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June 25th

Photo by: Leonel Medrano and Iris Bai on Polka-Dot Bride via Lover.ly

Tip of the Day: Bridesmaids are more concerned with the color of the dress they’ll wear than the style. After all, not every color looks great on every woman’s skin tone, so start by asking your bridesmaids to send you the top three colors they love to wear. Take their votes into consideration to find a hue that looks fabulous on the entire group.

Consider jewel tones like sapphire, ruby, and emerald, which look gorgeous on a variety of different skin tones. Universally-pretty shades for summer weddings include coral and turquoise. Avoid silver or light gray dresses if you have bridesmaids who are very pale. And if you just can't find one shade to flatter all of your girls, black is always a stylish and classic choice!

Plus, check out The Top 5 Bridesmaid Dress Trends. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more great tips and advice.

 

What Happily-Married People Want to Tell You

13 things they won't tell you book from readers digest Here is an exclusive book excerpt from 13 Things They Won't Tell You. Every month, Reader’s Digest Magazine asks selected experts from a different profession to spill their secrets. Readers walk a mile in their shoes and see things that are enlightening, horrifying, and give them a whole new perspective on the people they trust with their food, health, family, money, and home. They walk away with the keys to awesome backdoor deals, insider knowledge that saves them tons of money, and invaluable advice for getting better service anywhere they go.

Now, for the first time ever, this wisdom has been collected into one comprehensive volume, complete with updates, all new interviews, and tons of additional secrets that have never appeared before.

Not everything about marriage is pretty. And the couples who make it accept and love that fact. Here's what they want you to know.

1. Only puppies want to be on top of each other—and they get tired of it, too. Sometimes, you need your space.

7 Tips for Losing Weight Before the Wedding

Back to the grind today! Here are a few lessons learned from the past week on my wedding weight-loss program. 

Get rid of sore muscles with light exercise.
Monday morning, I was still so sore from Saturday’s workout with Bonne Marcus — I could still barely get out of bed, let alone walk down the stairs. Every time I got up from my desk chair at work, it took a few seconds to get my legs to move! Bonne told me to just do some abs tonight and try some light cardio to help bring fresh oxygenated blood to my muscles, which are sore from lactic acid buildup.

Getting home from work was a disaster, thanks to a train derailment on the Long Island Railroad – all trains were cancelled, and I didn’t get home until 9 p.m., so that light cardio was not happening. I did do 50 crunches and 20 side crunches before I got in bed, so at least I did something! And when I woke up the following morning, I wasn’t nearly as sore anymore. Thank God! I thought I was never going to feel better.

You can still eat your favorite foods; just in smaller portions.
After Monday’s nightmare commute, we needed a quick and easy dinner. We ordered Chinese, and I ate just a few pieces of Sesame Chicken with brown rice.

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Fabulous Etsy Finds for Your Wedding

Etsy is a veritable treasure trove when it comes to discovering unique wedding décor. But with thousands of shops to navigate, what bride has time to sort through them all? We asked top bridal bloggers to share their go-to shops for one-of-a-kind ceremony or reception items — pin your favorites!

By: Stefania Sainato

Enter Slideshow
  • Birch Place Card Holders

    Birch Place Card Holders

    "Right next to burlap as a hot trend is birch. I have been seeing brides use birch in their wedding decorations when going for a rustic-chic style. These simple yet perfectly rustic place card holders from The Hickory Tree will charm your guests and look perfect lined up as your guests come into your reception area."

    — Maggie Lord, founder of Rustic Wedding Chic and author of the forecoming Barn Weddings

    Photo Credit: The Hickory Tree

  • Mad Libs Cards

    Mad Libs Cards

    "Give your guests something to do, all while putting a creative spin on the traditional guest book. In lieu of, ask guests to fill out mad libs cards from Blush Notes with their wedding advice — then read their responses after the honeymoon or on your one-year anniversary."

