For the patriotic bride here are some companies that manufacture right in the the US of A.

JLM Couture produces Lazaro, Jim Hjelm, and Tara Kelly among others.  New for Fall 2011 is the Nior by Lazaro collection of special occasion gowns.   This is my favorite:

Inspired by New York City 57 Grand designs and manufactures in the city itself.   The collection includes bridal, bridesmaids, and accessories.  Wouldn’t this be perfect for the bride at the afterparty:

For the groom, Beau Ties has a giant selection of neck ties and bow ties so there is sure to be one that fits your theme.  Winter wedding in the snow: Huge J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets Fan:

Love Fly Fishing:

Other ideas would include locally produced flower girls gowns, or employing a catering company with “farm to table” methodology!

We recently came across a great post by Anna Post on money-smart website Daily Worth about how to ask your parents to contribute to your wedding budget. This conversation can indeed be a minefield, with differing expectations, priorities, and emotions running high.

It got us thinking about the issue of asking family for money for your big day. In an ideal world, they’ll offer to help out the second they hear you’re engaged. But in reality, many people don’t even start thinking about what they would want to be able to contribute until you’re needing to put down a deposit.

The article discusses some key tactics for talking to mom and dad, such as “before you mention anything to your families, make sure you and your fiancé are on the same page.” This is definitely important, because if you don’t know where you both stand, the conversation can get a lot more complicated.

Next, Post recommends deciding an estimated budget, so that you at least have an idea of how much you want to ask for. The process of going through the budget will help you to talk through ideas, expectations, and desires with your significant other. You should also figure out how much of your own money you can contribute – if any – before you pick up the phone.

We would add here that you should also know what your priorities are, what you’re willing to be flexible on (say, mom will pay for your dress but ONLY if it has straps, or they’ll spring for the reception site IF it’s at their country club) and what you’re not – even if it means paying for the 80’s cover band yourself.

Finally, as Post recommends, “be appreciative of any assistance, respectful of your parents’ financial situations, honest about your own finances—and willing to compromise.” Money is never easy to talk about, but respect and a willingness to compromise can go a long way in making the conversation a little smoother.

If you end up trying to plan your wedding with a less-than-ideal budget, talk honestly with your planner. Chances are she can help you find creative ways to cut costs and still have a fabulous, beautiful, and meaningful wedding day.

What questions do you have about planning your budget?

I love this quote, and it so inspires me!

Found on A Subtle Revelry.

Found on The Paris Apartment.

Found on Lovely Happenings.

Found on Bits of Beauty.

We found this beautiful photos on Bits of Beauty; the graffiti on the wall translates to, “Time is an invention of those incapable of love.”

So many times we work with couples to design the weddings of their dreams, we run into the limiting factor of time. For some couples, it’s too much time, they are in a hurry to take their vows and are anxious for their beautiful day to arrive. Other couples plan their weddings quickly, and time is their enemy – there never seems to be enough minutes to fit all their details into the planning process. On their wedding day, every couple feels like the day passes them by in a quick instant, a moment in time.

In both cases, hiring a wedding planner with alleviate your stresses. We allow you to enjoy the planning process, and find hidden minutes in your days, weeks, and months up to your special day. We help you to develop your vision, and create an event that is an explosion of your love as a couple. We run, lift, carry, and crawl to make sure that every minute of your wedding day is everything you dreamed it would be. We will hold your hand, fluff your gown, dry your tears, and make sure that you sparkle as you walk down the aisle to your love!

And don’t forget to hire an amazing photographer and videographer. Your beautiful day will happen so quickly, and you will want to savor every minute of it.