Everyone knows that websites such as The Knot (and now the Knot App) are great resources for planning a wedding. However, Visit St. Paul—the Official Convention and Visitor’s Center Bureau for Minnesota’s capital city—has a similar resource for those looking for something a little bit closer to home: idosaintpaul.com.

idosaintpaul.com is a website run by people who know the city best, and it’s no small detail to add that their services are entirely free.  And now, with the passing of the Freedom to Marry Bill, Visit St.Paul has expanded its wedding resources to include, and encourage, same-sex marriages.

“We would type, ‘weddings in St. Paul’ and the bigger websites were coming up with stuff in Minneapolis. There’s a need here for people who are looking to have a wedding in St. Paul to work with people who have offices here, and talk face-to-face with these people,” Adam Johnson of Visit St. Paul told Aisle File. “Same-sex couples want the same services that straight couples are offered, and now we can do that.”

Stephanie Madden works exclusively with brides and grooms to figure out the best option for their St. Paul wedding. After the couple submits an online form indicating which services they are interested in, she contacts various vendors about their availability. We all know that narrowing down our options can be the trickiest part, and while Madden won’t make any major decisions for you, she will be able to list the Pros and Cons of the different variables. And now, with the gay marriage officially sanctioned, she has even more clients to work with.

“The beauty of it [the Freedom to Marry Bill] is in its simplicity,” she says. “There are no new services, but we just got an entirely new enormous base of clients who now have the right to take advantages of our services. And we’ve already seen one same-sex wedding request come in for September.”

Whether you need just a hotel block, or the whole gamut of wedding services from photographer to florist, idosaintpaul.com is equipped to assist any couple that desires a St.Paul wedding. We can only hope that an App is on the way. . .

Unfortunately for some brides, the idea of a traditional wedding gown or bridesmaid dress might seem restrictive. For ladies not interested in a Cinderella-style ball gown or other popular designs, finding what to wear on the big day can be more than a little bit daunting. That’s where Anthropologie’s vintage-inspired bridal line, BHLDN, short for “beholden” comes in. Luckily, just like Anthro, BHLDN is perfectly quirky; elegant and fun, but with that classic retro appeal. (We think this girl would probably make a fitting brand ambassador.) Whether you need a wedding gown, reception dress, or unique shoes and accessories, expect to find feminine, whimsical pieces you won’t see at your everyday bridal shop. And while the price tags on some of the smaller items might send you into sticker shock, the gowns themselves certainly don’t exceed the price points of more traditional brands. (With its beautiful beadwork, this fun Pinpearl dress by Sachin + Babi feels like a veritable vintage steal.)

Especially for bridesmaids, BHLDN’s classy yet fun approach is one not to miss. As we’ve mentioned before, finding dresses for your bridesmaids can be anxiety-provoking for everyone. (No more taffeta, please!) But today’s world is nothing if not full of options, and we’re glad to see the wedding industry is changing its tune. So show your friends these beautiful creations or, better yet, why not make an appointment to try on some designs for yourself?

To celebrate the opening of their new storefront in California—aside from their website, the line is now only sold in three actual stores—BHLDN is taking its collection on the road for a traveling trunk show to select Anthropologie stores. Our very own Minneapolis location was selected, so if you’ve seen something you like, you’ll want to set up an appointment between May 20 and 21 to try these babies on for yourself! Sign up on BHLDN’s Facebook page to procure a time slot. You’ll get a 45-minute appointment and the opportunity to peruse their entire collection of full-priced gowns. Oh, and did we mention the cocktail reception afterwards?

Anthropologie, 4996 France Ave. S., Mpls., 612-285-9164. From 10 a.m.—6:00 p.m. 

