Guest Posts Wanted!

 J and I are currently in the process of moving, so posting may be a little light in July and August.  

I would love to have some guest posters fill in some of the downtime while I'm packing and getting our new apartment ready.

If you would be interested in guest posting, please email me with your name and what you'd be interested in writing about.  

I welcome all kinds of guest posts, so don't be shy.  I would love some brides or recent brides who would love to blog about their wedding planning or DIY projects.  I would also love some wedding professionals to give some great budget friendly tips.

You do not need to have a blog to guest post for me, but if you do, I'm willing to link back to your site.

So, I would love for you to contact me if you're interested and we will work something out!

Thank You Note Etiquette

It's a well known fact that people bring gifts to a wedding.  Why else would they have wedding registries?  An important part of gift receiving is sending the thank you notes.  It shows the gift giver that you truly appreciate their gift.

If you're having a bridal shower before the wedding, you should send those thank you cards out immediately after the shower.  You shouldn't start using the gifts until after the wedding, but that doesn't mean you can't say thank you for them.  Add a little note in the thank you card saying how you plan to use the item after you are married.

A lot of people will send wedding gifts directly to your house instead of bringing them to the wedding with them.  You should also store these gifts until after the wedding, but send the thank you card out immediately.  Guests will want to know that their package arrived safely at your door step.

After the wedding, you should strive to get thank you notes out within a month after your return from your honeymoon.  Any longer than that and guests will start wondering if you're ever going to send them out.  If they attended the wedding, add a little note about how happy you were that they celebrated the day with you and let them know how you are putting their gift to use.

If you receive any gifts after the wedding day (which you probably will), try to get those cards out immediately as well.

A couple things to remember while writing thank you cards:

• If they sent cash or a gift card, do not mention the amount in the thank you card.  If you know how you are planning on using the money, add a little note about it in the card and thank them for their generous gift.
• If you hate a present, received duplicates of an item, or plan on returning it to the store for whatever reason, do not let the gift giver know this.  Say something nice about the item even if you're not planning on keeping it.  They will never know that it was returned.
• It is not necessary to send a thank you card to everyone attending your wedding, but it is a nice gesture.  I personally only sent thank you cards to those who sent a gift.  I feel that the reception is a thank you for attending the ceremony.

Please feel free to add on your own thoughts about thank you notes in the comments.  Writing them can be daunting and the more help, the easier it is to do them.

Ruelala Style I Do!

Today RueLaLa is having a Style I Do boutique sponsored by The Knot.  These boutiques normally include gorgeous wedding dresses, tuxes for the men, and everything else you  need to have a gorgeous wedding on a budget.

They are also going to be having boutiques for The Perfect Gifts and Party Dresses.  You might be able to find some great bridesmaid dresses in the Party Dresses boutique.

All these boutiques will open up at 11am EST.

If you are not a member of RueLala, you can sign up through my referral link, which will get your immediate access to the boutiques.

Sign Up For RueLaLa Now!

If you end up buying something from one of the boutiques, let me know.  I would love to hear about your purchase.

If you sign up through my referral link, I will receive a $10 credit when you make your first purchase.

Electronic Save the Dates

Save the date cards are becoming popular with brides so that they can let their guests know of the day ahead of time.  That way they can plan their travel to the wedding.

Save the date cards are not required to be formal and can be as fun as you want them to be.  For our save the dates, we sent out postcards with one of our engagement pictures on them.  Everyone loved them!  

Since postage is becoming more and more expensive, I thought electronic save the dates would be a great way to let your guests know of the date, but still do it without spending too much money.  When I was planning a friend's baby shower, I came across a website called Pingg.  We used this site for the invitations for the shower and it was really easy and simple to use!

Here are some of the cute save the dates that are available on their website:

I hope someone will be able to use some of their adorable save-the-date cards.  I wish I would have known about it when we were planning our wedding.

I was not compensated or asked to write this post.  I came across the site and thought it would be helpful to someone.

SmartBride: Destination Wedding Dresses Under $500

It's hot outside!  This is the perfect time of year for a destination wedding at the beach.  Check out this SmartBride post on how to get the following destination wedding gowns for under $500!

Having a casual beach wedding and want to be able to walk in the water without lifting your skirts? This size 10 Alfred Angelo 1774NT wedding dress is the perfect choice. Originally $599, this new with tags dress is now just $300.

