“With this ring I do wed I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day.”  These are some of the sweetest words said during your ceremony. It is the last gift you and your partner give each other before you become officially married. It’s been part or the wedding ceremony for centuries. The bands can be simple or elaborate, made from gold, silver. Platinum, copper, titanium or just about anything. The question we want to look at to day is why do give these symbols to each other, is just custom or does it mean more.

       What exactly is a wedding band? The wedding rings embody the continuous flow of love, a circle that symbolizes eternity where there is no beginning and no end. It is believed that love moves around endlessly in circles for better or worse. It is an appropriate sign for the true meaning of marriage. The ring unites the married couple through happy or sad times. Some people take extra precautions in selecting the band from its purchase to its care, believing the superstition that it is bad luck to buy the wedding ring and the engagement at the same time. No matter what the beliefs are, couples deciding to marry will always focus on the positive – that the wedding ring is a symbol of never-ending love and devotion between a couple.

       It is believed that the custom of wearing a wedding band originated in Egypt. Egyptians made the first version of wedding bands not from gold and not from silver but from the stem of a plant. These circular wedding bands worn by the Egyptians were meant to signify never-ending love. The Romans gave different significance to wedding bands and used the ring to lay their 'claim' over their lady. It was used as a symbol of ownership and was to be worn on the fourth finger (ring finger, start with your thumb and move left) in a way similar to how the Egyptians wore their band rings. It is thought that the left hand ring finger was picked because the veins run straight to your heart.

        A wedding ring is often placed on a ring bearer pillow during the wedding ceremony. For the real wedding rings, the wedding rings are sewn or tied on the pillows (you have to make sure that cute little guy or girl carrying the rings won’t drop them). The bearer’s pillow origins date back from the Roman and Egyptian old traditions. During those times, the pillow was used to carry silver and gold stones. Today, at wedding ceremonies, the pillow carries the cherished wedding rings. It is traditional for a couple to exchange wedding rings after they say their vows during the wedding ceremony itself. Since these rings are symbols of the marriage, the words said during a ring exchange should reflect the couple's hopes for their marriage. These words may be simply included into the wedding vows, or done as a separate ceremony.

  I hope this helps you understand some of the tradition and beautiful symbolism behind the wedding band.

How to find the perfect dress







              

          As she walked into the hollowed halls of Dress-N-Dazzle, she could feel her heart begin to quicken, and she was filled with glee. Her bridal consultant swept into the room with a dazzling smile, beautifully tailored suit and shoes that spoke to her heart. Hello my name is Cherie and I will be your guide during this incredible journey. The only problem was Cherie's voice sound quit like fingernails on a chalkboard. Princess Joy, figured the lady simply had a cold and tried to ignore the nagging sensation starting in the pit of her stomach.  Cherie, began with a series of rapid fire questions,

 “Now Princess Joy, have you thought about the lines and style for your dress. A-line, Ball Gown, Empire, Sheath, or Mermaid. What about the Length, intermission, ballet, floor, street? No not street, Then the sleeve length 3/4, Bell, Cap, fitted point, Juliet? No? Long Sleeve, off the shoulder, one sleeve, poet, POUF, Short Sleeve, or Spaghetti? “

     Princess Joy, didn't even have time to answer, she was fairly sure that Cherie, had never even taken a breath. Cherie continued “Now for the neckline, Bateau, Halter, High, Jewel, Off the Shoulder, Portrait, Scoop, Square, Sweetheart, V-neck” ... Joy could here Cherie in the background still talking, But the glee and happiness she felt soon changed into total fright as she saw the rows of gorgeous sparkling gowns, and questions of what if quickly flooded her mind, WHAT IF I FIND BETTER DRESS, WHAT IF I PICK THE WRONG DRESS FOR MY BODY TYPE, MY PRINCE HATES MY DRESS, WHAT IF MY MOTHER IN LAW HATES my dress ?.. Suddenly the room started to spin and blackness over took the princess....

By Natalia Rodriguez

Planning a wedding is the perfect opportunity for the bride and her family to spend time together. It’s very common for the bride’s family to take a very active role in the wedding-planning process. Every bride wants to have her family by her side during those exciting moments in her life.  It’s not uncommon for her sister to be the maid of honor, for her mom to have an active role in the dress fitting, the aunt taking care of the flowers, etc.

Sometimes the bride’s family ends up playing such a prominent role in the wedding-planning process that the groom’s family can feel left out, even if that’s not the bride’s intention.

From a bride’s perspective, it’s understandable that the more people she gets involved, the more opinions there will be; hence, more stress for her. Also, it’s easier to tell your family that they are crossing the line than to tell your fiancé’s family. But it’s important to make them feel included too. This may also help you build a stronger relationship with your in-laws, which helps knowing they are going to become part of your family.

One good way to keep things under control for you and to keep your in-laws involved is to give everyone a job they will be in charge of. For example, your mother-in-law could be responsible of helping you narrow your cake search, and you can go with her to the cake tastings and have her help you pick the cake. It can be something for just the two of you. Ask for their opinion, and even if you don’t agree, make them feel like they are an important part of your wedding and that you care what they have to say. 

It’s also important to create activities where the two families are included and both can participate. For example, ask them to help you pick the venue for your rehearsal dinner, or go with both your mom and mother-in-law to get the dress for the rehearsal dinner—this is a good way to keep them included and keep your stress level to the minimum.

It doesn’t matter how you decide to incorporate the two families into your wedding, the important thing is to not leave anyone feeling left out.

One thing that you should also remember is that at the end of the day this is your wedding, and you are the one who has the last word.  If there is something you don’t like or you feel that they are taking your day away from you, you have the liberty to say no.

As joyful and meaningful as weddings are, they can also be very stressful. There’s no doubt that planning a wedding consumes a lot of your time, and that often means that you’ll have to neglect other parts of your life like friends, fiancé and family to focus on making your dream wedding a reality, which can make things even more stressful.

