Category Archives: Inside Scoop

What Does A Maid of Honor Do?

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Jewish Traditions, Planning

It’s Purim so naturally it’s the appropriate time to talk about your wedding.

[[record scratch. Whaaaat?]]

Go with me. I promise this makes sense.

Okay, so long story short, Purim is the holiday where we celebrate and read the Book of Esther and remember that she stood up to Haman (Boooo! Hisssss!) who hated the Jews and wanted them to go bye bye (Dear Jewish Enemies, We’ve heard this story before. Though small, we’re strong and powerful, so please go away. Kthanxbye. Love, The Wedding Yentas). Esther foiled Haman’s (Boooo! Hissss!) plot to exterminate the Jews by telling the king that he was, well, a jerk. The king was unimpressed with Haman’s (Boooo! Hissss!) plan and, well, the dude got what he deserved: a little trip to the gallows. Now who went bye bye? Good job, Esther! From that pretty punim, we now have Purim!

So, Esther saved the day! And a few thousand years, too. And she’s known as the Jewish people’s ultimate heroine. I mean, who doesn’t want to be Esther in the Hebrew school Purim play? You get to wear a pretty dress and save the Jews.

Hmmm… pretty dress and save the day. Who does this describe in your wedding party?

Your maid of honor!

Photo by Jen Huang Photography

A maid of honor should resemble the same qualities as Esther: strong, determined, creative, and thoughtful. Most of all, your MOH should have your back, just like Esther had, well, an entire group of peoples’ backs!

Not sure who your own personal Esther should be? Unclear about the duties of an MOH? Read on and give great thought to choosing your heroine for the day.

Your MOH will…

Lead the bridesmaid brigade! It’s the MOH’s job to communicate with the rest of the bridesmaids any issues regarding shower planning, bachelorette partying, dress shopping and selection, and dress fittings. Your MOH should also communicate the wedding weekend’s events to the gang to make sure everyone is looped in on rehearsal dinner, rehearsal, getting ready, and photo festivities.
Pay for their own bridesmaid ensemble. MOHs can expect to dish out some cash for a dress and shoes.
Assist the bride in some prewedding tasks that require help. Whether it’s assembling invitations, helping choose wedding colors, or smiling and nodding about the details of each flavored tier of the wedding cake, the MOH is the first sounding board (other than the groom maybe) that the bride may consult.
Make sure that everyone knows where the nearlyweds are registered! Registry information should never be on the formal invitation, but it’s up to the MOH to let people know where the couple has desired gifts registered. Methods of doing this: wedding shower invitations, web sites, rehearsal dinner invites, and answering when people inquire.
Handle the gown when the wedding is over. Chances are, the bride is not going to need to take her wedding gown with her on her honeymoon (although, it’s tempting. It’s so hard to leave THAT DRESS). So, the MOH should arrange with the bride where the dress will go when the night is over and handle it for her.
Play secretary! At showers, the MOH should record the gifts from each guest as the bride opens them. That way, she has a cohesive list for thank you notes. If the MOH can’t accomplish this task for whatever reason, she should make sure that someone is appointed to this task.
Hold onto the groom’s ring during the ceremony. Big job! No pressure! One place to hold it safely is actually on the MOHs thumb. Most likely, it’ll fit and stay in place and then it’s handy (haha, no pun intended) for the ring exchange.
Pretty up the bride! The MOH makes sure the bride’s dress lays nicely and that the train is arranged properly when she reaches the chuppah at the beginning of the ceremony. Also, the MOH should know how to bustle the bride’s dress so that she can dance during the reception.
Hold the bouquet during the ceremony. The bride will need her hands free at certain points of the ceremony so the MOH, who stands next to the bride, should hold her own bouquet and the bride’s until the final “mazel tov!” At that point, the MOH should make sure to hand the bouquet back! No bride should walk back down that aisle with naked hands!
Take care of the bride — she’ll be a little scatter brained. So, the MOH should make sure that the bride has something to eat throughout the day like light snacks that won’t stain any clothes or mess up makeup. It’s also a good idea for the MOH to have the bride’s lipstick or lip gloss on hand so she can help with touch ups throughout the reception.
Be the belle of the ball… besides the bride. If there’s a dance that calls for the bridal party to dance together, the MOH will usually dance with the Best Man. So, um, make sure they like each other enough… or know each other.
Toast the couple! Usually, the Best Man and the MOH make a toast to the couple. Stay tuned for an upcoming post about toasting etiquette. But, bottomline, it should not be terribly long and the toast should include the bride and the groom and not be a roast of the bride. Save that for the bachelorette party!
Play therapist. There are a lot of emotions that run through a woman on her wedding day. So, the MOH must have a listening ear and be a positive crutch for the bride. Laughter, comfort, and a calming presence are perfect qualities for an MOH to embody.

