Any suggestions for how to "dress up" a bride with eyeglasses? I wear wire rimmed glasses that are a subtle cat-eye shape (can't be too crazy since I work in a hospital) and I can't wear contacts b/c of a medical condition. However, I find that glasses tend to "dress down" any fancy outfit I wear and I never see wedding photos where the bride has glasses. Any experience out there? -Kerith

Seems like there are two strategies you could use for wearing glasses at your wedding:

1. "My frames are a part of my face!" (ie, stick with the glasses you've got)
If you love your frames and feel like they're really part of your face and identity, or are planning a low-key, mellow wedding, stick with the glasses you've got. If you're a make-uppy type, you could go for extra dramatic eye make-up under your usual specs to add some flair. Dude: when was the last time you tried quality fake eyelashes? Bridget Bardot in spectacles anyone?

2. "My frames are part of my wedding outfit!" (ie, get new ones)
Wearing a pair of one-of-a-kind frames that aren't your usuals would make a great visual impact on your wedding — I say go for frames that coordinate with your dress. To be even more daring and dramatic, go for frames that coordinate with your flowers. Let your glasses be an extension of your bouquet: a visual splash! You could also go super light and understated — ie frameless lenses that barely show.

Continue reading "Brides in glasses" →

The offbeat bride: Bree, Hairdresser

Her offbeat groom: Damien

Location & date of wedding: Army Navy Country Club, Fairfax VA, October 6, 2007

What made our wedding offbeat: We wanted to be different and rock a roll — but still very elegant. I walked down the aisle to a Johnny Cash tune!

Our biggest challenge: We really had very little difficulty — we planned well in advance and stayed in our budget. Being understanding, compromising and remembering that it's supposed to be a fun and special time kept any disagreement and difficulty at bay.

Continue reading "Bree's elegant rock 'n' roll wedding" →

I just received this message from a clueless publicist who clearly didn't actually read this website before emailing me, and it's so funny that I have to share:

[Cheezy Bridal Magazine] and [Cosmetics company] have teamed up to create a collection of must-have shades for every bride-to-be . Guided by [Cheezy Bridal Magazine], the industry's authority on wedding day beauty and nail color [Cosmetics company] has custom designed Diamond Strength Nail Color shades to suit every blushing bride . . . this is the perfect "marriage" between America's bridal expert and America's #1 nail expert.

The "Just Engaged!" Collection is available in the following 8 shades: Sheer Magic, I Do, True Love, First Dance, Wedding Bells, Sealed With A Kiss, Passion Flower, Wedding Bliss

WHAT THEY COST: $4.75
WHERE TO FIND THEM: Drugstores nationwide

If interested, we can send samples!!

Bwahahahaha. Stupid.

Finally, a checklist for offbeat brides! Obviously, no checklist can work for everyone, but this one is hopefully a bit more slanted toward offbeat concerns. That said, it assumes you're got about a seven month engagement — some of you are waaay longer, and some of you manage to do it all in three months. Your mileage may vary.

So, now it's time to print this out and start checking the boxes!

Continue reading "The official offbeat wedding checklist" →

This will look familiar to those of you who've read my book — one offbeat bride borrowed my Muglies idea for her recent wedding, complete with using the explanation copy I wrote to explain the concept to guests. Aww.
(Thanks to midwife72 for the photo!)

I've told my bridesmaids that they can wear any black dress of their choosing. Since I'm not requiring them to buy an actual bridesmaid's dress (ick), should I offer to pay a sort of stipend for a new dress that they will probably buy for the wedding anyway? Or are they on their own if they choose to buy a new dress? — Sarah, aka Lady Vengeance of the Garden State Rollergirls

Sarah first off: yay for letting your bridesmaids pick their own dresses. Second off, yay for making it something easy and pragmatic like a black dress, something most of us already own and have plenty of opportunities to wear. Third off: yay for being considerate of your ladies' financial concerns. Three yays for you, bad ass!

Continue reading "Who pays for bridesmaids' dresses?" →