It’s one of the most amazing times of your life: you’ve become engaged to the love of your life and are planning the rest of your lives together.  To begin this journey, you will have the wedding of your dreams, all of your family and friends will be in attendance, and it will be a night you and your new spouse will be able to look back on for years to come.  Sounds easy, doesn’t it?  Unfortunately, to attain this fairy tale, you need to put in a ton of planning to make sure your day is exactly how you want it.  The stress can often outweigh the joy during this time, which is something that no newly engaged couple needs.  Fortunately, there are plenty of professionals in the area that can help you plan your perfect day and take some of the work (and most importantly, stress!) off your shoulders.  Here are a few tips from the expert on planning the wedding of your dreams!

Tips and Advice

–“When you do book something, make sure you either get a contract or another confirmation.  You should also rely on the event planner, either the one you have hired or the person at the venue you are working with.  Ask what things they’ve seen that worked well or even better, what things to avoid.  The planner has been through these situations many times and is a great resource and will most likely know what works and what doesn’t.”   Jim Ballard, James Arthur Vineyards

–“You get one chance to make decisions that will make or break what should be one of the most important days in your life and you don’t need any unwanted distractions.  This can be overwhelming.  My best advice is talk to many who have gone before you…brides, grooms and the family members who will have before and after testimonials.   Ask them what worked, what didn’t and what they would do differently.  You’ll get a lot of different answers but based on what’s really important to you, it should help affirm your decisions.”—Cherie Anderson, Venue

–“Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the tiniest details, but in reality, you and your guests will be so excited and full of emotion on the big day, you’ll wonder why you exhausted yourself on the trivial things.”—Miriah Zajic, A to Z Printing

–Be creative and don’t be shy to go after what YOU want!  Working with consultants who truly cater to what you have in mind will ease the stress and pressure that comes with putting on a wedding.  Make schedules and timelines so you don’t feel like you’re falling behind and you can pace yourself as you go!  Clippings and pictures of other weddings that you like will help you and your attendants/consultants really know what you’re looking for!—Sarah Mullins, Hallow Candle

— Have little items that guests can take with them from the reception.  Personalized items with you and your spouse’s picture and date of your wedding are wonderful little memories that guests can take with them.  Colby Ridge can put your picture on individual sized bags of popcorn and even incorporate your wedding colors into the popcorn.  These are fun for family and especially kids and will help guests to remember what a great time they had at your event.—Jeff White, Colby Ridge

–”Keep an open mind, ask questions, read contracts, be realistic and listen to the space manager at the venue you choose.  They have the most experience on what works well.” —Lisa Petersen, Grand Manse

Budget

“Knowing what’s important to you and what’s important to you as a guest at weddings will aid in making decisions that could save you lots of money,” explains Cherie Anderson with Venue.  “Most of us have to function within a budget so knowing the answer to these questions before the planning process is important.  For example:  Would you rather have gorgeous flowers at the reception where you will spend a majority of your time or do you want the wow factor as you walk down the aisle?  Do you need to invest at both?  Would you rather have sturdy plastic ware or real china at the reception?  Do you care what you eat off as long as the food tastes great?  When it comes to buffet vs. plated, most plated are most expensive and take more time.  Would you rather spend more time with family and friends dancing or watching them eat?   By prioritizing decisions by how important they are to you as a couple will help eliminate the stress on the pocketbook.”

“Couples who do not put a budget together on average spend 15 to 25% more on their wedding than couples who do create a budget,” points out Lisa Petersen with Grand Manse.

Lori Miller with Lincoln Tent adds, “Think outside the general budget, too.  Money for clothes for the honeymoon for instance.  Who wants to go to Aruba in the same old swimsuit?  But that could be money you don’t have after a wedding.  Even if your parents are fronting the bill, those types of things will fall on you.  Budget for thing YOU need to pay for, too.  Think outside the box!”  Lori stresses that the bigger the budget does not necessarily mean the better the event.  “I’ve seen lots of weddings done right.  We’ve had some with a budget of $15,000 or budgets of $80,000 and the $80,000 one is not automatically better.  If the money is spent in the right places and the wedding is done right, a wedding with almost any budget can be made to look amazing!”

Bachelorette Party

Every bride needs a party with her friends to celebrate her last days of being single!!  There’s always the traditional hitting the bars with your friends in a veil idea, or you can think outside the box and do something different!  One idea is to take your bridal party to a place like Corky Canvas, where you can all have fun together painting a great picture and having some drinks!  No worries if some of your party (or you) aren’t all that artistic, the instructor will help you create your painting step by step and everyone in the party will be able to take home their own piece of artwork at the end of the night.  You can bring in your gifts and food to munch on while you paint, have some wine, and truly have a memorable night with your family and friends.

