5 Tips to throw a great bridal shower or bachelorette party

It's one of the few agreed upon duties of being a maid of honor -- you need to throw a party for the bride! Whether it's a traditional bridal shower, a wild bachelorette party or a little bit of both, as a bridesmaid it's your job to give the bride an event she'll remember and treasure. We know that balancing the needs of the bride, her guests, and your pocketbook can be tricky so we have some steps for you to follow to put on a great party.

TALK TO THE BRIDE

You may be thinking of a classy lunch at a country club, the bride may be thinking tequila shots at a bar. Get together with your bride and find out what she has in mind. Ask her if anyone else is throwing a party for her. It may be that a friend of her mother's might want to take the traditional bridal shower while you take care of the girls gone wild night out. It's also important to ask the bride how involved she does or doesn't want to be in planning the event. Most brides have enough on their plate and will be happy to let you take the planning reins, but others have trouble giving up control.

TALK TO YOUR FELLOW BRIDESMAIDS

Although the maid or matron of honor generally takes the lead in planning the shower, the other bridesmaids usually serve as co-hosts. Planning a party with a group can be more difficult then doing it single-handedly, especially if you don't know the other girls all that well. After you've talked to the bride and know what type of event she has in mind, you should talk to the other bridesmaids. If you're all in the same location the meeting should be face-to-face, if not, use IM or a conference call to get everyone together.

SET A BUDGET

As co-hosts, you and the other bridesmaids are responsible for paying for the party. It's likely that you and the other bridesmaids will all have different financial situations. Find out approximately what each host can contribute, and make a budget. Knowing your budget will help you decide if the party should be held in someone's home or at a venue, and what food should be served.

If you're having a night on the town where each girl will be expected to pay for her own dinner and drinks, your hosting budget should go to the transportation and tip. Hiring a limo or other transportation is a great idea for a fun night out but it can put girls who can't afford to contribute, or who need to be home earlier, in a difficult situation. Group transportation should be optional and should be paid for by the party hosts, not the guests. Don't forget to think about the driver's tip when making your budget.

PICK A THEME

If you're having a traditional bridal shower, having a theme can help you organize the event and make decisions about food and decorations easier. It can also help guests decide what gifts to buy.

GET A GUEST LIST, SEND OUT INVITATIONS

Unless the party is a surprise, the guest list is set by the bride. For a bridal shower, the guest list should include her mother and future mother in law as well as any in-town female relatives. Sisters of the groom or other close female relatives should also be invited. Only people who are invited to the wedding should be invited to the shower.

HAVE FUN

All the hard work of planning the bridal shower or bachelorette party boils down to one thing: fun. It's the whole point, so don't hold back.

How to save on your wedding catering budget

Here's a number that may surprise you, over 30 percent of your wedding budget will be spent on food. Obviously, if you're on a tight budget, then cutting that amount down can go a long way to helping you stay on track.

DON'T DIY

For casual, outdoor weddings the idea can work, but it can also be a source of stress and even added expense. Even if friends make all the food, you still have to figure out how to heat or chill it and how to serve it. You may need to buy or rent refrigerators or serving dishes and you'll need someone to serve the food, even if it's a buffet. Depending on your wedding venue, you may also need to buy insurance.

An experienced caterer not only helps you avoid these costs, he or she can also help you navigate issues like beverages, table linens, and even the timing of the reception. When all is said and done, unless someone in your circle is a professional caterer or chef, paying someone else to handle the food is one wedding expense that's worth it. Notice, we said paying, not paying a lot.

DON'T SERVE A MEAL

Having a late afternoon wedding almost guarantees a high food bill because you need to serve dinner. But, there are other options for all styles of weddings. For a casual wedding, you could have a morning wedding ceremony followed by cake, coffee and champagne. For a more formal affair, you could have a mid-afternoon wedding followed by cocktails, passed hors d'oeuvres and cake. For a funky or hip event, what about a 7:00 p.m. (or later) wedding followed by a dessert buffet?

LUNCH NOT DINNER

If you want to have a meal, consider a late morning or early afternoon wedding followed by a luncheon. People eat and drink less during the day then they do at an evening wedding. Lunches and brunches can consist of less expensive foods such as quiches and salads instead of the expected steak or chicken offered at dinner.

