Blog Posts by BRIDES

By Phillip B. Crook, BRIDES

And you think your wedding is complicated? Try being a member of the British royal family. From the centuries-old rules and regulations to the pint-sized "bridesmaids" and post-wedding "breakfast" served at noon, we dissect the pomp and circumstance of a traditional royal wedding.

Illustration by Edwin FotheringhamBy Barrie Gillies, BRIDES

Every bride wants to save. But there are good ways-and bad. For those in doubt, BRIDES magazine has the playbook.

INVITATIONS

DO print a single card with both ceremony and reception details.
DON'T text the invites.

FLOWERS

DO decorate with potted bulbs, herbs, or fresh produce instead of just-cut stems.
DON'T skip centerpieces altogether: Bare does not equal beautiful.

DRINK

DO give your guests a limited menu for drinks, such as a signature cocktail, beer, and wine.
DON'T have a cash bar or, worse, make the reception BYOB!

FOOD

DO serve a pasta buffet for an informal wedding.
DON'T do chips, pretzels, and baby carrots and hope that people will show up having already eaten.

WEDDING CAKE

DO order a cake for just two-thirds of your guest list. (Some people will skip dessert or leave before you cut it.)
DON'T ask Mom to make her Jell-O molds. Everyone may have raved about them when you were growing up, but this is a wedding, not a playdate.

NEGOTIATING

DO ask

Conde Nast Digital StudioBy Phillip B. Crook, BRIDES

Tutus, bubble gum, a piggy bank, some breeds of unicorn, and now...Reese Witherspoon's wedding dress. While everyone's still guessing as to the style, we can report that Reese's strapless Monique Lhuillier gown was pink-and not ombre hot pink ala Gwen Stefani, but a head-to-toe pale hue.

Designers like (clockwise from top left) Oscar de la Renta, Jenny Lee, Romona Keveza, and Claire Pettibone often look to blush tones as a soft, romantic alternative to white. There's no rule barring second-time brides like Reese from wearing white (and we'd ignore it if there were), but brides looking to change things up from the first dress can't go wrong with pink. As with white, the range of pink options offers subtle variations to best match different skin tones. Was pale pink right on fair-skinned Reese? Unless she leaks (or sells) her wedding photos, we'll have to closely eye those paparazzi helicopter shots to find out.

To see more pink gowns, visit our Wedding

Photo Courtesy of the Ritz Carlton, Washington, D.C.By Mary Beth Somich, BRIDES

If you're obsessed with the royal wedding (like us!), but weren't blessed with blue blood, check out the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C.'s Royal Wedding Experience.

Couples who purchase this package will plan their nuptials with an award-winning wedding coordinator, Amal Zaari. The bride-to-be will also receive a custom sapphire and diamond engagement ring like Kate's, as well as a diamond tiara, from D.C. jewelry mecca Tiny Jewel Box. Additionally, all wedding attire will be chosen by a personal Carine Krawiec of Carine's Bridal Atelier, and each guest will take part in an individual shopping session at Saks Fifth Avenue in order to ensure they are properly outfitted for such an occasion.

Event designers will be transform the Ritz-Carlton into Westminster Abbey for the ceremony, Kensingston Gardens for the reception, and then Buckingham Palace when it comes time for dinner. As if that weren't enough, the details will be determined according to royal

By Kim Forrest, BRIDES

Our favorite breezy, lightweight gowns for casual weddings in the sand.

By Kim Forrest, BRIDES

There are lots of perks that come with being a young attendant at a royal wedding, including the opportunity to dress in the frilliest, fanciest dress imaginable. At the wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, the princess was shadowed by a troupe of little flower girls (or "bridesmaids" as they're known across the pond) outfitted in ruffly white couture ensembles accented with yellow sashes. We think that princess-to-be Kate Middleton will likely adhere to tradition when styling her tiny attendants-they'll probably wear white dresses with sleeves or a jacket, perhaps featuring a touch of color, like regal red or Kate's favorite shade of blue. We've pulled together some of our favorite flower girl options for Kate to peruse.

What do you think Kate's flower girls will wear?

BRIDES editors asked five guys: Would you propose to your girlfriend on a Jumbotron? Here's what they had to say:

By BRIDES

Maybe it's the upcoming royal nuptials, or maybe it's just something in the air. After scouring hundreds of photos from the runway and real weddings across the country, BRIDES editors have discovered that it's all about making a regal impact.