The royal wedding was forever ago, but fascinators are still alive and well! Birdcage veils and feathery flowery headpieces were being rocked by brides long before Kate Middleton walked down the aisle to the waiting Wills, with guests like Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie watching on. But post royal wedding, I’ve noticed bigger and bolder headwear on brides this side of the pond. And I love it!

Check out some of these fabulous pieces! The items in the top row are from LoBoheme and the second, Truly Fascinating.

*Swoon*! There are tons of non-white fascinators out there for bridesmaids, mothers, or just everyday wear post-wedding. Many to browse though and buy, or if you’re creative, to make!

Do you have one? Ever made one? Planning on wearing one on your wedding day?

Hosting a bridal shower is so much fun! It can be a little nerve-racking too, especially if you haven’t done it before. Hopefully this post will help get your planning on the right track. No idea where to start? Here are the essentials almost every shower needs!

Guest List – You won’t have much of a party without guests! Sit down with the guest of honor (the bride) and compose a list with her. Ask her who she’d like to attend – moms, grandmoms, aunts, cousins, school friends, sorority sisters, whomever she asks for! If you already have a venue picked, keep in mind the number of people that will fit into the designated space.

Venue – This can be anywhere – your home, a park or garden, a church gathering room, even the little cafe down the street. If you have the guest list already, make sure the space is large enough to hold everyone and small enough to keep the party an intimate one.

Invitations – All your guests need to know the event specifics! Who, what, when, and where are all tidbits of need-to-know information. There are SO many options online and in stationary shops, like these unique wedding invitations from invitationsbydawn.com. Or, if you’re the creative type, create something yourself! Whatever you decide on, make sure they coordinate with the shower’s overall theme and/or color scheme.

Food – A shower isn’t a shower without food! There is no need to have a full-on meal during a shower (though if that’s what you want and can afford, go for it!). An array of finger foods should do the trick – mix up fruits, veggies, finger sandwiches – whatever your guests will enjoy. And don’t forget the sweets! Cake, cupcakes, ice cream sundaes, an entire dessert bar – whatever you think the guest of honor would like the most.

Games and Activities – Oooooh yeah. Bridal shower games are the one thing that guests either love or hate. They are notoriously cheesy…but that’s what makes them fun. Find a few games that everyone can participate in – get them ready made from sites like FactoryDirectCraft.com or just pick up supplies for activities like the toilet paper gown race – and feel out the crowd to see how many they can handle. Sometimes two or three is more than enough.

Decorations – There are so many fun ideas when it comes to bridal shower decorations! The decor will ultimately boil down to the event’s theme or color scheme, but that’s the only thing you should keep in mind (well, that and the bride’s personal taste). Pick pastels and lacy touches for a lingerie shower, or Parisian flair for the couple honeymooning in Paris. Can’t find exactly what you’re looking for (or not quite sure what you want yet)? Browse through tons of wedding and event blogs and websites for endless inspiration!

Let’s face it, weddings pretty much revolve around the ladies. For the most part, I think the fellas are OK with that, BUT, sometimes they want in on the fun too.

So, how do you get your guy involved with things that he’ll actually enjoy? Here are a few ways grooms of the past have liked to do when it comes to wedding planning.

1. His ring. Every couple is different when it comes to picking out their rings. For us, we both picked out the rings we wanted to wear – this way we knew the rings on our fingers were exactly what we wanted to be wearing! I knew exactly what I wanted before we stepped into a jewelry store. Brandon on the other hand spent some serious time searching for the perfect style on numerous wedding ring websites. He looked at all sorts of metals, from platinum to titanium and eventually settled on a tungsten after a few trips to the jewelers.

2. The music. Whether or not your guy likes to cut a rug, chances are he’ll still enjoy picking out music, form the special dance songs to the tunes that will make your guests party until the A.M.

If he needs some help finding the perfect songs, have him check a few of the numerous wedding websites that exist on the fabulous world wide web. Many of them have lists and lists and lists of tried and true wedding music than any guest is sure to love.

3. The bachelor party. Ooooh where to begin. Some guys go all out when it comes to their bachelor parties….and by all out I do NOT mean exotic dancers, excessive drinking, and illegal substances. B, for instance, took a trip to Vegas with the guys and while I wasn’t there, I trust that they behaved themselves. I know he had a great time though, and it’s something he’ll remember forever. And even if your guy and his dudes are more chill and just what to spend a night out, or at a game, or…doing whatever they love to do the most, let him have his fun!

