What is dress preservation?

Specialists meticulously clean your garment, ridding it of any stains from the wedding day, and then carefully package it to ensure that it doesn’t yellow over time or get damaged in any way. After assessing the gown’s specific details, including materials used, decorative embellishments, and stains, a cleaning specialist will determine a specific cleaning method for the gown. The dress is then wrapped in safe materials—typically acid-free tissue paper or unbleached muslin—and placed inside a sealed box.

Why should you preserve your dress?

Not only did you spend major bucks on your wedding gown, it also carries the significance of your special day. By preserving a gown, you eliminate the threat of it becoming yellow, permanently stained, wrinkled, or misshapen. A preserved wedding gown can also be used later in life, whether for a vow renewal ceremony or for your own daughter’s nuptials.

When should you preserve your dress?

Professionals recommend that you have the dress cleaned and preserved as soon as possible after the wedding. This will ensure that stains are treated quickly and efficiently before having time to set and that the dress will not face the chance of becoming ruined or damaged in any way.

Who should preserve your dress?

To guarantee that your dress is handled professionally, make sure you select a specialist in wedding gown preservation. While many dry cleaners will boast wedding gown cleaning services, not all of them are created equally. Speak to a salesperson at the boutique where you purchased your dress and find a recommendation, or scour the internet for reviews on local vendors.

How much does it cost?

Prices may vary depending on a number of factors, such as intensity or number of stains, dress fabric, and city of the cleaners, but on average, you can expect to pay between $200-400 to have dresses cleaned and boxed.

Are there any alternatives?

If you don’t want to foot the bill to have your gown professionally preserved, or you simply don’t care about keeping it, there are a few alternative options. For starters, you can try to package the dress yourself by wrapping it in a white sheet and storing it in a sturdy box. Some brides opt for a “trash the dress” ritual where gowns are destroyed after the wedding (either by fire, water, or simply rolling in the mud) and the affair is captured on film. Lastly, if you want to actually use your wedding gown again, why not have it dyed and shortened into a cocktail dress. Many wedding boutiques and designers offer this as a service who want to re-purpose their gowns.

Susan Sancomb Photography

Kate Middleton Updo.  In a little over a year, Kate Middleton has become an international celebrity and a major fashion icon.  She has had an influence on a 2012 wedding trends.  So it’s no surprise that just hours after she attended a London Olympic gala concert, images of her were all over Pinterest.  Women everywhere were pinning images of her dress, makeup, and jewelry.  But it was this fabulous updo that had us clicking faster than you can say “princess.”  We love that its elegant, but not over the top, young but not overly trendy.  Well done, Kate Middleton, well done.

Mixed Summer Floral.  The weather is heating up which has us itching for the new season of florals.  This summer bouquet is bright and playful, adding the perfect amount of fun to a summer wedding.  This bouquet would also be great for the budget conscious bride, as it would allow her to mix and match with what she or her florist has on hand.  Bring on the summer florals!

Jennica Jo Photography

What They Should Say:

Ultimately, what you do or don’t include in your wedding programs is up to you. Some couples opt for a simple, one-page list of the wedding events, while others use wedding programs as an opportunity to get personal and creative. Consider adding some or all of these details when creating your wedding programs:

• Full names of the bride and groom, along with the date and location of the festivities
• A full list of the members of the bridal party with the option of including a short bio, sweet or humorous, about the person’s relationship to the happy couple
• A personalized note of thanks to the bride and groom’s families, as well as a message to all of the guests in attendance
• Include a special mention, letter, photo, anecdote, or poem dedicated to any deceased loved ones
• Order of the wedding ceremony, including details about specific readings or music selections
• Explanation of traditions, rituals, or customs being performed during the wedding
• The bride and groom’s new address
• Favorite quotes, poems, song lyrics, or religious scriptures
• Photos of the happy couple, the bridal party, or late family/friends that you’d like to honor

How They Should Look:

Like every other detail of the wedding, the programs should be unique and complementary to the theme. Consider adding fun embellishments or photos to them to personalize them, or get creative and think outside the box. Try making paddle fan programs for outdoor weddings, scrolls in bottles for a beach affair, or craft paper booklets for a rustic event. Use stamps, ribbons, unique papers, and colored card stock to add personalized touches.

