Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I assume most of you are aware that Memorial Day weekend brings “the greatest spectacle in racing,” the Indianapolis 500. Since I’m from Indy, let me just inform all you non-Nap Town dwellers that this is one, huge weekend!!! You can’t turn the corner without running into a black and white checkered flag, a stellar pair of cut off jorts (jean shorts), a solid print mank (man tank), a beer can or a backyard BBQ… just doing our part to keep America classy :)
Haha! While “the greatest spectacle in racing” isn’t necessarily where brides-to-be flock for fashion forward advice, I would like to toot the horn of one of it’s most symbolic details… the black and white checkered flag.
Black and white weddings are all the rage these days, and because they create a standout look whether they’re standing alone or paired with another, more vibrant accent color, it’s easy to see why. Of course, black and white themed wedding are popular for a number of reasons but mainly because of their versatility and timelessness.
These two “non-colors” work in any setting, any time of the year, and their contrasting neutrality creates a serious pop of punctuated charm. Check it, chickas… get it? “Check.” Haha, I’m awesome:
I’m sure all of you are probably wondering what in the Sam Hill do Vikings and mullets have to do with weddings… but please, I urge all of you to stick with me here. And I do this for a number of reasons, but if for nothing else, stick with me for the sheer fact that the most infamous ‘do(not) ever: the mullet is a part of the story… and anything that puts business in the front and a party in the back deserves a head nod at the very least.
Now, let me first begin by saying, I’m a HA-HUGE football fan. Ingrained in my blood, I get the night before Christmas butterflies every time I step out for a tailgate. I love the rugged nature and American-ness that football brings to the sport’s world. I love that it’s something my Mister and I can watch (and enjoy!) together. I love that it’s associated with finger foods, cold brews and delicious dips covered in cheese, but most of all, I love football for the good ‘ole boys who play it… especially the ones rockin’ a mullet.
Enter: Minnesota Viking’s defensive end, Jared Allen
Allen - currently the most famed defensive specialist to sport a mullet - has been quoted in the past saying, “It’s not a mullet. It’s a lifestyle.” For obvious reasons, this type of reasoning for strength has been humorously scoffed at over the years, but I can gosh darn guarantee you just as many people will <siiiiighhhhhhh> over the reason he finally decided to lop it off.
That’s right, this sacking machine trimmed to a fresh crew cut for (drum roll, please) the love of a woman… and her love of mullet free wedding photography. <siiiiighhhhhhh> See, I told you there’d be sighing :)
See, who said chivalry is dead? Jared Allen proves that even giant, QB scaring NFL players can have soft spots… especially if the right woman comes along. And who can’t get behind that? This will surely be a marriage made in mullet free heaven :)
And because mullets are so funny, here are some of Jared Allen’s mullet’s finer moments… check the razor stripes, my personal fave:
With so many people looking to pinch pennies and save these days, brides-to-be everywhere are discovering the fierceness of DIY divinity. Because the potential for do-it-yourself projects are only limited by the creator’s creativity, it’s no wonder that so many ladies in waiting are discovering their inner DIY divas and bringing do-it-yourself projects to the forefront of of bridal fashion.
And one area futures brides are really starting to dive into head first (pun intended) is makeup. While I’m a firm believer that putting on makeup is an art form – I mean helloooo?!?! You are painting a face! – I also know that practice makes perfect, which is why so many young ladies are taking to their colorful pallets and brushing on their most beautiful selves. It’s a fun way to experiment and create a whole new you without the cost of clothing, salon ‘dos or even (dun, dun, dun!) surgery!
Since so many girls begin experimenting with makeup at a young age, many often times develop a knack… But what about the ladies who feel they’re lacking the girl gene when it comes to makeup?? No worries!
I recently discovered my newest YouTube obsession while perusing the site for makeup reviews and came across (trumpets sound!) Michelle Phan. This Asian sensation beauty has an ahhh to the mazing talent for beautifying and applying all kinds of different makeup looks, and she reveals how others can get the same look in her easy, step by step videos.
