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Flowers in Season: August
Overwhelmed by your flower options? We rounded up the best picks for each month of the year. Get ideas for other months ►
Enter Slideshow
This week, flower girl Claire Miller became an Internet sensation when a camera phone video was posted of her taking a catnap at the altar. In honor of the we-won’t-take-it trend started by Grace van Cutsem—the cutie who achieved worldwide fame when she covered her ears at Wills and Kates’ wedding—here are our favorite videos featuring feisty flower girls.
By “in good times and in bad,” she decided she had heard enough and toppled over in slow motion. (Let’s be honest—what wedding guest hasn’t fantasized about doing this at one point or another?)
This adorable chubby-cheeked tot doesn’t grasp the purpose of flower petals.
A three-year-old shushes everyone from the photographer to the pastor.
Worried that the tiniest members of your bridal party will make this list? Prep in advance by doing a couple of practice runs before the big day, letting them try on their outfit in advance and packing their favorite toy or activity to keep them occupied before their debut. Consider letting them walk down the aisle without giving them a “job” to do, which could help eliminate some of the hysterics.
Anita Chakra Burtty had a premonition that something extraordinary was about to happen: She was about to meet her future husband. So the Sydney astrologist decided to go all in and pay for an April wedding—more than enough time to fall in love with her would-be groom, who she expects to bump into around October or November. “It’s not going to be a huge issue if I don’t get married on that day, but I know that I will,” she told Channel Nine’s A Current Affair.
Her conviction is so strong, she’s already made major planning decisions, including buying her dress, meeting with wedding vendors and creating a beachside barbecue theme (hope her hubby likes wings). Most surprisingly, her loved ones fully support her decision. They’re going to make the trek from England to Australia to attend, and her best friend, Jeremy, even changed his wedding date (note: to a bride he’s already found) so that it wouldn’t coincide with hers. “I wouldn’t be a good friend to Anita unless I believed in her and supported her,” he said.
Food is the number-one priority at my wedding: I believe that meals should be an experience, not just a mindless string of bites. Your wedding menu helps set the tone for the reception. The main focus for my husband Michael and I is to create a fun atmosphere, so we decided to build our party around Mexican cuisine. It encompasses all the flavors that Californians love—fresh, spicy, and full of flavor. You're sure to find disagreements about who does it best, but most San Diegans can agree that we capture that south-of-the-border essence pretty darn well.
Although I may not be Mexican myself, I've enjoyed eating Mexican food ever since I was a little girl. I have fond memories of Mom making quesadilla dinners for my brother and I, Dad taking us to a local taco shop every other Wednesday night, and even crossing the border into Tijuana to get authentic street tacos. Here's how I'm incorporating all of my Mexican favorites into the wedding menu.
1. Start the party with a kick. While Michael and I are busy taking photos, I thought it might be fun to serve plates of chips and guacamole to guests. We'll get the party started with margaritas (both blended and on the rocks), and micheladas for the folks who want to start slow. A michelada is beer mixed with either lime or tomato juice and a ton of spices.
Photo Credit: espimraim via Flickr
Put the focus on your bridesmaids with this fun getting-ready photo!
Show off your rings with a pinky promise!
Photo Credit: Leigh Skaggs Photography
Tip of the Day: Before they walk down the aisle, show bridesmaids where to hold their bouquets so that some don't hold it up too high or down too low. Also show the men how they’ll position their hands during the ceremony. Photos will be taken of the groomsmen lineup, so ask them all to keep their hands in their pockets or at their sides for consistency.
Plus, check out 30 fun bridal party photos.
This season, the top knot hairstyle was a fave on the bridal runways. Needless to say, when I tried it at home, it did not feel polished and "white carpet ready." But last week, I received this fun DIY updo kit by stylist Theodore Leaf. With his kit, I created a gorgeous updo. While filming NBC's hit show Fashion Star with Suave Professionals, Theodore Leaf created a lovely top knot. "We did a knot, and everyone wanted to try it" said Leaf.
After researching and developing, the "Bored With Your Hair Top Knot Kit" was created! In three easy steps, you can have a classic yet sleek look to last all day. And the best part — no straighteners, irons, or styling skills needed.
"I created the 'Bored With Your Hair Top Knot Kit' so that girls could have everything they need to create perfect top knot every time," said Leaf. The kit is available in three colors: Blonde, Brunette and Black, for $20 at boredwithyourhair.com.
Here, the video, complement to this easy kit. Check it out for yourself....
—Naima DiFranco
Weddings offer an amazing opportunity to make a difference. In addition to saving energy, conserving resources, and decreasing pollution, imagine what a boost green brides and grooms can give to sustainable businesses. Other than a house, a wedding is generally the most expensive thing a young couple will ever “buy”. Brides feel a lot of pressure to make everyone happy and are willing to spend whatever it takes — the average cost is around $27,000 these days — to make their wedding “perfect.” Many couples even go into debt to pay for their weddings. Part of having a green wedding is conserving resources — including money.
These days, you don’t need to sacrifice style or beauty to have an eco-friendly wedding. As celebrities like Natalie Portman have shown us, the only difference between a green bride and a bride who doesn’t know about eco-chic alternatives is that creating her fabulous wedding has less impact on human health and the environment.
Snap a romantic last shot of the night as the elevator doors close