There are few things in life people will not give unsolicited advice on. From the way you should wear your hair to how to raise a child, strangers are always willing to offload their opinions on someone listening with half an ear. Anyone who has been a bride has experienced the earache of such opinions. This bride decided to give all these strangers what they so deeply want by letting them plan her wedding to the last detail.
Jen Glantz is no stranger to the wedding world. She is a professional bridesmaid and founder of Bridesmaid for Hire, the world’s first and only company where strangers can hire a bridesmaid to fulfill all necessary wedding-related duties. After being the bridesmaid in countless weddings, her time has finally come to walk down the aisle as a bride.
Glantz was inspired to put her wedding in the public’s hands whilst getting a manicure. Her manicurist noticed her engagement ring and immediately began listing wedding advice. A few days later, Glantz’s new website, Finally the Bride, was born, inviting strangers the world over to vote in polls categorised to represent every aspect of her wedding.
“Finally the Bride is an interactive book, released chapter-by-chapter, where you’re a part of the story,” reads the site. “You can vote on Jen’s biggest wedding decisions, share tips that can end up in the book, perhaps even find yourself as a main character in one of the stories (cough, cough, become her bridesmaid).
On the 15th of every month, new polls will open up in which strangers can decide how Glantz should go about planning her big day. From where to go for her bachelorette to how much she can spend on her dress, every aspect of her wedding is open for debate.
She has even invited people to vote on what her biggest wedding challenge should be. Options include “get a celebrity who she’s never met before to come to the wedding” and “invite all the people she’s been a bridesmaid for in the past and get them to come to the wedding wearing the bridesmaid dress they made her wear”.
Thus far, the public have decided that Glantz’s wedding budget must be between $15 000 – $30 000 and that she must get married in either July or October.
“When I check in on the results, I kind of panic a little bit, but then I think back to my commitment to this process,” Glantz told Insider. “I might have the most outrageous and most out-of-the-box wedding ever, and maybe the world is telling me, ‘Jen, this is what’s best for you.'”
Glantz hopes that this project encourages people to not sweat the small stuff and remember that a wedding does not make a marriage.
“In the end, our weddings signify two people coming together, plotting their future and everyone else around them, celebrating. That could be done in a warehouse. That can be done in a hotel banquet room. That can be done in your backyard. The meaning and the purpose still stay intact.”
Image: Instagram / Jen Glantz
Hotel weddings are popular venues for a reason. Hotels are generally beautifully decorated and have the facilities to cater for weddings. It is essentially a one-stop shop, making…
Paris may be the city of love, but Italy has stolen our hearts. With endless seas, beautiful architecture and oodles of pasta, this romantic destination is the perfect place to cuddle up with your lover.
If you are planning an international honeymoon, you cannot go wrong with this European country. Here are some of the must-see Italian cities for newlyweds.
Venice:
A city of immense beauty and history, Venice isn’t like the rest of Italy. Venice is actually made up of more than 100 small islands on the Adriatic Sea, connected by a series of canals. There is no end to romantic activities in this quant city.
While there are a number of popular tourist destinations, the true beauty comes in wandering through the smaller parts. Take a romantic gondola ride through the meandering canals while cuddling up with your partner. Visit the picturesque Burano island, known for its colourful houses and lace weavers. In the evening, stop off at one of Venice’s oldest wine bars, Cantina Do Spade. It is rumoured that Casanova himself brought many women here to wine and dine.
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Sardinia:
There is something for everyone in the Italian city. Nestled in the Mediterranean Sea, Sardinia is decorated with rising mountains and 360 degree ocean views. Active couples can get their sweat on exploring Gennargentu’s vast mountain range, and partake in the wide array of water sports such as snorkeling and scuba diving throughout the island.
Wine-lovers will be in heaven in Olbia, home of the vineyards, where visitors can travel between wine farms to taste new and unique wines. For a more luxurious experience, visit Porto Cervo. Created by Prince Karim Aga Khan, the area is well known for its yachts, designer stores and bustling nightlife.
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Florence:
As the birthplace of the Renaissance, this beautiful city is rich in culture. Art lovers will be in their element at the Uffuzi Gallery, home to artwork by famous Italian creators such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Beyond these works of art, Florence itself seems to be straight out of a painting. Beautiful architecture lines Florence’s streets, from the main cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore to the Basilica of Santa Croce.
For a daytime activity, we suggest wandering around the Villa Bardini Garden, a serene and picturesque garden with old-world charm. Make sure to visit the stairs of Piazzale Michelangelo for an unforgettably romantic view of Florence at sunset, or end the day off with a romantic stroll on the river Arno. Wherever you are, Florence promises love under the Tuscan sun.
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Amalfi Coast:
With boundless natural beauty and a stretching coastline, the Amalfi coast is one of the top Italian destinations, especially for couples. The best plan of action is to rent a boat for the day, as many of of the smaller coves and beaches are only accessible this way.
The quiet town of Ravello features two stunning villas to explore, Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone. A must see is Villa Cimbrone’s Terrace of Infinity, which offers one of the most stunning views from the Amalfi Coast.
