TV Weddings and What You Can Learn From Them

While I am not a fan of shows that make brides look crazy, you can still get inspiration from the weddings these "bridezillas" plan.  Depending on where the TV wedding is being held and where your wedding will be held you may even find a great vendor.

Here's what you should pay attention to:

• the wedding dress
• decor, including ceremony items, reception linens and flowers
• bouquets and boutonnieres
• bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen attire
• wedding cake
• special songs and dances
• and any other detail you see that catches your eye

If you do see something you like check out the show's Web site.  The network will usually have a page dedicated to the show and a list of credits, including photos and vendor information.

Do You Have to Make a Sissy?

This is what my friend’s dad asked her right before she left the house for the reception hall for her wedding. While it may sound funny he asked a good question. You don’t want to get in your gown, especially if it’s a complicated one, and then realize you need to use the bathroom.

While this may seem like weird advice, try and use the restroom before you put your dress on.

It’s also a good idea to have a relative or friend know how to help you in and out of your dress in case you can’t do it yourself. At my wedding, I grabbed a friend and she helped me out of my dress during the reception and then at her wedding, right before the ceremony, I held up her dress’s skirt for her. What are friends for right?

I know this may be too much information, but it’s something you won’t think about until it’s too late. You do not want to have an accident on your wedding day. How would you explain why there’s a stain on your dress or why you had to change into your getting ready outfit halfway through the wedding?

So when your friend is learning how to bustle your train during your last fitting, make sure she pays attention to any other design details that will get you in and out of your gown, including buttons and corset lacing.

A Little Help From Your Friends

Having your friends help out with wedding details can definitely save you money, but it's important to make sure that both you and your friends know what your expectations are and that you know what their limitations are.

A friend of mine offered to do her friend's hair for her wedding this weekend and after I asked a few questions yesterday we discovered that the friend was not told what time she needed to be at the hotel, the wedding is a few hours away from where she lives, and there was some confusion as to whether the bride was doing part of the 'do or the friend was doing all of it.

I told my friend she need to call the bride and find out when she was getting ready because the bride can't put her dress on until her hair and makeup are done and the bride may plan on the photographer (another friend) to take pictures while she is getting ready.

While friends may offer their skills as a wedding present (saving them money) and you may take them up on it (saving you money) it's important to know exactly who will do what and when. In the situation of a photographer who is a friend you may expect that he or she will take pictures all day and night and supply you with a wedding album, while your friend may plan on taking pictures but not making you an album for free.

It's important to talk and not necessarily get everything in writing, but make sure that there's a complete understanding between both of you as to what you expect and what they are really capable of doing. Just because your groom's college buddy owns a video camera doesn't mean he can be your videographer and just because your childhood friend likes to bake doesn't mean she can make you that five-tiered cake you found in a wedding magazine.

So if a friend or relative does offer their services to you as a wedding gift make sure that you really like what they do and that they can do what you want. It's okay to say no. Just explain that you've already hired a vendor for that part of the wedding. They'll understand.

VPL: Glamour Magazine's Tip On How to Avoid Them

I flipped through the July issue of Glamour magazine yesterday and they had a tip on wearing white without letting your undies and bra show through and I thought of the post last month about the bride whose panty lines were totally visible.

The article said the best way to tell if your clothes are see through is to look at yourself in natural light - sunlight.

Now the bridal salon will probably not let you leave the salon to check and once the dress is yours you don't want to take any chances in getting it dirty or damaged, so rely on your family/friends and the woman fitting you at the salon to tell you if anything is showing.  And if the fabric is sheer and you're not sure ask the seamstress about adding a lining or wearing a slip.

If you can't find a good bra to fit talk to the seamstress about sewing cups into the dress, and as for undies you're just going to have to try a few different styles and colors till you find the right one.  Going commando is always an option but make sure that truly is the best option before the wedding day.  You don't want to make this call on the big day.

Save 15% on Your Wedding Invitations and Get Expert Advice

Your wedding invitation is the first detail of your wedding your guests will see. If you send save-the-date cards then that will be the first detail, but your save-the-date card doesn’t have to match the rest of your stationery wardrobe. You may not have picked a theme and/or palette by the time you send your save-the-date out.

