The Dresses That Best Reflect Your Bridesmaids

You've found the most perfect dress for your big day and now it's time to seek your bridesmaids dresses and it can be a challenging job trying to find the perfect bridesmaid’s dress , but choosing a dress that reflects your wedding theme, suits all your girls and makes everyone happy is key ! It might be traditional to have each bridesmaid in the same style of dress, but where's the fun in that? Diverse bridesmaid dresses for each individual bridesmaid expresses personal style, character, and complements each bodies curve. Here are a few examples from live love create events of brides who let their bridesmaids radiate their own individual styles.

This gorgeous bride, Isabel, had all her best ladies in different dresses but still compliments her  boho chic wedding.

Our beautiful Vanessa has a natural feel for her wedding. The simple color for the bride’s maids’ dresses pulls everything together and makes the details in the florals stand out.

Our lovely bride right here had each of her girls in different dresses and patterns, but all together fits perfect! Mixing was a perfect way to flourish their own identities.

Our charming bride Christine has her wonderful bridesmaids in two different styles of blues, with the silk and satin it pulls together her beach wedding with a pop of a beautiful color!

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A One-Year Timeline Guide To Planning Your Wedding

Congratulations! You're newly engaged and it’s time to start planning your dream wedding! Getting started can seem like an overwhelming process, but fear not, our team is here to help. We’ve outlined a timeline you should consider following to make the planning process less stressful and more enjoyable! Your wedding is sure to be one of the greatest day’s of your life, so it’s important to do all you can to enjoy the entire process, not just the day itself.

12 months: Set the Budget

Before you and your partner start planning the big day, it’s important to set the budget. It’s tradition that the bride’s parents pay for the wedding, but some might consider that an outdated tradition. If you or your partner’s parents are paying for the wedding, it’s important to sit them down and discuss the matter ahead of time. If you and your partner are paying for the event, discuss what it is you really want and what is negotiable.

12 Months: Book your wedding planner

Booking a wedding planner will be very helpful. Most likely, this is the first major event you’re planning, so it’s important to have someone knowledgable in the planning process by your side. A major bonus is that planners already know a ton of vendors, so they can book you the best one and get you a better deal. If you want more information on why you should hire a wedding planner, check out our blog.

12 months: create the guest list, decide on the wedding party, & secure the venue

It’s important to have your wedding guest list together before going venue shopping. You want to make sure the venue you fall in love with has enough capacity for your guest list. You and your partner don’t want to fall in love with a venue that can’t accommodate what you’re looking for. You also want to decide on your wedding party. Choose people who have always loved and supported you both. Only good vibes on your wedding day!

9 months: order your dress, Start registering, & book the photographer, caterer, and music

Wedding dresses can take up to 9 months to make, so avoid the stress and get that out of the way. If you’re planning on a short engagement, you can purchase sample dresses at a bridal shop or website. Next, it’s important to start registering so you have time to build you and your partner’s wish list. A good idea is to pick two widely known stores to make purchasing easier on your guests. Lastly, if the venue doesn't provide catering, you need to start looking for a catering company and find a photographer/videographer.

9 months: build a website with all your wedding information

If you’re having a lot of guests flying in for the wedding, consider building a website with all the travel information and an RSVP section. It’ll also make things easier for your guests if you book a few hotel rooms near the venue.

6 months: order invitations, choose a wedding officiant, book the florist, & order the bridesmaid dresses

When picking out wedding invitations, it’s important to choose invitations that reflect your wedding style. For example, if you want your guests to dress super elegant and formal, then send out invitations that reflect that style. Remember that the invitations tell your guests how they should dress. If you’re having a destination wedding, consider sending save-the-dates much earlier so guests have time to prepare. When picking your florist, bring them pictures of what you’re looking for and try to choose flowers that are in season. Lastly, ordering your bridesmaid dresses is as crucial as ordering your wedding gown, so it’s time to start that process now!

6 months: book The honeymoon

Yes, the most exciting part; the honeymoon! You and your partner are so focused on the wedding, but it’s important to not forget the honeymoon. Travel plans can be time consuming, so now is the time to start. Pick a place you & your partner absolutely love or a place you two have never been before. What else is more fun than exploring a new destination with your love?

4 months: plan the rehearsal dinner, Book rentals, & begin dress fitting

At this stage you should start booking a space and the food for the rehearsal dinner. Booking rentals means; tables, linens, tents, etc. You should also create your seating chart, and a great tip is to organize your guests alphabetically so it’s quicker for them to find their seats. Now the most important thing: the dress. You should have ordered your dress already and now is the time to start alterations to make sure it fits perfectly!

2 months: mail out invitations, plan the wedding service, book your hairstylist & makeup artist, and prepare your wedding party gifts!

Once you mail out your invitations, you should be expecting RSVP’s 1-2 weeks before the wedding. Planning your wedding service is a great opportunity to add you and your personal style to it! Do you two want to write your own vows, have a specific song playing, recite poetry, etc. It’s your day, celebrate your union however you both want! When booking a hairstylist and makeup artist, you want to have a few test runs beforehand! Make sure they know your exact style and can accurately provide it every time. On the day of, have your hair done at least 3 hours before the ceremony and your makeup done an hour before. Lastly, providing your wedding party with gifts is a beautiful way to show your appreciation for their love and friendship. It doesn’t have to be an expensive gift, just get something that comes from your heart. You can never go wrong with a lovely bracelet!

6 weeks: tie loose ends & secure the rings!

