Blog Archives
Yellow inspiration boards
What colors go with Yellow? I have created some color inspiration boards over the years and have posted some of my favorites. All images to create these boards were taken off google. Sorry I do not have more information about their origins. Enjoy!
Wedding line-up created at David’s Bridal.
More images and flower examples on my facebook page under “photos”
Yellow Inspiration Boards
Red inspiration boards
What colors go with Red? I have created some color inspiration boards over the years and have posted some of my favorites. All images to create these boards were taken off google. Sorry I do not have more information about their origins. Enjoy!
More images and flower examples on my facebook page under “photos”
Red Inspiration Board
DIY Photo booth
Photo booths at weddings can be a lot of fun for you and your guests. Many have created DIY photo booths and back drops to help cut costs. If you are on a tight budget, and would like to try provide this entertainment for your guests, here are some links to tutorials to Do-It-Yourself.
~ Happy Planning ~
~ Angel Burgher ~ created a GREAT blog with instructions and blueprints on how to make your own backdrop! PVC materials comes to under $20!
~ On a Super Tight budget and a little Crafty? ~
Get a giant piece of muslim or a clearance bed sheet and paint your design. Cut a hole and hang with a rope (or from PVC pipes)
Jen H created some cute backdrops on sheets. View some photo examples from her wedding.
~ Looking for instructions for the camera/printer set up? ~
Check out this blog entry by Aireen on the supplies and program needed to print out the pictures!
~ Have an old Gazebo? ~
Cut it down to make it shorter and cut the bars on top to drape the tulle/fabric from. A suggestion from Ashlee, put a solid color behind the tulle to prevent the light from shinning through.
~ Have time on your hands and LOTS of patience? ~
Instructions from Valene: I got round sequins at hobby lobby in 2 different sizes. I also bought little round jewelry rings to hook the sequins together. It is very time consuming depending on how long you want each garland and how many strands you need. I bought the foam boards at michaels and bought black wrapping paper and covered the foam boards. It was nailed up on the wall.* {Party was at her home} I think I spent around $60 for everything. The one thing that did get pricey was the jewelry hooks. I tried to buy them when they were 50% off at hobby lobby. *perhaps the wall mounting squares would work
or try this DIY Wax Paper Dot Garland
http://greenweddingshoes.com/diy-waxed-paper-dot-garland/
~ Ideas for back drops ~
Nature and Hanging Frames, Muslim, Cloth, Wood & Wall paper, Foam Board and Wrapping paper, Bed sheet, Bed Sheet painted, Sequins, Streamers, Tinsel Garland, Balloons, Paper Poms, Paper Chain links, Paper pinwheels, Shower Curtain, Plastic tablecloths, Quilt, Wood Circles, more and more!
~ Want to print out some props? ~
Materials Checklist
- prop printouts
- spray adhesive
- heavy cardstock (100 lb. or more)
- scissors
- glue and/or tape
- popsicle sticks, straws, or dowels
Optional:
- foam core (to create sturdier props)
- X-ACTO (or other utility) knife
- cutting mat
- embellishments
(feathers, rhinestones, etc.)Click images to get to sites to download the pdf
~ CHEESE ~
Wedding Planner.Checklists.Worksheets
Looking for checklists to keep you on track? Starting to plan your wedding, and don’t know where to start? Here are some tips and links to help you out. ~ Happy Planning ~
First you need to sit down with your future husband/wife and decide how much money you can afford to spend on the wedding. Look at how much you can take out of savings, and how much you can save per week in the next year. Then you can find a Budget Calculator tool to help estimate how much you can distribute to each portion of the wedding to stay on budget. These can be found via google on theknot, weddingwire, or even http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Events/Weddings/Calculator.htm
If you are not sure how much weddings in your area cost, check out this site.
http://www.realsimple.com/weddings/budget/wedding-cost-calculator-00000000008302/index.html
Here is a more detailed breakdown of a cost estimate. Enter your zip code and see what comes up. http://www.costofwedding.com/index.cfm/action/costest.index
Then, think about the size of your event. Also have an idea of what mood and atmosphere you want your celebration to have. Are you going traditional, casual, intimate, elaborate, unusual, unique? Do you want a small wedding 20 – 40? More around 100-130? Huge with 200 plus? Remember the more people the more you will spend on dinner and drinks. The venue (food and drinks) will take up most of your budget.
