I'm sorry to say I never inherited my grandfather's green thumb. Growing up, I was always the house-sitter who killed the plants, or the wannabe gardener who was better off sticking to weeding. And when it comes to choosing flowers for my wedding day, I need all the help I can get.

Luckily, Southern California wedding florist Jamie Mastright came to my rescue, and was happy to help set me on the right path. I hope her great advice, which I'll share in two parts, helps you out, too!

What are some of the hottest trends in wedding flowers right now?

Hand-tied bouquets are very popular, and a lot of florists are adding interesting textures, such as beads, crystals, pearls, and unique wrapping around the stems. Also, designers and brides are looking for different and unique ways to use inexpensive flowers and give the bride more for her dollar. For example, florists are using fewer flowers, but instead adding special touches like twisted and looped leaves or grasses. The different shapes are visually appealing, and the foliage is cheaper than most flowers.

Do you recommend that a bride try to "do it herself" to save money? Why or why not? What are your best DIY tips?

While a bride can, of course, try to do the flowers on her own, I always try to remind her that the hectic flower assembly must be completed right before the wedding, along with all the other activities filling her schedule. It's a very busy time, and there are usually hiccups in the design process for that very reason.

If a bride does decide to take the DIY route, my best tip is to not be afraid to experiment, because in terms of design, anything is possible. DIY brides should practice before the wedding. This will help calm their nerves and allow time to solve any design issues they might have. I recommend using an assembly line during the floral construction, and getting the bridesmaids and family members involved in the process.

What are some of your favorite unique bouquet, boutonnière and centerpiece ideas?

I love the look of twisted wire in corsages and boutonnières, as well as bouquets and arrangements. It helps add interest and is a fun design. I once had a bride who wanted to use fern fiddles - the newest unfurled growth on a fern - in the boutonnières, but was discouraged by the cost. So, I came up with the idea of using wire and floral tape to mimic the twisted design. I also love the use of fruit in arrangements, which can help add an interesting touch and give guests something new to look at.

A centerpiece idea I especially love right now is the use of everyday items, including cups and bowls, as containers for floral designs. It's fun to mix and match your favorite dishes, even those you might have found at discount stores and thrift shops. They can help create either a shabby-chic or elegant look, depending which containers you choose. And if you like a container that doesn't traditionally hold water, just add a plastic liner.

Which flowers, designs and trends are you tying into your celebration? Do you plan to DIY?

(Photo Credits: Jamie Mastright)

Well, ladies, after going back and forth for the longest time, I'm excited to say we'll definitely be tossing the garter at our wedding! Still no plans for anything too over-the-top, but in the end, this is one tradition that's just too much fun to skip.

And after I stumbled across these sassy picks from Garters by Kristi, there was no turning back. Whether you're looking for a design featuring a college sports team, military branch, superhero movie or more, from the classy to the wacky, this site pretty much has it all!

Which garter will I be picking? That's a surprise to be revealed only at the wedding! What's your design? Are you keeping it a secret from your fiancé?

 (Photo Credits: Garters by Kristi)

When I first started planning our long-distance wedding this spring, I was excited and full of ideas, but also a bit overwhelmed by the long list of to-dos that lay ahead. But like many couples trying to stick to a budget, Stephen and I automatically assumed that a wedding coordinator was an added luxury we just couldn't afford.

I'm glad to say we were wrong, and that hiring Cari, our month-and-day-of coordinator, has turned out to be the perfect solution. While many full-service coordinators charge a percentage of your total budget to handle all the major planning, most month-and-day-of planners will negotiate a flat rate, customizing a package that includes only the services you most need.

By working with Cari, I've been able to have fun handling most of the long-term planning on my own, but also feel completely relaxed knowing that during the crazy month right before the wedding, I can focus on wrapping things up at work and packing while she's taking care of important tasks like setting up vendor timelines.

And even though our wedding isn't until June, Cari's already been so helpful in answering questions and giving us referrals to vendors as needed. For those who are still skeptical, here's a glimpse at the types of services a month-and-day-of coordinator offers.

· Meet a month before the wedding to finalize details

· Provide a detailed event timeline for contracted vendors and the wedding party

· Personally contact each vendor during the wedding week to confirm arrangements and make sure they agree with the timeline they received

· Provide design and décor ideas

· Provide unlimited advice via telephone or e-mail

· Provide information about traditions and protocol, as well as advice about etiquette

· Coordinate all details on the wedding day, so the couple can relax knowing they are taken care of

· Orchestrate the rehearsal and ceremony

· Arrive at the wedding site 2-3 hours prior to the ceremony to ensure a smooth day and set up whatever the bride has provided the day of the rehearsal

· Distribute flowers to the wedding party and assist with pinning

· Distribute final payments and tips to vendors if needed

· Direct the seating of guests with the ushers, and cue the musicians

· Keep the wedding party and families stress-free

· Take care of any last-minute details to relieve the couple's worries

· Act as a liaison between the couple and their vendors to ensure that the couple's ideas are carried out and activities are kept on schedule

· Assist the bride and attendants in dressing for the ceremony if needed

· Bustle the wedding gown at the reception

· Coordinate all reception details such as the grand entrance and first dance, toasting, cake cutting, etc.

