Blogs

Photo Credit Dean Michaels Studios (left); Daughters of Design (right)

Welcome to our latest installment of "Ask the Experts," where our contributor team of wedding planners solves readers' most pressing wedding planning dilemmas! This week, Jessica Carrillo from Art & Soul Events and Sara Geiss from Something Events offer advice on a sticky situation involving kids. 

Ready to pop the question? There's just one minor detail to figure out — the perfect ring. With so many styles to choose from, shopping for an engagement ring can be totally overwhelming. To help you out, our friends at Blue Nile pulled together a list of this year's most popular engagement ring styles. 

Moda Operandi, the luxury e-tailer known for its runway ready-clothing, has officially opened its bridal trunkshow. Get inspired by high fashion looks from Oscar de la Renta, Monique Lhuillier, Zuhair Murad, and Naeem Khan. Alongside the high fashion looks, Moda Operandi is offering a selection of chic bridal accessories, lingerie and linens perfect for the bride to be.  

It’s going to be an incredible year for weddings! In our January/February 2016 issue, we reveal the hottest new trends guaranteed to get you revved up for your own celebration. 

I still follow the tradition of counting my blessings each year on Turkey Day (my Pre-K teacher would be proud). This Thanksgiving, I'm grateful to be marrying the love of my life in less than a year. I'm also thankful to have supportive family, friends, vendors, and guests—it takes an army to plan a wedding!

In the spirit of the season, we've gathered some fun ways to give thanks before, during, and after your big day.

Before the Wedding...

1. Keep a gratitude journal. Unlike a regular diary, which requires daily upkeep, jot down quick thoughts about your planning "highs" (e.g. what you felt like when you bought your dress) whenever you have the time. Also, use it to store fun mementos (like your gown consultant's business card).

2. Spend quality time with your maid of honor and best man. Before my friend's wedding (where I was a MOH), we had a beauty-prep day where we got massages and mani-pedis. We capped it off with lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. I loved getting quality time with her before wedding chaos took over.

Photo Credit: J. Wiley Photography

Photo Credit: Jacilyn M.

A few weeks before my wedding, I was surprised when the hot topic of conversation became "to shave or not to shave?" amongst my groom, Jason, and his groomsmen. To be honest, I kind of assumed a clean-shave (or five-o'clock shadow at the most) was a given since Jason always buzzed up for special events, nevermind the most important and highly photographed day of our lives. Besides, he doesn't grow much facial hair to begin with. 

What I never considered at the time was that almost every other groomsman was rocking some sort of beard ranging from David Beckham to Zach Galifianakis status, plus a few guys were growing their hair out. Thus, a debate ensued amongst the men about whether Jason would stick out in a bad way. (In contrast, I was shocked I didn't get as many questions from the bridesmaids, despite the fact that we all went with updos and a few of them had never worn their hair up before!) They assured me they wouldn't look like Lord of the Rings extras and each guy did their own thing. Don't they look handsome?

Photo by: Josh Lynn Photography

In honor of Movember — which raises awareness and funds for prostate cancer and other male cancers — I've gathered some photos of grooms who rocked facial hair at their wedding, from barely-there to the whole shebang.

It was originally my husband Ian's idea to get married at our home in Arizona because he thought it would save us money. (Our house had no particular sentimental meaning and is nothing fancy; we just happen to have a decent yard.) At first, I thought he was crazy! It would be hard to pull off, it'd create more work for us, and it wouldn't look perfect... so many things could go wrong. We estimated we'd have around 130 guests, which isn't a huge wedding but isn't small either.