The Perfect Gown For Your Body Shape

Every bride wants to look perfect on their wedding day. Much of how that turns out will depend on her choice of wedding gown. We tend to mull over clothing even when choosing something casual, so naturally, more care should be taken when choosing the wedding gown that will be with you on one of the most important days of your life!

To find something that will flatter you and make you look beautiful, you'll need to first evaluate your body shape. Whether you are tall or short, you can probably place your body shape under one of the following general styles: 1) The Hourglass - where you have a full chest, round bottom, and small waist. 2) Pear - where you are bottom heavy, but have a petite top. 3) Slender - where you are generally small and slender top to bottom. 4) Full - where you are full on the top and bottom while having a bit of tummy.

Your wedding dress is special, so pay special attention when choosing one! You will generally feel great when wearing a gown that you look good in, and all of that will affect the confidence in which you carry yourself. If you are an Hourglass, try an A-line dress, or something that is slightly form-fitting. A mermaid style wedding dress that flares at the bottom may be suitable. Do not go for gowns that may distort your ideal body proportions!

If you are a Pear, wear something that brings attention to the top, like a ball gown or empire dress. Try to avoid sheath styles, since they hug almost every part of the body from shoulder to knee. On the other hand, sheath styles look quite good on Slenders, who may look overwhelmed in the gowns with bigger designs. Finally, a Full might want to look into ball gowns, which can hide heavy bottoms while looking graceful, or an A-line dress, which generally looks good on almost every body shape.

Theory aside, the best way to find out what you really look good in is to gather your hubby-to-be and/or a few girl friends and head down to a wedding boutique. Choosing your ideal out of so many bridal gowns can be quite daunting, so it doesn't hurt to have a second (or third, or fourth, or fifth, etc...) pair of eyes! If you've booked a  package for your wedding, then the variety of bridal gowns you can choose would have already been narrowed down for you. This may be for good or bad, but you can make the most of any situation by going for fitting with something already in mind at least.

Finally, for many couples, cost may be a major factor in their decision-making, especially if they are getting their own bridal gowns and not renting one as part of a package. But with these styling guidelines in mind and a quick trip to the boutique for gown fitting, getting something on a budget doesn't necessarily mean you have to sacrifice that perfect look as well!

Do I Really Need A Wedding Planner?

First of all, what IS a wedding planner?

Put simply, they are professionals who plan weddings.

Okay, you probably want the longer version too. The longer version is that wedding planners help you develop timelines and milestones for your wedding plans, come up with to-do lists, draw up budgets, and book all the venues and equipment necessary for the wedding day.

Being professionals, many wedding planners are well connected to those in the wedding industry. They have a wealth of contacts they can tap on to help you negotiate the best rates for items such as make-up, photography, florist, bridal studio, car rental, hotel rental, entertainment, IT equipment, cakes, catering, wedding favours, and everything else that is related.

If the mere thought of logistics for the dozens or hundreds of people you will be inviting daunts you, or you have no idea where to even start planning a wedding, engaging a wedding planner may be a good idea. If you're sure you want to plan your wedding yourself (it's YOUR wedding after all!), but have work to deal with on top of other responsibilities, then it may still be a good idea to get a wedding planner to assist you for a few of the more tedious tasks in your list.

No matter how good you are at multi-tasking, however, being the director of your wedding banquet and the one getting married at the same time may be a bit of a stretch. For good reason, many who choose to plan their own weddings may still employ a wedding planner - just to help oversee the banquet. After all, why should the dinner of your big day be nothing but a blurry rush in your memories?

Does Engaging a Wedding Planner Mean More Cost for the Wedding?

Not necessarily. As mentioned, wedding planners may be able to strike special bargains with those in the industry due to their familiarity. In fact, you may end up paying less than you budgeted with their help, while benefiting from their expertise in planning as well.

It may cost anywhere between $1,500 to $4,000 (or sometimes even higher) to engage a wedding planner. This price is often dependent on the amount of services you require from the planner.

The newlyweds should meet up with the planner beforehand to ensure that they are comfortable with the way the planner does things, before choosing to employ them.

How Much Does One Usually Pay For A Wedding Planner?

Again, it depends on what the planner is engaged to do. A friend's mother paid less than S$1,380 for a wedding planner to coordinate hotel, videographing, and the actual wedding day itself. There was only a banquet, but no ceremony, though.

Still, it was a pretty sweet deal, since the wedding planner's rapport with the vendors saved them a whopping S$1,500 at least! What's more, the wedding planner did all the necessary research. Come to think about it, it kind of looks like the vendors are subsidising the couple for their wedding planner, doesn't it? Considering how much they saved and how relatively little the planner had cost them, the professional advice they had received was practically free.

