This will be my last Thursday wedding post for the season. I might resume it next year in the spring of 2010 when wedding season is at it’s peak. So I will conclude this season with preserving your wedding dress. When you big bay has come to an end you need to have your dress cleaned and stored.

Step 1
Save the bag your dress came in, or bring along a plastic bag to protect the dress en route to the cleaner.

Step 2
Select a professional dry cleaner, preferably one that specializes in formal gowns. Ask for recommendations from friends and your bridal shop or seamstress.

Step 3
Get the dress to the cleaner as soon as possible after your wedding.

Step 4
Alert the cleaner to any stains – a drop of bubbly, a smudge of lipstick from that first kiss – as well as to any ornaments that were glued rather than sewn on (these pieces are prone to fall off during the cleaning process) and to loose stitches. This information will ensure that your cleaner can give your dress the best care possible.

Step 5
Ask your cleaner for a special acid-free box to store your dress in, and pack it in acid-free tissue paper. You can also hang the dress by the bodice by sewing straps that are a bit shorter than the bodice onto the waist, placing on a padded hanger and wrapping in a clean white cotton sheet.

Step 6
Store the dress in a temperate, dry place, out of direct sunlight.

Step 7
Inspect your dress on each anniversary to check for any discolored areas or missed stains and to allow your dress to “breathe.”

Soon wedding Thursday will be coming to a close but there are still two more posts. The one thing every bride to be should have on her wedding day is a wedding day emergency kit. The small kit should contain the following items: hair brush, comb, mirror, hair spray, bobby pins to match the color of your hair, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, breath mints, hand lotion, needle and thread in the color of white or ivory (and the color of your Mothers dress as well as your bridesmaids dresses, baby powder (helps cover up stains on the brides dress) stain remover, fabric glue, and white tape (for hems), safety pins, scissors, extra pantyhose, clear nail polish, earring backs. All of these items could come in hand on your big day.

On your wedding day you want to arrive in style and on time. You want everything to be where it is suppose to be at the correct time. Arranging transportation is a very important part of your planning. Don’t forget to organize a schedule/ time line for your wedding. The final details can be worked out after you have prepared a timeline. You need to determine how many people need transportation, where they need to be picked up, and where they need to go. To cut cost on your transportation you could have a friend or family member who is not in the wedding  act as a chauffeur. This way those who are involved in the wedding do not have to worry about traffic.

DJs are very popular because they can play anything under the sun and usually have a large repertoire. Many people prefer this option to a live band, and it it definitely less expensive alternative. DJs come in all shapes, sizes, and energy levels. My ideal DJ is someone who is neat, dresses appropriately, and who has high quality equipment. You want to make sure your DJ has a large collection of songs.

If your ceremony is being held in a house of worship, that would be a great place to start. Talk with the organist or the musical director to lean what guild lines you need to follow and to get recommendations for a soloist, if desired. If you think you would like a harp, strings, or other instruments, ask whether that arrangement is possible. If you have an idea of what you would like, ask your location for suggestions. They may have the name of a good musical group or a particularly talented soloist. You may want to check out your local college. Music stores also also have knowledge of talented musicians.

Destination weddings have become extremely popular over the past few years as a way to extend the wedding celebration beyond just the wedding day and go to an exciting location. Even through destinations are more popular than ever you need to keep in mind the different factors when planning a wedding away from home. Here are some tips for finding a perfect destination location:

1. Check out real wedding stories on The Knot, this is one of the first places I went before I decided to get married in Maui. Also, check out The Wedding Channel both sites have great profiles of destination weddings with information on the locations.

2. Speak with a travel agent who specializes in honeymoons.

3. Pick up a few travel and weddings magazines they usually list great honeymoon spots, which are often great wedding spots, too.

4. Finally but not least surf the web for great destination wedding spots. Lots of resorts are marketing themselves this way, so you should find some great options.

When your wedding is over, you will want to savor every detail and have a record of everything that transpired for years to come. Such memories are, of course, best captured by photography. On such an emotionally charged and busy day your gonna feel like it flew by. So when your wedding day is in the past all you will have to remember it by is the photos. Please brides to be do not underestimate the importance of good-quality pictures. Trendqueen personally has been in a few of my girlfriends weddings and some do not have memorable pictures to show (if your reading this don’t hate me but you’ve told me yourself you wished you would have paid more attention when hiring a photographer). Make sure you choose your photographer early and even though a friends or family member may offer to take your wedding photos don’t do it it’s best to pay a professional at least for half of the day so you are assured of having beautiful pictures. Make sure you can see samples how they put wedding pictures together. For example be sure to look for the spacing is even between individual in the pictures and looking at the camera. Also be sure to make sure the brides dress is arranged nicely, does everyone look neat. Most importanly make sure you feel comfortable with the person are they professional.

For all of you ladies that will be walking down the aisle this fall Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier will be having a sample sale on Tuesday August 25th. The exclusive sample event at Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier featuring bridal, evening wear, and special occasion dresses. This couture salon will offer a wide selection of dresses and gowns at up to 80% off retail, normally ranging from $3,200-$8,000. The premier salon caters to the elegant and sophisticated modern woman and bride. Find sample and stock sizes from internationally known wedding designers Angel Sanchez, Anne Barge, Monique Lhuillier, Peter Langner, Jenny Lee, Rivini, Ulla Maija, and more.

Appointments for the exclusive event will be accepted starting today. Please contact the Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier directly to set up an appointment at (212)319-6778.

This is the most overlooked item on a brides long list of things to do for her big day. Do not delay in choosing your undergarments to wear with your gown. These can play an important part in the fit and comfort of your dress and should be taken to every fitting. Some salons and seamstresses can sew in pads to certain styles of dresses so that a brassiere is not necessary. Please be sure to buy a couple of different bras and panties and keep the tags on them until you choose your final bra and panties because you may think by trying on a white bra may look great under your dress you never know until you actually try it on with your wedding gown. For example I brought three different white strapless bras and two of them were cut to high on the sides an were visual when I put my dress on.  You don’t have to worry so much with the underwear if you have a big dress but keep your eyes open.

Some of you may know what a wedding dress bustle is and some of you may not. After you have chosen your dress and your shoes the bustle is the next most important item on your list. Depending on your dress style: mermaid, princess, or traditional you need to figure out how your wedding dress will be tied up in the back so you don’t trip or step on it throughout your evening. A site that was helpful to me when I was trying to choose the right bustle for my wedding dress is Leanna.com you will learn everything you need to know; also speak with the store representative to get there advice on which bustle look is right for your wedding gown.