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« July 2008 | Main | September 2008 »
BookZilla Review: Queen of Babble Gets Hitched
Summer reading is supposed to be like a hot summer fling -- easy, fun and purely for entertainment. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched strives to be all of those things, but with cliche characters and plot that reads like adolescent fiction, it unfortunately falls flat. We suggest bridezillas tote a different book to the beach house this summer.
Written by Meg Cabot (author of The Princess Diaries), the third installment in the Queen of Babble series centers around weddings. It takes place in a posh, French-style bridal shop in Manhattan. While Lizzie is busy retrofitting vintage gowns for wealthy brides, her mind is on her own engagement to Luke -- a "good on paper" guy with a lot of cash, but not a lot of heart.
Enter Chaz - Luke's yokel best friend who seems to have a thing for Lizzie, Ava Geck - a Paris Hilton-meets-Britney Spears trainwreck, and Lizzie's supportive best friend Shari and you have something that's been done before. Queen of Babble Get Hitched is the literary equivalent to an episode of "Grey's Anatomy," - it's entertaining, but not earth shattering, and the characters get on your nerves. The best part about this book are the wedding tidbits, love quotes, and wedding disaster advice at the beginning of each chapter.
Despite its predictable plot and poorly developed characters, the book brings to light an important lesson for bridezilla: before you go after what you want, wedding or otherwise, you have to decide what that something is. Lizzie has to decide if she wants a three-carat Cartier ring from a man she might not love, or no marriage at all from a cargo-pants-clad guy who makes her heart flutter. Seems like bridezilla can have too many choices after all!
Think Outside the Hyphen with New Nuptial Name Change Trends
Let's assume for a moment we all consider the tradition of adopting your husband's last name to be on par with the mass identity theft conspiracy discovered in this morning's news. What's a modern bride to do?
As a feminist and a poet, I've always thought of the hyphen as the ultimate thrilling symbol of an egalitarian marriage. When I first heard of this darling little Dickension dash being inserted in bride and groom's surnames, I thought rather dreamily that it functioned as a neat bridge uniting two kindred identities. After so many years of patriarchal naming conventions, this punctuation seemed powerful, potent, and utterly adequate. Except.
Except when you think about it further and realizing you are consigning your kids to cumbersome last names, names that won't necessarily be passed on to your grandkids or their kids, names that are a pain to write, speak, and resonate with.
I'm not ready to burn bridges with the hyphen just yet, but I did decide to look into a few other naming options for my fellow bridezillas that are potentially a better marriage of practicality and principle. Read on for new nuptial name-changing techniques that offer exciting new possibilities for brides.
Using your maiden name as your middle name. If you don't want a tedious surname, take a cue from the likes of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Teresa Heinz Kerry. Taking your last name as your middle name is a nice solution that neatly mitigates the cumbersome last name issue. Best of all, it's easy to pass on to your kids by giving them your maiden name as their middle name too. That way the whole family remains connected and there's no hyphen headaches. The only cons are having to lose a current middle name or tack on a second one, but those seem pretty cursory compared to the alternatives.
Taking a new last name together. This is a more radical idea to some, but definitely stays closer to the idea of leaving the past behind and starting a fresh future together. While it may seem severe to completely sever family ties, keep in mind this is what the bride is already doing. Now at least, its a mutual statement. This idea also allows you the freedom to give your kids creative, attractive or favorite middle names and keeps your last name down to the minimum. It's a pretty bold romantic statement to make sure a visible commitment to your new life together. The cons include double the name change paper work and risking hurting your family.
What name change tradition do you like best? Do you know any creative solutions we haven't listed here? Bridezilla would love to hear them, so weigh in below!
Bridezillas Get a Discount for Wedding Salon, Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills bridezillas should head over to Sunset Blvd. on September 22 for an exclusive Wedding Salon event. LA ladies will enjoy luxury goody bags (and that's luxury by Beverly Hills standards), complimentary beauty services, champagne, cake tastings, and more.
