The Wedding Graduates Return

I have good news today! Remember the Wedding Graduates? Those sassy, savvy, smart lady bloggers who shared what they learned getting married? As far as I’m concerned they are one of the coolest things that has ever happened to this blog. Well, it’s been a few months, and we have a whole new crop of Graduates. As of next week they start popping by and sharing their wisest words of wisdom. What they learned. What they think we should know.

The goal is not to all become just like each other, so when you read the graduates post, don’t think “Why is my budget bigger/smaller than hers?” or “Oh no, she decided not to hire a florist, so maybe I shouldn’t hire a florist!” Instead revel in our shared stories and our differences.

And if you haven’t read the last crop of Wedding Graduates, get reading. Start with the very first one, East Side Bride, and then keep on going. As always, I owe a debt of gratitude to these ladies. They make me smarter and kinder, and a much better bride.

Wedding Party Alternatives: The Non-Bridesmaid

I had to share Lauren’s fabulous wedding party plan:

I’m not having bridesmaids, so I sent an Evite (I love Evites) to 10 of my friends asking them to be non-bridesmaids, with the following job description. It was really fun to read what everyone wrote back (and they all loved the idea!)

A non-bridesmaid:

  • Listens to me complain about how expensive weddings are.
  • Comes wedding dress shopping IF she wants .
  • Helps my mom throw a shower.
  • Domes to the bachelorette party if she can.
  • Helps out doing whatever she likes to do or is good at (i.e. baking snickerdoodles, making invitations, making funny videos of the other guests, drinking mimosas, etc).
  • Helps me get ready day-of (hint: this may involve drinking mimosas).
  • Tells me when I’m being bride-zilla-ish.

A non-bridesmaid does NOT:

  • Wear the same dress as all the other non-bridesmaids. She wears her own dress (or skirt, or lovely pantsuit) instead.
  • Get her hair or makeup done for my wedding (you all are very familiar with making yourself look beautiful every day), Caveat: if you WANT to get your hair or makeup done because you love any excuse to be pampered, then I am all for that! Pamper yourself!
  • Carry flowers. Caveat: if you really want some flowers, I will get you some, just for being such a fabulous friend.
  • Stands in the front of all the other guests. But you can sit in the front row if you arm wrestle my brother for his spot!

I hope you get the idea. If I were going to have a giant wedding party, you would absolutely all be up there with me, but I’m not, and I still wanted you to know how much you mean to me and how much I appreciate your friendship. Plus, with an Evite, you can all read each other’s clever comments!

PS – How is it that after we finally settle on a wedding party alternative, suddenly there are a million and one amazing ideas flying around?