How They Should Be Made:

Wedding programs are a great DIY project that is easy and can help you stick to your wedding budget. Ask everyone to pitch in by scheduling an arts-and-crafts night for a group of creative girlfriends. By creating specific stations and an assembly line, you can get all of your programs made in no time. If you’re looking for something slightly more structured, consider purchasing a print-at-home kit from a local paper or craft store with guided instructions on how to design and assemble programs. Lastly, if you don’t have the time or energy, you can pay to have programs designed and made at most stationery stores.

How They Should Be Distributed:

How you arrange and hand out programs is yet another opportunity to be creative and thoughtful. Assemble them inside baskets, tucked into wooden crates, laid along trays, or sticking out of pails—whatever complements your wedding theme. Having a close friend or family member pass them out as guests arrive adds a personal touch and allows you to incorporate another person into the wedding festivities. You can also have programs laid out on seats when guests arrive.

Here’s how to win:

1. Visit Geneva, Illinois and create a 1-to-3-minute video explaining why you are the perfect Geneva wedding couple. The bride and groom must each appear at least once in your video, and it must feature at least one location (not a home) in Geneva.

Videos will be judged based on originality, personality, and the best presentation of Geneva as your ideal wedding location. When you’re done, upload your video to Youtube.

2. Complete the online application form.

3. Our judges will select 12 semi-finalists based on which videos show the most originality, the most personality, and the best presentation of Geneva as your ideal wedding location. Semi-finalist videos will be posted on the Geneva Wedding 12 website, where visitors will have 12 days to vote for the best video.

4. The 3 couples with the most video votes become finalists. Finalists will be interviewed by our judges, who will select a grand prize winner based on personality, originality and your presentation of yourself as the ideal Geneva bride and groom!

For a complete list of rules and entry guidelines, please click here.

Select a destination that either has significant meaning to you and your mate, or is a place you’ve always wanted to visit.

Choose a location based on what’s most important to you during your honeymoon, whether that be a relaxing getaway or a week of adventure.

Book flights and accommodations well in advance to take advantage of great deals and to avoid any last-minute stress right before the wedding.

Utilize online deal sites to purchase discounted airfare, hotel rooms, rental cars, or admission to attractions. Not only will this help you stay within your budget, it’ll also clear up extra funds for shopping, eating out, or excursions.

Don’t book an early morning flight the day after the wedding; instead, plan to fly out later in the day or, better yet, a day later to give you time to sleep in and relax following your big day.

Purchase a travel guide or research area restaurants, attractions, activities, shopping, and landmarks to ensure you make the most out of time away.

Make a packing list several weeks before your trip to give you ample time to shop for any clothes or necessities you might need. Don’t forget to think about all vacation scenarios, including sightseeing, strenuous activity, or sophisticated nights out.

If you book your reservations in your new married name, don’t forget to bring along a copy of your marriage license to the airport or you won’t be allowed to board your flight. (To save yourself the stress: book everything in your maiden name so it matches your ID.)

Pack for the trip at least one week before departure to ensure you don’t forget anything and aren’t stressed out in the final days before the wedding trying to get everything done.

Don’t forget the camera! You’ll want to make sure to capture memories from your first trip as husband and wife.

Stick to the budget, but don’t be afraid to splurge a little bit on something special like a couples massage, guided tour, or elegant dinner.

Black + White.  Brides have long worn all white wedding dresses on their special day, and while some brides go non-traditional with colored dresses, most choose to stay with the classic white.  But when we saw this bride’s black accents, we stopped in our tracks with a collective “oooohh!”  She introduces the classic color with her belt, birdcage veil, and pendent necklace.  We’re especially smitten with the black birdcage, an elegant yet funky combination.

