Wanna Bet?

My book Love Bets is on the front tables at bookstores all over the country, and couples are writing to me with reports of the fabulous things they're winning in bets with their spouses:

"We're going for a 3-day weekend getaway, without the kids, for the first time in 5 years. I got to pick the destination." - Sam, New York City

"He has to make me breakfast every day this week. The American Idol results went my way! Sorry, Danny Gokey, but I'm getting my waffles and bacon!" -- Elizabeth, Houston

"She's washing my car right now. I picked out her outfit." -- James, Sarasota

Here's what else my Love Betting couples are winning: handbag shopping sprees, foot massages, cleanup of the dog's messes in the backyard [oooo -- that's quite a wager, people!], taking the kids every Sunday so Mom gets a day off, three things knocked off the To Do list this weekend, trip to the winery, and a karaoke performance. What will YOU win with Love Bets?

Get your copy here, and have more fun with your partner!

Who wants a week in Jamaica?

Sign on to win a week's honeymoon -- or second honeymoon if you're already married -- at www.techsavvybride.com, where you can also win two phenomenal new Nokia 7205 Intrigue cell phones and find out how technology can help you improve your wedding planning process, keep you organized, save money and -- most importantly -- maintain your relationships with everyone around you.

I just returned from taping a segment on ABC News Now's 'Ahead of the Curve' where I shared insider secrets about how this particular Nokia phone organizes your wedding vendor calls and messages AUTOMATICALLY, so that you can keep their quotes, your orders and your payments organized, saving you the headache of checking messages on your 4 different e-mail accounts. The phone does it automatically! So when that florist says you didn't pay your deposit, you can just whip out your Intrigue and show her that Yes, you did make the payment and she sent you a thank you message. No paying double for you. On a design front, the Nokia 7205 has a Habitat mode that assigns nature icons for each of your contacts. And they have His and Hers models. Check it out at www.techsavvybride.com, and get your His and Hers phones instead of spending hundreds on those His and Hers tee shirts, hats, and underwear sets.

Like the phone? Send me an e-mail, and I'll give one winner a month a copy of my newest book "Home From the Honeymoon," giving you tips for handling the first, challenging year of marriage.

Catch me on Arizona Bride!

Arizona Bride has posted a lovely review of my book "Home From the Honeymoon"

This new book helps newlyweds celebrate all of the Firsts of their first year of marriage, and also tackle the many challenges of adjusting to life as Marrieds. No more post-wedding blues! There's so much to look forward to...

'Here Come the Moms' Show #7 is now live!

'Here Come the Moms,' my show at Wedding Podcast Network, is now live with our newest installment! Listen in here to find out the newest ways that brides and their moms can face the challenge of a wedding budget together, get some things for FREE, and not sacrifice quality on the wedding day.

Personalize your wedding with Caribbean 'Shells of the Month'

While my husband and I were on our second honeymoon on St. John, we visited a lovely jewelry shop in Mongoose Junction and discovered this fun chart about the 'Shells of the Month,' which works a lot like birthstones and the flowers of the month. The jeweler casts actual shells using precious metals in his work, but you can incorporate the real deal in your decor. Check it out to see if your island destination wedding or honeymoon could use a fun shell theme with meaning:

Attributes of Shells, from http://www.pattongold.com/shell_attributes.htm

In the 1970s R&I PATTON collected local* shells and made molds of them in order to cast them in solid 18k, 14k and sterling. They are beautiful, lasting tokens of remembrance for an amazing island and a significant event.

Seashells and what they have come to represent:

January:
Starfish: orderliness, charisma, honesty, persistence, regeneration, originality

February:
Limpet: intensity, stability, determination, durability, steadfastness

March:
Scallop:truth, faithfulness, trustworthiness, precision, balance, dependability

April:
Tulip:sweetness, compassion, loveliness, kindness, tranquility, love

May:
Murex: poise, beauty, intricacy, intelligence - very feminine shell

June:
Sanddollar:loyalty, encouragement, reliability, certainty, predictability

July:
Coral:warmth, charm, openness, complexity, enthusiasm, zeal

August:
Urchin: boldness, confidence, creativity, decisiveness, certainty, bravery

September:
Cowry: prosperity, worth, generosity, directness, ambition, versatility

October:
Flamingo Tongue: strength, simplicity, potency, courage - a very masculine shell

November:
Triton: expansiveness, loquaciousness, wildness, energy, passion

December:
Conch: power, leadership, devotion, optimism, cooperation, harmony

* Since it is now illegal to remove any shells from the beaches and waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands, these precious metal replicas are great and lasting mementos.

