Not only are you throwing a rehearsal dinner, wedding, and possibly an after-wedding-breakfast, but  you will also be hosting your getting ready party as well. Making sure you and your bridal party have a lovely time that you all will remember forever.

You can thank the utterly fabulous dress designer Annette from Chaviano Couture for these Get Ready Wedding Tips. Get out your pen and paper, you may to jot these tips down. To see all the images from this lovely shoot click here.

From Annette:

Have detials ready for your photographer before you begin to get ready. While eating breakfast and interacting with your girls. Those are memories you won’t forget. For breakfast serve something a little out of the ordinary. Tomatoes and figs with almonds for protein as well as honey and some fruit are the perfect tasty combination to keep you full before the wedding.

Of course you should have a champagne toast while getting pretty, but remember you have a long day ahead of you. Staying hydrated is essential. Have plenty of water around and light snacks around to keep everyone happy. We love the idea of setting up a water station where you are getting ready. You can dress up the water with fruits and cucumbers to make everything super fancy.

Go untraditional and instead of having your bridesmaids carry bouquets, have them carry clutches with essentials for the big day such as tissue, lipgloss, and a note from the bride. Use family heirlooms such as a broach or piece of jewelwry on your bouquet as well as your mother or grandmothers hankerchief.

Have the wedding gown be unique by choosing a convertible custom gown which allows you to have 2 different looks on your wedding day. Incorporate a piece of your mothers wedding gown onto the dress ( as shown in the ribbons on the hem of this gown)

Allow your bridesmaids to choose outfits in a similar color palette, but still express their individual personalities (such as the CORE bridesmaids gowns shown in this feature)

Photographer: Lytle Foto
Event Designer: Carlee Seizemore
Hair: Medalyn Salon
Caterer: Carlee Seizemore
Dress Designer: Chaviano Couture
Flowers: Carlee Sizemore
Stationery: Courtney Khail
Veil or Hair Accessories: Chaviano Couture
Bridesmaids Dresses: CORE Bridesmaids Couture
Heirloom Tile: Palomas Nest
Venue: private home

Hepburn Collection is a leading wedding hair design company, and has showcased the upcoming bridal makeup and hair tips and tricks for 2012 in a cutting-edge photo shoot. Bringing together a handpicked collection of the UK’s most talented hair and beauty artists, the Be Beautiful shoot aims to inspire fashion conscious brides to discover their inner beauty and individual style. You can see all of the photos in the full gallery.

We are going to start off with the first look Be Bold : Inspired by the 70s, the Be Bold collection features big hair and strong make-up. Ideal for a bride looking to create a casual wedding day look with a bohemian twist.

Be Classic:
Following the Royal Wedding, the Be Classic collection reflects the timeless trend for a traditional and elegant wedding day look with soft, loose hair and pretty make-up.

Be Chic:
Sleek and sophisticated, the Be Chic collection reflects a contemporary look for the modern bride. Hair is structured and complemented with vibrant make-up incorporating this season’s trend for color.

Commenting on the photo shoot, Hepburn Collection’s founder Severin Hubert said: A bride’s wedding day look is one of the most important parts of the occasion. Professionally styled hair and make-up that complements the gown and accessories is essential for a look that reflects both the day itself and the bride’s personality. Through this shoot, we hope to inspire brides to embrace their individual beauty and create a bridal style that’s both timeless and unforgettable.

Entire Shoot Provided By Something Blue PR
Photographer: Nobu Yamaguchi
Event Design: Tiffany Grant Riley
Cake/Desserts: The Cake Parlour
Cinematography: The Dreamcatchers
Floral Design: By Appointment Only Design
Venue: The Manor House at Headley

Look 1: Be Bold
Hair: Cassandra Rizzuto | Make-up: Mariam Jensen | Nails: Elizabeth Shell | Attire: Bianca Trouser Suit, Circa Vintage Brides | Belen Pink Silk Tulle Dress: Kate Halfpenny | Accessories: Gold and faux turquoise hair comb, Cherished Vintage Accessories | Original 1960s sun hat: Fieldstaff’s Antiques | Handbeaded button disc headpiece: William Chambers | Shoes: Tilly, Harriet Wilde

