How to Preserve Wedding Bouquet ?
Your bouquet is the one piece of your wedding you hold in your hands all day. It walks down the aisle with you, it shows up in nearly every photo, and then, a few days later, it starts to wilt on the kitchen counter. I have watched more brides than I can count realize this […]
Do You Bring a Gift to an Engagement Party ?
If you just got an invite to celebrate a newly engaged couple, the first thing most of my guests text me is some version of the same question: do I actually need to show up with something? After more than 200 weddings and the run-up parties that come with them, my honest answer is simpler […]
How Much Does a Marriage License Cost ?
A marriage license costs about $50 to $60 on average in the US, with fees running anywhere from $20 in the cheapest states to $115 in the most expensive, depending on where you apply. From planning over 200 weddings on the East Coast, I’ve watched couples get blindsided by this one because the number changes […]
What Is Black Tie Attire for a Woman ?
Black-tie attire for a woman means formal evening wear — most often a floor-length gown, though a polished midi dress or a sharp tailored jumpsuit absolutely works for the right room. It’s the dress code I get the most panicked texts about, usually the week before the wedding. After 200-plus weddings on the east coast, […]
What to Wear to a Formal Wedding ?
Formal sits one notch below black tie on the wedding dress code scale, and it’s one of the most common codes you’ll see on a US invitation. For women, that means a floor-length gown or an elegant midi, tea-length, or ankle-length dress in a rich fabric. For men, a dark suit and tie covers it, […]
How Much Is a Wedding Cake?
The average wedding cake costs $540 in the U.S., according to The Knot Real Weddings Study, which surveyed nearly 17,000 couples married in 2024. But that single number hides a wide spread: I have written cake quotes as low as $300 for an intimate dinner and watched couples sign off on $1,500 and up for […]
What Is a Veil ?
A veil is a piece of cloth or netting worn over the head, and sometimes the face, that a bride traditionally wears during her wedding ceremony. In its broadest sense the word means any head or face covering, but at a wedding it has become one of the most recognizable bridal accessories there is. I’ve […]
What Does Black Tie Optional Mean? What to Wear
Black tie optional means you get to choose. You can wear full black-tie formalwear (a tuxedo or a floor-length gown), or you can step down one notch to a dark formal suit or a long, dressy dress. The “optional” loosens the rule without lowering the bar: the couple wants a formal room, they just are […]
What Is Cocktail Attire for a Wedding ?
Cocktail attire for a wedding means dressed up but not formal: a step below black-tie, a step above casual. For women, that is a knee-length or midi dress, a sleek jumpsuit, or dressy separates. For men, a tailored suit with leather dress shoes, tie optional. No floor-length gown required, and no tuxedo. In my years […]
What Knee Do You Propose On ?
Quick answer Tradition says you get down on your left knee, with your right knee up. The custom traces back to medieval knights, and for most right-handed people, kneeling on the left keeps you steady while your stronger hand manages the ring box. That said, it truly does not matter — your partner will be […]