Why Jackson Hole is the Unique New Bachelorette Destination You Can't Miss

Are you a 2021 bride?

If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know that my husband and I postponed our destination wedding due to covid. We also got legally married in a beautiful private ceremony and I wouldn’t change that part for the world! We’re still hoping to have our delayed celebration later in 2021, so keep following me here and on Instagram for more on that journey.

While our wedding plans are still up in the air, I definitely wanted to have my bachelorette trip. The original plan was cancelled back in March when covid first hit, but since things have started to subside, the vaccine is being distributed, and most cities in the US open for travel without restrictions, I felt good about moving forward with my bachelorette trip. The original plan was to go to Sedona, but I decided that since my bachelorette trip was going to be in Feb, I should go all out with a winter theme.

I had been dying to go to Jackson, Wyoming for quite some time, so I decided there was no time like the present. Keep reading for more about my dream #SnowBunnyBach, in partnership with Got Your Bach!

Reasons to Visit Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole, Wyoming is a major ski destination and one of the most charming towns I’ve ever visited. In the Spring and Summer visitors flock to visit Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. But winter is when the town is covered in a thick blanket of snow and becomes a stunning winter wonderland. It’s no surprise why celebrities like Kanye West have been spending more time in Jackson. The scenery is drop dead gorgeous. there are plenty of world class restaurants, and so many activities to choose from you’ll never be bored.

Planning a Bachelorette in Jackson Hole

You guys know I love planning trips, but I decided to enlist a pro for my bachelorette. I’d been following Got Your Bach on Insta for while and I fell in love with their party planning style. After all the disappointment of having to postpone our wedding and original trip, my expectations for the do-over were higher. It also seemed unfair to put all that on the shoulders of my small bridal party, especially since we had all been impacted by covid in some way.

Got Your Bach is a full service bachelorette planner. They put together one of a kind itineraries based on your bachelorette style, dream destination, party size, and a whole host of other factors. You can be super involved as a bride like I was, or dedicate a member of your bridal party to lead the charge so you can still be surprised. They even make payment splitting a dream - no chasing people for Venmo requests involved at all. I loved working Got Your Bach and I can 100% say my trip would not have been as special without their expertise and amazing decor skills and custom swag!

Since no one in my group is a big ski person, we planned an itinerary around other Jackson Hole must- do activities. Check out our itinerary below!

Thursday

Day 1 everyone flew in and we decided to keep it a lazy day. We checked into the cutest AirBnB and spent the wandering around downtown Jackson. That night we had a pajama pizza party and rewatched Bridgerton on Netflix.

Friday

The next day we had a photo shoot with Abbie from Got Your Bach, who is also an amazing photographer! She took some great shots of me and my squad, and after that we headed over for brunch at Persephone, one of the best bakeries in Jackson, followed by a wine tasting at Jackson Hole Winery. We didn’t rent a car for our trip, but luckily one of my friends befriended her airport Uber driver, and we got him to give us a private driving tour of Grand Teton National Park. He drove us to one of the popular trails and waited about an hour while we explored. If you want to go deeper on the trail in the winter, make sure you stop in town to rent some snow shoes before embarking on the trail. We didn’t prep properly for this, but we made it a mile in our boots.

Saturday

On Saturday we relaxed at the house all morning, then headed out for an afternoon snowmobile adventure with Teton Tour Company. After a short drive and stop at their office to get our snow gear, we headed out on the 9 mile trail to Granite Hot Springs. This hot spring is only accessible via dog sled or snowmobile, so it feels super secluded, like an oasis in a winter wonderland. We didn’t get to spend a ton of time there, but it will definitely be on of the most memorable experiences of my life! Fair warning, when you get out of the hot spring it will be cold! Be prepared to mad dash back to the changing room and shiver until you get back into your gear!

Sunday

We had a bagel & mimosa brunch before checking out of our AirBnB. Our same Uber driver/private car contact took us on one last scenic drive past the Elk Refuge and towards a ranch where there were often buffalo sightings. No luck on the buffalo, but it was great to see some more of the Jackson scenery before heading back to the airport.

Hiring a Bachelorette Party Planner

If you are planning a bachelorette trip or bachelorette party, I highly recommend hiring a bachelorette planner, like Got Your Bach. The team made my creative vision come to life and the organization was as easy as possible. Obviously no group trip is without planning drama or flakiness, but they did an amazing job with everything they were tasked to do. They know all the bachelorette party tips and tricks to make your experience one for the bucket list.

Let me know if you’re planning any bachelorette events or group trips this year!

