–Christina Peterson–
– Ask a Real Bride – Is it Okay to Have a Wedding B-List?
November 21, 2024
For many engaged couples, the guest list is the first step in wedding planning: many factors, including the budget, overall vision, and venue capacity can make determining who gets the invite a difficult decision. One solution for trying to include as many of your loved ones as possible? Creating a “B-List.” What’s a “B-List?” A […]
How Much and How Many? Your Guide to Wedding Registry Amounts
November 14, 2024
Even if you feel that you and your fiance “have everything,” we always recommend registering for actual gifts (not just setting up a honeymoon fund, though we love those, too!). But where to begin? How many gifts are too many gifts? And how can you predict what your guests are likely to spend? Let’s dive […]
– Ask A Real Bride – Destination Wedding Etiquette FAQ’s
October 17, 2024
Destination weddings seem to become more popular every year. With the ease of planning online and snagging great travel deals, why not have your wedding weekend double as a vacation for family and friends? Yet a wedding that involves travel may also lead you into uncharted etiquette territory–and we’re here to help! Read on for […]
5 Bridal Shower Themes Perfect for Wintertime
October 3, 2024
There’s no better time to celebrate the bride-to-be than the holiday season: your home is already decked out, family is in town, and cooling temperatures make everyone want to cozy up inside to enjoy a festive get-together. If “plan a bridal shower” has made its way onto your holiday to-do list, I’ve got you covered […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Help! My In-Laws Keep Adding Wedding Guests!
September 19, 2024
The trickiest part of planning a wedding is often the guest list. Determining who gets an invitation is often a collaborative process between the couple and their parents, and when one set of parents is paying, that collaborative process becomes a very delicate dance. This month’s wedding etiquette question comes from a bride trying to […]
Baby Showers, Sprinkles, and Sip and Sees – What’s the Difference?
September 17, 2024
New life is a gift and one worth celebrating! Over the years, you may have noticed that these new-baby celebrations have taken on different names: baby showers, baby sprinkles, and sip-and-see. What’s the difference? What do you need to know as a potential host, honoree, and guest? We’ve got you covered. Read on for everything […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Where are the Wedding Gifts? Why Some Guests Aren’t Giving–And What You Can Do About It
August 29, 2024
The Ask a Real Bride Instagram page is growing, and we would love to see you there, too! Every week, we discuss wedding etiquette topics like plus ones, dress codes, gift registries, and thank-you notes. And while there are many guidelines for hosting, gifting, and expressing gratitude, there’s one wedding topic that almost no one […]
The Best New Baby Products Trending on Social Media
July 5, 2024
If you’ve got a little one on the way, you know how overwhelming it can be to figure out exactly what you’ll need to care for your new arrival. And that overwhelming feeling isn’t just for first-time moms—even if you’re on your second or third, it seems like new products are being released every day, […]
– Ask a Real Bride – The Truth About Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses
June 20, 2024
Wedding planning comes with lots of decisions and questions, and sometimes, finding an answer requires some crowdsourcing. That’s how the Ask a Real Bride Instagram account came to be, and this month’s question is the perfect example of women coming together to help each other in the wedding planning process! A Real Bride asks: “Hi! […]
Your Wedding Reception Checklist
June 6, 2024
There’s more to a reception than “dinner and dancing to follow”–and while the reception is a festive celebration, there are also essential elements that make them meaningful and memorable. Your wedding day is going to fly by, and often, brides say they regret running out of time, running late, or forgetting to include important details. […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Should the Mother of the Bride Host a Shower?
May 23, 2024
Throughout the wedding planning process, the mother of the bride takes on many roles: she often plays the part of organizer, budgeter, coordinator, counselor, and confidante. But is “shower hostess” a title that should be taken on by the MOB? With the help of our Ask a Real Bride Instagram audience, let’s explore the traditional […]
5 Things Your Wedding Guests Wish You Knew
May 16, 2024
If you’re engaged and in the thick of wedding planning, chances are you’ve experienced some decision fatigue: between flowers, food options, vendors, and venues, the choices can quickly become overwhelming. But what if I told you that to your guests, there are only a few things that really matter? That after you drive off to […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Can I Tell Guests It’s Too Late to RSVP?
April 9, 2024
Once you mail your wedding invitations, it all starts to feel “real:” after months of planning, the word is finally out, and you can’t wait for guests to open their envelopes and enthusiastically and promptly send in their replies! But it doesn’t always happen that way. Unfortunately, there will always be a few guests who […]
– Ask a Real Bride – What Should I Write on My Wedding Website?
March 21, 2024
In the past decade, wedding websites have become an essential information hub for the couple and their guests. In a recent survey on our @askarealbride Instagram page, 86% of brides reported that they’ve already built out a website for their upcoming wedding. If you’re in the 14%, don’t stress–we have you covered! Over 500 amazing […]
5 Things We Love from Brock Purdy’s Wedding Registry
March 13, 2024
We’re still swooning over Super Bowl quarterback Brock Purdy and Jenna Brandt’s wedding–from the stunning florals to the bride’s show-stopping gowns (she wore two!), every detail of their big day is fairytale-worthy! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jenna Purdy (@jennapurdyy) And thanks to their Crate & Barrel registry, we have an […]
– Ask a Real Bride – How to Write Wedding Thank You Notes
February 15, 2024
Every week, the etiquette inbox at Ask a Real Bride is filled with questions about thank-you notes: when should I send them? What should I say? What about giftless guests and group gifts? I’m compiling all of my answers into one resource I hope will help you overcome any writer’s block and graciously express your […]
