May your love be so strong not even death can part you!
Archive for October, 2011
Happy Halloween from Manolo for the Brides!
Monday, October 31st, 2011Twistie’s Sunday Caption Madness: The Please Don’t Eat The Daisies Edition: The Result
Saturday, October 29th, 2011Well, well, well. Last sunday I inflicted this deathless (and possibly undead) image on you all:
… and two of you used your horse sense to come up with appropriately evil captions for it.
In the end, though, there can be but one winner. This week said winner is the ever-delicious Jo for this groan-inducing pun:
The last thing anyone needs at their wedding: neighsayers.
Congratulations, Jo! And thanks to everyone who played.
LOVE/HATE: Etherially Etherial
Friday, October 28th, 2011
Different brides want different looks. They have different styles. This gown is by Jill Stuart, a designer whose work is available, alas, mostly in Asia. I say alas, because I find I’m oddly taken with it.
Believe it or not, I’m not a fuss and feathers kind of gal, for the most part. But I do have a Boho heart and a fondness for ballerinas that transcends the fact I don’t actually care at all for the ballet. In short, I’m a mass of contradictions.
And while I definitely get that this gown isn’t for everyone, I have to go with love. Yes, the crumb catcher ruffles make her look a little like a Christmas cracker, but in a good way, I think. I love the soft coloring and feminine lines. About the only thing I would change is to take off those twee little gloves. The whole thing gives off a confectionary vibe dear to my baking-obsessed soul.
So yeah, love here. What about you?
It’s a Zombie Jamboree Wedding
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
This is an image from the Toronto Zombie Walk, 2011. Awesome, yes, but a seemingly unlikely place for romance to blossom.
Ah, but then zombie queen Thea Munster (in untattered wedding white, carrying a bouquet that featured miniature skulls) and her unlife partner Adam Invader tied the knot before a delighted audience of their fellow undead.
The bride and groom arrived via coffin carried by a party of pallbearers in Victorian mourning And departed the plane of their wedding altar in a classic car with a ‘just buried’ sign on the back.
Adam and Thea, may you spend many delightful eons together, and may you never find yourself running low on Brains Helper! Congratulations, you crazy zombies, you!
I Do Over
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
We often say here at Manolo for the Brides that as long as you keep your wedding day in perspective, it’s nearly impossible to destroy. If you keep your eyes on the prize of the result rather than panicking over every tiny detail, chances are you’ll enjoy your wedding for what it is rather than resent it for what it isn’t.
But some wedding disasters are worse than others. While I would advise any bride to forget about a missing bouquet, a slightly embarrassing best man’s speech, or a brief technical malfunction with the sound system… there are some problems that are much more difficult to ignore.
And that’s where I Do Again steps up to make delayed wedding dreams come true. This is for the folks who really had serious disasters happen. This isn’t ‘we couldn’t afford a pretty party’ here. We’re talking weddings hit with hurricanes, venues destroyed by fire at the last minute, participants who had serious medical emergencies while standing at the altar, and seamstresses who make off with every gown for the entire bridal party. This is for serious disasters only.
Event designer Diann Valentine and 1-800-FLOWERS founder Dave McCann choose deserving couples and redo their I dos in grand style. In five days they organize everything to delight the couple and give them happier memories. The second season will be starting on WETV on November 13 at 10pm (9 Central).
So why watch another ‘celebrity planner makes it all soooo much better than a silly bride and groom could’ show?
Well, if nothing else, it’s a great perspective granter. After all, even if a lot of things did go wrong at your wedding, your groom probably didn’t have a heart attack.
Sometimes it’s useful to realize that things could have been a whole lot worse.
It’s All Happening At the Zoo
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
When it comes time to pick your wedding/reception venue, we all know the choices, right? Church, hotel, charming country inn, someone’s backyard, the beach at Aruba, the local VFW hall… yeah, same old, same old. But have you ever considered your local zoo?
On a recent episode of Four Brides, one of the couples in the competition held their wedding and reception at the zoo. I was struck immediately by how charming a spot it was for celebrating. When guests arrived, they got to play at the zoo for a while before heading to the ceremony location. Once the couple had been pronounced legally spliced, the guests took a scenic tram ride to the reception area, where a giraffe peered over the wall into the festivities as if to request its own slice of wedding cake. All in all, it looked like a fun time. In fact, that’s the couple that won the honeymoon prize. I feel sure it was in significant part because of their fabulous location.
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Quickie Question: Favorite Wedding Tradition?
Monday, October 24th, 2011
Tradition often gets a bad rap. Here at Manolo for the Brides, it’s a common refrain in our articles that you mustn’t feel trapped by tradition or forced to participate in rituals you dislike that have no bearing on the legality or spiritual acceptance of your union.
But you know what? Some people wouldn’t want a wedding stripped bare of all tradition. Most of us feel connected to some wedding tradition, whether it’s required or not.
My own wedding was filled with traditions that I tell brides not to bother with if they don’t mean anything to them personally. I wore white, carried a bouquet of flowers, was attended by a group of female friends, accepted a ring from Mr. Twistie, tossed the bouquet and garter, was walked up the aisle by my father… and the list goes on. While our wedding was quirky, it was also surprisingly traditional.
I think my personal favorite wedding tradition is having the bridal party. Why? Because it represents so viscerally the idea that a couple needs the support of friends and family. It shows the relationship being approved and accepted by those closest to them, whether the ties are those of blood or of the heart.
So I’m wondering, what’s your favorite wedding tradition? What traditions do you intend to follow? For those who are already married, which ones did you follow because you really wanted to? Are there any you didn’t follow, but kind of wish now you had?