News, Tips & Offers delivered to your inbox.

From Diane's Desk

Hello everyone! This is Diane Forden, Editor in Chief of Bridal Guide magazine. Let me congratulate all of you brides-to-be out there on your engagement. You must be so excited to be planning your wedding and well, maybe you’re a bit overwhelmed and anxious, too. That’s why I’m here to help. I’d like to know what’s on your mind, what questions you may have, what’s bothering you and what you like and don’t like about the whole wedding planning process. So please write, let me know your thoughts and ask any questions.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

November 18, 2009

Happy New Year!

OK, so maybe we still have some time before popping open the champagne and watching the crystal ball drop in Times Square, but Bridal Guide’s January/February 2010 hits the stands today and that’s reason enough to celebrate.

You’ll find a slew of beautiful bridal gowns (photographed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines) that look like a million bucks but don’t cost a fortune. You’ll also get great ideas for your favors and discover some of the hottest wedding trends for the coming year. Did you know that new wedding décor color combos include apricot paired with platinum or pale yellow with hot canary and bright white? And there’s more—from invitations to after parties, we’ll tell you what’s in, what’s out and the best way to plan your celebration.

Not only that, we have tips from the pros themselves on how you can save on food and drink, easily the most expensive part of a wedding, in “50 Ways to Feed your Guests (without going broke). I love this story: It offers a real insider’s view on smart, inventive ways to keep your costs in check without coming across as “cheap” or “stingy”. Here’s Tip #22 to give you a taste (pardon the pun): “Some meats are pricier at certain times of the year. Let your caterer know that you would like to consider those that will be available at a good price when your wedding takes place.” Good thinking!

Of course, after all the celebrating, there’s the honeymoon to look forward to and in this issue you’ll find fantastic destinations for your dream trip whether you want to venture far from home (Tahiti, Europe), relax at a glorious resort in Mexico or chill on the beaches of Hawaii and the Caribbean. Just pick your paradise and start planning! And, if there’s some topic you want to read more about or would love to see covered in Bridal Guide, just let me know. After all, it’s our job to make your wedding planning easier and to address any concerns or questions you may have. In the meantime, enjoy the issue!

Posted by Diane at 12:17 p.m. | Comments (0)

November 5, 2009

Table Talk

The other evening several BG editors and I visited the Wedding Salon bridal show at the Roosevelt Hotel here in NYC. Wedding pros including florists, event planners, cosmetic companies, photographers, fashion designers and caterers, set up their displays so that local brides could seek out great ideas and find resources for their own celebrations. I don’t know about you, but I do love the pomp and circumstance, beauty and fantasy that weddings offer and the gorgeous table settings we saw did not disappoint. These ϋber-glamorous displays of creativity were quite fantastic with their towering centerpieces, lush flowers and unique table settings. Here’s a look at a few:

White blossoms float in pretty bowls on this gold and white table designed by Frank Alexander for the Mandarin Oriental:

Golden-hued candles and dinnerware grace this table bedecked with plum and lavender flowers by D3W Creative Concepts:

David Tutera’s towering Lucite and floral centerpiece sits atop a pretty, all-white table design:

Read More >>

Posted by Diane at 10:13 a.m. | Comments (0)

October 28, 2009

Breakfast with David Tutera

Despite the rain in NYC today, my morning was full of sunshine when I met wedding planner extraordinaire, David Tutera, for breakfast. I’ve known David for years (he reminded me that Bridal Guide gave him one of his first editorials in our July/August 2000 issue) and I have always been a huge fan. His creativity and talent are exceptional, as so many of you may already know from watching David work his magic every Sunday night on WE TV’s My Fair Wedding.

If you aren’t already addicted to this show then you must tune in. It’s fun, inspiring and truly one of the best reality shows on TV. I love seeing how David masterfully transforms a bride’s wish into an unforgettable, truly beautiful celebration. But he also does more than that: He helps brides feel more confident about themselves so that they can take what they learn from him beyond the wedding day. David told me that working on this show is one of the “most exciting and gratifying things” he has ever done and it’s easy to understand why when you see the looks of joy and gratitude—along with a positive new attitude—from all those lucky brides.

