Wedding Planning 101: Create a Wedding Planner

Did your wonderful husband-to-be recently “pop the question” and now you are wondering what on earth you have gotten yourself into with trying to plan a wedding? Don’t panic! I was there once and I remember the first few weeks of having no idea what to do or where to start. Our wedding date was only five months away and I was completely clueless as to what type of ceremony I wanted, what colors I liked, who would officiate, where the wedding would take place, and on and on the endless unknowns went. There seemed to be an enormous amount of details to figure out, and time was running out.

Before you do anything, make up a “wedding planner.” This was literally the best thing I did and it saved me so much hassle and allowed me to have a beautiful, stress-free wedding day. There are all sorts of lovely pre-made wedding planners available, but I recommend you make your own. Get a 3-ring binder and notebook paper. Title a separate sheet of paper for each month until the wedding. For the last month, make a separate page for each week. For the last week, make a separate page for each day.

As you are thinking of the 1001 things which need to be done before the big day, instead of letting them overwhelm you, write it down in your wedding planner on the appropriate page when you would like to have that item figured out, done, or taken care of. Use these monthly, weekly, and daily lists to help keep you on track. As items are finished, cross them off your list. If something doesn't get done one month, move it to the next month.

In my wedding planner, I not only had a whole section with these lists, but I kept everything else needed for the big day. There was a section for receipts (I put some clear plastic pockets to hold these in), a section which listed everyone who was involved in the wedding (so no one would be overlooked on the program), and fabric swatches (so we could match the dresses, the flowers, and the decorations). Another section listed all the out-of-town guests, where they were staying, when they were coming in, and if they needed transportation. There was a section for wedding and shower gifts and thank you cards which still needed to be written. As we met with various individuals (florists, wedding coordinator, and so on), I took notes and kept these notes in my wedding planner for future reference. There was also a section which listed all the contact information for the key people/businesses involved in our wedding (from cake decorator to officiator).

Your wedding planner will be different than mine, because no two weddings are the same. Customize your planner to fit your exact needs for your special day.

As you plan your wedding, make sure and take time to enjoy preparing and looking forward to it. Don’t get so caught up in all the details that you drive yourself and everyone around you crazy! In the end, everything will work out and it will be a beautiful day!

Crystal Paine is the owner of Covenant Wedding Source, LLC, an online retail bridal business specializing in custom-made gowns and other unique wedding products. She lives with her husband in Kansas. For more information on her business, visit her website: http://www.covenantweddingsource.com

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Wedding Day Beauty

by Tara Sabeti, beautysteals.com

Your wedding day is quite possibly the most important day of your life. It's a day where you will be the center of attention, so it's only natural that you will want to look as beautiful as you feel.

The key is to feel comfortable in your makeup. I have known brides that have ended up crying because they weren't accustomed to the amount of makeup they were wearing. On the other hand, my own grandmother didn't even wear an ounce of makeup for her big day, and I can't say she was thrilled with that either.

So what should you look for while shopping for wedding makeup? Choose products which complement your skin tone, skin type and of course, your bridal gown. And most of all, have fun!

Lips

Women with fair skin can create a soft, dreamy look with peachy colors and beige lipsticks with pink undertones. For a more dramatic look, choose berry shades and reds with blue undertones.

If you have medium or olive skin, rich, deep reds with brown undertones and darker pinks with a hint of purple are stunning choices. Light browns with warm undertones and dark berry shades also complement your skin tone.

If your wedding is taking place during summer, a nutmeg lip gloss looks incredible on olive skin tones, especially paired with a bronzer.

African-American and Caribbean women can wear lip colors with more pigment. Rich, dark toffee colors, deep plums and reds with blue undertones complement dark skin tones beautifully.

Take care to choose a lip color that will not make your skin look washed out or full of flaws. Be sure to test your lip color on your lips, not somewhere else on your face or body. Choose a lip color which will complement your face and eye makeup.

Avoid biting your lips or licking them. They will dry out, making it difficult to apply lipstick and lip liner. Your lip color may even show up unevenly.

Foundation

Your foundation color must match your skin tone perfectly. That's especially crucial if you are planning to wear your hair up in an updo. Make sure to color-match under natural daylight, not artificial lighting. Department store lighting can be deceptive. Your makeup may appear to match your skin tone perfectly, but once you step out into natural light, that may not be the case. Choosing a foundation shade may take some time, since there are so many colors to choose from.

Most skin tones have yellow undertones; even if you think you have a pink undertone, you still have yellow in your skin. With very few exceptions, pale skinned women need to select more neutral yellow shades than makeup companies would have you think.

Test colors alongside your jaw, not on the inside of your wrist, for the best match. Your foundation should blend invisibly into your skin in the daylight.