All this and Wedding Salon is offering a special something to bridezilla readers. Simply RSVP with this coupon code - BestWLA08P at Wedding Salon and get two tickets for $25, an irresistible deal. Now you'll have more spending cash for shopping on Rodeo! The event takes place from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m., September 22 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Don't miss this opportunity; Bridezilla deems it worthy of your attendance.
If money were no object...what wedding splurge would you choose?
We've all seen enough "Platinum Weddings" to know that money doesn't always buy you bridezilla taste. How many times have you watched that garish show, grumbling to yourself "If I had that much money, I'd know exactly what to do for my wedding." So it's Friday, which means it's time for a little workday escapism.
Let your imagination wander and tell us....if money were no object, what's the number one wedding splurge on your list? A skyscraper solitaire? A posh honeymoon in Positano? Tell us in the comments below, and don't spare one dreamy jewel-dripped detail!
Cash Saving Tip: Cool Wedding Sites in Crappy Towns
Inspired by Seattle's "Cool Bands in Crappy Towns" contest, Bridezilla is launching our very own "Cool Wedding Sites in Crappy Towns" edition. Each week, we will unveil stunning sites in startling locales. Bridezilla Bonus Tip: Save major cash when you choose an idyllic wedding venues in a less traveled location!
Without further ado....
Set among 113 acres of rolling countryside, this dramatic, 174,240-square-foot castle gives new meaning to the word romance. Arched windows and doors, 35-foot high ceilings and an ornate, hand-carved French altar hint at a time when chivalry was standard practice. A lily pond and butterfly garden grace the breathtaking grounds, ensconced within fortress walls.
This private residence is a dream destination for bridezilla's nuptials. But what is the name of this mystery castle and more importantly, where is it? Hint: it's not where Tom and Katie tied the knot.
Read on and find out where this mystery castle calls home.
Bridezilla Calls Brides.com's Flower Finder "Horticouture!"
A girl could never have enough diamonds or flowers. Or could she? Bridezilla has her pick of wedding flowers - hydrangeas, gardenias, calla lilies - not to mention all those rare tropical flowers with tongue-twisting names. But with all these flowers to choose from, it's tough to narrow it down. If you're floret-illiterate, picking out bouquet blossoms can be the most daunting task on the wedding horizon.
Once a bride finally finds perfect petals for her bouquet -- flowers that portray her impeccable taste, delightful personality and trendy color palette, the florist inevitably says, "it's out of season." Hmpf.
Before you give up and default to white roses (incredibly original) or pay for an overseas shipment, try Brides.com's new wedding flower finder. Far from your garden variety widget, this sophisticated gizmo lets you pick your color, style, and price range. We picked red, glamorous, and expensive - all things bridezilla loves.
The flower finder came up with nine blossoms and included a well-researched description and pretty photo of each. Hellebores (love the name), parrot tulips, and gloriosa lilies made our top three picks and visions of beautiful bouquets danced in our heads. No roses or carnations anywhere; now that's what we call "horticouture!"
Cool Wedding Sites in Crappy Towns, Part Deux
As part deux of our Cool Wedding Sites in Crappy Towns series, we bring you this magnificent French-style mansion. Each week, we will unveil stunning sites in surprising locales. Take a look at last week's wedding site.
Words don't do justice to this late 19-century French chateau. Surrounded by 85 acres of lush European landscaping, this estate boasts seventy rooms outfitted in lavish decor. Multiple dining rooms, a historic library, grand marble staircase and terrace make you feel like you just stepped into Marie Antoinette's palace.
And yet, there's even more. The grounds are almost as incredible as the interior - not only does this palatial estate have uninterrupted ocean views, it features a coach house, caretaker's cottage, boathouse and chapel. This mansion is so incredible that filmmakers used it as a setting for an acclaimed nineties love story, starring a pre-Angelina Brad Pitt.
Can you guess the location of our mystery mansion? Or the movie it's in?
Two Birds: The best thing since bridesmaid separates (Which, let's face it , were never that great)
Every now and then in the jaded world of weddings, you hearken on something truly amazing. I can honestly say this is one of those times. Without further ado....Bridezilla reveals...a bridesmaid dress you can ACTUALLY wear again.