    — Angelica Bragg, the founder and editor of The Bridal Detective

    Photo Credit: Blush Notes

  • Chalkboard Locket

    Chalkboard Locket

    "Chalkboards are all the rage right now; Zelma Rose goes above and beyond with a unique chalkboard that you can wear around your neck! This chalkboard locket is a sweet gift idea for bridesmaids: include a special message on the inside. I love how many whimsical patterns and prints are available."

    — Emma Arendoski, the founder of Emmaline Bride and author of The Handcrafted Wedding

    Photo Credit: Zelma Rose

  • Burlap Pew Bows

    Burlap Pew Bows

    "The burlap wedding look is hotter than ever right now. We are seeing brides use burlap as the foundation of their country rustic wedding color palette. These super sweet burlap and lace pew bows from The PeaPickin Heart are the perfect addition to any indoor or outdoor ceremony and bring a classic country charm."

    — Maggie Lord, the founder of Rustic Wedding Chic and author of the forecoming Barn Weddings

    Photo Credit: The PeaPickin Heart

  • Customizable Chalkboard

    Customizable Chalkboard

    "I am obsessed with anything wedding signage, but add in my love for chalkboard, and you have a winning combination. This one from Custom Chalk is absolutely fabulous!"

    —Angelica Bragg, the founder and editor of The Bridal Detective

    Photo Credit: Custom Chalk

  • Felt Garlands

    Felt Garlands

    "Garlands are so diverse — we see them featured in so many beautiful weddings in hundreds of different ways. Enter, the felt garland! I love the pops of color that Ruth from Felt Foxes brings to her garlands; they're both contemporary and whimsical at the same time. If you don't have time to make your own, Ruth can whip up a custom creation for you, or you can purchase the felt balls separately to get all creative with your bad self!" 

    — Ms. Herringbone, writer for Polka Dot Bride

    Photo Credit: Felt Foxes

  • Guest Book Alternative

    Guest Book Alternative

    "A guest book isn’t just a book anymore! This guest book alternative by Suzy Shoppe is one find I wish I had at my own wedding. It works like this: guests sign their name directly onto a 3D heart at your reception. After the wedding, frame and display it in your home."

    — Emma Arendoski, the founder of Emmaline Bride and author of The Handcrafted Wedding

    Photo Credit: Suzy Shoppe

  • Guest Book Alternative

    Guest Book Alternative

    "Now your guest book can be enjoyed for years, rather than placed on a bookshelf or hidden in a box."

    — Emma Arendoski, the founder of Emmaline Bride and author of The Handcrafted Wedding

    Photo Credit: Cory Ryan Photography

  • "Love Story" Invitations

    "Love Story" Invitations

    "Instead of a traditional invitation, give guests a glimpse into your story! Sparkvites is changing the way that couples view invitations. These "love story" invitations share those funny, heartfelt, and memorable details from the first look to the first date, how he popped the question, and what’s next: the big day!"

    — Emma Arendoski, the founder of Emmaline Bride and author of The Handcrafted Wedding

    Photo Credit: Sparkvites

  • "Love Story" Invitations

    "Love Story" Invitations

    "There’s even a response card written in a mad-lib style, which is way more fun than simply circling ‘chicken’ or ‘fish.'" 

    — Emma Arendoski, the founder of Emmaline Bride and author of The Handcrafted Wedding

    Photo Credit: Sparkvites

  • Bunting Gift Tags

    Bunting Gift Tags

    "I love this vendor's use of colors and their eclectic range of products from pennant banners to chalkboard style coasters to shabby chic birdcage decor. Pretty French Things takes the extra steps to go green in their printing and packaging; they print everything on sugarcane carbon neutral paper and refill their ink rather than buying new cartridges. Their postcards are printed using SFI certified paper and a waterless printing process.

    They use recycled, vintage, and antique materials and everything is made by hand. All of their packing material is biodegradable or recycled."

