Part II: Healthy Ways to Fit into your Wedding Dress

Posted on August 17, 2012 by jesswedding

Water – Drinking at least two liters of water a day is one of the best things you can do for weight loss. Did you know that your body has a hard time distinguishing between hunger and thirst? Often times when you’re thirsty, you actually interpret it as hunger, so keeping your body quenched is a great way to avoid confusion. Water is also great for detoxing and reducing bloating and puffiness.

Portion Control – Portion control may be an obvious weight loss technique, but in the midst of engagement parties, bridal showers and bachelorette parties, things can get out of hand. Determine how many calories your body needs to keep your energy level high, while still losing weight. For most women it’s between 1,500-1,800 calories. Keep in mind that most restaurants serve portions that could serve 2 to 3 people, so make sure to split meals with friends or set aside half in a to-go box as soon as you get your meal.

Exercise – Exercise is one of the best ways to lose pounds quickly. If you’re looking to slim down, add 45 minutes of cardio a day, 5 days a week, and you will start seeing results immediately. If you’re not big on working out, start slowly or ask a friend or your fiancé to join a gym with you. Work out buddies make exercising more fun and help keep you on track. The best part about adding more cardio into your routine is that intense exercise has been proven to reduce stress and to release endorphins, helping to calm your nerves during wedding planning.

Detox – If you feel like you’ve been dieting and exercising without seeing results, your body may need a boost to help clear out the toxins in your body. One easy and gentle detox diet for your stomach is a powdered psyllium husk detox, which absorbs water and draws out waste from your digestive system. You can detox for up to 30 days, and you will likely see your stomach flattening and feel an increase in energy.

Wedding Planning – Finally, we get to one of the main culprits of your weight gain; the wedding planning itself! Wedding planning involves all kinds of tastings—with quite a bit of food. In choosing food and your cake, caterers are willing to shower you in their heartiest cooked meals and richest pastries. Try bringing friends of family to share in the portions and to help give you an answer. This can cut down on going back and forth between caterers and re-trying all sorts of foods before deciding. Wedding planning also means bridal shower favors, wedding favors and possibly even engagement favors? Avoid the temptation by filling your yummy edible favors with a group of friends. Bring out a bowl of fruit, or distract yourself with a great movie and some fruit drink spritzers.

For more wedding planning tips, or to check out our selection of personalized tote bags, bridesmaids gifts and wedding jewelry, visit Jessicaswedding.com.

About Jessica’s Wedding: Jessica’s Wedding is the top source for jewelry, gifts and wedding favors for your special day! For more information or to check out our unique wedding favors, and personalized bridal party gifts please visit Jessica’s Wedding at www.jessicaswedding.com.

Part I: How to be a Great Bridesmaid

Posted on July 22, 2012 by jesswedding

Being chosen to walk down the aisle on your friend’s big day is a not only a huge honor, but a big responsibility. Some women may not understand the expectations that come with being a bridesmaid, and it tends to be much more than just showing up on the day of the wedding.

Money – Money can be a big issue when it comes to weddings, and being a bridesmaid may mean an additional monetary commitment for you. One of the best ways to handle the money situation is to talk about it from the very beginning, maybe even before accepting your role as a bridesmaid. Ask your friend what kind of expectations she has for her bridesmaids and what she might expect you to spend on the dress, shoes, throwing parties, traveling, etc. If you’re not in the position to spend the kind of money your friend is expecting, it may be a better idea to respectfully decline. Being a good bridesmaid means being able to fulfill the financial responsibilities as much as the time commitment.

Wedding Planning – Wedding planning can be completely overwhelming for a first-time bride, and many times she will need some help from the bridesmaids. You may be able to offer your scheduling and coordinating skills, your suggestions for caterers and the cake, or you may know of some great wedding favors she may like. A great bridesmaid may go out of her way to buy personalized tote bags, which can keep each bridesmaid organized on the big day, but any advice can help in the beginning stages of planning, so offer what you can and she’ll surely be grateful.

