Guy's Corner: Stylin' & Profilin'

There are so many ways for a groom to be both handsome and comfortable on the big day.  Modern day grooms and groomsmen have a plethora of options for wedding attire.  I've picked a few of my favorite personalized items to ensure stylish and happy men, enjoy! 

First up, if you like Converse then you might have already seen their newest design idea.  Converse's Create & Customize option allows brides and grooms to personalize wedding day chucks with names, dates and pretty much any words you want.   Check the site for specific pricing and order details, making sure you allow enough time for delivery without cutting it too close to the big day.

 

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For the groom & his guys who want a splash of awesome up top, Cyperoptix offers a wide range of colorful & awesome ties.  This is a great option for wedding attire that is right in between informal and formal.  Attire rules are less rigid now so don't be afraid to dress up suits with a pop of personalization.

Boudoir Sessions: Not Just For Brides Anymore

In the last couple of years I've been seeing more and more photographers offering boudoir sessions for brides to be or even newlyweds. The basic idea is a private, tasteful photography shoot of the bride that has a stylized theme that can be anything from super sexy to super romatic to super playful.  Think lots of lingerie, bedroom scenes, full on hair and make up, fun props like thigh-high stockings, football jerseys or even cupcakes- whatever goes.  The bride typically gifts the groom with an album of these secret photos for the wedding or for an anniversary.  All the boudoir sessions that I have seen on wedding blogs (brave girls to put out their dressed down photos online!) have been all female shoots.  That's what boudoir meant to me, specifically a one person sexy shoot.   



Then I saw this amazing engagement boudoir shoot thanks to Well Groomed Blog and I kind of fell in love with this idea.  A couples boudoir session that is very playful, intimate and romantic at the same time.  This is such a great option for low key couples who are not interested in the highly stylized engagement shoots.  And these photos are sweet enough to show off to friends & family.  So if that sounds like you, this is another great option for engagement shoots!

*Boudoir credits; photo one, photo two, photo three

Interesting Wedding Superstitions

One of my blogging goals for 2012 is to post more about international weddings.  While researching different cultures, I've found that a lot of their traditions originated in some very old superstitions.  Since today is Friday the 13th- the most superstitious day in America- I've pulled together a list of my favorite international wedding superstitions.  Enjoy!

#1. Middle Eastern brides paint henna on their hands and feet to protect themselves from the evil eye (source).

#2. Saturday is the unluckiest wedding day, according to English folklore (source).

#3. If the younger of two sisters marries first, the older sister must dance barefoot at the wedding or risk never landing a husband (source).

#4. The bride is said to be doomed if she wears her complete wedding outfit before the big day (source).

#5. Pre-colonial Filipino superstitions warn that the groom and the bride should avoid traveling before the nuptial to prevent accidents from happening (source).

#6. In Russian villages they still believe that only sorcerers and ill-wishers “cut the path” of the newlyweds to harm them. No one should cross the path in front of the bride and bridegroom neither on their way to ZAGS (Registry Office) and/or church and back (source).

#7. When a London chimney sweep saved King George II's life 200 years ago, the King declared that all chimney sweeps bring good fortune and should be treated with respect. It's now considered good luck to see a chimney sweep on your wedding day, and many hire out their services to come to the ceremony and kiss the bride (source).

#8. It is bad luck for a bride to see a nun or a monk on the wedding day because they represent chastity and poverty (source). 

#9. To make sure their love keeps burning throughout their union, Finnish brides head to the altar carrying an appropriate symbol: a match (source).

#10. In ancient times the bridesmaids dressed in identical clothing while the bride wore a different dress and a veil. This was done in the hope of confusing the evil spirits that may be descending on the bride (source).

Photo credits: photo 1 and photo 2

Recessionista Brides Start A Trend

This week the New York Times published an article discussing the latest bridal attire trend.  Can you guess what it is?  Savvy brides are spending less on wedding gowns and instead are now focusing on the accessories.  As the article points out, there are so many options for gowns, most of which are focusing on the recessionista bride.  Vera Wang's White Collection for David's Bridal, Anthropologie's BHLDN line and J. Crew's bridal collection, just to name a few. 

