Welcome to Wishpot Wedding Blog - The latest ideas for your wedding and wedding registry!
Caption Text: Grooms fear you may want them to be this good on the dance floor. Photo courtesy of Dancing With the Stars
Hello everyone. My name is Jeff, and I write a blog called Groomasaurus that gives a guy’s perspective on planning a wedding. I’m also co-owner of My Wedding Workbook, which is online wedding planner software that’s free, easy-to-use and gives brides all the tools they need to manage all their wedding details, including a budget planner and guest list manager. But I’m here today to talk about the oddly complicated scenario at the intersection of dancing, weddings and grooms. I was over at the blog Amorology the other day (who says only women get to stalk bridal blogs), and I happened upon a post about a wedding where the bride and groom wowed the crowd at their reception with some sort of “Dancing with the Stars” swing routine.
I must admit, my first reaction to this wasn’t to smile, or to sigh, or to pine wistfully for our wedding day (I’m getting married in November). Instead, I rolled my eyes, muttered a few unmentionable words under my breath and immediately surfed on over to ESPN.com. I know, I know, this is a pretty catty way to react, but there’s a good reason for it, and here it is. If you’re like most women, when you see a newly married couple cutting a pretty mean rug on the dance floor, you think, "how great would it be if me and my snuggle bug could do that together at our wedding." But your guy is thinking something completely different. If he’s anything like me (and god help you if he is, cause you’re gonna need some patience and a good sense of humor), he’s thinking "good god, now she’s gonna want to do that at our wedding, and I’m not sure I can pull it off." You see, for most guys, the closest we have ever come to structured dance moves is the couple aerobics classes we attended in our early 20s (and, honestly, our main reason for going was to check out women … and yes, we’ve matured considerably since then), and while we were there we got our feet so twisted up that we face-planted about a half-dozen times, ruining the whole premise of why we were there in the first place.
Groomasaurus Gal and I attend an exercise boot camp class three times a week, and on those occasions when we have an aerobics instructor teach the class, I swear I leave with bruised knees (from falling so much) and an inability to tell right from left (all that "lead with your left foot/right foot" stuff seems to scramble my little pea brain). (Quick aside: We’ve discovered that working out together is a great way to get in shape for your wedding, as you keep each other motivated, and there’s nothing like seeing your lovely bride-to-be in a sports bra to get the engine revved up.) Sure, your guy might love to go clubbing, but getting jiggy under a mirror ball and pulling out the tried-and-true "wash-that-laundry-now-hang-it-up" dance move doesn’t count as serious dancing. Plus most guys have an odd perception of what good dancing is anyways, and I’m one of those. For me, the most memorable dance moments I can think of are Michael Jackson at the Motown 25 show in 1983 (may his soul rest in peace), John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever and Napoleon Dynamite doing his thing in moonboots. The first two examples are ultra cool and seemingly untouchable, and the last is cool and fun in a very dorky way. But none of these are very realistic or give guys a sense that we can or should learn to dance.
I guess what I’m saying is that, for most guys, we’ve been set up to fail when it comes to structured dancing; we don’t dislike it as much as we fear it. So if you get some resistance from your guy when you mention taking dance lessons for your wedding, it’s the fear talking, and if he drags his feet and protests like a three-year-old (which we’ve been known to do), then you shouldn’t push him, because he’ll just get more obstinate. However, I think most grooms would do anything for their bride, so if you frame it as something you can experience together, that it doesn’t matter how "good" he is as long you both have fun, then I think he would be more open to the idea. And another thing to think about … I personally think it’s silly for a bride and groom to take dancing lessons up to their wedding day and then drop dancing entirely after that one event. This could be a great shared activity for both of you long after your wedding day, and to put all that time in for one event seems like a waste. I secretly would love to learn how to salsa dance, and maybe when our schedules slow down a bit and I get over my stupid fear-of-dancing hangup we can take lessons together. I honestly think it would be a great alternative to seeing another movie, going bowling or whatever other activity has become a date-night staple. Anyway, that’s my three cents on the matter…
Dancing lessons are a great idea for your wish list or your wedding registry. And I agree with Jeff it is a gift you can continue to do together long after the wedding. Thank you Jeff a very entertaining post. Welcome Jeff as a wedding expert and add him as a friend
I can hear brides-to be cheering everywhere! Yay he secretly wants to learn to dance! My friend dragged her husband to-be kicking and screaming to ballroom dancing lessons. And even thought we made fun of him the entire time (cause yes we are THAT mature) he took the lessons. I have to say he wowed us like no one would ever have guessed on his wedding day! So maybe there is a little dancer in every groom? What do you guys think?
