I’ve been a bridesmaid over 125 times. Here are 7 awkward conversations couples should have with their guests.
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As a professional bridesmaid, I’ve been in over 125 weddings, so I’ve seen it all.
Couples often have to have awkward conversations with their family and friends before the wedding.
It can be hard to tell guests they don’t get a plus-one or ask others not to get too drunk.
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I’ve been to hundreds of strangers’ weddings as a hired bridesmaid.
The job has entailed many different things, including pretending to know the couple, locating missing grooms, stopping wedding crashers, and being the sidekick to a few runaway brides.
I’ve also helped couples have awkward conversations with their loved ones, often writing down scripts or drafting emails.
Read on for some of the most uncomfortable chats couples have to have with their guests, and how to handle them gracefully.
Some guests can be stubborn about not getting a plus-one
After the invites are sent, guests will often contact the couple and ask if they can bring a plus-one.
When they keep asking after the first no, it gets intrusive and annoying.
Rather than just saying no, give an explanation for why you can’t accommodate more guests. If you make an exception for them, you’ll have to make it for the dozens of others who asked as well.
It’s OK to tell certain loved ones not to get drunk at your wedding
It can be awkward to have the conversation, but not having it can end up being more embarrassing. xl1984/Shutterstock
Most people have a few partying friends who get too drunk and make a scene that, although sometimes funny, is often embarrassing.
To avoid the chaos, reach out to that person and ask them to save the shots and heavy drinking for the after-party.
Remind them that although you love the energy they bring, you’re hoping they can remain respectful to you and the other guests.
You shouldn’t have to be the middleman between feuding guests
When a family member or friend finds out someone they don’t get along with is invited to your wedding, they might ask you to uninvite that person.
Instead of trying to reason with the concerned guest, just reassure them that the person isn’t sitting at their table.
If your wedding is formal, you might have to remind people of the dress code
If you’re having a formal or black-tie wedding and hear about guests who want to wear jeans or shorts, simply send them a dress-code reminder.
You can stress that it’s both your preference and the vibe that fits with the venue you selected.
If you know certain people on the guest list are always running late, have a conversation beforehand
Rather than stress about your loved ones who always show up late to everything — or get upset when they trickle in after the ceremony — just talk to them before the day.
Let them know that it would mean a lot if they were there on time and didn’t miss anything. You can even consider telling them a fake, earlier start time.
There are probably certain guests you want to keep away from the microphone during toast time
Pick the people you want to speak before the reception. KristianGjorgjiev/Getty Images
Wedding toasts, given by a few selected family members and friends, are special. But sometimes an unplanned guest asks to speak.
It’s sweet, but you don’t want the reception to become an open mic.
If it’s someone you care about, let them speak at the rehearsal dinner instead. If not, let them know you’re eager to keep the party going, so you’ve limited the speeches to a few pre-picked people.
Couples have every right to uninvite people their parents tried to sneak in
A few weddings I worked at got out of hand because a parent of the bride or groom secretly invited a long list of family members.
If you get wind of unofficial invitations, put a stop to it as fast as possible.
Let them know the venue can’t accommodate extra guests. It’s awkward for everyone when people show up just to be turned away.
5 Most Ridiculously Expensive Celebrity Weddings of All Time, Ranked
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In Hollywood, everything is over-the-top and well, extra—including weddings!
Go big or go home. That’s how Hollywood works. This method of thinking can be seen in the lavish lifestyles of the Hollywood elite. So it’s no surprise that this over-the-top mentality goes into celebrity weddings, as well. (And in Hollywood, there’s no shortage of celebrity weddings!)
From destination weddings to six-figure wedding gowns, to 10-foot-tall wedding cakes and $75,000 flower arrangements, A-listers in Tinseltown are very good at spending insane amounts of money on their nuptials. From somewhat small(ish) weddings to over-the-top, spend-everything-you-have weddings, here’s our list of the 5 most ridiculously expensive celebrity weddings of all time. Starting with …
Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt’s $1M Wedding
Oh, the ’90s! What a simpler time. Back when Friends and Seinfeld were in their prime and our hearts were all aflutter with everything Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt. (Be honest, you’re still rooting for them, aren’t you?) These two Hollywood powerhouses tied the knot in July 2000 and spent a modest (at least, by Hollywood’s standards) $1 million on their Malibu wedding. (That’s $1.6 million when adjusting for inflation.)
