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
Category: Wedding Planning/Ideas
A Bride’s Guide to Bridesmaids
Making Sure Your Bridesmaids Are Still Your Friends After the Big Day Dear Bride, Congratulations! We know you’ve always dreamed of your wedding day, and part of that dream is having your best friends stand by your side as you marry the love of your life! I’m here to make sure that those best friends… Continue reading A Bride’s Guide to Bridesmaids
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 Cheryl: How Do I Host a Post-Wedding Virtual Bridal Shower?
Smaller weddings and virtual showers have become the “new normal” for many 2020 couples. But these modified celebrations can still be a wonderful way to shower the happy couples with love and best wishes while staying socially distant. What are some tips for hosting a successful virtual shower? Who should be included on the shower… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How Do I Host a Post-Wedding Virtual Bridal Shower?
Tips + Outfit Inspo for Your Winter Engagement Photo Shoot
When I got engaged, my first priority was nailing down a wedding date. The second priority? Figuring out our engagement photos. From the location to the time of day to the outfits, everything had to be perfect — and I know I was no exception as a modern bride. These days, an engagement photo… Continue reading Tips + Outfit Inspo for Your Winter Engagement Photo Shoot
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?
All Your “Minimony” Questions Answered
Weddings don’t have to be cancelled — discover how real couples are keeping things intimate with our tips for throwing your own “minimony”. What is a minimony? Pretty much exactly what it sounds like, a minimony is a small wedding ceremony involving an intimate guest list, typically around 10 – 25 people in an outdoor… Continue reading All Your “Minimony” Questions Answered
Ask a Real Bride: What if My Dad Isn’t Here?
Growing up, my cousins and I used to watch our VHS of Father of the Bride at every sleepover, and it’s remained a favorite for good reason. While a wedding is all about the bride and groom, the father of the bride gets a lot of time in the spotlight: dads get to escort their… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: What if My Dad Isn’t Here?
Wedding Traditions: Which Ones to Keep and Which Ones to Toss
Everyone loves weddings, and we all look forward to the time-honored traditions of the ceremony and reception. But are there some traditions that are better left behind in the past? I turned to my family and friends to ask their opinions on the most common wedding traditions, and used my favorite social media platform–Instagram–to collect… Continue reading Wedding Traditions: Which Ones to Keep and Which Ones to Toss
Ask Cheryl: Wedding Faux Pas Couples Should Avoid (Top 6 DO’s & DON’Ts)
When planning a wedding, brides (and grooms!) dream of their perfect wedding day. A day that celebrates their love and who they are as a couple. One goal is to host a memorable event that leaves a lasting impression on your guests. However, no newlywed couple wants their guests whispering, “Can you believe they did… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Wedding Faux Pas Couples Should Avoid (Top 6 DO’s & DON’Ts)
Your Complete COVID-19 Elopement Guide
Conventionally speaking, an elopement is the event in which a bride and groom-to-be opt out of a formal wedding — and the invitations, guest list, and coordinating typically involved — in favor of sneaking away to the courthouse or an undisclosed getaway for a private ceremony between the two of them. Now that we’re still… Continue reading Your Complete COVID-19 Elopement Guide
Ask a Real Bride: How to Handle Your Mom and the MOG
I’m the person that cries at weddings, and for years, the moment that always brought me to tears was the bride’s entrance. Now that I’m a mom, I break out the tissues even earlier: I can’t help but shed a tear when the mothers of the bride and groom are escorted down the aisle. And… Continue reading Ask a Real Bride: How to Handle Your Mom and the MOG
How To Plan The At-Home Wedding Of Your Dreams
All the tips and tricks you need to achieve the perfect look and feel at your intimate exchange of vows. Is there anything not romantic about an at-home wedding? The intimacy of bringing people together in a place where so many memories have been made and so much love exchanged combine in such a special… Continue reading How To Plan The At-Home Wedding Of Your Dreams
Sustainable Wedding Registry Gifts for the Eco-Conscious Couple
Looking for eco-friendly wedding gifts? We’ve compiled a variety of items from our favorite retailers to make it easy! While going green is never out of style, it feels like now is an especially great time to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle. For many modern couples, it’s important to live sustainably, with attention paid to environmental… Continue reading Sustainable Wedding Registry Gifts for the Eco-Conscious Couple
Affordable Bridesmaid Dresses
By the time my wedding rolled around in the summer of 2015, I’d been in enough weddings to know I didn’t want a run of the mill bridesmaid dress. There was nothing inherently wrong with the brightly colored chiffon party dresses I’d worn as a bridesmaid, but I didn’t necessarily love the experience either. Putting… Continue reading Affordable Bridesmaid Dresses
I Found the Perfect Gift for Your Bridal Party
I’ll always remember one of the first purchases I made as a 22-year old college grad with a real job: a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer Classics. Up until that point, I had bought the cheapest, trendiest sunglasses available, knowing they’d end up crushed at the bottom of a beach bag, abandoned under the bleachers of… Continue reading I Found the Perfect Gift for Your Bridal Party