Is It Okay to Ask My Bridesmaids to Wear the Same Shoes?

You can ask them to do whatever you want but that doesn’t mean they’ll be able to do it. Not every shoe will fit each girl and the issue of the heel height is another variable that may not make your identical bridesmaids look possible.

If the dress you’ve chosen is long chances are the shoes they wear won’t be seen so does it really matter what they wear on their feet? (As long as the style coordinates with the formality of their dress, of course. ie; no sneakers)

For shorter dresses, where shoes will be seen, you can ask your bridesmaids to wear the same color but let them choose a style that’s comfortable for them, especially regarding heel height. Remember, they’ll be walking, standing and dancing for hours so they should be in comfortable (and complimentary) shoes.

This is why dyeable shoes were invented.

I Read That Bridal Market Is Coming Up What Does That Mean to a Bride?

Bridal Market is like Fashion Week in that wedding dress designers present their latest collections to bridal salon buyers and members of the press.

These gowns, that you’ll be seeing on wedding websites and blogs over the next week or so, will not be available in your local bridal salon until January/February at the earliest.

Some designers may hold special trunk shows at select salons or their own salon a week to a month after market but that will be for a very limited time and there still may be a long wait for the dress to be delivered.

If there’s a dress that you see in bridal market coverage that you want to try, take the photo to your local salon and see when it will be in the store. If the dress’ delivery date is after your wedding date see if the salon carries a similar design in stock.

I’m Planning on Having a Cookie Bar for Dessert, Where Can I Find Milk Bottles to Go With It?

I recently came across plastic and inexpensive (how’s $1.50 each!) plastic milk bottles. They look just as good as the glass ones but they’re affordable. Shop Sweet Lulu sells them. They’re 5.5” tall and hold 8oz of milk.

I think it would be fabulous to serve a cookie bar with milk for guests at the end of the night.  You can also find striped and polka dot straws in a rainbow of colors to put in each bottle at Shop Sweet Lulu.

I Fell in Love with a Shoe and Want to Use it as Inspiration for Our Wedding but Everyone Thinks I’m Nuts. Am I?

Not at all! Wedding inspiration can come from anywhere -- art, a movie, a piece of fabric, a building and even a shoe.

Don’t let people turn you away from the place you are drawing inspiration from. When you show the shoe to vendors, mom, your fiance and bridesmaids make sure to explain what it is about the shoe that attracts you to it.

Is it the color(s)? Specific detailing or embellishment? Is it the overall style? And what do you see that inspiration developing into? The wedding's color palette? A trimming on some wedding details? Are you planning on wearing the shoe on your wedding day?

It’s important that you articulate what you’re getting from your inspiration, whatever that inspiration may be, so that your vendors can see your vision and bring it to life on your big day.

My Mother is Insisting on Wearing Black But I Want the Bridal Party and Immediate Family in a Color, What Should I Do?

You should talk to your mom and explain why you want everyone in a color and then suggest you go shopping together. Take her to several stores -- some she has been to before and some she hasn’t.

Department stores offer personal shopping services at no additional charge. You may want to make an appointment so a stylist can help her find a dress in a color that you both agree on.

But take her concerns seriously. Remember that your wedding day is a big day for her too. She is playing hostess and should feel comfortable and beautiful.

If in the end she won’t budge, not even to gray or navy, then you might have to suck it up and let her wear black. But maybe the style of the dress will be something you can put your stamp of approval on.

My Three Year Old Niece is Adorable But I Really Don’t Want Kids at My Wedding, How Do I Tell My Sister?

I would be honest early so that she has enough time to find a babysitter. If you don’t feel comfortable saying that the wedding isn’t really appropriate for children, due to the menu, time and other factors, you can phrase it in a way that sounds like you’re thinking of her and her spouse.

For example: “I don’t think you and Bill will have fun if you’re worried about Sara. Why don’t you hire a sitter to watch her so you can celebrate with us.”

You may also want to add that you want her in the family photos and then the sitter can take over.

If your wedding is at a hotel you can have the sitter stay in a hotel room so the parents can run up if they want to. And you should splurge on a few kid-firendly DVDs, snacks and toys -- a kid-friendly guest room gift of sorts.

If your sister insists that her daughter attends the wedding don’t fight her on it, just order a kid's meal and make sure there’s room at her parents’ table for her.

I Want an Edgy Photographer to Capture Street-Style Shots of Our Wedding, Do We Still Need a Traditional Wedding Photographer?

You need to hire a photographer who has experience in shooting weddings and whose work you like. A street-style photographer may be able to capture some great shots but if he hasn’t shot a wedding before, you risk the chance of him missing some key moments since he doesn’t have the experience to know what to look for and when. And a photo shot list will only help so much.

Why not look for a photographer who can do both, and not someone who just says they can do both but who has shot weddings and you can see a complete wedding album to know for sure that you’re getting what you’re paying for.

You don’t get a do over on your wedding day so don’t risk missing the moments you want photographed.

When Addressing Wedding Invitations Can We Write “and Guest” and “and Family” on the Outer Envelope?

If you can, find out the name of the guest and address the invitation to both your friend/relative and the name of their guest. But if you don’t know and can’t find out the name -- and email asking should suffice -- “and Guest” is fine.

I remember learning that “and Family” was a no-no but I think times have changed, especially if space on the outer envelope is limited. Whether you’re having your envelopes calligraphed by hand or machine ask the vendor if it would be possible to fit parents and children on the outer envelope, and if you can then do so. If you can’t “and Family” won’t get you in trouble with the etiquette police.