Shabby Chic

It's official, my favorite cover of the three, Shabby Chic, will be our next Premier Bride cover.
This will be our first cover with a short wedding dress. It's fun; it's whimsical; it's perfect for a non-traditional bride.
The model reminds me of a newly engaged friend of mine. How cute she will look in a dress like this!
But the decision is not mine. It's hers. As well is should not be. All brides have their own vision for their wedding; it's not their mother's wedding; it's not their planner's wedding. It's the bride's day and her wedding. And everything about her wedding should express who she is and what she wants to convey on this most important day of her life.
Whether it's like our covers...high fashion, shabby chic, or trendy glam...whatever you choose it will be distinctively you and you'll look marvelous!!!

2012 Cover Poll

Online Surveys & Market Research

We want you... to help us decide our cover! We had so many great options for the winter/spring edition of Premier Bride MS, so we thought you could help us decide! It just takes a second! Click on your favorite cover, then click Cast Your Vote and your done!
Thanks for your help!

The Local Tuxedo Difference

When renting your tuxedo, ask the company, do you own and alter your merchandise locally? Do you “ship them in” on a weekly basis? Why these particular questions? Why is working with a locally owned tuxedo company so important? Here’s why: a locally owned company usually owns their own merchandise. A locally owned company alters their own merchandise. A locally owned company has the tuxedos, shirts and all the accessories in stock so you can exchange sizes and styles at the last minute, if necessary! You don’t have to worry about that out of town guy. When he arrives, if it doesn’t fit, they can make the changes quickly. Also find out what designers are offered. What styles and colors are offered? What are your options? Working with a locally owned company means you have the top designers to choose from for your wedding party, a variety of options and all, usually, at a better value. The men in your wedding party will look and feel great at an affordable price.



by Tom Steadman of Tuxedo Junction

Tom Steadman is manager of Tuxedo Junction located in Northpark Shopping Center in Ridgeland, MS.

First Intuition is Your Best

Yes, you can buy the first dress you try on or the first dress with which you fall in love. Don’t talk yourself out of it. If this is the dress you envisioned, buy it now. If you wait or procrastinate, you may go back to the salon and the dress is not there. Top this with time constraints; you may not have enough time to order your gown. Trust your first instinct! Allow yourself plenty of time to order your wedding dress and all the accessories. This way everything is in and you are ready to go. Most wedding dresses are now from overseas. With the fabric, bead work and intricate designs, you need a minimum of four months and that’s without delays. We strongly advise 6 months to one year. Get your gown in early (and your veil) so you’ll have plenty of time for alterations and your bridal portrait.



by Dorcas Prince of Low's Bridal


Dorcas Prince is owner of Low’s Bridal and Formal in Brinkley, AR. It is the largest bridal salon west of the Mississippi.

Do Your Research & Get the Right Thing

Girls, here’s a tip to give to your guys: Most guys want to surprise you with a ring and do it romantically. They want to give you the right ring, the ring of your dreams. They don’t want to spend money on the wrong ring or a ring you won’t be happy with and enjoy. Here’s the suggestion: go to the jeweler with your intended and show him what you like. There might be several stones and settings that you like. Your engagement ring is your most important piece of jewelry! After all, you will have this ring for a lifetime and it’s something you will wear every day. Let your jeweler find the ring and the setting. And let your intended figure out how to propose and present your gorgeous ring.



by Jay Lake of Carter Jewelers



Jay Lake and his father are owners of Carter Jewelers in downtown Jackson, MS. Carter Jewelers is the third oldest registered jewelry store in the country.

Do you really need a Wedding Coordinator?

The last thing you want on your Wedding Day is to run around putting out fires. A wedding coordinator’s primary goal and motivation is to prevent those fires from happening in the first place. They are with you every step of the way to alleviate stress, help you build the wedding of your dreams and allow you and your family to enjoy your special day as well as the entire process leading up to it.

