A Proposal Rooted in Meaning, Not Spectacle

Forget jumbotrons at ball games and private hot air balloons, Travis made it mean something when he proposed in the backyard of his Kansas home, which he transformed into a floral oasis. Their Instagram caption, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” was cheeky, intimate, and totally Swift.

Takeaway for brides: You don’t have to have a castle or a drone show. A meaningful location and personal touches can make your proposal—and wedding—feel perfect.

Predicting Taylor’s Wedding Style

What will Taylor’s wedding style be? Swift’s fashion history suggests that she will lean towards a timeless elegance with, no doubt, a fun twist. Imagine high-neck satin gowns, off-the-shoulder silhouettes, and possibly opera gloves. You know she will rock whatever she chooses.

Her engagement ring? Rumored to be an 8-carat Old Mine Brilliant Cut diamond set on a beautiful gold band.

Takeaway for brides: Choose a dress that reflects you and your story. Whether it’s classic, boho, or glam, your style should feel like you—not a Pinterest board.

Swiftie-Inspired Wedding Ideas

If you’re a Swiftie planning your own special day, here are a few fun nods to Taylor for some wedding inspiration:

• Table names based on her albums (“Lover,” “Red,” “Folklore”)
• A first dance to “Enchanted” or “Invisible String”, possibly “You are in Love”
• Lyrics on signage or vows for a poetic touch
• Vow Inspiration: “I’d marry you with paper rings”
• Fun Guest Favors, like friendship bracelets, personalized with your wedding date or initials
• The Dessert Table could include cookies with romantic lyrics

Final Thoughts

Taylor and Travis’s engagement reminds us that love stories don’t have to have a spotlight to shine. If you’re planning your own wedding, let it reflect your values, your quirks, and your joy—not someone else’s expectations.

The post From Touchdowns to Tulle: Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Are Getting Married—and Brides Everywhere Are Watching appeared first on Bridezilla.

Easy Bouquet: Katie Holmes’ Calla Lilies

Many celebs have walked down the aisle with a simple sheath of white calla lilies, and it’s easy to replicate their statuesque simplicity! This arrangement is as simple as can be, and doesn’t require wiring blooms or even a bouquet holder.

How to Recreate It:

1. Buy wholesale calla lilies to cut on cost. Gather them together, and arrange them in a graceful tiered shape.
2. Wrap securely with floral tape, then cover the tape with wide ribbon.

Moderate Bouquet: Kim Kardashian’s Polo Roses

For a classic statement, nothing works better than a bouquet of simple white silk and roses. The ginkgo-shaped cut-outs on the base of the bouquet make the transition between flowers and ribbon completely seamless. For a customized twist, you can try cutting out a different leaf shape that is special to you.

How to Recreate It:

1. Cut large ginkgo leaf shapes out of white silk, and use fabric glue to attach them, leaves overlapping, to a bouquet holder.
2. Outline the round shape of your bouquet by inserting about half of your roses around the outside of the foam base.
3. Insert a thin wire into the base of each of the remaining rose heads; then cut off the stem and bend the ends back down until they meet. Press the wire into the foam. (Stems are often replaced with wire in order to make the handle of the bouquet less bulky)
4. Wrap the base of the holder with a wide ribbon.

Difficult Bouquet: Kate Middleton’s Lilies of the Valley

Accented with hyacinth, myrtle, and (as a nod to her husband-to-be) sweet William, the future Queen of England had a stunningly delicate bouquet. Lily of the valley can be expensive, so don’t hesitate to supplement it with a favorite white flower of your own, like freesias, white delphiniums, or lisianthus.

How to Recreate It:

1. Begin with the lilies of the valley (or whatever you primary flower will be), and form a skeleton of the shape that you want by inserting stems into a foam bouquet holder. Keep the front stems longer than those on the inside to recreate the original shield shape.
2. Add in the hyacinth, using the same wiring technique as described above. Bend the wires, allowing the blooms to drape downwards from the cone.
3. Fill in any gaps with the myrtle and sweet William, wiring and attaching in the same way.

After you’ve finished with your creation, mix floral food into a vase of water, and keep the flowers there at a cool room temperature. Make your bouquet a day before the wedding and have plenty of extra flowers on hand, should you need to replace any mistakes. Then just wait to wow the crowd on your big day!

Photos via Shutterstock.