Dress Fittings – Being a bridesmaid comes with looking the part. One of the first things the bride may ask of you is to participate in dress fittings. For out of town bridesmaids, this may be a bit difficult, but you can relieve the bride’s stress by sending her your exact measurements before the day of the fitting. It’s important to send these ahead of time, in case they don’t carry your size. If you live in town, the bride will most likely need you to attend at least one or two fittings, since different colors, cuts and fabrics can look very different on each body shape and skin tone. Seeing the group of bridesmaids dressed all at once can make a huge difference in the bride’s decision.

Wedding Day Checklist

Posted on June 19, 2012 by jesswedding

Your wedding has finally arrived! Months of tastings, fittings and organizing have all built up to this one special day. While most of your plans will have come together by this point, you may want to compile a final checklist for the morning of your wedding, to make sure your day goes as smoothly as possible. Before you start sipping on those mimosas, here are a few things you’ll want to cover:

Confirm with Vendors – One of the worst experiences for a bride is getting an hour away from the reception and realizing a vendor may be missing. Call each vendor the morning of the wedding to confirm their time and the location of the reception, give them directions if they need them and make sure you ask for the final payment amount.

Payments – You will want to make out your checks ahead of time so you aren’t scrambling as your reception is coming to a close. Ask your vendors to sign a note indicating that they have received their final payment, especially if you’re paying in cash, to act as a receipt for their services.

Bring Cash – You never know what may come up; a vendor may have gone over and above, or you may need a favor from a vendor. You may ask them to stay later than planned or help with set-up or break down, so it’s best to just have cash.

Itineraries – Make sure everyone knows what is expected of them by creating a wedding day itinerary. Include pre-wedding duties like the groomsmen setting up tables, or the mother of the bride decorating. This is also the time to assign clean up duties and find someone who can make sure the gifts make it back to your home. Give everyone an itinerary in the morning and have them ask questions early.

Drinks – If you plan on having a cash bar or open bar, make sure your bartenders have a list of cocktails they will be asked to serve. Sometimes bars don’t supply specialty spirits, so make sure you know what they have days before the wedding.

Photographer – This is your one chance to capture as many moments as possible. Most photographers know the perfect shots to take, but if you have certain family members you want a professional picture with or settings you’d like to photograph at make sure your photographer knows.

Be Prepared – Make sure all of your wedding favors, toasting glasses and cake knife have all been delivered to your reception site a few days before your wedding day. If you have special make-up or jewelry items for your bridesmaids, use personalized tote bags to keep everything together.

Time to Talk Weddings

Posted on May 2, 2012 by jesswedding

Getting engaged is one of the most exciting times in a young couple’s lives; you’ll not only be planning one of the most special days of your lives together, but you’ll also be planning for the life you are about to share. One of the best steps you can take when you first get engaged is to have a talk with both families to make sure everyone is on the same page on the wedding budget, guest list, location and traditions. This can be especially helpful if the two families may have opposing views on how your wedding day should be planned.

Wedding Budget – Planning a wedding budget can start off a bit awkward. It’s always important to know who is able to pay for what, and how much each family can contribute. While it used to be customary for the bride’s family to pick up the majority of the bill, wedding expenses have become less one-sided in the past few years. Both the groom’s family as well as the bride and groom themselves are more willing to help out with the cost.

Guest List – In a perfect world, only the bride and groom would get to decide who to invite to their special day. However, when families are contributing thousands of dollars to make sure your big day is so special, it’s only fair to allow them a say in who is attending. Make sure your guest list falls in line with your budget, however, since each guest can add anywhere from $50-300, or more, to your final bill.

Location – Location shouldn’t be too much of a concern for most couples, since it’s very common to want to get married in one of three places: either your current residence, your fiancé’s hometown or your own hometown. For other couples, however, location can be a point of contention, since some families may be out of the state or even country. It’s best to decide location in the beginning of planning, and to make sure both families can voice their concerns early on.

Traditions – This is another great talk to have with your families, since cultural and familial traditions are a big part of any wedding. Speaking with both families separately may be the best way to start, and if there are any disagreements, you may need to sit both families down and start making some compromises. Make sure both families have your best interest in mind, and are willing to bend a bit. Keep in mind this isn’t just a start of a new life for you and your fiancé, but a new start for two families to become one.

For more information on wedding planning, or to browse our selection of wedding favors, bridal party gifts and personalized tote bags, please visit us at Jessica’s Wedding.