Do Sticky Bras Work?

Okay ladies, it’s time to get real. Boys, just skip ahead to the honeymoon articles (Jamaica is fantastic!). This one isn’t for you.

We’re going to get honest about bras for your wedding day. Wedding dresses come in all shapes and sizes, usually with some feature that makes wearing your typical bra impossible. They’re often strapless, backless, or both!

So, one common solution is to use these sticky bras! They’re pretty great. They stick to you, eliminating the need for straps of any kind.

But beware! If you are a bride or bridesmaid, you are likely to be running around like crazy on wedding day. And this means boob sweat. It’s a very real issue, ya’ll. I’m here to warn you, at the first sign of boob sweat, these awesome sticky bras are going to slide right off. If you’re corseted into a super tight bridal gown, maybe there won’t be any room for these babies to go anywhere. But if you’re in a not-so-perfect bridesmaid’s dress, be prepared to lose your bra halfway through the ceremony. Embarrassing.

I love sticky bras, but for a high stress wedding day, I recommend this alternative: Take an old bra that you don’t use anymore, cut it up, and have the cups sewn into your dress. Can’t bear to cut up an old bra? Buy a $5 one at Wal-Mart. Have it sewn in like this:

Trust me, this is one thing you do not want to worry about on your wedding day. This solution is an easy fix, and you'll look great!

Choosing a Wedding Photographer

One of the biggest regrets brides have from their wedding day is not getting a good photographer. It’s one of the expenses where we usually recommend a little splurge. A lot of brides think that they can just get a friend or family member to take the photos. Well imagine that you spent $1500 on a glorious masterpiece of a cake, then Aunt Agnes forgot to get a picture before you cut it. Was all that money really worth it?

Photography looks like a fun job, so you get a lot of armatures trying to pass themselves off as professionals. Believe it or not, wedding photography is actually a ton of work. When they charge you $2000 for one wedding, it’s not just for the 6 hours on the day of the event, but for all the hours that they spend editing the photos.

With that being said, you don’t want to spend all of that money and live to regret it. There are things you can do to prevent photo catastrophe. We’ve provided some tips for choosing and getting the most out of your wedding photographer.

1. Make a Photo Wishlist

With all of the chaos going on during wedding day, it’s easy for the photographer to miss something that was important to you. My photographer did not get one single full length shot of me in my dress with my husband. We have tons of close-ups. And we have tons of singles of me in the dress. But unless I want to frame pictures of only myself (can we say narcissism?), then I’m stuck.

Another story…. One of our brides had to rush through before-wedding photos. The single shots of her and each bridesmaid were poor. After the wedding, the photographer got tons of shots with each bridesmaid and the groom, but we have NO pictures of the bride with each of her girls.

All of this to say: make a list of important photos that you want! Are you planning any big surprises or special moments? Tell your photographer ahead of time so they can capture the moment. You want pictures with certain people? Tell your photographer! Make a list ahead of time, so he/she can be prepared.

2. Create a Photo Timeline

Next tip, make a day-of wedding timeline with your photographer. A good photographer will have the day planned minute by minute. Example: 3:00 photos of girls in robes getting ready, 3:15 photos of girls in dresses, 3:30, etc., etc.

Follow the timeline! We had one wedding where the photographer had to start an hour later than planned because the bridesmaids were still curling their hair. Your bridesmaids are there to help you, not to prep for glamour shots or hook up with the groomsmen. Inform them of the timeline at the rehearsal, and stick to it.

3. Use the Engagement Session as a Trial Run

Finally, use your engagement session as a trial before booking the photographer for the big day. S/he should be someone who makes you and your fiancé comfortable, as that is how you will get the most natural looking pictures. How long does it take them to return the photos? You do not want to wait 3 months for your wedding pictures. Do you like the photos? Did the photographer do everything you asked? If you’re unhappy with them, don’t be afraid to use someone else for the big day. Remember, the wedding is one day, but the photos last a lifetime.