Once you have a budget and guest list, you can start talking to the venues to sign the ceremony location and reception location. Check out the amount the Budget Calculator distributed for Reception: Food & Beverage. Take that amount and divide it by the number of guests you plan to have. This will give you your “Dollar Per Plate” amount. You will need to know this amount so you know how expensive of a location and meal choices are available in your budget.
If you don’t care When you get married, you can get some great deals if you pick a date in the off-season. The most popular dates are May – October. But off-peak wedding months vary according to regional climate and the desirability of the weather.
*Be sure to find out the policy on changing dates just incase something comes up.
After you sign contracts you can think about colors. You don’t want to pick Colors and a Mood for your wedding and have the atmosphere of the venue clash with your choices. You can always start with a favorite flower and find things to match it.
Take a look at this site for some ideas. They have some really great color combos to consider. http://www.squidoo.com/weddingcolorcombinations
A great site to see color combinations in a new way
http://design-seeds.com/index.php/search
Here is a color wheel site
http://colorschemedesigner.com/
You can slide the little dot around to pick your first color. Then pick what type of color combination you want. You can move those dots around to do the following:
Mono- different shades of the same color
Analogic – colors that are next to each other on the color wheel
Complements – colors oposite on color wheel – give the most contrast
Triad – three colors spaced an equal distance apart
Tetrads: color harmonies 4 colors
*** LOOKING FOR A WAY TO ORGANIZE ALL YOUR THOUGHTS AND FINDINGS? ***
Here is a link to a 57 Page Wedding Planner by Russell and Hanzel that you can print out and place in a binder to help you with your wedding planning. I wrote a table of contents for you, so you can print the whole thing, or just the pages you need. Some pages, i.e. Guess List tracker, you would print out multiple pages as needed.
http://www.russellandhazel.com/PDF/WeddingTemplate.pdf
Page 1 – 5 : Monthly Timeline Checklist
Page 6 – 7 : Beauty Worksheet
Page 8 : Wedding Party Contact Worksheet
Page 9 : Bridal Salon Appointment
Page 10 – 11 : Bridesmaid/Bride Fashion Worksheet
Page 12 – 16 : Budget Worksheets
Page 17 : Ceremony Worksheet
Page 18 : Day of Wedding Checklist
Page 19 – 20 : Destination Wedding Event Schedule/Travel Worksheet
Page 21 : Emergency Kits
Page 22 – 24 : Floor Plans
Page 25 : Flower Worksheet
http://www.russellandhazel.com/PDF/wedding/FlowerWorksheet.pdf
Page 26 – 27 : Groom & Groomsmen Fashion Worksheet
Page 28 : Guest List Tracker
Page 29 : Honeymoon Travel Details
Page 30 : Menu Worksheet
Page 31 : Music Play/Do Not Play Worksheet
Page 32 : Music Planning Worksheet
Page 33 : Photo Shot list
Page 34 – 36 : Registry Worksheet/Registry Checklists
Page 37 – 39 : Rentals Worksheet
Page 40 : Transportation Worksheet
Page 41 : Travel & Accommodations Worksheet
Page 42 – 52 : Vendor Contact Information
Page 53 : Wedding Cake Worksheet
Page 54 : Wedding Day Timeline Worksheet
Page 55 : Wedding Gown & Accessories Order Worksheet
Page 56 – 57 : Wedding Invitation Worksheet
and here is a link to “The Packet”
15 page itinerary
It is more for the week/day of the wedding. (for the OCD bride or great for OOT weddings)
www.weddingbee.com/2008/08/07/the-packet/
Wedding Day Timeline
One of the most commonly asked questions I’ve seen is “How do I create a timeline?”. So, here are some tips to help you create a timeline of events for your wedding day.
TIP #1 – Talk to your officiant about how long the ceremony should last. If at a church find out how early you can get in there and how late you can stay.
TIP #2 – Talk to your venue on how long dinner should last and when they like to cut the cake. They might go down to a minimum staff and want the cake cut before a certain time. Also, they would know Best how long dinner will take with the size of your guest list and the type of meal you are serving.
