Adventure To Affordable Bridesmaid Dresses | Wedding Tips | For the Bride

When I got married I was coming right out of college with little money and a piece of paper proving I survived the last four years. When I started hunting for bridesmaids dresses I knew what I wanted but I just had to find it for an affordable price,knowing that my lovely ladies where just as poor as me. I knew I didn't want my bridesmaids to pay for a dress I wouldn't spend my money on, so I looked for sites to help stay within my budget and theirs.

These are some of the sites I would suggest to take a look at that are budget friendly for everyone but not giving up on looking amazing!
6pm.com
The first time I was ever a bridesmaid was for my friend's Michigan wedding. She found cute Jessica Simpson teal dress for under $ 40 dollars for each dress. They have all kinds of dresses to choose from , from all different high end designers. I have used it several times for shoes as well ( I purchased my wedding shoes from Betsy Johnson's something blue collection). Pros: budget friendly, great customer service, variety, designer Cons: limited number, constantly changing products.
Etsy.com
With etsy you can find some truly beautiful pieces that can make details on your bridesmaids dress that you won't find in retail stores. This gives a more homemade feel where you can ask for exactly how you pictures it without giving up in small ways.
Pros: custom made, variety, unique details Cons: false advertising (check the reviews before purchasing)
Renttherunway.com
One of the issues with bridesmaids dresses is asking yourself when will i every wear this again;with your dress being a renting option, you dont have to worry about making extra closet space! The site rents beautiful designer dresses affordable to the public and the dresses have a red carpet feel. When looking at the reviews you can see photo reviews that allows you to see how the dress fits real people, not just the model in the photo. One of the more glamorous of the few , the renttherunway.com also gives you a free extra size just in case. This site will also have you looking for your dress for your engagement photos! 
Pros: high-end dresses, Renting, free shipping for return, stylist option Cons: Price little higher for just renting.

These sights are worth checking out to help out your bridesmaids save while still looking fabulous on the wedding day!

Creative Ways to Remember Loved Ones On Your Wedding Day

One of the happiest moments of my life was my wedding day. The hustle and bustle of getting those last minute errands and the fun of getting together with family to finish details(piping glitter on 200+ pine cones is not an easy feat alone). I loved inviting all the people that were important in Marcus and my lives.
It was as exciting as it was also hard knowing that my grandma Gertie wouldn't be there to see me marry the man of my dreams, the man she had always prayed would be good to me. It still makes me sad that she passed before she could give her boop of approval for my groom, but on the wedding day I choose a small way to commemorate her.
I have formed a couple of creative ways to incorporate the loved ones that could only be there in spirit.

Flowers - each individual flower holds a special meaning and beauty; picking a flower that shares the same symbolic mean of your loved one can be a beautiful reminder of of who they were when they were living.
Picture Frames - having a section just of your loved ones invites your guests to glimpse the beautiful memories you both shared together. 
A Token - A token can be something small that you wear on your wedding day. I used one for my own day; I had a couple of my grandma's broaches in my broach bouquet.  A little piece from them helps make your loved ones seem more present. Besides jewelry, your grooms has options of cufflinks or a watch of a late loved one.
DIY - keeping someone close to your heart by making something out of their old wardrobe.  I saw a most recent example from my last bride; MOB crafted this beautiful white purse for the bride out of her grandmother's wedding dress. An example for your groom would be to make a bow tie out of an old shirt.
Moment of Silence -with all the events and activities building up to the ceremony,  it can be a calming and sweet moment to just be still and meditate on those who helped format you to get to this big moment in your life.   Tradition - incorporating a tradition from your loved ones can be PASSED down through your family ; it can look like walking get down the aisle to a song you and your mom shared or getting married in the same church as your parents or reading your grandmother's / grandfather's favorite passage they read at their own .
Video Clip - this clip can be played during your first dance the couldn't make or a speech that will never be said. A video really shows who they are and hearing their voice makes it feel like they are right there with you.  A different version of this can be a photo slide show with their favorite song. It is a lovely tribute to their memory.

I loved looking down at my bouquet and admiring the blue flower brooch my grandma would wear; it reminded me of her shining personality. Her brooch helped me feel like I honored her memory by keeping her close to my heart. <3

3 Tips to ROCK Your Engagement Shoot!

I am going to share with you a recipe that if done correctly your engagement session will go off without a hitch for both you and your photographer.

Be Comfortable : When you are uncomfortable in front of the camera, it shows BEHIND the camera. To help your session be pleasant, here are a couple of things that I promise will help. Choose your location of the E-session. If it is someplace that is familiar it will help you feel right at home. In some cases that may be your home, back yard, park nearby. If you both enjoy that location as a couple it will make it that much more special looking back at your photos. Choose clothing you know won’t make you self-conscious. We all have those pair of jeans that are not as forgiving around the midsection or you are constantly pulling up with every new pose. During your session, the last thing you want to be doing is constantly adjusting to feel more comfortable. On the same thought as clothing, let’s also address shoes. If you love your heels (a common love affair I share) make sure to pack a pair of flats to help walk from spot to spot. Know what works in your location! Heels are horrible in grassy fields, but in pictures you will work it! If you come prepared your feet won’t be killing you be the end of your session.

Be Confident: The best way to be confident is to be yourself. An Engagement session is all about you and your fiance, there is no one that has the same love story  as you two. Know that when worse comes to worse you will have each other! If all else fails have confidence in your love.

Have Fun: Stepping into a session can be a little awkward at first when you’re letting a stranger take over. Take a deep breath and give the reigns over to the photographer. The moment this is done you will be able to fully enjoy your time with your fiancé. For a lifestyle photographer, it is so important to capture a couple’s natural reactions. Another way to achieve a good time is going into your session with a good attitude and determination of having fun as a couple. Now, I know this sounds really obvious, but when you purpose in your heart to have a fun time, you will! This goes for your fiancé too.

One last tip to help your session run more smoothly, arrive on time. Being respecctful of your photographer's time is important and will help you both to start off on the right foot.

I hope that even in a small way this helps you to get ready for your photos!