I asked David what most brides want their weddings to be like and he said they all want them to be “different”. But in order to achieve “different” David advises that they “take off the veil” and stop thinking like a bride. Instead, he asks them to think more like a guest and to focus on what might make their friends and family best remember the wedding. He suggests that they tell their guests a story about themselves as a couple and take them on a journey so to speak, to guarantee that something different and unique will emerge. Great advice!

Well, all too soon, our breakfast came to an end and we both headed back to our offices for another busy day. I should let you know that David is coming out with two books in January, which we’ll be sure to tell you more about, and that some of the gorgeous gowns from his collection, David Tutera By Faviana, will be featured in our January/February 2010 issue. He is one busy man! In the meantime, enjoy watching David work wonders on My Fair Wedding and think about how you’d like to share your own unique story—and every couple has one!—with your guests.

Posted by Diane at 2:18 p.m. | Comments (0)

October 16, 2009

Registry Tips

Every company or industry has a busy season. For accountants, it’s the weeks before the April 15th tax deadline, for retailers it’s the holiday season when many stores will open at 7 a.m. so consumers can shop-‘til-they drop until midnight! For bridal magazines, the busiest times are the months of April and October when editors book back-to-back appointments for several weeks in order to see the newest, most fantastic items in the tabletop industry as well as gorgeous gowns in the bridal fashion industry. In fact, around the BG hallways you’ll often hear someone say “I’m off to market” and we know exactly what she means.

This past week I’ve been out covering the Tabletop market with Weddings and Home Editor, Aimée Morgan. Whenever I walk into these showrooms I’m tempted to throw out everything I now use at home and start fresh (and I also wish I lived in a great big house with lots and lots of cabinet space! Oh well, one can dream…). We saw beautiful displays of dinnerware, stemware and flatware that will soon be in the stores and ultimately on your registry lists. You’re sure to find something to suit your taste whether it’s bold colors, graphic designs, botanical prints or art deco. The hardest part is deciding just what you want. So with registry lists on my mind, here are a few tips to help get you started:

1. Before setting out to register, pull together some magazine shots of rooms you love. What colors and décor styles appeals to you for the living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen? And don’t forget to include your fiancé in this process. Ask him what he likes and work together on deciding how you want to set up your home.
2. Next, decide what you’ll register for. Check out our Appliance Guide and Kitchen Guide for detailed lists of items for the home and use them as references. Again, get your fiancé’s input as well. You never know, he may have his heart set on a beer keg!
3. Do research online to see what stores have to offer. Make a note of what you like, print out photos and take them with you when you visit the store.

Read More >>

Posted by Diane at 7:04 p.m. | Comments (0)

September 28, 2009

Our New Issue

News Flash! The November/December issue hit the newsstands a couple of weeks ago, and in case you haven’t yet seen it, be sure to pick up a copy.

The issue is chock full of fantastic ideas for your wedding—you’ll find everything you need from gorgeous gowns to the perfect honeymoon destination. In one of my favorite features “Taming The Big Bad Budget,” you’ll discover invaluable tips on how to plan a beautiful wedding without spending a fortune. Now doesn’t that sound intriguing?

We also know how overwhelming wedding planning can be (hmmm, who should be on the guest list, how many bridesmaids should I have, when do I send out invitations) so we put together “The A to Z Planning Guide” and a “Countdown Calendar”. Trust me, you will be so glad to have all the details spelled out for you.

