'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.

Wedding Wines That Give Back

Check out the fantastic, sports-centric vintages at www.charitywines.com as the perfect theme item for your wedding, rehearsal dinner, or co-ed bridal shower bar:

"Charity Wines partners with superstar athletes & celebrities to create fine wines and help raise funds for charities across the country. In the Spring of 2007 Charity Wines launched the Longball Vineyards brand, featuring wines from Boston baseball players, Manny Ramirez, Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield. In less than three months, following the largest single wine presale in Massachusetts' history, donations from a portion of those proceeds raised over $350,000 for the players' charities.

Following the 2007 Longball series, Charity Wines teamed with hockey legends Ray Bourque and Cam Neely and football hall-of-famer Dan Marino to produce a line of California wines. In Spring of 2008 the "Boys of Summer" returned with a line-up of 18 new baseball players from Boston, New York, Atlanta and Cincinnati as well as four baseball hall of fame legends. To date, Charity Wines has donated over $1.5 million to charities featuring these collectible Baseball Wines, Football Wines and Hockey Wines"

Joe and I did this for our own rehearsal dinner, stocking up on the Marino Estate Cabs, Merlots and Chardonnays, and our guests loved them.

It's a great way to give a little back in fine style...

Praise for my Ultimate Bridal Shower Idea Book!

The Ultimate Bridal Shower Idea Book: How to Have a Fun, Fabulous, and Memorable Party by Sharon Naylor

The list author says:
"This book is chock full of amazing ideas! What I love about it most is the idea of picking a theme and then really going for it! If you are preparing a shower for someone you love, she will be absolutely thrilled when you follow the guidelines outlined here. A creative, fun, classy offering from one of the most impressive wedding professionals out there! Bravo!"

Thank you for the fabulous review!

Wax on, wax off

A few weeks ago, Joe and I attended a big autograph expo, where we had the chance to meet some amazing celebrities, including Ralph Macchio who doesn't look much different from how he looked in the movie, and is an incredibly sweet person. As much as I wanted to ask him to do the famous crane pose with me for our photo, I decided not to be that fan. Just a regular photo will do, at which time I told him that he smelled fantastic. He just laughed, so I'm sure I wasn't tops on his list of strange moments that day. Across the room, Corey Haim sat there...alone...wearing what looked like a BeDazzled white jacket, talking on his cell phone because there was NO line in front of him. That's my one regret of the day: I didn't go talk to Haim. You live and learn...

Joe and I have attended tons of these fun shows, some focused on 80s TV stars, some on pro and Hall of Fame athletes, some a mish-mash of types, and it's always a blast. The take-homes are pretty phenomenal, too. We now have a framed original from Roger Kastel, the artist who created the Jaws movie posted, signed by Kastel and by the woman who played 'Chrissie,' the character chomped in the opening scenes of the film. I also have a fabulous autograph from Morgan Fairchild, who is reading my novel "It's My Wedding Too" and will hopefully star as Delilah in the movie version.

So if you're in the area and want to attend a show, check out www.chillertheatre.org in the spring, and see your favorite stars and semi-stars.

Don't Miss These Shows!

IT'S A WINTER WEDDING WONDERLAND ON STYLE THIS DECEMBER
AS THE NETWORK AIRS ITS BIGGEST WHITE WEDDING EVENT TO DATE
WITH TWO-WEEKS OF MAGICAL BRIDAL-THEMED SPECIALS

This Year's Extensive Lineup Features Three Brand New Specials Every Saturday at 9PM and Two New Installments of Style's "Whose Wedding is it Anyway?"
Including the Series' First Ever Million Dollar Wedding!

This December, TV viewers are invited to the biggest wedding bash of the year, as the third annual White Wedding programming event kicks off on The Style Network! Featuring a bigger, more robust slate of compelling new specials, this year's extravaganza is shaping up to be the most memorable. For anyone who loves watching the trials and tribulations behind planning the perfect nuptials, or for those who just need the best tips for throwing their own stunning event, don't miss The White Wedding Event which kicks off Saturday, December 6, only on The Style Network.

