Blogs

They are the iconic memories from weddings: The garter toss, the cake cutting. These are traditions. Like them or not, you’re likely to see many at any wedding you attend. But times have changed and some more modern, possible future traditions are becoming more and more popular. So when should you go the traditional route and when is an update A-okay?

Photo courtesy of Casey Fatchett Photography

1. Cake cutting

In my opinion, the formal cake cutting is key—minus the face-smashing, that is. One way to update this tradition that dates back decades is to have a private cake cutting with just you and the groom. Keeping it between the two of you is not the norm, but pretty much the entire day is shared with family and friends and it could be a sweet way to get some one-on-one time.

Photo courtesy of K and K Photography

Thomas and Patricia were married on Halloween with a Nightmare Before Christmas theme. The Burtonesque details certainly added to the spook factor of their Halloween wedding! After the ceremony, the couple and their bridal party headed to a cemetery for some photos. What do you think—cool or creepy (or both!)?

Click below to view all photos from this wedding:

Photos by Jessica Frey Photography

Your wedding may be many months away, but there’s no better time than the present to round up the best little beauty gifts of the year for your bridesmaids. That’s because it’s already “holiday” season in retail-speak (roughly October until early January or when items sell out, whichever comes first). Here, some of our favorite beauty booty:

Fresh Mini Sugar Kissing Trio

Mini Sugar Tinted Lip Treatments in three universally flattering shades: Sugar Passion (a vibrant red), Sugar Honey (tawny nude) and Sugar Plum (warm plum). $28 (a $34 value) exclusively at Sephora and sephora.com.

Tweezerman Luxe Edition Mini Crystal Brow Kit

I grew up in a home where my parents’ goal was to raise my two sisters (Lisa and Laura) and me to be the epitome of best friends. Those of you with children or siblings of your own know full well that this isn’t always an easy task.

At a Halloween-themed wedding, a candy buffet is practically a given. But that doesn't mean your wedding cake has to take a back seat! Check out these amazing cakes from our favorite Halloween weddings.

       Photo Credit: Ace Photography

Casey Fatchett is a New York City-based photographer with more than 10 years experience photographing weddings. He also recently went through the wedding planning process himself (congrats!), giving him a unique perspective on the wedding industry from both sides of the fence. Here, Casey discusses why you'll save money by booking your vendors early.

So, in case I haven't mentioned it, I have a lot of friends getting married next year… and they all come to me for advice, since I'm in the wedding business (and I'm happy to give my advice!). My number one tip for couples getting married: Don’t wait to book your vendors!

       Photo Credit: Casey Fatchett Photography

Each week, we'll feature wedding music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from DJ Von, a San Francisco native with nearly two decades of experience cutting his chops at San Fran hot spots. He has become a go-to DJ in San Francisco for large-scale openings, galas, fundraisers and weddings. He's a master at blending genres, from current pop to obscure classics, and creating an infectious mix of music to keep the dance floor packed. "A couple's wedding day is one of the most memorable days of their lives, and is full of good energy. It's exciting to be a part of that energy by providing the soundtrack for their day."

Photo Credit: Amanda Marie Photography

Paradise Found

I can hardly believe that it’s already October 21st! This entire month has been a whirlwind. Just two weeks ago, I flew back from an amazing trip to the Namale Resort in Fiji. It was the ultimate in total relaxation and getting away from it all. For the first time, I was completely unplugged with no e-mail access on my BlackBerry, no phone, radio, TV or newspapers…and I loved it!

Fiji is a tropical paradise, and the Namale Resort is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen—lush, peaceful and the perfect spot for honeymooners. I met a few honeymooning couples while there, and they loved every minute of their week at Namale. They were a bit fatigued after all their wedding festivities, and Namale’s laid-back, easy vibe; scenic, tucked-away accommodations; and super-friendly staff worked their magic. I fell in love with Fiji, the Namale Resort and the Fijian people, and I'll show you some of my photos from this incredible experience next week. It was truly heaven on earth!

While curating images for our Photo of the Day, we noticed a fun photo trend: Rings in unexpected places! Check out some of the unexpected places photographers put wedding rings.

With food:

Photo Credit: Erica Ferrone Photography

Photo Credit: ZDJ Photography

Photo Credit: Longs Photography

If you love sparkly, embellished dresses, you'll love Pnina Tornai's latest collection! Known for her luxe high-impact designs, Pnina's runway show did not disappoint. These dresses are just as stunning from the back as they are from the front, featuring plunging backs, jewels, ruffles, and more. 

Bridal Guide was invited backstage to get the scoop on the hair and makeup for this collection. We also scored an exclusive interview with the designer herself on her inspiration for this collection. Plus: Watch the full runway show! 

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein