From the monthly archives:

July 2007

Hairstyles for the Big Day

by Katie on July 30, 2007 · 4 comments

in Bridesmaids, Fashion and Trends, Health & Beauty


So I was thinking, here at WeddingFanatic, we don’t do much on trends and style. While we love what’s hot here and now, we think there is something to be said for the timeless wedding… Well, I couldn’t help myself. I was listening to some music, and on the CD cover was a woman sporting a loose bun on top of her head. Of course, this made me think of wedding hairstyles. Why not do a post about the hair of then and now!

First up: the concrete curls on the tip top of your head with a huge tiara, so no one doubts that you’re the bride. While the look is formal, and still works for an ultra upscale wedding, you don’t want to waste your time picking bobby pins out of your head all night. It’s just not what wedding nights are for.


Try a little something like this. You still have the up-do, but it’s not as stuffy. And you can forgo the cliché tiara for something a little lighter. You can wear your hair half up and half down in the picture, or all up (or all down). Oh the possibilities…

And then you have the low styles. This bride has a more modern look, but her hair still looks too stuck to her head! While we love the lower styles, try something a little more whimsical and romantic. This lovely bride has some bangs sweeping across her forehead, which give her a little formality, but the loose curls in the back say “It’s my wedding, I want to have a good time!”

In the end, pick a ‘do that’s perfect for you. Afraid you’ll look back and think to yourself “And I thought the 80’s were bad!!”? If you really want a timeless look, check out brides from different decades. What do they all have in common? Then try building your look off of theirs.

Here’s a little tribute to all the brides of yester-year. Does the hair look at all familiar?

Happy Styling!

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11 Questions You MUST Ask Your Photographer

by Katie on July 27, 2007 · 3 comments

in Little Tips, Resources & Checklists, Wedding Vendors

Photographs may be the best thing to look back on once the wedding is over. It’s important to get exactly what you want! Ask these questions to photographers as you interview them. We give you some idea of what to look for in their answers.

Do you specialize in color or in black and white?
You want a vendor who can do both, but someone who specializes in what you want the most of. Say you have your heart set on black and white photography? Pick someone who specializes in that!

Do you use digital technology?
Digital cameras allow the photographer to do a lot of special effects and some other unique things. Using digital is also another way to stay green. Less chemicals are needed to develop your photographs!

What is your style?
Whether it be traditional or photojournalistic that you prefer, make sure you see examples of both. You may love the story-telling style of photojournalism, but traditional formal pictures are also a great thing to look back on.

May we see your portfolio?
When you ask this, make sure you see an entire wedding, not just the best shots from a number of different weddings. You want to see his work from start to finish, not just “The Best Of”.

How do you charge? Do you have package prices or charge by the hour and for prints?
This will depend on the photographer. Make sure what they offer fits your budget!

How many hours are included?
Keep in mind when scheduling that often photographers start shooting 90 minutes prior to the start of the event. You want them to capture all the important moments, like the ceremony, the first dance, and cake cutting. As the party winds down, they probably won’t be needed.

How many pictures will be taken?
Again, this depends on the photographer. Some take unlimited pictures in a given time, other shoot simply a number of pictures, no matter how long it takes. With a photojournalistic style, go for time, not number of pictures. You don’t want to miss a great photo op. just because you passed your 300 picture limit!

Who keeps/owns the negatives?
Photographers make their money off of selling you prints. If they give you the negatives, you’ll be able to make prints yourself. While this might seem like a good deal, it might mean the photographer is somewhat inexperienced or is charging you too much in other places. Look at all the aspects of the photographer before making your final decision.

What types of cameras will be used?
This will vary from photographer to photographer. Using the most up-to-date equipment is important, unless you are specifically going for a vintage of film-only feel.

How long after the wedding will we get to see pictures?
Make sure you have a length of time written in the contract. Without it, you may never see you wedding photographs again!

Will the pictures be available online?
This is a great way to share your photographs with your family and friends. This may also allow the photographer to sell more pictures to those wanting to purchase some.

