Jennie wrote:
Where can I purchase a dress for big busted petite size 6 dress? Desperate!

Hi Jennie,

Almost all wedding dress shops have the ability to custom tailor a pre-existing dress to your specific needs. Shops such as Latter-Day Bride and Fantasy Bridal have the ability to take something off of the rack and make modifications based on your body type, height and weight.

If you aren’t looking for a pre-made dress, your best option may be a fully custom job by someone such as Nancy Barrus Couture. Her dresses are hand made to your specifications, making each gown a completely unique creation. Be sure to allow enough time for a custom job to be completed. If your wedding day is fast approaching, ordering it now versus later is a safe bet.

Julia L. wrote:
I was wondering where I can rent a chuppah or something similar in Utah. Wedding arches are not my style. I am not Jewish, but I love the look of them.

Hi Julia,

Chuppahs - or at least modifications of them - have popped up in ceremonies throughout the world, with many couples unaware of their deeply religious connections. Traditionally used in Jewish weddings to symbolize the future home to be built by the couple, Chuppahs are created by stretching a cloth or linen over 4 poles and are often carried to the ceremony. The ceremony takes place under the cloth and often contains an opening in the cloth, in order to allow the sky to shine through.

Most rental houses such as Diamond Rental should have the ability to rent you the necessary elements to create one for your wedding. However, because of their fairly simple construction, many event coordinators or couples resort to making a Chuppah themselves. A handful of sturdy wooden poles or tree limbs covered with a few yards of white cotton fabric will give you a simple, yet elegant “home” for your own wedding.

Chuppah Photo by Brody Dezember Photography.

Jennifer wrote:
I am planning a wedding for February. However, winter is definitely not my favorite time of year and I am struggling with decorating ideas and photography ideas to make a beautiful winter wedding. Any suggestions?

Hi Jennifer,

Planning a winter wedding presents additional challenges beyond the standard wedding planning routine. Things such as checking the weather history, planning for travel, anticipating bad weather and expecting no shows are all things to consider. Above all, the most important consideration is having a back-up plan. You should never have an outdoor wedding in Utah without a back-up plan.

In terms of decorating, whites, silver and gold are great colors for a winter theme wedding. Think in terms of decorating for the season within the winter season. If it is Christmas, ornamental adornments would be great. Snippets of pine, bowls of cranberries and crystal icicles are always a good idea.

For February, take advantage of after-christmas sales. White holiday lights, hot chocolate and sugar cookies can make a terrible day something cozy. White tulips and snow-themed centerpieces can serve as excellent floral and table-top accents.

As for photography, pick someone who has extensive experience with shooting in inclement weather. A Professional wedding photographer will be highly skilled at adjusting for the weather, and may even do a pre-wedding shoot when the weather is good. You may not get some sweeping scenic shots if the weather is bad on your wedding day , but rather some creative interiors.

Brytnie wrote:
My sister is been asked to be the maid of honor at her friends wedding in July and the bride just asked her for a down payment for a $500.00 dress?? The bride is already married for 2 yrs and has 2 kids and they are just now celebrating. My sister has never been informed about buying her own dress, let alone a $500.00 dress. So my question is who is supposed to by the bridesmaid dress?

Hi Brytnie,

Ah, the joys of having friends with expensive tastes. In answer to your question, it is short and sweet. Your sister pays for the dress. It is one of the obligations of accepting the role of being a bridesmaid or maid of honor. Enough said about that.

The larger issue here is that the bride is already married! Thus the marriage is more of a renewal of vows situation rather than the actual ceremony and celebration. The bride should have the courtesy to consider the financial imposition this places on her friends. A $500+ investment for a renewal-of-vows dress should at least come with the assurance that it will be a practical purchase. The bride should make a choice based on the ability of her bridesmaids to be able to wear the dress time and time again. Classical colors and styling would be great options and would make the purchase of the dress more of an investment versus a throw-away item.

If the bride hasn’t taken these things into consideration, your sister always has the option of not accepting the role. It is never disrespectful to be up front with the bride about financial limitations. It may also alert the bride that her dress choice is beyond what people can afford. Unfortunately though, many brides take offense to a maid of honor passing on the role and the friendship may suffer. Have your sister persist in not allowing this to happen. In the long run, her honesty about her financial situation will be the best decision.

Darci wrote:

who do you recommend to clean and preserve a bridal gown, what should I spend?

Hi Darcy,
There are many methods and prices involved in the preservation of a wedding dress. Such methods include wet or dry cleaning, museum methods and boxed methods. Often times, dress preservationists will even make slight repairs to the dress (fixing a stitch, reattaching beading, etc.) prior to the preservation process.
Museum preservation methods are often the most thorough and the most expensive. The dress is cleaned and pressed, then hung on padded hangers and covered with multiple layers of cotton. Dresses also may be laid flat in an acid-free box or drawer and stored in a climate-controlled environment (often a cool, low-humidity room).
Most brides opt for the more affordable, yet effective method of having their dress boxed. This involves cleaning, repairing and pressing the dress, then storing the article in an acid-free container that is impervious to light and dust. Again, pricing may vary depending on the thoroughness of the preservation process.
The best local option is YourValet Dry Cleaning. YourValet is a member of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists and has years of experience in the preservation of wedding dresses and other heirloom articles of clothing. They can be found on UtahWeddings.com, under Bridal Shops and Attire.