But Michelle Phan doesn’t just give you the step by step process of applying the goods; she also gives you a list of what goods to use! Her channel page features everything from extensive step by step makeup tutorials and beauty tips and tricks to makeup savers and clear skin regulators. As an official Lancôme spokesperson, she is certifiably fabulous, and one of my favorite people to watch!
Below are some of my favorite tutorials, but feel free to check out Michelle Phan’s YouTube Channel for her entire beauty collection. And don’t forget, MK has our own YouTube Channel to give brides-to-be the inside scoop on wedding trends, traditions and products!
Fortunately for myself (and all those surrounding me), I never had a single bridezilla moment, and believe you me, this was never and I mean NEVER the expected outcome. A bit of a perfectionist, I like to control any and all of my outcomes… right down to the very last, nitty gritty detail. I was the girl in college who would get assigned to a group project and do the whole thing myself. Awesome, I know. So, you can imagine the breath holding tension my family and friends held when I got engaged… it was thick enough to cut through, kids.
Luckily for all involved, however, I actually had the stark opposite reaction to the Mister and me’s pre-meditated marriage. Planning for our wedding day was a breeze, and I have the advice of my favorite lady in all the world to thank, my mom :) In her infinite wisdom, my mom so delicately reminded me that I was not an expert… not on wedding cakes or dress trains, nor flower blooms or spinning records. I may know what I like, but “knowing what you like” is not a profession; so, I should leave the doing to those who do it best. (Ahhhh, clarity.)
Now, I’m sure some of you are thinking, “ruuuu-huuude,” but, my little chick-a-dees, I’m afraid you’d be mistaken. Because if there’s anything you need to know about my mom, it’s that she’s the sweetest lady evs, and like all moms, knows exactly what to say to make it aaallll better. She wasn’t putting me down; she was simply nudging me into place. My place – as title and luck would have it – was that of the beautiful bride, and when all I had to worry about was being beautiful – when I already look this good, haha! – the rest was absolute gravy, baby!
It’s ahhhh to the maaazing what putting trust in people can do. Trust is the key ingredient that motivates us to succeed for others. If you put your trust in someone, I can gosh darn guarantee you they’ll do their best to see it through to perfection – waaaaay mores o than any scream fest, knock down or drag out you could pull.
Trust that your florist knows what they’re doing, and let them do it. Trust that your caterer can cook like nobody’s business, and let them shine. Trust that your butcher, your baker and candlestick maker all know what they’re doing, and let them do it too! (Okay, so maybe you won’t have a butcher, but you get the point.) People like pleasing people who are pleasant; so, the next time you feel a bridal rage surging, just remember that you’re not the expert, and it’s more than okay to let go of some of the power and focus on more important things… like your poses for all those portraits! Haha!…
… oh yeah! And that handsome dude waiting for you at the end of the aisle! Because – at the end of the day – no matter how good, bad or ugly everything else turns out, you’ll still be his Mrs., and he’ll be your Mister :)
While I may be remixing the famed Styx lyrics, I would like to justify it first by saying they’re the perfect prologue to today’s post. Secondly, it’s a little known fact, but by incorporating robotic talk (& dance) into our daily lives, we enrich the lives of those around us and increase the potential for world peace… It’s true… For serious… Okay, maybe I’m making that up, but if you’ve ever been privy to my robotic pops and locks on the dance flo’, you’d totally see where I was coming from – haha!