· Place personal items (bouquet, cake topper, cake knife, portrait, guestbook, goblets, gifts) in designated areas

· Provide a wedding day emergency kit

Who wouldn't be grateful for this help? I know I definitely am! And while we also have a family friend who's doing a fantastic job helping us out with certain planning aspects so far, I think expecting a guest to spend the entire wedding day working would be completely unfair.

Are you hiring a planner to help out on or before your wedding day? What do you think you'll most need some extra help with?

(Photo Credits: Google Images)

Over the years, I've enjoyed being one of the single ladies called to the dance floor during weddings for the classic bouquet jostle. But while I thought it was fun, other friends always told me they found it downright silly or embarrassing to be singled out for being, well, single.

To help me figure out how to handle this tradition at my own wedding - whether I should include it, call up only the single girls, invite all the women to take part, or even give the bouquet away as a prize during the anniversary dance - I turned to my most treasured confidants in all things wedding-related and in many areas of my life overall - my bridesmaids.

I guess I should have known that a couple of the things I love most about my girls - their uniqueness and strong opinions - would result in very different views. Here's what they each had to say.

I love the bouquet toss! It gives single women like myself that magical, fairytale hope that someone is out there for us, and that one day, we will be able to feel how the bride feels at her wedding. It symbolizes "our turn," and since the married women have already had their "turn," they should step back and let us single ladies have a chance. I definitely don't feel uncomfortable during the toss. - Pooneh

I love the bouquet toss, and like it even better when people fight. (Maybe not "fight," but at least a good-natured tussle.) I like that it's tradition. I like the sheepish grins and bad jokes everybody makes as they stand around. I like the very little girls who take it so seriously. I love it when the bride throws the bouquet so hard it hits the ceiling and misses the crowd. For your bouquet toss, I think it should be open to all women and be "for good luck." That keeps enough of the original meaning, but makes it less embarrassing. - Ellen

Of the tosses I've seen, young girls seem to be the most excited about catching the flowers, while young women in their teens and twenties seem especially shy. And single middle-aged and older women sometimes refuse to participate. I, for one, have avoided catching the bouquet by allowing a hyper 6-year-old to jump in my way. - Bridget    
 
From my understanding, the tradition is that the woman who catches the bouquet is the next woman to get married. So, I think it makes sense for only non-married women to participate. - Gianna

As for me, I'm leaning toward taking Ellen's advice and doing a "good luck" toss that includes all the ladies at the party, whether young or old, as Martina MacBride's uplifting song "This One's for the Girls" plays in the background.

What do you think? Are you doing a bouquet toss or giveaway at your wedding? How will you do it, and who will you include? Let me know, because I'm still open to more fun ideas!

(Photo Credits: Wedding Aces and Jennifer S Rau Photography)

As Stephen and I headed to our friends' recent wedding, armed with turn-by-turn directions from Google Maps, we felt excited and relaxed, knowing we had more than enough time to get there, mingle with guests, and enjoy the anticipation of such a big moment.

Fast forward an hour later to the two of us frantically dashing into the church at the last minute, now feeling stressed and frustrated that Google Maps led us on a wild goose chase through one poorly marked street after another.

What can a bride and groom do to prevent these types of mix-ups for guests? Before sending out your invitations, be sure to plug your venue addresses into popular online mapping sites, including Google Maps and MapQuest, to make sure the route that pops up is the right one.

If you find that one of these sites leads guests through a maze of wrong turns, you'll then have plenty of time to warn them, either by including the info with your invites or posting it on your website. Sure, it's extra work, but do you really want to take a chance with something as important as ensuring guests make it in time to witness your I-dos?

I'd also suggest including a paper map as an invitation insert, which our friends unfortunately skipped. Even if your ceremony and reception are being held at the same place, a map showing the cross streets and general area will at least allow guests to tell whether they're on the right track.



I've seen a lot of fun hand-drawn and homemade maps, but if DIY isn't for you, there are tons of professional options out there, such as the version above, which was created by WeddingMaps.com.

Here, more cute and classy versions I've come across, the first two also by WeddingMaps.com, and the third by Distinctive Directions.

