Photo by: Rennard Photography

While there’s nothing wrong with bidding adieu to bachelorette-hood with a wild night on the town, it may not be every bride’s cup of tea. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives which are slightly more subdued but just as much fun. Round up the girls for an unforgettable celebration with any of these low-key bachelorette party ideas. 

1. Spa Day – spend a relaxing afternoon getting pampered with mani/pedis, massages and facials.

2. Wine Tasting – tour a vineyard or organize a pairing with delicious appetizers and desserts.

3. Girl’s Night In - slip into some cozy pajamas and slippers and spend the night chatting, playing games, sipping girly drinks, noshing on popcorn and watching favorite movies with your best friends.

4. Dinner Party – host a dinner party at home! Enjoy a nice evening with the girls, whipping up an elaborate meal and enjoying it together.

5. Cooking Class – get the group together for a fun hands-on cooking lesson at a local restaurant or culinary school.

6. Glamping – hop on the “glamorous camping” trend and bring a little luxury to the great outdoors. Enjoy nature from the comfort of a furnished canvas tent!

7. Comedy Show – grab a bite to eat before catching a stand-up act or improv performance at your local comedy club.

8. Dance Class – book a private intro class at a local dance studio and get moving!

9. Day at the Beach (or Pool) - spend a full day lounging by the water, reading magazines, chatting and sipping chilly beverages in sunglasses and floppy hats.

10. Theme Park – ride the roller coasters, catch a show, play some games and indulge in a little ice cream and funnel cake!

Nhadyne & Corregan 

October 5

Marietta, Georgia

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Q & A with the Bride & Groom:

1. What was the one thing about your venue that made you know it was the one?

When we stepped onto the Hilton’s veranda and looked over the rolling golf course towards the woods, hills and setting sun, we couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate our wedding. We wanted to have our ceremony at a church, so we picked the friendliest and most welcoming church with a traditional sanctuary in the area. However, the grounds of the Hilton and the restaurant were the perfect place for an outdoor cocktail hour and an indoor reception.

2. Which three details from your wedding were your favorites?

1. Music is an important part of both of our lives, so we wanted the music at the wedding to reflect our respective backgrounds and experiences. Nhadyne’s family is from Trinidad and Jamaica by way of England, and her grandfather, Winston Simon, pioneered the steel pan. We decided to have a steel pan player during the cocktail hour to honor him. As we took pictures across the golf course, we heard the Marley classic “No Woman No Cry” being played by the band, and the fusion of Trinidadian and Jamaican influences was perfect. We followed this up with an English DJ, who has lived here for a long time, and so knew UK, West Indian and American favorite songs to get everyone moving on the dance floor.

2. We decided to do an adults-only reception, and as a courtesy to our guests provided sitter services for those with children. Younger children got to play games, do arts and crafts, and get their faces painted, while the older children got to play in a video game truck that we rented. It was great to free the adults to stay for the whole event and have uninhibited fun without having to worry about the well-being or entertainment of their children.

3. Corregan is a big fan of microbrews and is particular about his beverages, so the Hilton’s beverage coordinator provided a customized selection of drinks for the event that were comparable to the standard list in price, but reflected our personal taste. The guests were delighted to have a different set of choices, and the distinctive selection added an additional flair and elegance to the event.

3. Give us the one moment from your wedding that you can’t stop thinking about.

At the end of the wedding, we departed through a path surrounded by our family and friends, lit with sparklers, to a waiting vintage Rolls Royce. As we were about to start, one of our friends’ daughters,  fresh from an exciting evening in the video game truck, and beautifully adorned in face paint from the sitters, jumped up excitedly and grabbed Nhadyne’s train. As we walked out and waved to everyone, she danced back and forth behind Nhadyne, while still managing to do a decent job of carrying the train. The moment was a bit surreal, and definitely magical and full of the love we had experienced the entire day. What a way to start a life together!

