First off are invitations. Consider no boundaries when selecting your invitation style or color, make it as sweet or sassy as you wish! One thing is for sure, initiations must go out six weeks to one month in advance to give your invitees proper time to plan and respond.

Who should plan your shower? As the bride, you should obviously have a plan in it – however, your friends or family should primarily be the ones hosting the event. While family members typically never planned the bridal shower, it is now perfectly acceptable to allow your sister or mother to do some of the preparation for you. Make sure the host is on hand during your party, of course!

While “couple” bridal showers are still considered a little taboo, it is absolutely acceptable and almost necessary for the groom to stop in for a least a few minutes. Have your host ask him to stop by with flowers or a small gift to allow him to express his love and adoration for you! A lovely framed photo of the couple is an excellent thing to display at the shower, as well.

Where should you hold your shower? Places filled with memories, such as your grandmother’s antebellum style home or your best friend’s corner house offer a warm and comfortable feeling, as well. In addition, gardens and outdoor venues are lovely for pictures – just make sure you have a rain plan!

When it comes to gifts, it is important to open them in front of your guests – it’s one of the best parts of the shower! Ensure that you send hand-written thank you notes to all of your guests thanking them individually for the specific gift that they gave you.

Food is one of everyone’s favorite part of any event. Make hors d’oeuvres one-bite sized and easy for guests to graze upon. Offer a signature cocktail or drink and also offer tasty non-alcoholic options, such as lemonade or Shirley temples, for those who aren’t drinking.

A bridal shower should be great fun for everyone involved. Help out where you need to and allow your host to do most of the work – your big day is about YOU, after all!

The Basics
Never forget, your wedding invitation should include these seven things.

1) The host – typically the brides parents, other times the bride and groom. Address it as “Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson” for parents, or “Ms. Jane Doe and Mr. John Smith” for the bride and groom.
2) The request – use “request the honor of your presence” if the parents are hosting, or “invite you to join us in the celebration of our marriage,” if the wedding is being held by the bride and groom.
3) The couple – “Jane Doe to John Smith.” You may also use and as a replacement of “to.”
4) The date and time – for formal ceremonies, spell our all times and dates (three o’clock in the afternoon.)
5) The location – include the address for all destinations.
6) Reception time – you may include it on your invitation if it is the same place as your ceremony; otherwise it is best to include a separate invitation. Also, specify what will be served – drinks and desserts or a full meal?
7) The RSVP – the most important part! Ask guests to respond with a formal reply before a set date and include the number of people in the party.

The invitation is also the place to specify any details that you may want guests to know. This includes the welcoming of children! If you want children at your wedding, you do not have to include anything, however, if you prefer your friends and family get a babysitter for the evening, it is polite and acceptable to include “adult reception” on your invitation. This is also the place to include a dress code – whether your event is formal, semi-formal, black tie, etc.

Wedding Myth #1: Brides must wear white.
You can wear whatever color you please! While white is the most traditional, brides are now donning pink, blush, champagne and even black wedding dresses. Brightly colored and patterned sashes, belts and accessories are now in trend and brides are shedding the all-white cliché.

Wedding Myth #2: June is the best and most popular month to get married.
Don’t get us wrong, the weather is certainly beautiful in June, but the most-popular wedding month has some less than flattering roots. In the old days, the arrival of June signified the end of Lent and time for spring-time bath. Brides chose to get married in June to be at their freshest and cleanest – they only bathed once a month!

Wedding Myth #3: Go buffet – it’s cheaper than plated dinners.
When you crunch the numbers, you’ll find that buffet and plated dinners run in the same price range. Plated dinners have an advantage that buffet dinner do not – portion control! When guests serve the food themselves, they will likely take as much as they want, which is often more than they need. This leads to money down the trash! Weigh your options and decide which works best for you.

Wedding Myth #4: Leave yourself at least a year to plan the wedding.
Depending on your comfort and stress level, weddings can often be planned, from start to finish, within several months. Wedding venues and photographers are the ones that book the quickest, so once you’ve found those, you can rest assured that the food and DJ will fall into place. Many venues also offer discounts on open dates a few months out.

Wedding Myth #5: Wedding planners are a waste of money and controlling.
Your wedding planner should support and assist you throughout the wedding process. While your friends and family may tire of hearing your endless ideas and thoughts, your wedding planner should always take into account your concerns and listen to what you have to say. A good wedding planner can put all your worries to rest!

If you’re one of the brave brides who has decided to cut costs and invest your money in more important things, such as wedding decorations, catering, etcetera, take a look at these wedding day makeup tips. From foundation to the finishing touches, we have you covered with all the how-to’s!

Prepare Your Skin
To look your best on your big day you will need to invest some time beginning three to six months prior to your date. For those with serious skin problems, such as persistent acne or rosacea, make an appointment with a dermatologist to help begin clearing up your problems. For those with minor to normal issues, make it a habit to begin a skin care regimen that suits your skin type. Begin exfoliating several times a week and preparing masks for your skin. Moisturization is key – make sure you don’t over-dry your skin!

