In the weeks after my wife and I got married, I began to loathe thank you notes. I like them in principle, but the quantity we needed to write was mind-numbing. I wrote the words “thoughtful” and “wonderful” and “just what we wanted” so many times that I thought I must owe the creator of those words some money for copyright violation.
Go to full postPosted by of Well GroomedMarch 28, 2008
Forget about having your sister’s temper-tantrum-throwing five year old son as the ring bearer. You've got your loyal, dedicated doggie to do the job. You know, that obedient, furry pal who cuddles at your feet every night in bed? Yes! Have your pet walk down the aisle on your big day! The trend is vastly growing and therefore, many attire options, as well as training classes are available for you and your pup to get ready for the big day.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMarch 27, 2008
Remember how lucky the number 7 was last year? Well it seems this year, 8 is the new 7. While thousands of couples decided to tie the knot on 7/7/07, many couples are following suit and getting married on 8/8/08.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMarch 26, 2008
Shades of Green
Making their mark in 2007, Green Weddings have lead the way for 2008 trends. The spring and summer seasons are the perfect time to celebrate this top spot trend. An abundance of flowers and fruit fill the markets giving brides the advantage of buying local. Outdoor venues like gardens, meadows, farm lands and lake settings make for a beautiful natural backdrop for Eco-friendly ceremonies. And though donations made in honor of your guests are popular as green wedding favors, eco-friendly favors are also a great alternative, as you'll read later.
Posted by of mywedding.comMarch 25, 2008
Imagine a perfect outdoor setting with formal gardens featuring a hundred types of roses, a small pond with swans floating, all nestled in lush rolling hills. The wedding party enters to the soothing sounds of a string quartet. The officiant welcomes the guests and begins the ceremony when suddenly the startling tune of a marching band emanates from the pocket of one of the guests.
Go to full postPosted by of Chicken Soup CounselingMarch 24, 2008
Last week we explored the history and ritual around the bridal shower. Now let’s get to the fun part—planning a shower! In my opinion, hosting a themed bridal shower will make it easier and more fun to plan. One great way to come up with a bridal shower theme is to think about the interests and hobbies of the bride.Go to full post
Posted by of mywedding.comMarch 21, 2008
This 1955 Good Housekeeping Article (which is currently under debate of it's authenticy) is obsolete at best, insulting at worst, and pretty darn funny altogether. The truth of it is, however, that many of our grandmothers lived with (and up to) these expectations as wives. We may wonder how (or if) anybody actually adhered to such ridiculous guidelines; for example, I know that if my husband expected me to take off his shoes at the end of the day it had better be because he’s suffered some sort of injury or paralysis. While gender roles and marriage have changed drastically over half-century since this article was written, it still has relevance today in that it reminds us to work toward defining our expectations of one another as we embark upon the journey of marriage. From laundry duty to debt, it is important to lay it all out on the table before you rendezvous at the altar; this way there will be fewer surprises in store along the lines of, “What do you mean you never unload the dishwasher?” (This is a direct quote from my honeymoon, I’m not kidding). Here are a few issues to springboard the discussion with your bride or groom to be.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMarch 19, 2008
A pound of photojournalism, a dash of candidness and a pinch of portraiture and there you have it…your wedding photos…or a really good recipe for BBQ Ribs?Go to full post
Posted by of Parris Whittingham PhotographyMarch 18, 2008
I got a call this morning from a couple asking if I could officiate their wedding—this weekend. As I am writing this it is Thursday and the wedding is scheduled for Saturday afternoon—just two short days away. As luck would have it, I can fit that into my schedule, but the planning is tight…very tight.
Go to full postPosted by of Chicken Soup CounselingMarch 17, 2008
I recently photographed a wedding at the Hilton Resort in Cancun, Mexico. The wedding ceremony was set in front of the breathtaking Caribbean Sea and the reception party kept the guests rocking the dance floor until the wee hours of the morning. Most guests agreed: It was the wedding of the century!
Go to full postPosted by of Cameron Ingalls PhotographyMarch 14, 2008
There are many rituals that symbolize the close bond between bride and her bridesmaids. And the tradition of a bridal shower party is no exception. Traditionally, a bridal shower was held for the bride who either had a father who could not provide a dowry or whose father did not approve of the marriage and would not provide a dowry.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMarch 13, 2008
There’s nothing like choosing a bridesmaid’s dress to bring about a catfight between otherwise friendly gals. There are a number of other issues of monumental importance to contend with during the wedding planning process, all of which will eventually lead to the same outcome: Conflict between bridesmaids, which will require your inner bridezilla to emerge in order to restore order. Nobody wants that, and in fact it is the job of the bridesmaids to do what they can to help the wedding preparations go as smoothly as possible for the bride so that she is able to enjoy the journey up to and through her big day. In other words, bridesmaids, simmer down and get along…or at least pretend to! Here are some tips to help avoid and alleviate tension between attendants.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMarch 12, 2008
Dear brides and grooms: Save yourself some grief and build a relationship with your photographer before you hire them. I am surprised at how many times I’ve asked a married couple who photographed their wedding only to hear them say, “I don’t know.” Your photographer will affect the way you look back on your wedding day for the rest of your life.
Go to full postPosted by of Parris Whittingham PhotographyMarch 11, 2008
So I'm planning another wedding--mine! With years of experience I know a bit about what would make just a good ceremony versus what would make a great ceremony for us.
Go to full postPosted by of Chicken Soup CounselingMarch 10, 2008
Wondering what the well dressed plate is wearing this season? Well of course you are, isn’t everyone? Not unlike other fashion statements your wedding meal should be aesthetically pleasing. You’ve undoubtedly been given the warning not to wear white shoes before Memorial Day (unless of course it’s your wedding day). Well, here is my white shoe warning:
Go to full postPosted by of Tables of Content CateringMarch 7, 2008
Posted by of mywedding.comMarch 6, 2008
The Bachelorette Party, otherwise known as a "Hen's Night" or "Stagette" or "Kitchen Tea" (this one comes from South Africa, where apparently the brides-to-be are demure and refined), is an evolving tradition during which the bride gets together with various female friends and family members to celebrate before her wedding day. For some gals, this means traveling to Vegas with 25 of her closest sorority sisters, drinking pink cocktails out of straws shaped like male genitalia, wearing a bridal veil decorated with condoms and stuffing dollar bills into the spandex g-strings of male strippers until the break of dawn. If this is your preference, more power to you; I can respect a lady who simply wants to ogle an oiled up “Officer Naughty” in Sin City before she ties the knot. On the other hand, some women are looking for local, original alternatives to the Vegas-Free-For-All. Here are a few ideas, from naughty to nice (but not in that order).
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMarch 5, 2008
In the past, brides had two choices for a wedding – formal or casual. Now wedding themes have expanded to include a much wider variety of tastes and lifestyles. Most wedding consultants would agree that the first question most brides and grooms should ask themselves today is, “What does our dream wedding look like?” The answer to that question will guide most of your decisions in planning your big day. The degree of formality and your personal style will drive your choices for a gown, other formalwear, reception location, the menu, flowers and music. Here are some of the most common wedding themes being selected by today’s couples:
Go to full postPosted by of Elegant Event DesignMarch 4, 2008
There are many personal life situations that traditional wedding planning etiquette does not address. One example of this is how to incorporate children from a previous relationship into the wedding ceremony. The bride, the groom or both may have children from previous relationships, and they may also have one or more children together by the time they marry. The possibilities are endless. Here are a few scenarios to consider if you are facing this dilemma:
Go to full postPosted by of Chicken Soup CounselingMarch 3, 2008
