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Hopefully this is not too late for some military brides - Jobyna's Bridal & Tuxedo in Glendale is having a Military Bridal Celebration starting today, Nov. 9 to Nov. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As part of that celebration, the shop will be giving away 50 wedding designer gowns to 50 military brides with participating brands such as Jazmine, Moonlight, Paloma Blanca, St. Pucci, Maggie Sottero, Monique Liu, Henry Roth, House of Bianca and more.

But if brides miss their chance at a free gown, Jobyna's will offer plenty of specially discounted gowns for military brides only.

To qualify for the giveaway, brides must be engaged, be on active duty in the military or a fiance on active duty in either Iraq or Afghanistan, and show identification, deployment papers or orders, or other qualifying proof.

For questions or information, call 626.248.0026 or visit www.jobynasbridal.com . Jobyna's is located at 805 E.Wilson in Glendale.

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As I mentioned in previous postings, I have never been one of those girls that has had their wedding planned out since they were 10 years old, so when it came time to think of what kind of wedding I wanted, I searched dozens of websites and magazines for inspiration.

With so many ideas to draw from, it was overwhelming and I decided to go a different route. I tried to imagine how I wanted to feel the day of my wedding and how did I want my guests to feel - relaxed? festive? elegant?

When I thought about those two things, I really loved the idea of drawing from my Mexican heritage and its traditions, but I also wanted it to be fun and informal. And in our progressive times, it's okay to have both.

So I decided on a traditional Mexican wedding ceremony but a fiesta-type reception. With an industry obsessed with color schemes, I also had a tough time deciding on colors. After much pestering from family and friends, and ultimate frustration, I threw the whole "color theme" idea out the window and focused on the actual theme I wanted for my wedding, and the colors that go with that theme.

I wanted to feel romantic so I focused on lace and flowers for myself and the fun fiesta part will be obvious with the colorful display of my bridesmaid's dresses, the centerpieces, the flowers and the invitations. With the bridesmaids in a casual style, and different colors, it didn't make sense to have the groomsmen in stuffy suits, so my fiance was happy with my idea of having the guys wear colorful, and comfortable, guayabera shirts. 

The invitations had to portray both the sweet romantic theme as well as the fiesta party our guests should prepare for, so with the help of my MOH, we had a great graphic designer design the invitations for us using the things above, as well as some Mexican tile designs for inspiration.

The result is awesome - colorful flowers and birds. I can't wait to have them printed. I plan to use the design to inspire the cake design and colors as well.

With these details down, it's onto executing them and getting other little details down - ceremony flowers, bridesmaid bouquets, my bouquet, hair, jewelry, makeup, ceremony music, reception music, bachelorette party, bridal shower..... *breathe in... breathe out...*

WHERE DO YOU DRAW YOUR PARTY/CELEBRATION INSPIRATION FROM?

The Casting Company will be looking for engaged couples and vendors interested in taking part in their upcoming show, "Celebrity Wedding Makeover," at the Wedding Expo bridal show to be held Sunday, April 25 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

The show looks to pit different Hollywood celebrity couples against each other as they try to create the perfect dream wedding for each couple using their upscale style and connections.

For more information on the bridal show and the casting call, visit www.PremierBridalExpos.com .

Before deciding on a wedding date or even on a location, couples should first figure out who is paying for the wedding and what kind of wedding they want.
Not only will this help a couple determine their budget and whether their wedding will be an intimate affair or a grand celebration, but it will be a good way to see how well they can make decisions together.

The national average cost of a wedding is $27,000, according to recent reports. And though that average is slipping mainly due to the recent economic woes, a wedding can still be a pricey affair. To get a better idea of the average cost of a wedding in your area, visit www.costofwedding.com and type in your zip code. Keep in mind, these averages don't include the honeymoon.

Though the tradition is for the bride's parents to foot the bill, it is becoming more common for all parties involved to contribute, or as couples marry later in their life, they are able to handle the financing of their wedding on their own.

Many couples are opting for destination weddings to locations that offer all-inclusive packages (plus you can enjoy your honeymoon right away). Other couples are going for more intimate celebrations with just immediate family and a small number of friends, to bring cost down. But many couples still are getting creative with ways to save here and there,and still get the wedding they are happy with.

The Knot.com has a great budget tool that breaks down how much is usually spent on everything from the food to jewelry and more. Always round way up when calculating costs. You should always have a contingency fund should any last-minute finances arise, and when not planned for, they usually do.

Money and financial issues are the main cause for conflicts in a marriage and can lead to divorce. Starting your lives together on good financial footing will make the road ahead a little easier. The golden rule of honesty definitely applies in this area - be open. Be sure to keep in mind as you decide on all the little details of your wedding and discuss cost - is this worth going into debt for?

I knew I wanted to keep my wedding budget low, but I also wanted to realistic. My fiance's family is large and very close, so keeping costs down by having a short guest list was just not going to be possible.

With a guest list of 250 people, I knew the majority of our budget was going to food, drinks and the reception venue. So, where to cut?

First, I wasn't looking to be a princess or queen on my wedding day so I didn't need a big ballgown. I was happy to look through the sale rack at David's Bridal. (And I found the perfect dress on sale - more on that later).

We also decided it wasn't necessary to have a 4- or 5-tier cake, so we're going to just have a simple, tasty and still elegant 2-tier cake for the cake cutting ceremony and our guests will be served from sheet cake, that will be secretly kept away in the kitchen.