Are you looking for a photographer in Middle TN? An Elegant Encounter has worked with some of the best in a variety of price ranges. Email anelegantencounter@gmail.com for a referral.

Should you Rent Bridesmaids Dresses?: A vendor review of Rent-The-Runway

Rent the Runway allows you to rent bridesmaids dresses online instead of purchasing them. We mentioned them in our last post, 3 Places to Buy Bridesmaids Dresses for Under $100. To expand upon this article, here are the pros and cons of using this dress rental service.

Pros:

*     Convenience: Everything is online, which saves you shopping time. The dresses are delivered right to the bridesmaids’ front doors, anywhere in the United States.

            *  Price: Your style isn’t the same as your girls’ styles. The dress you pick out may not be something that they want to wear again. With Rent-the-Runway, your girls save money by renting instead of purchasing. The blue dresses pictured in this article cost about $40 to rent.

 * Value: The company will send you 2 dresses for the price of one. Not sure if you need a size 0 or a 2, a 10 or a 12? You can get both. This provides a better chance that the dresses will fit.

Cons:

*   No room for error: For a Saturday event, your dresses will be delivered on Thursday. So if they don’t fit or are damaged, there is not much time to correct the issue. The dresses must also be in the mail by Sunday, so your bridesmaids will spend Sunday driving around looking for a UPS drop box (perhaps plan ahead for this one).

           *  The dresses aren’t identical: Take a look at some of these pictures from one of our weddings that used Rent-the-Runway. Do you see how the dress on the left  in the above photo is a different color? Well, the company doesn’t do a great job with throwing out old dresses. This dress was faded and threads were hanging off the hem.

      Next picture, above, you can see the dress in the center has a fold under the bust. This girl had to choose between a bold colored, new dress that didn’t quite fit, or a faded, ratty-tatty dress that did. She chose the new dress, but you can tell in the pictures that it isn’t quite right.

Overall, our experience with Rent the Runway has been positive. The bridesmaids usually appreciate the lower cost, especially when the bride wants them to wear full length ball gowns. Our recommendation is that you consult with your bridesmaids. They have to  pay for and wear the dress, so they should get a say in whether their money is going towards buying or renting. 

Our readers love to hear your stories. Share your experience with Rent the Runway in our comments section below! 

3 Places to Buy Bridesmaid Dresses for Under $100

In the South, David’s Bridal dominates the bridal-dress market. There’s at least one or two of this major chain in every big city. But I’ll be honest, I kind of hate David’s Bridal! They’re dresses are soooo cheap. And by cheap I don’t mean “pleasantly budget-friendly.” I mean poorly made, polyester crap. Let’s be honest, with these dresses, there is no way that your bridesmaid is going to “shorten it and wear it again.”

So, you’ve ruled out David’s Bridal. Now, where will you get your bridesmaids dresses? An Elegant Encounter is sharing some of our budget friendly alternatives. 

1. Shop online at Modcloth

                Modcloth is an online store with dresses of all variety. You can get super affordable all the way up to fairly expensive party and floor length dresses. Quality can vary as much as the prices, but the trick is to use the zoom feature to look at the dress up close. You can pretty much determine quality by looking at the fabric type and seams shown in the picture. Worried about sizing? Well, Modcloth allows exchanges for store credit. The biggest thing you want to do is have your girls order their dresses at the same time, to make sure that they have the dress in stock. They’re products are so loveable that if you wait too long, you might miss out.

2. Hit the Mall

                Gather your girls for a Saturday of shopping! You’re going to want a mall with lots of department stores with huge dress sections. For those of you in Nashville, that means Cool Springs Galleria and the Mall at Green Hills. For reasonable prices, Macy’s and Dillard’s have great party dress selections. For the super fancy weddings, Nordstrom is awesome. The purple bridesmaid dress below came from Macy’s. We found 2 that fit the girls at Macy’s in Cool Springs, then called Macy’s at Green Hills to see if they had the 3^rd before purchasing. They were kind enough to hold it for us, and the dresses ended up being perfect! Plus, on sale, these were $40 bridesmaid’s dresses. You’re not going to find that at David’s Bridal!

