And a 7th: Don't text a picture of your engagement ring to people who neither are invited to your wedding nor ask to see it. It says, "I don't like you, but I want you to know that I have a diamond."
I’m in the middle of re-reading an engrossing Jodi Picoult book, Nineteen Minutes. It’s about a school shooting. So on Friday, when the tragic news broke about the elementary school in Newtown, CT, I thought the novel had made me imagine that headline. Sadly, it hadn’t. And I’ve spent the past few days learning about the victims, most of whom were too-adorable-for-words six- and seven-year-olds, others brave teachers about my age. And just minutes ago, I found out one of those unlucky women was just days away of getting the best surprise of her life. Continue reading
An eye for an eye, a bachelorette party for a bachelorette party. My own celebration was pretty low-key, but goshdarn it, had we gone away, I’d sure as hell fly wherever a bridesmaid-turned-bride wanted me to travel to for hers. Of course, everyone’s on a different budget, but this particular bride doesn’t play by the rules in my opinion. You be the judge. Continue reading
By now, you’ve probably read “Reasons Why You Cannot Be a Bridesmaid,” an e-mail from a bride to her potential bridesmaids that’s gone viral since it was posted on Gawker. Here’s a summary of every response I’ve seen to the bride who penned the message: “What a psycho bitch!” While I can’t defend the power-trippy, condescending tone of the note, this woman isn’t quite the nightmare people are painting her as. Here’s why: Continue reading
It happens. Someone you think is great chooses to marry someone…not-so-great. But how do you let your pal know you loathe her favorite person in the world? Take these steps before you alienate your friend. Continue reading
Ladies, if anyone knows what it’s like to be ready to get engaged and not have a ring on your finger yet, it’s me. Even though I was super-young when I was set for Paul to pop the question–at the ripe old age of 21–we had been dating for eight years at that point. So when he still didn’t propose by our 10th anniversary, I was antsy to say the least. Luckily, the proposal came a few months after we hit the 10-year mark, and I think it happened when it did because I did a few of the following things. Continue reading
Brides have to stick together. After all, no one better understands why it’s of the utmost importance that you have Vanda orchids and not Dendrobium orchids in your centerpieces. So let’s not piss each other off, okay? See if you agree with me that these are the cruelest things women getting married can do to each other. Continue reading
Whether or not your pal was the one who called off the wedding, going from marrying your soulmate to not getting hitched at all is not an easy switch to make. Yet everyone around her is likely making the transition trickier with prying questions and insensitive statements. Stay on the supportive side by avoiding these questions and comments. Continue reading
I’ve received backhanded compliments and straight-up aggressive remarks about my engagement ring. And it made me wonder if you all have, too. So I posted the question on Facebook and Twitter. I truly was hoping I wouldn’t get any responses because no one wants such a symbolic, important purchase criticized. Alas, I was barraged with replies. Here they are. Continue reading
There’s really only one good reason to get married: because you’ve found your soul mate, you know each other well enough and long enough to be positive you want to spend the rest of your lives together, and you’re mature enough to work hard at keeping your relationship strong. But there are so many bad ones. Here are the six worst. Continue reading