These shells make wonderful wedding party gifts. Our staff would be happy to help you decide about which shells would be appropriate for individuals in your group.



For more on personalizing your wedding, visit my site!

View my wish list on Wishpot »

Win a pair of Nokia phones and a Honeymoon!

Announcing my new position as the Bridal Spokesperson for Nokia's new Intrigue!

With wedding season around the corner and brides looking to simplify the planning process, technology tools are taking the place of the personal wedding planner for a new generation.


Sharon Naylor, bridal expert and author of more than 35 wedding books – including 'Home From the Honeymoon' to be released in May – is available for in-person or phone interviews. Sharon has partnered with Nokia to help brides use technology to plan the wedding of their dreams, without the stress! From keeping in touch with far away bridesmaids to avoiding late fees, Sharon will show consumers how to use technology to make the entire planning process a breeze!

Wedding Planning Tips

Share Updates: Allow long-distance friends and relatives to get in on the fun wedding details by posting quick and easy updates to Twitter or Facebook right from your mobile phone.
Stay Organized: Organization is key to saving money and limiting wedding stress! Your phone can be your ultimate wedding organizer. For example, with the Nokia 7205 Intrigue, available at Verizon Wireless, you can lose the big, heavy wedding binder and access all of your important phone numbers, calendar and images of your dress, your venue and your dream flowers in one light device.
Map it Out: Use free online mapping sites such www.weddingmapper.com to create your wedding map. This handy tool allows you to create a personalized map of your ceremony, reception, hotels, etc for out of town guests.
Create your Virtual You to Save Time: Build a virtual model of yourself online at My Virtual Model (MVM.com) to try on your outfits for every bridal occasion. Invite your wedding party including bridesmaids and mother of the bride to do the same. Doing it all online instead of traveling to stores saves time and budget.
Streamline Your Guest List: Skip the traditional reply cards and invite your guests to R.S.V.P. online through your personal wedding web site at The Knot.com. Your guest list will be easy to manage and you can check for updates anytime from your mobile device or at home!

Nokia is also hosting a Tech Savvy Bride Sweepstakes for one lucky bride to win a seven-night honeymoon package and a pair of Nokia 7205 Intrigues to share with her groom. Click here for more information: http://www.techsavvybride.com.

Please let me know if you are interested in scheduling an interview.

Have a smaller more intimate wedding!

I love that my fellow wedding authors are such wonderful people -- not at all agressively competitive, but so willing to partner up and work together well...which is why so many of the 'generous in spirit' pros skyrocket to the top!

Today, I'm recommending my colleague Christina's wonderful book Intimate Weddings. Here's more info on her terrific book:

Small weddings rock. In fact, thanks to the economy, small weddings are one of the biggest trends of 2009.

If you are one of the thousands of brides planning a small wedding, check out Christina Friedrichsen’s Intimate Weddings: Planning a Small Wedding that Fits Your Budget and Style.

In Intimate Weddings: Planning a Small Wedding that Fits Your Budget and Style , Christina Friedrichsen shows you how to plan a wedding that is small in scale but full of your personality and style. Inside you will find:

* Inspiring stories and advice from couples who have planned small and intimate weddings

* Creative location, ceremony and reception ideas for throwing a wedding that matches your personality

* Inventive ways to get loved ones involved with wedding planning and the wedding day events.

* realistic wedding budgets from real-life couples.

It's time to think outside the "big wedding" box and explore the possibilities of a small and intimate wedding. Before you walk down the aisle, consult the guide that shares your perspective: Intimate is ultimate! And don’t forget to check out www.intimateweddings.com which lists more than 1,300 small wedding venues throughout North America. The website also has a blog (www.intimateweddings.com/blog) with heaps of helpful information on planning a small wedding.

Get your copy at the website now!

What have YOU won with 'Love Bets'?

My book 'Love Bets' has people winning great things! And enjoying *losing* bets to their partner, when the payout is something they really, really want to do.

My publisher and I would love to hear what YOU'VE won from your partner in the 'Love Bets' you've made while using the book. When The Today Show and Good Morning America plan their segments on this book, we just might bring you along to share your story!

Get your copy of the book here.

SmartMoney's hot destinations

Looking for a great deal on a destination wedding or honeymoon hotspot? SmartMoney.com has just released its exciting, exotic list of destinations where the dollar is strong and the scenery spectacular for your smart wedding site shopping: www.smartmoney.com/Spending/Travel/6-Vacation-Spots-to-Stretch-Your-Dollar/.

Dream big. Spend small. Travel wisely.

Check out my budget-saving books at www.sharonnaylor.net/books.htm

Set aside an emergency fund!

