I was not one of those little girls who played out her dream wedding with dolls or who knew what kind of dress she wanted since the age of 5. I never really thought about my wedding until I got engaged on December 23, 2008. Then, it hit me: I was going to have a wedding and I was going to have to plan it. Of course, I didn’t start planning it until 8 months ago because I wanted to enjoy being engaged for awhile first.

Planning things is a gift of mine, so I didn’t think it was going to be too difficult. I immediately started making lists and felt that these would keep me in check. They did not. I did not realize that wedding planning takes more than lists and that it encompasses using a vast amount of social etiquette.

This first thing that we decided was the date. Since my fiancé and I met on December 23, 2006, and he proposed 2 years later exactly, we went with December 23, 2011. A date that would eventually cause a number of dramatic issues. We chose this date because it was and is important to us. It will mark our 5 year anniversary together since the cold, snowy, December evening that we met. Simple enough, with a touch of romance and sentiment.

The second thing we discussed was the location. I am a Maritimer, born and raised in a small community in Nova Scotia where most of my family still lives. My fiancé, on the other hand, has lived in Alberta all his life. Now came the question of which family was going to have to fly across the country right before Christmas. Since I am rather frugal, and because I did not want a large wedding, we decided to have the wedding in Alberta to save ourselves the cost of flying and having to put our three pets in a kennel for a week. Besides, after looking into what it would take for me to plan a wedding in Nova Scotia while living in Alberta, I decided that I am rather fond of my sanity.

Then came telling everyone. With such a small wedding, we didn’t do invitations, we just sort of called them and casually mentioned that they were invited to our wedding that was a few months away.

That was an adventure on its own. Not only was I asking my family to fly here, I was asking them to do it just before Christmas. The response to that idea was, “Why so close to Christmas?”, “Won’t it be too cold?”, “Can’t you change the date?”. The date and location have caused a sort of snowball effect in our wedding planning, as you can imagine. But, we stuck to what was important to us. We have made some changes to our initial idea in order to accommodate our guests, but only to a certain extent.

Some people choose their date based on the availability of the venue, some people choose it based on a statutory holiday, some people simply pick a date at random. You have to decide what is important to you and your fiancé and work from there. If the venue is more important than the date you get married on, get it when you can. If you want your guests from out of town to have more travel time, plan it around a holiday. Whatever your reasoning behind the date, make sure that it is your own. You are allowed to be at least a bit selfish when it comes to your wedding, so use that while you can.

Take the Time…. before you buy, try on as many different styles as possible…gowns look different on your body type versus hanging on a hanger…walk around and sit down…make sure it’s comfortable…shop as soon as possible…gowns are ordered and are not always readily available right away, some made to measure can take six to twelve months.

Trying on wedding dresses can be one of the most daunting experiences a bride faces. You allow yourself to be swept up in a whirlwind of love and romance in the perfect dress that will take his breath away. Feminine chiffon, organza, and satin in whisper light layers, adorned with frills and flowers to put you both in the mood for love.

Establish yourself some boundaries to make this a happy experience. Consider the type of sleeves, neckline, gown length, and train length you want, and the gown style best suited for your body type. Remember to match your accessories to your veil and gown.

 Five Steps to Successful Gown Shopping:

1) Take along someone who knows your style and whose taste is similar to yours.
2) Talk to the shop professionals- they can advise you what is the best style for your figure or what fabrics won’t crease.
3) Remember that it is easier to take a dress in then let it out when you are planning to lose weight.
4) Consider the proper undergarments and shoes for fittings.
5) Take your time…try on lots of different styles until you’re happy with your choice.

Know Your Most Common Bridal Fabrics

Brocade: raised designs on a heavier fabric
Chiffon:   sheer silk or rayon
Lace:       hand or machine done, lace is popular in the bridal market
Organza: sheer but stiffer than chiffon
Satin:      smooth with a high sheen, popular now
Silk:        a natural, strong expensive but elegant fabric
Taffeta:   smooth, crisp fabric
Tulle:      open weave net, most often used in veils and under slips