–Christina Peterson–
– Ask a Real Bride – The Etiquette of Plus Ones
September 22, 2022
Last month, the “Ask a Real Bride” got its very own Instagram account! If you love quick tips on wedding planning and etiquette, and short, sometimes funny, videos in your social media feed, come join the party! I’d love to get your feedback and interact with you there! By far, the most popular topic on […]
What to Write in a Baby Shower Card
September 6, 2022
Simple and sweet messages to share with parents-to-be! We all love celebrating the arrival of a new baby. Shopping for tiny outfits, cute gear, and cuddly toys is always fun, but there’s still an important element to baby gift-giving: writing the card! If you’re facing some writer’s block, you’ve come to the right blog post. […]
– Ask a Real Bride – What to do When Wedding Guests Behave Badly
August 18, 2022
While most of your wedding is under your control, there’s a large element of the day you can’t always plan for: the behavior of your guests. Among any large gathering, there is bound to be some less-than-ideal behavior. And with the added emotions of a wedding and the sky-high expectations of the bride and groom, […]
– Ask a Real Bride – How Involved Should I be in My Bridal Shower?
July 21, 2022
Your wedding year can feel like a crash course in event planning: suddenly, your to-do list is filled with finding vendors, building your budget, and creating your guest list. With endless event inspiration and ideas filling your social media feed, many brides are left wondering: where exactly do the planning responsibilities end? I’ve got some […]
– Ask a Real Bride – How to Plan a Bachelorette Weekend, Not a Guilt Trip
June 23, 2022
If you’re a bride currently planning her bachelorette weekend, this is your sign to step back, take a deep breath, and honestly ask yourself: am I planning a girls’ trip or a guilt trip? Since I’ve been writing about weddings for nearly 8 years, people love to tell me their wedding stories–and I love hearing […]
What Should I Write in a Wedding Card?
May 17, 2022
Ideas for what to write in the card for a wedding or bridal shower gift Part of being a perfect wedding guest is finding the perfect wedding gift. But once you’ve found it, an important task looms ahead: writing a note to go along with your gift. If you’re shopping online, the limited space adds […]
– Ask a Real Mom – When Your Mom Wants to Help with the New Baby
April 28, 2022
Labor and delivery are some of the most intense experiences of your life, and those first few days of motherhood are both physically grueling and emotionally draining. Naturally, moms and mothers-in-law want to swoop in and offer their support and help, and of course, enjoy their new grandbaby. But too many times, those good intentions […]
Finding the Perfect Mother-of-the-Bride (or Groom) Dress
April 21, 2022
Every mother dreams of the day her son or daughter will say, “I do.” We moms imagine every detail of our child’s wedding day, from the flowers to the wedding dress, but our imaginations don’t always include a vision of ourselves (moms are kind of used to putting ourselves last, aren’t we?) And while no […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Are Wedding Programs Worth It, or a Waste?
March 17, 2022
Is a wedding program worth the time and cost, or should couples save by skipping them? Our real brides help you decide! Wedding blogs, Instagram accounts, and Pinterest pages are filled with “must have” items to achieve the perfect wedding, but all of those great ideas can quickly become overwhelming for brides-to-be. It’s a challenge […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Should We Give a Speech at our Wedding?
February 17, 2022
When you think through your reception timeline, you’re probably carving out time for speeches by the father of the bride, the best man, and maid of honor. But recently, I’ve noticed that more and more couples seem to be hopping on the mic themselves! Is the bride and groom speech something you should consider for […]
A Guide to Thank-You Notes
January 21, 2022
One of the most popular complaints I hear from brides and mothers-to-be following their weddings or baby showers is the looming task of writing thank-you notes. And while I can see how sitting down to write hundreds of hand-written notes seems daunting, I’m here to tell you that expressing gratitude for a gift is really […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Where’s The Wedding Gift?
January 20, 2022
We all know the saying, “tis better to give than to receive.” But both givers and receivers have run into the awkward situation of what I call “the missing gift:” for brides, that means not receiving a gift, and for givers, not receiving an acknowledgement of a gift they’ve given, leaving them wondering if the […]
– Ask a Real Bride – How Should I Choose My Bridesmaids?
December 23, 2021
My 7-year-old daughter recently looked lost in thought. When I asked her what she was thinking about, she said, with a great deal of concern, “Mom. Who do you think my bridesmaids will be?” Even the littlest girls understand that choosing your bridal party is like solidifying your inner circle: whether we admit it or […]
– Ask a Real Bride – How to Avoid a Wedding Rehearsal Meltdown
November 18, 2021
The wedding countdown is down to one: your out-of-town guests have begun to arrive, you’ve finished the last-minute errands and pickups, and there’s just one thing left to do: rehearse! The wedding rehearsal is meant to ensure that your ceremony runs smoothly. But this practice session has become a notorious venue for meltdowns, misunderstandings, and […]
– Ask a Real Bride – What Your Wedding Guests Wish You Knew
October 21, 2021
Each month, we ask real brides for their opinions on everything from wedding budgets to wedding blunders, but today, we’re turning the tables: a more appropriate title for this month’s edition might be “Tell a Real Bride,” because we’re gathering intel from guests! While there is no doubt the day belongs to the bride and […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Should I Do a First Look?
September 23, 2021
Is it just me, or have you noticed that weddings have recently tended to be less traditional? I don’t mean that negatively: I love how couples are personalizing their weddings to suit their style in everything from the ceremony to the dress code, resulting in unique, one-of-a-kind weddings! One of the most popular tradition-breakers I’ve […]
