traci's blog

Now, don’t get us wrong – we love a classic Vegas-style blowout with all of its kitschy, occasionally tasteless accoutrements – however, not every bride relishes the thought of being handcuffed to her chair by a stripper in a police uniform. It would be too bad for the slightly-more-demure among us to have to forego the fun of a ladies’ night to remember, though, wouldn’t it?

Over the years we’ve found that when it comes to weddings, it’s pretty hard to make a mistake. From tiny kinks to huge debacles, any wrinkles in the wedding-day plan tend to quickly smooth over into couples’ funniest and favorite recollections. Terrible food, cheesy bands, regrettable shoes…none of it matters and is only fodder for fond memories down the road.

Any gal who’s ever had to walk the aisle dressed like an elaborate pink pastry (and an inordinately expensive one at that) knows that being a bridesmaid is a touch job. Even if you’d never impose teal-blue ruching on your team of VIPs, you’ll still want to think of a nice way to thank them for standing by you, calming your nerves, and suffering the occasional barked order.

Okay, so maybe you didn’t ask, but we’re going to grace you with our sage opinion, anyway: when it comes to acquiring those all-important engagement and wedding rings, we happen to think that a large chunk of diamond-related debt is a poor way to begin your future together. Plus, it’s tough times out there, so you might want to think extra wisely and carefully about your choices.

Every bride’s vision of her big day includes bowers of gorgeous flowers. Unfortunately, the reality isn’t always so pretty: those blooms can cost quite a pretty penny. On the upside, while there’s no disguising an amateur band or overcooked chicken cordon bleu, fancy floral treatments are easy to fake. You might have to get clever, enlist the help of others, or even do a bit of the legwork yourself, but you’ll be pleased with your craftiness and possibly be left with a little extra moolah for the band or dinner menu.

Back in the day, it was nearly impossible for newlyweds to get away from the church or reception without a bumper-full of old shoes. The tradition later changed to tin cans – because they’re both louder and less expensive than a good pair of wing tips, we’re guessing. Fortunately, the bumper regalia custom has pretty much fallen by the wayside, possibly due to the danger of letting a stray oxford or soup can fly at 70 miles per hour on the highway. Good riddance to tacky traditions.

While your future mother-in-law’s barrage of unsolicited wedding advice might drive you to get Caller ID and look into the Witness Protection Program, we have a few bits of acquired wisdom to share that you might actually appreciate. Having photographed hundreds of weddings, we’ve seen it all, after all. Check it out:

Dear Studio Blue,