A professional coordinator will ask questions, show pictures, share experiences, ideas and help you develop a cohesive wedding plan that is distinctively you, from beginning to end. Your coordinator will offer workable suggestions to those sticky situations, help you find the perfect wedding vendors, and steer you away from common, costly mistakes.

A wedding is a huge investment. You wouldn’t make a major purchase without seeking professional advice. Why would you do anything less with the most important day of your life?




by Jean McGrury of After the Proposal


Jean McGrury is a wedding and event coordinator on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Jean’s creativity stems from her many years on the west coast.

Home Away from Home

Among the countless wedding checklists that exist, too often an important consideration is missing, making hotel reservations for out-of-town guests. Part of the success of any wedding is the atmosphere in which your guests gather. Arranging for hotel accommodations should be on your wedding checklist four to six months prior to your wedding date. When choosing a hotel consider location, price range, number of guestrooms needed, special facilities and requirements: pool, suites or a hospitality suite, handicap accessible rooms. Proper planning in arranging accommodations for your guests will save you unnecessary worries and allow you be a relaxed and happy bride and groom.


by Lindsay Hamm of the MMI Hotel Group

Inspiration Boad... Bridesmaid's Gift

Here are a few of our favorite BM gifts! Let us know yours!

Selecting Your Venue

Once you and your groom have chosen a date, it’s best to reserve your reception site immediately, even if it’s one to two years in advance. With this done, you will have alleviated a lot of stress for yourself. The particular details of your reception can be done later, but getting the place and date you want is now accomplished! Realize that many venues require a small deposit to hold the date. Check with your venue events coordinator about this when you call.



by Shelley Tolson of Diamondhead Country Club

Home Away from Home

Among the countless wedding checklists that exist, too often an important consideration is missing, making hotel reservations for out-of-town guests. Part of the success of any wedding is the atmosphere in which your guests gather. Arranging for hotel accommodations should be on your wedding checklist four to six months prior to your wedding date. When choosing a hotel consider location, price range, number of guestrooms needed, special facilities and requirements: pool, suites or a hospitality suite, handicap accessible rooms. Proper planning in arranging accommodations for your guests will save you unnecessary worries and allow you be a relaxed and happy bride and groom.


by Lindsay Hamm of MMI Hotel Group

Reception Planning 101

Deciding on what type of wedding you want is a very important choice to make. Have you always dreamed of an elaborate formal reception, or a more relaxed atmosphere with a beach as your background? Making this decision first helps everything in your planning process fall into place. Once you have decided on the type of wedding reception you want, the next step is booking a venue. Be sure to select a location that will set the tone for your special day. Do not wait too long though, because great venues tend to book fast!




by Lauren Quinn of the Hilton Garden Inn Jackson Downtown

Inspiration • Broach Bouquets

Broach Bouquets put a new, but vintage twist on an old wedding classic. Flowers are beautiful and you definitely can not replace your arrangements, but this is a beautiful new trend developing in the bridal world. Check out the inspiration board. Let us know what you think!

How to Care for Your Flatware

18/8, 18/10, 18/0…what do they mean? First is chromium; second is nickel; chromium makes steel stainless or rust resistant. Nickel makes it “whiter” in color or luster and adds strength, particularly to delicate patterns. 18/8 and 18/10 are considered the industry standard for quality. 18/0 reduces the cost significantly while only mildly affecting color. Stainless is usually sold in 5-piece place settings consisting of: teaspoon, place knife, place fork, salad fork, place/soup spoon. Here are three easy steps for sparkling, clean flatware: 1. Load flatware into the dishwasher with spoon and fork handles down, knife handles up. 2. Use powder detergents. Avoid ones with lemon and orange scents. 3. Use a stainless metal cleaner periodically to keep your set looking its very best.

