Blogs

Guest blogger: Emma Arendoski, founder and CEO of Emmaline Bride, The Wedding Guide for the Handmade Bride, a website dedicated to all things handmade for weddings. Launched in 2009, the site has grown into the leading online voice for handmade weddings. Emma's mission is to empower her readers to support handmade through the use of handcrafted wedding items for all parts of the wedding planning process.

Here, she shares an excerpt from her first book, The Handcrafted Wedding: More Than 300 Fun and Imaginative Handcrafted Ways to Personalize Your Wedding Day (Sellers Publishing, October 2012).

Photo Credit: © 2012 Eric Boneske Photography

The flower girl’s traditional role — besides looking adorable, naturally — is to toss flower petals down the aisle. I say, baskets with petals have held the spotlight for long enough; it’s time to twist tradition a bit with alternatives the flower girl can carry.

When picking out a dress for a destination wedding, think lightweight and easy to pack (you want to keep room for all the other necessities in your suitcase). Besides, a breezy gown will look lovely on the beach. Pair this light, easy look with long wavy hair, or a loose updo. Also, when planning a beach wedding, consider stylized sandals or bare feet for the beach (you don't want to sink into the sand). But whatever dress you choose, pick a fabric that allows you to breathe — cotton, tulle, and organza are all great destination fabrics.

Here, are three dresses I think would look divine on the beach, from David's Bridal, Enzoani, and Maggie Sottero.

—Naima DiFranco

The leaves are changing, the air is crisper and autumn weddings are in full swing. Melissa Phillips, wedding event planner at Simply Perfect Events, offers these tips to “make your guests fall in love with your fall wedding.”

1. It’s All in The Details
Gowns with detailed backs featuring intricate lace,embroidery are making a comeback so consider one of these beauties for your big-day.

Photo Credit: Max Wanger Photography (left); Pat Dy Photography (right)

2. Back to Basics
It’s all about being natural and not over the top. Lose the dramatic ‘do and go for a simple look such as a loose chignon, simple braids or carefree, natural waves.

Guest blogger: Emma Arendoski, founder and CEO of Emmaline Bride, The Wedding Guide for the Handmade Bride, a website dedicated to all things handmade for weddings. Launched in 2009, the site has grown into the leading online voice for handmade weddings. Emma's mission is to empower her readers to support handmade through the use of handcrafted wedding items for all parts of the wedding planning process.

Here, she shares an excerpt from her first book, The Handcrafted Wedding: More Than 300 Fun and Imaginative Handcrafted Ways to Personalize Your Wedding Day (Sellers Publishing, October 2012).

When giving a favor to guests, consider functionality as well as individuality. Tie these two elements together, and guests will hold onto your favor long after the wedding day.

Photo Credit: © 2012 Michelle Gardella Photography with Kathleen Glass of Sassafras Vintage

Baseball fans, you're going to love this wedding inspired by America's favorite pastime. 

Originally from Long Island, NY, Dominique grew up playing softball and watching Yankees games with her dad. Travis, raised on his family's farm in southern Maryland, started playing baseball at a young age as well. His grandma Sue-Sue passed on her love of the Orioles to him. Both continued to play their beloved sport on the collegiate level, and their ideal date is a trip to the ballpark.

Here, some of our favorite ideas from this fun wedding:

For the escort cards, each couple picked up their game-day ticket, leading them to a baseball stadium, from Camden Yards to Yankee Stadium.

Hey, gorgeous! I'm Angelica, the newest bridal blogger, and I couldn't be more excited to share my journey to the aisle with you.

I gush about amazing wedding inspirations on my blog, The Bridal Detective, but I must confess that I have had an equally crazy ride with my future groom, Edwin. After a five-year engagement (complete with a long distance factor), you’re bound to learn a few things. What may surprise many is that we've planned our wedding twice before: we had to cancel it both times due to an economy that just isn't pretty and a culture clash that cost us not just the wedding deposits, but our voices as well.

I met Edwin 13 years ago, before Match.com and eHarmony, when there was just instant messenger (remember the good old days?). Somehow he ended up on my buddy list, and after a few interrogations about how he magically got there, we talked daily for six years. He asked to finally meet his best friend, and like a good Southern girl, I happily obliged—so began our life together. The first time that he hugged me, I knew he was "the one"...I felt complete, as if I'd been missing something my entire life, and it was him. 

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 important things to keep in mind when planning your wedding.

Having seven sets of friends get married this year, I was called on fairly often for advice. It makes sense; I have been in the ‘wedding biz’ for over a decade, and I did my fair share of the planning for my own wedding last year. I am happy to give advice, whether it be to friends or my own clients (or both). I would like to take this time to give you five things to keep in mind when you are planning your wedding that will help you maintain your sanity and hopefully make things run a little smoother. So let’s get into the swing of things…

Photo Credit: Casey Fatchett Photography

1. Plan on Going Over Your Budget

Meet the winners of our Pin to Win a Dream Wedding Design by David Tutera Contest, Rigo Garcia and Claudia Hernandez! As part of their prize, the couple won a wedding-planning consultation with David Tutera himself. Here, Rigo and Claudia each share their recollections from the highly-anticipated meeting, starting with Rigo:

Bridal capelets, a very popular trend on the runways, allow for a fashionable alternative to strapless. This trend is perfect for the bride who prefers sleeves in the chapel and strapless for the reception. Who needs two dresses?

Here, three capelets from Alvina Valenta, Enzoani, and Maggie Sottero.

—Naima DiFranco

On the morning of her 14th wedding anniversary, Lucy Matthews decided to dig her wedding gown out of storage and put it to good use one more time. She wore the gown while picking up her husband, Derek, from the airport as he returned home from a business trip early that morning so that the pair could spend their anniversary together. As he came up the escalator, Lucy held up a sign reading "Derek, I'd do it all over again. I love you."

When Derek glanced up and spotted his bride, he was shocked and awed.

"The sweetest thing he said afterward was that on our wedding day, he got chills when I came around the corner. He said, 'I was expecting you to walk around the corner that day, so there was all this anticipation. But when I was coming up the escalator, I wasn't expecting you at all, especially in a dress. I'm so glad we're together.' He kept telling me, 'I'm going numb, I'm going numb,'" she told ABC News.