Deep condition once a week from now until your wedding. That’s right, get on a schedule and leave it in for approximately five to 10 minutes. The difference you’ll notice in your tresses is almost instantaneous. Trust me; I have pretty thin hair and I was running my fingers through it like I was Eva Longoria at a Loreal convention. I recommend Kerastase Chroma Riche Essential conditioner (but that’s only if you have color-treated hair). Grab a disposable spoon, and scoop out a healthy dose to run through your wet hair. Tip: My ahir guru at Denny Kep recommends opening and closing the conditioner outside of the shower, so as to avoid moisture entering the container and watering it down. Do that and silky smooth, hair-commercial locks are in your future.

Extend those lashes. Whether you get day-of additions (have your make-up artist apply them; do not try it at home) or you head to Jett for extensions that last four to six weeks, you want your peepers to pop, and with lash extensions they will. My one plug for Jett: I did them a week before the wedding, and they lasted through my deep sea diving on the honeymoon. I could go make-up free at the beach and I still felt eyes packed a little extra punch. If you opt for the more permanent extensions, have one trial run before your wedding to make sure the length and shape are what you desire. Be forewarned: Continuing the extensions well past your wedding can get spendy, but they’re so hard to say goodbye to!

Schedule a massage! Four days before the wedding, my sister-in-law surprised me with a massage, and boy was it worth it. That was the start of the de-stressing for me, and that blissful (and almost alarming for anyone who knows me) calm lasted through the entire weekend.  If your wedding is in town, consider a trip to Fusion LifeSpa in Deephaven and submit yourself to their magical fingers. Any pre-wedding woes will melt away.

Plan your final haircut/color/final facial at least one week away from the big day. Just in case . . . Even if you trust your stylists/ aesthetician/ etc, you want to leave room for error. I recommend having both a facial and a color about two months before the big day as a trial run. That way you can make any tweaks to the color, and you’ll know if you have any sort of adverse reaction to anything used during your facial. That final week should just be for fine tuning!

Get a zapper. Stress causes pimples, and no one wants to deal with a whitehead on their wedding day. There are tons of options out there, but the acne clearing pen from The Metropolitan in Edina is the best one I’ve ever seen. For $38 I had complete peace of mind knowing that any blemishes that might have popped up due to the stress was gone before it even started. Actually the one bridezilla moment I had was about four days before the wedding (must’ve been right before the massage) when I could feel something brewing under the surface of my skin and I couldn’t find my little pen. Five minutes later it was found, applied, and gone before I took a second glance in the mirror.

For more beauty advice, check out our own guru Elizabeth Dehn’s breakdown of where to get pampered. Good luck, and as always, happy planning!

Buy the ever famous zit stick.

In Greek mythology, Theia is the goddess of light. In today’s fashion world, THEIA is the collection of jaw-dropping gowns by designer Don O’Neil. Offering both evening wear and bridal, THEIA debuted in 2009 to rave reviews, and has continued to garner praise for its couture feel yet accessible price points. Now, one of O’Neil’s bridal designs will make its debut on the big screen in this month’s The Big Wedding, a film that features such stars as Robert DeNiro, Susan Sarandon, and Robin Williams. Despite the film’s star-studded cast, the actress sure to make the biggest impression on fashionistas and bridal enthusiasts alike will undoubtedly be Amanda Seyfried; the hip ingenue plays the film’s bride and will don THEIA’s “petal gown.”

The petal gown is both chic and fashion-forward; the design has the combination of timeless elegance and a soft edge that makes it a natural choice for Seyfried, not to mention our lovely Minnesota brides. (Warm weather WILL arrive one of these days, and we can only anticipate the chic summer weddings we’ll get to be a part of!) So we couldn’t resist sharing a little secret with all our secret bridal superstars: From now until April 29th, you can enter to win a THEIA petal gown just like the one in the film. All you have to do is “like” THEIA’s page and enter in a few details like your name and address, and you might just walk down the aisle in a Hollywood-worthy creation.

THEIA’s bridal line can be found at Nordstrom’s Wedding Salons, Bloomingdales, and bridal boutiques across the country, and retails between $995-$2,495. The Big Wedding opens April 26th.