The couple spent about $100,000 on security for their big day, with another $75,000 spent on floral arrangements alone. Yes, Jennifer and Brad spent $75,000 on flowers. Oh, and to make it even more ridiculously over-the-top, the celebrity couple ended their wedding with a bang, literally, by buying $20,000 worth of fireworks.
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas’ $2M Wedding
Married at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in November 2000, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas spent $2 million on their big day.
Between Catherine’s $140,000 Christian Lacroix gown to her $300,000 tiara, they spared no expense. In addition to the lavish costs, guests of the wedding were required to present their invitations upon arrival, as the invites had invisible ink and holograms on them in order to deter any potential wedding crashers. Plus, Catherine and Michael reportedly hired 50 rent-a-cops as added security measures.
Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto’s $10M Wedding
Basketball legend and Space Jam star Michael Jordan’s second wedding to model Yvette Prieto cost a reported $10 million.
Married in April 2013 at Bear’s Club in Florida, the couple had A-list guests and live performances from the likes of Usher and Robin Thicke. Yvette wore a J’Aton Couture wedding dress with Swarovski crystals. So you just know they spent top-dollar for the crystals alone, not to mention, the custom dress.
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s $34M Wedding
Despite not being Hollywood celebrities, Prince William and Kate Middleton are both celebrities in their own rights, so we felt compelled to include them on our list of expensive celebrity weddings. And, man. Did the royal couple go all-out for their 2011 wedding! In total, their nuptials cost $34 million.
And get this, $32 million of that went towards security. Just security. Then, Kate’s gorgeous Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown cost $434,000! Can you imagine spending that much on a dress you’re only going to wear once?!
Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ $48M Wedding
And finally, we have one of the most expensive celebrity weddings, ever. Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ wedding cost $48 million in 1984—which, after inflation, would probably be closer to $135 million today. $135 million. (I can’t even begin to fathom having that much money, let alone spending it on a wedding.)
Roughly $600,000 was spent on security for the royal wedding, with more than 5,000 police conducting crowd control. Another big spend was, of course, Princess Diana’s infamous wedding gown, which cost about £90,000 (about $449,000 today). Oh, and Diana and Charles had 27 wedding cakes, 2,200 guests, and the ceremony was watched by 750 million people in 74 countries. Talk about a big day!
Are there other, more lavish (or outrageous) celebrity weddings we missed on our list? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
15 Romantic Movies To Watch On Valentine’s Day After The Kids Go To Bed
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After you set the kids up for their V-day movie night, it’s time to think about yourself.
When we think about Valentine’s Day it’s often laid out as a romantic dinner you had to book a reservation a month in advance for, followed by a night out catching a movie, live music, or whatever is the trendiest date night destination your Eventbrite suggests. Plus there are the endless bouquets of flowers (roses to be exact), chocolate candy, and a teddy bear, if you’re dealing with the lovey-dovey, mushy type.
Then there are the other couples who understand the value of a dollar who’d rather spend a quiet night in with a glass of bubbly and rom-coms. If you and your partner fall into that category this list is for you. From romance to self-love and everything in between, your love life could be as simple or as complicated as the plots of these movies. Finding your perfect movie match could be easier than seeking your soulmate. (You know the age-old story: the right one will come at the right time, there’s someone out there for everyone, yadda yadda yadda.)
In the meantime, while you work on yourself for yourself (we hope), catch up on arguably the greatest romantic comedy and think if you were Sally meeting Harry, what would you do? Contemplate on the life Jack and Rose would have had if he didn’t freeze to death. A dead lover possesses a psychic to dance with you one last time? Why not. Better than a double suicide in the name of teenage love and feuding families.
The point is: like dating, there are plenty of fish in the sea when it comes to romantic movies. True love could be found anywhere from wedding receptions and ill-fated ships to Victorian nightclubs and velvet dungeon sex rooms.
Here are some of the best Valentine’s Day movies for adults to indulge in.