If you’re still dress shopping, take a look at the incredible fashions in “Summer of Love” and “Some Like It Hot”:

Read More >>

Posted by Diane at 4:52 p.m. | Comments (0)

September 18, 2009

Elizabeth & Jeremy's Wedding Day

I went to a fantastic wedding just a few weeks ago. Bridal Guide’s IT Manager, Jeremy Bucovetsky, married his lovely fiancé, Elizabeth Blake, on September 5th, and the wedding gods were truly smiling…the sun was shining (somewhat rare in the northeast these days) and the weather was picture-perfect. And what a swell party it was! In fact, this 1920s, Deco-themed celebration was truly the bee’s knees and the cat’s meow (I loved how Liz and Jeremy incorporated these phrases onto their RSVP card and their gift-bag tag). Every detail was meticulously planned from the beautifully decorated Community Church where they exchanged their vows to the stately Bourne Mansion on Long Island’s south shore where the cocktail hour and reception took place. We were wined and dined with the most incredible food, enjoyed the beauty of the surroundings and danced ‘til dawn (well almost, hitting the hay at 4 a.m. is just about sunrise!). I have to say, their 12-piece band really rocked and the dance floor was packed all night.

You’ll read more about this gorgeous wedding in Bridal Guide’s March/April 2010 issue (on the newsstands January 19) but for now here’s a peek at some of the day’s highlights:

The picturesque church in East Williston, Long Island.

Read More >>

Posted by Diane at 4:58 p.m. | Comments (0)

September 1, 2009

A Groom’s Tale

Love is in the air! Bridal Guide’s very own IT Manager, Jeremy Bucovetsky, is counting the days, hours and minutes before he walks down the aisle with his lovely fiancée, Elizabeth Blake, this Saturday. In fact, Jeremy and Liz first met five years ago at Bridal Guide when Liz was our Assistant Home Design Editor. Theirs was an office romance that started as a friendship. You might want to check out their terrific website, lizandjer.com, to learn more about their romance and wedding plans.

But before Jeremy heads off to wedding land I wanted to discover just what was on his mind right before the big day and ask him about the planning process in general. After all, it’s fun to hear the guy’s side, too! So here’s our little desk side Q&A:

How are you feeling right now, Jeremy, just days away from the wedding?
It’s the calm after the storm. Last week was pretty intense. You plan things a certain way and when it comes to crunch time if just one thing goes awry, it’s frustrating. But after you get over the hump it’s all on cruise control.

Is everything together? Any last-minute details?
Right now I’m working on the transportation. My lovely B-to-B decided on marrying at a church 40 minutes west of the hotel where most of our guests are staying and the reception is 10 minutes away from the hotel so it’s logistically challenging. But we’ve booked these great old-school San Francisco–style trolleys to take our guests back and forth and make it easier for them.

What’s your biggest concern?
That the pastor and cantor get along! They’re meeting for the first time on the wedding day. Also, I know I will enjoy the day to the fullest, but I’m feeling this nervous excitement about actually getting married. Right now Liz is focused on the wedding, but for me it’s about the marriage and our life together.

Read More >>

Posted by Diane at 3:42 p.m. | Comments (1)

August 28, 2009

The Money Talk

I’m curious. Have you spoken to you fiancé about finances? And I’m not referring to how much money you have to spend on the wedding. I mean a real sit-down, honest discussion of your attitudes about money. No? Well, it might be a good idea to do so. A recent article in The New York Times cited the results of a new study stating that even though most people tend to marry partners who “look, sound and act as they do,” when it comes to money they gravitate toward their opposite. (Go figure!) In other words, spenders find savers appealing and vice versa. But, and there’s always a “but”, at least they do initially. The study claims that as the marriage progresses, it’s the fights and squabbles and disagreements about how money is handled that causes most marriages to run into difficulty. Yikes!

Now, you certainly don’t want to even entertain that thought as you happily plan for the wedding! So forewarned is forearmed, as they say, and what better time is there than now to discuss your financial goals and plan for the future with your FH? Perhaps you want to purchase a home soon after you marry but you still have student loans that need to be paid off. Or you may both want to take wonderful yearly vacations. You may even want to be a stay-at-home mom one day. Whatever your wishes and dreams are, plan them together and decide just how much money you need to save every month to meet your goals (and don’t forget about socking some $$$ away for retirement, too). The more in sync the two of you are when it comes to spending and saving, the happier you’ll be in the long run. You both want to be on the same page when it comes to your financial well being as a couple, and you definitely want to avoid those nasty fights!