From a big pre-wedding weight loss challenge, to hilarious countdown clip shows, to informative specials featuring experts from Martha Stewart Weddings, Style once again renews its vows as the one-stop-shop for all things matrimony. Bringing together top wedding planners, specialists and real brides-to-be, viewers will be absorbed in down to the wire bridal planning, witness grand real life ceremonies, laugh at unpredictable wedding day moments and even shed a tear when couples finally say "I do." From brand new specials, to new episodes of the ever-popular series "Whose Wedding is it Anyway?," The Style Network proves it's the number one destination for celebrating the big day!

Highlights from The Style Network's White Wedding Event (in order of airdate) include:

"Fat Free Fiancés" – New Special
First Episode Premieres Saturday, December 6 at 9:00PM ET/PT on Style
In a new two-part wedding weight loss special, Style takes a couple on a 90-day fat burning mission to lose weight before they walk down the aisle. Our weight loss team, including fitness trainer Tarik Tyler and nutritionist Cindy Whitmarsh, challenge couples to shed the pounds even as they stress over planning their own wedding! The team takes over their homes to create a no-excuses environment and they will be faced with three "weigh-ins" along the way. If the couple meets their weight loss goals, they will win incredible personalized rewards for their own wedding day.

In the one-hour special on December 6, Ontario, CA couple Amber and Benny are both ready to get married after four years together. But before the big day, they each want to lose 30 pounds of extra weight to look and feel their best. The weight loss team will use the couple's competitive nature to their advantage to motivate them to lose the weight. With the stress of planning their wedding, following a strict diet plan, daily workouts, and a bachelor weekend in Las Vegas for Benny, it's not going to be easy. Do they have the strength to sweat it out and still make it to the church on time? Find out on this exciting new special!

"Whose Wedding is it Anyway?: Million Dollar Wedding!" – New Special Episode
Premieres Tuesday, December 9 at 10:00PM ET/PT on Style
In the grandest nuptials ever featured on "Whose Wedding is it Anyway?," the show travels to New York City for its first million dollar wedding held at Bryant Park and the prestigious New York Public Library. Planner James Tramando is put to the test right from the start, when streets close for a Jonas Brothers concert causing all the wedding day preparations to start hours later than scheduled. Later in the episode, the million dollar couple will be paired with another New York power couple who are also having a lavish wedding. The bride-to-be is vice president for fashion designer Nicole Miller, and they are creating a couture wedding gown just for her. But her busy work schedule and means her planner Shawn Rabideau has to take the reins of the wedding during the last few weeks of planning. Will the new bride be happy with the planner's final decisions?

"Most Outrageous Weddings" – New Special
Premieres Saturday, December 13 at 9:00PM ET/PT on Style
This one-hour special features the funniest and most shocking wedding video moments from all over the world, highlighting wedding vow blunders, bouquet toss brawls, skydiving couples, newlyweds who swim with sharks and even couples who came down with some serious dance fever! From the groom that accidentally vows "IN-fidelity," to weddings that get interrupted by trains, planes and hurricanes, these wedding stories takes the cake!

"The Art of Cakes 2: A Martha Stewart Wedding Special" – New Special
Premieres Tuesday, December 16 at 9:00PM ET/PT on Style
Now more than ever, brides have license to create a wedding day tailored to who they are. Traditionally, an unlikely place to put their personal touch was on the wedding cake…but that time has passed! From the inside out, the wedding cake can be a unique centerpiece and grand finale to a magical day. In a new one hour special, the experts at Martha Stewart Weddings show Style viewers the latest trends in cake design, including a cake modeled after a bride's own wedding dress, to a floral masterpiece and even a Moroccan fantasy Lantern cake. Famous cake designers such as Sylvia Weinstock and Ron Ben Israel will also be featured.

"20 Most Outrageous Whose Wedding is it Anyway? Moments" – New Special Episode
Premieres Tuesday, December 16 at 10:00PM ET/PT on Style
Over the past 90 plus episodes, we've seen it all - from crazy themed weddings, to demanding brides-to-be, to overstressed planners. In an entertaining one-hour countdown special, relive the top 20 most outrageous "Whose Wedding is it Anyway?" moments to date!

"Gorgeous and Green: A Martha Stewart Wedding" – New Special
Premieres Saturday, December 20 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on Style
With unprecedented behind-the-scenes access with Martha Stewart, we follow Martha's assistant who is getting married in Nashville, Tennessee. Martha's team is dedicated to making this wedding not only gorgeous, but as green as possible! Liesl and soon-to-be husband 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.

