Royal Weddings: The Blooper Reel

Yes that's right, The Royal Wedding Blooper Reel.   I didn't make this up.

After watching the heartfelt moments over and over again on the TV and online it's time to take a break from the kiss and the vows and get a good laugh with these real-life moments from Kate and William's wedding.

Enjoy!

The Royal Wedding: Where to Find Inspiration for Your Wedding

I can't believe Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting married tomorrow!  That was a whirlwind engagement compared to their eight-year courtship.  So now that we're all setting our alarm clocks to get up bright and early here are a list of things you may want to look out for to find ideas for your own big day:

• The Wedding Dress -- whoever the designer is and no matter what the gown looks like it is sure to be copied and inspire wedding dress designs for years.
• The Ceremony Music  -- The classical songs listed in the program may be just the type of songs you and your groom will want for your processional, ceremony and recessional.
• The Bridal Party -- Besides the head bridesmaid (MOH) and best man the rest of the bridal party will be made up of children.  Do you have lots of nieces and nephews?  Maybe an all-kids bridal party is an idea that more American brides will pick up on.
• The Bridal Party Attire -- Don't forget to check out Pippa Middleton's dress style and color, and the clothes the kids are wearing too.  It's assumed that Prince Harry will wear his dress uniform.
• The Decor -- The color palette for the ceremony is green, white and brown (very earthy).  The couple have also selected locally and seasonally grown flowers.  Very eco-chic.
• Guest Attire -- Moms, grandmothers and guests of the wedding should look for color and style ideas.  Remember to look for cool hats too!

Video: The Ultimate Wedding Mashup

I love movies about weddings because they give me a lot of ideas for blog posts. But in addition to the random tips I come across, brides can easily find inspiration for both their wedding-day look and their wedding style.

There are so many films either about weddings or that feature a wedding that you can watch, and new ones come out every year.  There are several being released in May alone.

The folks at nextmovie.com put together a wedding movie mashup.  Some of them you may have seen but if there's a scene that catches your eye you can find which film it is at nextmovie.com and rent it.  You may find a great idea for your own wedding.

And re: watching it.  Make it a girl's night or a date night and spend a cozy night on the couch with your groom.

So which is your favorite wedding movie?

Royal Romance: A Video Tribute to the Royal Couple

With the royal wedding a few days away I thought I'd post this video made by The Other Guys, the all-male a cappella group from the University of St. Andrews.  The school where Prince William and Kate Middleton met.

The first minute is a bit slow but you'll enjoy the video so stick with it.



I'd love to know what Prince William and Kate Middleton think of all these tributes to them? And which royal wedding souvenir is their favorite. You think they have someone picking up some of the items for their wedding scrapbook?

Your Wedding Dress Days Before the Wedding

I’ve been covering the royal wedding since before Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement, and while I’ve written and read stories on almost every detail, there was a story I saw today that I thought was interesting.

I forget the source but it basically said that the wedding dress was done and the next time the bride would put it on would be on her wedding day.

All I thought was, “I hope the dress was finished at this point, I mean g-d the wedding is only a few days away!”

Remember that when you order your wedding dress it should arrive about three months before your wedding date so you can have at least three fittings. I say at least because if you lost or gained some weight or if the wedding dress has a lot of detail that has to be worked around the seamstress may need weeks or months to ensure that the dress fits you like a glove.

After your final fitting, a week or two before the wedding, your dress will be stuffed with tissue to ensure the shape and a steamer will be used to remove any creases. You’ll probably pick it up a day or two before the big day. And make sure to ask for any instructions: Should you remove the plastic? Should you hang it or lay it on a flat surface?

I think the answers are: Hang it -- from a door so it doesn’t touch the floor and put a white sheet under it if it does. I want to say take it out of the plastic and put a white sheet over it, but for 24 to 48 hours I don’t think the plastic will make a difference.  Check with the salon.

The Royal Wedding Effect

Last night I spent the evening at a cocktail party hosted by Colin Cowie at The Pierre hotel in Manhattan. The get together was to toast Prince William and Kate Middleton and included a number of wedding editors.

Colin shared with us his thoughts on the direction of weddings and inspiration brides can take away from it. We enjoyed Dom Perignon champagne and appetizers, no they didn't serve PIBs, and we chatted about the royal wedding.

