Archive for the ‘Wediquette’ Category

Polka Dot Bride on what really matters

Anti-Brides, I’ve been on the road on two spectacular press trips: Ireland and France, and now I’m back to bring on the best in blogging and running our spectacular Top Wed Blogger in Oz, Ms. Polka Dot Bride. I got a little off schedule the past month with some castles having dial up, some DSL, and some none at all. But it’s a gorgeous autumn here in wonderful, wireless SF, and we have much to show you in the upcoming posts. So without further ado…..

A letter to the bride…

Recently someone close to me got the proposal of her dreams. Today I share my letter to her, one that I hope other brides can take something from…

You are getting married in 14 month’s time! How wonderful is that! We just KNEW it would happen and we couldn’t be happier for you!

But I feel a tinge of sadness today, as already I can see the strain of wanting it all, getting it ‘perfect’, and trying to please everyone starting to encroach on your joy.

Take the time to enjoy just being engaged! You will never quite feel this way again – the wonder you fold inside yourself whenever you think of it, the endless possibilities of a fulfilling life together stretching endlessly ahead of you. It’s like a great big precious secret!

It is early days in the planning of your special day, so just now is the time to gather information, without feeling the pressure to make momentous decisions about every little detail.  Gather the ideas that you find appealing, and squirrel them away in a special folder, which will become your close companion in this wedding planning journey. As time goes on, you will find a theme emerging, of colours, of style and of particular things you hold dear, and that will be ‘not negotiable’.

Take the time to enjoy this process – it passes all too quickly and this time too, will be part of the memories that you take with you into your life together.

Money doth not maketh  a ‘perfect’ wedding! If you feel you will have to compromise too  much to have it all – you could choose  two or three things that are most important to get ‘right’. Then embark on finding that perfect item by exploring. No pressure – just fact finding!  Ask everyone you feel may be knowledgeable, pop into unlikely shops, explore little towns as you travel through them. Your will have time enough to formalise your ideas.

Your wedding day is a celebration of the beginning of your new family unit. That day will symbolise the start of a new chapter in your life with each other. And there is so much more to do together, before you are old and grey. This is just one day in this life journey.

It will be one of the most joyous occasions our family has celebrated together. But we are coming to celebrate you telling the world that you are creating your own family unit. All the trinkets and treasures you will have embellishing your surroundings will fade into insignificance when we witness you and your partner becoming husband and wife. That’s what is important to us!

And we know, that everything will be perfect just the way it is!

All my love to you

Ms. Polka Dot

About

Polka Dot Bride is Australia’s premier wedding blog and is read by thousands of brides worldwide. Polka Dot Bride is ranked within the top 20 Australian Women Bloggers and #53 out of the Top 100 Australian Bloggers as of June 2009. Polka Dot Bride has a passion to provide information on the latest trends in weddings, and inspirational and creative ideas for the Australian bride. Ms Polka Dot’s aim is to create a fun, informative, and stylish blog that is engaged with, and inclusive of, its readers. She writes a daily feature on the blog that includes new ideas, real weddings, fabulous finds and the beautiful and the inspirational. Polka Dot Bride readers are stylish and savvy; they want to make their wedding stand out from the crowd. Ms. Polka Dot’s aim is to inspire brides and grooms to create the wedding of their dreams.

 

How to spell out a proposal to your intended...

Daydreaming about your destination wedding but he still hasn’t put a ring on it? Hint: Forward this article to him…

Surprisingly, I hear from nail-biting, nervous men about planning the perfect proposal because of my book, Romantic Napa Valley: An Insider’s Guide for Couples, which lists the Top Ten Napa Valley Proposals. Usually, these sweet men just need reassurance and a shot of romantic confidence (usually via a female) to set their fears to rest that – yes, you have planned something your woman will love and get her to accept your request at marriage.

One charming gentleman, who bought my book online, presented his girlfriend with a copy of the book on the plane as he whisked her away for a surprise romantic getaway.  Once in Napa he arranged a mind-blowing proposal that included breath-taking vineyard views, luxurious bubbles and on bended knee offered a bling-bling ring; an enchanting proposal that even the most jaded women couldn’t resist. Now they are planning their vineyard vows, via a destination wedding in wine country.

Au contraire to what some woman may think about men and proposals, I’ve learned that it is one of the most nerve-racking experiences for a man, (worse than walking down the aisle). This is one thing in the relationship that they plan and execute alone and they want to do everything they can to impress you, show you’re their sincere love and get you to say YES! So if you think your man needs a little assistance here are some tips that I’ve perfected along the way in helping the men plan the perfect proposal that will be followed by a loud, often tearful yes.

Do:

Be Creative; Use an inside joke between you two, enlist family and friends or something different like using chocolate sauce to write “Will you Marry Me?” on her dessert plate.

Surprise Her; Make sure that there is a surprise element in your proposal. The surprise element is what makes it so special and memorable. Woman love to be surprised!

Speak from the Heart; No matter when or where if you profess your love in a genuine way the proposal will be perfect.

Don’t:

Not Plan; Thinking and planning ahead will show her that you took the extra care to display your love to her. A lack of planning may show her that little thought was put into this momentous moment, and perhaps your future together.

Make Her Uncomfortable; By now you should know if she is a private or public person. If she is shy and uneasy in front of crowds proposing in the middle of NYC times square may cause her more embarssment then joy.

Propose Without a Ring; Hate to break it to you but – yes – a ring is required. It can be a gumball machine ring but it is a symbol of your commitment and if the woman loves you it doesn’t matter the size, shape or color because she will say I DO!

About Autumn

For more on Autumn Millhouse and her book Romantic Napa Valley, An Insider’s Guide for Couples, click here. Autumn Millhouse is an award-winning travel writer who specializes in wine, food and romantic getaways. She is also an international trekker who has wined and dined across the globe from Barcelona to Beijing . A self-proclaimed “hopeless-romantic” and author of Romantic Napa Valley: An Insider’s Guide for Couples, Autumn also has a bi-monthly column called Love Vines published in Napa Valley Life Magazine. She resides in Napa Valley where she cultivates her wine and food relationships with top chefs, winemakers and a slew of other foodies. Besides, sniffing, swirling and sipping wine daily, Autumn is currently working on her next travel book Romantic Sonoma Valley: An Insider’s Guide for Couples.