–Ask a Real Bride–
– Ask a Real Bride – Should I Ask a Friend to Officiate?
January 19, 2023
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 […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Planning Your Wedding Guest List
December 22, 2022
Deciding who to invite to your wedding can be more complicated than you think — here’s a step-by-step guide with helpful tips from real brides who have been there! When I got engaged, I just about instantly began planning my wedding: the venue, the atmosphere, the music, and of course, the guests. Little did I […]
– Ask a Real Bride – The Pros and Cons of Registering Completely Online
November 17, 2022
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 […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Sweet Ways to Honor Your Future In-Laws
October 20, 2022
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 […]
– 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 […]
– 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 […]
– 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 […]
– 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 […]