An overseas friend made a comment about the benefit of having a wedding planner around which is very true. When disputes arise about karaoke, alcohol and etc, the planner can be an avenue for ranting and letting off steam, as they are not emotionally connected to their clients' wedding plans.

Again, since close contact with the planner is going to be inevitable, choose a planner whom you are comfortable talking with and can address all the needs and questions you have in mind. Don't be afraid of meeting up and talking to a few to find out which one you prefer! The wedding is a personal affair, and anyone helping you will have to understand your personal preferences. The planner has to be someone you can trust to count on during your special day.

Planner's Role at the Wedding Banquet

Many friends and relatives will likely have volunteered their services during the banquet. Having an experienced planner take charge of the whole event as the manager, however, will be of great help management-wise, and for stress relief too!

After you have discussed with the planner what the plans for dinner are, they will be able to arrange for a meeting with all the volunteers to brief them on their individual roles for the day. This ensures that the volunteers understand their job, and know that they can refer back to the planner should any problems arise, instead of the couple getting wed, whose schedule for the day may be jam-packed already!

Getting someone experienced, like wedding planners Singapore, to be in charge is most probably better than putting someone inexperienced at the helm. The former can solve issues independently, whereas the latter will still need to seek advice from the bride or groom before making any decisions. Communicating with your planner beforehand will likely ensure that any hiccups will be solved by them before it even reaches your ears.

If you have a trustworthy friend who has coordinated wedding banquets before and is willing to help you with yours, by all means, entrust this one with the task of overseeing the banquet. Be sure to let the volunteers know who to turn to when they need help, though. Otherwise, you might just be dealing with frantic queries about one problem or another instead of cheerful congratulations about your wedding ceremony!

In view of how most modern weddings are planned nowadays, choosing to engage a wedding planner may be the wise thing to do. What you pay to enlist their professional help may come back to you in the form of discounts that can exceed what you've paid out. So do consider this option carefully with your future spouse, but of course, the final decision about anything regarding your wedding still lies with yourselves!

To Get Or Not To Get A Wedding Photographer

Having settled everything necessary for your big day, you will likely look forward to having fond memories of your beautiful wedding a few years down the road. For many, images of the event will remain fresh in their minds for the rest of their lives. In fact, why not add to that by engaging a good photographer who can also provide you with memories you can hold in your hands?

Why should I get a professional photographer for my wedding?, you may ask. And that is a good question, because professional photographers - especially the established ones - often come at a nifty price. It will be budget well spent, however, because you will be tapping into the years of experience these photographers have behind them. Likely, they know more about making people look good with lenses than someone who just happens to have a digital camera and well-meaning intentions to help you save a pretty penny.

A wedding photographer is someone who specialises in taking professional pictures for wedding receptions, ceremonies, and all other related affairs. A modern wedding photoshoot can include a series of events, which may take place indoors or outdoors, depending on what the couple wishes to include in their wedding albums. This means an experienced wedding photographer will be able to advise you about suitable venues for photoshots, and they should definitely have their own studio for indoor photo-taking, or at least know where to rent one on short notice. Most of them may also have their own wardrobe of exotic costumes for the adventurous. This will certainly save much precious time and headache.

As the newlyweds will be in close contact with the photographer and their staff for a considerable amount of time prior to the wedding ceremony, it will be good to find one whom you feel comfortable with. Talk to them and sound them out for ideas. Request to see photographs of their past works and gauge whether their service suits what you have in mind. Remember: communication is the key!

Understandably, many may not have the inkling of an idea where to start looking for the ideal wedding photographer other than asking for references. It's not that hard, really. You can always find a suitable wedding photographer online or at wedding portals like Wedding Malaysia, If you're fond of the old-fashioned way, looking up a local directory may yield some surprising results.

Even if you may really have a budget for photography, many wedding photographers will be more than happy to try to accomodate your reasonable requests to cut down on certain shoots from their offered packages which you may find superfluous. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to look good the professional way, so don't let hesitation hold you back from doing it!

Planning for the Best Wedding Venue

You can't hold a wedding ceremony without actually having a place to hold it, so one of the most important things you will need to do as a wedding planner is to select and book a suitable venue according to your preferences (if it's for your own wedding), or those of the couple you are representing. For this, a couple of popular choices can be considered.

Conservative Sites
Wedding bells are ringing! You've probably heard or read that phrase dozens of times on the television or in the newspapers. In the past (and sometimes even now), when a couple ties the knot in a church, the church bells are set off in celebration of the happy event, therefore the phrase.

Nowadays, one of the top dream places for couples to get married in would be a church, synagogue, mosque, or some other place of worship. In fact, even couples who are generally not religious may tend to wish for such a wedding, no doubt due to the image mass media has painted of weddings today. Needless to say, if the couple getting married is familiar with the person in charge of their desired religious site for the wedding, then arrangements can probably be made with a few phone calls or meetings.

