Do you want a bride with that?

One of my best friends told me to look this up and I'm so glad I did because now I get to share it with all of you.

(from:todanoticia.com)

Just when you thought those golden arches were just for food, they branch out into weddings.
(Before you think I'm crazy both CNN and Time have reported on it.) They are using a larger restaurant in their chain and they have fully equipped it with the ability to hold and serve various wedding sizes and they offer a number of packages to make your special day unique. Unfortunately  if you were looking to have a champagne toast you may need to pick a different venue because they are a alcohol free site. 

(from:http://images.watoday.com.au)

The prices are actually really reasonable, "the basic Warm and Sweet Wedding Package for 50 guests goes for under $1,300. For another $165, the bride can rent a gown of pearly white balloons"

(from:www.senortuna.com)

The location also does engagement parties too but be warned, they have been getting a steady stream of call so be sure to book early. They seem like a lot of fun!

(From: http://gothamist.com)

Currently this is only offered Hong Kong, but I'm sure if they knew American girls were excited about it they may branch out here too!

Ding Marriage is Done

--The Southside Bride

Furry Friendly Weddings

(from http://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/2006/02/marry_your_dog.php)

If you're anything like my sister, you can't imagine going anywhere without your pet. And for a lot of people this includes their trip down the aisle. But before you get your pooch sized up for a mini tux, here are some things to consider?

Does your location allow pets?
Just because you're having an outdoor wedding doesn't mean that Fido and Fluffy are allowed on the green of the country club's golf course.

Do you have a designated Sitter?
Let's be realistic, your animal is going to need to eat, drink and use the bathroom like the rest of us, and on your special day you will have enough on your plate. Ask a few close family members or friends if they are ok keeping an eye on the pets or if they can run the pets home after the ceremony. This way you don't need to worry about any accidents or run aways while you are enjoying your first few hours of married life.

Is anyone Allergic?
Be sure to ask your wedding party if anyone has pet allergies before inviting your pet into the wedding. Also if you know you're having guests who are allergic be sure to warn them too because no one wants to look all itchy and sick in your wedding pictures

Can your pet focus?
The idea of your pooch, rabbit or kitty being the ring bearer might sound perfect, but if they are easily startled or distracted by people, they may never make it down the aisle on their own. Do a few practice runs before you even consider having them in the wedding, without and with a group of people. If they can make it to you without the group in a reasonable amount of time, then go for it. If you really still want your pooch, have a ring bearer assistant to walk the animal down the aisle.

Overall I think having a pet in the wedding is a fun and loving way to include them in your special day, because in the big picture you're ALL a family now.

Happy Training!
--The Southside Bride

What to do with That Dress

Now that you spent all that money on a wedding dress, what are you going to do with it?
Sure you can preserve it and show it to your children one day but really, do you really want to waste all the closet space for the rest of your life?

Wrecking the Dress

(from http://www.cmt.com/pictures/my-big-redneck-wedding-3/photo-gallery/21/26398/3596424/show_photo.jhtml)

This trend skyrocketed in the last few years, so if you search there are plenty of pictures of muddy uped brides. It is a fun and exciting end to all of that Wedding Stress. A word to the wise though, if you are considering jumping in mud or water, have your groom jump in with you (not in his rented tux of course) just because that heavy dress will get 3-5 times heavier and you might just need an extra set of hands to get out.

Making Something new

(from: onewed.com)

This has always been my personal favorite. You can make your child's christening, first communion or first blanket out of parts of your dress depending on the fabric. This way you are recycling not only the clothes but all of the emotions attached to the dress.  I've also heard of people paying to get a shorter white dress made from their wedding dress.

Donate it

(from goodwill.org)

It may sound silly but there is a good percentage of girls who find the dress of their dreams at a second hand shop. Usually those are the girls who need the dress most.

Ebay it away!

(from ebay.com)

You will not get the original cost of the dress back, but why not make a few $100 on a dress you will never wear again. (Also if you are looking for a dress, I would find a style you like on David's Bridal and then search for it here, you might get lucky!)


Or you can just wear it around for a month and see how many free/discounted hotel nights and restaurant meals you can get with it on. ;-)
--The Southside Bride

Everlasting Style

It's always a sweet idea to wear your mother's wedding dress, but usually once most bride's set their eyes on the dress, the excuse (and sometimes reality) of the dress yellowing saves the bride from wearing shoulder pads on her big day. Or sometimes even after looking at the pictures of your mom's big day make you wonder what in the world was she thinking wearing sleeves in an outdoor june wedding?

The excuse of mom's is always the same, "it was the style back then".
Instead of suffering the same silly embarrassment and having to use that line to your children one day, here are some current styles to avoid. These are the ones that will make people think in less than a few years, "she wore THAT on her wedding day?!" when they are looking at your pictures.


The Sheer Corset Top

We ALL get it, you want to be sexy on your special day. Unfortunately these dresses usually tip into the trying to hard category. (They also fit into your future teenager will laugh harder than she has in weeks category).

GIANT Bows

It's retro chic, but not wedding elegant. Bows tend to either add an extra layer of beauty to a dress when placed right, but when they are obnoxiously large, all the do is take away from your beauty on your special day.


The Feathered Dress

You're one of a kind and naturey and you think this is the perfect dress to match the two. Just because you like birds doesn't mean you have to look like the female big bird on your special day. Be sure to bring a mini vac into the limo though because they will charge you to clean up your sheddings.

Asymmetrical gatherings

I will admit that a lot of times, gatherings and ruchetting look amazing, but there are few dresses that try too hard to be different.


If you're still not convinced all the dresses featured can be found at David's Bridal or the House of Bride's

Remember ladies, you can only wear a poofy dress twice in your life, your prom and your wedding!
--The Southside Bride 

Eloping

Who knew Eloping would be the next big thing coming? The idea of it has a lot of negativity attached to it, but now the resources for eloping are almost the same as planning a small destination wedding. The cost is said to be a mere 10% of the average wedding cost which sounds nearly too good to be true.

If you and your soulmate aren't the sit down and plan type and just want to run with it, or if you just have to many family conflicts, or if you really don't want to have a big wedding, here are a few sites to help you along the way.

Let's Run Off

http://www.letsrunoff.com/

This site is filled with personal stories, a Q&A page and lots of info to break down the myths that Eloping is bad. They give various locations and even point you in the direction of some places that have elopment packages!

Best Elope Ideas
http://www.best-elope-ideas.com/

Now that you really are committed to just leaving all the stress of planning behind, you want a concrete list of places and what they offer. Thankfully this site has all of that research done for you already! It's a quick easy to navigate site that has loads of links to beautiful places to elope at.

Location Weddings

http://www.locationweddings.net/Eloping_101.html

I have always been a big fan of this site because I love the idea of a destination wedding. I was really excited to see that they had an article on Eloping with a lot of great tibits like the top places to elope and places you can contact!

Like a normal wedding you can make your eloping as simple or as extravagant as you want just be sure to do something both you and your partner will be happy with in the long run. It's silly to run off and elope and then wait X-amount of years before you “really get married”.

I look at Marriage like a all in or nothing situation because I don't think your happily ever after needs two different beginnings.

Happy Running!

--The Southside Bride