If you do decide to go the traditional route and go to some bars or lounges with your party, make sure you have an emphasis on staying safe!!  Nothing will ruin a wedding like a member of the bridal party or a guest getting into an accident or having a DUI.  There are a number of ways you can ensure this doesn’t happen.  The first is to have a designated driver.  Another is to get a hotel within walking distance of the places you will be visiting.  This is not only safer, but it’s also fun for your party to be able to hang out in a nice hotel room before and after the party.  Another option is to have a cab company’s number on hand.  Simply call them a little while before you’re ready to go and they can take your party home to ensure that everyone gets home safely!

Rehearsal Dinner

Many couples like to have a rehearsal the day (or a couple of days) before the wedding and have a rehearsal dinner that night so they can spend some time with their close family and friends and thank them for being a part of their special day.  Finding a good place for the dinner is important to increase your enjoyment of the evening.  “This is a short period of time for catching up and being appreciative of your family and friends before becoming a family of your own,” points out Cherie with Venue.  “You want your location to be conducive for good conversation and hopefully memories that will be talked about in years to come.  Food, atmosphere and fellowship are the two most important aspects of the evening, so ask a lot of questions before booking a location.  Does the staff seem eager to work with you and accommodate your requests such as Audio/Video needs, setup, colors, pricing, etc. or do you sense you’re twisting their arm to get your ideas across?  If the venue using asking you, the client, just as many questions, then you might want to consider a different location.”

Location

The location is arguably the most important decision you’ll make when it comes to wedding planning.  Make sure this is one of the first details you take care of as locations book quickly (especially during the busy spring and summer months) and you don’t want to be left with your third or fourth choice.

“James Arthur Vineyards provides a unique and beautiful setting for a wedding and it’s something out of the ordinary,” explains Jim Ballard.  “Getting married with the grapevines in the background, in front of a beautiful waterfall, creates a picturesque and memorable backdrop.  The great thing is that we don’t have to put up decorations for the ceremony, we let Mother Nature do her thing for that.  The other great thing about getting married here is that we treat the bride and groom as our special guests.  We take care of everything down to the smallest of details and they don’t have to worry about any of it.  Not only is the ceremony a high priority, but we also provide a wine toast after it’s done using wine made right here at the winery, which is always a highlight!”

“Couples need to try and always make their destination memorable,” Laura Lessman with Strategic Air and Space Museum adds. “The site they pick must be unique to the couple and work best for both of their styles and tastes. Their location also needs to be compatible for both of them.  The Strategic Air and Space Museum is located between Lincoln and Omaha, so it’s convenient if you have people coming from both cities, and we can hold the ceremony inside or out.  The glass dome in the museum is also great for receptions and has an unbelievable feel and then you don’t have to worry about the weather.  In addition, all of your guests can tour the museum in the downtime of the wedding, so that’s a special added touch.”

Flexibility is also quite important and nothing says flexibility like a tent!  “A tent wedding is a perfect way to fit all of your guests and have a blank canvas to decorate your wedding,” says Lori Miller with Lincoln Tent.  “It allows the family to have it wherever they’d like, so a family home, lake, country clubs or golf courses are all options.  We have a wide array of looks and couples can look on our website and find a look they like and then we can walk them through the products we have.”

Wedding Photographer

“Every couple needs to make a list of priorities for their wedding,” explains Shane Dwyer with Shane & Sunny Photography.  “You need to decide what is important to you and what is not and the list will tell you where you should spend your money.  In our opinion, photography should be near the top of that list.  When it’s all said and done, your wedding photography is all you will have left.  Be sure that you book a photographer you can trust with that responsibility.  You also want to make sure that your personality matches well with the photographer’s.  Your photographer will be with you for your entire day, so you should make sure it’s someone you enjoy being around.  Go to their studio and take some time to meet them and look at their work.  After you do that, you will know who you like and who you don’t.”

Make sure you talk with your chosen photographer before your big day to make sure you’re on the same page with the type of photos you want taken.  If you don’t communicate, you could both be going into the event with two completely different ideas.  For example, your photographer might be thinking edgy and different while you are envisioning classic and traditional.  Make sure you ask what their vision is for the finished product and how they intend to photograph that.  Not only will you be able to make sure you both have the same vision, but you’ll also be able to be prepared to help them out if need be.