4. The food. Who DOESN’T love to eat?! Picking out reception food has to be one of the most fun wedding planning tasks, ever, and it’s one that the guys can easily get into. It doesn’t matter if you’re having drinks and appetizers or a four course meal, getting to taste test every option you have will give you and your groom happy taste buds and tummies.

Make sure you give him a chance to voice his opinions, and if you disagree, hear him out. In the end, you might find you like what he likes, too.

5. The reception venue. While you might think the reception is all about the centerpieces and favors, it’s so much more! It’s a space that will add to (or take away from) the overall ambiance of the reception and can leave a lasting impression on your guests.

You might be looking for specific things at each venue (like where you’ll make your grand entrance and where the dance floor will be), but your man might have other things he’s looking out for, like where a second bar will go and how easily people will be able to make it to the buffet line. Don’t dismiss what he says!

6. The transportation. Wedding days are crazy ones. Unless you’re having the ceremony, reception, and photo sessions in one location, you’ll be spending some quality time one vehicle or another. And, while you may be a little OCD about who rides with who and who needs to be where, when, he might be a little more into the “sweet ride” said people are riding in, be it limo, stretch hummer, or vintage luxury car.

Give him some of the need-to-know info (like how many people need to be shuttled around and how many hours transportation is needed), then let him go wild.

**Photo above from the always fab Jeremy Arnold!

Valentine’s Day can be a really difficult holiday for a lot of couples. You can get your partner the standard dozen roses and box of chocolates, but getting that kind of gift may seem insincere. Finding a personalized gift for your loved one can be quite the task, but if you want to do something different there are tons of options that perhaps you haven’t considered.

Here are a few ideas to show the person you love that you’re thinking of them.

A gift basket, jewelry, or sweets are simple ideas, but many people often respond better to personalized gifts. Consider getting your lover a book of poetry that has a special meaning. You can go even further by putting a note inside the book, or read some of your favorite poems that make you think of them. Another option along the literary options is to give your partner a handwritten love letter.

Instead of going out consider staying in for the holiday. Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest nights for restaurants, and you might not want to deal with the hassle of the crowds. Try buying a nice bottle of wine and sit back for a good movie or across a candle lit table. This can create a very intimate setting that you wouldn’t get at a crowded bar.

If you want to give the gift of romance you might consider buying your loved one lingerie this season. Lingerie isn’t for everyone, but it can be a more intimate present shared for the pleasure of you and your partner.  (check out deals on Victoria’s Secret coupon codes from Rateitall.com or do a Bing search).

There are a lot of great web sites that offer privacy shopping and deals on every style, size, and color. Before buying lingerie make sure your partner is alright with this idea. Buying lingerie doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. There are many tasteful options for those looking just a little spice for their love life.

If you want to do something unexpected for your significant other make your evening special by adding a personal touch. A little thought can go a long way

Nowadays, the modern bride has several options when it comes to choosing engagement rings.  Women who know that they’d rather not have a traditional ring should not be shy about letting their significant other know their preferences. Weddings are stressful enough with the multitude of decisions that have to be made but choosing a ring should be a choice that doesn’t involve compromise.

A helpful suggestion for women who know they are soon to get engaged is for them to drop helpful hints to their significant others.  If wedding ring shopping is stressful for the husband-to-be suggest going shopping for the ring together.

Sometimes a traditional solitaire ring can seem impractical, especially if it is to be worn daily.  An increasingly popular non-traditional choice is the black diamond engagement ring. Black diamonds are diamonds that weigh a bit more than colorless diamonds.  Although they lack the sparkle of colorless diamonds,   black diamonds are still highly reflective. As the character Carrie Bradshaw from the show Sex and the City exemplified, black diamonds are an elegant choice for the non-traditional bride.

Adding gemstones to  band is an option if you would prefer not to wear the traditional diamond. Some of the stones that can be used are sapphires, rubies, and emeralds, and gemstones are a great way to add color.

Other options to consider include perhaps going for a band instead of a diamond, choosing a less precious stone, or even designing your own ring.

With all the options for rings today, the modern bride can have the engagement rings that represents who she is and her personal tastes.