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How to PROFIT From Your Wedding!

by Katie on July 26, 2007 · 7 comments

in Just For Fun/Humor

So, I’ve heard some horror (horror=genius!) stories about people trying to make money off of their wedding. Sure, people joke about it, but I think it takes a special few to actually try it.

I read an article about this couple that registered for big expensive gifts that they did not want, simply so they could return them and get cash. And to make matters worse, they were actually discussing these plans in front of other people!


Technically, guests don’t need to give gifts. Today’s customs, however, imply that if you receive an invitation to a wedding, you should send a gift. Tip from WeddingFanatic: If you hardly know these people, and they hardly know you, yet you’re invited to their wedding (which you have no intention of attending) don’t send a gift. Clearly, you’re not close to the couple and the invitation is more of an invite for a gift.

All of this got us thinking. What if there was a “Return On Investment” equation for your wedding? What if you could figure out a way to break even or even, *gasp*, make money on your wedding? Of course, this is really a joke (although it could be a good way to milk more money out of your hubby-to-be). We don’t want you to get the wrong message! But let’s say, just for fun, there was a way to figure it out? Read on…

You have your fixed costs, or the money you’ll be spending no matter how many people you have at your wedding. Then you have your variable costs, which are costs that will rise or fall depending on the number of guests you have, and how much money you spend on each one. We must not forget the value of your guests! And, by value of your guests we mean how much money they’ll give you or the dollar value of their gift. So we get something that looks like this:

Wedding ROI = (Total Gifts Value) – (Fixed Cost + Variable Costs)
or = (Total Gift Value) – (Fixed Costs + [Cost Per Guest x Number of Guests])

Let’s put this puppy into action.

Say your fixed costs are as follows:
Dress – $1,000
Groom’s Attire – $100
Venue Rental – $4,000
Ceremony Space and Fees – $500
Total: $5,600

Your variable costs depend on the number of guests you invite. Let’s say considering catering (food), bar (drink), and reception decorations (more guests = more centerpieces), the total cost per guest is $30. Your equation for variable costs is then (cost per guest) x (number of guests). Let’s say you plan on having 200 guests at $30 a head, which totals $6,000.

So far, we have:
Wedding ROI= (Total Gift Value) – (5,600 + 6,000)
= (Total Gift Value) – (11,600)

Now for the fun part. Let’s say you have the average crowd, and each guest spends about $50 to $75 dollars on a gift. Let’s say with a total of 200 people you’ll get about 125 gifts, valued at $50 each. That gives you $6,250 in gifts. Let’s say they are valued at $75 each. That means $9,375 in gifts. Finally, let’s pretend that you have a rather wealthy family and group of friends which will more likely spend about $100 to $150 on gifts for you. 125 gifts at $100 each gives you $12,500 in gifts. 125 gifts at $150 each gives you $18,750 in gifts. Nice.

So let’s plug it all in.

For 200 guests at $30 a head, 125 gifts at $50 each:
Wedding ROI = (6,250) – (5,600 + [30 x 200])
= -$5,350

For 200 guests at $30 a head, 125 gifts at $150 each:
Wedding ROI = (18,750) – (5,600 + [30 x 200])
= +$7,150

Now it’s your turn! Plug in your numbers and see what you get. We can’t blame you for trying it out… Remember, if your Wedding ROI equals zero, you’re breaking even. You’ll be spending the same amount that you’ll be receiving in gifts. If you get a negative number, you’re obviously loosing money. Try decreasing the guest list or lowering the amount of money you’re spending per person. If you get a positive Wedding ROI, then hurrah for you! You’re actually making a profit and you might want to consider renewing your vows every few years.

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Nobody Moves and Nobody Gets Hurt

by Katie on July 25, 2007 · 0 comments

in Little Tips, Resources & Checklists, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Planning

So, you have the weight of the wedding world on your shoulders, not to mention the expectations of family and friends, and best of all, the in-laws. One more delay in gown alterations, one more meeting with the caterer, one more critique of the wedding invitation, one more late vendor appointment. What’s a bride (or groom) to do?

STOP and take a deep breath. Everything is going to be okay.