I remember when I was helping my friend Linda (read about Linda’s struggle with her mom here) plan her wedding and how involved she was with her wedding that she completely neglected other aspects of her life. Her wedding became her sole purpose in life. It was the only thing she talked and thought about. She got so consumed that she even forgot to spend time with her fiancé and friends.  

To tell you to just enjoy the process will be hypocritical on my part because if you are anything like me, you would want your wedding to be perfect, and you couldn’t just go with the flow even if you tried. But to make your dream wedding happen, you need to be sane.

One of the best ways to keep your sanity is to make time for yourself. Pick one day of the week that doesn’t involve the word wedding. Go on a date with yourself. Go to the movies, spend a lazy afternoon watching embarrassing TV shows that you pretend to hate. Do the things that you loved before you started planning your wedding, but had to stop because your wedding preparations took over everything.

A big mistake that many brides-to-be make is that they forget to spend time with their future husband. You are only engaged for a small period of time, so why not enjoy it? Go on dates with your fiancé, do something spontaneous and crazy. He will be your husband for the rest of your life. Enjoy this phase.  

During the stressful times of wedding planning friends are a must. Rely on them. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when things get difficult. One of the things that helped Linda get through the downs of wedding planning was that she had a strong support system, so make sure you have one, too. It’s important to tell your friends how you feel and to have constant communication with them, especially with your maid of honor and bridesmaids. However, just because you are stress doesn’t mean that you have green light to treat your friends poorly.

Planning a wedding is stressful and it often feels like a second job, but remember that it doesn’t have to become your life. It’s important to take time to distress and enjoy yourself. And please, for the love of God, ask for help. Remember that this is something you don’t have to do by yourself.

By Natalia Rodriguez



Traditions are important. They are a way to celebrate our history, and weddings are full of them. Among the most popular wedding traditions are the throwing of the bride’s bouquet, the always popular white dress and, our favorite here at Your Wedding Dance, the groom and bride’s first dance as newlyweds! As much as I love traditions, I also think it’s important for your wedding to be a representation of who you are as a person and as a couple. Mixing tradition with personality is not always easy. They can sometimes overlap, but if done correctly, you won’t have to sacrifice either.

The dress is one of the wedding traditions most brides-to-be struggle with. Every bride wants a dress she can call her own, but white dresses are often limiting. One way to add personality to your wedding dress is by adding some color. Gwen Stefani did it beautifully. For her 2002 wedding, Gwen wore a dress that harmoniously combined the traditional wedding dress with her funky style. Designed by John Galliano, the custome-made dress was white on the top and pink on the bottom. Reese Witherspoon also did an excellent job in giving the traditional wedding dress a twist. Reese wore a light pink dress, but kept the style and cut classic and elegant. Accessories that pop can also bring some personality to your wedding dress. One great example is the always fashionista Carrie Bradshaw from “Sex and the City.” For her wedding to Mr. Big, Carrie wore a feather on top of her head, representative of her fun and stylish personality. Accessories are also perfect for brides on a budget (learn more about how to accessorize your wedding dress on a budget here).

Another way to add personality to your wedding is through the newlywed’s first dance. If you are a fun and outgoing couple, why not create a choreography that’s representative of you? Two of our former students, Michael and Juliana (video above) decided to go with a fun choreography for their wedding dance. They looked amazing, and you can tell they were having a blast. Dance to a song that’s reminiscent of your relationship. Remember, the most important thing about your first dance as a married couple is to have fun!

Creating a theme wedding is also a good way to incorporate tradition and personality. For her wedding to Kris Humphries, Kim Kardashian came up with a black-and-white theme wedding that created a sense of sophistication. One thing to be aware of when having a theme wedding is that less is more. Sometimes people go a little crazy with their theme and their wedding can end up looking like a Halloween party.

Incorporating personality is a must when it comes to your wedding. At the end of the day, you want your wedding to be memorable for you and for your guests. Don’t be afraid to stand out and, most importantly, enjoy yourself.  

By Katherine Schober

Glam or slam? That has become my boyfriend’s go-to phrase this award show season. Whether it’s the Golden Globes, the SAG Awards, or last Sunday’s coveted Academy Awards, the fashion always steals the show.

I admittedly do not see a lot of new movies, so naturally I watch these award shows for one reason and one reason only; the fashion. My boyfriend had his football season, and now basketball season, and in the summer it will be baseball season. Award show season is MY time, and he knows it. While he might be slightly interested to see who takes home the award for best picture, he could care less about the red carpet leading into the event. Of course for me, that’s my favorite part.

So “glam or slam” has been his way of pretending to care, but I don’t mind. I smile at him and say, “Total slam. Joan Rivers is going to have a field day on Fashion Police.” He then of course rolls his eyes at the fact that I take these so seriously. But come on, this stuff is like the girl version of the Super Bowl, and with good reason.

These celebrities are far from perfect, but let’s be honest, when it comes to getting all dolled up, these women are society’s role models. Stars know their body types and how to dress them in the most flattering ways. They have professional help and endless designer items to help them reach their red carpet potential and I, as your savvy wedding blogger, am here to help you reach yours.

No matter who you are dressing, whether you are looking for your wedding gown, bridesmaid dresses, or an ensemble fit for mothers of the bride and groom, I suggest you find a celebrity counterpart. You can choose based on similar sense of fashion, shared physical features, or a body type match. Allow me to explain:

The 2012 Oscars was the first Academy Awards show for Shailene Woodley (starred alongside George Clooney in The Descendents). The young actress is still finding her way in the fashion world and the Valentino gown she wore last Sunday has received mixed reviews. I personally see this gown as a 1960’s bride walking down an aisle paved with flower petals at an outdoor wedding. If that’s the kind of style you use to define yourself, then perhaps you’re looking for a similar gown.

