September 8th

Photo courtesy of La Fete Weddings

Tip of the Day: For a unique twist on the gift bags trend, the pros at La Fete Weddings suggest hosting an interactive gifting lounge at your welcome party or reception, instead! 

They explain that "As guests arrived, they were greeted with trays of delicious lavender champagne and specialty cocktails. We provided affordable gifts tailored to the guest count with abundant displays specifically geared towards men, women and children; along with a surplus of fabulous local Santa Barbara food vendors! We also included a colorful arrangement of 'farmers market'-styled fruit because we always love to have a quick and healthy option."

The event was a huge success and they're thrilled to offer this option to more of their clients.

Plus, check out 150+ Ways to Make Your Wedding Unforgettable.

5 Fun Ideas from Jessa Duggar's Wedding Registry

19 Kids and Counting star Jessa Duggar and fiancé Ben Seewald are planning a November wedding, and if their registries at Bed Bath & Beyond and Amazon are any indication, it's going to be just as huge as sister Jill's recent wedding — there are nearly 1,000 items on the registry!

After courting for nearly a year, the couple announced their engagement last month. The fifth-oldest Duggar child showed off her engagement ring on Instagram over the weekend:

Here are some of our favorite ideas from their registry:

1. Go Bold With Colors
You don't need to pick a color theme for your kitchen; mix 'n match makes it much more fun! registry kitchen appliances

September 5th

Photo Credit: 509 Photo on Southern Weddings via Lover.ly

Tip of the Day: The pros at Valley & Co. Weddings suggest doing a cake pull ceremony, which is an old tradition that originates from New Orleans. Your baker inserts tiny silver charms attached to ribbon around the base of your cake. Then, at the reception, ask your friends to pull them out. The charm they receive is supposed to represent their next phase in life: falling in love, getting a new job, having a baby, etc.

Plus, check out 101 Amazing Wedding Cakes.

Q&A with "Bachelorette" Desiree Hartsock

BG sat down with "Bachelorette" Desiree Hartsock at The Couture Show in Los Angeles and got the inside scoop on her new bridal line and her upcoming wedding. The bride-to-be designed a boho-chic collection for Maggie Sottero, and we got a sneak peek!

Q: What made you decide to design a bridal line after The Bachelorette?
A: I worked in bridal salons in 8 years — most recently at Penache in Beverly Hills. I've always loved working with brides.

Q: How would you describe your new collection for Maggie Sottero?
A: It's bohemian, easy to wear, and can look perfect in a church or in a meadow. It's vintage, deco, and versatile. 

Q: We notice there are no ballgowns in the collection. Why?
A: I think of these gowns as the "new" princess dresses. A dress doesn't have to be a ballgown to be a princess dress. 

Q: Will you be wearing any of these dresses for your upcoming wedding?
A: I will be wearing two! One that's formal and romantic for the ceremony, and another that's more comfortable to dance in for the reception. 

Q: And what about your accessories?
A: Well, Chris (fiancé & Bachelor alum Chris Siegfried) is 6'4'', so I will be wearing high heels. My shoes will likely be a pair of Badgley Mischka's I found on sale! I am also designing a jewlery line that's coming out in October. I will probably wear jewelry from my line and give some to my bridesmaids for their bridesmaids gifts, as well. 

"How Many 'Special Requests' Can We Make With Our Menu"?

wedding buffet
Photo Credit: Dominique Bader on Snippet and Ink via Lover.ly

Q: We found a venue we like, but I want to ask the chef to revamp almost the entire menu. Will this be insulting? Is it OK to ask for a lot of changes?

A: Requesting minor changes to a reception menu is standard and most caterers will happily oblige. They’ll also prepare kosher, vegetarian and vegan dishes.

However, if your request involves completely revamping the menu, then this might pose a problem for the caterer. His staff is trained to prepare certain types of dishes, and a special order of different foods or ingredients that are not readily available in his kitchen could prove costly. On the other hand, depending on what your menu wishes are, he might be able to work with you.

I would advise speaking with the caterer about your menu requests before booking the venue. If he is unable to meet your needs then you may need to compromise if your heart is truly set on the venue. Ask if he can prepare just one or two of your culinary requests and then agree to the rest of the already established menu. But if the menu and the types of dishes served are more important to you, then you’ll need to choose another site that’s better equipped to meet your expectations.

—Diane Forden

September 4th

Photo Credit: Five Dot Design

Tip of the Day: Mailing your wedding invitations out months in advance doesn't necessarily mean you'll get a more prompt response; in fact, it may end up backfiring because guests will forget when your big day is!

"Many people will take a look at the wedding date and the RSVP date and think, 'Oh, I have time to get this in,' and set it aside. Six to eight weeks gives your guests plenty of time to respond and will leave you with less people to track down after the due date," says Kristen Becker of Five Dot Design.  

If you're truly worried about giving your guests enough time to make travel arrangements, send save-the-dates with all of this information so they can jump-start their planning.

10 Things No One Tells You About Your Wedding Night

As your wedding day nears, you're likely to get a lot of winks and nudges about your wedding night. But the reality is, the wedding night isn't always filled with oh-so-romantic and totally life-changing lovemaking. Here are 10 super common (and not terribly sexy) scenarios you might experience the night you say "I do."

1. You will be starving.

A lot of couples don't get to eat at their reception, so once the adrenaline of the day wears off, hitting the drive-thru or ordering room service is going to sound amazing.

Delicious wedding food ideas >> 

2. You might be really sad.

3. Or really drunk.

(Or really sad and really drunk.)

4. You may also be in the early stages of a hangover.

5. You'll probably need a moment to change out of your shapewear and into your sexy lingerie.

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