Catering

Catering is another large part of your wedding and can often be one of the most expensive aspects.  The food is something that guests will probably find the most memorable and you want to make it delicious as well as fit the theme of your event.  “Where you have the reception can factor into your decision on catering,” states Kevin Mandigo with Greta’s Gourmet.  Many reception facilities have their own catering or they work with certain local catering companies.  However, some let you choose your own catering options and will work with the vendor you choose.  “The couple should choose based on the company’s ability to fill their needs most competently.  They should choose six months before the wedding, or as soon as possible to make sure they get their first choice and so the caterers can help them with other plans.”

The right caterer will be able to sit down with you and learn about your own personal style and the type of event you are trying to create and match your food to that.  “There is ‘wedding food’ that everyone seems to experience numerous times in a lifetime as a guest at receptions and then there are a few that stand out for being catered food,” states Cherie Anderson with Venue.  “What makes the difference?  I have learned from experience that there are foods that work great when feeding large masses of guests and there are foods that get lumped into the ‘oh it was just wedding food’ category.  Having an experienced team of chefs and staff who have a reputation for putting out amazing food is a great amenity to offer couples and they can direct them toward choices that will ensure a memorable evening for all.”

Kevin Mandigo points out that some things have changed when it comes to wedding food.  “A lot of couples are doing alternatives to the same old dishes.  Couples today want to have fun and unique menu ideas that make their day special.  We have been doing a lot of mocktails and large hors d’oevres instead of one big meal.  Wedding are really a fun thing to be a part of and the right caterer will meet with each couple one-on-one to come up with the best menu for their big day.”

Beverage catering is also an important thing to consider.  Some caterers will provide beverage catering while some reception facilities will have a bar they will run themselves.  Sometimes the couple will decide to have a separate beverage caterer for their event.  Jeremy Schafer with Top Shelf Beverage Service says, “”When preparing to make the beverage selections for your event, you will need to consider the type, style and theme of the wedding as well as the lifestyles of the guests who will be attending your reception.  You may also want to consider the types of foods that will be served at the reception.  Next, you will need to embrace the fact that you realistically will probably never be able to please the tastes of everyone who attends your wedding reception.  But, the good news is that you can come pretty close to pleasing everyone.  Keep in mind that your best bet is targeting the mainstream tastes rather than stocking trendy products that will likely remain in your storage room for years after your wedding.”

“Hire a professional bar catering service rather than having a friend, employee or Uncle Fred to provide the bartending service,” Jeremy continues.  “An experienced bartender will usually pay for him or herself.  Based on full bar service of 200 guests, experienced bartenders who are familiar with portion control can save you an average of $18.00 per hour in product costs and waste and will know enough not to open every bottle in sight and will provide a higher level of quality service and safety for you and your guests.  Having a beverage service inspires speed, consistency, knowledge and a smile under pressure.  Relax and let the professionals handle it.”

Formalwear

If you are like many brides, you’ve dreamed about your wedding since you were a little girl and the crowning jewel of your dream was your bridal gown.  You will remember your gown for the rest of your life, not just in your memory but also in the wedding photos and videos of your day.  Therefore, it’s very important that you not only choose a gown that you are in love with, but also one that you are comfortable in and that will look amazing on your big day and in the photos.

“Knowing yourself is very important,” Lynne Rustad with Ellynne Bridal explains.  “If you have never liked your figure in a tight-fitting gown, this is not the time to buy one for the most important day of your life.  When trying on dresses, make notes about your favorite and most comfortable fit and begin there.  If you have larger hips, you might choose a gown that is A line or a gown with a fuller skirt.  Brides with a small bust could choose a gown with a modest sweetheart neckline.  Brides with a fuller figure would look beautiful in a soft sheath gown.  You should also know your personal tastes.  If you are a bling girl, go for it on your gown, it’s beautiful!  Silk fabrics are sensual and flow softly.  Interesting backs are sexy and this season is showing more sleeve and strap and they are so elegant.  Remember, this is your day and what is important is what you think, not anyone else.  It’s your day and it’s your gown.  When you look in the mirror, you need to see the bride you always dreamed to be.”

“Try on as many gowns as it takes,” suggests Jane Powell with A Cause for Paws.  “You will know the right dress when you see it.  Seeing it in a magazine and seeing it on are two different things.  I carried a picture of a wedding dress around in my wallet four about four years of a dress I liked and when I was in college I did an internship at Sassi’s and the gown I loved came into the store.  I tried it on and hated it.  You should also remember that traditional is a thing of the past, not only in gowns but in shopping, too.  Keep your eyes peeled because you may not find your perfect dress in a bridal shop, you may find it at a garage sale, on line or at a re-sale shop like ours.  Many of the gowns we get in have been worn once or not at all.  We have a beautiful, never-worn Demetrios Bridal Gown that came in a few weeks ago that is valued at $1625.  The wedding was called off and the gown was never worn and we are selling it for $899, so there are some great deals out there.  It just may require some looking.”

