by Lisa Beth Miller Brides meticulously select the style, color, and length of their wedding veil, but nobody really tells you exactly when to take it off. We are here for you, and ready to tackle this major conundrum! Love the look of your veil and feel totally comfortable wearing it? It is totally ok to just leave it on for your entire reception. This is especially true if your whole hairstyle is centered around the veil, or if it is a high-impact statement piece that enhances the look you want to achieve. For example, a quirky birdcage veil might look amazing with a retro tea-length dress; why remove it? If you do decide that you want your veil to go bye-bye, there are a few appropriate times to take it off. The first idea is right after the ceremony. …

by Lisa Beth Miller Your wedding adventure isn’t truly complete until the last thank you note has been dropped into the mail. We all know how important it is to be gracious and show wedding guests that we appreciate them! As couples tackle the task of writing notes of gratitude, it is important that they avoid a few possible etiquette mistakes. Most Common Thank-You Note Mistakes: Taking Too Long To Send Them I get it.  You’re busy.  After you get married, your life usually goes through a lot of changes.  First you’ve got the honeymoon.  That’s at least two weeks. Maybe you’re moving in together or to a different city altogether. It matters not.  You have to find the time to get those thank you notes in the mail. Your guests bought you gifts, and helped to make your special day special.  Sending …

by Lisa Beth Miller We get it! This is a crazy and stressful time to be planning a wedding. And re-planning an already planned wedding due to a worldwide pandemic is a tad anxiety-inducing. But on the same note, many are suddenly faced with a lot of free time at home. I talked to Amanda Levin of Forever Magnolia Events about what little tasks nervous brides can tackle during this extraordinary time at home. Amanda is an experienced wedding professional who offers month-of coordination as well as full wedding planning services. So, what tasks are doable for most couples? “If you’ve had to change your date to a different season, start thinking about if you should change your colors, flowers, and menu to reflect the new date. You could definitely use this time to really brainstorm and get new inspiration …

by Lisa Beth Miller Times are stressful worldwide right now. Many are being asked to stay at home as we deal with a pandemic unlike anything we’ve seen before. Wedding planning (or for some, re-planning) can just add to the onslaught of anxiety. So, how can a girl deal with it all? Slow down and give yourself a break! I chatted with a fabulous local beauty expert for some amazing ideas! Hania Issa is a professional makeup artist, eyebrow designer, and licensed esthetician who has been in the business for over 15 years. Early in her career, she worked extensively in fashion and television, which was all about making women look their best in front of the camera. Those experiences provided a great foundation for working with bridal parties. Most women will never be photographed more than on their wedding …

by Lisa Beth Miller Ready to start searching for your dream dress? Of course, you are. You may notice some bridal salons advertising “designer trunk shows.” These mysterious in-store events may sound like a confusing concept, but a trunk show could be the key to you finding the perfect wedding gown! So how does a trunk show work? A designer may decide that some unique designs are not getting quite enough attention. The dresses may be cutting-edge styles that bridal boutiques were afraid to purchase, dresses in alternative colors, or dresses at a different price point than typically featured in a shop. Sometimes trunk show dresses are brand new designs that literally no brides have seen yet! The designer ships the collection to a bridal shop for a limited time (usually in boxes, rather than in a trunk, but you …

by Lisa Beth Miller Local bride Andrea Gillis, a former wedding professional herself, knew the importance of being super-organized about planning her wedding to her fiance, Marty. The worldwide health emergency known as COVID-19, however, offered an unprecedented challenge to her meticulous plans. “We wanted to get married in our neighborhood, at a beautiful manor home, which is actually managed by the local city government. Due to all of the virus-related closures, the facility has cancelled all weddings up to May 4th. Things kind of started to unravel on March 18th. After speaking to my location’s representatives, they offered us a refund. With everyone pushing back their wedding dates 3-6 months out, I just couldn’t reschedule for a later date. I was afraid all of my vendors would cancel on us,” Andrea explained. Venue and caterer were the two biggest …

by Lisa Beth Miller   Recently engaged? We love that! The ladies at Lilly Pulitzer at Tyson’s Galleria know that wedding planning can be a whirlwind of excitement, and honestly, a little overwhelming. So, of course, we are here to help! Here’s the juice. We are planning a fabulous White Dress Event just for you. On March 7, we will have wedding experts for you to meet, cocktails for you to sip, and LOTS of Lilly Pulitzer white dress options for you to consider for your upcoming events! Our designers have created our most extensive collection of white dresses ever, featuring flattering styles for all of our Lilly lovers! Need the perfect white dress for your engagement photo shoot? Go whimsical with our Resort White Jesse Scallop Romper. Or go for the ultimate bridal chic look with our beautiful Sharice …

