Our friends at Totally Top 10 have generously provided us a top ten list of those gifts that are most appreciated by brides and groom, so here it is...

There are various rules and guidelines to giving a wedding gift. Some may vary by culture but generally speaking the one rule that sticks out is to give a gift that will actually be appreciated! The best way to accomplish this is to put some thought into what the couple would enjoy receiving. Don't select the first thing you see when going shopping. We've put together a fantastic list of the top ten gifts that will be most appreciated.

Here are our top ten choices:

1) Wedding Day Contributions
This makes for the best present because it'll probably be the most useful. Putting together any occasion is time consuming & stressful but when it comes to a wedding everything has to be just perfect. Add to that the expenses that come with a wedding and the bill adds up quickly. If you can help pay for a small slice of the wedding day, that's a gift that will be appreciated!

2) Department Store Gift Certificate
The cool thing about a department store is that they have lots of stuff to choose from. If you decide to make a choice for the bride & groom, well that's just one item they may or may not like. On the other hand if you give them a gift certificate they'll be able to mix and match what they like on their own time.

3) Paid For Vacation Package
So they've just gotten married and now they simply want to spend some quality time with each other. You can help them do that by doing an all paid for vacation package as your wedding gift. Keep in mind this doesn't have to be super long or super expensive. You can book a nice hotel suite for a couple of days nearby just so they can get away.

4) Set Of Kitchen Utensils
What newly wed bride isn't going to need kitchen utensils? This is one of those gifts that is fun to receive because it can actually be used on a daily basis. She's going to want to impress him with delicious foods day after day. Help her do that with a set of kitchen utensils which will contain everything she needs!

5) Spa Gift Baskets For Two
Sending a set of spa gift baskets probably combines elegance and appreciation in one simple gift. They'll be able to spend time with each other in a soothing and relaxing way. These are very well priced and can be purchased with both the bride & groom in mind.

6) Personal Hobbies & Interests
It seems like people never think about what the bride & groom actually enjoy when selecting a wedding gift. This seems pretty obvious but people usually try to buy something expensive or something that just looks really good. Don't try so hard, simply find out a personal hobby the bride & groom share & pick out a gift according to that.

7) Monogrammed Pillow Cases & Bed Sheets
Unlike most gifts, this one is customized to give it a special touch & a sense of personal thought. These days you can pick up upscale pillowcases & bed sheets from your local shopping mall. Or you can get them monogrammed from the get-go by doing the whole process online.

8) Customized Wedding Photo Quilt
This gift is sure to get them excited! The idea behind this one is to give a present that will be memorable and meaningful at the same time. You'll have to do a bit of coordinating with the wedding photographer in order to be the first one who gets access to the wedding photos but it'll be well worth it. Pick a dozen or so favorite pictures and get a quilt made from them.

9) Personalized Presents
Today it's so simple to come up with personalized presents but nobody does them because it takes just a tiny bit of more effort. They are instantly more special to the recipient because they stand out from those plain gifts purchased at retail stores. Doing something as simple as engraving their names makes it personal!

10) His & Her Bath Set
Bath sets are super cute, especially for that new home or apartment that the couple will have just moved into. She'll love setting up the bathroom with all the essentials in a practical bathroom set. These are very useful since they'll have to soon purchase them anyways, you can give it as a gift

The third annual EcoLavish fashion show will be taking place on Thursday, November 11 in Seattle, WA. The show features eco-friendly designers including jewelry designer Vian Hunter. And keep a lookout for wedding gowns by Twice Blushed. Tickets are only $25, and the first 50 guest will receive goodie bags filled with eco-friendly gifts. Read more here.

Hello everyone -

I'm Jeff, one of the owners here at My Wedding Workbook, and I got married about a year ago in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Although the first anniversary is traditionally paper, I've decided to make it electronic and post a photo here and say "Happy Anniversary" to my wonderful wife, Kathryn. Oh, and if you're thinking about a destination wedding, I would totally recommend it. We were married in this place called Las Caletas, which is run by an outfit called Vallarta Adventures. I would highly recommend both the venue and the company, as they were awesome.

In fact, we spent a little less money on a destination wedding than we would have paid if we had kept our wedding local (we live in Denver, CO), so if you're thinking about a destination wedding but are skeptical of the cost, you should run the numbers because you may be surprised.

Oh, and for those readers in South Africa, check out The Wedding Directory.co.za

Anyway, happy planning, and here's to wonderful first anniversaries (and many more), Jeff

We just conducted a survey in which 75% of all the brides surveyed said that they spend a minimum of 2 hours a week on wedding planning 3. In fact, here are the breakouts of our research: 5.5% of brides spend less than 1 hour/week planning 20.3% spend 1-2 hours/week planning 26.4% spend 2-4 hours/week planning 21.6% spend 4-6 hours/week planning 11.1% spend 6-10 hours/week planning 7.4% spend 10-15 hours/week planning 7.7% spending more than 15 hours/week planning

None of this should come as a shock to do-it-yourself brides who are deep into the process of planning their big day. However, for newly engaged brides-to-be who haven't yet dived into the process, these numbers can be pretty intimidating. So here are a few valuable things to remember:

1. Every bride is different - Some brides love spending their weekends creating amazing decorations and favors for their wedding. Others would rather spend a few hours shopping for these items and be done with it. Suffice it to say that every bride is different, so don't feel obligated to be like your cousin who spent 700 hours planning her wedding when that's just not your thing.

2. Tackle tasks one at a time - You probably have months to plan your wedding, and although they do seem to go by quickly, you have time to get everything done. Just take things one at a time, and before you know it you will have lots of checkmarks next to completed items.

3. Nobody says you have to do it all by yourself - Even the most driven and independent brides get help, so why shouldn't you? Recruit your bridesmaids, family, fiance and even your fiance's family to help you with tasks that seem too large to tackle alone. Not only will you save yourself time and frustration, but it will probably be much more fun when you have your loved ones around helping you.

4. Use tools to help you - One of the reasons we created My Wedding Workbook was to give couples a system that helps them stay organized and plan more efficiently. So using resources like our system can help you relieve some of the stress and make you feel more organized when the pressure is on.

You would think with all the TV shows focused on wedding dresses and décor that brides are obsessed with fashion and style ... and that might be true to some extent. But our research shows that most brides are much more practical about their areas of concern.

We surveyed 836 brides on what were their three areas of biggest concern relating to their wedding, and they said that staying on budget, booking venues and beauty/fitness were the three things that weigh most heavily on their minds.

Although shopping for wedding dresses/attire and managing event details were also top replies, it was topics that involve money, timelines and fitness that were of biggest concern. This makes sense in a few ways. Because many brides these days are on a tight budget, they are often stressed out about being able to afford everything they want for their big day. In addition, booking a venue can be a big logistical and timing challenge (and often some of the details are out of a bride's control, which can be really aggravating). And fitness is an issue for many Americans, so the added pressure of fitting into a dress and looking perfect for your big day is just more stress.

So where do brides go for inspiration and guidance to calm your fears and find the answers you need? Why, to the Internet, of course.

Our survey shows that the first four places you look for wedding planner inspiration are wedding websites, wedding-related blogs, online search engines and online wedding forums, followed by bridal magazines, shopping at wedding boutiques and bridal shows. Seeing as how you are reading this on a wedding-related blog, this probably doesn't surprise you.

However, what might surprise you is that many of your fellow brides, when asked about their main source of aid throughout their planning, ranked the Internet (17.8%) closely behind their fiancés (28.4%) and their mothers (21.3%) as their main source of aid.

For a company that prides itself in providing brides and wedding consultants with the best online tools for planning and managing events, we are a bit flattered by this bit of news. But it also should be followed up with a cautionary tale.

Granted, the Internet is a fabulous resource for guidance and comparison shopping. However, we have heard more than a few stories of wedding Web burnout. In addition, you can find tons of wedding vendors on the Internet, but any online reviews of those vendors should be taken with a large grain of salt (as they could be padded with positive reviews or squelched by unfairly negative ones).

Our advice is to surf in moderation and trust your instincts about your wedding. In addition, once you have compiled a list of vendors from the Internet, you should look elsewhere for recommendations and insights about these vendors. Ask your married friends. Ask other, unrelated vendors you trust for recommendations (that is, ask your trusted florist if she knows of a good caterer). Ask people at your health club, your place of worship, etc. Even ask your Facebook friends. This is where word-of-mouth still rules.

Think of the Internet as a combination phone book/bridal magazine. It's a place where you can get lots of great ideas and find all types of information on vendors and venues. However, there's no substitute to getting out and interviewing each prospective wedding planner, vendor and venue to get a feel for them and if they would be a good fit for you and your plans.

Social media has added a whole new chapter to the etiquette books. Unfortunately, sometimes Facebook or Twitter updates that are posted out of excitement can unintentionally hurt other's feelings. Weddings are emotional for most people, and when emotions run high, so does the potential for drama. So how do you know what to put on Facebook or post on Twitter? Here's a list of some guidelines for social media use.

1. Do Not – use Facebook as a replacement for your wedding website. Wedding websites are there for a reason. Use them! They already have pages for everything, and you can limit the people who have your URL. Some websites even allow you to password protect your site or individual pages so that you don't get any unsolicited traffic.

2. Do Not - use Facebook to vent. It's just inappropriate. If you're having planning related problems, discuss them with your soon-to-be husband and practice your team problem-solving skills. Or, if you just need to vent, call up one of your girlfriends and have a good rant. Or, if you really feel the need to write it all down, start keeping a journal. Journaling is very therapeutic, and can help tame stress levels.