I believe that the royal wedding will take wedding style in a new direction from the casual, DIY days of the past few years.  Formal affairs are on their way back and Colin shared a similar point of view.  There's something about a royal wedding that gets Americans giddy.  I think we're more interested in the details and the big day than the British.

Elegant and formal stationery (Ellen Weldon had some of her lovely invitations on display), regal wedding cakes (Cake Alchemy showcased a white with gold trimmed cake) and Colin designed the tablescape above with rich linens, gold-colored tableware and lush centerpieces.

If you're planning on watching the royal wedding -- live or later in the day -- look for the details of the day:  her dress, headpiece, bouquet, ceremony decor, etc... and let them inspire your wedding plans.

You, Your Weight & Your Wedding

I did an interview with the NY Post last week re: Kate Middleton's weight.  I was asked if I thought the bride to be looked too thin and I said she looked fine.  And no I don't think she'll become bulimic like her late mother in law.

Some people don't eat when they're stressed and others do.  Depending on how you manage stress you may lose or gain a little weight before your wedding.

Some brides put together a fitness plan to get in shape and that's fine as long as it's a healthy plan and that you don't over do it.  You still want to look like yourself on your wedding day, not a rail-thin version of yourself.

If you don't already go to a gym you may want to take some of your wedding budget and put it toward aerobic or cardio classes or sessions with a trainer who can help you tone the areas you want toned and give you general advice on what you should and shouldn't eat.

As for Kate's weight, like any bride I'm sure she wants to look and feel beautiful on her wedding day and the added stress of the entire world watching isn't making the wedding planning process as much fun as she thought it would be.

If I was getting married today I'd follow her lead:  exercise and eat healthy, and ignore ugly comments from people who are probably jealous of your happiness.

Prenups: A Thought

A friend of a friend is getting married in a few months and after being engaged for almost a year and having dated the guy for several years he gave her a prenup to sign.  Now I don't know if they discussed it earlier but she was shocked with the level of detail in the agreement, and shocked further that in the case of a divorce she would get nothing.  She couldn't even get her name on the deed of a house they bought.  He finally gave into some of her requests and I think the wedding is still set for this summer.

Dave and I don't have a prenup because neither of us had anything to bring to our marriage financially when we got engaged -- both of us were just of school -- but if you or your fiance have property or financials you won't to protect it's okay to ask your significant other to sign a prenup.  It doesn't mean that you think the marriage is doomed from the start, but g-d forbid you land in divorce court one day at least you are somewhat protected.

And if you do need a prenup make sure it is put together by a lawyer.   I think some celebrity had a prenup written up on a cocktail napkin and the judge threw it out.  She got millions upon millions in the divorce.

FREE Tickets to The Wedding Salon Event in New York City

I was lucky enough to work on producing the first Wedding Salon event when I worked at Martha Stewart Weddings and every year the show gets better and better.

This year's Wedding Salon will be help on April 27th at Manhattan Center Studios from 4-9pm.  Some of the biggest names in bridal will be there including Sylvia Weinstock and wedding planner Shawn Rabideau.

You'll taste delicious hors d'oeuvres, sip cocktails, browse wedding invitations and floral arrangements and of course enjoy some wedding cake!

The event costs $50 for a bride and guest but I have 10 sets of free tickets to giveaway.  Just email me at fromiwilltoido@gmail.com and they're yours!

Entertainment for Kids at a Wedding

If you're planning on inviting children to your wedding you may want to consider supplying them with an activity to keep them busy.

Really little ones will have to sit with their parents but if they're over 18 months you can have coloring books and crayons available to them.  Older kids may need something more exciting so visit a local toy story for activity books, small games they can play at the table or if you can afford it and have a large number of kids you may want to hire a magician, clown or other kid-friendly entertainer.

It's okay to set up a designated kids' table but if you're not sure if a child is old enough to sit away from his or her parents just ask.

Another option if you don't really want children there but can't say no, ask the reception venue if they have a room you can use as a "daycare center."  Hire a babysitter or two and stick it with kid-friendly foods, games and even some DVDs if there's a TV.  Parents will be close by to pop in or in case of an emergency and still be able to have a great time at your reception.

Keeping Your Wedding Dress a Secret

While you probably won't go to the lengths Kate Middleton has to keep her wedding dress a secret, and the media won't be making educated guesses on who your wedding dress designer is, you may still want to keep the designer and design of your wedding dress a secret.  And as the bride you have that right.  So how do you keep the information under wraps:

1 - Don't bring anyone with you, except for maybe mom and sis,  you visit bridal salons or for your fittings.  And if you feel the need to bring some bridesmaids keep the one with a big mouth at home.