Look 2: Be Classic
Hair: James White | Make-up: Katy Messer | Attire: Annabelle lace jacket, corset, lace column skirt, Kate Halfpenny | Mercedes blue silk Tuille dress with handwashed silk sash, Kate Halfpenny | Accessories: Funfair Parade Hairpin, Karin Andreasson | Lace fan: Lovely Favours | Shoes: Bridgette, Harriet Wilde

Look 3: Be Chic
Hair: Severin Hubert | Make-up: Lucy Baker | Attire: Amaze boat-necked satin short wedding dress, Tobi Hannah | Poppy Georgette shift dress with fluted sleeves, Matthew Williamson | Accessories: Large plastic bloomer headpiece and latex flowers headpiece, William Chambers | Shoes: Bridgette and Gardenia, Harriet Wilde | Cakes: Powder blue lace cake, flower biscuits, cupcakes with butter kisses, Zoe Clark at The Cake Parlour | Flowers: Large bridal bouquet, corsages and cake base, By Appointment Only | Crockery: Grant Riley Styling | Vintage flowerpots: Idyllic Days | Glass jars: Lovely Favours | Suitcases: Lovely Favours | Stationery: (Lace, Blush and Powder Blue) Paul Antonio | Stationery: (Texture and Structure) House of Sugalily | Stationery: (1970s Boho Chic) Peppermint Designs

The vows have been said and the gifts have been put away and accounted for. The time has arrived to for the thank you cards. Here are some tips and tricks on how to send out all those notes of gratitude.

First off get yourself some stationery or make your own that represents you and your new life partner. Start off by a simple Dear Aunt Kathy and Uncle Greg or who ever gifted you that new espresso maker or generous check.

If you are given a generous check or cash:
Instead of thanking your loved ones for that five hundred dollars. You can write thank you for your generosity or your kindness is much appreciated. You can also share with your giver how you plan to use your recent windfall. Something like … with your help we will be able to purchase our new home, flat screen tv or a trip to Hawaii.

If you are given something of your registry or a gift in general:
Start off by mentioning the gift. For instance, Thank you for the tangerine KitchenAid and let them know what you plan to use it for. We already baked our first batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies and they were delicious.

Finally sign it off with a nice thank you again and wrap it up with love and sincerity. Your loved ones will appreciate your little note

1. Thank You card on lovely off white stock.
2. Moustache thank you cards
3. Cheerful rainbow note cards
4. Gracias Cards

Finally make things a little easier by using a pre addressed stamp.

We all love to shop at Macy’s for the their awesome selection and great deals, so why not register with Macy’s for everything you would love to have for your wedding? From appliances, to linens, to cookware; you will find everything that you need.

Wait, it gets even better! If you are a Macy’s cardholder you will get 10% back in reward dollars. That’s $10 back if you spend $100.

Every gift that your guests purchase for you adds up to reward dollars as well. That’s 5% for every single gift purchased from Macy’s.

Shopping for a wedding is more than just about the wedding. It’s all the things that lead up to the wedding, the honeymoon after the wedding, the swimsuit for that trip to the Bahamas. The bride and groom get 10% back in reward dollars for every single purchase they make. Dresses, shoes, tuxedos, bridesmaid gifts. You name it.

Did you know that you can even buy your wedding rings at Macy’s? They have a huge selection, and by the way how much do you love those stacking rings?
What better place to register for your wedding than Macy’s who rewards your for shopping. Thank you Macy’s!

*Please note you have to have a Macy’s card in order to be part of the Star Rewards program.

Dyson sent us the Dyson DC35 so we could share a little bit about it with you. It is definitely lightweight and easy to hide, we love that it reaches up high, down low and into awkward gaps. Also did we mention that it is a cordless vacuum cleaner and it actually works quite well.

A perfect little appliance for your new love nest.

Last but not least we wanted to share with you the new Bridal / Bridesmaid collection from BCBGMAXAZARIA. A stylish solution to an affordable wedding dress. Perfect for the fashionista that does not want to break the bank. All the dresses have great cuts, delicate details and luxe fabrics.

Remember you can make anything look like a million bucks with a little effort and of course some fabulous accessories, a stunning hair do and some to die for shoes.

There are some fancy weddings in Real Weddings like this lovely number by  Kristen Weaver! Kristen is located in Central Florida.