Bottom line (all Mary lies aside), robots are fun, which is precisely the reason why I’m assuming Tomohiro Shibata, 42, and Satoko Inouye, 36, decided to have one be a part of their newlywed debut. But not just any part, people; we’re talking about the whole kit ‘n’ kaboodle here. Shibata and Inouye had their robotic friend, the I-Fairy, respectfully reside as their nuptial officiant.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Is that legal?” And I’m afraid to report, I have absolutely no idea. (Sorry!) I do know, however, that this doting Japanese couple took it upon themselves to say “I do” in front of the I-Fairy officiant and 50 of their closest family and friends. According to Fox News, Shibata and Inouye – married at a restaurant in Hibiya Park in central Tokyo – are the first couple EVER to get their marriage boogie on with a robot as the presiding officiant. (Now there’s a sentence I never imagined myself saying.)
Equipped with glowing eyes, plastic pigtails and a halo of real flowers, the I-Fairy came to life following its wire hookup to a computer behind a black curtain; all controlled by a man typing in the commands… haha, did the scene from The Wizard of Oz “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!” just go through anyone else’s head?… I knew it!
Anyhoot, this epic, robotic first may not be the taste topping everyone’s list, but it does reiterate the Marilyn’s Keepsake way of allowing every bride and groom the right to choose their perfect blend of trend and tradition on their big day! So, here’s to you, Tomohiro and Satoko, and might we just say, “Domo Arigato, Mr. (& Mrs.) Roboto! Domo… Domo!”
***Special thanks to Tonya C. for being such an avid news sleuth and providing me with this gem of wedded bliss***
It is time for a bridal reality check… and I’m not just talking about lists here, people! I’m talking about bridal reality television…
Whether a person is willing to admit it or not, the fact still remains that reality TV is one of today’s most successful guilty pleasures to ever reach the masses, and this most certainly rings true for the shows featuring weddings. From Bridezillas and Platinum Weddings to Say Yes to the Dress and Bulging Brides, here’s a list of some of the more outrageous reasons people are tuning in and turning on to reality wedding TV:
Say Yes to the Dress: Set in Manhattan’s famed Kleinfeld Bridal Salon, this wedding wonder features 35,000 square feet of bridal dresses and hot messes. Between all the variables (ie. differing consultant opinions, wide ranging budgets, entourage sizes and bride-to-be styles), Say Yes to the Dress is an ideal setup for beautiful gowns and crazy personalities to clash. While some stories will easily tug at one’s heart strings and end with big smiles, they are juxtaposed with just as many jerks and quirks… ahhh, bridal magic. Catch it: Fridays @ 9pm/8C on TLC
Bridezillas: A true gem of wedded reality, this unfortunate display of brides-to-be most often times leaves viewers wondering why the soon-to-be grooms ever got down on one knee in the first place. Filled with “I’m pregnant with octuplet raging” hormones and fueled by a severe case of “it’s all about me!” mentality, bridezillas are a breed all of their own. While the first couple seasons all had happily ever after endings for the bridal brats and unhappily ever after endings for just about everyone else, the next few might just show a change in the winds. Hmm, could Alice Cooper be right? Is it time for “No more Mr. Nice Guy!?” Heee-heee-heee! Catch it: Sundays @ 9pm/8C on WeTV
Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?: This reality show pairs wedding planners to prenuptial couples looking to create the wedding day of their dreams. With a wide range of budgets and personalities to mix and mingle, the show unfolds what can only be described as power struggle between the forces of good and evil. Of course, who is good and who is evil is strictly left up to the viewer, but one thing is for certain, while there may be no definitive answer to who’s right and who’s wrong, there will always be strong rebuttals on both sides supporting their cause. Catch it: Tuesdays @ 10pm/9C on Style Network
Platinum Weddings: What does one get when they add up va-va-voom and cha-cha-ching? Why, Platinum Weddings, of course! Talk about living in the lap of luxury; the brides featured on this show give definition to all things haute couture, creatively custom and drop dead dramatic. Because budgets are never an issue, the couples characterized on this show only know one speed (warp) and one end result (over the top), and no matter how bad a person is with numbers, it doesn’t take a math wizard to see just how lavish an event can become when money is no object. Catch it: Sundays @10pm/9C on WeTV
Bulging Brides: As its name would suggest, this reality show is all about brides trying to shape up, trim down, <squeeeeze> in and look more fabulous than ever on their Mrs. debut. Like most wedding planning ladies (heck, ladies in general), the girls featured on this show struggle with weight gain and will power before throughout the wedding planning process; so, Bulging Brides teams them up with a personal trainer and nutritionist for six weeks of true grit and bear it work outs, meal plans and rules in hopes that they will look and feel just the way they always dreamed! Catch it: on the Discovery Health Channel and WeTV
Four Weddings: Get the score cards ready, ladies; for this series has four brides, along with their grooms and entire wedding package, set up on the chopping block. Each bride is responsible for judging the other three bride’s big days, which concentrate on four main areas: the dress, the venue, the food and the overall experience with only one being crowed the top bride. And to the victor go the spoils; as the bride with the best overall scores wins a dream honeymoon for her and her husband to enjoy for free! Catch it: Fridays @ 10pm/9C on TLC
I believe Right Said Fred put it best when he grunted, “I’m too sexy for my shirt. Too sexy for my shirt. So sexy it hurts.” And if something hurts from too much sexy, brides everywhere are learning to simply take it off.
