just reposted this on FB. GREAT POST!

thanks all for the suggested links.

lesson learnt :)

When I was getting married, an American friend donated me a copy of Martha Stewart’s Brides magazine – now that was seriously disturbing!

Hey sas, Indigo here, my first visit. I picked up a copy of BRIDES once, and realised very quickly that we weren’t going to be friends. And also that, while I knew that getting married is an important life event for everyone involved, I probably wasn’t going to be BFF with a subscriber. Short version – “well said”. Indigo

elope!

I got married (the last time, and the best one) by jumping out of an airplane and getting married in freefall. It was very quick! And cheap, just the price of three jump tickets, me, hubby, and the videographer who was also the preacher.

Hubby and I finally got married three years ago.

A simple wedding in the park. We spent just about 400 and 100 of that was on food and drinks.

If you don’t want all the frills, then don’t go looking at those magazines! They will suck the life out of ya.

I won’t go near those magazines as I’ll never marry in March if I did! Some of the bridal Blogs can be pretty scary too. I think you have to it your way. Our wedding is going to be very low key, a traditional church service but with none of the expensive extras. Personally I’d prefer to spend the money on some fab holiday than throw a big party. All that was important to me was that we get married whilst my father is still alive and our few guests have a fun old time. On the day of our wedding we even have our daughter’s fifth birthday party so you can see I am a Bridal magazine drop out! xx

“Brides Magazine is essentially explicit instructions on how to be a needy, self absorbed, demanding, obsessive bride.”

In other words everything their advertisers want you to be, eh?

There is only one rule: there are no rules.

Dream up your dream and make it so.

A Pacific Island beach and nobody else there? Fine.

A huge party in a village hall? Great.

Bungy jumping as you say your vows? Terrific!

Elope to Gretna Green or Las Vegas? So kitsch it’s probably cool.

Get hitched at a karaoke bar? Or just the registry office?

Hire a train and take all the guests with you – or go on a mystery bus tour.

Utterly posh with frilly frock & the whole works, including achmaltzy beach photos? Why not?

There’s probably never been more freedom to choose exactly what you want, which is probably quite intimidating?

One thing though: don’t forget to ask the bloke his opinion; that would be a truly subversive way to break with tradition ;-)

Ha! You crack me up!

Having planned my share of weddings (including a same-sex one last year that was fabulous), here is my advice to you:

Stay. Away. From. The. Bridal. Industry.

Plan a great party or dinner with those you love best. A party where between cocktails and dinner you and SG take a few minutes to exchange vows (and you happen to be wearing a pretty dress that may or may not be a “wedding” dress). Then raise a glass to absent friends and continue with the dinner. Graciously accept congratulations and perhaps gifts. Then go on a fabulous trip somewhere (which we already know you know how to do really, really well).

Screw the commercial machine. Also, you will be surprised how prices differ when you are planning a cocktail/dinner party vs a “wedding”.

After eight months of being engaged, I have yet to purchase any kind of bridal magazine. This, of course, means that The Most Important And Special Day Of My Entire Existence will be a spectacular failure.

Huzzah to that! I say.

The business of weddings interests me very little. I am much more excited about the business of being married. And, thankfully, so is my fellow — who, to my knowledge, has not yet bought himself a bridal magazine either.

I join you.

Check this out:

http://www.offbeatbride.com

The brilliant, perfect antidote.

xx

I stumbled upon your blog and have spent hours veritably LOVING it this afternoon at work. You’re awesome.

(Oh, and this is great. Brides Mag can eff off.)

I’ve never understood the need to have a crazy expensive wedding that has been a million years in the planning.

While we wanted a great day with family and friends the main point was to be married. When the time came our decision was to get it done within a few months because time was running out for Mum.

Neither of us have ever regretted the decision to do it quickly, even though it meant many of our dear UK family and friends couldn’t make it. Afterall, we got to be married to each other(hopefully for a long time!) and Mum was so genuinely happy that day. Her smile in the photos still blows me away.

J was so selfless about the timing it only went to prove just what an amazing guy I was marrying.

Your reasons for getting married are right. The trappings of the wedding day are a fun bonus. Plus, Em is so going to love playing dress up in my gown.

I can truly recommend going down the registry office and celebrating with curry and beer and your favourite Indian or whatever cuisine you prefer.

When I was in my 20′s I would collect bride magazines, especially Martha Stewart. When I got engaged, I threw them all out. They just didn’t seem necessary.

Sas, I have no doubt that your wedding will be nothing short of THE stylish, fabulous wedding of the year. Brides Magazine be gone.

Oh, hang in there! That’s nothing! Have all your relatives starting giving their opinions on what you should do? I’ve already fallen through some traps and struggling to keep sight of what we want!
I’ve been thinking about a post on how the groom counts for NOTHING for those magazines!

`
Dearest sas,

You need the cure for ‘Brides’:

the Bride Dish

;-)