The One Thing I’d Never Fault a Bride for

There are a lot of things wedding guests have every right to expect from the couple hosting the reception. That they’ll be fed enough that they don’t have to leave mid-wedding in a hunger-fueled frenzy to hit up a Burger King. That the conditions will be comfortable, as in an A/C is on if it’s 85 degrees out, the heat’s on if it’s 45, and if it’s outdoors, the venue isn’t infested with mosquitoes. That every effort will be made to show them a good time–so there’s music for listening and, with any luck, for dancing too. But there’s at least one expectation that I don’t have. Continue reading

Holidays That Can Make Good Wedding Days…and One That Doesn’t

It seems there are two general schools of thought on hosting a wedding on a holiday: It’s always okay and it’s never okay. Really, though, there are some special days that are better for weddings than others. But even those better holidays come with caveats. Continue reading

Can There Be Too Much Food at a Wedding?

I didn't eat ALL that...just most of it. Paul ate the rest.

I didn’t realize until I went to a wedding outside of the New York area that it wasn’t normal to have a dozen stations at the cocktail hour, 10 different passed hors d’oeuvres, a four-course sit-down meal, a wedding cake of four tiers (at least), and a dessert buffet with chocolate fountains, cookies, and, of course, more cake. And now, I’m starting to reconsider normal. Continue reading

Surprising Ways Hurricane Sandy Can Still Affect Your Wedding

Hurricane Sandy had the power to knock out wedding venues’ electricity, and worse, flood them to the point of destruction. While losing your venue so soon before your wedding is horrific, it’s an obvious problem, one you’re hyper-aware you need to remedy. Other Sandy effects, like those that follow, aren’t as apparent–and you may not even know about them until it’s too late. Continue reading

The Meanest Things Brides Can Do to Each Other

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

I Found the Coolest Wedding Venue in the World! But…

Paul and I decided to do something special for Memorial Day Weekend this year because it was the first time since 2008 that we didn’t have a wedding that weekend–and in 2008, I had my bachelorette party around the holiday, so it really had been a long while since we were free. So we drove up to Albany to visit our friends and their baby Grady. Then, we headed up to Montreal. And guess what I found… Continue reading

What Not to Do as a Plus-One at a Wedding

For the first time ever, I’m going to a wedding that I wasn’t technically invited to. My sister got the invite, and since she’s not seeing anyone and I live a quick cab ride away from the venue, I’m coming along as her guest–which made me think of some things I wish plus-ones didn’t do at weddings. Continue reading