by Sharon Newell of Belk

Tent Renting

Not all tents are created equal. Pricing tents is confusing if you don’t know what you want and/or need. First, know EXACTLY what you want under the tent. This determines square footage and the size/type of tent you need. Next the accessories: Lighting can change the mood of your event. Intensity or color of lighting can create a special effect. Hang chandeliers or special lights that display your monogram throughout the tent. Accessories also include liners and leg drapes. Depending upon weather, you may need walls around the tent with heating or cooling options. There are also flooring options to be considered. Finally, be sure your tent vendor carries a liability policy on their rental items and always ask for recommendations and professional qualifications.




by Erin Stubbs of Busylad Rent-All

Pick a Date

One of my new and much younger BFF’s is getting married. She and her long time beau decided “why wait”. However, they each had a different wedding date and place in mind. Normally this is left up to the bride. In this case, it is the second marriage for both.
My BFF wants a fall, rustic wedding in a country chapel; in fact, she had selected the place and the date, 11/11/11. That’s an easy date to remember. This didn’t bide well with her fiance’. He wants a spring wedding on the beach. Needless to say, there will be no wedding 11/11/11, but there will be a wedding.
These two are committed with their relationship being God centered. Having been married before, they both understand compromise and the importance of working things out and working together. Eventually my BFF and her intended will agree on the date and the place and it will be the perfect wedding. After all, in the bigger schemes of things, the date and the place are trivial. It’s the commitment to one another and the relationship you build with each other that matters most, especially with God at the front and center of your lives.

Plan Early, Order Early

Plan early, order early because it can take up to 14 weeks to get some gowns manufactured. This applies to the mothers, dresses as well. Keep an open mind when shopping for your gown; most of the time, brides end up buying something totally different from what they originally planned on. Once you have made your decision and made the purchase, Stop Looking and move on to something else.



by Bobbie Jefcoat of Mimi’s Bridal

Know Your Jeweler, Know Your Diamonds

You’ve dreamed about it all your life. Your engagement ring symbolizes love and commitment, so you want a ring you’ll treasure for years. That’s why it’s important to know your jeweler. When choosing a ring, find a jeweler you can trust by his reputation; one that has longevity in the jewelry business and can guide you in making that beautiful purchase. Next, know your diamonds. Not all diamonds are alike. Familiarize yourself with the 4C’s…cut, clarity, color and carat weight before you start shopping. Get your jeweler to show you the diamond under magnification and explain why it is the clarity, grade and color. When you leave the store know your diamond and be able to recognize it. A respected jeweler will help you make the right choice.




by Chuck Cooper of Van Atkins Jewelers

Portrait Props... Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?

While searching through hundreds of wedding related photos on the internet, I have noticed a recurring theme... props. Some may not like using props, but I feel it is a great way to get comfortable in front of the camera. Let's face it, unless you are Kim Kardashian or a Victoria's Secret model, then you are most likely not your self during a bridal session. And no matter how much you love your honey, taking engagement pictures can be uncomfortable. This is where the props come into play. I would suggest using them at the beginning of the session so you can relax. Be yourself! The best pictures are candid shots. Whisper something funny in your fiance's ear, give him a kiss on the cheek... make him blush! The camera will love you!
Take a look at our inspiration board below. Maybe you will find a few ideas that will help you be yourself at your photo shoot!

Measuring for Tuxes

Brides and grooms frequently ask two questions: How far in advance to I need to book my wedding? And how soon should the men come in to be measured? With the first question, generally the answer is as soon as possible. Many couples book their tuxedos when they book their wedding, many cases one year in advance. How soon should the wedding party be measured depends if the store has the tuxedos in stock or has to order them from an outside source. For stores that carry a large quantity and to ensure the sizes and styles you request, the minimum time recommended is two weeks in advance. For other shops without in-store tuxedos, four to six weeks is advised.


by Stephen Courteau of King of Hearts

As a bride, you will be entering a new and exciting time of life. You will be joining with your husband to form a new union, a new family unit. I encourage women to be proactive about their financial and legal affairs as they enter into marriage. Your new husband may be a financial and legal wizard, but you still want to know and be involved in these important matters. I have counseled too many widows who knew nothing about their financial and legal affairs. Therefore, I have summarized below three key areas for brides to make sure they stay involved once they are married.

