10 awful mistakes brides make

No wedding day is completely perfect (unless it is) and there are bound to be some flubs or forgotten details. Here are 10 common mistakes brides make leading up to and on their wedding day:

  1. Don’t carve out enough time for hair and makeup

It is imperative that you consider how large your bridal party is, this should include your mother and mother in law and any flower girls you may have. If you have more than 4 ladies to do hair and makeup for, you should consider hiring two makeup artists and two hair stylists. Make sure they have both met, have pictures of the makeup and hair looks so they can get everyone done on time!

  1.  Drink the night before

Monica drunkTry to refrain from excessive drinking the night before the wedding. Alcohol can make you puffy the next day, if you are sensitive you may even get a mild headache. Trade in a cocktail or glass of wine with some sparkling water and lemon, you’ll thank us.

  1. Rule out a wedding planner

Even if you have managed to plan everything yourself, the week before your wedding is the most stressful. If you had hired a planner for the week of you could have been spending time with your family and friends. Instead, you are left running around keeping track of final payments to vendors, confirming floral deliveries, giving directions…need I continue? Hire a planner.

  1. Don’t account for hidden costs

This is a big one that gets overlooked far too often. Tipping your vendors is a must unless it’s already included in their contract.  Also ensuring they are fed at dinner time if they are present is also important. Marriage license is another hidden cost, postage for “Thank you” cards, meals on wedding day and then there is the “other” category. This is for when the power goes out and you have to buy 200 candles, or the groom forgets to pack his shoes and needs to hail a cab!

  1. Take time with parentsbride with parents

The day of your wedding you are the center of attention and everyone wants to say a word or give a hug. Don’t forget to take a few quiet moments with your parents outside of pictures. It will be a welcome break from the hustle and bustle and it will give you some one on one time with them, they will appreciate it.

6. You forget to eat

Yes, we know you need to fit into your wedding dress as snug as a bug the day of, however, we don’t need a dramatic Scarlett O’Hara fainting moment because you didn’t eat anything. A light breakfast with a few carbs for energy is suffice, lots of water and some snacks while getting ready and during pictures.

  1. Sunless tanning

Anne's gone orange!

Have some practice sessions please! I can’t stress this enough. Sunless tanning can work if you find the right place to go. Be sure to go for a shade that isn’t so far off your natural skin tone, aim for a pre- wedding glow. If you overdo it or go too dark…you will be in your bathroom 2 days before your wedding with half a cup of lemon juice, a quarter cup of sugar…and a loofah sponge.

  1. Don’t feed vendors

Your vendors work hard and rightly so; this is what they do! However, if you have hired a band to entertain your guests, a planner running around behind the scenes, a photographer or videographer- they need to eat. This is customary and likely in the contract you signed when you hired them. Perhaps not what the guests are eating but feed them with something!

  1. Skimp on bridal party gifts

Take into consideration your bridal party (guys too) have spend a ton of money over the past year or so helping you plan your wedding. From wedding gifts, bachelor/bachelorette parties, outfits, dinners, to helping you solve problems, they’ve done so much. Be sure to budget a decent amount (consider how large your bridal party is) so they can feel the love and appreciation you have for all they have done.

  1. Mistreat Single friends

I’ve been one of the single gals at a table, where I don’t know anyone and most of the people I am sitting with are couples. Thankfully I have an outgoing personality and I can talk to anyone but not all your guests are going to find this situation ideal. To ease the pressure or even nerves, try to put them with at least one person at the same table that they know. Please, please have mercy!

Festive Fall Cocktails for your wedding (part 2)

As promised, we are back with the part 2 of the savory fall drinks that we love from Martha Stewart Weddings and The Knot!

Vanilla Pear CocktailThe Knot

Pear the knotPhotography by Sarah Love Photography

Ingredients:

  • Pear-flavored vodka (we like Absolut Pears)
  • Pear juice
  • Vanilla bean
  • Ice
  • La Croix Peach-Pear flavored sparkling water

Directions:

  • To make one drink, pour a single shot of the vodka into a shaker, and mix it with a half cup of pear juice.
  • Place the vanilla bean on a hard surface like a cutting board, and using a paring knife, slice the vanilla bean lengthwise. Then, using the knife (or even a spoon), scrape the seeds out of the inside of the vanilla bean and into the juice mixture. Shake everything to combine.
  • Pour over ice into a highball glass. Top everything off by adding a splash of the flavored sparkling water to your cocktail. Now just add a straw and enjoy!

Pumpkin White Russian-  The Knot

PumpkinPhoto by Sarah Love Photography

  • Pumpkin-flavored vodka (try Crop Organic Spiced Pumpkin)
  • Kahlua
  • Pumpkin pie spice
  • Ice
  • Heavy cream

Directions:

  • Add 4 ounces of the pumpkin-flavored vodka to a tumbler along with 2 ounces of Kahlua and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. Shake to combine.
  • Add a handful of ice to a lowball glass and pour in the drink mixture, filling the glass halfway. Finish the cocktail by filling the rest of the glass with heavy cream. Now just stir and serve!