The advantage to purchasing cosmetics at department stores is that you can easily experiment with colors and get a hands-on experience with the products. At drug stores, you rarely can try on products, making it difficult to make a decision. The good news is that most drug stores nowadays offer money-back guarantees if you aren't happy with your purchase.

Brows

It's best to shape your brows approximately 5 days before your wedding day. Visit an experienced esthetician, even if it is not your first time shaping your brows, to have your brows shaped to perfection. And ignore that silly rule that your brow shape must follow your natural brow line. There is more than one brow shape which suits your facial structure. For example, highly-arched brows make round faces appear more oval. A flatter brow shape makes a long face appear shorter.

Of course, creating an obviously unnatural brow shape will not enhance your features as well as one which actually works well with your facial structure. Discuss with your esthetician what shape is best for you. A beautiful brow shape will enhance your features in wonderful ways.

Nails

Although it is not advised to wear acrylic nails on a regular basis, consider having acrylic tips adhered to your nails for this special occasion. They last for about 2 weeks, and then you can have them removed by a professional. You won't have to worry about your nail polish chipping and they will look picture-perfect for all those pre- and post-party events, including your honeymoon.

Eyes

Have your makeup artist or a friend apply false lashes. You will be amazed at how they can add instant glamour and drama to your look. False lashes come in strips or as individual hairs. For a more natural look, apply individual hairs to any sparse areas along your upper lash line.

It is essential to wear waterproof mascara, even if you think you won't cry. If you are wearing false lashes, apply mascara before you apply the lashes. You may even want to skip the mascara entirely.

Hair

How many times do you have an excuse to look like a princess? Take advantage of this special day and wear your hair in an elegant updo. It doesn't have to be elaborate; it can be as simple as a French twist. Updos highlight your neck wonderfully and add grace to any look.

To avoid any last-minute changes to your makeup, set aside one day about 2 months or so in advance where you wear your makeup to test its staying power and whether or not you react to any of the ingredients. You should notice any product reactions within 24 hours. If you need to make any adjustments, you will have plenty of time to make any necessary changes.

CREDITS

Tara Sabeti is Vice-President of Marketing at www.BeautySteals.com, an online retailer of cosmetics, skin care and fragrances. A graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, she has spent more than five years researching and working in the cosmetics and fashion industries. Her in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the cosmetics industry, from product development to e-marketing, as well as cosmetic applications for women of varying backgrounds, makes Sabeti an authority women can trust.

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Tips to Make Your Wedding More Unique and Special

by Jerry Leung

Just like all the other couples, you would like to make your wedding the most unique in the world. There are a lot of different ways to accomplish this goal. And the followings are some tips for you.

First of all, the location where you will host your wedding is very essential. It will be better to make a decision on it before you go to other items. If it is a place that is not easy to find, you should provide transportation for the guests.

In fact, there is no limit for the location of your big day. A hotel or a country club can be perfect. If you wish to, you may also host it at your home. An outdoor wedding in your garden of your home can be a romantic one.

You will need to visit the venues personally when you have a sort list on it. It is important to have a look at the actual location and you should not rely on photos or images only.

In your wedding ceremony, you may have someone to read some pieces of poetries. You can invite any person to do it. You can invite either your best friend, or your aunt to do it. No matter who does this, you have to make sure that it will not be something boring.

Concerning the content of the ceremony reading, it can be an excerpt from a love poem you love. However, it can be more interesting if you will write your own reading. And by doing this, you can be sure that it is something unique.

For the other items in your wedding, you will need a check list to help you to organize them. You will need a physical check list. Since it will be very troublesome if you have to go back to your computer to check it on your big day, you will need to print it out. You will check if every item is delivered on time and properly.

If possible, you should not do the checking yourself. Instead, you will find your best friend to keep the check list and help you to organize and check the items on your big day. Trust me! You will be very busy and have no time to deal with this.

For the bride, you would like to be the most beautiful bride on your wedding. Consequently you will need to take care your skin at least a month before your big day. In order to maintain the quality of the sun, you should avoid excessive sunshine and take lots of water. Regarding your meals, you should also take more fresh fruits and vegetables instead of meat.

You should discuss with your makeup artist well before your wedding. It is better to have a final decision on the makeup a month before and it is important for you to try it out before the wedding.

The last point is that you should take everything easy. Do not lose your temper just because some minor mistakes. If you can do all this, your wedding will always be a special and unique one.

Jerry Leung is a wedding invitation designer with great interest in Chinese Style Wedding cards. He designs Contemporary Chinese Wedding Invitations with Dragon and Phoenix Art. Besides, he runs a blog on weddings to share his ideas on items such as Seasonal Wedding Favors. You can also find UK Wedding Vendor Directory from his website.

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