Why You Need a Bridesguard

There you are, on your wedding day, getting your hurrs and face all dolled up. You're sippin' on some bubbly with your fine ladies (and gents?) when Aunt Mildred comes storming in and assaults you with an endless barrage of questions:
"Do you have your something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?"
"Uncle Milty needs to sit close to the back so he can go to the bathroom when needed. You saved a spot for him, right?"
"Are the favors all set up?"
"Is the wedding cake here yet?"
"How aaaarrreeee you?"
"Are you nervous?"
"Have you written your vows?"
"Is that REALLY what the bridesmaids are wearing?"
And so on. All of a sudden, all the pre-wedding serenity is wiped out and an endless storm of nerves take over. You need to get that woman outta your face so you can go back to being the cool, collected, 'bout-to-be-hitched lady you are. But you can't. She's just made you a nervous wreck and you're in the middle of getting eyeliner all 'round them baby blues.
ENTER: Your Bridesguard. This person, designated beforehand (bridesmaid, maid of honor, badass cousin who doesn't let anyone boss her around) tells Auntie Mildred it's time to leave so you can finish getting ready, then stands at attention at the entrance to ward off any other constant questioners. She (or he) has your cellphone to field calls and ensures no one can let those pretty little bridal nerves get frazzled.
Give your Bridesguard a pre-determined list of who can and cannot talk to you while you're getting ready. Prepare your Bridesguard to field any questions that may come her way, either with vendors or family. Make sure your Bridesguard is someone nice but strong, vocally, who can command respect and who people will listen to. And make sure you ply your Bridesguard with plenty of compliments/booze/food/dancing partners (if they're on the hunt). They will be saving you oodles of stress on your wedding day, so thank them accordingly.
Your Bridesguard will not only covet your sanity like it's going out of style, but they'll save you from any unwanted stress or anxiety on the day of. The best way to make sure this is done and done right? Give your homedizz your phone at the rehearsal dinner ... or even the bachelorette party (drunk dials to your hubz-to-be? Not an option) and let her take it from there. She'll guard your mental state like it's her job, because it is.
This is an especially great way to honor a friend that is super important and make them feel like a badass. Because who wouldn't want to be in charge of keeping the bride's mental state intact?

Who Will Walk You Down the Aisle?

The question of who gets to walk you down the aisle is a simple one for many brides to answer, but in this day and age family dynamics can definitely make it difficult to decide.  If you’re a traditional bride and want your biological father to walk you down the aisle (or biological father and mother if you’re Jewish), do it!  There’s something about the time-honored tradition of watching a proud father walk his beautiful daughter down the aisle to give her away.  But if having your bio father walk you sounds less than ideal, know that there are many alternative options for you.
First off, look at what it means to have someone walk you down the aisle.  It was once symbolic of a father giving his daughter to another man, another family, and a life further removed from the home she grew up in; dad was the one to accompany her during her transition from childhood to adulthood.  Most couples are marrying later in life and moving from parents’ to groom’s home isn’t as common as it once was, but the symbolism is still there.  Lets look at alternatives to the norm.  Maybe you want to stray from the tradition because you want to honor your mother.  Maybe your father is deceased; perhaps he hasn’t been a significant part of your life; it could be that your relationship is strained; or possibly there is another male figure in your life that has been more of a father to you than your bio dad.  You have your reasons, and you should listen to what your heart tells you.  We love the idea of having your mom AND dad do the honors; they both raised you, cared for you and supported you, and it’s a great gesture to let them both give you away.
Other options?  If your step dad or adopted father raised you or has had a significant presence in your life, you may want to ask him to escort you.  Perhaps there’s an uncle in your life who has always been there for you that you’d like to honor by having him walk you.  I’ve seen weddings where the bride walks down the aisle with her brother, which is a great and personal alternative.  Mothers walking their daughters down the aisle is becoming a much more popular option as well.  I was at a wedding where this happened because the bride’s father had passed, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the whole house; it was incredibly touching.  If you have a son, having him give you away is a great gesture as well; after all, you’re not the only one whose family is growing to include your groom!  Having your son (or sons, or even daughter) escort you down the aisle is a great way to show their involvement and support of your relationship.  Still set on having a man walk you down the aisle but don’t have any male relatives you want to ask?  Consider asking a close male friend, a close family friend, or even the father of the groom; after all, he’s about to be your dad too!  Maybe you have more than one male figure in your life and you’re having troubles choosing between them?  If the relationship between them is amicable, you can have both of them walk you down the aisle; if that would be awkward or uncomfortable, you can have one person walk you halfway and another person walk you the down the second half.  And lastly, you CAN walk down the aisle by yourself.  A word of caution regarding this option; if you’re a shy person, you may struggle with all eyes being on you.  Alternately if you’re getting married on grass and plan on wearing heels, make sure that you can walk smoothly and comfortably without tripping!

