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the fact that they listen to their clients. See their portfolio at www.PhotographybyVanPelt.com and call to SAVE YOUR DATE TODAY!

But once we broached the topic of groomsmen, a hint of worry flashed across her cool as a cucumber exterior. The groom’s wedding party will be a tad fratty, and a few of the chosen ones are known for their unkempt looks. My girlfriend is adamant that the entire wedding party look so fresh and so clean, and her idea to make this happen is genius!

While the bride and bridal party get their hair and makeup done, the groom and his guys will be treated to some primping and pampering, too. They’ll hire an old-school barber to come to the venue, hotel or wherever the guys are camped out, and each groomsmen will get a shave and a cut. This will be a nice little treat for the groomsmen and give the wedding photographer lots of incredible photo ops… but best of all, it’ll give my friend peace of mind. And a stress-free bride is a happy bride!

I love this creative idea for whipping low-maintenance groomsmen into dapper dudes! How about you? Would you employ a similar tactic to get your groom’s guys looking fly?

Remember to always enjoy the planning process. If you get too overwhelmed just take a break and a deep breath. Happy planning!

During the initial meeting, start by asking questions about his or her approach to the service and what the ceremony will entail — whether there will be a speech or a sermon, and whether the couple can offer input on the subject. Should the couple choose to add some personal touches to the ceremony, such as writing their own vows, they can ask the officiant for suggestions and advice.

While it’s easy to assume that every detail involved in your wedding is equally important, focus on what’s most important to you both. Having a planning team who can guide you, Your officiant should be able to help in that area. Prioritize based on what you value the most and budget accordingly.

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MYTH 1. I HAVE A HIGH CEILINGS IN MY RECEPTION HALL, SO I MUST NEED HIGH CENTERPIECES.

“This is such a sad myth for the bride, because she ends up paying much more for her centerpieces,” says Lynn Jawitz.

The idea that brides need high centerpieces in order to balance with their venue’s high ceilings (or with the sky outside), just isn’t true. The problem, Lynn says, is that the height ends up getting in the way of conversation.

“I’ve even been to parties where I’ve seen $500 arrangements picked up and moved to the floor by guests, because they don’t like to have to see through this large obstructed arrangement. And now there’s nothing on the table!” says Lynn. Instead, stick to lower centerpieces that you can see over, so nothing gets in the way of your guests having a good time. If you’re worried about them not looking prominent enough, Lynn says, you can move outward rather than upwards. Build a low garden throughout the table, just make sure your guests can see over it.

MYTH 2. SILK FLOWERS ARE CHEAPER, BUT THEY ALSO LOOK REALLY BAD. I MUST HAVE ALL REAL FLOWERS AT MY WEDDING.

Believe it or not, these days silk can cost you just as much as the real thing. But for that price, you’ll get silk flowers that look just as real.

“There’s no savings in using high quality silk,” says Lynn, “but you do get to keep it forever.” And there are some other advantages. If you’re having an outdoor wedding on the beach in the heat of summer, you don’t have to worry about anyone’s bouquets wilting. Likewise, if you’re having a wedding in the middle of a Minnesota winter, you can still carry pink peonies down the aisle. Lynn also points out that it’s a great way to have whatever flowers you want even if you or your groom are highly allergic. Bottom line, Lynn says, brides should let the “fake flower” stigma deter them from using a little silk.

MYTH 3. AS THE BRIDE, I NEED TO CARRY ROSES.

We hear this one a lot, and though we’re not exactly sure where it came from, we’d like to put an end to it right now. “There are no musts, whether it comes to the bridal party or who has to walk down the aisle,” Lynn says.

Typically, the bride’s bouquet is a little larger than her bridesmaids, but even that isn’t always true anymore. Lynn does point out, however, that the bride should coordinate with the bridesmaids. You don’t need to have every flower match exactly, but some of the flowers should be similar, to tie it all in. “Think of your wedding as being in a vacuum,” says Lynn. “Once you walk in it becomes a reflection of you and your fiance. And if you can’t stand roses, there shouldn’t be a single rose in the room.”

MYTH 4. I’M GETTING MARRIED IN THE SPRING, SO THAT MEANS DEEP PURPLES AND DARK RED FLOWERS ARE OUT.

While most people tend to enjoy brighter colors in the spring and summer months, there are no fashion faux pas against doing something darker, if that’s what you prefer.

“I was just at a party, and their colors were amber brown and purple,” says Lynn. “Even unique color schemes can be mad attractive with a little talent and a good florist.” So if you want pastels in December, or deep brown in mid-summer, don’t let the weather hold you back.

MYTH 5. I CANNOT USE CARNATIONS.

Despite the fact that brides might be aghast at the thought of carrying a bouquet of carnations, there’s really nothing wrong with them. “Done well, fluffed out carnations can be a beautiful flower,” says Lynn. “There are some types that are better than others, but it’s a myth that you can’t use carnations.”

What’s more, Lynn says, carnations come in such a variety of colors, some people may not even recognize them as being a carnation. “My favorite is a midnight purple and it’s just an unbelievable color,” says Lynn. The key is to stay open-minded. If you’re looking to save a little, consider adding in a few carnations. We promise, you’re bouquets will still be gorgeous.

MYTH 6. IT’S THE 21ST CENTURY, I CAN GET ANY FLOWER I WANT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.

Think again, bridezilla-to-be. Despite greenhouses and importing exotic blends, every flower imaginable still may not be available at your whim. And if it is, chances are, it will cost much more than anything in season. Lynn suggests that you make your first choice requests on flowers, but then also have a Plan B.

“I’ve been able to find tulips in August,” she says, but it’s not always that way. Work with your florist so that your Plan B arrangements and bouquets are still flowers that you love and ones that your florist is positive will be available. If you simply must have a certain type of flower, you can also consider using silk flowers (see Myth #2 above).

MYTH 7. I’M A REAL CUTTING EDGE FASHIONISTA, SO MY BOUQUET SHOULD REFLECT THAT TRENDY STYLE TOO.

Weddings should look and feel timeless, and in many ways, that’s not a hard thing to achieve. Wearing your mother’s gown, or having decor that reflects a certain time period are all great ways to indicate a vintage theme. But no matter the time period, Lynn suggests you stick to round style bouquets. “Round bouquets are timeless,” Lynn says. “It’s nice to be avant-garde, but you don’t want to have something that looks dated two weeks after the wedding.”

For instance, Lynn says she highly suggests brides skip the cascading bouquets.”You can have a wedding spirit in the 1940s,” she says, “but you still want to keep the flowers fresh.”

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