Blogs

Guest blogger: Dana LaRue, creator of thebrokeassbride.com.
Dana LaRue is the creator of The Broke-Ass Bride, helping brides use creativity as currency to rock bad-ass weddings without breaking the bank. Her sassy, savvy approach to weddings and money delivers entertaining and informative outside-the-box planning inspiration. Because it’s not about how much you spend, its how you spend it!

Don't know where to start when it comes to packing for your honeymoon? Before you spend hard-earned cash on a brand-new vacation wardrobe, here is a list of things you'll actually use vs. what you only think you'll need (ahem, six different négligées).

Bathing Suits

What you don’t need: A bikini that will make you look two sizes slimmer and magically transform you into a bronze beach goddess. Try not to fixate on aspirational wardrobe items during what is destined to be one of the most stressful times in your life — wedding planning. Don’t put pressure on yourself to drop 30 lbs. before the honeymoon in order to squeeze into a string bikini.

What you do need: Find a swimsuit that makes you feel comfortable with the body you have — be it a bikini, tankini, or one piece. There are plenty of sexy options out there for every size. Do get something that’s a little adjustable, so it won’t fall off if you do actually drop a few pounds.

Photo Credit: The D Spot

Q. For my bachelorette party, my bridesmaids and I are thinking of going on a day cruise — but some are concerned about the price. Are they expected to pay for their own tickets? Do you have other ideas that may be less costly? 

A. Bridesmaids are expected to pick up the tab for a bachelorette party, whether it’s a cruise, a dinner at a restaurant or a night on the town. If it’s an expensive ticket, don’t be surprised if some of them beg off for financial reasons. However, there are some equally festive and less pricey options for you and your friends:

• Weather permitting, have a pool party and barbecue and ask everyone to contribute a dish.
• Plan a bowling night or go to an amusement park.
• Stay home and have a spa slumber party, in which you treat yourselves to facials, manicures and pedicures, watch movies and reminisce.
• Consider a wine-tasting party and let each attendant bring her favorite bottle of wine. Serve cheese and crackers, fruit and a variety of hors d’oeuvres, and finish with a chocolate fondue.
• Take the party outdoors and go horseback riding, camping or hiking.

Remember, just being together and having an opportunity to share this special time will make any gathering with your ’maids fun and memorable.

—Diane Forden

No one likes to run out of juice… on cell phones or iPads, that is. The frustration of not being connected and trying to find a place to re-charge (if you’re not at home) is maddening! Even in airports, it seems as if everyone is recharging 24/7 — which is why I want to share one of my favorite new finds: FatCat’s PowerBar 9600.

This nifty pocketsize travel charger was designed with the iPad in mind, but it can also charge other devices and has its own USB port. I love the size: It’s lightweight, packs easily and comes equipped with a master cord and six different tips for use with cell phones, smartphones, tablets and other hand-held devices.

Plus, it can charge your device while it is simultaneously being charged as well. I used the PowerBar recently to charge my iPad mini while on a lengthy flight. It worked beautifully and allowed me many more hours of reading pleasure.

This is a great gift to add to your registry (it’s priced at $129.95) or to purchase for yourself before the honeymoon. You can relax poolside, sightsee or hit the beach for hours without worrying about having to head back to your hotel to recharge your phone, iPod or iPad. Nice!

For more information and a look at other types of chargers visit fatcatgear.com.

—Diane Forden

Guest Blogger: Hitha Palepu, A lifelong traveler, Hitha acquired her first passport stamp at six months old. She has channeled her experiences and a desire to help others through her lifestyle blog, Hitha On The Go, and packing services firm, Portavi Company. Both are her passion projects that she manages in addition to her job as vice president of business development at SciDose, a research-focused pharmaceutical company (and the reason she travels 100,000+ miles a year). Hitha lives in New York City with her husband.

Here, she shares her top picks for each type of honeymoon destination. Find your personal list!

Just like every bride, every honeymoon is different. Some couples prefer to explore bustling cities, while others retreat into nature. And with different honeymoons come different packing dilemmas. Here, what to pack, what to rent, and what to buy on site.

The Internet is great for a lot of things — wedding planning, seeing cat GIFs and booking your trip of a life time. But navigating the online travel space can be a bit overwhelming. Travelocity’s senior editor Courtney Scott gives her top tips.

1. Bundle
Don’t worry, you won’t be forced into taking home a puppy like in those Vonage commercials, but you will get some major savings. Says Scott: “One Travelocity study found that you can save up to $525 by bundling your flight and hotel together. You can also group your car rental into the package for continued savings. Vacation packages give travelers access to airline and hotel pricing not available to people who book separately, and they are dynamic, so you can pick and choose the right hotel and flight for your dream honeymoon. Often, packages also include bonus extras like free transfers, extra activities, or a welcome basket of wine and treats in-room.

Guest Bloggers: Alexi Mintz (left) and Kate Duff (right), co-founders of 3Floz.com
Before launching 3Floz, Kate wasn’t willing to give up her beauty regime and carried her full- sized beauty products everywhere she travelled. Alexi begrudgingly spent hours going store to store buying her beauty products in TSA approved sizes so she could carry on her luggage. They created 3floz.com in 2010 as a one stop shop for all of your favorite TSA friendly products. 3Floz ships internationally, including direct to hotels, and starting in August 2013 you'll find their automated retail machines in major airports through the US.

Planning a wedding in a large hall, chapel or ballroom? Then you will want a dress that will command the space. We love the super femininity and fantasy of these modern ballgowns with one shoulder flourishes and dainty feminine embroideries. Your wedding is one of the few chances you have to wear such a grand gown. 

A ballgown is a great choice if you are pear- or rectangle-shaped, as the full skirt will create the illusion of curves on the rectangle and disguise the fullness of the hips on the pear. If you are small-chested, it is a good idea to choose a ballgown with interest on the bustline to balance out the hips and create more of the illusion of an hourglass shape.

Definitely try this gown on with the heels you plan to wear the day of your wedding — you do not want to be tripping on a grand gown because they did not get the hem right to match your heels. Here, a few of my favorite ballgowns from Oleg Cassini for David's Bridal, Ines di Santo, and Pnina Tornai.

—Naima DiFranco

Guest blogger: Kate Harrison, creator of greenbrideguide.com.
After planning her own green wedding in 2007, Kate wrote the best-selling green wedding book, The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget (Sourcebooks, 2008). In 2009, she founded greenbrideguide.com to help couples use their weddings to promote social and environmental change while supporting the local green economy. Kate has a JD in Environmental Law and a Master's from Yale in Environmental Policy.

Research shows that lighting affects mood, making it an essential component for setting the ambience of your wedding.

At a daytime ceremony, additional light is optional. Look carefully at the natural light at your ceremony and reception sites in advance, at the same time of day as your wedding, and have a backup plan if the clouds intervene.

Late afternoon and evening weddings — or tented weddings — can be illuminated in many different ways. If the facility offers overhead lighting, make sure it uses a dimmer if you want to add any of the following items.

These eco-friendly lighting options can also save you money: