feel she is respected by allowing her to be involved with some of the decisions and or "jobs" at hand. This may sound like a strange planning tip, but I assure you it is an important one. Depending on a bride's relationship with her mother this "task" will become more of an issue for some than others.

10. Enjoy the process! This may be the last Tip, but it truly is one of the most important ones. Planning a wedding will bring with it many Ups and Downs especially where Family Dynamics and Budget Stress are concerned, but it's important to remember the reason you are doing all of this to begin with and to take time to embrace the experience -- because after all is said and done you will miss the planning drama! Make time for your fiancé and have date nights that do not necessarily involve wedding discussion as this will be a sure-fire way to remind each other why you have chosen to get married and unite in all the wonderful moments to come.

FYI: In addition to Full Planning and Wedding Day Management packages, DreamGroup offers two very popular and inarguably valuable services -- Blueprint Package & Milestone Meetings. These services are geared at couples who are planning their own wedding, but want to ensure that they have a realistic and well represented plan in place with the right tools to make the planning experience and final outcome everything it should be. Read more about these services and everything they include here.

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Monday's Montage: This week's theme...Make it mod!

Think of First lady, Jacqueline Kennedy's streamlined wardrobe; Andy Warhol's protegee Edi Sedgewick's edgy style; and Twiggy's minimalist appeal! These ladies were prominent figures in creating the mod look!

Make your special day mod with clean lines, pops of sharp colour, chic style and an overall retro feel...

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Friday's Fabulous Find: Sweet Treats

Satisfy your sweet tooth at Sweet Treats with rich, scrumptious cupcakes. The quality designs and delicious fillings make this a fabulous find!

Sweet treats also offers a unique Candy Buffet to give your guests that sweet experience! You will be provided with a stunning display of hand picked candies to compliment your occasion, displayed in beautiful jars with bags or containers for your guests to take with them.

They are a perfect addition to your wedding or any special event!

You can have your own sweet experience by vising them online here!

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How to Be a Good Wedding Guest

Martini Bratten, editor in chief of Brides magazine, provides wedding etiquette tips for guests courtesy of Allure's Insider's Guide...

• RSVP IMMEDIATELY - Decide as quickly as possible whether you are attending and respond. Waiting until a week or two before the wedding is inconsiderate. Silence is often more frustrating than the disappointment of a "no."
• DON'T BEND THE RULES - You cannot bring a date unless your invitation has the words "and guest" on it. And you should never ask if you can bring one.
• BE EARLY - Aim to arrive at least 30 minutes before the ceremony starts. You never know how long parking and finding a seat might take. If you are late, make sure the bride has finished her procession to the altar, then open the door quietly and go in.
• UPLOAD LATER - Even if you think the couple will love your snapshots, don't race home and post them on Facebook before the couple has had a chance to share the perfectly lit professional shots.
• EXIT POLITELY - If the couple expects you to stay for dinner, it's rude to leave beforehand; the cake cutting is a great time to slip off. Be sure to thank the hosts or let the maid of honor know you're leaving.

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Wedding Wednesday: How to create your personal bridal style!

This week, The Knot, provides us with Bridal Beauty Rules that every bride should know! These tips will help ensure you look and feel fabulous when you say "I do!"

1. I Will Not Over-Accessorize - Instead of piling it on, choose one memorable piece (heirloom earrings, a rocking birdcage veil) and work simple accessories around it for a balanced look. Your veil, bouquet, and even your gown's embellishment count as accessories!
2. I Will Play Up My Best Feature - You know your best feature. Maximize it! Accentuate radiant skin with a light-reflecting lotion; open up gorgeous eyes with a few loose false lashes instead of a whole set; or find the perfect lip stain to enhance your smile.
3. I Will Find a Veil That Works With the Shape of My Face - Figuring out the right veil and hairstyle combo can be tricky. Here's the bottom line: With hair and veils, width adds width and length adds length. If your face is round, pick a narrow veil or hairstyle; if your face is long, choose one with more volume.
4. I Won't Limit Myself to a Strapless Dress - Strapless is by far the most popular but pardon us for sounding snarky: There's nothing worse than watching a bride on her wedding day constantly tug and pull on her dress because the neckline doesn't fit her right. If you have a full bust, consider an off-the-shoulder or sweetheart style; if you're not well-endowed, opt for a V or Sabrina neckline.
5. I Will Wear Metals that Match - This one is a little technical yet important: The accessories you choose to wear should depend on your wedding dress hue. If you're wearing a bright white dress, stay away from gold (which could clash) and stick to pearl and platinum. For a diamon white dress (slightly off-white), gold and silver works; and an ivory wedding dress calls for gold and warmer metals.The exception: Don't ditch your engagement ring if it doesn't match.

