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Remember to have as much shade as possible. Renting a tent for an outside reception is ideal. Having direct sunlight can impair some of your important pieces of the wedding such as, your wedding cake and wedding flowers. Be sure to talk with wedding professionals to find out the best type of icing and wedding cake should be used for a summer reception. Ask the florist to make up a simple second boutonniere for the groom. Flowers will begin to wilt in the excessive heat after a few hours.

Talk with your photographer about the perfect time to take wedding photographs. The best lighting to take photographs is in natural light. You don’t want to take photographs when there is full sun around noon. Think about morning light or lighting near dusk. Make sure that you are able to get photographs in before the end of the day when there is not natural light.

Remember that weather can be unpredictable in the summer. Be prepared for the worst. Where will the ceremony take place if the weather turns suddenly?

Think about registering early but not too early that items on your list will be out of stock or no longer available. Guests will be looking to find the perfect present and will need your help.

Return policies – make sure you have checked out the stores policy. If you receive 5 of a certain item but only need 1, make sure you are able to return them. Make sure you understand the policy and know the time limit you are able to return or exchange items until.

Find out if you registry is available online as well as in the store. Most stores make it available online, but check first just to be sure. Having the list online helps guests take their time to browse the items and decide which items they wish to buy.

Gift cards are a great idea to give as a gift. Don’t be afraid to add gift cards to your list. If guests can’t decide what to buy, resorting to giving a gift card is a plus. You will be able to buy whatever you need with it.

Don’t forget the thank you’s!  After the big day and get back from the honeymoon, begin to sort out all of the items you have received and make a list of who bought what. Writing thank you cards is a must. Make these cards more personable by writing the name of the gift in the thank you. Guests want to make sure you have received their gift, by stating the gift ensures you have received it.

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Wedding Invitations

Find wedding invitation paper that has been recycled. Many designers are using recycled paper and ink that are beautifully designed. Another option is having plantable paper. The paper has flowering seeds embedded. Wedding guests will be able to plant their invitation to have prosperous blooms in their garden.

Wedding Dress

Think about the tradition of using your mother or grandmother’s wedding gown. Ask if you can have it altered into your style with the help of a seamstress. Also, take into consideration of checking out charities like the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition where they have bridal gown sale events where gowns are donated and proceeds from the sale are benefit breast cancer research!

Wedding Flowers

Using your homegrown flowers is the perfect way to go green. Arrange bouquets and centerpieces using your stunning hydrangeas that you have grown. This is a great DIY project that will help with keeping your budget low. If you prefer to use a professional think about using a local organic florist. Potted plants are easy beautiful centerpieces that can be given to wedding guests after the wedding.

Wedding Favors

One of the most generous wedding favors is giving a certain amount of money to a charity of your choice. Instead of giving a favor to each guest that could be useless, donating money to a charity is the perfect option. Browse charities online and pick one that means the most to you.

Wedding Meal

Opt for local home grown organic choices when picking out the menu. Choose a caterer that offers organic meals and supports local farming.

Wedding Rings

When searching for wedding rings opt for a jeweler that is green friendly. Jewelers that are green friendly take pride in recycled gold. Ask questions about the stone to make sure you are not purchasing a blood diamond. Make sure to find out if the stones are fair-labor gemstones.

Wedding Reception Location

The best eco-friendly wedding reception location is having a beautiful outside wedding!! How beautiful is having the environment as your backdrop during your wedding? If having an outside wedding is not suitable for you, think about using a museum or art gallery as your reception location. Most of these locations will donate your deposit to a charity.

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Budget – It is very important to set your budget first. You want to make sure you stay within your budget when looking for the wedding gown of your dreams. If you don’t shop within your budget you may end up falling in love with a gown that you cannot afford.

Shop Early  – Wedding Gowns are made to fit your body type. They will be altered and you can change something on the wedding gown by adding or taking off any beading or embellishments, you will want to shop early if you plan to do this. Most gowns take up to 4 months to be altered and custom fitted to your body. Start shopping 8 to 10 months before the wedding date.

Book an Appointment – Most bridal salons want you to make an appointment to take a look at their gowns. It is best to go during the week when most brides are not shopping for their gown. It will be less crowded and the sales staff will be able to focus only on you.

Browse Gowns in Magazines and Online – Before going into the bridal salon you should browse gowns in wedding magazines and online galleries. Find a style that you like and the type of fabric you want as your wedding gown. This will give you an idea what to look for when you go into the bridal salon to try on gowns.

Find the Style you want – What type of style do you want your gown to be? Elegant? Classy? Chic? Glamorous?

Be Open Minded – Keep an open mind of different styles and wedding gowns. Try on anything even if you don’t like it on the hanger, it may be “the one” when you try it on. A salesperson may bring you a gown to try on, keep it as an option to try on.

Bring Accessories with you – Don’t forget to bring a pair of shoes that are about the height you want to wear on your wedding day. Also, bring your veil or head piece to see what the complete ensemble looks like.

Read & Understand the Contract – When you found the perfect wedding gown you will need to read and sign a contract. Make sure you have read and understood the complete contract. Most salons have a no return policy since each dress is custom made to fit your body. The alterations will be made for just for you. Make sure the dress size, color, designer name, style number, and delivery date are written within your contract. Double check to make sure the number of fittings, the gown price, and the deposit are clearly written as well.

You do not want to get stuck once you have found your wedding gown. Now, take a breather and check that off the big list of “To-Do’s”!

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