What to Wear in Marriage?
Updated June 2026 Affiliate disclosure: some links in this guide are affiliate links, and OSW may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes which pieces I recommend. I only point you toward what I would put on a real bride or guest. Read our editorial policy. I have planned […]
What Is a Bridal Shower ?
A bridal shower is a pre-wedding party thrown in honor of the bride, where her closest people gather to celebrate her and send her off with gifts. I’ve planned and attended more than 200 weddings, and the shower is the one pre-wedding event guests ask me about most: who throws it, when it happens, and […]
Where to Buy Wedding Guest Dresses ?
Updated June 2026 Affiliate disclosure: some links below are affiliate links, and OSW may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which stores I send my guests to. I only point you toward shops I’ve put real wedding guests in. After 200+ weddings on the east coast, I’ve watched […]
Where Do I Get a Marriage License?
Updated June 2026 In the US, you get your marriage license from a local government office, almost always the one serving the county or town where your ceremony will take place. After walking couples through this step at more than 200 weddings, I can tell you the paperwork is rarely the problem. The confusion is […]
Can You Wear Red to a Wedding?
Yes, you can wear red to a wedding in most cases. After more than 200 weddings on the East Coast, I’ve watched plenty of guests show up in red, and the sky did not fall once. The color only becomes a problem in a few specific situations, and none of them involve the internet rumor […]
What Is the 10th Anniversary Gift ?
The 10-year anniversary gift is tin or aluminum on the traditional list, and diamond on the modern one. Tin and aluminum stand for a marriage that’s strong but flexible — pliable enough to bend without breaking after a decade. Diamond, the modern pick, stands for something that came through pressure and turned brilliant. In my […]
What Is a Dowry
A dowry is money, property, or goods that a bride’s family gives to the groom or his family at the time of marriage. It is one of the oldest marriage customs on record, and it still shapes weddings in parts of the world today. The couples I work with usually run into the word in […]
Do Men Wear Engagement Rings?
Yes, men wear engagement rings, and more of the grooms I work with are choosing one every year. There is no etiquette rule that reserves the engagement ring for the bride. It has simply been the Western norm for a few generations, and norms are not the same thing as rules. Whether a man wears […]
How Much Does It Cost to Change Your Name?
If you’re changing your name after getting married, the cost is almost always lower than you expect — most of my brides spend somewhere between $0 and $50 in fees they couldn’t avoid. That’s because a married-name change doesn’t require a court order at all: your marriage certificate is the legal proof, and agencies like […]
What to Write in a Bridal Shower Card ?
You’ve got the gift wrapped, the card open in front of you, and now the blank space is staring back. Here’s the good news after planning 200+ weddings: a bridal shower card doesn’t need to be long or clever. It needs to sound like you. Below are 25 messages you can copy, tweak, or use […]