With the wedding plans in full swing, you might be looking at your bank account and credit cards, maybe your tax refund check, as your All-Wedding-Access-Cash. But be careful...

Take a bunch of your money and put it away, safely in an emergency fund. There's no protective bubble that forms around brides and grooms the minute you get engaged. Since we live in a world where anything can happen, you have to make sure that you have a nice chunk of change available to use if any emergencies come up.

Right now, I'm sitting in a tarped-off room while plumbers jackhammer my foyer floor away, looking for a pipe problem under the house. If this had hapened last year, while my husband and I were planning our wedding, we would have lost our minds.

An emergency doesn't have to involve plumbers. It could be a new tire that you have to get for your car to replace a flat. A co-pay at the doctor's office for an antibiotic. Your dog's vet bill. Small or large, you need that money set aside so that you have peace of mind as well, and are not fighting with your groom-to-be about money.

So stash some cash away, and if you have it leftover when the wedding arrives, that's Play Money for the Honeymoon (or a smart start on your married life emergency fund.)

Get your copy of The Bride's Survival Guide to find out how else you can save your wedding, your sanity and your relationship!

My new logo! And Sharon's white tee shirt contest!

The Sharon Naylor brand gets a makeover today, as I select the winner of my brand logo competition...and here it is! So my new brand logo is official, and VistaPrint is working on my letterhead, business cards, presentation folders, and very cute tee shirts that you will be able to order through my site very soon.

So this starts Contest #2: please share your ideas for the tee shirt wording! I'm looking for funny or sweet -- nothing Bridezilla-ish.

Listen to something better than the news

Image courtesy of Caneel Bay on St. John.


How much more scary news can we take? Immersing yourself in the downer of the day is only going to depress you, so find a more soothing voice to listen to. In my world, it's Kerstin Sjoquist, who has created beautiful meditation CDs and downloads on her site.

You'll also find a little something on her site that she worked on with me, so check it out!

Oh, and I'm newly on Twitter, so follow me at @sharonnaylorwed.

Free Manicures for Brides!

Okay, so this article in Glamour is talking about a brilliant marketing plan by a nail salon in California, but YOU can turn their genius into a Free Manicure plan for you!

The next time you go for a mani-pedi, suggest to your salon owner that today's brides are stressed-out and cash-strapped, so wouldn't it be the coolest thing ever if their salon offered a free monthly manicure to brides-to-be? Hey, it can't hurt to ask, and most salon owners facing customers' cut-backs in disposable funds would love to draw fresh, new customers into their place.

Memory Photos on Your Bouquet

Photo courtesy of Tory Williams (http://www.torywilliams.com/weddings)


The Fine Art of Family offers wonderful little photo charms that you can attach to your bouquet if you would like to honor a departed relative or friend during your walk down the aisle.

If your father is departed, and not able to escort you down the aisle, you can attach his photo in a charm to your bouquet so that he can join you in a bit more than spirit as you approach your groom. If a mother has departed, her photo can grace your bouquet as well.

I love the concept and design of these, so I encourage you to visit the site for more information!

The Top 100 Wedding Blogs!

Today was a big day for wedding bloggers everywhere, as BrideTide.com announced its list of the Top 100 Wedding Blogs! And I'm so proud to share with you the news that my iVillage blog is on the list!

As they say on the red carpet, it's an honor to be nominated, but it's way cooler to get on the A-list. Many thanks to the team at BrideTide, and I recommend my readers to go check them out!

Give Back! Designing Charitable Favor Cards

I LOVE this site for Charitable Registries and Charitable Wedding Favors: ChangingThePresent.org. Finding a way to Give Back with your wedding has long been a trend, and it's only growing stronger as we think about the value of wedding gifts and favors, and how wonderful it is to choose something that adds to humanity, and makes a difference, far more than a little silver wedding frame.

Check out their DIY package so that you can choose from some wonderful offerings -- Adopt a Tiger ($40), Plant 40 Trees ($22) and fabulous favors such as Equip Artisans ($5) and Provide Back-To-School Supplies for needy kids ($5). They even have a $1 Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich donation for a kids' food pantry. What a great late-night favor that would be: a mini PB&J slider for the road, as hungry guests leave your reception after hours of dancing, plus a cute note that you've designed on this site announcing that they've just fed a hungry child. This is a wonderful thing!

Make your wedding maps at WeddingMapper.com!

Here's an easy and fun way for you to create your own wedding maps together! WeddingMapper.com's DIY section allows you to design and print your own icon-studded directions for your wedding invitations, and if you have any questions, they have an expert available to help you out!