gift girl
Meet Weddingish.com. Weddingish.com is a Wishpot Vendor and a fabulous site that offers everything wedding from crystal bridal tank tops, to clothing for the bridal party, to bridal party gifts, to bridal accessories, tiaras, veils, purses, Disney jewelry, to cake toppers, to wedding favors for your guests.
But my favorites are their delicious sugar cookies: “Will you be my bridesmaid?” “Will you be my Maid of Honor?”, “Will you be my Flower Girl?” And these Weddingish’ cookies are included in the latest issue of Modern Brides 100 Things We Love… Featured below “Will you be my flower girl cookie” Can you imagine a better way to ask your bridal party to be part of your day? Cookies for everyone!
more great ideas for your wedding from Weddingish.com
Congratulations to Weddingish.com. Anyone use cookies to ask their bridal party? Or anyone know of another creative way ‘to propose’ to their bridal party?
gift girl
Bringing Some Sparks to Your Wedding Day Celebration!
After the vows have been read, your “I do’s” have been said, rings have been exchanged, and you have finally been pronounced husband and wife it is now time for your grand exit. It is your second walk back down the aisle, except this time, you will be accompanied by your husband and the excited, loud cheers of your guests. Traditionally the wedding guests toss rice or flower petals as the bride and groom make their exit; however these days many venues have restricted their use due to the great amount of cleanup involved afterward. There are plenty of other creative ideas that are still just as exciting; however, one of my favorite ideas is the use of sparklers!
4th of July 2009 is just around the corner and it’s almost time to break out your finest red, white, and blue wear. This fun, summer holiday is one of my favorites to celebrate with friends and family, barbequing, soaking up some rays, and best of all, watching an amazing firework show. But the fireworks don’t have to end after the day is done. Why not add a little sparkle to your wedding day celebration?
Sparklers will create such a dramatic effect that can also makes for some really great pictures, not only during the day, but especially at night! Using sparklers as favors for your guests is a good fun favor idea that will also make your guest feel a little more a part of your special day. Don’t forget, safety first! You want to make sure that your guests use the sparklers with caution; although sparklers will add an exciting touch to your wedding, they can still be potentially dangerous. Make sure keep the sparklers away from any flammable objects and to watch out for the kids when using them!
Make your wedding day shine and sparkle with these fun wedding sparklers!
Such fun! Sparkle away!
gift girl
Sparkly New Tinywater Photo Shoot Contest!
One of my absolute favourite photographers, Tinywater, have offered Rock n Roll Bride readers a free, yes free photo shoot!
Tinywater Photography are husband and wife team Caroline & Daniel who hail from Sacramento, California. They specialise in fabulously original, cutting edge, modern photography that never ceases to take my breath away. Not one of their photo shoots have ever bored me and no two are ever the same. If you haven’t checked their work out before you are most definitely missing out!
To enter, drop me an email to kat@rocknrollbride.com with the subject –Rock n Roll Bride/Tinywater Contest, including a recent photograph of you and your partner and let me know, in no more than 250 words, a brief overview of what makes you and you guys particularly rock n roll?!
- Credit: Tinywater Photography
For more info check out the original post on Rock N Roll Bride. What a fabulous contest win a photo shoot for your engagement or your wedding! Get captured on film in a way you didn’t know possible.
Hello Wishpot readers! OneWed is thrilled to be joining the world of Wishpot as a guest blogger.
My name is Marta, and I’m OneWed’s Wedding Maven, which means I answer all sorts of questions about wedding related manners, traditions, etiquette and relationships.
Wedding season is in full swing and with that, I’m getting a lot of questions about what to wear, not from brides and grooms, but from guests. Now most guests can figure out the basics about Black Tie, Formal, etc., and if they can’t they can always look up the terms online, but with less formal weddings, and weddings taking place in unusual locations, people are getting a little confused.
