Thursdays Are Better

It is quite the lie that Saturdays are the best day to get married. Higher minimums, higher prices, higher airline prices for your guests, and the list goes on.

So if you are currently in the mindset at you HAVE to get married on a Saturday, think again! The best day really to get married, is Thursday. And here is why:

Take your pick!

When you first call a potential vendor, what is the first question you ask before the conversation eve gets started?

Do you have my date available?

Well since Thursdays are so rare for weddings compared to Saturdays, you won't have to worry about vendors already getting booked by another bride, and you won't have to rush to make decisions and sign contracts, just to ensure that your date doesn't get booked before you. So you pretty much get to take your pick when it comes to vendors AND venues.

You can't get married here!

Most venues have the highest minimums and highest prices on Saturday evenings. So if you fall in love with your dream venue but are unable to hit their minimum due to a smaller budget or smaller guest list, you may just be able to book that dream venue on a Thursday instead of a weekend.

Venue Coordinators love nothing more than to book Thursday weddings, so I'm sure they will throw you a deal that will make your jaw drop!

It's vacation time!

Your guests love weddings, and they'll take any excuse to get out of the office and off to a vacation! So make your guests' time away from home a REAL vacation!

Think about it, if a guest flies out on Friday night, has the wedding to go to on Saturday, and flies back home on Sunday, that is more hectic than relaxing! Although a blast, it just can't count as a vacation.

But if they fly out on Wednesday evening after work and have the wedding to go to on Thursday, then they have Friday, and Saturday for vacation time, and it's just more fun for everyone! And you'll get to spend quality time with them after the wedding, not just a 20-second "hello" with a hug during dinner as your wedding coordinator pushes you along to the next table.

The B-Listers

Couples are always worried that guests won't be able to get off of work. But in reality, if a guest is that close to you, they will find a way to get out of work. Use a sick day, a vacation day, or even a non-paid day, they will do anything and everything to ensure they are there on your wedding day.

But for the guests that you just "had-to-invite-because-they-invited-you-to-their-wedding" or the ones that "I-just-feel-bad-not-inviting-him," they may actually get weeded out if your wedding just isn't important enough to skip work for.

And with that comes magic...less you have to spend on your wedding and more savings for you!

Whether you are in a budget-crunch or your dream venue is booked every Saturday for the next two years and you want to get married in six months, there are a plethora of reasons why Thursdays are the very best day to get married. So take your pick!

Today on the Bridal Boutique: Vintage Garter by Southern Ever After

It's safe to say that we have an obsession with all of the products from Southern Ever After! And this week, we're featuring a stunning blush vintage garter, handmade with beautiful gold fabric leaves and a gorgeous light pink flower with a beaded center. 

If you've already decided on your garter for your big day, it would also make an adorable headband for your flower girl!

The perfect mix of romantic and whimsical, this garter is great for any bride! And it can be yours!

WIN IT

Head on over to our Instagram page to enter to win this garter!

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All photos courtesy of Bleudog Fotography

If you have any comments, feedback, or even suggestions for products, please feel free to contact us at meredith@theoverwhelmedbride.com

5 Elements For A Successful Proposal

Written with love, by Pastor Dave Page

Asking for a woman's hand in marriage is one of the most important things a man will ever do in his life. Therefore, a good deal of thought and planning should go into the event. After you're certain that she is the one for you, go ahead and ask for her father's blessing before your propose. After the blessing is secured, you are ready to ask for the hand of your future wife.

I believe there are five key elements for a successful proposal:

1. Proposals should create a cherished memory.

This is a magical and memorable moment, which will be told and retold over the years to your family and friends, children, and grandchildren. Make it a story worth telling. Make it a memory worth remembering.

2. Proposals should be planned out.

Come up with a plan that shows how much she means to you and that you've thought it through. Frankly, I'm shocked to hear some proposal stories where little or not planning took place. Choosing a beautiful venue that creates a romantic atmosphere to pop the question can be a real plus. Or choose a place that already is near and dear to the two of you. However, be prepared for the unexpected. I've discovered that many times proposals don't turn out as planned.

3. Proposals should be unique.

Don't copy someone else's idea. Come up with your own unique proposal idea. Think outside the box. Remember that every woman is different so make your proposal specific to her taste and personality. Some women would love nothing more than to have their friends and family witness the event, while others would prefer a private and intimate setting with you alone.

4. Proposals should utilize the element of surprise.

Making the proposal unpredictable adds to the excitement. Utilizing the element of surprise heightens the experience and makes it fun! In my next post, I'll share how I proposed to my wife. Needless to say, she was so surprised that she was speechless!

5. Proposals should denote surrender, honor, and respect.

There is no more immediately recognizable romantic gesture than when a man proposed marriage down on one bent knee. his custom has been around for centuries and is still hugely popular today.

Most women find it appealing for a man to propose on one knee. The message behind the gesture can be that the man is offering himself wholeheartedly (surrender) to the woman, elevating her to an exalted position (honor) in the relationship, and offering her the choice (respect) to determine the course of their relationship.

Burning Love

I recently had the privilege of marrying Nick and Holly Candy. Nick implemented all five elements listed above when he proposed to Holly. Nick, a British Luxury Property Developer, flew Holly Valance, an Australian singer/actress who played a diva in Taken with Liam Neeson, to the Maldives, an island in the Indian Ocean. He proposed on a beach in spectacular style by getting down on one knee as the words, "Will you marry me?" lit up a fiery display behind him. A delighted Holly posted a picture of the proposal on Twitter and wrote, "And I said YES! Happiest day of my life!!!"

I began their wedding ceremony by saying, "Nick, today is the culmination of that day nearly a year ago when you took Holly to the Maldives and got down on one knee and lit up the sky with the fiery words, "Will you marry me?"

"And here we are. It reminds me of the words of King Solomon who said, 'Love burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly despised.'[1] Why? Because love cannot be bought nor sold - it's priceless. It's a love like this that brings us here today."

This proposal may seem extreme to you, but if it fits Nick and Holly.

Now I would love to hear how your fiance or husband proposed to you (COMMENT BELOW) and I cannot wait to share in my next post how I proposed to my wife.

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[1] Song of Solomon 8:6-7