TIP #3 – Ask your DJ for a sample timeline. This is their Job! To keep the flow and momentum of the night going all night long. Different regions do things different from others. What is normal in your area might not be normal in another. Also, tradition and culture might add different events to your timeline.
TIP #4 – Talk to your photographer! You need to tell them how big your families are and the size of your wedding party. Also, you will need to discuss your photo expectations. Waiting to take ALL your photo combinations until After the ceremony and before dinner will drastically cut down on the number of combinations you will be able to get done. I highly encourage you to get some photo combinations done before the ceremony with your family and wedding party. The photographer will be able to tell you how much time to set aside to do this.
TIP #5 – Talk to your hairstylist and make-up artist about how much time they will need. Be sure you know how many in your family and wedding party wish to also get their hair and make-up done.
TIP #6 – BUFFER!!!! Add 10 – 15 min to every drive time. If you home is 10 min from the ceremony location, give yourself 20 min to get there. Put a buffer in your time line when ever you can. If you need your family to all be at your home for pictures at 1:30, tell them to arrive at 1:00. This gives those running late time to be “on time.” If you wish to have pictures getting into your dress, you will want your family and bridal party IN their dresses for the shots, not in their shorts and tee’s. Getting them at the location early gives them time to get dressed before your photos start.
TIP #7 – Look at your timeline from the point of view of your guest. Do your best to start your ceremony on time. Try to be no more than 10 min late if things get delayed. There is nothing worse than showing up to an outdoor wedding fifteen minutes early just to sit there for and additional thirty minutes waiting for the ceremony to start. Add on the thirty minutes for when the ceremony finally begins, makes it over an hour of being in the Hot Summer sun. Also, think of how long your guests have gone without eating. For a 4:00 wedding, as a guest, I would need an hour for my husband and I to get ready and 30 – 60min for a drive time. That has me eating 1:30 – 2:00 (or earlier). If my last meal was at 1:30, I am going to be Starving if you don’t have appetizers and make me wait until 9:00pm to eat dinner because you took pictures for 2 hrs between ceremony and reception, have a wedding party intro, a first dance, 30 min of toasts, and a prayer all before dinner. Check how long your guests are being asked to Sit in their chairs waiting for the dance floor to open. If guests are being asked to sit down at 6:30 and you don’t have the dance floor open to them until 9:30, that is a long time for them to wait for all of your events to be done before they can get out on the dance floor and boogie. Also, some of your guests with babysitters or your elderly guests might want to leave between 9 and 10pm.
TIP #8 – BE SURE YOU EAT!!!!!! Bring breakfast to your hair appointment, grab a snack on the way to the make-up artist, have non-messy snacks available while getting dressed and taking photos. Have a straw to drink with. Do not have your first meal at 7:30 at night.
*** How to write your Timeline ***
First collect all of the known times.
– Reception ends at 11:00pm
– Dinner will last for 60 – 70 min
– Cocktails/Appetizers for 50 – 60 min
– Reception starts at 6:00pm
– Driving time from Ceremony to Reception 20 min real time
– Start time of Ceremony 4:00 pm – sharp –
– Driving time from Getting ready location (Photo location) to Ceremony 15 min real time
Then start filling in all the events on the night by working backwards. Again, use the tips you received from your vendor on HOW LONG events should take and What Time they suggest you do them.
There are pros and cons to 1st dance before or after dinner. You need to decide which sounds like a better idea to you.
1st dance (before dinner)
Pros
* no food in teeth
* no stains on dress/tux
* dress not wrinkled from sitting
* make-up still fresh
Cons
* interruption in the tempo of the night – Upbeat intro, slow dance 1st dance, then mellow dinner. Then increase tempo again after dinner. When after dinner, you are building up the excitement and have it reach a plateau right after dinner.
* guests might be hungry
If you do your dance before dinner, I suggest toasts/speeches during dinner after everything is served. That way your guests are not sitting in their seats for a long period of time with no food. When they need to sit too long to watch dances and listen to toasts the food gets cold, their drinks get empty, their tummies start to rumble, and the guests get restless.
Cake Cutting
This is another event that the start time is determined by where you live and what is the norm for your area. Some cut the cake after dinner and their first dance. Some cut the cake near the end of the night. Again, talk to your venue on what works best for you and them.
