I was chatting with one of my brides this evening. She was trying to decide what types of flowers to put in her bouquet and what her bridesmaids should carry. She is getting all kinds of advice… “Bridesmaids shouldn’t carry white.” “Brides shouldn’t carry colorful bouquets.” “The bouquet you like is too busy.” “That bridesmaids’ bouquet will overpower your bouquet.” With all that advice, its no wonder my bride’s head was spinning.

Here is my opinion on the situation. A bride should carry whatever she likes. I have had brides carry very colorful bouquets and I have had them carry all white. Once the bride has her pick, she should choose bridesmaids bouquets that compliment the one she chose for herself. That doesn’t mean it needs to be the same size, shape, or color, but there should be some sort of a plan.

Below are some of my favorite bouquet photos. If you have some photos you would like to share, send me an email at susan.southerland@pwg.com.

Men are so difficult to give gifts. You can’t just give them a purse or a pair of earrings and call it a day. (I hope you grooms out there take note that earrings and purses are always appreciated gifts for the ladies.) My brides come to me all the time asking for gift ideas for their grooms. Most want something a little sentimental to commemorate the day; beyond exchanging rings.

My recent bride, Dawn, came up with a beautiful idea… Personalized cuff links. Not only can the cuff links be engraved, but the ones she chose were lockets. Inside each one, she enclosed a photo of the groom’s parents and one of herself.

The groom absolutely loved the gift. I hope he has many occasions to wear them — perhaps Dawn has some fancy dinners in her future!

For those of you just finding my blog, for the last week, we have been following the amazing saga of bride Jill, who planned her wedding in just eleven weeks. Her thoughts have not only been spot-on for brides planning a wedding in a short period of time, but have been useful for every bride. Today, I have some final thoughts from Jill.

Susan: Do you think planning your wedding so quickly would have been easier with a wedding planner?

Jill: I was extremely lucky because my venue gave me an amazing wedding coordinator that was so helpful throughout the entire process. We got along great and she did all that she could to ensure our day was fabulous. I think if she had not been there I would have definitely looked into hiring a wedding planner especially for the day of the actual wedding. On their wedding day brides should feel stress free and happy and in many cases it might be best to hand over control to a seasoned professional to ensure the day is perfect!

Susan: Was there anything that didn’t turn out the way you wanted it on the wedding day?

Jill: Honestly, no. Everything really was PERFECT. It was so much better than I could have ever imagined.

Susan: Was there anything that turned out better than you expected on the wedding day?

Jill: The weather! In April NYC is normally wet and cold. On my wedding day it reached a warm and sunny 65 degrees. We were able to take lots of outdoor photos. We were also able to use a terrace off my reception room for appetizers. Many northeastern brides decide not to have their wedding in April in fear that it will rain. April falls right between peak and off peak wedding season in New York. I lucked out because I picked a time of year that was not very popular, vendors ended up being available, and the day was warm and gorgeous. Picking an off –season date really paid off for me and I recommend brides take the chance on it!

I was also so thrilled with my band. I knew they were going to be good, but they were absolutely phenomenal. They had every single person up on their feet dancing – which was exactly what I wanted. They played the perfect mix of music and filled the room with tons of energy!

Susan: If you were to do everything over again, would you take more time to plan the wedding?

Jill: No! I would do it just the same again. Doing it so quickly forced me to make quick decisions. I am an extremely detailed oriented person because of that I often analyze my options when trying to make decisions, which can be extremely time consuming. If I had been given more time for the wedding I think I would have over-analyzed everything…maybe to the point where I might have started to second guess myself and my decisions. I never doubted any decisions I made for my wedding. I stayed very organized, looked at all my options, and quickly made decisions so I could move onto the next task at hand. Planning the wedding so quickly ended up being the best scenario for my perfectionist personality!

Susan’s Tip: I have observed thousands of brides and grooms during the wedding planning process. I have watched them agonize over every single decision; It is exhausting! Trust yourself. Trust your inner voice. Use a little research and a little common sense, and your decisions will be sound. Then relax and enjoy your wedding day. It goes by so fast, don’t distract yourself with little details.

Susan: Is there any final advice you would like to share with other brides?

Jill: I don’t want brides to be discouraged when people tell them they can’t plan a wedding quickly! My advice: Don’t get discouraged and don’t let anyone get you down! Be confident, organized, and never second guess your decisions! And remember – when all is said and done – you, your future husband, and the love you share is what makes your special day gorgeous and unforgettable. Happy Planning!

Special thanks to Jimmy Ryan of Barnaby Draper Studios for the beautiful wedding photos. Here are some more for you to enjoy.

Do you have a great wedding planning tip you would like to share with other couples? Post a comment here, or email me at Susan.Southerland@pwg.com.