Happy 2023 Everyone!  As we move into a new year filled with possibilities we are going to share some tips and tricks along the way.  This week we are talking about wedding dress shopping....And NO, it's not like on Say Yes to the Dress.

Now that the time has finally come to start shopping for your dress, you want to make sure you find the perfect one. But with so many different styles, fabrics, and silhouette options out there, where do you even begin? Not to worry—we're here to help. Below is a rundown of what you can expect when shopping for your wedding dress, from finding the right salon to saying yes to the dress of your dreams.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment:

When it comes to finding a salon, it's important to do your research. Start by reading reviews online and asking friends or family members for recommendations. Most bridal salons require appointments for wedding dress shopping, so call ahead and schedule a time that works for you. When you arrive at the salon, you'll be greeted by a consultant who will ask you about your vision for your wedding day. Be as specific as possible in your answers; the more information the consultant has, the better they'll be able to help you find a dress that suits your style. 

Next, the consultant will likely ask about your budget. Don't be afraid to be upfront about how much you're willing to spend on your gown; most salons have a wide range of options to suit any budget. Once the consultant has a good understanding of what you're looking for, they'll pull a selection of dresses for you to try on. 

Here are some things to consider:

1. You'll Try on A Lot of Dresses

This is the fun part! The average bride tries on between 15-20 dresses before finding the one. With so many different styles, designers, and silhouettes available, it's important to try on a variety of dresses to ensure you find the perfect one for you. Don't get discouraged if you don't find the one right away; it takes most brides a little bit of time (and lots of dress fittings!) to find their dream gown.

2. Who will accompany you?

For most brides, wedding dress shopping is a group event. But remember that there are no rules when it comes to wedding dress shopping. If you want to bring your mom, sister, or best friend with you, go for it. But if you prefer to shop alone or with just your bridal consultant, that's OK too. The most important thing is that you find a dress that makes you feel confident and beautiful. 

3. You May Feel a Bit Overwhelmed

As we mentioned before, with so many choices available it's normal to feel overwhelmed when wedding dress shopping. The best way to combat this is by doing your research ahead of time and having an idea of the style of dress you're looking for. This will help you narrow down your search and make the process less daunting. Trust us, once you find the perfect dress you'll know it!  

Choosing the Right Dress 

As you start trying on dresses, it's important to keep an open mind. You may think you want a certain style of gown only to find that something completely different looks best on you. Trust your consultant's opinion and take their suggestions into consideration; after all, they know what looks good on different body types. With so many gorgeous gowns to choose from, it can be tough to pick just one. But don't worry—you'll know when you've found THE ONE. Pay attention to how you feel when trying on different dresses. Do you feel like a princess in one particular dress? Do you love the way it looks but not necessarily how it feels? Or do you feel completely comfortable and confident in a certain style? You want to feel beautiful on your wedding day, but also comfortable enough to dance the night away. Once you've found a dress that ticks all three boxes, chances are it's THE ONE. 

You'll need to allow ample time for alterations. Once you've found THE dress, it's not quite time to relax just yet. Most brides need to schedule several fittings in order for their gown to fit perfectly. Alterations usually take 4-6 weeks, so be sure to factor that into your timeline.  

Shopping for your wedding dress should be an enjoyable experience—after all, it's not every day that you get to wear a beautiful white gown! Follow the tips above and trust your gut. Soon enough, you'll be walking down the aisle in the dress of your dreams! Congratulations and happy shopping!

Photos courtesy of: 

Karla Korn Photography

Shea Christine Photography

Captured Beauty Photography

Hi All,  I know we are all dealing with ongoing Pandemic.  But there is hope and weddings and events are booking.  Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 are booking quickly...Even Fall 2022 is booking now.  So don't hesitate or your first choice wedding pro may be booked!

I wanted to take a moment to talk about the conccept of the Day of Wedding Coordinator.  This is a solution that many publications and websites suggest as a way to save money or to use if you don't want to hire a "full wedding planner."  While it is less expensive for the planning fees, there is a lot of misunderstanding about what role the planner plays in your wedding planning process.

We call this process Wedding and Event Management.  We get it, some of you want to handle every single detail on your own.  That's cool!  But remember that while you have all of those fabulous details in your head and have been working on them for a long, we are not part of all of those decisions that you are making.  It takes us time to digest and understand what you want and need on your wedding day.  

That's why we do a monthly check-in just to see how things are going.  And answer random questions.  I can't stress this enough...so many times I have been told "oh i won't have questions...and then there are questions...which we happily answer."  or "i wish i understood all you do, I would have hired you for more of the process."

We can't just show up the day of the wedding and execute your vision.  It would be impossible.  We will book this package for you as far in advance as you want. And honestly it can give you a sense of peace during the process to know that you have someone for your big day.  We also provide you with a preferred vendor list (which is continously being updated and evolving).  We also ask that you send us copies of all of your contracts with other wedding pros.  We review them and make sure all is covered...and we need them to confirm that is everything is done per contract specifications on the wedding day.

We start to get super involved in the last 4-6 weeks before your wedding. This is also the time when the stress levels tend to peak for our couples..everyone is getting involved and sharing their opinions.  We can be a neutral 3rd party for you.  We listen, we don't judge, we help talk you through the stress.