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

We’re so excited for today’s nationwide release of The Great Gatsby movie. This film was a game-changer for the wedding industry before it even hit theaters, so we can only imagine what its impact will be now that it’s showing on a screen near you. Planning a 1920s-inspired fete and want to dress the part? We took a look at stills from the Gatsby film and found wedding dresses that matched some of the gorgeous ensembles worn by the lead actresses. Our 1920s-inspired round-up also includes the chance to win free tickets to see the film (the contest runs until 5 p.m. today).

Are you planning a Great Gatsby-inspired wedding? Tell us about it in the comments!

Still trying to plan a fun Mother’s Day outing for you and your mom? How about this: Take her out for a ladies’ brunch and then go shopping for her MOB dress for your wedding. If you’re so inclined, you can also invite your future mother-in-law to join. But if you and your mom are stumped about what she should wear for your wedding day, allow us to provide a few suggestions:

All dresses by Collection 20, photos courtesy of Watters

Ethereal Romantic: If you’re getting married outdoors, your mom might want a gown that’s flowy and easy to move in. We love the feminine and romantic feel of the eggplant-hued gown at top left – the chiffon is light and airy for a warm-weather wedding, plus the lace cap sleeves provide a bit of coverage for the upper arms.

Glam: It can be difficult to find an evening gown that has that red carpet feel, but doesn’t show too much skin. That’s why we particularly like the black gown at top right. It features a figure-hugging silhouette and a shimmering satin fabrication, but also provides arm coverage and a flattering v-neckline.

Classic and Modest: If your mom wants coverage, but still classic and chic, we’re huge fans of the bottom right style. We love that this gown is a two-piece, which provides some flexibility to Mom’s look. She can wear the long-sleeved jacket for the ceremony, and then switch into another top for the reception (we’re thinking a crisp white button-down, a la Sharon Stone!).

Daytime Chic: Hosting a more informal wedding celebration? This coat-and-dress combo is perfect for a ceremony at a house of worship and a low-key reception. Plus, the metallic color scheme is so on-trend.

What is your mom wearing to your wedding? Share with us in the comments!

Post Sponsored by Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya

Danielle & Rich

May 6

Riviera Maya, Mexico

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Q & A with the couple:

What was the one thing about your venue that made you know it was the one?

It was a small, intimate resort with a beautiful, clean beach and a pier. With all of those aspects, we knew we had the right venue.

Which details from your wedding were your favorites?

One favorite was the ideal location of our ceremony on the beach. We were able to have the wedding party walk through a vine covered gazebo out onto the beach. My big concern as the bride was to ensure that my groom didn’t see me until I was walking down the aisle to him. The gazebo was the perfect barrier to make sure he didn’t see me a moment before!

Another favorite detail was the sand ceremony we did after exchanging our vows. The pouring of two contrasting colored sands into one vase was symbolic to us. We were both raised by single moms and wanted them to be a part of the ceremony. We asked them to take part in this ceremony to symbolize the blending of our families.

If you could offer one piece of advice for other couples planning their wedding, what would it be?

Make sure you scout out locations in person before booking a venue when planning a destination wedding. Pictures can be deceiving and going in person is the only way that you can truly get a feel for the venue. Another reason we chose Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita was because of the exceptional service they provided while we were there during our site visit. We felt confident that they would take great care of us and our guests throughout our wedding weekend.

I would also highly recommend utilizing your trusted vendors. We booked del Sol as our photographers purely based on their exquisite work, but they also ended up being our best resource for recommendations for all aspects regarding our time in Mexico. Their team was able to recommend the make-up/hair vendors we used (which we loved) and had endless recommendations for us during our planning period. It was an unexpected bonus to booking them.

Give us the one moment in your wedding day you can’t stop thinking about.

We loved the way we set up our table for the reception. We always knew we wanted a small, cozy group of guests for our big day. Instead of separating everyone during the dinner portion of the reception, we set up one large family style table so we could all sit together. The location was perfect as well, on the property’s garden section overlooking the beach, pier and spa pool. It was truly the picture perfect location for our special day.