Don't miss a full two weeks of wedding bliss, when the White Wedding Event premieres Saturday, December 6, only on Style!

"The Veil is Lifted"

One of the few things that I remember in the daze of my father's funeral is that the priest said, "The veil is lifted." He wasn't talking about weddings. He was talking about my father's journey at this point, how all is revealed, that filter that we all live by is removed and you can see what's real. There is no more truthful statement at this time.

In a time of grief, you see who has your back, who gives from the heart, who speaks words of kindness. New friends are elevated to closer friends. I'm profoundly touched by the loveliness of my new friends in the neighborhood, families we've only just met a little more than a year ago who dropped off cards and sent gifts of food, offers for green tea toasts in honor of my Dad. Joe and I are blessed to have so many wonderful people in our life, and they have all made the grief easier to bear.

There is, of course, a parallel to wedding world -- the literal lifting of the veil so that the groom sees the bride's face [in olden days, the groom was checking to make sure he was getting the right bride, not a bait-and-switch]. And in that time, you also bathe in the kindness and love of family and friends. The veil of everyday life is lifted, and you're shown how full your life is, how lucky you are to be so adored.

Life is good.

Marianne Williamson helps us out today...

I wanted to share this lovely excerpt from Marianne Williamson's book, and remind you to sign on at Oprah.com to get daily inspirations from a master....

"Everything we do is infused with the energy with which we do it. If we're frantic, life will be frantic. If we're peaceful, life will be peaceful. And so our goal in any situation becomes inner peace. Our internal state determines our experience of our lives; our experiences do not determine our internal state.

—Excerpted from A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

In memory of my Dad

In memory of my Dad
Well, we knew the day was coming...last week, my Dad chose to stop chemo and come home to pass away peacefully after a 3 1/2-year battle with blood cancer. I was by his bedside for his last breath, which was merciful considering how terrifying the slow, natural death process is. While I'm grateful that my Dad's suffering is over...no one would want a parent or any loved one to last a second longer in that state...I'm overwhelmed with sadness that he's gone.

One detail I'll share from his memorial service is that I arranged for a barbershop quartet to sing a few songs for him. Dad loved barbershop quartets, and these delightful men pulled it together at 10pm the night before the viewing. I was so glad to give my Dad this last one gift...

Now, my Mom and husband and I dig into the mountain of work in settling his estate, getting the hospital bed and oxygen out of the house, and all of that fun stuff. It's all about auto-pilot to get the work done, and then there's crying in the car to get it all out on the way home.

He was a master steel detailer, and so many important buildings stand strong because of the fine work he did. So when you see the State of Liberty's base...my Dad did the reinforcement on that. When you see the scoreboard at Rutger's Stadium, that's my Dad's. We can all hope to leave a mark on the world, to leave it a better and more beautiful place than we found it...my Dad certainly did that. Strength, courage, attention to detail. That's the legacy.

Win a set of my wedding-planning books

I'm participating in a blog carnival, in which lots of different bloggers offer their products as contest prizes. So here's mine...

Win a copy of my books 1000 Best Wedding Bargains and 1000 Best Secrets For Your Perfect Wedding, just by going to my website and e-mailing me with 'Blog Carnival' in the subject line.

These two books will help you save thousands of dollars on your wedding plans, and personalize your Big Day. They'll also help protect you from some of the biggest wedding-planning mistakes out there.

If you're a winner, I'll autograph the books to you and send them for free.

Good luck in this drawing, and in all the others you find at the Blog Carnival.

Are You "Engaged and Underaged?"

MTV'S ENGAGED AND UNDERAGE - NOW CASTING!!!

INVITE MTV TO HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT ON YOUR SPECIAL DAY!!!

MTV News & Docs is casting for the third season of its popular documentary series “Engaged and Underage.” Let MTV tell your love story – the excitement of the engagement, the ups and downs of the planning, the fun along the way, and, of course, THE BIG DAY!!! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…

You and your future spouse should both appear to be between the ages of 18 and 22. Best case scenario: you're getting married in November/December 2008 or January 2009.

TO APPLY FOR THE SHOW, DOWNLOAD A CASTING QUESTIONNAIRE AT: http://www.mtv.com/content/casting_call/engaged/casting_questionnaire.doc

OR EMAIL US TO OBTAIN ONE AT: engagedandunderage@mtvstaff.com. (Tell us when and where you are getting married and why this is important to you. Include your name, phone number, email address and a digital photo of you and your future spouse, if possible.