You, the bride, can really help out your befuddled guests. Other than “Black Tie” or “Black Tie Optional” it is not considered appropriate to put clothing instructions on an invitation, but there are still ways to get the message across.
First though, you have to decide what that message is. Obviously, you don’t get to decide what your guests will wear, but you can give some thought to a general idea. Do you expect them to show up in jeans, sundresses and ties, full formal wear, swimsuits? Make sure your wedding plans match your expectations. If you’re having an outdoor, afternoon wedding don’t expect people to come in suits and formal dresses. On the other hand, if you’re having an evening wedding in a fancy hotel your guests will probably assume they should put on the bling.
A wedding website (available for free on OneWed) is one of the best ways to get information like this out there, as long as you’re clear about your suggestions. Don’t say “wear whatever you like,” say “This isn’t black tie, but we’re hoping people will still dress up,” or “This is a very informal wedding, please feel free to wear shorts” or “Please remember this is an outdoor wedding, high heels are not recommended.”
You can also make sure bridesmaids, family members, and other members of the wedding party know how to answer the questions. It’s always helpful to have at least one bridesmaid who likes to chat!
OneWed combines the largest online directory of wedding vendors, ideas & inspiration wedding blog, online wedding planning tools and, above all, honest answers for savvy brides. Stop by…we’d love to have ya!
Welcome OneWed and Marta!
I am so excited to be writing my first post on Wishpot!! I am a bride-to-be who loves all things related to weddings.
If you know me, you know that I am a huge fan of crafting – for weddings, for gift-giving, for everything! Here are a few must-have items for those of you that want to put some crafty personal touches on your special day.
A sewing machine.
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Use it to make table runners, ring pillows, or gifts for your bridal party (every girl loves a new clutch!). If you’re feeling really ambitious, use it to sew pockets for your invitations.
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Self-healing cutting mats.
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Buy at least one and use it for everything. A surface to guard your new dining room table from the ink you are using to stamp your placecards; a place to cut fabric, paper, and pretty much anything else; and a guide to help keep your words straight while addressing envelopes.
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A Cricut.
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Someday I’ll have one of these! Use it to cut your envelope liners and make die cut stationary, or to make placecards and table numbers.
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A paper cutter.
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If you plan on making your own invitations, this is an absolute necessity. Make sure it fits at least 12×12” paper. This one makes really clean cuts! Buy some extra blades for scoring and with decorative edges to keep things interesting.
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Wish you had a Gocco but don’t want to pay for something that’s already discontinued? Buy a YUDU instead. Or add one to your wish list
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Use it to print your invitations. Then to decorate your out of town bags and screenprint your cocktail napkins. Let’s be honest… the YUDU can be used for just about anything you can dream up!
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If you’re interested in some wedding crafting ideas or wedding inspiration in general, visit me at a small town bride. I’d love to see you there!
What are your DIY must-haves?
This is a must have post! Great suggestions and recommendations for weddings or just for any occasion. Thank you to a small town bride our new wedding expert.
An Italian wedding
It seems an age ago now that we were basking in the Italian sun, nibbling on olives and generally enjoying la dolce vita – but in reality it was just last month so the details of the wonderful wedding we attended are still sufficiently fresh in my mind to share with you, our lovely Wishpot readers.
Whether it could be classed as a green or ethical wedding I don’t really know. Some would argue that flying a load of guests out for an overseas wedding can never be green but I know that many guests, like us, used it as a prompt to plan their 2009 holiday and explore a bit of the region. We took the longest holiday we’d had since our honeymoon 4 years ago so it wasn’t a quickie flight out on the Friday night and back on the Sunday (and it was my first flight in about 3 years!).
The bride and groom chose Italy for their wedding as they both have many happy holiday memories of the country from childhood jaunts with their families to romantic breaks as a loved-up couple.
Throughout the wedding celebrations their love of the country shone through. The ceremony took place in the courtyard of the Town Hall in Radda so locals could stop and see what was going on and share in the moment. Guests got the chance to explore the town (and offer it their custom) in a break between the ceremony and reception that made the day seem relaxed and unhurried – and truly Italian!
The wedding reception was hosted at an elegant old villa overlooking the green, Tuscan valleys overflowing with olive trees and vines. The sun beat down as we sampled local delicacies: perfectly cured hams, huge rounds of regional cheeses, melons, strawberries and of course the inevitable but unbeatable Italian olives.
