Recently engaged...What's next?

Happy New Year!

So you just got engaged, now what. After the many congratulations are received for all those who got engaged over the holiday the task of planning your wedding begins.

Here are a few tips and tools from WedAlert.

First, sit down with your fiance and go over the budget. The more detailed you can be, and the more you adhere to your budget plan, the less stress you will encounter. We have put together a Wedding Budget Checklist that you can print out for help creating your own plan. When creating your budget, you may want to consider the traditional wedding expense breakdown to find out "Who Pays for What". However, our recent polling reveals that these traditions of who pays are changing. WedAlert also offers tips for Planning a Wonderful Wedding on a Realistic Budget which is especially relevant given the current economic climate.

Secondly, wedding planning follows a logical timeline. You cannot book the essential vendors such as a photographer, or wedding band until you have secured the wedding date and reception location. WedAlert offers a twelve month wedding planning calendar to help you with your upcoming marriage plans.

Third, begin to look for essential wedding professionals. The internet has made this task much easier than in the past, since you can compare vendors online from the comfort of your home, in your own time, and without travel. However, once you have narrowed down your selections, it is strongly suggested that you meet the vendors "face to face", and that you view personally all the items and services to be used in your wedding celebration. Start with using the WedAlert Reception Site Locator to search our database of Banquet Halls, Catering Halls, Mansions, Yachts, Hotels, Reception Halls, Country Clubs, Lofts, Museums, Restaurants, Gardens, and other unique spaces. Once you have booked your date search our directory to find all the essential local and national wedding professionals.

Fourth, focus on the details. Find the perfect bridal gown, decide on favors, toasting glasses and other items to use at your ceremony or wedding reception. WedAlert offers another checklist to help you with purchasing all your wedding necessities. You may also want to find the perfect wedding songs to walk down the aisle to, use for your first dance, or any of your parent or other specialty dances. Find over 1,400 wedding song samples in the WedAlert wedding music library.

Lastly, maintain a good attitude, remain positive, and have a sense of humor.

WedAlert also has the following tools and recommended articles to help you plan your upcoming event:
Bridal Gowns and Bridesmaids Dresses
Bridal Registry List
Schedules of Bridal Shows in your area
Honeymoon Vacation Ideas and Suggested Itineraries
An online wedding consultant - Ask Mikki
Top 10 Honeymoon Destinations List
Top Bridal Fitness Questions (And Their Answers)
Wedding Photography Check List
Many more helpful articles
Honeymoon Giveaway contest.

Good luck, have fun, and best wishes on your upcoming wedding from all of us at WedAlert.

FALL WEDDINGS: PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERT SHARES TOP PICTURESQUE SPOTS AND CREATIVE PHOTO TIPS

Photography Expert Shares Creative Tips & The Top National Destinations For Beautiful Fall Wedding Photos

With autumn starting on September 22nd, we are seeing the changing seasons bring about rich shades of scarlet, gold, and burnt orange. Fall is a stunning time for your wedding day, and with 35% of weddings taking place outdoors and 26.4 % of weddings taking place in the fall – many are gearing up for the big day during nature’s brilliant season!

“Fall weddings are some of the most memorable and colorful weddings that we see all year,” explains Dan Creviston of George Street Photo and Video. “There are so many natural elements in motion, photographers can get very creative with landscapes and backdrops and couples brighten their wedding with vibrant, foliage centerpieces, stunning seasonal dress colors, and bright floral arrangements,” he adds.

Dan can share some of the hottest fall wedding trends, provide expert tips for stunning fall wedding photography, and the top 10 national venues for breathtaking fall wedding shots.

DIY Tips for Stunning Fall Wedding Photography:

· Autumn foliage showcases its finest colors in the second week of October – shoot then!

· Photograph around sunrise and sunset for the best light and color.

· Photograph outdoors when your shadow is longer than you are, usually in the late afternoon.

· Don’t discount overcast days – colors are more saturated and shadows are softer.

· Get up close: A sweeping picture of a couple amongst the fall foliage is beautiful, but a close up of a couple under one tree works as well.

Top 10 National Venues for Picturesque Wedding Photos:

1. Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Washington (for views of Capitol)

2. Beaver Chief Falls, Glacier National Park, Mont.

3. George Washington & Jefferson National Forest, Va./W.Va./Ky.

4. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah

5. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada

6. Everett Road Covered Bridge, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

7. Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Calif.

8. Freedom Trail, Boston National Historic Park, Mass.

9. Governors Island, N.Y. (for views of two forts)

10. El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz.

George Street Photo & Video:
George Street Photo and Video continuously makes wedding days unforgettable for couples throughout Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. They have locations in Chicago, Lisle, and Schaumburg.

Diamond Education

Blue Nile has a wonderful section on Education & Guidance for purchasing diamonds.

Everything you need to know about the 4C's Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight is explained in detail with great explanations and illustrations.

WedAlert also has numerous articles about engagement and wedding rings to help you with this important purchase.

Good luck, and please share your experiences with us here regarding your search for the perfect rings.

Fall Wedding Dresses - 5 Ideas That Fit Your Style and the Season

Fall wedding dresses come in several styles to fit just about any type of bride. If you are having a fall wedding you will want to choose a dress that not only accents your body type but also accents the great season you have chosen for your wedding.

Good advice in any season is to be smart when shopping for your wedding dress. Use all resources available to you including bridal shops, bridal shows, department stores and of course the Internet.

The Internet has become a great source for all stages of selecting fall wedding dresses. Many online stores make shopping for the best price a snap, and you may even be able to locate hard to find styles and sizes.

As you probably already know, fall is a great time to get married. The bright foliage available in many parts of the country makes the perfect backdrop for your wedding.

Below are five tips for finding perfect fall wedding dresses.

The Weather -The location of your wedding may influence the type of dress you choose. Long sleeve gowns or gloves are an option however they are not for everyone.

Stoles or wraps are a good way to ensure you will not be cold on your wedding day. They can keep you warm if the temperature drops in the evening, and if it turns out to be a warm day you can just not wear it.

Unique Colors - Colors such as cream and ivory have become very popular for fall. These colors work well with the colors of the season, like gold, red and orange.

For a more edgy look, black wedding dresses allow you to make a statement. If all black isn't your style, a black sash or belt makes a great accent for a white wedding dress.

Tie in Your Wedding Theme - There are several wedding themes that work really well in the fall, and fall wedding dresses can be used to tie everything together. Fall theme ideas include Halloween, vineyard, apple, pear, princess and harvest.

Gothic, princess and renaissance style dresses can help finish off your theme.

Use Accent Pieces - Accent pieces can be a beautiful addition to an elegant gown, or they can help an average dress up a level. Crystal and silver brocade embellishments or gold beading and accents are a nice touch.

Be careful not to go overboard, however. Some dresses don't need any extra touches, and it is always best to stick to the adage that less is sometimes more.

Don’t Delay - Finding the right dress for you can definitely be challenging. Starting the process early helps to reduce stress, and it can also helps ensure you get your first choice of dress.

A rule of thumb is to start the process at least one year in advance. This ensures enough time for ordering and altering your dress.

By Stephen Badiali
Wedding Ideas Guide