Christina Carroll Photography

Small Things + Love.  We started pinning quotes this week, and it’s amazing how much a few simple words can inspire and uplift you.  We love this quote because it’s such a great reminder that no matter what you do, do it with love.  No matter how small it seems, love takes it to a new level.

Paul Vincent Photography

Streamer Backdrop.  Springtime in Chicago is upon us, and that means we’re gearing up for some fantastic outdoor summer weddings.  While we love some of the popular outdoor venues in the Windy City, we also love how more and more couples are embracing backyards, nearby parks, and hometown nature preserves.  This simple streamer backdrop adds the perfect amount of pizzazz, without distracting from nature’s beauty.  We love the multicolored streamers, but we also think this backdrop would look beautiful with shades of white, draped with ivory, cream, and tea stained linens.

Erin Chen Photography

Embrace Neon.  Neon is one of the biggest wedding fashion trends of the season.  We’re seeing it in both men’s and women’s fashions, with brightly hued chinos, handbags, and sunglasses.  So when we saw these groomsmen’s neon pink socks, we couldn’t help but love their attention to both trends and personality.   The pairing of the spunky color with the classic argyle print is a match made in sock heaven.  We also love that these socks add some whimsy without distracting from the overall look too terribly much.  Bring on the neon socks!

Daisy: Innocence and purity
Gardenia: Secret love
Camellia: Gratitude
Ginger: Strength
Tuberose: Forbidden pleasures
Hibiscus: Delicate beauty, sensitivity
Red rose: Passion, love
Pink rose: Friendship, admiration, happiness
Apricot rose: Desire, admiration, modesty
White rose: Purity, secrecy, spiritual love
Jasmine: Sensuality
Yellow carnation: Disappointment, rejection
Spider Flower”  “Run away with me”
Violet: Modesty, faithfulness

While the above list shows the meanings of various flowers, you may choose a flower simply because it is your favorite type or because it matches your theme. You also may choose to use one individual flower or several small flowers. They look beautiful in updos, half-up/half-down styles, and side-swept styles. You could also do a headband of flowers, which is perfect for flower girls.

When choosing your flowers, you may want to match the flowers used in your bouquet. This will help create a seamless look. Also, use flowers that are sturdy. This will decrease the risk of the flowers breaking throughout the evening.

Juice Bar: Refresh overheated guests with an assortment of fresh juices in various flavors. This works great for a brunch reception, but can be a fun and unique option for afternoon or evening gatherings as well. For a more mature option, offer liquor mix-ins to allow guests to sip on a refreshing libation, like screwdrivers, mimosas, or vodka cranberry.

Dan Cutrona Photography

Lemonade Stand: Add some rustic charm to an outdoor wedding or reception with an old-fashioned lemonade stand, complete with hand-painted wood signs and a tip jar. In addition to standard lemonade, offer lemon-inspired cocktails, like Lemon Drops, Lemon Martinis, Hard Lemonade, or Lemonade Sangria. To add a bit of whimsy, leave bowls of quarters on every table so guests can “buy” their drinks at the stand.

Soda Bottles: Stir up feelings of nostalgia by serving a variety of sodas in old-school glass bottles. Set up a few rustic metal beverage tub and put bottles on ice, or create a colorful display with fruit-flavored sodas.

Heather Saunders Photography

Ice Cream Concoctions: Cap off the night with a sweet treat by offering guests a variety of ice cream-laden drinks, including milkshakes, ice cream floats, and homemade cream sodas.Kellie Kano Photography

Coffee Bar: Providing coffee for your guests isn’t a new idea by any means, but you can cool down on a warm summer day by offering a variety of iced varieties. At the very minimum, iced coffee is a great refreshing option, but depending on complex your coffee bar is, you can also offer iced espresso drinks or blended coffee smoothies.