The first order of business is to set the date. By doing that you need to tour various venues (and if you’re doing a church wedding, find a church and venue that have corresponding dates available). Pretty straight forward, right? One thing to consider, however, is the weekend you choose. When I picked my date, I didn’t realize right away that there was a huge air show in a nearby town, which meant many hotels were already booked up. Fortunately we called early enough that we could secure a block, but had we waited until we were further into the process, we may have been in a bit of a bind when it came to finding a place for all the out-of-towners to sleep. So once the date is secure, call or tour the hotels you’re thinking of and get your name of their books.

If you’re hiring a wedding coordinator, he/ she would be the next person you should contact. We didn’t enlist the services of our coordinator until about a month into the planning process, and we found some of the contracts we had already established needed to be reworked once she had a look at them. Coordinators are key in helping you order the right number (in the right order of things) the first time around—ours saved us the equivalent of her fee when she reviewed our transportation contract and realized we had way too many buses for shuttling our guests.

The next slew of important vendors to hire are the ones who cannot be at two weddings on the same day: the band, the photographer, the caterer, the videographer, ceremony music, florist, etc. You’ll want to contact them before meeting with them to ensure that they have your date open and their fee is within your budget (there’s nothing worse than falling in love with a vendor only to realize that they are unavailable or unattainable).

As you’re working through the list and meeting with your potential partners for the coming months, you’ll also want to get started on your save-the-date with a stationer. I’ll be honest, for me, this was the trickiest part of the process. Though you’re still likely nine months away from the wedding, the save-the-date is the amalgamation of a number of big decisions: the guest list for one, and usually the save-the-date is the first glimpse that your guests have into the look/feel/theme of your wedding. I wanted my colors selected before this crucial correspondence went out to our guests, so I had to at least consider what color I wanted my bridesmaids to wear and the color of my flowers.

About six months out, you’ll want to start to looking into rental equipment and linens if you’re planning to bring in any extra decor components. You’ll also want to solidify the aforementioned transportation (I strongly encourage you to talk this through with an expert . . . we WAY overestimated) and start meeting with potential hair and make-up providers. Before you book, make sure you schedule at least one trial run to make sure you and the provider are on the same page. You’ll also want to secure a rehearsal dinner location and get started on your invites.

As the date nears, all your vendors should be in place, so the execution is up to you and your dream team. If you’re ever curious about who you need to book and when, be sure to reach out to me via our Facebook page. I’m always here for you and happy to answer any questions you might have. Good luck, and as always, happy planning!

You’ve pinned just about every gown, three-tiered cake, and Jimmy Choo on Pinterest. You’ve torn pages out of magazines, logged some serious Say Yes to the Dress screen time, and allowed visions of do-it-yourself centerpieces and perfectly scribed place settings to dance in your head. You’ve got the groom, the ring, and a million and one ideas; but, dear bride, do you have any idea of how you will pull this off?

We know. It’s a bit of a bubble-burster. But the truth is, regardless of how amazing your wedding vision is, turning it into reality can be akin to turning Cinderella’s pumpkin into a chariot. No matter how crafty you are, or supportive your groom may be, we’re guessing that when it comes down to it neither of you want to assemble 300 mason jar centerpieces. (Or fret about whether or not the cake arrived in one piece.) The good news? There are professionals who know how (and like) to do the dirty work for you!

You may think hiring a wedding planner is an additional expense you can’t afford, but in reality, finding one that’s well-connected to local vendors can actually be a great way to cut costs. “I work with vendors that I’ve been using over and over, and they give me a discount that I pass directly to my clients,” says Casey Noelle Bahl of Belle Noelle. “If you’re planning on your own, you don’t have that long-standing relationship with vendors.” (Not only that, but having an unbiased support system with you on your wedding day may just save your sanity.)

