Blogs

For all of you West Coast brides ready to shop for your gown, here’s some news you’ll love. One of my favorite designers, Rani Totman, who creates all of the gorgeous gowns for St. Pucchi Couture, has opened a flagship store in Sunset Plaza, West Hollywood, CA. Here’s Rani with two of her beautiful dresses:

I love the look of this fabulous 2,000 square-foot store. It’s modern, spacious and features private entrances and veiled interiors.

 Your gown-shopping experience will feel every bit as special and luxurious as it should!

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.

I finally found Her: The perfect dress for my wedding on September 1! I'd like to give a special shout-out to my consultant Andrea from Bridal Reflections in Carle Place, Long Island, for her unwavering patience, arms of steel, and contagious smile. 25+ dresses later, here's what I learned. (Catch up on part 1 of my dress shopping experience, here.)

1. Undergarments can drastically change the look of a dress.
You already know that wearing a strapless bra or a regular one with clear straps is non-negotiable. Even so, I’d recommend getting your measurements taken before you start this process, especially if you've lost weight recently, like I did. When I tried on the winning dress for the very first time, my bust looked...off. The culprit: Undergarments one cup size too small and three inches too big around the waist. Armed with my correct size, I slipped on the dress again—it's amazing what a difference a few inches can make.

Couple Gets Married via Twitter

We've seen couples live-tweet their proposals and weddings. And I'm sure we can all think of a couple who updated their Facebook relationship statuses the second after saying "I do." But this is the first we've heard of a couple actually exchanging their vows through Twitter.

Turkish groom Cengizhan Çelik, a social media editor, and his bride, Candan Canik, gathered in a room with their officiant and witnesses as the officiant carried out the ceremony on Twitter. 

As the officiant tweeted out the prompts, the bride and groom responded on an iPad with "Evet," which is Turkish for "Yes." After being pronounced husband and wife, they signed a good ol' fashioned marriage certificate. 

Man Fakes His Own Death, Then Proposes

Join us every Friday for our new etiquette Q&A column, where editor-in-chief Diane Forden answers one reader's biggest etiquette question. 

Q. My fiancée and I have a great relationship with my ex-wife. I’d like to invite her—and our daughter, of course—to my wedding. What is the etiquette on this? 

A. As a rule, it’s recommended that ex-spouses not be invited to the wedding, even if you have an amicable relationship. There are several reasons for this: Your child may be confused by her mother’s presence at your nuptials. Guests, too, may feel a bit uncomfortable and not know quite what to say to your ex (not only does this put your former wife in an uncomfortable position but the focus is now on her instead of on you and your new wife). And consider the fact that your ex may find it emotionally difficult to witness your re-marriage, no matter how well she and your fiancée get along. If, despite all of these forewarnings, you still want to extend an invitation, make sure your future wife is absolutely OK with it. If she indicates even the slightest bit of hesitation or doubt, then don’t put the invite in the mail.

—Diane Forden

Oooh-la-la! Take a look at what landed on my desk just in time for Fashion Week: a new collection of macarons from Maison Ladurée. The pastel shades echo the divine flavors — think Strawberry Candy, Lemon Lime, Almond, Violette and Blood Orange Ginger. They are almost (almost!) too gorgeous to eat. Just the absolute picture of confectionery chic, n’est-ce pas? They'd make a lovely thank-you gift for your bridesmaids or parents ($21 for a box of six).

—Mary Clarke 

Photos by Mary Clarke

As I write this, I am just a few days away from my wedding. I loved sharing my journey with you all for the past year. It feels surreal that it will soon be over and I'll finally be married to the man who makes me happier than anything in the world! Here are 20 lessons and tips I've learned along the way.

1. Think beyond the altar.
The wedding is more than just a party; it’s about your decision to share your life fully with another person. We’re talking forever, brides. Make sure you and your hubby-to-be discuss your future plans (where you'll live, how you'll raise your kids) in addition to seating charts and honeymoon destinations.

Photo Credit: Joy Marie Photographers

2. Make it personal. 
The last thing I wanted was a ceremony and reception that could have worked for any couple. I’d suggest adding as many small, personal touches as possible so your wedding is uniquely yours. Some ideas I love: asking for song requests, creative table numbers, and serving unexpected treats, like cookies and milk. 

Guest blogger: Rosanna Casper, co-founder of Idojour.com, a new wedding website where brides, grooms, family and friends can purchase a stylish and affordable mix of beautifully curated pieces. Designed to make wedding planning all the more inspiring and enjoyable, Idojour offers accessories and apparel for your wedding weekend, complemented by both inspirational and practical content. Rosanna oversees content, among many other things, and makes sure that everything comes together beautifully on the site.

Here, Rosanna discusses one of her favorite gown trends right now.

The peplum; It's a dress with a short skirt-like overlay or ruffle sewn at the waistline that became a popular look on the bridal runway this year. It's an ultra-feminine and fashion-forward trend that creates a curvaceous silhouette on the bride. Peplum gowns come in a number of different fabrics and styles. Here, a few of our favorites.

Airy and Light:

Left: Amy Kuschel; right: Watters

Each week, we feature music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from DJ Z, a Chicago native known for creating his own unique style of mashups, remixes, and party breaks at every social and corporate event he headlines. His eyes never come off the dance floor, guaranteeing that he'll play the music you want, not just what he wants to play! His professional personality, can-do attitude, and drive for success has led him to perform all over the world, including events for The Bacardi Live Tour with Mix Master Mike, Norwegian Cruise Line, Nike, McDonald's, and many more. 

Photo Credit: Kimberly Chau Photography

Weddings are a special time for the bride, groom and their families, so most couples want to make sure their special day is unique and reflective of their style and personalities. However, when it comes to music, most couples tend to play it safe. But why not get a little creative here and throw your guests a few musical curve balls that will surprise and delight them all the way to the dance floor?