When trying to match physical features with a star, the goal is to find flattering color schemes that will complement your natural look. For example, I have a lot of the same features as E!News host Guiliana Rancic. We both have an olive skin tone, long framed bodies, and thin arms. When I saw Guiliana’s gorgeous gown on Oscar Sunday, I was in love. The capped sleeves showed off her arms’ muscle definition, the interesting neckline gave more “volume” to her chest, and the loose flowing skirt gave her more shape. I knew instantly that this dress would look fabulous on me too because of our shared features. So Guiliana - please send it my way once you’ve had it dry cleaned!

When matching body types, take a look at Octavia Spencer, who has really mastered looking comfortable in her own skin. Not only has this actress collected quite a few awards this season for her on screen performance in The Help, Octavia has also received recognition off screen for her fashion choices at this year’s award shows. The saying goes, “Stick with what you know,” and Octavia Spencer knows that fashion designer Tadashi Shoji works well for her full figure. If someone in your bridal party or you yourself have similar curves to Octavia, follow her lead and focus on gowns with ruched fabric in the center to flatter rounder shapes.

Now that you have my celebrity matching tips, you and your wedding party can be red carpet ready in no time! Don't forget to check out our Pinterest board "Award Show Fashion" for more great ideas on gowns. Happy planning.

By Natalia Rodriguez

Right after my best friend, Linda, got engaged, she called to inform me that she was getting married and I was her maid of honor. The following weekend when we met to discuss her wedding, she showed me what she called her “wedding box.”  In that box, which she had since she was a little girl, she had pictures of wedding dresses, venues, cakes, etc. In other words, she has been planning this day since she was nine years old, and now that she had the groom, she could finally make her dream wedding a reality.  

As the wedding plans progressed, Linda’s mom started to take a more active role in the wedding. From the smaller details like the color and font of the invitations to the big things like the wedding dress and venue, she had unsolicited advice about everything. Every suggestion that Linda had, her mother would kill with these determined words: “It doesn’t go with what we are going for.” I could never understand what she meant by that because all her “suggestions” had nothing to do with what Linda had envisioned for her wedding. Linda went from being the protagonist to becoming an accessory in her own wedding. 

The problem that Linda was having was that she didn’t know how to say no. She understood that this was also an important day for her mother, and she didn’t want to hurt her feelings or make her feel excluded. This eventually got a hold of her. She was no longer excited about her wedding. It was more about something she had to go through than an important milestone in her life.

Watching how Linda was losing her wedding to her mother, it reminded me of the movie “Our Family Wedding” (with America Ferrera; I highly recommend it). There was a quote from this movie that describes Linda’s situation perfectly. It said, “Our wedding, your marriage.” Is a wedding more about what the family wants and family traditions than what the bride-to-be wants?

I don’t know what it is like to plan a wedding. To be honest, I have never been one of those girls who knows what her wedding is going to look like, who will be in it, etc. I always figured I would let my mom do a lot of the planning to help keep me sane. But after witnessing

Linda’s experience with her mom, I realized that a wedding is about the bride and groom, not the guests or family. It’s important that the wedding couple voice their opinion and stand up for the things they want.

A wedding should be a celebration of your relationship and the new life you’re starting with the person you love. If there are traditions you don’t feel comfortable with or things your family wants you to do but don’t correlate with what you’ve ambitioned, don’t be afraid to say no. I’m not telling you to become a bridezilla or alienate everyone around you. I’m just saying that at the end of the day, it’s your wedding and you should have the last word.

By Katherine Schober

Birthdays, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick’s Day, Fourth of July - it seems like we always have something to celebrate. This week is no different. Children across the nation are signing "Be Mine" cards by the masses, girls are watching love-sappy movies like The Notebook, and guys of all ages are scratching their heads. It's official; Valentine's Day 2012 is in full effect.

Just two months ago I was racking my brain and emptying my wallet trying to give the perfect gifts to my loved ones. As February approached, I dreaded going through this process again. Coming up with the perfect gift idea is something I struggle with for every occasion. Considering my boyfriend’s birthday is also just one month away, spending money seems like a never-ending act to me. Since I know I’m not alone in wondering what’s appropriate for each occasion, I decided to set some guidelines for my gifts and spending at each celebration.

I have come to the conclusion that there are four major gift-giving situations for couples: Birthdays, Anniversaries, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. Each occasion is unique and therefore the gift and money spent shouldn’t be the same for all.

For birthdays, I decided that attention is the best gift of all. Throw a party and make a cake, organize a dinner with all of their friends, or send flowers to them at a public place (like class, work, or a restaurant you know they’ll be at). Birthdays should be all about celebrating that person and showing them a little extra attention.

Anniversaries are a time to step up your game. This gift will require more money and more thought. Of course jewelry is an easy go-to gift for most guys, but what should the ladies give their men to celebrate a relationship milestone? Since men and women have different ideas of fun, I suggest coming up with an activity the two of you can do together that fits his criteria for a good time. Maybe your guy really likes to be active. Rent a kayak for the two of you, pack a cooler, and give him the gift of sharing something he loves with the one he loves.

The Christmas season is one for giving. So when it comes to your gift, you need to be prepared to give with your heart, and your wallet. If you know your loved one has been eying that expensive briefcase or would love a gift card to that upscale steak house, go ahead and spoil them this one time a year. It feels good to give someone something you know they’ll love, and the smile you get in return is often priceless.

