–Christina Peterson–
– 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 […]
– 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 […]
– Ask a Real Bride – How to Enjoy Your Own Wedding
August 19, 2021
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 […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Do I Have to Wear a Veil?
July 22, 2021
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 […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Five Tips for Including Kids in Your Wedding
June 17, 2021
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 […]
– Ask a Real Bride – How To Decode the Wedding Dress Code
May 27, 2021
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? […]
Plan a Patriotic Baby Shower
May 20, 2021
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 […]
Belk’s Top Bridal Registry Gifts
April 27, 2021
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 […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Should I Send a Save the Date?
April 22, 2021
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 […]