3. Do Not – send invitations via Facebook If you're hosting a keg party in your backyard, Facebook invites would probably work. But if you're out of college and want your invitations to symbolize that (1) you're old enough to be getting married, and (2) you understand that a wedding is more than just a party, send real invitations.

4. Do Not - put your registry information on Facebook. If people want to send you a gift, they will. It's totally inappropriate to be soliciting gifts from people who weren't even invited to the wedding. Again, this is an item that would be appropriately placed on a page of your wedding website.

5. Do Not- Discuss your wedding plans on Facebook. It is rude to talk about an invitation-only social event in front of someone who was not invited. You wouldn't do it in person, so why would you do it online?

6. Do Not – update your status during your ceremony. What may seem like a fun idea now is just going to seem ridiculous to you in 20 years. Not only will you feel foolish for pausing your serious, commitment-oriented ceremony for something trivial, but Facebook and other types of social media are constantly shifting, and whatever type you're using will likely be obsolete by the time you're trying to explain to your kids what you're doing with your mobile phone at the alter in your wedding video.

7. Maybe – Announce your engagement on Facebook There's nothing wrong with letting people know you're getting married, but there's a right and a wrong way to go about it. Before you post anything on Facebook, make sure you've told all of your close friends and family personally. Think about it from their perspective: wouldn't it hurt your feelings if you found out about your daughter's or best friend's wedding online at the same time as everyone else? And be aware, if you post about your engagement, everyone who reads it is going to expect an invite. Explaining that they are not invited may actually be more stress than it's worth.

8. Do – Post engagement photos and pictures of your ring. Facebook is a great way to share information, and your friends and family are definitely going to want to see pictures of you and your soon-to-be spouse. However, when/if you post pictures of your engagement ring, do so thoughtfully. Don't write tacky, boastful captions about how huge the ring is. People want to see pictures because they're happy that you found love, not a two-carat ring.

9. Do Not- Post messages for your bridal party or other wedding-related groups. This is the same thing as talking about an invite-only party in front of someone. You undoubtedly have friends who you didn't include in your bridal party, and talking to/about your wedding party members may make them feel like their missing out on the fun. Remember that this type of etiquette is meant to avoid hurting others, but it's also meant to limit the drama in your life. The fewer feelings you hurt the fewer hurt people you're going to have to deal with.

10. Do – post your wedding date. People who know you're engaged are probably going to want to know when the wedding is, so it's perfectly fine to share this. Your wedding date can't really be misconstrued in any way. Someone would be hard-pressed to find a reason to feel this was offensive. But again, be aware that some people may take this information as an invitation.

11. Do Not – Post the details (time, location, etc). First of all, you're just asking for some wedding crashers, and second of all, this information should be given to people via your invitation, not Facebook. Facebook friends who weren't invited may consider this an open invitation, and you could find yourself with a few unexpected guests.

12. Do Not – Post the link to your wedding website. This totally defeats the purpose of not putting this information on Facebook. You should only share your wedding website information with your friends, family, and people invited to the wedding. Unless you're inviting all of your 750 Facebook friends to your wedding, send your website link out on your save-the-dates or invitations.

13. Do – post pictures of your wedding. After the big day, everyone is more relaxed, and less likely to take offense to something you post. Plus, you'll also be under a lot less stress, so should a situation arise, you'll have more time and energy to handle it. And, posting pictures is a great way to help people who couldn't be there feel included.

O: Officiant – More and more couples are choosing an officiant that they know and who has some relation to them personally. Choosing an officiant that you feel comfortable with is very important, especially since many couples will be going through marriage classes with their officiant.

P: Photography – If you splurge on nothing else wedding-related, splurge on photography. The pictures you take will be invaluable not only to you, but to your children, grandchildren, parents and friends. Each photographer is different so take the time to visit with several photographers and find the one whose style and quality you like. You may regret overspending on your cake or centerpieces, but you'll never regret overspending on your pictures.

Q: Quality – There is a theory that any time the word "wedding" is mentioned prices skyrocket without any effect on the quality of services. In truth, most of the time this theory is not true. When vendors hear "wedding" they do charge more, but it's because they realize that they're dealing with the most important day of someone's life, and therefore the product requires much more attention to detail than a product for another occasion.

R: RSVPs – Ah, the eternal struggle between the wedding couple and guest's RSVPs. Inevitably, one or two guests always forgets to send theirs, or it gets lost in the mail. Enter the age of Online RSVPs. Now, you can include your wedding website URL right on your invitation and send guests right to your website to RSVP.

S: Stationery – If you think all you need to worry about is wedding invitations, think again. You'll need engagement announcements, save the date cards, and invites; RSVPs, and thank you cards for all of your wedding-related events - including your engagement party, bridal shower, bridesmaid's luncheon, bachelor and bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinner, ceremony & reception, and day-after wedding brunch. And don't forget about menus and place cards!

T: Thank-You Notes – If you follow no other wedding etiquette, please send thank-you notes, and in a timely fashion. It's common courtesy, and it makes people feel appreciated. Most guests spend a lot of money to prepare for and go to a wedding, and it's very nice to be acknowledged.

U: Union – Ultimately, this wedding is about you and your spouse coming together to form a family. But this union also signifies the union of both of your families. Everyone's situation is different, and there's no set protocol for how to handle every situation that may arise. But you can choose to handle whatever may come with class.

V: Vendors – Dealing with vendors is stressful, and 90% of the battle is usually just finding someone that you trust and feel comfortable with. Don't be afraid to shop around, and when you do, consider more than just price. There is usually a reason that one vendor is more expensive than another. Take the time to compare packages, services, references, and most importantly your instincts about each one.

W: Wedding Party – Ironically, your wedding party (especially bridesmaids) can become a major source of stress for some brides. That's why it's so important to really put thought into who you select as your attendants. It's normal to want your best friends standing up with you, but you also need to think about who's actually going to fulfill the responsibilities (and there are a lot) of being in your wedding party.

X: Xanax – Yes, Xanax -just kidding. But seriously, weddings can be stressful, so it's important to take care of yourself. Take a day or two a week off from wedding planning. This is a marathon, not a sprint; you've got to pace yourself. Speaking of running, exercise is a major stress reliever, and it'll get you into shape for the big day!

Y: Your Registry – Wedding Registries are changing. Couples have more options than ever, and because most couples live together before marriage registry items are getting less and less traditional. However, it is still a major faux pas to put your registry information on your wedding invitation. Instead, list your registry information on your personal wedding website, and include the link to your website on your invitation.

Z: Zany – Weddings today are getting a more personal touch. Couples are putting their own unique stamp on their festivities, and we love it! Don't be afraid to break out of tradition and get a little zany! You'll know what's right for you, whether that be holding a non-traditional bash, or keeping is simple with a personalized theme.

A: Attire – The search for the perfect dress is a universal dilemma among brides, but there are other forms of attire to think about as well. You'll need to discuss the groom's and groomsmen's outfits, the bridesmaid's dresses, (and remember that the maid of honor and best man's outfits are usually slightly different from the rest of the bridal party) the Mother of the bride's dress, and the dress for the flower girl.

B: Budgeting – Budgeting is both the most important and the most overlooked facet of wedding planning. Most weddings go over budget, but this can easily be avoided with careful organization. Most brides get themselves into trouble because they don't realize all the costs associated with a wedding, and therefore don't factor them into their budget.

C: Catering – You're going to need a good caterer for at least one of your wedding-related events, so it's important to find someone you like. Try them out for a smaller event like your engagement party. Then, if you had a good experience, hire them for the wedding. Great food is important to a great party, so be sure to hire someone you like and feel comfortable with.

D: Décor – Dreaming about colors, aisle runners, balloons, centerpieces and the rest of your wedding decorations can be a ton of fun, but only if you have an efficient way to organize them. The last thing you want is a notebook full of tons great ideas that don't go together. Make sure you have an Ideas and Inspiration Board, and try to visualize all your ideas before you bring them to life.

E: Etiquette – There's nothing like a wedding to cause confrontation. And even with more and more couples moving away from tradition, most wedding etiquette is still applicable. Therefore we definitely recommend brushing up on your wedding etiquette. There are plenty of great etiquette books out there, but be careful about the advice you get off of the Internet; not everyone is an expert.

F: Flowers – Flowers are a huge part of most weddings – and an expensive one. You can cut down on expenses (and up your wedding's eco-friendly factor) by setting your wedding date during a time when the flowers you want will be in season. There are plenty of florists who offer in-season local options for floral décor.

G: Guest List – The guest list will be one of the first things you'll tackle in your wedding planning. It's important to have a solid guest list for many reasons, but the first and most important is its effect on your budget. More guests equal more money. More guests will require a bigger venue, more table rentals, more centerpieces, more expensive catering, and so on and so fourth.

H: Honeymoon – Think relaxing. After months of wedding planning, you and your new spouse are going to need some serious relaxation. Don't plan every second of every day. Give yourselves a little time to just enjoy each other's company.

I: Internet – There are so many wedding resources on the web these days that even the most non-crafty bride can find ways to DIY. But the abundance of wedding sites can get a little overwhelming. We say set up some Google alerts for the wedding terms that your interested in, and let the information come to you!

J: Jewelry – Once you've found your dress, the next step is to style it up with jewelry, shoes, and accessories. Remember that the jewelry you wore on your wedding day is more likely to be handed down and worn by your daughter than your dress is, so chose something that's reflective of your personality and will be a true keepsake for your children.