Wedding Beauty Countdown: Bad Beauty Habits to Quit Before Your Wedding!

I can’t even believe that my wedding is less than 6 months away! Wedding planning has been a fun, exciting and expensive adventure. I will be sharing more about how to budget for a wedding, how to plan a destination wedding, and everything you need to know about wedding dress shopping over the next few weeks. But for now I want to talk beauty! I’ve seen a lot of posts about beauty rituals for the bride to be, and what beauty products or services to start using 6 months before your wedding.

Since I’m in my 6 month wedding beauty countdown, I figured it was time for me to start assessing my habits and see where there is room for improvement. I don’t want to start a crazy pre-wedding beauty routine, especially not one that is expensive. So I have been thinking about small lifestyle changes to make over the next few months so I can look like the best version of myself possible.

Here are some of the bad beauty habits you should quit 6 months before your wedding!

Stop Neglecting Your Hands Before Your Wedding

From the day you get engaged to the day you walk down the aisle, everyone will be looking at your hands! Keep your hands in perfect condition for showing off that ring and being photographed by showing them a bit more TLC. Moisturize frequently throughout the day, especially after washing your hands. By day make sure to use a hand cream with SPF. I also rub any excess night cream or serum into my hands and cuticles so they get just as much love as my face. And incorporate a weekly scrub and hand mask to keep them perfected. I also made a point of changing my pre-wedding workouts. Even though I love them, boxing and Krav Maga are out for the next few months so I don’t end up with any bruised knuckles!

Give Up on Fad Wedding Body Diets and Quick Wedding Weight Loss Schemes

Once you order your wedding dress, the yo-yo dieting has to stop! It’s not healthy, not sustainable for long-term weight loss, and will cause unnecessary stress before your wedding. Focus on healthy eating and nutritional goals that can be maintained long-term without making you crazy.

If it’s 6 months before your wedding, you can still make some changes with a healthy and consistent fitness routine. Focus on workouts that will help you get the shape you want, like strength training or ballet barre if you want your arms to look amazing in a strapless dress. Don’t fall for fad diets or crash fitness courses, they are just not practical for long term weight management.

Stop Sleeping in Your Makeup

Sleeping in makeup is the absolute worst thing you can do for your skin! If you have a habit of falling asleep with makeup on or forgetting to wash your face, change that habit immediately! The first and most important step in a skin care routine is cleansing. Your products can’t work efficiently if your skin is covered in dirt, dust, and makeup residue. Be sure to thoroughly cleanse your skin every night. Since I wear full makeup every day, I’ve become a fan of the triple cleanse method. Start with an oil or cleansing balm, follow with a liquid cleanser, then gently follow with micellar water to make sure any residue or trace makeup is gone.

Stop Dramatically Changing Your Hairstyle

You can take your time deciding how to wear your hair for your wedding. But to give yourself the best canvas, stop with the radical hair style changes and let your strands recover. Focus on gentle styles, deep conditioning, and avoiding heat or damage. If you decide you want a different cut or color before the wedding, play with options in your hair and makeup trials. Those should be done closer to a month or two before the wedding.

Stop Skipping the Suncreen

Sunscreen is beauty 101 and should be worn daily! Even minor sun exposure can cause damage, dark spots and uneven texture. Use sunscreen every day to protect your skin and keep it in top shape for your wedding day. And as I said above, don’t forget your hands! Make sure to treat them with hand cream with SPF daily leading up to your wedding day.

Check out the Wedding section for more of my tips for planning your big day!

5 Reasons Anomalie is the Best Way to Create Your Dream Wedding Dress

I was planning to save this post for closer to my wedding date, but so much is up in the air with the coronavirus crisis! My heart goes out to 2020 brides that have had to cancel or postpone their weddings due to COVID-19. I wanted to take some time to post about something that has made me so happy in the wedding planning process, and that can maybe come in handy for brides that are just starting to shop for wedding dresses.

Finding your dream dress is one of the most important aspects of wedding planning, and every bride knows what it’s like to struggle in search of the perfect dress. If you haven’t heard of Anomalie, they are a direct to consumer wedding dress start up that is seriously shaking up the bridal industry. In short, you work with one of their stylists to design your wedding dress online, they send you a sketch and fabric samples, and boom! A few months later you get your dress, fully customized and made to your measurements. It probably sounds crazy to make your own dress on the internet without ever seeing it in person, so I’m diving into more about the process, and all the reasons why every bride should be an Anomalie Bride!

