Here we have yet another bridal model staring us down, daring us to say something… anything… about her choice of wedding day frock. This time, it’s Ian Stuart’s Harlequin, one of the gowns from his 2011 collection. According to Ian Stuart’s web site, this is a wedding dress for a “diva bride” and it features “imposing loops.” Imposing indeed! So imposing that I kind of hate it. Is anyone else imagining stuff getting in the loops as the bride walks along – particularly during the reception when who knows what will end up on the floor?

Weddings should be fun, and for a lot of brides and grooms, fun means play! There’s nothing wrong with planning a wedding that is grownup and elegant, and similarly, there’s nothing wrong with planning a wedding that’s full of crazy silly things for wedding guests to do. Like, for example, bowling. Yep, I said bowling. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but if it’s yours, consider renting out a bowling alley for your wedding reception and switching out your bridal pumps for a pair of rented shoes.

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I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone outside of the realm of busybody biddies who has a problem with colored wedding dresses, but I’m loathe to believe that they’re overtaking white wedding dresses in terms of popularity. When, after all, was the last time you attended a wedding where the bride wore purple and the bridesmaids were in white (like in this pretty picture from Simply Bloom Photography)? But frankly, I LOVE the idea. Why not take the usual wedding color template and mix it up a little? It’s not like anyone at the wedding will have trouble identifying the bride!

Would you consider wearing a colored gown and dressing your bridesmaids in white?

As is the case with many great finds, I stumbled upon Dream Catcher Studio by accident and was hooked. For those brides who have chosen un-embellished wedding dresses but want to add a touch of old Hollywood glam, the design team behind the shop makes beautiful decorative belts and sashes. But what really tickled my fancy is the one-of-a-kind bridal headpieces that make great bridal veil alternatives. Here are four that caught my eye:

A pretty hand-beaded bridal head piece reminiscent of a lace handkerchief that might be pinned over a woman’s hair in church. Imagine it paired with a vintage wedding gown, maybe one from the 40s.

Cluster pearls and crystals come together in this pretty headband that is like the glamorous older cousin of the Roman civic crown. It works with a variety of bridal hairstyles and can be worn with shorter hair.

How about a romantic bridal aigrette made of elegant ivory Alencon lace instead of a veil? Perfect for the bride who wants something smaller in her hair, but still very striking.

Headbands are a great choice, especially for brides who aren’t sure they have enough hair to pull off a clip or comb. This lovely example is made of vintage beaded applique-medallion with vintage Swarovski crystals.

Yum! Are you opting for an alternative to the traditional bridal veil?

Oh, I don’t know. Maybe you’re eloping. Maybe you’re buying a wedding dress for a destination wedding? Maybe your wedding locale is just too darn hot for some full-length, multi-layer frock that will have you sweating like a pig minutes into the ceremony. Even if it is just underpants sweat. Or could be you just plain like the way short wedding dresses look and feel on your body.

Whatever your reason for choosing a short wedding dress, you’ve got my support. While I wouldn’t wear one because a short wedding dress is going to make me look like a frosted mushroom with legs, I do think they’re super cute on the right brides. And I am really digging on these short wedding dresses from Jenny Yoo because they look like a lot of fun and just the thing for a smart warm weather wedding that’s not too formal.

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Some couples take wedding cake smooshing for granted, and what’s worse, take it for granted that their better halves share their opinions on wedding cake smashing. A little icing up your nose won’t hurt anyone, of course, but it sure can do a number on the bride’s makeup job, indelibly dye a white wedding dress, or cause the groom to lose the security deposit on his rental. Every tried to get icing out of an updo?

And even though some brides and grooms don’t care about their clothes of makeup or hair, those same people may simply not want a handful of wedding cake smashed into their faces. Not at a wedding, not ever.

Look like fun? Maybe, maybe not. If they’re both into it, then dandy. I went looking for opinions about wedding cake smashing on message boards and elsewhere, and reactions to it ran the gamut from childish to hilarious. One reaction I found compared wedding cake smooshing to a slap in the face! I wouldn’t go that far, but I will admit that I asked The Beard NOT to smash and did not smash cake on his face. My stylist was in attendance, and I think he would have felt compelled to redo my makeup. Plus, getting dirty just isn’t my thing.

So personally, I won’t advocate for or against wedding cake smashing, but I will recommend that all brides and grooms – even those who consider themselves very easygoing – bring up the subject in advance of the reception so they and their new spouse will be on the same page when it comes time to cut the cake.

Photo by David Christensen

1. Somewhere to stash all that stuff:

It’s such a cliche, but the fact is that brides and bridesmaids need somewhere to stash their gear – and what better excuse for a new bag than that? This classy initial handbag is great because it doesn’t look like the usual bridalbridalbridal tote bag. Too serious for you? I’m also a huge fan of super cute (and huge) totes with fun and crazy patterns and graphics.

2. A break from planning:

What’s better than wedding planning? Taking a well-deserved break from it! I always advise couples to go on a few dates (at least) where wedding planning is an off-limits topic, but sometimes that’s just not enough to relieve the stress. I recommend buying every bride-to-be you know at least one fun or engrossing book, a la Stupid History: Tales of Stupidity, Strangeness, and Mythconceptions Throughout the Ages, Sh*t My Dad Says, or Northanger Abbey.

3. Easy packing:

I like luggage, but I’m not surprised when I meet people who don’t have real luggage. It’s expensive and a lot of brides- and grooms-to-be haven’t traveled much. But for the honeymoon? Come on, it pays to have nice suitcases. With locks. And wheels. If you really love the bride in your life, why not give her a set of Samsonite luggage in beautiful shiny black (at a whopping 55% off!) for her post-wedding getaway.

4. Some peace of mind on the big day:

The wedding may be months away, but wedding day survival kits make great, easy stocking stuffers for the bride-to-be, the groom-to-be, and the bridesmaids. You can always DIY it with a cute makeup bag and supplies from the drug store, but Ms. a& Mrs. makes all-inclusive bride’s survival kits, survival kits for the groom and groomsmen, and bridesmaids’ survival kits.

5. Something blue:

If you’re close to the bride, why not offer to get her that special ‘something blue’? Or, better yet, get her something blue that she doesn’t have to figure out how to integrate into the wedding day look she’s already coordinated. I sure wouldn’t have minded a holiday gift of a cute Keep Calm pendant, a blue digital camera from Samsung, or a Le Creuset stockpot!

6. A little bit of relaxation:

Yes, soap is soap, but isn’t it just a little fun, pre-wedding, to pamper yourself with shower and bath goodies with scents like wedding cake and bridal bouquet? For the bride-to-be in your life, there’s the Philosophy’s Bride gift set and for everyone else in the wedding, there’s the Bridal Party gift set.

7. Something to giggle at:

Forget the Williams-Sonoma Bride & Groom Cookbook and give the happy couple The New InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook at $10 off the cover price. Why? First, it’s a lot more fun! And second, The Beard and I were recipe testers so we appear in the book! Really, the recipes are delish, and the book itself is pretty spicy.

8. Easy memories:

Finally, give the bride the gift of beautiful memories with a white wedding scrapbook, an easy wedding scrapbook page kit, and extra wedding scrapbook pages. Better yet, buy the books and the kits, wait for the wedding, and give the bride a belated holiday gift in the form of a scrapbook that’s already filled in!