I love this site so much, we used it to create our own wedding maps for our Big Day, and I'm their new Q&A Expert for all topics related to finding the perfect venue and vendors! Just click on Advice at the top of the DIY maps page to get to my section.

Great cake toppers!

If you want your wedding to sparkle, even after you've taken a lot of cost-cutting steps to make your Big Day more affordable, check out these dazzling cake toppers:






A description from the company: "Elegant details put the finishing touch on the big day. When it comes to the reception, everyone notices the cake. Why not make the cake standout even more? Toppers With Glitz adds a little bling to wedding cakes with custom designed crystal cake toppers. Extra edible components can increase the cost of your cake – and they are usually thrown away. Glam toppers are hand made with CRYSTALIZED Swarovski Elements AND they are a fun keepsake. Three-letter monogram toppers come in various sizes and custom made designs are offered, including palm trees or snowflakes, anything to go with your theme.

"Designer Sari Watkins hand makes every topper herself. While planning her own wedding she searched everywhere for high quality monogrammed cake toppers. She wasn’t happy with the selection so she started her own business. Toppers With Glitz specializes in customizing artwork, lettering styles and crystal colors. The possibilities are endless and gorgeous!

For more information: www.topperswithglitz.com
Email Sari: Questions@topperswithglitz.com

Check out Presents For Purpose

When you're looking for gifts for your bridesmaids, the moms, and any other special person in your life, it's always a great feeling to buy an item that 'gives back' to charity. I'm especially excited to recommend this website, for its great work and high-fashion angle, organic items and 'go pink' selections that help a cause and might just fit with your wedding's color scheme ;)

Presents for Purpose (PFP)— www.presentsforpurpose.com —was founded in 2002 by Alayna Kassan and Cynthia W. Dressel, two Lymphoma survivors who, along with PFP co-owner Leslie Weissman, wanted to give back to the community that had been there for them during their struggles. The women originally designed and began selling crystal watches, their first retail collection which quickly sold out, resulting in a $20,000 donation to the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Since that time, the site has grown exponentially and now offers hundreds of high-fashion, high-quality and in many cases, designer gift ideas for women, men and children. Items range from fashionable apparel and jewelry to hand bags, baby gifts, organic/green items, “go pink” items, stationary and even personalized gifts in all price ranges. PFP has teamed up with and/or has been supported by a number of celebrities including Miley Cyrus, Teri Hatcher, Lisa Rinna, Jessica Biel, Marisol Thomas and Ethan Zohn.

In many cases, PFP works with the individual charities and designers to create a gift that represents the core of that particular charities work, an example of which can be found in their latest piece of jewelry, added to the site. The “beauty within” butterfly necklace (shown above) supports children with a vascular anomaly.

Do something stupid, get a free honeymoon?

I knew it when I saw these two giggly post-teens on the Today Show. The girl apparently swallowed the engagement ring that the oh-so-creative boyfriend slipped into her milkshake, and -- good thing they had a camera rolling! I always need video evidence of my having a milkshake! -- and now she's blogging that maybe, just maybe, they'll get a free honeymoon out of the deal.

So we're in a recession, right? I'm thinking....we'll start seeing some pretty creative efforts via YouTube and its best friend The Today Show enacted by opportunists trying to get a free vacation and a free wedding.

I know that there will be lots of people out there nodding their heads, admiring these kids, saying 'Wow, that's clever.' I happen to know some of these people by name, and I'm sure they're greasing up some jewelry ready to go win themselves a fresh trip to Hawaii.

And then I know many, many more people who would never pull a trick like this.

'Here Come the Moms' at Wedding Podcast Network

Last week, I had the pleasure of getting back into the studio with Robert Allen and Holli Ehrlich of Wedding Podcast Network for our newest talk show segment tapings for the MOTHERS of the bride and groom (and the bride who loves them). This week, we delve into the dark ravings of the mom who wants to be the bride, or who THINKS she's the bride. Why do Moms lose their minds? How can a Mom make it up to you when she's gone too far? Tune in to hear about Mama Dramas and the sweet solutions that get everyone back on track.

Five lucky listeners will win a signed copy of my new book 'The Bride's Survival Guide.'

Sweepstakes and contests for the bride!

Since so many wedding traditions are all about Luck (tossing the bouquet, the first dance, the old, new, borrowed and blue, etc.), you can consider yourself lucky that you have so many opportunities to WIN so many amazing things for your wedding and for your future together!

At every bridal show you attend, you could win a free honeymoon, free photography, free hair and makeup services, and more. Some couples win free receptions! Not bad for an hour on Sunday browsing through the bridal expo at the Ramada!

