December 2, 2008
Complete Coverage: Weddings
Brides scrimp and save--but not on the dress
Brides-to-be feeling the pinch of the current economic downturn might be willing to pare down their wine list, favors, even the guest list. Their gown, however, is often another story.
Saving the gown? Don't forget to clean it first
You wouldn't throw $1,056 out the window _ not even if you're a deliriously happy newlywed, right?
Cutting your costs in ways they won't notice
Khris Cochran splurged for her wedding seven years ago. The ceremony was in a rose garden overlooking San Francisco Bay. The cake was made by a star baker featured on the Food Network. The honeymoon was in French Polynesia.
Superstar brides behind classic 'white wedding' appeal
Fancy white gowns and multitiered cakes. Shiny gold rings and 400 guests. Exactly when did the fantasy of a classic "white wedding" take root?
Weighing the advantages of a 'surprise wedding'
Dan and Maggie Miller's guests arrived for an engagement party, but they got the whole wedding.
Children in the wedding party? You'd better practice
It's a few minutes to showtime. The guests are all seated, the musicians are warming up.
Too busy for love? Let your parents arrange it
Love _ who has time for that? Arshia Urooj Zaidi certainly didn't. Up to her neck in a Ph.D. program, she knew that as much as she wanted to fall in love and get married, her schedule just didn't allow for a search for Mr. Right.
The new pros and cons of changing your name
Well before her wedding, Lauren Abraham decided she would take her husband's last name, Mahoney.
Finding the perfect wedding dress
You've found the perfect guy. Now you just have to find the perfect gown (which actually might be harder).
Taking beautiful wedding pictures
The wedding album: either a gorgeous keepsake you want to show every visitor who walks through your door or something you sort of hide underneath a stack of coffee table books.
Facing the dreaded 'F' word: fiancée
According to many media outlets, marriage is a magical, beautiful thing that almost every woman wants. For the typical New York woman, however, the concept cause more anxiety than joy.
Find your dream honeymoon without going broke
Not everyone can afford the Cove Atlantis' $100,000 honeymoon package, with its private jet service, yacht tours, uber-luxe spa treatments and penthouse suite.
Accessories that enhance the glow
Looking your best at your wedding does not end with finding the perfect dress. From what goes on your head to what you slip your feet into, flattering accessories that complement the gown is paramount in achieving the effervescent glow every bride should have on her special day.
Gift bags to thrill your guests
Like the invitation, the hotel welcome gift bag for sets the tone of a wedding and gets guests all jazzed up for the weekend's events.
Going with prints for bridesmaids' dresses
Prints have been covering everything from skirts to jackets to shoes lately. So why not bring the trend to bridesmaids' dresses?
Shopping for diamonds
Walking around the Diamond District -- on 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues -- it's easy to get entranced, and not just by the sparkling rocks.
Creating a 'destination wedding' here in town
Who doesn't love a destination wedding? It's a party and vacation rolled into one.
Wedding belles
Get ready to fall in love with this season's most romantic wedding gowns. Say goodbye to strapless and hello to straps and sleeves, as ready-to-wed dresses take cue from ready-to-wear.
Brides break all the rules
When my husband and I set out to plan our recent wedding, we knew we wanted it to be small, intimate and personal. And we were prepared to break some rules.
Dont get hung-up on your gown size
The tears streaming down a bride's face the first time she puts on her wedding gown should be tears of joy. Thanks to the quirky sizing system used by many bridal designers, however, she might be crying over the blow to her self-esteem.
Top off tables with style
While the wedding dress is a personal expression of the bride, the reception tabletop has become a way for newlyweds to express themselves as a couple.
Whats hot in 2007
Cocktail hours. Blogs. Orange. Italy. These are among hot wedding trends for 2007 compiled by the Web site TheKnot.com. Here are some details:
Make a list, check it twice
Creating the guest list for your wedding can be almost as challenging as choosing the right mate. Who do you invite? Who do you cut?
Center of attention
These days, wedding planners say there are tons of interesting alternatives to plopping a large flower arrangement in the center of each table when it comes to centerpieces for your reception. Using unconventional materials in unusual ways can create a look that is fresh and stylish.
Choosing your jewels
For most brides-to-be, a wedding gown can help set the tone of the entire wedding. Whether the look is vintage, earthy, regal or classic, adding accessories can usually help achieve the desired effect.
Have a hot honeymoon
From adventure travel to far-off places, couples are becoming more selective, creative and demanding about their wedding trips. We interviewed honeymoon experts, perused wedding magazines and scoured the Internet to uncover what's hot and what's not. Here's a look at the top trends.
The lure of Tahiti
Tahiti and her surrounding islands are the epitome of tropical, like a guidebook come to life. Temperatures range from 70 to 85 degrees, it has the brightest of blue seas, crystal white sands, stunning mountain ranges, waterfalls and, perhaps most of interest to honeymooners, over-water bungalows -- your own private house built on stilts that sits above calm waters.
Learn to live together
Whether you're trying to save money by moving in together before your big day, or are merging space after your wedding, learning to cohabitate can be tricky.
Engaging moments
Interested in popping the question? From sports arenas to Times Square marquees, the perfect proposal is just a knee bend away.
Get your gown out of town
Wedding days are here again. That means it's time to tackle a common question: How do you pack and transport a gown for an out-of-town affair?
Making dinner plans
They'll forget the music, they may even forget the bride's dress, but one thing wedding guests will long remember is the food. And ensuring fond memories of the meal depends on how well you work with your caterer.
When you need professional help
There are two types of brides: Those who want to plan every detail of their wedding themselves, and those who'd rather not be a taskmaster.
Dancing away first dance jitters
Gabriela Palmieri and Scott Harford have been preparing for their wedding step by step.
Tips and tricks for better wedding photos
Getting married probably is the biggest production you'll ever put on, so choosing a backdrop for your wedding photos should incorporate a little location scouting.
Marriage can be a laughing matter
If you're worried about Uncle Larry being the life of the party at your wedding, why not one-up him and leave the entertainment to professional comedians at the Laugh Factory?
Menus and venues
The time between saying "yes" and "I do" can be magical or stressful. But one thing all brides will agree upon: It's full of details, chief among them menus and venues.
325 years later and Pachelbels still a hit
It's not a march, but it's one of the most popular songs used in bridal processions -- perhaps even more so than "Here Comes the Bride." It's Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D."