Celebrity party planner and fashion guru, David Tutera provides expert advice on wedding planning and bridal style!
David Tutera on Wedding Planning
1. Before you do anything, stop and think about what your vision is! If you start planning without knowing what you want, it could be very easy to get overwhelmed by all of the great ideas out there. Come up with a look or style that you’re going for and create a list of the elements of your big day that will be most important to you and your groom, and then go from there! The second step is to create a detailed budget, emphasis on detailed.
2. One of the biggest mistakes that brides make when wedding planning is not sticking to their budget. You never want to step into your marriage in debt because of a wedding. I just think it’s very harmful to your relationship. So, what you need to do is find vendors first, get the budgets from your vendors second, and review everything in your contacts third. Don’t sign until you know everyone that you have on board, and could potentially afford.
3. Don’t sweat the small stuff! Be prepared for small things to go wrong. But remember that it won’t be a big deal when they do. Whatever it is, you’ll look back on it and laugh, so enjoy your day in spite of whatever didn’t go as planned!
4. Do you ever panic about your guests not showing up last minute? Before you panic, remember to guarantee the lowest guest count possible when handing in your final numbers. You can always go up from there, and you won’t ever be contractually obligated to pay for more people than you can guarantee.
David Tutera on Bridal Style
1. The best way to ensure that your girls match — obviously — is to select one style for everyone. However, if you’ve decided to let your ’maids pick their own dresses (a trend I love) give them some guidance as to the exact shade, the length and the degree of formality.
2. Practice walking around in your shoes a few times before your big day. Even ballet flats can give you a nasty blister if they’re not broken in a bit. Do chores around the house in them when your fiancé isn’t home to insure you’ll be able to dance the night away!
3. Choose a hair and makeup style that is similar to your daily look, with just a touch of upgraded glamour. Your fiancé is going to want to see YOU walking down the aisle, and you’ll be much happier looking back on your pictures in a few years.
4. Schedule a hair and makeup trial! Especially if you’ve never worked with your artists before, you’ll want to make sure they understand your vision and execute it properly. This will also help you in gauging timing for your wedding day schedule, and ensure that all products they use are gentle on your skin.
Do you want to discuss your wedding plans with David Tutera?! Enter to win a 30-minute consult with David, a wedding gown from David Tutera for Mon Cheri, David Tutera Embellish jewelry, and much more!