                For this wedding, the bride chose to be a little different. It was a winter wedding, so we went with these comfy sweater dresses from Old Navy. On sale, $20 each! I understand if this doesn’t fit your style, but they were exactly what we were looking for and totally fit the bridesmaids' budget.

3. Rent the Runway

                Rent the Runway is an online dress rental store. Guys rent their tuxedos, why can’t we rent our dresses? For each rental, you get to pick 2 sizes, both dresses included in the rental price. This gives a better chance of getting a dress that fits. The downside? The dresses arrive in the mail 1-2 days before the event, so there isn’t much chance for correction if they dress is horrible. See our upcoming post for a full review of our experiences with Rent the Runway.

Do you have more ideas for beautiful, inexpensive bridesmaid attire? Share them with us in the comments or at anelegantencounter@gmail.com

How to Save $300 or More on your Wedding Cake

By Kelsey

The average cost of a wedding cake for 150 people is about $600, and we can all name brides who have spent WAY more than that. Wedding cakes are a beautiful part of your special day, but it is a lot of money to spend on something that will be destroyed before the night is over.

If you’re on a budget, your wedding planner will tell you to pick two or three aspects of the wedding that are most important to you. You’ll spend more money in these areas and make cuts on the others. If a 6-tiered masterpiece cake is the most important item on your list, then stop reading now and go for it! I’m sure it will be awesome.

If, however, you would like to save some money on the cake, then we would like to present an alternative: Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Nothing Bundt Cakes offers two-tiered cakes that serve 30 people for $65 each (prices from Cool Springs location website). You can get 5 cakes to serve 150 people for $325. That’s over $350 in savings!

That also means that you can try 5 different flavors (I’m in love with the white-chocolate raspberry, while my husband loves the red velvet.) A lot of guests will wait around just to see the cake-cutting and have a slice, and there’s nothing worse than a bad tasting wedding cake. Well, I can promise you, these cakes taste amazing. But beware, if you have multiple flavors, guests will want to try them all. You’ve saved so much money, maybe you can afford to buy a bit extra.

Worried about a plain looking cake? Well, if An Elegant Encounter is doing your flowers, we can order extras for the cake. Your cake(s) can match your bouquet! Besides, “naked cakes” are all the rage right now. Check out some of our favorites on our Pinterest page.

With Nothing Bundt Cakes, you can still have beautiful cakes for your pictures, while actually enjoying the flavor. It is a literal case of having your cake and eating it, too. Trust me, your guests are going to RAVE about these cakes.

Minimalist Flowers, Big Impact

By Kelsey

At An Elegant Encounter, we love flowers of all shapes and sizes. We have so much fun creating unique arrangements for each bride. Perhaps large centerpieces are not your style or are out of your budget. Well, consider scattered flowers in single-bud vases as a low-cost alternative that makes a big impact.

For example, this bride ordered 150 scattered single roses, plus 4 bouquets and boutonnieres for a total floral cost of only $450!! The average cost of wedding flowers in the United States is $2-3,000! You can save so much money with this method.

There are so many ways that we can make single stems work for your special day. Order flowers in a variety of colors for a fun look. Or how about solid white flowers in colored vases for total elegance? We can also vary sizes of vases to add height and depth.

Hang stems from the ceiling to give instant drama to the room. Put flowers everywhere! How about covering the steps of your church alter? Yes! In all the windows? Yes! Seriously, put these flowers in every nook and cranny of your venue, and still pay half the cost of a traditional floral arrangements.

Are you totally in love with these square glass bottles? Well, you can rent them when you order flowers from An Elegant Encounter. Email us for a quote today: anelegantencounter@gmail.com

An Elegant Encounter is now on Pinterest!

Here's how it works:

When you contact An Elegant Encounter for floral design or wedding coordination services, we can set up a private Pinterest board between you and our wedding designers. We can share ideas back and forth until we find what works for you. An Elegant Encounter will even send you personalized pins related to your specific wedding needs.

