The guestbook is a great way to personalize your wedding. Rather than using a standard lined book, consider one of the following creative guestbook ideas:

Use your engagement photos to create a custom photobook that guests will sign at your wedding.
{Pinkpolka Wedding Design}

Guests could sign an item of significance to you and your fiancé, such as a wine/champagne bottle,
a sports or memorabilia item, a ceramic plate or serving dish, etc.
{Waseem Photography}

Setup a camcorder and have guests leave video messages which you can later
display on a digital picture frame or burn to keepsake DVDs.
{Vimeo}

Have guests sign a photo mat that you can later use to frame a wedding picture.
{Elegant Bridal Accessories}

Have guests write their best wishes on postcards from your wedding location –
these can be stored in a keepsake box or scrapbooked after the wedding.
{The Knot}

If you’re having a rustic-themed wedding, use large branches to create a wishing tree
where guests can hang their well wishes.
{JDS Photography}

A typewriter guestbook is an adorable idea for a vintage-style wedding!
{Ruffled Blog}

Your guests can really leave a mark with this thumbprint tree guestbook!
{Lydia & Pugs}

Personalized index cards are a unique way for your guests to share their words of wisdom and marriage advice.
{Martha Stewart Weddings}

+  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +

What are some other creative guestbook ideas that you’ve seen at weddings?

Jennifer

2011 is upon us and as many of you are knee-deep into wedding details I’d like to share what we’re seeing for wedding trends this year.

• Honeysuckle is Pantone’s colour of the year and it’s a versatile shade that works with many wedding styles. Pair it with blush and gold to create a romantic, whimsical look or combine with plum and slate for a bold, modern statement.
• You don’t have to be a master-crafter to add thoughtful do-it-yourself (DIY) items to your wedding. The paper napkin ring pictured below serves double duty as a placecard and adds a stylish, personal touch to table décor. Another fun project – gather your bridal party to help assemble welcome baskets for out-of-town guests.
• Ruffles and romance are all over the runway! Brides are straying from the classic white strapless gown and opting for ‘wow’ factor details.
• One-of-a-kind jewelry is a wonderful way to express your personal style on your wedding day. The earrings pictured below are hand-crafted by local Edmonton designer Cara Cotter (So Pretty Jewelry). Her designs are available online and at Coup Garment Boutique.
• From classic shades to metallics and bold colours, glam heels never go out of style!
• You’ll be holding your bouquet for most of your big day – make sure it’s nothing less than spectacular! A large, lush bouquet with carefully considered adornments is the perfect accessory to complete your bridal look.
• A signature Jennifer Lopez look, Hilary Duff ignited the high bun bridal hair trend with her vows to NHL star Mike Comrie last summer.
• Unique stationary is a great way to set your wedding apart. Chunky table numbers and creative save-the-dates are all the rage (check out the gorgeous coasters pictured below!). We’re also seeing a return to classic calligraphy and letterpress invitations.

2011 Wedding Trends Inspiration Board

What wedding trends, if any, are you including in your wedding plans?

Jennifer

Photo Credits (Clockwise L-R): DIY Paper Napkin Ring Placecard – Thoughtfully Simple; Handcrafted Pink Grapefruit Quartz Earrings – So Pretty; Gold Manolo Blahnik Shoes – Next Exit Photography; Hilary Duff High Bun – People; Save the Date Letterpress Coasters – Oh So Beautiful Paper; Bouquet – Luster Studios; Vera Wang Farrah Gown – Vera Wang.

Thanks to all you wonderful couples for entering our January lucky + in love contest. The lucky winners have been drawn! Congratulations to:

• Kendall + Ross
• Krista + Paul
• Kuo-hsien + Jeremy

Looking forward to meeting you soon for your FREE wedding planning consultations!

Jennifer

Tip #9: Don’t let wedding planning consume you!

The average length of an engagement is 16-18 months – that’s a long time! The last thing you want is to be miserable throughout what’s supposed to be a wonderful experience in your lives. Here are a few pointers to help you avoid bridal burnout:

1. Take a break. Do you really need to spend another five hours on your laptop Googling “pink bouquets?!” Make a point of taking breaks from wedding planning to enjoy time with your fiancé. Plan regular date nights and try to avoid talking about the wedding while you’re out. Think about what you used to do before wedding planning and revisit those hobbies and pastimes.
2. Ask for help. If you have too much on your plate don’t be afraid to delegate and ask for help! Ask your mother to manage the guest responses. If your fiancé loves vehicles, send him to look at limousines with his best man. Of course, enlisting the services of a wedding planner will save you the most time and stress!
3. Be mindful of your relationships. Throughout the planning process it’s understandable that you may feel overwhelmed at times – especially when the wedding date is fast-approaching. But remember what comes after the wedding…your relationship with your partner is the real reason you are having a wedding! Consider the strain of your wedding on your families and attendants and try to be reasonable with your requests.

