FAQs

Hey Fab Brides,

Every once in a while a few of you ask questions and I thought I would share the answers with everyone.

1. If I have a evening wedding can I serve heavy passed hors d'oeuvres? 

I do not recommend this. When you are inviting guests to an evening wedding, they are expecting dinner. If you cannot afford a seated dinner, consider having stations or a buffet. 

2. Do I have send everyone an invitation?

YES! Do not skip family members because you think they will attend anyway. This is really rude and cheap. 

3. How far in advance should I send out invitations?

If your wedding is near a holiday or not local, send out invitations 4-6 months in advance, especially if many of your guests need to make travel arrangements. Otherwise, send out invitations 2 months in advance.

4. Do I have to serve alcohol at the wedding?

You don't have to serve alcohol if it is against your beliefs. If you are trying to save money I suggest serving just wine. You can also consider creating one or two signature drinks that will be served all night.

5. When is the best time to buy my gown?

I suggest looking for your gown at least 6 months in advance. If you are buying a designer gown, these gowns often take 4 months to be delivered. You also want to allow time for alterations.

Keep sending in your questions!

xoxo,

Ayana

Need Help With Ideas?

Hey Fab Brides!

Every once in a while I get writers block and you may notice I don't post for a while. Well it's just like having a block on creative wedding ideas. I have the perfect solution for you! I suggest purchasing a few wedding idea books. 

My favorite are by the FABULOUS Preston Bailey. If you don't know who he is, Google him ASAP!. He is the one of the most sought after wedding planners in the country. If you don't have time to make it the book store, try ordering them from Amazon. 

Here are a few of his books. Happy planning!

Have It Your Way!

Hey Fab Brides!

When it is time for you to pick out your flowers, table settings or cake make sure your opinion is heard and listened to!!! So what if the vender you chose does not have your perfect idea in their portfolio. Consider bringing in a picture of something you would like to see at your wedding. 

I suggest putting together a notebook of clippings from magazines or printouts from

your favorite wedding sites. Take this notebook to all of your appointments so that your vendor will know exactly what you are talking about. Remember, you'll never know if it can be done unless you ask. 

Be ORGANZIED, Be PREPARED, and remain FABULOUS!!!

xoxo,

Ayana

Maggy London to the Rescue!

Hey Fab Brides,

Last night I was speaking to a friend who is in the process of planning her wedding. We began to talk about the bridesmaid dresses. She's young and fabulous and wants the dresses to have the same feeling.

My wheels began turning and Maggy London came to mind. You may have first heard of the brand when Sex and the City The Movie came out. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) wore a dress by the designer. I know you're thinking if this was in Sex and The City it must be expensive, quite the contrary. I found a few of her great dresses at Nordstrom. They come in great colors and styles to fit any style of wedding. The dresses range from $78-$168. Check them out and let me know what you think!

Don't Go There!

Hey Fab Brides!

Have you ever told a friend you wanted to buy something and she purchased the same thing? It can be infuriating! Now imagine you told a friend about your wedding ideas and she stole your ideas because she happened to get married first. LADIES THIS IS A HUGE NO NO!!!!! Don't do it, it's not worth it.

If the idea never crossed your mind before, don't cross your friend by stealing her ideas from her dream wedding.

xoxo,

Ayana

Fabulous Looks for Less

Hey Fab Brides!

I'm sorry I've been away for a while, but I'm back with more great ideas. Many of you have requested more gowns at affordable prices. So I've been searching the net and I found a few fabulous options. Check them out!

ABS - $435 available at Saks

ABS - $280 available at Saks

Alexander Wang - $596 available at Saks

Shoshanna - $310 available at Bergdorf Goodman

Catherine Malandrino - $475 available at Bergdorf Goodman

Robert Rodriguez Black Label - $850 available at Bergdorf Goodman

Marc Bouwer Glamit! - $695 available at Saks

David Meister - $450 available at Saks

Phoebe Couture by Kay Unger - $408 available at Saks

xoxo,

Ayana

Fabulous Cover Up

Hey Fab Brides,

On your wedding day you want to be glamorous, elegant and of course FABULOUS. However, big tattoos are not fab. In my opinion, a tattoo that shows on your wedding day takes away from your dress.

Sometimes women of color can be hesitant to cover up tattoos because we can't find the correct shade that is also heavy enough to cover. Look no further, I've found a really great product. Make up For Ever makes a wonderful concealer. The concealer is water and sweat proof. The concealer can also be used to cover scars, burns, and discoloration. It's great for summer weddings and nervous brides!

Make Up For Ever is available on their website or at Sephora.