I am a creature of habit in the kitchen — as well as a bit of a cookware snob. When I cook (which is almost every night), it's only with enameled cast iron or plain cast iron pans, the same kind my parents always used. It actually never occured to me to try stainless steel for anything other than heating up water for coffee or tea. That is, until I had the chance to test-drive a sauté pan from Cristel, the esteemed French cookware company. 

Cristel's innovative design was the initial draw, and with good reason: The handles on the Strate Removable line are detachable and interchangeable. Remove the long handle and attach two smaller grips and voilà: table-worthy serve ware right from the stove. You also get more room in the sink come cleanup time, along with easier storage capabilities, a particular advantage to the cabinet-challenged. 

Guest blogger: Ms. Herringbone, polkadotbride.com. Ms. Herringbone writes for Polka Dot Bride, Australia’s premier wedding blog dedicated to anything and everything wedding related that may be useful to today’s bride — style, unique finds, fabulous suppliers, real wedding inspiration — and a little bit of fun thrown in!

We've gathered some of our favorite DIY tutorials for the bride who wants to incorporate a handmade element in her wedding, but isn’t prepared (or able) to spend hours and hundreds of dollars sourcing all of the items required. These projects range from basic to more advanced and suit different wedding styles. Best of all, they can be prepared well in advance of your wedding to ensure that there aren't any last-minute panic attacks or dramas before the big day!

1. Glitter Table Numbers
Why we love them: This is such an easy way to add a little sparkle to your wedding tables! Not only is glitter festive, but the metallic functions as a neutral, making this a great addition to any color palette. 

Bars are all the rage at weddings…and not just the wine/liquor bar. There are espresso bars, martini and vodka bars, gelato bars, crepe bars, candy bars and dessert bars. And here’s another unique idea: How about a tea bar where guests can enjoy a selection of specialty teas, like these from Davidson’s Organics?

There is a wide range of flavors (i.e. fruity, mint, buttery) to choose from, and the colors are wedding-perfect. You can label each tea for guests and also consider providing containers so they can take a blend home as a wedding favor. The teas are all organic, kosher and fair-trade certified. Plus, 10% of all Davidson’s Tulsi (a basil plant found in India) tea sales is donated to the company’s “Aasha (Hope) Fund” to improve abandoned farm lands in India through sustainable, organic agricultural practices. Nice!

And don’t forget some sweet treats for the table, like these yummy Madeleine’s from Donsuemor Desserts:

Beautiful inspirational sheer illusion backs are all the rage. They make a stylish and romantic statement. There’s something about the combination of covered and sheer that makes them simultaneously demure and sexy — perfect for a wedding. This look pairs best with an updo (you want to show off the extraordinary detail in these gorgeous backs).

—Naima DiFranco

One of the best parts about my job at BG is flipping through thousands of photos from real-life parties. There are several things that I look for, but above all else, I love when a bride looks like she had a ball. Recently, I found myself in uncharted territory — the other side of the lens — when my Mom threw me a surprise bridal shower.

And as the photos below show, I was genuinely shocked that my shower took place that day and I had so much fun. After I gulped down a mimosa, changed into my dress, and had my makeup professionally applied by Stacey Catapano (the first of many surprises!), I stopped to look at all of the details and was able to better appreciate all of the hard work and thought that went into everything. Mama Dukes, you did me proud: Now I know where my creativity and party-planning passion comes from.

Readers, I'd love to share some ideas from my shower along with photos by Josh Lynn. 

Setting the Scene with Pretty Decorations

I thought the mix-match look was perfect for an intimate gathering. The flowers were a gift from my aunt, the lovely vases were scooped up at a Lenox sale, and the bust holder was created using my Mom's wedding dress (we couldn't believe her waist was that tiny).