If you are planning your wedding decor around one of these beautiful peacock feathers, then you do not want to miss out on adding this dramatic detail to your attire.  Find one that fits your style and complements your dress, whether is full of color and texture or simple but still fashionable.

I love how this hair piece below gives the illusion of peacock feathers but still maintains the bridal white appearance.

If you are looking for a more abstract hair design, avoid the typical peacock colors or bridal white and find a peacock design in a funky color. Pick one that maybe matches another color that you are tying into your event.  The hair piece will pop against your white dress in pictures!

Sources:  Laura Kranitz, NevaPlume Etsy, Portobello Etsy Shop

Headbands can be covered in jewels to stand out or they can be designed to add a soft but dramatic  touch to your attire.  I came across these flowers and designs and I had to share them with everyone.  They do a great way of keeping the overall look of the wedding dress romantic.  They add enough style to notice but they don’t overwhelm the dress.

The large flower headband below is one of the more dramatic headbands offered at Little White Dresser.  This is for the chic brides who are looking to stand out in a trendy and fashionable way.  Keep your dress simple and let this be the focus of your attire.  One detail I love the most is how her headband complements her bouquet so well!

Source: Little White Dresser

When in doubt, fry it. At The Chip Shop in Brooklyn, New York, you can experience the greasiest, fattiest fried food there is. Owner Chris Sell opened the restaurant in 2001 and brought his passion for frying British chips to New York. Unusual items include hard-boiled eggs, pudding, mac and cheese, candy bars, cupcakes and Twinkies…ALL FRIED!

You read a lot about the ‘right’ diet and the ‘right’ fitness routine to get you in the best shape of your life for your wedding day. What you don’t read about are those celebrations with friends and outings to new restaurants that turn into guilty pleasures during a stressful planning process.  This is a restaurant you might NOT want to eat at before your big day…

I guarantee they will surprise you with all of the creative foods they have thrown in the fryer!  Check out this picture of Fried Pizza…as if the pizza wasn’t greasy enough!  They will even let you bring in your own food to fry, get creative and be daring while trying new things at the Chip Shop.

Fried Twinkie

There is something about this place that keeps guests coming back over and over again to give into their need for grease!  Again, not recommended before your wedding day.. but maybe you can send the boys out here the morning after the bachelor party.

Source: The Chip Shop

Whether it is white or full of color—short sleeves or delicate long sleeves—plain or extravagant, these short jackets will only help add style to your attire on your wedding day.  It will also add edginess to your photographs. Have fun with the jacket—show it off!

Don’t automatically stick with a white one that “matches” your wedding dress, if you haven’t discovered yet how much I love color, I encourage you to go bold and find a color to go along with your bridesmaids but not necessarily match!  Of course black always contrasts with white and goes with most any color your bridesmaids are wearing.  Try a fun red or a passion purple that will look daring in your photos!

Check out the sassy fur jacket below from SpAZooie on Etsy, perfect for a winter wedding, and dont forget it will keep you warm while you are outside!

Source: Spazooie, Bonzie via Stacey Reeves, Olivia Grace Bridal, MaryandAngelika Etsy

Brides, get your tennis shoes ready!  Not to be the next Runaway Bride…but to join thousands in the next marathon or half marathon near you!

Last week I participated in the Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon here in Chicago and saw something that made me wish I had my camera.  There was a bride in front of me that made her own shirt which read “Sexy Bride-to-Be”.  Not only is your wedding motivation to be in the best shape possible, but to ensure you don’t fall off the wagon why not sign up for a half marathon near you?

Running will help you release stress as the wedding planning process moves forward.  It is a great way to clear your mind and get away by yourself or with a close friend to spend time on just you!  Exercise before your big day is so important to not only to look and feel your best but to help maintain your sanity!

I’m curious…How many brides out there signed up for some sort of organized run to keep you on your workout track?

It is in the details where you can find the most beautiful designs and styles for your big day.  Corset Style dresses are a beautiful example of how a dress can be classy but still o-so sexy!

I love the contrasting black tie corset against the white wedding dress.  This adds for a very dramatic back while you are saying your I Do’s.

One great reason to use a corset tie-up dress is to save on alterations. You can tie the dress tighter/looser as the big day gets closer.

One warning I would like to make is beware how tight you tie it!  Although you don’t want your dress to fall off, nerves will get to you as you prepare to walk down the aisle and all of a sudden the dress feels a lot tighter than it did minutes earlier!  Breathe easy on your big day!

Sources: Luminka, Zenhobo, Cymbeline USA

Take a moment in the chaos of wedding planning to spend time with your fiance relaxing!  About 1 month before your wedding day, schedule a couple’s treatment together.  Whether it is a massage, a relaxing bath, or another for-couples-only service offered by the spa—treat yourselves!

Taking time away from family and friends during the planning process is so important.  Plan romantic dates and spend time  just focusing on each other, avoiding any talk about the wedding!

How did you and your fiance pamper yourselves before the wedding?

Never underestimate the power of a sassy pair of cowboy boots hiding under your gorgeous gown!  These brides pulled off this look fabulously!

Talk about adding personality to your attire on your wedding day!  These pictures are full of attitude, you can see how comfortable the brides are expressing themselves!

Sources: Real Photography, Julie Harris Photography, Abby Photography, Utah Bride and Groom, Susie Gray, KJ Images

Change up the typical dress silhouette by baring a shoulder.  Show off your months spent in bridal boot camp and the definition you gained in your arms.  I think dresses designed with one shoulder bared are the perfect mix of sexy and classy for brides who want to turn their groom’s head.

Sources: Angel Sanchez, Vera Wang, Pronovias, Monique Lhuillier, Melissa Sweet, Kevin Hall

One of the most photographed parts of your body other than your glowing smile, is your glistening wedding ring with your perfectly manicured fingernails.  When you are making your beauty schedule for your big day, consisting of your hair and makeup—please do not forget about your nails!

The tangible symbol of your wedding is the new rings you will be wearing and of course the photographer is going to want the new bling in the pictures! You want your fingernails to look as good as possible to make the picture that much better! Either host a spa day with your bridesmaids and have everyone together getting mani’s and pedi’s a day or two before the wedding, or use this as a time to get away and relax by yourself.

I love spa parties with everyone, but for brides-to-be I suggest using this as a time for you to get away and find peace and quiet.  Find a spa where you can get your nails done, a massage and a facial. Many spas have bride-to-be packages or deals that have all of these in one.  With all of the tension and stress you have been going through for the last year of planning, a fully body massage will take it all out of you.

For the 2-3 hours that you are at the spa you don’t have to think about which guests can’t come or what color of shoes your bridesmaids are wearing—you just have to think of your wonderful husband-to-be and your new marriage together.

Don’t misunderstand, I have had plenty of fabulous successful bridal spa parties where all of the bridesmaids get robes and they celebrate together.  The spa is full of excitement with everyone bustling around, talking about your wedding!  If your personality screams “the more the merrier” and “I can relax on the Honeymoon” then by all means have everyone join you! Maybe even invite your photographer along to take some getting ready pictures with your group to capture the moments of the event.  If you do choose to have everyone join you—I recommend finding something else that you love to do whether it be working out, reading or going to a special place—and take time by yourself to regain your sanity!

Did you take a personal day at the spa or invite the entire crew for the celebration?