Dear Bridesmaids,

This is a simple reminder that the day is not about you. I write this with an open mind that yes you might be wearing the most awful color dress, or the cut of the dress might make you look a few pounds heavier. Your ex might be standing up on the groom’s side and you may only get to see the bride once during the entire wedding reception, but this 12 hours is not about you.

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Planning a wedding is like putting together a huge puzzle, specifically a puzzle where you don’t know what the final picture will look like.  The key is that every bride has a different set of puzzle pieces.  No wedding will have the same pieces, which is why every wedding has a new fabulous final product.  No one can fully understand all of the hoops and twists it takes to gather the couple’s two families together for one day.

Your closest friend or family member has asked you to stand next to them in full support of their new marriage.  I suggest if you can’t fully support them you kindly turn down their offer.   Even if you think the songs of the wedding are outdated, or you are still holding a grudge against the groom from elementary school, none of that matters on their wedding day.

As a bridesmaid you are asked to stick to a pretty tight time schedule and give a lot of your energy to activities such as dress shopping, rehearsals and wedding talk that does not center around you.  Trust me , I understand that this can be wearing and you may even think that your best friend doesn’t care about whats going on in your life anymore. She does.

Maybe you are married and understand, but once you begin planning a wedding there are so many ideas, plans and projects going on in your head it is hard to think about much anything else.  All I can say to the girls standing to the right of the bride is to be patient.  Give the bride a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen.  Let your bride go on and on about how the caterer is being difficult and the photographer hasn’t finished the engagement photos – because when it is your time around you will wish the same.    Don’t complain about the style of the wedding or the music being played, just enjoy it for what it is.  A perfectly designed wedding for your best friend’s day… not yours!

Finally, your opinion does matter.  Each bridesmaid was hand-picked as someone the bride feels has blessed her life.  Hearing rumors of one of her bridesmaids complaining about the cost of the dress or the taste of the food will hurt her. Think about who you are venting to – it will get around.

Just because it might not be your style of beautiful it is hers, and appreciate it for what it is … and thank your friend or family member for all of the time putting the puzzle together for their ideal day!

Here are some unique Bridesmaid and Groomsmen gifts I have found that I love:

For The Guys:

Perfect for Tailgating! Check out Vat19.com for details

Black Bar Glasses to hide the identity of your friends after a crazy night.  Order them at Catching Fireflies

Holds 5 Beers..Drink fast boys or it will quickly get warm! —> Catching Fireflies

For the Girls:

I love all of the creative designs these aprons from   offer.  You will have fun picking out a style that meets each women’s personality.  ——>Wrapables

Keep your door open with some style.  I love these high heel shoe stoppers!! —–> Spoon Sisters

Purse size cocktail shakers. Be able to mix up your favorite drink anywhere with a fashionable touch.  ——>Wrapables

I want to know how you asked your bridesmaids to stand next to you on your big day!?

The only thing better about treating your girls to a spa day before your wedding, would be spending the day being pampered in an over-sized fluffy personalized robe.  Your girls can use these robes after and will love the personalization!  Don’t forget to specialize a robe for the mother of the bride and mother of the groom to wear proudly while celebrating that morning.

Along the same lines of robes, these bath towel dresses are also a fun way to thank your girlfriends for their support over the years.

**I am always thinking about ways to create great photography opportunities, and this is one of them!  Have your photographer meet you and your bridesmaids at the spa the morning of the wedding as you get your hair and nails done in your personalized robes!

Sources:  Pink Frosting, The Knot, Monograms Etc., Get Married

Your bridesmaids are there to support you every step of the way! Have them sign the soles of your shoes that you are walking down the aisle in as memorabilia (a mini guest book in a way!).

As all of the upcoming spring and summer brides are preparing for their outdoor weddings, why not create a program that is not only informative but functional and fun!  I love these fan programs for outdoor weddings, they are a great DIY project that your guests will appreciate!

They are a bit time consuming but worth every minute! Make sure you order heavy card stock for your paper so that your fans aren’t flimsy.  Cut the ribbons to the length and thickness that you desire and then gather a group of your bridesmaids and start an assembly line!