Traditional Bridal Retail is Broken

There is so much wrong with traditional bridal retail I don’t even know where to begin.  I went on about 5 different bridal appointments before deciding to work with Anomalie. In each instance, I tried on a series of pretty dresses that just weren’t quite right. Whether they were too expensive, too generic, too over-the-top and gaudy, or were styles that had been completely overexposed on Instagram, I just couldn’t say yes to a dress. I am pretty petite, so in each case was easily able to fit into the sample sizes. However, anyone bigger than a size 6 to 8 is going to have even more challenges trying on bridal gowns. While most gowns can be ordered in different sizes, bridal boutiques are often not size inclusive in what they stock for in-store try ons. And if you don’t live in a major city, your options may be even more limited.

We all know wedding dresses are expensive, but pricing was one of the biggest challenges I had with wedding dress shopping. Most boutiques will give you a quote on the average starting price of their dresses, but they don’t exactly say how limited the selection is at that price point. And even the slightest change or customization can come with an astronomical upcharge. I was willing to be flexible on my budget, but still didn’t find anything that I thought was worth the asking price. There is also a mark-up on bridal alterations!

Designing a Custom Wedding Dress Online Isn’t as Scary as it Sounds

Imagine walking into a bridal salon with an unlimited selection of gowns, all of which could be perfectly made to fit any type of body, and all of them affordably priced? Welcome to Anomalie! Sounds like a dream, right? I know may seem insane to design the most important dress you’ll ever wear online, but I couldn’t imagine doing it any other way. The process starts with their Dress Builder quiz to start laying the groundwork for your dream dress. From there you have a phone consultation with one of their designers, and you can start uploading dresses you love to your online lookbook. The team will create a custom sketch of your dress, send you a curated box of fabric swatches and detailed imagery of lace and embellishments, and you submit your measurements online.

Before your dress goes into production, you also get a more technical design call. This step is super important since it details all the things about your dress that may not be clear on the sketch – stuff like zipper placement, whether the buttons will be functional or decorative, details about the cups that will be included, etc. Once you approve your dress goes into production and you get regular updates about the progress. They don’t send you images of your actual dress, but you do get a step by step update on how it’s coming along. My dress came in 2 months early, and a lot of brides on Instagram report getting their dresses ahead of schedule as well.

Unlike traditional bridal salons, Anomalie actually has a money back guarantee! It’s unheard of for almost anything wedding-related to be refundable. That’s how much they stand by their product and the design process. My dress arrived more perfect than I could have imagined, but even if it would have turned out to be a disaster, I still would have had time to get my money back and find a new dress before my wedding.

You Really Can Design Your Dream Dress

In my adventures in bridal shopping, I found that I would often love one element of each dress, but never found one that really fit my vision. I was inspired by some of my favorite high-end designers like Galia Lahav, Berta Bridal, and Pronovias, but also loved the whimsical, bohemian spirit of designs from Hayley Paige and One Day Bridal. My Anomalie designers pretty magically translated my descriptions and references in my lookbook into a drop-dead gorgeous sketch. I was terrified that the various design elements would make absolutely no sense when put together, but they made it work beautifully.  When I eventually share my dress, I will deep dive into all the inspo pics and how they came together, so stay tuned for that!

Just note – Anomalie designs custom dresses, but they are not in the designer knockoff business. You can definitely use your imagination and pull elements and inspiration from designers you love, but the point is to create something one of a kind and perfect for you, not ripped from someone else’s collection.

A Custom Wedding Dress with Anomalie is Affordable

Wedding dresses are a huge investment, and can take up a good chunk of your wedding budget. Anomalie makes it possible to get the dress of your dreams at an affordable price. Their website quotes the average cost of a fully custom dress between $1350-2000, depending on the design, fabric, beading, and accessories included. I’m not giving away too many details, but my dress has a fair amount of lace and beadwork, as well as a pretty impressive veil. The total came in right around $1500, including tax! Take a look at their Instagram and some of the incredible dresses they create and you will immediately understand why that price point is so impressive!

 You Can Still Include Your Friends and Family in the Process

Trying on wedding dresses with your friends and family is a big part of the bridal experience, but you can still find ways to include your squad in the online experience. Make your design calls a Zoom so your bridal party can join. Host an unboxing party when your dress arrives so everyone can see the big reveal. You will also need to schedule fittings/alterations so invite your friends to join! And yes, even though it is a custom dress, Anomalie still recommends alterations to perfect the fit. What you need done will vary greatly, and I haven’t been able to do a fitting due to COVID-19. I don’t think my dress needs much, but I will say that I’m adding a bustle, sewing in bra cups, and maybe adding a few more appliques (they sent me extra lace and embroidery just in case).