+  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +

Thanks for reading our top 9 wedding planning tips! Our lucky + in love contest is now open! Here are the important details:

The prizes:

The three winning couples will receive their choice of one of the following packages:

• A complimentary She Said Yes! consultation session with Jennifer. This two-hour session will help you get your planning underway with vendor recommendations to match your wedding style and budget, a personalized planning checklist and budget worksheet, as well as the opportunity to discuss your questions and concerns {$250 value}.

…OR

• A complimentary two-hour Décor Consultation with Jennifer to discuss the theme and design of your wedding vision! Included in this session are creative design suggestions suited to your wedding vision, venue(s) and budget, plus vendor recommendations for rental and décor items to save you time and frustration {$350 value}.

How it works:

• Complete and submit the entry form before the contest deadline (January 28th) and you will be entered to win one of the three free consultation sessions!

The fine print:

• Contest entries will be accepted from January 21st to January 28th, 2011.
• Winners will receive their free consultation session in person in the Edmonton area or via phone / Internet if they reside elsewhere.
• This contest is not applicable to couples who are already working with another wedding planning company.
• Winners will be randomly drawn from all correctly completed contest entries received by the contest deadline: Friday, January 28, 2011 at 11:59 PM MST. The winning couples will be announced on Monday, January 31st, 2011.

Enter the Jennifer Bergman Weddings lucky + in love contest now!

Good luck!

Jennifer

Tip #8: Consider wedding day logistics.

Logistics are the most important consideration for making your wedding day flow seamlessly without any major hiccups. Unfortunately, this is one area that many brides just don’t spend enough time thinking about.

Your wedding is probably the biggest party you will ever host and you’re likely spending a significant amount of money on the event. It only makes sense to hire an experienced professional to oversee it. Most wedding planners offer some form of Wedding Day Management – often referred to as wedding day or wedding month coordination. Having a professional step in 4-8 weeks before your wedding is extremely beneficial – not only for the sanity of you and your fiancé, but it is also a wonderful gift to your parents and bridal party.

If you’re skeptical about whether you need a coordinator, ask yourself who is going to do the following on your wedding day:

• 

  Sarah of Jennifer Bergman Weddings assists a beautiful bride as she's about to walk down the aisle

• Locate your V.I.P.s and pin on their boutonnieres / corsages
• Cue the wedding party processionals
• Hand tissue to your father before he walks you down the aisle
• Glue your false lashes back on if they come loose
• Fix your bustle if it breaks
• Light all the candles in the room before guests enter
• Cue your grand entrance into the reception
• Liaise with the venue for food and bar service
• Ensure your cards and gifts are put in a safe place once the reception begins
• Brief the M.C. before the wedding to ensure he or she knows what’s required of them
• Orchestrate the bouquet / garter toss, cake cutting, etc.

The above items are just a few examples of how a coordinator works behind the scenes to manage the details of your wedding day while you soak in every wonderful moment.

Check back Friday to read our last wedding planning tip and to enter our lucky + in love contest!

Jennifer

Photo Credit: Shandro Photo.

Tip #7: Be consistent.

It’s easy to get distracted by all the wedding ideas out there. Between bridal fairs, magazines and countless blogs it can certainly become overwhelming, but the key to a well designed event is consistency. Once you’ve taken the time to determine your wedding style, theme and atmosphere – don’t deviate! From the style of your dress to the centrepieces and the linens on the table, the visual components of your wedding should tie together nicely and reflect a similar look and feeling.

One of the easiest ways to ensure a cohesive event is through your wedding stationary. The wedding invitations speak volumes about what kind of event your guests can expect to attend, so it’s important to ensure this first impression truly reflects your wedding style. The level of formality will be communicated through the type of papers, fonts and wording that you use, as well as your venue selections. It’s wise to carry the design of your wedding invitations through to all other wedding stationary, such as ceremony programs, table numbers, menu cards, favour tags – even your guestbook.

Here’s an example of one of our couples’ weddings:

• Wedding Theme: “Urban Glamour”
• Wedding Style: Modern, edgy, Hollywood glitz + glamour
• Wedding Colours: Black, white and turquoise
• Details: White phalaenopsis orchids, damask linens, crystal and feather centrepieces

+  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +

Have you heard about our lucky + in love contest? We are giving away FREE planning consultations to three couples! The entry form will be available this Friday, so keep checking back for your chance to win!