If you’re like me and got your beau something on the expensive side pretty recently, then you too were probably dreading Valentine’s Day this year. Not to worry, you don’t have to break the bank (again). To me, Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love, an emotion that truly can’t be purchased. A thoughtful gift is more appropriate for this occasion than a pricy one. Valentine’s gifts should be creative and express how you feel about that person. Customized picture frames, collages, and sweet poems are great gifts every couple of years that can help you track your love story. In the meantime, try showing your Valentine what this love means to you. For example, my boyfriend loves Star Wars and has been trying to convince me for years to watch them with him. I have been fortunate enough to avoid ever seeing a Star Wars flick and truly have no desire to change that. However, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to let your loved one see first hand the many things we do in the name of love. This year, my boyfriend will be getting a t-shirt from his favorite NBA team and a movie marathon with yours truly.

Don’t let gift giving get you down. I know it’s hard to come up with the perfect gift multiple times a year, so take my advice and follow these guidelines or make your own set of rules for each occasion. This will help you organize your gift ideas, spending limits, and get you right on track to master the art of giving.

Our guest writer talks about planning a multicultural wedding and the challenges she faced. She asked that she remain anonymous but hopes her words can encourage other multicultural couples to seek compromise.

As a public relations major, I was encouraged to take as many writing classes as I possibly could. In order to meet one of my writing requirements, my best friend advised me to take Writing for Engineers.

“It’s an easy A,” she said. That was all I needed to make my decision to take the class.

As the only girl and non-engineer in the class, I couldn’t have felt more special. I was treated like a queen. For the final project, we were paired in groups of two. The professor decided to pair me with the quiet Asian guy whose name I couldn’t even remember. Being the cocky, over confident Colombian girl who was accustomed to getting away with everything, I thought it would be easy to push him around like the other guys in the class. Maybe I could even get him to do the project by himself. Wrong. I was incredibly wrong.

Dong-su wasn’t like the other guys I had met before. He did not put up with my irreverence and didn’t follow my orders like an obedient puppy. He was the first guy in my life who challenged me. As much as I hated him for that, I was also intrigued by him. When the project was finally over, I missed him. After the summer break, we ran into each other in the library and started to connect. To make the long story short, not too long after that meeting we were dating.

On our two-year anniversary, Dong-su proposed to me, and without hesitation I said yes.

As an excited bride-to-be, I couldn’t wait to plan my wedding according to the traditions I was brought up with. Everything was planned: I wanted a Colombian wedding where people would be dancing salsa and merengue to vallenatos (typical Colombian music from the northern part of the country) all night long. But I was forgetting that the groom was Korean-- who thought salsa and merengue were food and vallenato an animal-- and he also wanted to incorporate Korean traditions into the wedding.

Things that were never an issue when we were dating started to become an issue when we were planning the wedding. It got to a point where I even considered calling the whole thing off.

We couldn’t afford to have two weddings, so we were left with two choices: compromise or call it off. We decided to compromise. We made a list of five things that were important to us (not things that the guests or our parents wanted) and decide to incorporate Colombian and Korean traditions into the wedding.

Instead of just having Latin music, we decided to also incorporate Korean and American music for our Korean and American guests.

The wedding may not have gone according to what I planned when I was 15 years old, but it was still magical because I married the man I loved.

My advice to couples who are going through the same is to compromise. It may not be the easy way out, but at the end of the day relationships are not about winning; they are about growing together and compromising.

Although we come from two different backgrounds, I love him with all my heart, and I can’t imagine my life without him. Being in a multicultural relationship is a challenge of its own, but we are determined to create new traditions that work for us.

by Katherine Schober



Some women are born dreaming of their wedding. They know from a very young age that they want to be a wife, have a husband, and the big party that goes with it. For others, it takes the right person for the rest of the big picture to come together.

My sister is the perfect example of a dreamer. She would tear out pictures from magazines and hide them under her bed. These pictures ranged from outfits she hoped to one day to wear, furniture she’d one day organize, and homes everywhere from the countryside to the beach she hoped to own. These “vision boards” are so popular among women that ABC’s Happy Endings, even made time in their comedic schedule to shine light on the vision board frenzy.

I know several women who still resort to tearing pages out of magazines. Well ladies, we live in a digital world. This is a world where physically touching a magazine isn’t as common as flipping through the pages of your favorite subscription on your iPad or smart phone. This means the days of tearing out pages and collecting color samples for your wedding book are a thing of the past. To get ready for your wedding in this modern era, it’s time to get digitally organized.

Pinterest is the latest craze with social media fanatics. If you don’t know what it is, I guarantee you’ll have your own account by the time you finish reading this blog. Pinterest is an easy way to “pin” your “interests” and share with a social community that likes the same things you do. You can organize your pin boards into categories and pin photos to your heart’s content.

Women everywhere are already taking advantage of Pinterest and building their online vision boards for everything from homes and vacations to weddings. If you’re still not sure how Pinterest can help you, take a look at our page. We have created boards by Seasons, Gowns, DIY Wedding, Honeymoons; the list goes on. You can organize your boards to fit your wedding needs and wants. Simply install the “Pin It” button and begin searching for the pieces that make your wedding puzzle come together. You can pin images from almost anywhere on the Internet because Pinterest credits the site from which you found the picture. This is also helpful once your board comes together, decisions are made, and you are ready to purchase.

If you haven’t made up your mind, you can also use Pinterest to get feedback on which invitation design has the most “repins,” meaning most popular, on your Invites board. I have a girl friend who is newly engaged (congrats Lo!) and is using Pinterest to communicate wedding plans with her friends. She created a board for Bridesmaid Dresses, Center Pieces, and Wedding Venues and has asked all of us to vote for our favorites. Needless to say, none of the bridesmaids commented on the wacky, orange-feathered ensemble (sorry Lo).

Pinterest can be a great tool to use when looking for inspiration. Some existing wedding boards might have just the color scheme you were looking for. For Your Wedding Dance, our most popular board seems to be our DIY Wedding. We are happy to inspire future brides to master their own hair or save a few pennies by being their own wedding decorator. Search boards with keywords like lace, DIY, veils, or outdoor wedding to help you get started with your wedding vision. I encourage you to follow our boards if you want a variety of options, need some extra direction, and are interested in following active boards that have something for every bride. Take your wedding planning to a digital level. Find, pin, and do it again.