What is it?

Basically, instead of standing with your back to the crowd, you and your spouse-to-be face them. The minister or officiant stands in front of you or below you (if you’re on a raised platform or alter) and conducts the ceremony with his/her back to the crowd while you are able to see (and be seen by) your guests.

Why it’s great?

For starters, it gives your guests a chance to truly witness the wedding ceremony. They can see your facial expressions and the reactions of your bridal party to every part of the wedding ceremony. It also prevents guests from straining to hear your vows, especially if you’re not miked, and it allows them to experience the emotion accompanying those sacred words. An outward facing ceremony doesn’t only benefit the guests, though. It also allows you and your spouse-to-be the opportunity to really take in the moment. As you look out over a sea of faces, you’re seeing the men and women who love you, have supported you, celebrate with you, and will be an active part of your life as a married couple.

Start Early

Losing weight takes time. Sorry, all those magic shakes and pills lie. Healthy, sustainable weight loss doesn’t happen overnight. For many people, losing one to two pounds a week is considered a healthy, achievable goal.

Eat Right

Unfortunately, most of us can’t lose weight while living on cheese puffs and ice cream. Not only are these foods full of empty calories, excessive sugar, and bad fats, they also lack the nutrients and vitamins your body needs to run efficiently. The body needs protein, healthy carbs, and fruits and vegetables. If you don’t know what any of those words are, rush out and buy a healthy eating cook book right now!

Pump Some Iron

Many women focus only on cardio, but strength training is essential for weight loss. Lean muscle burns more calories than fat, so adding strength training to your routine actually helps you burn more calories during the day.

Keep Up the Cardio

Cardio, think running, walking, dancing, swimming, etc., burns fat. If you only strength train, you will build sexy curves, but they will be hidden under gross fat. Aim for three to five cardio sessions for thirty to sixty minutes every week.

Think About Allergies

Food allergies cause inflammation in your body and can make you bloated. Many women are allergic to dairy or gluten and don’t know it. If you have an allergy, eliminating the culprit can help you lose weight.

We know you want to look beautiful on your wedding day and we want you to feel gorgeous as you walk down the aisle, but don’t torture your body with unhealthy diets. Healthy weight loss is possible. All you have to do is follow the tips above and start making changes to your lifestyle. You may also want to consult with a doctor or personal trainer.

Joel Lala Photography

Boho Fishtail Braid: Braids have been a longtime staple in the wedding world, and with the recent obsession with a certain Hunger Games star, braids are back and bigger than ever.   We absolutely love this take on the classic fishtail braid, swept to the side and tousled just enough to look effortless.  This look is also perfect for someone wanting to secure their hair for the big day, without the formality of a traditional updo.  Swoon!

Jessica Janae Photography

Cheese + Cracker Favors: Food is one of the most popular wedding favors, and if you believe the old adage that food is the way into a person’s heart, we see why couples continue to share food with their guests.  We often see favors that appeal towards guests’ sweet tooth, so this food favor caught our attention, as it’s something a little different…cheese and crackers!  We think this favor would be particularly appropriate for a couple focused on local or organic, seeking out local farms and independent vendors.  So let your guests dance the night away and then leave with a little something to help restore their energy for the after party!

Photo originally from Martha Stuart Weddings

Parasols: Available in a wide variety of colors and patterns, parasols are an adorable way to add elegance to your summer ceremony. These are especially helpful if your wedding is outdoors, giving your bridesmaids some relief from the sweltering sun.

Photo via Pamela’s Parasols

Seed Packets: Fruit, vegetable, or flower seed packets are a great favor idea for summer nuptials. Or, incorporate them in your décor by using them as table numbers or place cards.

Fans: Cool guests down with pretty hand fans. Available in tons of shapes, colors, sizes, and patterns or easy to make yourself, fans add a pretty touch to outdoor ceremonies. Make them serve double duty by printing menus or programs on one side of handmade paddle fans for outdoor ceremonies or receptions, or offering them as favors to guests.