So how do you track down the wedding professional that’s right for you? Not unlike finding the right mate, finding the right planner consists of selecting someone you can trust—someone who will listen to you and understand your needs, and ultimately have your best interest in mind. Sounds like a daunting task, right? Not necessarily. Aisle File consulted with some of the top experts in the area on five steps to find your perfect match.

Amy Zaroff Events + Design

1) One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Here’s the thing you may not know: there isn’t just one kind of wedding planner. (And none of them are Jennifer Lopez.) The business of wedding planning is more like a spectrum, with professionals who help you tackle your to-do lists and remind you of deadlines on one end, and full-fledged design companies that execute every aspect of your vision on the other. It’s important to know how much you’re willing to spend and what your specific needs are so you can select the right kind of planner for you.

Amy Zaroff of Amy Zaroff Events + Design says that understanding the different types of planners is crucial in knowing who you’ll want to interview. (And you will need to interview them—see #2). ”Different planners and designers fit different needs in the community,” she says. “If you’re looking for someone to check off your to-do’s, that’s one kind of planner: but if you’re looking for someone to take your ideas and execute them in a way that is visually driven, that’s another kind.”  Zaroff recommends pinpointing what your needs are prior to doing any research. Check out their website and credentials, and really hone in on the services they offer. Look at their packages and pricing; do they offer “day-of-coordination?” If so, this service typically translates to having someone work with vendors on the big day. Do they refer to their business as “event design?” This often refers to one or more professionals who will work with you to design your wedding from the ground up. Other planners offer a-la-carte services, such as floral arrangement or invitation design. Read testimonials, and do your research. Because your time is precious, you’ll only want to interview people that offer the kinds of services you think you’ll need.

2) Face-Time is Crucial

Once you’ve narrowed down your list to planners who’s services match your needs, you’ll need to do some courting. You wouldn’t just settle on the first fella that came along—finding the planner that you want to spend the rest of your wedding with shouldn’t be that blasé either. It’s crucial that you actually meet with prospective professionals face-to-face to really find out if they’re “the one” for you. As Amy Rubins and Anna Senrick of Fête Perfection note, “The planning process can take anywhere from six to 12 months; that’s a long relationship. You have to be absolutely sure that someone can provide all the services you need and is the right fit for you.” And all our experts agree that even if someone seems perfect on paper (or their Facebook page), meeting face-to-face is really the best way to get a sense of someone’s character. The good news? Most planners offer an initial consultation for free.

Fête Perfection (Photo Credit: Vick Photography)

3) Choose A Planner Who Can Execute Your Vision . . . on Budget

When interviewing, you need to discover which wedding planner understands your vision but can still work with your budget. (Remember that tricky old thing?) Make sure the planner you choose really grasps the ideas you’re communicating to them, and above all, choose a partner in crime who’s on the same page you are.  Senrick and Rubins advise brides to check that someone has previously planned elements that they’re interested in incorporating. For example, “don’t hire a wedding planner who has never planned an Indian wedding if you want a Sangeet or Mehndi ceremony,” they say. “Be clear about what cultural aspects, traditions, or details you are expecting to incorporate.” And of course, you’ll want to pay attention to the price tag. “If you have a $2,000 budget and you’re interviewing a wedding planner who’s minimum is $3,000—that’s not going to work,” says Bahl.

4) Find Someone Who’s Connected…But Still On Your Side

All of our experts agree that choosing someone tuned in to the local scene not only saves you time, but money.”Long time planners have made great relationships with vendors,” Senrick explains, “and they usually have more perks to offer, like being able to grant discounts to you from their preferred vendors.” Ask a potential planner what vendors they recommend, prefer, or have worked with in the past. But know that you are never limited to a planner’s preferred vendors; nor should you be. As Zaroff points out, an ideal planner should still listen to what you want and connect you to the vendors that will most appropriately deliver the right results. If you already have vendors in mind, it’s also your planner’s job to establish a relationship with them on your behalf. “It’s important to work with people who choose the right vendors for your needs; not just ones that are popular,” explains Zaroff.

