Go2Wed.com Engagement Story Contest

 Share your story. Get your friends and family to vote.
Win the ultimate engagement package!
It’s simple:
1. Log-on to go2wed.com between January 9th and January 29th to submit the story of your engagement!
2. Share with your friends & family - have them vote for your story. (Voting begins January 30th and ends February 5th)

The story with the most votes by midnight, Feburary 5th
wins an engagement package valued at $1,000!

A special thanks to our awesome sponsors!

Contributing Writer: Adagio Djay Entertainment, Jay Kochendorf

A common trait of the typical wedding DJ is the misunderstanding that what they bring (their equipment) is more important than what they can do (their talent). This is most obvious when visiting their web site. Flashy pictures of their CD Players, laptop computers, speakers, light shows, microphones, mixers, amplifiers, or our favorite…cheesy pictures of themselves talking into their mics while their light show sparkles in the background.  

Did your caterer show you photos of their pots & pans? Did your photographer show their collection of lenses? When you see photos like these being emphasized, you can be sure you are dealing with a typical wedding DJ.

This type of advertising tells you that the typical wedding DJ believes you should be most concerned with what kind of equipment they will bring to your reception. But if you want the best wedding reception possible, you need Extraordinary Talent.

That means you want a DJ who not only uses the best sound and lighting equipment available, but also has the unique skills and uncommon talent to make your wedding reception as much fun as possible. Talent and skills are services, which cannot be accurately portrayed in flashy pictures and websites, but can be confirmed through reputation and feedback surveys.

Adagio Djay Entertainment  |  www.adagiodj.com
1.800.861.3691 |  The Buzz

It’s the moment you’ve been planning for since you got engaged, possibly since you were a little girl. All the plans are now about to come to fruition.  In the last 24 hours before a wedding, when all of the final details are put into place, emotions run high and stress can be a determining factor.

The biggest thing to remember in the last 24 hours before a wedding is that things may come up, but few will have a huge effect on the wedding. If you’ve dotted your i’s and crossed your t’s along the way most of these will be small details.  Focus on the rehearsal and going through your checklist, and enjoy what will be a wonderful celebration of love.

Here are your tips for the last 24 hours:

• Attend rehearsal.
• Attend rehearsal dinner. Give attendants their gifts.
• Have a manicure and/or a pedicure.
• Put together the tip envelopes (for the vendors) and give them to the designated “tip person” (usually the best man or attendant).
• Confirm wedding day transportation (and pick up points)
• Reconfirm hair and makeup appointments.
• If you have access to the ceremony and/or reception venues, bring everything over there that you may need (décor, guest book, etc).
• Layout everything you need for the next day in a safe place (marriage license, dress, shoes, etc.).
• Speak with everyone in the wedding party and make sure everyone knows where to be at what time.

Try to go to bed early and get some sleep!

Its your EXCLUSIVE opportunity to enter for a chance to be 1 of 6 competing for our GRAND PRIZE vacation to Breezes Resorts in Jamaica and a huge list of other prizes in our

Cake Dive at The Wedding Show October 30th, 2011

The
minute you are engaged, people start wondering who’s on your list. You
immediately have you “A” list, those that must be there. But then things get a
little iffy after that. This is where the “B” list starts.

Look at
your list and then think about how the following thoughts and rules apply:

• How
  close are you to this person?
• When
  was the last time you saw or spoke to them?
• Would
  having this person present at your wedding make you feel uncomfortable?
• If
  you have not seen this person for so many years then I would cross them
  off your list. Perhaps 5 years (you think of a time frame that is
  reasonable to you).

You will
have to stick to your guns and not feel pressured into inviting people your
really don’t want to share your day with you. Always remember it is your day
and your budget!

Don’t feel
obliged to invite second or third cousins you really don’t know.

Work
colleagues are tricky too.  If you don’t see them outside of work then to
me this a no brainer. Single friends can pose a problem if you feel you should
invite a plus one. If you have many single friends then seat them all on one
table, they will be fine and all have the same thing in common. If you have a
close friend who is single and does not know many people but you really want
them there you may have to add a plus one to make them and you feel comfortable
on the day.

If you get
the idea that perhaps you might invite more people that you thought because a
certain amount won’t turn up please squash it right away. What if all those
guests say yes? Can you afford them once you have invited them? It is much
better to send your A list invitations first then once you get those replies
back you can send invites from your B list a couple of weeks later.

One
question that comes up a lot…What should I do because my parents are
contributing to our budget and they want their friends to be invited?

Speak to your parents and agree the number of friends they can invite and
then they can choose who is most important to them. It is a delicate situation
and because it’s a wedding generally very emotive, but this must be made clear
at the beginning of your planning.