Catch me on MSNBC!

Check out my featured advice on MSNBC's cover of a Bride's magazine article on Giving a Great Wedding Toast, also seen at my website.

The PERFECT NJ Rehearsal Dinner site!

Did you know that one of the best Jazz Clubs in the world is right here in New Jersey? If you live nearby, you have to stop in at Shanghai Jazz in Madison for a drink, hear some live jazz, enjoy some sushi and Prosperity Fish, and scout out the place as the perfect location for your rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, even a reception site.

Joe and I had our 6-month wedding anniversary dinner here -- which was perfect, since this was also the site of our very first date! How amazing to be here again, married, looking at that spot where I first saw Joe walk in the door, and at the barstools where we sat and had our first in-person conversation. I still get butterflies thinking about it. But now, here we are with a wedding behind us, our first home, and lots of anniversaries to look forward to! All at Shanghai Jazz. Here's more information on this great place, my top pick for wedding celebration sites in the Garden State:



Welcome to Shanghai Jazz®
Named One of the "Top 100 Great Jazz Clubs in the World!"
LIVE JAZZ SIX NIGHTS A WEEK
No Cover Except Special Events
It’s 1928. The Jazz Age is beginning. Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Josephine Baker in Paris. Louis Armstrong, his Hot Fives and Hot Sevens Revolutionizing Jazz.
Now Imagine Shanghai. The Most Cosmopolitan City in the Orient. Filled with Glamour. Mystery. Intrigue. And the “Sound of the Century” is Jazz. At Shanghai Jazz, we invite you into our world.
We pride ourselves on offering Gourmet Asian-Inspired Cuisine in an elegant setting, a unique atmosphere for business dinners, corporate events and special occasions. We have received Rave Reviews for our Food and Service and Ambience in the New York Times, the Star Ledger, NJ Monthly and ZagatSurvey®. We have been named “NJ’s Top Jazz Club” and One of the “TOP 100 JAZZ CLUBS IN THE WORLD” by Downbeat Magazine.
We offer Tasting Menus, Private Party Rooms and a Long Oak Bar, perfect for enjoying our own “Shanghai Jazz Ale” or a selection from our wine list. World-Class Jazz and Warm Hospitality make Shanghai Jazz the Perfect Place to host your friends and colleagues for groups from two to 120.
At Shanghai Jazz, we are proud to have recorded a series of LIVE CDS, including the MARIAN McPARTLAND TRIO LIVE at Shanghai Jazz, JUNIOR MANCE Live at Shanghai Jazz, GROVER KEMBLE and SPECIAL GUEST JOHN PIZZARELLI Live at Shanghai Jazz and JERRY VIVINO Live at Shanghai Jazz.
At Shanghai Jazz, our philosophy is Great American Jazz and Gourmet Asian Cuisine – what more could you want out of life!
But please note we also offer Grilled Fiilet Mignon, Roast Chicken, Portobello Mushroom over Spinach, Grilled Salmon, fresh Maine Lobster and fresh Maryland Soft Shell Crabs in Season for those who prefer more American fare. And California rolls and vegetarian rolls for those who prefer sushi.
Shanghai Jazz is conveniently located in Northern New Jersey, just 23 miles west of Manhattan and 3 miles from the Short Hills Mall. We are easily accessible from Route 78 and Route 287 by car, and from Penn Station in NYC by train. Our address is 24 Main Street, Madison, NJ 07940. Tel. 973.822.2899. There is free parking in the back of the restaurant.
For more information, please email us at mailto:info@shanghaijazz.com
or call 973.822.2899
At Shanghai Jazz, it's a "true night out on the town." -- Zagat Survey

Fabulous bridal party gifts

Forget the little silver frame, the flask and all of the other Usuals when it comes to bridal party gifts. Now, the big goal is to get your bridal party members something they'll love (which means personalized) that doesn't cost a lot (under $30 each is ideal, down from a national average of $70 just a year ago). Get 'em a sports team logo shirt, or hat, or plush throw or blanket at ESPN Shops. Whether it's their fave college or pro team, men's or women's styles, even items for kids, your bridal party gifts will thrill your group because they'll actually use them. And you can't beat the sales going on right now at ESPN -- some tees are available 2 for $19.99.

