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
Category: Wedding Planning/Ideas
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?
A Gorgeous, Unique Way to Ask Your Best Friends to be Your Bridesmaids
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… Continue reading A Gorgeous, Unique Way to Ask Your Best Friends to be Your Bridesmaids
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?
Wedding Guest Welcome Bags in 5 Easy Steps
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… Continue reading Wedding Guest Welcome Bags in 5 Easy Steps
The Best Dresses for the Mothers of the Bride and Groom
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… Continue reading The Best Dresses for the Mothers of the Bride and Groom
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
15 Poetry Books to Inspire Your Vows
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… Continue reading 15 Poetry Books to Inspire Your Vows
5 Ways to Celebrate Your Blended Family During Your Wedding Ceremony
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.… Continue reading 5 Ways to Celebrate Your Blended Family During Your Wedding Ceremony
15 Ideas for Your Bride & Groom Gift Exchange
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… Continue reading 15 Ideas for Your Bride & Groom Gift Exchange
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 Cheryl: What is the Best Way to Share Wedding Registry Information?
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… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: What is the Best Way to Share Wedding Registry Information?
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
#TrendWatch: Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses
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… Continue reading #TrendWatch: Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses
Ask Cheryl: What is the Best Way to Plan a Small Wedding Without Offending Any Uninvited Family or Friends?
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? … Continue reading Ask Cheryl: What is the Best Way to Plan a Small Wedding Without Offending Any Uninvited Family or Friends?