During this time, we review everything with you - every small detail.  We create your first draft of your timeline approximately 30 days out from the wedding.  This is done in collaboration with all of your wedding pros.  We start creating a weekend itinerary for you and your wedding party and families.  

Then we turn our attention to the rehearsal.  We will be there for a maximum of 2 hours for rehearsal coverage and guidance.  Usually it takes 45 minutes at the most.  At rehearsal time (or prior) we like to collect all of the items for the wedding day, such as toasting flutes, cake cutting set, favors, place cards, menus, programs and more. This way you don't have to remember to bring anything on the wedding day.

After all of this, then we get to the wedding day.  We are the first to arrive and last to depart on your wedding day.  We coordinate all of the set up, take down, anything that happens during the day. We gather up all of your personal items, along with your designated representative and get them to your hotel or car.  

We make sure you get some of your awesome appetizers while you are taking photos.  We bring your comfy shoes to you so that you can dance the night away.    We keep everyone on time and focused.  And so much more.

It is such a thrill to see it all come together and see the happiness on your face.  Just remember that it is much more than showing up on the day of the wedding.  And with over 11 years of creating weddings in South Florida, we have the experience, knowledge and understanding of what it takes to make this all happen for you.

Remember, you deserve a Fabuluxe Day!
Jen, Mandi, Nikki and Lara
www.fabuluxeevents.com
jennifer@fabuluxevents.com
561-254-2041

*above photo by Maggie Stolzberg Photography

Can you guys believe we are in the middle of December?!  Holy crap! 2020 was INSANE.  

We have been fortunate that we have been able to have several post lockdown weddings.  Though they looked a little different and we had new rules to follow, the celebration of LOVE was overflowing.  

We hope you enjoy their wedding.  It was a true celebration of love for these two.  They have been together through high school, college, dental school and now off to residency in Texas.  They share a deep love and a strong faith and it shows in their photos!  

Casey and Rachelle had to find a new venue 4 weeks before the wedding.  We went into overdrive and were so blessed that The Ben Hotel, Downtown West Palm stepped in and helped us create magic.  We met with the Chef and learned about enhanced safety procedures in food service, we learned all about the new sanitizing procedures at the hotel (that were all natural and chemical free), and we learned how the staff was being educated and trained on new safety procedures.  Extensive communication with the guests allowed them to make informed decisions on whether or not to attend the wedding. All of these steps were critical in making sure we created the safest possible wedding celebration.  We complied with all state and local guidelines (at this time there was no mask mandate in palm beach county - it was optional for guests....all staff and vendors wore masks).

As always, we are only as good as the team around us!  So a huge thank you to the following:

Venue:  The Ben West Palm Beach

Decor:  Xquisite Events

Photography & Video:  Jack Bates Photography

Wedding Dress:  Bacio Bacio Bridal

Tuxes:  The Tux Shop Palm Beach

Entertainment: Custom DJ Services by Leonard Bryan Events

Planning: Fabuluxe Events

One of the great things about being a wedding planner is that we get to see incredible, amazing wedding dresses all the time.  We get to see traditional dresses, ballgowns, mermaid styles, dresses with sleeves, dresses with lace, short dresses and long dresses.  So we thought we would share 3 more of our favorite designers...enjoy! 

1.  House of Mooshki Bridal - Based in England their dresses can be found all over Europe and in California and New Jersey.  They short, flirty styles are fun and unique and perfect for the bride who wants to think outside the box!

2.  Watters and especially Willowby by Watters.  These dresses are for the young at heart who wants something with traditional elements but is slightly outside the box. 

3.  Justin Alexander - Elegance and sophistication with a hint of playfulness!

When choosing your dress make sure "you do you."  There are so many options and styles and price points to choose from.  And take into account the type of wedding you are planning and the time of year of your wedding.  But no matter what make sure you feel comfortable and beautiful in your dress!

You're engaged!  And all things wedding planning are starting...yay!  There is a rush to start doing things...anything.  When I got married that started with running out and buying the latest issues of all the bridal magazines and spending hours going through every page.  Times have changed!  Now you might even have a "Wedding Pinterest Board" before you even get engaged.

Take a deep breath and know that wedding planning has it ups and downs.  There are times when it seems like all you do is plan, plan, plan.  Go to meetings, look up vendors online and then try to make decisions.  Then there are times when you aren't having to do quite as much.  That's ok.  

First things first...determine a budget and who is paying or contributing to the budget.

Then select your venue and your date.  

Next up photography and decor.

Save the dates need to go out 6 months ahead of the wedding.

Make sure you order your wedding dress at least 6-8 months prior to the wedding.

Then maybe take a couple of weeks off.  Continue to live your life.  Go on date night.  Remember why you are doing all of this wedding planning!

You don't have to be doing wedding stuff 24/7.

Enjoy the peaks and valleys of wedding planning.

There are so many great moments to enjoy during this process:

1.  Finding your dress and sharing that moment with Mom 

2.  Taking your engagement photos and having fun with your fiance and the photographer - this is a great getting to know you session between you and your photographer!

3.  The tasting with your caterer or venue is one my favorites...Who doesn't love an amazing meal?!

The whole point is just to be "in the moments" as they happen.  Remember what the reason for all of it is. And the rest will all start to come together!

Cheers!