by Lisa Beth Miller Showing kindness to Mother Earth is always stylish! Recycling and its longevity will obviously influence trends in everything including weddings. Sooo…why not create a wedding without waste? We are not, of course, just talking about gathering basic recyclables (like glass and cardboard). Experts are seeing trends in recycling other nuptial merchandise! From a recycling point of view, trendy florists worked with plants rather than cut flowers when possible. Also, when decorating large outdoor areas or tent structures, many kept roots attached to plants and sent them back to nurseries afterward. If you insist on traditional arrangements, at least donate them after the big day and brighten someone’s day (think nursing home, hospital, group home). Other ways to cut down on waste? Don’t buy frivolous favors that guests won’t take with them! Donate your dress after the …

by Lisa Beth Miller The wedding reception is a time to celebrate! The right music choices are very important if you want guests of all ages to relax and have a wonderful time. While it may be tempting to just create a playlist using your own iPod’s lists, don’t. You must consider your audience and welcome them into your fabulous fete by playing the music they recognize and love. One recent trend is to allow guests to request one favorite dance song on their reply cards. This is an easy way to figure out what might get your crowd moving (or at least keep them in a good mood). Another option is to select key songs for your reception and just trust your band or DJ to make the rest of the selections. If you hired an experienced, trained professional, …

by Lisa Beth Miller Almost every fashionista loves a fabulous shoe. Selecting shoes for your wedding day should simply be one more opportunity to add an amazingly stylish touch to your look. Shoes for your wedding day should not be a last-minute decision. The shoe should be coordinated with your gown color (it could even be a unique contrast), your jewelry, your bouquet and your basic style. They must be selected carefully! Talk to the style consultants at your bridal boutique for ideas. Once you have found the correct pair of wedding-day shoes, here are some additional tips to keep in mind: In order to prevent blisters and discomfort, start wearing your shoes about a month before the wedding to break them in a bit. Even just walking around in your shoes for 15 minutes each evening will help your …

by Lisa Beth Miller If you are addicted to reality wedding TV shows like I am, you probably think that it is obvious when you put on the “right” wedding gown. Some think it is a special hunch, while others claim the bride will most definitely shed tears when she sees herself in the correct dress. Some brides just do not experience this moment of clarity and never really feel one-hundred percent confident. Why? Well, for starters, many brides simply over-shop. They feel they they cannot allow themselves to relax and feel confident in a dress (no matter how perfect it truly looks) until literally EVERY dress option has been seen. This attitude often leads to marathon shopping sessions to multiple boutiques. This accomplishes very little because each visit to a new boutique starts the entire process from the very …

by Lisa Beth Miller | Photos by Audrey Mills Photography Ok, you are planning your fabulous wedding when you find out that one of your cherished friends that you selected as a bridesmaid is pregnant. What should you do? First of all, congratulate her! Do not look at this as a fashion nightmare. This is not a difficult situation to handle! If you have not yet selected dresses for your girls, you need to do a little pre-planning before your big shopping trip. For starters, figure out how far along in her pregnancy she will be at the time of your wedding. If she has been pregnant before, maybe take a few notes on her weight and size fluctuations throughout that pregnancy. Keep in mind that this will not be an exact science; every pregnancy is different!   Next, select (with …

by Lisa Beth Miller Programs are an easy way to make guests feel more a part of the ceremony and are a nice keepsake after your I dos. That being said, they’re totally optional—so you can include as little or as much info as you want. Most programs include the basics: the names of the to-be-weds, members of the wedding party, a ceremony itinerary, and in some cases words to any readings or songs. This is also a great place to share descriptions of ethnic or religious traditions. Feel free to add extras too, like pictures, a brief story of how you met, a thank-you to your parents or even a map to the reception. Be careful not to include too much though—programs should be something guests can read in the moments before the ceremony and follow along as it …

