Category: Expert Advice

I am the Mean Old Stepmommy to a wonderful daughter named Cindi. She will celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary this month and personally I am in awe of how two 19-year-old kids created a marriage that I truly admire.

Recently, a couple getting married at The Historic Castle Green had planned to have their ceremony in a clear tent (outfitted with a gorgeous chandelier, of course) on the facility’s grounds.

Here are a few websites I found that might help you shopping-impaired grooms out there. And don’t forget to order the items at least a month or two in advance to ensure they’ll arrive in time!

Suzie and Bob’s wedding day just happened to coincide with one of the worst floods in Orange, California’s history. Only 30 of their 130 guests could even get to the church, and the caterer, photographer, and DJ were no shows. Nevertheless, the bride and groom decided to go on with the ceremony.

The 2009 edition of this luscious glossy (actually, the pages of Real Simple Weddings have a soft matte finish) is the kind of mag you want to read while soaking in a bubble bath…breakfasting in your sun-dappled garden…or curled up in bed next to that special someone. It has the effect of unraveling the pre-wedding stress by breaking down the planning elements into manageable components: Location, Flowers, Food, etc.

Planning your dream wedding on a very real budget? You’re not alone. Cutting back on the pricey parts of your wedding is never easy, but if you have even an ounce of “do-it-yourself” spirit, you might find some of the tasks you had planned to pass off to a pro are kind of fun to DIY.

Save the bags from your sheet set purchases. Then when you pack for your honeymoon or other romantic weekend getaways, use these bags to stash your shoes! That way, the rest of your clothes will stay clean. I’ve got a collection of these handy plastic bags—an extra large one that’s perfect from my cowboy boots, and petite size that work for my beach sandals.

A good friend of mine recently went to Mexico to begin the planning process for her daughter’s destination wedding. While she was there, she heard a fantastic story I just had to share.
At a recent wedding in San Pancho, Mexico, guests were gathered, awaiting the ceremony. A mariachi band was playing in traditional Mexican style. When the bride appeared, the musicians changed their tune with with fanfare. But instead of ‘Here Comes The Bride,’ the band unexpectedly began to play ‘Happy Birthday!’