Finding your perfect hairstyle

Chances are you’ve seen tons of hairstyles in blogs you’ve perused and bridal magazines that you’ve purchased.  You might even have an idea of what you’d like  done with your hair for the wedding day, but before you get your heart completely set on it, we encourage you to take a few things into consideration; mostly what you have to work with, and the image that you’re trying to achieve.

First off, take a look at what you have to work with.  You need to make sure the hairstyle you choose matches your facial shape and structure, and that your hair texture will allow for the style you want.  I’ve always dreamed of having soft-flowing curls for my big day, but with my hair being super thin and refusing to hold a curl for more than 10 minutes, I know it’s never going to happen.
If you have a long face…
Wearing your hair long and down will just make your face look longer.  Piling your hair on top of your head will also elongate your whole head, and draw all attention to the enormous oval atop your neck rather than to the entire gorgeous ensemble.
Try to add fullness around your ears and cheekbones to make your face rounder rather than longer, or a bit below your ears if you have a long neck and want to wear your hair up.  A wispy, flowing style can also help, and if you have a pointy nose like me, consider adding bangs or a side part with an illusion of bangs; it will draw attention away from your nose.
If you have a round face…
Body and curls surrounding your face will just make it look that much rounder.  Try adding fullness either on top of your head or below your chin line to help elongate your face.  Also try to avoid styles that are too tight and slicked back, as this can also draw attention to the roundness of your face.
If your face is more square…
Try not to draw attention to your chin line.  If your hair is in a bob cut, you’ll want to find a way to pull your hair away from your face to help smooth out your features.  You can also add width around the ears or atop your head.  Soft and wispy styles can also add a nice balance to your strong features; unless you want to call them out!  Short, sleek pixie styles can be quite striking if you have a strong jaw and cheekbones!

Bridesmaid Dresses Do’s and Don’ts

Let’s get one thing clear, you picked your bridesmaids because you like them and they are important women in your life.To help you avoid pissing off your bridesmaids, here are a few Do’s and Don’ts when selecting your bridesmaids’ dresses.
Don’t
Ask your bridesmaids to foot the bill for a pricey gown. The argument “You will definitely wear this more than once!” does not give you leeway to ask your ladies to spend a fortune.
Make your bridesmaids look bad to make you look better. We completely understand not wanting your gals to steal the show, but purposely putting them in hideous dresses will only make you look shallow. Plus, think of your wedding photos; they will look much better if your bridesmaids feel pretty and comfortable.
Demand and require they wear costly and complicated accessories. Feathered headdresses, Swarovski crystal earrings, and six-inch stilettos may sound like wonderful ideas straight out of the pages of Vogue. But your bridesmaids are people, not runway models! Not everyone can walk, or dance, in crazy high heels, and while elaborate accessories are fun for photos, they are not fun for the pocket book. Pick affordable and comfortable accessories; better yet, make them your bridesmaids' gifts!
Choose a color no one looks good in. There are a few colors that are pretty much unflattering to all. Safety cone orange and sea foam green are two great examples.  Consider the coloring of your girls and pick a hue that will look good, if not absolutely amazing, on all of them.  Or give them a palette to work within, and let each ‘maid choose her own hue!
Do
Pick an affordable bridesmaid dress or help with costs. If you are stuck on one perfect dress for your bridesmaids and know that none of them can afford it, help shoulder a portion of the cost if you can. Or subsidize the expense in another way by treating to the shoes, accessories, and/or helping with hair and makeup costs.
Select a dress that is easy to find. Stuck on one dress you absolutely love but your bridesmaids live in different cities? While we don’t love the idea of bridesmaids in uniform, it’s important that the dress you choose can be easily found online, at a department store, or at a chain store close by.
Set style guidelines, not rigid rules. For items like shoes, hair, makeup, and accessories, give your b-maids general guidelines for what you would like. For example, saying something like—a strappy nude sandal, hair half up, or natural makeup—to your maids will go a long way in making their lives easier. And dictating the exact pair of heels, shade of lipstick and hairstyle that each bridesmaid wears may make you seem like, dare we say, a bridezilla!
Provide help with hair and makeup. Never underestimate how much fun you will have getting primped with your bridesmaids. Providing a hair stylist and makeup artist for everyone makes the whole process more enjoyable, and a mani/pedi day at the spa is perfect for your bachelorette party. Plus, the photos of everyone getting ready are definitely on the list of Must Have Wedding Photos!
Get into 2012’s dress trends. Mixing n’ Matching, sophisticated black, and straight upchic are all hot trends for 2012 bridesmaids, and we don’t see them going anywhere anytime soon.
Consider body types and comfort levels. Different bodies require different dresses, plain and simple.  This is why we are in love with the trend of b-maids wearing different styles (neckline, silhouette, length) of the same dress in the same hue.