There were few frills and flounces – the bride glowed in a gown of stunning simplicity, table settings were minimalist but supremely stylish, the venue needed little adornment - its history-soaked walls backdrop enough, and the food – THE FOOD! – was gloriously unfussy allowing the quality of the ingredients to come through. It was the best food we tasted the whole two weeks we were there.
The couple was clearly delighted with the way the day turned out. Speeches from family and friends were hilarious but also moving, and dancing went on late into the night as the food and drink continued to flow. When we finally headed back to our villa we were exhausted but still grinning from such an unforgettable day.
My ethical guest get-up
I took advantage of my wedding invite to do a bit of ethical styling in my choice of guest outfit. Not only did I get to show off some charity shop chic but at a credit crunch friendly price too!
I picked up the hat from charity shop Scope for around £3 while the dress (originally Wallis) came from another branch of the same shop for around £8. My fair trade earrings were a birthday gift from Siobhan, owner of fair trade shop, Kolkata. And the finishing touches of an organic raw silk wrap from Wonderful Wraps and sparkly vegan shoes from Beyond Skin I wore at my own wedding 4 years before. Who says you need to spend a fortune on a wedding outfit?!
Katie
Ethical Weddings
You looked beautiful! What a stunning and romantic wedding. Thank you for sharing bella Katie
gift girl
Congrats Jaime! Jaime is a regular blogger on The Wishpot Wedding and Fashion Blog and we are so please to help her announce the official launching of her new site!
Celebrate With Me The Official Launch Of The Newly Redesigned "It’s A Jaime Thing"!
We’ve finally launched, welcome to the new site! To celebrate (because I’m super excited!) the launch of my newly redesigned blog, my friend Stephanie from Geezees and I have teamed up to bring you one very fabulous giveaway!
Stephanie’s custom canvas designs are the perfect way to display your love to each other, whether it be in the form of your wedding picture, an old love letter, your wedding vows, a poem or lyrics to your favorite song!
In love with this idea? Me too! Scroll down for details on how to win your very own Geezees custom canvas and more!
Let Geezees create a wedding gift for your favorite couple, a sentimental token of friendship for your maid of honor, a cherished gift for an expecting mom or any other special person in your life. These would also make excellent anniversary gifts!
Wouldn’t it be nice to have your very own piece of custom canvas art? Well here’s your chance.
To enter to win a custom designed canvas plus more, you must simply LEAVE A COMMENT ON It’s a Jaime Thing.
Congrats Jaime!
gift girl
Sleep, Swim…
…And Fall In Love This Summer!
Whenever I find out about a new lingerie shop, I can’t wait to check it out because it’s one of my favorite things to shop for! But nothing beats comfort…so when I discovered Undrest, I was thrilled - because most everything they sell looks super comfy cozy!
(Photo credits via www.undrest.com)
Whether you’re looking for a little something sexy or just some cute pajamas to lounge around in all day, I have a feeling you are going to love their line. They even have a swimwear collection with adorable, unique styles!
This summer, I’m also really loving Gilly Hicks! But not for their controversial ads…no, I actually really like their line, I swear! Offering a sweet selection of pajamas, lingerie, perfume and even clothing, Gilly Hicks stores are finally popping up in the States and I couldn’t be happier.
"Whereas Victoria’s Secret is bright, GH feels like a club filled with lots of nooks and crannies, you know, places where you might hook up." - says Rob Fields, of Marketing Pop Culture. Makes you want to shop there, doesn’t it?
(Photo credit: www.marketingpopculture.com)
Of course there are the classic favorites like Victoria’s Secret and Frederick’s. What’s your favorite place to shop lingerie and sleepwear? Please do share in the comments below so we can all get in on the goodies and have one HOT summer!
Thanks for reading! For more fashion and style inspiration, head on over the blog I write at www.itsajaimething.com. Cheers!
Oh my! Sexy little numbers maybe a little something you wanna bring on a honeymoon too….
gift girl
Our vendor spotlight today is on Dubnoff Photography. Check out the top 7 mistakes that couples make when picking a photographer for their wedding.
Over the past 25 years at Dubnoff Wedding Photography, I have had the opportunity to speak with well over a thousand engaged couples. I am always surprised by some of the criteria many of them use to choose their wedding photographer.
