Bridal: Bridal Showers-yay or nay?

I'm probably going to piss off a lot of my relatives and friends for saying this, but I really hate bridal showers. The thing is, whenever I'm at a bridal shower, I ALWAYS get stuck with the hard labor work involved in the shower. You know what I'm talking about; unwrapping the gifts, passing them to the next person in the assembly line, and then getting the gift back and trying to organize it somewhere in a corner so it's easy to carry off and take home. I understand when one is a bridesmaid, part of their job is to help out with the bridal shower, but c'mon! (lol) It's not an easy job when you have on 5 inch heels and a dress. It's just not a good look to be cute one minute and then wiping sweat off your forehead after pushing around boxes that are bigger than you. So that's my gripe about bridal showers.

I know it's inevitable that I will have my own one day (my mother wouldn't have it any other way), but if i can help it, I would like to try a different approach. And one more thing, I don't really care to sit there and watch the bride-to-be open and show off all the gifts they get; I already know what you're getting! It's called the BRIDAL REGISTRY! On the upside, I do enjoy them because it's a good excuse to get together with friends and family, and I'm always up for a good time, but I could do without the hard labor.  Does anyone have any ideas for a non-traditional baby shower, that's still fun? Let me know some of your ideas.

Bridal: Rehearsal Dinner Fridays a'la BBQ

Rehearsal Dinner: BBQ Style! by Bridal Shorts featuring flat thong sandals

Antik Batik top, €109
All Saints hot shorts, $38
ALDO flat sandals, $78
Forever21 flat thong sandals, $13
Old Navy hobo handbag, $13
All Saints tassel necklace, $58
Gold necklace, $34
TopShop jersey dress, $55

Its summer time. With this recent heat wave I thought about being outside, hence the BBQ rehearsal dinner. For a BBQ, really anything goes.  The key is to wear something comfortable while being able to breath in your skin. Here are two different outfits I created that are appropriate for a BBQ that are comfortable without having to sacrifice style. What type of clothes do you wear to a BBQ?

Bridal: The Bachelorette Party!

So it's time to start thinking about the BIG night? The first thing to consider is everyone's budget. If the plan is to go off to an island, make sure everyone that's getting invited is able to afford it.  Really, the event depends on what the bride wants and what is actually feasible. Whatever the plan is, check out Bridesmaid Aid for some tips on how to plan the bachelorette party and what to expect that night.  If you plan on having some props, e-bachelorette can supply you and your guests with some interesting (i.e. naughty) accessories to party the night away. Have you ever been to a bachelorette party? What were some things that were memorable and some things you would rather forget?

Bridal: Wedding Cakes

When trying to figure out what kind of cake you would like to have at your wedding, think about how feel when it comes to sweets.  If you are a dessert person, then make sure you don't skip out on a great tasting cake. I've discovered that while during my own wedding planning, a lot of people don't care for cake. This is appalling to me because I'm ALL about the cake! If the cake is good, I will definitely remember the wedding. On the other hand, some brides want the cake to look just as good as them; which is fine especially since it will probably be photographed. Check out these Crazy Wedding Cakes to get some inspiration. For a more traditional design go to Wedding Cake Designs and The Knotty Bride for more ideas. Do you enjoy a nice piece of cake? or do you pass it up?

Bridal: Shoes!

Wedding Shoes by Bridal Shorts featuring rhinestone heels

Badgley Mischka white wedge sandals, $200
Stuart Weitzman Bridal platform shoes, $298
Kate Spade bow flat, $193
Ivanka Trump rhinestone heels, $160
Manolo Blahnik blue high heels, $945

Bridal Shorts: Summer Need-to-Know

So you're having a summer wedding? And you're not having it at an inside venue? No sweat! Chances are that your special day will be a hot one and you and your guests are going to want to be comfortable. Check out dexKnows Weddings for some tips on how to keep the party cool and your wedding guests happy. One great idea is to double up using fans as favors as well as a means to stay dry just like the fans pictured above; you can find more at The Wedding Outlet. Have you ever been to a wedding outside and the heat was just unbearable? What would you have done to stay cool?