Sign Andy & Angela's guestbook

We're getting ready for an unforgettable wedding at The Office! Sign the guestbook here.

Halloween weddings

That's right, they're more popular than ever! Wedding couples who want to do something different, or those -- like us -- who just *love* the holiday can now custom-design their own pumpkin carving patterns using this great tool at Better Homes and Gardens. Or go to the home page to find their lineup of very cool pumpkin patterns (I'm thinking of doing the Drippy Face pattern on my own pumpkin this year.)

With centerpieces being so expensive (over $150 for some floral arrangements), imagine the budget victory when you find a bunch of $10 pumpkins and invite your bridal party over a day or two before the wedding to carve all kinds of creative pumpkins for your centerpieces and decor. Put on some fondue or order pizzas, make some pumpkin bread and warm up some apple cider for a great night...perhaps even an even greater night if you took everyone to a family farm for locally-grown pumpkins and gourds.

Save hundreds of dollars and have fun with this design tool to make your Halloween or fall wedding extra-special! And browse through their many galleries to get fun new ideas on accessorizing pumpkins with veggies, branches, paint, etc. Some examples are amazing and some are cheesy, but you'll certainly get some fantastic inspiration for your DIY decor plans.

My upcoming books...

...are available for pre-order on Amazon. So far, I have *three* new ones launching in the first half of the new year, so I'm just about to lap my age in published books! I think that calls for a celebration at our favorite jazz club (http://www.shanghaijazz.com/).

Check out my new 'babies':

1001 Ways to Save Money...and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding:

http://www.amazon.com/1001-Money-Still-Dazzling-Wedding/dp/0071611452/ref=reader_req_dp

The Bride's Survival Guide:
http://www.amazon.com/Brides-Survival-Guide-Mistakes-Perfect/dp/1598698176/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224078767&sr=1-8

In May, we celebrate the launch of my upcoming book "Home From the Honeymoon," so keep an eye out for your essential guide to what happens after the wedding!

Did J-Lo use my book?

E! reports that Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony renewed their wedding vows in Las Vegas this past weekend, with just two witnesses in attendance. I wonder if they used my book Renewing Your Wedding Vows? Whether or not J-Lo and Marc-Ant were inspired by my book, they show the new, big trend in renewing your wedding vows after the babies are settled into the nursery. Late-night feedings. Diaper changes. Who's getting up in the middle of the night. The nurturing of a newborn or two definitely inspires some nurturing of your spouse. So get ready for a big Renewing Your Wedding Vows boom, as new parents take a moment to reaffirm their vows and show appreciation for one another. This is exactly why I wrote this book -- to bring couples closer -- and I couldn't be more thrilled.

'Green' your wedding beauty preps

Going green has never been easier, especially with authors like Sophie Uliano providing us with great resources! As we prep for our weddings, we're trying out skin creams and tooth whiteners, new shampoos and conditioners...all in our attempts to look and feel our best, and some of these new products we're trying might contain insanely bad-for-you ingredients! You can't be the radiant bride if you're full of toxins! Do you really want a bad case of dandruff right before the wedding day because you're using a so-called botanical shampoo that has an unpronounceable ingredient that shreds your scalp? The answers are in this book! Download their Cheat Sheet as well, to look out for ingredients in the products you own as well as the products you're looking for to look your best.

I have to confess. I originally bought this book as a Christmas gift for my friend Jen, but I couldn't stay away from it, and now Joe and I are clearing out a lot of our toxin-filled ingredients in the ol' medicine cabinet and our shower. Let's just say we're going to be buying a LOT of Burt's Bees replacement items today.

They're not kidding when they say you look and feel good from the inside out, but slapping on creams and lotions is part of our ingrained beauty rituals! Check out this book and the book's website www.gorgeouslygreen.com to 'clean up your act,' be radiant on your wedding day, and give your bridesmaids a fantastic bridal party gift in the form of this book!

Not Just Any Old Day

Here's a find! Jewelry that marks a special day!