Jennifer

Photo Credit: JDS Photography.

Tip #6: Mind your manners.

While I wouldn’t consider myself to be very traditional, one thing I’m a stickler about is classic etiquette. Here are my top three “musts:”

1. Don’t ask for gifts! It makes me cringe to see those little registry cards in invitations! Including them implies that you expect a gift which comes across as rude. Guests who want to know where you are registered will ask you, your bridal party or your close family members. The only time you are permitted to use registry cards is in bridal shower invitations, as the purpose of these parties is to “shower” the bride-to-be with gifts.
2. Be a true host. In the world of wedding etiquette a cash bar is the ultimate faux-pas. You wouldn’t invite someone over for a dinner party at your home and make them pay $6.00 for a glass of wine – don’t do this at your wedding! With this said, some couples are still adamant that they will not have a fully hosted bar. A few modern compromises: hosting a limited bar where only wine and beer are served, or providing guests with a certain number of drink tickets in the wedding invitations.
3. Say thank you! Always, always, always send out thank you cards promptly following an event where you have been the recipient of gifts. This includes engagement parties, bridal showers and of course, the wedding itself. Proper etiquette indicates that a mailed card (no, an email won’t do!) should be sent out within three months of the wedding. The sooner the better – try not to procrastinate this important task. Your guests will appreciate your promptness.

.

+  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +

Have you heard about our lucky + in love contest? We are giving away FREE planning consultations to three couples! The contest entry form will be available on January 21st after all 9 planning tips have been posted. Click here for all the details and stay tuned for more helpful wedding planning tips.

Jennifer

Photo Credit: JDS Photography.

Before we get into Tip #5, here’s a recap of the previous tips:

• Tip #1: Determine what kind of wedding you want.
• Tip #2: Prioritize.
• Tip #3: Tackle the guest list.
• Tip #4: Set your budget.

In just one week all 9 planning tips will be posted and you’ll be able to enter our lucky + in love contest!

+  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +

Tip #5: When and where?

When to Get Married – Considerations

1. Season: Do you love the idea of a cozy winter wedding, or is the freshness of spring more appealing? If you have no preference for a particular wedding date, nail down a window of 1 or 2 months and go from there.
2. Day of the Week: Most weddings are held on Saturday but if you are open to a Friday, Sunday or even a weekday wedding you will have a lot more flexibility with your choices of venues and wedding professionals.
3. Length of Engagement: Some couples like to take their time during the wedding planning process and are happy to stretch out their engagement for 12-18 months – or longer! Others want to tie the knot as soon as possible. Shorter planning timelines are absolutely doable, but be prepared to make decisions quickly.
4. Popularity: July and August are extremely busy months for weddings in Canada and especially in Alberta where the warm weather is so short-lived. If you are set on a July wedding be prepared to begin planning at least 12 months in advance. Many of the popular venues and wedding professionals are booked up quite early for the busy summer months.
5. V.I.P. Guest Attendance: Once you have an idea of when you’d like to get married, you may wish to run the timing by your closest family members and friends to ensure they can attend.

.

Where to Get Married – Considerations

1. Ceremony Venue: Are you having a religious ceremony in a church? Would you like to hold your ceremony at the same place as your reception? If you have your heart set on an outdoor ceremony don’t forget to make a ‘plan B’ in case of inclement weather.
2. Reception Venue: When searching for the perfect reception venue, consider formality, atmosphere and style. Select a location that fits the look and feel that you would like to convey on your big day. As the reception costs will likely eat up about half of your budget, do some serious number-crunching before signing a contract.
3. Location: Are a lot of guests travelling to your wedding from out-of-town? If so, consider holding your reception at or nearby a hotel. Likewise, if most of your guests won’t have transportation it’s thoughtful to hold the ceremony and reception in the same place or arrange for shuttle service.
4. Capacities: Only look at venues that are suited to your wedding size. A venue may advertise that their location can hold up to 200 guests but that capacity may not be meant for a wedding layout. Ask your wedding planner or the venue coordinator for floorplans from weddings previously held in the space to ensure that it can accommodate a dance floor, a head table and any other special requirements (ie. a dessert table, a guestbook table, etc.).
5. Revisit Your Wedding Priorities: Look back at what you listed as your wedding priorities and keep them top of mind on your venue hunt. For example, if an awesome party is really important to you ask about noise restrictions and when guests must vacate the reception room. Some hotels dictate that music must be turned off after a certain time due to guest room proximity.

.

Until the next tip…

Jennifer