The best type of maid of honor is like a boyscout – always prepared and always helpful. Brides, in case your maid-of-honor prefers boy watching to boy scouting, you could either ask someone to help you put this bridal emergency kit together, or pull it together yourself.

Essentials

• Aspirin (or pain reliever of choice)
• Band-Aids
• Breath Mints
• Bottle of water
• Cell phone (fully charged with charger)
• Chalk (to cover up any last minute smudges or smears on your wedding dress)
• Clear nail polish (for stocking runs)
• Comb
• Corsage pins
• Dental floss/toothpicks
• Eye drops
• Extra earring backs
• Extra panty hose
• Hair pins/ponytail holder/hairspray
• Hand towelettes
• Hem tape
• Makeup touch up kit
• Mini sewing kit
• Mirror
• Safety pins
• Smelling Salts (Just in case!)
• Spot remover
• Static-cling spray
• Straws (for the bride’s hydration without messing up her lipstick)
• Tissues
• Tweezers

Good extras: Camera for taking getting dressed candids, list of vendors phone numbers, wristwatch.

We’ve always loved the outdoors, but the “rustic theme” has been popping up all over the place. This subtle but classic approach to bringing the “outdoors” in a wedding is here to stay. The 2011 wedding trends include rustic-chic concepts, lots of details and a ton of creativity. Here are some ideas in adding a rustic appeal to your wedding.

Rustic Wedding Trend #1: Using Mason Jars in your decor
One of the reasons I think mason jars can be a brides best friend is the fact that they are inexpensive, bring a vintage vibe to the wedding but they also work well with the whole reduce, reuse, recycle idea. I have bought some for my wedding at the local thrift store, I have saved some money and I like giving a bit back to the local community.

Rustic Wedding Trend #2: Nontraditional Place Cards & Table Numbers
Sure, people need to be able to find their table, or be directed at your wedding, but paper isn’t the only option. We are seeing brides using items like chalkboards for use in table numbers, signage, menus, and other specialty sign needs.

Rustic Wedding Trend #3: Offering A Nontraditional Mode Of Transportation
So many rustic weddings take place in unique venues so why not make the most of that space and think about ways to move your guest from ceremony to reception in a memorable way. Here is a great example of using a horse and trailer decorated to fit the wedding to move guest around.

You found “the one” you are going to marry that is, but finding “the dress” can sometimes be just as difficult. Focus on your body type, and you’ll find a dream dress that makes you look and feel like a princess.

If you’re Pear-Shaped

Look for: A skirt that gradually flares out in an A formation from the natural waist to the floor, highlighting the narrowness of the midsection and floating away from the hips and thighs. A spaghetti-strap bodice or a V neckline will also showcase a more slender upper body.

If you’re Busty

Look for: A dress with a scooped neckline. It will open up your face and display your décolletage without showing too much cleavage. If you love the look of strapless gowns, choose one that has a slight dip along the neckline, like a sweetheart, rather than a style that goes straight across (which will make your bust appear even larger and more shelf-like).

If you’re Plus-Sized

Look for: An Empire dress with a skirt that begins just under the bust and flows into a gradual floor-length A-line. Make sure the Empire seam does not start on the chest and that there is no pleating of the fabric, which is reminiscent of maternity wear. The dress should play up your shape; if it’s too loose, it will add pounds.

If you’re Apple-Shaped

Look for: A dress that cinches in at the smallest point on the waistline then flares out into a gradual A shape. Opt for a bodice with a lot of texture to it―think ruche or lace detailing―that will camouflage and fit snugly, creating a corset like effect. The most slenderizing neckline for you is one with a deep V, which will draw eyes toward the vertical, not the horizontal.

If you’re Tall

Look for: A simple silhouette. The strategy is to emphasize your natural shape, so every aspect of the dress―the lower waistline, a floor-sweeping hem―needs to reflect your longer proportions. If you’re wearing long sleeves, they should go past the wrist. You don’t want to look as if you’ve borrowed a gown from someone shorter than you.

If you’re Straight-Lined

Look for: A dress that will create curves where you don’t have them. Try a sheath dress in a wispy charmeuse that’s cut on the bias; the curving side seam will give you a “va-va-voom” silhouette. Or look for a ball gown that cinches in at your natural waist and descends into a full, flowing floor-length skirt: It will capitalize on your slenderness and camouflage a lack of hips.

If you’re Petite

Look for: Trumpet, sheath, and modified A-line gowns. Find a style with a waistline above your natural waist, to make the lower half of the dress (and therefore you) appear longer. The fabric is up to you―you can pull off a high sheen. But the detailing should be small (no huge bows) and limited to the bodice, to draw the eye upward.

If you’re Small-Chested

Look for: A ruched bodice. Extra fabric up top will help fill out your upper body and create the illusion of curves. Lightly padded halter styles will also do the trick.