As for us, we're taking the DIY route, and I'll be sure to post pictures of our map card once it's ready. Are you including a map with your invites? What special designs are you thinking about using?

(Graphic Credits: Apple, WeddingMaps.com and Distinctive Directions)

When you envision the bride walking down the aisle at a Christian wedding, you can surely hear the familiar notes of Wagner's "Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)" playing out in your head. When I imagined my wedding day, I automatically saw myself walking to this melody, too.

Well, "Here Comes the Bride" is the latest addition to my growing list of wedding "classics" the Catholic Church frowns upon. In the Church's eyes, the song is a theater piece not appropriate for a Catholic liturgy or mass. The same goes for the well-known "Wedding March" recessional by Mendelssohn.

Given this info, Stephen and I sat down over the weekend to research different options for music during our celebration. Though I started out feeling a bit discouraged, in the end, I'm glad we're being pushed to do something different and unique.

I may walk down the aisle to an instrumental version of "On Eagle's Wings," always my favorite song to hear in church, but am open to other ideas, too. Suggestions, anyone? The wedding party will walk to Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," and the recessional may include the song "The Lord of the Dance," to be sung by my bridesmaid Gianna, our cantor throughout the ceremony.

And though I'll be honoring the Church's wishes when it comes to music, I'm also trying to convince the clergy to allow a processional where I'm escorted down the aisle by my parents, with our bridesmaids and groomsmen leading the way. (The Catholic Church usually prefers that the bride and groom come down the aisle together.)

Which song will you be walking down the aisle to? How will your ceremony follow or break away from the conventional wedding "norms" in your faith or culture?

Happy Friday! To switch things up a bit, Stephen and I decided to take turns sounding off about the reception classic that is the garter toss. Here's what we both had to say. 

Groom's View by Stephen

To some, the garter toss may seem like a long-standing tradition, but it was never done at any of the weddings I went to as a kid. Because of that, the ritual doesn't have the same significance for me as it does for others. The one time I did see a toss, the garter removal was done in such an over-the-top fashion that it seemed more like a burlesque show than part of a wedding celebration.

The worst part was that when it came to the actual toss, the half-dozen guys made hardly any effort to catch the garter, and were completely disinterested. Compared with the jostling and general excitement during the bouquet toss, the garter toss came across as being awkward and devoid of any enjoyment.

I'm not completely opposed to having a garter toss at our wedding, but I'm also not going to do it simply for the sake of tradition. It needs to mesh with the overall feel of our celebration, and if that can't be done, well, then it isn't worth doing.



Bride's View by Heather

Having seen enough garter tosses where the groom (in many cases after enjoying the open bar just a bit too much) got completely carried away, I've gone back and forth about whether we should include this ritual as part of our wedding reception.

On one hand, the garter toss sounds like a fun tradition I would hate to miss out on. Plus, I know that Stephen is definitely not the type of groom to carry things too far. But, that said, I'm afraid that if we do include it, everyone will expect us to go all-out in a way I'm not comfortable with, especially in front of our families, former professors, and a couple teenage guests.

To keep things sweet and only a little sassy, I envision us playing a cute song, maybe the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love," which is one of our favorites, while Stephen kneels down, kisses my hand, and removes the garter with his fingers, not teeth. After that, he can perform the traditional toss of the belt to all the eligible guys at the party, who, with the right build-up from the DJ, will hopefully show some enthusiasm. It's classy yet simple, and would still let us include the toss as part of our celebration.



Well, those are our thoughts, ladies. What are yours? Do you think we should be more willing to "let loose" during the garter toss, or do you like what I have in mind as a compromise?

(Photo Credits: Garters by Kristi)

As brides, we all want our weddings to reflect our unique personalities and interests. Since CapeCodBride passed "The Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award" to me yesterday, here are 10 fun things about my fiancé and I that are influencing our wedding plans.

· Always a writer, I majored in journalism in college, and one of my favorite jobs was working at a local startup magazine in California. I've also worked on a novel, and love that I'm now getting into blogging, too. Even though we still have about seven months to go until our wedding, I'm already having tons of fun writing our invitations and programs, and have enjoyed creating a helpful website for our guests.  

· Stephen and I both love sangria, and are hoping to include it as a signature drink at the wedding. We're also working with our baker to design a wine-themed cake, and will use corks as our place-card holders.

· One of our many reasons for getting married during June in California is because I absolutely hate cold weather. After moving from Southern California to Washington, D.C., I learned to live with it, but still don't have a very good relationship with snow!

· Stephen and I first met briefly through a mutual friend while we were attending college in California. Unfortunately, he doesn't remember the meeting! :) We "officially" met a year later, after we were both living in Washington, D.C. But since we're both still Californians at heart, with the majority of our relatives and friends out there, we're heading back "home" for the wedding.