2 - Don't have a picture of it in an easy to find place.  If you have a wedding organizer you may want to find another place for the dress information if there's a chance your groom may go looking for other wedding details, like a vendor's phone number.

3 - Don't make comments about other dresses you see on TV, in the movies on celebrities or on brides whose weddings you're a guest at.  Your comment may lead to what you do and don't like for your own wedding dress.

Simple Silhouettes Sample Sale This Weekend

Looking to help your bridesmaids save a little money on their bridesmaid expenses?  How about getting their dresses from a sample sale?

This Friday and Saturday Simple Silhouettes in New York City will be hosting a sample sale of their bridesmaid dresses and bridal accessories.  Everything will be marked down 80% from the original prices of $280 to $400.  Some dresses will be priced as low as $50!  In addition to the bridesmaid dress collection they will also have dresses from their Simpledress line, which is perfect for brides shopping for an outfit to wear to their engagement party, bridal shower or rehearsal dinner.

The sale will be open from 10am-6pm Friday, April 15th and from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, April 16th at the SoHo showroom, 547 Broadway between Prince and Spring Streets.

Rules Re: Sending a Save-the-Date Card

A few months back we received a save-the-date card for a destination wedding.  Unfortunately we won't be able to make it and over some social get together Dave told the groom that we probably weren't going to make the trip.  The wedding is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend.

Last night I mentioned to Dave that I don't recall getting their invite and he said we probably won't because we said we couldn't make it.  He added they may have thought they could save money by not sending us an invite.

So what's wrong with this:

1 - If someone received a save-the-date card you have to send them a wedding invitation.  Period.   If you're not sure who is on your guest list at the point you want to send out save-the-date cards then don't send them at all or only send them to your must-invite list: immediate family and closest friends.

2 - Unless you ordered engraved or hand-calligraphed invitations how much are you really saving by not sending an invitation to someone who you told to save the date?

3 - By not sending us the invitation we can't reply no thanks along with a check as a wedding gift.  It is quite common for people who reply no to still send a gift.

Also, save-the-date cards are not a mandatory wedding item so you don't have to send them at all, especially if you're not sure who will make the final wedding guest list.

Wedding Vendor Contracts: Don't Let This Happen to You

A friend called me and said that she thinks her wedding venue misrepresented themselves.  When she went to meet with themlocation manager they told her that linens were included, tables that could seat 6-12 people (she wants varying sizes), specific chair styles and that they can have a DJ and dance floor during the reception.

All of this was told to them, but it wasn't so specific in the contract they signed.

It didn't occur to them to ask for specifics and now when they mention these items the venue is saying that either these things aren't possible unless they pay extra or have fewer people to make room for the larger tables, DJ and dance floor.

At this point there's not much she can do except cancel and lose her deposit.  But the wedding is only a few months away and she's concerned they won't get a better deal elsewhere.  Her loss can be your gain by not making their mistake.

Make sure specific information re: amounts of items, types of food, flowers, etc, number of people, layout, style of chairs, linens, china, etc are all included if you want specific items at your wedding.  If you get the information in an email but not in the contract you may have legal recourse but if it's just said to you then it's he said she said and you'll probably lose.

I know I'm writing about the venue here, but don't be afraid to get specific in all of your vendor contracts.

Another Fab Find: The Two Birds Rosette Dress

Another fabulous find from New York Weddings magazine show was the rosette dress from Two Birds.

If you're not familiar with Two Birds you should be, especially if you have a large bridal party.  They have one dress that can be worn in 15 different ways and is available in 20 colors.

There are four twobirdsbridesmaid.com rosette dress designs -- a floor-length, a tea length, mini and short dress.  The design is available in six colors (but you can custom order it in up to 20 other colors) and some lengths are available with rosettes at the hem, others are covered from waist to hem.

If you're looking for a fun and affordable wedding dress there is an ivory and rosewater shade that could work for your wedding.

Two Birds has stores in New York, LA, Canada, Australia and in the UK or you can place an order on their Web site, twobirdsbridesmaid.com.

A New Take on Cupcakes from Bee's Knees Baking Company

At the New York Weddings magazine show I saw a cake company called the Bee's Knees Baking Company and I have to say they have a very interesting take on both the traditional wedding cake and cupcake trend.