Top 7 mistakes brides and grooms make when selecting a photographer for their big day:
1. RELYING ON WEDDING VENDOR REFERRALS. This may be the worst mistake of them all. Many wedding vendors trade referrals with other wedding professionals with no real knowledge of the other’s work. And yes, many times it’s an honest referral based upon working a few weddings with one another. But how much can a DJ, for example, really know about the quality of a wedding photographer’s work? Often times this type of referral is just based on the fact that the DJ has worked with the photographer at a number of events and liked him or her. Did the DJ ever see the final result? Did they see the wedding album? Probably not.
2. JUDGING A PHOTOGRAPHER BASED SOLELY ON A "GREATEST HITS" WEDDING ALBUM PORTFOLIO. There is nothing more misleading regarding a photographer’s talent than looking at a sample wedding album that is a compilation of their best shots at 50 different weddings. An album such as this may be useful in understanding just how great an image they are capable of producing, but that’s really all it tells you. Ask to be shown an album of one entire wedding from start to finish. A good wedding photographer should be able to produce a number of complete albums, which will give you a better idea of how your own wedding will be photographed. Virtually anybody with a decent camera can get one great shot per wedding!
3. PAYING TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO THE SALES PITCH. Every photographer can tell you great things about themselves and so they should. But in your initial wedding consultation, look for photographers who are interested in YOU. A good photographer will want to know the types of photography styles you are interested in and what you are looking for in a wedding photographer. A photographer who asks you lots of questions about your wedding and your preferences will probably also be more likely to listen to you and have a better sense of what you want. If the wedding meeting is just one long lecture from the photographer, move on to the next photographer. Find someone who cares.
4. NOT ASSESSING THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S PERSONALITY. This is a biggie. You will spend the entire day with your photographer. If you don’t get along with him or her, it can ruin what should be the happiest day of your life. Rude and bossy photographers can also cause problems with your guests. Find a photographer who is easy to talk to and who you can establish good rapport with.
5. CHOOSING "UNCLE BOB" TO SHOOT YOUR WEDDING! With digital cameras now in practically everyone’s hands, there seems to be a lot more "wedding photographers" out there. The fact that a friend or relative is good with his new digital camera does not mean he can handle a wedding. And what about file backups? Does your family photographer know how to do a correct backup, or even have the proper computer hardware to do it? In my business, I bring a portable hard drive to every wedding and the images are uploaded and checked on the spot. When I get back to my studio, the images are uploaded to my main computer and then backed up on an external hard drive. Once that is complete, 2 back up DVD’s are burned. Only then will I erase the cards I used for the wedding. You don’t want your memories to go up in smoke along with a burnt out hard drive.
6. CARING ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS TYPE OF CAMERA EQUIPMENT. In this day and age, a photographer can make great images with any medium to high quality camera. Wedding photographers who spend an inordinate amount of time discussing the type of equipment they use may not be the right person for you. What you really want to know is what type of images they can produce and if they can show you plenty of samples. It’s the final result that matters. If you are happy with what they show you and everything else checks out OK, you can assume their equipment is adequate for the task.
7. CONFUSION OVER PRICING. If you can’t understand the pricing or packages, keep looking. Package pricing, if flexible, is the best way to go. It allows you to have a better idea of what your final bill will be. Ala carte pricing can confuse and be misleading. You may assume that something you though was included in their coverage costs extra. Like a wedding album! However, a photographer who only offers strictly structured packages should also be avoided. Ultimately, you want to find someone who will work within your budget and give you exactly what you want. If you don’t see a package that fits your needs, ask the photographer to let you design your own.
This list should help you understand what’s important. Find a photographer with a style you prefer and who shows you images that you love. Use that initial consultation as a way to get to know your photographer and develop rapport. Talk to some former clients to get a sense of how the photographer behaved at the wedding. If everything looks good, you are ready to make your decision!
For more Dubnoff work samples check out their Wishpot profile with online brochure. I especially agree with #4. I’ve been in too many weddings where the wedding photographer was rude, pushy, and made everyone feel uncomfortable. Not exactly ideal. Anyone else had any bad photog experiences either at their own wedding or in a wedding they were in or at?
Thanks Dubnoff Photography.
gift_girl