I will say that I recommend having a few in-salon appointments, if possible and your timeline allows. Trying on dresses in person helped me really understand and visualize what I liked and didn’t like, so I was able to clearly communicate my vision with my Anomalie stylist. I did a few appointments before fully committing to Anomalie, but I also did one or two more while I was in the design process. Some (particularly those in bridal retail) will say that’s a little controversial, but remember - as a bride (or potential customer of any store for that matter) you are never obligated to make a purchase. Make an appointment during an off-peak time, follow the salons rules and guidelines, pay an appointment fee if asked, and feel no guilt.

Anomalie Is a Company Worth Supporting

One of the things I love most about Anomalie is how inspiring they are! They are a female focused startup that is committed to serving brides. During these difficult times, they used their resources to produce and deliver CDC-certified masks for healthcare workers . They’ve even begin offering officiant services to better seve the brides they are working with. I absolutely loved my experience working with my stylist, from the initial consultation to the day my dress was delivered.

 If you are still on the fence, check out their Dress Builder and play around with some sketches! They have a new and improved version since I started my design process, and it’s totally free to use. You can also start a lookbook and save some design inspiration, and even have a call with one of their designers before fully committing. And if you have been unable to start wedding dress shopping because of all the coronavirus related closures, Anomalie is definitely an option you should consider!

And after my wedding I’ll be sharing more about my dress, from the sketch to the real thing, and all the inspo that went into making it come to life!

5 Tips to Effortlessly Plan Your Dream Destination Wedding

I cannot believe my wedding is just a few months away! We were planning slowly at first, but things have suddenly picked up since we are getting closer to crunch time. Two of the questions I get asked most frequently about wedding planning are how to manage it and if I’m stressed. Wedding planning can be intense, but there are just a few things you need to keep in mind to manage it with ease. Having a destination wedding has its own set of things to consider and some unique pros and cons. Keep reading for my tips on how to plan your dream wedding without going insane! 

Reasons to Have a Destination Wedding

First of all, let’s go over some of the pros and cons of a destination wedding. We all know weddings are expensive and figuring out how to pay for a wedding can be a nightmare! How much does a wedding cost? It really depends largely on location, number of guests, time of year, and the couple’s individual tastes. Having a destination wedding can be much more cost-efficient than a wedding in your or the groom’s hometown, especially if you live in a major city. The average cost of a wedding in NYC is almost $80,000! 

Who pays for the wedding is another big debate, but in any case, that is a huge sum of money to spend on a single day. The decision to have a destination wedding came naturally for my fiancé and I. Even though we are both from New York, there was no way we could justify spending that kind of money. The costs were higher at every level, and we would have had a much bigger guest list. Neither one of us wanted to compromise on style or taste, so we chose a location that reflected what we wanted as a couple and that we could afford. 

Having a destination wedding also sets you up to have a honeymoon right after the nuptials! Pick a place that is in close proximity to the location you choose to make travel a breeze. It also almost guarantees that you will give your guests an experience to remember and an excuse to plan a much-needed vacation around your wedding day.  

The main drawback of a destination wedding is the travel and expense required for your guests to attend. That can be prohibitive for a lot of people depending on the location you choose.  However, that is part of the reason the couple tends to save money on wedding planning – your guest list will naturally be smaller. 

Planning a destination wedding will also be harder for you if you tend to be a control freak. You may be able to take one planning trip, but can’t be as hands on as you would be if you were planning a wedding in your city. You will need a full-service planner (most venues provide one) and you need to trust and rely on that person. 

If you are deciding whether or not to have a destination wedding, consider the cost, ease of travel to that location, and what your dream wedding really looks like before you commit! And if you decide you are ready to move forward with your dream destination wedding, take note of these tips! 

Choose a Location and Timing Carefully 

The first step to kicking off your wedding planning is firming up a time and location. Remember to do thorough research on the potential city – everything from weather conditions to any popular fairs or festivals that may be going on around your wedding. Major events will affect travel costs and hotel availability so keep that in mind. Beyond the logistics, think about places that may be significant to you or your fiancé, or that are just amazing places to travel. Beach destinations in the Caribbean or Mexico are always popular, but if you aren’t a beach bride there are plenty of ways to find a location that fits your style. 