"NOT JUST ANY OLD DAY calendar charm keepsakes are a lovely new way of remembering, cherishing and celebrating a special occasion in your life. Designed to identify a significant month and day in the life of the person who wears it, the NOT JUST ANY OLD DAY solid sterling silver calendar charm (approximately ¾ inches by ¾ inches) is marked with a genuine Swarovski crystal stone on the date that holds a special meaning.NOT JUST ANY OLD DAY is designed to appeal to everyone, and with an extensive collection of necklaces, bracelets, key rings, money clips and letter openers, these charming trinkets make the perfect gift for men and women from 9 to 99. Whether it's for a birthday, anniversary, birth of a child, or any other significant date, they're wonderful for all occasions! The Not Just Any Old Day collection ranges from $98-$258 and is available at www.NotJustAnyOldDay.com.

The most innovative photo-sharing service I've seen yet!

You HAVE to check this website out! SeeYouThen.com provides a fabulous new service where all of your guests can upload their digital photos from all of your wedding events in *one organized place* for great photo-sharing opportunities. This is the most innovative program I've ever seen for photo-sharing, and I'm so pleased to have connected with them.

When Joe and I got married, we were quite fortunate to have many of our friends and family take terrific digital photos on our wedding day (our awesome professional photographer Rich was beyond superb, but one man can't be everywhere at once!). Each of our loved ones e-mailed us their photo collections, so we had a ton of separate websites to go to in order to see these snapshots. We had to sign in, create accounts, etc. With SeeYouThen.com, you and your guests get to see everything in one place! And here's the kicker: the site reminds your guests before the wedding to make sure their date and time stamps are accurate on their cameras, so that you can go into the website and request to see all of the photos from the cocktail party, or from the ceremony, from the first dance, etc. This program *collates* all of the many photos coming your way! Super-organized! I *wish* we had this for our wedding!

There are a ton of other features, from themed layouts, easy 1-minute creation of a personal website, and more. So go check it out, sign up, and spread the word. This site is a fantastic timesaver, and they'll even send you a DVD or USB stick with all of your images on it! I'm very impressed, and I know you will be too!

My "Bride's Diplomacy Guide" in Martha Stewart Weddings

Having 'People Problems' with your wedding? I was interviewed, along with Karen Bussen and Peggy Post, for a fabulous roundup of etiquette questions in this month's Martha Stewart Weddings. I'm very thrilled to see my Bride's Diplomacy Guide included in the story, since good diplomacy is at the center of diffusing people problems, and I wrote this book to help you with your stickiest wedding dilemmas. Wedding coordinators and florists tell me they're recommending my book to their clients [perhaps so *they* don't have to play mediator anymore!] -- so get your copy today through my website www.sharonnaylor.net or through the link in this Martha Stewart Weddings story.

Help with your registry choices

Do you really understand the differences between thread counts for sheets and blankets? Do you know the qualities of a *good* vacuum cleaner? Can you tell the different kinds of china apart? Check out the Product Guides at Bed, Bath & Beyond for glossaries and buyers' guides -- and yes, point-outs of their top registry items. It's Don't-Miss information for your best registry choices:

Product Guides
Air Purifiers
Gourmet Gadgets
Baby Monitors
Grooming
Bakeware
Heaters
Beauty
Humidifiers
Blankets
Irons
Blenders
Lamps
Breast Pumps
Luggage
Car Seats
Massagers
Child-Proofing
Mattress Pads
Closet Storage
Pillows
Coffeemakers
Safety Gates
Cookware
Scales
Cutlery
Sheets
Dental
Stand Mixers
Dinnerware
Strollers
Down Comforters
Tablecloths
Duvet Covers
Toasters
Espresso Machines
Top of the Bed
Feeding
Towels
Flatware
Vacuums
Food Processors
Water Filters
Furniture Covers
Window Treatments
Glassware

Go to the BB&B site for additional primers on china, stemware and other fun bridal shopping spree categories.

Win a trip to Fiji!

Now through 17 November 2008, submit your favorite travel story using my Budget Travel’s unique Travel Journal tool and get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to win roundtrip airfare and seven nights at beachfront accommodations in Fiji from Air Pacific and Sonaisali Island Resort. Journals will be rated by BudgetTravel.com’s diverse online community—from the web site’s editors to your closest peers—and the Grand Prize, Fiji trip-winner will be hand-picked from the journals which score highest. In addition, the best photo and video submissions with high ratings will each win $500 gift cards. So grab a pen, camera, or camcorder and spread the word to family and friends! The more votes in your favor, the better your chances will be! To enter the contest and/or for rules and regulations, please visit www.budgettravel.com/fijicontest