With the vast of amounts of wedding trends overtaking traditions, there have been several bridal developments that have seemingly risen above the rest. One of the biggest wedding trends to raise eyebrows and heartbeats is the little bit naughty / lot bit nice nature of Boudoir Photography Sessions.
“Boudoir” – deriving from the French word bouder, meaning to pout – is defined as a woman’s dressing or private sitting room. By definition alone, “boudoir” is rather a straightforward term, but it’s not the definition that gets most men hot under the collar. It’s the connotation surrounding the word that has a much more attractive, revealing appeal.
While boudoir photography wasn’t always viewed in the most positive light (especially by the more prudish), it has now become a big selling point between wedding photographers and their potential clients. By presenting these scantily clad sessions in with their packages, wedding photographers offer future brides the ability to give their soon-to-be husbands a gift that is inclusively sexy, suggestive, fun and flirtatious.
They can be everything from provocative and over-the-top to simply sweet and sassy. The designs, layouts and clothing (or lack thereof) are really up to the comfort level of the bride and her photographer, and while the end results may look different from person to person, they are all surrounded with the same notion of legendary sex appeal.
The romantically sensual sessions are then packaged up neatly and given to the future husbands as gifts before the wedding day, and no man under the sun could deny that level of hotness. It’s an art form that brings the inner pin up girl, saloon bar maid or Moulin Rouge rebel out of even the most demure of girls and the biggest man to his knees. Ooh la la!
Of course I would love to give you examples of some of my favorite shots, but this is a family site, people! Haha! For the braver cohorts reading this who are interested, simply Google “boudoir photography,” and you’ll see what I mean :)
The tale of 2 Mother-in-Laws, as told by 2005′s Monster-in-Law:
Viola Fields (dressed in white to attend her own son’s wedding): I cannot believe she compared me to Gertrude!
Ruby: I know. That’s just wrong.
Viola Fields: Thank you!
Ruby: You are far worse. I don’t recall Gertrude ever trying to poison you, and I believe she wore black to your wedding.
Viola Fields: Black. Yeah, she said she was in mourning…
Ahh, yes. The age old battle of Mama Drama as it directly relates to the most infamous mother ever – the in-law. This type of ancient woe has fallen victim to more tragic trials, tribulations and let’s face it, sheer comic genius ever and it’s no wonder why.
Made famous by characters like Viola Fields (played by Jane Fonda) and Marie Barone (played by Doris Roberts) in Everybody Loves Raymond, mother-in-laws are typically portrayed in some of the most unflattering lights known to man, and while the “glass-half-full-girl” in me wants to give these sad pot stirrers the benefit of the doubt… I must digress to the factual information at hand.
