Congrats to My Newlywed Friends!

On Saturday I attended the wedding of my good friend from college and her new husband, who happens to also be friends with my husband. It was a wonderful day and a beautiful wedding, and I was so glad to be a part of it!

They said their vows at Faith United Methodist in Champaign, and the reception was held at the Holiday Inn in Urbana. Their primary colors were black and bright pink, and it looked so sharp!

The bridesmaid gowns were black with a pink sash, and they held pink flowers, and the groomsmen were decked out in all black with pink ties. It looked very classy.

They even made sure that their wedding guests were greeted at the hotel with a black goodie bag with pink tissue paper!

I want to wish this couple all the best and have a wonderful time on your honeymoon!

The Name Game

It used to be pretty much assumed that a bride would take her new husband's last name, but in the present day, when couples are waiting longer to tie the knot and women are more independent and established before marrying, brides are utilizing several different options other than completely changing their last name.

Every situation is unique, and it is an extremely personal decision. Often, a woman may be well-known within her field or career, or her family may not have any boys to carry on her last name. Or she simply may be attached to her last name and want to keep it.

You really have a lot of options when you get married and are thinking about changing your name. They include:

-Hyphenating both of your last names (Mary Ann Jones-Smith)
-Changing your maiden name to your middle name (Mary Jones Smith)
-Changing your last name to his last name (Mary Smith)
-Keeping all of your names on paper but only using your new last name (Mary Ann Jones Smith, but going by Mary Smith to your friends, family and coworkers)
-Keeping all your names and using new last name for personal and maiden for business. This could especially work well if you are already established in your career. (You'll be Mr. and Mrs. Smith to your friends, but your business card will still read Mary Jones.)
-Don’t take your husband’s name at all (Mary Jones and Mark Smith).
-Have both you and husband use hyphenated names (Mary and Mark Jones-Smith)
-Have your husband take your last name, which is not as uncommon as you might think (Mary and Mark Jones)

Whatever decision you choose to make, take some time to think about it and choose what is best for you. Don't worry about what others will think!

Love Is In the Air

It's that time of life! It seems like every time I turn around, I hear about another couple I know who has gotten engaged or tied the knot.

Some of these couples have been dating since college and waited to get married until after graduating, but many of them met their significant others while working at their first jobs out of college. I read about studies saying that people are waiting longer to get married, but I'm not seeing that from my personal experience.

Maybe it's an Illinois thing?

My friends are have said their vows or will be soon enough are all in their early to mid-20s. Regardless, it's all very exciting, and I'm looking forward to being a part of everyone's big days!

In December and January, I attended two weddings of good friends from college. At the end of May and at the end of June, two good college friends will be saying "I do." And then 2009 promises to bring even more weddings!

A special congratulations to two new recently engaged friends: my friend, sorority sister and former roommate Geri and her fiance Kevan, and my friend and sorority sister Kristi and her fiance Brian. I'm so happy for you both!

Getting Made Up On the Big Day

I would say the vast majority of brides get their hair done on their wedding days by a professional stylist, but when it comes to makeup, it's more of a personal decision.

Many girls feel comfortable only in their own makeup. They like to put on their own foundation and eye makeup in a certain way and feel beautiful in the colors they use on a regular basis.

I hesitantly decided to get my makeup done by a professional at BJ Grand Salon on my wedding day. I say hesitantly because I'd never had my makeup done professionally, and I was afraid I would hate it.

But there is a reason these people are professionals: they do it every day and they know what colors look good on certain skin tones and eye colors.

Looking back, doing my own makeup would have added a little extra stress to my day, not only applying it myself but having to touch it up throughout the day. As it was, I didn't touch my face once, except to apply fading lip gloss occasionally.

My makeup artist asked me to close my eyes as she applied foundation and powder, which I could barely tell she was putting on. The makeup they use is top of the line and left my skin feeling natural.

She then worked on my eyes, using very neutral colors which I helped to select, and by the end, I thought my makeup looked gorgeous and natural, not overdone or distracting.

I look back at photos, and I can barely notice a change from the beginning of the day, at 11 a.m. when my face was finished and at 11 p.m. as the reception was winding down.

For some girls, I can definitely understand wanting to do your own makeup, but I encourage you, if you are nervous about letting someone else make up your face for your big day, to do a trial run and see how you like it. It may be a little extra expense, but it will certainly reduce some of the stress on your wedding day knowing that your makeup will look beautiful throughout the entire day.

Top 2008 Wedding Colors!

While browns and reds were among the most popular colors for 2007 weddings, colors for 2008 are taking a new twist.

The hot colors for weddings in 2008 include:

1) Platinum, which can be paired with so many beautiful and bold complimentary colors.
2) yellows
3) lavenders
4) greens
5) bright blues and aquas

More specifically, at spring and summer weddings, you'll be seeing:
-aqua
-platinum
-soft pink
-pale yellow
-coral

During fall and winter weddings in 2008, the dominant colors will be:
-wine
-purple
-turquoise
-navy
-emerald green

I can't wait to see these all these beautiful colors this year!