Hindsight is 20/20: What brides would have done differently [infographic]

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Stephanie in Planning | 3 Comments

Earlier this week, we had a post about the 12 things you’ll regret not having at your wedding. Well, it looks like brides are regretting a lot more than 12 things according to this HuffPost infographic. Actually, it looks like they’d do quite a few things totally differently — what they splurged on, what they wish they splurged on, and wedding registry regrets are just a few of the topics this awesome lil image covers. What do you think, those of you who are already married? Do you agree with most of the things on this checklist — or was your wedding perfect just the way it was?

NY Magazine

We want to hear from you! If you had an awesome wedding idea that you loved (or did something you later regretted) tell us and your bridal compadres — we’re all in this together, right?

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The 5 coolest and most unique wedding ideas of spring 2013

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Stephanie in Planning | 1 Comment

We always love sharing new and exciting wedding ideas with you guys — from cool dessert bars to amazing wedding decor to unique ideas for wedding photos, we always want to put you guys on the forefront of the coolest wedding ideas and trends. And we think you’ll love the 5 we have in store for you today! They’re fresh, fun and best of all, super simple.

1. Romantic Wedding Day Countdown: This is a lovely idea — you can find these cute advent-style calendars online as print-outs. It’s an easy and free DIY project where you basically make a countdown to your wedding day for your significant other. Underneath every number is a different reason why you’re excited to marry him or her. Sweet, right?

Martha Stewart Weddings

2. DIY Bridesmaids Emergency Kit: This is a super easy thing to put together, and it doesn’t have to be too fancy! Put together some necessary day-of items for your bridesmaids for the wedding. That way, if they have a wardrobe mishap, blistered feet, or breath that needs freshening, they’re covered!

Wedding Preview Event

3. All-Natural Wedding Place Card: Don’t waste tons of time, energy, or money on an elaborate place card for each guest. Simple items can be even more unique and charming — fruit, for example, is a really easy way to have a cheap, cute, and delicious place card for your guests on your wedding day.

4. A Sweet Coffee Bar: Having a wedding in the morning, or a brunch for your bridal party the day after the wedding? Skip a fancy dessert bar and opt for a coffee bar instead.

Society Bride

5. Wedding Madlibs: Keep guests entertain with interesting activities throughout your reception. Small games or easy print-outs are a great way to keep your guests involved, chatting with each other, and engaged during the reception.

Milou and Olin Photography via Every Last Detail

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5 Steps to Giving Perfect Bridal Party Gifts [Guest Post]

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Stephanie in Planning | 3 Comments

onelove photograpy

As you enter the home stretch of your wedding planning journey, there’s one key duty that can’t be overlooked: finding the perfect gifts to thank your wedding party members with. Sure, it may seem like a simple task but it’s actually one of the most important things you’ll do as a bride or groom.

Being asked to be part of a wedding party is an honor. It’s also a lot of work. Your friends and family will have spent much time, money and energy to be part of your big day, not to mention the ancillary events associated with it such as an engagement party, bridal showers and the rehearsal dinner. They deserve a little something for their effort, right? Thanking wedding party members traditionally includes both an acknowledgement during a wedding speech as well as a gift. Said gifts are usually decided on and purchased a month prior to the wedding at the latest.

Need a few tips to get your creative gifting juices flowing? Here are five easy steps that will make the process a breeze:

1. Get creative: Instead of going with the “usual suspects” for gifts, think outside the box. There are countless unique gift ideas on sites like Pinterest and Etsy. This way, your groomsmen won’t get more watches and your bridesmaids won’t get another tote bag.

2. Individualize: There’s no requirement that says each groomsman or bridesmaid has to receive the same gift. Your groomsmen may be comprised of an avid fisherman, a techie and a beer pong enthusiast. This might make it hard to find a singular gift that all three are going to enjoy equally. Think about the personal interests of each wedding party member and go from there. Just remember to spend the same amount on each person!

3. Make it Personal: Personalization always makes a gift mean a little more. It’s commonplace for brides and grooms to engrave or embroider gifts with names and dates. This way, the gift can serve as a special memento for years to come. With most websites offering free personalization on gifts for groomsmen and bridesmaids, it won’t cost you anything extra to make your gifts mean a little something more.

4. Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute: Order early! Certain gifts require a lead time to order and produce. Be sure to give yourself enough time to get everything delivered to you. Remember, the longer you wait, the fewer high quality gifts are available to you.

5. Give a little more than a gift: In addition to handing out gifts, don’t forget to acknowledge the effort put in by each wedding party member. Consider writing personalized thank you cards to go with your gifts. Or, if you’ve got a few spare minutes in the rehearsal dinner or reception schedule, grab the mic and thank everyone publically. Having your guests give a round of applause can also be a very memorable gesture.

This was a guest post by Chris Easter. Chris Easter is co-founder of TheManRegistry.com, the leading online wedding resource for men. He also serves as editor-in-chief for the company’s GroomsAdvice blog. Through his own experiences as a confused, yet determined groom, he helped craft the vision for the company which includes blogs, checklists and gift ideas. His first book, Be the Man, was released in January 2012.

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20 LBD looks perfect for your bachelorette party style

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Stephanie in Style | 2 Comments

It’s bachelorette party time! With all the spring and summer weddings that are coming up, we’re betting that a few of you are going to a bachelorette party sometime in the next few months. And we all know that when you go to a bachelorette, no matter if you’re the bride or a bridesmaid, you gotta look good!

If there’s no dress requirements for your girl’s night out, we’re sure that most of you will be reaching for a LBD to rock all night long. Don’t have an LBD or are looking for a new one to wear out on the town? We’ve compiled our favorite LBD looks for your bachelorette party style right here! Which ones are your favorite?