Blush + Bashful

Since guests are often curious about the etiquette of wedding gift-giving, I thought I’d give a few tips that I’ve picked up over the years.

1)A general rule of thumb is to give enough of a gift to cover the cost of you and your date’s meal. This is typically at least $250 per couple in the city of Chicago. If this is too much for you, please don’t worry.

2) Couples love checks (Make it out to the groom, since he’s most likely keeping his name. And, a check is safe because if it is stolen, you can cancel it.)

3) Choose from the registry and have the gift sent to their home (Lugging gifts from the hotel after the wedding is a pain!)

4) If the couple hasn’t registered, give them a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant or funds to spend on their honeymoon.

5) If a gift is out of the question for you financially, give them a card with a heartfelt note inside and include a wish for their future together.

This post was inspired by a conversation I overheard at a shower we hosted this weekend. (Email me about hosting your small social event at our Pink Door Studio) Everyone involved in the conversation had a story about a female wedding guest wearing white to a wedding. Each dress sounded more outrageous than the last. It seemed to me that our dear female guests could use a little refresher in dressing for a wedding!

Ladies, please! It is totally inappropriate to wear white to a wedding. No matter how hot the color is in any particular season, you should leave the white (ivory, cream, magnolia, old lace, etc.) dress for the bride. This includes dresses with a pattern that is heavily white, as well as dresses that are of an interesting white texture or fabric. I would err on the safe side and rule out any pale, pale color as well.

The same goes for dresses that are too sexy or bright. A reception is not a nightclub! Often, you’ll be going to a place of worship. If you are wearing something that would make your grandmother blush, please change. Wear that type of thing to the bachelorette party!

Traditionally, black garments have been a wedding guest no-no, as well. However, in the day and age of the LBD (little black dress), I think it’s perfectly fine. Just be sure to accessorize in a festive manner!

Shoes are another thing that ladies need to rethink. Under very, very few circumstances is it ok to wear tall (knee) boots with a dress at a formal wedding. Shoes with clear plastic heels are another issue. People often purchase them thinking they “match” any dress, but they end up looking cheap (sorry!). Sky-high heels are also difficult to manage after a few drinks. Walking around barefoot is common during dancing, but I prefer seeing guests who can make it the entire event wearing their shoes.

Happy Dressing!

Meghann

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Cheers!

Kim & Will in Puerto Rico

Romantic proposals from real couples:

With a little help from man’s best friend
Lisa Ordakowski of Virginia and her fiancé, Andrew, enjoyed a romantic meal at their favorite restaurant before he popped the question amidst a shower of candles and rose petals in their living room. “Our Siberian huskies greeted me with t-shirts that said ‘Will You Marry Me’,” says Lisa.

To many years of good fortune
The staff at a local Chinese restaurant in Tucson, Arizona helped Matt Russell out with his proposal to wife of 18 years, Nancy. “I inserted the ring into a fortune cookie. When the server brought the check, she opened the cookie and I took a knee. The rest is history.”

Hunting for love
“I sent Kate on a five-stop scavenger hunt through New York City,” says Cole Kelly of Georgia. “After lunch at Lombardi’s, I asked her to close her eyes and count to 20. I put a note on the table and ran.” After challenging five different people for clues on Cole’s whereabouts, Kate found him at the last stop with a rose and ring.

Simple and charming
Meghann VanderBaan is a wedding planner in Chicago and says that sometimes the simplest proposals are best, giving an example from one of her clients. “[They were] walking with their dog on the lakefront in Chicago. The groom got down on one knee and proposed with a ring that was an exact replica of her grandmother’s.”

Telling everyone on the street
Melanie and Remco from California met through the online dating service, eHarmony. “I came home one night and Remco had painted a beautiful street painting of a Cupid in the driveway,” says Melanie. “It was surrounded with tea light candles and he had Champagne and chocolates.”

Cheers to a long life together
“My husband proposed to me in Greece,” says Jennifer Heinly of California. “He bought two goblets, one inscribed with ‘Will You Marry Me, Jennifer’ and poured Greek champagne into it. The other goblet was for my response. We did our first toast for our wedding with them.”

Capturing the moment
After whisking her away to San Diego for the weekend, Erin Burns’ fiancé got down on one knee in a winery vineyard. Enlisting the help of a friend, Erin’s husband-to-be rented a long lens camera to keep a digital record of the proposal. “We have beautiful photographs of the moment, something we’ll cherish forever,” she says.

Love on display for all to see
Cicely Rocha-Miller’s fiancé put her engagement ring on display at the Phoenix Art Museum with a placecard that read, “Cicely’s ring, on temporary loan by Mr. Joseph A. Miller, American 21st century, precious gemstones and platinum, June 18, 2005.” According to her, the white-gloved guards couldn’t remove the glass case fast enough!

Choosing a special location
Kevin Decker proposed to his wife, Joy, at the top of her favorite D.C. landmark, the Washington Monument, after making an impromptu visit to her office. “The two park service rangers were the first to congratulate us on our engagement,” says Joy.

Surrounded by love
Annette and Franjo Zovko’s engagement was a real family affair. After popping the question, Franjo led Annette back to their Illinois condo where friends and family were waiting to celebrate. “His parents and sister had secretly flown in for our engagement. My whole family was there, he even flew my sister in from New York. It was a really great moment.”

Cheers to a long and happy life together
A typical night of drinks with friends turned out to be anything but usual for Jillian Montes of Florida whose husband proposed by hiding the engagement ring in her mimosa. “I kept thinking there was ice in my drink and then I saw the ring sitting at the bottom of the glass,” she says.

Cruising through life together
“I was proposed to in 2007, and married in 2008 on the same day, on a cruise ship,” says Amanda Vega. “I had no idea he was going to propose and when he got down on one knee I told him to get up because the floor was dirty. Everyone laughed.”

A new year and a new life together
Kim from Texas recalls her recent romantic New Years’ proposal from her fiancé, Will. “After a really nice dinner at our hotel in Puerto Rico, we were walking back up the stairs to our room and he “tripped.” When I turned around to see if he was alright, he was down on one knee. I stumbled through some sort of answer like ‘yeah… uh yes,’ I was so surprised. It was cute and funny. And to think, I didn’t understand why he was so nervous at dinner!”

I’m writing you from Nassau, Bahamas. Yes, that’s right. I’m escaping the winter chill of Chicago in the islands! Sandals invited a group of wedding planners from The Association of Bridal Consultants to spend some quality time with them. It is a wonderful week of education, entertainment, and relaxation.

Here’s a photo to make you jealous…