Wedding Planning

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 …

Planning your wedding involves so many moving parts. You need a venue, a dress, a tuxedo, flowers, a cake and music. And that’s just scratching the surface of the vendors you will want to make your big day the best it can be. What if you could shop for all those vendors under one roof in one fun event? This promises to be the best bridal show in Washington D.C. you have ever attended! Wedding Salon will be at The Liaison Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. on September 16, 2019, from 4 to 8 p.m. This show combines top national wedding vendors with the best local industry pros. Who Will Be at The Wedding Salon? If you’re planning a destination wedding, you’re in luck. You will meet reps from Aruba Tourism Authority, Jamaica Tourist Board, O’ahu Visitors Bureau, Conrad Cartagena, …

By Lisa Beth Miller As you plan for your big day and search for your dream venue, it is important to pay attention to what assistance is offered at each venue. If the venue itself provides a coordinator, you may not need to hire a separate event coordinator. Confused about the differences between the two types of coordinators? Here are some tips regarding the roles of venue coordinators and event coordinators: Venue Coordinators: When you’re picking out your wedding venue, one of the first things you should ask is whether or not there is an on-site wedding coordinator at your disposal. If your venue offers a coordinator as part of its package, that means there’s no added cost for this added benefit. A venue coordinator works for the venue, not directly for you. They’ll act as a liaison between you …

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 Wedding invitations should always include a hint as to how formal the event will be. As a bride, groom, or guest, you need to actually understand this terminology in order to appropriately select what you and your guests will wear. Here are some helpful guidelines: Semiformal daytime- This level of formality indicates that men will wear suits, usually in a color such as charcoal or navy if the weather is cooler, or in shades of white or khaki if the weather is warm. Four-in-hand ties are also traditionally worn (this means long ties, not bow ties). Women would usually wear daytime-appropriate dresses or suits for a semiformal daytime wedding. Semiformal evening- At this type of wedding, men may wear dark suits or tuxedos with ties and vests. Women would wear cocktail style dresses. Everyone would look a bit more dressed up …

by Lisa Beth Miller This week, I was approached with a question that I thought was important enough to be addressed: What exactly should a dad wear to the wedding of his son or daughter? Seems simple enough to tell dads to dress up, but should they match the actual wedding party? No! Dads are not to be dressed exactly like the groomsmen, as they are not technically members of the wedding party. The key here is to dress dads in keeping with the appropriate level of formality for the event. So if the groomsmen are in black tuxedos with green accessories, dads should wear tuxedos, but not the same one and not with the exact same accessories as the groomsmen. The dads are also not required to match each other. So using the previous scenario (black tuxes and green vests and ties for the groomsmen), perhaps the …

by Lisa Beth Miller The adorable little flower girl! Who could possibly be cuter? This special little girl plays an important role in the wedding day and deserves to be dressed like the princess that she really is! How does the bride go about deciding how to dress the flower girl? Well, there are two schools of thought on this issue. One trend suggests that the flower girl should be dressed in a child-sized (and child appropriate) version of the bridesmaids’ dress. The bride can either ask if the bridesmaid dress designer also makes a child’s version, or simply obtain color swatches of the bridesmaids’ dress and shop with a designer who makes children’s dresses exclusively. The second possibility is to take the approach of dressing the flower girl as a mini-bride, in a white or ivory dress that coordinates more …

Saying ‘Yes to the Dress’ is the highlight of wedding planning for most brides. It also sets the mood for the entire wedding after you have selected your venue! Here is are the best bridal boutiques and dress shops in Northern Virginia. Amy’s Bridal Boutique “Why should I consider Amy’s Bridal?” you may ask. Well, for starters, it’s been a staple in the community since August 2008 and has developed into a one-stop boutique for all your wedding needs. Amy Domenech, the owner, has thought of everything and eliminated a lot of unnecessary steps in the process. Amy’s Bridal Boutique has the resources and capabilities to take care of you, the groom and the bridal party. “My boutique has all sorts of things to offer,” Amy says. “I love many aspects of weddings and we are ever changing. Wedding gowns are my specialty. However, we also offer bridesmaids dresses, tuxedo rentals, gown preservation, accessories, …

Majestic architecture, manicured landscaping, sparkling waters and elite service are some of our favorite aspects of a country club wedding. From the traditional bride to the modern bride, or even the rustic bride, these Northern Virginia country club destinations offer breathtaking beauty that will suit any theme. Read on to discover the magic each venue has to offer! Chantilly National Golf Club Northern Virginia brides have a plethora of beautiful wedding locations to choose from, but if you love golf, the Chantilly National Golf and Country Club is a perfect choice. Located in Centreville, it features a gorgeous Ed Ault-designed golf course with a traditional par-72 layout as well as a fun practice facility which includes a chipping green, putting green, bunker area, and even a 275-yard driving range. If golf isn’t your wedding theme or favorite activity, you can …