Forecast: Cold & Snowy with Scattered Romance

Every Holiday Season, like clockwork, the diamond commercials arrive. The ones with the beautiful couples and the perfect Holiday decorations. They always end with a big surprise and a big sparkly diamond. This is certainly a popular time of year for engagements. Maybe it’s the not-so-subliminal jewelry advertisers or maybe it’s because this time of year makes a lot of people realize how much they value their loved ones.

Whatever the reason, if this Holiday Season brings you a wedding proposal, we have plenty of helpful guides for the bride-to-be. Having planned my own wedding in 2008, How to Choose a Wedding Planner is one guide that I really wish I took more seriously! My wedding planning advice to you: don’t be afraid to delegate. If a wedding planner isn’t for you, don’t discount delegating to your bridal party. Up until this year, I was the epitome of “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” having worn puffy dresses in every shade of pastel a mind-numbing 14 times. I can recite the “roles and responsibilities of a bridesmaid” in my sleep but for those bridesmaid newbies out there, be sure to read our Bridal Shower Etiquette guide. Happy planning.

Oh, your life isn’t like a diamond commercial? Mine either. I do love the winter though, right up until mid-January when I start to think about how long it will be until I can ride my bike, go on a picnic or take a walk on the beach. That’s when I really miss outdoor dates. They’ll be replaced by indoor dates like playing Wii, snuggling on the sofa and cooking together. Another of my favorite wintertime Creative Date Ideas is to upgrade our classic “Take-out and a Movie” with an “Indoor Picnic”. We make some of our favorite summertime picnic foods and make sure to select a movie about the great outdoors. It helps us forget all about the weather outside being frightful. Well, that is until one of us has to bundle up to take the dog out.

Tags: bridesmaid, creative date ideas, indoor date ideas, wedding planner