“We currently have 14 gowns in stock and sometimes more depending on the day,” says Jane. “They are all in excellent condition.  We sell them for 50-75% off of retail value and many of our gowns are $100-$200 with a couple of exceptional ones that are a bit more.”

Another option that Ellynne Bridal is offering is perfect for a bride on a budget.  “The gown plays such an important part of your wedding, but it’s also very expensive and can put a big dent in the budget,” explains Lynne.  “We give her the opportunity rent her gown for her big day.  These gowns are samples and retail from $1000 to $2500 and we rent them for $200-$300 with a $75 cleaning fee.  The bride can choose her gown and have minor alterations and be ready to leave for her wedding in just a few days.  Our selection includes gowns from Maggie Sottero, Pronovias, Jim Hjelm Couture, and many other designers and we have many styles and colors.”

Of course, you can’t forget the guys when it comes to formalwear!  Making sure the groom and the men in his party look great is just as important as outfitting the bridal party.  Make sure the two of you go in as a couple to visit with a professional in the formalwear business so he or she can explain trends, the different options they offer and give you some ideas on making your groomsmen look unique and classy.  Remember, you need to make sure all of your groomsmen get measured for their tuxes in advance.  If they live in town, they should come to the location where you are getting the formalwear.  If they live outside of town, they can generally get measured at any formalwear location and have their measurements sent in.  If you are getting a tux for a ring-bearer or other youngster, make sure he doesn’t get measured too soon as you don’t know how much he is going to grow!  A month or two beforehand will give the formalwear location time and will ensure his tux will fit on the big day.

Flowers

The flowers for your wedding can be the perfect enhancement for your wedding, both those that you use to decorate and those that the wedding party carry/wear.  Choosing them should be a fun experience and remember, you can be as creative as you want to be!  Your flowers should reflect you as a couple as well as fit in with your theme and colors.

“Vintage and romantic bouquets, like the vintage wedding gown, are a trend right now,” says Jeanette Steider with Abloom.  “Soft colors like cream, ivory, white, light pink and lavender in large blooms like peonies, hydrangeas and garden roses are very in.  Lace, diamonds, pearls and feathers will complement this look, also.  Still going strong are the unusual bouquets with brooches and botanicals like succulents, berries and grasses, and fruit and herbs—anything non-floral accenting or making up the entire boutique.  Anything with texture that adds visual interest and character is continuing in popularity.”

“Brides this year have been looking to their surroundings for inspiration,” continues Jeanette, “especially outdoor weddings using earthy tones like browns, greens and ivories.  Some are also using vibrant jewel tones mixing soft sage green with eye-popping colors to bring a wow factor.  While soft palettes will always be pretty, the striking colors reflect a carefree personality.  When planning your bouquet, consider the seasonability of the flowers you want as well as the colors that will tie into your wedding scheme.  Don’t get your heart set on a certain flower until you find out if it’s available for that particular time of year. Think color before flower type.  Bring color swatches, invitations and other inspirational details to your florist so they can help create arrangements that coordinate with the look and feel of your wedding day.”

“Ceremony and reception flowers are going from lush, full, romantic bouquets to round flower spheres like pomander balls hanging in the aisles or sitting atop large urns or cylindrical vases.  Also, the continuation of multiple and variations of smaller vases lining the center of the oblong tables with mix and matched single stem flowers loosely arranged in the collection are popular.  Remember, it’s your day and you should choose the flowers and colors that you like and want.  There are so many different types of bouquets for trendy wedding flowers and the perfect bouquet should complement the bride’s personality and cater to her style.”

Invitations

“There used to be a time when brides wouldn’t dare stray from traditional invitations and wording,” explains Miriah Zajic with A to Z Printing, “but now, it’s all about standing out and doing something different.  Many brides like to take the traditional and add a personal twist, whether it’s in the design, type of paper, size, wording, etc.”

“We give the best advice we can when it comes to the who, what, when, where and how of invitations, but the bride and groom to-be know their guests better than anyone else.  We’ve learned that every wedding is different than the last, so it’s all about finding the balance of what works best for the couple.”

Traditionally, invitations go out six to eight weeks before the wedding as this gives guests plenty of time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements if they don’t live in town.  If it’s a destination wedding, give guests more time and send them out three months ahead of time.  Most couples also send out save the date cards, which can go out six to eight months before the wedding.