On a lighter note, let’s say an extra $1,000 suddenly became available for your wedding. How would you spend it? Toward the dress? Music? Venue? Honeymoon? It’s fun to dream—wouldn’t we all love to win the lottery!—so let me know where your extra $1,000 would go.

Posted by Diane at 9:39 a.m. | Comments (0)

August 19, 2009

Name Change

The other day while listening to the radio, I heard a report stating that according to a recent nationwide survey, 70% of Americans believe that a woman should change her last name to her husband’s after marrying, and 50% believe it should be the law! OK, now that’s going a little too far. Whatever happened to personal choice? Freedom of expression?

Of course, name changing is not as big a deal as it was years ago in the aftermath of the feminist movement. Back then many just-married ladies opted not to change their names in the interest of making a statement about preserving their own independence and identity. But today, most brides consider it a non-issue and can’t wait to be called Mrs.

I’m curious, though, how many of you plan to keep your current name professionally? I know quite a few women who have done so, and it seems to make things easier for them not to have to notify hundreds who know them professionally by their pre-marriage name. Other married career women have tried hyphenating their last names with their husband’s and then eventually just adopted his last name as more business associates became familiar with it.

Since most of you will be changing your last name I thought I’d offer some helpful tips on just what you need to do. It’s amazing how many places need to be notified of a name change so here we go:

1. Change your Social Security card: Visit your nearest Social Security office, go online or call 800-772-1213 for details.

Read More >>

Posted by Diane at 4:36 p.m. | Comments (0)

August 11, 2009

Personal Touches

Summer is a great time for family gatherings and at one such party I recently attended, I met my brother and sister-in-law’s friend, Meredith, a former BB (beautiful bride) who married two years ago and is now happily expecting her first child. When she learned I was the Editor of Bridal Guide, she couldn’t wait to share her memories of her wedding day—and trust me, I never get bored hearing about weddings! She told me that it was truly one of the happiest days of her life and that all of the time and effort that went into the planning (she and her husband worked together on all the details) paid off in spades.

One of the details I loved most was Meredith’s idea for her three bridesmaids’ bouquets. She wanted to do something different and special for each one to celebrate their unique personalities. For instance, one of her maids travels frequently for her job and loves seeing the world so Meredith asked her florist to design a circular bouquet to reflect the globe. Another bridesmaid is more of a creative, free spirit so her bouquet consisted of a number of wildflowers arranged in a looser configuration. And, for the third bridesmaid, whose personality Meredith described as “vivacious and bubbly”, the florist created a bouquet with pops of color throughout, much like little bursts of bubbles! Pretty cool, huh? I’m sure you’re also thinking of ways to honor your maids so I wanted to share Meredith’s idea. (Her maids, of course, were surprised and touched by her thoughtfulness and loved their flowers.)

If you’re looking for other ways to thank your best pals consider some of these ideas: Treat them to mani/pedis before the big day or give them personalized cosmetic bags with some make-up brushes or travel-size cosmetics tucked inside. Monogrammed jewelry boxes, stationery or picture frames are always appreciated, as are spa treats (think gift card, comfy slippers, a robe). And not all their gifts need to be identical. If one friend is into antiques, purchase a collectible for her such as a teacup, cameo brooch or perfume bottle. Perhaps another is a movie buff and would love a collection of movies on DVD or movie theater gift cards. And a beach-lovin’ friend will certainly get use out of a monogrammed tote bag filled with a sarong, flip flops and a water bottle. These are just a few fun ways say thank you (without breaking the bank). I’d love to hear what you’re planning to give your bridesmaids so let me know!

Posted by Diane at 5:04 p.m. | Comments (0)