This post was written by Alyssa, a part-time wedding photographer with an obsession for anything having to do with “the big day.” When not chasing after brides and grooms with her camera, you can typically find Alyssa exploring Seattle with a venti hazelnut latte in hand.

The post Celebrity Style on a Budget: Famous Bouquets You Can Recreate appeared first on Bridezilla.

The social media trend has even spread into the world of weddings, with some couples incorporating it into their big day.  But is it a good idea?  Here we take a look at some weddings where social media has played a large part in the event, for better or for worse.

The Good

We have now reached a point were all couples need to consider the part that social media may play in their wedding day.  Unless you specifically tell guests otherwise, there is a very realistic chance that photographs will appear online before you get your images from the official photographer.

For some, this can detract from the joy of showing off their wedding album. In some instances it may even be that a photo has found its way onto Facebook or Twitter before the ceremony is even over.

On the other hand, if you are happy for photos of your wedding day to be shared from the off, social media channels are a great way for people who were unable to attend to feel part of the celebrations.  This is a route that actor David Cross and actress Amber Tamblyn took when they were married in October 2012.

The images above were shared by The Roots drummer Questlove on his Instagram account, who was acting as the official DJ – and unofficial photographer!  The couples relaxed approach to the general public having access to their big day was in keeping with the rest of the ceremony; an informal affair that took place at a mystery woodland location.  However, not every couple has used social media as part of their wedding in such a positive way.

The Bad

One soon to be bride in China recently made a grave mistake by questioning the generosity of her invited guests via her November 2nd Facebook status, posting:

“I’m not opening a charity….If you really only want to give me a HK$500 [£40] cash gift, then don’t bother coming to my wedding,”

Whilst we suspect that those who are invited to the ceremony were miffed by the strop, it is those that aren’t invited that the couple are now surely worrying about.  The status update soon went viral, causing plenty of anger in the social world.  The bride’s identity and the location of the wedding were soon spread across Facebook – resulting in a protest being arranged!

Although the giving of money to the bride and groom is traditional Chinese custom, general consensus is that the bride has taken it a step too far, with over 1,000 protestors indicating that they will be attending the wedding to voice their disapproval.  We have purposely left out the name of the bride as not to attract further attention to her not too distant wedding.

The Ugly

As we have seen, social media can be used in both good and bad ways in the build up to and on the wedding day itself.  However, social media isn’t just a way of communicating; it is also a powerful weapon if wielded correctly – as evidenced by our final story.

In June 2012, an Australian couple, from the city of Geelong, took time out of their wedding day celebrations to post images of their wedding cake.  The reason being that the cake which was delivered was someway off the example photograph that they had provided.

The bride and groom were so unhappy with the cake that they decided against presenting it to their guests; asking the Geelong bakery that made it for a full refund – a request that was turned down.

However, the bakery, which had been in operation for 35 years, experienced backlash to their below-quality cake, with more than 1,300 Facebook users sharing the images.  The response was so overwhelming that the bakery decided to take down its website and requested that their details be kept out of all media reports.  They have also since offered compensation to the newlyweds.

So there we have it; social media can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to weddings.  Do you think that the advent of social media has added to the joy of holding a wedding?  Or are you in the other camp, believing that incorporating social only serves to cheapen your big day?  Let us know your thoughts!

This post was written by Mike and Andrew – a marketing bod and a copywriter from Paper Themes: designers of personalised wedding stationery in the UK.

The post Social Media Weddings: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly appeared first on Bridezilla.

Are you a member of a bridal party who is tired of being kind and supportive? Largely inspired by a real-life Bridesmaidzilla, here are five ways to help you become a terrible bridesmaid:

5. Show up to the bride’s bridal shower. Late. In sweatpants.

This is a great way to show your disrespect. You can easily prove to the bride and all guests that you do not care by arriving late, dressed like a slob. Do not speak to anyone, and make sure that you are gone in no more than 45 minutes.

4. Plan the bachelorette party and then bail last minute because you can’t afford it.

Bonus points if you post photos of your “new ride” on Facebook immediately following the “I can’t make it” text message. Additional bonus points awarded if your new vehicle costs more than the bride’s entire wedding.

3. Give the bride unsolicited advice.

The further the advice is from being any of your business, the better. For example, suggest that she kick her sister-in-law to the curb as a member of the bridal party.

