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Q. My fiancé and I are planning a small wedding with only immediate family and a few close friends in attendance. If someone asks me if they’re invited to the wedding — and they’re not — what should I say?

A. Just be gracious — this is a very common dilemma for engaged couples. Let them know how flattered you are that they would like to attend your wedding, and then explain that as much as you would love to invite a huge crowd, you’ve decided that a smaller gathering is more suitable. You can elaborate further — limited space, budget constraints, large families — or simply leave it at that. And if it’s someone you really would have liked to invite, promise to have him or her to your new home after the honeymoon to look at your wedding photos.

—Diane Forden

Photo Credit: Inspire Photography

When I first met Jenny Davids and Katherine Poole, the lovely ladies of Hen House Linens, I knew they were on to something. As we sat down to a lunch at the West Village dining spot Home Restaurant, I immediately homed in on their luxe cotton linens gracing the tables in mix-and-match style. It was eye-catching, to say the least! ­

Raising the bar on everyday dining and decorating, Hen House linens are made of sumptuous and sturdy cotton fabric that will make you think twice about using paper goods. Bold latticework, chevron and fleur-de-lis prints in on-trend colors work in endless combinations. You can start with a favorite color and pattern then add new pieces every year. Or alter your color schemes seasonally. They stand up to repeated washing and rarely need ironing. Going eco-friendly was never so much fun!­

Creative Director Katherine Poole says she “lives it and gives it” with signs of Hen House in every corner of her house. You’ll find not only tabletop pieces, such as runners, napkins and placemats, but pillows, guest towels and aprons, which make a great house gift with a recipe tucked in the pocket.­

Loverly is the heart of weddings: a visual inspiration search engine designed to help brides discover ideas, people to hire, and things to buy. Loverly makes finding beautiful wedding inspiration easier than ever! Their images are powered by the best wedding publishers and wedding shopping partners on the web. Find Bridal Guide on Loverly >>

When I bring home a new bouquet of flowers, the very first thing I do is cut off the stems before adding water and placing them in my favorite vase. Naturally, this way of thinking crosses over into my love for bouquets — short stems with gorgeous blooms tied together with a bouquet wrap (my favorite!). However, I’m having a complete change of heart after seeing more and more long-stemmed bouquets. This new trend affords the arrangements a just-picked-from-the-garden feel, while still being completely modern. At Loverly, we’re always in favor of a twist on a classic trend, so today, we've pulled together our favorite long stem bouquets.

This long bouquet of calla lilies is perfect for a modern-themed fête:

Add a look of retro-refinement to your big day look with gowns embellished with pearl beads. This jewel is not only for sorority parties and your grandmother's closet. This daintiness and beauty of pearls are the perfect accent for bridal — not only are they white, but they symbolize purity, spiritual transformation, and honesty. These lovely jewels add grace to a sexy mermaid and elevate the elegance of a lace. What do you think of these three pearly dresses from the bridal runways by Alvina Valenta, Monique Lhuillier and Jasmine Couture?

—Naima DiFranco

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!

One of my biggest tips for budget-savvy brides is: BUY YOUR OWN WEDDING BOOZE. Wait, let’s back up a bit—one of my biggest tips for budget-savvy brides is to make sure you choose a caterer that lets you buy your own wedding booze. This will save you a ton, believe me. But before you tally up the cost of countless bottles of every type of hard liquor known to man, let me stop you right there. Open bars, while totally lavish and titillating for wedding guests, are no longer de rigueur. Here are a few fun ideas that will keep both your wedding guests (and your wallet) happy.

Photo Credit: Luca Faz/Photographer in Venice

Did you know that March 20th is National Proposal Day? According to proposalday.com and alleged founder John Michael O'Loughlin, the holiday is an incentive for single couples to "open the door to a discussion that could further their relationship towards wedded bliss..." It coincides with the Vernal Equinox, when day and night are of equal length worldwide, representing the union of a successful marriage.

Wacky origins aside, we're celebrating by taking a look at heartwarming proposals caught on camera that make us want to get engaged all over again, starting with a "breaking news" announcement that went viral this week.

Breaking News

Vince Ramos conspired with producers at WZDX-TV in Huntsville, Alabama, for his girlfriend Jillian Pavlica to read her own proposal off the teleprompter! The newscast ends with a weather forecast predicting "a hundred percent chance of tears of joy tonight."

I was a flower girl several times throughout my life, and I still remember it quite vividly: pulling my cousin P.J. by the arm when he refused to walk down the aisle, crying because I didn't want to put on hot pink lipstick (hey, it was the '80s!) and riding in a limo for the first time like a grown-up. I didn't fully understand what was going on, but the solemn ceremonies ("you may now kiss the bride") and the joyful celebrations that followed (my relatives' funky dance moves to "Now That We Found Love" by Heavy D & The Boyz) left an indelible impression on me.

Finally, I'm the bride, and I can't wait to have my precious cousin Viviana be my flower girl. She's just three years old, but her wide-eyed wonder and feistiness remind me of another little girl I used to know—me. I'd like my flower girl to have a say in the outfit she wears come September, so I've started to gather options that are fit for a little princess.

Here's a photo of Viviana's first walk down the aisle at her aunt Alexis' wedding last May. She's pictured on the left, and to the right of her is Valentina, her adorable sister!

Is there a wedding décor detail as beloved as the Mason jar? We think not — unless it’s the more elusive blue Mason jar. Vintage specimens are known to fetch as much as $40 on eBay, but for a limited time, you can get a 6-pack of the Ball Heritage Collection pint jar for way, way less.
 
The heavenly blue jar debuted exactly 100 years ago, hence this everything-old-is-new collection. The 2013 models are embossed with a period-correct logo on one side and commemorative dates on the back. Happy birthday!

 
At select retailers nationwide at the end of March or for pre-order at freshpreservingstore.com ($12.99 for six one-pint jars).