K: Knight in Shining Armor – Remember him? Yes, it's easy to loose sight of what's really important when the wedding planning starts to consume your every thought. Every once and a while, take a moment to pause and reflect on the wonderful man you're about to marry. It will bring you back to center and help you maintain perspective throughout the planning process.

L: Location – Picking the right location for your wedding can be quite a process. You may already have a location in mind, but there are numerous questions to consider when deciding. Does the venue have enough parking? Restrooms? Handicap accessibility? Is it too far away from the guest's hotel to expect them to drive back and fourth?

M: Music – From choosing a DJ to picking out the song for your father-daughter dance, music will be an integral part of your wedding. You'll need music for both the ceremony and reception. Luckily, today we have tons of options: CD's, a live band, iPod play lists and so on.

N: Name Change – Not every bride takes her spouse's last name, but 88.9% of brides still plan to make the shift. Check this out for the skinny on changing your name.

We know that finding the perfect dress is important, as it should be. Luckily, there is no need to sacrifice your ethics in order to wear a Vera Wang! There are tons of ways to make your dress an eco-friendly part of your wedding.

The recycled dress:
Getting a recycled dress is a great way to (1) save money and (2) go green. If you think about it, a recycled dress has really only been worn for about 8 hours, and they're usually still like new! There are some awesome sites to find gently used gowns. My personal favorite is Preownedweddingdresses.com. They have a huge selection of beautiful dresses usually around half of their original price! They also have awesome tips for gown shopping, and you can see where the dress is located geographically to avoid excessive shipping. There are other great resources out there as well. Recycled Bride is another great resource for the eco-savvy bride. They've got resources for everything: grooms, bridesmaids, mother of the bride, shoes, rings, even the reception! An awesome resource for the vintage inspired bride is The Frock. They have 18 pages of amazing unique vintage dresses.

The eco-friendly material dress:
Mr. Larkin clothes. These eco-conscious designs are phenomenal! One dress in particular, titled Elsa, struck my fancy. It's made of 100% milk and has gorgeous sequins – perfect for 2010. The milk fiber is antibacterial and enriches your skin when you wear it – talk about a great wedding present to yourself! Elsa is also the dress that Livia Firth wore to the 16th annual SAG Awards. Check out Elsa for yourself at shopflick.com, and find out more about milk yarn here. Also check out Conscious Clothing. They have more than just dresses; Conscious Clothing has men's wedding attire, bridesmaid's dresses, lingerie and flower girl dresses. Their beautiful collections are all hemp blends, and they have options for the vegan bride as well! Poetic Justice has a smaller (but just as gorgeous) collection of organic gowns to peek at.

What to do with the dress after the wedding:
Although you may have the urge to save your dress for your hypothetical daughter, resist! More than likely, (a) the styles of today will not be the styles of your children's generation, and (b) your daughter will probably give you grief about whatever style you wear. So, what do you do with your dress? Donate it. The I Do Foundation and Brides Against Breast Cancer are both great organizations for donating your dress. When you donate your dress you're supporting a good cause and recycling!

My favorite option for recycling your dress is to style it into something new. I love the idea of creating a new classic dress that you can wear out on your anniversaries. How special! And instead of saving the dress for your kids, use excess fabric to create a baby blanket or christening gown. Using your dress to make a keepsake for your children is much more sensible than expecting them to wear it. Another option is to take a piece of the dress, embroider your wedding date and names and have it framed. You can also sell your dress recycling sites like the ones mentioned above, and let another bride get as much happiness out of it as you did! Also look at sites like The Bride To Bride Botique and Wedding Dress Market.

Whether you choose to implement one or all of these ideas, the slightest effort makes a big difference. Good luck shopping!

Even if you're a technology fiend you're going to use a lot of stationery over the course of your engagement. You'll need announcements, save the date cards, engagement party and bridal shower invitations and thank you notes, wedding invitations and RSVP cards, ceremony programs, place cards, menu cards, and wedding thank you notes. As easy as it would be to just send everything via email, having actual wedding invitations is always nice. Going green with your wedding stationery isn't as difficult or expensive as you may think. So, here are some awesome tidbits on how to "green up" your wedding stationery.

Paper Options:
Paper has only been made from trees for about 150 years now, so in addition to using recycled paper, you can look for tree-free paper. Invite Site is a great source for tree free wedding stationery. They also have great DIY kits for the crafty bride. Also, look for paper that is processed chlorine free (PCF). PCF paper is partially or totally recycled and is either unbleached or bleached with non-chlorine compounds. Though PCF paper is the most eco-friendly, also keep an eye out for these other common acronyms. ECF or elemental chlorine-free indicates that the paper fibers (virgin or recycled) are bleached with chlorine dioxide or other chlorine compounds. TCF or totally chlorine-free indicates that the fiber is 100% virgin and is either unbleached or bleached with non-chlorine compounds. Recycled paper cannot be TFC because the original processing of the paper is unknown.

Plant it!:
One of the greatest trends right now is plantable stationery. Foreverfiancies.com has an entire plantable collection! Their 100 percent recycled papers are embedded with wildflower seeds so your guests can plant your invitation! They also have save the date and announcement cards to match your theme.

Green ink:
Though many companies advertise themselves as using sustainable printing methods, there are a couple of options when it comes to ink. Soy based ink is popular and definitely more eco-friendly than petroleum based inks, but the best choice is actually vegetable based ink. Most soy ink is only about 20 percent soy, and it produces more volatile organic compounds (VOC's) than vegetable based inks. Vegetable ink is also considered more sustainable because it utilizes more than one crop, and it doesn't compete with the market for biodiesel fuel. Soybean oil, on the other hand, is used to make biodiesel.

Email RSVP's:
I highly recommend setting up an email address strictly for your wedding. Everything is online these days, and you'll want all of your online wedding information coming to you in one spot. Once you've set up your wedding email, save some paper (and some money on postage!) and have your guests email their RSVP's. Or, if you have a wedding website with an online RSVP feature, you can simply have guests reply there. Include your email address, or your website URL on your stationery invitation and give short directions for, including entrée choices, reply by date, and whether or not they will attend. If you have wedding planning software with bulk email capabilities, this step will be a snap.

With all of the stationery you're sure to be using over the course of your engagement, this is a great, easy area to go green. Happy planning, and more sustainable wedding tips coming soon!

Don't be scared! You don't have to wear a hemp dress or serve only mixed greens at you reception. Green is the new black, and with everyone jumping on the veggie-oil powered bandwagon, we think that the best way to begin your new life as a couple is sustainably. There is absolutely no need to give up your dream wedding in order to make it sustainable. There are plenty of resources to make having a green wedding easier for you, so keep checking back for more green wedding tips.

Green weddings should start from the beginning: your engagement.

The Ring:
The fact is that there are plenty of diamonds and precious metals out there just waiting to be recycled, and there tons of resources to help you do it! Hop on the Internet and research sustainable jewelers in your area. Visit pawn shops. Even if you don't find the exact ring you're looking for, remember that a reputable goldsmith can redesign both engagement and wedding rings to your exact specifications. Wouldn't it be great to know that your ring is one-of-a-kind and made of recycled materials? Green Karat is a great resource to get some ideas about sustainable rings, and Precious Earth Jewelry has an entire collection of environmentally conscious engagement rings (as well as other awesome jewelry). My personal favorite is Brilliant Earth. Check out their conflict free diamond buying guide and their handy retailer checklist for finding real conflict free diamonds.

Planning:
Go digital! Although you've probably been planning your day in your head for a while now, the real planning commences immediately after the engagement. But the days of brides lugging around giant wedding books filled with magazine cut outs to vendor after vendor are over. Enter the online wedding planner. wedding planner software is available all over the Internet these days; you just have to know what you're looking for.
A good comprehensive planner will allow you to plan all of the aspects of your wedding in one spot. There's more to a wedding than just the wedding day. You'll need comprehensive tools for your budget, calendar, guest list, wedding related events like the engagement party, and a checklist. Also, make sure you can export your data, and can print pages if need be. Phone Applications are another handy feature to look for. Being able to access your wedding details wherever you are on your phone saves you from having to haul around messy (and wasteful) papers.
Rather than buying tons of bridal magazines, access them online, and save inspirational pieces in your online workbook's inspiration board instead of printing them out. Glamour Magazine, has a fun new wedding section, and Get Married Magazine has a great section on planning a green wedding.

Whether you're having an informal beach wedding, or tuxes and ball gowns you can have the green wedding of your dreams! More green tips to come!

Carat = weight

Carat – 200 milligrams or 0.2 Grams

A carat is a unit of weight measurement for diamonds and is completely different than "karat" or the method of determining the purity of gold. One Carat is equal to 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams. Carat weight is measured the same all over the world.

One carat is divided into 100 points. For example, a diamond of 50 points is .50 carats. As the carat of a diamond increases, so does its price. The majority of diamonds used in fine jewelry weigh one carat or less. Larger diamonds are rare, and therefore more valuable. However, diamonds of the same carat can vary widely in price depending on their cut, color, and clarity.

When diamond shopping, the general rule of thumb is to spend 2-3 month's salary. Remember that this is just a guideline, and every buyer has a different budget. When you decide on a carat size, you'll also have to consider the quality. You can opt for a larger diamond with lower grading in color and clarity. Or you can go for a smaller stone with higher grading in color and clarity.

When you're thinking about carat, remember to consider the setting you'll be putting the diamond in. You'll have to make sure that the setting will fit the carat weight of the diamond you choose.

Though not technically in the 4 C's of diamonds, there is a fifth C that's very important: Certificates.

A diamond certificate is not the same thing as an appraisal. A certificate describes the quality of a diamond, but does not assert a monetary value for the stone. An appraisal states the monetary value of the gem, but does not certify the quality of the diamond.

A certificate gives you a type of blueprint of the diamond and will tell you the stone's exact weight, measurement, and quality and clarity information. It will provide detailed descriptions of all of the unique characteristics of your diamonds.

You can get a certificate through the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gem Society (AGS). There are also other laboratories that issue certificates, but these two organizations are the most highly recognized in the world.

Shopping for certified diamonds ensures that you're making an informed decision about the gem you purchase and gives you a frame of reference for comparison while shopping around. If you buy a diamond without a certificate, you're buying it based solely on the salesman's word about its quality, and there is no guarantee that another jeweler or gemologist will agree with their assessment.

Check out your two chances to win a free year's subscription to My Wedding Workbook's Premium Wedding Planning Tools! Just stop by the Budget Savvy Bride and the Indie Bride to enter for your chance to win!

Good Luck, and Happy Planning!

Color = color

Diamonds actually occur naturally in all colors. But since most buyers are interested in colorless, there is a scale to rate the colorlessness of "white" diamonds. So, when a jeweler talks about the color of the diamond, they're referring to the presence or absence of color in a white diamond. The color of a diamond never changes, and occurs based on the stone's composition.

Colorless diamonds are more popular because they allow more light to travel throughout the diamond, giving it more sparkle or brilliance. Truly colorless diamonds are very rare, and thus more expensive and higher in value. When light exits a completely colorless diamond, the light will show the colors of the rainbow

*Note: This rule does not apply to diamonds of other colors. Some colored diamonds are also very rare and are considered of higher values due to their color.

Color is graded from totally colorless (rated "D") to light yellow or "Z." Variations between grades are very subtle and hard to pinpoint.

• D, E, F - These diamonds are considered colorless
  
• G, H, I, J - Near Colorless
  
• K, L, M - Faint Yellow
  
• N, O, P, Q, R - Very Light Yellow
  
• S, T, U, V, W, X - Light Yellow

Diamonds graded "G" - "I" generally cannot be distinguished from colorless diamonds by the untrained eye. And, if your setting is yellow gold rather than white gold or platinum, you can often get away with a lower color grade.

When you hear about fluorescence:
A diamond's fluorescence is its reaction when exposed to long-wave ultraviolet light. Under most normal lighting conditions, the stone's fluorescence isn't visible. However, a diamond that shows blue under a UV light may appear cloudy in sunlight. Generally people avoid diamonds with more than faint fluorescence, but some people like this effect. Fluorescence is really a matter of aesthetics, and the GIA states that fluorescence makes very little difference as to the stone's appearance.

Oddly, diamonds graded D, E, F, G, H, I, and J are less expensive when they show fluorescence. But diamonds K, L, and M are more expensive when they show fluorescence. According to one theory, fluorescence makes colorless diamonds appear cloudy, reducing their value; but increases the value of yellower diamonds because the blue offsets their yellow color, making them appear whiter. Currently, there is no verification of this theory. Overall, fluorescence should not influence your purchasing decisions.

Clarity = flaws

Blemishes – flaws on the stone like scratches and chips
Inclusions – flaws in the stone like bubbles and cracks
Plot of inclusions – the unique blemishes and inclusions on your diamond

*Note: for the purpose of diamond grading, all flaws are referred to as inclusions.

A Diamond's clarity is usually determined using 10X loupe magnification. Inclusions interfere with the light dispersion through the diamond, thus affecting it's brilliance. The fewer inclusions, the more beautiful a diamond is considered. Grades range from "F" (flawless) to "I3" (inclusions are very visible). Most diamonds have flaws, but stones with few or no inclusions or blemishes are worth more because they are rare.

Here's how diamond clarity grading works:

• F – Flawless. These diamonds have no internal or external flaws and are extremely rare.
  
• IF – Internally Flawless. These stones have no inclusions, but some blemishes. They're also very rare.
  
• VVS1, VVS2 – Very Very Slightly Included. Small inclusions visible only with detailed examination under magnification.
  
• SI1, SI2 – Slightly Included. Small inclusions more easily see under magnification.
  
• I1, I2, I3 – Inclusions visible under magnification as well as the naked eye.

Remember a diamond doesn't have to be flawless to be brilliant. For grades F-SI a diamond's clarity only affects the diamond's value, not the stones appearance to the naked eye.

Though inclusions are thought to be undesirable, they can also serve as identifying characteristics. No two stones are exactly the same, so with a diamond's plot you'll have unique identifying characteristics about your particular diamond.

Inspiration and Misc.

Gotta Etsy (.99)
Gotta Etsy is the perfect on the go tool for Etsy lovers. You can browse listings by categories and search keywords, materials and tags. You can also map sellers, and bookmark listings!

myPantone ($9.99)
If you haven't picked a color palette, myPantone may be for you. You can build and share color libraries, capture and extract colors from photos, and upload to the myPantone.com website.

Wedding Vows (.99)
Wedding Vows is a collection of sample wedding vows. You can search using keywords, and save you favorites. You can also create and edit you own vows with the app.

Waltz (free)
If you're planning a waltz for your wedding dance, this may be a great app for you. Waltz offers men's and women's footwork for you and your partner, and you can get more dance steps on the website.

Wedding Blogs (.99)
Wedding blogs gives you access to wedding blogs all in one spot. You can add blogs when you find them, or search by keyword. And best of all you can email posts to friends when you find something that really inspires you!

Wedding Envi ($1.99)
Wedding Envi organizes all kinds of wedding images to help you find inspiration for your wedding. See everything from dresses, tuxedos, rings, shoes and more. From an image, you can go directly to the website to read more.

The Ring
Ring Builder ($1.99)
With Ring Builder you can design your ideal ring by selecting a diamond and a setting. You can save designs, and email them to friends. The images are great to have when you go to meet with jewelers.

Diamond Terms – A Buyer's Glossary ($1.99)
Learn all about diamond shopping with Diamond Terms. It covers types, cuts, flaws, properties, grades, industry and general diamond terms. Best of all, you don't have to have an internet connection to access it!

The Timer
Wedding Day (.99)
Wedding Day is a real time countdown to your wedding day. It also continues the countdown after you're married and has 10 different background colors to match your style.

Wedding Date (.99)
Wedding Date counts down to your wedding day and counts up after you're married, but it also displays messages for each anniversary, and it's totally customizable! You can use your own picture as a background, and set music!

Getting in Shape
Shape Bride ($3.99)
Shape Bride has exercises, recipes, eat-right tips, tips on finding the right gown for your body type, and a 6-month beauty countdown. Record your reps, sets and equipment used for each exercise to track you progress.

Women's Health Workouts ($1.99)
This app has 16 pre-loaded workouts to boost metabolism, tone total body, strengthen core, and more! Each move has pictures to help guide you, as well as step-by-step instructions. You can keep a training log and analyze your progress. AND... there is a rest timer to help you monitor cool down periods between exercises for better performance.

This Monday's post comes from Erin Steele of Eco-Conscious Weddings for the Modern Bride. Erin herself is a green bride-to-be, and has some great tips for all you other green brides out there.
_______________________________________

Hello everyone! I'm Erin from Ecoconsciousweddings.com. My Wedding Workbook is kind enough to let me guest blog here today, and let me just say how excited I am to do so!

About 2 minutes after my boyfriend proposed marriage last September, and once the fog of joy had lifted a little and I had stopped screaming, "Oh my God," it hit me that I had to plan a wedding. And not just any wedding. I had to plan my own wedding. That's huge for someone like me. I really don't plan parties; I just attend them. So, after I took a great big breath, and realized that yes, I had to do this because neither of us were willing to elope, I made the decision that our wedding was not only going to be the event of the year, it was also going to be as sensitive to the environment as possible. I'm not a "hippie" by any means. But, as a woman who works for an environmental non-profit and has undergraduate degree in geology and a Masters in environmental management, I have a personal goal to be as "green" as I possibly can. I recycle, compost, reduce, and reuse- why wouldn't I do the same things on biggest day of my life?

Honestly, it's very difficult to have a green wedding. Very difficult. Weddings are supposed to be about the marriage of two people, but they are also an opportunity to celebrate with your nearest and dearest, and that means food, drinks, and decorations. That also means waste, waste, and more waste. We realized early on that a 100% waste-free, GHG-emission free, recycled wedding would not happen--not unless we walked or biked to City Hall, video-record our nuptials, and email blasted it to the world. Not ideal.

But I'm inspired by those brides are able to come close to achieving a green wedding. I've researched weddings for months now, and I've found many brides who've done a few things here and there for their own weddings that are not a burden on our planet, their wallets, or everyone's sanity. From those tricks, I'm creating my ideal green, cost efficient wedding. Curious about what you can do yourself? Here are a few suggestions for you eco-conscious brides out there:

1) First and foremost- do your research. Take the time to find legitimate, eco-friendly venders. Spend a few hours on the Internet after work each night and really find the best of the best, within your budget of course. Say you've found a caterer that you like. They claim to use organic foods, but you are not sure if they really do or if they are just jumping on the "green" bandwagon. Try searching on reviewer websites like Yelp.com and see what people are saying about them. If you see good things, call them up and see if you can get a list of their own suppliers; and if you have time, go and meet with them. For example, my caterer offered to set up an appointment for me with his vegetable supplier, a local farm about 20 miles away, just so I could see for myself how the produce for my wedding was going to be grown. We're going to check them out in a few weeks.

