BrideByYourSide Joins the Twitter Family

You know what they say, if you haven't gone social.. well, do it! Follow us on twitter @BrideByYourSide and recieve sweet little tips on how to plan the wedding of your dreams!

How to Hire a Wedding Planner

Step 1: Visit Wedding Wire and enter in your location, where you will be provided with a list of planners in your area

Step 2: Read ALL their ratings. What I like to do is choose the option to list them in order of worst to best rating, that way I can see any red flags from the get-go.

Step 3: Send information requests to your top three choices.

Step 4: Meet with them in person, (or if that is not an option, like it wasn’t with myself, then have a skype meeting)

                Here are some suggested questions from TheKnot.com…

1. Will the consultant commit to your budget and not push you in the direction of things you simply can't afford?

2. Will the consultant devise a master plan mapping out all the little details, from announcement to zebra-striped decor? (This will clue you in to organizational prowess and a willingness to keep you in the loop on every matter imaginable.)

3. Can the consultant name the best and most original locations in your area (that would be suitable to your wedding size, style, and budget)?

The consultant should have plenty of questions for you too, in an effort to determine your wishes, needs, level of maintenance, budget, scope of imagination, and more.

4. Is the consultant familiar with the best florists, photographers, caterers, bands, and DJs in your price range? Can he/she explain their strong points to you briefly? (Ask yourself: Does the consultant seem both knowledgeable and passionate?)

5. Can the consultant score you some discounts with any vendors? (Consultants bring volume to favored vendors; often they'll reciprocate by slashing prices or throwing in extras.)

6. Will the consultant read over the vendor contracts for you? What are some common traps to look out for?

7. Can the consultant create a timeline that tells everyone involved in the planning process -- vendors, members of the wedding party, bride/groom, and families -- what to do and when to do it? How will she/he make sure that everyone sticks to the schedule?

8. Will the consultant handle the invitations, from wording and ordering to the addressing and mailing?

9. Can the consultant counsel you on etiquette matters and alert you to hot trends on the wedding horizon?

10. Will the consultant coordinate delivery, arrival, and setup times with photographer, florist, musicians, caterer/banquet manager, et al?

11. For the day of the wedding, will the consultant be willing to oversee the entire event by supervising vendors, troubleshooting emergencies, and soothing nerves? Can she/he share any anecdotes that required performing above and beyond the call of duty?

12. Will the consultant be willing to step in as your advocate, conveying your visions and desires to vendors when you don't feel up to the task?

13. Will the consultant help plan and book your honeymoon?

Step 5: Get price estimates/quotes from them and a detailed list of the services they offer

Step 6: Hire him/her & start planning!

Eloping in NYC

Hello everyone! It’s been quite some time since my last post, so here is a quick update… I spent the summer in NYC with my fiancé and enjoyed it so much that my dream of a sunny Florida wedding began to fade into an NYC elopement. (We did not elope, and we are still getting married in FL) But if you too are in love with the Big Apple, then please please please can I live vicariously through you and have a wedding like one of these…

If you’re thinking about getting married in New York City, there are inspiration at your disposal. Just check out this ADORABLE NYC Elopement from Bklyn Bride Online…

http://bklynbrideonline.com/11552/wedding-photos/real-elopement-danielle-gregor/

 I also found this link on the Top Ten Reasons to Elope in NYC! Love it!

http://slobodaweddings.blogspot.com/2009/08/top-ten-reasons-to-elope-in-new-york.html

Now that I’m back in Dubai and the summer is officially over, (sigh) it’s time to get down to planning my wedding, for real! This past week I’ve been using Wedding Wire to find an Orlando-based planner to hire. Check back in for more on “How to Find a Wedding Planner”.

Chocolate Wedding Cakes

One of my very dear friends has recently (possibly accidentally) offered to make my wedding cake for me. I have an enormous amount of faith in her culinary taste, so I would be delighted if she would make my cake, but regardless of the maker, my cake will be CHOCOLATE. I'm a chocolate girl, every-time, hands down. So what else would it be? Okay... maybe the top tier could be banana-chocolate?

Wedding Movies

A movie night is fun and easily way to spoil a friend who is about to get married. If you're not one for a wild night out before your big day, a "Last Night Single Sleepover" is a great way to spend some quality time with the girls before getting hitched! Just grab some snacks, face masks, pj's and all the wedding-related movies you can get your hands on. This movie (Bridesaids) was SO funny. I saw it with my cousin a few weeks ago and we both laughed so hard we were in tears. I definitely recommend it to anyone who has wedding fever.Here are some other wedding themed flicks...