By Katherine Schober

When a couple decides to get married, visions of color schemes, guest lists, and wedding plans dance around in their heads. When their friends hear the news, their minds race with thoughts of celebration and a popular tradition known as the bachelor/bachelorette party.

For those in charge of organizing these rambunctious festivities, the desire to make the evening or weekend a success is strong. All too often, these parties are thrown by people with their own agendas for how the event should happen, but do their agendas match that of the guest of honor?

When the time comes for you to throw a bachelorette party for one of your dear friends, try to remember that the entire wedding process is about them, including the bachelorette party. Even if you have a connection to the best male strippers in town, the party will be ruined if your friend is uncomfortable or plans to invite her mother-in-law. Keeping the bride in mind is key to having a successful bachelorette party.

When my sister got married almost six years ago, I as the maid of honor, was responsible for throwing her bachelorette party. I’ve admitted I was not a fantastic maid of honor, but one thing I can say for myself is that I listened to what she wanted. When I thought bachelorette party, I thought of a crazy night, dancing with all her friends, and getting my conservative sister to let loose. When she told me she wanted to go to dinner, have a sleepover and watch wedding movies, I put her first and made it happen. If I had thrown my idea of a bachelorette party, my sister would have been mortified.

Sure, her party wasn’t my idea of a “last hoorah,” but the party wasn’t for me. You don’t have to ask your bride exactly what she wants, but get an idea of her expectations and guest list before you start planning. Setting a date before nailing down the plans for the party is a good way to see who all will be in attendance and who you can recruit to help. The bride-to-be shouldn’t be expected to pay for anything, so making sure you’ve discussed the options and budget limitations of those involved can eliminate taking on a lot of the costs by yourself.

Before going overboard with a fancy dinner or a high-end club in Miami, ask yourself a very important question; what makes for a fun party? My answer is always good company. It doesn’t matter where you are or what you are doing if friends surround you. You don’t have to sacrifice a good time if your bride wants a low-key evening or if the budget is limited. Making sure the bride has a good time doesn’t have to rely on the location if you plan accordingly.

Start the night with some silly gifts that play key roles throughout the night. Give funny gifts like “I’m the Bride!” t-shirts or an outrageous wig she can’t take off till tomorrow. Candy jewelry, sashes and tiaras are also good ideas. These kinds of gifts will make sure that wherever your party ends up, everyone knows why your group is there. The party should be focused on the bride-to-be, not the location or the plans for the evening. These attention-getting gift ideas put your friend in the spotlight and will be a source of laughter for the rest of the night.

A bachelor/bachelorette party has been commonly viewed as a celebration of someone’s last days before they tie the knot. These parties are notorious for being wild, thanks to tradition and popular movies like The Hangover. It’s important to remember that not all brides and grooms are interested in this kind of party. There shouldn’t be a stereotype for what this party should be. Instead of relying on Google to provide you with the best bachelorette party ideas, keep your friend in mind and tailor the party to her when it’s your turn to organize this celebration.

By Katherine Schober

Here comes the bride, all dressed in white …

I’ve watched enough episodes of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress to know that each bride has different expectations for her gown. Some women want a more simplistic look and some want a gown that makes a statement with beading, ruffles, or a trendy cut. Some women live by the motto, “The poofier the better,” while others crave a sexy silhouette, sheer fabric, or daring neckline.

Each bride is unique not only in taste, but also in budget. Many brides want to stand out on their wedding day in a one-of-a-kind dress. Unfortunately, not everyone has a budget that allows for a custom-made gown. Whether the dress cost $400 or $11,000, most brides end up walking down the aisle in something white. So how can a bride stand out and still stay within her budget?

In some episodes of Say Yes to the Dress, they decide to “jack up” a bride and give her the full experience with a veil, perhaps some jewelry, and even a bouquet. They use this tactic to make the sale on a dress and most of the time, it works. What I’ve taken from the “jack up” is that the dress alone isn’t what makes a woman feel like a bride. There are other essential pieces that contribute to making a gown “wedding ready.”

For the bride on a budget, I suggest focusing on the accessories. Buying a dress on a budget might seem like an impossible task, but there are several affordable dresses at stores like David’s Bridal that can keep you from breaking the bank and give you the opportunity to get creative with accessories.

If the majority of brides walk down the aisle in white, why not stand out by adding some pops of color? There are several ways brides on a budget can make their dress look unique. Personally, I’m crazy about the idea of matching colored jewelry with your wedding gown.

There is nothing wrong with the pearls, diamonds, or other gems worn by brides on their wedding day. If you consider yourself a traditionalist, the all-white and sparkly look is definitely a classic. For the trendier yet budget-conscious bride, bright jewelry is a fantastic way to draw attention to your chic fashion sense, especially if you follow my advice and buy a low-budget gown. No one will ask if your dress is Monique Lhuillier when they can’t stop staring at the unexpected and gorgeous splash of color hanging around your neck. This kind of accessory guarantees a few head tilts in the crowd and a whole lot of whispers from your impressed guests.

Another way to take your dress from simple to stylish and from all-white to some added color is with ribbon sashes. This accessory appears to be more common with bridesmaid dresses but should still be considered to add some pizazz to a white gown. If you’re a traditionalist and adding color to your white wedding is out of the question, take an afternoon to go to a craft store, buy a neutral colored ribbon and some crystal embellishments and create your own one-of-a-kind sash. Even the simplest (and possibly cheapest) wedding dresses can ooze elegance with a smooth ribbon tied fashionably around the waist.