What if, let's say, you are tasked by a couple to locate a church for their wedding when they are not really members of the church? Much has to be considered in this case. Remembering that a church is supposed to be first and foremost a place of worship and not a place of wild merriment, the planner will need to shortlist a number of churches that they can call up. Talk with the couple and ensure that they understand what are the dos and don'ts if they wish for the church's cooperation. Let the church authorities know that the couple is sincere in their request and will abide by any rules they set. It is important to remember one always needs to be polite when carrying out this task. Not all churches or places of worship may welcome calls of this nature, and a little courtesy goes a long way in getting a lot done.

Once approval is obtained, get a copy of the church's regulations, especially with regards to things like decoration, photography, music, dress code, and the like. Any vendors involved in the ceremony will need to know as well, so provide them with a copy too. Be discerning about the music you will choose to play during the ceremony. If the church only allows religious hymns, for example, then it will not be appropriate to play the couple's favourite heavy-metal rock band during their walk down the aisle.

Other Sites
If holding the ceremony in a religious place is not on your or the couple's minds, then there are many other fascinating venues to consider. Another popular spot is a hotel, where both the ceremony and the reception can be held together in different rooms, making the setup seamless and convenient for both the newlyweds and their guests.

Outdoor Sites
Some romantics may prefer to hold their ceremony while basking in the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. Certain questions immediately come to mind, which a wedding planner will do well to consider. What can or will be done about jarring sounds like noise from airplanes or passing vehicles that are out of the control of the site manager? Is there enough lighting for the whole site? Will there be microphones and amplifiers that can ampify your vows so that all the guests can hear you? If the sunlight is too strong, will there be shelters for the guests? And what if there is rain? What's the contingency plan?

Whether a couple chooses to have their ceremony indoors or outdoors, you as a wedding planner will probably need to have the following few things in mind:

1) How many guests are attending?
2) Will everyone have a seat? Or just some? Or are they all expected to stand?
3) Is the food served or will the guests have to help themselves?
4) Is there a room for smokers?
5) Is there a need to prepare alcohol or vegetarian food?
6) What decoration will be used on each of the tables?

Home Wedding
If the couple have a house that is large enough to accommodate all their guests, they may choose to hold the wedding at home. This can be one tough cookie, as you will need to make many serious decisions that will involve the personal property of the very people you are helping. Some points to note:

1) Cost of renting items like generators, chinaware, decorations, etc.
2) Parking space for guests and vendors. There may be a need to engage valets or traffic coordinators so that you do not disturb your neighbours and sour their day just to make your own.
3) Rental of portable toilets
4) Cleaners and gardeners to spruce up your house for the ceremony
5) Contingency plan in case of bad weather, especially if the couple intends to hold an outdoor reception

Club Wedding
If one of the couple is a member of a certain club, they may save quite a lot by renting a venue from the club instead. Considering how clubs nowadays generally have almost the same high standard of food and service as hotels, the choice may be obvious for some. However, checking the venue beforehand is of utmost importance as daily use by members may have worn out the furniture and fittings of the rooms the club offers for the ceremony. For non-members, some restrictions may be imposed.

A good wedding planner (see wedding planner singapore) will be able to utilise their experience and give the couple good advice about this. If you're planning your own wedding, well, common sense and a lot of research will be necessary, but trust me, it will effort well spent for ensuring that everything works out in the end!

To help you along, perhaps you can consider some of the following questions: What are the fees involved in renting a club location for the ceremony? Will they allow other club members who are not wedding guests into the location during the ceremony? What are the parking fees like, and are there enough spots for all guests?

Other Creative Wedding Venues
For those who want a unique and unforgettable wedding ceremony, they may wish to hold it on a romantic yatch or ship. For a wedding planner, this means you'll need to think of the safety of the guests and also whether there is enough room onboard for everyone. Keep in mind that once the ship sails off, there is no turning back until it makes its round and reaches its destination. Keeping in mind there may be some guests who do not get along well with ships and such, three hours or less is just about the ideal time for the ceremony to be held on such a location.

Other good places to consider may be venues like museums, vineyards, farms, castles, orchards, or anything historical or perhaps meaningful to the couple. A resourceful wedding planner should have many suggestions to offer and are equally good at arranging something to the couple's liking.

Don't be afraid of picking a strange site, if that's what the couple really want, but at the same time, have backups for everything - especially the weather! Be respectful when approaching the managers of venues, keep throwing suggestions back and forth with the couple, and soon, you'll have one more beautiful wedding to add to your long list of successes. And if you're doing this for your own wedding, well - this will be one of the most meaningful projects you could ever spend your time on!

Wedding Planners and Food

What's the next most important thing to have in a wedding besides people?

Food!