Titanic Archive Photos/Moviepix/Getty Images So many great moments: the band playing as the ship sinks, Rose (played by Kate Winslet) jumping back on the ship and telling Jack (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), ‘you jump I jump right,’ the intimate, nude drawing scene, Rose’s sunset bow kiss with Jack. James Cameron’s Oscar-winning masterpiece is hands-down the most romantic movie of our time. It has all of the elements of a great love story, including tragedy. A timeless tale about a rich debutante falling in love with a poor artist on the infamous doomed RMS Titanic. Admit it, you’re still having debates on whether Jack could have floated on the staircase with Rose and survived. And no matter how many times we know it’s not going to happen, someone should have stopped old Rose from throwing that necklace into the water. Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” always leaves us with sweaty eyes. Watch Titanic, rated R, on Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Hulu, and Starz.
Romeo and Juliet YouTube Another Leonardo DiCaprio heartthrob moment. “Young hearts could really run free” in Shakespeare’s remix about his doomed star-crossed lovers. DiCaprio and Claire Danes are Romeo and Juliet, who have what we understand now as ‘puppy love.’ You know the story: two teenage lovebirds who are kept apart by their feuding families. Our favorite scene: when they first laid eyes on each other at the fish tank and the balcony pool moment. OK, we have two favorite scenes. Nonetheless, both teens come to a tragic end by their own doing, which makes their story “never more of woe.” Also, it’s young Leonardo DiCaprio. I know we keep saying that, but it’s young Leonardo DiCaprio! Watch Romeo and Juliet, rated PG-13, on Amazon and Disney Plus.
The Notebook YouTube What is love? Love is building a house for someone you’re not even sure you’ll see again, making out with them in a rainstorm when they do return, and reading your love story to them over and over again when they’re older. Based on the bestselling novel by Nicholas Sparks, the 2004 movie is a tear-jerker from beginning to end, especially the end! (Spoiler Alert: “I’ll be seeing you.”) Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams play two teenage lovers in the 1940s. Life and their social circles pull them apart for years, but Noah (Gosling) never gave up on his Ally (McAdams). Once again, the ending always gets us! Watch The Notebook, rated PG-13, on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, HBO Max, and Starz.
Dirty Dancing YouTube Don’t mind our hungry eyes for Patrick Swayze in this 80’s romance flick. Jennifer Grey plays Baby, a teen who gets a little hot and heavy with a dance instructor at the resort her family is staying at for the summer. It’s lots of grinding, hip work, and hair swinging in this movie, that’s bound to get the juices flowing. And here’s our line, wait for it: “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.” A remake was made in 2017 but there’s nothing like the original. The movie is also a West End musical in London. In 2020 an official sequel starring Grey was announced. But it’ll be without her leading man, who died in 2009 of pancreatic cancer. Nonetheless, we can reflect on the way he moved his hips in those leather pants, sweaty muscles, and edgy bad boy persona in the 1987 classic. I mean, remember the actor, not the body. Or maybe both, whichever. Watch Dirty Dancing, rated PG-13, on Amazon and Apple TV.
Moulin Rouge YouTube If you and your Valentine love musicals, Moulin Rouge has just enough music and raunchiness to keep you entertained with the wine and strawberries. Ewen McGregor plays poor poet Christian and Nicole Kidman plays Satine, a vixen singer, and courtesan at the famous Paris nightclub in the 2001 Academy Award and Golen Globe-winning movie. Together, they fall in love but a jealous duke seeks to tear them apart. Still, Satine’s deadly secret destroys a future with both men. After all, what’s a little music and love triangle without some tragedy? Not to mention, the lingerie costumes are great inspiration for role-playing, and Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Lil’ Kim, and Pink’s rendition of “Lady Marmalade” makes great choreography for a private floor show. I mean, if you’re into those types of things. Watch Moulin Rouge, rated PG-13, on Amazon, Disney Plus, and Hulu,
The Photograph YouTube Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield are two hopeless romantics in this 2020 love drama. Rae plays an art curator named Mae, whose mother, who was a photographer, recently died from cancer. Stanfield plays a journalist who is doing a story about Mae’s mother. The two find an old photograph in her mother’s safe-deposit box that leads them into a quest of her early years and the romance with Mae’s father, whom she never knew. During the investigation, an unexpected romance develops. It was the steamy, lovemaking scene while it was raining outside that got us! Not to mention, Rae and Stanfield are gorgeous together. Charisma steams off the screen when watching this flick. Watch The Photograph, rated PG-13, on Amazon and HBO Max.