Now is the time to make sure everything is running smoothly. Make sure everything with the venue is secured, along with caterers, the florist, the rentals, the music, etc. Make sure the rings are ordered and perfectly sized.

4 weeks: finalize the day of schedule, the seating chart, and get your marriage license

Finalizing your day of schedule is extremely important. You want to make sure your vendors are are the same page to avoid any mishaps. Have your rehearsal dinner invitations been mailed? It the answer’s no, let’s do that now. Make sure the seating chart is perfect and that everyone can find their seats is an orderly fashion. If you have multiple guests giving toasts at the reception, let them know the day of schedule so they know when they're talking. Lastly, secure your marriage license!

2 weeks: confirm every detail

Confirm with your photographer, the band/DJ, transportation, last minute head counts, the decorator. EVERYONE. Make sure everyone is secured! If you have a wedding planner, don’t worry, they will be in charge of making sure it’s all in place for the big day.

the week of: packing time

Yay, the week of is finally here! If you have a vacation week at work, now’s the time to use it. You have to pick up your dress and the rings, pack a bag with all the essentials for the big day: undergarments, dress, shoes, jewelry, wedding party gifts, deodorant, perfume, medicine, baby powder, bobby pins, etc. If you have a maid of honor, have her help you pack all the essentials. You also need to pack for your honeymoon. We find it best to plan outfits for everyday of the trip and pack them in an orderly fashion so you don’t forget anything.

Day before: relax!!!

We know, it’s the day before the biggest, most important day of your life, but it’s okay to relax. Only you know how to relax yourself, so whatever that is do it. We recommend getting a mani/pedi with a mimosa or two. Tonight’s also your rehearsal dinner, so practice as much as possible. Quick reminder: this day only happens once. It’s easy to get caught up with every detail and consume yourself with stress, but one day the details you stressed over will seem so small and insignificant.

The day of: it’s going to be the most perfect day!

We’ve made it to the finish line! As we said before, it’s easy to get caught up with stress, but remind yourself to stay present and enjoy every single moment. Remember to stay hydrated and eat a healthy and filling breakfast. It’s easy to forget to take care of your body, but staying hydrated and eating will fuel you through the first half of the day. Lastly, make sure to charge your phone incase you want to add to your Instagram story sharing all the wonderful details of the day!

We know this is a lot of information packed into a short blog and there’s a ton of more details we couldn't possibly mention in just one page. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a wedding planner to relive a lot of the stress. Feel free to send an email, we’re always available to chat and help you maneuver through this monumental day!

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Best Outdoor Wedding Venues in Southern California

Southern California is known for its magnificent mountains, lovely trees and endless sunny days. If you’re planning to get married here, you must take advantage of all the beautiful, outdoor sceneries this state has to offer. Our live.love.create team knows how tricky it can be to find the perfect wedding venue, so fear not, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 best outdoor wedding venues in Southern California to help you out. Enjoy!

Feel free to send us an email if you have any questions. Our live.love.create team is always here to help you plan your special day!

1. Chateau Le Dome at Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu

If your idea of a dream wedding is saying your vows overlooking a stunning, mountainous scenery with lots of Southern California sunshine, the Chateau Le Dome at Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu is the perfect place to make that dream come to life.

Click here for a detailed look at Kari and George’s beautiful wedding day.

2. Main Lawn at Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu

The Main Lawn at Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu is the perfect venue for any wedding! The lovely oak trees surrounding the ranch are great for those timeless wedding pictures. The endless rolling green hills in the background provide a beautiful scenery for everyone to enjoy. At night these oak trees light up with thousands of twinkly lights, creating a romantic ambience that is sure to have you and your newlywed feeling like you’re in a real life fairytale.

If you’re wondering what a wedding at the Main Lawn at Saddlerock Ranch looks like, take a peak at Jenny and Mike’s romantic wedding.

3. Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Farms

If your dream wedding inspiration is a Disney princess fairytale, then you have to consider Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Farms as your wedding venue! The beautiful cascading trees, the bric pathway, and the white picket fence surrounding the farm will have you feeling like you’re in a Snow White sequel. Let’s not forget that lovely Southern California sun beautifully shinning as both you and your forever partner exchange wedding vows. This scenery creates an enchanting and love filled ambience!

Get inspired with Sam and Sandy’s epic wedding at Walnut Grove!

4. Malibou Lake Mountain Club

Malibou Lake Mountain Club is surrounded by sycamore and oak trees, stunning rocky mountains, and a lovely lake. The combination of these elements inspires a romantic and serene ambience perfect for any wedding day in Southern California. It’s rare to find a venue overlooking a lake, so I would definitely consider Malibou Lake Mountain Club if you want gorgeous wedding portraits with a lake as the perfect backdrop.

Our live.love.create team has planned two gorgeous weddings here at Malibou Lake Mountain Club for Jane & James and Julie & John.

5. Calamigos Ranch in Malibu

Another gorgeous outdoor wedding venue in Southern California is Calamigos Ranch in Malibu. The twinkling lights hanging beautifully from the trees will transport you and your life long partner to a real life fairytale. Being surrounded by the beauty of nature can only inspire a calming and romantic ambience that will make this day all the more special. The wooded cabins and rustic flooring compliment the trees perfectly, providing a magnificent backdrop for all those memorable wedding pictures.

If you’re wondering what a fairytale wedding at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu looks like, take a look at Janice & Yong and Kyung and Jerry’s lovely weddings.

How can we help you plan your upcoming wedding?

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