Four ways to tell guests what to wear to your wedding If you’re in the middle of wedding planning, your mind is filled with ideas for how to make your big day enjoyable and memorable for your guests. One important element: helping your guests feel comfortable in what they wear to celebrate. So what’s the… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: How Do I Tell Guests the Dress Code?
Author: Christina Peterson
12 years and 3 kids later, Christina still counts her wedding day as the best day of her life. Maybe that’s why she loves connecting with brides, mothers of the bride and groom, and bridesmaids: she wants everyone to love their wedding season! Over the past year, Christina has cultivated an active, helpful Instagram community called @askarealbride, filled with daily etiquette Q+A’s, planning tips, and some occasional humor. Though planning can be stressful, Christina enjoys helping brides find the joy and face etiquette dilemmas with kindness, clarity, and grace.
Ultimate Guide to Gift-Giving: When Do I Take a Gift?
With 2020 far behind us, you may find that your social calendar is filling up with celebrations both big and small. After years apart, we’re eager to gather to celebrate birthdays, graduations, and more! This sudden influx of invitations might mean you’re shopping for something to wear, brushing up on your small talk skills, and… Continue reading Ultimate Guide to Gift-Giving: When Do I Take a Gift?
Baby Gift Ideas for the Parents Who Didn’t Register
No registry? No problem! We’ve got gifts new babies and moms will love! Confession: I’m one of those moms who didn’t register during my second pregnancy. And looking back, I really should have (read why here). But I’m not alone—many moms, especially those on their second and third babies, don’t create a gift registry, leaving… Continue reading Baby Gift Ideas for the Parents Who Didn’t Register
Ask A Real Bride: What Should I Do If a Guest Asks for a Plus One?
If you’ve started working on your guest list, you know that the name of the game is usually shrinking the list to fit your budget and venue–not adding to it. So how should you respond if someone asks if they can add a guest? Far and away, this is the most popular question in my… Continue reading Ask A Real Bride: What Should I Do If a Guest Asks for a Plus One?
Wedding Edition: When Do I Take a Gift
If you have a friend or family member getting married soon, you may have noticed that the festivities begin long before the wedding. The months before the event are filled with gatherings like engagement parties, showers, and other pre-wedding events. If your mailbox (or inbox) is suddenly filled with invitations, read on. I’ll let you… Continue reading Wedding Edition: When Do I Take a Gift
Ask a Real Bride: Should I Ask a Friend to Officiate?
Couples are always looking for ways to make their weddings unique and unforgettable. One of the most popular ways to do that? Choosing an officiant you know and love! While many of the brides I surveyed via Instagram (@askarealbride) chose a professional officiant, like a pastor, priest, or judge, a whopping 40% of brides tell… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Should I Ask a Friend to Officiate?
The Registry that Lasts: Ten Wedding Gifts You’ll Still Be Using in Ten Years
So many couples tell me they’re stressed about their wedding registry. Before they even start scrolling through websites or strolling into the stores themselves, they’re already thinking, “Do we really need all of this?” and “Where am I going to put all of this stuff?” Even if you’re a minimalist or think you have everything… Continue reading The Registry that Lasts: Ten Wedding Gifts You’ll Still Be Using in Ten Years
What Your Bridesmaids Wish You Knew
Dear Brides, Choosing your bridesmaids is one of the first decisions you’ll make after becoming engaged. Most friends are honored to stand by your side as you say, “I do!” Yet year after year, my inbox is filled with stories and dilemmas from bridesmaids who are struggling to fulfill their responsibilities and remain friends with… Continue reading What Your Bridesmaids Wish You Knew
The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Wedding Registry
The first few weeks after your engagement can feel like a blur: your to-do list is a mile long, with items like, “set wedding date,” “book venue,” “find vendors,” and “order a dress.” Making those big decisions can take a month or two, but once you’ve nailed down a date, dress, venue, and vendors, there’s… Continue reading The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Wedding Registry
Ask a Real Bride: The Pros and Cons of Registering Completely Online
We’ve gotten used to doing pretty much everything from the comfort of our own homes on our computers and devices. Wedding registries are no exception! Years ago, choosing items for your registry meant going to a store, being handed a scan gun, and manually picking items to add. Not any longer! With just a few… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: The Pros and Cons of Registering Completely Online
Ask a Real Bride: Sweet Ways to Honor Your Future In-Laws
As your wedding day approaches, you might be coming to a new realization: you’re about to become someone’s wife AND someone’s new daughter. What’s the best way to start building this new relationship with your future in-laws? Our real brides are here to help. I took to Instagram (come join our Ask a Real Bride… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Sweet Ways to Honor Your Future In-Laws
Ask a Real Bride: The Etiquette of Plus Ones
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… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: The Etiquette of Plus Ones
What to Write in a Baby Shower Card
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.… Continue reading What to Write in a Baby Shower Card
Ask a Real Bride: What to do When Wedding Guests Behave Badly
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,… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: What to do When Wedding Guests Behave Badly
Ask a Real Bride: How Involved Should I be in My Bridal Shower?
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… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: How Involved Should I be in My Bridal Shower?
Ask a Real Bride: How to Plan a Bachelorette Weekend, Not a Guilt Trip
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… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: How to Plan a Bachelorette Weekend, Not a Guilt Trip