–Wedding Planning/Ideas–
– 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 […]
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 […]
– 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
– 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 […]
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 […]
5 Ways to Celebrate Your Blended Family During Your Wedding Ceremony
May 13, 2021
Blended weddings bring together more than just a bride and groom; they symbolize the bringing together of two families. When one or both halves of the couple have children from a previous marriage or relationship, including them in the ceremony can help smooth the transition and make them feel like they’re part of the celebration. […]
15 Ideas for Your Bride & Groom Gift Exchange
April 20, 2021
The bride and groom gift exchange is a wedding tradition whose origin is a little fuzzy, but it’s withstood generations of marriages and is still popular among modern couples today. It’s an opportunity for the couple to have a private moment during their wedding day (or the night before) outside of the festivities. Not sure […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Can I Register for Whatever I Want?
March 18, 2021
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 […]
– Ask Cheryl – What is the Best Way to Share Wedding Registry Information?
February 23, 2021
During Covid, there were unique challenges to wedding planning. Big events gave way to smaller ceremonies and postponed receptions. Can you share wedding registry information with family and friends who may want to send a gift, even without a formal wedding invitation? Hi Cheryl, If you are getting married in one state and having a […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Ideas for Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, & Something Blue
February 18, 2021
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 […]
– #TrendWatch – Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses
February 11, 2021
Gone are the days when every bridesmaid was forced to wear an identical dress, no matter her size, shape, or preference. Thankfully, the latest trend for bridesmaids calls for diversity in color and style, rather than conformity to just one dress—which allows for freedom to find a frock that flatters each individual girl! Brides, listen […]
– Ask Cheryl – What is the Best Way to Plan a Small Wedding Without Offending Any Uninvited Family or Friends?
February 9, 2021
Planning the most important day of your life should be exciting, but it is not without its fair share of stress. Is it possible to make everyone happy? And if a “minimony” or an elopement is the desired path, what is the best way to share the happy news with the rest of the family? […]
– Ask a Real Bride – Favorite Wedding Planning Tools
January 21, 2021
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 […]