Make your RSVP date two to three weeks before your wedding date.  This will allow enough time for you to get a final head count to the caterer (one week before) and to finalize your seating chart.  If some guests still haven’t responded by your deadline, give them a quick call and ask for their RSVPs so you have all their information.

Wedding Trends and Ideas

Although it may not work for the type of wedding you want, knowing about the changes in the wedding planning industry and the newest trends is always a good way to keep up-to-date on what’s happening and what might work well with your event.

“Things have become a little more casual in terms of the actual ceremony,” states Jim Ballard.  “We’ve seen a lot more destination weddings, which is what I would call getting married at a specific location like a vineyard.  Also, we’ve noticed sit-down dinner receptions have become less prevalent.  We’ve seen that it’s become more common for the actual ceremony to be just for families and close friends with a larger reception planned for later.”

“Farm to table has been very popular in catering lately,” says Lisa Petersen with Grand Manse.  “We think this is a trend that is not going to go away soon as people are more concerned with being ‘green’ and making choices that sustain our environment and support local growers.  Another trend we are seeing is in the floral and event design.  Minimal and elegant dressings with an emphasis and attention on natural accents like curly willow and flowering branches and house and home accents such as ottomans, throw pillows and accent lamps are very big.”

A popular trend has been to decorate for the wedding with candles.  “Candles are a great way to decorate for a wedding because they can be fun and funky or soft and romantic,” explains Sarah with Hallow Candle.  “I like to get to know each bride and what she envisions for the big day before laying out a plan for candles—from brightly colored gifts to customized labels with wedding logos and even for specialty unity candles.  You can always create a candle for every decoration and every piece of a wedding.  Working with a candle expert can help you lay out a plan to make everything work together.”

Photo booths are another trend that are being seen in many weddings.  This does not take the place of the traditional wedding photographer, but is a fun addition to it.  Renting photobooths is relatively inexpensive and not only provides a fun activity for your guests, but also lets them have their own photos to take home and remember your day.  The photo strips are very high quality (not like the old mall photo booths you may be envisioning) and can be personalized with your wedding date and names on the top so everyone will remember where they were when they were taken.  You and your fiancee can make a point to get a picture taken with each set of guests, then encourage them to take as many pictures as they’d like with friends, family and other members of the wedding party.  Remember, if you want to rent a photobooth, make sure you contact them early on in the planning.  There are only a limited number available in the area and you don’t want to miss out because you waited too long to reserve one!

Taking a look at your favorite weddings and what made them your favorites is a great way to incorporate ideas into your own event.  Here are some of our clients’ favorite weddings!

–“I love the weddings that aren’t always traditional – the ones that you can tell were meant to reflect the couple and their style!  Having unique decorations, music and events always stick in my mind and help me learn a bit more about the married couple.  When the couple really focuses on themselves and their relationship, everyone turns up to really celebrate and have a great time!”—Sarah Mullins, Hallow Candle

–“For us it’s always moving when the bride and groom brings in the care of the vineyard and grapes and relates that to how it’s similar to tending to a marriage during the ceremony. Officiants that incorporate that into their message are always our favorites. We also love working with couples who bring unique themes into their ceremonies, the ones who really personalize the event. That can be through the music they choose, what they wear or a specific part of the ceremony that is personal to them. Those are the fun ones to be a part of.”—Jim Ballard, James Arthur Vineyards

–“For us, the people make the event.  The weddings that we remember as ‘favorites’ are because of the personalities of the bride, groom and wedding party.  The more fun and relaxed they are the more memorable the wedding is for us.  We love couples that don’t sweat the small stuff and spend the day enjoying the event and the people that are there sharing it with them.”—Shane Dwyer, Shane and Sunny Photography

–“I personally have loved watching both Prince Charles and Diana’s and Prince William and Kate’s weddings.  They, to me, have been the ultimate real-life fantasy weddings.  I also enjoy catching an episode or two of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.  The gowns those brides wear are over the top, I have never seen anything like them.”—Jane Powell, A Cause for Paws

Wedding Shows

Wedding shows are a great way to learn about a number of different vendors all in one place.  Suite Memories, a Bridal Affair is a wonderful example of an upcoming show and one that all brides should plan to attend.  It will take place October 21st at Embassy Suites in downtown Lincoln and will feature vendors representing everything you need to plan your wedding along with representatives from the hotel who will be offering discounted room rates and more!

The most important part of a wedding is being able to share the day stress-free with your fiancé and those you love the most.  This is a very special occasion and one that should be enjoyed!  Work with the proper professionals, plan early and be prepared and you’ll be able to enjoy your special day as it comes off without a hitch!