Hot Apple Cider with sugared cranberries- Martha Stewart Weddings (MSW Fall 2012)

Cider

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups apple cider
  • 2 whole allspice berries
  • 3 ounces bourbon or dark rum
  • Sugared Cranberries

Directions

  • Bring cider and allspice to a boil in a saucepan.
  • Remove from heat and cover. Let stand 10 minutes.
  • Skim foam and strain, discarding the allspice.
  • Ladle 1/2 cup hot cider into each mug, and add 3/4 ounce bourbon or dark rum.
  • Garnish each glass with two sugared cranberries skewered on a stir stick.

Cider Sangria- Martha Stewart Weddings

Cider sangriaPhotography: Seth Smoot

Ingredients

  • 6 cups green seedless grapes
  • 4 kiwis, peeled and thinly sliced into rounds
  • 8 small apples, such as lady apples or crab apples, thinly sliced, stems and seeds removed
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
  • 1 quart apple cider
  • 1 cup apple brandy, such as Calvados

Directions

  • Freeze half of the grapes on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Place remaining grapes in a large pitcher with kiwis and apples. Stir in wine, cider, and brandy.
  • Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours. Partially fill drinking glasses with frozen grapes and fill with sangria.

Festive Fall Cocktails for your wedding (part 1)

Nothing gets us into the festive fall season like these delicious fall cocktails from Martha Stewart Weddings and The Knot. These are perfect for a fall themed engagement party or wedding and will be sure to impress your guests and get them into the spirit!

Fall Manhattan- Martha Stewart Weddings Fall 2007

Fall ManhattanPhotography: Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 ounces applejack
  • 1 1/2 ounces rye whiskey
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • A few dashes orange bitters
  • About 2 ounces Champagne
  • Blood-orange rind cut into strips for garnish

Directions:

  1. Combine applejack, whiskey, maple syrup, and bitters in a cocktail shaker, and shake over ice. Strain into a 6-ounce martini glass, and top with Champagne. Garnish with orange rind, and serve.

Orange Maple Whiskey Cocktail- The Knot

Orange whiskey the knotPhotography: Sarah Love Photography

Ingredients:

  • Maple syrup
  • Orange bitters
  • Orange wedge
  • Ice
  • Whiskey
  • Splash of club soda

Directions:

Step 1: Measure out 2 tablespoons of syrup and add it to a lowball glass along with 2 dashes of orange bitters. Squeeze an orange wedge to the mix and muddle slightly before adding a handful of ice.

Step 2: Add 2 ounces of whiskey to the cocktail and top with a splash of club soda before stirring.

Step 3: Top with fresh orange zest and serve.

Rob Rose-Martha Stewart Weddings Fall 2015

MSW Rob Rose 2015Photography: Bryan Gardner

Ingredients

  • Rose water (Fee Brothers Rose Water, $7, kegworks.com)
  • 1⁄2 ounce Amaro CioCiaro liqueur
  • 2 ounces Compass Box Spice Tree malt scotch whiskey
  • Rose petal, for garnish

Directions:

  • Fill an atomizer with rose water and spray an old-fashioned glass with four sprays.
  • Add liqueur, scotch, and ice. Stir and garnish with rose petal.

Sidenote: (Rose water is the scented secret to this wedding-worthy scotch concoction by New York City mixologist Tom Richter.)

A Few Pros and Cons to Fall Weddings

Typically, most couples opt to have their wedding in late spring or the summer months; however, fall weddings are growing in popularity as well. Here are some great reasons to tie the knot in fall and some reasons to consider not tying the know in fall!

Pro:

Outdoor fall weddings produce breathtaking photos. If you have chosen a garden or a large backyard or courtyard as your venue, you will be sure to capture the stunning colors of the changing leaves. A lovely background indeed that everyone will just love and relish!

SneezingCon:

For those who suffer from seasonal allergies (or year round allergies like yours truly), outdoor fall weddings can be a nightmare if you aren’t prepared. Whether you are the bride, a part of the bridal party or a guest, most of us are aware of our allergies so be sure to take the appropriate meds, carry eye drops and tissues.

Pro:

If you are the type that doesn’t like the idea of blazing heat and melting makeup that can result of choosing to have your wedding in July or August, behold the cooler temperatures of fall. This can be a blessing for our dear groom and groomsmen who are wearing suits, or any poor guy for that matter!

Weather dailymailcoukCon:

Fall not only brings cooler temperatures but also unpredictable weather in general. The week before your wedding the forecast may change from sunny and moderate temperatures to windy and rain. It’s difficult to prepare for since we can’t control the weather- unless we’ve opted to have the wedding indoors. However, if the plan was to take photos outside and the weather puts a damper on that, have a back-up plan in advance.

Pro:

There is nothing like getting to fully enjoy your summer with friends and family and calendar-web not having to worry about traveling to 8 weddings in 2.5 months and spending shocking amounts of money for travel, wardrobe and gifts. Having a fall wedding leaves room for vacations, family time, relaxing time and much more.

Con:

You may not realize it at the time, but there are some important secular holidays from September to December. Labor Day and Yom Kippur are in September and Canadian Thanksgiving is in October. The American Thanksgiving falls at the end of November and Hanukkah in the beginning of December. While planning you may end up losing a few attendees depending on which weekend your wedding is on.