    — Kate Harrison, the creator of Green Bride Guide and author of The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget

    Photo Credit: Pretty French Things

  • Ring Bowl

    Ring Bowl

    "A personal favorite, I picked up one of these gorgeous little bowls from Say Your Piece for my own wedding, which now sits proudly in our home for when I have to take off my rings and get my hands dirty! You can have them made to your own choice of colors, and they're not only pretty but practical!"

    — Ms. Herringbone, writer for Polka Dot Bride

    Photo Credit: Say Your Piece

  • "I Do" and "Me Too" Signs

    "I Do" and "Me Too" Signs

    "Susabellas specializes in ceramic items for weddings, baby and home, handmade in Washington State from local clay. Every piece is handcrafted, stamped and glazed so no two items are the same. They have fun sayings and are also extremely affordable. Most items come with a beautiful gift box ready to give or keep for yourself. All of their products ship in recycled packing materials, whenever possible."

    — Kate Harrison, the creator of The Green Bride Guide and author of The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget

    Photo Credit: Susabellas

  • Tassel Garland

    Tassel Garland

    "The lovely Pippa from Ouchflower creates bespoke tassels that stand out as being fresh and simple — but absolutely stunning. She makes these to order in Melbourne, Australia, with each tassel carefully bound and dip-dyed. The sky's the limit as far as colors!" 

    — Ms. Herringbone, writer for Polka Dot Bride

    Photo Credit: Ouchflower

  • Seed Favors

    Seed Favors

    "I can summarize my love for this Etsy shop in two words, really: SEED BOMBS. Seed bombs are hands-down the best wedding favor option to come along in decades. You can do candies or little sweets, or little trinkets with your initials and dates on them, but why not give your guests something to beautify (or yummify) their surroundings instead?

    VisuaLingual gives you a ton of options — you can choose regional wildflower seed bombs for your yard, edible flowers or salad greens seed bombs, dog- and cat-friendly plants, you name it! You can also get your bomb bags customized with your names and wedding date (of course)."

    — Dana LaRue, the creator of The Broke-Ass Bride and author of the forecoming The Broke-Ass Bride's Wedding Guide

    Photo Credit: VisuaLingual

  • Customizable Photo Seating Chart

    Customizable Photo Seating Chart

    "If a table of standard escort cards just isn't doing it for you, I've found a great little idea that integrates your engagement photos into your wedding day. This photo seating chart is a cute piece of wedding décor that is super functional, too. Etsy artist Julie Hanan Design can make it happen for you — take note because she even does a double-layered version that reveals the image as people take their seating cards!" 

    Photo Credit: Just Love Me Photography

  • Ketubah

    Ketubah

    "If you are planning to sign a Ketubah on your wedding day, look no further than Urban Collective: Modern Ketubot by Jennifer Raichman. Her designs are so ornate and involved. They are the type of thing you want to frame and hang on your wall.

    The delicate manner in which these Ketubot are designed is stunning and so different! Check out her Etsy page for info on how much advance time is needed for ordering."

    Photo Credit: Urban Collective

  • Customizable Wedding Ring

    Customizable Wedding Ring

    "This ring is seriously unique and one of a kind...being that it would have two fingerprints of your choosing inside. What a cute way to mold your love together! It is designed by Fabuluster on Etsy."

    — Heather Sharpe

    Photo Credit: Fabuluster

  • Party Confetti

    Party Confetti

    "If you don't know about KNOT & BOW, you should! This is my go-to place for all things craft supply. Just browsing through their shop gives me inspiration for tons of projects. They have such a great selection of supplies that you really won't find anywhere else, like this confetti. This is one shop to visit any time you need to mail a letter, wrap a gift or add that extra touch to your latest project."

    — Allison Silber, the founder and creative director of Engaged & Inspired

    Photo Credit: KNOT & BOW

  • Geometric Napkins

    Geometric Napkins

    "Seeing as I am in the events industry, I love the details. I always find myself obsessing over the perfect napkins for a brunch or dinner I am hosting. The Apiarist offers simplicity with a punch. The designs are perfect and the quality is wonderful (I am often concerned about quality when it comes to some Etsy purchases, so this one is huge for me)."

