Blogs

Being a repeat bridesmaid is a great honor, but it can leave you with a closet filled with unwearable gowns (we've all watched 27 Dresses). Bridesmaid dresses can be very costly, so do your 'maids a favor and select a style that is not only comfortable, but versatile enough to wear again. Sounds like an impossible feat? Follow these tips to ensure that your bridesmaid dresses won't get dusty in the back of your friends' closets!

1.  Select a flattering silhouette with straps. The draping of this Mori Lee dress is what makes it so versatile. Unlike long bridesmaid gowns, this short style can be worn again to a cocktail party, office function, or special dinner.

Dress by Mori Lee, Style #185

2. Give your bridesmaids a color and length requirement, but let them pick the style. Your bridesmaids all have different body types and tend to know what looks best on them, so why not let them select the silhouette? The bride should have the final say to ensure that all of the different dresses will look cohesive as a group, like these two pretty options from Eden Bridals and Liz Fields.

When it comes to deciding on a gift for your bridesmaids, there are any number of ideas to consider, from jewelry and silk scarves to evening clutches and scented candles. And, of course, the more personal your gift is, the better. That's why I love the amazing products from Initials, inc. This company, founded by sisters, Ivy C. Hall and Britney C. Vickery, not only offers a wide variety of fantastic gift ideas for your gal pals (and yourself!), but with their iCare Foundation, it’s also dedicated to “supporting women who are making a difference.” In fact, $5 from each sale of the company’s $18 Zip Around (a clever compact case that unzips into a large tote) is donated to a different cause every six months.

Right now, the proceeds are going to support Registered Nurse Katherine Roberts’ dream of building a new sewing training center in Solwezi located in Zambia, Africa, where she currently lives. With this sewing center, the town’s disabled will be able to support themselves by making products they can sell in their local marketplace. This is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

You’ll find so many other handbags, wallets, totes and more on initials-inc.com that you’re sure to spot something unique for every member of your bridal party. Plus, almost every item can be personalized with your besties’ initials.

Here are a few handbag options:

The Soho Shopper, $40, holds a multitude of items:

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 trends right now.

Lavender is one of our favorite things to see in weddings these days, especially with the popularity of outdoor rustic and green weddings. Carrying lavender on your big day was once thought to ensure a long, happy marriage. The bloom also symbolizes love and loyalty, making it a perfect choice for weddings. From bouquets and boutonnières to cakes and cocktails, there are so many gorgeous and creative ways to incorporate this herb into your wedding-day décor.

Bridesmaid Bouquets
Photo Credit: Samm Blake

When I think of bridesmaids, I imagine a row of identical, pretty faces standing duitfully by my side while I recite my vows. However, my husband Michael and I already had a simple wedding ceremony last November, so we're only throwing a reception this second time around. I still wanted to find a way to incorporate my girlfriends into my special day, so instead of asking them to be bridesmaids, they're my "wing girls."

I figured that if guys can have wingmen backing them up in tricky situations, why not have my best gals around to support me? Wing girls help out with planning and provide emotional support, but unlike bridesmaids, their tasks are on a volunteer basis—not mandatory. I don't want them to feel obligated to throw me a lavish bridal shower or wear identical dresses to the wedding.

There’s Kate, my best friend since the eighth grade; Carrie, a fun, sassy coworker from San Diego; Kelsey, my best girlfriend from college who I studied abroad with in Spain; Christina, my lovely sister-in-law; and Minty, my newest friend who I study journalism with here in New York. They’re all really sweet, awesome girls, and although they didn’t know each other beforehand, they get along great.

We succumbed to Jennifer Aniston wedding mania this week, swapping dress predictions and waiting for photos of her incredible rock (she can't keep up that hiding-it-under-a-towel shtick forever).

Another highlight was chatting with an inspiring couple from the U.K. They've had 23 weddings around the world and counting — don't miss their spectacular photos, here. Their most recent nuptials: A tango showdown in Argentina.

We'd also like to give a shout-out to our Web Intern, Paulette, on her last week at BG. She will be sorely missed! Take a look back at her "What Victoria Beckham Taught Me About Having a Hot Husband" and "Marriage Advice to Miley Cyrus" stories, both funny and insightful reads.

If you've also had a busy week, catch up now on our hottest features this week!

Soft and romantic, these boho-chic wedding gowns exude a relaxed, ethereal feel. Think: Kate Moss' and Natalie Portman's weddings.