I’m not revealing much about our destination yet but the decision was pretty easy to make and reflects both of our style and sensibilities. If you are a foodie or wine lover, think about destinations that are known for their food culture or are on a vineyard. Did you have an amazing couple’s trip to Europe? Why not pick one of your favorite cities and host an intimate weekend celebration there? 

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

As I mentioned earlier, having a destination wedding will require you to give up a certain amount of control. You won’t be able to have regular meetings with your planner or pop into your venue for a visit on a whim. You won’t get to see and feel every linen, plate or piece of silverware in person until you arrive on site for the wedding. I was lucky enough to get to visit my venue twice, but I still didn’t get time to meet with all my vendors in person! The first visit was a 2 day stop in the city while on a larger vacation. At that point we weren’t even engaged so I wasn’t seriously wedding planning. But we knew that we would eventually get married there so I decided to be proactive and spend an afternoon touring venues. I was glad I did because we got engaged about a month after that! Then we decided to plan a winter vacation and squeeze in a day of wedding planning. We knew it was our only chance to make progress choosing vendors, so had a 24 hour marathon of makeup trials, tastings, and setup planning. 

While you won’t be able to micromanage everything about your destination wedding, make the time and save up to take at least one planning trip. That will make sure the big, important things are in place the way you need them to be. But after that be prepared to be flexible and not go crazy over the details. Planning a wedding from a thousand miles away is a challenge ad you need to be able to trust your planners on the ground and go with the flow! 

Consider Your Guests

Yes, it is your day, but you need to be considerate of the people that love you and want to celebrate with you! I know of a couple that hosted a destination wedding in a mountain area that was a 3-hour drive from the nearest airport and only had luxury hotels or campsites for nearby accommodations. They may have secretly been trying to discourage guests from making the trip! While you may have your heart set on a dreamy, far-flung destination, if it’s important for you to have your loved ones attend keep them in mind! Of course, this doesn’t apply to you if your dream wedding is just a handful of people in a private ceremony. But if you want to be surrounded by friends and family, especially people in your life that may be elderly, keep them in mind throughout your planning process.

 Considering the comfort of your wedding guests doesn’t stop at the location! Create a thoughtful welcome bag that fits the theme of your location. Stock up on useful favors like sunglasses and fans for a summer wedding or pashminas if it might be chilly. If your venue doesn’t have on-site accommodations for everyone, arrange a shuttle bus to pick up and drop off the night of the wedding. You want your guests to be able to have fun and enjoy the party and not worry about having to drive back late. They traveled a long way at great expense to celebrate with you, so make it worth their while! 

Don’t forget the legal marriage requirements

If you are getting married in a different country, make sure you are really married! Research the legal marriage requirements and complete all the necessary steps and paperwork in advance to make sure your marriage is legally binding. If you don’t want to bother or would rather be bound to a more familiar legal system, have a small courthouse wedding in your home town. It’s a fairly simple process and can be done a few days or even months before your destination wedding. You can also make that an opportunity to have a mini celebration with friends or family that won’t be able to attend your destination wedding. 

Don’t Forget to Have Fun!

Yes, wedding planning can be stressful, especially when it’s a destination wedding! Don’t spend all your time stressing over how to plan a wedding, how to be a wedding planner and keep your day job, and all of the things that can go wrong. Focus on how lucky you are to have found love and be able to celebrate it! Be decisive, don’t second guess yourself, and get off Pinterest! Your wedding should be one of the happiest days of your life and the months leading up to it should be nothing but fun. Yes, there is a lot to do and people will be incredibly annoying. But at the end of the day it’s a celebration of you and your partner and the love and happiness is all that matters! 

Hope these tips help on your wedding planning adventure! And stay tuned to the blog and my Instagram for more of the details on my big day! I’ll be revealing more about the location, the theme, and of course THE DRESS!

Everything You Need to Know About Bridal Shopping- The Good, Bad, and Ugly!

Since I’ve been happily engaged for a few months I’m diving deeper and deeper into wedding planning! We’ve got a lot of details firmed up and a few more to go, but the biggest thing I’m tackling right now is THE DRESS! For someone that has spent a fair amount of time fantasizing about her wedding day, I was very much all over the place with my ideas for my wedding dress. I love ballgowns as much as I love mermaids, and all of my obsessing over Pinterest, Instagram and bridal magazines hasn’t exactly helped me narrow down my options.

I’ve had a few bridal appointments over the past few months so I’m going to slowly start sharing more about the bridal salons I’ve visited, what dress shopping was like, and how I eventually ended up saying yes to the dress! Keep reading for everything you need to know about wedding dress shopping and how to make the most out of your experience!