So, as you can see, the MOH really is the bride’s hero, her Queen Esther, on her wedding day. Choose wisely! And enjoy this ride with your very best friend. It’s an honor and an adventure and the whole megillah.

A famous MOH doing her job.

THEY WON A KETUBAH!

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Alison in From The Yentas, Gotta Have It, Inside Scoop

What a fabulous month it has been! Entering, liking, voting, commenting — all of it has been so fun and The Wedding Yentas would like to thank the fabulous MP Artworks for sponsoring this exciting ketubah giveaway!

Thank you to everyone who voted — hope you will continue to visit The Wedding Yentas and stay up to date on the trends, traditions, and photo eye candy of Jewish weddings!

Ketubah candidates — you are all so lucky to be getting married to your b’shert, the one you’re meant to be with. Have an amazing engagement and enjoy the rest of your time planning and counting down to the big day. It really is the best day of your life and your days together will only grow with love and laughter. Wish you could all win your own ketubah! Be a star on The Wedding Yentas and make sure you submit your weddings to be featured on a Tuesday Real Weddings showcase! It would be great to see your faces again… but MARRIED!

Now, the tallies have been counted … and counted and counted and counted. This was closer than we could have ever imagined! Toward the end, the competition was neck-and-neck, but through two Facebook pages, a Twitter hashtag, and a series of comments on The Wedding Yentas, we have a winner.

On July 1, 2012, Rebecca and Daniel will sign their ketubah that they won from MP Artworks and The Wedding Yentas!

Rebecca and Daniel: July 1, 2012

Mazel tov to you two!

And many mazels to all of our ketubah candidates!

Mismatched Bridesmaids

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Alison in Featured, Inside Scoop, Planning

******** THIS IS A STICKY POST THROUGH 2/29 ********
All of the MP Artworks ketubah couples are excited for your votes! We are one day closer to announcing our ketubah winners! Voting is open right now and goes through February 29 at 11:59 p.m. PST. The winning couple will be announced March 1. Find your ketubah couples here! Voting can take place on Twitter by mentioning your favorite couple and using hashtag #TWYGiveaway, The Wedding Yentas Facebook page, or the MP Artworks Facebook page, or the Ketubah Couples website page. Votes on any other page of The Wedding Yentas web site will not be counted.
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The recent trend of mismatched bridesmaids is hotter than latkes straight from the frying pan. We are seeing the gals dressed beautifully — differently — but beautifully. Brides have many reasons for encouraging this look, including each bridesmaid’s own style and look, size and body shape, and nurturing individuality instead of a cluster of girlfriends. While it can sometimes be easier to just pick out a single dress in a single color and dress your maids in that uniform, coordinating mismatched bridesmaids doesn’t have to be too complicated. They can still be your team as you say “I do” even if they’re dressed in a way that represents them for the reasons they’re your besties in the first place. And in the end, you have a great vision that comes to life down your aisle.

One Color, Many Shades
Have a view for the hue. You can choose a monochromatic color scheme for the dresses by selecting a general color and then differentiate each bridesmaid with a different shade of that color. Working with neutrals? Try beige, champagne, olive, mocha, and cream. Want something bright like pink? You can do salmon, fuchsia, ballet shoe, bubblegum, and rose.

