Brides: If you've got wedding woes, we've got solutions

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

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PROBLEM: GROWING GUEST LIST

Breyanne Wample, 20, of Barrow County, thought she was ahead of the game in planning her Nov. 17 nuptials. But, no.

"She's freaking out," said her fiance, Eli Kitchens, while walking through the Georgia Bridal Show on Sunday.

"Every five seconds we find more people, because he forgot someone," Wample said. After consulting with his mother, Kitchens' guest list grew from 38 to 97 people in two days.

The goal, said the couple, is to have it all ironed out by the end of the month --- and to keep it under 125 guests. "I'm afraid I'm not going to have it the way I want," Wample said. "Calm, gorgeous and happy."

Solution: Rich Larsen of Creative Events by Sunflowers suggests a little tough love.

"If the space allows, nicely speak to the groom's parents and say, 'All we can afford is 90 to 100 people, but if you want to invite those guests, then you are going to need to pay for them.' " PROBLEM: FINDING PERFECT FLOWERS

Pink gerbera daisies would leave bride-to-be Katie Weaver tickled pink, but so far she hasn't found exactly what she's looking for. The 21-year-old Jasper resident also worries about whether the pink petals will coordinate with deep red, the other color in the wedding.

As the Aug. 6 wedding date approaches, Weaver's mom says she should have more than daisies on the brain.

"She's barely with it," Betty Weaver said, "She keeps going from one thing to the next all the time."

Solution: Fortunately, gerberas are easy enough to get in the summer, said Larsen. "The question is: Does she have realistic expectations when it comes to the price?"

He suggests that Weaver hire a consultant who can employ creative touches --- like oversize martini glasses with deep red stones and a single floating gerbera --- to help cut floral costs. PROBLEM: THE GROOM

She has the dress. She got the church on Monday. But Kristie Brown, 37, of Griffin is afraid she may not have the groom.

"I'm a little overwhelmed," she said. Her fiance just started a new job and has to make sure he can take off the weekend of Sept. 9. "It may be a couple of months before we know for sure," Brown said.

Still, booking the church was a major accomplishment.

"I just have to make sure my groom can be there," she said.

Solution: Celeste Hicks, owner of the 17-year-old B.A. Bride Wedding Consultants in Lithonia, said it's time for Brown to start multitasking.

"She needs to look at the flexibility of the church for other dates," said Hicks.

The bride-to-be also needs to give her fiance some alternate dates to request for time off. "If push comes to shove, she can always move the wedding," Hicks said. PROBLEM: THE BRIDESMAIDS (AND THEIR DRESSES)

Kim Smith, 31, of Atlanta, is working out the last-minute details of her June 17 wedding. But convincing one of her well-endowed bridesmaids to choose a more demure gown is one detail she hadn't anticipated.

"That's been my biggest headache," Smith said. "I don't want her getting more looks than the bride."

Solution: "The bottom line is the bride gets to make the selection," Hicks said. If the bridesmaid won't back down, "she can always pick her dress and wear it as a guest," said Hicks.

Deep breaths, everyone, deep breaths.