Thin spaghetti straps and an empire waist are signature styles for destination wedding dresses.  This size 8David’s Bridal T9552 is light, breezy and allows for lots of movement for a beach wedding.  Purchased for $456, this dress is now $300.

Jenny Yoo’s designs are simple but stunning and so many of them are perfect for destination weddings. Our choice is this size 6 Jenny Yoo wedding dress with pretty lace hem.  Originally $250 at a sample sale, this discontinued never been worn dress is now $175. 

Be a sun goddess with this size 6 J. Crew Goddess wedding dress. Originally $325, never worn and now $200. 

Check out SmartBride to find more information on these dresses and more!

Are you planning on having a destination wedding?  What style of dress are you planning on having?

Guest Post: Etiquette Tips for the Bride and Groom

Pre Wedding Day Etiquette Tips for the Bride and Groom

As the wedding and its participants have moved into the twenty-first century a lot of traditions have gone out the window. Modern brides want to be seen as just that- Modern. Non-traditional. Unique. They don’t want the stuffy weddings of the past.

As tradition has faded, so have strong feelings about etiquette, but there are still a few things that make Emily Post cringe!

Bridal Showers and Guest Invitations: Any guest you intend to invite to a bridal shower should also be invited to the wedding. An invitation to a bridal shower implies an invitation to the wedding, so it would be rude to ask a guest to bring a gift to the shower and then not extend an invite to the wedding itself.

Exception: Work colleagues who offer to throw a shower for you after you’ve already explained that the guest list is limited to family and close friends. If someone offers to throw a shower and know the intended guest list isn’t invited to the wedding, then it is okay to accept the shower.

Cash Bar: A big NO NO! I realize you are spending a lot of money on this day and a cash bar looks like an easy way to cut costs, but imagine how you’d feel if you bought a plane ticket, booked a hotel room, purchased a new outfit, and picked out the perfect gift to attend a wedding and then once you got there you found out you had to pay for your drinks as well! To save costs, consider not serving liquor and only offering beer and wine, or only offering alcohol during cocktail hour and then for the first hour after the meal.

Thank You Notes: For bridal shower/bachelorette gifts send your thank you notes within one month. Send a thank you to EVERY person who gave you a gift. Yes, even your mother and your sister. For gifts received on the wedding weekend, time is a little more flexible. Send your notes within two to three months.

Bridal Party: Once you’ve asked someone to stand up for you as a bridesmaid or groomsman, it’s an absolute “No” to un-ask an attendant who has accepted the position. It is certainly okay for a person to decline the role, and you should never make anyone feel obligated to be a member of the bridal party.

Registry: Registry information should Never, NEVER go on an invitation or save-the-date. Tell your bridal party and close family members where you are registered and they can help spread the word. It is also okay to put your registry info on a wedding website and you can direct guests to the website on your stationary. Just don’t put “Find registry information on our website!” It is acceptable to have registry information listed on a bridal shower invitation for a couple of reasons. 1- You, the person receiving the gifts, are not hosting the party and 2- people know the purpose of a shower is to give gifts, so asking for gifts on the invite isn’t considered rude.

I hope these etiquette tips help as you navigate through the world of wedding planning, and if you ever get confused just ask yourself, “If I were a guest, would this make me uncomfortable?”

About Samantha Dockery: Samantha Dockery is the owner of Bliss by Sam Weddings and Occasions, a premier wedding and event planning company in Durham, NC. Samantha and her team work with busy, discerning brides to reduce stress throughout their wedding planning process and on their wedding day, so they can relax and enjoy the moment. They’ve been featured in everything from The Knot.com to Weddings Magazine, Southern Bride and Groom Magazine and Durham Magazine. For event planning tips, check out the Daring Devoted blog at http://daringdevoted.com/ or visit their website at http://blissbysam.com. Also, you may follow Sam on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/blissbysamweddingsandoccasions

Ann's Bridal Bargain Giveaway Winner

Discount Wedding Invitations & Accessories

Thanks to everyone for entering the Ann's Bridal Bargains giveaway!  And thanks to Ann's Bridal Bargains for sponsoring.

The winner of the $100 gift certificate to Ann's Bridal Bargains is....

sandytoesbride!!!!!!!

Please check your email to claim your prize!