2. Refuse to shop with the bride and send photos of potential dresses via cell phone.

As a bridesmaid, it is a blessing to be told that you are wearing a specific dress, but may choose the style that fits you best, whether it be strapless, halter, etc. To be given a color scheme and told to choose whatever you like best is like hitting the proverbial jackpot. If you are lucky enough to be in this situation, what you must do next is proceed to send multiple mirror shots of yourself in white dresses. Bonus points to be won again if one of them is transparent, displaying your matching bra and panties. Who are you trying to impress, anyway?

1. Be “that” bridesmaid at the reception.

You know the one. The one that all the out-of-town guests discuss over the continental breakfast. The one that heard the bar was closing during dinner and stocked up on five vodka cranberries. The one that flashed the aforementioned underwear to your entire extended family. The subject of an inappropriate bet by all single groomsmen.

We all know how crazy a bride-to-be can behave. There are certainly times when, as a bridesmaid, you cannot recall a single reason why you would have agreed to stand next to this woman on her wedding day. If you’ve had enough of playing nice, follow these tips and be well on your way to becoming the worst possible bridesmaid that you can be.

This guest post was written by Cher, a 20-something, recently married student studying English and Marketing & Communications. She enjoys reading and writing and cannot get enough of weddings. She keeps that obsession alive and ignores academic obligations by writing and blogging about all things weddings.

The post Guest Post: 5 Ways to Be the Worst Bridesmaid Ever appeared first on Bridezilla.

Source: SimplyBridal.com.

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One of the biggest problems with hiring a vendor from afar is that you never know how reputable they are, or how responsive they will be once you have signed the contract to hire them. One of the biggest fears is that a disreputable vendor will go out of business and will walk away with your money, leaving you with little time or funds along with a major-league headache.

In order to avoid doing business with an incompetent destination wedding vendor, read the six tips below. Once you know what to look for, a bad vendor will stick out like a lemon in a crate filled with oranges.

Here we go.

Too busy to be hired

You know that guy at work that never gets anything done on time? The one who is always shuffling papers, extending deadlines, and complaining about his lack of time. If your vendor reminds you of this person, then don’t hire them because you are headed for a potential disaster. These kinds of people are always late, always disheveled, and will always be running behind. If they don’t know how to manage their own life, how will they manage a wedding for you?

Takes more than 24 hours to return your phone calls

There is no excuse for a vendor to take more than 24 hours to return a phone call. It takes all but 30 seconds to call someone back and yet we have run into a countless number of vendors who won’t call you back for days at a time. Whether you are asking for a proposal or have a signed a contract, a reputable one will always call you back within a reasonable amount of time. The only exception is if they have a voicemail that states that they’re going to be away for one reason or another. Any other excuse is simply unacceptable.

The best time to gauge whether a vendor is responsible is before you sign a contract with them. When you are looking for a proposal, or asking follow-up questions, see how long they take to answer each question and how thorough they are each time. If the responses are quick and the answers are satisfactory, then that’s your vendor.

Lack of a website

Creating a website is no longer an expensive venture. Vendors can create a simple website with a portfolio of their work for as little as two or three hundred dollars. So the question really is, “Why don’t you have a website?” Is it because they’re not making enough money to invest in the business? Does the vendor really have as much experience as they claim since they don’t have enough of the portfolio to put online? The only exception to this would be if the vendor has a spectacular page displaying their work on a website like Pinterest.

Afraid to give out references

The problem with most references is that they are glowing because the vendor is obviously not going to send you to a dissatisfied customer. So how do you get around that?

Before you even ask for references, ask how many weddings he/she did last month or last quarter. The vendor, to show you how busy they are, will give you the number of weddings they did. Then ask them to provide references from their last three or four weddings. At this point the vendor has a choice of turning down your request (that’s really not a good sign) or they can provide you those references.

How detailed is the contract?

Different vendors will have a varying amount of detail in their contracts. After all, an officiant may have a one-page contract, whereas a caterer may have five or ten pages. The trick is to take a look at how detailed each contract is. If the contract looks like it was created with the lack of thought, then this vendor is obviously not very detailed and it will show on the day of your wedding.

Reputation

This last one is very obvious but we wanted include it anyways so you remember to take it into consideration. As an example, if you are about to hire a photographer, consider asking the manager of the wedding venue if they have worked with this person before. And if they have, what is their opinion? Other questions to ask: Whether they were responsible? Were they on time? How is the quality of their work? How well does the person get along with other vendors? If the reviews from other vendors come back negative, then you have just avoided a potential disaster.