************* Be sure to check out my Post on Timeline Templates *****************
https://weddingtips101.wordpress.com/2013/12/08/timeline-templates/
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**** A Sample Timeline Ceremony-Reception ****
break down in Minutes – not actual clock time
– 0:15 – 0:00 People arrive (Bride in bridal room doing touch ups)
0:00 – 0:25 Ceremony
0:25 – 0:35 Hug/greet guests
0:30 – 1:30 Cocktail hour (Bride & Groom take pictures)
1:30 – 1:35 Guests find a seat – Wedding party lines up
1:35 – 1:45 Wedding Party Introductions – people make their way to the table
1:45 – 1:55 Bride & Groom 1st dance
1:55 – 2:00 Welcome/Prayer – Start Meal
2:00 – 3:00 Meal (2:30 – 2:45 – You can have toasts During dinner, no reason for staff to wait until 3 toast are done to start bringing out the food) * 2:45 – 3:00 walk around to say “Hi” to guests
3:00 – 3:15 Father/Daughter – Mother/Son dance
3:15 – 3:20 Anniversary dance? to Open the Dance Floor
3:20- 4:30 Open Dance Floor
4:30 – 4:40 Cut Cake
4:40-4:55 Bouquet/Garter *serve cake
4:55 – 5:55 Open Dance
5:55 – 6:00 Last Dance
****** How to Write your Morning of Timeline *******
Your wedding day will FLY by. You will look at your watch and wonder where the time went. If you do not have a coordinator to set up your decorations I BEG you to find family members (Aunts, cousins) or friends to do the set up. You and your bridal party should be enjoying your time together getting pampered at the salon, Not getting all hot and sticky running around hanging tulle and filling vases with water and flowers.
Give yourself 1-2hrs blocked off for Bridal hair. *2hrs might be needed if you have really long hair and never had a trial. You want to have a buffer in there if things are not going well and you need to start over. 50 – 60 min for Bridal make-up. Ask the salon how many stylists they will need, and how much time, to do your family and bridal party.
Getting into your dress can take 30 min or more. Corset ribbons take time to get flat and perfect. Buttons loops are Super tight and you should get a Crochet Loop to help get the buttons done.
Getting everyone out of the house is going to take 10 min. Everyone needs to find their keys, their phones, their bags, a snack; you need to make sure all the lights are off, the curling iron is unplugged, the dog has been taken out, the house is locked – it all takes Time. Be sure you build a buffer into getting Out of the house and on your way. Arrive at the ceremony location 20 – 30 min early to give you time to not be seen by your guests and get in to the bridal room for a potty break and touch ups.
Allow about 20 – 30 min per combo
* 20 min Bridal Shots
* 30 min Bride w/wedding party and her family
* 30 min Groom w/wedding party and his family
* 20 – 40 min Bride and Groom and Giant family shots at altar/stairs/etc
* 20 min of just the Bride and Groom (at a pretty park?)
* 10 min of fun shots of the Bride and Groom with the wedding party (optional, but fun)
Allow 10 – 30 min for First Touch or First Look photos
* 5 -10 min first touch (10 – 20 min first look)
If you are DEAD SET against “first look” photos, please try to get some time set aside for a “first touch” session. You will have a door or a corner blocking the site of view from your husband and yourself. I have seen some AMAZING first touch photos and I just think they are beautiful. It gives you a chance to hold hands to calm your nerves and say a few words of encouragement and love to each other.
Pictures examples of Grooms Blown away by their Bride – 18 of the 24 examples are “First Look.”