THE RIGHT BUFFET

There's often a misconception that having a buffet instead of a plated meal saves you money. While this is usually the case, it isn't always so. Depending on the kind of buffet you're planning, it may require the same number of waitstaff, and because more food is needed for a buffet than a plated meal, it can actually wind up costing more. But there are definitely food choices that can be done well in a buffet and save you money. These include more 'home-style' choices such as barbecue, pasta dishes and salads, and fewer items that require carving!

FIND THE RIGHT CATERER

Make sure to stage tastings with three to five different caterers in different price ranges. Sometimes the difference isn't in the food they serve, it's in the waitstaff's uniforms, or the prestige of the company. Don't choose the caterer 'everyone uses' -- choose the one that's right for you.

5 Wedding Bouquet Trends

It's time to talk bouquets. We are sharing the latest and greatest trends in wedding bouquets. Here you’ll find the scoop on 6 of our favorite looks for unforgettable wedding bouquets. You might even love your bouquet too much to toss it over your shoulder!

Soft and sweet

This bouquet is one of our favorites because of it's soft romance. The blush roses give it a subtle sweetness that would be perfect for an intimate spring wedding.

Paper keepsake

Who says all bouquets must be made of flowers? We love the idea of a paper bouquet because you get a lovely keepsake that will last as long as your commitment to each other.

Mix and match

The perk of a spring wedding is you get your pick of the prettiest flowers. Mix and match sizes and colors to get a dynamic picked-from-the-garden arrangement.

Succulent bouquets

Succulents are the newest trend for bridal bouquets and we can see why. Mixing them with traditional roses is a great way to create a uniquely beautiful bouquet.

Summer sunflowers

A summer wedding needs the bright bouquet. We love this mix of small hydrangeas as the backdrop to big, bright sunflowers.

Cascading color bouquet

Add a dramatic flair to your bouquet by creating a cascade of flowers. We love the bold blues of this floral arrangement.

5 Tips for hiring a wedding planner

Hiring a wedding planner used to be something that only very wealthy couples did. But today's busy couples know that the right wedding planner can not only save you stress and aggravation, but also save you money.

1. THIS SHOULD BE YOUR FIRST DECISION

If you're even vaguely considering hiring a wedding planner, you should decide that first. The more involved in your wedding the planner is, the more likely it is that she can save you money and hassle. If you've already signed contracts with multiple vendors, you may be better off hiring a Day of Coordinator.

2. KNOW WHAT KIND OF WEDDING PLANNER YOU NEED

There are three basic categories of wedding planners: 

• Event Producers handle large budget affairs with multiple moving parts. Their services can cost $25,000 or more.

• Wedding Planners help you create your vision of your wedding day. The planner can take care of all the details from pre-selecting vendors for you to deciding the order of the receiving line. Depending on the services you need, hiring a planner will cost anywhere from $1,500-$15,000. 

• An option that's becoming more and more popular is a Day of Coordinator. This person brings great peace of mind because he or she steps in and takes care of all the details on the day of your wedding. A Day of Coordinator can cost between $500 and $4,000. 

3. DO YOUR RESEARCH

As with any wedding vendor, getting recommendations and referrals from friends and family is a great way to start your research. 

4. PAY ATTENTION TO FIT

Even the greatest wedding planner on Earth isn't going to be the right fit for every couple. Movies and reality TV shows make it seem normal for wedding planners to be bossy or overbearing, but in reality this person should be helpful and understanding. If you find yourself being afraid to tell the planner your thoughts or opinions, you've got the wrong planner. 

Consider asking questions about contingency plans and "day of" problems that the planner has solved in the past. You're hiring a planner to remove stress from your life, so you want to make sure he or she won't be the one stressing you out!

5. ASK ABOUT HER COMMISSION POLICY

Some wedding planners get commissions from vendors for referring clients to them. In these cases a planner refers you to a caterer, you hire the caterer, and as a thank you to the planner, the caterer gives the planner a commission or finder's fee. Unfortunately, this finder's fee often winds up being charged back to you by the caterer. When interviewing planners, ask about their policies. Many see this practice as unethical whereas others see it as one way that they're able to charge you low fees.