Know Your Advisors
I encourage people to always have a great team of advisors including an accountant, financial planner, attorney, and insurance agent. Life is hard enough, you need good people on your team to help plan for your future. These people should be trusted advisors that know you and your family circumstances. Since most marriages will end with one spouse preceding the other in death, it is important that both you and your spouse know and be comfortable with these relationships. I encourage both spouses to participate in periodic meetings with their advisors.

Know Your Data
Who do you have bank/investment accounts with? Where is your money? Many spouses keep separate checking accounts. That is Ok, but both spouses should have knowledge about their family’s financial status. Who do you owe money to? You should have a complete list of your debts and regular obligations. Even though one spouse may handle the bills and family bookkeeping, I recommend that both spouses are “cross-trained” on this just in case. Do you have insurance? How much? What kinds of policies? This information should be at your fingertips whenever you might need it.

Know Your Plan
We often plan better for our vacations than we do for our lives. If you don’t have a will or trust, then you need one. Otherwise, you will die “intestate” and your estate will be administered by state statute. You are never too young to have an estate plan – it is not just for your grandparents. If you are or become a parent, you will want to address guardianships, trusts for your minor children, and other legacy issues. This type of planning tends to fall into the important, but not urgent, bucket of tasks. The good news is that it is not a jinx to actually plan your life, and estate planning is easier and cheaper than your probably think.

Be prepared for life’s realities. Being proactive on these fronts will empower you to have comfort and peace to enjoy the joys of life as well as be prepared for the inevitable speed bumps along the way.

by Martin Willouby of Willouby Law Group, PLLc


*Martin Willoughby is an attorney in Ridgeland, MS and the Managing Member of Willoughby Law Group, PLLc. He can be reached at martin@wlglegal.com.

Where to Spend Your Money

Great weddings have great linens, candles, alternating centerpieces, and one great specialty item (lighting, draping, amazing favors, one amazing floral, etc.). One specialty item will set your wedding apart from everyone else’s. A bunch of specialty items on a tight budget will make each item seem small. Linens can transform a room to a specific style and take the reception above “standard”. Picking one table size, one cloth, and one centerpiece that’s repeated is very basic. Alternating centerpieces, rounds and rectangles, and cloths will ensure a variation throughout the room that is pleasing to the eye. A professional planner can control the budget and ensure the biggest bang for your buck so you’ll have that “wow” effect.

by Deborah Simmons of Signature Occasions

*Deborah is a wedding coordinator/event planner in the Jackson, MS area.

Fingerprint Rings

Have you been faced with this question yet... "So, what are you getting engraved on the band?"
Be prepared. It will happen.
Instead of staring at the ring for hours, hoping the right words will magically appear on the inside of his or her band, what about a simple fingerprint? Before you get confused, it isn't your entire fingerprint, just a portion of it.
Jessica and Brent Williams of Fabuluster on etsy have been making jewelry for years. They have developed a unique process unlike any other. The fingerprint is not engraved or etched, it is crafted into the ring. Think sculpture. Here is how it works: you decide which ring you want, they send you the kit for your fingerprint, then you ship it back. Your fingerprint ring will be at your doorstep within 8-10 weeks. It couldn't be easier!
There are several different designs and metals available. Personally, I love the idea of the fingerprint on the inside of the band. If you want to wear your fingerprint proudly, then you may want it on the outside. It is totally up to you!
So, are you already married, but love this idea? What about a child's fingerprint? Or yours on a necklace? They even have the option to remember your beloved pet.
Leave us a comment with your thoughts. We would love to hear from you!

Mississippi's Bridal Guru Debut

Hello Brides! Welcome to Mississippi's Bridal Guru blog! Check our blog to see what is going on in the bridal world, ask questions about planning the perfect wedding or find Mississippi's premier wedding vendors! Thanks for dropping by Mississippi's Bridal Guru Blog!