2) Make the decision to go DIY on a few decorations/wedding items. Seriously. We are all busy people (I work over 40 hrs a week myself), but DIY means that you can cut costs, be involved in your wedding in a very personal way, and really control what products you're using. Some ideas include using recycled paper for your paper products (invitations, menus, programs), or using your I-pod for your reception music; it not only saves on DJ/band costs, but also eliminates carbon emissions from any vehicles they may use driving to and from your venue. There are many blogs out there that have tons of DIY projects, from reception table decorations to alter decorations. Check them out!

3) Buy your dress used. Used dresses are a great way to recycle something incredibly beautiful and save a ton of money. Many designer dresses start at $2,000. Who has that kind of money these days? So, if you are really stuck on buying that Melissa Sweet dress of your dreams, go online and check out the multitude of online used wedding dress retailers. Often you can get a great deal and find a dress that will need very little alteration to fit you. Trust me, if I can find one, you can too.

4) One last trick? Have fun with your planning. There are tons of blogs, magazines, and other resources for you to use to help plan, inspire, and execute your big day.

Good luck!

Over the next few posts, we'll be bringing you all kinds of wedding-related iPhone applications to make your life a little easier. So, keep checking back, and let us know about your favorite apps!

The Dress and Accessories

Wedding Dress Look Book (Free)
Wedding Dress Look Book is a free app to help you shop for a gown. With a 3½ star rating, most users liked it. It offers listings of salons that carry specific dresses, and you can search by style, shape and price. Best of all, you can bookmark your favorites for later.

Brides Dressing Room (Free)
Brides Dressing Room also has 3½ stars. You can browse both wedding and bridesmaids' dresses by silhouette, brand, price and other specifics. Save all of your favorites, find the dress at a store near you, and make an appointment in one fell swoop.

iBridalGown ($3.99)
iBridalGown is helpful for tracking data at the actual salon. At each salon, you can enter information about the gown your considering and compare it to others later. You can also take pictures of the gown at the salon and save it with the rest of the dress info for a quick reference.

iShoes (Free)
Ahh, what to say about iShoes? With a selection of 50,000 shoes, you're bound to find one you like. You can browse or search favorite brands and styles. You can save your favorites, find out who carries it, and * sigh * it even alerts you when a shoe is on sale!

Feather Report ($1.99)
Fashion + Weather = Feather Report. So, you've picked a dress, but what about outfits for all those other special days throughout your engagement? Feather Report's got it taken care of. You can save favorites, search for your specific needs and shop online for outfits.

Net-A-Porter (Free)
Net-A-Porter is perfect for the fashonista bride looking to stay on top of current trends. With a 3 star rating, it shows you what's new in clothing, bags, shoes and accessories. You can create a wish list, buy on the spot, read fashion news and share with friends!

Although exciting, finding the perfect wedding gown may be a little stressful. Luckily, there are professionals out there to help you. Even if you don't wind up buying your dress from a bridal salon, there are many reasons to at least go check them out.

Benefit #1:
Finding a style that works for your body You may have had your mind set on your perfect dress since you were six, but what happens if you try that style and it's not as flattering as you imagined? That's when a dress consultant becomes your best friend. They outfit brides for a living, and chances are, they've dressed many women with your shape before. They'll be able to show you dresses that you had probably never dreamt would look fabulous on you.

Benefit #2:
Understanding pricing and staying within your budget Whereas big dress warehouses make their money by selling huge volumes of dresses, bridal salons make money by having satisfied customers. They're willing to put in the time to find you the dress that you're happy with and that fits your budget. They won't show you dresses that are thousands of dollars out of your price range, and they will be more than willing to clarify any questions you have about pricing. Like most things, saving money at a gown warehouse can be a catch-22. By the time you're finished paying extra for alterations, shipping fees and other charges a dress from a warehouse may cost just as much as one from a salon.

Benefit #3:
The Truth and objectivity Take these basic science concepts and adopt them as your new dress shopping philosophy. Taking your best friend or mom with you dress shopping is great if they're honest with you, but too often your friends are afraid to hurt your feelings, and your mother is more concerned with what she thinks you should be wearing than what you actually want. A consultant has no personal attachment to you, and thus can be completely objective. She'll give you her honest opinion about how a dress fits you, and she's seen enough dresses to know what looks good and what doesn't.

Benefit #4:
Delivery reliability Your wedding dress isn't really something you want to "wing-it" on. When you order your dress, it can take 6 months or so for it to be finished. You don't want to be worried the whole time that it won't show or that it won't be to your exact specifications. If you wind up purchasing your dress through a salon, it can take a lot of worry out of your already stressful planning process.

Benefit #5:
Picturing the dress with accessories A lot of bridal salons have more than just dresses. They have shoes, accessories, hairpieces etc. Even if you don't ultimately purchase any of these other items, it's nice to have them there to try on with the dress. Getting the whole picture is part of discovering the right dress! A salon consultant can also help you find accessories that match your theme, which can be a huge time saver.

Benefit #6:
Coordinate your whole bridal party in one stop If you're looking to save time, a bridal salon is a great pace to do it. In addition to finding your dress, you can find your bridesmaids' dresses, a dress for your maid of honor, mother of the bride dresses, and flower girl dresses. A consultant will help you with coordination colors and styles that you like. Seeing the bridesmaid's dresses next to your own will also help you make sure everything fits together nicely. Also, bridesmaids can make fitting appointments individually or all together at times that work for them. Making an appointment also guarantee that there will be someone there to assist you with anything you need.

1.Bring a digital camera (after trying on 15 dresses, they all start to look the same).
2.It is a standard rule that all wedding-related dresses run much smaller than the sizes on the label; prep your bridesmaids to avoid them getting depressed during dress fittings.
3.Realize that pale pink isn't going to look good on everyone. (Do you want your bridesmaids looking like blobs of Pepto-Bismol?)
4.The majority of bridesmaids (that I've encountered) think chiffon reminds them of their elders.
5.There is nothing more bonding than holding your bridesmaid's oversized/undersized dress as she checks it out in the mirror.
6.If you want the same dress for all bridesmaids, stick with A-line; it's forgiving on every shape.
7.Tell your bridesmaids to try dancing in each dress. If they can't handle the electric slide say "No" to the dress. There's nothing worse than finding out on the day of the wedding as the seam tears away.
8.Be respectful to the store employee helping you; upset them and they will purposefully find your dress in 3 sizes too small.
9.After four hours of dress mania, it's time you and your ladies have a drink!
10.Know that these ladies love you and, at the end of the day, they will wear whatever is your preference.

Lauren J. Rivera is a fiction and blog writer. Her latest blog tells the tales of her journey through three weddings over the next year and how they may, or may not, change her obscure belief in marriage. Read the blog here: Everyone's Wedding But Mine

According to a survey by My Wedding Workbook, the majority of brides (78.2%) are sticking with tradition and taking their husband's last name. For most brides it seems like the obvious choice. However, today's brides tend to be a bit older than when their mothers got married and therefore have more assets (think bank accounts, mortgages, etc.) in their name. This makes it a bit more cumbersome and involved to change your last name – but by no means impossible. Here are the steps you can take to make sure you cover all your bases.

Before the wedding:
You can't technically change your name until after the wedding because you need your marriage license, but there are a few steps you can take to get a head start on your name change.

• Apply for your marriage license. You can't change anything else until you've received your marriage license in the mail post-wedding. Request several certified copies, as photocopies are generally not accepted. You'll need at least three additional certified copies.

• Book your honeymoon with your maiden name. This is essential if you're traveling out of the country. All of your documentation still has your maiden name on it, and it's important that it match your tickets.

• Give your job a heads-up. Your name is on everything from your business cards to your office door. Simple things like your email address and the name on your paychecks will change. Even though you won't legally change anything until after the wedding, it's important to alert your employer of your decision.

• Tell your family and friends. Monogrammed gifts are great, but only if they have the right name on them. Also, hearing family and friends refer to you by your new name will help ease you into using it.

After the wedding:
Follow steps in order. The process will take much less time, and you won't feel stuck.

1. Get a new social security card. You'll need your new social security card to change everything else. Take a certified copy of your marriage license, completed SS-5 Form, your current SS card and your ID to your local social security office to get a new card.

2. Make an appointment at the DMV for a new drivers license. This has to be done in person. You'll definitely need a certified copy of your marriage license and your current drivers license. Be ready to have your picture taken and change your address if needed. Call prior to your appointment to verify exactly which documents you'll need to bring. While there, inquire about how to change the title and registration on your vehicle to your new name.

3. Update your passport. Make sure to use the correct form. If you've had your current passport for less than 1 year, use form DS-5504. If you've had your current passport for over 1 year, use form DS-82. Print and fill out the appropriate Passport Name Change Form. When you mail or visit the office, you'll also need your current passport, a certified copy of your marriage license, two current passport-approved photos, and payment for any applicable fees.

4. Notify the IRS (if necessary). When the Social Security Administration has processed your name change, they will notify the IRS within 10 days. If you moved when you got married, fill out IRS Form 8822 so that all tax information is sent to the correct address.

