Category: Wedding Ideas

Is there anything besides a typical bouquet my bridesmaids could carry?
—Gaylen H., Auburn

I am overwhelmed with all the beautiful flower options for my bouquet! What criteria I should use to narrow down my choices?
—Rachel C., San Francisco

Is it better to look good than to taste good? Don’t think, just answer. Your response will give you a clue as to where you weigh in on the Great “Fondant versus Buttercream” Controversy, or, as I like to call it, “the Famous Frosting Smackdown.”

Neither my fiancé nor I are at all religious despite our upbringings, though we do share a broad-based spirituality. Our families are much more traditional, and might be offended if our wedding ceremony is entirely secular. Is there a way to honor the belief systems of our parents without being hypocritical?—Pamela G., Vacaville
Read our experts’ answer.

When I was planning my sister’s bridal shower, I knew I wanted to make centerpieces that were more fun and unique than the obvious vases of flowers. My inspiration came when I went to pick up the dessert I had ordered for the shower. While I was at the shop, it dawned on me that those 3 dozen delicious cupcakes from Icing on the Cupcake in Rocklin would make whimsical centerpieces for the party. This was also a budget-friendly idea, since my dessert was going to double as décor!

With soaring fuel and food costs, reining in your wedding budget is becoming increasingly important. In today’s Los Angeles Times, there’s a great article featuring ways to cure your own case of wedding sticker shock (check out the quotes from our own creative wedding diva, Jolene Rae Harrington!). Read on for some expert wedding tips.

The wedding team was wonderfully put together by the extraordinarily talented wedding coordinator, Jubilee Lau of Jubilee Lau Events. The lighting effects were customized to the client’s style by John Woods at Enhanced Lighting, who continues to amaze me with his ability to go the extra mile. Music was provided by the fabulous Carl Mindling of Reach Carl. Linens and Tabletop decor were provided by Classic Party Rentals, including the wonderful patterned dinner plates and the Black Chameleon chair with a rhinestone bucket. The Custom Thai silk runner was by yours truly. Cake and catering were provided by Four Seasons Hotel. Furniture and props were courtesy of Blueprint. Last—and certainly the hit of the party—was the fantastic Candy Bar designed by Laura Isom for Nancy Liu Chin Designs!

My copy of Elle magazine with Jessica Simpson on the cover came in the mail last week. After flipping through page after page of fashion spreads, I noticed that black is huge and I for one am glad. You will see black minimalism, black lace accents, black biker chic, black vintage detailing.

I coordinated a wedding at Viansa Winery in May 2008 for my friends Lucy & Ross McClennan that turned out to be a really gorgeous event. I think the photos (by the super-talented Catherine Hall of Catherine Hall Studios) say it all. Click here to view their slideshow and be inspired.

Rosemarie Lion is moving to a workspace that’s almost as cool as her photography. SoCo Depot, an old train depot in Sonoma County, is now a shared workspace for creative individuals. With that kind of billing, we can’t think of a better place for Rosemarie’s inspired work.

I recently went to an event billed as a “scintillating evening of fun and information, focused on the Bay Area Indian wedding market.” Well, it was all that and more. Afterwards, I wanted throw my own Indian bash. I wanted to be Indian.

This morning while I was getting my daily dose of sanity from Divine Caroline, I stumbled across a piece that took me by surprise. A bride auctioned off a space in her wedding party to help pay for her wedding. And it worked! I must give this woman credit for thinking way outside the wedding budget box.