1. Tan. Of course, you can do what you want to your skin, but just because you’ll be wearing white doesn’t mean you need to be darker than your natural color. The great thing about white is that is looks good on most everyone. On top of that, there are many shades of white, so that no matter what your skin tone, you can find the perfect hue to fit you, tan or not!

2. Cut and color your hair within a week of your wedding date. You never know what can happen when you cut and color. You may be confusing in your description to your stylist or she may not quite understand what you’re looking for. On top of that, just bringing in a photograph or magazine picture to your stylist won’t ensure that your hair will look exactly the way you want. Your hair type might not lend itself to that ‘do, your stylist may not be able to achieve the look exactly, etc. I don’t need to say much about coloring your hair! If it’s not done correctly, you don’t want to have funky color haired on your wedding day!

3. Starve yourself. You’re beautiful the way you are! The person marrying you loves you the way you are. If you want to lose weight, do it in a smart way. On top of everything else, stress from the wedding alone may cause you to drop a few pounds, which could mean problems with dress alterations. When you get your dress altered, it is made to fit the specific curves your body. If you were to suddenly drop pounds at the last second, your dress simply may not fit correctly.

4. Obsess about every tiny beauty detail. Stress can have major affects on your body! So, worrying about every little detail, especially those concerning your Bid Day Look, could cause you to be less than your best! Just relax and take things as they come. And, just to be safe, make sure you have a good backup plan - great concealer, a trip to the dermatologist, etc.

5. Leave the makeup and hair design to the last minute. Do a test-run far in advance so you have time to know what you like and don’t stress yourself out as the big day approaches (or ON the big day). It’ll save you energy and time in the long run.

Engagement Party
What: a celebration of the engagement
When to have it: soon after the engagement, within a couple months
Who to invite: parents, grandparents, close family friends, and members of your bridal party. if a person is invited to this even they should be invited to the wedding itself!
Who hosts: usually either the parents of the bride or groom, or both

Bridal Shower
What: An event held to shower the bride with gifts for her new life with her new husband
When to have it: Within a month of the wedding
Who to invite: This is a ladies-only shindig! Moms, grandmas, all the girlfriends are welcome! For themes like a “lingerie shower”, you may want to be selective about the guest list.
Who hosts: Often the maid or matron of honor, along with the bridesmaids. Sometimes, family friends will host. No one directly related to the bride should host a bridal shower (mom, sisters (unless they are part of the wedding party), etc).

Couple’s Shower
What: A more modern-day approach of a bridal shower, the concept is similar but includes the bride and the groom.
When to have it: Within a month of the wedding
Who to invite: Close family and friends.
Who hosts: Often members of the wedding party

Bachelor Party
What: Celebrating the “last night” of the groom’s single life
When to have it: traditionally within the week before the wedding
Who to invite: male members of the wedding party and close male friends
Who hosts: usually the best man and/or groomsmen

Bachelorette Party
What: celebrating the bride’s “last night” of single life
When to have it: within the week before the wedding
Who to invite: ladies of the wedding party and other close female friends
Who hosts: usually the MOH and/or the bridesmaids

Rehearsal Dinner
What: a dinner held after practicing the ceremony
When to have it: directly after the wedding rehearsal
Who to invite: wedding party, parents of the flower girl and ring bearer, the officiant (and usually his significant other), and often out of town guests
Who hosts: traditionally, the parents of the groom
Check this out for more information on KC rehearsal dinners and KC officiants.

Bridesmaids Luncheon
What: an opportunity to celebrate the friendship the bride has with her ‘maids and a way of saying thanks
When to have it: around lunch time the day before or the day of the wedding
Who to invite: the bridesmaids
Who hosts: the bride

Groomsmen “Gathering”
What: a get-together of the groom and his men, often a game of golf, poker night, etc.
When to have it: week before or morning of the wedding
Who to invite: the groomsmen
Who hosts: the groom

After Party
What: a post wedding reception event
When to have it: directly following the reception
Who to invite: guests that like to party or don’t want to leave
Who hosts: usually the same individuals hosting the wedding and reception

Post-Wedding Breakfast, Brunch, or Lunch
What: a usually informal, relaxed meal
When to have it: the day following the wedding festivities
Who to invite: parents, family members, and out of town guests
Who hosts: the family of the bride or groom, or both

So where did it all begin? Peregrine Honig and Corrie van Ausdal opened Birdies five years ago (February 14th will be their 6th birthday). Since then, their shop and items have been featured in BUST, Present Magazine, Country Living, NYLON, and more. They have also become the lead sponsor of the growing West 18th Street Fashion Show, which just finished its ninth year.

Is Birdies bride-friendly? Of course! Honig said she works with brides almost every other day - they make up a huge part of their business. It make sense that brides would go ga-ga over just about everything in the shop. They have panties and bras, swimsuits and chic luggage tags (perfect for honeymoons), slips, night wear, Nippies (for all of those dresses that don’t accommodate bras), and the best garters in town. And the shop is never without “something blue” and fabulous undies that read “I Do”, “Bride”, and “Something Blue”.

And even though Birdies carries high-end items, Honig assures us that the prices aren’t much different from the well-known lingerie shop in every mall. But what IS different? The pieces themselves are from designers that Honig and von Ausdal have really and truly come to know, from personalities to personal styles. And though the women are selective when it comes to designers, they are even more selective when it comes to their inventory. They attend numerous fashion shows and pick only the best pieces from collections, even if that means a single item. While considering possible pieces to hang on their hangers, they have only their customers’ best interests at heart. They take quality of fabric and construction, shape, and overall look and feel into consideration. They want their customers to feel comfortable and flattered in every piece that is special and unique. And you’ll find no basics at Birdies - only the best, the most luxurious.

