www.I Need A Wedding Website.pronto

EVERYONE is finally on line. I know, I know there were a few holdouts...and there are still a great many people who hunt-n-peck their way through the world wide web (mom, dad, I mean you:). But everyone you know has access to a computer (Grandma Jean and Aunt Edna too) and I'd venture to say that MOST people you know get any important info online, and do most of their corresponding electronically.

Say what you will about the lack of personal connection or "whatever happened to the art of writing an actual letter", fact of the matter is that if it's not online, people are going to think it doesn't exist.

What does this mean for your wedding? You need a wedding website.

Long gone are the days of excessive invitation inserts (unless you are doing an uber formal affair in which case you should skip this article), welcome to the days of giving your guests an address to access your wedding info to their hearts' delight!

Keep in mind, this doesn't mean you shouldn't send actual invites...but your website is a way to give every single little piece of information that you want your guests to have!

Your wedding website can (and should) include any of the following:
*The story of how you met (plus cute pics along the way!)
*Engagement pics (plus other fun deets like honeymoon destinations, updates on your planning progress, etc)
*Wedding info like date, time, venues, maps
*Any other "event" info like time/place of rehearsal dinners, brunches, showers or cocktail parties
*Out-of-towner info like hotels, airports, cab companies
*Information on fun things to do while your guests are in town!
*Wedding party blurbs -- what a fun way to recognize your friends & family
*Where you are registered -- GASP -- Yes, you read it right. It's OK to tell people where you're registered on your site. It's informal!
*It is also possible to arrange for your guests to RSVP to events via your site (dinners, showers, even the big day itself!)

A few things to remember:
*Make sure you write the web address on something that your guests will keep (i.e. the invitation, NOT the response card)
*Have any flaky family attending? This is a great spot to write out a schedule down to the very last minute. Sometimes people just need a little direction!
*Believe me, when you are all done with this little "project" of creating a website, you're going to want everyone and their mother to see it. But please do abide by the rule of "if you're not inviting them to the wedding, don't blast your site to their email."

Where to find FREE websites?

www.weebly.com
www.ewedding.com
www.weddingwindow.com
www.theknot.com

Have you made a wedding website? Send us the link! We want to post a few examples on our site!

xoxo,

YourWeddingBuddyInTheWorldWideWeb

E: info@weddingplannerla.com
W: weddingplannerla.com

Beauty Rules For Your Wedding Day

Beauty blunders are never something any girl aspires to make -- but on your big day? The one day of your life that is destined to live on in facebook and shutterfly infamy? Avoid them at all costs.

We've chatted with some brides, scoured the internet, and threw in a cent or two to compile some beauty faux pas that we want you to avoid!

Here's to you, gorgeous!

#1 Your Wedding Day Is No Time To Experiment.

I get it. And I agree. It's plain and simple FUN to play around with makeup. I'm like a wild, carefree, uncaged animal whenever I hit Sephora. And yes, I do leave the store with both eyes caked in different colors of shadow, a variety of glosses layered over one another, and the tops of my hands covered in bronzers, blush and glitter. That is what Sephora is for.  But my advice? Keep your inner makeup magician far far away from your wedding day. This big day is NOT the time to throw on purple mascara if you've never tried it before...And that bronzer you read about in Glamour? Don't give it a wedding-day whirl.

Our advice? Whether you're doing your own makeup or paying someone to enhance your amazing assets, give it a trial run. And by that I mean the whole kit and kaboodle. Schedule a hair and makeup dry run the day of a gown fitting. You can see exactly how you will look when all is said and done. And don't forget to take pics -- LOTS of pics. Natural light, flourescent light, candle light (is that possible with your seamstress?) Take the pics home and scour. What do you love? Hate? When did you start to get shiny and need a touch up? And please, take our word for it, you're going to want to look back at these pics in 30 years and have your kids say "Whoa! Mom! You were HOT!" no "Whoa. Mom? Blue and green eyeshadow with a plum liner?"

#2 Coco Chanel's Words of Wisdom

Seriously. She isn't arguably the most famous fashion icon for nothing. Her advice? Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take off one accessory. Now, as with all advice, you have to take it with a grain of salt. But I write this to encourage you to consider your wedding day accessories. Earrings, necklace, bracelet, veil, hair piece, various rings, your bouquet? What are you wearing and are you weighed down by the baubles hanging from your body? You want your guests to remember you as a beautiful bride -- not as the girl wearing her entire jewelry box.

#3 I (insert name here) solemnly swear not to pick a strapless dress only to tug on it all night long.

Strapless gowns are far and away the most popular wedding dress style. And they are stunning on many people. But please. For the love. Do not spend your entire wedding day hiking up your dress. Prevent this unfortunate situation by really giving your dress a trial run during your fittings. Walk around, sit, stand, hug your seamstress, bend over to fix your shoe, dance a few steps...You may find that your dress just won't stay up. A good friend had her tailor add some gorgeous straps using material she had snipped off the hem. A bride I chatted with found a way to attach her dress to her strapless bra for extra hold. Whatever you can do to prevent a day long tug of war will make you a MUCH happier bride!

#4 Undergarments. Need I say more?

I know. I hated to admit to myself that I actually DID need spanx under my satin wedding dress...and the strapless bra/corset/girdle contraption was probably the least sexy thing I have EVER donned. But you know what? I felt great all day. And in my photos, my dress hangs perfectly and I don't have a pained "I'm holding my breath and sucking in while simultaneously puffing my chest to keep my dress up" look. Besides, your husband WILL give you a few minutes to change into "something more comfortable" after the reception!

 #5 EVERYONE looks better with a tan.

Ok, I said it. I'm SORRY to those of you who use fair skinned celebs like Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger to prove that beauty does not start with a golden bronze. I disagree with you. Spoken like a true spray tan addict, no? Here's the deal: tanned skin shows muscle definition, hides cellulite, masks skin imperfections and makes diamond rings SPARKLE.

I do NOT suggest or recommend actually lying out in the sun or going to a tanning booth. Boo for skin cancer! But there are so many different, fabulous options for a you to achieve a healthy glow on your special day. My new favorite cheapo? Loreal's new spray in a bottle. Yes, the cashier at Walgreens held it up and asked me if I was a buying a blowhorn. But seriously, this spray dries in SECONDS and goes on for a fabulous, streak free tan. (No, they aren't paying me to say this...but they should after all the money I've forked over). At a mere $10 per bottle (I get 2 full body tans out of each bottle) this is a BARGAIN. And for less than 2 mocha-frappa-cocoa whatever drinks you pick up at Starbucks, you can easily buy a can of this ahead of time and perfect your perfect color!

My only advice? ABSOLUTELY do a tanning rehearsal if you're not an obsessive spray tanner (yes, I'm speaking about myself), and plan on getting your final spray 2 - 3 days before your wedding. You'll be stunningly fabulous for your rehearsal dinner AND your color won't rub onto your dream dress.

Do you have any beauty blunders you'd like to share? Any timeless tips? Words of wisdom? Send 'em on over, we wanna hear!

xoxo,

afanofbeautifulbrides

E: info@weddingplannerla.com

W: weddingplannerla.com