5. Update your address. If you moved, you may also want to change your address with the US Postal Service. This can be done online or in person at your local post office.

6. Register to vote. You'll need to change your name on your voter registration to be eligible to vote in the next election. Use the Nation Mail Voter Registration Form to update your name, and be sure to check your state's specific instructions.

7. Let your work know. Visit your office's HR department and change the name on all of your information. Show them a photocopy of your marriage license, and request that they update any 401k, retirement plan, or medical insurance. You'll also need new business cards if applicable.

8. For the following changes, you can mail a letter informing the party of your name change. You may want to include the following: maiden name, new name, address, account number, social security number (if applicable), and a copy of your marriage license (if applicable).

• Update your finances. Call your specific bank and request that your records be updated. You'll probably need new checks and an ATM card.

• School. If you're a student, call or stop by your registrar's office. Depending on the institution, you may need to bring your updated social security card, driver's license, and/or passport.

• Insurance policies. Automobile, home, medical, life, renters, and disaster insurance all need to be updated when you change your name. Request new insurance cards and/or updated policies.

• Memberships. Update memberships like the following: gyms, frequent flyer programs, alumni associations, library cards, video rental cards, school ID, magazine subscriptions, and unions.

• Utilities. Usually a phone call will suffice when updating your name with your utility companies. Just request to have your accounts changed to your new name.

• Professional licenses or organizations. You can call or write to update them of the change.

Above all, avoid name-changing kits! It may be time consuming to handle every change yourself, but you'll have the assurance that it's done right.

*This article is not intended to be legal advice. For more information on the legal ramifications of changing your name, consult your attorney.

March 3, 2010 - Some of us are blessed with many friends, which is great if you get a flat tire and need someone to come pick you up. But when it comes to planning the guest list for your wedding, it can almost seem like a hindrance. 44.5% of brides say their wedding will have fewer than 100 guests, and 70.7% are inviting no more than 150 guests. If you're working on a limited budget and just can't invite everyone, these tips are for you.

• I recently heard a friend say that she's not inviting anyone to her wedding that she wouldn't have over to her house for dinner. I thought this was great advice! Whether it's co-workers, customers, or that girl you run into tanning all the time, some people (even if you see them everyday) just aren't that close to you!

• Speaking of not being that close to you, how often to you really talk to all 500 of your friends on Facebook? We know you're excited, but Facebook may not be the most tactful way to announce your engagement.

• Be strong! You're going to have to put your foot down sometimes, and that's okay. Though they love you, parents are often guilty of mistaking your wedding for a place to invite their friends and brag about you. It's a gesture of love, and they want to show off your happiness, but if you've never met the friends they're trying to invite it's not inappropriate of you to say no. A nice way to avoid this confrontation is to give a set number of invitations to both sides' parents and leave it at that.

• It's nice to be able to invite your single friends and add "and guest," but sometimes it's just not realistic. If you're only inviting them, make it clear on the invitation. Simply write their name for them on the RSVP card. That way it will be obvious that the invite was only for them. In the end it's your event, and you can invite (or not invite) who ever you want. If you decide not to allow single guests a +1 make sure that decision applies to all single guests. It's tacky to allow some guests a +1 and others not.

• Even if someone invited you to their wedding, you don't have to reciprocate that invitation. More than anything, you should be comfortable and have fun at your wedding. You shouldn't be worried about everyone else who's there. On that note, cut down your bar tab and potential for disaster by cutting heavy drinkers from your list.

• Kids too, can be cut from the list if necessary. Although most weddings incorporate children, if your wedding is late at night, or has a more cocktail theme, there is nothing wrong with cutting kids under 12, or even 18 if you're so inclined.

• There are lots of people who seem important in your life right now, but think of these relationships in terms of their longevity. Have these people been in your life for a while? Were they influential in you and your fiancés' relationship? Will they still be in your life in 5 years? If the answer is no, reconsider including them on your list. Your wedding is not a social occasion; it's a special, sacred even to share with the people you love.

March 1, 2010 - The quote for food and beverages at your wedding takes up a hefty portion of the entire bill, but you can actually control these costs by going with some particular styles and themes. Most people are sick of the same old chicken/beef with a starch and a vegetable. Consider switching to some of these more unique options that will save you money...

Hors d'oeuvres Wedding
Replacing a formal meal with hors d'oeuvres is great for a more laid back setting, allowing people to move around and mingle. This type of wedding can quickly add up if you don't do your research, but there are a lot of great options that will actually cost significantly less than a plated meal. For instance, mini quiches, meatballs on toothpicks, quesadilla wedges, spinach dip with crackers, vegetables with dip, chicken skewers, bruschetta and pigs in a blanket. However, seafood appetizers like mini crabcakes and shrimp cocktail will cost you!

Italian Family Style
This intimate style wedding allows each table to feel like they're sitting down to a family meal. Pastas, bread and salad are brought out to each table and your guests will pass everything around. This type of meal should be just around $20 per head. You could also have a variety of pastas at a buffet and call it a "pasta bar" for sampling various types. This is also a great type of wedding for putting out a bottle of red and white at each table and cut back on the other alcohol.

Barbeque Wedding
This type of wedding is great for outdoor settings in the summer. The meat is pulled pork, accompanied by pasta/potato salad and marinated vegetables or green salad and rolls. This theme should be just around $20 per head as well, and is pleasantly different from the typical wedding spread. It is also a great decorational accent to have the pig on the spit going (unless you have a lot of vegetarians)!

Bar Ideas
There are a number of ways to save on the bar tab. The first and most obvious would be to limit your options to a few types of beer and a red and a white wine. Also, serving your beer from kegs into nice cups will be less expensive than bottles. The next step would be to limit liquor by having a specific signature drink- think about your personalities and the theme of the wedding. Great signature drinks include margaritas on the rocks, baybreezes, spiked iced tea/ lemonade and sangria. Think outside the box and have fun with it!

Kerry McCullough is the owner of Maryland Budget Wise Weddings, a website that helps brides on a budget to plan an affordable wedding in the Maryland area. After planning her own wedding a year and a half ago, Kerry realized how challenging it can be to create a memorable event that doesn't break the bank. Her website features affordable local vendors, a budget calculator, tricks and tips, articles, local bridal shows, a timeline, and bride-to-bride advice. http://www.budgetwiseweddingmd.com

For more general ideas on planning budget friendly weddings, visit her blog: http://www.budgetwisewedding.blogspot.com

February 22, 2010 - Ever wonder if you can have a mismatched number of bridal party members? Results of a survey done by My Wedding Workbook shows that brides can and do!

My Wedding Workbook found that 21.1% of brides said they plan to have four bridesmaids, and 20.4% said they'll have four groomsmen. Correspondingly, 16.2% said they'll have five groomsmen, and 15.3% five bridesmaids.

Difference in number was slight, which indicates that most mismatching brides are usually only one or two people off from having correlating numbers of aisle mates. The mismatched bridesmaid to groomsmen ratio that proved most popular was 5:4. Symmetrical bridal parties are still the most popular, but brides are definitely stepping out of the box.

19. Railway/train theme-
Investigate local railroads. Are there any historic railroad stations in your area? In some cases, you can rent out an entire car for your event! Railway museums are an alternative venue as well. Wood whistles are a fun favor, and you can have your wedding date or names carved into them. Set up toy trains around your reception, or use miniature toy trains as centerpieces. There are cute train place card holders. If you want to go more western with your train theme visit here for ideas. Watch old western movies for inspiration, and let your imagination wander!

20. Historic theme-
Wherever you are, there are probably some historic sites around you! Check out which ones are available as venues and build your theme around your chosen location. A historic theme is a great idea for a destination wedding as well. Some fun time periods include: Victorian, Edwardian, American Colonial, the roaring '20's, Ancient Greece or Rome, The Tudor (Elizabethan) age, or the Middle Ages.

Hopefully you've at least gotten some ideas! I'd love to hear any other interesting wedding themes that you've come across!

16. Masquerade theme-
A masquerade theme is fun and elegant. Deep colors and jewel tones like red, emerald and black work well with this theme, and roses are a perfect flower. There are plenty of places to find masks online. I recommend House of Masquerades for masks with an elegant touch. You can find masks with sequins, feathers, lace, and so on. A baroque venue sets an amazing atmosphere for a formal masquerade wedding. Or if you're leaning towards an outdoor wedding, tents with dim lighting set a romantic tone. Great centerpieces could be anything from vases filled with ostrich feathers to crystal candelabras. The richer-looking the better. Place card holders made out of wine corks are a neat idea for this theme, and you can easily find them online. I also love these wine goblet card holders from Beau-coup.com. The food should be rich and elegant: finger sandwiches, marinated olives, stuffed mushrooms, meat and cheese trays etc.

17. Herb theme-
Decorating with various herbs is a great idea for a spring wedding and isn't overly flowery. Talk to your florist for recommendations, and do some research on the meaning of individual herbs. For a short list visit Plants Bulbs. Make sure, once you've picked your herbs that the scents mix well together. For centerpieces, consider using potted fresh herbs, and send them home with guests. Sage greens, pale yellows and lavender are fun colors for an herbal theme. Give pretty packages of herbal teas as favors. Use baby-potted herbs as place holders; just write the name on a popsicle stick, place it in the plant and you've got cute, eco-friendly place holders! Plus, fresh herbs smell fantastic!