The first thing you MUST realize about your perfect day is that no matter how much you have to do, or force others to do for you, there are some things that you just can’t control. Maybe the flowers from South America aren’t growing as beautifully as usual from certain pesticides. Maybe the company that your baker gets its fondant from is running low on its special sugar. There are so many things that you can’t make happen or keep from happening. But there is hope! Realizing this important bit of information can help you prepare yourself to roll with the punches. Take things as they come and then think of your options, which is the second thing you should do to keep calm in those stressful wedding situations.

That’s right! You do have options. Believe it or not, your “wedding day vision” can be carried out a number of different ways. Perhaps your rental company is out of ivory cloth napkins, the ones you had your heart set on, but they do have more then enough cream napkins. Try them out and see what the cream looks like on the place settings before flipping out and threatening to rip up your contract. Maybe the place you had always dreamt of having your reception is already booked on the date you want to get married (which is much too important to change). Take the opportunity to look around and see what the area venues have to offer. You might just find a place you like much better, or has more to offer. The best part in all of this? No one will know (unless you complain to them) that you have to go to plan B or switch to choice C. Your guests will only see the final product, not all the little bumps in the road along the way.

Another thing you should pay special attention to is your organization. I find that what scares a lot of couples is that they feel like they are forgetting something or they are worried because they think things won’t be finished in time. Staying on top of your organizational game will help you to relax and reassure you that you’ve got a good grip on things. How do you stay organized? Let me count the ways! Surly you have some sort of wedding planning checklist. Create a special calendar with your tasks on it and write when they are “due”. Then take yourself seriously. Don’t think to yourself, “Oh, the invitations can wait another week”. If you need to have your invites ordered by the 7th of June, then make sure they are ordered by the 7th of June! Or if you already have a planner/organizer that contains your entire life (like me) get a special pen (try picking one that’s one of the colors you’re using in your wedding) and write in all the tasks with that pen. That way you can easily see wedding-related tasks and have less of a chance of skipping over them. In the end, do whatever you need to stay organized. We all have our different ways, do what works best for you!

Although there are other things you can do to help stay calm and relaxed during the planning process, here is the last one we’ll talk about today. Don’t forget the reason all of this planning and excitement is taking place! You’re getting married to the love of your life, the person you will spend the rest of your life with! That shouldn’t stress you out at all. If you’re feeling weighed down by wedding things, take a day or two off to just relax with your future spouse. No wedding planning. No post-wedding plans. No work. Nothing stressful. Do something the two of you enjoy together and just let yourselves rest. The time together should help you stay attached and remember the reasons why you’re getting married.

Bottom line? Hire a wedding planner. Okay, okay, so I have a biased opinion, but lets be honest. Planning a wedding can (and should!) be fun. If you’re feeling stressed or just don’t know what to do, hiring a planner might just be the thing for you. A good planner should be able and willing to do just about anything wedding-related for you. Of course, there is a cost involved, but it is well worth it for piece of mind.

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What NOT to do for your best man speech…

by Katie on July 24, 2007 · 0 comments

in Groom & Groomsmen, Just For Fun/Humor, Little Tips

This is pretty funny. Keep your eyes on the bride and see how entertained she is during this speech. Something tells me one side of this new marriage is a lot more interesting than the other!



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Madame Dariaux – Part III

by Katie on July 21, 2007 · 0 comments

in Just For Fun/Humor, Random

More from Madame Genevieve Dariaux! Read and enjoy.

On Muscles
“Personally, I prefer wit. In general, a man retains his wit until the day he dies, whereas his muscles…”

On Music
“If you don’t have the same taste in music, I hope your home is a very large one!”

On Mystery
If women knew how much they are losing by unveiling all their charms, they would hurriedly don ankle-length dresses again.”

On Orders
“The first requirement of an order is to be clear; the second is to be politely phrased – in other words, to bear the least possible

On Patience
“Town clerks ought to give each newly-wed couple a treatise on patience along with the marriage license, for they will need unlimited supply of it during their married life.”

On Pease
“Before it is possible to life in peace with others one must be at peace with oneself – a condition that is also called happiness”

On “Perhaps”
“The word ‘perhaps’ is the most effective bait with which to lead on an admirer.”

