Do You Know How to Pee?

So I know you have used the bathroom more times than you can count by the time your old enough to be married... have you ever had to pee in a wedding dress?? I'm here to tell you how it is done!

WRONG WAY
aka Sitting on the toilet


RIGHT WAY
aka Facing the toilet back

When One Wedding Dress Just Isn't Enough!

Whether you just want a dress you can dance in or one dress just isn't enough you CAN have your cake and eat it too! Maybe folks could say two dresses is excessive or maybe they could say it is a bit princess like, have you forgotten it is your wedding day!?

If your wanting your reception to be the party of the year with glitz, glam, and cocktails galore a full length ball gown may not fit for your reception like it did in that big, beautiful catholic church (you know... the one with a dress code). Maybe "the" dress happens not to be the most comfortable and even though it is breathtaking it sure isn't something you think you can handle wearing for the whole evening. Don't let anything stop you from getting down on the dance floor with your guests. The WOW factor, if nothing else, is enough reason to spoil yourself.

Check out these amazing fun dresses for your 2nd wedding gown...

You might be just a little spoiled if you wear this
David Tutera wedding dress with a price tag of $1263.

Snag this gown for $99 from Light in The Box.

Grab this taffeta dress by Impression for only $180.

Get this cute & sassy satin sweetheart cut dress for $122.

So what do you think? Is one dress not enough for you? Just don't blame me when the person holding the pocketbook says your crazy! I didn't originate the idea! ;)

Budget Brides Meet Bartering!

Bartering, the exchange of goods and services instead of cash, has been around since one caveman needed something another caveman had. If the budget is tight, do what the cavemen started and barter!

What do you have to offer? Do have an item or service that would be of interest to your vendors? Advertising, web design, landscaping, computer repair... ask youself, "What can I provide that a vendor might want?" Barters between professionals tend to work best, but even cleaning and babysitting have value. Make sure you actually have the time, energy, and skills to deliver on your side of the bargain.

Read how Jennifer and Chris bartered themselves to a dream wedding. Read how this couple saved $23,000 on the wedding through barter. Or read this touching story about Kerry Coryell who asked herself "Why can't I have a wedding like that?".

Ready to barter? Read this first.

1. Make sure your trade feels fair. Put a dollar amount on the item or service you are bartering, and then agree to trades of equal value. Check out the vendor’s work beforehand to confirm that you like what they have to offer.

2. Get referrals. As with any wedding vendor, make sure you are bartering with someone who is professional and reliable. If you have a nagging feeling that this person or company is not for you, listen to your gut and don’t do business with them. You should also thoroughly vet any barter company you are considering, by checking with your state's attorney general or the Better Business Bureau.

3. Meet in person. A successful barter is built on trust, which can be hard to develop through e-mail. Keep in regular contact throughout the process.

4. Sign a contract. A handshake will not guarantee that you will be compensated should your bartered flowers not arrive on time. Make sure both parties have a signed contract outlining in detail what’s being exchanged. You should also include a time line for when the services will be delivered.

5. Avoid peak wedding periods. Vendors are more likely to barter if they know they won’t make a cash sale on that day. Choosing to get married on a Saturday in June will give you less leverage than a Friday in March.

If you have decided bartering is something you might try I would suggest starting with Craigslist or Big Day Barter, a website for vendors and brides whom want to barter to find each other. You aren't limited just to these avenues, if you fall in love with a vendor don't be afraid to call and ASK!

Quite Possibly The Cutest Wedding Invitation Ever!

One of the cutest invitations I have yet to lay my eyes on!

You will not be disappointed you read it!

Click here or on the image to read the entire thing.

Bridesmaid Code of Ethics

Calling all bridesmaids – pay attention!

Whether you’re a sister, cousin, co-worker, or girlfriend – there is a simple code of ethics to follow when it comes to being a bridesmaid.

The Bridesmaid Code of Ethics

Taken from.. http://theeweddingwarehouseblog.blogspot.com

• Accept an invitation to be a bridesmaid only if you are excited about being in the wedding. Do not accept out of guilt or because you feel obligated.

• Be available to shop with your bride if she asks. When I was in my friend Amy’s wedding several years ago, we spent an entire summer crashing wedding sites on Saturdays to see what they looked like all set up for an event. We had such a great time, and it made me feel like I had a special part of helping her plan her wedding.

• Let your bride take the lead when shopping for bridesmaid dresses. Talk to her about her vision before grabbing dresses to try on. Yes, we want you to look fabulous, but your bride has an idea in mind regarding the overall look of her wedding. Support her in that vision (see Jenni’s blog on her yellow wedding that never happened).

• Don’t complain to your bride about any of the following:

• Your attire
• The guy you are assigned to walk with down the aisle (more on the boy ethics below)
• How much money you’re spending on her shower/parties/bridesmaid dress/wedding gift
• Her family (you know the rule – you can vent about your own mother but no one else can)
• How fat you think you are (especially if you smaller than the bride….that is straight up terrible)
• Wearing heels (get a pair and practice at home – unless you get lucky and can go barefoot on the beach)
• The venue of the wedding or rehearsal dinner
• The food at the reception
• The groom (even if he’s your brother or BFF)
• Bring a date to the wedding only if you’re in a relationship. Remember – each head at a wedding is costing the bride/groom/family an average of $100. Before you bring a date, ask yourself if you would buy that guy a $100 meal.
• Speaking of boys…if you are single a wedding is a great place to meet someone. That said, do it tastefully and save any overnight adventures for a different evening.

• Offer to help all along the way, and be a sounding board, shoulder to cry on, and fabulous pal for girls’ nights out. If you’re married, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t had your own wedding yet, this is very good karma for your future wedding planning.

• *You know that song, All You Need is Love? Make that your motto.

I just realized I could go on and on with this stuff, but I’ll leave it at that so as not to scare anyone away from accepting the honor of being a bridesmaid. If you are genuinely excited to be in this wedding, you will likely not have to worry about anything. Just be your naturally wonderful self and have fun celebrating this time in your bride’s life.
-Keri