Let's face it: besides my modern, metrosexual acupuncturist husband (who also really loves power tools and sports cars, fyi) not many grooms will turn to yoga to cope with wedding stress. If he is interested--ladies, grab onto him tight because you've got what we call in the relationship business a S.N.A.G. (Sensitive New Age Guy). But that's a whole other post.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMay 31, 2007
Dear Nicole,
Help! My future mother-in-law wants to invite 50 guests to our intimate 80-guest wedding. Considering she has paid for half of the wedding, I think she is entitled to invite some of her friends, but not over half of the guest list! Any time my fiancé' and I approach this subject with her, she gets defensive and feels hurt. I don't know what to do. Whose wedding is this anyway?
Rebecca from Oregon
Posted by of mywedding.comMay 30, 2007
Still have wedding jitters? In part two of our Cold Feet series we offer you even more ideas for rekindling the spark with your fiance and conquering your matrimonial fears.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMay 29, 2007
Since I think just about every human on Earth should be in therapy, it's not surprising that I'm also a big proponent for premarital counseling. It's a great way to affirm and explore whether or not you and your fiancé are on the same page about major life issues. Many couples fear that undergoing counseling will open a giant can of worms, but people: that's the point! This is great practice! If you flip your perception, you could actually look forward to tackling some of these issues with your partner. In my humble opinion, premarital counseling is not a venue to "fix" all of your problems before you get hitched. I think of it as a place to open the dialogue between you and future spouse. It's also a chance to get a head's up on lingering issues you as a couple need to work on. In case you haven't heard, there is no "perfect" relationship, but there are relationships that allow for the balance between individual expression and mutual partnership.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMay 25, 2007
Dear Nicole,
Help! My fiancé and I are planning a small wedding with about 50 guests. We have both been married before and want something really simple. Do you have any ideas for wedding venues that will not break the bank?
Michele from Maryland
Posted by of mywedding.comMay 24, 2007
It is absolutely normal to have a case of "nerves" before you walk down the aisle. Chances are that your anxiety (or his) will have a temporary chilling effect on your relationship, or even cause some uncomforting doubts. In most cases, cold feet are nothing more than a reflection of this tension, and the following suggestions should help you heat things back up before you say, "I do".
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMay 23, 2007
Dear Nicole,
I am having trouble choosing my maid of honor. I have three best friends: one who has been my best friend since the age of four, but who lives far away and don't see very often; another whom I've known since childhood as well, but lives close by and we see each other all the time; and another who is my brother's girlfriend whom I've only known for two years, but to whom I've become very close. How can I choose a maid-of-honor without making the others feel left out?
Stefanie from New Jersey
Posted by of mywedding.comMay 23, 2007
In every culture, wedding ceremonies are steeped in tradition. Whether or not you include the most common Anglo-Saxon wedding customs in your own nuptials is entirely up to you, but I was wondering recently where we came up with some of our seemingly random wedding must-dos and must-haves. My research actually turned up some fairly interesting facts. For example, who knew that back in the day, groomsmen would sneak into the bridal quarters and steal her undergarments for luck? More importantly, who knew that there were so many brides forced to go commando on their wedding day because of these Ancient Roman frat boys? As far as I can tell, most traditional wedding symbols and rituals seem to serve one of the following purposes: To ward off evil spirits, bring financial prosperity, increase fertility, or to amuse the groom's friends. So for those of you who are looking to live in a ghost-free waterfront mansion and give birth to triplets exactly nine months after your honeymoon while your husband plays XBox with his buddies, listen up.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMay 18, 2007
Nothing says, "Thanks for coming to our wedding" like a miniature plastic swan with your names and a cheesy slogan such as 'Love gives us wings' airbrushed on its side, right? Seriously, these are available (I just saw them advertised in a major wedding magazine) and I would argue that they are no way to show your gratitude. If I came to your wedding and you gave me one of these, I would send you an 8X10 photo of my cat flushing the toilet as your wedding gift. However, there is no accounting for (poor) taste; one of your guests could be searching for the perfect ornament to display on her mantle over the holidays, and this may be just the ticket…if the guest in question is your crazy Aunt Ethel who also collects ketchup packets from every fast food restaurant she's ever been to and considers crocheted toilet paper covers fine art. In other words, there are far more practical things to give to your guests as a token of your special day, some of which they may actually make an effort to remember to take home with them. The overall theme of good wedding favors is: Make them useful or available for consumption. Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind, with provisions for every budget.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMay 15, 2007
If your future in-laws are behaving themselves nicely during your wedding preparations and getting along swimmingly with each other, your parents, and even the two of you, then I salute you with a round of golf claps and advise you that this article is intended for the much less fortunate majority of brides (and grooms) to be. In most cases, the Mother-out-Law is the most serious offender (you know, if you have read previous articles of mine, that my MoL should have her number retired in this department), but there are definitely difficult siblings, fathers and stepparents to contend with as well. If you who are about to become related to somebody in need of some serious behavior modification during this stressful time, here are my words of wisdom: Your out-laws don't really care if they're being difficult during wedding preparations, and they have no intention of curbing their conduct no matter what you say or do. There. Don't you feel better? The best that I can do is to offer some insight into some possible reasons WHY they are behaving as if you're ruining their very special upcoming event by stubbornly insisting on being involved.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMay 10, 2007
Unless you are a celebutante or you're marrying a rock star (I'll take Justin Timberlake, please! That boy can shake a tailfeather. I'd like to be his Mrs. Robinson if you know what I - oops, forgot where I was. Sorry, loving husband…), you probably need to adhere to some budget restrictions when planning your big day. Some of us must tighten the old belt a little bit more than others, and it's our goal at mywedding.com to help you figure out how to do so comfortably, and without sacrificing an ounce of style. I have categorized a few areas where I believe that it's often necessary to spend a lot in order to get the highest possible quality, because there are certain things that truly require an expert's approach. I've also listed some other wedding day budget-busters that I believe can be avoided with the use of a little creativity, with an end result as good as if you had paid top dollar.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMay 8, 2007
There can be more to this decision than meets the eye. If you're marrying at a young age, your friends may still be bubbling with excitement at the possibility of walking down the aisle ahead of you, proudly swooshing their pink taffeta bows for the groomsmen in a not-so-subtly flirtatious manner. (Hint: This works, but no swooshing or elaborate effects are necessary; the booze at the reception will work its magic without any assistance…all the bridesmaids have to do is remain in sight.) On the other hand, if you're -ahem- a more mature bride, you may notice that your buddies seem to have headed for the hills after the engagement. But isn't being asked to be a member of the wedding party an honor? Well, yes…and no. More accurately, it is an honor that comes with responsibility and expense; the fiscal and practical investments of which vary from bride to bride. Consider the following guidelines when determining who to ask to be in your wedding party, and be sure to let them know well in advance of the big day so that they have time to plan accordingly. Also, please note that while I refer mostly to the bride, all of these factors apply equally to grooms choosing groomsmen.
Go to full postPosted by of mywedding.comMay 1, 2007