You’re in for a treat (well, a mental one) today.  Guest blogger Melanie Christopherson, of Shanta Yoga, will take you through a little Yoga lesson in wedding calm.

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Have you ever heard of a bride with pre-wedding jitters, cold feet and stress?  So many people believe these things are a necessary part of planning a wedding but this is a common misconception, they are not a required part of planning a wedding.  The reason brides often have pre-wedding jitters or even stress is that they do not have the tools to cope with the stress of planning a wedding.  So, where does a smart bride find tools to cope with stress?  She turns to Yoga.

Just as people have misconceptions about weddings, they also have misconceptions about Yoga.  Most people think Yoga is only exercise or that it is just relaxing.  The first great secret is that Yoga can relieve those pre-wedding jitters and cold feet; it can even help prevent them from happening in the first place.  The second secret of Yoga:  Yoga is for every body, everyone can do it regardless of age, flexibility, weight or size.

So, Yoga can help your body stay strong and it can relieve or even prevent stress.  Let Yoga help you live with ease even while you plan your wedding.

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You’ll find her contributing to this blog regularly. Check in for more on how weddings and Yoga are a perfect pair.

Thanks, Melanie.

Last week, Michelle of Squawkbox Sound graciously shared with us Ceremony Music Trends in Utah.  Today, she gives you a follow up post all about Reception Music Advice.

Reception Music: Like your ceremony music, your reception music is going to be more meaningful if you personalize it. For your first dance, choose a song that means something to you and your spouse. When choosing the Father/Daughter Dance, or Mother/Son Dance, choose a song that is going to mean something to your parents, as well as you. Music is a great way to create moments and memories that last a lifetime!

When the dancing portion begins, taking requests is a great way to ensure your guests will have a great time. Sit down with your DJ or band ahead of time and make sure they know what you like as well as what you do not like. That way, if your least favorite song gets requested, they will know not to play it. Playing requests, but staying within your boundaries and limits, is a great way to get your guests out on the dance floor and have a great time!

Thanks again Michelle!

That happy photo is by Dustin Izatt.  Thanks, Dustin.

This week, guest blogger Michelle of SquawkBox Sound brings us part one of a focus on wedding music trends.

Take it away Michelle…

Ceremony Music: Gone are the days of only being able to use the “traditional” music when it comes to wedding ceremonies. Many brides are choosing songs that mean something special to them for their walk up the aisle on their big day. There are really no rules anymore of what you can and cannot do when it comes to your wedding music. If you like the traditional “Here Comes The Bride” and “Wedding March”, then use it! If you would rather use “your song” to walk up the aisle to, then use it!

Personalizing your ceremony music is going to mean more to you than a piece of music you are told is traditional and “has to” be used. The more meaningful you make your music, the more memorable it’s going to be. We’ve even had couples choose songs like “Yeah” by Usher and “Ever After” by Carrie Underwood for their recessional, and it turned out great for their wedding! Just remember that what works for one wedding may not work for yours, and vice versa.

Coming Soon: Michelle’s advice on reception music and trends.

Guest Blogger Audrey of Studio Stems graciously shares a personal account and tips to make sure your wedding flowers deliver all you want…and nothing you don’t.  Enjoy her first-hand account and images of her lovely work.

“Here at Studio Stems, we are careful to ensure that bridal & bridal party bouquets are hydrated adequately well in advance and then dried before delivery to avoid a disastrous drip.

A few years back, I made a delivery to a local reception venue. The wedding coordinator, who claimed to be experienced, was astonished that the bride’s bouquet, as well as her attendant’s bouquets, were not in water. Unimpressed by my professionalism, she ran to the kitchen, filled her own vases with water, quickly changed my vases for hers, and drenched those bouquets in fresh water.

…  Sadly I watched this coordinator hand the bride her wet bouquet just as she was getting ready to walk down the aisle. I doubt I even need to finish this story. It’s predictably clear that her bouquet dripped water on her dress, instantly. And even after it dried a little, as the bride handled the bouquet with a tight grip, the bouquet continued to drip and leave water spots on her absolutely stunning gown.

A good florist will make sure your bridal party flowers are indeed wearable & hold-able, with the least amount of risk for water spots or stains. When and how they dry your floral creations may have to do with what flower choices have been made, how they are wrapped, whether hand tied or holder arranged. Nonetheless, don’t take your bouquet out of a fresh vase of water just as you’re getting ready to take pictures or walk down that aisle.

As brides often re-vase their bouquet between the timing of their special day, be sure that you also have a resource for drying it off when you pick it back up.

Another important component is to make sure you heed the advice of your floral designer. Some flower choices can leave a residue, pollen, stain, paint, or dye on your hands or dress and you will want to be aware of the risks you’re taking. Should you decide to take them, follow your florist’s direction carefully to avoid a dress disaster.