Ice Cream Treats: In lieu of cake (or in addition to it), offer guests homemade ice cream sandwiches, milkshakes, or an assortment of chilled goodies at a sundae bar.

Fruits & Veggies: Send guests home with baskets of fresh produce or spruce up summer wedding tables with a variety of colorful, in-season fruits and vegetables.

Signature Cocktail: Create an original and refreshing cocktail, specially designed for your wedding day, to cool guests down during the cocktail hour or reception.

Outdoor Activities: Entertain guests at a casual summer reception with fun activities outdoors, such as croquet, cornhole, tetherball, or badminton.

Krista Mason Photography

Bicycles: Nothing says summertime quite like a bicycle. Create a memorable getaway by riding off together on a tandem bicycle or aboard vintage cruisers, or add a little whimsy to an outdoor ceremony by adding vintage bicycles into your decor.

Deidre Lynn Photography

Mason Jars: Mason jars are a great way to add rustic charm to your summer affair and they can serve so many purposes. Filled with candles, they look darling when hung from tree branches at an outdoor reception, or loaded with flowers, they make darling centerpieces. Best of all, they make great glasses for guests to sip lemonade, soda, water, or cocktails at your laid-back summer shindig.

 Orchard Cove Photography

Flip Flops: Help guests relax at an outdoor reception by providing flip-flops! Stock up on an assortment of colors and sizes and have them available for guests when they arrive, allowing them to slip off uncomfortable heels or dress shoes and ensuring they’ll be ready to dance, mingle, and play late into the night.

Save the Date Postcards: We love how creative couples get with their save the dates, and this adorable postcard is no different!  The photo and short caption on the front keeps things simple, and the details on the back are organized and easy for guests to read.  Another bonus to these cute save the dates is the savings you can have with postage.  Postcard stamps are significantly less expensive than regular stamps, which means you can send adorable save the dates and score a win for the budget.  What’s not to love about that?

Kate Ketzal Clutch: We are always on the lookout for fabulous bridal accessories, and this sparkly clutch had us swooning at first glance.  Small enough for a bride to tuck in her hand during a receiving line or cake cutting, yet large enough to stash lipgloss, bobby pins, and a mini perfume, this pint-sized purse is a match made in heaven.  The intricate detail and overwhelming bling factor make it extra special.  And though we’ve seen celebrities toting similar jeweled clutches on the runway, this one comes without the A-list price tag.

First things first, you’ll need some sort of backdrop. If your wedding or shower happens to be at a fab location with interestingly textured walls or breathtaking scenery, simply rope off a section that can be designated for mini photo shoots. If not, all you need is a photo backdrop (rentable from most camera or party stores) or some funky fabric that can be draped in front of the wall.

Once you’ve got your backdrop in place, you’ll want to provide your guests with plenty of props. These can be as classy or goofy as you want. The key is to offer an abundance of choices so that each photo is unique instead of looking like carbon copies. Some elegant ideas include empty frames, mini chalkboards, masquerade masks, or homemade signs. Couples hoping for hilarity can stock prop boxes with fake mustaches, silly hats, feather boas, oversized glasses, superhero costumes, and fill-in-the-blank thought bubbles made with dry-erase material or chalkboards.

Next, you’ll need a photographer or camera in place to capture the sweet and comical moments of the night. If you’ve got a photographically-gifted friend, ask them to set up shop, or position the camera with a tripod and allow guests to snap their own pics. To ensure quality snapshots, ask your photographer about the cost for hiring an assistant or intern to man the booth all night. If your event will be lasting well into the evening, make sure the photo station has ample lighting.

Create a lasting memento by having the best photos printed and put into an album, or order a printed photo book online with all of the shots. Let guests take home their favorite prints as well by setting up a photo printer at the event, or displaying proofs on an online gallery.