By Lisa Beth Miller When budgeting for a wedding, most couples budget around 30% of their total spending on the edible aspects of the day. Once the approximate guest count is calculated, the couple should sit down with the caterer to figure out how much they wish to spend on food and drink for each guest. The good news is that there is a lot of flexibility here. Here are some important decisions that will greatly impact one’s budget: Will you have a full open bar, or simply offer beer, wine, and a few signature cocktails? If you opt for an open bar, will you insist upon only top-shelf liqueurs? The decisions regarding alcohol can have a huge impact on your budget! If your wedding reception is at a winery, there is nothing wrong with simply featuring wine and champagne as your …

by Lisa Beth Miller Newly engaged? Congratulations! You are going to be a busy woman for the next several months, so take a deep breath and get ready to get organized! Soon after you get engaged, you will need to start a wedding notebook or folder. Create a system for organizing your notes, contacts, and ideas in one place!  You could include sections on catering, music, gowns, etc. At this point, you also need to establish what your budget will be and what type of event you will be planning. For example, will your wedding be formal or informal, indoors or outdoors, large or small? Is there a special theme you’d like to incorporate? Will the event be held during the day or in the evening? In your hometown or at a far-away location? Now is the time to really brainstorm and create a plan for your …

by Lisa Beth Miller Summer is a perfect season for weddings thanks to its sunny days and warm evenings. While sunshine and cloudless skies lead to some amazing wedding photos, it is important to keep your guests’ comfort in mind if your festivities are outdoors! Overheated, sunburned, dehydrated guests are not happy guests! Here are some fun ideas to keep your crew cool and comfy. Sunglasses as favors can be a fun, personalized touch. These could also provide some cute photo ops! Parasols are also a trendy idea for shading guests from the bright sun. Cool cocktails are a welcome treat on a warm day! Offer a light and refreshing signature cocktail to keep everyone happily hydrated. An ice cream truck will keep children (and adults) entertained in summer months. This could be a nostalgic surprise for guests after the …

by Lisa Beth Miller It is so much fun to be invited to a wedding! From the time the elegant invitation arrives in the mail, guests feel flattered and honored to be included in such a momentous occasion. It is important, however, to show your appreciation by following proper guest etiquette! Here are a few critical rules to keep in mind: 1. The first rule should be obvious, but many guests ignore it. Be sure to send in your RSVP for the wedding by the date specified on the invitation, whether or not you plan attending. Failure to do so can be considered rude since the bride and groom must provide a head count to the caterer a week or two before the wedding. The bride and groom have plenty to do in the days before their big day; they should …

by Lisa Beth Miller If you are addicted to the show Say Yes To The Dress like I am, you may have noticed a shopping trend. Many brides seem to find it necessary to gather a large posse of friends and family members to join in the fun of wedding gown shopping. But is it really wise to bring so many different people along for this momentous shopping occasion? My answer is no. Here is why: Save the surprise! Your wedding gown is special and unique. It will have much more of an impact on your guests if they see it for the first time as you walk down the aisle. Isn’t this fashion moment the real reason why the bride walks slowly and deliberately down the aisle? Not everyone knows fashion. Let’s be realistic here. Uncle Phil and cousin Carlton are …

by Lisa Beth Miller As if brides do not have enough to worry about…along comes the task of actually compiling the guest list for the big event. Seems simple enough, right? Wrong. Remember all of those people that you want to invite who are unmarried? You are going to have to figure out if it is acceptable for them to bring dates to the wedding. This is a tricky situation for a few reasons. 1. Nobody likes to go to weddings alone (OK maybe those guys in the Wedding Crashers movie, but not most people). 2. If you have a lot of single friends, giving them ALL the green light to bring dates could substantially impact your wedding costs and pack your special day with strangers. So…what to do? The trick here is to come up with rules and actually stick to …

by Lisa Beth Miller When planning your wedding, it would be difficult to avoid spending a large sum on flowers, as they are woven into many aspects of the celebration. Flowers and decor traditionally take up around 15% of the wedding budget. This, of course, is flexible, depending upon how much the couple chooses to utilize flowers! Here are a few ideas to consider as your budget: Bridal bouquets and toss bouquets are fairly traditional and necessary. Brides who love flowers can go all out with an extravagant bouquet, while minimalists can certainly keep it simple! Brides could even opt to use the “real bouquet” as the toss bouquet to save a few dollars. Just keep in mind that the bride’s bouquet is one of the most photographed floral arrangements of the day! Don’t skimp too much! Bridesmaids’ bouquets are …

by Lisa Beth Miller The rehearsal dinner is traditionally planned to take place the evening before the wedding. It is meant to be a way for the members of the wedding party and immediate family members of the bride and groom to get acquainted before the actual wedding ceremony. A good rule of thumb for the rehearsal dinner is to invite all people who are required to attend the rehearsal. If they traveled from out of town with a guest or date, that person should also be included! Beyond this collection of guests, it is really up to the bride and groom to decide who else should be invited. Don’t feel pressured to invite everyone you invited to the wedding, though! The rehearsal dinner is meant to be a much more intimate affair than the reception. Ideally, the rehearsal dinner …