Although I am not a regular Martha Stewart, I am a quick learner and I have an army of bridesmaids and family to help with my DIY projects. I recently picked up a copy of Martha Stewart weddings magazine and was surprised to find I had many of the same ideas for my wedding featured in the magazine - crafty minds think alike. 

Once you start talking to vendors and getting ideas of prices, don't be discouraged. Great vendors now are willing to work with any budget, small or large. Be sure to get references and have a contract.

And don't be too embarrassed to sign up for giveaways, not all are scams or a marketing ploy to get you to spend more, there are many that are legit and free - just read the fine print - you never know what you could win.

Once you have figured out the budget and guest list, and are looking for vendors and venues, try to stay away from season months (May to September) or a Friday or Sunday wedding date, when the costs can go way down. Having the ceremony and reception at the same venue will not only save money with package deals but also with transportation costs, as well as give you more time with your guests.

If you're not into having a big party, a cocktail or dessert reception can be just as elegant and memorable at a fraction of the cost of a sit-down dinner.

By being creative with your resources and wedding ideas, you can find different ways to cut costs and still make your day uniquely yours.

Though, it can be stressful at times, people always say to remember that it should be a fun time planning your wedding - I'm still working on reminding myself that everytime we hit a snag, but my key to de-stressing is my family and friends, they are my support system and they let me vent. I also keep in mind not to fret about every detail, if at the end of all this, we are happily married, then my dream wedding has come true. 

Coincidentally, a bridal show was set for the first weekend of January, soon after my engagement. It sounded like it would be fun and informative, so I rounded up my posse - mom, sister and best friend, aka. maid of honor (MOH)- and headed to the Great Bridal Expo at the Anaheim Hilton.

Although I registered in advance, the line just to get into the expo was about 20 minutes long, and the registration staff was a little confused as to how to direct the guests in. My MOH pointed out to me that they looked like models. As I looked at each of them, they did look unusually thin, all with a lot of makeup and their hair in similar updo's. When the bridal fashion show began later, it was confirmed, they were the same model-looking girls at the registration booth. What a way to save money.

  As soon as I stepped into the expo space, there were so many vendors but I tried taking my time to stop at each one to see what they had to offer. There was everything from bridal fashion to cake tasting and honeymoon ideas.

I soon learned my easy-does-it plan wasn't quite working out. My posse kept splitting up around me and I was being pulled from one booth to another so quick it was a blur. They were more excited than I was.

The vendors I did get a chance to talk to for a bit had a lot of information about their services and what they had to offer, but they weren't as eager to talk prices at the expo. Not very helpful for this budget-minded bride. Almost each of them had the same thing to say "We personalize our packages for each couple."

Although it was an overload of some necessary, and many unnecessary, information, it did help me get an idea of what I will be dealing with for the coming months as I work out all the wedding details. And it gave me insight into how much my family and friends want to be involved in the process as well.

I know many details will ultimately be my decision, I mean my fiance and mine's decision, but it's nice to know they feel vested in this too. I am not alone.

I have since been to two other bridal shows - mostly for business (visit the Rose blog for the Upscale Bridal Show at the Langham), but also for pleasure. They each had something unique to offer and I have enjoyed spending time with friends and family at each.

As you start attending bridal shows or registering at wedding sites, prepare for your inbox and mailbox to get inundated with offers and emails from many vendors. To stay more organized, consider creating a separate email account (ie. jackandjillwedding@....) for all the wedding related items.

As bridal or party planning shows come up in the San Gabriel Valley, I will try to post them here. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to email them to me at claudia.palma@sgvn.com.

Upcoming local shows:

Mountain Meadows Country Club Bridal Show, 1875 Fairplex Drive, Pomona - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 7. Hors d'oevres, champagne and door prizes. Free parking and admission. More information at 909-620-9037.

Bride World Expo, Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St. - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 14. Brides receive bridal magazines, shopping bag, coupons and a free wedding planner workbook. 125 wedding vendors and a honeymoon prize to be awarded. $10 admission. More information and pre-register online at www.brideworld.com or call 800-600-7080.

Again, since I am new to planning a wedding, I looked to many media outlets to inspire and help me during the process.

I must admit that I was obsessed with some wedding shows before my engagement - Bridezillas and My Fair Wedding with David Tutera on WEtv. They were great for knowing what not to do, or what to avoid, so as not to become a "bridezilla," and Tutera was great to watch as he transformed everyday couple's weddings into unforgettably unique and classy events.

Of course, another place I headed to first was the world-wide-web. Oh. my. lord. Just after a few hours of surfing, I was in wedding search overload. Many sites were helpful but some just made my head spin more.

One of my favorites so far are www.theknot.com, which has a great tool where you can serach for vendors by what type of service offered, location, price, and more. It also has a great wedding checklist that definitely helps the newbies - like me.

Yes, the list can seem long and you may not even have 12 months but relax. Remember a checklist is just a guide and not everything on it applies to every bride or couple. Also, you can adjust the time schedule to however many months (or years) you have to plan. (I just have nine but am making it work for me!)

As far as magazines, the ones I got the most inspiration from are Brides, the knot (yes also a mag), Ceremony is beautiful with lots of pictures, and surprisingly Latino Bride and Groom, a SGV-based magazine has a great vendor guide in the back, www.getmarried.com just launched their print version of their online guide. The magazine has great pictures and ideas for all kinds of brides.

Next time: My first bridal show.