I spoke with Kara Yanagawa, Custom Manager at Egg Press,  for her expert wedding stationery tips to help you select your wedding invitation. Here’s what she had to say on selecting the right design and working with a stationer:

• Your invitation is an introduction to the wedding and it sets the tone for the event. Whether you choose an invitation that reflects your personal style, or the style of the event, your invitation should be something you love.


• Budget is often a factor and may dictate the process by which your invitation is printed. If you have your heart set on a particular process, your printer may be able to come up with some ideas about how to make the project fit your budget. Some compromises may be: Using a less expensive paper stock, changing the design to a 1-color design, omitting your return address printing on the envelopes, or choosing a postcard RSVP instead of a card with printed envelope.


• Know that in some cases (like ours), letterpress studios can get pretty custom and may even offer design services. These can range from swapping out fonts or colors, customizing an existing design with a personalized motif or creating an entire suite designed to your specifications.


• If you're having a designer start from scratch, make sure you’ve done your homework and go to them with colors, thoughts about paper and motifs that give the flavor of what you're hoping to achieve. If you go this route, try to choose a studio whose aesthetic matches the style you are after. Design fees in addition to the cost of printing usually apply.


• Working with a stationer can help you with wording and etiquette questions, and can also recommend alternatives and help problem solve. A stationer will place and track your order with your chosen manufacturer and deal with any issues that may arise.


• If you choose a letterpress design, be sure to give this process enough time - remember it's a handmade product whereby each and every paper element is treated individually with great care.

The “Mum” design pictured above is one of the many fantastic designs from Egg Press, and available at minted.com. From now through August 3, 2009, minted.com is offering Egg Press designs at 15% off!

Click through the Egg Press gallery to view all of their designs and remember to us the code EGG at checkout to save money on your wedding invitations.  And to learn more about other stationery items by Egg Press, visit their Web site, eggpress.com.

A Good Humor Thing

I picked up a copy of the summer issue of Martha Stewart Weddings today and started flipping through.  I got to the second page of the "Good Things" feature and read about renting vintage ice cream trucks - specifically Good Humor - and someone dressed in the vintage uniform to serve your guests.

When I got married in 2003 that's exactly what we did.  The pictures in this post are from my wedding album - I don't have the originals on my computer.

As you can see from the image above we had a vintage Good Humor truck and "driver" in uniform on hand to give guests ice cream as they left our wedding.  Actually, word spread during the reception that there was an ice cream truck outside so guests went outside to enjoy their favorite Good Humor pop before the cake was served.

If you do decide to treat your guests to ice cream at your wedding make sure you order enough for at least two pops per guest.  Some will go back for seconds and there may be a minimum you need to order.  I think we had to order enough for each guest to have four pops.

You probably will have extra so bring an insulated cooler to pack up the remaining boxes of ice cream.  We had enough ice cream left over to feed the family over the whole summer.

Remember to get a variety of flavors.  Not everyone loves chocolate.  Ask close friends and family what their favorites are to get an idea of what you should order.

You can still serve wedding cake and another dessert in addition to the ice cream.  I looked at the ice cream as the wedding favor guests could enjoy on their way home.

In the photo below you'll see me and my mom standing first in line to get our favorite flavors.  I think she got strawberry shortcake and I got an ice cream sandwich and since this was the end of the wedding I wasn't concerned about any ice cream dripping on my dress.

And back in 2003 the Internet was not what it is today, so you'll probably have an easier time of finding a company that rents vintage Good Humor trucks or other ice cream vendors.  Just enter the right keywords into Google:  ice cream truck rental, Good Humor, Haagen Dazs, Mr. Softee, vintage, 

Dave vs. Anne: You Decide

Dave and I are are having a discussion and he said he was going to put the discussion, okay argument, on my blog so I beat him to it.  Here's what happened:

Dave's friend and wife had a baby in mid-April so I went to the Baby Gap and bought a gift - Star Wars onesie and jeans in a 6-12 month size.  The dad LOVES Star Wars.  We asked them to send us their address in Nebraska so we could put it in the mail  We were told to hold onto it until they returned to NY in June.  So we did.  

