Wedded Bits

Brides are Talking

Are you serving alcohol at your wedding?

This week on our forums brides are talking about serving alcohol at their wedding. CheetahAngel is concerned with the way her guests (and future husband) will act after having unlimited access to liquor and is thinking about only serving wine and champagne. Then she asks if fellow forum readers would be made if they showed up to a wedding that wasn't serving alcohol.

"It would be fine by me," says PharmToxGirl. "But trust me, you can still get some messed up behavior with just wine."

"There are limited situations where I would not expect alcohol at a wedding," replies BrighterThanSunshine, "casual affairs where neither the bride or groom drink or other circumstances such as one of the couples being a recovering alcoholic."

"Be prepared that people may be a little reluctant to dance, at first, without a little liquid courage," says VanTilBruden who agrees with CheetahGirl about a dry or low-alcohol wedding. "Don't ask me why, I personally love to dance, but some people really need that first drink to loosen up a bit."

ArtBride points out that, "I wouldn't be annoyed if I went to a wedding and the only alcohol available was wine. Limiting the alcohol to wine, however, wouldn't stop me from getting drunk if I wanted to...At the risk of sounding like the alcoholic of the boards, I don't think I'd enjoy a dry wedding."

So what do you think? Read more user comments here and post your own opinions.

Invitations & Stationery

Etsy find: Butterfly place cards

Courtesy of Timeless Paper

During my daily Etsy.com travels, I stumbled upon these delicate butterfly place cards by Philadelphia-based Timeless Paper. Wouldn't they look sweet on your reception tables, perched atop each place setting? Designer Emily Arrison handcrafts the butterfly place cards from sturdy white and cream cardstock, which can also be printed with each guest's name ($1.50 each). To see more of Emily's paper products, including the coordinating butterfly table number cards, click here. —Abigail Reid, Editorial Assistant, Brides Philadelphia

Don't miss the Wedding Invitation & Stationery Gallery on Brides.com. Click here to see more place cards.

Weddings to Watch

A light writing proposal anyone would say "yes" to

This was pretty much the coolest proposal we've ever seen, and one that is certain to warrant a "yes." Check out how the groom created the proposal over three nights in Raleigh, North Carolina using 800 individual 10 second exposures.

Light Writing Proposal from Derick Childress on Vimeo.

BRIDES magazine

How Well Do You Know Your Fiance?

Courtesy of Josh Brentan

This past week, I heard a story about a woman who had been dating a guy for a few months when he revealed to her that he had a son from a prior relationship. A big deal, to be sure, but not unimaginable. Fast-forward to a year later—the man and woman are now engaged, and he reveals yet another secret: He has two other kids from a different relationship! Naturally, this got me thinking—is there anything Erica hasn't told me? Would I even want to know? Here are five things I would definitely like to know....

1) Family History - Yes, I know your uncle Stanley can get a little rowdy, but that's not what I'm worried about. What about the people I haven't met? Are you hiding them for a reason? Maybe they carry a rare recessive gene that could make our children look like the banjo kid from Deliverance. I'm assuming that I don't even need to ask about secret kids, right? Hello...?

2) Financial Matters - Is there a trust fund in your name that I should know about? Or are you sitting atop a mountain of credit-card debt? (Read: Can I quit my job, or do I need to find another one?)

3) Unfulfilled Dreams - When you hit your midlife crisis, are you going to leave me in order to go save the African gorillas? What about that photo of a one-person raft in the middle of the ocean that you keep on the fridge? Any chance your long-held fantasy is really to cook me dinner every night? I didn't think so.

4) The Ex(es) - I don't want to know how many people you slept with; I just want to know how many of them still keep in touch with you. Are there any who still cling to a shred of hope you might one day take them back? Don't make me go snooping around your e-mails....

5) Filthy Habits - Is there anything you like to do when nobody's looking? I'm not talking about picking your nose—everyone does that from time to time. I just wonder if one day, I'll come home and find you biting your toenails, or some other unsightly thing. Will I still want to kiss you hello?

As it turned out, the man and woman mentioned above got married and are living happily ever after. Clearly, deal-breakers vary from person to person. What about you? What would you want to know?

—Josh Brentan, The Groom With A View

BRIDES magazine

The Six Most Overused Phrases of Love and How to Avoid Them

Erika McConnel

Be it for an anniversary card, a birthday toast, or your wedding vows, BRIDES magazine offers up six steps to help you better express your feelings.

