Bridesmaids & Groomsmen’s Gifts – Avoid Envy!

I’ll never forget a wedding rehearsal dinner I attended where the proud groom beamed as his groomsmen opened their gifts: (then brand-new to the market) ipod shuffles!  I stole a glance at the bride across the room gifting garnet jewelry to her dearest friends, matching the maroon dresses they’d wear the next day. Dresses they’d paid dearly for, and would likely be on their way to Goodwill within 48 hours of the bouquet toss.

Gifts that mean something will touch Bridesmaids more than matchy matchy jewelry.

The groomsmen were gleeful as they  tore open the little boxes from Apple like kids on Christmas morning, and high-fived one another.  The girls sat drinking champagne quietly.  Let this be a lesson, brides. Chances are, your bridesmaids already own lovely jewelry they can wear to your wedding. So what if it isn’t matchy matchy? They’ll all show a bit of personality. That leaves you free to give them something that really reflects how much you care, and is not made of Swarovski crystal. Best of all, you get to see your girls high-fiving at your rehearsal dinner. Christmas morning here we come!

Be well and love well,

-Dinah

Anne Hathaway Believes In Fairy Tale Weddings For All

Can we just say – Anne Hathaway is awesome?  My Little Flower Shop salutes you, Anne.  Reprinted from The Huffington Post.

Anne Hathaway To Donate Money From Wedding

Photos To Gay Marriage Advocacy Groups

Posted: 10/17/2012 1:27 pm EDT Updated: 10/17/2012 1:30 pm EDT

anne hathaway marries adam shulman

 Anne Hathaway is no stranger to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy, but her latest effort might be her most profound yet.

The 29-year-old Academy Award-nominated actress, who tied the knot with Adam Shulman last month, will now reportedly donate some proceeds from the sale of her wedding photographs to marriage equality groups, The Advocate is reporting.

“Hathaway is doing her part to ensure that same-sex couples across the country can enjoy a fairytale wedding like hers,” Adam Polaski at Freedom to Marry is quoted as saying. “This week, she announced that she’ll be donating some of the sales from her wedding photographs to non-profits advocating for marriage for same-sex couples, including Freedom to Marry.”

Polaski went on to note, “We thank Hathaway adn Shulman for their support and appreciate their decision to take the opportunity of their nuptials to speak out about why marriage matters.”

The “Devil Wears Prada” star, who will next be seen in the highly-anticipated movie musical “Les Miserables,” reportedly grew up wanting to become a nun, but she says she shunned Catholicism after she learned her older brother, Michael, was gay.

“The whole family converted to Episcopalianism after my elder brother came out,” she told British GQ. “Why should I support an organization that has a limited view of my beloved brother?”

Accepting an award from the Human Rights Campaign in 2008, Hathaway once again spoke of her experience with a gay sibling. “In my household, being gay was, and is, no big deal,” she said. “When my brother came out, we hugged him, said we loved him, and that was that.”

The Wedding Planner Goes To A Wedding

I have to go to a wedding this weekend – as a guest. At one point in my career in events I moaned “Why can’t I ever just go and be a guest?” but these days I actually feel kind of uneasy at a wedding without a timeline in my hands, or  a headset in my ear.  I’m the ultimate accessory at this shindig – a groomsman’s wife.  So while my husband stands up looking handsome in his suit and tie, the poor bride, bless her heart, will have an event professional perched on a folding chair analyzing her celebration. It has nothing to do with her – she’s a perfectly lovely girl.  It’s a hazard of the profession that parties and weddings I attend personally (and didn’t have a hand in planning) become case studies. Sometimes I come away with brilliant, unique ideas.  Other times, things are woefully underplanned, and it’s painful to watch.  Even then, I end up making notes and learning a thing or two.

English: Wedding Planning also includes table ...
Picture me here – this weekend.

So I guess in the end, when you work in the event industry, anytime you go to an event, guess what? It’s work.  So to paraphrase seven little men, “Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to the wedding I go!”

I’ll be sure to share lessons learned and/or brilliant ideas.

Be well, and love well

-Dinah