If you're the contest-entering type, now is a VERY good time for you. The top bridal sites offer plenty of contests, and you'll find amazing contests at your favorite magazines' websites. Here is one that's going on right now...the chance to win a free Prius from Better Homes and Gardens. I've signed on to their site so that I get access to all kinds of national contests, and with an easy click, it signs me up for my daily entry. Piece of cake. Right now, I'm trying to win an elliptical, which would be an amazing addition to our home gym.

Where else will you find great contests for life after the wedding? Go straight to HGTV, and get connected to their awesome contests, as well as to those at DIY Network and Fine Living.

In this economy, you're going to find bigger and better contest prizes out there, and it costs nothing to sign on. Just make sure you're being smart and not giving out your SS# or other personal data that could get your identity stolen. I find that sweepstakes endorsed by these major media websites are usually safe, but I still read the fine print.

Good luck to you!

Real brides and grooms offering vendor referrals

Now this is a good one!

We all know that the best way to find outstanding wedding vendors, and to find the best wedding sites, is to ask recently-married friends and relatives who they used, who they would recommend, and who they didn't like.

But what if no one you know has gotten married recently? What if you've just moved to a new area and don't have a big circle of friends to consult with yet? Are you out of luck? No, there's a great resource called Wedding Mapper that not only lets you build a fun map for your guests' use in finding the hotel, ceremony and reception sites; it shows you Real Life wedding couples in your area, who they used, how they rated them, what they had to say about them AND you can e-mail those couples to ask any additional questions you have.

It's a fabulous extra tool in your research, to get you the best of everything on a budget that's right for you. Joe and I used this site when we were planning our wedding, and we loved it. I've recommended it in the past as a fun budget-saving way to do the directions thing, but I also wanted you to know about the 'inside scoop' element!

What are grooms buying for their brides INSTEAD of diamond jewelry?

Diamonds are expensive these days, but grooms still want to get something fabulous for their brides. Find out in my cover story, "5 Questions With Sharon Naylor" at Brides.com.

My Mother of the Bride Book is #1 on Amazon!

Lots of Moms out there are getting the advice and ideas they need to be wonderful wedding-planning partners. My book The Mother of the Bride Book is the #1 book for moms on Amazon.com, with my Mother of the Groom book also tops on its own list.

Since moms are important members of the planning team, I've enjoyed focusing on them and helping them navigate the new trends and etiquette rules, both in my books and at my podcast "Here Come the Moms" at Wedding Podcast Network.

Another perk of giving Mom a book of her own? I say the things you want to say, like "Chill out," "It's the bride and groom's wedding, not yours," and "Stop trying to compete with your friends or the in-laws."

Catch me on Get Married...again!

New Jersey Bride and 'The Bachelor' wedding gown

My editor Molly Tully at New Jersey Bride has just posted a very fun blog about the wedding gowns that could potentially be worn by The Bachelor's pick. Read it here and join the discussion about what his Bride might select!

Embattled Bridesmaids, Sylvia Weinstock, Preston Bailey and Colin Cowie

Whew! It's been quite a day! I invite you to visit www.getmarried.com to see my segment that aired this morning -- all about smart booking of your wedding day transportation...and while you're viewing the show, check out my 'opening act' of Sylvia Weinstock, Ron Ben-Israel, Preson Bailey and Colin Cowie and their latest masterpieces.

Since you'll be working closely with your bridesmaids, check out my interview on Irene Levine's blog Fractured Friendships, to make sure that you don't wreck the harmony between you and your friends. This is Part2 of my discussion with Irene, so be sure to check out Part 1 as you peruse her phenomenal site!

Catch me on Get Married!

This is just one of my recent appearances on Get Married with Colin Cowie. Tune in on the 18th and the 25th of this month to see my newest segments, and keep an eye on my website to catch my past appearances.

We're building a new Sharon Naylor on TV page that will be up shortly, so you'll see plenty more of my appearances on Get Married there!

Combat wedding stress with some Love Bets!

Laughter makes all the wedding stress go away...and so does reminding yourselves how much fun you both have together when your world isn't full of Wedding To-Do's, envious friends and pushy parents. I wrote this book to bring some laughs back into your life, to give you tame, romantic and racy things to 'win' from each other, laugh at yourself, show your skills (and by that, I mean tennis or bowling! But you can interpret that however you'd like!) and generally just show your 'awesome side' to your partner again...instead of being miserable, tense and stressed-out by the wedding plans.