**** A Sample Timeline Morning of ****
if you have no drive times you can bump everything – things are also different if you have 2 photographers
7:00AM Wake up, shower, EAT, drive to appointment
8:00 Hair appointment
10:00 Make-up – drive to location getting dressed
11:15 EAT lunch – tell Wedding party and parents to be at location to get dressed
11:30 Start getting into dress (could take up to 30 min – stubborn button loops/twisted corset ribbon)
12:00 – 12:20 Bridal shots
12:30 – 12:55 Bride combo shots with family & wedding party
1:00 – 1:20 Groom does his combos with family and WP – Bride does touch-ups
1:20 Pack up to leave
1:30 Drive to park/beach – pretty outdoor location for photos
2:00 – 2:40 First look photo – a few bride and groom shots – B&G with Wedding Party
2:45 – 3:15 Drive to ceremony
3:20 – Arrive at Ceremony: Set up any decorations, Bride does touch ups, Groom does some altar photos
4:00 – 4:25 Ceremony
4:25 – 4:35 hug/greet guests – move them out to do Grand Exit photo (bubbles/ribbon wands)
4:45- 5:20 Bride and Groom with Family shots
(6:00 – 6:45 Cocktails for Guests)
5:40 – 6:10 Fun outdoor shots (Bride and Groom shots, Bride & Groom with Wedding party)
6:30 Arrive at Reception
6:35 Touch ups
6:40 Gather everyone and Line up for Introduction – Guests asked to take a seat
6:45 – 6:55 Intro
6:55 Prayer (6:55 First Dance) (7:00ish Welcome & Prayer)
7:00 Start dinner (7:10 Dinner starts)
Some other GREAT tips here –> www.stylemepretty.com/2011/06/27/wedding-day-timing-tips-from-robert-kathleen-photographers/
******** A Photographer’s Sample Breakdown ********
After the ceremony, I allot 45 minutes for the following at the altar or on the grounds of the ceremony site:
B/G/Officiant
B/G/Bride’s Parents
B/G/Both sets of Parents
B/G/Bride’s immediate family
B/G/Bride’s extended family (one shot and everyone in such as aunts, grandma, etc)
B/G/Groom’s Parents
B/G/Groom’s immediate family
B/G/G’s extended family
This list becomes MUCH more complicated if there are divorces, remarriages, or additional shots requested….
After those shots are done, I do:
Bridal party at altar/ceremony site with bride and groom
Bride and groom at altar
The list above (starting with Officiant and ending with bride and groom at altar) takes 45 minutes to be safe. A good rule of thumb is allow 5 minutes per image. Someone will wander off, it takes five minutes for people to make their way back inside, someone is using the restroom, etc.
Then, we take the bridal party and bride and groom alone and work with them for 45 minutes at another location, or in a more casual setting.
*** In 45 to 60 minutes, you can do 9 to 12 different combinations of people, less if they are very large shots and more if they are small combinations of people.
– Kristen Wynn Photography – reply posted on a question on weddingwire.com
AND ……
A few more links to sample detailed timelines, if you rather look at someone else’s and try to make it your own.
~ Morning of Timeline ~
http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/please-share-your-day-of-schedule/fe527567358a1a05.html
~ Reception timelines ~
http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/wedding-time-schedule/160e7b6b50c89909.html
Monograms
To design your monogram in Microsoft Word:
- Choose Insert -> Textbox. Type and format the letter the way you like it. Do this three times.
- Now click on all textboxes and choose Format->Textbox.
- Choose Color: No Fill (so you can overlap letters) and Line: No Line.
- Select all letters, right click, and choose Group to lock in the arrangement.
- You can now copy your image into Microsoft Paint and save in several formats, such as JPEG.
– Picture Step-by-Step Instructions on creating a monogram – very simple to follow
http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/diy-wedding-challenge-how-to-design-your-own-monogram-in-microsoft-word
Here is a site that let’s you design a FREE MONOGRAM – http://www.weddingchicks.com/freebies/custom-monograms/
- Free Invites and Save the Dates too! Weddingchicks.com
DIY Monogram Aisle Runner – I have never done it myself, so I can only direct you to sites that have posted instructions. Tips they have suggested: put wax paper on the table so that when the paint bleeds threw the runner it does not dry to your table. So trace the monogram lightly right on to the runner then place wax paper under it – or – trace the monogram onto wax paper while over the monogram paper print out . If you trace onto the wax paper you will want to be sure it is dark enough to see through the runner.
Instructions
http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/diy-aisle-runner-2
or
http://roadtotheaisle.blogspot.com/2007/07/diy-aisle-runner.html
or
This site gives instructions on how to create the actual runner from a tube and fabric.
http://www.weddingbee.com/2006/12/26/diy-aisle-runner/
Some Free Clip art you might want to download to go with your monograms.
Some Free Fonts that you might want to download.
Dafont or 1001 Free Fonts or FontSpace to name a few
And a link to the “rules” of Monograms.
http://www.themonogrammerchant.com/content.php?content_id=1008
The Woman’s name is on the left, the Man’s name is on the right, then the couple’s surname is represented by a larger letter in the middle.