Be careful with your bouquet. Flowers and fresh components can be fragile and, when not treated so, smashing can occur that will create nashing. Berries are notorious for their staining capabilities, and even a rose petal manipulated enough can stain fabric.”

All images and floral work available/courtesy StudisStems.com.

Thanks Audrey for the sage advice and a preview of the trends and amazing arrangements on which you’re working.

Recently, wedding floral designer extraordinaire, Beth from Linger Floral gave us the head’s up on floral trends for 2009. Today, she shares a few more wonderful ideas.

If there is one thing we love to do, and if I do say so myself we do it well, it’s bringing the funk!  This provides the opportunity to really incorporate your personality, passions and originality. Mix it up with new shapes, tight arrangements with limited filler or a single long stem variety in a large glass container. Speaking of containers, there are no rules here!  From natural wooden logs to old coffee tins and flower pots to pumpkins, we love to experiment with design and truly enhance the theme of your overall wedding.

Linger Tip:  Fruits and Veggies may seem commonplace in our daily routine, however, in floral design they can provide extra spunk and eye-catching detail sure to impress your guests. When selecting floral varieties that fit your color scheme, consider their close friends, the fruit and vegetable families, to add color as well.

Beyond the Botanical

Despite the name, floral design is no longer just about flowers. As floral artisans, we thrive on the opportunity to provide full design solutions. Some areas to consider:

*Plants - By incorporating plants into your wedding decor you will bring a natural and comforting feeling to the occasion. Additionally this can save you money if you work with a florist who offers plant rental as a service.

*Vintage Elements - The adage “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” seems to be gaining traction again as brides find new and unique ways to incorporate mother’s pearls or grandma’s hankie in their bouquet or other floral pieces.

*Decor Pieces – While it is our firm belief that flowers play an integral role in enhancing any occasion adding feature pieces also helps to set the desired tone. From fountains and water features, picture frames, homey furniture pieces, books and even timepieces these details will assure your guests that you have thought about absolutely everything to create a memorable experience for them as well.

*Accent Details – A beautiful centerpiece is truly enhanced by even the smallest table accents. Bring in stones, moss, greens, ribbon or other elements of your design to place throughout the table.

Want to know the most current trend in weddings? Go right to the top.  Utah Bride and Groom editor, (and guest blogger) Tessa Woolf, shares with us her favorite trend of the season.

Blame it on a late case of spring fever, or the fact that wedding season is in full swing and love is definitely in the air, but lately, when it comes to weddings, I can’t get enough of soft, pretty shades like cream, butter yellow and blush pink, combined with girly touches from flowers to frills. For brides that are also feeling the love and want to throw a fresh, feminine fête, I offer the following inspiration for incorporating a petal- and ruffle-heavy theme throughout your wedding:

The Dress: Melissa Sweet “Billie”

This show-stopping strapless gown features ruched and ruffled taffeta appliqués. Alta MODA owner Hilary Anderson told me this gown was love at first sight for her, and it definitely was for me, too.  —Available at Alta MODA Bridal, SLC, altamodabridal.com

The Shoe:  Stuart Weitzman “Jardin”  T-Strap Sandal

You’ll strut down the aisle in style in these sassy sandals featuring handcrafted flowers bedazzled with Swarovski crystals on a sleek satin T-strap. —Available at Nordstrom Fashion Place, Murray, nordstrom.com

The Hair:  Floral Accessory

Whether you wear your hair up or down, curly or straight, dress up your locks with one of these chic vintage-inspired pieces featuring big, perky blooms.  —Available at shopbando.com

The Accessory:  Floral Clutch

Rows of ruffled silk satin create a romantic-looking clutch ideal for storing emergency items like breath mints and bobby pins. -Available at JCrew, gateway Mall, SLC, jcrew.com

The Ring:  Colored Diamond Band

This natural yellow- and white-diamond band would make a unique wedding ring or add additional sparkle as a right hand bauble.  —Available at Masseys Jewelers Fashion Place, Murray, masseysjewelers.com

The Bouquet:  Peonies

Clean white peonies bunched together and wrapped with a cream-colored satin ribbon will perfectly complement a frilly wedding gown.    —By Orchid Dynasty, SLC, orchidynasty.com

The Invitation:  Linda and Harriet “Bloom”

This pretty invite is letterpressed on Crane’s Lettra 100-percent cotton paper and is printed in two pinks: fuchsia and blush.  —Available at The Write Image, SLC, twio.com

The Cake:  “Braylee”

This sweet cake features just a few well-placed sugar paste blooms to dress up the simple three-tiered design.  —By Carrie’s Cakes, SLC, carriescakes.com

Thanks, Tessa, for the insight into things to come.

Meet Beth Thomas from Linger Floral, one of Utah’s newest and hottest floral designers.  Here she shares with us tips and trends from the world of wedding floral arts.

Eye catching color is back!

