Weddings by Costco?!

In today's economy everyone is looking to save a few bucks, and when it comes to your wedding why not! I was doing some recent shopping at Costco and in the checkout line came across the recent Costco Connection titled, Weddings by Costco. Wait....What?! Yup! Duh...what a great idea!!

Think about it, according to the Association for Wedding Professionals, a couple in the US will spend roughly $19,581.00 (between $14,686 and $24,476) not including the cost of the honeymoon or engagement ring.  WOW! That's a lot of dough!

So why not save where you can...right?! Well here is a list of what's available for your big day from Costco:

- Wedding Dress (article on the dresses from the Costco Connection)
- Diet and Weight loss
- Flowers (Centerpieces, Bouquets, Boutonnieres, Corsages, DIY Centerpiece kits, Etc.)
- Invitations (Save the Date, Invites and Thank you cards)
- Rings
- Gifts
- Food (bakery/reception)
- Honeymoon

I can personally vouch for their flowers.  For my sister in laws wedding last May, we pre ordered pink and white roses.  We picked them up the night before and they were BEAUTIFUL!!!  Flawless flowers, and it was so easy and half the cost of a florist. Here is what they looked like. We did arrange them ourselves in our own glassware:

So, give your local Costco a call and save yourself a few bucks!

*hugs*

Denice

Photo Credit: Costco Connection and Me!

Wedding Question Wednesday ~ Bridesmaid Dress Drama

Our question this week comes from Emily (scribbles from emily):

Question: I let my bridesmaids pick out their dresses, and they can't agree on anything. Well, except that they don't like whatever I suggest. The deadline for ordering dresses is coming up, what should I do?

Answer:  Wow Emily, you are a nice bride! This is actually what a lot of brides are doing in today's weddings. One suggestion might be that YOU choose the color and style (short, long, sleeves or no sleeves) and leave the rest up to the ladies.

Give your bridesmaids simple guidelines, yet freedom at the same time.  By doing this, you will not only let them find a dress that they are comfortable in, but also that they will fee confident in wearing. This helps you to have fantastic photos!

Make sure you have an "alternate" dress chosen, at a reasonable price so that if someone is unable to find something they like, they have to take the alternate to be in the wedding. This ensures that all dresses are ordered on time.

Many bridal stores are even getting in on this idea. They are offering lots of dresses, in lots of styles all in the same color pallet so they match. Check out David's Bridal and Alfred Anglo.  I know they both cater to this since I have recently used both of them!

One of our close friends and recent bride Millie, did this.  She had a Beach wedding in San Diego and a large amount of bridesmaids.  She gave them the specifications of color (black) and style (short).  Millie also let them choose their own shoes as long as they were 1) Fabulous and 2) yellow.  Here is a shot form her wedding:

Also check out our last post on Bridesmaids and Dress shopping.

Hope this helps!

*hugs*
Denice

Photo Credit: Photography By Soozie

Bridesmaid Dress Shopping

Yesterday I embarked on a journey with my sister in law, the Bride to be, to find the perfect bridesmaid dress. This my friends, is no simple task. There are THOUSANDS of dresses out there in hundreds of different colors, lengths, fabrics, styles etc.

So, how do you find that perfect dress? Here are some questions that the Bride needs to consider:

1) How many bridesmaids will I have?
This is important due to how your photos will look

2) What are the size ranges of my bridesmaids?
You need to know this because not every designer has a size "0" or plus sizes

3) What are the ages of my bridesmaids?
If you have younger bridesmaids (under age 16) you need to be sure the dress is age appropriate. Same goes if you have an older bridesmaid.

4) What are the budget restrictions of my bridesmaids?
Make sure that your bridesmaids can afford their dress, as well as accessories, shoes etc.

5) What are the skin tones and hair color of my bridesmaids?
A yellow dress may not look as nice on a pale bridesmaid as it does on a tanner one. Same with the hair, A hot pink dress may not flow as nicely on a bridesmaid with red hair as it does on one with Brown.

6) Do I want a dress that is cut/styled similar to mine?
Do you want it to match the style of your dress or look completely different?

7) Do I want a long dress or short dress?
Keep this question in mind when thinking of your bridesmaids. Will everyone have matching shoes to accompany a short dress? Is it an outside wedding? Consider the climate you are having in as well. A long dress will not go well with a hot, summer day!

8) Will my bridesmaids all wear the same dress?
Some prefer to have the bridesmaids all in the same color, but the style is left to the individual bridesmaid to choose. Some Brides also like their Maid of Honor to be in a different dress than the bridesmaids.

9) What is the season and time of my wedding?
This can be a huge factor in deciding color, length and fabric. Keep the dress in line with the climate and surroundings.

10)What color am I looking for?
Keep this in mind when choosing the colors and theme of your wedding. Make sure the colors you want are available!

Crazy you say? Well this is a shortened list. We could go into so much more detail! I know you are all thinking..."Is it really that difficult?" YES it is! Finding the perfect dress, and keeping your bridesmaids happy is important for wedding day bliss.

I know there are lots of you out there with bridesmaid dress horror stories, and we here at KDC Events would LOVE to hear about them and SEE THE PHOTOS!!! Send them to us at: Events@KDCEvents.com. We will feature your story and photos here!

*hugs*
Denice