With the signs above, you should be able to determine the competency of the vendor. If you’re still unsure, then what? What if you still can’t tell if the vendor is good or bad?

That’s a fair question. It can be very difficult to determine the competency of the vendor from thousands of miles away. After all, a phone conversation or e-mail thread will only reveal so much about the person. The best way that we know of to protect yourself is to ask for a 90-day refundable guarantee in the contract. So in effect, you have 90 days from when you sign the contract to assess the work of the vendor, and if you are not satisfied, you have the right to get your deposit back.

You should be able to hire a responsible and competent vendor for your wedding using the six signs above along with the clause in the contract that protects you for the first 90 days. And if it turns out you got yourself a lemon of a vendor, then you can always pull the plug on the contract.

Have you ever dealt with a terrible destination wedding vendor? Tell us in the comments below.

This post was written by Nusair A Bawla, who runs a popular group travel website. Along with some great articles on planning a destination wedding, the website also provides an easy way to get group rates at hotels without making a phone call.

The post Guest Post: 6 Signs That Your Destination Wedding Vendor Is Terrible appeared first on Bridezilla.

Full infographic after the jump.

Source: EasyFinance.com

The post Guest Post: Love Don't Cost a Thing… Or Does It? (Infographic) appeared first on Bridezilla.

Despite the fact that it’s the year 2012, many brides are still opting for traditional wedding elements. However, they also want to add in bits of their own flavor. It’s possible to be both traditional and unique in a range of wedding planning categories.

The Ceremony

Traditional weddings are held in churches, chapels, synagogues and other religious houses of worship. Couples can ask for permission to craft their own vows or to add a special prayer during the service. Some faiths do permit outdoor wedding ceremonies, so couples from these backgrounds can select a park or picnic area to play host to the exchanging of vows.

The Reception Hall

It’s tricky to find a balance between a traditional and unique venue; however, they do exist. Outdoor venues that lack air conditioning on a hot summer’s day or parks that provide only portable restroom facilities are not suitable options. However, large libraries and country clubs are two venues that offer traditional dining, restroom and comfort elements, while still permitting couples to exude their style. Additionally, couples could look for traditional reception halls that will allow them to personalize the set-up of the tables, colors of the linens and so forth.

The Dress and Other Attire

As most people know, the traditional color for a wedding gown is white. Venturing into ivories, creams, eggshell whites and diamond whites is just fine, while opting for gowns with streams of other colors on them though is starting to push the border. Brides can add plenty of vibrant colours to their bouquets. Additionally, while the groom should opt for a colored vest that compliments his intended’s gown, the other men in the bridal party can have a colored vest to match the bridesmaids’ gowns.

Decor

Decorations need not be humdrum simply because the couple wants to keep certain elements traditional. Choosing centrepieces made out of crystal vines, elegant fish bowls with branches or other non-floral material allows an expression of the couple’s style without interfering with any traditional elements. Couples can also choose to donate money to a charity instead of giving out the traditional tokens of appreciation: favors.

Seating Arrangements

Gone are the days when the entire bridal party must sit in a long, single line, incapable of speaking to anyone except their direct neighbor. Instead of separating couples in which one member serves as a bridal party member and one does not, they can sit together. Couples can create tables reserved for bridal party members and their dates only or tables that allow bridal party members to sit with their closest family members and friends.

Themes

Themes can be subtly planted into the affair without interrupting the traditional flow of events. For example, a vampire theme might be something you can incorporate in a small way with broaches, small details on the invitation, name plates, handbags, shoes, flowers and a black theme running through the color décor, which perfectly balances what you want with a more traditional wedding. However, you might want everyone dressed up, coffins and a hearse as you transportation but this would be something of a spectacle wedding rather than more traditional.

Clearly, it is possible for the couple’s unique style to shine through in a wedding, even if they are staying with many of the traditional elements.

Rebecca is writing on behalf of samarajames.com, dealing with everything that sparkles for the big day in terms of jewelry and engagement rings. Rebecca is currently studying fashion and aspires to eventually own her own bridal boutique and has plenty of tips on outfits, hair, jewellery including diamond jewellery information and everything else you will need to make the day extra special.

The post Guest Post: How to Balance a Traditional White Wedding with a Unique Flavor appeared first on Bridezilla.

You got to the registry too late and everything is out of your price range and picked over, or you just simply want to think out of the box and don’t feel inclined to buy silver platters or a new toaster oven.