How to Prepare for Your Bridal Appointment

The first thing to know is all bridal shops require an appointment. You can’t walk into a bridal salon and shop the way you would in a normal store. Start by researching salons in your area and thinking about which ones are going to fit your style and budget. Some are known for carrying different designers or styles of gowns, so it is helpful to have some idea of what you are looking for and how much you can spend.

You also need to define your wedding dress budget, and be prepared to stick to it! That will determine not just the dress you end up with, but which bridal salons you should plan to visit. If you have a budget on the lower end, you should avoid salons that will carry styles that are mostly out of your price range. You want to set yourself up for success when it comes to looking for your dream bridal gown! A few of the salons I researched specifically said their dresses start around $3,000, so if that is the top of your budget they are not going to be for you!

Next, think about who you want to bring with you to your appointments! The rules on number of guests will vary based on which salon you choose, but I would keep it to a small group. You don’t want too many people throwing out opinions or taking over your appointment. And regardless of relationship, do not bring anyone that will make you feel uncomfortable or be negative! You deserve to have nothing but positive energy and joy throughout the wedding planning process, so do not let anyone try to take away from that.

What to Expect When Wedding Dress Shopping

Once you’ve got your appointment set and squad in tow it’s time to start preparing for your bridal appointment. Most stores will only give you an hour to an hour and a half to try on wedding dresses, so it helps to have some ideas before you go. Research the designers they carry, have references organized on Pinterest or Instagram, and have your budget set. Having a realistic budget in mind is paramount! And however tempting it might be, avoid trying on dresses that are way out of your budget. Weddings are expensive enough and you don’t want to fall in love with a dress that you know you can’t afford! And remember - the price of the dress does not include alterations or accessories.

Think about silhouettes you like, but keep an open mind! I tried on pretty much every wedding dress silhouette known to man before feeling committed to a certain shape. I also thought about different design elements I liked in each dress I tried on, like the volume of the train or details in the bodice.

Another way to prepare for a bridal appointment is to look the part! You may not know exactly how you want your hair and makeup to be done on your wedding day, but come in with a fresh hair style and classic makeup. Trust me, it will make a difference!

And don’t worry too much about undergarments, just keep them clean and simple. Your bridal stylist will be helping you in and out of dresses during the appointment , so avoid any undergarments that show more than you want her to see! Once you decide on a dress, they can help advise you on which undergarments or shapewear will work best with that design.

What You Should Do After You Find Your Dream Wedding Dress

Cheers! You said yes to the dress and are hopefully absolutely in love with it! The bridal salon can give you a timeline on when your dress should arrive and be ready for alterations. Typically you do a first fitting about 3 months before the wedding and a final one about 2 weeks before. Give yourself plenty of time if you are expecting your body to change more than average , whether that be due to weight gain, weight loss or pregnancy.

You can also start thinking about the bridal accessories you will need to complete your look. Pick your wedding shoes and any other finishing touches, like a veil, headpiece, flower crown, bolero, whatever. It’s also a good time to start brainstorming hairstyles that willl work with the neckline of the dress and what jewelry you’d like to wear.

Hope these tips help ! And most importantly, have fun! Dress shopping is one of the most fun elements of planning a wedding and you deserve to enjoy every second of it!

The Most Stylish and Affordable Outfits for Every Bridal Shower

I am coming off the weekend of the best bridal shower ever! My bridesmaids really showed off and showed out and made winter wonderland magic. I shared a ton of the content on my Instagram, so check out my wedding highlight in case you missed the fun. 

 Since we are officially in the middle of engagement season, you may find yourself planning a bridal shower of your own pretty soon. I spent weeks trying to figure out what to wear for my bridal shower, before settling on the perfect little white dress. In my case deciding what to wear to a bridal shower was extra challenging because I didn’t know any of the details! Bridal shower attire can range widely depending on the theme, location, time of year, and level of formality. All I knew about mine was that it would be in NYC in January. I started to think about winter white sweaters and cozy looks, but decided to keep my bridal shower fashion sexier and more glam! I wanted to have fun and wear something that would stand out and not have my dream look ruined by the weather. So, I decided to brave the New York winter weather and rock my dream bridal dress ! That’s what taxi rides are for anyway right?

 If you have a bridal shower coming up and can’t decide what to wear, keep reading for my favorite bridal shower outfit ideas, all under $200. There are plenty of outfits I considered wearing before settling on my final look and other looks I love from my favorite affordable retailers. From cocktail dresses to 2-piece suits, get ready to shop for the perfect bridal shower look for any theme!