See where this is going? All of the shades complement each other and belong to the parent color, but still showcase their own individual splash. If you’re concerned about the look being too inconsistent, just remember that your maids will most likely carry identical bouquets or you can gift them a piece of jewelry that ties the ensembles together. Take it up a notch and give the gals the same accessories like patterned tights or a sash tied in a bow.

Different Colors, Same Dress
You can still achieve the mismatched look if all your bridesmaids wear the same dress. How? Different colors! If it’s reasonable to put all the girls in the same dress, spice up the look and include splashes of color. Again, the colors are still complementing each other, but they’re changing a single dress to appear as different dresses.

This has been successfully executed with jewel toned or peacock colors. This concept also works well with pastels. The same dress in baby pink, gray, lavender, and cream would be so soft and beautiful. Likewise, a single dress that’s worn in purple, turquoise, magenta, and midnight blue could be breathtaking for a bright and dramatic look.

Different colors in similar dresses were made famous thanks to everyone’s favorite blogger, Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City. Remember her wedding? Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha all wore long, glitzy dresses but each in a different color. The dresses were not exactly the same, but they definitely landed in the same family of dresses: fabulous.

One Color, Many Styles
Another way to change up the individual look of each bridesmaid is to select one color in the same shade, but wear it on any style dress. Pick a color. Purple? Blue? Cappuccino? Great. Now, find dresses that come in that one color. The best way to do this is to choose a single dress designer. Stay within that brand and order at the same time to ensure that your color swatches are consistent. Most designers can accommodate their many dress styles and cuts in one color.

Pick two or three varieties of the dress. Maybe with straps, without straps, and one shouldered. Or long, short, and tea length. Or ruffles, sash, or sweetheart neck. All of these styles are different groupings from the same family. Make sure, though, that the varieties or more or less evenly distributed. The maids should stand out as individual bridesmaids, but not take away from each other or you. Therefore, a bridal party with four short dresses and one long dress may do more to distract than blend, especially if you’re the only one in a long wedding gown. So as you distribute styles of dresses among the bridesmaids, make sure that the same types are sprinkled evenly.

mismatched-bridesmaid-dresses

Want More?
Other ways to spice up your bridesmaids with different looks: The girls can all wear earrings… but in different colors! They can all have bouquets… but with different flowers! They can all wear one shoe color… but in various styles! Pick a theme and then go wild. You don’t have to make every piece different in a bridesmaid’s look, but stay within a range to maintain the vision. The gals in the first picture below are all wearing the exact same dress style and color. Then, your eye catches their ankles and below and it’s like a party on their feet! Super fun. Underneath, the photos shows the opposite: the bridesmaids are all wearing different dresses within the same style and color scheme, but their tootsies are all hugged by the same shoes! Swoon!

So what do you think? Are you going for a mismatched bridesmaid look? What are some ideas you have for achieving this super hot trend?

Planning Your Engagement Photos

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Planning

******** THIS IS A STICKY POST THROUGH 2/29 ********
All of the MP Artworks ketubah couples are excited for your votes! We are one day closer to announcing our ketubah winners! Voting is open right now and goes through February 29 at 11:59 p.m. PST. The winning couple will be announced March 1. Find your ketubah couples here! Voting can take place on The Wedding Yentas Facebook page, or the MP Artworks Facebook page, or the Ketubah Couples website page. Votes on any other page of The Wedding Yentas web site will not be counted.
********

Valentine’s Day was last week so there may be some newly engaged Yentas joining our big online family. If you are one of those newbies with brand new bling on the finger, welcome to The Wedding Yentas! We wish you hearty mazels and hope we can help you with all your Jewish wedding planning needs!