Belle Noelle (Photo Credit: Staja Studios)

5) Make Sure Your Personalities Match

Your wedding planner doesn’t need to be your best friend, but you do need to trust them. Bahl recommends choosing someone you can connect with on an emotional level; you’ll more than likely need that person to serve as an impartial support system on the big day. “The most important thing is to feel comfortable with this person. You need someone to not only talk over timelines and ideas with, but someone to vent to; someone who can give you an outside opinion without an agenda.” On a day when emotions will surely run high, Bahl says planners can often help shoulder some of the stress that naturally comes with blending family and friends. “Your wedding planner has seen it all,” she says assuringly. “I really have played mediator for a lot of people!” Go with your gut, and find someone you genuinely like and will want to have around. After all, aside from your soon-to-be hubby, who better to have by your side than a pro who will have your back?

“I don’t want to look like a mother of the bride.”

It’s the most common concern Nancy Shank, owner and chief buyer of dugo (Dress Up Go Out), hears when her clients come in for the first time. Most of us have been to enough weddings to know just what the phrase means (or worse, when a woman tries too hard to not look like an MOB).

dugo is doing something different in the bridal industry: taking mother of the bride dresses as seriously as bridal gowns. “A woman has two important days in her life, ” Shank said. “When she gets married and when her daughter gets married.”

Shank is a veteran fit-and-fabric extraordinaire. Having been raised by a fashion designer who crafted all her own clothes, she developed a natural interest in fashion at a young age. For years she worked as a dress buyer before opening her own shop.

“I worked for another store where I was the dress buyer and realized there was a lot of women looking for mother of the bride dresses and no one was really helping them.”

Today, she prides herself on offering not only excellent customer service, but in helping women remember how they look in dresses.

dugo specializes in quality fabrics; the store carries lines such as Marisa Baratelli, Sylvia Heisel, and Teri Jon, among others because, well, “fabric is part of why a gown looks great.” And the hottest trends in MOB dresses have to do with combining fabrics: lace + silk, lace + organza fabric, or adding something with shine such as rhinestones or pearls around the waist or shoulders.

In addition to seeing more knee-length dresses, women are no longer so hesitant to wear dresses without sleeves. Shank credits the latter to first lady Michelle Obama’s leadership as a sleeveless fashionista.

I know, I was intrigued, too.

From the moment I saw Joanna August’s line of sweet and romantic dresses, I was hooked. All it took was one quick snapshot that Briana Griffiths, owner of Bella Bridesmaid in Excelsior, posted on Facebook, and I had to know more. Who was the designer? Are her dresses as amazing in person as they looked in that picture? And where was this designer two years ago when I painstakingly looked for my own bridesmaid dresses?

Turns out August is a relatively new designer from California who sells exclusively to Bella Bridesmaid. She started with just a small line of more expensive designs, but recently started producing a less expensive line, her Ceremony Collection, that runs between $225–$265. It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing I love about this line: the soft colors and how they work together, the versatility, the fabric, the silhouttes. Everything about them made me love them even more, but here are the top five reasons why you should pop out to Excelsior and give them a closer look:

1. Their sizing is XS, S, M, L. That means fewer alterations because the dresses are more accommodating to various body types. Elastic waistbands (hidden to make it look like it was made just for you) and wraps as stylish belts seriously cut down on the cost of having this nipped and that tucked . . . on the dress, of course.

2. You can mix and match in every sense of the word. They come in long and short, with plenty of different  options that work really well together. There are different bodice options so some are two pieces and some are a full dress. You can add lace to certain bodices adding depth to the gowns with varying textures.

3. The fabric. Call me oversensitive, but since my whole static cling debacle at my wedding, I’m all about a fabric that won’t cause you stress weeks before your big day. August used a flat chiffon, which Griffiths swears is one of the best to combat that very issue. Genius.