Honeymoon Fund: Opt out of knife sets and gravy boats and get a killer vacation instead! Online registries like HoneyFund  and Honeymoon Wishes allow wedding guests to go online and make a contribution to your honeymoon. The trip package is broken down into several parts—airfare, hotel, dining, activities, etc—so guests can choose exactly what they want to chip in towards and can help ensure that you enjoy a wonderful and worry-free vacation as husband and wife.

Lifestyle Experiences: Start your marriage off with fun and excitement by registering for unique activities through a lifestyle registry. Companies like Cloud9 allow couples to register for over 1,700 experiential gifts, including cooking classes, guitar lessons, whitewater rafting excursions, skydiving, and spa packages. Instead of packing your house full of more stuff, why not treat yourself to an adventurous outing that you’ll remember for a lifetime?

The Gift of Time: Alternative gift registries, like New American Dream, allow couples to register for gifts that emphasize service, quality time, thoughtfulness, creativity, and environmental consciousness. Instead of asking for generic material possessions, brides and grooms create a list of items or opportunities that they’d enjoy. For example, couples can express their desire for everything from a cookbook full of family recipes to volunteer hours to help paint their new home to homemade baked goods from friends. Any and everything can be added to the registry, giving guests clever ideas to bless the happy couple in thoughtful and practical ways.

Charitable Donations: Use your wedding to raise awareness for an important cause or charity. In lieu of gifts, ask your guests to make a donation to a non-profit organization of your choosing. Online charity registries, such as the I Do Foundation, allow wedding guests to make a secure donation to the charity/charities of your choice. Choose from over 60 organizations, including Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, Habitat for Humanity, National Wildlife Federation, Doctors Without Borders, Planned Parenthood, and the National Center for Family Literacy.

Food & Drink: Now you can have your gifts and eat them too! Sign up for edible goods with registries dedicated to food and beverages. Bottlenotes, an online wine community, allows happy couples to stock their cellars with registries dedicated to boutique wines and stemware. Brides and grooms that love to eat out will enjoy stocking up on gift cards to local restaurants though sites like Foodie Registry.

This & That: If you’re in need of items for your new home but can’t settle on one store, consider creating a general registry that pulls items from a variety of retailers. A personalized wish list at Amazon or Wishpot  is a great way to keep track of all the things you need and desire in one central location.

DIY Burlap Boutonniere.  This burlap boutonniere might be one of our most favorite pins ever!  Floral can take up such a huge piece of the budget, so we always love creative ways to cut back on the monetary impact on bouquets and boutonnieres.   The burlap brings in an element of nature, and the feathers mimic the lightness of flowers.  The buttons add just the right about of detail to finish the look off.  You can find an easy tutorial Green Wedding Shoes, so head over and get your DIY on!

Super Stylish Couple.  We stumbled across this pin this week, and couldn’t help but gasp out loud.  This couple defines chic, particularly because they have found a great way to blend style, personality, and a bit of whimsy.  The bride’s funky necklace, paired with a delicate blusher is a match made in heaven.  The groom’s dapper hat and bowtie looks hip without a bit of stuffiness.  After some digging, we found out that these two are Mat and Annie, and you can see more of their wedding here.

Include Your Favorite Team

If you love sports, get jerseys with the numbers of your date on it. For instance, if you’re getting married on April 20^th, get a jersey with the number 4 and one with the number 20. Pick a cute setting, like a baseball field if you’re wearing baseball jerseys, and show off those backs.

Re-enact Your Favorite Movie

If you and your hubby-to-be have a favorite movie, bring it to life in during your photo shoot. For instance, check out the adorable shoot re-enacting the love story The Notebook on the BridalGuide.com.

Spell It Out

Use a scrabble board to spell out your wedding date. This is a super cute idea for word nerds.

Have Fun with Paint

Use paint to create a cute background showcasing your wedding date. Be sure to capture the painting on film to remember all the fun.

We’d love to know your creative save the date ideas. Feel free to share by commenting below.