Bridal Jumpsuits for Weddings and Bridal Showers

Jumpsuits are having a moment, especially for brides to be! They can be fun, edgy, sexy or timeless. I fell in love with this wide leg lace top version from Pretty Little Thing, and the strapless bustier style from Lulus. Both had super flattering wide leg bottoms made from a thick material to keep from being see-through. The result was a flattering fit that slimmed my legs and didn’t reveal any undergarments. Satin is also great for an evening or more formal bridal shower, and I was obsessed with this version from Shop Red Dress. It’s been in and out of stock, so sign up for the wait list if you want to try to get it when it’s back in stock. 

Little White Dresses for Wedding Events

A little white dress will always be a classic! Since my bridal shower was in the evening and I felt like it was going in the direction of a more glam theme, I decided to go for a sexy cocktail vibe. This satin puff sleeve mini dress from Lulus fit the bill perfectly. It highlighted my curves but the oversized puff sleeves balanced out the sexiness and made it more fashion forward. I also fell in love with this little mini dress from Shop Red Dress since the embellishments reminded me of snowflakes. I thought it would be great for the winter themed bridal shower! 

2 Piece Sets and Suiting for Brides

If you want to go even more unconventional, why not a 2-piece set or suit? This white sequined tuxedo from Asos is incredibly unique and will have all eyes on you! If head to toe sequins doesn’t sound like your style, there are plenty of 2-piece skirts sets that are perfect for someone who is more of a classic bride. 

If you are trying to decide what to wear to a bridal shower I hope these tips helped! And follow the rest of my adventures in wedding planning on the blog and on my Instagram @malikahkelly! 

7 Unexpected Ways to Save Money on Wedding Planning

So engagement season is upon us!

While I’ve been in the throes of wedding planning for a while, some of you guys are going to be happily entering a brand-new territory. Planning a wedding can be equal parts fun, exciting and stressful, so get ready for the whirlwind! One of the biggest challenges when it comes to planning isn’t just dealing with all of the decisions you’ll have to make – it’s paying for them! My fiancé and I are paying for our wedding entirely on our own, so budgeting is essential. Whether you have help for family or are self-financing, managing your wedding spending is critical. Here are my tips for saving money on your wedding and keeping that budget in check!

Keep Your Guest List Small to Save Money

You’ve probably heard this time and time again on every wedding blog you’ve read. But the fact is, the number of guests is the single biggest cost driver behind your big day. I know it’s hard, especially if you have a big family and a lot of friends, but some people will just have to deal with their own hurt feelings. Guest count drives up every element of your wedding, including size of the venue, how many rentals you’ll need, catering costs, and event staff. And don’t make the mistake of inviting people you assume won’t come just to be nice. They may surprise and that puts you at risk of throwing your budget and ending up over venue capacity. Which brings me to my next point . . . 

Have a Destination Wedding

Depending on where you live, a destination wedding can save you thousands! We decided to hold ours in the French countryside instead of NY where are both from, just because NY is weddings are extraordinarily expensive. There is no way we’d be able to have the wedding of our dreams in NY. Everything costs more and our guest count would be way higher. And destination weddings don’t always have to be far flung international locations. If you are a beach bride think about California or Florida; Colorado or Arizona for gorgeous mountain views, and the always classic Las Vegas! 

Choose an Unconventional Venue

Venues are usually a pretty big cost when it comes to wedding planning, so choosing carefully can save you thousands. Think about places other than traditional ball rooms or hotels. Scour your network of family and friends for anyone who may own a beautiful vacation home and be willing to host. If it’s Spring or Summer, think about public parks that allow weddings essentially for free. You can hold a small ceremony in some iconic places in NY, like Central Park or Brooklyn Bridge Park for a small permit fee. Then invite everyone out for a low key dinner afterwards! 

Choose an Unusual Time or Day

This can be a bit controversial because it can be quite annoying for your guests. But the fact is a brunch wedding is cheaper than a dinner one, and a midweek wedding is way less than a Saturday! Couples can save thousands by having their wedding on a Friday or Sunday instead of Saturday, and even more if they switch to a Thursday. Plus, the schedule you choose may naturally help keep your guest count down! 

Keep Your Bridal Party Small

Yes, it’s expensive to be a bridesmaid! But it can also get pricey for a couple to have a big bridal party. The main costs are gifts, bouquets/boutonnieres, hair and makeup if you decide to pay for it, and you may also need a bigger bridal suite day of to accommodate your group. I know people who have 12 people in their party and just paying for their florals alone can cost over $1000. If you can keep it small, but if you really need to have your whole squad with you on your big day, be prepared to cut back in other areas. 