On Pajamas
Even the most conservative man in the world at the office may dress with a bit more originally in bed. Besides, he should consider the fact that, just as he hates to see his wife in a long flannel nightgown, she may not feel like sleeping next to a convict in stripes.”

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“License to Wed”

by Katie on July 20, 2007 · 0 comments

in Just For Fun/Humor, Weddings in the Media

I’m a sucker for cheesy movies that involve falling in love and getting married, so naturally, I liked License to Wed with Mandy Moore, Robin Williams, and John Kransinski. The story line is simple: Ben and Sadie meet, fall in love, and decide they want to tie the knot. Always having dreamt of marrying in the church she grew up in, they meet with Reverend Frank to discuss the details. But little do they know what he has planned for them.

They must pass Reverend Frank’s marriage preparation course before they can say their I Dos in his church. He tests them again and again, but can they pass? Watch as Ben and Sadie share many experiences that fellow brides and grooms go through during their courtship and engagement period. If you and your groom are feeling like some good laughs, check it out! If you feel weighed down by all things wedding, perhaps you should view the movie after the wedding. You might just find you shared a few things with Ben and Sadie.

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Saving Some Green

by Katie on July 18, 2007 · 1 comment

in Little Tips, Resources & Checklists, Wedding Planning

No matter how big your budget, chances are you still need to save a few bucks somewhere. Here are some tips to help you pinch those pennies.

1. Party in the off season. Since “wedding season” is usually includes June, August, and September, think about getting married in different months. This may mean cheaper rates and better deal, working with vendors that might normally be booked two years in advance, or just being able to relax and enjoy the time, knowing that you’ll have to attend fewer weddings at the same time.

2. Enlist family and friends. Be careful with this one. Often asking friends and family to take care of major wedding-related tasks can be disastrous, but if you go about it the right way, it could save you time and money. Perhaps you do have a cousin who is a professional photographer, an aunt who plays the harp, or a friend who can work magic in the kitchen and could make you a fabulous cake. If this is the case, ask them about what they can do for you. Maybe they will offer you a deep discount or help you out as a wedding present. (Make sure you write up a letter of agreement, even if you trust the person completely. It’ll help both you and him or her stick to the plans and could help you out if they don’t come through.) If you don’t have any “wedding people” in your family or circle of friends, ask those close to you to do other things, like assemble invitations or favors, set up for the reception, or make sure the day runs smoothly.

3. Cut back. We all have our wedding vision, but perhaps you could tweak a few things. For example, maybe you could cut your guest list from 300 people to 250. Or, if you have a huge wedding party, trim it down a bit. Cutting back can go beyond people. Instead of using the super expensive deluxe cream envelopes, use the matte ones. No one will know there was a more expensive option, and you’ll still get the same feel.

4. Pick your favorites. If having a full open bar is really important to you, but you can’t afford it AND a $2,000 dress, try looking for a $500 – $1,000 dress, in a similar style but different fabric. Or if preserving the day in photography and videography is more important to you than having a five course meal, shave off a few courses and pop for the better photography and videography packages.

5. DIY. Don’t underestimate your abilities! Give yourself a lot of time, make a list of the things you can do yourself, draw up a detailed schedule, and get to it! Make your own invitations. They could cost your $200 rather than $700 or more. Maybe you’re great with a needle and thread and you can crank out a great wedding dress, or save on your bridesmaids’ dresses. And even if you’re not all that crafty, surely someone you know is! Like we say in number two, ask your friends and family what they can do for you!

6. Don’t go pro. What could this possibly mean? Just because someone doesn’t own business or doesn’t have an established one doesn’t mean they can do for you exactly what you want. Hire a design student to make your dress. Hire a culinary student to bake your cake or do h’our derves. Rent some nice cameras and have two film students record the day, then send the tapes to the pros to have them edit it. Or maybe there is someone trying to break into the business. Check them out and consider giving them a chance.