Ok, so now you’re engaged and your todo list is going to grow by the day. One of the biggies on that list is finding the perfect wedding photographer. Looking for the right photographer can be one of the more intimidating parts of wedding planning. When you book a wedding photographer you’re purchasing a product (albums, canvases, prints etc) but you also need to find someone you can trust completely. Knowing where to begin can be a challenge. Here are some tips to get you started.

OK, we’ve set the date…when should we start looking for our photographer?
You really can’t start too soon. Planning on having your photographer booked at least six months in advance of your day is a good goal. Any less than that the risk is not bingeing able to hire your first choice. Also, having less than six months restricts your options for bridal and engagement sessions. If you live in a region that has more extreme temperatures you may find yourself limited to a hot or cold time of the year. Finally, more time to cultivate the relationship with your photographer is always a good thing.

Alright, I’ll start looking…how do I start?
If you have friends that have been married within the last year, start asking them about their wedding photographers. Ask to look at their albums, images and just as importantly pick their brains about the experience of working with that photographer. Google is also ad incredible tool. Search for photographers in your area and don’t forget to search using the name of your venue. Look for photographers that have blogged about your wedding location. Make a favorites folder in your web browser and limit yourself to 15-20 wedding photographers. Once you hit 20 always knock someone off of the list when adding someone new. From that list make a “Top 5″ list. Contact those photographers and set up consolations. From that point you already love their photography. Personality, budget and availability will likely be the deciding factors.

How much do I need to know about their camera equipment?
Photographers love to talk about gear, so don’t be afraid to ask about their cameras, lenses and backup strategies. Photographers that shoot digital should be shooting on the latest camera bodies. Technology has made huge leaps in the last 18 months and the creative possibilities available to photographers in low light are better than ever. Your photographer should have backup camera bodies and and assortment of large aperture lenses specialized for low light photography.

Ask your photographer how they handle the security of your images after the wedding. Typical solutions should included multiple backups in their studio as well as secure off site backups such as duplicate hard drives in a back safety deposit box. They should have “worst case” plans. Hard drives are mechanical and will fail, and home and studio accidents can happen. You want to know the long term safety of your wedding day images has been planned for.

We hadn’t really thought about an engagement session, is one really necessary?
The time in your life between your engagement and wedding is one of the most exciting you’ll experience. Having a photographic time capsule by virtue of an engagement session is something that you’ll be more grateful for as the years pass. Not only that, the time and experience spent with your photographer before the wedding day goes a long way towards establishing the trust a photographer needs to create their best work. Having spent time creatively together before your wedding, you will understand the way your photographer works and having seen the results you’ll trust that work. Knowing that you can just enjoy the day and your wedding photographer will be there to scoop up the moments is a wonderful feeling on your wedding day.

How important is a second photographer?
There is a lot of talk about second shooters these days. Quite frankly, you don’t want to hire a photographer that couldn’t capture your day solo. One person cannot capture every moment but neither can two. A second shooter may add a small measure of security but it is often marginal. Some photographers would disagree with me on this point but from my perspective as a wedding photographer I would rather be concentrating on my clients and their moments on their wedding day than managing a second photographer. If you are paying extra for a second photographer I encourage you to ask to view a portfolio of that shooters images. Photographers often charge for a 2nd photographer and then use unpaid assistants that are looking for experience.

If you are having a very large wedding with many attendants (250+ guests) that’s when a second photographer really adds value.

What should I expect after my wedding?
Talk to your photographer about expectations after your wedding day. Of all the vendors you choose, your photographer may be the only one you talk to after the big day. Have your photographer explain the time frame for image delivery, album design etc. This is my typical time frame for an example. I blog teasers within a week after the wedding. The entire wedding if posted in an online proofing gallery 3-4 weeks after the wedding. From that point by clients choose their favorites for their wedding album. Once I have the favorites, I start the design process. The bride and groom give the final OK on the layout and then it’s about 4-6 weeks to have the album created. The whole process typically takes around six months. DVD of high resolution images is delivered with the wedding album. Every photographer is slightly different for how they handle delivery after the wedding so make sure you know what to expect.

Phil Holland is a Dallas wedding photographer. As owner of Holland Photo Studio he provides creative wedding photography for brides in grooms in Dallas and any destination. If you have any questions not covered here don’t hesitate to let him know in the comments or through an email. All of the images in this post are his handiwork!