Crazy Rich Asians Warner Bros. Constance Wu plays Rachel Chu, who is head over heels for her handsome boyfriend Nick, played by Henry Golding. But she has no idea that her beau comes from one of the wealthiest families in Asia. However, she gets a rude and very real awakening when Nick invites her to travel to Singapore for his best friend’s wedding and to meet the family! The couple’s love is challenged by Nick’s disapproving mother and grandmother and jealous ex-girlfriend. Just call it a battle between old school and new school. This romantic comedy is full of fireworks, stamping out traditional norms, mahjong, and chicken nuggets (because people are starving in America). Watch Crazy Rich Asians, rated PG-13, on Amazon and HBO Max.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images/MediaNews Group/Getty Images Another romance flick that involves a disapproving family. Fotoula “Toula” Portokalos’s Greek family is all about tradition and heritage, which includes attending Greek school and marrying a nice Greek boy. However, when the movie starts Toula is in her 30s, working at her family’s restaurant and “waiting for her life to start.” But that all changes when Toula falls in love with a non-Greek, Anglo-Saxon Protestant middle-school teacher, named Ian. Toula tries to get her family on board with her marrying a non-Greek, particularly her overbearing father. The 2002 romantic, comedy stars Nia Vardalos, who wrote the movie, and John Corbett and NSYNC’s Joey Fatone. It’s full of Nicks, Windex, bundt cakes, hideous bridesmaid dresses, apples, and oranges (spoiler alert) and will make a fun, romantic movie night. There’s also a sequel that follows the couple, a few years later, as they raise their teenage daughter (who is on her way to college) and bring the spice back into their marriage while planning Toula’s own parents’ wedding. Watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding, rated PG-13, on Amazon, HBO Max, and Hulu. Watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, rated PG-13, on Amazon.
Fifty Shades of Grey YouTube After watching this steamy flick, you may be inspired to get your own version of Mr. Grey’s red room. Dakota Johnson plays inexperienced college senior Anastasia Steele, who fills in for her sick roommate to interview Christian Grey, played by Jamie Dornan, for their campus paper. Christian is young, rich, handsome with a kinky, sexual appetite. The two are instantly drawn to each other and Christian blows her mind and other parts of her body, needless to say. This movie is definitely more erotic than romance and will leave you curious about your own sexuality and how far you and your partner will go to achieve pleasure. Enjoy exploring after watching it. And make sure to have your safe word. Watch 50 Shades of Grey, rated R, on Amazon and Peacock TV.
Ghost YouTube Alexa, play “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers. Not even death could kill true love, especially if it’s with Patrick Swayze. The Dirty Dancing heartthrob plays a New York banker named Sam who is murdered during a mugging while out with his girlfriend, Molly, played by Demi Moore. Confused and refusing to go into the light, Sam’s spirit becomes trapped on Earth, and he eventually discovers his treacherous best friend is behind his death. With the help of a psychic medium Oda May Brown, which is where Whoopi Goldberg comes in, works to save Molly from a similar fate. Aside from the scary shadows demons and paranormal twist, the real tearjerkers are when Sam uses Oda’s body to communicate with Molly and when he finally goes into the light. Watch Ghost, rated PG-13, on Amazon.
Love & Basketball Warner Bros. A cute story about two childhood friends whose mutual love for basketball makes them even closer. Monica, played by Sanaa Lathan, and Quincy, played by Omar Epps, both aspire to become professional basketball players. Over the years, the two fall for each other but their different approach to their favorite sport leads them on separate paths. The story is broken into four quarters, first from childhood frenemies to high school friends. The two become lovers when finally hooking up one night after a school dance. They carry their romance to UCLA as college freshman sweethearts but break up. The movie then follows their adult years going pro and the motions of life that lead them to find their way back to each other. Watch Love and Basketball, rated PG-13, on Amazon Prime, BET+ and HBO Max.
Southside With You Miramax Based on the true account of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle’s very first unofficial date, the story takes place during a hot Chicago summer in 1989. The young Obama tries to charm an unwilling Michelle who also happens to be the budding law associate she is mentoring at her firm. The day starts with Obama inviting her to a community meeting but eventually leads to an entire day spent together that includes an art exhibit and lunch in the park. But a young Michelle is not feeling it because she is not interested in dating one of her colleagues. In the end, the future president’s swag wins her over and the rest is golden history! Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers are flawless in their performances of the iconic, presidential couple and it’s definitely a feel-good love story you can watch for Valentine’s Day and beyond. Watch Southside with You, rated PG-13, on Amazon.