Birdies goes far beyond picking the right items with which to stock their shelves (which just so happen to be vintage Bitterman’s candy cases). Honig and von Ausdal can assist their customers in choosing items that will look particularly fabulous on their individual frames and with their skin and hair tones, considering colors, shapes, and fabrics.

Ron Berg Photo

You won’t find pieces like those that Birdies carries just anywhere. In addition, once you find something you love (and be assured, you will), get it while you can! It’s not rare that items will stay in the shop less than a week!

A few tips from the ladies at Birdies: If you start to feel a little self-conscious while trying on lingerie or other skimpy items, remember that the person you’re about to marry loves you for you - ALL of you. That person thinks you’re beautiful no matter what (and yes, even if YOU don’t like your thighs)! Also, if you’re having a lingerie shower, make sure the hostess of the event shares your info with your guests, including things like your size and measurements, hair and skin color and tone, and style likes and dislikes. And finally - it’s your wedding! Live it up and pamper yourself with the best! Back in the 1940s, women would throw out all of their old, or “single”, undergarments in order to purchase all new items for their trousseaus and new lives with their husbands. (Splurging on a few nice underthings doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?)

*Note: Birdies does NOT participate bridal shows and bridal fairs. After having experienced it, they feel the process of looking for and purchasing their items should be done in a different environment - their shop! As Honig put it, florescent lighting, cement floors, and thousands of people milling around is not the way to shop for lingerie!

Find them: 116 W 18th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108
Store hours: Tuesday-Saturday:12-7pm, First Fridays 12-10pm

Before the wedding:
-help the groom pick out the men’s formal wear
-help the groomsmen out when it comes to renting formal wear
-plan and host a bachelor party
-help the groom with random planning tasks
-help arrange the travel and accommodation for groomsmen
-attend and participate in the rehearsal
-help organize and inform the groomsmen

During the wedding day:
-carry the bride’s wedding ring and hand it over when asked
-walk into the ceremony with the groom and exit in the processional
-sign the marriage license as a witness
-give the officiant his (or her) payment or a donation on behalf of the bridal couple (if there is no wedding planner or coordinator there to take care of it)
-might sit next to the bride or groom at the head table, or in an attendant-only table
-make a toast to the couple
-dance with the Maid or Matron of Honor during an attendant-only dance
-help pass out final payments to vendors if no wedding coordinator is present
-help the Maid or Matron of Honor make sure the gifts are sent home with the right person

After the wedding:
-drive the newly married couple to their wedding-night accommodations (if they are not hiring another form of transportation)
-return the rented men’s formal wear
-make sure any other wedding day rentals are returned or picked up

Before the wedding:
-help the bride find her gown and shop for the bridesmaids’ dresses
-assist the bride in ordering the bridesmaids’ dresses
-help arrange the travel and accommodations for bridesmaids
-plan showers and bachelorette parties
-create a wedding-day emergency kit (it can have just the essentials if the wedding planner or coordinator has a larger one)
-attend and participate in the rehearsal
-help organize and coordinate the bridesmaids on the wedding day
-help the bride troubleshoot any issues that arise
-be prepared for lots of tears (good and bad) and laughter

On the wedding day:
-walk down the aisle (usually just before the flower girl, or bride if there is no flower girl)
-adjust the bride’s train and hold her bouquet while at the altar
-carry and hand over the groom’s ring when asked
-organize the programs, tossing items, etc., and make sure they are taken care of after the ceremony
-sign the marriage license as a witness
-help bustle the bride’s gown if needed, post ceremony
-might sit at the head table (next to the bride or groom) or with the rest of the wedding attendants
-make a toast (if desired by the couple)
-possibly dance with the best man during a wedding party only dance
-help direct vendors and make sure they arrive on time with the contracted items, if there is not a wedding planner

After the wedding:
-help organize and post reception activities (after party, morning-after brunch, etc)
-make sure the gifts go home with the right person
-take the bride’s gown to the cleaners or preservationist

• Dress
• Veil, Headpiece, or Hair Ornaments
• Hosiery
• Shoes
• Undergarments (Bra, Petticoat, Slimmer)
• Garter
• Gloves
• Jacket, Cape, Covering
• Jewelry
• Purse

For the Groom:

• Tux or Suit
• Bow Tie, Long Tie
• Shirt
• Vest or Cummerbund (if wearing)
• Socks
• Shoes
• Undergarments (under shirt, boxers/briefs)
• Cuff Links
• Studs
• Suspenders
• Tie Tack or Clip
• Pocket Square (if foregoing a boutonnière)

The list could go on and on, and, it’s safe to say any one bride can be any combination of the above. Use that handsome noggin of yours figure out how your bride is and how to handle each situation! We know you can do it! After all, you ARE marrying the woman!

And Brides, don’t get us wrong! Grooms can have these characteristics too! You know how to help your man! Help away!

How do you tie these fabulous fountains into your special day? Take your bridal party for a little trip downtown and have a photo session by a few of them. Or, scout out the perfect location (and get permission) to have your cocktail hour surrounding one. And, if you can get ahold of the right people, you might be able to “trash the dress” or have a photo session with your new hubby IN a fountain.