Follow us at www.pinterest.com/anelegantencoun/ to check out our style!

Wedding Floral Prep

By Kelsey

At An Elegant Encounter, we want to show our readers what goes into prepping flowers for each event.

Flowers arrive 2-3 days before your event, tightly packed, closed-bud, and sleepy! Our florist starts by carefully unwrapping flowers and trimming each and every stem. This allows flowers to soak up more water and hydrate quicker.

Then 12 hours later, BAM! Color explosion.

Flowers are now bigger and need more space. They get separated into buckets. And pitchers. And bowls. And any other container that we can find. We’ve actually had to invest in more buckets due to recent large floral orders.

Once the flowers have taken over the building, each and every stem must be stripped of leaves. The leaves, pretty as they are, will make bouquets and arrangements too thick around the middle. Additionally, if sitting in water they will rot, and flowers will die faster. For a large order, leaf-stripping can be a full day’s work. Our florist likes to turn on some dance music and rock out while working.

Finally, flowers are ready to go into your bouquets and centerpieces. Sometimes, they get packed into the car for on-site assembly (altars/arches, tall centerpieces, etc.).

One way or another, they eventually will turn into a one of a kind creation for your special day.

Buying your Wedding Dress on Etsy

By Kelsey

We all want to look beautiful on our wedding day. When we’re on a tight budget, some of us have difficulties with the thought of spending $1000 or more on a dress that we will wear once. We may be tempted to turn to other options. Maybe a tailor could copy a dress? Then you learn that this involves making a pattern and hours of labor, which ends up costing about as much as just buying a ready-made dress.

Well, for my wedding, I did something that some might call a little crazy….I ordered my dress on Etsy.

To rationalize this just a little bit, I had already found a dress on Pinterest that I loved, but I couldn’t find it for sale anywhere. If I wanted that dress, it was going to have to be made for me. On top of that, I found sellers on Etsy in China willing to make the dress for $300. I figured, for that cheap, if it wasn’t right then I could sell it and make a little of my money back without losing too much.

So, here’s the Pinterest picture that I found and sent to the dressmaker:

I sent her the picture and my measurements. She informed me that it would arrive in 6-8 weeks and to expect it to need some minor alterations before it would be ready to wear.

Well, a few weeks later, it arrived, taped up in a plastic delivery bag. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t that. Surely something as precious as my wedding dress would come in a box with tissue paper and bubble wrap. Wrong.

Once I breathed a sigh of relief that it hadn’t been damaged in shipping, to my surprise, the dress was actually pretty awesome, considering that a woman I had never met who lived half-way across the world made it from a picture. The quality of lace was better than any of the cheap stuff I had seen on dresses in the shops. 

Of course, it did require some alterations. The hips were way too wide, so they had to be taken in. The torso was a bit long, which was easily fixed by taking up the shoulder seams. But the length was perfect. Just look at that train! It would have been an expensive nightmare to shorten an all-lace dress like this, which would almost certainly be necessary with a pre-sized dress.

All in all, this worked well for my wedding needs. It fit my budget and I haven’t felt horrible about storing it in my closet for the past few years. (In fact, I felt kind of guilty that some wonderful woman in China made the dress for $300, when it would have easily cost double or triple that in the States. Then I rationalized that if I had ordered a dress from a shop in the States, it still probably would have been made by a woman in China, making less than $300 for the same work… Oh, another topic for another day.)

If you’re considering ordering a dress on Etsy, proceed with caution. Here are some tips:

1.       Pick a dressmaker with a lot of reviews.

2.       Communicate with her in detail. The best sellers will message back and forth with you to get the right colors and overall look.

3.       Give yourself plenty of time, just in case it does require major alterations. The best way to prevent this is to have a professional tailor take your measurements; don’t just let some friend with a measuring tape handle this.

4.      Try on dresses in-store first, so you know what looks best on you.

Thanks for reading! If you’ve ordered your dress online or have other tips on how to save money on your wedding dress, let us know! Send us pictures. Contact us at anelegantencounter@gmail.com