Bridal: Rehearsal Dinner Fridays

Wedding Rehearsal Fridays by Bridal Shorts featuring feather jewelry

Minuet Petite dot dress, 77 GBP
Joan & David Collection hidden platform shoes, $122
Glint retro handbag, $68
TopShop feather jewelry, $180

Having a more formal rehearsal dinner? Don't be afraid of colors! My new favorite trend right now is mixing pink and blue, but it can be a little tricky if you don't have the right shades to match.  If you are having trouble with what to wear and are not sure how to pick out the right shades, just think about the colors of your very own wedding! If you've ordered bouquets for the bridesmaids, think about the colors of the flowers and how well they match with the bridesmaid dresses.  I've seen a lot of brides choose pink and blue flowers and the colors look stunning next to each other!  What opposite colors have you paired together? Was it a success?

Bridal: Outdoor Wedding

Having an outdoor wedding? I've personally never been to one, but it seems like it would be nice during the warmer months.  Check out these great tips from Weather.com on outdoor weddings and don't forget to go to A Perfect Celebration for more ideas. Have your ever been to an outdoor wedding? How was it?

Bridal: Wedding Fitness

Yesterday I started my summer workout plan and it inspired me to include a post about wedding fitness.  Every bride wants to look her best on her special day and there are only two reasons I can think of why that is: all eyes will be on her and taking pictures. Those two reasons alone are enough to start a fitness regime.  At My Bridal Fitness Program one bride talks about her own fitness plan. When preparing for an event, do you have a stay healthy plan that you follow?

Bridal: Rehearsal Dinner Fridays

Rehearsal Dinner Fridays by Bridal Shorts featuring print dresses

All Saints print dress, $145
Espadrille sandal, $69
ASOS flat shoes, $22
Handbag, 99 EUR
H m jewelry, 6.99 GBP
Old Navy gemstone jewelry, $7.50
ALDO tribal jewelry, $12

In keeping with the beach theme of the week, I thought this outfit would be totally appropriate for a rehearsal dinner at a beach resort.  The espadrilles and flowy short dress make it a perfect fit for sun and sand while still looking fabulous. What do you like wearing when attending a beach function?

Bridal: Balloons VS Flowers

By no means do I want anyone to think I'm being a snob about this, but...I just don't see a neccessary reason to have balloons for a wedding.  Whenever I think of balloons for a wedding, I can't help but think "Oh em gee, that's so 1990!" And judging by this picture above, the couple looks like it's straight out of the Clinton administration. Don't get me wrong, balloons are still cool for let's say, I don't know, a high school prom? I do understand that sometimes budget plays a big deal into deciding on centerpieces, but please, for the sake of weddings around the globe, DO NOT use balloons.  There are plenty of other great ideas that are not only beautiful, but inexpensive as well. I promise you can still have a gorgeous wedding without breaking the bank. At Divine Dinner Party you can find cheap alternatives for an affordable centerpiece. How might you go about trying to get creative when doing your own centerpieces?

Bridal: Beach Wedding

After a long holiday weekend, I'm back and feeling a bit inspired to write about beach weddings.  This past weekend is kind of the unofficial start to summer so I thought what better way to start the week than to post about beach weddings.  The above picture is an actual invitation found on Bridella and it comes packaged in a box.  There are tons of great ideas for beach weddings; the key is trying to make a beach wedding fit your budget and style.  Tell me, what are some of the best beaches to have a wedding?

Bridal: Jewelry

Wedding Jewelry! I have to say, I do like to accessorize and what better occasion to do that than a wedding? Nowadays, there are so many varieties and styles that it can be hard to choose from.  The jewelry set above is from Anna Bellagio, this is just one example of what the site offers. When deciding on what to wear with your magnificent dress, ask yourself what style is your dress? Then you want to think about what jewelry you are comfortable wearing; such as bracelets, necklaces, earrings, or none.  As for me, I like big overstated earrings and necklaces. You want to make sure that your jewelry doesn't interfere with your dress either: if your dress has a lot of jewels already, then opt for pieces that are on the simple side. So tell me, diamonds or pearls?

Bridal: Braids

I absolutely love braids! And I love them even more when it's put together with a stunning updo like the one pictured above on Jessica Alba.  This look for a wedding hairstyle is definitely something to consider. You can check out more photos here at Total Beauty. What do you think of the braid? Is this a look you would give a try?

Bridal: Dress Shopping

What do you wear when going dress shopping? Rule of thumb is to wear under garments that are closest to your skin color: NEVER black or white. (These colors will show right through a white dress)  The picture above is from myskins.com and they specialize in lingerie that resemble the color of your skin.