Whether mixed among neutral tones, paired with another color that pops, or going monochrome, wow your guests with colorful elegance. It also makes for great photographs!

Linger Tip: Bring fabric swatches, ribbons, invitations, napkins, and other inspired details to help us create a consistent style for your wedding.

Light it up!

Not only will dancing flames and accent lighting enhance the imminent romance of your wedding, it will also help your photographer convey the feeling in captured moments.  Candles are very elegant when incorporated with floral design, votives, hanging pillar candles, or even strand and pin-point lighting can highlight any element of your decor and warm the ambiance of your ceremony and reception.

Stay tuned for more trends and expert advice from Beth and Ashlee at Linger Floral.

Introducing our next guest blogger, Megan Bailey, owner and designer, Pink Piggy – Custom Wedding Invitations

Wedding rules can vary from generation to generation, but some wedding rules for wedding invitation etiquette never change. Even though invitation styles change, it’s important to make sure proper etiquette guidelines are followed.

Uniquely elegant wedding invitations, custom-designed especially for you, will convey to your friends and family how wonderful that day will be. They also express to the invitees the general tone of the wedding, whether it is formal, intimate, whimsical, spectacular, or low-key. If you want to break traditions, go with a design that is unique to your personality and event. Try to think outside the box when deciding on the design for your invitations and be open to trying new concepts.

One major dilemma is what to do about registry cards. Should you list this information on your invitation or insert a registry card? The answer is never! It is perceived as negative and considered improper when you list your registry information on your invitations, but there are more discrete ways to let your guests know where you are registered. The information can be spread by word of mouth or inserted with a bridal shower invitation.

Another option would be to create a free wedding website that you can list your registry on and then just insert a card in the invitations that invites guests to visit the website for more information.

Another common question is how to not-invite children. You should not print any phrases that say ” no children” on your invitations or insert cards. The best policy if you are trying to eliminate children at a formal event is to spread the word by mouth. When addressing your invitations you can also invite particular people to your event. If you wish to not have any children at the event then you can address the invite to “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”  if you indicate “and  family”  then it will be perceived that the entire family is invited.

Traditional wedding invitations come with two envelopes, an inner envelope and an outer one. The outer envelope should be addressed formally with no abbreviations or nicknames. The inner envelope is smaller and usually doesn’t have gumming on the flap and is used to invite specific guests to your event. Traditions and styles are changing though…and many invitations are now being sent with single envelopes to help eliminate paper waste. With more elaborate invitations using pockets and envelope liners, there is only a single envelope that is used.

There are many ways to have a modern and trendy feel to your invitations while still following etiquette guidelines. Have fun with different phrasing, unique fonts and designs to really create a custom piece tailored to your style and event.

Thanks Megan for the insight and information. Be sure to visit her site for countless great ideas.

Introducing the first in our series of guest bloggers, Carol Palacios, of Studio Enizio.

Your wedding is one of the most stressful events you will ever plan. With so much to prepare and organize it seems almost impossible to remember every little detail. With everything that is happening in today’s economy, brides are having to penny pinch their weddings and for some reason the pinching tends to happen on themselves. As hard as it may seem, your wedding is not the day to put others interests above your own. Nothing is more important on your wedding day then how you look and feel and you won’t feel good unless you look good. First stop is the perfect dress and then the perfect shoes, then, perfect accessories. Next should be the perfect hair and the perfect make up yet for

Hair and makeup by Enizio - Photo by Rebecca Westover

some reason this is placed last on the list. You should plan your hair and makeup sessions as soon as possible. Meeting with the right professionals will insure you have the best look on your wedding day.

Trial sessions with professional hair and makeup artists should never be a question whether you should or not, they are an absolute must. If you know exactly what you want and know you will be comfortable in it then plan to have your trial about 4 weeks in advance. If you are unsure about the look you want, then plan your trial session as soon as you have your wedding dress design. This will give you plenty of time to try different things until you find the perfect look. Your hair and makeup should be designed around your dress to compliment each other not to take away from one another. Meeting with professionals with enough time will help to prepare you accordingly to look your best on your wedding day. Our suggestion for a trial session is to come with visuals of what you picture your hair and makeup to look like. This will aid in getting you and your artist on the same page. Never rule out a look for any reason. Professionals have a way of making things happen. If there is something you want, professionals can assist in making the design a reality and if they cannot they will give you ideas as to what would work best.

Hair and makeup by Enizio - Photo by Rebecca Westover

But mostly, avoid hectic places on your wedding day. it will only stress you out more. Finding professionals that will come to you and have your hair and makeup done simultaneously is the best idea. That’s 2 places less to go and in half the time. Having everyone come to you on your wedding day, now that’s what I call a good start to your dream day…

Thanks Carol! Be sure to visit Enizio.com to learn more about their on-site services, and to find out about their beautiful new studio now open in Lehi.