Good morning from Huntington Beach everyone! It’s been a pretty crazy short week since I’m back from filming and shooting in Phoenix, Arizona working with Activities So Cal on some athletes and have a very special treat for you. This week’s Wedding Tip of the Week is brought to you by David Tutera.
You might remember me mentioning before that I was going to be working with David Tutera from WeTV‘s My Fair Wedding for Shelby & Matt’s Wedding last fall along with their 12 Hour Engagement Shoot at Disneyland, San Diego Wild Animal Park & their home in Orange County. Unfortunately I’m not able to share the wedding yet as Shelby & Matt’s wedding hasn’t aired, but I love David Tutera’s Top 10 Wedding Tips for planning a wedding from his book.
I’ll cut to the chase & get straight on to the article, but let’s say you’re an Orange County bride and you’re finding yourself bogged down planning your wedding & it’s really starting to take it’s toll on you. Having planned my own wedding, I think that David Tutera’s list is really creative and will help you relieve yourself of some of the stress or at least help you deal with the wedding planning.
But before I present you with this week’s wedding tip and you’re thinking… Hey – I’d really like to get to know this Huntington Beach Wedding Photographer in Orange County that wants to help brides and grooms enjoy planning their wedding to the fullest, feel free to get in touch with me anytime.
I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.
And without further ado, here is the awesome article from David Tutera & have a terrific weekend – cheers!
David Tutera’s Top 10 Wedding Tips
A glimpse at David’s new book
“The Big White Book of Weddings: The How-To Guide for the Savvy, Stylish Bride”
10. Overall Planning: Think about the big picture! Before jumping into all the details, take some time to envision the overall end result (what is your dream wedding?) Organize all your thoughts and great ideas, andthen, with a goal in mind, start with the shopping and decorating as a calm, cool and collected bride with a great plan.
9. Budget: There’s no need to spend a ton of money to have a beautiful wedding; you just have to spend the money you do have wisely! Remember, being over-the-top is not a necessity – less can be more and some of the most elegant weddings are done with well-executed simplicity.
8. Invitations: Invitations should set a tone of excitement for your entire affair! The outside of the envelope, the stamps, the layout of the invitation, and the font—all the details count. When you’re creating invitations, imagine what it will be like for your guests to be receiving them. A great invitation grabs the attention of your guests and guarantees the impression that yours is a wedding not to be missed.
7. Décor: When it comes to table centerpieces and reception floral arrangements, ask for a mix of high and low arrangements, or a variation of three correlating arrangement designs (that vary in cost) mixed throughout the tables. This combination will help cut costs from having to pay for all large arrangements for each table and will also add aesthetic variety to the look of your reception on many visual levels.
6. Your Wedding Dress: There are so many gorgeous gowns out there to choose from—how do you pick “the” one? The key is to flatter your body and work with what you’ve got to look amazing in a fashion piece that compliments your every move. Pick a dress that compliments your body type – know your body shape and what styles work best on you before you go dress shopping, and you’ll be sure to find a dress that’s truly the “perfect fit!”
5. Hair and Make Up: Hiring the right amount of make-up artists for your wedding party makes all the difference. Ask your make-up consultant in advance how much time she needs per girl, and how many assistants you need to hire to get the job properly done with time to spare for any touch-ups. Create an order of who in your bridal party will be done first, starting with mothers of the bride and groom and doing the flower girl towards the end (kids love to play with their hair and face, so the shorter amount of time between your flower girl’s styling and the wedding, the better.) You, as the bride, should be last—with plenty of time to spare to enjoy getting beautifully bridal!
4. Food and Beverage: Food can be so much more than a meal—you can even use it to help convey your personalities and include your guests in your love story! For example, instead of just selecting regular foods to serve, create a menu that is inspired by places you and your groom have visited, your heritages, or your favorite dishes.
3. Expect the Unexpected: Always keep your guests guessing to keep them eagerly anticipating what they will experience next! Have something different happen every 30 minutes. Introduce a new food or drink, change the lighting or the music, have a new type of entertainment, move locations, or choose to have unique wedding timeline to change up things for your guests so it’s not just another cookie-cutter wedding! Your guests will have unforgettable memories.
2. Happily Hosting: Being a great bride also means being a great host! Take time and make efforts to let your guests to know how much it means to you that they came to share in your special day. Receiving lines, toasts and visiting tables as a couple are great ways to show your gratitude (and to see everyone!)
1. Enjoy every step of the way! You will only be able to enjoy the rush and elation of planning your wedding one time, so revel in every moment of your wedding dreams coming true. Wedding planning should feel like an exciting series of events leading up to a grand finale. Include your closest family and friends and make the whole process a joyful journey.