· I'm very detailed and organized, including when it comes to wedding planning, but also try not to take myself too seriously. The ups and downs of wedding stress have definitely taught me to take it all in stride, remember to laugh, and do my best not to sweat the things that are totally beyond my control.

· There's a huge height difference between Stephen and I. He's 6'4", while I'm only 5'2". I'll definitely be wearing at least three-inch heels on my wedding day, however little a difference they actually make!

· I love hot and spicy Mexican food, and since Stephen also does, we're thinking about serving it at the wedding, buffet-style. Stay tuned for more about that later.

· I feel so lucky that I've been part of a close group of girlfriends since middle school, and have even known one of the girls in the group since first grade. I love them, miss them, and can't wait to have them standing right beside me on my wedding day. And because we're so close, I can relax knowing that whatever they work on for the wedding, the results will be true to my style and taste. 

· Stephen and I love to travel as much as we can. So far, I've been to seven countries in Europe, as well as Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico. I've never been to Hawaii, though, so we're heading there for our honeymoon.

· And finally...though I almost never cry during movies or shows, I'm a total crier at weddings, even if I'm not close to the couple! It's always the music that gets me. I'm afraid I'll be a complete basket case walking down the aisle. Any tips, girls?

Just to keep the "Sugar Doll" tradition going, here's a small handful of the great Get Married bloggers who have inspired, encouraged and entertained me, who may not have been given the award yet.

Stacie Francombe, Stephanie Davis, DeAnna Pappas, Just Say Yes Events, EmmyInLA, heather_n_will, march-eleven2010, rhondajoel, mrsmaysonetxo, e32285m

Which aspects of your personality have most influenced your wedding plans?

(Photo Credits: Personal Library)

My fiancé Stephen is by far the most easygoing and patient man I've ever met. Calm and organized, he knows what he wants and gets things done without a lot of stress or indecisiveness.

Picking out his wedding band was no exception. While we considered a few different ring styles with diamonds, etchings and engravings, my future husband ultimately chose a traditional 5 mm yellow gold ring in the style his father has always worn.

The ring is classic and timeless, suiting his style perfectly. I love its simplicity.

Here, several styles we considered...

And the winner...

What type of ring does your groom have his eye on?

(Photo Credits: Zales and Jared)

As all you busy Blogger Brides know, it's no small feat juggling career, personal and wedding-planning duties. To make my life easier (and because he was probably just a bit tired of my constantly borrowing his - LOL), Stephen recently suggested I get an iPhone. Though I've only had it a short while, all I can say is - WHY didn't I think of this sooner?

Now, when I'm on the run or traveling, I can easily access our wedding website, keep up with you ladies on Blogger Brides, and even watch TV shows like Get Married. Our vendor contacts, to-do lists, appointments, inspirational photos and maps are right at my fingertips, too.

Of course, the first thing I did after getting the phone in my hands was scour the web for suggestions about the best iPhone apps to help a time-crunched bride. While I still prefer websites such as Get Married for planning tools like timelines, checklists, budget tracking and fashion ideas - which I can also pull up right on the phone - check out a few fun apps I'm already trying or plan to download ASAP.

Tag Reader (Free)

I love this innovative Microsoft app, which I tested out with my copy of Get Married magazine. By simply snapping shots of the tag logos included with many of the magazine's ads, I was linked right to additional info, including video footage and websites. Definitely a time saver!

Nike & iPod (Included on iPhone 3GS)


This app is helping me revamp my bridal shapeup routine by programming and logging workouts based on the desired time, distance or calorie burn. It also lets me track my history and access workout playlists. Don't have it on your phone? Nike and other fitness groups offer similar apps.

Wedding Day ($0.99)

Check out this just-for-fun app that counts down the remaining time until the big day in years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and even seconds. After the wedding, it will start tallying how long we've been married.

Waltz, Your Wedding Dance (Free)



While definitely no substitute for professional dance lessons, this Ballroom Dance Channel app is a fun way to test our skill with a basic beginner's waltz step. 

Bible (Free)

The name says it all. This is a quick reference from LifeChurch.tv to help make ceremony planning a snap.

Gotta Etsy ($0.99)

After reading all the great things you ladies have said about Etsy, I was excited to see this app recommended by a blogger on another site. Tons of goodies a click away!

Wedding Dash Lite (Free)

This cute game from PlayFirst, Inc. lets players plan and carry out a couple's perfect big day by fine-tuning the details and avoiding pitfalls. The "lite" version offers five levels of play for free.

And what about you? Any favorite apps or tech-savvy wedding-planning tips to share?

(Photo Credits: Apple and Macworld)