When it comes to wedding movies, Father of the Bride will always be my #1. But have you ever noticed that we spend almost 2 hours watching Steve Martin and his family agonize over the planning (and paying) for the wedding, but the actual wedding scenes themselves only take up a few minutes? And most… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: How to Enjoy Your Own Wedding
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.
Ask a Real Bride: Do I Have to Wear a Veil?
Are veils a mandatory requirement for brides? Real brides share their advice to help you decide if you should say, “I do” or “I don’t” to a veil! Nothing makes me happier than helping brides problem-solve, and so I’m delighted to share a recent text I received from a bride who will be married in… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Do I Have to Wear a Veil?
Ask a Real Bride: Five Tips for Including Kids in Your Wedding
Almost two and half years ago, I kicked off the “Ask a Real Bride” series with the topic of kids and weddings, and I was blown away by the strong opinions and emotions on both sides of the issue. You can read the full debate on kids and weddings here, and know this: no matter… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Five Tips for Including Kids in Your Wedding
Ask a Real Bride: How To Decode the Wedding Dress Code
Week after week, our inbox is filled with questions regarding what to wear to weddings. While black tie, formal, and semiformal have always been common dress codes, some couples are getting more unique and specific, in effect requesting that their guests’ attire become an extension of the wedding theme. So what’s a guest to wear?… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: How To Decode the Wedding Dress Code
Plan a Patriotic Baby Shower
We all love red, white, and blue…and babies too! Summer is the perfect time to throw an All-American baby shower, with lots of patriotic holidays filling the calendar, and the warm weather calling for casual, outdoor events. A patriotic theme is perfect for any crowd, whether it’s a coed shower or a traditional one, and… Continue reading Plan a Patriotic Baby Shower
Belk’s Top Bridal Registry Gifts
If you’re just starting to create your wedding registry, chances are you have a lot of questions. I can totally relate, because right after I got engaged, I was suddenly extremely curious about things I had never wondered about: things like stainless steel vs. nonstick cookware, and down comforters vs. quilts. I often wished I… Continue reading Belk’s Top Bridal Registry Gifts
Ask a Real Bride: Should I Send a Save the Date?
Brides tell me all the time that they feel their to-do list is never-ending. From the guest list to the song list, brides seem overwhelmed with planning the details of their big day, which leads me to wonder: is there anything couples can skip? Save the Dates: Send or Skip? When I was engaged, I… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Should I Send a Save the Date?
Best Sibling Gifts
A new baby changes everything, especially for newly promoted big sisters and brothers. No matter how old they are, siblings will have to adjust to sharing the spotlight with the newest family member. One sure-fire way to make this transition go a little more smoothly: a gift! My three daughters Chloe, Elle, and Kate! My… Continue reading Best Sibling Gifts
Ask a Real Bride: Can I Register for Whatever I Want?
Fishing poles, office supplies, board games, a $700 massage chair: what do these items have in common? I’ve seen them all included on wedding registries of friends and family within the last few months! Why are these non-traditional items popping up on wedding registries? I can think of two reasons: Online shopping makes it possible… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Can I Register for Whatever I Want?
Ask a Real Mom: Must-Have Baby Registry Items
Confession: when I registered for my first child, I had a meltdown in the stroller department. I felt so overwhelmed, confused, and intimidated by the products stacked to the ceiling of the store that my husband had to take me to a coffee shop next door so I could regroup! Moms and dads-to-be, registering for… Continue reading Ask a Real Mom: Must-Have Baby Registry Items
Ask a Real Bride: Ideas for Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, & Something Blue
Ask a Real Bride: Ideas for Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue Meta: Real brides share their ideas for incorporating this traditional poem into your wedding ensemble! Even as wedding traditions change and sometimes disappear, one quirky tradition holds strong. Though most brides aren’t sure why they do it, most (83% of… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Ideas for Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, & Something Blue
Ask a Real Mom: The Best Inclusive Books to Add to Your Baby Registry
Creating your baby’s registry can be an overwhelming experience: who knew such a tiny human would need so. many. products! While we’ve always got you covered with the best products and gear you’ll need to add to your baby’s registry, today we’re talking about a category that often gets overlooked: your little one’s library! My… Continue reading Ask a Real Mom: The Best Inclusive Books to Add to Your Baby Registry
Ask a Real Bride: Favorite Wedding Planning Tools
When I got engaged, my older sister presented me with a stack of thick, glossy bridal magazines, filled with gorgeous images from real weddings, hundreds of wedding dress ads, and advice from wedding industry experts. I remember feeling so excited as I turned the pages of those magazines, dog-earring the pages with my favorite dresses… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Favorite Wedding Planning Tools
A Bride’s Guide to Bridesmaids
Making Sure Your Bridesmaids Are Still Your Friends After the Big Day Dear Bride, Congratulations! We know you’ve always dreamed of your wedding day, and part of that dream is having your best friends stand by your side as you marry the love of your life! I’m here to make sure that those best friends… Continue reading A Bride’s Guide to Bridesmaids
Ask a Real Bride: Four Ways to Thank Your Vendors
You researched them, interviewed them, compared them to the other options, and finally, made your choice: I’m not talking about your fiance, I’m talking about your vendors! From the florist to the coordinator, the photographer to the DJ, you’ve got a dedicated team working behind the scenes to make your wedding vision come to life.… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Four Ways to Thank Your Vendors
Ask a Real Bride: Should I Try a Wedding DIY?
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman in possession of an engagement ring must also be in want of a Pinterest-perfect wedding. And since limitless budgets are but a fantasy, many brides quickly pivot from browsing Pinterest for inspiration to clicking through the site’s many, many DIY tutorials for everything from favors to… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Should I Try a Wedding DIY?