Positano is home to one of the most celebrated hiking paths in the world, the Path of Gods, as well as stunning architecture. Take in this seaside town’s old world charm with a walk through its cobblestoned roads.
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Sicily:
Sicily’s romantic landscape, marvellous ruins and stunning coastline make it an incredible choice for an international honeymoon. With both Greek and Roman heritage, this island is a cultural haven boasting beautiful views all around.
The capital, Palermo, is great for culture-seeking couples. Marvel at the Royal Palace of Palermo, Europe’s oldest royal residence, and visit the Palatine Chapel for stunning mosaics and Byzantine architecture.
Cefalù is popular for their Roman baths and the ancient cathedral, home to the world-famous fresco of Christ, the Christus Pantokrator. When in Cefalù, make sure to visit the Lungomare Giuseppe Giardina, a long beach that curves below the old town.
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Image: Unsplash
There’s nothing more frustrating than getting a new perfume, only to find the scent will last a whole of five seconds before it fades into the wind. We…
You’ve been invited to a wedding and the dress code says ‘smart casual’, so what can you wear? If this is the dress code then you can assume that the wedding will be relatively informal.
Keep your outfit laid-back but add a touch of elegance, it is a wedding after all! Dress smart but don’t go overly dressy.
Men
Wear a blazer with a button-down shirt and smart suit pants or chinos. Jacket and tie are optional. Shoe wise, wear loafers, brogues or boat shoes.
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Women
Wear a stylish mini dress or skirt or smart trousers with a blouse. You can add a tailored blazer if you’re up for it. Stick to sandals, wedges or low heels.
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Feature image: Pixabay
As fashion trends evolve, so do wedding gowns. One that has been relived many times and has experienced a resurgence since Meghan Markle stepped out in one on…
One of the most important aspects of a wedding is the bride’s dress. The marriage too, but let’s be honest, all eyes will be on the woman of the moment when she makes her triumphant walk down the aisle. With all this attention, you’ll definitely want your look to be picture perfect.
Wedding dress shopping is an experience. Making a dress or even just having one altered takes time. To make sure you stay on schedule, follow our wedding dress timeline.
12 months before the wedding:
– Research: Before you begin wedding dress shopping, you have to know what you want. Having a general idea of how you want to look will make the shopping experience that much easier. Scour Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration. It also helps to make a Pinterest board so that your bridal party and shopping assistants at bridal stores can greater understand your vision.
– Budget: Before you enter a store, you need to have a budget. If you don’t have a budget, you risk spending way beyond your means. When setting up your budget, make sure to include all the extra expenses such as alterations, shipping and accessories so that you have a ballpark figure that you cannot go over.
10 months before the wedding:
– Start wedding dress shopping: If you thought finding the One was tough, you haven’t gone wedding dress shopping yet. With so many silhouettes and styles available, it is easy to become overwhelmed.
Take your time and visit a few wedding dress stores to see what they have to offer. During this time, you can also start to get a feel of the the styles that look best on you, which will make your final decision much easier.
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8 months before the wedding:
– Say yes to the dress: After months of visiting bridal stores, now is the time to make your choice. By 8 months, you should have your wedding dress locked down and ordered. It may seem early, but choosing your dress this early leaves enough time for alterations and fittings which can often take months to complete.
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5 months before the wedding:
– Accessorise: remember the saying, “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”? Now is the time to incorporate it into your wedding attire.
Whether it be an extravagant veil or a bridal hair piece, there are so many ways to top off your bridal look. The 5-month mark is the perfect time to go shopping for shoes, jewellery and other other accessories to compliment your dress.
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3 months before the wedding:
– First fitting: Chances are, you’ll have two to three fittings to make sure your dress is the perfect. At your first fitting, you will cover all the alterations that need to be made, whether it be a shorter hemline or extra beading.
It is crucial to have this fitting months ahead of the wedding to allow your seamstress enough time to make all the necessary changes. Make sure to bring your shoes and accessories along so that you can see the final look a little more clearly and make the necessary adjustments.
6-8 weeks before the wedding:
– Second fitting: The second dress fitting is for minor revisions. You will be fitting on your dress to see how the alterations at your first fitting came out and if any other changes need to be made. Once again, make sure to bring along your shoes and accessories. If possible, have your hair styled and your bridal makeup done so that you can see every component of your look together.
2-3 weeks before the wedding:
– Final fitting: All the alterations should be complete at this point, so the final fitting is simply to ensure that everything is perfect. This is the time when your entire look will come together. It is advised that you come prepared with your shoes and accessories, and have your hair and makeup done to get the big picture of your bridal attire.
the week before the wedding:
– pick up your wedding dress: it’s finally done! Your next task is to pick up your wedding dress and leave it somewhere safe. If you are following tradition, you’ll want to keep your dress out of your partner’s sight, so you will need to be strategic about where you will store it.
the day of:
Enjoy your wedding day: this one is pretty self-explanatory. The day has finally arrived, and now is the time to bask in your happiness while wearing your dream dress.
Image: Unsplash