4. They’re perfect for every personality. Are they laid back? Formal? The answer is both and everything in between. You could have an easy breezy wedding on the beach and these would be perfect. But they’d also be right at home at a black-tie wedding. Whatever your theme, they’ll fit right in.

5. The colors. Seriously, I’m obsessed. Call me pastel-crazed, but I cannot get over how all variations works so well together. Whether you’re going for a neutral shading (above) or bright and bold colors (below), this line has it all. Personally, I can’t get enough of her mint frocks; the color is so on-trend . . . that alone is worth a second look!

Bella Bridesmaid, 276 Water St., Ste. 200, Excelsior, 952-474-5086, bellabridesmaid.com

It’s too soon to tell whether March will go out like a lion, but one thing is certain: by April, most of us are beyond ready for spring. For any bride newly engaged over the last few wintery months, Bachman’s Spring Ideas House can provide fresh ideas on the many gatherings centered around your upcoming nuptials. From engagement get-togethers and bachelorette parties to the actual wedding itself, more brides are finding inspiration (and motivation) to tackle DIY projects and save a little cash when planning a bash. The Spring Ideas House offers affordable, creative solutions to designing centerpieces, tablescapes, and of course, floral arrangements.

Hosted at the historical Bachman family home on Lyndale, Bachman’s Ideas House series brings a fresh coat of paint, color pallete, and theme to the changing of each season. For this spring, the theme is “The Gathering Place,” and will be chaulk full of ideas for the many gatherings planned during this special time in your life. Colors for the 2013 season include fresh yellows, clean whites, and soft grays.

This year's color pallete

Sarah Pitts, marketing manager for Bachman’s, notes that several new trends will be on display throughout the house, including mini gardenscapes and out-of-the-box centerpiece ideas. “This year’s house is full of modern elements,” Pitts says. One of them is permanent stems. “These are not your grandmother’s permanent stems,” she notes, “and the house is full of unique, out-of-the-box ideas on floral arrangements.”

Last year's living room design

Each room is styled by Bachman’s team of designers, and will include inspiration boards and ideas to help you think of fresh new designs for any of the gatherings in your life. Pitts tells us that the inspiration boards will be very “Pinterest-friendly,” with guests able to put together their own inspirations from the different looks featured in each room. Almost all the items in the Spring Ideas House are priced for sale on a first-come, first-served basis, and the house is open everyday from April 4–28. Self-guided tour schedules and tickets (which are just $5) can be found here. Each ticket includes a coupon for $5 off a Bachman’s purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Art in Bloom, which raises money to benefit the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Bachman’s Historic Family Home, 5936 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.

For my own wedding, I splurged on matching Givenchy earrings for my gals, but I remember feeling some disappointment because the cost of the simple studs ate my budget and they weren’t very original. I only wish I had known about local jewelry designer Realia by Jen during my own quest for the perfect bridesmaid bauble.

Jen Scheffler has been designing jewelry under the brand Realia by Jen for five years, and her most recent collection, which just launched on March 1, is filled with fun and flirty options that any bridesmaid would love. (Dare we say they might actually wear them again?) From her simple single stone earrings (priced at only $38) to her c’est la vie bangle ($35), Scheffler has mastered the art of affordable jewelry that makes a statement.

Brides-to-be will also be glad to know that Realia by Jen offers customized options, catered to the look and feel of your big day. Simply spend 30 minutes with the jewelry maven, and trust me when I say that her final creation will emulate your style better than any store-bought bauble ever could.

Scheffler is also a master when it comes to repurposing vintage jewelry, so with her help, your grandmother’s broach that has been stored away for years could be recreated into a stunning day-of accessory. Or if that family heirloom is too precious to recreate, peruse Scheffler’s already created vintage collection. (We’re loving this brass cuff for only $88.) 

Look for her designs at local stores such as Bachman’s and Love from Minnesota, or contact her directly to set up a consultation.

Your bridesmaids will thank you.