–Wedding–
Gifts We Love for the Outdoor Enthusiast
October 7, 2021
Equip any outdoor lover with the gear they need for a great time in nature with these gifts at every price point. I love any excuse to get outside — here in South Florida, that usually means hitting the beach, kayaking through mangroves, or gardening in the backyard with my husband. In fact, our honeymoon […]
– 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 […]
– Trending Now – Food Bars for a Bridal or Baby Shower
September 21, 2021
The Ultimate Guide to DIY Food Bars I recently attended a beautiful bridal shower (in honor of my cousin) thrown by two of my fabulous aunts. All three courses of the meal were set up “bar” style allowing guests to customize their food to suit their individual tastes. We started with a delicious crostini bar […]
A Gorgeous, Unique Way to Ask Your Best Friends to be Your Bridesmaids
August 31, 2021
Hosting a bridal dinner is a not-so-common way to ask your favorite girls to be your bridesmaids, but my step-daughter’s turned out so beautifully that we now highly recommend it! Shortly after Meleah got engaged, she decided who was going to be in her wedding party and she couldn’t wait to ask each one of […]
– 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 […]
Alternative Wedding Send-Offs for Every Wedding
August 3, 2021
Your wedding will be over before you know it—make sure your send-off is as memorable as can be with alternatives to the traditional. Before I started planning my own wedding, I felt like there were certain elements of any wedding that pretty much stayed the same across the board. One of those elements was the […]
– 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 […]
Our Top 13 Wedding Gifts for Blended Families
July 20, 2021
When you’re planning a blended wedding, you’re already considering more than just yourself and your future spouse. Whether one or both of you has children from a previous relationship, you’re well aware of the fact that your marriage symbolizes the blending of two families into one, and that’s no casual feat! While there are plenty […]
Wedding Guest Welcome Bags in 5 Easy Steps
July 15, 2021
When Jon and I got married in South Florida four years ago, we were blessed to have a bunch of our out-of-town family and friends join us for the celebration. Jon is originally from Michigan and we met at college in Ohio. I have family spread across the globe from Canada to Jamaica so it […]
– Ask Cheryl – If I Was Invited to the Virtual Shower, Shouldn’t I Be Invited to the Virtual Wedding?
July 13, 2021
A reader wonders if etiquette has changed and why she was invited to the bridal shower and not the wedding. I am hoping you can provide some insight and advice. My long-time friend (59 years) has three children who I have known since they were born. Her daughter is getting married this month, but with […]
The Best Dresses for the Mothers of the Bride and Groom
July 1, 2021
Trust me. I get it; shopping for a mother of the bride/groom dress can be hard! How do I know? I was frantically searching for one for my son’s wedding this time last year! From color to trend to what looks best on you, it’s just HARD to find one you love! We all dream […]
Maid of Honor Guide
June 24, 2021
The year after I graduated from college, I went to 12 weddings between the months of March and September. I’ve been in 7 weddings, 5 of them after I took my own walk down the aisle. I grew up in a family that should really start their own business as wedding planners, florists, caterers and […]
What to Do When the Invitation Says “No Gifts”
June 22, 2021
It’s a hard reality to face — receiving an invitation that says “no gifts” in one form or another. Perhaps you’ve heard through the grapevine that the happy couple has requested that no wedding gifts be purchased, or maybe you’ve been invited to a present-free birthday party. Whatever the case, it’s likely you’re itching to […]
– 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 […]
Unique Wedding Registry Items from Food52
June 11, 2021
Featuring unique, handmade and artisanal home goods, the Shop at Food52 is a wedding registry gold mine! Have you ever found yourself mid-task thinking, there has got to be a better/more fun/easier way to do this? If your answer was yes, I want you to know that you, my friend, are not alone! When you’re […]
15 Poetry Books to Inspire Your Vows
June 9, 2021
From classic odes to modern pronouncements of love, there are so many poetry books to inspire your wedding day vows — check them out! If you’ve chosen to write your own wedding vows, it can be hard to know where to start. Even as a professional writer, I had a hard time coming up with […]
