Lessons From The 2012 Oscars

I love love love the Oscars and last nite did not disappoint.  I was blown away by so many dresses not to mention the glitz & glamour of the evening.  Last year I did a post after the Golden Globes on 5 lessons that brides can learn from award shows.  And what did the Academy Awards teach us?  Let's take a look.

#1. Know & dress your role.   The ranking of looking good at an awards show are: nominees, presenters, past winners and lastly the nominees dates.  Much like a wedding in that the couple getting married should shine the brightest on their big day, followed by the immediate families, wedding party and then the guests.  Trying to steal the happy couple's thunder is always a "don't".

Michelle Williams, Oscar presenter 2011  (Source)

Michelle Williams, stepping it up as an Oscar nominee 2012 

(Photo credit: Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty)

#2. Find a dress that is in line with your values. While watching the E! Red Carpet Countdown, I saw Guiliana Rancic interview Missi Pyle from The Artist.  Missi was proudly wearing the winner of the "Red Carpet, Green Dress" contest.  Suzy Amis Cameron, wife of director James Cameron, created this contest in 2009 to marry eco-friendly with high fashion with the only requirement for designers was to create a dress made entirely of sustainable materials.  Eco-beauty is officially here to stay and will hopefully be a stable on future red carpets. 

Missi Pyle (Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage)

#3. Always have a speech ready. For some people, giving a toast at a wedding is just as nerve racking as  an award show nominee giving an acceptance speech.  In my experience, toasters wanting to 'keep it fresh' and not rehearse always talk too long and all over the place.  Unfortunately there is no music to cut off speeches at weddings so keep that in mind.  Organize your thoughts ahead of time and jot down a few key ideas/points you want to remember.  The best man typically goes first and is always a bit funnier and the maid/ matron of honor goes last and is more heartfelt/ emotional. The best equation for a great toast is: genuine emotion + heartfelt and/or funny memories + what this couple means to you - anything embarrassing.

Julia Roberts, Best Actress Winner 2001 (Source)  

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

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