Real Weddings, Royal Disasters

This is a groomsman in my co-worker Kelly's wedding. This weekend. Uh-oh...

Even if you're as poised as Kate, last minute "issues" undoubtedly arise before or at the wedding, putting the sanest bride into a panic. No matter how perfect your planning is ... sometimes you get stuck with with capri pants.

Although The Royal Wedding went off without a hitch, I'm sure Kate had her own version of capri pants. Millions of people around the world scrutinized, analyzed, blogged, tweeted and commented on her every move. Simply making eye contact with David Beckham during the ceremony would have been enough to make her faint. Plus, she could have been seriously injured by one of her guests' hats.

Whether you're royalty, or just a commoner, all brides should throw that notion of "perfect" out the window ... or out of that horse drawn carriage. Stuff will go wrong. And like bride-to-be Kelly  - you just have to laugh about it, shake it off, and make sure that new pants are overnighted in time for the ceremony. 

Congrats Kelly!!

Click here to learn how to put together your own bridal survival kit. 

Name Change: Do or Don't?

You know what was really "in" when our parents' generation got married? Brown velvet tuxedos, bridemaids dresses that doubled as living room drapes, and saying 'I do' approximately four minutes after graduating from college. Clearly things have changed. Grooms no longer look like extras from the set of Saturday Night Fever, friends don't let friends wear polyester, and people settle down with the "one" a bit later in life (after we've had ample time to weed out all the wrong "ones").

This makes that whole name-change thing a lot harder than it was for our moms. While it was practically unheard of not to take their husband's name back in the day ... now, more and more women I know (including myself - I've been married a year and a half) just haven't gotten around to it ... or don't want to. We've had a longer time to define who we are as adults, with our last names there every step of the way. Just like so many other things you let go of when you grow up, the name you had your whole life, is just plain hard say goodbye to.

When I do eventually change my name, it probably won't be as big a deal as I'm envisioning. But as a gal who has never been good with change (Umm, yes, I was that girl who would have gladly gone home with my parents the day they dropped me off at college), I know it will be sort of bittersweet.

Did you take the plunge and change your name right after you got hitched? Too lazy to go through the motions? Still debating a switch? Or is a name-change an absolute no-no? Share your thoughts and leave a comment below!

Cool Ideas for Engagement Sessions

My husband and I did our engagement session at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. Upon arrival, my photographer told us to lock our belongings in his car and run screaming should a homeless man dart out of the woods while peeing. Apparently this actually happened during his last shoot there. Regardless, the gardens were beautiful (a hidden gem I had no clue about growing up in the burbs), the pictures turned out great, and I only slightly felt like the lead in a horror movie. 

Speaking of engagement sessions, I just finished up a photo gallery for WEtv.com featuring unique, whimsical, creative images snapped by some truly awesome wedding photographers. Gone are the days of "let's pose awkwardly and gaze into each others eyes without a hair out of place" images. Now, it's all about incorporating a location, activity, interest or experience that represents your relationship. Here's a few -- stay tuned for the gallery.

Who cares about travel delays if it means you'll meet the person you're going to marry? This couple met at the San Fran airport and did their engagement session with Blueberry Photography there too.
 

Blueberry Photography

I'd like to frame this in my house even though I don't know them. Is that weird? Biking the streets of NYC - love it. Click  here for more from Casey Fatchett Photography.

Casey Fatchett Photography

My Amtrak rides have never been this glamorous or martini filled. (Although I do fancy myself a tiny bottle of wine from the snack car.) This New Orleans couple took their engagement shoot on the road with a "travel through time" themed session. Click here for more from Adam Hudson Photography.

Adam Hudson Photography

The Perfect Plant

Not only are succulent plants really cute, they seem nearly impossible to kill. They store water in their leaves, stems and roots ... perfect for a flighty (but good intentioned) plant caretaker like myself. After an unfortunate situation with an orchid, I've steered clear of house plants. But, according to the nice man at Spruce, succulents just need to be misted every two weeks. If they can survive in a desert, they can surely survive in my living room. Here's to hoping. 

photo: Spruce Princeton

Flirty and Fun Bridesmaid Dresses

Asking your friends to shell out big bucks for a shiny-satin-floor-length-disaster of a bridesmaids dress they'll never wear again is just cruel. Luckily, it's actually easier than you think to find something they'll look and feel good in on your big day. These styles are seriously cute and worthy of another wear -- wedding or not!



Anthropologie’s new wedding shop, BHLDN boasts a collection of fabulous frocks for bridesmaids, including this sweet strapless bubble dress. The structured bodice, sash-tied waist and side pockets add detail and charm. Available in grapefruit, dried lavender, grass and butterfly print.

Hello, yellow! For a bold bridal party, choose a cheery, bright color. Plus, the waistband and A-line skirt with pleated detail of this Jenny Yoo style will flatter any figure. Tip: super bright colors are better suited for a smaller group of b-maids. You don’t want to look like a bride surrounded by a huge pack of bumblebees on your big day.





Your “maids” will love this delicately draped Melissa Sweet crinkle chiffon dress. The asymmetric fabric overlays are romantic, with a fashion forward vibe.










Click here to check out more from my photo gallery on WEtv.com!

De-stress During Wedding Planning

All brides experience stress. It’s unavoidable when you’re juggling the demands of wedding planning and real life (you know, that little old job that pays the bills?). But if normal bouts of stress start spiraling out of control, it could impact your physical and mental well-being. So put down the pint of ice cream (your friends Ben & Jerry can’t make those centerpieces any cheaper), and read on for helpful tips and tricks to cope with pre-wedding angst.

First, it’s important to understand the source of your stress and then figure out how it can be minimized or eliminated completely. Is it the budget, your future mother-in-law, or feeling constantly overwhelmed with your to-do list? Luckily, a budget can be modified. The mother-in-law can be temporarily avoided thanks to caller ID. (This is just a short-term solution, gals. She’s here to stay, so learn to live with her.) And a to-do list can be tackled by simply asking for help. Bridesmaids aren’t there to just look pretty. Make ‘em work!

While certain issues can luckily be resolved quickly, many brides experience chronic stress. Thea Singer, author of Stress Less: The New Science That Shows Women How to Rejuvenate the Body and the Mind, says that a bad case of pre-wedding stress can impact everything from your immune system to sleep habits… even your relationships. So not only will you be more susceptible to illness and infection, but your fiancé can’t escape your wedding warpath.

Click here to read the rest of my article on WeTV.com. 

Hair Dryer How-to

I had to share this email I received from my friend Courtney:

I just got a new hairdryer, and for some reason I am reading the instructions (boredom probably), and the warnings are really weird. Some I thought you might appreciate:

"Never use while sleeping"

"Do not use where aerosol products are being used" (Isn't that like every salon in America?)

"Do not direct heat towards eyes"

In case you've been drying your hair while sound asleep or aiming the heat directly at your face, Courtney and I wanted to warn you gals against these dangerous beauty behaviors. 

If you so choose to tame your frizz while awake, try this fab round brush.