When Harry Met Sally YouTube Imagine meeting your soulmate in college but not getting together until you spend years running into each other? That’s pretty much the case in Rod Reiner’s 1989 timeless rom-com classic. Harry, played by Billy Crystal, meets Sally, played by Meg Ryan. The two college graduates share a lengthy car ride from Chicago to New York debating if men and women can truly be platonic friends, without any romantic feelings. Ten years later, Harry and Sally meet again at a bookstore. The two eventually become good friends and attractive to each other but they think sex would ruin their dynamic. But what’s meant to be will be! Watch When Harry Met Sally, rated R, on HBO Max.
Sylvie’s Love YouTube If you love ‘right place, right time’ love stories, Sylvie’s Love would be ideal for you. This love story takes place in 1960s Harlem and is about a woman who meets a saxophonist at her father’s record store. An instant spark occurs but at the time Sylvie, played by Tessa Thompson, is married and her husband is serving in the Korean War. The two reconnect years later and discover their feelings have not changed but got better with time. Nnamdi Asomugha plays the dashing, suave musician who sweeps Sylvie off her feet. The New York Times called it an “old-fashioned romance for 21st-century hearts.” Watch Sylvie’s Love, rated PG-13, on Amazon Prime.
10 Things I Hate About You Archive Photos/Moviepix/Getty Images We can let 10 things and more about why we love this movie! Based on William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, the rom-com follows teen Kat Stratford, played by Julia Stiles, and her youngest sister, Bianca, played Larisa Oleynik. Bianca wants to date but her father won’t allow her unless Kat does. However, Kat has zero interest in boys or anything that normal teenage girls are into. Bianca catches the eye of the new student, Cameron, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. But when Cameron gets word of the sisters’ dating situation, he pays bad boy Patrick Verona, played by Heath Ledger, to take out Kat and keep her occupied while he makes a shot at Bianca. The new kid at school pays the popular boy to date your reluctant sister, what could go wrong other than unexpected sparks? Watch 10 Things I Hate About You, rated PG-13, on Amazon, Disney Plus, and Hulu
Classic Maryland Crab Cakes Recipe
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Classic Maryland Crab Cakes Recipe
When we think of this recipe for classic Maryland crab cakes, we can’t help but of the line in “Wedding Crashers” when someone shouts “Crab cakes and football, that’s what Maryland does!” This recipe for classic Maryland crab cakes is just what you need to satisfy your craving. Who said you need to go to a restaurant to get crab cakes when you can make them in the comfort of your own home? This recipe is excellent for several reasons. It requires few ingredients, takes little time to make, and tastes oh-so-good. What more is there to ask for?
Jaime Shelbert of Wholly Nourished is the brains behind this recipe that is sure to be a new favorite. She shares that she loves how close it hits to home. “I love these for the nostalgia aspect. I grew up in Maryland eating simple crab cakes without a lot of filler so that the Maryland crab flavor really shines, she shares. “These are just like them. Simple ingredients. Big on crab flavor.” Now let’s get started making this delightful dish.
Meet Kristopher Steven Keach, Jane Seymour’s Son
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Meet Kristopher Steven Keach, Jane Seymour’s Son
Jane Seymour is a British actress whose career has spanned across several genres of film and television. According to Biography, Seymour is best known for her leading role in “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” which earned her an Emmy Award, and her appearance in the James Bond film “Live and Let Die.” Younger fans know Seymour for her role in the 2005 comedy “Wedding Crashers” and as a competitor on the 7th season of “Dancing With the Stars.”
As for her personal life, Jane Seymour has been married four times, all of which ended in divorce (via Today). Throughout those marriages, she gave birth to four children: Sean and Katherine with former husband, David Flynn and years later, twins John and Kristopher with former husband James Keach, who she split from in 2015. John and Kristopher were born in 1995 during Seymour’s time on “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” Despite being born into the spotlight, her youngest, Kristopher Steven Keach, has remained fully behind the curtain.