I got a gift receipt when I bought the gift, but since April I had a baby and was unorganized with all the baby items and my own recovery and misplaced the gift receipt.  Now the dad didn't send us his NY address until the end of June, AND the package I mailed was returned to me because that address is undeliverable.

So now I have their gift, again, and we're seeing them in two weeks.  So here's the debate:

Dave thinks I have to buy them a new gift because I can't find the original gift receipt and Dave thinks that this three month old is going to be too big for a 6-12 month size.

I say, they're getting this gift without the receipt with my apologies because it's a neutral item in a large size that will fit.  

What do you think?  

Penis Bridal Shower Favors Aren't for Everyone

A cousin of mine just told me that she attended a bridal shower a few weeks back where the favors were pink-colored chocolate penis pops (see photo above).  In addition to the x-rated pops, the entertainment included a stripper.  The guest list included friends of the bride as well as her family and the groom's family.  That includes moms and grandmas.

I remember a story years ago of a friend who attended a bridal shower and one of the moms - the bride or groom's, I don't remember which - surprised the bride with a stripper at the bridal shower.

I personally would have been mortified if a stripper showed up at my shower, where my mom and grandmothers were present.

There's a difference between the shower and bachelorette party.  The bridal shower is to "shower" the bride with gifts to furnish her new home with her husband.  The bachelorette party, like a bachelor party, is for the bride-to-be to celebrate her last night as a single gal with her best buds.

While of course it's up to you to decide what you want at either of these parties, not everyone wants a stripper at their shower or bachelorette.  Let the hosts of these parties know what you want.  After all their both parties in your honor.

PS - I am a fan of edible favors for weddings and showers so talk to your chocolatier about options that fit the party's theme or a wedding theme in general.

Local Treats Your Guests Are Sure to Enjoy

I know I’ve written before about using items created locally in your wedding, either as a favor, in a guest room gift or other detail. Martha Stewart Weddings even did a story on regional wedding favors.

If you’re getting married in a city that’s important to you and your fiancé, or you’re getting married in a destination many guests may not be familiar with, it’s a nice idea to incorporate the location into your details. But how do you pick an item that represents the local area?

Kirei Nest, a new registry blog I wrote about last month just launched a new feature, Locale Lovelies, where local folks (bloggers, shop owners, artist) from every state will write posts about their home state and which local items they would suggest for wedding details.

The first in the 50-post series is for the state of Alabama and includes sweets as well as recommendations on what to do and where to eat if you’re getting hitched in the town of Florence, AL.


Image from MarthaStewartWeddings.com

A Shower Gift From the Groom

This maybe something that only I think is appropriate but I’ve seen it at several showers and I really think it should be a staple at showers everywhere: The groom should give a gift to the bride.

It doesn’t have to be an expensive gift or even jewelry, but it can be something special that she opens at the shower, whether he’s there or not.

I’ve seen groom’s give lingerie or even an item from the registry that he knows she really wants. However registry gifts may backfire as it did in the ‘90s comedy Father of the Bride. Remember when Brian gave Annie a blender as a wedding gift and she interpreted the gift as his way of thinking that the wife belongs into the kitchen. His explanation was that she liked to make a certain type of drink that you need a blender for.

Anyway, if you don’t want to tell or suggest to your groom that he should or may want to buy a gift that you open at the shower you can have a relative or friend tell him that he should/may want to. You never want to tell him what to do but suggestions are almost always welcome.  I wouldn’t necessarily tell him or suggest to him what the exact gift should be. That I think is something you want him to think of all himself.

PS – It is traditional for the groom to get the bride a wedding gift and for the bride to get the groom a gift too. Many grooms will give their brides a piece of jewelry that they can wear at the wedding, such as earrings or a necklace, but you can both agree ahead of time that you are or aren't exchanging wedding gifts or put a cash limit on the gift.

I remember telling Dave that we don’t need to spend money on a gift but I did expect a card/note from him the morning of our wedding. I gave him a card/note too and I also made him a CD to listen to while he got ready that morning with some wedding-related songs. Our favorite, that he surprised me with a few months earlier, was Somebody’s Getting Married by the Muppets.

Here’s the video from The Muppet Movie, it’s in two parts:




Isn’t it cute?