Looking fabulous from head to toe is a must on your wedding day. In the same way you can make your own sash, creating your own head piece can be just as fun, easy, and economical. If a veil seems like an archaic idea to you, try bedazzling your own headband or a flower to clip into your hair. These are low-budget and trendy alternatives. Finish out your look with some colorful shoes, like my friend Katie, and you’re ready to walk into your future looking fabulous.

For some brides, the dress is the most important element of their wedding, besides the groom of course. Whatever your personal style may be, finding a dress you can afford is key. Buying a simple gown and using some of these accessories will allow you to create your own look that reflects your personality. You can be reassured that while other brides may have purchased the same gown, none will have your look. The right accessories can make a $200 dress look like a $2,000 dress. You don’t have to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks.

By Katherine Schober

Can men and women be just friends? I constantly hear contrasting arguments for both sides, so it seems that the verdict on this is still out for most of you. Once you label someone a friend, that’s where they stay … for the most part.

There are exceptions to any rule. It’s probably happened to all of us at some point. One day, you’re sitting with a group of your friends and everything is fine. The next day, you can’t stop thinking about one of them in a way you’ve never thought of them before. You’ve seen each other date, been there for the happy moments and witnessed the tears from breakups. You’ve always been there for each other and one day it hits you, this could be so easy.

Some articles claim that dating a friend takes all the fun and work out of dating. All the things you spend time learning about someone new you already know about this person. In addition, the risk involved with dating a friend is much higher than dating someone you just met. If this person is a good friend, you can’t imagine your life without them in it. So what if you try and it doesn’t work?

I may not be an expert, but I’ve had plenty of experience in this department. Some of my best friends are of the opposite sex and I’ve had the awkward talk about unreciprocated feelings. It’s hard enough telling someone you hardly know how you feel, and even harder to tell a friend you want to be more. Admitting your feelings is hard because we all fear rejection, especially from someone you care about as much as a friend. Believe me, I know.

When I finally got the courage to tell my friend Travis how I felt, he practically laughed thinking I was kidding. When he realized I wasn’t, his face got very serious and he said, “Katherine, we are friends. This will never happen. Ever. We are friends.” I’m not someone who gives up easily on something I want. I began plotting to get myself out of the friend-zone. How was I going to turn my friendship into a relationship?

For those of you asking yourself this question, let me save you some time and tell you the answer: you can’t. There is no way to force feelings. Someone either feels for you or they don’t. Travis had never thought of us as more than friends and after our conversation, I thought he never would. But by coming clean with my feelings, I put an idea in his head he’d never thought of before.

A few weeks later we were dating, shocking most of our friends. As someone who believes that men and women can have platonic relationships, dating a friend was something that took some getting used to. I disagree with the articles that say dating a friend takes out the fun and work of dating. Jumping ships isn’t as easy as it may seem. There’s a lot of work involved in getting to know a different side of someone you thought you knew, and hopefully, you like what you learn.

It’s been almost three years since my friendship with Travis turned into something more. I feel for those of you wanting to jump ships and turn your friendship into a relationship. It’s risky telling someone how you feel, but if you don’t, you’ll never know. My advice: proceed with caution. If these feelings can’t be ignored, meaning you’ve tried to put them aside but they keep creeping in like a bad cold, then your only option is to explore them. There is a chance this person feels the same way and a chance they don’t. If they are a true friend, a short period of awkwardness should be all that comes of it before you are back to joking around and being pals.

For me, it was worth the risk. But more often than not, once you’re in the friend-zone, there’s no escaping it. These are dangerous waters, so pick your ship carefully.

By Katherine Schober

Three…two…one…HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It’s that time of year again, a time for new resolutions. Every year, men and women across the world pledge to get fit and eat healthier. Some resolutions are kept in tact, but for most of us, these claims to live a better life last through January … February if we’re lucky. In order for someone to succeed in this type of resolution, they need three essential pieces: a fat burning workout plan, easy-to-follow/not-drastic healthier food options, and lastly, motivation. The motivation to start a new year fresh wears off pretty quickly for some, but for the brides of 2012, their motivation is clear and they are more likely to stick to this type of resolution than the rest of us.

The bridal workout market is booming. From hit TV shows like VH1’s Bridal BootCamp, online fitness programs, personal trainers and local gyms holding their own Bridal Bootcamps, the message has been received: being out of shape for your wedding just isn’t an option. I don’t pay too much attention to the workout/eat healthy craze myself (my favorite food is the elegant and sophisticated French fry), but even someone like me can see why brides everywhere are going nuts for these workout programs. The pictures you take on your wedding day will be hung in your house for the rest of your lives.

For a bride, the pressure is on. I honestly believe that confidence translates to beauty, but brides and wedding gurus alike seem to disagree. Since I’ve yet to experience an entire room stare at me as I slowly make my way down an aisle in white, I’ll trust the experts when they say you want to look your best.

Anyone trying to lose weight, not just brides, often goes into overkill with their workout and dieting plans. This can be dangerous. What if you are so focused on looking “perfect” for your wedding day that you pull a muscle and end up limping down the aisle? I promise no one will be talking about how small your waist looks if you’re dragging your leg behind you and your veil. My suggestion is to take your New Year’s Resolution and bridal workouts with a grain of salt. Goals are great motivators to have, but you need to be realistic. Focus on your “problem areas” and let the rest of your body jiggle in peace! In my opinion, brides should focus on toning their arms over everything else because most likely the dress will take care of covering the rest.

Out of all the online programs available to brides, I particularly like what theknot.com has to offer. Their section for a “6-Month Fitness Makeover” breaks down the fundamental workouts you’ll need to do, as well as providing a BMI calculator, an activity calorie counter, and a checklist to help you manage your goals. There is also a section devoted to eating the right kinds of foods. Although French fries aren’t on that list, I’m thrilled to report that their final note is one everybody, yes everybody, should listen to: “Starving yourself will never help you lose weight. It will only slow down your metabolism and lead to further weight gain in the end.” I’m sure this isn’t news to any of you, but when under stress and desperate to lose a few pounds, I think several women forget this.