Look at this book as an investment in keeping the two of you close during this busy time...and good luck with your bets! Write to me through my website to share your Love Bets stories. I may just include YOU and your bets in the 2nd edition of this book!

Get your copy of Love Bets here.

Show Me Some Roses

Your floral designer can best create your dream wedding flowers when you have photos to show...and I have a great resource for you: the White Flower Farm Catalog, which is gorgeous, filled with detailed photos of classic and new varietals of roses, dahlias, lilies, orchids, lavender...any type of flowers you'd like to incorporate into your wedding decor.

As an added perk, the catalog will serve you well if you're going to plan a garden, some borders or container plants together. Joe and I have an amazing area mapped out for a shade garden, and I can't get enough of the suggestions in this catalog. So look at this handy catalog as a great tool for Now and Later!

Etta James/ Beyonce versions of 'At Last'

Okay, normally I don't get involved in celebrity catfights, but since we're talking about the #1 First Dance song at weddings, I have to speak up about the Etta James/Beyonce clash reported here.

I can TOTALLY understand Etta James's displeasure at not being given the chance to sing her own song at the momentous occasion. This is her song. She sings it at every concert and -- in my opinion -- knocks it out of the park with pitch-pure tones and a voice that brings her faithful fans to tears. I was a MESS at her concert. I was BLISSED-OUT dancing to "At Last" at my own wedding.

There's no denying Beyonce is a tremendous talent, and her presence at the inaugural festivities was a crowd-pleaser.

I'm not going to justify, defend or otherwise comment on reported remarks by Ms. James, because no one ever knows the real story. I just would have LOVED to see BOTH women perform the song for the Obamas. It would have been amazing.

So when the Team Etta and Team Beyonce shirts hit the market in a few hours, it will be interesting to get reports from professional deejays on the percentages of brides and grooms who request Etta's version and Beyonce's version of the song for their wedding playlists.

Bouquet Chic is a Bride's Must-Have!

My review of 'Bouquet Chic' by Kimberly Aurora Kapur:

I must have said 'Wow!' twenty times *before* page 20! This book is visually stunning, well-written, and inspiring in a way that few other bridal floral books have achieved. At once modern and fashionable, the looks are achievable no matter where you stand on the Chic Scale. This is THE book you want to buy for the best images to show your own floral designer, and THE book you want to flip through for a boost on days when wedding planning is stressful. It's impossible to be tense when you're looking at vibrant orange bouquets and romantic sage green and white cascades. The text is brilliant, the production quality brilliant, and you'll even find inspiration for your wedding PHOTOS...surely, you'll open this book in front of your photographer and say "I want a shot like THIS!" Bouquet Chic is a must-have!

Get my #1 Amazon Bestselling Bridal Shower Book

This just in: My book The Ultimate Bridal Shower Idea Book is #1 on the Amazon.com list of bestselling bridal shower books! Get your copy today, and find out how to throw an amazing shower on a budget, with fun themes, games, menus, and favors your guests will love.

Warning! Postage Stamp Rates Going Up!

I just heard on the news that postage stamp rates are going to be increasing in May, so be VERY careful about buying the right Love or personally-designed stamps for your wedding invitations that will be valid at the time of your wedding. You don't want to buy 42-cent Love stamps now and then have to supplement with a random 2-cent stamp later nor have all of your invitations bounce back to you for insufficient postage. Then you'd have to order new envelopes, address them all, buy new stamps, etc. Huge nightmare!

Think about your wedding date and invitation mailing date (6-8 weeks before a hometown wedding, 12 weeks at least for a destination wedding) -- and the same for your Save the Dates if that's where you're at in your planning -- and make sure your purchase and sending timing is spot-on!

For more info, visit www.usps.gov.

A top, trendy gift for junior bridesmaids

Junior bridesmaids LOVE getting Teen Vogue subscriptions as their 'thank you for being in the wedding' gift. It's the gift that keeps on giving, a regular reminder of what a cool aunt or sister you are...and the magazine often gives out free totes and other fun swag just for subscribing.

Looking at this mag: were WE this stylish and phenomenal when we were their ages? ;)

Have a Haunted Honeymoon

It doesn't have to be Halloween for all things ghostly to be a part of your big getaway. Some of the most notable and luxurious hotels in the world are home to ghosts who just don't want to leave -- and can you blame them? Joe and I stayed at The Logan Inn, one of the haunted hotels in this article, and we heard several ghostly sounds during our stay. I've stayed at the Roosevelt, pictured above, and it's wildly haunted...but in a good way.

If you'd like to stay at a haunted hotel, or close enough just to tour one, check out this great starter article. and know that just like your wedding, your honeymoon is going to be unlike anyone else's in your circle of friends!