Traditional etiquette on Monograms states that you should not use your married monogram until after you are married. Initial monograms are not “supposed” to be used on Save the Date, Invites, Programs, or Runners. Once you are married, you can use your monogram at the reception: menu’s favors, cups, napkins, linens, cake, and/or dance floor. * A modern alternative is to use a combination of the Bride and Groom’s first names/initials separated by a small decorative motif for invites and things at the ceremony.
Tips for the Week of the Wedding
First off, a great big congrats on your upcoming wedding!
Hopefully with 7 days to go you have reached the F* It stage. You have done all the planning you can do. Any little project that is not done yet, just let it go. No one will notice that small little detail missing. Just remember the day of, wake up and enjoy every minute of it. Take the time to step back and enjoy the sights and sounds. The little mishaps is what makes the day memorable, just go with it. No one but you will know that it is not Exactly to plan. If you don’t get those last minute projects finished, don’t worry. Again, only you will miss those small details – just let it go.
Put your marriage license (and pre-cana certificate) in your shoe box – you need them both to walk down the aisle. Also, put an invite in with your shoe box. The photographer will like to take pictures of your rings on it.
- Pets? Anyone watching?
- Bride outfit or Button down shirt to wear to get hair done
- Something old, something new, etc
- Under garments, Garter, shoes, jewelry, hair stuff
- Hubby’s favorite smelling lotion/perfume on you
- Deodorant (Spray Deodorant on your thighs to help with chaffing if you are not wearing pantyhose)
- Toasting flutes, cake knife, Cake topper, guest book, card box
- Cash to tip your vendors
- Phone and Phone charger
- Have a list of Phone numbers of your vendors
- Pack your overnight bag for the hotel (with a cute outfit for the next day)
* Don’t forget to pack A Bag to put your dress in the next day when you at at the hotel, unless you think you will remember to grab the one your dress is in now (But you probably will forget the nice one in the room you are getting ready in)
** Control the Shine ** Get some oil absorbing blotting papers from the make-up aisle in the drug store. They will remove the shine but keep the make-up. Put them in a little purse with your mascara, lip gloss, tampon and your PERSONAL Cameral. Have it near you (or your maid of honor have it on her) at all times. When it is your 1st dance/cake/etc have your maid of honor take pictures with YOUR camera so you have something to look at the next day.
Get a crochet hook if your dress has buttons. (helps with button bustle too)
Remember a lighter (for unity candle) or a bottle opener (wine ceremony).
*tip, cut a little of the wax off the wick off to make for easy lighting the day of the wedding
Remember to eat during the day before the ceremony. Eat Breakfast and have some finger food snacks that won’t get you messy for before/in between pictures. Have a straw for drinking so you don’t mess up your lips.
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♥ Idea if you have time ♥ ~ romance basket ~ dollar store toasting flutes, bottle of champagne, bottle opener, matches, candles, petals, oils, lotions, sexy play list of songs ~ for the hotel room
Ask the venue to pack up a few pieces of cake for you to take back to the hotel room for a midnight snack. You might be walking around and socializing and not notice when the cake is on the head table – if you don’t eat it right away they just clean up and take it away.
And appetizers too!!! Ask the venue to place a little dish of them at the head table for you. I’m sure you will be taking pictures or socializing and will miss out on the delicious appetizers that you picked out.
And if you can, get a special cup to walk around with your drink, or if you are not afraid of breaking it, use your toasting flute. (etsy, ebay, wedding stores, or party stores have Very cute Charms or covers)
You will probably lose every one of your drinks after only getting 2 or 3 sips if there is not some way to pick your drink out of a crowd. I don’t know how many times I put my drink down on a table to take a picture or go dance to a song and then had No CLUE which one was mine or where I left it, and had to go get another.
Bring some comfortable shoes (platform flip flops) that are the same height as heels. Or even some beat up heels in your closet if they are the same or 1 inch shorter than your wedding heels. If your back up shoes are a LOT shorter than your wedding heels, you will step on the front of your dress while walking and will rip your dress or trip yourself.
Don’t go from 5″ Sexy Heels down to Flats!!!!
You can always put the sexy heels back for your garter toss.