Heather wrote:
I am planning a valentines day wedding. Am I going to have a small reception do to the holiday or will I still have a nice turnout?

Hi Heather,

Weddings that surround holidays are always a gamble in the attendance department. Christmas weddings can be poorly attended due to weather concerns, higher travel costs and last-minute holiday planning. The same is true for Thanksgiving and summer holidays (Labor Day, 4th of July, etc.).
One thing to consider is that you are holding your wedding on a day that is often reserved for couples to celebrate their own relationships. You are asking them to put aside a day for them in order to celebrate with you and your new husband. If you want to have a good turnout, make it worth it for your guests. Definitely have dinner available, or at the very least heavy hors d’oeuvres. If that isn’t in your plans, then you may want to schedule your event later in the evening, to allow your guests to at least have dinner by themselves.
In terms of actual attendance, it is impossible to say how many will attend. Unless you do RSVP’s, attendance is always a shot in the dark. Having your event on a holiday makes your guest list even more of a guess.
Best of luck.

Jennifer wrote:
I am getting married at rose sach gardens on Oct 3rd, 2009, its the first Saturday of the month. Rummor has it that since my wedding always falls on the first Saturday that it rains. I have heard from several people that is the case and should change are date!! Someone help me calm down. Rain is not a option, becuase its all outdoors.

If anyone has had a wedding on the first Saturday of October without rain please tell me it is not true!

Hi Jennifer,

Sounds like you are falling prey to urban wedding legends! Obviously, the deeper you get in to the year, the more opportunity there is for the weather to turn on you.

The only way to gauge the opportunity for rain on your wedding day is to do a search for the weather history of that date. A good place to start is www.weather.com . The website provides an accurate forecast for the past three years on your wedding day. If all else fails, speaking with your wedding coordinator at your event location is a good place to start. He or she should be able to give you an accurate understanding of weather issues for that area.

Also, you should have a back-up plan. Even if it requires you to provide umbrellas for your guest, there needs to be some consideration for the worst-case scenario.

Remember also that rain on a wedding day is good luck!

Staci wrote:
When it comes to taking engagements photos, what advice do you have? What’s the best thing to do with outfits when it comes to picking them out and matching/coordinating?

Hi Stacy,

There are no cut and dry absolutes when it comes to taking your engagement photos, but there are definitely things to consider. According to Wedding Photographer Brody Dezember, you should just be yourself. “Absolutely no matching shirts,” states Brody. “Also, you should wear clothes that you already have, so you are comfortable in things that are familiar to you.” Brody also warns against neon or hot colors, such as bright pinks and oranges, as well as stripes.”Hot colors will make your skin look more pink”, says Brody. He warns against stripes because they make people “look more curvy.”

When shooting your engagements Brody also recommends dressing according to your surroundings. In the city, vibrant (but not hot) colors work well, while in mountain or country-type settings, warm and neutral tones are ideal.

Remember also that engagements should be a true representation of you and your fiance as a couple - essentially the first impression of your union for many of your family members and friends.

Brody Dezember Photography is located at 353 West 200 South in Downtown Salt Lake City.

Emily wrote:
What is the range of the average cost of weddings in Utah?

Hi Emily,

This question is a difficult one to answer, as no one seems to have a solid number. The best educated guess I can give you is that the average wedding in Utah costs around $10,000 to $13,000. This average is about half of the national average for the cost of a wedding, and may be even lower.

Utah weddings tend to have many more guests than the national wedding, as they focus more on receptions here versus sit-down dinners. Also, weddings here tend to be much shorter in length, with menus that are much smaller in scope. In addition,  the vast majority of weddings in Utah are LDS weddings (about 65% of all weddings here are LDS), many ceremonies and events take place in Temples and church houses where services are provided for free.

The local culture tends to be a little more conservative in spending which has a large impact on how much is spent.’

In planning your wedding budget, be wise. Going into debt for a wedding is never a good idea. The wedding day should be a starting point, not something to be paying for years after you are married.

Rebecca Hinman - UtahWeddings.com Consultant

Stacy Stickler wrote:
I am looking for a reception center that is simple and down to earth.  I do not want anything really elegant.  My fiance and I are outdoors people, liking to hunt and fish and would like a theme something like that. Everything I have found looks way to elegant and too pricy.  Is there a place that will fit what I want?

Hi Stacy,

I get the feeling you are looking at the traditional approach to your wedding, when in fact you don’t want a traditional wedding at all. Your love of the outdoors is the perfect opportunity to think outside of the box and throw a wedding that disregards tradition entirely.

Have you considered the backyard wedding, catered to your own specific tastes and past times. Naturally, the spring or summer months would be ideal. Add some flair to your food menu by going the barbeque route, complete with grilled fish and perhaps even some big game on the menu. Your colors could be natural hues and tones to further accent your outdoor pursuits, and a bluegrass band would add a nice touch to the event. Make the touches complement your style. If you aren’t into elegant, then why not go more casual for the event. Some of the best weddings I have been to throw out conventional dress and ceremony in favor of comfort and fun. I gather your fear of what others may think of this approach may be your biggest hindrance. Just remember that tradition is meant to be adjusted for your own personal lifestyle. Traditions are for you to create with your new spouse. The wedding day may be a great place to start.

Rebecca Hinman - UtahWeddings.com Consultant