    — Allison Silber, the founder and creative director of Engaged & Inspired

    Photo Credit: The Apiarist

  • Wedding-Day Card for Your Spouse

    Wedding-Day Card for Your Spouse

    "I'm a huge fan of all types of cards. No matter what the occasion is, I must find the perfect card to go along with it. I've had friends frame the card as art in their home, which for me, is a sign that I bought the perfect one. The Paper Cub Co. has tons of unique designs, modern color palettes, and even some hand-lettered options! What a perfect combination for all of your card needs."

    — Allison Silber, the founder and creative director of Engaged & Inspired

    Photo Credit: The Paper Cub Co.

  • Customizable Cake Topper

    Customizable Cake Topper

    "I love the statement cake toppers from Better Off Wed. The toppers are made of mahogany or birch wood and you can also choose to have the wood painted in your color of choice — love all the options there! Each topper is completely original and one-of-a-kind. You can get your names or fun quotes such as 'we do,' 'best day ever,' or 'always & forever.'"

    — Jen Campbell, the founder and creative director of Green Wedding Shoes

    Photo Credit: Better Off Wed

  • Customizable State Ring Bearer Pillow

    Customizable State Ring Bearer Pillow

    "Love, California is known for selling pillows in the shape of states, but I love that they also offer ring bearer pillows! How cute — and perfect to keep in your home after the wedding."

    — Jen Campbell, the founder and creative director of Green Wedding Shoes

    Photo Credit: Love, California

  • Extra Large "Here Comes The Bride" Banner

    Extra Large "Here Comes The Bride" Banner

    "I love the custom paper goods from Ready Go Wedding Co., with my favorite being the 'Here Comes the Bride' sign — so cute for the flower girls or ring bearer to carry! They also have adorable props for your photo booth and DIY printables for your dessert table."

    — Jen Campbell, the founder and creative director of Green Wedding Shoes

    Photo Credit: Sarah Kathleen

  • Chevron Straws

    Chevron Straws

    "Want to dress up your mason jars? Add a fun straw like these chevron print ones from Party Delights. Not only do they add a pop of color, but they also make your drink station a unique one."

    —Maggie Lord, the founder of Rustic Wedding Chic and author of the forecoming Barn Weddings

    Photo Credit: Party Delights

  • Vintage Wreath Table Numbers

    Vintage Wreath Table Numbers

    "I love the rustic feel to these wood table numbers from Red Cloud Boutique. The lettering and pretty border design creates a unique touch to this wood slice. You can incorporate these into a woodland wedding, dress them up with lace for a vintage wedding or set them against a mason jar for classic eco-chic table decor."

    — Kate Harrison, the creator of Green Bride Guide and author of The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget

    Photo Credit: Red Cloud Boutique 

     

  • Ceremony Flags

    Ceremony Flags

    "How cute are these flags from thebeezeknees, y'all? They are a creative spin on the traditional 'rose petal tossing' or 'blowing bubbles' after your walk down the aisle. Plus they make for adorable photos!"

    —Angelica Bragg, the founder and editor of The Bridal Detective

    Photo Credit: thebeezeknees

  • Art Deco Tea, Cocoa or Chai Favors

    Art Deco Tea, Cocoa or Chai Favors

    "These guys have the market cornered on attractively packaged, customized coffee wedding favors. Apropos Roasters roasts their own beans, and will happily grind them for you so your guests can use these on the go.

    Stick these favors in your welcome bags, or leave them on your wedding tables at a morning-after brunch. And just in case coffee's not your bag, they also do yummy chocolate-covered espresso bean and almond favors!"

    — Dana LaRue, the creator of The Broke-Ass Bride and author of the forecoming The Broke-Ass Bride's Wedding Guide

    Photo Credit: Apropos Roasters

  • Wedding Paper Flower "Curtain"

    Wedding Paper Flower "Curtain"

    "I originally fell in love with Love Embellished by Sofia because of their dreamy book page garlands and wedding backdrops. This seller's book page pieces are particularly fab for literary-minded couples, and they even make little book page flower bouts. Now they also make amazing driftwood boat wedding favors! I can't think of a more uniquely whimsical favor option for a wedding by the water." 