Sharon Naylor Wedding Books new slideshow

Are you missing out on free help from me?

Thousands of brides are getting free, insider information from me, and personalized solutions to their wedding problems at my iVillage Weddings Ask The Wedding Expert: Budgets and More message board. Come join in the conversation, and get your wedding-planning and budget questions answered by me.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

This is a CAKE!

How amazing is this? The wonderful, talented folks at Hansen's Cakes worked some magic with this one, and their Golden Globes Cake is a stunner as well. Visit their blog for more inspiring, amazing images and hopefully you'll be among the lucky brides who get a Hansen Cake for your wedding!

I just don't get it...wedding flowers in a flash-freeze

I have to admit....I just don't get the allure of freeze-dried flower petals and freeze-dried flowers in bouquets, centerpieces and as decor. With so many inexpensive fresh flowers out there, ones that won't bust your budget, why would you choose drier-looking flash-frozen flowers and petals for your big day?

I've seen a lot of freeze-dried options out there, and I miss the silkiness of a fresh flower petal, the scent, the softness...if you have a preference for freeze-dried blooms, please do e-mail me and share your perspective because I'd really love a fresh look at this bountiful product in wedding floral world.

Check out 'Style Me Pretty' -- a Don't Miss wedding blog

It's just too gorgeous for words, and Abby is a style inspiration genius. RSS this one and don't miss it for one single day! www.stylemepretty.com.

Check out the new invitation Pochettes by Mountaincow!

I think these are absolutely adorable! Pretty, fold-outs perfect for invitations, Save the Dates, thank you notes for your bridal party, even love letters between the bride and groom (hide one in a suitcase, place one on the pillowcase, and so on for the kind of sweet romance that keeps you close during wedding planning.

Check them out here:

And look at these colors!


white

cinnamon

black

pink lemonade

magenta

deep red

mandarin orange

dark yellow

margarita

green

aqua

sky

twilight

violet
ecru

chocolate

slate

deep pink

scarlet

coral

bright orange

yellow

avocado

clover

teal

dusty blue

lavender

purple
ivory

dark chocolate

pewter

blush

candy apple

deep orange

saffron

celery

bright green

sage

midnight

powder blue

fuchsia

Should you worry when a wedding expert doesn't have a 'package?'

No, don't worry. It's the new trend for more and more wedding experts, such as florists, photographers, caterers and wedding cordinators, to customize the details and plans they'll put together for your wedding. In past years, you'd see the Budget Package with just the basics, the Gold Package with lots of perks in addition to the basics, and then the Platinum Package that would blow your mind and budget. Now, wedding pros know that you want to create your own package of their goods and services, according to your own budget. And your wedding won't be similar to any other friends or relatives who had their weddings at the same place. So don't be afraid of the no-package pro. Just interview them with the same careful questioning you use for all of your experts and see what you might be able to create with them.

My new book on Amazon's Hot New Wedding Books list!

Seems like every bride wants to find out how to avoid some of the biggest mistakes possible! Amazon.com has included my newest book The Bride's Survival Guide in their list of the best new wedding books!

See my Recession-Proof Your Wedding tips every day at Bridal Guide!

I'm SO excited to start my Recession-Proof Your Wedding tip-a-day program with Bridal Guide, in which you'll get an insider secret money-saver every day. Just go to Bridal Guide for more information. Here's the article to get you started!

The #1 song to listen to while planning your wedding

Super savings at outlet stores

You won't believe the 50%, 60%, 70% and higher discounts that you'll find at an array of outlet stores near you, or within a short drive [which is so worth it when you find a $100 designer wedding gown or $40 designer handbags for your bridesmaids' gifts]. Check out www.outletbound.com to find out which outlet stores are near you, search by store name, and find out what's new in your area and in areas you'll be visiting (like his parents' place or your next vacation spot.) If you can't easily get to any outlet stores, now you can shop online at www.realoutlets.com. Happy shopping!

Money-saving DIY ideas

I LOVE Amy Palanjian's column 'Things We Make' for the terrific DIY projects and inspiration. Check it out!

I also saw on the Hallmark Magazine website a fantastic photo feature on 'recycling' the lace from your wedding gown or bouquet fabric. They're talking making a shadow box or frame to feature one carefully-cut lace design, and I think this would make an AMAZING gift to give to your mom, grandmom, daughter, the bridesmaids. Since the bouquet toss tradition started out originally, long ago, as wedding guests tearing at the bride's dress to get a little scrap of fabric and thus a bit of her luck (and sometimes it got brutal!), giving out snippets of your gown or veil lace or that from your bouquet handle is a precious gift!