7. Take a break. You don’t have to have the best of everything right here and now. Maybe you’re just dying to have a platinum wedding band but it just doesn’t fit in the budget. Get the platinum on your first anniversary. Or maybe honeymooning right after the wedding is just impossible. Wait a month or two, or go in the tourist off season.

8. Be open-minded. Maybe you’ve always dreamt of a black tie affair. But those formal evenings are much more expensive. Try kicking it down a notch. You could go with a bit shorter bridesmaids dresses, or not as fancy tuxedos. The list goes on.

9. Time it right. It’s pretty much common knowledge that most weddings are on Saturday evenings. Consider having your wedding on a Thursday, Friday, or Sunday, or having it earlier in the day. Morning weddings are not that common, but can be absolutely beautiful. Plus, a brunch can be a lot cheaper than a full dinner.

10. Just relax! How, you ask, can relaxing save you money? Like this: If you’re relaxed and roll with the punches, you won’t freak out and do something unexpected that could cost you a lot of money in the end. For example, at the last second you realize you never ordered place cards. Instead of calling up your stationer and asking her to whip you up 200 place cards, ask someone in your wedding party to make some, or forgo them all together and have your ushers seat guests at the reception as well! It may cause a little confusion for the caterer, but you won’t have to pay for the place cards and the charge for getting them completed in a few hours.

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Savings Equation

by Katie on July 17, 2007 · 0 comments

in Little Tips, Resources & Checklists, Wedding Planning

Perhaps you have a few Gs in the bank just tucked away for your wedding, or you’re marrying rich (or you’re the rich one…you go girl) and money just isn’t an issues. Or maybe you need to do a little saving before the big day. Weddings can be pricy, and have been getting more and more expensive (my eyes almost popped out of my head when my mom told me her wedding only cost them about $2,000). Two grand will get you some invitations these days, or perhaps a cake, or a wedding dress, but chances are not all three!

So, if you’re a bride or a groom, or someone helping to contribute to a loved one’s wedding, here is a little equation to help you determine how much money you can save up. Let’s call it the “Savings Potential Equation”.

You existing savings:
(value of liquid savings) x (percent that you want to put towards your wedding)

Your savings potential:
(your combined monthly income) x (percentage you want to put towards your wedding) x (number of months in your engagement)

Also factor in money you might be getting from other places (aka parents). So the final equation would look something like this:

Existing savings + Savings potential + Parental contribution

Lets work through a sample (flashback to algebra class!).

Let’s say I have $20,000 saved in my bank account. I want to spend a quarter of that on my wedding. Let’s also say that I, along with my fiancé, make about $8,000 a month, of which twenty percent we would like to put towards our wedding (which is a year away). Finally, we will receive an additional $3,000 from each of our families. Now solve!

Existing Savings:
20,000 x .25 = $5,000

Savings Potential:
8,000 x 0.2 x 12 = $19,200

Parental Contributions:
3,000 + 3,000 = $6,000

So for my total savings potential, and what should be the highest my budget is allowed to go, I have:

5,000 + 19,200 + 6,000 = $30,200

Happy saving! :)

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Ultimate in Wedding Website Design

by Katie on July 16, 2007 · 0 comments

in Featured Blogs, Little Tips, Websites & Resources

Personal wedding websites are all the rage these days. They are simply fabulous for a number of reasons. First of all, you can customize them to match your personalities or wedding style so that they are uniquely “you”. They also act as an information board of sorts for your guests. They can hop online, check out the time and place of your wedding, see where you’re registered, and a number of other things.

If you’re planning a destination wedding, you should definitely look into having a great website. You can update it, post pictures, and best of all, communicate with your guests in a very easy way. And last, but definitely not least, a wedding website can cut back on the amount of paper and postage you need. Some sites will allow your guests to RSVP via your web page, which also helps you keep track of who will be attending.

If you want the ultimate in web design, look to the pros. The fellows over at lifeBLUE, a web design company, are just the people to turn to. When it comes to websites, they mean business. They do all kinds and styles of websites, which makes them a great resource. So if you want the best of the best, check out these fabulous web designers.

They also have a web design contest going right now where you could win a free site. Check it out and enter if you like what you see!

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