Thoroughly Negotiate Your Vendor Contracts 

Some venues are all in one service providers, so once you book with them all of your vendors are included. There are pros and cons to this approach, but if you are choosing your own vendors be prepared to negotiate your terms. Examine every contract thoroughly. In your meetings prepare questions, review references that you like and also their actual work. Make sure everything you discuss in your meetings is recapped and noted in your contracts. For example, I gave my florist visual references and the first draft of the contract mentioned “white and flowers and greenery.” That is exactly how you end up with stupid stuff like carnations, or things that wouldn’t make sense for your venue or theme. Orchids are amazing, but would be completely inappropriate for my wedding. I had to redline that contract and specify that I wanted to know exactly which blooms would be included, and give examples of ones I like versus ones I hate. You can definitely leave room for your vendors to suggest things that are in season, or may give you the overall look and feel at a better price. But make sure you know what you are getting! Caterers may charge you an additional fee if your guest list drops below a certain amount and you may not be guaranteed to keep any unopen bottles of alcohol unless contractually specified. Take your time and do your due diligence to save yourself stress and money! 

Do some DIYing

Wedding planners are nice but can be pretty pricey. I have to have one because of the destination, and most destination wedding packages include some planning services. International DIYing is wildly impractical and the cost of shipping or carrying items would cancel out any savings. But if you are getting married locally, think about what you can do yourself or with the help of family and friends. It may be décor and florals, or hiring friends or family as vendors at a discount. Just tread with caution on that front to avoid any drama or mishaps! Just remember – this only works if you actually enjoy DIY projects! That kind of stuff is not for everyone and will only make you stressed out and pissed off if it’s not your thing!

Hope these tips help and happy wedding planning!  

The Best Wedding Dresses Under $500 for Every Type of Bride!

Bridal shopping is equal parts fun and downright annoying. Gorgeous dresses, fancy salons, and personalized attention is great. But restrictive sample sizes, astronomical prices, and long lead times for production are the worst! The biggest thing I’ve learned as I start my wedding dress adventure is that it is very much a process! There are so many steps, elements to consider, and of course financial implications before you can say yes to the dress. If you want to skip over some of the dramatics and/or keep your budget in check, you may want to consider going the nontraditional bridal route. In my research I found a ton of great wedding dresses for every style, all at reasonable price points. If splurging on a dress you’ll only wear a few hours isn’t your idea of a good wedding investment or you just want to keep your budget reasonable, I rounded up some amazing wedding dresses all under $500. From sexy mermaids, to Cinderella worthy ball gowns, stay tuned for my favorite affordable wedding gowns for every type of bride!

Ball Gown Wedding Dresses Under $500

If you’ve been dreaming about that Cinderella moment but don’t have a fairy godmother wallet check out these ball gowns all under $500!  They range from super princessy, to modern glam, to even a bit edge with color coming into play. 

Mermaid Wedding Dresses Under $500

Show of your curves and play up the drama in an affordable mermaid wedding gown! I found some options that are sexy glam, and some that are a little more toned down depending on your style, and included the one I wore in my engagement shoot that is only $250! 

Boho Wedding Dress Under $500

For the beach babe or boho bride, these wedding dresses are simple, beautiful and downright fun! There is even one from Amazon for less than $100! Don’t judge it by the awful photo on site though. This was one dress I purchased as an option for my engagement shoot since it offered Prime shipping and free returns.  I was surprised by how beautiful it was in person! The fit was great and beading just lovely, and the fabric did not feel cheap at all. The only thing I didn’t like was the elastic in the neckline since it is an off-the-shoulder fit, but that is something that can be fixed with alterations. 

Non-Traditional Wedding Dresses Under $500

If you want a wedding dress that looks bridal but is nontraditional, here are a few fun ones I found. From short and playful to unexpected and embellished, check them out! Depending on the overall style of your wedding you may not love them, but they may work for your bridal shower, rehearsal, or post wedding festivities. 

The other great thing about most of these dresses is the ease of ordering! Traditional wedding dresses can take months from the time you order them and are almost always nonrefundable once you put a deposit down.  If you love the idea of these dresses but haven’t seen one here that is what you’ve been dreaming about, keep browsing these sites and check out the refund policies. Buying a wedding dress online can be scary so check reviews, do some research and read the fine print so you know what you are getting into!