Before You Say I Do....

I never wanted to blog about this, because, after all, it IS my business. But after I went shopping for holiday gifts and saw some of the worse, most expensive wedding favors, I have to!

So let's start from the beginning. What's up with having to give a wedding favor anyway? Well, for starters, it says "thank you for coming" to your guests. Secondly, it can really add to dressing up your tables. And lastly, they can be a keepsake for your guests to remember your special day for years to come.

Prices? Oh boy...they range is huge! You can find a "wedding favor"...if you want to call it that...for as little as 25 cents or as expensive as $50 apiece. And you can find every price in between as well as all grades of quality of favors.

And yes, I will, at Designs to Remember, have every type and every price range to suit everyone, except for the 25 cent people. Those favors are so cheaply made, I don't want to be associated with them!

When my 2nd daughter got married, she was marrying an Italian man who's relatives were coming in from Italy. They really wanted an Italian flavor for their favor, so they opted for our signature item - our imported bottles hand filled with herbs and oils. In fact, this is the exact one they chose.<

For her shower, her bridesmaids gave her a "tea", which took place in the afternoon and had hors d'oeurves and petit fors and mini sandwiches. It was just beautiful. Because of the theme, they picked out one of my exclusive items that you will not find anywhere else, our porcelain mini-teapot. I just LOVE this one!

And of course there are the "Love" coasters that is one of my best sellers. You will find these around the web, but not at this price!

Okay...you getting the idea? I could go on and on and on. My favors add such a beautiful touch to your Engagement Party, Wedding Shower, Bridal Shower, Sweet 16, Birthday Parties...just about any occasion that you want to be extra special.

Stop by and visit me. Drop me a note if you have been on my blog. I love hearing from all of you!

And don't forget - the wedding favor is NOT the least of what you have to worry about. Remember, your guests will be spending their entire time at your wedding, staring at it!

Much happiness to you!
Bella
Unique Wedding Favors

Posted by Bella Bridal at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Well, this one is hard to believe! I've done what I'm about to share with you before with other brides, but never has such a savings occurred! Let me explain...

One of the future brides that I'm helping went to try on some wedding gowns. The third gown she tried on, she fell in love with. Well, that is a miracle in itself. She did what I told her to do. I explained to her that even if there isn't a manufacturer's or designer's tag on the inside, to ask the clerk who made the gown. If they won't give you that information, then get out of there quickly. They are not reputable.

She asked the clerk and she told her Allure. Having worked with that designer for many years, I knew to go on their website, AllureBridals.com. She went on the website also and she picked out the gown that she tried on and got the Allure style number. She emailed me immediately, and I started making my calls to the Bridal Salons in her area which were listed on Allure's website.

The original price that was given her was $3700, but they reduced it to $3200. Still pretty steep for this couple. I called the first place. They would not give prices over the phone. No problem...onto the next. Four out of the six places I called gave me prices for that exact gown. They ranged in price from $1050 to $1250!!! That's a HUGE savings. Cross my heart...true story...just happened!

Okay, so what am I telling you? Do not settle! If you want a specific gown and it is way too expensive, find out who makes it, go to their website, get the style number and call around. You can literally save hundreds to thousands!

If you have any questions or would like any help, please visit my website www.designstoremember.com. This young lady just found a gorgeous tiara there for 1/10th of what she was going to have to pay at the Bridal shop! So look around and enjoy and if you need something, just give a holler!

Much happiness to you all,
Bella
Unique Wedding Favors

Posted by Bella Bridal at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I've been SO busy answering emails, helping brides and finding new and wonderful items for you guys from my website, that I haven't blogged much. But one precious young woman's email provoked me to blog today.

She is attempting to put together a wedding in Los Angeles for under $5,000! Actually, attempting "anything" in Los Angeles for an inexpensive amount of money is a miracle! But especially a wedding.

I answered her comment on the blog post about all inclusive weddings. For those of you who are on a tight budget, there are many awesome tips that you can incorporate into your day. But, this very creative woman had some great ideas herself. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing them here.

She is making and printing her invitations herself. She's renting her gown, and attempting to make the cake herself (I'm sure with the help of others! But I'm using "her" just to illustrate a point). She knows a chef who is going to do the catering. She is buying fresh flowers online and decorating them, again, herself. And what is most impressive, is she wrote to the Los Angeles Parks Department, and she will be having her reception at one of their locations!
Needless to say, this girl should maybe go into wedding planning! Good job Sarah!

And in her email, she left a little note at the end, that she was going to purchase our adorable wedding cameras! Well, I'm glad we were able to be part of your special day in some way!

This is one example of someone who has set her mind to get a beautiful day without going into debt. I have many more to share with you in the coming days. Remember, if you want any help with ideas, just write a comment here, or go to my website www.designstoremember.com and leave a note there. I'll get back to you asap.

Much happiness to all of you,
Bella

Posted by Bella Bridal at 8:29 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Deciding on where to have your wedding is probably the most difficult decision you will have to make with regards to your special day. And there are many factors to think about when deciding on the venue.

In the midst of the craziness that you are in the middle of, or about to embark upon, perhaps this venue checklist will help!

1. Will the ceremony be at a Church/Temple/Other or on the venue's property?
2. How large must the venue be - for 50 people or for 500?
3. Will it sit at least 30-40% of that number comfortably for the ceremony?
4. Do you want everything in one place to greatly diminish the need to drive?
5. Does the venue have guest accomodations?
6. Do you want an early wedding to be able to have more time in the evening to yourselves?
7. Do you want an evening wedding to be able to have more time to prepare?
8. Does the venue have a place for guests to be able to retreat away from
the festivities to be able to sit and talk? Do you even want that?
9. Does the venue have its own caterers, or are you able to bring in your own?
10. Does it supply the wedding cake? Anything else?

