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… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Should We Give a Speech at our Wedding?
Category: Ask a Real Bride
Ask a Real Bride: Where’s The Wedding Gift?
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… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Where’s The Wedding Gift?
Ask a Real Bride: How to Avoid a Wedding Rehearsal Meltdown
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… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: How to Avoid a Wedding Rehearsal Meltdown
Ask a Real Bride: What Your Wedding Guests Wish You Knew
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… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: What Your Wedding Guests Wish You Knew
Ask a Real Bride: Should I Do a First Look?
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… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: Should I Do a First Look?
Ask a Real Bride: How to Enjoy Your Own Wedding
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
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
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?
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 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 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
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?
Ask a Real Bride: What Makes a Great Wedding Gift?
Is it just me, or does anyone else do a little happy dance by the mailbox when they receive a gorgeously addressed envelope with a wedding invitation inside? There’s nothing I love more than a beautiful wedding invitation and the anticipation of a joyful celebration! Like any good wedding guest, I know my responsibilities: first,… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: What Makes a Great Wedding Gift?