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Eco-Chic Tuesdays: For the Dollar-Savvy Bride!

In preparation for Bridal Swap, DreamGroup is once again dishing out tips to minimize your wedding footprint... after all, it is easy being green!

This week's tips come courtesy of Canadian Living... learn how to make your wedding favours eco-friendly!

Consider less wasteful choices like:

• Carbon offsets. TerraPass has a wedding carbon footprint calculator, and can suggest a suitable offset purchase. Announce it on tiny cards printed on recycled, plantable paper.
• Seeds. A packet of native wildflower seeds provides beauty, as well as food for butterflies and bees.
• Baby trees. A tiny evergreen seedling in a species suited to your region makes a memorable favour.

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Monday's Montage: This week's theme...Crimson & Aqua

Pair deep crimson with light aqua for a stunning contrast. This perfect palette has a classic elegance with a modern punch!

Whether you emphasize the blue with accents of red or vice versa, tailor this theme to your personal taste.

Find inspiration in Monday's Montage for your upcoming nuptials...

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Friday's Fabulous Find: Whistler Tasting Tours

This Fabulous Find is perfect for your girls night out before the big day!

Your party will be guided to several gourmet restaurants in Whistler for a delicious multi-course dinner paired with a fine BC wine.

Check out what you and your girls can expect...

Bearfoot Bistro Champagne Sabering in 15,000 Bottle Wine Cellar

Hy's Steakhouse Cajun Crusted Ahi Tuna with Pinot Noir

Quattro Italian Fine Dining Main with Cabernet Merlot

Flipside Dessert and Chocolate Icewine Truffle

Nightlife VIP Access - No Line/ No Cover (conditions apply)

View the tours here!

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Perfect Pictures with Tips from a Pro!

Jeanie of [Stu-di-o] has provided our DG Blog readers with some great tips and tricks for flawless wedding photos...

Leading up to the wedding

Be unique with details!

A photographer's dream is a wedding with details... and not just any details. Details with personality! Handmade favors, colour frames, vintage typewriters and birdcages... you name it, we love to photograph it! All these little details help to make YOUR wedding unique, and will definitely make your special day stand out from the crowd. MOST importantly, it will translate your personality to your wedding guests, and be awesome conversation starters! Check out this [Stu-di-o] blog for ideas on how to personalize your wedding, and be sure to go treasure hunting on Etsy.com to find handmade, one of a kind gifts, favors and accessories.

On the Wedding Day

Consider doing a FIRST LOOK session

One of my favourite moments to capture before any wedding day! It's something I adore photographing because it's such a special and powerful moment shared between a couple before they embark on the next chapter of their lives together. And it's a quiet and intimate moment you can share with each other before the wedding activity descends upon you both! Don't worry about old superstitions... toss them out the door! It's not bad luck to see each other before your ceremony, and you will LOVE LOVE LOVE the up close, emotional photos of you seeing each other for the first time before anybody else does ;) Then after the ceremony, you can party the night away with your guests, no delay!

Make a list of Posed Family Photos

After the ceremony, that's when posed family photos will be taken. Having that list and having somebody from either side of the families to guide the photo participants to the right place is key to making sure that your timeline isn't held up by unnecessary delays. Each posed photo takes about 2-5 minutes to arrange, so my best advice is to keep the list as short as possible :) This way, nobody will be standing around waiting to have their photo taken... they can go off and mingle and chat with Oh-my-goodness-I-haven't-seen-you-in-ages-Uncle-Bob!

Chat with us about your Timeline

Often I come across timelines that don't make the most effective use of the day. Glean the most from our years of experience in the industry to maximize your photography coverage for your special once-in-a-lifetime day. Talk with me about your wedding day, especially between your ceremony and reception, to figure out the best locations, etc.

