A Fat Girl's Guide to Wedding Planning

With the nuptials of my daughter, I have had no time to add to this blog. But now that it is over, I can sit and reflect. It was a wonderful wedding! It was elegant and sophisticated without breaking the bank.
Fat or thin, my advice is the same: stay calm and enjoy every moment of planning. My daughter knew exactly what she wanted. We had a few disagreements, but I enjoyed spending time with her; all the running around and shopping. She was the calmest, most laid-back bride I ever saw. That made me alot calmer. I didn't want it to be over, so I savored every moment.
Here's a few tips. You need at least 8 months to plan a wedding. After sitting down with the groom and deciding the size of the wedding, pick a date and a budget. The budget is very important!!! You can have a beautiful wedding by remembering "less is more". Pick the type of wedding you want; formal, semi-formal, casual. Meet with you clergy and reserve the church. Pick a venue for the reception. Shop around. Taste the food. Take advantage of all-inclusive package deals. Look for discounts. Saving 5% or 10% off here and there can add up. Look for free alterations on bridesmaid dresses and free groom tuxedo when you rent 3 or more grooms men's. Friday and Sunday weddings carry extra discounts because your vendors can book more than one wedding in a weekend. Take advantage of the ideas posted on wedding web-sites like WeddingChannel.com and Brides.com. But don't do your shopping online...get out there and get touchy-feely with everything.
The Frugal Bride.com has an excellent checklist of things that must be done with a time-line. It is the most helpful thing to lessen stress. Keep a notebook with pictures of flowers and hairstyles to show your florist and stylist of things you like.
One thing my daughter and I disagreed upon was lighting for the reception. She insisted on hiring a lighting company for ambiance. I thought it was a waste of money, but when I saw it, she was right. The lighting made the room look more romantic and hid alot of flaws in the old worn-out ballroom. It was well worth it.
You want your guests to have fun! But don't forget to enjoy your own wedding and have fun, too. Act like a lady at all times. Make your day memorable and beautiful for yourself, your groom, your family, and all your guests.