When the newlywed’s wedding gift ideas and registry don’t cut it, what gifts can you give the bride and groom? An experience gift. Experience gifts for couples range from cooking classes to couples massages and romantic dinner for two to a whitewater rafting trip.

The couple can enjoy the gift during downtime after the wedding or can plan to use it during the honeymoon. Experience gifts can be bought from a site like Cloud 9 Living or from the resort that the couple is honeymooning at. Either way, you are giving them gift of a memory.

Some of the top experience gifts for the bride and groom are:

• Personal Chef Gifts: Personal chefs can take stress away by preparing a gourmet meal right in the couple’s home, or he can even cook for their first dinner party. Either way, who doesn’t want someone to do all the cooking and cleaning for a night?
• Dinner & Lunch Cruises: Gift them a romantic evening of cuisine, live music and dancing under a canopy of stars on the bay or harbor of their choice with a dinner or lunch cruise.
• Spa Packages: Either during the honeymoon or after the hustle and bustle is over, the bride and groom can enjoy a gifted couple’s massage to help solidify or energize their relationship.
• Hot Air Balloon Rides: The gift of flying high in the sky on a hot air balloon will allow them to share a new, passionate experience together while creating a memory they won’t forget.
• Guided City Tours: Whether exploring the city they are honeymooning in, learning about the new city they moved to or simply enjoying a day together discovering the city they love, a guided city tour is always a fun, learning experience. Try it by bike, segway, boat or foot!
• Gondola Rides: They may not have been able to make it to Venice, but you can still gift them the elegance and intimate setting of a gondola ride for two. Plus, they can divulge in chocolates and champagne along the water.

In the end, any experience will make them happier in the long run than a new vase for their house. A study at Cornell University by Thomas Gilovich stated, “Our results suggest that if people get more enduring happiness from their experiences than their possessions.”

For the next wedding with a less-than-stellar gift wish list, give the gift of experience and create a memory.

This post was written by Ashley McCredie, the online content coordinator for an experience gifts company that offers many unique experience gifts for couples. Residing in Denver, CO, she is also a freelance writer and photographer.

The post Guest Post: Outside the Box Wedding Gift Ideas appeared first on Bridezilla.

Of course, the biggest headline grabbers of the year had fabulous rings to match.  From unique bands to ginormous rocks, these celebs go to great lengths to make sure no one can match their grandiose symbols of devotion.

Russell Brand and Katy Perry

Russell Brand and Katy Perry tied the knot in a lavish ceremony set in a luxury resort in Northern India.  With Perry forgoing a simple yet spectacular solitaire, the couple opted for matching wedding bands.  Though they look demure from a distance with just the right amount of sparkle; the rings are estimated to be around $50,000 to $75,000 (Diamond Information Center).  How’s that for living in luxury!

Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green

The woman everyone loves to hate, Megan Fox, married her longtime boyfriend Brian Austin Green, of Beverly Hills, 90210-fame, in a quiet ceremony at the Four Seasons Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Fox’s classic diamond ring comes in at an estimated $80,000 with the added wedding band upping the price another $20,000.  Who knew 90210 royalties looked like a line of dump trucks filled with cash?

Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin

The on and off-screen lovers, Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin, of True Blood have always been a low-key kind of couple.  Keeping in line with their reserved natures, the couple held their intimate wedding at a private beachside residence in Malibu, California.  Paquin’s vintage-inspired ring is a custom design by Moyer himself with the help of their jewelry designer friend, Cathy Waterman.

Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher

As we move into the world of gigantic rings, Carrie Underwood accepted this beauty from husband and hockey player Mike Fisher.  The Diamond Information Center estimates the value of this 5 carat ring at $150,000-plus.  Married in a very Southern wedding, the couple held their ceremony at the Ritz Carlton Resort at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia where both recited their favorite Bible verses.

Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie

Not to be outdone, Hilary Duff showed off her very own massive sparkler bestowed upon her by husband Mike Comrie, also a hockey player.  The 14-karat princess-cut paper weight is a mind-blowing $1,000,000.  Before you start asking, what the hell is happening in the hockey playing water, it should be noted that Comrie also happens to be an heir to Canadian home furnishings retail empire, The Brick.  In the money factory known as the Comrie-Duff household, she really could use her ring as a paper weight if she felt like it.  It’s good to be rich.

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