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   Photography by Amanda Hein
 

Wedding stationery can be hazardous to your budget. We asked Kara Underwood Gordon, owner and designer of Magnificent Milestones in Chicago, for some cautionary tips.

{1} Stick to one color ink. Two-color letterpress requires two runs and will add significantly to your costs. If you decide to stick to one color ink, you can add a colored envelope or liner to pull in your second color for less (and still look oh-so-chic)!

{2} Forgo RSVP envelopes. By using an RSVP postcard instead, you'll save on postage, extra envelopes and printing charges. Plus, it’s modern and memorable!

{3} Condense your inserts! If you have directions and accommodation info to convey to your guests, include it all on one insert--and strive for a unique look. It’s easier on your wallet and on your guests, who will have one less thing to keep track of.

{4} Only order as many inserts as you need (brides do sometimes forget!). If 25% of your guests are out-of-towners, order just that many accommodation cards, then use that extra money to add another color or another detail to invites.

—Susan Schneider

I’m always on the alert for wedding-related topics in the news so last week, when the local CBS station did a promo on “The Bridal Prenup” and CNN featured a “Love, Marriage and Money” segment, my TiVo went into overdrive. After all, it is my job to keep abreast of the latest bridal buzz 24/7 for you!

 “The Bridal Prenup” piece was interesting. Apparently, according to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, it’s not just the Britney Spears and Nicole Kidmans of the world asking their future hubbys to sign on the dotted line. Now it seems that the “average woman of all ages and means” are initiating prenups. The report said that many brides-to-be are marrying for the second or third time and may have considerable assets after having worked for a number of years. They want to safeguard what they have and perhaps protect the future inheritance of their children or grandchildren from a previous marriage. Which, of course, raises the question: Is this practical or do prenuptial agreements indicate a basic mistrust of the fiancé or perhaps of marriage itself? I’m sure most of you haven’t even entertained the idea and I believe that there are many factors that enter into such a decision. For most first-time couples it is simply not an issue but I’d love to hear your thoughts on the topic.

You can get fit and look great in your wedding gown while saving serious cash. How? Just walk!

Getting fit to look great in your white gown is a natural priority—think about all those photos that are being taken! But now you can get fit while saving that extra cash for, perhaps, a little something blue? The solution: GET WALKING! All you need is a decent pair of walking shoes and a pedometer (for as low as $10) to record the steps you take in the course of your ordinary activities. Then, up that number until you're burning significant calories. For example, if you find that you take under 5000 steps a day, your lifestyle is probably too sedentary to help with weight loss. Your goal should be to add a half hour of walking, the equivalent of 2000-3000 more steps a day. Here are the Budget Guru's top tips for getting extra exercise:

• During work days, walk to lunch destinations whenever possible.
• Whenever you can, take the stairs, not the elevator.
• Seek parking spots as far from destinations as you can.
• Get your fiance/friends/bridesmaids to join you for walk-a-thons in a park near you. Make it fun!

—Susan Schneider
 

Every week, we'll feature a top expert answering a not-so-easy question. Today we check in with Sharon Naylor, our bridesmaid guru, Tip of the Day expert, and author with over 35 titles published to date.

This week's question actually comes from me, your Online Editor! A few of my close girlfriends recently became engaged (congrats you two!), and I'm ever so curious to find out if I've been chosen to serve as a dutiful bridesmaid.

Q: What would you say is the average lay time between a bride-to-be getting engaged and her asking her favorite ladies to be her bridesmaids?

THE ANSWER >>

Spring can’t get here soon enough! Today, most of us on the east coast plodded through messy snow and ice (my boots are getting a workout) and warm, sunny days seem light years away. But here’s something to brighten your day—our March/April issue is on the newsstands!

This super fashion issue is filled with pages and pages of gorgeous bridal gowns…

As well as chic options for your favorite gal pals…

You’ll also get great ideas on how to plan the a beautiful outdoor celebration…

…plus tips on how to plan an amazing springtime affair from wedding guru David Tutera.

And if deciding on your wedding colors has you stymied, check out our story that features three gorgeous, colorful receptions:

Now, I know that saving money is always a priority and no one wants to go into serious debt, right? That’s why you’ll love these smart, savvy cost-cutting tips…

…as well as more advice from Colin Cowie on how to save on the floral budget.