Hey Girls – Just thought that you should know that over at Blue Poppy the fabulous ladies have a weekly tradition that should be fun for everyone. Each Wednesday, the girls will be creating a one-of-a-kind jewelry item.

These unique little adornments will then be posted on their website for purchase…and here’s the best part about it….Each item will cost less than $60.00! (not including shipping or sales tax)! Handcrafted and full of love.

IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE
You want those great shots but most importantly the wedding day is about enjoying your friends and family and soaking in every bit of the celebration.

You DON’T want to spend hours in taking tons of posed photos after the ceremony. I have actually been at weddings where the Bride and Groom missed the first two courses of dinner (not shooting of course). To avoid that scenario, set aside some time with your photographer for the pre-ceremony pics. This will allow your photographer to use some great locations at your venue, control the light and be playful / artistic. This will take place before the ceremony and can be a lot of fun.

It might even get your mind off pre-ceremony jitters. Take as many photos as possible before the wedding ceremony. These shots would include the bride alone, with her maids, and with her immediate family; the groom alone, with his groomsmen, and his immediate family. In some cases, you might even want to do the Bride and Groom photos beforehand. I only encouragethis if lighting is a factor after the ceremony (because I like to use available light) or if reception timing is an issue. If those two things are no matter, I leave it up to the Bride and Groom to decide.

LADIES FIRST
I like to take photos of the Bride’s side first. The first reason is that it will give you some time to touch up right before you head down the aisle (this is important if it’s a windy day or hot, or rainy etc) You might have your makeup / hair person stick around for this or have one of your maids assist you. Also, it eliminates the risk of guests seeing you on the grounds as they arrive. Most venues will have a bridal suite even if you’d gotten ready initially at a different location. Once the ladies are done, the groom & men can arrive on site for their side (less time in the heat if it’s Suits in the summer too). It doesn’t matter if guests see them and many times they’ll be helping with ceremony seating anyway.

ENJOY YOUR COCKTAIL HOUR
I think this is the one of the best opportunities to visit with your guests and celebrate your newly married bliss. If you can, extend your cocktail hour by 15 minutes or so. And do the following:

Follow the above-mentioned list of pre-ceremony photos. This way the only photos you need to take in between the ceremony & reception are:
1. a combined bridal party picture, a shot with each set of parents,
2. extended family shot from each side.

This should take about 20-25 minutes, leaving 10 minutes alone time with the Bride & Groom. I like to send the Bride and Groom to join the cocktail hour at this time and then steal them again for another 10-15 minutes during the dinner hour (or possibly in that time before the sun goes down when the light is perfect) This way the bride and groom get to enjoy at least 30 minutes of mingling and canapas.

DETAILS
By joining the cocktail hour, it also allows the photographer to do detail shots of your reception room and table decor before the guests are seated. After all, a lot of time, thought, and money go into the details and sometimes the photos are all you have to remember your hard work. That only takes about 15 minutes and then we come out to get candid cocktail hour shots.

GUIDELINES
You don’t have to give your photographer a list of every little shot you want, that can make it more difficult to record the flow of the day when we are concerned with a checklist. BUT it is nice to have a list of key group shots. Say you’d like a photo alone with Grandma June, which isn’t one of the standard shots from above. Or say your family dynamic isn’t the “standard” married mom and dad. Let your photographer know if there are step parents, or parents who aren’t together anymore, or a deceased family member. Every family is unique and it’s good to fill us in on the basic relationships to avoid any awkwardness when we arrange the group photos. Let us know if there are any key groups you want done at the reception; say college buddies for example, or all the cousins. Better to do these as relaxed reception photos than the more formal ones.

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET
If you visit a photographers studio and they have raw journalistic photos in B&W, don’t ask them to take structured formal shots for a canvas print above the mantle. They might agree to it if they want to get the job, but you could be very disappointed. Make sure to ask your photographer about their shooting style and take a look at their photos. I have couples ask me about cross processing and digital retouching all the time and I have to tell them that it’s just not my forte. If you don’t see it in someone’s portfolio, there’s probably a reason why. Choose a photographer for their style.

Click with your Photographer
You will be with this person MOST of your wedding day. It is very important that you feel a good connection with their personality and demeanor.