18. Aquatic theme-
Whether you're having your wedding at an aquarium or at the beach, there are a ton of things you can do with an aquatic theme. Have centerpieces with beta fish and give them to guests as favors. Shells and starfish are always fun to decorate with, and bubbles (if not overused) can be really beautiful. If you're up for something fun, have everyone RSVP with their shoe size, and get personalized flip-flops as favors! Custom Logo Flip Flops has an awesome selection of styles, and my personal favorite, eco-friendly flip-flops made from 100% recycled rubber! Shell place card holders are fun, and make sure not to forget to incorporate pearls for an elegant touch!

13. Famous couples theme-
There are so many couples! This is another theme that could go many ways. For a more serious tone consider couples like Romeo and Juliet. Or, for something more lighthearted fictitious couples like Tarzan and Jane, Wilma and Fred Flintstone, or Minnie and Mickie Mouse may be appropriate. Another avenue could be famous movie couples. Pictures or posters of old romantic movies will provide a dreamy ambiance.

14. Fleur De Lis theme-
The fleur-de-lis is a stylized lily, so if you've got lilies in your wedding, these classy little symbols will fit in nicely. It's a historically French symbol, but appears in many other countries as well. The fleur-de-lis is also considered religious, symbolizing the holy trinity and in some cases the Virgin Mary. Fleur-de-lis favors are very easy to find, and there's a lot that you can do with them. They make elegant place card holders, and they can be printed on pretty much anything as favors. Check out Fleur De Lis Fashions for ideas.. The fleur-de-lis is a great way to add regality to your wedding.

15. Snow Globe theme-
Who doesn't' love snow globes? It's a great idea if you're having a winter wedding, although it can be used during other times of year as well. Snow globes make great centerpieces, and again can be sent home as favors. Look here here for some snowflake themed gift ideas. You can also find various wedding snow globes at The Find. Buy Wedding Favors Online has cute snow globe place card holders here. Snow is elegant and romantic, just make sure to stay warm!

10. Origami theme-
You don't have to have an oriental themed wedding to use origami. It's beautiful and can lend a delicate tone to the wedding without being too girly. If you're up for it, recruit bridesmaids to help fold, otherwise, you can order pretty much anything at Lisashea.com. Create origami crane mobiles to hang above your reception tables, use origami flower boutonnieres, even your centerpieces and place cards can be origami. And don't forget to check out origami cake toppers; they're beautiful!

11. Video game theme-
You must take a peek at this. I must say, I'm impressed with the creativity of some of these video game theme weddings! Most of the weddings I've seen have gone game-specific, but I think you could do one that incorporates many games as well. It's easy to find video game favors. Interested? Check out AMatchMadeInHalo.com for more inspiration.

12. Paint theme-
Are you and your sweetheart interested in the arts? Have fun with a paint themed wedding. Have a finger painting table for the kids (washable of course), and for the adults hire a portrait artist to set up an easel and paint portraits of your guests during the reception. This is a great way to have fun with color as well. You can choose primary colors, or muted pastels. An art gallery would be a fabulous venue for a wedding with this theme, and you could consider paint swatch invitations. Check out a real paint themed wedding at Craftster.org.

More to come next week, so check back!

7. Renaissance theme-
What's more romantic than the Renaissance? The locations you can find for a Renaissance themed wedding are endless, old Gothic churches, vineyards decked out with tents or castles. Although images of men walking around with turkey legs may be going through your mind right now, there is no need to embrace the tradition of eating with your hands. A good caterer will be able to create a Renaissance-style menu that doesn't involve handi-wipes. Have fun with the details: seal your invitations with hot wax, use a quill pen for your guest book, hire a harpist, or have wrought-iron candlesticks.

8. Board Game theme-
I'm actually very impressed at how cool this is. You can use board games as centerpieces. Have family and friends let you use theirs (it's free!). To spice things up replace the dice in all the games with personalized dice from customwedding.com! You can also get personalized playing cards with your picture and send them home with guests as favors! Check out an actual board game themed wedding here. This couple even re-created the covers of well-known board games with their picture - so cute! If you want something more specific, you can even narrow the board game theme to one game in particular. For instance, you can find personalized chocolate poker chips at Beau-coup.com.

9. Coin theme/coin collecting.
If your colors include silver or gold, you can do a lot with coins. Personally, I was thinking a jewelry chest of coins, but you could also go with Vegas, Celtic, or sunken treasure themes. AmericanBridal.com offers personalized chocolate coins that you can spread around your reception tables. You can also have real coins engraved or made into key chains and send them home as favors.

We'll be back with more soon! Post a comment and let us know what your thinking of these and if you have any more suggestions!

Hello Brides!
We're back with a few more interesting theme ideas for you to check out!

4. Concert/Music theme-
If you and your groom-to-be like music, this is the theme for you. There are so many fun directions to take a music theme. I came across some awesome concert tickets that you can customize to be announcements, save the dates or invitations! Check them out at Bliss Wedding Market. I've also seen some really beautiful music oriented wedding cakes. Music notes are fun to decorate with, and there are plenty of places out there to find them. Personalized guitar picks are a fun idea for favors, or you could go to a thrift store and find old instruments to decorate with!

5. Motorcycle Theme-
Into motorcycles? You'll be surprised what you can do with a motorcycle theme. The cake toppers for this theme are awesome. Shop around, because there are plenty of ideas! Consider black and white photography; I've seen some really beautiful pictures done this way. Bike-shaped cookies for the reception are fun, and key chains and lighters make great favors. Another interesting idea is to decorate with road maps highlighting routes that the two of you have been on or want to go on. Plus, riding off into the sunset on a motorcycle is always more interesting than riding off in anything else!

6. Love letter theme-
This sounds girly, but it doesn't necessarily have to be overly feminine. Try decorating with postage stamps. Check out Wedding Love Letters for an interesting spin on love letter wedding favors. You can personalize postage stamps as well at Zazzle. You can also decorate with words. For example, instead of numbering tables, name them "hope," "forever," "passion," "romance" and so on. Stationary is a fun favor; invite your guests to write their own love letter.

More theme ideas coming soon!

Flowers are great, and there's a lot you can do with them. But if you're looking for a little different theme for your wedding, I've compiled a list of some interesting ones for you. If your sweetheart isn't too keen on a calla lily theme, share these ideas with him and see if any spark his interest.

1. Feathers Theme-
Ahh, where to start? There is so much you can do with this theme! The great thing about feathers is they're as varied as flowers, but not quite as overtly feminine. Peacock feathers (a personal favorite of mine) give you a range of colors to work with. I've also seen beautiful bouquets with pheasant feathers, and deep purple flowers. Let your imagination run wild!

2. Candy Shop Theme-
This is a great idea if you like pastel colors. Use those little Valentines Day hearts to decorate. Candy wedding favors are also a great idea. For example, personalize some M&Ms; you can pick your colors and whatever message you want. Candy centerpieces are also fun, and you can send them home with guests as favors as well. Still want to incorporate those flowers? Get candy roses!

3. Chocolate Theme-
I love this theme. Brown is an often overlooked color in the wedding world, but it can be very elegant! Pair it with accent colors like sage green, teal blue or pretty peach depending on your season. The reception ideas with a chocolate theme are endless. Have a chocolate fondue pot, chocolate fountain, or personalize a bunch of those dove chocolates and spread them around the table. Personalized chocolate bars are fun wedding favors as well. You can find them at beau-coup.com

Keep checking back because there are more fun theme ideas to come!

Rosanna
Intern
My Wedding Workbook

January 13, 2010 - I know most of you have had your venue picked out for quite some time, but if you're anything like me, the task of picking a venue for the wedding and reception seems daunting. So, the following are some interesting tidbits to think about for those of you that are struggling to pick a location.

Of course you can choose from hotels, churches, banquet halls, etc. But if you want something a little different there are a lot of places to check out. Choosing a personalized venue can be very romantic. It could even be the place where you first met your fiancée!

Here are some neat ideas:

• Museums and other historic sites
• Ranches, or beautiful old barns
• Bars/lounges and restaurants
• Live theaters
• Public parks
• Libraries
• Amusement parks
• Campgrounds
• Zoos or botanical gardens
• Golf clubs
• College campuses
• Cruise ship
• Ski slopes
• Sports venues
• Old railway stations
• Vineyard/Brewery
• Top of a sky scraper
• Lighthouses
• Orchards
• Aquariums
• Racetracks

Aside from making your wedding unique, there are other advantages to picking an atypical site as well. (1) You will probably have many more dates to choose from. Any ladies who have seen the popular movie Bride Wars know what I'm talking about. Picking a date, and then finding out that some other bride snagged your venue of choice is so not ideal. (2) You may get a better deal. Be careful; a lot of popular venues have packages that seem expensive, but actually include a lot. It's easy to rack up the costs on the little things when you pick a more unusual venue, so take your time and do your research. If you're having a small wedding, chances are you'll save some money, but for larger weddings, package deals may be your best option.

Think you've found the perfect venue? Go over this quick checklist. Can it reasonably accommodate all the people on your guest list? Does it have enough restrooms? Is it kid-friendly (high chairs, safety etc.)? If needed, does it have handicapped facilities? Is there enough parking? Consider out-of town-guests. Is this a venue where they can reasonably stay? Some locations only let you choose vendors from their list. Can you hire your own vendors? Consider your date. Is this a reasonable location during your time of year? Some venues change their rates according to the season. Most importantly, take time for you and your fiancée to visit venues before committing to one.

Have fun planning, and enjoy working together with your fiancée to create the perfect celebration for you both!