COOKIES!!!!

I *love* Cheryl & Co's frosted cookies. Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em! These are fantastic for bridal shower desserts, as shower favors, as wedding favors (especially the fall flavors for fall weddings) and as additions to guest welcome baskets.

Check out their 30% off sale going on right now

Top Destination Wedding Spots

Check out these enticing suggestions from Bridal Guide.

A Green Wedding with Martha! Tune in!

(Photo credit: Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia)

Get behind-the-scenes access with Martha Stewart on the revealing new special "Gorgeous and Green: A Martha Stewart Wedding," premiering Saturday, December 20 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on The Style Network.

Viewers will follow Martha's assistant Liesl Menning, as she prepares to marry country music artist Kevin Haynie in Nashville, Tennessee!

Martha's team is dedicated to making this wedding not only gorgeous, but as green as possible! Liesl and Kevin want to have an environmentally conscious event but still desire all the elegance of a Martha Stewart Wedding. Darcy Miller takes the lead as planner and helps the happy couple prepare for the big day incorporating green elements such as using delicious organic items from the garden for their dinner ingredients, to finding unique and beautiful ways to decorate for the reception with recycled and natural products. They also create a registry featuring eco-friendly items.

The reward is always at the finish line

I love this viral video of the World's Smartest Mouse...just shows that with persistence and a good sense of direction, the ability to keep going without the need for immediate reward, and challenges of all sizes (including tall ones that seem insurmountable), you get to the finish line and the reward is waiting there for you. Love this.

Books are the #1 budget wedding favor and gifts choice!

If you're looking for the perfect, affordable wedding favors, forget about those cheesy little silver frames and choose to get your guests great little gift books! Priced at under $7 each in most cases, these books offer your guests humor, quotes, pretty pictures, poetry...you name it. It's something they'll enjoy and keep on their bookshelves for a very long time, always remembering your wonderful wedding.


For parents' and bridal party gifts, get your recipients gorgeous coffee table books featuring photos of their favorite locations (Tuscany, Paris, Egypt), their favorite artists (Monet, VanGogh, etc.), architecture, boats, whatever topic they love. Again, this gift -- signed by you with a heartfelt message of love and thanks -- stays in their home, on display, for a long, long time. That's way better than a bottle of wine and is the perfect add-on to the framed photo or album you're already planning to get them.


And if you have a Rewards system with Amazon, just think about the points and perks you'll get when you order 30 shower favor books or 100 wedding favor books! It's an additional savings on an already affordable gift idea, adding up to a very smart gift choice.

My personal favorite for bridal shower favors? A very fun choice for your married and single guests: Love Bets.

Have some FUN with your groom!

My new book is out! I thought the release date was next week, but here it is, ready for you now.

“Winner gets a neck massage.” “Loser gives winner a candlelit striptease.” “If you win, I’ll wash your car. Shirtless.”
This book brings a sense of play and friendly competition to any relationship - and the wager is the best part. The prizes range from the innocent (as in a first date’s friendly wager for a second date) to the gourmet (chocolate-covered strawberries brought to you at work) to the sexy (full body massage) to the racy (a striptease). This book suggests more than 300 romantic couples’ bets in a range of categories, focusing on different activities, such as: which team will win the football game; what family member will be the first to embarrass himself at Thanksgiving; who will come up with the most complex word during a game of Scrabble; and more! This book also includes expert tips for executing the prizes. Plus, each entry has space for recording the bet, wager, and outcome, making this book the perfect keepsake for any relationship!

The perfect items for guest welcome baskets...and for you!

I LOVE Bath and Body Works Instant Aromatherapy. They're the perfect indulgence for your guests' welcome baskets, a gift they'll keep and use for a long time, and you get to choose the 'theme' of aromatherapy you want for each recipient.

I always keep their lavender scent in my handbag for moments when I just want to chill out a little bit...stock up for you, for the Moms, for your bridesmaids and also as the perfect, affordable bridal shower favor!

Organize your wedding photo wishlist

Check out my book excerpt, a checklist of shots to be taken (or skipped) at your wedding, featured on the SeeYouThen.com blog.

While you're there, cruise the site to see if you would like an account as a gift!

The Williams Sonoma Wine Club

Now here's a brilliant, classy idea for a gift to request from your parents or bridal party...sign on for the Williams Sonoma wine club in order to receive your choice of vintages shipped right to you, plus amazing advice from their wine and culinary experts about food pairings.

If your parents are footing the bill for your big day, this could be a great gift to give to THEM.

Visit their site at Williams Sonoma.