NOT AN OPTION

Why do people put "black tie optional" on wedding invitations? If you want people to dress up then say so. If you don't, then skip the mention of dress code and let them decide for themselves. It's completely passive aggressive. You know the bride really wants you to wear black tie, she just wants you to WANT to wear it. It's like when a girlfriend says it's fine for her boyfriend to go out and then gets mad at him for actually going out. If you're a bride,, say it straight. If you're a guest, know that "black tie optional" isn't really an option.

CASEY GETTING MARRIED

I've come to the conclusion that weddings are a lot like fashion. Unless it's truly your style it will never work. Authenticity is key in, it seems, everything. Whether it's a wedding, a relationship, or the clothes you wear,, if it's authentic, it'll work. Casey's wedding reflected who she and Shaun are and there's nothing more sparkly than that.

Ps. A bit of whimsy always helps, of course, so we used those carnations I was spouting about,, how pretty are they? And since we couldn't have peonies on the table we made paper ones and hung them from the sky.

THE FORGOTTEN ONE

Wedding planning can be tedious. It can be overwhelming. It can be expensive. But it doesn't have to be,,,, at least where the flowers are concerned. Carnations. I know you're pretty much skipping this post right about now but hear me out. I realize they're usually the flower you turn your nose up at and discreetly discard in the trash. You don't want the riff raff flowers associating with the upper crust ones like peonies and roses. However, when you use nothing but carnations, you'd be surprised just how beautiful they really are. And not only are they gorgeous en masse,, they're hearty, smell great and for under $100 you can get over 200 stems! Forget me not.

IT'S ALL IN THE WRIST

When my best friend and I had our wedding,,, wait, let me rephrase,, when my best friend got married, and I was her maid of honor, I liked to think of it as "our" wedding because I was just as interested, if not more so, than the groom in all things pretty,, i.e. dress, hair, flowers, centerpieces. So when it came time to decide on the bouquets for the bridesmaids, I had a vision. Wrist corsages. Now before you go thinking they're just for old ladies or prom, think again. Wrist corsages can be edgy and flirty or traditional and sweet but they'll always go with your dress and will never go to waste. You can't ditch this baby at the bar or leave it in the ladies' room, and I promise you won't want to. 

www.winstonflowers.com

www.etsy.com

BLUSHING BRIDE

You got engaged and now you need the dress. You know you want pink and orange flowers for the tables, you're putting your bridesmaids in fuschia, even your groom gets to wear a colored tie. So what about you? Why do you get stuck wearing white? Can't the bride have any fun? If color is your thing, then wear it on your wedding day. Pink, blue, green,, pick your favorite color and work it. Gwen Stefani wore pink on her wedding day and was inspiring. Her pictures were splashed across every fashion mag out there touting how daring and beautiful a choice it was. Sarah Jessica Parker wore a pale pink dress to the Oscars one year and granted it wasn't a wedding and she is a movie star but isn't a wedding a great time for you to feel like a movie star? You can still look like a princess in color,, just a bit more BAZAAR one.