Foundation and Primer
Choose a good quality primer as the first step in your makeup application. Your makeup will need to remain fresh all day, so don’t skimp on this base layer! Select a foundation that matches your skin perfectly (a good match should blend into your skin within three strokes.) Mix your concealer with a drop of your foundation to cover any trouble spots you may have. Use opposite colors to hide under eye circles, for example, if your under eye circles are blue, use a peach based concealer to cover them.

Powder and Blush
High quality makeup brushes will solve many of your makeup dilemmas. Use your everyday loose powder and set your foundation with a large brush in circular motions. For your blush, begin at the apples of your cheeks and blend backwards. Your blush is a step that will make or break your makeup application, so take your time blending. Add more if you look bare faced, or lighten it up if it appears too heavy.

Eye Shadow and Lipstick
The choice of colors is totally up to you! Choose a lip stick that boasts an all-day wear to ensure that it stays put throughout your event. Set your color with a clear gloss for that extra shine you need. Keep your eye makeup color light and romantic – dark colors will only appear darker in photos, risking the dreaded “raccoon eye” look. Keep it natural for the prettiest photos.

The Extras
Fill in your eyebrows with powder that matches your hair color. Stick with your “tried and true” waterproof mascara to avoid any allergic reactions. Keep eyeliner a shade lighter than normal and ensure that you stay close to the lash line for the most definition. Highlight your cheekbones and collarbones with a shimmery powder.

To keep your makeup looking fresh throughout the evening, keep oil blotting sheets handy. These sheets will reduce your excess shine without covering it up with powder, which results in a cakey appearance. Keep your lipstick and gloss handy for reapplications and prepare to have the time of your life!

Tip 1: Invitations
Instead of ordering your invitations without a second thought, do some research and choose a company who prints on recycled or reused paper. The invitations will be just as beautiful! Check out the Bloomin Wedding Company that has engineered a seed paper that infuses wildflower seeds with their stationary. Your guests can plant the paper and watch it grow for years to come!

Tip 2: The Venue
Choose a venue that offers outdoor space to reduce your electricity footprint. Places such as indoor halls often consume a lot of energy when lighting the way for your special day. Rosabelle Manor offers beautiful outdoor options with lush greenery as your background – reducing the need for many decorations and also providing you with lots of natural light.

Tip 3: The Food
Ask your caterer if they are familiar with local, organic growers. The more local the food, the better for the environment, as the amount of packaging and transporting is far less than your typical trip to the super market. Also ask if your caterer will donate leftover food to local food banks, and consider cupcakes as opposed to a traditional cake.

Tip 4: Reuse for Decorating
Don’t blow your budget by purchasing expensive, overpriced centerpieces and decorations. Shop at local antique shops, Good Will’s, and yard sales. Choose items such as glass vases, hurricane glasses and mason jars – whatever suits your wedding theme. These items can be reused and turned into fabulous decorations.

Tip 5: Dress the Part
Ask your groom to consider buying his suit as opposed to renting it. He can wear it whenever the occasion calls and also search for “green” fine clothing companies. If you aren’t particularly attached to your gown, sell it so another beautiful bride can re-wear it. There are endless ways to make your wedding the hit of the year while you “go green!”

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Rosabelle Manor was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

Rosabelle Manor is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes  the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Rosabelle Manor for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that Rosabelle Manor is one of the very best Ceremony and Reception Venues within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able  to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/rosabelle-manor-adairsville/952c650d266610a4.html.

To learn more about the Bride’s Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Step One: Choose your stationary
Keep it simple with plain or pastel colored paper. Avoid full size sheets of paper and stick with cards or postcards to keep your thank-you short and to the point. Ensure that the card has minimal writing (a “Thank You” on the front should be enough) so you can fill the space with your own words.

Step Two: Greet the recipient
Dear Jessica or Dear Uncle Rob…write your greeting in blue or black ink only – no eccentric colored markers or gel pens. Always handwrite your notes, as a typed thank-you will seem impersonal and rude.

Step Three: Say thank you
Obviously! Say “Thank you for your generous gift” or “Thank you for the coffee maker.” Never directly mention money, instead use phrases such as “your kindness.”

Step Four: Discuss why the gift is helpful
For example “I begin every morning with a cup of coffee, so it will get a lot of use.” Don’t love the gift? It’s okay to fib a little, but avoid direct lies. If your Aunt Robin gave you a juicer that you will never use, say something like “I’ve read the recipes the juicer suggests and they all sound delicious!”

Step Five: Appreciate their presence
Say something like “It was a pleasure to have you at my wedding and I hope to see you again for your birthday in March.”

Step Six: Say thanks again
You cannot say “thank you” too many times, so say it once more.

Finish your thank-you note with ‘Love,’ ‘Yours Truly’…whatever suits you. Sign your name, place it in an envelope and send it off! Your guests will not overlook your kindness!