The beauty of this concept is its complexity disguised as simplicity. This amazing wrap dress from TwoBirds can be worn ten different ways-ten, we tell you! Each bridesmaid simply twists, tucks, and ties the dress into their preferred necklines. This fashion statement is an unparalleled advance toward wedding party diplomacy. No more bitter battles between sweetheart and strapless. The waif bridesmaid and the womanly shaped matron of honor can now declare a plunging-neckline peace treaty. And best of all, these bridesmaid dresses are seriously cute!
Not only is this dress great for different body shapes, it is a brilliant fix for ever-evolving wedding weather. Tie the straps behind your back for instant summery strapless, or cover up with a hasty halter to beat the autumn chill.
It's not often you see something truly new and ingenious in weddingland, so Bridezilla is happy to present TwoBirds ten-style wrap bridesmaid dress. Check them out here.
Killing Bridezilla: When Nancy Drew Meets Romy's High School Reunion
When I first laid eyes on Laura Levine's new Jaine Austen mystery, Killing Bridezilla, I was skeptical. As an adolescent I avoided mysteries at all costs. Poor Nancy Drew collected dust on the shelf, while I devoured every book in the Sweet Valley High series. But like a bridezilla to Manolos, this mystery pulled me in with a supernatural-like force.
Since I stay clear of my library's mystery section, I never read any of Laura Levine's books and didn't know what to expect. The cover cartoon of a bride in a coffin sent shivers down my spine and brought about visions of my own untimely demise. But all my misconceptions about mysteries stopped when I read the first page. It's a snappy, humorous read, not a dark warning to bridezillas.
Jaine Austen is a part-time writer of toilet ads (very unbridezilla) and part-time private investigator. When Jaine's archnemesis Patty Marshall hires her out of the blue to write her wedding vows, Jaine's first instinct is to say no. But with a dwindling bank account and a lucrative offer from Patti, Jaine takes the assignment and ends up with a much bigger problem on her hands when bridezilla bites the big one.
Patti is the uberbridezilla. She screams at the caterer over a romaine lettuce mix-up and asks Jaine to rewrite the wedding vows multiple times. The only thing longer than her list of demands is her list of enemies. No mystery here; it's obvious from the beginning that bridezilla will go down. What's not so obvious is who did the deed.
Continue Reading Killing Bridezilla: When Nancy Drew Meets Romy's High School Reunion »Bridezilla 911: Your Biggest Wedding Etiquette Emergencies Resolved
Most bridezillas know who pays for what and how to handle out-of-control bridesmaids (tongue lashing, followed by firing). Despite every brides' best efforts, sometimes bridal etiquette emergencies come up that turn the most well-mannered bride into a foot-stomping, tantrum-having, full-blown bridezilla (also known as a hot mess).
To maintain a dignified mystique on your big day, study up on Bridal Guide's bridal etiquette. Is bridal registry information on a wedding invitation tacky or thoughtful? How do you tell your cousin not to bring her four kids to your reception? Should you ask your pierced, tattooed bridesmaid to tone down her look? Here are some likely scenarios, followed by BridalGuide's advice.
Etiquette Emergency 1: "Oh no she didn't," you wail, tears streaming down your face. Yes, she did. Your monster-in-law wore a tight white pants suit to your wedding, the worst wedding fashion faux pas since black veils. What do you do?
a.) Smile, suck it up and tell her she looks beautiful. b.) Storm out of the room after telling her that she looks like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever c.) Demand that the photographer not include her in the group shots and try to erase the clothing catastrophe from your memory
Solution: Get a sneak pre-view of your Mother-In-Law's dress well before the Big Day. In BridalGuide's I Do Dilemmas, one couple faced this etiquette emergency. Luckily, the bride knew about the mother-in-law's bejeweled copper-colored dress ahead of time. Rather than calling the fashion police or nicknaming her "penny," she simply asked the groom to take his mother shopping for a new dress.
Continue Reading Bridezilla 911: Your Biggest Wedding Etiquette Emergencies Resolved »July 2008 is the previous archive.
September 2008 is the next archive.