6. UNDERSTAND HOW PLANNERS WORK, AND HOW THAT WORKS FOR YOU

It's common business practice to give special discounts or perks to repeat customers. Because they know that if they do a good job the wedding planner will continue providing them with clients, many vendors will offer special discounts and services to the clients of a wedding planner. Unless you've asked the planner to interview and hire wedding vendors for you, the planner should always provide you with about three options. The planner should help you think about the pros and cons of each vendor, but you should never feel pressured to make a specific choice.

7. UNDERSTAND YOUR CONTRACT

Make sure to read and understand your contract. Different wedding planners charge in different ways. Some have specific packages from which you can choose. These packages may specify the number of hours they'll be working for you or the services they'll provide. Others work with you to determine your needs and then give you a flat fee. In either case, the contract should spell out exactly what the services and fees are. You should expect to pay 50 percent of the fee when signing the contract. 

If the issue of whether or not the planner accepts commissions is important to you, you may ask to have that written into the contract.

Cupcake craze

Cupcakes for your wedding are sweet, simple, sophisticated bites of pre-packaged goodness that offer variety, portability and creativity. Try some of these ideas for your wedding.

Grooms' cakes trends

A significant focal point of weddings is the cake. It’s on display, in photos and there are traditions that go along with it like the ceremonial cutting and the bride and groom having the first bite. But it’s often the brides that take responsibility for choosing its color, flavor and theme. Lately though, men are taking more of an active role in their wedding day dessert.

Grooms' cakes: Behind the trend

In recent years, adding a specialized grooms' cake has gained nationwide recognition. Grooms' cakes are an old Southern tradition and I think the concept has just come around again. It's a fun tradition that many couples are finding enjoyable and an extra way to personalize their big event.

Grooms' cakes: Why get one?

Since today’s weddings are typically planned with the bride’s list of must-haves in mind, a special cake for the groom provides a simple way to include the groom in the reception festivities and excitement. It's a fun way to bring a little personality to an event and make your groom feel extra special. Whether the groom-to-be is a travel enthusiast, sports fanatic or aspiring musician, it’s important to recognize special elements of the groom’s personality in a fun and creative way.

Grooms' cakes: Options

Grooms' cakes come in all shapes, flavors and sizes and the possibilities are endless. There are few limitations when it comes to developing grooms' cakes. I’ve created a golf bag, replicated a sports stadium and even designed an armadillo cake. Additionally, since most grooms are unaware of their cake, it’s a great way to add an element of surprise on the wedding day.

Whether or not you get your groom a cake is up to you and whether it fits into your overall vision. If you do opt for a second cake to represent the groom, just have fun with it first and foremost. Choose something that means something special to you.

How to save money on a bar at your wedding

If no one in your family drinks, you've just saved a bunch of money on your wedding reception. For everyone else though, it is expected that some form of alcohol be served - even at a morning wedding.

THINK ABOUT THE BAR EARLY ON

Although decisions about what to serve can come later, you need to at least be aware of issues surrounding a bar when you begin to talk to wedding venues. 

Many venues will require you to purchase extra insurance if you're serving alcohol. Some will include a bar package in your rental price. You will also need to discuss the bar, and who is responsible for serving with your caterer.

ALWAYS HAVE A BARTENDER

Even if your wedding reception site and your caterer allow you to handle the bar any way you wish, you'll want to hire a bartender. A bartender will save you money by pouring appropriate size drinks, and save you headaches by not serving underage or already drunk guests.

GET MARRIED DURING THE DAY

An afternoon or Sunday evening wedding will have less drinking.

CREATE A SIGNATURE DRINK

A signature cocktail, especially one that's heavy on the fruit juice can save you money.

CLOSE THE BAR DURING DINNER

Only serve wine during dinner, and make sure the waiters pour the wine as opposed to leaving it on the table.

CLOSE THE BAR HALF AN HOUR BEFORE THE END OF THE RECEPTION

Close the bar too early and you'll lose guests, but leaving it open until the reception is over not only can cost you money, but it can be unsafe for your driving guests.