*Find the perfect wording/font and print them at a local copy shop

* Cut out each fan section very carefully!

* Punch a hole in the lower portion of the fan section

*Loop the ribbon through all of the fan sections

* Admire your great work!!

**UPDATE: If you are interested in creating your own DIY fan download it below!

Wedding Fan Template

Your Bridal Shower would not be the same without the cheesy games centered around L.O.V.E.

I am always looking for new and exciting games that will help entertain your guests!

My newest favorite I call “Scrapbooked Life“…(Please let me know if there is already a name for this game!)

Supplies Needed:

- As many magazines as you can find…the more variety the better!
- Scissors, sheets of computer paper & glue
- Creative imaginations

How you play the game:

Split up the guests into smaller groups of 3-4 people. Give them ten minutes to flip though the magazines as quick as possible and tell them to cut out pictures or words that they think the future couple’s life will look like in 5 – 10 years.  Suggestions are pictures of cars they will drive, how many kids they will have and even how their house will be decorated.

Once the time is up, each group has to present their completed collage and explain why they felt each picture belonged in the bride’s future!

The more creative ideas the more laughs your group will get!

What are creative games that you have stood out to you at bridal showers?

Bubbly hems bring out the fun side of every bride!  Each bride’s unique flavor and “bubbly” personality complements these dresses perfectly!  I think you are going to be seeing many more of these hemlines in 2009, on both brides and bridesmaids alike!

I especially adore this final short bubble dress from Charles Nolan—the bridal look is so classy and still so fun and outgoing!  Don’t hesitate to show off this hemline at your upcoming wedding.

Is this hemline too trendy for a wedding? … Let me know what you think!

Source: Scarpe, Dessy, Caroline Calvery Couture, Ulla-Maija, Maggie Sottero, Charles Nolan

How often have you gone to a bridal shower and dreaded the age-old games that we repeatedly play every year?  For all of you maid-of-honors who are trying to think of new fun ideas to keep everyone entertained during a bridesmaid’s luncheon or shower, here is a great game to try!  I call it the “Panty Tree” (I am sure someone out there has a more sophisticated name for it).

When you send the invitations, let all of the guests know to bring one panty for the bride that reflects their personality and style.  It could be a sexy piece or a funny pair, anything that catches their eye! Make sure to let everyone know what size to purchase for the bride!

As each guest arrives, have them hang their undies somewhere on the panty tree.  You can be creative with making the actual tree used in this activity.  The picture below shows a wire tree that works out perfectly for this, but you can find a lot of things around the house to help you create this tree.

Once the bride arrives at the shower, explain to her the simple rules of the game.  She needs to pull off one item at a time and try to guess which of her friends or family members brought it for her.  It will add plenty of laughs as she misguesses each and every one.  If you have the time, you can insist on an explanation as to why she thinks someone brought a particular panty for her!  It is fun to see how well she knows the different styles of her guests.

In the end, the bride is left with a handful of adorable undies to add to her collection, and everyone was entertained for the afternoon!

What other games have you found to be fun at Bridal Showers?

*Photographs by Beautiful Spirit Photography  (the website is still under construction but she is up and coming and fabulous!)

“When I’m drinking champagne…I’m drinking stars”  – Dom Perignon

Within the Chicago area, I love trying out new places to eat!  A few blocks from my downtown apartment is a fabulous champagne bar: Pops for Champagne.  I imagine this hot spot to be a great place for a bachelorette party to start out with a few drinks, before anything gets too crazy!  The atmosphere is sophisticated- it screams celebration!

Serving Chicago since 1982, Pops for Champagne is the perfect mix between a bubbly champagne bar and an intimate live music club. It offers freshly prepared shared plates, a raw bar, and a dessert menu in the upstairs main bar and lower level jazz club.   With 100 options of “bubbly” and small plates to compliment the drinks, Pops for Champagne is a prime location when visiting the city.  Its River North location on State and Ohio streets places it at an easy walk from most downtown hotels and a quick trip to continue the night’s fun on the town!

Check out menus at their website:     http://www.popsforchampagne.com/