Anaheim Brewery, Sept.5th

Bridesmaids & Groomsmen

When you ask someone to be in your wedding, they will be expected to spend a substantial amount of time and money on your wedding. This will include buying a dress and shoes or tuxedo rental, fittings, buying a gift for, and attending your shower, bachelor/bachelorette party, and wedding day. Working with your attendants will probably be one of the most stressful parts of planning your wedding, simply because you are working with a lot of different personalities, tastes, and schedules. Try to keep this in mind when you and your fiancé are choosing your wedding party. You want this to be an enjoyable experience for everyone. The selecting of the tuxedos seems to be less complicated than the dresses and accessories. Of course this is true of the Bride’s dress and Groom’s tuxedo as well. The bride and groom usually pick out all of the tuxedos together. The groom is generally the only man in a different tuxedo. The best man will have a different accessory such as tie, vest, etc. The hardest part will be getting the groomsmen, best man, and dads in for sizing, and deposits to order their tuxedos. Always be sure they try on the entire tuxedo when picking it up, to be sure everything fits and is included. When choosing bridesmaids dresses, it is best to only take one or maybe two people shopping with you. If you want to go with more, just have fun and don’t try to make any decisions until later. Otherwise, you will be frustrated because you will have several people saying I want this dress, not that one, which will not be fun for you. Very rarely can several women all agree on the same dress as being their favorite. Keep in mind the sizes, shapes and ages of all your bridesmaids when shopping. Once you have selected your bridesmaids dresses, each girl will need to come into the bridal shop to be sized, and put down a deposit which is usually half of the total. The shop will not place the order until everyone has been in, so the dresses will all come from the same dye lot. Otherwise, your dresses may be different shades. The maid/matron of honor can have a similar, but different dress or bouquet for her to stand out. Once the dresses come in, each bridesmaid will need to schedule a fitting for her dress. Some alterations are usually necessary, and are not included in the cost of the dress The most common alterations are side seams for a tight fit, and a hem. At the time of the fitting, it is necessary to have the under garments and shoes that will be worn at the wedding. You will probably want your bridesmaids to all be wearing the same shoes, so it is best to order them at the same bridal shop, especially if you will be having them dyed to match the dresses. You will want to think about the jewelry they will be wearing. The perfect solution may be to buy each bridesmaid matching necklaces and earrings. This way everyone looks great, and you have your attendants gifts taken care of as well! by Debbie Christensen, Publisher of The Wedding Guide & former owner of Torrance Bridal Salon

Sunday at the Sheraton

Sunday, August 20, 2017 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We will be at the Sheraton Park Hotel 1855 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92802, We'll be handing out Wedding Guide books, and you can see our Elegant Wind Waves in action at their ceremony site. Don't miss the biggest and best Orange County Bridal Show of the year. Shop, compare and connect with 100 Orange County wedding vendors. Find new planning ideas, inspiration and great values at this season's largest gathering of florists, wedding venues, photo booths, photographers, disc jockeys, bridal gowns, tuxedos, entertainers, bridal beauty tips, custom invitations, vintage decor, and romantic honeymoons.

Destination Wedding Proposal

The Perfect Destination Wedding Proposal By now you have gotten to know this lovely person you are with and you have come to the conclusion that you want to spend the rest of your life with them. You want to propose, but you want it to be unique and unforgettable. The idea of a ring over the dessert plate just doesn’t do it for you. Here is an idea that will make your proposal one that will never be forgotten. Instead of planning a destination wedding, suggest a luxury vacation to a romantic place like Hawaii. Set the date out far enough to allow you time to prepare. Order tour packages and all inclusive deals from places like Hawaii and begin your plan. Enlist the help of a friend or family member to set up a free Plumfund account. Make sure the account is set-up to say it is TOP SECRET. Make your account for wedding expenses. Your guests can contribute to the wedding in lieu of wedding or engagement gifts. Things like hotel expenses, romantic dinners, the wedding gown, transportation, and activities are all listed and your guest’s chip in, as a way to wish you well. Choose a romantic hotel, overlooking the sea. Plan your activities around romance and adventure. There are so many beautiful sites and experiences on the islands, you will not find it hard to do. Visit ancient volcanic, black sand beaches, enjoy a luau, or go diving. Do some research on wedding packages that are available where you are going. A small wedding on the beach with a reception at sundown is beautiful. Ask your hotel what kind of venue and package they can provide. Keep the number of guests low, as this is a private and personal event and people will have to travel to attend. As the time nears, choose a florist, caterer, baker and minister or official to perform the ceremony. You can start dealing with the wedding gown, however, ordering one has never been easier. Select a beautiful hand-crafted dress online on Azazie.com, then get a sample sent to your house. Roughly six months before the event, arrange a dinner or small party. The theme of the party is the “Hawaiian vacation”. Present your partner with travel goodies such as luggage, swimsuits, video cameras, gift certificates for tanning, and create a computer presentation of the wonderful adventures you have planned. At the end of your presentation, present them with a beautiful gift box that includes airline tickets, itineraries, and travel brochures. On top of the paperwork, place an engagement ring and a card that reads, “Let’s make this a vacation that begins forever. Will you marry me?” You can review all the details later. The plumfund account will relieve any worries they may have. They have six months to finalize the details and get their wedding attire. Any money left over can go for the honeymoon. By using the proper channels, you can have a destination wedding of your dreams for a lot less than you expect. This is going to be a once in a lifetime adventure and the beginning of a beautiful life together. Your friends and family will gladly cooperate in order to give you and your future spouse such a unique and wonderful gift. With careful planning and patience, you can do this. It is worth the effort because your union is worth the effort. **Article by Wendy Dessler, www.honeyfund.com

Sunday at the Queen Mary

Join us at the Bridal Show on Sunday, August 6, 2017 • 11:00am - 4:00pm The Queen Mary - Long Beach 1126 Queens Hwy • Long Beach, CA 90802 Meet some of Southern CA most distinguished wedding professionals offering every product and service for your wedding. have your photo taken at the photo booths, learn the latest trends at the Wedding Planning Seminars, Ask the Experts, get free wedding planners and magazines. Preview the latest bridal fashions for the entire bridal party featured in our beautifully choreographed fashion shows. Enter to win thousands of $$$ in Door Prizes. For more info: www.WeddingGuideonline.com/bridalshows.html See you there!