They make single serving cakes in cups so each guest can enjoy a delicious piece of cake in cupcake size.  I like it because it offers more flavor varieties than cupcakes and because it's in a cup and you eat it with a fork or spoon so it won't be as messy to eat.  And let's face it, the cupcake trend has kind of run its course.

For wedding cakes the company will construct a tiered display so each serving can be separated with ease -- you won't have to worry about a cake-cutting fee -- and you can have a variety of different flavor and filling options so you're sure to have something everyone will love.

I know they deliver in the New York City area but call or email them to see if they can ship their cake-cups to your area.  Here's a sample of what a wedding "cake" would look like:

The Fascinating Fascinator

Lots of fashion watchers have noticed that Kate Middleton loves to wear fascinators, the feathery, flowery rather large barrette placed on the side of the head, and at the first day of bridal market in New York we're starting to see various designs of fascinators for both brides and bridesmaids.  But a fascinator isn't for every wedding-day look.

The fascinator can be worn with an informal gown and probably won't look best with a ball gown.  Wear it with a tea-length, ballerina style skirt or have your bridesmaids accessorize their dress with a colorful one.  If you're changing into a reception dress after your wedding ceremony you can swap out your veil and headpiece for a fascinator.  But the general rule is that a fascinator is more fun than formal so use that as a guide when deciding if one will work with your wedding dress.

While we've seen the future Princess in them before, you probably won't at her wedding to Prince William.  For that it's rumored that she will borrow a tiara from the Queen.

Blogging About Your Wedding or Business

Last week I was a speaker at the 21st Century Bride event. It was a conference on how to market to brides using your Web site, blog, and other social media and marketing tools. I spoke on blogging.

Whether you’re a bride or a business a blog can be a fun way to share information about your wedding, products and services. It’s important to know who your audience is and focus your content on reaching that audience.

So for example, if you’re a bride and want to create a blog about your wedding you should feature posts on details you want to share with your guests: activities planned around the wedding, where you’re registered, how you met and got engaged.

If you’re a business then you want to feature your work and what inspires you.

I love blogging and while sometimes it’s hard to come up with a new post idea I do enjoy sharing my wedding tips and ideas, and I love getting comments and responses from readers. It lets me know someone other than Dave and my parents are reading this blog :)

If you do want to start a blog, on weddings or any other topic, I suggest you start it on a free service, like Blogger, to see how it goes. You may find that you’re too busy to keep up with it or that you don’t really have much to to say on the topic. But at least you tried and it didn’t cost you anything.

Hiring a Professional Photographer for Honeymoon Shots

We honeymooned in Paris and since it was just the two of us most photographs are of me or Dave or one of the two of us that one of us took with an outstretched arm and heads very close together.  You know the type.  I came across what would have been a very nice shot of us at the Eiffel Tower if only we had asked someone to take the photo of us together instead of trying to do it ourselves.

Nice shots of what should be your most romantic vacation can be great additions to your wedding album as well as photos to frame around your home or you can use them for a holiday card.

So why not hire a professional photographer for your honeymoon?

I recently learned of Photo Trek Tours, a New York City based company that will take your around the city, to all the sights, and take great photos of you and it only costs a few hundred dollars.

This got me thinking...a local photographer will know the best places to get great shots of the two of you and the whole shoot would only take a few hours. This way you’re guaranteed great honeymoon photos.

Looking back I wish we would have asked someone to take photos of the two of us but since neither of us speak French that really wasn't an option.

I think I'm starting a new trend.  What do you think?

When Your Mother Wants the Wedding Dress You Don't

It may happen.  Sometimes a bride has a vision of her wedding dress and the one her mom envisions for her is much different.  You would think that the bride will win, and I hope she does, but sometimes getting the dress of your dreams can be an uphill battle.

Make mom happy by going wedding dress shopping with her and try on the style that she thinks is best for you -- you may be surprised that mom was right -- but if you still hate the style point out to her why you don't like it, and mom may agree with you once she's see you in a few different dresses.

Always remember that your mother has thought of this day probably since she was pregnant with you and is just as excited as you are that you're getting married.  Indulge her a little and while I'm not saying that you get the dress she wants for you over your own opinion, I am saying to take her with you and let her know that her opinion does matter to you.

And when it comes to other details of the wedding, if there's something mom really wants and you don't really care one way or another, go with mom's idea simply because she's your mother and it will make her happy.  She may back off another area of the wedding that really does matter to you.