Time: Since you and your guests will want to party past midnight, set the ceremony time for 7:00PM or 8:00PM. This will encourage your guests to stay past the New Year countdown and keep them fresh and awake without stretching your event out for endless hours.

Food: As always, the food is one of the most important parts of your reception. Remind your guests to eat early since your ceremony isn’t until 7 or 8. Allow your guests to munch on hot and tasty appetizers through the evening to keep them awake and to offset the alcohol.

Drinks: Everyone enjoys a drink of bubbly on New Year’s Eve, so ensure that you offer champagne as one of your drink choices. Also, provide plenty of nonalcoholic beverages such as water and juice to keep you and your guests hydrated. Coffee is also an excellent choice, since the weather is cool and the party is stretching into the wee hours of the morning. Serve it with dessert or offer a coffee bar.

Dress: You can’t overdo it on New Year’s Eve, so make your wedding a black tie event! Men should wear tuxedos and women full length gowns. Brides and bridesmaids can opt for sequined, beautiful dresses.

Save The Date: People make New Year’s Eve plans many months in advance, requiring you to send your “save the date” earlier than usual. Allot at least three months in advance and use catchy phrases such as “a countdown to the rest of our lives.”

Decorations: Confetti, noisemakers, party hats and balloons will make your reception feel like a New Year’s wonderland. Use the availability of glitter and sequins to your advantage – make unique centerpieces and use snowflakes as hanging décor.

Televisions: Ask your DJ if they can provide a large television or projection screen for the midnight countdown.

The Best Entertainment
Of course, you will have a DJ at your reception. Discuss with your entertainment the list of songs they will play. DJ’s may allow you to select from a library list of songs or may also allow you to recommend grooves of your own. Have a flexible DJ? On your RSVP card, leave a blank for the guests to write their favorite party song. When they respond, add the song to the recommended list for your DJ. Guests will enjoy listening to their all-time favorites and will encourage everyone to get on the dance floor.

Get Comfortable
While your wedding gown may be breathtaking, it is probably going to be uncomfortable to dance the night away in. Consider changing into a shorter, more relaxed dress for your reception, and encourage your groom to change into a relaxed blazer. You will not only have more range of motion, but you will also not have to worry about staining your gown. Another great idea? Order flip-flops for your female guests and allow them to kick their heels off and get on the dance floor.

Keep it Short
Depending on where your wedding is held, your guests may have traveled from some distance to attend. They may have spent days away from home to participate in pre-wedding preparation, and although you may want your reception to be never ending, it is important to keep your guests in mind. Limit the reception to five hours and ensure that your guests know that the party is optional.

Provide Alcohol
If your budget doesn’t allow for an extravagant set up, consider serving only beer, wine, and maybe a signature cocktail. Alcohol will loosen your guests up and make them more prone to laugh and enjoy their evening.

Provide a Late-Night Snack
A quick snack is often what many guests need to keep the party going into the evening. After drinking and dancing, your guests will be craving some salty, tasty food to quell their appetite. Go with French fries in a color coordinating cup, squares of grilled cheese or some cheese burger sliders for a unique and necessary snack.

Colors
Perhaps one of the easiest choices you will make when planning your wedding, you sould coordinate your colors to the season that surrounds your wedding date. Use dark blues, airy silvers, white or cream and golds to bring out a chilly winter feel. The use of snowflakes and glitter is also totally acceptable – create your own winter wonderland!

Decorations
Carry your wedding colors into your decorations to tie your wedding coordinating together. As opposed to the typical flower centerpieces on tables, consider using vases and bowls to incorporate classic winter decorations. Fill a vase with cranberries or glittery white tree branches, a bowl with round Christmas ornaments that match your wedding colors, or center white poinsettias on the tables. White Christmas lights and crystals also make excellent decorations during this time of year.

Flowers
Winter time limits your flower choices. Your color scheme will have a major impact on your flower selection, so choose wisely during this time. For a silver or white wedding incorporate white holly branches or silver-dollar eucalyptus. Roses and tulips will be in season, pair them with holly or pine greenery for a Christmas-time bouquet.

Favors
This time of year offers many different varieties of seasonal gifts. If you celebrate Christmas, a unique and beautiful ornament makes for a great wedding favor. Tins of hot chocolate mix with marshmallows or chocolate candy with a personalized wrapper with a winter theme also make for clever favors. Snow globes, holiday candy jars and winter candles (think snowflakes, pinecones, white, red and silver) are other great ideas.

Menu
Your wedding menu should reflect you and your spouse’s taste in food. Among your favorite dishes, serve some winter staples. Soups such as butternut squash, pumpkin, or corn chowder make an excellent palate warmer and give your guests a cozy feel. Comfort foods will be your best bet during the chilly winter months, so select foods that are in season and remind you of the holidays. Serve hot chocolate, spiced wine and eggnog among your beverage selection and consider decorating your cake in a snowflake or winter theme to top it all off.