Organized Transportation

Some bridal parties have 2 bridesmaids and groomsmen... other have over 10! Regardless of your number, organizing your transportation so that everybody shows up at the same time at the right place is key to maximizing your photography time with us. You don't want to be wasting precious time standing around waiting for key figures to show up. Our best advice is to engage the services of the limousine. A greatly under-advertised solution is calling Yellow Cab for their limo taxi. They arrive in beautiful London-style cabs with extremely professional drivers, and stay with you until you say so!

Have that On-the-Go Kit

Not everybody can have the luxury of having their makeup and hair artist be with them for the whole day. So on that note: 1. Have a kit that will help keep your complexion looking fresh and pretty, and 2. Keep your hair style and accessories appropriate for the locations that you will be in. If you are going to be on the windy coastal regions for your photos, then having a pin up hairdo might not be the best style to choose. 3. Bring the right footwear! Coordinated flipflops are great to photograph, and they're not expensive to splurge on. This goes for both boys and girls ;)

Let it all Go

When it comes to your wedding day... just let all of the unchecked to-do lists go. Your wedding day is a special once in a lifetime celebration, and you don't want to miss it whilst you're fretting about the weather or the set up. That's what planners are for... so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your wedding day! It will pass by too quickly, trust me, and you will want to savour each and every moment as it comes. And I'll be able to take the photographs to help you remember those special moments.

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Wedding Wednesday: How to create your personal bridal style...

In preparation for Style & Strut, DreamGroup will bring you tips for a personalized bridal style from head to toe!

Find out how to choose the perfect wedding hairstyle courtesy of style.ca...

There are different types of components that you should consider when picking out a wedding hairstyle. First of all, if you have any bridal magazines, it is important that you flip through the pages and examine the models. Look at the types of wedding dresses they are wearing and how their wedding hairstyle is done to compliment the dress.

Also, it is important that you look at the model's facial structure; is it an oval shape like yours, or is it more of a round shaped face? Lets face it, what may look grand on a magazine could look totally different on you. Based on the structure and the style of your wedding dress; and everything from your make-up to your accessories can completely change that look.

The first of many decisions you will need to make is if you would like you wedding hairstyle to be up or down.

The second decision you will have to make is if your wedding hairstyle will be simple or glamorous. This part is important because it reflects your personality. You want to feel comfortable, therefore, be cautious of anything too outrageous or out of your norm.

To add a special touch to your look, put a flower or some type of clip that will complete your look and give you a little sparkle.

If you want a jaw-dropping, bold look, you want your wedding hairstyle to be big, with lots of volume. Add gems or pretty clips to your wedding hair to compliment the beading on your dress and create a more dramatic look.

Something to also consider is the type of wedding hairstyle that will best compliment your gown...

For the Princess Ball Gown: Consider an elegant, classy updo. Remember that a high updo is great for achieving some extra height and impact!

For the Vintage Gown: Consider a natural style with loose curls and a simple flower that matches your bouquet.

For the Strapless Gown: Consider leaving all your hair down, or keep just a few strands up to give yourself some extra volume and height.

For the Beaded Gown: Consider curls and some rhinestones to compliment your beadwork. Just be cautious of how much extra sparkle you actually need!

Have fun, be creative, and most importantly, let your bridal style reflect your personal style!

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Eco-Chic Tuesdays: For the Dollar-Savvy Bride

Have a well-planned green wedding with some tips from David Suzuki!

• Have an adventure at your local U-brew and make your own beer and wine for the big day. If that's not your thing, there are plenty of options for organic or local wines too.
• For your invitations, get a hold of some 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and look for printers who use vegetable-based ink.
• For a touch of romance, have your wedding musicians go unplugged. It saves on electricity when they aren't hooked up to an app.
• View all your digital images on DVD first so you only have to print out the really great ones.

For more green advice, click here.

And don't forget... you can go green this November 20th, 2011 at Bridal Swap! Whether you're a bride looking to sell or an upcoming bride-to-be, you can get in on the eco-friendly fun!

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Monday's Montage: This week's theme...Luau!

Bring the beach to your backyard! With the summer slowly winding down, why not throw an hawaiian themed party to celebrate the last of the warm weather!

Whether you draw from your past Hawaiian vacation or recreate a luau from online inspiration and magazine clippings, you can make your party your own little retreat.

Think tiki torches, tropical fruits, hibiscus flowers, coconut candles, umbrella drinks, and sounds of the ukulele playing throughout. Have fun and take your guests on a tropical vacation without leaving your zip code!

Aloha!

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