The City Bride

Hope to get all you urban-inspired brides fired up! For me the backdrop of a cityscape conjures weekday weddings and alternatives to the big white traditional gown.
City Hall nuptials usually happen quickly with an after celebration close by--a restaurant, club maybe a private home. This means a bride has all those chic touches that say 'wedding' only abbreviated. Hems are usually ankle or tea length, veils either short or some hybrid of hat/veil combo.
Here's by far some of the finest citified chic from a design house that specializes in vintage, Fancy, New York. I especially love designer Gregory Nato's use of just the right fabrics and styling to get that beautiful mid-century look....

Stunning Wedding Dresses in Beige and Blush

On the hunt for a romantic wedding dress that effortlessly fuses modern with traditional? Then look no further than Samuelle Couture!
Sam Walls Beasley (the designer behind Samuelle Couture) has dressed all the top celebrities, from Gwyneth Paltrow to Michelle Obama to Anne Hathaway. And it's easy to see why once you take in all the lovely her white aisle stunners have to offer.
You won't find wedding white in Sam's swoon-worthy bridal collection, but you won't miss it! Because feather-light fabrics (silk organza, tulle, chiffon, vintage lace) are hand dyed, and transformed into gorgeous shades of blush, creamy beige, and shimmery champagne.

Guest List 101

There may only be two of you getting married, but a wedding is never just about the bride and the groom. Your wedding guests play a major role, and we urge you to consider them in every decision you make. The very first, and most important, step is deciding who makes the list.
But you’re in good hands! Read on to learn a simple ways to tackle the wedding guest list.
Priorities are key
The first step is making sure you and your soon-to-be are on the same page with the size of wedding you want. Include your families in the discussion, especially if they’re contributing financially.
Next, have each person write down a list with ideal guests divided into three tiers: essential family, close friends and extended family, and colleagues and friends. You can further divide friends by how you know them, like college, book group, soccer league, etc.
From this point, there are a few methods with which to whittle down your lists:
1. Percentage
Groom’s family, bride’s family, and angaed couple get a specified percentage of the total guest list spots.
Upsides: Everyone feels equal and included.
Downsides: Doesn’t account for one side of the family having more obligatory guests to invite or more guests to invite overall.
2. Have I seen them recently?
It’s a pretty simple question really—have you seen everyone on the guest list in the past year? If not, cut them!
Upsides: Extremely quick and effective way to reduce the guest count in a major way.
Downsides: Ignores those very special people you rarely see.
3. “Would I invite this person to dinner?”
While not as easy of a question to answer as the above, thinking about who you would really like to sit down at a table with gets to the heart of a wedding.
Upsides: Gets straight to the heart of the matter and forces you to think of your wedding as an intimate affair, not just as another party.
Downsides: Ignores obligatory invites.
4. Divide then cut
Categorize your friends and family by how you know them or how they are related to you. Cut entire segments such as second cousins, work friends, or intramural sports friends.
Upside: Telling non-invitees is much easier—well, we just didn’t invite anyone from work, which keeps resentment low.
Downsides: Doesn’t allow for levels of closeness within a cut category, and can be unequal especially if a bride or groom is new to an area and finds most of their friends fall into one cut category.
Financial factors
No matter what method you choose to craft the ideal guest list, the first draft is always too large, regardless of your budget. So the next step is to get an exact, budget-appropriate number down on paper.