And obviously, don't forget to stay within your budget. It doesn't matter how beautiful the place is, if you cannot afford it and will spend years paying it off, it just isn't worth it.

Oh and yes, do not forget to check out my website for your unique wedding favors. (And not just wedding favors, SO many other beautiful and affordable items!)

Remember to enjoy the process. It goes by so quickly, that sometimes we forget, these are the most memorable moments of our lives!

Much happiness coming your way!
Bella
Unique Wedding Favors

Posted by Bella Bridal at 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Planning planning planning! That's what wedding's are about. But have you ever thought that in the middle of all the hubub, that perhaps there is a way to have more than just the bride and groom benefit.

This is what we all know. People bring gifts to showers and weddings. And many times, they take great pains in finding the perfect gift for the happy couple. But what if there was a gift that would give to more than the bride and groom? What if there was a way that a charity would benefit as well?

Well, ask no further. There are several, but this one I have chosen to highlight. It's called the "I Do" Foundation. What happens is this; the bride and groom use any or all of these 11 stores for their gift registry. After the gifts are bought, a percentage (depending on the store) is given to the charity of your choice. Not only does it do a good deed, but history has shown that when people know that a charity is also benefiting, they tend to spend more.

Here is the link: Your "I Do" Gift Registry. Just visit the stores listed and explain to them that you want to be part of the I Do Gift Registry, give them the name of the charity or not-for-profit organization that you want to donate to, and they will take care of the rest.

Now...doesn't that feel good? Getting married and helping out the charity of your choice! What could be better?

And, hey, stop by my website and check out the stuff I have on sale! Oh...LOTS of goodies that you will need!!!

Much happiness coming your way!
Bella
Unique Wedding Favors

Posted by Bella Bridal at 4:09 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Well, I've just had firsthand experience with an all inclusive wedding situation. This is how it's supposed to work...

There are several venues to pick from. You visit each of them, and you choose which one is the best for your particular wedding. Then, you tell the planner how much you want to spend TOTALLY for the entire wedding minus the rings, gown and honeymoon. Those are supposed to be the only things not included. They ask how many people. In this case, it is 120 guests. No problem so far? Great! Now watch what happened.

The breakdown was sent to the future bride and groom. The budget was right on the amount they had told the planner, but there were some omissions. This ALL INCLUSIVE wedding was to include soup to nuts...meaning, cocktail hour, dinner, band, flowers, photography, videography, invitations, wedding favors, limos, etc. all for the budgeted amount.

But what happened when they received their breakdown? Omissions...everywhere. It's too expansive to list here, and it's also personal to the people I am now working with, but let's use this as a learning tool.

When you go to a planner to organize an all inclusive wedding, right from the beginning you have to have in writing what is included for the price you want. And yes, they can make anything fit your budget...they only give you 3 members of the band, no appetizer at dinner, very slim amount of flowers, etc. etc. etc.

So be careful. Better yet, work with someone you know, or do it yourself and get the aid of a consultant that will help you just for buying products from them. That is the wiser way to go, unless cost is not a problem for you. Then enjoy yourself and do whatever you want! But for the rest of you, don't jump into anything too quickly. Search for the best deal with your budget and with those you want to work with. And don't forget, to get the best deals on wedding favors, wedding products, shower and wedding invitations and gifts, stop by my webstore. You will save tons of money. That is one thing I can promise you. And if you have any questions or comments, either leave them here, or write to me on my website. I will help you any way I can and have tons of ideas for a beautiful wedding that can save you tons of money.

Much happiness is coming your way!
Bella
Unique Wedding Favors

Posted by Bella Bridal at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

So, when is the right time to buy your wedding gown? Well, normally, I would say 9-12 months before the wedding date. But, if you are not one that fluctuates more than 10 lbs. up or down in weight, you can take advantage of a couple of ways to save heaps of money.

Just as every day clothing is seasonal, so are wedding gowns. And, the best time of the year to buy a gown is late summer and/or early fall. That is the time that the new year styles come not these wedding gown boutiques, so the shop owners are trying to sell off the last year’s trends. So if it doesn’t bother you if you have on something that came out that year or the year before (I mean, who the heck can really tell?), you can save up to 80-90% on your gown.

Also, check around or Google ‘wedding gown trunk shows.’ A trunk show is what a designer has in order to show the people in a specific area the new styles of wedding gowns that are now available. They will go into a hotel or store and literally ‘take out of trunks’ their new gown collection. What is awesome about these shows is that if you purchase a gown from them right then and there, they will give you a substantial discount. It is very worth it.

Lastly, don’t forget that many cities have wedding gown rentals. I consulted on a wedding which was very lavish, that the bride rented her wedding gown. Why? Because it wasn’t a sentimental thing to her and she wanted a gown that was close to $20,000. So for $2,000, she rented it for the day. I know, I know, that is a lot of money for a rental, but for her, it was worth every penny. And yes, there are VERY inexpensive wedding gown rentals.

Hope this helped those that are looking for are about to look for their perfect gown for their perfect day. Also, when you get the gown, (or even before) check out my website for tiaras and other hair jewelry. (See, I told you there was more than wedding favors there!) They are absolutely gorgeous and amazingly reasonable.

Much happiness coming your way!
Bella
Unique Wedding Favors

Posted by Bella Bridal at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post