    — Dana LaRue, the creator of The Broke-Ass Bride and author of the forecoming The Broke-Ass Bride's Wedding Guide

    Photo Credit: Liz Coderre Photography

Fabulous Etsy Finds for Your Wedding

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June 24th

Photo by: Kelly Maughan on Snippet and Ink via Lover.ly

Tip of the Day: One of the biggest makeup mistakes for brides is going overboard with blush or bronzer, thinking that contouring stripes on their cheeks or jawline will thin their face in photos. That may happen, but in real life, those brown streaks are a dead giveaway that they did their own makeup. Always practice with bronzers and blushes ahead of time, and take a magnifying mirror outside into natural light to be sure you look smooth, blended, and natural in person.

Plus, check out The Best Bridal Makeup Products. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more great advice and tips.

June 24th

Photo by: Bella Rose Photography on Bella Rose Photography via Lover.ly

Tip of the Day: Torn between two songs for the first dance? If they're in the same genre (e.g. country or rock), ask your DJ or band if they can play one song and then naturally segue into the other tune. Entertainment pros are masters at this! If the songs are too "different," then use one for your first dance and save the other for a spotlight dance, which can take place later on in the reception (i.e. after your cake-cutting).

Plus, check out Real Couples' First Dance Songs. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more tips and advice.

Meet Kathleen, Our New Real Bride Blogger

kathleen and her fiance Gray

Greetings, brides-to-be! My name is Kathleen and I’m the newest addition to the Real Bride Blogger Community. I’m so excited to be sharing my wedding-planning experiences with you all.

For me, as a journalist, writing has always been one of my biggest passions, an accounting of everything that is going on in the world, as well as people’s hopes, dreams and feelings. It’s a bit more difficult to write about yourself, but I want there to be some permanent account of the lead-up to my wedding that my fiancé Gray and I could look back on in years to come. Something that we could share with our future family. But let me dispense with the sappiness and tell you a little bit about Gray’s and my story.

Gray and I are both journalists covering the Florida Legislature in Tallahassee. We first met at a press conference in November 2010. Well, sort of. He saw me speak on a panel that previous July, but he didn’t introduce himself. He says I just didn’t notice him. We started dating that spring and moved in a year later, with both of us agreeing that we should only move in together if we intended to get married. And this past Memorial Day weekend, he proposed!

One of the best parts of his proposal was that it was a complete surprise to absolutely everyone. After a really nice dinner in Melbourne, Fla., Gray and I took a walk on a very secluded beach where he asked if I could “do him a favor.” When I said “sure,” he pulled out the ring and asked “will you marry me?”

The Craziest Blow-Up You'll Ever See Over A Wedding Gift

This article originally appeared on The Huffington Post

It is perhaps the most controversial wedding gift of our time: a basket of food presented to two brides that went so horribly awry, it spawned a text and Facebook messaging war that got published in a local newspaper and has to be seen to be believed.

TheSpec.com, a Canadian news outlet, recently released the heated back-and-forth between a wedding guest and a same-sex couple, who were clearly disappointed in his gift: A basket of food that included tri-color pasta, salsas, balsamic vinegar, Marshmallow Fluff and Sour Patch Kids.

After the wedding, one of the brides texted the guest to say that she is gluten intolerant and that she'd like a receipt for the items. When the guest ignored the receipt request, the other bride then followed up. Here's her message, via TheSpec:

I'm not sure if it's the first wedding you have been to, but for your next wedding... People give envelopes. I lost out on $200 covering you and your dates plate... And got fluffy whip and sour patch kids in return. Just a heads up for the future :) [all sic]

Things devolved quickly from there. More insults were hurled about who is cheap and who is ungrateful. Here's a particularly biting message from the guest:

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