For instance, a dear, dear co-worker of mine recently shared the tragic tale of her mother-in-law on the day she took her son’s hand in marriage. Dead sere, I almost lost it when she revealed that her attention hungry, fifty-something M.I.L. began acting a fool when she didn’t receive the self-assumed, star treatment she knew she deserved and announced to the entire group of family and friends that she was – in fact - pregnant…
I mean really??? Really, lady? ‘Cause that’s the best, most obvious way to win over the spotlight on someone else’s wedding day… by creating a fictional “I’m with child” story. Get a grip.
Of course, this story, among so many others I’ve heard throughout the years, created an incessant compulsion within me to see what other kinds of stories were out there and documented for others to see.
Once featured on Dr. Phil, MotherInLawHell.com provides what one must believe – after reading even a few tragic snippets – to be the most needed platform of release in the history of mankind. One girl even goes as far to tell the story of her mother-in-law and the blatant disregard she has for health, happiness and the future well being of her grandchildren. Robin - the daughter-in-law – said that after years of battling a smoking addiction, she finally was able to kick the habit. (Way to go, girl!)
But instead of having the full support of her M.I.L., Robin was told that if she didn’t lose the weight she’d gained from quitting, she would need to pick it back up in order to be accepted for the annual family portrait… because there would be no “chunky monkeys” allowed.
Three letters… W.O.W.
It’s like some people have no shame, which is exactly why this Web site exists. Made up of tens of thousands of women forming the Daughter-in-Law Sisterhood, this Web site will make you laugh; make you cry; give you advice; and let you vent. It’s the reality check you need when you start to feel your M.I.L. is out of control or at the very least, a forum to put her on blast when she does! Haha!
In one of last week’s post, I had toyed with the idea of doing Themed Bachelorette Parties. This is a way to not only get extra dolled up and decked out for your “last fling before the ring,” but it also let’s you and all your favorite ladies stand out in style.
At Marilyn’s Keepsakes, we like to make wedding trends our number one priority, which is why I’m super pumped to present our newest line of Bachelorette Party Supplies… all centered around popular themes or universal designs! And just because we’re awesome, all our party sets are offered in 13 of today’s hottest wedding colors and can be personalized with a bride’s name at no additional cost :)
A few months back, I started to see quips on wedding sites about Ring Warming Ceremonies. At first, I was like, “Whaaaaa?”… considering the title alone could ensue a schmillion different outcomes, but over the course of time, I’ve come to realize, the more I read about them, the more I love about them!
Ring warming ceremonies are a growing trend among many couples who are looking to have a more interactive ceremony with their guests. Generally working better for smaller, more intimate ceremonies, the concept of a ring warming ceremony is simple and sentimental.
Before your ceremony begins, have the officiant announce to your guests that your wedding rings will be making their way around the congregation. Then, during the service, as they weave in and out of the hands of friends and family, each guest will have the opportunity to hold the rings briefly and either silently say a prayer, blessing or thoughtful wish for your union. Then, by the time they make their way back to you for the vows, your wedding rings will have all your friends and family’s love stamped on them!
I mean, come on! How stinkin’ cute is that?!? Of course, this would be a wee bit more difficult to do at a really large wedding, but as always, that would be at the discretion of each couple.
And, if you like the idea of having a very interactive ceremony but worry about your rings getting dropped or lost, consider placing them in a small bag or tying them together with fabric.
It’s most def a growing trend and can be a wonderful way to make all of your guests feel as though they’ve actively participated in your union. No matter what you decide, just remember to always stick to the golden rule… and make it all about you! Hehe ;)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I assume most of you are aware that Memorial Day weekend brings “the greatest spectacle in racing,” the Indianapolis 500. Since I’m from Indy, let me just inform all you non-Nap Town dwellers that this is one, huge weekend!!! You can’t turn the corner without running into a black and white checkered flag, a stellar pair of cut off jorts (jean shorts), a solid print mank (man tank), a beer can or a backyard BBQ… just doing our part to keep America classy :)
