January 2012

The Alternative Bride's Guide to Wedding Games

Weddings are massive affairs are put together to reflect the bridal couple's personal preferences and tastes. There is a lot of pomp and circumstance around the actual ceremony that unites the two lovebirds, but the parties related to the wedding, from the engagement party to the reception can be as fun and unique as the couple desires. And it should be!

Who says you have to play boring, recycled games at the bridal shower or toss the bouquet to 30 commitment-hungry lady friends? There aren't any laws against finding alternatives to traditional wedding party practices, so dare to be different and make your big day memorable. You'll have great stories to share, your guests will have an awesome time and you may just inspire others to jazz up their wedding days, too.

The Good Wife Guide: 19 Rules for Keeping a Happy Husband

Everyone knows that a healthy marriage is comprised of several key elements: love, communication, respect, honesty and compromise. Beyond this list of important characteristics of a happy marriage is humor. Life together is a bumpy road for every couple. Anyone who says differently is either sugarcoating the truth or hasn't been married very long. Being able to laugh together is as much a key to success as being able to confide in each other.

Knowing what a roller coaster married life can be, the wife and I like to give funny gifts to newly engaged friends so they can start the laughter early. If you can't chuckle with your partner, the serious stuff can be way too serious. Lately, our go-to gag gifts are The Good Husband Guide: 19 Tips for Domestic Bliss and The Good Wife Guide: 19 Rules for Keeping a Happy Husband, both from Ladies' Homemaker Monthly.

These books are written in the spirit of cheesy, 1950s-era household politics with the doting wife and cardboard cutout ideal husband. They're marital satire at its most hysterical, because the “tips” and “rules” are so outdated they would never fly in a modern couple's home. Read more about The Good Wife Guide: 19 Rules for Keeping a Happy Husband

Save the Date Ideas: 101 Fun and Creative Save the Date Ideas for Weddings

When you're planning your wedding one of a bride's biggest fears is that key guests won't be able to make it for the big day. Sending out save the date cards can be a great way to ensure that those you love have every opportunity to be there for one of the biggest days of your life.

Save the date cards are simple little cards telling your friends and loved ones that your wedding date has been set. It's a way to give them notice in case they need to plan ahead to make arrangements for time off work or saving for travel expenses. It's like a formal heads-up that you hope they'll be attending your wedding.

Many brides who have family that live nearby and are planning smaller local weddings save the postage and forgo the save the date cards, which is totally acceptable. Nobody is going to chastising you for poor wedding etiquette if you don't send them out. However, if you're planning a destination wedding or have a number of guest who will have to travel to make it to the church on time, you might want to consider sending them out. Read more about Save the Date Ideas: 101 Fun and Creative Save the Date Ideas for Weddings

Beautiful Bridal Accessories You Can Make

It's no secret that weddings are expensive affairs. Elegance and romantic touches add to the beauty of the day, but after the basic essentials that are needed for the event, like the dress, entertainment, photographer, venue and food, many bridal couples find that their budget has been drastically depleted, especially if they're paying for the wedding themselves.

Being a budget-conscious bride doesn't mean that you don't want those little extra accessories that every woman wishes for on her big day. And, while you may have to compromise a little on your vision, you shouldn't have to miss out on the special touches that you've always dreamed of.

If your budget is starting to get a little tight, consider finding romantic accessories that speak to you, but can be handmade for a significantly lower cost than if you purchased it from a bridal store. If you or someone you know has even basic sewing skills, you might just find some things that will add elegance without busting your budget. Read more about Beautiful Bridal Accessories You Can Make

Wedding Book Club

The best wedding planners, how-to wedding guides, and bridal checklists around

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The Alternative Bride's Guide to Wedding Games

The Good Wife Guide: 19 Rules for Keeping a Happy Husband

Save the Date Ideas: 101 Fun and Creative Save the Date Ideas for Weddings

Beautiful Bridal Accessories You Can Make