Everything Weddings

DIY (Do It Yourself) is not always the best way to go, especially with weddings!

You may be looking for ways to save money on your wedding and it is tempting to take on most of the projects yourself. Avoid the DIY overload by choosing tasks wisely and leaving some things to the pros.

DIY DO:

Makeup: Have your friends help you do a trial run to see what looks best in photographs. On your special day, you will save time by having your makeup done at home or in the hotel room and save money by doing it yourself.

Decor: The ceremony lasts less than an hour, so why waste money on expensive arrangements? You can create your own flower arrangements by filling nice vases with locally grown flowers. Buy some candles and place them throughout. No need to pay someone else to decorate the wedding hall.

Wedding Favors: Put together a nice package for each guest using your favorite candy and a hand written note. You can even bake some cookies or donate to a charity in their name. These things mean much more to the guest than a less personal favor. And it will save you money!

Invitations/programs: Specialty paper, postage, and cards can cost hundreds. Find a DIY kit or use a nice paper to print a nice invitation from your computer. You don't need to get too fancy. Keep them envelope sized to save on postage.

DIY DON'T

Your Cake: Slight mistakes can create a huge wedding cake disaster. Yes, it would be much less expensive to bake your own cake, but the pressure to decorate and transport it without a hitch will likely add much stress to your day. It is worth it to hire a professional and make sure a beautiful, edible cake makes it safely to your wedding.

Photography: Your photos are likely the one thing you will keep forever to remember the special day. Everyone may promise to capture and send you photos of the event and it may be tempting to skip out on a professional photographer. Give yourself the gift of good wedding photos by hiring a professional so you are sure to have the best photos to show your grandkids.

Catering: Leave the catering to the pros. Even if you are a great cook and feel like you can handle it, the task is a huge undertaking that will cause you a lot of stress when you should be enjoying your day.

Music: You may think it is an easy money-saver to rock out to your own playlist from your ipod. It is a little tougher than you think. The pros know when to speed up or slow down the music, based on the crowd. You will have a much better time on the dance floor if you don't have to worry about the music.

They are passed down the generations and sometimes get lost in translation, but wedding superstitions are here to stay.  Here are some interesting tidbits for you to consider while planning your big day.

1. Legend says single women will dream of their future husbands if they sleep with a slice of groom's cake under their pillows.
2. Princess Victoria established the tradition of playing Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" during her wedding processional in 1858.
3. Aquamarine represents marital harmony and is said to ensure a long, happy marriage.
4. The tradition of a wedding cake comes from ancient Rome, where revelers broke a loaf of bread over a bride's head for fertility's sake.
5. An old wives' tale: If the younger of two sisters marries first, the older sister must dance barefoot at the wedding or risk never landing a husband.
6. The bride stands to the groom's left during a Christian ceremony, because in bygone days the groom needed his right hand free to fight off other suitors.
7. Saturday is the unluckiest wedding day, according to English folklore. Funny -- it's the most popular day of the week to marry!

Resource: HuffingtonPost.com

Travel can be hard on your skin, especially if you travel by plane. The pressurized cabin has low moisture levels, airborne pollutants, and recirculated air. The end of the flight leaves your skin looking greasy and lackluster.

Here are some tips for keeping your skin looking great while traveling by plane:

Pre-flight

• Exfoliate your skin the night before your flight to get rid of the top layer of dead skin cells. Dead skin cells can prevent moisturizer adhesion and make the skin dull.
• Drink plenty of water, especially the day before your flight.
• Do not change your skincare routine for your trip. Try to maintain what your skin is used to. If there is a problem taking certain products on the plane, consider shipping them to your destination.
• Avoid heavy eye makeup if you think you might take a nap.

During the flight

• Drink plenty of water, at least 8 oz per hour during the flight.
• Wash and hydrate your skin before sleeping on long flights.
• Do not consume alcohol, coffee, or soda because they are dehydrators.
• Get some rest. Using a neck pillow, eye mask, and noise canceling headphones is the best way to get some real sleep during the flight.
• On long flights, get some exercise by walking the length of the cabin several times and moving your legs and feet as often as possible.

Your trip will get off to a great start as you arrive at your destination looking and feeling great. During your vacation, plan on only using light makeup for a natural look. Prepare for the trip home using the pre-flight tips.

Resource: Jeanne Whitman, Achieve Beautiful Skin