As a recessionista extraordinaire, I'm all for buying accessories that can be worn again and again... and again.  I would even suggest to go a step futher by focusing only on buying the accessories that you need.  I love the freedom today's brides have to make their own rules as the days of buying everything new for your wedding are over.  Brides are realizing that they may already have the perfect shoes, necklace, wrap, etc. which can save hundreds of dollars.  Or if you do want to splurge on wedding shoes, at least you can wear them again.  Some brides are excited to change into a reception dress, so buy a second dress that is more of a party dress that you can get a lot of mileage out of at future events.  And by the way, let's not leave the men out.  With most grooms choosing to wear a gray, tan or black suit in lieu of a tuxedo, I think it is worth the extra money to buy a tailored suit that you will be able to wear for a lifetime.

Lastly, the biggest way to cut costs may seem obvious- do not mention the "w" word- wedding.  Aside from an actual wedding gown appointment, don't mention the accessories you are shopping for are for your wedding.  I hope this gives couples some inspiration to get the most out of their attire, not only on their big day but for future events.  Since my Felicity C Weddings clients are always ahead of their time, I've picked a few client photos for ideas. Enjoy!

 CHERISH your dress, LOVE your accessories.

Credit: Clair Pruett

 

Embellish with a jeweled sash & hairpiece that you can wear again.

Credit: Procopio Photography

Rock a 2nd wedding dress that you can wear to many future events.

Credit: Jacqueline Schlossman/ ReadyLuck

Guy's Corner: The Sweet Treat Coming Your Way

The groom's cake may be one of the coolest traditions to move North since polo's, khaki shorts, and sandals.  The Southern tradition of the bride "gifting" the groom with a special cake is making its way around the country in a big way and has been growing in popularity in the past few years.  According to the history of a groom's cake, it is "not to be served to the guests while at the wedding reception, but rather it was to be sliced up, placed into packages and given to them as favors when they departed. Single women at the wedding would take their pieces of cake home and sleep with it under their pillows in hopes of dreaming of their future husbands" (source).  Since the idea of sleeping with cake under your pillow is not required, many modern couples do serve the groom's cake at the reception.  The groom's cake is separate from the traditional wedding cake and features the groom's hobbies, favorite sports team, or anything groom-related.

Some brides choose to surprise their grooms with this special cake since honestly, how much do most guys know about wedding details?  This is a small but awesome gesture to show that the wedding day really is about the groom too by honoring his favorite things in a delicious cake.  It is a great addition to the traditional cake or to serve at the rehearsal dinner.  I picked out some truly kick ass cakes to give you inspiration.  Enjoy!

Spectacular replica of the Boston Red Sox's stadium. Source

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Guy Corner: All Things Groom

Does this sound like any recently engaged guy you know?  The proposal was a hit.  He's updated his Facebook profile to state that he is now engaged.  At this point most grooms-to-be are ready to sit back and relax until the big day since they aren't sure how or what they should be doing. Unfairly, a lot of men get stuck in between a rock and a hard place when it comes to wedding planning because they don't have a lot of knowledge on the subject and because it is socially acceptable to have the bride take control.   While most guys aren't concerned with the china patterns his fiancee is registering for, there are a lot of details that most men actually do want a say in.  I have found that the grooms I have worked with have 3 main concerns for the actual wedding day; the food, the music, and the bar.  But there is so much more to enjoy in the entire planning process (hello caterer tastings and registering for cool home gadgets!). 


Luckily, I have found two great resources for grooms; The Man Registry and The Plunge.  These are two pretty awesome websites with articles, checklists and products aimed at grooms.  There are articles about everything from bachelor parties (and non-stripper bachelor parties), groomsmen gifts, etiquette, relationship advice, fashion, and even promotions from approved vendors!  I think the key to both sites is that the content is aimed at guys without any of the wedding "fluff" the brides get from their websites, magazines, and tv shows.  While most guys have at least one friend who is married, its pretty rare that men share insight or advice for the wedding planning part.  And yes, there are "groom" books out there but what guy wants to sit down and read a whole book about weddings?  These websites serve as an expert on a very intimidating subject without forcing extra information.  


Not a groom?  No problem, these sites are not limited to the newly engaged!  For guys needing some direction to "pop the question", The Plunge offers a ring buying guide and he'll probably stumble across the proposal ideas as well.  Or if your man has no clue about being a best man or groomsman for a his friend, you can direct him to the wedding toasts and groomsmen section.  But back to the grooms, after you get that ring on her finger and life has calmed down a bit, head over to these websites and I'm pretty sure it will help you feel less overwhelmed and get more excited about the big day!  Enjoy!

 

Groomsman gift idea: NCAA 550 Grill Topper. Source

Doubts. Buyer’s remorse. Second guessing. Should you be alarmed? Call the whole damn thing off? Find out.

Need advice on cold feet? Source

Want to know what the Groom's responsibilities are?  Source

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