One of the many engagement milestones is a photo shoot, typically with your wedding photographer, that happens at some point before you actually tie the knot. This photo shoot is helpful for both of you: the couple and your hired photographer. You may think you’re comfortable behind a camera, but remember, every photographer has a different style and method, so taking engagement photos gives you and your betrothed a sneak peak into what you can expect from your photographer on the big day. Also, your photographer will learn about how to photograph you. Let’s face it, everyone is different — different angles, features, bodies, comfort levels — and this shoot will also allow your photographer to get a feel for what methods work for capturing you at your best. I know that I would want my photographer to know my good side (right) and if I have extra chins from a weird angle (true) before the big show when the photos truly matter. Plus, whatever, it’s fun.

These shoots are usually included in most photographers’ wedding packages when you book and it’s a good idea to put some thought into personalizing this kind of session. Make sure to ask if your wedding day reservation also includes an engagement shoot and then ask if you receive a DVD of the photos. Some couples may ask to eliminate the session in order to save money, but here’s the thing: a) Usually you can’t do this because photographers have already included this service in their package and rate. b) You wouldn’t be doing yourself any favors because the value of the engagement session is more than just a monetary one. It’s like a rehearsal for the photos for which you’re actually paying and hiring your photographer. So don’t try to have your photographer remove this service and see the price go down. It’s probably not possible and you’re only cutting your nose to spite your face. And let’s face it, that face needs to look good for the wedding!

Also, keep in mind that engagement photos can be more than just fun and games. You can actually use them for wedding-related tangibles. Many couples like to incorporate their engagement shots in save the dates, escort cards, table numbers, guestbooks, or sign-in boards.

So, let’s fast forward: You’ve confirmed that your photographer does indeed shoot engagement photos and you’re amped to get started. What do you need to know?

Pick a date! Go with a date that doesn’t cause you to rush, so make sure your schedule is clear. Also, consider weather and how that plays into your shoot. If you know you want to wear cute, summery dresses, it’s probably not best to book a date in February. Make sure to think about where you want to shoot and how the date will affect your location as well. Some places are closed on the weekends. Check before!
Speaking of places, you can shoot your engagement photos anywhere, but maybe think of a location that’s special to you and your partner. We’ve seen engagement photos in the ballparks of the couple’s favorite baseball team! Perhaps you and your fiance are alum of the same university or met through Hillel at college; you might want to walk around campus and take photos at your favorite spots. Maybe you’re into cycling and the outdoors; we’ve seen adorable photos of couples hiking or on bikes by the beach. Think about colorful locations like piers or carnivals. The park usually has great color and open space as well. The possibilities are endless and we encourage you to think outside the box.
Confirm with your photographer what colors or patterns work on camera. Some may say no busy prints or white colors depending on their style and post-processing methods. This is important because you want to be sure that what you wear will be appropriately represented in your finished product. You also may be able to have two or three different looks in your shoot. This is something else you should confirm with your photographer. If you do have multiple looks, make sure you find a variety of outfits to wear. It’s fun to see engagement photos that feature the couple in casual and formal wear.
Be yourself! Don’t try to mimic your favorite model or celebrity. You’ll probably just end up looking silly (um, been there, done that). Instead, just smile and have fun! If you’re actually, really, truly having fun, your photos will look like that you are actually, really, truly having fun! Forcing poses or pouty lips doesn’t work. If you and your partner have fun acting goofy together, then let out your inner silly. If you’re more on the shy side and not really wild and crazy, that’s okay, too! Just be your usual in-love selves and the goodness will pour through the photos!

engagement-photos-by-kim-fox-

*Fabulous photography by Kim Fox.

WIN A KETUBAH!! The Couples

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Alison in Featured, Gotta Have It, Inside Scoop

And here they are! The couples who need your votes in order to win a prize of $300 toward a ketubah of their choice from MP Artworks!

Here’s what they need you to do between now and February 29, 2012 through 11:59 p.m. PST:

Vote by leaving a comment below in the comments section of this post.
Vote by LIKING the Facebook page of The Wedding Yentas and leaving a comment about who you want to win.
Vote by LIKING the Facebook page of MP Artworks and leaving a comment about who you want to win.

The couple with the most amount of votes by February 29th at 11:59 p.m. PST will win the prize!

The winning couple will be announced on March 1! Super exciting, right?

Good luck, lovebirds. Oo la la!