Three Ways to Be a Great Wedding Guest

If you're planning your own wedding, you might be focused on your nuptials. When you're also invited to other weddings, it can be a struggle to turn off the wedding planning part of your brain. Here are three ways to be a great wedding guest.

1. Don't compare! When you attend a friend's wedding, you might want to compare what she's done with what you have planned. Try to leave the comparisons for when you get home, though. Instead, just enjoy the day.
2. Don't talk about your wedding! Focus on the couple of the day, the same way you'd want to be the focus on your big day. Even if you'll have guests in common, keep the day focused on the newlyweds.
3. Learn what you can about the guest experience. You want to make your wedding as great for your guests as possible. When you attend other weddings, take note of what made you feel special, welcome, and a part of the day. After the wedding, think about how you can build these elements into your wedding.

Of course, the best way to be an excellent wedding guest while planning your own wedding is to get all your planning done with Southern California's best wedding vendors. A great way to do this is to come to one of our upcoming bridal shows!

4 Ways to Have the Perfect Fourth of July Themed Wedding

The Fourth of July might be over for another year, but if it has you inspired, there's no reason it can't be the theme for your wedding day. Here are four ways to have the perfect Independence Day themed wedding.

1. Red, white, and blue color palettes are an easy way to bring the holiday theme to your wedding day. Don't feel like they have to be bold hues, though. Off-tones, faded hues, and other shades of the colors can be a great alternative.
2. Stars and stripes can also be brought into your theme without even needing to include a single flag. They can be part of your decor, cake decoration, or even your bridesmaids' dresses.
3. A themed menu is a perfect way to get your guests in the holiday mood. You don't need to have a relaxed menu, though. Ask your caterer for grown-up versions of your barbecue favorites.
4. Fireworks are always a great choice, but if your venue doesn't allow them, add the excitement in other ways. Indoor-safe sparklers are a fun addition to your cake, but you can also use your floral arrangements to create the fireworks look.

The best way to create an amazing theme wedding is working with fantastic Southern California wedding vendors. Come to our next show to meet and book all the vendors you need while having a great time!

Did You Begin Planning Before Engagement?

Wedding planning before engagement has become a big trend, with a recent survey showing that 59 percent of single women have already started. This follows on a survey earlier in the year that showed that 40 percent of brides admitted to visiting wedding websites before the proposal.

The reason for this early planning is generally an attempt to reduce stress, but it doesn't always work that way. Some women have also said that they've scared off previous boyfriends because of their early planning. Early planning can also get you too locked into a set idea of what your wedding has to be. This can leave you without flexibility that can leave your fiance feeling left out and you feeling frustrated.

One surefire way to reduce the stress of wedding planning is to come to a Bridal Showplace show. You'll be able to meet some of Southern California's best wedding vendors all in one place, meaning you can get lots of planning done in a single day. To find out more about our vendors and upcoming shows, visit our website today!

Would You Wear Liz Taylor's Wedding Gown?

If you feel like wearing a celebrity wedding gown, now's your chance. Of course, you'll need a budget of at least $47,000, and possibly up to $78,000. That's the guide price for this week's auction of Elizabeth Taylor's first wedding dress.

The dress is satin with beaded pearl details and a built-in corset. It was designed at MGM by Helen Rose, and took two months for 15 of the studio's employees to create. The gown -- and the wedding -- was an iconic piece of old Hollywood, even though the marriage didn't last 9 months.

The gown is said to be so detailed that it's never been accurately recreated, so it really is a one of a kind style. You will need a very small waist, as it was an accentuated part of the 18-year-old Taylor's petite figure.

Even if wearing the actual dress doesn't appeal to you, we love the inspiration many brides get from the wedding. It's a great basis for planning a 1950s Hollywood themed wedding, and is a perfect example of all the glitz and glamour the era had to offer.

If you're planning your own fabulous wedding in Southern California, a great way to start is to come to one of our bridal shows. You'll be able to meet and book many of the area's best wedding vendors!

Upcoming Bridal Showplace Shows:

July 28 - Hyatt Resort & Spa, Huntington Beach

Aug. 11 - The Queen Mary, Long Beach

Sept. 8 - LA Marriott, Burbank

Sept. 22 - Marriott, Long Beach

Oct. 6 - Knott's Resort Hotel, Buena Park

Nov. 3 - Hilton Hotel, Pasadena

www.bridalshowplace.net

Wedding Vendor Spotlight: Balloon Thymes

No wedding is complete without decorations, and hiring a wedding decor specialist is a great way to reduce your wedding day stress and get the look of your dreams. Great decor can transform your venue, turning it from an empty room to the perfect wedding space.

Balloon Thymes is a full-service decorating and event planning service based in Pasadena. While they work on a variety of events, their real specialization is weddings. They love making weddings look fantastic.

They focus on the personal touches, and work with you to create the wedding you want, and with the style you want. Balloon Thymes aim to make your wedding day memorable from start to finish.

To find out more about Balloon Thymes, get in touch with them through our exhibitor listings, where you can also find plenty of other great Southern California wedding vendors. You can also find out more about them through their company website, where you can also view a portfolio of their work.

Planning a Black Tie Wedding

If you're planning a Southern California wedding, you might be thinking about a vintage theme, DIY theme, or any other big trend. Of course, you could also be thinking that this is the perfect time to have a glamorous black tie event!

To bring the fabulous formality of the Oscars to your wedding day, you'll need to treat it like any other theme. However, you'll also want to make sure that any of your wedding vendors are comfortable and experienced with a high-end style.

Unlike many other themes, black tie will require your guests to dress in a specific way. With your guests in formal attire, keeping everything else in theme is even more important. You won't want your guests -- or yourself -- to feel like you're overdressed for the occasion at any point.

A great way to meet some of Southern California's best wedding vendors is to come to a Bridal Showplace show. To find out about upcoming shows, or about our exhibitors, visit our site today!

Why Summer Weddings Are Hot

Summer is an amazing time to be in Southern California, and it might just be the season that our area is most known for. But if you're planning a wedding for summer, the season is extra special.

A summer wedding is a great choice for a lot of reasons. It's almost guaranteed you'll have sun for your wedding day, and you'll be able to have an outdoor wedding. This does come with its own set of challenges, though.

You'll need to think ahead about how you and your guests will stay cool and comfortable. This includes providing a shaded area and plenty of water. Infused water can be a beautiful way to give your guests hydration with great flavor. Cooling stations can also be a good addition, and one that your out-of-town guests will especially appreciate.

Another consideration for the summer is the extra tourism in the area. As you plan your summer wedding, make sure your guests will be able to find accommodation at the height of vacation season. You can also use this to your advantage, though, by giving your guests a taste of all Southern California has to offer as part of your wedding weekend.

Whatever you do for your summer wedding, finding great vendors is crucial. When you visit one of our upcoming bridal shows, you'll be able to meet all the vendors you'll need and have a great fun doing it!