And that's why choosing a good food caterer will always be one of the things that wedding planners have to agonise over. Some venues offer their own list of approved caterers, but for those who don't... well, the wedding planner is going to have to flex their brain muscles for one! Being professionals at their trade, caterers usually have their own menu for all sorts of situations, from full-course dinners, to free-style buffets. Most couples will probably go for a customised menu that suit their guests, though. Usually, the planner will select two to three caterers for the couple, who will then narrow it down themselves.

Before approaching a caterer, planners need to find out some things from the couple.
1) The number of guests invited.
2) Site of reception.
3) Their budget.
4) Meal style and any special requests for vegetarians or guests with food allergies.

With all these information in mind, they move on to the next step: The catering proposal.

Catering Proposals
A catering proposal contains of a number of logistical things prepared by the caterer that the couple will have to take some time to look through. This will include an itemised list of things the couple will be paying for (rental, food, beverages, tax, etc), date, time, place, duration, number of guests anticipated, description of meals served, and most importantly, the cancellation policy. It is the duty of the planner to inform the caterer should there be any changes. Talk about heavy responsibility! Nothing says logistic nightmare like planning for 50 guests when there are actually 500!

Jokes aside, once the couple finalises their choice of caterer, they may wish to make some changes to the menu originally proposed, and the planner will have to communicate these changes to the caterer. If cost is a concern, the couple can inform the planner beforehand which area of the proposal they are willing to forgo or settle for less to bring the budget down. The planner will in turn inform the caterer about this.

Meeting the Caterer
Before signing anything, however, a wise wedding planner will want to meet up with the caterer in person. This gives them a chance to see how the caterer works, and to gauge their level of commitment and expertise. It also helps the planner to see how well they can work together, something extremely important since they are going to be partners for one of the most major events of the wedding reception.

Workflow may be discussed, along with ideas on how to personalise the menu in a creative manner. The planner must always remember that they are representing the couple getting married, and not choosing menu based on their own personal preferences on how they feel the wedding should turn out to be!

On-Site Caterers
These caterers refer to caterers who are usually offered as a package by hotels or clubs that cover almost everything, from the venue rental, to food, drinks, wine, equipment, live bands, cakes, guest parking, and whatnots. Some of the packages have extra items that off-site caterers do not offer.

Needless to say, an all-in-one package may be the best choice for couples who want their reception to be as hassle-free as possible. What their wedding planners (check out wedding consultants singapore) can do is to negotiate with the hotels or clubs for a more reasonable rate, especially if the wedding is being held on an off-season period or during the weekday, bearing in mind that the hotels may just want to fill up their venues with something, rather than letting it go empty.

If you are a planner and you're not sure how you can go about doing that, please consider the following suggestions:

1) Ask for extra courses like soup and salad to be taken away.
2) Either have a wedding cake, or dessert. Most guests only take one or the other, anyway!
3) Do away with the champagne if most of the guests won't be taking it.
4) Negotiate for free parking for your guests, or provide shuttles services for guests who don't drive.

Moving Ahead With The Caterer
So you've chosen the caterer, gotten the menu down pat, and everything seems ready to go. Wait. Aren't you forgetting something very important? Yes, you are! You forgot to have a tasting session for the food that's going to be served on the wedding day!

Requesting to taste the food earlier has some advantages. You'll be able to change the menu if the proposal has not been finalised yet, if you find that some foods don't suit your tastes. Both the planner and the couple should be present for the tasting session. The planner because they were the ones who negotiated for the menu, and the couple because this is the food that they will be offering their guests during their big day.

Take note, however, that whether the tasting is done earlier or nearer to the wedding day, there is usually no chance for a second tasting unless a special session is arranged between the caterer and planner.

During the tasting, feel free to also discuss things like:

1) Flowers - if you are using blossoms as centrepieces, discuss how they can match with the tablecovers.
2) Wedding cake - taste the cake and ask for pictures of other styles so you can pick and choose your favourite.
3) Wine - taste the wine and see if it is to your liking. If not, what other types of wines are available and how can they be served to the guests?
4) Lighting - ask for a demonstration of the lighting at the actual site.
5) Furniture - peruse the furniture and arrangement. Make sure they go along with your wedding theme, if you have one.

After everything is basically sealed and signed, the wedding planner has to continue to keep in contact with the couple and caterer, in case of any last minute changes. Some couples may choose to donate any leftover food to needy organisations, and their wish has to be conveyed to the caterer beforehand so that the necessary arrangements can be made.

Whether you are acting as your own Singapore wedding planner, or engaging someone else for the job, make sure you know what you're doing! Check through everything thoroughly before signing anything. With the serving of food and drinks settled, you will usually be more at ease to deal with other pressing matters. Relax, and enjoy the preparations. Think of how happy your guests will be, and you'll find a smile on your face as well!