There are several pros and cons to online programs. As you are your own boss, you can work your program in with your schedule. The obvious downside is that you are your own boss. I tend to give myself way too many freebies and use the excuse of “Tomorrow, I’ll work out tomorrow,” all too often. If you’re anything like me, meaning you have a love of French fries but expect to magically look fit, then I have to suggest Zumba classes. You don’t have to get the steps to feel the burn. From the moment class starts up until the music stops, you haven’t stopped moving or burning calories. You’ll be having so much fun, that you exercise the most important muscle of all, your smile J. Joining a gym or paying for workout classes can get expensive, especially when you’re trying to budget for a wedding. Lucky for you, Your Wedding Dance offers a four-week package that not only takes care of your first dance as a married couple, but also incorporates a Zumba fitness program so you can check dance lessons and get fit off your wedding checklist.

I stand by my opinion that a smile is the best accessory anyone can wear everyday and especially on a day as happy as a wedding day. Maybe as a couple you can commit to being more active, but don’t over do it or set goals for yourself that can’t be reached. I think the New Year’s Resolution to get healthy is a fantastic idea. I just caution brides to remember that he isn’t marrying you for what you look like on the outside, but for your beauty inside. Who knows, maybe when I get married I’ll stop eating French fries until the wedding. But if I don’t, you can bet I’ll be smiling the whole way through, whether I slimmed down or not.

By Katherine Schober

Two tickets, two sodas, a large popcorn later, and I’m out $40 before the movie has even begun. This is why I don’t usually see movies in theaters. I regrettably inform my readers that I am one of those “wait-till-it’s-out-on-DVD-or-Netflix” kinds of gals.

This Christmas weekend, I became the proud owner of several movies that I have wanted to see for months now. Among these titles was the summer comedy Bridesmaids. Although I laughed along light-heartedly with my family, this movie got me thinking seriously, and thus has become the topic up for discussion this week.

I come from a very large family. My mom is one of ten kids, and some of her siblings have ten kids who then have their own kids. The number of cousins I have continues to grow. For someone like me, with a big family and great groups of girlfriends from all stages of life, how do you decide whom to ask to be your bridesmaid? I can’t answer this question for you, or even myself. I’m hoping I’ll know the answer by the time I need to. But one thing I do know; not everyone can be a bridesmaid, nor should everyone be.

When my older sister got married five years ago, she asked me to be her maid of honor. At the time, I didn’t realize what an honor this actually was. I was young, selfish, immature; the list could go on but I’d rather get back to the point. I wasn’t as present as I should have been. I was there, but I mean I wasn’t soaking in the experience. While she tried on dresses, I texted my boyfriend. While she asked for opinions on venues, my only preference was an open bar. Looking back, I’m truly embarrassed I was not a better maid of honor, and worse, a better sister. This was such an important moment in my sister’s life, and I totally blew it.

Now, I spend my time trying to make it up to her by being an involved aunt to her beautiful son and working harder on our relationship. Although I could’ve done a lot of things differently, I learned a valuable lesson. Weddings are special and when planning your own wedding, you want everyone around you to be positive and supportive. This is why choosing the right people for the wedding party is such a monumental decision.

In Bridesmaids, each bridesmaid has their own unique quality they bring to the group. I think this is important. Most likely your friends to choose from are similar or have things in common, but it’s not a bad idea to have a balanced group and pick from different friend circles. Not for comedic affect, but for variety in opinion, personality, and support. Decide on a few characteristics you want in your bridal party, but don’t pick a bridesmaid based on her organizational skills. If your friend can’t show up on time to save her life, that doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t want her next to you on the big day. Just make sure your expectations for your bridesmaids are made clear from the beginning. You may want to have your younger brother or sister as your honorary bridesmaid or groomsman, but take in to account their age. It might be appropriate to include them in the wedding party, but not give them a responsibility they can’t handle.

At the end of the day, picking bridesmaids is bound to leave someone feeling left out. There is no easy way to decide, and since you can’t include everyone as a bridesmaid, get creative with ways to make sure good pals aren’t left out. Ask a talented friend to sing, play the piano, or give a speech. There are so many parts to a wedding and chances are you are planning every single one of them. So put in a little extra effort if you are concerned about hurting some feelings and I’m sure you will find an appropriate place for everyone.

By Katherine Schober







Susie told Mary, who told Rhonda, who told Spencer, who told Gary, who told Matt that you liked him. Unfortunately, Matt told Gary, who told Spencer, who told Rhonda, who told Mary and Sue, that he didn’t like you back.

These small-time love affairs were once our world. I’ve come to realize that from each relationship, our ability to love grows. It grows so much in fact that one day, we find ourselves face to face with the one we truly cannot live without, and chances are it wasn’t the telephone protocol that got us to this point.

So you’ve found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, now what? Most people would tell you there is a simple question to ask when you realize you’ve found the one, “Will you marry me?”

A proposal is so much more than a question. It’s finding the right moment, with the perfect location and most importantly, the right person. How you ask someone to spend the rest of their life with you is something that requires a lot of thought and planning.

In my opinion, you want to stay away from the most common proposals. Going back to the place you first met or had your first date is a sweet thought, but what if you guys go there all the time? That place may have special meaning, but a proposal is about the future, so I suggest picking a new “spot” to make your memories going forward.

Another popular way to propose is in the sky. I see the romanticism in this gesture, but have you seen the car commercial where the guy is chasing a plane carrying a banner proposal and his girlfriend keeps missing it? These types of proposals can be expensive and problematic.