Beatles’ songs, beloved by wedding guests young and old, live on as timeless crowd-pleasers and go-to hits for DJs. In fact, we see that couples request Beatles songs for their special wedding moments more than any other artist (and the music still never feels overplayed or trite).

From beautiful harmonies to feel-good melodies to emotional lyrics, the Fab Four created such a wide and diverse song library, we could pick a Beatles tune for every wedding moment! And so we did. Read on to find some creative Beatles tunes that will perfectly suit your special day.

Photo Credit: Muriel Silva Photography

Ceremony Processional or Recessional

► “All You Need Is Love”
This may be the most well-known Beatles love song, but it hits the right notes every time.

► “Two of Us”

A more unique song choice for recessional, perfect for a couple with a long and strong history.  

Cocktail Hour

► “Michelle”
► “Norweigan Wood”
► “Penny Lane”
We could go on! You can’t go wrong with any popular Beatles’ song during cocktail hour or dinner.  

Reception Entrance

► “Love Me Do” 

Guests can’t help but clap, foot-tap and cheer along with this feel-good early Beatles hit.  

Think about all of the joy, energy and resources that went into planning your wedding. Now, imagine going through that experience not once, but 23 times. It sounds like a fantasy (or a nightmare, depending on who you ask), but this is actually one couple's reality. 

Alex Pelling and Lisa Gant have made it their mission to not only travel the world together, but to throw a wedding in each country that they visit. Their initial goal was to have 30 wedding ceremonies, but at the time of publication, they had already completed 23 in 15 different countries, and were aiming for even more. By the end of the trip, they will select one destination to throw a final hurrah with loved ones present and make their marriage legal. They're even flying out two lucky winners—enter to win a trip to their wedding, here.

Check out their collection of amazing wedding photos, below!

Peru

Photo Credit: Luis Chiang

Mexico

Photo Credits: Dean Sanderson

Are you the type of bride who cringes at the thought of wedding DIY? There are tons of smaller projects that you can take on to add your personal stamp to the big day without giving up hours of your time. This tutorial from Ren Ariel Sano, the artist and jewelry designer behind All The Good Girls Go To Heaven, takes just four easy steps that you can complete in about an hour. Designing and wearing your own garter — even if just your future husband sees it — will give you a secret thrill thoughout the night. Take a look!

Materials

• Stretchy, lace ribbon
• Rhinestone appliqué ($6 and up at shinetrim.com)
• Needle and thread
• Hot fix rhinestones and rhinestone setter or iron (optional)

Miley Cyrus may be a newly-minted fiancée, but she isn't letting her impending wedding to Hunger Games stud Liam Hemsworth cramp her controversial style. The 19-year-old singer/actress shocked fans on Sunday with a new haircut that's half-shag, half-shaved and all swagger.

She posted a series of cryptic tweets leading up to the big chop, including, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. My hair is attached to my head, no one else's, and it's going bye bye :)". Chris McMillan, Jennifer Aniston's longtime stylist and creator of the "Rachel" craze back in the '90s, also documented the process.

Her top knot was so popular, it even had its own following on Twitter and Tumblr—may it RIP. After it was gone, she posted, "Someone just told me I'm prettier than Miley Cyrus." 

Miley foreshadowed the cut back in 2008 during a Good Morning America interview. While backstage in her dressing room, she pointed to a framed photo of Twiggy. "One day, I know I'm going to cut my hair like that, I know I am. One day," she said.  

I’m still catching up on sleep from my bridal shower/bachelorette party weekend. It was so nice to spend quality time with friends and family. (This was also my last pre-wedding event, so it motivated me to get into do-it-or-lose-it mode with my remaining projects.) Here are some dos and don'ts for making your last fling before the ring just as fun as mine was!

The writer (pictured third from right) and her friends at the bachelorette party.

1. DO let friends know in advance if there will be a stripper. In my opinion, having one was just a hilarious way to bond with my friends. We had some very entertaining conversations on the car ride home about his performance. No one in my group wanted to opt out of it, but not everyone is going to feel comfortable in that environment, so it's important to give your ladies a fair warning. 

2. DON'T go overboard. It's easy to get carried away with celebratory drinks and shots (especially if they're free) so pace yourself and be aware of how much you're consuming. You don't want this to be a repeat of your 21st birthday or fall asleep during a 4 a.m. breakfast after a night of dancing. Leave that up to a bridesmaid, like I did. I'll do her a favor and not share that particular photo.