January 7, 2010 - My wedding motto: one party at a time. Before you jump head first into ceremony details, remember that most couples these days have an engagement party as well. If you have a very short engagement, you may want to skip the party and just send out announcements, but if you have over 6 months, the party is a good idea and should take place 1-3 months after you get engaged. The engagement party will be your first wedding-related event, and we have some tips that you'll hopefully find helpful. It'll be the first thing you can cross off your wedding checklist!

Engagement parties originated as a way to introduce the bride and grooms' families. Keep this in mind while you're planning. Yes, the party is about you, but try to make it an event where both families will feel comfortable and not completely out of their element. This is especially true if this is the first time your families are meeting. The event can be anything from a formal affair to a backyard pool party. Go with whatever feels the most comfortable.

Traditionally, the brides family hosts, but the couple can host it themselves if they wish. If you're not throwing the engagement party yourself remember to give the host a thank you note. You can include a small thank you gift if you wish.

When sending out invitations, remember that the guest list for the wedding isn't final yet, so only invite people you definitely want at the wedding. Even though you want to shout your engagement announcement off the rooftop, it's safer to have a small party and avoid inviting someone that you wind up not inviting to the wedding. You don't need that kind of drama!

One thing you can be sure of is that every guest, whether there are 15 or 50, is going to take your hand and admire your new ring, so give your hands a little makeover! Get a great manicure -- I suggest a pretty pink polish or French tips! -- and have your ring professionally cleaned. Then show it off and enjoy the compliments!

Engagement party gift etiquette is a delicate art. It is not traditional for guests to bring gifts; however, it is becoming more and more common. Though it's totally fine to register the second you get engaged, including registry information in your engagement party invitations is considered tactless. Having a registry is nice for guests who are set on bringing gifts, but they should only be given registry information upon request. If guests do bring gifts to the party, set them aside and wait until it's over to open them, and don't forget thank you notes!

Typical engagement party gifts include things like house wares. Vases, wine glasses and candlesticks are great, but appliances are better left for wedding gifts. It's also nice to get things you know you'll need for the wedding like champagne flutes or cake knives. wedding planning tools like a bridal magazine subscription are great engagement present ideas. Really helpful guests may even purchase online wedding planning software to make your planning a little easier!

Overall, your engagement party should be filled with excitement and will be a great way to practice planning for the even bigger event coming up! Good luck, and those of you who have additional suggestions/stories, I'd love to here them!

January 4, 2010 - As women, most of us have been planning our wedding since we can remember. With or without a wedding planner, we stress about flowers, cake, dresses and numerous other facets of the day. What we sometimes forget though, is that the wedding is stressful for our fiancée as well. Though he may not be fretting about the color of the linens, he's got things on his mind. For instance, before thoughts of photographers and bridesmaids have even entered your brain, he's probably worried about how to go about that talk with your parents, you know, the one about asking them for your hand? I know plenty of women who find the tradition of the groom talking to the bride's parents outdated and insulting, but also numerous others who prefer that he include her parents.

I have a few suggestions that may be helpful in asking the bride's parents for their blessing. (1) Ask for a blessing rather than permission. This tradition is more a show of respect and consideration for their feelings than an actual request for permission to marry their daughter. Women today don't want to feel like property to be requested, but most of us -- unless we are at odds with our parents -- want our future husband and family to have a cordial relationship. Holidays are so much easier when everyone gets along! (2) Include both the bride's mother and father. Again, this denotes respect for both parents. As a general rule, a woman's mother is a very influential person in her life, and men would do well to acknowledge and respect this relationship. Nobody wants a monster-in-law. (3) Talk about it! If you have strong feelings either way, let him know! Whether you drop some subtle hints, or have a detailed discussion about your feelings, any sense of your stance on the issue will be helpful when he begins thinking about talking to your parents. This will also help him to decide whether to talk to your parents before or after his official proposal.

Ladies, take into consideration the courage it takes to approach your parents. Where as we might have help from a wedding planner, our friends or family, he usually handles his planning himself. If he proposes before he talks to your parents and you still want him to speak with them, consider going with him to talk to your parents. Not only will your presence be a bit of comfort for your fiancée, but also your parents will get the opportunity to see you glowing with love and excitement. Though it's not traditional, just seeing you so happy will probably have a profound effect on your parents' decision to grant your union their blessing.

Ultimately, the decision to include your parents is you and your fiancées' choice, but allow me one last suggestion: put yourself in your parents' shoes. Realistically, there is little they can do to keep you from getting married if they don't approve, so there's not much to worry about there. On the flip side, there is nothing as truly gratifying for a parent as seeing your child happy. To feel that your daughter and her fiancee want to include you in their joy must be a wonderful feeling.

December 28, 2010 - Some studies on engagement have shown that up to 40% of all engagements happen between the December holidays and Valentine's Day, and that's no surprise to us here, as we have many newly engaged couples checking out our site in these months. I just planned a wedding last year myself (I got married in November), so here are a few tips for getting started and starting you down the road of becoming an organized wedding planner for your own big day.

Tip #1 - First determine how long you want your engagement to be - This doesn't mean that you have to pick a wedding date right out of the gate. But this decision will actually influence pretty much all other decisions, so try and ballpark how many months you want to be engaged. Some couples have had a lengthy courtship and want to get married sooner, while other couples would prefer a longer leadup to their big day. Every couple is different, so you need to determine what is the right length for you. A couple things that can influence this decision is what time of year you want to get married; how much time you require to plan (some couples like to have a year or so to save up, and sometimes you need to reserve venues at least a year in advance); and how long in advance you need to let people know about your upcoming nuptials (this is especially important for destination weddings or weddings that involve lots of travel for guests).

Tip #2 - Set a wedding budget - Many couples are so excited to start planning that they jump right into deciding on themes and trying on dresses and attire. But the place where you should start has to do with wedding budgets. Believe it or not, most weddings exceed their budget in at least a few areas, with many going out of scope in all areas. And the best way to keep your wedding budget from getting out of control is to first lay out how much you are willing to pay for each area. In your initial budget, include your venues, attire, music, food and drink, travel and transportation, lodging, decorations, flowers and cake. Don't worry too much about being exact at this point; you simply want to set guidelines around what you can afford so that you don't break the bank and start your marriage off in debt.

Tip #3 - Determine how large you want your wedding to be - Some couples are dead set on having a big, blow-out wedding with tons of guests and a large wedding party (the average number of guests at weddings is around 150-175, which sure seems like a lot of people). Others want a smaller, more intimate setting with just family and close friends. This decision is a very personal one and will also affect how you plan, so you both need to agree upfront as to how elaborate and how many people you want at your wedding.

Tip #4 - Divvy up wedding planning duties - In bride/groom couples, in the past the bride was often the one who assumed the role of the wedding event planner. But now, grooms are getting in on the act and helping out, so before you dive in you should both determine who is responsible for planning and organizing what duties. This helps lay the groundwork so that one person doesn't end up getting stuck planning everything.

Tip #5 - Start sketching out your guest list - The one factor that will influence cost (and that often sends budgets into the stratosphere) is the size of the guest list. So after you have settled on a length of engagement and a budget, start putting together a draft guest list. Just sit down with your fiance/fiancee and spend an hour or two writing down who you would like to invite (this may also include people that your parents might want to have attend, also, so make sure you include a count of these guests for your initial estimate). Once you have a ballpark number, you can match this against the desired size of your wedding to determine if you need to start shaving it down already or if you can work with this. And remember that rule of thumb says that up to 20% of your invited guests won't attend, so hopefully this lets you plan accordingly.

Tip #6 - Start using our free wedding software - Once you've done all this, you can start putting My Wedding Workbook to work for you in organizing all your details.

And on we go...

Six bridesmaids a crafting
If you want handmade wedding invitations, wedding favors or centerpieces, a great way to recruit some cheap labor to help you in your efforts is to turn your bridal shower or bridesmaids' luncheon into a craft hour. This isn't to say that you should make the entire event about creating stuff for your wedding, but it could serve as a fun activity between opening gifts and eating/drinking.

Five vans a hauling guests
I was at a wedding this summer (in sweltering, late-June St. Louis where the heat index was a whopping 110 degrees) where the bride and groom rented large people-mover vans to transport their wedding guests in lovely air-conditioned vehicles from the hotel to the ceremony to the reception and back to the hotel. This was a great idea, first because it was sweltering and it was nice to step into a very cool vehicle, second because many of us were from out of town and didn't exactly know how to get around, and third because most of us had been drinking.

Four babysitters a sitting
Hiring a sitting service for all the babies and toddlers in the crowd can be a big plus, especially at the reception so that many guests don't have to hire sitters for the entire afternoon and evening and so they don't have to leave so early.

Three charities a thanking
A nice thought is to give guests the opportunity to donate to a charity of your choice as part of their wedding gift to you. My wife and I are big animal lovers (we have two chocolate labs) and we chose a few shelters and dog rescue outfits.

Two people a wedding planning
Brides aren't the only people who are good and able wedding planners. Grooms can and should contribute in their own ways (helping in the venue selections, drink and food selections, guest list formulation), and brides should let their guys know that they want them to help out (even if it's stuffing invitation envelopes ... remember, we're usually pretty good at the manual labor stuff).

One big day a coming-sooner-than-you-think
Most people put their wedding days a ways out, but it always gets here sooner than you think, and take my word that the day itself goes by in a blur. So take time to enjoy the process of planning a wedding and in sharing the experience with your spouse-to-be.