1) Avoid using cliches. The following are lovely thoughts but not very original: "You are my dream come true." "This is the happiest day of my life." "You are my best friend." "I am the luckiest person in the world." "You are my Prince Charming." "Words cannot express how much I love you."

2) Acknowledge the significance of the occasion. You can make it light and joke about how nervous these events make you, or heavy and express the how important the moment and your loved one are to you.

3) Say something about your relationship. Be specific about a certain time or favorite memory. (Remember: Keep it clean, lest you risk embarrassment for the honoree and yourself!)

4) Mention one thing you particularly love about the person. (Ditto the reminder above.)

5) Bring in a hope for the future, such as growing old together, another year of good fortune, or assured success.

6) Make a promise. Be serious or funny: vow to always be supportive, be proud, or keep them laughing for years to come.

—BRIDES magazine

Accessories & Jewelry

Have an Anthropologie-inspired wedding

Thomas Iannaccone

Our favorite stores make us feel good when we go inside them. Not unlike what you want your guests to feel when they enter your reception. And since certain retailers are so adept at creating a signature environment by crafting a specific and cohesive look that conveys a unique, enveloping mood, we wondered if we could re-create those same good vibes by "borrowing" those shops' styles.

We all have Anthropologie on our minds due to their recent announcement that they will be coming out with a line of wedding dresses. Check out these style elements that will help you create a wedding with the clothing-and-home emporium's bohemian aesthetic.

Browse more style inspiration from stores like West Elm, Crabtree & Evelyn, and Sephora.

California

Groomsmen gift

Courtesy of VCS Photography

I was browsing some photography blogs today and came across this great gift idea from SoCal-based photographer Victor Sizemore. He created these personalized beverage boxes to give to friends for the holidays, but I think they could also work as a groomsmen gift. Each box contained bottles of bourbon or whiskey, along with a recipe and all the components to make a custom cocktail. Pretty brilliant, if you ask me. You can see more images of the beverage boxes on Victor's blog. What are some groomsmen gift ideas you've come across? Let me know in the comments! —Heather Lee, Editor, Brides Southern California

Wedding Dresses

White House Black Market's wedding gown

Courtesy of WHBM

Another mall store has entered the bridal fashion market. White House Black Market is now selling a limited edition wedding dress for under $500. The ivory satin dress has a fitted bodice and asymmetrical skirt. To go along with the dress the store is also offering a style of bridal shoes and a bridal bag, as well as dresses for your bridesmaids and accessories for everyone. Wedding specialists will be available in select boutiques around the country, or you can call 888-WED-WHBM and visit whbm.com/wedding for more information.

Looking for other places in your local mall where you can pick up a wedding dress? J. Crew (the unofficial pioneer of this movement) sells wedding dresses at these stores and online. And Nordstrom surprisingly sells a great range of wedding dresses as well. The Limited will be launching their line of wedding dresses exclusively online in early June, and expect Anthropologie's line of vintage-feeling bridal gowns to hit stores in the fall. —Cari Wolfert

Michigan

Now Open: City Bird

Courtesy of City Bird

One of my favorite Detroit-based companies City Bird recently opened a brick and mortar store in midtown. Owners (and siblings!) Andy and Emily Linn stock their shop with their own line of Detroit-themed housewares and accessories, as well as work by more than 50 other artists and designers. You'll find plenty of ideas to work into your Michigan-based nuptials, including a stash of "I Heart Detroit" pins (pair them with guests' escort cards), a sketchbook screenprinted with the city skyline (which could work as a guest book), and these awesome Detroit-themed gift packs containing a "Greetings from Detroit" card, a set of three map magnets, and two bars of their super-popular Detroit map soap (perfect for welcome baskets). City Bird is located at at 460 W. Canfield Street. —Heather Lee, Editor, Brides Michigan

Favors & Gifts

Simple, elegant wedding gift idea

Courtesy of MarlaDawn

For a bride who loves to entertain, these porcelain serving dishes by MarlaDawn Home are a wedding present that will certainly be well received. The demure tree pattern makes them beautiful on their own, while their classic design complements any contemporary dinnerware set. Serving dishes are available in round, oval, or square.

Check out MarlaDawn's website to browse more of her porcelain collection (I also adore the owl dessert plates for their offbeat charm).—Amanda Dennis, Editorial Intern