For some reason, and I cannot begin to understand why, hiding a ring in foods or drinks are among the most popular proposals. I’ve seen it done in movies, and even witnessed first hand at a restaurant a few months back. I suggest moving away from this type of proposal for several reasons: it’s overdone, messy, and someone could choke.

Now you’re probably thinking, “So how do I pop the question if my top three ideas were just considered ‘common’ by some wedding blog writer?” Well, I’m glad you asked. It may seem like there isn’t an original idea left on this earth, but I encourage you to get creative and stay true to who you are.

Think about what makes your love so great. Perhaps you are both avid book readers and you replace their bookmark with a note. Or turn your weekend bike ride into a proposal with a breath taking view. Stick to what you’re good at, or conquer what you’re bad at. If you’re a terrible singer, propose through karaoke. Show your significant other that you put thought into this moment and with them by your side, you’re not afraid to sing in public.

My personal favorite, and a growing trend for marriage proposals this year, is the flash mob proposal. Not only do these proposals master the element of surprise, but the effort, practice and time it takes organizing a successful flash mob is sure to impress. Whether you love to dance or can’t keep a beat, it will undeniably be a moment both of you will never forget.

At the end of the day, a proposal should be more about a lifetime together than anything else. You don’t have to be creative to not be cliché. Just remember to think about what this person means to you and find a way to express that feeling the best way you know how. Whether through words, song or dance, your proposal should reflect some of your personality. After all, that is the reason they fell in love with you in the first place!

(Click here to watch my proposal pick of 2011. Jamin proposes to his unsuspecting girlfriend Valerie at Downtown Disney in September. We wish them a happy life together!)

By Katherine Schober

First and foremost, kissing frogs will not produce you a prince. In fact, kissing frogs will also prevent any not-from-royal-descent/average Joes out there from kissing you for many years to come.

Another lesson I learned the hard way is that singing out loud and twirling around with your arms open in public should be strictly reserved for professionals. This can be dangerous once you are dizzy from spinning and fall to the ground, and not everyone is blessed with a beautiful singing voice. Making a fool of myself before Glee was around to make singing kids cool also didn’t help with the lack-of-prince situation I was facing.

Lastly, if you keep holding out for Prince Charming, you could miss out on life. This is by far the most important distinction between fantasy and reality. Girls with the Princess Syndrome are convinced their prince will come to them. So they wait. Passivity never got anyone anywhere!

By the time I was four, I was conditioned to believe I could be a princess and that one day, my prince would come for me. Fast forward 20 years and these are among the few things I’ve learned about reality.

Growing up with the fairytales that had me believing I could be a princess had a purpose, and it wasn’t to break my spirit or have me thinking the world is unfair. I believe the purpose was to make girls everywhere believe in something good, that love does come around and it can be just as magical as the stories indicate. It’s important that we realize fantasy and reality don’t match up, but also that we don’t lose our ability to dream big.

The reality that we can’t all be princesses is something I’ve come to terms with. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have our happy endings. In fact, I know several couples who are on the path to their happily ever after as we speak.

My friend Katie knows she’s not a princess, but still fully believes she has found her prince. “Ryan is literally the best thing that’s ever happened to me. He’s my best friend, biggest supporter, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him.”

My friends are among thousands of engaged couples eagerly awaiting their wedding date. This should be the happiest day of their lives. But the road to married bliss isn’t always paved smoothly. While the time leading up to the engagement is filled with anticipation and hope, planning a wedding is reportedly one of the most stressful events of a lifetime.

In a recent article from the Huffington Post, some women actually get depressed after that ring is on their finger. What I found most interesting is their explanation: “Once the bauble was placed on [her] finger and the news was made public, whatever private wedding fantasy [she] may have been harboring in [her] mind had to meet it’s sworn enemy: Reality.”

The majority of women develop the most extravagant ideas for what they want in their wedding during their childhood. Their imagination runs wild with the fairytales they’ve heard and movies they’ve seen. Planning the wedding of their dreams is often impossible. What the article from the Huffington Post points out, and what I hope everyone reading this blog takes away from this as my main purpose for writing this piece: let go of the ideal fairytale wedding! Don’t give up on the realistic things you want in your wedding, but don’t let the stress of striving for perfection get in the way of what’s most important.

The term Bridezilla was coined because of the women who refuse to believe they can’t have it all. When I asked my friend Katie, who’s wedding date is just two weeks away, what has kept her sane during the engagement process, she said, “I love Ryan. I would marry him in sweatpants if I had to. I think I’ve just tried to remember the big picture. Forever, he will be mine and I will be his.”

Remembering the big picture can be hard for some couples, especially brides that have envisioned this day since they were just little girls. Some women know what they want for their color scheme, the flowers, and even their dress before they’ve even met the man that stands across the aisle.

There is nothing wrong with a woman who knows what she wants, in fact, more power to you! My point in writing this piece is to make sure you don’t let knowing what you want get in the way of what you need. Don’t go without air conditioning in the summer just to afford your idea of the perfect venue. Stay within your budget and consult with your groom. It’s his day too and working together is what this entire process should be about, because for the rest of your life, you two will be a team. Looking back on your engagement should be a reflection of how together, you made the day special, not the flowers that cost a fortune.

If you are lucky enough to find your soul mate, the man that keeps you awake at night “because reality is finally better than your dreams” (thanks Dr. Seuss for all your wise words that have shaped my life), then you have to put Bridezilla to rest and remember your wedding will be perfect because of the person you are marrying.

Congratulations to everyone in love. For those that aren’t, your prince will come. If he doesn’t, go find him! When it’s time, keep the big picture in mind.



Special thanks to Katie Giddens for sharing your inner most thoughts. I’m glad the engagement process for you was filled with joy and excitement. I cannot wait to see the two of you on your special day and start the LIFE in love you so deserve.