1. Wedding Crashers
2. Father of the Bride
3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
4. Monsoon Wedding
5. The Wedding Planner (2001)
6. Monster-in-Law
7. The Wedding Singer (1998)
8. My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
9. Runaway Bride (1999)
10. Sweet Home Alabama
11. 27 Dresses
12. Bride Wars
13. License to Wed
14. The Wedding Date 
15. Jumping the Broom (2011)
16. Rachel Getting Married
17. The Hangover (2009)
18. The Hangover Part II (2011)
19. Bridesmaids
20. Made of Honor
21. Four Weddings and a Funeral
22. It Had to be You (1947)
23. American Wedding (2003)
24. I Love You Man
25. Our Family Wedding (2010)

The Kate Effect: Finally, Dresses With Straps

Before I begin, let me first say that I have nothing against strapless gowns. I think they're beautiful and the brides who wear them usually look fantastic on their special day. However, I personally am hoping to find a gown with ornate sleeves or straps of some kind. It seems to me that our generation has developed a uniform for weddings and it goes something like this; white, strapless, pouffy. Recently, however, (possibly due to a certain Princess) gowns with sleeves are becoming more popular. Check out these gorgeous gowns that have a little something special up top.

The two above are Reem Acra gowns and just scream royalty inspired. And with the price tag, I think royalty may be the only ones able to afford them! Monique Lhullier made the two gowns below. And of course, they too have a hefty price tag. 

For a more affordable approach to the non-strapless look, check out these dresses by Nicole Miller.

Real Florida Wedding: Julia & Raul

This is our first "Real Wedding" entry on BrideByYourSide and I am so honored that it be my friend Julia's beautiful Florida wedding. My favorite thing about Julia & Raul's big day is that the most obvious element is their love and the company of friends and family. Their wedding is proof that celebrating a marriage doesn't have to (and shouldn't) put anyone in debt. It's also a perfect example of how to throw an incredible party on a budget.

I love this picture of Julia and Raul right after they said their vows. THIS is what a wedding is all about people.

Weddings Specs:

Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Elks Lounge in Winter Park, Florida

Bride & Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Angelo

Flowers: BridalSilkFlowers on Ebay

Photographer: Family

DJ: Family friend

Cake & Catering: The Elks Lounge 

Guest Count: 110 people

Budget: $5,000.00

Advice from the Bride:

               "Whether you hire a wedding planner or just really utilize the maid of honor, don't try to do everything alone. ESPECIALLY when you are try to save some money and doing a lot of DIY things. Centerpieces and favors for  may not seem like a lot when you plan them out, but after hand addressing each invitation and keeping track of RSVP's, things get overwhelming and time consuming FAST! Use everyone you can to make things easier, even if you just give everyone in the bridal party one job that you just have to check at the end, it will help.

                Think of venues that aren't popular, the art center or garden yard at local hotels or parks may not be the thriftiest options. If you are planning a wedding indoors, do not pay as much attention to the outside of the building. The pictures and the memories are all indoors, therefore paying attention to the uneven paint of the building's exterior will drive you crazy and force you to use a location that may be hundreds of dollars more expensive. Think about using clubs that a family member or a friend is a member at, this is almost always the cheapest  route.

              My last piece of advice is for those who are trying to plan a wedding on a budget. This is not the time to try to impress your new in-laws. I was married less than two years ago and I can tell you I do not remember one brand of alcohol at the bar or a single thing that was on the menu other than meatballs (because that's the only thing I specifically requested). When you have choices like top-shelf or well liquors, go with the cheaper of the two. People will still drink vodka and soda wether it's brand name or not. The menu doesn't need to be steak and lobster to be fancy. You can serve grilled chicken with roasted potatoes and a steamed vegetable medley for one quarter the cost of the fancier options and everyone will still leave full, and I PROMISE YOU that no one is going to say, 'nice wedding, but I can't believe they didn't have steak'. I found pasta to be the cheapest and easiest route, and who doesn't love pasta?!

            Most of all, enjoy the planning process, because the wedding came will come fast and seem to only last minutes. Most of the memories will be from planning process... trying one million cakes and five million dresses and making eighteen different centerpieces at your house before deciding to use premade ones. Enjoy it, be specific, and get what you want and your wedding day really will feel like a fairy tale!"

This entry is LONG overdue. Julia and Raul have just welcomed their first baby into the world, Xander Enrique. And he is adorable. Congratulations to both of you and thank you for being our first "Real Wedding" post on BrideByYourSide!